http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/jail-recent-booking-records.aspx
Vanderburgh County Commissioners Unanimously Appointed Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams
Vanderburgh County Commissioners unanimously appointed former Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams
Vanderburgh County Commissioners unanimously appointed former Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams to the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library (EVPL) Board of Trustees to fill the current board vacancy. Â All three commissioners voted (3-0) for Mr. Eric Williams to serve on the library board. Â We at CCO commend the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners for their leadership, collective thoroughness and due diligence in hitting a GRAND SLAM on this board appointment! Â Former Sheriff Williams is an experienced, seasoned leader and just what this board needs to help the community through this divisive time at the library. Â Kudos, Commissioners! Â Well done on this one!
PROFILE OF FORMER VANDERBURGH COUNTY SHERIFF ERIC WILLIAMS
Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams grew up in the community and attended college at Indiana State University Evansville (ISUE) which would later come to be known as the University of Southern Indiana (USI). While at USI he served as President of his college fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma and was also appointed by Indiana Governor Robert Orr to serve as the first student trustee for the newly created University of Southern Indiana. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business.
As a young boy, Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams was always fascinated by police and detective shows and was always curious anytime he heard sirens. Though this stayed with him throughout adolescence and into young adulthood, he always assumed that he would graduate and work in his family’s business. It was not until his college years that the idea of becoming a law enforcement officer became a very real possibility in his eyes.
During Williams’ time at the University of Southern Indiana, he chose to rush Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. It was during his years living in the fraternity house that he came to be very good friends with a young sheriff’s deputy, a past Sig Tau brother himself, who frequently patrolled the area around the Sig Tau fraternity house. This friendship opened the doors to many other friendships in local law enforcement and it was not long before Williams was volunteering at the Sheriff’s Office to see just how much he would enjoy the atmosphere.
Williams thoroughly enjoyed his volunteer time at the Sheriff’s Office and when the opportunity came for him to become a guard in the jail, he jumped at the opportunity. It was during this time that Williams buckled down and committed himself to pass the test required for anyone wishing to become a deputy. This also included having a radial keratotomy to correct his vision to meet the vision requirements of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. He continued working the 3rd shift as a jailer until he was finally offered a job as a deputy in 1989.
Sheriff Williams gives much of the credit for his career in law enforcement to the young deputy that encouraged him to dip his feet into the water. That young deputy and fraternity brother of William’s was Brad Ellsworth. Ellsworth and Williams have developed a strong friendship through their years of public service. Upon the completion of Sheriff Ray Hamner’s administration, Ellsworth was strongly encouraged by many of the other deputies to take a run at the sheriff’s office himself. He chose to do so and was rewarded with the Sheriff’s title and the ensuing responsibilities.
Upon Ellsworth’s election to the Sheriff’s position, it came time for him to appoint a chief deputy to serve directly under himself. Ellsworth’s selection for the position, now Lieutenant Eric Williams. “Brad Ellsworth is large to credit for my career path,†Williams said. “The knowledge I gained while serving as Ellsworth’s chief deputy gave me the knowledge and desire to run for the sheriff position once his administration came to a close.â€
After months of campaigning, Williams rose the victor and newly elected Sheriff, as Ellsworth moved on to serve as the elected U.S. Congressman for Indianan’s 8th district. Williams considers himself extremely blessed to serve Vanderburgh County as the Sheriff, “I am honored that the people of Vanderburgh County trust me to keep them and their families safe at home, at work and where they play.
Former Sheriff Williams’s also said “that he has many things to be proud of from his many years of dedicated service to the community. His proudest accolades, however, involve the development of his deputies throughout his administration. He is proud of both the deputies hired by himself as well as those that came before his administrationâ€.
When he retired as Sheriff in 2014 he took a position with Old National Bank as the Senior Vice President, Director of Security; Old National Bank, Evansville IN.
Mr. Williams serves or has served on the boards of many local organizations, including being a member and Past President of the Board of Directors for Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana, board member for the Red Cross, board member and Past President of Leadership Evansville, board member for Albion Fellows Bacon Center, board member for Marian Education Outreach, board member for the University of Southern Indiana Foundation, former board member for the Southern Indiana Higher Education Foundation and many others. Â Eric Williams and his wife Jude are members of St. James Catholic Church. He and his wife Jude have three children and two grandchildren.
The fact remains that Vanderburgh County was well represented by Eric Williams as the former Sheriff of Vanderburgh County for eight years. The citizens of Vanderburgh County owe him a big thanks for a job well done.
“READERS FORUM” FEBRUARY 13, 2019
We hope that today’s “READERS FORUMâ€Â will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?Â
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
Todays“Readers Poll†question is: Do you feel that its time that our elected officials be held accountable for the bad business decisions they make in our behalf?
Please go to our link of our media partner Channel 44 News located in the upper right-hand corner of the City-County Observer so you can get the up-to-date news, weather, and sports.
If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us at City-County Observer@live.com
FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.
Senators Mike Braun, Rick Scott Work to End Taxpayer-Funded Congressional Pensions
While Congress remains stuck in gridlock and edges closer to the February 15th deadline for funding the government while securing our border, today U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced legislation through the End Pensions in Congress (EPIC) Act. Currently, Members of Congress are eligible for their federal pension after just five years of service. The amount of the pension depends on years of service and the average of the highest three years of salary. For example, career politician Nancy Pelosi has been in Congress for 33 years, and if she were to retire today, her annual taxpayer-funded pension would be over $102,000.
This legislation would end taxpayer-funded congressional pensions, aligning with President Trump’s agenda of draining the swamp in Washington.
“It’s time we make Washington more like the private sector and the best place to start is to end taxpayer-funded pensions – like Nancy Pelosi’s six-figure annual pension – that senators and congressmen are entitled to in retirement,â€Â said U.S. Senator Mike Braun. “If we remove the luxurious perks from Congress, we’ll get better leaders: that’s why I’ll never accept my Senate pension and, if forced to, I pledge to donate every penny to Hoosier charities.â€
“I’m proud to introduce this bill ending taxpayer-funded congressional pensions. I’ve been in Washington a month and I can already see how dysfunctional it is. When Congress failed to do their job and created the longest government shutdown in history, hardworking Americans were forced to go without pay while members of Congress were still collecting paychecks. That is wrong and is exactly why I’m fighting to reform Washington,â€Â said U.S. Senator Rick Scott. “It’s time for term limits and it’s time to make those in D.C. realize that the era of career politicians is over. Americans should not have to foot the bill for generous salaries and pensions for members of Congress, and I’m proud to be working on common sense solutions to make Washington work for families across the nation.â€
AG Curtis Hill Reaches $269.2 Million Settlement With Walgreens Over Alleged Fraud And Over Billing
Attorney General Curtis Hill announced that Indiana has joined the United States, the District of Columbia and other states in settling two qui tam (whistleblower) lawsuits against Walgreens Boots Alliance (Walgreens).
The agreements resolve allegations that Walgreens knowingly engaged in fraudulent over-dispensing of insulin pens to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and billed Medicaid for certain prescription drugs at rates higher than its usual and customary rates. Walgreens, headquartered in Deerfield, Ill., and incorporated in Delaware, operates the largest retail pharmacy chain in the United States with 8,309 locations across all 50 states.
Attorney General Hill, through his office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, participated in the investigations and negotiations leading to these settlements.
“It is troubling, to say the least, whenever companies overcharge the Medicaid program through fraudulent or otherwise improper tactics,†Attorney General Hill said. “Many Hoosiers find such conduct especially disconcerting when it comes from well-established companies they have come to know and trust. My staff and I are totally committed to holding businesses accountable whether they are large or small, known or unknown. Safeguarding the funds that are meant to provide health care to the neediest Hoosiers is one of our highest priorities.â€
Insulin Pens Settlement
Under the Insulin Pens Settlement, Walgreens will pay the United States and the states $209.2 million. Of this amount, $89.1 million will go to the state Medicaid programs to resolve civil allegations that Walgreens’ unlawful over-dispensing of insulin pens caused false claims to be submitted to the Medicaid health care programs. As part of the settlement, Indiana Medicaid will receive $2.9 million in restitution and another recovery.
The investigation resulted from a qui tam action alleging that from Jan. 1, 2006, through Dec. 31, 2017, Walgreens knowingly over-dispensed insulin pens and overbilled government programs in violation of the federal False Claims Act and similar state statutes.
Pursuant to the settlement, Walgreens admitted to programming its computer system to define a full box of five insulin pens as the minimum dispensing package size. This definition prevented Walgreens pharmacists from being able to dispense fewer than five pens even though a patient’s prescription called for fewer pens than a box of five. Thus, Walgreens repeatedly reported information to state Medicaid programs different from, and lower than, the correctly calculated supply according to standard pharmacy practice and as required by state pharmacy laws. This resulted in state Medicaid programs paying for a substantial number of claims that the programs would not have approved if Walgreens had reported the correct supply of medication based on the prescription. This conduct also opened the door to potential healthcare risks and abuse, such as the improper resale of insulin pens on the Internet.
A National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU) Team conducted the investigation and participated in the settlement negotiations with Walgreens on behalf of the states. Attorney General Hill thanked three of his staff members – Deputy Attorney General Steve Hunt, Investigator Diane Hedges, and Data Analyst Gwen Taylor – for their efforts in leading the NAMFCU Team in its investigation and settlement of this matter.
Discount Drug Pricing Settlement
Under the Discount Drug Pricing Settlement, Walgreens will pay the United States and the states $60 million. Of this amount, $27.9 million will go to the state Medicaid programs to resolve civil allegations that Walgreens submitted claims to the state Medicaid programs in which the prices it identified as the usual and customary prices for certain prescription drugs that it sold through its Prescription Savings Club (“PSCâ€) program were higher than the prices it charged for those drugs under the PSC program. This practice allegedly enabled Walgreens to get more money in reimbursements from the state Medicaid programs than the amounts to which it was legally entitled. As part of the settlement, Indiana Medicaid will receive $953,742.96 in restitution and another recovery.
This investigation resulted from a qui tam action alleging that from Jan. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2017, Walgreens knowingly failed to follow statutorily prescribed reimbursement guidelines and misrepresented the usual and customary prices for prescription drugs. As a result, Walgreens allegedly overbilled government programs in violation of the federal False Claims Act and similar state statutes.
A National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU) Team including representatives from the Office of the Indiana Attorney General conducted the settlement negotiations with Walgreens on behalf of the states.
Bob Jones Named To Teacher Compensation Commission
 Bob Jones Named Teacher Compensation Commission
Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced the volunteer citizen members of the Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission as a part of his effort to make teacher pay competitive with surrounding states.
The commission has been tasked with determining what constitutes competitive teacher compensation in Indiana and with providing recommendations for how to achieve it. The commission will deliver the recommendations to the governor and the General Assembly prior to the 2021 legislative session.
Commission Members
·        Commission Chairman Michael L. Smith (Indianapolis), former chairman, president and CEO of Mayflower Group and former executive vice president and CFO of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
·        Jená Bellezza (Gary), COO of Indiana Parenting Institute
·        Tom Easterday (Zionsville), former senior executive vice president, secretary & chief legal officer for Subaru of Indiana Automotive
·        Marianne Glick (Indianapolis), chair of the Eugene & Marilyn Glick Family Foundation and board member of the Gene B. Glick Company
·        Bob Jones (Evansville), chairman and CEO of Old National Bancorp
·        Katie Jenner (Madison), vice president of K-12 initiatives and statewide partnerships at Ivy Tech
·        Nancy Jordan (Fort Wayne), senior vice president of Lincoln Financial Group
The commission will be supported by an advisory council that will provide further knowledge and expertise.
Advisory Council Members
·        Melissa Ambre (Noblesville), director of the Office of School Finance for the Indiana Department of Education
·        Lee Ann Kwiatkowski (Greenwood), senior education advisor to Gov. Holcomb
·        Emily Holt (Arcadia), math teacher at Westfield High School
·        Dan Holub (Indianapolis), executive director of the Indiana State Teachers Association
·        Denise Seger (Granger), chief human resource officer for Concord Community Schools in Elkhart
·        David Smith (Evansville), superintendent of Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
In addition to creating the commission, Gov. Holcomb has proposed increasing K-12 funding by two percent in the first year of the state’s budget and then an additional 2 percent increase in the second year of the budget.
Gov. Holcomb also proposed paying off a pension liability that schools currently pay. This state investment will save all local schools an estimated $140 million over the next biennium with continued savings in the years following.
The commission will gather for an organizational meeting in the near future.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT BLAYLOCK PUSHES UP TRASH PICK UP RATES!
THE NEW-HARMONY GAZETTE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT BLAYLOCK PUSHES UP TRASH PICK UP RATES!
by: Dan Barton, Publisher February 2019 Edition
As I reported in the January edition of the New Harmony Gazette, Council President Alvin Blaylock attempted in December 2018 to get an increase in the Town’s Trash Pick-Up rates, from $8 to a new rate of $10 per month, that’s a 25% increase. Now, it may not sound like much to some folks, but if you’re living on Social Security Income the new annual Trash Pick-Up rate increase of $24 per year is just another hit on your already meager income. Mr. Blaylock couldn’t get a motion from any of the Council-members in December and so he wasn’t able to get the rate increase passed at that Council meeting. But he promised the Council- members that he would try again in January 2019, and he did.
At the January meeting, Councilman Blaylock again asked the Council for a motion to increase the rates, and he got it. Councilman Watson made the motion and Councilman Wade seconded. Reluctantly. Even so, the Council-members still rubber stamped it through, though Roger Wade had said at the December meeting that the current contract with Advanced Disposal, would be up on January 1st, 2020.
Blaylock argued at the January meeting that the total income the Town of New Harmony receives per month from all customers for Trash Pick-Up is $3,584 and the total monthly expense paid out to Advanced Disposal was $3,735. He said that the Town is running a deficit of $151 per month on the Trash Collection Fund. That would seem to be running $1,812 annually in the red. Sure enough, if you were to do the math the way Alvin Blaylock does the math it would look like you were running an accumulated deficit over that twelve month period in the amount of $1,812. But deficits are not determined month to month from strictly cash inflow and outflow. Particularly since there was a positive balance in the Trash Collection Fund at the end of 2018 of $3,470. With that balance brought forward as a 2019 opening balance of $3,470, the Trash Fund would still have $1,658 left in the Trash Collection account after all of the annual income and expenses are calculated. No deficit!
That could be why Councilman Roger Wade questioned Blaylock’s reasoning at the December meeting when Blaylock asked for the rate increase. It is premature to implement an increase, given that there will be a new contract in 2020 and the possibility of another increase again at that time under these circumstances. It can easily be held off for one year. So why the rush, Alvin? Why pay something up front under a false set of circumstances, when you don’t have to? Anybody who balances a checkbook knows that you have to bring the balance forward to determine whether or not an account is in balance, month by month or annually and to know if you are truly running in the red.
This is just another example of Blaylock’s mystical reasoning that will cost New Harmony residents a little more money over the next twelve months that they shouldn’t have to pay. Maybe not much, in Blaylock’s mind. But it’s also not necessary. You folks can do the math yourself.
Does something smell funny about Blaylock’s new math?
THE RESULTS ARE IN
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Banterra Bank/School of Business Panel Discussion
Banterra Bank/School of Business Panel Discussion
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m in Room 34 at Ivy Tech Community College Evansville Campus
Banterra Bank is sponsoring a panel discussion with members of their team assisting Ivy Tech students. Officials will share their tips on how students learn can learn how to land their dream job and advance their career to their next level.
Professionals and Hiring Managers from Banterra Bank are eager to share their personal experiences and the do’s and don’ts of interviewing, Networking and Navigating a Career Fair in a panel discussion designed just for Ivy Tech students.
This event is free and open to all Ivy Tech students.
St. Vincent Evansville Birth Announcements for February 13, 2019
Trista Stephens and William Blaine, Evansville, son, Elijah Cole Ronald, January 31
Ashley Huot and Michael French, Oakland City, IN, son, Adalyn Ray, February 4
Courtnay and David Nevil, Evansville, son, Luke Robert, February 4
Chelsea and Adam Barchet, Evansville, daughter, Maxine Leigh, February 4
Arli and Tony Yates Jr., Evansville, daughter, Willow Sue, February 4
Brittany Molina, Evansville, son, Milan Cole, February 4
Ashley Steele and Joshua Davis, Evansville, daughter, Paizley Jasper, February 5
Chelsea Clark and George Proctor, Boonville, IN, daughter, Autumn Rose, February 5
Ashli and Landon Robinson, Oakland City, IN, son, Krew David, February 5
Crystal Jordan, Evansville, daughter, Remington Zariah Gracelyn, February 6
Joann and Derek Hunter, Evansville, son, Malakhai Truth, February 6
Stephanie and Dustin Hunt, Evansville, son, Andrew William, February 6
Courtney and Don Haas, Boonville, IN, son, Grant Warren, February 7
Kenna and Heath Harrison, Oakland City, IN, son, Boone McCoy, February 8