We hope that today’s “READERS FORUM” 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?

IS IT TRUE that a legacy downtown activity that was established by GAGE in 2007 is being allowed to die?…when the summer of 2019 comes along the long-standing Farmers Market that has been in the lot behind the Greyhound Bus station will not open for the season?…the market has not been without controversy as since 2010 there has been a continual drumbeat alleging that some of the vendors are not farmers at all and some are not even local?…this particular Farmers Market after starting out as planned has evolved into something that the townspeople thought was a lot more market than it was farmers market?…these kinds of markets are generally liked and do draw people downtown and this Farmers Market has been no exception?…the CCO hopes to see another option for authentic farmer’s products in downtown Evansville soon?

IS IT TRUE that the University of Evansville Purple Aces are leading the Missouri Valley Conference in attendance with over 5,000 people per game showing up at the Ford Center?…some people are quoting the  scriptures by saying “the first shall be last and the last shall be first”?…in the case of the 2019 Evansville Aces that is completely true as they are first in attendance and absolutely last in the winning column?…with only 4 conference wins and a losing season assured the last in winning and the first in attendance both have a home in Evansville?…the attendance is because of the enthusiasm for our new coach Walter McCarty and the honeymoon will probably last another couple of years?…eventually the legacy rule that winning games sells tickets will prevail?…in the long run if the Aces can’t compete in the MVC the attendance will go back to the paltry levels of the last 7 years at the Ford Center?

IS IT TRUE that Metallica has been booked to do a concert at Louisville’s YUM Center on March 9, 2019?…this is one of the bands that the chorus of silliness said would come to Evansville if only we built a downtown arena with a strong roof?…it must be noted that Metallica did play at Roberts Stadium and has not yet graced the stage at Ford Center?…with Metallica is only 110 miles away, someone at Ford Center should call the Bay Area rockers up and book a concert at Ford Center?…such a booking, while Metallica is such a large draw, would go a long way toward resurrecting the credibility of the build an arena for a stronger roof crowd?

An Indiana legislator wants an investigation into the possible impeachment of state Attorney General Curtis Hill over allegations he drunkenly groped a female lawmaker and three female legislative staffers at a bar.

Democratic Rep. Ed DeLaney of Indianapolis said he submitted the request Thursday asking that the House Judiciary Committee investigate Hill’s conduct and whether he should remain in office.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb and other state officials called for the GOP attorney general’s resignation after the allegations became public in July. But Republican leaders have shown no signs of taking action against Hill since a special prosecutor declined in October to pursue any criminal charges against the AG, who has denied wrongdoing.

That was despite a state inspector general’s report in which witnesses said he inappropriately touched Democratic Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon and three female legislative staffers last March during a party at an Indianapolis bar to celebrate the end of the legislative session.

DeLaney said he believes the Legislature shouldn’t ignore the misconduct included in the report.

“I would hope that we would have a hearing,” DeLaney told The Associated Press. “I would hope that if the attorney general has a defense he would come and make it instead of just a blanket denial.”

The AP typically does not name victims of sexual misconduct, but Reardon went public with her accusations.

Action on DeLaney’s motion, which is co-sponsored by three other Democratic House members, is in the hands of Republicans, who hold a commanding 67-33 House majority.

The motion also faces questions about the Legislature’s authority to impeach and remove the attorney general from office since the position was created under state law and not included in the Indiana Constitution.

Hill has largely remained out of the public eye since holding a news conference shortly after the allegations became public in July, calling them “vicious and false.” He didn’t respond to questions about whether he was calling the women liars.

Hill’s office didn’t immediately reply Thursday to a request seeking comment on DeLaney’s motion.

Republican Rep. Jerry Torr of Carmel, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said while he didn’t excuse Hill’s alleged actions, the incidents happened during a private party off state property and wasn’t related to his duties as attorney general.

Hill, whose term runs through 2020, would have to win re-nomination during that year’s state Republican convention to appear on the ballot.

Torr said that’s how Hill’s future should be decided, rather than through an impeachment effort.

“It would be a big distraction and we’ve got a lot of important work to do this session,” Torr said. “I’m pretty sure voters or, in this case, delegates to the convention will sort this out.”