We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” 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 vigilant reporter Jon Webb of the Evansville Courier has outed another local action that leaves one shaking their head in disbelief?…this time he has exposed that the unique Picasso on glass that the Evansville Museum was lost in a vault for decades that is reportedly worth some $40 Million has not been made available for local residents to enjoy?…it has also has not been leveraged through leasing to generate a single dime of income for the Evansville Museum?… If an object of art like this one were leased to bigger Metropolitan museums, it could easily fetch between $3 to $4 million dollars per year for the operating budget of the Evansville Museum?…the reality is that the Evansville Museum’s fortunate discovery of a decades-old donation is costing them money for storage, insurance, maintenance and other fee-based expenses associated with exotic art?…the Evansville Museum is not even forthcoming with information about this Picasso?…the choice to let this treasure of the art world languish as a money sink as opposed to a cash-generating inspiration for many is not only mind-boggling, it is hard to believe?…leaving $3 to $4 million dollars per year on the table isn’t being financially responsible?…it seems as though one folly begat another?…significant art like other things of substance calls for good stewardship and that is something that Evansville Museum  leadership needs to wok on?

IS IT TRUE that the EVSC Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Smith opposes giving a reasonable hourly pay increase to part-time of the off-duty officers doing security work at our schools? …we urge any parent who appreciates the excellent work that the EPD part-time of the off-duty officers do to ensure the safety of our children please attend the next EVSC School Board meeting and voice your support for them?

Is It True we are told that several businesses located on Main Street promoted circus elephants to stop in front of their stores on Main Street on Wednesday, November 21 (a day before Thanksgiving)?  …we are told there was a severe OUTCRY from many local people, including Animal Rights Protection and Zoology groups who were lashing out at the Main Street business owners, Hadi Shriners and all others who promoted this “Elephant Walk” on Main Street?  …we are told that Evansville Deputy Mayor, Steven Schaefer defended the downtown Main Street “Elephant Walk” on social media? ….we are told that the Evansville Chamber of Commerce asked a VOLUNTEER to resign as an “Ambassador” just because she publicly opposed the downtown “Elephant Walk?

IS IT TRUE during the recent Annual Indiana Association Of County Commissioners (IACC) Conference held in Indy we were told that Vanderburgh County Commissioners Cheryl Musgrave and Ben Shoulders were seen having lunch with a consulting firm who wants to do business with the county?  …we were told when the consulting firm offered to pick up the tab for their lunch Commissioners Musgrave and Shoulder said “no” and paid for their own lunch?  …we commend Commissioners Musgrave and Shoulders for doing the right thing?  …we wish that other elected officials in Vanderburgh County would do similar?

IS IT TRUE the most interesting comment we heard in recent months was made by the new Executive Director of ECHO Housing, Chris Metz when he declared that ECHO Housing Corp. was the victim of a crime and is not under investigation? …we would like to remind Mr. Metz that the real victims of the ECHO Housing Corp. crime are the homeless veterans, the disabled, abused children, the chronically unemployed and homeless families?  …we wonder if the criminal investigation by the EPD and the Forensic Audit will clear all of the ECHO Housing key employees and their Board of Directors of any wrongdoing?  …we wonder when will the information in the Forensic Audit and a copy of the EPD Criminal investigation report will be made public?  …we hope that any employee or vendor of ECHO Housing who is found guilty of stealing money that the authorities will throw their “asses in jail”?

IS IT TRUE we find it extremely interesting that several individuals who served on the ECHO Housing Board Of Directors during the time that a large sum of taxpayers dollars was discovered missing are still members of the board?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville Thunderbolts Hockey team is the last place team in the Southern Professional Hockey League?  …they are also ranked 8 out of 10 in the SPHL attendance standings?  …the former Evansville Icemen are members of the ECHL and has an impressive won and loss record of 13 and 7? …that they are ranked number one (1) in the EHL Southern Conference?  …they are also ranked number five (5) in attendance in the ECHL 27 teams roster with a record of 5,390 attendees per game? …the Evansville Thunderbolts are heavily subsidized by the Evansville taxpayers?  …that the Jacksonville Icemen do not receive any public assistance from any governmental entity?  …the Jacksonville Icemen are operating in the black and the Evansville Thunderbolts are operating in the red?

IS IT TRUE before October 3, 2018, we received the “Active Vanderburgh County Felony Charges” report from County Prosecutor Nick Hermann office for many years?  …after that date, we haven’t received one report from that office? …that next week the City-County Observer be employing the services of prominent attorney Scott Danks to file a formal complaint with the Indiana Public Access Officer against Mr. Hermanns office for not sending us the “Felony Charges” reports since Oct. 3, 2018?

IS IT TRUE the North Main corridor master plan was designed to replace some street parking, provide an up-to-date bike trail, reduce crime and improve security in that area,  and bring economic development to that area? …it’s been about a year since this project was completed?  …we invite you to go to the North Main corridor area and see what kind of new retail businesses that this $18 million dollar public works project have attracted?

IS IT TRUE in 1998 the Teamsters Local 215 established a Taft-Hartley Scholarship Fund? …the Trustees of the fund are Chuck Whobrey and Rick Voyles as employee Trustees and Gary Staley and Alan Braun as Employer Trustees? ..since 1998 the fund has awarded over $3 Million Dollars in Scholarships to sons and daughters of Teamsters members whose employers contribute to the fund?

Romano Wright was charged with murder in connection to the December 2017 death of Michael Pardee.

Under a plea bargain, Wright agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery. In return, he was sentenced to four year years in prison and the murder charge, as well as several other charges against him, were dropped.

Wright was also sentenced for three years for an unrelated burglary conviction.

The other man involved in the murder, Donavon Thomas, was previously sentenced to 65 years in prison for his role in the crime.

A concerned community member in the South Gibson School Corporation contacted FFRF to report that high school personnel prayed with student-athletes following a football game at Gibson Southern High School.

A photograph posted on social media shows coaching staff for both teams, as well as other adults, bowing their heads in prayer and placing their hands on students, along with the caption, “This is how two of the best football programs in southern Indiana complete a game … the power of prayer — at Gibson County, Indiana.”

The Supreme Court has continually struck down school-sponsored prayer because it constitutes a government endorsement of religion.

Right now, Gibson Southern School Corporation administrators say they’re reviewing the letter.

If you’d like to see the full press release, you can click here.