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CITY OF EVANSVILLE TO STOP PAYING BILLS UNLESS IT’S AN EMERGENCY

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The attached memo was circulated to over 50 people associated with City Government but not to members to the Evansville City Council. We were told by reliable sources that today at noon the At-Large City Councilman Jonathan Weaver and Chairman of the Finance Committee will be filing an amendment to proposed 2019 city budget.  The amendment requests to be filed by Mr. Weaver will demand that  Mayor Winnecke cut his proposed 2019 City Budget by $3 million dollars. 

We have been saying during the last several years that the City of Evansville is spending beyond their means.  All we heard from the Mayor and Controller offices was crickets.  We hope that this memo we prove our claim that the City of Evansville financial condition is extremely questionable. This is definitely a developing story.

COPY OF THE MEMO WAS SENT TO OVER 50 PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH CITY GOVERNMENT BY CITY CONTROLLER RUSS LLOYD JR., CPA.

Effective Thursday, September 27th, the following steps will be implemented:

  1. Any current open full-time positions should remain open until Jan. 1, 2019
  2. Travel not previously scheduled will NOT be approved
  3. Office Supply purchases will NOT be approved unless it is an emergency
  4. The Purchasing Department will review all outstanding unfilled Purchase Orders (POs) for potential closure
  5. Purchases using blanket purchase orders will no longer be approved.  Invoices dated up to 09/27/18 will be paid on existing purchase orders.  Any emergency purchases should be entered on a new requisition.  The actual item required for purchase must be listed on the requisition.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Russell Lloyd, Controller

FOOTNOTE: It looks like former City Council President and Finance Chairman John Friends, CPA predictions that the City Of Evansville deficit spending habits could start catching up with them in the 2018 and 209 budgets years may be spot on. 

 

 

“READERS FORUM” OCTOBER 4, 2018

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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? WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY? 

WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

Todays“Readers Poll” question is Do you feel that Judge Brett Kavanaugh FBI investigation will clear him of any wrongdoing?

If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us City-CountyObserver@live.com

Footnote: City-County Observer Comment Policy.  Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will not be tolerated and shall be removed from our site.
We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language, insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.

 

ETA Recommended Candidates for School Board

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The Local Political Action Committee 20 (LPAC 20), the political action arm of District Council 20 of which the Evansville Teachers Association (ETA) is a member of, proudly announces its recommendations for all four of the EVSC Board of School Trustee positions open this year.

In the At-Large race, LPAC 20 and ETA recommend David Hollingsworth. In the District 1 race, LPAC 20 and ETA recommend Jean Webb.

In the District 2 race (2 positions up for election), LPAC 20 and ETA recommend Ann Ennis and incumbent, Andy Guarino.

In making its decisions, LPAC 20 and ETA looked at answers provided by the candidates in response to a questionnaire sent out earlier, results of face-to- face interviews between the ETA officers and the candidates, and past performance (for incumbents). We believe that each candidate brings something different to the table as a potential school board member.

LPAC 20 and ETA feel strongly that leaders be in place to continue to move the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation forward. In order for this to occur, the above candidates must be elected to the EVSC Board of School Trustees. LPAC 20 and ETA feel that the recommended candidates are up to the challenge!

 

Evansville Airport Won’t Eliminate Three Safety Department Positions

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Evansville Airport Won’t Eliminate Three Safety Department Positions

The Vanderburgh County Commission has decided not to eliminate the three positions from the Evansville Vanderburgh Fire Station at Evansville Regional Airport.

Initially, the airport was planning to cut three positions out of the safety department.

After receiving feedback from the public and the Mayor’s office, County Commissioners voted not to eliminate those positions for now.

The airport will have a chance to resubmit a request to eliminate those positions, though county officials believe the airport will have the necessary funding to pay for all 15 safety positions.

 

Indiana Law Professors Sign Letters Opposing Kavanaugh Confirmation

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Indiana Law Professors Sign Letters Opposing Kavanaugh Confirmation

October 3, 2018

Law professors from all four of Indiana’s law schools have signed letters asking the United States Senate to oppose the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. One letter argues Kavanaugh lacks the temperament to be seated on the nation’s highest court, while the other asserts he was not fully vetted and that his judgments would erode civil and individual rights.

Professors from Indiana University Maurer and Robert H. McKinney schools of law, Notre Dame Law School and Valparaiso University Law School have signed on to at least one of the letters.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the letter questioning Kavanaugh’s temperament had garnered signatures from more than 900 law professors from about 150 law schools. The letter remains open for additional signatures, and its sponsors said it will be delivered to the Senate on Thursday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pledged a full Senate vote on the embattled nominee this week.

During his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week to respond to accusations of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford while both were in high school, “Brett Kavanaugh displayed a lack of judicial temperament that would be disqualifying for any court, and certainly for elevation to the highest court of this land,” one letter says.

The letter says that while the question at issue was painful, Kavanaugh “exhibited a lack of commitment to judicious inquiry. Instead of being open to the necessary search for accuracy, Judge Kavanaugh was aggressive with questioners. … Instead of trying to sort out with reason and care the allegations that were raised, Judge Kavanaugh responded in an intemperate, inflammatory and partial manner, as he interrupted and, at times, was discourteous to questioners.”

As of the last posted update late Tuesday, these Indiana law professors had signed the letter: Cynthia Adams, Shawn Marie Boyne, James Dmitri, Max Huffman, Xuan-Thao Nguyen, and Florence Wagman Roisman, IU McKinney; Pamela Foohey, IU Maurer; and Laura Dooley, Valparaiso.

“We have differing views about the other qualifications of Judge Kavanaugh,” the letter says. “But we are united, as professors of law and scholars of judicial institutions, in believing that Judge Kavanaugh did not display the impartiality and judicial temperament requisite to sit on the highest court of our land.”

Meanwhile, another letter bearing signatures from faculty at all four Indiana law schools urges the Senate to vote against Kavanaugh because of his prior rulings and the available record, which professors said “is only partial and incomplete due to (Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley’s) decision not to requisition all relevant material from the National Archives.” That includes records from Kavanaugh’s tenure in the George W. Bush administration.

More than 500 professors signed this letter, including these from Indiana: Kevin Brown, H. Timothy Lovelace, Jr., Alex Tanford and Deborah Widiss, IU Maurer; Adams, Jennifer Drobac, Frank Emmert, Aila Hoss, Richard Humphrey, Norman Leftstein, Eleanor D. Kinney, Fran Quigley and Wagman Roisman, IU McKinney; Joseph Bauer and Jimmy Gurule, Notre Dame Law School; and Rosalie Berger Levinson from Valparaiso.

The professors said Kavanaugh’s judicial philosophy and history suggest he would shield the president from the rule of law, undermine affordable health care, overturn or gut Roe v. Wade and put corporate interests ahead of the rights of people, among other things.

“The key question facing the Senate and American people with this nomination is whether to allow the Court to continue on its present course of eroding key constitutional rights and legal protections for decades, or insist on a nominee sensitive to equal rights, social justice, and to the needs of contemporary society,” the letter says. “The stakes in this nomination debate could not be higher.”

DEMOCRATIC CALENDAR

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MONDAY Post Card Writing with Edie Hardcastle
October 8 11:30 to 1:30
Lamasco Bar and Grill
1331 W. Franklin
PIZZA
******************************** **********************************************************************
MONDAY
October 8 City Council Meeting Civic Center Rm 301
5:30
WEDNESDAY
OCT 10
HRC Dinner
FRIDAY
October 12
Shoulders Golf Scramble
OCTOBER 9
LAST DAY OF VOTER REGISTRATION!!
7:00 PM Old National Events Plaza
$35.00
Guest Speaker Dolores Huerta
Helfrich Hills
7:00AM Registration
8:00 AM Shotgun Start
9 holes or 18
$100.00 individual
$500.00 for foursome w/ hole sponsor
contact Rob Henson
‌
BE APART OF THE SOLUTION!!!
VOTE and VOLUNTEER and CONTRIBUTE to your Vanderburgh County Democratic Party!

ANOTHER SERIOUS VIOLENT FELON RELEASED DUE TO THE INCOMPETENCE OF NICK HERMANN’S OFFICE

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ANOTHER SERIOUS VIOLENT FELON RELEASED
DUE TO THE INCOMPETENCE OF NICK HERMANN’S OFFICE

PRESS RELEASE BY STAN LEVCO FOR COUNTY PROSECUTOR

Yesterday, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed Jimmy Joe Small’s conviction for unlawful possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 Felony, and ordered Small released from custody because the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office “failed in its duty to closely monitor the progress of a speedy trial case.”

On August 17, 2017, the police arrested Jimmy Joe Small at a local motel. Inside the room, the police seized methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a .45 caliber pistol that was lying on the bedside table. Small, who had previously been convicted of Dealing in Methamphetamine, was prohibited from possessing any gun.

Small was charged with Count 1: Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 5 Felony; Count 2: Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 5 Felony; Count 3: Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, a Level 6 Felony; Count 4: Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 6 Felony; and Count 5: Maintaining a Common Nuisance, a Level 6 Felony. Small appeared in the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court on October 4, 2017, and demanded a “speedy trial” which meant that the Nick Hermann was required to bring this case to trial within seventy days. The Jury Trial was set to begin on December 13, 2017.

During the initial investigation, the police swabbed the handgun for possible DNA. NickHermann’s Office later obtained permission from the Court to take a sample of Small’s DNA for comparison testing purposes. Despite having permission, Nick Hermann’s Office did nothing to gather Small’s DNA until the week before the trial was set to start. On December 7, 2017, just six (6) days before trial, the Prosecutor’s Office continued the Trial over Small’s objection.

Small’s “speedy trial” began on February 12, 2018. Nick Hermann’s Office dismissed all of the drug charges on the morning of trial. The next day, the Jury announced that they had found Small guilty of the gun charge. The Court sentenced Small on March 12, 2018, to serve ten (10) years in prison.

On October 2, 2018, the Indiana Court of Appeals issued an opinion reversing Small’sconviction because of Nick Hermann’s incompetence. The Court of Appeals ruled that the Prosecutor’s Office failed to make a “reasonable effort” in obtaining Small’s DNA for testing purposes and then stated, “On the facts presented here, therefore, we believe the State’s actions suggest inattentiveness, rather than prudence, and we conclude the State failed in its duty to closely monitor the progress of a speedy trial case.”

Small can never be retried for possessing a firearm as a serious violent felon and he will not serve another day of his original ten (10) year sentence due to the bungling of this case by Nick Hermann and his Office.

For additional information or questions, please contact Stan Levco at 812-499-5613

Fall 2018 Lifelong Learning Courses Now Available For Registration

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The University of Southern Indiana’s Outreach and Engagement released the fall 2018 series of Lifelong Learning noncredit courses. Over 100 courses are now open to the community for registration.

“We are excited to continue to add to our diversified course offerings as we strive to meet the communities’ needs for personal and professional growth,” said Dawn Stoneking, director of Lifelong Learning.

Courses offered each semester include a wide variety of topics to learn and improve life skills. Whether it’s Professional Development or Fitness and Recreation, Lifelong Learning has something for everyone.

These newly developed courses join a collection of popular courses. More information can be found for each course at its respective link:

  • Planning an Herb Garden for Culinary and Medical Uses (Saturday, October 6): Start getting to know your herbs. We discuss different aspects of planning and planting your personal herb garden and how to include wild herbs.
  • Tableau Training (Tuesdays, October 9-23; Tuesdays, October 30-November 13): The need for data skills is on the rise. Known for its ease of use, Tableau has helped decrease the amount of time it takes to create visually appealing and interactive visualizations.
  • Inaugural Southwest Indiana Cyber Workshop (Wednesday, October 24): Are you Cyber Ready? This workshop is aimed at bringing cybersecurity information to the tristate region to help your business be more aware of, better connected to and more deeply immersed in cybersecurity.
  • Herbs –Not Just for Cooking –Harvesting and Conserving (Saturday, November 3): Fresh, wilted, dried and frozen, in water, oil, honey, vinegar and alcohol – learn all the ways to preserve herbs for culinary and medical uses.
  • Having Difficult Conversations Certificate (Wednesday, November 7): When dealing with people, one of the most difficult things we have to do is address a problem through feedback.
  • Using your Smartphone (Thursday, November 8): Does your smartphone make you feel not so smart? Learn how to get the most of your smartphone. This class will help students learn all of the ins and outs of a smartphone.
  • Negotiations and the Art of Influences Others Certificate (Friday, November 30): This course teaches individuals who may not have the authority to direct but need to learn how to influence others in an organization.
  • Advanced Study of Herbs and Their Uses (Saturday, December 1): This class is for people who want to study herbs and their uses in greater detail. We will discuss herbal recipes vs Homeopathic medicine vs essential oils.

Lifelong Learning courses are open to anyone in the community regardless of educational background. The broad range of courses arepresented in a noncompetitive atmosphere, where interest in learning and personal growth is the primary focus. USI alumni receive a 10 percent discount on most courses.

Registration is available online or by calling USI Outreach and Engagement at 812-464-1989. A complete listing of current courses is available at USI.edu/LifelongLearning.