- The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office has received a report of a Secret Shopper Scam targeting Vanderburgh County residents.
The scam is disguised as a legitimate Secret Shopper offer. Scammers mail a packet to an unsuspecting resident. The packet includes a check, which the prospective Secret Shopper is encouraged to cash. Some of the money is to be used to Mystery Shop retail stores (with a predetermined amount left over for the Secret Shopper to keep as payment). The letter advertises a bonus if the job is completed within 24 hours.
The supplied check or money order is fake, but looks legitimate enough for the initial deposit to be placed into the victim’s account. Once the check is processed and the fraud detected, the bank removes the funds from the account (often taking the victim’s account into a negative balance).
The fraud can go undetected for up to a week. By the time the bank removes the funds, the victim has already purchased gift cards and supplied the scammer with the serial numbers. The scammer unloads the cards, leaving the victim with worthless cards and a negative balance in their checking account.
Click Here to view an example letter that came in a fraudulant Secret Shopper packet received by a local resident. The victim lost over a thousand of dollars in the scam.
Secret Shopper Scam
Oct. 5 is Energy Efficiency Day; Vectren reminds customers of ways to save energy
Vectren is joining other utilities, advocates and government agencies in recognizing the third annual, nationwide Energy Efficiency Day by reminding customers of ways to save energy.
“Helping our customers understand the ways they can decrease energy usage is a top priority,†said Brad Ellsworth, president of Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana-South. “Not only on Energy Efficiency Day, but throughout the year, we are committed to working with our customers to conserve energy and save money.â€
Join the thousands of people and businesses across the U.S. taking action to save energy and money by following these energy efficiency tips:
- Make the switch to LED bulbs, which last at least 25 times longer and consume up to 90 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs. Vectren provides instant discounts at participating retailers.
- Look for the ENERGY STAR® label when purchasing new appliances – you will be confident you’ve purchased an appliance that meets the highest of efficiency standards.
- Regularly clean and/or replace your air conditioner filter to help your unit run at full efficiency and supply better air flow.
- Have your furnace maintained annually by a qualified technician and check your air filter monthly. Having a professional inspection of your heating system on a regular basis will help lower your heating bills 3 to 10% as well as maximize the life of your furnace.
- Keep your central air conditioning unit running more efficiently by adding an air purifier to your home. Air purifiers remove dust and small particles from the air before it is returned to the air conditioning system and Vectren offers a $25 rebate to help cover the cost
- Reduce energy costs and increase comfort with a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat can maximize your energy savings without the hassle of manually adjusting your thermostat. Rebates up to $75 can help offset the cost.
- Caulk and weather strip around windows and doors to keep the warm air from escaping. These two simple air sealing techniques pay for themselves in energy savings within one year.
Customers should also take advantage of Vectren’s online energy tools to pinpoint ways to save energy in the home by using actual data from energy bills. The free resources include an online energy assessment, customized tips based on the size of the home and usage, and a comparison tool to show how an individual’s usage might compare to similar homes. To use the online energy tools, customers must log in to their Vectren.com account. For more information on Vectren’s energy efficiency programs, visit www.vectren.com/saveenergy.
To learn more about Energy Efficiency Day, visit www.energyefficiencyday.org.
Two Arrested after using Facebook Messenger to Allegedly Sell Meth
Warrick County – Yesterday morning at approximately 10:10, Trooper John Davis was contacted by an individual that had been contacted by another individual via Facebook Messenger about purchasing a quarter gram of meth for $400. After communicating with Trooper Davis, the individual agreed to purchase the meth to assist law enforcement and set up a location for the transaction. The person allegedly selling the meth agreed to meet his new client on SR 61 near Dogwood Lane north of Boonville and would be driving a burgundy Toyota Camry. Troopers were in the area and at approximately noon, Trooper Davis observed the driver of the Toyota Camry abruptly turn left into a private driveway without signaling. Davis initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as Stephen Robinson, 46, of Cynthiana, and his passenger as Alison Roettger, 32, of Chandler. When Robinson was instructed to exit the vehicle officers observed a small plastic bag containing meth on the front seat where he had been sitting. Troopers continued to search the vehicle and found two electronic scales, two syringes, another baggie containing meth and drug paraphernalia. The two baggies combined contained approximately 7.4 grams of meth. Robinson and Roettger were arrested and transported to the Warrick County Jail where they are currently being held on bond.
 Arrested and Charges:
- Stephen Robinson, 46, Cynthiana, IN
- Alison Roettger, 32, Chandler, IN
- Dealing Meth over 5 grams, Level 3 Felony
- Possession of Meth, Level 5 Felony
- Possession of a Syringe, Level 6 Felony
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2019 CITY BUDGET BY MEMBERS OF THE EVANSVILLE CITY COUNCIL
- Amendment 1 (Weaver): This amendment calls for a $3 million cut from the budget to line items designated and specified by the administration. If this amendment passes, the Council tables final passage of a budget until October 22nd in order to allow the administration to identify and propose its specific cuts.
- Amendment 2 (McGinn & Elpers): This proposes cutting the City’s $130,000 contract with New Hope for a Highway 41 bus service.
- Amendment 3 (McGinn): This proposes reducing the grant to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund from $500,000 to $100,000.
- Amendment 4 (Adams): This holds in abeyance the grant to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund allocation from $500,000 to $0 until City Council has received the Affordable Housing Trust Fund’s first two quarterly financial reports in 2019 for review and approval. After such approval, the City Council will entertain a new appropriation of $500,000 for the Fund.
- Amendment 5 (McGinn & Elpers): This proposes cutting all non-profit grants by 25% except for I-69 Bridgelink and UNOE.
- Amendment 5A (Mercer): This proposes cutting all non-profit grants by 25% except for I-69 Bridgelink, UNOE, Leadership Evansville, and SWIRCA.
- Amendment 6 (Elpers): This amendment reduces the City’s contribution to employee health insurance premiums by $10.00 per month ($120 per year) for each employee, which will have the effect of requiring employees to increase their share of health insurance premiums by $10.00 per month ($120 per year). This would not apply to Teamsters since they are on their own health insurance plan.
FOOTNOTE: The above amendments shall be discussed at Mondays City Council meeting and are subject to changes as deemed by City Council members.Â
McCormick Wants LGBTQ Safeguards For Vouchers
McCormick Wants LGBTQ Safeguards For Vouchers
By James Polston
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS — The State Superintendent of Public Instruction said Monday she wants an inclusive K-12 environment for every school that receives public dollars via vouchers.
“This is one that we feel is very important,†McCormick said. “We don’t think any school that takes public dollars should be excluding any of our kids.â€
In 2011, Indiana lawmakers passed a school voucher law that allows any student to take state money that is normally distributed to the public school they attend and gives the state money to the private school of his or her choice.
Private schools have the option to accept or deny students at their discretion — setting up the opportunity for a private school to deny a student based on sexual orientation, gender or disability.
Lighthouse Christian Academy, located in Bloomington, was in the national spotlight last year because the school’s admission brochure stated the school reserves the right to deny admission to LGBTQ students because of their lifestyle choices but the school said they have never turned down a student due to their sexual orientation.
McCormick said she would like to see an inclusive adult environment, along with K-12.
Earlier this year, Roncalli High School was in the national media after the school suspended a long-term guidance counselor because she is married to a woman.
“Our Catholic schools are humbled to serve students of diverse backgrounds and we welcome all students and families who desire a quality Catholic education,†said Superintendent of Catholic Schools Gina Fleming in a statement released by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. “We are inclusive of students aligned to our mission, regardless of gender, race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and learning need.â€
McCormick said that members of the LGBTQ community are three times more likely to contemplate suicide and five more times likely to attempt suicide.
That concerns her.
“Our concern that we still have schools that are allowed to have policies that are exclusionary of kids that fall under that umbrella and we don’t think that’s acceptable,†McCormick said.
Regarding potential changes to the voucher legislation, Fleming said she will continue to advocate for parental choice and religious liberties.
“We will continue to advocate for parental choice and religious liberties to be upheld in ways that empower people to make choices regarding their child’s education that are aligned to their values and beliefs,†Fleming said.
FOOTNOTE: James Polston is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Two Arrests Made In Child Neglect Case
Two Arrests Made In Child Neglect Case
OCTOBER 4TH, 2018 
JOYLYN BUKOVAC INDIANA
They are being held in the Posey County Jail and are facing charges of neglect of a dependent. Officials say neither one of them are the child’s parent, but they are the residents of the apartment where the child was allegedly staying.
“The two people who were arrested both live at the house where the child had been staying. It was not the parents’ house. We believe they were friends of the parents of the child and that’s really all I can say about that right now,†says Chief Tony Alldredge of Mt. Vernon Police Department.
The child was treated at a local hospital. There’s no update on that child’s condition tonight.