“READERS FORUM” SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
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? WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?Â
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?
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Indiana Needs More Resources To Treat Opioid Addiction, Panel Told
Indiana Needs More Resources To Treat Opioid Addiction, Panel Told
By James Polston
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana has come a long way in the battle with opioids but the state needs to continue to do more, Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, said during a committee meeting Thursday.
“As a state, we need to do anything and everything we can to help those who are addicted get the help they need to recover and live a better, healthier life,†Merritt said in a statement released after the Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services meeting Thursday.
The committee met to discuss resources available for addiction treatment and the impact that opioid treatment programs have had on the areas they serve.
“It’s not over, it’s not going to be over soon,†Merritt said during the meeting. “But we have come strides and we have the tools out there.â€
Merritt said the state needs more treatment facilities, doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.
“We need to continue to work on destroying this opponent, this stigma, this epidemic, really, this monster,†Merritt said.
During Merritt’s presentation, he noted that the state has opened five new Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) since June, raising the number of OTPs to 18 in 15 cities.
Merritt also said there are eight syringe service programs in Indiana, with the ninth opening soon in Marion County. He also said the state has 164 community mental health centers and 60 licensed recovery residences.
Kevin Moore, director of the Division of mental health and addiction said the goal for the state is to have a treatment facility or resource within an hour drive of anywhere in the state.
“Opioid misuse negatively affects not only individuals but also our economy,†Merritt said.
A 2018 study by the Indiana Business Review shows that Indiana has sustained $43.3 billion in economic damages to date as a result of opioid misuse.
“This number includes direct costs, which are losses associated with products and services to combat the epidemic, and indirect costs, which are losses to gross state product due to lost work productivity,†Merritt said. “Having ongoing discussions on this crisis is critical as we form a plan of attack for the upcoming legislative session.â€
FOOTNOTE: James Polston is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Find-A-Parent Wristbands Available For Fall Festival
Find-A-Parent Wristbands Available For Fall Festival
SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2018 
TYRONE MORRIS EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
To combat this, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office will have free Find-a-Parent wristbands. Parents can find these wristbands at 11th and Franklin.
The wristbands have a place to print a cell phone number on the back in the event a child and caregiver gets separated.
Preparing for Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure
Preparing for Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure
SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2018 MITCH ANGLE EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
For the past 20 years, one Evansville organization has been on a mission to end breast cancer forever. The Evansville Komen affiliate has given more than $8.3 million for breast health services, with an additional $3.3 million to find a cure.
5,000 individuals have registered for Race For a Cure, and about 500 volunteers will be at Eastland Mall lending a helping hand.
Executive Director Sheila Seiler says the annual race help thousands of women who are not able to get their annual mammogram. Packet pickup and registration begins 7 a,m, on September 30th.
The survivor parade is set to begin at 8 a.m. before the 5K run and walk that begins at 9 a.m.
Individuals wanting to be involved can get more information by clicking here.
Bikers Leave For 300 Mile Trip, Supporting EVSC Students In Need
Bikers Leave For 300 Mile Trip, Supporting EVSC Students In Need
SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2018 JOYLYN BUKOVAC EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
“What started this was we learned that in the EVSC last year 21,000 times kids couldn’t pay their lunch fees,†says Phil Mowrey, Senior Partner of Grin. Their goal is to raise awareness of the EVSC Foundation’s “Student Response Fund†which helps students whose basic needs aren’t met. They are hoping to raise $10,000. “It’s a pretty big deficit in the lunch fund. We are trying to take a dent out of that.â€
Officials say this money will help pay for various needs of Evansville students including their lunches, eyeglasses, and clothing. This bike ride is expected to take four days, and officials say they couldn’t have done it without the support of the community.
“This is a lot more expensive than we might have imagined,†says Mowrey.
One of their sponsors says they are glad they got to help make this event possible.
“This is a great thing to do, and we are very happy to be participants in the event,†says Gib Riffle, Marketing Director of ProRehab.
Grin says so far they have raised $7,500. They hope they can gain momentum to carry them into next year.
“This is our first year doing this. We hope next year we can gain some speed and we will start putting more money on it,†says Mowrey.
If you would like make a pledge to their cause click here.
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AG Curtis Hill warns Hoosiers about callers claiming to represent Social Security Administration
Attorney General Curtis Hill is warning Hoosiers to beware of scam callers trying to obtain people’s personal information by claiming to represent the Social Security Administration.
In recent days, the Office of the Attorney General has received several dozen calls from Hoosiers reporting robocalls from such impostors. Upon answering their phones, these individuals heard recordings stating they were being monitored on suspicion of illegal activity. Those receiving the calls were told they must call back or else their Social Security numbers would be canceled.
Anyone receiving these calls should immediately hang up and report the calls to the Office of the Attorney General at indianaconsumer.comor by calling 1-800-382-5516.
“Do not give out your personal information over the phone to these kinds of callers,†Attorney General Hill said. “The perpetrators of these hoaxes are trying to steal your identity in order to make fraudulent purchases or commit other wrongdoing.â€
Anyone needing to contact the Social Security Administration may call the agency’s customer service line at 800-772-1213.