Nora is a 1-year-old female calico cat! She is very affectionate and entertaining in her antics. Strangely enough, she also has a skin allergy to plastic. So like any pampered princess, she’ll do best with ceramic or porcelain food & water bowls in her new home. Her adoption fee is $40 and includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more! Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!
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For the first time ever, the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis will be live streamed. Experience musical history being made while you make friends with this often mysterious instrument.
Outside, browse violin-inspired art pieces created by K-12 students from across the state in partnership with the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis.
Special daily activities will pair with this experience. Plus, don’t miss this opportunity to get up close and personal with violins, violinists and a violin maker.
When: 1 to 3 p.m., Sept. 8 and 9
Price: Included with purchase of general admission Get tickets >>
Enjoy the sounds of the vibrant and talented musicians of the 2018 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (IVCI) as they perform and take questions from visitors to discuss what it’s like to be a young, up-and-coming professional violinist in the 21st century. The IVCI will also feature a modern luthier (maker of stringed instruments) who will share the violin making process including its parts, history, materials and how they all work together to affect the “voice†of the instrument. Musicians will perform for the first 30 minutes of each hour, followed by the Luthier’s presentation for the remaining 30 minutes of each hour. In addition, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Learning Community and IVCI will display a violin “petting zoo†which will have variously-sized violins for visitors to try out.
By James Polston
TheStatehouseFile.com
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. — Gov. Eric Holcomb announced a $1 billion investment in infrastructure projects Tuesday, funded by a 35 percent increase in toll rates for heavy duty vehicles on the Indiana toll road.
“Today we’re sending a big message to the world that Indiana is making a huge investment in our quality of life and for those who inspire to join us,†Holcomb said as he unveiled the infrastructure portion of his 2019 agenda in Martinsville. “We are linking Hoosiers to each other and to the world.â€
The Next Level Connections program will connect Hoosiers digitally, by trails, roads, air, water and railroad with $1 billion that comes from a renegotiated deal with the Indiana Toll Road Concessions Company (ITRCC).Â
Gov. Eric Holcomb unveils a $1 billion infrastructure project. Photo by James Polston, TheStatehouseFile.com
Holcomb said this was the third renegotiated contract with ITRCC since the toll road was created and funded the Major Moves project that former Gov. Mitch Daniels laid out in 2005.Â
The renegotiation allows the ITRCC to raise tolls for three-axel vehicles and more by 35 percent. The ITRCC will pay the state the $1 billion over the next three years, with the first payment of $400 million is expected next month, the second payment of $300 million arriving in October 2019, and the third payment of $300 million landing in October 2020.Â
The ITRCC will also invest $50 million more in upgrades to the toll road in the short term and a total of $500 million over 10 years. The upgrades include installation of smart truck parking system, expansion of overhead message boards, cameras and variable speed signs.
The governor will not need legislative approval because it is a renegotiated deal. The money will be put into Major Moves, the fund set up when the toll road was privatized, and the Indiana Department of Transportation will distribute the money to the administration’s spending priorities.
The announcement has received positive and negative feedback from state lawmakers.
“Dependable infrastructure contributes greatly to Indiana’s economy and quality of life for our citizens,†state Sen. Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, said in a statement. “Ensuring our state has sound transportation and broadband systems is key as we work to continue attracting businesses and talent to our state, and I applaud the governor’s focus on this important issue.â€
But state Rep. B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, said the rate hike will have a negative impact on consumers by increasing the price of products like food and clothing hauled by the trucks. Tolls for the largest vehicles, for example, will increase from $44.46 to $60.02 for the length of the highway.Â
“Gov. Holcomb is proposing yet another tax increase for vehicles traveling the Indiana Toll Road, this time in the form of a hike of more than 30 percent on commercial trucks,†Bauer said in a statement.
The $1 billion investment will be spent on the following infrastructure projects:
The parts that do not fall under the $1 billion spending plan are increasing the INDOT budget from $19 million to $57 million for state highway cleaning and mowing, the option for the state to purchase 725 acres of land in Lawrenceburg to create the state’s fourth water port, and two rail road projects in northern Indiana.
Holcomb will announce the rest if his 2019 agenda in the coming months.
James Polston is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Event is first public display for UE basketball squads
 Hoopfest presented by Heritage Federal Credit Union makes its return in 2018! It will take place on Wednesday, October 17 at the Ford Center.
Doors open at 5 p.m. with the event starting at 6 p.m. The first 350 fans will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Heritage Federal Credit Union. As always, admission is free and tickets are NOT needed for entry.
Hoopfest is your first opportunity to see the Purple Aces men’s and women’s basketball teams. It features intrasquad scrimmages, special contests between players, autographs following the festivities and much more.
This will also mark the first chance for season ticket holders to pick up their tickets for the 2018-19 season.
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
KEVIN WINTERNHEIMER CHAMBERS
ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
12:00 NOON
REVISED AGENDA
1.   CALL TO ORDER
2.   MEETING MEMORANDUM  AUGUST 15, 2018
3.   CONSENT AGENDA                        Â
     a.  Request Re: Approve and Execute Land Use Permit with Southern Indiana Spikes, Inc.
for Wesselmans Field #3-Â Wube
 b.  Request Re: Consideration for reduced admission prices in October at Mesker
Park Zoo & Botanic Garden.- Beck* Â Â Â
       Â
4.   OLD BUSINESS Â
     a.  N/A
Â
5. Â Â Â NEW BUSINESS Â
     a.  Request Re: Approve and Execute Resolution to Approve Parks Project and make determination
        to issue bonds to finance project.- Stahl
b. Â Request Re: Approve and Execute Reimbursement Agreement with cMoe to restore andÂ
   relocate “Millie the Dinosaurâ€Â – Holtz Â
c. Â Request Re: Open Storm Damage Bids for Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden.- Beck*Â Â
d. Â Request Re: Reject Amazonia steel painting prices for Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden.
    –Beck*      Â
     e.  Request Re: Any Other Business the Board Wishes to Consider and Public Comments
*Recommendation from the Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden Advisory Board
6.    REPORTS
      a.  Brian Holtz- Executive Director
      b.  Lisa Wube- Program Director
      Â
7.    ACCEPTANCE OF PAYROLL AND VENDOR CLAIMS
Â
8.    ADJOURN
We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUEâ€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?
IS IT TRUEÂ we are told that Mayor Winnecke will be announcing this week that he plans to build a new $28 million dollars Aqua Center at Garvin Park on North Main Street? Â …we hear that the Mayor plans to build the new Garvin Park Aqua Center by taking $10 million dollars from the North Main TIF funds? Â …he also plans to float a 14 year $18 million dollars bond issue to help pay for the $28 million dollars Aqua Center at Garvin Park? Â …we are also told that the Mayor will announce that he plans to sign a contract with the local YMCA for them to manage the new pool once it’s finished? Â …the new Aqua Center will have an 800 seat arena for competitive swimming? …we expect that the Mayor will also announce a naming rights sponsor for the Aqua Center later this week? …this is a developing story?
IS IT TRUEÂ that a couple members of the “Aqua Center Blue Ribbon” committee told us that the majority of the committee members wanted Robert Parks as the site for the new Aqua Center? Â …we are told that the recommendation by the “Aqua Center Blue Ribbon” committee to build the new Aqua Center at Roberts Park was nixed by the Mayor?
IS IT TRUEÂ last week that the Evansville Vanderburgh Airport Authority Board of Directors announced that they have appointed a new airport Executive Director? …on January 1st, 2019 Nate Hahn will replace the current Executive Director, Doug Joest? Â Â …several of our more sophisticated readers tell us because the airport is subsidized by Federal, State, and local tax dollars and that this position should have been advertised nationally, statewide and locally? Â …we hear that several Vanderburgh County Council members are very upset with the way that the Airpot Board of Directors handled the hiring of the new Executive Director? …this may be a developing story?
IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville Employee Hospitalization fund currently has a deficit of exactly of $2.7 million dollars?
IS IT TRUE we hear that several Evansville City Council members are talking about cutting the city operations budget around $3 million dollars for 2019?
IS IT TRUE we are told by people close to Evansville City Councilman Jonathon Weaver that he reached out to members of the “Trump and Braun campaign staff asking them to allow him to welcome the President to Evansville since the Mayor wasn’t able to attend to the event?
IS IT TRUE that we been told that Freedom Of Speech isn’t alive and well in the Vanderburgh County Republication party?  …a well known and respected Vanderburgh Republican Precinct Committeeman Phillip Davis was recently relieved of his position by the Vanderburgh County Party Chairman Wayne Parke?  …that reason why Mr. Parke removed Mr. Davis from his Precinct Committeeman position was that he wrote a letter endorsing Knight Township Trustee Kathryn Martin (D) for re-election?  …we are told that Mr. Davis removable from the leadership ranks of the local Republican party may cause a political backlash within the  Vanderburgh County Republican party?
IS IT TRUE that all the rooms at the downtown Doubletree Hotel were totally occupied during President Trump visit to Evansville?  …housing the advance team and secret service members were part of the reason why the Downtown Doubletree Hotel was sold out?… we were told that the security team with the “Trump and Braun” political rally occupied most all of 5th, 4th, and 3rd floors days before and the day of the event? …since the reason for this trip was totally a politically partisan event we hope that the local taxpayers didn’t foot the bills for food and lodging at the downtown Doubletree Hotel?
IS IT TRUE because the “Trump and Braun” rally was a partisan political event several of our readers wonder if both campaigns are going to pay for the rental of the Ford Center, extra security costs, and cleaning up the trash around the Ford Center after the function we over with?
Todays“Readers Poll†question is: Do you feel that local taxpayers should be responsible to pay for costs related to staging President Trump (R) and Mike Braun (R) campaign rally held at the Ford Center?
Please take time and read our articles entitled “STATEHOUSE Files, Channel 44 News, LAW ENFORCEMENT, READERS POLL, BIRTHDAYS, Hot Jobs†and “LOCAL SPORTSâ€.  You now are able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.
