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 we would like to commend the group of protesters that attended the Trump and Braun political rally held at the Ford Center for being very respectful to those they disagree with? …it was reported that only a couple of people misbehaved during this event?…we give five (5) cheers to the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party, Indivisible Evansville, Tri-State Alliance, the Sierra Club and Midwest Activism and Advocacy for expressing their social and political views in an organized and respectful way?  …we also give another five (5) cheers to those who attended the Trump political rally at the Ford Center for being respectful to the protesters?…we also would like to give extra cheers to Democratic party Chairman, Scott Danks for publicly asking the protesters to be respectful and orderly?  …this was the finest hour for those who believe in the right of free speech and orderly protests?

IS IT TRUE although Steve Hammer lost his bid to become the Republican nominee for Vanderburgh County Commission it turned out that he was really a winner? …that Mr. Hammer and Republican United States Senatorial candidate Mike Braun forged a real friendship during the recent Republican primary election? …we were told that Mr. Braun allotted Mr. Hammer 70 VIP tickets to give away to people who wanted to attend the “Trump and Braun” political rally at the Ford Center?

IS IT TRUE we hear that several loyal Republicans are upset with Mayor Winnecke because he didn’t attend President Trump political rally for Mike Braun at the Ford Center?  …that it was reported by the Courier and Press that Mayor Lloyd Winnecke was on a previously scheduled economic development related trip in Northern Kentucky? … that Mayor Winnecke was traveling with Department of Metropolitan Development Director Kelley Course and Old National Bank CEO Bob Jones?

IS IT TRUE we are also hearing that several Republicans feel that in Mayor Winnecke absent his Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer should have been allowed to publically welcome President Trump and Mike Braun to the Ford Center and Evansville?  …this is the kind of thing that a Deputy Mayor is expected to do in the absence of a Mayor?

IS IT TRUE during a recent Evansville City Council meeting Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer made an insulting remark to City Council Finance Chairmen Jonathon Weaver that didn’t sit well with many City Council members?  …right after Mr. Schaefer made his demeaning remark to Mr. Weaver Councilwomen Missy Mosby publically dressed him down?  …we are  hearing that there may be a casual conversation going on about drafting a city ordinance that would revoke the position of “Deputy Mayor” back to “Chief Of Staff?”  …our elected officials should spend more time talking about balancing the budget and less time about unimportant issues?

IS IT TRUE last week Brent Jackson President of United Neighborhoods of Evansville sent us the following post that we feel compelled to re-post?  …Mr. Jackson said: “The Jacobsville Neighborhood Association has never owned or leased an office or building on Main Street. They never promoted the $18 million dollars Main Street project as you are suggesting here. You are talking about the “Jacobsville Join In” association. I understand your confusion. Jacobsville Join In was a group organized under the ECHO Housing Corporation back when Stephanie Tenbarge was the Executive Director. If you remember, she resigned this year after it was discovered that she used ECHO Corp. monies to pay her personal tax bill. You can read more about the Jacobsville Join In group (now defunct) and their projects here: http://jacobsvillejoinin.com/   The Jacobsville Neighborhood Association meets at the Dream Center at 16 W. Morgan Avenue. You can read about them here: http://www.unoevansville.org/jacobsville/

IS IT TRUE that “Jacobsville Join In” association leased a building on North Main Street?  …that they were organized by ECHO Housing Corporation to help promote the new $18 million dollars North Main street renovation project? …to everyone’s surprise “Jacobsville Join In” without warning abruptly closed down their offices located on North Main street?

IS IT TRUE in recent years “Jacobsville Join In”awarded nine projects of more than $6,000 to implement programs and neighborhood block parties in the Jacobsville neighborhood? …$6,5000 has been awarded to nine different projects which help to improve the quality of life and build on neighborhood safety? …the nine projects awards are: Evansville Police Department received a $1,000 towards a soda blaster for graffiti removal, Vanderburgh Humane Society $400 – for its Trap Neuter and Release program in Jacobsville Leadership Evansville received a $1,000.00 to facilitate leadership development for Jacobsville residents and stakeholders, Dream Center received $400 to implement a sensory room for students with disabilities, Hickory Pit Stop & Ellison Family received $250 to create a community beautification and garden project along North Main Street, Daily’s Bakery received $650 to support a baking-business class for Jacobsville youth, Delaware Elementary School received $300 to support 2016-2017 family engagement for students, and Engage received a $1,000 for materials to complete renovation for a neighborhood meeting space?

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 SPORTS”.  You now are able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.

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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.

AGENDA of Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners

September 4, 2018, at 3:00 pm, Room 301

1. Call to Order
2. Attendance
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Action Items 
   1. Torian Insurance Update
   2. Arc of Evansville Presentation 
5. Department Head Reports
6. New Business
7. Old Business
   1. Warrick County Commissioners Resolution No. 2018-16 in Opposition to Current Lloyd Expressway Corridor Management Plan
8. Consent Items
   1. Contracts, Agreements and Leases
      1. County Commissioners: 
         1. Professional Services Agreements
         2. Termination of Agreement with the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana, Inc. 
      2. County Prosecutor: Adult Protective Services: Professional Services Contract with the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration Division of Aging
      3. County Health Department: 
         1. Business Associates Agreement with Evansville Christian Health Clinic
         2. Contract with the Evansville Christian Life Center for Nurse Practitioner Services
   2. Approval of August 21, 2018 Meeting Minutes
   3. Employment Changes 
   4. County Auditor: 8/20/18-8/24/18 & 8/27/18-8/31/18 Claims Voucher Reports
   5. Superior Court: Letter Requesting CASA Funding 
   6. County Engineering: 
      1. Department Report
      2. Pay Request #44 U.S. 41 Expansion T.I.F. for the sum of $6,846.27
      3. Claims
   7. The Arc of Evansville:
      1. June & July 2018 Monthly Reports
      2. June & July 2018 Meeting Minutes 
   8. Old Courthouse Event Rental Fee Reduction Request for the Preserving Historic Places Conference 
9. Public Comment
10. Adjournment

Thousands of students have attended Reitz High School but only one family has walked the hallways for generations. Built in 1918, this proud old building has withstood the test of time.

It’s on Evansville’s west side, where F.J. Reitz High School stands proud and today it is celebrating its 100th birthday.

For the Schuass/Schmitt/Horner families life at F.J. Reitz started in the 1920’s before the Great Depression. Shirley Schauss’s parents Gaylord and Marie Cato started it all. The school is a cornerstone in Evansville history, in fact, off in a distance, a USS LST was under construction.

“We’d all go out and watch them build. And then one time we got to see one of them being launched on Reitz Hill,” says Reitz second generation graduate Shirley Schauss.

Shirley’s husband Raymond Schauss also went to F.J. Reitz so building a home on the west side and passing the tradition on to her four children and 10 grandchildren wasn’t just the right thing, it was the only thing for this family.

“The Schauss name is still remembered because my children were in the band all four of them, and my great-grandchildren were in the band,” says Shirley Schauss.

“Some of the teachers had gone to school with my parents so there was that kind of closeness,” says third-generation graduate Mark Schauss.

“Still to this day I love hearing those stories whether it is in the Nut Club about my grandfather or out on the golf course, or up at Reitz Bowl,” says fourth-generation graduate Alex Schmitt.

The letter “R” on Reitz was gifted to the school by Shirley’s fathers’ class–it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

“A lot of pride in that big concrete ‘R’ that is up on the side of the hill with my granddad’s name on it. It gives me a lot of pride too,” says third-generation Lori Schmitt.

“Just being up on a hill, I think always lent it a kind of let’s call it prestige. I call it prestige. It looked out over the river, over the city. I still think that there is no better place to be on a Friday night than at a Reitz High football game,” says Mark Schauss.

‘Panther pride’ is two words that express the family’s feelings for the school where many know their names. It was activities such as the band and many more that made the family standout year after year.

“That was the highlight. I could have stayed in Reitz High School a few more years if they would have let me,” says Shirley Schauss.

Family support was always close to home for these students and their activities.

“I knew they were there and they were watching and supporting me. And that is with my brothers as well. And my sister when she was in the band as well,” says Julie Horner.

So being part of the Reitz tradition created a family tradition and legacy.

“It taught me how to become my better version of myself. I had a lot of teachers that I thought were so strict and I was thinking I want to get out of this class as soon as I can but I stuck with it and it really made me into the person I am today,” says Megan Horner.

For the offspring of the Schauss/Schmitt/Horner families, attending Reitz is a tradition one they say they promise to continue.

“I think this is great that we get to celebrate the 100 years. I’m just sorry that my grandparents were not able to be here to go through this because to us they are our trailblazers,” says Julie Horner.

Family members say if their great-grandfather Gaylord Cato was still alive today he would have been 112.

Commentary: Joe and Mike’s Not-So-Excellent Adventure

By John Krull
TheStatehouseFile.com 

INDIANAPOLIS – Mike Braun and Joe Donnelly just played a fun little game of tit for tat.

Braun, the Republican challenger for Indiana’s U.S. Senate seat, kicked things off. His campaign argued that Donnelly, the Democratic incumbent, had violated campaign laws. Donnelly’s staff had posted a short video of him meeting with President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Braun’s campaign said the video could be used for political purposes and therefore was a no-no.

John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com

A few days passed. Then Donnelly’s camp responded in kind. Braun had recorded a six-figure personal loan from the candidate to his campaign in an improper fashion, the Donnelly team asserted. It was a violation of campaign finance laws and should be punished, they said.

In both cases, denials were issued.

Staffers and surrogates for both candidates took turns calling the other guy names.

A grand time was had by all.

What did any of this have to do with the lives of hard-working Hoosiers, otherwise known as the folks Donnelly and Braun are supposed to serve?

Zip.

Nada.

Nothing.

I have as much tolerance for campaign tomfoolery as anyone. There’s a long American tradition of gamesmanship and jockeying that makes our political contests lively.

But I also believe public servants ought to devote at least some of their time and energy when they run for office to thinking about what the people they’re supposed to serve might need.

What we’re hearing from Braun and Donnelly, though, is a lot of noise about which one of them outsourced more jobs in his business career and which is the most committed to building an expensive, unnecessary and non-productive wall along this nation’s southern border.

Meanwhile, we in Indiana are seeing something not seen before.

Employment figures in the state are robust – we’re close if not at the percentage that economists consider full employment – but the number of Hoosiers who have fallen into poverty also has increased. Just as bad, the bottom of the Indiana middle-class seems to be disappearing.

By some measures, nearly half the people in this state are in or are only one relatively mild misstep or problem away from sliding toward financial disaster and seeing the lives and lifestyles they’ve worked hard to build vanish like smoke in a stiff breeze.

History and conventional wisdom always have dictated that jobs are the antidote to poverty.

But the old rules don’t seem to apply now.

And the old bromides – skill up, get more training, pull yourself up by your bootstraps – seem emptier than ever.

Telling a Hoosier working mother or father who’s already laboring 60 or 70 hours a week at two or three different jobs just to keep the family housed and fed that she or he needs to find still more time to get additional training or schooling is to engage in duplicitous fantasy.

Both Joe Donnelly and Mike Braun like to tout their regular-guy, blue-collar credentials. They want us to believe that they understand the problems facing all those Hoosiers who tiptoe along the edge of the cliff overlooking economic and human disaster.

Or who already have taken the fall – and keep falling.

Maybe Braun and Donnelly do understand that.

The best way to demonstrate that they do is to start talking more about the challenges Hoosiers face and less about the gotcha games they seem determined to play with each other.

I know we’re trapped in an era in which the rules, such as they are, of reality television shows dominate our political discussions.

But reality TV shows are designed to entertain and distract.

What’s happening to too many Hoosiers is real and cannot be ignored.

For those Hoosiers, life isn’t a game.

It’s deadly serious business.

It would be nice if they had a senator in Washington who understands that.

Footnote: John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism, host of “No Limits” WFYI 90.1 Indianapolis and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

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