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 that the Evansville Courier wrote a very insightful article on the status of professional sports in greater Evansville and concluded that for a number of reasons, that Evansville is stuck in the middle?…what middle sort of implied is that when it comes to sports whether college or professional is that Evansville is big enough to want to be a player but not big enough or rich enough to actually find sustainable success when it comes to big time sports?

IS IT TRUE this comes on the end of a series of articles about the financial burden that the Ford Center has become in spite of some glowing consultant’s projections of prosperity and good times?…the reality is that the beautiful Ford Center is picking the taxpayer’s pockets for $9 Million per year with no end in sight?…with annual operating losses that approach $1 million the losses will continue even after the $127.5 million in bonds are paid off in 2038?…it would have been great if someone other than Andrew Smith and a few others had realized this before spending $127.5 million borrowed dollars?

IS IT TRUE that the City-County Observer completed a cursory analysis of just how many professional sports teams have failed in Evansville and the number is a staggering twenty-four (24)?…the most recent team to cease operations in Evansville was the Icemen hockey team that left for the larger venue in Jacksonville?… Evansville has only had 2 professional basketball teams and both failed with the most recent team the Evansville Thunder playing in Roberts Stadium through 1986?…that is a whopping 32 years since Evansville has had a basketball team where players were paid?…the other pro basketball effort was called the Evansville Agogans and we would appreciate if any of our readers can enlighten us as to just what a Grogan is?

IS IT TRUE Evansville started out with a bang in football landing an early franchise in the National Football League called the Evansville Crimson Giants?…the home team played against both the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers that still compete in the NFL?…since 1922 when the Crimson Giants folded Evansville has been home to the Bearcats, Titans, Express, Blue Cats, and Vipers all of which failed to sustain themselves?…the Vipers even moved their games to the Legion Park in Morganfield, KY which has a stadium that seats a couple of hundred before waiving the white flag of defeat?

IS IT TRUE as the CCO has always said, “Evansville is a baseball town at heart”?…we do still have the unaffiliated Otters, there have been fifteen (15) pro baseball teams that called Evansville home that no longer exist?… the best and most professional were the Triplets that were an AAA farm team for the Detroit Tigers?…it was nice to see next year’s major league players this year but that all ended more than 40 years ago?…the other failed baseball teams in declining order were the Outlaws, White Sox, Braves, Bees, Hubs, Pocketeers, Little Evas, Black Sox, Evas, Yankees, Strikers, River Rats, Blackbirds, and Hoosiers?

IS IT TRUE it is highly doubtful that there will ever be an AAA baseball team, an NFL franchise, any NBA basketball team, or even an affiliated high-quality hockey team in the near future?…the two things that may someday change that are population growth and income growth?

IS IT TRUE we would like to thank The Diamond Galleria for partnering with HeartSaver, a program of the Heart Hospital at Deaconess Gateway to provide life-saving automated external defibrillators AEDs to the Tristate First Responders?  … special thanks to The Diamond Galleria and its owners, Bert and Tyna Wheat, for hosting this special event in the store to highlight the program? … Sheriff Wedding, Police Chief Billy Boling, and Fire Chief Connelly were helping with this worthy community event along with the HeartSaver committee members and members of the Deaconess Foundation?

IS IT TRUE our “Horse Racing Mole” has informed us that our readers should consider betting on Ricochet Bay to place in the 2nd race at today’s live meet at Ellis?  …he also predicts that Victory Cigar will run a big race in the 6th race at Ellis today?  …our “Horse Racing Mole” suggests that FREDSTWIRLINCANDY should do well in the 7th race?  …he also suggests that you consider betting on LEO MEISTER across the board (win-place and show) in the 8th race?  …he finally recommends that you only bet as much as you can afford to lose and enjoy the live racing card at Ellis today?

IS IT TRUE that our publisher will be 75 years young at the end of this month? …he has been undergoing extensive tests on his heart  …we hope that the doctors will be able to correct his problem so he will have a better quality of life in his golden years?  …he would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support?

Today’s “Readers Poll” question is: If the election was held today for the Vanderburgh County Commission District 1 seat who would you vote for?

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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The Vanderburgh County Commissioners broke ground on a new shell building at VIP Park (Vanderburgh Industrial Park).

Woodward Commercial Realty is the developer and the event was well attended with supportive organizations such as GAGE (Growth Alliance of Greater Evansville), Vectren, Old National Bank, Economic Development Coalition, and the Evansville Industrial Foundation; all came together to celebrate the new project.  “Prospects looking at our county are overwhelmingly looking for existing buildings to accommodate a quick start-up, and our inventory is low.

This shell building will keep Vanderburgh County in the game and competitive,” said Vanderburgh County Commissioner Ben Shoulders.

Tariffs And Trade War Could Hurt Indiana Businesses

By Brynna Sentel
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS- The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is warning that the Trump administration’s actions on tariffs could hurt Hoosiers.

“What started as a just attempt to protect American steel and aluminum from cheap imports has now transformed to a potential global trade war with chilling economic impacts for Indiana and beyond,” Kevin Brinegar, president of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, said in a press release.

The dilemma has put America in disagreement with six of its seven top foreign markets.

Brinegar said if something isn’t done about tariff issues much could be at risk, including an all-out trade war, recession, a downturn in the economy, lost jobs, and financial and economic harm to some people in Indiana.

Kevin Brinegar, president of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Dionte Coleman, TheStatehouseFile.com

“We are hearing a lot of concerns from many of our members, some of who have already been impacted, and we are very concerned that this could lead to a drop in sales and ultimately a loss of jobs,” Brinegar said in an interview.

Toyota, which builds its Sienna minivan in Princeton, Indiana, has said the tariff on auto and auto parts imports would drive up its vehicle costs by $3,000. Toyota has 10 assembly plants in the United States, including Kentucky where the Camry is manufactured and Texas where the Tundra truck is built.

The Trump administration has been negotiating with Canada and Mexico over the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement. However, those negotiations have since stalled because over tariff disputes.

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly said he supports creating a level playing field for U.S. steel producers but is concerned that the Administration’s approach will cause lasting harm to Hoosier farmers who have worked a lifetime to develop access to international markets.

“I urge the Administration to instead take measured, targeted action in a way that will allow manufacturers, the steel industry, and all our farmers to continue selling quality products all over the world,” Donnelly said in a statement.

Brinegar said that broad tariffs can turn into the equivalent of tax increases on Hoosier consumers and businesses.

“Products used in our homes every day, and the materials consumed to build them, will simply cost more. And the retaliation on U.S. tariffs will lead to lost sales of Indiana products–and ultimately, lost jobs,” Brinegar said.

Brinegar said the chamber will continue taking member concerns to Indiana’s congressional delegation as well as another contract with the Trump administration, including Vice President Mike Pence.

FOOTNOTES: Brynna Sentel is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

Death List WK 7-9-18 TO 7-13-18