Two arrests made in murder investigation
Evansville Police have made two arrests in connection with the shooting death of Kevin Colon.
Investigators believe Colon was shot and killed during a robbery attempt on the lot of Sam’s Food Mart, 1000 Washington Ave, around 4:00am on Wednesday.
Both suspects are juveniles, with one being 15 and the other being 16.
The 16 year old has been waived to adult court and has been booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail. Due to his waiver to adult court, his information is public record. He has been identified as JAHKEI MITCHELL. He is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and Murder During the Commission of a Felony.
The 15 year old has been secured in the Youth Care Center. He is being charged with Attempted Robbery and Murder During the Commission of a Felony. His information is not available for public release at this time.
The investigation is ongoing.
Hundreds of Inmates Receive Hepatitis A Vaccine
Thanks to the efforts of the Vanderburgh County Health Department and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, several hundred inmates are now protected against the hepatitis A virus.
The Vanderburgh County Health Department in partnership with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office vaccinated a total of 300 jail inmates this past Friday, July 13. The vaccine was provided by the Indiana State Department of Health and was administered to inmates as the first wave of a 90 day plan to vaccinate high risk individuals. Prior to the vaccination date, Sheriff’s Office medical staff dedicated time educating the inmates on the benefits of the hepatitis A vaccine. Confinement officers coordinated the movement of inmates to ensure everyone who could be vaccinated was afforded the opportunity. Inmates were vaccinated on a voluntary basis.
According to the Health Department, Indiana is one of ten states nationwide experiencing a hepatitis A outbreak. The hepatitis A virus is spread by consuming food or drinking water contaminated with infected feces, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The Vanderburgh County Health Department will continue to vaccinate high-risk individuals at the Vanderburgh County Jail and is currently working with other community partners to vaccinate individuals in other high-risk groups. To reduce the risk of hepatitis A transmission, members of high-risk groups should contact the Vanderburgh County Health Department or their primary care provider to determine their immunization status and be vaccinated.
Pictured above: Major Chad Ferguson (rear) with visting staff from the Vanderburgh County Health Department.
“IS IT TRUE” JULY 19, 2018
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 TRUE that it has been announced that the Kentucky State Racing Commission has approved an ownership change for Ellis Park?… longtime City County Observer friend and supporter Ron Geary is selling the remainder of his ownership to a company called Saratoga Casino and Hospitality for an undisclosed sum of money?…back in 2012 Saratoga Casino and Hospitality became minority partners in Ellis Park when they bought 30% of the operation from Mr. Geary?… that Mr. Geary has owned Ellis Park since 2006 when he purchased it not long after the killer tornado did extensive damage to the facility and caused loss of many lives in a trailer park between the track and Newburgh?…it is quite possible that without Mr. Geary stepping in at that time that the Tri-State would have lost its only thoroughbred racing facility?
IS IT TRUE Mr. Geary also took a tremendous economic risk in becoming the owner of the Evansville Icemen that was the first ever professional hockey team in Evansville when the Ford Center opened?…after satisfying the economic terms of his 5-year lease with the City of Evansville Geary moved the Icemen to Jacksonville, Florida where they now play in front of large crowds?
IS IT TRUE that Mr. Geary became a controversial figure when he schooled the City of Evansville on just how challenging can a business running a hockey team in an overpriced arena in a baseball town could be?… the City did not learn their lesson though because today it is widely known that the lesser talent Evansville Thunderbolts may be losing or consuming over a million dollars a year and the taxpayers of Evansville are footing the bill?…the CCO wishes our friend Ron Geary a long and prosperous life upon his retirement and know that this area is a better place because of Mr. Geary’s entrepreneurship? Oh, we also wish him a happy belated 71 birthday (July 02, 2018)?
IS IT TRUE that a friend of the CCO who is a fan of the Murray State University Racers basketball team brought up a question with respect to the cost of building stadiums?…the Racers play in an arena that seats 8,500 people that were built at a cost of only $23 million in 1998?…that amounts to only $2,705 per seat?…his question is just how did the City of Evansville manage to pay 5 times that much per seat since the $127.5 Million Ford Center only seats 10,000 which works out to $12,750 per seat?…the facilities are only 10 years apart so inflation should have only amounted to about 30% of the cost difference?
IS IT TRUE that it is time to analyze whether or not hockey is something that should be on the public dole?…it is bad enough to pay the bonds off on the Ford Center with boat money that should have been spent on infrastructures like water and sewers projects, police and fire equipment? …that perhaps an NBA G League basketball team like the ones in Fort Wayne, Canton, Maine, Grand Rapids, Erie, and Sioux Falls would do better in SW Indiana than ice hockey?…one thing is for sure and that is there will be no need to maintain an ice sheet at much expense?
IS IT TRUEÂ that our publisher will be 75 years young at the end of this month? Â …he has a serious medical problem concerning his heart? Â …he has been undergoing extensive tests? Â …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? Â …we would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support?
IS IT TRUE one of our staff members recently attended a political fundraiser at Pistons Bar on West Franklin Street? Â …he was extremely impressed with the service, friendly staff, the food and the interior decor of Pistons Bar? Â …he highly recommends that you visit this fun place to go if you’re ever on the Westside of town?
IS IT TRUEÂ our staff recently had a discussion concerning who is the hardest working member of the Evansville City Council and who is the most conservative? …it was decided that Councilwomen Missy Mosby is the hardest working and Jason Elpers is the most conservative?
IS IT TRUE our staff recently we had a discussion concerning who is the hardest working member of the Vanderburgh County Commission and who is the most conservative? Â …it was decided that Cheryl Musgrave is the hardest working and Ben Shoulders is the most conservative?
IS IT TRUE our staff recently we had a discussion concerning who is the hardest working member of the Vanderburgh County Council and who is the most conservative? Â …it was decided that every member of the County Council are hard working and James Raben and Tom Shelter are the most conservative members of County Council?
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 SPORTSâ€.  You now are able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.
If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us City-CountyObserver@live.com.
FOOTNOTE: City-County Observer Comment Policy. Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will not be tolerated and shall be removed from our site.
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.
OHA To Join St. Vincent Medical Group
Partnership Will Create A Premier, Fully Integrated Cancer Program For Tri-state Area
St. Vincent announced today that the physicians and staff of Oncology Hematology Associates (OHA)Â will join St. Vincent Medical Group, effective January 1, 2019.
The clinical teams at St. Vincent Evansville and OHA have been working in partnership together in the care of oncology and hematology patients for several years, and believe this new partnership will only build on both outstanding oncology programs.
For the past 25 years, OHA has committed to providing patient-centered, high quality, a coordinated treatment that promotes the dignity of the individual and their support system. OHA’s nine board-certified physicians specialize in the practice of medical oncology, hematology, and radiation oncology, and the practice’s state-of-the-art laboratory technology and provision of clinical research studies provide our community with access to breakthrough research and innovative treatment options.
“The shared commitment of St. Vincent and OHA to excellence in cancer care and healing the body, mind, and spirit is a foundation for continuing to grow access to oncology services in the Tri-State,†said Dan Parod, President, St. Vincent Southwest Region.
The cancer care program at St. Vincent Evansville has been accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer for nearly 50 years. On average, only one in four hospitals earn this prestigious accreditation, and since 1993 OHA has partnered with St. Vincent Evansville maintaining the high standard of care reflected in the accreditation.
“Everyone at OHA partners with our patients as they go through one of the most difficult times in their life. Our goal is to always treat people as we would want to be treated,†said Dr. Edward Fox, President of OHA. “Both organizations share these same values and St. Vincent is committed to providing patients with the same high standard of practice. We are excited to continue our work together for the benefit of all those we serve,†added Dr. Fox.
Patients of OHA will not experience any interference with their healthcare service because of this transition. Signage on the OHA property will officially change early next year. A blessing ceremony will also be held at that time.
Lawyers Attack Memo, Say Hill Considering Defamation Lawsuit
Marilyn Odendahl for www.theindianalawyer.com
Repeatedly claiming “false and malicious†statements were included in a confidential memo containing allegations of sexual misconduct by Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, Indianapolis attorney Kevin Betz announced he is preparing a defamation lawsuit on the AG’s behalf.
Betz and his law partner Sandra Blevins held a press conference Wednesday in the lobby of their Indianapolis law firm, Betz & Blevins, to announce the possible suit. Speaking at a podium cluttered with microphones, Betz said his law firm is evaluating possibly filing a lawsuit on behalf of Hill against the unknown individual or individuals who included what he called false and flawed information in the memo, then released it to the public.
Hill has been accused by Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, and three legislative staffers of groping them during a party to celebrate the end of the 2018 session of the General Assembly. The allegations came to light when a memo about an internal investigation into the women’s claims was leaked to the Indianapolis Star.
Immediately after the memo was released, legislative leaders focused on finding the person responsible for giving the document to the media. A few days later amid public uproar, the leaders, as well as Gov. Eric Holcomb, called for Hill to resign.
Hill has pushed back, denying he inappropriately touched the women and calling the allegations “vicious and false.†He is being represented by Voyles Vaiana Lukemeyer Baldwin &Webb in his push against the appointment of a special prosecutor to assist the Indiana Inspector General’s investigation into the groping accusations.
Betz & Belvins are apparently representing Hill in a potential defamation lawsuit. However, Betz said no complaint has been filed and, at this point, they are still analyzing the situation. In addition, Betz said he is not being paid for his work, although he shied away from characterizing it as pro bono, and said he has not calculated the number of hours he has spent on this case so far.
Speaking to reporters, Betz and Blevins were careful to say they respected the women accusers and their right to come forward. They also maintained they were not calling the women liars.
“As practitioners in this area for almost 50 years, we are also familiar with situations in which there is no liar, there is no false allegations by individuals, they’re both correct,†Betz said “As Ms. Blevins said, in situations that occur in the time period between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. with alcohol flowing, perceptions are a very difficult thing to come to a firm conclusion about. And sometimes no one’s wrong, no one’s right, they’re both right and these are simply different perspectives and conclusions.â€
Betz and Blevins also said they do not fault the author of the memo, Blake Burgan, partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister. Burgan was hired by the Legislative Services Agency to answer a series of questions about the investigation into the claims that General Assembly leaders were conducting.
“It is unusual, in our opinion, for someone to provide legal advice in this way without having personally interviewed the witnesses,†Blevins said. “But we do know Mr. Burgan to be a confident and careful practitioner.â€
Betz and Belvins repeatedly cited Burgan’s memo as concluding that Hill is honest, trustworthy and fit as a lawyer.
However, the description is part of Burgan’s answer to the legislators’ question about whether they had to report the Attorney General’s alleged behavior to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission. The memo stated, “Moreover, even if an attorney knew that AG Hill engaged in such conduct, we do not believe that such conduct on an isolated basis raises a substantial question as to his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.â€
Betz claimed the information in the memo was fabricated because it did not align with the statements Reardon and two other accusers have made to the media. Specifically, Betz pointed out the memo indicates Reardon said Hill reached under her clothes and grabbed his buttocks twice, but in her personal statement she said she was grabbed just once.
“To go from one touching over the clothing to two underneath the clothing is – and when there’s at least a month with which to get that information correct – that’s hard to believe it is anything other than a fabrication,†Betz said.
He conceded bringing a defamation lawsuit on behalf of a public figure, like Hill, requires the showing of an actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth.
“We believe the false and malicious information can even meet that higher bar,†Betz said. “…With malice and negligence, the statement was published and it caused enormous damages and has continued to cause enormous damages to Mr. Hill.â€
In a joint statement released Wednesday afternoon House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President pro tem David Long said “Curtis Hill is the individual who should be answering questions about allegations of inappropriate conduct, and we stand by our prior statements regarding this matter.”
“We are fulling cooperating with the Inspector General’s Office as they conduct their current investigation and await the results,” the legislative leaders said.
Anthem Sued By Doctors In Dispute Over Emergency Room Coverage
IL FOR WWW.THEINDIANALAWYER.COM
The health insurer Anthem Inc. was sued by doctors in Georgia for declining to pay for some emergency room care, escalating a long-running battle over how far insurance plans can go to push patients to seek lower-cost treatment.
The American College of Emergency Physicians and the Medical Association of Georgia filed suit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta against Anthem’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia unit over the denied payments. The doctors asked the court to require Anthem to halt its policy and cover the claims.
“Providers and patients alike are operating in fear of denial of payment by defendants when patients seek emergency department care,†the groups said in the filing.
It’s the latest legal challenge over a change in policy that Indianapolis-based Anthem says was designed to cut down on patients going to an emergency room in situations that don’t require it. Emergency room care usually costs significantly more than treatment at a doctor’s office or an urgent-care clinic. Georgia’s Piedmont Hospital and five related facilities also have sued Anthem over the policy, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in February.
Last summer, Anthem told its members in Indiana that starting October 1, it would deny claims for hundreds of non-emergency diagnosis codes, such as bruises, rashes, minor burns, swimmer’s ear and athlete’s foot. It said those kind of medical problems should be treated in a doctor’s office or an urgent care-center for a fraction of the cost.
But some Indiana physicians said they worried that patients might start to second-guess whether their middle-of-the-night chest pains were a heart attack or indigestion. They said patients should get such serious issues evaluated in an emergency room.
Before putting the policy in place, Anthem sent letters to customers explaining the policy and urging them to use other sites for care. The insurer also held meetings with physicians, according to the suit.
Anthem didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the suit.
Medical records
Anthem’s strategy went beyond what’s legally allowed, the doctors say in their lawsuit. The insurer reviewed the cases of patients who went to an emergency room and decided whether to pay for their care based on billing information or medical records related to the incident. The suit says Anthem violated legal requirements that insurers cover care in a situation where a “prudent layperson†would believe he or she was experiencing an emergency.
According to the suit, Anthem began reviewing emergency-room visits in Georgia, Kentucky and Missouri and expanded the policy to Ohio, New Hampshire and Indiana. Anthem operates under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand in 14 states. The company has almost 40 million health-insurance members.
Lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri have criticized Anthem’s policy. McCaskill and a fellow Democrat, Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, sent a letter in March to the Health and Human Services Department and Labor Department, asking them to investigate the payment denials.
“By denying patient claims based on the patient’s final diagnosis and ignoring the patient’s symptoms present at the time of the emergency, we believe that Anthem likely violated federal law,†the senators wrote.
Commentary: ‘She Doesn’t Belong Here’
Commentary: ‘She Doesn’t Belong Here’
By John Krull
TheStatehouseFile.comÂ
INDIANAPOLIS – Here is a moment in today’s America.
I’m swimming laps at a community pool. It’s late afternoon on a hot day. The pavement on the pool deck burns the soles of people’s bare feet.
John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com
The pool is packed. The open swim area is shoulder-to-shoulder.
Each of the lap-swim lanes has at least two people in it.
In the lane next to me, two people – a man and a woman, both white, both 20 years younger than I am – do lazy laps. They wear sunglasses. Their heads never touch the water.
A guy a little older than I share the lane I’m in. He seems to know the couple in the next lane. He walks back and forth in the lane’s shallow end, talking with them as he does.
Often, he wanders into my path. Once, to get around him, I dive under the lane guide to swim past him underwater.
Neither he nor they seem to notice.
After a bit, the younger man hops out of the pool, leaving the woman by herself. She and the older man continue their conversation.
A heavyset African-American woman slips into the younger woman’s lane in the deep end. The black woman is older and has a tattoo. She works her way up the lane in a slow, determined dog paddle.
“Oh, great,†the young white woman mutters. “Why does she have to get in my lane?â€
Minutes later, another swimmer – an Asian-American man who’s about 60 – hops into that lane and says he’d like to join them.
The white woman says he can’t.
They argue. The Asian-American man summons a lifeguard. The white woman swims away, sunglasses still in place.
I swim up. The Asian-American man and the African-American woman stand waist deep in the shallow water, fuming.
I tell them I only have one lap left to do and that one of them can take my spot. They thank me, but the Asian-American man is furious.
“People have to be nice and work with each other,†he says. “She can’t kick people out of the pool.â€
I swim my last lap and climb out. The pool deck scalds the balls of my feet and my heels as I hop toward my towel and flip-flops.
The lifeguard summons two pool managers, both in their late teens. The Asian-American man wants the managers to affirm that he has a right to swim in the lane. The white woman says the lifeguards have done a horrible job policing the pool.
She points at the African-American woman, who has dog-paddled her way to the other end of the pool.
“Look,†the white woman says. “She can’t even swim. She doesn’t belong here.â€
The white woman says she’s going to file a complaint about how the pool has been managed by the two teens.
The older man who shared the lane I was in has fled the scene. The lane now sits empty.
After more argument, the Asian-American man moves over to the empty lane. He begins a steady breaststroke.
The white woman gets out of the pool. The African-American woman continues her determined dog paddle.
I motion the pool managers over.
I suggest they ask their supervisors to post a rule saying swimmers must circle swim – go down on one side and come back on the other – when there are more than two people in a lane. That might keep lifeguards from having to practice poolside diplomacy.
The white woman sees us talking and charges over.
She doesn’t say excuse me or pardons me. She starts lecturing the two teenagers.
The issue, she says, is courtesy. The other swimmers should have asked her permission to swim in the lane.
She points at the Asian-American man swimming his breaststroke.
“He’s just rude,†she says. “He’s an a******.â€
She again says she’s going to file a complaint.
“I didn’t come here to be stressed out,†she says.
She marches away.
The teens look at me. One asks me how everyone got so angry.
I shrug my shoulders. I don’t have a clue.
The late afternoon air is heavy with heat in a crowded little corner of my native land.
Just another moment in today’s America.
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. The City-County Observer posted this article without bias, opinion or editing.Â
St. Vincent Evansville Birth Announcements For July 19, 2018
Jessica and Derek Burton, Evansville, son, Joel Alexander, June 30
Meghann and Chase Morgan, Evansville, daughter, Emmilia Marie, July 6
Sarah and Jason Hayes, Evansville, daughter, Tahlia Meilyn, July 7
Sara and Michael Lee, Newburgh, daughter, Harper Imogene, July 7
Lindsey and Patrick Stine, Newburgh, son, Shepard Graham, July 7
Emily Greenwalt and Daniel Richie, Evansville, son, Derrick Lyle, July 8
Amanda and Robert James, Evansville, son, Levi Eric, July 8
Ashley and Aaron Goelzhauser, Newburgh, daughter, Finley Leighton, July 9
Tiffany and Jacob Meinschein, Mount Vernon, IN, son, William James, July 9
Lindsey and Bryan Dick, Evansville, daughter, Emersyn Mae, July 11
Shelby and Bryan May, Utica, KY, son, Cain Alexander, July 11
Kristin and Jason Thomas, Morganfield, KY, son, Porter O’Bryan, July 11
Alicia and Michael Hawa, Newburgh, son, Carson James, July 12