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 are saddened to hear that George Spohr, executive editor of the Courier & Press, died of cancer Thursday night. He was 37.  …Mr. Spohr was also a regional editor for Gannett’s Indiana newspapers outside of Indianapolis, leading journalism efforts in Lafayette, Richmond, Muncie, and Evansville, as well as at The Gleaner in Henderson, Kentucky?  … he moved to Evansville in October 2017. Spohr was previously the executive editor of the Journal & Courier in Lafayette? ..He is survived by his parents, George Spohr Sr. and Linda Spohr, a sister, Kristen, and two nephews, all in the Utica, New York, area. Services for Spohr will be in Utica at a later date?

IS IT TRUE that our publisher will be 75 years young on the 28th 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?  …when asked if he would like to retire real soon he said; “Yes I would if I could find someone like Jon Webb or John Martin of the Evansville Courier and Press to run the paper”?

IS IT TRUE that yesterday our “Horse Racing Mole” informed our readers that they should consider betting on Ricochet Bay to place in the 2nd race at today’s live meet at Ellis? …that Ricochet Bay didn’t hit the board?  …she also predicts that Victory Cigar will run a big race in yesterday’s  6th race at Ellis Park? … Victory Cigar placed third?  …our “Horse Racing Mole” suggested that FREDSTWIRLINCANDY should do well in the 7th race?  …that FREDSTWIRLINCANDY placed second?  …she also suggests that you consider betting on LEO MEISTER across the board (win-place and show) in the 8th race? … that Leo Meister won the race and paid $9.20 to win? …she 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 here are a couple of today’s Ellis Park race (July 21, 2018) predictions?  …our “Horse Racing Mole” suggests that you should consider betting on CURIABELLA in the second (2) race, bet on GIANT HERO to place second in the third race, bet on  KRISTIZAR in the fifth (5) race to hit the board, wagger a win-place and show bet on TRACE in the seventh (7) race, and in the ninth (9) race it looks like a sure bet that NINTH STREET will either place first (1) or Second (2) in that race? …she finally recommends that you only bet as much as you can afford to lose and enjoy the live racing card at Ellis Park today?

IS IT TRUE we would like to congratulate Rolling Hills Country Club for winning the County Club Championship?  …we would like to congratulate Loraine Pool swim team for winning the City Of Evansville City Championship?

IS IT TRUE we would like to congratulate Indiana State Rep. Holli Sullivan for being one among 48 state leaders from across the country selected to participate in The Council of State Governments’ 2018 Henry Toll Fellowship, the nation’s premier leadership development program for state government officials?

IS IT TRUE on July 16th, Youth First, Inc. was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Vanderburgh Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance, Inc., through its Community Good Grants Program?  … this grant will fund Youth First social workers in Vanderburgh County schools to help address the social and emotional needs of young people by building caring relationships, fostering a readiness for positive change, boosting resiliency and teaching valuable life skills to help prevent substance abuse and other risky behaviors? …we give five (5) cheers to Vanderburgh Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance, Inc., through its Community Good Grants Program for investing in our community?

Geary owns 70 percent of the facility, and the other 30 percent is owned by the Saratoga Group. Now that Geary is ready to retire, Saratoga will be the sole owner.

“It was just natural. When Ron decided to step aside, then we would step in. So we think there’s still some opportunity here with the historical racing and things that may come up in the future,” says Alex Tucker, treasurer of Saratoga Casino and Hospitality Group.

Saratoga officials plan to focus on a new marketing campaign, but aside from small tweak, they say no jobs are in jeopardy.

“Ron’s put together a great team. They are doing a great job, and we don’t anticipate changing anything in the immediate future,” says Tucker. Right now, they’re focusing on how they can improve Ellis Park. “It’s really more of a fact-finding mission at this point to figure out what’s going on and how we can be helpful.”