The next Family Free Night at cMoe will be August 2, 2018! The public is admitted FREE from 5-8 pm to explore the museum.
Last admittance is at 7:30 pm. All children must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or over.
Wynne’s complete game leads Otters past Slammers in series opener
A complete game performance from Randy Wynne led the Evansville Otters to a 7-1 series opening victory over the Joliet Slammers on Tuesday night at Bosse Field in front of 1,780 fans.
Jeff Gardner put the Otters on the board in the first inning with an RBI single.
Hunter Cullen then added another run in the second, when he scored from third base after a throwing error from Joliet catcher Trey Fulton.
Travis Harrison led off the fourth with a solo homer, his seventh of the year, to make it 3-0. Then with Gardner at second, Zach Welz singled to left and an error from the left fielder RJ Thompson allowed Gardner to score to make it 4-0 Evansville.
Ryan Long blasted his seventh homer of the year, a solo shot, to make it 5-0.
Joliet got a run back in the top of the seventh on an RBI groundout off the bat of Thompson.
Austin Bush got that run back and one more with a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh to put Evansville ahead 7-1.
That would be more than enough run support for Wynne, who tossed his third complete game of the season in earning his fifth win of the year. Wynne allowed just one run on six hits while striking out four. For the seventh start this season, the righty did not concede a walk.
Corey Kimber takes the loss for Joliet. Kimber went five innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on nine hits while walking two and striking out five.
The Otters and Slammers will face off again tomorrow night at 6:35 p.m. at Bosse Field for the second game of the series.
IS IT TRUE AUGUST 1, 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 the City County Observer was distressed today to learn of the near downtown shooting that left a person dead in the middle of the 800 block of East Gum Street?…as many as 5 shots were reported to have been fired in broad daylight at high noon all close enough to downtown Evansville to have been heard?…one man went to jail to await trial for what is most likely a first degree murder charge and another one was hauled to the morgue?…this particular block has particularly good memories for this writer since Mother (Maude) Caldwell lived near there and I spent many days helping her out with little problems on her home?…afterward she would sit and talk for hours about her late husband the Reverend Caldwell so much that I almost felt like I knew him too?…it was a great day on her 100th birthday to be part of her gathering of family and friends where yours truly was served the first piece of her cake?…It was a sad day when Mother Caldwell passed away but today’s state of things would have distressed her very much?…it is a good day to reflect on one of the kindest people who ever lived on East Gum Street in Evansville, Indiana yet today’s murder is a reminder of how much Evansville has slipped into violence?…we need more people like Mother Caldwell to stabilize neighborhoods that have fallen victim to street violence?…RIP Mother Caldwell, you are fondly remembered?
IS IT TRUE that we are wondering along with others when the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation will start having the first day of school in July so as to bake the daylights out of the students and teachers?…the only real winner when school starts in the dog days of summer is Vectren who are right there measuring every kilowatt hour used to cool down the schools and bill the EVSC at the highest rate in Indiana to keep our little darlings from nodding off to sleep in the classroom?…we wonder if it would be so difficult to go back to a starting date right after Labor Day and an ending date of Memorial Day for the public school system?
IS IT TRUE that it was sad to see the dinosaur from the CMOE (Children’s Museum of Evansville) go to join the monkeys from the Mesker Zoo monkey boat as popular items that have fallen from favor and decommissioned so that something newer and less interesting can replace them at great cost?…there are very few memorable icons in downtown Evansville and the CMOE dinosaur was one?…we think there may be a tribe of monkeys riding the dinosaur now?
IS IT TRUE that we are glad that the City County Observer still has an edge on national stories with local relevance?…our old pal Jon Webb finally got around to posting an article about the study by the McKinsey Global Institute about the coming impact of automation on today’s jobs?…as we pointed out last week, cities like Evansville that are overly dependent on manufacturing, retail, and fast food for employment opportunities are about to get smacked in the mouth in a most painful way?…a word to the wise should be sufficient but we don’t think it will be?
IS IT TRUE that yesterday the Vanderburgh County Commission made an outstanding appointment to the Vanderburgh County Levee Board? …they appointed the popular licensed Ohio River Boat Capitan, Katie Riecken Parker to the Levee Board? Â …we congratulate all three County Commissions for making this outstanding appointment to this important County Board?
Todays“Readers Poll†question is: Do you feel that Government shouldn’t do for people what they should do for themselves?
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. Â 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.
Indiana Debate Commission Announces Date, Venue for Indianapolis Debate
Braun Campaign Calls on Donnelly to Agree to Additional Debate
The Indiana Debate Commission announced the date and venue for the U.S. Senate debate to be held in Indianapolis on October 30th between Republican businessman Mike Braun and Democrat Senator Donnelly. Mike Braun for Indiana released the following statement, noting Donnelly’s refusal to schedule a third debate between the candidates:
“Sleepin’ Joe has only agreed to two debates because he’s afraid to tell Hoosiers he’s profited from outsourcing jobs to Mexico and is deliberately delaying President Trump’s Supreme Court nomination for his Democrat party bosses,” said Mike Braun spokesman Josh Kelley. “Mike Braun is ready to expose Democrat Senator Donnelly for saying one thing in Indiana and then voting with liberals in Washington, and I hope he reconsiders a third debate.”
CITY OF EVANSVILLE BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULE
CITY OF EVANSVILLE Â 2019 BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULE
AUGUST 10, 2018 Â Â Â BUDGET FORM 3 ADVERTISMENT (GATEWAY & CITY WEBSITE)
AUGUST 14, 2018 Â Â Â 2019 BUDGET WORKSHOP WITH DLGF REP (9:00 AM)
AUGUST 22, 2018 Â Â Â JOINT DEPARTMENT BUDGET HEARING (WED-3:30 PM)
AUGUST 27–30, 2018  CITY BUDGET HEARINGS (MON, TUES, THURS – 3:30 PM &  WED – 5:00 PM)
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 Â SALARY ORDINANCE 1ST READING (CITY COUNCIL)
SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 Â SALARY ORDINANCE 2ND READING (CITY COUNCIL)
OCTOBER 8, 2018 Â Â Â Â 2019 BUDGET – FINAL ADOPTION (CITY COUNCIL)
NOVEMBER 1, 2018 Â Â STATE DEADLINE FOR BUDGET ADOPTION
NOVEMBER 5, 2018 Â Â (OR 2 DAYS AFTER ADOPTION) DEADLINE TO SUBMIT 2019 ADOPTED BUDGET TO DLGF IN GATEWAY
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETINGÂ KEVIN WINTERNHEIMER CHAMBERS
ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX
WEDNESDAYÂ AUGUST 1, 2018Â 12:00 NOON
 AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. MEETING MEMORANDUM Â JULY 18, 2018
3. CONSENT AGENDA Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
               a.  Request Re: Approve and Execute Independent Skating Professional Agreement with
   Cleo D. Jesus for Swonder Ice Arena. -Crook
       b.  Request Re: Approve and Execute Independent Skating Professional Agreement with
   Aeriel De Jesus for Swonder Ice Arena. –Crook
 4.     OLD BUSINESS Â
- Request Re: Update on Shade Structure request at Central Bark Dog Park. – Holtz
- Request Re: Update on Greenway Slide Remediation Project. -Holtz
 5.     NEW BUSINESS Â
       a.  Request Re: Any Other Business the Board Wishes to Consider and Public Comments
6.    REPORTS
      a.  Brian Holtz- Executive Director
7.    ACCEPTANCE OF PAYROLL AND VENDOR CLAIMS
 8.    ADJOURN
ROKITA RELEASES BILL TO ENHANCE NAGPRA FINES
Congressman Todd Rokita released the following statement after releasing his bill that enhances penalties under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA):
“No one is above the law, especially researchers and professors who rely on federal funding,†said Congressman Todd Rokita. “I have introduced legislation that would hold liberal academics accountable to tribes when they violate federal laws pertaining to Native American graves and funerary objects. It is imperative that we respect the rich history of the Native American culture, which is uniquely American, and give tribes and their deceased the respect they deserve.â€
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of the Interior fined the Hamilton County Parks Department for NAGPRA violations. This law was originally created to protect Native American remains, funerary objects, sacred objects and other cultural patrimony. In an Indianapolis Star series, reporters found that archeologists from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne excavated thousands of items from former tribal sites at Strawtown Koteewi Park, including artifacts and human remains without properly notifying tribal leaders, per federal statute.
The bill would increase penalties for NAGPRA violation and move the enforcement from U.S. Fish and Wildlife to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. With the support of tribes, the bill was introduced with 4 original cosponsors: Rep. Tom Cole [OK-04], Rep. Don Young [AK], Rep. Betty McCollum [MN-04], and Rep. Gwen Moore [WI-04].
AG Curtis Hill joins bipartisan fight to protect veterans’ memorial
Attorney General Curtis Hill announced today he has joined a bipartisan group of 28 states in fighting to protect a historic cross honoring World War I veterans as part of a case with broader implications for the First Amendment.
The 28-state coalition urges the U.S. Supreme Court to protect veterans’ memorials that feature religious symbolism. The coalition’s friend of the court brief seeks to overturn a lower court’s ruling that one such memorial violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
“The First Amendment was never intended to eradicate religious expression and symbolism from government property,†Attorney General Hill said. “Quite the contrary, one expects public memorials and monuments honoring fallen heroes to include words and imagery representing the role of religious faith in our country’s rich tradition. That’s quite different from coercing citizens to participate in or pay homage to any particular faith.â€
The case at hand involves a nearly century-old memorial cross in Bladensburg, Maryland, started by community members and mothers whose sons died in World War I, and finished by the American Legion. The initial lawsuit seeks to force the state of Maryland to tear down the historic cross. The Supreme Court’s ultimate decision could impact memorials across the nation, including those at Arlington National Cemetery.