We hope that today’s “Readers Forum” 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?

WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

Todays “Readers Poll” question is: Would you like for Deaconess and Henderson Community Methodist Hospitals to be more forthcoming with the details of the merging of services between both hospitals?

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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Ronald G. Geary, CPA, is the Owner and the President of Ellis Park Race Course, LLC. Mr. Geary serves as the President of Ellis Park Race Course, Inc. and Texas Home Management, Inc. He served as President of Res-Care Alabama Inc.

Mr. Geary was the President and CEO of the Evansville IceMen Hockey team which was forced to move to Jacksonville, Florida because of a contractual disagreement with the City of Evansville. We are pleased that Mr. Gearys decision to re-locate his hockey team to Jacksonville, Florida has proven to be an extremely successful venture for him and his IceMen hockey team investors.

Before entering government work, he was a Partner in the law firm of Barnett and Alagia from 1984 to 1989. He founded and served as Managing Director of the accounting firm of Geary, Balbach, and Hardt from 1973 to 1981.

He also served as President of the Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary from 1986 to 1989.

He served as the Chairman of Res-Care Inc. from June 1998 to March 2011 and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 1993 to June 2006, President from February 1990 to June 2006 and Chief Operating Officer from 1990 to 1993. He joined Res-Care in 1989.  

Mr. Geary was also involved in government service, holding the positions of Kentucky Secretary of the Revenue Cabinet and Member of the Executive Cabinet in Governor John Y. Brown’s administration. He served as Kentucky’s Assistant Secretary of State from 1989 to 1990 and Secretary of the Cabinet of Jefferson County from 1984 to 1985.

He has been an Independent Director of Ventas Realty Ltd. Limited Partnership and Ventas Capital, since May 1, 1998. He has been a Director of Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. since August 2017. He has been an Independent Director of Care Capital Properties, Inc. since 2015; Pet Suites, Inc.; Evansville Icemen; and Louisville Executive Aviation. He served as a Director of Alterra Healthcare Corporation from May 2001 to December 2003. He served as a Director of Res-Care Inc. from 1990 to March 2011. He served as a Director of First Capital Bank of Kentucky and Appriss Inc. He served as an Independent Director of Ventas, Inc. from May 1, 1998, to August 17, 2015.

Ron Geary is an Attorney and Certified Public Accountant. He graduated from the University of Kentucky where he played and lettered in baseball.

He is also a horse breeder and owner of several successful thoroughbred racehorses.

Indiana’s Gas Tax Set To Go Up Again On July 1

By Brynna Sentel
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—As Hoosiers deal with the highest gasoline prices in several years, Indiana is adding another penny in taxes to every gallon starting July 1.

The 2017 law that added 10 cents in taxes to every gallon of gas purchased is the same one that allows the tax to continue to rise every year by as much as 1 cent per gallon.

Lawmakers passed House Enrolled Act 1002 to raise extra funds to repair the state’s crumbling roads and bridges. Last year on July 1, the gas tax rose from 18 to 28 cents per gallon. Now the new tax will be 29 cents.

But that increase is unlikely to have an impact on Hoosier pocketbooks, said Greg Seiter, public affairs manager of the AAA Hoosier Motor Club.

“I don’t envision that as having an adverse effect on travelers simply because of what they are seeing right now at the pump is much more dramatic than that tax increase itself,” Seiter said.

The average price of a gallon of gas today is $2.88, he said, compared to a year-ago cost of $2.18.

The money generated by the tax increase is expected to create $1.2 billion in additional revenue by 2024 through new taxes and fees, with $350 million of the revenue going to fund local roads and $850 million funding state roads and bridges.

In addition to higher gas taxes, drivers are also paying an extra $15 to register their vehicles with the state. People driving hybrids are paying an additional $50 fee while those with all-electric vehicles pay $150.

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

State Rep. Ryan Hatfield (D-Evansville), the Indiana Racing Memorial Association, and the Evansville African-American Museum have announced that a race-themed historic marker honoring legendary mechanic and race driver Charlie Wiggins will be placed at the museum on Saturday (June 23).

The Wiggins marker will be unveiled during a ceremony starting at 10 a.m. Saturday in front of the African-American Museum, located at 579 S. Garvin Street (corner of Garvin and Lincoln Avenue). The public is invited to attend.

“Charlie Wiggins was the star of the African-American racing circuit in the 1920s and 1930s, capturing four ‘Gold and Glory’ races,” said Hatfield.  “Wiggins was one of the foremost African-American drivers in an era when racing was still new, safety was minimal, and it took someone without fear to compete.”

Ashley Jordan, Director of the Evansville African-American Museum, added, “Evansville is proud to honor one of our ‘Favorite Sons’ who brought fame to our city and state and to the world of early American auto racing.  His dedication to a dangerous sport made him the most successful driver in the history of the ‘Gold and Glory’ race.”

Wiggins is the latest subject to be honored by the Indiana Racing Memorial Association (IRMA), an organization founded by Brian Hasler and Mark Eutsler to memorialize the contributions made by drivers, mechanics, manufacturers, short tracks, and events that made Indiana the “Racing Capital of the World.”

“With the addition of Charlie Wiggins, IRMA will have placed 36 markers across the State of Indiana,” Hasler said.  “Our markers and the unveiling events that take place with them have helped educate the public about these contributions to building the sport of auto racing in Indiana, the country, and around the world.”

Hatfield noted, “As a life-long race fan, I am pleased that Charlie Wiggins will receive the recognition he is due with the addition of this historic marker in Evansville.”

“This marker will be a constant reminder of an Evansville resident whose determination and talent made a significant contribution to the sport he loved,” added Jordan.