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German American Bancorp, Inc. and First Security, Inc. Announce Definitive Merger Agreement
German American Bancorp, Inc. and First Security, Inc. Announce Definitive Merger Agreement
OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY — German American Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:GABC) (“German Americanâ€) and First Security Inc. (OTCQX: FIIT) (“First Securityâ€) announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge First Security into German American. Upon completion of the transaction, First Security’s subsidiary bank, First Security Bank, Inc., will be merged into German American’s subsidiary bank, German American Bank.
Under terms of the definitive agreement, First Security common shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.7982 shares of German American common stock for each share of First Security in a tax free exchange, and a cash payment of $12.00 per First Security share. After completion of the merger, it is anticipated that a board member of First Security will be joining the board of German American. In addition, Michael F. Beckwith, President & CEO of First Security will assume the newly established role of Kentucky Divisional President.
Based upon the $35.08 per share 20-day volume weighted average price of German American’s common shares ending on May 18, 2018 (the valuation upon which the exchange ratio was established), the transaction has a value of $40.00 per First Security common share. Because a portion of the consideration to be received is German American’s common stock, the stock portion of the transaction value will fluctuate until closing together with the market price of German American’s common shares.
Based on First Security’s number of common shares currently outstanding and the anticipated conversion of First Security’s remaining convertible subordinated debt to common shares at closing, German American expects to issue approximately 2.0 million shares of its common stock, and pay approximately $31 million cash, for all of the issued and outstanding common shares and outstanding options of First Security. Based upon the $35.08 per share 20-day volume weighted average price of German American’s common shares ending on May 18, 2018, the transaction has an aggregate indicated value of approximately $101.0 million, with the total merger consideration being split between stock and cash on an approximate 70:30 basis.
Mark A. Schroeder, Chairman and CEO of German American, stated, “This merger with First Security represents a strategic opportunity for German American to expand our community-focused, customer- centric business model into the vibrant Kentucky metropolitan markets of Owensboro, Bowling Green, and Lexington. First Security has built a solid community banking franchise in these three distinct Kentucky markets in which German American can provide our extensive offerings of banking, insurance, and investment products and services to First Security’s current and prospective clients.
The combination of our two organizations provides an important entrance for German American into three of the largest Kentucky metropolitan market areas, and enhances German American’s existing presence in the Evansville, Indiana metropolitan market area, which is the third largest metropolitan market in Indiana and where we currently hold a significant and growing market share. We’re extremely excited about the multiple future organic growth opportunities this merger will afford our Company.â€
Schroeder continued, “We expect that this strategic transaction will be accretive to German American’s earnings per share during the 12 months following completion of the transaction, and will have a quick tangible book value earn back. Following completion of the merger, German American’s pro forma capital ratios will continue to significantly exceed regulatory well-capitalized levels, enabling us to continue to take advantage of future organic and acquisition growth opportunities in Kentucky and throughout our existing Southern Indiana market area.”
Michael F. Beckwith, President & CEO of First Security, stated, “This partnership with German American will enable us to deepen and broaden the financial services we provide in all of our markets, and will provide great opportunity for both our customers and employees. Strategically and culturally, we are well aligned with German American, and through this partnership, German American is gaining a meaningful presence in Kentucky.
From a shareholder perspective, German American is one the nation’s best-performing community banking organizations, and their NASDAQ listed stock provides our shareholders with enhanced liquidity and trading volume. German American’s reputation, financial strength and capabilities will provide tremendous value to our customers, employees, communities and shareholders.”
The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018. Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by regulatory authorities and First Security’s shareholders, as well as certain other closing conditions. In connection with the definitive agreement, German American entered into voting agreements with the members of the Board of Directors of First Security and with certain of First Security’s principal shareholders, who collectively hold approximately 27% of the outstanding shares of First Security common stock. Subject to the terms and conditions of the voting agreements, these parties have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the transactions contemplated by the definitive agreement.
Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. served as financial advisor on the transaction to German American and Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP served as legal counsel.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. served as financial advisor on the transaction to First Security, Inc. and Frost Brown Todd LLC served as legal advisor.
FOOTNOTES:
About German American
German American Bancorp, Inc., is a NASDAQ-traded (symbol: GABC) bank holding company based in Jasper, Indiana. German American, through its banking subsidiary German American Bank, operates 58 banking offices in 20 contiguous southern Indiana counties and one adjacent northern Kentucky county. The Company also owns an investment brokerage subsidiary (German American Investment Services, Inc.) and a full line property and casualty insurance agency (German American Insurance, Inc.). At March 31, 2018, German American reported total assets of approximately $3.1 billion, total loans of approximately $2.2 billion, and total deposits of approximately $2.5 billion.
About First Security
First Security, Inc., based in Owensboro, Kentucky operates 11 retail banking offices through its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Security Bank, Inc., with retail banking offices in Owensboro, Bowling Green, Franklin and Lexington, Kentucky and in Evansville and Newburgh, Indiana. At March 31, 2018, First Security had total assets of approximately $586 million, total loans of approximately $409 million, and total deposits of approximately $458 million.
Hedge Those Bets: Sports Gambling May Not Be a Jackpot for States
Some states were getting ready to jump into sports gambling even before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized it last week, lining up legislation that would allow their states to cash in as quickly as possible on millions of dollars in tax revenue.
New Jersey, which won the high court case, and Delaware, with its racetracks, could be the first to benefit, potentially hosting sports gambling in a matter of weeks. Mississippi and Pennsylvania also expect to see legal betting soon.
But gambling experts warn that starry-eyed lawmakers might be overestimating their haul from legalized sports betting. Differences in state tax structures, competition for a limited market of gamblers, the push for a federal framework and the continued allure of black-market betting all could cut into the hoped-for windfall.
A 2017 study by Oxford Economics, conducted for the American Gaming Association, estimated that sports betting could become a $41.2 billion industry — including “downstream impacts†as well as spending by bettors — and contribute about $3.4 billion in taxes to state and local governments.
That “may sound like big money — but it isn’t,†said Lucy Dadayan, a senior policy analyst at the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
The estimated $3.4 billion represents less than 0.3 percent of total state and local revenue, she said. It’s naive, she added, to think sports betting will be “a budget saver.†Historically, revenue from expanding gambling deteriorates over time, she said. And much of the “new†gambling money that flows in is shifted from other forms of betting.
“Most certainly it will generate some revenues for the early-adopter states,†Dadayan said, “which will encourage other states to follow suit and legalize sports betting.â€
That could give early states an advantage. And they’re anticipating wins.
“Great!†said West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice after the ruling. “I think it’s great because, to be perfectly honest, today we all know there’s a lot of illegal sports betting going on,†Justice, a Republican, told West Virginia reporters.
About 20 states have considered sports gambling legislation in 2018, but only West Virginia’s has passed. Mississippi and Pennsylvania enacted theirs last year.
Connecticut also now has an authorizing law in place, and New York is getting close, according to legalsportsreport.com, an industry website and newsletter tracking wagering laws. Oregon enacted legislation decades ago that could also be used to sanction sports gambling.
Dustin Gouker, the newsletter’s editor, said revenue “is a hard thing to forecast.†He said even if states legalize sports betting, the black market — with estimated wagers between $50 billion and $100 billion a year — is not going to disappear.
“Legal books are going to do well because they are legal and trustworthy,†he said. “But offshore books offer anonymity and are tax free,†he said, referring to illegal books based in other countries.
In Nevada, where it has been legal since 1984, sports wagering makes up an increasingly higher portion of overall gambling revenue, according to statistics compiled by David G. Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. In 2017, sports wagering made up 2.2 percent of the casinos’ take, a historic high.
Depending on how the sports gambling is structured in a state, it may or may not cut into the illegal sports gambling market, or other types of gambling, Schwartz said. He also noted that Nevada gambling revenue overall is still below its pre-recession peak.
Observers think the gambling industry, like any other industry, will consider states’ tax and regulatory structure when deciding whether to get involved. New Jersey, with its Atlantic City casinos, and Delaware, with its racetracks, already have some gambling rules in place for the legal betting that goes on there now.
Pennsylvania, another racetrack state, has a 34 percent tax on sports bet winnings, far above that of Nevada, which has a 6.75 percent tax on sports betting. Legislation in Indiana would have set a 9.25 percent sports wagering tax on casinos.
“We have to make sure that we don’t price our own casinos out of the industry,†said Republican state Rep. Alan Morrison of Indiana, whose sports wagering bill failed this year. “If the taxes are too high, the folks who are setting the lines will not be able to be competitive with those who are not being taxed at all.â€
Another wrinkle: In states with prominent professional or collegiate sports teams, those organizations might get a cut of the revenue. Several states and professional sports leagues are lobbying for “integrity fees,†ostensibly to fund efforts to make sure that the sporting events are legitimate, but which have been criticized by the gambling industry as just another way for the sports leagues to make money.
Sports leagues, leery of navigating different regulations in multiple states, are calling on Congress to write federal legislation that would regulate the sports betting industry nationwide, partially based on the “integrity†issue.
“Congress has long-recognized the potential harms posed by sports betting to the integrity of sporting contests and the public confidence in these events,†an NFL spokesman said in a statement after the ruling. “Given that history, we intend to call on Congress again, this time to enact a core regulatory framework for legalized sports betting.â€
U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, said he will soon introduce broad sports gambling legislation designed to “protect honesty and principle†and set federal standards, while allowing individual states to still regulate the wagering within their borders.
Meanwhile, states are pushing ahead. Chris Grove, the lead analyst at playusa.com, which tracks and promotes legal and regulated gambling, thinks some will take more time than others.
“Despite the decision, the process of regulated sports betting spreading across the United States will be a gradual one,†Grove said. “Some states will act quickly; others will be more deliberative. Some states will ultimately decline to authorize regulated sports betting.â€
Morrison, the point man on legal sports wagering legislation in Indiana, still anticipates new sports gambling operations that could bring in millions.
Morrison and a colleague in the Senate were shepherding legislation this year, but they ran into competing constituencies, not the least of which was the NCAA, headquartered in Indiana, which was opposed altogether. The bill died.
The NCAA has reluctantly acknowledged in the past week that the Supreme Court’s ruling changes things. And now, in light of the ruling, Morrison, a Republican, is on the trail to get wagering legislation revived and passed next session.
Evansville Doctor Receives 2017 Rotary Club Civic Award
Dr. Stephen Becker Is This Year’s Recipient
MAY 22ND, 2018 
TYRONE MORRIS EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
The Evansville Rotary Club recognizes it’s 2017 Civic Award winner. Dr. Stephen Becker is this year’s recipient for his leadership and dedication to bringing a four-year medical school to Evansville.
The award recognizes outstanding people who perform civic, charitable, humanitarian, or cultural services for the city and its people. This year, the Rotary is celebrating 90 years of recognizing those who serve.
“The community as a whole has come together and rallied behind a cause so I think it is much bigger than getting an award. It is much more about an incredibly positive movement in our region and community,†says Becker.
The first recipient of the Civic Award was E. Mead Johnson, Sr. in 1927.
Last year Barbara and Brian Williams received the 2016 award.
Commentary: Tales Of Tears And Gunshots
By John Krull
TheStatehouseFile.comÂ
INDIANAPOLIS – A small boy with dark, curly hair and big brown eyes, he looked lost in the hospital bed.
This was nearly 25 years ago. I’d gone to interview this child and his family because he had been the victim of a drive-by.
He was a third-grader. He was shy. He answered my questions with short, polite answers. He said he couldn’t wait to leave the hospital. He wanted to play again with his friends and his cousins.
I asked him if he remembered why he was in the hospital.
“I was shot,†he said. “Somebody shot me.â€
When he said that, his mother and his grandmother, who sat beside his hospital bed, burst into tears.
It was a summer of shootings.
Almost every week, it seemed the newspaper where I worked sent me to cover the funeral of another teenager or child who had been killed or to talk with grieving parents or family members.
One father took me into his dead son’s bedroom. The boy, who had been killed just before his 14th birthday, had been a budding artist.
His father showed me his son’s sketches. He talked about how he and his wife had bought their boy a nice set of art supplies for his birthday. They planned to give it to him at a family party.
He looked for a long moment at one of his son’s sketches. Then his face twisted into tears.
“Why?†he sobbed.
I didn’t have an answer.
The police officers I interviewed that summer said they felt overwhelmed.
There were so many guns flowing into the streets that entire neighborhoods were turned into free-fire zones.
That squared with what I had seen.
During the school year, a couple of times a week, I’d jog up to an inner-city elementary school over my lunch hour.
The principal was a friend of mine. She’d told me that the teaching staff was almost entirely female and that many of the boys in the school would benefit from a male presence.
I organized kickball games at recess and talked with boys the principal or the teachers thought needed some special attention.
One day, when I trotted up, I saw that the maintenance crew was replacing a window.
I asked my friend what happened.
She shook her head.
“Someone shot it out,†she said.
She said it wasn’t the first time it had happened.
Some of the children in the school told me they could hear gunshots in their neighborhood at night.
One boy the teachers wanted me to work with had an easy laugh and an impish smile. He was bright and had an intuitive understanding of numbers. After kickball, we would play math games or do numbers puzzles.
His laugh when he solved a brainteaser faster than I could be joy itself.
Three years later, when he was in high school, he went riding with some friends. They ran into another group of guys.
Someone had a gun.
The little boy who loved numbers was shot.
He died.
When my friend, the principal, called to tell me about his death, we both sat in silence for a long moment, too stunned to talk.
In Texas this week, there are a lot of stories like these.
A troubled teenager took his father’s guns to his high school and opened fire. He killed at least 10 people and wounded many others.
This happened in a secure school in one of the most gun-happy states in the country. That hasn’t stopped gun advocates from arguing, over the objections of police, parents, students, teachers, and others, that guns shouldn’t be any part of our discussions about how we keep our children safe.
For them, guns are always the focus.
Me, I can’t help thinking about how many schools and how many teachers have to replace windows, doors, and walls because they’ve been shot up.
I wonder how many math prodigies with sweet smiles we’ve lost to gun violence.
How many parents stand in their children’s rooms and ask why? through tears.
How many small children say, “I was shot. Somebody shot me.â€
And how many would say that, if they could speak from the grave?
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.
This article was posted by the City-County Observer without bias, opinion or editing.
Three Business Owners, Former Bank Employee Charged In $8M Fraud Schemes
IL for www.theindianalawyer.com
Five central Indiana residents — including the owners of three local companies — have been charged along with a Detroit man with embezzling more than $8 million from a bank and an insurance company, in part to pay for a home, a wedding, cars and more.
U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler announced the federal charges Monday afternoon after a two-year investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service.
All six are charged with conspiring to launder money stolen from the bank and insurance company:
• John L. Williams, 49, Zionsville, a former employee of the bank, which federal authorities are not naming because it is considered a victim.
• Ernie Perkins, 36, Zionsville, the owner of Remarkable Creative Enterprises, or RCE, which describes itself as a facilities management and cleaning company.
• Robert Finch, 71, Indianapolis, owner of Finch Management and Finch Constructors, which provides licensed general contracting and mechanical services.
• Donald Landis, 58, Plainfield, owner of P&L Supply, a provider of commercial and industrial maintenance supplies.
• Shalonda Coleman, 42, Indianapolis, a former employee of the insurance company, which is also unnamed.
• Walter Watson, 69, Detroit, owner of the W-3 construction company.
Coleman and Perkins are also charged with using the U.S. Mail to defraud the insurance company and steal money.
Williams and Coleman are additionally charged with tax evasion and filing false tax returns, respectively, for failing to report their receipt of stolen funds as income on their tax returns.
Williams and Finch also face additional charges for “engaging in a significant number of financial transactions in excess of $10,000 using the stolen funds,†the prosecutor’s office said.
Those transactions included transfers to other bank accounts held by the defendants, construction of a residence in Zionsville, more than $100,000 in payments for Williams’ daughter’s wedding, and the purchase of multiple automobiles, Minkler’s office said.  “This community has a right to hold high expectations of individuals in positions of trust in our financial institutions,†said Minkler. “Those who blatantly commit fraud and abuse their positions will be held accountable in federal court.â€
Federal authorities said Williams was a construction project manager in the Indianapolis regional office of the bank, where he oversaw its internal real estate projects in five area states. That included new bank branch construction and existing branch renovations.
Williams would allegedly contact Perkins, Finch, Watson, and Landis and instruct them to submit fraudulent invoices to the bank for work that was never performed and materials that were never supplied. Williams used his position at the bank to approve payment.
Then Perkins, Finch, Watson, and Landis would allegedly kick back a large percentage of the money to CB Consulting, a fictitious business entity controlled by Williams. In many cases, the money passed through multiple bank accounts before reaching the account Williams set up for CB Consulting, the prosecutor’s office said.
In the insurance scheme, the prosecutor’s office said, Coleman, used her position as a claims processor and her access to the company’s computer systems to mail checks — disguised as payments for work performed for the insurance company’s clients — to RCE.
Perkins would allegedly deposit the checks into RCE accounts and kick back a percentage of the money to Coleman.
“The members of this criminal enterprise executed a scheme to steal millions of dollars, for their own personal use, and evade the law,†said Patricia Armstrong, inspector in charge in the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit division, in a statement.
“The arrest and indictment of these defendants should serve as a warning to others who seek to commit similar crimes,†she said. “Postal Inspectors and our federal law enforcement partners will tirelessly pursue them until they are brought to justice.â€
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Rinka, who is prosecuting this case for the government, each defendant faces up to 30 years in prison and three years of supervised release.
A message left for Perkins on his voicemail at CRE was not immediately returned, nor was a message left for Finch at Finch Constructors. Emails to both men were not immediately returned.
P&L’s business number is no longer in service and an email sent to the company was returned as undeliverable. Watson did not return messages left at his company and sent to his email.
Williams and Coleman could not be immediately reached for comment.
UE Women’s Golf earns NCAA APR Recognition
University of Evansville’s women’s golf program was recognized as one of more than 1,200 Division I sports teams that earned NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) public recognition from the NCAA. It marks the 9th season in a row that the UE women earned the honor.
Based on their most recent multi-year APR (2013-14 through 2016-17), the Purple Aces program posted multi-year APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in that sport and earned a perfect score of 1,000 for the single-year and multi-year calculations.
“I would like to congratulate Coach Jim Hamilton and his team for earning this recognition for the ninth season in a row,” UE Director of Athletics Mark Spencer said. “This recognition embodies everything that the University of Evansville is all about. They had done a great job and have truly earned this prestigious honor.”
The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance.
Each year, the NCAA honors selected NCAA Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate. This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.
Multi-year APRs for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition, will be announced May 23.
U of E Women’s Basketball Signs Seven For 2018-19
Head coach Matt Ruffing has announced the addition of seven student-athletes to the University of Evansville women’s basketball team for the 2018-19 season.
“This is an exciting recruiting class,” said Aces head coach Matt Ruffing. “”In this class, our staff sees winners, leaders, shooters, defenders, and rebounders. This group will add much needed versatility to our lineup.”
Evansville’s crop of signees feature six incoming freshman and a transfer, representing five states including a pair of incoming student-athletes from Indiana and Missouri and single student-athletes coming to Evansville from Florida, Kentucky, and Minnesota.
Joining the Aces for the 2018 season are Tayzha Buck (Red Wing, Minn.), Sydne Caddy (Fernandina Beach, Calif.), A’Niah Griffin (Louisville, Ky.), Anna Newman (Evansville, Ind.), Jada Poland (St. Louis, Mo.), Sydney Tucker (Frankton, Ind.), and Makayla Wallace (Kirkwood, Mo.).
“This seven-member class has a special opportunity to leave a lasting mark on this program.,” said Ruffing. “Now it’s time to get to work!.”
The first signee of the 2018 class for the Aces is guard Tayzha Buck. A native of Red Wing, Minn., Buck was named class AAA All-State in Minnesota after a strong senior campaign at Red Wing High School. Buck averaged 14.9 points per game last season for the Wingers.
Another guard joining Evansville is Sydne Caddy. Coming to the Aces from Fernandina Beach High School in Fernandina Beach, Fla., the 5’10” guard averaged 12.2 points per game a season ago at Fernandina Beach High School, adding 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per contest.
Joining the Aces as an incoming freshman is A’Niah Griffin. Hailing from Louisville, Ky., Griffin starred for Louisville Manual High School. Griffin helped lead Manual to the final eight of the Kentucky High School Sports Association Girls Basketball Tournament in 2018.
Traveling just down the road to wear the purple and white is guard Anna Newman. The Evansville North High School product averaged a career-high 18.2 points per contest during her senior campaign in 2017-18, earning her a spot on the Indiana All-Star team. Newman was one of just 13 girls basketball seniors from the state Indiana to be named to the prestigious team. The all-time leading scorer in North High School history, Newman amassed 1,417 points during her career for the Huskies and helped lead North to 64 wins including 20 in 2016-17, a school record.
Following a pair of seasons at North Texas, forward Jada Poland returns to the Midwest. The St. Louis, Mo. native saw three starts for the Mean Green this past season as a sophomore, averaging 2.2 points and 3 rebounds per game, including tying a career-high with 10 boards against Western Kentucky on January 26. In high school, Poland averaged 15.7 points per game in her senior season, while averaging a double-double over her final two prep seasons. Poland continues to hold the Fort Zumwalt High School career women’s basketball scoring mark with over 1,400 points.
After a strong prep career, guard Sydney Tucker travels south to join Ruffing’s team. A native of Frankton, Ind., Tucker averaged 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 steals, and 2.1 rebounds in her senior season at Frankton High School where she led the Eagles to an IHSAA semi-state appearance in 2017-18.
A 5’4″ point guard, Makayla Wallace is the sixth signee for the Aces. Coming to Evansville from Kirkwood, Mo., Wallace enjoyed a strong senior season with Kirkwood High School as the point guard helped lead the Warriors’ to back-to-back Missouri Class 5 girls basketball state championships and three-straight state semifinal appearances.
Air Quality – Ozone Alert
Please be advised that outdoor ozone levels in Evansville and Vanderburgh County may reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups†range established by the U.S. EPA for the 8-hour Ozone Standard.
About This Alert: Abundant sunshine, light easterly winds travelling down the Ohio Valley, and smoke from Canadian firesmay allow for ozone to breach the 8-hour standard on Thursday. Even if the 8-hour standard isn’t exceeded, hourly readings could reach the USG category. Central and Southeastern Indiana will be under the same USG Alert for Thursday, including the cities of Indianapolis, Terre Haute, and Louisville.
| Air Quality Index | Ozone 8-hr average |
| Good (0-50) | 0-54 ppb |
| Moderate (51 – 100) | 55-70 ppb |
| →  Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101 – 150) | 71-85 ppb |
| Unhealthy (151 – 200) | 86-105 ppb |
| Very Unhealthy (201 – 300) | 106-200 ppb |
| HAZARDOUS (301 – 500+) | >200 ppb |
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The U.S. EPA recommends that sensitive groups such as children, older adults, those with respiratory diseases, and people who are active outdoors limit prolonged outdoor exertion, especially between the hours of 12:00 and 7:00 p.m. when the highest ozone concentrations are most likely to occur.
Within a few hours or days, exposure to higher levels of Ozone may cause lung and throat irritation, shortness of breath, and aggravate respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. For more information about ozone and your health please go to: http://www.epa.gov/airnow/ozone-c.pdf
Do your share to protect air quality and reduce pollution levels:
- Conserve energy – turn off lights, reduce air conditioner use, etc.
- Use Public transit, or limit driving and avoid unnecessary idling at drive-through windows and school pick-up/drop-off areas, especially if there are long lines.
- Postpone refueling your vehicle until after 6:00 p.m.; don’t ‘top-off’ the tank when filling up.
- Consider using electric or manually operated lawn and garden equipment.  If you use gasoline-powered equipment, try to avoid use between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Limit the use of cleaning fluids, paint thinners or other materials containing volatile organic compounds (VOC).
- Postpone painting projects or use low-VOC coatings.
- OPEN BURNING IS PROHIBITED during an air quality alert. The use of gas and charcoal grills for cooking is permitted, however delaying until after 6 p.m. is recommended.