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: DO YOU CARE IF PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD AN AFFAIR WITH A PORN STAR?

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.

If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us CityCountyObserver@live.com.

Uncle Rudy’s Indoor Firing Range, the tri-state’s leader in teaching, training and educating the community on firearms, plans to further their education initiative by offering free training services for teachers, school administrators and school staff on May 19th, 2018.

The free training services are in response to the most recent tragedy in Florida. Trainers, instructors, and coaches all over the United States have come together as a unified front to strive for further firearm education, declaring the day: National Train A Teacher Day.

The purpose of this initiative is to provide a service to local education leaders that are interested in learning more about firearms. Owner, John Rudolph commented on their efforts, “We know teachers have a lot on their plate. We’re not saying go arm yourselves if you’re not comfortable doing so. We just want our community educators and school staff to be offered an opportunity to learn more should they be interested. We want to ensure that our community is educated, so they could potentially save a life.”

The free training opportunities will cover a variety of subjects and could include first aid, Refuse To Be A Victim, firearms safety, concealed carry, unarmed defense, TASER, purpose built active shooter training, Run-Hide-Fight, and defensive tactics.

Uncle Rudy’s encourages all local teachers, school administrators and school staff to take advantage of this opportunity. The training is free, and it provides local school districts with a way to continue education of firearms and give them added confidence in taking action should they be put in such a situation.

Classes will be offered on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 12PM, 2PM and 4PM. For more information, you can visit Uncle Rudy’s website at www.unclerudys.com or visit the National Train A Teacher Day website at www.nationaltrainateacherday.com.

IU McKinney Professor Lawrence Jegen Dies

After a memorial service for the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and the Evansville Police Department, officers were encouraged to give back in a special way.

The blood drive at the Fraternal Operation of Police Lodge 73 aimed to receive 20 pints of blood in hopes of saving others.

From May until August, the American Red Cross is campaigning across Indiana with the Fallen Heroes blood drive.

Community members in the Hoosier state can also volunteer to donate blood.

Click here to see the times and locations for the Fallen Heroes blood drive.

GAVEL GAMUT By Jim Redwine

I WANNABE A GIRL SINGER IN A ROCK BAND

I am so excited! Our new granddaughter-in-law is already what I have always wanted to be: a girl singer in a touring rock band. Well, maybe not the girl thing, but ever since I spent my Sunday School offering of a dollar to buy my first record, a 45 rpm single of Sonny James’ “Young Love”, I have secretly dreamed of headlining a rock and roll show. I could have done it too if I hadn’t been unfairly held back by the inability to know a musical key from a wash tub.

But before we get to the wedding of our grandson, Alec, and his bride, Arielle, I have a few questions you, Gentle Reader, who may also be a closet rock star, can answer. First, whatever happened to the Roll in Rock and Roll? Remember Bill Haley and the Comets or Jerry Lee Lewis or Little Richard, etc.? We used to have rock and roll stars. Now, all we have are rock stars. Have we lost the art of rolling? What is rolling anyway? For that matter, what is rocking? I think I used to know the answers to these fundamental youthful behaviors. Now about all I can dimly recall is loud music, conversations about hair and the vague impression of a concert venue filled with strange smelling smoke.

Well, if you have any thoughts on these issues, as the Tappet Brothers used to say, put them on the back of a $20.00 bill and send them to me. For now, let’s get back to our grandchildren’s wedding which was living proof of how men have allowed their once dominant position in such matters to be cast into the dustbin of ancient history.

For example, I am fairly confident our grandson, who is also a fine heavy metal musician, would have been completely okay with a ceremony that involved a large club and a couple of animal skins. The whole thing would have taken ten minutes and cost only some sweat and maybe a broken bone or two. Au contraire mon Ami. When Alec asked for Arielle’s lovely hand in marriage it came with a female retinue of mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts and a multitude of feminine wedding enthusiasts. JPeg Ranch, the wedding venue, was transformed from a bucolic backwater to a bastion of bustling estrogen-driven frenzy.

The quiet emptiness of The Ranch was filled with potted plants, satin drapery and netting, twinkling lights of several varieties, enough chairs and tables to accommodate the Light Brigade, fountains, food, cakes, libations bit tender, coolers, a bonfire, a DJ, two large white tents that would have made Lawrence of Arabia proud and even a bishop’s stand for me to stand in as I performed the official duties. This campaign resembled the D-Day Landing. If General Eisenhower had had these women, he could have forgone Omar Bradley. And have I mentioned the pink and blue porta-potties?

Well, it was a glorious and happy event and even as a grumpy old Grandpa, I loved it, especially when Arielle channeled her inner Janis Joplin and sang Me and Bobby McGee. Maybe there’s hope for me yet. After all, any reasonably competent journeyman can be a judge, but to have grandchildren who are rock (and roll) stars, now that is a real accomplishment!

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