Indiana Sheriffs’ Association Scholarship Program Accepting Applications
The Indiana Sheriffs’ Association will again be awarding college scholarships to qualified high school seniors or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies. There will be approximately forty (40) $500.00 scholarships awarded to qualifying students throughout the state.
The Indiana Sheriffs’ Association Scholarship Fund was established for the purpose of receiving, investing and dispensing funds in order to provide college scholarships to qualified students who are committed to pursuing an education and career in the law enforcement field.
To qualify for one of these scholarships, the applicant must be an Indiana resident, must be a current member of the association or a dependent child or grandchild of a current member of the association, attend an Indiana college or university, major in a law enforcement field and enroll as a full time student (12 hours).
Scholarship applications are available from your high school counselor, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office or by writing to the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association, 147 East Maryland Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3608, and requesting an application form. The scholarship application can also be downloaded from the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association by clicking here. The applications must be completed and received by the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association on or before April 1.
IS IT TRUE FEBRUARY 13, 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?â€
IS IT TRUEÂ the search for a new CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana has ended with the hiring of what looks like a person who may be overqualified for the Evansville market that she can do this job with her hands tied behind her back?…Tara Barney whose last position was running the entire regional economic development entity for the Quad Cities is coming to Evansville?…in her last job Ms. Barney commanded a budget of over $6 million and all of the tasks handled in this market by the Chamber, GAGE, and the Coalition combined?…she was also in a market that is double the size of greater Evansville?…Barney will be the 3rd CEO in less than 5 years not counting interim CEO decisions?…we do wish her the best, but in the past, the ” good old boy” network of Evansville has mishandled high performers and are fully capable of neutralizing this accomplished person too? Â …we hope not?
IS IT TRUEÂ the “Payday Lending” bill that recently passed the Indiana House of Representatives is projected to increases the interest rates by leaps and bounds on some of our most vulnerable residents who borrow short term loans? Â …that all four (4) Republican local State Representatives voted “Yes” for this “Payday Loan” bill? ..State Representative Ryan Hatfield (D) voted “no” on this bill and we appreciate him looking out for the intents of the less fortunate of his District?
IS IT TRUE the “Payday Loan Legislation” was co-authored by State Representative Wendy McNamara (R)? …we remember when Ms. McNamara first ran for public office she promised to be a “fiscal watchdog” for the citizens of her District? …since Ms. McNamara was a co-sponsor of this Legislation” we must point out that she wasn’t being a good “fiscal watchdog” for the taxpayers of her District?
IS IT TRUE the St. Ben’s fundraising event called “An Evening At Mardi Gras” was held last week at the downtown DoubleTree ballroom.?  …this event is the primary fundraising vehicle for the PTO for the Parochial parish and school?  …this year’s event sold 360 tickets for the silent and live auction, dinner & dance and netted a little over $100,000 to help fund the needs of the nearly 400 Parochial students?  …the co-chairpersons of this event were Kate Miller and Ashley Hammer, Melanie McMinn and they put on one heck of a fundraiser?  …the City-County Observer gives five (5) cheers to the co-chairpersons of this most worthy community event?
IS IT TRUE this year’s West Franklin Street Mardi Gras parade was a huge success mainly because of the hard work and leadership of Amy Word-Smith? ..we hope that the work ethic and leadership skills she displayed working on the West Franklin Street Mardi Gras parade is an indication of what type of a City Council member she will be?
IS IT TRUE the Trolley Evansville Districts (TED) has officially arrived in Evansville? …..that Amy Word-Smith, Andrea Sinnett (FSEA), Abby Elpers (GAGE) and the many donors that helped make TED a reality and should be congratulated?  …we are still perplexed why didn’t Bob Warren and the CVB Board Of Directors support this project?  … the CVB now have a couple of new and well-qualified board members? …we expect that the new CVB Board of Directors will decide to support this much-needed tourism and destination project? …we feel that the past CVB Board Of Directors would have been better served if they would have invested in “TED” instead of spending $1,200 on a roasted pig luncheon?
IS IT TRUEÂ are hearing that CVB wants to invest more money in Goebel Sports Complex? …before they do they need to fix the existing problems with storm drainage issues connected with the field? …this is just another multi-million dollar capital project that was done in a shoddy manner just like the ball fields scoreboard nonsense at this Sports Complex?
IS IT TRUE that enough states have legalized marijuana by now to begin to see the early effects of doing so?…the State of Colorado has several years of legal recreational use under their belt and much to the surprise of many, the streets are not filled with pot heads?…what has happened is that the price of the products have been falling like an internet stock in Y2K?…top grade cannabis that once sold for $10,000 per pound has dropped to the $2,000 per pound level and every empty warehouse in Denver has been converted into a grow facility?…this is good for the people that own the warehouses but not so good for the people who grow the buds or the cities and states who were budgeting to collect sales taxes on the $10,000 per pound product?…legalization hasn’t stopped smuggling and black market distribution channels either?…with sales taxes as high as 15% in some areas, there is an incentive for customers to go to the black market for dope?…municipalities in Colorado, Washington, and California which will be legal for all over 21 since January 1, 2018 are more enthusiastic about taxing the wakey tobacky than local politicians who borrowed money to build temples for fun and games?
IS IT TRUE that the reality is that marijuana will be legal across the country soon and all of the farmers who have been struggling to make ends meet with corn, soybeans, almonds, peppers, and alfalfa will be ready to convert to growing dope?…that will drive the price down further as it always has with agricultural commodities?…someday soon we will see the morning farm report with beans, corn, pork bellies, and dope all streaming across the TV screen?…the ones who are poised to make significant money from dope are real estate owners, water control technologists, wavelength optimized LED lighting designers, packaging suppliers, and specialized sellers of fertilizer?…those who are expecting a sustainable profitable harvest from dope alone or the taxes from it will be as disappointed as a bride abandoned at the altar?
Todays “Readers Poll†question is: Do you feel that State Representatives McNamara,  Bacon, Washburne, and Sullivan were correct in voting “yes” on the “Pay Day Predatory Loan” bill?
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-County Observer@live.com.
EDITOR’S FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.
Vanderburgh County Commissioners February 13, 2018 Meeting Agenda
AGENDA Of The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners
February 13, 2018 at 3:00 pm, Room 301
- Call to Order
- Attendance
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Action ItemsÂ
- Tax Sale Property Update from Fine and Hatfield
- County Auditor: Permission to Advertise Statement of Receipts and Expenditures
- Final Reading of Ordinance CO.02-18-008: Amending Chapter 2.69 of Vanderburgh County Code on the Homelessness Commission
- Department Head Reports
- New Business
- Old Business
- Road Hearing February 28, 2018 11:00 am- 1:00 pm Central Library Browning Room
- Public Comment
- Consent Items
- Contracts, Agreements and Leases
- Central Dispatch: AT&T Capital Services Lease Documents for E9111 Equipment
- Computer Services: HISCOX Cyber Liability Insurance Renewal
- County Health: Peer Counselor Contract with Elizabeth Heiman
- Vanderburgh County Courts, Computer Information Systems: Dell Master Agreement
- Approval of February 6, 2018 Meeting Minutes
- Employment Changes
- County Clerk: January 2018 Monthly Report
- County Health: Surplus Request for Equipment
- Road Closure Request: USI Screaming Eagles Running Series
- Commissioners:
- Second Appropriation for Communications Line Item
- Transfer Request for Screening Labor
- United Neighborhood of Evansville: January 2018 Monthly Report
- County Engineering:
- Department Report
- Pay Request #3 T.I.F. Phoenix Commerce for the sum of $3,370.00
- Pay Request #31 T.I.F. University Parkway for the sum of $25,789.00
- Claims
- Contracts, Agreements and Leases
- Adjournment
Commentary: A Camel’s Back And A World’s Worth Of Straw
By Michael Leppert
www.contrariana.com
The idiom “the straw that breaks the camel’s back†is often defined as the final terrible thing that makes a situation unbearable. Other sources describe the “last straw†as an otherwise minor or routine event that taken in the collection with all the others, makes the cumulative effect unacceptable.
America’s patience and the strength of its proverbial camel’s back are clearly being tested by Rob Porter and John Kelly.
Porter is the soon to be former staff secretary in the White House. He resigned on Wednesday in the face of abuse allegations raised against him by three women, two of whom are his ex-wives. Both of his ex-wives were interviewed by the FBI in January of 2017 as part of a routine background check for Porter’s necessary security clearance.
He has never received that clearance.
Porter’s first ex-wife, Colbie Holderness, shared a photo with investigators last year and now the media of herself with a black eye she got after a punch from him. The photo was taken in the summer of 2005. Jennifer Willoughby, his second ex-wife, disclosed to the bureau the protective order she obtained against Porter in June of 2010. She also shared news of another police intervention at their home following a domestic violence incident. These are public records.
Both women were contacted by a third woman in 2016 claiming to be Porter’s girlfriend. She sought them out for advice and support while she was dealing with abuse from him as well.
All of the details of these accounts were provided to the FBI more than a year ago.
White House Chief of Staff, Gen. John Kelly, had been informed of at least portions of the information last fall after taking over the reins from Trump’s first chief, Reince Priebus.
When the women’s stories began to publicly surface this week, dignitaries in D.C. rushed to the defense of Porter’s character. Kelly’s initial statement included this description of Porter: “a man of true integrity and honor and I can’t say enough good things about him.â€
His former boss, Sen. Orrin Hatch, sung Porter’s praises on Wednesday before a retraction on Thursday. Kelly is not veering so much because doing so would amount to an admission of wrongdoing on his part. That moment will come on this one eventually.
It is important to know what the White House staff secretary does. Job titles like that can mean just about anything. But this job is in charge of the flow of paperwork, the record, often times classified documents in the office of the president. There is a flood of pictures online of Porter with Trump. He travels with him. He shook the hand of China President Xi Jinping. Some refer to him as a deputy chief of staff.
To add to the drama, Porter is now in a romantic relationship with White House Communications Director Hope Hicks. Her place in Trump’s inner circle precedes everyone else in the administration.
Yet still, he has not received his permanent security clearance. Now we know he won’t ever receive it.
So, why was his presence allowed to continue after the White House was informed of this?
Was it that Porter’s dad worked for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush? Was it that he graduated from Harvard and Oxford? Was it that he served as a Mormon missionary?
He has a resume that would make his profile as a domestic abuser simply hard to believe. Right?
Wrong. His violent past is documented. Believe it. The FBI believes it. Furthermore, abusers come in all shapes and sizes.
Hopefully, someday soon, presidential administrations will be so intolerant of domestic abuse and abusers, that the mere mention of it will cause appropriate alarm. I think that day might be upon most other Americans already. The rest of the country is experiencing a different #metoo moment.
All of this makes Porter, and possibly Kelly susceptible to blackmail. The lengths some have already taken to hide this is scandalous.
The Trump administration has spent the entire first year of its term obliterating protocols. Some were destroyed on purpose. Others were destroyed because the character of this team is incapable of complying. This particular straw seems like a combination of both of those things.
But is this the last straw?
It should be for Gen. Kelly. He was supposed to be the adult in the room. His gaffes are piling up, and the word is that Trump did not know about Porter’s checkered past.
Or was it the FBI who had finally had enough of Trump that led to the reports of this humiliating vulnerability? Could be.
No matter how heavy it seems, there will be a straw that breaks the camel’s back of America. It may not happen until the next election, but our knees are clearly wobbling and a broken back feels all but inevitable.
Court Date Set For EVSC Teacher Accused of Child Molestation
FEBRUARY 13TH, 2018Â 
LAUREN LESLIEÂ EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
The alleged incidents were first reported Thursday and by Friday afternoon Wolf was arrested and charged.
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s office held a meeting over the weekend with parents to inform and answer any concerns or question. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating to determine if there are any more potential victims.
Sheriff Dave Wedding says, “If a parent has spoken to their child and the child has conveyed to them they may have been impacted by this person in a negative way and certainly in a criminal way we’re hoping they will contact the Sheriff’s Office and we will conduct more interviews and place more criminal charges if needed.â€
EVSC officials say Wolf was hired as a third grade teacher back in 2016.
They say the teacher who is filling Wolf’s position is a regular substitute and is familiar with the Scott Elementary community.
Wolf remains free on a $10,000 bond.
He is due in court Wednesday afternoon.
Lauren Leslie
Lauren Leslie is from Evansville, and has previously worked as a News Producer. Lauren graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelor of Science in Radio and Television and a Minor in Criminal Justice.
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Goedde Running for Posey Circuit Court Judge
Attorney Craig Goedde has filed his candidacy for Posey Circuit Court Judge. Craig has not previously sought political office, but felt motivated to enter the race for Judge to make a difference for the families of Posey County.
Craig is licensed in Indiana and Kentucky and has been practicing law for nearly 20 years. During his 20 year tenure, he practices heavily in Posey and Vanderburgh Counties, but practices in several other Southern Indiana Counties as well. Although Craig practices in nearly every aspect of the law, except bankruptcy, he primarily focuses his attention to family, juvenile, probate, corporate, civil, and criminal matters. He also serves as a Certified Family Law Mediator.
Craig is a member of the Posey County Bar Association, Evansville Bar Association, and Indiana State Bar Association. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Evansville Bar Association as Chair and Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers Section. He has also been a past member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Indiana Public Defenders Council, and Indiana Worker’s Compensation Institute – Evansville Division.
Craig graduated from Mater Dei High School, Indiana University-Bloomington, and the University of Dayton School of Law. Craig makes his home in St. Philip, Indiana with his wife, Kelli, and three (3) children, Taylor, Zach, and Brooklyn.
Yesteryear: Early Postal Service by Pat Sides
A postman pauses for the camera on an unidentified street in Evansville. Judging by the style of his uniform, as well as the unpaved street, the photo was probably taken in the 1880s. Prior to 1863, citizens went to post offices to retrieve their mail, or possibly had it delivered to their homes by a private service.
After that year, free mail delivery to residences began in larger cities, depending on their population, and by 1868, uniforms became standard wear when Congress approved them. This postman is standing in a delivery wagon fashioned after a Roman chariot, typical of the era. By 1911, only seven cities in the country used newly-motorized postal vehicles, and the last horse-drawn wagons were not abandoned until the 1930s.
U of E Men’s Basketball Travels To Cedar Falls On Tuesday
Aces Look For Season Sweep Of UNI
In a rare Tuesday league game, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team looks for its first season sweep of UNI in five years as the Purple Aces take on the Panthers on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Cedar Falls.
Evansville is coming off of a 72-55 defeat on Saturday at Missouri State as Ryan Taylor scored a team-high 13 points while Dru Smith posted 12 in his first game back after missing the previous three. K.J. Riley chipped in nine points for the second game in a row. The Bears led from start to finish, leading by as many as 23 before taking the 17-point win.
Taylor kept his streak alive of scoring in double figures in each game this season. He leads the MVC with 21.2 points per game. Prior to Saturday’s game at MSU, Taylor scored 20 or more points in five consecutive games. Riley has also been on a nice streak, scoring nine points in each of the last two games. In the six games before his streak, Riley averaged just 5.2PPG.
UNI stands at 12-14 and 4-10 in the Valley going into Tuesday’s game in Cedar Falls. The Panthers has fallen in four of their last five games, including a 57-49 loss to the Aces in Evansville on Jan. 31. Bennett Koch continues to be the top offensive weapon for the Panthers, posting a team-high 12.5 points per game; he has also hit 109 free throws, more than double anyone else on the team. Tywhon Pickford leads UNI with 8.0 rebounds per game.
UE and UNI have split their series with each team winning 26 out of 52 games. Evansville picked up a 57-49 win at the Ford Center on January 31. UNI has won seven of the last ten games overall and four in a row at the MeLeod Center.
Just two weeks ago, the Aces and Panthers met at the Ford Center with Evansville grinding out a 57-49 win. Ryan Taylor led everyone with 25 points while Blake Simmons notched his first double-double with 15 points and 15 boards.