Support For Cold Beer Sales Falls Short
By Makenna Mays
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS – The Alcohol Code Revision Commission voted 8-7 in favor of cold beer sales on Friday, but that wasn’t good enough.
The committee, which has been reviewing the state’s alcohol laws since late summer, needed a majority of the 17 members or nine votes. Because two members were absent the measure failed to pass.
So the report that will go to the Indiana General Assembly will not recommend that state laws are changed to allow businesses outside of package liquor stores to sell refrigerated beer.
“I think there were a number of close votes and I think that’s reflective of what you see in the General Assembly as well on a lot of these issues which shows how tough these issues really are,†said Beverly Gard, chair of the commission.
In a previous meeting, lawmakers agreed that Indiana should allow alcohol sales on Sunday, but disagreed about who should be able to sell cold beer. Indiana is the only state that regulates beer based on temperature.
“It’s my feeling that if we don’t go ahead and pass some proposed legislation dealing with cold beer that the legislature is just going to keep kicking the can down the road,†said Gard. “I watched that happen for 24 years.â€
Jay Ricker, convenience store owner, went before the committee to express his support for cold beer sales.
“From the very beginning of this discussion our position has been very clear, we only want the right to expand the options we offer to consumers, not to have new products, just to sell it cold,†Ricker said.
Ricker was a catalyst for the review of cold beer sales regulations after he set up a restaurant in a couple of his convenience stores and obtained a liquor license, allowing him to sell the brew cold.
On Friday, the final meeting of the commission, lawmakers were at odds over whether the sale of cold beer would allow for an increase in sales or if it would simply provide a better service for customers. Others were adamant that public policy should be a driving factor of the vote, but simply did not have enough input from the public.
“My position on this is quite different than I ever anticipated it would be,†Gard said. “The public hasn’t weighed in on this and when you have all special interest groups driving the policy, with no public input, you’re probably not going to come out with the result that the general public wants.â€
In other action, the commission approved an amendment to preliminary drafts that would increase excise taxes on beer, wine and liquor and put the increase in the administration and enforcement fund.
The final report will now go to the General Assembly for consideration. If any of the proposed legislation were to pass, changes would not take affect until July of 2019.
Indiana Police Uncertain Why 2,500 Assault Kits Untested
Indiana State Police say a review has found more than 2,500 untested sexual assault evidence kits languishing at police departments across the state for unknown reasons.
That’s the finding of a study lawmakers requested this year.
State police said Friday a total of 5,396 untested kits were found. But about half are linked to instances where a case could move forward without the evidence, no crime was reported, or authorities determined an assault wasn’t committed.
Republican Sen. Mike Crider of Greenfield sponsored a measure leading to the audit. He says it’s unclear what happened with the other 2,560 kits. He denies it’s an evidence of law enforcement not taking sexual assault seriously.
State law enforcement officials pledged during a news conference to test some of the kits.
MEET INDIANA’S FIRST LADY JANET HOLCOMB
MEET FIRST LADY JANET HOLCOMB
About First Lady Janet Holcomb
Janet Holcomb is the wife of Indiana’s 51st Governor, Eric Holcomb. Janet grew up on a horse farm near Muncie, Indiana, where horses and ponies were her first passion in life. Janet rode competitively in both Western and English, and loved participating in regional shows and 4-H.
Janet also developed a love of the Arts, particularly drawing, early in life. She went on to complete her Bachelor and Master degrees in Fine Arts at Ball State University. Janet was active in a number of campus organizations and was a member of a sorority.  As a Master’s Candidate at Ball State, Janet held a Graduate Assistantship with the David Owsley Museum of Art.
As the daughter and granddaughter of small business owners, Janet often shares that some of her most valuable lessons were learned at the family dinner table. Beginning in 2009, Janet served as Vice President of her family’s manufacturing business, R&R Engineering, which has been producing and distributing bolts and fasteners across the U.S. and Canada for nearly 50 years.
For a decade prior to joining the business, Janet led many record-setting political fundraising efforts for Republican candidates for Federal, State and local office. She has utilized her fundraising experience to benefit many non-profit organizations, including Veterans groups, Social Service providers, Arts organizations, animal welfare, and Scouting programs.
Janet and Eric are staunch supporters and defenders of the 2nd Amendment. Both are Life Members of the NRA, and Janet is a certified pistol instructor. She has led training classes throughout the state, often partnering with the Indiana National Guard and members of law enforcement. She particularly enjoys sharing her passion for shooting sports and personal protection with other women.
Janet enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, equestrian and bicycle riding, and anything that involves being outdoors. She likes to hunt, and frequently shoots pistol, rifle and shotgun. She will tell you that Sporting Clays has replaced golf as her recreational activity of choice. She might also add that once you have hunted wild boars while hanging out of helicopter, sitting in a tree stand is a little monotonous.
Janet and Eric live in the Indiana Governor’s Residence with Miniature Schnauzer, and First Dog, Henry. It should be noted that Henry is more popular than both of his humans.
VHS TO HOST 3RD “EMPTY THE SHELTERâ€
VHS TO HOST 3RD “EMPTY THE SHELTERâ€
HOLIDAY ADOPT-A-THON WITH WAIVED FEES
(Evansville, IN – December 1, 2017) The VHS is hosting an adopt-a-thon of epic proportions on Saturday & Sunday, December 16th & 17th. The goal is simple: to find homes for every adoptable animal in the building and “empty†the shelter. It is an event not to be missed.
For the third year, the Vanderburgh Humane Society will be hosting an “Empty the Shelter†event with 100% waived adoption fees on all shelter animals. This includes dogs, cats, and rabbits. (There will not be puppies available.) The event will kick off at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 16th. (This is a change from the previous 2 years, when the event was held on Friday & Saturday.) VHS will have extended adoption hours on both days, opening early at 10:00 am and closing late at 8:00 pm. All hands will be on deck for this event including all staff members and a host of volunteers.
Without this event, each VHS shelter animal would spend Christmas Eve in a cage or small room. They will receive a few minutes of extra treats and pets, but ultimately the staff must turn off the lights and leave for the night. The staff and volunteers’ dream is to see those animals instead spend Christmas snuggled in a warm bed with humans who love them. Each one of them deserves that.
The obvious concerns that many well-meaning individuals have are that people who cannot afford to pay an adoption fee, cannot afford to have a pet. One is inclined to believe that those who get “free†animals are much more likely to abuse them, abandon them, or return them to the shelter once the excitement wears off. The VHS and many other major animal welfare organizations have found that this is not at all the case.
While VHS realizes that many members of the public would be opposed to and perhaps even vehemently angered by an event like this, they would like to reassure the public that all normal adoption procedures will still be in place.
. All adopters must fill out an adoption application and provide a valid photo ID
- VHS Adoption Counselors and/or volunteers help families to choose a pet that is an ideal match for their family based on ages and personalities of family members, living situations, financial situations, other pets in the home, and so on
- Each adopter will sign a legal binding contract, as they always have, to care for the animal for its lifetime, provide it with veterinary care, and return it to VHS if they are ever unable to keep it
- VHS has always and will continue to reserve the right to deny adoptions for any reason.
- Those who have used our emergency food pantry within the past year are not permitted to adopt.
The fact of the matter is, VHS can never guarantee with 100% certainty that every animal is entering a permanent, loving home. Even if each animal cost 1 million dollars to adopt, someone who could afford that fee is still perfectly capable of abusing that animal. All any animal welfare group can do is trust the internal controls they have in place, have conversations with adopters in order to make good matches, and have faith in the people that they are entrusting with their dear shelter pets’ lives. Events like these do not so much attract the “bottom of the barrel†adopters who cannot afford animals, but the promotion alone attracts families who simply may not have known where VHS was or who may have been considering adoption at other places.
In the 2 years since this event began, the VHS has not seen an increase in returns from this event specifically. Animals who are going to be returned, are going to be returned… no matter the adoption fee paid. If someone truly cares about getting their animal basic veterinary care, they will do so… no matter their income. There is no way to distinguish “good†pet owners from “bad†ones based on adoption fees alone.
Anyone age 18+ can adopt from the Vanderburgh Humane Society, including those who do not live in Vanderburgh County. If a person can make the trip to the facility and transport the animal back home with them, they can adopt no matter where they live. VHS has no residency requirements for adoption!
As of December 1st at 10:30 am, VHS has nearly 200 cats, 66 dogs, and 19 rabbits in their care. They regularly lose money on each adoption (an average of $100 per animal). An event like this will cost the shelter well over $20,000 in testing, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, microchips, staff time, food, and lost adoption fees. Thanks to a generous sponsor, the Petco Foundation, a portion of the expenses are covered but not all. The current focus is to seek business or individual sponsors to underwrite costs. Ultimately, VHS’ goal is to find homes for every animal in their care. But they must also keep the doors open, so that they can continue to help more homeless animals long after the ones they have are gone. They cannot do events like these without financial support from the community.
The VHS implores those who cannot adopt, to sponsor an adoption instead. $100 pays for an adoption fee for onedog or up to three cats. Those who wish to help us continue to save more lives can visit www.vhslifesaver.org to make an easy, secure tax-deductible donation.
The VHS plans to transfer in dogs from Evansville Animal Care & Control, Another Chance for Animals, Warrick County Animal Control, and Crittenden County Animal Shelter (KY) (with more agencies pending) to help ease the burden of overcrowding across the region.
The Happy Tails Resale Shop will also be open 8:30 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 16th and additional hours, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on Sunday, December 17th. The public is encouraged to bring some extra money to shop and find some great deals! Cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover accepted.
There will be no Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic or Cardio for Canines on Saturday, December 16th.
An FAQ sheet with information on the adoption process for this event can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lasZjonSYxLoAysY2hyFSf82DPpQbA4N/view?usp=sharing
The VHS encourages the public that if they see an animal up for adoption that they like right now, not to wait until this event. No animals will be held for any reason before or during Empty the Shelter. Those who wish to adopt ahead of time and pay regular adoption fees will have a much larger selection and avoid the large crowds. In 2015 and 2016, more than 400 people attended.
To arrange a live remote or photo opportunity at Empty the Shelter, contact Amanda or Kendall at the information above.
Indiana Sheriffs’ Association Awards Scholarship to Student from Vanderburgh County
Sheriff Dave Wedding recently presented a scholarship award to a student from Vanderburgh County.
The Indiana Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) awarded a $500.00 scholarship to Mr. Leighton Reisinger. Leighton was among forty students from around the state to receive scholarship awards from the ISA this year.
Mr. Reisinger is a 2017 graduate of FJ Reitz High School and is studying marketing and criminal justice at the University of Evansville.
The Indiana Sheriffs’ Association Scholarship Program is designed to recognize the academic achievements and total development of high school seniors and college students. Selection criteria include the student’s scholastic achievement, leadership ability, extra-curricular activity, initiative and citizenship.
Men’s golf Announces Two Signings
Men’s Golf Announces Two Signings
Aces Add A Pair For Next Season
 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville head golf coach Jim Hamilton has announced the signing of two student-athletes who will join the Purple Aces men’s golf team next season.
Dallas Koth comes to UE from Normal, Ill. where he played at University High School. A 2-time Class AA Illinois State High School Runner-Up (2016 and 2017), Koth had a 71.2 stroke average as a senior. Koth won or tied for first in six high school invitationals. He was the Illinois Junior Golf Association points leader and was the winner of the MAJGT Illinois State event.
Joining Koth will be Tyler Roat. The New Lenox, Ill. native played at Providence High School where he shot a 66 on his way to a regional championship. Roat took 8th place at the 2017 AAA State Championship, posting scores of 73 and 74. The winner of five high school invitationals averaged 73.4 strokes as a senior and was named to the All-Midwest Team in 2016 and 2017.
“We are very excited to add Dallas and Tyler to our program. They are outstanding student golfers who have a great passion for the game,†UE head coach Jim Hamilton said. “Both want to work hard and become even more accomplishing players. They provide us with added depth to help us challenge for the Missouri Valley Conference Championship.â€
INFO: For all of the latest information on University of Evansville golf, visit GoPurpleAces.com or follow the program on Twitter via @UEAthletics.
DONATE: For information on giving to UE Athletics or its individual athletics programs, visit the DONATE tab on the top of GoPurpleAces.com.
TICKETS: To purchase tickets for University of Evansville athletics events, log on to GoPurpleAces.comand click on the TICKETS tab on top of the page.
Express Enrollment Day Dec 7 and Dec 9 at Ivy Tech Evansville
Ivy Tech Community College Evansville will host Express Enrollment Days, on Thursday, December 7, and Saturday, December 9, for individuals interested in enrolling in classes for spring 2018. The free event is designed to assist interested individuals in completing the enrollment process, potentially, all in one day.
The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Express Enrollment Center, 3501 N. First Avenue, Evansville, IN.
At the event students will have the opportunity to:
- Complete the FAFSA or have their financial aid questions answered. Also, students can learn more about aid such as grants, scholarships and loans.
- Complete their FYIvy
- Determine what assessments may be needed to enroll.
- Meet with an academic advisor.
- Register for classes.
- Find out about orientation.
Students should bring to Express Enrollment:
- Government issued ID
- Tax information for 2016 (Ivy Tech code 009917)
- SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or High School and/or College Transcripts – whichever applies, to meet assessment requirement
- An idea of what he/she would like to study
If a student doesn’t have any of the above materials to meet the assessment requirement, he/she should arrive before 11 a.m., bring photo ID, and plan to take ACCUPLACER. Learn more about assessment at IvyTech.edu/assessment.
HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
