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IS IT TRUE SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

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IS IT TRUE we are still wondering why our elected officials are being extremely quiet concerning the details of the proposed 2018 city budget?  …all we can say is you better get ready for some major tax increases so the city can balance their 2018 budget?  …it looks like the deficit spending habits of our city officials have finally caught up with them?

IS IT TRUE patients who want quick and easy access to healthcare will now have a new option with St. Vincent OnDemand?  …that this virtual care service launches today and will allow patients to schedule an appointment with a board-certified primary care provider without leaving their home or workplace?  …St. Vincent OnDemand is a simple online diagnosis and treatment service for common health conditions including cold/flu, pink eye, rash or sore throats, making healthcare more affordable and accessible to anyone with a web-enabled device?  …all we can say to the Administration at St. Vincent is “Very Impressive”?

IS IT TRUE that the University of Evansville has long been a good value inspire of its high priced tuition?…UE has been a stepping stone to elite graduate schools and has challenged students in a way that launched many a successful career?…UE just raised its ranking by 10 spots to be named the #3 value in the Midwest in its class of institutions of higher learning?…this designation is an honor that should fill the people of Evansville with pride?

IS IT TRUE that the University of Southern Indiana also known as USI has also, reached an important milestone with an enrollment of 11,033 students for the 2017-18 school year?…USI has grown from a regional branch campus of Indiana State University to a stand-alone college of over 10,000 students during the last 40+ years since it started in temporary facilities?… the City of Evansville is fortunate to have both UE and USI along with IVY Tech?…between these three institutions every person has an affordable opportunity to a good education without leaving the City of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that the wrath of Amazon and other online shopping options continues to play out across the land?…this time the victim is Toys R Us that is preparing to file for bankruptcy?…there is a high price being paid by retail workers for our ability to, shop without getting up off of the couch?…for every one of the 50,000 blue collar workers that Amazon is supposedly hiring there have been two lifetime retail workers put on the unemployment line?…now Amazon is searching for a second corporate headquarters that will hire another 50,000 people at an average wage of $100,000 according to the company, the technology to break what is left of traditional retail shopping will be scheduled and will most likely happen?…it really is easier to buy a book or a pair of socks from the couch, Amazon is not yet proving to be accretive to the economy?…people are simply choosing the convenience of shopping at home over going to a store?…we are not sure that this is a good thing?…this same sort of thing happened when WalMart innovated us out of every small town square full of locally owned retail store in the country?…if you think WalMart did us all a favor then Amazon must be appreciated because they have changed the way we shop in a way that destroys individuality while keeping our out of shape rear ends on the couch?

IS IT TRUE that Amazon does not invent new things, develop new products, or even pretend to do anything but dominate our retail shopping habits?…other technology-based companies that have generated massive wealth such as Apple, Microsoft, or Intel invented and manufactured products that never existed before?… Amazon much like eBay has only made it easier transactions to happen?…the casualties now include, Toys R Us, Macy’s, K-Mart, and a dozen other retail outlets that took 30+ years to build?…we are paying a high price to order a pair of drawers from the couch?

We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” 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?

Todays READERS POLL question is: Which Evansville City Council member do you feel will take the lead to balance the proposed 2018 City budget?

Please take time and read our newest feature articles entitled “LAW ENFORCEMENT, READERS POLL, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBS” and “LOCAL SPORTS” posted in our sections.  You now are able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.

If you would like to advertise in 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.

Gov. Holcomb Names Dr. Kristina Box State’s New Health Commissioner

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Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced that Kristina Box, M.D. will be Indiana’s next State Health Commissioner. Dr. Box has been caring for women, throughout the spectrum of their lives, as an OB-GYN for more than 30 years at Community Health Network.

“I can think of no one better suited than Dr. Box to lead our state’s health department at this critical time in Indiana history,” Gov. Holcomb said. “She brings a wealth of deep knowledge and experience, and she is uniquely qualified to lead our state’s efforts to curb infant mortality rates and attack the opioid epidemic.”

Dr. Box started at Community Hospitals of Indianapolis in 1987 as a private practitioner in OB-GYN with Clearvista Women’s Care. Since 2015, she has served as the Physician Lead for Community Health Network’s Women’s Service Line. In this role, she built the first multi-disciplinary Women’s Center in Community Health Network, developed critical partnerships with area children’s hospitals to improve care and decrease health care costs, and led efforts to ensure low-income women receive the important free health screenings they need.

Additionally, Dr. Box served on Indiana’s State Task Force for Neonatal Abstinence. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome can occur in newborns who are exposed to opiate drugs in the womb. The taskforce developed a system to identify patients in need of support sooner to help mothers get the addiction treatment they need earlier—decreasing negative outcomes for both mothers and infants.

“Throughout my career I have focused on promoting the health of my individual patients and their unborn children,” Dr. Box said. “Over the past two years, my work with substance abuse disorder in pregnancy and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome has allowed me to expand my focus statewide. I look forward to working closely with our team at the State Department of Health to decrease infant mortality and on many other issues to promote a healthier and safer Indiana.”

Dr. Box earned her undergraduate degree at Indiana University in Bloomington and her medical doctorate at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the Indiana State Medical Association and the Marion County Medical Association, and serves on many hospital committees. Additionally, Dr. Box has been involved in ongoing surgical medical missions to Haiti and Bolivia for more than a decade.

Her first day with the Indiana State Department of Health will be Oct. 16. Dr. Box fills the role vacated by Dr. Jerome Adams, who became the 20th Surgeon General of the United States in September.

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Eagles In Search Of GLVC Wins

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The University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team returns to the friendly surroundings of Strassweg Field this weekend hoping to get on track in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Screaming Eagles are hosting the University of Indianapolis Friday at 7:30 p.m. and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

The Eagles will wear gold jerseys Sunday during their match with UW-Parkside to promote awareness of the fight against pediatric cancers. USI has been featuring the gold jerseys once a season since 2013.

Links to coverage of the USI homestand, including live stats and video, is available on GoUSIEagles.com.

Week 4 Eagle Notes: 
Rough start to GLVC schedule: USI (2-3-0, 0-3-0 GLVC) is off to a rough start in the 2017 GLVC campaign losing three-straight on the road. The Eagles lost the only match of last week at Bellarmine University, 2-1, on Sunday.

Ramirez gets on the scoreboard: USI sophomore forward Eric Ramirez (Vincennes, Indiana), who was the GLVC Freshman of the Year in 2016 after scoring an Eagles’ freshman record 10 goals, appeared for the first time in 2017 and got the only Eagle goal in the loss to Bellarmine. Ramirez has been battling injuries since the end of last season.

Between the posts: USI senior goalkeeper Adam Zehme (Orland Park, Illinois) has been active between the posts for the Eagles making 24 saves in the last three matches, including a career-high 10 in the match with Maryville University.

Santoro begins his ninth year: USI Head Coach Mat Santoro has a 66-66-16 overall record at the helm of the Eagles since 2009.

USI tabbed third in GLVC poll: The Eagles were picked third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason poll of the league’s coaches, the highest selection since 2003. UIndy (4-2-0, 3-1-0 GLVC) and UW-Parkside (1-5-0, 1-3-0 GLVC) are forecast to place second and 14th, respectively, in 2017.

USI leads UIndy in all-time series: USI leads the all-time series with UIndy, 21-13-0, after the teams split a pair of games last fall. The Eagles won the regular season match-up, 1-0, but lost to the Greyhounds in the GLVC Tournament, 2-0.

USI trails UW-Parkside in all-time series: USI trails the all-time series with UW-Parkside, 16-9-2. The Eagles took last year’s meeting, 3-2, and have a 2-1-1 record in the last four match-ups.

 

December 31 Is The Deadline To Install Private Solar Generation

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Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana-South (Vectren) is reminding customers who are interested in installing private (customer-owned) solar generation systems through Vectren’s net metering program that Dec. 31, 2017, is the deadline by which their private generation unit must be installed to be credited at the full electric retail price for the excess power they generate over the next 30 years.

As such, customers, especially businesses planning larger solar installations, are encouraged to apply for interconnection of their private solar generation to Vectren’s electric system no later than late October, to ensure adequate time for their proposed system to meet all requirements and to be installed by year-end. The new laws for customers with existing systems as well as for those who plan to install are as follows:

  • Customers with systems installed by Dec. 31, 2017, will be credited at the full retail price* for excess power put back on the grid until 2047. After 2047, excess power will be credited at the market/wholesale price** plus a 25% premium.
  • Customers with systems installed between 2018 and 2022 will be credited at the full retail price for excess power put back on the grid until 2032. After 2032, excess power will be credited at the market/wholesale price plus a 25% premium.
  • Customers with systems installed after 2022 will be credited at the market/wholesale rate plus a 25% premium for excess power put back on the grid.

“We want to ensure our customers have a clear understanding of what needs to be completed by the Dec. 31 deadline,” said Brad Ellsworth, president of Vectren Energy Delivery Indiana-South. “Our staff will do everything possible to accommodate all private solar installation requests.  The sooner that customers commence the interconnection process, the better the ability to address any issues and enable the installation to be complete by year end as required by law. We have already contacted local solar contractors to remind them of this upcoming deadline whereby they can effectively communicate to potential customers and have access to our staff to expeditiously review and complete applications.”

The retail credit grandfathering deadline for excess power generated by these customers’ private solar systems was provided for in Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 309, which was signed into Indiana state law earlier this year. This law outlined a long-term policy to phase out customer subsidization of private solar and other private generation resources.

Under SEA 309, the net metering cap, or maximum amount of private generation on Vectren’s system that will be credited at the full retail price for energy, was increased from 1% to 1.5% of Vectren’s retail peak load. Therefore, the total amount of private generation that can qualify for Vectren’s net metering program is now 16.5 megawatts (MW). Of the 16.5 MW:

·         40% of the 16.5 MW must be reserved for residential customers; and

·         15% of the 16.5 MW must be reserved for biomass/agricultural projects.

If the 1.5% cap is reached prior to the end of 2022, all customers who install private generation and interconnect with Vectren thereafter will be credited at the market/wholesale rate plus a 25% premium for excess power put back on the grid.

Today, Vectren has about 250 customers on its net metering program generating a total of 3 MW of energy. These customers need to take no action and will automatically be grandfathered for 30 years.

The policies outlined in SEA 309 apply to the property and power generation system – not the property owner – and will continue regardless of a transfer of ownership of the property. Larger, non-residential customers planning to install a renewable power generating system should plan to apply by mid-October to ensure installation is complete by the December 31 deadline.

Not all forms of private generation qualify for the credit at the full electric retail price, which is often referred to as “net metering.” More information on private generation and the net metering interconnection process, including applications, a customer check list and guidelines to establish service; can be found at Vectren.com/netmetering.

For additional information on SEA 309, visit the Indiana General Assembly’s website.

FOOT Note: *Retail price: The full price per unit a customer would pay Vectren for a kilowatt hour of electricity. The retail price accounts for the price of the power consumed, including the generation units and fuel costs needed to generate the electricity; costs to access and maintain the entire electric grid; and various customer service fees for billing, metering and energy efficiency programs.

**Wholesale/market price: The price Vectren would pay if the power the customer generated was purchased on the wholesale market. The wholesale (or purchase in large quantity) price for power is typically 25 to 30% of the retail price.

 

 

 

 

 

St. Vincent OnDemand to Launches Today

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St. Vincent OnDemand to Launches Today

24-Hour Virtual Care for Indiana Residents

Patients who want quick and easy access to healthcare will now have a new option with St. Vincent OnDemand. This virtual care service launches today and allows patients to schedule an appointment with a board-certified primary care provider without leaving their home or workplace. St. Vincent OnDemand is a simple online diagnosis and treatment service for common health conditions including cold/flu, pink eye, rash or sore throats, making healthcare more affordable and accessible to anyone with a web-enabled device.

Access to St. Vincent OnDemand begins by completing an online registration form, which takes less than five minutes. The patient will then meet online with a primary care provider, who will diagnose and treat the patient, or in some cases refer her or him to a nearby location based on symptoms. If a prescription is necessary, the provider will send the prescription to the pharmacy of the patient’s choice.

“Although we already have convenient urgent care centers throughout the community, virtual care is another option in making healthcare easy and accessible for those we serve,” said Dr. William Millikan, CEO, St. Vincent Evansville Medical Group. “For a limited time, we’re even allowing patients to try this new tool at no cost for their first visit to show how easy and convenient it is to use.”

“OnDemand, virtual care is one more way physicians and other caregivers across Ascension are using to get the whole picture of those we serve to best meet their individual needs,” said Ziad Haydar, MD, Chief Clinical Officer, Ascension Healthcare.

St. Vincent OnDemand is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and the cost is only $49 to use this service. For more information or to make an appointment call 866-601-4500 or visit www.stvincent.org/ondemand.

Parks Board Agenda

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BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING

KEVIN WINTERNHEIMER CHAMBERS

ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

12:00 NOON

 AGENDA

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. MEETING MEMORANDUM   SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

3. CONSENT AGENDA

a. Request Re: Approve and Execute Land Use Agreement with Golfmoor Youth Baseball

and the Board of Park Commissioners- Wube

b. Request Re: Approve and Execute Park Use Agreement with Easter Seals Rehabilitation

Center for Fantasy of Lights at Garvin Park.- Wube

c. Request Re: Declare Toro Multipro 1100 Model #41101 Surplus from Helfrich Golf Course

-  Wube

 

4.        OLD BUSINESS  

 

5.         NEW BUSINESS

 

a. Request Re: Any Other Business the Board Wishes to Consider and Public Comments

6.        REPORTS

 

7.        ACCEPTANCE OF PAYROLL AND VENDOR CLAIMS

 

8.        ADJOURN

7th Circuit affirms summary judgment for INDOT on ADA discrimination claim

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Olivia Covington for www.theindianalawyer.com

A former employee of the Indiana Department of Transportation failed to prove he was fired due to his post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, so a district court judge properly granted INDOT summary judgment on the employee’s discrimination claims, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined Monday.

As unit foreman for INDOT, Jeff Monroe was charged with supervising night shift employees and helped with the clean-up of human remains after traffic accidents. In addition to his difficult work for INDOT, Monroe faced difficulties in his personal life, including combat service in the Gulf War and losing his sister, who lived with him, to cancer.

Near the end of his employment with INDOT, Monroe told his supervisor, Terry George, that he was feeling burned out and requested to be transferred to the day shift, but was told no such position was available. George then gave Monroe a performance review of “Exceeds Expectations” for 2012, the same rating he received the two previous years.

Then in January 2013, Monroe told his subordinates they would have to help another unit prepare equipment for an expected snowfall. When two crew members objected, Monroe used profanity and asked another crew leader to take over.

The next day, Monroe’s subordinates complained about their boss to George, who then called his supervisor, J.D. Brooks. Brooks contacted human resources director Jeff Neuman, who was told by the employees that Monroe screamed at them, did not show respect, threatened to fire them and publicly ridiculed an employee with a hearing impairment.

Based on those complaints, Neuman began an investigation, and George called Monroe to inform him of the situation. During that phone call, Monroe told George he had been preliminarily diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Monroe also shared that information with Brooks and Neuman at a subsequent meeting.

After Neuman completed his investigation, he corroborated the claims that Monroe exhibited hostile behavior. Then, Neuman and other INDOT leaders questioned Monroe’s PTSD diagnosis, noting that it came right after the employees complained about him and that he had not provided documentation to back up his diagnosis. Thus, the group terminated Monroe on Feb. 4, 2013, for exhibiting hostile and intimidating behavior.

Monroe, however, claimed three other INDOT employees who also exhibited inappropriate conduct were not fired, but rather were demoted or given the option to resign. He filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in February 2014, claiming his termination constituted disability discrimination and that INDOT had failed to reasonably accommodate his disability in violation of the American with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act.

The district court granted summary judgment to INDOT, finding Monroe failed to show INDOT’s proffered reason for firing him was pretextual and that he did not identify a similarly situated employee who was treated more favorably. The court also determined INDOT was not aware of Monroe’s disability at the time he requested to be transferred to the day shift.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Monday in the case of Jeff Monroe v. Indiana Department of Transportation and Joe McGuinness, 16-1959, with Judge Ann C. Williams writing there was no genuine issue of material fact as to either of Monroe’s allegations against his former employer.

Specifically, Williams wrote that Monroe’s positive performance reviews cannot point toward a pretextual reason for his termination because his subordinates had not yet complained to George at the time George completed the performance review. Similarly, the fact that the decision-makers discussed Monroe’s PTSD diagnosis at the meeting where they decided to fire him was also not pretextual, because the conversation focused on whether he had that disability, not whether he should be fired because of it.

Finally, Williams wrote that the three employees Monroe compared himself to were not similarly situated. Monroe failed to establish that similarity by offering limited evidence, and, further, the same decision-makers were not involved with the disciplinary proceedings related to the three other employees, she wrote. Additionally, at the time two of those employees were disciplined, INDOT could only fire employees for “just cause,” a standard that had changed to “at will” by the time Monroe was disciplined.

 

Air Quality Forecast

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Air quality forecasts for Evansville and Vanderburgh County are provided as a public service.  They are best estimates of predicted pollution levels that can be used as a guide so people can modify their activities and reduce their exposure to air quality conditions that may affect their health.  The forecasts are routinely made available at least a day in advance, and are posted by 10:30 AM Evansville time on Monday (for Tuesday through Thursday) and Thursday (for Friday through Monday).  When atmospheric conditions are uncertain or favor pollution levels above the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, forecasts are made on a daily basis.

Ozone forecasts are available from mid-April through September 30th.  Fine particulate (PM2.5) forecasts are available year round.

Monday

September 18

 Tuesday

September 19

 Wednesday

September 20

 Thursday

September 21

 Friday

September 22
Fine Particulate
(0-23 CST avg)
Air Quality Index		 Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Good
Ozone
Air Quality Index		 Good Good Good Good Moderate
Ozone
(peak 8-hr avg)
(expected)		 NA* NA* NA* NA* NA*

* Not Available and/or Conditions Uncertain.

Air Quality Action Days

Ozone Alerts are issued by the Evansville EPA when maximum ozone readings averaged over a period of eight hours are forecasted to reach 71 parts per billion (ppb), or unhealthy for sensitive groups on the USEPA Air Quality Index scale.

Particulate Alerts are issued by the Evansville EPA when PM2.5 readings averaged over the period of midnight to midnight are forecasted to reach 35 micrograms per meter cubed (µg/m3).

Current conditions of OZONE and FINE PARTICULATE MATTER are available in near real-time on the Indiana Department of Environment Management’s website.

National and regional maps of current conditions are available through USEPA AIRNow.

 

Child Seat Inspection Clinic and Bicycle Safety Rodeo At Washington Square Mall

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In partnership with the Automotive Safety Program, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office will operate a free Child Seat Inspection Clinic this Thursday from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm in support of Child Passenger Safety Week. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office bicycle patrol will also be on hand to answer questions about bicycle safety.

Children of any age are invited to bring their bicycles to the northwest corner of the parking lot at Washington Square Mall where our bicycle deputies will set up a safety course. Children who bring a bicycle and particpate in the course will receive a free bicycle helmet courtesy of Deaconess Health System.

The child seat inspection station will operate on Thursday, September 21, 2017 betwen 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm at Washington Square Mall. Child Passenger Safety Technicians from the Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to inspect your car seat for proper installation.

Child Passenger Safety Week promotes the importance of proper child seat safety, by raising awareness through a national and statewide ad campaign. Child Passenger Safety Week is an annual event and takes place this year between September 17-23.

“Using a child seat correctly can save a child’s life. Our office is pleased to partner with the Automotive Safety Program and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute in order to show parents how to properly install and use a child safety seat and explain when it is time to transition to a new car seat or seat belt,” said Sheriff Dave Wedding.

Indiana traffic crash data shows that in 2016, 218 children in Indiana under the age of 13 were seriously injured, and 10 children died, while unrestrained in an automobile accident. A 2015 NHTSA National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats shows 37.4 percent of children ages 4 to 7 in the United States were not being properly restrained.

Free child seat inspection stations are offered across the state and available throughout the year. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office provides free inspections on an appointment basis. For more information, please visit our website by clicking here.

For a complete list of child seat inspection stations across the state, broken down by county, please click here.

To learn more about choosing the right car seat, including an easy-to-use car seat finder tool, please click here.

For more information on Indiana’s child passenger seat law, please click here.

 

Link To Death List Report For Vanderburgh County

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Death List Report wk 9-11-17 to 9-15-17

1...4,6704,6714,672...7,273Page 4,671 of 7,273