Heavy Trash Collection Begins In Evansville

Soon, folks in Evansville will have the opportunity to throw away some of their larger bulkier items away. The City of Evansville is beginning to offer heavy trash collection starting Monday the 27th. The service begins on the eastside and will work…

MEET JUSTIN ELPERS “A CONSERVATIVE VOICE” ON EVANSVILLE CITY COUNCIL

During the past the two weeks, the City County Observer has had the pleasure of interviewing two prominent Evansville politicians. Last week, CCO interviewed the recently retired Gail Rieken. This week, CCO has sat down with a new face in the political scene. That would be Fifth Ward (5th) Republican City Councilman Justin Elpers.

Elpers, 35, was elected to his seat during the municipal elections of 2015. The city council position was previously held by a democrat. The fifth ward is probably the city’s most sought-after ward by both political parties. Elpers won 63% of the vote over his opponent in 2015.

“Evansville has always been home,” says Elpers. He and his wife Alisann have been married for 10 years. They have three sons ages 9, 6, and 3 and currently are expecting their fourth child. He has been teaching social studies at Harrison High School for 10 years.

So what made Justin Elpers decide to run for Evansville City Council?  “As I watched the previous city council meetings, it was a drama fest. Residents weren’t watching their regular shows on Monday evening’s; they were watching city council meetings. It didn’t put Evansville in a positive light. I thought I could bring some civil responsibility to the council,” Elpers stated.

Since elected, Elpers has had to vote on a couple of controversial proposals. One of these controversies would be voting for a budget that resulted in the city employees paying higher health premiums. The problem, Elpers says, “We were playing catch up. City employees saw drastic changes in their premiums and deductibles. Adjustments should have started a long time ago.”

Another controversial proposal voted on by the city council during Elpers’ tenure was an ordinance which would ban discrimination against the LGBT community. Elpers was one of two council members voting against the proposal. While Elpers says he’s strong in his Catholic faith, his religious background wasn’t the reason why he voted against this proposal. Instead, Elpers cites the Indiana Constitution. In particular, he cites Article1, Sections 2 and 3. Article2 states every citizen has a right to worship God, according to the dictates of their own consciences while Article 3 states no law shall control the free exercise and enjoyment of religious opinions, or interfere with the rights of conscience. Elpers says, “The LGBT ordinance violated these individual liberties.”

So far in 2017, Elpers saw his role change on Evansville Council Council.  During the the first City Council meeting in January, he was elected Vice President of that group.  Justin defeated Jonathan Weaver (D) by a surprising 6-3 margin.  As vice president, Elpers says, “I will continue to face the city’s challenges with an open mind. Bottom line we have to improve our current health care costs and reduce spending.”

So would Justin Elpers be interested in seeking higher office perhaps mayor someday? “As long as I am on City Council I will put Evansville first,” says Elpers.

Dr. Bucshon’s Statement on Health Care Bill

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. on the American Health Care Act being pulled from the House floor:

“I was prepared today to vote to begin the process of repealing and replacing of Obamacare, which is a promise I made the constituents of Indiana’s Eighth Congressional District. Unfortunately, members of our caucus chose to side with Nancy Pelosi by preventing passage of this first step in that process. That’s incredibly disappointing,” said Bucshon. “Make no mistake, what happened today is on a handful of Republican members; and their constituents will hold them to account for reneging on their promise to repeal and replace Obamacare. I would like to thank President Trump and Vice President Pence for supporting this legislation. I would also like to thank Speaker Ryan, Leader McCarthy, and Whip Scalise for their leadership and tireless work in the effort to get this bill across the finish line. I will keep working hard to repeal this disastrous law.”

Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. is a physician and Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee serving his third term representing Indiana’s 8th Congressional district. The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.

Stieler To Receive USI President’s Medal

During the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Commencement ceremony at the University of Southern Indiana on Saturday, April 29, Evan K. Stieler will receive the President’s Medal, the highest honor presented to a graduate in the Class of 2017.

Stieler, who will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree, has been a role model for all students, and has excelled in the classroom and in his volunteer efforts on campus and in the community.

While at USI, he was involved with AMIGOS, the Student Ambassador Organization, as a Resident Assistant for the Honors Living Learning Community (LLC), Student Government Association, student panels for search committees, the 2016-2020 Strategic Plan Committee, and the USI Foundation Board of Directors. In 2015, former Indiana Governor and current U.S. Vice President Mike Pence appointed Stieler to the USI Board of Trustees as the Student Trustee.

Stieler volunteers his time to the community with Impact Ministries Basketball Camp and Crossroads Youth Ministry. He is an emergency medical technician at St. Vincent Health – Evansville Emergency Department and a Patient Care Technician at Deaconess Health System. He is a member of the Pre-Professional Health Club, the National Collegiate Honors Council, the USI Honors Program and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He enjoys various USI intramural sports and serves as a counselor for USI Camp Eagle.

Described by one of his professors as “a rare kind of student that is brilliant, outgoing and inspiring to me as a teacher…the kind of student that makes me enjoy walking into the classroom every day,” Stieler puts the same effort into his education outside of the classroom. As a research assistant for a local orthopedic surgeon, he completed a clinical research project involving shoulder replacement surgery.  He presented the project findings at a statewide meeting of the Indiana Orthopedic Society where he was the only undergraduate student to present.

During his years at USI, Stieler has received many accolades, including the Top Student Leader Award, New Resident Assistant of the Year, Distinguished Sophomore Award, Student Ambassador of the Year, Outstanding Freshman Student Leader, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and 2015-2016 Homecoming King.

He is the son of Mark ’84 and Amy Stieler of Newburgh, andhas two siblings, Allison, a USI sophomore studying nursing, and Jace, a junior at Castle High School. After graduation, Stieler plans to complete a Master of Business Administration degree while attending medical school to study orthopedic sports medicine.

Other finalists for USI’s President’s Medal from the Class of 2017 included Abigail E. Hughes, Alyssa B. Moore and Brittany M. Jones. The Student Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate selects the President’s Medal recipient.