Evansville Police are trying to identify a man who was involved in a November 17, 2016 armed robbery. The robbery happened at a home in the 800 block of Line St at 11:30pm. A handgun was displayed during the robbery, but no injuries were reported.
During the investigation, police obtained a images of the suspect. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call EPD at 812-436-7979 or WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME.
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 Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
Ryan Lee Webster Domestic Battery, Level 6 Felony
Joshua Alan Cravens Domestic Battery, Level 6 Felony
Daniel Wayne Persinger Theft of a Firearm, Level 6 Felony
Maintaining a Common Nuisance-Controlled Substances, Level 6 Felony
Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor
Aaron Douglas Bellamy, Jr. Residential Entry, Level 6 Felony
Battery Resulting in Moderate Bodily Injury, Level 6 Felony
Trevor Lane Daniel Unlawful Possession of Syringe, Level 6 Felony
Theft, Class A Misdemeanor
Randall Wayne Drury Strangulation, Level 6 Felony
Domestic Battery, Class A Misdemeanor
Gary Alan Parsons Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
Bryan Scott Shutt Operating a Motor Vehicle After Forfeiture of License for Life, Level 5 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement, Class A Misdemeanor
Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor
Derek William Spradley Operating a Motor Vehicle After Forfeiture of License for Life, Level 5 Felony
Evansville heads to Indiana State on Wednesday
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Jaylon Brown scored a game-high 17 points and David Howard added 16, but Phil Fayne led Illinois State with 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Redbirds grabbed a 69-59 win over the University of Evansville men’s basketball team on Sunday afternoon at the Ford Center.
Brown hit seven shots on the day and recorded three assists for the Purple Aces (10-13, 1-9 MVC). Howard matched his career-high with his 16 tallies, tying his mark set in 2014 against IUPUI. He was a solid 6-of-7 from the field.
Illinois State (18-4, 10-0 MVC) saw four players record double figures, led by Fayne’s double-double. Paris Lee notched 15 points while Deontae Hawkins and Keyshawn Evans had 11 apiece.
“I am disappointed in the way we started the game and dug ourselves a hole right out of the gate, but we were able to battle back,” Aces head coach Marty Simmons said. “Give Illinois State credit, they were really able to capitalize on our mistakes.”
In the opening moments of the game, it was all Redbirds as the scooted out to a 20-6 lead over the first nine minutes of the game. Paris Lee opened it up with a triple before Ryan Taylor countered to tie it up in the first minute. From there, ISU went on a 17-3 stretch to open up the lead.
Despite the rough start, UE fought back as a 14-0 run made it a one-possession game. David Howard had five points in the rally as UE made it a 20-17 game with 7:27 left in the half. An 8-3 run saw ISU go back up by a 28-20 margin, but a Duane Gibson free throw with 2:24 on the clock got the Aces with a point at 29-28 before the Redbirds headed to halftime up 33-30.
Howard hit a pair of buckets in the first minute of the second half before a bucket by Jaylon Brown gave UE its first lead of the day at 36-35. The lead was short-lived as ISU countered with a 13-4 stretch to push the lead back to 10 at 48-38 just minutes later.
Evansville continued to stay within striking distance as Brown connected on a free throw with just under six minutes remaining to get UE back within four at 55-51, but the Redbirds had the answer as they were able to pull away and take the 69-59 victory.
ISU shot 48.9% on the day and hit 18 free throws. Evansville finished the day shooting 37.6% while finishing with a 36-26 edge in points in the paint.
Next up for UE is the quick trip up Highway 41 to Terre Haute as they face Indiana State on Wednesday evening. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. ET at the Hulman Center.
Gibson County – Last night at approximately 11:15, Indiana State Police and Gibson County Sheriff’s Department responded to a residence located at 399 West CR 350 South near Princeton after the property owner observed someone inside his residence. Troopers were also informed that the property owner was not currently at the residence, but was remotely watching his home security monitoring system when he observed the person inside his property. Troopers arrived and checked the exterior of the residence, but all doors and windows were secure and there were no signs of forced entry. The property owner gave officers permission to forcibly enter his residence. Officers gained entry and during a search of the residence they found Charles Noble Douglas, 31, of Princeton, hiding under insulation in the attic. When troopers searched Douglas they found collectible coins in his pockets. Further investigation revealed the coins belonged to the property owner. Douglas was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.
Arrested and Charges:
1.Burglary, Class 4 Felony
2.Resisting Law Enforcement, Class A Misdemeanor
3.Residential Entry, Class 6 Felony
4.Theft, Class A Misdemeanor
Councilman McGinn Wanted Mr Claybourn To Summarize The Components Of Local Income Tax OptionsÂ
The City County Observer has obtained the following memo written by Josh Claybourn, City Attorney and sent members of the Evansville City Council regarding ways to increase the taxes on those governed. The case is made by Mr. Claybourn for a way to increase revenues by “revising property tax relief rates”.
This is code for making the taxpayers of Vanderburgh County pay more taxes. It is technically correct under the law but will not sound like a tax increase to your average person. This clearly is why we coined the word “SNEGAL” to describe that which is “sneaky but legal”. Please refer to today’s IS IT TRUE for more details.
Attached is the memo sent to City Council by Mr. Claybourn concerning City of Evansville Local Income Tax Options. Reference was made in this memo that  Councilman McGinn wanted Mr Claybourn to summarize the components  of Local Income Tax Options and the Local Homestead Tax credit in the upcoming Council meeting.  We couldn’t find that a detailed formal presentation was made to City Council by Mr. Claybourn concerning the contents of this memo in an open City Council meeting.  Oh, it’s our understanding that Council  has also taken 2% of our 8% Homestead Tax Credit for this year.  The content in this memo speaks for itself.
From: Joshua A. Claybourn, Esq.
Date: 7 September 2016
Re: City Of Evansville Local Income Tax Options
Subject: LIT Revenue Options
Council members,
Based on a request from several of you, I have attached a memorandum summarizing the components of the Local Income Tax (LIT) and outlining options for revising the rates. The LIT includes what was formerly known as the local homestead credit.
Dan McGinn had previously asked that I summarize some of this at the next council meeting which I am happy to do. In the interim, please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.
Scope
Like all other Indiana municipalities, the City of Evansville finances its activities with money from eight major revenue sources: (1) property taxes, (2) user fees and service charges, (3) local income taxes, (4) revenue distributed from the state, (5) food and beverage taxes, (6) investment income, (7) miscellaneous income, and (8) proceeds from borrowing (bonds, etc.).
Property taxes and local income taxes (along with borrowing) are the biggest sources of revenue for city government. However, due to constitutional caps in property tax rates, many municipalities are increasingly turning to local income taxes. This memorandum focuses exclusively on local income taxes and options available in altering local income tax rates.
Local Income Taxes
Historically, Indiana local governments had several different types of “Local Option Income Taxes,†or “LOIT.†LOIT included the County Adjusted Gross Income Tax (“CAGITâ€), the County Option Income Tax (“COITâ€), and the County Economic Income Tax (“CEDITâ€). The state also offered a Public Safety Local Option Income Tax that could be adopted by local government (“PSLOITâ€). A county could not have both CAGIT and COIT at the same time – it had to choose one or the other, and Vanderburgh County chose the COIT, which meant Vanderburgh had both COIT and CEDIT rates. Each of these taxes had their own set of rules and rate limits.
This patchwork approach across the state led to a lot of confusion, so in order to help clarify and simplify things the state legislature passed HEA 1485-2015, which overhauled the old LOIT system starting January 1, 2017. Under the new system, all of the former local option income taxes are effectively combined into “LIT†or Local Income Taxes.
The collective municipal government within Vanderburgh County – the City of Evansville, County government, and Darmstadt – is the adopting body which sets LIT rates and it is known as the “Local Income Tax Council†or “LIT Council.†However, due to the city’s relative population size the city council drives decisions about the county-wide tax rates.
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Specifically, out of the 100 votes of the LIT Council, city council casts 65.35 votes, the county council casts 33.87 votes, and Darmstadt casts 0.78 votes.
There are three components of LIT outlined below – expenditures, property tax relief, and a special rate. Collectively, Vanderburgh County’s LIT rate is 1.0% of the adjusted gross income of local taxpayers. However, this is deceiving because part of this revenue is collected under property tax relief (formerly the local homestead credit) and returned to property taxpayers. Therefore, ultimately, only 0.8713% is collected and retained by local government. Compared to other Indiana counties, Vanderburgh County’s LIT is relatively low.
 Expenditures: This is the primary income tax component with a maximum allowable rate of 2.5% of the adjusted gross income of local taxpayers. This “expenditure†component can be allocated among three sub-categories (adding up to no more than 2.5%) as decided by the LIT Council. Vanderburgh County’s expenditure component is currently 0.8713% and all of it is dedicated to certified shares.
o Certified shares :1 This money is to be divided among certain governmental units that have a property tax rate (e.g., the city, county, library, etc.) and money in this category may be used for virtually any lawful purpose that local government funds may be used. Vanderburgh County’s rate is 0.8713%. Most Indiana counties have a rate of 1.0%.
o Public safety:2 This money can be allocated to a wide variety of public safety uses. In general it is allocated among government units that provide public safety services. None of Vanderburgh County’s expenditure component is dedicated to this sub-category.
o Economic development:3 This money is to generally be divided among the county unit and the cities and towns in the county and may be used for virtually any lawful purpose that local government funds may be used. None of Vanderburgh County’s expenditure component is dedicated to this sub-category.
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The deadline to change the allocation among these three components is June 30 annually. However, there is no deadline per se to change the rate itself. An ordinance adopted after August 31 and before November 1 of the current year takes effect on January 1 of the following year. An ordinance adopted after October 31 of the current year and before January 1 of the following year takes effect on October 1 of the following year.
Property Tax Relief
Previously the city could offer a credit to certain property owners. Although this credit could be provided to all property owners (residential, commercial, and industrial), in Vanderburgh County it has only been provided to residential property owners, hence the name “homestead credit.†4
Historically the LIT Council has set a homestead credit rate of up to 8%, with the actual percentage calculated by the Department of Local Government Finance (“DLGFâ€) based on various factors that usually resulted in credit amounts between 6.0% and 7.5%. For 2016, the LIT Council set the homestead credit at an exact 8% of the property taxes. Only ten counties in Indiana provide such a credit and Vanderburgh’s is the highest.
|
County Name |
2016 County Homestead Credit Percentage |
|
Allen |
7.0404% |
|
Marion |
3.0844% |
|
Miami |
2.6280% |
|
Monroe |
3.4820% |
|
Perry |
2.3328% |
|
Posey |
5.4261% |
|
St. Joseph |
5.8243% |
|
Spencer |
4.4136% |
|
Tippecanoe |
3.4022% |
|
Vanderburgh |
8.0000% |
With the state’s changes to local income taxes, beginning January 1, 2017, the homestead credit and any other type of property tax relief is folded into the property tax relief component of LIT. Although this component is called “property tax relief,†it actually reduces the city’s local income tax amount received and not property tax income. The property tax relief is an itemized reduction shown on eligible resident taxpayers’ county property tax bill. The more property tax relief the city provides, the less the city will have in income tax revenue.
4 The “Local Homestead Credit†is different and distinct from the “Homestead Deductionâ€. The homestead deduction reduces the amount of assessed value a taxpayer pays toward property taxes on a given parcel of property, while the local homestead credit reduces the local municipality’s local income tax revenue.
4811-5059-8968.v1
Currently Vanderburgh County has a property tax relief rate of 0.1287% of the adjusted gross income of local taxpayers which is estimated to generate $5,547,956. The maximum allowed by law is 1.25%. The revenue from this rate is returned to designated property owners.
Therefore, although the homestead credit is set at 8%, if the amount generated by the property tax relief rate is less than that, only that amount generated by the property tax relief rate will be credited. If the revenue generated by the property tax relief rate is more than the allocated homestead credit, the revenue above the amount of the homestead credit specified will be held in reserve and the LIT Council gets to determine how that money will be applied as a credit the next year.
In short, going forward, the property tax relief rate should be the focus and not the homestead credit. The LIT Council can effectively reduce the amount of money going to homestead credits by reducing the underlying property tax relief rate. Even if the homestead credit percentage could be changed today, if the underlying relief rate isn’t reduced, the county will end up taxing at the same rate and will have surplus credit/relief dollars to deal with. For that reason, DLGF suggests it would be easier to understand and more transparent to revise the property tax relief rate.
Sincerely,
Joshua A Clayborn. Esq.
City Attorney for The Evansville City Council
IS IT TRUE that Evansville City Council Finance Chairman Dan McGinn requested that City Attorney Josh Claybourn research State law governing the Indiana Local Option Income Tax and Homestead Tax Credits? …the reason for the Mr. Claybourn research is to help Council to find extra money to help reduce the 2016 employee health insurance shortfall?…actions like this become urgent because of years of doing the wrong thing?…if present and past City Council members made the appropriate allocations of local tax dollars to cover our contractual obligations during the last decade, the urgency of today would not be an urgency at all?…the same mindset that sits back and allows the infrastructure to decay while spending freely on fun and games was hard at work in deferring these legitimate expenses?
IS IT TRUE that Council President Missy Mosby and Finance Chairman Dan McGinn have not only been collaborating to eliminate our Homestead Tax Credit but to increase our Local Option Income Tax in order to catch up on unpaid General Fund debt for 2016 and 2017?…this is another urgency that was years in the making?…tax increases happen naturally with reassessment on an annual basis?…at least they do in a growing thriving economy?…both of these tax increases will be permanent and both are urgent because the City Council’s of the past have failed in the budgeting obligations?
IS IT TRUE we wonder if Mayor Winnecke, Council President Missy Mosby and Councilman Jonathan Weaver are going to sponsor another “we love our law enforcement” rally on the Civic Center steps this coming March?  …considering how they treated members of our local law enforcement during the last budget cycle we recommend that they don’t?
IS IT TRUE that after the unauthorized transfer of the Tropicana’s future income advance of $12,500,000 from the Riverboat fund to deposit into General Fund? …once again this is a case of mortgaging the future to cover the perceived need to fund fun and games initiatives today?…the legacy of buying a new car on credit while letting the toilet leak inside the trailer with a hole in the roof has caught up with the Evansville City Council of 2017?
IS IT TRUE that shortfalls of cash are exacerbated by the failure of the sports teams that play in Ford Center to draw the crowds they were budgeted to draw?..the quality of hockey has degraded and the wins have been few and far between since the Evansville Icemen left town? …the attendance is predictably down as happens when the home team can manage to win?…the Evansville Purple Aces after having a great year in 2016 are back to the cellar of the Missouri Valley Conference with one win and eight losses?…what is true about ticket sales is that winning sells tickets?…it does not matter if the winning team plays in Ford Center, Roberts Stadium, or a big pole barn, winning is the only way to fill large arenas?
IS IT TRUE that last week former City Councilman President and Finance Chairman  John Friend-CPA stated “if you think that City of Evansville experienced major financial shortfalls in 2016 just wait and see what the 2017 budget year has in store for them”?   …he told us that the 2017 budget year will be a financial disaster?  …in case you need to be reminded that Mr. Friend was spot on about his predictions about the budget shortfall for the budget years 2015 and 2016?
IS IT TRUE considering  the financial crisis facing the City of Evansville would you have voted to fund a new and expensive “penguin” display at the Zoo this year?
IS IT TRUE that the majority of our present City Council members and the Mayor are nothing more than  ‘Tax and Spend” libels?
FOOTNOTE: Todays “Readers Poll” question is: Â Do you support Evansville City Council increasing our Local Option Income Tax?
44News Almanac For The Week Of January 29th, 2017
A look back at the people and events that made headlines this week in history: January 29th 1845 – Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” was published for the first time in the “New York Evening Mirror.” 1861 – In America, Kansas became the 34th state..
It’s “Christmas in January” for Conservatives
Wayne Allyn Root for Downhill
I predicted Trump would be amazing as president. I predicted his energy and “CAN-DO†attitude would make things happen…fast! I predicted he’d turn around America’s decline…fast. I predicted he’d quickly erase Obama and everything he ever did as president…fast.
But this is ridiculous.
It’s like “Christmas in January” for conservatives. Every day is a new present under the tree…or two, or three, or a half dozen. Trump is Santa Claus…if Santa never slept and worked 365 days a year!
Donald Trump is the Harlem Globetrotters of politics. Trump vs the politicians of Washington DC isn’t even fair. It’s like the Harlem Globetrotters vs. the Washington Generals. Try as they may, the Generals can never win. The Globetrotters run circles around them. The Globetrotters bounce balls off their shoulders, heads, even butts, then shoot long jumpers that go…swoosh.
That’s President Donald Trump. It isn’t even a fair match. The Democrats have no clue what they are up against. Trump will out-smart them, out-hustle them, out-work them, out-maneuver them. Like the poor hapless Washington Generals, they’ve already lost and they don’t even know it.
By the way, it’s not their fault. Politicians just don’t have the brainpower of a brilliant businessman. Any businessman could run circles around any typical politician. But this isn’t just any businessman- it’s Donald J. Trump. He’s a billionaire businessman who outsmarted the biggest and toughest banks in the world when he was in a $4 billion hole.
CARTOONS | KEN CATALINO
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And these aren’t just any politicians. These are pathetic liberal Democrats who know nothing about business, or negotiating, or competition. Trump vs Democrats is like Barney Fife vs. Godzilla.
Up until now, Ronald Reagan was my favorite president in modern history. But remarkably, Donald Trump has passed my hero Reagan in his first week on the job. If the first week is any indication of things to come, under President Trump every day will be “Christmas for conservatives.”
Trump makes Reagan look like he was standing in quicksand. Trump makes Reagan look like a slacker. Trump makes Reagan look like a liberal (almost). I’m only half-kidding.
It’s only been a week and already my wish list is in place.
Trump withdrew America from the TPP treaty that kills middle class American jobs. Remarkably, even liberal unions applauded.
Trump used Executive orders to give the go-ahead to the long-stalled Keystone and Dakota Access Pipelines. America is open for business again (and high-paying middle class jobs).
Trump issued an Executive order starting the funding and construction of “THE WALL.†Liberals heads must be ready to explode.
He also announced the hiring of 10,000 new border agents.
He will soon announce a temporary ban on refugees from Syria and Middle Eastern war zones.
And a ban on visas from dangerous Muslim-majority countries with inadequate screening.
Trump also announced the end of “Sanctuary cities†and the defunding of federal funds for any city that chooses to continue breaking the law. Liberals claimed Trump could never succeed. Really?
Within 24 hours Miami surrendered and agreed to Trump’s terms. The dominoes are all falling.
Trump signed an Executive order freezing the hiring of non-essential federal employees.
Trump issued an Executive order to “ease the burden of Obamacare.†This is the beginning of the end for Obamacare.
Trump said out loud the words “radical Islamic terrorism.†He did it in his inaugural speech- which means Trump did in his first 15 minutes as president what Obama would not do in eight years.
Trump has announced plans to cut 75% of regulations…and “maybe more.†SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT! Pinch me, this must be a dream!
The Trump State Department will begin an immediate review of Obama’s final hour giveaway of $220 million to the Palestinian Authority.
The NY Times reports Trump is preparing Executive orders to drastically reduce funding and America’s involvement in the United Nations and international treaties. Conservatives like me have been waiting our whole lifetimes for this one.
Trump erased all mentions on the White House web site of “climate change.†This made me so happy I walked outside my front door and screamed “VICTORY.”
But Trump wasn’t done with the White House web site. Then he erased all Spanish language from the site. Our site. The site that belongs to the American taxpayer. The White House web site is now “English Only.” See what I mean about Christmas?
Trump has even announced a major investigation into voter fraud. Trump is the first Republican who understands the best defense is a good offense. He’s taking it to the Democrats. He’s putting them on the defensive. And he’s not going to let Democrats win future elections with voter fraud.
Lastly, corporations across the globe have all publicly announced they are bringing jobs and billions of dollars of investment monies back to America because of President Trump. Just in time too. On Friday Obama’s dismal 4th Quarter GDP results were announced. Obama’s economy managed to make even Herbert Hoover look good!
All of this happened in Trump’s first week. Can you imagine what Trump will do starting in his second week?
