INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath from Michigan City today issued the following statement after Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb gave his first State of the State address:

“While Republicans in the Legislature are calling for new taxes on Hoosier motorists, it seems our governor is not yet ready to embrace their plan.

“The success of any program as massive as this depends on the governor’s ability to sell it to Hoosiers. From what we have seen tonight, it does not appear he is ready to accept that role.

“This is the dilemma facing his party. Too many House and Senate Republicans have preached for years that taxes cannot be raised for any reason. Candidly, they have effectively convinced many voters of this as well.

“Republicans may be disagreeing with each other before they get around to disagreeing with Democrats.

“Truth be told, this is a time for questions. Indiana House Democrats remain wary of calls for sacrifices that are not shared, particularly at a time when these same leaders keep state budget surpluses at impossibly high levels AND cut taxes for corporations, special interests, and the very wealthy.

“There is a lot of pleading that must be done to make legislators on both sides of the aisle believe that we should be raising taxes. After tonight’s speech, it remains to be seen what role the governor will play in the debate.

“As for the governor’s other proposals, there is much to support in the call for improving the skills of our workforce, but we are simply too timid in our approach to pre-K. The need is obvious enough that we do not have to fiddle with gradual expansions of pilot projects that ignore most of the state.

“And when it comes to K-12, there simply isn’t enough of a recognition that we have been slowly starving our public schools of the funds they need to meet their constitutionally-required mandate to educate all children. At some point in time, we have to stop continually throwing money at a laboratory for vouchers and charters, and remind ourselves that we need to look out for all schoolchildren.

“Indiana House Democrats will be there to offer advice as Republicans work through their internal debates, particularly when it comes to tax hikes. There are alternatives that don’t ask more from the unconnected.”

Established in 1899, B. J. Shetler began his young company with two teams of horses and wagons, which traveled as far as Princeton and Vincennes. The first truck was not acquired until 1916, which dates this image to probably the first decade of the twentieth century. A native of Illinois, Shetler arrived in Evansville by steamboat as a young man, working for a furniture manufacturer before opening his own business at First Avenue and Louisiana Street. When Shetler retired in 1945, he was replaced by his son, who affiliated Shetler Moving and Storage with Atlas Van Lines after he convinced the company to relocate to Evansville in the late 1950s.

FOOTNOTES: We want to thank Patricia Sides, Archivist of Willard Library for contributing this picture that shall increase people’s awareness and appreciation of Evansville’s rich history. If you have any historical pictures of Vanderburgh County or Evansville please contact please contact Patricia Sides, Archivist Willard Library at 812) 425-4309, ext. 114 or e-mail her at www.willard.lib.in.us.

Detectives of the Evansville Police Department Financial Crimes Unit are requesting information from the public in an attempt to identify a white male subject.  On November 27, 2016, a vehicle was broken into on the parking lot of the Garvinwood Baptist Church at 19 N. Englewood.  When the vehicle was broken into a cell phone and wallet containing a credit card was stole.  The stolen credit card was used at Variety Village (Ronnie’s Fruit Stand) located at 600 E Columbia Street on November 27^th.  The attached images are of the suspect making the fraudulent transaction with the stolen credit card. 

 

If you know the suspect or have any information in reference to this incident, please call the Financial Crimes Unit at (812) 436-7994 or call the anonymous WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME.