IS IT TRUE  property owned by Kerry Chesser located on West Franklin Street has drawn some strong interest from an out of state investor?  … Mr. Chesser received a call from a former Westside who is extremely interested in signing a lease/purchase contract with him on the building he owns on West Franklin Street?  … the out-of-state investor owns a couple of men clothing stores in other states and would like to establish one on West Franklin Street?  …this is a developing story?

IS IT TRUE as of 5:00 A M this morning  the City County Observer had 5,337 reads on our Facebook  account and had 3,926 on our line edition concerning a article written by Amy Rivers-Word concerning Kerry Chesser desire to open an upscale Restaurant-Bar on West Franklin Street? …all we can say about these numbers is “WOW”?

IS IT TRUE the Old National Events Plaza is having a record breaking year?  …we predict the long overdue renovations to the Old National Events Plaza shall bring new opportunities that will insure that 2017 will be even more successful?  …we congratulate SMG staff for doing a great job in marketing the Old National  Events Plaza?

IS IT TRUE we wonder why Mayor Winnecke hasn’t asked DMD Director Kelly Coures to encourage the “Zoning Appeals Board”  to approve a Restaurant-Bar to locate on West Franklin Street?  …Mr. Coures has done a masterful job in encouraging the “Zoning Appeals Board” to approve some creative projects located in the Haynies Corner area?  …we know he can do similar on West Franklin Street?

IS IT TRUE we just heard that City Council President Missy Mosby and Vice President Jonathan Weaver has just join the effort to encourage the “Zoning Appeals Board” to approve the zoning request to allow a Restaurant-Bar to locate on West Franklin Street?  …we are pleased to see Mosby and Weaver to take an active role in this issue?

IS IT TRUE we are surprised that 6th Ward City Councilman Jim Brinkmeyer hasn’t taken a public stance on the West Franklin Street Restaurant-Bar issue?  … during his election campaign for City Council he said; “he was for commercial development on the Westside”?  …it time for Councilman Brinkmeyer to put up or shut up?

IS IT TRUE we strongly believe that Mayor Winnecke can influence the decision concerning the approval of an upscale Restaurant-Bar located on the West Franklin Street?

FOOTNOTE:  Todays “READERS POLL” question is: Do you feel that last Mondays Zoning Board of Appeals meeting was opened, fair and objective?

Please take time and read our newest feature articles entitled “IU WOMEN’S-MENS SWIM AND DIVING TEAMS”.

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St. Mary’s created HCAMPS to allow students to interact with healthcare providers, learn about the careers available, and understand the educational requirements for a career in healthcare.

This program will run from Monday, June 12th through Friday, June 16th. It’s open to Vanderburgh, Warrick, Gibson, or Posey County students entering the eighth grade in fall 2017. Students must have a 3.5 GPA. Interested students will have to submit a teacher’s online evaluation, and a 150 word essay.

The highlights of this program include treating “patient” in a simulation lab, hands-on experience in the St. Mary’s Emergency Department, Nursery, and Trauma Service Departments, touring health science facilities at each of the colleges in Evansville, and performing hands-on activities such as dissecting a cow heart.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 4 p.m. To find the application, visit HCAMPS Online Application.

Shooting Death Of Henderson Teen Ruled As Homicide

Henderson police say an ongoing dispute between Joshua Bumphus and Elijah Roberts is to blame for the deadly shooting that killed Burkhart. It happened in the 1000 block of Powell Street on Thursday around 9 p.m. Officers say 17-year-old Autumn Burkhart was killed in the crossfire. Police say Bumphus was arguing with Roberts when it escalated and they exchanged gunfire.

Roberts also suffered a gunshot wound and is still in an area hospital recovering from his injuries. He has not been officially charged with anything.

HPD arrested Bumphus at his home Friday morning. Bumphus is still in the Henderson County Jail with no bond. He is facing one count of assault. Investigators are still trying to figure out who shot and killed Burkhart.

Previous Stories – November 18th

Dispute Between Two Men Blamed For Deadly Henderson Shooting

Police Identify Victim in Fatal Henderson Shooting

Pence Attorney Argues Public-Records Law Shouldn’t Apply To Emails

Dave Stafford for www.theindianalawyer.com

An attorney for Gov. Mike Pence argued Monday that Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act should not apply to a governor’s emails, prompting the plaintiff seeking those records to call the position chilling and reminiscent of the administration of President Richard Nixon.

“This is about transparency,” attorney William Groth said after the Indiana Court of Appeals heard arguments in a suit he filed after records he sought in an APRA request from Pence’s office were redacted. As a private citizen, Groth sought records of now-Vice President-elect Pence’s emails with Texas officials concerning a Texas lawsuit that Indiana joined opposing President Barack Obama’s immigration actions. The challenge to Obama’s actions ended in a 4-4 deadlock at the U.S. Supreme Court.

When the Pence emails were provided, the fees the state paid to Barnes & Thornburg LLP for legal fees in the matter were redacted, as was a white paper on the matter drafted by Texas officials. A Marion Superior Court ruling found Pence had complied with the Access to Public Records Act, as did the Indiana public access counselor.

Representing Pence, Barnes & Thornburg partner Joseph Chapelle argued that APRA doesn’t allow inquiry into a governor’s “personal papers.” But in answer to questioning from a panel judge, he said he could identify nothing in APRA that exempts a governor from disclosure of records that the law describes as public.

Representing Groth, attorney Gregory Bowes noted that when Pence vetoed a bill that would have exempted private university police from APRA, the governor said, “Hoosiers may be assured that my administration will always be vigilant to preserve government accountability and the public’s right to know.”

But Pence also has argued that a Supreme Court case that shielded lawmakers’ emails from public disclosure, Citizens Action Coalition of Ind. v. Koch, 51 N.E.3d 236 (Ind. 2016), should apply to his communications as governor.

Chapelle said that even if APRA did apply to Pence, he could claim that the materials were exempt from disclosure due to attorney-client privilege, as work product, or under the deliberative process exemption in the law.

Bowes countered that there was no attorney-client relationship between Pence and the Texas officials and that the other exemptions under APRA only exempt records dealing with interaction with other state agencies. He also said the information requested are facts, not legal opinions or strategy.

Court of Appeals panelists for the case, William Groth v. Mike Pence, 49A04-1605-PL-1116, are judges John Baker, Edward Najam and Chief Judge Nancy Vaidik.

Read more about this case in the Nov. 30 issue of Indiana Lawyer.

Evansville Rescue Mission’s 94th annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Giveaway

This year’s Gobbler Gathering will serve as the Evansville Rescue Mission’s 94th annual Thanksgiving food basket giveaway for families in need which will be held at ERM’s main campus at 500 East Walnut Street on Tuesday, November 22nd.

At Tuesday’s Gobbler Gathering, literally thousands of folks will visit the Rescue Mission’s main campus as a food basket recipient, a Mission staff or Board member, a community volunteer, or as a curious bystander.

ERM is fully anticipating that 1,800 Tri-State families in need will be attending one of seven distribution services (which will be held at 10 and 11:30 a.m., 1, 2:30, 4, 5:30 and 7 p.m.) to hear a message of hope and receive a food basket filled with Thanksgiving-themed items; particularly, a frozen 10-13 pound turkey, bagged potatoes, bagged onions, fresh celery, flour, corn meal, a loaf of bread, canned corn/green beans/peas/chicken broth/yams/cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, cake mix, Jiffy cornbread mix, egg noodles and macaroni & cheese.

Additionally, with the help of community volunteers, the Mission will deliver 382 grocery sacks of Thanksgiving-themed food to neighboring downtown Evansville apartment communities such as Kennedy & Buckner Towers, Liberty Terrace Apartments, Horizon Homes, Lucas Place II, and Aurora.

That being said, ERM is fully anticipating being able to assist a total of 2,201 Tri-State families (an organizational record) for this year’s Gobbler Gathering.

Of course, Gobbler Gathering Day will not be a success without the help of more than 700 scheduled community volunteers who will either assist Rescue Mission staff with registration, transfer food from our pallets into baskets, or lend a helping hand toward our food basket recipients.

More than 250 Tri-State churches, schools, businesses and families donated an assigned food item or a needed service to ensure the 94th annual Gobbler Gathering can take place.

In addition to distributing food, community volunteers will be handing out coats and accessories to any children who may be in need of warmer clothing on Gobbler Gathering day in lieu of the Evansville Rescue Mission’s “Coats For Kiddos” program.

Tracy Gorman, Evansville Rescue Mission’s President/CEO, states, “Every year when we host the Gobbler Gathering, we are reminded of the incredible privilege we have to make a difference in the lives of our fellow citizens in this area. Many will go home with the only food they will have for their Thanksgiving dinner. The opportunity to be a blessing is one that we take seriously, and it is one that we cherish. We’re so grateful to those throughout the region who give food and money, as well as their time and prayers, to make this event possible.”

The Evansville Rescue Mission gladly accepts monetary donations for the Gobbler Gathering. Gobbler Gathering contributions can be mailed to ERM at 500 E. Walnut St., Evansville, IN 47713 or by visiting our website, www.evansvillerescuemission.org.

For additional information on the Evansville Rescue Mission’s annual Gobbler Gathering, please contact Chris-Michael G. Morrison at 812.962.6701 or at chris.morrison@ermstaff.org.

Pence Attorney Argues Public-Records Law Shouldn’t Apply To Emails

Indiana Conservation Officers have added Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) to their search and rescue capabilities.  The DNR Law Enforcement Division is the first state emergency response agency to receive official endorsement to utilize these devices for the purpose of search and rescue operations.

“The SUAS machines will greatly enhance our ability to bring quick resolve in finding lost children, hikers, hunters, outdoor enthusiasts and injured people”, said Captain Keith Dinn, Support Services Assistant Commander.  “The training and expertise our certified pilots have received gives me confidence that our officers and other emergency responding agencies will have a much higher rate of success  in locating citizens in need with a much quicker response time.”

Currently, five Indiana Conservation Officers have become certified pilots of the SUAS machines and will be prepared for statewide response.   The DNR Law Enforcement Division has two SUAS units with future goals of adding more to the fleet.

Along with the ability to locate lost citizens, the SUAS will map out the obstacles for the emergency response personnel and provide knowledge of dangers before encountering the obstacle.

“I could not be more proud of our agency as we make this innovative and futuristic step forward to enhance our search and rescue response capabilities to reach our citizens in need”, stated Danny L. East, DNR Law Enforcement Director.

Gilda’s Club Will Host Breakfast with Santa for Community Families Touched by Cancer

Pre-registration for the free event is required.

Gilda’s Club Evansville is hosting Breakfast with Santa for families in the Tri-State who have been touched by cancer. The free event is on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at Gilda’s Club located 5740 Vogel Road, Evansville, Indiana. The doors will open promptly at 9am, and the event will last until 10:30am.

The event will include breakfast, story time, holiday crafts, holiday treat bags, and a visit from Santa. Children are invited to bring their holiday wish lists to share with Santa.

“We are so excited to be able to celebrate the holidays with our Gilda’s family and friends,” Chelsey Woolsey, Youth Program Coordinator, stated “Please join us and celebrate a wonderful start to a cheerful season.”

Pre-registration is required by Wednesday, November 30, 2016 by calling 812-402-8667 or emailing angie@gcevv.org.

For more information, call Serina Kelly at 812-402-8667.

About Gilda’s Club Evansville:
Gilda’s Club Evansville is a free cancer support community for anyone living with cancer and their families and friends.  Gilda’s Club recognizes that social and emotional support is as essential as medical care when cancer is in the family and offers a variety of workshops, classes, groups and activities in a non-res

Taylor Named GLVC Player Of The Week

University of Southern Indiana senior guard Jeril Taylor (Louisville, Kentucky) was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week for his most valuable player efforts in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic victories over Florida Southern College and Kentucky Wesleyan College. The GLVC Player of the Week honor is the first of Taylor’s USI career.

With sophomore guard Alex Stein (Evansville, Indiana) winning the award last week, USI players have won the GLVC Player of the Week award in back-to-back weeks for the first times since 2008-09. Jamar Smith won it back-to-back weeks in February of 2009, while Marvin Gray and Brandon Russ won the award in back-to-back weeks in November of 2008.

The senior guard started the week with a 30-point performance in the 108-94 victory over Florida Southern College. He shot 50 percent from the field (8-16), 50 percent from beyond the three-point arc (4-8), and converted a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe, while grabbing eight rebounds.

Taylor concluded the SCB Hall of Fame Classic by dropping in 31 points versus Kentucky Wesleyan College in the Eagles’ 85-81 victory, including the three-point field goal and four-straight free throws to put USI ahead and seal the victory. He shot 54.5 percent from long range (6-11), while dishing five assists in the win.

For the week, Taylor averaged 30.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per contest. He also shot 48.6 percent from the field (18-37), 52.6 percent from three-point range (10-19), and 93.8 from the line (15-16).

The Eagles and Taylor are idle through the Thanksgiving week before resuming action with the opening of the GLVC schedule on the road at McKendree University December 1. USI will not play its first official home game of the year until December 10 when it hosts Ohio Valley University at the Physical Activities Center.