WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

Todays “READERS POLL” question is: Do you feel that the Zoning Board of Appeals should approve the request to allow a new upscale Restaurant-Bar to be located on West Franklin street?

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

Also take time to read “BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBS” and “LOCAL SPORTS” posted in our sections.

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It may not be uncommon to leave a vehicle parked in a driveway overnight but be aware if you do. The Sheriff’s Office is warning residents in northern Vanderburgh county of 7 car thefts since the beginning of November all to vehicles that were left unlocked. Some of the neighborhoods being targeted include Camden and Windemere Farms as well as Wynnfield and Keystone Subdivision located off north Green River Road.

Law enforcement officials say the thieves target high population neighborhoods knowing there will be many vehicles — some left unlocked to become possible targets, “These thieves know that breaking a car window or trying to defeat a lock takes time or can make noise. They don’t want to attract any attention so they simply choose the car that is going to allow them quick access and they get in and get out,” said Lieutenant Noah Robinson.

Items being stolen include electronics, money, prescription drugs and even purses that often contain credit cards and even personal information, “We just have to take it upon ourselves to be safe, and really in today’s day you really have to do that, you really have to do it, it makes common sense to me,” said Windemere Farms resident Scott Mauser.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with surveillance systems in the targeted neighborhoods to contact the crime investigation unit. There are no suspects at this time.

WHAT DID VOTERS REALLY SEE?
By Peter Funt

So, the most frequent refrain since Election Day is that “no one saw this coming.” Not the pollsters, not the media, not the Democrats’ machine.
We might also note that the Cleveland Indians didn’t see what was coming after the rain delay in Game Seven.

But unlike the Indians, we saw plenty, and we saw it early on. More than a year before the election we saw how a reality-TV star could dominate a debate stage and, with total disregard for truth, slice and dice 16 other candidates.

We saw the power of controlling the message through social media. The world’s first Twitter Candidate spewed middle-of-the-night vitriol that by noon the next day was often the lead story among mainstream media.

We watched as the powerful forces of skewed news——–led by Fox News Channel, Breitbart and Drudge——–invented some stories and distorted others for a vast audience that was fearful, hateful, vengeful and eager for political and emotional reinforcement.

We looked on, often entertained, by the spectacle of rallies that attracted tens of thousands of people, without much regard for the fact that these rally-goers and their friends might actually cast votes.
We saw qualified Democrats like Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren step aside so that the Candidate of Destiny could brush away Martin O’Malley and——–with alarming difficulty——–socialist Bernie Sanders.
We noted that the Democratic National Committee can be every bit as reckless with the rules as its Republican counterpart.

We watched as a litany of poor judgments came back to haunt the Democrats’ nominee. It wasn’t about legality, it was about optics. It was how a suspicious electorate would view outrageously high speaking fees, stonewalling over emails, and a murky relationship with a multi-billion dollar family charity.

Following the conventions, we observed one candidate working harder on the trail and making many more campaign stops than his opponent.

We read between the lines that several outrageous threats and promises from early in the campaign were fading away in calculation for the home stretch. For instance, there wouldn’t really be “mass deportations” of undocumented immigrants, only a roundup of violent criminals. There wouldn’t actually be a ban on Muslims entering the country, only a more serious “vetting” of people coming from the world’s hot spots. Et cetera.

In the final days we looked at poll results that seemed comforting, even though state figures were far less reliable than national numbers.

We saw the apparent arrogance of a candidate who took states like Wisconsin and Michigan for granted, and who trotted out Hollywood big shots like Lady Gaga and Cher, who many Americans find so easy to resent.
On Election Day, we saw some long lines at polling places and didn’t bother to vote. We saw the elaborate post-election celebratory set-up at the Javits Center in New York and figured the contest was in the bag.
It was there to see all along. Alas, in our new and confusing political world, seeing isn’t always believing.

 Peter Funt. Columns distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons, Inc., newspaper syndicate.

2016-2017 HEATING ADVICE TO STAY SAFE AND SNUG AND SAVE MONEY

Don’ Be Flustered By Winter’s Bluster

Fuel to heat our homes can mean high bills. And heating increases the risks of fire, explosion and carbon monoxide poisoning. But a heating system that works efficiently can mean more warmth, more safety—and more money left for other things.

The Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission, Evansville Fire Department, Vanderburgh County township fire departments, American Red Cross, Vectren Corp. and your local heating and air conditioning contractors want to alert the citizens of Evansville and Southwestern Indiana to the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, fire and explosion from a malfunctioning furnace, a blocked flue or chimney, a broken gas line or inadequate air for combustion.

There may be hidden damage to your furnace, gas piping, flue or chimney. We are recommending that all citizens have their furnaces, space heaters, ranges, water heaters, gas lines, chimneys, flues and other heating equipment checked by a licensed heating contractor without delay. (You should do this every year.) You will protect yourself and your family this winter and save on heating bills.

Carbon monoxide replaces the oxygen in the air we breathe when fuel-burning equipment is operating and the vent or chimney is obstructed or there is not enough air to let the equipment burn fuel efficiently. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless and catches its victims unaware, sometimes as they sleep. If you suspect a carbon monoxide problem, leave your home and call 911 or your local fire department.

Families in Evansville and across the country have been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, and many others have become seriously ill. Symptoms may be similar to the flu, including headache, dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath. There may be fatigue and confusion. But you may go to sleep and never wake up.

Always use portable generators outdoors, far away from the home and any openings. Candle fires also have killed families. Be careful using candles during power outages and other times! And make a family fire escape plan.

Help alert your family with carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors, available at all hardware stores, home centers and department stores. Regularly test detectors and change the batteries.

THEY CAN HELP

Evansville Urban Enterprise Association offers free carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors, while supplies last, to residents of the Enterprise Zone and the service areas outside the zone who have not received them in the past. Phone (812) 426-2490.

Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE) handles the Indiana Weatherization Assistance Program in Vanderburgh, Posey and Gibson counties. (Every county in Indiana has an agency for the weatherization program.)  CAPE may repair or replace faulty heating equipment and make other energy-efficient improvements. CAPE also helps with heating bills. CAPE has income limits. Phone (812) 492-3928.

Memorial Community Development Corp. offers emergency home repairs. The program covers repairs urgently needed to protect the residents. The home must be occupied by the owner, and there are income limits. Phone (812) 402-5530.

Vectren Corp. has details on no-cost home energy assessments and energy-saving products, income-qualified weatherization and rebates for purchases of qualifying furnaces, programmable thermostats, insulation and duct sealing. Phone (866) 240-8476 or visit Vectren.com/SaveEnergy.

Community One offers volunteer-based basic home repairs and weatherization to low-income people who own and occupy their homes, especially the elderly and disabled. Phone (812) 250-6888.

Handy Chore will change furnace filters, install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, provide fire extinguishers, make some windows and doors weathertight, repair storm doors and outer doors and pump out flooded basements. Handy Chore serves homeowners who are disabled or at least age 60. Phone SWIRCA & More at (812) 464-7817.

FOOTNOTE:  Faith-based organizations, social agencies and township trustees may help with heating bills and needs.