“IS IT TRUE” MAY 15, 2024
IS IT TRUE that a public revelation made in 2023 that the three entities that have partnered for more than a decade to do the economic development work for the City of Evansville, Vanderburgh County, and parts of the surrounding counties have been merged into a single organization impressed some people as a way to save money and concerned others about the concentration of efforts?…the merged entities consist of the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana that did traditional chamber activities like mixers, lobbying, and the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) to mentor micro businesses, the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville (GAGE) that was formed to foster entrepreneurship in industries that pay a thriving wage, and the Southwest Indiana Coalition for Economic Development that focused on attraction of outside businesses were merged into a new entity called E-REP that stands for Evansville Regional Economic Partnership?…historically government supported the two economic development entities and private businesses supported the Chamber of Commerce?
IS IT TRUE there is much curiosity in the Tri-State about the benefits of merging these entities into one and why the need to do such a thing culminated so rapidly?…it may not have been as fast as it was revealed as an examination of the 990 tax forms for E-REP showing that it was formed three years ago in 2021 inside the Chamber by Tara Barney during her reign as CEO? …that right after Ms. Barney departed from E-REP the Executive Board did a “National Search” and selected the former Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke to replace MS Barney?
IS IT TRUE one of the City-County Observer “Moles” that is adept at cyber-sleuthing techniques was able to learn that E-REP is a 501c6 which is typical for organizations that employ lobbyists like Chambers of Commerce do?… that Economic Development entities like GAGE and the Coalition are typically either 501c3 or 501c4 organizations that can accept deductible donations from anywhere?…this begs the question “Can E-REP accept money from the governmental entities without reporting where the money was spent?
IS IT TRUE that E-REP has big plans for the Evansville Riverfront? … that E-REP is planning to develop the Riverfront property starting at the LST down to the Water Pump Station? …that this proposed multi-million dollar capital project along the Evansville Riverfront will include new residential, retail/food & beverage space, and new recreation areas with elevated and street-level walking paths? …that this project may propose to reroute Riverfront traffic and move some of the existing attractions/structures? …that we expect to learn about this big ticket capital project at a formal announcement on the 21st of this month?
IS IT TRUE when the people fear the Government we have Tyranny and when the government fears the people we have Liberty!
FOOTNOTES
“The City-County Observer does not promote or condone discrimination of any kind including preference based on race, gender, identity, or political preference.
VISITATION FOR MARK DAVIDSON FREEMAN WILL BE HELD TODAY AT PIERRE FUNERAL HOME
VISITATION FOR MARK DAVIDSON FREEMAN WILL BE HELD TODAY
Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 until 7:00 PM on Wednesday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street, and from 10:00 AM until service time on Thursday at Resurrection Catholic Church, 5301 New Harmony Road.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
There will be a Mass of Christian Burial held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Resurrection Catholic Church, with Rev. Jerry Pratt and Rev. Jim Sauer officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mater Dei Friends and Alumni, 1300 Harmony Way, Evansville, IN 47720 or for Mass intentions.
Condolences may be made online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mark Davidson Freeman please visit our Sympathy Store
OBITUARY OF COMMUNITY ICON MARK DAVIDSON FREEMAN
Mark Davidson Freeman, 71, while surrounded by the family he loved so dearly, met Jesus face to face on May 12, 2024. Not only was he welcomed into Jesus’s arms, but also the arms of his mother, Rosemary (Rosie) Freeman, and his father, John (Jack) Freeman. There is no doubt that Rosie tried to race Jesus to get to Mark first. He is survived by the love of his life since he was 16, Ramona (Monie) Freeman. They were blessed to celebrate their 50th-anniversary last summer. He is also survived by his three daughters, Jennifer (Eric) Folz, Jessica (Josh) Rabuck, and Jaclyn (Danny) Moore, and grandchildren Will, Maddie, Izzy, and Lucy Folz, Grace, Isaac, and Ellie Rabuck, and Ruthie, Teddy, and Hannie Moore. He is also survived by his brother, Patrick (Jeanne) Freeman, and many nieces and nephews. He will also be missed by his four beloved grand-dogs, Blu, Winnie, Lola, and Poppy.
Born on June 15, 1952, the second of two boys, Mark claimed to rule Helfrich Park with a purple bike and a group of friends finding trouble if it did not find them first. His mother confirmed what we also know—he had a big heart from the start wanting nothing more than to follow his beloved big brother and stay close to his mom. He graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1970, where he excelled at football. He went on to play at the University of Evansville where he broke many records and was inducted into the Purple Aces Hall of Fame in 1988. After graduating from college, he worked at IBM for over 30 years and then retired to become the first CIO at Berry Global and retired from there in 2016.
His favorite title was Dad. Mark’s girls changed him from a tough football player to a dad who was seen on a few occasions with curlers in his hair and painted nails. One of his greatest goals in life was to see his girls happy, even going as far as promising to buy them horses, buying ducks for his grandchildren on a whim, and “grounding” his daughters only if they didn’t have plans. He wanted nothing more than his “Mon” nearby holding his hand, and his girls together for “soup Sundays.” He also loved time with his family in Florida, staying late on the beach with his blue cooler until the sun went down or the beer ran out. He was arguably the best sandcastle and sand alligator creator on the beach.
As he grew, so did his faith. He dedicated his life to God and to various ministries including St. Vincent Daycare and a high school worship team. What his girls thought was a “mid-life crisis” – when he learned to play the guitar – led to God using Him to change many lives through His beautiful music ministry at Mater Dei High School. This program grew to include other churches, and his influence on his “kids” made loving God “cool.” He displayed the deep love of Jesus to all he met and encountered.
Mark loved being with the people he held dear. He enjoyed Wednesday breakfasts with his high school friends, afternoons on the course with his golfing companions, and time spent with his college football buddies. He also loved his time with new friends he made at his mom’s nursing home. He continued to visit the residents he came to know and love even after his mom passed.
Mark loved his people well. He was the best husband, father, brother, papa, uncle and friend. He will be deeply loved and missed. We know for certain that he is in heaven, a place with no drive-throughs to stress him out and plenty of monkey and dog videos to make him laugh. We know he has joined those he loved in heaven and now dances with his mom, hugs his dad tight, and is making friends with anyone he sees, just as he did Earthside. We rejoice in the hope that Jesus saved a guitar for him, and he is worshipping Jesus in heaven, with no more sorrow or tears and only the fullness of joy.
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV
Traylor Construction Group Contributes $250,000 To UE’s FORWARD Campaign
Commitment will Bolster Engineering and Construction Management Programs
EVANSVILLE, IND. (05/14/2024) The University of Evansville’s (UE) FORWARD >> Campaign continues toward its goal of $125 million in philanthropy to support the University’s people, programs, and places. Recently, Traylor Construction Group, long-time friends, and champions of the University, provided a $250,000 commitment to support strategic priorities on the University’s campus. Traylor Construction Group’s contribution will have a direct and profound impact on initiatives aimed at enhancing enrollment and ensuring the sustainability of the University for years to come.
The Traylor family’s commitment to the university and specifically UE’s School of Engineering and Computer Science spans decades and generations of Traylor’s. Traylor Construction Group has hired many of the University’s Engineering graduates through the years and continues to provide internships and immersive opportunities for students to integrate with Traylor Construction Group prior to graduation. Their support will empower students, strengthen the UE community, and propel students toward even greater heights in the University’s Engineering and Construction Management programs.
“We are sincerely grateful to the Traylor family for their continuous partnership, enriching our students in diverse ways. Their support for the FORWARD >> campaign epitomizes their enduring generosity and commitment to the University of Evansville. We are truly honored to receive this investment in our future, knowing it will profoundly impact the lives of countless students both now and in the years ahead,” said University President, Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz.
CenterPoint Energy Foundation grants ECHO Housing & Community Development $20k
CenterPoint Energy Foundation grants ECHO Housing & Community Development $20k to support the emerging Evansville Community Development Collaborative.
ECHO Housing & Community Development (ECHO) was awarded a $20,000 grant from the
CenterPoint Energy Foundation. The funding will support a new initiative: the Evansville Community Development Collaborative (ECDC).
ECDC will hold its initial organizing session on May 20th. With participation from 20+ key community development stakeholders, including community-based organizations, local government, funders, and economic development entities, the purpose of the session is to develop the form and function of the Collaborative. Once established, the Collaborative will be open to all community development stakeholders, including residents.
“The timing of this award is ideal as we work to expand collaboration with other non-profits, community members, and stakeholders prior to the Promise Zone designation sunsetting. Through the generosity of the CenterPoint Energy Foundation, we will be able to go into our initial organizing session with funding that can be immediately deployed to support collaborative initiatives that will improve lives within the community,” says Erik Tilkemeier, ECHO’s Chief Operations Officer.
The vision, according to Savannah Wood, ECHO’s C.E.O., is to develop a forum that serves as a matchmaker and convener of collaborative efforts to address community needs. “Issues such as housing affordability and stability, income security, economic mobility, public health, food insecurity,environmental justice, and neighborhood vitality are too complex for any one organization to solve ontheir own. Working collaboratively, capitalizing on each other’s strengths, and coordinating our efforts to avoid duplication, we can make a real difference. The Collaborative forum allows us to link all the incredible work happening across the city by individuals and organizations to maximize impact,” says Wood.2
ECDC will be organized on a collective impact model, relying on dispersed leadership and opportunity area champions to build and maintain momentum. Collective impact is dependent on five conditions: a common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communications, and a strong backbone. ECDC will define these conditions during the May 20th session and build consensus on how they will achieve goals in three interdependent opportunity areas: Physical Development, Social Development, and Economic Development. ECDC initiatives will incorporate and expand on the Evansville Promise Zone program initiated in 2016 and sunsetting in 2026. They will also coordinate with and complement the work of the Promise Neighborhood Cradle to Career program. ECHO Housing & Community Development applauds CenterPoint Energy Foundation for their vision invsupporting this emerging initiative
VANDERBURGH COUNTY MARRIAGE LICENSES
Vanderburgh County Marriage Licenses
Vanderburgh County Marriage Licenses Issued 05/07/2024 to 05/14/2024
BLIPPI TO ROCK OUT IN AN ALL-NEW LIVE BAND SHOW WITH A SPECIAL STOP IN EVANSVILLE
TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, MAY 17, AT 10 AM
Evansville, IN – May 14, 2024 – Round Room Live and Moonbug Entertainment are proud to announce a new live show, Blippi: Join the Band Tour. The brand-new production features musicians playing LIVE on stage andpromises to bring the vivacious, energetic, and educational antics of global sensation Blippi to Old National Events Plaza in a never-before-seen show on December 3, 2024.
Join Blippi to make music in your hometown in the brand new live Blippi: Join the Band Tour! Blippi will be joined onstage by Meekah along with their singing and dancing buddies and LIVE musicians. They’ll explore what makes music, including sounds, rhythms and instruments, with fan favorite Blippi hits. So, grab your drumsticks, tune up your guitar, and move those feet with Blippi and get ready for a musical performance that’s fun for the whole family!
Blippi inspires curiosity in preschoolers around the world by creating content and experiences that are relatable, accessible and make learning fun. Blippi has become a worldwide sensation with more than one billion monthly views across platforms including Netflix, HBO Max, Cartoonito, Sky, Amazon and YouTube, and millions of fans around the world. The franchise has expanded rapidly since it was acquired by Moonbug Entertainment in 2020. Blippi is available in more than 20 languages, including ASL, and is distributed by more than 30 global broadcast and streaming partners. Blippi’s buddies Meekah and Juca have spun off into their own shows and Blippi lives off the screen as well with sold-out live events, popular music tracks, and in-demand toys available at all major retailers.
For more information, fans can visit blippiontour.com and follow Blippi On Tour social media for exclusive tour content. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com or the Old National Events Plaza Box Office.
EWSU to Switch Water Disinfectant from May 20 through July 8, 2024
EVANSVILLE, IND. – Starting Monday, May 20, and continuing until Monday, July 8, you may notice a slight change in the odor of your tap water. The change is related to a switch in the disinfectant in the water treatment process to ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe drinking water to Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) customers.
The switch to free chlorine from the regularly used disinfectant chloramine is a common preventive maintenance practice by many utilities to keep water mains clean and free of potentially harmful bacteria year-round. EWSU switches disinfectants twice a year. The second switch will start August 26 and continue through October 14.
Here’s what you should know
- What is Chloramine?
Chloramine is a disinfectant used in drinking water to remove bacteria and viruses that can make you sick. It is made up of chlorine and ammonia. EWSU has used chloramine as the disinfectant in its water treatment process since 1999.
- What is Free Chlorine?
Free chlorine is a slightly more potent disinfectant than chloramine, and it is used to remove more resistant bacteria and viruses that may be found in the water distribution system.
- Why would EWSU Convert from Chloramines to Free Chlorine?
State drinking water guidelines recommend that utilities using chloramine periodically switch to free chlorine for a while. The temporary use of chlorine will ensure that a proper disinfectant level is maintained throughout the network of water mains and pipes that deliver your drinking water.
Free chlorine is a more aggressive disinfectant than chloramine. This temporary change in the water treatment process denies bacteria the ability to form resistance to the usual disinfection treatment process. Switching to free chlorine is a proactive step to maintain optimal disinfectant levels in the water distributionsystem.
As always, the drinking water will be regularly monitored to ensure that the water delivered meets or exceeds federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
- Why Does EWSU Use Chloramines Most of the Year?
While chlorine is an effective disinfectant, chlorine alone creates byproducts that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates. These byproduct levels can be significantly and cost-effectively reduced through the use of chloramine. Also, chloramine has less smell than chlorine and remains in the distribution system longer to prevent bacterial growth. As such, chloramine is a better long-term choice as a regular disinfectant.
- Will I Notice a Difference in My Water?
During this period, some customers may notice a slight change in the taste or odor of their tap water. Free chlorine may have more of a chemical odor, slightly like that of swimming pool water. Each customer has a sensitivity level to the taste or odor of free chlorine. Many detect no change at all. The mild chlorine taste and odor are typical and pose no health risk.
- Are Free Chlorine and Chloraminated Water Safe?
Yes, chlorine and chloramine are effective and safe for people and animals for drinking, cooking, bathing, watering the garden, and all other standard uses. However, precautions should be taken to remove or neutralize chloramine and free chlorine during the kidney dialysis process, when preparing water for fish tanks and ponds, and businesses requiring highly processed water. A dechlorination procedure optimized for chloramine removal will work equally well with free chlorine.
People and businesses that typically take special precautions to remove chloramine from tap water (such as dialysis centers, medical facilities, and aquatic pet owners) should continue to take the same precautions during the temporary switch from chloramine to free chlorine.
Most customers will not need to take precautions as the water remains safe to drink and is treated according to state and federal standards.
- Information for Kidney Dialysis Patients
Just like chloramines, free chlorine must be removed from water used in kidney dialysis machines. EWSU has contacted representatives from the medical community to inform them of this temporary conversion. We advise dialysis patients to call their physicians or dialysis centers if there are any questions.
- Information for Fish Owners
Like chloramine, free chlorine is toxic to fish. Therefore, fish owners need to remove chlorine, ammonia, and chloramine from the water before using it with tropical fish. Local pet stores carry water conditioners that remove chloramine and free chlorine. If customers have questions, we recommend contacting their petstore for information and detailed instructions.
About EWSU
Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) provides high-quality, safe, and dependable water and sewer services to more than 63,000 customers in Vanderburgh County and parts of Gibson, Posey, and Warrick counties. EWSU maintains over 1,000 miles of water lines, 800 miles of sewer lines, 6,100 hydrants, seven water storage facilities, two wastewater treatment plants, and one water filtration plant. The utility also manages the City’s street sweeping and trash and recycling contracts. EWSU meets or exceeds all state and federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards while protecting land and water resources for future generations.
Dealing a Narcotic Drug (Fentanyl), Carrying a Handgun by A Felon
Dealing in Methamphetamine
On May 13th detectives with the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force, which is a collaboration between the Evansville Police Department and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 32-year-old JaJaun D. Bennett for 2 counts of Dealing a Narcotic Drug (Fentanyl) and Possession of a Handgun by a Felon.
After a lengthy investigation a search warrant was obtained for Bennett’s residence in Warrick County. With the assistance of the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office, detectivessearched Bennett’s home and recovered 62 grams of a powder substance that field-tested positive for Fentanyl. Bennett was taken into custody during a traffic stop prior to the execution of the search warrant and found to be in possession of a loaded firearm. During the course of the investigation detectives recovered a total of 69 grams of suspected Fentanyl. This large quantity of potent synthetic opioid drug is equivalent to approximately 700 doses.
On May 14th detectives with the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force collaborated with Homeland Security Investigators and Indiana State Police to apprehend a large quantity of methamphetamine being brought into Evansville through the mail. 51-year-old Shawn D. Foster had taken possession of, and concealed, a package containing 905.4 grams of methamphetamine. Foster was arrested after attempting to flee from officers on foot.
Both JuJuan D. Bennett and Shawn D. Foster were placed in the Vanderburgh CountyConfinement Center.
Please call the EPD Tip Line (812) 435-6194 to report suspicious activity including
possible narcotic involvement in your neighborhood as we continue to work in partnership
to keep Evansville safe.