Evansville Police are looking for 22 year old AUSTIN D SMITH. SMITH is wanted for Rape, Criminal Confinement, and Battery.
Police began an investigation when the victim was treated at a local hospital following the Tuesday night attack. The victim told investigators she knew SMITH and he was giving her a ride. He became angry during the car ride and attacked her.
SMITH is 5’09” and 135lbs. He has blonde hair and green eyes.
Anyone with info is asked to call EPD at 812-4367-7979 or WeTip.
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Evansville Police have arrested 23 year old STEPHEN ELSEY on two counts of Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury to a Child Under 14.
Investigators believe ELSEY was watching his 2 month old daughter on February 14th. ELSEY told investigators he became upset when she would not stop crying and intentionally banged the girl’s head against the metal railing of a pack and play crib. The infant suffered a fractured skull during the assault.
During the medical treatment, hospital staff also found a healing wound on one of the girl’s collar bones. ELSEY said he may have caused that injury during an incident in January when he was upset with the infant and forcefully laid her down in her crib.
ELSEY originally denied knowing how the girl was injured. He then claimed it was an accident and she was injured when she fell from his lap. After several interviews, he told investigators he injured the infant when she would not stop crying.
ELSEY was arrested Wednesday and is at the Vanderburgh County Jail.
IS IT TRUE the City Council Observer predicted many months ago that we you can expect a major water and sewer increase? Â …it looks like we were right? Â …if the water rates increases continue a gallon of Jack Daniels could cost less than a gallon of water?
IS IT TRUE we hope that the new owner of the Evansville Hockey team Mike Hall will have the needed start up operating capital? Â …we hope he has the funds to pay for workers comp, marketing staff, monthly stipend to pay players, funds to pay for housing arrangements for out of area players, money to pay for away game travel expenses (transportation-food and lodging)? Â …we hope he can afford to pay the costs to lease the Ford Center for practices and home games, start up money for uniforms, pads, skates and equipment, be able to provide the League and the City with a letter of line of credit and performance bond? Â …we hope that Mr. Hall also realizes that 75% of operating income comes from the sales of tickets? Â …we wish him the best in this massive financial undertaking?
IS IT TRUE if Mayor Winnecke thinks he made the right decision concerning his selection of a new Hockey team for Evansville he should challenge the IceMen to a charity game this coming season?
IS IT TRUE that the transfer of the Hotel Parking Garage to the Evansville Brownfields Corporation now will allow this public project to proceed without the competitive bidding process?
IS IT TRUE It appears that Evansville has been dealt yet another post-election surprise from the Mayor’s Office? …the controversial North Main bike paths are going to cost more than originally planned for? Â …because of underground streetcar tracks, we are going to spend $16 million plus, instead of the $13 million that was originally planned for the project?
IS IT TRUE this amounts to a million dollars a block for the 16 block project meant to redevelop the business section of a very high-crime, blight-ridden neighborhood? Â .. .the money comes from the Jacobsville TIF, which is dedicated to improving the North Main/Gavin Park area? Â …the TIF money for North Main shall be totally tapped out once the project is complete?
IS IT TRUE we admit that we are puzzled at the decision to spend so much money on those with interests in the area who are best off financially, the business owners? Â …there is so much that is needed to make the neighborhood safer and more family friendly rather than doing for those who need it less.?
IS IT TRUE we believe that the return on the “investment†is dubious to say the least? …the fact that Bob’s Bikes that was the “centerpiece†for the project has already failed and the owner has left town is reason enough to doubt the success of the bike paths in renewing business on North Main Street.?  …we have been told by many cyclists that the main “strike†against Bob’s Bikes was its location.? …our friends who are fitness cyclers tell us that they are not interested in riding in areas with vehicles and foot traffic that make them slow down?
IS IT TRUE the thought of loading bikes up and hauling them to a high-crime area for a ride does not appeal to many people? Â …Many of those in Jacobsville who ride bicycles are riding of necessity and have little disposable income?
We are asking our readers to “like us” on Facebook and encourage friends and family to do so, as well? Our next IS IT TRUE will be posted on this coming Friday?
If you would like to advertise in the CCO please contact us City-County Observer@live.com.
Todays “Readers Poll”:Do you feel Council should spend $16 million dollars to renovate North Main area?Â
Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
Evansville, IN – At a meeting with supporters at the Red Bank Library, Dr. Moss criticized Congressman Larry Bucshon’s vote in favor of the massive “Omnibus†Bill.
“Congressman Larry Bucshon has done it again. By voting in favor of the Omnibus Bill, he has voted in favor of Obama’s legislative agenda, turning his back on the American people.
This monster of a bill, not less than 2000 pages, none of which he read, is a $1.1 trillion behemoth, or about half a billion dollars a page. It increased spending by $53 billion over the last year.
It fully funded Obama’s lawless executive amnesty, Planned Parenthood, “sanctuary cities,†and increased spending for “climate change.” It quadrupled H2-B visas bringing in more unskilled labor to compete with American workers. It fully funded the EPA and its destructive regulations regarding CO2 emissions – which will force coal plants to close. It was praised by the Obama administration as well it would be.
After all it fully funded the Obama agenda.  All in all, a great day for – liberal Democrats and Obama. This is another Bucshon Boondoggle. Larry Bucshon campaigns as a conservative but votes like a liberal. He is part of the problem. Elect me and I will be part of the solution.â€
Find out more about Dr. Moss at www.rmoss4congress.com. Call or email at 812-684-0971 or hq@rmoss4congress.com. Find Moss For Congress on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
FOOTNOTE: Dr Richard Moss, is a candidate running for Congress for Indiana’s 8th district, released this message regarding his concerns with fellow Republican Larry Bucshon:
We are asking our readers to “like us” on Facebook and encourage friends and family to do so, as well? Our next IS IT TRUE will be posted on this coming Friday?
If you would like to advertise in the CCO please contact us City-County Observer@live.com.
Todays “Readers Poll”:Do you feel Council should spend $16 million dollars to renovate North Main area?
Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
What is coming up with 2016 ISTEP – View From The Classroom
WHO: Southwestern Indiana Voices for Public Schools, various guests (FaceBook event) and any persons with stories about ISTEP. We expect more than 15 persons.
WHAT: Town Hall type of discussion of ISTEP 2016 and other education issues.
WHERE: North Park Public Library, 960 Koehler Drive, Evansville, IN
(adjacent to Central High School Property)
WHEN: Tuesday, February 16, 2016
WHY: Anticipating ISTEP 2016; recognizing concerns of families, taxpayers and educators with the ongoing education issues in K-12 schools; and in hopes of motivating change among state legislators by steady activism, Voices for Public Schools is holding a Q&A session.
HOW: Our attitude is to assist the public in respectfully pointing out the issues in K-12 education and to begin in our community to find ways to encourage the General Assembly to abandon badly performing programs, tests and curricula that represent over-reach into local school districts.
After a short presentation, there will be questions and discussion. All data used is from the Indiana Department of Education website. Children are welcome.
Aces to face Drake on Wednesday evening
  In search of their 21st victory of the season, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team will travel west to Des Moines, Iowa to take on Drake in an 8 p.m. game that will be carried by the Missouri Valley Conference TV Network.
Evansville won its 20th game of the season in dramatic fashion on Sunday, defeating Loyola by a final of 74-73 at Gentile Arena. Up by as many as 19 points, the Aces hung on as the Ramblers made a furious charge to take the lead in the final minute, but D.J. Balentine hit a floater with 18 seconds left to seal the win. Egidijus Mockevicius led everyone with 24 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocks in the win. Balentine finished with 16 while Jaylon Brown posted 12 points and Blake Simmons recorded 11 tallies, hitting a season-high three 3-pointers.
For the third time in four years, the Purple Aces have won 20 games, clinching the all-important victory against Loyola on Sunday. It marks the first time since 1999 that the Purple Aces have won 20 games in the regular season.
Drake enters Wednesday’s match-up with a 6-20 record and stands at 1-13 in MVC play. The Bulldogs began the season at 4-3 with wins over Western Kentucky and Pepperdine, but are 2-17 since the beginning of December.
Leading the way for the Bulldogs is Reed Timmer, who has established himself as one of the top shooters in the MVC; he stands at 17.3 points per game and is shooting 47.7%. Kale Abrahamson has notched 12.0 PPG while Graham Woodward checks in with 11.1; Abrahamson was the leading scorer last time out for DU, posting 15 against SIU. Jacob Enevold is their top rebounder, hauling in 5.3 rebounds per contest, he is also their top free throw shooter at 83.0%.
Justices: Couple Not Entitled To Prescriptive Easement
by Jennifer Nelson for www.thendianalawyer.com
The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday reversed the holding of a trial court that a couple should receive a prescriptive easement for the use of their outbuildings that encroached onto a strip of land purchased at a tax sale.
Tom Bonnell purchased a 35-foot-by-100-foot section of land from the Pulaski County Board of Commissioners, which acquired the land through a tax sale. The strip of land was next to several parcels in a subdivision. Ruby Cotner purchased Lot 8 in 1997, on which a barn had been constructed in 1968. She and her husband expanded on the barn with a lean-to in 2010; a portion of these buildings encroached some distance onto the strip of land purchased by Bonnell.
Bonnell reached a deal with all of the subdivision property owners to sell each section of the strip to the property owner who had been occupying the land, except the Cotners. The Cotners asserted ownership by adverse possession and filed this lawsuit to quiet title.
The trial court found the Cotners had not perfected their claim of adverse possession because they couldn’t have reasonably believed they were paying taxes on their portion of the strip. The court also ruled that if the adverse possession claim had been perfected, the 1993 and 2011 tax sales of the strip divested them of their interest. The judge did determine sua sponte that the Cotners should receive a prescriptive easement for the use of their outbuildings encroaching onto the strip.
The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part in Tom Bonnell v. Ruby A. Cotner, Douglas Wayne Cotner, Arthur J. Johnson, Jimmy J. Johnson, and Jerry L. Johnson, 66S03-1509-PL-530.
The justices agreed that the Cotners satisfied the adverse possession tax statute, but the subsequent tax sales of the strip of land defeated their claim of ownership by adverse possession under the plain text of the Tax Deed Statutes.
But the award to the Cotners of a prescriptive easement was clearly erroneous, Justice Mark Massa wrote. This attempt by the trial court to craft an equitable remedy was unavailable as a matter of law based on the Tax Deed Statutes. Thus, as with the Cotners’ claim of adverse possession, they cannot claim a prescriptive easement in the outbuilding because that easement was never recorded, and therefore was extinguished with the first tax sale in 1993, he continued.
Justice Steven David did not participate in the decision.
House Republican lawmakers are working hard on legislation to combat Indiana’s illegal drug epidemic, which is wreaking havoc on our communities, creating problems for law enforcement and straining our criminal justice system. Various proposals for new laws to curb illegal drugs are moving through the legislative process, including:
House Bill 1235Â would give prosecutors a powerful tool to keep the worst drug dealers behind bars. If passed, a drug dealer convicted of a Level 2 felony for dealing would receive a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years in prison, but could be sentenced up to 30 years.
Under House Bill 1157, drug-related felony convictions would be uploaded to a statewide database, which would trigger a stop-sale alert if the felon attempts to buy medicine containing pseudoephedrine (PSE) without a prescription. PSE is used in various cold, flu and allergy medications and is also used to make meth.
Under House Bill 1390, a consumer could purchase medications containing PSE without a prescription if they have a prior relationship with a pharmacy or purchase a smaller dose. A prescription would only be required in the small number of cases where a person does not have a pre-existing relationship with a pharmacy and refuses the smaller dosage or tamper-resistant options. This works to combat “smurfing,†where persons purchase PSE at multiple stores to skirt individual purchase limits with the intent to sell it to a meth cook.
House Bill 1211Â would give prosecutors more tools to convict those who attempt to make meth, and those who cause meth fires.
These bills reflect a strong effort by the House Republicans to find common-sense solutions to the illegal drug epidemic plaguing all areas of our state. If you have questions or input as we continue moving Indiana forward, please contact me at (317) 232-9816 or h76@iga.in.gov.
Sincerely,
State Rep. Wendy McNamara
The EVSC will once again utilize the state’s Virtual Option as the method for recovering learning time lost for two additional snow days taken so far this year.
To date, the EVSC has taken four snow days, two of which will be made up on April 15 and 18. The third snow day was originally scheduled to be made up on Monday, Feb. 15, but that make up day was also cancelled due to inclement weather. The two remaining snow days will be made up using the state’s virtual option.
In the virtual option, students will be given their virtual lessons on a Monday and students will engage in the virtual lessons throughout the week with the support from teachers through virtual “office hours.†Students will have one week to complete the assignments. Students who do not complete the virtual lessons will be marked absent.
“Technology has opened the doors to learning in ways that were not possible just a few years ago,†said Superintendent David Smith. “By utilizing our virtual option, students can continue exploring current lessons. While adding days at the end of the school year is very simple to do, we know that it is not in the best interest of student achievement.â€
This year’s virtual schedule is:
As part of the virtual option, the state requires that students engage in lessons given to them by their teachers, just as they would on a normal school day, except that all or parts of the work involves accessing online learning systems or other Internet-related resources. Students will be able to interact with their teachers through a variety of options such as using their learning management system, via email, telephone, Skype, WebEx, etc. Teachers will be in touch with their students on the best ways to reach him/her during the pre-determined learning time.
Students may do the work on their own time, with their device and Internet at home or other locations. Students also can make use of times the school building is open before and after school, and receive teacher support in those pre-determined times. Schools will communicate more information regarding their extended hours with their families.
In addition, many of EVSC’s community partners have offered their facilities WIFI and devices for student use. Below is a partial list of EVSC’s community partners who have offered their facilities so that students can have access to computers and Internet. There are other partners that may be specific to certain schools not listed.
