IS IT TRUE FEBRUARY 3, 2016
IS IT TRUEÂ last week Vectren Corp hosted the Evansville Brownsfield Corp. meeting at their Corporate Headquarters in which there was no recognition of the presence of citizens attending the meeting by the board? …it was equally insulting that no agendas were available to those individuals attending this meeting? … that NO opportunities were giving to ask questions or make comments were afforded to those present? …we are disappointed that former Vanderburgh County Sheriff, Congressman and current President of Vectren Energy Delivery- South, Brad Ellsworth sit by quietly and allow interested citizens attending this meeting to be snubbed by a Board he serves on? Â …if he doesn’t watch himself Evansville Brownfields Corp will become an embarrassment not only to him but also to Vectren alike?
IS IT TRUE if you feel that Evansville Brownfield Corp. meetings should be opened to the public please contact the following individuals in charge of ruining this fully funded taxpayer funded program? …attached are their e-mail addresses so you can tell them how you feel? …they are: Carolyn [mailto:crusk@evansville.in.gov] Brad Ellsworth <bellsworth@vectren.com>; Connie Robinson <connie@hmrdistribution.com>; Coures, Kelley <kcoures@evansville.in.gov>; Joshua Armstrong (JArmstrong@swinchamber.com) <JArmstrong@swinchamber.com>; Kevin Axsom (kevinaxsom@fcte.com) <kevinaxsom@fcte.com>; luke.yaeger@evansvillecommercebank.com; Nick Cirignano (NCirignano@zsws.com) <NCirignano@zsws.com>; sschuler@vpsarch.com?
IS IT TRUE we hope that someone attending the next Evansville Brownfieds Corp public meeting will ask board members to explain their property purchasing strategies? Â …we would like to know why did they paid $40,000 for an extremely dilapidated house on Jefferson and how much did they pay someone to tear down the house?
IS IT TRUE if Evansville Brownfields Corp is a land bank we wonder who cleared the snow off the sidewalks in front of the properties they own during the last two snows?
IS IT TRUE we hope that the Special Agents of the Investigations Division of the Office of the Special Inspector General For The Troubled Asset Relief Program aren’t conducting an Investigation of misconduct, influence peddling or conflict of interest concerning any locally elected or appointed officials?
IS IT TRUE if City officials were up on the investigation presently being conducted by Special Agents of the Investigations Division of the Office of the Special Inspector General For The Troubled Asset Relief Program pertaining to the spending of TARP FUNDS why did they call a former City Councilman to get their names and Washington, D C Â phone numbers?
IS IT TRUE we are expecting the results of the State Board Of Accounts annual audit of the City of Evansville to be made public any day now? …we can’t wait to see if past City Council President and Finance Chairmen John Friend CPA was correct that the City had around a $6 plus million dollar deficit at the end of the year?
Todays “Readers Poll” question is “Do You Believe DMD Director Kelley Coures Assertions That The Feds Are Not Doing An Investigation But An Audit of TARP Funds”?
Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Wildeman Launches Campaign for Vanderburgh County Council At-Large
Nicholas Wildeman Announces His Candidacy For Vanderburgh County Council At-LargeÂ
Wildeman, a Republican, previously served a term as Posey County Auditor beginning in 2010. This is his first office sought as a Vanderburgh County resident.
“One of the things I learned in my time as Auditor is the value of cooperative working relationships,†Wildeman said. “I understand the importance of effective communication between all members of the Council, Commissioners, and the Auditor. It is also imperative that the Council members work closely with the other elected officials and department heads to ensure that the funding issues facing the county’s operations are taken seriously, and are approached from an educated and rational standpoint.â€
Wildeman, an alumnus of Mater Dei High School in Evansville, graduated from the University of Southern Indiana in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. In 2014, he graduated again from the University of Southern Indiana with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
Throughout his career, Wildeman has shown a dedicated interest in public policy matters and the improvement of the local community.  He is a current member of the Rotary Club of Evansville, a member of the USI MPA Society, and a board member on the Greenway Passage Advisory Board. Nicholas previously served as a board member of the Posey County Community Foundation, the Posey County United Way, and was a founding member of the Young Professionals of Posey County.
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 3, 2016. You may contact Nicholas Wildeman with any community commentary or questions regarding his vision for Vanderburgh County at nicholas@vote4wildeman.com.
YESTERYEAR-FRANKLIN THEATER
YESTERYEAR-FRANKLIN THEATER
When movie houses began to open in the early twentieth-century, most of them were modest in size and sprinkled around various neighborhoods, unlike the mega-sized theaters movie-goers are accustomed to today. One of the earliest in Evansville was the West End Electric Palace, which opened at 2113 W. Franklin Street ca. 1908. Soon renamed the Franklin Theater (seen here in 1964), the theater operated for decades, until it was razed in the 1990s.
FOOTNOTE: 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.
40 Years Old And Just Getting Started!
40 Years Old And Just Getting Started!
I reached a major milestone recently. I turned the Big 4-0. Yep, that’s right. I’m officially “over the hill.†I’m on the downward spiral.
No way. I refuse to believe that life is over at 40. In fact, life is just beginning. Plus, no matter my age, I will always be young at heart. I will always have fun.
Why? I have been blessed with a fantastic family, loyal friends, good health and my dream job. If I can’t be happy with the cards I’ve been dealt, then I only have myself to blame.
40 years is a lot of living – a lot of life lessons, a lot of mistakes, but a lot of growth and development in turning those failures into success.
So, hot off my mind, here is my middle-age progress report. Let’s call it, “Important lessons I’ve learned in my first 40 years of life.â€
My earliest lessons came from my parents. They always taught my sister and me to believe in our faith, be kind to one another, share our toys and respect everyone, especially our parents, grandparents and elders. My wife and I are now teaching our daughter these values and the importance of family… even if they drive you nuts sometimes! I’m talking “pull my hair out nuts!â€
In grade school, I learned not to let bullies get the best of me. And, despite how delicious it may appear, don’t eat glue. And, don’t eat glue’s cousin, paste, which is also not delicious.
In high school, I learned that when a relationship ends – even if you think every girl you “love†is your soulmate – that there are more fish in the sea. Adult translation: you’ll meet the person you’re supposed to be with when the time is right.
My college years taught me the most – mostly because I left the comforts of my parents’ home for the first time and went six hours and one state away from small-town Jeannette, Pennsylvania to snowy Syracuse, New York.
I learned independence at Syracuse and how much I loved it! I grew up, I learned how to make decisions on my own and I learned about a career in Broadcast Journalism – which I later learned wasn’t the career for me.
But, Broadcast Journalism led me to Evansville – which led me to meeting my wife and to landing my dream job in St. Mary’s Health Foundation.
St. Mary’s Health Foundation, along with incredible friends and mentors, taught me about the “Power of Philanthropy†and its impactful and life-changing results – results that simply would not be possible without your generous support of our Mission.
So, I thank you for teaching me the significance of giving back and to helping those in need. It’s a transformational lesson that I hope to instill in many others during my next 40 years.
Because, baby, I’m just getting started!
Thank you for Supporting our Healing Ministry! Blessings,
Rick Peltier
“Over the Hill†Director, St. Mary’s Health Foundation (812) 485-4412 | richard.peltier@stmarys.org
COA: CDL Holder Cannot Enter Diversion Program For Alcohol Offenses
COA: CDL Holder Cannot Enter Diversion Program For Alcohol Offenses
by Jennifer Nelson for www.theindianalawyer.com
A man who held a commercial driver’s license and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor drunken-driving offenses cannot participate in a diversion program, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. One judge on the panel had concerns that the law treats CDL holders and those without a CDL differently.
Nicholas Hargrave was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated in a manner that endangered a person after police found him slumped over in the driver’s seat of his pick-up truck. Hargrave pleaded guilty, and the trial court withheld judgment and ordered him to participate in a diversion program. Hargrave, who held a CDL, surrendered it after his operator’s license was suspended for 180 days. He later filed a petition to have his operator’s license reinstated without providing proof of SR22 insurance, which the Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires for those who have had their licenses suspended.
The BMV intervened, claiming Hargrave didn’t qualify to participate in the diversion program because he held a CDL and allowing him to do so would jeopardize receipt of some federal highway funds and decertification of the state’s CDL program. The BMV also argued Hargrave was required to show proof of SR22 insurance. The trial court ruled in favor of Hargrave.
The judges reversed in State of Indiana and Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles v. Nicholas Hargrave, 82A01-1504-CR-137, agreeing with the state’s position that based on federal regulations, which Indiana adopted in statute, a person who holds a CDL at the time he or she commits a traffic violation may not participate in a diversion program or have the judgment deferred on that conviction.
“To the extent that Hargrave argues that his increased responsibility and accountability ceased to exist when he surrendered his CDL, he is mistaken. We agree with the BMV that Hargrave’s position cannot be correct in light of the purpose and intent of the (Commercial Drivers License Information System), which is to provide a full and accurate accounting of an individual’s driving history while he held a CDL,†Chief Judge Nancy Vaidik wrote in the majority opinion. “We agree with the State that “[a]llowing Hargrave to surrender his license, avoid his conviction, and possibly return to driving professionally with no record of the offense is precisely what the anti-masking law is designed to prevent.â€
Judge Margret Robb wrote separately to address the inconsistent treatment of those who currently hold CDLs and those who do not, but could do so in the future. One who does not have a CDL at the time of the offense can participate in a diversion program and later drive professionally without a record of the offense, she noted. In light of the purpose of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act, which is to reduce the number and severity of accidents involving commercial motor vehicles, “I find it difficult to justify this inconsistency,†she wrote.
The judges also affirmed that Hargrave is required to file proof of financial responsibility for three years following the termination of his suspension under I.C. 9-30-6-12.
Dr. Bennett Omalu to Speak at UE Snyder Lecture in October
Dr. Bennett Omalu, the first doctor to diagnose chronic brain damage in NFL athletes, will be the guest speaker for the University of Evansville’s Patricia H. Snyder Lecture in October. Omalu’s lecture is planned for Thursday, October 13, at 7:00 p.m., in Eykamp Hall, Ridgway University Center, on UE’s campus. The event is free and open to the public.
Omalu’s life story was chronicled in a recent book and in a major motion picture, both titled Concussion. Born in 1968 in Eastern Nigeria, Omalu and his family lived as refugees, his town under fire by the Nigerian Air Force. Despite this, he would go on to attend medical school at age 15 and become a physician by age 21. In 2002, Omalu made a career breakthrough when he became the first doctor to discover and identify chronic brain damage as a major factor in the deaths of some professional athletes. He called the disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). He was also the first to discover CTE in military veterans diagnosed with PTSD, as well as professional wrestlers.
But his findings were dismissed and ridiculed by his professional peers, the NFL, and the sports industry. But he stood his ground, and today, CTE has become generally accepted. Omalu’s findings have revolutionized neuroscience, sports medicine and safety, study of all types of brain trauma, and the sports industry. Omalu was awarded a WebMD Health Heroes 2015 award for his discovery of CTE and raising awareness to the disease. This award is given to those who do great things to help others live healthier, better lives.
The Patricia H. Snyder Concert and Lecture Series was made possible in 1997 through an endowment from the late Patricia H. Snyder, trustee and longtime friend of University, to
Catch the Latest Edition of “The Indiana State Police Road Show†Â
Catch the latest edition of the “Indiana State Police Road Show†radio program every Monday morning at your convenience.
This week’s show features Isaac Randolph, Director of Communication Indiana Department of Correction. Mr. Randolph discusses the H1N1 flu virus that has been blamed for infecting approximately 35 inmates at the Putnamville Correctional Facility. He also outlines the steps that have been taken to control the outbreak.
Download the program from the Network Indiana public websites at www.networkindiana.com. Look for the state police logo on the main page and follow the download instructions. The ISP Road Show can also be viewed via YouTube.
Go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu5Bg1KjBd7H1GxgkuV3YJA or visit the Indiana State Police website at http://www.in.gov/isp/  and click on the YouTube link. This 15 minute talk show concentrates on public safety and informational topics with state wide interest.
The radio program was titled “Signal-10†in the early sixties when it was first started by two troopers in northern Indiana. The name was later changed to the “Indiana State Police Road Show†and is the longest continuously aired state police public service program in Indiana.
Radio stations across Indiana and the nation are invited to download and air for FREE this public service program sponsored by the Indiana State Police Alliance and Cops for Kids, a subsidiary of the Indiana State Police Alliance.