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IS IT TRUE FEBRUARY 17, 2016

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IS IT TRUE the City Council Observer predicted many months ago that we you can expect a major water and sewer increase?  …it looks like we were right?  …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?  …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)?  …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?  …we hope that Mr. Hall also realizes that 75% of operating income comes from the sales of tickets?  …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?  …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?  .. .the money comes from the Jacobsville TIF, which is dedicated to improving the North Main/Gavin Park area?  …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?  …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?  …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? 

Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

Congressional Candidate Dr. Richard Moss Denounces Omnibus Bill

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Congressional Candidate Dr. Richard Moss Denounces Omnibus Bill

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.”

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

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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.

Men’s basketball heads west to Des Moines

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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

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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.

Tough on Crime

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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 1235 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 1211 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

EVSC to Utilize Virtual Option for Remaining Make Up Days

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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.”

This year’s virtual schedule is:

  • Monday, Feb. 22: first virtual assignments distributed. Assignments will be due Monday, Feb. 29.
  • Monday, March 28: second virtual assignments distributed. Assignments will be due Monday, April 4.

 

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.

  • The Boys and Girls Club
  • The Dream Center
  • Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library (all branches)
  • YMCA
  • Carver Community Center – Available Monday-Friday
  • Local churches

 

General Provisions Of Sign Placement

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The City-County Observer over the last several days we have received complaints concerning the possible illegal placement of two (2) political campaign signs of Alex Schmitt for County Commissioner installed on public right a ways.

Both signs are located on the on the Eastside. One sign is located on the Lloyd just East of Harrison High School next to the old Church of the Cross location and the other one is at the intersection of Lincoln Ave and Newburgh Road.

Yesterday we contacted officials at the Area Planning Commission and the City of Evansville Engineering Department concerning the status of the possible illegal placement of both campaign signs

According to Benjamin T. Barnes City of Evansville – Pavement Coordinator told us that the political sign of Alex Schmitt located at the intersection of Lincoln Ave and Newburgh Road. is legal.  However this sign appears to be on city public right-of-ways.  Since the sign is located on the city public right a way we wonder if can any political candidate can put their sign at this location?

We also wonder if Mr. Schmitt that the political sign located on the Lloyd just East of Harrison High School next to the old Church of the Cross location is legal since the LLOYD is considered to be a State Highway?

Soon as we find the answers to these questions we shall forward them to you.

ATTACHED ARE THE GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE PLACEMENT OF SIGNS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS

,18.140.020 General Provisions

(D) Of Sign Placements in Right-of-Way. No sign shall be placed in or overhang any public right-of-way or thoroughfare setback except publicly owned signs, such as traffic control signs and directional signs, or as allowed by a recorded encroachment permit or thoroughfare permit issued pursuant to the requirements of EMC Title 12. The right-of-way dimension shall be determined by the City of Evansville Engineering Department and the thoroughfare setback dimension shall be determined per this title. In addition, signs must not block any type of accessibility including, but not limited to, sidewalks, driveways, etc.

18.140.030 Exempt Signs

(C) Signs that meet the following descriptions and criteria do not require a sign permit, are exempt from all sign permit application requirements, are not taken into account when calculating the total number of signs or the total square footage of signs allowed for a property or business, and are not limited in number nor in the length of time they may be maintained, except as provided below.

(1) Name and Address Identification. Signs not exceeding two square feet in area which identify the names and addresses of occupants but do not denote commercial activity.

(2) Flags and Insignias. Flags and insignias of a governmental unit, not-for-profit organization, or church, except in connection with a commercial promotion.

(3) Integral Identification Features. Names of buildings, date of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like when carved into stone, concrete or similar construction or similar material made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent type construction and made an integral part of the structure.

(4) Public Signs. Public signs placed on-premises or off-premises by or at the instruction of public officer(s) in the performance of public duty, such as signs to promote safety, legal notices, no trespassing, or traffic signs; public memorial plaques; signs of public historical interest; signs directing people to public and quasi-public facilities; and signs no larger than 18 square feet, placed by a charitable county-wide beautification organization at a landscaped site identifying an adopter of an adopt-a-spot location.

(5) Emergency Signs. On-premises or off-premises emergency signs, such as those used by the fire or police departments.

(6) Political Signs. On-premises or off-premises political campaign signs.

Eagles on final road trip of regular season

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The University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team (16-9, 8-7 GLVC) hopes to wrap-up a Great Lakes Valley Conference first round tournament game when it hits the road for the final time in the regular season this week. The Screaming Eagles are slated to visit the University of Illinois Springfield (10-15, 4-11 GLVC) Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and McKendree University (12-11, 5-10 GLVC) Saturday at 3 p.m.
Game coverage of USI’s final road trip of 2015-16, including live stats, video, and audio, is available at GoUSIEagles.com. The Eagle games also can be heard over the air on WEOA 98.5FM/1400AM and WPSR 90.7FM.

This Week’s USI Men’s Basketball Quick Notes: 

Homecoming magic puts USI back on track. The University of Southern Indiana got back on track with a homecoming victory, 86-76, over the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday. Junior forward T.J. Tisdell led four Screaming Eagles in double-digits with 20 points.

Thursdays are tough; Saturdays are better. Thursday games have been tough on USI this year with the Screaming Eagles falling to 2-5 after the 89-80 loss to Maryville University to start the week. The Eagles are 8-3 on Saturday’s in 2015-16, 6-1 in GLVC action after Saturday’s win over UMSL.

USI race to the GLVC Tournament. USI can clinch a first round home game in the upcoming GLVC Tournament with two victories in the last three games or a win and a Rockhurst University loss. The GLVC Tournament is slated to start February 28 with first games at home sites and conclude March 3-6 in St. Charles, Missouri.

Stealing a record. Junior guard Jeril Taylor has a team-best 52 steals through 24 games and is on pace to challenge the USI single-season record of 66 which was set by Stan Gouard in 1994-95

On the road in 2015-16.  USI is 3-4 on the road in 2015-16. USI has four players averaging in double digits at home, led by junior guard Jeril Taylor is averaging 16.7 points per home game. Junior guard Bobo Drummond follows with 14.0 points per outing, while freshman guard Alex Stein is posting 13.0 points per appearance.

USI vs. UIS. USI raised its all-time record to 8-2 against UIS after posting an 85-64 win in December. Junior guard Bobo Drummond led USI with 23 points, while junior guards Jeril Taylor and Cortez Macklin followed with 20 and 18 points, respectively. The Eagles are 2-1against the Prairie Stars in Springfield, Illinois.

UIS in 2015-16. The Prairie Stars of UIS are 10-15 overall, 4-11 in the GLVC, after posting a GLVC split last week, getting a win over Missouri University of Science & Technology. More on UIS can be found at UISPrairieStars.com.

USI vs. McKendree. USI increased its all-time lead against McKendree to 10-3 after posting an 89-61 win in the GLVC season opener. USI was led by the 15-point game by junior guard Travis Britt and the 13-point game by senior forward George Edwards and junior guard Bobo Drummond. USI holds a 5-1 advantage in games in Lebanon, Illinois.

IceMen Loan Carlsson to Rockford in AHL

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(Veteran defenseman joins IceHogs, where he last played in 2009-10 in Blackhawks system.)

 The Evansville IceMen, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, and Head Coach Al Sims announced Tuesday that the IceMen have loaned defensemanJonathan Carlsson to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL).

The 27-year-old defenseman from Uppsala, Sweden returns to the IceHogs, where he spent the first part of the 2009-10 season with the Chicago Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate. Carlsson scored one goal in 19 games that season for Rockford, before finishing the year with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.

Carlsson spent the last five seasons in the top two professional leagues in his native Sweden, before signing with the IceMen in September. He recorded one goal and four assists in 46 games this season for Evansville, and scored the IceMen’s game-winning goal January 23 at Atlanta.

The IceMen travel to Tulsa Friday for a 7:05pm start at the BOK Center against the Oilers, before heading to Missouri for games Saturday at 7:05pm and Sunday at 4:05pm against the Mavericks at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. All three games will be broadcast on www.evansvilleicemen.com and ECHL.TV, with coverage scheduled to start 15 minutes before game time. Fans can also catch the action at Bar Louie in Evansville, the official headquarters for IceMen away games.

THIS WEEK:

  • Fri. 2/19 – Evansville at Tulsa (7:05pm) – BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
  • Sat. 2/20 – Evansville at Missouri (7:05pm) – Silverstein Eye Centers Arena – Independence, MO
  • Sun. 2/21 – Evansville at Missouri (4:05pm) – Silverstein Eye Centers Arena – Independence, MO

 

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Fri. 2/26 – Atlanta at Evansville (7:15pm) – Ford Center

                        Pink the Rink Weekend – Paint the Ice

Sat. 2/27 – Atlanta at Evansville (7:15pm) – Ford Center

                        Pink the Rink Weekend – Jersey Auction

PINK THE RINK

The IceMen invite you to Pink the Rink Weekend February 26-27 at the Ford Center! For just $5, purchase the opportunity to paint the name of a loved one on the ice following Friday night’s game. An exclusive ticket special for the weekend includes a goal zone ticket to both Friday and Saturday night’s games and name on the ice for just $35. The IceMen will be wearing specialty jerseys both nights which will be auctioned off Saturday night after the game. All proceeds from the painting of the names and the jersey auction will go to Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.  Both games start at 7:15 pm against the Atlanta Gladiators. Call 812-421-GOAL (4625) for more information.

MARCH BOOK DRIVE

The IceMen will be hosting a book drive for three games in March. The team will be collecting new or gently used beginner to teen books Friday March 4th and Saturday March 5th when Evansville hosts the Tulsa Oilers and again Sunday March 6th when the IceMen take on the Wichita Thunder. Bookmarks will be handed out for every book donated, and anyone with a bookmark can present it at the Ford Center Ticket Office for a discounted ticket to the IceMen game Wednesday March 9th.  All of the books will be donated to Evansville Hangers.

DOMINO’S 4-GAME HAT PACK

Choose any four IceMen home games and get a FREE limited edition IceMen hat and a large 1-topping Domino’s pizza, starting at only $17 per ticket. Call the IceMen front office at 812-421-GOAL (4625) for details.

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