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FEATURE ARTICLE: KELLEY COURES ON THE ATTACK AGAIN

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KELLEY COURES FACE BOOK POST of August 29 at 9:18pm

Since criticism was sent my way today by a mayoral candidate for my management of DMD lets take it one at a time:

Owen Block. We invested $50k federal funds into the rehab from a grant specifically intended for saving urban structures. City councilwoman Connie Robinson approved the investment as the city will make it back in property taxes in 5 years.

Facade grants. City Council approved the program and the mayoral candidate posed for a photo with the recipients. Begs the word hypocritical.

‘Finding money’. The funds i have had my staff searching for are federal funds left behind by the last mayors administration so we can reuse them to build affordable housing and repair low income persons homes and make improvements to parks in lower income areas. Missy Mosby and Jonathan Weaver have been big helpers to me on that front.

This candidate says I am mismanaging things. Our staff located $500k left from pre 2012 which will soon be invested in new urban core housing.

Thanks for recognizing the good things my DMD team is doing.in the last year we have corrected more errors, fixed more problems left from previous administrations to the point of 100% compliance with HUD for the first time in a decade. We have worked out assistance to various agencies and re established a close relationship with Habitat for Humanity and a new one, Community One.

By criticizing this work she is criticizing her fellow candidates who have been involved and approved everything I have done, every dollar invested and every program created. Stop slamming my democrat friends on council while you are at it.

Learn before you criticize.

Kelley Coures

 

 

IT IT TRUE SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

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IS IT TRUE City Council member Missy Mosby comments defending the City paying Health Care Benefits to members of our part time City Council really got our attention?  …we were so motived by Mosby’s passionate comments that City Council members should receive Health Care Benefits paid by the taxpayers because she claims that her City Council position is a full time job? …we investigated what the City’s Health Care Benefit package consist of? …our research revealed that our part time City Council Health Care Benefits package includes: Dental coverage thats has unlimited coverage, Council member pays one half  of Dental bill and the taxpayers pay the other half?  … City  Council members receive one free pair of glasses each year?  …that City Council members have unlimited  access to the the City  funded “Health Clinic and all the Generic Drugs are free? … the City  Council members have access to “Wellness and Dietitian consultants at no costs? …our Council members receive major discounts from City approved Physical Fitness workout facilities for an nominal fee? …in addition our Council received at no cost a $50,000 Group life insurance policy?  …above all. unlike the average  taxpayers Health  Plan coverage our part time Council members have access to Drug and Alcohol Rehab on site treatment at any  Accredited Center located anywhere USA with unlimited coverage? …the Cadillac Family Health Care plan only cost our part time City Council members a whooping $68 a month?  …we wonder if any  Missy Mosby 2nd Ward constitutes receive anything close this Health Care benefit package for working part time?

IS IT TRUE if  Mayor Winnecke  want to save the City taxpayer about a $180,000 in the proposed 2016 City Budget they can do away with the City paid Health Care Benefits package paid to our part time City Council members?  …its our understanding that the practice of proving Health Care Insurance to part time City Council members go back for for many years?

IS IT TRUE the proposed 2016 budget was delivered to City Council August 10, 2015? …the budget was not made available to the public by publication through posting the same online? …a member of the public asked the City Controller for a copy of the 2016 budget and was told the price was $40 for acopy of the budget?  …public hearings occurred August 17, 2015 through August 21, 2015 without any real effort to keep the public informed of the daily topics? …one of the 2016 Budget Goals created by the Winnecke Administration reads, “Provide Increased financial transparency for citizens?” …the 2016 budget process would have been a nice place tostart with this goal?

IS IT TRUE excepting the budgets for capital projects and the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility, total revenue for the City’s general operating fund in 2013, which included 46 million in property taxes, was 76.5 million according to the 2013 Annual Report?  …the original estimate for revenue at the time the budget was approved was just shy of 90 million according to the 2013 Annual Report?  …total expenditures for the City’s general operating fund in 2013 were 79.2 million according to the 2013 Annual Report? …the original certified budget for 2013 was 81.2 million according to the Department of Local Government Finance?  …the Winnecke Administration spent less than what was approved by City Council but more than was taken in for general operating expenses?

IS IT TRUE excepting the budgets for capital projects and the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility, total revenue for the City’s general operating fund in 2014, which included $47.2 million in property taxes, was $78.5 million according to the 2014 Annual Report?…..the revenue number included $2.4 million of 2015 revenue that was taken as an advance in 2014 to be able to end the fiscal year with a positive number of $307,000?  … the original estimate for revenue at the time the budget was approved was 89.3 million according to the 2014 Annual Report? …total expenditures for the City’s General Operating Fund in 2014 were $79.5 million according to the 2014 Annual Report?…..the original certified budget for 2014 was $84.4 million according to the Department of Local Government Finance?…..the Winnecke Administration spent less than what was approved by City Council but more than was taken in for general operating expenses?…real revenue for 2014 was $76.1 million, which is less than the revenue of 2013?

IS IT TRUE the 2015 Budget was passed with a certified budget of $85.7 million in approved expenditures according to the Department of Local Government Finance? ….the estimated revenue for 2015 at the time the budget was passed for the general operating fund of the City was $92.4 million?….according to Russ Lloyd, Jr. and the Financial Statements for the City, as of June 30, 2015 revenue was $43 million and expenditures were $48 million?….the Controller has dialed back expected revenue for 2015 to approximately $79 million and is confident that the Winnecke Administration will not spend more than it takes in for operations this year?….if this is true, it would constitute a reduction in spending from 2014 and would require a belt tightening mentality as compared to the first half of the year?

IS IT TRUE for 2013, 2014 and 2015 the City Council has not approved budgets that spend more than is taken in as revenue?….each budget appears to have a healthy gap between revenue and expenditures?….the Controller’s office estimates revenue each year?….the problem appears to be not what City Council is approving so much as what the Winnecke Administration is estimating in revenue?

IS IT TRUE the 2016 Budget has revenue estimated at $90.3 million, which is a decrease from estimates for 2015, and calls for an approved budget of expenditures of $87.2 million?…the discussion in budget hearings between Conor O’Daniel and Russ Lloyd, Jr. indicated that actual revenue was expected to be no more than $80 million?

IS IT TRUE there is no basis to the claim by the Winnecke Administration that reducing approved expenditures for City operations for 2016 to actual revenue would affect 100 City employees or impact services?….according to the Winnecke Administration, the City has not spent $80 million for general operating expenses in any given year since the Mayor took office?…. if the City’s general fund operated for less than $80 million in 2012, 2013, 2014, and will again in 2015, there is no reason to believe it cannot operate for $80 million in 2016?…is it such a novel concept for this Administration to have to live within its means?

IS IT TRUE a local reporter called upon City Council, which has a large number of members that will not return in 2016, to use the rest of year to do something meaningful?….setting a precedent for limiting expenditures in operations to no more than actual revenue meets that call to action?

Please take time and vote in today’s “Readers Poll”. Don’t miss reading today’s Feature articles because they are always an interesting read.

Please scroll at the bottom of our paper so you can enjoy our creative political cartoons.Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Endless opportunities with the House internship program

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As students are beginning another year of school and young adults are adjusting to life post-graduation, it reminds me of when I went through that pivotal time in my life. With a number of potential career paths, I remember asking those same questions that many students are asking now: what path should I follow and most importantly, where do I even start?

Fortunately, with Indiana’s 4.7 percent unemployment rate, there is now a larger job pool awaiting our graduates than ever before. However, one of the best ways for future job seekers to expand their portfolio and launch their career is through an internship. Whether you hope to build a career in state government or in the private sector, the Indiana House Republicans offer a competitive internship each session, which can open a lot of doors.

During session, with committee hearings and many pieces of legislation going through the process, interns are critical to ensuring our work gets done and are vital to this institution. Each year, there are a variety of internship positions available, and for those that are accepted, you will be able to work alongside one of our full-time staffers.

Year-round, each legislator has both a legislative assistant and a press secretary. The primary role of a legislative assistant is to be the first point of contact for constituents. They help those in our communities to navigate various state agencies and research and respond to legislative questions.

Meanwhile, our press secretary is the first point of contact when dealing with the media. They are the ones who ensure we make time to update the media, often arranging these meetings, and write press releases in order to keep the public informed. My current legislative assistant and press secretary are actually both former interns!

In addition, legislators share a policy team, fiscal team and information technology team who also play an important role in the legislative process. These five distinct positions offer something for every student, from all majors and all fields of study.

The upcoming session will begin in January and will run through March. Interns generally work from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and get a taste of what it is like to work full-time. While many internships are unpaid, this one provides a bi-weekly stipend of $700 as well as the chance to apply for a competitive $3,000 Verizon scholarship. Most colleges and universities also offer course credit for the internship!

This experience truly prepares students for the next step in life and provides an invaluable networking opportunity. Each session, I work with our interns on a daily basis, and it is safe to say that we gain just as much from their presence as they do. I highly encourage college sophomores, juniors, seniors and recent-graduates to apply.

The application deadline is Oct. 31, so please share this excellent opportunity with friends and family, and be sure to submit your application soon! I hope to see a few of our local students representing our corner of the state in Indianapolis!

To learn more or to apply online, please visit http://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/2016-house-republican-internship-program/.

Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6 “The Wall Project”

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Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6, along with community support, will display The Wall That Heals (Traveling Vietnam Memorial), the Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance, and The Honor Wall – September 3-6, 2015. 

 

The display will be located at the Westside Public Library (2000 W. Franklin St.). The walls will be open for viewing starting Thursday (9-3) morning & will close Sunday (9-6) evening at 6:00 pm. It will be open non-stop, 24/hours a day for the duration of the event in order to give everyone an opportunity to visit.

 

This event is to recognize the sacrifice of our brave service members and 1st responders, who have made the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives to protect us and our freedom.  We hope to inform Americans about the sacrifices made to secure a free nation, and remind them that military personnel are fighting and dying still today. These walls serve to provide closure for vets who never got to say goodbye to fallen comrades in battle. They are also designed to help family members and friends that are still looking for closure and comfort. There are still many POW/MIA who are yet to return home and we need to tell their stories and promise they will never be forgotten.

 

Every evening there will be an opportunity for the public to lay a wreath in honor of our veteran’s.  Items that are placed at The Walls will be labeled and taken to Washington, DC next spring where the will placed at the proper location.

 

 

2015 “Wall” Schedule

September 2, (Wednesday) Walls Honor Escort 
Escort staging area is at HWY 41 N & I64 (McDonald’s area @ 19700 Ushy Evansville, IN), please enter at stoplight & go to directed area. Staging starts @ 8:00 am & departs at 9:00 am.
Escort is open to everyone that would like to participate, bikes, cars & trucks are welcome.
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff Department will lead the escort from HWY 41N to Lloyd Expressway West, turning on Wabash Ave & ending at the Westside Library (2200 W. Franklin St.).
Wall Set-up will take place following the escort.

September 3, (Thursday) Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony begins @ 6:30 PM
Welcome – Jerry Blake (President, Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6)
Posting of colors – VFW Post 1114
National Anthem – North High School Concert Choir
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation – Steve Kroeger (Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6)
Keynote Speaker – Congressman Larry Bucshon
Missing Man Table Presentation - Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6
Laying of Wreaths – Public

September 4, (Friday)
School Field Trips To Wall @ 9:00 AM
Evening Ceremony begins @ 6:30 PM
Welcome – Jerry Blake (President, Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6)
Missing Man Table Presentation - Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6

Laying of Wreaths – Public

September 5, (Saturday) 
Candlelight Vigil Ceremony Honoring All Wars
Ceremony Begins @ 6:30 PM
Welcome – Jerry Blake (President, Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6)
National Anthem – United States Air Force Band
Pledge of Allegiance
Guest Speaker – Senator James Tomes (State District 49)
Amazing Grace – United States Air Force Band
Missing Man Table Presentation - Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6
Candlelight Vigil Ceremony - Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6
Laying of Wreaths – Public
Taps – United States Air Force Band

September 6, (Sunday)
Ceremony Is Dedicated to Our First Responders (Police, Sherriff & Fire Department’s & EMS)
Ceremony Begins @ 2:30 PM
Welcome – Jerry Blake (President, Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6)
National Anthem – Joshua Morgan
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation – Ralph Wilkison (Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6)
Guest Speaker – Wendy McNamara (IN State Rep. House District 76)
Guest Speaker – Sergeant Greg Motz (Evansville Police Department)
Amazing Grace – Evansville Fire Department Bag Pipes
Lords Prayer – Joshua Morgan
21 gun Salute – VFW 1114 Honor Guard
Taps – Jim Cockrell (Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6)

The Walls will close at 6:00 pm Sunday evening.

 

 

About Rolling Thunder ®, Inc.

 

The major function of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is to publicize the POW-MIA issue: to educate the public that many American Prisoners of War were left behind after all previous wars and to help correct the past and to protect the future veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners of War/Missing in Action.  We are also committed to helping American Veterans from all wars.

 

Rolling Thunder® has over 90 chapters across 33 states. Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 6, based in Evansville, IN is the largest chapter with over 235 active members.

 

Contact

 

To learn more about this event, please contact:

Jerry Blake

Command Sergeant Major

U.S. Army, Retired

President, Indiana Chapter 6

Rolling Thunder, Inc.

812.453.0799

jerryoblake@wowway.com

Tech firm moving headquarters from San Francisco to Indy

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Technology consulting firm Appirio Inc. plans to move its corporate headquarters from San Francisco to Indianapolis and boost its local employment by more than 425 workers over the next five years, the company announced Friday.

Appirio opened its Indianapolis office with about 20 people in 2012 and has since grown employment to more than 150 in its office at Pan American Plaza. The company doubled its space to 25,000 square feet earlier this year to accommodate growth.

The cloud services provider said will invest $7.7 million over the next five years, with the goal of having a total of 577 local employees by the end of 2020.

Appirio said new employees will make average salaries “more than 75 percent higher than the state’s average wage,” which would be more than $65,000 per year.

Pending approval by its board of directors, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. plans to offer Appirio up to $3.85 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $150,000 in training grants based on the job-creation plans. The city of Indianapolis will consider additional incentives.

Appirio also reached an agreement with the IEDC in 2012 when it opened its local office but has not yet met hiring goals. That contract called for the company to receive up to $5.6 million in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants if it had 300 employees by the end of 2015.

That agreement was extended last year until the end of 2016. So far, the company has received only about $291,000 in tax credits related to the initial agreement.

Founded in 2006, Appirio has more than 1,200 employees worldwide and additional offices in Dublin, London; Jaipur and Tokyo. Its customers have included Cardinal Health, Yahoo, Starbucks, Facebook and IBM.

“The designation of Indianapolis as our headquarters reflects the office’s important role as a global training center and recruiting hub as we look to support our growing list of customers and partners,” said CEO Chris Barbin in a written statement. “We know Indianapolis will make a strong home base for global operations, and we look forward to an even more interconnected future for Appirians, our customers and our partners.”

 

USI Performance Center ribbon cutting set for September 3

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An official ribbon cutting ceremony for the University of Southern Indiana’s new Performance Center will take place at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, September 3 on the main stage of the center. The ceremony will include the ribbon cutting as well as musical performances and tours of the facility.

Features of the Performance Center include:

  • Thrust stage with additional staging areas incorporated into the walls
  • Light wall containing thousands of computer controlled LED lights with a full spectrum of colors
  • Sound baffle system with acoustic panels created with donated materials
  • Steinway concert grand piano specifically crafted for the center

The USI Performance Center is located adjacent to the east wing of the University Center facing University Boulevard. Parking is available in Lot C. This event is free and open to the public.

 

This Week @USI

  • USI Board of  Trustees Meeting: Thursday, September 3. Meeting schedule and agenda at https://www.usi.edu/trustee
  • Student Involvement Fair: Wednesday, September 2 from 2-6 p.m. (Not open to public but open to media) Student clubs and organizations set up on the quad to encourage new and returning students to get involved on campus.
  • The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra presents Grammy-winning violinist, Joshua Bell, who will perform Brahms “Academic Festival Overture,” in tribute to USI’s 50th anniversary at 4 p.m. Sunday, September 27. Tickets are on sale now. Read More

 

  • The Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science is currently featuring two exhibits celebrating the 50th anniversary of the University of Southern Indiana. Read More.

 

  • The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art presents “Envisioned Worlds: Lithographs from the Hokes Archives,” a 25-year survey of prints by Beauvais Lyons through September 5. Read More.

“UPDATE” Need Assistance from the Public

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ. 
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

 

“UPDATE” Zachary Didier, 25 from Ft. Wayne has turned himself into the Tippecanoe County Jail on August 28, 2015 and has posted bail. We want to thank the media and especially the public for the tips and information received at the Lafayette State Police Post. If you witness or are a victim of a crime, do not hesitate calling your local law enforcement agency or the Indiana State Police. You can remain anonymous if you want.

 

The original release is below:

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Tippecanoe County-The Indiana State Police out of the Lafayette Post are requesting assistance from the public in locating a Zachary P. Didier, 25 from the Fort Wayne, IN area. Didier is wanted on two felony warrants for Child Solicitation a Class C Felony and Possession of Child Pornography a Class D Felony.

Didier is approximately 6-02, weighing approximately 175 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes. He does have ties to the Indianapolis area and may be in the Louisville, KY area. A photo of Didier is attached to this release. This is the most current photo available at this time. If you know the whereabouts of Didier, contact your nearest law enforcement agency or any of the Indiana State Police Posts. You do not have to give your name when calling with information on Didier’s whereabouts.

 

Catch the Latest Edition of “The Indiana State Police Road Show”

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ. 
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

Catch the latest edition of the “Indiana State Police Road Show” radio program every Monday morning at your convenience.

This week’s show features Indiana State Police Trooper Kyle Mitchell and Junior Achievement Intern Sam Didion. Trooper Mitchell and Mr. Didion discuss the upcoming Muddy Trail Run on September 12th at the Anthony Wayne Scout Reservation, 2282 W. 800 South, Pleasant Lake, IN. The Parkview Muddy Trail Run is a partnership of Junior Achievement and Anthony Wayne Area Council Boy Scouts of America. Proceeds will benefit both local organizations and participants can direct their support.

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.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Give Keynote Remarks on Child Nutrition at Center for American Progress

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TOMORROW, Sept. 1, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will give keynote remarks at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC. This event is part of a significant effort by Secretary Vilsack highlighting the success of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act and its role in fighting childhood obesity and hunger. After his remarks, Secretary Vilsack will hold a conversation with CAP President Neera Tanden and take questions from the audience. As children get ready to go back to school, Congress is returning from recess and will soon debate the reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs, which are reducing health risks for children nationwide. Currently, more than 30 million children receive at least one nutritious meal every school day through USDA’s National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. New school nutrition standards are currently being met by over 95 percent of schools, resulting in increased access to healthier meals with more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and less sugar, fat, and sodium.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015
1 P.M. EDT

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will give keynote remarks and hold a discussion with CAP President Neera Tanden on school meals and reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs.

WHERE: Center for American Progress 1333 H Street NW, 10th Floor Washington, D.C.

Death List Week of 8-28-15

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Death Records

CCODeathRecords 8-28-15

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