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IS IT TRUE AUGUST 20, 2015

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IS IT TRUE we heard that Mayoral Candidate Gail Riecken had an extremely profitable golf scramble yesterday?  … some of the sponsors and attendees were: Jones and Wallace LLC,  Commonwealth Engineers Inc ,  Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott,  UAW Vanderburgh County CAP Council,  Boilermakers Local 374,   Ice Miller Law Firm,  Hamrick’s Towing,  present 5th Ward City Councilman Johne Friend CPA,  Dr. H Dan Adams for City Council, former State Representative Dennis Avery,  County Councilman Ed Bassemier,  Short Strategy Group,  Alex Burton for City Council,  Friedman & Associates,  Anna Melcher for 3rd Ward City Council,  Tom Shoulders for 5th Ward City Council,  Larry Zuber, IAFF Local 357 President,  Joseph Kemp,  Busler Enterprises,  Jack Waldroup,  IAFF Local 357, Jim Brinkmeyer for 6th Ward City Council,  Connie Robinson for 4th Ward City Council,  Heather Willey,  Indiana State AFL-CIO,  Republic Services, IAFF PAC,  CWA in State Council COPE, Harry Koehler, Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding, Former Sheriff and U S Congressmen Brad Ellsworth and former 6th Ward City Councilman and Vanderburgh County Commissioner David Mosby ?

IS IT TRUE that the Chief Commissioner of Higher Education for the State of Indiana just announced that Vincennes University has 20 ‘Full Ride’ scholarships for African Americans majoring in Robotics, Advanced Manufacturing and Machinery?  …the scholarships include tuition, room, board, tools, guaranteed internships, etc., for both years leading to a 2-year degree.?  …we wonder if U of E, USI and IVY TECH are going to do similar to help our qualified African Americans students?

IS IT TRUE that In 2007, then EVANSVILLE Fire Chief Ken Zuber obtained a State Grant in excess of $300,000 to help kick start a Quartermaster system for the Evansville Fire Department?   … this Grant was not even close to what was needed to start the Quartermaster program and Chief Zuber was forced to use the money to buy an extra set of turnout gear for most of the Department Suppression employees?

IS IT TRUE  that this Quartermaster system has an estimated cost for each firefighter around $300 per year, of they’re clothing allowance and an estimated cost for each new hire about $1,500 a year for their first 3 years in salary, to help fund this system? … the Quartermaster program will be extremely costly and a constant drain on the Fire Department and the City’s budgets for years to come?

IS IT TRUE we wonder when City Councilman John Friend, CPA  is  publicly  going to challenge City Controller and former Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr with documentations about the alleged $4 Million dollar shortfall concerning City employees Medical expenses?

IS IT TRUE we wonder when City Councilman John Friend, CPA is going to present the real facts about bond ratings with documentations?

TO FUND A QUARTERMASTER PROGRAM OR NOT

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In 2007 then Fire Chief Ken Zuber received  a Grant well in excess of $300,000 to help jump start a Quartermaster system. This grant was not even close to the money needed for this program.  Since Chief Zuber wasn’t able to get any extra funding from the city he chose to buy turn out gear for most of the fire departments suppression firefighters.

In 2012 newly elected City Councilman and City Fireman Al Lindsey approached the local Fire Fighters Union #357 Executive Board about funding new Extractors and Dryers for the fire stations that didn’t have these machines. The Board approached Chief Connelly with a request for a funding of new Extractors and Dryers. The Board came back with an amount of $155,000.00 amount given them by Fire Chief Mike Connelly.

Mr. Lindsey took this figure to members of the City Council for funding. The Fire Department main selling point for this equipment was to protect the future health of Firefighters by decreasing the possibility contracting cancer due to the carcinogens in their fire gear after each fire. The City Council voted to give the money to the Chief Connelly and he agreed to comply with Council’s request.

After several months of no activity Councilman Adams was informed that there was no movement by the Fire Chief  to the installed machines at the Fire Stations. Adams contacted the Chief and ask him to come to Council and update them. Chief Connelly informed Council that he underestimated the costs of the Extractors and Dryers and that the he guesstimated that the new cost was now over $300,000. He told Council they he has come up with an alternate plan to purchase the Extractors and Dryers within the original $155,000 budget.

The new plan was to put machines in the Administration Building and he claimed this would handle all cleaning of the Fire Fighters gear and would conform with OSHA reporting standards. Fire Fighters Local Union #357 President Larry Zuber and a small group of supporters from the Fire Department rank and file also came and supported Chief Connelly’s new plan.

The Administration effectively lobbied City Councilman Dr, Dan Adams  and Dan McGinn which turned out to be the key votes needed to approve the Fire Chief plan.  We now hear that around $30,000 to $40,000 of the money was spent on actual purchase of machines but about $75,000 was spent for a storage room built inside the Administration Building.  We also hear that now every firefighter turn out gear are cleaned professionally.

We now hear that Chief Connelly has another idea for City Council to consider. Connelly is asking Council for about $600,000 plus to implement a Quartermaster program. We hear that the startup costs associated with the Quartermaster program is extremely expensive and never ending. Whats interesting about Connelly’s new proposal concerning the Quartermaster program is now a contract issue with Fire Fighters local #357 and the City.  Some Fire Fighters are telling us that the money for this system could have been used for badly needed equipment and Fire Trucks.

Bottom line, if the majority of the City Council members would had heeded Councilman Al Lindsey advice and warnings this wouldn’t be an expensive 2016 Budget issue.   It looks like City Council now has a new $600,000 plus budgetary elephant in the room to deal with.

 

Low Interest Disaster Loans Available to Residents and Small Businesses in 27 Counties Following June and July Severe Weather

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Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence received word today that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has made available low-interest disaster loans for those who suffered flood damage in 27 counties.

 

“June and July were difficult months for many Hoosier families and businesses,” said Governor Mike Pence. “These low-interest loans are important to help those who have suffered damage to homes, possessions, work buildings and other assets.”

 

Residents, businesses, and non-profit organizations in the following counties are eligible for these disaster loans. Those counties include Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Blackford, Brown, Clark, Delaware, Grant, Hendricks, Huntington, Jackson, Jay, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Putnam, Randolph, Ripley, Scott, Switzerland, Wabash, Wells and Whitley.

 

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security worked with U.S. SBA to secure the low-interest loans following the recurring thunderstorms that moved through much of Indiana in June and July.

 

How to Apply for SBA Loans

 

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/​.

 

The U.S. SBA plans on opening Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Brown, Huntington, Jay, Jefferson and Morgan counties. Residents and business owners can ask questions and receive help with loan applications from SBA officials. IDHS will also have staff on hand to assist those in need. The locations and hours for each center will be announced soon.

 

Additional details on the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

 

For more information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Program, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster

 

Loan Amounts

 

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.

 

Businesses and private non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

 

Daily Off Topic Forum August 20, 2015

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IS IT TRUE AUGUST 19, 2015

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IS IT TRUE  you may be missing a new movement in “Down Home” Evansville Indiana? …and we are finding that people are getting sick and tired of broken political promises and shell games from our elected and appointed City and County officials? …and this could be a good reason for a “Call To Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE when political patronage and political campaign donations run hand in hand, this could be a good reason for a “Call To Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE  are you  sick and tired of the local Main Stream Media pushing one political candidate over the other?  …this could be a good reason for a “Call To Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE  that if you’re concerned about the amount of local tax money that our elected officials have pledged to build a new Downtown Hotel and IU Medical School, …this could be a good reason for a “Call To Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE  are you sick and tired of hearing our elected officials talking about Community Blight but doing nothing about it, …this could be a good reason for a “Call To Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE that if you feel that it’s time for our elected City Officials to be held accountable? …this could be a good reason for a “Call To Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE  crime is running rampant? …and this could be a good reason for a “Call To Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE   our property tax assessments have been discreetly increased for the last several years, which lead to our property tax payments being increased? …and this could be a good reason for a “Call To Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE  that you’re upset with a few members of City Council who wasted $200,000 of our hard earned tax dollars on the Earthcare Energy project? …and this could be a good reason for a “Call to Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE  our streets and sidewalks are in deplorable condition, without any plan to correct this problem? …and this could be a good reason for a “Call To Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE  our parks are in bad need of repairs County wide? …and this could be a good reason for a “Call To Assemble”?

IS IT TRUE  that the State requires the City Of Evansville’s budget proposals be made public for citizens to review? …and that George Lumley contacted City Council Finance Chair Connor O’Daniels on how to review the details of the 2016 Budget, and was instructed to contact the City Clerk? …and that Mr. Lumley contacted the City Clerk’s office and was told to contact the City Controllers office? …and that the City Controller’s office told Mr. Lumley to contact the City Clerk office? …and that only after Mr. Lumley asserted that the budget hearings were to start in a matter of hours, and that he was getting the runaround, an agreement was reached with the City Controller’s Office?

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. Todays video features Mayoral Candidate Gail Riecken talking about mismanagement of our taxpayers money by the Winnecke Administration. Also we inserted a video of PETER, PAUL and MARY singing “TIMES ARE A CHANGING”.

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.

Wanted Felon Pursued from Civic Center

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

On Tuesday, August 18, 2015, members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force received information that Mr. Brandon Michael White would be in the area of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Civic Center. Mr. White was being sought on an outstanding Indiana parole violation warrant.

At 12:30 pm a Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Deputy assigned to the Task Force observed a blue Chevrolet Impala operated by Mr. White circling the Civic Center. The Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop the vehicle as it turned into the Curtis Building parking lot. The vehicle then fled east on John Street and ran a stop sign at Governor Street. The pursuing Task Force deputy was joined by a deputy assigned to court security, an Indiana State Police trooper assigned to the Task Force and a Deputy United States Marshal. The fleeing vehicle collided with a box truck that was heading north on Garvin Street.

The impact caused Mr. White to be thrown from the driver’s seat and against the front passenger window of the wrecked Impala. Mr. White was taken into custody without further incident.

The following items were recovered from Mr. White’s vehicle: a fully loaded semi-automatic handgun, over 36 grams of crystal methamphetamine, over 55 grams of synthetic marijuana and other scheduled narcotics.

ARRESTED:

Brandon Michael White, 29, of Evansville. Dealing Methamphetamine as a Level 2 Felony, Dealing Synthetic Drug as a Level 6 Felony, Dealing Cocaine (Oxycodone) as a Level 3 Felony, Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance as a Level 6 Felony, Resisting Law Enforcement as a Level 6 Felony, Possession of a Handgun without a Permit as a Class A Misdemeanor, Driving with a Suspected License as a Class A Misdemeanor.

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

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

EPD Activity Report

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

Indiana, 48 States Reach Settlement With Global Pharma Company Amgen For Deceptive Drug Promotion

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AG Zoeller: $1.3M in settlement funds to be directed to Rx abuse education, awareness

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced that Indiana and 47 other states and the District of Columbia have reached a $71 million settlement agreement with global pharmaceutical company Amgen accused of deceptive marketing. As part of the agreement, Indiana will receive $1.3 million, which Zoeller said will be directed toward continued public awareness of and education about prescription drug abuse.

The Attorney General’s complaint that was filed in conjunction with the complaints and consent judgments of the other states accuses Amgen of making misrepresentations and unlawfully promoting two medications, Aranesp and Enbrel, which are used to treat anemia and plaque psoriasis respectively.

“In my position representing Indiana’s consumers, it is important to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable if they are skirting laws in the marketing of their prescription drugs,” Zoeller said. “This major national settlement will help deter future unlawful marketing, and also gives Indiana the opportunity to continue funding critical awareness and education efforts to reduce the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in our state and direct people toward treatment options.”

Zoeller is creator and co-chair of the Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force, which is comprised of about 120 members statewide including doctors, pharmacists, health officials, treatment providers and law enforcement all committed to reducing prescription drug abuse in Indiana.

Zoeller made the settlement announcement today at Centerstone treatment facility in Bloomington alongside fellow Task Force members including Linda Grove-Paul, Vice President of Recovery and Innovation at Centerstone.

“Drug abuse continues to ravage too many in our communities and we must do more to raise awareness of the dangers of addiction, the warning signs of abuse and treatment options for struggling Hoosiers,” Grove-Paul said. “Especially with prescription drug abuse, the victims are all around us and need our help.”

Zoeller said the settlement funds will go toward efforts including prescription drug take-back programs, Naloxone (opioid overdose medication) programs for first responders, mental health and addiction treatment services and continuation of the public education program through www.BitterPill.in.gov. More information about the Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force and resources for the public are available at www.BitterPill.in.gov. 

Amgen settlement details

The complaints filed today by the attorneys general accuse Amgen of violating state consumer protection laws by:

  • Promoting Aranesp to treat anemia caused by cancer even though it lacked reliable scientific evidence to substantiate such use and despite knowing of studies that found increased death and possible tumor stimulation in cancer patients receiving Aranesp or similar drugs. Aranesp has never been FDA approved to treat anemia caused by cancer. A 2007 study found patients receiving Aranesp for the treatment of anemia caused by cancer had a 28.5 percent increase in death and no significant reductions in transfusions or improvement in quality of life.
  • Promoting Aranesp to treat anemia at dosing frequencies longer than the FDA approved label without reliable scientific evidence to substantiate the extended dosing frequencies.
  • Promoting Enbrel for mild plaque psoriasis despite Enbrel only being approved by the FDA to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

The consent judgments, also filed today, require Amgen to reform its marketing and promotional practices and bar Amgen from making claims that are false, misleading or deceptive in promoting Enbrel or any drug in the same class as Aranesp or representing that these drugs have qualities or benefits that they do not.

Zoeller thanked Deputy Attorney General Luminita Nodit for her work on this case.

In 2012, Indiana reached a separate $793,000 settlement with Amgen for Medicaid fraud and illegal off-label marketing, also involving Aranesp, Enbrel and other Amgen drugs. More information about this prior settlement can be found here.

 

CUBAN EMBASSY

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