PETS OF THE WEEK
 Oreo is an 8-year-old female Basset hound/Beagle mix! She was surrendered with a cat & another dog. She can be shy and nervous in new situations, but is getting much better! A quiet, older home would be best for her. Oreo’s $120 adoption fee includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, & more! Visit www.vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563!
Supreme Court disbars suspended Fort Wayne lawyer
Dave Stafford for www.theindianaindianalawyer.com
A Fort Wayne lawyer’s latest disciplinary matter resulted in his disbarment for taking $8,725 from clients he represented in a bankruptcy case.
Steven J. Ouellette represented clients who filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy in 2005. “In December 2010, the bankruptcy trustee issued a refund check for $8,725.35, payable to clients. For almost two and one-half years, (Ouellette) did not disclose the existence of this check to Clients,†the Indiana Supreme Court wrote Tuesday in a per curiam opinion.
Ouellette instead fraudulently endorsed the check and deposited it in an account other than his attorney trust account and used the proceeds for his own purposes. When his clients received a final report from the trustee and learned of the refund check, they confronted Ouellette, who promised to repay them.
Ouellette “later issued a check in the amount of $8,725.35, drawn on an account other than his attorney trust account, but Clients were unable to negotiate the check due to insufficient funds,†according to the order In the Matter of: Steven J. Ouellette, 02S00-1502-DI-107. “When Clients later retained successor counsel, (Ouellette) refused to return Clients’ file.â€
The unnamed clients filed a disciplinary grievance in October 2013.
Ouellette, who currently was suspended indefinitely in a separate disciplinary matter, violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(a), 8.1(b), 8.4(b) and 8.4(c). Respectively, those rules violations are for failing to hold client property in trust; failing to respond to disciplinary authorities; committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness; and conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
The court noted Ouellette failed to timely answer commission filings, proving a belated answer at the commission’s hearing on its application for judgment on the complaint. The commission declined to accept that late filing, and the court in a footnote said, “we likewise decline to give (Ouellette’s) belatedly-tendered answer any effect.â€
Last year, Ouellette was suspended for failing to cooperate with the commission’s investigation of a grievance. In May, that suspension was made indefinite. Ouellette also was suspended for 90 days with automatic reinstatement in 2007, and in 1994, the Supreme Court suspended him for two months for making false statements to a tribunal and engaging in dishonesty, deceit and misrepresentation for his failure to disclose a party’s financial interest in the financial restructuring of a wholesale beer distributor he represented in bankruptcy court.
John Chaszar Joins Tropicana Evansville as G M
 Tropicana Entertainment Inc. (“Tropicanaâ€, or the “Companyâ€), one of the most respected companies in the gaming industry, announced today the appointment of John Chaszar as General Manager of Tropicana Evansville.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Michigan State University in 1984, Mr. Chaszar began his hospitality career with Hilton Hotels where he spent the next 16 years in various hotel management roles. In 2001, Mr. Chaszar joined Hollywood Casinos and, after serving in a number of hotel management positions, subsequently served as General Manager for Hollywood Casino properties located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, St. Louis, Missouri and most recently in Riverside, Missouri.
“John brings a proven track record in casino hotel management and strong leadership to his new role at Tropicana. He also has an impressive background in community involvement and outreach in the jurisdictions where he has worked,†said Tony Rodio, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tropicana. “His experience and dedication to the community will serve Tropicana Evansville and the Evansville business community well.â€
IS IT TRUE JULY 22, 2015
IS IT TRUE that At-Large City Council member Jonathan Weaver sent Cheryl Musgrave an interesting e-mail following yesterday ERC meeting? …Weaver e-mail stated the following?
Cheryl,
If the ERC would have followed your suggestion (#4), the city would
have been sued because we would have violated state statute. By asking
them to deed city owned property to the developer, you are breaking the
law Are you asking the council body to support your idea?
Your appointment to the ERC has been a huge disappointment and a
roadblock for the community. I would recommend that you would step down
from your appointment.
Jonathan
IS IT TRUE if anyone should give anyone a lecture about being a huge disappointment Mr. Weaver should be the last person to do so? …we hear that Mr. Weaver’s political opponents are going to engage him in open and lively debates concerning his political, professional and personal life conduct? …when all is said and done we wonder if the voters will determine that At-Large City Council member Jonathan Weaver is the big disappointment and a roadblock for the community?
IS IT TRUE that the popular State of Indiana Attorney General Greg Zeller has decided to run for a Congressional seat to be vacated by Republican U. S. Representative Todd Young? …political wisdom suggests that the Attorney General is a shoe-in to win the GOP nomination for U.S. House of Representatives? …if Mr. Zeller is elected to the U. S. House don’t be surprised to see many political people throughout the State try to draft the extremely popular Vanderburgh County Prosecuting Attorney Nick Hermann to run for Mr. Zeller’s vacant seat? …when Mr. Zeller first ran for Attorney General it was Nick Hermann who help mastermind his convention victory? …we hear if Mr. Hermann wants to replace State Attorney General Zeller his chances are very good? …Evansville would be proud and delighted to see Nick advance to this position.
IS IT TRUE the EVSC and the local Teamster 215 are still at odds? …it looks like it’s going to be a long school year that will be dominated by collective bargaining issues and a possible employee strike of 780 EVSC Union workers once school is in session? The EVSC Board could also say that enough is enough and de-certify the union. Folks, this could get interesting?
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. New addition to the CCO is the Cause of Death reports generated by the Vanderburgh County Health Department.
Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Governor Pence to Ceremonially Sign Bills Relating to Broadband Infrastructure, Internet Tomorrow
Indianapolis – Tomorrow, Governor Pence will ceremonially sign two bills: broadband ready communities (HEA 1101), which aims to facilitate more investment in broadband infrastructure to support access for Hoosiers across our state, and taxation of Internet access (SEA 80), which prohibits government from collecting a tax on Internet access or use. Details below.
Wednesday, July 22:
1:00 p.m. EDT – Governor Pence to ceremonially sign HEA 1101, broadband ready communities, and SEA 80, taxation of Internet access
*Media are welcome to attend.
Statehouse – Room 206, 200 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN
LETTER TO THE EDITOR : PERRY TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE RICK RINEY STATES DISAPPOINTMENT IN LOCHMUELLER GROUP BUS STUDY
RICK RINEY
PERRY TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
Mr. David Goffinet
Lochmueller Group, Inc.
Dear Mr. Goffinet
I have no doubt you must address financial issues, but hopefully not all at one time. It is not the fault of the West Side Residents that bus fare has had no increase since 1999.
Some of our clients have no choice other than the bus. This community is made up of a lot of older folks who do rely on bus service as well as those who use it as their only means of transportation. I just wonder if this survey took them into consideration. It also says it will affect 15,000 annual riders – how many of them will be out of work without transportation? Did the survey factor that in; did anyone talk to any of them?
Surely there must be a better resolution other than that of totally ignoring a sector of the taxpaying community.???
I drove part of the Westside expected routes today. From Speaker Road (the City limits) to the closest bus stop is 1.1 miles. From Mudd Center to the nearest bus stop, it is 6-10 blocks. Howell is at least that. Surely you do not intend for anyone to have to walk blocks – in any kind of weather, with groceries or children – for the opportunity to work or shop in our City, do you? I did not drive the Mesker Park route, but I wouldn’t think you would take away service to the Zoo - would you? Especially if we are trying to sell our city, do we not need transportation for tourists to our attractions?
Unless you rethink this issue, you ARE telling me you want our people to walk 6-8-10 blocks or 1.1 miles, sometimes in the dark, possibly with children or groceries, without “sidewalks†to catch a bus to go to work, a doctor’s appointment or to purchase food. I have not even mentioned the impact this will have on our handicapped individuals.
For the most part, the West Side is pretty content with services provided; however, we do not want to have those we do have reduced. Half the Westside, that’s been in the city 50 plus years, still is without “SIDEWALKSâ€
The elimination of this route will create an unfair hardship. Cities change, as do their dynamics, but we cannot ignore the fact the West Side is still a well-populated, valuable part of our city. Is it possible to lessen the number of stops along the route to keep the bus moving? Could you run the route as is in an “every other†type of route – such as running the route as it is now and then on the next run as you propose? Possibly the bike routes could be financially tweaked and funding transferred – after all, most people do not shop for groceries or transport families on bicycles.
I hope the folks that took this survey come out and see what it would be like to walk a great distance, in inclement weather, in the dark, without “sidewalksâ€, with children, with groceries, etc., after being on their job all day, and see how well that works for them!!!!!
Does the safety of the West Side Taxpayer matter – to anyone other than me?
Respectfully
Rick Riney
Perry Township Trustee
km
July 14, 2015
cc:Â The Honorable Mayor Lloyd Winnnecke
City Council Members
File
Footnote:Â Temperature on July 13, 2015 was 93 degrees with a heat index of 108 per WTVW news cast.
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT NAMES ST. MARY’S #3 IN INDIANA AND BEST IN SOUTHERN INDIANA
Also ranked as high performing in two specialtiesÂ
(Evansville, IN) St. Mary’s Medical Center has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #3 hospital in the state of Indiana after two years as the #4 hospital. St. Mary’s has also earned top honors as the best hospital in Southern Indiana for the third year in a row. The annual U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings, now in their 26th year, review approximately 172 hospitals in the state and recognize those that excel in treating the most challenging patients.
“This recognition is truly a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our medical staff and associates,†says Keith Jewell, President of St. Mary’s Health. “Moving from #4 to #3 in the state and maintaining our standing as the best hospital in Southern Indiana is a testament to our staffs’ commitment to delivering the highest quality care and providing the best possible healthcare experience to our patients– the St. Mary’s Experience. I couldn’t be more proud to serve our community with such an exceptional team.â€
In addition to the overall health rankings, St. Mary’s was recognized as high performing in two specialties: Pulmonary and Nephrology. For 2015-16, U.S. News evaluated hospitals in 16 adult specialties and ranked the top 50 in most of the specialties. Less than 3 percent of the nearly 5,000 hospitals that were analyzed for Best Hospitals 2015-16 were nationally ranked in even one specialty. St. Mary’s is part of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system.
“A Best Hospital has demonstrated expertise in treating the most challenging patients,†said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis at U.S. News. “A hospital that emerged from our analysis as one of the best has much to be proud of.â€
U.S. News publishes Best Hospitals to help guide patients who need a high level of care because they face particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition or extra risk because of age or multiple health problems. Objective measures such as patient survival and safety data, adequacy of nurse staffing and other data largely determined the rankings in most specialties.
Indiana rankings are freely available at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/in and will appear in the U.S. News “Best Hospitals 2016†guidebook, available in August.
Governor Pence Statement on June Employment Report
Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today issued the following statement following news that Indiana’s unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percent to 4.9 percent in June, marking the first month since February of 2008 that the rate of unemployment in the Hoosier State has been below 5 percent. June marks the third month in a row that Indiana experienced significant declines in unemployment, with the state seeing a 3.5 percent decrease in the unemployment rate since January of 2013, the second largest decrease in the nation. In addition, Indiana’s unemployment rate has decreased 5.9 percent since July of 2009, the low point of employment, the second largest decrease in the nation.
“Indiana’s economy is on the move thanks to hard-working Hoosiers and businesses both large and small. With each passing day, it becomes more apparent that Indiana is strong and growing stronger, and now, for the first time in more than seven years, Indiana’s unemployment rate is below five percent. Our administration is committed to implementing the kinds of pro-growth policies that allow businesses to succeed and families to thrive, and Hoosiers can be assured that we will not relent in these efforts in the months to come.â€