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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: PROPAGANDA LETTERS

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To: Mike Duckworth and the EVSC Board of School Trustees

Date: July 2, 2015

I am writing in response to the three letters I have received from you, as I am an EVSC Employee Represented by Teamsters Local 215. I feel that these letters are nothing but propaganda being put out by you and that this is a tactic to bust up our union. The EVSC Board and Administration tried to do this last year by making the bus driver’s and secretaries vote again on the question of whether we wanted to be in a union and be represented by Teamsters Local 215. The vote wasn’t even close. Both groups voted unanimously that we wanted to stay with Teamsters Local 215. However, you keep trying, especially with your “two concerns” to bust up the union again. It will not work this year. We stand united as a group and will stand behind our union and our rights.

To address your first concern: In 0ver 10 years since the EVSC secretaries joined the Teamsters Local 215, we have NEVER forced any secretary to join the union or to pay union dues. When we first joined the Union there may have been 9 secretaries out of over 100 that were required to join by their job description, but by using our transfer rights and seniority we received by negotiations, these secretaries have long since taken other positions in the EVSC and this is no longer a requirement of any secretary. I also know employees, who have chosen not to join the union or to pay union dues, but we still represent them and they still receive whatever all of us receive on a contract. Everyone has a choice and the secretaries who have chosen to join the union, know that union dues are deducted from our paychecks. This is nothing new and has been the status quo for years. It was never a concern before; I would like to know why you are making it one now???

Another fact, can you tell me of a union that does not collect union dues from its members? Name one. The Steelworkers who represent Alcoa plants across the U.S. collect union dues from their member’s paychecks, as does the Asbestos Workers (Local 37), Sheet Metal workers, Plumbers, Firefighter’s, Policemen, as well as the Indiana State Teachers Association, just to name a very few unions.
To address your second concern: This is a no-brainer! Do you think that just because we are bus drivers, secretaries, bus attendants, etc. that we are not educated? Many of us went to college and have degrees but chose to work in the school system because we enjoy working with children. Every bus driver and attendant takes their job very seriously knowing they have the lives of children in their hands every day. Every secretary takes her/his job seriously knowing we have the responsibility of getting every child home safely and make sure they get everything they need every day to be successful. If we feel we have not been treated fairly, we have a grievance procedure that has to be followed and is decided by a third party or arbitrator. I want to ask you, would you let the company or governing agency where you work decide a grievance for you??

Mr. Duckworth, you are supposed to be a smart man and I don’t believe you would let the company/governing board/ etc. decide a grievance that you had and neither would any other Board Member. You would be arguing for an arbitrator or third party to come in and help decide your grievance. Mr. Whobrey did concede to letting the EVSC Board be one of the processes in a grievance procedure, but no one, in their right mind, would let the company they work for, no matter what company it is or well liked it is, to decide a grievance. Again, that is like someone having a grievance at Alcoa and letting the company decide the outcome, or someone working for UPS having a grievance and letting the company decide the outcome. This is the reason companies have a grievance procedure and it is always decided by an arbitrator or third party, if it gets that far. I have talked to many family members, friends and neighbors about this “concern” and whether they were in a union or not, not one person could believe that you were asking this of the EVSC employees. These people are the voters of Vanderburgh County and will be reminded of this “concern” when it is time to decide on who represents the EVSC school board in the future.

I have worked for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation since September of 1988 and I have never felt as unappreciated as I do now. I consider what you are doing is trying to break our union by not negotiating in good faith. Your “two concerns” that you are making a big point of is in the news and on social media and I can tell you that the EVSC Board is not getting good publicity. It is time to go back to the table with good intentions and show the citizens of Evansville they did not make a mistake in voting for this Board.

Sincerely,
Robin Talarzyk
EVSC Secretary and Teamster 215 Member

Daily Off Topic Forum July 28, 2015

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Nathan Bedford Forrest

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PETS OF THE WEEK

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 You can’t really tell from her glamour shot, but Raisin only has three legs! VHS isn’t sure what happened to the fourth one, but it doesn’t slow her down at all. She’s around 1 year old, and gets along with other cats. She’s usually jumping up and down onto cat trees and play areas in the Cageless Cat Lounge with no problem. She is a little shy, but that just means she needs a family even more! Take Raisin home spayed, microchipped, and vaccinated for only $30. Visit www.vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563!

 

PERFORMING “PEKING DREAMS” AT VICTORY THEATRE OCTOBER 26

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DIRECT FROM BEIJING

THE NATIONAL CIRCUS AND ACROBATS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

PERFORMING “PEKING DREAMS”

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26 AT 8:00 PM TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, JULY 31 AT 10 AM

The National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China 2015 tour of North America will make a stop in Evansville at Victory Theatre.

“Peking Dreams,” features many impressive circus and acrobatic acts such as hats’ juggling, diving through the rings, bicycles, feet juggling with umbrellas, unicycles, adagio of four and grand martial arts and so on. The program also includes traditional circus acts like hula hoops, balance on high chairs, aerial silk, solo trapeze and rope tricks (lasso).

Tickets for “Peking Dreams” start at $22.00.

Tickets may be purchased at Ford Center Ticket Office, www.Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Police investigating shooting death in the 2800 block of Lodge

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ. 
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
Evansville Police are investigating a shooting death in the 2800 block of Lodge. At 12:05pm, officers were called to the apartment for a 17 year old who had been shot. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Police believe several people were in the apartment at the time of the incident and that some may have left prior to police arriving. Police are asking anyone who was in the apartment building or the area to contact investigators. The investigators are currently on scene gathering information to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
 
 
 

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.

ANALYSIS: TIME FOR MAYORAL RACE TO BEGIN IN EARNEST

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   One would think that by now candidates on the ballot for the upcoming General election would be totally engaged in talking about about governmental issues that effect our daily lives.  To date only a few candidates are even on the political radar.
   We are extremely disappointed in the way the Mayoral race has been conducted so far.  Right now is seems like both candidates are waiting to see who blinks first before responding.  We understand that some of the focus has been on raising money to support an aggressive marketing campaign.  However, one would think by now some sort of campaign theme would have merged.
   As a sitting Mayor, Winnecke has taken advantage of every political opportunity available to him.  Mayor Winnecke’s political strategy has been simple at this point. He makes well timed political appointments to City Boards and Commissions. He gives political patronage job appointments to his favorite Democrats.  He looks for every opportunity to continue to award his union buddies with City construction contracts in order to stay in their good graces.   He attends every public event available so to gather additional support for his re-election bid.  He jumps in front of every TV camera possible to keep his face in the public eye.  He has been extremely masterful in avoiding pointed questions concerning the Downtown Convention Hotel and IU Medical School alleged construction cost overruns.  The only evident strategy that is back firing on his campaign is that he allows members of his staff to attack anyone who questions his authority or decisions.  Once the campaign began in earnest you can expect the Mayor to attack Mrs. Riecken past voting records while she been in public office. This alone should prove to be very interesting in itself.
  We expect Mayoral candidate Gail Riecken will take the Mayor to task about issues that affect the lives of everyday taxpayers and voters of this community.  We predict she will address the way some city department heads insult and verbally attack citizens that attempt to seek answers about city issues during City Council meetings.  We expect candidate Riecken will take to task the financial data that City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr. releases to the public on a monthly basis concerning the financial condition of the our city.  Riecken biggest challenge will be to take this information and break it down so the average citizen will understand it.  If Candidate Riecken can achieve this task it will immediately  jump start her campaign to force meaningful public debate concerning the true financial status of our city.  We expect she won’t forget issues concerning  our streets, sidewalks, parks, water and sewers system are in major disrepair and the housing blight problems. 
   If she doesn’t have enough issues to discuss between her and the Mayor she could question the wisdom of his spending $15 million dollars on a bike trail project in the blighted North Main street area.  We also wonder how she will address the proposed Robert’s Park and Mesker Park Ampertheather projects?  Of course, the Grand Daddy of all political issues is the political donations the Mayor receives from Contractors, Consultants and Vendors that do business with the City.
   It’s time for the Mayoral campaign to begin in earnest!
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.

Unsupported search warrant voids drug conviction

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Dave Stafford for www.theindianalawyer.com

The Indiana Court of Appeals Friday threw out a man’s cocaine dealing conviction, holding that a search warrant that led to charges against him should not have been issued.

A jury convicted Antyon Buford in Elkhart Superior Court of the Class A felony dealing count, Class B felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, and Class D felony maintaining a common nuisance.

Police went to Buford’s home after receiving a tip from the prosecutor’s office that there might be drug activity involving another man who lived there. They smelled burned marijuana when they approached, and officers noticed marijuana residue on a table. They arrested Buford and the other man on warrants against them, and another officer went to obtain a search warrant.

The search yielded a gun, bullets, marijuana roaches, a scale with white residue that tested positive for cocaine, and a white rock that appeared to be cocaine. The trial court rejected Buford’s motion to suppress the evidence as the result of an improper search.

“As the probable cause affidavit included hearsay information that was not corroborated by the totality of the circumstances, the warrant should not have been issued,” Judge Melissa May wrote for the panel in  Antyon Buford v. State of Indiana, 20A05-1408-CR-392.

“In the case before us, the totality of the circumstances did not corroborate a hearsay statement that there was ‘dealing’ of drugs from Buford’s residence or that ‘a search at that address would yield fruits of the crime’ of dealing. … We must accordingly reverse and remand for further proceedings.”

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