SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
ME AND MY TWO DADSâ€
DEAR CCO READERS
Many don’t realize that marriage bans affect kids and families – not just same-sex couples.
My two dads taught me everything I know about love and family. And now we’re ready to show the rest of America what it means.
Next week, my family will drive from Kentucky to Washington D.C. to go before the Supreme Court. Together we’re fighting to get them to recognize my parents as a married couple.
This monumental trip is not just for our family, but so that couples in all 50 states can get married and have their existing marriages acknowledged and respected too.
For over 20 years, my parents have built their lives together and raised me, my two brothers, and my sister.
Back in 2008, they got married in Palm Springs. Although their marriage is recognized in California, it is not recognized in Kentucky, where we live.
The first time I realized we were being treated differently was when I was six years old. We tried to sign up for a family membership at the YMCA and were turned away. So we took action.
I remember handing out flyers about getting turned away at the YMCA and getting rude comments. As a child, it really confused me. I had never seen that kind of intolerance.
Our love is what makes us a family. Don’t we deserve the same treatment and rights?
The fact that my parents are forced to pay for different health insurance, dental insurance, car insurance, and other things costs us thousands more than other families. But it’s not just about the money.
Whenever I got sick as a kid, only one of my dads could come with me to the doctor because they can’t both be my legal guardians. Things got really stressful whenever he couldn’t take off work to take care of me.
When I was nine years old, we went to our state capitol in Frankfurt, Kentucky, to rally for marriage for all. I was shocked to see so many people rallying against me and my family.
I’m nervous about what will happen next week. This could be life-changing for us, or heartbreaking. Either way, our journey to D.C. will be eye opening for us – different from anything we’ve done together.
I’m mostly just hoping for the best.
Tevin Johnson-Campion
IS IT TRUE APRIL 17, 2015
IS IT TRUE the House Republicans have voted to repeal the Common Construction Wage law in Indiana?….voting to repeal the minimum wage for construction workers included State Representatives Holli Sullivan and Wendy McNamara?….Mayor Winnecke contributed from his campaign account $1,150 to Holli Sullivan when she ran against labor darling Stephen Melcher last year?….Winnecke also contributed $1,000 to the Indiana House Republicans Campaign Committee and more than $10,000 to the local Republican Central Committee that turned around and donated to Holli Sullivan?….local labor organizations hurt from the repeal of the Common Construction Wage law donated more than $10,000 to Winnecke and included a group called the Southwestern Indiana Building and Construction Legislative, which gave Winnecke $1,000?….we wonder if labor leaders such as Paul Green and Jack McNeely are feeling uncomfortable today with where they have chosen to put their money and support and knowing that their money was used to cut their own throat?
IS IT TRUE Enviro Energy, formerly Earthcare Energy, was administratively dissolved by the Texas Secretary of State?….Ken Haney, Chief Executive Officer of both entities, filed a personal bankruptcy that listed the $183,000 outstanding balance due the City of Evansville and was discharged in February from any obligation to repay the funds?….that a City attorney was quoted in the Courier & Press that the City would have to evaluate its options for collecting the money?…we’re here to tell Mr. Cirignano that he has no options?….the original $200,000 was loaned to an entity that no longer exists?….Mr. Haney listed the debt in his personal bankruptcy, because it didn’t cost him a dime more, but it wasn’t particularly meaningful?….due to the City’s inability to vet projects, there was never any ability to pursue the principals of Earthcare Energy?….when Old National Bank was left to make the hotel project work out of some sort of civic obligation it determined it had, the bank secured personal guarantees from the principals of HCW, the hotel developer and the bank’s partner going forward?….no such action was taken by the City with the principals of Earthcare Energy?….they didn’t want to offend Mr. Haney and Mr. Geldmacher and feared they would take their business elsewhere?….wouldn’t it be a brighter day today if only they had?
IS IT TRUEÂ during the last City Council meeting Councilman Friend failed to ask the City Controller one more question? . . .the question was, “what was the beginning balances as of 2015 in the Parks and Recreation funds and its components (non-reverting sports, and non-reverting golf)”? . Â . .if Mr. Lloyd would had given Mr. Friend an honest answer it would have been a NEGATIVE $355,000?
IS IT TRUE we are very much aware of the drug problems in our city parks but stunned to hear we now have active METH Labs at OAK Hill Cemetery? …we look forward to hear how Superintendent Chris Cooke is going to correct this problem?
IS IT TRUE that City Controller Russ Lloyd, Jr approached Vanderburgh County Treasurer Susan Kirk in November of 2014 requesting an advance against the December property tax installment in the amount of $11.7 million dollars? …even with that advancement the General Fund was still $11 million upside down as of November 30, 2014?I
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ OUR READERS POLL QUESTION AND CAST YOUR VOTE ACCORDINGLY. Â ALSO PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ TODAYS FEATURE ARTICLE POSTED ON THE UPPER LEFT HAND PAGE.
PET OF THE WEEK
Rome is a 2-month-old male solid black kitten! This little guy is very sweet, and gets along great with other kittens & cats. His foster mom absolutely adores him! Remember, solid black animals are much less likely to get adopted but they have so much love to give. Classic black goes with everything! Rome’s $50 fee includes his neuter, first shots, microchip, & more! Visit www.vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563!
Indiana Congressional Delegation Honors Ernie Pyle
Rep. Bucshon – Nick McGee: 202-225-4636, Nick.McGee@mail.house.gov
Sen. Coats – Matt Lahr: 202-224-5623, Matt_Lahr@coats.senate.gov
Sen. Donnelly – Elizabeth Shappell: 202-224-0972, Elizabeth_Shappell@donnelly.senate.gov
Rep. Brooks – Alex Damron, 202-226-5377, Alex.Damron@mail.house.gov
Rep. Carson – Jessica Gail: 202-226-7759, Jessica.Gail@mail.house.gov
Rep. Messer – Liz Hill, 202-225-3021, Liz.Hill@mail.house.gov
Rep. Rokita – Tom Borck, 202-225-5037, Tom.Borck@mail.house.gov
Rep. Stutzman – John Hammond, 202-225-4436, John.Hammond@mail.house.gov
Rep. Visclosky – Celina Weatherwax: 202-225-2461, Celina.Weatherwax@mail.house.gov
Rep. Walorski – Lindsay Jancek, 202-225-3915, Lindsay.Jancek@mail.house.gov
Rep. Todd Young – Trevor Foughty, 202-225-5315, Trevor.Foughty@mail.house.gov
PRESS RELEASE
Indiana Congressional Delegation Honors Ernie Pyle
(WASHINGTON, DC) – On Thursday, the Indiana Congressional Delegation honored the life and legacy of the late Ernie Pyle, Pulitzer Prize winning Hoosier newspaper columnist who was killed on April 18, 1945 covering the life of soldiers during WWII.
U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN-08):
“Ernie Pyle was truly one of the greatest Hoosiers in the history of our state. He became a household name as he wrote about the trials and tribulations and the honor and dignity of our soldiers in WWII. Through his Pulitzer Prize-winning column, Ernie Pyle brought the hard realities of war into the homes of families worldwide and he became an advocate for the soldier – the guys he rightfully argued wars can’t be won without. Generations of young journalists, especially those who’ve studied in the Indiana University School of Journalism, have greatly benefited from his example and legacy. As Hoosiers, it is our duty to make sure future generations know Ernie Pyle’s story and I’m proud my colleagues have joined together to recognize the 70th anniversary of his death.â€
U.S. Senator Dan Coats (R-IN):
“Ernie Pyle’s newspaper columns revolutionized how Americans received wartime news and changed the journalism industry forever. Ernie’s reporting revealed not only his personal courage, but the compassion he felt for the common man serving on the frontlines during World War II. His legacy lives on in Indiana and across the United States.â€
U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN):
“On the 70th anniversary of renowned World War II journalist Ernie Pyle’s death, we pay tribute to a Hoosier who forever impacted American journalism. A native of Dana, Indiana, who studied journalism at Indiana University, Ernie Pyle garnered a national and international following, thanks to his columns that vividly captured the daily sacrifice and heroism of our servicemen fighting in World War II. His reporting from the battlefield humanized the war for many back home. Ultimately, Ernie Pyle died in the South Pacific doing what he loved: covering the war as an embedded. I am proud to join my colleagues in recognizing a great Hoosier, Ernie Pyle.â€
Â
U.S. Representative Susan Brooks (R-IN-05):
“Ernie Pyle was a trailblazer whose work brought the most critical events of World War II to life and served to humanize the soldier experience for millions of Americans back home. The standard of quality he set as an embedded reporter still impacts the way journalists gather and convey news to this day. On the 70th anniversary of his death, we should all take a moment to celebrate the legacy of this tremendous Hoosier.â€Â  Â
U.S. Representative Andre Carson (D-IN-07):
“Ernie Pyle is a true Hoosier hero. He was in the foxholes, he was on the front lines. He was a champion of the enlisted men and he told everyone back home about their exploits.â€
U.S. Representative Luke Messer (R-IN-06):
“Ernie Pyle was a great Hoosier who had a unique way of putting a human face to one of our world’s greatest conflicts. Very few people told the stories of our American heroes fighting in World War II the way he did. It’s a privilege to help honor his life and the contributions he made not only to the world of journalism but also to our great state.â€
Â
U.S. Representative Todd Rokita (R-IN-04):
“Ernie Pyle’s impact on journalism should make every Hoosier proud. Though he paid the ultimate price reporting on the realities and horrors of war, his timeless writings, and his legacy, will remain. In the 4th District, U.S. 36 is named in Ernie Pyle’s honor from the town of Danville to the state line. It continues to remind us of this Hoosier’s remarkable service.â€
U.S. Representative Marlin Stutzman (R-IN-03):
Â
“Like the stories he bravely told during World War II, the legacy of Ernie Pyle lives on. 70 years after his passing, this Hoosier turned world traveler and reporter continues to inspire generations of journalists. As the field of media changes, let us remember the integrity and devotion Ernie Pyle gave to his writing and to those he wrote about.â€Â
U.S. Representative Pete Visclosky (D-IN-01):
“Mr. Ernie Pyle’s journalistic dedication during one of the most perilous times in our country’s history is still alive today.  It lives on in all those who put themselves in harm’s way to capture the brave actions of the men and women in our Armed Forces.†   Â
Â
U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski (R-IN-02):
“Ernie Pyle is an honorable Hoosier who deserves recognition for his contributions not only to our state but our nation. As a former journalist, his devotion to reporting during World War II embodies true Hoosier values and his exceptional work makes him the legend he is today.â€
U.S. Representative Todd Young (R-IN-09):
“Ernie Pyle learned his trade as a student at Indiana University, where he wrote and edited for the Indiana Daily Student. Today, IU’s nationally renowned journalism program is built largely on his legacy. But he’s more than just an influential figure for new generations of aspiring journalists; he was one of the most important Hoosiers covering life in pre-war America, and perhaps the most important American covering World War II. Our state and country are both better off for his contributions.â€Â
BACKGROUND:Â
Ernest Taylor Pyle grew up in Dana in Vermillion County, Indiana and was a graduate of Indiana University. Pyle became a household name as a wartime correspondent during World War II. Pyle began his reporting on WWII during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and ultimately traveled to Ie Shima, a small island near Okinawa in the South Pacific, where he was tragically killed by a Japanese machine gunner.
Pyle’s Pulitzer Prize-winning column was carried by over 700 daily or weekly newspapers worldwide. He was known for his focus on the daily strife of infantry soldiers and became an advocate on their behalf.
The Ernie Pyle WWII Museum in Dana, Indiana highlights his life’s writings and his legacy. At his alma mater Indiana University where he studied journalism and was editor of the Indiana Daily Student, the School of Journalism is housed in “Ernie Pyle Hall†and features a semester-long course dedicated to his work and a scholarship named in his honor.
His full biography can be found here and information on the Ernie Pyle WWII Museum can be found here.
Court must consider man’s self-defense claim at new bail hearing
Jennifer Nelson for www,theindianalawyer.com
A defendant accused of murder must be allowed to present evidence and witnesses at a bail hearing in an endeavor to rebut the state’s burden that the defendant likely committed murder, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Thursday. Since that did not happen in James Satterfield’s case, the judges remanded the matter for further proceedings.
Satterfield was charged with murder after shooting and killing Andre Brown, the friend of the prostitute Satterfield was with at the time of the shooting. Satterfield and Maegan Biddle were in Satterfield’s parked car when he saw a man approach it and open the door Satterfield said he had locked. That man – Brown – was holding a shiny object. Satterfield grabbed his gun and fired one shot that struck Brown. Satterfield is licensed to carry a gun.
He turned himself in after learning of Brown’s death and sought to be released on bail. He claimed he shot Brown in self-defense, but the judge denied his motion.
In James Satterfield v. State of Indiana, 49A02-1409-CR-659, the appeals court determined that even though Satterfield forfeited his right to appeal when he failed to timely file a notice of appeal, based on In the Matter of Adoption of O.R., 16 N.E.3d 965, 971 (Ind. 2014), his case deserved a determination on the merits.
In 2013, the Indiana Supreme Court reversed nearly 150 years of precedent regarding bail in Fry v. State, 990 N.E.2d 429, 435 (Ind. 2013). Â The justices shifted the burden of proof from the defendant to the state to show that in the murder case either the proof is evident or the presumption is strong that the defendant committed murder.
“In light of this reassessment of the burden of proof in bail hearings, we are called upon today to determine whether a defendant is allowed to present evidence of an affirmative defense to rebut the State’s strong presumption that the defendant more likely than not committed the murder (or treason) accused of,†Judge Patricia Riley wrote.
“While Satterfield answered this issue of first impression in the affirmative and suggests that we should impose on the trial court a requirement to assess a defendant’s justifiable defenses during a bail proceeding, the State maintains that ‘[p]ossible defenses have no bearing on the bail issue.’ We disagree.â€
The judges looked at cases dating back to the Civil War for guidance as to the nature of evidence admissible in bail proceedings and reaffirmed a defendant’s right to present exculpatory evidence as to his or her culpability during a bail proceeding and the trial court’s duty to take this evidence into account when considering a request for bail.
Since the trial court refused to weigh any evidentiary facts alluding to possible self-defense, the judges sent the case back to the trial court to conduct a new bail hearing in accordance with this opinion.
ST. MARY’S CENTER FOR CHILDREN ANNOUNCES AUTISM SERVICES SCHOLARSHIPS
St. Mary’s Center for Children is offering four $1,000 scholarships for the upcoming year for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. All families in the region are encouraged to apply, and selections will be based on financial need. Scholarships will be used to offset costs for speech/language, occupational, physical, and/or developmental therapy that are not covered by insurance. To be eligible, services must be provided through Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center. Applications must be turned in by April 30, 2015.
Applications can be obtained in person at St. Mary’s Center for Children located at 3900 Washington Avenue in Evansville, or online at the following link: http://www.stmarys.org/autism-scholarships
This scholarship is funded in part from proceeds of the annual Crop-Paper-Scissors scrapbooking and craft event, held this year at the St. Mary’s Manor on Saturday, April 25th.
Please contact Kelly Shaw at 812-485-4419 for further information about the scholarships or to reserve a spot at the scrapbooking event.
Air Quality Forecast
Air quality forecasts for Evansville and Vanderburgh County are provided as a public service. They are best estimates of predicted pollution levels that can be used as a guide so people can modify their activities and reduce their exposure to air quality conditions that may affect their health. The forecasts are routinely made available at least a day in advance, and are posted by 10:30 AM Evansville time on Monday (for Tuesday through Thursday) and Thursday (for Friday through Monday). When atmospheric conditions are uncertain or favor pollution levels above the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, forecasts are made on a daily basis.
Ozone forecasts are available from mid-April through September 30th. Fine particulate (PM2.5) forecasts are available year round.
| Friday April 17 |
Saturday April 18 |
Sunday April 19 |
Monday April 20 |
Tuesday April 21 |
|
| Fine Particulate (0-23Â CST avg) Air Quality Index |
good | good | good | good | good |
| Ozone Air Quality Index |
NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* |
| Ozone (peak 8-hr avg) (expected) |
NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* |
* Not Available and/or Conditions Uncertain.
Air Quality Action Days
Ozone Alerts are issued by the Evansville EPA when maximum ozone readings averaged over a period of eight hours are forecasted to reach 76 parts per billion (ppb), or unhealthy for sensitive groups on the USEPA Air Quality Index scale.
Particulate Alerts are issued by the Evansville EPA when PM2.5 readings averaged over the period of midnight to midnight are forecasted to reach 35 micrograms per meter cubed (µg/m3).
Forecast statistics documenting the reliability of these air quality forecasts are compiled on a monthly, seasonal (May through September for ozone), and an annual basis.  Compilations of these statistics are reported in Vanderburgh County Health Department’s Annual Report and available on request.
Current conditions of OZONE and FINE PARTICULATE MATTER are available in near real-time on the Indiana Department of Environment Management’s website.
National and regional maps of current conditions are available through USEPA AIRNow.
Suspect in Wednesday hit and run arrested on multiple charges
SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
Â
Evansville Police have arrested 22 year old TRAVIS COX on multiple charges after he fled the scene of an accident on Wednesday night.
Police were called to the area of Tropicana on Riverside Dr around 8:30pm for a report of a pedestrian being hit by a truck. The driver of the truck, COX, left the roadway and drove onto the Greenway Passage and struck the pedestrian. COX never stopped after hitting the pedestrian and fled eastbound. He struck several small trees and a light pole on the Tropicana property before he continued fleeing on Riverside Dr.
The pedestrian, 47 year old Conrad DeJesus, was taken to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.
A witness followed COX and saw him drive through a road closed barricade on Waterworks Rd near Marina Point. Officers located COX in the Ohio River floodwaters and took him into to custody. COX appeared to be intoxicated.
COX was uncooperative with officers and refused to submit to any testing to determine his impairment. After obtaining a warrant, officers determined COX had a blood alcohol level of .27%, over three times the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle.
COX is in the Vanderburgh County Jail on the following charges:
Criminal Recklessness/ Aggressive Driving
OMVWI with Serious Bodily Injury .274BAC
OMVWI Refusal to submit to test
Hit and Run with Serious Bodily Injury
Aggressive Driving at an Unreasonable Speed
There is not an arrest photo for COX at this time
Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records
SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/recent-booking-records.aspx