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Response to the Mayor’s State of the City Address By Gail Riecken

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This past week Mayor Winnecke gave his State of the City Address. As usual, there was a great delivery, and he was very positive. One gets the feeling everything is fine in River City. However, the facts are at odds with the Mayor’s claim our city is “fiscally strong.”

And it isn’t just me. Mayor Winnecke’s City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr. reported there are problems with city finances (See Langhorne, Thomas Lines Drawn in the Sand over City Fund Transfers, Evansville Courier and Press, 31 January 2015). Despite the Mayor’s cheerful spin, Russ Lloyd Jr says that the city’s cash balances are declining.

Evansville Redevelopment Commissioner and fellow Republican Cheryl Musgrave agrees with her statement “there are real problems with the finances” (See Evans, Zach. Strong City Finances? Not necessarily, some say, Evansville Courier and Press, 24 February 2015).

Far from accepting the challenge to answer these concerns of a negative trend in our finances, the Mayor has continued over the last three years to overspend his operational funds on a monthly basis. In 2012, the administration spent more than it took in by $6.8 million dollars. In 2013, it was $7.1 million dollars, and although it’s not yet official, 2014 will show $7.4 million dollars in overspending.

How can the Mayor claim the strong finances when, under his leadership, our city’s cash balances have declined so rapidly?

The Mayor’s answer to his overspending is just as troubling. City Controller Russ Lloyd, Jr. said recently, “We’re paying bills out of the general fund and using other accounts to offset it…” (See Lines Drawn in the Sand over City Fund Transfers).

Mayors have transferred funds before to cover expenses, but they make sure that expenditures don’t exceed revenue by controlling spending. As early as last July the Administration said they were designing a spending plan. Where is that plan today?

The administration’s lack of transparency and poor planning has effected economic development in Evansville. The prime example is the downtown hotel. This project suffered from poor planning from the start. As the Mayor admitted in his speech, the hotel project first stumbled over geotechnical issues due to his proposed site location. There were additional problems with private partner financing and bids for construction that were nearly $13 million more than what was budgeted. The Mayor’s office led the community through a symbolic groundbreaking in March of 2014 and followed that with press release after press release that the real groundbreaking was just weeks away.

All of this happened before we were finally told in December of 2014 by the Mayor that the project “cannot move forward” (Martin, John, Winnecke: City cannot move forward on current hotel deal, Evansville Courier and Press, 18 December 2014). The poor planning and a lack of transparency cost city residents and development partners $1.6 million as of September 30, 2014 with more bills to come.

Poor planning and a lack of transparency led to the downtown hotel project as originally proposed by this Mayor failing. The public endured yet another attempt to build a hotel that lasted eighteen months with over half of that time spent assuring the public that the project was about to start. When it failed, the City Council was blamed despite the Mayor agreeing in September of 2013 that a $20 million bond was sufficient for the project.

As Mayor, I will always be forthright about our challenges, and engage the community at every opportunity with the truth. As I’ve done as State Representative, I will continue to ask people their opinion and even more so when we disagree. I want to serve the community, not blame others. I will always take responsibility for the actions of my administration.

Given the Mayor’s lack of leadership on the hotel project, I am concerned that he is celebrating too early on the funding allotted by the state legislature for the transformative project proposed as the IU/UE/USI/Ivy Tech medical campus. The Mayor talked a lot about his recent meetings with the Governor where he asked for funding for the project, but the Governor’s budget fails to provide enough money to complete the project as envisioned. I offered an amendment within the Ways & Means Committee to fully fund the project and did not get Republican support.

Like with the hotel, the Mayor is holding celebrations before getting enough funding and will be satisfied with less than what our community wants and needs. Without the funding, these projects don’t get done, and without getting done they can’t bring jobs and development to Evansville.

We cannot afford four more years of Mayor Winnecke’s reckless spending, poor planning, and lack of transparency. This administration fails to understand that words and press conferences are not enough to pay our bills. The Mayor is blind to our current financial struggles and therefore cannot offer a solution.

I know that you are worried about our spending and our recent failures to complete important projects. I hear your concerns and will continue to be your voice. As Mayor, I will be a good steward of your tax dollars while we all dare to dream of what this community can achieve.

Gail Riecken

IN State Representative and Candidate for Mayor

New School Resource Law Enforcement Vehicles Unveiled

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In the spring of 2013 the “Choose Not to Lose” program was introduced to the public. The program is a long-term commitment to area youth from community partners who provide support through donations and volunteer work.  “Choose Not to Lose” stresses the importance of youth making good choices.

Originally, seven new Jeep Wranglers were provided by Audubon Chrysler Center for use by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and the Evansville Police Department. The Jeeps will now be replaced by seven new Dodge Ram pick-up trucks, once again provided by Audubon Chrysler Center. Each truck has been artfully covered to reflect the high school the vehicle represents. The artwork was provided by Mr. Terry Moore and the  vinyl wraps by Mills Graphics.

The trucks will be on display at Eastland Mall until Saturday, February 29, 2015. The vehicles will then be assigned to School Resource Deputies and Officers for their use.

Pictured above: Sheriff Dave Wedding, Deputy Mark Gilles and North High School students show off the new North High School School Resource Deputy Dodge Ram pickup truck.

Pictured above: All seven new School Resource vehicles (image courtesy of the Evansville Police Department)

 

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.

http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/recent-booking-records.aspx

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.

EPD Activity Report

LLOYD POOL MAINTENANCE

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Lloyd Pool will be closed Monday, March 9, through Friday, March 13, 2015 for annual routine maintenance.  The work will involve coating the filtration tank and replacing the tank filters.

Lloyd Pool has received several improvements in recent months, including installation of new bleachers, new heaters, a new diving board, fresh paint, a new lobby floor and doors.  The public is encouraged to visit the pool, especially during winter months, to see the improvements and utilize the facility.

Lloyd Pool is located at 6101 N. 1st Avenue.    Pool hours are 3 to 8:p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

WINE TALK-THE JACKSON LEGACY

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The Jackson Legacy

It has been nearly four years since Jess Stonestreet Jackson, the visionary vintner, passed away. Jackson was, like Robert Mondavi and Ernest & Julio Gallo before him, a towering figure in the California wine industry.
His namesake winery, Kendall-Jackson, introduced an entire nation to the pleasures of chardonnay, one of the world’s great white wines but barely a blip on the radar of American wine enthusiasts before Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve chardonnay became a household name in the early 1980s.
Later in a career that spanned nearly four decades Jackson embraced mountain vineyards and the idea that he should grow most of the grapes that went into his wines, as opposed to purchasing fruit as he had done in the early years of K-J.
Today K-J owns thousands of acres of vineyards from Mendocino to Santa Barbara, and everywhere in between along the coastal corridor that produces most of California’s finest wines. It wouldn’t have surprised anyone if K-J had slipped a notch or two following the death of Jackson, but his widow, Barbara Banke, has maintained her late husband’s zeal for the K-J brand.
That was evident recently when I say down to taste the entire Kendall-Jackson portfolio — more than 30 wines — with longtime winemaker Randy Ullom, who’s been at the helm of the K-J winemaking team for the past 17 years.
“Barbara just picked up where Jess left off,” said Ullom.
Over the course of a couple of hours I ran the gamut of Kendall-Jackson wines, from its $13 Vintner’s Reserve sauvignon blanc to the $125 Stature red Bordeaux-style blend. Over the years I had done the same tasting with Jess, always impressed at his command of the subject, for Jackson was an attorney by trade and only got into wine later in life.
I can say with utter confidence that, if anything, the Kendall-Jackson wines are better than ever. What’s more, there is value at the entry level Vintner’s Reserve end and extremely high quality in the estate and vineyard-designate tiers, which range in price from $30 to more than $100.
Jess Stonestreet Jackson may be gone, but his vision lives on.
Best Value
Wines are rated on a 100-point scale. Wines are chosen for review because they represent outstanding quality or value, and the scores are simply a measure of this reviewer’s enthusiasm for the recommended wine.
Zocker 2013 Gruner Veltliner, Paragon Vineyard, Edna Valley ($20) — I’ve long admired winemaker Christian Roguenant’s work with the Austrian grape gruner veltliner, which is not widely planted in the U.S. despite its growing popularity. The Zocker gruner is planted in cold clay loam soils in the cool Edna Valley, where the nearby Pacific Ocean moderates temperatures even in the middle of summer. The result is a gruner Veltliner with steely minerality and structure, wrapped in luscious stone fruit, lime and melon aromas. It is the top gruner made in America in my humble opinion and this vintage may well be the finest yet. Rating: 95.
Clayhouse 2012 Syrah, Red Cedar Vineyard, Paso Robles ($14) — Clayhouse syrah may well be one of the finest $14 bottles of wine on the planet. What’s crazy is they seem to nail it every vintage. The 2012 offers a nose of violets and spice, while on the palate the wine is fresh and nervy, showing an intense note of blueberry. The tannins are supple and smooth, and the palate long and inviting, with tremendous persistence through the finish. Remarkable wine for the price. Rating: 91.
Casillero del Diablo 2013 Reserva ‘Devil’s Collection’ White, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($15) — Casillero del Diablo is Concha y Toro’s entry level brand, yet it is very capable of the occasional home run. The Devil’s Collection white from the cool Casblanca Valley delivers on that promise with a crisp and scintillating blend of mostly sauvignon blanc (85 percent) with chardonnay and a touch of spicy gewurztraminer. Produced in a zesty New Zealand style, this wine offers aromas of gooseberry and fig, with a hint of floral on the nose. Perfect with freshly shucked oysters or steamed clams or mussels. Rating: 88.
Buried Cane 2013 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley ($14) — This most unusual chardonnay from Buried Cane will find wide appeal within the crowd that believes too many chardonnays are overdone. This somewhat lean expression of chardonnay from Washington’s Columbia Valley sees a little bit of oak but most of the production was fermented in stainless steel tanks. For a bit of roundness a small percentage of semillon was blended in. The result is a crisp chardonnay that exhibits freshness with aromas of baked apple, pear and fig. And the price is right. Rating: 88.
Tasting Notes
Follow Robert on Twitter at @wineguru. To find out more about Robert Whitley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CREATORS.COM

Potential for Rain; IDHS Reminds to Watch for Flooding, Structural Issues

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In partnership with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security the Indiana State Police is sharing this important weather related message.

INDIANAPOLIS -The Indiana Department of Homeland Security reminds Hoosiers to be vigilant as the potential for rain moves into the state. Rain can saturate snow, making already significant accumulations even heavier.

Wet snow can tax structures, especially roofs that are flat or with only a slight pitch, especially if they are next to taller, steeply pitched areas, allowing snow to slide and collect.

Signs that a roof could be under stress are severely bent rafters or cracking and popping sounds. Another sign of an issue could be jammed doors at the front or back of the home. Residents concerned about their roof can lighten the load using a roof rake with an extension pole or hire a professional for the job.

Another concern, is if temperatures warm quickly, or warm weather is accompanied by large amounts of rainfall, the potential for flooding could be high. Flooding conditions can develop very quickly. Some of the significant floods to strike Indiana have occurred during late February and early March.

Individuals with property or other interests in flood prone areas should remain alert to daily weather conditions and know the difference between a flood or flash flood watch, and a flood or flash flood warning. For detailed weather and flood information, visit www.weather.gov/ind and listen to NOAA Weather Radio, local radio or TV stations. If it has been raining hard for several hours, or steadily raining for several days, be alert to the possibility of flooding.

IDHS recommends keeping a portable radio, flashlight, extra batteries and light bulbs, and other essential supplies on hand. Be prepared to take a disaster kit if evacuatiom is necessary.

Additionally, consider clearing nearby storm drains. Warming temperatures across the state and the potential for rain in some areas can accelerate snowmelt. Cleared drains help water move away from properties, lessening the potential for flooding in urban areas.

Flood Insurance

IDHS also reminds Hoosiers that in most cases, flood insurance is sold separately from homeowners insurance and most homeowners, renters and business insurance policies do NOT cover flood damage. It is important to remember that there is usually a 30-day waiting period from the date of purchase before a new flood insurance policy goes into effect.

Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as long as a community participates in the program.  For more information about NFIP, visit http://www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-4661.

Get to Know Sister Gertrude Levy, DC, and St. Mary’s Health Foundation Volunteer

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Would you please share a little about yourself?

I was born and raised in the French Quarter in New Orleans. I have been a Daughter of Charity for the past 78 years. I made my first vows in 1941. I attended a Daughters of Charity High School in New Orleans, which was where I realized that I wanted to become a Daughter. Two months after graduating, I joined the Daughters of Charity community.

Would you please tell us about your family?

I grew up in a loving family. My mother was wonderful and caring. She stayed at home and took care of me and my siblings. There were 5 boys and 4 girls in our family. My father was a musician and he graduated from Loyola University with a degree in Law. Three of the girls in our family became Daughters of Charity. One of my sisters, Sister Muriel, DC, lives at Seton Residence in Evansville with me today. All of the children in our family were musicians. I played the clarinet, piano and saxophone. We had a family band, but we never performed in public!

What has been your most memorable experience as a Daughter of Charity?

For 37 years, I taught in grade schools and high schools throughout the southern part of the United States. I’ve always been a southerner, so I’m not used to the snow! I worked in Donaldsonville, Louisiana; Long Beach, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; Natchez, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Los Angeles, California. As a high school teacher, I taught math and science. Then, I worked in Fundraising for 40 years at Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas. When I started at Seton, they had a fundraising employee, a public relations employee and me. When I left in May 2014, there were 60 individuals working in Fundraising for the Seton Healthcare Family, which includes 12 hospitals. I was involved in all aspects of Fundraising, including meeting with donors and inviting their support for our Mission. I have enjoyed all of my jobs and each one has helped prepare me for the next. Today, I continue to serve on the Seton Fund Board of Trustees.

Please describe your involvement with the St. Mary’s Health Foundation.

I began volunteering with the St. Mary’s Health Foundation on October 1, 2014. I visit patients in the hospital and call donors to thank them for their support. I enjoy doing whatever I can to help carry out the Mission of St. Mary’s Health. The work of the Foundation is very important to the success of St. Mary’s Health. I enjoy knowing that what I’m doing will help the poor and serve our Mission. It is exactly the reason I joined the Daughters of Charity.

What particular spiritual practice is most important to you and why?

The most important spiritual practice to me is attending daily mass. It is also important for me to live in community with the Daughters of Charity. The Daughters of Charity left Texas in 2014, which is when I came to Evansville.

What has been your most rewarding experience in life?

My whole life has been rewarding since it involves working with people. I have always been a people person! In all of my roles throughout life, I have been drawn to those that involve interacting with people.

What do you consider to be your greatest legacy?

My greatest legacy is my endowment to the poor in Austin, Texas. The endowment was created in 1999 and is called the Sister Gertrude Levy Endowment. It totals more than $2 million and exists to serve the poor in Austin, Texas, including patients at Seton’s three community health centers, Seton Kozmetsky in South Austin, Seton McCarthy in East Austin and Seton Topfer in North Austin.

When you see Sister Gertrude at St. Mary’s, be sure to say hello. She can often be found visiting with patients or in her office on the first floor of St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Institute making phone calls to thank donors for their generosity. You’ll also find her in the cafeteria eating lunch with family and friends of patients or Associates every Wednesday and Thursday after daily mass at 11:30 a.m.

Do you tell your parents “no”?

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Do you say “no” to your parents? Are you able to? If so, does it come easy or does it fill you with guilt?

The St. Mary’s Health Foundation Board was recently asked for a meaningful favor to honor our parents – the Daughters of Charity.

St. Mary’s would like to build the Daughters of Charity Prayer Garden in the grassy area outside of our Chapel to pay homage to the amazing women who gave birth to our Mission and Ministry in 1872. Our Board’s decision was quite easy. And, as one Board member asked, “How do you say “no” to your parents?!”

Well, the Foundation Board voted unanimously to fund the major construction costs for the Prayer Garden and is thrilled to do so. After all, without the Daughters, St. Mary’s would simply not exist. There would be no hospital, no physicians or nurses, no Foundation and no Foundation Board.

Thanks to the Daughters, our Mission is alive and well today – 143 years later.

The Daughters are important to more than St. Mary’s though, which is why we have started a brick campaign. The entire community is invited to purchase bricks to help support the construction costs of the Prayer Garden. A gift of $100 will purchase an individual brick. Bricks can be inscribed with your name or in honor or memory of a loved one or friend. For more information, please download a brick campaign flyer here.

The initial response from fellow St. Mary’s Associates has been overwhelmingly positive, with a number of Associates purchasing bricks. One Associate even agreed to fund a Statue of Mary for the Prayer Garden. Naming recognition opportunities, including benches and lights, are available if you are interested. Please contact me at 812.485.4412 or richard.peltier@stmarysorg.

With a planned opening in May, the Month of Mary, the Prayer Garden will welcome visitors in time for spring. We believe the Prayer Garden will be a fitting tribute to the Daughters’ legacy. We hope that you agree and will show your support by purchasing a brick today. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Blessings,

Rick Peltier
Director, St. Mary’s Health Foundation

Dear Ann Landers

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Dear Ann Landers: I never have cheated on my wife and am absolutely certain that I never will. We have been married for five wonderful years, and our marriage is rock solid. Here’s the problem: About a year ago, during a moment of passion, I happened to call out the name of my wife’s best friend, “Annabelle.” You can imagine my wife’s reaction.
Annabelle is single, in her early 20s and good-looking, and she has a terrific figure. She moved out of town three years ago. I made it clear to my wife that nothing ever went on between Annabelle and me and that calling her name was just part of a harmless fantasy. I tried to explain that fantasies are normal and I have no intention of acting them out. My wife accepted this explanation, and things seemed to be going well. Now comes the hard part.
Annabelle visits us once a year and stays for a week. Her visit is coming up soon, and my wife has started to turn very cold. In fact, she’s downright hostile. I know she is afraid I will be attracted to Annabelle and feels threatened. What can I do to reassure her and get things back on track? — Faithful in Denver
Dear Denver: Because you have had sexual fantasies about Annabelle, your wife has some justification for feeling a bit threatened. Start immediately to line up some attractive men for Annabelle to go out with when she is visiting you. Make sure you are never alone with your guest, and most importantly, concentrate on finding a substitute fantasy woman. (Any star of stage or screen will do.) And be especially affectionate to your wife in Annabelle’s presence. She will appreciate it.
Dear Ann Landers: I have been going with a man for three years. “Jerome” has a 5-year-old daughter, and I don’t know how much longer I can tolerate that child. She tells her father where to sit, where to stand, when to go out and what to eat. She walks around his apartment and insists on holding his hand, no matter what he’s doing. She even goes to the bathroom with him. (He says she cries if he locks her out.) If she awakens in the middle of the night, he allows her to sleep with him.
Jerome is divorced, and his daughter spends two nights a week at his place. I realize she misses her father, but this seems to me a very unhealthy attachment. When she is with him, she won’t play with her toys or watch TV. She only wants to sit on his lap. This child has so many hang-ups it saddens me. Jerome says I am jealous of her, but I don’t believe this is true. What do you say, Ann? — Ready To Give Up in Richmond, Va.
Dear Richmond: Dump Jerome, unless you are willing to play second fiddle to that pathetic spoiled brat for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, her brattiness is not her fault. Her father (probably guilty about the divorce) has catered to the child to the extent that he is totally under her thumb. Adios, Jerome, and the sooner the better.
Forget to save some of your favorite Ann Landers columns? “Nuggets and Doozies” is the answer. Send a self-addressed, long, business-sized envelope and a check or money order for $5.25 (this includes postage and handling) to: Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. To find out more about Ann Landers and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
ANN LANDERS (R)
COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COMDear Ann Landers: I never have cheated on my wife and am absolutely certain that I never will. We have been married for five wonderful years, and our marriage is rock solid. Here’s the problem: About a year ago, during a moment of passion, I happened to call out the name of my wife’s best friend, “Annabelle.” You can imagine my wife’s reaction.
Annabelle is single, in her early 20s and good-looking, and she has a terrific figure. She moved out of town three years ago. I made it clear to my wife that nothing ever went on between Annabelle and me and that calling her name was just part of a harmless fantasy. I tried to explain that fantasies are normal and I have no intention of acting them out. My wife accepted this explanation, and things seemed to be going well. Now comes the hard part.
Annabelle visits us once a year and stays for a week. Her visit is coming up soon, and my wife has started to turn very cold. In fact, she’s downright hostile. I know she is afraid I will be attracted to Annabelle and feels threatened. What can I do to reassure her and get things back on track? — Faithful in Denver
Dear Denver: Because you have had sexual fantasies about Annabelle, your wife has some justification for feeling a bit threatened. Start immediately to line up some attractive men for Annabelle to go out with when she is visiting you. Make sure you are never alone with your guest, and most importantly, concentrate on finding a substitute fantasy woman. (Any star of stage or screen will do.) And be especially affectionate to your wife in Annabelle’s presence. She will appreciate it.
Dear Ann Landers: I have been going with a man for three years. “Jerome” has a 5-year-old daughter, and I don’t know how much longer I can tolerate that child. She tells her father where to sit, where to stand, when to go out and what to eat. She walks around his apartment and insists on holding his hand, no matter what he’s doing. She even goes to the bathroom with him. (He says she cries if he locks her out.) If she awakens in the middle of the night, he allows her to sleep with him.
Jerome is divorced, and his daughter spends two nights a week at his place. I realize she misses her father, but this seems to me a very unhealthy attachment. When she is with him, she won’t play with her toys or watch TV. She only wants to sit on his lap. This child has so many hang-ups it saddens me. Jerome says I am jealous of her, but I don’t believe this is true. What do you say, Ann? — Ready To Give Up in Richmond, Va.
Dear Richmond: Dump Jerome, unless you are willing to play second fiddle to that pathetic spoiled brat for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, her brattiness is not her fault. Her father (probably guilty about the divorce) has catered to the child to the extent that he is totally under her thumb. Adios, Jerome, and the sooner the better.
Forget to save some of your favorite Ann Landers columns? “Nuggets and Doozies” is the answer. Send a self-addressed, long, business-sized envelope and a check or money order for $5.25 (this includes postage and handling) to: Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. To find out more about Ann Landers and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
ANN LANDERS (R)
COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

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