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Haynie’s Corner Art District
AG Zoeller: “Tax season is also scam season”
Next Do Not Call list sign-up deadline is Feb. 17
INDIANPOLIS – Scammers aiming to defraud consumers during tax season are out in full force, said Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller.
In one of the most common phone scams the Attorney General’s Office has seen in recent months, criminals call consumers claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and demand immediate payment of past-due taxes. Scammers might threaten arrest and jail time if the payment is not received immediately, and usually request that the money be paid back though the purchase of pre-paid cards.
The Attorney General’s Office has received nearly 200 complaints about this scam in January and February so far, and more than 1,100 complaints were received in 2014. One consumer who filed a complaint with the AG’s Office says the caller threatened to take her home, her driver’s license and have her arrested unless she paid $3,900. Another consumer was told tax evasion charges had been filed against him at the local courthouse.
Consumers who receive a call like this should hang up immediately. The IRS will never initiate contact over the phone. They will always reach out first through official correspondence by mail. Additionally, the IRS will never ask for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the phone.
“Tax season is also scam season,†Zoeller said. “Criminals prey off of complicated tax processes and use fear tactics to victimize well-intentioned taxpayers. While many people may dislike the IRS, they won’t call you and threaten to send you to jail.  Educating consumers about these scams and how to avoid them is critical because once money is paid to a scammer, it is almost impossible to recover.â€
Zoeller urges consumers to register their cell or landline phone numbers on the state’s Do Not Call list by Feb. 17, the next quarterly deadline to sign up.
“Having your number on the Do Not Call list not only deters unwanted telemarketing calls, it acts as a red flag warning you that the call you are receiving may be a scam,†he said.
To sign up, visit www.IndianaConsumer.com or call 1.888.834.9969. Individuals do not need to re-register unless their address has changed.
If you think you’ve been targeted by the IRS scam, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040 to confirm the call you received was fraudulent. You should also report the scam to the Indiana Attorney General’s Office by filing a complaint online at www.IndianaConsumer.com or by calling 1.888.834.9969.
Zoeller said another serious threat during tax season is tax identity theft, in which a criminal uses a legitimate taxpayer’s personal information to file a tax return. This can happen if a criminal obtains access to information like your Social Security Number, which could also be done through IRS impersonation.
A common tactic is for criminals to send out scam emails that claim to be from the IRS and request personal or financial information. Do not respond to unsolicited emails like this. Instead, forward the message to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
Tax-related identity theft was the most common form of identity theft reported to the Federal Trade Commission in 2014. Additionally, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office received 353 complaints about tax ID theft in 2014, and 11 complaints in recent months.
Zoeller said the best protection to avoid these tax-related scams is to file your taxes as early as possible to get ahead of criminals.
For more tips on preventing identity theft, visit www.IndianaConsumer.com/idtheft and for tips on avoiding telephone scams, visit www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/2539.htm.
Consumers who are targeted in any of these tax-related or other scams can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office by visiting www.IndianaConsumer.com or calling 1.800.382.5516.
UE’s Delta Sigma Pi Presents Business Leadership Awards
The University of Evansville’s chapter of Delta Sigma Pi bestowed its annual business awards on Thursday, February 12 in a ceremony on UE’s campus.
Pat Wempe, co-owner of ProRehab, PC, was given the Business Leader of the Year award. Chris Traylor, co-president of Traylor Brothers, Inc., received the Business of the Year award on behalf of the company. Alissa Fricke was presented the Young Business Leader of the Year award.
Wempe earned his bachelor of science in physical therapy degree from UE, and completed certification as developed by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. He is a board certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy and a NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist.
ProRehab, founded in 1999, has corporate headquarters and locations in Evansville, Indiana, along with sites in Newburgh, Haubstadt, Vincennes and Rockport, Indiana, and Henderson, Madisonville and Bowling Green, Kentucky. It sends volunteer therapists to a clinic in Haiti, and is a clinical education site for university professional programs.
Traylor Brothers, Inc., was founded in 1946 by William F. Traylor. The company was later led by his son Thomas W. Traylor, and is now under the guidance of the third generation: co-presidents Christopher and Michael Traylor. One of the nation’s leading heavy civil contractors, the company handles bridge, underground, and marine projects.
The firm’s home office is in Evansville, Indiana. The company also has offices in Alexandria, Virginia, and Long Beach, California.
Fricke graduated from UE with a degree in communication. At UE she received the Mabel Dillingham Nenneker Outstanding Senior Service Award for most outstanding senior woman and was the student elected member of the Board of Trustees and Alumni Association Board of Directors. Fricke serves as mentor to UE students and in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She is president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. In June 2014, she started Thrive Marketing Strategies.
Delta Sigma Pi is a professional fraternity organized to foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity, and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote a closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce; and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community.
Go Red Luncheon
| Date: | 2/20/2015 |
| Time: | 11:00 a.m. |
| Location: | Old National Bank Events Plaza |
| Capacity: | |
| Contact: | 270-929-9585 |
| Description: | Tickets are $50 each. Keynote speaker of the event is JoAnne Owens-Nauslar of the GeoMotion Group. JoAnne Owens-Nauslar (AKA Dr. Jo) has spent 43 years promoting the benefits of healthy active living. She is considered one of the nation’s most vocal personalities on issues of physical activity and the need for physical education in the critical core day.Also during the luncheon, attendees can bid at the “personalities†auction – beautiful red bags, filled with “pursonalized†accessories donated by women leaders in our community.
Purchase your ticket online here. If you have any questions, please call Malissa Troutman at 270-929-9585. |
Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill Includes Dr. Bucshon’s Reforms
(WASHINGTON, DC) – On Thursday, President Obama signed into law H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act (Clay Hunt SAV Act), a bill that aims to prevent veteran suicides and ensure veterans have access to resources that help them overcome the psychological struggles of war.  This reform bill includes a pilot program first introduced by Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) to recruit more psychiatrists and increase access to critical mental healthcare services for our nation’s veterans.
“Many of the brave men and women who have served our country are returning home without proper attention to their mental health needs. Tragically, we are losing 22 veterans every day to suicide. Improving access to mental healthcare is a critical first step to reversing this trend,â€Â said Congressman Bucshon, M.D. “During my career as a physician and my time working at the VA, I saw the need for new dedicated methods that encourage more psychiatrists to choose a career helping veterans. Our veterans have made tremendous sacrifices for this country, and I firmly believe we should do everything in our power to support them. I’m happy that my pilot program to recruit more qualified psychiatrists across the country to serve our veterans was incorporated into this important bill.† Â
This bill is named after Clay Hunt, a Marine veteran who earned a Purple Heart in Iraq before redeploying to Afghanistan. Upon his return from duty, Clay was diagnosed with PTSD and later tragically took his own life at age 28.
Clay’s story is unfortunately not uncommon. Many of our veterans return from battle facing obstacles to the mental health resources they need. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that one of the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) greatest challenges has been to hire and retain psychiatrists to properly diagnose, treat, and monitor the mental health of veterans.
Drawing on his experience practicing medicine and his time at the VA Hospital in Milwaukee, WI, Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. introduced a pilot program to fill the growing vacancy of psychiatric care in the VA system through a recruitment and loan repayment model. This program was outlined in Bucshon’s bill, H.R. 4234, the Ensuring Veterans Resiliency Act, and incorporated into the Clay Hunt SAV Act.
American Psychiatric Association (APA) President Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D. praised Bucshon’s pilot program saying, “this legislation will help ensure that our nation’s veterans, who often face significant mental health challenges, have access to much needed, high quality, mental health care.â€
H.R. 203 passed the House by a vote 403 to 0 in early January of this year and subsequently cleared the Senate 99 to 0 at the beginning of February.
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Congressman Larry Bucshon, a physician from Southern Indiana, is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the 114th Congress, Bucshon will serve on the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.
Energize Evansville’s “Fitness in the Park†to Host Water Aerobics
Free exercise session Saturday, Feb. 21, at Lloyd Pool
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke invites the community to join him at Lloyd Pool, 6101 N. 1st Ave., for the monthly Energize Evansville “Fitness in the Park†free workout on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 9 to 11 a.m. This month’s program features water aerobics led by instructors from Tri-State Athletic Club.
Instructors will lead participants through different variations of each exercise so the exercise session is fun for all fitness levels. Everyone is encouraged to bring shoes which may be worn in the pool and to exercise at their own pace.
“Fitness in the Park†is a health and fitness program launched by Mayor Winnecke as part of his Energize Evansville initiative to promote healthier lifestyles. The program is held the third Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at a different city park featuring local fitness experts leading group exercises.
The next session will be held at the C.K. Newsome Community Center, 100 E. Walnut St., on March 21. Energize Evansville “Fitness in the Park†will resume its partnership with Deaconess Health System on April 18 at Wesselman Park, kicking off the exercise session with a one-hour Healthier U Walk.
For additional information, contact Evansville Department of Parks & Rec. Sports Director Lisa Wube at (812) 436-6141.
IS IT TRUE February 16, 2015
IS IT TRUE the City County Observer intentionally avoided the frantic rush to be first, second, or even third to publish an article about the fire at Marina Point in the wee hours of Saturday morning? Â Â Â Â Â Â … sometimes articles that have the potential to have political implications need to rest a while until some reality starts to emerge? …that and the fact that it was a Valentine’s Day weekend drove our decision to stay away from this story until now? …one thing that is for sure about the reporting of this fire and the events surrounding it is that Evansville’s MAINSTREAM MEDIA has been engaged in some SUBLIMINAL MESSAGING about the fire at Marina Point?
IS IT TRUE Democrat candidate for Mayor of Evansville Gail Riecken viewed the Marina fire from an adjourning property, Â was not detained by the police, and does not own or manage Marina Point but one would never know it by the headlines thrust upon the general public by the mainstream media? …article after article appeared online with the name “Riecken” leading the headline giving the clear impression that Gail Riecken was part of the excitement created by the fire? …while it is true that Representative Riecken’s husband Ron Riecken did travel down to the his daughter business that he helps manage to see what was the ruckus, Gail was never there with him?
IS IT TRUE some of the articles left a bit of uncertainty about whether or not Ron Riecken had alcohol on his breath and even intimated that he was somehow a major threat to the officers of the Evansville Police Department or the Evansville Fire Department?…we know for a fact that Ron Riecken hasn’t had an alcoholic drank in over 30 years …we are sure that there was adrenaline flowing through Mr. Riecken’s body given the direct threat to his daughters business? Â …we really wonder if it was necessary for the 71 year old man to be put into handcuffs behind his back and forced to the ground and sit on the wet driveway in sub zero weather for about 45 minutes in yet another Rambo moment in Evansville? …it would had been more reasonable for EPD to sit Mr. Riecken in a warm squad car and allow him to clam down so he provide them with information how to a fight a fire on the water with Inland Marina state-of- the-art Fire Boat? …this all occurred within less than a mile of where Louise Milan’s home was busted into Rambo style by a group of overzealous EPD officers passing judgement over a open source internet router? …the over-reaction of cuffing and forcing a 71 year old man to sit on the cold ground who really doesn’t scare much of anyone is mistake #1 of the evening?
IS IT TRUE Marina Point had and still has a working state -of-the-art Fire Boat which was fully capable of being piloted and operated by Coast Guard Licensed Boat Captain Ron Riecken to take water from the Ohio River and show members of the EFD how to property apply it to the fire on the first boat that was burning? …it is alleged that the ERD fire boat that showed up may had a faulty pump and couldn’t pump water on the burning boat which is typical for capital equipment in the possession of the City of Evansville? …that the alleged faulty pump problem lead the EFD to cut the burning boat loose in hopes that it would drift into the main channel of Ohio River and burn itself out instead of drifting into four other boats and spreading the fire to them? …given the fact that 5 boat owners and Marina Point incurred many millions of dollars worth of damage?  …it is a foregone conclusion that the insurance companies will be spending lots of forensic dollars getting to the bottom of who is at fault for the millions of dollars of property damages? …we hope that the EFD and EPD have clear video recordings of this entire event so the taxpayers won’t be faced with a multi-million dollar law suit liability?
IS IT TRUE the other question that is yet to be resolved is why in the heck three people were on a houseboat supposedly cleaning it up to sell at 1 am on a night when it was below freezing? …it is hard to think of any good reason to be cleaning a boat in 17 degree weather at 1 am in February in Evansville, IN? …time will bring the truth of this story out too? …that whatever Gail Riecken’s daughter and son-in-law did and whether they were drinking is of no consequence to the Evansville Mayoral campaign and the mainstream media knows it?…the City County Observer is relieved that no one was hurt and realizes that property damage has a way of being fixed? …the rush to sensationalize a fire at Inland Marina has lots of the general public misinformed?…we hope this all comes out and the truth prevails, because the fire and the aftermath are a classic exercise in politically motivated malfeasance?
Evansville man arrested for attempted murder
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DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
Evansville Police arrested 22 year old Thomas Jacob Moss after he allegedly shot a female aquantence.
Police were called to the Value Place Hotel, 8221 Stahl Rd, around 12:15 Sunday morning for a reported shooting.
Moss was taken into custody in a hallway as soon as officers arrived. During the investigation, officers determined Moss had shot 31 year old Samantha Lowe while the two were inside of a third floor room.
Lowe was taken to a local hospital for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds. Her current condition is not being released.
Several bullets penetrated the wall and went into an adjoining room. The two occupants of the other room were not injured.
Moss told police he was staying with Lowe to protect her from.an ex-boyfriend. Moss said masked men had been at the motel earlier but police were not called. Moss told police thay he began shooting when he thought he saw someone pointing a gun from behind the electrical socket in the wall. He also said he thought Lowe was hiding under the bed when he opened fire. Lowe was unable to provide much info before being taken to the hospital. She did, however, identify Moss as the person who shot her.
Moss has been charged with Attempted Murder and 2 counts of Criminal Recklessness. His booking photo is available through the Vanderburgh County Sheriff website.
NEWS ALERT: HB 1561 Should Be Of Interest To All Rural Vanderburgh County Residents.
The attached is HB 1561 should be of interest to all rural Vanderburgh County residents.   HB1561,authored by Representative Mahan(R)and co-authored by Truitt(R). Â
Attached is the synopsis of the proposed House Bill 1561 posted below for your review: This proposed bill provides that is an annexation territory receives ANY services from the annexing municipality,the landowners DO NOT have a right to remonstrate against annexation.
There are 2 highlights of this bill should be of concern to rural residents of Vanderburgh County.  This proposed bill would  require that if no services are provided,  60% of the landowners,  or 75% of the assessed property valuation must sign a remonstrance petition.
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The highlights of highlights and full synopsis is attached below.
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If this proposed HB 1561 causes you any concerns we urged you to contact your State Representative to voice your concern soon as possibleÂ
Introduced Version HOUSE BILL No. 1561 _____ DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL Citations Affected: IC 36-4-3. Synopsis: Annexation. Provides the following for annexations for which an annexation ordinance is adopted after June 30, 2015:
(1) Provides that if an annexation territory receives any services from the annexing municipality, the landowners do not have a right to remonstrate against the annexation. (2) Provides that if the annexation territory does not receive any services from the annexing municipality, at least 60% of landowners (instead of 65%) or the owners of 75% of the assessed value of the property in the territory are required to sign a sufficient remonstrance petition. (3) Allows a municipality to obtain a waiver of a landowner’s right to remonstrate and any right of a successor in title to remonstrate, as a condition of providing any service to the landowner. (4) Requires a landowner to have the landowner’s property rezoned as agricultural before an annexation ordinance is adopted, in order to obtain the agricultural property tax exemption. Requires the landowner to pay any rezoning costs, except that the annexing municipality pays the cost of resurveying the property, if resurveying is necessary. (5) Provides that the annexation fiscal plan is similar to plans required for local government mergers and reorganizations. (6) Prohibits the fiscal plan from being amended after a remonstrance petition is filed, unless the amendment is consented to by remonstrators. (7) Requires the department of local government finance to issue comments on the fiscal plan. (8) Requires a municipality to conduct an outreach program to inform citizens about a proposed annexation. (9) Allows remonstrators who prevail at a remonstrance hearing to recover expenses incurred in filing the remonstrance, including reasonable attorney’s fees, in an amount not to (Continued next page) Effective: July 1, 2015. Mahan, Truitt January 20, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform. 2015IN 1561—LS 7320/DI 87
Digest Continued exceed $20,000. Provides common names for the different annexation procedures. Removes an annexation procedure applicable only to a municipality in St. Joseph County. 2015IN 1561—LS 7320/DI 87 2015IN 1561—LS 7320/DI 87
Introduced First Regular Session of the 119th General Assembly (2015) PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type , and deletions will appear in this style type. Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type . Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution. Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2014 Regular Session and 2014 Second Regular Technical Session of the General Assembly. HOUSE BILL No. 1561 A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
 SECTION 1. IC 36-4-3-1.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE 2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 3 1, 2015]: Sec. 1.2. The annexation procedures may be referred to as 4 follows: 5 (1) An annexation under section 5 of this chapter may be 6 referred to as a landowner initiated annexation. 7 (2) An annexation under section 5.1 of this chapter may be 8 referred to as a unanimous landowner initiated annexation. 9 (3) An annexation to which section 5 or 5.1 of this chapter 10 does not apply may be referred to as a municipality initiated 11 annexation. 12 SECTION 2. IC 36-4-3-1.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE 13 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 14 1, 2015]: Sec. 1.7. (a) This section applies only to an annexation 2015IN 1561—LS 7320/DI 87
Here is a listing of the members of the Local Government Committee that will be hearing HB1561. You may write to each of them: h (district number)@iga.in.gov (example h76@iga.in./gov)
Republicans
Mahan, Chairman-h31, Â Lucas,-h69, Â Harman-h17, Â Kirchhofer-h89, Â McNamara- h76, Â Miller-h48.
Ollhoff,-h19, Â Truitt,- Co-chair- h26, Â Wolkins, h18.
Democrats-Riecken- h77, Â Bartlett-h95, Â Errington-h34, Â Harris-h2.
Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records
SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.