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EPD Activity Report January 5, 2015
Preparing for the 2015 legislative session
By the time you read this, the 2015 legislative session will officially be underway. Each session brings with it a new set of challenges but also the opportunity to once again move Indiana forward.
If you have never been to the Statehouse during session, it can be difficult to describe. For lawmakers, I think the best way to describe it is like starting a new school year. At one time or another, we have all been students and can remember that slight nervousness and anticipation as the new year draws to a start. For the first couple of days, we enjoyed seeing our classmates that we did not have the opportunity to spend time with during the summer months. The same is true of lawmakers. But just like when we were in school, there is much work to do in a short amount of time and that excitement quickly evolves into determination.
This session, the one piece of legislation that will demand most of our time and attention is the biennial budget. Every two years, the Legislature is tasked with crafting a budget, and just like in years past, it will be our priority to create an honestly balanced budget that lives within our means. As lawmakers, Hoosiers have entrusted us to be their voice in Indianapolis, and I believe we have an obligation to manage their tax dollars responsibly.
On a personal level, one of my priorities this session is to further explore the topic of e-cigarettes. Total e-cigarette sales in calendar year (CY) 2013 were approximately $1.3 to $1.9 billion, and industry estimates predict that these sales will increase at an average annual rate of up to 68 percent through CY 2017. As a respiratory therapist, I find it alarming that the popularity of e-cigarettes is on the rise. While little is still known about the long-term effects of using e-cigarettes, a study recently discovered that users could have a higher risk of contracting a respiratory infection.
As we tackle these important issues, it is imperative that we keep an open line of communication. One excellent way to do this is by filling out my 2015 constituent survey. This is something we do each year at the beginning of the legislative session and allows you to express your hopes for the new year. This is important because as your state representative, it is my primary responsibility to represent your voice in Indianapolis.
I understand that we all have many other things which demand our time, but I encourage you to take a moment to fill out this survey and mail it back to me at the Statehouse. You can also fill it out online at www.in.gov/h75/, but please only complete one survey.
In my opinion, this is one of the most crucial elements of the legislative process. I truly believe that Indiana is on the right track, but there is always more that we can do to make Indiana the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family. Thank you in advance for your participation, and I look forward to your feedback!
Get Ready for Terrorism on Soft Targets
Independent’s Eye by Joe GandelmanÂ
Get ready for our already ugly and violent 21st century to be the century of soft targets for terrorists. The number of places where people feel safe will diminish as terrorists pick new venues to increase body counts — and grab more of that new and mainstream media publicity that helps with recruitment.
What humanity is seeing now is yet another shift in how people kill people. During World War I, new technology changed the way warfare was waged. The 20th century later gifted humanity history’s most inhuman, evil and powerful madman: Nazi Germany’s Adolf Hitler. Hijackings and terrorism blossomed in the 1960s. In following decades so did serial killer killings, school shootings, mass murders and the rise of that religious terrorism so hypocritically excused and enabled by some.
Then came 9/11, a financially costly terrorist operation that expertly exploited American airport and airplane security vulnerabilities to use passenger-crammed airlines as missiles in an operation designed to maximize the kills. “Greatest Generation†World War II veterans such my father, Richard Gandelman, who thought they had buried barbaric mass brutality with Hitler’s death, were shocked by 9/11.
Enter ISIS, the world’s largest producers of snuff films, urging its true believers to kill Americans and other enemies wherever they see them. Those are the softest of soft targets.
And the attention is turning to soft targets.
In Sydney, Australia, “Islamist†terrorist Man Haron Monis, who was well known to authorities there, chose the Lindt Cafe as his target for a 16-hour December siege that ended in the death of two hostages and Monis himself. Sydney brought back (bad) memories of the 2008 Mumbai, India massacre on several “soft targets†including a mall, cafe, hospital and a Jewish Chabad house — ending in 164 dead.
The world had barely absorbed Sydney’s finale when the shocking and sickening news broke that six heavily armed Taliban militants wearing suicide vests murdered 133 school children 12-years-old and up at the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan. And so the Taliban continued its tradition of killing or trying to kill kids. Some warped minds still consider them “brave†warriors.
Look for the Taliban and other terrorist groups to strike at more soft targets in Pakistan, because the country carved out of India is like a ripe apple ready to be harvested. The forbidden fruit is Pakistan’s nuclear program. If ISIS is cutting off the heads of journalists, businessmen, women and children, and if the Taliban is routinely murdering kids, exactly what do you think they’ll do if they acquire a nuclear weapon?
Just as hell will be the final limit for those who mercilessly murder kids, the sky is the limit when it comes to massacring people in free and even not-so-free societies. First, merely pick a place where people congregate, feel relaxed about where they are and/or where their loved ones are. Second, send in or manipulate some l-o-s-e-r who thinks killing others and himself is a virtue and — voila! — there you have it. The headlines. The shock. The cost for the murderers’ bosses is low. The publicity over the outrage is big.
The list of possibilities of soft targets is seemingly endless: pre-schools, malls, churches, synagogues, fairs, festivals, sporting events, swap meets, conventions, rock concerts.
Everyone these days talks about “trending†on the Internet. So how is humanity “trending†so far in the 21st century?
Not very well at all.
Just as some websites are dominated by boorish, hyper partisan “trolls†who name call and push free speech to the limit of slander in their clamor to get noticed, we now have news cycles dominated by bloodthirsty terrorist and wannabe terrorist “trolls†who clamor to be feared, and exploit state-of-the-art social media technology to spread their message and their branding of brutality.
They mercilessly and sadistically butcher their enemies, inflict maximum damage, and exterminate the opposition — which actually HELPS them sign up more recruits — who think it’s cool.
Somewhere down there where it’s very hot, Adolf must be smiling.
Copyright 2015 Joe Gandelman, distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate.
Joe Gandelman is a veteran journalist who wrote for newspapers overseas and in the United States. He has appeared on cable news show political panels and is Editor-in-Chief of The Moderate Voice, an Internet hub for independents, centrists and moderates. He also writes for The Week’s online edition. CNN’s John Avlon named him as one of the top 25 Centrists Columnists and Commentators
IS IT TRUE January 5, 2014
IS IT TRUE we hear that tonights Evansville City Council annual reorganization meeting should be extremely interesting?Â
IS IT TRUE that many thousands of Vanderburgh County homeowners property Tax Assessments have noticed a significant increase in the assessed value? …that Evansville City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr recently stated during a recent budget hearing that the assessed values had been increased by an average of 4%? …this is figure was only a projected average? …the most accurate figure on many higher priced homes have see 20% or higher value increases? …we are hearing that the Republican controlled County Assessor’s office was giving marching orders to arbitrarily increase our homeowner values? …this increase was done because it was needed to offset the level of local government deficit spending habits?
IS IT TRUE that Ben Miller who has served as the Building Commissioner for Vanderburgh County for the past five years has decided to move on to what he describes as an “opportunity of a lifetime?”…the direct experience that the City County Observer principals have had with Mr. Miller are that he is competent, compassionate, and practical in addition to being an effective communicator whose word is his bond?…Mr. Miller is following his faith to the next step in his career and he leaves with our respect and admiration?…the CCO wishes this good man a fruitful and prosperous life?…Evansville will miss this person of excellence in this important position?
IS IT TRUE it seems as though the embattled and decrepit Owen-Block Building seems to be standing up on its last brick?…after an on again and then off forever refurbishment dream that fell apart because of the chasm between the value of the building and the cost to fix it up?…the word on the street is that the last owner was facing a $1.4 Million repair budget to sell off four townhomes at less than half of that value?…this is a darn shame because this building would offer the kind of home that would sell for over a million dollars a unit in a place that has a vibrant downtown and a growing job market?…now it seems as though the Owen-Block Building is about to meet its end due to the gap between value and cost?…the only person who truly knows the size of that gap is DMD Director Kelley Coures and he ain’t talking?…this gap between value and cost has stymied the downtown convention hotel and the McCurdy Hotel from finding real investors who have the means and diligence to redevelop them?…it is the delusions of local government that has now squandered well over $3 Million on pipe dreams that have no basis in the world that real investors live in?
IS IT TRUE the situation with the McCurdy Hotel just keeps going downhill?…there are reportedly doors left unlocked that allow people with flashlights to be observed roaming the halls at night?…it is just a matter of time until the McCurdy becomes a home to squatters who will eventually start a fire to keep warm?…one thing will lead to another and then the Old National Bank headquarters will be right next to a burned out shell?…that may lead them to challenge the assessment again and further reduce their shrinking property tax bill?…the $11 Million that ONB pledged to spend on a downtown convention hotel until they came face to face with value, could have nearly refurbished the McCurdy Hotel into a historically significant hotel?
IS IT TRUE with the rumors growing daily about the pending announcement that the Winnecke Administration is about to announce a 5th scheme to get a double 5 story hotel complex built across the street for the Centre, it is odd to consider the fact that we already have such a complex?…a two tower five story complex describes The Riverhouse perfectly?…it is amazing to think about it but the aspirations of our elected leaders for a convention hotel has degraded into being Riverhouse Two?…the value of The Riverhouse was established a couple of years ago when it was bought at auction for about $235,000?…the City of Evansville has been no supporter of a real investor’s plan to refurbish it either?…soon we will know if our leaders are going to toss $20 Million at The Riverhouse Two?…what the CCO would really like to see from Mayor Winnecke is a signed franchise agreement between HCW and Hilton that he assured us they had on many occasions?…we have some very credible insiders who say that is not true and never was?…if that incident and a dozen others are what a commitment to transparency and honest produced then the City of Evansville is in serious trouble because the words of this Mayor have not been transparent or truthful?…we also hope that the next developer even if it is HCW again is subjected to a rigorous VETTING procedure?…moving forward without a thorough VETTING of the developer and its principals is simply irresponsible financial management and is not becoming of a chief executive of anything, much less a Midwestern city of 120,000 people?
IS IT TRUEwith all of these examples of rotten public policy do digest, it is encouraging to watch the Univercity of Evansville Aces basketball team showing the excellence that made them a national brand years ago?…with an 11-2 record and a win over a ranked opponent the Aces look like they may make a run at the NCAA tournament this year?…we congratulate the Aces and encourage our readers to get down to the Ford Center and watch this breath of fresh air from our local Division 1 team?
Please take time and vote in todays “Readers Poll”.
Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records
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http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/recent-booking-records.aspx
EPD Activity Report January 4, 2015
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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.
| Saturday January 3 |
Sunday January 4 |
Monday January 5 |
Tuesday January 6 |
Wednesday January 7 |
|
| Fine Particulate (0-23Â CST avg) Air Quality Index |
moderate | good | good | NA | NA |
| 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.
Creative Collaboration Grant Deadline Extended
The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana has extended the deadline for letters of intent for the Creative Collaboration Grant. The new deadline for letters of intent will be January 15, 2015. For details concerning the Creative Collaboration Grant, please visit artswin.org/creative-collaboration-grant/
Questions about grants may be directed to Anne McKim at (812) 422-2111 or anne.mckim@artswin.org.
The Indiana State Police are Proud to Share Information About Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (LEAD)
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IT’S A NEW YEAR, LET’S TAKE THE L.E.A.D.
National Organizations Partner in Support of Law Enforcement
On January 9th, 2015, partnering organizations in support of law enforcement officers nationwide will promote a National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.). In light of recent negativity directed toward law enforcement nationally, there is a need to show law enforcement officers that our citizens recognize the difficult and sometimes impossible career they have chosen, in public service to us all.
Each day 780,000 police officers across our country put a badge on and go to work knowing they may face extremely dangerous situations. On average, between 105 and 203 officers die in the line of duty each year, 50,000 officers are assaulted in the line of duty each year, 14,000 officers are injured in the line of duty each year, and over 300 officers commit suicide each year. There is no other profession in the world, except possibly the military, where you will find these kinds of statistics.
Law enforcement officers play such an integral part in our society. Without law enforcement officers, chaos would reign. Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were in trouble – a car accident, a home invasion, an assault – and you did not have someone to call for help? No matter how much abuse law enforcement takes, they continue to do their job, and do it well. They are the guardians of our way of life and they deserve our support.
On January 9th, we call our nation’s citizens to action in support of law enforcement. Those citizens who appreciate law enforcement and are discouraged about the negative attention being given to law enforcement are encouraged to take time on Friday, January 9, to show their support. Our citizens can show their support in a number of ways:
* Change your profile picture on social media to the jpg image provided at www.facebook.com/nationalcops
* Wear blue clothing in support of law enforcement
* Send a card of support to your local police department or state agency
* Share a story about a positive law enforcement experience on social media
* Ask children in your community to write letters in support of law enforcement
* Participate in Project Blue Light – Proudly display your blue light in support of law enforcement
* Organize an event or a rally in support of your law enforcement officers
* Advertise your support through local media outlets/billboards
* Post the public service announcement supplied by C.O.P.S. to your organization’s webpage or social media pages
Most importantly, if you see a police officer, thank a police officer.
All of our partnering organizations welcome media outlets to cover this nationwide campaign in support of law enforcement.  Leaders from supporting organizations will make themselves available for interviews on the morning of January 9th, 2015. For questions or an interview, contact C.O.P.S. National President, Madeline Neumann, at (609) 703-8107 or C.O.P.S. Executive Director, Dianne Bernhard, at (573) 673-8917.
National Law Enforcement Organizations that are partnering together include:Â Concerns of Police Survivors, The Fraternal Order of Police, The FBI National Academy Associates, The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, Officer Down Memorial Page, Law Enforcement United, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, International Conference of Police Chaplains, National Trooper’s Coalition, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Police Wives, Wives Behind the Badge, International Union of Police Associations, New Jersey State PBA, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs’ Association, Thin Line Support, Police Unity Tour, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and the United States Air Force Security Forces.
IS IT TRUE JANUARY 3 – 4, 2015 WEEKEND EDITION
IS IT TRUE our “Cost Savings Moles” tells us that two Evansville Dollar Tree discount stores located at 800 South Green River Road and Dollar Tree located at 4855 West Lloyd Expressway are selling the Sunday Evansville Courier and Press for exactly one ($1) American buck?  …we wonder if this information is true why  hasn’t  the Evansville Courier and Press made this major discount price available to all Sundays Courier and Press readers?
IS IT TRUE  that Tom Bozikis, Vice President of the Tri-State Better Business Bureau will  challenge City Councilman Dan McGinn for the 1st Ward seat?  …. we are very impressed with Mr. Bozikis political  stance that “the government that governs best governs leastâ€?  … we find Mr. Bozikis’ political views are in line with traditional Conservative Republican values of governance?  … we totally agree with Mr. Bozikis statement that he believes “business should be less regulated by government so the free market can regulate itself”  …he believes that  “the free market can take care of itself through self regulation.  …â€that 1st Ward City Council candidate Bozikis also plans to reduce city government spending and lower local taxes, where possible. Tax cuts would have to be done carefully, he said, so that all necessary services that protect the city and improve infrastructure would remain intact.
IS IT TRUE we are pleased that to hear that Mr. Tom Bozikis has decided to be a candidate for the 1st Ward seat in the upcoming Republican primary?  …Mr. Bazook will square off with incumbent  Dan McGinn who has a lack luster record at best for active persuading  a true Republican conservative agenda?  …we predict if Mr. Bozikis true conservative views and message get through to the voters of the 1st Ward City that Councilman Dan McGinn will be in the political battle of  his short career?
IS IT TRUEÂ that in September 2014, Winnecke cashed in 2.2 million from the Police and Firefighters Pension investments and deposited into the same bank account that the General Fund operates out of helping to make the payroll checks good? Â …if you don’t believe this statement please ask the City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr. when you see him?
IS IT TRUE that the employees’ healthcare fund as of September 30, 2014 is overdrawn by 2.9 million. …if you don’t believe this statement please ask the City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr. when you see him?
IS IT TRUEÂ that the Master TIF fund, yes, the fund that supports the Hotel and IU Med projects declined by over 50% within one year, i.e. 3 million dollars. …if you don’t believe this statement please ask City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr. when you see him?
IS IT TRUEÂ we wonder when construction is going to starting on the McCurdy?
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IS IT TRUE we wonder when Old National bank are going to pay the taxpayers of this community the $11 million dollar they now owe the Vanderburgh County taxpayers for naming right at the Centre?  …when Old National Bank does advertising with the local main stream media they must pay?  … we wonder why Old National Bank isn’t paying the taxpayers for advertising on taxpayer funded property?
IS IT TRUE the City County Observer have been tracking on who was the most effective Department Heads for the City of Evansville for 2014? …after long discussions and talking with many people in and out of Evansville City Government the CCO have selected Evansville  Parks Recreation Director Denise A. Johnson?  …we find Mrs. Johnson extremely intelligent, dedicated, personable and hard working?  …we consider the Evansville Parks and Recreation Department to be under funded year after year?  …we hope that in 2015 the Mayor will stop dumping his under qualified political patronage buddies to works for the Evansville Parks and Recreation Department so Mrs. Johnson can do her job without political interruptions?
Please take time and vote in todays “Readers Poll”.
Copyright 2014 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.