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RIECKEN: GOVERNOR, SUPER-MAJORITIES STOP PLAN TO FIND ANSWERS TO HIGH INFANT MORTALITY
INDIANAPOLIS – Plans by State Rep. Gail Riecken (D-Evansville) to begin finding immediate solutions to Indiana’s shockingly high infant mortality rate has been derailed by Gov. Mike Pence and his super-majorities in the Indiana House and Senate.
Administration officials and key negotiators in both legislative chambers refused to include Riecken’s proposal to create an Infant Mortality Reduction Grant Fund in the final version of Senate Bill 408 that was approved today in the Indiana General Assembly and sent to the governor for his consideration.
“Indiana ranks fifth in the nation in the number of child deaths,†Riecken said. “The problem is immediate, and the time to find solutions is now.â€
Riecken’s proposal was designed to use interest on the money contained in the Indiana Checkup Plan to finance grants that would have funded a variety of programs that work to reduce infant mortality rates. One example would be campaigns that work to inform mothers about the serious risks of drug use during pregnancy.
“The top two causes of infant mortality in our state are babies who are born too small and too early,†Riecken said. “Of the nearly 300 children who died in Indiana in 2011, substance abuse was found to be a factor in nearly half of those cases.
“To have even one child die under such horrible circumstances is one too many, and I believe these are cases that could be prevented through proper education,†she continued. “My proposal would have laid the groundwork in providing that type of instruction.â€
However, during negotiations on Senate Bill 408, Riecken said she was told that the Pence administration did not support the grant program and did not want it included in the final bill, a contention supported by negotiators for the Republican super-majorities in the House and Senate.
“This program to protect babies would not have cost one dime in new state money, since it would have used only the interest from an existing fund: the Indiana Checkup Plan,†Riecken said.
“The price tag would have been a small amount, compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars that are going to be devoted to cutting taxes for large corporations in Indiana,†she continued. “Of course, these babies do not have the ability to pay for high-priced lobbyists to curry favor in the halls of the Indiana Statehouse, so it is easy to ignore their cries for help.
“These are the times that make me wonder about the priorities of those who control our state government,†Riecken said. “It is very easy to talk about caring about protecting families, but doing something about reducing our terrible infant mortality rates appears to be a lesser priority than protecting big corporations.
“Today’s actions were very disappointing, but I will continue to fight for these children now and into the future,†Riecken concluded.
Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records
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John Montrastelle Republican Primary Candidate for Vanderburgh County Council, District 4-First Guest On CCO “Mole TV”
Meet John Montrastelle Republican Primary Candidate for Vanderburgh County Council, District 4, the first CCO Mole TV “Good Public Policy” forum guest tomorrow. The program is being recorded at the studio of Woods and Woods Law Firm. We shall be airing this show on the CCO “Mole TV” network web site in a couple days after the program is recorded.  Also this program shall be shown on “ME TV” cable channel this coming Sunday.  Information concerning the agreement between ME TV, CCO and WOODS AND WOODS law firm shall be announced in a couple of days.
The City County Observer and Woods and Woods law firm is pleased to announced that John Montrastelle the Republican primary candidate for County Council, District 4 shall be the first guest on the Woods and Woods “Good Public Policy’ forum on March 13, 2014.  His Republican primary opponent Pete Swaim originally accepted an invitation to participate in this forum but later decline to come on this show because of advice he received from his close political advisors.  Mike Woods, the  the program moderator of this forum stated, “we are extremely surprised and disappointed in Mr. Swaim decision not to come on my show so the voting public can get to know both Republican primary candidates running  for 4th District County Council seat.  Looks like Mr. Montrastelle shall have the entire forum at his disposal because of Mr. Swaim decision to be a “No Show” on our program”.
We also reached out to Vanderburgh County Commissioner Marsha Abell and her Republican primary opponent Bruce Ungetheim to be our special guests on our next “Mole TV” forum. Commissioner Abell told CCO editor Joe Wallace, that she needs to think about appearing on the program and will let him know at a later date. Â Bruce Ungetheim immediately has accepted to be our special guest on “Mole TV” Forum. Â Next week we shall be announcing the date for our next forum. This is a developing story and we will keep you posted.
                 MEET CCO “MOLE TV” FIRST PROGRAM GUEST: JOHN MONTRASTELLE
John Montrastelle is a lifelong resident of Evansville and has such a great sense of pride about our community and the people who live here. John considers the people of this community to be warm, caring, volunteering and generous. Vanderburgh County is a great place to live and raise a family. John also believes, very strongly, that we should operate government to be fully transparent and fiscally responsible at all times. Our ability to understand county programs, departments, budgets, along with sound policies and procedures regarding how we operate the functions of government, is essential to our success.
John believes that individuals who care about their community should get involved. Being a public servant to make your community a better place, regardless how involved you are, is very important. He has served on the Board of Commissioners of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau (ECVB) for the past three years and served as President of the Board for two years. As President of the Board, along with the other Commissioners, they have transformed the ECVB into a strong and well founded organization. With leadership and guidance from the commissioners the ECVB developed new policies and procedures, comprehensive budgeting, special event policies, grant criteria guidelines and policies, new marketing initiatives for Evansville and most importantly a transparent organization. The most exciting and challenging effort during his tenure at the ECVB has been the new sports complex that is currently approved for construction, using lodging tax versus local taxes as the funding source. This sports complex will serve as one of the finest quality of life projects ever built in our community without costing the local taxpayers of Vanderburgh County and the City of Evansville.
The tourism industry in Vanderburgh County is a 523 million dollar industry that supports over 6,400 employees. This industry is one of many legs on the stool that stimulates our economy. When you consider the strengths of our local economy we are fortunate to have Universities, Healthcare, Manufacturing, a strong Small Business climate and the Port of Evansville. Understanding how our economy works is important when it comes to serving government.
It is based on his commitment to public service, and quality government, John Montrastelle has filed to run as the Republican Candidate for Vanderburgh County Council from District 4.
Biography
Montrastelle is second generation Evansville and graduated from Reitz Memorial High School. He’s also a graduate from the University of Evansville and Leadership Evansville. At age 55, John has been married to his wife Karen for twenty-nine years and they have three daughters. Karen is a registered Cardiac Sonographer and a Technical Director at The Heart Group in Evansville. Their three daughters attended Reitz Memorial High school. The two oldest are graduates from Murray State and Western Kentucky. The youngest is currently a sophomore at Ball State. Montrastelle has been employed at Anchor Industries for the past seventeen years, currently serving as the International and Government Sales Manager. Anchor was established in Evansville in 1892 and is the largest tent manufacturer in the United States. Montrastelle has traveled to over twenty-five countries and a dozen or more US military bases serving Anchor and its customers. Quality services coupled with quality products is a main stay at Anchor
He currently serves as the President of the Board of Commissioners for the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau Board (ECVB), and takes great pride in the accomplishments of the organization. The transformation of the organization has lead to positive results in both the marketing and promotion of Evansville as a premiere destination and the revenues generated by the tourism industry. From the accomplishments with the ECVB, Montrastelle would like to use his business and common sense approach in working with others to make Vanderburg County a Smarter, Healthy Community.
Montrastelle wants to ensure that we get the most out of every tax dollar spent. Spending tax money wisely to ensure quality services is most important to Montrastelle. Doing what’s right for Vanderburg County and its citizens is what Montrastelle’ strives for. Johns promise is to remain creative and serve the county with honesty, integrity and hard work.
Miranda warning given during police interview makes confession admissible
A defendant’s confession made during a police interrogation is admissible because while officers questioned the defendant in what they called a “pre-interview,†they Mirandized him before he confessed.
The defendant, Robert Hicks, appealed his conviction of murder and 55-year sentence for the death of girlfriend Anna Jochum. He claimed the admission he made of striking and then stabbing Jochum should have been suppressed, in part, because the police engaged in a “question-first, Mirandize-later†approach to his interrogation.
Hicks pointed to Missouri V. Seibert, 542 U.S. 600 (2004) where the Supreme Court of the United States threw out statements police obtained by using an interrogation technique where they purposefully withheld Miranda warnings until after the suspect had confessed. Then they Mirandized the defendant and got a second, similar admission of guilt.
Although Indiana courts have applied Seibert to situations in which aMiranda advisement was given after a defendant confessed, the Indiana Court of Appeals found that is not what happened to Hicks.
He agreed to accompany officers to the police station and answer their questions. When he admitted to having been in an argument with Jochum, officers read Hicks his Miranda rights. He then provided more details about the argument and his actions. In an interview the next day, before which he was again Mirandized, he talked more.
The Court of Appeals held Siebert did not apply because Hicks confessed after being read his Miranda rights. It affirmed his conviction and sentence in Robert E. Hicks v. State of Indiana, 82A01-1306-CR-256.
Leadership Evansville Hosts Its 19th Annual Celebration Of Leadership on March 18
| Leadership Evansville hosts its 19th Annual Celebration of Leadership Awards Ceremony |
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(EVANSVILLE, Ind.)- Leadership Evansville (LE) will honor and celebrate 158 community individuals, businesses, organizations and projects for their servant leadership at Celebration of Leadership (COL) on Tuesday, March 18. The awards ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Old National Bank Events Plaza (formally The Centre) Ballroom in downtown Evansville. A total of 43 awards will be presented to recipients who have shown exceptional community and public service in the following categories: Arts, Education, Environment, Government & Public Service, Health & Social Service and Neighborhood & Community.
Two individuals will receive the prestigious Jefferson Award through a partnership with the Evansville Courier & Press.
The partnership between Leadership Evansville and the Evansville Courier & Press has led to four Evansville recipients of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Awards for Public Service in the past ten years, an accomplishment no other community in the United States has achieved. The past Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis recipients include: Kathryn Martin, 2007; Holly Dunn-Pendleton, 2006; Billy Bolin and Paul Kirby, 2005; and Bridget McDaniel, 2003.
“Maybe the most incredible part of Celebration of Leadership is the amazing diversity that’s in the room and it’s diversity at every level,” LE Executive Director Lynn Miller Pease said. “There’s age diversity, race diversity, income and background diversity. When you get people in Evansville that are doing incredible things together-that synergy is contagious.”
Members of the Evansville community demonstrate leadership every day, according to Miller Pease. However, many of those individuals, businesses and organizations go unrecognized. COL is one channel for all of these leaders to be recognized and applauded for their actions to better our community.
The nominations are diverse, emotional and wonderful stories of our community. The nominees range from a USI professor helping positively influence students through promoting acceptance and equality, a woman who works intensely to rid sexual and domestic abuse in our neighborhoods, a festival that brings residents from the tri-state area to enjoy barbecue, while embracing many different contributors to the blues, a Christian hip-hop record label and a group of young girls who’ve helped soldiers feel somewhat at home with cookie care packages. These are just examples of all the fantastic nominations that will be recognized at COL.
“One thing that is unique is that this celebration is open to all people,” Miller Pease said. “It allows for everyone that is interested in celebrating, watching somebody who’s been nominated and everybody gets a chance. I believe the spirit of that is so obvious.”
Reservations are still being taken for COL. If you would like to attend, call the Leadership Evansville office at 812-425-3828 or make an online reservation here. Admission is $15/adult and $5/student. Over 500 people have already sent in their reservations to the event, which is a testament to celebrating the servant leaders in our community.
ABOUT CELEBRATION OF LEADERSHIP Celebration of Leadership is Leadership Evansville’s conscious effort to recognize servant leaders in our community. Awards are given to recognize individuals, organizations, projects and businesses for going above and beyond the call of duty to improve our community.  ABOUT LEADERSHIP EVANSVILLE Leadership Evansville was founded in 1976 by a group of future-thinking local leaders whose original commitment to community-wide betterment remains unique and strong. Leadership Evansville brings together people with different talents, gifts and perspectives and transforms these individuals into leaders who embrace the concept of community trusteeship and the collaborative process. The experience helps participants develop an understanding of how today’s leaders function, and teaches them the skills to apply this knowledge in provided real life opportunities through practice and performance. These attitudes, skills and processes are taught to, adults, youth, organizations, not-for-profits, businesses, educational institutions, neighborhood associations, churches and other leadership programs.  |
Indiana State Police Will Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint This Upcoming Weekend
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 Indiana State Police will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint somewhere in Warrick County this upcoming weekend. The exact location, date and time will not be released. Motorists that are not impaired can expect only short delays of 2-3 minutes while passing through the checkpoint.Â
Troopers encourage all motorists to call 911 or the closest Indiana State Police Post when they observe another motorist that may be impaired. Be prepared to give a description of the vehicle, location and direction of travel.
The Indiana State Police are committed to traffic safety and will continue to conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints to apprehend impaired drivers and to deter others from drinking and driving.
Phenomenal women of USI and the community named
Nine women were honored Thursday at the 2014 Phenomenal Women of USI and Community Recognition Ceremony, sponsored by University of Southern Indiana’s Multicultural Center, Old National Bank, and the American Association of University Women.
Phenomenal Women recognizes nine women in six categories: USI undergraduate student, USI alumni, USI faculty, USI administrative staff, USI support staff, and community-at-large.
Held at USI during Women’s History Month, Phenomenal Women awards honor and celebrate women from all walks of life who have made contributions to diversity in the USI and Evansville communities. Through the annual recognition of these contributions, the Phenomenal Women program hopes to inspire others to embrace and promote diversity within their own lives.
2014 Phenomenal Women of USI
Kelly Fitzgerald (undergraduate student): In the summer of 2013, Fitzgerald spent five weeks interning at an orphanage in Ghana, Africa. While there, she helped in various teaching capacities and tutored the children in math, reading, and English. Fitzgerald, a soccer player at USI, served as a soccer instructor for the girls at the orphanage. Once she returned to the United States, she began a program to raise money to cover bus traveling expenses for the orphanage. She also spearheaded an effort to get the children of the orphanage sponsorships to help with school expenses, food expenses, and anything else they need. She is also working on a grant to generate much-needed revenue for the school so that it can expand its on-site housing.
Glorisel Cruz (undergraduate student): Cruz is an active member of Latinos Unidos, serving as historian and, currently, president. She also serves as a resident assistant and has become active in USI’s Diversity Project. She co-founded the African Student Union. A first-generation college graduate, she has a 3.7 GPA and been accepted into the doctoral program at the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy.
Kathryn Waters (faculty): Waters, professor of art, has been an outstanding teacher, artist, and member of the community for over 30 years, teaching thousands of USI students by drawing on her extensive art background. Her paintings have been exhibited locally, regionally, and nationally, including Matter Mind Spirit: 12 Contemporary Indiana Women Artists at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC in 2000. Her works can also be found in numerous private collections abroad. As director of USI’s McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleried, she prepares five or six diverse exhibitions every year, a task that requires much organizational skill and creativity. In addition to facilitating art experiences for the public, she frequently judges local art competitions and serves as external reviewer for artist colleagues elsewhere.
Dr. Stephanie Cunningham (administrative staff): Cunningham is staff therapist and outreach coordinator in the USI Counseling Center. Her primary responsibility is the evaluation and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral health. In addition to her excellent clinical skills, which are based on a feminist cognitive-behavioral paradigm, Cunningham maintains a passion for diversity that is evidenced in all aspects of her personal and professional life. She worked with the Multicultural Center to institute a monthly outreach program called the “power hour†where students discuss diversity-related issues and personal experiences, while simultaneously receiving informal support from the counseling center. She regularly coordinates with other departments, student groups, and community organizations on activities related to LGBT issues, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, social justice and more.
Terry Martin (support staff): Martin, administrative associate in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education, is currently finishing her bachelor’s degree in social work while working full-time as an employee at USI. She also holds an associate degree in early childhood education. Martin’s compassion for those less fortunate inspired her to pursue a degree in social work. She volunteers with her local church, working with preschool children. She spent last semester working with a local group that oversees court-ordered supervised parental visits of divorced parents. This semester she is doing her field work for her degree at The Potter’s Wheel, an inner city ministry in Evansville.
Allison Grabert (alumni): Grabert is director of the Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center and a key collaborator in USI’s partnership with NSWC Crane. She works to bring together educators from the region to work side-by-side with Crane engineers and scientists to strengthen STEM education in the Tri-state. Based on her experience and collaborative partnerships among regional schools, industry, and leaders she is sought out for her keen insights regarding education and championing how to promote the success of young girls and women in STEM careers. She is a marvelous role model to aspiring K-12 girls, regional business leaders, and colleagues with which she works.
2014 Phenomenal Women of the Community
Lana Burton: Burton is the principal of Harper Elementary School, where she has led her school from a level of struggling on state assessments to a level where they had excelled and have been recognized by the corporation and the state in moving forward. She has also been instrumental in the success of the Evansville African American Museum. She took over the reins shortly after Sondra Matthews retired from the position and served as the director of the museum for many years. She is a leader at Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where she serves as a teacher.
Pamela Jutzi:Â Jutzi was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2004 and is a devoted volunteer with the Tri-State Multiple Sclerosis Association in Evansville. In late 2008, she began volunteering by taking photos at organizational events and discovered a love for photography. When she is not sick herself, she volunteers at Tri-State Multiple Sclerosis Association events, volunteers as a Facebook page administrator, and prepares monthly newsletters for mailing to approximately 1,300 people. She is also heavily involved in advocating for others with MS.
Lori Sutton: Sutton is diversity and inclusion manager for Vectren Corporation. She has served for three years as co-chair of the Sowing Seeds of Empowerment Women’s Conference focusing on women of color. The conference is dedicated to building awareness in the areas of health, wealth, and education and draws approximately 200 youth and women each year. She serves on many boards in the community, is active in her church and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES FIELD OF 64 TO PLAY IN NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNEY AT FORD CENTER
INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee on Sunday announced the field of 64 teams that will compete in the 2014 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship.
Twenty-two conferences have been awarded automatic qualification. The remaining 42 teams were selected at large by the committee.
Seven of the regional tournaments, consisting of eight teams each, will be conducted March 15, 16 and 18 at regional sites. The West regional will be conducted March 14, 15 and 17. The eight regional champions will advance to the quarterfinals in conjunction with the 2014 NCAA Division II Men’s Elite Eight at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
Conferences that received automatic qualification are as follows:
California Collegiate Athletic Association — Cal State Stanislaus
Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference — Philadelphia
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association — Livingstone
Conference Carolinas — Limestone
East Coast Conference — Bridgeport
Great American Conference — Harding
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — Findlay
Great Lakes Valley Conference — Southern Indiana
Great Northwest Athletic Conference — Seattle Pacific
Gulf South Conference — North Alabama
Heartland Conference — Texas A&M-International
Lone Star Conference — Tarleton State
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association — Missouri Southern State
Northeast-10 Conference — Southern Connecticut State
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference — Minnesota State Mankato
Pacific West Conference — Chaminade
Peach Belt Conference — South Carolina Aiken
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference — East Stroudsburg
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference — Metro State
South Atlantic Conference — Lincoln Memorial
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — Tuskegee
Sunshine State Conference — Florida Southern
Those institutions receiving at-large berths are, in alphabetical order, as follows:
Anderson (S.C.)
Arkansas-Fort Smith
Arkansas Tech
Barry
Bellarmine
Bloomfield
Cal Poly Pomona
Cal State Bernardino
Cal State Chico
California Baptist
Carson-Newman
Central Missouri
Charleston (W. Va.)
Colorado Mines
Delta State
Dixie State
Drury
Fort Hays State
Franklin Pierce
Georgia Southwestern
Gannon
Glenville State
Georgia Regents Augusta
Indiana (Pennsylvania)
Indianapolis
Lake Superior State
Le Moyne
Michigan Tech
Midwestern State
Montevallo
New Haven
Northwest Missouri State
Saint Leo
Saint Anselm
St. Mary’s (Texas)
Tampa
Colorado-Colorado Springs
West Alabama
West Chester
West Liberty
Winona State
Wisconsin-Parkside
Drury defeated Metro State 74-73 to win the 2013 NCAA Division II Men’s Elite Eight championship game in Atlanta, Ga.
FOOTNOTE: Â SORRY WE POSTED THE WRONG ARTICLE EARLIER Â THIS EVENING CONCERNING THIS TOURNAMENT SCHEDULED AT THE FORD CENTER.