Traveling City Hall Starts Year at CK Newsome Community Center

01/25/2014

Mayor and city department heads will be available to discuss issues

How does the City of Evansville decide which streets to clear first following a snow storm, and who is responsible for clearing ice and snow from sidewalks? Evansville Transportation and Services Director Todd Robertson will discuss the cityâ€™s snow removal program at the first Traveling City Hall meeting of 2014.

The Traveling City Hall meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 29, at the C.K. Newsome Community Center, 100 E. Walnut St., in Room 118 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and representatives from various city departments will be present, along with officials from the Vanderburgh County Health Department and the Vanderburgh County Auditorâ€™s office.

Following introductions by Mayor Winnecke, Robertson will talk briefly about the cityâ€™s snow removal program, from determining when to pre-treat roads to snow removal on residential streets and sidewalks. After the presentation, the public is welcome to talk one-on-one with city and county officials about specific neighborhood issues or about the general status of our community.

Traveling City Hall meetings are held once a month at different location throughout the city. All Evansville residents are welcome to attend any session.

HB 1141 will address key issues facing Indiana communities

01/25/2014

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Since my first day as your state representative, it has always been a top priority of mine to make our county and state a clean and safe environment for all of us to live. Posey County was not ranked as one of the worst counties in the state for methamphetamine busts, but our state as a whole was ranked 3rd in the nation last year for the incredibly high number of lab seizures.In looking at the past few years, meth lab busts have continued to increase, and I consider this a very serious problem that is affecting our community and many others throughout Indiana. This session, I introduced a bill alongside State Representatives David Ober (R-Albion) and Rebecca Kubacki (R-Syracuse) that will allow people to get a better understanding of where they are living.

This past year, I had the opportunity to meet a man who had suffered the effects of breathing in air from houses previously contaminated by methamphetamine. The real estate appraiser had suffered lung damage and now carries a breathing mask while on the job. My intention with this bill is to stop instances like this and create a healthier, safer community.

WithÂ House Bill (HB) 1141Â , the Indiana State Police will be able to create a database with house listings of all properties affected by methamphetamine. Also included on this list would be houses that have been decontaminated and emptied. The ISP would be able to keep a second list with all previous houses associated with the production of methamphetamine even if it has already been taken off of the public list.

Currently in state stature, after a â€œmethâ€ bust is made, the police are required to contact the Indiana Department of Health who will then evacuate and decontaminate the home. Throughout this process, costs can go into the thousands to make sure the home isnâ€™t a health risk to the surrounding people and properties. But, the process doesnâ€™t end there as many times the blighted property will be vacant for months or years, lowering property values and depreciating entire communities.

What I would like to see happen with HB1141 is for a person that is looking at buying a home to be able to see, in the buyerâ€™s agreement, if that house has ever been in contact with the creation of methamphetamine. Furthermore, buyers would be able to see if the home has been properly decontaminated, and it would be required that the real estate commission obligates owners into disclosing if a house has ever been involved in the creation of methamphetamine. My intention is to protect the public from others who donâ€™t seem to care.

Right now I am working with the Government and Regulatory Reform committee on the bill to better explain its purpose, and I remain hopeful that this bill will pass in year. The amount of victims left in the wake of methamphetamine is unacceptable and hurts Indiana communities. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow legislators on making sure this bill will have a positive impact on our state and communicating with my district on the positive changes that would be made for their hometowns.

Statement Regarding Handgun Found Inside Thompkins Middle School

01/24/2014

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On Wednesday (Jan. 22) evening, EVSC officials were notified that a handgun had been found in the Boiler Room of Thompkins Middle School.

The 9 mm Beretta was discovered by an EVSC supportive services employee who was working on the HVAC system at Thompkins.Â He saw the gun on a pull-out computer keyboard drawer inside the schoolâ€™s Boiler Room, behind a locked steel door.Â He immediately notified his superior and the EVSC began its investigation. The Evansville Police Department was also notified.
The gun is registered to Jordan Stone, second shift EVSC custodian at Thompkins, who has a Personal Protection Permit to carry the handgun.Â He said he realized he had forgotten to take it off when he entered the building around 2:40 p.m., so he hid it on the computer keyboard drawer in the Boiler Room. Personal Protection Permits do not give an individual the right to carry a firearm on any school property.
The investigation was turned over to School Resource Officer Greg Brandenstein.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

01/24/2014

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.

Â DONâ€™T GOÂ TO COURT ALONE. CALLÂ IVAN ARNAEZÂ @ 812-424-6671.

Â Vanderburgh County Prosecutorâ€™s Office on Thursday, January 23, 2014

Â

Ashley BarnettÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Theft-Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Habitual Offender Enhancement)

Â

Alex BrandtÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of a Schedule I Narcotic

Drug-Class D Felony

Â

Misty ColemanÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of Methamphetamine-

Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of a Schedule II

Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

Â

Orlando GamezÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dealing in Marijuana-Class D Felony

Â

Devin HodgesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of a Schedule II Controlled

Substance-Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Habitual Offender Enhancement)

Â

Samuel Morales JrÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .15

or More-Class A Misdemeanor

(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)

Â

Brooke OwensÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Theft-Class D Felony

Â

Daniel PayneÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of Methamphetamine-

Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Theft-Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of a Schedule II

Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A

Misdemeanor

Â

Kevin RoachÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Injury-Class C Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Intimidation-Class C Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Habitual Offender Enhancement)

Â

Kiyoe TanakaÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor

(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Unlawful Possession of Syringe-Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor

Â

Nathan WilsonÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Theft-Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Unlawful Possession of Syringe-Class

D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor

Â

Kenneth YoungÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Criminal Trespass-Class D Felony

Â

James BurrisÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Theft-Class D Felony

Â

Amber DarrettÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class

D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Intimidation-Class A Misdemeanor

Â

Calvin DillardÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Residential Entry-Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Criminal Trespass-Class A

Misdemeanor

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Criminal Mischief-Class A

Misdemeanor

Â

Christopher GreenÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Operating a Motor Vehicle after

Forfeiture of License for Life-

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Class C Felony

Â

Rodney HigginsonÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Theft-Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Habitual Offender Enhancement)

Â

Angela MontgomeryÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Theft-Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Criminal Trespass- Class A

Misdemeanor

Â

Nathan MurphyÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Auto Theft-Class D Felony

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Operating a Vehicle with an ACEÂ Â Â Â Â Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â of .15 or More-Class A

Haily PlemensÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Theft-Class D Felony

Â

Cody StrangeÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Intimidation-Class C Felony

Troopers Arrest Evansville Man for Dealing Synthetic Cannabinoids

01/24/2014

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.

Â DONâ€™T GOÂ TO COURT ALONE. CALLÂ IVAN ARNAEZÂ @ 812-424-6671.

Troopers Arrest Evansville Man for Dealing Synthetic Cannabinoids

Vanderburgh County â€“ Indiana State Police arrested a 41-year-old Evansville man yesterday afternoon for dealing synthetic cannabinoids from his southeast side residence.

Yesterday afternoon at approximately 1:00, Indiana State Police responded to a residence located at 2517 South St. James Boulevard in Evansville after receiving information that David Morrow, 41, was allegedly selling drugs. When troopers searched Morrowâ€™s residence they found plant material that later tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids. Troopers also found a Coca-Cola truck tin containing three homemade smoking devices and a large amount of hand rolled cigars containing plant material. Troopers seized over three pounds of synthetic cannabinoids from Morrowâ€™s residence. He was arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

ARRESTED AND CHARGE:
â€¢ David Jason Morrow, 41, 2517 South St. James Blvd, Evansville, IN
1. Dealing in Synthetic Cannabinoids, Class D Felony

Arresting Officers: Master Trooper Kevin Waters, Trooper Seth Rainey and Trooper Wes Alexander

Pet of the Week – Bubbies

01/24/2014

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Bubbies â€“Â Bubbies is a 5-year-old male. His previous family had him for his whole life, but when they had a new baby â€“ apparently there was no more room for this sweet boy. He lives in the cageless cat room with several other cats, so sharing food, litterbox, and space is not a problem! Bubbiesâ€™ adoption fee is $30, which includes his neuter, vaccinations, microchip, and a free checkup at a local vet clinic.

www.vhslifesaver.org

Amanda Bienhaus

Public Relations, Media, and Special Events

(812) 426-2563 ext. 211

a.bienhaus@vhslifesaver.org

EPD Activity Report January 23, 2014

01/24/2014

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.

Â DONâ€™T GOÂ TO COURT ALONE. CALLÂ IVAN ARNAEZÂ @ 812-424-6671.

EPD Activity Report January 23, 2014

IS IT TRUE January 24, 2014

01/24/2014

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IS IT TRUE January 24, 2014

IS IT TRUE the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Temporary Sign Advisory Committee seems to be on track to recommend changes to existing City and County ordinances regulating signs that would make the bureaucratic nonsense recently profiled in the CCO and other publications more business friendly?…the committee is made up of small business owners, sign companies and representatives from Keep Evansville Beautiful and the Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Indiana?…the members of this committee were appointed by Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and Vanderburgh County Commissioner Marsha Abell?…these recommendations that are aimed at the permitting process are intended to simplify some regulations and eliminate others?…this is a good first step to make Evansville a more retail friendly city and all involved deserve congratulations including Mayor Winnecke and Commissioner Abell?…letâ€™s hope that this positive move forward that started with an angry business owner making a Facebook post is contagious and spills over into other areas where â€œsign policeâ€ and â€œpermit policeâ€ have stifled business in the past?

IS IT TRUE that it is now only 5 weeks until the $200,000 loan that was underhandedly made to Earthcare Energy LLC is payable in full?…Earthcare has faithfully made the tiny interest payments as they were required to but has not set up shop in Evansville to do anything at all?…it will be interesting to see what happens when the note is due?…the correct course of action is of course for the City of Evansville to initiate the collection process but that may prompt Earthcare to allege that their contract was terminated illegally which would start one big finger pointing contest?…we do hope this turns out well for the City of Evansville as the citizens are already burdened with the debt of failure but having read the contract that the City crafted and signed Earthcare may well have some good points to be made?…if the City does not go after the $200,000 that will tell us all something?

IS IT TRUE if there had been proper and competent VETTING in place this debacle would not have happened?…the same goes for Global Blade Technology that former Mayor Weinzapfel funneled loans to, the McCurdy, and even the continuing saga of the downtown convention hotel?…the December 21st golden shovel date has come and gone and no new golden shovel date has been set down at hotel site?…between the problems with the lot and the fact that no approvals have been announced with respect to the financing some folks must be as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs with the March loan approval deadline approaching as fast as the Earthcare noteâ€™s maturity date?

IS IT TRUE across the Ohio River in Kentucky the ratepayers of Big Rivers are about to feel the sting of a rate increase of roughly $17 per month each?…200 employees and their families will feel an even nastier sting as Big Rivers has announced a power plant shut down that will result in that many jobs being eliminated?…the driving forces behind these undesirable actions are the closing of aluminum smelters in Hawesville and Sebree, Kentucky over electric rates that were too high to justify continuing these operations and to make a profit?…even with the 17% increase to the ratepayers, the electric rates across the river are substantially lower than what Vectrenâ€™s Southern Indiana customers have been paying for years?…Henderson residents still pay 4.34 cents per kilowatt hour in the winter and 5.49 cents in the summer compared to a rate of nearly 16 cents over here in Evansville?…if Kentucky lost major employers with the rates over there we must wonder just how on earth Evansville will ever attract an electron hungry major manufacturer to this side of the river?

IS IT TRUE that the Governor of New York and the Mayor of New York City agree that people who do not support same-sex marriage, a womanâ€™s right to choose, and gun control can just leave?…if these two wannabe dictators over who can live where get their way there may just be a herd of New Yorkers headed our way?…these two elected officials look like buffoons with their statement?…those on the other side who would encourage those on the other sides of those issues to pack their bags and move to New York are just a guilty of buffoonery as these to hosers?…New York, Indiana, and every other state needs to put on a Tom Terrific thinking cap and adopt policies that are friendly to all Americans and American businesses?…trying to legislate morality is a foolâ€™s errand and plenty of that is in the air in New York and Indiana these days?…we wonder where is Rodney King when we need to be asked once again, â€œcanâ€™t we all just get along?â€

Sentencing Complete in 2 of 4 Defendants in Beumer Case

01/24/2014

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.

Â DONâ€™T GOÂ TO COURT ALONE. CALLÂ IVAN ARNAEZÂ @ 812-424-6671.

After reviewing all facts of State of Indiana vs. Eric Weston Dunn, Judge Les Shively ordered Dunn to a sentence of 6 years, the first three to be served at the Indiana Department of Corrections and the balance to be served on probation. Dunn has already spent time in jail before he was bonded out (276) days, and has spent time on Electronic Home Monitoring. Under Indianaâ€™s â€œgood timeâ€ statute, Dunn will now serve around six months in jail before being placed on probation for the remainder of his sentence (three additional years), assuming no other issues arise.

Dunn was found guilty of a class C Felony â€“ Assisting a Criminal, for his involvement in the home invasion robbery of Ira Beumer in February of 2012.

Dunn is one of four defendants involved in the case against Ira Beumer. Dezmont Hogan, Jeton Hall and Nalakeio Bennett have pleaded guilty to Burglary Resulting in Bodily Injury â€“ A Felony, Criminal Confinement â€“B Felony and Theft â€“ D Felony. Nalakeio Bennett has also pleaded guilty to a criminal gang enhancement.

Dezmont Hogan was sentenced in October of 2013 and received 40 years to be served in the Indiana Department of Corrections.

Nalakeio Bennett will be sentenced on 2/3/14 at 1:30 PM and will be sentenced to 40 years Indiana Department of Corrections.

Jeton Hall will be sentenced 1/29/14 at 2:00 and faces up to 50 years Indiana Department of Corrections.

For further information on the case listed above, or any pending case, please contact Kyle Phernetton, Director of Public Relations at 812.435.5688 or via e-mail at kphernetton@vanderburghgov.org.

RIECKEN INTRODUCES INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE HOOSIERS TO SAVE

01/24/2014

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INDIANAPOLIS- Amidst economic instability and hardship for Indianaâ€™s working families, State Representative Gail Riecken (D-Evansville) has authored a bill offering powerful and safe incentives to get more Hoosier families saving.

The Financial Institutions Committee unanimously passed House Bill 1235 this week in an effort to encourage saving among Hoosier families. The bill allows state charter credit unions to offer savings promotional raffles.

â€œThe point of these raffles is to encourage people to build a savings account so that, in an emergency, people can use their own money instead of high interest commercial products like pay-day loans,â€ said Riecken.

In these raffles, individuals would be rewarded for making minimum deposits into a savings account or participating in financial literacy programs. With that deposit comes an entry into a raffle, in which participants can earn cash prizes.

â€œItâ€™s a win-win situation,â€ Riecken explained. â€œPeople will never lose their balance or the interest theyâ€™ve accrued, they only have the opportunity to win more money while learning how to save.â€

Prompted by numerous committee meetings concerning Hoosiers who have lost their homes due to default mortgages, Riecken said the goal of this bill is to encourage people to save for unpredictable emergencies including job loss or illnesses.

â€œWe have seen a marked decrease in savings over the last four years and this leaves Indiana families with nothing to fall back on when they experience a drop in income or an unexpected expense,â€ said Riecken. â€œThe intent of this bill is to build saving habits in people who are not used to saving.â€

Riecken said the end goal of the bill is to provide an incentive for people to save more in order to help financially vulnerable families become more financially secure.

The bill now moves to the House floor for further consideration.