IS IT TRUE March 28, 2014
IS IT TRUE March 28, 2014
IS IT TRUE Mayor Winnecke’s reaction to the Gallup survey that placed Evansville in a four way tie for 180th out of 189 American metro areas with respect to well being is perplexing?…we wonder if the Mayor clearly understood that the data that produced this low ranking came from a survey of his constituents and not from some New York based travel consultant?…since the sample size of about 750 is statistically significant the results of the polling should be assumed to be an accurate representation about what greater Evansville thinks of itself relative to how the other 188 metro areas think of themselves?…one would think that any Mayor who digested this information would have the presence of mind to know that there is either a massive communication problem or that the results are accurate?…for a guy who ran on the premise of collaboration and inclusion to attack a poll that was taken from his own constituents just makes no sense at all?
IS IT TRUE on the bright side of the results of the well being study it must be realized that the results are subjective and relative to other metros?…a ranking of #180 out of 189 does not mean that Evansville is a rotten place to live, it simply means that the people who live here think less of this area than residents elsewhere think of their homes?…Evansville in our eyes with all of its legacy problems is still an okay place to live?…in most scientific metrics Evansville ranks at or near average in nearly every category?…of course these metrics do not ask questions about Billion dollar sewer problems, pot holes, shoddy houses, and dilapidated sidewalks?…these are the kind of things that make the people who actually live here think less of their hometown and poorly toward the legacy of politicians who fiddled while Evansville melted around them like a month old Halloween pumpkin on the porch of an abandoned house?
IS IT TRUE this Gallup survey is about the RIGHT NOW and not about projects on the perpetual drawing board like the downtown hotel, dog parks, ball fields, or even the IU Medical School?…for a Mayor to read about constituents who are unhealthy and diminish that by saying “we have a once a month free exercise classâ€, is just disconnected from the reality of today?…for that same Mayor to listen to a constituent that has minimal earnings and suggest a trip to the zoo is disconnected from the reality of today?…for a Mayor to hear of a recent college graduate that can’t find a job who is thinking of leaving town and respond with “we will be opening a new hotel downtown in 2 years†is disconnected from the reality of today?…we could go on all day but the reality of today is that Evansville’s Mayor, it’s City Council, and the good old boys who pull their strings need to step outside of the golden echo chambers that they live in and start solving the problems of today instead of pouting about accurate polls and pushing fun and games before everything?
IS IT TRUE the Securities and Exchange Commission has launched investigations into municipalities that may have misled investors about their financial condition?…LeeAnn Gaunt, chief of the municipal securities and public pensions unit at the SEC said Thursday that a review of past disclosures by financially stressed states and local governments has resulted in an unspecified number of investigations?…the unit is looking for instances where there is “tension between the disclosures and the subsequent announcements†of financial stress by municipal bond issuers, she told a National Association of Bond Lawyers conference in Boston Thursday?…this increased scrutiny on proper disclosure by cities that issue bonds to finance projects and operations should get the attention of every city council in the United States that is pondering bond issues to raise money to finance new projects?…accurate pro forma documents of the cash stream that is being pledged to pay off the bonds will become more and more accountable as these cash streams vaporize in the face of real day to day operations?…there are a couple of projects in Evansville that are underperforming substantially when compared to the projections used to get the projects approved and the first place?…some of the people may come to rue the day that they made those projections if the feds come knocking and ask the question “was this fraud or was this simply incompetence?â€â€¦we should be learning the results of the 2012 city audit and the responses from the city to any issued raised by the SBOA any day now because the time to respond has lapsed?
Two Arrested for Robbery, Battery and Theft
SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.     
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671
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On Monday March 24, at approximately 8:00 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of N. St. Joseph Avenue and Mill Road for an individual who had been beaten and robbed. The victim, James Sellers of Evansville, told responding deputies that he had been at a nearby storage unit with three males he knew; Jon Schmitt, John Owen and a juvenile male. At the storage unit Sellers was attacked by Schmitt, Owen and the juvenile. They choked him, forced him to the ground, where they continued to kick him in the head. During the struggle one of the assailants pulled out a knife and threatened to cut Sellers if he did not stop fighting. Sellers complied and was forced to handover a large sum of money he had on his person. The victim sustained a large laceration to the head and bruising over a large portion of his body.
Deputies obtained arrest warrants for Schmitt and Owen for robbery, theft and battery with a deadly weapon. Deputies arrested both men earlier today.
Additionally, sheriff’s investigators executed a search warrant at Jon Schmitt’s residence today. Several items relating to the robbery were recovered. Both men were taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail following their arrests. Schmitt’s bond is $40,000 cash only. Owen’s bond is $10,000 cash only.
An arrest of the juvenile suspect is expected.
ARRESTED
- Jon Brody Schmitt, 24 YOA, Evansville IN
- John Eric Owen, 24 YOA, Mt Vernon IN
CHARGES
- Robbery – B felony, Battery with a Deadly Weapon – C felony and Theft – D felony
VICTIM
- James Sellers, 24 YOA, Evansville IN
Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records
SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.      DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671
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Turner denies wrong doing; ethics committee could meet next month
By John Sittler TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS – Rep. Eric Turner, R-Cicero, released a statement Wednesday denying that he broke House rules following allegations that he lobbied behind closed doors against a bill that would have hurt his family’s business.
The issue will be considered at a House Ethics Committee meeting next month.
“I am extremely confident the House Ethics Committee will find I have acted within the rules of the House of Representatives, as I have for my entire 24 year career in the Indiana General Assembly,†Turner said.
Ethics Chairman Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, said he is working to coordinate the best time to meet because it’s “extremely important†for all members to be present for the hearing. That hearing will probably be the week of April 7-11, he said.
House Speaker Brian Bosma referred questions about Turner’s actions to the Ethics Committee following a request by Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody.
In a letter to the House Ethics Committee and its chairman, Rep. Greg Steuerwald, the speaker asked the group to determine whether Turner violated House rules or the ethics code.
“If you find a violation, please recommend any actions you feel should be taken,†Bosma said.
He also asked the committee to consider whether the legislature’s ethics code or statement of economic interest should be changed “to give further transparency and openness to the legislative process.â€
Turner had recused himself from voting on the measure in committee and then again on the House floor.
Indiana placed a moratorium on nursing home construction in 2009 in part to curb private-paying residents from switching to newer facilities. Proponents of that law say without it, older facilities would have a harder time affording the care for Medicaid patients who would be left.
Hoosier lawmakers were considering legislation that would have extended the moratorium but it died on the session’s last day. A report by the Associated Press says that happened after Turner lobbied in a private caucus against it. That’s when the Zody requested an investigation.
Turner said Wednesday his actions and statements were completely within legislative rules.
He said he is looking forward to cooperating with the committee and that once the facts are presented, “it will be determined that I acted well within the House Rules and the House Code of Ethics.â€
John Sittler is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
GE to bring jet engine plant, 200 jobs to Lafayette
By Lesley Weidenbener TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS – The world’s largest jet engine manufacturer announced Wednesday that it will invest $100 million into a new assembly plant in Lafayette and create as many as 200 jobs by 2020.
General Electric Aviation will build a 225,000 square foot facility to assemble its new LEAP engine as part of a partnership with Snecma of France. The companies have united to create CFM International, which already has orders for more than 6,000 of the engines.
Gov. Mike Pence joined GE Aviation President David Joyce for an announcement Wednesday at the Purdue University Airport.
“By selecting Indiana for its new jet engine facility, the company gains a workforce skilled at both developing the big ideas and bringing them to life,†Pence said a statement. “From jet engines to medical breakthroughs, companies launch the next wave of new technologies in Indiana, confident that in a state that works, the sky is the limit.†The Lafayette facility will be GE Aviation’s first final assembly plant in Indiana. The new jobs – including salaried and hourly positions – are expected to pay an average of $36 per hour.
“Our state has made significant gains in attracting this type of investment and the announcement made today indicates that we are on the right track to sustain that growth,†said Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek, who pushed legislation in the past to help the aviation industry.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered General Electric Aviation up to $3.3 million in conditional tax credits and up to $332,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.
The incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. In addition, the IEDC will provide the community with up to $1.35 million in infrastructure assistance from the state’s Industrial Development Grant Fund.
The engines developed at the plant will be used on the Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX and COMAC (China) C919 planes for airlines worldwide.  Launched in 2008, the LEAP engine is now undergoing development testing. As the engine transitions to the production phase, GE could begin hirng at the new Lafayette facility as early as 2015.
According to state and company officials, the facility will operate a highly advanced assembly line incorporating several new technologies, including automated vision inspection systems and radio frequency parts management to easily spot parts on the shop floor.
Within five years, the plant’s workforce is expected to exceed 200 people with the capacity to do final assembly for the engine as well as work on the engine’s hot section, which includes the compressor, combustor and high pressure turbine.
“We are thrilled by the airline industry’s enthusiasm for the new LEAP engine and its ground-breaking technologies,†Joyce said. “Beginning in 2015, the LEAP engine will experience a dramatic production ramp-up for the remainder of the decade.â€
The Lafayette facility will be GE’s fifth location in Indiana. The company employs nearly 1,700 Hoosiers across the state.
“Tippecanoe County eagerly welcomes GE Aviation, the fourth company to choose Park 350 for a significant industrial investment,†said Tippecanoe County Commissioner John Knochel. “This is a company already renowned for successfully setting its sight on the future in global reach and technological advances. Now, it will pioneer an all-new aircraft engine with a ‘made in Lafayette, Ind.’ stamp, and supply it to commercial aircraft manufacturers around the world.â€
Lesley Weidenbener is executive editor of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.      
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671
Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Anthony Hale                    Battery by Body Waste-Class D Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
Jonathan Harrison Jr      Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Pregnant Woman-Class C Felony
Domestic Battery-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
Michael Jones                   Theft-Class D Felony
(Habitual Offender Enhancement)
Glynn Petticord Jr           Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon-
Class B Felony
Austin Swan                       Operating a Motor Vehicle after Forfeiture of License for Life-
Class C Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class D Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
Roger Blake                        Burglary-Class C Felony
Theft-Class D Felony
Antwane Broomfield     Dealing in a Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Lookalike Substance- Class D Felony
Eric Curry                              Forgery-Class C Felonies (Two Counts)
Fraud-Class D Felonies (Two Counts)
Theft-Class D Felonies (Two Counts)
Scott Hunt                          Forgery-Class C Felonies (Two Counts)
Fraud-Class D Felonies (Two Counts)
Theft-Class D Felonies (Two Counts)
Kimberly Hutchins          Dealing in Marijuana-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class D Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
Michael Jackson               Dealing in a Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Lookalike Substance-Class
D Felony
Michael Jordan Jr            Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Pregnant Woman-Class C Felony
Domestic Battery-Class D Felony
(Habitual Offender Enhancement)
Tiffany Jordan                   Domestic Battery-Class D Felony
Michael Murr                    Operating a Motor Vehicle After Forfeiture of License for Life-
Class C Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
Possession of a Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Lookalike Substance-
Class A Misdemeanor
Phillip Noblin Jr               Strangulation-Class D Felony
Intimidation-Class D Felony
Domestic Battery-Class A Misdemeanor
Myles Pasley                     Battery by Body Waste-Class D Felony
Intimidation-Class A Misdemeanor
Lawrence Roy IIIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
Nathaniel Ruffert            Unlawful Possession of Syringe-Class D Felony
Dealing in a Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Lookalike Substance-Class
D Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
Michael Santiago             Unlawful Possession of Syringe-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
Alyssa Vailes                     Possession of Methamphetamine-Class D Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
Daniel Villalobos             Maintaining a Common Nuisance-Class D Felony
Possession of a Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Lookalike Substance-
Class A Misdemeanor
Artestine Washington    Residential Entry-Class D Felony
Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Misdemeanor
Ebon Wolf                          Dealing in Marijuana-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class D Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Kyle Phernetton at 812.435.5688 or via e-mail at KPhernetton@vanderburghgov.org
Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law
IU Maurer, Rose-Hulman create IP scholars program
IL for www.theindianalawyer.com
A new program established by Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will allow select                             Rose-Hulman graduates to study at the IU law school at a reduced tuition rate.
The Rose-Hulman Intellectual Property Law Scholars Program will offer at least two Rose-Hulman graduates admitted to the                             law school a scholarship amounting to 50 percent of annual tuition, plus access to a formal mentoring program and a research                             assistant position at the Center for Intellectual Property Research at IU.
According to a release from the law school, the scholarship will lower the cost of law school over three years by approximately                             $45,000 to $75,000, depending on the student’s residency and other factors.
“Intellectual property law is one of the fastest-growing areas of the profession,†said Austen L. Parrish, dean                             and James H. Rudy Professor of Law at the IU Maurer School of Law. “We have one of the strongest intellectual property                             law programs in the nation and are delighted to join forces with one of the country’s leading engineering schools in                             finding pathways for talented students to advance their professional interests.”
“The Rose-Hulman Intellectual Property Law Scholars Program will create outstanding opportunities for students to gain                             a technical and legal education that will enable them to make significant contributions to an economy driven by technological                             innovation,†said Richard E. Stamper, dean of faculty and professor of engineering management and mechanical engineering.
Rose-Hulman will nominate current students or alumni for the program beginning with the class entering in the fall of 2014.
Mayor Winnecke’s Response to Gallup’s Well Being 180 out of 189 for Evansville
Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke lashed out at the pollsters at Gallup who published a study about the “well being” of the people of greater Evansville this week. Gallup polled over 700 people in greater Evansville along with similar sampling percentages in the other 188 metro areas polled. Gallup’s data resulted in a ranking for Evansville of 180th out of 189 metro areas for well being. The Mayor naturally was offended by this ranking.
In his rebuttal Mayor Winnecke asserted things like an improving unemployment rate, a hotel that will soon be built, and I-69 as reasons that we should not be ranked so low. He also cited a once a month free exercise class as good reason that we should not be judged as unhealthy. The interview in the video took place at the Ford Center where the NCAA Division 2 Basketball quarter finals drew sparse crowds of 757 and 477 to the first two sessions in a $127.5 Million venue that seats just over 10,000.
The important thing about this survey that seems to have escaped Mayor Winnecke’s awareness is that it is a composite of what the people of Evansville think about the situation in greater Evansville RIGHT NOW. The other thing the Mayor seems to have missed is that this study is a relative ranking. No where in the study does it say that Evansville is an unhealthy and unhappy place to live. What it does say is that RELATIVE TO THE OTHER 188 METRO AREAS IN AMERICA, EVANSVILLE RANKS #180. Evansville may well be a perfectly acceptable place to live while ranking 180 out of 189.
Right now does not include a hotel downtown and a handful of traditional entertainment venues zoos, parks, and museums do not offer any amenity that other cities don’t also offer. While the Mayor seems to want to earn a high ranking, it is time that he learned that fun and games are not and never will be a substitute for high paying careers, state of the art infrastructure, and exemplary schools.
If and I do mean if Evansville ever repairs the sewers, eliminates the blight, finds a way to magnify creative and hi-tech job opportunities, and stops dwelling on amusement, this ranking will rise. Until that happens we can expect a video per year expressing disappointment and disbelief about Evansville’s bottom of the barrel ranking in well being when compared to other American cities. Perhaps it is time our Mayor and our leaders started listening to the 700+ people that Gallup surveyed instead of refuting the results in the echo chamber we all know as the Civic Center.