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HB 1141 will address key issues facing Indiana communities

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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.

With House Bill (HB) 1141 , 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 “meth” 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 isn’t a health risk to the surrounding people and properties. But, the process doesn’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 buyer’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 don’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

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EVSC

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.  He saw the gun on a pull-out computer keyboard drawer inside the school’s Boiler Room, behind a locked steel door.  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.  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

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nick hermanSPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.

 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

 Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, January 23, 2014

 

Ashley Barnett                                  Theft-Class D Felony

                                                                (Habitual Offender Enhancement)

 

Alex Brandt                                        Possession of a Schedule I Narcotic

Drug-Class D Felony

 

Misty Coleman                                 Possession of Methamphetamine-

Class D Felony

                                                                Possession of a Schedule II

Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

 

Orlando Gamez                                Dealing in Marijuana-Class D Felony

 

Devin Hodges                                   Possession of a Schedule II Controlled

Substance-Class D Felony

                                                                (Habitual Offender Enhancement)

 

 

Samuel Morales Jr                          Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .15

or More-Class A Misdemeanor

(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)

 

 

Brooke Owens                                  Theft-Class D Felony

 

Daniel Payne                                     Possession of Methamphetamine-

Class D Felony

                                                                Theft-Class D Felony

                                                                Possession of a Schedule II

Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

                                                                Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A

Misdemeanor

 

 

Kevin Roach                                       Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily

                                                               Injury-Class C Felony

                                                                Intimidation-Class C Felony

                                                                (Habitual Offender Enhancement)

 

Kiyoe Tanaka                                     Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor

(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)

                                                                Unlawful Possession of Syringe-Class D Felony

                                                                Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor

 

Nathan Wilson                                 Theft-Class D Felony

                                                                Unlawful Possession of Syringe-Class

D Felony

                                                                Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor

 

Kenneth Young                                Criminal Trespass-Class D Felony

 

James Burris                                      Theft-Class D Felony

 

Amber Darrett                                  Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class

D Felony

                                                                Intimidation-Class A Misdemeanor

 

Calvin Dillard                                     Residential Entry-Class D Felony

                                                                Criminal Trespass-Class A

Misdemeanor

                                                                Criminal Mischief-Class A

Misdemeanor

 

Christopher Green                          Operating a Motor Vehicle after

Forfeiture of License for Life-

                                                          Class C Felony

 

Rodney Higginson                           Theft-Class D Felony

                                                                (Habitual Offender Enhancement)

 

Angela Montgomery                      Theft-Class D Felony

                                                                Criminal Trespass- Class A

Misdemeanor

 

Nathan Murphy                                Auto Theft-Class D Felony

                                                                Operating a Vehicle with an ACE      

                                                              of .15 or More-Class A

Haily Plemens                                  Theft-Class D Felony

 

Cody Strange                                     Intimidation-Class C Felony

Troopers Arrest Evansville Man for Dealing Synthetic Cannabinoids

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methmanISPSPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.

 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

 

Troopers Arrest Evansville Man for Dealing Synthetic Cannabinoids

Vanderburgh County – 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 Morrow’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 Morrow’s residence. He was arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

ARRESTED AND CHARGE:
• 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

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Bubbies web small

 

Bubbies – Bubbies is a 5-year-old male. His previous family had him for his whole life, but when they had a new baby – 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! Bubbies’ 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

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EPD PATCH 2012SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.

 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

EPD Activity Report January 23, 2014

IS IT TRUE January 24, 2014

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Mole
Mole

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?…let’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 “sign police” and “permit police” 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 note’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 Vectren’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 woman’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 fool’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, “can’t we all just get along?”

Sentencing Complete in 2 of 4 Defendants in Beumer Case

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nick hermanSPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.

 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 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 Indiana’s “good time” 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 – 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 – A Felony, Criminal Confinement –B Felony and Theft – 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

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riecken_2012 (175x220)

INDIANAPOLIS- Amidst economic instability and hardship for Indiana’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.

“The 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,” 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.

“It’s a win-win situation,” Riecken explained. “People will never lose their balance or the interest they’ve accrued, they only have the opportunity to win more money while learning how to save.”

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.

“We 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,” said Riecken. “The intent of this bill is to build saving habits in people who are not used to saving.”

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.

 

Southern Indiana legislators participate in Suits and Sneakers at the Statehouse

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STATEHOUSE — Today, State Representatives Ron Bacon (R-Chandler), Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) and Wendy McNamara (R-Mount Vernon) wore sneakers at the Statehouse, along with other House legislators and staff, in support of the Suits and Sneakers challenge to help raise awareness about cancer and showcase the importance that nutrition and physical activity play in reducing one’s risk of the disease.

 

“While in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a short session, we cannot forget about our fellow Hoosiers who are currently battling this ruthless disease,” said Rep. Bacon. “Cancer has impacted us all; it knows no race, gender, age or religion. I am proud to take part in this effort and provide people with the knowledge they need to best protect themselves against cancer.”

 

The American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers challenge is an annual event sponsored by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches to help raise cancer awareness and support those affected by it.

 

“By raising awareness and supporting research, it is my hope that we will one day find a cure for cancer,” said Rep. Sullivan. “Almost everyone has been affected in one way or another by this disease, and we need to continue to take a stand. I was honored to join my fellow legislators in supporting the American Cancer Society as a part of the Suits and Sneakers challenge.”

 

Wearing sneakers is much more than a fashion statement. It is a simple way to spotlight the fact that cancer is the second most common cause of death in the U.S. – exceeded only by heart disease, which accounts for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths. It is also an opportunity to remind people about all the ways they can reduce their risk of cancer; like eating right, exercising, making healthy lifestyle choices and following the American Cancer Society’s recommended cancer screening guidelines.

 

“Nearly every day I am reminded of the many Hoosiers that are being affected by this disease in one way or another,” said Rep. McNamara. “Cancer does not discriminate and many of us know someone who is currently battling this disease. I was proud to take part in raising awareness with my fellow legislators in a hope to one day finding a cure.”

Visit www.cancer.org for more information on how you can help spread the message and fight back against cancer.

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