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The Price is Right Live! comes to the Victory Theatre

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More than a thousand area gameshow fans answered the call to “Come On Down” to the Victory Theatre on Saturday night for The Price is Right Live! stage show. Those eager to play the iconic games arrived at the theatre early and stood in a line that wrapped around the building in order to register for their chance to be a contestant. Quite a few of them, some who had traveled to Evansville from severall states away, were given the chance to participate during the interactive show, and even those not called down to the stage still had a chance to win bonus prizes like gift cards and autographed t-shirts. The audience’s enthusiasm and excitement was palpable both before and during the show, as Emmy Award winning host Todd Newton led them through classic games like Plinko, Cliffhanger, the Big Wheel and an exciting Showcase. Several of the contestants walked away with prizes that included cash, electronics and even a vacation trip to Las Vegas.

“This show was a lot of fun for everyone, for the Victory staff as well as the members of the audience,” said General Manager Ben Bolander. “We loved watching people go crazy and just laugh and scream like they do when they’re watching at home.”

The Victory Theatre will next open its doors for two performances of the Evansville Philharmonic’s “Cirque de la Symphonie” November 2 and 3.

The Victory Theatre is managed by VenuWorks of Evansville, LLC.

NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE EVANSVILLE LOCAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BOND BANK

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cityofevansvilleThe Board of Directors of The Evansville Local Public Improvement Bond Bank will meet to conduct such business as may properly come before it on

October 29, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in Room 307 of the Civic Center Complex, One N.W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Evansville, Indiana.

 

For further information, contact Russell G. Lloyd Jr., City Controller, Room 300, Civic Center Complex, One N.W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Evansville, Indiana 47708-1833; Telephone: (812) 436-4919.

OUCC offers winter conservation tips

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By Jacie Shoaf

TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – In preparation for winter, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is posting advice on its website to help Hoosiers conserve energy and save month.

“Our website offers a host of useful tips that will help you prepare for winter,” said Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor David Stippler. “These tips can add up to either save you money or at least keep your bills in check.”

The OUCC website recommends that Hoosiers get a home energy assessment, which is free for lower income families. To sign up, visit www.energizingindiana.com or call 888-446-7750 toll-free.

The website also suggests cleaning furnace filters, checking insulation, setting ceiling fans to rotate clockwise, turning thermostats down slightly when leaving the house, switching to energy efficient light bulbs, and unplugging chargers and appliances when not in use.

For additional tips, visit www.IN.gov/OUCC or call 888-441-2494 toll-free. The OUCC website features various publications, including free guides that outline electric rates and natural gas utility costs.

 

Red Shoe Series: Sudden Death Awareness

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Deaconess1Oct 30, 2013

6:30 PM

Gateway Conference Center

Gateway Conference CenterJoin us as Dr. Chandra Kumbar discusses sudden death awareness at the next Red Shoe Series event on October 30 at 6:30 p.m in the Deaconess Gateway Hospital Conference Center. Register by calling 450-6789 or go to deaconess.com/redshoe.

St. Mary’s Rehabilitation to offer free balance screenings

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st. marys logo St. Mary’s Rehabilitation will offer free balance screenings Wednesday, October 30th from 1 – 4 p.m. at Washington Square Mall, in the rear St. Mary’s entrance. The event is free and open to the public, but an appointment time is required. Call 812-485-5209 to schedule a screening time. Participants will also have the opportunity to review their medication list with a St. Mary’s pharmacist help determine if medications are contributing to any loss of balance.

Among the older population, falls are the leading cause of trauma admissions and injuries. A decreased sense of balance is a common risk factor for falling. The balance screening will help identify potential factors that may affect balance and lead to an increased probability for falls.

This event is presented by St. Mary’s Outpatient Rehabilitation, St. Mary’s Trauma Services, the University of Evansville Physical Therapy Department; and the University of Southern Indiana Occupational Therapy Department. St. Mary’s Durable Medical Equipment, the YMCA, and others will also be at this mini health fair.

Ed board members ask Ritz to drop lawsuit

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Staff report
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Four members of the State Board of Education have asked Superintendent Glenda Ritz to drop a lawsuit she filed accusing them of taking secret, illegal action.

The members – Troy Albert, a principal from Henryville; David Freitas, a professor from South Bend; Sarah O’Brien, a first-grade teacher from Avon, and Tony Walker, an attorney from Gary – said in a letter that they “don’t believe politics have any business in education.”

They asked Ritz, who chairs the state board, to “put politics aside and come to the table ready to put the interests of students, teachers and schools first.”

Ritz filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in Marion Circuit Court. It accuses 10 members of the State Board of Education – who were all appointed by Republican governors – of violating the state’s Open Door Law by taking official action without meeting in public for a debate and vote.

The lawsuit followed a letter the board members signed last week that asked GOP legislative leaders to have the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency calculate A-F school grades, even before the Department of Education had finished working on the data.

Ritz said on Thursday that the DOE is working diligently on the school grades and that board should not have asked lawmakers to intervene without a public discussion and vote.

“I have always believed that fair, open and transparent decision-making is best and it is disappointing to learn that the board took action in a different manner,” Ritz said.

But in their letter, the four board members said they have been “been continually frustrated by our emails and requests that go unanswered, missed deadlines, and a lack of progress on issues that are critical to the success of our students and our schools.”

Still, they said they were willing to “set that aside and start over.”

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, saying that Ritz had no authority to file it.

IS IT TRUE October 28, 2013

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Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics
Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics

IS IT TRUE the City County Observer calls upon the Vanderburgh County Commissioners to put an end to the idiotic “deposit all the cash within a mile of the Civic Center” practice and rebid the contract for banking fees?…if the same bids are submitted then German American Bank will get the deal and the taxpayers of Evansville will save $10,000 this year and up to $25,000 per year in perpetuity?…it is absolutely infuriating for such a practice to exist?…it is more infuriating to watch the County Commissioners sit there like bumps on a log as they did last week and live by stupid traditions they are completely free to abolish? …we are disappointed in County Commissioners Marsha Abell, Steve Melcher, Joe Kiefer and County Attorney Joe Harrison, Jr. for letting this banking deal go though without public debate?  …we hope that this issue will be brought up during their re-election campaigns?

IS IT TRUE News 25 ran a story last week about 6 Evansville City Council members who met in City Council Attorney Scott Danks’ office for what they called a political caucus? … attending this alleged caucus we’re Council members Friend, Adams, Robinson, O’Daniel, Riley, and Al Lindsey?…this sort of meeting has gone on before in Evansville and the results have been less than desirable and in some cases downright destructive to the public’s interest?…as this is the group of six who recently stood firm and saved the taxpayers of Evansville $18.5 Million when the other three council members and the Mayor were all gung-ho to burn $38.5 Million we formally ask for an explanation from them as to what the subjects of the meeting were and for absolute assurance that no discussions about spending the people’s money were on the table?

IS IT TRUE tonight is the night that the City Council has its last shot at the 2014 budget?…given the fact that Controller Russ Lloyd Jr. has owned up to a $1.35 Million shortfall in that golden egg revenue stream from Tropicana and that several other revenue streams are expected to be a bit short, the CCO supports removal of the $1.5 Million for Roberts Park from the 2014 budget and at least an additional $3.5 Million from other non essential budgets?…it looks like we will for the 3rd year in a row pass a budget without the benefit of the results of an audit or with confirmation that our books are reconciled?…this is really beginning to look like bankrupt Detroit who is now attempting to replace the lost population, brainpower, and revenue by building a hockey rink and a light rail system with $800 Million borrowed dollars?…this is utter insanity for a place that can’t even answer 911 calls with regularity?…if Evansville is to engage in MONKEY SEE MONKEY DO economic development it should at least start looking for a successful monkey to copy?

IS IT TRUE Pam Kehaly, president of Anthem Blue Cross in California, said she received a recent letter from a young woman complaining about a 50% rate hike related to the healthcare law?…in what should be the quote of the year “She said, ‘I was all for Obamacare until I found out I was paying for it,'” Kehaly said?…nearly 2 million Californians have individual insurance, and several hundred thousand of them are losing their health plans in a matter of weeks?…Blue Shield of California sent termination letters to 119,000 customers last month?… HMO giant Kaiser Permanente is canceling coverage for about half of its individual customers, or 160,000 people?…according to Jennifer Harris a young healthy professional who saw her premium increase by 150%, “It doesn’t seem right to make the middle class pay so much more in order to give health insurance to everybody else,” said Harris, who is three months pregnant. “This increase is simply not affordable.”?…California is one of the few states that was well prepared along with Kentucky to operate an insurance exchange?…that being the case the cancellations, price increases, and discontentment with the product are a warning signal to the rest of the country for the day the Obama Administration figures out how to run a website?

MEMORANDUM Concerning Proposed City Budget Adjustments

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cityofevansville

 

 

To: Honorable Members of the Common Council

From: Russell Lloyd, Controller

Date: October 26, 2013

Subject: Tentative 2014 Budget Changes

 

Dear Council Members:

On Friday, the Administration met with your representatives Council President Robinson, Vice President Adams and Finance Chair Friend regarding the 2014 City of Evansville budget changes.

The Administration has come up with a list of cuts with some minor additions that total ($2,086,294.00).  This includes an increase of $253,918.17 for the Fire Department personnel salaries and benefits due to the ratification vote for the City’s labor contract proposal for 2013 to 2015.  See the attached worksheets pages 1-2.

City Council requested additional funds for City Council contractual services ($90,000) and City Council attorney legal assistant ($25,000).  See the attached worksheet page 3.

The City Council Representatives chose to cut funding for Roberts Park and the salaries of the Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief.  The City Council Representatives also wish to change the Computer Services contractual line in the Local Income Tax budget.  The Administration does not agree with these cuts or changes but respects City Council’s authority to make them.

The concept of adding funds for each member of City Council ($50,000) to designate towards a park was not agreed to.

The agreed to changes by account are listed in the attached pages.

If additional changes need to be made prior to the Council 2014 budget meeting Monday please do not hesitate to contact the administration.  Mayor Winnecke will be available in his office from 2:00 – 5:00PM Monday before the Council meeting.

The Finance Dept. will be sending City Council the new final 2014 City of Evansville budget books Monday with all changes.  A new 2014 bound copy will be available sometime in November, with all changes finally adopted included.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

 

 

C: Mayor Winnecke

Steve Schaefer

Tribute to the late Lou Reed, “Take a Walk on the Wild Side”

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Breaking News: Riverboat Tax Revenue Shortfall for 2014 Pegged by Controller Lloyd at $1.35 Million

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Evansville Controller Russ Lloyd Jr. CPA
Evansville Controller Russ Lloyd Jr. CPA

MEMORANDUM

To: City Council Members

From: Russell Lloyd, Controller

Date: October 24, 2013

Subject: Projected 2014 Fund 0446 Riverboat Gaming Revenues

Dear Council members:

I have confirmed with Tropicana Evansville accounting staff projected Fund 0446 Riverboat Revenues for the 2014 budget.

For Riverboat Gaming 4465925 Account 362000 2014 Rental projects ($ 600,000) decrease

For Riverboat Gaming 4465925 Account 362000 2013 Rental projects ($750,000) decrease.
This is for 2013 due to the retroactive adoption of SB 528 by the state.

Riverboat Gaming 4465925 (Budget Book Revenues page 59):

2014
ORIGINAL 2014 2014
BUDGET ADJUST BUDGET CHANGE

335181 ADMISSION TAX 1,870,000 2,070,000 200,000
335182 GAMING TAX 5,108,000 4,908,000 (200,000)
361000 INTEREST INCOME 14,000 14,000 0
362000 RENTAL OF PROPERTY 5,310,000 4,710,000 (600,000)

Totals 12,302,000 11,702,000 (600,000)

That is the total adjustment for 2014 per Tropicana Evansville’s finance staff. There is no $2.0 million decrease.
I had e-mail communications with Greg Burke, Financial Controller and Jennifer Morgan, Director of Finance for Tropicana Evansville (formerly Casino Aztar).

Riverboat Gaming.
New legislation (7/1/13) allows Indiana casinos to deduct “free play” as a business expense from Adjusted Gross Receipts (AGR). “Free Play” compensation or coupons to players was previously non-deductible.

So casinos no longer have to pay tax on this amount. For Tropicana Evansville that’s an approximate $5.0 million deduction from estimated gross receipts of $118-120 million, so new AGR = $113 million. The Casino’s Finance Dept. estimated the effect is ($ 600,000) less in rental/lease payments for the City riverfront lease for 2014, which is based on AGR.

Ms. Morgan indicated Tropicana Evansville (TropEvansville) is now forecasting a slight decrease in 2014 total gaming revenues versus 2013. She also indicated TropEvansville has no indication of how Ellis Park’s new video horse racing machines are doing since there is no published information.

She confirmed the City 2014 revenue budget figures for 4465925-335181 Admission Tax and 4465925-335182 Gaming Tax as flat compared to 2013.

Let me know if you have any questions.

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