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IS IT TRUE October 24, 2013

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

IS IT TRUE October 24, 2013

IS IT TRUE the question has come up regarding the proposed location of the IU Medical School regarding the amount of acreage that would be needed to take care of the entire campus plus to make allowance for support businesses that are expected to eventually locate as close to the campus as possible?…the Warrick County proposal dedicates about 75 acres and the privately owned may be competitor at the Promenade has about 40 acres?…as a simple exercise we wanted to investigate just how much available space is in downtown Evansville?…40 acres for blocks the size of the ones in downtown Evansville would require about 16 square blocks?…that would take up every bit of land that is presently considered to be the downtown commercial area?…to be a bit more specific it would include all of the land bounded on the north by Court Street, the south by Walnut Street, the east by 6th Street, and the west by 2nd Street?…if it is 40 acres that the IU Medical School has a need for, downtown Evansville is not even a viable candidate unless nearly everything standing is demolished?…proponents for a downtown Evansville location had better cross their fingers that 40 acres with an unobstructed line of sight is not something IU considers critical?…they had probably better hope that a vertical campus with no demand for amenities will suffice if downtown is really to be considered to be a contender?

IS IT TRUE the mainstream media has finally caught wind of the buggy whip days practice of the Vanderburgh County government when it comes to making deposits of taxpayer dollars into a banking institution?…it still boggles the mind that in a world where one can use an ATM card on every continent with a permanent population that local government could come up with a requirement that taxpayer dollars can’t be deposited in any bank that does not have a branch within a mile of the Civic Center?…now that it has been exposed that this anti-competitive and archaic practice is costing the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars per year in banking fees we suspect that this craziness will be stopped?…the sneaky ways that sweetheart deals get done in Evansville never ceases to amaze even the most casual observer?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville City Council is facing a November 1st deadline to pass the 2014 budget?…it is now a virtual certainty that this budget will be passed without the benefit of having a respectable amount of time to review and digest the 2012 State Board of Accountancy Audit that has not yet been released?…this will be the third budget passed by an Evansville City Council without a clean audit on record for the most recent year unless of course a spotless audit is delivered before the vote takes place?…that vote is scheduled for Monday the 28th?…Councilman John Friend is fighting like the dickens to remove the $1.5 Million for Roberts Park and another $4.5 Million from the 2014 budget to account for expected shortages in revenue?…we applaud this effort and encourage the other members of the council to take a safe, responsible approach to their spending plans?

IS IT TRUE the word from Washington is that 4 Democrat Senators are prepared to sponsor a bill that will postpone ObamaCare until 6 months after the technology actually works?…if these four Democrat Senators can count on all 46 Republicans and can pick off a couple of more Democrats, ObamaCare may just be delayed due to the inability of the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a working website in 3 years with $600 Million?…if this is not egg on the face of whoever was supposed to assure that this was functional before the launch then there has never been egg on any face anywhere?…from their personal statements it is painfully obvious that neither President Obama nor Cabinet Member Kathleen Sebilius have even a remote clue how farce this happened, what the reality is today, or how to move forward?…the inability of this administration to be able to do anything but talk is stunning and concerning?

Bucshon votes to secure critical funding for Indiana ports and waterways

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220px-Larry_Bucshon,_official_portrait,_112th_CongressOn Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), a reform-minded, fiscally responsible bill that strengthens our nation’s water transportation network by providing transparent oversight, cutting government red tape, and allocating critical funding to support ports and waterways. No such water resources development legislation has been enacted since 2007.
“WRRDA is fiscally responsible and simply makes government work better for taxpayers,” said Bucshon. “It provides much-needed oversight of the Army Corps of Engineers, streamlines the environmental review process, and consolidates duplicative analyses of projects that have delayed important infrastructure improvements for over 15 years.  These types of delays have cost our economy billions of dollars and have put the United States a competitive disadvantage.”

 

WRRDA promotes common-sense reforms that expedite the permit review process to 3 years, previously at 15 years, and consolidate duplicative, wasteful analyses that have unnecessarily cost valuable resources. It also contains no earmarks, deauthorizes $12 billion of old, inactive projects, and has a baseline expenditure that is $15 billion less than the 2007 enacted WRDA bill. Finally, WRRDA will undoubtedly help Southwestern Indiana through its investment in maintenance and funding for ports, like our very own Mt. Vernon Port, that are often underfunded.

 

“WRRDA will provide additional funding for ports and waterways, like the Mt. Vernon Port,” said Bucshon. “The Mt. Vernon port has several businesses headquartered on its property and is vitally important for Southern Indiana’s economic competitiveness, prosperity, and growth. A well-functioning water transportation system is critical for their success now and in the future. I’m pleased to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this important legislation.”

 

BACKGROUND:

 

The Mt. Vernon Port in Southwestern Indiana handles between 3 and 5 million tons annually, and is ranked as the 6th largest inland port in the US by ton-miles.

 

International trade represents one-third of the U.S. GDP and 99 percent of international trade is handled through our nation’s ports supporting 30 million jobs and providing an annual $200 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue.

 

Bucshon serves a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that unanimously passed H.R. 3080 on September 19, 2013.

 

H.R. 3080 passed 417 to 3.

2013 Keep Evansville Safe Poster Contest

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nick herman835 Vanderburgh County Middle School Students from 12 schools submitted their original artwork last month with the theme “Keep Evansville Safe” to earn a chance at a spot in the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office Annual Calendar.

 

Each school saw at least one winner, with those students’ posters and names to appear in the calendar.

 

Roughly 5,000 of these calendars will begin making their way through the county early next month. These calendars are distributed to the EVSC Middle Schools, Parochial schools, libraries, EPD, VCSO, Media Outlets, YMCA, YWCA and throughout the civic center.

 

Visit the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/vanderburghCoprosecutorsoffice to see a new winner each day.

 

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

Pet of the Week-Annie

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Annie web small

Annie – Annie is a 1-year-old German shepherd mix. She is lively and full of energy, and she has SUCH a good “sit!” She has had several dog friends here at the VHS, so after an approved meet & greet, she can go home with a family who may already have another dog! Annie is already spayed, so she’s ready to go home with you TODAY! Her adoption fee is $100, which includes not only her spay, but her microchip, vaccinations, and a bag of food.

 

www.vhslifesaver.org

Our vision: A World Without Breast Cancer.

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Komen Weekly Banner

Office Hours – Friday, October 25
Our office will close at 12:00pm this Friday, October 25 so that our staff can travel to Nashville to participate in the Greater Nashville Race for the Cure on Saturday morning!

Surviving with Style Show – November 5
This year’s Style Show will be held on Tuesday, November 5th.  Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling the Affiliate office at 812.962.2202.

Pink the Rink Date Announced – January 25
Pink the Rink with the Evansville Icemen will be held at 7:15pm on Saturday, January 25, 2014.  Save the Date!

Theatre for the Cure – January 17, 18 & 19
CAST (Comunity Artists & Stage Troupe) in affiliate with Komen Evansville is proud to announce our first ever Theatre for the Cure!  Join us for
a family-friendly comedy in two, Flowers for Jonetta.  They play will be performed at 7pm on Friday, January 17 & Saturday, January 18 and at 2pm on Sunday, January 19 at the new North High School Auditorium.  Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the Affiliate office or from a CAST member.

Energizing Indiana partners with Evansville Tri-State Affiliate for donation!
Sign up for a FREE energy assessment of your home by using the special link below and our Komen Affiliate will receive $25!  Help yourself and help Komen too!   Click here to sign up.

Ongoing Activities

Passionately Pink for the Cure

Rally for the Cure

Volunteer Opportunities
There are currently no Volunteer Opportunities.

Educational Opportunities
There are currently no Educational Opportunities.

News From National

Did you know…
Early detection and effective treatment have resulted in a 34 percent decline in breast cancer mortality in the U.S. since 1990!

Coachella Valley iHub Company takes 3rd Place in World’s Best Technology Competition

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Joe Wallace, Managing Director, Coachella Valley Innovation Hub
Joe Wallace, Managing Director, Coachella Valley Innovation Hub

SecoSys Corporation of Palm Springs, CA that markets and installs smart meters for monitoring and controlling water in real time has been named the 3rd Place Winner in the World’s Best Technology Conference in San Diego, CA.

The contest that featured over 100 invited presenters from 10 countries and most of the states including Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio is a forum where companies make competitive presentations to one of the largest gatherings of venture capitalists and angel investors in the world.

“Our Smart Water Metering and Control Platform provides total water management, control, and conservation capability anywhere water is piped. This First in Space Open Platform has the potential to support an entirely new industry of smart web-based monitoring and control of water resources.” said Hank McCarrick the President and CEO of SecoSys when asked to describe his companies innovation.

The Coachella Valley iHub run by former GAGE president and CEO and CCO editor Joe Wallace has qualified six companies to make presentations during the last two years and is the largest contributor of technology start-up participants to the World’s Best Technology Conference. “It is quite satisfying to have one of our companies on the awards podium at this prestigious event”, said Wallace who accompanied SecoSys to the conference. “This award is as close as one can get to winning the equivalent of a bronze medal at the Olympics for early stage businesses” he continued.

Historically medalists at the WBT Showcase find venture investment with approximately 35% of all presenters being offered a deal.

Thompkins Middle School to Host Pumpkin Carving Contest

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EVSCThompkins Middle School to Host Pumpkin Carving Contest

Thursday, Oct. 24

2:45 – 4 p.m.

Thompkins Middle School, 1300 W. Mill Rd.

 

Around the world, more than one billion pumpkins will be carved this year during Halloween and students at Thompkins Middle School are once again getting in the fun as they participate in the school’s annual Pumpkin Carving Contest. Approximately 60 teams of students will carve, decorate and paint their pumpkin tomorrow after school from 2:45 to 4 p.m. Students will be vying for first place in the following categories: weirdest pumpkin, strangest pumpkin and the scariest pumpkin.

Warrick Wellness Trail a Prime Contender for Academic Health Science Education & Research Center

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WARRICK COUNTY, Ind.  As the Indiana University School of Medicine and its partners carefully examine the Southwest Indiana region for the new Academic Health Science Education & Research Center, Warrick County officials are confident that the Warrick Wellness Trail will emerge as the ideal location.

The new campus, a joint effort between the IU School of Medicine-Evansville, Ivy Tech Community College, the University of Evansville, the University of Southern Indiana, Deaconess Health System, Jasper Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center, Owensboro Medical Health System and St. Mary’s Medical Center is expected to serve thousands of area students preparing for careers in medical and associated fields.

Preliminary planning suggests that the campus, on the site of the original Allen Homeplace Farms and Schnapf Family property, will require at least 150,000 square feet of classroom laboratory, office and related space, with extensive parking for faculty, staff, students and volunteers. Those requirements alone give Warrick Wellness Trail a significant advantage, suggests Don Williams, President of the Warrick County Commissioners. “Warrick Wellness Trail was designed specifically to serve the healthcare needs of our area’s growing and aging population,” Williams says. “It offers extensive acreage that’s already approved and cleared for development, more than enough infrastructure to support the campus and excellent transportation access for the million residents in the Tri-State area.”

 

Warrick Wellness Trail is already home to Deaconess Gateway Hospital, the new St. Mary’s Epworth Crossing, medical offices, and senior care and skilled living facilities. It provides excellent transportation access for the entire area, with its location just off Interstate 164, at the intersection of Epworth and Lynch Roads, near the six-lane Lloyd Expressway (SR66), just minutes from Interstates 64 and 69, U.S. 41 and State Roads 61, 261 and 62. The site is also convenient for faculty, staff, students and volunteers needing quick access to the campus.

“One of the most important considerations is that the 75-acre Warrick Wellness Trail site has clear title and is shovel-ready,” adds Larry Taylor, Executive Director of Success Warrick County, the county’s economic development office. “That means the phase one environmental study has already been completed, and we wouldn’t need to condemn and demolish any existing buildings, so development could proceed much more quickly.” Warrick County government leaders are supportive of the project. Taylor points to several other advantages of the Warrick Wellness Trail site:

– The new education site could occupy a sprawling campus with numerous buildings and shared assets designed to provide an attractive and efficient learning environment.

– The 75-acre campus site at Warrick Wellness Trail offers abundant space for surface parking, which costs far less to develop than multi-story parking structures.

– There is already a master plan in place for the area, incorporating extensive green space, a beautiful greenway trail system, and space designated for other future medical-related businesses attracted to the area.

– The community surrounding Warrick Wellness Trail is thriving, expanding, self-sustaining and fiscally stable, making it less susceptible to economic fluctuations.

– The proposed site is located in an existing TIF (Tax Increment Financing) district, simplifying funding for any additional infrastructure.

– Crime rates in the area are extremely low and the area features excellent lighting.

– The site offers the participating colleges and universities space for future growth, as well as acreage for complementary facilities such as restaurants and retail stores, creating a sense of community where faculty, staff, students and volunteers can connect.

“We’re eager to respond to the request for proposal that’s expected within the next few weeks, because we believe that Warrick Wellness Trail offers the complete package, serving the needs of all of the participating institutions,” Taylor adds.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Canoe/Kayak Launch on Pigeon Creek

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The Rotary Club of Evansville announced today that they will Cut the ribbonThursday October 24, 2013 at 11:30 am for the Canoe/Kayak Launch located at the south east quadrant of the Green River Rd bridge over Pigeon Creek.  County Commissioners Marsha Abell, Joe Kiefer and Stephen Melcher will be present to help break ground.  The ribbon will be sretched out across Pigeon Creek.  Several people involved with the project will canoe up to it to cut the ribbon (weather permitting).

 

The total project was funded by the Rotary Foundation of Evansville along with several community partners.  The location was secured with Vanderburgh County and the adjoining landowner.  Rotary’s goal with this project is to continue the restoration of Pigeon Creek as the vibrant recreational and cultural center of the City that it once was.  What is lacking now is access to the waterway itself.  Currently, there is only one public access ramp on Pigeon Creek which means the only takeout available is on the Ohio River.  Siting a public access ramp at the intersection of Pigeon Creek and Green River Road would open over six miles of this waterway to the residents of Evansville, bringing the opportunities for paddling, fishing & exploration within easy reach of local residents and visitors.

 

Some of the major contributors include:  Evansville Rotary Foundation, Alcoa, Welborn Baptist Foundation, Vectren, Bussing-Koch Foundation, Koch Foundation, Crescent –Cresline Wabash Foundation, Evansville Commerce Bank, Old National Bank, German American Bank, Meyer and Mulzer Stone.  The Schnepper family donated property.

 

 

 

 

For details about the Canoe/Kayak Launch or to find out more about donating to the project, visitwww.EvansvilleRotary.com or contact Rotary Executive Assistant Julie Spratt at 812-962-4687 or info@evansvillerotary.com .  For details regarding the ribon cutting ceremony, call Dianna Page at 812-480-1471 or dianna@evvairport.com .

Indy Chamber joins opposition to marriage amendment

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By Lesley Weidenbener
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – A Central Indiana business group announced Tuesday that it will join an effort opposing a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Hundreds of people gathered in August in downtown Indianapolis at the Artsgarden to kick start Freedom Indiana, a gay rights coalition that is launching a campaign to stop a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Photo by Jesse Wilson, TheStatehouseFile.com

Hundreds of people gathered in August in downtown Indianapolis at the Artsgarden to kick start Freedom Indiana, a gay rights coalition that is launching a campaign to stop a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Photo by Jesse Wilson, TheStatehouseFile.com

Officials at the Indy Chamber – which represents 3,000 businesses with 235,000 workers – said members are uncertain about the proposed amendment’s impacts on employer-provided benefits, human rights ordinances and legal contracts.

“The Indy Chamber is in the business of strengthening our economy and attracting top talent to our region,” said John Thompson, chair of the Indy Chamber’s board of directors. “The proposed marriage amendment does nothing to help show the nation that Indiana is a place that welcomes all, not just some, and we must be mindful of how actions such as this will impact our competitiveness on a national and global level.”

The Indy Chamber’s executive committee approved the position statement on Tuesday.

Supporters of the constitutional amendment responded by saying the chamber’s decision was “unfortunate.”

“According to Kiplinger Financial Magazine, the top five states for best business growth in 2012 and 2013 all have marriage protection amendments,” said Micah Clark, executive director of the American Family Association of Indiana. “The myth that public policy support for traditional marriage is somehow bad for business is nothing more than a red herring and a scare tactic.”

Clark said the “future of marriage belongs in the hands of Hoosier voters, not the board room of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce.”

Still, the local chamber joins a growing list of companies and organizations taking a stand against the amendment, which has already passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly once. It needs a second approval in 2014 to be placed on the ballot for voter ratification next year.

Republican legislative leaders said earlier this year that they expected the amendment would pass in 2014. But more recently, the GOP majority caucuses have been meeting behind closed doors to discuss the amendment.

Any delay or changes in the amendment means the lengthy amendment process starts over.

Opponents of the amendment have joined forces as Freedom Indiana, which issued a statement Tuesday about the chamber’s position.

“The Indy Chamber represents the voices of hundreds of businesses in Indianapolis and the Central Indiana region, and we look forward to working with them to support Indiana’s economic future by protecting liberty for all Hoosiers,” the group said.

Already, two of Central Indiana’s largest employers – Eli Lilly & Co. and Cummins – have opposed the amendment and joined Freedom Indiana. But the Indiana Chamber of Commerce – which represents businesses statewide – has not joined.

During the summer, Kevin Brinegar, the group’s president, told The Times in northwest Indiana the chamber is likely to remain neutral on the marriage amendment.

“We have members on both sides of the issue, so we have not adopted a position either in favor or opposed to the proposed constitutional amendment,” Brinegar told The Times.

On Tuesday, state chamber spokeswoman Rebecca Patrick said, “That statement is still true.”

The Indy Chamber said in a policy statement that the marriage amendment could make it harder for Indiana to retain its college graduates.

The “necessity to ease this ‘brain drain’ by attracting talent on a national scale would be inhibited by adopting an unnecessary, discriminatory amendment with fading support from younger generations,” the Indy Chamber said. “As the only potential marriage amendment up for consideration nationwide in 2014, it is important to be mindful of the conspicuous part (it) would play in portraying Indiana as a state that welcomes some, but not all, talented workers.”

Also, the chamber said that while same-sex marriage “continues to be a divisive issue in Indiana, there is sustained, growing evidence of discomfort among citizens with adding a broad, discriminatory amendment to our state’s constitution.”

The proposed marriage amendment reads:

“Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”

Polls have shown that Hoosiers are changing their views on the amendment and same-sex marriage. A poll released by Freedom Indiana found that about two-thirds of Hoosiers are uncomfortable with the constitutional amendment but many fewer say they would actually vote against it.

A poll released by the Indiana Family Institute, which supports the amendment, found that two-thirds of Hoosier voters favor defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Officials at the Indiana Family Institute did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the Indy Chamber’s decision. But earlier this month, Curt Smith, the group’s president, said the “Hoosier electorate has a very settled opinion on the topic of marriage.”

“When given approximately a dozen arguments for and approximately a dozen arguments against the marriage amendment, the results were strikingly similar,” he said. “This is a remarkably stable, well-informed electorate that will be voting on this issue in 2014.”

Lesley Weidenbener is managing editor of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

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