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IS IT TRUE December 2, 2013

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

IS IT TRUE December 2, 2013

IS IT TRUE Evansville City Councilmen John Friend and Dan Adams are now jumping on Mayor Winnecke’s “work like the dickens” bandwagon to get the IU Medical School to choose downtown Evansville?…as we at the CCO agree that wherever the IU Medical School lands will positively benefit we encourage these two and the other seven members of the Council to “work like the dickens” to secure the IU Medical School for Evansville as opposed to go “ALL IN” with a downtown or nothing mentality?…any and all locations in Evansville public or private that wish to respond to the forthcoming RFP should have equal financial support from the City of Evansville?…to do otherwise constitutes unequal protection under the law just like the selective enforcement of building codes and sign ordinances does?…there is nothing more disgusting in a country that purports to espouse democratic principles and the rule of law than for elected powerbrokers to pick and choose winners?…it is time for the people of Evansville to demand that their elected officials start to treat all people and all businesses in this jurisdiction equally?…the machine politics of the past that have recently reared their ugly head on Franklin Street and in the IU Medical School debate are a serious deficiency in local governance?

IS IT TRUE we are pleased to learn that City Councilmen John Friend and Al Lindsey are taking the bull by the horns to bring a bit of practical common sense to the laws governing signage for retail establishments?…the Area Planning Commission and the overzealous enforcement official(s) whomever they were that went postal on the businesses along Franklin Street over daily special storyboards that are typical in all significant American cities need to have their wings clipped?…while we believe this was probably just a few Deputy Dog types who were drunk with their own authority, the system that allowed such things to happen and continually hands out political appointments to Deputy Dog types needs to be changed to allow for reasonable signage?…even after the changes are codified the Deputy Dog types have got to go if Evansville will ever shed its growing image of being a great big Shawneetown?

IS IT TRUE former Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., voted for Obamacare, and admitted Sunday it hasn’t worked out like he expected?…”Clearly, the rollout has been a disaster, and it’s still a work in progress,” Bayh opined on one of the talking head shows and continued that the program has been “very problematic, and first impressions tend to be lasting?”…Bayh even forecasted that “If things don’t turn around in the next year it will be “problematic” for Democrats in the 2014 midterm elections?”…James Capretta of the Ethics and Public Policy Center stated it may be a month before anyone can tell if there has been success in fixing the site, even while government officials were struggling to celebrate some improvements to the appearance of a better-working site he stated that looks does not mean the site is working the way it should be and expanded that “The real test of HealthCare.gov is whether you make the right payment to the right people to the right insurance plans?…it’s very easy to fix the front-end enrollment if you turn off controls on the back end?…it is very clear from multiple media reports that the system is still not accurate when it makes payments to the insurance plans?

IS IT TRUE the technicians are working around the problem instead of fixing it?…the government currently is making bulk payments to insurance companies who are self-reporting their sign-ups because the back end of the system isn’t properly keeping an accounting?…as for the claims of traffic counts in the millions per day that is bunk too as internet site analysis website STATSHOW.COM reports that www.healthcare.gov has an average of 18,625 pageviews per day which is only about 5 time the pageviews associated with the City County Observer yet less than the Courier Press?…as a point of reference for a real website in the retail business Amazon.com successfully manages 95 MILLION pageviews per day?…locally the closet website that is about the size of healthcare.gov in terms of traffic is SHOECARNIVAL.COM?…we would like to be a fly on the wall in the board room of Shoe Carnival if an 80% success rate on connecting to any customer was deemed to be acceptable?…the only word to describe the technological performance of the Obama Administration when it comes to a retail website is ABYSSMAL?

EPD Activity Report: Nov 29, 30 & Dec. 1 2013

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EPD PATCH 2012

EPD Activity Report: December 1, 2013

EPD Activity Report: November 30, 2013

EPD Activity Report: November 29, 2013

EPD Activity Report..December 1, 2013

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Letter to The Editor By Jordan Baer: Support Wreaths Across America At Our City Cemeteries

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Letter To The Editor By Jordan Baer

bugle-honorThis December 14th, Oak Hill & Locust Hill Cemeteries will be participating in the Wreaths Across America program thanks to cemetery superintendent Chris Cooke and local event coordinator and volunteer Betsy Fulton. As a part of my goal of making our city cemeteries a part of the lives of all local residents, honoring our deceased veterans is the perfect way to begin this process.  When Mr. Cooke brought the program to my attention, I couldn’t help but feel like this would be yet another great opportunity for residents from all sides of town and all sides of the political compass to come together and help pay tribute to our veterans buried in our city cemeteries.

The Wreaths Across America organization began in 1992 by Mr. Morrill Worcester. As the owner of the Harrington, Maine based Worcester Wreath Company, Morrill had many wreaths left over from the holiday season. Inspired by a trip he took to Arlington National Cemetery when he was a boy, Morrill arranged for the wreaths to be sent to Arlington National Cemetery. Not only did he send the wreaths to Arlington, he also had them placed in an older part of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer and fewer visits as the years passed by. You can read more about his story at the Wreaths Across America website: http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/

When I heard the story about Morrill, I couldn’t help but feel like our local movement to return reverence to our cemeteries runs parallel to the hopes and aspirations that Mr. Worcester is currently fulfilling. Like Arlington National Cemetery, we need to pay tribute to all of our deceased veterans whether they are buried in the new sections of the two cemeteries or laid to rest deep in the back parts of them. For this reason, I am asking for help from both local residents as well as local leaders in raising the proper amount of funds to place a wreath on all veteran head stones on December 14th.

About this time, most of you are probably saying to yourself, “that’s great but we’re only a few weeks away from Christmas and I just don’t have the money to make a huge contribution.” As someone who has always lived paycheck to paycheck, I certainly understand and sympathize with your concerns. Luckily, Wreaths Across America has made it affordable for everyone to sponsor a wreath.

Sponsorship of a wreath is just $15.00, that’s less than a dollar a day between now and Christmas. You can sign up and pay for your wreath sponsorship at the Wreaths Across America store: http://www.waastore.com/ While at the store, you can also purchase a wide variety of other things such as pins, flags, and Christmas cards just to name a few.  When purchasing a wreath sponsorship, please note that the code for Oak Hill Cemetery is “INOHCE” and the code for the Civil Air Patrol squadron who is hosting the event is “INCAP220″. Also, anyone who sponsors a wreath may post a thank you article to our veterans on my blog agraveinjustice.blogspot.com.

I appreciate Mr. Chris Cooke and Mrs. Betsy Fulton as well the Civil Air Patrol squadron for bringing Wreaths Across America to our Evansville cemeteries. And, I would also appreciate it if you the residents and city leaders of Evansville and Vanderburgh County would remember our veterans during the holiday season by sponsoring a wreath for a veteran headstone this December 14th.

 

IS IT TRUE ….. WEEKEND

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Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics
Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local PoliticsIS IT TRUE we congratulate Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams for the way he handled the dismissal of former employee Stuart Mosby?
IS IT TRUE we are getting many positive reports concerning the outstanding  job that the Honorable Judge Les Shively is doing?  …he shall be up for re-election next year and don’t be surprised that he runs unopposed?
 
IS IT TRUE we hear that for that several years the Warrick County Council have spent more money then they took in?  …that they have been taking money from surplus and rainy days funds to make up for the financial shortfall?  …we are surprised by this news because the entire County Council makeup are Republicans?
 
IS IT TRUE we are happy to report that Ist Ward City Councilmen, Dan McGinn and At-Large City Councilmen, Dr. Dan Adams has visited business owners on North Burkhart Road to discuss the street light problems with them?  …we are disappointed to hear that At-Large City Council members Weaver and O’Daniel hasn’t talked with business owners located on North Burkhart Road about the street light problems?
 
IS IT TRUE we are hearing that State Representative Ron Bacon is really becoming well known as a “go to person” in Indy?  …we hear that once is gets focus on an issue he won’t back off until he gets some kind of positive results?
IS IT TRUE we would like to thank the Director of Transportation with the City of Evansville for having his crew ready to attack bad weather problems?  …this is one reason why he is considered as one of the top department heads in the city because of his planning skills?
IS IT TRUE we would like to thanks City Council members John Friend, CPA and Al Lindsey for pushing to change the laws that regulate the placement of signs located at  businesses in Evansville?  …we are really surprised to read in the Courier that the Mayor in now trying to take credit for the proposed changes in the City sign ordinances rules?
 
IS IT TRUE that City Controller Russ Lloyd, Jr. is continually to reject the many requests of City Council Budget Chairmen, John Friend, CPA for financial data so he can review the status of money in area banks?

Accounting team among three finalists in national competition

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November 25, 2013 | Wendy Bredhold
Article Photo

Left to right: Nick Muensternman, Bryant Cornelius, Brooke Neuhoff, and Lauren Perigo.
Photo Credit: Photography Services
The University of Southern Indiana’s accounting team (“Screaming Eagles”) is a finalist in the 2013 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Accounting Competition and will compete against teams from Santa Clara University and University of Portland for the top prize.

The three teams will present their financial plans in Washington, D.C., in December, and the most impressive plan will win $10,000.  Second and third place teams will win $5,000 and $2,500, respectively.

Team members are Bryant Cornelius of Oden, Brooke Neuhoff of Huntingburg, and Nick Muensterman and Lauren Perigo of Evansville.  Timothy Bryan ’90 M’07, instructor of accounting, serves as faculty advisor for the team.

This year’s team addressed the issue of personal financial planning, and the scenario focused on a young software developer with hopes of one day creating a mobile application.  Each team was given the task of providing the developer with financial advice.

USI’s team was among more than 150 teams from universities nationwide competing to be one of 15 semifinalists.

“We certainly appreciate everyone who voted for the USI team during the semifinal portion of the competition,” said Dr. Brian McGuire, associate dean of the Romain College of Business and director of accounting programs.

Veterans Education Benefit Programs At UE

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The University, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, participates in a variety of educational benefit programs for veterans, active service members and their families. To determine your benefits eligibility, contact the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs at www.gibill.va.gov or call the Veterans Affairs Call Center, GI Bill Hotline 888-442-4551.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill                                              olmstedHallAtNight

The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill became effective for training on August 1, 2009. The amount of support that an individual may qualify for depends on where they live and what type of degree they are pursuing. Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill.*

For more detailed information, go to the Post-9/11 GI Bill web site.

Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.*

For more detailed information, go to the Yellow Ribbon Program web page.

University of Evansville’s Yellow Ribbon Program

  • Free tuition for any qualified veteran who has served 36 months active duty since September 11, 2001
  • Benefits are transferrable to dependents eligible for Transfer Entitlement under the Post 9/11 GI Bill
  • 70 Yellow Ribbon awards per year (38 Traditional Undergraduate, 10 Organizational Leadership, 10 Global Leadership, 10 Master of Public Service Administration)
  • Awards are renewable yearly for duration of degree program
  • Yellow Ribbon awards are granted on a first come, first served basis
  • Veterans must apply and be approved for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs prior to enrollment at UE.

Comprehensive List of Veterans Education Benefit Programs

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
  • Montgomery GI Bill ñ Active Duty (MGIB-AD, MGIB, or Chapter 30)
  • Montgomery GI Bill ñ Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR or Chapter 1606)
  • Reserve Educational Assistance (REAP or Chapter 1607)
  • Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP or Chapter 32)
  • National Call to Service (NCS)
  • Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA or Chapter 35)
  • Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)

* Information taken from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs webpage

If you have questions about your veterans education benefits at UE, please contact:

Hilary Morales
Veterans Education Benefit Coordinator
Olmsted Hall, Room 116
Phone: 812-488-2148 or 800-423-8633, ext. 2148
E-mail: hm38@evansville.edu

Domestic Violence Call, Pursuit and Arrest

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Sheriff LogoShortly after 8:00 AM yesterday, deputies were dispatched 117 Miller Rd in reference to a family dispute.The husband complained that his wife, Pamela Montgomery, had been upstairs “burning” his clothes. She fled the scene prior to the arrival of the deputies. Deputies were unable to locate and interview her at the time.
Later yesterday , at approximately 9:40 AM, deputies were again dispatched to the same residence. Deputies were told that Montgomery had returned to the address in her vehicle, a 1999 Chevrolet Blazer, and was sitting in the driveway. A deputy approached Montgomery while in her vehicle and directed her to exit. Instead, she put the vehicle in gear and backed out of the driveway. In doing so, Montgomery’s vehicle struck and damaged a sheriff’s patrol car.

Montgomery fled from deputies who were trying to stop her. She left the area east on Hogue Rd toward Boehne Camp Rd. She then turned south on Boehne Camp Rd and continued to Pearl Dr where she turned east and cut through several parking lots in the area.

Evansville police officers assisting sheriff’s deputies with the pursuit followed Montgomery into the parking lot of Walmart at 335 S Red Bank Rd. Montgomery continued east in the parking lot, past the main entrance of Walmart, before striking a Evansville Police car and finally coming to a stop. Once stopped, Montgomery still refused to exit her vehicle.

The driver side window of her vehicle was then broken out so she could be taken into custody.

ARRESTED:
Pamela S. Montgomery, 56, Evansville, IN
Criminal Recklessness, DF
Resisting Law Enforcement, DF
Resisting Law Enforcement, AM
Hit and Run, BM

Guest column: Use state funds to help hungry Hoosiers

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By Rep. Greg Porter
Special to TheStatehouseFile.com

Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis

Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis

In November, millions of families in Indiana and across the nation saw their Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits cut through a planned phase-out of a temporary increase in funding that originally took place during the 2009 recession.

Guest columnUnfortunately, this cut in what used to be known as the food stamp program could not have come at a worse time for Indiana. Our state’s unemployment rate still exceeds the national average, and too many of the “new” jobs being created carry wages around the poverty level. Many do not include any essential benefits such as health care.

In addition, more ominous trouble for the SNAP program looms, as the Republicans in control of the U.S. House consider even more cuts over the next decade.

Under such dire circumstances, it would be good to report that our state is ready to step into the breach and offer some relief for those facing persistent hunger.

That is not the case. Those who control the executive and legislative branches in Indiana state government have done little to nothing, preferring to engage in symbolic gestures rather than take tangible steps to stop hunger.

Last February, the majority leadership of the Indiana House decided to ”highlight” an area of “charitable need” by having representatives provide daily testimonials about the great work that food banks do across our state and placing a drop-off box for food donations. In the days before Halloween, the governor chose to raise money for the hungry by selling pumpkins on the Statehouse lawn.

However, when it came to actually doing something substantive for the cause of food insecurity, there was a gigantic chasm between the rhetoric expressed and the actions that were actually undertaken.

Based on the governor’s recommendation, only $300,000 was appropriated to our state’s food banks for each year of the biennial state budget, despite repeated attempts by myself and other House Democrats to provide more. That is $300,000 in a $14 billion state budget.

These same leaders have shown a demonstrated zeal when it comes to bestowing tax breaks to those who do not really need them. But when it comes to addressing one of the most persistent un-met needs of our state, the silence from our leaders is truly deafening.

Hopefully, all hope is not lost, and we can try again to address a need that is NOT going away. I have two suggestions that could make a real difference in addressing the hunger problem in our state.

First, even though 2014 is not a budget year, our state has a $2 billion surplus in the bank. A small fraction of this surplus could be directed to food banks as a “supplemental appropriation.”  Even a ten-fold increase would be only $3 million. That wouldn’t be remotely enough money to make up the $98 million we are losing through reductions in SNAP, but it still would be a respectable start.

Secondly, the governor could ask the State Board of Finance at its next monthly meeting to transfer money to food banks. This group – consisting of the governor, state auditor and state treasurer – has almost unlimited power to transfer money between funds for almost any reason they choose.

In recent years, governors in our state have been very nimble in using this board for exactly this purpose. Not long ago, Gov. Pence secured a transfer of almost $150 million in Family and Social Services Agency (FSSA) funds to help clean up an accounting mistake involving local option income tax allocations.

If the State Board of Finance can make these transfers for political reasons, policy preferences or correcting clerical errors, surely the same approach can be undertaken to ensure that something as essential as alleviating the hunger pains of our residents.

Now that we are in the heart of the holiday season, I truly hope that public officials in our state realize that there is an opportunity here to take substantive action on a problem that afflicts too many people in our state.

Rather than empty public relations gestures, I think the time has come to take more direct action to help stop hunger. We have the chance…and the ability…to do so much more.

State Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, is the ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. He’s served House District 96 since 1992.

 

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BREAKING NEWS: Councilman Lindsay And Friend Proposes Amendments To Sign Ordinance

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City Councilman Al Lindsey
City Councilman Al Lindsey
Councilman John Friend, CPA: The man whose petition started the movement that led to teh NO VOTE for the Vectren fee
Councilman John Friend, CPA:

Dear Council,

Council Members, Lindsey and Friend have requested I immediately begin work on an Amendment to our Ordinance pertaining to the display of temporary signs by local merchants.  This is in response to numerous complaints from their constituents concerning the threat of enforcement action by the Area Plan Commission.  The following is a rough draft of what I have in mind:
Merchants shall not be required to obtain a permit or pay a fee for temporary A-frame or easel-style signs.  Said signs may not exceed 14 sq. ft. per side, must be located within 12 feet of the physical structure of the business , may only be displayed during normal business hours, may not be used for any purpose other than to advertise goods, services, and/or special events of the business, and may not obstruct or obscure pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

I am requesting any input you or your constituents might have before drafting the Amendment.  Of course, I will also be asking for input from the Administration.

 Council Members Lindsey and Friend have also requested that I ask the Administration not to take further enforcement action against merchants who are substantially in compliance with the above, until such time that the Amendment is brought before the Council. I am hereby doing so by including Ted Ziemer on this e-mail.
I hope to have the Amendment prepared and filed with the Clerk’s office this Wednesday, so we can have first reading on Monday, December 9th.
Your consideration is appreciated and I look forward to receiving any input you may have.
Scott Danks, Attorney
Attorney for Evansville City Council
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