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IS IT TRUE, Marsha’s Panic over the Centre Seems to have been a PR Panic Attack

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Marsha Abell

True Analysis of Centre Finances

This spread sheet on the link below is a great illustration of the true financial results of the Centre’s operation, when you account for the Innkeepers Tax Subsidy. Joe Gries, County Auditor confirmed they have a $4.1 Million Dollar cash reserve, which is very close to the calculations found from the Centre’s financial statements prepared by SMG and data provided by Brian Gerth.

In addition, please find a copy of the Innkeepers Tax code IC 6-9-2.5 which provides the language regarding the Vanderburgh County Innkeepers Tax. Specifically, I draw your attention to section IC 6-9-2.5-7.7 titled Convention Center Operating Fund where the County Treasurer is required to establish a convention center operating fund; deposit into this operating fund the amount of 2% rate (of the gross receipts of hotels, motels cabins, etc… in Vand. Co.); and the money can only be expended for the operating expenses of a convention center.

As previously reported, generally accepted accounting principles have NOT been followed in regards to the reporting of the results of operations. The attached analysis clearly indicates that innkeepers’ tax revenues have bypassed the income statement, misleading the public as to the true financial condition of the Centre. If Marsha Abell should elect to close the Centre it will be on the false premise that the Innkeepers tax is not part of the Centre’s income stream.

Ms. Abell’s well timed and most likely orchestrated by some puppetmaster “the sky is falling so give me my hotel” manifesto turns out to be nothing more than part of the hotel supporter’s last ditch PR campaign that thus far has been based on false claims, last minute concessions, undue distress directed at the Evansville City Council (more on this later), brow beating by union officials, and veiled threats to any opposition with influence.

Centre Financial Analysis

VanderburghCountyInnkeepersTaxStatute

EPD Activity Report September 20, 2013

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EPD PATCH 2012

EPD Activity Report September 20, 2013

Ricketts’ Drive for Success

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d-patrick-evansville-indiana-used-cari-dealership-luxury-driver-2013-tony-rickettsProfile of General Manager of D-Patrick, Tony Ricketts

By Scottie Thomas

After starting out with Showplace Cinemas, Tony Ricketts took changed gears and found a job selling cars. A part of the industry since 1988, his passion for the sales and automotive industries directed him to his current career. Eighteen months later, he gets promoted to Business Manager, followed by Sales Manager in 1995.

Ricketts drives a BMW, but his ideal vehicle would be a Porsche 9-11. His drive for success in the automotive sales industry is fueled by his passion and interest in cars. He favors his German-made vehicles such as Volkswagon.

D-Patrick is ‘family owned,’ as began working for the O’Daniels Family. With a value of family himself, his wife, Heather, have two sons, Alec and Adrian. Alec is at the University of Louisville and Adrian is at the University of Evansville. Heather also owns her own business, Second-Hand Chic. They often go out to eat at places such as El Charro and the Canton Inn, as they like to support the local businesses and deviate away from selecting chain restaurants.

This is one of the reasons Ricketts loves his job with the people and situation he is in. Ricketts is happy working for a privately owned dealership ‘because it provides a more personal touch,’ he says. ‘At any given time, you are able to talk to the owner [or management] as now many are publicly owned in the automotive industry.

In the next few years, Ricketts shared his plans for growth with D-Patrick, as they want to create a showroom for each line of car brand, build a new Nissan showroom and lot, as well as expanding the used car selection, given the demands of the market. Along with growth, Ricketts and D-Patrick are heavily involved in the community, including their philanthropic efforts with Susan G. Koem: ‘Race for the Cure,’ Evansville’s Philharmonic Orchestra, and other patrons such as marathons and wine festivals.

Lately, Ricketts has also taken interest in the School Board for EVSC as he is considering a second run. He wants to bring a business background into the mix with fresh, innovative ideas, as Ricketts states that ‘Change is good.’ He would like to hold office for two or three terms, making a contribution ‘that will open doors for others to continue.’

Dr. Bucshon Votes to Fund the Government, Defund ObamaCare

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220px-Larry_Bucshon,_official_portrait,_112th_Congress

(Washington, DC) – On Friday, the House passed H.J.Res 59 the Continuing Appropriations Resolution for 2014, which continues funding the government and defunds the Affordable Care Act.

 

Representative Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-8) released the following statement regarding the passage of H.J.Res 59:

 

“While passing a Continuing Resolution is not an ideal outcome, the bill we passed today serves two fundamental and vital functions: it prevents a government shutdown and protects American families from the harmful impacts of the Affordable Care Act. 

 

“As I traveled across the 8th District over August, I consistently and clearly heard from Hoosiers that the Affordable Care Act is damaging, harmful, and costly to families and it must be defunded.  This message has resounded across the country and the House listened.

 

“This short-term CR funds our country’s obligations, protects families, and avoids a government shutdown. Now it is time for the Senate to a

Indiana State Police and Oakland City Police Arrest Oakland City University Student for Intimidation

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user29376-1379703045-media1_60656b_192_240_PrsMe_

Gibson County – Friday morning, September 20, Indiana State Police and Oakland City Police arrested Michael Cangelosi, 26, of Loogootee, after a criminal investigation determined he threatened to harm a 19-year-old female student at Oakland City University. The alleged threat occurred last night in the campus library. Cangelosi and the female victim are both students and reside on campus. At approximately 9:30 this morning, Indiana State Police and Oakland City Police located and arrested Cangelosi on campus. He was taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held on a $750 cash bond.

This is an on-going investigation and no further information will be released.

ARRESTED:
• Michael Cangelosi, 26, Loogootee, IN
1. Intimidation, Class D Felony

Investigating Officers: Trooper Wes Kuykendall and Detective Toni Walden, Indiana State Police

EPD Officer injured in northside vehicle accident

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epd

 

Evansville Police Officer Jeff Minto was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital following a one car accident at 10:43 this morning.
Officer Minto was responding to an injury accident when he lost control of his patrol car on wet pavement at Stringtown and Buena Vista.
The patrol car left the roadway and struck a utility pole. The impact was at the front of the drivers door. Officer Minto, who was wearing his seatbelt, struck his head on the door post and window. He suffered concussion like symptoms and several abrasions and bruising.
He was conscious at the scene and is expected to be released from the hospital today.

It’s The Law; They Must Stop

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ISP

Indianapolis, IN- You’re following a school bus and suddenly you notice the four way flashers are activated and the bus is slowing. You don’t observe any emergency. What could be happening? Perhaps that school bus driver is following the law as they approach a rail way crossing.

The Indiana State Police would like to remind motorists that Indiana law requires school bus drivers to stop at all rail way crossings, whether they be equipped with crossing arms or not, and visually inspect for oncoming trains.

The Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Division has recently received reports from some school districts of their buses being struck in the rear by motorists failing to realize that they are required to stop at rail way crossings.

“It appears that motorists are unaware that the buses are required to stop,” stated Sergeant Chris Kath of the Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Division, “or they are not paying attention to their surroundings and fail to observe the slowing/stopped vehicles.”

Sergeant Kath explained that bus drivers activate their four way flashers when approaching a rail way crossing to alert motorists that they will be stopping. He further explained that bus drivers do not activated the overhead yellow flashing lights, the ones that are activated prior to stopping to allow a child off the bus, because when the driver opens the door to observe for trains, the red stop lights are automatically activated by the opening of the door. Kath stated motorists approaching the bus could be confused and stop on the rail road tracks.

Indiana code 9-21-12-5 states:
A school bus, with passengers, shall stop 50-15 feet prior to the crossing. While stopped, listen through an open door or window, look in both directions for an oncoming train, and can only proceed when it is safe to do so.

Indiana was ranked 4th nationwide in railroad crossing collisions in 2012 with 105 and 4th nationwide in railroad crossing fatalities with 17.

School buses transport Indiana’s most precious commodity and the Indiana State Police are committed to ensuring the safety of those passengers.

Further information and statistics about railroad crossings in Indiana are available on the Operation Lifesavers website at http://oli.org/.

To view your child’s school bus inspection record go to www.in.gov/isp and click on the “Indiana School Bus Inspection Program.”

“Am I Required to Stop for that School Bus?”

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ISP

The Indiana State Police would like to remind motorists of Indiana laws concerning school buses, flashing lights and stop arms.

When approaching a school bus, from any direction, which is stopped with its flashing red lights activated and its stop arm extended, motorists are required to STOP, even on multiple lane highways, with the ONLY exception being-

•Motorists who are on a highway that is divided by a barrier or unimproved median are required to stop only if they are traveling the same direction as the school bus. If there is no unimproved median or barrier, then all lanes in all directions must stop.

Remember, when approaching a school bus be prepared to stop and watch for slowed or stopped traffic.

Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a serious violation and one that school bus drivers are quick to report. Violation of this law is a Class “A” infraction and is punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000.

The Indiana State Police is committed to the safety of our children, motorists and highways, and will continue our enforcement and education efforts to ensure that safety.

Centre Financial Statements: What is the Reality of a Hotel’s Influence?

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The Incentive Package
The Incentive Package

The financial statements for the Centre point to conclusions that are counter to the assertions that were made yesterday by County Commissioner Marsha Abell and those who have joined the chorus of “the hotel will save the Centre”.

The operating losses for the Centre in 2005, the last year that the Executive Inn was really trying to prosper were $904,947 according to the official financial statement. That same statement that is available on the link below only shows a loss of $475,811 for 2011 the first full year that there was no Executive Inn at all? 2011 was also the first year that Ms. Abell served as a county commissioner and was coincidentally the year with the best (although poor) financial performance for the Centre for the years 2005 – 2011 that were included in this financial statement that the CCO secured yesterday.

The 2013 year to date results show a loss of $206,000 on revenues of $1.2 Million through July 31, 2013 which appears to be on track to lose less money that even the 2011 year did.

The macroscopic analysis of these results would actually correlate the presence of a hotel with an increase in losses at the Centre.

Centre Financial Statement

IS IT TRUE September 20, 2013

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

IS IT TRUE September 20, 2013

IS IT TRUE that Vanderburgh County Commissioner Marsha Abell really took many people by surprise yesterday with her “in your face” reality slap regarding the financial woes of the Centre, the Old Courthouse, and the Coliseum?…most people were aware that these three facilities were all losers when it comes to the bottom line but it was the first many seem to have heard about a serious discussion to mothball them?…whether one likes Marsha’s message or not it does have merit?…Marsha even expressed her opinion about the state of things in downtown Evansville that piggybacked on Chamber President Christy Gillenwater’s “ghost town” sentiments when she proclaimed that downtown Evansville is “tired and worn out looking”?…it seems as though when the façade of political correctness is replaced for a moment with a bit of emotion the shoddy look and feel of a deserted downtown is something that everyone seems to agree about?…this is the case despite spending $30 Million on the Victory Theatre, $40 Million on the Centre, $30 Million on the Library, $127 Million on the Ford Center, $4 Million on reversing Main Street, $5 Million on Innovation Pointe, and several more million on the downtown loft programs?…if these $250 Million in public projects did not change things a $40 Million convention hotel with bells and whistles will not either?…where Marsha’s irrational exuberance crossed over into the Mayoral land of lollypops, unicorns, and delusions is in her unfounded logic that a hotel will lead the Centre to the promised land?…as Marsha should know a 600 room hotel did not keep the Centre from losing money and neither will a 253, or 225, or whatever the number is today room hotel?

IS IT TRUE it is puzzling to many people how a storage place for travelling band equipment and tiger beds for the Ford Center ended up getting bundled into what was a perfectly simple hotel wish?…this is a glaring oversight in the design of the Ford Center and there was no need to bundle it into another project?…it may well be needed but it should be paid for from other sources?…the sources to pay for the storage building should be a) any and all recaptured funds from overbilling and accounting mistakes during the Ford Center Construction, b) any “under budget” money left over as we have all heard about in the crowing of construction management success, and most importantly c) the repatriation of every dollar of political contributions made by any construction company, professional services provider, or union that was made during a period of time from a year before the Ford Center construction began until a year after it was completed?…we are quite sure that if those three sources are tapped there will be more than enough cash on hand to build a storage center for Ford?

IS IT TRUE since HCW is in the mood to reduce the scope of the project to cut the value of the bonding required we should all take this opportunity to do exactly that?…HCW quickly yesterday without being asked offered to downsize the project by $7.5 Million which reduced the bonds needed to $30 Million?…the overall project thus went from $75 Million to $67.5 Million?…the thing that most people will miss is that the elimination of items that were not being incentivized only reduces the public portion of the spending and does not reduce the incentive to HCW a bit?…Mr. Hunden is a very clever fellow when it comes to changing a deal to make it look better without putting so much as a fingernail of his own companies interest on the table?…we were quite surprised that HCW came back so fast with a recommendation to change the deal before the vote is even taken?

IS IT TRUE just to change the subject we must question once again the cost per baseball field in Evansville, IN?…the new proposal by the CVB works out to $1.75 Million per little league field and is better than the over $2 Million per field that was proposed with a straight face in 2010?…we still find it disturbing that in a world where top shelf baseball fields are built everywhere for $600,000 that Evansville is all giddy about dropping $1.75 Million for the same thing?…this seems like a teenager going to a car lot and coming home all happy for making the deal of the century for a $50,000 car that has a $20,000 manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP)?…goofiness still prevails in River City?

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