Dunn Hospitality and all Associated Businesses Resign from Chamber of Commerce: Encourages others to Follow
In a letter obtained by the City County Observer and on the link below, John Dunn of Dunn Hospitality advises the President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, Christy Gillenwater that Dunn Hospitality and all affiliated companies and properties are terminating their memberships immediately. Dunn furthermore advised the Chamber that he will encourage any other business that will suffer as a result of the gifting of $37.5 Million to a downtown hotel developer to terminate their memberships too.
The entire letter is on the following link.
Chamber President Opines on Downtown Evansville’s “Ghost Town” Status
The president of the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana has issued a statement about why downtown Evansville has deteriorated into being a “ghost town” and never mentions the words “convention hotel” in her statement. What she does state is “WE DON’T HAVE A PLAN. WE NEED GOALS, WE NEED A TIME FRAME, AND WE NEED A LEADER.” It is a good read and we encourage our readers to have a look at it.
Vanderburgh County Democratic Party 2013 Event Schedule
Revised:09/05/2013
Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission Annual Dinner
ï‚· Location: The Centre-Ballroom A
ï‚· Cost: $30 per person, featuring Connie Rice, nationally renowned civil rights attorney
ï‚· Contact: City-County Human Relations Commission 812-436-4927
Sep 7 10:00am – 6:00pm
Family Day at the Park
ï‚· Location: Civic Center Parking Lot 100 E Walnut St ï‚· Cost: Free
 Please stop by to sign Rep. Gail Riecken’s Scooter Law Petition and enjoy a day of fun!
Sep 8 11:00am – 2:00pm
IBEW Local 16 Picnic ï‚· Location: Vanderburgh Co. 4H Center
ï‚· Cost: Free
ï‚· Contact: Paul Green 812-867-9670
Sep 11 8:00am – 9:00am
Small Business Caucus Town Hall Meeting
ï‚· Location: Ivy Tech 3501 N First Ave Evansville, IN
ï‚· Cost: Free
ï‚· Contact: Zarah Hileman at zarah.hileman@iga.in.gov
Sep 12 6:00pm
2013 Vanderburgh County Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson Dinner
ï‚· Location: Marina Pointe 830 LST Dr Evansville, IN
ï‚· Cost: $50 per person, Silver Sponsor – $500, Gold Sponsor $1,000 Table for 8 guests & signage
ï‚· Contact: Jack McNeelyjackmcn45@gmail.com or 812-204-3321
Sep 12 8:00am
Evansville Labor Temple Building Fund Golf Scramble
ï‚· Location: Fendrich Golf Course 1900 E Diamond Ave Evansville, IN
ï‚· Cost: Individual Golfer $75, Silver Sponsor $350 Foursome and 1 sign, Gold Sponsor $500 Foursome and 2 signs, Hole Sponsor $150, Lunch served immediately following scramble
ï‚· Contact: Andrea @ Evansville Labor Temple 812-422-2552
Sep 14 10:00am – 3:00pm
AIDS Holiday Project Car Wash Fundraiser
ï‚· Location: CVS Parking Lot Hwy 41 & Washington Ave Evansville, IN
ï‚· Cost: Donations Accepted
ï‚· Contact: Wally Paynter 812-480-0204
From: Vanderburgh County Democratic Party <vanderburghdemocrats1@gmail.com>
Subject: Upcoming Events
Reply: vanderburghdemocrats1@gmail.com
Sept 21 6:00PM
Dave Wedding for Sheriff Fundraiser
 Location: Wolfe Home – 2710 Old Dominion Rd Evansville, IN
ï‚· Cost: $100 per person. The party will take place outside and will include bonfires, cornhole, & music. Whole hog BBQ, sides, and beverages will be provided.
ï‚· Contact: Larry Craddock 812-457-3732
Sept 21 12:00 Noon – 5:00pm
Rick Riney for Perry Township Trustee Fish Fry
ï‚· Location: Westside Sportsmen Club 1000 N. Peerless Rd Evansville, IN
ï‚· Cost $15 per person, $25 per couple & $5 for children 12 & under – A day of food, fun, and games!
ï‚· Contact: Rick Riney812-422-2771 or 812-746-2462
Sep 27 7:30am – 2:00pm
Latino Summit “The Extraordinary Impact of Latinos in the United Statesâ€
ï‚· Location: Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center 1901 Lynch Rd Evansville, IN
ï‚· Cost: $60 includes Lunch before Aug 31, $75 after Aug 31, Sponsorships are available
ï‚· Contact: Maura Robinson 812-437-6914
Sep 27 7:00pm – 9:00pm
TSA Youth Group Community Open House
ï‚· Location: 501 John St Suite 5 Evansville, IN
ï‚· Cost: Free
ï‚· Contact: Wally Paynter 812-480-0204
Sep 28 12:00 Noon – 2:00pm
Laura Brown Windhorst for City Clerk Fundraiser ï‚· Location: FOP Lodge – 801 Court St Evansville, IN
ï‚· Cost: $20 per person
ï‚· Contact: Laura Brown Windhorst at lbbrown2003@yahoo.com
Oct 7–12 Westside Nut Club Fall Festival
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke’s Weekend Schedule
Friday, September 6, 2013
Mayor Winnecke will attend the HRC Annual Dinner tonight at The Centre to present the 2013 Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards. The event is from 7-9:30 p.m. The Keynote will be Civil Rights Attorney Constance L. Rice.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Mayor Winnecke and Clean Evansville volunteers will be picking up trash in the 2nd Ward from 8-10 a.m. The Mayor’s team will meet at Willow Road and Walnut Street. Teams will start gathering at Lorraine Park around 9:45 a.m. for the wrap-up ceremony.
Mayor Winnecke will give the welcome at the 15th Annual Family Day in the Park at 11 a.m. The event will take place in the “Back 40 Parking Lot†behind in the Civic Center near the C.K. Newsome Community Center, 100 E. Walnut St., and will feature the national R&B group Zapp.
Mayor Winnecke will attend the Silver Soiree for the celebration of Maestro Alfred Savia’s 25th seasons at the Tropicana Ballroom from 6-9 p.m. The event will feature a dinner, silent and live auctions, and dancing to the big band music of the Philharmonicats. For more information call 812-425-5050.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Mayor Winnecke will be attend the Annual IBEW Local 16 Electrician Union Picnic at the 4-H
Fairgrounds. He plans to arrive around 4 p.m.
People will never trust grades doled out by politicians
Indiana House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath from Michigan City issued the following statement in reaction to the results of a study of the state’s A to F grading system that was commissioned by Republican leaders in the Indiana General Assembly.
I wanted to ensure that you saw Leader Pelath’s comments in full:
“Those guys tried their best. But it’s going to be hard to get the stench off the A-F system. (Former Superintendent of Public Instruction) Tony Bennett let a skunk spray all over it.
“The fact is people will never fully trust grades doled out by politicians for political purposes. The grades are for rewarding friends and punishing the weak. That’s why some communities in Indiana are pledging to ignore them altogether.
“Other investigations are continuing. When they’re all done and we add them up, maybe we’ll slow down on the experiments and remind ourselves that education is about the kids, not the powerful. There isn’t anything from the episode that will help make a child score better on a math test.”
Evansville Levee System Repair Works Gets Underway
 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District has awarded a contract to Holton construction for the Evansville Levee System repairs. The work is necessary to ensure the levee system operates as designed and continues to provide flood risk reduction benefits to Evansville homes and business.
“The goal is to operate the levee in a safe and reliable manner,” said Theresa Beckham, Louisville District planning project manager.
Construction and rehabilitation work will begin on Monday, Sept. 9. The repairs will include fixing two flap gates resulting from the 2011 floods. Flood gates help to divert water during a flood event to provide flood risk reduction. The levee has also experienced “wave wash” which calls for repairs. Wave wash occurs when high water creates erosion over time lessoning the effectiveness and performance of the levee. Typically, work to fix wave wash would mean stripping this area and re-grading it with earthen material to engineering specifications.
Although the levee is operated by the Evansville Vanderburgh Levee Authority District, the Army Corps of Engineers still provides technical advice during high water events, flood fighting capabilities – if necessary – and repairs to the levee should it be damaged in a flood event. The Corps also inspects the levee. Because it is well-maintained by the Vanderburgh Levee Authority District, the levee is part of the Corps’ Levee Safety Program. This means that repairs can be 100 percent federally funded if damages to the levee were sustained in a flood. The current work will be at 100 percent federal funding.
The Corps has a strong partnership with the Evansville Vanderburgh Levee Authority District, and the two entities work well together to ensure public safety by monitoring, inspecting and maintaining the levee components, according to Beckham.
The work will likely be finished by mid-January.
The Lifeline law was created to save lives
I want to start off by saying that as an educator, state representative and member of our community, I do not condone the consumption of alcohol by minors. We cannot ignore the grim reality that minors do experiment and participate in irresponsible behavior, but when that behavior turns into a life-threatening situation, Indiana has provided the Lifeline Law.While this legislation does not do away with our laws on alcohol use, it does however provide immunity for some alcohol-related offenses. The Lifeline Law provides protection from being charged with the following crimes: public intoxication, minor possession, minor consumption and minor transportation of alcohol to the individuals who reveal themselves to law enforcement while seeking medical assistance for a person suffering from an alcohol-related health emergency.As a further step towards accountability, the law requires that certain good-faith actions must be taken in order for a person to receive immunity. A person can demonstrate they are acting in good faith by:
• Providing their full name and any other relevant information
requested by law enforcement officer
• Remaining on the scene until law enforcement and
emergency medical assistance arrive
• Cooperating with authorities on the scene
The law does not interfere with law enforcement procedures or limit the ability to prosecute for other criminal offenses such as providing alcohol to a minor, operating while intoxicated or possession of a controlled substance.
Students from the University of Southern Indiana (USI), partnering with student governments from Indiana University, Purdue University and many others, led the charge on the Lifeline Law because they believed it could save lives. The group sought to raise awareness and show the relationship between how the law, at that time, handled those who reported alcohol poisoning which led to fewer incidents reported and unfortunately fatalities.
As a result, the General Assembly worked alongside these driven college students to pass the Lifeline Law as a life-saving initiative. I encourage you to learn about this law and please help spread the word about it. Although I do not condone irresponsible behavior involving underage consumption, we cannot afford to let bad situations turn deadly.
If you have questions regarding the Lifeline Law, contact me at h76@iga.in.govor for additional information about the law, visit www.in.gov/legislative and search the 2012 session archives for Senate Enrolled Act 274. You can also visit www.indianalifeline.org.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, September 04, 2013.
Lena Bryant Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
Mark Hunt Dealing in Marijuana-Class C Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class D Felony
Maintaining a Common Nuisance-Class D Felony
Dealing in a Sawed-Off Shotgun-Class D Felony
Corey Lane Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class D Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
Public Intoxicated-Class B Misdemeanor
Amber Martin Robbery-Class C Felony
Battery-Class B Misdemeanor
Mandy McRoy Unlawful Possession or Use of a Legend Drug-Class D Felony
Karl Morris Operating a Vehicle as an Habitual Traffic Violator-Class D Felony
Amram Bilal Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury-Class C Felony
Residential Entry-Class D Felony
John Moore Jr Domestic Battery-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Lamont Payne Felon Carrying a Handgun-Class C Felony
Muriel Pitt Forgery-Class C Felony
Counterfeiting-Class D Felony
James Reynolds Resisting Law Enforcement-Class D Felonies (Two Counts)
Reckless Driving-Class B Misdemeanor
Joshua Sigers Pointing a Firearm-Class D Felonies (Two Counts)
Ashley Williams-Butler Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class D Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
Gary Bentley Jr Counterfeiting-Class D Felony
Virgil Condit Child Molesting-Class C Felony
Gary Gentry Operating a Vehicle with an Ace of .15 or More-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Eric Gourieux Operating a Vehicle as an Habitual Traffic Violator-Class D Felony
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
Eric Hardin Unlawful Possession or Use of a Legend Drug-Class D Felony
Invasion of Privacy-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Duwan McKinney Operating a Vehicle as an Habitual Traffic Violator-Class D Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Ever Receiving a License-Class C
Misdemeanor
Sarah Myers Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .08 or More-Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Kristina Reynolds Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury-Class C Felony
Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon-Class C Felony
Criminal Recklessness-Class D Felony
Failure to Stop After Accident Resulting in Entrapment of a Person in a
Vehicle and Serious Bodily Injury-Class D Felony
Jimmie Riggs Possession of Methamphetamine-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
Joy Scarlett Unlawful Possession or Use of a Legend Drug-Class D Felony
Operating a Vehicle with an Ace of .15 or More-Class A Misdemeanor
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
Bryan Sulcer Burglary Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Felony
Theft-Class D Felony
Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Misdemeanor
Kendra Wise Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
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
Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
Evansville Welcomes Gaither Homecoming Christmas Spectacular
Greenville, SC – Multi-Grammy Award winning recording artist, Bill Gaither will present the Gaither Christmas Homecoming music spectacular at the Ford Center in Evansville, IN, on Friday, December 13, 2013. The legendary recording artist will present an exciting celebration, filled with the very best in Christian music, including Gaither’s own multi-award winning group, The Gaither Vocal Band (pictured in attached jpg). This special event will begin at 7:00pm.
For nearly half a century, multiple Grammy and Dove award winner Bill Gaither has been a musical trailblazer. His reputation as a performer, songwriter and mentor for newly-discovered artists is known world-wide. Gaither’s beloved series of Homecoming CDs and DVDs continues to top the sales charts and attract an ever-increasing audience. Whether you are a brand new fan or a longtime lover of feel-good Gospel music, don’t miss this incredible concert experience. “In times like these we must reflect on what is most important in our lives…faith, family and friends,” explains Gaither. “I invite everyone to join me and my special ‘friends’ for an uplifting musical extravaganza filled with joy, laughter, good music and great memories.”
The roster of talented “friends†taking the stage with Gaither and the Gaither Vocal Band, featuring Mark Lowry, David Phelps, Michael English and Wes Hampton, include The Martins, The Isaacs, Angie Primm, Charlotte Ritchie, Gene McDonald and Kevin Williams.
Additional information regarding the Gaither Christmas Homecoming Tour stop at the Ford Center in Evansville, IN, is available online at www.premierproductions.com or www.gaither.com.