STATEHOUSE – The 2013 legislative session has concluded. Over the course of session, State Representative Ron Bacon (R-Chandler) authored and sponsored numerous bills, two of which have been signed into law by the governor.

“It is hard to believe that just a few short months ago we were talking about the upcoming 2013 session,” said Rep. Bacon. “I am especially proud of the work we have accomplished as a Legislature. During session, I concentrated my efforts on legislation that would directly help Hoosiers in the realm of public health and safety. I am pleased to see that those pieces of legislation have successfully become law.”

One of Rep. Bacon’s bills to be signed into law is HB 1061, which creates a Warrick County magistrate.

House Bill 1061 allows the judges of the Warrick County circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate. According to the 2010 census, the Warrick County population has grown by almost 10,000 people in past ten years, making it one of the fastest growing counties in Indiana. The attractiveness of the region has spurred economic development and consequently more work for city judges. City judges will be held accountable for their work by the magistrate, creating a higher level of efficiency within the judicial system.

“With Warrick County growing so rapidly, it made sense to add a magistrate,” said Rep. Bacon. “The mental health commitments have also increased significantly since new hospitals were built in the surrounding area, and a new magistrate will ease some of the load in lower level offender cases.”

Rep. Bacon’s second bill signed into law, HB 1389, was authored in an effort to give more oversight to veterinarians to establish what tasks their subordinates (technicians and assistants) are able to perform.

“This bill will allow a veterinarian supervisor to mandate what practices and procedures their subordinates can perform, regardless of their certifications,” said Rep. Bacon. “It will give a more detailed perspective of oversight and accountably for inexperienced veterinarians, so that their practices are more safeguarded from potential legal consequences.”

Rep. Bacon also worked with his fellow representatives to co-author a total of nine House Bills. House Bill 1151, which created the Blue Alert program, was one of those notable pieces of legislation.

The Blue Alert program will notify the public when a law enforcement officer is killed, seriously injured or missing in the line of duty. The program will be operated by the Indiana State Police Department and will also alert the public if the criminal who caused harm has not been apprehended and may be a danger to others.

“The Blue Alert program will help address issues of public safety in our communities,” said Rep. Bacon. “Our law enforcement officers sometimes have to pay the ultimate price, and I sincerely hope the Blue Alert program will help ease the minds of the brave men and women who serve our communities.”

In working with state senators, Rep. Bacon sponsored a total of three Senate Bills (SB) and co-sponsored seven bills. Among these bills, SB 554 will save Hoosier taxpayers money under telehealth services. SB 554, refers to patient monitoring in the home by a health care provider from a distance, and telemedicine services under Medicaid. Telehealth and telemedicine services allow physicians and psychiatrists to care for their patients without having those patients travel to receive them or having physicians use precious time and money to visit the patients in their homes.

“As a healthcare provider, I truly believe in the potential of this law to save Hoosier taxpayers thousands of dollars through the practice of telehealth and telemedicine. There may be monitors that transmit blood pressure and other vital data in the home to the provider in a hospital. St. Francis Health has done this for a while and has noticed greater savings. Specifically for congestive heart failure, there is normally a one in four readmission rate. With telehealth, there is a one in twenty readmission rate. Reducing the readmission rate means that patients are having healthier outcomes, and is less costly,” said Rep. Bacon.

Rep. Bacon served on the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, Public Health Committee and the Select Committee on Government Reduction during session. Rep. Bacon will continue to work at the Statehouse, in his district, and around the state over the summer.

“I began this session by setting goals for what I would like to see accomplished. I believe the Legislature has accomplished a great deal of positive efforts this session, and I look forward to what will be accomplished in the future,” said Rep. Bacon. “I am humbled to serve the people of District 75 at the Statehouse, and I look forward to building a brighter future for our community and state.”

After serving eight years as President of St. Mary’s Health, Tim Flesch has announced he will retire on his 63rd birthday, January 12th, 2014.
Flesch moved to Evansville in 1990 to join the Daughters of Charity National Health System – East Central Region, where he served in various executive management positions. That organization is now Ascension Health, the parent company of St. Mary’s.
In 1999, Flesch was hired as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of St. Mary’s Health System. He was appointed to his current role in May of 2005.
During his tenure, St. Mary’s has become the only verified adult and pediatric trauma unit in the region, achieved Magnet® designation for nursing excellence, and improved patient safety and satisfaction to higher levels than ever before.
“The greatest honor of my professional life has been to serve as President of St. Mary’s Health these past eight years,” Flesch said. “I am proud of all that we have accomplished as an organization, and I am confident that we have laid the groundwork for continued success as we prepare for the changes coming to the American health care system.”
To ensure a seamless transition, the St. Mary’s Board of Directors will begin the process of selecting a new President in May. It will be an inclusive process that will engage Ascension Health leaders, St. Mary’s associates, physicians, and members of the community. The selection process is expected to be completed in November 2013.

The $250,000 Slot Star Championship Tournament is back by popular demand!

The Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey will be hosting players from all Tropicana Entertainment gaming properties, including Casino Aztar, to play in their exclusive 2nd Annual $250,000 Slot Star Championship Tournament on Friday, June 21st and Saturday, June 22nd.

Casino Aztar’s best slot players are vying for the coveted “TOP 10” qualified positions by participating in the Casino Aztar Point Challenge from April 1 through May 31, 2013. Additionally, two WILD CARD winners will be selected from the top 100 players to participate. Each player, along with a guest, will travel to Atlantic City, New Jersey for the 2nd Annual $250,000 Slot Star Championship Tournament.

One of them could return $100,000 richer as Tropicana Entertainment’s SLOT STAR CHAMPION!

For more information, contact Stacey McNeill, Casino Aztar Director of Marketing at 812-433-4069 or stacey.mcneill@aztarindiana.com

For the fourth time in the past five years, the University of Evansville’s Concrete Canoe team has qualified for the American Society of Civil Engineers National Concrete Canoe Competition, held this year from June 20-22 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

UE’s team of civil engineering students earned a bid to nationals by winning the Concrete Canoe competition at the ASCE Great Lakes Student Conference, held April 18-20 at Trine University in Angola, Indiana. UE placed first out of 17 Concrete Canoe teams, besting the perennial powerhouse team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (which has won regionals 17 of the last 19 years), as well as teams from Purdue University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Notre Dame, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and others.

“I’m incredibly proud of this year’s team for earning a first-place finish at the regional competition. The team has logged over 1,000 hours since the fall semester to design and build their canoe, and unlike other teams in the competition, they do not receive academic credit to participate in Concrete Canoe. They compete simply because they love a challenge, take pride in doing an excellent job, and want to carry on a winning tradition,” said Mark Valenzuela, associate professor of civil engineering and the team’s faculty advisor. “After enduring hours-long road trips, late nights, and freezing wind and rain, we sometimes wonder, ‘Is it worth it?’ And win or lose, each year the answer has always been ‘Yes!’”

The Concrete Canoe competition consists of four categories: races, oral presentation, final product, and design paper, with each counting equally toward the final score. Because of severe weather during the ASCE Great Lakes Student Conference, the races were canceled, shifting the fight to the academic portion of the competition.

“Civil engineering students on the Concrete Canoe team compete both as athletes and scholars. At the ASCE Great Lakes Student Conference, they must demonstrate outstanding presentation, writing, and academic skills to qualify for nationals,” said Brian Swenty, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering. “This year, our students once again proved that they can rise to the top in a highly competitive field of civil engineering students from the region’s best public and private universities. We’re very proud of our students’ work and look forward to another great showing at nationals this summer.”

This year’s canoe, “Palus” (an astronomical term to describe a surface feature on the moon), is 19.9 feet long and weighs 216 pounds. Inspired by an episode of “MythBusters” that investigated whether a car with a dimpled texture like a golf ball could obtain better gas mileage, the canoe features dimples to help reduce drag in the water.

UE Concrete Canoe team members are Jamie Johnson (project manager), Jaclyn Altstadt, Christina Bernauer, Abby Browder, George Carroll, Aubin Fowler, James Gabe, Ryan Hayes, Luc Heidenreich, Amanda Hopf, Chris Kuester, Hieronymus Mitchell, Alejandro Mojica Cadario, Zach Neukam, Hannah Okray, Shannon Osiecki, Heather Passey, Alex Schwinghamer, Katelyn Spainhour, Kilian Sweet, and Bekah Taylor.

Senior Michael Jordan broke his own University of Southern Indiana men’s track and field record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Sunday evening at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational. He broke the record by eight seconds, which was set a week ago.

Jordan ran his race in 8 minutes, 42.63 seconds, which is another NCAA automatic qualifying time and a USA Track & Field Championships “B” standard time, along with being the fastest time in Division II. His time last week at the Mt Sac Relays was 8:50.49

Also this weekend, senior Lauren Minor earned a provisional mark in the steeplechase with her time of 10:53.49 at the Bellarmine Classic. Her mark currently ranks 12th in Division II.

Freshman Johnnie Guy also picked-up a provisional mark in the 5,000 meters as he finished in 14:17.48 at the Hillsdale College Gina Relays. Guy’s time is ranked 16th nationally.

Just missing provisional times and distances were freshman Tyler Schickel, who ran the 1,500 meters in 3:52.12, which is 12-tenths of a second off. Sophomore Zach Watson, meanwhile, fell just shy of a provisional mark after jumping two meters in the high jump with the provisional set at 2.05 meters.

The Screaming Eagles return to action Friday and Saturday at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Outdoor Championships in Romeoville, Illinois.

Evansville, IN – Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, April 26, 2013.

William Beverly III Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to a Class D Felony due to Prior Convictions)

Nicholas Rickard Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

Russell Summers Possession of Cocaine-Class D Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor

For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Regene Newman at 812.435.5156 or via e-mail at rinewman@vanderburghgov.org

Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

AGENDA
Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Building Commission – Ron Beane Police Department – Chief Billy Bolin
Emergency Management-Sherman Greer Fire Department – Chief Mike Connelly

~ Pledge of Allegiance ~
Steve Bagbey absent

Business with representatives:

The following item has been tabled until May 8, 2013.

1. James Murry would like to address the board in reference to an ongoing problem with the handicap sign located at 1710 S. Garvin
Mr. Murry stated the residents at 1710 S. Garvin do not park in the designated handicap parking spot located in front of the home. The residents park in the driveway of 1710 S. Garvin.

Ms. Calloway makes a motion to have a letter mailed to the residents at 1710 S. Garvin inviting them to the next meeting to discuss the issue. Ms. Calloway would also like all the pertinent documents related to the handicap sign. Mr. Gulledge seconds the motion and so ordered:

Departmental Reports:

A. Fire Department ~ Chief Mike Connelly
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

Assistant Chief Anslinger would like to award the fire truck bid to Ferrara Fire Apparatus. The department is going to be purchasing a 100 foot platform quint.

1. Request approval to award fire truck bid.
B. Special Events:
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

1. March of Dimes requests approval for “March for Babies” April 27, 2013 from 10:00 am until noon. Walk begins at Sunrise Park, cross Veterans Memorial Parkway onto Adams, left on SE 1st St, right on Main St, left on MLK, Jr. Blvd, left on Locust St, left on 9th St, left on Sycamore, left on MLK, Jr. Blvd, right on Main St, to Greenway, follow Greenway back to Sunrise Park. No street closings.
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

2. Columbia Healthcare requests approval for “Pair-a-dice Cruizer” car show May 4, 2013 from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Will Close Edgar St between Columbia and Maryland.***Barricades requested***
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

3. Evansville Rescue Mission requests approval for “Drumstick Dash 8K” November 23, 2013 from 9:00 am until 10:30 am. Starts at Sycamore and Elliott, west on Sycamore, to 10th St, to Vine, to 9th, west on Court, north on Riverside Dr, u turn at 2nd St, south on Riverside Dr, u turn at Shawnee Dr, north on Riverside Dr, north on Court, to 9th, to Vine, to 10th, E on Sycamore, end at Elliott. ***Barricades requested***
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

4. Aids Resource Group requests approval for “Southwestern Indiana Aids Walk” September 21, 2013 from noon until 12:45 pm. Walk begins in front of the Old Courthouse building on 4th St, left on Vine, right on 6th, right on Main, right on 1st St, right on Vine finish at 4th St. No street closings.
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

5. Beyond the Veil Fellowship requests approval for “BTVF Spring Fest” April 28, 2013 from noon until 4:00 pm. Close Sonntag Ave between Virginia St and Mt. Vernon Ave.
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

6. West Side Nut Club requests approval for “WSNC Fall Festival” -“Lighthouse Parade”-“Pet Parade” – “Main Parade”. October 6th through October 13th close Franklin St between St. Joe and Wabash and all side streets.
Consent Section:
A. Handicap Signs
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

1. Request approval to install the following handicap signs:
a. Lois Blandford – 212 Negley – 909-0049 – paperwork in order – sign will be installed on Lafayette off Negley
b. Steven Hary – 1501 E. Illinois St – 461-7262 – paperwork in order
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

2. Request approval to remove the following handicap sign:
a. 525 N. Lemcke – deceased
A. Taxi Cab Driver’s Permits:
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

1. Request approval for the following to receive taxi cab drivers permits:
a. Franklin Goff
b. Steven Mitchell
c. Kari Brodeur
B. Dumpster Permit
Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following request:

1. 703 E. Blackford-Rachel Butler-May 3, 2013 for 1 week to clean up lot.
OTHER BUSINESS:

Motion by Ms. Calloway, 2nd by Mr. Gulledge and so ordered to approve the following items:

1. Approve claims.
2. Approve the minutes of Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Announcements:

Next meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 1:00 pm
##
Meeting adjourned at 1:24 pm

STATEHOUSE —Southwest Indiana House Republicans , State Representatives Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville), Wendy McNamara (R-Mount Vernon), Ron Bacon (R-Chandler) and Tom Washburne (R-Evansville), each worked in securing an additional $2 million in the biennial state budget for the University of Southern Indiana.

“It is important that the state recognizes the great things happening at USI and appropriates money for the school accordingly,” said Rep. Crouch. “I am glad that we were able to secure additional funding for such a wonderful institution and for the expansion of the IU School of Medicine in the Evansville area.”

Over the next two years, the state will provide over $84 million to USI for their total operating expenses.

“USI is an incredible asset to our local community,” said Rep. Washburne. “It is encouraging that Chairman Brown and Speaker Bosma are beginning to take notice.”

The budget appropriates over $500 thousand for USI’s Dual Credit program.

“As an educator, I recognize how valuable a college education can be for young people,” said Rep. McNamara. “Having the USI campus in my district, I wanted to do my part provide adequate funding for USI, particularly for their Dual Credit program, which will help even more students realize their goal of a college diploma on their way to successful careers.”

The state will also provide over $3 million through the biennium to Indiana University to expand the School of Medicine in the Evansville region.

“Expanding the IU School of Medicine in the Evansville region is fantastic,” said Rep. Bacon. “As a medical professional, I am strongly in favor of increasing opportunities for young people to also join this incredibly rewarding field.”

Barbara Dietsch’s mother died alone in 1986. “My mother, Alice, was 86 years old and had colon cancer,” Barbara recalled. “I was reading the Bible to her one evening and she asked me to go home. She said she had something to do and wanted to be alone. So, I left. She passed away that night by herself in her apartment. I hated that. I think it’s very important to have someone with you when you die, even if it’s just to hold your hand.”

Barbara now holds the hands of patients dying alone at St. Mary’s Medical Center. A longtime member of the St. Mary’s Auxiliary and an “Exceptional Volunteer,” Barbara has logged over 7,400 hours of service at St. Mary’s. She now gives her time to St. Mary’s newest volunteer program, No One Dies Alone, or NODA.