IS IT TRUE August 31, 2013 Special Saturday Edition on Fort Wayne Hotel

08/31/2013

IS IT TRUE The City of Evansville thinks what Fort Wayne did by subsidizing a hotel is great? In fact, the Mayor may have the Ft. Wayne mayor testify on Sept. 9. This is the project that the City of Evansville’s experts told them has similarities to our own hotel project and is worth looking into?…the available data indicates the City is wrong?…the following summaries and links will shine some light on just what the reality was in Fort Wayne from the city inserting its money into the free market when it shouldnâ€™t have?

* The Indiana Economic Digest wrote an article in 2007 about the then
proposed Fort Wayne hotel laying out that in order for the project to succeed, Fort Wayne as a City will need to bring in new tourism and raise occupancy rates. This is the same point the existing hotels in Evansville are making – the project is over sized and cannot succeed given the limited data available. Click below to read that Economic Digest article.

http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&subsectionID=155&articleID=35188

* It did not work. In fact, according to Fort Wayne’s CVB equivalent, occupancy rates were at 53.8% in 2007, the year Fort Wayne decided to move forward with their project. As of April 2012, they were at 46.1%. The occupancy rates never even got back to where they were in 2007. Click Here for the data.

http://fortwaynecvb.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/STR-Report-Occupancy-ADR-Trends2.pdf

* Here is what might be most telling: In 2012, the Fort Wayne Marriott was foreclosed on by its bank due to nonpayment on loans. This is what the Indiana Economic Digest suggested was the problem, and is the “cannibalism” that can result when the market cannot sustain the supply. Click here for an article on the foreclosure.

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120831/BIZ/308319927/0/biz09

IS IT TRUE that this is what the existing Evansville hotels are trying to tell people?…you can have all the hope in the world that people will come to Evansville to support this huge investment, but when it doesn’t work – businesses fail, people lose jobs and those unfortunate results come from seeds planted and purchased by the City?

IS IT TRUE Saturday 8-31-2013 (Hotel Supporters Spreading Lie About Dunn Hospitality)

08/31/2013

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IS IT TRUE that a legal notice appeared in the Courier last Saturday giving notice that Dunn Hospitality LLP was disbanding?…one of the big supporters for the people in favor of the gifting of $37.5 Million sent this notice to the CCO in hopes that the CCO would run with it without checking it out?… we have a Â policy of Â checking all rumors out and learned that this was a LLP that was the holding company for a hotel that Dunn Hospitality had sold last winter and that the shell had served its purpose and was being shut down?…we further learned that this shell has no effect whatsoever on the day to day operations of Dunn Hospitality?

IS IT TRUE we notified the supporter that there was no story to tell and told her all of the details?…in spite of having no story and telling this person directly that there was no story this morning we received and email stating that another person was told at a social event last night that â€œthe CP had a notice that Dunn Hospitality is shutting downâ€?…the CCO admonishes all of the supporters of this hotel gift to cease with this whisper campaign of lies and concentrate on doing some real financial analysis if they wish to engage in productive and substantive conversations about the reality of subsidized hotels?

Republican PC Letter to Parke Opposing Hotel Subsidy

08/31/2013

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Chairman Parke,

Hopefully this email finds you well. My interest has been piqued in a few topics that you are discussing in your latest email and other events recently.

I appreciate this last email regarding the hotel, however, I’d really enjoy hearing your reason for supporting the hotel project. My understanding is that it has come to light that some $37 Million in taxpayer assistance has been devoted to this project. Please correct me if I have that figure wrong or that you recall no government funding is involved, but I’d like to know more about your support and why you have chosen to do so publicly. Are my taxes going to be increased as a result? If so, I have to be honest that I’d be particularly interested in why the Republican Party Chairman is getting involved in this issue. If the past is any indicator, I anticipate that I will receive questions from neighbors and fellow Republicans in my area regarding your involvement in this issue, because my understanding is that you have made your support public knowledge. My recollection is that the Republican Party platform includes planks for both 1) lower taxes and 2) smaller government. I know the “I’m a Republican because…” placards that are available at the Vanderburgh GOP office include those criteria, so I’d like to know how supporting the hotel does either of those.

And while we’re talking about controversies, I was already planning to email you as it was regarding the leaked audio from Brenda Bergwitz’ answering machine. It made it onto the City-County Observer website where it sounds like you effectively demanded she remove the ‘missing’ photo that is floating around Facebook. Is there a reason why you felt compelled to demand she remove that post as per her duties as a precinct committeeman? It also sounds like you did not see it yourself but referenced someone else seeing it and telling you. Are you not on Facebook that you could see this for yourself? From what I have found out, it appears that she did not even author the image. Can you also explain why this constitutes a breach that would warrant a county chairman calling and leaving her a voicemail and two emails? Some are claiming that you should be instead spending time to have Representative Bucshon make the rounds to have a public town hall appearance to address the concerns voters have. Could you speak to this as well? This would be a great opportunity for Congressman Bucshon to explain what he will be doing to stop Obamacare between now and next year’s election. Have you spoken with him and what is the reason he stated for not appearing to answer these questions from his constituents?

Of course we all recall when you made that comment to me in an email in 2012 that Kristi Risk should not be running and that you knew of not one Republican who supported her doing so, despite many that told you they would support that challenge (including myself in the email). A lot of people are scratching their heads asking if you are simply unwilling to hear other legitimate voices despite the process that is set up to do so. And at a time where Republicans hold many offices, is this the way to add to those gains?

Lastly, are all these controversies causing you to seriously consider Brenda’s recommendation that you step down from your position? Please excuse my deep inquiry into these topics, but thanks in advance for your thoughts and consideration.

Sincerely,

Sean Selby

EPD Activity Report: August 30, 2013

08/31/2013

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EPD Activity Report: August 30, 2013

Fatal Crash: U.S. Hwy 41/Hillsdale Road

08/31/2013

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The Vanderburgh County Sheriffâ€™s Office is currently investigating a one vehicle fatal accident that occurred this afternoon on U.S. Highway 41 just south of Hillsdale Road.

At approximately 5:20 pm Deputies were advised that a white van travelling South on U.S. Highway 41 had run off of the roadway and crashed. Upon arrival Deputies were able to determine that the driver ran off of the roadway and into the median. The vehicle continued in the median for several hundred feet before hitting a culvert. The impact of the this collision caused the vehicle to become airborne for a short time before coming to rest between the North and South bound lanes of U.S. Hwy 41. The driver of the van died at the scene.

The driver was the only occupant of the vehicle. The cause of this accident is undetermined at this time and is still under investigation by the Vanderburgh County Sheriffâ€™s Office. The driver was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash.

The identity of the driver is being withheld pending notification of family members. The Vanderburgh County Coronerâ€™s Office will release upon notification of family.

CHRISTOPHER BELL SENTENCED

08/31/2013

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At 2:30 on Friday Afternoon, Christopher Bell was sentenced by Judge Robert Pigman in Vanderburgh County Superior Court to 90 years the Indiana Department of Corrections.

On May 30, 2013, Bell was found guilty of Murder as well as Conspiracy to Commit Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury – Class A Felony. Bellâ€™s conviction also drew a Habitual Offender Enhancement. In sentencing today the A Felony was dropped to Conspiracy to Commit Robbery â€“ C Felony.

Judge Pigman sentenced Bell to 60 years on his Murder conviction and 6 years on his Conspiracy to Commit Robbery conviction. Those sentenced will be served concurrent. The Habitual Offender Enhancement drew an automatic 30 year addition.

Bell is the accomplice to Ted Mueller Jr. who has been already found guilty of the same charges for the shooting and killing of Cedric Watt in September 2012.

For further information on the case listed above, or any pending case, please contact Kyle Phernetton, Director of Public Relations at 812.435.5688 or via e-mail at kphernetton@vanderburghgov.org.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

08/31/2013

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Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutorâ€™s Office on Thursday, August 29, 2013.

Gary Page Domestic Battery-Class D Felony

Teresa Page Domestic Battery-Class D Felony

Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor

Robin Montgomery Attempted Murder-Class A Felonies (Two Counts

Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony

Resisting Law Enforcement-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.

An Open Letter to the Evansville City Council about Public Funds to a Hotel

08/30/2013

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Letter and Article to the Evansville City Council

Libertarian Party opposes U.S. intervention in Syria

08/30/2013

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Libertarian Party Chair Geoffrey J. Neale today strongly opposed any U.S. military intervention in the civil war in Syria.

“There is no Constitutional justification for America to unilaterally use force in Syria,” Neale said.

“Syria is not threatening our country,” he added. “We have no national interest in intervening there. There are no reasons for the U.S. to support either the Assad dictatorship or the opposition warlords.”

Neale reaffirmed the party’s longstanding foreign policy of nonintervention, quoting part of the National Defense plank of the party platform: “The United States should both avoid entangling alliances and abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world.”

He also quoted from the International Affairs plank, which says, “American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world. Our foreign policy should emphasize defense against attack from abroad and enhance the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid.”

EPD Activity Report: August 29, 2013

08/30/2013

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EPD Activity Report: August 29, 2013