STATEHOUSE REPORT FROM REP. GAIL RIECKEN
I have lived in Evansville most of my life. Anyone who thinks this community belongs on any kind of “worst city†list hasn’t spent enough time here to make their opinions worth caring about.
But if there’s a fight to be made to defend the city I love, let me be the first to dive in and speak my piece.
I think the people of Evansville would be the first to tell you that we have some problems. That’s one of the things I like about being here.
But let me tell you a few stories about things I have witnessed from my part-time job as a state legislator, just to show you how people here can turn challenges into opportunities.
A while back, I watched a mother from Evansville successfully fight for a bill requiring officials to notify parents when their children are mentioned in crime reports. Why? Her child had been a victim and she didn’t even know about it. She didn’t want other families to go through what her family had suffered.
There is a local attorney in the prosecutor’s office who was involved in that fight and who continues to advocate for an Indiana law for children’s rights.
Our Prosecutor, Nick Hermann, has always been front and center about arranging what we needed at the Statehouse to advocate for legislation. The same goes for our Chief of Police, Billy Bolin.
Our local child protective services get a lot of criticism, but we also must note that their work is so respected in Indianapolis that our city may very well be on the short list as a location for one of the new hotlines being placed outside Indianapolis.
And then there are the other child advocates from Evansville who call and email me regularly. I feel privileged to have worked with them on legislation to protect abused and neglected children, and it is because of their efforts that we were able to pass some reforms this year.
Representatives of our police department and fire department advocated successfully for a bill to provide emergency medical procedures in certain limited situations like a school shooting. They initiated the issue this year, they testified in committees, and they won.
Our police played a key role in passage of a bill to protect victims of theft in instances where precious family jewelry is stolen and melted down too quickly for law enforcement to identify. Our police initiated that issue statewide and stayed at it for three years to get it approved this session.
Our police continue to the fight the ongoing problems caused by the production and distribution of meth. Every year, they help legislators pass additional tools to fight this menace, and they keep at it.
Finally, these folks are relentless in keeping focus on the problems caused by unlicensed scooters on our streets. We haven’t reached our goals yet, but I wouldn’t bet against them succeeding.
There are other mentions, too…
The brave souls who traveled to Indianapolis more than once to support fair legislation on government consolidation, a concept that isn’t so popular among some of the powerful people in our community.
I’ll always remember the 13 year old student who helped us pass a bill that enables people his age to officiate in sports and earn money. Just try and tell me sports don’t rule!
Or the young man who lives his life in a wheelchair and spends his time courageously advocating for others like himself. He came to Indianapolis to gain support for his fight about lack of access on airplanes for certain wheelchairs. His next stop is Washington, D.C.
An Evansville youth organization spent hours in Indy talking to legislators about the value of effective drug prevention programs. In the end, this group helped get funding in the budget for these programs.
And, I couldn’t end without a shout out for USI (I feel comfortable identifying them by name!). There was a point this session where I thought they would be denied some state support, but thanks to tireless work from administrators – particularly Cindy Brinker – they were able to succeed and the university got the funding they deserved. I couldn’t be more proud.
Do you see a common theme here? Problems are recognized, and people from Evansville don’t stop until they are solved. We aren’t fond of taking no for an answer when we’re doing the right thing.
We’re not perfect here in Evansville. Yes, we have problems. But we don’t run from them. We do something about those problems. It’s called personal responsibility and we’ve got lots of it.
Evansville residents are responsible.
We take initiative. We follow through. We win.
Residents partner with police to end months long burglary spree
Evansville Police have made 14 arrests during an on-going investigation into multiple east side burglaries. EPD says the arrests were made possible by residents who were looking out for their neighbors and alerting police to suspicious activity. Investigators used crime scene evidence and interviews with victims, witnesses, and suspects to solve many of the cases.
Investigators charged four of the individuals in connection with the burglaries. The other arrests were on individuals who were suspected of being involved in the burglaries, but did not have enough evidence to support a burglary charge. Their charges ranged from meth possession, felony warrants, domestic violence warrants, and thefts from vehicles, to possession of a machine gun. Police have not received reports of burglaries connected with this investigation in the weeks since the arrests were made.
Those facing burglary charges are:
Drew Groomer
Johnny D. Williams
Keegan Mullen
Adam Gerhardt
Investigators from the Vanderburgh County and Warrick County Sheriff’s Offices have also been involved in the investigation to see if any of the suspects were involved in burglaries in their jurisdictions.
Several arrests made during police operation to address gun violence in Evansville neighborhoods
Evansville Police made several arrests during a detail designed to address gun violence in several Evansville neighborhoods yesterday.
Members of the EPD Crime Prevention Unit, the Gang Unit, and the Narcotics Joint Task Force were assigned to specific neighborhoods based on the number of gun related complaints. The calls included shootings, shots fired, and person with a gun complaints.
During the detail, the officers made 3 felony arrests, 7 misdemeanor arrests, 3 warrant arrests, 1 juvenile arrest, and wrote 2 misdemeanor tickets.
Officers seized 83 grams of marijuana, 29 bags of synthetic marijuana, $1210, miscellaneous drug paraphernalia, multiple ecstasy pills, and 3 grams of look-a-like drugs.
In addition to the drugs and money, officers seized 4 handguns and 2 rifles from suspects who were not in legal possession of them.
Tickets are still available for Willie Nelson Concert
Monday, May 6 – 7:30pm
Seats are $59.50 and $39.50.
Tickets available at The Centre Box Office, Ticketmaster online or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Willie Nelson and Family – May 6 @ 7:30pm
Broadway at The Centre 2012-2013 “Rock Of Ages” – May 9 @ 7:30pm
Alice In Chains “2013 North American Tour” – May 22 @ 7:30pm
PEF/EVSC Summer Musical “Beauty and the Beast” – July 11-14
BROADWAY AT THE CENTRE 2013-2014
Elvis Lives! – Oct. 19 @ 7:30pm
Mamma Mia! – December 13 @ 7:30pm
Straight No Chaser – December 20 @ 7:30pm
Hello Dolly! starring Sally Struthers – January 12 @ 7:00pm
Bring It On: The Musical – February 9 @ 7:00pm
Hair – March 10 @ 7:30pm
Million Dollar Quartet – March 26 @ 7:30pm
Galloway Sentenced in Home Improvement Fraud Case
In March of 2013, James K. Galloway, age 61, plead guilty to five counts of Class C Felony Home Improvement Fraud and three counts of Class D Felony Home Improvement Fraud. Friday, May 03, 2013 Galloway was sentenced by Judge Richard D’Amour in Vanderburgh County Superior Court to four years for each Cause (3) and a habitual offender enhancement on each cause, equating to four years per cause. In all, Galloway is sentenced to 24 years, to be served consecutively in the Indiana Department of Corrections.
These charges are Galloway’s 11th, 12th and 13th felony convictions, dating back to 1976. His criminal record over the years has shown a pattern of theft and home improvement fraud. The State estimated Galloway stole over $119,200 in all.
In his sentencing hearing, former clients and victims of Galloway gave statements concerning their interactions and experiences with Galloway. Many of them said they had paid him for home improvement work up-front, and Galloway never did the work he was paid for. He was described as a “great salesman†and would often make up excuses as to why he had not completed his already paid for tasks.
Galloway awaits a trial and or sentencing in Warrick County for additional charges stemming from incidents.
For further information on the case 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
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, May 02, 2013.
John Baughn Carrying a Handgun Without a License-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to C Felony due to prior convictions)
Theft-Class D Felony
Receiving Stolen Property-Class D Felony
Tracy Cartwright Possession of Methamphetamine-Class D Felony
(Habitual Substance Offender Enhancement)
Michelle Kneir Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Pregnant Woman-Class C Felony
Disorderly Conduct-Class B Misdemeanor
Brian Robertson Burglary-Class C Felony
Maintaining a Common Nuisance-Class D Felony
Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
Possession of Methamphetamine-Class D Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
(Habitual Substance Offender Enhancement)
James Steverson Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony due to prior convictions)
Nancy Wilcox Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony
Maintaining a Common Nuisance-Class D Felony
Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors with Intent to
Manufacture a Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
Criminal Recklessness-Class B Misdemeanor
Danny Rowley Theft-Class D Felony
(Habitual Offender Enhancement)
John Whitney Operating a Vehicle as a Habitual Traffic Violator-Class D Felony
Robert Wilcox Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon-
Class B Felony
Maintaining a Common Nuisance-Class D Felony
Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors with Intent to
Manufacture a Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
Criminal Recklessness-Class B Misdemeanor
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.
IS IT TRUE May 3, 2013
IS IT TRUE May 3, 2013
IS IT TRUE yesterday’s IS IT TRUE regarding the $53 Million Johnson Controls deal signed on behalf of the taxpayers of Evansville without consultation or funding approval by former Mayor Weinzapfel during his last hours in office elicited the most calls and emails that the City County Observer has gotten regarding an article published since the drunken party fueled by lobbyist dollars in 2012?…the particular part of this $53 Million scheme that our readership finds particularly offensive is that the Winnecke Administration who has labored furiously to keep this contract alive after the IURC shot it down is threatening to go forward with this spending with or without City Council cooperation?…our readership is incensed that it is even legal for any Mayor or surrogate of a Mayor has the authority to bind the City of Evansville to such an expensive capital project without having the funding approved by the City Council?…if this is really the case there is no real need for a City Council at all and we along with other Indiana citizens must be voting for a Dictator as opposed to a Mayor every four years?…if this Johnson Controls deal is pursued after a vote of the City Council not to fund we should just disband every City Council in the State of Indiana and resign ourselves to martial law when it comes to squandering tax dollars with no checks and balances?
IS IT TRUE that such an end run nearly happened last year until Mayor Winnecke finally realized he had painted himself into a corner?…there is a new joke in town at the expense of Mayors Winnecke and Weinzapfel and it goes like this?
Q: “What do the Johnson Controls deal and the Earthcare Energy deal have in common?â€
A: “an Evansville Mayor did an end run around the City Council to make and fund the spending of lots of taxpayer dollarsâ€
IS IT TRUE in both of these cases Mayors acting in a substantial vacuum from the City Council went out and cut deals to commit taxpayer dollars without having the support of the legal funding authority?…in the case of the Earthcare Energy deal getting the fifth vote from Councilman Conor O’Daniel to fund the Earthcare deal took on the form of a Civic Center Shake Down resulting in a last minute reversal of opinion?…when all was said and done it turned out that the Winnecke Administration had found a SNEGAL (sneaky but legal) way to advance Earthcare $200,000 that is still not paid back but is curiously current on the $380 interest only monthly payments?…it is widely expected that the rush to sneak $200,000 to Earthcare followed up by Mayor Winnecke’s subsequent reversal of opinion will be coming back to bite the City of Evansville squarely on the backside in March of 2014?
IS IT TRUE the Winnecke Campaign was awarded a CCO Mole Award for its clean campaign with a focus on COLLABORATION and TRANSPARENCY?…we stand by that award for the things that then candidate Winnecke expressed when running for office?…what we are wondering is what has happened to the GREAT COLLABORATOR?…a great collaborator does not go behind the City Council’s back to make deals to spend millions of taxpayer dollars?…a great collaborator is always a collaborating with others as opposed to just when he gets his way?…the first 16 months of the Winnecke Administration have not exactly been a time of transparency either?…thus far what we are seeing is an administration that is dedicated to carrying on the Weinzapfel doctrine at all costs?…if the nine members of the Evansville City Council truly believe that putting new water meters on a dilapidated set of pipes (the delivery system) needing over $500 Million in replacements in a city with a looming $500 Million sewer repair on the horizon is the best use of $53 Million taxpayer dollars then by all means vote yes and prepare to face the voters?…if however the members of the City Council are not convinced that having a shiny new meter on the end of a rotting pipe is not worth $53 Million at this time and that Mayors doing sneaky end runs around the lawful spending authority of the council is unacceptable then you members of the City Council who see this light are obligated to vote NO and challenge the threat of forcing the deal through the courts based on the signature of a lame duck Mayor in his last hours in office?
IS IT TRUE we hope that the sometimes complacent people of Evansville will pay attention so that as the old song says “they don’t get fooled again�