Throughout the summer months the Indiana State Police and Indiana Conservation Officers will participate in many extra patrols to target impaired operators. While troopers will focus on impaired drivers of motor vehicles, Indiana Conservation Officers will take to the Indiana waterways and focus their attention on impaired boat operators. Remember, whether you are operating a motor vehicle or a motor boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol it is all illegal and dangerous.

A video detailing a joint effort of Indiana Conservation Officers and Indiana State Police to address boating and driving while intoxicated can be found at Youtube.com/idnrvideos. Media is encouraged to play all or portions of this 37 second PSA in news casts. City and County agencies with public access television channels may use the PSA as well.

The following information is from a news release dated June 13, 2013 from the DNR Division of Law Enforcement on an upcoming initiative they will be involved in. Any questions should be directed to Lt. William Browne DNR Division of Law Enforcement, (317) 232-0658.

Awareness campaign targets dangers of boating under the influence

Indiana Conservation Officers will join a national campaign in late June aimed at creating a heightened public awareness of the dangers of boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Operation Dry Water (ODW) is scheduled for June 28-30, just before the Fourth of July.

ODW (www.OperationDryWater.org) is a nationwide education and enforcement initiative developed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Since ODW launched in 2009, the percentage of boating fatalities in the United States in which alcohol is listed as a contributing factor has decreased from 19 percent to 17 percent. Despite the decrease, boating while intoxicated (BWI) accounts for a disproportionate number of on-the-water deaths. In 2011, alcohol was a contributing factor in just 8 percent of boating accidents overall but figured in 17 percent of boating fatalities.

In Indiana, the blood-alcohol limit for boat operators is the same as for vehicle drivers – 0.08. However, studies show that boat operators become impaired by alcohol sooner than people on land because of the motion of the boat, the glare and heat of the sun, and dehydration from sweating.

Boat operators convicted of boating while intoxicated can lose their boat operating and vehicle driving privileges, and face jail time and fees.

According to Indiana Conservation Officers, the safest plan is to have a designated boat operator who is not drinking alcohol.

Citizens often report intoxicated boaters to authorities, which demonstrates an increased public awareness that law-abiding boaters are concerned about safety.

“Keeping our lakes, rivers and reservoirs safe takes an effort from all of us, and we appreciate the efforts of our safe boaters,” said Lt. Kenton Turner, boating law administrator for the DNR Division of Law Enforcement.

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

Twelve of Tropicana Evansville’s best slot players qualified for the $250,000 Slot Star Championship Tournament by participating in the Tropicana Evansville Point Challenge from April 1 through May 31, 2013. These players, along with their guests, will travel to Atlantic City, New Jersey for this exciting event.

Tropicana Evansville invites you to visit with our lucky players and Tropicana Evansville representatives before they depart on their chartered flight from Evansville’s Tri-State Aero at 2:30PM on Thursday, June 20, 2013.

Please come and wish these players “good luck” – one of them could return $100,000 richer as Tropicana Entertainment’s SLOT STAR CHAMPION!

For more information, contact Stacey McNeill, Tropicana Evansville Director of Marketing, at 812-433-4069 or Stacey.Mcneill@tropevansville.com

Tropicana Entertainment Inc is a publicly traded company that, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates eight casinos and resorts in Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey and Aruba. Tropicana properties collectively have approximately 6,046 rooms, 7,121 slot positions and 231 table games. The company is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jeffrey Weisheit, 37, was found guilty in Clark County Circuit Court of Two Counts of Murder and One Count of Arson, a Class A Felony. The same jury that convicted Weisheit will now begin hearing sentencing testimony to decide Weisheit’s punishment.

Testimony in the sentencing phase is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning and is expected to last at least through the end of the week. After hearing the testimony presented in the penalty phase, the jury can recommend a sentence of death, life imprisonment, or a term of years.

Weisheit was convicted of the murder of Caleb and Alyssa Lynch in April of 2010. After starting the house where the kids were living on fire, Weisheit led police on a chase that ultimately ended in him throwing a hunting knife at police before being tasered and arrested.

Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nicholas Hermann said, “Over the last three years, this case has taken an emotional toll not only on the family of the victims and the emergency personnel involved in the investigation, but the community as a whole. Hopefully this verdict provides some sense of closure for all of those involved. We would like to thank everyone who participated in the investigation and prosecution of this case.”

For further information on the case listed above, or any pending case, please contact Kyle Phernetton at 812.435.5688 or contact via email at KPhernetton@vanderburghgov.org.

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

After careful consideration I have decided that I will not be attending the meeting tonight at the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party Headquarters. As a member of the Evansville City Council from the 6th Ward, my job is to represent the best interest of my constituents when it comes to casting my one vote on each piece of City of Evansville business that comes before the City Council.

The Sunshine Laws of the State of Indiana make it clear that no more than 5 members of a 9 member City Council can be at the same place at the same time when city business is being discussed outside of an official public meeting. I feel that tonight’s meeting is one that has potential of having official City of Evansville business brought up by non-council members in attendance to push one agenda or another. I have thought this one over and given the fact that all 8 of the Democrats on the City Council have been invited and that there is open public vocal support among local Democrat Party leadership for both the downtown convention hotel and the Johnson Controls projects, I do not see how these subjects will not be pushed for discussion by non-council members in attendance. For this reason I want no part of being put in a situation where Sunshine Laws could be violated.

I do invite any and all of my constituents from the 6th Ward to let me know what you think about the City of Evansville subsidizing a hotel to the tune of $37.5 Million and spending $46 Million to replace the water meters. I am your public servant and will cast my vote for the will of the people of the 6th Ward who hired me to do this job in the first place. There is no private agenda that means more to me than the will of the people of the 6th Ward and this city.

Al Lindsey, Evansville City Councilman, 6th Ward

Just Be Good to Your Colon and Your Colon Will Be Good to You
By: Roy M. Arnold MD

Many of us don’t think about our colon very often, that is until we experience a problem. Myths abound regarding colon (or large intestine) function – frequency of elimination, consistency, toxin elimination, fiber requirements, probiotics, colon cancer screening, and a whole host of others. Hopefully, this article will enlighten the public and assist in filtering the plethora of information.

First and foremost, the colon’s primary functions are threefold – absorption, storage and transport. Daily, about 1 ½ quarts of intestinal contents enter the colon and ultimately about 10 ounces are excreted. The colon absorbs water and electrolytes primarily. The only nutrients absorbed are short chain fatty acids. The colon has the capacity to increase its absorptive capacity fivefold when necessary and under most circumstances the transit time is 24-36 hours. Most of the common colonic complaints such as constipation, diarrhea, cramps, bloating and urgency arise when the motility is affected.

Many people are raised to believe that a daily (or more) bowel movement is essential for good health. Advertisements often report the same, often leading to worry or resorting to laxative use. In fact, variation in the frequency of bowel movements, and their consistency are very common in the healthy population. In the 1970’s a body of research emerged indicating that the Western diet contained significantly less fiber than in other parts of the world, and speculated that perhaps this paucity of dietary fiber could explain the higher prevalence of constipation and other colon maladies like irritable bowel and diverticulosis. Research showed that increasing dietary fiber to more than 25 grams per day increased stool weight in most people. This increased fiber can come from consuming more whole grains, fruits and vegetables and if necessary fiber supplements.
Diverticulosis of the colon is a disease in which is quite common in the US, Europe and Australia but rare in Asia and Africa. This disorder is characterized by the formation of pouches through the muscular layer of the colon that communicate with the lining. Occasionally, these pouches can become infected, a condition called diverticulitis. Diverticulitis can be serious and often requires medical attention or hospitalization. The higher prevalence in Western societies is thought to be due to lower fiber and higher meat consumption in these areas. Besides the preventive effect of a high fiber diet, increased fiber intake is often used as part of the management of uncomplicated diverticular disease. Although there has been no documented regression of diverticula on high fiber diets, overall symptoms do seem to improve with increase fiber intake.

Beyond its vital functions of absorption, transport and storage, the colon is home to literally trillions of bacteria. Only within the last few years has science learned about the vital role these one-celled organisms play in maintaining overall health. Collectively referred to as the “gut microbiota” the bacteria play a critical role in maintaining the health of the lining of the intestines and in generating certain critical nutrients that the body cannot produce on its own. They can also serve as protection against harmful microbes and their byproducts. The beneficial microbiota prevent inflammation and more evidence is accumulating that having the wrong mix of bacteria in the GI tract may play a contributory role in the development of obesity and Type2 diabetes. Even a single course of oral antibiotics can dramatically alter the composition of the gut microbes and may permit infection with an organism called Clostridium difficile, a disease which causes more than 340,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths annually.

Some foods contain probiotics; a live culture of beneficial bacteria that once consumed can reproduce in your GI tract and improve the overall efficiency of your gut microbiota. Although more research is needed, there’s encouraging evidence that probiotics may help treat diarrhea, especially following treatment with certain antibiotics, prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections, treat irritable bowel syndrome, and speed treatment of certain intestinal infections. Specific foods that are naturally rich in beneficial bacteria include yogurt, buttermilk, aged cheeses (unbaked,) sauerkraut, cold-packed pickles, tempeh (fermented bean curd,) kimchee and miso. Other foods or supplements may contain added cultures of beneficial bacteria.

“What about colon cleansing?” you may ask. Colon cleansing consists of solutions containing various herbs or plant derivatives that are either ingested orally or administered as an enema. The theory behind colon cleansing is that toxins or undigested food somehow accumulates in the colon and adversely affects health. This simply isn’t so. Most physicians don’t recommend colon cleansing for detoxification. Their reasoning is simple: Your digestive system and bowel naturally eliminate waste material and harmful bacteria — your body doesn’t need colon cleansing to do this. Potential harmful effects of colon cleansing include risk of dehydration, bowel perforations, risk of infection, and changes in your electrolytes, which can be dangerous if you have kidney disease or other health problems. It is very important to discuss this matter with your personal healthcare provider before considering colon cleansing.

The last topic to discuss is colon cancer. Approximately 140,000 cases of colon and rectal cancer will be diagnosed this year and 50,000 persons will die in the US. By sheer numbers, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the US behind lung, breast and prostate cancers. Colorectal cancer is very preventable by early screening and removal of precancerous growths called polyps. If you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps, you are at increased risk. Other risk factors include obesity and age. Current guidelines recommend screening begin at age 50 for those without a family history and earlier for those with a family history. The most effective screening tool is a procedure called colonoscopy, which involves viewing the interior of the colon with a flexible telescope under moderate sedation. If polyps are discovered, they can usually be removed before they become cancerous. This procedure is very safe, virtually painless and can be performed as an outpatient. Depending upon the findings, the study may need to be repeated every 3-10 years.

In summary, colon health is very important to overall health and well-being. This article has covered most of the major topics about colon health; however I encourage you to discuss this matter with your personal healthcare provider.

References:
Feldman: Sleisenger and Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 9th ed. Copyright © 2010 Saunders, An Imprint of Elsevier.
“Some of My Best Friends Are Bacteria,” Michael Pollan. The New York Times Magazine, May 19, 2013.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Research Activities, March 2012, No. 379
Mayo Clinic Consumer Health www.mayoclinic.com/health.
“Cancer Facts 2013,” American Cancer Society