Keep Evansville Beautiful is partnering with Indiana Department of Correction, the Indiana Department of Transportation, and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office to remove litter from state roads located within Vanderburgh County.

This partnership is the first of its kind for Keep Evansville Beautiful and the Indiana Department of Correction. Keep Evansville Beautiful, a not-for-profit funded by donations from the public, is organizing and overseeing the project. Offenders from Branchville Correctional Facility and Wabash Valley Correctional Facility will be transported to Vanderburgh County to pick up and bag litter along most major state maintained thoroughfares. INDOT will provide all safety equipment, funding for waste disposal, and needed signage to inform motorists of any traffic changes. Vanderburgh County Community Correction’s offenders, under the supervision of the Vanderburgh County Sherriff’s Office, will then collect and dispose of all waste bags.

All IDOC offenders assigned to the work detail are offenders who have been cleared by the facilities to work off prison grounds and will be supervised by Indiana Department of Correction staff. Off ground work crews routinely pick up trash along interstates and work in Indiana parks throughout the state.

“This partnership is not only a great deal for Indiana taxpayers and Vanderburgh County but it provides an opportunity for offenders to give back to the communities from which they have often taken so much,” Indiana Department of Correction Commissioner Bruce Lemmon said.

“Keep Evansville Beautiful is delighted to partner with the Indiana Department of Correction, Indiana Department of Transportation, and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff to clean litter from our state roads. This partnership will create a better environment and encourage economic development in the area,” Keep Evansville Beautiful President Cheryl Musgrave said.

Evansville, IN – Visitors to Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden can now see a new species of animals, recently added to the Zoo’s animal collection. For the first time in Zoo history, springbok are now on exhibit and visible from the Zoo’s African Panorama decks. Two male and three female springbok arrived from the Pittsburgh Zoo and have been adjusting well to their exhibit in Evansville. A male calf, conceived and born at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, now brings the Zoo’s springbok herd to six animals!

Springbok are native to the western half of southern Africa. Their coloration is bright reddish fawn with a dark side-band contrasting with white under parts, a white face with a dark band from eye to muzzle, and a white rump. They have a line of white erectile hairs in a fold of skin along their lower back, and short horns that curve sharply at the tip. These animals are typically 38-45 inches in length and reach a height at the shoulder of 30 inches. Springbok can run at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour, jump 11 1/2 feet vertically, and 50 feet horizontally.

Females and bachelor males form separate herds, with breeding males maintaining that separation for females within their territory. Females reach sexual maturity in a year and will reproduce every two years, typically producing one lamb during summer months. Springbok graze on young, tender grasses and browse on shrubs and succulents. The lifespan of these animals is up to 10 years.

Minnie: (right) Minnie is a great dog. She is a retriever mix with a great personality. Minnie is about 2 years old. She rides well in a car, walks on a leash and knows some commands.

Pumpkin: (left) This 2 month old kitten is just one of many adorable and playful kittens we have up for adoption. He is very social and would love to go home with one of his siblings.

epd activity report September 30, 2012

For Immediate release

Chris Walsh, Candidate for Vanderburgh County Clerk, is working to make the Clerk’s Office more user friendly and efficient.

To achieve this goal, he has provided a survey to a bipartisan group of professionals and individuals who frequently use the office. The survey which allows the respondent to remain confidential asks what improvements they would recommend for the office based upon their experiences. It also asks what positive comments they have to offer. The list of people asked for input includes attorneys, property managers, judges and individuals who regularly use the office.

Chris is committed running the Clerk’s Office like a business. He plans to use the information collected for these professionals as a basis for these improvements. Chris will be compiling the data in the coming weeks.

According to Chris Walsh, “For too long, people have run for office to promote a political agenda. It is time for these offices to be run like a business. I look forward to working within the budget constraints of the Vanderburgh County Council to provide a more user friendly office. I will be a good steward of the taxpayer’s dollars.”

A copy of the survey that has been sent out is attached for you to review. Chris wants to encourage anyone who wants to provide input about the Clerk’s Office to contact him at the telephone number or email provided above.

The Survey

CHRIS WALSH
FOR CLERK

I am conducting a survey of professionals such as attorneys, property managers, judges, and individuals who use the Clerk’s Office in the course of conducting business. I have had the opportunity to talk with many people in the course of my campaign who have given me valuable feedback, and these conversations have prompted me to conduct this survey.

I hope to improve the office where possible, leave things in place that are working well, and make changes as needed to improve the efficiency and operating procedures of the office. That is why I am asking for your input.

Please take a moment to reflect on your experience as a customer of the Clerk’s Office, and fill out the enclosed form. Return it to me as soon as possible. Your responses will be confidential. Please do not include any information that would identify your office unless you wish to meet with me for further discussion.

Given the opportunity, I will publish the results in an overall position paper and use the information in my new role when elected.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Chris Walsh,

Candidate for Vanderburgh County Clerk

Paid for by the committee to elect Chris Walsh, Vanderburgh County Clerk, Kelly Walsh – Treasurer (Printed In House)
PUBLIC SURVEY
2012 – CLERK’S OFFICE

Please take a moment to fill out the following survey and return it in envelope provided. If the envelope is lost, or you have received a copy of this survey, please mail it to Chris Walsh for Vanderburgh County Clerk, 440 Wilson Square, Evansville, IN 47715.

Please check one only: _____ Attorney
_____ Judicial
_____ Property Management
Or Related Role
_____ Child Support
_____ Elections
_____ Individual

1. I use the office mostly to: (please check one)

_____ File Paperwork
_____ Research Documents
_____ Make a Payment.
_____ Other – Please specify: ____________________

2. How do you rank the Clerk’s office in user friendliness on a scale of 1-5.
(1 being poor, 5 being excellent – please circle one)

1……..…2……..…3………..4…….….5
Suggestions: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Would streamlining or standardization of paper work add to the efficiency of the Clerk’s Office?

______ Yes _______ No

What paperwork would you suggest?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. If filing paperwork is what you mainly use the Clerk’s Office for, what could be done to make it faster and more efficient?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Would more use of scanning technology that places documentation on the internet for a small user fee benefit you?

______ Yes _______ No

If so, what documentation would you most like to see?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. I am exploring the idea of a pilot program which would seek out local college students interested an internship in the Clerks Office to assist with workload, educate them on local government, and save tax dollars. (please circle one)

A.) Bad Idea B.) Good Idea C.) I would like to know more…

Please provide thoughts and feedback on the idea:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 = completely dissatisfied and 5 = completely satisfied, how satisfied are you with the Clerk’s Office on…
_____ Courtesy _____ Listened to my concerns
_____ Technical skills _____ Professionalism

8. How do you rank the Clerk’s office in efficiency on a scale of 1-5.?
(1 being poor, 5 being excellent – please circle one)

1……..…2……..…3………..4…..……5

9. Do you think forming a small focus group that would meet occasionally to look for efficiencies in the Clerk’s Office would be beneficial?

_____ Yes _____ No

10. Please use the space below to provide feedback in essay form with any suggestions or concerns that will assist me in my new role as Clerk.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paid for by the committee to elect Chris Walsh – Vanderburgh County Clerk, Kelly Walsh – Treasurer. (Printed In House)