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IS IT TRUE January 15, 2013

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE that President of the Evansville City Council just appointed 6th Ward City Councilman, Al Lindsey as the council’s liaison for the Fire Department?…we congratulate Council President Robinson for making this bold political move that shall force the Fire Chief and Councilman Lindsey to work directly with each other for the betterment of the Fire Department?…it’s also time for other key Fire Department Administrators to begin to treat Mr. Lindsey with respect?…we expect Mr. Lindsey to return the favors?

IS IT TRUE being encouraged by many people in local government, we are happy to report that two capable public servants have reconciled their differences?…that our “Civic Center Moles” have reported that At-Large City Councilman Jonathan Weaver and 6th Ward City Councilman Al Lindsey have quietly exchanged the olive branches of peace with one another last week?…that we hear that the conversations between Mr. Weaver and Mr. Lindsey were open, direct, honest, and candid?…that we believe both Mr. Weaver and Mr. Lindsey possess the ability and skills to join together and improve Evansville’s quality of life?…we are glad Mr. Weaver and Mr. Lindsey buried the political hatchet and have agreed to move forward in a way as to unify the City Council and tackle some of the more pressing issues facing our city?

IS IT TRUE that one of our Civic Center moles informed us that she has been told, by reliable sources, that 5th Ward City Councilman and Finance Chairman John Friend, CPA has been approached to run for Mayor?… that this non-partisan group asked Mr. Friend permission to organize a political exploratory committee for Mayor in his behalf?…that they want to gauge public interest in Councilman John Friend as a candidate for Mayor of Evansville?…Friend asked them to re-approach him in the later part of the year for an answer?

IS IT TRUE that the now mostly quiet president of GAGE Debbie Dewey spoke before the City Council last night to present an annual summary of what is going on with the economic development arm of the City of Evansville?…Ms. Dewey seemed pleased to report that there had been commitments for 425 jobs to be created someday but that “Job growth in Southern Indiana has been slower than national averages for several years”?.. that 425 jobs per year only represents about 0.6% of the total jobs in the City of Evansville and does not account for the losses of a mounting number of small businesses due to the recession and other factors?…it is not clear if the 300 or so jobs that were verbally trumpeted when the Earthcare Energy deal was prematurely announced are included in the 425?…one dirty little secret that is not talked about much is the fact that the Earthcare Energy deal is not fully ended yet?…Ms. Dewey also mentioned the value of the sister city relationship with Osnabruck, Germany in an opportunity she is working and went on to make the comment of the night when she stated that “”We have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the prince,”?…paying homage to the upcoming trip to Amsterdam and Germany by Evansville’s first family may constitute a kiss but that kiss is not applied to any frog?

IS IT TRUE that the unemployment rate in Evansville has officially come down faster than the national average even though it is asserted that job growth here has been slower?…both of those stated facts are absolutely accurate?…there is only one way to see unemployment fall fast when job growth is lags the nation and that is for the number of people in the workforce to drop even faster?…there are two ways that the workforce shrinks?…those are moving away or dropping out by retiring early or going on disability are the ways to have those two statistical facts happen at the same time?…a shrinking population and a stagnant job market have been the hallmark of the local economy for half a century now?…the problems that drive this spiral are too big for kissing frogs to repair?

St. Mary’s Launches “Be Heart Smart” Campaign

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St. Mary’s Health released its music video “Be Heart Smart. Know the Facts. Choose to Act.” at 12:01 a.m. January 2nd, 2013. It is also available at www.stmarys.org/beheartsmart.

After viewing each of the four performances, visitors to the site can vote for their favorite and enter to win one of several prizes, including a $100 Visa gift card. They can vote up to once per day to increase their chances of winning. By voting, they are also taking a pledge to “be heart smart” in their own lives. The contest will end on January 31st and the winners will be announced on February 4th, during American Heart Month.

The songs emphasize a healthy diet, physical activity, and smoking cessation. They also discuss some of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and the need to take immediate action if you or someone you love experiences those symptoms.

We urge everyone to join us in sharing the videos on social media (and telling the world which performance is their favorite) – and Twitter users are encouraged to include a #BeHeartSmart hashtag in their tweets, too!

Free Family Fun Night Presented by St. Mary’s Medical Center – February 7th

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St. Mary’s Medical Center Free Family Fun Night –

Free Family Fun Night is made possible with support from St. Mary’s Medical Center. The public is admitted FREE six times per year. The focus for 2013 is “Building Healthy Kids” and a new theme will be explored on each of the six free nights. Last admission to the museum is 7:30 p.m. The dates and themes for Free Family Fun Night are as follows:

February 7, Children’s Dental Health
April 4, Stress Awareness
June 6, Safety (i.e. bicycle safety, sun safety, seat belts)
August 1, Children’s eye health
October 3, Children’s Environmental Health
December 5, Germs! Disease Prevention (Handwashing awareness & Vitamin D)

www.cmoekids.com

UE to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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The University of Evansville will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 21 with a daylong series of events – including a re-enactment of the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., the William G. and Rose M. Mays Martin Luther King Jr. Lectureship, and a viewing of the 57th presidential inauguration.

The day’s schedule of events is as follows. All events are free and open to the public.

10:30 a.m.: Viewing of the 57th presidential inauguration, Bernhardt Atrium, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building. For only the second time in history, the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the public presidential inauguration fall on the same day. The inauguration ceremony for President Barack Obama will be shown on the main screen in the Bernhardt Atrium.

Noon-1 p.m.: Excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic speeches will air on the University of Evansville’s radio station, 91.5 WUEV.

1 p.m.: Walk for Justice, leaves from the Bernhardt Atrium, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building. This year marks the University of Evansville’s 25th annual re-enactment of the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, and 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the original march. The route will cut through the middle of campus then follow Walnut Street, Alvord Boulevard, and Lincoln Avenue back to campus.

7 p.m.: William G. and Rose M. Mays Martin Luther King Jr. Lectureship, Eykamp Hall (Room 251), Ridgway University Center. Through the generosity of William G. and Rose M. Mays, this lectureship funds the annual keynote speaker during the University of Evansville’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.

This year’s lecture features the Honorable Timothy C. Evans, chief judge of the Cook County (Illinois) Circuit Court, one of the largest unified court systems in the world. Only the fourth person to serve as chief judge of the Cook County Circuit Court, Evans also is the first African American to serve in the position.

During his 10 years as chief judge, Evans has brought sweeping reforms to the court that are both innovative and compassionate. Among his efforts are changes to the bail setting process, the creation of court-wide divisions dedicated to hearing only domestic violence matters and elder law matters, and the expansion of problem solving courts dedicated to mental health treatment, veterans support, drug treatment, and support to women charged with prostitution.

Evans is a 1965 graduate of the University of Illinois and received his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1969. In 2009, he became the first judge from Illinois to receive the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence from the National Center for State Courts. The award is one of the most prestigious judicial honors in the country and is presented by by the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Source: Evansville.edu

Editorial By Mayor Lloyd Winnecke

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Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke
As a new year begins, I would like to thank all of the citizens that have communicated with city government in 2012. Whether it was submitting a concern through the new Citizen Concern mobile smartphone application or attending a public meeting, your input is welcomed and key to the future direction of our community.
Since taking office, it has been our goal to improve the customer service of your government, and while local government may not be able to solve every issue, we are committed to continuous improvement. Gauging from most of the feedback we have received, our efforts have been well received, and I commend our city employees for their hard work.
We hear from citizens daily through the Citizen Concern app, logging more than 500 submittals since the application launched in September. Citizens still have the option of calling our office to submit concerns, suggestions or ask questions. All of these contacts are recorded and tasked to the appropriate department or non-city entity to be properly addressed.
One of the most rewarding aspects of being Mayor is hearing about positive interactions between residents and local government. For example, a mother of two young girls emailed me after reading about a meeting in the Mayor’s office with school officials to discuss school safety in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., shooting to offer her input as a parent. Our office received numerous calls thanking Evansville firefighters, police officers and emergency personnel for their swift response to a three-alarm fire at Grandview Tower. Jerry Lawrence sent me a letter he had published in the Courier & Press praising an Evansville Water & Sewer Department maintenance crew for repairs made to a ruptured water pipe in his backyard, comparing their work to “a fine orchestra performing a symphony.”
Many residents have taken advantage of the Travelling City Hall program, where all department heads such as the Police Chief, Fire Chief, City Engineer and Parks Director, to name a few, are available after regular business hours to meet citizens at different locations throughout the community. We welcomed the participation of the United Neighborhoods of Evansville in this program and look forward to growing it. Any citizen can attend and have one-on-one discussions with any department head, including myself, regarding any issue. The next Traveling City Hall meeting will be on Jan. 30 at Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church, 645 S. Elliott St., from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
One of the reasons I ran for Mayor is the perception that local government didn’t listen and operated outside of the public eye. Through a partnership with Leadership Evansville, a visioning process called VOICE was initiated in 2012 and will continue forward, with meetings across the city seeking to have an interactive conversation with participants. In addition to receiving feedback on resident’s preferred vision for Evansville’s future, a goal of changing the tone of civic dialogue is important. VOICE volunteers are reviewing ideas from all of the previous meetings to identify major themes. Once themes are determined, they will be presented to our administration for further action. The next public VOICE
meeting is set for February 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Nativity Catholic Church, 3635 Pollack Ave. More information on the program can be found at www.evansvillevoice.com.
Whether it’s on the local, state or federal level, it is clear that citizens want their government officials to work together, regardless of their political affiliation. In an effort to achieve that goal and stay attentive to citizen concerns made to their council representative, I’ve maintained an open door policy for all members of City Council and will continue to do so.
In a recent speech at the NAACP annual dinner, I spoke about what I termed the “behavioral cliff,” while others in Washington were only concerned with the fiscal cliff. My point was, in order to move our community forward, it is imperative that we all engage in a positive, productive dialogue about issues facing our city. To those with strong views on an issue, I invite anyone to contact us directly, rather than criticize anonymously.
For information or dates on any of the mentioned meetings or ways to contact city government, please visit the revamped website at www.evansville.in.gov or call the Mayor’s office at 436-4962.
Looking forward, it is my intent to continue operating city government in a transparent and open manner and I encourage you to become civically engaged.

Arrest made in Subway burglary

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Evansville Police have arrested a juvenile for the December 24th burglary at the Lincoln Ave Subway. He is being held at the Youth Care Center.

Pedestrian Bridge over S.R. 66 (Lloyd Expressway) near Vann Avenue

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Project Scope: The project will provide safe pedestrian passage and link recreational facilities around the Evansville State Hospital grounds on the south side of S.R. 66 (Lloyd Expressway) to those recreational facilities (Wesselman Park and Wesselman Nature Preserve) on the north side of the Lloyd Expressway
Timeline: It is currently anticipated that construction will begin by early 2015 if not before.
Status Update: During a subsurface investigation for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Lloyd Expressway near Vann Avenue on the former State Hospital Grounds, remnants of an unmarked cemetery were found. The City of Evansville is currently working with archaeologists, environmental scientists, INDOT and the State Historic Preservation Officer to determine the appropriate steps to handle these findings.
For more information, contact City Engineer Pat Keepes at 436-4990.

Arrest of Newburgh Man – Residential Entry

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The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Newburgh man after he attempted to break into a residence in a Northeastern Vanderburgh County. Prior to Sheriff’s Deputies’ arrival, the homeowner fired a pistol at the intruder, missing him. The man fled the scene and was apprehended a short while later, as he attempted to break into the residence a second time while Sheriff’s Deputies were inside speaking with the resident. Trent Alan Thompson, age 21, was arrested and charged with Residential Entry, Criminal Mischief and Public Intoxication. He has since posted a $5,000 cash bond and was released from custody. No charges will be filed on the homeowner.

On January 12th, at approximately 11:56 PM hours, the homeowner called 911 and reported that a man was attempting to break into her residence through a glass patio door. The Call Taker at Central Dispatch could hear the sounds the man was making as he attempted to break in. Day had retrieved a pistol from within the residence prior to calling 911. As she was on the line, she fired a shot at the intruder who had not yet made entry. Deputies arrived within 2 minutes of dispatch and found that the intruder had fled the scene. Two deputies remained inside the residence while other deputies and an EPD canine began a search of the area. Less than 15 minutes later, the deputies inside the residence heard what sounded like glass breaking coming from the garage. The deputies, as well as the EPD canine handler whose dog had tracked away then back to the residence, found Thompson attempting to enter the residence through the man door of the attached garage. He had just broken the window on the door and was taken into custody without incident.

Sheriff’s investigators were able to determine that Thompson had been drinking approximately 2 hours earlier in the evening at the Hornet’s Nest restraint with his wife. He became angry after watching a football game and left the restaurant on foot. Thompson stated that he believed he was at a friend’s residence when he was arrested.

Trent Alan Thompson, 21, Newburgh, IN

Residential Entry Class D Felony/Criminal Mischief Class D Felony/Public Intoxication Class B Misdemeanor

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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Evansville, IN – Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, January 11, 2012.

Jason Barrett Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony

Kenneth Cavanaugh Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony
Habitual Substance Offender

Mary Cavanaugh Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony

Jessica Hertel Theft-Class D Felony

Christopher Hill Burglary-Class B Felony
Theft-Class D Felony
Strangulation-Class D Felony
Criminal Confinement-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor Enhanced to D Felony
Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Misdemeanor
Attempted Rape-Class B Felony

Bryant Hooper Theft-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor Enhanced to D Felony
Criminal Trespass-Class A Misdemeanor

Aaron Pfeiffer Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony

Kayla Phillippe Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony

Amanda Slaton Theft-Class D Felony
Criminal Trespass-Class A Misdemeanor

Brandon Humphry Operating a Motor Vehicle after Forfeiture of License for Life-Class C Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor

Logan Moore Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor Enhanced to D Felony

Arthur Peyton Maintaining a Common Nuisance-Class D Felony
Neglect of a Dependent-Class D Felony

Gabrielle Vailes Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony

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.
SENTENCE CHART

Class Range
Murder 45-65 Years
Class A Felony 20-50 Years
Class B Felony 6-20 Years
Class C Felony 2-8 Years
Class D Felony ½ – 3 Years
Class A Misdemeanor 0-1 Year
Class B Misdemeanor 0-180 Days
Class C Misdemeanor 0-60 Days