Clean Evansville Targets Downtown & Riverfront for Monthly Clean-up
The Downtown Evansville riverfront will be buzzing with activity this Saturday, July 13, as Clean Evansville volunteers pick-up litter in parks along the Ohio River and nearby neighborhoods from 8 to 9:30 a.m., then gather at the Four Freedoms Monument at 10 a.m. to participate in a community video coordinated by the grassroots group We Are Evansville.
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke encourages as many people as possible to participate in both community projects. “The Clean Evansville litter pick-up and the We Are Evansville community video are great ways to show your community pride while beautifying our parks and some of the oldest areas of the city,†Winnecke said. “It doesn’t cost money to pick-up trash, and it’s gratifying to see how much better neighborhoods looks when everyone pitches in to help.â€
Clean Team volunteers will gather on city property near the Pagoda for a wrap-up ceremony at 9:45 a.m. After the wrap-up, volunteers will converge on Riverside Drive in front of the Four Freedoms Monument to shoot a community pride video. The video and photos from the public will be incorporated into a community video that will be posted online at www.YouTube.com/lloydwinnecke. Photographs are still being accepted and should be emailed to: weareevansville@gmail.com.
“We need approximately 400 people to spell out ‘Evansville,’ †said Pam Hight, an organizer with the We Are Evansville movement. “If you don’t have one of the #WeAreEvv T-shirt, any brightly-colored shirt will do. Just be at the riverfront by 10 a.m. and be ready to show your community spirit.â€
Approximately 50 #WeAreEvv T-shirts are still available at the Department of Parks & Recreation, 100 E. Walnut St. The shirts cost $5-$7 dollars, depending on the size, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Evansville Parks Foundation.
TEAM 1
Team Leader: Mayor Winnecke, Kelly Coures
MEET- Parking lot, Sunrise Park
ROUTE- Do Sunrise Park, to include Kid’s Kingdom
TEAM 2
Team Leader: Dona Bergman
MEET- Parking lot, Sunset Park
ROUTE- Do Sunset Park
TEAM 3
Team Leader: Darren Stearns,
MEET- Intersection of Parrett and Washington. Tyler Interior’s parking lot.
ROUTE- Do area bounded by Washington/Parrett east on Washington to Judson
Judson to Chandler
Chandler to 2nd
2nd to Washington
TEAM 4
Team Leader: Mike Shopmeyer, Carol McClintock
MEET: Intersection of 2nd and Shawnee/Adams (Haynie’s Corner Fountain)
ROUTE: Do area bounded by Shawnee Dr. at 2nd to Sunset Ave.
Sunset Ave. to Veteran’s Memorial Parkway/Riverside
Veteran’s Memorial Parkway/Riverside to Oak
Oak to 2nd
2 nd to Chandler
Chandler to 1st
TEAM 5
Team Leader: Kathy Oxby, Timothy Weir
MEET: Vectren Parking Lot, Riverside and Vine, north of the building.
ROUTE- Do area bounded by Court to Riverside
Riverside to Cherry
Cherry to 2nd
2nd to Court
TEAM 6
Team Leader: Janet Heldt-Baas
MEET: Entrance to Riverfront Park
Route: Do Riverside Park and follow the Greenway to Chestnut
NOTES: Spread out your teams and do the boundaries as well as the side streets within.
Do not do the levee south of the Greenway- do the Greenway.
Here We Go Again By State Representative Gail Riecken
Here we go again.
A private agency entrusted by the state with handling personal information on thousands of Hoosiers proves unable to handle the responsibility.
This is not some tiny error, either.
Many of your friends and neighbors might have had extremely personal details sent to other people…things like names, dates of birth, and medical and financial information, not to mention Social Security numbers.
And it’s not like it just happened either. The error was made in early April, discovered in early May and fixed later that month. They didn’t get around to admitting it to the public until a few days back.
Once found out, the usual excuses and apologies were hastily offered. We were assured not many people were hurt, and the private vendor accepted full responsibility. Hopefully, the financial penalties being imposed on the vendor that made this mistake will keep this kind of thing from happening again.
But keep in mind that this problem involves a state agency—FSSA—that was supposed to be a role model for private operation of public services. Back in 2006, the Daniels administration turned over eligibility services for Medicaid, food stamps and other programs to IBM. It was hailed as a step into the future.
Instead, it was a nightmare. Services were terminated for no reason, and that was just the surface of what went wrong. I still get an occasional complaint about lost paperwork causing benefits to be denied.
It went so wrong that the Daniels Administration terminated the IBM contract in 2009. The matter ended up in court, and taxpayers like you and me ended up paying the bill for it…to the tune of many millions of dollars.
So now we have this.
Much like the last administration, it certainly seems like this one is all too eager to fiddle around with programs that are crucial to helping the less fortunate in our state.
We must keep our hands off big businesses and corporations, but people who need a little help from government are perfect lab rats, and if things don’t work out, well, let’s try something else that makes them feel a little less valued in our society.
Another concern must be addressed.
When will people start to realize the perils that come from putting functions of government into the hands of private, for-profit companies?
And now we have a second scandal involving FSSA.
These are mistakes being made with your tax dollars. You have the right to ask for more from your state government.
State Representative Gail Riecken
Indiana House District 77
Pop Evil Brings All-American Rock to Victory Theatre
Not just one but three hard rock bands rattled the rafters in the historic Victory Theatre on Thursday night. Headliners Pop Evil returned to Evansville for the first time since appearing at the Ford Center as part of the Trespass America Festival last July, to the delight of the hardcore fans of this Detroit-based group. Pop Evil put on a high- energy show that kept up its head-thrasing intensity for well over an hour. Supporting act Candlelight Red gained some new fans with their adrenaline-fueled set, and local up-and-comers Sideshow Romance both brought in some of their most devoted followers and picked up some new fans of their own when they opened the show.
“It was good to see a new genre in Evansville’s Victory Theatre. There seemed to be a lot of new faces and I was excited to bring new people to the venue,†said Victory Theatre General Manager Ben Bolander.
The Victory Theatre continues an active summer and fall schedule with upcoming shows that include Tyler Farr (Summer Country Nights at the Victory series) July 12, “Weird Al†Yankovic – The Alpocalypse Tour July 27, Charlie Worsham (Summer Country Nights at the Victory series) August 15, No Justice (Summer Country Nights at the Victory series) September 13, Tommy Emmanuel September 20, and Don Williams October 17.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, July 11, 2013.
Bobby Bratcher                         Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon-Class C Felony
                                                        Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury-Class C Felony
Ronald Bond                                 Operating a Vehicle as an Habitual Traffic Violator-Class D Felony
Eugene Meyer                              Sexual Battery-Class D Felony
Amanda Stokes                           Theft-Class D Felony
Brian Werner                               Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury-Class C Felony (Two Counts)
                                                        Interference with the Reporting of a Crime-Class A Misdemeanor
                                                       Criminal Mischief-Class A Misdemeanor
                                                           Â
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 July 12, 2013
IS IT TRUE July 12, 2013
IS IT TRUE that some members of the City Council’s repeated warnings that the windfall of revenues from the casino riverboat shouldn’t be counted on to last forever and that the City has to work to help promote the riverboat as its largest visitation driver and tourist attraction are starting to come true?…that the CCO has learned from some inside the Civic Center that a recent change in riverboat tax structure will mean a decrease to the City of approximately $600k this year?…this was a legislative change enacted during the last session to help put Indiana’s riverboats on an equal playing field with their neighbors in adjacent states?… that the City of Evansville wasted an opportunity to strongly voice support for a land-based measure in the last session that could have increased the casino’s ability to attract MORE visitors here (many don’t like the old, 3-level riverboat constraints Indiana operates under), and generate MORE tax revenue to the City and region?… instead of trying to figure out ways they could support the casino to be more competitive, they focused on things that would protect their taxes which will inevitably decrease more as non-local customers continue to choose locations that offer land-based gaming?… that this $600k annual decrease to the City’s expected revenue stream will hit especially hard considering it’s been mentally “spent†already on things like subsidized hotel project, dogparks and skateboard parks, and an assortment of other trivial pursuits?
IS IT TRUE that local business Green Tree Plastics was recently featured on the Travel Channel’s Hotel Impossible by host and designer, Blanche Garcia who was prominently standing by the bench donated by Kimball’s National Office Furniture division to the rebuilding of Seaside NJ that was devastated by last year’s Hurricane Sandy?
IS IT TRUE that the CCO would like to congratulate Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Herrmann, Vanderburgh County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Gary Schutte, and Vanderburgh County Deputy Prosecutor Charles Berger on their excellent legal work on a shoestring budget that lead to the conviction and sentencing of the now convicted child murderer Jeffery Weisheit?…as long as the United States of America offers the death penalty as an option in cases that are as cruel and gruesome as this one was death will continue to be an appropriate dispensing of justice?
IS IT TRUE that a particularly vendetta driven commenter on the City County Observer that calls himself or herself WOW must be the most digitally challenged and obsessed fool in Evansville?…not only does this sorry varmint get up at 5am to write his own version of IS IT TRUE to post as a comment but is foolish enough to call the CCO liars about our traffic counts?…the internet traffic counts that we occasionally report are compiled by Google Analytics which is a secure third party program used by marketing professionals to assess the value of their advertising campaigns?…the CCO would like to issue a challenge to WOW to choose a public location with witneeses and provide our access codes to both Google Analytics and WordPress to confirm our traffic counts in a way that will embarrass this tortured obsessive soul into silence or feed his/her obsession to institutionalization?
IS IT TRUE that WOW and others who want to argue with scientifically measured things like internet traffic would get on about the business of maintaining the infrastructure and treasures of the City of Evansville things just might get better here?…the role of the CCO is the role of pointing out instances of bad public policy and what it leads to?…the McCurdy Hotel which has degenerated into a melting hunk of bricks during a prolonged period of abandonment which occurred after the City of Evansville used it as a political tool is a perfect example of what obsession with politics and neglect leads to?…the McCurdy is an embarrassment to an otherwise pretty nice riverfront?
Pet Of The Week
Mistache is a 1-year-old female cat with beautiful, unmistakable markings that are pretty hard to miss, given her name! She came up to a nice woman in Illinois’ house for help, because she was looking pretty rough from fending for herself outside. But she is a very sweet and loving cat who has done very well here at the shelter! She lives in the cageless cat room at the VHS, which means she’s used to having to share her space, food, and litterbox with other cats. Her adoption fee is $30, which includes her spay, vaccinations, microchip, and a bag of food.
BUCSHON HOLDS HEARING ON PLAN TO IMPROVE AMERICAN MANUFACTURING, CREATE JOBS
Rep. Bucshon and Dr. Rich at the Subcommittee on Research and Technology hearing on July 10, 2013.
(Washington, DC) – On Wednesday, Representative Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Research and Technology, held a hearing on developing a strategic plan to guide economic policy decisions that affect American manufacturing competitiveness.
Specifically, the hearing focused on H.R. 2447, the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2013, legislation to create a coordinated plan that will streamline current government programs and foster research and development into new products, and promote advanced manufacturing jobs here in the United States.
“Manufacturing is a critical component of our state and national economies and a source of employment for many Americans,†said Bucshon. “It is absolutely necessary that we develop a clear strategy for improving manufacturing competitiveness without disadvantaging other sectors or putting the government in a position of picking winners and losers. If done correctly, a plan, like the one offered in H.R. 2447, can promote economic and employment growth in the manufacturing sector, support a skilled workforce, enable innovation and investment in manufacturing, and support national security. I am pleased that Dr. Rich was able to provide a valuable perspective to our discussion about this important issue.â€
Bucshon tapped the Chairman and CEO of Berry Plastics Corporation in Evansville, IN, Dr. Jonathan Rich, to provide comments and recommendations to the Subcommittee.
“It was an honor to have the opportunity to provide testimony today before the House Subcommittee and to offer a business perspective on both the current and projected state of manufacturing in the United States,†said Jon Rich, Chairman and CEO of Berry Plastics Corporation. “As outlined in my testimony, HR 2447’s objective of promoting growth and sustainability, creating jobs, and strengthening the competitiveness of America’s manufacturing industry is vital to our national interests and to the stability and success of our local communities.â€
Manufacturing represents approximately 11 percent of the American economy, with an output that has risen by 13 percent over the last several years. Manufacturing also has the greatest multiplier effect of any major sector in the American economy. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, each dollar spent in manufacturing generates an additional $1.35 in spending.
Indiana is home to over 9,600 manufacturers employing nearly 560,000 workers. Indiana ranks first in manufacturing employment and second in manufacturing as a gross state product in the country. The critical sector also makes up about 27percent of the state’s economy.
The 8th district of Indiana is home to many of these manufacturers, like Berry Plastics that pair with institutes for higher education like Ivy Tech, Vincennes University, the University of Evansville, and the University of Southern Indiana to offer degrees related to advanced manufacturing and work closely with these entities to develop a talented and well-trained workforce.
Bucshon’s full opening statement can be accessed here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwugBePfV1Q&list=PLIXJ2Mq-88lxo69oDjCZnnBdFJvR4TA8e&index=2.
Dr. Rich’s full opening statement can be accessed here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4NVWsY7cNw&list=PLIXJ2Mq-88lxo69oDjCZnnBdFJvR4TA8e&index=1.
H.R. 2447, the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2013
The proposed legislation would strike and replace an existing requirement for the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on Technology to develop a 4-year strategic plan on advanced manufacturing research and development with a national manufacturing competitiveness strategic plan.
It calls on the Committee to conduct an analysis of factors that impact the competitiveness and growth of U.S. manufacturing, including: research and development; technology transfer; the manufacturing industrial base for national security; the workforce; trade and intellectual property policies; tax policies; emerging markets; and policies of our global competitors.
The goals of the required strategic plan are defined as: promoting growth of the U.S. manufacturing sector; supporting a skilled workforce; enabling innovation and investment in domestic manufacturing; and supporting national security. The strategic plan shall contain near and long-term objectives to meet the defined goals, including research and development, and describe the progress in achieving previous plans’ objectives. It shall also define the role of each agency as well as federally-supported advanced manufacturing activities to foster the technology transfer of research results into new products and processes. Additionally the plan shall describe federal programs to support the manufacturing workforce and small and medium-sized manufacturers.
The plan shall also consider input from a wide variety of stakeholders as well as the analysis of factors that impact U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.
H.R. 2447 also requires the President’s annual budget to include information regarding the consistency of the budget with the goals and recommendations included in the strategic plan.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.
Tiffany Boyd                                     Unlawful Possession or Use of a Legend Drug-Class D Felony
                                                               False Informing-Class B Misdemeanor
Stephani Burden                             Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class D Felony
                                                               Resisting Law Enforcement-Class D Felony
                                                               Criminal Mischief-Class A Misdemeanor
                                                               Public Intoxication-Class B Misdemeanor
Dana Calloway                                 Resisting Law Enforcement-Class D Felony
                                                               Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
                                                               Battery-Class A Misdemeanor
                                                               Operating a Vehicle with an Ace of .15 or More-Class A
Misdemeanor
                                                               Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
Anthony Clark                                  Operating a Vehicle with an Ace of .15 or More-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
                                                               Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Robert Farmer                                Operating a Motor Vehicle After Forfeiture of License for Life-
Class C Felony
Donnie Fosnight                             Domestic Battery-Class D Felony
                                                               Criminal Mischief-Class A Misdemeanor
Lamiea Gilbert                                 Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class D Felony
                                                               Resisting Law Enforcement-Class D Felony
                                                               Disorderly Conduct-Class B Misdemeanor
Matthew Jordan                             Operating a Vehicle with an Ace of .15 or More-Class A
Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
                                                               Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Micki Mayo                                       Possession of Methamphetamine-Class C Felony
                                                               Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
                                                               Theft-Class D Felony
                                                               Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
                                                               (Habitual Substance Offender Enhancement)
Kenneth Reel                                   Possession of Methamphetamine-Class D Felony
                                                             False Informing-Class B Misdemeanor
Chavar Snider                                   Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
                                                               Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
                                                               Driving While Suspended-Class A Misdemeanor
                                                              (Habitual Substance Offender Enhancement)
Thomas Whitmer                           Resisting Law Enforcement-Class D Felony
                                                               Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanors (Two Counts)
                                                               Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person-
Class A Misdemeanor
                                                               Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
John Baker                                         Burglary Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Felony
                                                               Burglary-Class B Felony
                                                               Forgery-Class C Felony
                                                               Theft-Class D Felonies (Two Counts)
                                                               Fraud-Class D Felony    Â
                                                               Battery By Body Waste-Class D Felony
                                                               Criminal Mischief-Class A Misdemeanor
                                                               (Habitual Offender Enhancement)
                                                             Â
Daniel Bellm                                     Intimidation-Class C Felonies (Two Counts)
                                                               Residential Entry-Class D Felony
Glenn Carper Jr                               Operating a Motor Vehicle After Forfeiture of License for Life-
Class C Felony
Rakeyona Carter                             Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class D Felony
                                                               Assisting a Criminal –Class A Misdemeanor
Blake Drapeau                                 Residential Entry-Class D Felony
                                                               Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Misdemeanor
                                                               Criminal Trespass-Class A Misdemeanor
                                                               False Informing-Class B Misdemeanor
                                                               Criminal Mischief-Class B Misdemeanor
Jared Moore                                     Strangulation-Class D Felony
                                                               Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class D Felony
Mario Rabon                                     Theft-Class D Felony
                                                               (Habitual Offender Enhancement)
Michael Shepard                            Domestic Battery-Class A Misdemeanor Enhanced to D Felony
Rick Utley                                          Operating a Motor Vehicle After Forfeiture of License for Life-
Class C Felony
                                                               Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
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.