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EFD takes Gold, Silver and Bronze at Combat Challenge

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Every year about this time, thousands of Firefighters from all over the world converge on Indianapolis for the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC). Aside from fire trucks, firefighting clothing and every type of firefighting equipment imaginable, you’ll easily find educational classes, seminars and competitions. One competition is the Combat Challenge.

Four Evansville Firefighters competed in 3 different categories and reaped the rewards. On Thursday Adam Brock, George Madison and Marc Schiele (sheely) took 3rd in the Team Event. On Friday Joey Jones joined the group and took 2nd in the Relay competition. To finish out the Challenge, Brock and Madison teamed up to win the Tandem competition on Saturday.

Congratulations for a great showing and bringing home the GOLD. What’s next? This weekend Brock & Madison will compete in Milford Ohio at another Regional competition.

IS IT TRUE April 24, 2012

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IS IT TRUE April 24, 2012

IS IT TRUE that a most unusual sewer bill for the last month for a home in Newburgh was made known to the CCO yesterday?…that what is unusual about this sewer bill is that the actual water use which is widely thought to be the basis for the sewer charge was clearly recorded as ZERO?…that the monthly charge for that 31 day period of ZERO USE was $42.41?…that the charge of $42.41 was the same when the use was over 2,000 gallons per month?…that this is an example of decoupling gone wild?…that if one uses ZERO water that the charge for sewer should be ZERO as well?…that if there is a nominal fee it should not be $42.41, it should be more like $5?…that the water bill for ZERO use was not ZERO either?…that the charge for ZERO water was $7.22?…that the sewer charge for ZERO is exactly 487% higher than the water bill?

IS IT TRUE that we have just learned that 2011 was a year in which a record was set for the number of United States citizens who renounced their citizenship?…that just a few years ago the average number of American citizens who renounced their citizenship averaged just under 500 per year…that the number has been growing since 2009 and that last year 1,788 Americans renounced their citizenship?…that is an increase of over 250% in just three years?…that there is not any exit interview study that has been released to the public so there is no way right now to know why these people have decided to become citizens of someplace else?…that most of the opinions that have been expressed about this phenomena revolve around the complicated nature of American taxation and in particular how foreign income is taxed?…that this may be true and is an easy answer but what if that is not the reason?…that we expect that the long time number of 500 per year was a baseline that was dominated by people who may have married a foreign national or had some philosophical disagreement with the American Republic?…that the additional people renouncing their citizenship are in most likelihood economic refuges of some sort?…that America has always been a place that people come to for opportunity as opposed to a place that they flee?…that these canaries in the American coal mine merit serious study because if we are losing our job creators over economic policies and tax laws we had better get busy and change that?

IS IT TRUE that the WalMart Corporation is making news for allegedly paying bribes to local officials in Mexico to get permits issued faster?…that this should not surprise anyone and that the use of bribes to public officials to grease the wheels of commerce while disgusting has been going on in every country including the United States for as long as there have been public officials to be greased?…that the United States and especially local governments find ways for pet projects to move to the front of the line or be escorted through the process all of the time?…that what is called a bribe in Mexico is called a political contribution in the United States?…that the end result is the same?…that when a favor is done for a person or a company that was not customarily done for everyone and money exchanges hands that is in effect a bribe?

IS IT TRUE that private vetting efforts on the Earthcare Energy deal continue and more information turns up nearly every day?…that this information is being made available to elected officials who should have known such things before a vote was held on the loan?…that there are some very concerned people in the halls of local government right now?…that some of the people in local government are “as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs”?

Zoeller honors two southern Indiana victim, advocates with Hoosier Hearts Hero awards

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Two southern Indiana victim advocates are the first to receive the Hoosier Hearts Hero Award for Distinguished Advocacy presented by Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller.

“The Hoosier Hearts Hero Award is designed to honor advocates who play vital roles, often behind the scenes, helping local shelters give voices to those in need,” Zoeller said. “Without the support and encouragement of advocates many victims may not speak out about crimes committed against them. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week gives us an opportunity to spotlight their efforts to serve others.”

For more than 30 years, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has promoted the awareness of victims’ rights and services and honored countless crime victims and survivors. Many educational events, vigils and memorials will be held across the state and will run through Saturday.

This is the first year for the Hoosier Heart awards and both recipients work for the Hoosier Hills Prisoners And Community Together (PACT). Kathy Kuss, associate director of the not-for-profit, said the organization’s mission is to provide and promote opportunities for community involvement in restorative justice.

Heather Woloshen will receive the Career Advocate Hoosier Heart Hero Award for her 11-year long commitment to helping victims of domestic violence and advocacy for sexual assault victims and their families. Kuss said she nominated Woloshen because of her outstanding dedication and enthusiasm for helping others.

“Heather’s commitment to, and concern for, victims and survivors of domestic violence has made her a standout as an advocate,” said Kathy Kuss, associate director of Hoosier Hills PACT. “Heather has made it her mission to ensure that victims’ rights and dignity are protected, and that their safety and that of their children remains paramount. Shortly after I began working with Heather I learned that due to financial difficulties for DVIN shortly before PACT was approached for assistance, Heather had worked for eight weeks unpaid rather than allow the office to close. As a single mother this was a great sacrifice, but Heather explained that she simply could not abandon her clients for that time. I am extremely pleased that her dedication and commitment to victims and survivors is being recognized with a Hoosier Heart Hero Award.”

Bill Rothrock will receive the Volunteer Advocate Hoosier Heart Hero Award for donating 480 hours of his time to the shelter program since 2000. Connie Benson, director of the shelter, nominated Rothrock for helping with tasks ranging from electrical and plumbing work to gardening and picking up Christmas gifts for children.

“No matter when we call on Bill, he is there to help,” Benson said. “He arrives with his toolbox, ladder or whatever he needs to get the job done. No job is too large or too small. Little does Bill realize the tiny eyes that are watching him as he is replacing a light bulb or when he is repairing a leg on the kitchen table. Those eyes are those of our small and silent victims. Those are the eyes of the children who have witnessed the abuse of a family member and have come to the shelter to remain safe. Many of the children have never had a positive male role model in their life. Bill helps to provide that positive influence and he doesn’t even realize it. We need more Bill’s in this world to make a difference in the lives of victims.”

Nominations for the awards were due by Jan. 31 and included an overview of the nominee’s service and explained how the individual exemplifies the 2012 Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme, “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim.”

The Hoosier Hills PACT service area includes Washington, Orange, Harrison, Crawford, Scott and Lawrence counties.

EPD Educates Landlords on Crime Free Housing

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Organization: Property Owners and Managers Association of Evansville

When: April, 24, 2012 6:30 PM

Where: Browning Room, Central Library

The Evansville Police Department is preparing to launch a new Crime Free Housing Program. The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is a, state-of-the-art, crime prevention program designed to reduce crime, drugs, and gangs on apartment properties. This program was successfully developed at the Mesa Arizona Police Department in 1992. The International Crime Free Multi-Housing Program have spread to nearly 2,000 cities in 44 U.S. states, 5 Canadian Provinces, Mexico, England, Finland, Japan, Russia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Puerto Rico. Australia has expressed interest in adopting the program.

The program consists of three phases that must be completed under the supervision of the local police department. Property managers can become individually certified after completing training in each phase and the property becomes certified upon successful completion of all three phases.

The anticipated benefits are reduced police calls for service, a more stable resident base, and reduced exposure to civil liability.

Increasingly, law enforcement finds that crime problems often migrate from apartment communities to condominium rentals and then to single family home rentals. This is especially true for organized crime, marijuana growers, methamphetamine labs, and gang activity. These criminals prefer the privacy, extra storage, and absence of daily on-site property management.

These private landlords soon find that the problems associated with serious criminal activity are beyond their ability to control. It cannot be solved by law enforcement intervention alone because of landlord-tenant and privacy laws. To solve the problem it requires a community-based solution like the Crime Free Rental Housing Program.

The Crime Free Rental Housing Program is a, state-of-the-art, crime prevention program designed to reduce crime, drugs, and gangs on small rental properties

VHS Pet of the Week: “Ollie”

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Hello from Ollie, a 2-year-old neutered Brussels Griffon Mix. Ollie is super sweet and loves to cuddle. He is a very needy boy who is looking for a home where he gets lots of attention and isn’t left alone for long periods of time. He is a bit set in his ways so older children are a must. He’s got lots of energy and will make a great walking buddy for someone. For more information on this cute little guy and how to make him a member of your family, visit www.vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563.

Gas Tax Map

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A map showing the gas tax rate, and ranking, for each respective state.

2012 Republican Primary Ballot

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2012 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES # ELECTED CAND. # CANDIDATE NAME
President of the United States 1
2 NEWT GINGRICH
3 RON PAUL
4 MITT ROMNEY
5 RICK SANTORUM

United States Senator 1
6 RICHARD G. LUGAR
7 RICHARD E. MOURDOCK

Governor 1 8 MIKE PENCE

United States Representative 8th District 1
9 LARRY D. BUCSHON
10 KRISTI RISK

State Senator District 50 1 11 VANETA BECKER

State Representative District 64 1
12 JAMES AMICK
13 THOMAS W. WASHBURNE

State Representative District 76 1 14 WENDY (MAC) MCNAMARA

State Representative District 77 1
15 LEVON M. DOZIER
16 ALAN LEIBUNDGUTH

State Representative District 78 1 17 SUZANNE CROUCH

Clerk of the Circuit Court 1
18 J D STROUTH
19 DEBBIE G. STUCKI
20 HEATHER ZOSS

County Recorder 1

County Treasurer 1 21 SUSAN K. KIRK

County Coroner 1 22 FRANK E. COLEMAN

County Surveyor 1

County Commissioner District One 1 23 JOE KIEFER

County Commissioner District Three 1

County Council at Large 3 24 ANGELA KOEHLER LINDSEY
25 JEREMY C. MEEKS

Precinct Committeeman Ward One Precinct 1 1
26 TOM COHOON
27 BRAD LINZY

Precinct Committeeman Ward Two Precinct 13 1
28 SID PETERSON
29 JOHN A. WORTHINGTON

Precinct Committeeman Ward Six Precinct 3 1
30 JOSEPH L. TEMPLETON, JR
31 VICKIE M. TEMPLETON

Precinct Committeeman Armstrong Township Precinct 1 1
32 JASON GERTEISEN
33 WILBUR P. KROHN

Precinct Committeeman German Township Precinct 1 3
34 MICHAEL DILLBACK
35 FRANK PETERLIN

Delegates to State Convention Ward Three 3
36 HURSHEL B. COBB
37 JOSHUA M. GRIFFIN
38 ALAN LEIBUNDGUTH
39 TAMMI MITCHELL
40 TYLER G. MITCHELL
41 JIM D. REDDING
42 JD STROUTH

Delegates to State Convention Ward Four 2
FRANK E. COLEMAN
44 ROGER MADDEN
45 ROBERT P. MUSGRAVE

Delegates to State Convention German Township 3
46 SHAUN M. BARBER
47 BRENDA J. BERGWITZ
48 MICHAEL DILLBACK
49 FRANK T. PETERLIN
50 STEVE WILLETT
51 TRAVIS WILLETT

2012 Democrat Primary Ballot

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2012 DEMOCRAT BALLOT

President of the United States, BARACK OBAMA, Chicago, IL

United States Senator, JOE DONNELLY, GRANGER IN

Governor, JOHN R. GREGG, SANDBORN IN

United States Representative 8th District
THOMAS BARNETT, BOWLING GREEN IN
WILLIAM BRYK, BROOKLYN NY
DAVE CROOKs, WASHINGTON IN

State Senator District 50, TERRY A. WHITE, NEWBURGH IN

State Representative District 64 MARK A. NORTON, PRINCETON IN

State Representative District 76, W. TRENT VAN HAAFTEN, MT VERNON IN

State Representative District 77, GAIL RIECKEN, EVANSVILLE IN

State Representative District 78:

Clerk of the Circuit Court
CARL E. CULLEY, EVANSVILLE, IN
CHRIS WALSH, EVANSVILLE IN

County Recorder, Z TULEY, EVANSVILLE IN

County Treasurer, RICK A. DAVIS, EVANSVILLE IN

County Coroner, ANNIE EICKHOFF GROVES, EVANSVILLE IN

County Surveyor, LINDA FREEMAN, EVANSVILLE, IN

County Commissioner District One:

County Commissioner District Three, STEPHEN R. MELCHER, EVANSVILLE IN

County Council at Large
ED BASSEMIER, EVANSVILLE IN
MIKE GOEBEL, EVANSVILLE IN

IS IT TRUE April 23, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE April 23, 2012

IS IT TRUE that the Associated Press is reporting that 2012 is a horrible year for new college graduates to find employment in their field?…that the last 3 years have been no picnic either and that our nation and especially certain areas that do not have professional based economies are full of degreed waiter and waitresses?…that some of this has to do with students who chose to pursue degrees that have never had jobs waiting for them or who partied in school and are among the degreed who can’t fill out a job application or form a complete sentence?…that some of these unemployed or underemployed young people also fell for a pitch from an institution of higher learning that overstated the recruitment on campus or presented statistics from long ago as though they were current?…that this situation not only is wasting talent but the loans carried by many of these young people will not be capable of being repaid creating yet another bubble that will burst leaving the federal government to deal with the fallout?…that some kids graduate college with $50,000 or more in loans and no prospect of employment at more than the minimum wage?…that these numbers simply do not work?

IS IT TRUE that the latest set of polls for the office of President of the United States are all within the margin of error and are about equal with respect to whether President Obama or Governor Romney will win by a fraction of a percent?…that while interesting the popular vote really does not have any direct bearing on the outcome of the election?…that most of the Electoral College polls still have President Obama with a lead but no polls are now predicting that either candidate has strong enough numbers to be elected?…that much of the country is predictably either blue or red and that the battle for the White House will take place in a relatively small number of states that are still in play?…that it really looks like the keys to victory for either candidate are Ohio and Pennsylvania?…that either candidate that can take both of those will most likely win?…that if those states split then some combination of states with enough electors to add up to either Ohio or Pennsylvania will win?…that a combination of the “too close to call” states like any three of Virginia, Iowa, Nevada, Minnesota, and New Hampshire will make up for one big loss?…that unless a scandal breaks or someone commits a faux pas it really looks like less than 10 states will be getting all of the attention from our candidates for President?

IS IT TRUE that the CCO MOLES that have been invited to make predictions in the upcoming primaries are starting to send in their ballots?…that as soon as we have them all but not later than Friday we shall publish the MOLES PREDICTIONS?

IS IT TRUE that the Earthcare Energy VETTING may be out of the news but it is not out of the minds of the people who are mystified at how this happened the way it did?…that not a day goes by that the CCO is not contacted by someone that is completely confused as to how this City Council vote happened under duress without much information about any VETTING of the business model, the management team, the markets, or the other investors being considered?…that this pot is nearing a boil and that much information that was not made available to the City Council prior to the vote is becoming common knowledge?…that as more and more of this information finds its way into the halls of government and into the general population that the process that lead to the 5 – 4 vote will come under intense scrutiny?…that it looks like at some point in the very near future that there will be an old fashioned “coming to Jesus” meeting for the process of VETTING projects in the City of Evansville?…that we hope that such a meeting is open to the public and not hidden behind the doors of a surrogate that will not allow the media or the public inside?…that we think the places for such meetings are the Evansville City Council and the Vanderburgh County Commissioners who substantially fund GAGE’s operation?