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IS IT TRUE January 18, 2013

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE January 18, 2013

IS IT TRUE there have been meetings called within the staff of the Evansville Water & Sewer Utility that have some staffers believing that some forthcoming changes in personnel are happening to accommodate the implementation of the Johnson Controls contract?…this happened at the same time that there has been a formal announcement that the billing for water and sewer services will be getting a new look?…there are even people outside the department’s personnel who after hearing the account of what was said think the recent meeting was a precursor to implementing the Johnson Controls deal?…the must be a multi-year implementation plan for such a deal so shuffling personnel right now to accommodate hardware that does not even have IURC approval for financing seems abit premature?…while the CCO is fully aware that there is a silent effort to try to move the Johnson Controls deal forward and encourages a thorough VETTING of whatever ragtag version is put forward next, it does seem abit early for the City Administration to be ruffling the feathers of the staff for something that is to date just a hope and dream of the former and current mayors of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that former President Bill Clinton has spent most of the week in Palm Springs, CA to support the Clinton Foundations efforts with Humana in what is being called the Clinton Health Initiative?…in a discussion President Clinton called poor health of the population the biggest economic and security threat to the United States?…it is easy to understand how one army that is too fat to walk a half mile and too out of shape to pick up a gun would easily be defeated by a lean mean fighting machine?…while that is not the case yet, the number of non military adults in this country who would be very challenged to defend themselves in any way due to poor health is quite sobering?…when it comes to the economy the wages of sloth are even more dramatic?…poor health in the workplace costs American companies (and government) BILLIONS of dollars in lost time incidents or illness?…poor health drives up insurance premiums much more than the so called “greedy” doctors raising their fees?…that poor health in both of these cases blunts the competitiveness of the nation’s businesses?

IS IT TRUE when it comes to the direct costs of poor health a perfect example was given of two young families (one healthy and one not) starting out life with similar careers?…the healthy family had few sick days so they earned more money and moved up their career path because they could be counted on?…the sick family was off from work often, was slow to make deadlines, and found themselves not moving up due to the artifacts of being unhealthy?…by retirement the healthy family was way better off financially and still in good health even though they started out with the same advantages as the unhealthy family?…when one country spends triple its GDP on healthcare as another country does, the unhealthy country, its people, and its companies are essentially unable to compete in a world market where 15% profit margins are considered great?…this is the future of America if we as a people do not get off the couch, off of the junk food, and serious about personal self improvement?…when we all maintain the best health that our genes will allow none of us will drag the others down?…even with today’s insurance+Medicare+Medicaid system we already spread the financial risk?…in 2014 a fat lazy person in Idaho will cost every single one of us both money and competitiveness?…in health as in education, and other lagging areas of performance America’s problems seem to be self inflicted?…each day our people and our government need to ask the simple question “will what I am doing today make me better”?…if that answer is always yes we will break the downward spiral?…if we do not do so in a vast majority then the path to the Detroitization of America will continue?

EPD Activity Report: January 17, 2013

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EPD Activity Report: January 17, 2013

Saturday Sampler at Wesselman Woods

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When: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve

Wildlife specialists will demonstrate the latest methods, tools, and techniques for safely and effectively hunting and harvesting nature’s bounty. Bring the family to wander around to sample demonstrations on various topics to include:

Indiana Falconer Joe Katterhenry – modern falconry tools and live bird, flying demo at 2:00 p.m.

IDNR Conservation Officer John Pace – wildlife management and conservation,

Gander Mountain – game call use & demonstrations

Strictly Shooting – archery equipment & techniques

Steve Taylor, Indiana Master Naturalist – basic animal tracking & identification

Live animal encounters: raptors – nature’s hunters

Carnivore Crossroads tracking game

Display of game species & biofacts

Display of Indiana extinct or endangered animal species

Cost:

Free for WNS members, $2/person for non-members

Source: wesselmannaturesociety.org

Eagles roll in second half to defeat Pumas

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team used a strong second half to climb out of a first half hole and defeat Saint Joseph’s College, 90-81, Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI rises to 11-2 overall and 4-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while Saint Joseph’s goes to 4-8 overall, 2-3 GLVC.

The Screaming Eagles started slow offensively and defensively in the first half. USI shot only 20 percent through the first six minutes of game (3-15) and allowed Saint Joseph’s to hit nine-of-15 three-point field goals during the first 20 minutes. The Pumas built a lead of nine points, 19-10, before the Eagles clamped down on the defensive end of the floor.

After finding itself down nine points, USI sophomore forward Austin Davis (Freeport, Illinois) ignited an 11-2 Eagles’ run to tie the game, 21-21, with 9:45 left. Saint Joseph’s would respond and re-extended its lead to as many as eight points, 43-35, with 2:07 left in the half.

The Eagles made a 6-1 push before halftime when senior guard Kenyon Smith (Chicago, Illinois) hit a three-point field goal and senior guard Melvyn Little (Louisville, Kentucky) converted a three-point play to narrow the deficit to 44-41 at the intermission.

Senior center Keith DeWitt (High Point, North Carolina) ignited the Eagles’ second half comeback with a dunk to start the final 20 minutes and pulled USI to within one point, 44-43. The senior would give the Eagles their first lead of the game, 45-44, with 19:20 left on a lay-up.

Saint Joseph’s would regain the lead, 46-45, before USI used a 10-2 run to post a seven-point advantage, 55-48. The Pumas would claw their way back into the lead with an 8-0 run, 56-55, before USI took the lead for good, 57-56, on a bucket by junior forward Aaron Nelson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) with 13:54 left.

The Eagles methodically extended the lead to eight points, 69-61, with 10 minutes remaining and would never lead by fewer than five points the rest of the way. USI increased the margin to double-digits three times in the final minutes, including its largest lead of the game, 90-78, with five seconds to play. The Pumas finished the scoring at 90-81 when they were granted a three-point field goal on a goaltending call with three ticks left on the clock.

Second half defense was key to the Eagles’ victory as they forced nine turnovers and held the Pumas to just 34.2 percent from the field (13-38). USI also dominated the glass in the game, outrebounding Saint Joseph’s 53-38.

Nelson paced the Eagles, individually, with his third double-double of the season on 15 points and 11 rebounds. He scored 11 of his 15 points during USI’s second half comeback.

Davis followed Nelson in the scoring column with a season-high 14 points, including four first half three-point field goals. Smith and Little added 11 points each, while DeWitt rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points. DeWitt also grabbed seven rebounds.

USI concludes its short two-game homestand at 3:15 p.m. Saturday when it hosts the fifth-ranked University of Indianapolis. The Greyhounds lost for the first time this season and dropped to 14-1 overall, 4-1 in the GLVC, after losing at fourth-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan College, 79-69, tonight.

The Eagles hit the road to Owensboro Monday at 7:30 p.m. to play KWC and begin a three-game road swing.

Source: GoUSIEagles.com

Swonder Ice Arena Hosts Clinic for US Figure Skating’s 12th Annual National Skating Month

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EVANSVILLE, IN – The Swonder Learn to Skate Program will host a special event as part of U.S. Figure Skating’s National Skating Month (NSM) in January at Swonder Ice Arena in Evansville. Free skating lessons will be offered from 12:30pm- 2:30pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013, for the residents of Evansville and surrounding communities. These lessons are geared towards first time skaters who have never taken lessons. Free skating lesson participants may stay and skate the 1:00pm- 3:30pm public session at no charge. The first 50 youth participants will receive a goody bag courtesy of US Figure Skating. All participants will be given a raffle ticket and have a chance to win a session of group skating lessons, a private skating lesson, public session passes, U.S. Figure Skating merchandise, an Evansville Icemen prize pack and more. The River City Ice Theatre team will do a short demonstration at 2:30pm. This is Swonder’s 6th year participating in National Skating Month and is sure to be fun for the whole family!

National Skating Month, now in its 12th year, allows U.S. Figure Skating member clubs and Basic Skills programs to reach out to new members in their communities by offering the fundamentals of ice skating from professionally trained instructors. The goal of National Skating Month is to increase awareness and participation in the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program.

In March 2002, U.S. Figure Skating unveiled National Skating Week with great success. Following the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, thousands of people took to the ice for National Skating Week. As part of the weeklong activities, more than 110 member clubs nationwide hosted “It’s Great to Skate” clinics, with clubs realizing membership increases ranging from 10-50 percent. U.S. Figure Skating expanded the fifth year of the program to National Skating Month. In 2012, more than 400 clubs hosted events to celebrate NSM.

Over the last 17 years, U.S. Figure Skating has enjoyed consistent growth through programs that provide opportunities for all ages. During the 2001-02 season, U.S. Figure Skating’s Basic Skills Program reached a milestone by registering more than 100,000 members for the first time in the program’s history. Since its inception in 1985, the program has taught more than 2 million people to skate.

U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is comprised of more than 700 member clubs, collegiate clubs and school-affiliated clubs, and more than 1,000 registered Basic Skills skating schools representing approximately 173,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.

For more information, please contact Skating Director Christin Thompson at (812)436-5707 or Renee Felton, U.S. Figure Skating media relations, at 719.635.5200.

Attorney General’s statement on Federal Court ruling in Right to Work case

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INDIANAPOLIS – Today a federal court dismissed the plaintiffs’ constitutional challenge to Indiana’s Right to Work statute the Legislature passed in 2012. Chief Judge Philip Simon of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana issued his decision in the lawsuit Sweeney v. Daniels, which challenged the constitutionality of last year’s House Enrolled Act 1001. The court granted the State defendants’ motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ amended complaint and entered judgment in favor of the State and against the plaintiffs.

As state government’s lawyer, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office defends state statutes from legal challenges plaintiffs file. Zoeller today issued this statement:

“The federal court’s decision supports the legal authority and policy decisions of the people’s elected representatives in the Legislature, and we appreciate the court’s thorough analysis. My office will continue to defend the statute from legal challenge or appeal in any future court action,” Zoeller said.

Evansville water bill has a new look and new schedule

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Meter reading timeframe unchanged

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Over the next month, Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) customers will notice their water bill has a new look. The bills are still white postcards, but are now printed with predominantly black and blue type. The Utility encourages customers to be aware of the slight format change.

Additionally, for some customers, starting in February, bills will arrive on a new billing schedule. Please note that although the bill is received at a different time, the meter reading timeframe will remain the same. This means, for some customers, January and February bills will be sent within a few days of each other. EWSU realizes this could be a financial strain for some customers and will make payment arrangements and postpone disconnect notices until April 2013 as needed. The new billing schedule will be in effect for all customers by Feb. 20.

“Over the next few weeks, please take extra care to identify the new bill in your mailbox. If you have questions about your bill, please contact the Utility at 812-436-7846,” stated Allen Mounts, director of the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility.

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 Wednesday, January 16, 2013.

Audrey Ealum Robbery-Class C Felony (Two Counts)
Possession of a Controlled Substance-Class D Felony (Two Counts)
Unlawful Possession or Use of a Legend Drug-Class D Felony (Two Counts)
Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Misdemeanor (Two Counts)
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor

Stephan Wilson Theft-Class D Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor

Anthony Burris Theft-Class D Felony

Leonard Lemon Sr Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon-Class C Felony

Gary Snelling Robbery-Class C Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class D Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
Reckless Driving-Class B Misdemeanor

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

Congressman Bucshon Comments on President’s Gun Proposal

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(Washington, DC) – Congressman Larry Bucshon (IN-08) released the following statement regarding President Obama’s proposal on gun control.

Congressman Bucshon (IN-08) stated:

“President Obama offered broad recommendations today that lack specifics or real evidence that the actions he proposed will significantly reduce violence. I believe we need to have a broader conversation about the causes and cures of violence in our society. More emphasis should be placed on addressing mental health issues and how to get proper treatment for those who suffer from mental illness. We should be addressing the poor economic situation some of our citizens are in as well as the illegal drugs epidemic we are facing, instead of playing politics. Creating new laws while we can’t enforce the current laws is simply expanding Government for no reason.

“The founding fathers intended that legislation be passed through Congress with meaningful consideration and debate, not by the stroke of a single pen. I do not support the use of executive order in an attempt to bypass Congress on this issue or any other issue. As a member of Congress, I have an obligation to protect the rights of my constituents, and I intend to keep that obligation.”

The Road to Detroit, By: John Sitkiewicz

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Forget about a fast ride to Greece. Never mind France. The actual road that President Obama’s taking the country down at breakneck speed is closer to home. It’s a road straight to a city on the brink of insolvency. It’s a road right to a city collapsing under unsustainable debt. It’s a one way road to a place completely averse to growth and job creation.

Over the fiscal cliff or not, for America the destination’s Detroit – population 700,000 and shrinking – the city that has faithfully practiced the very same high taxing and big bureaucratic policies that the president is on the verge of bringing national without fail for over half a century. And let there be no mistake about it, from its crumbling financial house on down to its stunning refusal to reverse course, Detroit is Obama’s America all inside of 139 square miles. It’s also the ultimate coming attraction as to just exactly where the country’s careening to with Obama firmly at the wheel for another term as your president.

Under the thumb of Democratic Party rule for over 50 years, Detroit – once revered worldwide for its industrial prowess and abundant middle class – is the scene of one of the progressive agenda’s greatest crimes. Plagued for decades by epidemic poverty, joblessness, pervasive blight, and political dysfunction, Detroit’s cataclysmic fall from being a major urban American city once home to nearly two million and positioned to rival Chicago into one whose political ruling class cannot manage to budget for functioning street lights to keep those who’ve yet to flee out of the dark when night falls is in its cold hard numbers.

Broke and facing the real prospect of having to enter into Chapter 9 bankruptcy, Detroit’s painful decent into the abyss goes well beyond a potential over $50 million budgetary shortfall come June 1st. Strangled by public sector unions and what its beleaguered mayor Dave Bing just a few short weeks ago called a “sense of entitlement,” Detroit’s long term debt is assessed by some analysts to be approaching $15 billion and rising. To make matters worse, municipal bonds – the sole vehicle keeping Detroit afloat – were recently downgraded below junk status.

What’s Detroit’s – particularly its nine member elected city council members – preferred antidote to its perpetual negative cash flow and crushing high debt choking off any chance at lifting itself out from under? Astonishingly, nothing short of unabashedly continuing on with the same big government prescription that President Obama is about to dispense onto the entire country. The Detroit City Council model – the one about to be emulated nationally – of big taxes, big fees, big spending, big bureaucratic red tape, and big plans of a turnaround not rooted in reality that Obama is hell bent on unleashing onto America has never failed to yield tangible results.

Shamefully, tangible results in Detroit have come in the form of unrelenting human suffering courtesy of chronically high unemployment that Bing has himself estimated at 50 percent in certain swaths of the city and a poverty rate that that continues to ravage no less than 35 percent of Detroit’s remaining inhabitants.

But above all else, Detroit’s most damning statistic is undoubtedly its most tragic. Nearly 58 percent of Detroit’s children live in poverty with hardly any chance at moving – as Obama would say – “forward.”

Elections always come with consequences. Elections always bring about changes.

It goes without saying that millions of voters may have truly wanted to get on with fundamentally changing America by re-electing President Obama. Unbeknownst to them, all they’re really going to be getting during the next four years is a whole lot of Detroit. Do enjoy the ride.

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