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IS IT TRUE January 17, 2013

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE the skateboard park at the Swonder Ice Rink is being closed and that Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke thinks it should be?…the reasons for closing the skateboard park are the facts that it sees minimal use from anyone at all AND that it is thought to be dangerous?…this sounds like code for neglect, disinterest, and lack of maintenance which seems to be the destroyer of all that was once decent and beautiful in the City of Evansville?…the closing of one skateboard park so another one can be built (and yes Mayor Winnecke still thinks a new skateboard park at Roberts is a good idea) is a play straight out of the playbook that was used to destroy Roberts Stadium and spend $127 Million on Ford Center?…this is the same one trick pony routine that lead to demolishing the Executive Inn before a new hotel was secured or even studied?…the skateboard park on the beach in Venice, CA typically has a dozen or so skateboarders using it on weekends with a couple of hundred people watching them?…at times when the crowd is not watching even this sterling example of a skateboard park in a beautiful beach setting is empty?…skateboarders like an audience and if there is no audience there will be no skateboarders at any skateboard park for long?…the other things that are at Venice Beach to bring the audience in are hundreds of unique retail outlets, every kind of restaurant imaginable, and even a couple of dozen medical marijuana dispensaries?…if Evansville is willing to reproduce Venice Beach minus the Pacific Ocean and marijuana dispensaries there may, and we must say may be enough of an audience to interest skateboarders in doing their thing where Roberts Stadium once stood?…that is a very long shot with a high entry fee?

IS IT TRUE the one-on-one meetings with the Mayor for his singular explanations of just what he has decided on for a downtown hotel continue on a daily basis?…our Civic Center Moles tell us that there is a team of 4 or 5 proponents of the Mayor’s desires who are there to reinforce its benefits on the outgunned and outmanned members of the City Council who dare enter the chamber?…it takes a very strong person with knowledge to stand up to a gang of experts?…the City Council members were deprived of that knowledge by not having seen the presentations beforehand so what is needed in each is the strength to resist the sales pitch and the resolve to go home and think for a good long time?…this is nearly as bad as the Earthcare Energy deal except that time the Mayor didn’t tell the City Council at all?…there were then as there are now two members of the council who were enlisted early yet sworn to secrecy?…that even when the Mayor’s staff was demanding the $200,000 check be written to Earthcare Energy there were two City Council members who knew?…the rest were in the dark until it came time to vote on another loan of over $4 Million?…this is the same play from the same playbook that brought us the Earthcare secret?…secrets in government do not stay secret so the best course of action is continuous transparency?…candidate Winnecke seemed to have known that?

IS IT TRUE that there are some commercial businesses that President Barack Obama really likes and has a history of showering with public money?…among these are solar power, windmills, and General Motors cars?…these particular businesses were handed out stimulus money as if it were Halloween and they were children screaming “trick or treat”?…that handguns and automatic weapons were not showered with taxpayer dollars and these businesses seem to be out of favor with the President?…gun company stocks are soaring and their products are on backorder across the country?…even in the deep blue City of Los Angeles that lines several blocks long form everyday to purchase any guns and ammo that are delivered to the merchants?…it is curious that the very businesses that the President does not favor have thrived under his administration yet the businesses that have been showered with tax dollars have performed poorly to the point of multiple bankruptcies?…what President Obama needs to do if he really wants to see solar on every roof, a windmill in every backyard and a GM product is every driveway is clear?…Mr. President the best thing you could possibly do for solar, wind, and GM is threaten to ban them from existence by executive order?

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 Tuesday, January 15, 2013.

David Arndell Theft – Class D Felony

Jeremy Bergwitz Theft – Class D Felony (Two Counts)

Pierre Edwards Strangulation – Class D Felony
Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury – Class A Misdemeanor

Chantel Elzer Dealing in Marijuana – Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana – Class D Felony
Neglect of a Dependent – Class D Felony (Two Counts)
Driving While Suspended – Class A Misdemeanor

Joseph Gardner III Dealing in Schedule II Controlled Substance – Class B Felony

Libby Goedde Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .15 or More with a Passenger less than
18 Years of Age – Class D Felony
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person with a Passenger
Less than 18 Years of Age – Class D Felony
Neglect of a Dependent – Class D Felony (Two Counts)

Robert Greene Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to a Class D Felony)
Driving While Suspended – Class A Misdemeanor

Damian Hall Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .15 or More – Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to a D Felony)
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to a Class D Felony)
Failure to Stop after Accident Resulting in Non-Vehicle Damage – Class B
Misdemeanor

Jason Peak Dealing in Methamphetamine – Class A Felony
False Informing – Class B Misdemeanor

Justa Rider Attempted Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon – Class C Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement – Class A Misdemeanor
Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury – Class A Misdemeanor
Public Intoxication – Class B Misdemeanor

Patrick Spradley Residential Entry – Class D Felony
Criminal Mischief – Class D Felony
Intimidation – Class D Felony
Harassment – Class B Misdemeanor
Disorderly Conduct – Class B Misdemeanor

Elliott Tokarski Dealing in Methamphetamine – Class A Felony

Trent Thompson Attempted Burglary – Class B Felony (Two Counts)

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

AG files complaint against New England Compounding Center

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INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office filed a licensing complaint today against the Massachusetts-based pharmacy linked to the meningitis outbreak.

In November, the Indiana Board of Pharmacy voted to indefinitely suspend NECC’s non-resident pharmacy license. Zoeller said the board will consider the formal complaint at its next meeting on Feb. 11.

“This pharmacy failed to ensure its epidural steroid injections were safe for patients which led to devastating harm,” Zoeller said. “This formal licensing complaint against the New England Compounding Center will soon be considered by the Indiana Board of Pharmacy which has the authority to determine the appropriate discipline.”

As of Dec. 12, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identified six deaths and 63 total cases of fungal meningitis in Indiana stemming from epidural steroid injections produced by the New England Compounding Center (NECC). According to the complaint, nationwide there were a total of 568 cases and 37 deaths across 19 states.

In September, the CDC in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration identified the NECC as the compounding pharmacy that produced the epidural steroid injections that caused the onset of meningitis in certain patients. Shortly after, NECC ceased production and initiated a recall of the drugs.

As a licensed non-resident pharmacy whose products were distributed and sold in Indiana, NECC is legally responsible for the “proper and safe storage and distribution of drugs and devices.”

Public libraries closed Monday

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All eight Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library locations will be closed Monday, January 21 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Customers can access EVPL information and download materials anytime at evpl.org.

Three-point Shooting Gives Drake 83-69 Win Over Aces

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DES MOINES, Iowa – Colt Ryan scored a game-high 25 points, but an 11-for-20 performance from three-point range helped Drake earn an 83-69 win over the University of Evansville men’s basketball team at the Knapp Center on Wednesday evening.

Ryan was just 4-of-16 for UE (11-7, 4-2 MVC) but posted a perfect 16-16 performance from the charity stripe. D.J. Balentine finished with a strong 13-point effort while Ned Cox chipped in 12. Drake (8-9, 2-4 MVC) was led by Chris Hines, who notched 21 points. Ben Simons finished with 18 while two other Bulldogs finished in double figures.

“You have to give them (Drake) resistance and cannot let them get the ball. I am just disappointed in our effort and ability to execute fundamentals tonight,” UE head coach Marty Simmons said. “Everything is built through practice and that is key. We have to get locked in heading to Indiana State on Saturday.”

Early on, each team looked to have the same plan in mind – getting the ball down low. The Aces connected on two out of their first four shots, but turned the ball over four times in the opening four minutes. Drake hit just one of its first eight attempts as UE held a 5-4 lead.

The offense kept cranking as D.J. Balentine found his shot, hitting his first four field goals, including a pair of treys as hit second one gave Evansville a 19-9 lead as the Aces hit 7 of their first 10 buckets. Ben Simons kept the Bulldogs in it, though, as his seven early points helped them cut the deficit to just one at 23-22. After starting the game 7-of-10 from the floor, UE hit just one of its next eight shots.

That all changed as Colt Ryan found the bottom of the net for the first time on the night as his three-pointer put Evansville on top by a 26-22 tally, but Drake kept rolling as junior Seth VanDeest kept drawing fouls on UE’s forwards while scoring nine points. They knotted the game at 28-28 before an 11-4 run gave them a 39-32 advantage as DU hit three quick long-range shots. The Bulldogs started the tilt 1-of-7 beyond the arc, but hit three of its next four in the run. Evansville countered with a 6-0 run of its own to trail by just one at the break, 39-38. Ryan scored a total of 13 points in two games versus Drake last season, but matched that total in the first half. Balentine notched ten in the first frame.

The run continued into the second stanza as Ryan tied the game back up at 40-39 with a bucket on Evansville’s first possession. That lead was short-lived, though, as the threes kept raining down for the Bulldogs as three of their first four of the second half were good. The Aces kept up the pace as they made their opening six free throws while Ned Cox drained his second 3-pointer. Their efforts put UE up 57-56 before Simons responded with consecutive shots as the Bulldogs’ lead opened up to 63-57. Over a stretch of over six minutes, Evansville missed nine shots in a row as Drake extended its advantage.

Chris Hines joined in on the three-point barrage as his trey capped off a 10-0 run before another one gave Drake its first double-digit lead at 69-59. Evansville’s offensive struggles continued as they missed 14 buckets in a row while the Bulldogs embarked on an 18-3 run to put the game out of reach for the Aces. Egidijus Mockevicius ended the stretch with a bucket with just over 3 minutes left ending a field goal drought of ten minutes. While the bucket helped, the defense could not stop the Drake attack as the Bulldogs hit seven out of nine threes to open the second half.

Second-half shooting was all the difference as UE was just 7-29 (24.1%) while Drake connected on 15 out of 23 attempts, 65.2%. Drake shot 51% for the game while holding the Aces to just 33%. The Aces did perform very well from the line, hitting 26 out of 28 free throws.

Indiana State is up next for UE as the Aces travel to Terre Haute to face the Sycamores on Saturday evening. Tip is set for 7:05 p.m. CT at the Hulman Center.

Source: GoPurpleAces.com

USI track and field back to work Friday

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – After coming off of an eighth place finish in the season opening meet December 8, the University of Southern Indiana women’s indoor track and field team returns to action Friday and Saturday.

The Screaming Eagles are participating Friday and Saturday in the Gladstein Invitational at Indiana University and Little Giant Invitational at Wabash College Saturday.

During the first indoor event, USI was led by sophomore Vanessa Higdon’s seventh place finish in the shot put. The Waldron, Indiana, native threw 37 feet, 9.5 inches to score the Eagles only points.

Following this weekends action, USI is back on the track January 25 and 26 at the Indiana Relays in Bloomington, Indiana.

Source: GoUSIEagles.com

Ribbon Cutting for New Jet Bridges at Evv Regional Airport

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The Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District cordially invites you to attend a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the installation of our new Jet Bridges

Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013
10:00 am

Evansville Regional Airport
Main Terminal
7801 Bussing Drive
Evansville, Indiana

Profile of Evansville’s Premier Superior Court Judge-The Honorable Judge Robert “Jeff” Tornatta

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By – Zachary Stuard
Staff Writer for CCO

Earlier in his life most who knew him would have assumed that Robert “Jeff” Tornatta would be taking over and running his family’s business, Warrick Beverage. Understanding Tornatta’s desire to serve the public his father Robert, a retired Evansville Police officer, encouraged and supported Tornatta’s decision to pursue a career in law. Robert enrolled in Indiana University in 1977. After receiving his undergraduate degree from IU in 1982, Tornatta entered Indiana University’s School of Law in Bloomington, graduating in 1985 with honors. Tornatta wasted no time putting his degree to work and in 1986 he became the law clerk for ,then, U.S District Judge Gene Brooks. In 1988 Judge Tornatta began working with the Trimble & Jewel law firm and did so until he joined Phil Hayes, former 8th District Congressman, to practice law in 1990. Tornatta took the place of Richard Young who had been appointment as a circuit court judge, replacing William H. Miller. Young was later appointed by President Bill Clinton to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in 1997. Tornatta did not particularly care for private practice, “he confessed with a smile, as most of his clients did not pay him nor did most follow his legal advice”. Fortunately for Tornatta he was appointed administrator to the Superior Court by the seven Superior Court judges in 1991. While serving as administrator Tornatta was able to work in the different offices of all seven Superior Court judges, giving him an excellent opportunity to learn from and pick up qualities of the judges he worked under. Tornatta recognizes Judge Lockyear as having he largest impact on him personally, professionally and as a mentor. He did pick up traits from the other Judges as well. From Judge Dietsch he was able to see just how a judge’s temperament should be. He gets his organizational skills from Judge Bowers, and his thorough, conscientious approach to law was honed by Judge Knight. He continued to serve as administrator until 1995 when he was appointed as one of the court’s magistrates.

In 1997 Judge Thomas Lockyear resigned after 12 years of service, closing a door in his career and opening one for Tornatta’s. Governor at the time Frank O’Bannon had a tough decision to make. Among twelve other local attorneys who had submitted their names to O’Bannon for consideration, Tornatta finished a close second in the Evansville Bar Associations rankings for the job. Two-hundred thirty attorneys filled out a survey ranking each applicant in fields such as legal experience, legal knowledge, judicial temperament, the ability to understand and apply legal principles, industry and efficiency, and the ability to be impartial and objective. Tornatta finished second to only, now highly respected judge, Wayne Trockman. With a jest filled smile Tornatta said, “Everybody recognizes Judge Trockman for his work in the Drug Court, but little recognize him for probably his most notable accomplishment in the Superior Court; an ice machine he had installed after he was appointed judge.”

With high scores reflected in his ability to be impartial and objective, judicial temperament, legal knowledge, and experience, Evansville was fortunate enough to have O’Bannon officially name Tornatta to be Judge Lockyear’s replacement on the bench on the 11th of December, 1997 at the ripe age of 38. I use the term “fortunate” because of the values and integrity that Tornatta possesses and calls upon when making decisions that affect many lives every day.

Tornatta is married to the love of his life, Sharon, whom he met while she was a legal secretary for Lopp, Lopp & Grampp. They have three children; his stepson Scott and daughters Molly and Katie. Tornatta has a soft spot for children, teenagers, and young adults, especially those whose parents show a lack of concern and involvement in their life. Understandable, considering he bears witness to the negative effects of poor parental influence on a daily basis. Tornatta watched how his wife and her ex-husband raised their son, Tornatta’s stepson Scott, with little to no fighting and always keeping their son the center of focus, Tornatta still uses them as a prime example of how a divorced couple should raise a child. Scott, a gifted baseball player in the past, is now a pharmaceutical sales representative for Forest Pharmaceuticals. His daughter Molly is currently spending time in Germany but has her degree in math and science, with honors, from Indiana University and spent time working at Central high School teaching both Chemistry and Geometry. Tornatta joked “She received neither of these academic skills from me.”

Tornatta’s youngest daughter Katie has found her calling in the field of nursing and is an honors student at the University of Southern Indiana”.

Tornatta approaches his responsibilities as a Judge much as he approaches life, doing unto others as he would have done unto him. A very humble man, Tornatta admited “Without our riding bailiffs, bailiffs, and court reporters the court system itself would be dysfunctional, they are the backbone.”

Ask anyone to critique Judge Tornatta and they would more than likely tell you that his only flaw is that he is too kind of a man. Judge Tornatta left me with a joke asking if I knew the definition of a judge. He laughingly told me “A judge is an attorney that knows the governor.”

Seeing as Tornatta did not know Governor O’Bannon at the time of his appointment, I think it is safe to say that his reputation for temperament, experience, level-headedness, and humble and hard working attitude was all O’Bannon needed to make the right decision for the people of Evansville.

IS IT TRUE January 16, 2013

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE roughly noon today it is expected that President Obama will make a speech on gun control as a solution to gun violence and that he will issue a collection of executive orders that will take the nations gun policy as close to the line between clear unconstitutionality as his lawyers and advisors have the nerve to allow him to get?…the second amendment to the constitution is short and pretty clear so walking on it without violating it will be a real tightrope act?…the people of this country who are passionate supporters of the Constitution are coincidentally some of the staunchest supporters of 2nd amendment rights around?…this group is unlikely to be fooled by flowery language designed to fog the meaning of the constitution because they have the common sense to understand what the constitution says and to interpret this simple amendment?…that raising and lowering of taxes for the purpose of redistribution is something that many Americans do not like but are accustomed to already so no calls for drastic measures came from a tax increase?…if the President of the United States boldly and strongly strikes down part of the constitution that is not a gray area interpretation we predict this will go into both the streets and the courts and will define the second term of President Barack Obama?

IS IT TRUE that the national press and other mainstream media that cling to their first amendment rights strongly (one might say guns and religion and one has) are surprisingly mute when it comes to the second amendment?…we wonder why these supposedly learned people are struck dumb on this particular issue?…that executive order is not and has never been an acceptable way to modify the constitution of the United States?…for the media to stand by and let such a thing even be pondered without helping the American people VET what is proposed?…the same rationalization process that would lead one to nullify one part of the constitution by executive fiat will surely lead to another instance with another amendment when it becomes politically convenient to do so?…national press corps, if you ever muster the courage to report both sides of any issue they will come for your pens and word processors because as we all know “the pen is mightier than the sword”?

IS IT TRUE that the Mole Nation has now verified most of the numbers published in the CCO yesterday afternoon regarding Mayor Winnecke’s choice and forthcoming recommendation for a downtown convention hotel?…these numbers are of no surprise to people who thought this one through because the basic truths of this project remain true?…the basic truths are that a basic hotel with no frills of the size the government wants will cost roughly $30 Million and will have a valuation of closer to $20 Million when it is finished?…that means that no private investor will be willing to vaporize money thus $20 Million will be the approximate limit of outside private money that will be in this deal?…in addition to the $30 Million for the hotel there are a number of other amenities like parking, walk bridges, the oversight storage building, street improvements, etc. that will all totaled add another $20 Million or more to the project cost?…it will of course be expected that a 10 year tax abatement will be granted that will have a value of roughly $5 Million depending on assessment?…the speculative nature of this investment even makes it possible that a the City of Evansville will be asked to guarantee a specific rate of return that is higher than market rates?…as we wrote yesterday the cost of the corporate welfare to make this happen will exceed $40 Million, will result in the City of Evansville owning nothing, and an outside developer being guaranteed a rate of return of over 10%?…these numbers are simply to insane to consider?

IS IT TRUE if local government is in the business of guaranteeing rates of return we would like to see the rate of return on a dog and skateboard park?…if we can’t or won’t as a government have anything to do with disrupting markets in favor of local legacy businesses like Karges Furniture and Schmidt Photo then the government of Evansville needs to stay out of the business world altogether?…the question now is whether or not there are 5 members of the Evansville City Council who have the brains and the courage to stop the mad proposals that seem to flow out of the Office of the Mayor like milk from a Jersey cow?…we wonder just what the heck ever happened to common sense and practicality?

Letter to the Editor Regarding Closed Door Meetings: Councilman Al Lindsey

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City Councilman Al Lindsey

The Mayor of Evansville has taken a public position through Courier and Press that I declined his invitation for a private meeting with him for political purposes. I beg to differ from that opinion. I declined the invitation because I believe that the people’s business when many millions of dollars are on the table should be done in a forum that is a part of the public record.

The last time Mayor Winnecke organized a closed door meeting the people of Vanderburgh County nearly lost their Homestead Tax Credit. When I got my email invitation that was the first thing that I thought of and I want no part of it.

The other things I thought of were the Earthcare Energy mess where the Mayor got the wool pulled over his eyes, the ongoing saga of the Johnson Controls project, a multi million dollar rennovation project at Mesker Amphitheater, he’s also proposing, an expensive dog park to be located on the Robert’s Stadium property, giving his 10 political buddies big raises for this year, the Freedom Festival debacle, and the fact that Evansville still can’t balance the books. Such things do not give me any reason to have faith in Mayor Winnecke’s ability to make financial judgments for the taxpayers of Evansville.

I represent Evansville’s 6th Ward that most locals refer to as the west side. I am not a college graduate, I do not own a closet full of expensive suits, I have never made a video of any kind, and I drive a pickup truck. In spite of these shortcomings I do have the common sense to know a bad deal from a good one and have run a profitable business on the side as many firefighters do for many years. I know what I earn and I always spend less and pay my bills.

The City of Evansville needs to show some common sense when it comes to capital projects and corporate handouts. I have seen and heard all I want to about how Roberts Stadium had to go because it cost money at the same time the Centre, the Ford Center, and several other favored projects of the elite are losing money faster than it can be counted.

Mayor Winnecke, I did not turn you down over politics, I turned you down about what politics should be. Those things are transparency, common sense, and competent financial oversight of the people’s money.

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