Home Blog Page 7098

Evansville Police Department Launches New Website

0

The Evansville Police Department launched a new website today. You can view it by going to www.evansvillepolice.com. EPD is making strides to make information and news more accessible to the community. Along with the website, the department will also be active on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. We feel that these social media outlets will be a way for the department to better distribute information. Our website, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube will all be used to put out breaking news information, upcoming events, and other relevant stories about the department. For Example:

If there is an accident on the Lloyd Expressway that is causing us to reroute traffic, we could notify the public via Twitter; and people could make travel changes.
If there is someone that we need identified from store surveillance, we could post it on our YouTube and ask for assistance from the public.

If someone wants to know the procedure for reporting an abandoned vehicle, they can go to our website and follow the instructions.

If EPD is conducting an event in which children will be fingerprinted, we can post the times and locations on Facebook.

EPD will be using the latest media technology and social networking sites to more efficiently serve the public. Any feedback on improvements that we can make to these accounts is always welcome. You may call (812)436-7896 or email: info@evansvillepolice.com.

Editorial Fort Wayne’s Executive Inn Style Experience

7
Fort Wayne Covention Hotel

How Much Did it Cost Fort Wayne to get a Convention Hotel?

By: Joe J. Wallace, Hadannah Business Solutions

Fort Wayne has finally celebrated the grand opening of a Downtown Convention Hotel to supplement the $125 Million Harrison Square project. The developer was none other than White Lodging that recently surprisingly submitted a bid to develop a replacement for the Executive Inn in Downtown Evansville. What Fort Wayne scored in the agreement with White Lodging includes a Courtyard by Marriott and a Champions Sports Bar for Downtown Fort Wayne. The agreement stated that the original budget was to have been $35 Million but the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports that the hotel portion was completed for a cost of $25 Million. The Gazette has also reported that the Convention Hotel was delayed due to problems with financing. Is this beginning to sound familiar?

As White Lodging is the most experienced developer and operator that responded to the RFP issued by the City of Evansville, it is most interesting to examine the Hotel Development Agreement that was signed by the City of Fort Wayne and White Hospitality prior to starting the construction. The agreement was secured by the City County Observer on Friday October 8, 2010. Following is an item by item analysis of the value of what the City of Fort Wayne agreed to and had to deliver on to attract White Lodging into an effort that culminated in a proud and smiling group of local dignitaries at last month’s grand opening.

ARTICLE I: OBLIGATIONS OF CITY

Section 1.1. Acquisition of Hotel Site. City agrees to acquire, at no cost to Developer,
all parcels of real property…for the hotel.

Section 1.2. Site Demolition and Preparation. Upon acquisition of all parcels
comprising the Hotel Site and Garage Site, the City, at its sole expense, shall demolish and
remove all structures upon the Hotel Site and remove all debris resulting from such demolition.

Section 1.3. Environmental Remediation. The City agrees to undertake, at its sole
expense, and in consultation with Developer, environmental testing of the Hotel Site prior to
demolishing the structures … City agrees to develop a plan to remove, remediate or manage
the Hazardous Materials consistent with the intended use of the Hotel Site.

Section 1.4. Transfer of Hotel Site. Upon acquisition of all Hotel Site parcels pursuant
to Section 1.01, completion of Site Demolition pursuant to Section 1.02, and completion of the
Remedial Measures pursuant to Section 1.03 (if any), the City agrees to transfer fee title to the
Hotel Site to the Developer for a cash consideration of One Dollar ($1.00).

Section 1.5. Parking Facility. The City or its assignee shall construct a new public parking garage on the Garage Site so as to create 250 new parking spaces.

Section 1.6. Contribution of City. In connection with the construction of the Hotel by
Developer, and otherwise in support of the development, construction and operation of the Hotel
by Developer, the City shall provide the following at its sole cost and expense:

A. The City shall transfer title to the Hotel Site and shall deliver the Hotel Site in construction-ready condition as described.

B. The City shall make funds available to Developer to construct sidewalks, streetscape, curbing, trees and other plantings and other infrastructure or improvements on the Hotel Site in areas available to public access, in an amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in the aggregate.

C. The City shall construct the Parking Facility, to which the Developer shall have access for Hotel guests.

D. The City shall assist Developer in obtaining deductions or abatement of real and personal property taxes to the maximum levels permitted by law.

E. As the Hotel Site is located in a Community Revitalization Enhancement
District (“CRED”), the State of Indiana has allocated a Six Million Dollar ($6,000,000)
CRED tax credit for the Hotel.

F. The Commission shall have agreed to provide additional support to the
Developer of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) per year, for a term of
twenty (20) years.

G. The City shall have obtained all governmental approvals, and entered into development agreements with other developers for the project.

H. The City shall have designed and agreed to construct, at its sole cost, a physical connection from the proposed Hotel to the GWC (their version of The Centre)

How Much Does all of this Cost?

The following is a conservative estimate of the overall cost to the City of Fort Wayne to accommodate each of the items that had to be agreed to for White Lodging to commence the construction of the Courtyard Marriot.

Land, Demolition, Preparation, Environmental Testing and Remediation: $2M – $5M (depending on the extent of any remediation efforts)

New Parking Garage with 250 Spaces: $5 Million (based on $20,000 per space) It must be noted that with the recent realization that the footprint of the Executive Inn is not large enough to accommodate a parking garage. If private land must be purchased to locate a parking garage the price will increase by the amount that is paid for the land. Estimate: $2 Million

Sidewalk Cash: $1Million

Maximum Tax Phase In: $5 Million (based on 10 year abatement on $35 Million assessed value at 3% commercial property tax rate)

Tax Credit (CRED): $6 Million (direct from agreement)

Operating Cash Assistance: $5 Million ($250,000 per year for 20 years)

Bridge to Convention Center: $1 Million to $3 Million (Range of reported costs for comparable structures)

All of these incentives add up to a package that is worth $25 Million and $32 Million to attract and enable White Lodging to complete a project in Fort Wayne that is essentially the same project that the City of Evansville desires to attract to Evansville. It is unrealistic to have an expectation that White Lodging will come to the table with a proposal that departs from the Fort Wayne agreement by very much. Our markets and needs are similar and our completed values are too.

Fort Wayne’s Convention Hotel project when all things are considered was about a $40 Million project. The City of Fort Wayne incented the deal by at least 63% of the total project value and maybe by as much at 80% of the total deal. Do these numbers sound familiar to the analysis that was published in the City County Observer during August? They should as this project and Evansville’s project are nearly identical in scope.

The real difference is that Fort Wayne seems to have known, understood, and disclosed the entire transaction back in the planning stages in 2007. As you recall, 2007 was a time for announcing a self financed developer in Evansville that predictably did not come to fruition. The other difference is that the planning of Fort Wayne resulted in a grand opening in 2010 as opposed to a dazed a confused realization that economic incentive will be required to bring a quality Convention Hotel to Downtown Evansville.

Every taxing entity within Vanderburgh County will become a target from which to assemble a package to attract a Downtown Convention Hotel. Vanderburgh County owns The Centre that has been suffering losses as a result of the untimely closure of the Executive Inn. The Vanderburgh County Council and the Commissioners should have been consulted on this project from day one. It is a matter of public record that the Vanderburgh County officials and thus the citizens of the unincorporated parts of Vanderburgh County were not consulted during this project. The planning or should we say lack of planning have been totally driven by the Mayor and the City of Evansville. The Executive Inn Dilemma was created by the City of Evansville in a vacuum. The financial solutions that must emerge to solve the Executive Inn Dilemma should likewise come from the vacuum of the City of Evansville. For Vanderburgh County to contribute to this bail out is tantamount to taxation without representation and therefore the City County Observer calls upon the elected officials of both the County Council and County Commissioners to resist both the temptation the pressure to bail out the City of Evansville from the Executive Inn Dilemma that the City of Evansville alone created.

Brace yourselves Evansville, the City of Evansville may be putting a Fort Wayne style incentive package together to assure that the $200 Million invested in the Arena and its surroundings are supplemented by a much needed and necessary Convention Hotel. In conclusion, this is why the City County Observer calls for a moratorium on a decision to max the credit card of the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau by committing funds that could be instrumental in attracting a quality Downtown Convention Hotel instead of 8 ball fields. It is our opinion that a Downtown Convention Hotel will add more value, created more permanent jobs, and attract more tourism dollars than 8 little league baseball fields will. There is no urgency to make a decision with respect to Robert’s Stadium. Let’s allow next year’s candidates to discuss that in a public forum.

Republican Newsletter October 6, 2010

0

GOP Calls for Formal Investigation of City of Evansville and Mayor Weinzapfel

Vanderburgh GOP Chairman Wayne Parke called on Attorney General Greg Zoeller and Vanderburgh Co. Prosecutor Stan Levco today to conduct a review of violations cited by the Indiana State Board of Accounts in its 2009 Annual Financial Report of the City Evansville, and to take appropriate action to determine whether Mayor Weiznapfel violated any Indiana laws with respect to his involvement in the payment of unapproved City of Evansville Funds to the Director of Metropolitan Development through GAGE, a non-profit entitiy that received direct financial support from the City of Evansville.

A copy of the full audit report is available here (pdf) (http://www.in.gov/sboa/WebReports/B37602.pdf). The Audit Results and Comments start on page 63 and run through page 65, and includes 12 areas where the City of Evansville has shortcomings. Stay tuned for this developing story.

Upcoming Events

There are several upcoming GOP events you’re invited to attend:

Gov. Mitch Daniels at the Chamber: US Chamber President Tom Donohue and Gov. Mitch Daniels will be speaking at the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana’s annual dinner and meeting on Thursday, October 12th at the Centre in downtown Evansville. The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30 pm, with dinner/program beginning at 6:30 pm. More than 500 people are expected to attend. To RSVP, please contact Carly Griffin at cgriffin@ccswin.com or 812-425-8147. Tickets are $75 per member and $750 per table of 10. Tickets are $150 per non-member.

Commissioner Candidates Debate: On October 14th at 8:00 pm the League of Women Voters will sponsor a televised forum between the county commissioner candidates on WNIN. Tune in as GOP candidate Marsha Abell tackles Troy Tornatta.

Celebrate on Election Night with the Republican Party

Plan to join the Republican Party for its election night celebration on November 2nd in the Maple Room of the Casino Aztar conference center. Attendance is free and open to all Republicans. Join us as we celebrate a monumental year in putting the county, state and nation back on a path toward responsible government.

CIVIC CENTER MEETING ROOM EVENTS Calendar

0

Monday, October 11, 2010

Time All Day Subject UNITED WAY Location 307 Categories Red Category

Time 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Subject SITE REVIEW Location 318 Recurrence Occurs every Monday effective 10/4/2010 until 10/25/2010 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
KATHIE HOLLEY @ 5228

Time 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Subject CITY COUNCIL Location 301 Recurrence Occurs every Monday effective 10/4/2010 until 10/25/2010 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
LYNN BUHR @ 4993

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Time All Day Subject UNITED WAY Location 307

Time 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Subject DESIGN REVIEW Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the second Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/12/2010 until 10/12/2010 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM.
LAURA @ 7823

Time 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM Subject PTABOA Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the second Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/12/2010 until 10/12/2010 from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
TIFFANY COLLINS @ 5269

Time 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Subject SUBDIVISION REVIEW Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the second Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/12/2010 until 10/12/2010 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
KATHIE HAOLLEY @ 5228

Time 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Subject ENFORCEMENT/TREATMENT SUBCOMMITTEE Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the second Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/12/2010 until 10/12/2010 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
CYNTHIA OWEN

Time 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Subject VANDERBURGH ALCOHOL BOARD Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the second Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/12/2010 until 10/12/2010 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Scott Bedwell 812-882-1292

Time 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Subject ELECTRICAL BOARD Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the second Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/12/2010 until 10/12/2010 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
LINDA PENDELETON @ 7880

Time 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Subject COUNTY COMMISSION Location 301
MARISSA NICHOALDS @ 5241

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Time 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Subject VC REDEVELOPMENT Location 307 Recurrence Occurs the second Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/13/2010 until 10/13/2010 from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
KRISTIN @ 8681

Time 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Subject DMD STAFF MTG Location 307 Recurrence Occurs the second Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/13/2010 until 10/13/2010 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
LAURA WALKER @ 7825

Time 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Subject UNITED WAY Location 307

Time 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Subject SAFETY BOARD Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the second Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/13/2010 until 10/13/2010 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.
JENNIFER WOOD @ 7896

Time 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Subject CONSTRUCTION & ROOFING BOARD Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the second Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/13/2010 until 10/13/2010 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
LINDA PENDLETON @ 7880

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Time 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Subject MBE/WBE UTILIZATION BOARD Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 10/14/2010 until 10/14/2010 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
DEBRA SPALDING @ 4961

Time 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Subject BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Location 301 Recurrence Occurs every Thursday effective 10/7/2010 until 10/28/2010 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.
Sharon Evans @ 4982

Time 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Subject ITAC Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 10/14/2010 until 10/14/2010 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
GARY HECK @ 2468

Time 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Subject AREA PLAN COMMISSION Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 10/14/2010 until 10/14/2010 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
KTHIE HOLLEY @ 5228

Friday, October 15, 2010

Time 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Subject Animal Control Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the third Friday of every 1 month effective 10/15/2010 until 10/15/2010 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Sharon Evans @ 4988

Time 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Subject JUVENILE COURT Location 318

Monday, October 18, 2010

Time 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Subject CITY FLU SHOTS Location 307
CRYSTAL OWEN @ 4935

Time 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Subject SITE REVIEW Location 318 Recurrence Occurs every Monday effective 10/4/2010 until 10/25/2010 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
KATHIE HOLLEY @ 5228

Time 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Subject PORT AUTHORITY Location 307 Recurrence Occurs the third Monday of every 1 month effective 10/18/2010 until 10/18/2010 from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Time 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Subject ITAC SECURITY COMMITTEE Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the third Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/19/2010 until 10/19/2010 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
Tim VanCleave @ 5848

Time 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM Subject EVANSVILLE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Location 307 Recurrence Occurs the third Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/19/2010 until 10/19/2010 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
LAURA WALKER @ 7825

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Time 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Subject GIS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the third Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/20/2010 until 10/20/2010 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
Laura Howell @ 5071

Time 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Subject CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the third Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/20/2010 until 10/20/2010 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
SHERIFF WILLIAMS

Time 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Subject DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMISSION Location 307
SUE HARTIG @ 5173

Time 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Subject PARKS BOARD Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the third Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/20/2010 until 10/20/2010 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
GLENN BOBERG @ 6141

Time 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Subject DEFERRED COMP Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the third Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/20/2010 until 10/20/2010 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
DAN RENKES 1-502-836-8587

Time 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Subject HOUSING TRUST FUND Location 318
LISA @ 7806

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Time 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Subject CODE ENFORCEMENT HEARINGS Location 307 Recurrence Occurs the third Thursday of every 1 month effective 10/21/2010 until 10/21/2010 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
CRYSTAL HARPER @ 436-7821

Time 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Subject BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Location 301 Recurrence Occurs every Thursday effective 10/7/2010 until 10/28/2010 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.
Sharon Evans @ 4982

Time 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Subject CITY FLU SHOTS Location 318
CRYSTAL OWEN @ 4935

Time 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Subject BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the third Thursday of every 1 month effective 10/21/2010 until 10/21/2010 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
KATHIE HOLLEY @ 5228

Monday, October 25, 2010

Time 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Subject SITE REVIEW Location 318 Recurrence Occurs every Monday effective 10/4/2010 until 10/25/2010 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
KATHIE HOLLEY @ 5228

Time 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Subject VC INSURANCE MTG Location 318
JANE LAIB @ 5025

Time 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Subject CITY COUNCIL Location 301 Recurrence Occurs every Monday effective 10/4/2010 until 10/25/2010 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
LYNN BUHR @ 4993

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Time 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Subject DESIGN REVIEW Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the fourth Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/26/2010 until 10/26/2010 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM.
LAURA @ 7823

Time 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Subject GIS USER GROUP Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the last Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/26/2010 until 10/26/2010 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
Laura Howell @ 5071

Time 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Subject VANDERBURGH ALCOHOL BOARD Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the fourth Tuesday of every 1 month effective 10/26/2010 until 10/26/2010 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Scott Bedwell 812-882-1291

Time 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Subject SOLID WASTE DISTRICT BOARD Location 301
JOE BALLARD @ 7800

Time 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Subject COUNTY COMMISSION Location 301
MARISSA NICHOALDS @ 5241

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Time 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM Subject PERSONNEL & FINANCE Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the last Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/27/2010 until 10/27/2010 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
SANDIE DEIG @ 5790

Time 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Subject HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Location 307 Occurs the fourth Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/27/2010 until 10/27/2010 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
DIANE CLEMENTS @ 4927

Time 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Subject SAFETY BOARD Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the fourth Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/27/2010 until 10/27/2010 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.
JENNIFER WOOD @ 7896

Time 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM Subject ITAC Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the last Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/27/2010 until 10/27/2010 from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM.
TIM VANCLEAVE @ 5848

Time 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Subject DRUG CALENDAR AWARDS Location 301
REGENE-5156

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Time 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Subject SHERIFF SALE Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the fourth Thursday of every 1 month effective 10/28/2010 until 10/28/2010 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
The meeting actually starts at 10:00.

Time 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Subject VC INSURANCE MTG Location 318
JANE LAIB @ 5052

Time 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Subject BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Location 301 Recurrence Occurs every Thursday effective 10/7/2010 until 10/28/2010 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.
Sharon Evans @ 4982

Time 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Subject LICENSE & DISCIPLINARY BOARD Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the fourth Thursday of every 1 month effective 10/28/2010 until 10/28/2010 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
LINDA PENDELTON@ 7880

Time 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Subject COMMISSION ON THE SOCIAL STATUS Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the fourth Thursday of every 1 month effective 10/28/2010 until 10/28/2010 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM.
JAMILA @ 4928

Sheriff Williams Halloween Safety Tips

0

Halloween Safety

BREAKING NEWS—County Treasurer Rick Davis to Run for Mayor

8

In a week when Evansville’s thoughts turn to brain sandwiches, pulled pork, carnival rides, and sampling a multitude of delicacies dreamed up just for the Westside Nut Club’s annual event, it is not expected that political maneuvering can upstage a good corn dog. This year it has as an informal announcement to seek the office of the Mayor of Evansville by Vanderburgh County Treasurer Rick Davis to Democratic Party Chairman Mark Owens resulted in a technicality that caused the Democratic Party’s booth at the Fall Festival to be cancelled at the last minute.

Confidential sources within the Westside Nut Club have confirmed that it was Party Chairman Mark Owens who pulled the plug on the booth leaving the Democratic candidates for office with no booth to work from in the 2010 campaigns. It will be the first time in decades that a booth has gone empty at Fall Festival where some non-profits and churches raise as much as $40,000 during the weeklong street festival that routinely attracts over 50,000 attendees. Chairman Owens’ actions not only denied the current crop of Democratic candidates access to those 50,000 hands to shake and backs to slap, it denied a charity the opportunity to raise significant funds at the Fall Festival.

In an interview with Mr. Davis, The City County Observer learned that last Thursday as a courtesy he informed Chairman Owens of his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Evansville and to make his formal announcement after this year’s election so as to concentrate on the campaigns of his fellow Democrats. Chairman Owens, according to Davis demanded assurances that no money that was to be raised for the Democratic Party at the Fall Festival booth would be used against current Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel in the 2011 Democratic primary for Mayor. Davis’s response was that he was only one member of the Kennedy Club and was not able to offer such assurances. Friday, Mr. Davis met with Mayor Weinzapfel and informed him of his plans to run.

Saturday, the doo-doo hit the fan. The Kennedy Club, a Democratic organization for young people had subleased the booth space from the Democratic Central Committee who has held the lease on the Fall Festival booth for years. The conditions of the Westside Nut Club include a provision that says subleases are not allowed, and thus the Kennedy Club was disqualified from the Fall Festival. The Democratic Central Committee forfeited it’s booth that has been used as a campaign spot, a fundraiser for the party, and even a source of funds that the party has donated to local charities for decades. The purpose and intent for no subleasing is to keep for-profit entities from sneaking in through the back door and to allow the Westside Nut Club to control the content of the booths. The purpose was never to keep the preacher from inviting the choir. One would assume that the Democratic Central Committee and the Kennedy Club would be seen as equal entities. The real question of Saturday was “who filed the complaint”?

Once again the hardworking and honest people of the Westside Nut Club live in a transparent way. It was disclosed that none other than Chairman Mark Owen of the Democratic Party not only found the “no sublease” provision, he filed the complaint, and supplied the supporting documents to get the Kennedy Club, a group of dedicated and hard working Democrats banished from the Fall Festival. He not only got the Kennedy Club banished, he made certain that the booth itself was hauled away in the night after representatives of the Nut Club had agreed to let the empty booth with it campaign regalia stay in place for the week.

Treasurer and soon to be candidate Davis used the word disgraceful to describe Chairman Owens’ behavior toward the Kennedy Club. The job of the Chairman of any party is to serve the candidates of the party that they lead, not to simply do the bidding of one potential candidate. Many Democratic candidates including Bob Mangold, Mary Hart, Sheriff Eric Williams, Mike Goebel and others had signed up to work the booth. Some of these candidates are in tough races and are not well funded. Being denied access to the 50,000 people per day that visit West Franklin Street for the Fall Festival definitely blunts their chances of winning their respective elections. It is not just the Democratic candidates that lose though. The Kennedy Club anticipated that they would net between $10,000 and $15,000 from the Fall Festival booth. Their intention was to divide that equally with the Democratic Central Committee, the very group that Chairman Owen leads. The Kennedy Club then had every intention to donate a portion of their take to local charities like the Evansville Rescue Mission.

Very few decisions really make one head shake in disbelief. This is one that does. Chairman Owens actions served to damage the Kennedy Club, the current Democratic candidates, and even the Democratic Central Committee. The Democratic Party will not be in the Fall Festival for many years now. They will have to take their place at the back of the line of what is a multi-year waiting list to get a booth at this heavily attended event. All is not lost the Kennedy Club donated the 15 gallons of soup they were planning to sell to the Salvation Army. There are also a group of Republican candidates in their campaign booth just up the street who are smiling like Cheshire cats at the monopoly on campaigning from a booth at the Evansville Fall Festival that Democratic Party Chairman Mark Owens has given them.

FOOTNOTE: Democratic Party Chairman Mark Owens was contacted by the City County Observer and informed that this article will be published today. He was offered an opportunity to write an unedited response to this article and shall be allowed equal exposure. We emailed him this article and assume that he will respond on Tuesday since we could not reach him at press time.

Breaking News: BRAKER UP BY 3 VOTES OVER MARTIN IN KNIGHT TRUSTEE RACE

1

Earlier this afternoon, the Vanderburgh County Election Board revised the unofficial results of Tuesday’s election after it discovered the results from four (4) voting machines were not counted on election night. After counting the additional ballots, the Republican Jim Braker is now leading the race for Knight Township Trustee, displacing the presumed leader, Democrat Kathryn Martin. Prior to the Election Board’s action, Braker trailed Martin by twelve (12) votes on election night then today picked up 18 additional votes. He then picked up eighteen (18) additional votes while Martin added only three(3), giving Braker a lead of three (3) votes.

However, the race is not over because the votes for provisional and military ballots have not been tallied. Stay tuned as the drama continues.

The updated election results are posted on the Vanderburgh County Clerk’s website.

CHILDREN’S FLU CLINICS

0

EVANSVILLE, October 4, 2010 – On October 14, 2010, the Vanderburgh County Health Department will begin offering Influenza vaccines for children at our facility located at 420 Mulberry Street. From October 14, 2010 to November 18, 2010, flu vaccines will be offered every Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., free of charge, on a walk-in basis, to children six months through eighteen years of age.

According to Health Officer Dr. Ray Nicholson, receiving an annual flu vaccination is the single most effective method to prevent the spread of the flu. Flu vaccinations are safe and effective.

All children must be accompanied by parent or guardian and their shot record.

For more information about flu vaccinations, please contact your child’s healthcare provider or the health department at 812-435-5692.

Evansville Blood Donor Wins the Focus on Saving Lives Promotion

0

(Evansville) – Evansville Platelet donor Mary Deutsch is the grand prize winner of the American Red Cross River Valley Blood Services Region Focus on Saving Lives summer promotion!

Thousands entered the contest this summer by presenting to donate blood or platelets. Three finalists’ names were drawn on Saturday night at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk in Louisville, KY. Deutsch pulled the winning key that started the 2010 Ford Focus. The other two finalists, Amanda Norman and Paula White each won a $500 gas card.

Deutsch and her husband have both been whole blood donations through the American Red Cross since the 1970’s. Most recently, Mary became a platelet donor since the 1990’s. Her entry winning donation took place on July 27th when she rolled up her sleeve to give the gift of life and was entered in the Focus On Saving Lives Promotion.

How to Donate Blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

Governed by volunteers and supported by giving individuals and communities, the American Red Cross is the single largest supplier of blood products to hospitals throughout the United States. While local hospital needs are always met first, the Red Cross also helps ensure no patient goes without blood no matter where or when they need it. In addition to providing nearly half of the nation’s blood supply, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.

City of Evansville to Offer FREE Fall Festival Lunch Shuttle

1

(EVANSVILLE, IN) – October 04, 2010 – The City of Evansville will once again offer free lunch time shuttle service to the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival for Civic Center employees, downtown workers and other area residents. The shuttle service will be offered from today through Friday.

The shuttle will pick up/drop off from the C.K. Newsome Community Center (west side of building by the “back 40” parking lot) and the Civic Center (on MLK near flag poles in front of building) on the half hour. First departure/pick up will be at 11:00 a.m. and last arrival/drop off will be at 2:00 p.m.

The shuttle will pick up/drop off at the corner of W. Franklin St. and Wabash Ave. (special bus stop signs) on the quarter hour. First arrival/drop off will be at 11:15 a.m. and last departure/pick up will be at 1:45 p.m.

The route for the Fall Festival Shuttle will be as follows:

Pick up/drop off on the west side of the C.K. ewsome Community Center, proceed to Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (MLK) through the “back 40” parking lot and along Locust St., turn right on MLK, pick up/drop off on MLK near the flag poles in front of the Civic Center, turn left on Vine, turn right on Second St., turn right on Fulton Ave., turn left on Lloyd Expressway, turn right on Wabash Ave., turn right on W. Franklin St., pick up/drop off at the bus stop on the corner of W. Franklin St. and Wabash Ave., take W. Franklin St. to Fulton Ave., turn right on Fulton Ave., turn left on Second St., turn left on
Sycamore St., and turn right on Elsas St. to arrive back at the C.K. Newsome Community Center and the “back 40” parking lot.

1...7,0977,0987,099...7,119Page 7,098 of 7,119