Monday, October 29, 2012

ELECTION EVENTS- FOR STATE and FEDERAL OFFICES

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

November 6th is almost here and election events are happening!
October:
 
Monday 29th -- 6:30pm -- Debate between Representative Randy Frye and Tom Cheek --Versailles, Indiana -- South Ripley Elementary School, 1158 S Benham Road -- Randy needs your support! Please try to attend! -- Directions: Route 50 to Versailles, turn left (south) on Route 421, turn left (south) on Route 129, turn right on Benham Road
 
Tuesday 30th -- 6:00pm -- Meet Luke Messer - Republican US Representative Candidate - Dinner at Whisky’s Restaurant, Lawrenceburg (cost of dinner not included) -- Reservations are needed – please call Sheila Gramaglia – 513-884-2739
 
November:
 
Thursday 1st -- 11:00am -- US Representative / Governor Candidate, Mike Pence, is hosting a luncheon for Randy Frye and Jud McMillin, State Representative candidates – Held at Dillsboro Civic Center, 9824 Central Avenue, Dillsboro -- Reservations are needed – please call 317-512-0128
 

Thursday 1st -- 3:00 to 5:00 pm -- We the Hoosier’s – Let Freedom Ring Rally!
Sidewalk in front of CVS on Route 50 in Lawenceburg -- Bring flags, signs, etc. – or just yourself! Let’s line both sides of the street! Show your love of our USA! -- Rain or Shine
 
Friday 2nd -- 5:00 – 7:00pm -- Reception in support of Richard Murdock, Republican Nominee for U.S. Senate -- Hosted by State Senator Johnny Nugent, State Senator Jean Leising, GOP President Art Little and wife Ruth Ann Little, and Aurora Mayor Donnie Hastings, Jr. -- Held at Dearborn County GOP Victory Center, 539 Green Blvd. (U.S. 50), Aurora -- RSVP by phone or email – please contact Jennifer Gilson at 317-0248-2012 or Jennifer@richardmourdock.com.
 
Saturday 3rd -- 10:00 – 11:00am -- We the Hoosiers Prayer Rally – Let Freedom Ring -- Meet at Share-a-Ride Parking Lot at the Fairgrounds in Lawrenceburg – rain or shine -- Please invite family, friends, churches, neighbors, etc. and those supporting the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America which guarantees protection of religion, speech, assembly, etc. – No signs or political shirts.
 
We the Hoosiers are asking you and your contacts to vote NO for State Justice Stephen David, who does not support your right to protect your own home and those in it (The Castle Law). State Justices voted on in this election, if retained, will serve for the next 10 years. If not retained, the governor will be able to appoint. The four State Justices presented on the ballot were appointed by a Democratic governor.
 
 
Submitted by We the Hoosiers

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Now Picture This:

Aaron Negangard, Prosecutor, at Dillsboro Homecoming, May 2012

If you, your son or your daughter have the misfortune to find themselves in Ms. Blankenship's Court, how much confidence will you have that the prosecution will be fairly adjudicated?

Thursday, October 25, 2012

WE CAN DO BETTER – Part 18


WE CAN DO BETTER – Part 18

By Alan Miller, Candidate for Judge Superior Court II
 

Judicial Independence
 

One of the more serious problems with our current system is the lack of independence between the different participants. The public perception is that the relationships between everyone involved---from judges to prosecutors to defense attorneys and beyond---are just too cozy. The mere appearance of such closeness is enough to create distrust in the system itself. There are several things I will change when elected. 

Neutrality  

Picture this: Your child has just lost a tough, closely contested soccer game. Unfortunately, the outcome came down to a referee’s call near the end of the game. Afterwards, you see the referee and the other team’s coach laughing, then getting into a car together and driving off. How would this make you feel? Would you feel that the final outcome and the call were correct or because of the referee’s relationship with the coach?

Now picture this: You are getting a divorce, suing someone because of some dispute, or you have been arrested for a crime and now must appear before the judge. When the attorney for the opposing side enters the room, you recognize him or her as someone who has contributed financially to the judge’s campaign. Maybe this attorney also walked in a parade supporting the judge or you have seen them eating in a restaurant with the judge---the same judge before which you are about to argue something that is key to your livelihood, something that may affect your children or even your freedom. How would this make you feel? Would you feel that, if the final outcome went against you, it was legally correct or because of the judge’s personal relationship with the attorney?

Neutrality is one of the most, if not the most important trait, that a judge must have. Any party that appears before the court needs to know that their case will be heard fairly, without bias, and that the judge will give them a fair shake, regardless of how they look, where they are from or which attorney they’ve hired. They also need to know that a judge will be able to maintain an appropriate judicial temperament and hear the case without letting their own personal feelings and emotions get in the way.

It has been asserted by the current judge that her neutrality is without question and above reproach. I respectfully disagree. A sitting judge who respects neutrality does not allow a party who appears before her on a daily basis to publicly support her or contribute financially to her campaign. In this election, some of my opponent’s most visible supporters have been the elected prosecuting attorney and members of his staff. You have also probably seen---or heard in radio ads---prominent members of the law enforcement community, individuals whose agencies’ searches and arrests are occasionally the subjects of scrutiny by the court, offering their public support as well. If there was ever an illustration of what is wrong with our system locally, this is it. To allow this to continue does not look good. It is not right. It does not convey a sense of fairness. To allow such appearances of impropriety to continue is unacceptable and simply will not happen when I am elected.
 

Social relationships
 

A judge must not have close social relationships with prosecutors, defense attorneys, or any other attorney who may appear before him or her. A judge has no business making social visits or going to lunch with individuals who work in other offices within the courthouse. A member of a judge’s immediate family must not work in other offices within the courthouse.

I have a sister currently practicing law in Dearborn County. However, one of the first acts I will perform as judge will be to draft and implement a new local rule prohibiting her from appearing before me.

When elected, close social relationships with prosecutors or attorneys appearing before the court cannot and will not continue. You will not see me making social visits or going to lunch with courthouse employees who do not work in my office. You will not see members of my immediate family working in the courthouse.
 

This is the eighteenth part of my platform statement; a detailed proposal for how to improve our current justice system. It will be released over the next several months through facebook.com/makeitmiller2012 and makeitmiller2012.com. PLEASE feel free to forward this to your friends and family.
Thanks for your continued support
!

Alan Miller

 

ATTENTION VOTERS: Information on Local Candidates in Register TODAY

Register Publications October 25th newspaper has Local Candidates Background Information and answers to questions on local issues.
Pick up a paper or subscribe to the online edition if you are not already a subscriber.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

'Where's the Eco-Devo Money?'


The Marion Chronicle-Tribune:

'Where's the Eco-Devo Money?'
by Craig Ladwig
reprinted with permission of Indiana Policy Review

There's news in Marion. The newspaper there, defying the role of unquestioning booster that characterizes local journalism today, is asking hard questions about what local government is doing with the region's economic-development dollars.

Trips to China by job-hunting delegations of politicians and tens of thousands in tax-leveraged seed money have yielded little but disappointment. And other than the folks at the Marion Chronicle-Tribune, no one -- officially, at least -- is asking why.

The newspaper is bucking not only advertisers but a popular Republican mayor to begin a public discussion on what went wrong with the political economic-development promises and what actually attracts jobs and investment.

That politicians can be wrong – and be so for inexplicable lengths of time – is not news. But neither is it a mere polemic reflex. As a reminder of that, an editor friend carries a clipping in his wallet of a methodical review of more than 250 government projects. The researchers found that under-estimates could not be explained by error. They were best explained by “strategic misrepresentation.”

Yes, that means lying. Examples of how editors once saved readers from such “misrepresentation” abound in the history of American journalism. As much as meager resources would allow, local newspapers have performed a constitutional duty as the honest arbiters of brute democratic forces. Particularly instructive was the hounding from public office of the various city political machines of the late 19th century. Newsrooms of that day not only exposed the misrepresentation but pursued those doing the misrepresenting — to ruin, if necessary.

Anymore? Not so much.

Editors at some chain newspapers try to fit into the community as they find it, making no waves, going along to get along, waiting for corporate headquarters to give them their next assignment. Few would dare suggest, for example, that their mayor is something of a “Music Man” selling economic-development schemes rather than nonexistent band instruments.

That’s what David Penticuff, editor of the Marion Chronicle-Tribune, suggests in an essay for The Indiana Policy Review entitled, “Right Here in River City.” Mr. Penticuff has taken on the job of exploring whether Marion’s job-creation efforts make any sense.

Much of what he has found so far is based on observation outside government. Officials in Grant County have kept a lid on economic-development dealings and their costs. But as every good police reporter knows, corruption follows the inarguable good. That is so whether it is the infusion of musicals skills in adolescent wastrels or the finding of jobs in a recession-squeezed Indiana city. Transparency is the anecdote; it’s what journalism needs to keep a community healthy.
“There are many questions about who profits from what, what promises are made and who subsequently breaks them to make hopes for jobs an apparent sham,” Mr. Penticuff writes. “Journalists at the local level need to be able to explore and expose such matters. Private organizations that use public money need to open their books to the people who keep them in business.”

This past weekend, his newspaper published a front-page article by its Matt Troutman under the headline "Development in the Dark." An accompanying editorial asked for transparency from a heretofore uncooperative officialdom.

The article's focus was a county “growth council” similar to those that have cropped up throughout Indiana. These are quasi-official organization where public and private monies are mixed in ways that at best are complicated and at worst malfeasant.

Neal Ronquist, the Chronicle-Tribune’s publisher, is supportive of opening economic development to the daylight even as the newspaper maintains its membership in the local growth council. Indeed, his company has put money into its projects as well as generally supporting its goals. Even so, Mr. Ronquist wants the chips to fall where they may. He believes keeping track of how tax money is spent is one of his newspaper’s most important roles. He believes that even if it means being accused of thwarting progress.

The concern is that the Grant County Economic Growth Council receives almost $300,000 in tax money a year (.03 percent of the county’s Economic-Development Income Tax in 2011) but no one from the state Board of Accounts or in local government can convince the newspaper that they know how exactly the money is being spent.

“This situation with the Growth Council and taxes being passed directly to them raises the question of how those dollars are being spent — there’s a lack of transparency. And secondly, it brings to question whether they still remain a private organization,” Mr. Ronquist says.

His newspaper’s editorial puts it even stronger:

“The Growth Council needs to be accountable to its members and to the public that now funds it directly. To say it is OK that they are not accountable is to say that we as a community have installed a class of people who may simply do as they please, when they please, with other people’s precious resources. We know that this situation is not right, and we suspect that it is not legal under Indiana law.”

One can bet that the Chronicle-Tribune will get pressure in coming weeks to back off its position, to be more reasonable. They won’t. The editors and their readers now understand that prosperity requires more than ballyhooed trips to China. It requires willingness as a community to debunk political promises, even when they appeal to the citizenry's most heartfelt wishes, in order to objectively identify what attracts investment.

Before that can be done, however, a local newspaper must put its reputation on the line to expose those inevitable, official and often self-serving “misrepresentations.”

You should hope more will do the same.


Monday, October 22, 2012

All you Casual Citizens:Don't Get Out and Vote

All you Casual Citizens:
Don't Get Out and Vote

reprinted with permission from Indiana Policy Review
by Cecil Bohanon, Ph.D.


Political Science professors, members of the League of Women Voters and good government folks agree that the percentage of eligible citizens who vote is the best measure of our “civic health.” They do have a point. Such groups generally support satellite locations for voting, same-day registration, no-ID requirements and a variety of other policies designed to increase voting participation. I am agnostic on all of these policies as I profess a social heresy: Some people should not vote. More to the point: It is not wise to encourage some to vote.

Before I find my head on a pike, let me say that this has nothing to do with the race, gender, class, age or political or ideological affiliation of the potential voters. I oppose any legal “test” to qualify voters. Voting is the right of all mentally competent non-felonious adults, but with the right comes a duty that can only be self-enforced: the duty to be informed, to make the decision based on reason and with some attention to the larger interest.


In Federalist Paper #10 James Madison identified the great threat to good government as the “vice of faction.” His definition of faction: a “number of citizens . . . united . . . by some common impulse of passion or of interest adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent or aggregate interest of the community.”


He went on to note, however, that “Liberty is to faction, what air is to fire . . .” and that it is “folly to abolish liberty which is essential to political life.” We cannot remove the cause of faction but must try to limit its effect. Madison’s case for the U.S. Constitution rested, in part, on his assertion that oppressive factions are more likely to prevail at a local level than a federal level.

While this may have been true in the late 18th century, I don’t think it is true today. Indeed, all levels of government are riddled with numerous factions and coalitions bent on using the government for their own “passions and interest.” This implies that voter self-restraint is more crucial to the survival of our republic than ever before.


Of course, any faction worth its salt can concoct a story as to why its interests are actually in the “interest of the community” and its adherents will usually drink the Kool-Aid. And the troublesome thing is that what I see as the interest of the community you see as a pernicious faction, and vice-versa.


I doubt those who must be cajoled into voting are the cool, reasonable brokers of the interest of the community. To pressure misinformed voters to act on their unbridled passion is not a source of strength to a republican form of government — indeed, it is exactly what our form of government is trying to avoid.

If you do your homework, reflect, think and are critical of your own interests, then please do vote. Vote as if the future of the community and nation depend on your vote (it doesn’t, but that is another story).


If on the other hand, if you do not understand the issues, if your passions are trumping your logic, if social conformity, peer pressure or making a fashion statement are the factors driving you to the polls — please don't vote.

Cecil Bohanon, Ph.D., an adjunct scholar of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, is a professor of economics at Ball State University.

WSCH and Chamber of Commerce Host On Air Debates Tuesday

 You’ve probably seen countless television ads, mailers, and radio spots telling you who to vote for regarding state and federal elections.

But, when it comes to candidates for local offices such as judge, coroner, or county commissioner, the only thing most voters can tell you about the person is the color of their yard signs.

Eagle 99.3 wants to change that. We are once again partnering with the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce to host a live, on-air debate among candidates for local offices.

VISIT EAGLE 99.3'S INDIANA VOTES 2012 WEBPAGE FOR LOCAL CONTESTS, CANDIDATE PROFILES, ELECTION NEWS, AND MORE.


The Eagle 99.3 and Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce Debates will air at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23. The debates will also stream live on the web at www.EagleCountryOnline.com.

The debates will take place at the Dearborn Adult Center, 311 West Tate Street, Lawrenceburg. The public is welcome to attend in person with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Eagle 99.3 News Director Mike Perleberg will moderate the debates. He will be joined on the debate panel by Charlie Blankenship and Tom Deville, members of the chamber's governmental affairs board.

The following is a list of the Dearborn County races being featured, followed by the candidates who have been invited:

County Commissioner District 1 - Kevin J. Lynch (R) and Philip “Flippy” Darling (D).
County Commissioner District 2 - Tom Orschell (D) and Arthur Little (R).
County Council At-Large - Charles D. Keyes (R), Randy Lyness (R), Bill Ullrich (R), Andrew Addison (D), John Johnson III (D), and Teresa Somerlot (D).
Dearborn Superior Court II Judge - Sally A. Blankenship (R) and N. Alan Miller III (D).
County Coroner - Steven Callahan (R), Joe Ridgeway (D), and Tracey Cochran Evans (I).
Clerk of Courts - Rudy Howard (D) and Rick Probst (R).

Eagle 99.3 invites Dearborn County voters to submit their questions for the candidates, some of which will be chosen for the broadcast. E-mail your question to news@eaglecountryonline.com with “Dearborn County Debate Question” in the subject line. Please specify which race your question pertains to.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Campaign Finance Reports for the Election


Campaign Finance Reports for the Election 

Before you vote, take a peek into local candidate’s purses.

The contributions and expenses are year to date numbers. Itemized contributions are from pre-primary form to this pre-election form.

COMMISSIONER – DISTRICT 1

Philip Darling

Contributions- $2626.23

Expenses- $3743.97

Debt owed $1117.34

Unitemized contributions- $500

Itemized contributions:

Alan Freemond- $500

IBEW- $250

 

Kevin Lynch

Contributions - $9672

Expenses- $8873.70

Unitemized contributions- $654.85

Itemized contributions:

Donald Hastings- $100

Nicholas Kile (Greenfield, IN) $150

Kirk Grable (Carmel, IN) $100

Tom Pitman (Cicero, IN)- $500

Robert Grand ( Indy)- $250

J Brad Rupel - $200

Dave Deddens- $100

Art Wise- $250

Mark Polinicinski ( OKI Cincinnati)- $100

Brent Robinson- $100

Dave Lorey- $200

Richard Butler -$201

William Miller $100

Kevin Lynch- $500

Appraisals IN - $250

Barnes & Thornburgh ( county lobbyists) - $500

Trade and Industrial Supply- $100

DPBG PAC Indianapolis (Committee Purpose: American Structurepoint PAC to support pro-growth, pro-business candidates) $1500

Dearborn County Republican Party- $1000

 

COMMISSIONER –DISTRICT 2

Art Little-

Contributions $6400

Expenses- $4418.49

Debt owed to candidate $5,000

Unitemized contributions $70

Itemized contributions:

Mike Kreinhop- $100

Bob Dunevant- $50

DPBG PAC- Committee Purpose: American Structurepoint PAC to suppoprt pro-growth, pro-business candidates.- $250

Dearborn County Republican Party- $1,000

 

Tom Orschell

 Contributions- $5,000

Expenses- $4172.73

ALL PAID BY CANDIDATE HIMSELF.

 

DEARBORN COUNTY COUNCIL -AT-LARGE

Andrew Addison

Contributions- $302.95

Expenses- $302.95

ALL PAID BY CANDIDATE HIMSELF

 

John Johnson III

Contributions- $757.81

Expenses- $757.81

ALL PAID BY CANDIDATE HIMSELF

 

Charles Keyes

Contributions- $2555

Expenses- $2476.02

Unitemized contributions $50

Itemized contributions

Charles Keyes $1655

Donnie Hastings $150

Michael Gardiner Committee $100

Dearborn County Republican Party- $1000

 

Randy Lyness

No finance form was submitted as of 2 PM Friday. They were due at noon.  Clerk’s office staff double checked and could not locate a form.

 

Teresa Somerlot

Contributions- $80

Expenses- $80

Unitemized contributions $80

 

Bill Ullrich

Contributions- $1630

Expenses $1630

Unitemized contributions - $1030

Itemized contributions:

Dearborn County Republican Party- $600

 

JUDGE DEARBORN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 2

Sally Blankenship

Contributions- $17,527.36

Expenses- $1o, 909.20

Debt owed to candidate - $2552.51

Unitemized contributions- $4266

Itemized contributions:

Mary Ewbank- $300

Tracy Strickland- $200

Susan Block- %150

Jimmy Adams- $2000

Andrea Merkel- $709.35

Sally Blankenship- $5860.01 including the $2551.51 loan

Jeff and Joan Dornette- $500

Jim Thatcher- $500 ( from primary)

Jason and Jennifer Lyness -$500 ( from primary)

Mark and Paula Bruner $200

 

N.Alan Miller III

Contributions- $8486.38

Expenses-  $7656.38

Unitemized contributions- $1895.70

Itemized contributions:

Alan Miller- $859.77

Norman and Anna Miller- $655

Nick and Adrienne Flannery $150

Brenda Thayer- $190

Stefanie Holzbacher- $200 ( in kind)

Del Weldon- $200

Doug Garner- $250

Mike Cord- $100

Dave Stargardt- $261

Tom and Cindy Luchow- $350

Bill and Judy Yelton- $150

Aaron Ellis- $300

Chet and Jayne Wolgamot- $100

VO Inc- $125

Dearborn/Ripley Bldg Trades- $250

Irinworkers PAC- $250

IBEW PAC- $500

Asbestos Workers PAC- $200

IBEW COPE- $250

 

CLERK OF COURTS

Rudy Howard

Contributions- $1152.66

Expenses- $1025.27

Martha Mettier- $500 ( from primary)

 

Rick Probst

Contributions- $3950

Expenses- $3513.05

Debts owed $2000

Unitemized contributions $750

Itemized contributions:

Sharon Probst- $1000 ( loan from primary)

Rick Probst $1000 ( loan from primary)

Patricia Probst- $200 from primary

Edward Probst- $400

Dearborn County Republican Party- $600

In kind- unknown value- full page ad by Republican Party

 

TREASURER

Phil Weaver

Contributions- $4433.91

Expenses- $4433.91

Itemized contributions:

Phil Weaver- $1461.87

Perfect North Slopes $1250

 

SURVEYOR

Dennis Kraus, Jr

Contributions- $1902.09

Expenses- $1902.09

ALL PAID BY CANDIDATE HIMSELF

 

CORONER

Steve Callahan

Contributions- $2800

Expenses- $2076.88

Itemized contributions:

Dave Shumte ( hard to read handwriting)- $200

Steve Callahan- $2000

Dearborn County Republican Party- $600

 

Tracy Cochran Evans

Contributions- $2495

Expenses- $2464.86

ALL PAID BY CANDIDATE HERSELF

 

Joe Ridgeway

Contributions- $378.95

Expenses- $378.95

ALL PAID BY CANDIDATE HIMSELF

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Caption Contest


Use the Comment section for your caption.  My guess is that 'Anonymous' will win, but remember, you can label your comment with any name of your choosing.  We will have a runoff later to determine a winner.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

16 October 2012 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes


16 October 2012 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes

Present: Jeff Hughes, President, Tom Orschell, and Shane McHenry

Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor (left mid meeting), Teresa Randall, County Administrator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.

Meeting was preceded by an executive session that lasted until 9:15 AM. Commissioners decided to have county attorney and administrator to work with Bill Black to resolve the situation. They did not specify what the “situation” was.

OLD BUSINESS:

OKI Funding Contract/Agreement – tabled until November

NEW BUSINESS:

Life Time Resources- Carla Burkhart- release of property lien- approved for a property on Texas Gas Road.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer- Contract with United Consulting to do the design for the Stateline road slip between Augusta and Lakeview. It’s a not-to -exceed $84,650 was approved and signed by commissioners.

 Bid opening for Shortridge Bridge in November. Lake Tambo and Schwipps Road bridges will have ROW acquisition by spring.

The two mowers being replaced are 10 years old. And they are working on the priority lists.

Tim Grieve, Highway Superintendent- Chip seal proceeding with Rohe. They are thinking of pulling Konradi off till next year when it is a better time to perform the work. O’Mara is doing work for INDOT and then coming back in. Council voted to purchase a new machete mower and now a 2nd mower has gone down. He wants to purchase another machete tractor before the EPA regs go into effect in 2013. The tractor companies do not have the new equipment designed for the new regulations. Also Orschell pointed out that a first year on new design sometimes has bugs to work out.  $114,400 is a firm price that he has for a new one. We have 2 non functional mowers and no functional ones until the new one comes in a couple weeks. These prices are from Greensburg. Local price at Zimmer was $20,000 higher. Commissioners allowed Grieve to approach Council for the funding for the 2nd mower. Mowing, potholes, or snow plowing are the big services the county has to provide.

ADMINISTRATOR: Teresa Randall- Award of Votaw Building Demolition- Kendall from Hrezo went over how the bidding went. AFM demolition $115,347. West Side Paving and demolition if only do the one building. $57,300.  $119,477 was the line item allowed for the two to be demolished. This does not include fill and stockpiling the bricks etc. They can either ask Lawrenceburg for more funds for this or approach Council. She’s estimating $75,000 to $100,000 for additional paving etc. This will provide 40-60 spaces for parking depending on if they do one or 2 buildings. They plan to advertise and get a special meeting to see if Council will fund this. Then they will get appropriated at the Nov 20th Council regular meeting if the Council agrees. McHenry didn’t see the point in approving this if Council wouldn’t fund the rest. Kendall also passed out a status report to commissioners. Lighting and storm sewers also have to be figured into this. Tabled decision for Council to look at this first.

Auction went well- $31,276 was netted by county departments.

Active shooters- Randall found out we are very well prepared. Morgan Hedrick with Lawrenceburg police dept presented the idea of more targeted training. Spent 4.5 years in 87th Airborne division and SWAT school and other training since 2000. They have a joint task force so that with a small county we have adequate STANDARDIZED and COORDINATED response across the county. They want to have training once or twice a year at the Courthouse. This is tactically a difficult place to protect. Jason Wyatt is being added from the sheriff’s department to the task force. It also has Greendale and Aurora as well as Bill Black and Lawrenceburg police officers. Current sheriff-Kreinhop- requested that he present this to the commissioners. This program is for ACTIVE shooters- that are actually taking lives and need to be neutralized. These threats may be at government buildings or schools for example. They also put a protocol in place with a team of emt and fire-fighters to help save injured victims. They have some vests and protections purchased in the local depts. to help them do this. Communications protocols have been set up. In order to do this intelligently, we have to train. They have trained at Lawrenceburg high school and Hedrick presented what they did there so they had an idea of what they’d do at the Courthouse. He said he had a template with a broad plan showing mapping, ingress, egress, communications, and coordination. As they build the objective profiles, the EMA will keep these on file. It takes years to train and build these profiles and protocols. They want to do the Courthouse and ADM Building. Hedrick has been training and working on this since 2000. Logistically speaking, they need to get as many officers trained there as possible. Trying to do it in 3-4 hour blocks. It’s hard to get it done without paying overtime. Many officers decide to do it on their own time as it’s about saving lives- both other officers and the citizens. There are combat veterans with PTSD and tactical combat training. If we come across one of those shooters, there will probably be an officer losing his life going in to neutralize that. He thinks they will use Sat if possible to avoid church conflicts for training. They will use the Courthouse all day to get them all trained.

Commissioner Orschell thanked Hedrick for his service to the country and now to the community. McHenry said there is a huge advantage to being trained. They use paintballs retrofitted to their regular weapons. They would like to use November 10th to train. They decided to have the sheriff communicate and take the lead with this. Randall will be in touch with him.

AUDITOR: Gayle Pennington covered halfway thru the meeting by Connie Fromhold. Claims and minutes signed. Oked EMS training thru Margaret Mary Hospital for several individuals.

ATTORNEY: Andy Baudendistel- nothing

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- McHenry- talked to Phil and Sheriff about courthouse voting. Can’t streamline it was he’d hoped, but no complaints so far from voters.

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none

PUBLIC COMMENT

Meeting adjourned at 10:50 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township

 

Friday, October 12, 2012

Agenda Oct 16th Commissioners 9 AM Meeting


AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

 October 16, 2012
9:00 a.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
 

EXECUTIVE SESSION – 8:30 am I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1 (b) (6) (A) 
 

I.              CALL TO ORDER 

II.            PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

III.           OLD BUSINESS

1.  OKI Funding Contract / Agreement (tabled till Nov.) 

IV.          NEW BUSINESS

1.  LifeTime Resources – Carla Burkhart

            Release of Property Lien
 

V.            HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

A.  Highway Superintendent – Tim Greive

            1.  Updates 

B.  Highway Engineer – Todd Listerman

            1.  Updates  

VI.          ADMINISTRATOR –  Teresa Randall

            1.  Award of Votaw Building Demolition
 

VII.         AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington

1.  Claims/Minutes
 

VIII.        ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel 

IX.          COMMISSIONER COMMENTS 

X.            LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION            

XI.          PUBLIC COMMENT 

XII.          ADJOURN

Thursday, October 11, 2012

TWO INDIANA GROUPS OPPOSE RETAINING JUSTICE STEVEN H. DAVID

TWO INDIANA GROUPS OPPOSE RETAINING JUSTICE STEVEN H. DAVID


http://themorningafter.us/indiana-just-say-no-to-justice-steven-david/

Justice Steven H, David is up for retention to the Indiana Supreme Court and I am asking you to vote NO for retention of this man.
Here is a sample as to why.
VOTE NO JUSTICE DAVID 2012

Start: Apr 13 2012 4:02 pm
Why MY HOUSE?
One facet of the Indianapolis Tea Party's mission statement is to restore accountable representation.
As many of you know, SB 1 passed on March 20, 2012. SB 1 is legislation to correct the Barnes vs. State. That was the Indiana Supreme Court ruling that erased the Castle Doctrine. The ruling said Hoosiers no longer had the right to defend their home from unlawful entry. Although SB 1 might not be perfect, the legislation is in the right direction in restoring the Castle Doctrine.
So, why continue MY HOUSE since the passage of SB 1?

The main purposes of the MY HOUSE CAMPAIGN is to notify folks that Judge Steven David who wrote the decision that took away our rights is up for retention. Because he was recently appointed by Gov. Daniels, he comes before "We the People" to hire or to let him go. If Hon. David gets the majority votes for retention, he will not be up for retention vote for another 10 years.
There has been a shift on the Indiana Supreme Court bench. When the case was reheard in September, the Supreme Court came to the same ruling. The 2nd time around, however, there was only 1 dissenting judge (in May there were 2 dissenting judges).
In the words of James Madison, "then as the last resort a remedy must be obtained from the people who can, by the election of more faithful representatives, annul the acts of the usurpers." Publius (James Madison), Federalist Paper No. 44
In a Republic form of government, VOTING is #1. This is how we the people decide if a representative, judge, etc has been faithful to their Oath....or if we need to find someone else that will be more faithful.
The Indiana Supreme Court made a ruling, 2 times, with the same result ~ Our freedoms being stripped away.
'We the People' can right the wrong ruling by electing a more faithful representative....in this case, by VOTING NO to retain Justice Steven David. Also, something very important to note.....what if we didn't have the legislators that would have righted the wrong ruling? Then, where would be? What if in the future Justice Steven David would make another ruling that goes against 'We the People' and we don't have legislators that step up to the plate and do the right thing? 'We the People' wouldn't have another chance to annul the acts of the usurpers until the next retention vote.
JOIN US AS WE FIGHT FOR ACCOUNTABLE REPRESENTATION!
 
submitted by local Dearborn County tea party members and Pharmacists for Life