Cheers and Jeers

CHEERS

…to Our Southern Indiana Regional Development Authority’s work in securing $45 million in READI 2.0 funding for Clark, Floyd, Washington, Scott and Jefferson counties. These funds will help bolster economic development, increase population and improve infrastructure in our region.

Daniel Suddeath, News and Tribune editor

…to Emmy Miller, the Floyd Central sophomore who pitched her second no-hitter of the season on Tuesday against New Albany.

Daniel Suddeath, News and Tribune editor

….to Schimpff’s Confectionary. The Jeffersonville staple is celebrating its 133rd year in business. It is the oldest retail business in Jeffersonville, and a real treat for our community.

News and Tribune

…to Judge Larry Medlock for showing that no one is above the law in sentencing former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel to 60 days in jail for contempt of court. The gavel slam at the end was a little much, but at least the message was sent.

Daniel Suddeath, News and Tribune editor

…to Low-Head Dam Public Safety Awareness Month, which occurs in April. According to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, 25 people died in the state between 2010 and 2020 who were at or near low-head dams. That prompted the state legislature to take action in 2020 to pass a bill prohibiting people from accessing low-head dams and waters within 50 feet when warning signs are present.

Yet in New Albany, there’s still a legal fight occurring(at the taxpayers’ expense) over the removal of the Silver Creek low-head dam. You likely know the story well by now: River Heritage Conservancy, the organization behind Origin Park, wants the dam removed for safety reasons and to open the waterway up for more recreational activities. The City of New Albany has fought the effort every step of the way, and despite losing multiple rulings, continues to tie up the progress in court.

Power and control appear to be the dam problem.

Daniel Suddeath, News and Tribune editor

JEERS

…to News and Tribune for publishing the Letter to the Editor by Jamey Aebersold, Wednesday, April 10th issue. At 80 years of age, according to Mr. Aebersold, I’m an “Ugly Maga Barnacle, no personal identity, mesmerized on a ride to my loss of Free Will, and on to doom. And, lost my mind.” Shame on you for printing such vitriol.

Bette Lay, Southern Indiana

…to the Floyd County Council and Commissioners, the current lineup and those who served over the past few decades. The EMS issue they’re currently grappling with is but a microcosm of how Floyd County government has been run for years. The can is kicked down the road until the road drops off a cliff. The county has had years to implement a path for a county-run EMS service. It was rejected four years ago for many of the same reasons county elected officials can’t address most of the issues they’re tasked with — it would have required an increase in taxes for some residents.

You can’t provide services and quality-of-life improvements for residents in 2024 based off of a tax structure from two decades ago. Had it not been for pandemic relief funds, money supported primarily by elected Democrats, almost nothing would have been accomplished in Floyd County over the past five years.

From addressing the dinosaur that is the City-County Building to paying decent wages to county employees, the council and commissioners refuse to do what’s best for the future.

At some point, you have to make a decision. As I’ve said countless times, leaders aren’t always popular. To lead, you have to do what’s best, not what’s politically expedient.

As for the current situation at hand, it’s too late in the game to pull off a county-run ambulance service by the end of May, when the contract with New Chapel expires. Perhaps that’s a worthy goal to work toward in the future, but the time to implement such a service in order to have it up and serving the fine folks of Floyd County by the end of next month was at least two years ago.

Daniel Suddeath, News and Tribune editor