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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2014 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27,2,2012
THE DEARBORN COUNTY REGISTER
LEAD,
From Page 1A educational innovation, he said. Meanwhile, the legislators are lowering state tax and the corporate tax rate. “We ended death taxes once and for all, inheritance tax,” said Pence to applause. When the changes are completed, Indiana will have the lowest tax rate in the Midwest, he said. Regarding education, Pence said the General Assembly is addressing career and technical education, and has set up regional works councils throughout the state. Each is charged with addressing what career and vocational education should be in their area for high school students to get a good paying job in their community after graduation. Schools should work for students seeking a job after high school as well as those heading to college, he said. But starting work force development in high school is new – and that will follow through all the way to adult work force development. “In this one area, I think we can lead our nation,” said Pence.
Questions, comments
Baby in arms, Debbie Ketron, Guilford, said she is troubled by initiatives leading to national control of education, as well as by the statewide longitudinal data base. “That is setting up for the government to control the people” when it should be the other way around, she said. In Washington, D.C., they're talking about universal pre-kindergarten, said Pence, adding he shares her concerns. But the last Indiana assembly created a pilot program just for preschoolers with disadvantages, now in five counties. “There's a category of quality early learning … that has an impact on kids that find themselves in a challenged situation,” he said. While the best education setting for youngsters is a nourishing family, “for too many kids in Indiana that is simply not the case,” he said. Disappointed with Head Start, Pence said he's seen church-based and private programs with strong
impacts, readying kids for kindergarten. This pilot allows disadvantaged kids access to public, private or church-based preschool programs. As for the database, in its upcoming session the General Assembly will discuss how to deal with it, said Pence. They're struggling with how to meet tomorrow's needs with today's education, yet in a way that “fiercely protects” the privacy of individuals as well as their ability to choose their own path. St. Mary School seventh grader Justine Stenger asked what will be the next economic source for Indiana as casino revenue declines. Praising her for her question, Pence said he supports policies that neither expand nor contract gaming; rather, his administration focuses on the creation of manufacturing and life sciences positions. “We have to accept that market forces will have their effect,” he said. Rising Sun/Ohio County Schools Superintendent Brandon Roeder asked if K-12 funding might increase, and Pence said yes. Education is in the forefront for the next General Assembly. It provided the first progress-based funding in education during the last session; this time it will look at the state's fiscal strength and how to fund education in all 92 counties to meet their needs, “but also to fund excellence,” he said. “Other than public safety, education's the most important thing we do,” said Pence. Heart House director Craig Beckley said the 72-bed homeless shelter outside Aurora is the largest south of Indianapolis. It has a 90 percent employment rate, unlike the HUD-influenced shelters in the rest of the state, where homeless people are put in taxpayer-funded housing resulting in more dependence rather than independence. Pence said he wants to learn more about the Heart House model and would talk with Beckley in the future. Eighth grader Gabe Haverkos, another St. Mary student, asked Pence's opinion on Obama Care. Pence said promoting the health and wellbeing of Hoosiers, especially kids, was one of his six primary goals when “applying” for the job of governor. “I opposed Obama Care then;
I oppose Obama Care now; and I would like to see it appealed, lock, stock and barrel,” said Pence. “I don't think the answer to health care is to order everybody to buy health insurance.” The free market offers better options, and Indiana's Healthy Indiana Plan for low-income folks has been successful in its six years of providing health savings accounts, he said. “We're helping 150,000 Hoosiers,” said Pence. Of those eligible for Medicaid, 90 percent would reenroll in the HIP if possible. Pence will be meeting with the President in Evansville Friday, Oct. 3, to discuss that possibility, added Pence. “We want to expand health care in Indiana but do it the Indiana way,” he said. Eric Oatman then asked about the focus on standardized testing in education. Father of a 16- and a 10-year old, he said teachers are telling him they don't have time to teach due to testing. “We need a balance, making sure we're educating our people in Indiana. … We're teaching them how to take tests,” said Oatman. Pence said in 2001 he opposed the No Child Left Behind act because it included national testing for fourth and eighth graders. Oatman has a valid point, talking about the freedom to teach, said Pence.
The mighty Ohio
Rex Blanton, Alliance of Indiana Rural Water, noted the importance of clean water and said the alliance offers free assistance with technical issues related to infrastructure and other concerns. Protecting water is especially important this close to the Ohio River, he added. State government is working on water quality, said Pence. “And by the way, this is the greatest river on the planet. We call it the mighty Ohio at our house,” he added. Jim Jung, who moved from Dearborn County to Detroit, said when he came home to Southeastern Indiana he was impressed with Hoosier hospitality and common sense. So, he said, is the company he has interested in coming here. Pence said that's what he hears from people: they're impressed with Hoosier hospitality and common sense. His administration is looking for more folks like
Jung out there, to come home to Indiana and bring companies and jobs with them. Consultant Paula Walker asked about the future of the state revolving fund, noting she has seen “amazing projects” funded through it. Pence said he's not aware of any upcoming changes. Asked by Dearborn County Commissioner Art Little if he was going to run for President, Pence said he thinks the reason his name appears on lists of potential candidates is because Indiana itself is doing so well. “It is the greatest privilege I will ever have to serve as the governor of Indiana,” said Pence. “... We are setting the pace for economic growth” and in education, he said. “And we're building it all on that base of Hoosier hospitality and common sense.” Angie Walters, Greendale deputy clerk-treasurer, asked how cities' income from the business personal property tax would be replaced so residents would not be paying more taxes. Pence said dropping that tax is still under discussion, but legislators wanted to give communities the option of doing away with it. That would allow them to be more competitive with neighboring states when businesses are considering relocating, he said. While the tax on machinery and equipment brings in $1 billion across the state, it varies by communities, with some receiving little, he noted. Lawrenceburg Councilman Mike Lawrence asked Pence where he stands on public corruption. Pence said integrity is the first thing he addressed with his cabinet. “It's to be above the appearance of impropriety, to be above reproach,” he said he told them. “We've got to have government as good as our people.” Pence received two gifts during the meeting, honorary membership in the 100 Men Campaign Club from Safe Passage; and a pen and carved holder for it from Ollie Willoughby, who noted 80 such “Purple Heart” pens have been given to Wounded Warriers this year, and another 200 sent through We Care Packages to service people overseas.
TEETH, From Page 1A
she said. Meanwhile, in addition to follow-up care, the collaborative also realized dental health education is important, she said. That part of the effort has been the focus of East Indiana Area Health Education Center. Its mission is “To improve health by recruiting, educating and retaining healthcare professionals for medically underserved communities in Indiana.” The center has an office in Batesville. “East Indiana AHEC reached out to the IU School Dentistry’s chapter of Students United for America’s Toothfairy for guidance in developing a peer education model. IU School of Dentistry students visited LHS to provide oral health education training,” said Rhonda Savage, EI-AHEC executive director. She met the people from IU during a conference. That is how she found out about the Toothfairy program, which has high school and college chapters, said Savage, adding both the dental care and education programs received grant funds from the Dearborn Community Foundation.
In the Tuesday, Oct. 7, Journal-Press, learn about how the Indiana University School of Dentistry’s chapter of Students United for America’s Toothfairy is helping make a difference in Lawrenceburg.
FIRE,
From Page 1A
the Dearborn County Fire Investigation Team, Dearborn County Coroner, Dearborn County Special Crimes Unit and the Indiana State Fire Marshal. The last fatal fire in Dearborn County was in 2006 in Aurora at a man’s second-floor apartment on Exporting Street. The apartment only had oneexit, and three firefighters were trapped after a wall collapsed as they were trying to get to the man. The firefighters were rescued safely.