By Rick Yencer

MARION, IN  - Eva Mozes Kor talked of survival, prejudice and forgiveness as a survivor of the dreaded Auschwitz  death camp where she and her twin sister, Mariam, were genetic guinea pigs for Nazi Dr. Josef Mengele.

 "You should not be judged as a group you belong to," said Kor during a talk at Ivy Tech Community College on Thursday. "But how you act as a human being."

 Kor, a renowned human rights activist and Holocaust survivor held the attention of more than 250 people with stories of the Nazi slaughter of Jews, Catholics and others who got in their way and ended up in vicious death camps during the height of World War II.

 And her story of clinging to the hope of survival outside the death camp besides her later forgiveness of the Nazis who killed her parents and two other sisters, has been the subject of a book and film that recognize how she makes it through every day to see peace and hope prevail.

 And her popularity was witnessed by dozens of people wanting her autograph and picture as one of the last remaining twins of Mengele's experiments to create what Adolph Hitler always called a new master race.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN -  A property owner's fight  and appeal against eminent domain by a local institution now involves an e-mail blast to lawmakers and hundreds of other Hoosiers.

Free Press Report

ANDERSON,IN - Shaint To Shabby, dismissed at 16-1, was an upset winner in the $15,000 Miss Windfall series final for three-and-four year old, Indiana sired fillies and mares on Tuesday, April 16 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Roger Cullipher piloted the three-year-old filly to a 1:56.1 triumph for her second win in three starts, as she sent her career bankroll over $10,000.

The heavily favored Mystic Karissa, seeking her fifth straight victory this year, got away poorly in sixth from post nine. Long shot Gm’s Best Ann left the gate alertly and reached the front through the opening quarter time in :27.4. Starting from post eight, Cullipher placed Shaint To Shabby fifth along the rail and waited patiently to make a move. Gm’s Best Ann and Tyler Smith yielded the lead to Fritzie Chic and Trace Tetrick down the backside through the half mile time in :58.2.

Hawaiian Angel and Don Eash followed intently in third while Rhinestone Robin was along the rail in fourth. Mystic Karissa was the first to take aim at the leader as Ricky Macomber Jr. tipped her to the outer flow approaching the final turn. Fritzie Chic continued to lead the field of ten to the three-quarter mark in 1:27.4 as she braced herself for the cavalry charge to the wire.

By Rick Yencer

CHESTERFIELD, IN  - By 2020, central Indiana could be short of water and a $400 million plan to build Mounds Lake will address that natural resource need besides promote the economy of Madison and Delaware counties.

 That was the news offered Tuesday by economic and engineer specialists giving the public a chance to hear plans to create a 2,100 acre lake along White River that would connect Daleville, Chesterfield and Anderson. More than 300 people came to the Mill Creek Civic Center to hear developers, engineers and others talk about the project

 Rob Sparks, executive director of the Anderson/Madison County Economic Development Corp.,  called the proposed lake "an opportunity we need to pursue." And the topography alone of the White River with its high banks in Chesterfield and low basin area near Mounds Mall makes it ideal for a larger lake.

 While Sparks sees  the economy in a new reservoir, Jonathan LaTurner, an engineer with DLZ Engineering, Indianapolis, said the project was definitely about water and its needed in the growing central Indiana region.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Delaware County government celebrated Tax Day on Monday by hiring a tax consultant to help officials pay their bills.

H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, Indianapolis is a renowned tax and bond  consultant responsible for helping local government and schools raise millions of dollars for everything from sewers to schools and other government work.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN -  A panel discussion by law enforcement about the drug culture in the community came out strongly against legalizing marijuana while also wanting to rid neighborhoods of meth labs and other hard drug use.

"I hope we never legalize it," said Delaware County Prosecutor Jeff Arnold about marijuana, which is already legal in Colorado and Washington.

This was the same message from Delaware County Sheriff Mike Scroggins and Mayor Dennis Tyler, although the former lawmaker said decriminalization was the answer, given the cost  of $38,500 a year to put drug offenders in prison.

 The panel on drug in the Delaware County sponsored by the Muncie-Delaware County League of Women Voters was predictable, given that law enforcement and the government they work for was represented. Without a war on drugs, the need for law enforcement, criminal justice and corrections is diminished, meaning fewer jobs and less money.

Free Press Report

ANDERSON, IN -  Betterluvnexttime rattled off a sharp front end effort taking home the featured event, a $24,000 Invitational pace for fillies and mares, to notch her second consecutive victory at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, April 12.

Pete Wrenn left no room error as he sent the five-year-old mare to the front from post seven. The duo would have to work for their position as Trace Tetrick also sent Aqua Artist out of the gate alertly. Betterluvnexttime reached the front through a brisk opening panel in :26.3 and continued to call the shots down the backside. The field of eight remained in single file lane as they reached the half in :55.4.

Aqua Artist benefitted from a pocket trip while Queenies Alibi and Tyler Smith followed intently in third. Shabalabadingdong was the first to commit as Lewayne Miller tipped her to the outside around the three-quarter clocking in 1:26. Aqua Artist also took aim at the leader as the field turned for home but Betterluvnexttime found another gear.

By Rick Yencer

ANDERSON, IN -  A group of bi-partisan lawmakers joined with the gaming industry Friday to make one last pass at having live dealers at Hoosier Downs and Indiana Downs.

As Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson said, he was willing to fight over creating 600 new jobs from live table games in a bill that Lanane called exclusive job creation.

The scene was in front Hoosier Park where 600 signs resembling grave markers could be found under a banner that said ""Live dealers = 600 jobs."

The image was created by media graphics who work for gaming giant Centaur that owns the new horse racing tracks.

Veteran Rep. Jack Lutz, R-Anderson said the live table games did not cost the state a dime and  would help the economy.by putting hundreds to work in Anderson besides Shelbyville where Indiana Downs was located.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - The gun debate in Congress has bordered on bizarre as Indiana congressional members weighed in on even having a debate after the massacre in Newtown.

The U.S. Senate decided by 68-31 to continue the debate on the watered gun control bill that now only consists of requiring background checks on gun sales at gun shows or online. The assault weapon ban and limits on magazine clips have faded as senators argued over even having a debate.

Free Press Report