Latest news with #MarkMessmer
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Historic marker for first black female Indiana pharmacist
FERDINAND, Ind (WEHT) – The town of Ferdinand is celebrating its rich history by unveiling a new historical marker to Ida Hagan Whitaker, the first black female licensed pharmacist in Indiana. Whitaker grew up in the Pinkston settlement, a free black community just west of Ferdinand. After completing a pharmacy course, Whitaker earned her license in 1909 to practice in Gary, Indianapolis and Ferndinand. 'She did everything with kindness, and I think that's an important lesson to carry on today,' said Kathy Tretter. 'She did everything that she could do to make her world and this world a better place.' The town commemorated her accomplishments with a marker in front of the Wollenmann House on Main Street. Dozens gathered to celebrate, including U.S. Representative Mark Messmer, who says this is a great way to remember Whitaker, especially during a time when it wasn't easy for her. 'It just shows the interest that the people have in the history of Ferdinand and the history of the people who made this community great and the people that contributed to the society in a big way,' he said. 'It shows the broad range of support of the community overall from all over the county and all over southwest Indiana.' Ceremony speaker included Dr. John Clark from the University of South Florida's Taneja College of Pharmacy. Dr. Clark says he does not usually attend events like these, but after hearing Whitaker's story, he made the trip. 'Some of the women that have made big contributions throughout the history of pharmacy are often overlooked and overrated,' he said. 'So, I decided I wanted to be here just for that. To be inspired by everything that she's done and all her accomplishments.' Town officials say they hope the marker is not the last of its kind and hope to see more in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana Democrats hold People's Town Hall in Terre Haute
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— On Friday, the Indiana Democratic Party and local leaders are gathering at the Vigo County Public Library to host a People's Town Hall. According to the news release, this town hall is intended to discuss the real-world impacts of Republicans' cuts to Hoosier healthcare, nutrition benefits, and more. This event is in response to GOP Rep. Mark Messmer not holding his own in-person town hall due to the Republican mandate. According to Politico, this mandate was put in place after the backlash of in-person town halls with Republican lawmakers. Some members in attendance for the panel include State Representative Tonya Pfaff and Indiana Democratic Party Chair Karen Tallian. The former state representative Dave Crooks will be moderating the town hall. 'Extremists in D.C., including Rep. Messmer, voted to rip away health care coverage and food assistance from Hoosiers in order to fund tax cuts for their wealthy donors. Voters in Indiana are demanding to be heard,' said Indiana Democratic Party Spokesperson Sam Barloga. 'Rep. Messmer has been a cheerleader for Trump and Musk's dangerous tariff agenda. He is sitting idly while Hoosier jobs are at risk. Our first People's Town Halls in Bloomington, Lafayette, and New Albany showed the anger and frustration Hoosiers are feeling. They want to be heard, and their Republican representatives are hiding from them. If Rep. Messmer refuses to hold a public, in-person town hall and answer to Hoosiers' pressing concerns, voters will look to leaders who will.' The event for the voters in Indiana's 8th District will be held at the library's main branch located at 640 Poplar Street. It will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and those who wish to participate can RSVP at this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Constituents voice frustrations during Messmer telephone town hall event
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — U.S. Representative Mark Messmer answered dozens of questions and addressed concerns on Tuesday evening during a special tele-town hall event. It comes after protests and events where people say the congressman is absent and refuses to answer questions and concerns. 'I was excited to hear this was happening, especially that we were meeting as a community, so we could brainstorm and come up with the best questions,' says Jacob Wallace. Wallace came to the McCollough Library Meeting Room to speak with fellow constituents and call to ask Representative Messmer questions. 'I have contacted the representative several times and have not had any feedback. We get the generic blasted email that comes back and says Thanks for contacting us, we will be happy to get back to you in the future,' Wallace says. Wallace teaches Kindergarten and came to fight for his kids. He says a moderator pre-screened his question. 'Why won't Mark Messmer meet with his constituents face to face. Why is he hiding, and who is he really working for?' Wallace asked. Wallace was on the phone for at least half an hour and never got to ask Messmer his question. 'I was told I was in the queue, and then I was on hold the entire process,' Wallace says. 'I am offended by how long I have had to wait, and I am not surprised at all. I am honestly surprised that the calls are happening,' says Laura Brown. Brown was one of the first people in queue and says she never got to ask her question either. 'He did not like my question. I was going to ask him to make a commitment to not ship our residents to foreign prisons,' says Brown. While many of the constituents we spoke with did not get through, others around the city did. 'Do you support these proposed tariffs by Donald Trump?' one resident asked. 'Trump's tariff negotiations are just part of making sure that we get rid of unfair trade packages from our foreign trading partners. I do not think it is anybody's best interest for a long-term extension of tariffs right now,' Representative Messmer answered. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Representative Mark Messmer to host town hall by phone
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Indiana 8th District Congressman Mark Messmer has scheduled a town hall to take place this week, but it will not take place face-to-face. A release from his office says the town hall will take place over telephone at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Before the town hall begins, participants will be able to call a toll free phone line in order to take part. Earlier this year, hundreds of protesters gathered in protest over Messmer's 'refusal to hold a town hall' and not engaging with constituents. Indivisible Evansville, a group led by former Democrat City Council Member Wendy Bredhold, say they are not happy that the event is being held by phone. The group plans to hold an event at the McCollough Library to attempt to get through to the town hall. Constituents can sign up to be a part of the event by registering on Messmer's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Messmer has no apparent plans for public events during two-week recess
EVANSVILLE — Members of Congress are back in their districts for a two-week recess — but if 8th District Rep. Mark Messmer is planning a mobile office hours event or a town hall, he's not publicizing them. Messmer's congressional Facebook page is replete with messages celebrating such events as Air Force Reserve Day, National Gold Star Spouses Day, Palm Sunday and Passover. There are well wishes for families affected by severe weather in Princeton, photos of Messmer with a delegation of Japanese visitors to Toyota, an offer to help constituents navigate federal agencies and a call-out for high school students to compete in the Congressional Art Competition. But there was no mention on Wednesday morning of any public events in the next two weeks. Same deal on Messmer's X account and congressional website. No shortage of content, but also no mention of looming public events. More: Anti-Messmer rally in Evansville targets Trump and Musk Emails and phone messages from the Courier & Press to Messmer aides in Washington, D.C. and Evansville went unanswered on Monday. Messmer, a Republican elected last year to succeed longtime Rep. Larry Bucshon, is not alone among Republicans in Congress, although he may stand out in the way one of his recent mobile office hours events blew up. Messmer's staff asked employees at the Boonville Public Library to call the police on constituents during a mobile office hours event — even though the mostly older attendees weren't breaking any rules, the library said. If not holding town halls were the only accessibility issue swirling around Messmer, he wouldn't be so unusual among House Republicans. Saying rowdy Democratic activists are packing town halls held by Republican House members in order to make GOP policies look unpopular, House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested in March that tele-town halls would be a good alternative for Republican members to hear from constituents. NBC News reported Monday that, "according to press releases and publicly posted event notices, the majority of town halls and town hall-style events taking place over the congressional recess will be hosted by Democrats." Messmer also has refused to speak to the Courier & Press, which serves by far the largest county in his 21-county district. Why? He sent the newspaper an email saying it reported he didn't debate his 2024 election opponents when he did. More: Messmer revisits 2024 campaign to explain his silence Messmer cited a single joint public appearance with his two opponents, an Aug. 25 Posey County Farm Bureau event that they called a candidate forum lacking any opportunity for rebuttal among candidates. Other than that event, which occurred three weeks after the Indiana Farm Bureau's political action committee endorsed Messmer, he would not appear on the same stage with his opponents. It all baffles Robert Dion, a University of Evansville political scientist who says Messmer could blunt vocal opposition from opposition activists and reassure other constituents by biting the bullet and appearing in public often — not going radio silent. "It's kind of surprising that there's been this much unhappiness about his performance, but he's not helping," Dion said. "He could run a charm offensive if he wanted to." Dion, who moderated two of Bucshon's town hall meetings, said Messmer could refute the perception that he hides from the public by engaging with constituents and media and by holding frequent town hall meetings. "Even if there were a few testy exchanges, if you make frequent visits to the district, including open town halls — if you make those a routine occurrence, then they lose any sort of novelty or power," Dion said. "The more you do it, the easier it gets." Messmer could ask attendees to write down their questions and have a moderator read them aloud, a tactic the UE political scientist said shaved several decibel points off the more confrontational questions directed at Bucshon. Dion said any seasoned politician — Messmer served 16 years in the Indiana Legislature — should know how to handle the public confrontations, press scrutiny and harsh criticism that comes with holding elected office. Like most members of Congress, Messmer is regularly trolled on social media by people who — as Dion acknowledged — didn't vote for him and never will. The UE political scientist quoted the Federalist Papers, a collection of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay in 1787 and 1788: "As it is essential to liberty that the government in general, should have a common interest with the people; so it is particularly essential that the branch of it under consideration, should have an immediate dependence on, & an intimate sympathy with the people," the Federalist Papers state. "The House member is the one member of the federal government who is closest to the people, the most reachable," Dion said. "And Messmer seems to be the opposite of that. He's unreachable." This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Messmer has no apparent plans for public events during two-week recess
