July 2 – July 8
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Indiana Quick Quiz1. The first successful commercial vineyards in the nation, were in which Indiana city? 2. What product did Frank B. Shields, of Indianapolis, invent in 1913? 3. Name the Hoosier who invented fiberglass? 4. Who is the Hoosier, who invented the pull tabs on the tops of soft drink and beer cans? Answers Below
Happy Independence Day!
Answers1. Created by Swiss settlers, they were in Vevay. 2. Barbasol shaving cream 3. Doctor Games Slayter of Argos 4. Ermal Cleon Fraze of Delaware County.
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This Week in Indiana History
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: Â EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
FOP DRAFT DRAFT
While the issue at hand about the Evansville police force is much larger than counting bullets, I do not recall being allowed to shoot a second or even a third qualification course after I have successfully qualified with my first 25 rounds qualification course. Â The qualification course round count was once 20 rounds (9,8&3) until a recent change in the qualification course.
And I would ask you to look deeper into the data. Â I would ask how many officers are sent to remedial training. Â I would contend that a large percentage of the sworn officers on the Evansville Police Department have not had access to the possible extra 500 rounds of remedial training.
As I noted on April 21, 2023 to a letter to the Courier & Press, the point is not the number of bullets. Â The point is law enforcement in Evansville needs more support, resources, additional training, and competitive pay to be set up to succeed in addressing the rise in crime in our city.
We do have a yearly firearms training. Â But a large majority of our membership would tell you it is not enough. In 2022, I personally had approximately 12 hours of firearms training. Â I am paid as a police officer for 2,080 hours a year. Â That is less than 1 percent of my time on the job dedicated to firearms training.
And then there is the issue of who pays for it.
We have a world class SWAT team, and they encourage sworn officers to train with them. Unfortunately, the Evansville Police Department will not supply ammunition to those wanting extra training. Â Instead, officers have to pay for the ammunition out of their own pockets and train on their own time.
There are tools available to officers to be more proficient in firearms use, and those tools are approved by the Evansville Police Department. But at this time, officers have to pay for the gun, optics and ammunition to go through the training to be qualified to carry on duty as an Evansville police officer.
And then there is the challenge of filling vacancies on the police force.
The Evansville Police Department is struggling to fill vacancies. Only 17 applications have been received so far for the May hiring process – and yet five applicants in the current process have withdrawn to take jobs with other nearby law enforcement agencies.  Our pay compared to other municipal police departments throughout the state is not competitive to recruit qualified applicants (2023 Salary Report INPRS). Currently, the Evansville Police Department is ranked approximately 30th in pay in relation to other municipal police departments in the State of Indiana.  This is a hurdle in filling our vacancies.
Although I agree there are a number of factors that lead to higher crime, that doesn’t change the fact that officers must be set up to succeed in fighting that crime when it threatens our community.
And right now, the Evansville Police Department needs more support, more training, and better pay to continue to protect the good people of this city. Nitpicking the number of bullets just to score a political jab – particularly at someone who is working to help provide that support – does our community a disservice.
Sincerely,
Aaron McCormick
President
Fraternal Order of Police #73
JUST IN: Democrat, Ruby McGlown, Selected To Fill The Vacancy For Pigeon TownshipÂ
Democrat, Ruby McGlown, Was Selected To Fill The vacancy For Pigeon Township Trustee
EVANSVILLE – On Saturday, July 1, 2023, a caucus of Democratic precinct committee persons residing in Pigeon Township met and selected Ruby McGlown as their Trustee for Pigeon Township. Ms. McGlown, one of three candidates, won the trust and support of the community with her experience and dedication to public service.
Ruby McGlown’s commitment to Pigeon Township is well-established, having served on the advisory board for several years. Her leadership and efforts have contributed to the continuation of day-to-day services. Following the resignation of the previous trustee, McGlown was designated as the person to assume the responsibilities of the office until a new Trustee was elected, demonstrating her readiness and aptitude for the role.
Ms. McGlown will resign immediately from her position on the Pigeon Township Advisory Board, and an election for that position will occur within the next 30 days.
Braun commends SCOTUS decision on Biden’s unfair student loan handout
WASHINGTON – Senator Braun released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Biden’s unfair student loan handout.
“Joe Biden’s plan to force American taxpayers to pay off student loans that they didn’t take out is wrong and immoral. Today I’m glad the Supreme Court confirmed that it is also illegal.†– Senator Mike Braun
Otters ninth inning rally falls short at Joliet
The Otters mounted three straight base hits with two outs in the ninth to cut a four-run deficit in half. However, the tying run at the plate struck out to end the game.
Noah Myers led the Otters bats on a three-hit night, plating two doubles and a single with two RBIs.
Joliet broke up a scoreless game with a four-run fifth inning, keyed by a three-run home run.
The Slammers added another run in the sixth to take a five run lead.
Evansville started their comeback in the seventh. Ethan Skender had a leadoff double and would score on a sacrifice fly. Myers hit his first RBI double of the day to score the second run.
Joliet added one more run of insurance in the eighth on an RBI base hit.
Jake Green started the ninth inning rally with a two-out infield single. Myers hit a double to right and Kona Quiggle lined a base hit into center field before the final out of the game dashed the Otters’ comeback.
Jhon Vargas did not allow a run through the first four innings on the mound and struck out seven batters. He took the loss allowing four earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.
Quiggle moved his hit streak to 10 games with a pair of singles while Jomar Reyes had two hits to extend his team-long on-base streak to 21 games. Bryan Rosario stole his Frontier League leading 32nd base of the season.
Evansville faces Joliet in game two of the series Saturday evening from Duly Health and Care Field with a 6:05 PM CT first pitch. The Otters broadcast will be carried on the Otters Digital Network.
All home and road Otters games this season are televised on FloSports with audio-only coverage available for free on the Evansville Otters YouTube page.
Hufnagel, Goodin Named ONB/USI Student Athletes Of The Year
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall announced that seniors Noah Hufnagel (Santa Claus, Indiana) and Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) have been named the recipients of the 2023 Old National Bank/USI Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year awards.
Hufnagel completed an outstanding career in Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field by winning a combined four Ohio Valley Conference titles during the 2022-23 academic year. He was named the OVC Athlete of the Championship after winning the OVC Cross Country title in the fall.
The kinesiology major returned to the track to capture an OVC title in the indoor 3,000 meters while earning an OVC podium finish with a second-place showing in the 5,000 meters.
Hufnagel capped off the year by being named both the OVC Track Athlete of the Year as well as the OVC Athlete of the Championship after capturing both the 5,000 and 10,000-meter titles at the OVC Outdoor Championships.
Goodin finished her collegiate softball career with a bang, earning co-OVC Player of the Year honors as well as third-team NFCA All-Midwest Region honors in USI’s inaugural season of Division I competition.
Starting all 44 games, Goodin was second in the OVC with a .412 overall batting average while also ranking second with 16 doubles and 40 RBI in 2023. She also posted a 1.134 OPS and hit seven home runs. She paced the league in conference-only play with a .442 batting average and 30 RBI.
Goodin, a management major, closed out the 2023 season by earning OVC All-Tournament honors after hitting .500 with a home run and three RBI in USI’s three games at the OVC Tournament. Her efforts helped USI Softball finish third in the OVC regular-season standings before winning its opening game in the OVC Tournament.
Both Goodin and Hufnagel were named Academic All-District for both their athletic and academic accomplishments.
Previous winners of the ONB/USI Male Student-Athlete of the Year award were Duncan Bray (2003, 2004; soccer), Matt Keener (2005; baseball), Chris Thompson (2006; basketball), Melvin Hall (2007; basketball), Paul Jellema (2008; cross country/track), Shaun Larsen (2009; baseball), Jamar Smith (2010; basketball), Trevor Leach (2011; baseball), Dustin Emerick (2012; cross country & track), Michael Jordan (2013; cross country & track), Johnnie Guy (2014, 2016; cross country & track), Tyler Pence (2015, cross country & track), Jeril Taylor (2017, basketball), Alex Stein (2018, 2019; basketball), Josh Price (2021; basketball) and Titus Winders (2022; cross country/track & field). The award was not presented in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Past winners of the ONB/USI Female Student Athlete of the Year award were Shannon Wells (2003, volleyball), Jenny Farmer (2004; cross country/track), Heather Cooksey (2005; cross country/track), Laura Ellerbusch (2006; volleyball), Allison Shafer (2007; cross country/track), Kristin Eickholt (2008; softball), Mary Ballinger (2009, 2010; cross country/track), Danielle LaGrange (2011, 2012; volleyball), Susan Ellsperman (2013; soccer), Anna Hackert (2014; basketball), MacKenzie Dorsam (2015; softball), Haley Hodges (2016 & 2017; softball) and Emily Roberts (2016; cross country/track), Kaydie Grooms (2018; basketball), Jennifer Leonhardt (2019; softball), Jennifer Comastri (2021; cross country/track & field) and Cameron Hough (2022; cross country/track & field). The award was not presented in 2020 due to COVID-19.
UE President Issues Statement on Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action ruling
EVANSVILLE, IND. (06/29/2023) Christopher Pietruszkiewicz, president of the University of Evansville, issued a statement today regarding the Supreme Court decisions on Affirmative Action.
“Today’s Supreme Court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina have not changed the University of Evansville’s commitment to our mission: to empower students to think critically, act bravely, serve responsibly, and live meaningfully in a changing world. That requires diversity of experiences, viewpoints, and opinions in our classrooms and on our campus and remains firmly committed to building on our recent progress in diversifying our student body in accordance with these decisions. We will continue to monitor developments in this area and adjust as necessary to ensure that our policies and practices remain fair, legal and in line with the values of our institution.
We will continue to work tirelessly to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can feel valued and supported. In addition, resources are available for those who wish to take advantage of them through the University’s Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our shared commitment of creating a better, more just, and inclusive world.”