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Indiana National Guard Two-Star General Retires After 33 Years of Service

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INDIANAPOLIS – A retirement ceremony was held for Major General Robert Burke, Thursday, June 22, 2023, at Indiana National Guard Headquarters in Indianapolis.

Burke, a New Hampshire native, began his service with the Indiana National Guard in 1993, after serving on active duty for several years at Fort Carson, Colorado. He received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Norwich University in 1989.

During the ceremony, Burke expressed his gratitude and thanked his family for their support throughout his military career.

Burke and his wife, Tina, have four children: Tyler, Kayli, Macy and Kyle.

“We are thankful for Major General Burke’s service to the state of Indiana both as a soldier in the National Guard and as a Trooper with the Indiana State Police,” said Major General Dale Lyles, Adjutant General of Indiana. “He embodies what it means to live here, work here, serve here.”

His most recent position was as the Deputy Commanding General for the historic V Corps, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Previous assignments include the Deputy Chief of Staff for NATO Multinational Corps in Szczecin, Poland, and serving as commander of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Lawrence.

Burke served in multiple leadership roles in the Indiana National Guard, to include leading the 1st Squadron 152nd Cavalry Regiment during a deployment to Iraq in 2008 and serving as the Operations Officer for the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat team in Afghanistan in 2004.

He has numerous decorations and awards to include the Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge and Bronze Star.

Burke, a resident of Knightstown, currently serves as a Captain with the Indiana State Police, and is in his 30th year of service with the Department.

USI Board of Trustees approve annual budget, student fees

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At its regular meeting on Thursday, July 13, the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees approved a $127.3 million annual operating budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

University income is derived from two primary sources, tuition and fee revenues, and state appropriations.

The Board also approved miscellaneous fees and reviewed the schedule of student fees and other mandatory fees for 2023-24.

In additional business, the Board approved the disbursement of financial aid awards for the 2023-24 academic year and received an update on current campus construction projects.

USI to host finalists at 40th annual Hagemann Awards for Musical Performance Concert

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The University of Southern Indiana’s Philip Hagemann Department of Performing Arts will host the 40th annual Hagemann Awards for Musical Performance Concert, a competition for Posey County, Indiana, high school students, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 19 in Murphy Auditorium in New Harmony, Indiana. The event is open to the public at no charge.

Finalists for this year’s concert are Brenna Julian, piano; Ainsley Pierce, trombone; Jaycee Jarvis, voice; and Alayna Reising, voice. All students were seniors at Mt. Vernon High School during the 2022-23 academic year.

Each finalist will play a 20-minute portion of the concert. The top-scoring performer will receive an $800 award and an Alexander Scholarship (not affiliated with USI). The remaining finalists will receive a $400 award.

UE Volleyball earns 2023 USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award

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Program recognized for the 14th time

LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the 14th time in program history, the University of Evansville volleyball team was recognized by the United States Marine Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association with the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award.

As a team, the Purple Aces completed the 2022-23 school year with a cumulative GPA of 3.480.  Eight student-athletes hold a cumulative GPA of 3.56 or higher.

“I am very proud of the hours and effort our student-athletes put in every day, not only on the court but also in the classroom,” UE head coach Fernando Morales said.  “UE places such a focus on academics and what our girls are doing in classes while playing Division I volleyball is amazing.  I am so proud of everyone in this team.”

The award was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year and honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or a 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.  In total, 1,333 collegiate and high school volleyball teams were recognized.

IU Swimming and Diving Sends 15 Participants to World Championships

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Fifteen individuals with ties to the Indiana swimming and diving program will compete or coach at the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships beginning Friday (July 14).

Eleven athletes and four coaches will represent IU on the world stage this month in three different disciplines: pool swimming, open-water swimming and diving. IU’s participants will also represent five countries, and 10 Hoosiers will compete or coach for Team USA; six with USA Swimming and four with USA Diving.

Indiana head diving coach Drew Johansen will serve as the head coach for USA Diving as the competition begins Friday. Indiana diving alums and Olympians Andrew Capobianco and Jess Parratto as well as sophomore Maxwell Weinrich are slated to compete over the next week.

Open water swimming also kicks off Friday. Junior Mariah Denigan will represent USA Swimming in the women’s 10K and 5K races. Indiana associate head coach Cory Chitwood will serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. open water swimmers.

Pool swimming will begin next Saturday, July 22. Seven Hoosiers will compete in the pool, while Indiana head swimming coach Ray Looze will once again serve as an assistant coach for Team USA. IU assistant coach Luke Ryan will be a member of the Tunisian Swimming Federation’s coaching staff.

Comprehensive coverage of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships will stream on Peacock.

Below is a breakdown of the Indiana swimming and diving affiliated individuals participating at World Championships, with their discipline, country affiliation and event.

Name Discipline Country Event/Role
Drew Johansen* Diving United States Head Coach
Andrew Capobianco Diving United States 3m
Jess Parratto Diving United States 10m Synchro
Maxwell Weinrich* Diving United States Mixed 10m Synchro
Cory Chitwood* Open Water Swimming United States Assistant Coach
Mariah Denigan* Open Water Swimming United States 5k, 10k
Ray Looze* Swimming United States Assistant Coach
Lilly King Swimming United States 50m Breaststroke, 100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke
Josh Matheny* Swimming United States 100m Breaststroke,

200m Breaststroke
Anna Peplowski* Swimming United States 4x200m Freestyle Relay
Luke Ryan* Swimming Tunisia Assistant Coach
Tomer Frankel* Swimming Israel 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle
Ching Hwee Gan Swimming Singapore 200m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle, 800m Freestyle, 1500m Freestyle
Ahmed Hafnaoui* Swimming Tunisia 400m Freestyle, 800m Freestyle, 1500m Freestyle
Rafael Miroslaw* Swimming Germany 200m Freestyle, Relays

Weekly Death Report

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Weekly Death Report June 12 to June 18, 2023

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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FOOTNOTE:  EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.

“IS IT TRUE” JULY 14, 2024

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We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” provokes honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address rationally and responsibly.
City-County Observer Comment Policy. Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will be tolerated and removed from our site.

We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated. The use of offensive language, or insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.

IS IT TRUE that Mayor Terry recently announced that the State Board Of Accounts is currently conducting a financial audit/review of the books of the outgoing Winnecke administration?  …many taxpayers are looking forward to Mayor Terry the audit results being made public?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville is also facing many hundreds of millions of dollars of additional bond debt because of numerous unfinished big-ticket capital Water and Sewer projects, making needed repairs and improvements to city parks, and repairing and repaving many of our crumbling city streets?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville is also facing many hundreds of millions of dollars of additional bond debt because of numerous unfinished big-ticket capital Water and Sewer projects, making needed repairs and improvements to city parks, and repairing and repaving many of our crumbling city streets?IS IT TRUE that many months ago members of the Evansville City Council agreed to sell the naming rights of 24 city streets to raise 9 million dollars to pay for renovations costs at the Ford Center?

IS IT TRUE that we have been told that not one naming rights to any of the 24 City Streets were sold?  …we wonder where members of the City Council got the 9 million dollars to make needed repairs on the FORD CENTER?

IS IT TRUE that many Evansville taxpayers are extremely puzzled why members of the Evansville City Council decided to give 9 million dollars to E-ERP to help the well-healed Developer pay to build the underground parking garage at 420 Main?

IS IT TRUE that we have also been told that this proposed project may have several financial moving parts concerning this multi-million dollar capital project? …that we look forward to hearing the details concerning the costs of the companion capital projects in Warrick, Posey, and Gibson) counties?
IS IT TRUE that “The Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority” is where E-REP gets its development funds? …that members of the Indiana General Assembly voted to give E-Rep the statutory authority to levy a tax on any project shortfall costs on the property owners in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Gibson, and Posey counties?
IS IT TRUE that free government money always comes with strings attached?
IS IT TRUE what government giveth they can also taketh away?
IS IT TRUE that one of the hardest words for our local politicians to say during a budget hearing is the word “NO”?
IS IT TRUE we wonder when Mayor Terry and members of the City Council will make
public their plans to repair and repave our city streets, make needed repairs to our parks, and find ways to cut the annual million-dollar losses at the Ford Center and make some major cuts to the 2024 budget?

FOOTNOTE: “The City-County Observer does not promote or condone discrimination of any kind including preference based on race, gender identity, or political preference.

The City-County Observer is a strong supporter of law enforcement and first responders.

Our publisher is at home and doing better after he had a freak accident (Traumatic Brain Injury) on January 29, 2024. He’s now receiving extensive Rehab therapy 4 days a week.  He will have to continue relying on Johnny Kincaid and Jay Young, his wife Marilyn, his family members, and friends to help publish the City-County Observer for a while.  We would also like to thank the many CCO readers for their prayers of healing for Ron.
Today’s Readers Poll question is:

 

 

Evansville Regional Economic Partnership CEO Tara Barney To Retire

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Evansville Regional Economic Partnership CEO Tara Barney To Retire

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (July 12, 2023) – After nearly seven years of service in the Evansville Region, and more than two decades as a chamber executive, Tara Barney will retire as CEO of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership, a unified economic development and chamber organization, in 2024.

“It has been an honor of a lifetime to lead the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership and work in an industry I love,” said Barney. “We have evolved E-REP into an essential community partner and are a key enabler in the region’s strategic growth. Perhaps most importantly, we also now have the most talented team we have ever had, with the entire staff and board working together to move the organization forward for the betterment of the entire Evansville region.”

Appointed in March 2018 as President & CEO of the Southwest Indiana Chamber, Barney led the strategic alignment between the Chamber, the Growth Alliance of Greater Evansville and the Economic Development Coalition which merged on April 1, 2021.

“Tara has provided great leadership and has prepared us well for the next phase of E-REP’s mission,” said Curt Begle Chair of E-REP and President of Health, Hygiene & Specialties at Berry Global. “The list of accomplishments Tara has had during her career is too long to list, but she has exemplified what makes the Evansville Region so special through her collaborative and innovative efforts.

Since serving as CEO, Barney has been awarded several prestigious leadership awards including the 2023 Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana and the 2021 Woman of Empowerment Award from the Junior League of Evansville. She has also been twice recognized as one of Indiana’s top 250 most influential business leaders.

Barney said she is looking forward to spending more time with family, especially her two; soon to be three, grandchildren, and expects to stay active in community advancement after she steps down from her position as E-REP CEO.  Barney plans to retire within the next 12 months.

E-REP’s board has established a committee to conduct a nationwide search for Barney’s replacement. The search committee is led by Vice Chair Beth McFadin Higgins of McFadin Higgins and Folz, LLP and Vice Chair Christine Keck with American Water.

“We are forever grateful for all that Tara has accomplished over this tenure. She leaves a legacy which will not be forgotten and will hand over a very successful and effective business advocacy organization to her successor,” said Curt Begle.

About the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership

The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) leads economic development efforts for the Evansville, Indiana region and elevates the overall quality of life through transformational projects, planning, advocacy, and business engagement. Additionally, E-REP supports the attraction, startup, and growth of regional businesses.

 

Braun, Brown introduce bipartisan bill to restore retirement benefits for Delphi Salaried Employees

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Braun, Brown introduce bipartisan bill to restore retirement benefits for Delphi Salaried Employees

WASHINGTON– Today, U.S. Senators Mike Braun and Sherrod Brown led the introduction of the Susan Muffley Act, bipartisan legislation to restore retirement benefits to over 20,000 Delphi Salaried Retirees. When General Motors filed for bankruptcy during the Great Recession, the U.S. Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) assumed responsibility for the terminated benefits but could not pay an individual more than a statutory maximum benefit. Therefore, retirees experienced significant losses to their benefits, affecting 20,000 Delphi Salaried Retirees, including more than 4,000 retirees in Indiana and 5,000 retirees in Ohio.

“Over 20,000 Delphi salaried retirees, including 4,000 Hoosiers, lost their retirement benefits at no fault of their own. This bipartisan legislation is a long overdue effort that would restore pensions rightfully earned by these American workers,” said Sen. Braun.

“After years of work by workers and retirees in Ohio and Michigan, it’s past time to restore the full benefits of the Delphi Salaried Retirees,” said Sen. Brown. “I’ll keep working with members of both parties and the White House to get results for these retirees.”

This legislation—supported by Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives—would restore the terminated pensions, making the retirees whole. This bill would make up the difference between the pension benefits earned by Delphi Salaried Retirees and what they received following the GM bankruptcy in 2009. This means beneficiaries who have already begun receiving benefits will receive a lump sum payment of the difference between what was actually paid by PBGC and what would have been paid without the limitations, plus interest. Retirees may pay income taxes on this lump sum over three years to ease the tax burden. All beneficiaries will receive their full earned benefit amount moving forward.

In addition to Braun and Brown, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Todd Young (R-IN), Bob Casey (D-PA), and John Fetterman (D-PA) will introduce the legislation in the Senate. U.S. Representatives Dan Kilde (D-MI-8) and Mike Turner (R-OH-10) introduced the legislation in the House of Representatives.

For over a decade, the Delphi Salaried Retirees have been fighting to restore their benefits. In September 2009, the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association (DSRA) filed a lawsuit against the PBGC to restore their pension benefits. After losing decisions at lower courts, the DSRA petitioned to take their case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear the case in January 2022. Congressional action is now the only option for restoring their pensions.

The legislation is named after Susan Muffley, who was part of the DSRA’s core leadership in the effort to restore their pensions. Her husband, David, worked at Delphi as an electronics technician for 31 years, but lost the full value of his pension in 2009. Despite health problems, Susan avoided seeing her doctor given her family’s financial constraints due to losing their pension. She was ultimately diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away on August 9, 2012.

There are over 20,000 affected Delphi retirees across the country, including:

Michigan: 5,859

Ohio: 5,181

Indiana: 4,044

New York: 2,337

Florida: 801

Texas: 564

Alabama: 564

Wisconsin: 405

Mississippi: 387

Arizona: 198

North Carolina: 156

Tennessee: 156

California: 153

South Carolina: 147

Georgia: 141

Pennsylvania: 117

Other States: 672

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