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Chuck Bailey III signs with UE men’s basketball

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Bailey is a highly-touted recruit from Michigan

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Year two for University of Evansville head men’s basketball coach David Ragland has already gotten off to a big start as the program announced the signing of Chuck Bailey III to a National Letter of Intent to join the Purple Aces for the 2023-24 season.

The highly-touted commit is a native of Hamtramck, Michigan and was rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN Scout Grade and a three-star player by 247Sports.  ESPN had Bailey ranked as the #3 player from Michigan, 22nd in the Midwest region and 35th nationally at his position.

“We are excited to officially welcome Chuck and his family to our UE family,” Ragland said.  “Chuck exemplifies what we are looking for in a UE student-athlete.  He is an extremely talented player that is even a better person.”

“Chuck offensively is able to score at all 3 levels.  He also has the ability to dribble, pass and shoot which makes him an efficient decision maker,” Ragland continued.  “We look forward to working with Chuck to ensure he continues to excel academically, socially and athletically.  His best days in the classroom and on the court are ahead of him and we can’t wait for our Aces fans to get to know him.”

Bailey, a 6-foot-5 combo guard, played for Hamtramck High School (Mich.) as a senior in 2022-23.  He was named a 3rd Team All-State and 1st Team All-Area player by Detroit News.  As a senior, he recorded 21 points and 7 rebounds per game.

Vincennes University appoints Jaci Lederman as Executive Director of IT and CIO

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VINCENNES, Ind., April 20, 2023 – Vincennes University announces the appointment of Jaci Lederman as its new Executive Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, effective May 1. She was selected from a pool of more than 50 applicants and is taking over the position from Bob Wisler.

VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, “I am excited to welcome Jaci to her new role at VU. Jaci’s vast experience and knowledge in IT as both a leader and a faculty member make her an outstanding choice for this role. I am confident she will continue to build on our existing strengths and, through her leadership of our IT unit, enhance student learning and success and help VU continue to improve as an institution.”

Lederman has a deep connection to VU. Her impressive career at the University spans more than a decade. Lederman is a VU alumna who started in 2011 as a faculty member in the Information Technology Department, eventually achieving the rank of professor, and serving as department chair for more than five years.

For the past 14 months, Lederman has served as the Director of Enterprise Applications. She has helped lead the University’s IT modernization and digital transformation and also has been instrumental in launching multiple software tools, the new VU website, and other projects.

“Building strong relationships with stakeholders is crucial for driving successful digital transformation within any organization,” Lederman said. “As CIO, I will prioritize continued relationship building between the Information Technology Department and university stakeholders to create a culture of collaboration and trust that will enable the successful implementation of digital transformation initiatives.”

Her previous IT leadership roles in Southwest Indiana, coupled with her extensive project management experience, make her the ideal appointee for this position.

As she prepares to assume her new responsibilities, Lederman shared her thoughts, saying, “I am honored to be appointed as VU’s CIO and Executive Director of Information Technology. I look forward to working with President Johnson, the Executive Team, and my colleagues on the ITEX to build on VU’s technology strengths and support our mission of providing an excellent educational experience for our students.”

Her qualifications include a range of credentials, including IT, cybersecurity, and project management certifications, a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in IT Management from Western Governors University, a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Phoenix, and an Associate of Science in Computer Programming from VU.

VU invites everyone to join in congratulating Lederman on her appointment and welcoming her to her new post at VU.

UE men’s basketball adds Ben Humrichous

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Transfer joins UE program from Huntington University

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A busy offseason for the University of Evansville men’s basketball team and head coach David Ragland continued on Thursday as the program announced the addition of Ben Humrichous.

Humrichous, a 6-foot-8 guard/forward, joins the Purple Aces program from Huntington University.  As a junior in 2022-23, he averaged 12.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

“I am excited to announce another huge addition to our UE family. Our goal during this offseason has been to add skill, shooting and size to our current roster,” Ragland stated.  “We have found all three in Ben Humrichous. He has the ability to shoot the 3-ball with range, put the ball on the deck to create for himself and his teammates, as well as post up against smaller defenders.”

“Ben, similar to the addition of Cameron Haffner, brings us much desired collegiate experience to our roster,” Ragland added.  “Ben is also another high character young man who has achieved in the classroom, his communities and on the court.  Aces fans will enjoy getting to know Ben as a person and cheering for him on the court.”

Last season, Humrichous shot 46.6% from the field and 35.8% from long range.  His durability was evident as he played over 32 minutes per game.  His numbers as a sophomore in 2021-22 checked in at 11.9 points and 5.9 caroms per contest.

The native of Tipton, Ind. earned Indiana All-State Honorable Mention accolades in 2020 with Tipton High School.

EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA

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EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA On Monday, April 24th, 2023 At 4:00 p.m.  Room 307, Civic Center Complex

  1. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
  1. An executive session will be held prior to the open session.
  1. The executive session is closed as provided by:
  1. I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(5): To receive information about and interview prospective employees.
  2. I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(6)(A): With respect to any individual over whom the governing body has jurisdiction to receive information concerning the individual’s alleged misconduct.
  3. I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(9): To discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employees.  This subdivision does not apply to a discussion of the salary, compensation, or benefits of employees during a budget process.
  1. OPEN SESSION:
  1. CALL TO ORDER:
  1. ACKNOWLEDGE GUESTS:
  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
    1. April 10th, 2023 (Cook, Sutton)
  1. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS:
  1. PROBATIONARY OFFICER UPDATE:
    1. Officers in the Field Training Program
    2. Officers in the Southwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy
  1. NEW DISCIPLINE:
    1. 23-PO-10 – Officer Nickolaus Henderson, Badge Number 1134 – 3 Day Suspension (Not Appealed). 
  1. APPLICANTS:
    1. 22-112
    2. 22-180
    3. 23-025
    4. 23-015
    5. 23-023
    6. 23-017
  1. RETIREMENTS:
    1. Sergeant John Phillip Evans, Badge Number 5174, retiring effective April 21st, 2023 after serving 34 years, 4 months, and 20 days. 
  1. REMINDERS:  
    1. The next scheduled meeting is Monday, May 8th, 2023 at 4:00pm.
  1. ADJOURNMENT:

Vincennes University offers camps and enrichment programs for all

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VINCENNES, Ind., April 20, 2023 – Vincennes University is excited about the return of its summer camps and community enrichment activities after they were canceled or limited last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The University’s summer events cater to students of all ages and backgrounds, providing opportunities for personal growth and learning.

VU offers a variety of summer programs, including sports camps, STEM academies, surveying technology camps, science lab days, and more. These extraordinary events provide possibilities for all and often reach underserved populations.

“We believe that education and personal growth should be available to everyone, and that’s why we offer a diverse range of summer camps and community events,” VU Director of University Events and Special Projects Laura Carie said. “Our goal is to provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, grow, and connect with others in our community.”

Scarlett Hopkins of Fort Branch was among the students who spent a week living on the Vincennes Campus and experiencing the flavor of college life during the 2022 STEM Summer Academy. Hopkins and other campers participated in unique activities and hands-on projects like crafting a mechanical hand using everyday materials and conducting field studies of insect population diversity. 

“It’s a really good opportunity and once-in-a-lifetime experience that every teenager should take,” Hopkins said. “You won’t regret it. I was shy and scared at first. After experiencing how the camp was and how accepting everyone was it made me feel a lot better. Even better it helped me get some college credits. You get to learn so much about careers, create projects, and interact with people from either the area or hours away. You’ll cry when you leave with the best memories ever. So don’t hesitate. Sign up, experience it, and have fun!”

VU camps and programs offer exciting activities like creating and editing original music during a music production course, programming a collaborative robot or ‘cobot’ to stack candies, or practicing medical procedures on a simulation manikin.

VU summer events are a staple in Knox County and beyond, bringing people together and stimulating the local economy. 

City of Vincennes Mayor Joe Yochum emphasized the positive impact of the events on the community, stating that they “provide first-class learning opportunities and bring people together of all ages and stages.”

VU has a long-standing reputation for its dedication to providing affordable and high-quality education to students from all backgrounds. The events provide avenues for the University to showcase its commitment to serving others and communities throughout Indiana. They are perfect avenues to engage with VU students, faculty, staff, and future Trailblazers.

According to VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson, “Vincennes University is committed to serving the community, and our summer camps and community events are just one way we can give back. We believe that education is a powerful tool, and we’re proud to offer these programs to members of the community.”

VU’s summer programs are open at no cost or low cost. Information about various camps and academies is on the University’s website at WWW.VINU.EDU/SUMMER-CAMPS.

Summer camps and enrichment programs are more important than ever as people distance themselves further from the pandemic. The University hopes these events will provide chances of a lifetime for self-development and community connection.

Explore VU’s camps and enrichment programs by clicking HERE

Trailblazers sign HBCA All-Star MVP Logan Webb

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VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer basketball team picked up another big signing Thursday morning with the addition of six-foot two Linton product Logan Webb.

“We’re just happy to have him,” VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin said. “He’s a good young man. He’s a local guy, Indiana guy. We always love to get those guys. They have to be guys that can come in and help the program. We watched him during the season, watched him practice and had him over here on a visit.”

“I think he brings the type of attitude and work ethic that we want and like,” Franklin added. “He’s the kind of guy off the court and in the classroom that we like and he brings a weapon of being able to shoot the ball. He’s a guy that is used to winning and he has a little bit of size and strength to him, which is important to making that transition to college basketball. At the end of the day, those are the things that led us to him. I think he was attracted to what we do and the opportunity it provided to him to show and develop and work better and show the world that he can play at the next level.”

Webb comes to VU after leading the Linton-Stockton Miners to the IHSAA Class 2A State Championship game this past season under Head Coach and VU’s own Joey Hart.

Webb helped the Miners reach the State Championship game after an impressive 28-point performance, including five made threes against Brownstown Central in the Semi-State Finals in March.

Webb averaged 16.7 points, four rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game for Linton this past season, including 67 three-point makes as a senior as the Miners finished the season with a very impressive 29-2 record overall, setting a new school record for wins in a season.

Webb recently played in the Hoosier Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game at North Daviess High School, in which he led his team with 26 points, all in the second half, including eight made threes and being named the Most Valuable Player of the game.

Webb was also a member of the Linton Miners football team which won the school’s first Sectional and Regional Championships since moving up to Class 2A this past fall.

“We can look at all of the traits that you want, but we really don’t know about a guy until he comes in,” Franklin said. “Does he fit, is he a guy that can make it here, does he want what we do. We are kind of unique in how we go about our work. We’re pretty clear on that. So, not everybody fits that and we think he does those things but where it ends up playing, who knows. You get 15 quality players in here and they go to work every day and you see who improves and who fits in and that process never ends.”

“We’ll throw him into the mix with all of these guys,” Franklin added. “He’s been around here a little bit. He’s met our guys and I think he’d fit in. So we’ll see how quickly he can adapt. Guarding guys at this level is a whole different thing. Getting your shot off at this level is a whole different thing and you never know how fast guys adapt to that until they are in here and going at it every day.”

“We didn’t know if Colton Sandage, when he came in here, was going to play his freshman year,” Franklin said. “As late as mid-October his freshman year we were still thinking about redshirting him. But by the end, he was a key component on a National Championship team. You just don’t know. You throw them in there and you put good people in there and you go to work every day and see what happens and Logan is one of those guys.”

Webb joins Tennessee 3A Mr. Basketball Damarien Yates and Henderson County point guard Gerard Thomas in the 2023 VU Men’s Basketball recruiting class to go along with seven returning players from last year’s squad.

The Trailblazers are coming off a big bounce back season where VU finished with a record of 30-6, VU’s 19th 30-win season in program history and reached the Quarterfinals of the NJCAA National Championship tournament.

“We’ve just got to get guys that fit us,” Franklin said. “We want to get the best players possible that fit us. We don’t want anybody that doesn’t fit us, so we are being really picky with that. If we end up with two or three older guys that have been through some things and fit, that would be great. If they are not, if it ends up being just younger guys, great.”

“Positionally, we are always looking to get better and better players at each spot but right now we’ve got some guys at every position,” Franklin added. “We probably need another five at some point, but we’ve got guys that can play inside and get things done already. But if you are looking at it, we probably need another five or another guard that’s older that has some pop, but who knows. We are going to get guys that can play that fit us and we’ve got five more spots left to fill with guys like that. As long as we stay true to who we are, I think we’ll be fine.”

The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to welcome Logan Webb to the 2023 recruiting class and wishes him well as he finishes his senior year of high school.

Two Evansville Troopers receive Awards at Annual Award Ceremony

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Earlier today, Indiana State Police held its annual awards ceremony in Indianapolis. Two troopers from Evansville were among those that received awards. Trooper Tanner Hurley received the 2022 Trooper of the District Award and Senior Trooper Ross Rafferty received a Lifesaving Award.

Trooper Tanner Hurley – 2022 Trooper of the District Award

Trooper Tanner Hurley is the recipient of the 2022 Trooper of the District Award at the Evansville District. Hurley is a four-year veteran of the Indiana State Police and primarily works the late shift in Knox and Gibson Counties. Although Trooper Hurley had 91 days off the road in 2022 due to training, honor guard details, and other special assignments, he still arrested 120 criminal defendants on 207 criminal charges with 54 of those being felonies. He also initiated over 1,600 traffic stops resulting in 59 impaired drivers being removed from our highways. Trooper Hurley is also a drug recognition expert (DRE) and is trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs. “Trooper Hurley strives to make our roadways and communities safe,” said Lieutenant Brian Bailey, Commander of the Evansville District. It is worth noting, Trooper Hurley was also the recipient of this award last year.

Senior Trooper Ross Rafferty – Lifesaving Award

On June 8, 2022, Indiana State Police arrived at an Evansville apartment to conduct a drug investigation and to execute an arrest warrant for a female, but no one inside would open the door. Eventually, troopers were able to obtain a search warrant and entered the apartment. Troopers believed the female entered the crawlspace from a hole in the floor they discovered in the bathroom. Evansville Police assisted with a pole camera and other technology, but they were not able to locate the female. Evansville Fire Department arrived and removed additional exterior vents, but they were unsuccessful too. Troopers were concerned the female suspect may be experiencing a narcotic overdose. Trooper Rafferty entered the crawlspace through the bathroom floor and belly crawled through multiple sections of the crawlspace following the cobweb disturbance until the female was located. The female was found to be lethargic, conscious, but confused and slow to respond to questions. She eventually began to go into a full body seizure. Trooper Rafferty removed dangerous debris immediately surrounding the suspect and provided medical support. The suspect’s condition went back and forth from unconscious to violent full body seizures during the extrication. Evansville Fire Department cut a large hole in the floor of an apartment several units down from the original apartment to create a rescue portal. Once EFD created access through the floor, Trooper Rafferty assisted in the confined space extrication by securing the suspect on a backboard and helping with dragging and lifting her out of the crawlspace. The suspect regained consciousness during the final moments of the extrication. She was transported to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital and cleared before being taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail. “Their persistence and dedication lead to not only the criminal apprehension of a wanted felon but more importantly the preservation of her life,” said Lieutenant Brian Bailey, Evansville District Commander.

BASEBALL ACES TO OPEN ANOTHER IMPORTANT MVC SERIES AT MURRAY STATE ON SATURDAY

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team will travel to Murray, Kentucky this weekend for an important Missouri Valley Conference series against conference newcomer Murray State at Johnny Reagan Field.

Due to heavy rain in the forecast for Friday, the series’ schedule has changed, and the series will now begin Saturday at 2 p.m. with a single game.  The two teams will then battle in a Sunday doubleheader set for 12 p.m.  All three games of the series can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and the Old National Bank/Purple Aces Sports Network from Learfield.

Evansville will enter this weekend’s series at 21-15 overall and 6-6 in the MVC after Tuesday night’s 10-8 win over Western Kentucky.  The Purple Aces are currently a game back of Murray State in the MVC standings, sitting in fifth place overall.  This weekend could have huge implications for the upcoming MVC Tournament in May, as only the top eight teams will advance, with the top four teams earning a first-day bye and automatically advancing to the six-team, double-elimination portion of the tournament bracket.  Teams seeded fifth-through-eighth will meet on the first day of the tournament in single-elimination action.

On Tuesday night, senior outfielder Mark Shallenberger hit his third home run in four games since returning from injury last weekend at Southern Illinois.  Despite not seeing live pitching since February 21, Shallenberger has hit .267 over the last four games with a double, three home runs and eight RBI.  He has slugged .933 and posted a .421 on-base percentage, while not striking out in 19 trips to the plate.

Graduate outfielder Eric Roberts has been one of UE’s hottest hitters of late, as he will ride a 10-game hitting streak into Saturday’s series opener.  Roberts enters this weekend’s action leading the MVC in both home runs (14) and RBI (42), and on Tuesday night, he was called upon to close out the game on the mound, tossing a scoreless ninth inning to record his first save of the season.  Overall, Roberts is hitting .303 this season, to rank second on the team in hitting behind fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug and his .360 team-leading batting average.

Murray State will bring a 20-18 overall record and 7-5 conference mark into this weekend’s series after splitting a pair of mid-week games this week against Alabama A&M (Won, 10-0) and UT Martin (Lost, 7-6).  The Racers currently lead the MVC in scoring, with 271 runs scored this year.  Junior catcher Ethan Krizen currently leads Murray State with a .355 average, while sophomore outfielder Dustin Mercer is not far behind with a .350 mark.  Mercer also leads the Racers in doubles (10), home runs (nine) and runs scored (46).

This weekend’s series will mark the first meetings between UE and Murray State as MVC foes on the diamond.  The two schools have a long history of meeting in mid-week action, as Evansville leads the all-time series, 41-21, dating back to the 1948 season.  Murray State took the only meeting over UE last year, 3-2, in Evansville, as the Racers scored three runs in the fourth inning to pick up the road victory.

Evansville is expected to send junior RHP Nick Smith (3-3, 4.53 ERA) to the mound in Saturday’s series opener.

Eagles host Panthers for three-game set

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball continues a five-game homestand this weekend when it hosts Eastern Illinois University for an Ohio Valley Conference three-game series at the USI Baseball Field. First pitch Friday and West Side Nut Club Night is slated for 6 p.m.; continues Saturday at 2 p.m.; and concludes Sunday at noon. 
 
Links to follow all of the action during the homestand can be found on the Eagles’ baseball schedule at USIScreamingEagles.com. The final game of the five-game homestand is April 25 when USI hosts a non-conference match-up with McKendree University at 6 p.m.   
 
Weekend Schedule Note: With the forecast of rains around the USI-area this weekend, fans can track any weather-related schedule changes on Twitter (@USIAthletics), Facebook (USI Athletics), and USIScreamingEagles.com.
 
USI Baseball Notes:
Eagles cruise through Mighty Oaks: The USI Screaming Eagles built an early 13-0 lead before cruising to a 15-6 win over Oakland City to open this week’s action. Junior right-hander Trent Robinson picked up his first win of the season, throwing four scoreless innings and striking out five. Senior utility player Lucas McNew led the Eagles at the plate by going four-for-five with three runs scored and two RBIs.
 
Eagles win two in a row: The Eagles have won their last two games, marking the first time the squad has won two in a row since March 14 when USI had won the last game of the Oakland University series and defeat Saint Louis University on the road. USI is looking to win three-straight for the first time this season on Friday.
 
Power lift versus OCU: Junior first baseman/designated hitter Tucker Ebest and junior first baseman/outfielder Jack Ellis provided the power versus OCU with a home run each. Ebest had a third inning two-run blast, while Ellis had a three-run shot in the fourth.
 
Stoh heating up: Junior catcher Parker Stroh has heated up at the plate over the last five games (making two starts), hitting .500 (3-6) with two runs scored and four RBIs.
 
Ebest is the best over the last 10: Junior designated hitter/first baseman Tucker Ebest has been the best at the plate over the last 10 games, hitting .433 with three home runs and six RBIs. Junior outfielder Gavin McLarty is close behind with a .391 mark and eight RBIs.    
 
Leading hitters: Sophomore outfielder Drew Taylor leads USI this season with a .346 batting average (18-52). Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest follows with a .304 average (35-115) and has a team-best 31 RBIs and seven home runs. 
 
McNew climbing the USI All-Time charts: Senior catcher/infielder Lucas McNew is tied for fifth all-time at USI in home runs (22); tied for fifth in RBIs (151) and tied for seventh in doubles (47).
 
USI vs. EIU: The series between USI and EIU tilts toward the Panthers, who hold an 18-5 series margin. EIU has won the last four meetings, taking the last meeting in 2002, 7-3, at USI. The last time the Eagles were victorious over the Panthers was in 1986 when USI won the first half of a doubleheader, 3-1. 
 
EIU this spring: EIU is 21-13 overall in the 2023, 3-6 in the OVC, and has won four-straight games after posting a 5-0 win over St. Xavier University Wednesday at home.

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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

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