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Senator Braun, Ernst and Grassley introduce DEFINE WOTUS Act

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Senator Mike Braun, Senator Joni Ernst, and Senator Chuck Grassley have introduced the Define WOTUS Act, which will codify a congressionally mandated definition of what constitutes WOTUS, or Waters of the United States. If passed, the bill would reassert Congressional responsibility to define this important term for farmers. The definition in the Define WOTUS Act also makes substantial improvements over various administrative attempts to define the term by clearly outlining what is, and is not, a federally regulated waterway.

It is time that Congress steps up to define WOTUS and end the regulatory whiplash.

“Regulations for what falls under ‘Waters of the U.S.’ have ping-ponged back and forth for years,” said Senator Braun. “Farmers and families need a reasonable, practical definition for WOTUS, and that’s why I’m introducing the Define WOTUS Act with my colleagues today.”

“Iowa farmers, landowners and developers care about the quality and health of their land, but multiple rules changes over the past several years have led to uncertainty and confusion. It’s time to put a stop to federal bureaucrats’ heavy-handed approach and create a clear, commonsense definition of WOTUS,” Grassley said.

“Vague and expanded regulations allow the Biden administration to tell Iowans what they can and can’t do on their own land. As over 46,000 Iowa small business owners brace for the impact of Biden’s WOTUS rule, I’m fighting to clarify what is and, most importantly, what is not a water of the U.S.,” said Senator Ernst.

The bill differs from EPA’s regulations under the Biden, Trump, and Obama Administrations in several important ways:

  • Wetlands: Unlike previous definitions, the bill restricts federal authority to wetlands that “abut.”
  • Ephemeral Waters: The bill restricts WOTUS to streams that flow at least 185 days a year—a common recommendation from agriculture stakeholders.
  • Exclusions: The bill includes more exclusions than previous rule—including an exclusion for snowpack melt requested by agriculture stakeholders as well as a new exclusion for drain tiling as a subsurface drainage system.
  • Beyond Visual Inspection: The bill also restricts waters that require more than a visual inspection to determine their federal status as not WOTUS. This is an important mechanism requested by many stakeholders to ensure that the definition is as predictable and uniformly implemented as possible.

BACKGROUND:

  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) derive their authority to regulate waters of the United States (WOTUS) from the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. While the term “WOTUS” defines the scope of EPA’s jurisdiction (including multiple permitting programs, water quality standards, and enforcement mechanisms), the term was not clearly defined in statute—and still isn’t five decades later.
  • Since the 2006 Supreme Court case Rapanos v. United States, WOTUS has been interpreted to include any waters with a “significant nexus” to navigable-in-fact waters, determined on a case-by-case basis. This case-by-case test can lead to contradicting determinations for the same tract of land by two bureaucrats from EPA. The post-Rapanos interpretation of WOTUS has been detrimental for American farmers and ranchers.

Biden Administration Rulemaking: On December 30, 2022, EPA announced its Biden-era WOTUS rule. President Biden says his rule leans on a “pre-2015” interpretation of WOTUS and, therefore, should be exempt from the critiques levied against the Obama-era Clean Water Rule. However, the same fundamental concerns that led stakeholders to oppose the Clean Water rule (e.g., regulatory ambiguity under the “significant nexus” test, a reliance on case-by-case analysis, and regulation of ephemeral and intermittent flows) existed before the Obama Administration and persist under the Biden Administration.

Pending Supreme Court Decision: The Supreme Court is currently considering a case, Sackett v. EPA, which may strike down the “significant nexus” test, an underpinning of the Biden WOTUS rule. It is time that Congress steps up to define WOTUS and end the regulatory whiplash.

THUNDERBOLTS RALLY FOR 4-3 OVERTIME WIN IN BIRMINGHAM 

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Pelham, Ala.:  With potential home-ice playoff implications on the line, the Thunderbolts came through with a clutch performance by coming back in the third period to force overtime, where they defeated the Birmingham Bulls 4-3 on Thursday night in Pelham.  The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Saturday, April 1st  against the Knoxville Ice Bears at 7:00pm CT.  For tickets, call (812)422-BOLT (2658), go to EvansvilleThunderbolts.com, or visit the Ford Center Ticket Office.

Evansville struck first as Matthew Hobbs cashed in on a net-front pass from Jeremy Masella on the power play to make it 1-0, also assisted by Conner Jean at 6:23.  The Bulls tied the game back up as Michael Gillespie scored at 18:22, before Gillespie put the Bulls ahead for the first time, 2-1 with another goal 4:29 into the second period.  Down 2-1 in the third period, another power play goal from Masella at 6:54 tied the game from Matt Dorsey and Jean.  At 12:55, Evansville took their second lead of the game as Cameron Cook scored from Aaron Huffnagle and Tanner Butler on the power play to make it a 3-2 Thunderbolts lead.  Birmingham managed to tie the game once again as Jake Pappalardo scored at 17:05, forcing overtime.  At 2:15 of overtime, Cook became the overtime hero with his second goal of the game, scoring on a rebound from Huffnagle and Felix Sasser to lead the Thunderbolts to a much-needed 4-3 comeback victory.

Cook scored two goals, Masella tallied a goal and assist, and Hobbs finished with one goal.  Huffnagle and Jean each notched a pair of assists, while Trevor Gorsuch stopped 24 of 27 shots for his 15th win of the season.  Tonight was the first time all season, and the first time since 1/1/22 at Peoria, that the Thunderbolts scored three power play goals in a single game.  The Thunderbolts remain in 5th place in the SPHL standings but have closed the distance behind 4th-Place Roanoke to .014 win percentage, at which a finish in 4th place or higher would secure home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs next month.  Roanoke plays the 1st-Place Peoria Rivermen this Friday and Saturday, and any losses will help further bridge the gap that Evansville trails.  The Thunderbolts and Bulls meet again on Friday, April 7th at Ford Center.

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Braun leads GOP senators in the bill to prevent IRS from being weaponized

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Braun leads GOP senators in the bill to prevent IRS from being weaponized

Senators Braun, Rick Scott, Young, Romney, Capito, Moran, and Risch are leading the bill to protect Americans from being targeted by the IRS for ideological reasons

WASHINGTON — Senator Mike Braun and Senators Rick Scott, Young, Romney, Capito, Moran, and Risch today introduced a bill to prevent the IRS from being used as a political weapon against conservative non-profit groups.

From 2010 to 2012, the Obama IRS spent over two years systematically targeting conservative tax-exempt groups. The Trump administration released a final rule in May 2020 that prevented the IRS from targeting certain tax-exempt groups based on their political beliefs.

The Don’t Weaponize the IRS Act codifies the Trump rule that protects groups regardless of their political ideology or beliefs and prevents the IRS from doxing donors to these groups.

The bill’s reintroduction comes as the IRS’s impartiality is being questioned for visiting the home of journalist Matt Taibbi – whose reporting revealed collaboration between the federal government and social media companies such as Twitter to censor inconvenient information and counter-narrative news stories – while he was testifying at the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.

Removing the requirement to report the names and addresses of donors helps protect taxpayers’ First Amendment rights: such information is not needed for tax administration purposes.

“We saw during the Obama years how the IRS is used as a political weapon to target dissenters, and now President Biden has supercharged the IRS with an extra $80 billion dollars. This bill will prevent the IRS from being weaponized against Americans for ideological reasons.” – Senator Mike Braun

“We need to protect the First Amendment rights of all Americans,” said Senator Young. “Our bill will help ensure the IRS cannot target individuals based on their political beliefs.”

“The IRS should never expose taxpayers’ private information because of their political ideology. The Don’t Weaponize the IRS Act will prevent the Biden administration’s IRS agents from targeting Americans regardless of their political leanings.” – Senator Risch

“Too often over the last decade, the IRS has been used for political means. This legislation will prevent the IRS from targeting Americans—because of their presumed political or religious beliefs—in the future.” – Senator Romney

“The IRS should do its work impartially and without political bias,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation will help prevent the IRS from unfairly targeting groups with conservative beliefs, especially in light of the Biden administration’s plan to spend billions of dollars to hire thousands of additional IRS employees.”

2023 Senior Seminar Exhibition on display through April 28

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The 2023 University of Southern Indiana Senior Seminar Exhibition is on display now through Friday, April 28 at the McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries, located in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center on campus. This exhibition features the creative work of 29 studio art, graphic design, interactive media and illustration students. 

The senior art and design seminars are capstone courses for Art and Art Education majors and combine discussion of current aesthetics issues in the visual arts with practical knowledge in career or graduate school preparation. The capstone courses are also an evaluation of students’ artistic growth and potential. This group exhibit is the culmination of these courses and a high point in the art majors’ careers at USI. 

Dr. Sara Christensen Blair, Chair of Art and Design and Professor of Art, organized and curated this year’s exhibition. Student participants in the show include Alicja Ackermann, Juliana Amit, Brianna Beard, Candice Beck, Hope Burdette, Lily Carr, Jess Casey, Ethan Douglass, Grace Estel, Matthew Fithian, Paris Fithian, Lance Gardner, Emily Geisler, Carlin Huang, Kara Jenson, Rachel Kercher, Addison Kurtz, Viktoriia Mayatska, Olivia Miller, Conner Perry, Zachary Robb, William Rodenberg, Katie Roy, Bralyn Shripka, Elizabeth Sinning, Kaitlyn Statz, Ryan Titzer, Olivia Wallhauser and Hannah Weesner. 

A reception for the exhibition will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 16. For more information, visit the Galleries webpage. 

The MAC/Pace Galleries are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Our Plan Will Truly Help “Save Our Park” And Create A Lasting Legacy

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Over the past 20 years, the “Save Our Park” crusade has been used to dissuade improvements to Wesselman Park, ranging from new softball fields to indoor tennis courts. Those opposed have demonstrated a tremendous passion to protect the 200-acre nature preserve now known as Wesselman Woods, which is located on the far north end of the Park.

The history of the Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve (WWNP) is fascinating, but also a good lesson to guide our actions going forward. When the McCallister and then the Sherwood Family owned the land, intentions were for their private use as well as allowing rail lines to be constructed through the forest. 

We should all agree that the actions of the State of Indiana and the City of Evansville is what truly “saved the park” and not only designated the old-growth forest as a protected nature preserve but created a broader area for park and recreation purposes.

Unfortunately, the park has fallen into disrepair and is in desperate need of an upgrade. It’s ironic that the only improvements have been inside the nature preserve with the new playscape, while the surrounding park has lost amenities such as the batting cages and old par 3 courses.

Since taking over the Department of Park & Recreation, my primary goal has been to invest in and improve our existing parks while bringing forth new amenities that will bring residents back outdoors.

In the Fall of 2021, I was introduced to a new sport called pickleball, by a passionate group of residents that pleaded for outdoor courts in Evansville. I quickly learned that pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country, with leagues and recreational play happening in schools, gyms, church basements, and community centers. In our area, there is a staggering average of 60,000+ residents playing pickleball every year and the age of players ranges from young to old.

Following numerous meetings and discussions with stakeholders, the idea of building pickleball courts next to the existing tennis courts in Wesselman Park was developed. Put simply, there is a synergy in this location for expanded local (free) play, recreational and competitive leagues, youth programming, camps, tournaments, and management of new courts in the vacant green space that once was the location of softball fields.

Over the past year, the City has met with the Wesselman Nature Society, the Good Samaritan  Home, Wesselman Neighborhood Association, the YMCA, the Convention & Visits Bureau, the Evansville Pickleball Outdoor Courts (EPOC) and conducted public meetings for the Parks Department’s 5-year Master Plan. Significant planning, time and resources have gone into the current pickleball project, but there is a difference over previous proposals for Wesselman Park. An overall plan now exists for Wesselman + Roberts Park that includes a new destination playground that is fully accessible, basketball, and sand volleyball courts, a parkour course, dedicated trails for pedestrians, and a new main entrance off of Boeke Road.

The concerns over traffic congestion impacts to wildlife, noise, and loss of green space have all been addressed in the plan that can be found at

evansville.in.gov/wesselmanmasterplan. We all recognize the importance of the WWNP and have sought the guidance of the professional staff at Wesselman Woods.

It is also important to note that the proposed pickleball courts have been discussed and debated in an exhaustive number of public meetings over the past year, with votes of approval from the Parks Board of Commissioners and funding by the City Council. 

Even so, a common suggestion is to simply move the pickleball courts to the former Roberts Stadium location. 

When Roberts was demolished, land use experts agreed that the best use for the property would be green space. Mayor Winnecke continues to agree, and the plan is to develop the area into festival grounds with a pavilion, trails, more shelters and a lake next to the Lloyd Expressway. An important piece of the overall plan is to reforest the old par 3 courses so that it will over time become part of the WWNP. While the opposition to any change is loud, we should not lose sight of the overall plan that will add 50+ acres of new green space and forest to the nature preserve. Combined with all the other park improvements including pickleball, our plan will truly help “save our park” and create a lasting legacy for future generations.

Steve Schaefer

Deputy Mayor / Interim Parks Director

FOOTNOTE:  The City-County Observer posted this  “Letter To The Editor” without bias or editing.

Vincennes University student finishes first in state career development competition

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INDIANAPOLIS, March 30, 2023 – A student in the award-winning Vincennes University Jobs for America’s Graduates College Success Program dominated a state competition at the annual JAG Indiana State Career Development Conference.

VU Homeland Security and Public Safety major Mason Caudill of North Judson, Indiana, won first place in the College Success Program category and had the privilege of meeting Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb. Competitors delivered presentations explaining their career pathways and shared the benefits of participating in the JAG College Success Program on March 17.

Caudill also placed first in the College Success Program division in 2021.

According to Caudill,” It was an honor to be able to compete in the state JAG CDC. It feels awesome to know that I am a two-time champion of this event. It was great to meet Governor Holcomb. I enjoyed sharing my story about how the VU JAG College Success Program has helped me during my college career.”

JAG is a state-based, national organization committed to supporting young people of great promise and focuses on helping them reach economic and academic success.

VU JAG College Program Manager Shaun Brames was elated with Caudill’s first-place finish and achievements.

“We are so proud of Mason for the effort that he has put into being a two-time winner at the JAG State Career Development Conference,” Brames said. “We are even more proud of all the work he has put into his studies at Vincennes University these past four years.”

Caudill will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security and Public Safety from VU in April.

“I really want to thank Shaun Brames for all the help he has given me with homework help and career planning over the past four years and for always being there for me,” Caudill said.

The VU JAG College Success Program was awarded a National Educational Leadership Award in 2020 in recognition of the extraordinary leadership and support VU contributes to America’s most successful program in helping young, promising students learn in-demand employability skills, pursue postsecondary education, and enjoy career advancement opportunities.

VU hosts a JAG Summer Academy annually for nearly 200 high school students on the Vincennes Campus. The weeklong immersive experience focuses on college survival strategies, college readiness, and leadership development activities. It also highlights the outstanding opportunities offered at VU.

An old man and the sea

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An old man and the sea

JOBSON’S COVE, Bermuda—The waves break, one after another, over my head and shoulders as I stroke and kick my way toward a distant outcropping of rocks on the shore.

I’m swimming parallel to the shore, maybe a couple of hundred yards out from land. The water is cold, but not unbearably so—bracing but not chilling. The sea is restless, the chops coming fast and powerful, while the sun moves in and out of the clouds.

I have needed this.

Before I got into the water, several residents of this lovely island community told me the people who live here rarely step into the ocean until Bermuda Day, the last Friday in May, when shorts become the proper attire for business and natives plunge back into the sea.

I could not wait that long.

Swimming in an ocean—any ocean—always has been a restorative act. It clarifies my thinking. The rush and surge of the water remind me of certain unvarying fundamental truths—of the things I can do and, surrounded by something ageless and immense in scope, of the things that are beyond my power to affect.

A particularly big surge lifts my entire body, then lowers it. I stroke through the wave, pulling harder with my arms and adding some extra snap to my whip kick.

Lord, it feels good.

These past months often have been difficult ones.

People I love have died. Their deaths came one after another, like the pounding of a jackhammer. Their departures carved their marks in me. I mourned the loss of souls who made this often-hard world a more pleasant place and missed the way they could lighten the day just by being part of it.

Their deaths also reminded me that my own tenure on this earth was not limitless—and made me wonder at moments if time had not begun to pass me by, if the immutable tides of eternity were not dragging me inexorably into the past.

Such thinking is not comforting at a time when responsibilities and opportunities, both personal and professional, seemed to multiply.

It has been hard not to question upon occasion whether I still was up to meeting them.

Even now, as the ocean around me rises and falls, the water rushing over me as I swim, one shoulder and one knee don’t work as they once did. They talk to me as I stroke and kick, reminding me as I move through the waves that I no longer am a young man.

That I must be smarter, more disciplined and more calculating than when I had known fewer springtime.

I now am beyond the outcropping of rocks.

Time to turn back.

I tread water for a moment, feeling the surge of the Atlantic roll all around, the waves buffeting me as I contemplate a horizon without beginning or end. As I bob there in the water, the closing lines from Tennyson’s “Ulysses” pop into my head:

“Tho much is taken, much abides; and tho’

“We are not now that strength which in old days

“Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;

“One equal temper of heroic hearts,

“Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

Words for an aging soul to live by.

I start swimming back.

The wind has picked up, increasing the chop and spray of the water. I swim into it, stretching out the strokes for extra power, sometimes plunging through the waves, sometimes riding over them.

My shoulder and my knee still talk to me, reminding me that they are not what they once were.

That I am not what I once was.

But they still function.

I still can meet and move through the waves as they roll over me.

When I reach the beach, I step out of the water, an old man washed clean by the sea.

A world of both possibilities and dangers awaits.

My knee buckles for a moment as I plant my foot in the sand. It, like me, has been made weaker by time and fate.

But we’ll both limp forward, if limp we must, to meet what lies ahead.

For we were made to strive, to seek, to find….

And not to yield.

FOOTNOTE: John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. The views expressed are those of the author only and should not be attributed to Franklin College.

Senate sends another bill restricting trans people to the governor—then has a sing-along

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Senate sends another bill restricting trans people to the governor—then has a sing-along

  • By Kyra Howard, TheStatehouseFile.com

Another trans-related bill is heading to the governor’s desk.

Pictured Above: In the Indiana Senate Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, and Sen. Stacey Donato, R-Logansport, spar over a bill banning gender reassignment surgery for Indiana inmates.  Screenshot by Kyra Howard, TheStatehouseFile.com.  House Bill 1569 was passed in its final Senate reading Thursday afternoon. 

The bill is authored by Rep. Peggy Mayfield, R-Martinsville, and passed through theIndiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee, the full House and now the Senate. It is among multiple bills targeting trans rights making their way through the General Assembly this session.

The bill would restrict gender reassignment surgery for inmates in Indiana prisons, prohibiting the Department of Corrections from using any state resources to pay for hormone therapy or surgery for inmates.

Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, pointed out what he considered a crucial flaw when he spoke on the bill: It would impact only one person behind bars.

“Currently DOC houses over 100 individuals on their gender-diverse log,” said Taylor.

He explained the log includes those who are gender nonconforming and nonbinary, not those who have already transitioned. He said 36 of those individuals are currently on hormones and two are receiving gender-affirming care, but this new bill would impact only one of them.

“Maybe the reason why we all do not want to hear this issue is because we are effectively changing public policy for one person,” said Taylor.

He believes the legislation may ultimately subject the state to a lawsuit.

“When a prisoner goes to jail or prison, they do not lose all rights to procedures and/or support. It actually gets enhanced because the state is responsible for paying for it,” said Taylor. “So what we are doing, right here in this piece of legislation, is a direct violation of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution.”

The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Stacey Donato, R-Logansport, responded by saying that withholding gender-reassignment surgery is neither cruel or unusual and that to violate the Eighth Amendment, it must be both.

Taylor ended his remarks by stating he does not see this bill as an effort to save taxpayer money but to stop individuals from transitioning.

“We are going to pass a piece of legislation that will subject us to a lawsuit, to impact one person. One person,” he emphasized.

“I don’t think there is any disagreement as to whether or not the state should pay for the surgery. I think there is a disagreement as to whether or not the surgery should happen at all.”

The bill passed 9-38. It now heads to the governor’s desk.

Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, provided a jarring transition when he rose right after the vote on a point of personal privilege to say, “It’s a great day to be at the ballpark.” He then led the chamber in a rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Thursday was Major League Baseball’s Opening Day.

FOOTNOTE:  Kyra Howard is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

THUNDERBOLTS HOST ICE BEARS FOR SUPERHERO NIGHT THIS SATURDAY

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 Evansville, In.: With the final stretch of three games in three nights in the rear-view mirror and a playoff spot confirmed, the Thunderbolts begin winding down their regular season schedule as they take on the Bulls in Birmingham this Thursday before hosting the Knoxville Ice Bears this Saturday night at Ford Center for Superhero Night.

Week In Review: 

The Thunderbolts began their weekend with a 4-2 win in Pensacola, with a pair of goals from Conner Jean, a late game-winning goal from Derek Osik, and an Ice Flyers own-goal into the empty net that would be credited to Scott Kirton.  The defense and goaltending continued to get the job done, however the offense dried up, as the Thunderbolts fell 3-1 on Saturday night and 4-1 on Sunday afternoon, with Matt Dorsey and Jeremy Masella scoring the lone goals on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.  The Thunderbolts are currently in 5th place in the league standings, .022% behind 4th-Place Roanoke and .013% ahead of 6th-Place Knoxville.  Teams who finish in 4th Place or higher will secure home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, guaranteeing two home games for those teams if their first-round series goes to a full three games.

The Week Ahead: 

The Thunderbolts are in Birmingham this Thursday to take on the Bulls, beginning at 7:00pm CT.  Following the Thursday game in Birmingham, the Thunderbolts return home to host the Knoxville Ice Bears this Saturday, April 1st at 7:00pm for Superhero Night.  Superhero Night will feature the final specialty game-worn jerseys of the season, which will be auctioned off after the game, and another Party in the Plaza, beginning at 4pm along with a beer garden.  For tickets to Saturday’s game at Ford Center, call (812) 422-BOLT (2658), go to EvansvilleThunderbolts.com, or visit the Ford Center ticket office.  Thursday’s game can be viewed on SPHL TV with a paid subscription through HockeyTV or can be listened to for free on the Thunderbolts Radio Network via the Thunderbolts MixLr Channel or at EvansvilleThunderbolts.com/fan-center/live .

Coming Soon: 

The Thunderbolts’ final regular season home game following this weekend will be on Friday, April 7th against the Birmingham Bulls for Fan Appreciation Night.  Fan Appreciation Night is all about the celebration of our great fans, with plenty of chances to win prizes.  Live pre-game music will be provided by Drew Cagle and The Reputation.  Playoff information, including dates and opponents, will be coming towards the end of the regular season, as the Thunderbolts continue to work hard on the ice to finish as high in the standings as possible and to secure home-ice advantage in the first round.

  Scouting the Opponent: 

  • Birmingham Bulls: 
    • Record: 34-15-3, 71 Points, .683 Win Percentage, 2nd Place
    • Leading Goal Scorer: Michael Gillespie (25 Goals)
    • Leading Point Scorer: Michael Gillespie (57 Points)
    • Primary Goaltender: Austin Lotz (20-7-2, .907 Save %)
    • Thunderbolts 22-23 Record vs BHM: 2-4-1

      The Bulls defeated their Alabama rivals the Huntsville Havoc in both meetings this past weekend, 3-1 on Friday in Pelham and 4-3 in Huntsville on Saturday.  Scott Donahue, Bair Gendunov and Jared Bethune picked up the goals on Friday at home.  Goals from Jake Pappalardo and Matt Wiesner opened up a 2-0 lead on Saturday before the Havoc came back to tie the game.  Tied 2-2, Michael Gillespie and Troy MacTavish scored to give Birmingham another multi-goal lead, and the Havoc were only partially able to bridge the gap as Birmingham won 4-3.

  • Knoxville Ice Bears: 
    • Record: 30-21-3, 63 Points, .583 Win Percentage, 6th Place
    • Leading Goal Scorer: Justin MacDonald (32 Goals)
    • Leading Point Scorer: Justin MacDonald (74 Points)
    • Primary Goaltender: Kristian Stead (18-8-1, .912 Save %)
    • Thunderbolts 22-23 Record vs KNX: 1-2-0

The Ice Bears were defeated for a second game in a row by the Macon Mayhem, 7-5 on Friday night.  Rex Moe and Razmuz Waxin-Engback each scored twice, while Russell Rourke scored one goal.  The Ice Bears managed to outscore Macon on Saturday, winning by an 8-6 score as Waxin-Engback, Bailey Conger, and Russell each scored twice, while Dean Balsamo and Nick Pryce scored one goal each.  On Sunday, the Ice Bears were defeated by Roanoke 7-3, with two goals from Ryan Devine and one from Pryce.

 Call-up Report 

                 – Chase Perry – Allen Americans (Prev. Greenville) – ECHL

                                – Greenville: 2 GP, 1-0-1, 1.93 GAA, .944 Save %
– Allen: 17 GP, 10-6-1, 3.36 GAA, .910 Save %

                – Matthew Barron – Trois-Rivieres Lions (Prev. Indy) – ECHL
– Indy: 4 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 P, 0 PIM
– Trois-Rivieres: 34 GP, 5 G, 3 A, 8 P, 8 PIM

                – Mike Ferraro – Savannah Ghost Pirates – ECHL

                                – 7 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 P, 6 PIM

                – Dillon Hill – Trois-Rivieres Lions – ECHL

                                – 15 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 P, 18 PIM

Transactions:     

Wed. 3/29: LW Cameron Cook returned from call-up to Trois-Rivieres (ECHL)
Wed. 3/29: LW Mathieu Cloutier placed on waivers
Sat. 3/26: D Jeremy Masella signed from professional tryout to standard contract
Sat. 3/26: D Austin Rook signed to professional tryout

Sat. 3/26: D Kyle Thacker placed on waivers

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