EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORTED
DAILY ACTIVITY REPORTFOOTNOTE: Â EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT Â information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Schwomeyer overcomes slow start to tie for top spot at LTC Spring Invitational
ROBINSON, Ill. – VU sophomore Paxton Schwomeyer (Oakland City, Ind.) had one of his best tournaments as a Trailblazer Wednesday afternoon in the 27-hole Lincoln Trail College Spring Invitational at Quail Creek Country Club in Robinson.
Schwomeyer got off to a slow start to the tournament, taking a triple bogey on his second hole of the day, but was able to regroup and power through to finish the day with a 27-hole score of 119 and end in a five-way tie for first place on the leaderboard.
Schwomeyer shot an 82 in the full 18 hole round and followed that with an impressive one-over 37 in the final nine holes.
Sophomore Luke VanDeventer (Columbus, Ind.) was the second lowest VU scorer, matching Schwomeyer’s 82 in the first round, before coming back with a very solid three-over 39 in the nine-hole round. VanDeventer would finish with a total tournament score of 121 and finish eighth overall.
Sophomore Caleb Newman (Vincennes, Ind.) was next on the leaderboard and was the third Trailblazer to finish in the top 10 Wednesday. Newman shot an opening round 83 and a final round 40 to place 10th.
Freshmen Nate Olsen (Greenwood, Ind.) and Aaron Brink (Nashville, Ill.) finished the day tied on the scoreboard, with Olsen shooting the best 18-hole score for the Blazers with an 81 before shooting a 46 in the final nine holes.
Brink showed the most improvement out of any VU golfer Wednesday, shooting an 87 in the first round and ending the day with a 40 in the final round. Olsen and Brink each tied for 12th overall.
Sophomores Adam Leach (North Vernon, Ind.), Sam Stewart (Floyds Knobs, Ind.) and Caleb Maris (Terre Haute, Ind.) finished one after another on the scoreboard, with Leach ending with a tournament score of 130 and placing 18th, Stewart placed 19th at 131 and Maris finished 20th at 132.
Sophomore Garrett Hulfachor (Lawrenceville, Ill.) rounded out the VU scorers Wednesday, with the sophomore lefty shooting a 134, placing him in a tie for 21st.
“Paxton struggled out of the gate with a triple bogy on a tough par three on his second hole,†VU Hall of Fame Golf Coach Dennis Chattin said. “I think that created some doubt but I was proud of the way he came back with a one over 37 in the last nine. He actually missed a three-foot putt, lipping out on the last hole. It was tough because had it fallen, he would have won the tournament outright, instead of tying for first.â€
“Caleb Newman had his best tournament, finishing 10th,†Chattin added. “He has really worked hard and I was really glad to see him rewarded.â€
The Blazers will hope to keep this hot streak going into their next tournament, when VU travels to Nicholasville, Ky. to take part in the Garn Championships at the Keene Trace Golf Club.
First round will take place on Monday, March 27, with the final round closing out the tournament on Tuesday, March 28.
RESULTS
TEAM RESULTS
Illinois Central – 321, 156 – 477
VU (A) – 330, 161 – 491
Lincoln Trail – 330, 164 – 494
VU (B) – 347, 173 – 520
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Paxton Schwomeyer (T1) – 82, 37 – 119
Luke VanDeventer (8) – 82, 39 – 121
Caleb Newman (10) – 83, 40 – 123
Nate Olsen (T12) – 81, 46 – 127
Aaron Brink (T12) – 87, 40 – 127
Adam Leach (18) – 85, 45 – 130
Sam Stewart (19) – 87, 44 – 131
Caleb Maris (20) – 88, 44 – 132
Garrett Hulfachor (T21) – 89, 45 – 134
Aces open Valley play against Bradley
Braun, Klobuchar introduce bipartisan legislation to help Americans save and pay for skills training and credentialing programs
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Mike Braun and Amy Klobuchar reintroduced the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation to allow Americans to use ‘529’ education savings accounts for skills training, credentialing, and certification programs. Current law only permits workers and families to use ‘529’ accounts to pay for college, university, and vocational school expenses.
“Every high school student in America needs to know that you don’t necessarily have to go to college to have a great career. By expanding opportunities and access to skills training programs, and letting Americans use their ‘529’ education savings to pay for it, we can address the nationwide skills shortage and fill American jobs.â€â€” Sen. Mike Braun
“Skills training and development programs help provide people with the tools and resources they need to succeed in our economy. By allowing workers to use their ‘529’ educational savings to pay for additional training and certification, our bipartisan legislation will enable more Americans to access and benefit from these valuable programs.†— Sen. Amy Klobuchar
In addition to Klobuchar and Braun, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth, Susan Collins, Dianne Feinstein, Joe Manchin, Martin Heinrich, and Peter Welch.
Senator Braun has long been a supporter of expanding access to workforce development and skills training programs to address the nationwide skills gap and to fill American jobs.
In January, Senator Braun reintroduced the bipartisan Jumpstarting Our Businesses by Support Students (JOBS) Act with Senator Tim Kaine to help more Americans get good-paying jobs by allowing students to use federal Pell Grants towards job training programs for the first time.
As he travels across Indiana each year on his annual 92 county tour, Senator Braun visits a number of workforce development programs that provide job training to prepare the next generation of talent.
FOP ENDORSES COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHERYL MUSGRAVE FOR MAYOR OF EVANSVILLE
FOP ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ENDORSEMENT OF CHERYL MUSGRAVE FOR MAYOR OF EVANSVILLE
Historically, the fraternal Order of Police does not offer an endorsement in primary elections. However, It is the belief of this organization that this may be the most important election in recent memory for the citizens of Evansville and for the members of this lodge. With that in mind, approximately six weeks ago, President Aaron McCormick authorized the creation of the Bi-Partisan 2023 FOP 73 Political Action Committee.  During the previous weeks, this committee took on the daunting process of vetting candidates for the position of Mayor of the City of Evansville.  The committee held extensive interviews with each candidate. The committee also took a deep dive into the past records(or lack thereof) of each candidate. After countless hours of research analysis, the FOP 73 Political Action Committee came to a unanimous recommendation. That recommendation as then overwhelmingly supported and adopted by the membership of FOP 73.
The City of Evansville is facing a crisis on many levels. Â Our streets have become noticeably less safe. Â Even with the brave men and women of the Evansville Police Department seizing guns off the streets at a rate never seen before, violent crime persists. Â Murders, shootings, robberies, and a host of other crimes are increasingly occurring in city neighborhoods once believed to be safe for citizens and their families.
The Evansville Police Department is facing a crisis.  The inability to recruit and retain qualified officers to police the streets of Evansville is greatly hampering the effectiveness of the police force.  With overtime at an all-time high just to meet minimum staffing levels, each officer is asked to answer more calls for service than ever before.  With pay and benefits lagging far behind other departments in our state and nation, and the inability to take time off to be with their families, the morale of officers is at an all-time low.  The Evansville Police Department was a destination.  It was a goal that officers from across the entire region sought to attain.  Today as I speak to you, The Evansville Police Department has been relegated to the status of a stepping stone.  Officers are now being hired and trained by the City of Evansville, only to abruptly leave to join other departments with better benefits and more supportive city administrations.  The citizens of Evansville DESERVE a leader who is committed to bringing this department back to its former stature.  The citizens of Evansville DESERVE  a leader who is committed not just to Public Safety, but to  THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC.
Only one candidate has shown the ability to answer the tough questions asked by this committee.  Only one candidate has a track record of attacking problems head-on and formulating bold solutions.  During her time as County Commissioner, Cheryl Musgrave has a proven track record of success when it comes to improving the lives of those in their community.  During her time in office, Cheryl Musgrave has been instrumental in securing funding for vital infrastructure projects that helped to improve the quality of life for Vanderburgh County residents.  Cheryl has vowed to work closely with the Evansville Police Department to ensure that officers have the tools, training, and resources that they need to make the streets safe for all citizens.  LEADERSHIP MATTERS!  The City of Evansville needs  Mayor with the experience, dedication, and tenacity to address the host of problems we currently face.
I stand before you today UNITED with the over five hundred active members of FOP LODGE 73. Â I stand before you UNITED with the over five hundred Associate members, and over fifty Auxiliary members of FOP Lodge 73 as well as our families and friends. Â I stand before you today to offer the full Endorsement and unwavering support of the FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE LODGE 73 to the next Mayor of Evansville, Cheryl Musgrave
 COMMISSIONER MUSGRAVE COMMENTS AFTER THE FOP ENDORSEMENT
I am so honored to have the support of the FOP, its members, associate members, and families. Thank you to the FOP PAC and membership. This honor comes with responsibility. The responsibility is to provide the tools, training, and resources you need to do your job. That job is to keep Evansville safe.
From day one, I pledge to put public safety at the core of my agenda. The FOP needs and deserves to be supported with full staffing, competitive pay, proper equipment, vehicles, and training. Our city’s safety is on the line. My family and yours deserve a safe city, a city where the men and women who guard its safety are valued and treated with respect.
I’ve listened to and worked with law enforcement professionals for a long while now, and
learned what’s contributing to higher crime and a decrease in public safety in our city. I’m honored and humbled to receive this unprecedented endorsement because you are the frontline force, risking your lives every single day to protect us and our families from harm. You’ve told me that you’re hurting, and you need help now. As the next mayor of Evansville, I’ll give priority attention and support from day one.
Just a few years ago, Evansville had 129 patrol officers; today we have barely 100 —with nearly 35% of the entire department having five years or less in experience. Retirements are up by 60% since 2019, and more than a third of our current force is eligible for retirement in four years. The organized crime division experienced a 24% reduction in officers over the past 10 years. That reduction directly correlates with our city’s murder rate, which has tripled in the past five years compared with the previous five years.
Having enough experienced and well-trained officers who are compensated fairly and supported fully is a crucial part of making Evansville a safe and secure city. As Mayor, I promise we will make that investment, for our police, our city, and our families.
I’m not talking about abstract ideals and goals. I’m talking about real-world issues that hit home. Our city is dependent upon the training and responsiveness of our law enforcement. We witnessed this in a major way just a few weeks ago, when a gunman opened fire at a grocery store, wounding an employee and threatening many more employees and customers.
The men and women of the FOP – both EPD and Sheriff’s office– did not hesitate to respond, running toward the danger, arriving in their personal vehicles and even carrying personal rifles. On and off-duty officers ran toward the danger and in mere minutes eliminated the threat. You protected the store employees and the shoppers. You deserve the support of the whole community, not just in the face of imminent danger, but every day as you keep the threat of danger at bay through your professional preparedness.
This endorsement, by the officers of the Fraternal Order of Police, is one of the deepest honors of my life. When elected mayor, I will do everything that can be done to support the force and its mission to protect us all in the great city of Evansville. Because when we get breaking news of a crime, the most calming part is hearing: the “EPD en routeâ€.
FOOTNOTE: The City-County Observer posted this article without bias or editing.
NATALIE RASCHER ANNOUNCES HER PLAYBOOK FOR EVANSVILLE
NATALIE RASCHERS PLAYBOOK FOR EVANSVILLE
 Public SafetyÂ
A paramount issue that affects our community’s quality of life is safety and protection. As we’ve seen over the last few years, crime and disorder have made a dangerous comeback in cities across America. In this age of instant videos and social media, law enforcement has never been more scrutinized. Regrettably, anti-police forces are using these videos to smear and handicap police agencies, sow distrust, and weaken community confidence in public safety.Â
Good leadership means offering our city strong public safety agencies, consisting of well-trained professionals utilizing the latest modern technology and equipment. Crime prevention and fire protection are the heart of a community’s ability to grow, prosper and attract new development and jobs. We must promote trust in our law enforcement community and firefighting professionals whose heroic efforts make our city safer.Â
Our local police and fire departments have done an exemplary job in recent years but there is always room for improvement. As Mayor, I will require leadership of our public safety department to set a tone of excellence, discipline and integrity and work constantly to improve morale, training, equipment, and cooperation within the agencies and with the public.Â
Police officers and firefighters will be able to count on my administration to be their advocate in our shared mission to provide our citizens with the highest possible standard of service and performance.Â
Leadership and CollaborationÂ
The leadership of a quality police and fire department starts with the Mayor. Our administration will set a tone of excellence that is focused on commitment and integrity.Â
The police and fire chiefs will continue to report directly to the Mayor to ensure information is not filtered. This direct line of communication will include minimum weekly briefings as well as numerous opportunities for dialog at any time to address pressing issues for their departments or community safety. The Mayor must have complete confidence in the police and fire chiefs and vice versa.Â
Neighborhood FocusÂ
I will require our public safety agencies to interact and communicate with our neighborhood organizations. A strong relationship between neighborhood organizations and public safety promotes better collaboration and information which will serve to minimize misunderstandings. My administration will develop enhanced social media and online tools to provide a two-way flow of information that allows public interaction to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between the citizens of Evansville and its public safety personnel. New technology can be used and implemented at the neighborhood level to highlight crime locations and activity and assist citizens in the development of solutions.Â
As Mayor, I pledge to attend public safety neighborhood and sector meetings to learn firsthand of citizen concerns and introduce the latest public safety programs to address these concerns. We will encourage our neighborhood leaders to attend citizen academies and fire department presentations to participate in so they can be versed in modern police and fire tactics.Â
Community Involvement and EducationÂ
As Mayor, I will strive to foster a renewed sense of community collaboration and a shared mindset on public safety. Our administration will publicize and enhance the police citizens’ academy, expand this concept to the fire department, and focus on educating the public. We will offer these programs at times and locations that promote broad public participation and educational opportunities. We will also ensure our school resource officers have communications tools and training to maximize the value delivered to the schools, students, and families. I want to see our public safety agencies expand online transparency using social media and modern interactive software in a way that educates while serving the public.Â
Quality Equipment and Working ConditionsÂ
To properly protect the public, police officers and firefighters need quality equipment. As Mayor, my administration will ensure that police and firefighters always have the proper tools to do their jobs.Â
Our budget will include funding to purchase police vehicles in a manner that allows the replacement of front-line vehicles so that the newer vehicles are working the streets. I support our police being allowed to take home patrol cars. These patrol cars serve as a visible deterrent to crime in our neighborhoods.Â
Although our fire department has been able to acquire newer vehicles relative to the nationwide average, there are areas for improvement, including frequent maintenance. Also, each reserve apparatus needs to be fully equipped.Â
Our administration will pledge to acquire funding to upgrade fire stations using a regular maintenance program. Emergency supplies for fire emergencies should also include specialized equipment and supplies for earthquakes and tornadoes given Evansville’s location near the seismic lines of the New Madrid fault.Â
Elevating PersonnelÂ
As Mayor, I will maintain an open door policy for public safety employees, both rank and file and leadership. We will promote the health and safety of our public safety personnel, including their mental health. We will enhance recruitment tools to boost candidate sourcing to identify dedicated, well-educated, community-oriented public safety employment prospects. I believe each public safety worker should have access to a personal development plan to maximize skills and opportunities within the departments. Finally, we will work to maintain a competitive pay and benefits package for our public safety employees within the confines of the city budget.Â
Natalie RascherÂ
Candidate for MayorÂ
Evansville, Indiana
FOOTNOTE: Â The City-County Observer posted this article without bias or editing.
Bill protecting businesses from food delivery services passes Senate committee
FEATURED
Bill protecting businesses from food delivery services passes Senate committee
- By Ashlyn Myers, TheStatehouseFile.com
- Mar 16, 2023 Updated 2 hrs ago
INDIANAPOLIS—According to Rep. Robb Greene, R-Shelbyville, third-party delivery companies are more about collecting data from consumers than delivering a piping-hot pizza.
Rep. Robb Greene, R-Shelbyville, presents his food delivery restriction bill to the Senate Commerce and Technology Committee on Thursday.
Screenshot by Ashlyn Myers, TheStatehouseFile.com.
Oftentimes, Greene said, food delivery companies such as Postmates and Uber Eats know more about a business’s customers than the actual business does. So Greene is serving upHouse Bill 1279 to offer an “out” for food service businesses that are in contracts with delivery services they are unhappy with.
“The third parties aren’t so much in the business of delivering food as they are in the business of data and marketing,†Greene said. “Since the logistical costs of providing delivery are high, data exploitation is not only cheaper, but it’s easier to scale.â€
According to the bill’s digest, HB 1279 requires a third-party food delivery service to terminate a service contract with a restaurant no later than 72 hours after the business says they wish to dissolve the contract.
The bill also states third-party services would no longer be allowed to offer a restaurant’s food without its consent.
Incidentally, a study by Circuit Route Planner determined that almost 80% of delivery drivers admit to eating a part of their customer’s food.
The bill passed the Senate Commerce and Technology Committee with a 10-1 vote, only denied by Sen. Spencer Deery, R-West Lafayette.
“It’s about empowering the restaurant owner themselves,†Greene said. “Some have chosen to not play in this part of the market. Some individuals don’t want to let somebody that they have no control over.â€
Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, was concerned that the bill could be putting businesses before Hoosiers.
“While I agree with this, I think it’s good to provide a course of action, but we’re giving more rights to to small restaurant owners than we are to every Hoosier,†Yoder said.
Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, supported the bill because she personally had an odd experience with a third-party service provider.
“So I had a circumstance where there’s a restaurant in my district and I placed an order online so that I could just drive by, pick it up and keep on my way home,†Hunley said. “And when I walked inside, they were like, ‘That’s not a real website.’â€
Greene said combatting that kind of situation is almost impossible for restaurant owners with their strenuous hours.
Restaurants have a challenging time pushing back because the delivery services “continue to just wear them down, and wear them down, and wear them down,” as Greene said.
“So a lot of restaurants just, you know, they give up, they don’t have the ability to constantly be, you know, searching the internet and pushing back,” he said. “They often don’t know who to push back against.â€
He also said New York City and Chicago have created similar legislation.
Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen, gave his compliments to the chef, or Greene, calling HB 1279 “one of the best bills in the session.â€
FOOTNOTE: Ashlyn Myers is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
No. 10 IU Trending at NCAA Championships
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana swimming and diving jumped up three spots in the team standings on Thursday (March 16) at the 2023 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships inside the Allan Jones Aquatic Center.
The Hoosiers sit sixth in the team standings with 83 points after posting top-15 finishes in all five final swims, including three top 10 placements and two podiums. Indiana also broke two records on Thursday.
“It was a really great day all-around for the Hoosiers,†IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. “I was thrilled to see Ching Hwee Gan make her first A final in the 500 free, a notch in the All-America belt. Then, Noelle had a best time and scored for the first time in 200 IM. Then, to have two girls up in the 50 free was phenomenal, and I’m so proud of Kristina and Ashley. And congrats to Ashley for lowering the school record, not once, but twice. To cap it off with a 200 freestyle relay that got into the top eight, for a program that really has sprinted very well in recent memory, was great.
“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing. These girls are a whole lot of fun to be with, and they have a good spirit about them, and they’re having fun. That’s the name of the game here.”
After tying the 50-yard freestyle program record in prelims, senior Ashley Turak became the fastest woman in school history by blasting a 21.81 in the consolation final. Turak finished 10th, improving on her 19th-place mark a year ago for her second-career individual All-America honor.
Racing next to Turak in lane eight, freshman Kristina Paegle posted a 21.99 to place 13th in the event. Both athletes finished better than their seeds from prelims after neither were projected to score coming into the morning. Turak and Paegle now own the first and third fastest times in school history.
Separated only by the 1-meter diving final, Turak and Paegle then dropped splits of 21.43 and 21.65 in the second and third legs of the 200-yard freestyle relay. Sophomore Anna Peplowski and senior Elizabeth Broshears posted bookending splits of 22.13 and 22.27 as IU raced a program record 1:27.48 to finish eighth and on the podium for the first time since 2004, also an eighth-place finish. Indiana has reached the podium in multiple relays for the first time since 2019.
Sophomore Ching Hwee Gan was the lone individual podium finisher on Thursday, placing seventh in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:38.91. The Singapore native improved from her No. 12 seed coming into the meet and a year ago Gan placed 30th in 4:44.25.
Senior Noelle Peplowski showed marked improvement in the 200 IM, earning a 13th-place result after finishing 37th and 30th the last two seasons. She was seeded 24th at the start of the meet.
In a rare occurrence, IU diving went without a finalist in the 1-meter dive. Sophomore Skyler Liu scratched the event in anticipation of the 3-meter dive and platform events, in which she will be joined by junior Anne Fowler.
“We have been on one hell of a run,†IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said, “and we are grateful to have another chance tomorrow to do our best for this team.â€
Through two days, seven Hoosiers have tallied 16 All-America honors. Paegle leads the team with four, three of those coming in relays, and is slated to race the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle in the coming days.
RESULTS
500 FREESTYLE
- Ching Hwee Gan – 4:38.91 (All-America, Career Best)
200 IM - Noelle Peplowski – 1:55.46 (Honorable Mention All-America)
50 FREESTYLE
- Ashley Turak – 21.81 (Honorable Mention All-America, Program Record, Career Best)
- Kristina Paegle – 21.99 (Honorable Mention All-America)
200 FREESTYLE RELAY
- Anna Peplowski, Ashley Turak, Kristina Paegle, Elizabeth Broshears – 1:27.48 (All-America, Program Record)
HOOSIER ALL-AMERICANS
Elizabeth Broshears (200 Medley Relay*, 200 Freestyle Relay)
Ching Hwee Gan (800 Freestyle Relay, 500 Freestyle)
Mackenzie Looze (800 Freestyle Relay)
Kristina Paegle (200 Medley Relay*, 800 Freestyle Relay, 50 Freestyle*, 200 Freestyle Relay)
Anna Peplowski (200 Medley Relay*, 800 Freestyle Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay)
Noelle Peplowski (200 Medley Relay*, 200 IM*)
Ashley Turak (50 Freestyle*, 200 Freestyle Relay)
* – Denotes Honorable Mention
UP NEXT
Friday kicks off with three Hoosiers in the 400 IM – Looze (4:09.67), Mariah Denigan (4:11.25) and Ching Hwee Gan (4:14.00) – who have all set personal bests faster than their seed times. Anna Peplowski, a top-15 seed in all three of her events coming up, will race her highest seeded event in the 200-yard freestyle. The Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships set a program record in 1:42.86 to lead off IU’s 800 freestyle relay on Wednesday. Paegle (1:46.69) will also race the event.
Peplowski will swim again Friday in the 100 back, where she is the No. 14 seed with a time of 51.62. The current program record sits at 51.05. Between those events, Anna’s sister, senior Noelle Peplowski, and fellow sophomore Brearna Crawford will compete in the 100-yard breaststroke, boasting seed times of 59.10 and 59.86, respectively.
Junior Anne Fowler and sophomore Skyler Liu will compete in the 3-meter dive competition after both medaled at the conference meet. Matching their medal finishes, Fowler and Liu were the Nos. 1 and 3 qualifiers out of Zone C.