The Evansville Police Department has been made aware of a lawsuit that has been filed by the ACLU of Indiana against one of our EPD officers.
We do fully support our officer’s actions. Due to this being an active litigation, we cannot make any further statements about this incident at this time.Â
We have had numerous requests for the officer’s body cam videos and we are providing those videos on the Evansville Police Department Facebook page.
 Community brings Promise Kids mentoring initiative to Lincoln and McGary Schools in the Evansville Promise ZoneÂ
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Evansville Promise Zone, EVSC, Young & Established and SIMA are undertaking a collaborative effort to develop and implement a mentorship program for students in two Evansville schools. The program, called Promise Kids, will support children living in the Promise Zone with the goal of reversing the impact COVID-19 had on their education. The program will connect with children on age-appropriate levels using trained mentors both inside and outside of the classroom.Â
Promise Kids will focus on schools with which Young & Established and SIMA have current relationships – Lincoln School and McGary Middle School. The program will focus on improving three success factors – attendance, grades, and behavior. The assigned program mentors will track these areas of focus on a weekly basis in conjunction with the administration at each school. Collaborative efforts will result in the development of child-specific improvement plans, engaging children to strengthen interactions, academic achievement, and overall health and well-being.Â
Promise Zone Director Silas J. Matchem Sr. of ECHO Housing is confident about the collaboration – “We have successful organizations within our community that are willing to put in the time and effort to assist children to reach and maximize their potential. SIMA and Young & Established have existing partnerships in place that will sustain these results well into the future.â€Â
The launch of the Promise Kids mentoring program occurred on March 15, 2023.Â
The program is made possible with financial support from Promise Zone Lead Partner, the City of Evansville, Department of Metropolitan Development. The funding will cover the cost of the program for one year.Â
Evansville was designated as a Promise Zone in June 2016, with ECHO Housing Corporation designated as the lead agency to facilitate initiatives in support of residents in the area. Promise Zones are high-poverty communities in which the federal government partners with local leaders to increase employment opportunities, expand economic activities, improve educational opportunities, reduce violent crime, promote health and access to healthcare, provide access to quality affordable housing, and to address other priorities identified by the communities.Â
More information about the Evansville Promise Zone can be found here: https://echohousing.org/what-we-do/promise-zone/Â
EVANSVILLE, IND. (03/16/2023) Elyse Talley, a University of Evansville biology, and ethics major wanted to study the research-implementation gap, particularly as it relates to native plants’ importance to conservation efforts. She found there was plenty of research into the importance of native plants for pollinators such as bees, and how increasing the number of native plants and pollinator zones will be immensely helpful in improving environmental stability. But as important as that research is, there was not as much material available on how to educate and invigorate a community around the concept.
Increasing the native plant population will lead the way to a healthier, cleaner environment, and Elyse wanted to figure out how to make that happen on a large scale.
So she set out to close that gap. With the guidance of Professor of Biology Cris Hochwender, Elyse spent the Summer of 2022 in the University of Evansville’s Native Plant Garden, identifying plants and bees. She paid close attention to which plants attracted which bees and monitored their pollination habits and efficacy and began laying the groundwork for her ChangeLab, called People for Pollinators.
In the Fall 2022 semester, she worked hard to make connections in the community, ultimately forming meaningful connections with John James Audubon State Park, Seton Harvest, Wesselman Woods, Warrick and Vanderburgh Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Indiana Native Plant Society. Through these connections, she has been involved in coordinating local events for raising awareness and also distributing what Elyse has called “Seeds of Change” – packets of native plant seeds that include care instructions.
Currently in its second full semester, People for Pollinators is UE’s largest ChangeLab with 16 students enrolled. The team is multidisciplinary, with students from biology, environmental science, communication, literature, psychology, and exercise science. Together, they have continued preparing Seeds for Change seed packets, raising awareness of native plants through social media and community events. Their efforts will culminate in the Spring 2023 Earth Day Celebration on UE’s campus when native plants and seed packets will be given away free.
The work that Elyse has undertaken is immense and important. The community she has become a part of has been inspired and invigorated by her efforts. She recently was awarded the Community Conservationist Award from the Vanderburgh County Soil & Water Conservation District.
The University of Evansville is a private, comprehensive university located in the southwestern region of Indiana. Established in 1854, UE is recognized across the globe for its rich tradition of innovative, academic excellence and vibrant campus community of changemakers.
Home of the Purple Aces, UE offers over 75 majors, 17 Division I sports, and a unique study abroad experience at Harlaxton College, a Victorian manor located in the countryside of the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit evansville.edu.
O’Brien: Local graduate gains experience at the Statehouse
MARCH 17, 2023
STATEHOUSE (March 15, 2023) –– Evansville Memorial High School graduate Zachary Woods is gaining experience as an intern with State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville) and his fellow members of the Indiana House of Representatives during the 2023 legislative session.
Woods, a Vanderburgh County resident, is the son of David and Mary Jane Woods. He is currently attending IUPUI and majoring in biology.
“This internship has been a great opportunity to gain real-world experience,” Woods said. “I can carry the skills I learned here to any career path I choose to take.”
As a legislative intern, Woods corresponds with constituents through phone calls, letters and emails while also staffing committee hearings and floor proceedings.
“Zachary is a valuable asset at the Statehouse and is thriving in a professional setting,” O’Brien said. “Even as a biology major, he is developing important skills, like communication and time management, that will benefit him in his future endeavors. He is proudly representing his school and community while working very hard.”
Each year, the House of Representatives offers paid internship opportunities to college students, law-school students, graduate students and recent college graduates for the duration of each legislative session.
Visit IndianaHouseRepublicans.com/internship for more information about the House Republican internship program.
The University of Southern Indiana Romain College of Business will present “Emotions and Economic Behavior†with Dr. Charles Noussair, Eller Professor of Economics, University of Arizona, at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 17. The presentation will take place in the Business and Engineering Center, room 0035, and is open to the public at no charge. Noussair’s talk will focus on the experimental method in economics and its societal impact. This presentation is made possible by the generous support of Berger Wealth Services at Baird Private Wealth Management and the USI Foundation.
Noussair has been with the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management since 2015, where he also serves as Director of the Economic Science Laboratory. In addition to teaching at Eller, he is a senior extramural fellow for CentER at Tilburg University. Prior to Eller, Noussair was a Professor of Economics at Tilburg University; an Associate Professor at Purdue University and the German International School of Management; and an Assistant Professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He is an expert in experimental economics and currently researches how individuals deal with risky decisions and solve collective action problems, as well as the impact of emotions in economic decision-making.
Noussair has been appointed President of the Economic Science Association (ESA), a well-known international society for experimental economics.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and his master’s and a doctorate in social science from the California Institute of Technology.
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Founded in 1965, the University of Southern Indiana enrolls nearly 9,700 dual credit, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in more than 130 areas of study. A public higher education institution, located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, Indiana, USI offers programs through the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, College of Nursing and Health Professions and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. The University offers study-abroad opportunities in more than 60 countries and hosts international students from around the globe. USI is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University and offers continuing education and special programs to more than 15,000 participants annually through Outreach and En
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Evansville Otters would like to congratulate outfielders Elijah MacNamee and Miles Gordon as they move away from their baseball playing careers.
“Miles and Elijah were valuable additions to our team and the community,†Evansville Field Manager Andy McCauley said. “We wish them well with whatever their future holds.â€
MacNamee, a Cypress, TX native, has been a fan-favorite since arriving in Evansville in 2019. Defensively, MacNamee has been stealing opponent hits and runs in right field his entire career. At the plate, however, consistency has been key. In his three seasons with Evansville, he’s put together a .290 batting average, with 229 hits, 38 doubles, eight triples, 18 home runs and 105 RBI. Throw in his 89 walks and his career on-base percentage is over .300.
“First off, I want to thank the Otters for giving me three incredible seasons,†MacNamee said. “I cannot thank the coaching staff enough for giving me a chance to pursue my dream. To the fans, I want to thank you for being so awesome and welcoming throughout this journey. Good luck to the Otters and I hope to see you bring home some more hardware!â€
MacNamee joined the Otters following his senior season at Mississippi State. While with Mississippi State, he was a member of two College World Series appearances in 2018-19, and a member of a Super Regional appearance in 2017. During his Mississippi State tenure, he earned the nickname ‘Big Hit Mac,’ which carried on to his days in Evansville. In his collegiate career at Mississippi State, MacNamee batted .287 with 113 runs, 37 doubles, 17 home runs, 116 RBIs, and 60 walks in 170 games played and 154 games started. He also had a career .441 slugging percentage and a .367 on-base percentage.
Gordon, from Oakville, Ontario in Canada, signed with the Otters heading into the 2021 season. In his two years working the Otters’ centerfield, Gordon has worked to a .257 batting average with the help of 33 doubles, nine triples, 10 home runs and 71 RBI. In 2022, Gordon had a team-high 20-game hit streak during the season.
“I want to thank the Evansville Otters for welcoming me with open arms,†Gordon said. “From the staff, fans and teammates, I couldn’t have asked for a better past two years. I wish nothing but the absolute best to the Otters in the future and will be following them on their quest to bring the Frontier League Championship back to Bosse [Field] where it belongs.â€
Upon joining Evansville, Gordon brought with him five seasons of experience with the Cincinnati Reds organization. Gordon played for the Arizona League Reds, Pioneer League Billings Mustangs, Florida State League Daytona Tortugas, and the Midwest League Dayton Dragons from 2015-2019. Overall, with the Reds organization, Gordon batted .242 with 13 home runs and 99 RBIs in 908 at-bats. In 253 games played, Gordon scored 130 runs, had 68 totals extra-base hits, and swiped 47 bags.
In his time with the Reds, Gordon played with former Otters pitcher Randy Wynne in Dayton in 2019 and roomed with former Otters outfielder Logan Taylor in 2018. Gordon was drafted by the Reds in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft out of St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario.
The Otters are excited for the future for these two men and thank them for their time in Evansville.
The 2023 season is right around the corner. For information on season tickets, call 812-435-8686. Group and single-game tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks.
The Evansville Otters are the 2006 and 2016 Frontier League champions.
The Otters play all home games at historic Bosse Field, located at 23 Don Mattingly Way in Evansville, Ind. Stay up-to-date with the Evansville Otters by visiting evansvilleotters.com, or follow the Otters on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The red-hot University of Evansville baseball team will get a big test this weekend, as Big Ten member Purdue will come to town for a three-game series. The series will begin on Friday at 3 p.m. at UE’s German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium, and all three games can be heard live on the Old National Bank Radio Network and 107.1 F.M.-WJPS.
Evansville will bring a 10-7 overall record into Friday’s series opener after exploding for a 14-2 victory at Bellarmine on Wednesday afternoon. The Purple Aces launched four home runs and exploded for six runs in the fifth inning and seven more in the sixth inning to win their third-straight. Overall, UE has won 10 of the last 12 games.
Fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug continues to lead the UE offense with a .433 batting average. He launched his fourth home run of the year in the ninth inning on Wednesday to cap UE’s scoring, and is tied with teammates Eric Roberts and Kip Fougerousse for the team-lead with four home runs. Hug also sports a .595 on-base percentage this year, which ranks ninth-best in NCAA Division I baseball. He has reached base in all 17 games this year, and in 23 consecutive games dating back to last year.
On the mound, UE will turn to junior RHP Nick Smith (1-3, 5.70 ERA) to start Friday’s series opener. Smith struck out a career-high 12 men in his last home start against Bowling Green on March 4. He is coming off a tough-luck loss in his last start last Friday, as he suffered the loss in UE’s 2-0 loss at Middle Tennessee State. Pitching has helped power UE’s recent surge, as the UE pitching staff has posted a 2.29 ERA over the last nine contests, while not allowing more than four runs since UE’s 14-8 win at Southeast Missouri State to open the month of March.
The UE pitching staff will be challenged by a Purdue offense which ranks among the nation’s best this year. The Boilermakers currently rank 31st in the nation in scoring at 8.9 runs per game. Purdue stands at 9-7 overall after a 14-5 victory over Northern Illinois on Wednesday. The Boilermakers hit .304 as a team, and they are led in hitting by fifth-year infielder Evan Albrecht, who will bring a .407 batting average into this weekend’s series. Redshirt junior infielder Paul Toetz is not far behind with a .390 average, and he ranks 12th nationally in home runs this year with eight home runs in 16 games.
UE and Purdue have not met on the diamond since 2013, when the Boilermakers took two out of three games at Charles H. Braun Stadium. The two teams were supposed to meet originally in March, 2020, but the series was cancelled right at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two teams were scheduled to play last year, but the game was rained out in West Lafayette.
The series is scheduled to continue on Saturday at 2 p.m. and conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Evansville, In.:  All good things come to an end, and that included Evansville’s 4-game winning streak, along with their 8-game home winning streak, as the Thunderbolts were topped 4-1 by the Huntsville Havoc on Thursday night at Ford Center.  The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Saturday, March 18th  against the Birmingham Bulls at 7:00pm CT.  For tickets, call (812)422-BOLT (2658), go to EvansvilleThunderbolts.com, or visit the Ford Center Ticket Office.
Heavily outshot in the first period, the Thunderbolts fell behind 2-0 as Huntsville’s Sam Hunter scored at 8:06, before Jacob Barber added another goal at 16:41.  Barber scored once again 1:41 into the second period to make it a 3-0 Havoc lead, before Thunderbolts’ captain Hayden Hulton briefly scrapped with Huntsville’s Kasey Kulczycki, inspiring the Thunderbolts to a stronger level of play in the period’s remainder.  Using the ensuing momentum, Andrew Shewfelt got Evansville on the board with a power play goal from Hulton and Scott Kirton at 12:11, shortening Evansville’s deficit to 3-1.  However, the Thunderbolts were unable to get any closer despite some great opportunities, and a late empty net goal from the Havoc’s Robbie Fisher put the game away, 4-1 Huntsville the final score.
Shewfelt scored Evansville’s only goal, while Gorsuch finished with 30 saves on 33 shots.  Despite the loss, Evansville still only needs just 3 points out of 18 possible to clinch a playoff spot.  Despite the loss, the Thunderbolts remain in 4th place in the SPHL standings, at which a finish in 4th place or higher would secure home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs next month.  The Thunderbolts and Havoc do not meet again this regular season, with the season series ending in a 4-4 tie.
