USI Men’s Golf projected to finish fifth in OVC

02/01/2025

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Golf is projected to place fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2025.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock claimed the top spot in the preseason poll with nine first-place votes and 99 points. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was predicted second with 92 points and two first-place votes after a runner-up season in 2024. The University of Tennessee at Martin rounded out the top three with 79 points.

Morehead State University was selected fourth with 72 points, ahead of USI in fifth with 60 points. Lindenwood University was picked sixth with 55 points. Reigning OVC champion Tennessee Tech University came in seventh with 45 points. Bryant University (39) and Western Illinois University (28) were projected as eighth and ninth, respectively. Eastern Illinois University and Tennessee State University were tied for a 10^th-place projection (18).

The Screaming Eagles tee off their spring championship season on March 14 in a match-play event against the University of Evansville before heading to Springfield, Missouri for the Twin Oaks Intercollegiate March 17-18.

Following its mid-March slate, USI will flip the calendar over at the Golfweek/AGT Intercollegiate at Pawleys Island, South Carolina, from March 31 to April 2. The Screaming Eagles will then head to Nashville, Tennessee, April 7-8 for the Big Blue Intercollegiate, hosted by OVC-foe Tennessee State. USI’s final tune-up tournament before the OVC Championship Tournament will be April 13-14 at the Wright State University Invitational in Springboro, Ohio.

The Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament is scheduled for April 20-23. The tournament returns to Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, which last hosted the OVC tournament in 2022-23. USI finished third in the stroke play portion of the tournament in 2023 before a match-play semifinal loss to SIUE. Last year’s tournament was held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Muscle Shoals in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The Screaming Eagles finished tied for fifth.

As part of the OVC’s preseason announcement, USI senior Jason Bannister was named to the OVC Men’s Players to Watch list. Bannister is coming off a solid fall season with five top-15 finishes and two top-five finishes. Bannister best finish in the fall was third at the Wichita State University Grier Jones Shocker Invitational. The senior’s other top five was at the UT Martin Grover Page Classic, where he posted a fall-best six-under par. Bannister’s best round of the fall was a 66 at the SIUE Dolenc Invitational to open the preseason. Bannister recorded a team 54-hole-best score of 209 and a team-best average of 70.88 strokes during the fall. The senior was an All-OVC selection after a USI record-setting season in 2023-24.

2024-25 Men’s Predicted Order of Finish
1. Little Rock (9 first-place votes) – 99 points
2. SIUE (2) – 92
3. UT Martin – 79
4. Morehead State – 72
5. Southern Indiana – 60
6. Lindenwood – 55
7. Tennessee Tech – 45
8. Bryant – 39
9. Western Illinois – 28
10. Eastern Illinois – 18
Tennessee State – 18

2024-25 Men’s Players to Watch
Tyler Dupuis, Bryant
Cole Jaworski, Eastern Illinois
Santiago Juesas Benet, Lindenwood
Matteo Cristoni, Little Rock
Nolan Piazza, Morehead State
Brady Kaufmann, SIUE
Jason Bannister, Southern Indiana
Bryar Moss, Tennessee State
Haden Maxwell, Tennessee Tech
Jackson Twerdahl, UT Martin
Baptiste Labeyrie, Western Illinois

THUNDERBOLTS RALLY TO EARN POINT AGAINST MACON, FALL IN SHOOTOUT 3-2

02/01/2025

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Evansville, In.: After being held off the scoreboard with well over 30 shots through 50 minutes, Evansville broke through with two third period goals to force overtime and then a shootout, where Macon held on to win 3-2 on Friday night at Ford Center. The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Friday, February 7th against the Peoria Rivermen at 7:05pm CT.

The first period was almost dead even, with both teams registering 12 shots apiece, however Macon scored the lone goal as Zack Nazzarett scored on a breakaway at 15:05 to give the Mayhem a 1-0 lead. In the second period, Evansville outshot Macon 13-12, yet again it was Macon scoring the lone goal, scored by Nazzarett on a deflection at 1:23. Dominating in the third period, Evansville finally broke through against Bailey Brkin, as Logan vande Meerakker scored at 10:53 from Grayson Valente and Matt Dorsey to cut the lead to 2-1, followed by Myles Abbate unassisted at 15:57 off a turnover to tie the game. Following a scoreless overtime in which Evansville outshot Macon 5-2, the Mayhem won the five-round shootout two goals to one, scored by Yaroslav Yevdokimov and Nicholas Favaro, with Evansville’s goal scored by Abbate.

Vande Meerakker and Abbate scored Evansville’s goals in regulation, while Ceci finished with 28 saves on 30 regulation shots on goal. The Thunderbolts and Mayhem meet again on Saturday, February 1st at Macon Coliseum, face-off set for 5:00pm CT.

Eagles fall to Bison, 6-1

02/01/2025

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.– University of Southern Indiana Men’s Tennis (0-2) falls to Lipscomb University (2-3) on Friday evening, 6-1, despite taking multiple matches to three sets.

Doubles:
Junior Mathys Bove and freshman Adam Koon took down the Bison’s number three duo with an impressive 6-1 performance. The other two duo matches were won by Lipscomb.

Singles:
The Screaming Eagles took multiple matches to three sets but only came out victorious in the number five singles with senior Quinten Gillespie squeaking out a win (4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)). The senior fell behind early, dropping the first set before catching fire in the second and riding the momentum through a tough fought third.

Fellow Eagles Jy Hibbert and Bove took their matchups to three sets, both winning the second set 6-3 before ultimately being bested in the final set.

UP NEXT FOR THE EAGLES:
USI makes a quick turnaround to battle Southeastern Conference opponent Vanderbilt University on Saturday evening beginning at 5 p.m. in Nashville.

2024-2025 SIAC ALL CONFERENCE GIRLS’ SWIM TEAM

02/01/2025

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First Team Second Team

200 Yard Medley Relay Nicole Fant (12) Jasper Lillian Wertman (12) Jasper Kara Kurucz (12) Jasper Wren Mehringer (10) Jasper 200 Yard Medley Relay

Jordan Gehlhausen (12) North

Gabrielle Irvin (10) North

Claire Coe (10) North

Avery Lasher (12) North

200 Yard Freestyle Addison Carlile (11) Castle 200 Yard Freestyle

Linzi VanMeter (12) Jasper

200 Yard IM Gabrielle Irvin (10) North 200 Yard IM

Josie Boger (10) Memorial

50 Yard Freestyle Karina Iglesias (10) Castle 50 Yard Freestyle

Nicole Fant (12) Jasper

1 Meter Diving Madison Mauck (10) Jasper 1 Meter Diving

Ruby Farmer (12) Memorial

100 Yard Fly Addison Carlile (11) Castle 100 Yard Fly

Claire Coe (10) North

100 Yard Freestyle Karina Iglesias (10) Castle 100 Yard Freestyle

Avery Lasher (12) No

2024-2025 SIAC ALL CONFERENCE BOYS’ SWIM TEAM

02/01/2025

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First Team Second Team

200 Yard Medley Relay Carson Book (12) Jasper Grant Wehr (10) Jasper Vincent Bez (10) Jasper Jonah Kuczynski (11) Jasper 200 Yard Medley Relay

Luke Baumberger (12) North

Elijah Fee (10) North

Jonathan Besing (10) North

Gavin Podewils (12) North

200 Yard Freestyle Nathaniel Seibert (11) Castle 200 Yard Freestyle

Kolten Cook (12) North

200 Yard IM Grant Wehr (10) Jasper 200 Yard IM

Elijah Fee (10) North

50 Yard Freestyle Austin Carlile (9) Castle 50 Yard Freestyle

Gavin Podewils (12) North

1 Meter Diving Tanner Shelton (12) North 1 Meter Diving

Quinten DeVillez (12) Reitz

100 Yard Fly Grant Wehr (10) Jasper 100 Yard Fly

Jonathan Besing (10) North

100 Yard Freestyle Caden Zeidler (11) Memorial

Gov. Mike Braun Appoints Jared Prentice as Indiana’s Inspector General

02/01/2025

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INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun has appointed Jared Prentice to serve as Indiana’s next Inspector General.

The mission of the Inspector General and staff is to reduce fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement and wrongdoing in state executive branch agencies. Through education, advice, investigations, prosecutions and legislative recommendations, the Inspector General fosters a culture of integrity that contributes to public confidence in state government.

Jared Prentice is a skilled attorney with experience in both the private and public sector. Jared is an expert in compliance and reporting, key attributes for this role. During his time in the public sector, serving the Indiana Department of Revenue, he established the agency’s compliance department from the ground up in alignment with the organization’s regulatory obligations, culture, values, and integrity objectives. Jared then utilized his experience in compliance, ethics, and privacy working for Elevance Health, a Fortune 20 health care company. Jared led their records and information management program, partnering with legal, compliance, and business stakeholders to ensure consistent record governance and oversight with external requirements while enhancing business functions’ access to business records. Jared has spent the last year with Deloitte Services, leading their records and contracts compliance, reporting, and artificial intelligence functions.

In addition to his professional experience, Jared is the Executive Vice President of Business Ethics Indiana, a professional organization with a mission to promote ethical business practices and provide professional development that strengthens Indiana as a business ethics center of excellence. Jared is a charter member, co-authored organizational by-laws, and served as Vice President of Administration two terms before being elected to Executive Vice President.

In addition to his two Juris Doctorates, from Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy and Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law respectively, Jared possesses licenses, affiliations, and multiple professional development certificates that add to his already impressive resume.

Statement from Governor Braun:

Jim Redwine GAVEL GAMUT – A Teetering Balance

02/01/2025

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GAVEL GAMUT
By Jim Redwine
www.jamesmredwine.com
A TEETERING BALANCE

Our federal democracy is seen as having three equal branches that keep our democracy
by equally asserting restraints on one another. The Legislative Branch plays its part by having 435 representatives elected for 2-year terms by citizens throughout the country along with 100 senators elected for 6-year terms. These just over 500 individuals have many functions but they really have only one power, providing or restricting funds to themselves and to the other two branches of government, the Executive and Judicial Branches.

The Executive Branch has thousands of functionaries but its most powerful executive is
the President who directly and indirectly heads the military and countless other divisions of that diverse branch. Each of those often nameless bureaucracies has untold, often nameless, functionaries whose functions may hold the key to whether our government functions.

The Judicial Branch is easy to generally designate but much more difficult for the
populace and the other two branches to corral as the Judicial Branch has generally defined itself since Marbury v. Madison in 1803. In fact, the Judicial Branch jealously and vigorously spends much of its time struggling to make sure the other two branches do not infringe on its powers, the chief of which is to define what the law allows the other two branches to do.

This theory of a three equal and separate foundation of our democracy works well as long
as the powers of each branch remain truly separate and fairly balanced and each branch is
composed of greatly dispersed functionaries. It is not a novel observation that our great
democracy has remained democratic, mostly, because it remains diverse, dispersed and divided.

When power becomes concentrated in a particular individual or individuals or branch,
democracy suffers and internecine competitions may arise. Such theoretical and rhetorical battles can, as our Civil War proved, break out into real battles as one or two or even all three of the branches seek dominance.

Currently, we have members of each branch asserting efforts to imprint upon our whole
country the vision of a few executives, followed by a few judges, both entities being subject to the status of financial hostages from a powerful few in the Legislative Branch. Now, some may analyze our current imbroglio as evidence our three-branch theory is simply working itself out in practice. That could be true. However, I hypothesize our Founding Fathers may have neglected the Fourth Branch of our social/governmental structure, the citizenry. Normally we have an. electorate that, while unhappy perhaps, still finds a way to “soldier on”.

Our current social intercourse pits about one-half of America against the other half, sort
of like the times of the Dred Scott v. Sandford case of 1857 that led to the Civil War. Much as when a large portion of the United States agreed with the U.S. Supreme Court that African Americans were not citizens while another large portion disagreed. Many Americans today either agree or disagree with Birthright Citizenship and several other issues. One President and at least one federal judge come down on opposite sides of this citizenship issue and probably several others.

Such matters being seen diametrically opposite by each of two of our branches and both
branches awaiting input from the Legislative and more importantly the public, creates a situation where our national soul may be at war with itself. What is called for is much more equal and reasonable input from each branch, especially that Fourth Branch, the populace.

For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com

OPINION: LETTER TO THE EDITOR Ken Colbert Political Committee Reports

02/01/2025

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VANDERBURGH COUNTY POLITICAL COMMITTEE REPORTS (CFA-4)

BY: KEN COLBERT, VANDERBURGH COUNTY RESIDENT/TAXPAYER

Each political candidate by Indiana State Statue (Indiana Election Division (IC-3-9-5-14)
must provide periodic updates on the receipts and expenditures regarding their
campaigns. I completed my applicable report as required without much fanfare. These
reports are public record and available for viewing through the Vanderburgh County
Election office or the Indiana State website portal.

Reviewing the data is very telling of the current political climate on both sides of the
political aisle in Vanderburgh County. Several CFA-4’s were investigated and there is a
blur between political affiliations based upon donations being issued across political lines
among the candidates. This is a violation of Republican and Democrat rules and is
construed as a “Republican in bad standing” or a “Democrat in bad standing” per their on
documents.

We will be discussing just one of the many glaring CFA-4’s and the hypocritical
leadership to allow for the violation, yet the same leadership will condone the
manipulation of the rules to censure highly electable officials.
The CFA-4 to expose is the committee report of “Elect Ron Beane”. I contacted Ron
Beane to discuss his public record and received clarification of his report for accuracy.
Mr. Beane confirmed the report was not an amendment and was correct. Attached please
see the 4 page public report.

Mr. Beane has historically identified as a “Republican”, voted at the Republican State
Convention, served as the Evansville city council Republican President, but the report
reflects his party affiliation is “Independent”. Political donations are to Friends of Karese
Johnson, Friends of Paul Green, Friends of Mary Allen, Molly Briles for Judge, Friends
of Hope Fusser, Citizens for Lloyd, and Friends of Amy Canterbury. The Party Rules, on
both sides of the aisle, are very specific regarding political contributions.
I am curious whether Mike Duckworth, the current Republican County Chairman, and 8 th
District Republican Chairman, Brenda Goff will enforce the “rules” of the Republican
party, or continue the hypocrisy to allow for the Uniparty to continue in Vanderburgh
County.

Duckworth has knowingly permitted non-qualified candidates a “waiver” of the
Republican Rules to unseat and challenge truly conservative candidates. The Democrats
are not exempt to looking the other way when a candidate is knowingly allowed to be
caucused into a city council vacancy without meeting residency requirements. The entire
uni-party overseen by the Vanderburgh Election Board continues to deflect and not take
responsibility to enforce election law, asserting the Secretary of State has oversight to
election violations.

The Indiana Secretary of States office states the authority rests with the local election
boards. Both government agencies point fingers assuring ineptness.. Do not think this
issue is isolated to Vanderburgh County, St. Joseph County has allowed the same
manipulation to occur with an illegal appointment from a vacancy. The entire political
system has been hijacked by special interest at the Federal, State, and Local levels for
political purposes over the will of the people. Mr. Beane is a “Republican in bad
Standing” based upon the rules of the Republican Party and should be censured. Will
Duckworth or Goff conduct an investigation to continue to restore integrity within the
Republican Party; highly unlikely.

If you would like to receive a different point of view regarding governmental issues
within Southwest Indiana, please consider following the podcast ColbertReport on
Rumble, X (Twitter), and Telegram. It is very lively with the content and the guests
appearing on the show.

The information is always fact based and covers such topics as the 10,000 Haitians
residing in Evansville, the Warrick County Jail and the County Commissioners legal
problems, the Public/Private organizations circumventing the taxpayers, the Indiana
Economic Development Corporation, E-REP, and the many not-for-profits and
foundations.

In the meantime, keep living the dream in Evansville, Indiana
Contact email: Republicansinbadstanding@gmail.com

Celebrate National Unclaimed Property Day with Attorney General Todd Rokita

02/01/2025

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Attorney General Todd Rokita invites Hoosiers to celebrate National Unclaimed Property Day on February 1 by visiting IndianaUnclaimed.gov or text CLAIM to 46220 to see whether any treasures await you.

“Our team reunited Hoosiers with more money in 2023 and 2024 than ever before, and the process to claim what is rightfully yours has never been easier,” Attorney General Rokita said. “In honor of National Unclaimed Property Day go to indianaunclaimed.gov and search for your name, your loved ones, or your business. ”

Unclaimed property is any financial asset with no activity by its owner for an extended period of time.

Examples of potential unclaimed property consists of the following:

Unclaimed wages or commissions
Money orders
Safety deposit box contents
Savings and checking accounts
Refunds
Overpayments such as:
Credit card balances
Cell phone bills
BMV payments

Here’s how to make sure your property doesn’t go unclaimed:

Keep a record of all bank accounts.
Record all stock certificates and be sure to cash all dividends received.
Record all utility deposits, including telephone, cable, and electricity deposits.
Cash all checks promptly.

Be sure to check IndianaUnclaimed.gov or text CLAIM to 46220 to search your name, family, or business.