|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Hoosier History Highlights
USI receives $1 million from The Good Samaritan Home, Inc.
The University of Southern Indiana Foundation has received a $1 million gift commitment from The Good Samaritan Home, Inc. to establish the University of Southern Indiana–Good Samaritan Internship Program, designed to expand access to social work professionals and critical services in southwestern Indiana.
The gift will support paid internship opportunities for students enrolled in USI’s Social Work Programs, as well as fund a clinical faculty position for five years in the USI College of Liberal Arts. The program places emphasis on supporting underserved and rural communities, particularly in the areas of mental health, behavioral health, social services and addiction support.
“This gift from The Good Samaritan Home is both generous and visionary,” said Steve Bridges, USI President. “It addresses an urgent need in our region by preparing more students to become highly skilled social workers while also extending vital services to communities that need them most. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and the impact it will have on our students, our University and the people of southwestern Indiana.”
Internship eligibility will be limited to USI students enrolled in USI Social Work Programs who meet prerequisites for generalist or clinical internships and demonstrate an interest in supporting underserved or rural communities.
The USI College of Liberal Arts, in partnership with the Social Work Program leadership, will oversee the program and collaborate with The Good Samaritan Home to establish outcome metrics.
“We are very excited to be partnering with USI to help create more highly skilled social workers in southwestern Indiana and to provide critically needed mental health services in this region,” says Rev. Michael Erwin, Good Samaritan Home Executive Director. “Good Samaritan Home was an innovative outreach of the United Churches of Christ when it was begun 60 years ago. Times have changed, but our focus has not, serving those in need with care, compassion, knowledge and expertise. We are grateful for this partnership and look forward to its future.”
The University of Southern Indiana–Good Samaritan Internship Program represents a significant step in addressing the shortage of social workers in southwestern Indiana while offering students meaningful, real-world experience that prepares them to make a lasting impact in their careers and communities.
ISDA, Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing announce recipients of inaugural stewardship award
|
| INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 23, 2025) — The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing recently announced recipients of the inaugural Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing Stewardship award.
Guernsey Farms located in Jamestown, Indiana and New Vision Farms located in Napolean, Ohio, were recognized with the 2025 Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing Stewardship award. Guernsey Farms received $20,000 cash prize for finishing in first place and New Vision Farms received $10,000 cash prize for finishing in second place. The Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing Stewardship award is a new partnership between Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing and ISDA. The award is presented to Weaver Popcorn growers who are committed to improving soil health and water quality on their operations. “Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing is excited to begin our partnership with the ISDA. The stewardship award is a great opportunity to recognize the dedication of our growers to soil and water conservation on their land,” said Jeff Sheedy, Manager of Agriculture for Weaver Popcorn. “Our growers take pride in producing the best quality popcorn in the world. Their commitment to sustainable farming practices has enabled many of them to raise popcorn on the same ground for multiple generations. We sincerely thank all our participating growers this year, and we are honored to recognize Guernsey Farms and New Vision Farms as the inaugural recipients of the stewardship award.” Weaver producers were encouraged to fill out applications describing their conservation and nutrient stewardship practices. This year, there was 70% participation from the Weaver growers. Once the application closed, five producers were selected based on conservation practices implemented on their operation. ISDA then visited those five producers to discuss their commitment to stewardship and individual farm story. From the five finalists, ISDA chose the two recipients of the stewardship award. Along with growing popcorn, Guernsey Farms produces soybeans, seed soybeans and hay. Conservation practices implemented on the farm include no tillage, cover crops, grassed waterways, filter strips and drainage water management structures. “This is the future of agriculture. We want to leave the land better for the future” said Bruce Guernsey of Guernsey Farms. Along with growing popcorn, New Vision Farms produces green beans, cucumbers, soybeans, wheat, edamame and field corn. Conservation practices implemented on the farm include grassed waterways, filter strips, blind inlets and reduced tillage. “I believe it is our job to be good stewards of the land and to leave it better than we found it, and it is our responsibility to manage and improve it” said Nick Rettig of New Vision Farms. The Midwest is a leader in soil conservation efforts. In Indiana, farmers utilize a variety of soil conservation practices and planted more than 1.6 million acres of cover crops in 2025. “I am excited for this new public-private partnership with Weaver Popcorn because not only will it help advance soil conservation, but it also now incentivizes it,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “ISDA’s Division of Soil Conservation works tirelessly to help landowners implement conservation practices on their land and it is partnerships like these that help advance what we’re doing at ISDA. Congratulations to Guernsey Farms and New Vision Farms.” |
First Annual Celebrating INnovations in Aging Conference
Exciting news! Remember that “Save the Date” for our first-ever “Celebrating INnovations in Aging” conference? Well, it’s time to officially register!
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at the Indiana Government Center South. We’re capping attendance at 200 people to ensure a fantastic, engaging experience for everyone. There is no cost to attend the seminar.
We’ve got an incredible lineup of experts ready to share their insights, including:
Keynote speakers
- Dr. JoAnn Burke, Ph. D., LCSW, LMFT, BSN, Chair, Indiana Commission on Aging; Chair, QSource Board of Directors
- Natalie Sutton, MPA, Alzheimer’s Association
Snapshot of breakout sessions
- 211: Report and Detect with Paravdeep Nijjar & Tara Morse (APS)
- Dementia Strategic Plan with Shannon Effler
- Insights from Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana with Karla (KJ) Mapes
- Fall Prevention: “Stepping On” with Emily Tisdale (UIndy CAC)
- And more, covering difficult behaviors and updates from the Alzheimer’s Association!
Panel Discussion: “The Next Chapter: Innovating Aging in the Hoosier State”
- Moderated by Amanda Oporta, featuring Sarah Waddle (AARP), Tina McIntosh (Joy’s House), Eric Ashby (Indiana Arts Commission), Dr. Katheleen Unroe (IU School of Medicine) and Vanessa Convard (Bureau of Better Aging)
Featured session
- “The Power of Music in Cognitive Disorders” with Tim Brimmer, PhD. (Butler University)
- Hosted by the Indiana Bureau of Better Aging
World Ballet Company: Cinderella
|
|
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
HOT JOBS
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
Hall, Austin lead USI women to top-10 finish
COLUMBIA, Mo.—Junior Ellie Hall and sophomore Hadessah Austin posted top-20 finishes to lead University of Southern Indiana Women’s Cross Country to a 10th-place finish in the black race of the Gans Creek Classic Friday morning.
Hall finished 10th in the 245-competitor field with a six-kilometer time of 20 minutes, 58.5 seconds, while Austin was 16th with a time of 21:03.5.
Junior Zoe Seward returned to the Screaming Eagles’ lineup to finish 118th as USI compiled 294 points in the 26-team field.
Freshman Lilyanna Blais and junior Sara Livingston completed the Screaming Eagles’ top five scorers with respective placements of 132nd and 138th, while sophomore Addison Applegate and sophomore Charlee Gibson were 142nd and 173rd, respectively, to round out USI’s top seven.
The Screaming Eagles also had four student-athletes competing in the open race. Sophomore Cordelia Hoover and freshman Mackenzi Thomas paced USI’s quartet with respective finishes of 33rd and 55th out of more than 250-competitors.
USI returns to action October 17 when it co-hosts the Angel Mounds Invitational in Evansville, Indiana. It will be USI’s final regular-season meet as the Ohio Valley Conference Championships are October 31 in Charleston, Illinois, and the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Region Championships are November 14 at Angel Mounds.
Nolan races to top-20 finish, Eagles 11th at Gans Creek
COLUMBIA, Mo.—Junior Alex Nolan raced to a top-20 finish to lead University of Southern Indiana Men’s Cross Country to an 11th-place finish in the black race of the Gans Creek Classic Friday morning.
Nolan finished 18th out of 260 competitors with a personal-best eight-kilometer time of 24 minutes, 01.5 seconds, which was less than 20 seconds off the winning pace of 23:42.1 set by Iowa Western Community College’s Barnabas Ndiwa.
As a team, the Screaming Eagles finished with 345 points in the 26-team field. Senior Dominick Beine finished 70th with a time of 24:35.1, while freshman Kraedyn Youngcarded an 87th-place finish with a time of 24:44.1.
Freshman James Haggerty and junior Landen Swiney filled out USI’s top five scorers with respective placements of 159th and 164th, while juniors Eli Mojonnier and Isaac Stanford were 169th and 176th, respectively, to round out the Screaming Eagles’ top seven.
The Screaming Eagles also had four student-athletes competing in the open race. Sophomores Zach Wells and Kyle Kern paced USI’s quartet with respective finishes of 42nd and 43rd out of more than 250-competitors.
USI returns to action October 17 when it co-hosts the Angel Mounds Invitational in Evansville, Indiana. It will be USI’s final regular-season meet as the Ohio Valley Conference Championships are October 31 in Charleston, Illinois, and the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Region Championships are November 14 at Angel Mounds.
Nolan finished 18th out of 260 competitors with a personal-best eight-kilometer time of 24 minutes, 01.5 seconds, which was less than 20 seconds off the winning pace of 23:42.1 set by Iowa Western Community College’s Barnabas Ndiwa.
As a team, the Screaming Eagles finished with 345 points in the 26-team field. Senior Dominick Beine finished 70th with a time of 24:35.1, while freshman Kraedyn Youngcarded an 87th-place finish with a time of 24:44.1.
Freshman James Haggerty and junior Landen Swiney filled out USI’s top five scorers with respective placements of 159th and 164th, while juniors Eli Mojonnier and Isaac Stanford were 169th and 176th, respectively, to round out the Screaming Eagles’ top seven.
The Screaming Eagles also had four student-athletes competing in the open race. Sophomores Zach Wells and Kyle Kern paced USI’s quartet with respective finishes of 42nd and 43rd out of more than 250-competitors.
USI returns to action October 17 when it co-hosts the Angel Mounds Invitational in Evansville, Indiana. It will be USI’s final regular-season meet as the Ohio Valley Conference Championships are October 31 in Charleston, Illinois, and the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Region Championships are November 14 at Angel Mounds.
USI drops first OVC match to Morehead State
MOREHEAD, Ky.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball drops its first Ohio Valley Conference game of the season in a four-set match at Morehead State University.
Junior Ashby Willis tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 11 kills and a season-high 16 digs. OVC Setter of the Week, Aysa Thomas, also recorded a double-double with 26 assists and 15 digs.. As a team, the Screaming Eagles put up 14 blocks at the net. Junior McKenzie Murphy led the team with 10 total blocks, marking a career high.
Set 1: USI 25, MSU 15
The Screaming Eagles kicked off OVC play with a dominant first set, ending with a 10-point serving run by senior Bianca Anderson. They tallied seven blocks at the net as a team, which helped hold the Morehead State offense to a negative hitting percentage. Willis tallied five kills, followed by freshman Carley Wright with three.
Set 2: MSU 25, USI 13
The Morehead State Eagles came back strong in the second set after losing the first, taking an 11-point lead (19-8). USI fought back, landing kills led by Wright, who added three more, hitting a .417 after the second set. Thomas picked up six digs to put up some defensive stops, along with sophomore libero Audrey Small, who followed with five.
Set 3: MSU 25, USI 12
Murphy put up another three blocks in the third set, moving to seven for the match. The Screaming Eagles struggled to put together offensive plays, landing just seven kills in the set. Willis and junior Leah Coleman put together two kills each. Eight different USI players picked up at least one dig to try and stop the MSU offense in the back court.
Set 4: MSU 25, USI 23
In the closest set of the match, USI saw the lead six different times in the back-and-forth battle. Murphy put up another three blocks but was led by Thomas, who put up four blocks, to finish with a career-high seven total. Willis (4) and Coleman (3) added another seven kills together, helped by Murphy and Wright, who had two each.