FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
UE softball defeats Bellarmine to complete weekend
UE softball defeats Bellarmine to complete weekend
Aces earn another split
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eliza Piggott went 3-5 with two RBI to pace the University of Evansville softball team to a 7-4 win over Bellarmine in Sunday’s weekend finale at Knights Field.
Game 1 – Ball State 14, UE 6
Ball State scored 10 of the first 11 runs and pulled away for a 14-6 win over the Purple Aces in Sunday’s opener. After recording the first run of the game in the top of the first, the Cardinals plated five in the second and four in the third.
Jess Willsey led the second inning off with a double and scored UE’s first run of the game on a double by Taylor Howe. UE added two more in the bottom of the third on a 2-run single by Morgan Adams to make it a 10-3 game.
In the fourth, RBI hits by Kynadee Warner and Niki Bode saw Evansville cut the deficit to five at 10-5. The Aces looked for more, but stranded the bases loaded. Ball State put the game out of reach with a 4-run seventh to pull away. Willsey added an RBI double in the 7th to make it a 14-6 final.
Bode and Willsey posted three hits apiece as the Aces outhit the Cardinals by a 12-11 final. Elle Jarrett made the start and gave up 10 runs, nine earned, in 2 2/3 innings. Kate Ridgway tossed the final 3 1/3 with four runs scoring.
Game 2 – UE 7, Bellarmine 4
Scoring three runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh, the Aces completed the weekend with a 7-4 win over Bellarmine.
After Callie Meinel scored the opening run of the game in the top half of the second, the Knights matched it with a run in the third. The game remained tied at 1-1 until the Aces scored three times in the fifth. Eliza Piggott hit a leadoff home run while Miriah Powell and Kynadee Warner added RBI hits to put UE in front by a score of 4-1.
Evansville added three runs in the top of the seventh Jess Willsey hit a 2-run single before Piggott’s RBI single put the Aces in front at 7-1. Looking for a rally in the bottom of the inning, the Knights scored three runs and looked to get even closer, but Sydney Weatherford got out of the jam as Bellarmine stranded the bases loaded to end the game.
Gracie Hollingsworth made the start, allowing one run on two hits in six innings on the way to her fourth win of the season. Weatherford tossed the final frame. UE is back in action on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Lindenwood.
-www.GoPurpleAces.com-
VANDE MEERAKKER’S LATE GOAL LEADS THUNDERBOLTS OVER HAVOC 4-3
VANDE MEERAKKER’S LATE GOAL LEADS THUNDERBOLTS OVER HAVOC 4-3
Evansville, In.: After a late two-goal lead slipped away from Evansville, the Thunderbolts bent but did not break as they scored in the final minutes of regulation to defeat the Havoc 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Ford Center. The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Saturday, March 22nd against the Quad City Storm at 7:05pm CT.
Only 3:56 into the game, Aidan Litke opened the scoring for Evansville on a nice move to the inside from Scott Kirton and Cameron MacPhee to make it 1-0. At 14:17, Huntsville responded as Phil Elgstam scored on the rush to tie the game, before Evansville grabbed the lead back only 37 seconds later, as Benjamin Lindberg scored off a face-off win from Tyson Gilmour to give Evansville the 2-1 lead at 14:54. Following a scoreless second period, Myles Abbate scored unassisted on a breakaway 9:33 into the third period to give Evansville some insurance with a 3-1 lead. Huntsville stormed back however, as Elgstam scored off a broken play at 11:53, followed by Sam Ruffin on a power play just over a minute later at 13:16 to tie the game 3-3. Weathering the late pressure from the Havoc, Evansville gained a late 4-3 lead with 2:10 remaining in the third period as Logan vande Meerakker finished a net-front scramble from Gilmour and Kirton, the lead holding following a late push from Huntsville with Havoc goaltender Mike Robinson pulled for the extra attacker.
Vande Meerakker scored the game-winning goal, while Lindberg, Litke, and Abbate each finished with one goal apiece. Gilmour and Kirton each tallied a pair of assists, while Cole Ceci finished with 22 saves on 25 shots on goal for his 16th win of the season and his 29th as a Thunderbolt, which ties the franchise all-time wins record held by Brian Billett. The Thunderbolts and Havoc meet again on Friday, March 28th at Von Braun Center. Sunday’s win was Evansville’s 22nd of the season, increasing Evansville’s standings points to 50 as the Thunderbolts are now tied for 5th place and only one point out of 4th place. Evansville now only needs a maximum of 9 points out of 18 possible remaining points to clinch a playoff spot.
Individual game tickets and group packages are on sale for the 2024-25 season. Season tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale now. Call 812-422-BOLT(2658) or visit our website (www.evansvillethunderbolts.
About Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts is the area’s only professional hockey team. The Thunderbolts are a proud member of the SPHL. The team is owned and operated by VW Sports, L.L.C, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, Inc. www.evansvillethunderbolts.com
No. 2 seed Lady Blazers roll in Quarterfinal win over No. 7 seed Lincoln Trail
No. 2 seed Lady Blazers roll in Quarterfinal win over No. 7 seed Lincoln Trail
VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers opened postseason play Sunday afternoon in the Quarterfinals of the 2025 NJCAA Division I Region 24 tournament.
The Lady Blazers earned the No. 2 seed overall and played host to No. 7 seed Lincoln Trail College inside the Physical Education Complex to begin the tournament.
VU overcame a slow start and were able to pull away with an 83-59 victory over the Lady Statesmen, with six Lady Trailblazers scoring in double figures Sunday afternoon.
The Lady Trailblazers got off to a slow start to open the game with Lincoln Trail opening up an early 9-3 lead after converting a four-point play.
Vincennes was able to settle in and regain momentum with a big 12-0 scoring run and later using a 9-0 scoring run to close out the first quarter with a big 24-15 lead.
The second quarter began as a back-and-forth battle before the Lady Blazers would use another big scoring run, scoring 11 straight to increase their lead to 43-22.
Lincoln Trail would answer back before halftime, hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 43-27 at the halftime break.
Vincennes continued to roll into the second half, closing out the third period on a 13-5 run, including hitting two layups quick layups before the buzzer to take a 66-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
Lincoln Trail continued to battle into the fourth quarter, cutting the VU lead to 70-48 but were unable to overcome the big deficit.
VU rallied late with an 8-3 run to close out the game by the final score of 83-59 and secure their spot in the Region 24 Semifinals Tuesday night in Mattoon, Ill.
The Lady Blazers were led by a pair of double-doubles Sunday afternoon, headlined by sophomore Marta Gutierrez (Alicante, Spain) who finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, her first double-double of the season.
Freshman Iris Comesana (Vigo, Spain) also earned her first double-double this season, coming off the bench to finish with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Freshman Emani Washington (Indianapolis, Ind.) was the leading scorer for the Lady Blazers Sunday afternoon, ending her day with 1 points, nine assists and four rebounds.
Freshman Ahmya Thomas (Phoenix, Ariz.) added 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, while freshman Netala Dixon (Dyersburg, Tenn.) came off the bench to finish the game with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Freshman Delora Pricop (Satu Mare, Romania) was the sixth Lady Trailblazer to score in double figures, ending her day with 13 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.
The Lady Trailblazers advance to Region 24 Semifinals to be played Tuesday, March 11 at 8 p.m. eastern.
Vincennes will take on the winner of No. 3 seed Southwestern Illinois College and No. 6 seed Rend Lake College in the Semifinals hosted at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill.
VINCENNES BOX SCORE
VINCENNES (83): Delora Pricop 6-11 1-2 13, Ahmya Thomas 4-9 5-6 15, Jazmyn Robey 1-6 0-0 2, Marta Gutierrez 5-11 0-0 11, Emani Washington 6-13 1-1 16, Iris Comesana 5-7 2-2 12, Netala Dixon 5-12 4-6 14, Team 32-69 13-17 83.
Lincoln Trail – 15 12 14 18 – 59
VU (17-14, 11-4) – 24 19 23 17 – 83
Three-point goals: VU 6 (Washington 3, Thomas 2, Gutierrez). Rebounds: VU 51 (Gutierrez 12). Assists: VU 24 (Washington 9). Steals: VU 6 (Thomas 2). Blocked Shots: VU 8 (Pricop 4). Turnovers: VU 17. Personal Fouls: VU 17. Fouled out: Pricop.
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The Vincennes University Women’s Basketball team improves to 17-14 on the season, with an 11-4 record against Region 24 opponents.
See What Beckwith and Burton Share in Common
We all know how important Basketball is in Indiana, so it’s no surprise that our legislature would engage in some friendly competition on the court. It’s a Hoosier tradition for legislators to face off for some hoops at the midpoint of the session.
Several legislators are nursing bruises and injuries from the game. If you visit the Statehouse this week, you will likely see senators and representatives in orthopedic boots.
Among them is Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who has been hobbling around the Statehouse in a walking boot after injuring his right Achilles tendon during last Monday’s game. To add insult to injury, the Senate team that Beckwith was a member of lost to the House members.
On the other team, State Representative Alex Burton, representing Evansville’s 77th district, has also been nursing an injury to his right Achilles tendon. This injury prevented him from participating in the Meet Your Legislator event on Saturday.
Burton took to Facebook to share about his injury: “My right Achilles is torn. I tore my left Achilles in 2011. I am done with basketball forever. On the bright side, the House won! And, yes, I was getting buckets.”
Indiana Considers Cigarette Tax Increase: Weighing the Impact
As Indiana lawmakers debate potential fiscal measures for the coming year, one proposal gaining traction is increasing the state’s cigarette tax. Advocates argue that raising the tax would improve public health and generate much-needed revenue, while opponents warn of economic consequences and potential drawbacks for businesses and consumers.
The Case for Increasing the Cigarette Tax
Indiana currently has one of the lowest cigarette taxes in the region, at $0.995 per pack, which has remained unchanged since 2007. Public health experts and advocacy groups argue that a higher tax could serve as a deterrent to smoking, particularly among youth and lower-income individuals who are most price-sensitive. Studies suggest that every 10% increase in cigarette prices leads to a 4% decrease in overall cigarette consumption and a 7% decline among teenagers.
Health organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the Indiana State Medical Association, support the proposed tax hike as a way to reduce smoking-related illnesses and healthcare costs. Indiana consistently ranks among the worst states for smoking rates, with nearly 19% of adults identifying as smokers. The additional tax revenue could be allocated to smoking cessation programs, public health initiatives, and healthcare funding.
Economic and Business Concerns
However, not everyone is on board with the proposed increase. Tobacco retailers and small business owners worry that higher prices will drive consumers to neighboring states with lower tax rates, leading to revenue losses and potential job cuts. Indiana shares borders with states like Kentucky, where cigarette taxes are significantly lower, creating concerns about cross-border purchasing.
Opponents also argue that cigarette taxes disproportionately affect low-income smokers, who may struggle with addiction and bear a greater financial burden. Some legislators have proposed alternative measures, such as gradual tax increases or expanded funding for cessation programs to mitigate the impact on vulnerable populations.
Potential Revenue and Future Outlook
A tax increase could generate substantial revenue for Indiana. Estimates suggest that raising the tax by $2 per pack could bring in over $300 million annually, funds that could be used to support healthcare programs, infrastructure improvements, or education initiatives.
As the debate continues, Hoosiers can expect a spirited discussion on the balance between public health, economic interests, and state revenue needs. Whether Indiana follows the national trend of increasing cigarette taxes remains to be seen, but the outcome will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on residents, businesses, and public health efforts across the state.
City and County Meetings This Week
| Name | Date | Agenda | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderburgh County Redevelopment Commission | March 10, 2025 – 02:00 PM | ||
| Evansville Police Merit Commission | March 10, 2025 – 04:15 PM | Agenda | |
| City Council Meeting | March 10, 2025 – 05:30 PM | Agenda | |
| Solid Waste District Board | March 11, 2025 – 08:30 AM | Agenda | |
| Design Review Committees | March 11, 2025 – 08:30 AM | ||
| Board of County Commissioners & Drainage Board | March 11, 2025 – 09:30 AM | ||
| Affordable Housing Fund Advisory Committee – Cancelled | March 11, 2025 – 03:00 PM | ||
| Evansville Fire Department Merit Commision | March 11, 2025 – 04:00 PM | ||
| Historic Preservation Commission | March 12, 2025 – 11:30 AM | ||
| Board Of Public Safety | March 12, 2025 – 01:00 PM | ||
| Board of Public Works | March 13, 2025 – 01:30 PM | ||
| Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization | March 13, 2025 – 04:00 PM |
Local food page celebrates 9 years on Facebook
Local food page celebrates 9 years on Facebook today.
The popular local Facebook food page Fingers, Fork, Knife, and Spoon Evansville is celebrating its ninth anniversary. Founded by local businessman Brian Buxton, the page began as a way to share Buxton’s dining adventures. His friends would take interest in the photos, menus, and restaurants in different cities, and Buxton soon realized that he could do the same for businesses and restaurants in the Evansville area.
Being a small business owner and self-employed from age 11, Buxton wanted to support and champion the restaurants that made Evansville so interesting and unique, as well as educate people on “hidden gem” restaurants they may pass by daily, but never realize what’s behind the front door.
FFKS began with 400 followers and today is close to welcoming 32,000. It is the largest food-related page in the area that solely publishes original content. The page started as a review page and has grown into the local authority for food and dining news, restaurant reviews, a source for breaking news on restaurant openings and closings, news on dining events, restaurant history and more. Buxton is a real estate investor, gentleman farmer, and the owner and publisher of News4U magazine. He has been published on national websites incl. www.GoPetFriendly.com for his “Dining with Dogs” column, which outlines all of the local restaurants in the Evansville area (and a second for Louisville, KY) where your companion animal can accompany you on restaurant patios. There are over 127 in Evansville alone (https://www.facebook.com/
Buxton co-organized and hosted Evansville Restaurant Week, has written for Evansville Living Magazine, the Courier & Press, News4U, and was a co-host of Taste Tuesdays on Channel 44 with Gretchin Irons for 4+ years. Buxton has been a guest on several local podcasts and hosts a “Sunday Sitdown” Facebook Live on Sunday evenings where he discusses post from the previous week in-depth.
Fingers Fork, Knife and Spoon can be found on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Indiana Joins 20 States Calling for More Election Security
Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales joined 20 other Secretaries of State in calling on newly appointed U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to take action to prevent non-citizens from voting in American elections.
The letter, signed by top election officials from across the nation, urges DHS to address critical deficiencies in the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, which is used to verify citizenship status.
As outlined in the letter, the current SAVE program has inefficiencies, outdated technology, and financial barriers that hinder states’ ability to effectively detect and remove non-citizens from voter rolls. The Secretaries of State are requesting that DHS improve the system to ensure the integrity of U.S. elections and protect against ineligible voters.
“Ensuring that only eligible voters participate in our elections is essential to maintaining public confidence and protecting the integrity of our elections. Indiana is committed to safeguarding our election system, and I am joining my colleagues in requesting that the Department of Homeland Security take swift action to make the SAVE program more efficient and accessible to states. Hoosiers deserve to trust in the election process, and that starts with ensuring that non-citizens are not allowed to vote. Only U.S. Citizens can vote in Indiana. Period,” said Diego Morales, Indiana Secretary of State.
Evansville Gets Millions for Roads
The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced the recipients of this year’s Community Crossings grants, including $1.5 million to the City of Evansville and $1.2 million to Vanderburgh County.
Governor Mike Braun said, “Improving and maintaining roads and bridges at all levels is crucial for enhancing quality of life and public safety for Hoosiers.”
State Senator Vaneta Becker said that the state will invest $4.7 million for local road projects in Senate District 50. “It is important our roads and infrastructure can support motorists coming in and out of our community,” Becker said. “It is wonderful to see programs like this that help improve our local roadways, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this funding will have on Senate District 50.”
Counties with populations of fewer than 50,000 and cities and towns with populations of fewer than 10,000 receive a 75%/25% match. Counties with populations of greater than 50,000 and cities and towns with populations of greater than 10,000 receive a 50%/50% match.