EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball added another chapter to a historic first season as an NCAA Division I program Thursday, debuting in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 68-54 win against Southeast Missouri State University.
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The win moved USI’s record to 7-5 overall this season and 1-0 to begin conference play. With the loss, SEMO dropped to 5-7 on the season and 0-1 in the OVC.
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Inside the first minute of the contest, sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) got USI on the scoreboard first with a triple from the wing against SEMO’s 1-3-1 defense, tallying USI’s first points in OVC play. A minute later, junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) capitalized on a three-point play to give USI an early 5-0 lead.
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Southern Indiana was able to jump out to a 13-2 lead midway through the first quarter, as Southeast Missouri switched around zone defenses. The offensive end cooled off a little bit in the back half of the first period, as USI carried a 15-8 lead to the second quarter.
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Shafford continued to feel it from outside the arc in the second quarter, connecting on another pair of triples. At the 6:29 mark in the second, Shafford used a ball fake to create an opening to knock down her fourth three of the first half and push USI’s lead to a dozen, 24-12. With 3:32 remaining until halftime, Raley was on the receiving end of an assist from Shafford, as Raley beat the shot clock with a layup to give a 26-15 advantage.
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Following the layup by Raley, Southeast Missouri went on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes, cutting the score down to 26-24 USI. With 30 seconds left until the break, Screaming Eagles junior guard Lexie Green (Indianapolis, Indiana) canned a corner three-pointer to snap the Redhawks’ scoring run to give USI a 29-24 lead. Southern Indiana went into the intermission ahead 30-24.
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At halftime, Shafford led USI with 14 points while Raley totaled eight first-half points for the Screaming Eagles.
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Inside the first minute to begin the third quarter, SEMO cut down USI’s lead to two, 30-28. Once again, USI responded with a three-pointer from senior guard Tori Handley (Jeffersonville, Indiana). The next few minutes were competitive, going back and forth. With 6:12 left in the third, Handley splashed home another triple to extend USI’s lead back to nine, 42-33.
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The Screaming Eagles’ advantage remained at nine, 53-44, with 1:39 remaining in the third quarter after successful trips to the free-throw line for USI senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio). Haithcock joined Raley and Shafford in double figures by the end of the third. USI took a 53-47 lead to the fourth quarter.
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Graduate forward Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio) made two layups within the first couple of minutes of the fourth quarter to push USI ahead 57-47. The Redhawks kept battling, bringing the deficit down to single digits with under five minutes remaining.
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The Screaming Eagles continued to keep the Redhawks at bay, holding a 62-52 lead with 2:11 left. USI put the finishing touches on the win with points late by Shafford, Brown, and Raley.
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For the game, USI shot for 40 percent (22-55) from the field with eight three-pointers. USI outrebounded SEMO 39-36 and had 16 assists to only six assists for SEMO. USI recorded 27 points off turnovers and 24 points in the paint.
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Shafford led all scorers with 16 points in the game, hitting four of her six total makes from outside. She also pulled down six rebounds. Haithcock posted 15 points and seven rebounds. The reigning OVC co-Player of the Week is two points away from 1,000 career points. Raley posted 13 points and eight rebounds for USI.
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The Redhawks were 16-for-49 from the floor for 32.7 percent in the game. Southeast Missouri made three triples and went 19-for-26 at the charity stripe. Freshman guard Alecia Doyle led the Redhawks with 14 points while sophomore guard Jaliyah Green had 12 points.
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The opening week of the OVC season will continue Saturday for the Screaming Eagles, as USI will travel to Eastern Illinois University for a 1 p.m. contest. The game
USI Women’s Basketball wins in OVC debut
RONs GUEARY LETTER
I recently read the agreement between VENUEWORKS several times over the last three weeks after I stumbled across this Agreement posted in the City-County Observer publication as a “LETTER TO THE EDiTOR” After reading and analyzing this, agreement I was shocked as to its contents.Â
There are numerous provisions in this legal agreement that I think will stun the Evansville taxpayers as to how this agreement handles your taxes paid over the years. I have not been able to find out whether the Agreement was ever approved by the Evansville City Council.
I am going to share with you a couple of the most offensive provisions and see what you think about these, but as I mentioned there are numerous other offensive provisions.
OFFENSIVE PROVISION #1
Per page 12 of the Agreement and 2.3(0) reads as follows:
“Venuworks shall utilize facility staff and resources to manage and operate the SPHL (Southern Professional Hockey League) until the City determines that it wants to cease operations of the SPHL Franchise or transfer ownership to a third party. During such periods in which Venuworks operates the SPHL Franchise, all expenses of the SPHL Franchise shall be deemed as Operating Expense of the Facility and all revenues of the SPHL Franchise shall be deemed Operating Revenue of the Facility.â€
All expenses for the Thunderbolts would for most Minor League Hockey Teams include such things as player salaries and housing, equipment such as hockey sticks and pucks, travel expenses to 28 away games, which also would include hotels, insurance, and many other types of expenses. My experience indicates that annual expenses for an SPHL Team are between $1,200,000 and $1,400,000 per calendar year. So, the Ford Center/Evansville taxpayers are paying all the expenses of the SPHL Team named the Thunderbolts and they report this to the public as an “operating expense of the facilityâ€. But all income that is received from ticket sales for games and advertisements on the walls around the hockey ice is considered “operating revenue of the facility.â€Â So, a major problem is that the Thunderbolts (an SPHL Team) attendance has been poor, and I suspect the advertising income is not robust. So, the Thunderbolts have been operating in the Ford Center since October 2016, starting their season the weekend of October 20, 2023. We need to see what the losses were for the 7 years ended in June 2023. It does not seem right that the Venuworks 100% owned subsidiary – VW Sports of Evansville, LLC owns the Thunderbolts is not paying any of their expenses, and assuming these are large cumulative losses from the Team staying in business then the Ford Center/Taxpayer dollars are covering all these losses. Has this arrangement with the Thunderbolts been previously disclosed to the public and what is the risk of loss to the taxpayers?
The main reason the Evansville Icemen lease was not extended by the Winnecke Administration and the Evansville Icemen were forced to leave the Ford Center is that the five-year lease that the Evansville Icemen played under was excessive and would not allow the Evansville Icemen to have any positive return on investment. Many times, the Evansville Icemen sat down with the Mayor and the Executive Director of the Ford Center, Scott Schoenike asking to modify the original five-year lease. The response from Schoenike was that we were not performing well, and that we had to do better and that they thought they could do better. Hence, Schoenike thought the answer was to buy an SPHL Franchise which they ended up doing. Schoenike was Big-Time Wrong. The Evansville Icemen’s average over the first four years of the lease was an annual average attendance of 5,172 per game which caused us to be ranked 3rd out of 27 teams in the ECHL, also as for season ticket sales, we also were ranked 3rd out of 27 teams, and finally each year of our lease, the Evansville Icemen ranked 1st out of 27 teams as far as group sales were concerned. The bottom line is that the Winnecke Administration thought we were not doing good and that they would do better with an SPHL Team. We were forced out and after a year of going dark, the Evansville Icemen lost all their players because they became “Free Agents†and we started afresh in October, 2017 in an arena in Jacksonville with new players and a new coach. We had a great season with an average attendance per game of just over 6,000, which ranked us 3rd out of 27 teams in the ECHL, plus we made the playoffs and had a reasonable positive return on investment. Our second year was even better. I sold the Team in July 2019 to an excellent group of Jacksonville businesspeople.
The new Jacksonville Icemen Team under new ownership has done well as I thought they would, and I just learned that they averaged 7749 per game for the season covering 2022-2023 and this ranked them 1 out of 28 teams in the ECHL. I am very happy for them. The arena in Jacksonville only holds about 8,000 people (compared to 9,000 people for the Ford Center) and the Mayor of Jacksonville and the management company of their arena were cooperative, positive, and helpful in assisting us in a great launch in Jacksonville, Florida (incidentally, about 200 of our Evansville Icemen fans drove down to the Jacksonville Arena for our first game in October 2017!! As I look back to the media coverage of the “negotiations†between the Evansville Icemen and the Winnecke Administration, it is very disappointing to me that all the television stations and the Courier and Press newspaper only reported the positions of the Winnecke statements and all our positions were ignored. Only the City-County Observer covered the growing dispute in a balanced way.
OFFENSIVE PROVISION #2
Per Page 16 and 17 of the Agreement and 4.4(i) (ii) (iii) and (iv)
“Venueworks†Capital Investment
Venuworks will make a capital investment for not less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), for the purchase of a new production camera system for the Facility. Specific items to be purchased with funds from Venuworks will be determined to the mutual satisfaction of both parties.
- City will repay Venuworks for the actual investment amount over the course of the five-year term, in the form of sixty equal monthly payments.
- The amortized repayment shall be an operating expense to the facility.
- The parties recognize the equipment procured through the interest-free loan will serve as collateral for the loan; the parties will execute a separate promissory note for the loan which will become part of this Agreement.
- Venuworks may, in its sole discretion, assign the City’s obligation to repay the Capital Investment Loan to the financial institution selected by Venuworks to finance the investment.
Ron Geary thinks that borrowing from the management company as of May 1, 2021 is an indicator that the Ford Center must be short of cash and possibly and indication that additional bond financing may not be available – plus on September 17, 2023, the City Council voted to “Lease Rental Revenue Bonds†for the Ford Center to raise approximately $9,000,000 for needed capital repairs and equipment – The Ford Center is approximately 12 to 13 years old and should have been accumulating reserves over the years to pay for such needed capital repairs and maintenance rather than renaming streets as part of the Revenue Bond – What does the Ford Center Balance Sheet look like as well as Operating Profit or Loss for said last 8 years?
Contradictory to the provision on Pages 16 and 17 referred to above via 4.4(I) (ii) (iii) and (iv), please see 5.8 page 20 states that 5.8 Capital Improvements; Capital Equipment
“The obligation to pay for capital equipment purchases shall remain with the City and will not be considered operating expense.†Â
Obviously 4.4(i) (ii) (iii) and (iv) violate 5.8.
In conclusion
In light of the two items I previously discussed and the many various items in the other 38 pages of the Management Agreement, plus the fact that the City of Evansville has incurred almost 1 billion dollars worth of debt the last 12 years and needs another $300 to $400 million of additional debt to finish up the sewer and water needs of the City. Furthermore, I attended the debate on the evening of October 18, 2023, at Southern Indiana University and listened to the three Candidates for Mayor. Based upon my personal experiences with the Winnecke Administration and their use of “shifting sands†bait and switch techniques and daily “heavy-handed†management style of Mr. Scott Schoenike of Venuworks and overall dealings by the City in bad faith, it is critical that the taxpayers of Evansville must elect Michael Daugherty as Mayor for sure on November 7, 2023, AND that on his day of being inaugurated as Mayor of Evansville which I believe is January 2, 2024, he must engage a nationally based forensic audit firm to do a complete audit ASAP not only on the Management Agreement discussed in this letter but probably many other areas of the City of Evansville financial dealings.
We need an entrepreneur who has learned how to fight the problems and solve them ASAP like Michael learned how to develop a business and after 14 years of hard work, how to retire early after the sale of his business, and to help his hometown of Evansville.
Also, after discussing all this information with my wife, my entrepreneurial son, and daughter, our 9 grandchildren, and my fondness for Evansville taxpayers that if Michael Daugherty is elected Mayor, I will immediately come out of retirement and seek to have another ECHL Hockey Team ready to play in the Ford Center as soon as October 2024. This will be difficult, but I am prepared to fight through all the obstacles, challenges, and attacks that may come my way. Evansville Taxpayers deserve better than what they have dealt with over the last 12 years!
RON GEARY
RGeary@rggky.com
Polakovich dominates in 86-81 victory Eagles hold on in the second half for the win
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) dominated and led the Screaming Eagles to an 86-81 victory over Southeast Missouri State University Thursday evening to open Ohio Valley Conference action at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Eagles, who are 6-0 at home this season, go to 8-6 overall and 1-0 in the OVC, while the Redhawks are 5-9, 0-1 OVC.
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Polakovich overpowered SEMO in the lane tonight, posting 27 points and grabbing 26 rebounds in the victory. The senior, who also had a career-high five assists, was 11-of-18 from the field and five-of-nine from the stripe, while swiping 11 offensive and 15 defensive rebounds off the glass.
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The 26 rebounds were one short of the USI single-game record (27 by Aaron Nelson versus Kentucky State University December 7, 2013) and is the first 20-20 game by an Eagle since Emmanuel Little had 29 points, 21 rebounds versus Missouri University of Science & Technology January 18, 2018.
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The 20-20 outing also is the first in the OVC since Austin Peay State University’s Terry Taylor (26 points and 23 rebounds versus Belmont University) and the University of Tennessee-Martin’s Quintin Dove (26 points and 20 rebounds versus Southern Illinois University Edwardsville) posted those numbers in the 2019-20 season. Polakovich’s 26 rebounds also is the most in an OVC contest since before the 2002-03 campaign.
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USI and SEMO started slowly, combining for only 35 percent from the field (14-40), before the Eagles exploded on a 15-0 run to build a 19-point advantage, 39-20. Senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) sparked the surge with a steal and slam with 4:10 to play.
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USI would go five-of-six from the field during the run, including three-of-four from beyond the arc, and was led by 10-point explosion by graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Ohio). Lakes scored all 10 of his first half points in the 2:24 surge.
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Polakovich owned the glass during the first 20 minutes with 13 boards (five offensive, 8 defensive) and was only two points away from his fourth double-double of the season.
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The Eagles flew out of the locker room to start the second half and extended the margin to a game-high 23 points, 52-29, when freshman guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) connected on a three-pointer with 17:43 to play. SEMO would start to chip away at the USI lead from that point, cutting the margin to nine points, 61-52, with 10:37 remaining on a 23-9 run.
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USI pushed the lead back to double-digits for the next nine minutes before SEMO made one last push. The Redhawks would get as close as five points, 83-78, with 24 second to play before Swope and Lakes added a trio of free throws to shut the door on an 86-81 victory.
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In the scoring column, Polakovich’s 27 points were followed by Swope’s 18 points and Lakes’ 11 points. Swope was four-of-12 from the field, including a three-pointer, and nine-of-11 from the stripe, while dishing a season-high nine assists.
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Men’s basketball falls at Indiana State
Sycamores take 91-63 win
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Freshman Gabe Spinelli scored a career-high 10 points on Thursday with the University of Evansville men’s basketball team dropping a 91-63 game to Indiana State at the Hulman Center.
Spinelli was 5-for-9 from the field on the way to his first collegiate double-digit game. Leading UE was Kenny Strawbridge Jr. who recorded 21 points. He hit 8 of his 19 attempts. Marvin Coleman II played all 40 minutes and picked up a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“They (Indiana State) punched us in the mouth at the start and really set the tone†UE head coach David Ragland said. “We were able to close the gap to 10 points but were not able to sustain it. Give Indiana State credit – they got the job done.â€
Indiana State was on fire out of the gate as they drained their first five shots on the way to a 13-0 lead. Three of those attempts were from long range. UE had three turnovers in the opening moments before Marvin Coleman II got the Aces on the board. The lead for ISU reached 20-4 at the 14:14 mark.
Over the next 13 minutes, Evansville was able to work its way back into the fold. The defense held the Sycamores to 6-of-22 from the field while closing the gap to just ten points at 30-20 with 1:26 remaining in the period. In their efforts to close even more, a foul on the UE bench turned the tides as ISU outscored the Aces by a 9-2 margin in the final segment on their way to a 39-22 halftime lead.
Gabe Spinelli set his career scoring high with 10 in the first half alone while Antoine Smith Jr. had five rebounds in the period.
After Kenny Strawbridge Jr. opened the second-half scoring, Indiana State responded with eight in a row as they opened a 47-24 lead with three minutes gone in the final stanza. Their pinpoint shooting continued as the advantage reached 34 points (65-31) with 11:14 showing on the clock.
Evansville would close within 25 points in the final 10 minutes but ISU finished the day with the 91-63 victory. ISU shot 48.3% in the game while holding UE to 38.1%.
On Sunday, UE opens the New Year at 1 p.m. against Murray State at the Ford Center. For the first, the Aces will wear black jerseys. Fans are encouraged to join UE in wearing black to the game.
“IS IT TRUE†NOVEMBER 30 2023
City-County Observer Comment Policy. Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will not be tolerated and shall be removed from our site.
We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language, or insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.
Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers
IS IT TRUE that we are told the voters all over America are in the mindset to get rid of the tax and spend politicians? Â …it looks like Evansville, Ind is no exception?
IS IT TRUE that local Government officials are doing for people that they can do for themselves?
IS IT TRUE that several people find it extremely interesting that Robert’s Park wasn’t mentioned on either of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission’s proposed project lists?
IS IT TRUE that we were told by several political insiders that we may be seeing four (4) new faces on the 2024 Evansville City Council?
IS IT TRUE that we have been told that the current Mayor, City Controller and City Council members have known about the serious City Employee Health Care plan deficit for many years and have done anything significant to correct the problem? Â …we hope that the new Mayor and City Council members will put out a competitive bid.to find an affordable Healthcare policy that meets the healthcare needs of our hardworking City employees?
IS IT TRUE that “Lease/Rental  Revenue Bonds” have quietly been used on several other capital projects throughout Evansville during the last several years?
IS IT TRUE that we find it interesting that several Evansville City Council members called the “Lease/Rental Revenue Bonds” creative financing? Â …we find
…that members of our current City Council recently approved a 9 million dollar loan to update the Ford Center by using the naming rights of city streets as collateral to purchase “Lease Revenue Bonds”? Â …we wonder how many city streets have been sold and how much money has the City collected from the sale/naming rights of our city streets. Â … many people feel that the above method to finance a 9 million dollar loan for the Ford Center isn’t creative but downright stupid?
IS IT TRUE that we have been told by credible sources that the recently adopted 2024 city budget has the following monies earmarked for 9 (nine) members of the Evansville City Council: $192,158 in salaries, $212,090 in health insurance, $10,000 in travel and 0 in the past, and $32,541 in PERF? Â …that many taxpayers feel this is an impressive stipend for a part-time gig? Â …did we say that current members of the Evansville City Council were responsible for making this financial decision?
IS IT TRUE that many City and County taxpayers are shocked to hear that Evansville and Vanderburgh County elected officials donated 300,000 dollars each to help fund EREP marketing activities? Â …we are also told that Warrick and Posey counties donated $60,000 each to EREP marketing activities.
IS IT TRUE we are extremely disappointed that the Evansville City Controller and the President of the Evansville City Council both called Mayoral candidate Micheal Daughty a lair during a recent political gathering? Â …that all we can say to both individuals is that Mr. Daudhty’s figures shouldn’t considered to be a lie since he got them from the City Controller’s office?
IS IT TRUE that we are told that several members of the local Chamber Of Commerce are wondering how much membership money their Board of Directors spend on the “National Job Search” to replace the outgoing CEO/President of the Chamber?
IS IT TRUE that  CHIEF DEPUTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY WINSTON LIN is doing a remarkable job in his position?
IS IT TRUE that we have been told that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission has developed a list of priorities for Evansville? …that The Priorities List for 2023 are: Fifth & Main Street  Karges Work Force Housing  Activate the Riverfront  Jacobsville Master Plan Update  Design Review Guidelines Refinement  Bond Street Property/ Evansville “Front Door†“?  …we wonder where they are getting the money to pay for these proposed projects.  …that it is important to point out that some of the above projects have already begun.
IS IT TRUE that the additional Evansville Redevelopment Commission’s “Potential Projects Lists†for 2023 and beyond are: • 4th and Main Park and new Affordable Housing Developments • Riverside Drive Pedestrian and Transportation Improvements • Historic Lighting – continued in Arts District • Development of Bond Street property – new Affordable Housing Project • Assist with potential READI Grant Projects • Burkhardt Road TIF area infrastructure development?  …that we wonder where the Evansville Redevelopment Commission is going to get the money for these proposed projects.
IS IT TRUE that several people find it extremely interesting that Robert’s Park wasn’t mentioned on either of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission’s proposed project lists?
Recap Of The City-County Observer’s Upcoming “Annual Community Awards” Luncheon
D. WILLIAM MOREAU, JR.CEO/PUBLISHER OF THE INDIANA CITIZEN WILL BE THE CCO 2023 AWARDS LUNCHEON SPEAKER
October 31, 2023
EVANSVILLE – On November 1, 2023, community leaders will gather at BALLY’S-Evansville to observe the City-County Observer bestowing several “Community Service Awards†and a “MALE and FEMALE” Of The Year Awards to deserving individuals or organizations who are well-known leaders and volunteers throughout our community.
With extreme pleasure and pride, we announce our final well-deserving “CCO MAN OF THE YEAR Award†winner for 2023 the renowned Television and Radio legend  MIKE BLAKE. The 2023 CCO “FEMALE of The YEAR”, award winner is a political icon. CONNIE ROBINSON.
The City-County Observer recently announced our third (3) deserving “Community Service Award†winners for 2023. They are the well-respected Daniela Vidal Chancellor of IVY Tech Community College and the Honorable Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge, Tom Massey, and Southwestern Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council Selected CCO “2023 Organization Of The Year”
Steve Hammer and County Commissioner Ben Shoulders are Co-Chairmen of the 2023 “Community Services Award Luncheon” Â They are excited to announce that D. William Moreau a highly regarded and nationally known attorney and newspaper President/Publisher of the Indiana Citizen newspaper shall be the event Keynote Speaker.
This year’s event Master of Ceremonies will be the Memorial Baptist Church mega preacher and publisher of “Our Times” newspaper, Dr. Adrian Brooks.
This year’s awards luncheon will be held at Bally’s-Evansville in Walnut rooms A and B. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., and the event will officially start at noon on November 1, 2023.
Reservations and additional details concerning this most worthy community event may be obtained by calling 1-812-774-8011. The deadline for registration is October 30, 2023. Â For the last 10 years, this “Awards Luncheon” was sold out.
PROFILE OF D. WILLIAM MOREAU, JR. THIS YEAR CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER AWARDS LUNCHEON KEYNOTE SPEAKER
“As chair of the Firm’s interdisciplinary Higher Education Practice Group, Bill led a team of more than 50 lawyers firmwide who regularly represented traditional, nonprofit colleges and universities on the vast array of issues they confront daily. Bill provided legal and strategic advice to presidents, senior administrators and general counsel on governance, public affairs, government relations, communications, crisis management, personnel, presidential transition, dispute resolution, federal research development and fundraising issues, drawing on his 12 years as a trustee of his undergraduate alma mater, Purdue University.
As a trustee at Purdue, he was the only lawyer on the 10-member Board and chaired its Finance Committee, which provided oversight of budget, project financing, and investment matters. He also served on the search committee that identified and recruited Martin C. Jischke to be Purdue’s 10th President.
In addition, Bill served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Community College Policy Committee which led to the development of Indiana’s community college system. He was the former chair and remains a member of the Board of Advisors of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and serves on the Indiana State University President’s National Advisory Board. He was the Firm’s representative to the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).
Bill’s government relations practice involved representing clients before countless local, state and national administrative, executive, legislative, and regulatory bodies. From city halls to county government centers to the Indiana State House to the U.S. Congress and the White House, clients entrusted Bill with their most complex matters across a broad spectrum of issues, including intellectual property, environmental, tax, healthcare, insurance, trade practices, research and development, program and capital funding, securities regulation, public access, affordable housing, civil rights, and higher education initiatives. He was the managing partner of our Washington, D.C. office for 3 1/2 years.
While an undergraduate at Purdue, Bill was the managing editor and editor-in-chief of the student daily newspaper, was the recipient of a full-tuition Pulliam Scholarship, joined the Society of Professional Journalists, and was inducted into the leadership honoraries Iron Key and Omicron Delta Kappa. Following a stint as a newspaper reporter, Bill became a graduate student in American Government and a journalism teaching assistant at Purdue before moving to Washington, D.C. While working full-time on Capitol Hill, first in the House of Representatives and then for the Senior Senator from Indiana, Birch Bayh, he attended law school at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he was named a Teaching Fellow and an associate editor of The American Criminal Law Review. Bill’s full-time public service also included serving as chief of staff for Evan Bayh when he was Indiana’s Secretary of State and during his first term as Governor.
He was admitted to practice before all Indiana courts, U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, where Bill successfully argued a landmark case challenging the validity of the Gary-Chicago Airport Compact, which Bill helped to negotiate (137 F.3d 474 (1998)). Trained as a litigator and an appellate advocate, he was recognized by his fellow lawyers as a Master Fellow of the Indiana Bar Foundation and by his election as the board chair of SCG Legal, an international network of 148 law firms practicing in 82 countries, including every U.S. state capital. In 2017, he was named a recipient of the prestigious ‘Leadership in Law Distinguished Barristers Award’ by The Indiana Lawyer. He regularly represented nonprofit organizations and individuals who cannot afford a lawyer; in 2015, the Firm honored Bill as the winner of the Joseph A. Maley Pro Bono Award.
Away from the practice of law, Bill was deeply involved in local and national efforts to promote civic engagement and end homelessness.
As someone who has always been an active citizen, Bill devoted a portion of his life to supporting organizations and causes that try to energize the body politic. He currently serves of the Board of Advisors for the Center on Congress at Indiana University and the National Advisory Committee of IU’s Center for Civic Literacy and was a founding advisory board member of Purdue University’s Institute for Civic Communication.
In 2000, the then-Mayor of Indianapolis, Bart Peterson, asked Bill to lead a year-long, inclusive effort to draft the community’s 10-year plan to address the challenge of homelessness. The culmination of that task was Indianapolis’ ‘Blueprint to End Homelessness,’ which is still hailed as a national model. Mayor Peterson then asked Bill to chair the board of the nonprofit responsible for implementing the Blueprint, the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP). Bill is the only Emeritus Chair in CHIP’s history. His relentless advocacy for policies and programs to end the scourge of homelessness has led to his election to the boards of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, HVAF of Indiana (dedicated to serving homeless veterans), and the Reuben Engagement Center. Bill has spoken widely on the topic including delivering a seminar at Harvard and has been quoted extensively in the news media. Many organizations serving the homeless have been gracious in acknowledging Bill’s tireless efforts, most recently with a lifetime achievement award named in his honor. Bill and his wife, Ann, fund an annual fellowship that supports a graduate student’s training in advocacy for the homeless, for which they received the ‘Spirit of Philanthropy’ Award from IUPUI.
In 2015, Bill was chosen by Purdue from among 350 nominees to be one of 10 ‘Old Masters’ in recognition of his civic and professional achievements
“IS IT TRUE” NOVEMBER 6, 2023
City-County Observer Comment Policy. Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will not be tolerated and shall be removed from our site.
We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language, or insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.
Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.
IS IT TRUE that we are told that several members of the local Chamber Of Commerce are wondering how much of the membership money their Board of Directors spent on the “National Job Search” to replace the outgoing CEO/President of the Chamber?
IS IT TRUE that Warrick and Posey Counties contribute $60,000 a year to EREP?  …that the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County each donated $300,000 this year to EPEP? …we have been told that many taxpayers feel that our local elected officials shouldn’t do for EREP what they should do for themselves.
IS IT TRUE we are extremely disappointed that the Evansville City Controller and the President of the Evansville City Council both called Mayoral candidate Micheal Daughty a lair during a recent political gathering? Â …that all we can say to both individuals is that figures don’t lie especially when Mr. Daughty got his figures from the Controller’s office?
IS IT TRUE that we are told that several members of the local Chamber Of Commerce are wondering how much membership money their Board of Directors spent on the “National Job Search” to replace the outgoing CEO/President of the Chamber?
IS IT TRUE that Warrick County contributes 60,000 dollars a year to EREP? Â …that the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County donates $300,000 a year to EPEP?
IS IT TRUE that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission’s “Potential Projects Lists†for 2023 and beyond are: • 4th and Main Park and new Affordable Housing Developments • Riverside Drive Pedestrian and Transportation Improvements • Historic Lighting – continued in Arts District • Development of Bond Street property – new Affordable Housing Project • Assist with potential READI Grant Projects • Burkhardt Road TIF area infrastructure development?  …that we wonder where the Evansville Redevelopment Commission is going to get the money for the above-projects.
IS IT TRUE that we are told the voters all over America are in the mindset to get rid of the tax and spend politicians? Â ..we will be seeing four (4) new faces on the 2024 Evansville City Council because of the way some members mishandle the 480 million dollar city budget?
IS IT TRUE that we are told by a couple of political movers and shakers after members of the Evansville City Council voted 9-0 on the 2024 City Budget with little discussion? …that is the main reason why we will be seeing four (4) new faces on the 2024 Evansville City Council?