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tpecoraro@evansvillethunderbolts.com THUNDERBOLTS HOST BOBCATS FOR SATURDAY’S TEDDY BEAR TOSS NIGHT

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Evansville, In.: Following an extremely busy and hard-fought week of 4 games in 5 days, the 1st Place Thunderbolts return to Ford Center ice this Saturday for the annual Teddy Bear Toss Night game, against the Vermilion County Bobcats.

Week In Review: 

The Thunderbolts were shut out 4-0 by the Quad City Storm on Friday night, before responding with a 3-0 shutout victory over the Storm on Saturday night, behind two goals from Scott Kirton and one from Mathieu Cloutier.  On Sunday afternoon, the Thunderbolts won 4-3 in Vermilion County, with goals from Cloutier, Cameron Cook, Andrew Shewfelt, and Matthew Barron.  On Tuesday, the Thunderbolts lost 3-0 in Huntsville.  In goal, Zane Steeves kept the Thunderbolts in both games he played, stopping 38 of 42 shots against Quad City on Friday, and 27 of 29 shots in Huntsville on Tuesday.  Trevor Gorsuch earned both wins this past weekend, becoming the first Thunderbolts goaltender to earn a shutout in his debut by stopping all 33 shots from the Storm on Saturday, before stopping 32 of 35 shots in Vermilion County on Sunday.

 The Week Ahead: 

The Thunderbolts host the Vermilion County Bobcats this Saturday, December 10th at Ford Center, starting at 7:00 pm CT.  Saturday’s game will be Teddy Bear Toss Night, where fans can bring new or gently used stuffed animals to be tossed onto the ice following the Thunderbolts’ first goal of the game.  All stuffed animals will later be distributed to local children’s charities.  For tickets, call (812) 422-BOLT (2658), buy online at EvansvilleThunderbolts.com or buy tickets in-person at the Ford Center Ticket Office.

Scouting the Opponent: 

      Vermilion County Bobcats: 

    • Record: 2-13-1, 5 Points, 11th Place
    • Leading Goal Scorer: Sullivan Shortreed, Vadim Vasjonkin, Aaron Ryback (4 Goals each)
    • Leading Point Scorer: Davis Kirkendall, Aaron Ryback (10 Points each)
    • Primary Goaltender: Sean Kuhn (1-5-1, .902 Save %)
    • Thunderbolts 22-23 Record vs VCB: 3-0-0

            Prior to hosting Evansville on Sunday, the Bobcats lost a close 4-3 contest in Peoria on Friday, with goals from TJ Sneath and Gianni Vitali in the first period, and Aaron Ryback late in the third period.  Saturday’s rematch at home against Peoria was an 8-1 loss, with Peter DiMartino scoring the lone Bobcats goal.  Against the Thunderbolts on Sunday, DiMartino, Justin Portillo and Matt O’Shaughnessy scored in their close 4-3 loss to the Thunderbolts.  In net, Brett Epp stopped 35 of 39 shots on Friday in Peoria and stopped 6 of 9 shots against the Rivermen on Saturday before being replaced by Sean Kuhn, who stopped 27 of 32 shots the rest of the way on Saturday and 33 of 37 shots on Sunday against Evansville.

 

Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners Receives Statewide Award 

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Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners Receives Statewide Award 

DECEMBER 8, 2022

The Indiana Association of County Commissioners (IACC) is pleased to announce that the Vanderburgh County Commissioners Cheryl Musgrave, Ben Shoulders, and Jeff Hatfield were selected as IACC’s Achievement Award winners for the “2022 Outstanding Team Effort for a Board of Commissioners.” The award is in recognition of their outstanding team efforts in collaborating with community and state partners to advance many projects with multiple funding sources to impact the future of Vanderburgh County. 

Spearheaded by this Board of County Commissioners, their County launched a $39 million project with AT&T to build out high-speed fiber broadband to more than 20,000 households and businesses in the county. Reliable and affordable broadband has become more important than ever, with many consumers continuing to work, learn and entertain from home. 

Today, one-third of the population of their unincorporated County does not have access to fixed broadband solutions. Fortunately, that’s all about to change. Thanks to unprecedented federal funding currently available to counties, through the American Rescue Plan, they are moving forward on a $39 million public-private project with AT&T that will bring fast, reliable fiber-optic internet to households and businesses in their county. Life is about to get a lot better in Vanderburgh County. 

The nomination stated, “The potential for new economic opportunity will be immense when local businesses in every corner of our county have best-in-class fiber solutions to connect to customers and participate in e-commerce.” With access to affordable, reliable internet, these modern-day necessities and conveniences many of us take for granted will soon be available to thousands of their residents who could only wish for them before. 

Because of these amazing accomplishments the Vanderburgh County Board of County Commissioners, Cheryl Musgrave, and Ben Shoulders, and Jeff Hatfield deserves to be recognized for their achievement as the “2022 Outstanding Team Effort for a Board of Commissioners.” 

The achievement award was presented during the IACC’s 2022 Annual Conference, the largest gathering of County Commissioners in the state. The three-day conference included several different workshops, and breakout sessions that were designed specifically for county commissioners and their support staff. The Commissioners and others attended several training workshops concerning county related topics focusing on, Collaborative, Forward-Thinking, and Intentional Partnerships, 2023 Legislative Priorities, Governor Holcomb’s Public Health Commission, Indiana LTAP Partnerships, Open Door Laws, Responsibilities of County Commissioners Before, During and After Disasters, Best Practice Guidance Renewable Energy Development, Broadband Infrastructure Investment, Road Funding, and more in their training sessions. 

Indiana’s 52nd Lieutenant Governor, Suzanne Crouch welcomed commissioners to the conference. She spoke on current issues related to local government, expanding broadband through Next Level Connections Broadband Grants, Improving Housing needs, revitalizing travel and tourism, supporting Hoosier farmers, and improving mental health and addiction programs in Indiana counties. Crouch has been a long-time partner of the IACC and is committed to improving the lives of all Hoosiers. 

Representative Jeff Thompson House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, State Senator Mike Crider Majority Whip, and Representative Greg Steuerwald, Majority House Caucus Chair addressed attendees as well during their Legislative Update. 

The Indiana Association of County Commissioners is a nonprofit organization established to provide the best education, leadership support, and advocacy services for our County Commissioners to strengthen their influence throughout Indiana. The objectives of the Association are: to promote cooperation of the county unit with all other units of local government, (cities, towns, township, etc.) and with state and federal agencies; and to promote improvement and efficiency in the delivery of county government services. The various functions of the IACC include serving as liaison among counties, state and federal agencies, lobbying the Indiana General Assembly on behalf of County Commissioners, as well as providing technical assistance and training to county commissioners and support staff. 

Pictured in attached photo: Indiana Association of County Commissioners 2022 President Diana Biddle, Brown County Commissioner and accepting the award is Vanderburgh Board of County Commissioners; Cheryl Musgrave and Ben Shoulders, (not pictured) Jeff Hatfield. 

Vincennes University Board of Trustees extends President Dr. Chuck Johnson’s contract to 2025

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VINCENNES, Ind., December 8, 2022 – The Vincennes University Board of Trustees voted to extend the contract of President Dr. Chuck Johnson an additional year during its regular meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Updike Hall Center for Science, Engineering and Mathematics.

The Board extended Johnson’s contract through Dec. 31, 2025. Before he was appointed president in 2015, Johnson served as interim president for four months and provost for three years.

First Vice Chair Mike Sievers shared the Board’s sentiments and commented on its strong support of Johnson’s leadership.

“Speaking for the Board, we really appreciate the efforts of Dr. Chuck Johnson,” Sievers said. “We feel he’s really focused on the goals the Board set, and he has achieved a lot of those. We’re looking forward to continuing working with him.”

Since Johnson became the 22nd president of VU, he has overseen the development and growth of VU’s work-based learning partnerships with industry, including the Toyota Advanced Maintenance Technician (AMT) program in Southwest Indiana and Southeast Illinois, the Advanced Internship in Manufacturing (AIM) in Lafayette, the Career Advancement Partnership (CAP) in Dubois County, the Machinist Internship Program (MIP), the Cummins Technician Apprenticeship Program (TAP), Central and Hoosier INFRAME programs in Indianapolis, and the Amazon Apprenticeship program in Mechatronics and Automation at Plainfield and Vincennes. Johnson has also been extensively involved in the expansion of VU’s Early College program, including the development of Career and Technical Education Early Colleges with 18 career centers and cooperatives across Indiana, reaching thousands of Hoosier students.

Among the most recent initiatives spearheaded by Johnson is the creation of the Center for Applied Robotics and Automation and the development of a network of collaborative robot (cobot) labs throughout Indiana, in partnership with Telamon Robotics.

Johnson thanked the Board for its confidence in his leadership.

“I want to thank the Board for their continued support and faith in me in extending my contract and for all the great advice and confidence you have given me. I truly believe we are in a good position to continue moving forward,” Johnson said.

A swearing-in ceremony took place for Student Trustee Gayle Baugh during the meeting. She is a Special Education, Mild Intervention K-12 major from Greencastle, Indiana. University attorney Brent Stuckey swore in Baugh. Her term runs through Oct. 1, 2023.

Interim Director of Admissions Sarah McLin presented a report on enrollment and recruitment efforts for Spring Semester 2023 and Fall Semester 2023. She shared a positive report. Enrollment is up at all VU campuses for Spring Semester 2023 except for VU Jasper which is only slightly down, according to McLin.

Senior Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research Dr. Dale Pietrzak provided an update on how well prepared the University is for an upcoming Higher Learning Commission review team visit.

Other Board actions included the reinstatement of three Emergency Medical Services and Paramedic programs of study due to an increased need. The Board also approved the suspension of a Kinesiology and Sport, Wellness and Exercise Concentration which will allow for more clarity given that VU offers an Exercise Science concentration.

Re-elected as Board Officers were Mike Sievers as First Vice Chair; Reggie Henderson, as Second Vice Chair; and JR Gaylor, as Secretary.

UE Volleyball Announces Signees For 2023

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UE Volleyball Announces Signees For 2023

Aces Putting Together An Impressive Class

 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Weeks after announcing the addition of one of the top 100 high school players in the nation for the second year in a row, University of Evansville head volleyball coach Fernando Morales has announced the signing six additional student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.  This group joins middle blocker Chloe Cline, who was a high school teammate of Evansville’s Kora Ruff.

Carlotta Pascual – Pin Hitter/ Middle Blocker – Mount Vernon, Ind.

Originally from Spain, Carlotta Pascual makes the quick trip to Evansville from Mount Vernon, Ind.  She recently completed her senior season at Mount Vernon HS where she put up solid numbers to wrap up her high school career.  Her father Rafael Pascual was named the MVP of the 1998 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.

Coach Morales on Pascual

“She is a very talented player that can play multiple positions and will grow a lot here in our program.”

Ainoah Cruz – Libero – Arecibo Puerto Rico

Regarded as her age group’s top libero in Puerto Rico, Cruz has worked with the Puerto Rico National Team program and was on the U-19 National Team.  Last month, she won the National High School Championship in Puerto Rico.  Her club team – Capitanas – finished in third place at the AAU National Championship last year in Orlando.

Coach Morales on Cruz

“Ainoah will come to give us depth in the libero position.  She is a very skilled player and dominates all techniques of her position.”

Luana Kuhn – Outside Hitter – Brazil

Kuhn joins the Purple Aces program from Brazil.  She was named her age group’s best outside hitter in her state on multiple occasions.  Kuhn brings a wealth of experience to the UE program given her age.

Coach Morales on Kuhn

“Luana is a very well-rounded player that dominates all the skills.  She brings international experience and will be a contributor to our team from day one.”

Angelica Gonzalez – Outside Hitter – Puerto Rico

Gonzalez has a family history with the sport of volleyball in Puerto Rico.  Both of her parents played at the professional level and for the National Team.  They were each regarded as the top blockers in Puerto Rico professional league history at one point in their careers.  Angelica has developed her volleyball career between Florida and Georgia where she played on some of the top club teams in the area.  Gonzalez was selected to the Georgia High School All-State Team.  She completed her high school career with Lassiter HS in Marietta, Ga.

Coach Morales on Gonzalez

“She has been getting better every year and is a big threat on the net both hitting and blocking.”

Lexi Owen – Setter – Owensboro, Ky.

Owen is regarded as one of the top setters in the area and enjoyed an excellent club season in 2021-22.  That success translated into her senior season at Daviess County HS.  She was recently named an All-County First Team player.

Coach Morales on Owen

“She will give us a lot of depth in the setting position and her competitiveness will make everyone better in our team.”

Holland Morris – Pin Hitter/Middle Blocker – Florence, Ky. 

Holland is a native of Florence, Ky. who played at Randall K. Cooper High School.  She is a versatile player who can play multiple positions including middle blocker, defensive specialist, right side and outside.  Morris was named to the 2022 AVCA All-American Watch List and was an All-Region Honorable Mention in 2021.

Coach Morales on Morris

“Holland is a very hard-working player always looking to get better.  She will bring a lot to our practices and will give us a lot because she can play in multiple spots.  Her abilities increase the depth of our team while giving us multiple options.”

 

SATURDAY | Santa Visits Willard

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EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

MEDIA

FOOTNOTE: This information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.

 

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

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Booked Last 24 Hours-Public

Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

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Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

Vanderburgh County Crash Report

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Crash Report

Committee Chairs Seated With Session Starting In January

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Committee Chairs Seated With Session Starting In January

Members of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee discuss a bill in February. The committee was assigned nearly 70 bills in the 2022 session.

Photo by Isaac Gleitz

Sixteen legislators—nine representatives and seven senators—are taking on new roles, each leading one of the 23 House standing committees and 22 Senate standing committees for the 2023 session.

What are committees? 

Legislative committees exist to help lawmakers identify important issues, gather and evaluate information, and review bills in the early stages before they head to a chamber’s floor for larger discussion.

“Committees—they are the workhorses of the legislature,” said Andrew Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics and Purdue University Fort Wayne associate professor of political science.

The majority of work on bills typically happens in committee because basically every bill is assigned to a committee, Downs said.

It’s good to be in charge because committee chairs have a big influence on what bills are heard, which is an essential part in a bill’s passage, Downs said. Committee chairs are influenced by what the chamber leader and their party say are the important issues for that session.

According to Downs, 20-30%, depending on the year, of all legislation introduced actually passes—so 70-80% dies.

“The chairs do try to work with the other committee members, it’s not like the chair just comes in with a big hammer and says, ‘Everything I want is what’s going to be heard.’ They just spend time talking to the other committee members,” Downs said.

He also said that committees give legislators a good opportunity to collaborate with one another and with the members of the other chamber to pass legislation they see as important.

The new workhorses

Downs said this year’s chair assignments saw a decent amount of turnover.

Chamber leaders give the assignments every two years after the November election, and the roles stay in effect for the members’ two-year terms.

In a Nov. 18 press release, when Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, announced the chairs for the upcoming session, he said he believes “some of the most important work in the legislature happens at the committee level.”

“We have a group of very talented committee chairs set for the upcoming session, and I look forward to working with these talented members as they help craft good policy for the people of Indiana.”

The new chairs are:

  • Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, chair of the Corrections and Criminal Law Committee.
  • Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, chair of the Environmental Affairs Committee.
  • Sen. Eric Bassler, R-Shelburn, chair of the Ethics Committee.
  • Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville, chair of the Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee.
  • Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, chair of the Joint Rules Committee.

Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, and Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, shifted to new committees. Walker will lead the Family and Child Services Committee, and Rogers is taking over the Pensions and Labor Committee.

On Dec. 2, House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, released the House committee chair appointments.

“I’m excited about the talents and wide range of experience that our chairs will bring to their committees, and I look forward to working closely with each of them,” Huston said in a press release. “As we head into the budget session, we have many challenges and opportunities in front of us, and I’m confident in our team’s abilities to vet and pass policies that put Hoosiers first.”

The new chairs are:

  • Rep. Michael Aylesworth, R-Hebron , chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.
  • Rep. Alan Morrison, R-Brazil, chair of the Environmental Affairs Committee.
  • Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis, chair of the Financial Institutions Committee.
  • Rep. Chris May, R-Bedford, chair of the Local Government Committee.
  • Rep. Shane Lindauer, R-Jasper, chair of the Natural Resources Committee.
  • Rep. Ethan Manning, R-Denver, chair of the Public Policy Committee.
  • Rep. Karen Engleman, R-Georgetown, chair of the Statutory Committee on Ethics.

Two House lawmakers also shifting committees: Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, is in charge of the new Insurance Committee, and Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Garrett, moved to chair the Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee.

FOOTNOTE: Sydney Byerly is a reporter at TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

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