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UE To Host Annual Chili Bowl Sale On October 20

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The University of Evansville (UE) Department of Art and Clay Club will host the annual Chili Bowl Sale on Thursday, October 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event will be held on the UE campus at the East Terrace Lawn, located next to Ridgway University Center off Walnut Street. In the event of rain, the sale will be moved indoors to Eykamp Hall, located on the second floor of Ridgway.

For $10, customers can buy one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls with the option of filling it with chili provided by Chartwells, UE’s dining services provider. To-go containers will also be available. Larger bowls will be for sale and range in price from $15-100. Cash or check (made out to UE Clay Club) will be accepted.

“A lot of hours went into creating these unique ceramic bowls,” said Todd Matteson, chair of the Department of Art and Clay Club advisor. “The artists dedicated a lot of energy and hard work. I feel blessed to have such a wonderful group to work with on supporting such a great cause.”

The bowls are made by members of the Clay Club as well as UE faculty and alumni and members of the Evansville community. Proceeds will go toward the Clay Club to fund conferences, visiting artists, and studio and gallery visits. This year, a portion of the proceeds will also be donated to a local food pantry to assist with fighting hunger.

The University of Evansville empowers students to think critically, act bravely, serve responsibly, and live meaningfully in a changing world. Through an innovative academic curriculum combined with practical hands-on experiences, UE students engage the local and international community in meaningful ways. With a diverse student body, students choose from an array of majors in business, engineering, arts and sciences, and health science. UE graduates engage the world and workplace with the tools and skills to excel in fulfilling careers. For more information, please visit evansville.edu.

COUNTY COMMISSION APPROVES MAJOR PAY AND BENEFITS INCREASE FOR DEPUTY SHERIFF

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EVANSVILLE, IN  – The Vanderburgh County Commissioners on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, unanimously approved a contract for Deputy Sheriffs which raises salaries thirty percent (30%) over the next four (4) years and increases longevity and retention benefits. The contract raises salary and benefits for Vanderburgh Deputies from near the bottom of Indiana counties to near the top.

Commission President Jeff Hatfield said, “Helping negotiate the largest pay and incentive package for our Vanderburgh County Deputies has been one of the best experiences I have had as a Commissioner.”

Commission Vice-President Ben Shoulders said, “This is a great day for our community in improving the lives of our law enforcement officers and their families.”

Commission Member Cheryl Musgrave said, “Raising the salaries and improving benefits, in order to not only attract but to retain the best-qualified law enforcement officers is a giant first step in the right direction toward combatting the increasing crime and violence that our community has begun to experience.”

For further information, visit the Vanderburgh County Commissioners’ website: vanderburghgov.org.

USI Alumna Named 2023 Indiana Teacher Of The Year

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Tara Cocanower Recognized For Her Work At Bluffton High School

OCTOBER 16, 2022

Tara Cocanower ’07, a U.S. history and Advanced Placement (AP) World History teacher at Bluffton High School, has been named the 2023 Indiana Teacher of the year by the Indiana Department of Education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from the University of Southern Indiana.

In addition to her teaching roles, Cocanower leads the Bluffton High School’s history club and serves as the History Department leader. She is known for developing fun, engaging and inclusive lessons in her classroom, giving students an opportunity to learn history and develop their own worldviews simultaneously.

Cocanower also earned the 2021 Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District Teacher of the Year honor. In 2022, her students achieved an 83.5% pass rate on the AP World History exam—the state average is 48.1%.

“For many educators, becoming a teacher is a calling to serve others and make a positive impact on the world, one student at a time, and Mrs. Tara Cocanower is the embodiment of someone who was truly meant to be a teacher,” said Dr. Katie Jennifer, Indiana Secretary of Education, in a press release announcing the award. “When you see the way she connects with her students, it is clear to those around her that in addition to maximizing student learning, she is positively impacting lives and preparing her students to do the same. By believing in her students and being a trusted mentor, she is empowering the next generation of leaders and, as she calls them, world changers.”

At Bluffton High, Cocanower also serves as the school’s high ability coordinator and co-technology coordinator where she works to introduce and support fellow teachers in using technology to build more engaging and accessible lessons. She is a leader in the school, working to mentor first-year educators and hosting cadet teachers, while also encouraging Bluffton students to consider careers in history and education. This school year, Cocanower has partnered with a fellow Bluffton High teacher to offer a new principles of teaching course, introducing high school students to the education profession.

Outside of the classroom, Cocanower is the head coach for the girl’s golf and girl’s track and field teams at Bluffton. She also organizes a junior golf league and youth track meets to make sports accessible to all children in the community. Cocanower leads a youth ministry in Bluffton with her husband, Geoff, and serves on the board of Hope Missionary Pre-School.

Now in her 12th year as an educator, she previously taught middle school social students before her role at Bluffton High School. Cocanower has also served two years in the Peace Corps.

About Teacher Education at USI

Teaching is a profession of practice, and the USI Teacher Education Department prepares practitioners to know and understand the communities in which they work, their students, their subject-area content and teaching methods. Throughout the coursework, teacher candidates gain professional knowledge, skills and experiences to become highly effective practitioners. Students learn research-based pedagogical practices that promote well-being in diverse and global settings and learn to identify ways to support their own students.

About the Indiana Teacher of the Year program

For more than 60 years, the Indiana Teacher of the Year Program has worked to inspire, rejuvenate and celebrate the teaching profession by recognizing outstanding teachers from across the state. The program encourages schools to nominate their local Teachers of the Year for this statewide honor. Finalists are selected from these applicants by a committee made up of former Teachers of the Year, IDOE staff, educational organization leaders, business and community leaders and representatives from higher education.

OP-ED: VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCILMEN JAMES RABEN Cites Leadership and Fiscal Responsibly

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OP-ED: VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCILMEN JAMES RABEN Cites Leadership and Fiscal Responsibly

OCTOBER 16, 2022

I am the Republican candidate running for re-election this November for Vanderburgh County Council in District 1.  I have served as the Vanderburgh County Council Finance Chairman for 20+ years and served as President for 4 years. I have a reputation for being fair and fiscally conservative. I have a proven track record of holding down the cost of county government by spending your tax dollars wisely, while still providing all necessary government services and an environment that nurtures economic development and job growth. I am a proud supporter of our law enforcement and have served as the Vanderburgh County Sheriff Liaison for the past 3 Sheriff’s Administrations.

I am a lifelong westside resident of Vanderburgh County.  For over 40 years I was a Partner/Operator of Raben Tire Company and was elected to serve on the Tire Industry Association Board of Directors as the Governmental Affairs Chairman of North America.  As a 36-year member and Past President of the West Side Nut Club, I was elected to serve on the WSNC Board of Directors from 2011-2021.  

I have been married to Judi (Canterbury) Raben for 38 years, and together we are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church.  We have two sons, Jordan (35) and Alex (31), and are the proud grandparents of 1 granddaughter and 3 grandsons. 

I want to share a few of our most recent accomplishments at the Vanderburgh County Council within the past year:

  • The County Council along with the County Commissioners approved a $10 million partnership with AT&T for countywide broadband coverage, paid for by American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to be completed in 2023.
  • The County Council approved and funded the County Commissioners’ unprecedented $7 million road re-paving plan to be completed in 2023.
  • The County Council approved funding $15.2 million towards jail expansion to address the overcrowding issues and camera systems at the Confinement Center, and $1 million for a mental health wing. 
  • The County Council approved $4.5 million from American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for additional court space for Vanderburgh Superior and Circuit Courts. This is necessary to increase the speed of the judicial process, decrease delays in court hearings, and to reduce the jail population.

All of this with no impact on Vanderburgh County taxpayers’ property taxes.  

Tough decisions and a sound plan require not only leadership but also a keen understanding of county finances.  My many years of experience as Finance Chairman provide me with the financial expertise to help direct the tough decisions, which is critical for the many challenges facing county government today.

I appreciate your vote on Tuesday, November 8th.

FOOTNOTE:  THE CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER POSTED THIS ARTICLE WITHOUT OPINION, BIAS, OR EDITING.

CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER 8, 2022 GENERAL ELECTION

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CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER 8, 2022 GENERAL ELECTION

(absentee voting begins Oct. 15. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on election day).

U.S. Senate

Tom McDermott (D)

Todd Young (R)

James M. Sceniak (L)

U.S. House, Indiana 8th District

Ray McCormick (D)

Larry Bucshon (R)

Andrew Horning (L)

State Auditor

ZeNai Brooks (D)

Tera Klutz (R)

John Andrew Schick (L)

State Treasurer

Jessica McClellan (D)

Daniel Elliot (R)

Secretary of State

Destiny Wells (D)

Diego Morales (R)

Jeffrey Maurer (L)

State Senator District 49

Jim Tomes (R)

State Representative District 64

Matt Hostettler (R)

State Representative District 77

Ryan Hatfield (D)

Jada Burton (L)

State Representative District 76

Katherine Rybak (D)

Wendy McNamara (R)

Cheryl Batteiger-Smith (I)

State Representative District 78

Jason Salstrom (D)

Tim O’Brien (R)

Vanderburgh County Judges

Robert Pigman

Thomas Massey

Vanderburgh County Prosecutor

Diana Moers (R)

Jon Schaefer (D)

Vanderburgh County Auditor

Erik Hurt (D)

Brian Gerth (R)

Vanderburgh County Sheriff

Noah Robinson (D)

Jeff Hales (R)

Vanderburgh County Assessor

Matthew Smith (D)

Bill Fluty (R)

Vanderburgh County Commissioner District 2

Ryan Stratman (D)

Justin Elpers (R)

Vanderburgh County Council District 1

Karen Reising (D)

James Raben (R)

Vanderburgh County Council District 2

Tom Shetler Jr. (R)

Vanderburgh County Council District 3

Stephanie Terry (D)

Vanderburgh County Council District 4

John Montrastelle (R)

Armstrong Township Trustee

Tori Kron Langton (R)

Center Township Trustee

Gary Burdsall (R)

German Township Trustee

Dustin Stephens (D)

Beverly White-Rowley (R)

Knight Township Trustee

Kathryn Martin (D)

Perry Township Trustee

Rick Riney (D)

Pigeon Township Trustee

Mariama Wilson (D)

Scott Township Trustee

Keith Kahre (R)

Union Township Trustee

Joe Steinkamp (R)

Armstrong Township Board Member

Leslie Lawrence (R)

David Schmitt (R)

Nicholas Wildeman (R)

Center Township Board Member

Barbie Beckham (D)

Laurie Ewers (D)

Claire Underwood (D)

Thomas Gant (R)

J Ervin Stafford Stucki (R)

James Tolen (R)

German Township Board Member

Jackie Folz (D)

Stephen Folz (D)

Mary Ruthenberg (D)

Cathy Buxton (R)

Jim Werner (R)

Nancy Whitsell (R)

Knight Township Board Member

Chris Cooke (D)

Eric Wagemann (D)

Stan Wheeler (D)

Donald Boerner (R)

Pete Swaim (R)

David Woods (R)

Perry Township Board Member

Silas M. Chamberlain Jr. (D)

James L. Eickhoff (D)

Charlie Guetling (D)

John Bassemier (R)

Pigeon Township Board Member

Shirley Baker (D)

Ruby Mcglown (D)

Connie Robinson (D)

Scott Township Board Member

Alisha Aman (D)

Sloane Standley (D)

Greg Unfried (D)

Harold Grossman (R)

Steve Jackson (R)

Patrick Seib (R)

Union Township Board Member

Jonathon McClintock (R)

Jeffery Pipken (R)

Chris Winiger (R)

School Board At-Large

(vote for one candidate)

Jeff Worthington

Melissa Moorehead Moore

John Jay Geary II

Carolyn Gallagher

Ken Colbert

School Board District 1

(Vote for one candidate)

Chris Kiefer

Jeremy Heath

Anthony Clutter

School Board District 2

(Vote for two candidates)

Andy Guarino

David Hollingsworth

Mike Duckworth

Julie Lutz Fox

Casey Hillenbrand

Jon Abbey

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

MEDIA

Gannett Announces New Cuts Including Mandatory Unpaid Leave And Buyouts That Directly Affect INDY STAR AND EVANSVILLE COURIER And Press Employees

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INDY STAR AND EVANSVILLE COURIER AND PRESS EMPLOYEES DIRECTLY AFFECTED

Gannett also will pause overall hiring and temporarily suspend matching 401(k) contributions.

 

October 12, 2022

UPDATED: Oct. 13, 2022

Gannett will be requiring employees to take one week of unpaid leave in December and is seeking volunteers for buyouts, CEO Mike Reed announced in a staff-wide emailWednesday.

The company also has paused overall hiring and will temporarily suspend matching contributions to employee 401(k) accounts starting Oct. 24. The email, which was sent companywide though some staff said they didn’t receive a copy, came two months after Gannett laid off 400 employees and eliminated 400 open positions in response to a bleak second quarter.

“These are truly challenging times,” Reed wrote. “The company continues to face headwinds and uncertainty from the deteriorating macroeconomic environment which has led the executive team to take further immediate action.”

Gannett, which is the nation’s largest newspaper chain with more than 200 print papers, has struggled significantly in recent years. In its most recent financial report, Gannett reported it lost $54 million during the second quarter. Its shares have since plummeted, continuing a downward trend. Gannett stock is now trading at $1.40, down 77% over the past year.

The company also is saddled with more than $1 billion in debt from its merger with GateHouse in 2019. Earlier this month, Gannett reported it had paid down $55 million of that debt since June 30. It also will be selling $65 million to $75 million in real estate and other assets.

Early Wednesday afternoon, Gannett released a set of FAQs about the new cost-cutting measures, but some details remain uncertain. The company did not specify when it would resume matching contributions to 401(k) accounts or how many buyouts it is seeking. (Gannett later made the FAQ guides private, only available to employees.)

Gannett also will be allowing employees to voluntarily reduce their work hours or request an unpaid sabbatical.

It is unclear who will be impacted by the changes. Reed’s email included a disclaimer stating that the cuts may not apply to unionized employees. Roughly 1,500 employees across 50 newsrooms are represented by the NewsGuild.

NewsGuild president Jon Schleuss tweeted that many of the changes will not immediately impact those employees.

“Folks bargaining first contracts are protected by status quo and the company cannot unilaterally make changes without negotiating with workers,” Schleuss wrote. “For folks under a contract, it depends on what your contract says and most of the issues need to be bargained. The company said it plans to bring up these cuts in negotiations.”

Gannett has cut its staff considerably since the 2019 merger. At the time, the two companies had roughly 25,000 employees. By the end of 2021, that number had shrunk to 13,800 in the U.S. and 2,500 abroad.

Many of those cuts came from layoffs and buyouts. Others came from shifts in newspaper ownership. Since 2020, Gannett has sold more than 100 newspapers and reportedly plans to sell at least 60 more of its nearly 500 publications.

FOOTNOTE:  Angela Fu is a reporter for Poynter. She can be reached at afu@poynter.org or on Twitter @angelanfu.  Angela Fu

Support high-integrity, independent journalism that serves democracy. Make a gift to Poynter today. The Poynter Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, and your gift helps us make good journalism better.

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LETTER TO EDITOR: Local Republican Candidates O’Brien And Ledbetter Declined Invitations To Debate

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LETTER TO EDITOR: Local Republican Candidates O’Brien And Ledbetter Declined Invitations To Debate

by Kaitie Rector

October 15, 2022

Voters need to hold Republican candidates, and Indiana GOP leadership, accountable for their failure to participate fairly in the democratic process. Public debate and appearance in a public forum is a cornerstone of democracy.

Posted below are Republican candidates who have declined the invitations to such opportunities:

71% Of State Senate Republican Candidates Surveyed:

Dan Dernulc (SD 1)

Jeff Larson (SD 11)

James Buck (SD 21)

Spencer Deery (SD 23)

Mike Gaskill (SD 25)

Scott Alexander (SD 26)

Alex Choi (SD 29)

Kyle Walker (SD 31)

Gary Byrne (SD 47)

Mark Messmer (SD 48)

75% of State Representative Republican Candidates Surveyed:

Dale DeVon (HD 5)

Jake Teshka (HD 7)

Julie Olthoff (HD 19)

Donna Schaibley (HD 24)

Fred Glynn (HD 32)

JD Prescott (HD 33)

Dale Basham (HD 34)

Elizabeth Rowray (HD 35)

Gerald Torr (HD 39)

Mark Genda (HD 41)

Alan Morrison (HD 42)

Bob Heaton (HD 46)

Joanna King (HD 49)

Dave Hall (HD 62)

Edward Clere (HD 72)

Jennifer Meltzer (HD 73)

Cindy Ledbetter (HD 75)

Tim O’Brien (HD 78)

Martin Carbaugh (HD 81)

David Jones (HD 82)

Chris Jeter (HD 88)

100% Of State Representative Republican Candidates Surveyed:

Rudy Yakym (2nd)

Jim Banks (3rd)

Victoria Spartz (5th)

Greg Pence (6th)

Larry Bucshon (8th)

Erin Houchin (9th)

FOOTNOTE: Not AbleTo to Confirm If The Candidate Was A No-Show.

Sincerely,

Kaitie Rector

Evansville, Ind.

FOOTNOTE: This letter was posted without bias or opinion or editing.

Flowers On The Lake Annual Ceremony To Commemorate Lives Lost To Domestic Violence

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Flowers On The Lake Annual Ceremony To Commemorate Lives Lost To Domestic Violence

Flowers on the Lake.jpg

Image copyright: USI Photography and Multimedia

The University of Southern Indiana’s Sexual Assault and Gender Violence Prevention Committee will host the annual Flowers on the Lake ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 18 in front of the Liberal Arts Center. The ceremony, held in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is open to the public at no charge.

Flowers on the Lake is an annual ceremony to honor those who have lost their lives to domestic violence and raise awareness about the warning signs of relationship abuse. Students will speak during a brief presentation about lives that have been lost as a result of domestic violence, which will be followed by a moment of silence. Guests will then proceed to Reflection Lake to scatter flower petals on top of the water in honor of survivors and in memory of victims of domestic violence.

“Through this annual event, we hope to raise awareness of the warning signs of abusive relationships and share the importance of connecting to the many resources that exist on campus and in the community for help,” says Catherine Champagne, Assistant Program Director for Student Wellness.

This event is sponsored by the USI Sexual Assault & Gender Violence Prevention Group and Albion Fellows Bacon Center.

In the event of rain, the event will be held at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, October 20 at the same location. For more information, contact Champagne at cchampagne@usi.edu or 812-461-5483.

###

Founded in 1965, the University of Southern Indiana enrolls more than 9,750 dual credit, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in more than 130 areas of study. A public higher education institution, located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, Indiana, USI offers programs through the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, College of Nursing and Health Professions and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. USI is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University and offers continuing education and special programs to more than 20,000 participants annually through Outreach and Engagement. USI is online at USI.edu.

Another Morning Cup Of Coffee News A Little Of This and That

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coffee

Another Morning Cup Of Coffee News A Little Of This and That

By Dannie McIntire

OCTOBER 15, 2022

There Is So Much Good News This Morning I Don’t Know Where To Start.

Our country continues to benefit from the massive pandemic American Rescue Plan funds the democrats passed back in 2021.

The city of Chicago, apparently flush with our federal ARP tax dollars, is implementing a “Guaranteed Income Pilot Program”. The city is awarding 3,250 eligible applicants with $500 of your federal tax dollars each month for two years. Now I’m not that proficient at math so I got out my calculator, that’s $39 million dollars over two years. 

What struck me as the most absurd part of this money give away is that applicants will not be required to provide information to verify their citizenship or immigration status?

The City of Denver is using $2 million of your Covid-1p ARP tax dollars to implement a program which will give more than 140 folks up to $1,000 a month in cash for a year as a basic income program. 

I can’t believe why our national leaders didn’t discover all this “free money” when I was younger and raising a family, oh wait, back in those days there was this thing called “personal responsibility”. 

It’s time for another cup of coffee.

If you wonder why the state of our educational systems nationwide is on the decline the next tidbits offer a partial explanation. 

Recently all but one student at the University Of Southern Maine walked out of their class demanding that the professor be dismissed for stating only two sexes exist. Well I can certainly understand their horror over hearing such a statement’ “oh I identify as a “it” and I’m too offended to attend this class any longer unless you fire the teacher”.

The University of New York, recently fired an award-winning professor of organic chemistry, after his students submitted a petition to the university In which they blamed their poor grades on his class being too hard. A quote from the their petition, “”We are very concerned about our scores, and find that they are not an accurate reflection of the time and effort put into this class.”

Now is it possibly just me, but I’m thinking it’s possible that many of the students were auto-passed through their earlier education and were shocked to find they were expected to study to achieve a passing grade. 

Goodness, time to brew a fresh pot of coffee.

Wegmans, a supermarket chain which has 109 stores, announced that they are discontinuing their phone scan app which allowed their customers to scan, bag their items as they shopped, click pay when finished and walk out the door. Wegmans cited “losses” as the reason for ending use of the scan app.

Now I have to think a good sum of money was spent by Wegmans to develop and initiate usage of the app in their stores. I dislike being such a doomsayer, but in today’s society, I could have saved them a bunch of money and told them it’s not going to work.

Read the headlines, we have folks entering stores with empty garbage bags, filling them, walking out, and no effort is made to stop them. Heck, why even bother with a self scan, grab and go phone app.

Goodness Dannie, get another cup of coffee and on to another subject. 

What else is in the recent news that causes me to scratch my head? The city of St. Louis is preparing to sue Hyundai and Kia over the number of car thefts in their city involving some models of their vehicles. 

Apparently, city officials believe the two auto manufacturers are at fault due to a “effect” which allegedly makes their models manufactured before 2021 more prone to being stolen.

From a letter written by the St. Louis City Counselor Shenna Hamilton to Hyundai and Kia; “”With this letter, the city demands that Kia and Hyundai mitigate the defective conditions providing thieves – including teenagers as young as 13 – the instrumentalities by which they are destroying property, endangering city drivers and themselves, and, in some cases, committing violent felonies”.

Gee, don’t blame our kids and career criminals for stealing vehicles because it has to be someone else’s fault.

I remember the old phrase, “if you can’t do the time don’t do the crime”.  Perhaps St Louis and other similar thinking cities should post this welcoming sign at their city limits’ “Welcome To Our City We Look The Other Way Because It’s Not Your Fault”. Give me a break!

A fresh cup of coffee, I’ll finish today’s column with a feel good item involving one of Evansville’s local businesses. 

Have you ever heard of the “Buddy Bench” program? It’s a very simple idea; benches are placed, most often at schools near their play areas. The schools personnel and students are told of its purpose; if a child is feeling conflicted about something going on in their life, maybe they are being bullied, trouble at home, or they simply are in need someone to listen. A child can sit on the bench as a signal they need someone to talk to.  

It’s a great program that a local Evansville business, “Green Tree Plastics”, participates in. They make the “Buddy Benches” out of re-cycled plastic caps and lids. Sponsoring organizations collect the plastic caps/lids and pay Green Tree Plastics to manufacture the bench. It takes 100 lbs of plastic caps/lids to manufacture a “Buddy Bench”.

A big thank you to a local Evansville company, Green Tree Plastics!Â