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Local Farms Recognized with Hoosier Homestead Awards
FSSA Names New Leadership In The Office Of Early Childhood And Out-Of-School Learning
Courtney Penn was Named Director And Courtney Hott was Named ELAC Director
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration today announced that Courtney Penn has been named director of the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. She is currently OECOSL’s director of child care licensing.
“We are excited to have an individual with Courtney’s passion for and deep expertise in an early childhood education as our next OECOSL leader,†said Dan Rusyniak, M.D., FSSA Secretary. “Courtney’s focus in using her team’s expertise to meet early learning goals will bring a high level of support to the OECOSL team to improve the access to and quality of the child care and early education system in Indiana.â€
Penn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the early childhood education field. She has an undergraduate degree in child development and family life from Indiana State University and a master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University in human development, which spans all age groups from infancy on. She has worked in direct child care services as a Head Start teacher and center director. Courtney has also done statewide and national-level work at the Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral, Early Learning Indiana, SPARK Learning Lab, and Child Care Aware of America.
FSSA also announced that Courtney Hott will serve as director of the Early Learning Advisory Council.
Hott will work directly with OECOSL and the Indiana Department of Education to administer all activities of ELAC, which was restructured and expanded as part of legislation championed by Governor Eric J. Holcomb and passed in 2022 to elevate and support early learning in Indiana.
Hott is a licensed school counselor and administrator who found her niche in creating and advocating for education policy changes. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology at Indiana University, Bloomington and her master’s degree in education and school counseling at Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis. Courtney comes to her new role from the Indiana Department of Education and previously worked for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
“Courtney has demonstrated that she is dedicated to education and shares our understanding that quality education over the entire lifespan for all Hoosiers is the key to success and economic development in Indiana,†Dr. Rusyniak said. “This makes her the perfect individual to connect the early learning community to OECOSL and IDOE in this important role.â€
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
                            David Clark
Tammy Hicks
Jim Stuteville
Brandon Renner
William Howard Marver
Jennifer Warner Mitchell
Pam Chaddock Doerter
Joshua Michael Lefler
Sandra McCullough
Brenda Floyd
A.J. Naas
Jim McGillem
Scott Evernham
Gail Russell Dunn
Pamela Jeffries
Jonathan Danks
Dottie Thomas
Brett Sprinkle
Timothy C Sorensen
Laurel Quirey Mills
Randy Ulrich
Grodie Crick
Mark Brand
Thomas Myers
Betty Young
Dirck H Stahl
Debbie Waters
Ron Beane
Angela Madden Wilson
Joshua Thomas
Julie Cotton-Fire Reed
Al Baity
Jason Pennington
Jackie Cosgrove
Ed Adams
Angie McGee
Angie McGee
Rick Winters
Susette F Siddall
Lisa Robinson
Kathy Grant Murrell
Morris Ragarm Epley
Danny Hale Jones Jr.
Larry Ulrich
Kevin S Williams
Tracy Wright
Patti Davis Sensmeier
Crystal Hebner
Andrea Chessor Santarsiero
James Mcmanaway
Alicia Dimmett
Deborah Zeller
Michael Hall
Charlie Francis
Brad Meny
Annie Groves
Cory Brunson
Mike Moll
Judy Hagedorn
John Berkley
Deborah Bates-Kessinger
Cliff Louis Dardeen
Jeffrey O Stratton
Reenie Brown
David Bays
Brady Hall
Gary Mayes
Bob Grant
Darrell Williams
Tammy Poole
Dan Oberhausen
Ashtyn Cowling
John Scales
Greg Claspell
Megan Volkman Danks
Ronald Lovell
Scott Mason
Blake Fulton
Jamie Allen Fairchild
Allison Hunter Voges
Rosemary Jarrett
Nancy Davis
Robin Mogavero
Erin Woehler Osborne
Richard Rust
Scott Zenthofer
Kathy Hunter Ruxer
D.M. Cosby
Mike Harper
Kaylee Meyer
Stephen Schwambach
Glenn Payne
Patrick Moore
Sandra Vandeveer
Bill Droll
Audra Fox
Jeff Simpson
Dave Appel
Bob Ballard
Matthew J. Russell
Bart Blalock
Donnie Mays
Vicki Hubiak
M. Jerry Schapker
Mary Jo Kaiser
Ken Mitz
David C Moore
Bob Zimmermann
John P. Devine
Barbara Santora
Danny Thomas
Jayne Barnes
David Girton
Debbie Kuhlman
Patricia Johnson
Rick Williams
Rick Cory
Danna Clark
Cory Frasier
Kendi A. Speakes
Darla Goldman
Darlene Rycroft
Debbie Kincheloe-Fink
Michelle Mercer
Michael Weir
Randy Zimmermann
Gloria Bryant
Ann Greenfield
Greg Charnes
Bob Stephenson
Matt Shields
Linda Barth
Lindsay LeDuc
Mark Messmer
Lucas Neuffer
Drew Glover
Debi Wolfe
Rick Riney
Lisa Rhyand Vaughan
Josh Hedges
Jeri Utley
Robert L Rickenbaugh
Jenny Nelson Putnam
Trent Van Haaften
Mollie Timmons Gerling
Dave Wallace
Mike O’Connor
Stephanie Hayden
Steve Nussmeier
Steve Ary
Brad Elpers
Tiffany Schriber Ball
Carol McClintock
Denise Shane-Cheaney
Zachary Heronemus
Donetta Epperson
Tj Schafer
Patrick Coslett
Mike Adams
Tami Tenbarge
Jim Bockting
Wesley York
Linda Schock Kuester
Mary Hart
Teresa Alexander
Anne Dudine Maas
Brian Csukas
Marsha Johnson
Kevin Murray
Frank Elsperman
Karyle Lang Elder
Mark Wohlford
Jim Bush
Wayne Wilson
Tony Pruiett
Phyllis Smith
Ralph Darke-Schreiber
HOT JOBS
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Trailblazers pick up split on tough first day at Wallace State C.C. Fall Bash
HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The Vincennes University volleyball team made the long trip down to Alabama Friday morning to take part in the two-day Wallace State C.C. Fall Bash in Hanceville.
The Trailblazers had a tough first day but came away with a four-set win over Spartanburg Methodist 19-25, 25-15, 25-14, 28-26 before falling to host and No. 20-ranked Wallace State in five sets 25-22, 21-25, 18-25, 25-23, 12-15.
Vincennes opened the day on a hot start coming off of the six-hour bus ride against Spartanburg, jumping out to an early 1106 lead in set one.
Slowly the Pioneers battled back, tying the score and eventually taking the lead on their way to closing out set one on a 5-0 scoring run to finish 25-19.
VU got out to another early lead in the second set, holding a 14-6 lead. The Trailblazers would continue to build on this lead to a 10-point advantage before coming away with set two 25-15 and evening the match.
The Trailblazers kept riding this momentum into the pivotal third set where VU used a 5-0 scoring run by freshman libero Morgan Netcott (Montague, Mich.) to take a 19-11 lead before closing out the set 25-14 and taking a 2-1 match lead.
Set four was a back-and-forth battle, with the two teams trading leads several times on small scoring runs before Spartanburg took the lead at 25-24 and forced overtime. Vincennes would take the match after closing out the fourth set with three unanswered points 28-26.
“Firstly, I want to thank Coach Mike Misner and Coach Ariana Gentzler for coaching during these past two weeks when I wasn’t available,†VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “They did an excellent job of keeping the team together. A lot of times you don’t hear about the Assistant Coaches and at this level most of the time they are part-time coaches who have other full-time jobs and responsibilities. I just want to give them credit for holding this team together during the middle of our season and a tough schedule.â€
“Today we had a really different lineup on the floor,†Sien added. “We were missing a couple of players but I always say, ‘I don’t have time to worry about who is not out there.’ I think it took us the first set to get used to the lineup changes. One example is Josephine Mulligan, who has been out for two weeks coming back, which allowed us to use Maecy Johnson as a hitter, which she is, we just haven’t used her as a hitter this season yet.â€
“But I told the team after the first set that I thought we played well, we just didn’t finish. We didn’t execute,†Sien said. “Obviously the team took that and believed that because the next two sets were in the teens. Even the fourth set was a challenge too. We lost the first set. Took care of business in two and three and all of a sudden here they come in set four and how do we react. That fourth set was another gut-check for us with our unfamiliar rotations and players either coming back or playing in new positions.â€
The Trailblazers were led offensively by freshman Paige Parlanti (Las Vegas, Nev.) who recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 21 kills and 14 digs, as well as a team high four aces and two blocks.
Volleyball defeats preseason favorite in MVC opener
Aces take down Illinois State by 3-1 final
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Giulia Cardona and Alondra Vazquez recorded 18 and 16 kills, respectively, to lift the University of Evansville volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite Illinois State in Friday’s league opener inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Cardona his .333 for the Purple Aces while Vazquez was just behind, finishing at .310. Emilee Scheumann and Madisyn Steele were equally impressive – totaling eight kills each. Vazquez led all players with 16 digs while Kora Ruff chipped in 33 assists.
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Set 1: UE 25, ISU 12
Putting together one of the most efficient sets of the season, the Purple Aces began the night with a huge set victory. Behind six Emilee Scheumann kills, UE earned a 25-12 win. After the Redbirds took a 2-1 lead, Evansville rallied back to take its first advantage at 4-3 on a Schuemann kill. It grew to 8-5 when Alondra Vazquez recorded her first kill.
ISU kept it close at 12-9 before UE changed the course of the set. Kills from Vazquez and Scheumann helped to extend the lead to 16-9 and it would be the start of a longer 12-2 run that made it a 24-11 game. Giulia Cardona added an ace while Scheumann picked up two more kills. Cardona put the exclamation mark on the set with her fourth kill to cap off the set.
Set 2: ISU 25, UE 23
Multiple ties ensued before the Redbirds took a 9-6 lead on a service ace. Illinois State doubled that advantage to six points at 18-12, but Evansville stormed back. A 6-1 run cut the deficit down to just a point.
UE took advantage of four Redbird errors while Vazquez and Cardona picked up kills. Things continued to remain within 1-2 points, but the Aces could not tie the score as the Redbirds knotted the match with a 25-23 win.
Set 3: UE 25, ISU 20
Early in the frame, it was UE opening up a 7-5 lead when ISU utilized an 8-2 stretch to go in front 13-9. That is when the tides turned. Evansville put together a huge run to jump in front. Scoring eight in a row, the Aces turned the deficit into a 17-13 lead. Kora Ruff picked up an ace while Cardona and Vazquez registered kills.
Two aces by Illinois State saw them get ack within one at 19-18. With the pressure on, the Aces responded. Cardona added another kill that righted the ship and saw UE win by a 25-20 final to go up 2-1 in the match.
Set 4: 25, ISU 18
Looking to clinch the match, the Aces came out strong, taking a 9-6 lead. After ISU fought back to tie it at 10-10, Cardona picked up back-to-back kills before Kate Tsironis and Vazquez added one apiece to put UE in front at 14-10. ISU responded with a 5-1 run to tie it up.
It was Cardona providing the response, picking up two more kills with Steele adding another to cap a 4-0 run that made it a 19-15 game. The offense continued its run with three more kills leading to a 24-17 score. Following an Illinois State point, the Aces recorded the clinching point to win the match.
On Saturday, UE is back in action with a 5 p.m. match against Bradley inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
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Offensive woes result in Eagles’ first OVC loss
USI falls to TTU, 3-0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (0-12, 0-1 OVC) finished its first Ohio Valley Conference match of the 2022 campaign that ended with a 3-0 (18-25, 21-25, 15-25) loss to Tennessee Tech University (4-9, 1-0 OVC). The Screaming Eagles put up low offensive numbers in the conference opener, tallying just 26 kills and a .111 attacking percentage, both second lowest this season.
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A late run by the Golden Eagles gave USI the 25-18 opening set loss. Sophomore outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana) kicked off the set with a big kill before TTU went on a 4-0 stint to gain a 4-1 advantage. The Eagles were able to tie it a few times early on before the Golden Eagles went on a 5-1 surge to make it 15-11. Sophomore middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) was able to stop the run with a kill while junior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois) and Downing were able to tag-team a block to cut the deficit to two. At 16-14, TTU would go on a massive 7-0 run that put USI down, 23-14. The Eagles tallied four straight points thanks to three Golden Eagles errors and a service ace from sophomore outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) to cut the gap before TTU stole the show and the first set. Weber led the group with three of the team’s eight kills.
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TTU took advantage of its 19 kills and .273 hitting percentage to take the 25-21 second set victory. The Golden Eagles went up 5-2 early in the set before a pair of TTU errors and a Bednar kill made it a one-point game. The Golden Eagles, however, stormed back with a 5-0 surge to give themselves a, 11-5 lead. USI was able to score the next five of seven points to pull within three before TTU countered with a 4-0 stint. With a 19-11 deficit, the Eagles were able to get back into the game thanks to three Golden Eagle miscues and a kill from Anderson before TTU returned the favor with back-to-back kills to extend to a 21-15 lead. USI went on two 3-0 runs, one stint had three kills by three different Eagles to cut TTU’s lead to 23-21. The late run was not enough as the Golden Eagles earned their second victory of the match. As a team, USI tallied 10 kills and a .219 hitting percentage along with an ace.
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The Eagles watched TTU run away with the third frame, 25-15. USI started the set with a kill from sophomore outside/right side hitter Evie Duncan (Evansville, Indiana) that started back-and-forth action that resulted in a 4-4 draw. TTU would go up by three before a pair of attacking errors put USI within one. With the score 8-7, the Golden Eagles put together a 5-0 run before Bednar stopped the bleeding with her fifth kill of the match. The Eagles’ offense went cold the rest of the match, scoring just five of the final 16 points as the Golden Eagles win the first OVC match of the regular season.
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Anderson was the offensive leader for USI, recording six kills with Weber and Bednar each capturing five kills. Junior outside/right side hitter/setter Katherine Koch (Belleville, Illinois) earned a team-high 13 assists while sophomore libero/defensive specialist Anna Ballengee put up 16 digs and was the team’s only ace. Bednar, Downing, and freshman middle hitter Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) nabbed three blocks each.
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As a team, the Eagles earned 26 kills and 15 errors off 99 total attacks, giving them a .111 hitting percentage. USI tallied 24 assists, 37 digs, and 12 blocks. TTU ended the match with 48 kills off 115 total attacks to total a .261 attacking percentage. The Golden Eagles also had 47 assists, 51 digs, and 20 blocks.
Senators Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Lower Prescription Drug Costs
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Braun and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced bipartisan legislation today to lower prescription drug costs by removing barriers that prevent some medications, including generic drugs, from entering the market. Generic medications generally cost less than name-brand drugs, and when generics enter the market, it increases competition and brings down overall prescription drug costs.
“For far too long, politicians and pharmaceutical companies have sparred over drug pricing, all the while patients and their families bear the costs of expensive inaction and endless bureaucratic red tape. We need to shake up this dysfunctional system, and more generic drug competition in the pharmaceutical industry would give patients the upper hand. This is why I am proud to co-introduce the Increasing Prescription Drug Competition Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that will open the door for more generic drugs to enter the market, ultimately driving consumer-friendly price competition. This bill will help patients in every state get drugs they need for less,â€Â said Senator Braun.
“Granite Staters and Americans need us to keep working together to stand up to Big Pharma and bring down prescription drug costs,â€Â said Senator Hassan. “Our bipartisan bill would take an important step forward to lower costs at the pharmacy counter by preventing pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to block generic drugs from entering the market. I encourage my colleagues to join us in supporting this commonsense bill.â€
DETAILS:
- Senator Braun and Hassan’s bipartisan Increasing Prescription Drug Competition Act will help get more generic drugs onto the market.
- The FDA often requires that drug manufacturers have a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program for potentially dangerous medications – for instance, requiring training for doctors to prescribe the drug.
- Pharmaceutical companies sometimes patent their REMS program as a way to slow or block generic versions of the medication from entering the market.
- Senator Hassan and Braun’s bill enables the FDA to immediately approve generic drugs – instead of the normal 30-month approval stay – if the only barrier to approval is a REMS patent.
- In addition, their bill stops pharmaceutical companies from abusing the patent and court system by ensuring that if a drug company sues to stop a generic over a REMS patent, the lawsuit may go on but it cannot stop the sale of the generic drug.