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USI Softball Facing Rogers State In NCAA II Softball Championship Opener

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USI Softball Facing Rogers State In NCAA II Softball Championship Opener

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Softball landed the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship and will play No. 5-seeded Rogers State University in the opening round Thursday at 2:30 p.m. (CDT).

The Screaming Eagles (49-11) are ranked No. 10, nationally, while the Hillcats (53-10) are ranked No. 4, nationally.

USI and Rogers State are in the same bracket as the top-ranked University of Texas at Tyler and No. 8-seeded California State University, Dominguez Hills.

The other half of the bracket features No. 2-seeded Adelphi University taking on No. 7-seeded University of North Georgia, while No. 3-seeded Auburn University at Montgomery will battle No. 6-seeded Seton Hill University.

USI is one of five No. 1 seeds to advance to the NCAA II Softball Championship and one of three from its half of the bracket. Texas-Tyler, Rogers State, Adelphi, and Auburn-Montgomery also were No. 1 seeds in their respective regions.

The Eagles’ games will be aired live on NCAA.com, 95.7 The Spin and ESPN 97.7 The Ref, while live stats, audio and video links can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.

USI Softball Notes
• Eagles claim third regional crown. USI Softball won its third NCAA Division II Midwest Region title and first since winning the national championship in 2018. The Eagle’s win over Grand Valley State marked the second time USI has claimed the regional title on the USI Softball Field. The Eagles improved to 6-0 all-time in the NCAA II Super Regional with their wins.

• USI in the NCAA post-season. The Eagles, who are in the NCAA II Tournament for the first time since 2019 and the 10th time in program history, are 29-18 all-time in the NCAA II Tournament and 28-14 under Head Coach Sue Kunkle following their wins in the Super Regional.

• USI in the NCAA II Softball Championship. The Eagles are making their third appearance at the NCAA II Softball Championship. USI went 0-2 in its first trip in 2017 and 5-0 in its national championship run in 2018.
–2017: Lost to #2 seed Minnesota State-Mankato (eventual champions), 5-0, in the opening round
–2017: Lost to #6 seed West Florida, 4-3, in elimination bracket following a lengthy delay due to umpire replacement
–2018: Upset #1 seed North Georgia, 1-0, behind a 3-hit shutout from Jennifer Leonhardt
–2018: Jennifer Leonhardt tossed USI’s first-ever post-season no-hitter as Eagles upset #4 seed Angelo State, 3-0.
–2018: After rain suspended play with USI trailing #6-seeded Saint Leo, 4-2, in the sixth, USI came back the following day to score runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to punch its ticket to the NCAA II Championship round.
–2018: USI overpowered #2 seed Saint Anselm, winning the opening game of the best-of-three series, 4-0, before erupting for seven second-inning runs in game two to win 8-3.

• Eagles making history. USI has had a historic season in its march to the NCAA II Softball Championship. The Eagles have accomplished the following:
–The best start to GLVC play (16-0).
–A tied program record for consecutive wins (18).
–A set record for GLVC wins (26) in a single season.
–A set record for wins in a single season (49) … previous record was 48 (1998).
–First time in program history winning GLVC regular-season, GLVC Tournament and NCAA II Midwest Region titles in the same season.
–Set program records for triples (26), runs (346), RBI (320) and tied record for doubles (93).
–Best 40-game stretch in program history, having gone 37-3 entering NCAA II Championship.

• Record Watch. Individually, sophomore first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) broke Marleah Fossett’s record (21 in 2017) for hit-by-pitches (22) and is just two doubles to match Kristin Eickholt’s program record (21 in 2006). Sophomore outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) needs five at-bats (Claire Johnson, 206 in 2018) and 12 hits (Trisha Poling, 87 in 1998) to match program records, while freshman outfielder Kennedy Nalley (Huntingburg, Indiana) is eight runs shy of Haley Hodge’s record (58 in 2016). Bedrick also is just 10 runs shy of that mark.

• Historic production. While Fair’s 54 RBI are tied for the second most in a single-season in program history, the Eagles run production across the board has been historic. USI has six players with at least 30 RBI and a seventh with 29 RBI. The six players with 30 or more RBI are the most in program history. USI also is just 12 hits shy of the 2017 team’s single-season record for hits (540).

• Last week’s leaders. Senior designated player Katie Back (Indianapolis, Indiana) hit .571 (4-7) with a pair of RBI during the NCAA II Super Regional. She drove in the game-winning run in USI’s come-from-behind win over Grand Valley State in game two, while her RBI single in the fifth in game one broke a scoreless tie. In the circle, freshman pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was 1-0 with a save and a 0.00 ERA, while junior pitcher Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) was 1-0 with a 1.31 ERA in 10 2/3 innings of work.

• NCAA II Tournament leaders. Fair is hitting .450 (9-20) with two doubles, two home run and six RBI, while Back is hitting .444 with a double and two RBI. Bedrick is hitting .429 with a team-best eight runs scored, while Goodin and sophomore catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) have respectively driven in eight and seven runs. Goodin is 3-1 with a 0.58 ERA in the post-season, while Newman is 3-0 with two saves, a 1.52 ERA, 20 strikeouts and a .195 opponent batting average.

• Post-season leaders. Back is hitting .500 with two doubles and four RBI to lead USI in the post-season, while Bedrick is hitting .433 with 13 hits and 11 runs scored. Fair is hitting .414 with three doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI, while Goodin is hitting .407 with three doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI.

In the circle, Goodin is 5-1 with a 0.87 ERA, 19 strikeouts and a .220 opponent batting average in 40 1/3 innings of work to lead USI in the post-season. Newman is 3-0 with a pair of saves, 20 strikeouts and a .195 opponent batting average in 23 innings of work, freshman Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) is 1-0 with a .160 opponent batting average in 6 2/3 innings of work.

• Eagles offense heats up. After being held to just three hits in their first shutout loss since March 5 and just their second of the season, the Eagles’ offense erupted for a combined 31 runs off 47 hits in the final four games of the NCAA II Midwest Region #1 Tournament. The Eagles hit .409 as a team, racking up 13 doubles, two triples and eight home runs.

• USI wins fifth GLVC crown. The Eagles won the GLVC Tournament for the fifth time in program history when they defeated Indianapolis, 1-0, in the championship game Sunday. USI also won the GLVC Tournament in 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2018.

• Eagles move into Top 10. USI enters the NCAA II Softball Championship ranked No. 10 in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, which was most recently published prior to the NCAA II Midwest #1 Tournament.

• Newman finalist for Freshman of Year honors. Newman is a finalist for the NFCA’s Freshman of the Year honor. She is the second USI freshman to be up for the award after Jennifer Leonhardt was a finalist for the NFCA Freshman of the Year honor in 2017.

• Kunkle named GLVC Coach of the Year. USI Head Coach Sue Kunkle was named the GLVC Coach of the Year for the third time after leading the Eagles to the GLVC regular-season championship. Kunkle, who directed the NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2018 and NFCA Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2017 and 2018, also was the GLVC Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2017.

• Six Eagles net All-GLVC honors. USI placed six players on the All-GLVC team in 2022, including Goodin, who collected first-team honors as a utility/pitcher. Back (designated player) and Fair were named to the second team, as was Newman, Kihega and Bedrick.

• Four Eagles net All-Region honors. Fair, Goodin and Newman all earned second-team D2CCA All-Midwest Region honors in a vote by the Midwest Region Sports Information Directors, while Goodin and Bedrick earned second-team NFCA All-Midwest Region accolades in a vote by the region’s coaches.

• Two Eagles net Academic honors. Back and Bedrick both earned CoSIDA Academic All-District IV honor after strong seasons at the plate and in the classroom. Both are now on the ballot for Academic All-America honors.

• Season leaders. Back leads USI with a .397 batting average to go along with 10 doubles, two home runs, and 30 RBI, while Fair is hitting .390 with 19 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 54 RBI. She also has been hit a program-record 22 times.

In the circle, Newman is 17-3 with four saves, a 179 ERA, .174 opponent batting average and 185 strikeouts in 141 innings of work. Goodin is 16-3 with a 1.83 ERA and .226 opponent batting average in 126 2/3 innings of work, while Gotshall (8-0) and Back (6-1) have combined for a 14-1 record.

• Walk-off wins. The Eagles have had 11 walk-off victories this season, including six that have been in the seventh inning or later and four that have been in extra innings. Six of the walk-off wins have given the Eagles victory via the eight-run rule.

• Eagles in extra innings. USI is 6-1 in extra-inning games this season, including 4-0 in GLVC play.

• Hitting streaks. Back, junior shortstop Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) and freshman Olivia Howard (Fishers, Indiana) each have a hit in their previous two appearances. Bedrick and junior second baseman Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) each had a season-high 11 game hit streak earlier this season.

• Weekly honors. Both Fair and Newman have collected GLVC weekly honors this season. Fair earned GLVC Player of the Week honors for her efforts in USI’s doubleheader sweep over Illinois Springfield, Truman State, and Quincy earlier this season, while Newman was named GLVC Pitcher of the Week after recording a pair of shutouts, including a no-hitter, in USI’s doubleheader wins over Drury and Southwest Baptist.

• OUCH! Fair has been hit by a pitch a league-high 22 times this season. She ranks No. 1 on USI’s all-time single-season list for being hit by a pitch. Marleah Fossett and Mena Fulton were smacked by pitches a respective 21 and 17 times in 2017, while Caitlyn Bradley was hit 12 times in 2016. Fair, who was hit 10 times as a freshman in 2021, is No. 2 on USI’s all-time list behind Fulton (37).

• 15-plus Ks. Newman has three games under her belt with at least 15 strikeouts. She fanned 17 batters in USI’s game-two win over Quincy and struck out 16 in USI’s game-two win over Missouri-St. Louis. She also had 15 strikeouts in USI’s game-two win over McKendree.

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SEVEN-TIME GRAMMY® WINNER GLADYS KNIGHT GRACES THE PLAZA STAGE ON JULY 31, 20229

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SEVEN-TIME GRAMMY® WINNER GLADYS KNIGHT GRACES THE PLAZA STAGE ON JULY 31, 2022

                             (TICKETS (GO ON SALE MAY 27 AT 10 AM)

Evansville, IN -  May 23, 2022 – Gladys Knight, known as the ‘Empress of Soul,’ is scheduled to take the Aiken Theatre stage this summer for an amazing show on July 31. The seven-time Grammy Award-winner is known for hits she recorded during the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s with her group The Pips, a group that included her brother Merald “Bubba” Knight and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten.

Knight has recorded two number-one Billboard Hot 100 singles, ‘Midnight Train to Georgia,’ and ‘That’s What Friends Are For,’ eleven number-one R&B singles, and six number-one R&B albums. She has won four Grammy Awards as a solo artist and three Grammy’s with The Pips. Two of her songs, ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine,’ and ‘Midnight Train to Georgia,’ were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for ‘historical, artistic and significant’ value. She also recorded the theme song for the 1989 James Bond film License to Kill. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Knight among the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

In 1995, Knight earned her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the next year, Gladys Knight & The Pips were inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame. Knight published an autobiography, Between Each Line of Pain and Glory (a line taken from her million-selling recording ‘Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me’), and the next year, she and The Pips were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. In 2004, Knight received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual BET Awards ceremony.

All told, Knight has recorded more than 38 albums over the years, including four solo albums during the past decade, Good Woman, Just for You, Many Different Roads, and At Last, showing the world she still has what it takes to record a hit album. Today, Knight and husband William, oversee her busy career from the Las Vegas headquarters of Shakeji, Inc., her personal entertainment corporation.

Ticket Information:

What:                   Gladys Knight

When:                  Sunday, July 31, 2022, at 8:00 PM

Where:                Old National Events Plaza, Aiken Theatre

Tickets:                Tickets start at $46.50 plus applicable fees and tax.

For more information about Gladys Knight, visit: www.GladysKnight.co

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com or the Old National Events Plaza Box Office.

For more information about the Aiken Theatre, visit: www.oldnationaleventsplaza.com

About JAC National Management Group

JAC National Management Group LLC brokers concerts, conventions, spectacle shows and sporting events for through subsidiary company, JAC Live. The core executive team, previously event promoters, lead JAC Management and offer expertise in making dynamic deals on behalf of clients. With a combined 15+ years in the concert industry JAC Management offers relationships with the world’s top agencies and artist management, routing entertainment icons such as Elton John, Barry Manilow, Tim McGraw, Motley Crue, Cirque Du Soliel, Earth Wind and Fire, Bob Dylan, and more For more information, visit   www.jacmg.com.

About Old National Events Plaza

Old National Events Plaza, managed by ASM Global, is Evansville, Indiana’s premier convention center and largest live entertainment theatre. Housing a spacious 2,500-seat theatre, 38,000 square- feet of column free exhibit space, a beautiful 14,000 square-foot ballroom, and 12,00 square-feet of meeting space, Old National Events Plaza hosts a variety of events. The venue offers easy scheduling, one-stop-shop services, and in-house catering and audio-visual services. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit www.oldnationaleventsplaza.com.

About ASM Global

ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management – delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 325 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. For more information, please visit www.asmglobal.com.

PBR Pre-Party To Be Held Downtown Evansville May 27-28 

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PBR Pre-Party to be held Downtown Evansville May 27-28 

Evansville, IN – May 23, 2022 – Academie Bar, Rally Point Events, and Visit Evansville will present the PBR Pre-Party on Main Street in Downtown Evansville on May 27 and 28 from 4 PM – 6 PM.  This free event will be hosted over two nights night prior to the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Challenger Series, presented by Shoe Sensation, held at the Ford Center.

The PBR Pre-Party is open to the public and will feature live music with Tailgate Revival, mechanical bull rides, a Monster Truck and motorcycles on display, Western-themed vendors, pop-up stores, live long horn steers, an outdoor beer garden, and more. Academie Bar, along with other Downtown businesses, will be open for additional food, beverage, and shopping.

Patrons do not need a ticket to the PBR Pro-Touring event to attend the Pre-Party, however, tickets are required for admission to the Ford Center.  Friday night tickets are still available at ticketmaster.com.

What:                 PBR Pre-Party, Presented by Academie Bar, Rally Point Events, and Visit
Evansville 

When:                Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28  4 PM – 6 PM

Where:               6th & Main Streets, Downtown Evansville

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About Visit Evansville

Visit Evansville is the official sales and marketing agency for tourism in Evansville, Indiana and Vanderburgh County.  Visit Evansville is dedicated to marketing and supporting local hotels and attractions and enhancing the area’s economy by selling the region as a premier destination for conventions, meetings, sports events, leisure, and business.  Additionally, Visit Evansville operates the Evansville Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art, multi-use sports facility, home to Deaconess Sports Park and Goebel Soccer Complex.

 

Indiana State Police Participates In ‘Click It Or Ticket’ Campaign

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Indiana State Police and many other police agencies across Indiana, will be increasing patrols as part of the national “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign ahead of Memorial Day weekend. For the next three weeks, officers will be out in full force making sure drivers and passengers are buckled up.

The goal over the next three weeks is to reduce the number of traffic injuries and fatalities from lack of seat belt use, a continuing concern. Data from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) shows unbuckled motorists make up almost 40% of all passenger vehicle deaths in the state.

The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with grants administered by ICJI.

“Our focus is not about writing tickets but to encourage people to buckle up in order to saves lives,” said Lieutenant Brian Bailey, Commander of the Evansville District. “Seat belts are your best form of protection in a crash and against dangerous drivers. At the end of the day, we want everyone to reach their destination safely.”

Since the “Click It or Ticket” initiative began more than 20 years ago, seat belt use has gone up 30% in Indiana to 92.9%, which is slightly higher than the national average of 90.3%.

Despite making progress and advances in vehicle safety, in 2020, 226 unbuckled vehicle occupants lost their lives on Indiana roads – the second highest in the past decade. Young drivers, especially males, were the least likely to be buckled during a crash.

“We cannot tolerate another deadly year like the one we just had on our roads,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “Many of the people we lost would still be alive today had they made the decision to buckle up. Seat belts make a difference. They save lives.”

Research has repeatedly demonstrated the safety benefits of seat belts and the dangerous consequences when people choose not to use them. Buckling up can reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by 50%. Without a seat belt fastened, people can be ejected from a vehicle and killed, and that risk increases if the driver is speeding or impaired.

Tragically, vehicle collisions continue to be a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13, and NHTSA data shows that approximately 46% of all car seats are being used incorrectly. Parents and caregivers who do not buckle up are more likely to have kids who are improperly restrained.

Indiana law requires the driver and all passengers to buckle up. Children under age eight must be properly restrained in a federally approved child car seat or booster seat.

Throughout the campaign, officers will be watching for seat belt and car seat violations while conducting high-visibility patrols during the day and night, when unrestrained driving is at its peak. Drivers can be cited for lack of seat belt use, but also for each unbuckled passenger under the age of 16.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to make sure children are in the right car seat and that it’s used correctly and properly installed. Resources can be found at www.nhtsa.gov/TheRightSeat. To schedule an appointment with a certified car seat safety technician at one of Indiana’s 100 fitting stations, visit on.in.gov/SafeKids.

Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

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Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

HOT JOBS

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‌HOT JOBS
Asst-Office Operations
Ascension – Winchester, IN
No nights, no weekends, no major holidays, great benefits! Excellent Medical, Dental & Vision Plans. Greet patients and visitors, check patients in and out, and…
May 20
Asst-Administrative
Ascension – Indianapolis, IN
No nights, no weekends, no major holidays, great benefits! Excellent Medical, Dental & Vision Plans. Provide administrative support for assigned area(s) or…
May 20
Production Coordinator (Remote)
Providence – Texas
ORC’s objective is to ensure our core strategy, One Ministry Committed to Excellence, is delivered along with the enhanced overall patient care experience (know…
May 20
Office Operations Assistant
Ascension – Noblesville, IN
Office Operations Assistant – Pediatric Primary Care – Noblesville, IN – full time, day shift – Monday through Friday. Excellent Medical, Dental & Vision Plans.
May 19
Surgical Scheduler
Ascension – Carmel, IN
No nights, no weekends, no major holidays, great benefits! Excellent Medical, Dental & Vision Plans. Coordinate OR surgery schedules to maximize efficient use…
May 20
Clinical Informatics Epic Support Specialist (Remote)
Providence – Texas
Serve as a resource in promoting the understanding, integration, and application of information technology in healthcare settings.
May 20
Health Information Management Assistant – Primary Care Center – FT Days
Ascension – Indianapolis, IN
M-F no weekends no holidays. Perform clerical and/or technical duties associated with medical records processes and procedures.
May 20
Support Helper
Ascension – Grand Blanc, MI
Support Helper I – Patient Transportation. Full Time Evenings: 3pm-11:30pm, with some weekends and holidays, 40 hours per week.
May 18
Clerk – Developmental Pediatrics
Ascension – Indianapolis, IN
Full time / Competitive Compensation / Excellent Benefits. This is a clerical back office position. Excellent Medical, Dental & Vision Plans.
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Clerk-Inventory-SCM
Ascension – Round Rock, TX
Monitor, order, stock, and transport supplies and/or equipment for the organization. Ensure timely delivery of stock/inventory as needed.
May 18

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

20220524022219104

Todays Evansville City Council Meeting Agenda

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City Council Meeting Agenda ForToday At 5:30 P.M. At The CIVIC CENTER
 

AGENDA

I. INTRODUCTION

 

05-23-2022 Agenda Attachment:
II. APPROVAL OF MEETING MEMORANDUM

 

05-09-2022 Memo Attachment:
III. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

IV. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY

 

V. CONSENT AGENDA:  FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

 

A. ORDINANCE G-2022-05 An Ordinance Amending Title 18 of the City of Evansville Code Concerning Land Use and Zoning (Solar) Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: Public Works Chair Brinkmeyer Discussion Date: 6/13/2022 Notify: Ron London, Area Plan Commission
G-2022-05 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE R-2022-17 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 1513 Covert Ave Petitioner: Julia E Nelson Owner: Julia E Nelson Requested Change: R1 to C2 Ward: 4 Burton Representative: Julia E Nelson
R-2022-17 Attachment:
VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

VII. REGULAR AGENDA:  SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

 

A. ORDINANCE F-2022-09 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations, Additional Appropriations and Repeal and Re-Appropriation of Funds for Various City Funds Sponsor(s): Moore Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Moore Discussion Date: 5/23/2022 Notify: Russ Lloyd, Jr., Controller
F-2022-09 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE R-2022-04 AMENDED An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 2003 and 2019 Gilbert Ave Petitioner: Paul and Molly Scott Family, LLC Owner: Paul and Molly Scott Family, LLC Requested Change: R2 to C4 Ward: 4 Burton Representative: Donald Gries, Easley Engineering
VIII. RESOLUTION DOCKET

 

A. RESOLUTION C-2022-16 A Resolution in Support of a Safe I69-ORX Bridge Design Sponsor(s): Weaver, Trockman, Heronemus Discussion Led By: President Heronemus Discussion Date: 5/23/2022 Notify: Josh Claybourn, Jackson Kelly
C-2022-16 Attachment:
B. PUBLIC HEARING FOR: RESOLUTION C-2022-17 A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana, Establishing a Fund for Proceeds to be Received from the Sale of Real Estate to the City of Evansville Building Corporation and Making an Appropriation from Such Fund Sponsor(s): Beane, Heronemus, Mosby Discussion Led By: President Heronemus Discussion Date: 5/23/2022 Notify: Marco DeLucio, ZSWS
C-2022-17 Attachment:
C. PUBLIC HEARING FOR: RESOLUTION C-2022-18 A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana, Approving Execution of Lease and Related Matters Sponsor(s): Beane, Heronemus, Mosby Discussion Led By: President Heronemus Discussion Date: 5/23/2022 Notify: Marco DeLucio, ZSWS
C-2022-18 Attachment:
IX. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

 

A. THE NEXT MEETING of the Common Council will be Monday, June 13, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.
B. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS; Approval of the Mayoral Appointments for the Animal Control      And Education Commission
C. ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
X. COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

XI. ADJOURNMENT

Ben Shoulders Remarks Concerning The Status Of Several Vanderburgh County Projects

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Commissioner  Shoulders Rotary Club Remarks Concerning The Status Of Several Vanderburgh County Projects

MAY 23, 2022

  OLD COURTHOUSE 

First, I also wanted to again thank everyone for being with us here today and wanted to thank my mother, father, and beautiful wife Shannon for being here.  So, there are several county-related facilities, venues, and events that relate to leisure and entertainment.  I’ll start with the Vanderburgh County Old Courthouse.  We recently had an adjustment in sales and stay highly occupied with 20 tenants leasing 21 current suites – eight suites are occupied by county departments (County Engineer, Veterans Services, and DADS).  From an event standpoint, a lot going on at the Old Courthouse!  This month alone we have 4 weddings, 1 baby shower, A US Army Changing of the Guard Ceremony and at the end of this month we start our annual Lunch on the Lawn – which is Fri, May 27th and is every month during the summer.  It’s a great outside event – so please come by and grab some lunch at one of the food trucks.  Overall, we have a strong team focusing on increasing revenue streams, bookings for leisure/social events and fundraisers to ensure the longevity of the historic venue.  As a member of the Old Courthouse Foundation board, I’m passionate about the success of this venue and proud to say it was recently featured in the May Issue of the Indiana Landmarks Magazine – Indiana Preservation edition for the Old Courthouse’s Bell Tower campaign.  So we are very proud of that!    

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA 

First of all, we have had new leadership take place at the Old National Events Plaza.  Our own, Nick Wallace, is the new General Manager.  Congrats to you, Nick!  A lot going on at ONEP.  First, we recently approved non-profit partnership waivers – so if you are a Non-Profit in our local community and want to use  ONEP for your event – please submit a form, and we as a commission will vote to waive the rental fee.  This has already been a big hit and utilized by numerous Non-Profits just in the last 6 months!  Most recently, ONEP has also used a voting location for the May 2022 primary.  As we return to pre-Covid 2019 business trends, we’ve recently seen improved technologies such as apple pay and touch-free systems.  From a business and revenue standpoint, ONEP generated over $1M Operating Income, on pace to do $2.4M forecasted in 2022, and saw 85,500 guests visit the Plaza in 2021.  Also, we are proud to say ONEP was ranked the #122 event venue in the world in the 2021 Pollstar Top 200 Theaters Globally.  The economic impact of over $8.1M for Vanderburgh County translated to 112 jobs created in 2021!  So keep up the momentum, Nick!  

  BURDETTE PARK 

As the only county-owned park in Vanderburgh County, Burdette Park has really come into its own in the last couple of years!  Last year Burdette not only added several features such as two children’s water slides in the family pool but also entertained over 300,000 guests.  Year over year, we’ve seen an increase in gross revenue since 2018 (minus 2020 due to Covid), and in 2021 Burdette set a new annual Gross Revenue park record by exceeding $1 million dollars for the first time ever since the park opened in 1961 at $1,143,052!  Moving forward, already in 2022 projected revenue is to exceed $1.4M!  Many people don’t know there are 6 overnight cabins, 12-day shelters, and the discovery lodge for special events.  Not to mention the BMX Bike tracks and campgrounds out there – there is just so much to do with many family-friendly features and leisure at Burdette Park!

 CVB/DEACONESS SPORTS PARK 

 The parks are managed by the Visit Evansville Team.  As many of you know, the organization is under new leadership.  Alexis Berggren, former director of the ONEP, is the new President & CEO, so congrats again to Alexis – we are looking forward to some big things!  In terms of the Deaconess Sports Park, many improvements had happened there including new turf fields.  Since the park opened in 2015, we’ve seen over 959,000 (so almost a million) visitors, neighbors and residents served at the park.  From an economic impact standpoint, we’ve seen over $98M in direct and indirect expenditures yielded from the park from 2015 – to 2021 and over 112,000 hotel stays during that same period.  So, we can honestly say, that the Deaconess Sports Park has been a tremendous boost to our local economy and particularly to our leisure, hospitality, entertainment, and tourism industries.  And as you can see, the CVB continues to drive tourism together with overall county properties accounting for a $34.9M economic impact and approximately 750 new jobs.  Keep up the great work, Alexis and CVB!

 TEAMWORK 

Great question!  Teamwork is critical to succeeding as a County Commission, both internally and externally.  The three of us may not agree on everything 100% of the time.  And that’s ok!  Each of us has a different skill set, and a different core competency – for example, I may have certain attributes that Cheryl doesn’t have, or she may have things Jeff doesn’t have, or Jeff may have things I don’t have, but together it needs to work as a team.  And I believe, although there is still work to be done, I believe we’ve accomplished some great things in the last few years – and it’s mainly due to teamwork; regardless of whose idea it is or who thinks of it first.  And I also want to say, we have two exceptional office managers in Kathy Glaser and Alyssa Nilsen who are both here today.  Thank you both so much for all you do on a daily basis!!  Externally, we continue to work with not only our great county department heads, some of which are here today, but other county and city elected officials, our VC Health Dept, our VC Sheriff’s office and law enforcement and primarily with the County Council who recently agreed to our request of almost $2M in road paving – thank you Council for that!  Also, by working with many folks in the private sector, such as E-REP and others, to ensure we stay focused on economic development and infrastructure by working as a team – by way of private/public sector partnerships.  So, yes, no matter what we do, teamwork plays a vital role in the success for our county!  So on that note, I know nationally and globally these are somewhat of uncertain times, but I ask that each of you locally continue to work together as a team to make our community even better.  Both private and public sector leaders, elected office holders, business owners and executives, MBE/WBE owners, Non-profits, and our brothers and sisters in the unions all continue to work hand-in-hand so we can continue to move forward and focus on the task at hand as a TEAM for the greater good of Vanderburgh County.  

I Do My Best Brainstorming In The Early Morning

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I Do My Best Brainstorming In The Early Morning

(I need to ease my mind, surely it’s 5 o’clock somewhere)  

 

May 23, 2022

By Dannie McIntire

Having just celebrated my 72nd birthday, it seems the largest adjustment I’ve had to make since retiring at age 66 has been “sleeping in”. I was used to getting up early, in my later working years being at work by 5 AM. Now, six years into retirement, I’ve yet to fully make the “sleep in” adjustment.

 If I’m still in bed at 5:30 AM, that is sleeping into me, by then I’m usually up, coffee fixed, and I’m at my computer. I love reading articles on the internet, anything and everything, at age 72, I’m still squirreling away useful information, and most likely in my family and friend’s opinion, much useless information as well. 

Sitting in our living room, binge watching old episodes of “Criminal Minds” on Netflix with my wife, I may astound her with my knowledge, “did you know that Shively Kentucky has weasels”, then minutes later turn around and ask her “why did I get up, what was I going to do”. Hey, I may occasionally forget what I was going to do, but thanks to reading, I do know about weasels.

I tend to do some of my best thinking early in the morning, coffee poured, sitting at my desk, scouring the internet reading the most pressing problems facing our nation. 

The current shortage of baby formula to me does not seem all that perplexing and could be easily solved. 

Recently in a congressional hearing, a democrat, Aimee Arrambide, the executive director of an abortion rights nonprofit in Texas, told a republican lawmaker that she believes that men can become pregnant and have abortions. 

Well, if men can become pregnant, couldn’t they certainly help out with breastfeeding and thus help alleviate the baby formula shortage problem? Now before you roll your eyes, remember that is the sound like “woke” thinking! 

Yes, the above solution is absurd, well it is if using rational thinking, however, what to me is more absurd is what has happened to the manufacturing prowess of the United States? 

Think about the above in this retrospect, during World War II, the War Powers Act Of 1941 spurred the American civilian manufacturing prowess of the United States to produce an equivalent in today’s dollars over $690 billion worth of supplies to be shipped to our allies overseas.  

This past Wednesday, President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to ensure that US baby formula producers can acquire the material they need and launched a new US government airlift of formula from abroad, more specifically baby formula from France.   

Kind of fair I guess, We liberated France in World War II, today they are returning the favor by shipping the United States baby formula. 

What is wrong with this picture? We helped saved the world in World War I and II, and today we can’t manufacture enough formula for our own babies.

What else has raised my blood pressure this morning?

On Friday, May 20th, the Biden Administration announced via the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that $500 million will be made available in Federal grants to replace heavily-polluting buses, more specifically targeting diesel engine school busses.

Per a recent EPA press release “These investments will also help spur the development and deployment of American-made clean technology, creating more good paying jobs right here at home. This is a win for our economy, our environment, and most of all, our nation’s children, all of whom deserve to breathe clean, safe air.”

Now I’m totally in agreement our children deserve to breathe clean, safe air on their way to and from school. Who would possibly disagree with that thinking? 

So, let’s put them on environmentally clean busses, while we develop American made clean technology, and create more good paying jobs at home while we continue to bus children to our under-performing schools. 

In a 2018 report, the National Center For Education Statistics, the educational rankings for 15-year-olds in the United States when compared to other countries were; 

12th – In Reading

36th – In Mathematics

18 – In Science

6th – In Financial Literacy

For me, the 6th ranking in Financial Literacy isn’t surprising. Financial Illiteracy is basically the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management. You only have to look at the amount of debt being incurred by our younger generations to understand our education system is failing to adequately prepare our students for adulthood.

Just a thought, lets improve our educational system before worrying about how best to get our kids to school. 

Aspirins took, on another subject. 

The push to go green with all electric vehicles, while I believe it is one of the viable alternatives to fossil fuels, there are inherent problems not being addressed. 

The United States does not have a national electrical energy grid. There are three separate energy networks in the country’s power grid system, the eastern, western, and Texas has their own. They operate independently of each other and exchange very little energy.

Our current grid system is vulnerable to both inside and outside threats.  Much of the equipment that allows it to operate and transmit electricity is old and outdated and getting older by the day.

Already, some areas of our country during the peak seasons of usage are prone to rolling blackouts used by the grid operator to help balance the supply and demand. 

Oh, I have a nice environmentally friendly all-electric vehicle but no electricity to charge it.

In today’s world political climate, is our grid systems adequately protected from cyber warfare? Oh geez, one of our adversaries took down our eastern power grid, not a big issue; it should be back up and running in 4 to 5 days if we’re lucky. 

As a nation, we first need to build and ensure our country has an adequate and well-protected electrical power grid system and associated infrastructure before we go all in on electric vehicles.

I need to ease my mind, surely it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!       

FOOTNOTE: Posted by the City-County Observer without bias or opinion.

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