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HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
EPD Releases Child Death Investigation Information
EPD Releases Child Death Investigation Information
 On October 27th, just after 8:00 a.m., Evansville Police Officers and other first responders were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of E Michigan for a medical emergency. The caller told Dispatch that her grandchild was not breathing and had gotten ahold of a fentanyl pill the day before. Officers arrived on the scene and found a 3-year-old child on the couch, who was deceased. The grandparents of the child, Amber Opperman, and Brandon Opperman, were on the scene. They told officers that the deceased child’s mother was Makaylee Opperman. Makaylee’s other two children, an infant, and a 2-year-old, were also inside the home at the time. Amber told detectives that Makaylee called her on October 26th because she thought her children ingested some fentanyl pills. It was determined that no one sought medical treatment for the children. Makaylee dropped the children off with Amber the night before at the E Michigan address.Â
First Responders realized that the other children needed medical treatment. The 2-year-old and infant were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. The 2-year-old was not doing well and had to be given NARCAN by medical staff. Both children are now currently in stable condition.Â
Detectives learned that Makaylee lived at a residence in the 3000 block of E Sycamore St. and that is where the children actually ingested the pills. Officers and detectives went to the address on E Sycamore. They found a 4-year-old child inside the residence with no adult supervision. That child was also brought to a local hospital for medical treatment and was also administered NARCAN by medical staff. Detectives located narcotics in plain view inside that residence while they were removing the child from the home. Allison Smithler arrived on the scene while officers were at that residence and told officers she lived there.Â
Detectives learned that another female, Jazmynn Brown, also lives at the residence on Sycamore. It was determined that the 4-year-old located inside that home by officers belonged to Jazmynn. Detectives located Jazmynn at another location and brought her to EPD headquarters for an interview. Jazmynn’s boyfriend  Arcinial Watt, also stayed at the residence on Sycamore. He was also located and taken to EPD headquarters for an interview.Â
Detectives obtained a signed search warrant for the residence on Sycamore. Over 5,000 suspected fentanyl pills were located inside the home along with other illegal narcotics, paraphernalia, a handgun, and ammunition. It is suspected that all four children involved in the incident had been exposed to fentanyl.
Based on the interviews conducted and the evidence located during the searches, all six adults were arrested for various charges and booked into the Vanderburgh County Confinement Center on October 27th.
This is still an ongoing investigation. This is not only a very complex case but was very tragic and could have resulted in more deaths. We would like to point out the excellent teamwork between motor patrol officers, detectives with the Adult Investigations Unit, Juvenile Unit, Crime Scene Unit, Narcotics Joint Task Force Unit, the Department of Child Services, and the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office.
FOOTNOTE: Â This report was sent to the City-County Observer by the EPD and we posted it without editing.
Todd Rokita Takes On Facebook
Todd Rokita: ‘If Liable Under State Law, Facebook Must Answer For Enabling Sex Traffickers To Entice Victims’
Federal law creates no barrier to state-law negligence and product liability claims asserted by sex-trafficking victims against companies such as Facebook, according to a brief joined by Attorney General Todd Rokita.
“Facebook might wish federal legal loopholes permitted it to evade responsibility for enabling sex trafficking,†Attorney General Rokita said. “But if liable under state law, Facebook must answer for allowing its platform to be used to entice victims.â€
Attorney General Rokita joined a multistate brief siding with plaintiffs who alleged in Texas state courts that they were victims of sex trafficking who became entangled with their abusers through Facebook.
Responding to the lawsuit, Facebook officials have claimed the company cannot be held liable in the case under provisions of Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act. After the Texas Supreme Court sided in significant part with Facebook, the plaintiffs asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case — a request supported by the multistate coalition led by the Texas Attorney General.
The amicus brief in Jane Doe, Petitioner v. Facebook, Inc., No. 21-459, is attached below:
Holcomb Appointments To Various State Boards And Commissions.
Gov. Holcomb Makes Appointments To Various Boards And Commissions
INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced several appointments to various state boards and commissions.
Executive Board of the Indiana Department of Health
The governor made five reappointments to the board, who will serve until August 31, 2025:
- Blake Dye (Fishers), representing hospital administrators
- Robin Marks (Indianapolis), representing veterinarians
- Joanne Martin (Indianapolis), representing nurses
- Suellyn Sorensen (Indianapolis), representing pharmacists
- Patricia Spence (Indianapolis), representing engineers
The governor also made one new appointment to the board, who will serve until January 31, 2023:
- Shelley Rauch (Noblesville), representing health facility administrators
Indiana Election Commission
The governor made one new appointment to the commission, who will serve until June 30, 2022:
- Litany Pyle (Covington), an attorney with Justice & Pyle, Attorneys at Law
Indiana Horse Racing Commission
The governor made two reappointments to the commission, which will serve until September 30, 2025:
- Philip Borst (Indianapolis), owner of the Shelby Street Animal Clinic
- William McCarty (Bloomington), former state senator
The governor also made one new appointment to the commission, who will serve until September 30, 2025:
- Timothy Wade (Indianapolis), retired attorney
Judicial Nominating Commission for the Superior Court of Lake County
The governor made three new appointments to the commission, who will serve until September 30, 2025:
- Heather Delgado (Munster), partner with Barnes & Thornburg LLP
- David Wickland (Munster), an attorney with David Wickland Attorney at Law, PC
- Todd Williams (Saint John), vice president of lending at American Community Bank
Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission
The governor made one new appointment to the commission, who will serve at the pleasure of the governor:
- Brian Murphy (Indianapolis), chief of staff with the Indiana Department of Education
Office of the Public Access Counselor
The governor reappointed Luke Britt (Indianapolis) to serve a new term as Public Access Counselor. He will continue his service through October 31, 2025.
City-County Observer Honors Community Service Leaders
Evansville, IN – Community leaders recently gathered to bestow City- County Observer “Community Service Awards†to a group of most deserving public servants and community volunteers. The honorees given these awards were Attorney Charles L. Berger, Indiana State Senator Vaneta Becker, City Council member Alex Burton, retired County Treasurer, and County Clerk-Susan Kirk, retired Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge Rich D’Amour, Community Volunteer Lisa Rhyand Vaughn, and Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke.
Mayor Winnecke was also recognized with the Inaugural “Person of the Year Award†for his outstanding contributions to our city.
The awards ceremony was overseen by the extremely popular Master of Ceremonies, Brad Ellsworth. The keynote speaker was the very personable Mike O’Daniel, Co-President of D-Patrick Automotive Group. Mr. O‘Daniel reminded attendees that the rewards of public service are reaped not only by those served but by those serving their community. “The more you give, the more you want to give,†Mr. O’Daniel explained, recalling his past experiences of volunteer work. Mr. O’Daniel challenged attendees to find a cause they felt personally connected to and give back. Be it time, talent, or treasure – Every member of our community has something to offer this community to make it a better place.
The following individuals presented the 2021 “Community Service Awards” to the following honorees: John Bates, Business Manager Manager of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 136 was the presenter to Charles L. Berger, Vanderburgh County Treasurer Dottie Thomas was the presenter to State Senator Vaneta Becker, Vanderburgh County Commissioner Ben Shoulders was the presenter to City Councilman Ales Burton, retired Circuit Court Judge Carl Helt was the presenter to retired County Treasurer, and County Clerk-Susan Kirk, Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge Tom Massey was the presenter to retired Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge Rich D’Amour, Karese Johnson was the presenter to Community Volunteer Lisa Rhyand Vaughn and Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer was the presenter to Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke.
The presenter of the CiTY-COUNTY OBSERVER “PERSON-OF -THE-YEAR” award given to Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke by the CCO event Master Of Ceremonies Brad Ellsworth. It was very obvious that Mayor Winnecke was extremely appreciative of being selected as the first honoree of this most prestigious honor. Upon receiving this award Mayor Winnecke received a spontaneous standing ovation from those in attendance
The City-Counter Observer would also like to thank our many table sponsors. Their support of this event makes our community even a better place to live.
FOOTNOTE: Andrew Theising contributed to writing this article.
ARGI To Expand In Louisville, Create 245 High-Wage Jobs
ARGI to Expand in Louisville, Create 245 High-Wage Jobs
Financial services company to grow headquarters in Jefferson County
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 28, 2021) – Kentucky companies continue to create well-paying jobs for residents, and today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced financial services provider ARGI Financial Group LLC will create 245 quality job opportunities in the years ahead with a $2.7 million investment.
“I welcome this investment and job creation from ARGI, as yet another company grows their headquarters in Kentucky,†Gov. Beshear said. “ARGI has built its business in the commonwealth over the past 25 years, and it is great to see the company continue to create well-paying jobs that will make a difference for Kentucky families. Congratulations to everyone who played a role in making this expansion project possible.â€
With this investment, ARGI will grow its existing 54,000-square-foot location at High Wickham Place by 10,000 square feet. The expanded headquarters will create new management and back office support opportunities in the coming years, in addition to its current staff of 152. Company leaders expect work on the expansion to be completed by 2023. Currently, ARGI operates five locations in Kentucky, including offices in Bardstown, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, and Paducah, which employ 57 people.
“We are honored and grateful the commonwealth supports our efforts in strengthening ARGI’s service to the people of Kentucky,†said Joe Reeves, CEO of ARGI. “Our firm was built on the foundation of serving others, with the primary focus being our clients, our employees and our community. These funds will help us to further live our mission of improving lives with every relationship, and that starts with our people in Kentucky.â€
Established in Louisville in 1995, ARGI provides financial and business services for companies and individuals, such as financial planning and accounting, estate planning, retirement planning, tax services and investment management, among others, through the firm’s various affiliates. In addition to its Kentucky locations, ARGI operates in Georgia, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said the investment continues recent growth in the region.
“Offering high-quality, high-wage jobs, ARGI raises the bar for companies in the business services sector,†Mayor Fischer said. “We are excited to celebrate this major expansion and continued success here in Louisville where companies enjoy a competitive cost of doing business, high-quality amenities and a growing tech-savvy workforce.â€
ARGI’s investment and planned job creation further recent economic momentum in the commonwealth, as the state builds back stronger following the effects of the pandemic.
Today alone, companies have announced more than 1,700 new full-time jobs across new-location and expansion projects totaling over $800 million in new investments.
This year, the commonwealth has shattered every economic development record in the books for yearly investment totals. Year-to-date, private-sector new-location and expansion announcements include over $10 billion in total planned investment and commitments to create 14,000 full-time jobs across the coming years. Through September, Kentucky’s average incentivized hourly wage is $24.15 before benefits, a 10% increase over the previous year.
In September, Gov. Beshear, Ford Motor Co. Executive Chair Bill Ford, CEO Jim Farley, and Dong-Seob Jee, president of SK Innovation’s battery business, announced the single largest economic development project in the history of the commonwealth, celebrating a transformative $5.8 billion investment that will create 5,000 jobs and places Kentucky at the forefront of the automotive industry’s future.
In July, thanks to strong fiscal management by the Beshear administration, the state budget office reported the commonwealth ended the 2021 fiscal year with a general fund surplus of over $1.1 billion – the highest ever in the commonwealth – and a 10.9% increase in general fund receipts to $12.8 billion.
In May, Moody’s Analytics published a positive economic outlook for Kentucky, noting mass vaccination as the driving force behind a sustained recovery in consumer services. The state’s recovery, Moody’s said, benefited from earlier reopening efforts and increased demand for manufactured goods over services. The report also found Kentucky’s manufacturing industry outperformed the nation’s since the national downturn last year.
Fitch Ratings in May improved the state’s financial outlook to stable, reflecting the commonwealth’s solid economic recovery. The state’s April sales tax receipts set an all-time monthly record at $486.5 million, as did vehicle usage tax receipts at over $64 million.
In March, Site Selection magazine’s annual Governor’s Cup rankings for 2020 positioned Kentucky atop the South Central region, and third nationally, for qualifying projects per capita. The commonwealth also placed seventh overall in total projects, the highest of any state with a population under 5 million. Site Selection also recently placed Kentucky in a tie for fifth in its 2021 Prosperity Cup rankings, positioning the state among the national leaders for business climate.
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) today preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $1.8 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $2.7 million and annual targets of:
- Creation and maintenance of 245 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years; and
- Paying an average hourly wage of $46.80 including benefits across those jobs.
By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.
In addition, ARGI can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. These include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives.
For more information on ARGI, visit ARGI.net.
A detailed community profile for Jefferson County can be viewed here.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at CED.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
Read about other key updates, actions, and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media account Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
USI Basketball Teams Picked To Win GLVC East Divisions
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s and Women’s Basketball have been picked to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division in the preseason polls released today. The preseason poll was voted upon by the leagues 15 head coaches.
USI Women’s Basketball, which is picked to win the East for the second-straight year, received 15 points and three first-place votes. The Screaming Eagles were followed by Lewis University, who received 14 points and 2 first place votes, and the University of Indianapolis, who was third with 10 points. The East Division was rounded out by the University of Illinois Springfield (six points) and McKendree University (five points).
The 2021 GLVC Tournament finalists, Truman State University and Drury University were forecasted to win the Central and West Division, respectively. USI missed the GLVC Tournament (won by Drury) last spring due to COVID.
USI Women’s Basketball finished the COVID-shortened 2020-21 schedule with an 11-5 overall and GLVC record, winning the GLVC East Division. The Eagles, who return all five starters and all but one player from last year’s squad, are led by first-team All-GLVC senior guard Emma DeHart (Indianapolis, Indiana) and second-team All-GLVC junior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio).
DeHart posted a team-best 16.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while Haithcock averaged 12.0 points and a team-best 6.9 rebounds. DeHart, currently, ranks 21st all-time in scoring with 905 points, 95 points away from becoming the 19th USI Women’s Basketball player to reach 1,000 points.
USI Men’s Basketball, which is picked to win the GLVC East for the second-straight year, were forecast to place first with 13 points and three first-place votes. The Eagles were followed by Illinois Springfield with 11 points and two first-place votes and Lewis with 11 points. The East Division was rounded out by UIndy (eight points) and McKendree (7 points).
The University of Missouri-St. Louis was picked to win the Central Division with 15 points and three first-place tallies, while the 2021 GLVC Tournament finalist Drury was forecast to win the West with an identical 15 points and 3 first-place votes.
USI Men’s Basketball, which also received votes for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) preseason top 25 poll, concluded the 2020-21 campaign with a berth in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, advancing to the semifinals after missing the GLVC Tournament due to COVID. The Eagles were 12-5 overall and 11-4 in the GLVC last year in the COVID-shortened schedule and won the GLVC East Division title.
USI, which returns four of five starters and a 10 of 14 players this fall, is led in to 2021-22 by junior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio), who was named to the NCAA II Midwest Regional All-Tournament team with 13.5 points per game. Second-team All-GLVC senior guard Mateo Rivera follows with 12.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest.
GLVCÂ WOMEN’S PRESEASON POLL
| EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | |||
| Rank/School | Points (1st) | Rank/School | Points (1st) | Rank/School | Points (1st) |
| 1. Southern Indiana | 15 (3) | 1. Truman State | 16 (4) | 1. Drury | 16 (4) |
| 2. Lewis | 14 (2) | 2. Missouri-St. Louis | 13 (1) | 2. Rockhurst | 13 (1) |
| 3. Indianapolis | 10 | 3. Lindenwood | 10 | 3. Southwest Baptist | 9 |
| 4. Illinois Springfield | 6 | 4. Maryville | 7 | 4. Missouri S&T | 8 |
| 5. McKendree | 5 | 5. Quincy | 4 | 5. William Jewell | 4 |
GLVC MEN’S PRESEASON POLL
| EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | |||
| Rank/School | Points (1st) | Rank/School | Points (1st) | Rank/School | Points (1st) |
| 1. Southern Indiana | 13 (3) | 1. Missouri-St. Louis | 15 (3) | 1. Drury | 15 (3) |
| 2. Illinois Springfield | 11 (2) | 2. Truman State | 14 (2) | 2. Southwest Baptist | 14 (2) |
| 2. Lewis | 11 | 3. Lindenwood | 10 | 3. Missouri S&T | 8 |
| 4. Indianapolis | 8 | 4. Quincy | 6 | 4. William Jewell | 7 |
| 5. McKendree | 7 | 5. Maryville | 5 | 5. Rockhurst | 6 |
NABC DIVISION II MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL
1. Northwest Missouri State
2. Flagler (Fla.)
3. West Texas A&M
4. Colorado Mesa
5. Colorado School of Mines
6. Truman State (Mo.)
7. Hillsdale (Mich.)
8. St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.)
9. Lubbock Christian (Texas)
10. Valdosta State (Ga.)
11. Washburn (Kan.)
12. Mercyhurst (Pa.)
13. Nova Southeastern (Fla.)
14. West Liberty (W.Va.)
15. Northern State (S.D.)
16. Queens (N.C.)
17. Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.)
18. Indiana (Pa.)
19. DBU (Texas)
20. Alabama Huntsville
21. Seattle Pacific (Wash.)
22. Fairmont State (W.Va.)
23. Florida Southern
24. Point Loma (Calif.)
25. Charleston (W.Va.)
First place votes – Northwest Missouri State (15), Colorado Mesa (1).
Others receiving votes: MSU Moorhead (Minn.) 47, Southern Indiana 46, Oklahoma Baptist 45, Saint Anselm (N.H.) 43, Findlay (Ohio) 40, Lee (Tenn.) 35, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 35, Belmont Abbey (N.C.) 28, Fayetteville State (N.C.) 26, Chico State (Calif.) 24, Cal Poly Pomona 21, Daemen (N.Y.) 19, Emmanuel (Ga.) 19, Saint Leo (Fla.) 17, Augusta (Ga.) 15, Jefferson (Pa.) 13, Angelo State (Texas) 12, Southern Arkansas 12, Stonehill (Mass.) 12, Morehouse (Ga.) 10, Hawai’i Hilo 9, Wayne State (Neb.) 9, Missouri-St. Louis 8, St. Edward’s (Texas) 8, Ashland (Ohio) 7, Grand Valley State (Mich.) 7, Georgia Southwestern 6, Missouri Western 6, Adelphi (N.Y.) 5, Arkansas Monticello 5, Augustana (S.D.) 5, Texas A&M-Kingsville 5, Cal State San Bernardino 4, West Georgia 4, Barry (Fla.) 1, Miles (Ala.) 1.
Tips on Trick or Treating in Evansville From Mayor’s Office & EPD
There are no set hours for trick or treating in Evansville. Be safe and have fun.
Halloween Safety Tips:
Walk Safely
- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
- Look left, right, and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross.
- Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
- Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
Trick or Treat With an Adult
Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe
- Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
- Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
- Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
- When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
Drive Extra Safely on Halloween
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians, and on curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
- Eliminate any distractions inside your car, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
- Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic, and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
- Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
Felony Charges For Vanderburgh County
Linda M. Lewis
| Count 1 – (Attempt) Obstruction of Justice : 6F : Pending | |||
|  | Count 2 – Residential Entry : 6F : Pending | ||
|  | Count 3 – Invasion of Privacy : AM : Pending |
Reko Deprea Levels Jr.
| Count 1 – Carrying a Handgun Without a License : 5F : Pending | |||
|  | Count 2 – Possession of Altered Firearm : 5F : Pending | ||
Keith A. Huffman
| Count 1 – Possession of Methamphetamine : 6F : Pending |
| Count 1 – Domestic Battery : 6F : Pending | |||
|  | Count 2 – Intimidation : 6F : Pending | ||
|  | Count 3 – Intimidation : 6F : Pending |
Christopher E. Sims
| Count 1 – Carrying a Handgun Without a License : 5F : Pending | ||||
|  | Count 2 – Carrying a Handgun Without a License : 5F : Pending | |||
|  | Count 3 – Carrying a Handgun Without a License : 5F : Pending | ||
|  | Count 4 – Criminal Trespass : AM : Pending |
Amber N. Reynolds
|  | Count 1 – (Attempt) Residential Entry : 6F : Pending |
Lisa Gail Hoff
| Count 1 – HC – Intimidation : 6F : Pending | ||||
|  | Count 2 – HC – Intimidation : 6F : Pending | |||
|  | Count 3 – HC – Battery Against a Public Safety Official : 6F : Pending | ||
|  | Count 4 – Public Intoxication : BM : Pending |