Binx is a 2-year-old male. He was found as a stray and the finder could not keep him. He’s been at VHS awhile, since just before Christmas! His adoption fee is $70 and includes his neuter, microchip, vaccines, and more! Get details at www.vhslifesaver.org/adopt!
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ADOPT A PET
Bicycle/Vehicle Collision
The Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office and Evansville Police Department are investigating a bicycle and vehicle collision which occurred in the 2100 block of S. Weinbach Ave. The bicyclist has been identified as Steven Chappell, age 61, of Evansville. He died at St. Vincent Hospital Emergency Room at 13:52 Hours on 03-04-2021. An autopsy was conducted on 03-04-2021 and as a result it was determined that Mr. Chappell had suffered head and neck fractures causing his death. The Evansville Police Department continues to investigate the collision and can provide updates when available.
Gov. Holcomb Gets COVID-19 Vaccine at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Gov. Eric J. Holcomb today received his COVID-19 vaccination at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“I feel great joy to be among the thousands of other Hoosiers getting protected from this virus at the greatest spectacle in vaccination,†Gov. Holcomb said. “I want to say thank you to the nearly 17,000 Hoosiers who are making the trek to IMS today through Monday to be vaccinated and to the thousands of other Hoosiers being vaccinated every day. Thank you for doing your part to help us stay healthy and beat this virus.â€
The Governor, who is 52, is feeling healthy and well after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which received its Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA on Saturday. The vaccine requires only one dose and has been shown to be safe and effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths in clinical trials.
Hoosiers age 50 and older are now eligible to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine. The Governor was joined by other eligible Hoosiers including IMS President J. Douglas Boles, Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor, Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Chair Rep. Robin Shackleford and U.S. Rep. Andre Carson’s father, Paul Winters.
To schedule a vaccine, visit https://ourshot.in.gov and select a location from one of nearly 390 clinics around the state. Hoosiers who do not have a computer or cell phone or those who need assistance scheduling an appointment can call 211 or contact one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging or AARP. Nearly 70 libraries around the state also are helping Hoosiers schedule their appointments.
Vaccination clinics that are part of the federal vaccine program, including those at Meijer and Kroger, appear on the clinic map at https://ourshot.in.gov but are scheduled through those retailers’ platforms, not through the state centralized system.
Serious Bodily Injury Accident Pollack and Weinbach
 On March 4, around 12:45 p.m., the Evansville Police Department was called to Pollack and Weinbach for a motor vehicle accident involving a bicycle and a vehicle. Before officers could arrive, a good Samaritan performed chest compressions on the cyclist until officers arrived. The first arriving officer took over chest compressions until an ambulance crew could assist.Â
The driver of the vehicle exited the Dollar Tree parking lot (2115 S. Weinbach Ave.) to go west on Pollack Ave. As he entered the roadway, he struck the bicyclist who was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Pollack.Â
While on scene of the accident the cyclist still had a pulse, but later died at a local hospital.Â
The driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital where his blood could be drawn and sent to the Indiana State Police Laboratory.Â
The investigation is ongoing and the driver of the vehicle has not been charged with any offense pending lab work results from the state lab.Â
Hoosiers in Second at B1G Championships
No. 8 Hoosiers in Second at B1G Championships Indiana Turns in Two NCAA A Cut Times
 COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 8-ranked men’s swimming team sits in second place after the opening night of action at the 2021 Big Ten Championships at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio. The team scores include both relays from the first night as well as the three diving events contested at Purdue over the weekend.
200 MEDLEY RELAY
The men’s 200 Medley Relay team consisting of sophomore Brendan Burns, junior Zane Backes, freshman Tomer Frankel, and junior Jack Franzman won the second heat of the timed final with an NCAA A Cut mark of 1:23.35. The time earned the Hoosiers a bronze medal.
800 FREESTYLE RELAY
The 800 Freestyle Relay squad of Frankel, Burns, sophomore Jacob Destrampe, and junior Van Mathias registered Indiana’s second NCAA A Cut time of the session with a mark of 6:16.12. The Hoosiers finished in the bronze position. Frankel led off the event with a 200 split of 1:33.17, a career-best time.
TEAM SCORES
- Ohio State – 433 pts.
- INDIANA – 319 pts.
- Purdue – 258 pts.
- Michigan – 223 pts.
- Northwestern – 187 pts.
- Wisconsin – 168 pts.
- Minnesota – 162 pts.
- Penn State – 129 pts.
- Iowa – 114 pts.
- Michigan State – 68 pts.
NOTABLES
- The 200 Medley Relay time of 1:23.35 marked the first NCAA A Cut mark posted by the Hoosier swim team this season. The time also ranks third on the all-time IU list.
- The time also currently ranks as the eighth-fastest time nationally.
- The 800 Freestyle Relay time, also an NCAA A Standard, is the seventh-fastest time recorded in the event in program history.
- The team’s time is the 12th-best time currently in the NCAA.
- Frankel’s opening 200-yard split makes him the fourth-best performer in the history of the event at Indiana. He trails only Blake Pieroni, Zach Apple and Mohamed Samy on the performer list.
FINAL RESULTS
200 MEDLEY RELAY
- Brendan Burns, Zane Backes, Tomer Frankel, Jack Franzman – 1:23.35 (NCAA A Cut)
800 FREESTYLE RELAY
- Tomer Frankel, Brendan Burns, Jacob Destrampe, Van Mathias – 6:16.12 (NCAA A Cut)
UP NEXT
The 2021 Big Ten Championships will continue on Wednesday afternoon with the first full day of action beginning at 11 a.m. ET. Three preliminary events will be contested, including the 200 IM, 50 Freestyle and 500 Freestyle.
@IndianaSwimDive
Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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Frankel Medals Twice on Thursday Night Hoosiers Within Striking Distance of Team Lead
The No. 8-ranked men’s swimming team remains in second place, but trails No. 11 Michigan by only 3.5 points after three days of competition at the 2021 Big Ten Championships at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.
100 BUTTERFLY
Freshman Tomer Frankel earned his first-career Big Ten individual championship with a dominant performance in the A Final of the 100 Butterfly. He was the only swimmer to go sub-45 seconds, winning with a career-best time of 44.91.
Sophomore Brendan Burns took the second spot on the podium clocking a time of 45.26. Junior Van Mathias secured the fourth-fastest time in the field at 46.22, while senior Corey Gambardella earned a sixth-place finish at 46.75.
400 IM
Senior Spencer Lehman brought in 22 points for the Hoosier team score with an eighth-place finish out of the Championship Final in the 400 IM with a time of 3:50.74.
Junior Mikey Calvillo earned 12th out of the Consolation Final with a time of 3:48.07, while freshman Maxwell Reich claimed 16th out of the same heat with a career-best mark of 3:49.76.
Redshirt sophomore Michael Brinegar won the C Final (17th overall) with a time of 3:48.65. Junior Ben McDade rounded out the Hoosier scoring in the event with a 22nd-place effort and a time of 3:52.85.
200 FREESTYLE
Frankel earned his second medal of the evening with a bronze finish in the 200 Freestyle with a time of 1:33.27 in a difficult double attempt.
Junior Jack Franzman led a foursome of Hoosiers in the C Final, placing 18th with a time of 1:35.78. Senior Thomas Vanderbrook (1:36.42) claimed 19th, sophomore Jacob Destrampe (1:36.47) nabbed 20th, and senior Griffin Eiber (1:37.74) took 24th.
TEAM SCORES
- Michigan – 767 pts.
- INDIANA – 763.5 pts.
- Ohio State – 748 pts.
- Purdue – 483.5 pts.
- Wisconsin – 444 pts.
- Northwestern – 413 pts.
- Penn State – 360.5 pts.
- Iowa – 325.5 pts.
- Minnesota – 287 pts.
- Michigan State – 107 pts.
NOTABLES
- Frankel becomes the 16th Hoosier champion in the 100 Butterfly, and the first since Vini Lanza (2018). His time of 44.91 ranks as the seventh-fastest performance in program history. He also swam the eighth-quickest mark (45.08) in school history in the preliminary heats.
- His time in the 100 Butterfly currently ranks as the fifth-fastest time in the country, matching the times set by Shaine Casas (Texas A&M) and Alvin Jiang (Texas).
- The freshman from Jerusalem gave the Hoosiers back-to-back bronze medals in the 200 Freestyle with a time of 1:33.27, his fastest non-relay split of the season. Mohamed Samy earned a third-place finish in the event last season.
- The career-best time swam by Burns in the 100 Butterfly ranks as the ninth-fastest time nationally. He also moves up a spot to the third-fastest performer in program history in the event.
- Just 19 points separate the top three schools after both Michigan and Indiana jumped Ohio State in the team standings.
FINALS RESULTS
100 BUTTERFLY
- Tomer Frankel – 44.91 (NCAA A Cut, Career Best)
- Brendan Burns – 45.26 (NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
- Van Mathias – 46.22 (NCAA B Cut)
- Corey Gambardella – 46.75 (NCAA B Cut)
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400 IM
- Spencer Lehman – 3:50.74 (NCAA B Cut)
- Mikey Calvillo – 3:48.07 (NCAA B Cut)
- Max Reich – 3:49.76 (NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
- Michael Brinegar – 3:48.65 (NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
- Ben McDade – 3:52.85
200 FREESTYLE
- Tomer Frankel – 1:33.27 (NCAA B Cut)
- Jack Franzman – 1:35.78 (NCAA B Cut)
- Thomas Vanderbrook – 1:36.42
- Jacob Destrampe – 1:36.47
- Griffin Eiber – 1:37.74
Federal Program Makes Indiana Teachers Eligible For Vaccines
Federal program makes Indiana teachers eligible for vaccines while access speeds up for others
By Carolina Puga Mendoza
TheStatehouseFile.comÂ
INDIANAPOLIS—State officials have lowered the vaccine age threshold twice within the last week while a new federal program will put teachers in line no matter how old they are.
Wednesday’s weekly COVID-19 update from Gov. Eric Holcomb and state health officials looked with growing optimism toward March 6, the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case in Indiana. According to Dr. Kristina Box, commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health, the positivity rate decreased from 4.1% last week to 3.5% as of March 3. In addition, hospitalizations fell to 731 COVID-19 patients compared to 889 patients on Feb. 24.
“It’s been a year of trials and of heartbreak for so many Hoosiers, but it’s also been a year that has shown us how resilient and how resourceful we can be as a state,†Box said.
According to the Indiana COVID-19 dashboard Wednesday, up to 21,281 Hooisers had been vaccinated in the previous 24 hours. To date, 1,031,266 Hoosiers have received the first dose of the vaccine and 608,638 people have been fully vaccinated. According to Becker’s Hospital Review, Indiana ranks 23rd among states for vaccinating its citizens.
Although Indiana has not made teachers eligible for the vaccine, President Joe Biden this week challenged states to vaccinate all teachers by the end of the month with assistance from the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. Soon pre-K-12 school teachers and childcare workers, including those in Indiana, can sign up for vaccines at 9,000 partner pharmacies across the U.S.
According to CNN, 28 states have made teachers eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Indiana government officials have received backlash for not prioritizing teachers as an eligible group, with Holcomb saying Wednesday that once people who are 40 and older become eligible, more than 50% of Indiana classroom teachers will be able to get the vaccine.
As Phase 1-B begins, people who are 50 and older are now eligible to receive the vaccine. Additionally, individuals with certain health conditions will be eligible as a group for the first time. This group includes people who are active dialysis patients, sickle cell disease patients, people with Down syndrome and more. Those in active chemotherapy or radiation for cancer also will receive a unique link to register for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Indiana is set to receive up to 145,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTec vaccine alongside 128,000 doses of Moderna. The state also just received around 54,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires just one shot for a person to be fully vaccinated.
A professor at Franklin College, Richard Erable, 56, is now eligible to receive the Moderna vaccine. He’s looking forward to his appointment on Thursday and hopes to feel more at ease when going out.
“All of us can live with the fact that you might get a flu, you might get a bad cold, but you won’t end up in the hospital, and certainly your risk of dying is very low. That’s a lot better than what we have pre-vaccine,†Erable said.
According to Box, up to 255 shipments of personal protective equipment have been shipped to critical industry businesses. Additionally, more than 530 schools have received PPE and 220 more schools will be reached by Friday.
According to Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer for the Department of Health, mass vaccination sites will open this month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 8 a.m.-10 p.m. March 5-7; Ivy Tech Community Tech and Sellersburg 8 a.m.-8 p.m. March 12-13; and the University of Notre Dame and Compton Family Ice Area 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 26-27. Hoosiers must be eligible and have their appointment scheduled.
Box said Indiana is hoping to get trusted leaders within underrepresented groups to encourage people to get a vaccine if they’re eligible. It’s a work in progress to get the vaccine to Hoosiers of all racial backgrounds, said Dr. Roland Walker, a Gary health officer and local pediatrician who’s been working with local residents.
“There’s distrust because there’s been some experimentation, there’s been misinformation, mistreatment in African American communities, but I’m here to tell you, I’ve had the vaccine,†Walker said. “To protect yourself, protect your family members, loved ones, now’s the time, while we have good supply and flow.â€
The next COVID-19 update will be at 2:30 p.m. March 10.
Carolina Puga Mendoza is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Rokita Shutdown Charity Fraud Telefunding Operation
INDIANAPOLIS — As part of a coordinated multistate action, Attorney General Todd Rokita has stopped a massive telefunding operation that bombarded 67 million consumers nationally with 1.3 billion deceptive charitable fundraising calls — mostly illegal robocalls. More than 12 million of those calls were made to Hoosiers.
Associated Community Services (ACS) and related defendants have agreed to settle charges that they duped generous Americans into donating to charities that failed to provide the services they promised.
The defendants collected more than $110 million using their deceptive solicitations. Attorney General Rokita was joined in this action by the Federal Trade Commission and 46 agencies from 38 states and the District of Columbia.
The complaint names ACS and its sister companies Central Processing Services and Community Services Appeal; their owners, Dick Cole, Bill Burland, Barbara Cole, and Amy Burland; and ACS senior managers Nikole Gilstorf, Tony Lia, John Lucidi, and Scot Stepek. In addition, the complaint names two fundraising companies allegedly operated by Gilstorf and Lia as spin-offs of ACS — Directele and The Dale Corporation.
“When I ran for attorney general, I promised to protect the people of Indiana from deceptive practices and fraudulent scams,†Attorney General Rokita said. “We are off to a strong start, and I am deeply grateful for the work of our team.â€
Announcing the settlement during National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Rokita pledged to continue his work to stop illegal robocalling.
“These kinds of deceptive, harassing phone calls are more than just a nuisance,†he said. “They are crimes aimed at bilking unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned money. We will do everything we can to bring perpetrators to justice.â€
Collaboration between federal and state governments has been key to successful actions against fraudulent fundraisers, noted Daniel Kaufman, acting director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
“Deceptive charitable fundraising can be big business for scammers, especially when they use illegal robocalls,†he said. “The FTC and our state partners are prepared to hold fraudsters accountable when they target generous consumers with lies.â€
According to the complaint, the defendants knew the organizations for which they were fundraising spent little or no money on the charitable causes they claimed to support. In some cases, the defendants kept as much 90 cents of every dollar they solicited from donors.
The complaint alleges that the defendants made their deceptive pitches since at least 2008 on behalf of numerous organizations that claimed to support homeless veterans, victims of house fires, breast cancer patients, children with autism and other causes that well-meaning Americans were enticed to support through the defendants’ high-pressure tactics.
Attached are the complaint and terms of settlement in this case, which are pending court approval. Additional documents related to this matter are available upon request.
Consumers who have been targeted by scammers may file complaints with the Office of the Indiana Attorney General either online or by calling 1-800-382-5516.
THE MARCH, 2021 PRINTED EDITION OF THE CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER Â
ATTACHED IS THE LINK OF THE MARCH, 2021 PRINTED EDITION OF THE CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER FOR YOUR PREVIEW
THE MARCH EDITION OF A PRINTED COPY OF THE CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER CAN BE PICK-UP AT THE FOLLOWING AREA LOCATIONS AT NO COSTS:
- All the area Casey’s Convenience stores.
- IGA Convenience Marts located at Crossroads and East Lloyd and Heckel Road.
- Bargetown Market-4th and Main (Downtown).
- All Of The Pet Food stores in Evansville/Vanderburgh County.
- Evansville/Vanderburgh County Civic Center.
- Ivy Tech Community College.
- Tropicana Hotel.
- Hilton Gardens.
- Quality Inn.
- Home Two Hotel.
- Fairfield Inn.
- Residence Inn-Marriott.
- Courtyard Marriott.
- Comfort Inn.
- Hampton Inn.
- Extended Stay.
- Drury Inn.
- County Inn And Suites.
- Central, McCollough, Oaklyn, North Park, Willard, and Red Bank libraries.
- Merry-Go-Around Restaurant.
- Randomly selected sub-divisions.
- Roca Bar-North
- Evansville Police Department.
- Vanderburgh County Sheriff Office.
- Fresh Market-Eastside.
- Pet Foods Center-Vanderburgh County.
- USI.
- University Of Evansville.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER.
FOOTNOTE: Â The D-PATRICK ad is missing on page 16 and will be inserted once its corrected later today.