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CABIN FEVER

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CABIN FEVER

GAVEL GAMUT By Jim Redwine

It is official. Peg and I have a fever. No, not that new-fangled COVID fever, but the original fever spoke of in Genesis, Cabin Fever. Why God could not leave well enough alone I do not know. After six days of hard work, He sat back, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good” (Genesis, Chapter 1, verse 31). I guess “very good” was not good enough because after one day of rest God noticed, … “[T]here was no man to till the ground” (Genesis, Chapter 2, verse 5). For all those Biblical scholars, such as my sister, who posit God is actually female, this is strong support for their position. A perfect world could be made more perfect if there were a man to do work around the Garden of Eden.

Of course, Adam could not just lounge around grazing on all but one of Eden’s delights and enjoying eternal life, God had to give him Eve so there would be someone to point out this perfect world needed countless repairs and maintenance, sort of like our little log cabin on the prairie. The week before Christmas brought COVID’s resulting Cabin Fever boiling to the surface at JPeg Osage Ranch.

I do not know how the perfect home Peg fell in love with three years ago magically transformed into a property that constantly requires immediate repair. All I know for sure is I am much more adept at leisure than labor and Peg sees it as her wifely duty to save me from that condition. After all, it was Eve’s sin that brought man’s punishment of work into our lives.

Starting with COVID’s first reported cases in December 2019, Peg and I have gradually adapted from a life of travel, interaction with friends and family, concerts, movies, ball games and dining out to a world with only one other person in it. We have each developed coping skills to handle what may be a life sentence of one-couple isolation. I have reasonably and considerately allowed Peg her own space to do as she pleases such as laundry, housework, juggling family finances via the internet and gardening; there’s that Eve legacy again. Peg on the other hand seems to have a visceral reaction to my approach which is to memorize cable news reports and change sweatsuits occasionally. Hey, I do not concern myself with her choices.

Two years of Cabin Fever finally erupted into a full-blown crisis this past weekend when Peg noticed a tiny water leak in the bathroom. It would not have rotted through the floor for quite some time and that is what I politely told her. Well, her reaction was not fit for a column in a family newspaper. She demanded I turn off the fascinating program I was watching on archeological discoveries in the Bermuda Triangle and loudly said, “Do Something!”. Something turned into one full day of me attempting to understand the mysteries of plumbing then another two days of going without the use of the bathroom and waiting for a plumber who told us, “It’s hopeless after your input, now everything will have to be replaced. That will be $100 for analysis of the problem, $200 for parts and $300 for labor. Of course, that’s just an estimate; it will be more if you insist on helping.” When the plumber left, I calmly pointed out to Peg that for the price of a few wet rags we could have saved all the bother for some time. Again, her response was not printable.

So here we are in our own little Garden of Eden waiting for someone to cure COVID and perhaps return us to the halcyon days of yore. One positive thing is, since Peg is not talking to me, I can finish the entertaining program I’m now watching on the mating dances of fruit flies without interruption and without Peg’s demand that something must be fixed, “Right Now!”.

By the way, I hope you had a Merry Christmas and that you and yours have a COVID-free New Year. As for Peg and me, I can only wish for at least an occasional maintenance-free week or two during the long dark period between the Super Bowl and the start of the 2022 football season.

FOOTNOTE: For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com Or “Like/Follow” us on Facebook & Twitter at JPegOsageRanch

HOOSIER HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: A Chief Justice for the Supreme Court

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December 26 – January 1

The Week in Indiana History


gavel

1816     Governor Jonathan Jennings appointed John Johnson to be Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court.  He and Justices James Scott and Jesse L. Holman held their first session in May of 1817.  Johnson died during the court’s first recess before any major decisions were made.


sousa

1916     The John Philip Sousa band played two New Year’s Eve concerts at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis.  The program included many of the Sousa favorites, including “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “The Washington Post March.”  Earlier in his career, Sousa had been director of the Marine Band, known as “The President’s Own.”  He directed the White House Band under five Presidents, including Indiana’s Benjamin Harrison.


plate

100 YEARS AGO

1922     H. D. McClelland, manager of the state automobile department, announced that the new 1922 license plates would be easier to read than those from years before.  This was due to the change in size of the plates and numbers embossed on the plates.  Ed Jackson, Secretary of State, had selected the colors for the new issues.  Letters and numbers were white on a dark blue background.


Kin1930     Frank McKinney “Kin” Hubbard died at his home on North Meridian Street in Indianapolis.  A journalist, cartoonist, and humorist, his most famous creation was Abe Martin, a cracker-barrel philosopher who lived in Brown County, Indiana.  Abe Martin’s short, comical, and topical quips appeared daily in over 200 newspapers across the country.  Will Rogers described his friend Hubbard as “America’s greatest humorist.”

porter1934     The Porter County Courthouse in Valparaiso, opened in 1885, was severely damaged by fire. In subzero temperatures, the city fire department was assisted by firemen from Gary and LaPorte as flames rose through the 168-foot tall tower.  The building was repaired but the tower was not restored.  (Photo by Gary Smith.)

sousphione1960     The Ben Davis High School band presented a concert on Monument Circle in Indianapolis to raise funds to travel to Washington, D.C.  The group had been invited to perform in the inaugural parade for incoming President John F. Kennedy.  The goal was met.  The Indianapolis Star reported that, on inauguration day, the band, “smartly uniformed in purple and white,” was a big hit with the crowd.

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Indiana Statehouse Tour Office

Indiana Department of Administration

Visitors are welcome at the Indiana Statehouse Monday through Saturday.  For more information, please contact the tour office.

NOTE:  The Statehouse will be closed Friday and Saturday, December 31 and January 1.

(317) 233-5293
touroffice@idoa.in.gov  


Indiana Quick Quiz

1.  According to the National Weather Service, what is the coldest month in Indiana?              a/ December  b/ January  c/ March

2.  What was the original name of Santa Claus, Indiana?   a/ Santa Cruz    b/ Santa Fe    c/ St. Louis

3.  The first session of the Indiana Supreme Court took place in what city?   a/ Indianapolis  b/  Corydon  c/ Madison

Answers Below


HOOSIER QUOTE OF THE WEEK

quote

“If everbuddy thought before they spoke, there wouldn’t be enough noise in the world t’ scare a jaybird.”

– – – Kin Hubbard  (1868 – 1930)

From Abe Martin’s Almanack, Abe Martin Publishing Company, Indianapolis, 1909


yellig

Did You Know?

     When Santa Claus paid a visit to the office of Governor Edgar Whitcomb in 1971, he was actually Jim Yellig, from Santa Claus, Indiana. Yellig, born in the village of Mariah Hill, was one of the most famous “Santa Clauses” of all time.  The official resident St. Nick in the Hoosier town of Santa Claus, he also appeared in Christmas parades in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. A charter member in the Santa Claus Hall of Fame, he played the jolly old elf for a total of 54 years. It has been said that no Santa, before or since, has had as many children visit him in person.


Take an “Armchair Tour” of the Indiana Statehouse

Statehouse Virtual Tour


Answers:  1. b   2. b    3. b

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EVANSVILLE-VANDERBURGH CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU, INC SELECTS ALEXIS BERGGREN AS PRESIDENT AND CEO

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EVANSVILLE-VANDERBURGH CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU, INC SELECTS ALEXIS BERGGREN AS PRESIDENT AND CEO

Berggren Press Release 12232021

Weather Alert Special Weather Statement issued December 24 at 5:14 AM EST by NWS Paducah

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Weather Alert
Special Weather Statement issued December 24 at 5:14 AM EST by NWS Paducah

…Gusty Southerly Winds Today into Christmas… Strong southerly winds are expected today, tonight, and Christmas morning. The south to southwest winds is expected to gust from 30 to 40 mph at times. Be sure to secure loose outdoor items such as lawn furniture and holiday decorations. Also, motorists should use caution, especially those driving a high-profile vehicle on east-west oriented roadways.
A warning is issued when hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely.
A watch is used when the risk of hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain.
An advisory is issued when hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely

Lt. Gov. Crouch Unveil Comprehensive Dashboard To Assist Communities With Housing Inventory

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Indianapolis (Dec. 21, 2021) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), and partners from the Housing Working Group, which represents stakeholders from around the state, today released a housing dashboard that includes a statewide inventory of housing in Indiana.

This new dashboard serves as a tool for identifying the greatest housing needs and opportunities for economic development and investment. Information can be compared county by county, including housing stock in Indiana by age, by price, by number of units in a structure, by a number of bedrooms in a unit, and more. A complete report can be generated for each county and for the state. The comprehensive nature of the information in the dashboard enables municipalities, private industry, and independent organizations to work together to meet the housing needs of their communities.

“We have put a heavy emphasis on building our workforce in the Hoosier state,” Crouch said. “Housing is a huge part of Indiana’s economic development as we attract talent. This new tool will allow communities at a local and regional level to see what their needs are and work to build their housing infrastructure as our workforce continues to grow.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced the study as one of the five pillars of his Next Level Agenda to maintain and build the state’s infrastructure.

The dashboard also includes economic trends such as top employers, top industries, workforce and unemployment statistics, median income, and costs of material inputs for construction. Population statistics by age, race, ethnicity, income, and education are also available.

Developers and builders, employers, local and state government officials, and service providers who serve specific populations can use the interactive tool to help determine where the needs and gaps exist and how IHCDA and its partners can address them.

“This comprehensive dashboard shows an in-depth look at market rate and affordable housing in the state,” said Jacob Sipe, IHCDA Executive Director. “This dashboard will be a helpful tool for our network of housing partners to utilize as we work together to increase attainable housing across the state.”

IHCDA works with partners in the private and public sectors to increase housing stability in the state by providing housing opportunities, promoting self-sufficiency and strengthening communities.

To assist IHCDA in the creation of the dashboard, a Housing Work Group was established that consists of individuals from the following organizations:

  • Accelerate Indiana Municipalities
  • Affordable Housing Association of Indiana
  • American Institute of Architects Indiana
  • Association of Indiana Counties
  • Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis
  • Habitat for Humanity Indiana
  • Indiana Affordable Housing Council
  • Indiana Apartment Association
  • Indiana Association of Realtors
  • Indiana CRA Bankers Association
  • Indiana Builders Association
  • Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
  • Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Indiana

To supply dashboard users with the most relevant information, this tool provides the latest data within the context of historical trends.

Ivy Tech Student Awarded Full-Ride Duell’s Automotive Group Scholarship 

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Ivy Tech Student Awarded Full-Ride Duell’s Automotive Group Scholarship 

Evansville, IN – Kaeden Radde, of Evansville, has been named as the recipient of the Duell’s Automotive Group Scholarship at Ivy Tech Community College Evansville, for 2021-22.

Radde will receive a full-ride scholarship for tuition, fees, and instructional materials, as well as a complete set of tools as he attains milestones during the two-year associate degree program, all courtesy of Duell’s Automotive Group. Radde will also have mentoring opportunities at one of Duell’s dealerships.

Doug Duell, owner and the donor behind the scholarships, said the scholarship will help to provide resources to create more well-trained employees in the industry.  “I thought it was important to help provide opportunities to students to enter the automotive field,” Duell said. “The automotive technician field is full of growth but could use more employees to fill these positions. My goal is for these scholarships to help be a bridge for students to get a great job in this field that might have been out of reach to them.”

Erica Schmidt, executive director of the Ivy Tech Foundation, said charitable giving like this truly does help students and the community. “We’re grateful for this amazing and unique opportunity Doug has provided to Ivy Tech automotive students.

“Our communities need more automotive technicians, and supporting individuals who would like to pursue a career in this field, or in other high-demand areas, is helpful to so many.”

Those interested in supporting Ivy Tech Community College’s Automotive Technology Program, or in providing funding for scholarships, can contact the Ivy Tech Foundation at evansville-foundation@ivytech.edu or by calling 812-429-9830.

The next scholarship will be awarded in August 2022. To be considered and to learn more, go to link.ivytech.edu/duell.

 

 

EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Standards for Passenger Vehicles, Paving Way for a Zero-Emissions Future

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WASHINGTON (Dec. 20, 2021) – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing the most ambitious federal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks ever. The final standards, for Model Years (MY) 2023 through 2026, leverage advances in clean car technology to unlock $190 billion in net benefits to Americans, including reducing climate pollution, improving public health, and saving drivers money at the pump. The final rule also delivers more net benefits to consumers than the proposed rule showcasing how zero-emission vehicles are more affordable and more efficient for consumers.

The ambitious standards through 2026 also set the light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) program on track to provide a strong launch point for the Agency’s next phase of standards for MY 2027 and beyond. EPA is planning to initiate a separate rulemaking to establish multi-pollutant emission standards under the Clean Air Act for MY 2027 and later that will speed the transition of the light-duty vehicle fleet toward a zero-emissions future consistent with President Biden’s Executive Order, “Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks.”

“The final rule for light duty vehicles reflect core principles of this Administration: We followed the science, we listened to stakeholders, and we are setting robust and rigorous standards that will aggressively reduce the pollution that is harming people and our planet – and save families money at the same time,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “At EPA, our priority is to protect public health, especially in overburdened communities, while responding to the President’s ambitious climate agenda. Today we take a giant step forward in delivering on those goals, while paving the way toward an all-electric, zero-emissions transportation future.”

The standards finalized today are the most ambitious vehicle emissions standards for greenhouse gases ever established for the light-duty vehicle sector in the United States. They are based on sound science and grounded in a rigorous assessment of current and future technologies with supporting analysis that shows the standards are achievable and affordable. EPA’s final standards for 2025 and 2026 deliver even greater net benefits and emissions reductions than those proposed in the initial rulemaking stage in August of 2021. Through 2050, the program will result in avoiding more than 3 billion tons of GHG emissions which is equivalent to more than half the total U.S. CO2 emissions in 2019.

These ambitious standards are cost-effective and achieve significant public health and welfare benefits. The benefits of this rule exceed the costs by as much as $190 billion. Benefits include reduced impacts of climate change, improved public health from lower pollution, and cost savings for vehicle owners through improved fuel efficiency. American drivers will save between $210 billion and $420 billion through 2050 on fuel costs.  On average over the lifetime of an individual MY 2026 vehicle, EPA estimates that the fuel savings will exceed the initial increase in vehicle costs by more than $1,000 for consumers.

While these standards are ambitious, they provide adequate lead time for manufacturers to comply at reasonable costs. EPA’s analysis shows manufacturers can comply with the final standards with modest increases in the numbers of electric vehicles entering the fleet. By MY 2026, EPA projects that the final standards can be met with sales of about 17 percent electric vehicles (EVs), and wider uptake of advanced gasoline engine and vehicle technologies available today.

Auto companies continue to invest in, and develop, zero-emissions vehicles to meet rising consumer demand, while making make public commitments to build these vehicles in the future. Today’s final standards have been calibrated to align with and support those investments. Companies are announcing unprecedented plans for an increasing diversity and production volume of zero- and near-zero emissions vehicle models, while also implementing a broad array of advanced gasoline vehicle GHG emission-reducing technologies. As the GHG standards get stronger over four years, sales of EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles will grow from about 7 percent market share in MY 2023 to about 17 percent in MY 2026, the agency projects. These increasing levels of EVs will position the United States to achieve aggressive GHG emissions reductions from transportation over the long term.

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $7.5 billion is allocated for EV charging and related programs with a target of having 500,000 public charging stations by 2030, with a focus on creating a convenient national network and providing equitable access to rural drivers and overburdened and underserved communities. More than $7 billion is set aside for investments in battery manufacturing, materials, and recycling to drive down costs, increase sustainability, and build the batteries that will power the future vehicles here in the United States. The surge in charging infrastructure investments coupled with battery technology advancements, increased range, and reduced battery and vehicle costs are making EVs more attractive than ever to consumers.

Moving to a clean energy future will benefit our most vulnerable communities. Areas located close to major roads and highways will have less exposure to air pollution. Overburdened and underserved communities are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. These standards will help address climate change and reduce climate impacts on vulnerable communities.