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HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
Matheny Places Fifth at the Olympic Trials King, Apple Headline Four Hoosiers Headed to Finals
Eight-time individual NCAA champion Lilly King recorded the fastest time in world this season in the women’s 100m Breaststroke to highlight the second day of finals at the 2020 Olympic Trials at the CHI Health Center on Monday night.
The Wave II eight-day Trials competition serves as the sole qualifier for pool swimmers on the U.S. Olympic Team for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The top 16 times out of the preliminary heats will form the semifinals for all events at 200m or less, with the top eight semifinalists advancing to the finals. In events 400m or longer, the top eight swimmers out of the preliminary heats will head straight to the finals.
Athletes will earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team roster at each of the eight finals sessions.
100m BREASTSTROKE
Reigning Olympic gold medalist Lilly King dominated the 100m Breaststroke semifinals with a time of 1:04.72, the fastest time in the world this season and the fastest time swam in the event since 2017. Indiana Swim Club swimmer Annie Lazor was the second-fastest qualifier out of the semifinals with a lifetime best time of 1:05.37. Both swimmers will compete in the final tomorrow evening.
Incoming freshman Josh Matheny placed fifth in a loaded final in the men’s 100m Breaststroke with a time of 1:00.22. He will be back in the pool for the preliminary heats of the 200m Breaststroke on Wednesday morning.
200m FREESTYLE
Hoosier pro Zach Apple turned in the second-quickest time in the semifinal heats of the men’s 200m Freestyle with a time of 1:46.22. Former All-American Blake Pieroni claimed the fifth spot in the semis with a time of 1:46.84. Pro swimmer Zane Grothe narrowly missed the final with a 10th-place finish at 1:47.26.
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FINAL RESULTS
MEN’S 200m FREESTYLE
- Zach Apple – 1:46.22 *
- Blake Pieroni – 1:46.84 *
- Zane Grothe – 1:47.26
WOMEN’S 100m BREASTSTROKE
- Lilly King – 1:04.72 *
- Annie Lazor – 1:05.37 *
MEN’S 100m BREASTSTROKE
- Josh Matheny – 1:00.22
Advanced to Finals *
Session five of the trials will begin at 11 a.m. tonight with Hoosier representation in the preliminary heats of the men’s 200m Butterfly, women’s 200m IM and women’s 1500m Freestyle.
Senator Braun honors Red Skelton, Pledge of Allegiance in annual Flag Day speech
Senator Mike Braun continued his Flag Day tradition of delivering Vincennes native Red Skelton’s famous “Pledge of Allegiance” speech on the Senate floor, and will introduce his Pledge of Allegiance resolution again this week.
Senator Braun’s remarks on the Senate floor:
In 2002, 19Â years ago, Senator Tom Daschle raised a similar resolution with unanimous support from the Senate. It passed on the floor uneventfully, without amendment.
This week, this body can choose to do the same, to re-affirm our support for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I rise today, too, to honor a Hoosier who understood the innate value of the Pledge of Allegiance to civic education.
In 1969, Red Skelton, the American comedian and entertainer who was well-known for his program on CBS, The Red Skelton Hour, wrote a speech on the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Reflecting on his time in Vincennes, Indiana, he spoke about the value instilled by one of his high school teachers in the words of the Pledge of Allegiance.
After the performance of the speech, CBS received 200,000 requests for copies. The speech would go on to be sold as a single by Columbia Records and performed at the White House for President Richard Nixon.
I think it would honor Mr. Skelton’s memory, and the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance, if it were recited today on the Senate floor. In the words of Mr. Red Skelton:
When I was a small boy in Vincennes, Indiana, I heard, I think, one of the most outstanding speeches I ever heard in my life. I think it compares with the Sermon on the Mount, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and Socrates’ Speech to the Students.
We had just finished reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and he [Mr. Laswell, the Principal of Vincennes High School] called us all together, and he says, “Uh, boys and girls, I have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester, and it seems that it has become monotonous to you. Or, could it be, you do not understand the meaning of each word? If I may, I would like to recite the pledge, and give you a definition for each word:
IÂ — Me; an individual; a committee of one.
Pledge — Dedicate all of my worldly good to give without self-pity.
Allegiance — My love and my devotion.
To the Flag — Our standard. “Old Gloryâ€; a symbol of courage. And wherever she waves, there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts “Freedom is everybody’s job.â€
of the United — That means we have all come together.
States — Individual communities that have united into 48 great states; 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that’s love of country —
Of America.
And to the Republic — A Republic: a sovereign state in which power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern; and the government is the people; and it’s from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation — Meaning “so blessed by God.”
Under God
Indivisible — Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty — Which is freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation.
And Justice — The principle and qualities of dealing fairly with others.
For All — For All. That means, boys and girls, it’s as much your country as it is mine.
Afterwards, Mr. Laswell asked his students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance together, with newfound appreciation for the words.
I pledge allegiance
to the Flag of the United States of America,
and to the Republic, for which it stands;
one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Mr. Red Skelton concluded his speech by saying: Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance:Â Under God. Wouldn’t it be a pity if someone said, “That is a prayer” — and that be eliminated from our schools, too?
Just as those students that day, Mr. Red Skelton included, re-committed to the meaning of the words of the Pledge of Allegiance, I call upon the United States Senate to recommit to the meaning of these words.
There are times today that the words of the Pledge of Allegiance are tossed around without too much care. Other times, they are altered to remove what today is deemed offensive or antiquated.
But Americans should not misuse or abuse our Pledge of Allegiance.
The Pledge of Allegiance is meant to remind Americans of our guiding principles and inspire adherence to those ideas which make our country great: Equality under the law, and recognized rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
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Conservative Fiscal Discipline Pays Off For Indiana
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Consumer Alert: Watch Out For Home Improvement Scammers
As summer begins, many homeowners across Indiana will begin planning for home improvement and repair projects. For some, those projects may become needlessly expensive and frustrating if they hire an unscrupulous contractor who does not perform the work they promised. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is warning Hoosiers to take extra care and do their research before hiring a home improvement contractor.
“Each year, the Attorney General’s Office receives numerous complaints involving disputes between homeowners and home repair contractors,†said Attorney General Rokita. “Hoosiers can protect themselves by asking the right questions, doing their research before, and getting a written contract that defines the full scope of the work and specifications for the job.â€
The Office of the Indiana Attorney General offers the following tips to avoid falling victim to a home repair scam:
- Before signing a contract or making a payment, take your time and do your research. Contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at IndianaConsumer.com along with the Better Business Bureau for complaint information on contractors you are considering.
- Get bids from local contractors. Avoid contractors who spontaneously show up at your door offering a “bargain†price for painting, driveway sealing, roof repairs, etc. They may not be insured, may not be well qualified, and may be difficult to locate in the event of a problem.
- Get a written contract before making a payment. Indiana law requires home improvement contracts exceeding $150 to be in writing. Before signing the contract, make certain it includes:
- The price of the job
- Payment schedule
- A detailed description of the work and materials (including colors, brand names and patterns)
- Estimated start and completion dates
- The contractor’s name and address
- A name and telephone number of the person to contact if problems arise
- The contractor’s e-mail address
- The contractor’s signature
- You have a right to cancel the contract within three business days. Be sure the contract includes notice of that right and a form for doing so.
- Never pay for the entire project before the work begins. If a contractor insists on a substantial down payment, consider looking for another contractor. If you do make a down payment, remaining payments should be tied to completion of specified amounts of work.
- If the contractor is arranging financing, the contractor should provide you with an installment sale contract disclosing the following credit terms:
- Amount financed
- Finance charge
- Annual percentage rate
- Total of payments
- Total sale price, including any down payment
- Payment amounts and due dates
- Don’t make the final payment to the contractor until you know that all suppliers of materials and all subcontractors have been paid. You can insist on lien releases from each. If they have not been paid, they may file mechanic’s liens against your home.
Even if precautions are taken, problems may arise. Take time to talk to your contractor to resolve these issues. If problems continue, put your complaints in writing and send them to the contractor. Be sure to keep a copy of these complaints for your records.
The Consumer Protection Division of the Indiana Attorney General’s Office works to safeguard the rights of Indiana citizens every day. If you have questions or complaints regarding home improvement scams, or would like additional information and tips, visit www.IndianaConsumer.com.
Breakfast with John Gregg for the American Rescue PlanTown Hall
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BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERSÂ REGULAR MEETINGÂ at the KEVIN WINTERNHEIMER CHAMBERSÂ in ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER COMPLEXÂ on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021Â at 12:00 NOON
                                AGENDA
1. Â Â Â CALL TO ORDER
2. Â Â Â MEETING MEMORANDUM Â June 2, 2021
Â
3. Â Â Â CONSENT AGENDA Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
     N/A                         Â
4.   OLD BUSINESSÂ
      N/A
Â
5. Â Â Â NEW BUSINESS Â
      a. Request Re: Any Other Business the Board Wishes to Consider and Public Comments.
       Â
6. Â Â Â REPORTS
     Brian Holtz- Executive Director    Â
      Â
7. Â Â Â ACCEPTANCE OF PAYROLL AND VENDOR CLAIMS
Â
8. Â Â Â ADJOURN
Olympic Trials Carry On With 11 Hoosiers On Day Two Five Earn Second Swims
Day two of the second wave of the 2020 Olympic Trials continued with 11 Hoosiers in the pool at the CHI Health Center on Monday.
The Wave II eight-day Trials competition serves as the sole qualifier for pool swimmers on the U.S. Olympic Team for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The top 16 times out of the preliminary heats will form the semifinals for all events at 200m or less, with the top eight semifinalists advancing to the finals. In events 400m or longer, the top eight swimmers out of the preliminary heats will head straight to the finals.
Athletes will earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team roster at each of the eight finals sessions.
100m BREASTSTROKE
Reigning Olympic gold medalist Lilly King earned the top qualifying spot with a time of 1:05.67 to advance to the semifinals of the women’s 100m Breaststroke. Pro swimmer Annie Lazor threw down the fifth-fastest time in the world in the sixth heat to qualify third for the semifinals with a career-best mark of 1:05.92.
Rising senior Mackenzie Looze dropped over a second off her seed time to win the second heat and place 18th at 1:09.05. Big Ten champion Emily Weiss placed 26th with a time of 1:09.68Senior-to-be Noelle Peplowski touched in 37th at 1:10.08.
200m FREESTYLE
Former IU All-American Zach Apple tied for ninth with teammate and Indiana alumnus Blake Pieroni in the preliminary heats of the 200m Freestyle at 1:47.35. Pro swimmer Zane Grothe tied for the 13th qualifying spot with a time of 1:47.93. All three swimmers advanced to the evening semifinal session.
100m Backstroke
Seven-time All-American Brendan Burns nabbed the 24th spot in the prelims of the 100m Backstroke with a time of 54.96. Wave I advancer Jacob Steele placed 28th in the event with a final mark of 55.27.
400m FREESTYLE
In-bound freshman Mariah Denigan finished second in the fourth heat to place 15th overall in the women’s 400m Freestyle prelims with a time of 4:13.24.
FINAL RESULTS
MEN’S 200m FREESTYLE
t-9. Zach Apple – 1:47.35 ^
t-9. Blake Pieroni – 1:47.35 ^
t-13. Zane Grothe – 1:47.93 ^
WOMEN’S 100m BREASTSTROKE
- Lilly King – 1:05.67 ^
- Annie Lazor – 1:05.92 ^
- Mackenzie Looze – 1:09.05
- Emily Weiss – 1:09.68
- Noelle Peplowski – 1:10.08
MEN’S 100m BACKSTROKE
- Brendan Burns – 54.96
- Jacob Steele – 55.27
WOMEN’S 400m FREESTYLE
- Mariah Denigan – 4:13.24
Advanced to Semifinals ^
Session two of the trials will begin at approximately 7:45 p.m. tonight with Hoosier representation in the semifinals of the men’s 200m Freestyle and women’s 100m Breaststroke and finals of the men’s 100m Breaststroke.
WILLARD LIBRARY ARCHIVIST PATRICIA SIDES RETIRES TODAY
Karl Kae Knecht
One of the most notable personalities from Evansville’s past is Karl Kae Knecht, who worked for the Evansville Courier from 1906 to 1960. He is seen here at his drawing table, probably creating one of the cartoons that could be found daily on the front page of the newspaper for decades.
Although he was also a gifted columnist, Knecht was best recognized for his editorial cartooning skills, which earned him a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize in cartooning in 1944-1945. Over his career, he generated at least 18,000 cartoons, some of which are now preserved in presidential libraries, but most of them were donated to Evansville College.
Evansville celebrated “Karl Knecht Day†on July 21, 1954, when he was declared the city’s “most beloved citizen.†A lover of circuses and animals, Knecht was also instrumental in bringing a pair of lions to Evansville in 1928, which marked the beginning of the Mesker Park Zoo. (Note the picture of the zoo’s first elephant, Kay, on the wall next to his desk.)
After a long career that won him national acclaim, Knecht retired from the Courier in 1960 and died twelve years later.
FOOTNOTE:  This will be my last contribution to the City-County Observer since I am retiring from Willard Library today.
I am sad about leaving my position, but I have many projects planned that I wouldn’t have time for if I remained here full-time.
Thank you for the opportunity of sharing many of Willard’s historical photos with your readers for several years.
The library has an outstanding collection of old images, and I hope that they have entertained and even educated the community about its long, rich history.
My best,
Patricia Sides-Archivist at Willard Library