FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
HOT JOBS
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Simpson throws quality start as Otters fall in finale
SAUGET, Ill. – The Evansville Otters (18-23) lost a heartbreaker against the Gateway Grizzlies (24-17) via a ninth inning walk-off, 2-1.
The Otters sent Garrett Simpson to the mound for his second professional start and he bounced back in a big way. He allowed a leadoff single followed by a soft fly out and a double play. Thanks to the double play, he faced the minimum through the first three innings.
Evansville jumped out in front for the third time in this series with a Devid Mendham two-out double. Parks Bouck, who reached in front of him with a walk, made a crafty slide at home to avoid the tag.
Simpson pitched a clean fourth, but ran into some trouble in the fifth. A one-out walk followed by a bloop double scored the tying run. Simpson finished the fifth clean and worked a quick sixth to finish his day. He secured his first professional quality start, only allowing three hits and one run.
Nolan Thebiay followed Simpson and, while working through slight command issues, pitched 1.2 innings without allowing a run. Nick McAuliffe came in to finish the eighth, recording the final out.
After a scoreless ninth from Evansville, Alex Valdez came on in the ninth. He allowed a leadoff double, followed by a sacrifice bunt. Valdez fielded the ball but overthrew first and the runner from second scored, giving Gateway a 2-1 victory.
Though Evansville’s bats struggled a bit, Mendham stayed hot, going 2-for-3 with a walk. The defense recorded three double plays after they had four Wednesday night, helping Evansville record their fourth straight quality start.
The Otters are back in action tomorrow night at 6:35 p.m. CT as they host the Florence Y’alls for the first time this year. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for Video Game Night, sponsored by Meijer and the Boys & Girls Club, with postgame fireworks to kick off the homestand.
Copeland, Yep Earn Big Ten Medal of Honor
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Big Ten Conference celebrates its 111th class of recipients who earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor from their respective institutions during the 2024-25 academic year. Established in 1915, the Big Ten Medal of Honor is the conference’s most prestigious award. It was the first award in intercollegiate athletics to demonstrate support for the educational emphasis placed on athletics.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each member institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their collegiate career. This year’s class comprised student-athletes from 15 sports.
Big Ten schools currently feature more than 11,000 student-athletes, but only 36 earn the award on an annual basis. Since the Big Ten Medal of Honor was first presented more than a century ago, just over 1,680 student-athletes have earned this unique distinction. Those names are on permanent display at the Big Ten Office in Rosemont.
The 111th Big Ten Medal of Honor class includes Indiana softball’s Brianna Copeland and Indiana swimming and diving’s Jassen Yep.
Brianna Copeland, Softball
Brianna Copeland was a four-year standout for the Hoosiers, and her senior campaign was her best.
The Pelham, Alabama, native hit .331 with 57 hits, 12 doubles, 13 home runs and 40 RBIs. She also recorded a .628 slugging percentage and a .440 on-base percentage. In the circle, she posted an 18-10 record while throwing 148 strikeouts and holding opposing batters to a .274 batting average.
Copeland was recognized as a 2025 NFCA third-team All-American, marking the second time she received the honor, as well as being named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team, NFCA All-Region First Team. She also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and 2025 and was an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete in 2023.
Through Copeland’s outstanding play, she helped elevate the standards of Indiana softball, leading the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history from 2023-25.
Jassen Yep, Swimming and Diving
Jassen Yep capped his collegiate career with one of the most special moments of the 2024-25 NCAA swimming and diving season. The senior from Saratoga, California, became NCAA Champion in the 200-yard breaststroke with the third-fastest time ever, going 1:48.30.
Prior to this season, Yep had never gone under 1:50 in the event. His best time coming into college was a 1:57.42. Yep is another “Breaststroke U” great, having also won the 200 breast Big Ten title in 2024.
In his five-year collegiate career, Yep helped Indiana win four consecutive Big Ten Championships (2022-25), and the Hoosiers finished sixth or better nationally all five seasons – including third at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
Yep’s character platformed his swimming success, proving himself a leader and scholar. He served as a captain for the 2025 team and, in 2024, won the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Academically, Yep earned both Academic All-Big Ten and CSCAA Scholar All-America honors each of the four years he was eligible.
Tech Evansville Announces Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program with Carver Community Center
Evansville, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College Evansville today announced a first-of-its-kind Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program in early childhood education with employer partner Carver Community Organization.
Ivy Tech’s registered apprenticeship program is designed to strengthen Indiana’s early care and education workforce by expanding high-quality post-secondary education and training options for early childhood education professionals.
Daniela Vidal, chancellor of Ivy Tech Evansville, said the flexibility of this program and the accelerated pathway lends itself to many distinct types of offerings for both professionals in the field and those who have no prior training or work experience. “We look forward to rolling this out in a variety of formats over the next several months, as we seek to grow the skills of early childhood education professionals throughout the region.”
As an example, this summer, Ivy Tech is offering a pilot skills training program in early childhood education, which can cross walk into credit-bearing classes for those who would like to earn a credential or degree, as well as the Carver apprenticeship program. There will be another announcement forthcoming of a program for high school students and others, Vidal said.
Kelli Servizzi, executive director of early childhood pathways and initiatives with Ivy Tech, said the facets of having on-the-job training, mentors, and classroom education are essential to the success of this program. “The one-year program combines a flexible classroom schedule with real-world application of concepts in 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning hours under the supervision of an experienced mentor, all while apprentices are earning a wage.
“In strategic partnership with the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (INAEYC) to connect apprentices with resources and funding, Ivy Tech’s apprenticeship program strengthens Indiana’s early childhood workforce and improves the quality of the state’s early childhood education sector by retaining talented and dedicated early care and education professionals,” she added.
“The early childhood education adult-based apprenticeship is offered in partnership with TEACH Early Childhood Indiana®, US Department of Labor, and local early childhood providers,” said Andrea Boberg, program chair at Ivy Tech Evansville. “We are working together to provide opportunities for local providers and staff to increase their professional skills and knowledge along with wages and overall program quality.”
Students participating in this program will earn high-quality credentials, including:
- Classroom Support Specialist micro-credential
- Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate from the Council for Professional Recognition
- Ivy Tech Early Childhood certificate
- Technical certificate in Early Childhood Education
- U.S. Department of Labor Journeyperson certificate
INAEYC and TEACH Early Childhood Indiana® said they are proud to announce their support of this partnership with Carver Community Organization’s registered apprenticeship cohort.
“Investing in early childhood educators means investing in the future of our communities,” said Hanan Osman, executive director of INAEYC. “By supporting this apprenticeship program, we are helping individuals build rewarding careers in early childhood education while addressing the growing demand for qualified professionals in the field.” INAEYC/TEACH Early Childhood® Indiana will help connect apprentices with valuable resources and funding assistance, Osman added.
Deiona Clayton, executive director of the Carver Community Organization, said, “Carver is interested in the early childhood apprenticeship program with Ivy Tech because it aligns with our mission to provide unique community centered programs.
“Well-trained, culturally competent early childhood educators are in high demand. This apprenticeship will create a pipeline of qualified staff which will support the community’s childcare needs. Ivy Tech is a trusted source of higher education that will ensure the training meets our state and national standards for childcare programs.”
Clayton said that Carver staff earning their Child Development Associate credential while working, will open doors for promotions and wage increases. “This professional growth and advancement will help them serve as mentors and gain leadership experience within the center,” Clayton said. “For the children we serve this will improve the quality of teaching in the classroom that directly impacts their school readiness and lifetime success.”
Carver’s program meets one night a week at the Center’s offices and began on June 11. Apprentices will complete the six Ivy Tech courses and work earning on-the-job training. They will also receive three wage increases as they progress. Following completion of their certificates, students can also continue to earn a technical certificate or associate degree at Ivy Tech, as well as transfer credits to a bachelor’s degree program at a four-year college or university.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building America grant, one of the funders of this initiative, aims to expand and modernize registered apprenticeships by increasing participation, diversifying industries, and improving access to underserved communities. Ongoing expansion of the program is part of Ivy Tech’s ongoing commitment to more than double the number of professionals it graduates in this field over the next three years. The College’s goal is to graduate 1,950 individuals annually with industry-recognized credentials and degrees.
Governor Braun Forms Strategic Energy Growth Task Force to Meet New Energy Demands Reliably and Affordably
INDIANAPOLIS – To meet the increasing energy demands of the modern economy, Governor Mike Braun today announced he is creating a Strategic Energy Growth Task Force to create an energy growth plan for Indiana to meet the state’s accelerating demand for reliable, affordable energy.
“Indiana’s economy is growing, and we need new solutions to meet this accelerating energy demand reliably and affordably. My new Strategic Energy Growth Task Force will take an all-of-the-above approach to meet the electricity demands of our growing economy in the short-run, and plan for Indiana to become an energy export state and national leader in nuclear energy for the long-run – all with a focus on reliability and affordability for Hoosiers.” – Governor Mike Braun
Demand for electricity in Indiana is now accelerating rapidly with the reshoring of manufacturing, data centers for artificial intelligence, and consumer electrification all contributing to the increase.
Governor Mike Braun is taking action to ensure that Indiana’s economic growth and new job opportunities for Hoosiers are not held back by a lack of energy generation and transmission infrastructure.
The Strategic Energy Growth Task Force will create an energy growth plan for Indiana, focused on these priorities:
- Energy reliability and affordability to meet power needs and economic development opportunities now and into the future
- Making the State of Indiana an energy export state
- Maintaining existing energy generation and developing new generation
- Deploying nuclear energy
The plan created by the Task Force will provide a short-term 5-year vision as well as a 20-year outlook, focused on four key objectives:
- DEVELOPMENT — Developing Indiana’s energy sector to meet current and future demand
- AFFORDABILITY — Ensuring energy is affordable for Hoosiers
- DIVERSIFICATION — Taking an “All-of-the-Above” approach to energy policy
- COLLABORATION — Fostering collaboration and innovation between the state and the private sector to deploy technology to meet the unique opportunities that lie ahead with unprecedented demand and development.
The Strategic Energy Growth Task Force will engage utilities and other stakeholders to foster cooperation and align strategic plans to meet the state’s electricity growth targets.
The Task Force will also analyze the drivers of electricity price and propose actionable solutions to ensure future energy costs are affordable for Hoosiers.
Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records
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Celebrate Freedom By Donating Blood ahead of Independence Day
Evansville, Ind., (June 26, 2025) — As fireworks light up the sky this Fourth of July, you can be a burst of light for patients in need. The community is invited to donate blood at the Celebrate Freedom Donorama onThursday, July 3 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Southwest Chapter office located at 29 South Stockwell Road in Evansville.
Each day, the American Red Cross must collect more than 12,000 blood donations for patients at hospitals nationwide. The summer months can be a challenging time to collect blood donations, as donors are busy with travel plans and events. The increased risk of severe summer weather can also quickly impact the ability to collect blood donations. Donors of all blood types are encouraged to make an appointment to give blood to help ensure patients never have to wait for vital care.
Celebrate Freedom Donorama
Thursday, July 3
6 a.m. – 4 p.m.
American Red Cross Indiana Region Southwest Chapter Office
29 South Stockwell Road
Evansville, IN 47714
Make an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org and use sponsor code “CELEBRATEFREEDOM.” You can also call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or download the Red Cross Blood Donor App to schedule an appointment.
Thank you to the team at WFIE 14 News for their partnership and support in raising awareness about the importance of blood donation.
Come to give blood at select drives for a ticket to a Six Flags theme park of your choice, while supplies last! For more information, visit RedCross.org/2025SixFlagsDrives. Additionally, those who come to give July 1-14, 2025, will receive a customizable pair of Red Cross x goodr sunglasses, while supplies last. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/goodr.
USI English faculty member receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
Dr. Amy Montz, University of Southern Indiana Professor of English, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to conduct research in Manchester, United Kingdom, focusing on the nineteenth-century author Elizabeth Gaskell, during the 2025–26 academic year. She is the first USI faculty member to receive this honor since Dr. Mehmet Kocakulah, USI Professor Emeritus of Accounting, who was selected for the 2016–17 academic year.
Montz began her application in March 2024 and spent most of the summer working on the requested documents (a personal statement, a list of reference works, individual questions outside the personal statement and a sample syllabi).
After much work and several rounds of revisions, she submitted her application in September. In December, she was short-listed for the award, and in January, had an interview with the U.S.-UK Fulbright Commission where they asked questions about her project and goals for living in England. Montz received her decision letter in May.
As a recipient, Montz will write Two Lived Lives: An Autobiographical Survey of Elizabeth Gaskell and Her Works, an examination of Gaskell’s novels, short stories, letters, papers, Victorian textiles, fashions and ephemera. Her publication will be complemented by an examination of current-day responses to Gaskell, such as the BBC’s productions of North and South and Cranford.
Over a six-month residency, Montz will be affiliated with the University of Manchester, working in the renowned John Rylands Library, which houses the Elizabeth Gaskell Collection. Her research will delve into Gaskell’s novels and personal archives, with a particular emphasis on gender, class and nationalism.
“Receiving this Fulbright is the culmination of a career-long dream,” said Montz, who has studied Gaskell’s work for over a decade. “It’s an extraordinary opportunity to immerse myself in Gaskell’s world, both through the archives and through direct engagement with the places she lived and wrote about.”
While in Manchester, she will also engage with undergraduate and graduate students at the university through guest lectures and mentoring, contributing to the academic community through knowledge exchange and scholarly dialogue.
Additionally, she will collaborate with the Elizabeth Gaskell House, a preserved historic site that was Gaskell’s home in Manchester, further enriching the research through site-specific inquiry and public humanities outreach.
“None of this would be possible without the support of Dr. Oana Popescu-Sandu, Chair of English; Dr. Del Doughty, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts; Dr. Kristalyn Shefveland, Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts; Dr. Shelly Blunt, Provost; the University at large, and, of course, my family,” says Montz. “While I am nervous about leaving my family and my country for six months, I’m also so excited to see what this project and adventure brings.”
Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.
In the United States, the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org.