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HOT JOBS
Update on Shooting @ Third/Oregon
 UPDATE: A murder warrant has been issued for Fabian L. Bennett, 30. He is described as a 5’07, 245-pound black male. Bennett’s last mugshot and a recent image are attached to this press release; he currently has shorter hair and may have facial hair like the most recent image. Bennett is considered armed and dangerous. If contact is made with Bennett, please do not approach him and contact 9-1-1.Â
This afternoon, December 28th, around 3:45 p.m. officers were dispatched to the area of Third Ave. and Oregon St. for shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive male with gunshot wounds lying in the roadway near a vehicle. Officers began to render aid to the victim, until medical units arrived. Once medics arrived on scene he was transported to a local hospital. Numerous witnesses were in the area when the shooting occurred.Â
While detectives were gathering witness statements, patrol units and members of the SWAT team set up a large perimeter around where the shooting occurred. Detectives were able to gather information pertaining to a potential suspect, who was known to reside in the 900-block of Oregon St. A search warrant for the residence was applied for and granted. At the time of this press release, the offender has yet to be located. The victim succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.Â
If anyone witnessed this incident or has any knowledge of it, they are asked to call the Evansville Police Department’s Detective Office at 812-436-7979 or contact the WeTip Line at 1-800-78-CRIME.Â
Eagles resume GLVC play to open New Year USI set to play four games in seven days
University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball resumes Great Lakes Valley Conference play to begin the 2022 calendar year with four games in seven days, beginning with a trip to Lebanon, Illinois, to take on McKendree University Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Screaming Eagles (8-2, 2-0 GLVC) also visit Lewis University January 4 at 5:30 p.m. and Lindenwood University January 6 at 5:30 p.m. before returning to Screaming Eagles Arena for the first time in a month when they host Southwest Baptist University January 8 at 1 p.m.
All four games will be aired live on the GLVC Sports Network as well as 95.7 The Spin, while audio, video and live stats can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.
USI Women’s Basketball Notes
• Eagles wrap up 2021 calendar year with split in Las Vegas. USI Women’s Basketball concluded its 2021 calendar year by going 1-1 at the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Screaming Eagles opened the trip with a 90-78 win over West Texas A&M but suffered a 79-71 setback in a top 25 clash with then No. 9/13 Tampa.
• Last week’s leaders. Junior guard Addy Blackwell averaged 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game to lead the Eagles, while fifth-year senior guard Emma DeHartand junior forward Hannah Haithcock respectively added 17.5 and 14.0 points per outing. Junior guard Soffia Rieckers led USI with 4.0 assists per appearance, while senior forward Ashlynn Brown contributed a team-high 5.5 rebounds per contest.
• DeHart reaches milestone. DeHart became the 19th player in program history to record 1,000 career points in the first half of USI’s 90-78 win over West Texas A&M. She entered the game in need of 13 points to reach the milestone and finished with a game-high 24 as she jumped two spots to No. 18 on USI’s all-time scoring list in the process.
• Blackwell’s big week. Blackwell followed a career-high 17-point effort in USI’s win over West Texas A&M with another career-high, this time a 22-point performance in USI’s loss to Tampa. Blackwell connected on an eye-popping 70.6 percent (12-17) of her shots, including 83.3 percent (10-12) of her three-point attempts.
• USI receiving votes outside Top 25. The Eagles dropped out of the latest D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll after going 1-1 at the Las Vegas South Point Holiday Hoops Classic. USI is the top vote-getter outside the Top 25 Media Poll after being ranked No. 23 last week, while the Eagles are still receiving votes in the latest WBCA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.
• Stein closing in on 400. USI Head Coach Rick Stein, whose been on the sidelines for 555 of USI’s 703 wins as an assistant and head coach, is just four wins away from his 400th career victory.
• Season Leaders. USI has four players averaging in double-figures in the scoring column, with Haithcock and DeHart leading the way with 12.6 and 11.7 points per game, respectively. Sophomore forward Meredith Raley and Blackwell respectively average 10.8 and 10.1 points per game, respectively, while Brown is chipping in 9.1 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per contest. Blackwell leads USI with 2.7 assists and 2.1 steals per appearance, while Haithcock is averaging a team-high 0.5 blocks per game.
• Big leads. The Eagles have jumped out to leads of at least nine points in nine of their first 10 games and have had no less than a 17-point cushion represent its largest lead in eight of their first eight contests.
• Double-figures. USI has already had seven different players reach double-figures in the scoring column this year, all of whom have scored 10-or-more points in multiple games. The Eagles had nine different players reach double-figures in the scoring column last year, with eight players having had 10-or-more points in multiple games.
• About McKendree. The Bearcats are 1-9 overall and 0-3 in GLVC play. Sophomore guard Christy Fortune averages 12.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game to lead McKendree, which is looking to stop a five-game skid.
• About Lewis. The Flyers are 3-7 overall and 1-1 in GLVC play after losing a closely-contested contest with nationally-ranked Grand Valley State to close out the 2021 calendar year. Junior guard Grace Hilber and sophomore forward Kathryn Schmidt respectively average 15.9 and 15.8 points per game for Lewis, which hosts Illinois Springfield January 2. Schmidt leads the Flyers with 7.1 rebounds per appearance.
• About Lindenwood. The Lions are 5-5 overall and 2-1 in GLVC play entering 2022. Fifth-year senior guard Julia Ruzevich averages 19.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game to lead Lindenwood, which has won three straight games. Senior guard Devin Fuhring and senior forward Ellen McCorkle contribute 13.6 and 12.5 points per game, respectively, for the Lions, who host Truman State January 2.
• About Southwest Baptist. The Bearcats are 6-4 overall and 2-1 in GLVC play after winning the previous three games. Senior guard Kyleigh Vaught averages 10.8 points and 3.3 assists per game to lead Southwest Baptist, which hosts Hannibal-LaGrange December 30. Senior guard Nyah Pettus averages 9.0 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game for the Bearcats, who resumes GLVC play with a home game against No. 2 Drury January 4 before visiting Quincy January 6.
Editorial: “Visit Evansville’s” Excellent Decision
“Visit Evansville’s” Excellent Decision
by City-County Observer Staff
December 29, 2022
“Visit Evansville” has been a long-embattled organization with the responsibility to turn Evansville, Indiana into a tourist destination of choice. The once Evansville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau made two moves in 2021 that will serve to clarify and focus the efforts to attract tourists to Evansville and the City-County Observer has high expectations for success this time.
The first big change was the name change to “Visit Evansville” which fully embodies the mission of the organization. It is now clear that visitors are what is sought, and the value of visitors is not segregated into categories like conventions, athletes, veterans, or casual visitors. It must be mentioned that many Convention and Visitors Bureaus changed their name to “Visit ——” in 2021 and the changes are widely expected to be positive.
The board of directors of “Visit Evansville” was also put into a position to do another search for a CEO by the resignation of Jim Woods who decided after two years to seek his fortune elsewhere. Woods was the 4th CEO of the organization in the last decade. Excessive turnover has plagued the entity for as long as most of us can remember. For some reason, past boards of directors have been infatuated with the prospect of bringing in a heavy hitter from other places.
After another national search, Alexis Berggren, who has been managing the Old National Bank Events Center was selected as the new CEO. Selecting a local is a welcome departure from the searches in the last decade and it is a good decision.
Berggren has demonstrated creativity in bringing national and exciting events to Evansville in ways that have not been done here for many years and it has paid off with an increase in tourists and day trips from what is called the drive market. This is precisely what Evansville can expect to find continued and sustainable success with. Berggren will have an achievable set of goals that will move Evansville forward in entertainment, youth sports, and other creative offerings that she will most certainly pursue.
For an entity that started the decade with an embarrassing Bacchanalian wine fest that squandered more taxpayer dollars than one can comprehend and the dismissal of a former CEO for political reasons, 2021 is a welcome positive advancement for “Visit Evansville”. Success in serving the drive market and the hiring of someone who already lives here has the potential to maximize the tourist industry performance of Evansville.
Congratulations to the “Visit Evansville” board of directors on the excellent decision to hire Alexis Berggren as their next CEO/President. We look forward to reporting on their success.
It’s The Party Of The Year- Happy Noon Years!
Can’t stay up till midnight on December 31st? Party all day at the annual Happy Noon Year’s celebration!
Enjoy engaging activities, games, snacks, and special performances by Daniel the Balloon Guy! Oh, and make sure to join us in the lobby as we count down to NOON with cMoe’s special balloon drop!
All activities are included with admission. The capacity will be 200 guests. Everyone else please watch the fun LIVE on Facebook @cmoekids.
Daniel the Balloon Guy performance is made possible, in part, with support from the Indiana Arts Commission, Arts Council of Southern Indiana, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
FOOTNOTE: The Museum will close at 2 pm on New Year’s Eve and all-day New Year’s Day.