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HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
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Booing, Jeering, Hallway Altercations Mar House Debate On school District Boundaries Bill
Booing, Jeering, Hallway Altercations Mar House Debate On school District Boundaries Bill
By Alexa Shrake
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—During the House session on Thursday, a bill concerning school district boundaries that some are calling racist sparked an emotional and angry debate. Several legislators walked out of the chamber, GOP legislators in their seats booed and shouted “no†and “stop,†and some members even clashed in the halls after Black legislators spoke out against the bill.
The confrontations broke out on a day when Black members were celebrating Black History Month by wearing traditional African garb.
“We kind of felt like it kind of fed into how the members were acting,†said Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis. “I think having on the African garb and our members going up there stating how they felt about a bill, I think that just antagonized them even more.â€
The bill would allow de-annexation of neighborhoods that are currently part of the South Bend Community School Corporation, which is mostly non-white, and move them to John Glenn School Corporation, which is mostly white.
Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, spoke against the bill and said it raises questions of racism. As Porter spoke, several legislators booed and jeered audibly on the livestream. Shackleford said some GOP members ignored the proceedings to gather in the back of the room.
“I have a right to speak,†Porter said before walking out into the hall.
Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, once a Gary Public Schools teacher and a principal, spoke after Porter and raised similar concerns that the bill had racist intent and was also booed. Legislators are worried the issue of white communities trying to leave minority-dominated school districts and take away funding could result in legal challenges.
“This is another wrong of this nation,†Smith said. “I don’t care how you twist it, how you paint it, how you disguise it, how you camouflage it. It’s racist.â€
While in a meeting with Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, Shackleford said representatives came in saying Smith had been verbally attacked in the bathroom by Rep. Alan Morrison, R-Brazil. Smith came into the meeting and said he was in the bathroom washing his hands when Morrison entered, calling him a bully and other derogatory names. Smith tried to ignore it and keep going, according to Shackleford, but Morrison kept following him until Smith said something back. Neither Morrison nor Smith could immediately be reached for comment to corroborate this story.
Journalists who were present at the Statehouse said several Republicans walked out of the chamber and that there was a confrontation between Rep. Sean Eberhart, R-Shelbyville, and Rep. Vanessa Summers, D-Indianapolis.
Both The Atlantic and The New York Times have reported instances in Louisiana and Alabama where white communities have tried to separate from minority communities.
“Laws in 30 states explicitly allow communities to form their own public-school systems, and since 2000, at least 71 communities across the country, most of them white and wealthy, have sought to break away from their public-school districts to form smaller, more exclusive ones,†The New York Times reported, citing a study by EdBuild.
Based on the United States Census, as of 2019, South Bend was 61.7% white while 48.5% identified as part of a minority group.
The bill’s author, Rep. Jake Teshka, R-Mishawaka, said his bill was not based on race but rather on other issues like transportation for students and putting them closer to their homes.
The bill passed with a 53-42 vote. Fourteen Republicans joined Democrats against the bill. It now moves forward to the Senate.
Speaker Todd Huston addressed legislators before recessing for caucus.
“We face emotional issues that quite frankly none of us can understand,†Huston said. “We only know our one perspective.â€
FOOTNOTE: Â Alexa Shrake is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.Â
Economic and Community Development Groups and  Chamber Announce Merger
Economic and Community Development Groups and  Chamber Announce Merger
Unified organization will align the interests of business, community institutions and residents to drive regionalprosperity and community growth
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (February 19, 2021) – Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville and Southwest Indiana Chamber announce actions by their respective Boards to merge the three organizations, effective April 1, 2021. Through a sharedvision and coordinated efforts, the new organization will advance the interests  of businesses and fuel economic and community growth in theEvansville region.
“All three organizations have a proud tradition of accomplishment,†said Greg Wathen, President and CEO of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana. “By pooling  and unifying essential economic development functions into a single structure, we have an opportunity to better servethe region with a bolder vision for the future.â€
The unified organization will work to advance regional prosperity and global relevance by building on the trusted relationships and legacy of its predecessor organizations. Together they will carry forward areas of impact, including business attraction, retention and expansion, pro- economypublic policy work, community development, entrepreneurship, talent attraction, quality  of place enhancement and regional growth strategy.
“The process to craft a new organization was very deliberate by design to give each community their respective voice,†said Ben Shoulders, Vanderburgh County Commissioner President. “I’m  confident that the organization will meet the future needs of Vanderburgh County as well as theother counties who make-up Southwest Indiana and it is equally important that the new organization will focus on being diverse and inclusive.â€
A merger committee composed of appointees from all three organizations has been meeting since early October to build on the work the three organizations have been doing cooperatively since the onset of COVID-19 impacts. Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke praised the action of the boards: “These organizations have worked as one over the past year facilitating and serving  the needs of Evansville and the region. The Reopen Evansville Task Force depended on this partnership to effectively serve our citizens.â€
“While many pursue a merger or organizational realignment in response to challenges, we did so in recognition of, and in pursuit of, heightened opportunity,†said Tara Barney, President and CEO of the Chamber. “The new partnership is a proactive alignment of complementary efforts to unify asone voice to deliver economic development services for the region and to market our strengths to businesses and talent looking for a great location tooperate a business, to live, and  to thrive.â€
The group completed significant due diligence around finances, strategic integration of various programs, public policies, and technology along with a commitment to ensure that the new organization will address diversity, small business development and the unique value that the public and privatesectors bring in delivering success throughout the Evansville region.
“We are very pleased that after months of document review, discussion and best-practice research–including study of similar regions seeking increased velocity–we have clear direction and authorization from our collective Boards to aggregate the work, the assets, the staffs, and the expertiseof three very sound organizations into one,†stated Lynell Walton, Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville Board Chair.
The new partnership will operate within Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties while continuing strategic partnerships with the entire MSA some of which is in Kentucky, the Southwest Indiana SBDC, area local Chambers, WorkOne and other entities that strengthen the region’s opportunityto prosper.
“Warrick County has been a strong regional voice and as one of the original partners in creation of the Coalition, we’re excited to take this next step in the formation of a new vision for Southwest Indiana,†said Dan Saylor, Warrick County Commissioner.
“The new organization gives Posey County an even stronger voice than we have had in the past,†Jenna Richardt, Executive Director of the Posey County Economic Partnership. “That collective voice along with the ability to invest in larger regional development strategies will add  more value to Posey County businesses and residents.â€
Though the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, Growth Alliance for Greater  Evansville and Southwest Indiana Chamber will combine business operations during the coming  year, details of a new brand and name will be released by early April 2021. During the transition, the executives of the Coalition and the Southwest Indiana Chamber, Greg Wathen and Tara Barney have agreed to serve as co-CEOs. An early order of business for the new group will be the selection of executive leadership as well as the appointment of the new entity’s first Executive Committee andBoard of Directors.
A temporary landing page for the new economic partnership has been created: evansvilleregion.com.
About Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana
The Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana acts as the marketing arm and regional economic development organization for Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties in Southwest Indiana. Since its formation in late 2006, the Coalition has helped to secure over $3.2 billion in new investment and 4,213 new jobs from existing and newcompanies, such as Haier America, Berry Global, Toyota Boshoku, Reckitt Benckiser, Midwest Fertilizer and AT&T. Another important aspect of the Coalition’s multi-faceted job description is helping the communities it serves build new capacity for future development. The Coalition has helped secure over $118 million in grants for such things as expansion of water and sewer systems, building new community centers and making improvements to the region’s levee system, which protects thousands of acres.
 About Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville
Headquartered in Downtown Evansville, Ind., the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville (GAGE) was created in early 2007 as a public-private non-profit partnership through the concerted efforts of government, business and higher education. The Growth Alliance team connects businesses, talent, ideas and experts to elevate the economic prosperity of Greater Evansville.Focus areas include business retention and expansion; innovation and entrepreneurship; quality of place and talent; and new business attraction. You can learn more at        www.growthallianceevv.com.
 About Southwest Indiana Chamber
Since 1915, the Southwest Indiana Chamber has been a trusted ally of the regional business community. Today we are one of the state’s largest, strongest, and most impactful nonprofit business organizations, representing a total membership of almost 1,400 businesses, organizations, and agencies. About one-third of members have invested in our organization for 10 or more years. While nearly all major employers in our region invest in the Southwest Indiana Chamber, 71% of our member businesses have 25 or fewer employees. Learn more about the Chamber, our members, and the Southwest Indiana regional business community at www.swinchamber.com. 318 Main St., Suite 401, Evansville, IN 47708.
THE UNPARDONABLE SIN
THE UNPARDONABLE SIN
GAVEL GAMUTÂ By Jim Redwine
www.jamesmredwine.com
Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) was a professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College for over thirty years. Campbell is probably best known as George Lucas’ source for the mythology permeating the Star Wars anthology. Good versus evil, light versus darkness, hope versus despair and, throughout human existence, alertness to being alive versus remaining unaware of our experiences. To Campbell, the unpardonable sin is to be unaware, that is, to not be truly alive as we meander through our lives unaffected by what is happening around us. For me, Black History Month evokes an introspection of my callow youth and its blissful ignorance of the difference between my white world and that of my, as we called them then, Colored friends.
I scarcely knew Blacks and whites lived separate lives during the 1940’s, 50’s and the first half of the 60’s. I was happy and assumed others were too. Things were as they ought to be or at least they were okay with me as they were. It did not seem strange when before 1956 my father would take us across Bird Creek to Colored Town and Booker T. Washington School to watch Colored boys play basketball. Then after 1956 it felt fine to see Blacks and whites mix on the court, but not in the churches and not at our homes or businesses.
Before the Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile brought expanded options for estrogenous pilgrims to my hometown of Pawhuska, Oklahoma the cultural center for testosterone types were my small town’s three pool halls. Now, we of the male persuasion can drink good coffee as we wait for breakfast, dinner or supper as our wives accumulate treasures. But in days of segregation gone by the white businessmen of Pawhuska frequented the Smoke House on Kihekah Avenue where they played Dominoes, those white men interested in beer with their games usually went to Curry’s on Main Street and we younger males congregated at Palace Billiards that was also on Kihekah. Henry Roberts owned and operated the Palace that we boys always called Henry’s. It had a tile floor, four wooden game tables with slate tops and scattered wooden armchairs where the cowhands would drink Dr. Pepper while chewing tobacco and spitting into the brass cuspidors on the floor or back into their bottles. Henry’s double front doors had plate-glass windows that allowed for the only sunlight to shine into the business. The front of the pool hall faced Kihekah and there was a single solid back door that opened out to the rear access and the latrine. Colored boys were allowed to enter through the rear door to play pool on either of the two pool tables that were right next to the back door. Coloreds did not come up front to the two snooker tables nor to the game tables. The entire pool hall was contained in one narrow, open, window-less rectangular room about fifteen feet wide and fifty feet long.
The favorite table game was 4 Point Pitch played with dominoes, we called them rocks, that had cards on their faces, not domino dots. The players would shuffle the rocks by sliding them around on the table then, depending upon the number of players, up to a maximum of eight, deal out 6 rocks per player. Points were won for the highest card of trump played, the lowest card of the trump suit played, one for the jack-of-trump and one for “gameâ€. The point for “game†was calculated by adding four for any ace, three for any king, two for any queen, one for any jack and ten for any ten. The maximum number of points that anyone could accumulate in any one round of play was four. That was also the maximum allowable bid and the bidder got to name the trump suit. The first person to score a total of eleven won the pot. If more than one person happened to go over eleven at the end of a hand, whoever had won the bid for that hand won the pot, that is, as long as that player made his bid. If you bid and went set you got a “hicky†and it cost you the same as a game, usually one dollar. So, you might win one dollar from up to seven other players and, if any had failed to make a bid, an additional dollar. Frequently games had fewer than eight players, often as few as two and it was quite cutthroat as everyone played to set the bidder.
Colored boys never played Pitch or snooker. The racks for the snooker and pool cues were also separate. Whites could have played pool but none of us did. I do not ever remember wondering about that or why Coloreds came in the back door. Nor do I remember myself or anyone else ever speaking to any of the Blacks who eased quietly in from the back, and placed their coins to pay for pool on the table to be picked up by Henry. Now as I look back, I think we all were committing Campbell’s unpardonable sin and handling our experiences as suggested by psychologist and poet Bonaro Wilkinson Overstreet (1902-1985) when she cited the following poem in her Introduction to Philosophy:
“Young spruces stood bolt upright, every twig.
Stiff with refusal to be bent by snow.
Young hemlocks sloped their boughs beneath the load.
Letting it softly go.
Each solved no doubt, to its own satisfaction.
The problem posed by uninvited weight.
I’d not take sides with either.
I have tried both ways of handling fate.â€
Unfortunately, it was not until much later that I tried the “bolt upright†approach to segregation and I do not know if my more “alert†response has been of any more efficacy. Next week we might delve into these issues with folks who probably were more aware than I was because they were living life from another perspective.
For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com
Or “Like/Follow†us on Facebook & Twitter at JPegRanchBooks&Knitting
Helping Hoosiers Down On Their Luck Get Back To Work
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Getting caught driving with a suspended license can be detrimental for Hoosiers, and could lead to losing a job and unpaid bills. To help struggling Hoosiers get back on track, I authored House Bill 1199 to allow the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to lift a suspension for a period of 180 days if the individual can prove future financial responsibility. |
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This proposal would also allow the Indiana Department of Correction and BMV to help nonviolent offenders who are re-entering the workforce by easing the financial requirements to reinstate their driver’s license upfront. This would give parolees the opportunity to get a job and take care of immediate expenses before paying back those fees. The bill would also extend the Traffic Amnesty Program for one year. This program allows Indiana residents with suspended licenses or unpaid traffic fines imposed before Jan. 1, 2019, the option to petition the court for a reduced fine of up to 50 percent. Click here to learn more about House Bill 1199, watch House session and committees live, or view other legislation. |
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U of E BASEBALL MENS TEAM UPSET #12 GEORGIA
Solid All-Around Performance Propels Aces To Win Over #12 Georgia
Aces score twice in the third and once in the seventh in victory
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ATHENS, Ga. – The moment was not too big for the University of Evansville baseball team as the Aces handled high-pressure situations in a 3-2 victory over 12th-ranked Georgia at Foley Field on Friday afternoon in Athens, Ga.
“Great way to start the season and such a great performance on the mound from Shane Gray, Michael Parks and Jakob Meyer,” said Aces head baseball coach Wes Carroll. “We handled pressure late in the game from a really good team, so we really had to earn the win.”
The tone for the afternoon was set by starting pitcher Shane Gray, who sat the Bulldogs down in order in the bottom of the first. Gray faced his first threat in the bottom of the second as Georgia put two on with one out. The sophomore got out of the inning with a strikeout and then a little help from senior catcher Ben Komonosky, who threw-out Corey Collins attempting to steal third.
In the third, Evansville’s offense got rolling with two outs. Senior Troy Beilsmith sent a base-hit to right field and subsequently stole second. Fellow senior Craig Shepherd then proceeded to single to right field, scoring Beilsmith to give Evansville its first run of the afternoon. After junior Tanner Craig and sophomore Danny Borgstrom were walked in the next two at bats, newcomer Simon Scherry scored Shepherd with an error-inducing grounder to third base that pushed the Aces lead to 2-0.
Evansville looked poised for another two-out rally in the fourth, placing runners at first and second with two down, but the Aces could not convert.
Georgia halved Evansville’s lead in the fifth as the leadoff batter Corey Collins belted a solo shot to right field, but Gray was able to keep the Bulldogs to just one run in the inning.
The Aces kept pushing the envelope in the sixth as Komonosky opened the inning on base after being hit by a pitch and eventually found his way in scoring position at third after a Shepherd single with two outs. Evansville could not capitalize on its opportunity, but continued to show their ability to threaten.
It was another two-out rally in the seventh that added the third and final run to the Aces tally as freshman Adam Euler doubled off the center field wall with two down. Euler gave way to senior Kenton Crews as a pinch runner and the veteran quickly showcased his quickness for the Aces advancing to third and eventually home on a pair of wild pitches that pushed Evansville’s lead to 3-1.
Gray’s tremendous day on the mound came to an end with the start of the seventh inning as sophomore Michael Parks took over. Parks induced a fly out to the first batter he faced, but gave up a single and hit a batter in the next two at bats. With Georgia primed to tie the game or even take the lead, Parks forced Fernando Gonzalez to ground into a double play to end the inning and the Bulldogs threat.
In the top of the eighth, Evansville put runners on first and second with just one out, but junior righty Jack Gowen struck-out back-to-back Aces to end the inning. In the Bulldogs half of the eighth, Georgia placed runners on first and second with no outs. After Parks got a pop out for the first out, Evansville turned to freshman Jakob Meyer to get the Aces out of the inning. Meyer gave up a single that scored a run for the Bulldogs in the first at-bat, but locked down Georgia’s attempts to tie the game with a groundout on a fielder’s choice and a fly out to right field.
With one last chance in the ninth, Meyer struck-out the lead-off batter and forced a groundout in the next at-bat to quickly back Georgia into their final out. The Bulldogs responded with a single, putting the tying run on base. Again in a high-pressure situation, Evansville handled it well as Meyer induced a pop up that ended the game and earned the Aces a 3-2 season-opening win.
Gray finished the contest with the win, pitching six innings and allowing just four hits and one earned run, while striking-out four. Meyer received the save, the first of his collegiate career, pitching the final 1.2 innings and striking-out three, while not allowing a hit.
Evansville generated plenty of offense with eight hits on the afternoon, while leaving 12 on base in the win.
The Aces and Bulldogs continue their series with a twin bill on Saturday afternoon beginning at 11 AM (CT). Senior left-hander Nathan Croner gets the ball in the first game, while junior righty Caleb Reinhardt will start on the mound for the Aces in game two.
- INFO:Â For all of the latest information on University of Evansville athletics, visit GoPurpleAces.com or follow the program on Twitter via @UEAthletics.
- FUTURE UNAFRAID:Â To make a gift to the Future Unafraid initiative and contribute to the Purple Aces’ response to COVID-19, please visit UEAlumniOnline.com/FutureUnafraid
- SUPPORT:Â For information on giving to UE Athletics or its individual athletics programs, visit the SUPPORT tab on the top of GoPurpleAces.com
Aces fall to Skyhawks in season opener
UT Martin takes 6-1 win
 UT Martin plated three runs in the bottom of the second inning on their way to a 6-1 victory over the University of Evansville softball team in Friday’s opening game of the Black & Gold Tournament.
Evansville (0-1) recorded a run on three hits while drawing three walks. UT Martin (1-0) scored six runs on six hits.
It was the Purple Aces who got on the board in the top half of the first. Eryn Gould drew a leadoff walk before Mea Adams singled up the middle to advance Gould to second. Elyse Hickey drew a walk to load up the bases for Lindsay Renneisen, who was also able to force a walk to bring in the first run of the game.
The Skyhawks tied it up in the bottom of the first before scoring three times in the second. Kaci Fuller, who was 2-for-4 with four RBI in the game, had a bases clearing triple to break the game open. UTM scored two more runs in the fourth before hanging on for the 6-1 win.
In the top of the 7th, Evansville made a comeback attempt when Bella Coffey recorded the Aces’ first hit since the first inning. Macey Harrington followed with another 1-out single to get Coffey into scoring position, but Alexis Groet recorded the final two outs to clinch the win.
UTM starter Erin Gallagher picked up the win, tossing six frames of 1-run, 1-hit ball. Megan Brenton made the start for UE, allowing four runs in 1 2/3 innings. Jaime Nurrenbern threw 3 1/3 frames, giving up two runs while Erin Kleffman pitched a scoreless 6th inning.
Saturday’s action opens with a 12:30 p.m. rematch between the Aces and Skyhawks before UE faces host Alabama State in a 5:30 p.m. contest.
Evansville heads to Des Moines to face Drake
Aces and Bulldogs to meet up on Sunday and Monday
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As the regular season hits the homestretch, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team makes its final road trip, traveling to Drake for a series on Sunday and Monday
– The teams open play on Sunday with a 3 p.m. game that will be carrier on the MVC TV Network, which includes Fox Sports Indiana in the Evansville area
– Monday’s finale will begin at 6 p.m. on ESPN+…the Purple Aces Radio Network will also have full coverage
Setting the Scene
– Facing the toughest part of its 2020-21 schedule, the Purple Aces look to halt a 4-game skid in Des Moines
– It marks the third of four series that pits the Aces against the top four teams in the MVC
– UE has stayed within striking distance in each game, but late runs by the opposition have been the difference
– Drake is receiving votes in both national polls and is battling Loyola for the top spot in the MVC
– The Knapp Center is another arena that has not been good to the Aces – UE has dropped nine of the last 10 games at the venue
Last Time Out
– Evansville had another solid showing on Wednesday in Terre Haute, trimming a 7-point halftime deficit down to just one in the second half before a run by the Sycamores put the game out of reach
– ISU shot 64.8% on their way to an 87-73 win as Tyreke Key scored 34 points
– Leading the Aces was Jawaun Newton, who went 7-of-9 from the field on his way to 18 points
– Shamar Givance had a stellar all-around game, finishing with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists…his assist tally tied his career mark
Swapping Points
– One of the stories around the 20-21 UE squad has been its strong 3-point shooting…over the course of the season, UE has outscored the opposition from outside by an average of 12.3 points per game
– On the flipside, UE has been outscored by an average of 13.5 PPG in the paint…the Aces have lost eight out of nine games this year opponent finishes at +18 or more in the paint
– Evansville is a perfect 4-0 on the season when winning the battle in the paint
Just One
– An outstanding 10-point, 8-rebound, 6-assist effort at Indiana State put Shamar Givance into some elite company
– He is the only player in the MVC who is averaging 4.2 assists per game and 4.0 rebounds per contest
– Givance has been back in top form over the last six games, averaging 13.2 points over that span following the Bradley series where he averaged 2.5 PPG
– His 4.2 assists per game is second in the Valley…he has multiple assists in 18 consecutive games and tied his career high with eight helpers at Indiana State
– A tenacious defensive player – Givance has forced 12 steals in the last six games
Scouting the Opponent
– Standing at 21-2 overall and 12-2 in conference play, Drake is receiving votes in both national polls
– The Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back wins against Loyola and at UNI on Wednesday
– Drake won its first 18 games of the season including non-conference victories against Kansas State and Air Force
– With leading scorer ShanQuan Hemphill out due to injury, the Bulldogs leading scorer is Roman Penn with 11.5 points per game…he leads the MVC with 5.6 assists per game and his season total of 128…that ranks 27th in the nation
– Tremell Murphy has posted 9.9 PPG while D.J. Wilkins checks in with 9.7