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HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
FIRST DOSES OF COVID-19 VACCINE ARRIVE IN INDIANA
The Indiana Department of Health announced today that the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to frontline healthcare workers in Indiana, after the state’s first allotment of vaccine arrived Monday morning.
The first doses were administered to a physician, nurse, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, patient care tech and environmental services tech at Parkview Health in Fort Wayne shortly after noon today. Parkview and Clark Memorial Hospital in Jeffersonville both received initial doses of vaccine Monday morning. The two are among the five pilot hospitals slated to receive vaccine first. Additional vaccine is expected to arrive at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, IU Methodist in Indianapolis and Community Hospital in Munster in the next few days.
“The arrival of vaccine is an incredible milestone in our efforts to end this pandemic,†Gov. Eric J. Holcomb said. “The combination of a vaccine and simple mitigation measures like wearing a mask and keeping your distance will get us through to the other side.â€
More than 20,000 Indiana healthcare workers statewide have already registered to get their first dose.
More than 50 Indiana hospitals and clinics are expected to receive a total of 55,575 doses of vaccine by the end of the week, and additional shipments are expected weekly. The vaccine requires two doses administered a minimum of 21 to 28 days apart.
Because vaccine will be shipped to states in phases, Indiana has prioritized the first doses for frontline healthcare workers who provide direct patient care and therefore are at high risk of exposure to COVID-19, as well as long-term care residents and staff who have been significantly impacted by the pandemic.
“Our frontline healthcare workers have taken care of Hoosiers for months,†said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “By opening vaccine to them first, we are able to protect our healthcare workforce and help ensure that Hoosiers retain access to the care they need, whether it’s due to COVID or another medical matter.â€
Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer for the Indiana Department of Health, said long-term care staff and residents are also being prioritized for the vaccine because of the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on these vulnerable Hoosiers. Half of the state’s COVID-related deaths have occurred among residents of long-term care facilities.
Weaver, who is leading the state’s vaccine planning and distribution effort, said Indiana will open the vaccine to additional groups as more shipments are received. She encouraged Hoosiers to begin preparing for when vaccine is widely available.
“Science has proven that vaccines are safe and effective at preventing disease, and I encourage Hoosiers to begin learning about the COVID-19 vaccine now so they are ready to protect themselves, their families and their communities as soon as the vaccine is available to them,†Weaver said.
Photos of healthcare workers receiving the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine at Parkview can be accessed at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/elcf62l2kr8tbtc/AACBakfwFi5SI_izZ6fJnn_Ra?dl=0.
 Daily ScripturesÂ
MONDAYÂ
“I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.†Isaiah 43:21 NLTÂ
TUESDAYÂ
“But, dear family of Jacob, you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me, O Israel!†Isaiah 43:22 NLTÂ
WEDNESDAYÂ
“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.†Isaiah 43:25 NLTÂ
THURSDAYÂ
“You have not brought me fragrant calamus or pleased me with the fat from sacrifices. Instead, you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your faults.†Isaiah 43:24 NLTÂ
FRIDAYÂ
“The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert. Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed.†Isaiah 43:20 NLTÂ
SATURDAYÂ
“You have not brought me sheep or goats for burnt offerings. You have not honored me with sacrifices, though I have not burdened and wearied you with requests for grain offerings and frankincense.†Isaiah 43:23 NLTÂ
SUNDAYÂ
“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.†Isaiah 43:18-19 NLTÂ
Submitted to the City-County Observer by Karen SeltzerÂ
City Council Meeting Agenda For December 14, 2020
DECEMBER 14, 2020
at 5:30 P.M. Civic CenterÂ
AGENDA
| I. | INTRODUCTION |
12-14-2020 Agenda Attachment:
| II. | APPROVAL OF MEETING MEMORANDUM |
| III. | REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS |
| IV. | SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY |
| V. | CONSENT AGENDA:Â FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS |
A. ORDINANCE F-2021-01 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Additional Appropriations of Funds Within the Department of Metropolitan Development Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Beane Discussion Date: 1/11/2021 Notify: Kelley Coures, DMD F-2021-01 Attachment:
| VI. | COMMITTEE REPORTS |
| VII. | REGULAR AGENDA:Â SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS |
A. ORDINANCE G-2020-16 An Ordinance Granting A Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the Operation of Taxicabs for the Year 2021 (Dave’s Taxi Service) Sponsor(s): Trockman Discussion Led By: ASD Chair Trockman Discussion Date: 12/14/2020 Notify: David Goldblatt, Dave’s Taxi Service G-2020-16 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE G-2020-17 An Ordinance Granting A Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the Operation of Taxicabs for the Year 2021 (JP Taxi LLC) Sponsor(s): Trockman, Weaver Discussion Led By: ASD Chair Trockman Discussion Date: 12/14/2020 Notify: Jeff Pierce, JP Taxi LLC G-2020-17 Attachment:
C. ORDINANCE G-2020-18 An Ordinance Granting A Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the Operation of Taxicabs for the Year 2021 (Yellow Checker Cab Company) Sponsor(s): Trockman Discussion Led By: ASD Chair Trockman Discussion Date: 12/14/2020 Notify: Heather Williams, Yellow Checker Cab Company G-2020-18 Attachment:
D. ORDINANCE G-2020-19 Amended An Ordinance to Amend and Restate Chapter 16.10 of the Evansville Municipal Code (Flood Management) Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: Public Works Chair Brinkmeyer Discussion Date: 12/14/2020 Notify: Marco DeLucio, ZSWS G-2020-19 Amended Attachment:
E. ORDINANCE R-2020-28 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 16 W Michigan Street Petitioner: Ashley Birkla Owner: Ashley Birkla Requested Change: M2 to R2 Ward: 3 Heronemus Representative: Ashley Birkla R-2020-28 Attachment:
F. ORDINANCE R-2020-29 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 5201 Kratzville Rd. Petitioner: Robert Duffy Owner: Betty J Hammer Requested Change: R1 to C1 Ward: 5 Elpers Representative: Robert Duffy R-2020-29 Attachment:
| VIII. | RESOLUTION DOCKET |
| IX. | MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS |
A. THE NEXT MEETING of the Common Council will be Monday, January 11, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.
B. BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
C. ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
| X. | COMMITTEE REPORTS |
| XI. | ADJOURNMENT |
LETTER TO THE CCO EDITOR: TERMINATIONS OF FACULTY AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS WILL BE HARMFUL TO U OF E
TERMINATION OF FACULTY AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS WILL BE HARMFUL TO U OF E
President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz recently met with the faculty of the University of Evansville via a Zoom webinar to announce the termination of thirty-eight faculty and seventeen academic programs and majors. The plan wipes out three entire departments –Music, Philosophy and Religion, and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science – and all their associated majors. Additionally, the President has proposed the deletion of majors in History, Art History, Political Science, Physics, and Spanish.
These losses will severely limit the ability of faculty, staff, and administrators to carry out the core mission of the University of Evansville: “to promote the general interests of education and to qualify men and women to engage in the employments and professions of society.†All the employees of the university have worked heroically this semester to provide students with an education worthy of them during a pandemic that has disrupted all our lives. However, should the proposed plan go through, the remaining faculty, staff, and administrators will face an atmosphere of fear, worry, and despair that will make it extremely difficult for them to continue to offer the outstanding educational experiences for which the university is known.
The President’s plan will limit the ability of our students to explore new realms of knowledge and to encounter life-changing ideas. This applies not just to the students enrolled in the majors that are to be eliminated, but to all the students at the university. This is because the cuts will weaken the general education program that provides an enduring foundation from which students build their own unique lives of inquiry. The contraction of the general education program will serve to lower the value of a degree from the University of Evansville. It is because our students are both experts in their fields and well-rounded scholars that they are so successful on leaving the university.
The proposed cuts will also weaken the university’s ties with the greater Evansville community. Most obviously, the deletion of the Music programs will severely impact the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. Lecture series and community programming are now both under threat. The enrichment that the university adds to Evansville’s cultural and intellectual life will be diminished and felt across the entire region.
The President notes that his plan intends to help adjust financial concerns stemming from reduced enrollment, but fails to recognize that last year’s cuts led to the smallest class of freshmen since 1945. Further losses in programs and majors will only serve to undermine the institutional integrity of the University of Evansville. Rather than strengthen enrollment, students may actually depart the university as a result of program closures.
Over the course of the past year, the faculty of the University of Evansville have worked to restore the university’s shared governance system. They have done so to allow the faculty to participate in decision-making processes and so prevent the President and his team from unilateral actions. The principles of shared governance were established over 100 years ago under the auspices of the American Association of University Professors and are a core part of the University of Evansville’s governance structure. The Faculty’s role within that structure is clearly stated in the university’s Faculty Manual: “Faculty, acting with the President, determine all matters of educational policy with respect to academic programs including degree requirements, honorary degrees, curriculum changes, academic standards.†Determination is not a discussion. Determination is voting. This is why the Faculty Senate has a Curriculum Committee that votes on changes to academic programs and then submits approved changes to the Senate for its approval. The point must be stated clearly: the implementation of any plan proposing changes to academic programs that has not been approved by the faculty is necessarily a breach of the university’s shared governance structure.
In sum, the President’s plan promises to weaken the academic strength of the university, to violate the university’s shared governance structure, and to frighten off potential students. We must work together to create a better path forward for the university we all love.
SIGNED,
Davies Bellamy, Professor of Education, President UE AAUP
Joyce Stamm, Professor of Biology, Vice-President UE AAUP
Daniel Byrne, Associate Professor of History, Secretary-Treasurer UE AAUP
FOOTNOTE; THIS LETTER WAS POSTED BY THE CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER WITHOUT OPINION, BAIS, OR EDITING.
The Family Foundation Files Response With The Kentucky Supreme Court Concerning Historical Racing Slots
The Family Foundation Files Response To KHRC And TracksÂ
December 1, 20220
LEXINGTON, KY – The Family Foundation filed a response with the Kentucky Supreme Court on Friday in its 10-year-long court case arguing against the request of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and several of the state’s race tracks for a rehearing of the historical racing case, in which the Court ruled 7-0 that the most widely-used historical racing system was not parimutuel.
“The Commission and the tracks were given ten years to make their case that historical racing machines were parimutuel. And now they want more time?†asked Martin Cothran, spokesmen for the group. “At first, they were allowed to make their case without even having to present evidence or answer important questions about historical racing machines. Then they were given additional several years to prove the legality of the machines. They were given every break possible by the courts, and now they are arguing for more time.
“Despite all this favorable treatment, they now claim they were treated unfairly and denied due process by Kentucky’s Highest Court.â€
The Foundation also criticized the favorable treatment illegal gambling parlors are receiving from the Beshear administration. “Schools, where children are monitored all day for proper mask use and social distancing, are being forced to close while historical racing parlors like Derby City Gaming, which are using demonstrably illegal gambling devices, continue to operate freely, †said Cothran.
“This is the kind of political distortion that happens when you give wealthy and politically influential casino interest a key to your state.â€
###
Ace Up Their Sleeves: A Look Back At Evansville’s Iconic Basketball Jerseys
Ace Up Their Sleeves: A Look Back At Evansville’s Iconic Basketball Jerseys
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Harry Lyles Jr.ESPN Staff WriterDECEMBER 11, 2020
When Jim Crews became the head coach at West Point in 2002, he met George W. Bush at the commencement, where Bush was the speaker. Crews introduced himself, mentioning he had just arrived from Evansville, Indiana. Bush turned to the first lady and said, “Hey Laura, this guy used to coach the team that wore the sleeves.”
Scott Shreffler recalls this story, having played for Crews at Evansville from 1988 through 1993. Evansville is credited with being the first to introduce sleeved jerseys in 1947 under legendary head coach Arad McCutchan, who suggested his team wear sleeves upon his arrival.
“I feel that is what most players wear in practice and, therefore, what they are most comfortable in,” he said. “It’s also more flattering to the thin ballplayer.”
Evansville wore them until his retirement in 1977.
When Crews was hired in 1986, he brought them back to honor the man they called “Mac,” and the team wore them until Crews’ tenure ended in 2002. The sleeves were something by which people nationally could identify the program and city.
At Evansville, the sleeves are more than just extra fabric on the jersey. The Aces were a small college basketball powerhouse, winning five national championships between 1959 and 1971 under McCutchan.
Back in their heyday, the Aces weren’t known just for their sleeved uniforms — white and purple at home, orange on the road — they also wore colorful robes on the bench instead of pants to keep warm, and then there were McCutchan’s red socks. The fans also wore red because of McCutchan.
Larry Humes, one of the best players in program history — alongside Jerry Sloan, who played from 1963 to 1965 — said, “When we got way ahead, he’d cross his legs and pull up his pants to show off his red socks.”
The undefeated national champion 1965 Aces are one of the best college basketball teams of that era at any level, and Humes isn’t shy about it. “We could have beat anybody in the country that year,” he says. “We played Iowa, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Purdue, LSU, Southern Illinois with Walt Frazier, Kentucky Wesleyan, North Dakota with Phil Jackson, before we played in our regular conference games.”
The sleeves represent the best times — times that people in Evansville have been trying to recapture for decades now. And even though Evansville hasn’t been able to do that since McCutchan’s retirement and the devastating plane crash of 1977, there’s still an immense pride in what was accomplished.
Shreffler returned to UE after his playing days as an administrative assistant under Crews in 1997. One day, Crews arrived at the Carson Center on UE’s campus and told Shreffler, “I want you to do something about the sleeves.” Shreffler asked him what he meant. Crews told him, “We gotta honor them some way. Write a poem, do something. Just come up with something and let me know.”
TODAY’S EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION
MEETING AGENDA
Monday, December 14, 2020  At 4:00 p.m. in Room 307, Civic Center Complex
- EXECUTIVE SESSION:
- An executive session and a closed hearing will be held prior to the open session.
- The executive session and hearing are closed as provided by:
- I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(5): To receive information about and interview prospective employees.
- I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(6)(A): With respect to any individual over whom the governing body has jurisdiction to receive information concerning the individual’s alleged misconduct.
- I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(9): To discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employees. This subdivision does not apply to a discussion of the salary, compensation, or benefits of employees during a budget process.
- OPEN SESSION:
- CALL TO ORDER
- ACKNOWLEDGE GUESTS
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
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- November 9, 2020Â (Cook, Scott, and Hamilton)
- APPROVAL OF CLAIMS
- PROBATIONARY OFFICER UPDATE:
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- Officers in the Field Training Program. Final interviews for Officers Narek Aghasaryan, Taz Cassidy, Kyle Dennis, Allison Farmer, Tyler Maier, Cole Miles, Sara Trembczynski, and Jordan Turnock.
- Officers in SWILEA.
- PENDING DISCIPLINARY MATTERS:
- 20-PO-11 – Corporal Tony Mayhew, Badge Number 773, 21-day suspension. Appeal filed and hearing moved to December 14th.Â
- 20-PO-12 – Officer Jarid Harris, Badge Number 1306, 21-day suspension. Amended order 20-PO-12A presented to the Commission for consideration.
- APPLICANTS:
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- 21-102
- 21-075
- 21-146
- 21-079
- 21-104
- 21-097
- 21-109
- PROMOTIONAL PROCESS:
-
- Approval of written testing date accommodations for Sergeant Candidates 4828 and 1076. Tabled from the October 26th meeting.
- Certification is of the 2020 Sergeant’s promotional list of 22 candidates effective November 16, 2020 to November 15, 2022.
- MERIT AWARD RECOMMENDATION:
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- Officer Ryan Eagleson – for actions taken on October 6, 2020 regarding life-saving measures on a gunshot victim.
- RETIREMENTS:
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- Lieutenant Monty Guenin, Badge Number 0469, retiring effective January 19, 2021 after serving 26 years, 4 months, and 12 days.
- Officer Jeff Vantlin, Badge Number 1170, retiring effective January 20, 2021 after serving 26 years and 16 days.
- REMINDERS: The meeting scheduled for Monday, December 28, 2020 is canceled. The next meeting will be Monday, January 11th at 4:00pm.
- ADJOURNMENT
IU Freshmen Reflect On Their FIirst Semester In College During The COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic swiftly rearranged society and much like everything else, the 2020-21 school year has also been affected. People have been uprooted from school and work and everyone has had to adapt to the virtual world. When schools all over America shut down in March, people hoped the following school year could be salvaged.
Students line up for their off-campus housing COVID-19 tests Aug. 18 in the IU Tennis Center.
Along with schools across the nation, and the world, IU created new rules and systems due to the pandemic. This school year is different for everyone, but it has had an impact on the freshmen class.
For freshman Maddie Tyler, her first year at IU was not typical. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a foot injury, the ballet major decided to attend her first college semester from her home in New York as opposed to on campus.
Zoom classes have been a struggle for many, but being a ballet major over Zoom presented some unique challenges. Dancers had to find their own spaces to dance. Along with this, limited space means limited movement.
While this problem of limited movement and keeping one’s body in the camera frame has been a challenge for both dancers and instructors, Tyler did look on the bright side, saying these made dancers hold themselves more accountable.
Freshmen have also missed out on what it means to be part of the Hoosier community.
“Joining as a freshman has been interesting because we haven’t gotten a full chance to feel what the actual ballet community is like because we’re joining in such an odd period of time,†Tyler said. “I have heard from the upperclassmen that it’s usually a very warm and welcoming community, and everyone is very friendly and it’s very close-knit.â€
Freshmen in dorms got a little more community than those who stayed home. IU freshman Emily Garcia said her dorm community was the best thing about this semester.
“I think the best thing is it forced a few of us on our floor to actually talk and we all became really good friends,†Garcia said. “I feel like if it wasn’t for COVID, we’d always be like go, go, go, and we wouldn’t get to talk to each other that much.â€
Despite this, freshmen said they miss the sense of community overall, like being able to meet people in classes and around the campus.
“I expected to have more interaction with people,†Garcia said. “I definitely expected to find a friend group but it was a lot harder with COVID and I only made friends with people on my floor. It was hard to interact with people that were not on my floor.â€
Salai Aung, a freshman in informatics, said he feels the same way as Garcia.
“I wanted to really experience that college life that everyone is so excited about. And I feel like I didn’t really get that experience,†Aung said.
Aung’s plans to complete the next semester off-campus in Indianapolis.
“Next semester might be better but because it’s all online classes I’ve decided to stay home. I canceled my housing contract because I feel like there’s no different than staying on campus than staying at home.†Aung said.
For a lot of freshmen, spending any time on campus in Bloomington is impossible. For freshman Nathan Boynick, who lives in Germany, the divide is greater than most.
“Well, you definitely do feel separated because generally I’m awake when you guys are still asleep in the morning, and the moment you guys get up in the afternoon for school I go to bed so there’s definitely a lot of separation there,†Boynick said
The pandemic has also made it harder for students to connect with each other.
“I’d say I really don’t have very much contact with people in Bloomington,†Bolnick said. “I’ve never really had the chance to talk to anyone in person like this, except for the computer science homework.â€
IU has done a pretty good job so far, said Garcia. While Garcia did not use CAPS this semester, the service was very made accessible to her and other students.
“I don’t think they could have done anything differently,†Garcia said. “I’ve thought about using CAPS a couple of times but didn’t end up doing it.â€
The general feeling among students is that IU did all it could to provide the freshman class with some normalcy.
“They are much more understanding with how much everyone has to deal with,†Tyler said. “I think that they are really trying their best, I mean it’s really hard to make it fit for everybody when life is so crazy right now.â€