This view of West Franklin Street was recorded in January of 1921, but much of it is still recognizable nearly a century later. At the far right is the two-story limestone-faced West Side Bank building, which still functions as a bank since its construction in 1906.
A block down the street, nearly obscured by the mist, is an imposing three-story brick structure built in 1890. It originally opened as Rosenberger’s wholesale grocery, and then was occupied by the Heldt & Voelker hardware store in the mid-1920s. (It now houses a restaurant.)
West Franklin Street is the main east-west route through an area west of Pigeon Creek once called Independence, which was largely settled by German immigrants and incorporated into Evansville in 1870. Historically, this section of the street has been unusually wide, more than sufficient to accommodate the horse-drawn buggies, automobiles, and the distant streetcar pictured here.
“Today I had the pleasure of meeting with Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Judge Barrett is a consummately qualified jurist who has proven on and off the bench that she has the decency, the intellectual rigor, and the fundamental respect for our country and its Constitution to serve honorably on the Supreme Court.
“Amy Coney Barrett’s sterling record as a Constitutional originalist demonstrates that she will be a phenomenal Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and I believe her reputation as an educator and a model for decency and citizenship will make Americans proud to have her on the highest court for many years to come.
“I fully support Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination and will vote to confirm her without hesitation.” – Senator Mike Braun
Theatre majors Eve Pigman ’23 and Kyle Burgess ’21 were preparing to return to campus for rehearsals of the department’s spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors when USI announced Spring Break would be extended because of COVID-19. “I was like, ‘What does that mean for our show? Are our rehearsals going to be extended?’†Pigman recalled.
Uncertainty turned to heartbreak as they learned their production and the all-female, student-directed show Eclipsed, just days from opening, would not see the stage.
“It was gone like that,†said Pigman. “We just got an email, and it was gone.â€
“I cried for two hours. I was devastated,†added Burgess. “It was the same day Broadway announced that they were on shutdown for COVID, and that devastated me as well because that’s kind of like my dream, to go to Broadway and audition.â€
“To add to the difficulty of it, we weren’t really there to hug them and tell them it was OK,†explained Eric Altheide, Associate Professor of Theatre.
“It was the right choice, but that came with a very steep cost,†said Burgess. “We were all hurt.â€
Which is why he and Pigman were hesitant to get their hopes up this fall. Though they longed to return to the Performance Center, with universities canceling productions for the semester—and, in some cases, the entire year—they knew more disappointment was possible.
Providing a “light”
While they waited for a decision, Altheide and Elliot Wasserman, Chair of USI’s Theatre Department, got creative.
“We tried to figure out different approaches,†Wasserman said. “I tried to brainstorm plays where actors in masks could fit within the metaphor of the show, the concept of the show.â€
They even considered adding masks to productions without an obvious connection. “Theatre reflects life, and this is the way we live now,†added Wasserman. “But that is not a very satisfying theatrical formula for every show.â€
After much consideration, and with support from Dr. James Beeby, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and Dr. Mohammed Khayum, Provost, the directors ultimately moved forward with two productions, replacing the shows they’d selected before the pandemic with options that more easily cater to the current restrictions—Songs for a New World and It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play.
Both Burgess and Pigman, who’d been understudies in Little Shop of Horrors, eagerly auditioned for Songs for a New World, a musical medley or “song cycle†with just four acting roles; the radio play has six. “When the cast list came out [and I learned I would be in the production], I was just elated,†recalled Burgess. “I was in my kitchen eating lunch, and I jumped up and down like a kid on Christmas.â€
Pigman learned of her casting alongside her roommate, who is also her understudy; they’re enjoying the “light†theatre is providing at the end of a tunnel darkened by COVID-19. “I think they [Wasserman and Altheide] knew that it would help our mental health to be able to be part of a show, because not having anything, I think, would make it feel very bleak,†said Pigman.
INDIANAPOLIS – Five words crystalized Tuesday’s presidential debate.
“Will you shut up, man?â€
John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com
The Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, spoke them early on as President Donald Trump tried to run roughshod over him, moderator Chris Wallace, the debate rules and, frankly, the American people.
The debate was a disgrace – an embarrassment for a proud nation and a proud people.
The fact that the reason it was such a disaster is that the president of the United States – our commander-in-chief and the leader of the free world – couldn’t summon levels of dignity and self-control we would expect from 5-year-olds only adds to the disgrace. The man – I use the term loosely – was shameful and he was shameful on our dime and with our authority.
I’ve been a close observer of politics for 40 years now. I know what the president’s goal was going into the debate.
He wanted not to make a case for himself but to discredit his opponent as a reasonable alternative. If Trump could scare independents and moderate Republicans who have been disturbed and, yes, disgusted by his conduct in office into thinking Biden posed a threat to them, he might have a chance of clawing his way back into this race.
It’s an old political strategy, but never has it been executed with such naked desperation and panic.
The president flailed all night long. When he wasn’t spewing falsehoods, he was refusing to condemn white supremacists – and, in fact, telling them to “stand by.†When he wasn’t seeking to divide the nation, he was denying that he had any obligation to honor the results of the election – that is, to abide by the will of the people in a free and self-governing country.
In doing so, he abased himself, he dishonored his office and he insulted the American people.
Biden didn’t have a great night, but he didn’t have to, given that Trump was all but self-destructing in front of his and the nation’s eyes. The former vice president stuttered and stammered a bit – not surprising, given that he’s battled a stutter all his life – but he stood his ground. In fact, he grew stronger as the night went on.
Time and again, he tried to pivot and talk directly to the American people about their lives, their needs and their hopes.
Every time Biden did so, Trump began to chirp and then screech interruptions, because he recognized the threat such direct communication posed to his re-election. If Joe Biden turns this campaign into a referendum on how well Donald Trump has served Americans and their interests, the president’s chances will disappear like snow under a July sun.
Biden’s worst and best moments were products of the same impulse.
The worst moment came when he ducked Wallace’s question about whether he would support increasing the size of the U.S. Supreme Court or ending the filibuster in the Senate. Biden said he wouldn’t answer the question because he wanted to hear the American people speak.
The best moment came at the end.
Biden said, if elected, he wanted to be president of not just Democrats but Republicans, too. He spoke straight to the longing felt by millions of Americans to live in a country where we don’t have to be angry all the time.
One where we’re not encouraged by our president to hate our neighbors and fellow citizens.
That’s not Donald Trump’s dream for America. He hungers for chaos and thrives on division. There is no standard of decency or institutional safeguard he feels duty-bound to honor or protect.
He demonstrated that and so much more Tuesday night.
There are supposed to be two more presidential debates before the Nov. 3 election. In normal times, I would be tempted to say that the next ones couldn’t possibly be worse or more embarrassing than what we saw in the first one.
But these are not normal times.
This is life in Donald Trump’s America.
And this man – this president – has no bottom.
FOOTNOTE: John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
The City-County Observer posted this article without editing, bias, or opinion.
INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Eric J. Holcomb today signed Executive Order 20-45 to extend the temporary licensing of health care workers who do not currently hold an active license.
The following workers will be permitted to practice for an additional 90 days:
medical professionals who retired or became inactive in the last five years
medical professionals who hold licenses in other states
certain medical students and graduates
These professionals must register with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency via their website atwww.in.gov/pla. They will be able to assist in screenings, telemedicine and other basic procedures to allow regularly licensed medical professionals to be on the frontline.
In an effort to recruit poll workers for Indiana’s upcoming general election, the executive order also ensures election workers are able to collect their stipend without reducing their unemployment benefits.
Attorney General Curtis Hill today expressed support for the national “Safety Pledge†initiative, a joint effort of the White House and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to protect children online.
The pressing need to monitor children’s use of technology has become more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, Attorney General Hill noted.
“Because of the increased amount of time children are spending on the internet during 2020, they are more susceptible than ever to becoming victims of online exploitation,†Attorney General Hill said. “We need parents, guardians, caregivers, educators and all others to be part of this important effort to keep children safe.â€
This week, NCMEC formally launched the Safety Pledge online. At www.safetypledge.org, individuals can find practical toolkits about internet safety. They also can digitally sign the Safety Pledge, promising to help safeguard children in their lives by:
being a good digital role model;
checking in regularly about children’s online wellbeing;
being open and available to questions about online life;
actively checking age-appropriate safety settings on devices; and
learning more about online exploitation and how to prevent it.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr said there never has been a more critical time to take steps to protect children online.
“The advancement of technology has provided us many ways to stay connected and learn remotely, including smartphones, social media, gaming platforms, live streaming and webcams,†Barr said. “Unfortunately, the same technology that connects us with family and friends also provides predators with a pathway back into our homes and can be used by strangers to target, groom and sexually exploit our children.â€
Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company will pay a record-setting $2.7 million penalty
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice announced a settlement with the Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company LLC, d/b/a Fair Grounds Corporation (Fair Grounds) that will resolve years of Clean Water Act (CWA) violations at its New Orleans racetrack. Under the settlement, Fair Grounds will eliminate unauthorized discharges of manure, urine and process wastewater through operational changes and construction projects at an estimated cost of $5,600,000. The company also will pay a civil penalty of $2,790,000, the largest ever paid by a concentrated animal feeding operation in a CWA matter.
“This consent decree will halt discharges of manure, urine, and contaminated wastewater from the Fair Grounds racetrack into the London Avenue Canal, which flows into Lake Pontchartrain,†said Susan Bodine, EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “As a result, we are protecting opportunities by the community to use these waters for fishing and other recreational activities.â€
“We are pleased to announce an agreement with Churchill Downs to address years of Clean Water Act violations at its Fair Grounds Racetrack in New Orleans,†said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Brightbill of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This consent decree will stop the flow of untreated process wastewater into the local sewer system, which leads to local waters used for fishing and ultimately Lake Pontchartrain, in a way that recognizes the challenges presented by the racetrack’s urban location.â€
“Safeguarding the environment is one of the highest priorities for the Department of Justice,â€Â said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA), Peter G. Strasser. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, EDLA is committed to continue working with its Federal partners to investigate and hold entities accountable when they neglect their professional and legal obligations and threaten the environment, which places the public and the ecosystem in Southeastern Louisiana at risk.â€
The United States’ complaint alleges that Fair Grounds violated the Clean Water Act, including the terms and conditions of its Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (LPDES) permit issued pursuant to Section 402 of the CWA. Specifically, the complaint alleges that, since at least 2012, Fair Grounds has regularly discharged untreated process wastewater into the New Orleans municipal separate storm sewer system, leading to the London Avenue Canal, Lake Pontchartrain, the Mississippi River, and ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico. Fair Grounds’ permit prohibits any discharge unless there is a significant rain event (i.e., when 10 inches of rain falls in 24 hours).
In violation of their permit, Fair Grounds has discharged wastewater after as little as a half-inch of rain, as well as in dry weather. The complaint alleges that unauthorized discharges of contaminated wastewater occurred more than 250 times between 2012 and 2018. The untreated wastewater contains manure, urine, horse wash water, and other biological materials that are “pollutants†as defined by the CWA, the facility’s permit, and the applicable EPA and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) regulations.
Fair Grounds is a horse racing facility located in New Orleans, La. and is surrounded by residential neighborhoods that are considered environmental justice communities. The London Avenue Canal flows through neighborhoods that have been designated as opportunity zones.
The Fair Grounds’ New Orleans racetrack is a large CAFO, and during a typical horse racing season, Fair Grounds stables as many as 1,800 horses or more at one time. The facility includes a 38.8-acre production area that includes stables, horse stall barns and receiving barns, horse wash racks, horse walkways, manure storage areas, and storage areas for raw materials. The facility also includes a one-mile dirt racetrack and a 7/8-mile turf racetrack, the infield area, the grandstand, the casino, and associated parking areas.
As part of the settlement, Fair Grounds will implement best management practices and construction projects designed to eliminate unauthorized discharges and ensure compliance with its permit and the CWA. Fair Grounds will also perform site-specific sampling, monitoring and hydraulic modeling to help the company and EPA determine whether the remedial actions required by the consent decree are successful in eliminating unauthorized discharges. Furthermore, the consent decree includes a provision requiring Fair Grounds to implement additional remedial measures if these measures do not successfully eliminate unauthorized discharges.
Alfonso Vidal is a local business leader and Latino advocate who continues to drive his influence and leadership now at a state level. Â
Alfonso Vidal arrived in Evansville in 1997 from Caracas, Venezuela, having to leave the country after being kidnapped by Colombian guerrillas FARC. Vidal never imagined that one day the circumstances of this event would force him to leave his family, friends, and the happy life that he had. After a year in Evansville, he married his longtime girlfriend, Daniela, a Chemical Engineer whom he met while attending college in Venezuela. Later he completed his engineering degree at the University of Evansville (UE) and she an MBA at the University of Southern Indiana (USI). Together, they have three Hoosier-born children: Alfonso Enrique 21, Isabella 19 and Martin Eduardo 14. After graduating from UE, Vidal finished a Master’s Degree in Industrial Management from USI.
After arriving in Evansville, the situation in Venezuela deteriorated rapidly with the election of Hugo Chavez and the introduction of Chavez’s brand of socialism. Early in the transition of government and foreseeing the Venezuelan current economic, political and societal disaster, Alfonso and Daniela decided to stay in Evansville long term. They decided to build a new life, family, and friends while becoming vested in this community they now call home, just like their ancestors had done in Venezuela. Â
After working for 11 years for Omni Plastics, in 2013 Alfonso decided to follow his strong entrepreneurial drive and dedicate full time to his own business. Vidal Plastics LLC is a custom compounder of engineered resins that produce plastic raw materials for the injection molding industry. The business is minority-owned and ISO 9001 certified, allowing the company to supply the automotive industry. This decision was tough and the road has not been easy, however, he is grateful for all the opportunities that have been presented to him, as an educational program for advanced management at Kellogg School of Management.Â
The business continues to grow, as this year he has installed a second compounding production line. The first production line was started after a recycling grant by the state of Indiana was awarded to purchase the equipment. In addition, his wife, Daniela, joined him to strengthening the management team’ until she was appointed Chancellor of Ivy Tech-Evansville earlier this year.
Alfonso and his wife Daniela are no strangers to working together. In 2002 they were both founding members of HOLA, a group created to assist the growing Latino population in Evansville. The HOLA group organizes a Latino food and music festival at Bosse Field each year and is attended by well over 8,000 people. The couple is also very involved in the Catholic Church, working together to start the Cursillo movement in Spanish, now in its 3rd year.Â
In addition, during his 24 years in this community, Alfonso has dedicated a significant amount of his time and energy to providing community leadership through his involvement in a number of boards. Most notably as chair of Growth Alliance, where he oversaw the creation of a new strategic plan, improved revenue and overall financial bottom line, hiring of new President, Ellen Horan, and the expansion of the Board of Directors with key community partners. He was also part of the Southwest Chamber of Commerce Board for over 11 years, the Leadership Evansville Board, Mayor’s Weinzapfel Education Roundtable, and Latino Advisory Board, among others. This leadership and involvement led him to receive an honorary degree from Ivy Tech for Community Outreach and a Jefferson Award. In addition, he is a board member of the State Chamber of Commerce.
His ability to provide bold leadership and initiative did not go unnoticed at the State level. In 2007 he was appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels to the Indiana Commission for Latino and Hispanic Affairs (ICHLA), which he then chaired. He also joined the Board for the Indiana Latino Institute in 2010, and still currently serving and the Indiana Latino Expo in 2011, where he became President of the Board.
In 2011 Governor Mike Pence appointed Alfonso to the Indiana Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises Commission, where he continues to serve. Vidal and others in the commission are leading an effort to enhance the understanding and purchasing policies of the higher education institutions. Many opportunities were identified to improve the sourcing prospects and participation of minority and women-owned businesses within these institutions.
In 2016, he was asked to be part of Governor-Elect Holcomb’s Transition team, as co-chair of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles agency review. And in 2017, Alfonso was appointed as Commissioner for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and recently served out his term earlier this year.
In addition, Alfonso has been very involved in the Republican party, both at the local and state level. In 2014 and 2018, he was part of the state party platform committee, where he introduced language in support of immigration reform that would be a source of economic growth for the state. In 2016 he was an alternate delegate at the Republican National Convention, where the Trump-Pence ticket was nominated.
Alfonso’s leadership over these last 24 years has blazed trails for Latinos in Southern Indiana and now the state. From creating the first bridges between the Latino community and the existing organizations in Evansville to now pushing forth new statewide initiatives. An example of these initiatives is the program Padres Estrellas through the Indiana Higher Ed Commission. This program is designed to utilize 5 organizations across the state to locally reach Latino/Hispanic families. These organizations would use their local networks to coach these families in the scholarships available for their children that are not being used at the moment. This example of bringing together current available statewide resources with the new Latino families has been Alfonso’s philosophy for the past 23 years.Â
Together with his wife Daniela, Alfonso continues to enhance the Hoosier society. Earlier this year, as part of the Latino Chamber Alliance, they are helping facilitate a process to align legislative agenda issues among Latino chambers and organizations across the state. A combined agenda is expected to be presented to legislators later this year. He has a passion for bringing people together to enhance the state that welcomed him and his family almost 23 years ago and gave him a place to call home.Â
