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ADOPT A PET

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Jasmine is a 2-yearr-old female albino American rabbit mix. Her caregivers at VHS describe her as curious and friendly! Her adoption fee is $50 and includes her spay & microchip. Call/email VHS or apply online at www.vhslifesaver.org/adopt to inquire! (*photo name is Hopper*)

 

Law Enforcement Preparing for Students Returning to School

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The Sheriff’s Office and Evansville Police Department will be stepping up traffic enforcement around area schools and bus routes to help make sure this school year gets off to a safe start. All Vanderburgh County schools will be back in session for the 2020-2021 school year on Wednesday, August 19, 2020.

Once again local law enforcement has partnered with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) to help combat school bus stop arm violations. The SAVE program, which stands for Stop Arm Violation Enforcement, is designed to protect transportation routes to and from school by increasing enforcement of Indiana’s school bus stop arm laws.

Last year Indiana increased the penalty for recklessly disregarding a school bus stop arm from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Class A Misdemeanor. The offense becomes a Level 6 Felony if a child or other person is injured as a result.

According to ICJI, in 2019, thousands of bus drivers in Indiana participated in an annual survey and reported more than 2,500 stop-arm violations in a single day. Taking that one-day total as an average, that means an estimated 450,000 violations could have occurred during the 2019 school year.

Beginning on August 19, deputies and officers will be following school buses in both marked and unmarked vehicles looking for violations of Indiana’s school bus stop arm laws. Drivers who fail to pay attention and stop for a school bus stop arm will be cited for Disregarding a School Bus Stop Arm as a Class A Infraction. Drivers who intentionally drive around a stopped school bus with an extended stop arm face a more severe penalty and may be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor.

The beginning of school will result in a large number of buses on the road, children getting on and off those buses, new bus stop locations, new bus routes, congestion in and around the schools, new student drivers and many other factors to be aware of as our kids return to the classroom.

Sheriff Wedding explained, “We take the safety of every child very seriously. Stop-arm violations and dangerous driving in school zones put precious lives at risk. Our deputies will be patrolling all of our county school zones and watching for unsafe driving behavior.”

At some school locations, sheriff’s deputies will be assisting school personnel with traffic direction in and out of the school parking lots and drop off zones. The Vanderburgh County Highway Department has placed large school zone warning signs near schools to help warn drivers.

Resurrection Catholic School, Corpus Christi School and St. Joseph School are already in session. Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation schools begin on Wednesday, August 19, 2020.

Tips for back to school safety:

  • Make sure your student is wearing a properly fitted mask so that their vision is not obstructed while entering and exiting the bus.
  • If bus service is available, please utilize it.
  • Please take pictures of your new student before you get to the school. Do not park in the drop-off zones of any of the schools to take your child into class.
  • Utilize the proper restraint systems in your vehicle.
  • Keep your speed to a minimum and pay extra attention in and around school zones and near school bus loading areas.
  • When a school bus stops and a red stop arm or flashing red lights appear, children are boarding or exiting the bus. Be on the lookout for children crossing the street even after the bus has moved on.
  • Please, no cell phone use in the school zones while operating a vehicle and no texting at any time while operating a vehicle.
  • Encourage children getting on and off school buses to be very mindful of surrounding traffic, because the traffic may not be watching for them.
  • Give yourself plenty of time. Do not let the frustration of running late compromise the good driving decisions you make.
  • Please call 911 to report dangerous driving situations.
  • PICTURED ABOVE: Graphic depicting proper motorist actions when approaching a stopped school bus with deployed stop arm.

    ABOUT THE SAVE PROGRAM

    Launched in 2019, the Stop Arm Violation Enforcement (SAVE) program works to provide safe transportation routes for students going to and from school in Indiana. Grants are awarded to law enforcement agencies to conduct high visibility patrols along school bus stops and routes, which are identified by coordinating with local school corporations, bus drivers and other key officials. SAVE is funded by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Enforcement Campaign

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Troopers from the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post will be participating in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization. Now through Labor Day, troopers will be conducting overtime patrols, seeking out drunk drivers and showing zero tolerance for anyone driving impaired.

These patrols are supported with funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

According to ICJI, in 2018, there were just under 4,000 alcohol-impaired collisions in Indiana, resulting in 83 fatalities. Of those, 48 collisions and one fatality occurred during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

In Indiana, it is illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. Additionally, drivers under the age of 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher are subject to fines and having their license suspended for up to one year.

“Last year, one person died every 50 minutes in a drunk-driving crash in the U.S.,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “Every one of those fatalities could’ve been prevented. Help us save lives by putting an end to this reckless behavior.”

For over 20 years, law enforcement agencies across Indiana have been participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. This year, more than 200 state and local law enforcement agencies will be taking part, joining thousands more across the country.

To avoid getting arrested, the Indiana State Police recommends planning a safe and sober ride home before consuming alcohol. Even if only one drink is consumed, designate a sober driver or plan to use a ride-share service, public transportation or taxi to get home safely. Remember, buzzed driving is drunk driving.

Additionally, don’t let someone get behind the wheel if that person has been drinking. Take their keys and help make arrangements to get them home safely. Motorists that encounter a drunk driver on the road are encouraged to call 911.

HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE

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Part-Time Front Desk Coordinator/Receptionist
Ahh Spa 5/5 rating   2 reviews  – Evansville, IN
$10 – $13 an hour
This part-time position is 15-20 hours a week. Ahh spa is a busy Day Spa in Evansville,Indiana. We are looking for a part-time front desk coordinator to answer…
Easily apply
Aug 17
Administrative Assistant / Receptionist
Anchor Industries Inc. 3.1/5 rating   39 reviews  – Evansville, IN
$13 – $15 an hour
Skill and ability to meet people and listen. 401(k) Savings Plan with company matching funds.*. Ability to work outside of and in addition to normally scheduled…
Easily apply
Aug 17
Front Desk Associate/Receptionist
Sunshine Pediatric Dentistry of Evansville – Evansville, IN
$11 – $15 an hour
Modern and growing pediatric dental practice is seeking an experienced dental front desk associate. Sunshine Pediatric Dentistry of Evansville.
Easily apply
Aug 17
Administrative Assistant / Receptionist – Full-Time
Anchor Industries 3.1/5 rating   39 reviews  – Evansville, IN
Skill and ability to meet people and listen. Ability to work outside of and in addition to normally scheduled hours as required. Ability to perform basic math.
Aug 14
Office Administrative Assistant/Receptionist
High Point Child Care Learning Center 1.5/5 rating   6 reviews  – Evansville, IN
$11 – $13 an hour
High Point Child Care Learning Center is now hiring for an Administrative Assistant/ Receptionist. This person manages the daily classroom coverage schedule,…
Easily apply
Aug 14
Weekend Receptionist
CarDon & Associates 3/5 rating   152 reviews  – Evansville, IN
It’s an environment that’s exciting, respectful and rewarding. We offer positions with amazing benefits, like weekly pay, cell phone discounts and premium…
Easily apply
Aug 14
Receptionist (PRN)
Encompass Health 3.5/5 rating   3,249 reviews  – Newburgh, IN
The Receptionist maintains internal and external communications of hospital and community through the operation of the telephone switchboard and front desk…
Aug 17
Administrative Assistant – Seton Harvest
Daughters of Charity Ministries – Evansville, IN
Julie Dietz, Seton Harvest Community Outreach Manager. Seton Harvest Board of Directors & Seton Harvest Core Group. High school graduate or the equivalent.
Easily apply
Aug 12
Front Desk
Eye-Mart 3.1/5 rating   10 reviews  – Evansville, IN
Benefits include 401K with match, paid holidays and bonus. Ability to work occasional long hours during busy times including weekends.
Aug 12
OFFICE COORDINATORS
ResCare Residential Services 3/5 rating   6,016 reviews  – Evansville, IN
Are you the super-star multitasker type, strong in administration skills? Our affiliates include Brightway Community Living and A Place To Call Home, among…
Aug 12
Receptionist (Evening hours)
Advent Veterinary Services – Evansville, IN
$7.25 – $10.00 an hour
Our hours are 7 days a week 8 am to 11 pm. Shifts are needed at all times. We are looking for a full time receptionist. We look forward to meeting you!!
Easily apply
Aug 13
Scheduling Specialist
Deaconess Health System 3.7/5 rating   471 reviews  – Evansville, IN
We are looking for compassionate, caring people to join our talented staff of health care professionals as we continue to grow to be the preferred, regional…
Aug 13
Senior Administrative Assistant, Finance and Administration/Foundation Accounting-N20033N1
University of Southern Indiana 4.3/5 rating   114 reviews  – Evansville, IN
$11.62 an hour
Monitor matching gifts in process and manage updates of matching gift files. Maintain accounts payable and financial document permanent files.
Aug 14
Medical Office Assistant
Deaconess Health System 3.7/5 rating   471 reviews  – Evansville, IN
We are looking for compassionate, caring people to join our talented staff of health care professionals as we continue to grow to be the preferred, regional…
Aug 13
Virtual Accounting/Administrative Assistant
IntelligentClicks – Virtual IP Support Company – United States
$15 an hour
Remote work available
Virtual IP Paralegal company seeking bookkeeping / accounting administrative assistant. Our remote company is seeking a part-time bookkeeper/accounting/data…
Easily apply
Aug 16
Content & Administrative Specialist
Percepture – United States
$22 – $25 an hour
Remote work available
Please describe a content marketing or content development project you’re proud of. We are looking for an experienced Content & Administrative Specialist (CAS)…
Easily apply
Aug 13
Receptionist
Therapy Brands – United States
Assist customers and their practices by managing their business phone lines and scheduling requests through efficient, friendly, and professional administrative…
Jul 31

Death Investigation

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At approximately 3 pm on August 17, 2020, Officers were dispatched to a deceased subject in the 300 block of N. Main St. Officers arrived and located a deceased male. Crime Scene Detectives were also called to the scene and they collected evidence. This is being investigated as a homicide. There are no suspects at this time. The investigation is ongoing. We ask that anyone with information in reference to this incident please contact our Adult Investigation Unit at 812-436-7979.

The Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office a and the Evansville Police Department are conducting a homicide investigation after a body was discovered near N. Main St. in Evansville. The victim has been identified as Burk Jones, age 56, of Evansville. An autopsy is scheduled for today at 13:00 Hours. Additional information can be obtained, when available, from the Evansville Police Department.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY RECENT BOOKING RECORDS

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https://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/jail-recent-booking-records.aspx

Indiana Blocks Some Charter Schools From $10 Million Coronavirus Relief Grant Program

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Indiana Blocks Some Charter Schools From $10 Million Coronavirus Relief Grant Program

Indianapolis charter schools that won grants learned that restrictions that weren’t mentioned in the initial application would prevent them from accepting the money.

CHALKBEAT
By Dylan Peers McCoy
A $10 million grant program meant to help Indiana schools grapple with the impact of the coronavirus is pitting charter and traditional public schools against each other and creating tension over how to divvy up federal aid.

The state notified several Indiana charter schools last week that they had won competitive grants to help them serve the most vulnerable students. But then the schools learned that restrictions that weren’t mentioned in the initial application would prevent them from accepting the grant.

The Indiana Department of Education is withholding federally funded coronavirus relief grants from schools that also received money through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, according to interviews with and documents shared by school leaders.

Dozens of Indiana charter schools received federal PPP funds — forgivable loans aimed at helping small businesses continue paying employees during the pandemic. Charter schools qualified for the loans because they are run by nonprofits, but traditional public school districts were not eligible.

The loans to charter schools drew outrage from some people because charter schools were still receiving public funding and some have wealthy benefactors. (Chalkbeat is also a nonprofit and received federal paycheck protection funding.)

The two funding streams have different purposes. While schools must spend the PPP money on salaries and facilities in order for the loans to be forgiven, the Indiana Department of Education grants is meant to help schools serve students and could go to other expenses, such as technology. The grants are a small slice of Indiana’s federal CARES Act allocation, which included $215 million for schools.

In a memo to schools in May, the department told schools it would prioritize applications from rural districts with limited resources; hard-hit areas; education-related organizations like juvenile correctional facilities; and schools that serve at-risk students, such as English learners and homeless students.

For Matchbook Learning at School 63, the grant seemed like a natural fit. Nearly 37% of the school’s 600 students are English language learners, and 98% come from low-income families. The school’s west side Indianapolis neighborhood has also been hit hard by the coronavirus, said Eric McGuire, director of personalization. Matchbook planned to use the grant to hire a social worker with experience in therapy to help students deal with trauma, officials said.
But after learning that the school was awarded more than $77,000, Matchbook leaders realized the school wasn’t eligible. To receive the funding, they’d need to formally state that the school had not gotten a PPP loan. Matchbook received a $753,000 PPP loan, according to CEO Amy Swann.  “This grant was specifically intended for schools and communities like ours,” McGuire said. “We’re just so frustrated and upset and devastated for our families and our kids.”
The Indiana Department of Education did not respond to several requests for comment from Chalkbeat.
This is just the latest dispute over school funding during the pandemic. As schools have incurred millions of dollars in extra costs to cope with the coronavirus, the argument over how to distribute federal assistance has put private, charter, and traditional public schools in competition for money.
Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos ignited controversy when her department initially put out guidance that would have directed more federal money than expected to private schools. In Indiana, State Superintendent Jennifer McCormick instructed schools to ignore that guidance in favor of a more straightforward reading of the law that directs more money to public schools.
Schools across the state are also waiting to see whether the Indiana legislature will provide them full funding for students who attend virtually this school year or leave in place a law that only funds virtual students at 85%.

Charter school leaders and advocates say that the Indiana Department of Education’s decision to withhold the coronavirus relief grants from some schools conflicts with McCormick’s public statements about supporting students who are most in need.

“This seems like a political decision, rather than a decision that was based on the merits,” said Brandon Brown, CEO of The Mind Trust, an Indianapolis nonprofit that supports charter schools. “It is surprising that an elected official that has staked her tenure on resisting politics is now doing the very same thing that she spent the last four years criticizing.”

Brown called the exclusion “disgraceful” and said it will harm Black, Latino, and low-income students who attend Indianapolis charter schools.

The decision made Kristie Sweeney, head of school for Southeast Neighborhood School of Excellence, feel like McCormick was “getting back at us because she’s not a charter school supporter,” she said. The policy prioritizes “the students most in need who go to traditional public schools, not students most in need whose parents elect to have a choice.”

Sweeney said it was especially frustrating because she had no indication that her school wouldn’t be eligible. The staff spent significant time preparing the application. Last week, the school heard it would receive almost $130,000 to purchase Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots. But now the award won’t materialize because the school received a $742,100 PPP loan, according to Sweeney.

Indiana charter school leaders and advocates point out that charter schools lack access to many sources of education funding, such as property taxes that help pay for facilities and transportation, and ballot referendums to supplement budgets.

Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Calls For Criminal Justice Reforms

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Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Calls For Criminal Justice Reforms

By Andrea Rahman
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus is calling for sweeping reforms to the criminal justice system that includes a more inclusive hate crimes law, creating teams specially equipped to deal with mental illness and decriminalizing marijuana possession.

State Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis, and chair of the IBLC led her members at a press conference at the Statehouse Thursday where they proposed changes that would lead to a rethinking of the way Indiana handles police conduct instead of abolishing the system.

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She said the changes proposed “directly affect our communities by enacting systematic change that will prevent, mend, and hinder greatly any future abuse that may be inflicted upon our community in the future.”

The IBLC released a policy agenda that includes 42 items with five different purposes: to save lives, hold law enforcement accountable, change the culture of law enforcement offices, empower communities and improve transparency between communities and law enforcement.

Items on the agenda include removing police officers from schools and replacing them with more social workers; develop local police policies that call for restraint on SWAT deployments; automatic external investigations of the shooting of unarmed civilians; require police to live in the communities they serve and provide for more mental health testing of police officers.

The also want studies conducted on racism as a health crisis and the juvenile justice system as well as improved training for law enforcement officers.

An IBLC member will take charge of individual agenda items to decide how to accomplish each goal, whether through legislative amendments or new bill drafts and to make sure it gets done. The goal is to decide how to approach each issue in the next few months so they can make it to the floor in the next legislative session that begins in January.

When developing the agenda, the IBLC collaborated with groups and individuals from many areas. They consulted with Gov. Eric Holcomb, police officers and sheriffs, prosecutors, families of police brutality victims, IBLC stakeholders, and 13,000 individuals across the state who attended town hall meetings on the subject. They worked to include concerns from the various groups to address everyone’s concerns and to improve relations between law enforcement and communities.

Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, and vice-chair of the IBLC said that state and local law enforcement supported many of the agenda items, like requiring body cameras on all officers and creating a more reliable forum for citizens to report misconduct.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, discussed the criminal justice reforms proposed by the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. Photo by Janet Williams, TheStatehouseFile.com

“One of the things that we are happy about is when they’ve come and wanted to meet with us to talk about these agenda items,” he said, “they have had similar things on their list as we do and have asked us to please help them support those things.”

The IBLC has pushed Holcomb for months to sign executive orders banning the use of chokeholds in arrests, racial profiling and no-knock warrants. They also have asked that he form a commission on justice reform and set penalties for officers who turn off their body cameras.

Shackleford said he has politely and actively listened to the group’s concerns and responded positively but hasn’t followed through with action. Holcomb’s press secretary said the IBLC request is being reviewed.

Some of the issues on the IBLC agenda have been raised before. The General Assembly passed a hate crimes bill in 2019, but critics have said that it doesn’t go far enough to protect some groups, like those in the LGBTQ community, while efforts to decriminalize marijuana laws have repeatedly failed.

Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, said IBLC members believe they may have a chance in the Republican-dominated legislature because GOP lawmakers are now hearing outcry from their constituents after some high-profile deaths of African Americans by police.

“We believe today is different, and we believe that now is the time,” Taylor said. “And if (Republicans) don’t, then we believe that the communities that we all represent…will express their concern in the voting box.”

FOOTNOTE: Andrea Rahman is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING

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BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING In The KEVIN WINTERNHEIMER CHAMBERS IN ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020 At 12:00 NOON

 AGENDA

1.      CALL TO ORDER

2.      MEETING MEMORANDUM   AUGUST 5, 2020

3.      CONSENT AGENDA                                                

  1. Request Re:  Approve and Execute Contract for the Use of Swonder Ice Arena by an independent Skating Professional with William Hook.- Crook
  1. Request Re: Approve and Execute Contract for the Use of Swonder Ice Arena by an

Independent Skating Professional with Ariel De Jesus.- Crook

4.      OLD BUSINESS 

          N/A

5.       NEW BUSINESS

  1. Request Re: Story Trail Project/ Healthy  Communities Partnership- Van Hook
  2. b.    Request Re: Any Other Business the Board Wishes to Consider and Public Comments

6.        REPORTS

           a.   Brian Holtz- Executive Director           

7.        ACCEPTANCE OF PAYROLL AND VENDOR CLAIMS

8.        ADJOURN

HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS

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