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USI Children’s Learning Center Will Not Reopen Due To COVID-19 Concerns

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The University of Southern Indiana is announcing the Children’s Learning Center (CLC), located on campus, will not be reopening. Due to safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CLC closed, along with the USI campus, on March 18. With the campus closure, the normal recruitment and acceptance of new children to the CLC did not take place, causing a significant impact to the CLC’s 2020-2021 budget. This shortfall exacerbated the cumulative impact of annual operating deficits for the CLC over a number of years, which have been subsidized by University funds.

“Over time, the CLC has provided quality programming for children, educational opportunities for our students, and a convenient and important benefit to our USI campus community,” said Dr. Ronald S. Rochon, USI President. “Child care has had a presence on our campus for more than four and a half decades and is part of our culture, which makes this decision particularly difficult.”

Another factor in the decision to close is the need for significant, costly improvements to the temporary building that houses the center.

“In the recent master planning process for the campus, we put forward a plan to move the CLC to the interior of the campus and construct a new building,” noted Dr. Zane Mitchell, who provides administrative oversight for the CLC and is Dean of USI’s Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. “When we think about the needs of our faculty, staff and students, investing upwards of $10 million dollars in a new building is not feasible at this time.  We hope to bring child care back to campus at some time in the future when funding permits.”

The University is engaging with 4C of Southern Indiana, Inc., the regional Child Care Resource and Referral agency for Southern Indiana, to consider options for the care of the children served by the CLC and possible employment opportunities for the CLC staff.

USI met with the seven impacted CLC employees today and is committed to helping with their transition. With information and assistance from 4C of Southern Indiana, CLC employees may consider applying for available, local child-care positions.

The University also notified parents of affected children today to discuss local options for future care. 4C of Southern Indiana indicated that child-care openings are available, and they are offering individual consultative appointments to help families find the right fit for their children.

“Although it is hard to say goodbye to the children and families we serve, as well as the staff, USI will maintain strong support of Early Childhood Education in our community and beyond,” said Dr. Jill Raisor, Chair of Teacher Education. “Our Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education is developing high-quality teachers. Our faculty will continue to work closely with local child care centers and schools for mutually-beneficial educational experiences. We also will maintain our active participation in professional networks, ensuring continued best practice and advocacy for the profession of Early Childhood Education.”

The USI CLC has a long history of health and safety and caring for children and has been state licensed at the highest quality level 4 and nationally accredited. The CLC has existed primarily to serve children, ages 2-5 years, of the faculty and staff of the University.

EPD DAILY REPORT

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EPD REPORT

Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab” June 22, 2020

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Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab” June 22, 2020

“Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab” was created because we have a couple of commenters that post on a daily basis either in our “IS IT TRUE” or “Readers Forum” columns concerning National or International issues.
The majority of our “IS IT TRUE” columns are about local or state issues, so we have decided to give our more opinionated readers exclusive access to our newly created “LEFT JAB and Middle Jab and RIGHT JAB”  column. They now have this post to exclusively discuss national or world issues that they feel passionate about.
We shall be posting the “LEFT JAB” AND “MIDDLE JAB” AND “RIGHT JAB” several times a week.  Oh, “LEFT JAB” is a liberal view, “MIDDLE JAB” is the libertarian view and the “RIGHT JAB is representative of the more conservative views. Also, any reader who would like to react to the written comments in this column is free to do so.

EPA Issues Final Action for Perchlorate in Drinking Water

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final action regarding the regulation of perchlorate under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Considering the best available science and the proactive steps that EPA, states and public water systems have taken to reduce perchlorate levels, the agency has determined that perchlorate does not meet the criteria for regulation as a drinking water contaminant under the SDWA. Therefore, the agency is withdrawing the 2011 regulatory determination and is making a final determination to not issue a national regulation for perchlorate at this time.

“Today’s decision is built on science and local success stories and fulfills President Trump’s promise to pare back burdensome ‘one-size-fits-all’ overregulation for the American people,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “State and local water systems are effectively and efficiently managing levels of perchlorate. Our state partners deserve credit for their leadership on protecting public health in their communities, not unnecessary federal intervention.”

Reductions of perchlorate contamination have resulted from actions taken by EPA, states and public water systems. The main factors contributing to the decrease in perchlorate levels include:

  • Drinking water regulations for perchlorate in Massachusetts and California.
  • Federal and state remediation activities at perchlorate contaminated sites, particularly the ongoing remediation efforts in the state of Nevada to address perchlorate contamination in groundwater adjacent to the lower Colorado River upstream of Lake Mead.
  • Improved procedures for storage and handling of hypochlorite solutions used as drinking water disinfectants.

EPA also performed a new health impact analysis based on recommendations from the Science Advisory Board. The new analysis shows that the concentrations at which perchlorate may present a public health concern are higher than the concentrations considered in the 2011 regulatory determination.

The updated occurrence information and the new health impact analysis are the best available information. Based on this updated data and analysis, EPA is making a final determination that perchlorate is not found in drinking water with a frequency and at levels of public health concern to support a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction through a national perchlorate drinking water regulation.

EPA will continue to work with state partners to provide safe drinking water to all Americans. To assist states and drinking water systems interested in reducing perchlorate concentrations, EPA is providing steps that water systems can take to mitigate the contaminant if and where it occurs.

ADOPT A PET

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Izzy is a 4-year-old female bluetick Coonhound. She’s 100% Coonhound through & through – she needs an active family, perhaps one who likes to hike, boat, or camp a lot. She will howl nonstop when not being paid attention to. No apartments for this girl! Izzy’s adoption fee is $110 and includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more. Apply to adopt her at www.vhslifesaver.org/adopt!

 

 

VANDERBURGH COUNTY RECENT BOOKING RECORDS

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

Origin Of Father’s Day

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HAPPY FATHERS DAY

Origin of Father’s Day

William Jackson Smart was a twice-married, twice-widowed Civil War veteran and father of 14 children, one of whom dedicated her life to the creation of Father’s Day in honor of her devoted and selfless dad.

The story goes that William’s daughter, Sonora Smart Dodd, was attending one of the first official Mother’s Day services in 1909 at her church in Spokane, Washington, when she had an epiphany—if mothers deserved a day in honor of their loving service, why not fathers?

When Sonora was 16, her mother Ellen died, leaving William as a single father to Sonora and her five younger brothers. And by Sonora’s account, he performed brilliantly.  “I remember everything about him,” Sonora said many years later to the Spokane Daily Chronicle. “He was both father and mother to me and my brothers and sisters.”

Sonora’s mother Ellen, herself a widow, had three children from a previous marriage. On top of that, William had also been married and widowed before he met Sonora’s mother. William had five children with his first wife, Elizabeth, who were already grown when William became a widower for the second time.

In 1910, Sonora brought a petition before the Spokane Ministerial Alliance to recognize the courage and devotion of all fathers like William on June 5, her dad’s birthday. The local clergy liked the idea of a special Father’s Day service, but couldn’t pull something together so quickly, so they settled for June 19, the third Sunday in June.

On that first Father’s Day in 1910, church sermons across Spokane were dedicated to dear old dad, red and white roses were passed out in honor of living and deceased fathers, the mayor of Spokane and governor of Washington issued proclamations, and Sonora found her calling. She would spend much of the next 60 years pushing for the official recognition of Father’s Day as a national holiday.

The nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. However, it was not until 1972–58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official–that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States. Father’s Day 2020 occurs on Sunday, June 21.

The campaign to celebrate the nation’s fathers did not meet with the same enthusiasm–perhaps because, as one florist explained, “fathers haven’t the same sentimental appeal that mothers have.”

Slowly, the holiday spread. In 1916, President Wilson honored the day by using telegraph signals to unfurl a flag in Spokane when he pressed a button in Washington, D.C. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge urged state governments to observe Father’s Day.

Today, the day honoring fathers is celebrated in the United States on the third Sunday of June: Father’s Day 2018 occurred on June 17; the following year, Father’s Day 2019 falls on June 16.

In other countries–especially in Europe and Latin America–fathers are honored on St. Joseph’s Day, a traditional Catholic holiday that falls on March 19.

Father’s Day: Controversy and Commercialism

Many men, however, continued to disdain the day. As one historian writes, they “scoffed at the holiday’s sentimental attempts to domesticate manliness with flowers and gift-giving, or they derided the proliferation of such holidays as a commercial gimmick to sell more products–often paid for by the father himself.”

During the 1920s and 1930s, a movement arose to scrap Mother’s Day and Father’s Day altogether in favor of a single holiday, Parents’ Day. Every year on Mother’s Day, pro-Parents’ Day groups rallied in New York City’s Central Park–a public reminder, said Parents’ Day activist and radio performer Robert Spere, “that both parents should be loved and respected together.”

Paradoxically, however, the Great Depression derailed this effort to combine and de-commercialize the holidays. Struggling retailers and advertisers redoubled their efforts to make Father’s Day a “second Christmas” for men, promoting goods such as neckties, hats, socks, pipes and tobacco, golf clubs and other sporting goods, and greeting cards.

When World War II began, advertisers began to argue that celebrating Father’s Day was a way to honor American troops and support the war effort. By the end of the war, Father’s Day may not have been a federal holiday, but it was a national institution.

In 1972, in the middle of a hard-fought presidential re-election campaign, Richard Nixon signed a proclamation making Father’s Day a federal holiday at last. Today, economists estimate that Americans spend more than $1 billion each year on Father’s Day gifts.

AGENDA OF JUNE 22, 2020 EVANSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

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City Council Meeting
JUNE 22, 2020 at 5:30 P.M.

AGENDA

 

I. INTRODUCTION

 

06-22-2020 Agenda Attachment:
II. APPROVAL OF MEETING MEMORANDUM

 

III. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

IV. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY

 

V. CONSENT AGENDA:  FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

 

A. ORDINANCE G-2020-08 An Ordinance Authorizing the Issuance of Sewage Works Refunding Revenue Bonds of the City of Evansville, Indiana for the Purpose of Refunding the City’s Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2007, Series A, Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2007, Series B, and Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2008, Series B, and all Matters Related Thereto Sponsor(s): Brinkmeyer Discussion Led By: Public Works Chair Brinkmeyer Discussion Date: 7/13/2020
G-2020-08 Attachment:
VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

VII. REGULAR AGENDA:  SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

 

A. ORDINANCE F-2020-09 Amended An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations, Additional Appropriations and Repeal and Re-Appropriation of Funds for Various City Funds   Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Beane Discussion Date: 6/22/2020
F-2020-09 Amended Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE R-2020-05 Amended An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 919/921 N. Governor Street Petitioner: Habitat For Humanity of Evansville Owner: Habitat For Humanity of Evansville Requested Change: C2 to R2 Ward: 3 Heronemus Representative: Patrick Landry, Habitat For Humanity of Evansville
R-2020-05 Amended Attachment:
C. ORDINANCE R-2020-06 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 19 Vann Avenue Petitioner: Landmark Center, LLC Owner: Landmark Center, LLC Requested Change: R1 to C1 Ward: 3 Heronemus Representative: Matthew Wallace, Landmark Center, LLC
R-2020-06 Attachment:
D. ORDINANCE R-2020-07 Amended An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 330-332 Madison Avenue & 1159 S. Governor St. Petitioner: Robert F. Schermack Owner: Robert F. Schermack Requested Change: C1 to R2 Ward: 4 Burton Representative: Robert F. Schermack
R-2020-07 Amended Attachment:
E. ORDINANCE R-2020-08 Amended An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 40 West Franklin St, 34 West Franklin St, 24 26 West Franklin St Petitioner: House Investments Evansville Oz, LLC Owner: House Investments Evansville Oz, LLC Requested Change: C4 to C2 Ward: 3 Heronemus Representative: Krista Lockyear, Lockyear Law
R-2020-08 Amended Attachment:
F. ORDINANCE R-2020-09 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 1221 E. Michigan St Petitioner: Patrick A. Rayburn Owner: Patrick A. & Michael R. Rayburn Requested Change: R2 to C4 w/UDC Ward: 3 Heronemus Representative: Krista Lockyear, Lockyear Law
R-2020-09 Attachment:
G. ORDINANCE R-2020-10 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 1209 & 1211 E. Columbia St Petitioner: Troy Tornatta Owner: Harry E. Gulledge & Casey Spivey Requested Change: R2 to C4 Ward: 3 Heronemus Representative: Troy Tornatta
R-2020-10 Attachment:
H. ORDINANCE R-2020-11 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 1309 Lincoln Avenue Petitioner: QM Lincoln Avenue Investments, LLC Owner: QM Lincoln Avenue Investments, LLC Requested Change: R1 to R3 Ward: 4 Burton Representative: Chad Sander, RPM Results
R-2020-11 Attachment:
VIII. RESOLUTION DOCKET

 

A. RESOLUTION C-2020-09 Resolution Regarding Riverboat Revenue Expenditure Sponsor(s): Elpers Discussion Led By: President Burton Discussion Date: 6/8/2020 Notify: Josh Claybourn, Jackson Kelly
C-2020-09 Attachment:
B. RESOLUTION C-2020-10  A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana, Authorizing Affordable Housing Funds for Hope of Evansville, Inc. Down Payment Assistance in the City of Evansville, Indiana in an Amount Not to Exceed One Hundred Sixty-Eight Thousand Dollars ($168,000) Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: President Burton Discussion Date: 6/22/2020
C-2020-10 Attachment:
C. RESOLUTION C-2020-11 A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana, Authorizing Affordable Housing Funds for Memorial Community Development Corporation 50 Homes Initiative in the City of Evansville, Indiana in an Amount Not to Exceed Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: President Burton  Discussion Date: 6/22/2020
C-2020-11 Attachment:
D. RESOLUTION C-2020-12 Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing the Distribution of a Preliminary Official Statement of the City Regarding the City’s Sewage Works Refunding Bonds and Matters Related Thereto Sponsor(s): Brinkmeyer Discussion Led By: President Burton Discussion Date: 6/22/2020 Notify: Marco DeLucio, ZSWS
C-2020-12 Attachment:
E. RESOLUTION C-2020-13 Special Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis in Evansville Sponsor(s): Moore Morley, Trockman Discussion Led By: President Burton Discussion Date: 6/22/2020
C-2020-13 Attachment:
F. RESOLUTION C-2020-14 A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Ratifying the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Annual Action Plan Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: President Burton  Discussion Date: 6/22/2020 Notify: Kelley Coures, DMD
C-2020-14 Attachment:
IX. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

 

A. THE NEXT MEETING of the Common Council will be Monday, July 13, 2020.
B. ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
X. COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

XI. ADJOURNMENTAGENDAR A 

VANDERBURGH HUMANE SOCIETY HOSTING VIRTUAL AUCTION ONLINE JULY 6-13

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Each year, the Vanderburgh Humane Society hosts an in-person benefit dinner and auction. It is the shelter’s largest fundraising event and typically nets more than $60,000 in vital funding for the shelter’s animals and public services. But of course, COVID-19 had other plans for 2020. Like so many other organizations, the VHS has had to pivot their event to a virtual format.

Going, Going, Gone to the Dogs will be held ONLINE this year! Bidding will be open from July 6-13 at www.bidpal.net/vhsauction. Approximately 200 items will be available. On Saturday, July 11 at 7:00 pm, the VHS will be hosting a livestream on their Facebook Page and YouTube Channel. Supporters will be invited to “attend” this livestream from the comfort of their own couch, in their pajamas with their favorite beverage. VHS representatives, sponsors, and of course, animals will make appearances while fundraising for funds lost due to COVID-19!

The pets and people who utilize the VHS’ services and programming (including 11 other local animal welfare organizations who also use VHS services!) are depending on them now more than ever before. The mission forges on. Now, the organization needs the Tri-State to rally together help raise the $60,000 that this event normally generates.

Bidding is 100% free. People only need to create a free OneCause account to bid. One does NOT have to have a Facebook account to participate in the livestream.

Get details on this year’s auction at www.vhslifesaver.org/auction.

To arrange a socially-distant phone or Skype interview about this event, please contact Amanda at the information above.

EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA

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EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION

MEETING AGENDA

Monday, June 22, 2020

1:00 p.m.  Room 307, Civic Center Complex

  1. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
  1. An executive session and a closed hearing will be held prior to the open session.
  1. The executive session and hearing are closed as provided by:
  1. I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(5): To receive information about and interview prospective employees.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  1. OPEN SESSION:
  1. CALL TO ORDER
  1. ACKNOWLEDGE GUESTS
  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
    1. February 24, 2020 (Scott and Hamilton)
  1. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS
  1. PROBATIONARY OFFICER UPDATE:
    1. Sergeant Steve Kleeman reports on the officers in Field Training Program.
    2. Final probationary interviews for the following officers: Brian Aker, Morganne Carpenter, William Cofer, Michael Dockery, Jacqueline Duff, Kayleigh Howard, Jacob Malcomson, Nathan Pitt, Cory Staats, Adam Stepro, and Korey Winn
  1. APPLICANTS:
    1. 20-176
  1. PROMOTIONAL PROCESS:
    1. Certify the 2020 Corporal list to be effective from June 10, 2020 to June 9, 2022.
  1. MERIT AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS:
    1. Detective Brian Turpin and Civilian Cristian Navarrete for actions taken on March 16, 2020 in a child molestation case.
    2. Civilian Jinu Varkey Varghese, who on February 25, 2020 assisted Detective Kyle Campbell gain control of a combative subject attempting to flee from arrest.
  1. RESIGNATION:
    1. Officer Travion Carr, Badge Number 1477, resigned effective May 7th after serving 9 months and 28 days.
  1. RETIREMENTS:
    1. Sergeant Brian Talsma, Badge Number 5157, retired effective May 8th after serving 25 years, 4 months, and 4 days.
    2. Officer Jeff Worthington, Badge Number 1189, retiring effective July 5th after serving 24 years, 3 months, and 23 days.
    3. Officer Brock Hensley, Badge Number 1233, retired effective June 19th after serving 20 years, 9 months, and 6 days.
  1. APPLICANT PROCESS:
    1. Discussion of suggested selection process changes as proposed by selection process committee.
  1. REMINDERS:  The next meeting is scheduled for July 13, 2020 at 4:00pm.  
  1. ADJOURNMENT
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