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Wheeler Selected As 2020-21 Editor-In-Chief Of The USI “Shield”

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Rhonda Wheeler, a University of Southern Indiana sophomore currently undecided on major, will serve as the editor-in-chief for The Shield, USI’s independent student newspaper, for the 2020-21 academic year. She will replace Riley Guerzini, who will finish his term at the end of the Spring 2020 semester.

As editor-in-chief, Wheeler will be responsible for the overall operations for the media outlet. She will plan and conduct weekly editorial board and budget meetings, determine the content and general layout of the weekly newspaper and meet with the sales and marketing director to set editorial content and advertising distribution.

“The goal of any student publication is to inform the students and community about what is going on inside the campus and the surrounding area and act as a voice for students,” said Wheeler. “We are a student-run, independent forum which gives us the ability to voice all concerns without the administration controlling the content.”

Wheeler currently serves as the news editor for The Shield, where she reports and assigns stories and serves as the leader and manager of the news reporters for the newspaper. She has also served as the community engagement editor for The Shield and as news director for 95.7 The Spin, USI’s student radio station.

Wheeler says that one of her goals is to increase communication between the newspaper staff and the campus community. “There have been many changes made to the paper and, while I agree with them, I feel better communication with our audience would help our readers know what to consistently expect from us.” This includes determining the printed size and length of the newspaper, reaching out to incoming freshmen through the UNIV 101 program and expanding the amount of advertisements sold.

In a letter of support, Casey Pycior, assistant professor of English, said that Wheeler is “the kind of student I could always count on to speak up when the rest of the class might have been hesitant” and that she is “communicative, responsible and respectful of others’ work, traits that I’m sure will be valuable in her role as editor-in-chief of The Shield.”

The USI Student Publications Committee annually selects the editor-in-chief for The Shield. Applications for positions are available online or in The Shield office. To get involved, call 812-465-1682, or visit the office in the lower level of University Center East, Room 227.

Grant Opportunity Provided For Specialty Crop Growers

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The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is currently accepting proposals for the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. These funds are allocated to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, which are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops.

“Indiana is home to such a diverse agriculture industry and this diversity adds so much to our economy and society,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I encourage specialty crop growers and organizations to take full advantage of this funding opportunity.”

The Specialty Crop Block Grant program offers federal funding to the state departments of agriculture to support the specialty crop industry. The allocation amount for Indiana is unknown at this time.

Applicants can include producer groups, trade associations, nonprofits, colleges, and universities. Grants should focus on improving marketing, training, food safety,  pest control and plant health. Organizations interested in this funding opportunity must apply through the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

Funding will not be awarded to projects that benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual. Each project must identify at least one expected measurable outcome that specifically demonstrates the project’s impact on enhancing the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops.  And, must be in one of the following funding priorities:

  • Funding Area I: Market Enhancement
  • Funding Area II: Access, Education, and Training
  • Funding Area III: Research

“This funding will go a long way in shoring up Indiana’s specialty crops in incomplete areas, like research and marketing,” said Bruce Kettler, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director. “I encourage organizations to look at the key issues they are facing and see if this funding opportunity is something they would like to pursue to improve this diverse sector.”

Applications are due by March 22, 2020, and proposals must be submitted online through the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s Grants Management System.

CHOICES & CONSEQUENCES

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CHOICES & CONSEQUENCES

Gavel Gamut By Jim Redwine

Should you have read last week’s column you may remember the specific topic was the Electoral College and the general topic was our Constitution’s guarantee of our right to matter or free choice. Free choice, that is what separates humans from animals and America from many other countries. Our Founders designed a government where the ideal was: All matter, but none too much. Of course, as with most ideals, America’s vaunted guarantees of freedom of choice and equality for everyone remain as goals not yet attained. On the other hand, it is no small thing that America not only proclaimed these ideals but set them forth in writing at our founding. And we have struggled mightily since our Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787 to live up to our ideals which were declared on July 04, 1776 to be: “That all men are endowed with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Although the term “all” was advisory only.  

To me these ideals come under the general category of a right to make our own choices but with an understanding our choices have consequences. These Civics lessons were burned into my psyche in a most graphic manner one day in Junior High School by one of my teachers who was straight forward, stern and strict; I liked and respected him. As he was also my Junior High football coach I always called him Coach even in the classroom probably because football was a lot more important to me than Civics. Coach’s successful coaching techniques relied heavily on those previously mentioned traits coupled with a no-nonsense attitude that victory came only through sweat. In the Pawhuska, Oklahoma school system of the 1950’s such was the general credo of the entire staff. And remembering my student days I confess such a system was necessary to force an education into me as my personal credo tended more toward the laissez-faire when it came to school work. Alas, the same was also true for some of my classmates including my friends Abby and Jack whom you will meet soon.

An example of how Coach’s attitude helped instill American history in me occurred during our Civics class section on the Civil War. Coach was one of those teachers who did not allow Political Correctness to cloud the facts. When it came to the reasons why the South seceded he taught that the immorality of slavery was a choice supported within our Constitution and the Civil War was about that choice. States Rights to determine whether to allow slavery, not slavery itself, was the gravamen of “The Cause” at the beginning of the war for the South and preservation of the Union, not the elimination of slavery, was the cause for the North. It was these competing choices and their consequences that brought about the Civil War that eventually both ended slavery and preserved the Union. 

I probably would have remembered no more of these Junior High Civics lessons about States Rights and slavery than the other lessons I daydreamed through in school had Coach not given that particular lecture right after grabbing my attention with a long, thin paddle. That otherwise hazy school day began with Coach being called away from class for a brief meeting. When he left his discipline left with him and some of us fell immediately back into our natural educational state of benign ignorance.

My friend Abby who sat in the front row got up to talk to a girl two aisles over. When she did my friend Jack saw fit to sneak behind her and remove a thumbtack from the bulletin board then place it, business end up, on the seat of Abby’s desk. Somehow Abby sensed Coach was returning so she turned and hurried back to her seat. Abby sat down on the tack just as Coach entered the classroom and observed and heard Abby react appropriately.

The Coach affixed his terrifying stare on each of us individually and when he got to Jack, Jack folded like a pair of dirty socks. Coach called Jack up to the front of the class and ordered him to bend over and grab his ankles. From an assortment of paddles he kept hanging from the chalk rail Coach chose a thin paddle about two feet long and pushed a thumbtack through it. After the Coach vigorously applied paddle to posterior while Jack manly gritted his teeth in silence, we had our Civics lesson on choices and consequences concerning the Constitution, slavery, States Rights, the Union and the Civil War. I remember them well. And if any of my classmates from that day read this article I bet they do too.

For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com

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McNamara’s Bill Raising Penalty For Failure To Yield To An Emergency Vehicle Heads To Governor

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State Rep. Wendy McNamara’s (R-Evansville) bill raising the penalty for drivers who fail to yield to an emergency vehicle, causing an accident involving serious bodily injury or death, could soon become law.

McNamara, chair of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee, said drivers need to be aware of first responders who by virtue of their jobs, are placed in dangerous situations every day.

“I look forward to this proposal becoming law to help ensure justice is done for our first responders who are out there trying to keep us safe,” McNamara said. “I heard firsthand from officers whose lives were permanently changed by careless drivers, and we want to make sure that they are protected and that drivers are paying attention.”

Current Indiana “move over” laws can result in a fine and a license suspension up to two years. This proposal would raise the infraction to a level 6 felony, which is punishable by at least six months in jail, and a fine of up to $10,000 if a driver fails to yield to an emergency vehicle, causing serious injury or death.

House Enrolled Act 1225 is now eligible to be signed into law by the governor. Visit iga.in.gov for more information.

 

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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 Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.

Joseph Ashton Walker: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)

Kaylie Erin Savoyard: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony)

Brett Gabriel Rowans: Theft (Level 6 Felony)

Kelli Mari Costello: Theft (Level 6 Felony)

Aron Anthony Eugene Rowans: Failure of a sex offender to possess identification (Level 6 Felony)

Larquendius Talpheal Simpson: Criminal recklessness (Level 6 Felony), Carrying a handgun without a license (Class A Misdemeanor)

Jason M. Cater: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Rick Dewayne Kemper: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)

Joseph L. Martin: Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 2 Felony), Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon (Level 4 Felony)

Margaret Lawley Gibson: Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 2 Felony)

Brooke Nicole Carter: Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 2 Felony)

Christina M. Powell: Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 4 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)

 Man Arrested after Entering a Home and Threatening Resident with a Handgun

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 DATE: Friday, March 06, 2020

An Evansville man who threatened a friend with a handgun is in custody after a standoff at his northern Vanderburgh County home.

On Friday, March 06, 2020, at 2:14 PM the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Sharon Place off Whetstone Road upon the report of a subject with a gun. The 911 caller reported that Mr. Ralph Chandley had entered the home without permission and was threatening one of the residents with a handgun.

Chandley left the scene prior to sheriff’s deputies arriving. The residents explained that Chandley was a family friend, but arrived at their residence intoxicated and angrily accused one of the residents of theft while pointing a handgun at him.

Sheriff’s deputies drove to Chandley’s residence on Cemetery Road south of E. Baseline Road where they located his vehicle in the driveway. Chandley refused to exit his residence and a Sheriff’s Office crisis negotiator was called to the scene. Mr. Chandley repeatedly told a negotiator that he would not peacefully surrender to law enforcement and made other suicidal statements. At one point Chandley told deputies he had an AK-47 rifle and that he would engage in a shootout.

After nearly two hours, Chandley agreed to exit his residence and surrendered without incident. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and numerous firearms were seized.

Chandley was later booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail and will make an initial court appearance on Monday.

ARRESTED:

Ralph Dixon Chandley II (pictured above in 2011), 56, of Evansville. Burglary while Armed with Deadly Weapon as a Level 2 Felony, Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon as a Level 5 Felony, Pointing a Loaded Firearm as a Level 6 Felony

FOOTNOTE: Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 

EPD REPORT

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EPD REPORT

“Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab” March 7, 2020

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“Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab” March 7, 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 Announces Supplement to Science Transparency Proposed Rule

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the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to the Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science proposed rule. This notice is not a new rulemaking; rather, it provides clarifications on certain terms and aspects of the 2018 proposed rule. The Agency anticipates promulgating a final rule later this year.

“These additions and clarifications to the proposed rule will ensure that the science supporting the agency’s decisions is transparent and available for independent validation while still maintaining protection of confidential and personally identifiable information,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “I am committed to ensuring that the science underlying EPA’s actions is of the highest quality. When finalized, the science transparency rule will ensure that all pivotal studies underpinning significant regulatory actions at the EPA, regardless of their source, are available for transparent review by qualified scientists.”

Today’s notice is a supplement to clarify points in the 2018 proposed rule, this is not a new rule. The Supplemental:

  •  proposes that the scope of the rulemaking applies to influential scientific information as well as significant regulatory decisions;
  • defines and clarifies that the proposed rule applies to data and models underlying both pivotal science and pivotal regulatory science;
  • proposes a modified approach to the availability provisions for data and models that would underly influential scientific information and significant regulatory decisions, as well as an alternate approach; and,
  • clarifies the ability of the Administrator to grant exemptions.

EPA is taking comment on whether to use its housekeeping authority independently or in conjunction with appropriate environmental statutory provisions as authority for taking this action.

The supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking will be open for public comment 30 days after it publishes in the Federal Register.

Sixth-inning runs lift Eagles to two wins

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University of Southern Indiana Softball scored a combined five runs in the sixth inning to earn a pair of wins at the Spring Games Friday. The No. 24 Screaming Eagles scored a pair of runs in the top half of the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie and defeat Fairmont State University, 4-2, in their opener, while three runs in the last half of the sixth inning led to a 3-1 win over Midwest Region opponent Cedarville University in the nightcap.

USI 4, Fairmont State 2
USI (10-3) trailed 1-0 heading into the fourth inning when a double steal followed by a sacrifice fly by sophomore designated player Elissa Brown had the Eagles up, 2-1, heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Fairmont State (0-5), however, scored another run in the home half of the fourth to tie the score at 2-2. Junior outfielder Jessica Tucker’s RBI-single in the sixth inning gave the Eagles a 3-2 lead. She later scored from third when senior pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt was thrown out trying to steal second.

Leonhardt (5-2) overcame five walks and a hit batter to earn her fifth win of the year. She allowed just two runs, one earned, off three hits, while striking out seven batters.

USI 3, Cedarville 1
Sophomore pitcher Katie Back gave up just two hits and an unearned run as USI used a sixth-inning rally to defeat Cedarville.

The Yellow Jackets (5-19) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth as a lead-off single and an error led to a Cedarville run.

Tucker’s lead-off single in the home half of the sixth inning sparked a much-need USI offensive explosion. She came around to score when Cedarville leftfielder Annie Rourke’s throw back into the infield following junior outfielder Alicia Webb’s two-out single got past the catcher.

Freshman pitcher/first baseman Allie Goodin followed with a two-run home run, the first of her collegiate career, to give the Eagles the 3-1 lead.

Back (2-1) tossed a perfect seventh inning to complete the victory. She had four strikeouts and allowed just three base runners en route to the complete-game victory.

Notes: The Eagles had just one hit going into the sixth inning against Cedarville…Goodin has now reached base safely in a team-high tying 10 straight games.

Up next: USI takes on No. 12 Saint Anselm College and Le Moyne College Saturday at 8:15 a.m. (CST) and 10:30 a.m., respectively…USI and Saint Anselm met for the NCAA II National Championship in 2018, when the Eagles earned a two-game sweep of the Hawks…the two teams met a year ago, with USI coming away with a 2-1 win.

Friendly reminder: Daylight Savings time begin Sunday.

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