Mike Braun Wins the Mandate He Campaigned For
A few days before the votes were counted, Mike Braun told supporters in Evansville that he was looking for enough votes to enter into office with a mandate from the people. Just moments after the polls closed in Evansville, Braun was declared the next Governor of Indiana. At the end of the night, his mandate was reflected in the outcome: 54% Braun, 41% Jennifer McCormick, and 5% Donald Rainwater. Braun’s 18-point margin of victory is the highest since 1980.
Some polls had shown a tightening of the race in the late weeks of the campaign, and Democrats believed there was a chance to flip the race in McCormick’s favor. Large sums of money flowed into both campaigns, but the Red Wave gave the victory to Braun.
Spending a Day in the Voter Center Shows the Best Our Nation Has to Offer
Spending a Day in the Voter Center Shows the Best Our Nation Has to Offer
by Johnny Kincaid
Working at the polls is a long, grueling day. The poll workers arrive at the voting center at 5 AM to set up tables, chairs, and machines. They will work until the polls close at 6 PM and will stay another 30-45 minutes to tear everything down. In an ordinary election year, there are slower times during the day when workers can take short breaks, but in the election of 2024, the line never let up.
After my day at the voting center, I am even more determined to keep my voting streak going. I cast my first vote in a presidential primary in 1976, and I’ve always believed in the importance of voting.
A 94-year-old came to vote. She waited patiently for her turn to cast her ballot. I asked her how many elections she had voted in, “All of them,” she said with a big smile. She wouldn’t dream of missing her chance to cast a ballot, and nothing, including age, would stop her from voting.
Later in the day, a lady passed out while waiting in line. Her first concern was still being able to vote. Again, nothing was going to stop her from casting a ballot.
Then came “garbage bag man.” I noticed someone in line that made me do a double-take, he was wearing a trash bag. I understood the statement he was making based on the whole controversy about Trump supporters being trash. Another poll worker also made the connection and asked if that counted as electioneering. It didn’t violate any of the voting rules. When I got a better look at the guy in the trash bag, I realized that it was Sean Selby, and I decided that I needed a picture with him.
The real pay-off for poll workers is getting the chance to meet and assist people who understand the importance of the vote. We live in a great nation that can only thrive when “we the people” are in control.
WOuldn’t it be amazing if every election drew the same level of interest as the election of 2024? In presidential years it would be great to have the majority of registered voters cast their ballots and be just as energized by the down ballot races. Imagine city elections where over half of the eligible voters went to the polls to select the mayor. As long as voters stay home, the same people will be in control and they will act in their interest instead of ours. When we the people speak, we do it through the ballot box and huge voter turnouts are a voice that can’t be ignored.
Gov. Holcomb announced Maj. Gen. Lyles to retire
NDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced Major General R. Dale Lyles plans to retire as the Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard in Jan. 2025, after serving for more than five years in the role and as a member of the governor’s cabinet.
“General Lyles brought great credit to Indiana’s National Guard by the way he fostered a culture of high standards, success and stability among the men and women who serve up and down the chain of command,” said Gov. Holcomb. “Whenever disaster struck or duty called, General Lyles and our trained and ready Hoosier Guardsmen leapt into action and met every moment in stride. It was on his watch and because of his focused leadership that we simultaneously modernized and mobilized the Indiana National Guard here at home and abroad. I know his patriotic duty to serve burns as bright today as it did when he first raised his hand and took the oath to serve his nation and his Hoosier neighbors. I wish General and his family all and always my best in the next journey ahead.”
Lyles, a native of Salem, was appointed the 59th Adjutant General of Indiana by Gov. Holcomb in Oct. 2019, leading the Indiana Army National Guard and Indiana Air National Guard.
During nearly 40 years of service in the Indiana Army National Guard, Lyles deployed to Bosnia shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in support of Operation Joint Forge and to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He also previously served as the deputy chief of operations at the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., among numerous military leadership roles. During his tenure as adjutant general, Lyles additionally served as the national chair of the National Guard Bureau’s recruiting and retention task force.
During the last five years, the Indiana National Guard
- Responded to an increasing number of state and local missions;
- Met every assigned federal mission with units at the highest levels of readiness;
- Improved talent attraction and achieved historically high personnel retention during the most difficult recruiting environment in the history of the all-volunteer force;
- Cultivated and strengthened relationships across economic, defense and education sectors;
- Made historic state investments to modernize armories across Indiana;
- Modernized force structure to ensure Indiana National Guard talent and technology remain relevant and ready to meet evolving future missions.
“Serving as adjutant general has been the honor of my life, and I’m grateful to Gov. Holcomb and the women and men who proudly serve our fellow Hoosiers in the Indiana National Guard for the privilege of leading this dynamic team,” said Maj. Gen. Lyles. “The Indiana National Guard has given me the opportunity to earn three degrees, work locally and globally, and serve something greater than self – everything the next generation is seeking.”
About 12,000 Indiana National Guard soldiers and airmen serve in a unique dual state and federal role. They are trained and prepared for domestic operations like relief efforts following severe weather and are also trained for federal operations, including overseas deployments. Additionally, the Indiana National Guard operates Army National Guard armories and units across the state, training facilities at Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center and Air National Guard wings in Fort Wayne and Terre Haute.
The next gubernatorial administration will appoint the next adjutant general.
Evansville Redevelopment Commission Meeting
NOVEMBER 6, 2024
8:30 A.M.
AGENDA
| 1. | Call to Order |
| 2. | Approval of Minutes October 15, 2024 (roll call vote) |
| 3. | Financial Statements Accounts Payable (roll call vote) |
| 4. | Jacobsville Redevelopment Area (roll call vote) |
a. Resolution 24-ERC-36 Declaratory Resolution Of The City Of Evansville Redevelopment Commission Establishing The Franklin Lofts Project Allocation Area Within The Jacobsville Redevelopment Area
| 5. | New Business |
a. 2025 Redevelopment Spending Plan
| 6. | Adjournment |
The Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville Hosts Their 2024 Winter Break Camp
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Educational Activities
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Storytelling
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Arts and Crafts
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Science Experiments
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Children’s Museum Exploration
Giulia Cardona named AVCA/Gamechanger National Player of the Week
Senior led UE to a pair of MVC victories
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the second time in her career, University of Evansville senior Giulia Cardona has been named the AVCA/Gamechanger Division I National Player of the Week.
The announcement comes on the heels of another stellar weekend that saw Cardona lead the Purple Aces to Missouri Valley Conference victories over Illinois State and Bradley. On Monday, she earned her second MVC Player of the Week honor of 2024.
Cardona completed the weekend with an average of 6.50 kills per set while hitting .357 for the week. She wrapped up her two matches with a total of 18 digs, five blocks and a pair of service aces.
Her week opened with a 34-kill performance as Evansville overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Illinois State in five sets. She hit an unbelievable .453 in the effort. On Saturday, she came back with 31 kills and 10 digs while hitting .278 in another 5-set victory against Bradley.
The weekend saw her add another 65 kills to her career tally. With 2,183 in her career, Cardona is 111 away from breaking the all-time MVC mark.
UE men’s soccer finishes 2024 regular season at home
The Aces welcome the Belmont Bruins to the River City for the final regular season match of 2024. Belmont comes to Arad McCutchan Stadium with a 5-8-3 overall record and a 1-5-1 Valley record. The Bruins picked up their lone conference win two weeks ago in Chicago against the Flames with a 1-0 victory. Belmont is led by senior midfielder AJ Chastonay with 12 points from five goals and two assists. In net the Bruins graduate goalkeeper Grant Calvert has allowed only 18 goals in 16 games with 43 saves and five shutouts.
The Aces now have six multi-goal scorers as they head into their final match of the regular season. Senior forward Nacho Diaz Barragan (Almeria, Spain) continues to lead the way with six goals while Fedrizzi and graduate forward Sami Owusu (Denver / Dayton) have four goals apiece. In total UE has 10 separate goal scorers.
Evansville heads into Friday’s match with a postseason spot secured in the MVC Tournament. The Aces will look to host one of the two quarterfinal matches with a win over Belmont. Results across the Valley on Wednesday will determine UE’s seeding with the potential to be as high as third and as low as five.
VHS Happy Tails Resale Shop Celebrating 10 Years of Fun and Funds for Furry Friends
(Evansville, IN – Let us begin with the elephant in the room: The Vanderburgh Humane Society has a thrift store?!?!?
Yes! They do! With all the excitement surrounding thrift stores in the Evansville region lately, between Goodwill’s expansion and the Rescue Mission Thrift Store at Washington Square Mall, the Vanderburgh Humane Society reminds the community that they also have a small but mighty nonprofit thrift store. And it is turning 10 years old next week.
Happy Tails Resale Shop opened on November 8, 2014. It is located in an unfinished portion of the VHS building previously used for storage, and it was the first thrift store benefiting shelter pets in the region. To this day, visitors and community members are amazed on a weekly basis that they did not know the VHS had a thrift store even 10 years later!
Before visiting, customers often think the thrift store is only for pet items. On the contrary: the store sells a variety of human items from jewelry & clothing to books, kitchenware, toys, furniture, craft supplies, and more!
Happy Tails is run almost exclusively by volunteers, so nearly 100% of the proceeds come back to the animals. Gently-used or sometimes even brand new items are donated from the community. Since its opening, it has raised more than a million dollars for VHS operations and programs. “The biggest need for any nonprofit organization is general, unrestricted funds for whatever expenses come up…. And that’s exactly what Happy Tails provides,” says Director of Advancement Amanda Coburn. “Because of the shop’s revenue, we can keep our large concrete facility at a comfortable temperature for the animals year-round. Or we can say ‘yes’ to treatment for a homeless puppy who breaks with parvovirus. Or we can provide professional development opportunities for our hardworking staff.”
On Friday, November 8th, the organization will host a ribbon cutting at 10:00 am with Evansville Regional Economic Partnership to celebrate the shop’s 10th anniversary. The store opens at 10:00 that day and will be open for shopping afterwards, with a 10% off everything sale. 10 years, 10% off, at 10:00! Cash, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover are accepted. Photo opportunities and interviews that day are welcome.
This date happens to coincide with local organizations’ participation in “Hoosier Adopt a Shelter Pet Month,” including the VHS’ “In My Adoption Era” promotion from November 8th-16th. A separate press release will go out covering that event later this week.
Happy Tails could not operate without its dedicated volunteers, many of whom spend multiple days a week at the shop. The VHS is always seeking additional volunteers to help accept, sort, and price items and assist customers. There is a particularly high demand for cashiers. Many people express interest in volunteering at VHS, but are concerned that seeing so many homeless animals in the shelter would make them sad. This is the perfect way to help raise funds for the animals, without having to walk through the shelter and be upset! Those interested should contact the shelter at (812) 426-2563 ext. 206 or emailvolunteer@vhslifesaver.org for information.
THUNDERBOLTS HOST MACON THIS SATURDAY FOR MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT
