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HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
Aces prep for final non-conference road trip
UE travels to Green Bay and Jacksonville State
Riding a 4-game win streak, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team embarks on its final non-conference road trip of the regular season on Saturday, traveling to Green Bay for a 6 p.m. game. Following the contest against the Phoenix, the Purple Aces travel to Alabama for a Monday evening game against Jacksonville State. Both games will be carried on ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network.
 Setting the Scene
– Evansville faces Green Bay for the ninth time overall and the first time on the road since Nov. 25, 2000
– It will mark the Aces first game in the state of Wisconsin since that contest
– UE has won four games in a row for the first time in head coach Walter McCarty’s tenure
– In last year’s meeting at the Ford Center, UE won by a final of 80-75; K.J. Riley was 12-of-14 from the line on his way to a game-high of 24 points
Last Time Out
– DeAndre Williams shot a school record 94.4% hitting 17 out of 18 shots to lead the Aces to a 101-87 win over Miami Ohio on Saturday
– The RedHawks had a 47-45 halftime lead, but the Aces erupted for 56 points in the second half while shooting 66.7% in the final 20 minutes to finish off the win
– Williams finished the game with a career-best 37 points while adding 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks
– Sam Cunliffe had his best game in an Evansville uniform, adding 21 points while John Hall had a solid 14-point game and hit four triples
– With the win, Evansville improved to 12-5 in the series against Miami and 8-1 at home
 Win Streak
– As a team, the Aces have improved in several facets over the recent win streak; in the three losses, UE was outrebounded by 13.3 boards per game – the last four games – all wins – the Aces have outrebounded the opposition by 1.5 per game
– UE’s shooting has gone up – the Aces have shot 52.1% in the win streak while the three losses saw the team finish at 37.9%
– Evansville has shot 50% or better in the last two games and three of the last four, including 64.2% against the RedHawks – the top effort in the Coach McCarty era
Weekly Award Sweep
– In the win over Miami Ohio, sophomore DeAndre Williams had one of the best performances in NCAA history before going on to earn MVC Player and Newcomer of the Week recognition
– Williams was 17-of-18 from the field and finished with 37 points and 10 rebounds. – He knocked down 15 shots in a row, which was just one off of the NCAA record of 16, which was set by Doug Grayson of Kent State in 1967
– His 94.4% shooting effort was the best in the NCAA this season with over 10 attempts and the best effort in UE program history
– The 17 makes is tied for the most in an NCAA game this season and was the most for an Evansville player since Colt Ryan had 17 against Creighton in 2012
– Over the last three games, Williams’ averages are astounding – he is averaging 26 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4 assists in that span while hitting 79.5% (31/39) of his attempts
Pin Point Accuracy
– In his last three games, John Hall has drained 7 of his 10 3-point attempts and is shooting 44.8% from outside this season
– He was 4-for-6 from long distance against Miami Ohio – by comparison – he took a total of just six 3-point shots in his first season with the program
Scouting the Opponent
– Green Bay fell to 3-7 on the season with a 79-66 loss at UCF on Tuesday evening; the Phoenix have lost three in a row, all coming on the road
– Amari Davis leads four double digit scorers for the team with 16.3 points per game and shoots 60.9%
– JayQuan McCloud is just behind him with 15 points and team highs in rebounds (4.6/game) and assists (43)
– PJ Pipes and Kameron Hankerson average 11.1 and 10.3 points per contest, respectively
– Averaging 80.1 points per game, the Phoenix are 42nd in the nation in scoring offense, but their defense gives up 83.5 PPG, which is 343rd in the country
“IS IT TRUE” DECEMBER 12, 2019
We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUEâ€Â will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?
IS IT TRUE that the City-County Observer has recently been approached by a group of financially successful business investors asking us to consider publishing a printed Sunday newspaper on their behalf for the Evansville/Vanderburgh County area?  …we told them we will give them an answer on January 15, 2020?
IS IT TRUE we have been conducting a non-scientific but trendy “READERS POLL” concerning printing a Sunday newspaper over the last 10 days?  …we are blown away with the number of votes this poll has attracted? …please take the time and cast your vote in this poll? …that our “Readers Poll” is non-scientific but trendy?
IS IT TRUE that former two (2) term Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel has finally decided what he wants to do with his life? Â …Mr. Weinzapfel after joining the local law firm Jones and Wallace only a few weeks ago has decided to apply for a job that will require a vote of the entire State of Indiana?…the apple of Weinzapfel’s eye these days is to run for the elected office of Attorney General of Indiana?…it is fair to ask just exactly what Weinzapfel has done as a practicing attorney to put in enough hours to be qualified to do the most important legal job in Indiana?
IS IT TRUE we predict that former two-term Mayor of Evansville  Jonathan Weinzapfel will be selected as the Democratic nominee for the State of Indiana AG job?  …we also predict that Mr. Weinzapfel should be ready to defend every aspect of his personal, professional and political life in the general election?  …we highly recommend that he better not forget that Indiana is a solid “RED” state?
IS IT TRUE according to an article written by John Martin of the Courier and Press that applications for the Executive Director CVB job came from local residents and from people outside the area? Â …we still highly recommend that the CVB search committee give preference to someone with local connections?
IS IT TRUE that John Martin of the Evansville Courier And Press also reported that John Chaszar, President of the CVB Board and Chairman of the search committee also announced that he will ask the Mayor, not to reappointed him n 2020 but will remain, Chairman of the search process, until it is completed? Â …that a City Of Evansville ordinance states that one member of the CVB Board of Directors must be an employee of Tropicana -Evansville?
IS IT TRUEÂ we have been told that current attorney for the Evansville City Council will retain his position by an impressive 6-3 margin? …could this be a good indication that legal skills are more important than a political party affiliation?
IS IT TRUE we been told that the newly elected At-Large City Councilperson Kaitlin Moore Morley (D) has really upset many local Democratic party loyalists for playing both sides of the City Council Attorney issue?  …we are told that the opportunity of her being considered for a higher office within the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party in the future is slim?
IS IT TRUEÂ according to the Courier and Press political writer Thomas Langhorne that Mayor Winnecke’s wife, Carol McClintock stated that she will now support Cheryl Musgrave in the upcoming Vanderburgh County Commission race? Â …this is a big boost to County Coummioners Musgrave re-elect campaign?
IS IT TRUE we are told that a well-known businesswoman was seriously considering running for Vanderburgh County Commission seat that is currently held by Cheryl Musgrave? Â …we are now told that she has wisely decided not to take on County Commissioner Musgrave but is now looking at running for a Vanderburgh County Council seat?
IS IT TRUEÂ that inflated egos, know-it-all attitudes, self-serving demeanors, inflated opinions about one’s leadership skills can create a dysfunctional Evansville City Council?
IS IT TRUE that it’s obvious if the Vanderburgh County Council members don’t make a decision to expand the jail they will forever be known as being  “SOFT ON CRIME”?
IS IT TRUE that former City-County Observer editor and occasional contributor Joe Wallace has accepted an appointment to the Technology Advisory Board of the California Utility Commissions EPIC program?…the EPIC program was established for the purpose of investing in promising technologies to further the use of renewable energy, to strengthen the electrical grid, and to assure that the California power grid is both reliable and sustainable?…the EPIC program invests roughly $130 million per year and has many applicants from all over the world competing for support for projects?… Wallace was invited because of his success in establishing the Innovation Hub or Renewable Energy in Palm Springs and for a lifetime of recognition as an engineering professional in the fields of energy, computer memories, laser-based metrology, and entrepreneurship associated with those technologies?
Today’s “Readers Poll†question is: Would you purchase a Sunday printed edition of the City-County Observer for one buck?
We are pleased to provide obituaries from area funeral homes at no cost.  We are also pleased to announce that we are now providing news from all the area High Schools.  Please scroll down the paper and you shall see a listing of them.
If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us at City-County Observer@live.com
FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.
We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language, insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.
Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers
Holcomb, Crouch Announce Second Round Of Next Level Connections Broadband Grants
Governor Eric J. Holcomb and Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch announced details of the second round of the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant program, which includes a new application and challenging process.
“While we still have far too many Hoosiers without access to affordable high-speed internet, Next Level Broadband is off to a great start,†Gov. Holcomb said. “I’m excited to see more projects moving forward with the single largest investment in broadband in our state’s history as this will positively impact the quality of life, agriculture, economic development, and our families.â€
This is the second round of the $100 million broadband grant program. Broadband providers and utility cooperatives can apply for up to $5 million to expand service to unserved areas if they provide a minimum 20 percent match of the total allowable project costs. Unserved areas are without at least one broadband provider offering internet of at least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. Proposed projects must provide a minimum level of service at actual speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. In order to apply, applicants must first submit a letter of intent to provide the list of census blocks they intend on applying for funding. Prior to the full application due date, a challenging period will open for 30 days.
Gov. Holcomb has asked Lt., Governor Suzanne Crouch, along with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, to oversee the program.
“Connecting Indiana and bridging the rural digital divide is a top priority for our administration,†said Lt. Governor Crouch. “With an eye to the future, we are continuing to invest in broadband to better connect Hoosiers to each other, to the nation and to the world. As far as we’ve come, we know there’s more to do to help our rural communities achieve their full potential.â€
The grant program is a component of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Connections initiative, a $1 billion statewide infrastructure program announced last year. The first round of funding awarded $28.41 million to 14 projects, for a total investment of $51.68 million. The total first-round funding will provide broadband infrastructure to more than 11,300 homes and commercial locations in 18 counties.
Applications and more information can be found on ocra.in.gov/nlc.htm. The deadline for letters of intent is January 6, 2020 by 3 p.m. ET.
Vanderburgh County Transportation CIPP Receives Engineering Excellence Award
Evansville, IND —The Vanderburgh County Transportation Capital Improvement Plan and Program (CIPP) that identifies the county’s future infrastructure needs are being recognized for excellence by an Indiana trade association.
The Indiana chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC Indiana) revealed that the CIPP received State Finalist recognition in the 2020 Engineering Excellence Awards in the Studies, Research and Consulting Engineering category.
The CIPP encompasses 550+ miles of publicly maintained roads in the unincorporated areas of Vanderburgh County. It is a two-part document that identifies infrastructure project needs and then evaluates the projects to assign an order in which they should be addressed over a 20-year period. The Capital Improvement Plan prioritizes 47 roads, seven Trailway and five drainage projects for implementation. The five-year Capital Improvement Program serves as a timely guide for implementing the Capital Improvement Plan. It prioritizes 11 roadway projects covering 23.6 miles and three trail projects covering 0.58 miles.
The Vanderburgh County Commissioners authorized engineering consulting firm American Structurepoint to research and develop the CIPP. Since adopting the plan in August 2018, the commissioners have used the plan’s data and prioritizations to seek state and local funding for seven projects covering approximately 30 miles now in various stages of engineering and design. The CIPP has been the commissioners’ catalyst for seeking funding avenues to move projects from the report’s pages into production, providing economic development opportunities and improved safety and quality of life for county residents.
The ACEC Indiana recognition is the second award the Vanderburgh CIPP has received. In October, the Association of Indiana Counties gave Vanderburgh County a 2019 County Achievement Award for its development and use of the Capital Improvement Plan and Program.
About American Structurepoint
American Structurepoint began a business in Indianapolis in 1966 and has since grown into a respected multidiscipline consulting firm recognized for its experienced professionals, quality work and customer service. Engineering News-Record (ENR) has consistently listed the company as a Top 500 National Design Firm. ENR Midwest in 2019 named American Structurepoint the No. 1 Indiana design firm and the No. 12 Top Design Firm. After more than 53 years of steady growth and a staff of 500 experienced professionals, American Structurepoint offers complete consulting and comprehensive design services. For more information, visit www.structurepoint.
AG Curtis Hill: Fentanyl Should Remain A Schedule I Drug
Attorney General Curtis Hill today called for Congress to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, which are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
“We need to continue to do our part to assist law enforcement when it comes to the war on drugs,†said Attorney General Hill. “The FIGHT Fentanyl Act allows for law enforcement to do their jobs and continue to take action against those distributing this lethal drug.â€
Attorney General Hill is part of a bipartisan coalition of 56 attorneys general endorsing the measure. In a letter, the attorneys general urge Congress to pass S. 2701, the Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Joe Manchin (D-WV).
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a temporary scheduling order in February 2018 that has allowed federal law enforcement authorities to bring criminal actions against individuals who manufacture, distribute or handle fentanyl-related substances. This scheduling order is set to expire on Feb. 6, 2020.
The FIGHT Fentanyl Act will ensure that law enforcement agencies and courts retain the tools needed to keep those who traffic in this deadly substance off the streets.
In 2017, there were 72,000 drug-related deaths in the United States. Of those deaths, roughly 40% involved fentanyl or a fentanyl-related compound.
Attorneys general from every state, territory and the District of Columbia signed the letter.
With the support of every attorney general, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) has chosen to endorse the legislation as one of its official policy positions. NAAG typically endorses approximately a dozen policies a year.
Students Celebrate Indiana’s 203rd Birthday
By Brandon Barger
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—The marble halls of the Statehouse filled with many voices Wednesday. It wasn’t a rally, but it certainly felt like one. It was actually the voices of many third and fourth grade students from around the state singing the classic song, “Happy Birthday.â€
The voices that echoed around the building and up into the Rotunda weren’t honoring an individual, though. Instead, they were singing: “Happy birthday, dear Indiana. Happy birthday to you.â€
The Plainfield Belles and Beaux Choir sings Back Home Again in Indiana at the Statehood Day event at the Statehouse on Dec. 11.
Photo by Brandon Barger, TheStatehouseFile.com
This birthday party was honoring Indiana’s 203rdyear as a state.
The Statehood Day event commemorates the day – Dec. 11, 1816 – when Indiana transformed from territory to the 19thstate of the union.
About 100 people attended Wednesday’s celebration. In addition to the students, attendees included Gov. Eric Holcomb, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Chief Appellate Judge Nancy Vaidik and former President Benjamin Harrison, represented by an impersonator.
The atrium where the event was held was decorated for the occasion with a large blue-and-gold Indiana state flag hung from the third-floor banister. As the program began, the Indy Metropolitan Memorial Color Guard presented the national and state flags to the assembled group and the Plainfield Belles and Beaux Choir from Plainfield High School sang the national anthem and later, Back Home Again in Indiana.
The theme of the birthday party, Today is Tomorrow’s History, was emphasized by Connor Lakin, a fourth-grade student from Van Rensselaer Elementary School who was the winner of the Statehood Day essay contest.
Gov. Eric Holcomb shakes fourth-grader Connor Lakin’s hand after Lakin’s speech at the Statehood Day event on December 11.
Photo by Brandon Barger, TheStatehouseFile.com
“History is how we grow, and Indiana is a huge part of my history,†Lakin said, noting he lives in the same home in which his father grew up.
After Lakin finished, he was awarded several prizes, including one of the state flags that has flown over the Statehouse and a proclamation honoring him from the governor.
Holcomb also talked about the theme, asking the children what they wanted to do in the future. Their stories, he noted, will become part of the history of Indiana in the years to come.
FOOTNOTE: Brandon Barger is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalists.