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Sullivan’s Bill Taking Aim At Distracted Driving Moves Forward

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State Rep. Holli Sullivan’s (R-Evansville) bill that would prohibit holding a hand-held electronic device while driving passed out of the House Roads and Transportation Committee Wednesday.

Sullivan, who chairs the committee, said nine Americans are killed each day as a result of distracted driving. It is also one of the top killers of teenagers, responsible for more than 58 percent of teen crashes. She said while Indiana has a law that prohibits texting while driving, it is difficult to enforce and drivers continue to use their devices including scrolling through social media feeds and playing games.

“Studies show how dangerous distracted driving is, and it is time for Indiana to act to prevent drivers from endangering themselves and others,” Sullivan said. “This is a simple but effective way to strengthen the current law. It provides clarity for drivers, law enforcement and prosecutors.”

Sullivan said 21 states have implemented “hands-free device driving laws.” If passed, Hoosier drivers could not hold their cell phone or electronic communication devices while driving.

“We need a cultural shift in order to stop crashes caused by distracted driving,” Sullivan said. “Indiana will be a safer place for everyone if people put their phones down and focus on driving.”

According to Sullivan, there will be a comprehensive and statewide educational campaign to inform Hoosiers about this law if it is enacted.

House Bill 1070 now moves to the full House for further consideration. For more information about this proposal, visitiga.in.gov.

AG Curtis Hill Hosts Crime Prevention Forum In 14 Cities Across Indiana

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Attorney General Curtis Hill today hosted a crime prevention forum in Bloomington as part of a listening tour visiting 14 cities across the Hoosier state. The purpose of the tour is to facilitate conversations aimed at developing solutions to residents’ crime-related concerns.

“When we come together to listen, learn and understand the problems facing our communities, we can better address the issues facing our state,” Attorney General Hill said. “Not everyone can make their way to Indianapolis to talk with us about these issues so we are coming to them as we continue working to protect the rights, freedoms and safety of Hoosiers statewide.”

The data from the first six crime prevention forums was presented at the 10th Annual Drug Abuse Symposium in October. The data from the rest of the forums will be collected and used at this year’s Drug Abuse Symposium.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY SHERIFF WARRANTS

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VANDERBURGH COUNTY SHERIFF WARRANTS

CourierWarrants

USI Students To Offer Free Income Tax Preparation Through VITA Program

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USI Students To Offer Free Income Tax Preparation Through VITA Program

Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), the University of Southern Indiana students in the Romain College of Business will provide free federal and state income tax preparation on Mondays, February 4 through March 16.

“We have 27 students enrolled in the program this year,” said Dr. Brett Bueltel, assistant professor of accounting. “Our students are excited for the opportunity to serve our community and gain real-world experience preparing tax returns.”

In VITA programs, the Internal Revenue Service partners with national and local organizations to provide tax services to individuals with low-to-moderate income at no cost to the taxpayer. Accounting students will interview and prepare the taxes of those taxpayers who make an appointment for the service. VITA sites do not prepare Schedule C business forms or Schedule E rental forms. Federal and state tax returns are prepared at the time of the appointment, and all taxpayers must be available to sign their returns. The preparation of returns typically takes 90 minutes to complete.

The sessions will be held by appointment only in Room 1004 in the Business and Engineering Center on the following Mondays: February 3, 10, 17 and 24; and March 2 and 16. Appointments will be available at 5 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. The USI VITA site is closed March 9 for Spring Recess.

Individuals are required to bring their tax information, photo identification cards, and Social Security cards for themselves and any dependents. International students must bring their passports and visas as well. The IRS encourages electronic filing and returns will be filed electronically for those who are eligible.

Please bring copies of your prior year state and federal tax returns if they are available. Your tax returns from the prior year are very helpful in preparing correct and complete current year returns. Paper returns will be prepared for those taxpayers who do not qualify for electronic filing or prefer paper returns.

To make an appointment, call the Romain College of Business at 812-464-1718.

EPD REPORT

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EPD REPORT

Yesteryear: East Side School

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East Side School

BY Pat Sides

Members of the Evansville School Board gathered to break ground for the construction of a new school in 1949. The action was spurred by the return of soldiers after the Second World War, which created an urgent need for new schools and family-sized dwellings to serve the surging population.

During this era, the city’s East Side was annexed, boosting the city’s area from 11.5 square miles to nearly 20. 

East Side School, built at a cost of $900,000, opened in the fall of 1949, even though it was not yet completed. In its second year of existence, it was renamed Dexter School so that it wouldn’t be confused with nearby Harper School, then being renovated from a one-room schoolhouse into a larger facility.

Designed for 500 pupils, Dexter’s first-year enrollment reached nearly 600, forcing classes to be held in the cafeteria and on the auditorium’s stage. A new wing containing eight classrooms was finally added in 1955.

ADOPT A PET

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Call him Ishmael. Some years ago – never mind how long precisely – he was wandering the streets as a stray, and a nice fellow brought him in to hopefully find him a home. He weighs 8 lbs. and is estimated to be pretty young, at about 3 years old. His adoption fee is $40 and includes his neuter, microchip, vaccines, and more. Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!

KENT ABERNATHY FILES BID FOR IN-05 CONGRESSIONAL SEAT

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Kent Abernathy will be filing his candidacy for Indiana’s 5th congressional district race. Kent, accompanied by his wife Karen, will be at the Secretary of State’s office today at 1pm.

Kent Abernathy is a husband, father, businessman, veteran, and proud Hoosier.

Following graduation from West Point, Kent spend nearly seven years on active duty.  He then transitioned to the Army National Guard and began a career in commercial banking.  As a vice president for two Indianapolis banks, he gained a comprehensive knowledge and appreciation of the factors that drive successful business and economic growth.

Throughout his business career, he remained active in the Army Reserve and National Guard. In 2003, with Americans defending freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, Kent felt the call to return to active military service. He took on various leadership roles in the Pentagon, including serving as a Crisis Action Team Chief and Director of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Washington Liaison Office. He urged his superiors to send him overseas and was deployed to Iraq where he served as Chief of Staff for the Iraq Assistance Group.

Kent returned to Indiana and served in the administrations of Governor Mitch Daniels and Governor Mike Pence. During the Pence administration, he was appointed as the 25th Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).  Most recently, Kent served as the Executive Director of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service.

Kent and his wife, Karen, a pediatric critical care nurse, have been married for 39 years and live in Zionsville. Together they have three sons, three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren.

Trump Administration Recruits Six New Members as U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions

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Commitments made by new Champions will contribute to national food waste reduction

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the addition of six new U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions. These champions are U.S. businesses and organizations pledging to reduce food loss and waste in their own operations by 50 percent by the year 2030. New champions in 2019 and announced today include: Browns Superstores, Compass Group, Giant Eagle, Hello Fresh, Las Vegas Sands, and The Wendy’s Company.

“Food products make up 22 percent of municipal solid waste sent to our nation’s landfills annually and working with my partners at USDA, we are challenging American businesses and consumers to reduce food waste,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.“The commitments made by these organizations in joining the Champions program will help propel the U.S. one step closer towards meeting the national goal of reducing food waste and loss 50 percent by 2030.”

“Businesses across the country are stepping up to reduce food loss and waste,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.“We applaud the manufacturers, grocers, restaurants, and other businesses that have made a commitment to reduce food loss and waste in their operations, and we call on more businesses to become U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions.”

“The elimination of food waste has been a critical component of our Sands ECO360 sustainability plan,” said Las Vegas Sands Senior Vice President of Global Sustainability Katarina Tesarova. “While this is definitely an environmental issue, it is also a social and economic issue. Not only does wasted food end up in the landfill, but there are other implications as well. For instance, we continue to focus on new ways to get excess unserved food to those in the community who are food insecure.”

The six new Champions join the list of existing 2030 Champions, which include: Ahold Delhaize, Aramark, Blue Apron, Bon Appetit, Campbells, ConAgra, Farmstead, General Mills, Hilton, Kellogg’s, Kroger, Marley Spoon, MGM Resorts, Mom’s Organic Market, Pepsico, Sodexo, Sprouts, Unilever, Walmart, Wegmans, Weis, Whitsons and Yum! Brands.

Cutting food waste in half by 2030 will take a sustained commitment from everyone. Success requires action from the entire food system including the food industry, and the U.S. 2030 Food Loss and Waste Champions group can help lead the way. Details on becoming a U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champion can be found at www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste and www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food.

Businesses not in a position to make the 50 percent reduction commitment may be interested in participating in EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge: https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-challenge-frc. State, local, tribal and territorial governments interested in making a commitment to food waste reduction can sign the Winning on Reducing Food Waste pledge.

USI Softball opens season ranked in Top 25

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University of Southern Indiana Softball is tied for No. 21 in the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, which was release Wednesday.

The Screaming Eagles, who finished the 2019 season ranked No. 25, return 12 players and six starters from a squad that was 35-21 overall and 19-7 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play a year ago.

That list includes three-time All-American senior pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt, who enters the season as USI’s all-time leader in wins (76) and strikeouts (711).

In 2019, Leonhardt was named second-team All-America by both the NFCA and D2CCA after earning GLVC Pitcher of the Year honors. The first-team Academic All-American finished the year ranked second in the nation in complete-game shutouts (13), seventh in strikeouts (243), ninth in ERA (1.29), 16th in saves (4) and 25th in wins (21). She also hit .351 with 11 doubles, a triple, one home run and 30 RBIs.

Leonhardt is one of three seniors that 19th-year Head Coach Sue Kunkle will rely on to lead the Eagles into 2020, with the others being outfielder Allison Schubert and shortstop Taylor Ricketts.

Schubert, an All-Midwest Region honoree as a sophomore two years ago, finished the 2019 season with a .274 batting average, five home runs and 21 RBIs. She hit .340 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 51 RBIs during USI’s run to the 2018 national title.

Ricketts hit .262 with six doubles, a triple and 12 RBIs a year ago and has been a staple in the Eagles’ defense throughout the last two seasons, having started 119 of USI’s 120 games at shortstop.

USI also will look to All-GLVC junior outfielder Alicia Webb to build upon her breakout season from a year ago. Webb hit .327 with seven doubles, four triples and 21 RBIs as a sophomore in 2019 and hit .345 in GLVC-only games.

Kunkle will rely on her upperclassmen to provide strong leadership to a roster that features six sophomores and seven freshmen.

USI begins the season February 7 when it travels to Harrogate, Tennessee, to take on Lincoln Memorial University in a doubleheader. The Eagles also are slated to play in the University of North Georgia’s Cottrell Foundation Loyal Blue Classic February 14-16 in Dahlonega, Georgia, before hosting the Midwest Region Crossover February 21-23 at Deaconess Sports Park.

Following their annual trip to Florida for The Spring Games March 6-10, the Eagles open their home and GLVC schedule March 14 against the University of Indianapolis, which is ranked No. 12 in the preseason poll.

The Eagles are scheduled to play 16 games at the USI Softball Field in 2020 after going 12-2 on their home diamond in 2019. They are looking for their sixth straight trip to the NCAA II Tournament in 2020 and their seventh in the last eight years.

In addition to the 2018 national championship, Kunkle (548-382-1) has directed USI Softball to seven NCAA II Tournament appearances, the 2018 GLVC Tournament title, 2017 GLVC regular-season title, and the 2017 and 2018 NCAA II Midwest Region championships.

 

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