Home Blog Page 3043

Today was certainly a “Big Monday” for Evansville basketball

0

UE recognized nationally in both polls

Following last Tuesday’s 67-64 win at top-ranked Kentucky, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team and head coach Walter McCarty received several accolades on Monday.

The Purple Aces are on the verge of being ranked for the first time in their Division I history.  In Monday’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll, Evansville received 43 votes, ranking 30th on the list.  UE also garnered 8 votes in the Coaches Poll, which put them at 39th.

Evansville’s day got started on a high note with the squad being named the “Team of the Week” by March Madness digital reporter, analyst and host Andy Katz.  Following UE’s win over the Wildcats, Coach McCarty joined Katz for an interview that recapped the game.

Speaking of Coach McCarty – he was named the HoopDirt.com Division I Coach of the Week presented by Just Play Solutions.  With the honor, McCarty is now eligible to receive the HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year award, which will be announced at the conclusion of the season.  The 2019-20 season marks the fifth year that HoopDirt.com has given out weekly and yearly awards.

Coach McCarty has been making headlines in the early season, as his Evansville squad pulled off what could be the upset of the year on the road against top-ranked Kentucky. The Aces opened the season with a home victory over Ball State before heading to Lexington on Tuesday to take on McCarty’s alma mater, who had moved into the #1 spot in the country just a day prior.

When all was said and done, the Purple Aces had shocked the college basketball world, coming away with a 67-64 win. The upset marked the first time in program history that Evansville had beaten the top-ranked team in the country, and snapped Kentucky’s 52 game home winning streak over unranked non-conference opponents. After an 89-71 win over IU-Kokomo on Thursday, Coach McCarty and the Aces are sitting at 3-0 on the season as they await a home matchup with SMU tonight.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

0

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

Ladonna Juanita Stout: Battery by means of a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony), Battery resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 5 Felony), Criminal recklessness (Level 6 Felony)

Mark Allen Lehman: Battery by means of a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony), Battery resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 5 Felony)

Gage Ryan Cook: Child molesting (Level 4 Felony), Child molesting (Level 4 Felony)

Kevin Jerry Dinh: Robbery resulting in bodily injury (Level 3 Felony), Residential entry (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury (Level 6 Felony), Criminal confinement (Level 5 Felony)

Demetrius C. Harvey: Battery resulting in bodily injury to a public safety official (Level 5 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor), Public intoxication (Class B misdemeanor), Disorderly conduct (Class B misdemeanor)

Brandon James Mercer: Domestic battery (Level 5 Felony), Domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a pregnant woman (Level 5 Felony)

Katherine Elizabeth Ackerman: Theft (Level 6 Felony)

Tyler Benjamin Poiles: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Scott Christopher Spears: Strangulation (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor)

Chelsey Deann Leach: Theft (Level 6 Felony)

Taylor James Key: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor)

Holly E. Bolin: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)

Amy E. Cross: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony)

Esther P. Merrill: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)

Kyle Matthew Gresham: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Theft (Class A misdemeanor), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)

Jami Leigh Wendell: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)

Steven Walter Steele: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)

Aces set to face SMU at the Ford Center

0

Tip will be at 6 p.m.

For the third game in a row, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team will face an opponent for the first time in program history as the team welcomes SMU to the Ford Center for a 6 p.m. game on Monday.  ESPN+ will have the broadcast with Preston Leinenbach and Marcus Wilson on the call

 Setting the Scene                                                                                                             

– Since arriving to campus, UE head coach Walter McCarty has stressed the importance of improving the strength of the schedule

– Monday’s game is a prime example of the types of games and series McCarty is looking at implementing for the Aces

– It is the first in a home-and-home series with the Mustangs and is the first time the programs have met on the hardwood

– Evansville and SMU each put their perfect 3-0 records on the line in the game

– SMU has faced one opponent this year that is also on the Aces schedule – Jacksonville State; in their opener, the Mustangs picked up a 74-65 win over the Gamecocks in their season opener

Last Time Out                                                                                                             

– Less than 48 hours after earning a win on the floor of Rupp Arena, the Purple Aces were back home to face IU Kokomo

– The Cougars stayed with the Aces in the opening 10 minutes of the game before UE got in its groove and led by 15 at the half before taking the win by 18 points

– DeAndre Williams notched the first double-double of his Evansville career, tallying 23 points and 13 rebounds

– Arture Labinowicz was an efficient 7-8 from the floor to finish with 21 while John Hall scored 16

 Leftovers from IU Kokomo                                                                                                              

– Making the start in all three games this season, Jawaun Newton saw a career-high 26 minutes of work

– Evansville was outrebounded on the offensive glass by a 13-11 margin against IUK; the only time the Aces won that battle came against the top-ranked Wildcats as they finished with an 11-8 advantage

– In two home games, DeAndre Williams 24.5 points per game while hitting 20 of his 28 attempts

Depth is Paying Off   

– One statistic you may not see any Aces player lead the conference in is minutes played

– Coach McCarty is showing that the best teams do not need one player on the floor for the majority of the game; so far – UE does not have a single player in the top 15 in the league in minutes

– Eight Aces players are on the floor for at least 20 minutes per game with nobody having to work over 30 minutes

– In fact – not one player over UE’s three games has played 30 minutes or more

 

EPD REPORT

0

EPD REPORT

EAGLES WIN GLVC CHAMPIONSHIP

0
USI captures 1st conference tournament championship

University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer captured its first Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship by defeating McKendree University in penalty kicks, 4-3, after battling to a 0-0 draw Sunday afternoon at Woehrle Athletics Complex in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The GLVC Tournament title automatically punches the Screaming Eagles’ ticket to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

The GLVC seventh-seeded Screaming Eagles, who go to 12-6-2 overall, will discover their destination in the NCAA II Tournament Monday at 5 p.m. when the tournament pairings are announced. The NCAA II Tournament will be the first for the Eagles since 1998 when they advanced to the national quarterfinals, falling to Ashland University at Strassweg Field.

USI won the shootout after battling McKendree, who goes to 15-3-2, to a double-overtime tie. Junior defender Madelyne Juenger led off the shootout for USI by converting the first penalty kick, followed by sophomore forward Katlyn Andres and senior midfielder/forward Caroline Canoy before junior forward Maggie Winter converted on the deciding penalty kick.

Between the posts, USI goalkeeper Maya Etienne sealed the shootout win by making saves on McKendree’s third and fifths attempts. Etienne also posted her 11th shutout of the season, making seven saves against 18 total shots in the tie portion of the contest.

During regulation and the two overtime periods, USI had a 19-18 lead in shots, 9-7, on-goal, while McKendree had the advantage in corner kicks, 8-2.

Sheriff’s Office Investigating Gun Shot at Westside Party

0

At approximately 01:51 in the morning of November 17th, 2019 Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Roesner Road in reference to a shots fired call at a house party. The initial responders discovered that a female had sustained a gunshot wound to the hip area. Witnesses on scene advised that they did not know the suspect and were only able to give a description of the shooter as a “black male with dreadlocks”. The female victim was transported to a local hospital, where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing and the Sheriff’s Office will provide updates as more information becomes available.

“IS IT TRUE” NOVEMBER 18, 2019

4

We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” 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 teachers have one of the highest impact platforms to positively impact society?

IS IT TRUE 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 on December 5th, 2019 the Vanderburgh County Council will be holding a public hearing concerning four (4) proposed designs of the Vanderburgh County Jail?  …the proposed jail designs were created by AmericanStructure Engineering after they gathered information from State, Federal. local law enforcement, elected officials, criminal justice experts, and other stakeholders?
IS IT TRUE we are told that the swing vote on the Vanderburgh County Council that will determine the size of the new addition to the Vanderburgh County jail is none other than Democrat Mike Goebel?
IS IT TRUE many years ago Vanderburgh County Council members Jim Raben (R)and Tom Shelter, Jr. (R) objected to the building of a larger County jail?  …if they would have agreed to build the larger one back then we wouldn’t be talking about building a new addition to the current jail today?
IS IT TRUE we know that several of the members of the Vanderburgh County Council are ultra-conservative and we hope that they understand the difference of spending our tax dollars or investing them? …that building a new addition to the jail is considered investing our tax dollars for the public good?
IS IT TRUE that adding the right size renovation to the Vanderburgh County jail will protect members of our law enforcement that work there from the thugs who are housed there?
IS IT TRUE that Linda E. White is the new CEO of Methodist Health?  …we find this very move very interesting?  …does her appointed mean that Deaconness Hospital System-Evansville has now has taken official control of Methodist Health Hospital in Henderson, Ky?
IS IT TRUE we are told by the owners of GANGNAM KOREAN  BBQ located on 518 Main Street (across from the Ford Center) if you bring your ticket from an Evansville Aces or Thunderbolts sporting event you will receive a free appetizer with a purchase of an entree?
IS IT TRUE  that County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave served ten years as the Vanderburgh County Assessor, two and a half years as Vanderburgh County Commissioner, and was appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance?  …that Musgrave also served on the Vanderburgh County Board of Zoning Appeals and the Evansville Redevelopment Commission? …she has done a credible job in every position? …we expect that Commissioner Musgrave will soon announce that she’s running for re-election?
IS IT TRUE that County Commissioner Ben Shoulders announced last week that he is running for re-election in 2020? …we were told last week Mr. Shoulders had a campaign organizational meeting that was attended by a very impressive group of individuals? …we are told that his re-election committee consisted of diverse community leaders, labor union reps, young professionals, business owners, and senior citizens?  …we are also told that he also has over $100,000 in his re-election war chest?
IS IT TRUE that EPD Sgt Jason Cullum announced that he will be taking over as the Director Of Safety and Security at the University of Evansville?  …we give five (5) cheers to Jason Cullum for a job well done with the EPD for the last 21 years and wish him well in his new position at the University Of Evansville?
IS IT TRUE that our most recent non-scientific but trendy “Readers Poll” question was: “Who do you feel is the number one TV station in this region”?   …the results of our nor-scientific but trendy  ‘Readers Poll” was. Channel 14 TV (39%) received  an impressive 216 votes, Channel 25 TV (33%) received 185 votes. and Channel 44 TV (17%)  93 VOTED AND 60 PEOPLE (11%) said they had no idea?
IS IT TRUE we hope that you will enjoy the following quotes sent us by one of our good friend Ron Riecken?
“I invented the Internet.”    ~   Al Gore. 
“I have campaigned in all 57 states.”     ~Barack Obama   (Quoted in 2008)
“Homicide is the leading cause of murder.”  ~Rep. Sheila Jackson
“No ordinary American cares about Constitutional rights.”  ~Joe Biden
“Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit.”   ~Bernie Sanders
“Having an abortion is no different than having one’s tonsils removed.”  ~Elizabeth Warren
“You need to vote for the Democrats otherwise the illegal aliens will lose their rights”! ~ Nancy Pelosi……2019

“My fear is if North Korea nukes us, Trump is gonna get us into a war.”     ~ Maxine Waters……2017

“We are all born ignorant, but one must work very hard to remain STUPID!”  ~Benjamin Franklin~ (1706-1790)
IS IT TRUE we are pleased with the way that the honorable Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge Robert J.Tonatta conducts himself in and out of the courtroom?  …he is also one heck of a nice person?
Today’s our non-scientific but trendy “Readers Poll” question is: Do you feel that the Democratic-controlled (7-2) Evansville City Council should elect a Democrat to be their next attorney?
If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us at City-County Observer@live.com
Footnote: City-County Observer Comment Policy. Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will not be tolerated and shall be removed from our site.
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.

 

Editorial: Teachers Have One Of The Highest Impact Platforms To Positively Impact Society

5

With the controversial and outright nasty gubernatorial election in Kentucky and the nationwide focus on the educational establishment, the quality of public education and the value of teachers is front and center in the spotlight.

It has long been the belief and assumption that teachers are underpaid relative to their value.  It’s also hard to find anyone who thinks that teachers are paid as much as they should be. It is, for the most part, assumed these days that public education is in decline and that the paltry salaries and benefits of teachers are the principal reasons for the decline.

The City-County Observer believes that teachers have one of the highest impact platforms to positively impact our society. Teachers are however shackled with rules and contracts that blunt their efforts with red tape from centralized planning that seems to think that all kids are exactly alike.

We also find that the Vanderburgh County School Superintendent salary and benefits are excessive compared to those who are working long and hard to provide their students with the best education under adverse conditions.  Also, the practice of political patronage and nepotism is a common practice within school systems throughout the state and needs to be addressed by members of their School Boards.

A question that also needs to be addressed regarding education reform is “if all teacher salaries in the United States were doubled, would it improve the performance of our public schools?”  It is highly probable that most people will realize that doubling teacher pays without reforming the administrative state that controls education would not improve performance.

While we are not opposed to paying teachers better wages and benefits, we do not think teacher pay is the biggest problem in the classroom. The biggest problem in the classroom is from the school corporation administrators who have little idea about the challenges teachers face in the classroom on a daily basis. To reform education, the effort needs to start with management.

If elected officials are able to increase teachers’ salaries and benefits where they are competitive it will help deal with the loss of effective teachers and make it easier to attract and retain high-quality teachers.

We support our teachers and wish them success at the“Red for Ed” rally organized by the Indiana State Teachers Association.

FOOTNOTE: More than 100 school districts across Indiana will close on Tuesday as thousands of Hoosier teachers say they will descend on the Statehouse to urge lawmakers to improve pay and make other education reforms.

The “Red for Ed” rally organized by the Indiana State Teachers Association takes place on the day lawmakers return to the Statehouse to get ready for the 2020 legislative session. They are expected to be in session for about half a day.

Jennifer Smith-Margraf, ISTA vice president, said more than 13,000 have signed up to attend the day-long event, which includes speeches, meetings with lawmakers and other activities.

 

TODAYS EVANSVILLE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

0

City Council Meeting
NOVEMBER 18, 2019 Agenda at 5:30 P.M.-Civic Center
 

AGENDA

 

I. INTRODUCTION

 

Agenda Attachment:
II. APPROVAL OF MEETING MEMORANDUM

 

Memo Attachment:
III. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

IV. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY

 

V. CONSENT AGENDA:  FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

 

A. ORDINANCE F-2019-24 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): Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver Discussion Date: 12/2/2019
F-2019-24 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE F-2019-25 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Appropriation, Repeal and Re-Appropriation of Funds Within the Department of Metropolitan Development Sponsor(s): Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver Discussion Date: 12/2/2019
F-2019-25 Attachment:
C. ORDINANCE R-2019-28 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 200 and 206 Washington Avenue Petitioner: Evansville Brownfields Corp. Owner: Evansville Brownfields Corp. Requested Change: R4 to C2 w/UDC Ward: 4 Robinson Representative: Carolyn Rusk, Evansville Brownfields Corp.
R-2019-28 Attachment:
D. ORDINANCE R-2019-29 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 217 W. Franklin Street Petitioner: Richard Mills Owner: Schneider Properties LLC Requested Change: R4 to C4 w/UDC Ward: 3 Melcher Representative: Richard Mills, Mills-Wallace
R-2019-29 Attachment:
E. ORDINANCE R-2019-30 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 1571 Wedeking Avenue Petitioner: Ruth Brinkley Owner: Doris A. Kissel Requested Change: R1 to R3 Ward: 3 Melcher Representative: Ruth Brinkley
R-2019-30 Attachment:
VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

VII. REGULAR AGENDA:  SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

 

A. ORDINANCE G-2019-15 An Ordinance of the Evansville Common Council Authorizing the City of Evansville, Indiana, to Issue One or More Series of Its “Economic Development Revenue Bonds (House Investments Evansville Oz, LLC Project)”, and Approving and Authorizing Other Actions in Respect Thereto Sponsor(s): Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver Discussion Date: 11/18/2019
G-2019-15 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE R-2019-25 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 210 Waggoner Avenue Petitioner: Habitat for Humanity of Evansville, Inc. Owner: Habitat for Humanity of Evansville, Inc. Requested Change: C4 to R2 Ward: 5 Elpers Representative: Beth Folz, Habitat for Humanity of Evansville, Inc.
R-2019-25 Attachment:
C. ORDINANCE R-2019-27 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 1807 & 1809 Stringtown Rd Petitioner: Jason Paul Owner: Jason Paul Requested Change: C4 to R2 Ward: 3 Melcher Representative: Jason Paul
R-2019-27 Attachment:
VIII. RESOLUTION DOCKET

 

A. RESOLUTION C-2019-22 A Preliminary Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Declaring an Economic Revitalization Area for Property Tax Phase-In for The Rehabilitation of Real Property at 24, 26, 34 and 40 West Franklin Street and 101 and 103 West Illinois Street, Evansville, IN  47710 Sponsor(s): Weaver Discussion Led By: Councilman Weaver Discussion Date: 11/18/2019
C-2019-22 Attachment:
IX. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

 

A. THE NEXT MEETING of the Common Council is Monday, December 2, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.
B. ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
X. COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

XI. ADJOURNMENT