Oswald is a 1-year-old male English Spot rabbit! He was found abandoned in an alley between First Avenue and Oakley Street, and no one ever reclaimed him. (He was likely dumped as an unwanted pet.) Oswald’s adoption fee is $50 and includes his neuter and registered microchip. Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!
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The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team returns to the Screaming Eagles Arena to kick off four-straight home Great Lakes Valley Conference matches, beginning with Lewis University and the University of Illinois Springfield this weekend.
The Screaming Eagles are back in Evansville with an 11-13 (3-6 GLVC) record to date, following a contentious five-set defeat at the University of Indianapolis and a three-set loss to Bellarmine University last Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Coverage of both matches can be found at GoUSIEagles.com, and will be live-streamed at glvcsn.com/usi.
USI News and Notes
Senior middle hitter Elexis Coleman joins junior setter Casey Cepicky on the climb up the USI all-time leaderboards in 2019. While Cepicky remains eighth in career assists (2,051), Coleman has worked her way to 15th with 250 career blocks with the potential to leap another three spots before the regular season concludes, based on her current 0.93 blocks-per-set pace.
Coleman also ranks among the best in the GLVC in attack percentage this season holding a .338 mark, good for fourth in that category. The Eagles rank fifth in blocks (181 – 2.15/set) and second in service aces (137 – 1.63/set) as a unit, with freshman outside hitter Leah Anderson appearing 10th in the individual category.
USI sits in a tie for 12th in the GLVC standings with six matches remaining in the 2019 season, though just two games back of Illinois Springfield and the Missouri University of Science and Technology sitting in a tie for the seventh spot.
Scouting Report
USI v. No. 8 Lewis – Friday, 7 p.m.
The nationally-ranked Flyers enter Friday’s match with a 21-3 (7-2 GLVC) record thus far and a five-match winning-streak in tow. Both of Lewis’ conference losses came on the same weekend trip USI is returning from, with almost identical results: a five-set, Friday-night loss in Indianapolis followed by a Saturday sweep at the hands of Bellarmine.
Lewis leads the all-time series with the Eagles, claiming 30 of 41 meetings. USI looks to snap a seven-match losing skid against the Flyers that dates back to the 2013 campaign. The Eagles last defeated a nationally-ranked Lewis team in 2011.
USI v. Illinois Springfield – Saturday, 3 p.m.
The Eagles match up with a familiar opponent in the Saturday afternoon match, as USI and the Prairie Stars battled in the Capital Classic as non-conference foes in September, when the host Illinois Springfield bested the Eagles in three sets.
The all-time series was narrowed to a 9-6 USI lead with the eary-season loss. The Eagles have gotten the better of UIS just once in the previous four meetings since the start of the 2016 season.
On The Horizon
USI will host Missouri S&T and Maryville University November 8 and 9 to conclude the regular-season home schedule, then wrap up the 2019 regular season at Quincy University and Truman State University the following weekend.
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a new partnership with the Food Waste Reduction Alliance, the latest effort in the Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative launched by the three federal agencies in 2018.
Through this Memo of Understanding, USDA, EPA, and FDA will formalize industry education and outreach efforts with The Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Food Marketing Institute, and the National Restaurant Association, the three founding partners of the Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA). The FWRA represents three major sectors of the supply chain: food manufacturing, retail, and restaurant and food service. The Alliance pursues three goals: reducing the amount of food waste generated; increasing the amount of safe, nutritious food donated to those in need; and diverting food waste from landfills.
“USDA shares many common goals with the Food Waste Reduction Alliance, including our belief in the power of teamwork,†said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “We are proud to join this public-private partnership to prompt action throughout the food system.â€
“EPA is proud to build upon the Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative through this partnership with leaders of the Food Waste Reduction Alliance,†said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Reducing food loss and waste has many environmental and social benefits. By collaborating with these major segments of the food supply chain, we are making progress toward the national goal to reduce food loss and waste by 50% by 2030.â€
“The FDA strongly supports our shared goal of reducing the amount of food that Americans waste through important efforts like today’s agreement,†said Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D. “The issues of food waste and food safety go hand in hand and we will continue to work with our federal partners and other stakeholders on enhancing our efforts to reduce food waste and do it safely. We are committed to doing all that we can to support safe and sound food policy decisions that are good for our families, good for our communities, and good for our planet.â€
Federal officials shared the news today at the 2019 Food Waste Summit, hosted by ReFED, a nonprofit that uses a data-driven approach to combat food loss and waste. At the event, federal officials also recognized the growing cadre of U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions, a group of corporations and organizations that have made a public commitment to reduce food loss and waste in their U.S. operations by 50% by the year 2030. EPA, FDA and USDA also released a Public Service Announcement video discussing the importance of reducing food loss and waste.
In the U.S., more than one-third of all available food goes uneaten through loss or waste. Food is the single largest type of waste in our daily trash. In recent years, great strides have been made to highlight and mitigate food loss and waste, but the work has just begun. When food is tossed aside, so too are opportunities for economic growth, healthier communities, and environmental protection – but that can change through partnership, leadership, and action.
The Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative is a collaborative effort among USDA, EPA, and FDA to reduce food loss and waste through combined and agency-specific action. Individually and collectively, these agencies contribute to the initiative, encourage long-term reductions, and work toward the goal of reducing food loss and waste in the United States. These actions include research, community investments, education and outreach, voluntary programs, public-private partnerships, tool development, technical assistance, event participation, and policy discussion.
Morales has team off to best start in 9 years
After leading the University of Evansville volleyball team to its best start in nine years, interim head coach Fernando Morales has been named the full-time head coach of the Purple Aces. Morales inked a multiyear deal on Wednesday.
“Personally, this is a dream come true. I knew this was what I wanted to do after retiring from my professional career,†Morales said. “Being a Division I coach is a great challenge, but I am in a great place with the full support of the university. We have an excellent group of girls on our team and a great group of recruits coming in. Evansville provides a family atmosphere that I am proud to be part of.â€
UE Director of Athletics Mark Spencer elevated Morales to the interim coaching position in the spring and has been pleased with the direction of the program. The program has not only been successful at the team level, but his efforts have seen his players win seven Missouri Valley Conference awards since the beginning of the season.
“We are thrilled to have Fernando on board,†Spencer said. “His professional experience has really translated into a very effective coaching style that our team has wholeheartedly embraced. We are excited to see that for many years to come.â€
Morales joined the Aces in 2018 as an assistant coach after 19 years of National and International playing experience in his native Puerto Rico. His experience included both indoor and beach volleyball. Aside from playing professionally in Puerto Rico, he saw time in Spain, Austria, Cyprus, Russia, Lebanon and Greece. He was a 3-time Pro League Champion and accumulated numerous accolades throughout his career including a silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Qualifiers. In 2007, he played in the World Cup.
On the coaching side, Morales has worked at several different levels on his way to the college level. An assistant coach at the professional level at Changas, he has also worked in several positions at the University of Kentucky camps, Cruz Control, Specialized Position Academy and the Fernando Morales Volleyball Camp.
“I want to thank Mark Spencer for trusting me to guide this program to where we want to go. When he named me interim coach, it was a big risk that he took with me not having the experience a lot of NCAA coaches do.  Naming me the coach officially is something I am very thankful for. †Morales added. “Sarah Solinsky is always supporting us and finding ways to help us. When I ask for something, she always finds a way to help the program with whatever she can.â€
“I am also very appreciative of the support of President (Christopher M.) Pietruszkiewicz. President P. has done so much for the athletic department and university as a whole. It is good to see a president that supports both sides and I think that will make this university grow a lot and help us all to be more successful.â€
In a short time leading the program, Morales has guided Evansville to its best start since 2010. His student-athletes have seen excellent growth both on and off the court. The players have etched their way into the record books as Melanie Feliciano, Gabriela Macedo and Rachel Tam have all set program records this year.
“The girls gave me the vote of confidence,†Morales exclaimed. “We have a great group of girls who are good players; they care about each other and the program and that is a recipe for success.â€
Over his tenure at UE, Morales has put a great deal of effort into community outreach and is thankful for the support that the program has received in return.
“Thank you to the Aces community that has supported the program this year and they have expressed their support to me personally. We need that from our community to continue getting better.”
Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and First Lady Janet Holcomb will host trick-or-treaters at the governor’s residence to celebrate Halloween.
The governor and first lady will pass out candy, donated by Frankfort-based Zachary Confections, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31. They will dress in Jurassic Park themed costumes.
Trick-or-treaters should enter through the gate on 46th Street.
Thursday, Oct. 31: Trick-or-Treat with the Governor and First Lady
WHO:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gov. Eric Holcomb
First Lady Janet Holcomb
First Dog Henry Holcomb
WHAT:Â Â Â Â Â Â Halloween
WHEN:      6 – 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 31
WHERE:   Indiana Governor’s Residence, 46th St. Entrance
4750 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Posey County – Indiana State Police has arrested a 36-year-old Evansville man in connection to an overnight shooting that injured Marcus McGrew, 32, of Mt. Vernon.
At approximately 1:01 this morning, Posey County Dispatch received several 911 calls reporting shots fired in the area of 3rd Street and Park Street in Mt. Vernon. Responding officers failed to locate any activity when they arrived in the area. At approximately 1:30, Posey Dispatch received a 911 call regarding Marcus McGrew being shot and needing an ambulance. McGrew originally drove to his residence on Pearl Street where he picked up his wife and then drove to his father’s residence on Nation Road where an ambulance was summoned. He was transported to Deaconess Midtown Hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound and later released.
During the course of the investigation, Indiana State Police Detectives revealed that Terry Adams, 36, of Evansville and McGrew were involved in a confrontation at the Sunoco gas station located on 4th Street in Mt. Vernon. The altercation eventually led to Adams and McGrew leaving the gas station in separate vehicles. Moments later, both vehicles stopped in the area of 3rd Street and Park Street where Adams allegedly shot McGrew with a 40 caliber pistol. Adams was located near West Elementary School and arrested for Attempted Murder, a Class 1 Felony. Adams is currently being held without bond in the Posey County Jail. This is an on-going investigation.
Arrested and Charges:
Investigating Officers: Detectives Wes Kuykendall and Alan Sherretz, Sergeant Brad Chandler and Sergeant Ted Clamme
Assisting Agency: Mt. Vernon Police Department and Posey County Sheriff’s Department
RINGLE
 All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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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 10th annual City-County Observer “Community Achievement Awards” held at Tropicana last Friday drew a record crowd of attendees? Â …that the room was filled to capacity?…since this is a non-national-election year it is entirely possible that someone may be elected to the Evansville City Council by several hundred votes?…apathy is always apparent when the main event is essentially uncontested as the Evansville Mayoral election is this year?…we are told because the CCO readers vote in large numbers they may have enough impact to help elect candidates that care about ‘Good Public Policy”?
