Ravioli is a handsome male orange tabby cat! He’s a kitty who is easily overstimulated, so he’d probably do best with a family that wasn’t intent on picking him up & carrying him a lot. Ravioli was adopted as a kitten and then returned, and could really use a home that will let him be the aloof cat he is! His adoption fee is $40 and includes his neuter, microchip, vaccines, and more. Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!
Commentary: Honoring women in Indiana? Set it in stone
Commentary: Honoring women in Indiana? Set it in stone
By Mary Beth Schneider
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—I’ve spent a lot of years in the Indiana Statehouse, but paid more attention to the living beings there than the stone replicas of Hoosiers past.
Only recently did I notice that women and minorities are, to say the least, underrepresented. That’s true of today’s lawmakers, too. But only the voters can change that. The marble busts and statues, though, could be changed any time our state government realizes what I did.
Mary Beth Schneider
Take a look at the inventory. On the second floor there are seven busts, all men. There are two plaques for women, one honoring Frances Elizabeth Willard of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and one for Sarah Tittle Bolton, dubbed “Indiana’s pioneer poet.â€
On the third floor, there are 8 busts, of which seven are men. The eighth is former U.S. Rep. Julia Carson. She’s also one of only two minorities honored in the Statehouse; the other is Sherman Minton, elected in 1880 as the first African-American to serve in the Indiana General Assembly.
The fourth floor has busts of four men, a giant bison named Abe and, yes, a statue of a woman. Not a real woman, though; a goddess dubbed “Indiana.â€
Indiana seems really into honoring pretend women. In the Rotunda there are eight statues, six of which are female figures representing agriculture, commerce, justice, liberty, history and art. Because nothing says commerce and farming like a toga-wrapped, sandal-wearing beauty who was barred from even voting for some guy in the Statehouse until 1920.
One would think Indiana could make room for more real women. Heck, there’s even one empty niche on the fourth floor.
Besides, it’s not as if every bust of a man in the Statehouse is deserving of the honor. Two in particular – Daniel Wesley Voorhees and Ashbel Parsons Willard — should be consigned to a museum, not a government building that should represent equality and justice.
Voorhees, who served in Congress starting in the 1860s, didn’t want slavery in Indiana, but said: “They have a right to it elsewhere; property in slaves is not to be distinguished from other kinds of property which are protected by the same constitution.â€
Yes, he saw people as property, no different than cattle or a pair of shoes.
Willard, elected governor in 1856, not only supported slavery, he also supported the law that said runaway slaves who escaped to freedom had to be returned to their “owner†if captured.
The worst thing someone ever did or said may not negate every good thing they did. But it certainly should disqualify them from holding one of a handful of spots highlighting Hoosiers whose lives should still resonate with us today.
Alternatives are plentiful.
I’d nominate Dr. Mary F. Thomas, an abolitionist, a physician who cared for wounded soldiers at Vicksburg and an ardent supporter of women’s rights. In short, a far better representative for Hoosier women than that goddess statue on the fourth floor.
In 1859, she became the first woman to even get to speak on the floor of the legislature, as she presented a petition calling for giving women the right to vote and own property. “As mothers, as wives, as daughters, as sisters, and lastly as human beings, alike responsible with yourselves to God for the correct use of the rights bestowed on us, we come to you, humiliating as it may be to ask these rights at the hands of others possessing no more natural rights than ourselves.â€
They blew her off.
Instead of slavery apologists, how about honoring a slave who won her freedom? Polly Strong was born a slave in the late 1700s, and at age 10 was bought by a Vincennes innkeeper. The 1816 state constitution, though, said Indiana was a free state – so she sued all the way to the Indiana Supreme Court and in 1820 she won, as the court ruled “slavery can have no existence†in Indiana. She was a free woman – and though other slaves remained in Indiana, the principal was set even if racism continued.
Which is why we also should honor Katherine “Flossie†Bailey. She founded the Marion chapter of the NAACP and sought justice for Abe Smith and Tom Shipp, two black men lynched in Marion in 1930. Her fight to prosecute those responsible led to two arrests – but an all-white jury acquitted them. The least the state can do is remember her.
These images matter. Honoring those who fought for freedom shouldn’t just be a history lesson. In the Statehouse, it should be set in stone.
FOOTNOTE: Mary Beth Schneider is an editor at TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalists.
THE UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL RANKINGS
THE UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE REGIONAL AND NATIONALS RANKINGS
OVERVIEW
University of Evansville is a private institution that was founded in 1854. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,342, its setting is city, and the campus size is 75 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Evansville’s ranking in the 2019 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities Midwest, 7. Its tuition and fees are $36,416 (2018-19).
The University of Evansville is a private liberal arts school located on the Ohio River in southwest Indiana. Although Evansville is just a few hours from St. Louis and Nashville, its secondary campus, Harlaxton College, is in the United Kingdom. For the past 40 years, students have had the opportunity to spend a semester at Evansville’s British campus, where they can study in Victorian mansions and learn about English culture. More than half of Evansville students study at Harlaxton or in another country each year. The Evansville campus offers around 80 different areas of undergraduate study and six graduate programs, including those in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration.
Students can participate in more than 10 fraternities and sororities, around 160 student organizations, or a variety of sports. Most Evansville students play an intramural sport, and more serious athletes can try out for one of the nearly 15 Purple Aces varsity teams, which compete in the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference. Notable Evansville alumni include actor Jack McBrayer, who plays Kenneth in the NBC comedy 30 Rock.
2019 Rankings
University of Evansville is ranked #7 in Regional Universities Midwest. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
#7 in Regional Universities Midwest
See all scores and key indicators.
Read more about how we rank schools.
Indiana State Fair Honors Long-Time Volunteers With Lifetime Passes
Indiana State Fair Honors Long-Time Volunteers With Lifetime Passes
Haley Carney
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—Mary Alice Collins has made a yearly appearance at the Indiana State Fair since 1955, competing with her baked goods and winning thousands of ribbons for her pies, cakes, breads, cookies, and so much more.
In 2015, she suffered septic shock, losing all ten of her fingers and both of her legs. With months of therapy and practice, Collins learned how to bake again with the help of her husband, Darl. And she was back at the fair in 2016.
This year, the Collinses, of Hancock County, have entered 22 pies, or 55 baked goods total, in baking competitions. And for their decades-long commitment to the fair, the two were awarded with a lifetime pass to the fair.
Darl Collins quickly accepted the award while his wife remained in their car because of the afternoon heat. And then they were off to judge an heirloom recipe baking contest.
The Opry House in the Pioneer Village, cooled only by fans on a hot and sunny Wednesday, was where past and current state fair volunteers were awarded a lifetime pass in recognition of their years of service.
In all, 24 people were honored with a lifetime pass to the state fair, meaning they can get in for free whenever the fair is open for as long they want.
Award recipient Jane Ade Stevens, of Indianapolis, has been a volunteer at the fair for the last 30 years, although she had been attending since she was a child. She helped build numerous features such as the glass barn and a covered bridge.
“It’s great. It’s very nice to be recognized by the state fair,†Stevens said. “Anyone who’s been out here knows it’s a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun. I’ve been coming to the fair for 60 years, since I was little. So with this pass I will certainly continue to do so.â€
Stevens said she believes that the state fair is a special place where everyone can fit in.
“There’s something for everyone, whether you’re into do-it-yourself stuff, or food, or animals, even science, whatever it is, there’s something for you,†she said.
State Trooper Pat O’Connor, who is in charge of security at the fair, reacted with humility during Wednesday’s ceremony.
“To be honest after I listened to all the long dissertations about all the other people, I was like ‘man, they contributed a lot,’†he said. “My involvement has been since 2012, but the state police has always provided the security here.â€
O’Connor, of Indianapolis, said winning this award was a team effort because the state has about 130 officers every day covering multiple shifts at the fair. Ultimately, he was the one making the big decisions, but everyone worked together in order to ensure the fair is safe and enjoyable in the few weeks that it is open.
“After 9/11, we don’t want to change the way we live our lives. But you always have to be aware of your surroundings to make sure you’re safe,†O’Conner said. “But the fair has made great strides in doing just that and making sure everyone stays safe.â€
The Indiana State Fair runs until Aug. 18 and gates are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. General admission is $13 and children under five are free.
FOOTNOTE: Haley Carney is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalists.
IU’s Lanza Wins Bronze At Pan American Games
Indiana University postgrad swimmer Vini Lanza captured bronze in the men’s 100m butterfly on Wednesday night at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Lanza, swimming for Team Brazil, touched the wall third overall in the A Final of the men’s 100m fly with a time of 51.88. Lanza will also be eligible for selection in both the mixed and men’s 4x100m medley relays for Brazil later this week.
Lanza’s bronze makes it three medals for Indiana postgrads on the first two days of swimming at the Pan American Games. On Tuesday, Annie Lazor won gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke, while Cody Miller took silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke.
The 2019 Pan American Games will continue through Saturday, Aug. 10 in Lima, Peru. Prelims start each morning at 12:00 p.m. ET, with finals each night at 9:30 p.m. ET.
HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
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Evansville Water and Sewer Utility will Temporarily Change Disinfection Beginning August 19
Evansville Water And Sewer Utility Will Temporarily Change Disinfection Beginning August 19
Beginning August 19 and continuing through September 23, 2019, the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) will temporarily change the disinfectant used in the water treatment process.  EWSU will be using free chlorine rather than the regularly used disinfectant (chloramine) during this time period. This is the second and final of two such temporary switchovers for 2019.
What is Chloramine?
Chloramine is a disinfectant used in drinking water to remove bacteria and viruses that can make you sick. It is made up of chlorine and ammonia.  EWSU has used chloramine as the disinfectant in its water treatment process since 1999.
What is Free Chlorine?
Free chlorine is a slightly stronger disinfectant than chloramine, and it is used to remove more resistant bacteria and viruses that may be found in the water distribution system.
Why would the EWSU Convert from Chloramine to Free Chlorine?
This brief, scheduled change in disinfectant is a standard water treatment practice to keep water mains clean and free of potentially harmful bacteria throughout the year. Â State drinking water guidelines recommend that utilities using chloramine periodically switch to free chlorine for a period of time. Â The temporary use of chlorine will ensure that a proper level of disinfectant is maintained throughout the network of water mains and pipes that deliver your drinking water.
Free chlorine is a more aggressive disinfectant than chloramine, and this temporary change in the water treatment process denies bacteria the ability to form resistance to the usual disinfection treatment process. Switching to free chlorine is a proactive step to ensure that we maintain optimal levels of disinfectant in the water distribution system.
As always, the drinking water will be regularly monitored to ensure that the water delivered meets, or is better than, federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
Why Does EWSU Use Chloramine Most of the Year?
While chlorine is an effective disinfectant, using chlorine alone creates byproducts that are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  These by-product levels can be significantly and cost-effectively reduced through the use of chloramine. Also, chloramine has less odor (compared to chlorine), and remains in the distribution system longer to more effectively prevent bacterial growth. As such, chloramine is a better long-term choice as a regular disinfectant.
Will I Notice a Difference in My Water?
During this time period, some customers may notice a slight change in the taste or odor of their tap water. Free chlorine may have more of a chemical odor, slightly like that of swimming pool water. Each individual customer has his or her own sensitivity level to the taste and/or odor of free chlorine. Â Many detect no change at all. Â The mild chlorine taste and odor is normal and poses no health risk.
Are Free Chlorine and Chloraminated Water Safe?
Yes, both free chlorine and chloramine are effective and safe for people and animals for drinking, cooking and bathing, as well as watering the garden and all other common uses. Â However, precautions should be taken to remove or neutralize chloramine and free chlorine during the kidney dialysis process, in the preparation of water for fish tanks and ponds, and for businesses requiring highly processed water. Â A de-chlorination procedure optimized for chloramine removal will work equally well with free chlorine.
People and businesses that normally take special precautions to remove chloramine from tap water (such as dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquatic pet owners) should continue to take the same precautions during the temporary switch from chloramine to free chlorine.
Most customers will not need to take any precautions as the water remains safe to drink and is treated according to both state and federal standards.
- Kidney Dialysis:Â Just like chloramine, free chlorine must be removed from water used in kidney dialysis machines. Â EWSU has contacted representatives from the medical community to inform them of this temporary conversion. Â We advise customers who are dialysis patients to call their physicians or dialysis centers if there are any questions.
- Fish Owners:Â Like chloramine, free chlorine is toxic to fish. Â Fish owners need to remove chlorine, ammonia and chloramine from the water before use with tropical fish. Local pet stores carry water conditioners that remove chloramine and free chlorine. Â If customers have questions, we recommend contacting their pet store for information and detailed instructions.
EWSU is committed to providing high-quality water and related services that meet all regulatory drinking water standards in a manner that prevents pollution, enhances the environment, and promotes sustainability.  If you need further information regarding this change, please contact the Utility water treatment facility at (812) 428-0568. Â
Obituary Of Athon Hopson
Athon Hopson, age 70 of Wheatcroft, KY, formerly of Earlington, KY died on August 4, 2019, at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.
Homegoing Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2019, at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Earlington, Kentucky. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral service hour. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Earlington, Kentucky.
Gov. Holcomb Public Schedule for August 8 and 9
INDIANAPOLIS – Below find Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s public schedule for August 8 and 9, 2019.
Thursday, August 8: Next Level Connections Announcement
WHO:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gov. Holcomb
Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch
WHAT:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The governor will give remarks.
WHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1:30 p.m. CT Thursday, August 8
WHERE:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Co-Op
11877 E. State Rd. 62Â
St. Meinrad, IN 47577
Friday, August 9: 2019 Southwest Indiana Chamber “Lunch with the Governorâ€
WHO:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gov. Holcomb
WHAT:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The governor will participate in a Q&A.
WHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 11:30 a.m. CT Friday, August 9
WHERE:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Old National Events Plaza
715 Locust St.Â
Evansville, IN 47711
Friday, August 9: Ceremonial Bill Signing of School Safety Legislation
WHO:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gov. Holcomb
WHAT:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The governor will ceremonially sign SEA 325 and HEA 1004.
WHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2:30 p.m. CT Friday, August 9
WHERE:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mount Vernon High School Auditorium
700 Harriett St.Â
Mount Vernon, IN 47620