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“READERS FORUM” AUGUST 16, 2019
We hope that today’s “READERS FORUMâ€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.
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
Todays “Readers Poll’ question is: What type of renovation should the county do to the jail?
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Yesteryear: Infantile Paralysis Fund Campaign
Yesteryear: Infantile Paralysis Fund Campaign
BY Pat Sides
In January of 1944, Vanderburgh County’s 13th annual fund-raising campaign for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis kicked off.
The month-long campaign was chaired by Henry Struby, who is pictured here (second man from the left) with Evansville Shipyard employees. Hoping to surpass the $12,000 raised in the previous year, they were ready to assist with their collection boxes.
The plan was to send volunteers to schools, theaters, businesses, and industries, as well as sports events, to collect donations for polio research, which was spurred by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s own struggle with the disease and the urgent need to assist afflicted soldiers during the war. A successful vaccine was finally introduced in early 1955.
Commentary: A Smart Small Step On Guns That Could Help
By John Krull
TheStatehouseFile.comÂ
INDIANAPOLIS – There’s a reason Americans can’t seem to get anywhere when it comes to dealing with the epidemic of gun violence in our country.
We don’t know enough.
John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com
For more than 20 years, the Centers for Disease Control has been banned from studying the public health effects of America’s gun policies.
The ban took effect in 1997. It was the result of what was known as the Dickey Amendment, which prohibited the CDC from using any federal funds to research guns and gun violence.
The late U.S. Rep. Jay Dickey, R-Arkansas, proclaimed himself “a point man for the NRA†– National Rifle Association – in Congress.
He authored the ban, he said at the time, to please the gun lobby, which saw research as hostile to its interests. Later, as the body counts continued to climb, he said he’d made a mistake and regretted supporting the ban.
By then, though, the ban had been in place for years.
And the United States was recording gun-related deaths at 20 times the rate of the rest of the developed world.
Following the mass murder of more than 25 elementary school students and educators in Newtown, Connecticut, President Barack Obama ordered the CDC to do a new study.
The CDC did so, reluctantly. CDC officials said that their interpretation of the law was that the ban was still in effect. It was an interpretation reinforced by statements from NRA-friendly members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
Nonetheless, the study was done.
Gun rights advocates seized on one part of the study. The study reported that defensive gun use might be more prevalent than the use of firearms in committing crimes.
The NRA and its fans saw this as support for their primary argument – that the best defense against a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
The problem was that the gun rights activists, as is often their practice, cherry-picked the findings for “facts†that supported their position and ignored everything that might weaken or undercut their position.
What the report actually said was that all the evidence supporting the widespread usage of firearms for purposes of personal defense was in dispute. (That the estimates regarding defensive gun use varied by margins as wide as 3 million incidents per year might have been a clue that the numbers weren’t solid.)
And that dispute called out for more research.
Why does this matter?
Our system of government is a product of the Enlightenment. Our founders placed their faith in reason, in the ability of human beings to gather information and craft policies based on that information.
In our system, ignorance – particularly determined, willful ignorance – often results in paralysis.
When it comes to guns, that’s where we have been for the past quarter-century.
More research would get us moving again.
It’s possible that the gun rights advocates are right. Maybe guns are used far more often by private citizens for purposes of self-defense than they are to commit murders and other crimes.
If so, that fact ought to inform and shape our public policy.
The best guess, though, is that if the leaders of the NRA and their house-pet congressmen and senators had faith in those numbers, the research would have been approved and funded immediately, if not sooner.
Whether the gun devotees are right or not, having more facts will help us figure out the best way to move forward.
Those facts aren’t likely to persuade the NRA leadership and other rabid gun devotees, of course. They drank the Kool-Aid a long time ago and just love the taste.
But there are millions of other Americans who want to do the right thing. They want to figure out a way to balance the liberties of those who want to own guns and those who just don’t want to be shot. They want to explore ways to preserve freedom and save lives at the same time.
Good research on guns and gun violence can help us with that.
That’s why the ban needs to be lifted.
The truth not only will set us free.
The truth also may save a lot of lives.
FOOTNOTE: John Krull is the director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Holly’s House “Think First & Stay Safe!†Child Abuse Prevention Program Celebrates a 50,000 Milestone
Holly’s House, a non-residential victim advocacy center serving victims of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault in southwest Indiana, will reach a major milestone this month with its “Think First & Stay Safe†child abuse prevention program. Holly’sHouse Board of Directors, local media, school partners and elected officials are invited to attend the celebration on August 23rd at 8:00 A.M. at Holly’s House. During the event, Holly’sHouse staff will be available for comments and to provide tours of the facility.
Holly’s House, began teaching “Think First & Stay Safe!â€, an evidence-based child abuse prevention program, in 2010. To date, “Think First & Stay Safe!†has reached more than 50,000 elementary students in five Southwest Indiana counties. “Think First & Stay Safe!†wasdeveloped by Child Lures Prevention founder and president emeritus, Kenneth Wooden. The goal of the program is to prevent all forms of child victimization by teaching families, professionals and other community members how to recognize, interrupt and report inappropriate behaviors and situations. This program, as with all other services Holly’s House provides, is offered free of charge.
Crystal Sisson, Prevention Director, said “The skills taught through “Think First & Stay Safe!â€help children to recognize unsafe behaviors and situations at various times throughout their lives.
“The children and families of SW Indiana are extremely fortunate to have Holly’s House’s uniquely qualified prevention educators teach Child Lures Prevention’s Think First & StaySafeTM personal safety program. What is most impressive about the 50,000 students Holly’s House’s prevention educators have taught: they followed best practice by presenting Think First& Stay SafeTM lessons for 5 consecutive days/45 minutes a day in 2,300 classrooms, and has provided materials for parents and guardians. This is prevention education at its best.”
~Jennifer Wooden Mitchell and Rosemary Wooden Webb, National Child Safety Experts & Co- Presidents of Child Lures Prevention/Teen Lures Prevention.
Holly’s House is a non-residential victims’ advocacy center providing services for victims ofchild abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault in southwest Indiana. The mission of the organization is to empower victims of intimate crime and abuse by providing support, promoting justice and preventing violence.
Our vision is to be a leader in preventing intimate crime and supporting victims and their families, while bringing aware
Otters Hit The Home Stretch With Fun Promotions And Good Deals!
The Otters have nine home games left in the regular season, so the time is NOW to get out to Bosse Field and enjoy the remaining thrills and promotions of the baseball season! The home stretch will feature really fun nights and good deals you will not want to miss!
The Otters are home this weekend Aug. 16-18 against the Gateway Grizzlies. Friday, Aug. 16 is St. Vincent Night, featuring a helicopter landing during the pregame ceremonies leading up to first pitch! On Friday, the Otters will contribute $1 from every popcorn sold at Friday’s game to the EVSC to help with student lunches. Saturday, Aug. 17 is Breast Cancer Awareness Night at the ballpark, as the Otters want to recognize survivors of breast cancer and raise awareness. The Otters will be wearning themed-jerseys that will be auctioned off throughout the game. There will also be a dazzling, postgame firework show presented by Marathon. Sunday, Aug. 18 will be Mascot Day as some of Evan the Otter’s best friends will be at Bosse Field for an afternoon of baseball.
Following a short, midweek trip to Southern Illinois, the Otters are back home the following weekend, Aug. 23-25, against the Florence Freedom for what will be another exciting weekend! Friday, Aug. 23 will be Swat Pest Night, and then on Saturday, Aug. 24, it’s Star Wars Night! The Otters will be wearing Star Wars themed-jerseys that will be auctioned off throughout the game with proceeds benefitting the Arc of Evansville. There will also be fan-favorite characters in attendance to interact with! Sunday, Aug. 25 will be presented by Parenting Time Center.
The last home series of the regular season will be Aug. 27-29, featuring great deals at the ballpark and especially at the concession stand! Make sure to come out for Bites, Brews and Baseball! Tuesday, Aug. 27 will be $2 Tuesday with $2 General Admission tickets and $2 popcorn presented by United Methodist Youth Home. And, it will be Taco Tuesday with taco vendors, pregame Zumba, a mariachi band, and margaritas! Wednesday, Aug. 28 is Deaconess Heart Services Night and Weenie Wednesday! There will be discounted hot dogs, limited edition “Weenie Wednesday” shirts for sale, and music by DJ Perm. Plus, fans can pre-register to participate in the first EVER hot dog eating contest during pregame ceremonies! Registration for the hot dog contest can be found online at evansvilleotters.com/promotions. Thursday, Aug. 29 will be the home finale, featuring Working Distributors, Bud Light Thirsty Thursday with with discounted draft specials and music by DJ McNaughty.
That game, presented by Army ROTC, will also be College Night, with $2 General Admission tickets and free popcorn with a college I.D., and Customer Appreciation Night to thank all the fans and partners for a wonderful 25th anniversary season at the Evansville Otters.
The Otters are making their postseason push and the regular season winding down, so it’s time to spend your nights by having some fun, with the Evansville Otters at Bosse Field!
Teachers And Students Take Top Honors At Arts Council’s Annual Awards Ceremony
Teachers and their students were honored at the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana’s annual Arts Awards ceremony Thursday evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Downtown Evansville.
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke presented Katie Waters with the prestigious Mayor’s Arts Award. Waters, a recently retired art teacher, worked at the University of Southern Indiana for 28 years. Retired art teacher Jon Siau was honored with the Arts Council award. Siau taught more than 3,500 students in his career at North High School.
Waters and Siau taught the winner of the Visual Arts Award, Jonathan Hittner, while he attended USI and North High School, respectively.
Waters said working in the arts is the most rewarding and fulfilling part of her life.
“The inventiveness and imagination of the human mind is without limit. Art is universal. It brings us together and connects us – across time, geography and cultures. Art’s search for truth and beauty leads us to the highpoint of what it means to be fully human,†she said.
Another student-teacher pair won awards at Thursday’s event. Signature School art teacher Kyle Darnell took home the Arts Educator Award and his student, Olive Bousman, won the Young Artist Award.
Local community leaders presented seven awards, to the following:
Mayor’s Art Award – Katie Waters
Arts Council Award – Jon Siau
Visual Arts Award – Jonathan Hittner Performing Arts Award – Kevin Roach
Young Artist Award – Olive Bouseman
Arts Educator Award – Kyle Darnell
Arts Community Award – PG / Pionear Group
About Katie Waters (Mayor’s Art Award): It was an honor and a pleasure for Katie Waters to have been part of her students’ journey towards their greatest artistic potential.
Katie taught painting and drawing at the University of Southern Indiana from 1981 to this year. Additionally, she served as Art Department Chair for seventeen years, and as Interim Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts in 2003-2004. From fall 2009 – fall 2018 she was Director of the McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries on the USI campus.
Her drawings and paintings appear in many corporate, university, museum, and private collections and have been exhibited widely at the national and regional levels, including Matter, Mind, Spirit: 12 Contemporary Indiana Women Artists at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.
“My work in the arts has been the most rewarding and fulfilling facet of my life. The inventiveness and imagination of the human mind is without limit. Art is universal; it brings us together and connects us – across time, geography, and cultures. Art’s search for truth and beauty leads us to the highpoint of what it means to be fully human.â€
About Jon Siau (Arts Council Award): From the 3,500 students he taught at North High School over the course of 42 years to having his art viewed in all 50 states and every nation on Earth, Jon Siau dedicates his life to art.
Jon’s art career is littered with awards and honors, including — but not at all limited to — two University of Evansville / Evansville Courier “Teacher of the Year†awards, two national honors, Evansville Living’s reader’s choice for “Most Outstanding Educator†in 2008, EVSC and Harrison High School Hall of Fame, and the 1994 recipient of the Arts Council’s “Arts Educator of the Year†award.
Jon also supported the arts and community through civic participation. He served of the Arts Council’s Board of Directors, the Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science’s art committee
“Creating, teaching, sharing, viewing, and discussing art has been a constant passion throughout my life. A world without the arts is a barren, desolate place — doomed to fail,†he said. “I am proud to be part of such a vibrant community, one that values and embraces all the arts.â€
Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana mission: Enhancing quality of life and supporting economic development through advocacy and promotion of the arts, arts education, and arts organizations in Southwestern Indiana.
Aces Golf Scramble To Take Place On September 12, 2019
Two Flights Will Be Held
One of the largest events for the University of Evansville men’s basketball program and the Aces Assist Club is the Aces Golf Scramble, which will take place on Thursday, September 12 at Rolling Hills Country Club in Newburgh.
Two start times will be on tap with the first shotgun start set for 8 a.m. and the second one heading on course at 1 p.m. Flight preference will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Your group and start time are reserved with payment. Lunch for both flights will be served at noon.
Cost for a foursome is $750 with individuals set for $200. Aces Assist Club members will receive the single entry fee associated with your giving level. To confirm your group, individual or start time, fill out the form above or contact the UE Basketball Office at 812-488-3800.
Crouch Announces 17 Communities To Receive $10M
 Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch along with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced that 17 rural Hoosier communities receive more than $10.5 million in federal grant funding.Â
“These collaborations between federal, state and local partners are improving the lives of Hoosiers across the state and strengthening community pride,†Crouch said. “ I applaud this round’s local leadership for their commitment to bettering their communities, as well as their tremendous use of partnerships to address a challenge.â€
The state of Indiana distributes Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities to assist units of local government with various community projects such as: infrastructure improvement, downtown revitalization, public facilities and economic development.Â
“We’re thrilled to support such a diverse array of projects in cities and towns throughout rural Indiana,†said Jodi Golden, Executive Director of OCRA. “Communities with reliable infrastructure are positioned for growth and an improved quality of life.â€Â
The second round of the 2019 CDBG program begins on August 19, 2019, with proposals due on October 4, at 4 p.m. ET and final applications due November 22, at 4 p.m. ET. Â
For more information about these programs, contact Eric Ogle, CDBG Program Director.Â
The  Main Street Revitalization Program encourages communities with eligible populations to focus on long-term community development efforts. Eligible applicants have a designated active Indiana Main Street group in their community, and the project must be a part of the Main Street’s overall strategy. Main Street Revitalization Program projects include streetscapes, facade renovations and downtown infrastructure rehabilitation.Â
The Town of Hope is awarded $428,360 for a downtown streetscape project. This project removes blighted conditions around the town square by replacing existing streetlamps, adding accessible sidewalks and other improvements that tie the interior and exterior of the square together. Â
The City of Kendallville is awarded $600,000 for a downtown streetscape project. This project replaces sidewalks, curbs, and lights along three downtown blocks to eliminate blight, improve safety and enrich the overall quality of life within the community. Â
The City of Kirklin is awarded $600,000 for a downtown streetscape project. This project installs new sidewalks, curbing, street lighting, and other improvements to create an attractive and walkable downtown.
The goals of the Public Facilities Program are to improve the quality of place, generate jobs and spur economic revitalization through improving community facilities or historic preservation projects. Eligible community facilities include fire stations, community centers, daycares, libraries, museums, senior centers and performance spaces. Â
Clay County is awarded $495,000 to construct a new fire station for the Center Point & Community Volunteer Fire Company. The project builds a 5,200 square foot station with four bays, a training room, a clean-up room and equipment storage. Â
Jefferson County is awarded $500,000 to replace the fire station used by the Deputy Volunteer Fire Department that was destroyed by fire in December 2018. The project builds an 8,254 square foot station with four bays, training and community rooms to meet the current and future needs of the community. Â
The Town of Lakeville is awarded $500,000 to renovate a 1930’s barn into a community center. The project creates a 4,500 square foot facility that can accommodate up to 200 people for a variety of community and social programs and events.  Â
The Stormwater Improvement Program strives to reduce flooding, to cut stormwater treatment and energy costs, to protect rivers, lakes and vital landscape, and to generate jobs and spur economic revitalization. Types of activities that are eligible for this grant funding include stormwater improvements, as well as demolition and/or clearance.Â
The Town of Andrews is awarded $600,000 for stormwater improvements. This project installs 1,650 linear feet of drainage, nine inlets, and seven utility holes along Mckeever Street from the intersection with Jackson Street to Loon Creek, to address residential flooding. Â
The City of Connersville is awarded $600,000 for stormwater improvements. This project installs 2,710 linear feet of drainage, ten sewer manholes, 2,250 linear feet of curbs and grades as well as 500 linear feet of ditches in two areas of the city to address sewer overflows.Â
The goals of the Wastewater Drinking Water Program are to protect the health and environment, reduce utility rates for low-to-moderate income communities and improve rural infrastructure to enable long-term economic growth. Eligible Wastewater Drinking Water Program projects include many aspects of wastewater improvements and drinking water system improvements.Â
The Town of Centerville is awarded $700,000 for drinking water system improvements. This project installs 7,110 linear feet of water main line, replaces 2,060 linear feet of lead service lines, installs 12 new fire hydrants and 412 automatic reading water meters to address systems issues and resident safety.Â
The Town of Kingsford Heights is awarded $600,000 for wastewater system improvements. This project installs a new submersible pump station and a screening building along with new clarifier equipment and improvements to the wastewater system.Â
The Town of Montezuma is awarded $700,000 for wastewater system improvements. This project installs a new chemical feed building and equipment for the implementation of a phosphorus removal process and modifications to existing processes, and installs control system and remote monitoring equipment to improve the collection system.Â
The City of Mount Vernon is awarded $700,000 for drinking water system improvements. This project replaces 4,500 linear feet of existing 133-year old cast iron water mains between Main Street and Wolflin Street and on Wolflin Street between W. 8th Street and W. 4th Street.Â
The Town of North Salem is awarded $700,000 for drinking water system improvements. This project installs new transmission mains, a new water treatment plant, an elevated tank and pump improvements. The old water tower and treatment plant will be demolished.Â
The Town of Prince’s Lakes is awarded $700,000 for drinking water system improvements. This project installs 11,450 linear feet of pipe, 12 system isolation valves, four tapping valves/sleeves to connect to an existing pipe, 1,060 linear feet of granular backfill and 1,060 lineal feet of pavement replacement for road restoration. It also includes the construction of a 400,000-gallon elevated water storage tan, supervisory control and a data acquisition system. Â
The Town of Rockville is awarded $700,000 for drinking water system improvements. This project rehabilitates critical sewer segments to protect the residents from sanitary sewer overflows and backups into resident’s homes and prevent sinkholes and road failures due to failures in the aging, buried infrastructure.Â
The Town of Westport is awarded $700,000 for wastewater system improvements. This project replaces the packaged water treatment plant, replacement of intake, lake, clear well and high service pumps and improves the distribution system by connecting to Decatur County Rural Water.Â
The Town of Windfall is awarded $700,000 for wastewater system improvements. This project completes improvements to include the rehabilitation of Windfall’s wastewater treatment and collection facilities.
Funding for OCRA’s CDBG programs comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program and is administered for the State of Indiana by OCRA. Â