More than 16,000 students eat school lunches every day in the EVSC. And now, those students, their families and anyone in the community, have the option of eating breakfast and/or lunch throughout the summer at 10 EVSC schools – Caze, Cedar Hall, Dexter, Evans, Glenwood, Lincoln, Lodge, McGary, Tekoppel and Stringtown. Lunches will be free to those 18 and younger and only $3 for individuals over 18. Breakfast is also free to those 18 and younger and only $1.80 for adults.
The EVSC is able to offer the summer lunches as part of the United States Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
Megan Leigh Husk: Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony), Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony), False informing (Class B misdemeanor)
Fitolay Demesmin: Murder
Mandy Lee Saxer: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)
Jessica Marie Holtzclaw-Case: Theft (Level 6 Felony)
Charles William Hill: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
Dyzheana Montreas Worship: Auto theft (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)
Ricardo Sandoval Jr.: Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony)
Van Thomas Bullock: Battery resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 5 Felony)
Nicholas Patrick Gonterman: Theft (Level 6 Felony), Criminal trespass (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Megan E. Schmitt: Theft (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)
James Edward Reed: Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony), Operating a vehicle as an habitual traffic violator (Level 6 Felony), Leaving the scene of an accident (Class B misdemeanor), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)
Courtney Lynn Steiner: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Michele Ellen Rich: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Failure to signal for turn or lane change (C infraction), Driving while suspended (A infraction)
Jeffrey Jared Willis: Operating a vehicle while intoxicated (Level 6 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Keyonia Rayshawn Henderson: Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony), Disorderly conduct (Class B misdemeanor)
Willie Charles Steverson: Battery (Level 5 Felony)
Latoya Marie Russell: Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Driving while suspended (Class A misdemeanor), False informing (Class B misdemeanor), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Marcus Aaron Hamilton: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)
Mark A. Lamar: Maintaining a common nuisance – controlled substances (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor)
James Edward Nance: Rape (Level 3 Felony), Domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 5 Felony)
Wayne Lynn Burris: Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony)
Patrick J. Martin: Operating a vehicle as an habitual traffic violator (Level 6 Felony)
Michael Andrew McCoy Johns: Criminal confinement (Level 5 Felony), Domestic battery (Level 5 Felony), Battery (Level 5 Felony), Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)
Jason Todd Moser: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
Kalei Shade Obasa: Assisting a criminal (Level 5 Felony), Attempt Obstruction of justice (Level 6 Felony)
Jason R. Costa: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony)
Dennis K. Williams: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Diego David Hanisch: Rape (Level 3 Felony), Rape (Level 3 Felony)
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Evansville Thunderbolts hockey club, which has struggled on the ice and at the gate in its third year at the Ford Center, will return for the 2019-20 season, a club official said.
Meanwhile, Evansville’s new indoor football team still plans to begin play in April, even though little has been seen or heard about that endeavor since it was announced in September.
Another season of dropping the puck
The Thunderbolts are in last place in the 10-team Southern Professional Hockey League. Perhaps more concerning is the average home attendance of just above 2,000 per game, next-to-last in the league.
Last season, the team averaged 2,300 fans for a home game, last in the league. The Ford Center seats 9,000 for hockey.
“I’ve turned in dates for next season,†said Scott Schoenike, executive director of the Ford Center. “We are committed to next season. We think the potential is there. We just need to do a better job, get out in front of people and give them what they want to see.â€
The Thunderbolts since their second season have been owned by VenuWorks, which is the entertainment company with a city contract to run the Ford Center.
Schoenike, who is the point person for Thunderbolts management, said having a hockey team is important to the arena financially, even on nights when few people are there.
He said the team’s schedule fills many dates, and the publicly owned arena can’t make money on dates without events. Plus, he added, the Ford Center exists to provide entertainment.
Schoenike acknowledged, though, that attendance must improve.
He declined several requests from the Courier & Press to provide data related to the hockey club’s expenses and revenues. He said those figures are blended with those of major concerts and other events at the arena.
“It’s always a concern,†Schoenike said of the hockey club’s attendance and revenues. “Thank God Evansville’s business community is very supportive and continues to be. But that grace will run out, which is why we’ve got to continue to push and make sure they get their value (for sponsorship).â€
The Thunderbolts were born shortly after the Evansville IceMen, a member of the National Hockey League-affiliated ECHL, left in 2016. The IceMen now play in Jacksonville, Florida, a metropolitan area with 1.5 million people as opposed to the Evansville area’s 300,000.
The Southern Professional Hockey League has a shorter schedule and less expensive team travel than the ECHL, but it is a lesser brand of hockey. It is an independent league, with no NHL affiliation.
The Thunderbolts made the SPHL playoffs in their second year, but this season, little has gone well.
After being shutout 5-0 at home on Friday night before an announced crowd of 1,793, and a 10-1 loss on the road Saturday, the Thunderbolts have nine wins in their 46 games. The club’s on-ice struggles have been blamed on injuries, as well as players moving on to ECHL teams.
The club also suffered a public-relations blow in January when first-year head coach Ian Moran, a former NHL player, was arrested on a drunken driving charge.
On a more positive note, the Thunderbolts have been active in community outreach activities, with players and staff visiting schools, nonprofit agencies and businesses.
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Education day game for the Evansville Thunderbolts
The Thunderbolts’ stated goal has been to reach an average of 2,500 fans per game. Schoenike said the club will continue to work on boosting its attendance in a highly competitive local environment.
“It really is about promotions, giveaways,†Schoenike said. “We’re fighting over entertainment dollars. (Won-loss record) is definitely a part, but I think it’s more about making it an event.â€
Is indoor football still coming?
The National Gridiron League, an upstart indoor football league, last year awarded Evansville one of its 12 teams. The Indiana Firebirds were formally presented in September at a news conference and said play would begin this spring.
The team named a head coach, Nick Hart, who also is the coach at Gibson Southern High School. Hart has experience in the indoor game, having been an assistant with the Evansville Bluecats, who played at Roberts Stadium from 2003-07. He also worked with a team in Alaska.
But aside from a Facebook page and team website, there has been no visible local promotion of the Firebirds and their eight-game home schedule, which begins April 12.
The Ford Center still does not have Firebirds home games listed on its event schedulefor spring and summer.
All 12 teams in the National Gridiron League are owned by the league, so Schoenike said the arena has no financial risk in the Firebirds, aside from keeping the team’s requested dates open.
The arena also has dates set aside in early April for installation of football turf and other necessary equipment.
“They still say it’s happening,†Schoenike said. “We are still holding that (April 12) date for them, waiting for them to get organized and do it.â€
Joe McClendon, president of the National Gridiron League, seemed incredulous when asked by the Courier & Press if the league and its Evansville-based team are moving forward.
The Thunderbolts (and a few thousand of their closest friends from area elementary schools) beat the Peoria Rivermen 4-2 on Education Day. Jeffrey Walker
“Everything is on course,†McClendon said. “We’re going to play our games there. We’ve been working with operations to get games in place.â€
“There is a roster of players,†McClendon continued. “Uniforms have been ordered. Everything necessary for competition has been taken care of.â€
Hart said it’s his understanding the league reached a deal with a ticketing agency within the last few days, so that might explain the delay in promoting the team and ticket sales.
Players are to arrive in mid-March for a training camp, and the Firebirds’ website does list a roster of players. The club’s Facebook page recently posted that Amari Spievey, a 30-year-old former Detroit Lions safety, is on the team.
However, the Firebirds also have a “help wanted” sign out.
There’s an online classified ad in Evansville for “indoor football player,†at an annual salary of $6,000 to $20,000. Qualifications sought include athleticism, skilled decision making, discipline and endurance. The ad is on Indeed.com.
“I’m not privy to a lot of the workings of it,†Hart said. “I’m told it’s going forward. I think things have been a little slow moving. It’s a startup, and they are trying to operate 12 teams. I honestly don’t know. I’m of the belief it’s moving forward, but that’s what I’m told. I don’t have any inside info. I’m more on the recruiting and football side than on the business side.â€
FOOTNOTE: We have verified that the above letter is authentic and was written by Samantha Merideth.  She is being represented by attorney’s Mark Miller and Brandon Danks. We also confirmed that Samantha Merideth has filed a formal complaint against the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann with the Equal Employment Opportunity  Commission.  Because of the “Right To Privacy” concerns, the EEOC Compliant filed by Samantha Merideth against Mr. Hermann can’t be made public at this time.
The  CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER has posted the above letter without bias, opinion or editing.
Any responses made to the City-County Observer by Mr. Hermann or his representatives pertaining to the above allegations made against him by his former employee, Samantha  Merideth shall be posted without bias, opinion or editing.
Diamond Sheppard Rankin was born September 25, 1990, in Milwaukee, WI to Sherry Carter Rankin and Rodney Sheppard.
She was raised in Evansville IN with her loving “Nannieâ€, Shirley Rankin. She attended Harrison High School, graduated from Job Corp, and received her CNA certification in Las Vegas. Diamond’s greatest accomplishment was being a mother of her baby girl, Anngelic.
Diamond leaves behind a daughter, Anngelic; her “Nannie,†Shirley Rankin; her mother, Sherry Moton; and her father, Rodney Sheppard. She leaves behind a host of brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.
Funeral Services are Thursday, May 30, 2019, at 11:00 am at Memorial Baptist Church with viewing from 9:00 am until service time at the church. Condolences may be left at www.masonbrothersfs.com
Evansville Otters pitcher Patrick McGuff was dominant once again, striking out 11 batters in eight innings as part of a 3-0 win for the Otters against the Washington Wild Things Tuesday night.
The Otters right-hander had his pitching arsenal working, going eight innings, surrendering just five hits and no runs, and striking out 11.
With the win, McGuff is 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in the 2019 season. The Hamilton, Ohio native has also struck out 40 batters this season.
On McGuff’s eleventh strikeout, the batter, Lucas Herbert, slammed his bat on home plate three times, breaking it and getting thrown out of the game in the process.
Offensively, Evansville’s Ryan Long hit his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot over the Bud Light Lime Patio in right field to give the Otters a 1-0 lead after four innings.
In the sixth, Keith Grieshaber doubled off the wall in left-center with one out, putting himself in scoring position.
After a Ryan Long walk, Carlos Castro smacked a single through the middle of the field to score Grieshaber, extending the Otters lead to 2-0.
Castro’s hit would end the night for Washington starter Michael Austin, who pitched admirably as well, tossing 5.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
J.J. Gould made the score 3-0 Otters with his second RBI of the season when he singled in the seventh, scoring Jack Meggs.
Danny Hrbek retired three batters in the top of the ninth on flyouts, earning his first save of the season.
The Wild Things had two opportunities to put runs on the board, having the bases loaded with two outs in the third, and men on first and second with one out in the eighth, but McGuff ended those threats with a strikeout.
The Otters and Wild Things square off again from Bosse Field on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. on Deaconess Skilled Nursing Facility Night.
Dave Nguyen (play-by-play) and Bill McKeon (analyst) will have the broadcast coverage on 91.5 FM WUEV and evansvilleotters.com, with video streaming available via the Otters Digital Network on YouTube.com.
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: DO You feel that Evansville is in financial trouble?
Please go to our link of our media partner Channel 44 News located in the upper right-hand corner of the City-County Observer so you can get the up-to-date news, weather, and sports.
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Who Pays for the Financial Losses of the Evansville Thunderbolts?
During a past budget hearing, Vice President of VenuWorks Scott Schoenike stood before Evansville City Council and made some statements that raised many eyebrows. Mr.Schoenike clearly stated before the City Council that “VenueWorks aims to break even†and went on to say that their primary interest is “to bring economic development to downtown Evansvilleâ€. First off, no for-profit company of any value “aims to break even†or exists to further the civic interest of a city.
Mr.Schoenike presentation to City Council obscured the reason he was asked to speak in the first place. Mr. Schoenike was before the City Council to discuss the financial performance of the Evansville Thunderbolts semi-pro hockey team that had just finished its first year in the Ford Center with less than impressive results. Â Nothing that he said addressed that question.
ADDENDUM #6 OF CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND VENUWORKS
To understand what risk if any that VenueWorks of Evansville LLC may have with respect to the Thunderbolts, one must first examine addendum # 6 to the legal agreement between VenueWorks and the City of Evansville that was funneled through the Evansville Redevelopment Commission. This agreement deals with the operation of Thunderbolts in addendum #6 where it is clearly stated that: “VenuWorks shall be entitled to utilize facility (Ford Center) staff and resources reasonably necessary in connection with its operation of the SPHL Franchiseâ€. During any such periods in which VenuWorks operates the SPHL Franchise, ALL OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE SPHL FRANCHISE SHALL BE DEEMED AN EXPENSE OF THE FACILITY (Ford Center) AND ALL OPERATING REVENUES OF THE SPHL FRANCHISE SHALL BE DEEMED A REVENUE OF THE FACILITY (Ford Center)â€.
THIS CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT SEEMLY TRANSLATES THE FOLLOWINGÂ
This contractual agreement seemly translates that taxpayers of Evansville will provide free labor to support the hockey team and all operating expenses associated with the team will be borne by the Ford Center. As revenue also accrues to the Ford Center, the reality is that when it comes to the Thunderbolts, VenuWorks of Evansville LLC is not at risk for financial performance. Having a goal to break even under such an agreement is exactly what a for-profit entity that is paid $390,000 per year for management services would benefit from. Under the terms of the addendum #6 to the original agreement, the taxpayers of Evansville are saddled with the losses associated with the SPHL franchise and VenuWorks is paid a fee for management services. This seemly looks like heads they win, and tails the taxpayers lose scenario.
POINTS OF CONCERNS
One thing for sure is that someone lost at least $1,365,506 during the last three calendar years and is projected to lose a similar amount this year. So the first question is just who lost that money and who paid for the losses. Nothing in Mr. Schoenike’s last year’s presentation to Council answers that question.
The other item that is conveniently ignored is the $127 Million debt taken on by the City of Evansville to build the Ford Center. Who is paying that and what is the source of funds. It is widely suspected that the Riverboat Fund that was supposed to support capital asset purchases is absorbing most of the $9 Million per year payments on the debt.
It is disappointing that the Evansville City Council is either lacking the fortitude to do the financial diligence required to understand whether the Evansville Thunderbolts are a worthy investment of public money or another money pit like the facility they play in. The people of Evansville deserve to know how the Thunderbolts are performing economically and who is covering any losses, and whether or not there is any hope of ever having a financially successful hockey team.
Bottom line, it will take little time to get the necessary information about the Thunderbolts financial performance from either the VenuWork’s or the City Controllers records. If this council fails to get to the bottom of this issue so a competent informed decision about hockey in River City can be made, they all need to be replaced.
