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The Evansville Police Department Warns of Click It or Ticket Patrols

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Throughout the month of April, The Evansville Police Department will join law enforcement agencies across Indiana and the nation to increase enforcement of seat-belt laws for Click It or Ticket. Multiple weeks of high-visibility patrols will be watching for unrestrained passengers in cars and trucks, both children and adults, the front seat and back, both day and night.

Click It or Ticket continues through the start of the summer travel season, including the Memorial Day holiday. Overtime police patrols are paid with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).

2018 marks 30 years since Indiana’s seat-belt law began. Since that time, Indiana – along with 34 other states – has enacted a primary seat-belt law, meaning that police can pull you over for being unbuckled.

Indiana has participated in Click It or Ticket for more than 20 years. Last year, more than 240 law-enforcement agencies performed 8,728 hours of traffic patrols and issued more than 30,000 citations or warnings, of which about 13,700 were seat-belt and child-restraint citations.

Don’t be a statistic

There are TV shows and podcasts about violent crime investigations, but first responders actually see more traffic crashes. You are more likely to have property damage, be injured or killed in a traffic crash than be a victim of burglary, violent crime or murder, respectively

From 2000 to 2017, the Purdue University Center for Road Safety says that seat-belt usage increased from 62 to 93 percent, beating the most recent national average of 90.1 percent. Indiana has made great progress through stronger laws and highly-visible enforcement, but the small percentage who still don’t buckle up make up nearly half of those killed on our roadways.

In 2016, there were 10,428 unbuckled motorists killed in crashes in the United States. Seat belts were estimated to save an additional 14,668 lives.

Pickup trucks and SUVs feel safer because they are larger and sit higher to the road. But don’t let that lure you into a false sense of security! Motorists in pickup trucks are over-represented in unrestrained injuries and deaths.

ICJI partners with the Indiana University Public Policy Institute to analyze seat-belt statistics. The latest information is at www.in.gov/cji/files/Highway_Safety_Occupant_Protection_2016.pdf. National statistics are at www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts. 

Seat-belt tips

What is the best way to reduce your chances of injury or death? Buckle up! Below are tips for proper seat-belt use:

  • Secure the lap belt across your hips and pelvis, below your stomach.
  • Place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and rib cage, away from your neck.
  • Never put the shoulder belt behind your back or under an arm.
  • If your seat belt doesn’t fit you, or you have an older car with lap belts only, ask your dealer or vehicle manufacturer about seat-belt adjusters, extenders or retrofits.

Buckle who you love

Have a friend or family member who doesn’t buckle up? Speak up! One life lost is too many, so don’t leave any of your loved ones behind.

Have friends or family that are men under age 45? They are majority of those killed, because they don’t take 3 seconds to buckle up.

Don’t just buckle up for yourself, do it for the kids. During a crash, unrestrained passengers can become projectiles that injure or kill others in the car.

In Indiana, unrestrained children under 16 are the driver’s responsibility. Adults set the example, and parents who don’t buckle up are more likely to have unbuckled kids. That means one ticket for you and one for each unrestrained child.

Traffic crashes are the leading killer of children ages 1 to 13. Indiana requires all children age 8 and under to be in an approved car seat or booster seat, but as children get older, they are less likely to remain buckled. 

Choose the safest car seat for your child’s height and weight at www.safercar.gov/therightseat. Find a certified car-seat safety technician to assist with installation at www.preventinjury.org/Child-Passenger-Safety/Child-Safety-Seat-Inspection-Stations or through the SaferCar app on iTunes or Google Play.

Aces travel to Missouri State for MVC series

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Starting on Good Friday, the University of Evansville softball team travels to Missouri State for a 3-game series.  Action starts with a noon doubleheader on Friday with Saturday marking the finale at 11 a.m.

Last Week

– Weather limited last weekend’s series against Bradley to two games as the Braves took both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader

– In a pair of pitcher’s duels, UE fell by finals of 3-1 and 4-2

– Evansville took an early 1-0 lead in game one thanks to Toni Galas; after earning a walk, she stole second and came all the way home on a Braves error

– The Braves plated two runs in the third and one in the sixth to clinch the win

– Emily Lockhart tossed the complete game for UE; the Aces offense had just one hit, which came off the bat of Eryn Gould

– Game two saw the Braves take a 2-0 edge in the third before UE tied it right up with a 2-RBI single by Gould

– BU added singles runs in the fourth and fifth to clinch the win

– Izzy Vetter went the distance in the circle; at the plate, Gould and Mea Adams recorded two hits apiece

AG Curtis Hill obtains medical license suspension of doctor alleged to exploit female patients

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Attorney General Curtis Hill today announced that the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana has suspended the medical license of a Henry County physician accused of exploiting female patients.

Attorney General Hill sought the suspension of Dr. Benjamin Loveridge’s license after the physician was accused of repeatedly touching female patients and attempting to engage them in sexual relationships. Dr. Loveridge has practiced in New Castle at the Kane Loveridge Wellness Group, a practice he owns and operates with his wife.

Dr. Loveridge has a past history of similar accusations. The licensing board previously placed his Indiana medical license on probation from 2011 to 2015.

This year, the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted an investigation upon receiving information from a patient alleging she was touched in a sexual manner during an office visit with Dr. Loveridge. The investigation resulted in the discovery of additional patients reporting similar patterns of behavior from Dr. Loveridge during office visits.

“Our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works tirelessly to protect Hoosiers from the harmful actions of those who would abuse their positions of trust,” Attorney General Hill said. “This investigation is yet another example of this team’s dedicated and diligent service.”

The board’s suspension of Dr. Loveridge’s medical license means that he cannot practice medicine in Indiana for 90 days. At a future meeting, the board will determine whether the suspension should continue for an additional 90 days.

Drug conviction affirmed, but judge frets over possible race bias

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Dave Stafford for www.theindianalawyer.com

A drug dealing conviction that followed the exclusion of the lone African-American from the pool of potential jurors was affirmed Thursday, but a judge expressed concern about how the defendant’s objection was handled in Fayette Circuit Court.

Ronald Richardson was convicted of Level 4 felony dealing in a narcotic drug after he was arrested following a high-speed chase that ended in Connersville. According to the record, Richardson and another woman pursued a car driven by a person who had purchased heroin from Richardson with apparently counterfeit money. Richardson subsequently was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction on Thursday, finding that the state’s Batson challenge to the juror’s dismissal was not improper.

“Upon review, we conclude that the trial court properly determined that the State articulated a race-neutral reason for using a peremptory challenge to strike the potential juror from the jury,” Judge Cale Bradford wrote for the majority joined by Judge Elizabeth Tavitas in Ronald Richardson v. State of Indiana, 18A-CR-2263.

“The potential juror indicated during voir dire that she had an interest in law-related books and television shows, and her enjoyment of these mediums may have left her with an inaccurate understanding of criminal proceedings. The potential juror’s interest in law-related books and television shows has been found to be a permissible ground for the State’s peremptory challenge,” Bradford wrote, citing United States v. Farhane, 634 F.3d 127, 157–58 (2d Cir. 2011) and United States v. Murillo, 288 F.3d 1126, 1136 (9th Cir. 2002). In the latter, a juror’s statement that “Judge Judy” was her favorite television show was found a permissible ground for the prosecutor’s peremptory challenge.

In Richardson’s case, the state objected to the potential African-American juror who said she liked “Law & Order” and had seen every episode of “Perry Mason.” But prosecutors also objected because they found her “to be aggressive and dominant, and … to have dominant body language.”

Judge Terry Crone concurred in part and in result, but wrote separately to “express (his) concerns regarding the Batson analysis… .”

“The prosecutor’s reasons for striking the potential juror are race neutral on their face. But the transcript flatly contradicts the prosecutor’s assertion that the potential juror was ‘aggressive and dominant in the conversation’ and ‘was always the first to speak out,’” Crone wrote. “She spoke only when spoken to and succinctly answered the questions asked of her. … As for the potential juror’s allegedly ‘dominant body language,’ i.e., demeanor, the trial court made no specific finding to support the prosecutor’s assessment. … (M)aking such findings is clearly the better practice in light of an appellate court’s inability to judge a potential juror’s demeanor, and I urge the Indiana Supreme Court to require such findings in Indiana trial courts to promote both fairness and judicial economy.”

“… (A)bsent any existing requirement for trial courts to make findings regarding a potential juror’s demeanor or for prosecutors to offer some justification for striking a potential juror based on his or her media preferences, I must reluctantly defer to the trial court, who was uniquely situated to assess the potential juror’s allegedly ‘dominant body language’ and determine the credibility of the prosecutor’s objection to her choice of books and television shows,” Crone wrote. “My reluctance is heightened by the lack of evidence supporting the prosecutor’s assertion that the potential juror was ‘aggressive and dominant in the conversation,’ but in the end I must conclude that Richardson has failed to establish that the trial court clearly erred in denying his Batson challenge.”

The panel also agreed that Richardson had failed to show that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting challenged evidence; that he was subjected to double jeopardy, or; that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction.

Evansville Native Candice Dodson Named to Lead Educational Technology Association

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On May 6, Evansville native Candice Dodson, will begin as executive director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), which is comprised of educational technology directors and colleagues from the state departments of education of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Bureau of Indian Affairs, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Dodson currently serves as the Director of eLearning for the Indiana Department of Education. She has devoted her entire professional life to education; she is a longtime SETDA state member, a past SETDA Board Chair, and was the 2016 recipient of the SETDA Leader of the Year award. The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), in partnership with EdScoop, named her one of the Top 25 Innovators that changed education over the last 25 years in 2017.

In her new role, she will continue to champion SETDA’s tradition of state leadership and advocacy to leverage technology for all learners and ensure equity of access through policy and practices.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead SETDA as executive director. I’m truly excited about reimagining the impact of the SETDA community, serving and expanding the value of SETDA membership, and showcasing the importance of the SETDA voice on important issues facing public education,” Dodson said. “I want to focus on SETDA’s unique position to foster collaboration among our members, strategic partners, and other education leaders and policymakers in how technology can personalize and provide solutions for learning in today’s digital age.”

“Candice was a natural choice for SETDA Executive Director,” said Julia Fallon (WA), SETDA Board Chair. “Her enthusiasm and demonstrated leadership are highly valued by her SETDA colleagues and our partners, and we are excited to see where SETDA will go from here under her tenure.”

Dodson is a native of Evansville, a graduate of Central High School  and formerly was an educator and administrator in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. In the EVSC she served as a fifth grade teacher, media specialist, teacher of Gifted and Talented, an Integrating Curriculum and Technology Specialist (ICATS), and supervisor of Core Experiences. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University, a Master’s degree in education from Indiana State University; an administrative license from the University of Southern Indiana; and attended the Leadership Institute at Brown University in multiple years.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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

Mallory Anne Johnson: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Class A misdemeanor)

Lisa Renea King: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony)

Damon James Welder: Theft (Level 6 Felony)

Anthony Woodard: Operating a vehicle while intoxicated (Level 6 Felony)

David Leon Hedges: Domestic battery on a person less than 14 years old (Level 6 Felony)

Garland Wade Tallman V: Strangulation (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Jon Paul Arvin: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Jeffrey Louis Scott II: Criminal confinement (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)

Ronald Wayne Haire: Dealing in a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony), Dealing in a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony)

Jason Matthew Bates: Theft (Level 6 Felony)

April Randall Johnson: Auto theft (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)

Robert Dylan Simpson: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)

Eric M. Herring: Operating a vehicle with an ACE of 0.15 or more (Level 6 Felony)

Kyle Anthony Johnson: Carrying a handgun without a license (Level 5 Felony), Operating a vehicle while intoxicated (Level 6 Felony)

Youth First Honors Students and Educators at Annual Fundraiser

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 Youth First’s Passport to Adventure Auction, presented by Edward Jones, was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Evansville on Thursday, April 11, 2019. Guests enjoyed a live and silent auction, program and awards reception. The awards reception was sponsored by Deaconess Health System.

Young people and supporters who have benefitted from or advocated for Youth First’s programs and services were honored.

The Don Mattingly Youth First Award was launched in 2012 to salute young people who share his strengths. Don, an Evansville native, New York Yankees legend, and current Miami Marlins Manager, embodies many winning characteristics, including:

 

A Winning Attitude

  • A Commitment to Self-Improvement
  • A Strong Work Ethic
  • Overcoming Adversity in Life
  • A Commitment to Help Others Succeed

Each year, Youth First Social Workers and staff nominate young people who exhibit these qualities, and a committee of community leaders carefully reviews the applications. This year, the Don Mattingly Youth First Award was presented to middle school student Ian Simmons of St. Joe Catholic School and high school student Brittney Willis of Pike Central High School.

The Carol Lynch Award Honoring Advocates is named for Founding Board Member and past Board Chair Carol Lynch, who has championed the organization since 1998. Joely Yaser, a junior at New Tech Institute, was named this year’s winner. She has been a frequent and impactful spokesperson for Youth First ever since she benefitted from the support of her Youth First Social Worker at Thompkins Middle School.

The Steve Fritz Award Honoring Educators celebrates Youth First Champion and past Youth First Board Chair Steve Fritz, a long-time teacher, coach, administrator, and mentor in the EVSC. This award honors outstanding educators who value and champion Youth First programs and services. Dr. Shane Browder, principal of Plaza Park International Prep Academy, was named the first-ever recipient of this award.

Proceeds from the evening will be used to fund Youth First’s school social work services and prevention programs available to students and their families at no charge across 10 Indiana counties.

WHEN THE EASTER BUNNY COMES TO TOWN – ALWAYS ADOPT!

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Just ahead of the Easter holiday, the Vanderburgh Humane Society would like to remind the public to always adopt rather than buying bunnies from pet stores. VHS is currently overrun with rabbits, with nearly 30 up for adoption, and there is zero reason to buy one from a pet store when you can get a fixed and microchipped rabbit from VHS for only $50!

Why are there so many rabbits?

Rabbits are typically popular “gifts” for children around the Easter holiday. Most pet stores and farm supply stores sell baby rabbits and other small, cute animals to take advantage of this sales trend. Unfortunately, many people end up surrendering or selling these rabbits within months of purchasing them because they were not prepared for the kind of care and/or equipment that rabbits require.

Additionally, it is very difficult to determine the gender of young rabbits. Sometimes, through no fault of their own, sales staff at these establishments have no idea if rabbits are males or females and often send home pairs of opposite genders by accident. Since rabbits reach sexual maturity at anywhere from 5-8 months of age, many new rabbit owners end up with accidental litters that they must then surrender to shelters. Rabbit litters can have anywhere from 4-12 kits.

Female rabbits can get pregnant again within minutes of giving birth because they are induced ovulators. Rabbits’ gestation periods are roughly 30 days. This means that theoretically, if an unaltered male and female are kept together, they could produce 4-12 bunnies every month or so. This adds up, and quickly. Healthy and socialized rabbits can live for 8-10 years if properly cared for. This means that even if a rabbit is a gift for a child, it will live until they’re in college or even after depending on the child’s age. Parents need to be sure that they themselves also want a rabbit since the parent WILL end up taking care of the rabbit. Eventually, the kids will likely lose interest.

If your entire family is truly ready for a bunny companion, the VHS has almost 30 up for adoption right now. Bunnies like Dexter, pictured, who was part of a litter of 8 born to a “stray” pregnant rabbit turned loose outside.

Basic rabbit care

Apart from accidental litters, many rabbits are surrendered to shelters due to behavioral issues. Providing your rabbit with proper housing, exercise, and toys will keep it mentally stimulated and healthy, and help you avoid behavior problems.

 

Rabbits can be trained to use a litterbox.

  • They require several hours of exercise outside their cage every day.
  • Provide your rabbit with a box filled with soil or shredded paper to dig in.
  • Provide your rabbit safe things to chew on, such as phone books, cardboard boxes, timothy hay, or commercial chew sticks sold at most pet stores.
  • Spayed & neutered rabbits do a lot less spraying and are less territorial. All VHS bunnies are fixed in-house prior to going home.

In our culture, traditional housing for a rabbit has mostly been an outdoor hutch made of wood and wire mesh. Proper housing for a pet rabbit is an indoor cage at least 4 feet wide, 2 feet tall, and 2 feet deep. The bottom must be solid, because mesh or wiring can ulcerate rabbits’ feet. Never leave your rabbit outside unattended, even for a moment! Predators such as hawks, foxes, or even neighborhood dogs & cats could be watching closely nearby.

How you can help

If you are considering bringing a rabbit into your home and have done the research to determine that your family is ready for this social and inquisitive pet, then don’t shop: please adopt! The Vanderburgh Humane Society is the only animal rescue organization in the Evansville area that regularly houses and adopts out rabbits long-term. VHS also takes rabbits from smaller shelters as needed that don’t have the capacity to care for them.

Rabbit adoption fees at VHS are $50 which includes the spay/neuter surgery and registered microchip. You will also be adopting a rabbit that has been handled and socialized daily. VHS animal care staff are prepared to educate you on proper rabbit care, equipment, handling, and health so that you and your new companion can enjoy life to the fullest together. The shelter currently has rabbits of multiple ages, breeds, genders, and colors to choose from! Browse available rabbits at www.vhslifesaver.org/adopt.

 

“LEFT JAB AND RIGHT JAB” APRIL 20, 2019

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“LEFT JAB AND RIGHT JAB”

“RIGHT Jab And Left Jab” was created because we have two (2) commenters that post on a daily basis either in our “IS IT TRUE” or “Readers Forum” columns concerning National or International issues.  Recently several of our commenters complained that the posts made by Joe Biden and Ronald Reagan are either too lengthy or off-topic.
Joe Biden and Ronald Reagan comments are mostly about issues of National interest.  Most of our IS IT TRUE columns are about local or state issues so we have decided to give Mr. Biden and Mr. Reagan exclusive access to our newly created “LEFT JAB and RIGHT JAB”  column. They will be given exclusively to discuss national or world issues that they feel passionate about.
If they decide to make any future posts on the “Readers Forum” or “IS IT TRUE” columns we expect them to stay on topic.
We shall be posting the “LEFT JAB” AND “RIGHT JAB” twice a week.  Oh, “Left Jab” is the liberal view and the “Right Jab is representative of the more conservative view. Also, any reader who would like to react to the written comments of the two gentlemen is free to do so.
Any comments posted in “RIGHT JAB AND “LEFT JAB” column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer, our advertisers, our readers.

USI On The Road for Three-Game Series

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The University of Southern Indiana baseball team hits the road for a key Great Lakes Valley Conference three-game series when it visits the University of Illinois Springfield in Springfield, Illinois. The three-game slate is scheduled for a noon doubleheader Saturday and single-game Saturday.

Following the USI’s three-game set at Illinois Springfield, the Screaming Eagles return home for a single-game Tuesday with Oakland City University at 6 p.m. The Eagles also have one final non-conference road game on the schedule and will cross the Ohio River to visit Kentucky Wesleyan College Wednesday at 3 p.m. for a second showdown between the two rivals.

Coverage of the Screaming Eagles baseball games this season can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.

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