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HOT JOBS
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
UE women’s basketball wins home opener over Wright State
Two 19-point quarters helped lead the Purple Aces to a win
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The University of Evansville women’s basketball team won its first game at Meeks Family Fieldhouse in a 65-63 victory over the Wright State Raiders.
The Purple Aces led by as much as 12 points on Sunday afternoon in their narrow win over the Raiders. Sophomore forward Maggie Hartwig (Sauk City, Wis. / Sauk Praire HS) led the team on both sides of the ball with 24 points and 14 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Freshmen guards Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) and Kylee Norkus (Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley HS) also scored in double figures for the second straight game.
“I’m really really proud of our team,” said Head Coach Robyn Scherr after the game. “We showed such growth from our first game to this game, especially on the defensive end. We really did a good job of managing the game for three and a half quarters. And luckily we built a good enough lead going into that fourth quarter that we were able to hang on.
“I was just really proud of our kids for making those plays at the end. Grabbing big rebounds and making big plays when they could have hung their heads because we let them get back into the game. I’m just so pleased. This is a group of winners and we’re only going to get better from here.”
It was a back-and-forth battle for most of the first quarter in Meeks Family FIeldhouse. Neither team put together a run until six minutes in when Wright State had its largest lead of the game after scoring five straight points. But UE found its offensive rhythm in the final three minutes with the last 10 points of the first. Evansville held a narrow three-point lead heading into the second frame.
The Raiders had the first bucket of the second quarter but back-to-back made baskets for the Aces put themselves two scores in front. UE matched every shot Wright State took and then some through the quarter. Evansville grew its lead to eight points twice including with a minute left in the first half. Runner had the last point of the half as the Aces went into the break up 36-29.
The second half began slowly for both teams as it took over two minutes for either side to score. The Raiders opened up the scoring for the third quarter in a row, but a four-point and three-point run for UE kept them ahead through the first five minutes. The final five minutes of the third was mostly a back-and-forth pace. In the last minute and a half of the quarter a second chance layup for Norkus and a three for Hartwig had Evansville up by 11.
Hartwig scored another trey for the Aces early in the fourth quarter to keep the double-digit lead intact. After a free throw by Runner with just over eight minutes on the clock UE had its largest lead of the game at 12 points. Wright State began to chip into the lead with a five-point run. But a third three for Hartwig once again made it a double-digit game.
Over the next minute it was again traded shots between Evansville and the Raiders. But Wright State put together a nine-point run in the final four minutes to get within one of the Aces. With over a minute on the clock and two players fouled out, UE was able to get three defensive rebounds and make another free throw for the 65-63 win.
Evansville led in most statistical categories on Sunday including shooting percentage, rebounds, assists, and points in the paint. The Aces were 21-58 from the floor for 36.2% while going 20 of 26 from the line. It was also the second straight game for UE with over 40 rebounds as Evansville grabbed 49 boards.
The Aces continue their two game homestand later this week. SEMO will visit the River City for a midweek matchup on Thursday evening. Tip-off on Thursday, November 14th is set for 6 p.m.
Aces men’s soccer stuns no. 23 Western Michigan in MVC Quarterfinals
The Purple Aces picked up their first win over a nationally ranked team since 2018
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – It took almost two overtime periods, but the University of Evansville men’s soccer triumphed over the Western Michigan Broncos with a 2-1 victory in the MVC Tournament Quarterfinals.
The Purple Aces made the most of the moment in their first postseason match as they took down Western Michigan on their home field Sunday morning. UE scored twice in 108 minutes of action to hand the 23rd ranked Broncos their first loss at WMU Soccer Complex in 26 matches. Evansville was led by senior forward Kai Phillip (Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago) with one goal, five shots, and three chances on net. Freshman defender Martin Wurschmidt (Fram, Norway) had the golden game winning goal for the Aces in the 108th minute for his second score of the season.
“I’m just a proud coach,” said Head Coach Robbe Tarver after the win. “These guys have worked so hard to set a new standard for the program. To go down late in the second half at a place like WMU where they haven’t lost since 2022 and responding how we did shows the guts these guys have. We’re happy to have more time together this season.”
With a 10 a.m. central kickoff time it was a slow first half for both sides. UE registered the first shot of the match as senior midfielder Jose Vivas (Teruel, Spain) attempt went wide left in the sixth minute. But Western Michigan countered with back-to-back shots while also frustrating Evansville into two yellow cards. It would stay an even match through the first 45 as both teams had five shots with two on goal.
Things picked up in the second half of the match as again the two teams took the same number of shots with eight each. Four shots were taken in the first 10 minutes of the second as freshman goalkeeper Michal Mroz (Elk Grove, Ill. / Elk Grove HS) made his third save of the match. It’d be another 10 minutes before another shot was registered by Phillip. But it was the Broncos who found the back of the net in the 74th minute.
WMU wouldn’t lead for long though as the Aces found the equalizer in the 79th minute. Phillip recorded another shot in the 77th minute that went wide before he scored his third goal of 2024 only two minutes later. Vivas brought the ball up into the 18 on the right side and crossed up to sophomore winger Auden Engen Vik (Trondheim, Norway) just outside the penalty area. Engen Vik took a cross through the box that found Phillip at the six where he headed the ball past the Broncos goalkeeper.
In the final 11 minutes of regulation both teams fought to find the winning goal. UE had the only two shots on goal in that time from graduate defender Tobias Bak (Taastrup, Denmark) and senior forward Nacho Diaz Barragan (Almeria, Spain). With neither team able to score the match moved into the first 10-minute overtime session.
It took almost three minutes for the first shot of overtime and almost four minutes for Evansville’s first. None other than Phillip had the OT look for the Aces in the 94th minute at the top of the penalty arc that was saved by Western Michigan. Spurred by his look at the end of the second half, Diaz Barragan controlled on offense for UE the rest of the first overtime. He had a close wide look in the 96th minute and a look that was barely saved by the Broncos in the 99th. Evansville headed into the second overtime period with plenty of momentum to try and extend its season another game.
The start of the second overtime period was all defense as the Aces mostly kept WMU out of the offensive zone. UE had a look in the 105th minute from Wurschmidt just inside the penalty area that sailed high. But it was only two minutes later that Evansville struck gold starting with a corner kick. In the 108th minute Vivas took the left corner launching the ball to the far-right side of the six. Wurschmidt was the first player to make contact, using his left foot to launch the ball into the left half of the net to win the match.
With the win the Aces advanced to the MVC Semifinals round hosted by the Missouri State Bears. UE will know its next opponent later on Sunday evening after the conclusion of the second quarterfinals match in Bowling Green. This is the third time in four seasons that Evansville has made it to at least the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament.
Trailblazer Cross Country improves on ranking at NJCAA Nationals
RICHMOND, Va. – The Vincennes University Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams had a great day Saturday afternoon at the 2024 NJCAA Division I National Championships hosted at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Va.
Both of the VU men’s and women’s teams finished higher than their National ranking heading into the Championship race with the VU men’s team finishing 14th overall and the Vincennes women’s team placing 19th overall.
The day began with the women’s 5k race where the Trailblazers were once again led by freshman Sarra Belgacem (Tunis, Tunisia) who placed 64th overall with a final time of 19:27.7.
Sophomore Adi Fuller (Evansville, Ind.) was the second VU women’s runner across the line, once again saving her best for last with a final time of 20:15.2 to take home 92nd place overall.
Freshman Allie Black (Lynn, Ind.) was close behind in third for the Trailblazers, finishing with a time of 20:55.2 to place 122nd overall.
The VU top five was rounded out by sophomore Jasmyn Self (Casey, Ill.) and freshman Alexis Hale (Evansville, Ind.) with Self posting a time of 21:20.1 and Hale coming in at 21:37.6.
Freshman Melina Loudermilk (Bridgeport, Ill.) closed out the race for the Trailblazers with a finishing time of 23:52.6.
The VU women’s team placed 19th overall as a team with a total of 506 points in the race.
“The weather was great for the race, in the low 60s in the sun,” VU Head Cross Country Coach Tyler Steigenga said. “The course was different than three years ago and probably made it a little faster. The men ran a 2k loop four times and the women ran a smaller 1k loop at the start and then finished with two of the 2k loops.”
“The women improved on their ranking by two spots to finish 19th overall,” Steigenga added. “Sarra led the team once again with a five second PR. She went out way too fast at the beginning of the race and felt the effects early on but managed to rally and finish as the top runner for the team, as she has all season.”
“Adi finished with a new season’s best in her final cross country race for VU,” Steigenga said. “For the second season in a row, she ran her best at the National meet. Allie finished as our third runner again and Alexis followed her with the biggest PR of the VU women’s team, running 19 seconds faster than her previous best.”
“Jasmyn ran her second fastest time as a Trailblazer,” Steigenga added. “Melina completed a successful comeback from injury as she finished her third race of the season.”
The day was finished with the running of the men’s 8k race, which saw freshman Anis Abdaoui (Kairouan, Tunisia) pace the Blazers with a time of 24:59.5 to take 35th place overall in the race.
Sophomores Cody Noel (Hebron, Ind.) and Tanner Spence (Carmi, Ill.) were the next two Blazers across the line, with Noel coming in just ahead of Spence with a time of 26:00.5 and Spence posting a time of 26:04.7.
Freshman Kelvin Kipsang (Kapsabet, Kenya) was the fourth VU runner to finish the race, posting a time of 26:45.5, with sophomore Caden Hostetler (LaGrange, Ind.) rounding out the Vincennes top five with a time of 27:00.8.
Freshman Lane Connaway (Carmi, Ill.) and sophomore Nathan Whitehead (Vincennes, Ind.) closed out the race for the Trailblazers with Connaway finishing with a time of 27:21.2 and Whitehead ending with a time of 27:23.6.
The VU men’s team finished 14th overall as a team with a total of 389 points.
“The men moved up to 14th overall after being ranked 16,” Steigenga said. “Anis led the team with a 19 second PR and a new school record. He broke the old record of 25:10.1 set in 2014 by two-time NJCAA XC All-American Robert Murphy.”
“Cody ran a very even and smart race, picking up over 60 places during the course of the race,” Steigenga added. “He was rewarded with a 10 second PR and improved on his finish from last year’s race. Tanner finished right behind Cody with the biggest PR of the day, running 27 seconds faster than his previous best.”
“Kelvin had a rough race to finish as our fourth runner,” Steigenga said. “Before VU, he only ran the 800 meters, so stepping up to the longer distance has been a challenge but he is slowly figuring it out. Caden narrowly missed his PR but moved up 58 spots from his first National meet. Lane and Nathan ran near to each other the whole race with Lane getting ahead of Nathan in the finishing stretch and both finishing with new PRs.”
“The reason our men’s team was able to do s well this year was because of our sophomore leadership,” Steigenga added. “Cody, Tanner, Caden and Nathan have done a great job of leading the team in practice and meets, setting a great example for the freshmen that will be in their shoes next year. Adi and Jasmyn have also done a great job leading the women’s team. They have been great examples to the freshmen this year and have played a big role in helping us build up the women’s team as we continue to grow.”
The fall season is not over for the Trailblazers though as members of the VU men’s and women’s Cross Country teams will now get ready to take part in the NJCAA Men’s and Women’s Half Marathon Championships Tuesday, Nov. 12 hosted at Dorey Park in Richmond, Va.
“Overall it was a great National meet for us,” Steigenga said. “We wanted to finish higher by the quality of the field made that really tough. The men ran the second fastest team time in school history and is arguably the best men’s team that VU has ever sent to Nationals.”
“It’s hard to be disappointed when your top three runners PR at the National meet,” Steigenga said. “Many were saying this was the fastest NJCAA XC National meet ever. We placed 12th at the National meet two years ago and if we put this year’s team in that race, it’s not a stretch to say we would finish five places higher than that.”
“It just shows how much the NJCAA has improved in that short span and I look forward to continuing to build the program up as we look to crack the top ten on both the men’s and women’s side,” Steigenga added. “Before we take a break after the cross country season, 10 men and four women will race in the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships for VU Tuesday morning
VETERANS DAY: The Youngest Person to Serve in WWII
The youngest American to serve in World War II, Calvin Graham lied his way into the Navy at 12 years old, eventually earning the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and time in jail.
by Johnny Kincaid
NOVEMBER 11, 2024
After Pearl Harbor, Americans sought every opportunity to serve our nation’s war effort. Teenage boys tried to sign up for the military before reaching the legal age, but one stood out because he hadn’t even reached his teens.
Calvin Graham was 11 years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed, and he began preparing to join the military. He started shaving, convinced it would make him look older than he was, and he practiced speaking in a deep voice, pretending to talk like a man.
The minimum age for enlistment was 17, although a 16-year-old could join with his parent’s permission.
Graham forged his mother’s signature on his enlistment papers and stole a notary stamp from a local hotel. Graham told his mother he was going to visit relatives — and instead lined up to enlist with the Navy in Houston, Texas on August 15, 1942.
Calvin Graham was accepted into the Navy and assigned to the USS South Dakota, a warship working alongside the USS Enterprise in the Pacific. Just months after after Graham arrived on board, the ship battled eight Japanese destroyers during the Battle of Guadalcanal.
At one point, shrapnel hit Graham square in the face, tearing through his jaw and mouth. And he fell three stories. Graham got up and pulled sailors to safety and sat with them through the night.
“I took belts off the dead and made tourniquets for the living and gave them cigarettes and encouraged them all night,” Graham later told Smithsonian Magazine. “It was a long night. It aged me.”
Calvin Graham received a Purple Heart for his injuries and a Bronze Star for distinguished combat. But, his mother called the Navy and reported him.
Immediately, the Navy threw Graham into a military prison and stripped him of his medals.
Calvin Graham didn’t receive an honorable discharge until 1978 and didn’t receive disability benefits and back pay until 1988. Jimmy Carter, a fellow Navy man, announced that he would be re-awarded his medals. And in 1988, he was finally granted disability benefits and back pay.
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Vanderburgh County lawmakers: State funding hits the road for local infrastructure improvements
STATEHOUSE (Nov. 8, 2024) – Vanderburgh County lawmakers said local communities will soon be on the move with more road and bridge projects with the help of recently released state funding.
Funding is available through Indiana’s Community Crossings Matching Grant Program, which can be used for road reconstruction, bridge preservation, intersection improvements and other projects. A total of 223 communities across the state will receive more than $139 million in state matching grants.
“The economic success of our local communities depends in part on having reliable infrastructure,” said State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville). “These investments help us attract residents, businesses and economic opportunities to area, and we can continue to improve our quality of life.”
Area grant recipients include Evansville ($729,809) and Vanderburgh County ($809,506).
“Community Crossings grants help all types of communities improve local roads and increase connectivity,” said State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville). “To keep up with Southwest Indiana’s growth, it’s vital that we continue to invest in our infrastructure so that we can meet our needs now and in the future.”
“Our rural communities often do not have enough funding to tackle all of their infrastructure needs,” said State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka). “Community Crossings grants give them some budget flexibility so that they can make essential upgrades on their roads, bridges and more.”
To qualify for the competitive grant, smaller municipalities provide a 25 percent match in local funds, while larger communities provide a 50 percent match. State law requires 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded annually to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer. Since 2016, Community Crossings has awarded more than $1.8 billion to improve local roads and bridges.