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Euler blasts two home runs as USI wins

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University of Southern Indiana sophomore leftfielder Aaron Euler (Evansville, Indiana) hits a pair of home runs and led the Screaming Eagles to a 16-7 victory over McKendree University Tuesday evening in Evansville, Indiana. USI moves its record to 21-12 overall and 14-7 in the GLVC, while McKendree goes to 9-23, 6-15 GLVC.

Euler, who finished the game with four hits, three runs scored, and five RBIs, highlighted USI’s six-run first inning with a three-run blast and sent his third hit of the game over the right-center fence for a two-run blast. Euler’s fifth and sixth home runs of the season marked his second multi-blast game in the last four contests.

The Eagles tallied all of the runs they would need in the first three frames, scoring six in the first, one in the second, and one in the third for the early 8-2 lead. USI extended the lead to as many as 10 runs, 13-3, after five innings before McKendree closed the gap to 13-7 with a four-run top of the sixth.

The momentum swung back to the Eagles in the bottom of the sixth when Euler hit his second blast of the game for a 15-7 lead and USI sealed the 16-7 win with a tally in the ninth.

On the mound, USI freshman lefthander Sammy Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana) posted his third win of the season. Barnett (3-1) allowed four runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out three in five innings of work.

USI junior right-hander Tyler Hagedorn (Evansville, Indiana) pitched the final three innings and earned his first save of the spring. Hagedorn allowed one hit and struck out two in his three frames.

EPD REPORT

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EPD REPORT

VANDERBURGH COUNTY RECENT BOOKING RECORDS

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http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/jail-recent-booking-records.aspx

“READERS FORUM” APRIL 10, 2019

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We hope that today’s “READERS FORUM” 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?

HERE’S WHAT’S ON OUR MIND TODAY

Yesterday the Indy Star reported that amendments to the gaming Legislation that cleared the House Ways and Means Committee by a 17-6 margin on Tuesday didn’t contain the $6 million dollar funding clause for the City of Evansville that would help offset the city’s anticipated financial losses if Terre Haute is allowed to build a new casino.  What concerns is that if this bill becomes law, the taxpayers of Evansville could lose millions of dollars if the State Legislature approved building a multi-million dollar casino just an hour and a half down the road?

The Indy Star also published the following comments made by Mayor Winnecke that really concern us. Mayor Winnecke said, “We have a lot of interest in what comes of the gaming bill, and we’re concerned there’s no held harmless in the current bill. But we like the fact that leadership in the legislature recognizes that could be changed in future sessions.”  Winnecke also said, “that if a casino is approved and built near Terre Haute, it would not open for business for at least 2-3 years and it would give the legislature time to analyze the impact a Terre Haute gaming property would have on nearby competitors, such as Evansville and French Lick.”
IS IT TRUE the Indy Star also reported that the Ways And Means Committee member State Rep. Holli Sullivan, R-Evansville, proposed that a legislative study take place. Doing an impact study after the fact makes no sense because the financial damage to Tropicana-Evansville and City of Evansville will already be done.
All we can say about Mayor Winnecke’s comments to the Indy Star is that his remarks aren’t very helpful to Tropicana-Evansville who we consider being one of the most generous corporate citizens of our region?  It made no sense why the Mayor and State Rep. Holli Sulivan didn’t push the State legislature to analyze this issue before they decided to vote on it?  If they would have taken a Business 101 class they would have quickly realized that this proposed legislation will saturate the gaming market in our region.
April 16, 2919, is the last day for the third (3rd) reading of this bill in the Indiana House of Representative?

 

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

Todays “Readers Poll” question is: Are you disappointed that State Rep; Holli Sullivan and Mayor Winnecke didn’t take a strong stance against a new casino being built in Terre Haute?

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. We are pleased to provide obituaries from several area funeral homes at no costs.  Over the next several weeks we shall be adding additional obituaries from other local funeral homes.  Please scroll down the paper and you shall see a listing of them.

.If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us at City-County Observer@live.com

FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.”READERS FORUM” 

Terre Haute Would Get Casino As House Ways And Means Committee Approves Gambling Expansion

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Terre Haute Would Get Casino As House Ways And Means Committee Approves Gambling Expansion

April 9, 2019  

By Emily Ketterer
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS –– Amendments to a bill that expands gambling in Indiana cuts in half the price tag to move two Gary casinos inland and creates a competitive bidding process for a new Terre Haute casino license.

Rep. Todd Huston, R-Fishers and co-chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, amended Senate Bill 552 Tuesday to lower the original price of $100 million to $50 million to move the Gary casinos. The bill passed out of the committee by a 17-6 margin.

The two casinos are owned by Spectacle Entertainment and located on Lake Michigan. Under the bill, they are permitted to move inland but the owner has to give up one of the gaming licenses, in effect forcing the two casinos to merge.

 

“If they want to move, that action can only happen with us taking action,” Huston said. “And there is a value to that move. They wouldn’t be moving if there wasn’t a value.”

If Spectacle decides to open a new one inland closer to the interstate, the company will be allowed to have 2,674 gaming positions––an increase from the 1,684 positions at the two current casinos. This would potentially make the Gary casino the largest in Indiana.

Indiana currently has 11 casinos and two horse-racing casinos. Depending on whether Spectacle moves, the number of casinos could grow to 12 or 13 under the legislation with a new Terre Haute location.

Before the bill was amended Tuesday, Terre Haute would have only gotten the license to build a new casino if Spectacle gave up its second Gary license. Now, Huston’s amendment creates a separate license for Terre Haute and it includes a twist––companies will have to bid on the license.

“We’ve separated the Terre Haute discussion from the Spectacle discussion,” Huston said. “If the operator in Gary wants to move, that’s their decision based upon the parameters that we provide within the legislation.”

The legislation will create a Vigo County advisory board to consider company candidates and choose three to participate in the competitive bidding. The process will also work with two bidders, but Huston said there has to be more than one candidate chosen or the selection process has to start over.

The minimum bid is $25 million, which Huston said is a good number to start at based on what he’s heard.

Another provision of the massive bill is the legalization of sports gambling, which has virtually passed through the General Assembly with little discussion from the public or lawmakers. The amended bill will now levy a 9.5 percent tax rate on sports bets starting in September. Mobile sports betting is not included in the legislation.

Democrats proposed a number of amendments in committee and most were shut down, including proposals to provide more financial support to the surrounding Gary communities that may be negatively affected by the casino’s expansion.

On sports gambling, Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, offered an amendment to protect college athletes. Pryor said with sports wagering being legal, people may be betting a lot of money on students, and she proposed a portion of tax money from the bets go to the student-athletes who are injured to help pay for insurance. The amendment was rejected along party lines.

“Everybody is going to make money off these kids,” Pryor said. “We need to figure out a way to help these students.”

The bill advances to the House for further action.

FOOTNOTE: Emily Ketterer is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

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‘Stand Your Ground’ Expansion Bill Advances

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‘Stand Your Ground’ Expansion Bill Advances

APRIL 9TH, 2019 MEGAN DIVENTI INDIANA

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Indiana’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law could be expanding if a bill moving through the Statehouse becomes law.

House Bill 1284 was created in response to a 2017 case in Indianapolis where a woman shot and killed a man who was attacking a police officer outside her home. Prosecutors say what she did was legal, but she was then sued by the man’s family.

The bill is one step closer to becoming law and if that happens cases like this would turn out much differently in Indiana.

“I need to do something to protect me and my kids,” says Mary Ellen Johnson, gun owner.

For Johnson, a scary incident two years ago led her to become a gun owner.

“I saw a man in my window and a few days later his drivers license was by my door and it was bent up like he had tried to get in,” says Johnson. “I was scared to death to come home at night from work. I was scared to having my kids there thinking that maybe he had gotten in the home.”

Indiana law currently provides immunity for justifiable use of force for people protecting themselves or their property. It also protects from criminal penalties, but not civil.

But this bill would change that by keeping people from facing civil lawsuits in these types of cases.

“It is scary to think about having to use your weapon and possibly getting sued, but it’s scarier to be killed or anything can happen so I think it’ll make people feel a little bit easier about if they have to get in that type of situation,” says Johnson.

The bill cleared the Senate Monday 42-7 and even though most lawmakers support the legislation many think it’s going too far.

“Some people I know that they’re trying to portray the opposition they are trying to portray it as vigilantism it will allow that,” says Rep. Jim Lucas, (R) Indiana. “It will allow people to just shoot and ask questions later, but nothing could be further from the truth.”

As for Johnson, she says defending her home is important.

“Anybody that feels like they can’t use their firearm in an unsafe situation may have a little more confidence now to protect themselves,” says Lucas.

“My hope is that the bill does what it was designed to do and protect Hoosiers from frivolous lawsuits in a justified use of force,” says Rep. Lucas.

Lucas says he anticipates the bill to go to the conference committee later this week or early next week.

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Marriage Licenses Issued For Vanderburgh County

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Marriage Licenses Issued

Criminal Penalties For Revenge Porn May Become Law

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Criminal Penalties For Revenge Porn May Become Law

INDIANA LAWYER
April 9, 2019
Katie Stancombe

 

Efforts to hold revenge porn perpetrators criminally accountable advanced Monday after the Indiana House of Representatives voted 95-0 in favor of legislation that would criminalize the posting of non-consensual pornography.

Senate Bill 243 defines an intimate image as a photograph, digital image or video that depicts sexual intercourse, other sexual conduct or the exhibition of the uncovered buttocks, genitals or female breast.

Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis, said SB 243 makes it a crime for someone to distribute such an image with intent to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten or coerce the other person. It would also make it a crime to post the image without the consent of a person depicted in that image, even if that person initially agreed to partake in the image.

Revenge porn perpetrators could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense would bump that up to a Level 6 felony charge.

The measure initially received skepticism from Sen. Michael Young, R- Indianapolis, who has traditionally held that such matters are civil, not criminal. But the bill has seen little opposition this session.

TICKETS ON SALE AND DONATIONS BEING ACCEPTED NOW FOR VANDERBURGH HUMANE’S LARGEST FUNDRAISER

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The Vanderburgh Humane Society’s 24th annual Going, Going, Gone to the Dogs! Benefit Dinner & Auction, sponsored by Pet Food Center and Jack Rogers Realty, will be held Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Old National Events Plaza. This year’s theme is, “Fantastic Pets and Where to Find Them” and will be hosted on a new date at a new venue! The auction typically nets over $60,000 each year for the VHS, which serves the largest number of animals in the Tri-State each year.

The VHS receives no tax-based funding and therefore must depend on the generosity of the corporate community and the public to continue the much needed services it offers. The 24th annual GGGD Benefit Dinner & Auction is designed to be the largest single fundraising event for any animal welfare organization in the Tri-State. The auction will feature a preview cocktail party, dinner, and both silent and live auctions. Higher-valued items, unique items, or packages with high interest will be featured in the live portion of this successful event.

Tickets are on sale now for this event at www.vhslifesaver.org. Individual seats begin at $90 per plate, with benefactor tickets available at $125 and tables of 10 available at $1000 (individuals) or $1250 (businesses.) Tickets will not be sold at the door, so patrons should plan accordingly and make advance reservations. Dress is business casual or themed attire.

VHS is also still accepting donations valued at $25+. Just about anything has a place at “Fantastic Pets” including baskets, gift cards & gift certificates, services, artwork, jewelry, vacation packages, sports memorabilia, antiques, and more. Donating to Going, Going, Gone to the Dogs! is a great way to show philanthropy and advertise your business to almost 300 patrons in a single evening!

To purchase tickets, please visit https://www.vhslifesaver.org. To donate auction items or for businesses who wish to sponsor the event or purchase a corporate table, email events@vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563 ext. 218!

EVSC School Board Approves Innovative RAMP Initiative

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The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation School Board approved a first-of-its-kind comprehensive work-based learning program in Indiana that completely embeds high school students within an Evansville-based industry. RAMP, Real-World Application; Maximizing Potential, is a program through EVSC’s OptIN, in partnership with AmeriQual, where students will work side-by-side with industry experts to acquire manufacturing skills that they can use, upon graduation, to acquire a high-wage, high-demand career.

“The collaboration between OptIN and AmeriQual to establish RAMP is truly an innovation in education. It creates an unprecedented learning environment that will increase student hope, engagement and success,” said EVSC Superintendent David Smith. “RAMP will empower students to be successful by teaching not only traditional subject matter, but also provide transferable skills such as the ability to collaborate, think critically, problem solve, communicate effectively and demonstrate ethical practices. All of which are highly sought after by employers.”

Beginning this fall, students in RAMP will work and attend class on the AmeriQual campus on Highway 41 in Evansville. The classroom will be a hybrid where teachers will meet students where they are on the path to graduation. The students’ day will be split between four hours of on-the-job work and four hours of classroom time. This experience will provide students with an opportunity for hands-on learning and the ability to apply what they are learning in the classroom to the real world.

“AmeriQual, like many businesses right now, is always looking for qualified employees to join our team,” said Mirsada Salihovic, vice president of human resources.  “RAMP will allow us to create a pipeline of skilled workers who are already part of our family and who can be successful whether they stay at AmeriQual upon graduation or move on to something else.”

The initial RAMP cohort will include 80 students who will be selected through an application process based on need. The program fulfills the requirements for students to graduate with the opportunity to earn several certifications; including, MSSC Certification, OSHA 10 and a Forklift certification which all lead to high wage high demand careers. Students will get paid for their work and be eligible for attendance and productivity bonuses.

Going forward, the EVSC hopes to expand the program not only within AmeriQual but also work to include additional local companies and businesses.

Students interested in applying for RAMP can visit www.EVSCschools.com/RAMPapply or speak with their school counselor.

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