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Frye named OVC Player to Watch USI predicted 8th in preseason poll​​​​​​​

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana junior midfielder Jaron Frye (Tulsa, Oklahoma) was named an Ohio Valley Conference Player to Watch for the 2024 season. The OVC Players to Watch are nominated by institution head coaches.
 
Frye, who was redshirted last season, came to USI from Northern Oklahoma College where he was the leading scorer by scoring 11 goals in 27 matches over two seasons (2021, 2022).
 
The Screaming Eagles also were selected to place eighth in the OVC this season. USI was 1-6-3 in the inaugural OVC season, missing the post-season tournament, and finished the year 2-12-3 overall. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was predicted to win the OVC in 2024, collecting 11 of the 16 first place votes.
 
USI concludes the 2024 preseason schedule Saturday with an exhibition game versus Bradley University at Strassweg Field. The Eagles open the regular season August 22 with a visit to Butler University and starts the fall home schedule September 14 when Bellarmine University comes to Strassweg Field.
 
At the end of the season, the top six teams in the standings will qualify for the 2024 OVC Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament, which will take place November 10, 13 & 16 on the campus of SIUE in Edwardsville, Illinois.
 
2024 OVC Players to Watch:
Sam Eccles, Eastern Illinois
D’Alessandro Herrera, Houston Christian
Miles Merritt, Incarnate Word                                
Luke Eberle, Liberty
John Gates, Lindenwood
Nacho Abeal, SIUE
Jaron Frye, USI
Jimmy Baars, WIU
 
2024 OVC Preseason Poll
1. SIUE (11 first-place votes)         95 points
2. Liberty (3)                                  79
3. Incarnate Word                          67
4. Lindenwood                               66
5. Houston Christian (2)                59
6. Eastern Illinois                           36
7. Western Illinois                          25
8. Southern Indiana                       21

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

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.

Toilet Removed Safely after Clogging Issue

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UPDATE 8/14/2024: After video review, it was determined that the last person to enter the Mickey’s Kingdom restroom was a plumber who was scheduled to remove the toilet after a clogging issue. The toilet was subsequently shattered during removal. The door was locked, after the attempted removal, so occupants wouldn’t use the facility but was then left unlocked after being cleaned by maintenance. We are happy to report this was a case of miscommunication and not criminal mischief.

This morning, August 13thToilet Removed Safely after Clogging Issue, as Evansville Police Department Parks Officers completed a walking patrol through Mickey’s Kingdom, officers discovered that someone destroyed the toilet in the bathroom. The toilet was detached and broken into pieces. It appears some items, including a plastic water bottle, were shoved down into the toilet. The vandalism is believed to have occurred overnight and could cost as much as $1,500 to replace and repair the toilet and plumbing.

The Evansville Police Department is asking that anyone with information about this crime to please call reach out to EPD at (812) or call the EPD Tip Line at (812) 435-6194.

Woman Fabricates Sexual Assault Incident in City Park:

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Woman Fabricates Sexual Assault Incident in City Park:

Warrant Issued for Her Arrest During the early morning of July 11th dispatched received a call that a female, identified as Megan N. Cooper (34), was sexually assaulted, and was bound inside her vehicle located in Wesselman Park. Once officers responded to the scene, they requested an Adult Investigations Detective and a Sexual Violence Detective. The crime scene was processed, and Cooper was transported to St. Vincent Hospital to have a sexual assault kit completed. At the time, the investigation appeared to be factual. The SV Detective spoke with a friend of Coopers’ that morning who stated a few days prior, he located Cooper tied up in Wesselman Park to a tree. At both times, the same friend was contacted to help locate/rescue Cooper; she did not want the police to be called for the first incident.

On July 12th, Cooper was interviewed at Holly’s House. During that interview she gave a statement about what occurred leading up to being located by EPD officers. Cooper also stated that similar incidents, like the July 11th incident, have occurred to her recently. Cooper described the encounters in detail, the materials that were used to bind her during these assaults and the pills and inhalants she was instructed to take during these encounters.

The SV Detective applied for a search warrant for Cooper’s vehicle and cell phone. There were several pieces of information to show that Cooper was being dishonest about her statement. Cooper was also told that there was a possibility that DNA from the suspect could be extracted from her vehicle; Cooper indicated that she didn’t want that DNA testing to be done. Business cameras recorded Cooper purchasing, or stealing, the items and materials that she was found to be bound in. Once this information was obtained, detectives also learned that Cooper has been listed as a victim in numerous kidnapping and sexual assault reports across the state of Kentucky; a suspect has never been identified in those cases and Cooper’s statements are vastly similar to the one she gave regarding the incident on July 11th. On July 18th, the SV Detective spoke to Cooper about discrepancies in her statement. On July 24th, Cooper called the Detective back to issue a new statement: she lied about the events that occurred on July 11th For a large portion of July, Officers, Crime Scene Detectives, Adult Investigative Detectives, Sexual Violence Detectives, outside agencies, and organizations have exerted unremitting time into this investigation that Cooper fabricated. When we investigate crimes, we lean on victim statements, witness statements and evidence to build a case that provides answers and closure for the victim. We never want to discredit a victim’s statement of any crime. Unfortunately, in this case the victim of Sexual Assault and Kidnapping became the offender of Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony) and False Informing (B Misdemeanor). Our SV Detectives are to be commended for the work they put into this case to apprehend what they initially believed to be a suspect that harmed someone in the early morning hours in a city park. Their tireless work and investigation has led to a warrant being issued for Megan N. Cooper (34). Cooper is known to reside in Henderson, KY. If you know of her location, please contact 9-1-1.

Big innings doom Otters, rubber match Thursday

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SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – Continuing their series on Wednesday night at Wintrust Field, the Evansville Otters were taken down by the Schaumburg Boomers, suffering a 13-1 setback.

The Boomers (40-40) came out ready with the bats early and after jumping ahead in the opening inning, they never looked back.

For the Otters (35-46), David Mendham plated the only run in the seventh inning with his fourth home run of the year, a solo shot blasted out to right field.

Crooked numbers showed on the scoreboard four times for Schaumburg, as they plated two in the first, four in the fourth, three in the sixth and two in the eighth innings.

Former Otter Anthony Calarco had two homers for the opposition and another Boomer hit for the cycle.

It was an off day for Zach Smith (7-6) as he went just three and one-third innings, walking four and allowing seven runs on nine hits. Boomers starter Cole Cook (4-4) took the win after tossing in six shutout innings.

Schaumburg out-hit Evansville 18-6 tonight, a new season high for the opposition.

On a brighter note, Tyler Ras returned from the injured list and appeared for the Otters tonight. Pitching in the eighth, it was his first action seen since May 24. He gave up one run on two hits and struck out one.

UE women’s soccer begins the 2024 season hosting Lipscomb

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The Purple Aces get to open the new season at home on Thursday night
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 2024 campaign kicks off for the University of Evansville women’s soccer team on Thursday evening at home at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

The Purple Aces first match of the 2024 season is also UE’s home opener as they welcome the Lipscomb Bison to Evansville on Thursday night. The Aces bring back 20 players from the 2023 campaign including its top four offensive performers this year. Sophomore forward Chrysta Vasquez leads the way for UE after scoring two goals in her 2023 campaign. Junior midfielder Kaylee Woosley helped lead the team in points with one goal and two assists. While senior forward Hailey Autenrieb and sophomore forward Taylor Johnson followed with three points from a goal and an assist apiece.

In a preseason poll of league head coaches, Evansville was picked to finish ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri State landed the top spot with seven first-place votes and 116 points, closely followed by 2023 regular season champions Drake. The Aces earned 32 points in the preseason poll while UIC (3rd, 87 points), UNI (4th, 85 points), Valparaiso (5th, 83 points), and Murray State (6th, 73 points) fill out the remaining top six spots. Belmont (7th, 54 points), Indiana State (8th, 42 points), Illinois State (10th, 23 points), and Southern Illinois (11th, 22 points) round out the poll.

The Aces will look to build upon a strong defensive season in 2023. UE set a new single-season record for ties with nine draws in 17 games in 2023. Of those nine ties, four were clean sheets from goalkeeper Miya Danek. Danek returns in goal for Evansville in 2024 for her final collegiate season after making national rankings in 2023. Danek was in the Top 100 in saves per game (4.65) and total saves (79) and top five in the Valley. UE also returns All-MVC Second Team member defender Rachel Rosborough for 2024 in her fifth season.

Along with 20 returners, the Aces add 11 new players to their 2024 roster. Evansville welcomes redshirt sophomore transfer Mary McArdle, freshman Allie Lammers, Emmy Brenner, Olivia Colson, Lindley Amick, Taylor Wehrer, Olivia Mills, Anna Duncan, Maria Meade, and Brielle LaBerge.

Lipscomb comes into the start of the 2024 season picked second in the ASUN preseason poll with two players earning preseason awards. Midfielder Bella Carapazza and defender Lucy Ream both made the preseason All-ASUN Team after big seasons in 2023. Carapazza was the 2023 ASUN Freshman of the Year while Ream was named to the 2023 ASUN All-Conference Second Team. The Bison finished 2023 in the semifinals of the ASUN Tournament as the number one seed.

MATTHEW HOBBS RE-SIGNED BY THUNDERBOLTS, NAMED CAPTAIN

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MATTHEW HOBBS RE-SIGNED BY THUNDERBOLTS, NAMED CAPTAIN
 
Evansville, In.: During Wednesday morning’s press conference at Ford Center, Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced the re-signing of forward Matthew Hobbs, who was simultaneously named the 9th captain in Evansville Thunderbolts team history.  The Thunderbolts begin the 2024-25 season at Ford Center on Friday, October 18th as they host the Knoxville Ice Bears.
Hobbs joined the Thunderbolts late in the 2021-22 season and has played two full seasons with Evansville since then, scoring 16 goals and 43 points in 102 regular season games.  In 2023-24, Hobbs was appointed to be one of the Thunderbolts’ alternate captains, a reflection of his rising role as a leader coming into this previous season.  Wearing the “A”, the Burlington, Ontario native took a massive leap forward in offensive production in the second half of the 2023-24 season, scoring 11 goals and 29 points in the final 27 games of the regular season before posting 5 points in 5 playoff games, highlighted by scoring the series-winning overtime goal in Game 3 of the quarterfinal series against the Birmingham Bulls.  Hobbs is no stranger to the captaincy role, having previously worn the “C” twice in junior hockey, first with the Welland Jr. Canadians of the GOJHL in 2017-18, before later captaining the OJHL’s Burlington Cougars in 2019-20.
                “It’s an honor, of course, to know that Scott (Schoenike) and Jeff (Bes) have faith in me to lead the team and back up their goals and plans for the team, and from the success we had last season, we’re going to keep it rolling,” remarked Hobbs in his reaction to being named captain.  “I’m hungrier than ever, I’ve never wanted something so bad and I’m not going to take anything less than a championship this season.”  On his decision to name Hobbs captain, Coach Bes commented: “Hobbs has definitely grown over the course of the time he has played here, we’ve seen him evolve and elevate his game, and we still know there is more growth to come. He has consistently been a leader both on and off the ice, and because of that we are excited to name him captain and for him to lead our squad.”
Season tickets for the 2024-25 season are on sale now.  Call 812-422-BOLT or visit our website (www.evansvillethunderbolts.com) for details.
About Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts is the area’s only professional hockey team. The Thunderbolts are a proud member of the SPHL.  The team is owned and operated by VW Sports, L.L.C, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, Inc. www.evansvillethunderbolts.com

E-REP STAFF STRUGGLED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS CONCERNING DETAILS OF THE 2023 FINANCIAL AUDIT

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E-REP STAFF STRUGGLED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS CONCERNING DETAILS OF THE 2023 FINANCIAL AUDIT

BY Jay Young 

AUGUST 15, 2024

Evansville Regional Economic Partnership staff struggled this week to answer questions from a county commissioner and attorney concerning details in an audit provided to the county.

EREP staff provided information about efforts to attract new residents and its riverfront redevelopment plan at the regular Vanderburgh County Commissioners meeting. After the presentation, Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave asked about attracting new jobs.

 “One of the key reasons why the commission contracts with EREP is to recruit new business and support existing business, of course, but my question is has any business located in the county in the last 12 months?”

E-Rep Economic Development Director Patrick Hickey responded, “Twelve months, not that I’m aware”

Musgrave also inquired about the public’s access to E=REP meetings. The three staff members present looked behind them to Chief Economic Development Officer Josh Armstrong, who was sitting in the audience.

Armstrong stood and said, “E-REP meetings are not open to the public.”

Though it receives hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars and helps allocate millions in state money, E-REP is a private corporation that is not subject to disclosure laws like a government agency.

Armstrong remained silent as County Commission attorney David Jones inquired about a recent audit provided to the country as a condition of the funding it provides EREP. His line of questioning concerned ownership of the property at 420 Main Street, where E-REP spearheads a mixed-use development using millions of state and City of Evansville dollars.

Jones asked about the nature of the investment.

Program manager Colten Pipenger responded: “I am not 100 percent positive on the official terminology from a financial standpoint, I’ll have our finance team get back to you but EREP through the Downtown Evansville Community Development Corporation played a part in the Fifth and Main redevelopment.

LINK OF THE FULL MEETING BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY COMMISSION AMD E-REP OFFICIALS ARE POSTED BELOW

Linke to the full meeting <embed width=”640px” height=”360px” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen=”true” src=”//evansville.granicus.com/player/clip/6722?fbclid=IwY2xjawEqSAlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWrGfoc3EE14UfBDYkzPWyMSZaQjrfOUKSF2YAEkUSO_jK8FCVvzOtZIJQ_aem_cKRQIv1bHQs1QJy- FJb01w&entrytime=967&stoptime=4491&autostart=0&embed=1″></embed>

LINK OF THE 2023 E-REP FINANCIAL AUDIT IS POSTED BELOW

EREP 2023 Audit Report_Final