Deadly Read St fire investigation being handled as a a homicide
Evansville Police are classifying the deadly June 10th Read St fire investigation as a homicide. Fire crews found 41 year old Gerard Elliott Matts in the building while battling the fire. Matts body was severely burned in the fire.
Based on the autopsy, investigators believe Matts was deceased before the fire started. While investigators believe his death was a homicide, the cause of death is not being released at this time.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about Matts’ death and/or the fire to call Detective Karin Montgomery at 812-436-4013. Information can be given anonymously to WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME.
Body Recovered in Spencer County Pond.
| Indiana Conservation Officers are reporting that the body of a man who went missing in a small private pond in Spencer County has been recovered.
Robert A. Hardy, 65, Tennyson, and two others were on a small paddleboat checking a trot line at a private pond.  The boat overturned and all three were thrown into the water.  The other two were able to make it to shore, but Hardy went under water. At approximately 5:18 PM, an Indiana Conservation Officer diver recovered Hardy in approximately 8 ft. of water and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Responding agencies included the Spencer County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Spencer County EMS, Spencer County EMA Water Rescue, Spencer County Coroner, Jackson Township Fire, and Indiana Conservation Officers. |
Otters down Boomers in series opener
Schaumburg tied the game up in the second with an RBI groundout from Dylan Jones and a wild pitch that scored Kenny Towns from third base.
The Otters retook the lead with two runs in the fourth. Mike Rizzitello singled home Harrison and then a balk allowed Brandon Dulin to score from third and put the Otters up 4-2.
Evansville added another run in the seventh on an RBI fielder’s choice from Toby Thomas to take a 5-2 lead.
Mitch Aker then came on in the ninth to close out the game and earn his eleventh save of the season.
Luc Rennie gets the win for the Otters, his third of the season. The righty tossed seven innings, allowing just two runs, and striking out six.
Joe Hauser is dealt the loss for the Boomers. Hauser worked four innings and gave up four runs, two earned, on six hits.
Mike Braun Statement on President Trump’s Summit with Kim Jong-un
This Week at USI
Below is a list of events and activities happening in and around the USI community in the coming weeks:
Summer 2018
Summer camps and activities to be offered at USI
Registration is now open for a variety of camps offered this summer through the University of Southern Indiana. The camps each have a different focus, and range from engineering and other STEM-related themes to sports and general enrichment. Visit USI.edu/summer for the full listing of camps and registration information. Read More
Friday, June 22 – Sunday, June 24; Thursday, June 28– Sunday, July 1
New Harmony Theatre 2018 season to begin in June with Born Yesterday
The 2018 New Harmony Theatre season will open with the 1946 comedy Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin, running June 22-24 and June 28-July 1. Tickets are on sale now, and season tickets may be purchased through opening night. All evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. and matinees begin at 2 p.m. Individual adult tickets are $30. Discounted tickets are available for students, seniors, and groups. Season tickets are $72 for adults, $66 for seniors (60 and over) and $30 for those age 25 and younger. All performances take place at the historic Murphy Auditorium, 419 Tavern Street in New Harmony, Indiana. Read More
Wednesday, August 8 – Friday, August 10; Early registration ends Friday, July 27
Early registration deadline nears for Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness
The University of Southern Indiana and SWIRCA and More, the local agency on aging, will present the 11th annual Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness (MAIA) on the USI campus on August 9 and 10, with a pre-conference workshop on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care scheduled for August 8. The conference this year will feature four public keynote speakers: Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA; Ashton Applewhite; Jeff Speck, AICP, CNU-A, LEED-AP; and Bill Thomas, MD. The deadline for a reduced registration fee is Friday, July 27. After that date, the rate increases for the pre-conference workshop and one- and two-day registrations. There is a discounted rate for students and retirees. More information about registering is online at USI.edu/maia or by calling 812-464-1989. Read More
“READERS FORUM” JUNE 13, 2018
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?
WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
Todays “Readers Poll†question is: DO you feel that Evansville City Council did the right thing in amending the “Noise Ordinance”?
Please take time and read our articles entitled “STATEHOUSE Files, CHANNEL 44 NEWS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, READERS POLL, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBS†and “LOCAL SPORTSâ€.  You now are able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.
If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us CityCountyObserver@live.com.
More Enforceable Noise Ordinance Passes Evansville City Council
More Enforceable Noise Ordinance Passes Evansville City Council
JUNE 12TH, 2018 
JEFF GOLDBERG EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
The original ordinance includes language that isn’t much different from the new ordinance. In both, they have a limit on noise at 75 decibels outside at the property line. The new part of this ordinance allows for the Evansville Police Department to enforce it along with the EPA.
During the meeting, there was plenty of bickering between members of the council with regards to all of the amendments. The meeting wore on and so did people’s patience, but in the end, Evansville City Council got it done.
The first amendment allows for municipal vehicles to be exempt from the noise ordinance. This allows for city or county snow plows to plow with impunity.
The next amendment creates a limit on when landscapers can do their work. The amendment allows from dusk until dawn to mow the lawn and trim the hedges without fear of a noise complaint. That is except for Sundays, which starts at 7 AM.
The amendment on the waste pickup was convoluted in its passing. An original amendment passed that created a limit on when a pickup is allowed in the Downtown TIP District. It took almost 15 minutes for another amendment to come along that completely nullified the earlier one passed. This amendment, which is the one on the books, completely loosens restrictions on when waste pickup can happen in Evansville. This came after a representative from Republic Services said it might create more traffic and a safety hazard if they weren’t allowed to pick up early in the morning.
Another amendment passed deals with noisy pets. The dogs can bark and the cats can meow as they please during the day, but after 9 PM and before 6 AM if they have long prolonged noise there could be a noise complaint.
The final amendment had the most disagreement. The way it was originally written, police would be able to come into homes to take a reading for noise levels inside. It was originally written to be at 40 decibels, but Councilman McGinn argued to raise that number stating that’s how loud a refrigerator can be. So after it was raised to 55, Councilwoman Mosby argued that there shouldn’t be any noise reading going on inside. That’s how the amendment passed, the only way readings can happen is outside.
The ordinance is viewed as a win by many parties. Evansville City Council President Brinkmeyer says it was a good exercise in government compromise. The United Neighborhoods of Evansville are excited that noise complaints will start to be taken legitimately. Even folks from the bars thought the end result wasn’t too overbearing.
