Grau nets All-Region honors, secures trip to nationals
University of Southern Indiana senior Bastian Grau (Höchstadt, Germany) earned a pair of All-Midwest Region awards from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association and secured a berth in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships Tuesday.
The top five individuals in each event from each region earned All-Region distinction, in addition to each member of the region’s top three relay teams.
Grau earned the All-Region awards in the men’s 1,500 meters as well as the 5,000 meters. He ranked No. 1 in the region and No. 21, nationally, in the 1,500 meters with a time of three minutes, 48.28 seconds; while his time of 14:09.97 in the 5,000 meters ranked No. 13, nationally, and No. 5 in the Midwest Region.
In addition to the All-Region awards, Grau learned he would run the 5,000 meters at the NCAA II Outdoor Championships May 26 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 2017 national champion in the indoor mile, Grau is earning his sixth straight trip to an NCAA II Championship event after qualifying for the NCAA II Cross Country Championships in 2016 and 2017, the NCAA II Indoor Championships in 2017 and 2018, and the NCAA II Outdoor Championships in 2017.
Grau, who posted his 5,000-meter qualifying time at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, North Carolina, in March, will be seeded 13th in this year’s event.
The three-time track & field All-American finished 14th in the mile at the NCAA II Indoor Championships in March and was eighth in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA II Outdoor Championships a year ago.
Grau will run in the finals of the 5,000 meters May 26 at 4:10 p.m. (CDT). Live results and video links can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.
Legislative Council agrees to study DCS
Marilyn Odendahl for www.theindianalawyer.com
The Department of Child Services will get some special attention from the Indiana Legislature since the agency has been included in among the topics to be reviewed by an interim study committee.
The Legislative Council voted 11-2 Tuesday to adopt a resolution assigning topics to the interim committees. Legislators will meet in the coming months to discuss the issues and prepare reports along with possible bills for the 2019 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
“The interim provides legislators an opportunity to thoroughly vet issues and determine whether to pursue legislation next session,†House Speaker Brian Bosma said. “Summer study committees play an integral role in our part-time legislature and help pave the way for lawmakers to address a wide range of issues when we convene again in January.â€
The Interim Study Committee on Courts and Judiciary has been assigned to study issues related to DCS. Bosma said the specific issues to be studied would be determined after the report on the agency is completed in June the Child Welfare Policy & Practice Group. Then Legislative Council will meet to set the agenda for the DCS study.
DCS was thrown into the spotlight after executive director Mary Beth Bonaventura abruptly resigned in December 2017, accusing Gov. Eric Holcomb of cutting funds and putting children’s lives at risk. During the 2018 session of the Indiana General Assembly, Democrats repeatedly called for an investigation of the agency but the Republican leadership refused, wanting to wait until the outside consulting group had finished its review.
Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, offered the resolution that called for DCS to be assigned to a summer study committee.
“I’m just happy it was a bipartisan vote to move this forward,†Melton said after the Legislative Council meeting. “I think both sides of the aisle and both chambers see the importance of this and legislators being engaged and involved and ensure we support DCS as much as possible.â€
The full list of committees and their assigned study topics can be read here.
Otters Spoil Slammers’ Home Opener With 6-3 Win
The Evansville Otters spoiled the Joliet Slammers’ home opener Tuesday night, besting their opponent with a 6-3 win from Joliet Route 66 Stadium.
For the fourth straight game to start the season, Evansville scored the game’s first run against their opponent.
The Otters got on the board in the top of the first inning when Zach Welz lined a ball just inside the left field foul pole for his first home run of the year, giving Evansville a 1-0 lead.
Joliet would respond immediately in the bottom half of the inning. After a leadoff single and an Evansville error, Travis Bolin scored on a sac fly by Justin Garcia to tie the game 1-1.
In the third, the teams would trade one run a piece.
The Otters scored on a Jeff Gardner sac fly and Joliet countered with a run off a throwing error by Otters’ starting pitcher Austin Nicely.
Evansville jumped back in front 3-2 in the top of the fourth off a solo home run from Caleb Eldridge, his second of the season.
Joliet proceeded to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth on a passed ball that scored Chaz Meadows.
The Otters claimed the lead for good in the top of the sixth as Eldridge laced an RBI single to center, moving the Otters ahead by a score of 4-3.
Toby Thomas tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, grounding a two-run single past a drawn-in infield to put the Otters up 6-3.
Offensively, Eldridge finished 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs while Thomas went 2 for 5 with two RBIs.
Evansville’s Mitchell Aker capped off four scoreless innings of relief by the Otters’ bullpen, setting the Slammers down in order in the bottom of the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.
Nicely went five innings in the start for the Otters as he earned his first win of the season. Nicely struck out five while allowing three runs en route to the victory.
Duke Von Schamann was saddled with the loss for Joliet after throwing 5.2 innings pitched and getting tagged for four runs.
With the win, the Otters get back to .500 on the season at 2-2 while the Slammers remain winless at 0-4.
The two teams will play game two of the three game series tomorrow morning at 10:05 a.m. from Joliet Route 66 Stadium in Joliet, Ill.
HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
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Evansville 8, Belmont 4 Baseball Recap
The University of Evansville baseball team jumped out to a big lead, then rode it to an 8-4 victory over Belmont, earning a home-and-home season sweep of the Bruins, Tuesday night in Nashville.
The Purple Aces grabbed the early advantage in the top of the first inning, as freshman first baseman Tanner Craig sent a single up the middle, driving in Troy Beilsmith for his 20th RBI of the season, putting Evansville up 1-0.
The third frame opened with senior third baseman Stewart Nelson drawing a walk, sophomore center fielder Kenton Crews singling up the middle, then Tanner Craig drawing a one out walk to load up the bases. Senior right fielder Dalton Horstmeier would supply an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Nelson, making it 2-0 Aces.
Meanwhile, senior right hand pitcher Jimmy Ward, making his second start of the season, pitched three innings of shutout work, striking out three, while scattering two hits.
The big inning came in the fourth, which began with Stewart Nelson driving in Evan Aders on a single to left. Kenton Crews followed that up with a 2-run home run to to right, giving Evansville a 5-0 advantage. Tanner Craig would tack on one more tally, driving in sophomore left fielder Troy Beilsmith with an RBI double, pushing the UE lead to 6-0.
Belmont would finally break through on the Aces bullpen in the bottom of the inning, but the Evansville bats answered right back, as EvanAders delivered a solo home run to left in the fifth frame.
The Aces would take an 8-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth, when Belmont loaded the bases with one out. However, DaltonHorstmeier induced a game-ending double play, ending the threat.
The win improves Evansville’s overall record to 11-35, while the loss drops Belmont to 17-35.
The Purple Aces wrap up the regular season at home with a Thursday, Friday and Saturday series against Missouri Valley Conference rival, Illinois State.
IS IT TRUE MAY 16, 2018
We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUEâ€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?
IS IT TRUE we are told that a group of current and past elected offices holders are talking about a sponsoring a political fundraiser for the newly announced Democratic candidate for the Vanderburgh County Commission seat in the near future? …we are hearing that County Commissioner Ben Shoulders may be spearheading this event?
IS IT TRUEÂ we are told that any political candidate running countywide shouldn’t announce that they have the backing of the Area Chamber of Commerce? …we are told that the county folks still haven’t forgotten the role that the Area Chamber of Commerce played in the unification effort between the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County?
IS IT TRUEÂ that the Democratic party of Vanderburgh County has a new Sheriff in town? … Chairman Scott Danks recently said: “that he will aggressively go after every seat in the city and the county”? Â …Mr. Danks also said; “that the head of political snakes is local not in D.C”.? …could that be the reason why a group of alleged Democrats quickly and quietly left the meeting right after Mr. Danks remarks?
IS IT TRUE that Evansville, Indiana has always been accepting of a practice known as “political patronage†when it comes to jobs that are financed fully or partially by public dollars?…it has been so entrenched that a former Evansville Mayor whom we shall not name has been quoted as saying “I get all of the credit and they take all of the blame†to justify appointing his political supporters to jobs under his control?
IS IT TRUE that “political patronage” came about at about the same time that the Tammany Hall shakedown tactics in New York City were being used to drain the public coffers to enrich the politically connected?… the one thing that “political patronage“ staffing never seems to require is any expertise at all with respect to the job that one is being appointed to? Â …”political patronage” staffing is a dangerous artifact of the past and has no reason to exist in the present?…the need for competence as opposed to loyalty will someday drive ‘political patronage” staffing from local government, but until then shenanigans like putting campaign managers into well-paid positions that are out of their league will continue in River City?
IS IT TRUE that the “Indivisible Evansville” played a major role in the upset defeat of the longtime Pigeon Township Trustee Mary Hart?
IS IT TRUEÂ we expect to see a request by the Mayor to develop Roberts Park in the 2019 city budget?…the Mayor also needs to forget about asking City Council to give him $1 million dollars to help EVSC to renovate Bosse Field in the 2019 City budget?
Todays “Readers Poll†question is: Do you feel that recently announced Democratic Vanderburgh County Commission candidate Jeff Hatfield can beat Republican Mike Duckworth?
Please take time and read our articles entitled “STATEHOUSE Files, CHANNEL 44 NEWS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, READERS POLL, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBS†and “LOCAL SPORTSâ€.
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If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us CityCountyObserver@live.com.
Elections Complaint Against Jeff Hatfield By Hobart Scales Withdrawn
From: Hobart Scales [mailto:hobartescales@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2018, 12:35 PM
To: Hobart Scales <hobartescales@gmail.com>; Hayden, Carla J. <chayden@vanderburghcounty.in.gov>
Subject: Re: Elections Complaint Against Jeff Hatfield
Vanderburgh County Elections Board,
It has come to my attention that the President of the Vanderburgh County Election Board will not be present at the Election Board Hearing scheduled for this Friday.
Due to the serious nature and legal complexity of the complaint I filed last Friday (attached below) I feel that it is paramount for this complaint to be heard by the Board en banc. Therefore, I hereby withdraw my complaint until which time it can receive a full review of the facts at hand.
Sincerely,
Hobart Scales
On Fri, May 11, 2018, at 3:30 PM, Hobart Scales <hobartescales@gmail.com> wrote:
Vanderburgh County Elections Board,
As a registered voter in Vanderburgh County, I hereby am making an official complaint against Jeff Hatfield as a candidate for Vanderburgh County Commission District 2.
As of 3:18 pm, there has been no filing for a Committee, candidate or exploratory, for Hatfield for Commissioner.
Mr. Hatfield declared his candidacy earlier today, May 11th, 2018. Around the same time, he releases to the public a website and video supporting his candidacy. Indiana Law is very clear that if funds were raised or spent in the support of a candidate for office, a committee must first be formed, treasure named, and an account established for the maintaining of those funds.
Mr. Hatfield has had logos designed, videos produced, and website created, all without the proper declaration of exploratory or candidate committee.
As an owner of a campaign consulting firm that provides such services, it’s conceivable that Mr. Hatfield has already spent thousands of campaign dollars without properly disclosing his fundraising and expenditures. Even if these materials were free, he would still need to disclose them as in-kind contributions and would need to have already filed his declarations.
In failing to do so, his first official act as a candidate for office has been to intentionally defraud the voters of Vanderburgh County.
Sincerely,
Hobart Scales
Evansville, IN
FOOTNOTE: The above e-mails sent to the CCO by Hobart Scales was posted without opinion, bias or editing.