Wanda is a 1-year-old female brown tabby w/ white cat. She lives in the Cageless Cat Lounge, which means she gets along fine with other kitties! She is vocal and outgoing. Her $40 adoption fee includes her spay, microchip, & more. Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
Allen D. Fetcher: Operating a motor vehicle after forfeiture of license for life (Level 5 Felony), Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor)
Chad Dale Winstead: Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony), Intimidation (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor), False informing (Class B misdemeanor)
John David Benthall: Intimidation (Level 5 Felony), Criminal mischief (Class B misdemeanor)
Michael Vincent Murr: Strangulation (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor)
Justices reverse ‘unreasonable’ probation internet restriction
Olivia Covinton for www.thendianalawyer.com
A Tippecanoe County man convicted of incest with his teenage niece will have one of his probation conditions revisited after the Indiana Supreme Court determined the condition requiring him to get permission to access the internet was not reasonably related to his crime.
In Kristopher L. Weida v. State of Indiana, 79S02-1711-CR-687, 34-year-old Kristopher Weida had sex with his 16-year-old niece, K.M., after looking at explicit photos on their cellphones and perusing a website about incest. Weida subsequently pleaded guilty to Level 5 felony incest and left sentencing to the Tippecanoe Superior Court’s discretion.
The trial court sentenced Weida to three years, with one year executed and two years suspended to the probation. Among the probation conditions imposed was Condition 8, which prohibited Weida from access websites “frequented by children,†and Condition 26, which prohibited him from accessing the internet without prior approval from his probation officer. However, Weida was permitted to use the internet to contact his children.
A divided panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld those probation conditions in August, with Judge Rudolph Pyle writing the conditions were “reasonably related†to Weida’s offense and because they did not constitute a complete internet ban. But Judge John Baker dissented, finding Condition 26 was “unduly intrusive and unnecessarily restrictive.â€
After hearing oral argument in December, the Indiana Supreme Court unanimously agreed with Baker’s dissent regarding Condition 26, but aligned with the majority opinion with regard to Condition 8.
Looking first to Condition 8, Justice Christopher Goff rejected Weida’s argument that the trial court should have provided “an illustrative list of prohibited activities to pass constitutional muster.†Then, taking his probation conditions as a whole — which included other prohibitions on explicitly communicating with children in person or on the internet — Goff said Weida’s probation imposed a blanket ban on contacting children other than his own.
Thus, a person of ordinary intelligence would understand that Condition 8 prohibits Weida from visiting websites where he could engage in such communication, Goff said. That prohibition is reasonably related to Weida’s rehabilitation and to protecting the public considering the nature of his offense, he said, and does not unduly intrude on his First Amendment rights.
But turning to Condition 26, the high court found its provisions — which have since been altered on a statewide level — were not reasonably related to Weida’s rehabilitation or to public safety. Relying on Waters v. State, 65 N.E.3d 613, 619-20 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), the court noted that Weida had no history of misuse of the internet, aside from the time he spent looking at an incest website with his niece.
“A more appropriate internet restriction — one that reasonably relates to his rehabilitation and protecting the public — will restrict access to obscene or sexually explicit material,†Goff wrote. “Such a restriction will assist him in rehabilitating and avoiding enticement to re-offend yet allow him to remain a productive member of our internet-dependent society.â€
Thus, the court remanded the case with instructions to impose a more reasonable internet restriction. In a footnote, they also summarily affirmed the Court of Appeals’ holding that Weida’s sentence was not inappropriate.
The victim from Ohio St. near Fulton Ave. death
The victim from Ohio St. near Fulton Ave. has been identified as Mark Douglas Slaughter, age 43, of Evansville. He died at Deaconess Midtown Hospital at 23:57 hours 04-12-2018 after having been struck by a vehicle on Ohio St. An autopsy has been scheduled for 9 am tomorrow 04-14-2018. The Evansville Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
USI-Tampa tickets on sale
  Tickets are on sale now for the upcoming University of Southern Indiana and fourth-ranked University of Tampa three-game baseball series at the USI Baseball Field. The series is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 20; 6 p.m. April 21; and noon April 22.
Ticket prices are $5 per game or $10 for all three games of the series and can be purchased in advance until April 19 at the USI Athletics office. Fans also can purchase tickets in advance at the USI Baseball Field during the Eagles’ game versus Kentucky Wesleyan College April 17.
AG Curtis Hill writes op-ed supporting citizenship question on census and extolling immigration’s benefits to U.S.
Attorney General Curtis Hill has written an op-ed criticizing a lawsuit brought by 17 states against the U.S. Census Bureau seeking the removal of a planned 2020 question on respondents’ citizenship status. In the op-ed, Attorney General Hill takes exception to plaintiffs’ contention that such a question serves to frighten and intimidate foreign-born respondents.
The op-ed also pays homage to America’s rich heritage of welcoming legal immigrants to the nation’s shores and calls for a continuation of this legacy. “How we treat immigrants in America will define much about our culture, our character and our spirit as we move forward in the 21st century,†he writes.
This op-ed – attached below — is available for publication by any outlet. A photo of the Attorney General is also attached. If you intend to publish this op-ed — and/or if you have any difficulty opening the attached Word document — please inform Deputy Director of Communications Bill McCleery at bill.mccleery@atg.in.gov. Thank you for your consideration.
EVANSVILLE HYDROFESTâ„¢ WILL ROAR ON THE RIVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND
Evansville HydroFest™ will return to the Ohio Riverfront in Downtown Evansville, Indiana USA over the Labor Day weekend in 2018. Evansville HydroFest™ will host the American Power Boat Association’s Eastern Divisional Championships for 14 classes of Inboard Boats during the 3-day event, Friday August 31st, Saturday September 1st, and Sunday September 2nd, 2018.
All 14 classes of eligible APBA boats use inboard powerplants, as opposed to outboard motors, in a variety of hull designs, including flat bottom, V bottom, and hydroplanes. The classes are grouped by hull type, length, weight, and size and type of engine. Each class is distinguished by letters, such as Y, NMH, and GP.
In its inaugural year 2017, Evansville HydroFest™ attracted a total of 53 teams in 10 different classes, including 1 Litre Y Hydroplanes, National Modified Hydroplanes NMH, and Grand Prix Hydroplanes GP. Hurricane Harvey caused inclement weather and river conditions requiring many adjustments to the racing schedule, but the fans and race teams unanimously declared the event a great success. For 2018, a comparable number of teams are expected from throughout North American including Canada.
The GP’s are the loudest, fastest, and largest of the APBA Inboard Classes, using 468 cubic inch supercharged/fuel injected V8 engines running on methanol and producing upwards of 1500 horsepower. The current world straightaway record was set in Fall 2016 by GP15, driven by Jerry Hopp at 170.620 mph.
The Grand Prix’s are organized and presented by Grand Prix world (GPW). The Executive Director is Mr. Sam Cole, a longtime organizer of hydroplane racing.
Evansville HydroFest™ is presented by Evansville Events, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit entity of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau. Mr. Bob Warren is the Executive Director. Serving on the Executive Organizing Committee are Mr. Vernon Stevens, President of Southern Business Machines and Mr. Randy Lientz, President of AXIOM. All members reside in Evansville.
Bob Warren emphasized: “We are presenting Evansville HydroFestâ„¢ because our residents and visitors have asked for a new form of boatracing on our beautiful Ohio River. They want more boats, closer competition, less downtime, cooler temperatures, and MORE ROAR! And we will deliver. We chose Labor Day weekend because high temperatures will be around 85 degrees. As for action, as soon one race is completed, the next heat will begin.â€
Admission cost for Evansville HydroFest™ is $10 total for the 2 days of racing. 12 and under are free. The wristbands will go on sale June 28th at all 6 Schnucks Evansville/Newburgh locations, and additional sales locations will be the Evansville Museum and SWIRCA.
The Preliminary Event Schedule is as follows:
Friday, August 31, 2018
8:00 am to 1:00 pm             Pit and Race Course Set Up, Team Registration
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm             River Closed
Testing & Qualifying for All Classes
5:00 pm                                 River Open to Traffic
Saturday, September 1, 2018
9:00 am                                 Mandatory Driver’s Meeting
10:00 am to 5:00 pm           River Closed
4-lap Qualifying Heat Races for All Classes
5:00 pm                                 River Open to Traffic
Sunday, September 2, 2018
10:00 am to 5:00 pm           River Closed
4-lap Qualifying and Championship Heat Races for All Classes
5:00 pm                                 Awards Presentation
River Open to Traffic
Vernon Stevens stated: “The Evansville HydroFest™ represents an entirely new form of family entertainment for the Midwest. The Mission of our event is:
To Present Quality of Life Family Entertainment with a Sustainable Event Utilizing the Ohio River to Retain and Attract Citizens and Visitors to Evansville, Indiana USA.â€
“Our Vision for Evansville HydroFest™ is to:
ü Provide Affordable, Family Friendly Entertainment
ü Utilize the Natural Resource of the Ohio River
ü Deliver a Quality, World-Class Event
ü Engage the Tri-State Community, the Midwest, and All North America
ü Manage the Event to Be Self Sustainable for Future Generationsâ€
“Our Values for Evansville HydroFest™ are:
ü We Are in the Entertainment Business
ü Professional Race Teams are Necessary to Deliver Quality Entertainment
ü Spectators Will Pay a Fair Price for Quality Entertainment
ü Sound Fiduciary Principles Are Necessary for Sustainability.â€
Randy Lientz continued: “We are grateful for the support of Evansville’s Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and the various city services we need to present Evansville HydroFestâ„¢. We are working closely with the City of Evansville, the United States Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, American Power Boat Association, Grand Prix World, and the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau.â€
Vernon Stevens says “More than 100 volunteers will be needed to stage Evansville HydroFestâ„¢. Dubbed “The Roar Corps,†a wide variety of positions are needed before, during, and after the event.â€Â Interested individuals and groups can register at: evansvillehydrofest.com/volunteer.â€
Stevens also emphasized: “Corporate Sponsorships are now being solicited to help fund Evansville HydroFest™, beginning with the Title Sponsor. The Executive Committee will meet with interested businesses to explain the benefits of participation in the event, details, provisions, and costs.
For more information about the American Power Boat Association, visit www.apba.org
For more information about Evansville HydroFestâ„¢, visit www.evansvillehydrofest.com
For more information about the City of Evansville, visit www.visitevansville.com
Single game tickets on sale now for 2018
Single game tickets for 2018 Evansville Otters’ home games at Bosse Field are on sale now.
Individual tickets are available for purchase to 48 regular season games and three exhibition games this year at Bosse Field.
Single-game ticket prices are $12 for VIP seats and $10 for Premium Field Box seats, which includes in-seat wait service. General Admission tickets are $6 on date of game but $5 in advance before date of game.
Discounted group tickets for a single game are $9 for Premium Field Box tickets and $3 in General Admission seating. Purchases of 20 or more tickets are required for discounted group ticket rates. Group tickets must be purchased via phone or at the Bosse Field box office to receive discounted rates.
Tickets can be purchased online at evansvilleotters.com, by phone at 812-435-8686, or at the Bosse Field box office. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Full and half season ticket packages are also available for purchase. These can be purchased for General Admission, Premium Field Box, and VIP seating areas. The Premium and VIP Field Box seating options feature in-seat waiting service.
Fans can also choose the Flex 20 ticket option. The Flex 20 plan includes 20 General Admission vouchers that can be used at any 2018 regular season home game. This allows vouchers to be used in any increment and at any game to best fit your schedule.
Fans interested in booking a group outing at Bosse Field can contact the Otters’ office to ask about the tent and field box picnic options or the exclusive Bud Light Lime Patio. The picnics include tickets to the game in select seating areas and an all-you-can-eat select menu.
Coming off their second consecutive postseason appearance, the Otters finished 2017 with a 52-44 record before falling to the Schaumburg Boomers three games to one in the Frontier League Division Series.
Opening Night is May 11 when the Otters open the regular season at Bosse Field against the Washington Wild Things at 6:35 p.m. The final regular season home game will be Sunday, August 26 against the River City Rascals before the Otters travel to Gateway and Normal to conclude the 2018 regular season.
The 2018 home schedule will feature seven Thirsty Thursdays, six $2 Tuesdays, nine Family Day Sundays, and seven firework nights – including Opening Night.
In 2018, $2 Tuesdays will provide the opportunity for fans to take advantage of $2 popcorn and $2 General Admission tickets.
The Family Day Sunday package will consist of four General Admission tickets, four popcorn, soda, and snow cone vouchers along with two inflatable passes. The package is a $74 value for only $40 – a special deal for the entire family.
Fan-favorite Thirsty Thursdays will return in 2018 for special pricing on draft beverages at the ballpark.
Firework nights will feature a postgame firework show where fans can stay in their seats after the game to enjoy a dazzling fireworks display.
Game times for the 2018 home schedule are 6:35 p.m. for games Tuesday through Saturday and 2:05 p.m. for games on Sunday.
Home exhibitions are Wednesday, May 2 at 11 a.m., Friday, May 4 at 6:35 p.m., and Wednesday, May 9 at 10 a.m.
On Sunday, June 24, the Otters will host the Southern Illinois Miners at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday, June 27 will be a 12:05 p.m. start time as the Otters take on the Gateway Grizzlies.
The only home doubleheader for the Otters will be Wednesday, May 30 at 5:05 p.m. against the Florence Freedom.
The Otters are looking forward to having fans join the affordable, family-fun this season at historic Bosse Field.
The Evansville Otters are the 2006 and 2016 Frontier League champions. Season tickets, group outing packages, and single game tickets are on sale now for the 2018 season.
The Otters play all home games at historic Bosse Field, located at 23 Don Mattingly Way in Evansville, Ind. Stay up-to-date with the Evansville Otters by visiting evansvilleotters.com, or follow the Otters on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
JUST IN: Fire Crews Working To Save A Spencer County Landmark
APRIL 12TH, 2018 
TOMMY MASON INDIANA
Crews are on the scene of a fire at a local landmark in Spencer County. Dispatchers say the fire is at the Rockport Inn on South Third Street in Rockport. The Fire started just before 6:00 this morning.
The owner tells 44News she believes the fire started in the kitchen area, then spread throughout the building.
We have a crew on the way to the scene and will update information as it becomes available.
