WWE is bringing Smackdown Live to the Ford Center on Tuesday, July 24th.
Three IU Divers Earn Spots on Team USA for FINA World Cup
Two current and one pro Indiana University diver earned spots on Team USA for the FINA World Cup in China next month at the USA Diving Senior National Championships at SMU’s Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center in Dallas.
In the men’s 3-meter springboard, Andrew Capobianco won gold, taking home the title in the event with a score of 446.90 points. Taking the silver was pro Hoosier diver Michael Hixon, who took runner-up honors with a total of 444.55 points. By finishing in the top-two, both earned World Cup spots in the 3-meter for Team USA.
In the final, the duo battled back-and-forth for the national title until the fifth round, with Hixon leading by 9.8 points. Capobianco’s reverse 1 ½ somersaults with 3 ½ twists scored 89.25 points and was the turning point of the finals.
Earlier in the week, Hixon also qualified for the World Cup in the synchronized men’s 3-meter with partner Sam Dorman.
Jessica Parratto also earned a place on Team USA, winning the national title in the synchronized women’s platform.
The 2018 FINA Diving World Cup in Wuhan, China will run from June 5-10.
Otters take rubber game 5-4 against Cornbelters
The Evansville Otters won the rubber game of a three-game series against the Normal Cornbelters 5-4 in front of 1,162 fans at Bosse Field on Sunday afternoon.Â
Evansville scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Jeff Gardner singled through the right side to score Ryan Long.
The Otters added a second run in the third when Brandon Dulin singled to left, but Toby Thomas was gunned down at the plate trying to score from first to end the inning.
Normal took the lead in the fourth when Chris Iriart hit a three-run homer to left, his second of the season. The Cornbelters scored their fourth run of the inning when Tanner Lubach singled home Andrew Godbold.
Evansville trimmed the deficit to one in the bottom of the frame when Thomas homered to left, his second of the year.
The Otters tied the game in the seventh when Thomas scored from third on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Brandon Dulin. A Caleb Eldridge single then scored Travis Harrison to give the Otters a 5-4 advantage.
Mitchell Aker came on in the ninth to shut the door and record his fourth save of the season.
Randy Wynne records the win, his first of the season, after coming on in relief and throwing three scoreless innings while striking out five.
Jonathan De Marte is dealt his first loss as it was his inherited runners who scored the winning run for the Otters.
Otters starter Austin Nicely received a no-decision after allowing four runs, all unearned, in five innings on eight hits while striking out two.
For Normal, starter Kevin Matthews tossed five innings, giving up three runs and striking out five in the no-decision.
Following a day off Monday, Evansville begins a six-game road trip on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. The Otters will play the Windy City Thunderbolts in a three-game series May 22-24 before traveling to play in a three-game set against the Traverse City Beach Bums on May 25-27.
The Otters will return home for a three-game series May 30-31 against the Florence Freedom. Wednesday, May 30 will be a doubleheader, starting at 5:05 p.m. and is Deaconess Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility Night. The series finale on May 31 starts at 6:35 p.m. and will be the first Thirsty Thursday of the season with special price drafts.
Indiana State Police are currently Investigating Shooting Involving Mt. Vernon Couple
Earlier this morning, Indiana State Police Detectives arrested Rodney Givens, 48, of Mt. Vernon, after he allegedly shot his wife during an argument at their Mt. Vernon residence located at 827 Walnut Street. According to Indiana State Police Detectives, Rodney and Crystal Givens were involved in an argument at approximately 9:00 this morning when he allegedly grabbed a handgun and shot his wife one time. Crystal Givens is still be treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. Rodney Givens was arrested without incident and taken to the Posey County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.
Arrested and Charges:
- Rodney Givens, 48, 827 Walnut Street, Mt. Vernon, IN
- Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon
- Aggravated Battery
The investigation is continuing.
IS IT TRUE MAY 21, 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?
IS IT TRUE that yesterday a member of the CCO staff talked with a potential candidate considering running for the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor on the Democratic ticket in the upcoming General election? Â …if this individual decides to run for this office it looks like the current Vanderburgh County Prosecutor will be involved in the biggest political battle of his career? Â …please don’t ask us to divulge his name because we pledged not to do it?
IS IT TRUE we been informed that that lifelong Democrat Steve Melcher recently bolted and announced that he is now a Republican must now depend on future campaign contributions to come from non-union sources? Â …were told that when Melcher ran as a Democrat around 90% of his political contributions came from local union members?
IS IT TRUE we are wondering why our City officials are being extremely quiet concerning the details of the proposed 2019 city budget? …we are told that the deficit spending habits of our city officials have finally caught up with them?
IS IT TRUE we still stand behind our predictions that in order to fund the City Of Evansville 2019 budget request either the City Council or the Mayor will have to make serious budget cuts?
IS IT TRUE it seems as though that a couple of the powers that be are bound and determined to drive people out of Vanderburgh County?…with the water and sewer bills projected to rocket into the $250 per month range when the EPA mandate is satisfied, projected property tax increases over the next several years, another reduction of the Homestead tax credit for 2019 may be planned, and an increase in the local income tax in 2018 things are looking dim for the average taxpayer beginning in 2019?
IS IT TRUE we wonder if the Evansville Water and Sewer Utilities Department are still providing the owners of the McCurdy with water and sewer services even though they owe the City around a $1 1/2 million dollars for past water and sewer bills?  …if we owed a water and sewer bill for over six (6) months our water would have long been shut off?
IS IT TRUE that the CPA firm of London Witte advised the Winnecke Administration to implement a “budget spending plan” more than three years ago? Â …as of today that no “budget spending plan” has been developed by the administration as of this date? …we wonder why not one member of City Council confronted the Mayor about this issue?
IS IT TRUE the best way for Evansville City Council to balance the 2019 budget is to make budget cuts not increase taxes?
IS IT TRUEÂ that last year out of town developers announced that they were planning to renovate the former Old National Bank tower at 420 Main Street in downtown Evansville ran into a snag in getting the project financed?…the 18 story building has been sparsely occupied and on a starvation level of maintenance since ONB moved out of the building years ago? …we wonder why the proposed developers are having problems with financing the renovatio9ns effort of this building because the sale price is extremely affordable?
IS IT TRUE  that last year the CVB committed a whopping $300,000 request ($100,000 per year for three year period) to help fund the “E Is For Everyone” campaign?  …we wonder how that investment has turned out so far?
IS IT TRUEÂ we are pleased that at least a couple of City of Evansville Council members finally realizes that the city doesn’t have a revenue problem but they do have a spending problem
IS IT TRUE that the excise tax revenue collected by the State of California on recreational cannabis during the first quarter of 2018 was just released yesterday?…excise tax is not collected on medicinal cannabis so this tax is a real indicator of the expectations for recreational use?…the number is $34 million which may sound like a lot of money but when one considers that there are 40 million Californians, the reality sets in that the state collected less than one penny per day for each resident?…it is mind boggling to think that there was such delusion about the money that would come in that some officials were counting on recreational cannabis taxes to solve pension problems, finance education reform and even buy Hummers for law enforcement officers?…the cost of the regulatory agency to oversee recreational cannabis already costs nearly $5 million per quarter so there is a distinct possibility that the state will lose money on this little venture?
IS IT TRUE that the cost of compliance is estimated at $560 per pound and the retail tax of 35% make the cost to break even calculate to $95 per ounce?…the street price of cannabis is already below $100 per ounce so that means that a legal operation can not compete with illegal sellers which guarantees a permanent black market?…the State of California has done something that is difficult and thought to be impossible and that is the fact that they have made it impossible to make a profit by selling weed?…of course all of the government officials are aghast at the collapse of pricing and the obvious fact that cannabis will not be the goose that lays golden eggs?…they sure sold it to voters like a sure fire ticket to become the golden state again?
IS IT TRUE the underperformance of cannabis as a tax generator after a hype campaign to rival the Weinzapfel Administration’s outrageous claims that a downtown hockey rink would not only pay for itself but would also bring in an unsubsidized hotel?…the reality is that while cannabis is not going to make every Californian rich, it is positive cash flow unlike Weinzapfel’s folly on Main Street that costs the taxpayers of Evansville $9 million per year?…what really seems impossible is expecting politicians who want something to tell the truth about the outcomes?…it is mind boggling to reflect on how far short the Ford Center’s financial performance has been when compared to the sales job that the hand picked consultants projected?…it would have at least been a plus to legalize weed and keep Roberts Stadium in place?
Todays READERS POLL question is: Do you feel its time for the taxpayers of this community to start holding our public officials accountable for their bad business decisions concerning tax increases?
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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EVSC High Schools to Host Commencement Ceremonies
Monday, May 21 – Wednesday, May 23
Nearly 1,500 students from the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation will take the next step in their lives as they officially graduate from high school next week. The Class of 2018 reported more than $35.4 million in scholarship offers, an increase of about $1 million from what was offered last year.
All graduate information is considered preliminary until Fall 2018, when final numbers of students are reported to the state.
Commencement ceremonies are spread over three days and staggered in the event individuals wish to attend multiple graduations. The commencement schedule is as follows:
Monday, May 21
North: 6 p.m., Bundrant Stadium
Central: 8 p.m., Central Stadium
Tuesday, May 22
New Tech Institute: 5:30 p.m., Academy for Innovative Studies, Diamond Performing Arts Center
AIS Diamond: 7 p.m., AIS Diamond Performing Arts Center
AIS First: 8:15 p.m., AIS Diamond Performing Arts Center
Wednesday, May 23
Reitz: 5 p.m., Reitz Bowl
Bosse: 6:30 p.m., Enlow Field
Harrison: 8:15 p.m., Romain Stadium
One Dies In Evansville Double Shooting
One Dies In Evansville Double Shooting
MAY 20TH, 2018 
AMANDA PORTER INDIANA
The Vanderburgh County coroner and the Evansville Police Department is investigating the death of 38-year-old Amanda Weir of Evansville.
Vanderburgh County Coroner Steve Lockyear says Weir is one of the victims of a shooting on West Delaware Street May 18th.
Weir passed away at 11:30 a.m. at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville May 19th.
EPD arrested 56-year-old Robert Ballard Jr. on attempted murder charges in connection with shooting two women Friday evening.
Police say Ballard shot at the victims, who are a mother and her adult daughter, while they were in their car.
According to police, Ballard was in a relationship with the older victim, but the relationship ended.
The daughter’s two children were in the car at the time of the shooting.
The children were uninjured.
The investigation is ongoing.
Pharmacy Chain Provides Drop Off For Old Prescription Narcotics
By Brynna Sentel
TheStatehouseFile.com
 INDIANAPOLIS—This year, you can start your spring cleaning by emptying out your drug cabinet, especially if you have old bottles of prescription painkillers or other narcotics.Â
Instead of leaving them in the back of a bathroom closet, take them to one of the 49 drug disposal points at participating CVS pharmacies around Indiana.
In a press conference Thursday at a downtown Indianapolis CVS store, Attorney General Curtis Hill was joined by CVS executives and local health and law enforcement officials to discuss the plan to combat drug abuse by disposing of old, unneeded medications properly and safely. CVS unveiled the large metal bins that will be used for the drug collections.
“Abuse of prescription medicine is a big part of our overall drug crisis,†Hill said. “Here in Indiana, nearly one in 20 Hoosiers reports having used opioid pain relievers for non-medical uses.â€
Other measures are being taken to combat drug misuse as well, including efforts on the medical side to rethink the number of drugs prescribed to each patient.
“Over the years, CVS obviously has played a role in distributing medication to consumers,†Hill said, “Today, the leaders of this company recognize the problems posed by an excessive supply of prescription drugs.â€Â
The drug crisis isn’t something that occurred overnight and it certainly can’t be fixed overnight, he said.
“It’s critical that law enforcement and healthcare providers work hand in hand in tackling the opioid crisis,†said Steuben County Sheriff Tim Troyer, who is also president of the Indiana Sheriff’s Association.
The hope is for these medication disposal sites to become nationwide and CVS is working to make that possible in 750 locations, according to CVS Health Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer Thomas Moriarty.Â
Hill is hoping these sites will prompt people to get those old medications out of the house before they fall into the wrong hands. Disposal bins in other locations have already had an effect on the community because they filled so quickly that they need to be emptied every two weeks. Riley Children’s Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elaine Coxsaid getting rid of unused narcotics from the home is an important step in keeping children from abusing them.
“Taking unused drugs out of circulation, including opioids, is a foundational strategy to curtailing inappropriate and addictive drug use,†Cox said, explaining that children who abuse these drugs are more likely to become addicted as adults.
Moriarty demonstrated how the large bins are secure and safe from tampering by showing how the slot opens where drugs are deposited. The bins are bolted to the floor and wall and made of high quality, heavy, steel. The opening slot is secure and once the medications are disposed of they are out of reach.
FOOTNOTE: Brynna Sentel is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.