The Evansville Police Department Police Pension Board will hold an Executive Session on Wednesday, March 7, 2018at 8:15 a.m. The Meeting will be held in Room 307 of the Civic Center Plaza.
The Executive Session will be closed as provided by:
I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(7) For discussion of records classified as confidential by state or federal statute.
Immediately following the Executive Session, a regular Open Session will be held in Room 307
of the Civic Center Plaza.
University of Southern Indiana Softball junior outfielder Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana) came within a double of hitting for the cycle Monday as the No. 13 Screaming Eagles rolled passed Wayne State College, 9-4, at the PFX Spring Games.
Bradley, who was 3-of-4 with a pair of runs scored, had a solo home run in the first inning and a two-run triple in the fourth as the Eagles jumped out to a commanding 6-0 lead. Her triple was one of three on the day for the Eagles, who pushed their season total to 14, just five off the single-season program record.
Sophomore pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) aided the Eagles, who had 15 hits on the day, with a 2-of-4 effort that featured a triple and three RBIs. Her two-run triple in the last half of the fifth inning came after a four-run fifth frame by Wayne State (3-6) had cut the Eagles’ cushion to two runs.
Sophomore shortstop Taylor Ricketts (Georgetown, Kentucky) had an RBI-single in the sixth inning to lift the Eagles to the 9-4 advantage.
USI also got strong efforts from senior first baseman Marleah Fossett (Brownsburg, Indiana) and senior third baseman Mena Fulton (Bloomington, Indiana). Fossett was 2-of-3 at the plate with an RBI; while Fulton went 3-of-4 with a triple and two runs scored. Junior second baseman Claire Johnson (Pittsboro, Indiana) also had an RBI in the win.
Junior pitcher Courtney Atkisson (Bringhurst, Indiana) picked up the victory to improve to 4-0 on the year after giving up four runs off eight hits in five innings of work. Leonhardt ended the game for the Eagles, giving up just one hit and a walk in two innings of action.
USI (10-5) returns to action Wednesday at 8 a.m. (CST) when it takes on top-ranked and defending national champion Minnesota State University Mankato. The Eagles also play LIU Post Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. before concluding the PFX Spring Games with a pair of Midwest Region games Thursday.
Olivia Covington for www.theindanalawyer.com
An Indiana business will not have to pay unemployment insurance taxes on wages paid to an independent contractor after a divided panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals found the contractor was not statutorily considered the business’ “employee.â€
In January 2013, a claimant entered into a contract with Q.D.-A., Inc. — which works as a middleman between drivers and companies that manufacture recreational vehicles — to provide drive-away services. The claimant later filed for unemployment with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, which, in turn, notified Q.D.-A. that it had misclassified its payments to the claimant.
A liability administrative law judge agreed, finding the services the claimant provided constituted “employment†requiring the company to pay the state owed unemployment insurances taxes on its payments to the claimant. Q.D.-A. appealed, arguing the ALJ’s conclusion was unreasonable, and a divided panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals agreed. Senior Judge Ezra Friedlander wrote for the majority that under Indiana Code section 22-4-8-1(a), the claimant should not have been considered an “employee†of the company.
Specifically, Friedlander noted the claimant had the right to negotiate his compensation and was free to decline to make a trip for Q.D.-A. based on the compensation negotiations under the contract with the company, which confirmed it does not employ in-house individuals to perform drive-away services. That means the claimant was free from the company’s control, Friedlander said, the first factor that must be met to disprove his “employment.â€
Similarly, the company’s testimony established that though it is licensed to transport motor vehicles, it is not actually in the business of transporting and hires independent contractors like the claimant. Thus, the evidence showed Q.D.-A. mainly works as an intermediary between contractors and its customers, meaning the claimant’s work is outside the scope of the company’s usual business, the second factor, Friedlander said.
Finally, all parties agreed the claimant was working for Q.D.-A.in “an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business of transporting commodities,†the third and final factor that must be met to disprove the claimant’s employment with Q.D.-A. With all three factors proven, the majority joined by Judge Edward Najam reversed the ALJ’s conclusion as unreasonable.
But In a dissenting opinion, Judge Melissa May pointed to the similar case of Company v. Indiana Department of Workforce Development, 86 N.E.3d 204 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017), in which an appellate panel affirmed an ALJ’s decision based on a finding that the second factor had not been proven. The majority acknowledged that decision, but maintained its reversal based on the specifics facts of the instant case. May, however, found little difference between the cases.
“Because the facts herein are not appreciably different from the facts in that case, I would reach the same result and affirm the LALJ’s conclusion that Claimant’s service was within the Company’s usual course of business, such that Claimant was an employee of Company,†May wrote.
The case is Q.D.-A., Inc. v. Indiana Department of Workforce Development, 93A02-1703-EX-556.
Below is a list of events and activities happening in and around the USI community in the coming weeks:
Monday, March 5 – Sunday, March 11
Spring Break
The University of Southern Indiana will not hold classes from Monday, March 5 through Sunday, March 11 for spring break. University offices will remain open. Classes will resume on Monday, March 12.
Exhibit open through Wednesday, March 14
2017 USI Efroymson Fellow to showcase work at McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries
“I Made This for You,†an exhibit created by Matt Perez, a 2015 graduate, during his yearlong Efroymson Bridge Year Fellowship at the University of Southern Indiana, will open Sunday, February 25 in the McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries, located in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center on the USI campus. The exhibition will continue through Wednesday, March 14. Read More
Annual Shaw Biology Lecture to feature science advisor to Finding Nemo
Dr. Adam Summers, professor of biology at the University of Washington, will present the University of Southern Indiana’s seventh annual Marlene V. Shaw Biology Lecture at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 in Mitchell Auditorium located in the Health Professions Building on the USI campus. The presentation, entitled “From Finding Nemo to Finding Patents,†is free and open to the public. More Information
7 p.m. Thursday, March 22, Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24
USI Theatre presents Standing on My Knees
University of Southern Indiana Theatre continues its spring 2018 season with a student-directed production of Standing on My Knees, by John Olive, from March 22-24. USI theatre student Isabelle Rogers will direct the play. There will be FREE ADMISSION on a first come, first served basis. All performances will take place in the lower level of the College of Liberal Arts in the Helen Mallette Studio Theatre (LA 0105). The performances will be held March 22-24 with all showings starting at 7:00 p.m. More Information
Friday, April 6 – Sunday, April 8
Startup Weekend 7.0
The largest event of its kind in Indiana, Startup Weekend 7.0 will be held Friday, April 6 through Sunday, April 8 in the Business and Engineering Center on the University of Southern Indiana campus. Open regionally to all students and community, Startup Weekends are 54-hour events where developers, designers, marketers, product managers, and startup enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startups. Developers, designers, educators, students, and those with an interest in entrepreneurship, business, marketing, strategy and more are welcome – no previous entrepreneurial experience is required!. More Information
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EVSC Bus Driver John Whitmer is the March recipient of the EVSC’s Cause for Applause award. The award seeks to recognize individuals who go above and beyond their normal job responsibilities.
Whitmer was nominated for the monthly employee appreciation award by Tiffany Ball, EVSC manager of special projects and student programs. In her nomination letter, Ball said Whitmer had been driving the two EVSC Winter Guard groups to competitions for the last three years.
“In the first year he drove us to competitions, he noticed that we travel with two very large tarps that are very heavy and awkward to handle so John took it upon himself to build both groups boards that the tarps can be folded on to for much easier handling and transportation,†Ball wrote.
Ball goes on to write that Whitmer studies the itinerary for both groups and if he sees that the groups have time to eat between performances, he always has a list of places to eat and how far away they are from the competition site.
Anyone can nominate an employee of the EVSC for the award. Deadline for nominations is the third Friday of each month. To nominate an EVSC employee, go to www.evscschools.com and click on About Us and see Cause for Applause under Community. Paper forms are available at the schools for those without access to the Internet.
Morning Walks Lead Corpus Christi Student to March Youth of the Month Honor
Isabelle Koch recognized for taking steps of kindness
(Evansville, IN) March 5, 2018 – Every morning before school, Corpus Christi eighth grader Isabelle Koch heads to the cafeteria to walk with her classmates. She enjoys spending time with her friends, but it’s the bond she’s developed with a much younger student that caught the attention of fifth grade teacher Cheryll Bealmear.
“She is drawn to walk with a student who is challenged with a disability,†Bealmear explained.
It’s not just walking. Bealmear, who supervises the walking program one day a week, says Isabelle also connects with her first grade walking partner, Claire Baumgartner, through conversation.
“She just makes sure that student feels special. It really starts that student’s day off with a positive note,†said Bealmear.
“I first started walking with Claire last year when a teacher mentioned that Claire needed someone to walk with her up the stairs. Shortly after we began, she managed to walk up by herself. After the teacher saw Claire and I got along so well, she assigned us as kindergarten and seventh grade buddies. Now I just walk with her because she is an amazing girl to be around,†Isabelle said.
That friendship made enough of an impression on Bealmear that she mentioned it to Isabelle’s father, John. He and his wife, Deborah, nominated Isabelle for Youth of the Month honors.
“It’s hard to put into words. Obviously it makes us feel proud that she is that way when we’re not around,†said John Koch.Â
“She’s not one that needs the limelight, but she’s always been caring about people of any age, little to old,†added Isabelle’s mom, Deborah. “[It] comes from the heart, how she acts.â€
Deborah Koch says Isabelle has always been a giver. Her daughter donated her long hair when she was only about five years old. Isabelle volunteered with Riding Hope, a local hippotherapy and adaptive horse riding program for children with special needs, as a kindergartner. She continues to give back in various ways.
As an eighth grader, Isabelle is already a member of Mater Dei High School’s varsity Winter Guard, marching band and Dance Cats. She’s also part of Junior Band, on the student council at Corpus Christi and is a server and choir member at church. She was named a Serra Club award winner earlier in the school year and maintains an “A†average.
Isabelle has also enjoyed participating in Youth Resources’ TEENPOWER and Vanderburgh County Teen Court programs.
“The Youth Resources programs have introduced me to many new people who are very nice and helpful. At the TEENPOWER camp, I met a lot of wonderful people who I am still in touch with. I also participated in Teen Court which taught me a lot about how the court system works and gave me an opportunity to serve in my community. The YR programs have helped me develop my socializing and networking skills,†Isabelle explained.
“She listens, encourages and shows others that we all have something we can contribute and not to give up. Isabelle shows that it is never too early to set a good example for others, get involved with your community and practice giving back,†said Isabelle’s mom, Deborah.
As for her walking buddy, Isabelle plans to stay in touch with Claire even as she moves on to high school.
“She is super sweet, funny and independent. Claire is one of the strongest and nicest people I know, and she is super fun to hang out with,†Isabelle said.Â
Youth Resources is now accepting nominations for its April Youth of the Month. Nominate a student (ages 5-18) who is making a difference at http://youth-resources.org/events/hall-of-fame/.
Holly’s House, a local child and adult victim advocacy center, announces Toyota Indiana, Inc. has made a major gift to Holly’s House in support of their “Think First & Stay Safe†elementary school child abuse prevention program. A media event will take place on March 7, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Holly’s House. During the event, Toyota Indiana representatives, Holly’s House Board Members, and Sidney Hardgrave, Holly’s House Executive Director, will be available for comments.
Wednesday, March 7th, Holly’s House Conference Room, Toyota Gift Presentation:
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10:00 am             Welcome, Sidney Hardgrave, Executive Director, Holly’s House
10:02 am             Introduction of guests, Sidney Hardgrave
10:05 am             Explanation of the “Think First & Stay Safe!†program,
Sidney  Hardgrave
10:10: am            Remarks from Karen Johnston, External Affairs, TMMI
10:15 am             Q&A
10:20 am             Group Photo
Implemented in 2010, the primary goal for the “Think First & Stay Safe†program is to improve student knowledge and skills relating to protecting their personal safety. Research into child abuse indicates that young people who are abused are much more likely to struggle with depression and anxiety, have poor academic performance, abuse drugs and alcohol, present behavioral problems, and even commit suicide. In addition, children who are abused are at greater risk of being either the aggressor or victim of violence as adults. Successful prevention and early identification of child abuse is one component of preparing young people for success. The “Think First & Stay Safe†program addresses these concerns by teaching children they have a right to be safe and developing common sense skills for self-protection. Through this program, children are advised how to seek help if they, or others they know, encounter unsafe situations or are being abused. For more information, or to support the “Think First & Stay Safe!†program, please visit www.hollyshouse.org.
 Many Hoosiers know the drill all too well. They answer the phone to hear a caller claiming money is owed to the Internal Revenue Service – and they need to pay up or else. Further, the caller often insists on unconventional terms of payment – such as the use of gift cards.
Betsy DeNardi, director of the Consumer Protection Division for the Office of the Attorney General, recently shared tips for consumers who might be wondering how to handle such unwelcome intrusions.
See video of the tips at this link. (All media outlets are welcome to use this footage in broadcasts.)
If you believe you have been the victim of a tax-related or any other type of scam, the Office of the Indiana Attorney General can help. Go to indianaconsumer.com or call 1-800-382-5516 to make a complaint. Â
