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Portenier and Pagan combine to defeat Valpo in season finale

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                                               Julie Rabe makes six saves in goal to preserve one-goal lead late

 The University of Evansville women’s soccer team ended its season on a high note with a 2-1 victory over Valparaiso on the road on Thursday evening.

“Proud of the team to show up and gut out a win,” said Aces women’s soccer head coach Krista McKendree. “We had a great response to them tying the game. Credit goes to Valpo for putting the pressure on. Our team showed great character and we are proud to be Aces.”

In the match, senior midfielder Montana Portenier and junior defender Sierra Pagan each scored for the Aces in the win. Between the posts, sophomore JulieRabe earned her second victory of the season, making six saves and allowing one goal. For the Crusaders, Cory Griffith scored the lone goal for Valpo.

Evansville struck first in the 13th minute as freshman midfielder Jayme-Lee Hunter played a ball to Portenier at the top of the box who took a shot that found the upper right corner to give the Aces a 1-0 advantage.

Just shy of 10 minutes later, Valpo answered with a goal as Grace Rogers lobbed a free kick from 60 yards out into the box that Griffth headed into the back of the net.

The Aces quickly responded in the 24th minute as junior forward Sara Osinski slid a pass to Pagan who fired a shot from 15 yards out and scored for her first collegiate goal, giving Evansville a 2-1 lead.

In the second half, the Aces were able to stave off Valpo’s attempts at a comeback as Evansville held on for the 2-1 victory.

The Crusaders out-shot the Aces, 19-9, with many of Valpo’s shots coming in the final 20 minutes of the match.

The Aces end the season with a 6-11 overall record and a 2-5 mark in Missouri Conference Play. Evansville’s 21 goals this season were the post by the Purple Aces since the 2014 season.

IS IT TRUE OCTOBER 27, 2017

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We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” 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 by people in the know that the person who was the most influential in bringing the I U Medical School to Evansville was local attorney and Indiana University Board of Trustee member Pat Shoulders?

IS IT TRUE we are told by people in the know that the person who was one of the most influential for securing the continue funding of the development of I-69 was District #78 State Representative Holli Sullivan of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE we are hearing that the soon to be announced candidate for Vanderburgh County Commission, Mike Duckworth, has the reputation of being the king of Vanderburgh County political patronage?

IS IT TRUE we are hearing that the committee that’s in charge of moving and redesigning the Kids Kingdon at Sunset Park are really doing a bang up job?  …we would like to thank Evansville Chief of Police Billy Bolin and his committee for making the new Kids Kingdon next to the Evansville Museum even better?
IS IT TRUE that the Hadi Shriners Mariners recently presented four (4) of the SHRINERS Children’s Hospitals with a check for $3,600?
IS IT TRUE that over the years that there has been talk about locating a “Slack Water Port” in the Evansville area?  …that the need for such a port is because of the goods being shipped by containers?  …that many of thousands containers arrive at blue water ports in the United States everyday?  …we wonder when will our locally elected city and county officials look into this issue?
IS IT TRUE we have an opportunity to build a “Slack Water Port” by excavating the dirt from the river bottoms and using it to build up the approach to the new I-69  bridge over the Ohio river in the area of Greenriver Road?
IS IT TRUE we are told by some political movers and shakers of the 4th Ward wish that  State Rep. Ryan Hatfield would become more available?
Today’s ‘READERS POLL’ question is: Do you feel that our elected officials should use our tax dollars towards housing and home repairs for people and families at or below 80 percent of median household income?
Please take time and read our newest feature articles entitled “LAW ENFORCEMENT, READERS POLL, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBS” and “LOCAL SPORTS” posted in our sections.  You now are able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.
If you would like to advertise in the CCO please contact us City-County Observer@live.com.

 

EDITOR’S FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City County Observer or our advertisers

 

New Jail Facility Opens in Posey County

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New Jail Facility Opens in Posey County

 Jail overcrowding has been a problem all across the Hoosier state for quite some time. This past weekend a bigger jail opened in Posey County.

Not only does it give jail officials more space to work it allows more room for inmates to be housed.

The old Posey County jail could house up to 87 inmates and only 62 beds. Inmates were crammed liked sardines, often leading to a tense atmosphere.

“They’re not as compact as they once were. You’re talking about moving moving from a 12 by 12 cell and common area, to a much larger common area,” says Chief Deputy Tom Latham.

With 21st century technology and a caring staff, officials are better equipped to help inmates.

Profile Of Joe Wallace, CEO And Chief Innovation Officer At Coachella Valley Economic Partnership

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 Profiles of Joe Wallace, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership and Hank McCarrick, CEO and founder of Seco Sys

This profile is part of #StartupsEverywhere, an ongoing series highlighting startup leaders in ecosystems across the country. This interview has been edited for length, content, and clarity.

What’s your role in the Coachella Valley area startup ecosystem?

Joe: I came to the Coachella Valley in January of 2012 to serve as the Founder and Managing Director of the Palm Springs iHub.  The iHub is a California state initiative that selected six locations in the state to serve as specific technology development hubs.  At the time of founding, our iHub’s main focus was renewable energy because of the abundant sunshine in greater Palm Springs, the reliable wind in the San Gorgonio Pass, and the geothermal resources at the Salton Sea. Now, in addition to my role the Palm Springs iHub, I also serve as the CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership.

Hank: I am the CEO and founder of Seco Sys, which is a platform that allows water agencies, customers, and water related services to concurrently engage in water conservation at all water use endpoints.

Can you tell us more about what your company/organization does?

Hank: Seco Sys has developed a range of web services that are dedicated to managing all types of water. Our “everything water” web service, called the HydraCommunity, is designed to allow collaboration between water agencies, water customers, water use equipment, and other water related services. Our platform can be used worldwide. Our reach includes mining operations in Australia, rest stops in California, and hotels in Washington DC. Wherever water is consumed we can ensure that it is used efficiently through our technology.

Joe: In addition to the technology based entrepreneurship that is incubated in the iHub, CVEP operates a business services division that assists all types of local businesses with planning, financing, and growth.  Our business services group also provides seminars in financial literacy, business planning, dressing for success, surviving the summer business cycles, and other relevant subjects of interest to the business community.  We also produce the annual economic summit for the Coachella Valley.

 What’s the most exciting thing that has happened for the Coachella Valley in the past year?

Joe: The most disruptive and exciting thing that has happened during the past year is the passage of a ballot resolution to legalize recreational use of marijuana.  This is seen by many as the goose that will be laying golden eggs, but also by others as the ushering in of an undesirable era.  The reality is that the Coachella Valley is already an agricultural region and marijuana is simply another crop that can now be grown for a profit.  What is most exciting is the number of business opportunities that the cannabis industry creates a demand for like water control, commercial real estate, fertilizer development and distribution, wavelength specific LED lighting, and packaging.  This may become a catalyst for the development of more advanced medicinal uses of cannabis and the Coachella Valley can be at the forefront.

Hank: For me, I think the most exciting thing is that we were awarded a grant for the installation of our technology at the Mission Springs Water District. The project will deliver the first of its kind, smart water grid where equipment and water related services can work in collaboration to ensure the highest level of water use efficiency at all use points.

What makes the Coachella Valley an ideal place to start a company?

Hank: The Coachella Valley has been the ideal location to start our business because it has five separate water agencies serving a population of over 300,000. Additionally, the Valley is a collection of desert communities so water conservation is extremely important. Our water management technologies have developed at an accelerated pace due to the local need and the support we have received within an arm’s reach of our offices.

Joe: The Coachella Valley is the only place where a person can enjoy the California coastal lifestyle without the cost and hassles associated with coastal living. Our real estate is affordable, our commutes are predictable, and we have sunshine 360 days per year.

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What industries have historically thrived in the Coachella Valley? How has this shaped the startup ecosystem there?

Hank: Historically, food, hospitality, and health-related industries have found success in the Coachella Valley. More recently though, the startup ecosystem here has been working to broaden industrial variety to include “clean tech” companies like ourselves.

Joe: The legacy commercial industries in the Coachella Valley are hospitality, agriculture, and healthcare. The hospitality industry developed here in the 1950’s with the Hollywood crowds, like the Rat Pack, coming to the desert to escape the grueling hours of making movies to relax and enjoy some freedom.  Recently, the valley has grown the tourism industry with giant festivals such as the Coachella Music Festival and the BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament.  Festivals bring roughly a million visitors per year to the desert and have an economic impact that exceeds a billion dollars.  Palm Springs, in particular, has begun to show up on international “top ten lists” of vacation destinations.  All of this attention has helped raise the profile of the region as a lifestyle destination, which has led entrepreneurs to see the valley in a positive light.

 What is the biggest challenge you face in the Coachella Valley?
Joe: We have identified three specific areas that are in need of improvement. The first, is access to state-of-the-art bandwidth.  Many startups need bandwidth to conduct business and with today’s limitations we will not be able to compete for opportunities that need advanced data transfer.  Our second challenge is that our four year university (CSU San Bernardino at Palm Desert) does not yet offer STEM-based degrees.  They do offer nursing and are about to start a hospitality program.  These degrees do improve students’ prospects for employment at a good wage, but it is degrees like engineering, computer science, finance, business, and the other sciences that wealth creation comes from.  STEM degrees are also needed to feed the talent needs of technology companies.  Finally, we do not have a venture capital firm.  Most of the equity investments in iHub companies are coming from outside the region. That leaves us at risk for losing these companies when follow-on rounds of financing are needed.
Hank:  Our biggest challenge at Seco Sys will be finding local engineering talent as we continue to grow. As Joe said, unfortunately the Coachella Valley Colleges do not have engineering curriculums.
What are some of the inputs that have helped your ecosystem grow?
Joe: The foresight provided by the City of Palm Springs in accepting the challenge to be one of the original iHubs was a catalyzing event to jump start an entrepreneurial ecosystem that had been dormant for years.  When the iHub was founded, entrepreneurs who came to the Coachella Valley to retire but had gotten bored or even saw their investment portfolios get diminished during the Great Recession came out of the woodwork.  We are one of the only incubator/accelerator programs in the country where the average age of the entrepreneurs is over 50.  We have our share of millennials working the digital world, but the Palm Springs iHub’s success has been built on experienced entrepreneurs who are not doing this for the first time.
What are the most unique features of the Coachella Valley community?
Hank: The Valley is comprised of small cities that include Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, and many more. The Valley is diverse in culture, hosts an international airport, and contains a population that fluctuates by over 30% seasonally.
Joe: That’s exactly right. The Coachella Valley is made up of nine independent cities.  Each of these cities have dramatically different demographics and histories.  For nearly half a century there was physical separation between the 9 cities, but today one can drive from the westernmost point in Palm Springs to the easternmost point in Coachella without any separation.  CVEP is a regional economic development agency and regional success depends on working together.  Some of the leaders understand this and others don’t.  To achieve goals like bringing in bandwidth and pushing for a full service research university will require that a critical mass of the valley commits to set colloquialism aside and work for the greater good over a long period of time.

Are there specific public policies or regulatory landscape features that have enabled startup growth in the Coachella Valley?

Hank: The support of the Coachella Valley Economic Program (CVEP) has certainly been critical for our start. Also, as a member of the CVEP iHub we have much greater exposure to town governments, water agencies, and the general population.

Joe: The California iHub initiative originated in Palm Springs, but came about at the state level.  Despite these efforts by the state government to spur innovation, California has a more stifling regulatory landscape than most other states. These regulations, whether for environmental or aesthetic purposes, are often seen as blunting industrial activities. This means that the cost to start, maintain, and scale a corporation is roughly 1,000% higher here than they are in nearly every Midwestern state.

Are there some startups to watch coming out of the Coachella Valley area?

Joe: Since opening the Palm Springs iHub we have attracted 57 start-up companies.  In venture capital, the expectation is that about 2% of companies become home runs, and we are certainly on that track.  Hank’s company SecoSys has a patented solution to a water meter that is sensitive enough to detect leaks in homes, recreational areas, or public facilities. His company is especially important because the California water crisis is not over.  SecoSys is poised to lead the way in eliminating water waste, which is incidentally one of the largest problems that created the water crisis in the first place.  Another company with the potential to become a “unicorn” is Heppolt, a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) company that has been tested favorably by Los Alamos National Labs.  Heppolt’s patented ground level design provides a higher output per dollar than traditional windmills while offering the convenience of ground level service and repair.

Hank:  Yes! Definitely keep your eye on Seco Sys!

Editor Footnote: Mr. Wallace was the past President and CEO of the Evansville/Vanderburgh County GAGE.  He is also is a part time contributor to the City County Observer.

Mental Health Increasingly A Factor In Divorces

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Il for www.theindianalawyer.com

Family law attorneys are encountering more mental health issues among the spouses and children going through a divorce, according to a recent survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

A full 67 percent of attorneys have noted a rise in the number of divorces impacted by mental health issues in the past three years.

“Divorce is never an easy process for anyone and having to manage a mental health issue at the same time can unfortunately magnify many of the most negative aspects of the experience,” said John Slowiaczek, president of the AAML.

Other findings from the survey include:

• 81 percent of the attorneys say the divorce process is made more challenging when the parties involved have mental health issues;

• 57 percent of AAML members have seen an increase in the number of children having mental health issues;

• 63 percent of the lawyers have found that these particular issues for the kids make the overall divorce process more challenging.

“It is essential for a spouse to be open with their attorneys about these challenges at the beginning of the divorce and work together to recognize any unique difficulties that might arise,” Slowiaczek said. “In addition, attorneys should help these particular clients form an individualized set of expectations that could ultimately help to control levels of anxiety and stress for them and their children.”

Founded in 1962, the AAML has a membership of 1,650 matrimonial attorneys throughout the country.

Significant Increases In UE Undergraduate Participation In Experiential Education

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University of Evansville undergraduate participation in out-of-the-classroom, experiential education has increased from 78 percent to 96 percent over the last decade. Almost all of the UE 2016 graduating class participated in one or more out-of-class, experiential activities, including internships, co-ops, and undergraduate research.

UE students have interned at Disney Entertainment, Yale University Child Studies Center, Rolls Royce, IBM, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Some have completed internships as summer undergraduate research fellows at University of Alabama Birmingham Medical School. Others have served as interns at the Jezreel Expedition, an archaeological project in northern Israel co-sponsored by UE and the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa.

The University of Evansville was one of the first schools to adopt the cooperative education concept in 1919 and is the fifth oldest co-op program in the U.S. Since then, experiential education has been a value-added piece for all students’ Evansville Experience.

Students of all academic majors are encouraged to contact the University’s Center for Career Development to find out more about the local, regional, national, and international opportunities available.

Adopt A Pet

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Daisy is a 10-month-old female black German Shepherd/Lab mix! Her previous family surrendered her because they were moving. Her adoption fee is $100 and she’s spayed, up-to-date on vaccines, and ready to go home today! Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 or adoptions@vhslifesaver.org for details.

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