Normal rallies late to spoil series finale
The Normal Cornbelters rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Evansville Otters 7-5 in front of 1,780 at Bosse Field Thursday.
With the game tied at 3-3 entering the inning, Santiago Chirino’s RBI single with two outs gave Normal a 4-3 lead before Aaron Dudley’s two-run RBI double scored Yeixon Ruiz and Chirino. Jesus Solorzano’s RBI single made the score 7-3.
Evansville mounted a comeback effort in the bottom half of the inning as Jeff Gardner hit an RBI single and John Schultz hit a sacrifice fly, pulling the Otters to within two runs but Chad Gendron got Zach Welz to ground out to end the game.
Normal scored first in the opening frame on a Justin Fletcher bases-loaded hit by pitch.
Miguel Torres scored on a Ruiz sacrifice fly to extend the Cornbelter lead to 2-0, which was followed by a Shane Weedman throwing error.
Ruiz advanced to third on a single by Chirino and would later score on a Dudley RBI double.
The Otters cut into the 3-0 deficit with a run in the second as Schultz scored on a Christopher Riopedre RBI single. Evansville made it a one-run contest in the sixth as a Kolten Yamaguchi sacrifice fly allowed Gardner to score, making the Normal lead 3-2.
In the seventh with two runners on, Gardner grounded into a fielder’s choice, which allowed Allen to score to tie the game.
Shane Weedman lasted 1 1/3 innings for Evansville as he allowing three runs-two earned and four walks. Brandon Cook tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings and gave up three hits.
Normal starting pitcher Matt Portland surrendered two runs on three hits while walking six batters. Jonathan De Marte earned the victory in relief, pitching 1 1/3 innings while allowing two earned runs off three hits. Gendron earned the save, pitching a scoreless ninth.
The Otters hit the road this weekend starting a three-game series on Friday at the Southern Illinois Miners. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Evansville returns home to Bosse Field on Tuesday to face the Normal Cornbelters. Tuesday is D.A.R.E Night and $2 Tuesday with select concession items $2.
Fans can listen to all three games at Southern Illinois on 91.5 FM WUEV. Lucas Corley (play-by-play) will provide broadcast coverage.
Tickets for August 29-31 are still available by going to evansvilleotters.com or calling 812-435-8686.
AUGUST 25, 2017 “READERS FORUM”
WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
Todays READERS POLL question is: Do you feel it was wise for the Vanderburgh County Council to increase the wheel tax?
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.
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EDITOR’S FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City County Observer or our advertisers.
CHANNEL 44 NEWS: County Council Votes To Change Wheel Tax In Vanderburgh County
AUGUST 24TH, 2017Â 
 JEFF GOLDBERG EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
As it stood, the tax would charge people different amounts depending on the size of their vehicle. That fee ranged from $7.50 to $23 dollars. Now, everyone will pay the same thing regardless of the size of their vehicle – a flat rate of $20 dollars.
County Council members say this vote wasn’t an easy one. During the public comment portion of the meeting, an impassioned plea against the tax saying Vanderburgh Co. has seen enough tax increases. The plea, however, was not enough to block the change.
The council say this will be a tax for a select few. The largest vehicle class pays $23 dollars each year, but according to the council there are only 23 registered vehicles in that class. The money will only go toward fixing the county’s roads and bridges.
Good Legislation: A Product of Good Discussion (Part 2)
The Joint Committee on Judiciary and Public Policy held its first Interim committee meeting this past Tuesday, August 22.Â
The topic: Changing the law requiring a permit to carry a handgun in public.
Whether you are supportive of no handgun carry laws or want to leave the law the way it is, in this meeting we got a good insight what arguments will be made going forward.
Representatives of organized law enforcement agencies stood to say “the process worksâ€. “The law isn’t brokenâ€. Bill Owensby, President of the Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police, said: â€We have 14,000 active police officers that I represent and we are opposed to the legislation that we’re discussing today..â€
The legislators wanting change responded: the process really doesn’t work. People who get denials, i.e. shouldn’t have handguns, eventually get permits anyway.
These same legislators wanting change also focused on 2nd Amendment Rights. Their position was that if you make people have a permit you are making it difficult for those who can’t afford the cost; also, you are making it a burden for law abiding citizens.
The “let’s not change†side said we make laws around Constitutional rights that don’t place a burden but give parameters and do not contradict the Constitution. Steve Bushman, Indiana State Police Alliance, gave a good example. He said consider that a permit is needed for a public rally, even though, the right to assemble is guaranteed in the Constitution.
Changing law to “Constitutional Carryâ€, the slogan, is definitely closer to reality today than when I was in the legislature. Coupled with all the alcohol changes to come in this next session, these interim committees promise a lot of good discussion.
Check the legislative website for the Joint Committee on Judiciary and Public Policy, Sept 7. http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/committees/interim
Check the same website for the Alcohol Code Revision Committee meetings on Sept 11 and 22, Oct 10 and 24, and Nov 14. (There was an afternoon Alcohol meeting on the 22nd of August but I had stared at the screen long enough.)
Preparing this review I have concluded I have got to get a life! All of the issues on the state level are important and I could spend hours watching the streamed meetings.
So, this is my last review. Thank you to the City-County Observer for being that voice that refuses to compromise integrity for the story. Thank you for allowing me to write with the hope that a few people have found something in these reviews to stir their interest.
Remember, what happens in Indy doesn’t stay in Indy…..
This is just my view from the outside.
Gail Riecken
Former State Representative District 77
What’s Going On At Ellis Park This Weekend: Aug. 25-27
Indiana State Police Toll Road Trooper Helps Team Indiana Win Gold in Basketball at 2017 World Police and Fire Games
Indiana State Trooper, O’Bryan Winfield, recently helped Team Indiana win the gold medal in basketball at the 2017 World Police and Fire Games held in Los Angeles, California. This event took place from August 8th through the 13th.
The World Police and Fire Games is a biennial event that is open to active and retired law enforcement and fire personnel from around the world. This event attracts close to 10,000 entrants.
Team Indiana was made up of Trooper O’Bryan Winfield of the Indiana State Police as well as officers from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, Gary Police Department and Evansville Police Department.
Throughout the tournament, Team Indiana did not lose a single game and were the number one seed. They won the gold medal by defeating Washington, D.C. with a score of 50-42. They have been invited back to defend their gold medal at the 2019 World Police and Fire Games to be held in Chengdu, China.
Winfield said that prior to leaving for the competition he was often asked if he thought his team could win against larger states and teams from other countries. He said his response was based off 2 Corinthians 5:7, For we walk by faith, not by sight.
 Winfield has been a state trooper for nine and a half years. He lives in East Chicago and patrols the Indiana Toll Road in Lake and Porter Counties.
AUGUST-2017 BIRTHDAYS
LANE C. SIESKY
RANDY MELTON
RANDY DILLBACK
LAUIE ROSENBAUM
STEVE ELLIOTT
KATHERINE FELDMEIERÂ
DAVID BOTHAST
TIM DENSLEY
MARC HOEPPNER
LISA CAMBRON CONWAY
SHEL KIRK
STEVE CONNONÂ
DEBBIE SMITH
STACY SHOURD
JEAN BLANTON
CHARLOTTE NIXON
JASON DICKEN
DIANE CSUKA
ERICKNELLER
PAUL NEIDIG
NICK JOHNSON
BARB WOODRUFF
JEREMEY HEALTH
ARON MAUCK
CHRISTOPHER GRIFFITH
TODD BARSUMIAN
DAVID BOTHAST
LAURIE ROSENBAUM
KARTHERINE FELDMEIER
STEVE ELLIOTT
ERIC KNELLER
MATT DILLOW
MISSY MOSBY
KATHY WILSON
TIM TURPIN
RICHARD MOSS
CHRIS WILLOUGHBY
MARK HARRMON
TRACY RENEE MERCER
MIKE SHOULDERS
CRYSTAL CHITTENDEN
JOHN LUTZ
TINA GUIDRY
DSANJOHNSON