Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve Hosts Maple Sugarbrush Festival

Happening this weekend you can celebrate the Maple Sugar Harvest with an all you can eat breakfast. Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve is hosting its 39TH annual Maple Sugarbrush Festival this weekend. Families can fill up on pancakes made with…

THOUGHTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

By Peter Funt

The confluence of Easter and Passover at mid-month will find many people, stressed more than usual by the state of world affairs and the chaos of domestic politics, seeking answers from their faith.

It’s hard to imagine anyone on the world stage more gifted at articulating a course for humanity than Pope Francis. Beyond his responsibilities as leader of the Catholic Church, the Pope, at age 80, has become a beacon of common sense, most emphatically in his devotion to the economically disenfranchised.

“The world tells us to seek success, power and money,” he observes. “God tells us to seek humility, service and love.”

His words are powerful, even for those like myself who are not Catholic.

During the four years of his Papacy he has boldly directed many of his remarks at governments and world leaders in addressing the needs of a troubled planet.

Here are my favorite statements by Pope Francis:

– “The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty.”

– “Responsibility for the poor and the marginalized must be an essential element of any political decision, whether on the national or the international level.”

– “Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation.”

– “Everything is connected. Concern for the environment thus needs to be joined to a sincere love for our fellow human beings and an unwavering commitment to resolving the problems of society.”

– “Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day.”

– “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.”

– “The problem of intolerance should be dealt with as a whole. Every time a minority is persecuted and marginalized, the good of the whole society is in danger.”

– “Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity.”

– “To change the world we must be good to those who cannot repay us.”

A few weeks ago, the Pope spoke about encountering beggars on the street. “There are many excuses” to justify not giving them money, he noted. Perhaps it will be spent on alcohol or drugs.

But giving something to someone in need “is always right,” he explained. And looking them in the eyes and touching their hands must be the way one reaches out to a person asking for help.

Study people’s faces as you go along the street, the Pope has advised. Too many are worried, closed in, a smile is missing, tenderness is missing. In an era of social media, true social friendship is missing.

And here is my favorite quote from Pope Francis. Perhaps you, too, will consider it as food for thought at your holiday table.

– “You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. That’s how prayer works.”

Congressman Messer Announces
Statewide Campaign Finance Committee

Committee to be Chaired by Columbus Business and Civic Leader Greg Pence

Shelbyville, IN – Today, Congressman Luke Messer announced the first round of names for his Statewide Campaign Finance Committee for the 2018 election cycle. The list includes 47 names of key Hoosier business and political leaders from around the state.

Greg Pence, a business and civic leader from Columbus, Indiana, will serve as chairman of the growing committee. Commenting on his new role, Pence said, “2018 will be an important election for our state and our country. That’s why I am thrilled to chair this team of Hoosier leaders who are all united in their support for Luke. Together, we’ll elect a thoughtful conservative who reflects the heart of Hoosier working families.”

Messer’s Deputy Campaign Manager for Finance Emily Daniels was enthusiastic about the early support. Daniels stated, “We are energized by the response of key leaders from across Indiana. As our organization continues to take shape, we look forward to welcoming additional members to the team who are committed to supporting Congressman Luke Messer for the United States Senate.

USI Students Take Top Spot In Engineering Robotics Competition

A team of students representing the University of Southern Indiana took first place in a robotics competition hosted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) on April 1.

Participating teams were tasked with building a robot designed to compete in four distinct events themed around the “Star Wars” franchise. The USI team’s robot, “Aluminum Falcon,” beat out 41 other student teams, including teams from the University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, University of Alabama – Birmingham and the Georgia Institute of Technology in the final round.

Students represented in the group were:

• Joe Bretz, Wadesville, IN
• Valerie McKinney, Evansville, IN
• Jesse Derrington, Evansville, IN
• Bryan Mitchell, Evansville, IN
• Andrew Choate, Evansville, IN
• Justin Sitzman, Ferdinand, IN
• Brady Webb, Norris City, IL

USI robot The Aluminum Falcon“The team made a near perfect run” in the final round, according to Dr. Ron Diersing, USI associate professor of engineering and one of two team faculty sponsors along with Dr. Art Chlebowski, assistant professor of engineering.

The competition was part of the IEEE’s SoutheastCon in Charlotte, North Carolina. The USI chapter of IEEE is part of the Engineering Department housed in USI’s Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

For more information, contact Diersing at rwdiersing@usi.edu.

AGENDA

Vanderburgh County

Board of Commissioners

April 11, 2017

3:00 pm, Room 301

1. Call to Order
2. Attendance
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Action Items
5. Department Head Reports
6. New Business
   1. Public Forum for Vanderburgh County Building Licensing and Permitting Task Force
7. Old Business
8. Public Comment
9. Consent Items
   1. Contracts, Agreements and Leases
      1. Burdette Park: Addendum to Burdette Park Ball Diamonds Lease
      2. County Commissioners: Local Funded Engineering Agreement with American Structurepoint
      3. Computer Services:
         1. Multi-Function Device Lease Agreement with United Leasing for the County Auditor
         2. Cisco Capital/De Lange adding Firewall Devices to the Lease Agreement
      4. County Health Department: Ferdinand-Pike State Park Contract for Water Testing
   2. Approval of April 4, 2017 Meeting Minutes
   3. Employment Changes
   4. Soil & Water Conservation District: March 2017 Meeting Minutes
   5. County Commissioners: Appropriation Request
      1. Coroner’s Office Vehicle – CCD Request
      2. Weights and Measures – Director Salary, FICA and PERF
   6. Neighborhood Association 2017 Registration: Oak Hill
   7. County Clerk: Surplus Request Office Furniture
   8. County Engineering:
      1. Department Head Report
      2. Pay Request # 22 U.S. 41 Expansion TIF for the sum of $6,656.38
      3. Mineral Interest Waiver Form for Green River Road Phase 6- Parcel 1

1. Adjournment