USI’s Johnson earns GLVC honor
University of Southern Indiana sophomore second baseman Claire Johnson (Pittsboro, Indiana) was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week after helping the Screaming Eagles to a 5-1 record at the Midwest Region Crossover this weekend at Deaconess Sports Park.
Johnson hit .500 with a pair of doubles, a triple, one home run and eight RBIs as the Eagles improved to 7-1 on the year. She is USI’s first GLVC Player of the Week since teammate Haley Hodges (Portage, Indiana) earned the award in April of 2016.
Earning her first-career GLVC Player of the Week award, Johnson had at least one hit and an RBI in all six of USI’s games this week, including a pair of doubles in USI’s 17-2 win over Ferris State University and a triple in the Eagles’ 13-11 win over Northwood University.
Johnson, who had a .889 slugging percentage on the weekend, also had a home run in USI’s lone loss of the week, a 4-3 setback to Saginaw Valley State University Sunday afternoon.
On the year, Johnson is fourth on the team with a .391 batting average and is tied for second on the team with eight RBIs. As a team, USI is averaging 11.0 runs per contest through the first eight games of the year.
The Eagles return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. (CST) when they take on Midwest Region foe Cedarville University in their opening contest of The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. USI is slated to play 12 times at The Spring Games, including regional bouts against Cedarville, Ashland University and No. 4 Grand Valley State University.
Thomas Rhett Will Bring His “2017 Home Team Tour” to Ford Center September 28
With “a sky-rocketing Country career†(TODAY), Thomas Rhett recently earned his seventh career No. One with the fastest-rising single of his career “Star Of The Show,†featured on his sophomore album TANGLED UP DELUXE (The Valory Music Co.), the track was co-written by Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip, and is the fourth to take the top position off his PLATINUM certified release. Filled with party anthems, dance tunes, drinking songs and love ballads, the 18-track TANGLED UP DELUXE (The Valory Music Co.) also includes his 2X PLATINUM Grammy- nominated six-week chart-topping smash “Die A Happy Man,” which has garnered major trophies from the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, Billboard Music Awards, and CMT Music Awards. One of Rolling Stone’s most anticipated tours of this year just became more explosive as Thomas Rhett extends his first- ever headlining 2017 HOME TEAM TOUR kicking off this week on Feb. 23 in Saginaw, MI. After drawing capacity crowds overseas last year, he returns as a “force to be reckoned with” (Daily Star) with plans to return to Europe while also making his debut headlining run in Canada in addition to US dates. For more information and for a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit www.thomasrhett.com.
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
OLD DOMINION WALKER HAYES
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH FORD CENTER – EVANSVILLE, IN
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 3rd at 10am!
www.LiveNation.com
Ford Center Box Office | www.Ticketmaster.com | 800.745.3000
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
 Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
Richard Dewayne Chaffin: (Conspiracy) Burglary (Level 4 Felony)
James Michael Moore: (Conspiracy) Burglary (Level 4 Felony)
Jedadiah James Locher: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of marijuana (Level 6 Felony)
For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Jess Powers at 812.204.6835 or via email at jpowers@vanderburghgov.org
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
 Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
Robert Louis Joyce Jr.: Battery by bodily waste (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor), Disorderly conduct (Class B misdemeanor)
Jeremiah Cates Jones: Attempt battery by means of a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony), Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony), Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony) Reckless driving (Class C misdemeanor), Criminal trespass (Class A misdemeanor)
Marquelle Smith: Possession of cocaine (Level 4 Felony), Attempt battery by means of a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony), Attempt battery by means of a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor), Criminal mischief (Class B misdemeanor)
Cory Joseph Fuchs: Invasion of privacy (Level 6 Felony)
John William Maveety III: Domestic battery (Level 5 Felony)
April Dawn Crow: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
Harley Wayne Craddock: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
Daniel Michael Farris: (Attempt) Theft (Level 6 Felony)
For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Jess Powers at 812.204.6835 or via email at jpowers@vanderburghgov.org
IS IT TRUE FEBRUARY 27, 2017
IS IT TRUE Attorney Scott Danks has been selected to be the next chairman of the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party?…Danks as it turns out was the only candidate to file for the office by the Wednesday deadline, but he still needs to get some votes to be installed as Chairman?… He will be running against “none of the above” in the caucus of Democrat precinct committee members?…with Democratic and liberal activists across the nation resorting to absurd stunts like showing their bare butts to a building and bashing out windows to express their distaste for the newly elected President Donald J. Trump, the Democrat Party is in need of some mature leadership?…the City County Observer believes that Scott Danks is a good man for the job as he has shown wisdom and good judgement to go with his well known tenacity?…the Democrats on a national level would be well served to get other people like Scott Danks into leadership positions and repudiate the street idiocy that seems to ignite somewhere nearly every day?…we wish Scott and the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party much success in being a good example of how to be an informed opposition instead of an inflamed one?…if at the national level the Democrats do not cease behaving like spoiled adolescents, they risk being out of power in all three branches of government for the foreseeable future?
IS IT TRUE it has been several days since the Merit Commission concluded its hearings into the actions of three EPD officers during the arrest of a homeless man? …the hearing publicly exposed a deep divide between the men and women of the Evansville Police Department and their Administration?
IS IT TRUE prior to the Police Merit Commission rejecting Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin’s recommendation to terminate two officers and demote a third?  ..serious questions were raised by the EPD rank and file officers as to transparency and impartiality of the Administration’s investigation into the incident? …its been alleged that evidence was presented that not only were the recommendations made before the investigation was complete, but the Administration deviated from the long established chain of command?
IS IT TRUE we are told that many in the public are concerned about the divide between the officers protecting our streets and their Administration? …while this was a continual theme throughout the Police Merit Commission hearing, it was most evident in the public comments portion of the hearing when an EPD sergeant expressed that officers feel there was a “lack of leadership†within the department? …now that the hearing is over and the 2019 mayoral race is beginning to take shape, all eyes are on Mayor Winnecke to see if this alleged “lack of leadership†statement applies only to the Evansville Police Department or if it extends all the way to the Mayor’s Office?
IS IT TRUE the former CCO contributing author Joe Wallace and his wife Karen will be joined for dinner tonight by former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice?…Wallace and Rice first met at Stanford University back in the 80s when they were both young energetic whippersnappers and should have much to talk about that they were both up to their eyeballs in?…perhaps the most activist thing that happened on campus back then was the establishment of a ragtag group called Mandella Free University that was demanding that Stanford divest it’s holding of all things tied to South Africa until Nelson Mandella was set free from the Robbin Island prison?…that worked like a charm as divestment drove justice without firing a shot, setting a fire, or breaking any windows?…Mandella went on to become president of South Africa and lead his country elegantly through troubled times of change?
IS IT TRUE that the United Neighborhood Association is being downsized to one liaison employee and assigned to DMD? …it’s well known that the United Neighborhood Association has long been used to generate the “get out the vote” effort for the Winnecke political machine?
IS IT TRUE that two Evansville City officials will present their views on what Evansville is doing to provide affordable housing for the City’s less fortunate at the next Southern Indiana Democracy for America Town Hall. Lots of “substandard†homes are being demolished under new programs like the Land Bank. Kelly Coures, head of the Department of Metropolitan Development and City Councilman, Justin Elpers will discuss City initiatives to avoid gentrification as homes are torn down and replaced in public/private partnerships.
IS IT TRUE The Town Hall meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 1, at 7 PM in the Browning Room A of Central Library. SOINDFA conducts monthly Town Halls on issues of importance to the Tri-State the first Wednesday of each month to provide a forum for citizens to express their views in a civil, moderated discussion. The sessions are free and attendees are encouraged to give their opinions.
FOOTNOTE: Â Todays “Readers Poll” question is: Do you think that local Attorney Scott Danks can turn the Democratic Party of Vanderburgh County into an competitive organization once again?
CHANNEL 44 NEWS: Mardi Gras Festivities On Franklin
Mardi Gras Festivities On Franklin
It may not be Bourbon Street in New Orleans but the feeling on Franklin Street in Evansville is mimicking Mardi Gras. On Saturday afternoon, food, floats and family fun took over Franklin for the annual Mardi Gras parade. Despite a double-digit…
Hoosiers Win Three More Titles at Big Ten Championships
Hoosiers Win Three More Titles at Big Ten Championships
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 4-ranked Indiana University men’s swimming and diving team continued the team’s great performance at the 2017 Big Ten Championships on Thursday night at the McCorkle Aquatic Center in Columbus, Ohio, winning three conference titles.
After two days of competition at the Big Ten Championships, Indiana sits atop the team standings with a total of 562 points. Michigan is second with 461.5, while Ohio State is third with a score of 430 points.
Indiana was dominant in the 200 IM Championship Final on Thursday night, finishing first, second and fourth overall. Vini Lanza took home the gold, touching the wall first with a school and pool record time of 1:41.59. Lanza’s time is a NCAA A cut that ranks third in the nation so far this season.
The victory in the 200 IM is the first for Indiana since 1992. The Hoosiers have now won the event 17 times in program history.
Ian Finnerty was right behind Lanza, winning the silver medal with a personal-best and NCAA A cut time of 1:41.86 that ranks third all-time in school history. Blake Pieroni placed fourth overall for IU, coming in with a personal-best and NCAA B cut mark of 1:43.50 that ranks him as the sixth-best performer in the event in school history.
Bob Glover placed 14th overall with a NCAA B cut time of 1:46.02, while Mohamed Samy won the C Final to take 17th overall with a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:45.17. With his mark, Samy now ranks as the ninth-best swimmer in the event at IU.
The Hoosiers also flexed their muscle in the 1-meter dive, as Michael Hixon won gold and James Connor took home the silver medal. Cody Coldren placed eighth overall with a total of 310.25 as IU had a league-best three divers in the Championship Final.
Hixon and Connor were both brilliant on Thursday, as the two posted the best two scores in Big Ten and Indiana history. Hixon won with a total of 488.65 that also set the Big Ten Meet and pool record, while Connor took second with a score of 487.50. With Hixon’s victory, IU has now won the event four of the last five seasons.
Hixon took home the gold thanks in part to his final two dives – a 87.45 in the fifth and incredible 90.10 in the sixth and final round. Connor was consistent throughout his list, with all six dives scoring more the 76 points, including three dives over 80 points.
Also for Indiana, Joshua Arndt placed sixth in the Consolation Final with a total of 312.95 to finish 14th overall.
In the 400 medley relay, the Hoosiers defended their title from a year ago, winning the gold with a Big Ten, Big Ten Meet and school record time of 3:03.28. The team of Glover, Finnerty, Lanza and Pieroni earned a NCAA A cut with their mark that ranks first in the country so far this season.
Glover got the Hoosiers off to a great start with a NCAA B cut time of 46.11 in his 100 back. IU then reeled off the best splits in each of the last three legs – Finnerty in 51.18, Lanza in 44.64 and Pieroni in 41.35.
With the victory in the 400 medley relay, the Hoosiers have now won the event 23 times in program history.
In the 50 freestyle, Ali Khalafalla broke the school record for a second time on the day, winning silver with his NCAA A cut time of 18.94. Khalafalla becomes the first Hoosier to break 19 seconds in school history and also becomes the second-best performer in the event in Big Ten history.
Also in the Championship Final, Sam Lorentz placed eighth overall with a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 19.53 that ranks him as the fourth-best performer in the event in IU history.
In the B Final, Anze Tavcar placed second to take 10th overall with a NCAA B cut time of 19.66, while Josh Romany placed 13th overall with a NCAA B cut time of 19.83.
Marwan Elkamash was terrific in the Championship Final of the 500 freestyle, winning the bronze medal with a school record and NCAA A cut time of 4:12.11. In only one year for the Hoosiers, Elkamash now owns the top-three times in school history in the event.
Also in the 500 free A Final, Jackson Miller took seventh place with a NCAA B cut time of 4:17.36.
In the B Final of the 500 freestyle, Adam Destrampe placed sixth to finish 14th overall with a NCAA B cut time of 4:23.12. Trey Hubbuch touched 16th overall with a NCAA B cut of 4:23.23, while Max Irwin took 16th with a mark of 4:23.23.
The Indiana Hoosiers will continue competition at the 2017 Big Ten Championships on Friday morning with the prelims of the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 3-meter dive. The action gets started at 11:00 a.m. ET at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio.
Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men’s swimming and diving team on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
500 Freestyle
3. Marwan Elkamash – 4:12.11 (Personal Best, School Record, NCAA A cut)
7. Jackson Miller – 4:17.36 (NCAA B cut)
14. Adam Destrampe – 4:23.12 (NCAA B cut)
15. Max Irwin – 4:24.39 (NCAA B cut)
16. Trey Hubbuch – 4:23.23 (NCAA B cut)
200 IM
1. Vini Lanza – 1:41.59 (Personal Best, School and Pool Record, NCAA A cut)
2. Ian Finnerty – 1:41.86 (Personal Best, NCAA A cut)
4. Blake Pieroni – 1:43.50 (Personal Best, NCAA B cut)
14. Bob Glover – 1:46.02 (NCAA B cut)
17. Mohamed Samy – 1:45.17 (Personal Best, NCAA B cut)
50 Freestyle
2. Ali Khalafalla – 18.94 (Personal Best, School Record, NCAA A cut)
8. Sam Lorentz – 19.53 (Personal Best, NCAA B cut)
10. Anze Tavcar – 19.66 (NCAA B cut)
13. Josh Romany – 19.83 (NCAA B cut)
1-Meter Diving
1. Michael Hixon – 488.65 (Big Ten, Big Ten Meet and Pool Record, NCAA Qualifying score)
2. James Connor – 487.50 (NCAA Qualifying score)
8. Cody Coldren – 310.25 (NCAA Qualifying score)
14. Joshua Arndt – 312.95 (NCAA Qualifying score)
400 Medley Relay
1. Bob Glover, Ian Finnerty, Vini Lanza, Blake Pieroni – 3:03.28 (Big Ten, Big Ten Meet and School Record, NCAA