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Indiana Conservation Officer Captain Zach Mathews has been selected by the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as the 2016 Police Executive Leadership Academy (PELA) Leader’s Leader Award. Mathews completed the PELA Academy in 2016 and received accolades from PELA facilitator, Dr. Neil Moore, for his classroom contributions and leadership perspectives. “Captain Mathews is one of the superior police leaders in Indiana at this time and a great role model for any police agencyâ€, said Dr. Moore. “Capt. Mathews is exploring leadership principles from such diverse places as the Disney Corporation, Chick-fil-A and several other private sector organizations with an eye toward applying those principles in a policing environment.†Captain Mathews is a native of Columbus Indiana. He was hired as an Indiana Conservation Officer in 1998 and was assigned to Bartholomew County. Mathews was promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2003. He was promoted to Captain of Investigations in 2005 and was placed in command of Training Section in 2011. Mathews will be presented with the award at the PELA graduation and Awards Ceremony on January 25, 2017 at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Indianapolis. “It is an honor for Indiana Conservation Officers and “THE†DNR Law Enforcement Division to receive recognition for the police leadership role our officers and staff have achievedâ€, said Danny L. East, DNR Law Enforcement Division Director. “Captain Mathews is an outstanding example to his colleagues and to police agencies across the state.†|
Indiana Conservation Officer named as 2016 PELA Leader Award recipient
EAGLES ARE HOME!
The University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team opens its 2016-17 home schedule Saturday and Sunday with an abbreviated Bill Joergens Memorial Classic at the Physical Activities Center. Game time Saturday versus Ohio Valley University is 7:30 p.m., while tip-off Sunday against Lees-McRae College is 7 p.m.
The Bill Joergens Memorial Classic is dedicated to the memory of Bill Joergens, who played on the first USI men’s basketball team in the late 1960s and continued his support of USI Athletics by becoming chair of the Varsity Club. A part of Joergens’ legacy is the development of the Varsity Club Steak Fry and Auction, which has raised nearly $500,000 since 1992. Upon losing his battle with cancer, Joergens left a major portion of his estate to the USI men’s basketball program. The estate funds this tournament and fifth-year scholarship aid for USI men’s basketball players, who have exhausted their eligibility.
Game coverage for the home games, including live stats, video stream, and audio broadcasts, is available at GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard on WEOA 98.5FM/1400AM and 95.7FM The Spin.
USI Men’s Basketball Week 5 Quick Notes:
- Eagles start 2016-17 home schedule. The University of Southern Indiana is playing at home for the first time this year when it hosts Ohio Valley University and Lees-McRae College this weekend. USI’s six games away from the Physical Activities Center to start the 2016-17 campaign are the most in program history. The longest road trips to start the year were three-game trips by the 1997-98, 1998-99, 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2008-09 teams that traveled to the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic in Orlando, Florida.
- USI is 6-0 again!The Screaming Eagles are 6-0 for the 14th time in the history of the program. The last time USI started a year 6-0 was in 2013-14.
- USI is 2-0 to start the GLVC slate. USI went 2-0 to start the 2016-17 GLVC slate, winning on the road at McKendree University, 104-58, and the University of Illinois Springfield, 86-75.
- Scoring leaders last week. Sophomore guard Alex Stein led USI in scoring versus McKendree and Illinois Springfield with 19.5 points per game. Junior guard Marcellous Washington was the Eagles’ top scorer verus McKendree with a season-best 20 points, while Stein dropped in a game-high 26 points versus Illinois Springfield.
- Season leaders.Sophomore guard Alex Stein leads the Eagles in scoring this season with 22.2 points per game, followed by senior guard Jeril Taylor with 19.0 points per game. Junior forward Julius Rajala and senior guard Bobo Drummond round out the double-digit scorers with 15.3 and 10.3 points per contest, respectively.
- Ohio Valley vs. USI.USI leads the all-time series with Ohio Valley, 6-0. The Eagles won the last meeting in 2014-15 when they defeated the Fighting Scots, 84-83, in a neutral site battle at Bellarmine University’s Knights Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Ohio Valley in 2016-17.The Fighting Scots are 0-6 to start the year.
- Lees-McRae vs. USI.USI leads the all-time series with Lees-McRae College, 2-0, after posting a 118-104 win at the PAC last November.
- Lees-McRae in 2016-17. The Bobcats of Lees-McRae are off to a 2-7 start after and will play at Limestone College December 10 before visiting USI.
- USI in the Bill Joergens Memorial Classic. USI is 16-2 in the Bill Joergens Memorial Classic that began in the 2007-08 season.
“#KickRxAbuse†video contest winners announced
Seven high school students to receive Colts V.I.P gameday experience
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force of the Indiana Attorney General’s office, and the Indianapolis Colts would like to congratulate Mrs. Walker’s 10th Grade Health Class at The King’s Academy in Jonesboro, Indiana for winning the #KickRxAbuse video challenge.
The #kickRxabuse video challenge was led by Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, who urges students to join the fight against prescription drug abuse in his own 30-second YouTube video. The winning video submission was created by The King’s Academy students Jenna Vermillion, Hayden Herring, Anna Holland, Lauren Winningham, Lauren Curtis, Elijah Myers, Anna Miner, Giselle Sallade, Christian Wood, Josiah Wollan, Leah Kiers and Ally James, and can be viewed here.
“The King’s Academy is excited to have been chosen to speak to this important problem in our state,†said Tony Miner, Principal at The King’s Academy. “We hope the video will help students understand the full impact that prescription drug abuse has on their lives and the people around them. Our most sincere thanks goes out to the Indiana State Attorney General’s Office and the Indianapolis Colts for making this competition possible.”
Aimed at ending prescription drug abuse among teenagers, the video challenge gave Indiana students from grades 6 through 12 the opportunity to create and upload a 30-second YouTube video that highlights the dangers of abusing prescription medications. The contest, which began on Oct. 1, received a total of 72 video submissions from student groups across the state of Indiana.
“Anytime you have students working together to bring awareness to serious issues such as prescription drug abuse, you have to be very proud. We appreciate and thank all who participated in the contest, and we congratulate our winning group of students, as well as the runners up,†said Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, creator and co-chair of the Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force.
The students will receive VIP Colts game tickets, free lunch at the Colts Grille prior to the game, and a limo ride to and from the Colts Grille. The King’s Academy students also will get to tour the Colts’ complex and meet Adam Vinatieri at the end of the season.
In addition to the Colts V.I.P gameday experience, the students’ school, The King’s Academy, will receive a $5,000 cash prize donated by the Indianapolis Colts and presented by Attorney General Zoeller on Dec. 9 at 8 a.m. at The King’s Academy in Jonesboro, Indiana.
The Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force of the Indiana Attorney General’s office, and the Indianapolis Colts would also like to congratulate Greenfield-Central High School’s radio and TV program, and Gordon McNulty, a student at Herron High School, for being a runner up in the #KickRxAbuse video challenge. All of the finalists’ videos can be seen here.
The Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force encourages all who participated in the contest to continue sharing your videos and help get the word out about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs.
For more information about the Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force and the Attorney General’s efforts to reduce prescription drug abuse visit www.BitterPill.in.gov.
Adopt A Pet
Snowball is a 2-year-old male longhaired cat. He’s a very sweet, laid-back guy! He’s also a large cat and may need regular brushing to look & feel his best. He is FIV+, but he can still live a long & happy life with other cats who don’t have FIV. His $30 adoption fee includes his neuter, microchip, vaccines, and more. Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 or adoptions@vhslifesaver.org to inquire!
Indiana Prosecutors Recognize Excellence In Criminal Justice Â
Indiana’s Attorney General-Elect Curtis T. Hill, Jr., was recipient of the Eugene “Shine†Feller Award from the Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys, Inc., Monday, December 5 during the annual winter conference of Indiana prosecutors in Indianapolis. Mr. Feller was a career prosecutor and an early proponent of better training for prosecutors. The award in his honor recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions on behalf of prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement in the state of Indiana.
Mr. Hill is presently serves as Elkhart County’s Prosecuting Attorney. He was nominated for the honor by Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards who cited Hill’s service to the people of Elkhart County and to his service to prosecutors in Indiana and, through his various roles with the National District Attorneys’ Association, his contributions to prosecutors around from the country. He is the first Indiana Attorney General in many years to be elected from the office of prosecutor and received the most votes of any candidate for any office in Indiana history.
Scott County Prosecutor Jason M. Mount was recipient of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council’s Stephen J. Johnson Award. Named for IPAC’s former executive director who spent his entire 38-year career with the state agency, the award is presented to an individual who demonstrates the same level of professional dedication and excellence as did Johnson. Nominated by Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Chad Lewis, Prosecutor Mount demonstrated excellence in criminal justice. Additionally, he has been a community leader and a leader in the legal profession. While serving as a prosecutor, Mr. Mount has raised the public profile of Indiana prosecutors. He has been elected judge of Scott Circuit Court and will assume that office in January.
The Prosecuting Attorneys Council also presented awards in the areas of legislative excellence, law enforcement, victim advocacy, and prosecutor’s office support. The Council also recognized Indiana prosecutors and staff members for 10, 20 and 30-year service. Award winners are:
Law Enforcement - Anderson Police Officer Marty Dulworth and St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit Commander Tim Corbett.
- Nominated by Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings, Officer Marty Dulworth was wounded in the line of duty and his K-9 Kilo killed. Officer Dulworth subsequently lost his lower leg and wears a prosthesis. He is still an officer with the Anderson Police Department.
- Nominated by St. Joseph County Prosecutor Kenneth Cotter, Tim Corbett assumed command of the specialized unit following retirement from the South Bend Police Department. His unit has solved and seen prosecuted 85% of all assigned homicides. Subsequently, the prosecutor’s office has achieved a conviction rate in 95% of those cases.
Legislative Excellence – Sen. Jean Leising and Rep. Tom Wasburne, nominated by Dearborn/Ohio County Prosecutor Aaron Negangard.
- Sen. Leising has been an ally of prosecutors and law enforcement in opposing the legalization of marijuana. She is a staunch advocate for public safety and includes prosecutors in the ongoing debate related to CBD/Hemp oil and marijuana.
- Rep. Washburne is chair of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. He has assisted in securing legislative criminal code fixes and has supported hearing of criminal code and public safety bills.
Victim’s Advocate – Morgan County Prosecutor Steven Sonnega nominated Marlene Tyler-Black. She has worked tirelessly advocating for the rights of crime victims in Morgan County courts and within the community. She goes out of her way to talk and listen to victims, arrange for medical and counseling services, explain the protective order process, coordinate with shelters and has made “house calls†to victims when transportation was an issue.
Kathy Faulkner Richey Award – Office managers Madonna Carroll of Hendricks County and Susan Sauer of Marshall County received awards in recognition of their tremendous service as office administrators. Kathy Faulkner Richey was office administrator for the IPAC for 38 years.
- Nominated by Hendricks County Prosecutor Patricia Baldwin, Madonna Carroll has been with the office for nearly 30 years, through explosive growth in the county and through a corresponding increase in the prosecutor’s office staff. Ms. Carroll has always set the standard by working outside of office hours at public safety events and by assisting crime victims.
- Nominated by Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman, Jr., Susan Sauer has survived management styles and organization of three different prosecutors and shoulders a tremendous amount of responsibility, all completed with consistently outstanding timeliness and with attention to detail. She recalls defendants, case facts, families, case resolutions and victims in Marshall County over the span of her career.
Indiana prosecutors with more than 30 years of service were also honored. They include: Allen County Prosecutor Karen E. Richards (35 years), St. Joseph County Chief Deputy Thomas Sanders (30 years) and Tippecanoe County Deputy Prosecutor Timothy Kern (35 years).
Air Quality Forecast
Air quality forecasts for Evansville and Vanderburgh County are provided as a public service. They are best estimates of predicted pollution levels that can be used as a guide so people can modify their activities and reduce their exposure to air quality conditions that may affect their health. The forecasts are routinely made available at least a day in advance, and are posted by 10:30 AM Evansville time on Monday (for Tuesday through Thursday) and Thursday (for Friday through Monday). When atmospheric conditions are uncertain or favor pollution levels above the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, forecasts are made on a daily basis.
Ozone forecasts are available from mid-April through September 30th. Fine particulate (PM2.5) forecasts are available year round.
| Monday December 5 |
Tuesday December 6 |
Wednesday December 7 |
Thursday December 8 |
Friday December 9 |
|
| Fine Particulate (0-23Â CST avg) Air Quality Index |
moderate | good | moderate | good | NA* |
| Ozone Air Quality Index |
NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* |
| Ozone (peak 8-hr avg) (expected) |
NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* |
* Not Available and/or Conditions Uncertain.
Air Quality Action Days
Ozone Alerts are issued by the Evansville EPA when maximum ozone readings averaged over a period of eight hours are forecasted to reach 71 parts per billion (ppb), or unhealthy for sensitive groups on the USEPA Air Quality Index scale.
Particulate Alerts are issued by the Evansville EPA when PM2.5 readings averaged over the period of midnight to midnight are forecasted to reach 35 micrograms per meter cubed (µg/m3).
Current conditions of OZONE and FINE PARTICULATE MATTER are available in near real-time on the Indiana Department of Environment Management’s website.
National and regional maps of current conditions are available through USEPA AIRNow.
Air Quality Forecast
Start time change Saturday for USI-OVU
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Tip-off time for the University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball game versus Ohio Valley University has been changed to 7:30 p.m. The time was changed from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to better facilitate the switch over of the Physical Activities Center from USI Fall Commencement to a basketball game day configuration.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Tip-off time for the University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball game versus Ohio Valley University has been changed to 7:30 p.m. The time was changed from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to better facilitate the switch over of the Physical Activities Center from USI Fall Commencement to a basketball game day configuration.
USI Women’s Basketball hosts Kentucky State Wednesday
University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball returns to action Wednesday at 6 p.m. when it hosts Kentucky State University at the Physical Activities Center.
USI (7-1) is coming off a pair of road wins to begin Great Lakes Valley Conference play last weekend. The Screaming Eagles began the week with a 66-40 win over McKendree University before earning an 89-62 win over the University of Illinois Springfield.
Junior guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) averaged 17.5 points per game to lead the Eagles, while junior forward Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois) chipped in 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per outing.
On the year, Grooms leads the Eagles with 14.9 points per contest, while senior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) is contributing 11.6 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per appearance. Dahlstrom is chipping in 11.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while senior guard Tanner Marcum(New Albany, Indiana) is averaging 10.9 points and 3.3 assists contest.
Kentucky State (3-5) enters Wednesday’s game looking to stop a four-game losing streak. Junior guard Brittani Rizzi is averaging 13.9 points per game to lead Kentucky State, which won 25 games a year ago and advanced to the NCAA II Tournament.
Wednesday’s game can be heard on WSWI 95.7 FM, while live stats, audio, and GLVC Sports Network coverage can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.
USI Women’s Basketball Headlines
- Eagles open GLVC play with two wins.USI Women’s Basketball went 2-0 to start GLVC play this past weekend. The Eagles began the week with a 66-40 road win over McKendree; then defeated Illinois Springfield, 89-62, to complete the weekend. Junior guard/forward Kaydie Groomsaveraged 17.5 points per game to lead the Eagles, while junior forward Morgan Dahlstrom contributed 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per outing. Senior forwardHannah Wascher averaged a double-double with 11.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest; while junior guard Randa Harshbarger and senior guard Tanner Marcum dished out 6.0 and 5.5 assists per game.
- Second quarter proves big for Eagles.USI’s favorite quarter throughout its first eight games has clearly been the second quarter. The Eagles are outscoring their opponents by an average of 22.0 points to 10.0 points per game in the second period this season. USI used a 24-8 second-quarter to get by McKendree last Thursday before outpacing Illinois Springfield, 26-13, in the second-quarter on Saturday.
- Big runs. USI benefitted from a pair of double-digit scoring runs in its wins over McKendree and Illinois Springfield last week. The Eagles used a 15-0 third-quarter run to clinch their win over the Bearcats last Thursday before going on a 16-0 second-quarter run to put the game out of reach for the Prairie Stars on Saturday.
- USI in statistical rankings.USI leads the GLVC in eight statistical rankings and is in the top five of 16 GLVC statistical categories. The Eagles also rank in the top 25 of 10 NCAA Division II statistical rankings.
- Quality minutes.USI has emptied its bench in six of its eight games this year and has seen all 13 players contribute in the scoring column in three of those contests.
- Margin of victory.Each of USI’s first eight games this season have been decided by double-digits. Of USI’s seven wins, six have been by at least 26 points, while their closest win was by 12 points over Wayne State. USI’s lone loss was an 18-point setback to Michigan Tech.
- GLVC openers. USI’s win over McKendree was its fifth straight GLVC-opening victory. The Eagles are 11-7 all-time under Head Coach Rick Stein in conference-openers, with the five-game winning streak marking the longest GLVC-opening win streak during Stein’s tenure.
- Win No. 600. USI Women’s Basketball earned its 600th win with its 83-37 victory over Alabama-Huntsville last week. The Eagles are 603-513 (.540) during their 41-year history.
- Scouting the opposition (Kentucky State).The Thorobreds look to snap a four-game losing streak when they visit the PAC Wednesday evening. Junior guard Brittani Rizzi is averaging 13.9 points per game to lead Kentucky State, which won 25 games a year ago and advanced to the NCAA II Tournament.
- 300.Head Coach Rick Steinis four wins shy of 300. Stein, the all-time winningest coach in program history, has been a part of 456 victories during his 26 years at USI, including 159 in eight seasons as an assistant coach for the Eagles.
7th Circuit rules Duke Energy must pay for wind-generated power
Olivia Covington for www.theindianalwayer.com
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court decision Tuesday requiring Duke Energy to pay for power generated by a local wind farm only if it passes to a lower grid, deciding instead that the energy company is contractually obligated to pay for any generated power regardless of transmission issues.
The case of Benton County Wind Farm LLC v. Duke Energy Indiana, Inc. 15-2632, began in 2005 when Benton County Wind Farm opted into Duke Energy’s offer to buy 100 megawatts of renewable energy at a price high enough to enable potential sellers to finance the construction of wind turbines. As part of the deal, Duke was required to pay Benton for all power deliver over the next 20 years while Benton was required to deliver to power lines owned by Northern Indiana Public Service Co. or other locations designated by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.
Benton built a 100-megawatt facility that began operating in 2008. At that time, it was the only wind farm in its area and NIPSCO’s facilities could carry its entire output, while Duke purchased and paid for all the energy the windfarm could produce. However, as the years progressed more wind farms were being built and were increasing their capacities to 1,745 megawatts.
Until February 2013, MISO allowed wind farms to deliver to the grid regardless of what other producers, such as coal or nuclear energy producers, were doing, which forced other classes of producers to cut back. But in March 2013, the rules changed and wind farms that were constructed after 2005 were put on a par with other classes of producers, costing Benton its status as a must-run facility.
Duke responded by bidding exactly $0 all the time to keep Benton’s power on the grid. Any time that bid was rejected, MISO instructed Benton not to deliver any power, an order that equated to an order not to generate power and has led to the wind farm delivering power only 59 percent of the time.
In district court, Duke argued that when MISO told Benton to stop delivering power, it did not owe the wind farm anything, while the wind farm countered that Duke could put its power on the grid by making a negative bid, thereby displacing other producers’ power. When Duke opts not to do so, Benton argued that it owes liquidated damages under their contract. The district court sided with Duke and ruled that the energy company only has to pay for power delivered to the “Point of Metering†where it is measured and passes to the local grid.
In its appeal to the 7th Circuit, Benton relied on a portion of its contract with Duke that read, in part, “In the event that Buyer fails to accept delivery of all of the Electrical Output at the Point of Metering, whether due to Buyer’s failure to obtain Transmission Service … then Buyer shall pay to Seller liquidated damages … .â€
Based on that and other language in the contract, Judge Frank Easterbrook wrote for the unanimous panel that the idea that Benton could not be paid if energy never crosses the point of metering and never counts toward the output is unfaithful to the contract because only some, not all, reasons for Duke’s failure to take the energy excuses its obligation to pay Benton.
Easterbrook pointed specifically to the portion of the contract that required Duke to pay Benton “due to Buyer’s failure to accept Transmission Service,†language that mirrors the situation Duke and Benton found themselves in, he said. When MISO changes the ruled in March 2013, Benton was being told to stop production 41 percent of time because transmission was unavailable at the price Duke was willing to offer.
“It is only a matter of time until more capacity is built, whether by Duke or someone else,†Easterbrook wrote. “And (the contract) tells us that, until that happens, Duke must pay Benton.â€
The parties also signed a second contract that required Duke to work “reasonably†with Benton. Easterbrook wrote that the second contract would only be relevant if it entitled Benton to a larger recovery, but that is not the case.
However, Judge Richard Posner wrote in a separate opinion that he concurred with the findings related to the first contract, but also wrote that he disagreed with the panel’s discussion of damages for the breach of the second contract.
“(Benton) had the incentive under both contracts to have fallback protection in the form of a liquidated damages clause,†Posner wrote.
The case was remanded with instruction to determine the relief to which Benton is entitled.