USI Men’s Basketball inks a pair for 2016-17
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball announced the signings of six-foot-nine junior forward Julius Rajala (Helsinki, Finland) and six-foot-one junior guard Marcellous Washington (Lexington, Kentucky) for the 2016-17 season. The pair is the first to sign with USI in the late signing period.
Rajala transfers to USI after two seasons with the University of Loyola-Chicago. He tied a career-high with six rebounds versus the University of Evansville in February. The Helsinki, Finland, native signed with Loyola-Chicago after playing on Finland’s 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup preliminary squad.
“Julius enables us to have length in the lane on defense and offense,” said USI Head Coach Rodney Watson. “He spent the past two seasons competing in the Missouri Valley Conference against outstanding players like Evansville’s Egidijus Mockevicius and Drake’s Jacob Eveold.
“Julius can run, screen, catch, and score,” continued Watson. “He has a nice mid-range game and will give us a much-needed defensive post presence along with Davis Carter (USI’s returning junior center from Denver, Colorado).”
Washington joins the USI program after two years at Sinclair Community College (Dayton, Ohio). He averaged 10.5 points and 4.6 assist per game in two seasons with the Tartans, posting a two-year high 11.3 points and 5.5 assists per contest as a sophomore in 2015-16. The incoming junior guard scored a two-year game-high 25 points three times and dished out a collegiate career-high 11 assists twice.
Prior to playing for Sinclair, Washington starred at Bryan Station High School (Lexington, Kentucky). He averaged 11 points and four assist per game in route to earning All-City honors as a senior by the Lexington Herald – Leader.
“Marcellous is a skilled point guard,” said Watson. “He is fast in pushing the ball and sees the floor well. Marcellous enjoys getting his teammates the ball and placing them into a position to score. He is a good shooter and will allow Alex (Stein) and Bobo (Drummond) to be much more versatile.”
The Screaming Eagles were 19-11 last season, 10-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and return All-GLVC senior guard Bobo Drummond (Peoria, Illinois) and GLVC Freshman of the Year Alex Stein (Evansville, Indiana).
Do You Know These Two Guys?
Attached are images of two white males who stole tools from the Rural King located at 2300 E. Morgan on June 17th at approximately 8:34p. The subjects entered the store and each subject picked up a tool combo pack and then walked out of a side door. A vehicle pulled up and picked the two subjects up. Two white males are described as being in their late twenties to early thirties, 5`8″ to 5`10″ tall and both had thin builds.
If anyone has knowledge about this crime or may know the two subjects involved, please call the Evansville Police Department at (812) 436-7979 or the WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME (1-800-782-7463).
Aces volleyball announces 2016 schedule
Evansville to face tough competition throughout the season
 An exciting schedule featuring nine matches against 2015 NCAA Tournament teams highlights the upcoming schedule for the University of Evansville volleyball team.
“This will be a year of growth and constant learning for our team, as it presents the youngest roster in more than a decade. We have no seniors, and an incoming class that has the chance to compete for impactful roles right away,†head coach Manolo Concepcion said. “That is why we designed a schedule that will challenge our group throughout the Pre-Season, while having opportunities to gain confidence with the balance of opponents strength.â€
Highlighting the non-conference schedule is a visit to the Carson Center by defending Atlantic 10 Champion Dayton. The Purple Aces also make their way to Bloomington, Ind. for the Indiana Invitational in the season-opening event. The Hoosiers will return the trip in 2017, playing in the Aces’ home tournament.
“It will be an early round of matches that will assimilate the level of our conference, which has improved dramatically in the past years, and will continue to do so. Getting four teams in the NCAA Tournament is an achievement that very few conferences achieve in Division I Volleyball, and the MVC has the potential to repeat such attainment this season as well,†Concepcion continued. “So we see this year as an opportunity to fully introduce our vision and principles to a roster that will remain together for two years.â€
On August 26, the season begins with the Indiana Invitational where the Aces take on Marshall, Indiana and Northern Kentucky. The second tournament of the season will take place on Sept. 3 as UE heads to the SIU Edwardsville Tournament to face the Cougars along with Green Bay.
Following that trip, UE opens its home slate on Sept. 5 against Southeast Missouri State before hosting its annual home tournament that weekend. Teams coming into the Carson Center for the event include Dayton, Austin Peay and Kent State.
The final non-conference tournament will see the Aces head to Jacksonville, Ala. For the Gamecock Classic. Kennesaw State, Louisiana Monroe, Jacksonville State and Nicholls State will be the opponents.
Missouri Valley Conference play begins on Sept. 25 and 26 with home matches against Drake and UNI. The Panthers were one of four MVC squads to play in the NCAA Tournament in 2015. Wichita State won the regular season and tournament championship last season while Southern Illinois and Missouri State joined UNI as at-large bids.
Following a stretch of six out of eight matches on the road, Evansville returns home for its final three matches in November for a crucial finish against three NCAA teams. The Salukis come to the Carson Center on Nov. 11 while Missouri State and Wichita State will be in town a week later.
HANDLES by Jim Redwine
Gavel Gamut
By Jim Redwine
(Week of 27 June 2016)
HANDLES
It is apropos that names are called handles. We prefer to have an easy way to categorize one another when we deal with individuals or groups. Sometimes we apply or even devise nicknames for others in a subconscious effort to shift the balance of power in our favor. Examples might be: “girl†or “boy†when dealing with adults we wish to hold back. Of course, we try to make our efforts subtle and often accompany them with a smile.
But it is with groups where our need for domination is strongest. We sometimes seem to be unable to assume the best in others or to believe anyone else acts from altruism. We ask, “What’s in it for them?†The forbidden subjects of politics, sex, religion, ethnicity and race raise their specters here. Heck, let’s dive right in.
In dealing with women, some men sometimes dump them all, but their mothers, into one group: broads, bimbos or b…..s. This enables those men to con themselves into a sense of superiority. In like manner, some women sometimes categorize all men, especially their husbands, as deaf and dumb except when talking with other men about other women or sports. Women often say about men, “They just don’t get it.†As a man I have no idea what that means. However, it does allow “the girls†to deal with “the boysâ€.
The national news media has hard and fast rules for dealing with public figures, especially politicians. According to CNN, MSNBC and Fox, there has never been an honest politician or one who is motivated by public service. They are all engaged in a conspiracy to feather their own nests while driving America off a cliff. The media relishes such handles as “corruptâ€, “ignorant†and “greedyâ€. There are worse appellations applied also, but this is a family newspaper.
In the area of religion I have no fear of the general debate between the faithful and the doubtful. Those of us who live in New Harmony, Indiana have an ongoing dose of Father George Rapp’s religious utopia and Robert Owen’s secular one. The pious say they are spiritual while the Owenites tag them as superstitious. The Rappites say the atheistic Enlightenment adherents are lost. Each group has to have its handles for the other. For me, this represents the general debate between believers and skeptics. Of course, there are many variations of both. For example, some atheists and skeptics may see “agnostics†as hypocrites or simply bet hedgers. Christians may see Jews, Muslims and Pagans as damned and vice versa. However, there are plenty of divisions within each group which denigrate even their fellow travelers and have names for each sect.
But we humans really strive to get a handle on others when it comes to racial or ethnic groups. Some people sometimes call Germans Krauts, Irish Micks, Hispanics Spics, Japanese Japs, French Froggies, Chinese Chinks, homosexuals Queers, Arabs Ragheads, American Indians Blanket A…., Negroes N……, Italians Dagos, etc., etc., etc.
Thanks to political correctness, a good thing in my opinion, many of these handles for women, men, nationalities and races have almost disappeared. Unfortunately, some still think it is okay or even comical to denigrate individuals, groups and occupations they are not related to or a part of; moviemakers and television drama producers come to mind.
Perhaps we just need to get a handle on our insensitivity and ignorance. Oh, by the way, Happy Birthday to us Americans as we proudly proclaim all people are created equal in our great country on July 4th!
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American Sewing Guild Meeting
Adopt A Pet
Gunther is a 1 ½-year-old male cat. He has adorable facial markings. Gunther’s been waiting on a home for several weeks getting overlooked! He’ll go home neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, and FeLV/FIV tested for only $30. Call the Vanderburgh Humane Society in Evansville at (812) 426-2563 or visit www.vhslifesaver.org for adoption details!
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
 Below is a list of the felony cases filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
April Michelle Elpers Unlawful possession of a syringe, Level 6 felony
Evy Marie Badger Domestic battery, Level 6 felony
Lamont C. Cabell Sexual battery, Level 6 felony
Public nudity, Class B misdemeanor