Mockevicius named MVC Player of the Week
The leading rebounder in the nation has also been picking up the weekly honors at a solid pace as University of Evansville center Egidijus Mockevicius has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season.
In Evansville’s win over Alabama A&M, Egidijus Mockevicius made every facet of the game look easy as he finished with 19 points, 18 rebounds and 3 blocks. The senior was 6-of-9 from the field and hit 7 of his 8 free throw attempts in just 24 minutes of play. His efforts helped him vault to the top of the NCAA with his season average of 13.8 rebounds per game.
Mockevicius and the Purple Aces begin league play on Wednesday evening, hosting Indiana State at the Ford Center in a 7 p.m. tilt.
Safe Night Cab Ride Program Sponsored By Woods & Woods
Drunk driving isn’t an accident; it’s a decision that’s made without concern for the safety and well-being of others. Make one New Year’s Eve resolution early – don’t drink and drive.†– Mike Woods, Lawyer
Designating a sober driver has never been easier thanks to the Safe Night Cab Ride Program sponsored by Woods & Woods Injury Lawyers. Entering its 18th year of service, the program provides free cab rides home for those who have been drinking or who don’t feel they have a safe way home this New Year’s Eve.
Need a ride? Here’s How
Safe Ride will be available in Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Indiana from 11 p.m. on Thursday, December 31, 2015 through 4 a.m. on Friday, January 1, 2016.
To request a free cab ride home, call Unity Taxi at (812) 421-9999 and tell them Woods & Woods Injury Lawyers is picking up the tab. Please remember:
· Cab rides are provided to adults who otherwise might attempt to drive home after drinking. People MUST call Unity Taxi and mention the Safe Ride program to get a free ride home.
· Cab rides are provided from a bar or restaurant to an individual’s residence – not to other drinking locations.
· Due to the high number of ride requests on New Year’s Eve, rides cannot be guaranteed to everyone who calls; however, every attempt will be made to accommodate all requests.
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 28 |
Tuesday December 29 |
Wednesday December 30 |
Thursday December 31 |
Friday January 1 |
|
| Fine Particulate (0-23Â CST avg) Air Quality Index |
good | good | good | NA* | 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 76 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).
ST. MARY’S HEALTH OFFERS WINTER INSURANCE ENROLLMENT EVENT
St. Mary’s Health is offering application assistance appointments for health insurance plans.
Representatives from St. Mary’s Health Access Advocates, Anthem, MedAssist, and Cross Pointe Insurance will be available to assist the uninsured. They will offer education and help navigating the application process on ACA plans, Hoosier Healthwise, HIP 2.0, Medicaid and Medicare. There is no charge for these services.
Low-income, non-disabled adults ages 19 to 64 with incomes of up to $16,297 annually or $33,307 for a family of four are generally eligible to participate in the Healthy Indiana Plan.
Those interested are encouraged to schedule an appointment for a guaranteed spot by calling 812.485.5864. Walk-ins are welcome.
UE Announces Dates of Annual Engineering Summer Camps
 UE Announces Dates of Annual Engineering Summer Camps
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2015The College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Evansville has announced the dates for its annual engineering OPTIONS summer camps. Participants in these programs will gain a better understanding of what types of opportunities are available in fields most closely related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Engineering OPTIONS for High School Girls Career Exploration
Sunday, June 12 – Friday, June 17
This summer career exploration program is a week-long residential opportunity at UE for high school girls currently in grades 9, 10, or 11 who have completed geometry.
Engineering OPTIONS for Middle School Boys Career Exploration
Monday, June 6 – Friday, June 10
This summer career exploration program is a week-long day camp opportunity at the UE for middle school boys currently in grades 6, 7, or 8.
Engineering OPTIONS for Middle School Girls Career Exploration
Sunday, June 19 – Wednesday, June 22
This summer career exploration program is a 3 ½ day residential opportunity at UE for middle school girls currently in grades 6, 7, or 8.
Getting Ready for the Start of Session
Christmas is such a blessing. I got to enjoy time with my family and reflected upon accomplishments throughout the past year. This year was even more special, as it was the first holiday I was not on-call. I officially retired from the healthcare business this year. This means I have more time to focus on my grandchildren and the joy they bring to our family.
It is a Bacon family tradition to have my daughters and their loved-ones over Christmas day to open presents, enjoy dinner together and spend time as a family. We also live in a tight knit community where the neighbors like to have a block party for each holiday.
Even with the hustle and bustle that the holiday season brings, I am also preparing for the upcoming legislative session which is Jan. 5. With every new session brings the delight of seeing my fellow legislators and working across the aisle to keep Indiana on the right track.
As you may know, this year is a “short session,†meaning we convene for only 10 weeks this year, rather than 16. Before this session begins, I want to hear your thoughts on the issues that are important to you and your community so I can best represent District 75.
Keeping an open line of communication with you is key to representing your voice at the Statehouse. Filling out the 2016 constituent survey is an excellent way to let me know your thoughts on upcoming legislation. Please visit www.in.gov/h75 today to fill out my survey online.
Growing up in Indiana and raising my children in the Hoosier state has strengthened my belief that Indiana is one of the greatest places to live. Thank you for helping make Indiana even greater and have a wonderful holiday.
Bill Would Allow Recovery Of Attorney Fees In All Wrongful Death Actions
Bill Would Allow Recovery Of Attorney Fees In All Wrongful Death Actions
by Marilyn Odendahl of Indiana Lawyer,  December 28, 2015
A northern Indiana senator has introduced legislation to amend Indiana’s wrongful death statute to allow for surviving families to collect attorney fees.
Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, has proposed in Senate Bill 124 that language be added to Indiana Code 34-23-1 that would enable a widow or widower, dependent children or dependent next of kin to receive reasonable attorney fees in wrongful death actions.
The measure comes after the Indiana Supreme Court ruled in August that under current law attorney fees do not qualify as damages when the deceased is survived by family. In SCI Propane, LLC; South Central Indiana Rural Electric Membership Corp.; Rush Shelby Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. v. Courtney Frederick, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Stephan Frederick, Deceased, 55S04-1508-PL-501, the unanimous court found the state’s General Wrongful Death Statute allows for attorney fees only when the decedent has no survivors.
Randolph’s bill specifies that in an adult wrongful death lawsuit, damages include “reasonable attorney’s fees†incurred by the estate or any other person for bringing and maintaining the action.
The fiscal impact of the new language would depend on whether a state agency is found liable for an individual’s death, according to the Indiana Legislative Services Agency. The maximum payment for a wrongful death from the state government is $700,000 but the average cost of attorney fees in such actions is unknown.
Senate Bill 124 has been assigned to the Senate Civil Law Committee which is chaired by Sen. Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville.
7th ANNUAL PRAYER VIGIL PLANNED AT FEDERAL BUILDING
7th Annual  New Year’s Eve Candle Light Prayer Vigil is to be held in front of the Federal  Building  located on Martin Luther King Boulevard from 530 to 6:30 PM.
Event organizer Brenda Bergwitz said; “Please bring a flashlights and dress warm. Â Everyone is welcome to attend this event. Â This is not a political event.”
The event agenda we will begin with Jim Braker paying for America  and our elected officials followed by the “Pledge of Allegiance”.  Additional songs and more prayers from  area ministers and priests shall round out the evening.  If you have questions concerning this event please contact  event organizer Brenda Bergwitz at 812-457-3627.
Reversal: BMV Must Report Driver’s Expunged OWI Conviction
Reversal: BMV Must Report Driver’s Expunged OWI Conviction
Dave Stafford for www.theindianalawyer.com
A trial court erred in prohibiting the Bureau of Motor Vehicles from reporting the operating while intoxicated conviction of a driver who had his criminal record expunged.
The Indiana Court of Appeals found the court’s order went too far in In the Matter of the Expungement of J.S.: State of Indiana, et al. v. J.S., 16A04-1503-MI-89. The panel reversed the expungement order in part and remanded with instructions for the court to amend the order to specifically allow the BMV to comply with Indiana and federal laws that require disclosure of the conviction to the Commercial Driver’s License Information System.
“In sum, we cannot foresee a situation where the General Assembly would intend to (1) create a law that is in direct conflict with existing state and federal law, (2) put Indiana at risk of losing substantial sums of federal aid, or (3) risk the de-certification of Indiana’s CDL program. Likewise, we believe that the recent amendment to Indiana Code section 35-38-9-2, which expressly allows the BMV to comply with the reporting requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 384.225 and Indiana Code section 9-24-6-2(d), indicates that the General Assembly has always intended for the BMV to comply with said laws,†Judge Cale Bradford wrote.
“We conclude that the trial court’s order prohibiting the BMV from doing so is contrary to the intent of the General Assembly. In addition, even if we were to conclude otherwise, pursuant to the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution, any application of Indiana Code section 35-38-9-6 which would require noncompliance with the relevant federal authority would be without effect.â€