EFD’s Marathon Relay Team starts off a new season with some new members and some new obstacles to overcome…literally. Eric Jamison and Team EFD will travel to Laurel Indiana and compete in the Spartan Run this Saturday April 26th. The Spartan Run isn’t your typical Marathon or Cross Country course but a 4+ mile course that contains unknown obstacles and other challenges “designed to take you out of your comfort zone”.

Some of the obstacles the Team will encounter will be mud, water, fire, hills, walls, tunnels, climbing ropes, rope towers, barbed wire and a couple of unexpected challenges. Obstacles are not known in advance.

Team EFD members are: Eric Jamison, Team Captain; Joey Jones; Anthony Turi; Derrick Fullen; Lucas Macke; Chad Beckham and Sean Reed (EPD).

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Yesterday afternoon at approximately 5:00 p.m., Trooper Wes Kuykendall was patrolling US 41 when he stopped a motorist for driving 84 mph near CR 225 North. When Kuykendall approached the vehicle he immediately detected an odor of burnt marijuana. The driver was identified as David J. May, 35, of Francisville, Ill. A search of the vehicle revealed digital scales, two smoking pipes and suspected synthetic marijuana. The driver was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

Arrested and Charges:
• David J. May, 35, Francisville, Ill.
1. Possession of Synthetic Drugs over 2 grams, Class D Felony
2. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor

Arresting Officer: Trooper Wes Kuykendall, Indiana State Police
Assisting Officer: Sergeant Kevin Brown, Indiana State Police

By Paige Clark
TheStatehouseFile.com

The Indiana Education Roundtable endorsed new state standards for math and English during a meeting Monday despite boos from opponents who say the new education guidelines are too much like Common Core.

The standards passed easily and now move to the State Board of Education for a final up-or-down vote.

Members of Hoosiers against the Common Core – a group that has been fighting standards that have been adopted by a majority of states and endorsed by President Barack Obama’s administration – rallied at the Statehouse then marched to the roundtable meeting Monday to show their protest.

“We’re going to that meeting to have them looks us in the eye,” said the group’s co-founder, Erin Tuttle. “We are the people that have to live with the consequences of their decision.”

In 2010, Indiana adopted the standards for math and English but opted out of the science, social studies and history standards set by the Common Core. But as the state began phasing in Common Core, became increasingly controversial.

Last year, the General Assembly paused Common Core’s implementation and ordered education officials to take a second look. Then one month ago, Gov. Mike Pence signed SB 91 – calling for new standards written “by Hoosiers for Hoosiers.” Superintendent Glenda Ritz and the state board have been working through that process.

Pence said Monday that the new standards were created by “the best process” with “more Hoosier input and transparency than ever before.” They combine some of Indiana’s past standards with Common Core and ideas from other states.

The crowd against the new standards booed and laughed as Pence spoke.

“I teach for various colleges here in Indiana and I put together some of my own curriculum,” said David Lantz at the rally prior to the meeting. “I have a master’s degree and so what Common Core does is it pushes anybody that has any knowledge about their subject matter from creating competing text books.”

Molly Chamberlin, chief assessment and accountability officer for the Center for Education and Career Innovation, said the process included an evaluation board, assessment board, and a college and career ready panel.

For the first time in Indiana, the standards included math beyond algebra two – trigonometry, pre-calculus – and focused on the integration from high school to post-secondary options.

“There are things that other states will learn from our process,” Chamberlain said. The crowd, again, responded with a laugh.

“We always worried the that we would have a Common Core rebrand, but what I never imaged is that they would produce a set of new standards that is actually worse than the Common Core. That really shocked me. It contains more of what of we didn’t want and less of what we advocated for,” Tuttle said. “To me the new standards are really a smack in the face to parents who have fought really hard in opposition to Common Core.”

Despite the crowd’s loud objections, the standards passed – math 21-2, one abstention, and English 21-3.

Wendy Robinson, Fort Wayne Community Schools Superintendent, said the issue is complex and should be treated that way.

“People want to simplify something that is very complicated,” Robinson said. “I had to re-read (the new standards.) But I had to re-read the ones in 2000 too. We’re acting as if these are different the (standards) adopted in 2000.”

A big difference between the old and new standards is the focus on “media literacy” – which became controversial at the meeting. Amos Brown, a talk show host for AM 1310, said it was unreasonable to expect teachers to fully understand what media is.

“Was anyone in the media consulted on this?” Brown said. “I think the standards need to respect the simple Hoosier language.”

Danielle Shockey, deputy superintendent of public instruction for the Indiana Department of Education, said the term “media” was being misunderstood. She said the standard related to using the media and deciding what sources are credible and which aren’t.

“(Students) need to be taught how to be critical thinkers,” Shockey said.

Even though the “media literacy” standard was added to the curriculum, it will not be a part of the assessment testing, said State Superintendent Glenda Ritz.

The new standards move onto the Board of Education and must be finalized by July 1 of this year. However, they will not be fully implemented until the 2015-2016 school year.

Pence said Indiana is the first state to repeal the Common Core standards.

“I am grateful to every Hoosier who knew that Indiana could do better than the Common Core,” Pence said. “The Indiana standards before you today, I believe, were crafted in the Indiana way. I trust Hoosiers, I trust our teachers who worked in good faith to craft these standards.”

Paige Clark is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

Today the Indiana State Police recognized Forensic Scientist William Bowles from the Evansville Regional Laboratory for his 35 years of dedicated service to the department and the citizens of Indiana. Major Steve Holland, Commander of the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division, presented Bowles a 35 year certificate on behalf of Superintendent Doug Carter.

Bowles is a native of Berea, KY, and a 1967 graduate of Berea Foundation High School. He later attended Berea College where he graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.

Bowles started his forensic science career with the Indiana State Police in April 1979 and was the very first forensic scientist hired to work at the Evansville Regional Laboratory, which serves all law enforcement agencies in southern Indiana. His primary responsibility is analyzing drugs (controlled substances). During the first several years after opening the laboratory, Bowles was responsible for guiding tours and speaking to numerous college and high school groups about the new facility. He was also responsible for training new analysts. During his career, Bowles has testified as an expert witness in over 500 criminal trials.

“Bowles is the most conscientious forensic analyst I have had the privilege of working with over my 35 year career in forensic science. The excellent reputation of the Evansville Regional Laboratory was earned in large part by the sacrifices and contributions made by Bowles,” said Joe Vetter, Manager of the Evansville Regional Lab.

Bowles and his wife, Linda, reside in Vanderburgh County and they have two children.

Photo: Left to Right – Major Steve Holland, William Bowles, Donna Roskowski and Joe Vetter

University of Southern Indiana junior third baseman Trent Gunn (Tell City, Indiana) scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to lift the 18th-ranked Screaming Eagles to a 7-6 victory over Oakland City University Tuesday evening at the USI Baseball Field. The Eagles go to 31-8 overall, while Oakland City falls to 4-23.

The non-conference victory also takes USI’s winning streak to a season-high 10 games and 17 of the last 18 contests.

USI had control of the game through the first five innings by scoring a tally in their first three at-bats to lead 3-0. Senior leftfielder Brent Weinzapfel (Evansville, Indiana) singled home junior shortstop Matt Chavarria (Carlsbad, New Mexico) to start the scoring in the first frame, while junior rightfielder Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana) drove in a run in the second with a sacrifice fly and senior designated hitter Bryce Shoulders (Newburgh, Indiana) singled in the third run in the third.

The Mighty Oaks would battle back to tie the game, 3-3, with two runs in the sixth and a single tally in the seventh. The Eagles seemed to regain command in the bottom of the seventh with a three-run rally, featuring a two-run double by Weinzapfel and re-establishing the three-run advantage, 6-3.

USI would take the 6-3 lead into the ninth when the Eagles’ bullpen hit a rough patch, allowing three runs to knot the game at 6-6. USI junior right-hander Scott Haag (Ft. Wayne Indiana) and Chavarria, the USI right-handed closer, allowed three runs on one hit, two walks, and a hit batter. Depsite the rough outing, Chavarria (2-0) posted his second win of the year.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Eagles took advantage of the Mighty Oak’s bullpen to manufacture the win. Gunn started the inning with a walk, advanced second on a sacrifice, moved to third and scored on a wild pitch.

On the mound, sophomore right-hander Tyler Nichols (Newburgh, Indiana) went the first five innings and did not factor in the decision. Nichols scattered three hits and two walks, while striking out two in five innings of work.

Senior right-handed reliever Brandon Shaw (Cuba, Illinois) followed Nichols and went a third of an inning, allowing two runs, one earned, and a walk. Junior right-hander Andrew Mercer (Mount Pearl, Newfoundland) was the Eagles’ best reliever of the evening, allowing two hits and a run in 2.2 innings.

The Eagles conclude the 11-game homestand this weekend when they host Saint Joseph’s College for a four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference series. The series starts Friday at 6 p.m., continues Saturday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader, and concludes Sunday with Senior Day at 2 p.m.

ST. LOUIS – Vilneff of the University of Evansville and Alison Szykowny of Loyola University Chicago have been selected Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Week, Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today. Vilneff and Szykowny were honored for their performances during the period of April 7-13.

Quinn Vilneff has helped the University of Evansville men’s golf team to a pair of spring victories while finishing in the top 19 in all four events thus far. This weekend saw the defending Elite 18 winner finish in a tie for 19th place at the Hoosier Invitational. He posted two rounds of 72 before finishing the event with a 76. Prior to that, he tie for 10th place helped his team bring home a victory at the Bradley Invitational. He is a sports management major and maintains a 3.91 grade-point average.

Alison Szykowny had a sensational week in the field, breaking a pair of school records at the Illinois Twilight, hosted by Illinois. Szykowny smashed her own school record in both the the hammer throw (51.74m) and the discus (50.29m), finishing second and fourth, respectively, in those events. Also the school-record holder in the shot put, Szykowny holds a 3.23 GPA as an accounting/finance major

To qualify for Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing.

Redshirt freshmen and first-year junior college transfers are not eligible. In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes will be evaluated on their athletic performance for a one-week period.

Looking for something new this spring? Check out the North High School German Club’s annual Spring Craft and Vendor Fair this weekend, Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at North High School (15331 Highway 41 N.). The fair will include more than 70 vendors, a silent auction and concessions. Admission to the fair is free and open to the public.