Eight students from Scott Elementary School earned the opportunity to compete in the Indiana Destination Imagination competition after qualifying at the regional competition in Ferdinand, Ind., last weekend. The students, Alyssa Bohleber, Nick Robling, Tanner Toopes, Lauren Plasse, Madison Weber, Rayne Stogsdill, and Gracie Davidson, will travel to Fishers, Ind. in April to participate in the state competition.

At the regional competition, students participated in the challenge “In Disguise” and created a non-verbal theatrical performance about a character that uses a disguise. In addition, the team also received the “DaVinci” award for teams who clearly demonstrate the spirit of adventurous risk.

In addition, Scott students Chris Zimmerman, Jai Jackson, Katie Berfield, Ella Chamberlain, Jacob Spurling, Kyle Francis and Curtis Mullinax used the engineering design process to successfully solve the problem “In the Zone.” The students presented a story they created about the dangers faced by vehicles, told from the point of one of the vehicles. Ten vehicles were created that were able to reliably and accurately travel a specific distance using at least three different means of propulsions. Although the team will not travel to the state competition, it did place third, overall, and won the “Renaissance” award that recognizes teams who demonstrate extraordinary skills in engineering, design and performance.

Destination Imagination is a program that encourages students to use the creative process to solve long-term problems by incorporating STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) principals, as well as the arts.

Friday, March 15

12:10 p.m.

Scott Elementary School, 14940 Old State Rd.

Students at Scott Elementary School will have the opportunity to learn all about the famous Alaskan dog sled race, the Iditarod, firsthand Friday as former Iditarod musher Karen Land visits the school. Land will bring her Iditarod sled and some of her gear, including the clothing she would wear in the race. Also during the visit, Land will talk to students about the challenges of the race, leadership and teamwork.

In response to a decline in flu cases reported in the Evansville area and throughout the state, Deaconess and St. Mary’s Hospitals are lifting visitation restrictions, effective immediately.
Both facilities continue to closely monitor local flu activity, and encourage individuals with flu-like symptoms to postpone their visit until symptoms have subsided, including:
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Chills
• Aches
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Visitation restrictions were implemented on January 15th in order to protect patients, families, and hospital staff. They included restrictions on all visitors under the age of 15 and any visitors beyond immediate family, partner, or significant other.

On Tuesday, March 19th, Deaconess and Air Evac will conduct a Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support education session for the Evansville Fire Department at the EFD Headquarters.

This Trauma First Response course is a one-day continuing education course that teaches the principles of Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) to first responders, police officers, firefighters, rescue personnel, and safety officers. It helps them prepare to care for trauma patients at the scene while serving as part of a transport team or awaiting a transport provider such as an ambulance or Air Evac helicopter.

MEDIA should join us from 12:10 to 1:10 when firefighters will practice skills in airway and breathing, bleeding control, spinal immobilization and rapid extrication.

By: Joe J Wallace

I became sidetracked during the design of a rooftop solar system and the cost associated with it by the thought of, just how to reduce the price of a solar photovoltaic system by implementing the hardest hitting efficiencies available to reduce electricity use. Enter the emerging innovation of the light emitting diode (LED) light bulb.

LED’s have been around for years and are the light source used to read compact disks and DVDs. Recently the LED has been refined to the point that light bulbs that utilize an array of LEDs to produce light have become not only affordable but a great way to reduce your use of electricity.

To explore just what a single LED bulb can save and the payback time associated with buying a $30 light bulb, the first step is to assume a cost per kilowatt hour. For the purposes of this analysis a cost of 16 cents per kWh was used to be consistent with local utility rates.

For one typical light bulb in a heavy use area like a living room or kitchen, replacing it with an LED with an equivalent light output the savings is roughly 9 kWh per month. This savings at 16 cents per kWh translates into a saving of $1.44 per month per bulb based on only 5 hours a day of on-time. For lights that are on 24 hours per day that number increases to $6.91 per month.

The energy savings alone then has a payback time of only 20 months for typical use areas of a home but come down to only 4.3 months for 24 hour on applications like security lighting. That translates into a return on investment of over 50% in typical use areas and nearly 300% in 24 hour applications.

The other money saving advantages offered by LED lighting are the fact that they are rated to last more than 20,000 hours saving on replacement bulbs and they do not add heat to a room as conventional bulbs do saving on air conditioning costs.

LED lighting as an energy saver is a great investment. In the application that was the subject of my design, the home has 40 bulbs in it that calculated an energy savings of 3,240 kWh per year. For the prevailing electric rates in SW Indiana this would produce $518.40 per year ($43.20 per month) in energy savings.

The real positive upside of this savings came to the homeowner through analysis to understand how much less solar photovoltaic generation would be needed on the home. In Southern California where this project is taking place putting in $1,000 worth of LED bulbs have been projected to eliminate the need for 2,000 Watts of Solar PV capacity. The typical price of Solar PV system installed is about $5.50 per Watt or $11,000 for the 2,000 Watts eliminated from the system. Even with the 30% federal tax credit the use of LED bulbs will save this homeowner $7,700 on a new Solar PV system in addition to the monthly savings on the electric bill.

Recruit Academy Starts Nov. 10, 2013

The Indiana State Police is now accepting applications for the 73rd Recruit Academy. Individuals who are interested in a rewarding career as a Trooper with the Indiana State Police may apply online at http://www.in.gov/isp/2368.htm. This website provides detailed information about the application process and other important information about the Indiana State Police.

Applications must be received by e-mail by the conclusion of March 31, 2013. Applications received after this date will not be accepted for the 73rd Recruit Academy.

Basic Eligibility Requirements and consideration factors for an Indiana State Trooper:

1. Be a United States citizen.
2. Be at least 21 and less than 40 years old when appointed as a police employee.
3. Have vision correctable to 20/50.
4. Must possess a valid driver’s license to operate an automobile.
5. Applicants must possess a high school diploma or GED.

Indiana State Police Trooper salaries are competitive with area police agencies. Recruits earn $1,417.40 bi-weekly while in the academy training process. Probationary Troopers earn $38,444.00 annually after graduation from the recruit academy.

The Indiana State Police also offers an excellent health care plan, which includes medical, dental, vision and pharmacy coverage for both current and retired employees along with their dependents. The Indiana State Police pension program provides a lifetime pension after 25 years of service. Additionally, the Indiana State Police provides comprehensive disability coverage and a life insurance program. Salary and benefit information can be located at http://www.in.gov/isp/2876.htm.

The Indiana State Police is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment, training, and promotion opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to sex, race, religion, disability, or national origin.

Interested applicants can obtain additional information about a career as an Indiana State Trooper by contacting a recruiter at any Indiana State Police Post, or by visiting http://www.in.gov/isp/2365.htm# to find the recruiter assigned to your area.