In a study submitted to the City of Boulder, Colorado, it was determined that speed bumps would allow the death of 85 victims for every 1 they saved. They then assumed “a wildly optimistic posture†that still indicated speed bumps would cause 10 lives to be lost for every 1 saved.
Are Speed Humps (Bumps) Worth the Effort?
Evansville Redevelopment Commission AGENDA Tuesday, May 21, 2013 – 8:30 am
Evansville Redevelopment Commission
AGENDA
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 – 8:30 am
Civic Center Complex – Room 307
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes of May 7, 2013
3. Approval of accounts payable voucher
4. Design Review
Jacobsville – 100 N Main St – ONB Branch – bike rack install
5. Downtown Redevelopment Area
13-ERC-21 – Authorizing an Agreement with VPS Architecture for Urban Design and Planning for the Downtown Redevelopment Area
6. Other Business
7. Adjournment
* This preliminary Agenda is subject to change. The final Agenda will be posted at the entrance to the location of the meeting prior to the meeting.
IS IT TRUE May 20, 2013
IS IT TRUE May 20, 2013
IS IT TRUE Mole #5 tells the City County Observer that one of the things being considered by the City of Evansville to raise more money to cover the shortfalls in the budget is to install “techno cops†at intersections?…what we have chosen to call “techno cops†are those camera plus radar set-ups that are mounted in some cities to measure drivers speed, check the cars position when the light turns from yellow to red, and snap pictures of the license plate and the driver for the purpose of collecting fines?…Evansville of course is a town that has stop lights so old that the bulbs are not even manufactured anymore and in general is quite barren when it comes to technology?…these “techno cops†were pioneered in Europe where the people are much more willing to tolerate “Big Brother†tactics like “techno copsâ€?…there have been many studies done on the effectiveness of “techno cops†in making traffic safer?…the conclusions are that traffic does not get safer and in some cases the number of wrecks increase because people are concentrating more on the “techno cop†than they are on traditional driving?…drivers in cities patrolled by “techno cops†are more prone to slam on the breaks when the light is yellow causing themselves to be rear ended and sometimes hospitalized for whiplash?
IS IT TRUE the one thing that “techno cops†do with brutal efficiency is write tickets thus collecting more money for the cities that own them to spend?…the other winners in this “Big Brother†initiative are insurance companies that raise premiums for getting tickets and of course trial lawyers who rush to the aid of anyone who gets rear ended or chooses to pursue a Quixotic fight to beat the ticket?…the first “techno cop†was installed in Los Angeles in the mid 1990s?…the first night of its operation a car drove by very slowly so as not to have its picture taken and blasted the “techno cop†to pieces with a shotgun?…there have been other such instances but for the most part people in “techno cop†cities have accepted the yoke of having their driving invaded by Big Brother?…â€techno cops†like it or not do take away just a little bit more of our freedom and move us one step closer to being government controlled robots?…the flip side of that argument is of course that running that stop sign or speeding is breaking the law and that this is simply a better and more efficient way to enforce existing laws?…we suppose that is true but there is something about “techno cops†that just rub us the wrong way?…the next advance of course is likely to be having your home life monitored visually and audibly through those cameras on the new Smart TVs over the internet to make sure you break no laws inside your own home?…the arguments and the intrusion will be the same?
IS IT TRUE that Mole #33 tells the CCO that massive changes may be on the table for the downtown Convention Hotel deal that has grown under Mayor Winnecke from a $31 Million project to a $70 Million project with every bell and whistle imaginable including apartments and retail shops?…the massive changes we are hearing about are to strip this thing down to what it was in the first place and reduce the number of rooms to 180 as the study indicated that downtown Evansville can actually absorb?…local government subsidizing one business at the expense of another is a market killing action that undermines the American way of life?…for this reason we applaud the members of the City Council who are reluctant to become rubber stamps for Mayor Winnecke?…it is a good thing if this project loses the apartments and the retail space?…reducing the size of the hotel to what the market study suggested is a good idea too?…a very excellent idea would be for the City of Evansville to stick to traditional incentives like providing excellent sidewalks, sharing in the cost of walk bridges that access public venues, waiving permit fees, and letting the private developer complete the task with the workforce of their choosing as opposed to being forced to sign a Project Labor Agreement (PLA)?…when it comes to private commerce like inn keeping, running a restaurant, or retail real estate development local government should stick to its job of supplying good infrastructure around the private developments and stay out of the banking business?
Deaconess Named in the Top 100 Greatest Places to Work
Deaconess Hospital was once again named one of the top 100 greatest places to work in healthcare according to the May issue of Becker’s Hospital Review*. Each year, Becker’s Hospital Review and Becker’s ASC Review develop their top 100 list through nominations and editorial research. Criteria for recognition included:
• Robust benefits
• Wellness Initiatives
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Work Environments that Promote Employee Collaboration and Satisfaction
Deaconess is highly committed to the health and well-being of its employees and has thoughtfully designed programs and benefits to address the physical, mental, and emotional needs of its staff members.
Employees with elevated health risks work with a wellness coach to enact appropriate lifestyle changes. All employees have access to lunchtime fitness classes, a fitness center, and evening exercises classes. They also benefit from robust mental and emotional health services provided by Deaconess Cross Pointe. Professional development opportunities are also offered throughout the health system so all employees maintain the highest level of training and knowledge.
Evansville Surgery Center, located on the Deaconess Hospital and Deaconess Gateway Hospital campuses also received recognition as a top 100 hospital in Becker’s Hospital Review.
*Deaconess Hospital was listed in the top 100 in the 2011 greatest places to work in healthcare list. Deaconess Health System and The Women’s Hospital were both listed in the top 100 in the 2012 list.
Robert Morse Awarded Prestigious Fulbright Scholarship
Robert Morse, professor of computer science, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to spend the Spring 2014 semester in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
From February 1 through July 15, 2014, Morse will split his time between teaching and research at the University of Ljubljana. He will teach a graduate-level course on his specialty, computational algebra, and collaborate with local mathematicians on two research projects.
“I’m honored to be selected for the Fulbright and look forward to returning to Slovenia after visiting and presenting my research there in 2012,†Morse said. “My activities abroad will enhance my professional growth and challenge me mathematically as I will be providing computational expertise to several mathematicians at the University of Ljubljana in support of their research.â€
“My work as a Fulbright scholar also will benefit UE’s vision and strategic plan by extending the University’s global reach and making deeper connections abroad,†Morse added, “and it will provide the groundwork for possible future student interaction between the University of Evansville and the University of Ljubljana.â€
“At the University of Evansville, we’re very proud and excited for Dr. Morse,†said John Mosbo, senior vice president for academic affairs. “The Fulbright Scholarship is among the most prestigious and competitive in higher education, and Dr. Morse’s successful application for the award demonstrates that the University of Evansville’s faculty is truly world-class.â€
Morse came to the University of Evansville in 1998 after a 12-year career designing avionics software for IBM Corporation’s Federal Systems Division. He is the co-editor of two books on computational algebra and is author of several peer-reviewed publications in mathematics. Morse holds a PhD and Master of Arts in mathematics from the State University of New York at Binghamton, as well as a Bachelor of Science in computer science from The Pennsylvania State University.
Morse’s previous honors include the University of Evansville’s Global Scholar Award from the Institute for Global Enterprise, Sadelle and Sydney Berger Award for Scholarly Activity, and Dean’s Teaching Award for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. He also has served as a visiting professor at the National University of Ireland in Galway (funded by a Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge grant from the European Union) and received an Outstanding Technical Achievement Award from IBM Corporation.
The Fulbright Program, founded in 1946 and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, offers grants for U.S. citizens to study, teach, and conduct research abroad, and for non-U.S. citizens to come to the United States. Each year, the program awards approximately 800 highly competitive, merit-based grants for U.S. scholars and professionals. Past Fulbright Scholars include recipients of 43 Nobel Prizes, 81 Pulitzer Prizes, 28 MacArthur Foundation Awards, and 16 U.S. Presidential Medals of Honor.
USI Men’s, Women’s Tennis Garner GLVC SAAC Sportsmanship Award
The Great Lakes Valley Conference announced Thursday that nine teams have been named recipients of the GLVC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Sportsmanship Award for the spring season. The nine squads, which include, Indianapolis Men’s Golf, Missouri-St. Louis Women’s Golf, Lewis Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field, Southern Indiana Men’s Tennis, Southern Indiana and Bellarmine Women’s Tennis, UW-Parkside Baseball, and Drury Softball, were selected by their peers as best displaying ‘Good Sportsmanship’ during the 2012-13 spring season.
The SAAC Sportsmanship Award is determined by voted of the GLVC member institutions’ campus SAACs. The committees select their top three choices in each sport and base their decision on their view of sportsmanship. Each team that received a first-place vote received three points, second place received two points, and the third place received one point. The GLVC sponsors the award in each of the league’s eighteen championship sports.
This year’s award-winning squads were recognized after an exciting spring season in the GLVC.
Southern Indiana claimed its first Sportsmanship Award honors of the 2012-13 year, while the women’s tennis team claimed back-to-back sportsmanship titles. This is the second award for both USI tennis squads with the men having won back in 2008. Bellarmine also staked claim to the women’s tennis title for the first time since their three-peat in 2008-10. The Knights also won the men’s basketball sportsmanship title for the winter season. Lewis took its third track and field title of the 2012-13 season, as the women’s squad won the accolade for the indoor season, while both the men and women displayed good sportsmanship in the outdoor segment. Missouri-St. Louis and UW-Parkside recorded their first sportsmanship titles of the season. The Tritons received their fourth consecutive sportsmanship title in women’s golf with this year’s selection. The Rangers became only the third team in history to receive the baseball sportsmanship award, as Northern Kentucky has won four and Lewis won the other award in the history of the honor. Indianapolis added a third award to its trophy case this season as the Greyhounds’ football and men’s indoor track and field teams were also recognized for good sportsmanship. Drury claimed its third award of the 2012-13 year with the softball squad’s first-ever accolade, coupled with the men’s and women’s cross country teams’ distinction back in the fall.
A team award will be presented to each of the squads claiming the team sportsmanship awards. An overall ‘Good Sportsmanship’ award, which will be announced on Friday, will be presented to the institution with the most points during the 2012-2013 academic year. Northern Kentucky claimed the inaugural award in 2007-08, UW-Parkside earned it in 2008-09, Bellarmine claimed back-to-back titles in 2009-10 and 2010-11, and Southern Indiana won the title for the 2011-12 academic year.
2013 GLVC SPRING SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS
Men’s Golf: Indianapolis
Women’s Golf: Missouri-St. Louis
Men’s Tennis: Southern Indiana
Women’s Tennis: (Tie) Southern Indiana, Bellarmine
Baseball: UW-Parkside
Softball: Drury
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field: Lewis
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field: Lewis
Five Eagles Earn USTFCCCA All-Region
University of Southern Indiana track and field seniors Lauren Minor and Michael Jordan, along with junior Erika Wilson and freshmen Johnnie Guy and Tyler Schickel have been named USTFCCCA Midwest All-Region.
For the Screaming Eagles, Guy earned all-region in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Guy’s time of 14 minutes, 17.48 seconds in the 5,000 is the second fastest time in the region, while his 10,000 mark (29:40.81) is tops in the region.
Jordan, meanwhile, garnered all-region honors in the 1,500 meters and steeplechase. His time of 8:42.63 in the steeplechase is a school record and ranks ninth among Division I and II runners.
Schickel has the fourth quickest 1,500-meter time in the Midwest Region. The Evansville, Indiana, native is 15th nationally with a 3:49.95 mark and will run in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships.
As the third fastest runner in the region, Minor picks up the nod for the first time in her career. Minor has the 16th best time in the steeplechase this season with a 10:53.49 clip.
Also earning all-region for the first time is Wilson, who will run in her second track and field national championship this year. Wilson won all-region in the 10,000 meters after being clocked at 35:58.76, which is the fourth fastest time in the Midwest Region.
The five all-region runners compete in the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships May 23-25 in Pueblo, Colorado.
Johnnie Guy Southern Indiana Midwest 5000 Meters
Johnnie Guy Southern Indiana Midwest 10,000 Meters
Michael Jordan Southern Indiana Midwest 1500 Meters
Michael Jordan Southern Indiana Midwest Steeplechase
Tyler Schickel Southern Indiana Midwest 1500 Meters
Lauren Minor Southern Indiana Midwest Steeplechase
Erika Wilson Southern Indiana Midwest 10,000 Meters
City-County Observer’s 4th “Mole Award†Winner For 2013 Is The Honorable Judge Brett J. Niemeier
The City-County Observer would like to announce Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge Brett J. Niemeier as its 4th “Mole Award†Winner for the year 2013. Judge Niemeier was chosen by the “Mole Award†selection committee for his efforts in starting a plethora of not-for-profit programs in conjunction with the Vanderburgh County Court System. The programs founded by Judge Niemeier encompass a variety of situations for offenders and non-offenders alike that find themselves in situations out of their control. Some of these programs offer help to those with anger and substance abuse issues as well as youngsters having problems adapting to normal classrooms. Other programs involve offenders with local churches in an effort to provide them mentoring, as well as another specialized program, Family Connections, which is designed for teenagers and their parents who are dealing with the poor choices of their child. All of these programs were initiated by Judge Niemeier with absolutely no cost to the taxpayer.
Judge Niemeier is also well known for the soft spot he has for troubled and less fortunate children. Many of the programs listed above were started by Judge Niemeier in an effort to keep children out of the court system and previous young offenders from ever making their way back into the system. Judge Niemeier is also involved in many community service programs such as the Indiana Family and Juvenile Judges’ Board and the Regional Committee for the Department of Child Services. Judge Niemeier has received many awards in his career but none quite like the prestigious Robert J. Kinsey Award which is the highest honor in the State of Indiana for Juvenile Judges.
Judge Niemeier’s selection follows The Honorable Judge Wayne Trockman’s selection for his work on and off of the bench, the selection of Matthew Burkhart for his work in lobbying reformation of child labor laws in Indiana and the selection of Ben Trockman for his work in addressing the challenges facing special needs persons traveling by air. City-County Observer Chairnan of the Board Ron Cosby said of Niemeier, “Judge Niemeier’s reputation for community service and dedication to the job precedes him. The community owes him a debt of gratitude for the work he has done for our younger generations. We are pleased to honor Judge Niemeier with the 4th “Mole Award†of 2013.†The winners will be presented their “Mole Awards†during this year’s annual City-County Observer “Mole Awards†Banquet to be held at Casino Aztar in October.