The WNIN Action Auction is a 40 year tradition in the Tri-State. This year’s auction will be aired live on WNIN-TV for 7 straight days, April 22-28 from 6-10pm. Donated items include Sugar Ray Leonard signed boxing gloves, IU Basketball tickets, dozens of gift certificates to popular restaurants, and a storage barn. With over 1000 donated items up for bid, there will be something for everyone! The 2013 Action Auction items will be available to preview online auction at wninactionauction.org.
This highly-anticipated community event is made possible by the generous support of over 700 Tri-State businesses and over 500 volunteers. Proceeds from the Auction help fund WNIN in its mission to enrich our community with programming and services that challenge minds, brighten spirits and prepare our children for a life of learning. WNIN also seeks to support five pillars including education, health, government, culture and business through broadcasting and non-broadcasting activities.
Auction donations are still being accepted. To make donation arrangements, or for additional information about the Action Auction, please contact WNIN Director of Events, Denise Rodgers at 812-423-2973 x136 or via email at drodgers@wnin.org.

The One Book One Community Committee is pleased to announce that Hidden America: From Coal Miners to Cowboys, an Extraordinary Exploration of the Unseen People Who Make this Country Work by Jeanne Marie Laskas is the book selection for 2013.

Hidden America is a rare look at America from the inside out – the opposite of the view we’ve become accustomed to in our celebrity-driven culture. Laskas shows a different America, where pride in doing an excellent job, satisfaction in providing a vital service to others, private acts of heroism, and above all, teamwork – brotherhood, sisterhood – are paramount.

Laskas is Director of the Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh, where she also teaches creative writing and is the author of five previous books. For 20 years she has been writing for national magazines including GQ, Esquire, Smithsonian, O: The Oprah Magazine, Good Housekeeping, and Glamour and will soon be writing for The New York Times Magazine.

Jeanne Marie Laskas to Speak Oct. 29
One Book One Community will host Laskas on Tuesday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Victory Theatre, where she will speak about her book and her career as an investigative journalist. This event is free and open to all.

Members of the media who are interested in scheduling a pre-event interview with Laskas may do so by contacting her publicist: Hannah Scott, Lyceum Agency at 971-409-0258.

About One Book One Community
One Book One Community is a reading program to develop a community built around the shared experience of people reading and talking about the same book. Bringing people together to discuss ideas in books can play an important role in breaking down barriers between people, cultures and economic and educational backgrounds.

The EVPL is joining with the local media, schools and universities, book stores, businesses and other libraries to promote a culture of reading in Southwestern Indiana.

Each year, the March of Dimes honors top fundraisers by donating an infant swing to the local Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of their choice. This year, both families have chosen the St. Mary’s NICU. There will be a dedication for these swings Thursday, April 4th at 11:00 a.m.
One of the top fundraising families is Erica and Daniel Richardson. Like 500,000 other babies a year, their first child, Cullen Lane, was born too soon. Cullen passed away at a NICU in Indianapolis just eight hours after he was born. When Erica became pregnant again four months later, specialists at St. Mary’s helped see her through her high risk pregnancy. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy at 37 weeks. The Richardsons decided to help other families by raising money for the March of Dimes, and last year they raised more than $5,000.
The other family is Don and Eura Licklyter of Jasper. They have been among the top local fundraisers for ten years, and in 2012 raised about $7,300 for the March of Dimes.
The 2013 Evansville March for Babies is set for Saturday, April 27th at Sunrise Park in Downtown Evansville. For more information, please visit marchforbabies.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2013

Statement from Mayor Winnecke re: Federal Indictment of Evansville Redevelopment Commission Member

“I’d like to recognize law enforcement, including the detectives from the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Narcotics Joint Task Force for working with the Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force, U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service on today’s indictments related to a suspected drug and money laundering operation in our community. I wholeheartedly agree with U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett that no one, including an appointed public official, is above the law and we look forward to resolution of this case. It is important to note, and reaffirmed by the U.S. Attorney, that this indictment did not name or associate the Evansville Redevelopment Commission with any of the suspected crimes. Questions about Mr. Carter’s service on the Commission should be directed to his appointing body.”

Lloyd Winnecke, Mayor

On Saturday, April 27, 2013, local youth will take to the streets of Downtown Evansville for “Youth Talkin’ Trash,” a youth-led initiative designed to beautify the area and nearby neighborhoods. Coordinated by USI’s Service Learning Program, young people will join millions of others around the globe who are celebrating Global Youth Service Day (GYSD).

GYSD plans include more than 500 young volunteers in a Clean Evansville effort. Volunteers will begin picking-up litter at 9 a.m. The event will be followed by a celebration of youth service in our community at the YMCA. The celebration will include free food and drinks, free T-shirts and an opportunity to break a Guinness World Record for the largest youth Zumba class. These activities are happening in collaboration with the annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day. The event will take place rain or shine.

State Farm and Youth Service America are providing funding for this event and many local organizations are collaborating, including the City of Evansville, Keep Evansville Beautiful, Republic Services, YMCA, 14 News, United Way of Southwestern Indiana, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, Signature School and many additional youth organizations and schools.

Now in its 25th year, GYSD is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service learning. The observance is April 26 to April 28. Established in 1988, GYSD is the largest service event in the world and is celebrated in more than 100 countries. On GYSD, children and youth address the world′s most critical issues in partnership with families, schools, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and governments.

For more information and to register, visit www.usi.edu/servicelearning or call 812/464-1989. The registration deadline is Friday, April 5.

The annual Trooper Andrew Winzenread Memorial Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the North Branch Golf Course located at 8492 East Base Road, Greensburg, IN. Tee time is 8:00 a.m. Registration fee is $200 per team (4 man teams). All proceeds benefit the Trooper Andrew Winzenread Memorial Scholarship Fund. Registration and payment must be received by April 23, 2013.

Registration forms may be requested by emailing your request to the Indiana State Police Alliance to the attention of Kelley Ford (kelley@indianasfinest.com) or call the Indiana State Police Alliance Office at 800-382-1104.