EVANSVILLE, Ind. – After coming off of an eighth place finish in the season opening meet December 8, the University of Southern Indiana women’s indoor track and field team returns to action Friday and Saturday.
The Screaming Eagles are participating Friday and Saturday in the Gladstein Invitational at Indiana University and Little Giant Invitational at Wabash College Saturday.
During the first indoor event, USI was led by sophomore Vanessa Higdon’s seventh place finish in the shot put. The Waldron, Indiana, native threw 37 feet, 9.5 inches to score the Eagles only points.
Following this weekends action, USI is back on the track January 25 and 26 at the Indiana Relays in Bloomington, Indiana.
The Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District cordially invites you to attend a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the installation of our new Jet Bridges
Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013
10:00 am
Evansville Regional Airport
Main Terminal
7801 Bussing Drive
Evansville, Indiana
Earlier in his life most who knew him would have assumed that Robert “Jeff†Tornatta would be taking over and running his family’s business, Warrick Beverage. Understanding Tornatta’s desire to serve the public his father Robert, a retired Evansville Police officer, encouraged and supported Tornatta’s decision to pursue a career in law. Robert enrolled in Indiana University in 1977. After receiving his undergraduate degree from IU in 1982, Tornatta entered Indiana University’s School of Law in Bloomington, graduating in 1985 with honors. Tornatta wasted no time putting his degree to work and in 1986 he became the law clerk for ,then, U.S District Judge Gene Brooks. In 1988 Judge Tornatta began working with the Trimble & Jewel law firm and did so until he joined Phil Hayes, former 8th District Congressman, to practice law in 1990. Tornatta took the place of Richard Young who had been appointment as a circuit court judge, replacing William H. Miller. Young was later appointed by President Bill Clinton to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in 1997. Tornatta did not particularly care for private practice, “he confessed with a smile, as most of his clients did not pay him nor did most follow his legal advice”. Fortunately for Tornatta he was appointed administrator to the Superior Court by the seven Superior Court judges in 1991. While serving as administrator Tornatta was able to work in the different offices of all seven Superior Court judges, giving him an excellent opportunity to learn from and pick up qualities of the judges he worked under. Tornatta recognizes Judge Lockyear as having he largest impact on him personally, professionally and as a mentor. He did pick up traits from the other Judges as well. From Judge Dietsch he was able to see just how a judge’s temperament should be. He gets his organizational skills from Judge Bowers, and his thorough, conscientious approach to law was honed by Judge Knight. He continued to serve as administrator until 1995 when he was appointed as one of the court’s magistrates.
In 1997 Judge Thomas Lockyear resigned after 12 years of service, closing a door in his career and opening one for Tornatta’s. Governor at the time Frank O’Bannon had a tough decision to make. Among twelve other local attorneys who had submitted their names to O’Bannon for consideration, Tornatta finished a close second in the Evansville Bar Associations rankings for the job. Two-hundred thirty attorneys filled out a survey ranking each applicant in fields such as legal experience, legal knowledge, judicial temperament, the ability to understand and apply legal principles, industry and efficiency, and the ability to be impartial and objective. Tornatta finished second to only, now highly respected judge, Wayne Trockman. With a jest filled smile Tornatta said, “Everybody recognizes Judge Trockman for his work in the Drug Court, but little recognize him for probably his most notable accomplishment in the Superior Court; an ice machine he had installed after he was appointed judge.”
With high scores reflected in his ability to be impartial and objective, judicial temperament, legal knowledge, and experience, Evansville was fortunate enough to have O’Bannon officially name Tornatta to be Judge Lockyear’s replacement on the bench on the 11th of December, 1997 at the ripe age of 38. I use the term “fortunate†because of the values and integrity that Tornatta possesses and calls upon when making decisions that affect many lives every day.
Tornatta is married to the love of his life, Sharon, whom he met while she was a legal secretary for Lopp, Lopp & Grampp. They have three children; his stepson Scott and daughters Molly and Katie. Tornatta has a soft spot for children, teenagers, and young adults, especially those whose parents show a lack of concern and involvement in their life. Understandable, considering he bears witness to the negative effects of poor parental influence on a daily basis. Tornatta watched how his wife and her ex-husband raised their son, Tornatta’s stepson Scott, with little to no fighting and always keeping their son the center of focus, Tornatta still uses them as a prime example of how a divorced couple should raise a child. Scott, a gifted baseball player in the past, is now a pharmaceutical sales representative for Forest Pharmaceuticals. His daughter Molly is currently spending time in Germany but has her degree in math and science, with honors, from Indiana University and spent time working at Central high School teaching both Chemistry and Geometry. Tornatta joked “She received neither of these academic skills from me.”
Tornatta’s youngest daughter Katie has found her calling in the field of nursing and is an honors student at the University of Southern Indiana”.
Tornatta approaches his responsibilities as a Judge much as he approaches life, doing unto others as he would have done unto him. A very humble man, Tornatta admited “Without our riding bailiffs, bailiffs, and court reporters the court system itself would be dysfunctional, they are the backbone.”
Ask anyone to critique Judge Tornatta and they would more than likely tell you that his only flaw is that he is too kind of a man. Judge Tornatta left me with a joke asking if I knew the definition of a judge. He laughingly told me “A judge is an attorney that knows the governor.”
Seeing as Tornatta did not know Governor O’Bannon at the time of his appointment, I think it is safe to say that his reputation for temperament, experience, level-headedness, and humble and hard working attitude was all O’Bannon needed to make the right decision for the people of Evansville.
IS IT TRUE roughly noon today it is expected that President Obama will make a speech on gun control as a solution to gun violence and that he will issue a collection of executive orders that will take the nations gun policy as close to the line between clear unconstitutionality as his lawyers and advisors have the nerve to allow him to get?…the second amendment to the constitution is short and pretty clear so walking on it without violating it will be a real tightrope act?…the people of this country who are passionate supporters of the Constitution are coincidentally some of the staunchest supporters of 2nd amendment rights around?…this group is unlikely to be fooled by flowery language designed to fog the meaning of the constitution because they have the common sense to understand what the constitution says and to interpret this simple amendment?…that raising and lowering of taxes for the purpose of redistribution is something that many Americans do not like but are accustomed to already so no calls for drastic measures came from a tax increase?…if the President of the United States boldly and strongly strikes down part of the constitution that is not a gray area interpretation we predict this will go into both the streets and the courts and will define the second term of President Barack Obama?
IS IT TRUE that the national press and other mainstream media that cling to their first amendment rights strongly (one might say guns and religion and one has) are surprisingly mute when it comes to the second amendment?…we wonder why these supposedly learned people are struck dumb on this particular issue?…that executive order is not and has never been an acceptable way to modify the constitution of the United States?…for the media to stand by and let such a thing even be pondered without helping the American people VET what is proposed?…the same rationalization process that would lead one to nullify one part of the constitution by executive fiat will surely lead to another instance with another amendment when it becomes politically convenient to do so?…national press corps, if you ever muster the courage to report both sides of any issue they will come for your pens and word processors because as we all know “the pen is mightier than the swordâ€?
IS IT TRUE that the Mole Nation has now verified most of the numbers published in the CCO yesterday afternoon regarding Mayor Winnecke’s choice and forthcoming recommendation for a downtown convention hotel?…these numbers are of no surprise to people who thought this one through because the basic truths of this project remain true?…the basic truths are that a basic hotel with no frills of the size the government wants will cost roughly $30 Million and will have a valuation of closer to $20 Million when it is finished?…that means that no private investor will be willing to vaporize money thus $20 Million will be the approximate limit of outside private money that will be in this deal?…in addition to the $30 Million for the hotel there are a number of other amenities like parking, walk bridges, the oversight storage building, street improvements, etc. that will all totaled add another $20 Million or more to the project cost?…it will of course be expected that a 10 year tax abatement will be granted that will have a value of roughly $5 Million depending on assessment?…the speculative nature of this investment even makes it possible that a the City of Evansville will be asked to guarantee a specific rate of return that is higher than market rates?…as we wrote yesterday the cost of the corporate welfare to make this happen will exceed $40 Million, will result in the City of Evansville owning nothing, and an outside developer being guaranteed a rate of return of over 10%?…these numbers are simply to insane to consider?
IS IT TRUE if local government is in the business of guaranteeing rates of return we would like to see the rate of return on a dog and skateboard park?…if we can’t or won’t as a government have anything to do with disrupting markets in favor of local legacy businesses like Karges Furniture and Schmidt Photo then the government of Evansville needs to stay out of the business world altogether?…the question now is whether or not there are 5 members of the Evansville City Council who have the brains and the courage to stop the mad proposals that seem to flow out of the Office of the Mayor like milk from a Jersey cow?…we wonder just what the heck ever happened to common sense and practicality?
City Councilman Al Lindsey
The Mayor of Evansville has taken a public position through Courier and Press that I declined his invitation for a private meeting with him for political purposes. I beg to differ from that opinion. I declined the invitation because I believe that the people’s business when many millions of dollars are on the table should be done in a forum that is a part of the public record.
The last time Mayor Winnecke organized a closed door meeting the people of Vanderburgh County nearly lost their Homestead Tax Credit. When I got my email invitation that was the first thing that I thought of and I want no part of it.
The other things I thought of were the Earthcare Energy mess where the Mayor got the wool pulled over his eyes, the ongoing saga of the Johnson Controls project, a multi million dollar rennovation project at Mesker Amphitheater, he’s also proposing, an expensive dog park to be located on the Robert’s Stadium property, giving his 10 political buddies big raises for this year, the Freedom Festival debacle, and the fact that Evansville still can’t balance the books. Such things do not give me any reason to have faith in Mayor Winnecke’s ability to make financial judgments for the taxpayers of Evansville.
I represent Evansville’s 6th Ward that most locals refer to as the west side. I am not a college graduate, I do not own a closet full of expensive suits, I have never made a video of any kind, and I drive a pickup truck. In spite of these shortcomings I do have the common sense to know a bad deal from a good one and have run a profitable business on the side as many firefighters do for many years. I know what I earn and I always spend less and pay my bills.
The City of Evansville needs to show some common sense when it comes to capital projects and corporate handouts. I have seen and heard all I want to about how Roberts Stadium had to go because it cost money at the same time the Centre, the Ford Center, and several other favored projects of the elite are losing money faster than it can be counted.
Mayor Winnecke, I did not turn you down over politics, I turned you down about what politics should be. Those things are transparency, common sense, and competent financial oversight of the people’s money.
The University of Evansville’s University Choir and Wind Ensemble are among a select group of collegiate ensembles invited to perform at the Indiana Music Educators’ Association annual convention in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
As part of the IMEA convention, a professional development conference for Indiana music teachers, the Wind Ensemble will present a free, public concert at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 18 at Fort Wayne’s Grand Wayne Convention Center, Hall C. The University Choir will perform at 2:30 p.m. Friday, January 18 at Fort Wayne’s First Presbyterian Church, and for the high school Indiana All-State Honor Choir that evening.
The performances at the IMEA state convention are part of the University Choir’s and Wind Ensemble’s joint Winter Tour, which includes private performances at Evansville’s North High School, Olney Central College in Olney, Illinois, and East Noble High School in Kendallville, Indiana.
One of four choirs at the University of Evansville, the University Choir has built a reputation for performances of major choral-orchestral masterworks, a cappella music ranging from the Renaissance through the 21st century, part songs, and spirituals. In May 2011, the University Choir joined five other choirs from Indiana, Kentucky, New York, and California to perform Haydn’s Paukenmesse at Carnegie Hall in New York City with the New England Symphonic Ensemble. This milestone performance for the choir was conducted by University of Evansville’s director of choral activities, Dennis Malfatti.
At the IMEA convention, the University Choir’s program will include works by UE faculty member William Hemminger and alumnus Ronald Kauffmann. The choir’s performance at the 2013 IMEA convention is their second IMEA appearance in recent years, having also been invited to perform at the convention in 2010. That same year, the choir had the privilege to perform in a master class with the world-renowned vocal sextet, the King’s Singers.
The University of Evansville Wind Ensemble is composed of UE’s finest brass, woodwind, and percussion performers. The ensemble performs a wide variety of literature from major masterworks for the modern wind band to more intimate chamber literature. The ensemble is also actively involved in commissioning and performing new works. In addition to its campus concerts, the group represents the University both regionally and nationally. Membership is by audition and is open to UE students of any major.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Looking to win for the fifth time in a row, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team travels to Drake for a Wednesday evening matchup at the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Evansville made it 2-for-2 versus ranked opponents at the Ford Center as the Purple Aces took down No. 23 Wichita State by a 71-67 final on Sunday afternoon. The win gave UE a 4-1 conference mark, matching its start from the 1999-2000 season. Other notable starts to league play for UE since joining the MVC came in the form of a 6-0 start in 1998-99 and an 8-1 mark in the 1997-98 campaign.
UE has not lost to a ranked opponent at the Ford Center; the Aces topped No. 15 Creighton last year before toppling No. 23 Wichita State this season. For the first time in program history, Evansville has defeated a ranked opponent four seasons in a row. Aces Coach Marty Simmons has led UE 4-5 mark in the last 9 games versus a ranked team, which is the top 9-game stretch in program history. The Aces have won three home games against ranked teams, dating back to the win over UNI in 2011; Simmons is 3-2 in home contests vs. ranked teams.
For the third-straight game and the fifth time in the last six contests, Colt Ryan eclipsed the 20-point mark, pushing his season average to a team-high 16.4 points per game. Ryan became just the 27th player in the history of the Valley to reach the 1,800-point plateau; he now stands at 1,840 points in his career, good for 22nd in league history; with just 29 more points, Ryan will jump into the top 20 in the MVC record book.
Colt is finding his groove; in the 10 non-conference games he played in, he posted an average of 13.7 points while seeing just over 24 minutes of action; he has upped that total in league play, posting 21.8 points while playing in 36.6 minutes per contest; he also has hit 23 out of 24 free throws.
While it is no easy chore for a true point guard to keep up one of the top rebounding tallies in the nation, Troy Taylor has done just that as his mark for the season stands at 7.4 boards per game, tied for fourth in the MVC; in league play, he has grabbed 9.8/game, second overall. Aside from his performance on the boards, Taylor has started to crank it up offensively, posting double-digit outings in his last three games and six times overall this season, matching the total from his junior year.
Drake earned its first MVC win, taking down Illinois State by an 82-77 final in Normal on Saturday; the Bulldogs stand at 7-9 overall and 1-4 in the Valley. Ben Simons leads the way for DU with 14.5 PPG, that total is seventh in the league while Seth VanDeest has notched 10.1 tallies; Simons is also a stellar free throw shooter, connecting on 35 out of 41 this year, 85.4% (4th in the conference). Despite the team being outrebounded by 4.3 per game, Jordan Clarke has been a force down low, grabbing 8.1 per game, second in the MVC. The Bulldogs boast the top 3-point shooter in the Valley as Micah Mason has drained a league-leading 57.9% of his treys (22 out of 38) – As a team, Drake is shooting 38.7% from three-point range; that total is 25th in the country and second in the league.
The road stretch continues as Evansville will travel to Terre Haute for its annual tilt against Indiana State at the Hulman Center. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. CT.
USIEVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 15th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team returns to the Physical Activities Center for a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference games, beginning Thursday at 7:30 p.m. when Saint Joseph’s College comes for a visit. The short two-game homestand concludes Saturday when fifth-ranked University of Indianapolis comes to the PAC for a 3:15 p.m. showdown.
Following the homestand, USI hits the road Monday when it crosses the river to play fourth-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan College at 7:30 p.m. in the Owensboro Sportscenter. Monday’s match-up will be the last GLVC game in the Sportscenter for USI.
The Screaming Eagles (10-2, 3-1 GLVC) fell 15th in the NABC/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll after splitting a road trip last weekend. USI lost a lead and fell short at the University of Illinois Springfield, 73-71, last Thursday, but rebounded against Quincy University to post a 78-70 victory over the weekend.
USI senior center Keith DeWitt (High Point, North Carolina) helped get the Eagles back on track at Quincy when recorded a huge double-double of 18 points and 18 rebounds. DeWitt, who led the team in the last two games with 13.5 rebounds per contest, was tied for first during the trip in scoring with junior forward Orlando Rutledge (Louisville, Kentucky) with 14.0 points each.
Rutledge was USI’s top scorer in the loss to UI Springfield, scoring 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half.
In addition to DeWitt and Rutledge, USI junior forward Aaron Nelson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) also scored in double-digits with 12.0 per contest. Nelson helped USI during a scoring drought at Quincy by hitting nine of 10 from the line and finished the trip hitting 10-of-11.
For the season, Rutledge leads the Eagles with 16.1 points per outing. He is followed by DeWitt and Nelson in the scoring column with 13.1 and 12.1 points per appearance, respectively. Junior forward Taylor Wischmeier (Brownstown, Indiana) rounds out the USI double-digit scorers at 11.5 points per outing.
The Pumas of Saint Joseph’s (4-7, 2-2 GLVC) have been a .500 team since the start of 2013. Saint Joseph’s opened GLVC action with a win at Rockhurst University and a loss at William Jewell College, duplicating the results a week later at home with a win over Missouri University of Science & Technology and a loss to Drury University.
USI has a comfortable lead in the all-time series, 47-20, and has won 19 of the last 23 meetings since 2000. The Eagles, who also have collected victories in 10 of the last 11 at the PAC, swept the season series last year, winning 85-62 at the PAC and 67-59 in Rensselaer, Indiana.
The Greyhounds of UIndy (12-0, 4-0 GLVC) have been on fire to start the season and is still one of three unbeaten teams in GLVC play. UIndy faces a tough challenge on Thursday when it faces off with unbeaten KWC (12-0, 4-0 GLVC) before coming to the PAC.
The Eagles have a hold on the all-time series, 49-18, but the Greyhounds won the 2011-12 season series, 2-1. USI’s only victory over UIndy last year came in the GLVC Tournament when it defeated the Greyhounds, 78-60.
USI starts a three-game road trip Monday as it travels to play the Panthers of KWC (12-0, 4-0 GLVC). KWC has the advantage in the all-time series, 49-36, and won two of the three games with the Eagles last year. The Panthers ended the Eagles’ 2011-12 season last March in the NCAA Division II Tournament, 64-58, and defeated USI in Owensboro, 69-54. USI won its game at the PAC, 72-57.
Coverage of the Eagles’ GLVC games, including live stats and audio/video broadcasts, is available at gousieagles.com. The USI action also can be heard on ESPN 106.7FM and WPSR 90.7FM.
NABC/Division II Top 25
1. West Liberty
2. Metropolitan State
3. Alabama-Huntsville
4. Bellarmine (GLVC)
5. Western Washington
6. Kentucky Wesleyan (GLVC)
7. Indianapolis (GLVC)
8. Seattle Pacific
9. Cal Poly Pomona
10. Southern Indiana (GLVC)
11. Minnesota State
12. Lincoln Memorial
13. Washburn
14. Franklin Pierce
15. Cal State-San Bernardino
16. Florida Southern
17. Winston-Salem State
18. Adams State
19. Newman
20. Tampa
21. Indiana
22. King
23. Barton
24. Northwest Missouri State
25. Fort Lewis
Others receiving votes: Grand Canyon (Ariz.), St. Mary’s (Texas), Michigan Tech, Minnesota State-Moorhead, Augusta State (Ga.), Dominican (N.Y.), West Texas A&M, Assumption (Mass.), Rollins (Fla.), Findlay (Ohio), North Georgia, Wayne State (Mich.), St. Cloud State (Minn.), Saint Leo (Fla.), Drury (Mo.) (GLVC), Harding (Ark.), East Stroudsburg (Pa.), Shepherd (W.Va.), North Alabama, Saint Anselm (N.H.), Winona State (Minn.), Augustana (S.D.).
Teens in grades eight through 12 in Evansville and the surrounding area who are interested in theatre have the opportunity to participate in “The Muzical Works Project,†a musical theatre workshop sponsored by the Harrison High School Musical Theatre Department. The workshop, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 26, will include special guests from local dance studios, D’Alto Studios, Evansville Civic Theatre and the University of Evansville who will instruct sessions throughout the day. Teens will have the opportunity to enroll in classes in three types of dance, stage make-up, audition techniques, monologues and improvisation. There also will be a vocal master class and individual coaching will be available. The day will conclude with a free and informal program for parents in order to allow the teens to showcase what they learned.
Cost for the program is $10 for EVSC students and $15 for non-EVSC students.
Teens who are interested in participating can get more information and sign up at http://harrisonmusicaltheatre.weebly.com/.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – After coming off of an eighth place finish in the season opening meet December 8, the University of Southern Indiana women’s indoor track and field team returns to action Friday and Saturday.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Looking to win for the fifth time in a row, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team travels to Drake for a Wednesday evening matchup at the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
