Starting today, the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office has launched WeTip, a completely anonymous tip line designed to give callers a chance to report crime.

The phone number for WeTip is 1-800-78-CRIME. Calling this number connects callers to operators available 24/7. When a caller uses the WeTip hotline, the first thing they hear upon making the call is “This is the WeTip crime line, please do not give your name or identify yourself…” From there, the caller is guided through a series of questions designed to get as much relevant information possible.

Once the call is complete, the WeTip operator asks the caller if they would like a reward pending the outcome of their call. If they would like a reward, the caller is given a three part code name. They are able to use this code name to call back at a later date to check the status of the reward. WeTip pays rewards from $20-$1000 depending on the severity of the crime and the outcome pending a future conviction. Callers are instructed where to pick up their reward upon their follow up call.

Prosecutor Nick Hermann believes anonymity is what will help make WeTip an asset to our community. “Citizens are sometimes reluctant to report crime for fear of retaliation. Through use of this anonymous tip line, citizens can take an active role in protecting their neighborhoods from those who break the law and endanger those around them.”

“This tip line allows neighbors to become the eyes and ears of the community. They can aid us in solving crimes, preventing future crimes, and ultimately saving lives.”

According to Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin “The number one thing we have heard with our own tip line is that people are afraid to call it because they are afraid to call the Police directly.

They don’t want their name in a report that could tie a crime back to them where they may have to testify rather than just giving their information,” said Bolin. “That being said, it’s important to remember that if you are witnessing a crime or having crucial, pressing information, you should still call 911. WeTip is a tip line, not an emergency service.”

“Tip lines are effective when the community has access to the number. You can’t use something you don’t know about,” said Bolin. “This number is important for everyone to have on hand.”

For more details on this, or any story, contact Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office Director of Public Relations Kyle Phernetton at 812.435.5688 or KPhernetton@vanderburghgov.org

2013—BACK-TO-SCHOOL shots are required for Indiana school children, unless they have a written medical exemption from a licensed physician or written religious exemption filed every year with the school. Children may be excluded from school after the first day of school if they do not have the vaccines or exemption filed with the school. Children entering Kindergarten, third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade have special requirements. New this school year, children entering third, fourth and fifth grade are required to have two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. BACK-TO-SCHOOL shots are offered at the Vanderburgh County Health Department, located at 420 Mulberry St, as follows:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday WALK INS 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday WALK INS 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Appointments available Monday through Friday-call (812) 435-5997 to schedule.

PLEASE NOTE: Children under age eighteen (18) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and bring all vaccine records and health insurance and Medicaid cards. If your child has health insurance, please call your healthcare provider FIRST for shots. If your healthcare provider does not give shots, please call us at (812) 435-5997 to verify that your insurance will be accepted. Private health insurance is billed for vaccine and administration fees, and Medicaid is billed for administration fees. Children should wear short sleeve shirts, eat before coming to the clinic and be prepared to stay at least one (1) hour.

Call 435-5692 for more information.

The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana will announce the winner of the 2013 Mayor’s Arts Award and eight other arts awards at a 10:00 a.m. press conference on Thursday, June 27, 2013. The selected nominees will be introduced and give a brief overview of their qualifications. Mayor Lloyd Winnecke will be present to announce the Mayor’s Arts Award. The press conference will take place at the Arts Council’s Bower-Suhrheinrich Foundation Gallery, 318 Main Street, in downtown Evansville.

The Arts Council’s annual Arts Awards honor individuals, groups, and institutions that have made significant contributions to the advancement of the arts in Evansville and the surrounding counties. The award winners will be honored at the annual Arts Awards Banquet on Thursday, August 22, 2013 in the Walnut Atrium of Casino Aztar – 421 NW Riverside Drive, Evansville.

The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana is a not-for-profit organization, in existence since 1970, which provides communication support and programming for local artists and art organizations. For current event information, visit the Arts Council website: www.artswin.org.

Ivy Tech Public Safety Program
Today through Thursday, June 20, 1:30-3 p.m.

Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center (this week)

Children in the EVSC’s 21st Century Summer Programs, will be in attendance this week at the Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center (SICTC) where they will add to the education they have already received in the first couple weeks of the program, sponsored by Ivy Tech.

This week students will tour SICTC and witness demonstrations by individuals at SICTC on public safety (one of the 21 programs of study at SICTC students can choose from during the school year) and from the Sheriff’s Department.

Most of the action will be taking place before 2:30 p.m.

FoxFire here, wanted to let everyone know I am home now and my son on fathers day is helping me nurse my wounds. Team Fly was hired by USI to provide Sculpt EVV with a security watch all night Friday and Hired to set up and produce the stage, lights & sound & fire show for the full day event on Haynies Corner. Our permit was for until Midnight. Our fire show had just ended and Phoenix Down was finishing last song. at 12:08 Officer Mattingly was dispatched to Haynies Corner and asked that we stop the music and our permit was over at 11pm which he was incorrect about. I told him I would go on stage and stop the band, he said no pull the plug right now on electricity or I will write a ticket to everyone here on the corner, I asked him to chill out for a minute while I take care of powering down all the amps properly, then Officer Mattingly proceeded to punch me in the face and threw me on the ground and continued to punch me in the face and legs and back, I never resisted and just kept saying to the officer “I am not resisting” the whole time he was yelling at me to stop resisting, I was just limp and trying to follow directions as the officer continued to beat my head on the pavement and punch me in the back of the head at least 30 times. I was arrested for resisting arrest and taken to the hospital to check out my extensive head & shoulder injuries. The whole time while in hospital, officer Mattingly had me tightly cuffed to the bed and was taunting me for 2 hours. When we arrived at the hospital he told the police officer on staff at hospital quote “I just beat up a hippie on Haynies corner and there were all whole bunch more there, I wanted to taze them, my trigger finger has been itchy lately” then he looked at me and said I know where you live and what you drive, your kind are not welcome here. His brother who is not a police officer was ridding in the vehicle the whole time during this and while in the hospital his brother was taking pictures of me cuffed to the hospital bed, I kindly asked them to stop taunting me and taking my picture but I was completely ignored. I was booked into Vanderburgh county jail and was released today on bail. I have a 1:30pm court date tomorrow Monday June 17th. There were many witnesses and we are asking anyone who witnessed the event and/or took pictures and video to contact us immediately so we can use this evidence to clear any charges against me and to possibly look into suing the city for the huge medical expenses I incurred and damages for missed work due to injuries that may take a while to heal. Thank you for your help… LOL Team Fly…

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There will be a 10:30 press conference at EPD Headquarters. The press conference will address a Facebook post that alleges misconduct by an EPD officer during an arrest at Haynie’s Corner just after Midnight on Sunday morning.

Prosecutor Nick Hermann will be holding a press conference TODAY – Monday, June 17, 2013 in the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office at 1:00 P.M. This press conference will be held to announce the formation of WeTip, the new tip line of Vanderburgh County. WeTip is a completely anonymous Tip-line that will help local law enforcement identify criminals and fight crime. Any and all persons of the media are welcome to attend this event. After giving details, Prosecutor Hermann will be fielding questions on the program.

Sgt. Jason Cullum of the Evansville Police Department will also be in speaking on this.

Please direct any questions you have on this to me until that point, but Prosecutor Hermann will explain how it all works and will be open for questions Monday. Also, please do not release information on this until Monday as the program will not be active until after the press conference.

Friday, November 8 @ 7:00pm

Seats are $39.50 and $29.50.
Tickets go on-sale Friday, June 21st at 10:00am. HUNTER HAYES PRE-SALE TICKETS AVAILABLE THIS THURSDAY ONLY BETWEEN 10:00AM AND 10:00PM THROUGH HUNTERHAYES.COM!

THE CENTRE

Tri-State Business Expo – July 11

PEF/EVSC Summer Musical “Beauty and the Beast” – July 11-14

J&J Ventures Dart & Pool Tournament – Aug. 2-4

100 Men Who Cook – Aug. 24

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County – Oct. 17 @ 7:30pm

Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales – Oct. 27 @ 12:00pm & 3:00pm

CMT On Tour: Hunter Hayes Let’s Be Crazy Tour – Nov. 8 @ 7:00pm

CENTRE’D ON KIDS 2014

Junie B. Jones – Feb. 5 @ 9:00am & 12:00pm

The Monster Who Ate My Peas – March 17 @ 9:00am & 12:00pm

Are You My Mother? – Apr. 22 @ 9:00am & 12:00pm

BROADWAY AT THE CENTRE 2013-2014

Elvis Lives! – Oct. 19 @ 7:30pm

Mamma Mia! – December 13 @ 7:30pm

Straight No Chaser – December 20 @ 7:30pm

Hello Dolly! starring Sally Struthers – January 12 @ 7:00pm

Bring It On: The Musical – February 9 @ 7:00pm

Hair – March 10 @ 7:30pm

Million Dollar Quartet – March 26 @ 7:30pm