Zach Stuard
CCO Writer

Judge Brett Niemeier faced an incredible challenge in 2012 when it was time for him to defend his seat on the bench against attorney Barry Blackard. Blackard wanted to make sure that voters knew his name and would not forget it on Election Day. The months leading up to November were filled with radio ads, television ads, yard signs, and decals all bearing Blackard for Judge. Some of the ads were very negative in nature. By the time the dust had settled Blackard had outspent Niemeier`s campaign by $200,000 and over a 3:1 ratio. Niemeier took a different positive approach and built a grassroots campaign which focused on the work he had done and the community boards and family projects he had worked with. In the end, Niemeier, against seemingly insurmountable odds defended his seat and beat Blackard by twenty percentage points for another 6 year term. Niemeier has said that his victory was a credit to his volunteers, hard work, honesty and integrity; things money cannot buy.

Judge Niemeier, it would seem, has a calling to bring those same qualities to troubled youth of our community. Judge Niemeier over his next term in office would like to create a mentoring program for his offenders through collaborations with agencies like the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Dream Center. The Judge would love to have every day hard working honest people mentor these students, teaching them respect and integrity while playing ball, lifting weights, swimming, and any other number of positive activities the children could gain interest in. “The way to influence a teenager is through relationships. Kids usually model their behaviors by looking at peers, older siblings, or parents. Though peers are the number one influence in a teenager`s life, we have to have quality adults willing to spend time with these kids to challenge them to grow in a more positive and productive manner.

Poverty is one of the leading factors as to why these teens struggle. It is difficult for some people to understand just how poverty can oppress people. A lot of these kids and their families lack the necessary means to obtain most jobs. Things like clothing, transportation and interviewing skills all are affected by poverty and hinder these people’s chances of getting jobs. We as a community have to provide opportunities to these children to give them a boost and better set them up for success to break the cycle of poverty. If kids fail at school or in their home life they usually continue to fail as adults. This hurts them, their families and our entire community.”

Judge Niemeier worked with children even before he started his professional career as a deputy prosecutor specializing in child abuse cases. When Niemeier turned eighteen he decided to become a Big Brother to help mentor and guide children. The decision for Judge Niemeier came after his father’s passing during Niemeier’s high school years. His participation in Big Brothers is one of the reasons why he wants to create a mentoring program for the Court. Another project that Judge Niemeier is currently working on is to resolve truancy issues burdening the Vanderburgh County School Corporation. Judge Niemeier has met with EVSC officials and Prosecutor Nick Hermann in an effort to get the court system involved in these issues by having the state to prosecute parents of elementary school aged students that have a high rate of truancy. Over the years Niemeier has learned that a child`s truancy problems start in their first year of school. There is evidence suggesting that truancy is a learned behavior. Judge Niemeier said, “If a child misses more than 25 days of kindergarten then they miss about the same amount of school days as a sophomore in high school. In other words, however many days a kid misses early in their education will be continued throughout their educational career.”

Niemeier wishes also to work with parents to help them realize it is indeed a habit and to help them better understand the importance of attendance in relation to success academically. Niemeier hopes, at the high school level, to focus on freshmen and find ways to help bridge the gap between middle school and high school, easing their transition. Judge Niemeier’s effort will offer services to family members, such as mentors, counseling services, and other wrap around services to assist these kids in receiving their high school degree. Judge Niemeier hopes to kick off the program by the start of next school year.

Judge Niemeier also works with the Alternative High School, AIS, located in what used to be Evansville’s North High School. Judge Niemeier recognizes that the standard method of education is not necessarily the best for every student. At AIS students come to attend school and ultimately receive their diplomas in a different atmosphere then that found in the other high schools in the area. Judge Niemeier meets once a week with students and their parents to make an effort to resolve issues the student may be having. It quickly became evident that these families need more than just someone to talk to so the Judge is hoping to team up with Southwestern Behavioral to locate a counselor at the school to facilitate the needs of these families. Some of the biggest challenges facing families are money and transportation. Of this Niemeier spoke, “If agencies had offices located at the school it would provide a direct line of assistance and would eradicate the need for transportation.”
Niemeier believes that AIS has gotten a bad rap and that most students that attend AIS are not troublemakers. Many of these students attend AIS simply because they are failing in the traditional school model. “We have found that there are many different reasons as to why some students struggle with the traditional school model. Some of these reasons include phobias and social problems. We want to provide smaller more intimate class sizes, sometimes no more than 10 students per class for these students to be able to overcome their adversity.”

As we know adversity can be one of the biggest builders of strength and it seems as though Judge Niemeier recognizes this. The Alternative High School provides a place for these students to graduate with a full high school diploma. Judge Niemeier is gracious to be a part of the Alternative High School program because he sees some of the same children in his courts. Though he has the ability to court order an offender to go to AIS, he rarely does. To Niemeier it is solely about what is in the best interest of the kids. The more he can impact these kids while they’re in school it means there is a less likely chance of the kid coming before him in court.

Judge Niemeier wouldn’t like to stop there, though. He believes that a strong effort in prevention, rather than intervention, would result in his court seeing less and less of the same offenders before it. “Intervention in high school is almost too late because these students become set in their ways at an early age. Poor parenting, and a lack of discipline and rules, can haunt a child for a lifetime. In a perfect world would we should start formal education by the age of three and require parenting classes for those parents who don`t have a clue how to successfully raise a child. In a perfect world I would like to have five to ten more Court officers to work with children as early as possible in an effort to provide assistance in order to prevent issues from developing later. My officers can only do so much trying to change a 16 year old. It is no secret that the first ten years of a child’s life are the optimal years for mental growth and the formation of habits. If we can reach them early we can prevent them from ever dropping out of school and from having to appear in the Juvenile Court.” All of Niemeier’s work with children has been beyond the call of duty. The most disappointing aspect to Niemeier of being a Judge is the parents he sees that simply won’t help themselves. The most disappointing thing to him about teens are the truants that once he gets them to attend school they still fail most of their classes because they have failed so much for so long their expectations are low and they have developed poor habits. It seems as though it is critical to reach out to our children at a young age and instill solid habits promoting good work ethic, confidence, and dedication.

Judge Niemeier has 27 employees that handle probate matters, guardianships, adoptions, and children in need of service cases, which absorb most of their time. He and his staff deal with abuse and neglect and typically see more neglect cases then they do abuse related cases. Most of the cases that he and his staff work on are the results of drug abuse. Nearly every meth lab that is shut down is in a house with children or is directly accessible to these children. The most rewarding aspect of Judge Niemeier’s career is seeing the kids and parents he’s helped and how they were able to turn around their lives. When people ask how he can continue to keep faith in his job while seeing all the failure, he responds by pointing out that he sees success along with that failure. “In my job if you do not believe in miracles, you soon will.”

Judge Niemeier, with the help of Gail Gerling-Pettinga, has also established the Juvenile Guidance Foundation. This program`s purpose is to meet emergency needs of some of the kids and families he sees. The program was started so they could supply services to the EVSC and due to lack of funding the program has now involved into an emergency fund for assisting families for things he cannot get funding from the county for. In one instance the program has purchased bus tickets for family members of children that were admitted to Riley Hospital. Anyone wishing to donate to this fund is encouraged to contact Gail Gerling-Pettinga at (812) 423-5251.

Judge Niemeier considers himself extremely blessed when it comes to family. He has two step-sons and two daughters all of whom are in their early 20’s. His youngest son is in boot camp to become an aviation handler in the Navy while his other son is currently a correctional officer in the jail. His youngest daughter is currently graduating USI and plans on teaching elementary school and his oldest daughter is on course to graduate from Miami University (Florida) School of Law. She plans on clerking for Federal Court Judge Richard Young. Judge Niemeier and his wife, Lora, have been happily married for eight years and live downtown within walking distance of the Civic Center.

Andrew Weinzapfel, social studies teacher at Bosse High School, was one of only 100 educators in the state of Indiana to be selected from a pool of 450 applicants to receive Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowships. Weinzapfel also is the only educator in Evansville selected to receive the fellowship.

Through the program, recipients are awarded a fellowship to pursue interests that allow for personal renewal, intellectual revitalization and a dose of fun. The purpose of the fellowships is to allow educators to reinvigorate their spirits and if interested, share their experiences with their students.

As a recipient, Weinzapfel will receive $10,000 to retrace his ancestors’ steps in Europe. He also plans to plant a small apple orchard on a family farm utilizing techniques used by German immigrants in the 1850s and tour family orchards in Washington State.

“Our state’s teachers, principals, guidance counselors, and school librarians give so much of themselves to their students,” said Sara B. Cobb, vice president for education at the Lilly Endowment. “In addition to the invaluable work they do during the school day, they work nights and weekends to plan lessons, give extra attention to individual students, direct extracurricular activities, and develop professionally.

“These individuals are precious resources, and Teacher Creativity Fellowships provide them with an important opportunity for renewal. Teachers get to become learners again as they explore their own curiosities and dreams, spend time in other parts of the world, pursue personal passions, and just ‘get away.’” she said. Including the 2013 class, 2,542 Indiana educators have received grants since the Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program began in 1987.

For a list of all recipients go to: http://www.lillyendowment.org/pdf/TCFP2013WinnersAnnouncement.pdf

March 4, 2013 – The Evansville Water & Sewer Utility announces that Heavy Trash Pick-up will begin next Monday, March 4, and is scheduled to run through Friday, May, 3. This semi-annual curbside service is available to City residents who pay for trash service with their water bill, including newly-annexed areas. Apartment complexes, mobile home communities and business/commercial customers are not eligible.
The collection schedule and area maps are available on the City’s GIS website at http://evansville.in.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=12815. To help keep crews on schedule and prevent heavy trash from sitting out on the curb longer than necessary, the number of days allocated for collection in each specific is based on the volume of heavy trash collected in the past and the number of days required to collect it.
Heavy trash must be placed in manageable, organized piles where normal weekly trash is collected before 6 a.m. on the first day collection is scheduled in an area.
Items that will be collected include:
ï‚· Carpet
o Must be rolled in sections no longer than 4 ft. and no wider than 2 ft. in diameter
ï‚· Furniture
o Sofas, tables, chairs, mattresses, box springs, etc.
ï‚· Appliances
o Stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, water heaters, etc.
o Limit two of each type of appliance per household
– more –
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ï‚· Electronics
o Televisions, stereos, etc.
o NO computers or accessories
ï‚· Building materials/construction debris
o Must be in trash cans, boxes, etc. of such size and weight that they can be reasonably lifted by two average adults
o Containers must be strong enough that they do not break apart while being lifted even if they are wet
o Privacy fence sections must be cut in half or smaller manageable size
o NO concrete blocks, bricks or steel poles
Items that will NOT be collected include:
ï‚· Any trash that Allied Waste would pick up as part of its regular residential waste collection contract
ï‚· Automobile parts
ï‚· Batteries
ï‚· Tires
ï‚· Hazardous materials
ï‚· Computers or accessories
ï‚· Concrete blocks, bricks or steel poles
Heavy trash that does not meet these requirements will not be picked up. If a customer has put their heavy trash out according to the requirements above yet feels they were missed, they can call Allied Waste at 424-3345 within two days to report a possible missed pick-up.
Note: Many items not collected through the City’s heavy trash pick-up can be properly disposed of through programs offered by the Solid Waste District, including Tire Amnesty Days, Electronics Recycling Days and Household Hazardous Waste Day (Tox Away Day). Additional information about these programs and upcoming program dates is available in the Solid Waste District’s section of the City Website (www.evansvillegov.org/Index.aspx?page=50) or by calling 436-7800.

Workplace wellness programs are gaining popularity as tools to improve employee health and increase productivity. To assist employers in Southwest Indiana in learning more about wellness programs, including how to adapt them into the workplace, the Wellness Council of Indiana is hosting the second annual Southwest Indiana Workplace Wellness Symposium on February 26 at The Centre in Evansville.
The symposium begins at 7:30 a.m. CST and concludes at 11:45 a.m. CST, and will inform attendees on how to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, improve employee morale and energize corporate culture. Vendor displays will also be available to assist in employee wellness initiatives.
Presented by Dental Health Options by Health Resources, Inc. and in partnership with the Wellness Council of Indiana, Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the symposium will include concurrent sessions on wellness best practices and the legal side of wellness (including how health care reform will affect wellness programs).
Amy David, community health initiatives consultant at Anthem, will be the keynote speaker.
Cost is $49 per person. To register, call (317) 264-6885 or visit www.indianachamber.com/conferences.

The platinum sponsor is Bison Financial Group. Event sponsors are Deaconess LifeQuest and Vectren. Exhibitors include Gregory & Appel Insurance; Healthy Communities Partnership of Southwest Indiana; Neace Lukens; St. Mary’s At Work; Tri-State Business Group on Health; United Healthcare; Vanderburgh County Health Department; and Wellness Council of Indiana.

Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center

March 5, 2013 7:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

The law firm of Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel and Shoulders, LLP and the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana invite you to an educational seminar for regional local elected officials and their staffs on economic development. Will Hearn, a site selector with Site Dynamics, CH2M Hill and a member of the esteemed Site Selectors Guild, will speak about how to make our communities more attractive for economic growth as well as current economic trends occurring in the marketplace. Hearn will be visiting our communities prior to his keynote.

Also on the agenda will be consultants from Barnes & Thornburg LLP, H.J. Umbaugh & Associates and Faegre Baker Daniels addressing tools such as tax abatement, tax increment financing, plus a current report how our economy is working on a local, regional and state basis and current initiatives to grow communities in Southwest Indiana.

There is no charge to attend the conference but a reservation MUST be made by Thursday, Feb. 28th as both breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by returning the registration form below and return to the Coalition office by fax to 812-423-2080, email kconia@southwestindiana.org or phone 812-423-2020.

The ice was down in the Ford Center on Saturday night, but for the first time it was not being used by anyone in skates. Instead, it became a high speed racetrack as Casey’s General Store presented the Grand Finale of the 37th Annual World Championship ICE Racing Series. More than 4,400 fans filled the stands to see the best of the best in Manufacturers World Cup Bikes (including local Evansville pro Greg Childers), Unlimited Outlaw Quads and Amateur Quads battle each other in lap after lap of qualifying and final heats on vehicles specially equipped with steel-studded tires. The night also featured pro Quad rider and stuntman Ken Remer taking a flying run through the Ring of Fire. Remer topped that death-defying jump by taking an even bigger life-altering step – he proposed to girlfriend Kristi Knack on the ice. She said yes, to the delight of the crowd.
The 8th and final Round of racing brought tons of excitement and a few firsts. Pennsylvania’s own Austin Greenland won his first Manufacturers Cup Bike feature, but Jake “The Snake” Mataya secured his first World Championship Title with a second place finish. Dusty “Time Bomb” Crouch not only took his 2nd feature win of the season but he also secured his first World Championship Title in the Unlimited Outlaw Quads.
“It was an amazing night of racing action and excitement at The Ford Center. The city of Evansville, VenuWorks staff, Casey’s General Store, Bud’s Harley Davidson and Big 4 Cycles were all great hosts for the 37th Annual World Championship ICE Racing Finale,” said Brent Densford, President of International “Having International Championship Events (I.C.E.) choose the city of Evansville and Ford Center as the site to hold their race series finals was a coordinated effort between Venuworks and I.C.E. The event was successful for everyone and I.C.E. is requesting to hold their finals here again next year,” said Ford Center Executive Director Scott Schoenike.
The Ford Center continues to stay active with a variety of upcoming events, including the Deaconess GLVC 2013 Basketball Championship March 7-10, Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy March 27-30, Kid Rock April 1, Neon Trees April 12, Brit Floyd April 19, 911 Gives Hope: Guns & Hoses April 20, and Jason Aldean April 25.
Ford Center is managed by VenuWorks of Evansville, LLC. For more information on Ford Center visit: www.thefordcenter.com www.facebook.com/fordcenterevansville www.twitter.com/thefordcenter.

The Laugh-Out-Loud Comedy Comes to Evansville
Victory Theatre • May 22, 2013
– Tickets go on sale Friday, March 1 at 10:00 AM –
SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody is the hilarious new comedy that brings all the naughty fun of the best-selling book to life. Your inner goddess will be laughing out loud with this clever re-imagining of the characters as they come alive with hysterical comedy, musical numbers, steamy performances from the leading hunk in the grey tie, plus lots of surprises! Learn more at spankshow.com.
SPANK! takes place at the Victory Theatre on Wednesday, May 22nd at 7:30 PM. Tickets ($33.50) go on sale Friday, March 1st at 10:00 AM and can be purchased at the Ford Center ticket office, Ticketmaster.com, or by calling (800) 745-3000. Ticket prices subject to applicable fees.
Audience members can partake in pre-show drinks including a specialty SPANK! cocktail (doors open at 6:30) and, after the show, can pose for a photo with Mr. Dangerous himself.
Since its premiere in October of 2012, SPANK! has become a huge box office hit with tour dates in over 70 cities across the United States and Canada.
“A sexy, hysterical, rip-roaring good time” – Toronto Stage
“The audience went wild. SPANK! is a raucously hilarious, perfect girl’s night out!” – BroadwayWorld.com
“Wildly entertaining” – Toronto Stage
“A hilarious satire of practically every trope in popular culture” – Chicago Public Radio
SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody is not associated with, nor authorized by, author E.L. James or Vintage Press.