Gerald Summers, director of safety and security for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, has been named a finalist for Campus Safety Magazine’s Campus Safety Director of the Year. Summers is one of about a dozen individuals from across the United States to be selected as a finalist. Summers will be featured in the January/February issue of Campus Safety Magazine along with the other finalists.
Summers, nominated for the award by EVSC Superintendent David Smith, has been with the EVSC for seven years and has worked to make EVSC schools and buildings safer places. “Gerald has been steadfast in his commitment to safety in the EVSC and has worked to acquire funding sources in lean times, so that the EVSC can continue to increase its focus on creating safe environments for students to succeed,†Smith said. During his time at the EVSC, Summers has acquired numerous grants in order to update emergency protocol, train staff, add safety enhancements to buildings and much more.
Summers enacted the school district’s anonymous alert system and received funds to conduct building assessments of all EVSC buildings. In 2009, he applied for and received a $249,000 Readiness Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) grant that allowed him to update emergency manuals, place to-go kits in every classroom and provide training to hundreds of individuals in the EVSC and the community. The EVSC also received $84,345 through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant because of Summers’ work. This grant allowed the EVSC to further its goal of having exterior doors locked once school begins. Summers also works closely with local emergency personal to ensure they know the layout of EVSC buildings and protocol for various types of emergencies.
Because of the contacts he has made and the training he has undergone, Summers was asked to serve as an evaluator for an Active School Shooting Drill for the Consolidated School Corporation in southern Hancock County. In addition, Summers was awarded the Partners in Preparedness Award by the Southwestern Indiana Disaster Resistant Community Corporation in 2009 in the area of School Prevention and Mitigation. Summers also is certified as an advanced school safety specialist by the State of Indiana.
Prior to joining the EVSC, Summers served as an Evansville City Police Officer, as a special agent for L&N Railroad, and safety director at Welborn Baptist Hospital. He also worked as a probation officer and community services officer for the Vanderburgh County Juvenile Court where he worked with troubled youth.
Summers graduated from Bosse High School before continuing his education at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and Kennedy Western College where he obtained a B.S. in safety engineering.
EVSC Director Named Finalist for Safety Director of the Year
Introducing Evansville Fire Chief Mike Connelly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2011
MAYOR-ELECT WINNECKE NAMES FIRE CHIEF
EVANSVILLE, IN – Evansville Mayor-elect Lloyd Winnecke announced his selection of Captain Mike Connelly as Evansville’s next Fire Chief.
Captain Connelly has 17 years of experience with the Evansville Fire Department, and is currently assigned to fire suppression with Rescue Company #1. He also serves as a Team Leader on the Hazardous Materials Response Team.
“We interviewed several applicants, but Mike stood out as a leader with a vision and the ability to take the fire department to the next level,†said Mayor-elect Lloyd Winnecke. “I believe that Mike has all of the tools needed to make the department even more responsive to the citizens of Evansville and also build the morale of firefighters.
Captain Connelly is a highly decorated firefighter with numerous awards for merit, technical skill and leadership. He is a graduate of the United States Navy Nuclear Power School and attended the University of Southern Indiana for Mechanical Engineering Technology.
“I am honored to have this opportunity to serve the people of Evansville,†said Mr. Connelly. “The Mayor-elect outlined a strong plan for improving public safety and we will work hard to carry it out and provide a safe community.â€
Mayor-elect Winnecke will continue to assemble his new administrative team over the next few weeks. For additional information, visit www.TransitionEvansville.com.
Central Students Donate $2,000 to Local Humane Society
Advanced marketing classes at Central High School have been working hard recently, not only to earn good grades, but also to collect as much money as possible for the Vanderburgh Humane Society (VHS). The students collected $2,020.27 for the VHS after completing a school project that had them emulating the television show, “The Apprentice.â€
The project, a partnership among Evansville Federal Credit Union, Public Education Foundation and Central High School Marketing Teachers Sherry Dockery and Mike Owen, began with students naming their teams and brainstorming ideas on how to best raise money. With the help of the Public Education Foundation (PEF), each of the 12 teams was given $60 to be used for any purpose related to the project. Fundraising ideas included collecting change and donations; selling t-shirts, sweatshirts, food items and spirit bracelets; and selling chances for a membership at Bob’s Gym and Island Rayz. Students also orchestrated a fundraising event at Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt.
“We saw this project as a way to not only teach teamwork and presentation skills, but also as a way to get the students involved in the community,†says Taunya King, marketing specialist for Evansville Federal Credit Union. “The students really took this opportunity to give back and made the most of it. We couldn’t be more proud of their hard work and commitment.â€
All funds raised will be donated to the VHS. As part of the project, students visited the humane society and spoke with officials about the organization and how it serves the community.
Downtown Today: 12/15/2011
Time 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Subject SHERIFF SALE
Location 301
The meeting actually starts at 10:00.
Categories ROOM 301
Time 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject CODE ENFORCEMENT HRGS
Location 307
KIM JOSEY @ 7889
Categories ROOM 307
Time 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Subject BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs every Thursday effective 12/1/2011 until 12/29/2011 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
Sharon Evans @ 4982
Categories ROOM 301
Time 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject BOARD OF ZONING
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the third Thursday of every 1 month effective 12/15/2011 until 12/15/2011 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
KATHIE @ 5228
Categories ROOM 301
IS IT TRUE? December 15, 2011
IS IT TRUE? December 15, 2011
IS IT TRUE that Mayor Elect Lloyd Winnecke and his Transition Team rolled out one of the most anticipated announcements of Billy Bolin as the new Evansville Police Chief who then revealed his choice of Chris Pugh as Assistant Chief of Police?…that Chief Bolin is well known and respected not only for his police work but as one of the organizational and management forces behind the Guns & Hoses event?…that Guns & Hoses packed over 7,000 people in Roberts Stadium last year raising a reported $60,000+ for charity?…that as expected Bolin came out planning the coming assault Evansville’s meth problem?…that clearly acknowledged the severity of the meth problem and expressed his support to make pseudoephedrine a prescription based substance?…that this is a position that is supported by the City County Observer and by results driven data from other locales that have taken what may seem like a drastic step?
IS IT TRUE that that the first step to solving a problem is to acknowledge and define it?…that in a world and particularly in an administration that has tended to minimize problems with smiles, ad campaigns, and photo ops, that over the past 8 years things in general and particularly with criminal activity have really gotten worse in Evansville?…that part of the reason for that is “head in the sand†politics that is contagious to the population?…that in a place where meth labs are at some of the highest levels in the nation, criminal activity has magnified in the city parks, and has a growing gang problem for local leaders to sit around like parrots saying things like “it’s a great place to raise kids†or “we got a great quality of life†is just poppycock?…that it is refreshing to see an appointment to police chief that will point to a problem, make the seriousness clear to everyone, and immediately start formulating a solution?…that the CCO would like to congratulate our new leaders of law enforcement Billy Bolin and Chris Pugh and to thank Mayor Elect Winnecke and his Transition Team for making a great choice?…that decisions like this are the foundation for having an Evansville in 4 years that is better than Evansville is today?
IS IT TRUE that another announcement is coming this morning at 10:00 o’clock?…that we will know at that time who Mayor Elect Winnecke will be tapping to succeed Keith Jarboe as the next Fire Chief of the City of Evansville?…that the Mole Nation is buzzing with anticipation and probing for information on this appointment and is split as to who the winner may be?…that the names of Captain Mike Connelly and former Fire Chief Mike Humphrey keep rattling around in the Mole minds?…that both of these gentlemen have support within the rank and file and have career track records that scream competence and integrity so the moles are expected to be please with either appointment?…that the new assassin Mole #7 called Mole #3 in Florida for a powwow on which really has the inside tract and that the conclusion based on a technicality that Mole #3 remembers leads the Alpha Moles to predict that the people of Evansville will be introduced to Fire Chief Connelly at today’s news conference?
IS IT TRUE that we are anticipating some more announcements of appointments and that the next one may be Director of Transportation and Services?…that we publish that because Mole #24 has observed the current director Mr. Ed Ziemer packing some boxes in his office?…that the CCO has great admiration for Mr. Ziemer and would like to thank him for his years of service to the City of Evansville?…that we expect those boxes will not be moved very far as Mr. Ziemer has a few more good years of service left in him before a well deserved retirement at the time of his choosing?
IS IT TRUE that the Mole Nation tells us that there are 4 candidates vying to replace Tom Barnett as the Director of Metropolitan Development?…that Mr. Barnett being a driven agent of action is not packing anything yet preferring to spend his efforts jamming through another 25 houses in the Front Door Pride area to set Mayor Elect Winnecke’s agenda for him?…that this is a decision that can and should wait until after the inauguration and that Mr. Barnett should concentrate either on keeping the job he has or searching for another one should there be a change made in his status by the Winnecke Administration?
IS IT TRUE that one position that is not the subject of the Mole Nation is the position currently held by Dan Schall as the Director of Parks and Recreation?…that as we have written in the past Mr. Schall may be the right guy for this job in he has the right orders and the right boss?…that one thing for sure is that the Director of Parks and Recreation needs some new marching orders as the parks of Evansville have gone dramatically downhill during the last 8 years?
The Hunden Study
We present this information to our readers without edit, opinion, or bias.
Winnecke to Announce Fire Chief Appointment Thursday at 10am
December 14, 2011
For Immediate Release:
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA:
Mayor Elect Winnecke will announce the leadership of the Evansville Fire Department tomorrow morning (December 15th, 2011) at 10:00 A.M. The Announcement will take place at Hose House No. 1, which is located at 750 SE 8th St. in downtown Evansville.
Please contact our transition office at (812) 455-0037 with questions.
Message Sent by Denise A. Johnson, Transition Evansville
denise@winneckeformayor.com
EPD Choices Announced: Chief Bolin & Assistant Chief Pugh
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2011
MAYOR-ELECT WINNECKE NAMES POLICE CHIEF & ASSISTANT CHIEF
　
EVANSVILLE, IN – Concluding a rigorous, exhaustive search and evaluation process, Evansville Mayor-elect Lloyd Winnecke announced his selection of Billy Bolin as Evansville’s next Police Chief and Chris Pugh as Assistant Chief.
Mr. Bolin and Mr. Pugh have a combined 35 years of service with the Evansville Police Department and both currently hold the rank of Sergeant.
“Billy’s track record is exemplary, across the entire range of key attributes that contribute to a dedicated, creative, and successful leader,” said Mayor-elect Lloyd Winnecke. “We had a number of excellent candidates for this position and we interviewed them all. Billy’s focus on creating partnerships, building morale, and community involvement, as well as his strong leadership skills, showed us that he’s the right choice for our community.”
Mr. Bolin was instrumental in assisting Mayor-elect Winnecke in mapping out his plan to fight meth abuse and reduce gang violence. Throughout his career in law enforcement, Mr. Bolin has consistently exhibited the highest professional standards, and has achieved an outstanding reputation. In 2009 the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police named him the Police Officer of the Year.
“This is a great opportunity to take the Evansville City Police Department to a new level, and I’m very excited about getting to work,” said Mr. Bolin. “In addition to tackling meth and gang crimes, an important goal we have is to improve the morale of police officers. I believe that in doing so, we will see officers treating citizens better, performing their jobs better and ultimately, we will reduce the fear and incidence of crime.”
Among the accomplishments of which he is most proud, Mr. Bolin points to his leadership as co-founder of 911 Gives Hope, a charitable foundation comprised of emergency services personnel that gives back to local groups who help the disadvantaged and children. The organization has raised over $280,000 in its first four years.
With an equally impressive record of service, Mr. Pugh has worked in the Patrol Division of the South Sector, served as Tactical Commander of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit and as a detective in the Narcotics Unit. In 2001, Mr. Pugh was named Police Officer of the Year by the American Legion and Downtown Kiwanis for work dealing with the upsurge in methamphetamine labs.
Mayor-elect Winnecke will continue to assemble his new administrative team over the next few weeks. For information on job openings, visit www.transitionevansville.com.