June 22, 2012 – Torrance, Calif.- Dr. Dashboard, a mobile electronics specialist retail and professional installation facility in Evansville, IN has been named to Mobile Electronics n’|agazine’s Top 50 Retailers list for 2011-2012. The Top 50 list is compiled each year from nominations by factory and independent sales and customer service representatives from the mobile electronics industry.

“This year we’re especially proud of the Top 50,” said Solomon Daniels, editor-in-chief of Mobile Electronics. “Despite a challenging climate for small businesses in general and specialist retailers in particular, these stores have maintained the focus necessary to continually elevate their skill sets, provide exemplary service and act as ideal ambassadors of our industry to their customers and peers.”

Mobile Electronics has been compiling the Top 50 annually for more than 15 years. Retailers on the list receive a wall certificate signifying their achievement, as well as the right to use award artwork on their Websites, marketing materials and social networks. Their retail locations also remain listed on the Mobile Electronics magazine Web site, www.me­mag.com, for the duration.

In addition, each award recipient is eligible to be considered for the Top 12, a series of finalists for the magazìne’s ultimate Retailer of the Year award. The Top 12 are determined by votes from industry professionals and customers of the retailer. Votes can be placed at wWw.rr|e-mag.com/awards until July 3, 2012.

About Mobiie Electronics

Mobile Electronics magazine is a trade publication that serves the needs of retail, sales and installation professionals in the mobile electronics industry. Published seven times per year, Mobile Electronics provides insight, product information, business tips and technical data to maintain and enhance the growth potential and expertise of industry specialists` The magazine is supported by its Web site, me-mag.com, and Hotwire, its twice-weekly email newsletter. For more information, visit www.me-magitom.

New Harmony, IN – The University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees, during their regular meeting on July 12, 2012, approved a $96 million operating budget for the 2012-2013 academic year, an increase of $2.5 million over the prior year. Income is from fee revenues, state appropriations, and other sources.

The board authorized the University to borrow just under $50 million using City Securities of Indianapolis, including $13 million of new funds to construct a teaching theatre on campus along with refinancing of existing University borrowing. The expected gross savings from the refinancing will be more than $5 million over the life of the borrowing.

“We’re pleased with this refinancing to be able to provide significant savings to the state of Indiana and its taxpayers,” said Mark Rozewski, vice president for Finance and Administration.

Also approved were construction contracts for the $16.7 million teaching theatre, for which ground will be broken next month and which is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2014. The general contractor will be Empire Construction of Evansville, mechanical contractor Deig Brothers Construction of Evansville, and electrical contractor Alva Electric of Evansville. Estimates are that more than 100 construction jobs will result from this two-year project.

Steve Helfrich, director of Facility Operations and Planning, updated the trustees on other current construction projects. He reported on the progress of the Applied Engineering Center, scheduled for completion this November, and on the University Center Loft food service renovation, to be completed before classes begin in August. Other summer projects underway are partial renovations to the bookstore, apartment buildings in campus housing, and office areas in the Wright Administration Building.

Jennie Ebeling, associate professor of archaeology in the University of Evansville’s Department of Archaeology and Art History, has been awarded a four-month post-doctoral research fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Ebeling will spend the Fall 2012 semester at the American Center of Oriental Research in Amman, Jordan, researching “Bread Culture in Jordan: A Study of Women’s Changing Roles in Bread Production in the 21st Century.” In addition to conducting ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological research on traditional bread baking techniques, she will produce a video on bread culture in Jordan with a local filmmaker. Ebeling specializes in ancient food technology in the Middle East.

An archaeologist who works in Israel and Jordan, Ebeling earned a PhD in Syro-Palestinian archaeology from the Department of Near Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona in 2001. In addition to the NEH fellowship, she has been awarded several competitive grants, including Fulbright and Lady Davis fellowships, to support her graduate and post-graduate research abroad.

Ebeling has taught in the Department of Archaeology and Art History at the University of Evansville since 2002 and has served as chair since 2009. In Spring 2011, she received the Dean’s Teaching Award from UE’s College of Arts and Sciences. Ebeling also serves as co-director of the Jezreel Expedition and a vice president of the American Schools of Oriental Research. She is an editor of the volumes Household Archaeology in Ancient Israel and Beyond (with A. Yasur-Landau and L. Mazow, Brill, 2011) and New Approaches to Old Stones: Recent Studies of Ground Stone Artifacts (with Y.M. Rowan, Equinox, 2008) and the author of Women’s Lives in Biblical Times (T&T Clark International, 2010).

Source: Evansville.edu

Firefighter Ben Pfeffer (pef-fer), a 9½ year veteran of the Evansville Fire Department, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant this morning in a brief ceremony at EFD headquarters. Pfeffer’s badge was presented by Fire Chief Mike Connelly who then followed up with a congratulatory handshake for the new Lieutenant.

Ben has been active in Firefighter’s Local 357, chairing the Fall Festival and Children’s Christmas Party committees and serving on the Executive Board. He was selected as the 2009 Greenriver Kiwanis Firefighter of the Year. Since February 2003, Ben has been assigned to Ladder #1. Lieutenant Pfeffer’s new assignment has not been determined at this time.

Today Vectren learned that when people in southwestern Indiana speak up, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) will listen. Vectren was denied its rate increase in entirety. Last August I made a formal request on behalf of ratepayers to hold a town hall style meeting in Evansville to listen to complaints. That meeting was held. I was joined by Councilman John Friend in the effort. He speaks passionately about businesses trying to stay afloat in this economy and the added burden of yet another electric rate increase.

This would not have been possible without the support, encouragement and initiative of the City County Observer to step out and print the facts. I want to thank Councilman Friend, the City County Observer and the IURC for their leadership and commitment to listen to the people. A special thanks to the Citizens Action Coalition (WWW.citact.org) for their counsel to me and other Hoosiers striving for just, reasonable and affordable utitilies rates.

Gail Riecken

State Representative, D 77

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The Facts:

Vectren filed for a rate increase for the installment of $32 million in dense pack technology to improve efficiency to two units at their A.B. Brown Generating Station. The Cause Number at the Commission was 44067. It was filed on September 13, 2011 and ruled on today. Vectren stated the estimated bill impact for a residential customer would have been $1.08 per month. Vectren was seeking this unjustified rate increase knowing they have the highest electricity rates in the state. On average, the average Indiana ratepayer pays $100 per 1000kwh of electricity used. In July of 2011, the average Vectren electric customer paid $155 per 1000kwh used. Vectren’s rates are up 62.8% or $59.85 for that amount of electricity over the last five years and up 109% or $80.91 over the last decade!

Adding insult to injury, the Commission denied this very request in Vectren’s last rate case. Instead, the IURC ordered Vectren to file for cost recovery AFTER the projects were completed and “report on the actual improvements achieved by the projects.” Yet Vectren come back to the Commission and ask again for approval.

Vectren does not know the actual cost of the project and refers to the $32 million in their testimony as the estimated cost. They stated in their testimony: “It must be emphasized that the actual impacts will depend upon the actual construction costs… as the Project proceeds.”

Vectren wanted a guarantee they can recover all costs associated with the project and a rate of return (profit).

Vectren suggested that ratepayers will “see little to no rate impact” and promised that ratepayers will actually save money as a result of this project. The fact is the only guarantee that ratepayers get is that bills will increase to pay for the project. Promised savings are contingent upon the cost of coal, so if the price of coal goes up, which is likely, bills go up, regardless of this project.