Home Blog Page 700

Animal Control Investigation leads to the Arrest of all Three Warrick County Commissioners

0

 

Warrick County – The Warrick County Animal Control investigation into misappropriated funds by Indiana State Police has resulted in the arrest of all three Warrick County Commissioners.

After the arrest of Danielle Barnes on December 13, 2023, Indiana State Police Detectives Werne and Stinson received information that Warrick County Commissioner’s Terry Phillippe, Dan Saylor, and Robert Johnson had no knowledge of Barnes’ non-profit organization, Warrick Animal Guardian (WAG), or any documents concerning WAG. Barnes was operating Warrick Animal Guardian (WAG) while employed as a supervisor at Warrick County Animal Control.

During the investigation, detectives revealed on January 9, 2023, a donation of a mobile trailer to Warrick County Animal Control from WAG was accepted by the commissioners.  On February 1, 2024, Warrick County Commissioners released a timeline of events during a public news conference, which stated between December 1-4, 2023, the commissioners received limited documentation from the health department regarding Barnes’ conduct. Detectives later learned the commissioners had allegedly been investigating Barnes for months.

During the summer of 2023, the Warrick County Health Department had closed a swimming pool and several restaurants that failed health inspections.  Warrick County Commissioners allegedly instructed the health department to open the pool and restaurants. The owners of the pool and restaurants were allegedly friends and business associates of the commissioners. The health department ignored their orders. The health department supervisor was later terminated by the commissioners for allegedly not opening the restaurants, pool, and cooperating with Indiana State Police during the investigation pertaining to the misappropriated funds at the Warrick County Animal Shelter.

After reviewing the information gathered by Indiana State Police, Perry County Prosecutor Samantha Hurst filed criminal charges on Terry Phillippe, Dan Saylor, and Robert Johnson.  Arrest warrants were issued this morning. All three Warrick County Commissioners were arrested at 12:30 this afternoon after they turned themselves in at the Warrick County Jail. They were released after posting bond.

Arrested and Charges:

  • Terry Phillippe, 54, Boonville, IN
  1. Perjury, Level 6 Felony
  2. Official Misconduct, Level 6 Felony
  3. False Informing, Class A Misdemeanor
  • Dan Saylor, 59, Newburgh, IN
  • Robert Johnson, Jr, 62, Tennyson, IN
  1. Official Misconduct, Level 6 Felony
  2. False Informing, Class A Misdemeanor

This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

Investigating Officers: Detective Sergeant Brock Werne, Detective Patrick Stinson, and Detective Toni Walden, Indiana State Police

HOT JOBS

0
Purchasing Specialist
Deaconess Health System  3.5 3.5/5 rating – Morganfield, KY
As a Purchasing Specialist, you would be responsible for assisting departments with supply requirements and budgetary cost estimates.
Just posted
Infection Preventionist
Deaconess Health System  3.5 3.5/5 rating – Evansville, IN
Provide documentation of specialized training/five years of experience in Infection control or closely related field. Certification from APIC, CIC preferred.
1 day ago
Phlebotomist
Deaconess Health System  3.5 3.5/5 rating – Princeton, IN
$15.98 – $20.00 an hour
We pride ourselves in retaining our top talent by offering work environments that support professional development and personal success. $15.98-$20.00 per hour.
1 day ago
DHS Police Officer
Deaconess Health System  3.5 3.5/5 rating – Evansville, IN
Shall respond to calls for assistance by hospital staff, patients, visitors, and local law enforcement agencies. Visually checks for safety and fire hazards.
Just posted
Staff Nurse RN
Deaconess Health System  3.5 3.5/5 rating – Evansville, IN
$30.50 – $49.00 an hour
Easily apply
As a Registered Nurse, you will play a critical role in continuing the healing mission of Deaconess. We pride ourselves in retaining our top talent by offering…
Just posted
Patient Care Technician (PCT) – Weekends
Deaconess Health System  3.5 3.5/5 rating – Henderson, KY
As a Patient Care Technician, you will play a critical role in continuing the healing mission of Deaconess. Schedule: Part Time – 48, Weekend Day/Evening.
1 day ago
Clinic Practice RN III – Comp Center
Deaconess Health System  3.5 3.5/5 rating – Evansville, IN
$28.12 – $39.37 an hour
One on one student loan coaching via email, chat or calls. Current state appropriate licensure as a Registered Nurse. $28.12 – $39.37 per hour.
2 days ago
Audit & Compliance Professional Coding
Deaconess Health System  3.5 3.5/5 rating – Evansville, IN
They will devise an auditing plan, track progress and results and keep the Manager updated of all progress. Compliance officers will review and respond to all…
3 days ago
Clinic RN, LPN, CMA/RMA Float – Oakland City & Petersburg Clinics
Deaconess Health System  3.5 3.5/5 rating – Petersburg, IN
Easily apply
Active LPN license in state of employment. Active RN license in state of employment. Current certification/license from one of the below:
3 days ago
Assistant Director of Campus Operations – Henderson (PRN/Supplemental) (RN)
Deaconess Health System  3.5 3.5/5 rating – Henderson, KY
As an Assistant Director of Campus Operations (ADCO), you will play a critical role in continuing the healing mission of Deaconess.
4 days ago

THUNDERBOLTS ANNOUNCE 2024-25 SEASON TICKET INFORMATION

0

Evansville, In.:  The Evansville Thunderbolts are pleased to announce that season tickets for the 2024-25 SPHL season will become available for purchase or renewal beginning next Wednesday, February 14th.

 

Limited time offers will be available for both new and existing season ticket holders who sign up for the 2024-25 season.  New season ticket holders who sign up for 2024-25 season tickets before April 6th will receive a free ticket to use for their choice of 4 of the remaining home games of this 2023-24 season, excluding playoff games.  Existing season ticket holders who renew by April 6th will be entered into a drawing for a premium autographed team item.

 

The Thunderbolts have ten remaining games on their regular season home schedule for this 2023-24 season, starting with this Friday, February 9th against the Birmingham Bulls (First Responders’ Night).  Evansville then hosts the Quad City Storm on Wednesday, February 14th (Valentine’s Day), Friday, March 1st (Dog’s Night Out 2), and Saturday, March 2nd (Super Villian Night), the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday, February 24th (90’s Night), Friday, March 22nd (Princess & Pirates Night), and Saturday, March 23rd (Hawaiian Night), the Pensacola Ice Flyers on Sunday, March 10th (Sunday Funday), and finally the Bulls once again on Friday, April 5th (Country Night) and Saturday, April 6th (Fan Appreciation Night). All games (except for Sunday, March 10th at 3:00pm CT) begin at 7:00pm CT, with doors opening at 6:15pm CT (6:00pm CT for season ticket holders).

 

Shooting Incident 800 block of W Virginia St.

0
EPD

 On February 6th, just at 11:00 p.m., Evansville Police Officers were dispatched to the 800 block of E Virginia St. in reference to a victim who had been shot. Officers arrived and located an adult male victim with a single gunshot wound to his abdomen. The victim was conscious, alert, and able to speak with officers. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The shooter was still on scene and cooperated with the officers. The shooter and the victim are roommates. 

At this time, this shooting appears to be accidental. According to witness statements, while the roommates were cleaning and reassembling their firearms, an accidental discharge occurred, striking the victim. This is still an active investigation and no arrests have been made. 

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

0
MAYOR
MAYOR

Booked Last 24 Hours-Public

Attorney General Todd Rokita launches ‘Eyes on Education’ portal to further empower parents 

0

Attorney General Todd Rokita today launched Eyes on Education, a transparency portal to empower parents to further engage in their children’s education by providing a platform to submit and view potentially inappropriate materials in their schools. 

“As I travel the state, I regularly hear from students, parents and teachers about destructive curricula, policies or programs in our schools,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Our kids need to focus on fundamental educational building blocks, NOT ideology that divides kids from their parents and normal society. The media and schools themselves have continued to deny that this indoctrination is happening here in Indiana, so my office is launching Eyes on Education — a platform for students and parents to submit and view real examples of socialist indoctrination from classrooms across the state.”  

Here are several examples live on the portal already, including: 

  • A gender support plan from Clark-Pleasant Community School Corp., which directs faculty not to disclose any information that reveals a student’s gender identity to others, including to their parents or guardians.
  • A pride flag featuring a Black Lives Matter symbol in a classroom in Kokomo. (Black Lives Matter is a political organization. If classrooms choose to display this type of material, all other political organizations must have the same opportunity.) 
  • A Carmel Clay survey that asks students their political beliefs, including their stance on abortion.
  • A presentation from Martinsville High School instructing kids to “become emotionally independent of parents”
  • Race and gender-based college fairs and scholarships at Penn Harris Madison School Corporation.

The Office of the Attorney General will follow up on materials you submit to the portal that may violate Indiana law using investigative tools, including public records requests, and publish findings on the portal as well. 

Beyond K-12 classrooms, the Eyes on Education portal also accepts submissions involving colleges, universities and other affiliated academic entities in Indiana. 

From the start, Attorney General Rokita has consistently prioritized empowering parents — from creating and publishing the Parents’ Bill of Rights to stopping federal authorities’ investigation of parents deemed excessively vocal at school board meetings and other venues. The new portal continues that mission. 

“We not only want to help empower parents,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We also want to help empower excellent educators. In some cases, district bureaucrats suppress the conscientious efforts of caring and well-qualified teachers. Our portal is a place where educators, too, can submit examples of materials they find objectionable.” 

Visit our website in.gov/attorneygeneral and select ‘Eyes on Education’ to submit examples or view others from around the state.  

To submit to the portal, select the school corporation, name of the school, and upload your documents. Upon submission, someone from our office may contact you for additional information or clarification. Submissions to the portal will be reviewed and published regularly. 

 

Attorney General Rokita’s video on the new Eyes on Education portal is included below. 

UE’S HUG NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-MVC BASEBALL TEAM

0

 

EVANSVILLE, Ind. –  University of Evansville graduate first baseman Chase Hug (Indianapolis, Ind./Olney Central/Pike HS) was named on Tuesday to the preseason all-Missouri Valley Conference baseball team at first base in a vote of the league’s head coaches.

Hug, who recently was ranked as the nation’s 29th-best first baseman by D1Baseball.com entering the 2024 season, earned preseason all-Valley honors after capturing first-team all-MVC honors a season ago for the Purple Aces.  Hug led UE with a team-best .311 average in 2023 with 15 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 48 RBI and 51 runs scored.  He was also named to the MVC’s All-Defensive Team and MVC All-Tournament team a year ago for the Purple Aces.

As a team, Evansville was predicted to finish third in a closely-contested preseason poll.  Indiana State, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament Super Regional round last year, was predicted to finish first in the preseason poll with 95 points and eight first-place votes, with both Missouri State (89 points) and Evansville (81 points) finishing close behind, with each school receiving a first-place vote.  Evansville returns seven position starters from a year ago, with five of them earning all-MVC honors at some point in their UE career, and 10 pitchers, including 2022 MVC Pitcher of the Year Nick Smith.  Evansville posted a 37-24 overall record in 2023 and advanced to the MVC Tournament final against Indiana State.

Season tickets for UE baseball are currently on sale.  Tickets can be purchased by phone by calling the UE Athletic Ticket Office at 812-488-2623.  Tickets can also be purchased on-line at GoPurpleAces.com/Tickets through HomeTown Ticketing.

The 2024 UE baseball season will kick off on Friday, February 16 at 2023 College World Series participant Oral Roberts.

Tickets Now On Sale For The 2024 MVC Swimming & Diving Championships Hosted By UE

0

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—For the first time in history, the Missouri Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championships will come to Evansville from Wednesday, February 21 through Saturday, February 24, as both the University of Evansville and the Evansville Regional Sports Commission will serve as the hosts at the Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville.  Tickets for the event are now available on-line at www.GoPurpleAces.com/Tickets .

An all-session adult pass, which will grant access to all seven sessions of the 2024 MVC Swimming & Diving Championships, is currently available for $55.  A youth pass for children ages 3-17 is also available for $30.  Single-session tickets are also currently available for $10 for adults and $7 for youth, and all tickets can be purchased on-line by visiting www.GoPurpleAces.com/Tickets and clicking on the “MVC Swim & Dive Championship Passes” link.

The MVC Swimming & Diving Championships will feature competitors from nine different schools on the women’s side, including traditional Valley schools Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Southern Illinois, UIC, UNI, and Valparaiso and MVC affiliate member for swimming and diving, Little Rock.  The MVC Championships will begin Wednesday night, February 21 at 6 p.m. with finals in the 200-Yard Medley Relay and 800-Yard Freestyle Relay events.  The championships will continue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with preliminary round swims beginning each day at 10:30 a.m., and final-round competition beginning at 6 p.m. each night.
 

McNamara: Bill to reduce court delays due to mental health evals advances to Senate

0

by Wendy McNamara

STATEHOUSE (Feb. 6, 2024) – The Indiana House of Representatives unanimously approved State Rep. Wendy McNamara’s (R-Evansville) legislation aimed at alleviating legal backlogs when it comes to determining a defendant’s competency to stand trial.

“The process of determining an individual’s competency to stand trial is among the top concerns of Indiana’s criminal justice system,” McNamara said. “Often, defendants facing misdemeanors and level 6 felonies spend more time waiting to be deemed ready to face court than they would in jail after sentencing, which not only hurts their chances of rehabilitation, but also bogs down our state’s judicial resources. The goal of my legislation is to speed up the process for the victim and the accused.”

A defendant must be considered competent, or able to understand court proceedings, before a trial begins. Determining a defendant’s competence to stand trial may require multiple mental health examinations, which may be requested by either the defense or the prosecution. According to data collected by the Indiana Supreme Court, for 1,629 competency cases heard in the state between 2018 and 2022, the average time between when a defendant is charged and when a competency hearing is scheduled is 348 days.

“The length of time these defendants, especially those charged with low-level offenses, spend in jail waiting for a hearing is dictated by the availability of qualified mental health professionals,” McNamara said. “This bill will update the competency process and alleviate the burden on our criminal justice system.”

McNamara, chair of the House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code, said House Bill 1238 would streamline the mental health exam requirements to help expedite justice. For Level 6 felonies, which are the lowest, only one competency evaluation would be required instead of two. However, the bill would maintain two to three evaluations for level 1 through level 5 felonies, which are more serious.

Currently, the list of professionals who can determine an individual’s competency are limited to psychiatrists, physicians and psychologists – all professions experiencing workforce shortages. To help, McNamara said her bill would expand the list to include Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with a certification in psychiatric nursing or physician assistants specializing in psychiatry and mental health.

McNamara’s legislation would also allow a court to dismiss criminal charges against an individual if it is determined they would not regain competency, including after six months of mental health treatment. A judge would be allowed to dismiss if the defendant has certain diagnoses impacting their ability to assist with or understand court proceedings, such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, a traumatic brain injury or developmental disability.

The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, the Indiana Public Defender Council, the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association and the Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses support the legislation.

Vanderburgh County Council Meeting, FEBRUARY 7, 2024

0

Vanderburgh County Council Meeting
FEBRUARY 7, 2024

3:30 P.M.

AGENDA

1. OPENING OF MEETING

 

2. ATTENDANCE ROLL CALL

 

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

4. INVOCATION

 

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 

A. County Council Meeting January 3, 2024
6. PERSONNEL REQUESTS:

 

A. Circuit Court – Supplemental Adult Probation
1. Request to fill vacancy for Court Secretary 21010000-210165
B. Superior Court – IN Dept of Corrections Grant Work Release & Community Corrections Project Income – Work Release
1. Request to fill vacancy for Residential Officer 93140000-931456 and 11222505-931456
C. Clerk
1. Request to fill vacancy for the following positions:
a. Small Claims Clerk 10001010-101120
b. Jury/Expungement Clerk 10001010-101125
c. Bookkeeping Clerk 10001010-101133
d. M/T Court Warrant Clerk 10001010-101142
e. Circuit/Superior Certified Mail Clerk 10001010-101146
D. Sheriff
1. Request to fill vacancies for (4) Paper Servers 10001050-199000
E. Prosecutor
1. Request to fill vacancy for Deputy Prosecutor 10001080-108119
F. Assessor
1. Request to fill vacancy for Sales Disclosure Deputy 10001090-109120
2. Request to fill vacancy for Real Estate Deputy Residential II 10001010-109140
3. Request to retitle and assign new job descriptions to the following:
a. Sales Disclosure Deputy 10001090-109117 and 109120
b. Sales Disclosure/Personal Property 10001090-109175
c. Personal Property Deputy II 10001090-109176
G. Public Defender
1. Request to allow advanced step placement and fill vacancy for Public Defender 10001420-142194
H. Legal Aid – IN Civil Legal Aid Fund
1. Request to amend hourly pay for PT Receptionist 49340000-199000 (Extra Help)
2. Request to create and fill vacancy for PT Legal Secretary 49340000-199000 (Extra Help)
I. Health Department
1. Request to fill vacancy for Environmental Health Specialist I 11590000-115933
2. Request to fill vacancy for Administrative Support Professional I 11590000-115942
J. Health Department – Pre to 3 Expansion Federal Grant and Health Department – Pre to  3 Expansion State Grant
1. Request to amend hourly pay for PT Community Health Worker 84350000-199000 and 94230000-199000 (Extra Help)
K. Health Department – Safety Pin Grant
1. Request to fill vacancy for Community Health Worker II 94150000-941511
7. APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE:

 

A. County Commissioners
B. Community Corrections Project Income – Work Releas
C. Community Corrections Project Income – Treatment Court
D. Community Corrections Project Income – Electronic Home Detention
E. Local Roads and Streets
8. REPEALS:  None

 

9. TRANSFERS:

 

A. Area Plan Commission
B. Cumulative Bridge
10. OLD BUSINESS – None

 

11. NEW BUSINESS:

 

A. Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office Recognition Awards – Jill A. Hahn
B. Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare – Katy Adams, President/CEO
C. Gifford’s Gun Law – 2023 Annual Indiana Scorecard – Sean O’Daniel
18. AMENDMENTS TO SALARY ORDINANCE
19. PUBLIC COMMENT
20. REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETING DATES/TIMES:
A. No Personnel & Finance Meeting scheduled for February
B. County Council Meeting – March 6, 2024 @3:30 PM
21. ADJOURNMENT
1...699700701...7,202Page 700 of 7,202