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HOTJOBS
VHS To Be Featured in Season Premiere of TLC’s “1000 Lb. Sisters”
TLC’s hit show 1000 Lb. Sisters returns on January 6th, 2026 at 9:00 Eastern/8:00 Central. The Vanderburgh Humane Society was a filming location this season and will be featured in the first 3 episodes!
Filming occurred in the spring of 2025. According to TLC’s synopsis: “Tammy is embracing a life-altering new chapter of her own. Following her transformative skin-removal surgery, she’s officially “adulting” – taking on a volunteer position at an animal shelter, and more responsibilities than ever at nearly 40.” That animal shelter is the community’s very own VHS.
Director of Advancement Amanda Coburn says this kind of exposure can work wonders. “Being featured on a successful network reality show like this will hopefully show viewers how fun volunteering at an animal shelter can be,” Coburn says. “It will bring awareness to our mission, to the animals our team is caring for every day, and to what it takes to provide for them.”
Coburn also says they have a variety of volunteer opportunities in 2026 for those who are interested. Some of their most urgent positions include volunteers to sort & price items and run the register at Happy Tails Resale Shop; lounge & cat care volunteers at River Kitty Cat Café; and hands-on animal care volunteers at the shelter. Many shifts are available 7 days a week. Those interested should visit https://www.vhslifesaver.org/get-involved/volunteer.
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
THUNDERBOLTS HOST NEARLY 6,000 FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE GAME
Evansville, In.: Despite the tough 6-1 defeat to the Birmingham Bulls, it was an off-ice victory as the Thunderbolts welcomed 5,923 fans to Wednesday night’s game and postgame fireworks show at Ford Center. The Thunderbolts’ next home game at Ford Center will be on Friday, January 2nd against the Quad City Storm at 7:00pm CT.
The Thunderbolts encountered some of the worst luck possible in the span of a single game, starting in the first period as the Thunderbolts heavily outshot the Bulls 21-5 and had the vast majority of scoring chances, yet the Bulls took a 2-0 lead off a Drake Glover power play goal at 8:10 and a CJ Walker goal at 11:20 on literally the only two chances the Bulls had in the period, as it became clear that Hayden Stewart was going to be a hard problem to solve in goal for Birmingham. In the second period, Evansville outshot the Bulls 10-9 yet Birmingham once again scored twice as Walker scored on a 5-on-3 at the 1:24 mark and Macgregor Sinclair made it 4-0 at 7:59. The Thunderbolts got life at 7:37 of the third period as Connor Tait scored off a face-off to break the Bulls’ shutout, assisted by Eelis Laaksonen. Unfortunately, the Bulls put the game away later as Sinclair scored again at 14:12 and Matt Wood added a power play goal with 2:13 remaining to make it a 6-1 game.
Tait scored Evansville’s goal while Kristian Stead stopped 19 of 25 shots on goal, which should be heavily emphasized that virtually all of the goals against Stead were on very difficult Grade-A opportunities. The Thunderbolts and Bulls meet again on Friday, January 23rd at Ford Center, with Evansville leading the season series 2-1.
In A Word 120 , What Will 2026 Be For You?
What Will 2026 Be For You? by Jerome Stewart
2025 is now gone forever. A brand New Year is here. Some people will be thinking about what they want to accomplish or see happen in 2026. Here’s a suggestion: For 2026; learn to place all of your trust in the living God. He will not let you down. Numbers 23 vs. 19 says; “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man that He should repent. Has He said and will He not do? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good?
Here’s another suggestion: Get to know Jesus by taking Him at His word. It will require spending time in the study of God’s word as well as prayer and meditation. Mankind has been given free will, which means we get to make our own choices in life. The greatest gift God bestowed upon mankind was when He sent Jesus into the world, whose birth we just celebrated, for the sins of all mankind.
No one has ever been forced to place their trust in the LORD, nor accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. It’s all voluntary. Yet there are blessings for those willing to follow the word of God which is where the salvation of Jesus Christ can be found. God’s word is our moral compass for righteous living. He is the exact same God today.
Moses said to the Israelites at that time in Deuteronomy chapter 30 vss. 9 and 10; “The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statues which are written in the Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
The key words mentioned were “obey the voice of the LORD and keep His commandments.”
Vss. 11 and 12 Moses says to the people; “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear and do it.” Vs. 14 says; “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.”
In the New Testament the Law of Christ must be followed and obeyed to the fullest extent possible. Listen to the words of Jesus in John 10 vss. 27 and 28. His words are plain and simple yet powerful! Jesus says; “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give then eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
Happy New Year!
THUNDERBOLTS TRANSFORM INTO RIVERJACKS THIS WEEKEND AGAINST QUAD CITY
Evansville, In.: The Thunderbolts emerged strong after Christmas, taking 3 out of 4 points in Quad City this past weekend. After hosting the Birmingham Bulls for New Year’s Eve, the Thunderbolts will rebrand for this coming weekend as the Ohio Valley RiverJacks when they take on the Storm this Friday and Saturday night at Ford Center.
Week In Review:
Friday night in Quad City, the Thunderbolts had a 4-1 lead with goals from Evan Miller, Derek Contessa, Eelis Laaksonen and Myles Abbate, however Evansville was forced to settle for one point as Quad City came back to win 5-4 in a shootout. The 4-1 lead stuck on Saturday night and became the final score for Evansville, with two goals from Scott Kirton and additional goals from Abbate and Matt Clark. The Thunderbolts will host the Birmingham Bulls for the annual New Year’s Eve game before getting set to host Quad City.
The Week Ahead:
It’s time to roll the dice, Evansville — the Thunderbolts are cashing in a brand-new identity for one weekend only! Join us at the Ford Center on Friday, January 2nd and Saturday, January 3rd as your Thunderbolts rebrand to the Ohio Valley Riverjacks! We’re celebrating the rich casino and riverboat history of Evansville, bringing that high-stakes energy straight to the ice. From the jerseys to the lights, it’s a full house of fun, excitement, and hard-hitting hockey action! Place your bets on the home team — and get ready to hit the jackpot with the Ohio Valley Riverjacks, one weekend only! Wyatt Riddle with BBB will be set up in the lobby for pictures and autographs ahead of puck drop on January 2nd. During the first intermission, take on the BBB talent for an on-ice competition and win 4 tickets! Throughout the game, the BBB crew will be throwing out merchandise to a few lucky fans! Looking to enjoy a rodeo show in January? Go see Bulls, Bands, and Barrels at the Ford Center on Saturday, January 10th by purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster.com or the Ford Center Box Office! The Thunderbolts will conclude this coming weekend with a Sunday afternoon matchup at Quad City, opening face-off set for 2:10pm CT at Vibrant Arena. Fans can watch on FloHockey or can listen for free on the Thunderbolts Mixlr Channel.
Governor Braun Launches Smart SNAP, Setting National Standard for Health and Nutrition
INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun today announced the launch of Smart SNAP, a groundbreaking initiative beginning January 1, 2026, that prohibits the use of SNAP benefits for sugary drinks and candy. This policy, a cornerstone of Governor Braun’s Make Indiana Healthy Again plan, reflects Indiana’s commitment to improving nutrition and reversing troubling health trends statewide.
Under Governor Braun’s leadership, Indiana is taking decisive action to set a standard for healthy eating and provide a model for other states.
“This is a common-sense change that will help Hoosiers live healthier lives. By working hand-in-hand with retailers, community organizations, and food banks, we’re ensuring this transition is smooth and effective. Indiana is proving that practical, collaborative solutions can make a real difference—and we hope other states will follow our lead.” – Gov. Mike Braun
This policy change was first announced in April 2025 alongside Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
To ensure a seamless rollout, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has implemented a comprehensive strategy:
- Retailer Engagement: Three meetings completed, eight more scheduled in January for compliance and training.
- Smart SNAP Retailer Resources: FAQs, posters, labels, and compliance checklists available online, with regular updates.
- Community Partnerships: Food banks and local organizations amplifying awareness statewide.
- Direct Outreach: Posters in all Division of Family Resources offices to inform SNAP recipients.
Indiana was among the first states to secure a USDA waiver for this change, and other states are already exploring similar measures. Smart SNAP underscores Governor Braun’s vision for healthier communities and practical leadership that delivers results.
Men’s basketball opens New Year at Illinois State
Aces and Redbirds set for 2 p.m. match-up
NORMAL, Ill. – The University of Evansville men’s basketball team rings in the New Year on Thursday afternoon with a 2 p.m. game at Illinois State. ESPN+ and Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.
Last Time Out
– After opening Monday’s game at Bradley on a 13-0 run, the Purple Aces battled to the finish before dropping a 76-68 decision
– AJ Casey had a career night, converting 8 of his 11 attempts on his way to 21 points
– Josh Hughes drained four 3-pointers and tallied 14 points and 7 caroms while Bryce Quinet finished the night with 11 points
12 and Over
– Through his first three MVC games, AJ Casey is averaging 15 points per game
– After scoring 12 in the opening two league games, Casey registered a career-high 21 points at Bradley on 8-of-11 shooting
– Casey now has seven double digit games on the season and is averaging 9.4 PPG
– Casey picked up three steals in the first two MVC games and is 8th in the league with his season average of 1.43/game
– He is UE’s second-leading rebounder with 5.4 per game including 11 versus Ball State
– Casey is 14th in the MVC with 5.43 boards/game and is 5th in offensive rbs (2.50/gm)
Making his Mark
– Alex Hemenway hit three more triples in the road game at Bradley on the way to a 9-point game
– Over his last seven games, Hemenway is averaging 8.3 PPG while going 14-of-33 from downtown
– He is shooting 36.1% from long range on the season tying him for 13th in the Valley
Triple Play
– Looking to regain the edge he had in the opening games of the season, Josh Hughes has started to find his shot from long range
– Over the last four games, Hughes has converted 9 of his 19 3-point tries
– He opened the season averaging 13.2 PPG through the first six games while scoring at least 12 points in each contest
– In the last eight games, Hughes has reached double figures just twice and is averaging 6.6 PPG
– His top games over that stretch were 14 points at Notre Dame and Bradley