FOOTNOTE: Â EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
FOOTNOTE: Â EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Mayor-Elect Stephanie Terry’s Announces 22-Member Transition TeamÂ
The bi-partisan team includes community members with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and expertise.Â
DECEMBER 1, 2023
Evansville, IN – Evansville Mayor-elect Stephanie Terry’s transition team has begun their work to ensure a smooth change of power in our city. Terry and team members appeared before the media Wednesday afternoon to share progress on many projects underway.
“I’m proud of the group we’ve put together. Each of these people brings a wealth of diverse experiences to the table and all of them care deeply about our city,†said Mayor-Elect Terry. “They are committed to volunteering their time to help us build a strong administration that is focused on working for everyone.â€
Terry has chosen retired chairman and chief executive officer of Old National Bank, Bob Jones, and the Reverend Adrian Brooks, pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, to serve as co-chairs for the transition team.
Other Members Of The Committee Include:
Kip Tew, a partner with the Ice Miller legal firm, is providing pro bono counsel to the committee based on his years of experience assisting with community leader transitions.
“Co-Chairing the team is a true honor and privilege,†said Co-Chair Jones. “It’s exciting to work with such a capable team of people working together to help guide our city into the next era of leadership.â€
Co-Chair Brooks added, “As a long-time supporter of the Mayor-elect, working alongside her side to kick off a successful first 100 days is the next step in continued efforts to create a prosperous Evansville for everyone.â€
“I’m confident this team will help us lay a foundation for a smooth change of power from Mayor Winnecke and his staff,†said Mayor-Elect Terry. “They will help me establish an administration that is collaborative, inclusive, and full of hope and possibilities.â€
The committee unveiled a new website Wednesday afternoon – www.teamevansville.com Anyone interested in serving the Terry administration can learn more and apply for paid or volunteer roles.
Terry is set to take the oath of office on January 1, 2024. The official swearing-in ceremony for the Mayor and all newly elected city officeholders will take place at Bosse High School at noon. The public is invited to attend.
Attorney General Todd Rokita this week co-led a 19-state coalition in defending former President Trump’s right to appear on the Colorado ballot in 2024.
“The legal effort to banish President Trump from Colorado’s ballot in 2024 smacks of the same underhanded sliminess that provoked such skepticism among Americans after the 2020 elections,†Attorney General Rokita said. “State-by-state efforts to thwart the democratic process of electing a president disenfranchises voters in other states like Indiana.â€
Indiana voters have a direct interest in this case, Attorney General Rokita added.
“If any state prohibits a legitimate presidential candidate from appearing on their ballot, that action would serve to squelch the voices of voters from every other state who supported that candidate,†Attorney General Rokita said. “Hoosiers cannot tolerate such an assault on democracy and election integrity.â€
Attorney General Rokita and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey led a 19-state amicus brief calling upon the Colorado Supreme Court to dismiss a case challenging Trump’s eligibility to appear on that state’s ballot. The brief asserts that the Constitution gives Congress, not courts, authority to decide who is eligible to run for federal office under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment.
“We need to protect the integrity of our elections, and actions like this undermine the right of the citizens to choose who they want to represent them in every level of government,†Attorney General Morrisey said. “This is a very simple argument: Congress gets to decide on matters like this.â€
Largest Private Fitness Provider Nationally Moves into Evansville, Indiana
DECEMBER 1, 2923
Genesis Health Clubs, the largest privately owned fitness provider in the nation, acquired Tri-State Athletic Club in Evansville, Indiana, effective 11/30/23. The club will now be known as Genesis Health Clubs –Tri-State Athletic Club. The club is the first in both Evansville and the State for Genesis Health Clubs after expanding into the region with recent club purchases in St. Louis, Lexington, and Louisville.
(Evansville, IN, November 30th, 2023) – Genesis Health Clubs announced the acquisition of Tri-State Athletic Club, effective immediately. The club, now known as Genesis Health Clubs – Tri-State Athletic Club, represents the 66th in the ever-growing Genesis portfolio, and the first in Indiana.
Genesis Health Clubs Owner and President Rodney Steven II commented on the acquisition: “We are so excited and proud of great tradition of Tri-State and this fits our love for fitness and tennis – this facility is the centerpieces of their community. We are looking forward to reinvesting in the facility to make sure they remain local destinations for decades to come. There’s no better example than the Tri-State Athletic Club when it comes to serving its members. With a fifty-plus year history of tennis, group fitness, and a solid base of all sorts of classes, programming, and upscale amenities, it’s a perfect union.â€
Thomas Myers, TSAC Owner, expressed excitement about the new ownership. “We knew we couldn’t just sell to anyone. There’s over 50 years of history here, and it’s important to us that our members and staff can count on the club being owned by someone passionate about tennis and fitness who is here to stay. We know the club is in good hands with Genesis.â€
Steven continued, expanding on Martin’s sentiments, “We plan to welcome the staff into the Genesis family and bring them 401k plans, health insurance, and a lot of the benefits that can be hard to come by in the industry sometimes. Staff is family at Genesis and they’re about to join a great one. As for the members, this is such an exciting time for them. They’ll continue with the same great programming they’ve got right now, but we’ll also be reinvesting in the facility, and they will gain access to our clubs in the region, plus more than 65 others across 9 states. We’ve got big plans for Evansville now and in the future, and we can’t wait to share more soon!â€
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About Genesis Health Clubs
Genesis Health Clubs, the largest and fastest-growing privately owned fitness provider in the United States, now operates 66 locations in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, and now Indiana.Â
With premium amenities, dynamic classes, world-class training, and many locations offering tennis and swimming, our members will find enjoyment and results on their path to living a healthy and balanced life.Â
Useful Links:
https:www.genesisehatlhclubs.com
https://www.genesishealthclubs.com/employees/rodney-steven-ii
https://www.genesishealthclubs.com/locations/Tri-State-Athletic-Club
VINCENNES, Ind. – The list of accomplishments and honors continues to pour in for the reigning two-time Region 24 Player of the Year Paige Parlanti (Las Vegas, Nev.).
The Trailblazer sophomore earned 2023 NJCAA Division I Second Team All-American honors Tuesday afternoon.
“It is a huge honor to be named a Second Team All-American among so many talented athletes,†Parlanti said. “It was a goal of mine this year and I am excited to achieve this goal. It shows that my competitive nature, drive and passion for the sport has not gone unnoticed. I want to thank all of the coaches that have challenged me, pushed me past my limits, believed in me and taught me that every ball is playable. I know I still have more growth in me as a player and I look forward to playing at the next level.â€
“Definitely getting a player and a person like Paige was a big signing for us,†VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “For one, because of her location. We typically cannot get many students from outside of the Midwest, let alone somebody from way out west in Las Vegas. The odds of getting somebody from there, at first, we knew was going to be a challenge.â€
“But one thing about Paige is that she puts her academics and her education first,†Sien added. “That’s how she found us because we have a very exceptional Fire Science program at VU. She contacted us very early in her senior year of high school. We looked at her film and knew she was a really nice player, but thought the odds were against us of signing her. But she was very serious about VU and came on a visit and once she got on campus, she basically decided to commit here not long after.â€
“I knew at that point that we were signing someone that was not only going to be an exceptional player, but also an exceptional person,†Sien said. “I knew that if she reaches her potential, she is going to be an All-American before she leaves VU and she is definitely someone who realized their potential both in the classroom and on the volleyball court.â€
“For her to have the year that she did a year ago, almost coming out of no where and putting up big numbers, she probably should have been recognized as an All-American last year as well,†Sien added. “But for her to come back and have an even better year this year, when the whole world knows about you. Every game and set you are targeted. It literally felt like she had three or four blockers following her wherever she went. I think that goes beyond having high-level skills, it goes back to her upbringing and how she was brought up, the coaching she had prior to coming here. There is definitely a large sense of inner toughness to bare what she did this year.â€
“She also showed the type of leadership she has and the type of leader she is this year,†Sien said. “Whenever any coach in any sport says that the player loves the sport, it might be just words. But here is someone that I know, Paige Parlanti loves the sport of volleyball. You can always tell when she steps onto the court that she loves volleyball. I’ll take 12 athletes like that any day. She never takes any practice or games for granted. That’s the thing that I think separates her from someone else who might have the same level of skills. Her love of the game, intensity and focus, all of those things that you just can’t coach.â€
“On the numbers side, for her to get 1,000 kills,†Sien added. “If that were easy everybody would be getting 1,000 kills in two years. That’s just not done too often at any level. As a coach that has seen many players and has been blessed to coach many good players both men and women, blessed with a lot of success, Paige foremost steps forward as one of the best players that I’ve ever had. Whether it’s men’s or women’s at any level that I’ve coached and that says a lot because I’ve also been blessed to coach a number of other All-Americans.â€
“But hitting is also not all that Paige can do either, she also almost had 1,000 digs in her career,†Sien said. “She is really good in the back row as well. She really puts her all into playing the back row, diving and trying to get to every ball she can and she doesn’t really have to do that. That’s just part of her as a player. She plays defense from corner to corner as a middle back, she has had games where she will go flying into the benches to go after a ball. That part of the game impresses me more than someone hitting the ball 1,000 miles per hour because playing defense, in any sport at any level, it’s all heart. That part of her game really, for me, shows her passion and her heart that she plays with. When some athletes would have just taken it easy in the back row and saved their energy for the front row, there’s none of that with her.â€
Parlanti is coming off of another very impressive season for the Trailblazers, where she led VU with 514 kills, 408 digs, 73 blocks and 46 aces.
Parlanti also finished second in the Nation this past season in kills per set at 4.36 and points per set at 5.1, while also finishing fourth in total points with 603.5 and fifth in the country in kills with 514.
Parlanti closed out her Trailblazer career with 1,049 kills, 946 digs, 141 blocks and 105 aces, becoming the first VU hitter in the 25-point rally scoring era (2008-present) to reach the 1,000 kill milestone.
Parlanti helped guide the Trailblazers to a 32-7 record this past season, the most wins in program history since moving to the NJCAA Division I level, VU’s third-straight undefeated Region 24 Championship and the reached the NJCAA Midwest District A Championship game for the first time since moving to the NJCAA Division I level.
Parlanti, along with her sophomore class, finished their two years at Vincennes with a combined record of 61-16, with a 26-0 record against Region 24 opponents and helped the Trailblazers reach their highest NJCAA Division I National ranking in program history, being ranked No. 18 this past season.
Parlanti recorded 21 double-doubles during the 2023 season, including setting season-highs with 28 kills and 33 digs at Jefferson College in August, which helped Parlanti earn NJCAA Division I Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Parlanti is the first VU Volleyball All-American since moving to the NJCAA Division I level in 2016 and fifth Volleyball All-American overall, joining Marianne Tobolski (1986), Jennifer Wirtz (2004), Kayla Holloway (2005) and Audrey Curry (2006).
“To be one of five volleyball players to receive All-American honors at Vincennes University is a huge accomplishment for me and exciting for the growth of the program,†Parlanti added. “I am honored to represent VU as one of those athletes and a role model for upcoming and new volleyball athletes. I am excited to be the first athlete in the VUVB Division I program history to receive this honor and I want future players to know anything is possible with some hard work and dedication.â€
“I believe this honor will help the VUVB volleyball program grow,†Parlanti said. “I played with some amazing teammates this year that are very athletic and I know that they are capable of receiving this honor next year. With receiving this honor, my teammates know that it is possible. All they have to do is believe in themselves, push and challenge themselves and each other every time they step onto the court. I hope this award sets a new standard for future athletes at VU to set goals and strive for the best.â€
“Of course it helps to have great team success, we went through a whole list of accomplishments this season but having Paige on this team really helped take us to the next level,†Sien said. “We are getting invitations from Top-10 teams to play, which we have never gotten before. We’ve even had a few that specifically said, ‘We want you’, not just some generic email that gets sent out to 100 schools. They specifically say, ‘We want Vincennes University to come to our tournament’ and we’ve also had other schools ask about our tournaments as well. You suddenly get noticed that way.â€
“One of the emails just said, ‘We want a Top-20 team to come play at our tournament and that’s you, Vincennes University’,†Sien added. “I cannot think of a better team recognition out there than to have those invitations. We were getting a few before this past season, but now that the season’s over, we’re getting a lot more invitations. That really says a lot that the other schools that have had decades of success are seeing that Vincennes University is getting closer to them.â€
“When you have both individuals and then you have such a good season, the NJCAA volleyball world and maybe the volleyball world period is going to know about you,†Sien said. “Recruiting for us has always been good. But right after the District tournament, I got around two dozen emails of athletes from 2024 all the way up to 2027 asking to be a part of our program and sending videos. Those are the rewards of having this type of success in your program, both as a team and of course, at the individual level.â€
The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Paige Parlanti on a great season and another outstanding honor.
“The holiday season is a time for memory-making, and we are ready to create special memories for you and your loved ones with free, family-friendly activities during A Downtown Christmas. We invite the community to see our holiday décor and shop and dine Downtown. A special thanks to our sponsors who help us to continue to grow this event, and keep the activities free for all guests to enjoy,†said Adam Trinkel, executive director, EID.
Shops and restaurants throughout Downtown will be open for business. The EID will have a tent at 318 Main Street to sell Downtown Evansville merchandise, including beanies, long sleeve shirts, and hooded sweatshirts.
Visitors can take photos with the EID holiday décor, including the lighted archway and 12’ nutcrackers (2nd & Main), the Heart of Downtown Evansville and Santa’s Little Helpers Alley (200 block of Main), an 11′ Snowflake with more than 3,000 lights (300 block of Main), the Tunnel of Light featuring more than 13,00 lights (400 block of Main), and a 10’ lighted tree and an alley of lighted ornaments (500 block of Main).
We are excited to announce a special holiday event at Willard Public Library – “Santa’s Coming to Willard Sponsored by Berry.” This event is dedicated to providing a festive experience for families and children in our community.
Event Details:
Date:Â Saturday, December 2, 2023
Time:Â 11 AM -2 PM
Location:Â Browning Gallery (lower level)
Event Highlights:
Free Photos with Santa:Â Skip the long lines and costly fees. Capture precious moments with Santa Claus at no charge.
Treats and Activities:Â Enjoy complimentary festive treats and engaging activities suitable for all ages.
Generous Sponsors: We extend our gratitude to Berry Global and Sixth and Zero for their financial contributions, making this event accessible to everyone in the community.
We encourage you to join us for a day of holiday cheer, laughter, and joy. This event promises to create lasting memories for you and your loved ones.