Vanderburgh County – Saturday morning, November 18, at approximately 12:22 a.m., Evansville Police, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, and Indiana State Police responded to the Evansville Regional Airport reference to a male allegedly threatening airport personnel with a knife. When officers arrived, they encountered the male inside the lobby area of the airport, and he was in possession of a knife. Officers negotiated with the male for approximately 15 minutes before the male aggressively moved toward the officers with the knife still in his hand. Officers from the Evansville Police, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and one Indiana State Trooper discharged their firearm. Officers immediately summoned for an ambulance and started life-saving measures on the male before he was transported to an Evansville Hospital. The suspect’s name, condition, and pending charges will be released later. No officers were injured during this incident.
Officer Involved Shooting
 On November 18th, at 12:22 a.m., Evansville Central Dispatch received a call from the Evansville Regional Airport for a disorderly subject inside the lobby. The caller stated that the male was threatening airport personnel, he had an approximate 4-inch knife, and was using it to tear up furniture. Members of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police and the Evansville Police Department arrived on scene. They encountered the adult male suspect in the lobby area inside the airport and he was holding a knife. No one else was in the immediate area at that time.Â
A Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Deputy, who is also a Negotiator, was one of the first to arrive. The Deputy attempted to gain rapport with the suspect by negotiating for nearly 15 minutes. The suspect stated he was upset about his status in Evansville and wanted to go back to his country.Â
During negotiations, numerous commands were given for the suspect to drop the knife. On several occasions, the suspect yelled at the officers to just shoot him. The suspect never dropped the knife and at one point, he put the tip of the knife to his head and made a stabbing motion. The suspect escalated the situation when he yelled obscenities at the officers, jumped out of his seat, and aggressively moved towards officers with the knife in hand.Â
Between EPD, VCSO and ISP, less lethal tools were on scene. Due to the suspect escalating the situation, lethal force and less lethal force were utilized at the same time. Three Evansville Police Officers fired their duty weapons. Members of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police also fired their weapons.Â
Life-saving measures were quickly rendered to the suspect on scene prior to AMR arrival. The suspect was transported by AMR to a local hospital for treatment. At this time, the suspect is in critical condition and still receiving treatment. No officers were injured during the incident. The suspect’s name and pending charges will be released at a later time.Â
Per protocol, all three EPD Officers were taken to the hospital for blood draw and the EPD Peer Support Team was called in to assist the officers. All three officers will be placed on Administrative Leave during the investigation, which is also protocol.Â
A press conference will likely be held on Monday, November 20th, to discuss further details about this investigation. The location and time of the press conference will be announced on Monday morning.Â
No. 6/9 Indiana Wins Nine Events in Second Night of Midseason
BLOOMINGTON – Indiana swimming and diving completed the second day of the Ohio State Invitational on Friday (Nov. 17) as the men’s team extended its lead, and the women remained steady in second. IU won nine events Friday night inside the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.
The IU women opened the night with an NCAA A cut in the 200 medley relay, going 1:36.20. Indiana finished fourth but swam faster than the previous meet record (1:36.42) set in 2013. Indiana’s quartet was junior Kacey McKenna (24.41), junior Brearna Crawford (27.33) and sophomores Chiok Sze Yeo (23.44) and Kristina Paegle (21.02).
The Hoosier men had the two best 200 medley relays as a Louisville and Ohio State each had their ‘A’ relays disqualified for false starts. Indiana’s ‘A’ group of senior Brendan Burns (21.40), junior Josh Matheny (23.39) and seniors Tomer Frankel (19.83) and Gavin Wight (19.22) finished in 1:23.84, just .13 seconds short of the NCAA A standard.
In the very next event, Frankel and Burns were part of a top-three sweep of the men’s 100-yard butterfly. Frankel, the bronze medalist at last year’s NCAA Championships, finished first in 45.26, followed by junior Finn Brooks (45.99) and Burns (45.97). The trio smashed the previous pool record of 47.98.
Freshman Toby Barnett was the runner-up in the 400 IM, recording a 3:42.54 as four Hoosiers finished in the top 10. Junior Ching Hwee Gan was the top Hoosier in the women’s race, placing third in 4:12.21. Senior Anna Freed (4:12.94) took fifth and freshman Reese Tiltmann (4:13.21) was sixth.
After taking the 500 free on Thursday, junior Anna Peplowski captured her second individual win of the week in the 200-yard race in 1:42.97. She led a 1-3-4 finish for the Hoosiers, as Paegle went 1:45.43 and senior Ella Ristic got in at 1:45.91.
Competitors at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, Notre Dame’s Chris Guiliano and IU junior Rafael Miroslaw battled it out in the men’s 200 free. Miroslaw led through 150 yards, but Guiliano pulled in front on the final leg to win in 1:32.14. The Hoosier came in at 1:32.52 as both swimmers finished under the pool and meet record times.
The Hoosier men swept again in the 100-yard breaststroke. The trio of senior Jassen Yep (51.49), junior Josh Matheny (51.81) and Maxwell Reich (51.87) all swam under the meet record time (51.88) and were the only three under 52 seconds. It was also the first time either Yep or Reich had ever swum under 52 seconds.
Junior Kacey McKenna and sophomore Mya DeWitt shared a special moment in the 100-yard backstroke, tying for first in 52.47. The two Hoosiers were never separated by more than .18 seconds. On the men’s side, senior and reigning NCAA Champion Brendan Burns flexed his muscles by dropping a 45.29 and setting a meet record. He was half a second faster than the field.
Junior Skyler Liu was stellar on the boards again, taking her first win of the week on the 3-meter springboard with a 297.25 – 13.8 points better than second place. Liu was second in the 1-meter competition Thursday. Sophomore Morgan Casey was third with an NCAA Zone Qualifying mark of 275.70.
Both winning teams in the 800 freestyle relay won by over four seconds. All four women’s splits were under 1:46.20, and Peplowski (1:43.52 split) was the only woman under 1:44. Ristic, Gan, Peplowski and Paegle recorded a 7:01.08, enough for an NCAA ‘B’ cut. For the men, Miroslaw (1:32.53), sophomore Kai Van Westering (1:34.41), Frankel (1:33.98) and Burns (1:34.63) captured a meet record and ‘A’ cut in 6:15.55. Miroslaw’s opening split was one of two under 1:33 and just one hundredth of a second short of his 200 free earlier in the evening.
TEAM SCORES
Men
- Indiana – 1,903
- Ohio State – 1,655
- Louisville – 1,354.5
- Notre Dame – 1,222.5
- Cincinnati – 808
- Pittsburgh – 238
- Cal – 131
Women
- Ohio State – 1,830
- Indiana – 1,693.5
- Louisville – 1,421
- Notre Dame – 966
- Cincinnati – 866.5
- Ohio – 199
- Pittsburgh – 197
- Cal – 116
HOOSIER WINNERS
Men
Brendan Burns – 200 Medley Relay (1:23.84), 800 Freestyle Relay (6:15.55), 100 Backstroke (45.29)
Tomer Frankel – 200 Medley Relay (1:23.84), 100 Butterfly (45.26), 800 Freestyle Relay (6:15.55)
Josh Matheny – 200 Medley Relay (1:23.84)
Rafael Miroslaw – 800 Freestyle Relay (6:15.55)
Kai Van Westering – 800 Freestyle Relay (6:15.55)
Gavin Wight – 200 Medley Relay (1:23.84)
Jassen Yep – 100 Breaststroke (51.49)
Women
Mya DeWitt – 100 Backstroke (52.47)
Ching Hwee Gan – 800 Freestyle Relay (7:01.08)
Skyler Liu – 1-Meter (297.25)
Kacey McKenna – 100 backstroke (52.47)
Kristina Paegle – 800 Freestyle Relay (7:01.08)
Anna Peplowski – 200 Freestyle (1:42.97), 800 Freestyle Relay (7:01.08)
Ella Ristic – 800 Freestyle Relay (7:01.08)
NCAA CUTS
A: Women’s 200 medley relay (1:36.20), men’s 800 freestyle relay (6:15.55).
B: Men’s 200 medley relay (1:23.84); women’s 800 freestyle relay (7:01.08); Toby Barnett – 400 IM (3:42.54); Luke Barr – 100 back (46.04); Finn Brooks – 100 fly (45.88); Brendan Burns – 100 fly (45.97), 100 back (45.29); Kabria Chapman – 100 breast (1:01.11); Brearna Crawford – 100 breast (1:00.04); Mya DeWitt – 100 back (52.47); Tristan DeWitt – 400 IM (3:47.86); Tomer Frankel – 100 fly (45.26), 100 back (47.37); Anna Freed – 400 IM (4:12.94); Ching Hwee Gan – 400 IM (4:12.21); Josh Matheny – 100 breast (51.81); Kacey McKenna – 100 back (52.47); Rafael Miroslaw – 200 free (1:32.52); Kristina Paegle – 200 free (1:45.43); Anna Peplowski – 200 free (1:42.97); Lucas Piunti – 400 IM (3:49.50); Maxwell Reich – 100 breast (51.87); Drew Reiter – 400 IM (3:47.22); Ella Ristic – 200 free (1:45.91); Reese Tiltmann – 400 IM (4:13.21); Kai Van Westering – 100 back (46.72); Gavin Wight – 100 back (47.02); Chiok Sze Yeo – 100 fly (52.81); Jassen Yep – 100 breast (51.49).
NCAA ZONE QUALIFYING SCORES (FINALS)
1-meter: Maxwell Weinrich (333.10).
3-meter: Morgan Casey (275.70), Skyler Liu (297.25).
THUNDERBOLTS SHUT OUT 1-0 IN KNOXVILLE
Knoxville, Tenn.:  Despite a strong defensive game and several great scoring chances, the Thunderbolts were unable to beat a hot Knoxville goaltender in Kristian Stead, with a single goal proving to be the difference in a 1-0 loss in Knoxville on Friday night. The Thunderbolts next home game will be on Saturday, November 18th against the Quad City Storm, puck drop at 7:00pm CT.
The game’s only goal came at 6:28 of the second period, on one of the only quality chances Knoxville obtained all game long, with Brady Fleurent scoring to put the Ice Bears in front 1-0. The Thunderbolts outshot Knoxville 25-16, but Ice Bears goaltender Stead stopped all 25 shots, with another two hitting the crossbar behind Stead but not into the net. Meanwhile, Thunderbolts goaltender Sean Kuhn handled his lesser workload well, with only the one goal against on 16 total shots faced. The Thunderbolts and Ice Bears meet once again on Friday, January 12th at Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
Ivy Tech Community College Celebrates Local Faculty, Alumni and Benefactor
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College honored local faculty and adjunct faculty, as well as a Distinguished Alumni and Benefactor, at recent events.
“For anyone associated with the College, this year is a year for excitement and reflection,â€Â said Ivy Tech President, Dr. Sue Ellspermann. “Our excellent faculty, inspiring alumni, and strong partnerships allowed us to reach this point, and we have an incredible opportunity to celebrate the impact on our communities throughout Indiana.â€
The Faculty President’s Award Honoree was Marti Suddarth, associate professor of Early Childhood Education.
The Adjunct Faculty President’s Award Honoree was Stan Wilm, adjunct professor in Early Childhood Education
The College honored Suddarth and Wilm for their exemplary work with students and the College community during the past year. A selection committee made up of alumni, past winners, State Trustees, faculty representatives, and college administration selected the honorees based on nominations from students, fellow faculty members, and Ivy Tech staff.
Along with being recognized with the President’s Award, each full-time faculty member is eligible for the Glenn W. Sample Award Founder’s Award for Excellence in Instruction, while each Adjunct Faculty member is eligible for the Gerald I. Lamkin Award. Sample and Lamkin are two former Ivy Tech presidents. Sample helped found the College when it was still the Indiana Vocational Technical College, while Lamkin oversaw the growth of the College from a vocational school to the state’s community college.
The Distinguished Alumni from Ivy Tech Evansville was Gelina Mascoe.
Mascoe’s story, including the health care specialist degree she earned from Ivy Tech, is part of the American Dream. Gelina is from La Gonave, Haiti, and moved to Florida unable to speak a word of English when in the 7th grade. She quickly adapted and made friends and connections. After graduating from high school, Gelina relocated to Northern Kentucky to pursue a career in medical technology. Gelina, who now has two degrees, eventually founded Lumiere D ‘education Foundation, a charitable organization that provides free education to 170 children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Gelina also founded the Haitian Center of Evansville, connecting Haitian immigrants to support that will help them to achieve independence, increase their well-being, and enhance their community impact. Today, Gelina works as a top-producing, full-time real estate agent for F.C. Tucker Emge.Â
The Honored Benefactor from Ivy Tech Evansville was Lu Porter.
Porter has been a Foundation board member for more than 27 years, connecting countless donors and Ivy Tech students. Porter supports her community in many ways – from serving 25 local and state boards over the last several decades to delivering community needs and helping non-profits with fundraising. Porter retired from the Evansville African American Museum in 2017 and previously worked in community outreach for Integra Bank. Throughout her life in Evansville, Porter has kept a pulse on supporting youth and the disenfranchised: from helping young people set up their first bank accounts to encouraging the pursuit of higher education. Porter is the daughter of a preacher, to whom she credits for teaching her the values of servant leadership. In addition to the Ivy Tech Foundation Board of Directors, Porter is also currently on the ECHO Community Healthcare board.
University of Evansville Unveils State-of-the-Art Mental Health and Wellness Clinic
Partnership with Easterseals Culminates in the Opening of the UE Mental Health and Wellness Clinic and the Emily M. Young Assessment Center
EVANSVILLE, IND. (11/17/2023) In a landmark dedication ceremony on Friday, the University of Evansville (UE) proudly introduced its cutting-edge Mental Health and Wellness Clinic, solidifying its commitment to addressing critical mental health challenges in the Evansville community. This groundbreaking initiative, developed in collaboration with Easterseals, includes the Emily M. Young Assessment Center, a comprehensive facility equipped to provide advanced therapy and assessment services.
“UE’s Mental Health and Wellness Clinic, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our Evansville community,” said Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, President of the University of Evansville. “This state-of-the-art facility, along with the Emily M. Young Assessment Center, marks a significant stride towards a brighter and promising future for individuals and families grappling with mental health concerns.”
At the heart of the clinic is the Emily M. Young Assessment Center, a specialized facility furnished with cutting-edge equipment and materials essential for sophisticated testing. This includes computers, software, recording devices, white noise machines, and testing kits. The Assessment Center will play a central role in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions by offering a range of assessment measures, including outcome questionnaires, personality testing, psychopathology measures, and cognitive functioning assessments. The center is named in honor of the late Emily Young, the daughter of U.S. district judge for the Southern District of Indiana Richard L. Young.
Operated by 10-15 students annually from the University of Evansville’s Doctor of Psychology clinical degree program, under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist, the clinic will provide crucial therapy and assessment services to the Evansville community. The services, offered on a monthly basis, will focus on conditions such as ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, intellectual functioning, and personality functioning.
“The Emily M. Young Assessment Center serves as an invaluable resource for the Evansville community, addressing the pressing need for comprehensive mental health assessments for both children and adults,” noted Pietruszkiewicz. “This educational training clinic will play a pivotal role in not only diagnosing psychological disorders but also in guiding effective treatment, ultimately contributing to the overall mental health and well-being of our community.”
Community members interested in giving to the Mental Health and Wellness Clinic can visit www.uealumnionline.com/
Mayor Winnecke Presents Distinguished Awards
Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke presented Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer with distinguished awards on behalf of the City of Evansville and State of Indiana.
Mayor Winnecke cited, “For his unwavering commitment to build positive progress in the City of Evansville. Likewise, his 12 years of counsel and leadership has been a blessing for our city.â€
Schaefer began working with the City of Evansville in 2012, serving as Chief of Staff to Mayor Winnecke. In 2016, Schaefer became the 1st Deputy Mayor in the history of the City of Evansville and most recently has also been serving as Interim Executive Director of the Evansville Parks & Recreation Department.
On behalf of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, who is currently visiting members of the Indiana National Guard stationed overseas, Mayor Winnecke presented Schaefer with a Sagamore of the Wabash award. The Sagamore of the Wabash award is highest honor that the Governor of Indiana bestows to an individual that has rendered a distinguished service to the state of Indiana.
76th annual poultry donation at Indiana Statehouse
INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 17, 2023) — Gov. Eric Holcomb and ISDA Director Don Lamb will participate in the 76th Indiana State Poultry Association‘s annual poultry donation. This event is a tradition that highlights the significance of agriculture in Indiana and the generosity of the state’s poultry producers. Producers will bring a variety of poultry products and donate them after the ceremony to Second Helpings, a hunger relief agency in Indianapolis.Â
WHAT
76th Indiana State Poultry Association annual poultry donation
WHO
- Governor Eric Holcomb
- Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture director
- Rebecca Joniskan, president of the Indiana State Poultry Association
WHEN
Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET
WHERE
Indiana Statehouse – South Atrium (200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204).
UE Men’s basketball hosts Ball State on Saturday
Tip set for 1 p.m. at the Ford Center
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Riding the first 3-0 start since the 2019-20 season, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team is back at the Ford Center on Saturday to welcome an undefeated Ball State squad. Tip is set for 1 p.m. with ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network covering the action.
Last Time Out
– For the second game in a row, Evansville never trailed while improving to 3-0 with a 76-57 road win at SEMO
– Yacine Toumi tied his career scoring mark with 20 tallies while Ben Humrichous posted his second 18-point game of the season
– Cam Haffner recorded his first double figure outing with the Aces, scoring 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting
– The win was the largest road margin for the program since defeating Miami Ohio by a 69-50 margin in 2014
Another 18-Point Effort
– Ben Humrichous posted his second 18-point game of the season in the win at SEMO on Wednesday, hitting 7 of his 10 attempts
Tying His Mark
– Converting 10 of his 13 field goal tries, Yacine Toumi tied his career scoring mark with 20 points
– Toumi scored 20 last season against UIC
– He remains second on the squad with 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game
– Through three games, Toumi has shot 72.4%, which is second in the MVC
– Over the last two games, he has shot 80% (16-for-20)
Back in the MVC
– Scoring eight points in each of the last two games, Antonio Thomas is settling into his role at UE
– Thomas leads the Aces with 8 assists, 6 steals and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.67
– He ranks in a tie for 7th in the Valley with his average of 2.00 steals per game
– Thomas, who is in his fifth collegiate season, opened his career at Bradley where he was part of the 2020 MVC Championship team as a freshman
Scouting the Opponent
– Ball State takes to the road for the first time this season after opening with three home games
– The Cardinals come into Saturday’s game with a 3-0 mark with wins over Goshen, Old Dominion and Oakland City
– Three players average double figures with Jalin Anderson leading the way with 19.7 points per game
– He is a 64.7% shooter and has added 5.0 rebounds
– Basheer Jihad is second on the team with 15.0 PPG while Mickey Pearson Jr. checks in with 11.3
– Jihad is tied with Anderson for the team lead in rebounds with 5.0 per contest
USI Softball signs five for 2024-25 class
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball announced that five student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to compete for the Screaming Eagles in 2024-25.
“We are really excited about our 2024 class of new Screaming Eagles,” USI Softball Head Coach Sue Kunkle said. “This is a very talented class, and our coaching staff expects that all of them will contribute immediately and continue to level up our program. As a group, these five will bring tons of athleticism, power, and versatility.”
Three of Southern Indiana’s five signees are from Southern Indiana Athletic Conference member schools in the Evansville area.
Lilly Brown (Evansville, Indiana) is a 5’5″ utility who can play first base and outfield. The lefty was a multi-sport athlete at Reitz Memorial High School. For her high school career, Brown has batted .342 with 53 runs, 46 RBIs, and 23 doubles with a .879 OPS. Last year, she set career highs, including 30 RBIs. She was named All-SIAC Second Team twice. Brown’s aunt, Brittany DeWeese ’11, played for Kunkle and the Screaming Eagles from 2008-11. Brown has played for several club teams, including the Texas Bombers, Shockwaves, Eagles, Kentucky Freedom, and Unity Pirillo.
Jordan Mackey (Evansville, Indiana) is a 5’9″ right-handed catcher/utility from Harrison High School, where she was a multi-sport athlete and the school’s athlete of the year in 2022-23. Mackey is a versatile hitter and is solid defensively at catcher and in the infield. Last season, Mackey hit .477 with 21 runs, 27 RBIs, 20 extra-base hits with eight home runs, and a 1.645 OPS. Mackey’s eight home runs were a single-season record at Harrison, and she is currently tied for the career home run record at Harrison with 15. She was top five in the SIAC for batting average, home runs, RBIs, walks, and slugging percentage. Mackey was All-Metro and All-SIAC Second Team in 2022, and she was All-Metro and All-SIAC First Team in 2023. She was ranked 32nd in the class of ’24 by Extra Innings. Plus, Mackey has a connection to USI already, as her mother, Molly (Blackford) ’02, played for Kunkle and the Screaming Eagles between 1999-2002. Mackey played select ball for Indiana Magic Gold Gerth.
Jinnis Gerth (Evansville, Indiana), a 5’9″ outfielder, comes to USI out of North High School. The right-hander is a versatile power hitter. During high school, Gerth has batted .297 with 50 runs, 50 RBIs, 18 extra-base hits with six home runs, and a .816 OPS. Last season, Gerth had a career season as a junior, hitting .347 with 28 RBIs and six home runs while posting an OPS above 1.000. She helped lead North to a sectional championship and its first regional title since 1996 last spring. Gerth has been an All-SIAC selection as well during her high school career. Gerth played travel ball with Indiana Magic Gold Gerth 24/25.
Kylie Witthaus (Jonesburg, Missouri), a 5’5″ left-handed pitcher, comes to USI out of Warrenton High School. Witthaus will bring a different look to USI’s pitching staff from the left side. In 2023, Witthaus went 16-9 with 23 complete games in 25 starts and 159.7 innings. She posted a 1.40 ERA with 270 strikeouts. Witthaus is also a power presence at the plate, where she hit .447 with 27 RBIs last season. Witthaus was All-Conference Second Team her first two seasons and All-Conference First Team in 2022 and 2023. She has also been First-Team All-District and All-Region the last three years. In 2022, Witthaus was All-State First Team and the GAC North Player of the Year. Her team was conference champions from 2020-22, district champions in 2021 and 2022, and finished fourth place in Missouri in 2022. In 2022, Witthaus set her high school’s single-season record for strikeouts and had a 21-strikeout game that season. Plus, she tossed a perfect game during the 2023 season. The southpaw was also Academic All-Conference for four years and Academic All-State from 2020-22. Witthaus played select ball with St. Louis Chaos 18u Mazzola.
Grace Huffman (Greenwood, Indiana) is a 5’9″ catcher and corner infielder from Center Grove High School. Huffman began her varsity career as a sophomore, hitting .333. She went on to bat .622 with nine doubles and four home runs in high school A multi-sport athlete in high school, Huffman is a strong hitter who played travel ball with Indy Dreams 18u Streeval. She batted .416 with 13 doubles and eight home runs with her travel squad.
USI Softball begins its second season as an NCAA Division I program and second in the Ohio Valley Conference in February. The Eagles are coming off a third-place finish in the OVC to earn their first OVC Tournament berth last spring. The 2024 spring championship schedule will be released later.