Evansville Courier & Press

Court Gives Chapel New Life St. Mary's Ordered to Restore Structure to Its Original Condition

After months of legal and public-relations wrangling, St. Mary's Medical Center officials were told Tuesday they could not tear down their stone chapel and must restore the half-century-old structure to its original condition, undoing demolition work that already had begun. St. Mary's Medical Center had planned to raze the chapel and replace it with a $16 million heart institute. But a distant relative of the original patron successfully sued the medical center, saying such a move would viola...

Plans for Heart Institute May Have to Be Changed

Construction of the $16 million St. Mary's Heart Institute, and other building projects planned on the campus of St. Mary's Medical Center may have to be revised now that a judge has ruled the hospital cannot tear down its chapel. St. Mary's had planned to break ground on the outpatient cardiac center this summer and have the institute finished and ready for patients by the late summer of 2005.

Indiana Governor Candidates Square Off Debate Gets Lively in First Encounter

In the first and possibly only debate among the three candidates for Indiana governor, the hopefuls squared off with an often aggressive back-and-forth on the issues Tuesday. Democrat Joe Kernan, Republican Mitch Daniels and Libertarian Kenn Gividen differed on topics including full-day kindergarten, Interstate 69, property taxes and job creation in the forum held at Franklin College, 20 miles south of Indianapolis. The debate was broadcast live on public television.

The Delta Blues Trail Series: The Future Interstate 69 ? Fourth in a 10-Part Series

Joshua "Razorblade" Stewart is an automobile mechanic, but at Sarah's Kitchen he serves up the blues. Sarah's Kitchen is in Clarksdale, Miss., a town that some say gave birth to the Mississippi Delta's music. But if you come hungry for anything other than the blues, you might be disappointed. Food is only served occasionally at Sarah's Kitchen. It's a downtown storefront, and patrons who often stand to listen near the exposed-brick walls watch Stewart and his Deep Cuts band perform.

Sometimes History Comes Alive Right Before Us

History makes us who we are and allows us to grow as neighborhoods and communities. I grew up in the kind of household where I was taught about my culture and history. I was surrounded by people who stepped out of the normal and actually worked to make changes in the community they lived in.

Helping Florida Victims a Full-Time Job

West Palm Beach, Fla., normally is a vacationer's dream -- beautiful ocean views, nice sandy beaches, great restaurants, sunny weather. Eric Meador of Evansville is there this week, but he's oblivious to the tourist aspects.

Just How Dry has Month Been? This September Is Driest On Record

This month is destined to go down as the driest September on record and the third driest month ever, since weather-watchers began keeping track 117 years ago. And, had it not been for a Sept. 14 shower that dropped 0.08 of an inch of rain at Evansville Regional Airport -- and almost nowhere else -- this month would tie the record for driest in history, WEHT- News25 meteorologist Wayne Hart said Tuesday. The only other recorded rainfall this month was 0.01 of an inch on Sept. 7.

Good As Gold

Death Row Inmate's Lawyer Makes Last-Ditch Appeal

In what may be the last step in a 22-year appeals process, attorneys for Indiana death row inmate Donald Ray Wallace have turned to the U.S. Supreme Court. Lawyers for the Midwest Center for Justice in Chicago have filed a document called a "petition for a writ of certiorari," asking the nation's highest court to review lower court decisions that have upheld Wallace's death-penalty sentence for the 1980 murders of a North Side Evansville family. Attorney Alan Friedman described the petition ...

Families Plead Their Case Against Good Samaritan

His wife's Alzheimer's disease forced Kenneth Hahn to put her in a nursing home. And he was satisfied with the care his wife received in the Midway Pavilion wing of the Good Samaritan Home. The staff is experienced in Alzheimer's care and the rooms are large and bright, he said. But, then, Hahn learned Good Samaritan planned to move his wife and other Medicaid recipients into an older wing of the nursing home with fewer amenities, which he fears will accelerate her mental and physical decline.

Philharmonic to Stage Famed Children's Opera

An acclaimed European opera, performed by children for children, is coming in January to The Victory. "Brundibar," composed in the years preceding World War II, is a story of the triumph of good will over evil. Although it is set during a dark historical period, "Brundibar" is charming, humorous and inspiring, said Alfred Savia, music director of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra.

National Park Over the Edge in Breathtaking Department

Dear National Park Service, I am back from visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado. This is quite a place you've got here. I'd love to come back.

Road Closings

Briefs

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. Councilman alleges police violated rights

Info Line

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Question of the Day Tuesday's Online Question

Would restructuring Indiana's government better serve residents? 151 votes cast as of 10 p.m. Tuesday

Democrats Sue to Get Numbers On Ballots

Vanderburgh County Democrats have taken the Election Board to court over its refusal to put candidate numbers on the Nov. 2 ballot. An Indiana statute says "a ballot number or other candidate designation uniquely associated with the candidate" shall be included on the ballot "if a voting system has the capability."

Zoo Board Weighs Price Increase for Out-of-County Visitors

For the second time this year, Evansville's zoo board has broached the idea of an admission cost increase. At their meeting Tuesday, members discussed the possibility of raising rates for out-of-county visitors to the Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. But no consensus or decision was reached.

Epa Orders Open-Burn Ban

An open-burn ban is in effect for Evansville and within Vanderburgh County for four miles beyond the city's limits. The ban was ordered by the Evansville Environmental Protection Agency because of dry conditions. The ban will continue until conditions improve.

Briefs [Corrected 10/04/04]

Evansville Fonz of `Happy Days' to speak on literacy