Evansville Courier & Press

Usi's Hoops Lauded for Public Service

University of Southern Indiana President H. Ray Hoops received the 2004 Rotary Club Civic Award, one of the city's most prestigious recognitions of public service. In the citation announcing the award Tuesday, Hoops was praised for having "led a decade of dramatic growth in enrollment, in new degree programs and in new classroom buildings and student housing.

Students Revisit Coal Mine Blast Explosion Beneath City Streets Killed Six, Left 20-30 Other Miners with Injuries

March 20, 1909, started as a typical day in Evansville. The morning was rainy, although it cleared a bit by afternoon. Stores were advertising "beautiful Easter hats $7.50 to $10." "Charming black hats" went for $4.50 to $27.50.

Be Wary of `Compassion Fatigue' Over Tsunami

Saturday will mark two months since the Indian Ocean tsunami. Ranking among the worst natural disasters in history, the Dec. 26 tidal wave may have killed 300,000 people. The exact death toll never will be known since so many victims were washed out to sea. In the days after the disaster, Americans gave generously to tsunami relief. Private donations from U.S. citizens and companies are estimated at $700 million.

Billboard Worker Falls to His Death Coroner Says Harness Might Have Failed

An employee of Lamar Outdoor Advertising died after falling nearly 30 feet from a billboard, according to Vanderburgh County Coroner Donald Erk. Jonathan Liley, 28, of Richland, Ind., apparently was by himself, working on a billboard Monday on Diamond Avenue just west of U.S. 41 in Evansville when he fell. An ambulance was called to the scene at about 12:06 p.m., Erk said. Liley was taken to Deaconess Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3 p.m. An autopsy showed that Liley suffered a fra...

Daylight Time Bill Making Headway Tradeoff Seen Likely On Inspector General

After several private meetings between the governor and members of the Indiana House, debate began on the floor Tuesday on a bill that would move all of Indiana to daylight-saving time. If passed, the measure would mean the five counties in Southwestern Indiana in the Central Time Zone would be an hour behind Indianapolis all year.

Eha Puts Kids First to Help Keep Fulton Square Boys & Girls Club Site Open

The day after the Caldwell Homes site of the Boys & Girls Club closed, the Evansville Housing Authority board of commissioners voted to continue working with the club to keep the Fulton Square location open. On Friday, the housing authority signed a month-to-month contract allowing the club to operate the Fulton Square site, rent-free.

Panel Oks Shift in Hotel Tax

The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill Tuesday that would change the distribution of the Vanderburgh County hotel tax and allow the City Council to adopt a countywide, 2 percent rental car tax. On Monday, Rep. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, amended House Bill 1681 to direct the money raised by 2 percentage points of the 6 percent hotel tax to fund operations at The Centre through 2009.

Colorful Butterflies to Spread Wings in United Way's Annual Fund- Raising Project

Fiberglass butterflies will be flexing their colorful wings in Downtown Evansville this summer. The United Way of Southwestern Indiana and the public have chosen butterflies as the next fund-raising art project.

`America's Most Wanted' Segment Sparks Flurry of Tips About Fugitive

Despite a featured segment on Saturday evening's broadcast of "America's Most Wanted," Madisonville fugitive Russell Winstead, sought for the January 2003 slaying of his aunt, remains at large this week. But the Fox network's long-running crime TV show did generate tips.

Faster (Gurney) Wheels of Justice Might Deter Violent Crime

The death date is March 10 for convicted murderer Donald Ray Wallace Jr. It comes a quarter of a century after he took the lives of four members of an Evansville family in especially brutal fashion.

Suspect Sought in Holdup

Evansville police are asking for help in finding a suspect involved in the armed robbery of the First Cash Advance store at 2015 N. Green River Road. The holdup happened around 1:50 p.m. Tuesday An employee told police that a man walked into the business, pulled a handgun from a white grocery sack and demanded money. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured.

Briefs

POSEY COUNTY, IND. District garage sale is slated Saturday

Info Line

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Question of the Day Tuesday's Online Question

Are restraining orders effective in preventing violence? 615 votes cast as of 10 p.m. Tuesday

Hudnall Takes Over Street Maintenance

Dennis Hudnall was introduced to Evansville street employees Tuesday as the new superintendent of the city's Street Maintenance Department. Hudnall, 56, is former county highway superintendent, hired in August 2002 to succeed Ralph Kissinger, who resigned. The all- Republican Vanderburgh County Commissioners declined to rehire Hudnall after Cheryl Musgrave and Bill Nix replaced Democrats David Mosby and Catherine Fanello on Jan. 1. Hudnal said the job will provide him with a "good challenge."

Main Street's Old Pear Trees to Start Falling

Evansville work crews will begin removing some of the overgrown trees on Main Street this morning. The goal, according to Transportation and Services Director Ed Ziemer, is to remove and replace a quarter of Main Street's Bradford pears each year for the next four years.

Plan Would Waive Challenge to Annexation in Exchange for City Water, Sewer Services

The likelihood of a successful challenge to future city annexation plans got dampened Tuesday by the city Water and Sewer Utility Board. It voted, 3-1, to require county property owners to waive their right to protest against annexation if they tap into city water and sewer services.

Local Briefs

Evansville Stop-smoking clinic offered Thursday

Conservation District Kept Busy in 2004

While not a high-profile government agency, the Vanderburgh County Soil & Water Conservation District deals with some major local issues, such as soil erosion, the preservation of farmland and the quality of drinking water. During 2004, the agency promoted conservation at construction sites and school classrooms. It partnered with the Angel Mounds State Historic Site to remove damaged trees and repair erosion gullies. It worked with Scott Township on developing the township's park and with th...

Death Will Be Sought in Killing of Girl, 2

Illinois will seek the death penalty against the Madisonville, Ky., man accused of killing a 2-year-old girl and injuring three others in a shooting earlier this month near Lawrenceville, Ill. Illinois State Attorney Pat Hahn has filed a notice of his intent to seek the death penalty against Aubrey D. Tucker, 46, in Lawrence County Circuit Court. Tucker is scheduled to appear in court again on March 2.