Evansville Courier & Press

Officials: State Passing the Buck School Board Members Rap Funding Changes

Among School Board members and other interested residents, news that local property taxpayers will be making up for reduced state funding to the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp. was met with disappointment. Some urged the school system to seek more savings on its own. Robert Yeager, assistant superintendent for finance and supportive services, said that will be the goal of an upcoming efficiency study.

Web Site to Serve Soldiers, Families

Evansville-based soldiers in Iraq and the local businesses and individuals supporting them will be served by a Web site operated by Indiana Army National Guard family support activists. The site ultimately will offer, among other things, photographs and messages e-mailed by the soldiers in Iraq, a discussion forum and a page with contact information for volunteers who want to help the soldiers' families with everyday chores.

Amputees Ride Bikes Across U.S.

Bill Vanover rides for a man whose name he doesn't know, a stranger who offered encouragement to the Ashland, Ky., resident after Vanover lost a leg in a tractor accident. After losing his leg in 1982, Vanover said the man visited his hospital room and displayed his own prosthetic limbs that replaced legs lost in a mining accident. That man took away some of Vanover's fear and offered him hope.

July Fourth Fireworks Are Blown Out of Proportion

The best thing about fireworks is they are not recyclable. Once you light the fuse, it's gone. And we should all be thankful. Fireworks are dangerous.

Renegade Drops Kent Block Project Cleanup Concerns Blamed

Renegade Development withdrew its plan for a $4.26 million residential and commercial revamp of Downtown's Kenny Kent block, citing unanswered environmental questions about the property. G. Michael Schopmeyer, Renegade's attorney, said the company of commercial real estate agent Drew Platt and architect Bill Gaisser couldn't risk walking into a deal that could involve a costly cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination.

Bowen May Not Build Locally

Bowen Engineering may shelve its plans to build a regional office in Vanderburgh County because the County Council on Wednesday approved only a five-year tax abatement, half of what it could legally permit. Officials with the Indianapolis firm said they'll explore their options, which could include sticking with plans to build on Proficient Court in Daylight Industrial Park, building in the corporate limits of Evansville or looking elsewhere.

Workers' `Hands On' Children's Museum

Although it's not a hard-hat zone quite yet, the Hands on Discovery Children's Museum renovation project is well under way. "It's just really fantastic to see the dreams of so many and the hard work begin to become such a reality," said December Warren, executive director of the children's museum. "It's tremendously exciting."

Grant Renewed for Court Interpreters

Vanderburgh County's courts are facing a steady influx of suspects who speak little or no English and need Spanish-language interpreters to translate for them. Noting the efforts judges and courts have made to protect the legal rights of non-English speakers, the Indiana Supreme Court on Wednesday gave Vanderburgh County a $5,000 grant to defray the costs of hiring interpreters.

West Nile Virus Cases Steadily Decline, but Experts Unsure Trend Will Continue

In 2002, state health officials say, there were 293 cases of West Nile virus in Indiana. In 2003 there were 47, and only 13 were reported in 2004. So far, there has been only one case in the state this year, but officials say there is no way to predict whether the downward trend will continue.

Pinching Pennies the Only Purpose for Potato Pancakes

I hate potato pancakes, for reasons that go back to when gasoline seemed cheap. Whenever there was a strike at the St. Louis factory where my dad built cars in the early 1950s, my mom pinched pennies by making potato pancakes.

Road Closing

Briefs

PADUCAH, Ky 33 more inmates exposed to TB

Info Line

If you have a brief question about the news, use a Touch-Tone phone to call: (812) 464-7466

Question of the Day Wednesday's Online Question

Are you willing to pay more in property taxes to support education? 331 votes cast as of 10 p.m. Wednesday

Evansville

Property Tax Hikes Average 4.3 Percent

Property tax bills for homeowners increased an average of 4.3 percent following the recent move to a market-based assessment system, but they would have skyrocketed if the Legislature had not intervened, according to an analysis presented to lawmakers Wednesday. The Legislative Services Agency studied data from 71 counties and estimated that tax bills on owner-occupied homesteads would have increased by about 51 percent if lawmakers had not restructured taxes in June 2002 to soften the reass...

Nine Teams Competing Tonight in Fifth Annual Corporate Spelling Bee

Nine teams are scheduled to compete tonight in the fifth annual Evansville Courier & Press Corporate Spelling Bee. Registration is from 6 to 6:30 p.m., and the event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Holiday Inn Ballroom at 4101 U.S. 41 North.

Obituaries

Local obituaries Brian K. Griffin

Fletcher Takes Aim to End Smoking Toll-Free Number Is Offered in State Where Tobacco King

Gov. Ernie Fletcher took aim at Kentucky's highest-in-the-nation smoking rate Wednesday by announcing a toll-free phone line that will connect counselors with people trying to kick the habit. The quit line is the latest anti-smoking initiative in a state where tobacco has deep roots. Kentucky's cigarette tax recently went from 3 cents a pack to 30 cents, and a health panel formed by Fletcher plans a tour to promote smoking cessation.

Gay Issue Spurs Split in Church Members

A new congregation will meet Sunday after some former members of Christ Church decided to leave partly over the way the Episcopal Church is dealing with gays. Holy Apostles, the new church, is being formed by more than 100 former members of Christ Church in Elizabethtown. The group is the first to break away in the Diocese of Kentucky, which includes Louisville and the western part of the state.