Evansville Courier & Press

District's Political Battle Heats Up

Congressional candidate Brad Ellsworth on Thursday accused his opponent of not listening, but Rep. John Hostettler responded by saying Ells-worth's failure to listen cost lives. Thursday's verbal war began after Ellsworth's remarks Thursday at the Morning Rotary Club of Evansville, where he accused Hostettler of being inaccessible to constituents and not respecting people with opposing viewpoints.

Tavern Faces Civil Suit

An Evansville bar that allegedly served a drunken driver the night he caused a fatal accident now faces liquor licensing sanctions and a civil suit from the deceased's family. According to court rec-ords, Joshua Hodge, 26, was drinking on the night of April 29, 2005, and left intoxicated from the Sportsman's Grill & Billiards, 2315 W. Franklin St.

She's a Winner `Loving, Caring' Woman Receives Athena Award

Lois Duncan describes herself as a "people person." "I love people. I'm interested in what people think, and I'm interested in what people care about, and if there's anything I can do to help, I try to do it," Duncan said.

Military-Style Academy to Help at-Risk Youth

Indiana is starting its version of a military-style academy to help high school dropouts catch up after falling behind in their education, life skills and workplace potential. Two generals with ties to Evansville who brought the concept to Indiana said it will help at-risk youth obtain diplomas, become productive citizens and avoid prison.

Photograph Leads to Theft of Usi Newspapers

The University of Southern Indiana's student newspaper featured a photograph of two nude women kissing, and someone took the nearly 2,500 copies off the racks. Patricia Ferrier, a journalism instructor and the faculty adviser to student publications, said almost all copies of The Shield were taken some time after 10 p.m. Wednesday.

On Friday the 13th, Let the Odds Be with You

If I'm a little nervous this morning, it's because I've been battling cobwebs the last few days, and I don't mean the kind purchased for Halloween. In fact, I stepped into one the other morning (with the spider still in it) as I left the house in the predawn darkness to come to work. I don't think there's anything creepier, although today is Friday the 13th and, who knows, the world could end, you could get a flat tire, a bird could poop on you or you could dream you're one of the plane-crash...

Candidates Square Off On Tv Show

It was dubbed "Law and Order Night" on Thursday as candidates for the nonpartisan Vanderburgh Superior Court judge race and the county sheriff and prosecutor all faced off during a segment of "Shively & Shoulders" on WNIN-PBS9. Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge Mary Margaret Lloyd appeared with her opponent, Conor O'Daniel, in the last segment of the show.

Warrick Man Held in Alleged Beating

A man accused of attempted murder in Warrick County was arrested Thursday morning in Henderson, Ky., after a week-long manhunt. Warrick County Sheriff's Department detectives believe Gregory K. Kemp, 49, of Newburgh, beat his girlfriend nearly to death in their rural Newburgh residence Oct. 2. After the alleged attack, police said he fled to an abandoned home in Henderson.

Homeless Panel Works On Plan

The Commission on Homelessness is working on the second piece of a city discharge policy to prevent individuals leaving hospitals, foster homes, correctional facilities or other publicly funded institutions from becoming homeless. Cathy Gray, chairwoman of the commission's discharge subcommittee, told the group it now has to work on bringing all involved entities to the table to make sure implementation of the policy happens.

Stoles Tell Stories Exhibit Puts Human Face On Issue of Homosexuality and the Church

Some of the liturgical stoles are colorful with elaborate needlework or quilting. Others are simple. Some are labeled with their owners' names and stories; others are not.

State Treasurer Shows Up Late a with Good Reason

Forty minutes late for a news conference that he called to announce three local banks are managing Indiana Toll Road lease money, state Treasurer Tim Berry had plenty of time to come up with an excuse. He blamed his tardiness on the absence of Interstate 69 to Evansville -- a portion of the infrastructure to be financed by investing the $3.6 billion lease paid in July by a Spanish- Australian consortium in Gov. Mitch Daniels' Major Moves program. With I-69, Berry said, "I actually can be on t...

Posey County Sheriff's Race Is Rematch

In a Posey County rematch, incumbent Sheriff James Folz, a Democrat, will meet up with Republican Jim McDurmon, the sheriff's deputy Folz defeated in the 2002 election. County races for circuit court clerk and auditor also are contested on the fall ballot.

Briefs

Evansville Fun Fair for Kids

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 Thursday's Online Question

Do you worry about getting sued for defamation when you post comments on message boards? 111 votes cast as of 10 p.m. Thursday

Boonville, Ind.

Beer Bottle Leads to Arrest of Robbery Suspects

A beer bottle thrown from a car in front of the Owensboro (Ky.) Police Department may have helped solve a string of bank robberies in Southern Illinois, officials say. Three Evansville men are awaiting extradition to Jackson County, Ill., to face possible charges for four robberies there, officials said. Police believe the men also may have been involved with a pharmacy robbery in Indiana.

Poll Shows Shimkus Not Affected by Foley Scandal

A polling effort designed to guess which party will control the House next year found the Rep. Mark Foley fallout is potent in a handful of races, but not in that of Illinois Rep. John Shimkus, head of the House Page Board. Overall, the pollsters believe the House will change hands, with Democrats ending up with 224 seats to the Republicans' 211 -- unless things change again in the four weeks before the election.

Obituaries

Local obituaries Doris Boyd Doris Evelyn (Lewis) Boyd, 77, formerly of Evansville, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006, in DeKalb, Ill.

Kentucky Dropout Rate Higher Than State Reports

Kentucky has far more students dropping out of high school than is being reported by the state, according to an audit released Thursday. In 2004 and 2005, nearly 2,000 students who quit school were not counted in the state dropout rate, state Auditor Crit Luallen said.