Evansville Courier & Press

County Takes Smoking Ban Lead

In slightly less than two minutes Tuesday, the Vanderburgh County Commissioners quietly and unanimously took action that some say is merely the calm before the storm. Two days before a public hearing that is expected to attract a standing-room-only crowd to debate the hot button issue of proposed smoking bans in Evansville and Vanderburgh County, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a nonsmoking ordinance that they say will apply countywide.

Evsc Pacing Staff Growth

New administrative positions created by the Evansville- Vanderburgh School Board on Monday night may not be immediately filled, and some members said they don't think the realignment will jeopardize the school system's financial health. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have voted for (the realignment)," said board member Dana Willett, who asks frequent questions during meetings about financial issues.

Regional Economic Coalition Shapes Up

A new four-county regional economic development organization is taking shape as organizers attempt to build support for the proposed group. Earlier this week, the Posey County Commissioners approved a resolution voicing support for creating the regional organization, Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel said Tuesday.

Beating Around the Busches, Old and New

Leaning against the back of the batting cage, Red Schoendienst weighed in on the new Busch Stadium. "Anytime you get something new it's going to be nice," said the ol' Redhead, a former St. Louis Cardinals manager and current special assistant to the general manager. "At the old ballpark, there were a lot of things you had to do to keep it up because it was leaking. It amazes me the field is already in great shape."

Doggone Fashionable

Hostettler, Lugar Reflect Differences

In Washington, political analysts believe no new immigration legislation will be written this year. Responses to President Bush's immigration speech issued by Rep. John Hostettler, and Sen. Richard Lugar, both Republicans, give a glimpse of why that might be.

Incumbent Mayors Ousted Madisonville's Cunningham Falls to Cox; Lackey Loses in Henderson

Western Kentucky voters signaled a desire for change in the leadership of two of the region's major cities Tuesday. At Madisonville, attorney Will Cox defeated two-term incumbent Madisonville Mayor Karen Cunningham to claim the Democratic nomination for that post and take on Republican businessman Ron Sanders in the November general election.

Jenkins has Shot at Dad's Old Seat

Union County Democrats on Tuesday gave Waverly, Ky., resident Jody Jenkins a shot at sitting in the county judge-executive's seat formerly held by his late father. Jenkins, 33, a tool-and-die maker at Henderson's Morgantown Plastic and Tooling, bested a field of six candidates in the county's Democratic primary that included a current magistrate.

Embezzlement Nets Probation

Nichole L. Biggs, 25, was sentenced to 18 months of probation on Tuesday and must pay another $9,215 in restitution for embezzling about $13,000 from her former employer, Downtown Evansville Inc. Biggs was office manager in 2005 at the nonprofit agency that promotes downtown revitalization when her employers noticed discrepancies between records of membership dues and computer records. Biggs eventually admitted to depositing checks into her personal bank account instead of her employer's acco...

Agency Almost Over Hump

The court-appointed receiver of the Washington Court Redevelopment Corp. told members of the agency's board on Tuesday that the process is "winding down." Les Shively said the audit being done by the accounting firm of Gaither Rutherford & Co. is in its final stages and should be released June 1.

Rescuers Make Way for Ducklings

Lou Reutter owns a business called Critter Control that specializes in removing racoons, bats and other pests from homes. On Tuesday, however, he received an unusual request: A woman called to report ducklings trapped in a rain gutter on the edge of Burkhardt Road, just south of Lynch Road and across the street from Tri-State Vet and Pet Supply.

Applebee's Ceo Drops in for a Visit Holy Spirit Class `Eats Well'

It started as a grammar lesson. Then it became a writing lesson, an etiquette lesson and, finally, a life lesson. Teacher Holly Walther's seventh-grade English class at Holy Spirit School went to lunch on Tuesday with Lloyd Hill, chairman and CEO of Applebee's International, at the company's restaurant on Evansville's West Side. Walther's students wrote letters to Hill, which were chatty and friendly but also pointed out that the restaurant chain's slogan, "Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood," i...

Small-Town Auctioneer Was Appalachia's Pied Piper

I don't think there's anybody like Steve Wise these days, but it can't hurt to ask. Today's column puts out a call to my constituents in rural America.

Briefs

Newburgh Trial set for October in forgery, fraud case

Info Line

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Question of the Day Tuesday's Online Question

Do you support President Bush's plan to deploy 6,000 National Guard troops to patrol the U.S.-Mexican border? 235 votes cast as of 10 p.m. Tuesday

Evansville

Retirement Center Shocked by Staffer's Death, Sets Up Fund

The staff, residents and volunteers at Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi were shocked Monday when they learned of the shooting death of fellow worker Kathy Pate. Pate, 41, and her daughter, Amanda Jeffers, 19, were gunned down Monday in the rental house they lived in at 807 E. Main Street in Norris City, Ill.

Obituaries

Local obituaries David E. Farrar David Eugene Farrar, 48, of Boon-ville, Indiana, went to his sweet Jesus on Monday, May 15, 2006, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital.

To Err Is Human, but Machines Ok

Those new, fully computerized voting machines worked just fine Tuesday. It was human beings who were more prone to error.