Evansville Courier & Press

Sexuality Becomes Issue in State Race

Issues of sexuality have entered the Republican campaign to unseat state Rep. Phil Hoy, D-Evansville, a gay rights advocate who says the scrutiny is misplaced. The dispute is centered around a recent fundraising letter paid for by GOP candidate Andrew Smith and signed by Hoy's 2004 opponent, David Hennig.

Coroner Identification Cases Can Be Tricky

Identifying victims is an essential part of working in a coroner's office, but some cases are more challenging than others. That was made clear last week with the report of a tragic case of mistaken identity in Grant County, Ind., involving the identities of two Taylor University students in the same car crash.

D-Day Survivors to Be Honored Aboard Lst 325

Floyd Whicker joined the Army his senior year at Reitz High School and went ashore D-Day with the same Army 2nd Ranger Battalion Company B depicted in "Saving Private Ryan." He was 19 when he was shot through the knee landing on Omaha Beach. His first lieutenant left the Higgins boat ahead of him and was killed in the water.

When One Spammer Leaves, a Dozen Take His Place

At first glance, the brief news report we carried Sunday about a Texas man accused of sending millions of spam e-mail messages appears to be good news. According to The Associated Press, 24-year-old Ryan Pitylak admitted sending 25 million e-mails a day to Internet users around the world as part of a settlement of lawsuits brought by Microsoft and the state of Texas.

Republican Criticizes Attacks On Hoy

A Republican supporter of gay rights has asked Vanderburgh County GOP leaders to disavow Andrew Smith's criticism of Democratic Rep. Phil Hoy on issues of sexuality. In a letter to GOP Chairwoman Connie Carrier, Kelley M. Coures of Evansville said Republican candidate Smith's attacks on Hoy are a shameful attempt to "use the gay community of Vanderburgh County again as a weapon against Phil Hoy."

Police Say Suspect Owed Thousands

Courier & Press staff writers (812) 464-7417 or mwilson@evansville.net A Warrick County Treasurer's Office employee who is charged with theft of public funds allegedly had a gambling problem that cost her nearly $20,000 a year -- information her attorney disputes.

Court Readied for Video Hearings

The first-ever video conference court hearing in Vanderburgh County could take place as early as next month. The installation of video hardware began Tuesday in Misdemeanor Court and is expected to be completed by the end of the month, said David Rector, director of the city-county Building Authority.

Help Is On Way to Build New Church

A group of volunteers from many states will come to Evansville this week to help a local congregation build a new church. The group, Carpenters for Christ, will be in town Thursday through June 16. During that time, the expected 140 volunteers will build a new home for Northwoods Church, which is currently located on Oak Hill Road.

Highways and Byways a Weekly Photographic Report

The Stop & Shop grocery store has been a fixture in the small town of Elnora, Ind., for at least 60 years, the last 30 or so in a building on the main drag of Odon Street, according to owner Tony Litherland. Litherland's mom, Cynthia Mae, decided she wanted to start a store, so his dad, Lawrence, constructed a building along Indiana 57, drove to Terre Haute, Ind., and came back with $200 worth of groceries. A store was born.

Iu Student Molds Play Lists to Individual Musical Tastes

Justin Donaldson, 27, of Evansville, wanted to give people a way to explore their own corners in the music world. So the Indiana University doctoral student found connections among songs, artists and musical tastes.

Navigating Downtown Evansville Is No Sunday Drive

I am not yet a senile old coot. I can still tell east from west and up from down on most days, but I got turned around in Downtown Evansville the other day. I realize that's an admission that's likely to hold one up to ridicule, especially when he is a reporter who works daily literally within walking distance of Downtown, but it points out one of the problems identified in the recent Courier & Press series on the key gateways into the city.

Info Line

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

Evansville

Free Gun Locks Aimed at Saving Lives

Free gun locks will be distributed today through Wednesday in a statewide effort to promote firearm safety. Project ChildSafe will pass out the locks along with educational brochures and children's safety pledges in the parking lot of Dick's Sporting Goods at 6601 E. Lloyd Expressway from noon to 6 p.m.

Routine Business On Agendas

The Vanderburgh County Commissioners and County Council will meet this week, and both meetings likely will concern routine business such as contracts and resolutions. The County Commissioners have not released an agenda for their Tuesday meeting, but Commissioners President Cheryl Musgrave said the three-member body probably will consider the awarding of engineering contracts for road projects.

Livestock Tracking Plan in Works

About 10 percent of Kentucky's livestock farms have registered for a national farm identification system aimed at tracking the movements of diseased animals. Tim Turney, director of the Division of Producer Services for the state veterinarian's office, said Kentucky is in line with the national average in getting started with the voluntary program.

Obituaries

Local obituaries Kenneth Dean Andrew

Time to Sell the Doughnuts

Asian Carp Die Off in Illinois River

There has been a major fish die-off in the Illinois River, but state conservation officials are far from worried about it. If anything, they wish it had been even worse -- because the dying fish are invasive Asian carp. Since last Tuesday, thousands of dead carp have been seen floating down the river. Their bodies have been spotted from the Starved Rock area to as far downstream as Havana.