Evansville Courier & Press (2007-Current)

Youth Mental Helath Services Needed

Consensus in the mental health community appears to point to a shortage of inpatient services for children in the Evansville area. "We are the only child and adolescent inpatient facility in Southern Indiana. It is not unusual to have our unit full," said David Morris, CEO of Deaconess Cross Pointe, a provider of in and outpatient psychiatric and chemical dependency services.

Lloyd Pool Users Fear Fast Drain

About 20 seniors who count on Lloyd Pool for year-round fitness swimming made up about half the attendees at Tuesday's public hearing on recommendations of the Mayor's Aquatics Task Force. Helen Sollman urged the city, through consultant Scot Hunsaker, to keep Lloyd operating until a new indoor facility succeeds it. Lloyd is the only indoor pool in a city system of nine pools; two of them, Tepe on the South and Howell on the West, are permanently closed.

Seniors Are Told There Is a Choice

When Riverwalk Communities moves its assisted-living operation out of the McCurdy building and into an East Side nursing facility, it must give its residents the choice of moving with it or going elsewhere. Dennis Rosebrough, spokesman for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, said the agency is aware there has been "some pressure" on residents to move into Riverwalk's new location. But he said the agency will insist residents or their families are given the choice.

Falwell Impressed Hoosiers

The Rev. Jerry Falwell was known for big things - he founded both Liberty University and the Moral Majority, and he occasionally made headlines for controversial statements about those with whom he disagreed. But Tri-State residents who met Falwell say those truths don't capture the whole essence of the man.

Titanic Dwarfed by Latest Sea Monster, I Think

It's time for another of my "Things I Think I Think" Good Morning columns. If any of these bullet items amuse, infuriate, entertain or befuddle you, I assure you it's purely accidental. So, with that disclaimer, let's get started. * The largest cruise liner now in service, Freedom of the Seas, can carry about 4,500 people. That ship is owned by the Royal Caribbean line. In 2009, Royal Caribbean is scheduled to take delivery of an even more gigantic ship, Genesis, which will be able to transpo...

County Assessor Braces for More Appeals

With the deadline for filing property assessment appeals in Vanderburgh County extended to July 1, County Assessor Jonathan Weaver is bracing for more. Weaver, elected in November, said he welcomes the increased load.

Bank Heist Suspect Sought

WADESVILLE - Police are searching for an armed man who robbed the Fifth Third Bank branch here Tuesday morning after claiming he had attached a bomb to the door. The man escaped in a white Dodge Caravan, but only after abandoning all or most of the money when a red dye pack in the money exploded just outside the bank, said Posey County Sheriff Jim Folz. No bomb was found.

Teaching Career Nears End

Brother John Stout started teaching at Memorial High School in the early 1950s, when boys and girls were taught separately and the school's only technology was a single telephone in the front office. Stout is getting ready to retire, 55 years after teaching his first English literature class and three months shy of his 85th birthday.

Defense to Plead for Ward's Life

For two days, jurors have heard about how Roy Lee Ward raped and killed a Dale, Ind., teen, down to microscopic detail. Now the 12 jurors and three alternates from Clay County, Ind., will hear about his life before he made headlines. This is the second time Ward has stood trial in the July 2001, rape and death of 15-year-old Stacy Payne. He was previously convicted and sentenced to death by a Spencer County, Ind., jury, but the Indiana Supreme Court overturned the conviction based on pretrial...

Hands-On Learning Technical Center Students Learn Trade by Building a House

More than one attempt was required, but the heated Brazilian cherry floor was installed correctly in a house under construction in Creekside Meadows Subdivision. The builders are high school juniors and seniors from the Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center. Making a mistake, then fixing it, is part of learning.

New State System to Let Victims Track Inmates by Phone, E-Mail

Indiana is changing the way victims can track inmates in county jails. With just a phone call, residents can register with VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday), which alerts victims with an automated telephone call or e-mail if an inmate is released, transferred, escapes or dies. So far, the program only has information on inmates in Warrick, Marion, Floyd and Henry county jails. But, according to Indiana Department Correction Commissioner J. David Donahue, all 92 Indiana count...

Official Says Infant Died of Positional Asphyxiation

A 5-month-old girl found dead at her parents' Harriet Street home died of positional asphyxiation, Vanderburgh County's chief deputy coroner said. Lilly JaneAnn Rigdon, who had just started to crawl two weeks ago, died around 1 a.m. Saturday. Timothy and Mary Rigdon found their daughter around 4:30 a.m. facedown on their bed.

High School Teammate Didn't Let Tragic Accident Stop Him

Dear Brennan, First of all, let me say that I'm enjoying our time together this spring. It's great having an 11-year-old again to take to the baseball field.

Info Line

If you have a brief question about the news, use a Touch-Tone phone to call: (812) 464-7466 What is Rep. Brad Ellsworth's mailing address?

Briefs

Evansville Task force to plan ash borer measures

Obituaries

Local Detwain Malik Barnett

Tony-Nominated Musical Written by Harrison Grad

"Spring Awakening," a rock musical written by an Evansville native about the sexual longing of 19th century German teenagers, received a leading 11 Tony nominations on Tuesday. The musical, an adaptation by Harrison High School graduate Steven Sater of the late 19th century drama by Frank Wedekind, won nominations for best musical and 10 other awards within the musical theater category. They include best book (script), original score, actor, featured actor, direction, choreography and orchest...

Briefs

Evansville Sam's Club honors Fairlawn teacher

Theft of Copper Pipes Cited in Turkey Deaths; Arrest Made

A Dubois County man is accused of taking gas lines from two Jasper, Ind., farms to sell as scrap metal, which reportedly led to the deaths of nearly 1,000 turkeys. Jasper resident David M. Howard, 49, was arrested Monday night on preliminary charges of theft and criminal mischief after a joint investigation by Indiana State Police and Jasper City Police.

Man Competes for Spot On Reality Show

Siraji "DJ Raj" Thomas wouldn't mind being a "man skank," but he won't make a fool of himself. Thomas is one of a handful of people from Evansville who has entered an online competition to be among 20 men vying for the affection of Tiffany "New York" Pollard on season 2 of VH1's reality show "I Love New York." Pollard was given her nickname by rapper Flava Flav on the first season of "Flavor of Love."