Evansville Courier & Press (2007-Current)

Evsc, State Sat Results Down From '06 [Corrected 09/06/07]

Indiana's class of 2007 posted disappointing scores on the annual SAT test, and results were down, too, among graduates from the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp. State education officials released test data on Tuesday. The 473 EVSC students who took the exam scored slightly above state averages and slightly below national averages on all three sections - critical reading, math and writing.

Feelings Run High at Stadium Hearing Costs Are Focus of Many Speakers

Passion - against renovating Roberts Stadium, for building a stadium that will draw big-name acts to Evansville, for something better - punctuated a public hearing on the city's entertainment options Tuesday. The 5:30 p.m. hearing, which drew more than 100 people to Central Library's Browning Room, was the second on the future of Roberts Stadium hosted by consultant Tom Chema of Cleveland-based The Gateway Group. It was intended to give Chema input that will help him generate a report with fo...

School Bus Accident Owensville Students Escape Serious Injury in I- 164 Crash

Hallf-asleep in the passenger side of a company truck on a long trip between satellite dish installations, Jackie Coker awakened Tuesday evening to an unsettling sight. Across Interstate 164, at the Indiana 57 on-ramp to the southbound lanes, a school bus was airborne.

State has New Plans for Children's Center

The state is poised to seek funding for a new Evansville Psychiatric Children's Center to be built on the grounds of the Evansville State Hospital. Five years after local legislators stalled former Gov. Frank O'Bannon's move to close the center, the head of the state Family and Social Services Administration said a consulting firm has determined demand does exist for the services it provides.

Fireworks Restricted to 17 Days

Evansville residents thinking about setting off fireworks will need to check their calenders, or they could face fines ranging from $25 to $2,500. The Evansville City Council has adopted an ordinance limiting consumer use of fireworks to just 17 days a year - most of them around the July Fourth holiday.

Strength Was Two Women's Response to Tragedy

An old saying goes, "The true measure of people is how they respond to adversity." If that is true, a pair of local women are setting examples for all of us.

Sex Suspect Out On Bond Jailed Again

A man who was free on bond while facing ongoing child molestation charges now faces new charges of sexual misconduct with a minor and criminal confinement. Timothy Alvey-Williams, 24, of 2504 N. Governor St., appeared in court Tuesday for an initial hearing on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class B felony, and criminal confinement, a Class D felony.

Pigman Takes Case After Judges Recuse Themselves

Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge Robert Pigman will serve as special judge in an ongoing murder case against Andrew Rogers. Rogers, 20, was recently charged with murder in the stabbing death of Thomas Walls, also 20.

Nearly Disposed Alcoa Eyeing New Spot for Coal-Burning Waste

Alcoa Warrick Operations is developing a new disposal site for the waste from the coal-burning power plant that provides electricity for its aluminum operations. The new disposal site would be in a large "Y" shaped pit located between Red Brush and Eble roads on property owned by Alcoa, said Sally Rideout Lambert, a company spokeswoman.

Lloyd Walkway Money Released

INDIANAPOLIS - State money that will fund construction of a pedestrian walkway over the Lloyd Expressway to connect Wesselman Park to the Evansville State Hospital grounds has been released, officials said Tuesday. State Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, said the Indiana Department of Transportation will release $1 million in long dormant funding to construct the overpass walkway and improve pedestrian access and safety.

County Massaging Budget Scott Township Assessor's Requests Are Issues

Denying requests for new employees and eliminating duplicate spending are two of the ways the Vanderburgh County Council expects to bring the county's 2008 budget into line. Future cuts are also likely to include about $24,000 in increased salary and rent payments that Scott Township Assessor John Habermel requested for himself.

Additional People Alleging Schroeder Abused Them

Additional people have come forward in the past week alleging abuse by the late Monsignor Othmar Schroeder, a Catholic Diocese of Evansville spokesman said Tuesday. Schroeder founded Holy Family Church in Jasper, Ind., in 1947. He moved to Sacred Heart Church in Schnellville, Ind., in 1975 and served there until his death in 1988.

Ue Business Students Have New Learning Spot Addition Sports State- of-the-Art Classrooms, Two-Story Atrium

The approximately 300 business students at the University of Evansville will begin classes today in state-of-the-art classrooms in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building. The building, really an addition, is the first phase of an $11 million renovation of the McCurdy Alumni Memorial Union. Before today, the business administration classrooms had been located on the second floor of Hyde Hall.

Ozone Alert Extended Through Today

The Evansville Environmental Protection Agency and the Vanderburgh County Health Department Ozone Office have extended yesterday's ozone alert to today and also added an alert for fine particulate pollution. In addition to Evansville and Vanderburgh County, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management is extending its ozone alert to include Posey, Warrick and Perry counties.

Gubernatorial Pitch Schellinger States His Case to Dems

Feeding local Democratic leaders the partisan red meat they expect during the

Obituaries

Local Anna F. Heldt

Duke Energy Plant Concerns to Be Aired Only Public Hearing Set for Today

INDIANAPOLIS - Opponents of Duke Energy Corp.'s proposed coal gasification plant in southwestern Indiana are preparing to detail their objections to the $2 billion project during the sole public hearing on the plant planned by state regulators. Environmental and consumer groups contend the plant could result in up to a 20 percent rate increase for Duke customers and won't live up to its "clean coal" billing.

Ind. House Race to Carry Significance

INDIANAPOLIS - A hotly-contested race for the Indiana House already is shaping up in Southwestern Indiana, where a Republican business owner from Jasper, Ind., is challenging a longtime Democratic state representative. The outcome could decide which party controls the House. Mark Messmer announced Tuesday that he will seek the Republican nomination in 2008 for House District 63. The seat has been held since 1996 by Rep. Dave Crooks, D-Washington.