Evansville Courier & Press (2007-Current)

Civic Center Security Go-Around Employees, Frequent Visitors May Skip Checkpoints [Corrected 08/10/09]

So, you don't want to go through the rigmarole of taking off your belt, emptying your pockets and getting it all X-rayed when security checkpoints come to the Civic Center administration building this fall. Get a job there.

Ibm to Add Humanity to Welfare

INDIANAPOLIS - IBM Corp.'s 362-page plan to fix problems with Indiana's privately run welfare system calls for providing more face- to-face help and no longer "forcing clients to self-service channels" such as telephone call centers and online applications. The plan, obtained by The Associated Press, also describes myriad mechanical and human errors such as an automatic call distributor that "inappropriately fails" about twice a month, losing all telephone calls in progress and infighting wit...

Parent's Signature Not Needed Evsc Students Can Get Netbooks

The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. has reversed an earlier announcement that parents of high school students will need to accompany their child to pick up textbooks, plus their new laptop computer, for the school year. High school students will be able to pick up the items on their own, EVSC officials said Thursday.

Sweet Jumps Fast Curves Posey County Boy Leaves Competitors in the Dust

For six years, national and local motocross racers have been eating the dust of Wadesville, Ind., native Corey Heath. That's more than half of the young man's life.

Local Happenings

Evansville Water crews close

Jasper Reds Reunion a Hit with Former Players

The Jasper Reds, in existence since 1893, are the longest- running semi-pro baseball team in Southern Indiana. And they likely have the longest-running annual reunion, too, at 17 years and counting, thanks to the effort of the Alles family. Attendees this year traveled in from Indianapolis, Tell City, Otwell and Huntingburg.

'Someone Believed in Them' Impact Ministries' Future Business Leaders of Evansville

Keona Goodloe expected to receive some sort of gift after completing IMPACT Ministries' two-week Future Business Leaders of Evansville program. But the 15-year-old and her 17 peers in the two-week program had no idea what was in store for them.

Schools Getting St. Mary's Grant $1.3 Million Will Support Healthy Kids Initiative in Evsc

Eight Evansville schools will receive health and nutrition counseling and exercise equipment through a $1.3 million federal grant recently awarded to the St. Mary's Foundation. The three-year Carol M. White Physical Education Grant will include $450,000 to be allocated during the foundation's current fiscal year, which began July 1. The remainder will be received in two later installments, said Tom Lilly, St. Mary's senior vice president of foundation operations.

Two Arrested After Drive-by Shooting

Two men have been arrested in connection with the drive-by shooting on West Maryland Street Tuesday night. The alleged shooter, Joshua L. Gahagan, 21, and the alleged driver, Clifford A. Johns II, 21, face four preliminary counts of criminal recklessness, a class C felony. Both confessed their roles in the crime, authorities said.

Briefs

evansville Man, 40, accused of molesting girl

Forum Keeps Talk On Arena Going

Nearly 60 people attended a forum hosted by the city of Evansville on Thursday evening at Ivy Tech Community College to answer questions from residents about the planned Downtown arena. The 11,000-seat arena is proposed for a location that now includes the Executive Inn, bounded by Main Street, King Boulevard, Walnut Street and Fourth Street.

Last of Three Escaped Inmates Caught

INDIANAPOLIS - The last of three convicts who escaped from the maximum-security Indiana State Prison was captured at a hotel in Indianapolis on Thursday after 11 days on the run, authorities said. About 20 members of a U.S. Marshals fugitive task force arrested convicted murderer Mark Booher around noon on the northwest side of the city, Supervisory Inspector Shannon Robinson said. He was alone and unarmed in the hotel room, which was not registered in his name, she said.

Obituaries

Local William James 'Bill' Berry

Ill. Governor Gets Firsthand View of Iraq

CHICAGO - Gov. Pat Quinn visited with Illinois troops, took part in medal ceremonies and flew in a helicopter over the mountains of Afghanistan as part of a six-day trip abroad that also included a stay in Iraq. "Many of our service members are in very remote places, they have very little from home, very few if any visitors. To have the governor.. show up and personally thank each person for their service, their fortitude, their sacrifice

Briefs

INDIANAPOLIS Dillinger family creates youth fund

Job Losses Could Wipe Out Wage Gains

ATLANTA - A federal minimum wage increase that takes effect today could prolong the recession, some economists say, by forcing small businesses to lay off the same workers that the pay hike passed in better times was meant to help. The increase to $7.25 means 70 cents more an hour for the lowest- paid workers in the 30 states that have lower minimums or no minimum wage. It also means higher costs for employers who feel they've already trimmed all their operating fat.