Local News from WIKY

Warren re-hired for another 3 years

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/22/2013 - 10:32am
The Evansville Convention and Visitors Board has extended the contract of Bureau Director Bob Warren by three years. Board President John Montrastelle tells WIKY News that Warren has accomplished a lot in his first two, including new policies and a new "transparent "budget. Montrastelle also says Warren will lead the Bureau on important new projects like the convention hotel and a new baseball-softball complex. Monstrastelle say the bureau is negotiating with a property owner on a possible site for the complex.

Architects looking at possible Med Center sites

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/22/2013 - 10:29am
An architectural firm is looking around downtown Evansville to find suitable locations for a proposed IU medical school. The Redevelopment Commission has approved a $10,000 contract with VPS Architecture. The company's Sarah Schuler told the commission that the work will consist of design studies, and some work is already done. IU is considering an Evansville site where medical students can complete all four years of their studies while having residency opportunities at area hospitals and other medical facilities. A local two-year program is currently offered at USI.

A downtown convention hotel and sports complex top Warren's todo list

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 6:05pm
The head of the Convention and Visitors Bureau suggests that bigger would be better when it comes to building a downtown convention hotel. Bob Warren says that to do otherwise would make Evansville less competitive for conventions. Warren also indicated he'll soon say where he'd like to see an eight-field baseball and softball complex built.

Excise offers move on bootleg DVDs

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 5:59pm
The prices may have seemed too good to be true. Officials say the were true, but not legal. Excise Police officers said they seized almost 1,200 DVDs at Riverside One Stop in the 400 block of E. Riverside Drive. The state officers say they include unauthorized copies of DVDs. Some were still being shown in theaters and are not yet available for retail sale. No word yet on what, if any, charges the store will face.

Suicide closes Wesselman Park

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 5:58pm
The back section of Wesselman Park was closed for about two hours Tuesday afternoon as authorities investigated what they say was a suicide. The park was closed during the noon hour when a golfer heard a shot and found the body. Police, the coroner's office, a parks representative and a chaplain were sent to the park. The chaplain counseled family members. The park re-opened after 3 o'clock.

Concerns raised about hotel project

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:30am
Some members of the Evansville City Council have expressed concerns about the cost of the planned downtown convention hotel. Mayor Winnecke's Chief of Staff Steve Schaefer went before the Redevelopment Commission Tuesday and tried to alleviate those concerns, saying the mayor is working to get the best deal for the city and nothing's final yet. The commission also responded to questions raised by Randy Jones of Evansville about $20 million in taxpayer money that would go to the hotel developer. Commission attorney Ted Zeimer said the city has to provide an incentive.

Council rejects Smart City endorsement

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:28am
The Evansville City Council takes action against the Smart City initiative designed to modernize the city’s water meters. The Council voted 5-to-2 Monday night to appeal a ruling by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission that endorsed a contract between the city and Johnson Controls. The Winnecke administration has asked the City Council for $53 million in bond financing to implement the program that would upgrade Evansville’s older water meters.

Worker dies after injury on Blue Bridge

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:25am
One of the workers on the Blue Bridge at Owensboro is dead, after being injured Monday. Crew members who are painting the bridge found a 35-year-old co-worker unconscious in safety netting. Workers raised the netting, cut the injured man from it, and he was taken to the Owensboro hospital. He was pronounced dead a short time later. His name has not been released yet. The worker had burns on his hands, indicating he may have been electrocuted by power lines on the bridge.

Tornado system spawns local storms

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:23am
Thunderstorms dumped heavy rain and caused power outages in the Evansville area Tuesday morning. But First Alert meteorologist Byron Douglas suggests the most severe weather is more likely Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The storms are coming from the same system that spawned the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma.

City near Oklahoma City devastated by historic tornado

Submitted by WIKY News on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 5:29pm
Moore, Oklahoma is reduced to rubble by a massive tornado that savaged the town. Helicopter shots show block after block of parts of the city destroyed by what some say was a mile-wide tornado that was on the ground for about two miles. Moore is a suburb of Oklahoma City. Moore has a population of about 56,000 - making it the seventh largest city in the state. It marked the second day of massive tornadoes in the state. Twisters Sunday killed two men and injured dozens of others when it turned a trailer court into splinters.