Local News from WIKY

Debbie Hartz wins top state award

A local school teacher, Deborah Hartz, is named Hoosier Educator of the Year.  Hartz is a Lead Coach in Innovative and Alternative Models with the EVSC.  Criteria for the award includes Professional Practice, Advocacy for the Profession, Community Engagement, Leadership in Professional Development and Attention to Diversity. Debbie Hartz has taught for EVSC for 36 years in a variety of positions and is active in the Evansville Teachers Association.

One stabbed, one arrested

A man is being treated at Deaconess, while another is arrested after a stabbing in Evansville. Police responded to a report of a fight in the 500 block of East Riverside Drive, just before 10:00 Tuesday night. Roy Blackman was stabbed in the back a number of times, then treated and released. Police say Blackman was stabbed during an argument with 55-year-old Carl Moody, who was arrested and faces a charge of battery resulting in serious bodily injury.

Lynch-Burkhardt crash kills woman

A crash on the East Side has claimed a life. Authorities say 57-year-old Robin Gail Norris of Evansville died after Tuesday's crash at Burkhardt and Lynch roads. Christopher Meunier of Newburgh told police that he didn't see the red light at the intersection, and his vehicle crashed into Norris' car, which then hit a third car. Norris later died at St. Mary's Medical Center. Her passenger was also taken to St. Mary's, while the driver of the third vehicle was transported to Deaconess. read more

Firefighters battle fire and ditch

It was a long night for German Township firefighters. They were called to a report of flames in the woods off Kuebler Road just before midnight Wednesday. When they arrived, they found an abandoned house and nearby wooded area on fire in the 8200 block of Schaeffer Road. One of the fire trucks got stuck in a ditch off the driveway, hampering firefighters efforts to put out the fire. They managed to extinguish the flames and nobody was hurt. The fire truck was pulled out of the ditch just before 5:00 a.m. No word on how the fire started.

We Are Evansville campaign begins

USI Public Relations students are given a big boost by Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, Old National Bank and Deaconess Hospital in launching a "We Are Evansville" campaign. And the corporations are challenging other businesses to join the campaign in response to a survey that's been construed as being negative about the city. Student Jesse Marks is calling for more community support. He's asking people to help in the making of a video emphasizing postive aspects of the city and its people by emailing pictures to  WeAreEvansville@gmail.com.

HNI wins National Main Street certification

Historic Newburgh, Inc. is designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center. The center is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. read more

A second disappointing day involving ISTEP testing

Maybe the third time will be charmed... After another morning of frustration for school systems trying to administer ISTEP tests through a computer link with the state of Indiana, Glenda Ritz threw-in the towel this time. She's the Superintendent of Public Instruction who is working under a contract that her predecessor, Tony Bennett, signed with the Rand Corporation to handle the testing. For a second day in a row, Rand's server repeatedly logged-out students trying to answer questions.

New fire truck replaces one that crashed

There's a new fire truck in service at the McCutchanville station on N. St. Joe Avenue. Lt. Steve Gibson says it replaces the truck that crashed in February 2011, killing firefighter Jeremy Tighe. Gibson says a plaque honoring Tighe was placed on the new truck.  He says parts of the truck that crashed were put in the new vehicle. Gibson says insurance money covered the cost of the truck.

One killed, two injured in White County crash

A pickup truck collides with a car, claiming the life of a Carmi man and seriously injuring his wife and another man. It happened at about noon Monday on Route 1 at County Road 1325-East, in White County. Authorities say 24-year-old Eric L. Williams of New Harmony was driving the pickup, when he turned left into the path of the car driven by 69-year-old Larry Boehringer of Carmi. Boehringer was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, 69-year-old Lilian Boehringer, was airlifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville with major injuries.

Police fatally shoot Vincennes man

A Vincennes man was shot and killed following a confrontation with police Monday night. Officers say 42-year-old Ross Darkis refused to drop his weapon when officers arrived at his home on Wilbur St., responding to a domestic situation. Darkis reportedly pointed his gun at officers, who fired several shots, striking Darkis. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. No officers were injured.