<a href="https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2019/12/28/politics-in-evansville-will-be-bananas-in-2020/2709537001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Politics in Evansville will be bananas in 2020</a>  <font color="#6f6f6f">Courier & Press</font>

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Tired of politics? You may want to go into hibernation in 2020. In New Zealand. Or spend the year at sea.

The sight, sound and fury of a presidential election year — with Donald Trump on center stage — will come to Evansville in rallies held by both sides in America’s angry political divide. Having already rallied their troops over the ongoing presidential impeachment drama, local conservative and progressive organizers have made that clear.

Trump won’t suck up all the oxygen in the room.

Vice President Mike Pence has verbally agreed to come to Evansville on April 23 to headline Right to Life of Southwest Indiana’s 2020 fundraising banquet, according to the local anti-abortion group. Throw in Gov. Eric Holcomb’s re-election bid, the possibility that 8th District Rep. Larry Bucshon may be running his last campaign, former Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel’s statewide campaign for attorney general and a host of countywide races, and you’ve got one heaping mound of politics.

More: America’s angry national divide over Trump comes to Evansville

But those things will look like small potatoes if the Democratic presidential race is still undecided when Indiana stages primary elections on May 5.

“It would get some presidential candidates here for us in the spring, we hope,” said Edie Hardcastle, chair of Vanderburgh County’s Democratic organization. “We’ve already been thinking about that.”

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Hardcastle said local Democrats would relish the chance to mobilize their political organizing and get-out-the-vote operations well in advance of the fall campaign. Trump has no major opposition for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination.

A competitive presidential primary could give local Democrats a reprise of 2008 when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton barnstormed the state in an unexpectedly pivotal contest punctuated by furious campaigning in Evansville. For weeks, Obama and Clinton took their battle into high school gymnasiums, union halls, stadiums and town squares, in communities unaccustomed to seeing presidential candidates in the flesh.

But Indiana’s contest falls relatively late in the presidential primary election calendar. No one knows whether one of the Democratic contenders will have sewn up the nomination by then. Maybe only two or three of them will remain standing in early May.

“It’s just so hard to know. There’s so many people still in the primary. It seems to be so up in the air,” Hardcastle said.

The local Democratic chair is publicly neutral in the presidential race. But Hardcastle said former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg have significant support among local party activists.

More: Bittersweet fraternity struggles with sense of loss at Christmas

Some of the local activists in both major parties may stand a good chance of becoming delegates to their parties’ national conventions this summer. The Democratic National Convention will be held July 13-16 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Republican National Convention is set for Aug. 24-27 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Those high-profile events may be months away, but local and area activists are already planning for them.

Hardcastle attended a meeting in Sullivan County last month where she and other Democratic Party officers in the 19-county 8th congressional district went over the process for becoming a delegate to the national convention.

The 8th District will have six of Indiana’s 108 delegates, meaning Vanderburgh County Democrats who are interested in the positions will compete with others from 18 other counties. But Vanderburgh is the 8th District’s largest county, mitigating in the locals’ favor. Other positions will be available for local Democrats to claim, such as the 18 at-large delegate slots.

Democrats will choose their national convention delegates at the state party’s June 13 convention in Indianapolis.

Dubois County resident Don Hayes, chairman of the 8th District Republican Party, said the district will field three delegates and three alternates to the Republican National Convention. Indiana will field 28 at-large delegates, each with an alternate. Hayes said local Republicans can be selected for those spots as well.

More: Trump, guns — Bucshon got into all of it in Evansville Monday

The 8th District GOP will choose its national convention delegates not at the state party convention in June in Indianapolis, but at a May 9 caucus of county-level Republican leaders. Indiana’s at-large delegates will be selected at a state GOP committee meeting on May 20 in Indianapolis.

Both major parties also allow individuals who are willing to pay a fee to be “guests” at their national conventions. They don’t have delegate credentials that would allow them onto the convention floor, but there is every chance the lucky guest can persuade a delegate to lend him his floor credentials temporarily.

One potential obstacle: It can cost several thousand dollars to sit among the thousands of longtime party activists, donors, leaders and elected officials who typically get tapped to be delegates and guests at national political conventions.

Faced with paying for travel, lodging and food, some creative delegates have started Internet fundraising pages and GoFundMe campaigns and made other appeals for money from people.

Joanie Kanizer, a Vermillion County resident who chairs the 8th District Democrat Party, was a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Kanizer said the costs are manageable if delegates and guests are willing to share hotel rooms and make other economies.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a delegate or you’re a guest: It will be an experience that you will never forget,” Kanizer said.

The sun sets at the Bennett household in Robards, Ky., as Madelyn, center, leads her dog Skye over hay bales while jumping around with her sisters Anna, back left, and Paige on the evening of Anna's 12th birthday, Thursday, July 25, 2019. When the weather is nice the sisters spend a majority of their free time playing outside.
Dabbling ducks splash around in a lake along Stockwell Drive on the Evansville State Hospital Grounds, Monday afternoon, Feb. 4, 2019.
Little ballerinas learn how to become a caterpillar during rehearsal for their upcoming show Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at The School of Ballet Indiana in Evansville, Ind., Saturday, April 6, 2019. The ballerinas pictured are Emma Roemke, from left, Zoey Wildt, Selah Schmidt and Clara Gilbert.
Castle High School student Rachel Landrum, center right, gets back on a Horseshoe Bend Carriage Co. carriage after making a pit stop to take prom pictures by the river with her boyfriend Conner Gorman, not pictured, and CHS student photographer Randy Cox, bottom right, in downtown Evansville, Ind., Saturday, April 27, 2019. Randy, center left, and Sheila O'Risky, far left, lead the couple and photographer through downtown Evansville before taking them to their prom at Old National Events Plaza.

Castle High School student Rachel Landrum, center right, gets back on a Horseshoe Bend Carriage Co. carriage after making a pit stop to take prom pictures by the river with her boyfriend Conner Gorman, not pictured, and CHS student photographer Randy Cox, bottom right, in downtown Evansville, Ind., Saturday, April 27, 2019. Randy, center left, and Sheila O’Risky, far left, lead the couple and photographer through downtown Evansville before taking them to their prom at Old National Events Plaza. Sam Owens

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Ellie-Jane, 6, laughs as she snuggles up in her mother Bronwyn Pfingston’s lap while waiting for the start of the “The Children’s Nutcracker” at Murphy Auditorium in New Harmony, Ind., Saturday afternoon, Dec. 7, 2019. Ellie-Jane played the role of an angel being tapped by the Sugar Plum Fairy during the opening of the second act.
Harper Elementary School students hoist up a colorful parachute to let their classmates run underneath during a Special Education Unified Game Day at Central Stadium in Evansville, Tuesday morning, Oct. 22, 2019. The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation hosted Tuesday's event for more than 200 elementary school students and will host another game day for middle school students, Wednesday morning.
Jermarrius Pam meets Blondie, an 11-year-old Percheron draft cross horse, during Boom Fest held outside of the Stanley Hall Building in Evansville, Ind., Thursday, June 13, 2019. Blondie and Sergeant Tyrone Wood, not pictured, are members of the Evansville Police Department's mounted patrol.
Volunteer Martha Hardesty of Owensboro, Ky., holds up a sign that says "quiet please" as Whee Kim of South Korea tees off on Hole 1 during the first round of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Ind., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. The golf tournament will continue through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2.
Belmont’s Maura Muensterman (31), an Evansville native, and her teammates huddle together before the start of the Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball championship against the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., Saturday, March 9, 2019. The Bruins secured their fourth consecutive OVC championship title by defeating the Skyhawks 59-53.
A Goodyear FG-1D Corsair and Grumman F8F Bearcat fly alongside the B-25J "Show Me" owned by the Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force during a practice run for the ShrinersFest Air Show in Evansville, Ind., Friday, June 21, 2019.
Izaeias Smith, 14, watches his brother Demetrius Smith, 12, get a free haircut from Hailee Burkett at Jerald's Barbershop in Evansville, Ind., Monday morning, Aug. 5, 2019. The barbershop partnered with 9 Fruits Beauty Salon, located in the same building, and the youth mentoring group Young and Established to give kids free haircuts before going back to school this week.
Valentyna Pahlevanyan, left, leaves Mauro the Dreamer Clown, played by Lolo Fernández, on stage to float around the crowd from three large balloons during Cirque du Soleil's Corteo show at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., Wednesday night, Jan. 23, 2019.
Kaylie Petersen, right, wrestles Reed Egli during a practice at Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 23, 2019. She's been attending practices and receiving coaching at MCWC since 2014 and is often the only girl in the room.
The sun sets as fairgoers ride the Sky Glider on the fourth day of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. According to the Iowa State Fair's website, 108,283 attended the fair on Sunday.
Tamisha Dilworth tests out the comfort of a mattress as she shops for furniture at Ashley HomeStore in Evansville, Friday afternoon, March 1, 2019. While working for her Habitat house and sleeping on the couch or the floor at her father's house, she frequently dreamt about how good it would feel to have her own bed again.
Hadi Funsters guest clown Mike "Squeeky" Kapshandy of Springfield, Ill., applies pressure to secure his clown nose while he prepares for the 86th Hadi Shrine Circus at Ford Center Friday morning, Nov. 29, 2019.
View of the bend in the Ohio river from the World War II era North American AT-6 Texan named Spanish Lady Thursday, June 20, 2019.
Owen Jackson in his drag persona Florintine Dawn will be the first drag queen to participate in EVPL's Drag Queen Story Hour on Saturday, Feb 23 at 10 a.m. at North Park Library in Evansville, Indiana.
The Perry Township Fire Department raises a 36' x 20' American flag above the Lloyd Expressway at USI to honor the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil Wednesday morning, Sept. 11, 2019.
Owensboro Police Department Officer Jennifer Haynes, far right, dust for finger prints on the outside of a screen door at 940 Audubon Avenue in Owensboro, Ky., as police investigate a fatal shooting with at least four victims Thursday Jan. 17, 2019.
Janae Stoll, left, glances at Megan Stoll, right, while selling produce and flowers at the seasons first Market on Main Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Market on Main is held every Wednesday in front of the Ford Center through September 18.
Keely Elsner rides Prince in the 4-H Horse Show during the Vanderburgh County Fair, Tuesday, July 25, 2019.
Memorial’s Craig Karcher (14) fields a grounder while a runner speeds to first during the SIAC Castle Knights vs Memorial Tigers baseball game in Newburgh, Ind. Wednesday, May 15, 2019.
People gather in a moment of silence at the Four Freedoms Monument during the Queer Space Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil in Downtown Evansville, Ind., Wednesday evening, Nov. 20, 2019.
Bloomington South’s Maddix Blackwell (18) intercepts the pass to Castle's Nick Avery (85) during the IHSAA Class 5A sectional championship game at John Lidy Field in Newburgh, Ind., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019.
Flags burn in a pile during a flag retirement ceremony at Lyles Station Historic School and Museum in Princeton, Ind. Saturday, June 15, 2019. 54 flags where retired.
Riders take in the view and snap photos at the top of the Ferris wheel during the 98th Annual West Side Nut Club Fall Festival Thursday evening, Oct. 10, 2019.
Reitz High School art teacher Sadia Brimm, right, writes a letter to state representatives while her daughter, Jada Ragland, 11, sleeps on the bus ride to the Indiana Statehouse to participate in Red for Ed Action Day in Indianapolis, Ind., Tuesday morning, Nov. 19, 2019.
Tori, front right, races ahead of owners Mona and Gary Sanders, center, as they walk the trail from the sunflower fields in Blue Grass FWA Friday afternoon, Aug. 2, 2019.
Tova Uravitch performs during the River City Pride Festival Saturday, June 22, 2019.
Wade Conway fist bumps a friend as Kendra Creek and he officially become man and wife at their wedding at the City View in Sterling Square Saturday evening, September 7, 2019.
Henderson's Colton Evans (1) grabs a hold of McCracken County's Hunter Bradley (16) as the Henderson County Colonels play the McCracken County Mustangs at Colonel Stadium Friday evening, October 25, 2019.
Waiting backstage, Hayden Tichenor, 14 years-old, watches action on the stage, with other performers, through holes in the curtain during the Catholic Schools Week Talent Show at Henderson’s Holy Name School Wednesday, February 6, 2019.
Evansville head coach Walter McCarty celebrates with the Aces in the locker room after the gameas the University of Evansville Purple Aces defeat the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats 67-64 at Rupp Arena in Lexington Tuesday evening, November 12, 2019.
John Gredway, with Brady Amusements, runs the Roundup ride at the Vanderburgh County Fair Saturday, July 28, 2019.
Mater Dei’s Mia Venturini (0) reacts after deflecting a penalty kick as the Mater Dei Wildcats play the South Dearborn Knights in the IHSAA soccer semi-state Saturday afternoon at Bundrant Stadium, October 26, 2019.
Lizbeth Arroyo holds a portrait of her grandfather as she prepares for the candlelight procession at Henderson’s first Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead held in Central Park Saturday afternoon. The vibrant Mexican holiday celebrates the lives of those who have passed on through food, drink and celebration, November 2, 2019.
Gabe Sollars, Evansville Mater Dei, celebrates after defeating Tristan Ruhlman, Bloomington South, in the 1`60 weight class at the Indiana High School Athletic Association Semi-State Wrestling Tournament held at the Ford Center Saturday, February 9, 2019.
Henderson's Kani Smith (7) and Reitz's Malachi Joy go for a pass from Henderson quarterback Sam Elliott (14) as the Reitz Panthers play the Henderson County Colonels at Henderson’s Colonel Field Friday evening, August 23, 2019.
Working in the kitchen mentoring program at Gatrick’s, Ryan Hicks, left, and Darius Staten sport tattoos they received while incarcerated. Both said they got the tats as a form of artistic expression, now regret the decision and hope to someday have the facial tattoos removed Tuesday, June 11, 2019.
Cayden Edmonson celebrates with Bethel football player Trace Pierce after defeating rival the Freed-Hardeman Lions 84-75 at Bethel’s Crisp Arena Thursday evening, November 14, 2019.
Henderson’s Kaylee Stott (7) and Asha Nalley (5) react after the winning match point as the Henderson County Lady Colonels play the University Heights Lady Blazers for the Second Region volleyball tournament championship at Madisonville-North Hopkins High School Thursday evening, October 31, 2019.
Sarah Schoenbaecler gives Heather Schoenbaecler the thumbs up as Heather gets Sarah ready for a “Half Birthday/Christmas in July Parade” through the Green Springs Subdivision decorated for Christmas in Newburgh Saturday. In addition to her flamingo adorned golf cart the parade featured firetrucks, units from the Hadi Shriners and mounted police, July 20, 2019.
Evansville's DeAndre Williams (13) reacts to a first half basket as the University of Evansville Purple Aces play the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington Tuesday evening, November 12, 2019.
The Marksmen celebrate with the championship trophy after defeating the Mater Dei Wildcats in the Class 2A Sectional Championship at Huntingburg's Memorial Gym Saturday, March 2, 2019.
Faith Vance, 4, of Mount Vernon, Ill., looks underneath her father Quinton Vance's 1948 GMC at the 45th annual Frogs Follies held at Vanderburgh 4-H Center in Evansville, Friday afternoon, Aug. 23, 2019.
Senior Gavin Knust, left, and Abby Eckert, right, rest up on the way to an away game against the North Posey Vikings at North Posey High School in Poseyville, Ind., Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.
1st Runner Up of the 2019 Dale Fall Fest queen pageant Summer Konerding, 18, top, kicks off this year's Hog Wrestling competition, along with three other teens who placed in the pageant, at the festival in Dale, Ind., Saturday afternoon, Sept. 7, 2019.
Tecumseh High School Freshman Kie Silke (52) listens to Head Coach Jeff Daming speak before the team's game against the Forest Park Rangers at Forest Park High School in Ferdinand, Ind., Friday evening, Sept. 13, 2019.
Tippecanoe of Ancient Fife and Drum Corps of Lafayette play drums atop the New Harmony Atheneum at Kunstfest in New Harmony, Ind., Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21, 2019.
Connor McCollum, 15, of Evansville signs in to sell Christmas trees at Troop 339's annual Fundraiser, which started in 1957, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Evansville, Monday afternoon.
Sukanya Gupta of Newburgh celebrates Durga Puja with traditional red powder galled gulal at the Tri-State Hindu Temple, Newburgh, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019.
Andrew Marsh of Evansville, 8, watches the Evansville Junior Football League Colts warm up before they play the Broncos game at Howell Park in Evansville, Saturday afternoon, Sept. 14, 2019.
Addie Knight of Evansville, 12, holds a sign that says "touch here for the power," on Mulberry Street at the Evansville Half Marathon, Saturday morning, Oct. 5, 2019.
Fans scream from the stands at Memorial's Brock Combs (6) after he scored a touchdown at the Evansville Memorial vs East Noble IHSAA Class 4A State Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019.
Vanderburgh Superior Court Magistrate Renee Ferguson, center, offers her gavel to Eli Colacecchi, 6, to make his and his brothers' adoption "official" during National Adoption Day Thursday morning, Nov. 11, 2019. J.T., 13, left, Zander, 8, second right, and Daniel, 14, all took the last name Colacecchi, the same as their new dad, Richard Colacecchi, top center, of Evansville.

Vanderburgh Superior Court Magistrate Renee Ferguson, center, offers her gavel to Eli Colacecchi, 6, to make his and his brothers’ adoption “official” during National Adoption Day Thursday morning, Nov. 11, 2019. J.T., 13, left, Zander, 8, second right, and Daniel, 14, all took the last name Colacecchi, the same as their new dad, Richard Colacecchi, top center, of Evansville. DENNY SIMMONS / COURIER & PRESS

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Keeping a tradition alive Larry Haycraft is keeping the craft of traditional net making alive even as inland commercial fishing is in decline in Southern Indiana. "I’m a fourth-generation master net maker," Haycraft said. "There are very few of us left." Master net maker Larry Haycraft of Petersburg, Ind., is confronted by Catfish, the neighbor's kitten, as he tries to finish off a knotted hoop net in his workshop in August of 2019.
Lola Smith, 8, of Newburgh, Ind., rolls off her skateboard while trying to learn how to do a coffin during the Evansville Girls' Skate Day at Killer Skate Park & Shop Monday evening.
Memorial's Justin Drake hits out of the bunker at the 10th hole at Victoria National Golf Club Saturday afternoon.
A female American kestrel, also known as a sparrow hawk, comes in for a landing atop a pine in Southern Gibson County, Ind., Tuesday afternoon. (Shot 6/4/19)
Kylian Wathen, 13, helps pull his St. Wendel team to a victory at the 98th West Side Nut Club Fall Festival Tuesday evening.
Minh Best, 4, is ready to go back inside with her dad, Justin, after she finished up her occupational therapy session at their Owensboro, Ky., home Wednesday afternoon. The youngster was born without arms and is using her feet and toes to do everything most other people use their hands and fingers for.
A white-tail deer nibbles the leaves in a stand of black locust trees at Friedman Park in Warrick County Thursday evening. (Shot 5/9/19)
Michael Bennett from Great Britain positions himself for an attempted lift during the bench press competition at the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation’s Single Event World Powerlifting Competition at the JFK Center in Henderson, Ky., Saturday morning. (Shot 6/8/19(
Lillly Happe, 7, Oak Hill Elementary School, left, is congratulated on her win by Ellis Murphy, 9, Scott Elementary School during the K-12 Spring Scholastic Chess Tournament at North Junior High School Saturday.
Evansville's John Hall (35) pulls down a rebound against Illinois State at the Ford Center Saturday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2019. (Shot 1/19/19)
The Belmont Cheerleaders look to catch their flyer during a halftime performance at the Ford Center in Evansville Friday afternoon. The Belmont Bruins women's basketball team beat the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in the semifinal game of the Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Championships. (Shot 3/8/19)
Darnell "Dr. Dunk" Hillman, a former Pacers ABA legend, teaches kids at the Jr. Pacers Hoops Tour how to not only take a charge, but to sell it to the referees at the C.K. Newsome Community Center Wednesday afternoon. The youngsters were also taught the fundamentals of basketball by Pacers big man Dave Robisch.
Peyton Pryor gets a double-team hair braiding by a team mom and her sister before the Midwest Astros South '07 softball team's first pool game at the Newburgh Softball Fields Wednesday afternoon, July 17, 2019.
It's time to say goodbye Summary: "Did you feed the chickens?" Outgoing Joshua Academy CEO Pamela Decker's regular morning query to students won't echo through the Evansville charter school's halls next year. Her positive (if also unorthodox) approach to education will be missed. After 40 years of being in and out of the classroom, the long-time educator has officially retired. She'll miss her brightly-colored halls, self-empowerment posters, student hugs, rows of education books, laughing with her staff and watching students learn to love themselves in mirrors placed throughout the school's hallways.  Caption: About a week before her retirement, Pam Decker, CEO of Joshua Academy, waves to, from left, Aaliyah Hackner, Kingston Razor and Zy’Aire Mcnary as she makes her rounds after school let out for the day Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (Published 6/2/19)

It’s time to say goodbye Summary: “Did you feed the chickens?” Outgoing Joshua Academy CEO Pamela Decker’s regular morning query to students won’t echo through the Evansville charter school’s halls next year. Her positive (if also unorthodox) approach to education will be missed. After 40 years of being in and out of the classroom, the long-time educator has officially retired. She’ll miss her brightly-colored halls, self-empowerment posters, student hugs, rows of education books, laughing with her staff and watching students learn to love themselves in mirrors placed throughout the school’s hallways.  Caption: About a week before her retirement, Pam Decker, CEO of Joshua Academy, waves to, from left, Aaliyah Hackner, Kingston Razor and Zy’Aire Mcnary as she makes her rounds after school let out for the day Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (Published 6/2/19) DENNY SIMMONS / COURIER & PRESS

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Replay

  • The sun sets at the Bennett household in Robards, Ky., as Madelyn, center, leads her dog Skye over hay bales while jumping around with her sisters Anna, back left, and Paige on the evening of Anna's 12th birthday, Thursday, July 25, 2019. When the weather is nice the sisters spend a majority of their free time playing outside. 1 of 70
  • Dabbling ducks splash around in a lake along Stockwell Drive on the Evansville State Hospital Grounds, Monday afternoon, Feb. 4, 2019.2 of 70
  • Little ballerinas learn how to become a caterpillar during rehearsal for their upcoming show Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at The School of Ballet Indiana in Evansville, Ind., Saturday, April 6, 2019. The ballerinas pictured are Emma Roemke, from left, Zoey Wildt, Selah Schmidt and Clara Gilbert. 3 of 70
  • Castle High School student Rachel Landrum, center right, gets back on a Horseshoe Bend Carriage Co. carriage after making a pit stop to take prom pictures by the river with her boyfriend Conner Gorman, not pictured, and CHS student photographer Randy Cox, bottom right, in downtown Evansville, Ind., Saturday, April 27, 2019. Randy, center left, and Sheila O'Risky, far left, lead the couple and photographer through downtown Evansville before taking them to their prom at Old National Events Plaza.4 of 70
  • Ellie-Jane, 6, laughs as she snuggles up in her mother Bronwyn Pfingston’s lap while waiting for the start of the “The Children’s Nutcracker” at Murphy Auditorium in New Harmony, Ind., Saturday afternoon, Dec. 7, 2019. Ellie-Jane played the role of an angel being tapped by the Sugar Plum Fairy during the opening of the second act.5 of 70
  • Harper Elementary School students hoist up a colorful parachute to let their classmates run underneath during a Special Education Unified Game Day at Central Stadium in Evansville, Tuesday morning, Oct. 22, 2019. The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation hosted Tuesday's event for more than 200 elementary school students and will host another game day for middle school students, Wednesday morning.6 of 70
  • Jermarrius Pam meets Blondie, an 11-year-old Percheron draft cross horse, during Boom Fest held outside of the Stanley Hall Building in Evansville, Ind., Thursday, June 13, 2019. Blondie and Sergeant Tyrone Wood, not pictured, are members of the Evansville Police Department's mounted patrol. 7 of 70
  • Volunteer Martha Hardesty of Owensboro, Ky., holds up a sign that says "quiet please" as Whee Kim of South Korea tees off on Hole 1 during the first round of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Ind., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. The golf tournament will continue through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2.8 of 70
  • Belmont’s Maura Muensterman (31), an Evansville native, and her teammates huddle together before the start of the Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball championship against the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., Saturday, March 9, 2019. The Bruins secured their fourth consecutive OVC championship title by defeating the Skyhawks 59-53.9 of 70
  • A Goodyear FG-1D Corsair and Grumman F8F Bearcat fly alongside the B-25J "Show Me" owned by the Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force during a practice run for the ShrinersFest Air Show in Evansville, Ind., Friday, June 21, 2019.10 of 70
  • Izaeias Smith, 14, watches his brother Demetrius Smith, 12, get a free haircut from Hailee Burkett at Jerald's Barbershop in Evansville, Ind., Monday morning, Aug. 5, 2019. The barbershop partnered with 9 Fruits Beauty Salon, located in the same building, and the youth mentoring group Young and Established to give kids free haircuts before going back to school this week. 11 of 70
  • Valentyna Pahlevanyan, left, leaves Mauro the Dreamer Clown, played by Lolo Fernández, on stage to float around the crowd from three large balloons during Cirque du Soleil's Corteo show at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., Wednesday night, Jan. 23, 2019. 12 of 70
  • Kaylie Petersen, right, wrestles Reed Egli during a practice at Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 23, 2019. She's been attending practices and receiving coaching at MCWC since 2014 and is often the only girl in the room. 13 of 70
  • The sun sets as fairgoers ride the Sky Glider on the fourth day of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. According to the Iowa State Fair's website, 108,283 attended the fair on Sunday.14 of 70
  • Tamisha Dilworth tests out the comfort of a mattress as she shops for furniture at Ashley HomeStore in Evansville, Friday afternoon, March 1, 2019. While working for her Habitat house and sleeping on the couch or the floor at her father's house, she frequently dreamt about how good it would feel to have her own bed again. 15 of 70
  • Hadi Funsters guest clown Mike "Squeeky" Kapshandy of Springfield, Ill., applies pressure to secure his clown nose while he prepares for the 86th Hadi Shrine Circus at Ford Center Friday morning, Nov. 29, 2019. 16 of 70
  • View of the bend in the Ohio river from the World War II era North American AT-6 Texan named Spanish Lady Thursday, June 20, 2019. 17 of 70
  • Owen Jackson in his drag persona Florintine Dawn will be the first drag queen to participate in EVPL's Drag Queen Story Hour on Saturday, Feb 23 at 10 a.m. at North Park Library in Evansville, Indiana. 18 of 70
  • The Perry Township Fire Department raises a 36' x 20' American flag above the Lloyd Expressway at USI to honor the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil Wednesday morning, Sept. 11, 2019. 19 of 70
  • Owensboro Police Department Officer Jennifer Haynes, far right, dust for finger prints on the outside of a screen door at 940 Audubon Avenue in Owensboro, Ky., as police investigate a fatal shooting with at least four victims Thursday Jan. 17, 2019. 20 of 70
  • Janae Stoll, left, glances at Megan Stoll, right, while selling produce and flowers at the seasons first Market on Main Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Market on Main is held every Wednesday in front of the Ford Center through September 18. 21 of 70
  • Keely Elsner rides Prince in the 4-H Horse Show during the Vanderburgh County Fair, Tuesday, July 25, 2019. 22 of 70
  • Memorial’s Craig Karcher (14) fields a grounder while a runner speeds to first during the SIAC Castle Knights vs Memorial Tigers baseball game in Newburgh, Ind. Wednesday, May 15, 2019. 23 of 70
  • People gather in a moment of silence at the Four Freedoms Monument during the Queer Space Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil in Downtown Evansville, Ind., Wednesday evening, Nov. 20, 2019. 24 of 70
  • Bloomington South’s Maddix Blackwell (18) intercepts the pass to Castle's Nick Avery (85) during the IHSAA Class 5A sectional championship game at John Lidy Field in Newburgh, Ind., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019.25 of 70
  • Flags burn in a pile during a flag retirement ceremony at Lyles Station Historic School and Museum in Princeton, Ind. Saturday, June 15, 2019. 54 flags where retired. 26 of 70
  • Riders take in the view and snap photos at the top of the Ferris wheel during the 98th Annual West Side Nut Club Fall Festival Thursday evening, Oct. 10, 2019. 27 of 70
  • Reitz High School art teacher Sadia Brimm, right, writes a letter to state representatives while her daughter, Jada Ragland, 11, sleeps on the bus ride to the Indiana Statehouse to participate in Red for Ed Action Day in Indianapolis, Ind., Tuesday morning, Nov. 19, 2019. 28 of 70
  • Tori, front right, races ahead of owners Mona and Gary Sanders, center, as they walk the trail from the sunflower fields in Blue Grass FWA Friday afternoon, Aug. 2, 2019. 29 of 70
  • Tova Uravitch performs during the River City Pride Festival Saturday, June 22, 2019. 30 of 70
  • Wade Conway fist bumps a friend as Kendra Creek and he officially become man and wife at their wedding at the City View in Sterling Square Saturday evening, September 7, 2019.31 of 70
  • Henderson's Colton Evans (1) grabs a hold of McCracken County's Hunter Bradley (16) as the Henderson County Colonels play the McCracken County Mustangs at Colonel Stadium Friday evening, October 25, 2019.32 of 70
  • Waiting backstage, Hayden Tichenor, 14 years-old, watches action on the stage, with other performers, through holes in the curtain during the Catholic Schools Week Talent Show at Henderson’s Holy Name School Wednesday, February 6, 2019.33 of 70
  • Evansville head coach Walter McCarty celebrates with the Aces in the locker room after the gameas the University of Evansville Purple Aces defeat the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats 67-64 at Rupp Arena in Lexington Tuesday evening, November 12, 2019.34 of 70
  • John Gredway, with Brady Amusements, runs the Roundup ride at the Vanderburgh County Fair Saturday, July 28, 2019.35 of 70
  • Mater Dei’s Mia Venturini (0) reacts after deflecting a penalty kick as the Mater Dei Wildcats play the South Dearborn Knights in the IHSAA soccer semi-state Saturday afternoon at Bundrant Stadium, October 26, 2019.36 of 70
  • Lizbeth Arroyo holds a portrait of her grandfather as she prepares for the candlelight procession at Henderson’s first Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead held in Central Park Saturday afternoon. The vibrant Mexican holiday celebrates the lives of those who have passed on through food, drink and celebration, November 2, 2019.37 of 70
  • Gabe Sollars, Evansville Mater Dei, celebrates after defeating Tristan Ruhlman, Bloomington South, in the 1`60 weight class at the Indiana High School Athletic Association Semi-State Wrestling Tournament held at the Ford Center Saturday, February 9, 2019.38 of 70
  • Henderson's Kani Smith (7) and Reitz's Malachi Joy go for a pass from Henderson quarterback Sam Elliott (14) as the Reitz Panthers play the Henderson County Colonels at Henderson’s Colonel Field Friday evening, August 23, 2019.39 of 70
  • Working in the kitchen mentoring program at Gatrick’s, Ryan Hicks, left, and Darius Staten sport tattoos they received while incarcerated. Both said they got the tats as a form of artistic expression, now regret the decision and hope to someday have the facial tattoos removed Tuesday, June 11, 2019.40 of 70
  • Cayden Edmonson celebrates with Bethel football player Trace Pierce after defeating rival the Freed-Hardeman Lions 84-75 at Bethel’s Crisp Arena Thursday evening, November 14, 2019.41 of 70
  • Henderson’s Kaylee Stott (7) and Asha Nalley (5) react after the winning match point as the Henderson County Lady Colonels play the University Heights Lady Blazers for the Second Region volleyball tournament championship at Madisonville-North Hopkins High School Thursday evening, October 31, 2019.42 of 70
  • Sarah Schoenbaecler gives Heather Schoenbaecler the thumbs up as Heather gets Sarah ready for a “Half Birthday/Christmas in July Parade” through the Green Springs Subdivision decorated for Christmas in Newburgh Saturday. In addition to her flamingo adorned golf cart the parade featured firetrucks, units from the Hadi Shriners and mounted police, July 20, 2019.43 of 70
  • Evansville's DeAndre Williams (13) reacts to a first half basket as the University of Evansville Purple Aces play the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington Tuesday evening, November 12, 2019.44 of 70
  • The Marksmen celebrate with the championship trophy after defeating the Mater Dei Wildcats in the Class 2A Sectional Championship at Huntingburg's Memorial Gym Saturday, March 2, 2019.45 of 70
  • Faith Vance, 4, of Mount Vernon, Ill., looks underneath her father Quinton Vance's 1948 GMC at the 45th annual Frogs Follies held at Vanderburgh 4-H Center in Evansville, Friday afternoon, Aug. 23, 2019.46 of 70
  • Senior Gavin Knust, left, and Abby Eckert, right, rest up on the way to an away game against the North Posey Vikings at North Posey High School in Poseyville, Ind., Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.47 of 70
  • 1st Runner Up of the 2019 Dale Fall Fest queen pageant Summer Konerding, 18, top, kicks off this year's Hog Wrestling competition, along with three other teens who placed in the pageant, at the festival in Dale, Ind., Saturday afternoon, Sept. 7, 2019. 48 of 70
  • Tecumseh High School Freshman Kie Silke (52) listens to Head Coach Jeff Daming speak before the team's game against the Forest Park Rangers at Forest Park High School in Ferdinand, Ind., Friday evening, Sept. 13, 2019.49 of 70
  • Tippecanoe of Ancient Fife and Drum Corps of Lafayette play drums atop the New Harmony Atheneum at Kunstfest in New Harmony, Ind., Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21, 2019.50 of 70
  • Connor McCollum, 15, of Evansville signs in to sell Christmas trees at Troop 339's annual Fundraiser, which started in 1957, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Evansville, Monday afternoon. 51 of 70
  • Sukanya Gupta of Newburgh celebrates Durga Puja with traditional red powder galled gulal at the Tri-State Hindu Temple, Newburgh, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019.52 of 70
  • Andrew Marsh of Evansville, 8, watches the Evansville Junior Football League Colts warm up before they play the Broncos game at Howell Park in Evansville, Saturday afternoon, Sept. 14, 2019.53 of 70
  • Addie Knight of Evansville, 12, holds a sign that says "touch here for the power," on Mulberry Street at the Evansville Half Marathon, Saturday morning, Oct. 5, 2019.54 of 70
  • Fans scream from the stands at Memorial's Brock Combs (6) after he scored a touchdown at the Evansville Memorial vs East Noble IHSAA Class 4A State Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019.55 of 70
  • Vanderburgh Superior Court Magistrate Renee Ferguson, center, offers her gavel to Eli Colacecchi, 6, to make his and his brothers' adoption "official" during National Adoption Day Thursday morning, Nov. 11, 2019. J.T., 13, left, Zander, 8, second right, and Daniel, 14, all took the last name Colacecchi, the same as their new dad, Richard Colacecchi, top center, of Evansville.56 of 70
  • Keeping a tradition alive Larry Haycraft is keeping the craft of traditional net making alive even as inland commercial fishing is in decline in Southern Indiana. "I’m a fourth-generation master net maker," Haycraft said. "There are very few of us left." Master net maker Larry Haycraft of Petersburg, Ind., is confronted by Catfish, the neighbor's kitten, as he tries to finish off a knotted hoop net in his workshop in August of 2019.57 of 70
  • Lola Smith, 8, of Newburgh, Ind., rolls off her skateboard while trying to learn how to do a coffin during the Evansville Girls' Skate Day at Killer Skate Park & Shop Monday evening.58 of 70
  • Memorial's Justin Drake hits out of the bunker at the 10th hole at Victoria National Golf Club Saturday afternoon.59 of 70
  • A female American kestrel, also known as a sparrow hawk, comes in for a landing atop a pine in Southern Gibson County, Ind., Tuesday afternoon. (Shot 6/4/19)60 of 70
  • Kylian Wathen, 13, helps pull his St. Wendel team to a victory at the 98th West Side Nut Club Fall Festival Tuesday evening.61 of 70
  • Minh Best, 4, is ready to go back inside with her dad, Justin, after she finished up her occupational therapy session at their Owensboro, Ky., home Wednesday afternoon. The youngster was born without arms and is using her feet and toes to do everything most other people use their hands and fingers for.62 of 70
  • A white-tail deer nibbles the leaves in a stand of black locust trees at Friedman Park in Warrick County Thursday evening. (Shot 5/9/19)63 of 70
  • Michael Bennett from Great Britain positions himself for an attempted lift during the bench press competition at the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation’s Single Event World Powerlifting Competition at the JFK Center in Henderson, Ky., Saturday morning. (Shot 6/8/19(64 of 70
  • Lillly Happe, 7, Oak Hill Elementary School, left, is congratulated on her win by Ellis Murphy, 9, Scott Elementary School during the K-12 Spring Scholastic Chess Tournament at North Junior High School Saturday.65 of 70
  • Evansville's John Hall (35) pulls down a rebound against Illinois State at the Ford Center Saturday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2019. (Shot 1/19/19)66 of 70
  • The Belmont Cheerleaders look to catch their flyer during a halftime performance at the Ford Center in Evansville Friday afternoon. The Belmont Bruins women's basketball team beat the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in the semifinal game of the Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Championships. (Shot 3/8/19)67 of 70
  • Darnell "Dr. Dunk" Hillman, a former Pacers ABA legend, teaches kids at the Jr. Pacers Hoops Tour how to not only take a charge, but to sell it to the referees at the C.K. Newsome Community Center Wednesday afternoon. The youngsters were also taught the fundamentals of basketball by Pacers big man Dave Robisch. 68 of 70
  • Peyton Pryor gets a double-team hair braiding by a team mom and her sister before the Midwest Astros South '07 softball team's first pool game at the Newburgh Softball Fields Wednesday afternoon, July 17, 2019.69 of 70
  • It's time to say goodbye Summary: "Did you feed the chickens?" Outgoing Joshua Academy CEO Pamela Decker's regular morning query to students won't echo through the Evansville charter school's halls next year. Her positive (if also unorthodox) approach to education will be missed. After 40 years of being in and out of the classroom, the long-time educator has officially retired. She'll miss her brightly-colored halls, self-empowerment posters, student hugs, rows of education books, laughing with her staff and watching students learn to love themselves in mirrors placed throughout the school's hallways.  Caption: About a week before her retirement, Pam Decker, CEO of Joshua Academy, waves to, from left, Aaliyah Hackner, Kingston Razor and Zy’Aire Mcnary as she makes her rounds after school let out for the day Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (Published 6/2/19)70 of 70

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