News

Newburgh, Ind. – An all-day music festival to benefit the work of area animal shelters and rescue organizations is set for Saturday, September 22, on the grounds of the Warrick Humane Society.

Called the AnimalPalooza Animal Benefit & Music Festival, the event will feature a lineup of musicians, food, a beer garden, raffle items, children’s activities, adoptable pets, and much more from11 amtomidnight. Leashed pets are welcome.

AnimalPalooza organizers have two goals for the event: 1) To raise funds that will assist in the care of homeless animals and 2) To raise awareness of the homeless animal situation – especially among young people. The group hopes to start a scholarship fund for area youth who volunteer at local shelters and animal rescue facilities.

All proceeds raised at the AnimalPalooza music festival will help the Warrick Humane Society and other shelters and animal control centers find homes for surrendered and homeless animals; reunite lost pets with their families; and reduce animal euthanasia rates.

AnimalPalooza sponsorship opportunities for businesses and individuals range from monetary contributions to raffle item donations. More information at animalpalooza.net.

AnimalPalooza tickets

The festival will open with local singer-songwriter Andrea Wirth, who will be followed by a rundown of local bands that represent a range of styles. A schedule of the day’s performances and information about featured musicians may be found on the AnimalPalooza website.

Tickets may be purchased at the event or on the AnimalPalooza website. Children 12 and will be admitted free; tickets for students 13 and over are $5 (college students must have ID); and adult tickets are $10. Each adult ticket will include a free raffle ticket. Bulk tickets may be purchased at a lower cost. More information at animalpalooza.net.

The Warrick County Humane Society is located at 5722 Vann Road in Newburgh.

Evansville, Ind. - Operation Support on the Homefront accepted a $10,000 check from Evansville business Sterling Boiler & Mechanical.  This is the third installment of the company’s five-year, $50,000 commitment to the efforts of our organization.

On July 18, “Operation Support on the Homefront” received the $10,000 gift from Dan Felker, Owner of Sterling Boiler & Mechanical at a news conference held at the company’s new corporate office.  Vietnam veteran and local insurance agent C. Larry Rhodes accepted the check on behalf of the organization. 

In 2009 Sterling Boiler owner Dan Felker pledged $50,000 in support of the families of local National Guard and Reservists, to be given in five annual $10,000 gifts through Operation: Support on the Homefront.

Sterling Boiler encourages young men and women to consider apprenticeships in the professional trades as a good career option. The company is striving to help preserve the training and craftsmanship professional trades have represented for generations.           

Operation: Support on the Homefront provides financial support, transitional assistance and friendship to Southwestern Indiana families whose soldier or citizen has been called from a Reserve or National Guard unit to active military duty. One hundred percent of contributions are used to benefit area military families. Operation: Support on the Homefront is a collective effort by Evansville-area businesses, groups, veterans and individuals.  www.operationsupportonthehomefront.com.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Vietnam veteran and local insurance agent C. Larry Rhodes says hundreds of National Guard and Reservists from the Evansville area have been called to active duty over the years since September 2001 – and that the families left at home often struggle to make ends meet.

Rhodes founded local organization “Operation: Support on the Homefront” to raise funding that helps military families in Southwestern Indiana receive needed goods and services, as well as help with emergency expenses, while soldiers are on active duty.

On June 7, “Operation Support on the Homefront” received a gift of $13,000 from Todd Stephens, General Manager of Kenny Kent Chevrolet. TheEvansvilledealership raised the money through their “Salute Our Troops” promotion during May. A number of Kenny Kent employees have served in the military.

“Knowing that your family is taken care of at home is so important to a soldiers’ peace of mind while he or she is on the battlefront,”Rhodessays. “Our organization assists while soldiers are on active duty but we also help returning soldiers with the transition back into civilian life. This kind of care can make all the difference – that’s why we appreciate every donation we receive.”

During its promotion Kenny Kent Chevrolet donated $100 for every vehicle sold in May. In addition, the dealership took $500 off of vehicles purchased during May by current and retired military personnel.

The work of “Operation: Support on the Homefront” is a collective effort by Evansville-area businesses, groups, veterans and individuals. One hundred percent of contributions to the organization are used to benefit area military families.

Donations to “Operation Support on the Homefront” are tax deductible. The non-profit agency is part of The Beacon Group Inc., a 501 (3) C organization. Contributions may be made directly to: Operation: Support on the Homefront, C/O Beacon Group Inc.,P.O. Box 15781,Evansville,IN 47716-0781. For more information call 812-469-4021, extension 126.

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First Bank is proud to announce their second Evansville location is now open and ready to serve the west side. The former Integra Bank branch is located at 111 S Red Bank Road on Evansville’s west side (in front of Lowe’s, next to Harmony EyeCare and Tracy Zeller Jewelry). First Bank senior management and staff, along with the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, will host a ribbon cutting event on Thursday, June 14 at 3:30pm CT at the new location.

“When we opened our eastside branch on Eagle Crest Boulevard in January 2011, we were confident that our approach of blending exemplary customer service with modern bank technology would be well received, and we have not been disappointed,” said Al Fritschle, President and CEO of First Bank. “Our clients know they don’t have to sacrifice good customer service in order to obtain the convenience of modern financial technology. 24/7 customer service is not just a convenience anymore, it is a necessity.”

First Bank’s new west side location will employ five full time individuals. Denise Boullie, formerly of Integra Bank, will serve as the Red Bank office’s Branch Manager. Jerry Prow, Business Development Officer and also former employee of Integra Bank, has been with First Bank since the fall of 2011 and will move to the west side office. West side native and current AVP of Mortgage Lending for First Bank, Allen Weinzapfel, will also be moving to the new branch. Eagle Crest Universal Banker, Angie Barnett, will move to the Red Bank branch as well and will be joined by new Universal Banker, Brandee Fulton, formerly of Integra Bank.

“We know that finding experienced bankers who share our commitment of going the extra mile for their clients is vital. We were successful in building a strong team at our Eagle Crest branch and this has been a priority for our new location as well,” said Fritschle.

The former Integra branch was closed in July 2011, as a result of the FDIC closing of Integra and subsequent sale to Old National Bank. First Bank acquired the property from MWR Investments, LP. Verville Construction Company of Evansville was hired as the general contractor for the project. The beautifully refurbished branch mimics the elegant and inviting charm of the Bank’s Eagle Crest Boulevard office.

First Bank was established in 1893, and over the past 16 years has steadily expanded into neighboring communities. In the process, it has grown from $60 million in total assets to over $360 million today. The company currently has five financial centers located in the Illinois communities of Albion, Carmi, Grayville and Mt. Carmel, and now five financial centers in the Indiana communities of Evansville, Mt. Vernon, Poseyville and Princeton.

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Owensboro, Ky. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Jagoe Homes the Energy Star Leadership in Housing Award for the third consecutive year. The award recognizes Jagoe’s contributions to home construction that reduces energy usage and the emission of greenhouse gases.

All Jagoe homes built in 2011 were Energy Star Qualified, incorporating required standards and features that typically make them 20 to 30 percent more efficient than standard new homes. To meet EPA Energy Star requirements, new homes must be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than standard new homes, which are currently built to meet the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC).

New Jagoe homes are inspected and rated by RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network), a home energy rating system recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy.

In its twentieth year, Energy Star reports that its program has been a part of helping save nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevent more than 1.7 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in America during the past 20 years.

“That great benefit comes in addition to the fact that homeowners save energy and money,” Jagoe co-owner Scott Jagoe says. “Energy Star homes are also more comfortable because the indoor temperature stays consistent and moisture problems are much less likely — so air quality can be better. These homes also have a higher market value.”

Lean Building adds to value of energy efficiency

In a Feb. 2010 article in HousingZone.com, Jagoe was recognized as a lean building leader for its partnering efforts and industry lean-building initiatives. Lean building eliminates wasted materials and construction time — a process that reduces costs for builder and homebuyer. The publication cited lean building as one of the recession-busting steps that kept Jagoe’s new home sales strong during the “worst housing recession since 1937.”  

In addition to being named 2010 Builder of the Year by Professional Builder magazine; Jagoe has been placed on the Top 100 Builder List for two consecutive years by Builder Magazine; it received the Builder Partnerships Achievement Award by earning higher than a 93 percent score in customer “willing to refer” rates; and it was honored by the Department of Veteran Affairs for constructing a new home that is specially-adapted for an injured Kentucky veteran.

Since its founding in Owensboro in 1939, Jagoe has built more than 6,000 homes in the Owensboro, Henderson, Louisville and Bowling Green, Ky. areas and in Evansville and Newburgh, Indiana. The third-generation, Owensboro-based builder is co-owned by brothers Scott and Bill Jagoe.