Published: August 29, 2009 12:45 am      

EVENING NEWS CHEERS & JEERS: Aug. 29, 2009

CHEERS

... to lots and lots of foot traffic downtown surrounding the LST-325’s visit to the Jeffersonville riverfront. The Evening News office sits just a couple blocks north of the ship on Spring Street, and I’ve noticed many people out enjoying downtown. Also, I’ve spotted folks in American Legion gear walking across the Clark Memorial Bridge from the Legion’s conference in Louisville to check out the ship.

On Friday, those folks were joined by a few fit men and women, obviously in town for the Ironman Triathlon in Louisville this weekend. Make them feel welcomed.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



CHEERS

... to good story ideas. Thanks to Jeffersonville’s Jay Potter for tipping the newspaper off to his grandfather’s story, and to Jay’s father, Bob, for talking to us about it. James Potter, Bob’s dad and Jay’s grandfather, developed an important technology to improve performance of the LST. There’s no way we would have known about the story unless Jay decided to call and tell us about it. I welcome story submissions at the

e-mail address below or by phone at 812-206-2130.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



CHEERS

... to Ivy Tech Community College’s Sellersburg campus for another record-setting enrollment. The number of students increased nearly 15 percent to 4,911 students for the fall semester. It shows what the transformation of the community college system Indiana has meant. Hoosiers realize what a value Ivy Tech is, especially with the ability to transfer credits to state four-year schools.

The impressive planned physical expansion of the campus can’t come soon enough.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



CHEERS

... to local students filmed in 2007 for a documentary seeing their work on Showtime and Showtime 2, which began airing “Guys ‘N’ Divas: Battle of the High School Musicals” on Thursday. Prospective theater stars from Jeffersonville, New Albany and Floyd Central high schools were featured in the documentary from Barry Blaustein. Congratulations to those who made the cut.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



JEERS

... to University of Louisville Coach Rick Pitino blasting the media for continued coverage of his recent problems during a press conference he called. This, of course, gave newspapers and TV something else to put on their front page or lead the newscasts with about the sordid Pitino-Karen Sypher affair.

As Pitino said at the press conference, there will be a trial for Sypher — or perhaps a plea agreement on her criminal charges involving extortion. What Pitino has to realize that this isn’t going away soon and it all started from his actions.

Basketball season can’t get here soon enough for the coach.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



CHEERS

... to the installation of a right-turn-only barrier at the exit of the Wal-Mart/Sam’s megaplex onto Veterans Parkway near Cheddar’s in Clarksville. To allow — or to make — a left turn from that lot was crazy.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



CHEERS

... to Baron Hill for finally scheduling a public forum for folks to talk about health care. And, cheers in advance to the folks who show up and respectfully speak to Hill, D-Ind., and others.

Look for a column on this matter from our publisher, Jim Grahn, on Sunday.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



CHEERS

... to watching the Little League World Series this week and the memories it brings back of the trip by the Jeff/GRC All-Stars last year to Williamsport. It was a blast for me and photographer C.E. Branham, just as it was for the players, coaches and families.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



Do you have someone or something to cheer or jeer? Submissions should be sent to Editor Shea Van Hoy at shea.vanhoy@newsandtribune.com or by mail at 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville, IN, 47130.