Street Talk

Submitted by
Name: The Ancient Eight
From: Cambridge
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Scholarships to middle class students with a 3.0 GPA ?!? I think I see the problem. The 3.0 GPA from any of our local high schools does not need nor deserve a college scholarship. They need to learn a trade or career that requires no college education. They would likely be quite successful and the opportunity costs of earning experience and income during those four years will vastly outpace the college coursework, potential debt, and lack of experience they would suffer at university. To be bluntly honest, a 3.0 GPA Madison graduate is just not a very bright kid and scholarships should to go to bright kids, regardless of their financial status. Sapienta est potentia.

Added: March 31, 2025 08:15:27 AM

Submitted by
Name: admin

Comments:
Jefferson County Alert:

Tornado Watch issued March 30 at 6:46PM EDT until March 31 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Louisville KY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 76 IN
EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT /MIDNIGHT CDT/ MONDAY

Added: March 30, 2025 06:51:14 PM

Submitted by
Name: col bogey
From: corrupt Villiage on the river

Comments:
thanks for the info recent post have provided. Large projects and budgets provide money that can be scammed in many ways. How much will be diverted to other uses and miss-uses ?. The sneaky little mayor is well versed in such things. How much will end up in Hanover college bonuses? A trail to nowhere. Will be a golf cart road within 5 years

Added: March 30, 2025 02:59:12 PM

Submitted by
Name: T

Comments:
TODAY: the proposed route – less than affectionately known as the “death trail” is up Hanover Hill next to the cut outs which often experience rock or mud slides. The state may or may not know that the city is hoping the state will repave the road and then the city convert it to a trail. It’s not very honest but it is seen as a way to cut costs on an option that now exceeds 13.5 million in expected costs. Again, this is a use/misuse of public funds depending on one’s point of view. However, Eli Lilly awarded Hanover College 10 million for the trail connector which the college hopes will run from a trail head at their new “vet center” to the state park. To be clear, Hanover College only got the grant because they were to collaborate with the town of Hanover and the town was supposed to be on board with all projects. I can post more on that unfortunate situation later. But it is clear Hanover College is not working the town to develop the projects. In addition, overwhelming outcry from the public that the trail is ill conceived and will only be used by limited people, over limited time continues to be an issue. Many remember the bloated promises about the Hatcher Hill Trail and city bullying county officials to turn over land for a trail that city officials swore was going to be used by large groups of people year-round. As it turns out, Hatcher Hill “trail” has turned into nothing more than quick golf cart access from downtown to the hilltop golf course. It’s understandable that tax payors are angry about another trail that only serves a few with an unsafe and undesirable route.

But here’s the truth-we can be angry about Readi or Next Level Trail grants or even INDOT maybe being scammed into repaving a trail when they thought they were repaving a road and the 100 thousand in local dollars because the money for those things all come from tax dollars. But Hanover Colleges funds come from a private donor. Screaming about how Eli Lilly spends its exorbitant profits and who and why they give money to small town colleges doesn’t get us anywhere- nor should it. It’s their money. However, we can be disappointed with Hanover College because they have essentially scammed the town of Hanover into going along with a grant application and failed to keep the town board informed and engaged. Perhaps the college will contact Lilly about the issues and ask Lilly to allow the 10 million to be spent on other projects that both benefit the town and colleges. 10 million isn’t enough to get up Hanover Hill to the new vet center but it is certainly ample funds to consider other major projects. tjh

Added: March 30, 2025 11:50:11 AM

Submitted by
Name: admin

Comments:
“death trail” update

HISTORY: Approx Sept. 2022 Hanover College submitted a grant request to the Southern Indiana Regional Development Authority- (READI grant) I believe the request was for 2.7 million. At the time Kay Stokes from Hanover College, Jim Olson Heritage Trail representative, IKE general manager and maybe one other person served on the small committee. The request was for trail connectors to and through IKE to allow Hanover students bicycle access to downtown. Obviously, that would be for April, May and Sept., Oct. as the weather would deter cold season cycling. At some time, a request was submitted for Next Level Trail program through Indiana dept of natural resources. According to Readi website $440 thousand of Readi Funds were awarded for the trail with a local match of 100 thousand for design, engineering and “construction gap.” Readi also awarded funds for the bridge gateway and parking project downtown. Both Readi and Next level trail are publicly funded programs, and the public certainly has a say in how tax dollars are used.

Added: March 30, 2025 11:38:00 AM

Submitted by
Name: Scholarship
From: Madison

Comments:
You described the Eli Lilly scholarship process for Jefferson County. Other counties do it differently and factor in financial need. Jefferson County chooses not to do it that way and it is a waste of the scholarship. They are giving it to students who are receiving lots of other scholarships and by awarding it to top academic students with no financial need all they are doing is saving the colleges money as the scholarships offered by the college are then not awarded. The scholarship for Jefferson County has even been awarded to students who have been eligible to receive free tuition at hundreds of colleges because of the employment of their parent. Additionally the majority of the Community Foundation Scholarships all go to the same small group of students who are receiving large scholarships from the college they plan to attend so again the college just ends up saving money. It is sad to see how the process works and watch the middle class students with 3.0 GPAs receive nothing because they are not the top academically and receive nothing on the financial need side as well. These students struggle financially to make it through college while others receive so much money they are not even allowed to have it all.

Added: March 30, 2025 11:19:17 AM

Submitted by
Name: ivy tech
From: 1/3

Comments:
A question was asked, “Why is one of the smallest Ivy Tech Campuses paying $237.925 to its Chancellor?” The person pointed out between 2022 and 2024 Chancellor Harsin’s salary rose from about 130 thousand in 2022 to almost 238 thousand in 2024. In addition, Ms Harsin’s salary is about 4% higher than the average Chancellor salary in Indiana. Sadly, as in the corporate world, Ms. Harsin’s salary is extremely high compared to employee base salaries -which I am told averages around 40 thousand. You can check out Harsin’s and other Ivy Tech employees’ salaries as well as any government employee on govsalaries.com. To find Harsin’s simple go to govsalaries.com harsin-amanda-m-193643285. You will have to pay attention to a few details to put things in perspective- one is that Harsin received a major promotion between 2022 and 2024. She is now the top person at Madisons Ivy Tech Campus. Chancellor Harsin holds a doctorate degree and that certainly is worth a higher salary. Still the difference between front line employees and top management is massive and again that reflects a national trend that has upset many. I would agree with the person who sent the letter that it is sad that those at the top take so much and those who provide the direct service get so little. There is an imbalance between those who make things happen and those who oversee what happens. There is no doubt that executive salaries are out of balance in comparison to workers.

When one examines the value Ivy Tech provides the citizens of the State of Indiana it is easy to see why citizens would be outraged. The entire system is top heavy with what many would consider exorbitant salaries for a very small student body of maybe 100 thousand depending on which website you check. Ivy Tech is a part time college with just over 82 thousand of that 100k not even carrying a “full load” of courses. Considering the bulk of Ivy Techs part time students are really high school students who are taking college classes that wont apply to their majors-its easy to understand the outrage over the multiple 6 figure salaries for such a small school that offers so little to the state overall. The fact that Chancellor Harsins own instructors and staff take issue with her performance and salary to the extent they reach out to help educate the public of the problem tells me there are serious issues beyond salary imbalance- there is more to come on Ivy Tech. Trail update is also coming. tjh

Added: March 30, 2025 11:17:03 AM

Submitted by
Name: credit

Comments:
Scott Davidsons didnt do diddly squat to get families to Hanover. Davidsons earned his scam artist with sticky fingers rep. The town boards gets pats on the back for maintaining the county's best park but Davidson has done nothing but be fired from the city for the very things he should have been canned for from Hanover. As for who deserves credit for kids playing ball in Hanover-The person working hardest to build the Hanover Park program is Mayor Bob Courtney. He neglects everything but the pool, seniors, the golf course and the occasional roller skate or princess party.

Added: March 30, 2025 10:54:08 AM

Submitted by
Name: answers
From: lily scholarships

Comments:
Regarding Community Foundation Scholarships and in particular the Eil Lilly scholarship here are a few facts that might help. The Foundation has many scholarships available, of which the Eli Lilly scholarship is the most lucrative of course because it pays expenses to a four-year college or university. The Lilly scholarship is funded by Lilly of course not tax dollars. Students can select a private school like Butler or Hanover or public like IU or Purdue. What many do not know about the Lilly scholarship is that it a “blind process.” No one knows who the student is until one of the last stages of the selection process. Each and every student is assigned an ID number when s/he applies. Applications are scored without any names; once candidates are whittled down to the top few through application, essay and references-then and only then will they be called in for an interview. What’s nice about the Lilly scholarship is that it is available for all students regardless of financial need. That may not sound right but when we have so many local scholarships that require us to consider financial need then it’s a good idea to have at least a few that can recognize outstanding students with promising futures regardless of whether parents can pay or not.

Our many other scholarships are funded by general donations to the foundations or through donor directed funds. Some of those scholarships are only available to certain students such as those pursuing nursing or teaching. Some are for certain schools or types of programs such as vocational or 2-year degrees. There are scholarships specific to certain colleges or universities; if a student isn't attending that school s/he isn't eligible for the gift. The point is it’s not
uncommon for scholarships not to serve all students but rather to target specific applicants. Be it based on financial need, program or even race or religion, the local foundation has numerous scholarships to address a broad spectrum of our students. Those criteria are set by the donors who establish the funds. Should children of wealthier parents be excluded from all the scholarship opportunities?- Probably not. Does it feel better to give a major scholarship to an outstanding student who may not have been able to go otherwise- of course. But the truth is – it doesn’t feel good to deny a scholarship to the most deserving either. Some things are just hard and it would be so much easier if we had a way to do the equivalent of multiple Lilly Scholarships- one that focused entirely on student performance and potential and one that considered the additional factor of financial need. I’m not saying we can’t have a major scholarship that funds outstanding students with preference for those who have financial needs. I’m only saying we will have to donate and work at building that fund to make it large enough to be similar to the Lilly scholarship. If you believe in this type of scholarship – reach out to Bill Barnes at the Community Foundation and discuss how you can make an annual contribution or perhaps leave funds through your estate. Call up to the Lily Foundation, introduce yourself and explain you have an idea for Jefferson County and need their help. You might just open an important door for our children.tjh

Added: March 30, 2025 10:10:54 AM