Anderson University alums and legendary Christian recording artists and lyricists, Bill and Gloria Gaither will host a special tribute concert to honor University President Dr. James and Mrs. Deanna Edwards on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Reardon Auditorium.

The special celebration concert is free and open to the public.  Bill and Gloria Gaither will be among a special list of speakers and performers that include Sandi Patty, the Anderson University Chorale, Jay and Amy Rouse, the Anderson University Wind Ensemble, Carl Erskine, a student gospel quartet and members of the Edwards family.

The event will also include special moments of recognition from campus members as well as recognition from local, state and national offices.

In March, 2014, Dr. Edwards announced his plans to conclude his presidency by the end of the 2014-15 academic year. His last year of service will mark 25 years of distinguished leadership as president of Anderson University. Edwards has served as president of Anderson University since 1990 and is only the fourth person to hold the office in the school’s 97-year history.

During his tenure as president, Dr. Edwards has overseen several comprehensive capital campaigns raising funding support totaling more than $200 million dollars. A number of major facilities have been constructed during his presidency, including the Kardatzke Wellness Center, York Performance Hall, York Seminary Village, additions onto Decker Hall and Hartung Hall, a new business school, the Flagship Enterprise Center and improvements to residence halls and many existing campus facilities.

Dr. Edwards has extensive involvement in the arena of higher education in Indiana and nationally and has been a busy community leader during his tenure. He has served on the board of directors of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. He has also served as a director and officer of the board of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, as chair of the board for Independent Colleges of Indiana, and a member of the Steering Committee of the Indiana Leadership Prayer Breakfast. He holds board membership on the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Association and served as chair of Indiana Campus Compact.

Locally, Dr. Edwards has served on the board of directors of the Madison County Community Foundation, the Corporation for Economic Development of Madison County and First Merchants Bank of Central Indiana. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Anderson where he was honored with the 2003 Community Image Award. He has served on the Ministries Council of the Church of God, the board of directors of St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital, Citizens Banking Company and the United Way.

Prior to his election as president of Anderson University, Dr. Edwards was president and chief executive officer for Warner Press, publishing house for the Church of God. In this assignment, he directed the work of the largest religious publisher in Indiana. An ordained minister, Dr. Edwards has served the Church of God in a variety of assignments, including serving in senior pastoral leadership in a number of major churches across the country. Prior to national executive service, he was senior pastor of the Meadow Park Church of God in Columbus, Ohio. Earlier pastorates were in Indiana and Michigan.  Edwards is a graduate of Anderson University and the Anderson University School of Theology. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Policy and Leadership at The Ohio State University.

Mrs. Edwards is also an alumna of Anderson University. Since returning to Anderson, Mrs. Edwards has become a valuable member of the Anderson community as well, committing her life efforts to working on issues affecting women, children, and their families. She has served on the board of Alternatives Inc., where she previously held the position of children’s program director. She also volunteers with Silent Blessings, a ministry serving the deaf community and serves on the Guiding Committee of Park Place Children’s Center and facilitates the children’s program of Godly Play each Sunday morning at Park Place Church of God.

Through her work with women and children in domestic crises, Mrs. Edwards has come to know the city in a much different way. The work has deepened her care for the Anderson community. In addition to advocacy organizations for women and children, she also provided leadership on the Mayor’s Commission Against Domestic Violence and with the Anderson Community Schools Foundation.

Dr. and Mrs. Edwards have three children — Cory, Todd, and Katie — and six grandchildren, all in California.

Anderson University is a private Christian university in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God (Anderson, Ind.), Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, music, nursing, and theology.

Iconic rock band Def Leppard announced today that they will perform at the KFC Yum! Center onThursday, Sept. 3 with fellow rockers Styx and Tesla. The Louisville show will be among a few select U.S. performances following the band’s Canadian and European tour in early 2015.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, Feb. 20 at Noon. and will be available at the KFC Yum! Center Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

With more than 65 million records sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards to their credit, Def Leppard–Joe Elliott (vocals), Vivian Campbell (guitar), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick “Sav” Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (drums)—continues to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their career, the band has produced a series of classic, groundbreaking albums that set the sound for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group’s spectacular live shows, filled with powerful melodic rock anthems, have become synonymous with their name. For the past 30 years the band’s concerts have become must-see events and have quickly made them an institution in the touring industry, as they continue to sell out arenas worldwide. Their epic live show and arsenal of hits have become synonymous with their name, leading Def Leppard to be heralded as an institution in both the music and touring industry.

At the Louisville show, Def Leppard will play hits from their lengthy discography, including the recently reissued Slang, and may surprise fans with some new music that is yet to be released. Styx and Tesla will also deliver unforgettable performances that are sure to have fans experiencing the vigor and energy that these bands have always been known for.

For more information, visit kfcyumcenter.com.

• Hearings Examiner, Room N642, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis.
• Planning & Programming Department, Indiana Department of Transportation Seymour District office, 185 Agrico Lane, Seymour.
• Charlestown Clark County Library, Sellersburg Branch, 430 North Indiana Avenue,   Sellersburg.

A bill introduced recently in the Indiana House of Representatives would provide liability protection for licensed volunteer health care providers in Indiana, who are committed to providing needed services to under served Hoosiers who cannot afford adequate medical care.

“More than 350,000 Hoosiers are considered ‘medically under served’ and simply cannot afford adequate health care,” said Dr. Chuck Dietzen, a globally-recognized Indiana pediatric specialist, who travels worldwide frequently to help others.

He continued, “As licensed health care professionals, who are sworn to help others regardless of their income or their illness, we want to be able to travel throughout the state of Indiana – just as we do globally – with the peace of mind and a reasonable level of legal protection while delivering the services people so desperately need.”

The purpose of House Bill 1145 is to provide a greater level of protection to hundreds of licensed volunteer health care providers throughout Indiana as they seek to provide Hoosiers with the same compassionate level of medical care as they do when traveling abroad.

Currently, Indiana law restricts licensed medical professionals from volunteering their services unless they purchase medical malpractice insurance. At the same time, those Hoosiers who are medically underserved are faced with no other options than to use an emergency room – often at taxpayer’s expense – for their primary care. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the average expense for all people who had one of more visits (in 2009) to an emergency room in Indiana was $1,318 per visit.

In addition to providing lawsuit protection to licensed medical professionals who volunteer their services at no cost to the taxpayers or to those being served, HB 1145 would serve all Hoosiers without insurance, as well as those who cannot afford the cost of a co pay or meet a deductible.

According to Dietzen, HB 1145 would save taxpayers money. The savings would come from individuals not having to use an emergency room for their primary health care needs.

“Throughout Indiana, there are thousands of health care professionals – including those who are retired – who would be able to provide a higher level of proper care to more of the people who need it,” added Dietzen. “And, they could deliver these vital services to people in surroundings that are familiar to them within the city or town in which they live.”

Dietzen explained that a provision of the bill would provide the opportunity for community-based and non-profit organizations to host volunteer medical clinics in their neighborhoods, at such places as a community center, food pantry or place of worship.

Another provision of the bill stipulates that the immunity would not apply in cases involving any damages that result from a person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

The bill is authored by Rep. David Frizzell (R-Dist. 93) and co-authored by Reps. Denny Zent (R-Dist. 51) and Thomas Washburne (R-Dist. 64).

Dietzen is encouraging others to contact their legislators to adopt the bill, adding that it’s a “…reasonable solution for expanding the delivery of needed health care services to both rural and urban communities across Indiana”.

In expressing his support for the legislation, Dietzen encouraged others to express their support for HB 1145 by contacting their State Representative or State Senator at:

Indiana House of Representatives – General Switchboard: (800) 382-9842 or the Office of Rep. Brian Bosma, Speaker of the House at (317) 232-9677

Indiana Senate – General Switchboard: (800) 382-9467 or the Office of Sen. David Long, President Pro Tempore at (317) 232-9416

“House Bill 1145 creates an unprecedented opportunity for thousands of Hoosier schoolchildren and adults to gain greater access to vital health care services and enjoy a higher quality of life,” Dietzen explained. “At the same time, we are able to make it possible for doctors, nurses and other first responders – licensed in the state of Indiana – to step forward and volunteer to help others right here at home…just as they do worldwide.”