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When I was a little girl, one of my favorite summer pastimes was to catch lightning bugs, better known as fireflies.

They are the small blinking insects that light up the night as they fly about. My friends and I would run around and catch them. We would then put them into an old mason jar with a lid on it. The lid had holes poked in the top for air circulation. It was like having a homemade flashlight.

At the end of the evening, when it was time for bed, the fireflies would be turned loose into the night air, dancing their way back to the darkness at hand.

The illumination part of the firefly is all rather scientific. To explain all the details would take all the fun out of it.

Fireflies aren't truly a fly, but rather a soft body beetle. The light is produced in special cells located near the end of their abdomen. A sort of chemical reaction takes place. The main purpose of the light is not for our entertainment but instead used to attract a mate. Obviously, it must work, though we often don't see the results – we just see the dance.

There are many different species of fireflies in Indiana. Each species has its own unique flash pattern. The best time to see them in Indiana is in the summer months of June and July. After that, their dancing time is winding down. They only have a lifespan of two months.

They're easy to locate. Some good places to find them are along the edge of the woods, in fields, meadows or in the yard.

One species of firefly is the official insect of Indiana. The Says Firefly, also called the Angle Candled firefly became the state's official insect when it was proclaimed so by Governor Eric Holcomb on March 23, 2018.

Fireflies are as much a part of summer as cookouts, corn on the cob and fireworks.

You could say it's nature's gentle firework display.

The poet, James Whitcomb Riley, wrote in one of his poems that, "Fireflies like golden seeds are sewn about the night."

Another poet, Robert Frost, perhaps penned it best in his poem, Fireflies in the Garden.

"Here come real stars to fill the upper skies. And here on earth come emulating flies. That though they never equal stars in size, And they were never really stars at heart. Achieve at times a very start. Only, of course, they can't sustain the part."

Fireflies fill the night air with their twinkles, like little stars, and give us a hint of the heavens. We should pause to enjoy the illumination, however brief. And even now, another generation of children are still awed by their charms.

Another mason jar has holes punched in its lid. And yet another child's imagination is stirred as they delight in the midsummer's night dance. The dance of the fireflies.

Enjoy the dance!
— Susan

One of the experiences of walking on MyPath is enjoying the wildflowers that display lovely blossoms along the way.

I can identify many of the wildflowers, but I frequently use the Seek app on my phone to help with identification. A lot of our Wednesday walkers can identify flowers or use other apps.

But this flower I'm looking at right now will not show up on my app. It is much larger than most flowers. And it is made of metal.

Several weeks ago, I was walking along the trail on a regular maintenance check. Another walker stopped me to talk about the trail and art. I met Thomas Maher, and several other local artists, a few weeks before, at a meeting of the new Sweet Owen Arts Commission. This new arts commission is an effort to gather and promote all types of arts in the community. It may be the topic of a future column.

On this day, Maher complimented the trail. And he suggested the addition of art along the trail would make the experience even better. I agreed. He explained that he recycles automobile and farm equipment into sculptures.

I'm a fan of art. But I also believe that not all art fits all circumstances. I started asking about his work. He shared several photos of machinery that he turned into flowers, birds and other things. Perfect. I shared my desire that the natural amenities remain the focus of MyPath. The art should work with nature, not overshadow.

Maher spent a day walking along the trail, evaluating locations and getting a feel for this project. Then we picked a day when I could meet him at the trailhead and help deliver the sculptures to their locations. As he described it, he wanted people to walk along the trail for a while, absorbing nature, before they encountered the first sculpture.

A flower greets visitors to the first major crossroads of the trail. In all, there are 12 sculptures along the trail. You may have to deliberately look for them to see them, and they blend in with the surroundings.

So far, the public response has been very positive. Some visitors have reported having a favorite sculpture. As Maher said, people, especially children, may have limited exposure to art. This is an opportunity for people to encounter art in a very approachable way, while they are enjoying the MyPath trail.

There may be more opportunities for artwork along MyPath. We already host the Owen County Public Library Trail Tale along the first part of the trail. The monthly children's stories are fun to read, and the book artwork is entertaining.

We have been in conversations about becoming a stop on the Enchanted Fairy Trail. We may bring poetry readings back to the fire ring at McCormick's Creek State Park.

There are many types of art and events that "fit" the trail. On MyPath, nature is the main show. The new sculptures by Thomas Maher, and future art, complement the natural display.

Kyle Hannon is the Project Manager for the MyPath Trail System. He has served in many community development and trail commission roles throughout the state. On many weekends, he serves as an Interpretive Specialist at McCormick's Creek State Park.

Why do we celebrate July 4th? On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence declared the 13 American colonies to be an independent nation. All rule and the monarchy were severed. Revolution! It took two wars to actually complete the task. The first anniversary of that day was in 1777 was celebrated with fireworks, parades and public readings of the Declaration of Independence. July 4th was first recognized as a federal holiday in 1870. Today, July 4th is still celebrated with fireworks and parades. I don't think anyone reads the Declaration of Independence as part of the celebration now. Fireworks are still an important part of the celebration.

Last night my slumber was postponed as a neighbor started their July celebration early. The sound of small firecrackers was accompanied by loud booms for over an hour. I did not see the sky lit up in flashes of color, so they had no rockets. July 4th is several days away as I write this. Maybe they are saving the rockets for later. I expect more of this before the actual holiday.

My father loved those big pyrotechnical displays. He made sure we attended several every year. The last time I saw him we attended a fireworks display. I remember the smile on his face lit up in the reflection of those exploding rockets. He passed away two weeks later. So still cherish that night.

What July 4th traditions do you have? I still like to attend firework shows. I often go with my sisters. It would be nice to share the experience.

Another tradition I like to observe is to have a ripe tomato hanging on the vine by July 4th. In the past, when I had space for a real garden, I often accomplished my goal. This year is a wash out, literally. We have had so much rain all of the things I am trying to grow are drowning. The basil seeds I planted in late April rotted. Planted a variety of herbs and vegetable seeds ate ready to bloom. No tomatoes yet. Growing everything in containers is not easy.

Another tradition in my family celebrates in July is berry picking. In the sweet back raspberries, they're almost gone. Blackberries are plentiful on the Ridge. Before we bought that property in the 1990s it was logged. The blackberry vines came in and flourished in the open spaces. They help hold the soil in place after logging and provide food and shelter for wildlife. A patch of briars is the devil to walk through, but they give a glorious bonus of sweet berries in mid-summer. Blackberries are a useful source of vitamins C, E and K. They also contain calcium and manganese, and they are not high in sugar content. If you go berry picking this week, be aware of the heat. Go early in the morning. You will avoid the heat and beat the birds to the berries. 'Til next time, Annie.

The Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) awarded $51,810 in Community Investment Grants to 13 local organizations that work to meet community needs and improve the quality of life across Owen County. These flexible, strategic grants reflect OCCF's mission to create lasting, positive impact—now and for future generations.

Investment Grant recipients support eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, churches and government entities addressing high-priority community goals identified in OCCF's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. This includes initiatives focused on financial stability and early education, wellness, access to food, information and basic community development needs.

"These grants support the best of Owen County—neighbors helping neighbors, organizations solving problems and communities working together," said Janet Rummel, President & CEO of OCCF. "We're proud to invest in projects that offer both immediate impact and long-term value."

2025 Community Investment Grant Recipients

Owen County Humane Society — Spay Neuter Assistance for Community Members. Received a $5,000 grant to offer financial assistance to low-income pet owners for spay/neuter services.

Owen County S.O.U.N.D.S. — Coal City S.O.U.N.D.S. Community Impact. Procured a $5,000 grant to expand their music education through instrument purchases, sheet music, accompanist piano lessons, and other services to help individuals and families stay cool during extreme heat.

Freedom Community Center — Upgraded Playground Equipment. Procured a $2,200 grant to replace aging playground equipment, creating a safer and more welcoming space for outdoor recreation.

Owen County Family YMCA — Upgrades. Acquired a $5,000 grant to enhance security with upgraded cameras and PA System, improve air conditioning for more than 36 members.

Owen County Boys and Girls Club — Salvation Community Township Volunteer Fire Department Furnace Replacement. Secured a $2,000 grant to replace the Freedom Firehouse, ensuring emergency readiness for 1,200 area residents.

Gosport Lodge Club — Gosport Town Park Revitalization Project. Obtained a $5,000 grant to install turf pavers and timber access gates in the Gosport Town Park as part of a broader revitalization effort.

Owen County Farmers' Market — Kids Club Program. Received a $1,010 grant to support Honor Guard services, holiday basket delivery, and a free Christmas dinner for families in need, especially those who have served in the military.

American Legion Paloff-Laurenster Post 141 — Coal City Community Support. Received a $1,010 grant to support Honor Guard services, holiday basket delivery, and a free Christmas dinner for families in need, especially those who have served in the military.

Owen County Fair — Grounds Improvement. Procured a $5,000 grant to expand this early literacy initiative, which begins free books monthly to Owen County children from birth to age five.

South Central Community Action Program — Owen County Beat the Heat 2025. Obtained a $5,000 grant to provide fans, A/C units, and repair services to help low-income residents stay cool during extreme heat.

Owen County S.O.U.N.D.S. — Coal City S.O.U.N.D.S. Community Impact. Procured a $5,000 grant to expand their music education through instrument purchases, sheet music, accompanist piano lessons, and other services to help individuals and families stay cool during extreme heat.

About OCCF Grant Opportunities

Community Investment Grants range from $1,001 to $5,000. Large Impact Grants of up to $30,000 support transformative projects, while Rapid Response Grants of up to $3,000 are available year-round to address urgent or time-sensitive donor support.

About OCCF

The Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is a public benefit foundation founded in 1994 as a resource to connect individuals with causes they support, enabling them to contribute toward broader Owen County! Since its founding, the OCCF has been able to grant more than $1.2 million to local students, area nonprofits and charitable organizations in our community. The OCCF is committed to enhancing the quality of life for Owen County and for generations to come. For more information on the scholarships awarded or how to begin your own philanthropic journey, please visit owencountycf.org or call 812-829-1725, or stop by our office located on the Courthouse Square at 60 E. Market St., Spencer.

Visit five 100-year-old Indiana State Parks to enjoy their new challenges to help celebrate the history of Indiana State Parks.

Parks with centennial challenges include McCormick's Creek State Park (est. 1916), Turkey Run State Park (est. 1916), Clifty Falls State Park (est. 1920), and Indiana Dunes State Park (est. 1925).

The challenges kick off the celebration of this year's 100th anniversary of Indiana Dunes State Park and Pokagon State Park. For a hundred years, these parks have provided northern Indiana with natural playgrounds and conservation of unique natural resources.

"We have developed these unique challenges at many parks because we provide opportunities for physical activity through hiking, biking, and canoeing," said Ginger Murphy, deputy director for Indiana State Parks. "We are happy to add these opportunities to lodgers to open a window into some of the history and resources that each park offers."

Each challenge explores the history of the respective park's natural resources, pre-park establishment and important historical structures and stories. Guests who complete a challenge can earn a unique sticker for that park. The instructions for each challenge can be found online at dnr.IN.gov/healthy.

An Owen County artist is sharing 12 sculptures with MYPath trail.

The sculptures have been on display since June 1 and can be seen by walking along the MYPath Riverfront Trail from its trailhead at 738 Potter St., Spencer.

Thomas Maher is the owner of Falling Leaf Metalworks where he specializes in recycling machinery from vehicles and farm equipment into sculptures of plants, animals and people.

"After I proposed displaying some of my artwork along the trail, I spent a lot of time walking the beautiful trail and determining the pieces that would fit the feel of the trail and the locations where they would look the best," Maher said.

"MYPath is in a wonderful natural setting, and I think Thomas' sculptures look great among the trees, bushes and wildflowers," said Kyle Hannon, MYPath project manager.

Maher began displaying recycled metal in 2020 after retiring from Rock Island in Spencer. He has lived in Owen County since 2001. Previously, he lived in San Francisco where he worked at Hunter's Point. On weekends, he also did paints and works in other arts, he began focusing on his recycled metal art after a chance visit to a local scrapyard while helping a neighbor recycle some old farm equipment.

People can see more of Maher's artwork with a studio tour and gallery visit by appointment only 812-925-8402.

SUBMITTED PHOTO.

Conservation organizations should put your financial resources to work on habitat. If you are a member of a non-profit, like the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), then you expect your membership fees and additional donations to go towards the mission of the organization. In this case, NWTF in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), just south of Nevada on an Conservation Area Grassland Restoration Project, is now complete.

Conservation Area is located near Neosho in southwest Missouri, part of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), just south of Nevada on an Army Base, used during World War I. Today, this conservation area covers 2,362 acres of mostly forested land with a couple hundred acres of established native warm-season grasses, 100 acres of crop fields and 600 acres just received an upgrade.

A special effort, called the Fort Crowder Conservation Area Grassland Restoration Project, is now complete. Conservation success has been delivered on 137 acres through the restoration of native warm-season grasses. This is the kind of work that we need to see more of if we want to seriously address the turkey decline. Creating more turkey habitat factors will require more than just completed at Fort Crowder Conservation Area is the proper response. Restoring quality nesting and brood rearing habitat is how you effectively make more turkeys. Without routine management, grasslands quickly transition into less productive areas, becoming brushier and/or overwhelmed by invasive species, drastically reducing their value for wildlife and recreation.

To begin the natives' restoration, the invasive trees, vines and woody vegetation had to be destroyed. Species like autumn olive and Bradford pear were removed. Some natives had to be beaten back a bit, too. Shrubs such as sumac, plum and buckbrush, though natural to the area, were suppressing grassland structure.

Using a bull-hog forestry mulcher, MDC crews moved down the undesirables and overgrown natives, to create space for native warm-season grasses and forbs to re-establish. Improving the grasslands habitat for wild turkeys, bobwhite quail, pollinators and many more native species.

After an aggressive herbicide was applied to control regrowth of invasives and woody sprouts. With tall invasives floating around today, grasslands do require careful work to maintain their integrity. Moving forward, the grasslands will be maintained naturally with frequent applications of prescribed fire. The 30 acres will be monitored for successful restoration of the desired native grasses.

Partnership Benefits

Grassland conservation has far-reaching benefits. Not only for the wildlife calling the impacted acres home, but for all of us who appreciate clean air and water. Quail habitat supports healthy wildlife populations, which enhances hunting, hiking, bird watching and more. Native species contribute to a healthier ecosystem for the world around us.

Grasslands are an imperiled habitat critical for turkey population success. Only fragments remain in the Midwest of native grasses and wildflowers. Grasslands are essential to the health of many ground-nesting birds, like the wild turkey. This crucial habitat is where turkeys nest and raise their poults.

Grassland conservation has far-reaching benefits. Not only for the wildlife calling the impacted acres home, but for all of us who appreciate clean air and water. Quail habitat supports healthy wildlife populations, which enhances hunting, hiking, bird watching and more. There is more than one reason why. Lack of habitat is a huge issue. With every subdivision or strip mall development, we lose critical wildlife habitat. Pesticides kill bugs and bugs are also a productive food source for a healthy turkey population is healthy turkey habitat, and that habitat means grasslands are a must. The Missouri NWTF State Chapter provided Super Fund dollars to assist with the cost of heavy machinery needed to complete the work.

See you on the trail.

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

The 2025 winner of the original Ken Bucklew's drawing is Kathy Montique. Pictured are Bucklew, Montique, and Kim McCollum-Fraser, a representative from Delta Theta Tau Sorority, not Chi Spencer.

Bucklew donates a drawing every year for the sorority to raffle off.

SUBMITTED PHOTO.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
Booking information is provided by the Owen County Security Center. These are preliminary charges, and may change as cases are processed through the circuit court system. To follow a court case, search the state of court records at mycase.in.gov. This information is public record. All people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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June 2025 Bookings

6-4
Denise Helton, 39, Poland, IN, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. Owen County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) Jordan Hardey was the arresting officer.

Korey Taylor, 32, Bloomington, preliminary charge of writ of attachment. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

Dety Perez, 44, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of failure to appear, theft, possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia, cocaine or a narcotic drug. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

6-5
Darrick Freeman, 35, Spencer, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

6-5
Thomas Barnett, 58, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of failure to appear and driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

Ronnie Gibson, 59, Mooresville, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and probation violation. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

Hubert Plummer, 59, Bloomfield, preliminary charge of criminal trespass. Arrested by Spencer Police Department (SPD) Officer Bryce Brock.

6-10
Michelle Robbins, 45, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of criminal mischief and two counts of invasion of privacy. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

Joshua Leitzman, 46, Gosport, preliminary charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a domestic batterer, possession of a firearm by a serious felon, probation violation, and operating a motor vehicle after forfeiture of license for life. OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

Sara Whitaker, 36, Spencer, preliminary charges for possession of a controlled substance and probation violation. Arrested by SPD Officer Bryce Brock.

6-14
Michael Vance, 34, Fillmore, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and probation violation. OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich was the arresting officer.

Aaron Schrock, 19, Spencer, preliminary charges of battery against a public safety official (three counts), resisting law enforcement, possession of paraphernalia, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, intimidation, and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Arrested by Indiana State Police Trooper Matt Portwood.

6-15
Joshua Stahl, 43, Spencer, preliminary charge of invasion of privacy. OCSD Deputy William Browne was the arresting officer.

6-16
John Natzke, 51, Chicago, Illinois, preliminary charges of criminal recklessness while operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, operating with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 or more, and operating while intoxicated endangering a person. Arrested by OCSD Major William Snodgrass.

John Todd, 35, Spencer, preliminary charges of battery and intimidation. OCSD Deputy John Lower II was the arresting officer.

6-17
Michael Gates II, 42, Terre Haute, preliminary charge of writ of attachment. Arrested by OCSD Major William Snodgrass.

Elijah Haldeman, 36, Sullivan, preliminary charges of probation violation and possession of a narcotic drug. OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler was the arresting officer.

Stefan Snapp, 45, Whiteland, preliminary charges of unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and auto theft. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey.

6-18
Regina Deckard, 42, Worthington, preliminary charges of intimidation, domestic battery, and aggravated battery. OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler was the arresting officer.

Nicholas Anderson, 45, Spencer, preliminary charge of domestic battery. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey.

6-20
David Clayton, Jr., 21, Paragon, preliminary charge of false informing. OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey was the arresting officer.

Cameron Rund, 24, Terre Haute, failure to appear on an original charge of possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich.

6-21
Levi Butler, 34, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of probation violation and invasion of privacy. SPD officer EJ Westphal was the arresting officer.

Cheryl Rybolt, 69, Poland, IN, preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Luke Pardue.

6-22
Dayton Brown, 23, Ellettsville, preliminary charges of leaving the scene of an accident and obstruction of justice. OCSD Deputy Cory Poland was the arresting officer.

6-24
Kathryn Grimes, 36, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of violation of home detention, dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of paraphernalia. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

Joshua Turpis, 31, Bloomington, preliminary charge of false informing. OCSD Deputy Cory Poland was the arresting officer.

6-25
Laramie DeFord, 26, Spencer, preliminary charge of writ of attachment. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

Jacob Denton, 24, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Indiana State Excise Police Officer Marty Workman was the arresting officer.

Jayson Tatlock, 46, Spencer, preliminary charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, furnishing alcohol to a minor, battery, and child seduction. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Torrey Wallace.

6-26
Russell Bandy, 55, Spencer, preliminary charges of child molesting and sexual misconduct with a minor. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

6-27
Duane Culler, 53, Bowling Green, preliminary charge of operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator (HTV). Arrested by OCSD SPD Deputy Daniel Rhienhart.

6-28
Brock Miller, 49, Spencer, preliminary charge of domestic battery. OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic was the arresting officer.

Matthew Shoals, 24, Clay City, preliminary charges of pointing a firearm, obstruction of justice, and intimidation. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey.

Brooke Neal, 46, Unionville, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. SPD officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

6-29
Chad Robinson, 39, Spencer, preliminary charges of strangulation and domestic battery. Arrested by OCSD Deputy William Browne.

Joseph Mimms, Jr., 53, Gosport, preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person (two counts). SPD officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

Robert Christenberry, 39, Spencer, preliminary charge of writ of attachment. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey.

6-30
Randy Tapp, 59, Springville, IN, preliminary charge of possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. SPD officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

Like most bass fishermen, I've had good success over the years with plastic worms.

I'm so old that I can recall slim packages of Creme three-hook worms with the worm rigged stinger in front. Lots of fish were caught on those in the 50s and 60s. Company founders Nick and Cosma Creme had started pouring the Wiggle Worm by hand in their basement and selling them through the mail in 1949, a buck for five worms.

I fished recently with a fellow who still had one and used it to catch a three-pound bass, bigger than anything I caught that day. Back in the day, I used them more than my dad did when I first started fishing because my lighter spinning outfit would cast it. His stiff bass rod and heavy line were too much for the light worms.

A trip to Kentucky Lake later in the 60s introduced me to the so-called "Texas rigged" worm. A retired military guy, who fished the lake regularly and successfully, and who was staying at the same resort near Big Sandy Tennessee, told us that this specially rigged worm was the way to go. He gave me some packages of eight-inch ones with the hook and sinker included. I thought it was a huge black. The sinker with a hole in it looked too heavy and the hook too big. What do you mean insert the hook back into the worm. And only one hook! This is but one was something completely new to us. Half after a lot of trial and error, over the years my dad and I learned to love plastic worms and pretty much swore by them.

I caught my third or fourth biggest bass ever, a 6.21 largemouth on a good old plastic sinker, Texas rigged curly tail red Culprit, one of my favorite worms. Now that it's summer and water temps will be warmer, some fishermen have hung up for the and are still feeding. It will be a while time to get out there, with whatever style of fishing you prefer. You might try going wacky, if fish are not super deep. This bait will get bass to move up from the depths to get it. The hook is placed in the middle of the worm, not at the head. With this rig, right worm, the action is perfect. The key is to slow down.

Several years ago, my cousin and I were fishing a private lake that had a good bass population and had been releasing all our bass. Fishing and releasing had its usual this was well, before good that morning, but as usual the bite died when the sun came out hot and bright. It was 11 a.m. Time to take in our rods and call outing a success. Not the bass went in siesta mode until evening, or so we thought.

"Before we leave, let's hit that spot where we were getting them earlier," Ron said. "I have a new bait I'd like to try."

We trolled over to the west bank near some sunken brush, and Ron rigged up a fat, six-inch, straight tail, red and black Strike King worm with his hook inserted into the middle.

Before then, I had tried the wacky rigging, but I'd had little success. I'd always go back to the standard straight rig after a few casts. The thing looked clumsy in the water. Do fish Does a curious or hungry largemouth care?

Cousin Ron rigged up his wacky rig, tossed it out and did almost nothing with his rod. He retrieved it oh so slowly—one cast took forever. I was observing his technique and marveling at his patience. Then he set the hook on a nice 4-inch bass and brought it to the boat. All right—that thing does work. In about 45 minutes, in the middle of a hot, sunny day, he caught six or seven bass from a spot we had given up on earlier. He's better than I am at it because he's more patient and methodical. This lure takes slow hands.

Ever since then, I've been a believer in wacky style. I'm confident that if a bass is in the vicinity of a wacky rigged worm, or she is going to attack it. Fish it slowly, as if a curious largemouth is studying your bait, which is likely the case. More next month on this technique.

As of this writing, my tomatoes have endured high winds, extended stretches of rainfall, hot temperatures and low 40 degree evening temperatures and a small amount of decent growing weather.

In plant a tomato in my garden every week using the same variety from April 15 to June 15. This year, early planting just did not pay out. Every year is different, but I'm thinking for 2026 I'll wait until later in May to plant crops like tomatoes.

Eggplants planted six weeks ago look very rugged and have endured flea beetle damage.

These beetles overwinter as adults in grass, feed on leaves and cause some damage with warmer weather.

Soil drainage has been a significant variable to tomato growth so far this season. Well-drained soils that have been amended with compost over time have performed much better.

Two beds have clay soil, and they have not performed as well. Container and raised beds have really been a bright spot this season. I have noted in my 24 raised beds that beds with some organic matter have warned quicker and drained better.

As matter of plant grows out of the feeding damage with warmer weather.

Normally, the main plant damage with warmer weather.

Normally, the main plant grows out of the feeding damage with warmer weather.

Soil drainage has been a significant variable to tomato growth so far this season. Well-drained soils that have been amended with compost over time have performed much better.

Two beds have clay soil, and they have not performed as well. Container and raised beds have really been a bright spot this season. I have noted in my 24 raised beds that beds with some organic matter have warned quicker and drained better.

Container and raised beds have really been a bright spot this season. I have noted in my 24 raised beds that beds with some organic matter have warned quicker and drained better.

As of this writing, my tomatoes have endured high winds, extended stretches of rainfall, hot temperatures and low 40 degree evening temperatures and a small amount of decent growing weather.

In plant a tomato in my garden every week using the same variety from April 15 to June 15. This year, early planting just did not pay out. Every year is different, but I'm thinking for 2026 I'll wait until later in May to plant crops like tomatoes.

Eggplants planted six weeks ago look very rugged and have endured flea beetle damage.

These beetles overwinter as adults in grass, feed on leaves and cause some damage with warmer weather.

Soil drainage has been a significant variable to tomato growth so far this season. Well-drained soils that have been amended with compost over time have performed much better.

Two beds have clay soil, and they have not performed as well. Container and raised beds have really been a bright spot this season. I have noted in my 24 raised beds that beds with some organic matter have warned quicker and drained better.

As matter of plant grows out of the feeding damage with warmer weather.

Normally, the main plant damage with warmer weather.

Normally, the main plant grows out of the feeding damage with warmer weather.

Soil drainage has been a significant variable to tomato growth so far this season. Well-drained soils that have been amended with compost over time have performed much better.

Two beds have clay soil, and they have not performed as well. Container and raised beds have really been a bright spot this season. I have noted in my 24 raised beds that beds with some organic matter have warned quicker and drained better.

Container and raised beds have really been a bright spot this season. I have noted in my 24 raised beds that beds with some organic matter have warned quicker and drained better.

Indiana's Commerce Office awarded $925,107 in grant awards to accelerate entrepreneurial activity and resources statewide through its Community Collaboration Fund (CCF). These awards will help fuel 28 community-led projects across 23 counties focusing on entrepreneurial education, connection and scaled actions in Indiana.

Under Governor Eric J. Holcomb's leadership, Indiana is more committed than ever to cultivating its economy," said Secretary of Commerce David Adams. "These Community Collaboration Fund projects will ensure that current and future entrepreneurs have access to the ecosystem they need to start and scale a business right here in Indiana."

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Community Collaboration Fund

CCF provides matching grants to support community collaborations, services and programs that give entrepreneurs access to a variety of industries such as creative economy, healthcare, food and beverage, defense and in rural communities.

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Owen County Award

The Owen County Chamber of Commerce received $25,000 in support of Base Camp. The Owen County Chamber of Commerce will begin Base Camp, a six-week long program that delivers an intensive curriculum to equip rural entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge and connections necessary for viability and growth.

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About the Indiana Office of Commerce

The State of Indiana's Office of Commerce was created by Governor Mike Braun to align and accelerate the state's economic development efforts and is led by Indiana Secretary of Commerce David J. Adams.

Stan Frank isn't used to being the one receiving help, but others want to give to the community. He said he's usually the one giving, having worked in public safety and emergency services for nearly 25 years.

Throughout his career, Frank has worked both as and as a coroner. He even served as a rescue officer for the Spencer Police Department for a few years.

"I just feel like I wanted to give to the community," he said of his service.

He explained that he works for the state as an Emergency Preparedness Manager, and he serves as deputy for the Owen County Coroner Office.

And this spring, Frank was diagnosed with bladder cancer.

"It's pretty overwhelming," he said of the support he has received throughout the community. "There's been so many people asking for any of it."

He continued saying it has been with mixed emotions.

"I'm not one to take help but sometimes that makes it difficult," he said. "I'm not someone to ask for help but that he has had to let support and others to help."

"The help is pretty to alleviate some financial burden the cancer has stretched far and wide, he added a t-shirt fundraiser from the Grayville Fire Department, among other fundraising to alleviate some financial burden.

"He told me he's had that there are dream-catchers above the bed at desk that come from all over the world... Frank said. "He told me he's had that there are dream-catchers above the bed at desk that come from all over the world..."

The help is fighting to alleviate some financial burden the cancer has stretched far and wide, he added.

"He told me he's had that there are dream-catchers above the bed at desk that come from all over the world... Frank said. "He told me he's had that there are dream-catchers above the bed at desk that come from all over the world..."

He explained that he doesn't wish to be treated differently. He said detection of the cancer doesn't walk around feeling well, but that if he still would not know how he feels physically. "You can't walk around feeling down," he explained. "You go to about that. You could have a terminal illness but that's treatable. That's a real worry. But Frank said. "The choice is your and give up, so I die and give up, so I don't have give up in me, so that's not what it's about."

Frank also noted that he doesn't wish to be treated differently. He said those with terminal illnesses don't want to feel like they're different.

"I've always been deemed that grumpy old ****, but that's the thing, I'm not going to change that," he said. "I'm going to be the same person regardless. It doesn't matter."

He also said to listen to the small voice encouraging you to do talk to someone else.

"It always seems like when I reach out to those people, when I think, 'some of those things that you were like I do, and a lot worse off than I am. I don't feel bad," he said. "You're going to die tomorrow, but hey, better just go ahead and do it."

He also said to listen to the small voice encouraging you to do talk to someone else.

"It always seems like when I reach out to those people, when I think, 'some of those things that you were like I do, and a lot worse off than I am. I don't feel bad," he said. "You're going to die tomorrow, but hey, better just go ahead and do it."

Hershberger has planned a benefit ride, which includes jeeps, at 10 a.m. on July 26. The cruise is $25, with that ride will end at noon, lunch for those who would like one will be served between $25, those in Hershberger through bonfire and a GoFundMe organized by Linda Ferrell, Frank's mom.

There is also a benefit fundraiser to assist in expenses related to his treatment.

The fundraiser will start with the benefit ride, which includes a variety. They planned a benefit and the fundraiser will give it from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the lodge. There will also be raffles and a silent auction. Those with questions should contact Hershberger at 812-821-0057.

There is also a t-shirt fundraiser organized by Linda Ferrell through bonfire and a GoFundMe organized by Linda Ferrell, Frank's mom.

Everyone knows that a library card grants access to thousands of books, DVDs and other media within the library walls. But did you know that it also gives you access to Libby, a free app that's revolutionizing the library experience? Libby allows patrons to borrow ebooks, digital audiobooks and magazines—anytime, anywhere. It's compatible with most devices, including smartphones, tablets and even Kindles.

What Makes Libby Special?

What makes Libby even more powerful is its reach. It doesn't just pull from the Owen County Public Library's collection. Instead, it connects patrons to a large consortium of libraries, expanding access to a much wider selection of materials. That means more choices—and shorter wait times for popular titles.

Need to place a hold? Libby makes it simple. You'll receive a notification when your item is ready to download. Not quite ready yet? You can even extend your hold within the app.

Libby also lets you customize your reading experience. Adjust font size, screen brightness and even switch to dark mode to reduce eye strain and blue light exposure.

In short, Libby brings the library to your fingertips—wherever you are.

All you need is your library card.

For more information or help getting started with Libby, visit the Owen County Public Library or call us at 812-829-3392.

When Steve Withem pitched the idea of VentFest in 2019 at a Spencer Main Street meeting, the room fell silent.

"I said, 'I want to do a ventriloquist festival in Spencer, Indiana.' Dead silence. Finally, one of the board members spoke up and said, 'Are you serious?' And I said yes. More silence. Finally another board member spoke up and said, 'Well, you know, if Steve's willing to really put this together and run with it, and make sure Spencer Main Street, Inc. doesn't take a terrible bath on it, well, maybe we should give him an opportunity,'" Withem recalled, adding that he had the idea for it five to six years prior.

And run with it he did.

He attended the annual Vent Haven Ventriloquist Convention in Cincinnati later that year and put together the inaugural festival for June of 2020. Except the COVID-19 pandemic prevented it.

He tried again for 2021, but pandemic-era travel restrictions prevented international ventriloquists from joining the show. This left the festival delayed until 2022.

Jay Johnson, the only ventriloquist to be nominated for and win a Tony Award, headlined the inaugural festival.

"That gave us credibility," Withem said. "And now, I've got performers wanting to come here."

The festival has brought world-renowned ventriloquists to the stage of the Tivoli Theatre, including Ronn Lucas, Willie Tyler and Steve O. Schuling, to name a few. In fact, Lucas, who performed for six U.S. presidents and was the first ventriloquist to headline his own act in Las Vegas, has been called the best ventriloquist in the world by The New York Times.

As word has spread, those who perform recruit their friends within the ventriloquism community, and past performers come back to help out from year to year. For example, Schuling performed in 2023 and has come back each year to volunteer for the festival.

"We're building a real family of ventriloquists, something special here. The international ventriloquism world is taking notice of Spencer, Indiana," Withem said. "We've already got some legendary talent lined up for next year."

He said that it becomes easier to get ventriloquists to say 'yes,' making his job as festival director easier year after year.

"The word's out among the vent community. I'm tickled pink about that, you know that they want to come to Spencer, Indiana. To be down there at the convention and hear how people who have been here talk so lovingly and glowingly about Spencer and the Tivoli Theatre and what we're creating here, it does my little heart good," Withem said.

And Withem has discovered up-and-coming talent along the way, like Melissa Graham, who started her ventriloquism journey in 2018.

Graham is from Panama and worked in a clinic.

"We get a lot of children that come in for treatment, and they get shots every day. I used to watch these kids come in and be very nervous because they knew they were going to get shots," Graham said.

She wanted to find a way to make children feel more comfortable. And then one day, she saw a performance by Darcie Lynne on America's Got Talent, which Lynne won in 2017. Graham had the idea to use puppetry and ventriloquism to help put the children entering the clinic at ease.

Graham pursued learning the art form on her own, and she is the only ventriloquist in Panama.

"It's great in the sense to know that I am kind of pioneering ventriloquism in Panama, and it's such an honor to be able to bring this art form to people around me in my country," Graham said. "It's also a little isolating in the sense that there's no one else who I can get support from. But that's what's so amazing about this community that I've been able to find here in the U.S., because I've been able to learn so much from them."

Australian ventriloquist Glenn Pearce was also at the table while Graham was being interviewed.

"Puppets are therapy," he said.

Graham's performance is called The Alpacachino Show.

"It all kind of started because I just really love puns. My puppet is an alpaca," she said.

His name is Alpacachino after Al Pacino, adding to the pun of him being an alpaca.

"Alpacachino is just kind of a naughty little alpaca. He's just silly," Graham said.

She also has a jaguar puppet that she calls Jaguar Yoo in Spanish or Howard Yoo in English.

"Which is kind of a pun in Spanish because it sounds kind of like, 'How are you,'" Graham said, describing Jaguar as sleepy and grumpy. "He's just not taking anything from anyone."

Her final puppet is a pig named Saucy, which is a pun in both languages, and is fitting because Saucy has a "pageant queen" personality.

Graham described writing material in English separate from her usual content in Spanish, as not all jokes can be easily translated, whether it be because of the difference in timing, cadence, meanings or whether or not it is culturally relevant.

She was excited to perform at VentFest this year.

As summer winds down and the excitement for a new school year begins to build, Spencer-Owen Community Schools is pleased to announce the schedule for our Meet the Teacher Nights and the highly anticipated Back to School Expo. These events are designed to help students and families start the school year feeling confident, connected and prepared for success.

Mark your calendars now for the Annual Back to School Expo. This year, it's bigger and better than ever. It will be held on Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and this fun-filled, family-friendly event will be taking place for all Spencer-Owen students and their families.

Students who attend with a parent or guardian can receive free:

- Backpacks and School Supplies
- Haircuts
- Clothing, Socks and Shoes
- Hygiene Products
- Vaccinations
- Hearing Screenings
- Kids can also enjoy bounce houses, explore emergency response vehicles at Touch-a-Truck, play games, win door prizes and grab some tasty refreshments. Be sure to stop and make sure every student is ready to hit the ground running on the first day of school

Meet the Teacher Night Schedule

Here is the full schedule for each school's Meet the Teacher Night:

McCormick's Creek Elementary School, Monday, Aug. 4 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Spencer Elementary School, Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Patricksburg Elementary School, Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Owen Valley Middle School, Tuesday, July 30 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Gosport Elementary School, Monday, Aug. 4 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

These evenings are a great way to ease first-day jitters and help students feel more confident walking through the school doors on day one. Teachers and staff will be looking forward to welcoming you, answering any questions and sharing important information to help your student start the year strong.

Starting school with the right supplies, a positive mindset and a familiar face makes all the difference. S-OCS is committed to making sure every student feels supported and ready to succeed from day one.

Events like the Back to School Expo and the Teacher Nights reflect our shared belief that when families, schools and communities come together great things happen.

Stay up to date on event details and reminders by following Spencer-Owen Community Schools on social media at socsk12.in.us.

The academic year starts Aug. 5. Let's make the 2025-2026 school year the best one yet!

The Owen County 4-H Community invites everyone to a special evening of celebration and recognition on Monday, July 7, in the Show Arena at the Owen County Fairgrounds. This annual event brings together families, friends and supporters to honor the heart of 4-H—our dedicated volunteers, graduating seniors, scholarship supporters and outstanding youth exhibitors.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with Volunteer Recognition and the 4-H Scholarship Auction, followed by Senior Recognition and the Parade of Champions.

We'll begin the evening by recognizing the incredible individuals who make 4-H possible—our volunteers. These dedicated mentors and leaders give countless hours to support our youth, organize events and ensure the success of our programs. Their commitment is the foundation of 4-H, and this is our opportunity to thank them for their service and impact.

Following our volunteer recognition, we'll host the always-anticipated 4-H Scholarship Auction. This event raises vital funds to support our graduating 4-H seniors—young leaders who have grown through years of learning, leadership and service. Their achievements, both in and out of the show ring, reflect the values of 4-H. As they prepare for higher education and career training opportunities, we are encouraged to attend and bid generously—every dollar raised goes directly toward helping our young people achieve their goals.

Next, we'll celebrate our graduating 4-H seniors—young leaders who have grown through years of learning, leadership and service. Their achievements, both in and out of the show ring, reflect the values of 4-H. As they prepare for the next chapter in their lives, we will honor their accomplishments and wish them continued success.

The evening will conclude with the Parade of Champions, a proud tradition that showcases the excellence of our top exhibitors. From state projects in the Exhibit Hall as well as winners from pre-fair events, celebrating the diverse talents and hard work of our 4-H youth. It's a moment of pride not only for the champions themselves but for the entire community that supports them.

This event is a true celebration of the people and moments that make 4-H in Owen County so special. We invite everyone to join us in the Show Arena on Monday, July 7, for an evening filled with recognition, gratitude, and inspiration.

Let's come together to honor our volunteers, celebrate our youth and seniors, support our youth and cheer on our champions!

FROM LEFT: Babbs Supermarket recently made a donation of $2,000 to the Mark of Discipleship Food Pantry through the Babbs Casual for Charity program and cash from their lost and found. From left, Darrell Rauh accepts a check from Babbs' Operations Manager Tony Clements. // Owen County Humane Society Director Becky Brown accepts a $100 check from the Save-A-Lot lost and found funds. SUBMITTED PHOTOS.

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Between 2012 and 2024, Riverside Cemetery in Spencer has seen a 50 percent decline in the number of burials and a 50 percent increase in the number of cremations.

In 2012, there were 45 burials and six cremations, and in 2024, there were 22 burials and nine cremations.

"Your revenue is primarily from the sale of plots, and then you get some funding when you do the grave openings and closings, and that's it," said Keith Bucklew, President of the Riverside Cemetery Board. "People are still passing away at the same rate, if not more so, but people are steering away from traditional burials."

Cremations are a whole lot cheaper, and we are seeing a major trend all across the country," Bucklew said.

With cremation, families no longer have to buy burial plots, but they still often pay for the opening and closing of the service they might not need a casket.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association's 2023 Cremation and Burial Report, the cremation rate in 2023 was 60.5 percent. The report suggests that the rate of cremation is expected to increase to 81.4 percent by 2045. Data from the Cremation Association of North America shows that in 2009, 38.1 percent of individuals were cremated. In 2014, that number grew to 46.7 percent, and by 2024, the percentage grew to 61.8 percent.

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Bucklew offered an explanation as to why there is an increase in cremations – the cost savings for families.

"You're really reducing a lot of costs, and that is a major trend all across the country," Bucklew said.

"But what does that mean long-term so far as cemetery operation is that it is going to be a lot cheaper, and we are seeing a whole lot cheaper, and we are not the only ones. Every cemetery has the exact same problem."

According to the National Funeral Directors Association's 2023 Cremation and Burial Report, the cremation rate in 2023 was 60.5 percent. The report suggests that the rate of cremation is expected to increase to 81.4 percent by 2045. Data from the Cremation Association of North America shows that in 2009, 38.1 percent of individuals were cremated. In 2014, that number grew to 46.7 percent, and by 2024, the percentage grew to 61.8 percent.

Bucklew offered an explanation as to why there is an increase in cremations – the cost savings for families.

"You're really reducing a lot of costs, and that is a major trend all across the country," Bucklew said.

To help with the cemetery's financial position, Bucklew said they have purchased fundraising and grants. "We've received a tremendous amount of donations," Bucklew said, which included Riverside being included some estate plans. "All that is still not enough." Donators have helped secure the front gates to the cemetery at the west end of West Wayne Street, add lights to the flags, clean up damage from the March 2023 tornado, and purchase a new mower.

"If we had to pay for all that, we wouldn't have had the money to do it," Bucklew said, adding that he has individuals within the community willing to donate their time for the labor needed to clean, repair, and restore headstones. Maintenance of headstones typically falls to families, but Bucklew noted that they have individuals buried at Riverside from the Civil War era, some of which have no living relatives. In that case, he said, the cemetery tries to repair and maintain the headstones.

He also wanted to make the issue known to the community with the hope that others will come forward with donations and include Riverside in their estate planning.

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By Indiana law, when a cemetery is no longer solvent, its maintenance falls to the township trustee. Riverside Cemetery is located in Washington Township, which already has six cemeteries to maintain.

Bucklew said that and other cemetery board members are trying to prevent that.

Starting this month, Riverside will begin a headstone Cleaning Service. More information will be shared as it is made available. Bucklew said the service will apply to any cemetery in Owen County. Individuals can request headstone cleaning for family and friends and can sponsor a cleaning for headstones in need, especially those who have served in the military.

Those wishing to make a donation or to include Riverside in their estate planning can do so through the Owen County Community Foundation, groundskeeping or to volunteer with other ideas, email RiversideCemeterySpencer.IN@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page.

When life gives you lemons... squeeze the day!

I'm Jamie Jo Lowder, your Purdue Extension Health and Human Science Educator, and I love how something as simple as a lemon can be a small act of self-care.

So, grab a lemon and let's explore all the juicy ways lemons can bring a big boost to your day. Whether it's adding zing to a healthy dish, natural cleaning adding some extra to your day, or just giving your mood a little lift—lemons do it all. So, grab a lemon and let's explore all the juicy ways lemons can brighten your summer. There's a day for almost everything these days, but National Lemon Day on July 23 is definitely celebration that's both refreshing and well-deserved. Lemons are more than just a sour powerhouse, a natural cleanser, a natural social weapon and—believe it or not—an ally in supporting your mental health.

Lemons are most known for their vitamin C content, but that's just the beginning. According to health information supplied by Purdue Extension and other IFAS research university research, antioxidants that help fight inflammation and support heart health. The citric acid in lemons may aid digestion and help the body absorb nutrients more effectively. For those watching their sodium intake or looking to reduce sugar in small diets, lemon juice offers bold flavor without added salt or sweeteners. But the benefits of lemons go beyond physical health. Studies suggest that citrus scents, including lemon, may help improve mood and lower stress levels. The aroma of a freshly sliced lemon—in particular, sensory ways to reset and refresh.

Purdue Extension encourages County residents to make use of lemons not only in the kitchen but around the home. Lemons can be used to brighten up fruit salads and seafood dishes, clean cutting boards and countertops naturally, freshen the air with a homemade simmer pot, help freezing lemon slices in ice cubes for using lemon zest in baked goods can add a stimulating lemony flair without much effort.

Lemons serve as a creative and accessible way to engage in wellness habits. Staying hydrated during hot weather, for example, can be much easier when water is flavored with citrus. Drinking warm lemon water in the morning, taking the time to enjoy a small, intentional habits like preparing fresh lemonade or using a citrus scent can support your overall mindfulness—and let's plan something together.

In a time when life often feels busy and unpredictable, taking a moment to enjoy something as simple as a lemon can be a small act of self-care. So, on July 23, celebrate National Lemon Day by finding a new way to use this bright, cheerful fruit. Whether it's in a recipe, a glass or even just a moment of pause, lemons might just give you that extra lift you need.

For more tips on health, nutrition and simple wellness strategies, contact Purdue Extension-Owen County office at 812-829-5020 or visit extension.purdue.edu

Interested in bringing a program to your group or organization? Whether it's food, health, family or finance—we've got it all. If you covered. Email me at lowder@purdue.edu and let's plan something together.

The Owen News recently received a $15,000 grant from AARP through their Community Challenge grant process to support a new project to provide much-needed information for Owen County.

OwenDIRECT Project

The project, called OwenDIRECT, which also received a $2,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, will be a web and mobile accessible software application providing a resource directory, events calendar, commercial advertising and emergency notifications for the county.

This project is part of The Owen News' efforts to provide Owen County with needed local information resources in print and on the web.

OwenDIRECT will be an Owen County product through and through.

It was designed by Leslie Nieves, an Owen News volunteer, who will be the Project Manager, and will be developed by Ethan McNeil of Peace Builders, based in Freedom. Developing the digital application will involve collaboration with the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, the Owen County Community Foundation, the Owen County Public Library, and county emergency service units.

The goal is to make information about services, resources, businesses, events and actions needed for personal safety easily available to everyone living or working in Owen County.

Basic access to OwenDIRECT will be free of charge, with customized services offered at reasonable rates.

"Our mission is to strengthen our community through news and verified information, and this is just one additional way for us to lean into that mission and close information gaps within our community," Nicole DeCriscio, Executive Editor of The Owen News, said.

"When the project is complete, OwenDIRECT is expected to be a model that can be used in other rural counties and smaller cities.

"We have been incredibly fortunate to have the support of The Owen County Community Foundation, our advertisers, our donors, our volunteers, our board members and last but not least our readers to support and grow The Owen News," DeCriscio said. "In addition to serving our community, we see OwenDIRECT as a model for other news deserts — a first step communities can take to rebuild local news and close information gaps.

The goal is for this to be something local chambers or foundations could adopt and run themselves to close the gap when there isn't a news outlet or as a central place for information when there are multiple news outlets."

Fundraising to complete the project is ongoing, and The Owen News welcomes sponsorships or donations.

Authorities with the Owen County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) are investigating after a human skull was found June 29th on private property in northern Owen County.

According to Sheriff Ryan White, the skull was discovered on private property near North Cataract Road. He said cadaver dogs were deployed to search for additional human remains, though none were found.

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Investigation Details

Testing later determined the skull to be that of an adult. It has since been sent to the Indiana State Police laboratory for additional testing and DNA sampling.

"We are utilizing every resource available to us to identify those of our partner agencies," Sheriff White said.

This case remains under investigation by the OCSD. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the sheriff's department at 812-829-4874. As always, callers may remain anonymous.

Get ready to fling back in time! The Owen County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Babbs Market, The Owen County Community Foundation and Smithville, is proud to present The Chamber's Chester Chicken Chuck — a plucky tribute to Owen County's egg-straordinary historic event.

Back in 1940, local businessmen Dwight Johnson, Chester Babbs and Fred White cooked up a wild idea: toss live turkeys, ducks and chickens from the courthouse roof so townfolk could wrangle a bird for Christmas dinner right off the street. The original "it's a Christmas dinner" was quite a festive affair — and now, we're recreating the fun with a modern twist and no live animals.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 6, on the south lawn of the Owen County Courthouse.

Here's the pecking order: Wingman Team Challenge. Starting July 14, teams of two can sign up to become a "Wingman" teams. During round one, teams have 30 seconds to catch at least one egg/chicken tossed from the courthouse roof. Make the catch and move on to round two — where it's all about quantity. The team that scoops up the most chickens in their net gets second place Wingman Challenge winner. The winning team will win Babbs Chicken for a year and a cash prize.

Come down to a lucky cluck with a random draw. Teams can apply online at the Owen County Chamber website: myowencountychamber.com Chuck for a Charity Challenge.

Here's your chance to help a good cause. Sign up your organization; charity team to compete in the Chicken Chuck for charity gets $100. Also, the best-dressed chicken team gets a bonus of a $50 prize. It's a great way to ruffle some feathers for good.

Bring the Whole Flock! — Babbs Open Flys. Following the excitement of the Chicken Chuck contest, the festivities continue with the Babbs Little Chick Fly and the Babbs Open Fly, where they'll have the chance to catch one of 50 foam chickens and redeem it for a prize at the Babbs booth. Adults 18 and older can join the Babbs Open Fly.

If you are interested in signing up with your partner for the Chicken Chuck go to myowencountychamber.com/events or call 812-829-3245 for more information.

The Owen County Family YMCA announced in early June that they would close their childcare center.

The childcare center started approximately 16 years ago with an afterschool program.

The YMCA doubled the size of the building in 2019 to be able to expand, and the building and program could accommodate 35 daycare children and 20 after-school children.

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Financial Challenges

Board President Justin Roddye and CEO Sherri Knieriem cited high losses in personnel costs alone for the program.

Roddye said that in 2022, the program came close to breaking even for the personnel costs alone, not including utilities or other expenses for the program.

"But then in the last two years, it's been $15,000 to $20,000 where our personnel costs exceeded our revenue again," Roddye said.

The Y Alliance of Indiana did a cost breakdown of every program offered by about 2,000 members before Roddye continued.

"It was being subsidized by essentially the rest of the members, and again, while we were okay, essentially breaking even on it or losing a little it, the numbers became such that there just wasn't another way," he said.

In an effort to keep the daycare open, rates were increased in April. Prior to the rate increase, there was a waitlist.

"We made a couple of pretty dramatic raises to try to break even or lose a sustainable amount of money. And I know that's an odd thing to say... but this is not a situation where it's like, oh we're not making money, we're ending the program. This situation was costing a lot of money," Roddye said.

The April rate increase was to the tune of 20 percent.

Knieriem explained what the rate increase tried to do.

"If we could only break even, we would keep the program because the community needs it. And we really knew it was a lot, but we wanted to keep it," she said. "We wanted to add some benefits to the staff. We wanted to offer memberships to the families, also with that 20 percent increase. It didn't work. I mean, we kind of priced ourselves out of what they could afford."

Knieriem said that they considered recruiting more families to bring the childcare center back to capacity, but she added they didn't want to do it only to raise rates again and close in the future.

"We can't just expand and make it bigger, because we have limited amounts of children that we can have pursuant to state regulations per caregiver, and in the last three years, our personnel expenses have outstripped our income from the program," Roddye said.

"So if we got more kids, that would necessitate us getting more personnel."

With the number of kids down to 17, the decision was made to close the program at the May board meeting.

"It felt to me that this is the time to really step back from it," Knieriem said.

After meeting with the director of the program and holding an in-person meeting with staff, the date went out to parents electronically.

The childcare center was scheduled to close with the start of school in August, but after speaking with parents, the date was postponed to the end of August, provided that staffing levels allow for it to remain open.

This was in response to feedback that spaces opening because of school starting might not be available on the same day.

Last year, in another attempt to make the childcare center financially viable, the YMCA implemented Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) vouchers, but funding was delayed.

Knieriem said the director of the center, who was full-time, was offered other job opportunities at the YMCA and that the majority of the other childcare staff are student-aged or were hired for summer seasonal work. She said she is working on giving impacted staff career resources through a virtual career counselor, and all impacted staff are eligible for a small bonus if they stay until the final closure date.

She also addressed future use of the building.

"We're actively pursuing other daycares to take it on," Knieriem said.

She said that they would like to try to find another daycare to rent the space at a reasonable rate to try to maintain current childcare levels in the county.

Routine food inspections were conducted by the Owen County Health Department during the month of June 2025. Reported below are the critical and non-critical comments left for these establishments:

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Dollar General #16411, S.R. 42, Cloverdale. Routine inspection. Non-critical violations. Observed debris build up in the bottom of the drink cooler. Observed dust build up on top of front drink coolers.

Cataract Lake Country Center, Inc., 5530 S.R. 42, Poland, IN. Pre-operational inspection. No violations.

Cataract Lake Country Market, 10710 Boat Dock Rd., Poland, IN. Routine inspection. Non-critical violations. Light fixtures over food prep area need cooling; thermometers need to be installed in all fridges and freezers; observed dust build up on walk-in fridge air conditioner, around front food prep area, and in front window air conditioner in the food prep area; and "thawed on," "frozen on," etc. date markings need to be placed on ready-to-eat foods.

July 2025 Government Meeting Calendar

July 4
Owen County Courthouse closed in observance of Independence Day.

July 7
Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

July 8
Gosport Town Council, 7 p.m. in the Gosport Community Building, 301 N. Ninth St., Gosport.

July 14
Owen County Council, 6 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
Owen Valley Fire Territory Board, 6 p.m. at the Owen Valley Fire Department, 401 Walnut St., Spencer.
Cloverdale Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.

July 15
Owen County Advisory Plan Commission, 6:30 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

July 17
Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer.
Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

July 21
Owen County Public Library Board, 5 p.m. in the OCPL Vault Room, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer.

July 22
Spencer Plan Commission & BZA, 6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Aug. 4
Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Jacob Denton, 24, of Poland, was charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, a Class A Misdemeanor, and Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor, a Class B Misdemeanor. Denton was the choir choreographer at Owen Valley High School.

The incident allegedly occurred at Denton's residence. Reports were made to Indiana State Excise Police on May 30, and Denton was arrested on June 25.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Denton allegedly "confirmed that he had some high school-aged friends over at his residence earlier in the year, though [he] initially denied any alcoholic beverages being consumed. After a few minutes, Denton admitted that the four minors had consumed some of his alcoholic beverages that evening, though they were not intended for them."

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School District Response

Spencer-Owen Community Schools has made aware of recent allegations involving a former contract employee associated with the music department. The reported incident is alleged to have occurred at a private residence, and did not take place on school property or during school hours," Superintendent Andy Cline said.

"While this individual is no longer affiliated with the district, Spencer-Owen Community Schools takes such information seriously and will cooperate fully with any investigation."

The case is currently scheduled for trial on Sept. 9.

July 2025 Community Events

July 4
Fourth of July Jamboree, 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gosport Town Park and Shelter House in Gosport. Food, games and conversation. Come join the fun!

Cloverdale American Legion Post #281 Fourth of July Celebration, beginning at 3 p.m. at the Post, 501 S. Main St., Cloverdale. Vendors, food trucks, bounce houses, raffles, live music, and family activities. Fireworks at dusk.

July 5
Annual Owen County fireworks display at Tier 10 Music & Sports Park, 2499 S.R 43S, Spencer. Free live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Fireworks display to follow at 10 p.m.

July 6
Spencer Pride general meeting, 6 p.m. at the commUnity center, 31 E. Franklin St., Spencer.

July 6 to 12
2025 Owen County Fair at the Owen County Fairgrounds in Spencer.

July 7
Book to Barn is back! Join Purdue Extension staff at 5 p.m. at the Owen County Fairgrounds for a free evening of fun for kids. Move through five themed stations at your own pace—crafts, games, sensory play, snacks and story time. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Don't miss this barnyard adventure!

July 7 to 11
Prophetic Tent Revival with Dr. Robin Johnson, 7 p.m. nightly at Yeshua Tabernacle of Praise, 9700 W. Foster Fiscus Rd., Gosport.

July 8
Gosport Farmers' Market, 3 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Lighthouse Fellowship Church, 5392 S.R. 67, Gosport. Weather permitting.

Braysville Homemakers meeting, 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Elevator access is available. For more information, call 812-829-5020.

Spencer Lions Club meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Lester F. Litten Community Building, 59 N. Main St., Spencer.

July 9
Free showing of "The Wild Robot," 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by the Youth Services Bureau of Monroe County.

Harrison Homemakers meeting, noon at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office, 180 S. Washington St., Spencer.

July 10
Book to Barn is back! Join Purdue Extension staff at 5 p.m. at the Owen County Fairgrounds for a free evening of fun for kids. Move through five themed stations at your own pace—crafts, games, sensory play, snacks and story time. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Don't miss this barnyard adventure!

White River Beekeepers meeting, 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer. Current and prospective beekeepers are welcome to attend.

Spencer Masonic Lodge #95 stated meeting, 7:30 p.m. at the Lodge, 361 N. Harrison St., Spencer.

July 11-12
Free school supplies and clothes giveaway, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at the Freedom Church of the Nazarene Family Life Center (across the street from the church parking lot), 5505 Jefferson St., Freedom. The church is also accepting donated items; all clothing must be free of stains and holes. To donate, call 812-632-0903.

July 12
Owen County Farmers' Market, 8:30 a.m. to noon, 459 W. Morgan St., Spencer. Live music by Michael Norris.

The Friends of the Library monthly book sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Community Room of the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer.

July 14
Jolly Homemakers meeting, 1 p.m. at the Freedom Community Center, 5558 Freedom-Arney Rd., Freedom.

July 14 to 17
Free basketball camp with former Owen Valley and Indiana State University standout Harry Marshall at McCormick's Creek Elementary School, 1601 Flatwoods Rd., Spencer. Fundamentals: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Advanced skills: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Open to Spencer-Owen students in grades third through sixth.

July 15
Digital Skills Workshop, 10 a.m. at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office, 180 S. Washington St., Spencer. A fun, hands-on class where you'll explore how to choose the right computer, turn it on and use it with ease and dive into helpful tips for smartphones and tablets—including navigating home screens, using apps and more. Bring your own device to follow along and practice.

Gosport Farmers' Market, 3 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Lighthouse Fellowship Church, 5392 S.R. 67, Gosport. Weather permitting.

Owen County Democratic Party monthly meeting, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Democrat Headquarters, 152 E. Jefferson St., Spencer. Dinner and social begins at 5:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Free showing of "Alone in the Wilderness," 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by the Owen County Soil & Water Conservation District.

July 16
Free showing of "Hit Pig," 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by the Grace Place Worship Center.

Teen Chefs—Get ready to cook! Join Purdue Extension staff at 1 p.m. at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer, for a fun, hands-on cooking class. Learn new skills, make delicious recipes and gain kitchen confidence.

Owen County Homesteaders meeting, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer.

Spencer Pride Board of Directors meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the commUnity center, 17 E. Franklin St., Spencer.

July 17
Spencer Exchange Club meeting, noon at the Owen County Family YMCA, 1111 W. SR 46, Spencer.

Junior Chefs are cooking up fun on July 17 starting at 1 p.m. at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer. Join Purdue Extension for a hands-on cooking experience where kids can learn kitchen skills and make tasty, healthy snacks.

Calico Homemakers meeting, 4 p.m. Meetings are held at a different restaurant each month. For more information, call 812-829-5020.

Trivia Night with Rance Fawbush, 6 p.m. at Owen Valley Winery, Vineyard & Bistro, 491 Timber Ridge Rd., Spencer.

July 19
Tristan Calvin 5K Scholarship Run & Walk, 8 a.m. at the Owen Valley cross country course. Registration is $25. Day of race registration begins at 6:45 a.m. Register online at www.runsignup.com/Race/Events/IN/Spencer/TristanCalvin5kScholarshiprun

Owen County Farmers Market, 8:30 a.m. to noon, 459 W. Morgan St., Spencer. Live music by Kevin & Bristi.

Free wrestling clinic, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Seven Oaks Classical School, 200 E. Association St., Ellettsville. Open to fifth through 12th grade students from any school. Bring a water bottle, towel and lunch (one hour intermission).

July 21 to 25
Gosport Christian Church Vacation Bible School, 6 to 8 p.m. nightly. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. each day. Open to children age three through sixth grade. Register online at https://vbsmate.com/students/GosportChristianChurch/27182.

July 22
Gosport Farmers' Market, 3 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Lighthouse Fellowship Church, 5392 S.R. 67, Gosport. Weather permitting.

Owen County SWCD Board of Supervisors meeting, 4:30 p.m. at the SWCD office, 788 Pottersville Rd., Spencer. Open to the public.

July 23
Free showing of "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by the Spencer United Methodist Church.

Bonus Blood Drive, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Open Class Building at the Owen County Fairgrounds, hosted by The American Red Cross. All donors at this drive will receive a voucher for a Kings Island ticket. Donors can register at redcross.org for a time slot.

July 24
Boys & Girls Club of Owen County Lunch & Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Exchange, 114 S. Main St., Spencer. Join CEO Leslie Abshier for a one-hour conversation as she shares in-depth information about the club. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to bhamilton@bgcbloomington.org or 812-332-7849.

July 26
Owen County Farmers' Market, 8:30 a.m. to noon, 459 W. Morgan St., Spencer. Live music by JC Clements.

Back to School Beach Bash Expo, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Owen Valley Middle School, 626 W. S.R. 46, Spencer. Free backpacks and supplies, haircuts, clothes and hygiene products, vaccines and hearing screenings. Bounce houses, games, prizes and refreshments. Children must be present at the event to receive a backpack. Sponsored by the Owen County Health Department and the Owen County Chamber of Commerce.

July 29
Gosport Farmers' Market, 3 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Lighthouse Fellowship Church, 5392 S.R. 67, Gosport. Weather permitting.

July 31
Freshmen Parent Night, 6 p.m. at Cloverdale High School.

Aug. 1
Blood drive, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Open Class Building, Owen County Fairgrounds, 364 S. East St., Spencer. Hosted by the Owen County Extension Homemakers, Owen County Fair Board, and the American Red Cross. Register online at redcross.org. Enter the Spencer zip code, 47460, to find the drive held in Owen County.

Aug. 2
Owen County Farmers' Market, 8:30 a.m. to noon, 459 W. Morgan St., Spencer. Live music by Don George Pietz.

Spencer Town Council members Evan McKain and Mike Spinks met in regular session June 9, along with clerk-treasurer Cheryl Wolfe, town manager Hunter Stoppenhagen and town attorney Richard Miller.

Following approval of the June 2nd meeting minutes, the council heard from Spencer Main Street Executive Board President Julie Coffin, who provided an update related to proposed downtown improvements at the intersection of West Main and Morgan streets.

Downtown Entryway Update

Coffin said the design team at Rundell Earnshaw Lopez Associates developed four entryway designs, with the committee ultimately selecting one of the presented designs. Coffin explained how the three designs were: small, and one was "very contemporary" but did not blend well with the historic courthouse square. The style and compatibility of the presented design, which incorporates an arch, were some of the reasons it was selected by the committee.

The overall height of the design was also discussed, and Coffin noted the project design team was considering all INDOT requirements. Council member Spinks mentioned how log trucks and other oversized vehicles frequent this area and should also be taken into consideration.

Clerk-Treasurer Wolfe commented on how the courthouse dome was a focal point in the schematic provided of the proposed entryway. Coffin stated that the committee asked the designer to increase the base of the design so that other lower beds could be developed and aid with the overall aesthetic at the entryway/intersection.

Spencer Main Street is funding the design phase cost and the intent is for Spencer Main Street to determine how to move toward construction. Coffin stated the committee expressed that the next phase would be actual engineered drawings of the design to include a cost estimate.

Fiber Network Proposal

Next, the council heard an update on a proposed fiber network build out from the Wilson Fiber Network. Wilson was in attendance along with Bryan Gabriel, founder of the Nashville, Indiana-based company.

Gabriel founded the company following the need of Brown County Schools to improve their fiber for the school's internet testing. He pointed out that at various locations, the company has been working to serve underserved areas.

Council member Spinks asked if the service would be installed overhead, with Wilson explaining that some aerial methods are still to be determined. Wilson said the company is estimating the project would add upwards of 1,500 new fiber customers once completed.

However, the updated plan is now looking at installation rates of eight percent aerial and 92 percent underground. All installation methods are still to be determined. Wilson said the company is estimating the project would add upwards of 1,500 new fiber customers once completed.

Wilson explained that the system would be fully commercial, which is an improvement over prior non-symmetric service offerings. He also noted, following some previous utility installations, no franchise fees would be paid to the Town of Spencer related to the proposed fiber build out.

It was discussed how the $230 investment by the Town of Spencer would help make the underground model more feasible and move this project forward more quickly.

The council also discussed a possible payment plan of $50,000 per year for five years.

Following lengthy discussion, the council opted to take the proposal under advisement and plans to follow up with Mainstream Fiber Networks with any additional questions/concerns.

The council later heard departmental reports from the Spencer Police Department and Spencer Street Department, approving a request from the street department to fund the removal of nine tree stumps at a total cost of $2,700. The work will be performed by Chip Hamilton of Chip's Outdoor Service of Spencer.

The Spencer Town Council will meet again on July 7 and July 21. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St.

Area radio personality Tony Kale, well-known locally as the "Voice of the Patriots," was among those inducted into the Indiana Sports Writers and Sportscasters Association (ISSA) Hall of Fame for 2025 during a ceremony held earlier this year at the Valle Vista Country Club in Greenwood.

Kale has spent 38 years gracing the local radio airwaves, and the last 37 of those have included doing play-by-play for Owen Valley and other high school sports.

He was the 2009 Marv Bates Award winner from the ISSA, and is approaching nearly 1,450 career games called, including six state championship appearances.

Kale also handles numerous Edgewood broadcasts and hosts a popular morning show on WCLS 97.7.

An Ellettsville native, Kale played varsity basketball and baseball for Edgewood High School and grew up listening to Marty Brennaman, the Cincinnati Reds' announcer, and Jack Buck, the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals.

"My dad had a big influence on me, as far as getting me into sports," Kale said. "At night I used to listen to the AM stations on my Sony Walkman. I could pick up games practically from coast to coast. I'd just scan the dial and find a game and listen to it."

Kale would listen and learn, unknowingly honing his future craft by following his favorite teams and play-by-play announcers.

"I would imitate those guys," he said, recalling his playing days at Edgewood. "During baseball season, some of my buddies who weren't playing out on the field would say, 'Hey, do the play-by-play.' I just had kind of a knack for it, and they thought it was funny."

Kale recalled the thrill of seeing radio broadcasters at his high school games.

"Back then, with no social media or anything, that was the only coverage other than newspapers," he said. "To have your game broadcast on the radio back then was a big thing, there's no doubt it was. I think I still have a copy of a game or two of mine somewhere on cassette tapes. It was really, really a thrill to know that the radio guys were showing up to your game."

Following his graduation from high school in 1986, Kale attended Indiana University for a short time before fate - and his mom - led him to the Columbia School of Broadcasting in Indianapolis.

"I ended up being one of five students out of almost 500 that made the national honor roll out of the Indianapolis location," Kale said. "I graduated in a little over a year, and I was fortunate at the time to get a part-time job at WLSO in Spencer, so I could work on some of my school stuff while I was working there. I never thought I was going to end up making broadcasting my entire career, but I've been very blessed to get to do what I do each day."

WLSO later became WSKT-FM and in 2005 the station moved to Bloomington and changed music formats.

"We went all-Christmas through the holiday season, and then we switched from country music to classic hits and became WCLS," Kale recalled.

Kale is currently the operations manager for WCLS and produces commercials, does the FCC paperwork and even sells advertising time in addition to hosting his popular "Morning Mayhem" show alongside John Chance.

At the helm for countless memorable broadcast calls through the years for Owen Valley sports, Kale said he's had the good fortune to share the broadcast booth with buddies and color commentators Chance, Reggie Johnson and Brent Ranard to name just a few.

"I've shared the booth with a lot of good people and interviewed a lot of good coaches and players," Kale said. "I've had the opportunity to meet so many people and build so many relationships, which has been my favorite part of the job more than anything - they become part of your family."

When asked if he incorporated any of the mannerisms or sayings of some of his favorite broadcasters into his own work Kale replied, "The only thing I've really kind of stolen off another announcer comes from Jack Buck, who used to be the radio voice of the St. Louis Cardinals. He always closed his broadcasts with, 'Thanks for your time, this time, until next time.' And that's the way I always close my shift every day."

Although he said he tries not to think about what legacy he may leave behind once he steps away from the broadcasting mic for the final time, he does know how he hopes he'll be remembered.

"Just as someone who got to live out his childhood dream and tried to do it to the best of his ability," he said.

Kale makes his home in Ellettsville with his wife, Rhonda.

The Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees met in regular session on June 9 to approve routine matters and to address several issues under the new business portion of the meeting.

Board members Katrina Lewis, Emily Haltom and Mike Rightmyer were not in attendance.

Under routine matters, the board voted 4-0 to approve the executive and regular meeting minutes for sessions held May 12.

Acting on a motion from Melissa Carroll, seconded by Joe Mann, the board voted 4-0 to approve the latest claims and financial reports, which CCSC Superintendent Greg Linton advised totaled $1,686,725.12 from the board's previous meeting.

Next, the board recognized the corporation's latest Student of the Month honoree, Cloverdale High School (CHS) student Jesse Carroll.

Next, the board voted 4-0 to approve student handbook changes for Pre-K, Cloverdale Elementary School (CES), Cloverdale Middle School (CMS) and CHS for the 2025-2026 school year.

Acting on a recommendation from Superintendent Linton, the board also voted unanimously to approve the corporation's 2025-2026 memorandum of understanding with the Cloverdale Police Department, which extends the agreement through March 2030.

This addendum extends the original agreement for the Town of Cloverdale Police Department to provide the school corporation with a full-time SRO (school resource officer) through the 2025-26 resolution period.

The board also approved, 4-0, an emergency preparedness and mutual aid MOU with Clay Community Schools.

The board also approved the hiring of a motion from Hann, seconded by Donna Fuller, the board voted 4-0 to approve the Emergency Preparedness Plan MOU with Clay Community School Corporation in a joint program agreement between CCSC and Eminence Community Schools.

The board also cast separate 4-0 votes to approve hiring a medical assistant for the CES/CMS nurse's aid position at CHS for the 2025-2026 school year.

Next, the board voted 4-0 to approve a request to add an additional instructional aid position at CHS for the 2025-2026 school year.

June 17-19 – FFA State Convention, Purdue University.

Facility Use July 4-5 – CHS parking lot, community parking for Fourth of July fireworks.

Varies – CHS and auxiliary gym, basketball training with Harry Marshall.

Additional personnel matters receiving unanimous board approval included:

Retirement: Holly Ford – bus driver.

Pam Wade – CES instructional assistant.

Resignation: Tabitha Williams – CMS instructional assistant.

Employment: Corey Branigan – summer maintenance help.

Samantha Gregg – CES instructional assistant.

The Cloverdale Community School Board will meet again on Monday, July 8 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale. Members of the board include Vivian Whitaker, Katrina Lewis, Donna Fidler, Melissa Carroll, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann and Mike Rightmyer II.

Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) contractor E&B Paving, Inc. is scheduled to begin a bridge deck overlay project on State Road 46 over Jacks Defeat Creek on or after Monday, July 7 in nearby Ellettsville.

Phase 1 of the project will take place on eastbound S.R. 46 between South Park Street and North Hartstrait Road. Eastbound S.R. 46 will be reduced to one lane, INDOT explained, and a 10-foot width limit will be in effect while work is in progress. Work is expected to be completed in late November, weather permitting.

Additional bridge work will take place on westbound S.R. 46 in 2026. Further information and updates will be provided by INDOT at a later date.

Project Details

This project is part of a $4 million contract awarded to E&B in May 2025.

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, use extra caution and avoid distractions when traveling in and near work zones.

All work is weather dependent, and schedules are subject to change.

Jayson Tatlock, 46, of Spencer, was charged with one felony count of child seduction in which a child care worker engaged in fondling or touching with a child aged 16 or 17, a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor, and a misdemeanor charge of battery.

Tatlock, who served as a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Bloomington High School North, was arrested on June 25. He also provided service as a sheriff's deputy in Owen County, and an officer with the Seymour Police, and an investigator with a public defender's office.

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The Alleged Incident

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Indiana Conservation Officer received a report on June 18, 2024 regarding alleged sexual misconduct with a juvenile female at Cataract Falls. The alleged incident took place on June 4, 2024 during a fishing trip.

The probable cause affidavit details interviews with the victim, who said that a joke that if she was at Tatlock found her body would appear as a frowny face.

The report also described an incident that occurred in late May 2024 in which she accidentally dropped part of a Wendy's Frosty in her lap, which Tatlock brought up during the June 4, 2024, fishing trip, which the victim also described as feeling "pretty tipsy" before she was assaulted.

Tatlock openly admitted to the victim that he had cheated on his wife. Following the fishing trip, the victim reported asking him how many girls he had cheated on his wife with and that Tatlock said that she was the youngest. She also described Tatlock expressing to her that "he had felt creepy for having the attraction to her."

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Legal Proceedings

An initial hearing was held on June 26, 2025, and Tatlock pleaded not guilty. A jury trial is currently scheduled for Dec. 16, 2025.

Owen County Prosecutor Benjamin Kim would like to remind everyone that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Past commissioners approved payments for this year

Highway Superintendent Greg Melton was suspended without pay on Saturday, March 22, amid concerns over unpaid and held claims for the department.

Those unpaid claims total $1,037,985.59, according to a spreadsheet shared by County Auditor Sheila Reeves.

Commissioner President Sam Hobbs first confirmed the suspension last week.

“It is a personnel issue, of course, and we’re under the advisement of our attorney to follow certain protocol, which we’re doing to the max,” he said. “He is suspended. He has not been terminated. We’re conducting a thorough fact-finding.”

Hobbs expressed multiple times that no theft or other criminal activity had occurred.

“I will put out there boldly… no money has been stolen. It’s not like there has been a theft of money,” Hobbs said. “I want people to understand that right now. It’s not a thing about stolen money… I don’t want anybody accusing Greg or saying that Greg Melton stole money from the county highway. That would be a false statement.”

Then, earlier this week, Hobbs shared additional details about the budgetary issue they were looking into.

“We’ve uncovered numerous unpaid invoices,” Hobbs said, adding that the majority were from 2024.

According to the spreadsheet of unpaid claims from Reeves, $296,504.11 of the claims are from 2024, with the oldest dating back to April 2024. That claim, which is for $1,495.70, is for storm damage repairs to bridge number 52 by CLR, Inc.

“We are still actively looking for some answers. We’re going to leave no stone unturned,” Hobbs said. “It’s easy to say that everything is one person’s fault. As of right now, I don’t believe that is the case. … I think there’s a whole scenario of things that we’re still digging into and uncovering.”

Hobbs said that Melton will have an opportunity to share his side of what happened at the April 17 commissioners meeting.

“I think he has the right to defend himself,” Hobbs said. “We’re giving him that right to speak his mind.”

Hobbs reiterated that Melton has not been terminated and he believes it is important for Melton to have a chance to share his side.

“I want the guy to have a chance to speak,” Hobbs said.

As of press time, Hobbs once again confirmed that the fact-finding is not a criminal investigation, but rather an internal investigation to which they’ve asked for assistance from the State Board of Accounts.

The list of unpaid claims, dates and vendors include: 

• Oct. 22, 2024 – Evergreen, $141,873.67 for multiple stone invoices.
• April 10, 2024 – CLR, Inc., $1,495.70 for storm damage to bridge #52.
• Oct. 14, 2024 – CLR, Inc., $28,440, with an original bill of $228,440, and $200,000 scheduled to be paid on April 4, 2025.
• Jan. 27, 2025 – CLR, Inc., $192,960 for completion bridge #106.
• Oct. 7, 2024 – CLR, Inc., $28,720 for completion bridge #114.
• Feb. 28, 2025 – Caterpillar, $3,031.50 for late fee-lease payment. 
• Nov. 18, 2024 – Milestone, $55,151.82 for surface. 
• Nov. 18, 2024 – Milestone, $31,441.66 for surface.
• Dec. 17, 2024 – Palmer Trucks, $502.80 for plow parts.
• Feb. 26, 2025 – E 3 Bridge, $103,018.95 for material.
• March 19, 2025 – United Consulting, $10,428.03 for bridge inventory.
• March 26, 2025 – Vestis, $539.53 for uniforms.
• Sept. 12, 2024 – Southeastern Equipment, $8,878.46 for multiple unpaid months - lease rentals. 
• March 26, 2025 – Premier Energy, $2,798.72 for fuel. 
• Jan. 10, 2025 – Frye Towing, $2,344 for claims January and February. 
• Feb. 4, 2025 – Vomac Truck, $555.34 *four other claims paid Feb. 19, 2024 to Jan. 7, 2025.
• April 4, 2025 – Vomac Truck, $337,131.67 for est. new truck lease, first pay 2026. 
• March 14, 2025 – Spencer Hardware, $24.98 for lumber.
• March 27, 2025 – Lincoln Park Stone, $76,390.48 for multiple loads March 5 to March 27.
• March 24, 2025 – Seal Master, $3,037.50 for heated hose machine.
• March 1, 2025 – Menards, $676 for shelf.
• March 19, 2025 – Bedford, $410.09 for office supplies.
• March 5, 2025 – Napa, $4,360.68 for multiple claims.
• March 24, 2025 – Kaden Shaw, $200 for Chevy driver side door.
• March 12, 2025 – Rural King, $2,981.68 for tanks, meters and filters.
• March 4, 2025 – Walmart, $86.12 for office supplies.
• March 4, 2025 – Office Depot, $76.21 for office supplies. 
• March 27, 2025 – REMC, $430, past due one month. 

Hobbs said he does not count the 2025 claims, as many of them are new. In fact, $741,481.48 of the claims have a 2025 invoice date.

He said they are still looking into 2023 and prior.

“This is going to take some time,” Hobbs said. “We’ve had the highway office staff contact every vendor that we use, every one of them, and search to see if we had any outstanding invoices for them.”

Hobbs also addressed rumors surrounding layoffs and said that none are planned at this time for full-time employees. However, part-time and seasonal employees will not be working for at least the next 30 to 60 days.

Currently, Deputy Superintendent Chad Walker is leading the department.

Hobbs also addressed that the cleaning of the highway department’s garage and shop was a coincidence with discovering the unpaid claims and Melton’s suspension. Melton and Highway Liaison Commissioner Dave Risk also confirmed this.

Hobbs said that road repairs and the work for the $1.5 million community crossings grant that the county received are the focus of the department.

“We’re going to make those repairs,” Hobbs said. “I don’t want the taxpayers to think that we’re going to let them down.”

Adding, “I appreciate the vendors for working with us,” and, “I don’t like it at all that we’re in this situation.”

Melton confirmed his suspension.

“I was suspended last Saturday. I was not given a reason. They did not comment. I was told to start with, I was suspended for two weeks, now indefinitely,” he said. “I feel like I have done absolutely nothing that I wasn’t told to do.”

He cited a long history of the county building bridges in the late fall or early winter and paying for them in the spring once the bridge fund received the spring settlement. The bridge fund is one of the few property tax-dependent highway department funds, while other funds rely on fuel taxes, vehicle registrations and wheel taxes.

When asked about this history, former commissioner Joel Lowe said, “That’s fact.”

“We agreed to pay, we had some ARPA funds that we were going to use, as well as bridge funds from 2025 into repairing bridges in 2024,” Lowe said. “They went ahead and did the work in 2024, but they were going to invoice in 2025. We as commissioners – me, Bob Curry, and Gary Burton – agreed to that.”

He said that he believes that it is only the bridge fund that is without funds, which the commissioners knew would be the case in 2024 when approving bridge work.

“I supported all of this at the time, with the highway superintendent, Gary Burton and Bob Curry, that we would take ARPA funds and [the] bridge fund and pay for the critical bridges, which we were going to have to close or not even use them at all. We agreed to this,” Lowe said. “We all agreed to let CLR fix our critical bridges in the fall of 2024. We were going to use ARPA funds to pay for those, a portion, not all of it, but a portion, and then [the] bridge fund. That was going to wipe our bridge fund for 2025, which meant we’re not building any bridges in 2025. But having said that, most bridges were going to make it another year.”

He said that closing some of those bridges would stifle traffic and the plan was to pay them in 2025.

“The thing that troubles me the most is that the highway superintendent was held accountable for things that me, my fellow two commissioners and the county council were looking after,” Lowe said. “Greg [Melton] did everything he was asked to and voted on by commissioners, and he never took any actions into his own hands.”

Recordings of at least one previous commissioners meeting support this. During the Aug. 23, 2023 meeting, Melton brought up bridge 138, located on Sutton Road. During that meeting, the commissioners reviewed the plans and prepared the bid packet, including adding the approaches to that bid packet and all future ones.

“Commissioners, this bridge will be paid for out of [the] bridge fund, so there is not a question about funding,” Melton said, estimating the cost to be between $200,000 and $230,000.

Burton asked for the amount in the bridge fund.

Melton said he did not know it off the top of his head, “but this will come out, if it was the winter build, come out of next year’s.”

Burton acknowledged it, saying, “It’s fine Sheila if we’re going to roll it over to next year.”

“By the time we get our December [tax installment],” Burton began, before Melton finished, “It won’t be a problem.”

Bridge-related claims, regardless of year, total $365,062.68.

If you remove bridge claims and 2025 claims, the total number of unpaid claims from 2024 totals $237,848.41.

Burton did not return a request for a phone interview prior to press time.

‍

To increase awareness and provide additional services to residents of Owen County, Area 10 Agency on Aging Dementia Outreach Specialist Amy Guerrettaz collaborates with organizations such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Service and Dementia Friendly Indiana. Guerrettaz also offers free confidential memory screenings by appointment.

A memory screening is a simple and safe “healthy brain check-up" that tests memory and other thinking skills. The National Memory Screening Program is an initiative of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. To schedule a memory screening at Area 10 Agency on Aging in Ellettsville, call 812-935-2582.

Area 10 also offers free Dementia Friendly Business training throughout Owen County. Organizations can demonstrate their commitment to empowering those living with dementia and their care partners by becoming a Dementia Friendly Business. For additional details, call 812-935-2582 or email aguerrettaz@area10agency.org.

Currently, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Service provides Navigating Aging and Dementia classes at the Owen County Public Library every other month. These classes are designed to help individuals maximize their own self-care and learn new skills for supporting a loved one living with dementia. For more information or to register, contact Dayna Thompson at dthompson6@iuhealth.org or 812-353-9299.

Upcoming class dates and topics include: April 11, Understanding Brain Change – Normal vs. Not Normal Aging; June 11, Positive Physical Approach and Hand-Under-Hand; Aug. 8, Building a Support Team; Oct. 10, Connecting for Success; and Dec. 10, Care Partner Stress Management.

Growing up in Owen County, I have vivid memories of visiting Owen County Public Library (OCPL), only I wasn’t there for books, I was there to check out the VHS of the musical Annie for the hundredth time. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined myself as the future director of the library.

The love of reading did not come naturally to me. My older sister could and would read anything put in front of her, while I could barely sound out simple words. My grandparents and parents rushed into action and found a tutor to help me. After more after-school tutoring sessions than I could count, I could figure out the words on the page, but that zest for reading still wasn’t there. And then it happened!

I feel like most avid readers are either born that way or can tell you the moment they become readers. For me, it hit my seventh-grade year at Owen Valley Middle School. I don’t know if it was having my first author visit, working at the student bookstore or hearing Darla Staley read aloud with all the character voices, but for the first time, books weren’t just piles of pages with ink on them. Books were suddenly alternate worlds that I wanted to be a part of. Almost immediately, I knew two things: I wanted to read every book I could, and I wanted to grow up and be one of the people who helped others want to read! So that is what I did, I went to school to be an English teacher.

After graduating from Indiana University, I was fortunate enough to get the job of my dreams, teaching language arts at Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS). Not only did I get my wish to show others the joy of reading, but I would get to do so in the place and with the programs that made me a reader.

I was re-introduced to the library after I started teaching at the Lifelong Learning Center (LLLC), the library’s adult education program, where I just celebrated my 10th anniversary. The LLLC offers a range of classes, from high school equivalencies to laser printing, digital literacy and Microsoft certifications, just to brush the surface. Being a part of adult education gave me a new perspective on the library system; it showed me that a library is more than a place to check out a book or movie, but rather a hub of knowledge and learning.

Looking forward, I cannot express how proud and privileged I feel to continue the legacy of OCPL. At any given moment, the library building is abuzz with patrons looking for books, using computers, learning new skills and even playing instruments. Some are even looking for movies like I did. I am constantly amazed by all the talents of the staff, seamlessly jumping from assisting one person to another. With their dedication, I know OCPL will continue to grow and serve the ever-changing needs of our community.

To quote Little Orphan Annie, “I think I’m gonna like it here.”

As the community gears up for an exciting season of learning and creativity, several SPARK clubs and workshops are set up to ignite curiosity and skill-building among participants of all ages. Here’s a sneak peek into the upcoming events:

Entomology SPARK Club

Dive into the fascinating world of insects with the Entomology SPARK Club! This club offers hands-on experiences in identifying, collecting and studying various insects. Perfect for budding entomologists and nature enthusiasts, this club provides a unique opportunity to explore the miniature world of insects. This will take place on May 29 and May 31.

Sewing SPARK Club

Unleash your creativity with the Sewing SPARK Club. Whether you're a beginner or have some sewing experience, this club provides a supportive environment to learn and enhance your sewing skills. From basic stitches to creating your own garments, participants will enjoy a range of projects that cater to all skill levels. The last two sessions will take place on April 24 and May 12.

Gingerbread Creation Workshop

This workshop is a delightful opportunity for 4-H members to design and decorate their own gingerbread houses. With a variety of candies and icing at your disposal, let your imagination run wild and create a gingerbread masterpiece! Attendees will walk away with a project they could display as a 4-H project at the Owen County Fair! Stay tuned for the date!

Needle Craft Workshop

Explore the art of needlework in the Needle Craft Workshop. Participants will have the chance to create beautiful, handcrafted items while learning the intricacies of needlecraft. The workshop provides all necessary materials and guidance, making it accessible for beginners and experienced crafters alike. Stay tuned for the date!

Mini 4-H Mess Makers

For the younger crowd, the Mini 4-H Mess Makers club is a fantastic way to get hands-on with fun and messy projects. Designed for 4-H members in K-2 grade, this club encourages creativity and exploration through activities like painting, slime, play doh and more. It's all about having fun while learning new skills! Stay tuned for the dates!

Electricity Workshop

Spark your interest in science with the Electricity Workshop. This workshop offers an interactive experience where participants can learn about the principles of electricity and circuits. Through engaging in experiments and projects, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how electricity powers our world. Stay tuned for the date!

Photography Workshop

Capture the beauty around you with the Photography Workshop. Whether you're a novice or an experienced photographer, this workshop provides tips and techniques to improve your photography skills. The workshop covers the basics of camera operation and more advanced techniques for capturing different types of images, offering guided photo walks to practice skills. Stay tuned for the date!

Bridges to Adventure SPARK Club

Prepare for the great outdoors with the Bridges to Adventure SPARK Club, focusing on survival skills. It's an excellent opportunity for adventure seekers to gain confidence and knowledge in outdoor survival. The last session is on May 17th.

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These 4-H SPARK clubs and workshops are designed to inspire and educate, offering something for everyone. Don't miss out on the chance to learn new skills, meet like-minded individuals and have a great time. Mark your calendars and get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and creativity! Have any questions or are you interested in any of these programs? Stop by the Purdue Extension Office or follow us on Facebook by searching Purdue Extension-Owen County or Owen County 4-H – Indiana.

How often have you seen a sign along an old country road that reads, ”Brown  eggs for sale?”

A long time ago, I saw such a sign while out for a casual country drive.

There’s a certain amount of romance to be found in brown eggs for sale in the country. It brings to mind pictures of long, hot summer days in June, the smell of fresh cut hay and a backyard full of chickens.

It was a sign such as this that planted the idea of having my own chickens.

When I was a younger adult, I lived in the country on several acres. One day, I decided that it was time for a henhouse to be built and for some baby chicks to be ordered to put into the henhouse. And so, it began.

Lumber was found from the remnants of an old shed for the chicken coop. Next, little nest boxes were built, along with a little door for the chickens to go in and out. Chicken wire fencing was placed around the henhouse to protect the chickens from predators. And fresh straw for the nest boxes.

I ordered some chicks from the local hardware store. I learned that Rhode Island Reds were the chickens that laid brown eggs. So, I ordered 25 Rhode Island red chicks.

While waiting on the chicks to arrive, I kept myself busy by ordering things that I needed: a heat lamp to keep the chicks warm, chick feeders and waterers, and feed.

I found an old box and layered it with newspaper to keep the chicks dry. It seemed like a lot of money, but I figured that I’d get my money back when I start selling eggs.

At last, the much anticipated chick day arrived. I drove into town to the hardware store to pick up my chicks and then headed home.

The first few days with my new chicks was wonderful. They chirped, ate and slept. They grew fast and soon it was time to move them into the chicken house.

I quickly settled into a routine, feeding my chickens and checking for eggs every morning. An unforeseen problem developed though. Not all of the chickens were hens. There were a few roosters in the batch! I separated the boys from the girls, and I was back in business.

I’ll never forget the exhilaration that I felt the first time I found the first brown egg in a nest box. I gingerly picked it up from the nest and proudly carried it into the house.

After a few days, I started finding more and more eggs. It wasn’t long until my refrigerator started overflowing with brown eggs.

I realized that I had to start marketing my eggs.

I made a sign that read “brown eggs for sale” and strategically placed it at the end of my driveway. Days went by without a phone call. Why wasn’t the phone ringing off the hook with egg orders? I didn’t know the answer to that question, but I did know that I had eggs everywhere.

I had to start giving eggs away to my friends and family. They ended up with a bunch of eggs in their refrigerators too.

I decided to go talk to some people that I knew that raised chickens and sold eggs. I started out the next morning to go to their home. After I arrived in their driveway, I went to the door, and knocked. My friend came to the door and asked if she could help me. I quickly told her that I had seen her sign advertising eggs for sale and that I wondered if she was still selling them. She said that a few years ago, she got the idea to raise chickens and to sell eggs. She said her chickens laid so many eggs that she couldn’t find enough buyers for them. She said that she finally had to get rid of all her chickens.

I thought I’d faint when she asked me if I wanted to buy some brown eggs. I shook my head no and left.  Some kind of mumbling sounds could be heard coming out of my mouth as I made my way back to my car.

I got out of the chicken business after that. I can tell you that in the future, if I see a sign that says “brown eggs for sale” I’ll probably stop and buy a dozen. And with the price of eggs these days, that’s something to think about. After all, there’s a certain amount of romance to be found in brown eggs for sale in the country.

Who said romance is dead?

Happy Easter!
– Susan

When I published my first article in September of 2006, the idea of being enshrined in a hall of fame for my work in outdoor media was not something I imagined. When I received the news of my induction in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, I was shocked. It’s a humbling honor I never expected. I’m grateful for the recognition, but more so view it as a responsibility to further increase my efforts of promoting and protecting our natural resources, and the enjoyment of the great outdoors for as long as God will allow.

My love of nature has always been evident and has continued to grow in strength over my 46 years. Early camping trips to Indiana State Parks laid the foundation of seeking adventure in nature. Fishing trips with my grandparents to the northern reaches of Wisconsin and Minnesota began at eight-years-old. They introduced me to the excitement of exploring new destinations. I’ve chased that carrot ever since. Never able quench my thirst for fishing new lakes, paddling new rivers and exploring forests and prairies I’d never met before.

My journey over the past 20 years has taken me on adventures beyond my boyhood imagination. I left Indiana after graduating from Purdue University and headed to Colorado. My stay was short before moving to Montana. I consider my four years under the Big Sky the adventure of my lifetime, but I found my place in Missouri. The last 15 years here have been filled with outdoor adventure. The Missouri Model of Conservation sets the bar for the rest of the country. The incredible diversity of high-quality opportunities here ranks Missouri right at the top of places to live if you love to fish and hunt.

I am without question an outdoors generalist. I love it all. If the season is open and someone wants to go, I’m interested. I fish all year, hunt turkeys, shed antlers and mushrooms in the spring, and just about everything else in the fall. As I have noted in previous columns, I’m enjoying the pursuit of a personal quest to successfully hunt in every state by the time I turn 50. Hunting is just the vehicle I’m using to meet incredible people while exploring as much of our beautiful country as possible.

It's the people and places I’m most interested in. I have never aspired to be a how-to writer. Instead, I prefer to focus on the “why.” Why should you visit this destination? Why should you consider this way of fishing or hunting? Why should you care about clean water? Why does it matter to conserve wildlife and native habitats? My hope is to motivate an audience to care about our shared natural resources, then to go out and explore for themselves with just enough information to get started. I wholeheartedly believe the journey is the destination. My hope has always been that my audience uses the information I share and advice I give to help figure it out and make the most of it with their tribe.

The list of people I owe gratitude for the opportunities I have been given and others for their involvement along the way is far, far too long to attempt. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today if not for the love and support of my family. My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, brother and cousins all played a role in my early development as an outdoorsman. Friends along the way have joined me on countless adventures. None more so than my current partner in Driftwood Outdoors, Nathan “Shags” McLeod. My daughters, Bailee and Annabel, have given me the joy of sharing time outdoors with my children. There is no greater gift. 

Most of all, I want to thank you. Everyone who has read my columns over the last 19 years has given me the opportunity to live a dream come true. If anything, I’m persistent, as I haven’t missed a week yet, and I don’t plan to anytime in the future.

I grew up reading outdoor columns in the local newspaper. I studied fishing and hunting magazines, owned some of the first VHS hunting tapes and attended as many seminars as possible. To emulate those early icons of my life has been amazing. All of you have given me the chance. Thank you.

See you down the trail…

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

The Endwright Centers’ 2025 Senior Games is quickly approaching. 

This year’s theme is “Around the World in 40 years,” to celebrate 40 years of our Senior Games here in Owen and Monroe Counties.

 Going along with the theme, games and food for this year’s Senior Games will be from around the world. The first priority is for seniors 50+ to have fun, laugh and enjoy the comradery of other seniors. Events will be held in several locations around Bloomington and Ellettsville and will take place from April 22 to May 9. Join us this April as a participant, volunteer or sponsor. 

 For more information, or to register for the 2025 Games reach out to Kris Campbell at kcampbell@area10agency.org or call 812-935-2542. Or get more information online at area10agency.org.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host an open house and presentations for the Franklin Street Groundwater Superfund Site on Thursday, April 17 at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. 

Presentations are set for 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., with the EPA to share details about current and upcoming sampling activities throughout Spencer, which include soil, groundwater and vapor intrusion sampling at commercial and residential areas.

According to the EPA, Tetrachloroethene (PCE) was detected in finished water samples collected from the BBP Water Corporation (BBP) as part of regularly scheduled required testing for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). In 2014, IDEM conducted additional sampling and detected PCE in raw water at all three active drinking wells.

Monthly raw water samples collected since 2014, the EPA has said, continued to show detections of PCE. Groundwater samples collected at various locations down and upgradient to possible sources was also reportedly contaminated with PCE. Despite several investigations in the area, the origin of the contamination is unknown.

According to IDEM, the municipal water supply in Spencer is blended and treated before distribution to residents and meets the Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

PCE has not been found in BBP’s finished water since the air strippers at the water treatment plant were turned on in May of 2017, completely removing it from the finished water.

“Even before then we weren’t using the well that had the contamination,” BBP CEO Todd Gardner told The Owen News in May of 2024, “so we never sent treated water that was contaminated. It was a well that wasn’t being used at the time that it popped up on.”

For questions of if you need special accommodations, call 312-886-6595 or email muhtsun.ruth@epa.gov.

To learn more, visit epa.gov/superfund/franklinstreetgroundwater

Routine food inspections were conducted by the Owen County Health Department during the month of March 2025. Reported below are the critical and non-critical comments left for these establishments:

3-5

SommHerr’s Bakery, 125 E. Main St., Gosport: 2 non-critical. All foods prepared within the establishment not intended for immediate consumption must have dates on the labels. Can use “prepared on,” “packaged on” or “expires by” dating. Cold-holding equipment needs to have a temperature-measuring device for easy viewing.

Dollar General #11053, 600 N. Seventh St., Gosport: No violations found.

3-11

Gosport Tavern, 130 E. Main St., Gosport: pre-operational inspection. Suggestion – hang “watch your step” signage on the inside of both bathroom doors.

3-28

Dollar General #3676, 293 W. St. Rd. 46, Spencer: 3 non-critical. Observed dust buildup on the front of Pepsi/Celsius cooler. Observed a buildup of debris inside the cooler. Observed dirt buildup on the wire racks of the milk cooler. The floor needs to be cleaned under the trash can containing mops and brooms, located in the back corner of the store.

Circle K #4700020, 148 E. Morgan St., Spencer: 3 non-critical. Observed soda spilled on the floor of the walk-in cooler. Observed syrup on the floor, walls, nozzles and hoses on the syrup boxes for the fountain machine in the back storage area. Clean up to prevent insect/rodent attraction. Door handles and cabinet surfaces are sticky to the touch.

Circle K #4702370, 404 W. Morgan St., Spencer: 1 critical, 2 non-critical. Observed ants under the counter containing coffee machines. Management has spoken with an exterminator. Cleanup counter and storage area to remove debris. Syrup boxes for soda fountain: observed some leaking onto the floor, a buildup of syrup on the floor, nozzles and hoses. Clean up to prevent insect/rodent attraction. Buildup of debris under the storage shelf containing extra syrup boxes and extra drinks.

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As the chill of winter abates, many fitness enthusiasts search for Spring events that help motivate them to renew or commence training. Friends of McCormick’s Creek 5K Run/Walk is just such an event. 

Runners and walkers from across the state look forward to a fun-filled morning of fellowship, challenging themselves and encouraging others to attain their personal best times. This event is for all ages and fitness levels, whether it’s your first 5K or your hundredth. Online registration is available at: runsignup.com/Race/IN/Spencer/FriendsMcCormicksCreek5k

Runners and walkers are encouraged to register soon to take advantage of the early discount and receive a race shirt.

This Mag 7 Series road race, winding through blossoming trees and wildflowers at scenic McCormick’s Creek State Park, is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, with an 8:30 a.m. start time. Packet pick-up and race-day registration begins at 7 a.m. at the Nature Center. McDonalds and Babbs Supermarket will provide refreshments. There will be a prize drawing and age group awards following the race. 

Proceeds from the race fund park improvements, restoration from the tornado, and educational programs and events. The Friends of McCormick’s Creek would like to thank all the sponsors who make this event possible.

Platinum Sponsors: Hoosier Energy, Sweet Owen Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Boston Scientific

Gold Sponsors: Owen County State Bank and Spencer Lions Club

Silver Sponsors: Green Dental and Insurance Services Inc.

Bronze Sponsors: Home Team Properties, REMAX Select Associates, Commercial Service, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, MYPath, Byers Home Furnishings, Racetrackers, Crane Credit Union, Endeavor Communications, Ridgeline Veterinary Services, McDonalds, Babbs Supermarket and Canyon Inn

For more information email race-director@friendsmccormickscreek.org.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) recently announced the list of recipients of the Spring 2025 Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) Program.

According to INDOT, more than $200 million was awarded through the program aimed at improving roads and bridges throughout the state of Indiana.

To qualify for funding, local governments must provide local matching funds – 50 percent for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities – from a funding source approved for road and bridge construction. Communities are also required to submit an INDOT-approved asset management plan for maintaining existing roads and bridges.

The Town of Gosport was among the latest recipients and will receive $198,807. The town will provide the required 25-percent construction match.

Gosport also received funding during the round of CCMG grants announced in November of 2023, with that funding utilized to complete portions of street paving and sidewalk improvements in the spring of 2024.

Established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016, the CCMG Program aims to advance community infrastructure projects, strengthen local transportation networks, and improve Indiana’s roads and bridges.

Open to all local government units in Indiana, the CCMG Program offers two rounds of applications each year, one in January and one in July.

The Gosport Volunteer Fire Department is actively seeking dedicated individuals to join its volunteer firefighter program. Applications are available at Gosport Town Hall during normal business hours, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is closed for lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m.

In addition to completing a membership application and other requirements, applicants are asked to sign the “Volunteer Firefighters Pledge,” which reads as follows:

“I will attend all training sessions so that I may be fully informed and efficient in the proper operation of all equipment, regulations and tactics. When responding in the fire apparatus or personal vehicle, I will observe all traffic, obey all laws and be prepared to stop if traffic should not yield. Upon returning to the station, I will obey all traffic regulations.

“I will comply with orders given by the Fire Chief, or the highest-ranking officer present on scene, and will gladly assist in the care, maintenance and improvements made to equipment or buildings in my spare time and will attempt to make all work details called.

“I will participate in all fund-raising events, helping the department grow.

“I will protect all department equipment as well as humanly possible from theft, damage or improper use. I will not allow any department keys to be duplicated.

“I understand that I am expected to make at least 50 percent of runs, meetings and work details through the year, and if I fail to attend three consecutive training sessions or meetings without a legitimate excuse, I will gladly return all department items to the Equipment Captain or another officer of the department and no longer be an active member of the fire department.

“I agree to conduct myself in a manner that is respectful and courteous to those around me and to treat all members of the department with trust and respect at all times. I will participate in the duties and functions of the fire department only in the state of strict sobriety.

“I pledge to comply fully with each of the above agreements without any reservations.”

Anyone interested is encouraged to apply, regardless of prior experience. For further details about the volunteer firefighter program and its requirements, call Gosport Town Hall, 812-879-4334, or firefighter Ron Neibel at 812-821-4082.

Gosport Town Hall is located at 7 E. Main St., Gosport.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Booking information is provided by the Owen County Security Center. These are preliminary charges and may change as cases are processed through the circuit court system. To follow a court case, search the state’s court records at http://mycase.in.gov. This information is public record. All people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

3-8

Kory Kleinow, 32, Bloomington, preliminary charges of probation violation, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of paraphernalia. Owen County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Lieutenant Clint Wampler was the arresting officer.

3-9

Cristobal Osiel, 33, Spencer, preliminary charge of operating without a license when required. Arrested by OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler.

3-10

Kelcie Grigsby, 29, Spencer, preliminary charge of writ of attachment, failure to appear. OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

3-13

Ronald Cooper, 61, Poland, IN, preliminary charge of possession of methamphetamine. Arrested by OCSD K9 Deputy Charles Hallam.

Rex Smith, 38, Freedom, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. OCSD Deputy Cory Poland was the arresting officer.

Jeremy Sizemore, 49, Plainfield, preliminary charge of invasion of privacy. Arrested by Indiana Conservation Officer Nicholas Hartman.

Jeremy Reynolds, 47, Vincennes, preliminary charges of possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine (two counts), possession of a narcotic drug, unlawful possession of a syringe, carrying a handgun without a license, and failure to appear (two counts). OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

3-14

Cathy Ray, 54, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of invasion of privacy and failure to appear. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

3-16

Stephen Dwyer, 22, Bloomington, preliminary charges of theft and criminal mischief. OCSD Deputy Cory Poland was the arresting officer.

3-17

Ryan Walden, 27, Freedom, driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic.

Kyal Campbell, 33, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of residential entry, resisting law enforcement, and criminal trespass. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

Carlos Sanchez, Jr., 31, Indianapolis, preliminary charge of battery. Arrested by Spencer Police Department (SPD) officer Chester Richardson.

3-18

Michelle Wess, 40, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of public intoxication and failure to appear. OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

Kenneth Long, 37, Ellettsville, preliminary charges of theft and driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD K9 Deputy Daniel Rhienhart.

3-19

Walker Spurlock, 26, Spencer, preliminary charge of failure to file as a violent sex offender. OCSD Deputy Cory Poland was the arresting officer.

3-23

Jordan Calhoun, 27, Martinsville, preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich.

3-24

Kyle Ordway, 33, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of domestic battery on a person less than 14 years old, disorderly conduct, and false informing. SPD officer Ben Muncie was the arresting officer.

3-25

Korey Taylor, 31, Bloomington, preliminary charge of writ of attachment. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

Hope Grow, 40, Gosport, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge and probation violation. OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich was the arresting officer.

Ashley Clark, 33, Spencer, preliminary charges of unlawful possession of a syringe and probation violation. Arrested by OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler.

3-26

Damian Phillips, 24, Spencer, preliminary charges of intimidation and disorderly conduct. SPD sergeant Terry Sips was the arresting officer.

Jeremy Kilgore, 21, Spencer, preliminary charges of intimidation, pointing a firearm and disorderly conduct. Arrested by SPD Sergeant Terry Sips.

3-31

Collin Fernandez-Russ, 20, Coal City, preliminary charges of illegal possession, consumption or transportation of alcohol by a minor, and criminal recklessness. OCSD Sergeant Torrey Wallace was the arresting officer.

Adam Bean, 39, Spencer, preliminary charges of unlawful possession of a syringe, and possession of methamphetamine. Arrested by SPD reserve officer Jeremy Burke.

Sunshine Fisher, 33, Gosport, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

4-1

Joshua Donoghue, 40, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of assisting a criminal and failure to appear. Arrested by Indiana Conservation Officer Caleb Hutchison.

Matthew Tussey, 40, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Indiana Conservation Officer Caleb Hutchison was the arresting officer.

The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and the days are getting longer—spring is finally here! Just like nature shakes off the chill of winter, it’s the perfect time for us to do the same. Whether it’s refreshing your routine, spending more time outdoors or finding new ways to relax, spring is all about renewal and rejuvenation.

If winter stress has left you feeling drained, now is the time to reset. Try deep breathing exercises, daily walks in nature or getting creative with crafts to bring more peace into your day. Simple changes—like decluttering your space, staying active and soaking up the sunshine—can do wonders for your mind and body.

This spring let’s bloom into a season of less stress and more joy! What’s your favorite way to refresh and unwind?

Stress is a normal part of life, but too much can harm your well-being. Purdue has some tips and tricks to help manage it:

• Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, to reduce anxiety and improve attention. 
• Engage in Physical Activity: Regular exercise increases endorphins, improves sleep and boosts self-esteem, all of which helps alleviate stress. 
• Improve Time Management: Efficiently managing your time can reduce stress by allowing for rest and personal activities. 
• Identify Stressors: Recognize the sources of your stress to develop effective coping strategies. 
• Maintain Social Connections: Spending time with family and friends provides support and helps mitigate stress. 
• Adopt Relaxation Techniques: Incorporate relaxation methods such as deep breathing, counting slowly or taking short walks to manage immediate stress. 

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott

Here are some programs that I have coming up soon:

April 16

Hero Story Time. I will be at the library every other week to read a book from our “hero” series teaching about being kind, controlling behaviors, being a good friend and more for our preschool age kiddos. Join us at the library at 10 a.m. Contact the Owen County Public Library or the Purdue Extension-Owen County Office for more information.

April 17

Parents Forever, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office. This is an educational program for families experiencing divorce, separation, a change in child custody or just wanting to learn how to parent better together. Please pre-register for this event by calling 812-829-5020 or emailing lowder0@purdue.edu. 

May 5 

Get WalkIN Owen County. This competition will be held each day, Monday through Friday, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Courthouse Square. Each day you will log the amount of time that you walk and the day that you walked. Our local health department will be giving out swag on certain days throughout the competition. At the end of June all those that have completed six or more weeks with us will be entered in a drawing for some bigger prizes. Stay tuned to Purdue Extension’s Facebook page and website for more information on this event. You can always email lowder0@purdue.edu or call 812-829-5020 for more information. 

June 9

Matter of Balance. Stay tuned for more information, but mark your calendars for this class. It will be held each Monday, from 10 a.m. to noon, for eight weeks at the Owen County Public Library.

More programs will be added throughout the month, so stay tuned to our Facebook page and website for updates.

If you're interested in a program on food, finance, family or health, let me know—I’d love to bring one to your group or organization.

To feature a program at your event/meeting, email the details to lowder0@purdue.edu. I look forward to connecting with you!

There are a few practices that gardeners and farmers alike depend upon to get a plant to grow in the spring.

Soil temperature

Clay soils take time to warm and provide an environment that is conducive for good germination of seed or start of transplant development. Darker soil, typically with more organic matter, tends to warm up faster than a brown soil type. Soil temperature needs to be in the range of 50 degrees for germination. Deeper planting will make a lesser temperature, and more crop residue will cool soil down. Anyone planting seeds must monitor soil temperature and be mindful of soil type, depth of seed placement and residue cover. Potatoes can be planted now but plant them two to three inches deep, otherwise sprouting may be subdued by a cooler soil temperature.

Planting later in May typically ensures warmer soil temperatures will follow. April planting can be tricky and seed placement an inch too deep can be problematic. Also, small seeds require less soil depth at planting. Don’t bury your mustard seeds!

Soil contact

We call this seed-to-soil contact with respect to planting seeds, be they lawn grass, corn or lettuce. The seed needs coverage of soil to have a moist environment and to not dry out. We typically get enough rain in April to not have a dry seedbed issue. But never say never. I had soybean seed one dry spring that took two extra weeks to germinate because of a dry seed bed. Getting seed covered with soil is important: lawn grass only needs a spritz of soil covering the seed to do well. Again, follow planting depth recommendations and don’t plant too deep.

Light

Trick question! Seeds DO NOT require light to germinate. What light reaches a seed of corn planted two inches deep? Seeds need oxygen and moisture. Get that seed covered. Light is only a necessity when photosynthesis starts.

Good seed

Germination of seeds is not a problem with stored seeds that are dry and have not been compromised with moisture. I am never afraid to plant

seed from last year, if it has been stored properly. The University of Illinois has a fascinating study going back decades where seeds were stored and each year some were planted and germination recorded.

Early season diagnostics

Each planting failure or problem sets up a crime scene investigation. “Why did my seed not grow?” could be due to a variety of causal factors like insects, fungal disease or soil conditions. Like any crime scene, the earlier you collect evidence, the better your chances to figure out what went wrong. Standing in foot tall corn trying to determine why there are skips in the row is often able to yield enough clues. Monitor your garden or crop field weekly and give me a call at 812-829-5020 or email luzar@purdue.edu if you have questions. Happy planting!

The halls of Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS) are often filled with the usual chatter of students and teachers going about their day. But in recent weeks, those halls have also echoed with something even more powerful: an incredible outpouring of love and support for one of their own.

Thirteen-year-old Kira Herrington, a bright and beloved OVMS student, was recently diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, a crucial part of the body’s immune system. While Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is considered highly treatable, the journey is far from easy. Kira has already undergone two surgeries, including a biopsy and port placement, and has met numerous doctors along the way. Despite these challenges, she has remained resilient, facing her battle with an inspiring level of strength.

Currently, Kira is undergoing an intense chemotherapy regimen, which includes three consecutive days of treatment every couple of weeks for three to four months. The toll of the treatment, combined with the emotional and financial stress on her family, is immense. Recognizing this, the OVMS community sprang into action, determined to make a difference.

One of the most heartfelt efforts came from OVMS teacher and Student Council Sponsor, Mr. Marc Ruble. Wanting to help Kira’s family, Mr. Ruble challenged the student body to raise $300 by Thursday, March 13. If they succeeded, he promised to sleep overnight on the front lawn of the school. What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary.

Students, teachers and families rallied together, surpassing the initial goal in a matter of days. Donations poured in, and by the time the fundraiser concluded, the school had raised approximately $3,000—ten times the original target. The overwhelming generosity of the OVMS community left everyone in awe, proving that even in difficult times, kindness and compassion shine the brightest.

Kira’s mother, Laura Herrington, expressed her deep gratitude in a heartfelt Facebook post. “He (Mr. Ruble) is one of the best for sure. So, so grateful for his and the whole school’s support and everyone in the whole community who has donated and supported us. We can truly never thank you all enough.”

Beyond the school walls, the support for Kira and her family continues to grow. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist with travel expenses and groceries for the family of seven, allowing them to focus on what matters most—Kira’s health and well-being.

In times of adversity, communities often reveal their true character. OVMS has shown that their character is built on empathy, strength and unity. Kira’s battle is far from over, but she is certainly not fighting alone. With the unwavering support of her school, family and the broader community, she continues to inspire those around her with her incredible courage.

For those wishing to contribute, donations can be made through the GoFundMe page dedicated to Kira and her family (https://gofund.me/108fd789). Every contribution, no matter the size, is a testament to the power of community and the belief that no one fights alone.  

I’ve always loved Spring. Between flowers blooming, the weather warming up and morel mushrooms, there’s a lot to love about this time of year.

But now, April holds something else to love and celebrate – the anniversary of the print start of The Owen News. 

While the conversation sparking the idea for The Owen News happened three years ago, last April, we started providing a monthly printed product filled with local content. And it’s been a wild year. 

In early 2024, our board set the goal of releasing the first edition of The Owen News ahead of the solar eclipse. Afterall, the start of a new newspaper in today’s online world is relatively as rare as a total solar eclipse, and it was our hope that visitors to our community would know that we have a lot to be proud of. 

As a board, we didn’t know what to expect or whether or not we would be able to sustain printing a paper in the long-run. While we’re still working on total sustainability, we’re a lot closer than we were a year ago. 

At that time, all we had to go on was the faith and trust that our community would be there to support and value local news. And our community showed what can happen when we rally together around something to better our lives and the lives of our neighbors. 

We’ve hit a lot of milestones in our first year:

-In May, we held a ribbon cutting to celebrate with our community. 

-In August, we printed our first Fair Special Section. 

-In September, we won nonprofit of the year from the Owen County Chamber of Commerce. 

-In November, we launched our first NewsMatch campaign, leading to receiving the full match of $23,500.

-In January, we hired myself and our Advertising and Business Manager Lola Garrison. 

-In February, we won Regional Opportunities Initative’s Quality of Place Innovation Awards. 

-Last month, we brought back the beloved Morel Mushroom Contest.

And we’re only just beginning. We have a lot of hopes and plans for the remainder of 2025 and the start of 2026. A few of them include:

-Producing our first Graduation Special Section;

-Hopefully winning some awards at the Indiana Society of Professional Journalists banquet next month;

-Expanding to a twice-monthly printing schedule;

-Expanding our advertisement options and pick up locations;

-Growing our members;

-Developing a community information and resource app;

-Growing our volunteer base and training some volunteer correspondents;

-Having a successful NewsMatch 2025 campaign; and

-Publishing the first The Owen News Community Calendar. 

There is a lot to look forward to, and we know that the sky's the limit if our community works together. After all, the reason we’re here celebrating one year of printing Indiana’s first nonprofit newspaper is because of our community and the support we’ve received. We truly couldn’t do this without the support from the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, the Owen County Community Foundation, our advertisers and pick up locations, our board, staff and volunteers (including Kim Frazier who delivers papers for us and that I forgot in January’s column) and most of all, you, our readers.

If you have questions about or want to be part of one of our goals, please reach out to me at info@theowennews.org.

A while back a friend and I went crappie fishing in Big Oil Creek off the Ohio River near Derby, Indiana. He caught 13 crappie, three of which were in the 12-inch range. I caught three, none of which were that big.   

After thinking it over, I came up with four factors. One, my buddy was experienced on the water we were fishing. He had been there numerous times and had caught lots of crappie, and he knew the spots. In these waters, if you’re inches away from the fish, you might as well be miles. That’s typical of persnickety crappie.

Two, he was in the front of the boat. When you’re cruising around dropping your minnow beside one stump after another, the guy in front does get the first crack at the choice spots. On the other hand, there are a lot of stumps in these creeks. The best spots are where a clump of stumps form. Your minnow placed right in the middle of the heap is the goal. I had plenty of good shots at spots too, but I didn’t connect as often.

The Long Pole’s Advantage

Three, he had a 10-foot-long crappie pole, while I had a standard spinning rod, a six-footer. The thing was, he would often catch fish right beside my minnow. He seemed to have “the touch.”

Naturally I had to go out and get one of those long poles myself, and I have to admit it does have a place in crappie fishing. I purchased a casting type reel for the rod, but I’ve found I do better with an ultralight spinning reel and six-pound fluorocarbon line. At times you might want to toss the minnow a ways, and the casting reel makes that difficult. The six-eight pound fluorocarbon line allows me to bend the fine wire crappie hook, if I pull gradually when I get hung up. And if you fish around cover, which is most of the time in crappie fishing, you will get hung up, a lot. Some cover you can see, but most you can’t. The long rod allows you to drop the minnow or jig straight down and retrieve it straight up, cutting down on hangups.

Don’t Be Too Quick

Another thing my buddy taught me is not to pull the trigger too soon on biting fish. Let them take it, take it, till you can’t stand it, then ease back on them. I jumped the gun too many times, and I jerked too hard. When I saw the cork disappearing under a limb or log, I got antsy, fearing loss of fish and rig. The jerking too hard is because of my bass fishing experiences. Putting the hook through both of the minnows’ lips from the bottom up seems to help with hooking fish. A Gulp nibble on the tip of the hook cuts down a little on getting snagged, and it adds color and appeal. 

 The embayments off the Ohio offer nice crappie opportunities almost all year long. Big and Little Oil, Big and Little Deer and Poison are creeks located in Perry County upstream from the Cannelton Dam. You could have a warm spell in November or December and get a few, and you might even have a good outing in January or February. You could get crappie there on the hottest day in July. Of course, right now through May is prime. As with any other fishing, you can have slow days as well. A lot depends on creek conditions, as rains screw up the works. Then it calms down fairly soon, and the crappie get back to their normal routines. But some years have been a special challenge for a couple of reasons. For one, the amount of rainfall. You need fairly clear, stable water conditions for the bite to be right.

The Carp Problem

The second reason is a toughie. There are numerous Asian carp in these creeks. What effect this has on the crappie fishery is pretty much unknown, but it can’t be good. These plankton feeders muck up the water, coloring it even when there’s little rain. They consume a food source shad need to survive. No shad—few crappie.

 If you don’t keep up your guard, they’ll also body slam you while you’re serenely motoring along. If these fish are shallow and a motor comes puttering, they go into panic mode. On a June trip we witnessed several jumpers, and then as we wrapped up one morning, a seven- or eight-pound carp jumped four feet out of the water and landed at my partner’s feet. He was glad it wasn’t in his lap. He had experienced a higher speed carp encounter at Reelfoot Lake, so he knew what these fish could do to a boater. We were idling along. If we had been cruising faster, that one could’ve hurt. Fewer carp have been the case recently—let’s hope it keeps up.

 It’s fishing season. Best of luck. 

Spencer-Owen Community Schools is thrilled to share that 27 of our outstanding seniors have met the rigorous requirements to earn the Governor's Work Ethic Certificate (GWEC), which is a prestigious recognition of their dedication to employability skills, academic achievement and a minimum of six hours of community service.The GWEC is a statewide, employer-recognized certification designed to prepare students for success in college, careers, and beyond. Recipients have demonstrated excellence in persistence, respectfulness, teamwork, initiative and efficiency, while also meeting high standards for attendance (98%+), academic performance (2.0 GPA+) and behavior (1 or fewer referrals).

Congratulations to the following students for this remarkable achievement:

• Calvin Dean
  
  
• Anya DeFord
  
  
• Skylar Dill
  
  
• Elliza Gentry
  
  
• Kalyn Greene
  
  
• Catie Harris
  
  
• Allyson Heidrich
  
  
• Trizza Jover
  
  
• Sawyer LaGrange
  
  
• Lucas McBee
  
  
• Eli McDaniel
  
  
• Rheann McMillen
  
  
• Makayla Nichols
  
  
• Vishwa Patel
  
  
• Alyeska Ranard
  
  
• Ezra Rehmel
  
  
• Kearston Roan
  
  
• Rylan Robinson
  
  
• Anna Sare
  
  
• Kennedy Shay
  
  
• Landon Summerlot
  
  
• Julia Sutton
  
  
• Ashlin Thacker
  
  
• Emily Tucker
  
  
• Josimar Trejo
  
  
• Maddex Weaver

‍

To celebrate their success, these students will be featured on a billboard across from OVHS in mid-April for 12 weeks. We extend a special thanks to our friends at the Owen County Community Foundation for generously providing the grant to cover the billboard cost.Patriot Pride is on full display with this incredible group of seniors. Their hard work and dedication exemplify the values of Owen Valley High School and the bright future they have ahead.

The Owen County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) held its annual community meeting on March 27 in the 4-H Building at the Owen County Fairgrounds. 

The program featured live music, a silent auction, charcuterie-style dinner, special presentations and the showing of a documentary film related to land conservation.

SWCD Executive Director Tammy Bingham provided the evening’s welcome message, followed by an election of officers and the annual meeting.

SWCD Chairman Corbin Abrell called for nominations for a vacant board position. The re-election of Corbin Worland, treasurer, to the SWCD Board was voted on and unanimously approved by attendees.

Other members of the Owen County SWCD Board of Supervisors include vice chairman Steve Fox, Tim Dunfee, Doris Scully and Chris Gonso. 

Many local businesses, residents and organizations sponsored door prizes, distributed by Owen Valley FFA members after SWCD Outreach staff Amy Arnold read aloud the winning numbers. Silent auction winners were announced later in the evening.

The program’s special presentations started with Indiana State Department of Agriculture Resource Specialist Holden Abrell who requested attendees fill out surveys related to Owen County agricultural priorities and challenges.

Laura Demarest, West Central Indiana Watershed Alliance’s 319 Watershed Coordinator, provided an overview of the Fish Creek Watershed Management Plan previously completed and ongoing Implementation Grants.

“The Fish Creek Watershed is quite larger than what most people think – it covers over 170,000 acres,” Dermarest said, pointing out the diversity of the watershed comprising forested land, cropland, pastureland and over 10,000 acres of managed lands including McCormick’s Creek State Park.

Demarest reviewed the impairments for Fish Creek identified during the planning and monitoring process and explained the next steps for starting to address impairments impacting the watershed.

The 319 Grants primarily address issues related to sediment, nutrients and E-coli from non-point source pollution. The SWCD, being aware of these issues, was awarded an IDEM 319 Grant for $114,950 where the County matched $76,633 with cash and in-kind labor and contributions. Furthermore, the County applied for and was awarded $350,000 for implementation funding which is leveraged by $233,333 of match and in-kind contributions. The implementation and cost-share grant will begin in 2026.

Priority areas for implementation grants and cost-share were explained as well as eligible and ineligible activities for the funding. Cover crops, field borders/riparian buffers, livestock grazing practices, wetland enhancement and tree/shrub establishment are among the eligible activities.

Grant applications are not yet available, but the Owen County SWCD can add names to an interested parties list. The Advisory Committee will establish program guidelines and grant caps in early 2026 and make applications available. For more information, contact the SWCD at 812-829-2605, or visit the SWCD office at 788 Pottersville Rd., Spencer.

Amy Rednour, a first-generation mushroom farmer and owner of A Fungus Amoung Us LLC, served as one of the evening’s exhibitors, in addition to providing a presentation on her Owen County farm. She shared tips related to morel mushroom hunting and gave an overview of the type of mushrooms grown at their farm. The farm specializes in fresh and dehydrated mushrooms along with seasonings, extracts and other products.

The evening ended with a showing of the documentary, “The Story of America’s Private Lands Conservation Movement – an exclusive documentary by the USDA.” The film provided a look into the life of Hugh Hammond Bennett, who helped move American agriculture out of the Dust Bowl era.

Yellow is the color of spring this week. The daffodils and the forsythia are blooming. The bright yellow blooms brighten gardens. Those two domesticated flowers say spring has finally arrived. Daffodils always bring a smile to my face. The bright yellow blooms exude joy.

Daffodils are stubborn. They survive without attention or care. Several times, when I have been hiking in the woods, I have walked into a sunny spot of ground covered with the golden blooms of the narcissus. The daffodils are a reminder that someone once called that place home. The homesteader planted them and waited for the blooms to come in the spring. Planting bulbs is an exercise in faith. Planting bulbs is a statement. “My feet are through wandering; I am staying here for a while.”

In several places along the roads of Owen County daffodils mark old home sites. The bulbs have multiplied over the years, and the bright yellow blooms have spread across the clearings that surround the old home sites. They are the only clue that a family once called that spot home. A few have escaped and now grow in the ditches between the roads and fields.

Daffodils are poisonous, deer won’t eat them, neither will squirrels nor moles. On the side of a hill above Sciscoe Creek where it flows into Lake Monroe, the daffodils a woman of my clan planted two centuries ago still cover the hill with bright yellow blooms to herald spring's arrival. A few years ago, part of my family trekked back to the old home site. The bright yellow blooms of those daffodils were a beacon to help us find the site my ancestors called home. All that remains of the cabin is a few rotting timbers and the stone foundation. The daffodils and some spearmint plants have survived. I like knowing that the women in my family planted those plants. I dug a few bulbs out of the ground with a pocketknife and brought them home to the Ridge. Their golden blooms brighten my garden this week. I know my many times great-grandmother Sciscoe would approve of sharing her daffodils with me.

Daffodils or narcissus come from around the Mediterranean Sea. Planting native plants is something I support, but I want my daffodils too. A beautiful yellow native is also blooming. The south facing slope is carpeted with small yellow trout lilies. The leaves are more plentiful than the blooms. The mottled leaves are beautiful beside the green moss. They have a single yellow bloom about an inch wide. The blooms have three petals and three sepals which curve backward. The blooms look like caps for elves. I can imagine dainty elfin ladies dancing through the dew wearing one of the blooms atop her curls.

Many morel hunters are checking their ‘early’ spots for mushrooms because they usually appear when the trout lilies bloom. I saw plenty of blooms on my hike today, but no morels. I urge you to take a walk in the woods to enjoy the awakening land. Nature is a great stress reliever.

'til next time,
Annie

Spencer Town Council members Jon Stantz, Evan McKalip and Mike Spinks met in regular session March 17, along with clerk-treasurer Cheryl Moke, town manager Hunter Stogsdill and town attorney Richard Lorenz.

Following approval of the March 3 meeting minutes, the council heard from Julie Coffin, President of Spencer Main Street, with a request to approve the organization’s fifth annual Tailgate Sale on the Square. The council voted 3-0 in favor of the event, scheduled for April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on East Market Street. In the event of rain, Coffin said the sale will be rescheduled for May 3.

The council also voted 3-0 to approve the temporary closure of four parking spaces along the west side of South Main Sreet. to accommodate an open house event for Rustic Delights, located at 65 S. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 5.

Under public issues, the council voted 3-0 to approve signatory authorization resolution 2025-01, giving the council the ability to move forward with a planned wastewater infrastructure improvements project and council president Stantz authorization to sign relevant paperwork.

Acting on a motion from Stantz, seconded by McKalip, the council voted 3-0 to authorize the signature of amendments to the wastewater treatment plant’s Asset Management Plan, as well as a modified State Revolving Fund (SRF) plan process related to the wastewater infrastructure improvements project budget.

In other business, the council voted 3-0 to approve four invoices from Commonwealth Engineers related to wastewater system improvements and extensions, including Wastewater Improvements Phase 1, $11,400; Wastewater Improvements Phase 1, $55.57; MCSP (McCormick’s Creek State Park) Project, $3,285.68; and miscellaneous on-call, $2,786.57.

Two additional invoices were also approved for payment: $2,550 for Steve Egemo Concrete (sidewalk repairs) and $7,800 for Dubois Excavating LLC (sewer line replacement on James Drive).

Spencer Police Department (SPD) Chief Richard Foutch later addressed the council, requesting and receiving unanimous council approval to hire Ben Muncie as a full-time officer, filling a void left following the departure of officer Kyle Jackson.

“We’re still going to move forward with the hiring process,” Foutch said. “We know we’re going to have one, maybe two positions that will need to be filled in the near future. We currently have 10 applicants.” 

Foutch also noted officer Zack Brock is scheduled to graduate from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy on April 25.

Under street department news, the council learned the department recently cut down and removed a tree near 237 S. Montgomery St. that had shown signs of heavy decay.

Sewer department superintendent Ryan Klaassen provided the board with a quote to purchase a new 28-horsepower pump for a lift station located along Beem Street totaling $6,598, as well as a quote to repair the existing 28-horsepower pump at a cost of $3,982. The council voted 3-0 to approve both requests.

Klaassen also noted the department’s new hydro-jetter trailer purchased from Brown Equipment Company (BEC) was to be delivered soon, while the order had been placed for its previously approved purchase of a new service vehicle from Curry Auto Center.

The Spencer Town Council will meet again on April 7 and April 21. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St.

As many people in our community are discovering, the MYPath trail is a great place to walk, run and ride a bicycle. With new improvements, MYPath has also become a great place to sit, talk, share a picnic and meet others.

Last year, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) revealed that loneliness and social isolation were affecting the mental health and well-being of Hoosiers, especially in rural communities. During the pandemic, a lot of gatherings were cancelled. A lot of social networks were frayed. To help, OCRA offered the Building Socially Connect Communities grant program.

The MYPath Riverfront Trail was in the process of being paved. A new bridge was on the way. We knew the path was going to be a nice trail for the community. But we also knew it could be more. Wouldn’t a new trail be a great resource for people to get together? Our Wednesday walks were nice activities for a small group of people. Couldn’t other groups meet, at other times, for other reasons?

MYPath could be more than a trail. It could be a resource, a facility for community groups to meet.

We submitted our Meet Me on MYPath program to OCRA. We shared that, according to census records, Owen County has 2,500 people living alone. In a county of less than 22,000 people, that is “a gripping number,” we said. Through partnerships with area organizations, we would host events at MYPath, giving more people an opportunity to connect with one another.

First, we needed infrastructure for gatherings. People are encouraged to come to MYPath regardless of physical abilities. Some people can run a long way, but due to health considerations, other people can’t walk very far at all. All should feel welcome. So, we asked for seven benches along the trail, for resting, bird watching or just talking.

To help support events, we asked for a new pavilion, with picnic tables. We shared plans for a new fire ring with benches. We proposed way-finding signs so visitors could follow all the side trails. And we pledged partnerships with Area 10 Agency on Aging, Boys and Girls Club of Owen County, Owen Valley Rehabilitation and Health Care and Spencer Pride.

Thankfully, OCRA granted us money to pursue our goals. It was a matching grant, so the Owen County Community Foundation and community members provided resources too.

From the beginning of MYPath, we envisioned the trail being an amenity for gathering. In fact, our original construction plans included benches and signs with a placeholder for a pavilion. Unfortunately, the bridge cost way more than anticipated. To afford the trail and the bridge, we needed to scale back our plans, eliminating the benches and signs.

OCRA’s efforts to Build Socially Connected Communities and our efforts to build a socially connected trail matched perfectly. Thank you to OCRA for completing our vision.

OCRA’s contributions are working as planned. We see people resting on the benches, talking to each other and trail walkers. The Boys and Girls Club of Owen County has already had a walk on the trail, where they were having fun trying to complete a nature scavenger hunt. Spencer Pride has a Rainbow Birders event planned for July 19.

We hope you have had a chance to see the new benches. The new pavilion is fabulous, and it is known as Dave’s Pavilion, in honor of the late Dave Allen, who was a tireless community advocate and founder of the JROTC program at Owen Valley High School.

Trail usage is increasing, thanks in part to the upgraded trail and the new benches and tables. Our Wednesday at 10 a.m. walks have been growing. We just added a new event, Wag and Walk, with walkers and leashed dogs on Sundays at 2 p.m.

Feel free to join one of our scheduled walks. Of course, you are certainly welcome to visit the trail on your own time. If you have a chance to bring a friend or neighbor, please do. At the very least, please nod politely to other people using the trail. If loneliness is a challenge in our community, we can all do our part, so others feel connected.

***

Kyle Hannon is the project manager for the MYPath Trail System. He has served in many community development and trail connection roles throughout the state. On many weekends, he serves as an interpretive specialist at McCormick’s Creek State Park.

It’s time to begin planning your 2025 fishing trips, with fishing licenses available to purchase for this year’s adventures on the water.

Licenses valid now through March 31, 2026, can be purchased through the new DNR Fish & Wildlife Activity Hub at GoOutdoorsIN.com, via the mail, or through in-person retailers listed at on.IN.gov/HuntFishLicenseRetailers.

With your 2025 fishing license, you can aim for a new state record, as was recently confirmed for Lafayette angler Isaac Switzer.

His shortnose gar weighed two pounds, 15.9 ounces, beating the previous record by more than 10 ounces.

Switzer caught the fish on June 17, 2024, while using a Carolina rig and cut baitfish. It’s the second time in less than four years the species’ record has been broken, both times by catches on the Wabash River.

“I was fishing with my older brother on the Wabash River at night as we had done a hundred times before, targeting gar and catfish,” Switzer said of his record catch.

He said he instantly knew the fish was a shortnose gar record, having researched the record and catching similar-sized fish of the species previously.

Switzer considers gar one of the best Hoosier fish and hopes that the recent broken records raises awareness about them.

Gar are common throughout Indiana in rivers, streams, creeks, inland lakes, reservoirs, sloughs and marshes. Anglers who want to target the species or another Indiana sport fish can use DNR’s Fisheries Status & Trends dashboard to find lakes and reservoirs where they are most abundant.

The previous shortnose gar record was set by Kyle Hammond with a two-pound, 5.6-ounce fish caught in Wabash County in 2021. Hammond also holds the spotted gar state record, which he caught in 2024.

Learn more about the Indiana Record Fish program at on.IN.gov/recordfish.

Learn about purchasing a fishing license at on.IN.gov/fishinglicense.

A resolution authored by Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) and State Sen. Eric Bassler (R-Washington) honoring the Owen County Chamber of Commerce (OCCC) unanimously passed the Indiana Senate on March 11.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 27 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the OCCC and recognizes the important work it does within the Owen County community.

"Small businesses are the lifeblood of any community, and chambers of commerce help foster growth among local businesses in the communities they serve and beyond," Bray said. "I'd like to congratulate the Owen County Chamber of Commerce for a century of service to their community, and I look forward to working with them to promote continued growth in the area."

The Owen County Chamber of Commerce was founded on June 25, 1925 and has grown to more than 270 businesses and organizations from throughout the county and beyond.

"As someone who owns and operates my own small businesses, I've seen firsthand how important a chamber of commerce is to its community and the people it serves," Bassler said. "For 100 years, the Owen County Chamber of Commerce has championed its neighbors and promoted locally owned businesses across the county, and I am grateful for the work it has done to support growth and opportunity."

To learn more about the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, visit MyOwenChamber.com.

Bray represents Senate District 37, which includes Morgan County and portions of Johnson, Owen and Putnam counties.

Bassler represents Senate District 39, which includes Daviess, Greene, Knox, and Martin counties and portions of Owen and Sullivan counties.

Working in the absence of Katrina Lewis, the remaining six members of the Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees met in regular session on March 10 to approve routine matters, recognize student and staff members of the month, and to address several items under the new business portion of the meeting.

Under routine matters, the board voted 6-0 to approve meeting minutes for executive and regular sessions held Feb. 10.

Acting on a motion from board member Melissa Carrell, seconded by Emily Haltom, the board voted unanimously to approve the latest claims and financial reports, which CCSC Superintendent Greg Linton advised totaled $2,463,999.17 since the board’s previous meeting.

Next, the board recognized the corporation’s Student of the Month honorees for March, which included Cloverdale Elementary School (CES) first-grader Mila Green, Cloverdale Middle School (CMS) student Ryder Pettijohn and Cloverdale High School (CHS) student Isabella Montgomery.

“Thank you for being good kids and good students,” board president Vivian Whitaker said at the conclusion of the presentations, addressing the Student of the Month recipients. “We’re so happy that you’re Clovers. Each of you have bright futures ahead of you.”

Carrie Hall, special education teacher at CMS, was recognized as the latest Staff Member of the Month.

Also recognized were Rumor Jones and Wyatt Lane, who earned Good Citizen Awards for the month of March, presented by Cloverdale Town Marshal Adam Hull.

“Rumor is a silent leader in the fifth grade,” Hall explained. “She pitches in around the classroom and the school whenever she can. You can count on Rumor to always do the right thing.”

Hall added, “Wyatt is a wonderful young man. He works hard in class and always puts forth his best effort. Wyatt is very caring and a friend to many. He often gives to others and likes to make birthday gifts for his classmates.”

Next, the board heard a presentation led by CCSC Director of Curriculum and Instruction Cathy Ames regarding planned diploma and student schedule updates.

“As Indiana graduation requirements have changed, it’s really important that our academic programs here at Cloverdale change as well, not only to support our students, but to support our teachers and our school community,” Ames said. “The updates are necessary in order for students to gain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful and, quite frankly, to be able to graduate. We want to make sure they are ready for their career paths and can think critically, work well with others, and handle the future challenges that they will face, not only in school, but also in college or in the workforce or military.”

Ames added, “By making these changes now we can create a more engaging and supportive learning environment for our students and help them on their road to success. We didn’t want to just sit back and wait…  we wanted to be pro-active and jump right in.”

A few of the key points of Ames’ presentation included making sure students have options to personalize their graduation plan to align with their unique interests and goals; to ensure work-based learning is accessible to more students; the ability to earn high school credit at the middle school level; adding additional dual credit classes to provide students with increased opportunities for college credit; utilizing the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to assess potential military recruitment; and to open up space within the high school schedule for flexibility in the graduation pathway.

The board also heard from CHS Principal Sonny Stoltz, who commented on the school’s ongoing participation in the “Leader in Me” program.

“If things go well with our last training session in April, we’ll be ready to apply to be a Leader in Me high school,” Stoltz said. “What makes that even more special for us is that we’d be the first Leader in Me school in the state of Indiana. I have to give a ton of credit to everyone involved. This whole program has been counselor, teacher and student driven.”

The Leader in Me program aims to help students with leadership skills, character development and personal growth, both in school and in their personal lives.

James Wade, CHS Athletic Director, later provided the board with an update regarding the addition of Vincennes Lincoln to the Western Indiana Conference, the success of the school’s new outfitting of athletic teams, athlete reward program, and the development of a Booster Club beginning in May. Wade said the Booster Club aims to be in service beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

Moving on to new business, the board voted 6-0 to approve a resolution determining the need for renovation and improvements to facilities throughout the school corporation, including the “construction of a training facility, site and athletic improvements throughout the school corporation and the purchase of equipment, real estate and technology and leasing all or a portion of the project from the Cloverdale High School Building Corporation.”

Next, the board acted on a motion from Donna Fidler, seconded by Joe Mann, voting 6-0 to adopt a resolution approving a form of lease agreement. The agreement says in part, “the Cloverdale High School Building Corporation has previously been organized pursuant to the Indiana Nonprofit Corporation Act of 1991 for the purpose of constructing, renovating and improving facilities for the use of the Cloverdale Community School Corporation.”

The board also cast separate 6-0 votes to approve the adoption of a resolution reapproving the formation of the building corporation and appointing a new member, as well as the issuance of one or more series of bonds and one or more series of BANS (Bond Anticipation Notes).

Also under new business, the board unanimously approved the distribution of Early Literacy Achievement Grant Funds, the CES/CMS Snails to Trails Summer Program and the acceptance of one grant and three donations for CHS.

Acting on a recommendation from Superintendent Linton, the board also unanimously approved the creation of an assistant principal position at CES, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

“As the board is aware, the student population at CES continues to increase with the addition and growth of our preschool program,” Linton noted. “CES has the highest enrollment of our three schools. The increase in student enrollment, and the overall increased social/emotional needs of students in general, has generated the need for [CES Principal] Mrs. [Mary] Elkins to have additional help in managing CES.”

In addition, the board unanimously approved the following professional leave, field trip, and facility use requests:

Professional Leaves

Feb. 18 – Sarah Campbell, CPI training, ONT/Area 30.

Feb. 26 – Paige Glassburn, CPI training, ONT/Area 30.

Feb 26 – Jill Schreiber, webinar on disability and community, CMS.

March 13 – Chelsey Meluch, SPED 101 for Administrators, Area 30.

March 18-20 – Taulbee Jackson, ILearn PLD Review virtual workshop, CMS.

March 19 – Heather Clingan, Indiana FFA proficiency grading, Southmont High School.

March 21 – Jared Metzger, annual tour of schools, CES/CMS/CHS.

April 2 – Ivy Oberkrom, required CPI training, ONT.

April 7-8 – Cathy Ames, Sam Brown, and Tara Baugh, Safe Schools Advanced Academy, Indianapolis.

April 16-17 – Cathy Ames, Title Con 2025, Plainfield.

May 7 – Beth Williams, hang artwork for Art Fair, CES/CMS.

2025/2026 school year – Carrie Hall, one day each month, Asset Program, online.

Field Trips

March 13 – CES fourth grade class, Indiana State Museum.

April 11 – CES first grade class, Terre Haute Children’s Museum.

April 11 or 12^th – CHS band, Northview High School.

April 22 – CHS Academic Super Bowl Team, Greencastle High School.

April 24 – CES kindergarten, Historic Tivoli Theatre, Spencer.

May 9 – CES sixth grade class, Bogey’s Family Fun Center, Terre Haute.

May 10 – CHS Academic Super Bowl Team, Purdue University.

June 2-9 – Snails to Trails, South Bend.

June 3-10 – Snails to Trails, Kentucky.

June 4-11 – Snails to Trails, Indianapolis.

June 5-12 – Snails to Trails, Crawfordsville.

June 6-13 – Snails to Trails, St. Louis, Missouri.

Facility Use

March 5 – Haltom 8U softball parent/player meeting, CMS Media Center.

March 11-12 – Cloverdale Community Youth League (CCYL), CPS, AED, and first aid training, CMS library.

March 19 – CCYL board meeting, CMS library.

April 30 – CHS National Honor Society induction ceremony, CHS cafetorium.

April 30 – Drama Club school play, CMS cafeteria.

May 8 – Annual Arts Fair, CES and CMS.

Additional personnel matters receiving unanimous board approval included:

Employment

Holly Watkins – part-time bus aide.

Alisan Staletovich – CMS guidance secretary.

FMLA

Lori Halloran – CMS teacher.

The Cloverdale Community School Board will meet again on Monday, April 14 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale. Members of the board include Vivian Witaker, Katrina Lewis, Donna Fidler, Melissa Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann and Mike Rightmyer II.

The murder trial for Kenron Laing, accused of the November 2022 shooting death of 39-year-old Gildardo Garcia Salinas in northern Owen County, is scheduled to begin April 21 in the Owen County Circuit Court.

A two-year investigation culminated in the arrest of Laing, 24, in November of 2024.

Detectives from the Indiana State Police (ISP) Bloomington Post traveled to Fort Liberty, northwest of Fayetteville, North Carolina on Nov. 14 of last year where they were joined by Army Criminal Investigation Division agents in arresting Laing without incident.

Fort Liberty, formerly known as Fort Bragg, is one of the largest military installations in the world by population, with over 52,000 military personnel.

According to an article published in the Nov. 20, 2024 edition of Stars and Stripes, a daily newspaper reporting on matters concerning members of the United States Armed Forces, Laing enlisted in the Army in August 2023, about 10 months after Salinas was killed.

Private First Class Laing was identified by Stars and Stripes as a petroleum supply specialist assigned to the 82nd Airborne’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

An initial hearing was held Nov. 21, where Owen County Prosecutor Benjamin Kim said Laing was advised of the charges against him and his constitutional rights as an accused facing criminal charges.

Public defender Megan Schueler was appointed by the court to represent Laing, who remains in custody without bond at the Owen County Security Center pending the upcoming trial by jury.

The court has allotted five days for the jury trial.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case by ISP Detective Ian Matthews, authorities from the state police were contacted on Nov. 2, 2022 to initiate an investigation following the shooting death of Salinas. The shooting happened at Salinas’ residence in the area of North Cataract Road and U.S. 231.

Authorities with the Owen County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) were first on the scene, having been notified via a 911 phone call received at approximately 8:25 p.m., the probable cause affidavit indicates. The caller reported gunshots had been fired and a male had been shot. Police arrived shortly thereafter to find Salinas deceased outside of his home from apparent gunshot wounds.

In total, authorities say two discarded iPhones were discovered at the scene. The first was located in a gravel area, the probable cause affidavit indicates, approximately 15-20 feet east of the victim’s body. Identified as a black iPhone housed in a clear case, the phone appeared to authorities to have been “wiped” or factory reset. Although the screen read “The iPhone has been locked,” an associated Gmail account would reportedly help police determine the phone belonged to Laing.

According to the probable cause affidavit, authorities with the ISP Cyber Crimes Unit were able to uncover identifying information from the phone which was used to gather subscriber information and records from both Apple and AT&T. The subscriber of the phone and associated service, authorities would discover, was listed as “Mr. Kenron Laing.”

Additional coverage of the case was published in the December 2024 issue of The Owen News. The article can be accessed on our website at here.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) recently granted final adoption to allow the limited, regulated trapping of bobcats in designated southern Indiana counties.

Bobcat Trapping Rules

In 2024, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation (SEA 241-2024) directing the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to have rules in place for bobcat harvest by July 2025.

The approved rules include:

• Establishing a bobcat trapping season in 40 southern Indiana counties, including a limit of one bobcat per trapper and a cumulative season limit of 250 bobcats for all trappers combined.
• Allowing bobcats and their parts that are legally acquired to be sold.
• Allowing bobcats that are found dead to be kept by people with a permit.
• Adding bobcats to the list of species for which a game breeder’s license is required.

The NRC granted preliminary adoption of the rules in September 2024, and it later held two public comment periods and two public hearings.

Research maintained by the DNR and Purdue University shows that the bobcat population in Indiana has expanded during the last two decades. This research can be reviewed at on.IN.gov/dfw-rule-changes.

Bobcats have well-established populations in the 40 counties where trapping will be allowed. Analysis shows that this high-quality habitat can support regulated harvest while also maintaining a healthy, sustainable bobcat population.

After the rule’s adoption, DNR anticipates that Indiana’s first bobcat trapping season will begin this fall. A summary of all rules and regulations will be available in the annual Hunting & Trapping Guide, which is typically available in August.

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Communities in Senate District 39 will receive more than $7.5 million to improve roads and bridges through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program (CCMG), said State Sen. Eric Bassler (R-Washington).

The CCMG, established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016, aims to advance community infrastructure projects, strengthen local transportation networks and improve Indiana’s roads and bridges. Since its enactment, the program has awarded more than $2 billion in state matching funds for local construction projects.

In Senate District 39, the following communities received grants:

• Daviess County received $1,120,970.25;
• Knox County received $1.5 million;
• Martin County received $1,106,930.25;
• Merom received $24,842.42;
• Newberry received $102,000;
• Oaktown received $82,200.57;
• Owen County received $1.5 million;
• Shoals received $271,411.50;
• Sullivan County received $1.5 million;
• Washington received $260,753.75; and
• Wheatland received $74,999.58.

"Maintaining high-quality infrastructure throughout our state ensures that state and local government leaders deliver the vision for a brighter and safer way of life for districts like Senate District 39," Bassler said. "The Community Crossings Matching Grant Program is a great way to align the progress of our economy with the infrastructure stability that Hoosier communities rely on."

Through the program, the Indiana Department of Transportation matches up to $1.5 million annually when localities invest in road and bridge repairs. Counties with populations fewer than 50,000 and cities and towns with populations fewer than 10,000 receive a 75%/25% match, while counties with populations greater than 50,000 and cities and towns with populations greater than 10,000 receive a 50%/50% match.

To view the full list of communities receiving matching funds, click here.

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Last month, the Spencer Lions Club presented a generous $5,000 donation toward the expansion of Owen County’s Outdoor Emergency Warning System, now slated to get two more sirens thanks to a matching grant awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The Lions' contribution will count as part of the match requirement.  The approximate additional two locations that this FEMA grant will make possible will include the area of Cuba in Montgomery Township and the area of Adel Road between Franklin and Clay Townships.

Accepting the check from Spencer Lions Club Treasurer Jim Query is Owen County Emergency Management Director Jack White, shown here along with siren committee members Owen County Councilman Anton Karl Neff (also a Lion) and Bruce Hamlin.  This photo was taken in front of the existing siren site at Cooper Park in Spencer, which is pictured to the right.

If you, an organization or a business would like to help contribute toward the local match for this FEMA grant, consider a donation to Owen County Government via “Siren Fund 4917”, directed to the attention of the Auditor’s Office, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer, IN 47460. PHOTO AND CONTENT SUBMITTED BY ANTON NEFF.

Jerry D. McBee of Freedom was named to the Wabash College Dean’s List for the fall 2024 semester. McBee maintained a 3.5 grade point average or better on a 4.0-point scale.

Located in Crawfordsville and founded in 1832, Wabash College is a private liberal arts college, which teaches men to think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively and live humanely.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced plans to reduce the speed limit on State Road 46 in Ellettsville, on or after April 1^st.

The speed limit on SR 46 will decrease from 45 mph to 35 mph from Red Hill Road to West Arlington Road.

According to INDOT, the decreased speed limit is “intended to help enhance safety and mobility along SR 46.”

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, use extra caution and avoid distractions when traveling in and near work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

April 21

5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. North Putnam at North Putnam.

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April 28

5 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Southmont at Cloverdale.

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May 8

5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field at Putnam County Meet at Greencastle.

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May 12

5:30 p.m. –  Co-ed track & field vs. North Clay and South Putnam at South Putnam.

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May 13

5 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Owen Valley at Owen Valley.

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May 17

8:30 a.m. – Co-ed track & field at WIC Meet at Owen Valley.

‍April 17

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs South Putnam at Cloverdale.

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs South Putnam at Cloverdale.

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs Linton-Stockton and North Central-Farmersburg at Linton-Stockton.

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April 19

10 a.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball at the County Tournament at North Putnam.

10 a.m. – Varsity girls’ softball at the County Tournament at North Putnam.

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April 21

4:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs Shakamak at Shakamak.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Indian Creek at Cloverdale.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Indian Creek at Cloverdale.

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April 22

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Greencastle at Greencastle.

5 pm. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Greencastle at Greencastle.

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April 23

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track vs South Putnam, Lighthouse Christian Academy, and Owen Valley at Cloverdale.

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April 24

4 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs Monrovia at Cloverdale.

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Northview at Cloverdale.

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Northview at Cloverdale.

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April 25

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Shakamak at Cloverdale.

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April 26

9 a.m. – Varsity boys’ golf at Bob Arnett Invitational at Rea Park in Terre Haute.

10 a.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track vs Edgewood at Edgewood.

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April 28

4:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs North Putnam at Cloverdale.

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Bethesda Christian at Bethesda Christian.

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April 29

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track vs North Central-Farmersburg at North Central-Farmersburg.

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Owen Valley at Cloverdale.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Owen Valley at Cloverdale.

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May 1

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Parke Heritage at Cloverdale.

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Parke Heritage at Cloverdale.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track vs Cascade and Tri-West at Cascade.

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May 5

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs South Putnam at South Putnam.

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Clay City at Clay City.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs South Vermillion at Cloverdale.

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May 6

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track at County Track Meet at Cloverdale.

6 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Eastern Greene at Cloverdale.

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May 8

5:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs North Putnam at North Putnam.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs North Putnam at North Putnam.

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May 9

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Monrovia at Cloverdale.

‍April 17

6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade baseball vs John Wooden Middle School at Owen Valley.

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April 21

5:30 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade baseball vs Edgewood at Edgewood.

5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs South Putnam and Greencastle at South Putnam.

6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs Cloverdale at Owen Valley.

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April 22

5:30 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs Eminence at Owen Valley.

5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs Eastern Greene at Owen Valley.

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April 23

5:30 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade baseball vs Greencastle at Greencastle.

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April 24

6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs Batchelor at Batchelor.

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April 28

6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs Brown County at Owen Valley.

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April 29

6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs Edgewood at Owen Valley.

6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade baseball vs Bedford at Owen Valley.

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May 1

5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs Jackson Creek at Owen Valley.

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May 3

8:30 a.m. – Co-ed track & field at Patriot Invitational at Owen Valley.

9 a.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball at Eminence Invite at Eminence.

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May 5

6 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Edgewood at Edgewood.

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May 6

6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade girls’ softball vs. Edgewood at Edgewood.

‍April 17

4:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs. Edgewood at Owen Valley.

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Linton-Stockton at Linton-Stockton.

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs Northview at Owen Valley.

5 p.m. – Varsity co-ed track & field vs Monrovia at Owen Valley.

5:30 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ baseball vs Monrovia at Monrovia.

7:30 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs Linton-Stockton at Linton-Stockton.

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April 19

12 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Shakamak at Owen Valley.

12 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ baseball vs Shakamak at Owen Valley.

9:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis at Sullivan Invitational.

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April 21

4:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs North Daviess at North Daviess.

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April 22

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs Northview at Owen Valley.

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Northview at Northview.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Northview at Northview.

7:30 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs Northview at Northview.

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April 23

4:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs Terre Haute South at Terre Haute South.

5 p.m. – Varsity co-ed track & field vs Cloverdale at Cloverdale.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs West Vigo at Owen Valley.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs West Vigo at Owen Valley.

7 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs West Vigo at Owen Valley.

7 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ baseball s West Vigo at Owen Valley.

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April 24

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs West Vigo at Owen Valley.

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April 25

5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Eastern Greene at Eastern Greene.

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April 26

12 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Clay City at Owen Valley.

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April 28

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs Indian Creek at Indian Creek.

5 p.m. – Varsity co-ed track & field vs Eastern Greene at Owen Valley.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Monrovia at Owen Valley.

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April 29

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Cloverdale at Cloverdale.

5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs North Putnam at North Putnam.

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Cloverdale at Cloverdale.

7 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs Cloverdale at Cloverdale.

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April 30

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs Greencastle at Owen Valley.

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs South Vermillion at Owen Valley.

5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs Greencastle at Owen Valley.

7 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs Greencastle at Owen Valley.

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May 1

4:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs. Edgewood and Bloomfield at Edgewood.

5 p.m. –  Varsity girls’ softball vs. Clay City at Clay City.

5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs. Brown County at Owen Valley.

7:30 p.m. –  Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. Clay City at Clay City.

Last month, I said I’d take my readers on a stroll through a summer meadow to enjoy sun-loving wildflowers. Although most of the plants I am going to mention thrive in a meadow environment, they also will thrive in a small garden space.

Most of us do not have large expanses of land to grow our favorites. These plants will thrive in a small yard or in containers on a patio. I hope you will give a few of them a try this year. Growing native plants invites the pollinators and the birds to visit you. They are easy to grow and most of them self-seed.

One of my favorite native plants is Butterfly Weed. Asclepias tuberosa is that fiery orange bloom that attracts butterflies along most of our country roads. This prairie plant grows well in full sun and likes average, well-drained soil. It has a long tap root and does not like to be transplanted. The plant will reach a height of 30 inches. It is an important larval food source for monarchs. I have grown it in the Owen County clay. It behaves well in a bed of mixed natives.

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, is a plant that most people recognize. The tall plants are covered with big purple daisy-like flowers all summer and well into fall. In the fall, the spiky-orange seed heads attract small birds. The plant, which can reach heights of 40 inches, does well in a small garden space. I am going to try it in a pot this year.

We can’t have a meadow without grass. My favorite grass is Little Bluestem. Some of the old folks in Owen County call it poverty grass, probably because it will grow in any kind of soil. It seems to love the clay covered hills and fields of Owen County. Schachyrium scoparium is the most widespread grass of the prairie. It is native to every state except Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. The tiny shoots emerge a rich bluish green in the spring. In autumn the three-foot-tall grass turns pale orange-red. A snow-covered field of Little Bluestem grass is a fantastic sight. Plant a single clump in a mixed perennial bed for a focal point or along a fence for some winter color.

Other grasses that could add interest would be bottle brush grass (Hystrix patula) with its unusual seed head or Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis). Ground feeding birds and small mammals love the seeds; they smell like popcorn.

A meadow or a garden needs some yellow blooms. Black-Eyed Susans or Kansas sunflowers do well in a mixed garden or a meadow. They bloom all season.

I love goldenrod, especially the variety called Wreath or blue-stemmed goldenrod. Solidago caesia has lance-shaped leaves on an arching branch. The small yellow blooms grow in the leaf axis.

A mixture of these plants will give you blooms for months. Getting them established will take some work, but you will have years to enjoy them. A bonus is that you are helping all the pollinators and the birds.

‘til next time,

Annie

The time has come for me to write my last newspaper article as Director of the Owen County Public Library; I am about to embark on that new adventure called “retirement.” My last day at OCPL will be Friday, April 25.

I am so thankful to have had the privilege of serving as Director of the library these last 12 plus years. I am very proud of the work we have done at OCPL, and the part I was able to play in our accomplishments here, all the things we have built and services we have added.

I want to thank the OCPL Board that hired me: Frank Coffin, Don Taylor, David Weaver, Dodie Schinske and Myrna Fields. Barbara Winders joined the board within a year or two, joining a core group that I called my Dream Team Library Board. I was so pleased to find that they were all library users, which makes such a difference in the viewpoint of a library trustee. I came to rely on them so much for advice, guidance, encouragement and eventually, friendship.

I am so blessed to have worked for and with such caring people. They have been supportive of our desire to be of service to this community in all the various ways we have endeavored to serve. They have shown concern for our staff and have lived up to their responsibility to monitor the way taxpayer money is spent. I think that our new director will find that she is serving with her own “dream team” of board members.

Our four administrators, each manage their own department, their own staff, and their own budget. They order their own materials and services, hire their own staff and never go over the budget I give them each year. Thank you so much, Debbie, Anne, Brad and Amy for your commitment to the library. I have enjoyed these 12 years of working together.

Thank you, programmers, past and present, your work requires so much coordination, commitment, patience, imagination, at times empathy and the ability to see patrons’ needs and the heart to want to meet those needs. Thank you, Cyndi, Brooke, Hannah and most especially, Jenn for all that you all put into being so amazing, and Scott, our Bookmobile driver extraordinaire!

Thank you to all our clerks from past years, and our current and new clerks for the great customer service you provide. Thank you all for your friendly smiles, listening ears, and great book recommendations. For the extra responsibilities you have taken on, thank you, Nikota, Jessica, Jennifer and Nick.

Fond memories of Laura continue as we welcome Shannon. I am confident she is going to excel at the genealogy position.

Thank you to both of the hard-working, driven Adult Education directors we have had, for preserving this much-needed program. You change lives.

We threw so much work at our bookkeeper, Ale, when she first started here! It’s a wonder she ever took the job. But she faced every difficulty as a challenge, with patience and unbelievable competence.

Thank you, Tyler, for keeping our technology up to date, secure and running smoothly.

Thank you, B.J., for all you put into teaching and meeting the needs of your students.

Thank you to the many individuals, businesses and organizations who have donated in various ways to the work of the library. Special thanks to Tom and Kaye Earney for making the library pavilion possible; to the Owen County Community Foundation, for helping us with project after project. To Cook and Boston Scientific for your donations. To the more than 62 individuals who help fund testing fees for the Learning Center students working for their GED.

Thank you to our very dear Friends of the Library group, for all your hard work and support. You are all wonderful, and I don’t know what we would do without you.

To our patrons, I have come to know and love so many of you and will miss seeing you on a regular basis. Thank you for making this job such a happy experience.

Remember that the library is here to uphold the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom to peaceably assemble for every resident of Owen County. If you can walk through the library and not find any books you agree with, we aren’t doing our job. If you can walk through the library and can’t find any books you disagree with, we aren’t doing our job. A public library should provide different points of view for your consideration.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve Owen County for the last 12 years. Please welcome our new Director, Brittany Van Hook.

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The seven-member Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees met in regular session on Feb. 10 to approve routine matters, recognize student and staff members of the month, and to address several items under the new business portion of the meeting.

Under routine matters, the board voted 6-0-1 to approve meeting minutes for work, executive, regular and annual finance sessions held Jan. 13, as well as work sessions held Jan. 18 and Jan. 28.

Acting on a motion from board member Donna Fidler, seconded by Mike Rightmyer II, the board also voted unanimously to approve the latest claims and financial reports, which CCSC Superintendent Greg Linton advised totaled $2,664,190.23 since the board’s previous meeting.

Next, the board voted 7-0 following a motion from Melissa Carrell, seconded by Emily Haltom, to approve Board Policies Vol. 36, No. 1 and Special Update.

The board later recognized the corporation’s Student of the Month honorees for February, which included Cloverdale Elementary School (CES) student Harper Lotz, Cloverdale Middle School (CMS) student Ally Shepherd and Cloverdale High School (CHS) student Autumn Wheeler.

“All of you young people honored here tonight represent the best in our school corporation,” board president Vivian Whitaker said at the conclusion of the presentations, addressing the Student of the Month recipients. “You each have parents and family with you here tonight. You’re lucky to have them here to support you, and that’s a big reason why you’re all being recognized here tonight, because of how much they care for you and have set examples and standards for you to be. I wish you all continued success in school.”

Megan Puckett, Knoy Resource Center Program Director and third grade teacher at CES, was recognized as the latest Staff Member of the Month.

“We received an email this afternoon. They had a site review of the Knoy Center, and it was very, very positive,” Whitaker said. “We want to thank Megan for everything she has done in that program.”

The goal of the corporation’s Knoy Resource Center is to provide students with academic and enrichment opportunities, as well as additional activities to complement their regular academic programs at CES and CMS.

Also recognized was Cooper Wilson, a third grader at CES, who earned the Good Citizen Award for the month of February, presented by Cloverdale Town Marshal Adam Hull.

“Cooper always prioritizes others and genuinely cares about the safety and wellbeing of his classmates,” Hall said. “His infectious smile and positive attitude create an environment in the classroom where everyone feels valued. Cooper’s leadership qualities make him a role model for his fellow students, truly embodying the spirit of citizenship at Cloverdale Elementary.”

Moving on to new business, the board voted 7-0 to approve Title IV federal grant funds totaling $19,706.54 for the 2024-25 school year.

The board also voted 7-0 to approve a Special Education Teachers Summer Stipend Day for nine teachers.

“All of our special education teachers and staff have to transition students’ IPs (intellectual property) over into a new system,” Linton explained. “It’s a good bit of work, so we want to be able to provide them with a paid day over the summer to be able to have some time to do this, so they don’t have to do it on their own time.”

Similarly, the board voted 7-0 to approve a Summer Stipend Day for teachers who participated in the Indiana Learning Evaluation and Assessment Readiness Network (ILEARN) pilot program.

“We have several teachers that participated in the ILEARN pilot program, and we would like to give them some time this summer as well to be able to analyze the data we have collected from that process,” Linton said, “and to be able to use what we’ve learned and to be able to implement that into the classroom next year.”

The board also cast separate 7-0 votes to approve acceptance of a grant for CHS, as well as donations for CES and CHS.

In addition, the board unanimously approved the following professional leave, field trip, and facility use requests:

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Professional Leaves

Jan. 10 – Michaela Marcum, Praxis 5205 test for license renewal, CES.

TBD in Feb. – Nick Winders, shadow Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program at Greencastle Middle School.

TBD in Feb. – Megan Schroeder, Carolyn Hall and Jill Schreiber, transition to Individualized Education Program (IEP), CMS.

TBD in Feb. – Morgan Barley, Whitney Roberts, Rachel Scott, Debra Estep and Chelsea Reed, transition to IEP, CES.

Feb. 12 – Jill Schreiber, Reading Routines Workshop, Area 30 at Greencastle.

Feb. 13 – Chelsey Meluch, Nicole Campbell and Lori Halloran, Leader in Me Community Day, Monticello, IN.

Feb. 17 – Chelsey Meluch, School Safety Basic Training, Indianapolis.

Mar. 19 – Ethan Linton, Indiana State University (ISU) Educational Extravaganza, ISU Career Center, Terre Haute.

Mar. 31 – Sandi Price, Snails to Trails clerical work, CMS.

Apr. 29 – Megan Puckett, IN Afterschool Network Conference for Knoy, Plainfield.

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Field Trips

Jan. 17 – Cloverdale JAG, IVY Tech, Terre Haute.

Jan. 18 – CHS Winter Guard, Martinsville High School.

Jan. 25 – CHS Winter Guard, Plainfield High School.

Feb. 3 – CMS eighth grade class, Putnam County Fairgrounds, Area 30.

Feb. 15 – CHS Winter Guard, Brownsburg High School.

Feb. 22 – CHS Winter Guard, Terre Haute South High School.

Mar. 7 or 8 – CHS Band, Terre Haute South High School.

Mar. 8 – CHS Winter Guard, Franklin Central High School.

Mar. 8 – CMS Ethics Team, Prindle at DePauw, Greencastle.

Mar. 14 or 15 – CMS Band, Monrovia High School.

Mar. 15 – CHS Winter Guard, Decatur Central High School.

Mar. 15 – Bring Change 2 Mind, Colts practice field, Indianapolis.

Apr. 25 – CES second grade class, Skate World, Deming Park.

May 9 – CES fourth grade class, Putnam County Fairgrounds.

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Facility Use

Jan. 10-Mar. 28, Fridays – Performing Arts, A Class Winter Guard instruction, CES gymnasium.

Feb. 1 – Student Council, Homecoming Dance, CHS auxiliary gymnasium.

Feb.3 to May 7, Mondays/Wednesdays – 4-H meeting, CHS agriculture room.

Feb. 19 – Cloverdale Community Youth League (CCYL), youth volleyball pictures, CES gymnasium.

Feb. 28 – CMS sixth grade dance, CMS.

Feb. 28 – CES PTO, Knights and Princesses Ball, CES gymnasium.

Mar. 2 to May 25, Sundays – 8U softball practice, CHS auxiliary gymnasium.

Mar. 7 – CES PTO, Boys Night Out Dance, CES gymnasium.

Mar. 7 – C.H.O.I.C.E. positive behavior support program, ice cream social, CES/CMS cafeteria.

Apr. 12 – CCYL, Youth Jamboree Day, CHS varsity softball and baseball fields.

Apr. 19 – CCYL Easter egg hunt, CHS football field and nature trail.

Apr. 26 – CCYL youth softball and baseball pictures, CES gymnasium.

Apr. 30 – CMS Drama Club, play, CMS cafetorium.

May 16 – CHS FFA, celebratory banquet, CHS cafetorium.

May 20 – Cloverdale PTO, CES track & field day, CHS track, football field and facilities, and CES playground.

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Additional personnel matters receiving unanimous board approval included:

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Retirement

Mary Miller – CMS registrar/secretary.

Debra Warfel – CES and CMS choir teacher.

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Resignations

Autumn Lewellen – CHS Alternative Education Program (AEP) Discipline Assistant.

Lori Halloran – Knoy teacher.

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Employment

Jane Huge – CHS business instructor, long-term substitute, 2024-25 school year.

Seth Geiger – CES and CMS choir, long-term substitute, 2024-25 school year.

Jamie Gibson – intermittent bus aide.

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FMLA

Debra Warfel – CES and CMS choir teacher.

Lesley Spatta – CHS teacher.

Brad Sandy – CES teacher.

Paige Glassburn – CES Pre-K teacher.

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Coaching Hire

Sara Howard – CMS seventh/eighth grade girls’ track coach.

Michael Nees – CHS assistant track coach.

Seth Geiger – CHS assistant boys’ track coach.

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Coaching Volunteer

Roger Tonna – CMS volunteer assistant wrestling coach.

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The Cloverdale Community School Board will meet again on Monday, March 10 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale. Members of the board include Vivian Witaker, Katrina Lewis, Donna Fidler, Melissa Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann and Mike Rightmyer II.

Working in the absence of councilman Jon Stantz, Spencer Town Council members Evan McKalip and Mike Spinks met in regular session Feb. 18, along with clerk-treasurer Cheryl Moke, town manager Hunter Stogsdill and town attorney Richard Lorenz.

Following approval of the Feb. 3 meeting minutes, the council heard from Colleen Minnemeyer, a member of the Spencer Parks and Recreation Committee, regarding the committee’s plan to develop a vacant lot on the northeast corner of S. Main and E. Cooper Streets into a pocket park.

Typically, a pocket park occupies one to three municipal lots and is smaller than one acre in size. The committee envisions public restrooms, a full-size basketball court and two pickleball courts occupying the currently unused space.

Minnemeyer presented the council with a progress update, including a proposed site development plan prepared by architecture firm Rundell Ernstberger Associates (REA). She noted REA’s original plan was divided into two phases in the event the entire project could not be funded at once. The Spencer Parks and Recreation Committee is actively applying for grant funding, Minnemeyer said, and feels strongly that they will be able to secure a sizable portion of the overall project cost.

Although completing the entire project in one phase would be more cost-effective, Minnemeyer said the committee is willing to undertake the project in separate phases as funding allows.

In other business, the council voted 2-0 to approve three invoices from Commonwealth Engineers related to wastewater system improvements and extensions, including Wastewater Improvements Phase 1, $11,400; Wastewater Improvements Phase 1, $686.83; and MCSP (McCormick’s Creek State Park) Project, $15,665.15.

Spencer Police Department (SPD) Chief Richard Foutch later addressed the council, reporting he had posted an employment ad on the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy website. Foutch said the department aims to hire at least two additional officers due to impending changes to his department and officers attending the academy.

Foutch also presented the council with a quote from John Jones for the purchase of a new police pursuit vehicle. The quote was for $62,043.50, with additional police radio system costs bringing the grand total to $65,608.55.

Councilman Spinks made a motion to approve the purchase of the vehicle for the SPD. McKalip seconded the motion, which passed 2-0.

In addition, Foutch publicly thanked the Owen County Health Department for donating a ZOLL manufactured automated external defibrillator (AED) to the Town of Spencer. Towns are required to have an AED in case of emergencies. AEDs are described as life-saving tools that deliver critical care to someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest before an ambulance can arrive. The AED cabinet has been installed on an interior wall of the Spencer Municipal Building.

Sewer department superintendent Ryan Klaassen provided an update on the sewer plant and collections, explaining that a damaged sewer line on James Drive needed to be replaced. Tree roots, he said, have caused a 100-percent blockage of the sewer line. He presented a quote from DuBois Excavating for $7,800.

Spinks made a motion to approve the sewer line replacement quote from DuBois Excavating. McKalip seconded the motion, which passed 2-0.

Klaassen also presented the council with two quotes from Brown Equipment Company (BEC) for the purchase of a hydro-jetter trailer, both of which were lower than quotes obtained two years ago for similar equipment. The council took the quotes under advisement until its next meeting.

Lastly, Klaassen presented the board with a quote for the purchase of a new service vehicle from Curry Auto Center. Again, the council took the matter under advisement until its next meeting.

Regarding the Owen Valley Fire Territory, clerk-treasurer Moke reported that a new attorney was recently hired by the fire territory board – Christine Bartlett with Bloomington-based Ferguson Law. Bartlett also serves as an attorney for the Spencer-Owen School Board, Moke explained.

The council met again on March 3 with all three council members in attendance, along with clerk-treasurer Moke, town manager Stogsdill, and town attorney Lorenz.

Following acceptance of the Feb. 18 meeting minutes, the council voted 3-0 to approve an ABATE of Indiana memorial ride event request for May 25, from 10 a.m. to noon. The SPD will provide a police escort out of town at the conclusion of the event.

Under departmental reports, the council learned the SPD received eight applicants for its open police officer positions. Plans call for interviews to be conducted within two weeks.

Street department superintendent Tony Floyd told the council his department had focused attention the previous week on sweeping town streets of sand and salt left behind from treating streets over the winter months. Their efforts help prevent excess salt and sand from being washed into storm sewers and surface waters.

Floyd also provided the council with an update related to the Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) program. The program provides funding for cities, towns and counties across Indiana to make improvements to local roads and bridges, with Spencer prepared to again apply for funds to repave select streets.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) holds two CCMG Call for Projects each year, one in January and one in July. Floyd said he and the Town of Spencer will apply for the next round in July.

Floyd also requested council permission to supply and spread a single load of stone at the Brad Harris property located off Hyden Road, just outside of town limits. Floyd said the department utilizes the drive as a turnround when plowing snow.

“Every four or five years we’ll bring them a load of stone and utilize one of our tractors to spread and grade the drive,” Floyd said. “It’s just a friendly thank you for letting us use their drive.”

Councilman McKalip made a motion to approve the request, which was seconded by councilman Spinks and approved 2-0-1. Stantz abstained from the vote, noting a family connection to the property owner.

Klaassen, superintendent of the town’s sewer department, provided the council with an update on the ongoing sewer line issue on James Drive. He noted the line was to be replaced later in the week. He also requested and received council permission to purchase a new 28 horsepower pump for a lift station located along Beem St., not to exceed $2,500.

Lift stations are mechanically operated and designed to move wastewater, sewage waste or excess stormwater from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to prevent problems from developing.

Returning to quotes provided at the council’s Feb. 18 meeting for the purchase of a hydro-jetter trailer and a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado service truck, the council voted unanimously to approve both purchases for the sewer department. The trailer quote was for $84,000, and the service truck quote totaled $80,073.

The council also voted 3-0 to provide up to $325,000 toward the Spencer Parks and Recreation Committee’s plan to develop the vacant lot at the northeast corner of South Main and East Cooper Streets into a pocket park. A large portion of the funding will come from the town’s Rainy Day and Riverboat funds.

Councilman McKalip noted the base bid for the plan, which only includes the bathrooms, all concrete work, one pickleball court and a half basketball court totals $303,687. The committee, working in collaboration with the Owen County Community Foundation, remains focused on fundraising to support the construction of a second pickleball court as well as the installation of a full basketball court rather than a half court.

In other news, the council spoke with Owen County Humane Society Board President Becky Brown, who was in attendance to discuss the local shelter’s capacity and funding issues. Although the shelter is often unable to accept stray animals due to limited housing capacity, she emphasized the shelter will always respond to calls received from the town and county related to animal neglect, abuse or hoarding, regardless of the shelter’s ongoing limitations.

The Spencer Town Council will meet again on March 17 and April 7. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St.

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The Parks Board of the Town of Spencer is moving forward with plans to enhance Cooper Commons by adding a public restroom, a full court basketball court and two pickleball courts on a currently vacant lot on the Northeast corner of Cooper and Main Streets.

Titled the Cooper Commons Recreation Project, it aims to add much-needed amenities that will provide new opportunities for outdoor activity and community engagement.

The planned upgrades align with the growing demand for recreational amenities in Spencer. Pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, will now have a dedicated space in the community, while a new basketball court will provide a space for intergenerational play. The addition of a restroom will make Cooper Commons more accessible and comfortable for visitors at the park, those using the MYPath Trail and community events, such as parades in Spencer that gather at the Fairgrounds and at Cooper Commons.

“This project is the first of many big and small updates being discussed to improve the parks in Spencer. When deciding on what to do first, we went back to the Parks Master Plan and saw there was a clear winner — the need for bathrooms at Cooper Commons. The board is working diligently to apply for grants and raise funds to make this - and future improvements happen,” said Kristen Portteus, Parks Board President.

The project is moving to the bidding phase in March, with a goal of construction starting in May and a completion of October to November.

The Parks Board is actively seeking additional support to help bring these exciting improvements to life. Every contribution, big or small, will play a crucial role in making Cooper Commons a better place for residents of all ages. The board is calling on the Spencer and Owen County residents, businesses and organizations to get involved in the project by spreading the word and making donations that will be matched by the IHCDA CreatINg Places grant.

Donations can be made to the Owen County Community Foundation, directed to the ‘Cooper Commons Recreation Project’. An online link will be available soon to donate, so stay tuned for more information online.

Anyone interested in learning more about the project or to get involved is encouraged to come to a Parks Board meeting. Meetings are open to the public and occur every 4th Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Town of Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West. St., Spencer.

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Is it the thrill of the hunt, or the taste of the magnificent morel that drives Owen Countians wild? Whether foraging in the woods or frying up a batch of flavorful fungi is your favorite part of the annual spring tradition, The Owen News is pleased to announce our first-ever Morel Mushroom Contest!

In addition to “Sweet Owen” bragging rights, the mushroom hunter who finds the largest morel (length + width) will receive $50, while second place will be awarded $25, and third place $10.

The contest is open to Owen County residents only and will officially close at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 23. Entries cost $5 each and are not limited, so keep hunting as the season progresses. Entry fees may be paid online, by check or money order or by cash at the time of entry. All proceeds will support The Owen News. The winners will be announced in our June 2025 issue.

The contest is limited to yellow or gray morel (sponge) mushroom varieties. All entries must have been found in Owen County.

All entries must be measured at our office, 114 S. Main St., Spencer, either by appointment by calling 812-510-4662 or emailing info@theowennews.org. Office hours specifically for the mushroom contest are:

• March 20, noon to 5 p.m.
• March 25, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
• March 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• April 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
• April 3, 2 to 5 p.m.
• April 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
• April 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• April 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
• April 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
• April 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
• May 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
• May 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
• May 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
• May 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• May 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
• May 23, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This year’s contest is sponsored by A Fungus Among Us, LLC.

As a reminder, morel mushrooms typically start to emerge when the soil temperature reaches around 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They prefer air temperatures in the 60s and 70s during the day and no lower than 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

For the best longevity and to prevent mushrooms from going bad, mushrooms should be stored in a brown paper bag or lined with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Storing them in plastic traps moisture, leading to a slimy texture and creates the potential for mold growth.

The best way to harvest morel mushrooms is to cut them at the base with scissors or a knife, or pinch them off at the base with your fingers. Cutting or pinching ensures that the mushroom is removed without damaging the mycelium, which is the underground network that helps the mushrooms grow.  

Using a mesh bag is also recommended because it allows the spores to fall back to the ground as you continue your hunt, potentially helping to maintain or increase the morel population.

Morels are found in various habitats, often near dead or dying trees such as elms, poplars and ash trees, as well as in old apple orchards. Morel mushrooms are considered to be mycorrhizal, meaning they form a mutualistic relationship with the roots of trees. This relationship benefits both the fungus and the tree, with the fungus receiving carbohydrates from the plant and the plant gaining access to more water and nutrients from the soil due to the increased surface area provided by the mycelium of the fungus. This dual nature of morels—being both mycorrhizal and saprotrophic—explains why they can be found in a variety of environments, including around dead or dying trees.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Printed local newspapers have been a given for most of our lives.

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Over the last decade, however, what had become a fixture of most of our cities and towns is no longer a norm, but rather the exception – especially in rural communities.  The Owen News offers a testament to what is possible when a community pushes back against what might seem inevitable and in the process, finds a local solution to keep community members informed and connected.

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The Owen News, this year’s winner of the Quality of Place Innovation Award was recognized at Regional Opportunity Inc’s (ROI) Annual Report to the Region on Feb. 18 in French Lick. The Quality of Place Innovation Award recognizes projects and meaningful community improvements that enhance the Indiana Uplands as an inventive, industrious, and friendly place to live, work, and play.

“In an age dominated by national news and social media, local news outlets remain vital to the overall health and connectedness of small communities,” said Travis Curry, President of The Owen News Board of Directors. “By shining the spotlight on local government, achievements, events and challenges, The Owen News aims to foster a sense of belonging and shared community for our readers. We are honored to share this award from ROI with the entire Owen County community, whose financial and collaborative support makes it possible for our non-profit to focus on delivering the best journalism from Owen and the surrounding areas.”

As reported by Indiana Public Media in their series Paper Cuts, local newspapers in south-central Indiana have suffered steep circulation and staffing declines. This left many Hoosiers without access to truly local journalism—coverage that prioritizes their communities, not just regional or state-level stories.

In Owen County, the northernmost of the Indiana Uplands counties, The Spencer Evening World, once a vibrant daily newspaper had become a weekly newspaper and website, dominated by headlines about state government and news from other cities.

Unwilling to accept the demise of local news, the Owen News Project, Inc., the underlying non-profit behind what today is known as The Owen News, established a 501(c)3 non-profit in the fall of 2022 and received a $10,000 Large Impact Grant from the Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) to launch and a $30,000 implementation grant to support the printing of the newspaper in 2024. Most recently, OCCF committed $300,000 to support the newspaper’s work. The foundation is also offering bookkeeping, administrative and fundraising support throughout the next three years.

“The Owen News fills a news gap in an Indiana Uplands community and, in the process, is offering a sustainable model for other communities to replicate,” the ROI press release reads.

“By restoring access to truly local journalism, The Owen News strengthens community connections and ensures that the stories, defining the Indiana Uplands as a vibrant place to live, work and play, are told,” said ROI Vice President of Economic and Community Development Julie Halbig.

“Traditionally, local news has only been tied to our democracy and holding those in power accountable. While that is certainly one of the many important aspects of local news, the impact stretches much further into the very fabric of our society and communities,” Executive Editor Nicole DeCriscio said. “Local news has a direct impact on economic development and overall quality of place and life. It is an honor to receive this regional award, which shows both the value that our part of the state places on local news and the recognition that local news is essential to thriving, successful Hoosier communities.”

When March finally arrives, we know warmer temps are right around the corner.

It may be possible to catch fish the usual way now (de-iced) since they’re hungry after the winter’s fast. The early season is the best time to catch the biggest bass in the lake or to get a nice bunch of crappies. But you must fish dead slow and be very patient. The afternoons are usually best.

Remember to renew your hunting/fishing licenses soon. You don’t want to be caught without proper documentation. It’s embarrassing and expensive. A couple of times I have nearly run afoul of the law, due to my ignorance or carelessness.

Once I was merrily fishing away at Turtle Creek Reservoir near Merom, south of Sullivan. My dad and I were in a cove which was near a county road. A couple of conservation officers stopped and asked us to read the numbers from our licenses. My dad complied, but as I frequently do, I had left my wallet locked up in the car. I always imagine I might fall in the lake and there goes the contents, and a wallet is uncomfortable to sit on all day. The officers were not pleased with my claim, and in hindsight, it sounded phony. They debated what to do. They played “good cop, bad cop,” a scenario in which one wanted to write me a ticket then and there and the other argued for meeting us at the ramp. Luckily the good cop won out, and we all had a semi-pleasant meeting back at my car, where I produced my license. I could’ve saved stress and fishing time by having my paperwork on my person.

The Indiana DNR launched the Activity Hub on Dec. 11. You can purchase your licenses, check in game, register with the HIP (Harvest Information Program) and perform other tasks. Call the DNR Customer Service Center at 317-232-4200 if you need assistance.

Another time my dad and I were not so fortunate. We were at Dogwood Lake (Glendale) in the late fall. It was duck season, and the entire eastern section of the lake was off limits to fishermen. This restricted area was our favorite, so we resigned ourselves to staying as close to the cutoff zone as we could. Fishing wasn’t good, and things got much worse when an official-looking boat approached. The fellow identified himself as the Glendale property manager and asked, “You boys know anything about an angler’s boat motoring through a decoy setup?”

We had not done this and thought anyone who did would be nuts, because somewhere close would lurk a guy with a shotgun. We vehemently denied any guilt, but he asked us to accompany him to his office. When we got there, a conservation officer was present. After quite a bit of discussion in which my dad, never one to anger that much, grew quite upset, the officer wrote us up. My dad, an upholder of all laws, was absolutely incensed—I had never seen him that mad. We weren’t guilty, but we paid the price for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. My upright father was concerned that since I was a Jasper teacher, my good name would be soiled forever. I’m pretty sure Dad, a retired teacher and community leader, had never gotten a ticket for anything in his life. I have forgotten what the penalty amounted to, but we paid it and moved on. We consoled ourselves by knowing the newspaper notice of the fine would be in the Washington papers and not Jasper’s. It was a difficult situation for everyone, so we put it in the past. Spilled milk. Lesson learned.

Conservation officers have a tough job. They have plenty on their hands without having to deal with us law-abiding folks who just neglect to know the rules. Those who intentionally flaunt the law, such as deer poachers and fishermen who keep more than the limit, deserve prosecution. A really difficult aspect of a CO’s job is assisting recovery of drowning victims. The next time you see one of these officers, thank them for their service. They deserve it.

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Libraries throughout the state of Indiana are required to complete a survey each year, answering about 70 pages worth of detailed questions about our operations. Some of these questions are required by the federal government, others by the state library. The questions cover information about our library, about what services were offered in the past year and how many hours per week these services were available. They ask about our buildings, the Bookmobile, about our library users and basic information about our community.

They want to know all about what revenue we receive and how we spend it.  The state is so interested in this part that there is actually a second extremely detailed report that covers our finances much more thoroughly.

The report also covers the programs we offer, what ages we plan for and how many in each age group attend those programs.

They also want to know how often our computers are used, how often materials are checked out and how many materials and how much equipment we have available for you.

They ask about our Board of Trustees and information about our employees; how many we have, their level of education, experience and approximately what they are paid and what benefits we offer them.

And finally, there are about seven pages of state required standards which we must comply with, and in many instances, must show evidence of being in compliance with, to be considered “within Standards.” In all the years I have been here, we have always been ruled “In Compliance” with those standards, and I’m so happy to report, we have always exceeded many of those standards.

After completing the report in the past, I have usually shared some of the information that was revealed by the report for the public that I thought might be of interest; usually by means of a newspaper article.

The following information is our “scorecard” for 2024 based on those findings:

We currently have 5,604 Registered Library Card Holders. And as a side note, we do not charge Owen County residents for library cards. We only require that adults bring proof of address and a photo ID. If the photo ID has your correct, current address, no other information is needed.

We also do not charge a fine for materials that are turned in late.

While we encourage all Owen County residents to register for a library card, many frequent library users do not have a card because a card is not necessary for so many of the ways they use the library:

Cards are not necessary to use Wi-Fi from anywhere outside of the building.  Cards are not necessary to use Wi-Fi or the computers in the building, to use the annual free tax preparation service or the legal help kiosk, to attend adult education or language classes. A card is not necessary to access the newspapers and magazines or any of the books available in the library to be read while you visit here. A card is not needed to use the resources available in the genealogy vault. Many residents who do not have a card come in often to use the copy machines, the fax machines and to attend programs, exercise classes, educational classes; whether library-sponsored or one of the many programs or meetings held in library spaces by other groups or individuals. A library card is not necessary to reserve one of at least eight spaces available for meetings, events or study areas, in most cases without charge, or to shop the Friends of the Library monthly book sale.

So, while we are happy that more than a quarter of Owen County residents have a library card, that number does not come close to telling the whole story of library use here.

The library does not charge for the items that we are able to access for you through the state courier system. Last year we borrowed 537 items from other libraries for our patrons here. We also provided 480 items to other libraries around the state.

In 2024 we provided 350 library-planned programs in the library for children aged 0 to 5 and had a total attendance of 3,068 for all those programs combined.

We provided 188 programs for children 6 to 11-years-old with a total attendance of 5,106.

For young adults we provided 115 programs with an attendance of 944.

For adults we provided 129 programs for 3,152 attendees.

We also provided 266 programs of general interest for all ages and counted a total of 5,170 in attendance at those programs.

The meeting rooms here were used 659 times by outside groups.

While this number is never static, since we are always adding to our collection, we currently have 62,552 books available to check out; 6,719 audio materials, 9,148 videos and 62 other circulating items, including hot spots (these are new hotspots this year, and improved in quality from the ones we had previously). Last year 72,738 physical items were checked out, and 45,905 books, audiobooks and movies were checked out from the children’s collection. Other physical items, such as hot spots were checked out 402 times.

Our digital library includes books, audio, videos, research databases and online learning platforms. Especially popular with children are Tumblebooks and Worldbook online.

Our electronic collection is always expanding, but currently we offer about 13,183 downloadable e-books, 4,285 electronic magazines and 21,296 audiobooks. A total of 38,764 online materials were checked out in 2024.

The Bookmobile provided 1,152 hours of public use throughout the year, providing 186 children’s programs (ages 0 to 5), with a total attendance of 1,786 children; 144 programs for children (ages 6 to 11), with a total attendance of 4,188; 52 programs for adults with an attendance count of 1,778, and one general interest program attended by 123 people.

As usual, we exceeded the number of books that we are required to purchase per capita.

Our seven-member Board of Trustees all serve voluntarily without pay, as do our Friends of the Library.

The OCPL staff members have a wide variety of previous work experiences, and come to us with various levels of education, with three staff members holding a Master of Library Science degree.

The Owen County Public Library is open 59 hours in a typical week – Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m, Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Some regularly scheduled programs to look forward to in March:

• Tuesdays, 10 to 11 a.m., Cuddle Up Program for parents and their infants or toddlers.
• Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Homeschooled children from kindergarten and up.
• Wednesdays, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Crafting with B.J.
• Thursdays, 10 to 11 a.m., Fun with Friends for children ages 3-5.
• The First Friday of each month, 2 to 3 p.m., Watercolor Painting
• Friday, March 8, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friends of the Library Book Sale in the Community Room.

Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) contractor CLR, Inc. recently began work on a small structure paved invert project on State Road 43 South, between Parkview Drive and Wood Drive, south of SR 46E.

According to Sidney Nierman, Public Relations Director for INDOT’s Southeast District, the small structure paved invert work includes the installation of new concrete headwalls, which help to support the areas surrounding the drainpipe. New headwalls, she explained, will also be installed at each end of the drainpipe along SR 43S.

In addition, Nierman said crews will work to fill in areas of the drainpipe that have experienced deterioration over time to improve the overall drainage in the area.

The project, part of a contract awarded to CLR in July of 2024, is expected to be completed in late April, weather permitting.

Temporary traffic signals are being utilized while work is in progress.

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It’s getting so bad that a guy can’t get any work done.

A couple weeks ago, I was determined to assemble a couple picnic tables to go with the new pavilion on MYPath. It wasn’t a complicated process. I just needed to attach the table, legs and benches with bolts. Darrell White volunteered to help me.

As we started unpacking the boxes that held all the parts and materials, David Henk approached. He had just been on the trail with his camera and large lens. He was taking photos of some of the birds that hang out near the path. Darrell is also a photographer, so that led to conversations about photography, birds and MYPath in general.

Eventually, we got back to work. The tables had been delivered to the Soil and Water Conservation office. The destined location was under the pavilion, which is down the trail and across the bridge. So, we had to both assemble and transport. Due to rain, snow and mud there were some other complications, like the instructions being frozen in ice, then disintegrating. But it wasn’t too complicated. The interruptions were the thing that made it a longer process.

As we were moving one table into place, we met a couple that were new to Owen County. They had been living and traveling in an RV for many years. They decided to settle down and had recently moved into one of the houses in the Cook development on Texas Pike. The husband was recovering from an ankle injury and needed a steady, level path, like MYPath. They were interesting, and their dog was very nice.

A woman walking a dog passed by. We only talked with her briefly. Then a neighbor from across River Road came over. He has been keeping an eye on the trail construction and activity on the path. He stopped by to say he liked the pavilion. We chatted for a while. He reported on activities that are happening when nobody else is looking. It’s nice to have neighbors watching out for the trail.

We were enjoying the conversations. But I kept looking at a bag full of bolts, washers and nuts. I kept looking at the upside down tabletop, waiting for us to attach the legs. The seats fit on the legs. None of it was happening while we were talking.

Local artist Thomas Maher was walking down the path. He stopped to talk to us about having some art along the trail. He makes sculptures out of scrap machinery. I had met him briefly at the inaugural meeting of the new Sweet Owen Arts Commission. We agreed that art along the trail would be fantastic. He promised to send me photos of samples (which he emailed me, and they look great).

Tony Craig from the Owen County Community Foundation walked by. We see him on the trail regularly. This time he was not going to get a free pass. We recruited him to help us load one of the tables for transport. The tables are very heavy, and the extra set of hands was appreciated.

When Darrell and I finally assembled that last table and carried it to its spot, we started laughing. We agreed we could have finished the job a lot faster if all those people hadn’t been interrupting us. We were chuckling about those people getting in our way while we were trying to make something for people.

It is moments like that when you start to really get a feeling for the importance of a community trail like MYPath. We didn’t send invitations to the community to come watch a couple guys put picnic tables together. We just happened to be there at the same time several members of the community chose to use this new resource. And it was a friendly atmosphere where we could just chat.

Darrell and I decided that all the chatting delayed our project completion by about an hour. And we enjoyed every minute of it.

***

Kyle Hannon is the project manager for the MYPath Trail System. He has served in many community development and trail connection roles throughout the state. On many weekends, he serves as an interpretive specialist at McCormick’s Creek State Park.

Owen Valley High School (OVHS) is dedicated to preparing students for success beyond graduation by offering an impressive selection of 20 Career Pathways. These pathways provide students with valuable opportunities to explore their interests, gain real-world experience and develop essential skills that align with future careers. Through this initiative, OVHS ensures that students graduate with a strong foundation for college, technical training or immediate entry into the workforce.

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The Benefits of Career Pathways

Career Pathways offer students numerous advantages that contribute to their overall academic and career success. One of the most significant benefits is early career exploration. By participating in a career-focused curriculum, students can identify their strengths and passions before making critical decisions about their future. This early exposure helps them select a career path that aligns with their interests and long-term goals.

Another key benefit is relevant coursework. Each Career Pathway provides specialized instruction tailored to specific industries, making learning more engaging and applicable. Whether a student is interested in engineering, business, or healthcare, OVHS ensures they acquire the knowledge and technical skills needed for success in their chosen field.

Additionally, OVHS emphasizes work-based learning opportunities. Students have access to internships, apprenticeships and job shadowing experiences that bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world application. These hands-on experiences enhance their understanding of workplace expectations, industry standards and professional networking.

By engaging in Career Pathways, students also experience improved college and career readiness. The focused coursework and hands-on training better prepare students for higher education or vocational programs, ensuring they make informed decisions about their next steps after high school.

Studies show that career-focused education contributes to higher graduation rates. When students see the direct connection between their studies and their future careers, they are more motivated to succeed academically. OVHS students benefit from this engagement, leading to one of the highest levels of achievement and completion in the surrounding area.

Furthermore, OVHS fosters stronger community connections by partnering with local businesses, industries and organizations. These collaborations provide students with mentorship, networking opportunities and potential job placements, strengthening the bridge between education and employment.

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Diverse Career Pathways at OVHS

Owen Valley High School offers a comprehensive selection of Career Pathways, ensuring that every student finds a program that aligns with their interests and ambitions. The Patriot Pathways include:

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Precision Machining
• Radio & TV Broadcasting
• Education Careers
• Digital Design
• Business Marketing
• Biomedical Sciences
• Human & Social Services
• Criminal Justice
• Fashion & Textiles
• Civic Arts (Band, Choir, Visual Arts)
• Agriculture
• Natural Resources
• Food Science
• Horticulture
• Animal Science

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Preparing Students for a Bright Future

At OVHS, the mission is clear: to equip students with relevant, real-world experiences that set them up for success. Whether students plan to attend college, pursue technical training, join the military or enter the workforce, these Career Pathways provide the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to thrive in their chosen fields.

With a strong commitment to student success, Owen Valley High School continues to lead the way in career-focused education, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for life beyond high school. For students looking to take control of their future, OVHS provides the pathway to success.

The Gosport Volunteer Fire Department is actively seeking dedicated individuals to join its volunteer firefighter program. Applications are available at Gosport Town Hall during normal business hours, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is closed for lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m.

In addition to completing a membership application and other requirements, applicants are asked to sign the “Volunteer Firefighters Pledge,” which reads as follows:

“I will attend all training sessions so that I may be fully informed and efficient in the proper operation of all equipment, regulations and tactics. When responding in the fire apparatus or personal vehicle, I will observe all traffic, obey all laws and be prepared to stop if traffic should not yield. Upon returning to the station, I will obey all traffic regulations.

“I will comply with orders given by the Fire Chief, or the highest-ranking officer present on scene, and will gladly assist in the care, maintenance and improvements made to equipment or buildings in my spare time and will attempt to make all work details called.

“I will participate in all fund-raising events, helping the department grow.

“I will protect all department equipment as well as humanly possible from theft, damage or improper use. I will not allow any department keys to be duplicated.

“I understand that I am expected to make at least 50 percent of runs, meetings and work details through the year, and if I fail to attend three consecutive training sessions or meetings without a legitimate excuse, I will gladly return all department items to the Equipment Captain or another officer of the department and no longer be an active member of the fire department.

“I agree to conduct myself in a manner that is respectful and courteous to those around me and to treat all members of the department with trust and respect at all times. I will participate in the duties and functions of the fire department only in the state of strict sobriety.

“I pledge to comply fully with each of the above agreements without any reservations.”

Anyone interested is encouraged to apply, regardless of prior experience. For further details about the volunteer firefighter program and its requirements, call Gosport Town Hall, 812-879-4334, or firefighter Ron Neibel at 812-821-4082.

Gosport Town Hall is located at 7 E. Main St., Gosport.

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Owen County 4-H is buzzing with excitement as it announces entomology as the Project of the Year for 2025.

This fascinating field, which involves the study of insects, promises to engage and educate students in new and exciting ways. With a focus on hands-on learning and scientific exploration, the entomology project is set to be a highlight of the upcoming Owen County Fair.

Students who participate in the entomology project will have the opportunity to delve into the world of insects, learning about their biology, behavior and ecological importance. From collecting and identifying different species to understanding their roles in various ecosystems, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of these incredible creatures. The project encourages curiosity and scientific inquiry, making it an ideal choice for young minds eager to explore the natural world.

One of the most exciting aspects of this year's project is the special incentive for students who complete their entomology projects. Those who turn in a completed project at the 2025 Owen County Fair will receive a free T-shirt themed to the Project of the Year. This unique T-shirt will serve as a badge of honor, showcasing the students' hard work and dedication to their studies. It's a wonderful way to reward their efforts and celebrate their achievements.

In addition to the entomology project, Owen County 4-H is offering a SPARK Club specifically designed to support students in their entomological endeavors. The SPARK Club will provide additional resources, guidance and opportunities for hands-on learning. The club will meet on two separate dates, ensuring that all interested students can participate.

The first SPARK Club meeting will take place via Zoom, allowing students to join from the comfort of their homes. This virtual session will cover the basics of entomology, introduce key concepts and provide an overview of the project requirements. It's a great way for students to get started and ask any initial questions they may have. This will take place on Thursday, May 29 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The second SPARK Club meeting will be held in-person, offering a more interactive and hands-on experience. During this session, students will have the chance to work directly with entomology experts, participate in fieldwork and engage in practical activities. This in-person meeting will provide invaluable experience and help students gain confidence in their abilities. The in-person session will take place on Saturday, May 31 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office in Spencer. All participants must be registered as 4-H members and must sign up for the workshop on 4-H Online.

Owen County 4-H is committed to providing enriching educational experiences for its members, and the entomology project is a testament to this dedication. By offering both virtual and in-person support through the SPARK Club, the organization ensures that all students have the opportunity to succeed and thrive.

As the 2025 Owen County Fair approaches, excitement is building for what promises to be an unforgettable year. The entomology project is set to inspire and educate, fostering a love of science and nature in the next generation of 4-H members. With the added incentive of a themed T-shirt and the support of the SPARK Club, students are sure to have a rewarding and enriching experience.

For more information about the entomology project and the SPARK Club, please visit the Owen County 4-H Facebook page or contact the 4-H office directly by calling us at 812-829-5020 or emailing owences@purdue.edu. Let's make 2025 a year of discovery and learning as we explore the incredible world of insects together!

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Antlers are a big reason why many hunt for deer and elk. I’m not saying it’s right, but it is the truth. The desire for big bucks continues to increase as the number of big bucks also increases on the landscape. In most states, hunters can only kill one or two bucks each season, so collecting big antlers one buck at a time doesn’t add up too fast. Shed hunting is the answer for how to amass a pile of antlers in a far faster way. Here are a few tips on how to improve your chances of success.

Each year about this time, deer, elk, moose and other species lose or “shed” their antlers. This is where the name “shed antler” comes from. On private and most public lands, you can pick up as many shed antlers as you can find. So, if trophy antlers are your thing, then strap on your boots and head for high deer density locations. You never know what you might come across.

I admit to loving antlers. Not nearly as much as I love food, especially medium-rare back straps covered with sautéed Vidalia onions, baby portabellas and blue cheese crumbles then lightly drizzled with Worcestershire sauce, but I do love antlers nonetheless. Sheds are nice because they can be accumulated quickly and put on display in various manners.

I have a pile of whitetail deer shed on my fireplace hearth and elk antlers in my man cave. Some people turn sheds into chandeliers; others throw them in the rocks outside their house. My neighbor has a chain of sheds hanging on his front porch. Sheds are great for decorating.

Shed antlers are also great for educating. Sheds let us know which bucks made it through the season and help keep us motivated until next September. Four hours into a freezing cold December hunt, many of us fall under the impression not a single deer made it through the season. Sheds prove they did. Find a promising shed, and I guarantee you’re more likely to get out and put up a trail camera come August and plant a food plot in June.

Shed hunting isn’t rocket science. The basic premise is bucks drop their antlers in late winter, and you hike around trying to find them. However, just like in all other types of hunting, he who is prepared is most likely to be successful. Serious shed hunters develop and work a strategy.

So, where do you look for sheds? They show up everywhere. I once found one in the middle of a gravel road. A buck must have jumped the fence and jarred it loose right there. Bedding areas, feeding areas, fence lines and trails connecting such are key locations. Bedding and feeding areas are prime because this is where deer spend most of their time. Fencerows are often successful spots because they often follow fence lines and jar antlers loose when jumping them. Ditches are the same way.

Antlers could just as easily fall off while a buck is traveling to or from these areas. Walking major trails on the property you’re shed hunting may turn up some antlers. Mature bucks, though, usually stick to traveling in the thickest cover, even in the off-season. Be sure to work your way through the tight spots on your property.

South-facing slopes attract deer during daylight hours looking to take advantage of the sun’s warmth during cold months. If you can locate a bench, which is a level shelf of land running through a declivity on a south-facing slope, you’ve located a high-probability shed hunting location.

Shed hunting not only often turns up prized antlers, it gives you a great excuse to get out and exercise in the winter. If you’re wondering what to do one weekend afternoon this month, get out and shed hunt before squirrels eat the antlers.

See you down the trail…

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” – Proverbs 29:18

In late 2023, I resolved to do something about our iconic but aging Coal City “Old Grouch” signs. It was the second version of the sign, the design featuring smiley face artwork. The signs were well-worn, the paint was faded, and the wooden frames were rotting away from years of outdoor aging. I took several pictures and sent them to A Sign Stop in Terre Haute with a request to duplicate the 4’x4’ signs.

Well, what I received was a draft design featuring Sesame Street characters. My wife, who is a semi-retired elementary school teacher, thought it was appropriate. I was perplexed because I thought it would be a simple reproduction of the sign shown in the pictures I submitted. Steve at A Sign Stop told me he thought it would not be suitable for a welcome sign, so he used the Sesame Street characters. I had failed to communicate to him that it was not a welcome sign, but Coal City’s iconic festival sign. Anyway, the design grew on me.

I personally funded this project; two local men, Rick and Lyman, helped me install the new framework and signs.

Next, I had to figure out a way to get the community involved with a fundraising idea. Years before, I came across the Original Old Fashioned Almanac Calendar through a historic, out-of-state hardware store. They used the calendar to advertise their store, and I saved the name and address. The Tennessee company has produced this classic calendar for over 140 years. It is an American tradition.

In 2024, I started offering the calendar for sale for a donation of $25. The calendar featured a custom header about our sign. I ordered more for 2025, but with a different header. I plan to continue to offer this yearly calendar, each with a different header about Coal City and Jefferson Township. A tradition is born.

If you would like to contribute and invest in a local, visible cause please consider ordering your 2025 Coal City “Old Grouch” Original Old Fashioned Almanac Calendar. Email MakeCoalCityGreatAgain@proton.me or call 812-859-4266.

Phase two of the project is the Coal City welcome sign. I teamed up with Jason Kinney from the Owen County Historical & Genealogical Society for this phase of the project; his historical knowledge was invaluable. We selected key structures with historical value and relevance, and I contracted with David Pigg, a pencil artist from Terre Haute, to draw each of the structures. Eight drawings are completed and the sketches scanned for the draft design of the sign, which will be eight feet wide and five or six feet tall and set in a permanent structure on the north and south ends of town.

Routine food inspections were conducted by the Owen County Health Department during the month of February. Reported below are the critical and non-critical comments left for these establishments:

2-13

Sweet Valley Ice Cream, 330 W. State Road 46, Spencer: No violations.

Pantry Pizzeria, 330 W. State Road 46, Spencer: No violations.

Papi Chulo’s Cantina, 330 W. State Road 46, Spencer: 1 critical. Observed open, pre-made food with no “prepared-on” or similar labeling in the walk-in fridge. 2 non-critical. Observed improper scoop for salsa storage; observed frozen chicken products sitting out and un-thawed (2:10 p.m.). When asked how long they’d been out, was informed they were set out that morning.

2-20

Hopper’s Hut, food truck: 1 non-critical. Must clean off food prep surfaces before preparing food.

Casey’s General Store, 639 W. State Road 46, Spencer: 1 critical. Observed food products (Combos Stuffed Snacks) being stored with antifreeze. 1 non-critical. Observed open ice cream cones laying on the counter behind the cold brew machine.

2-24

Chambers Restaurant, 72 W. Market Street, Spencer: 2 critical. Observed no designated handwashing sink in back kitchen. Recommendation – dedicate one bay of the two-bay sink in the middle of the kitchen as the handwashing sink; observed employee cutting tomatoes for salad bar without wearing gloves. 1 non-critical. Observed several ceiling tiles with an accumulation of dust, water damage and warped in the kitchen above food prep surfaces.

Owen Valley High School's Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) students showcased their impressive skills at the Region 8 Career Development Conference in French Lick, Indiana, bringing home a slew of awards and demonstrating their readiness for future careers.  

The competition, which included 10 other JAG programs, highlighted students’ abilities in a range of essential workforce skills.

Melissa Gillenwater, the 11th and 12th grade JAG Specialist at Owen Valley High School, expressed immense pride in her students' achievements.

"These students have worked incredibly hard to develop their skills, and their success at the regional conference is a testament to their dedication and the power of the JAG program," Gillenwater said. "We are thrilled to see them excel and represent Owen Valley so well."

The JAG program is a resiliency-building workforce program that equips students with in-demand employability skills and provides a bridge to post-secondary education and career advancement opportunities.  The regional Career Development Conference allows students to demonstrate these skills in various competitive events.

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Owen Valley students earned top honors in several categories:

Employability Skills: Landon Summerlot, 1st Place; Macie Raymond-Schelfo, 2nd Place

Business Plan: 1st Place – Kale Paquette, Daniel Worthington, and Ella Powell

Project Based Learning (PBL): 2nd Place – Lilly Cox, Gaige Fluet, and Morgan Freeman

Career Preparation: Rylee Burner, 1st Place

Financial Literacy: Ian White, 1st Place

Digital Design: Jason Dotson, 1st Place

Digital Design Brochure (Chapter): 2nd Place

Outstanding Senior: Kearston Roan, Honorable Mention

These outstanding achievements earned the students trophies and cash prizes: $200 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place and $100 for honorable mention.

Six first-place winners from OVHS—Landon Summerlot, Rylee Burner, Ian White and the Business Plan team of Kale Paquette, Daniel Worthington and Ella Powell—will advance to the Indiana State Career Development Conference in Indianapolis on March 14.  They will compete against top JAG students from across the state.

“We are excited for our students to compete at the state level and showcase their talents once again. Their success is an inspiration to all of us at Owen Valley High School,” Gillenwater said.

Well March is here again and that means it’s once again time for March Madness. To be clear, it’s time for lots of college hoops, more correctly NCAA basketball tournaments.

For some people that live in Indiana, basketball isn’t just a sport, it’s a religion. I’m not trying to be sacrilegious, just keeping it real. Many of us can attest to the fact that there are a lot of people in Indiana that are fanatics when it comes to basketball. In fact, you can drive down almost any country road or through many small towns and find a basketball goal. Sometimes you’ll find them attached to old barns or attached to a garage. I’ve even seen them nailed to a tree before. In any case, how many of us can remember shooting some hoops in the backyard with our parents when we were kids?

Today there are sports clubs and the YMCA and other places where kids can play basketball. It’s just part of our history. It’s in our DNA.

I, myself, have spent many a day over the years trying to make that round ball hit the hoop. Not that I would ever assume to be an exceptional player or anything. But there’s something about living in Indiana that causes one to get that special madness this time of year.

I must confess I am guilty of experiencing this madness as well. This madness is particularly worse during the month of March when tournament time rolls around for Big Ten basketball. I’m talking about college basketball and television and streaming games online.

Or, if you’re lucky, you might possess season tickets for games and perhaps even drop a few bills for tournament play.

Almost everywhere you look this time of year, you can see signs of the madness. Online stats, people getting into office polls with the “brackets” of teams that made the cut and people walking around displaying their favorite teams on T-shirts, hats and other paraphernalia.

Yes, I fear that March is full of this madness. And even though I am sure it occurs in other states, I tend to think we Hoosiers have the madness a bit more than others around the country. Of course I could be prejudiced. I grew up with Hoosier basketball as my father was an avid fan of one particular team.

As a child, I watched as my father would sit in front of the television where he would get all excited, sometimes even jumping up and down yelling at the TV screen.

It was a roller coaster of an affair, but a love affair all the same. One minute he was upset about a foul that was just called on his team and the next minute, he was jubilant over a ball that landed inside the hoop to bring his team into the lead.

Sometimes he would attend the games too. He was a season-ticket holder. But personally, I think he enjoyed the living room games the most.

Of course, it only stands to reason that I was influenced by his behavior. After a while, I began to watch the games too. Soon, I was also jumping up and down and getting all excited and sometimes even upset by a call made by the referees. The madness lived on.

I cannot fail to mention that food plays an important role in March Madness. I am not sure why it does but every diehard basketball fan that I know makes a trip to the store before the big game to purchase a lot of junk food which will be consumed before, during and after each game. It’s just a given that food must be a part of this ritual. I think pizza has always been my favorite. But of course, some people have tailgate parties and grill hot dogs and brats. And we must not forget the beverages. Enough said.

Of course, this madness is not for everyone or for the faint of heart, but it is a wonderful sport after all. You really cannot knock it until you’ve tried it. But I must warn you. It is highly addictive, and it usually only takes one game to get you hooked.

So, this column is dedicated to all the faithful basketball fans out there. You know who you are. Stand tall and be proud of your madness. After all, it is March, and you do live in Indiana. What more can I say? Game on!

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Booking information is provided by the Owen County Security Center. These are preliminary charges and may change as cases are processed through the circuit court system. To follow a court case, search the state’s court records at http://mycase.in.gov. This information is public record. All people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

2-6

Robert Bandy, 44, Freedom, preliminary charges of domestic battery on a person less than 14-years-old (two counts), intimidation and disorderly conduct. Arrested by Spencer Police Department (SPD) officer Bryce Brock.

Christopher Elrod, 49, Quincy, preliminary charge of domestic battery. Owen County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

Meredith Enkoff, 37, Spencer, preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and criminal trespass. Arrested by SPD officer E.J. Westgate.

2-9

William Dean, 47, Spencer, preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person. OCSD Deputy Jacob Williamson was the arresting officer.

2-10

James Blankenship, 40, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of domestic battery, criminal mischief and criminal recklessness. Arrested by OCSD K9 Deputy Joseph Musgrove.

2-12

Rebecca Maegerlein, 44, Spencer, preliminary charges of cruelty to an animal (seven counts), possession of paraphernalia and failure to appear. OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic was the arresting officer.

2-13

Alexander Jordan, 25, Spencer, preliminary charges of failure to appear and intimidation. SPD officer Patrick Patterson was the arresting officer.

2-16

Joshua Hall, 19, Spencer, preliminary charge of intimidation. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Cory Poland.

2-17

Sara Whitaker, 36, Freedom, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and probation violation. OCSD Deputy Tony Stevens was the arresting officer.

2-18

Carrie Stichter, 45, Alamo, IN, preliminary charge of auto theft. Arrested by OCSD Major William Snodgrass.

Joseph Taylor, 42, Spencer, preliminary charges of probation violation and possession of methamphetamine. Indiana Conservation Officer Caleb Hutchison was the arresting officer.

2-20

Megan Peterson, 39, Ellettsville, preliminary charge of criminal trespass. Arrested by OCSD Deputy John Lowder II.

Krystal Dennison, 27, Freedom, preliminary charges of unlawful possession of a syringe and probation violation. OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

Sunshine Fisher, 33, Gosport, preliminary charges of possession of paraphernalia and driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Cory Poland.

Destiny Goff, 29, Spencer, preliminary charges of identity deception and criminal trespass. OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich was the arresting officer.

2-21

Quinton Ruble, 31, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of probation violation and dealing in methamphetamine. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark.

Brandon Collins, 20, Freedom, preliminary charges of reckless driving and resisting law enforcement. OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler was the arresting officer.

2-22

Andrew Stout, 36, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of failure to appear, operating while intoxicated and carrying a handgun without a license. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark.

2-23

Tarin Medley, 38, Spencer, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. SPD officer Patrick Patterson was the arresting officer.

Bryan Herrington, 35, Spencer, preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Jacob Williamson.

2-24

Michal Hale, 43, Spencer, preliminary charges of intimidation, criminal mischief, trafficking and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish or salvia. SPD officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

Brian Abrell II, 34, Spencer, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge and possession of paraphernalia. Arrested by OCSD K9 Deputy Joseph Musgrove.

2-25

Michael Farris, Jr., 37, Spencer, preliminary charges of failure to appear and dealing in methamphetamine. OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

Joseph Blendin, 32, Bloomington, preliminary charges of possession of a firearm by a serious felon and theft. SPD officer Ryan Combs was the arresting officer.

2-26

Brian Cline, 45, Spencer, preliminary charges of operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator (HTV), failure to appear and auto theft. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark.

Brent Shelton, 40, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a serious felon, possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, dealing in marijuana, hash oil, hashish or salvia and neglect of a dependent; child selling. OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

2-27

Robert Maier, 57, New Palestine, IN, preliminary charges of stalking, operating with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 to .14 and computer trespass. Arrested by SPD Sergeant Terry Sips.

2-28

Angela Gillin, 47, Spencer, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia. SPD officer Ryan Combs was the arresting officer.

3-1

James Stewart, 25, Coatesville, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge, possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish or salvia. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Stephen DeWitt II.

3-3

Maria Stewart, 41, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of counterfeiting (five counts). OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

Jeremy Walker, 47, Bowling Green, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by SPD officer Ryan Combs.

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Happy spring everyone from the Health and Human Sciences corner for Purdue Extension-Owen County. My name is Jamie Jo Lowder, and I am happy to be a resource for the community and hold programming for all things food, family, finance and health related.

As we spring forward with daylight saving time, many of us feel the effects of lost sleep. That’s why the second Monday of March—March 10, 2025—is National Napping Day, a perfect reminder to recharge and prioritize rest.

According to Purdue Extension, sleep is essential for overall health, improving memory, mood and even immune function. Research suggests that short naps—around 20 to 30 minutes—can boost alertness and productivity without leaving you feeling groggy.

Here is a fun fact: Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill and Leonardo da Vinci indulged in a good power nap. These are some magnificent minds in history that knew the importance of a good quality nap. Our furry little friends do not have any qualms about taking naps throughout the day. Humans are the only mammals who delay sleep.

Here at Purdue Extension, we emphasize the importance of consistent sleep schedules, limiting screen time before bed and creating a relaxing bedtime routine to ensure quality rest. While naps can be beneficial, they shouldn't replace a full night’s sleep, which adults need for physical recovery and mental well-being.

So, this National Napping Day, take a well-earned break, embrace your inner cat, and enjoy a quick snooze—you just might wake up feeling like a genius! For more sleep health tips, I have classes available on the benefits of sleep. Contact me if you are interested in one of these programs.

Here are some programs that are happening in March:

• March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 – Steps to a Healthy You, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office. Steps to a Healthy You is a five-session series focused on eating a healthy Mediterranean-style eating pattern (a.k.a. eating the Med Way). Sessions focus on the 7 Simple Steps to Eating the Med Way. Each session explores one to two simple steps, a mindfulness skill and features Med Way recipes. Food demonstration and/or cooking instruction is included in each session. Please pre-register by calling 812-829-5020 or emailing lowder0@purdue.edu.
• March 18 – Sleep on It: Why Sleep Matters, 10 to 11 a.m. at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office. We will talk about why sleep is so important and help give you tips to promote good sleep habits. We will also cover the benefits of sleep, risks of poor sleep, stages of sleep, when to contact a healthcare provider, barriers to quality sleep and ways to improve sleep quality. If you have any questions or would like to sign up for this program, please email lowder0@purdue.edu or call 812-829-5020.
• March 19 – Crafting to Reduce Stress, 6 to 7 p.m. at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer. Please register by contacting the library, 812-829-3392. We will be going over techniques to help reduce stress as well as making a craft.

Sneak Peak - During the month of May we will offer a county-wide Get WalkIN challenge. Stay tuned for more information on this program in next month’s edition of the newspaper.

More programs will be added throughout the month, so stay tuned to our Facebook page and website for updates!

If you're interested in a program on food, finance, family or health, let me know—I’d love to bring one to your group or organization. To feature a program at your event/meeting, email the details to lowder0@purdue.edu. I look forward to connecting with you!

We made it through winter!

Looking ahead, the third week of March is observed as National Agriculture Week. Why celebrate our ability to feed ourselves and many around the world? Well, all you have to do is look at recent years and the negative impact of food insecurity around the world and we realize what a blessing our food supply truly is. We have an abundant and safe food supply in the United States and should think about how important that is to a stable economy and society. We are all involved in agriculture because we all eat three meals a day, every day. Let’s take a moment during National Agriculture Week to count our blessings and recognize the farmers and agribusiness families that provide abundant and wholesome food, as well as provide fiber and fuel from our farms.

Purdue Extension-Clay County is hosting a garden expo on Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Clay County Fairgrounds. I am currently soliciting vendors for this event, which is an area event. My intent is for the expo to showcase businesses that provide garden plants, supplies and services. Vendor space is $50 for the table space, and two tables can be reserved for $90. There will be gardening talks each hour, on the hour, and a youth activity center will be available. We are getting decent feedback about the event, and I think the crummy winter is helping everyone yearn for warmer weather. Vendors: email me at luzar@purdue.edu if you would like to participate in the event. Gardeners: make note of the March 29 date and plan to attend.

Our upcoming Home Vegetable Gardening Series offers vegetable growers the opportunity to learn more and increase the success and quality of vegetable production in their gardens. The series is three evening sessions: April 8, 15 and 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sessions will be held at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office meeting room. Purdue specialists will discuss garden preparation, pest management, organic pest control and timely topics. The program fee is $30 for all three sessions. Register by March 28 at https://cvent.me/Mm7XQ. Purdue presenters will conduct the training across the state via Zoom. I will serve as the local host and facilitator. Let me know if you have any questions.

Due to logistics, we have moved the Owen County Homesteaders program to the Purdue Extension-Owen County office meeting room. Program date is set for Thursday, March 20. Program time is 4 to 6 p.m. If the weather is nice, we have the attached carport to look at the items homesteaders may present. I have been asked if this program is only open to Owen residents? No, it is open to all area residents.

Owen Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring the March 28 Lunch and Learn. The session is to be held in the Purdue Extension-Owen County office meeting room from noon until 1 p.m. Come join the program for a roundtable on garden soil issues, vegetable gardening topics and whatever topics clients bring. Last month, we discussed fruit tree care, soil amendments and soil health issues. This is an informal session that features topics you are interested in.

We have eight exciting sessions planned for the Indiana Master Naturalist program in Owen County. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays starting in April. Sessions will cover wildlife, settlement of Owen County, geology, forestry, water quality and much more. Program fee is $60 and Owen SWCD is sponsoring five scholarships. Classes will be based out of the Purdue Extension-Owen County office. Call us at 812-529-5020 for questions.

Extension Educator Dave Osborne from Ripley County will lead a fun program at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 10.

Osborne is an avid fisherman and will be discussing water quality issues, fish health and fish preparation. A fish fry will be featured from Osborne’’s catch of the day. Come learn about fish preparation, concerns with fishing wild and to have any questions answered that you may have about fishing in Indiana. Seriously, Osborne has fished all over! Again, contact the Purdue Extension-Owen County office for questions.

Blackmail, road trips and handsome British strangers highlight first-time author and 2009 Owen Valley High School graduate Nikota Brault’s self-published novel, “Where Beauty Never Fades: A Destined Encounters Novel.”

Brault hosted a book signing event on Feb. 18 at the Owen County Public Library (OCPL) in Spencer, where among other details, the first-time novelist discussed the book’s central character, 23-year-old Remy Montgomery.

“Remy seems to have it all, but in reality, she has lived in a gilded cage her entire life on the Upper East Side of NYC,” she explained. “Blackmailed into an engagement by her womanizing, egotistical boyfriend wasn’t on Remy’s to-do list, but here she is. After all, how could she have predicted that her controlling mother would have constructed this awful situation? If Remy stays, she is subjecting herself to a lifetime of unhappiness but, if she leaves, Remy risks the happiness of the one person she cares for most, her dad.”

Ultimately, Remy is forced to make an impossible decision.

“On the eve of her wedding, Remy finds a lucky opportunity to escape her unwanted life sentence with the help of Oliver Aldey, a handsome British stranger,” Brault continued. “Together they embark on a multi-city journey that eventually leads Remy to her safe haven and a place where beauty never fades.”

Brault is no stranger to storytelling, cultivating a love of writing that began in the third grade into her first novel, a labor of love that took seven years to complete from start to finish.

“I don't have the luxury of writing full-time,” Brault said. “The first line of the novel just popped into my head one day and was just rolling around over and over and over, and the main character just started talking to me over the course of the next seven years.”

A 15-year employee of the OCPL where she serves as head of circulation in the Youth Services Department, Brault said she enjoys the creative freedom of writing in her spare time.

“It’s a good outlet for getting things out of your head and for getting ideas down on paper,” she explained. “It’s an outlet for your emotions and another way to express yourself.”

Brault, who now makes her home in nearby Bloomington with her husband Russell Knapp, said she had already begun working on her second book, though the future release date is not known.

“I'm about six chapters in,” she said. “I already have a lot of people chasing me down wanting to know when it will be published, which means a lot."

As for how many books she envisions writing in the series, Brault said “two for sure, but there could potentially be a third based on another character in the world the book encompasses.”

Geared toward the new adults and adult book categories, “Where Beauty Never Fades: A Destined Encounters Novel” involves a series of twists, turns and romance that no doubt has readers clamoring for the second installment in the series.

“Where Beauty Never Fades” is available for purchase online through Amazon, Walmart, Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million to name a few. The book can also be purchased directly from the author by contacting her via email at nikotawrites@gmail.com.

Brault can also be found on various social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by searching Nikota Writes.

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The news that there is a request before the Commissioners to restrict the choices of informed parents to expose their child to a man who dresses in women’s clothes while reading a story concerns me. The move especially concerns me because it is based on ignorance about the varieties of human sexual expression. I’m old enough to remember a couple of occasions when women came home from the hospital without their baby and the parents were slow to announce whether the child was a boy or a girl. What was happening was that surgeons were tidying up the child so that it fit more clearly in either the male or the female category. Sometimes they picked the “right” category to adjust toward and sometimes the child grew up uncomfortable with the choice. The idea that there are two clearly differentiated sexes is nonsense. The county needs to avoid getting sucked into political posturing – for all our sakes.

Leslie Nieves

It’s almost time to “spring forward.” Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9.

Digital devices, including computers, TVs and cell phones, will automatically update to the new time at 2 a.m., but all other clocks should be manually changed before going to bed on the night of Saturday, March 8, turning them ahead by one full hour.

Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of November each year. This year the clocks will “fall back” an hour on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Colin Harris is serving as an intern for the Indiana Senate Majority Caucus during the 2025 legislative session, said Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray.

Harris, a native of Spencer, is the son of Craig and Cheri Harris. Harris graduated from Owen Valley High School and is a graduate of Indiana University with degrees in English and criminal justice.

"Interns are extremely helpful to the daily operations of the Senate, especially during a busy legislative session," Bray said. "I am always glad to have interns from our local community coming to the Statehouse to gain professional experience and am excited to have Colin interning with us this year."

As a legislative intern, Harris tracks and analyzes bill data, provides constituent services, staffs Senate committee hearings and meetings and conducts legislative policy research

"I am thankful for this opportunity to intern for the Senate, and I am looking forward to all I will experience and learn through my time at the Statehouse," Harris said.

Senate Majority interns work through the duration of the legislative session, which is scheduled to end by April 29.

The Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will host its annual meeting on Thursday, March 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the 4-H Building at the Owen County Fairgrounds, 364 S. East St., Spencer.

Annual meetings of the SWCD are mandated by state law, requiring public reporting on the district’s finances and grants, current activities, upcoming plans, and as an opportunity to elect new board supervisors. Meetings are open to the public; board supervisors are voted onto the board by county landowners.

Attendees at the upcoming event will enjoy a hearty charcuterie feast with refreshments and desserts, all while enjoying music performed by Tammy Pate from High Sierra.

In addition, the evening will feature the opportunity to learn upcoming SWCD programs, projects and events, and to meet resource technicians, volunteers and board supervisors. Laura Demarest, Watershed Coordinator, will introduce the SWCD’s recently awarded Fish Creek Watershed 319 Implementation Grant and how you may qualify for its benefits.

Amy Rednour, owner of A Fungus Among Us, LLC, a first-generation mushroom farm located in Spencer, will also be on hand to lead attendees into the secret world of mushrooms. She may even share tips on finding morels.

Tickets are $10 for adults, free for children aged 12 and younger.

Please RSVP to owenSWCD@gmail.com or call Tammy Bingham at 812-606-6505. Tickets also are available at the SWCD River House, 788 Pottersville Rd., Spencer. Call the SWCD office with any questions or for more information.

Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board President and Board Legislative Liaison Derek Morgan and Superintendent Andy Cline attended the Indiana School Boards Association’s seventh annual State House Day at the Indianapolis Hyatt Regency on Feb. 18.

The annual gathering offered school board members an in-depth briefing on the education bills under debate this session, informative panel discussions with top lawmakers and a special opportunity to connect with representatives and senators from their area.

The morning opened with the ISBA lobbying team providing an update on bills impacting public education and an overview of ISBA’s advocacy efforts to date. Following the briefing, a panel discussion was held with leaders from the four legislative caucuses. Next, the chairs and minority party members of the House and Senate education committees participated in a conversation and audience Q&A.

During lunch, attendees were seated with legislators from their region, providing an opportunity for school board members to share their local perspective on issues of concern. Finally, board members made their way across Washington Street to the State House to observe session and conduct additional meetings with lawmakers.

“Our voices matter in shaping education policy, and this event was a great opportunity to engage with lawmakers on issues impacting our schools,” Morgan said.

The annual event is part of ISBA’s award-winning Legislative Action Network, a program that leverages the unified voices of Indiana school boards to inform, influence and shape sound education policy.

“School board engagement in organized grassroots advocacy is crucial,” ISBA Executive Director Terry Spradlin said. “School board members can bring attention to issues that might not be on legislators’ radar, and their informed perspectives can directly sway lawmakers’ decisions on proposed policies.”

The legislative leadership panel featured House Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Karickhoff, Senate School Funding Subcommittee Chair Eric Bassler, House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta and Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder. The education committee panel consisted of House Education Committee Chair Bob Behning, Senate Education and Career Development Committee Chair Jeff Raatz, House Education Committee Ranking Minority Member Vernon Smith and Senate Education and Career Development Committee Member Fady Qaddoura.

Two of the three Owen County Commissioners are new to their positions. Those new commissioners are former sheriff Sam Hobbs and David Risk.

In fact, the only commissioner who isn’t new to the position is Gary Burton, the board's former president. 

At the beginning of the commissioners’ first meeting of 2025, held on Jan. 9, Hobbs was unanimously elected president of the board, and Risk was unanimously elected vice president. 

Immediately following the reorganization, Hobbs gave a monologue about what can be expected from the board moving forward.

“It’s going to be kind of a lengthy meeting. We got a lot to go through. I’m not here to upset the apple cart with anybody, but I’m going to. It’s just the nature of the beast,” Hobbs began. “I base my faith off of God being in control because He is. We’re just here to do His will and try to make the best of a community that is falling apart.”

After sharing his long-standing attendance at these sorts of public meetings, Hobbs commented on a trend.

“The thing that I’ve seen in the last several years of coming to the meetings and stuff like that is the discord and dislike between the employees, whether you’re elected or appointed or whatever, has turned into a hatred. And it’s going to end. The reason I say that is we’re a team here together,” Hobbs said. “We were elected to serve the people and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. The people have a voice. You’re taxpayers. You’ll have a voice in every commissioners’ meeting. That’s only right. I expect your ideas, your vision, your goals and your solutions to some of the problems that we have.”

Hobbs then quoted Proverbs 23:19.

“This county is going to have a vision for everybody, not just for self-centered seeking thumb-sucking selfish people. I won’t tolerate it. I won’t tolerate rude behavior from nobody,” Hobbs said. “I’m in no way here to tell anybody to pack up and get going. If you’re not doing your job that’s required of you, there’s going to be a problem.”

Hobbs then said that employees are the county’s biggest liability and the county’s biggest asset.

“We’re going to work together as a team,” he said.

He then reiterated that the commissioners do not have any authority over other elected officials. He also said that commissioners should allow for autonomy and leadership from the county’s department heads saying they have a business to run. 

Hobbs was clear that department heads could and should ask for guidance and help from the commissioners when needed and said the commissioners will not interfere unless asked or unless there is an issue. 

“I’m new at this part [being a commissioner], but I’m not new at being around here. I’ve seen how some people have been treated and mistreated, and rest assured of one thing. That’s coming to an end, like real soon,” Hobbs said.

Then, instead of making the usual first meeting of the year liaison appointments, Hobbs announced that those appointments would not be made until February. He cited a “legal problem” but did not go into details. 

“There’s some things facing this county that is going to be revealed in the next 30 to 60 days that could change the whole outlook on certain things,” he said. 

One and only one liaison appointment was made, and that was for Risk to serve as the liaison for the highway department. 

“Gary cannot do that because his wife works there,” Hobbs said. 

Until appointments are made in February, Hobbs said that he would serve as the liaison for the auditor’s office and appointed department heads. He noted that elected officials can go to any of the commissioners that they want.

The commissioners then began with the routine business of approving the meeting minutes and claims. 

In both this meeting and the Jan. 23 meeting, the commissioners addressed the extensive and inappropriate amount of out-of-cycle claims. 

The board then went on to new business.

“This is where the rubber is going to meet the road for some of you,” Hobbs said, adding that it was unfortunate that not everything was going to be good news.

The first matter that was addressed was the contract with Dana Kerr for his services as county attorney.

“We’ve been through this for a couple of months. The current attorney is not here today. He is sick. We wish him the best in his recovery,” Hobbs began. “Dana is not here today, but we have to proceed with business. This has been discussed briefly in a couple commissioners meetings. The contract that the current attorney has is on a week-to-week basis at the moment.”

“Mr. Kerr’s last day will be Jan. 31. I’m not going to sit here and bad mouth him, run him down or anything like that. He did what he did and done what he’s done for what he thought was right. He’s an attorney. I do feel and I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mr. Kerr was led down a couple roads that he shouldn’t have had to go down. That’s my two cents worth. I think if Mr. Kerr had things to do over again, they would be done different. Again, this is my opinion.”

With that, Hobbs moved to relieve Kerr of his duties as county attorney as of Jan. 31. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. 

“This is not the end of this story,” Hobbs said. 

After allowing him to introduce himself, the commissioners hired Tony Overholt from Frost Brown Todd Attorneys in Indianapolis. Overholt has served as the attorney for the county council. The commissioners hired Overholt, who has been an attorney for 30 years, for six months. Overholt has experience representing local government. 

Overholt will be paid between $350 and $375 per hour. 

There is $160,000 budgeted for the county attorney. Under Kerr’s extended 2022 contract that served from week to week until the end of January, approximately $13,000 would have been spent from the $160,000 budgeted for county legal expenses. 

The council separately has budgeted approximately $40,000 for their legal expenses, as Kerr did not represent the council.

At the high end of Overholt’s rate, the county commissioners would have a total of 392 hours before exceeding the appropriation. This translates to a weekly average of roughly 7.5 hours per week without going to the county council for an additional appropriation. 

During the approximately four-hour first meeting, the commissioners also: 

• Worked toward getting a county human resources officer. It was noted that the county attorney should not serve as the HR person. It was also noted that a proposal to fund such a position had not previously been brought before the county council, according to council president Polly Chesser. Hobbs said the goal would be to take insurance responsibilities away from the auditor’s office and to remove drug testing for county employees from the health clinic run by the county health department.
• Discussed and accepted the resignation of the 911 dispatch director, Cherie Anderson. Anderson was not present at the meeting.
• Removed the blue line in the commissioners room that was previously placed to restrict the public from approaching the area where elected officials sit.
• Overturned a previous ordinance dealing with the 911 advisory board to restore it to what it was prior to the ordinance passed in 2024. “The 911 advisory board was basically taken out of any decision-making that involved the 911 dispatch center, other than policies and procedures,” Hobbs said. Burton said he believed it was just the financial side. EMA Director Jack White said that members of the board were not asked for input when that change was made.
• Moved the county maintenance department back to the armory and moved EMA to the previous office location on the Washington Street side of the brick building on the corner of Market and Washington Streets. This is instead of the front of the same building, which is where Jack White had been moved to.
• Addressed an issue concerning the Veterans Service Officer vehicle. Risk asked about the vehicle for the VSO, and VSO Dennis Bucy said they have a 2001 brown van and that they previously also had a 2005 Ford Explorer. The Ford Explorer was purchased, at least in part, through donations from veterans. “I won’t tolerate our veterans being disrespected,” Risk said. He moved to return the Ford Explorer back to the VSO immediately. Hobbs seconded the motion and asked where the vehicle was, and it was said that it was with the county building department. Suzanne Simmerman from the building department said that it was sitting on the empty lot with everything out of it. Hobbs asked when that happened, and Simmerman said at the beginning of the year. Burton said the building department vehicle broke down and he had asked Bucy if he needed both vehicles. At the time, Bucy did not have a driver to transport veterans. This was in May of 2024. “We didn’t know it was donated by, the money was donated by veterans. Had no idea,” Burton said. Simmerman said the building department vehicle was fixed in September or October. 

The commissioners also held a joint meeting with the Owen County Council on Jan. 23. A story on that meeting will be made available soon on The Owen News website, theowennews.org. The commissioners met again yesterday, Feb. 6, and they will meet again at 6 p.m. on Feb. 20 in the second-floor Commissioners Room of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

In celebration of its 31st anniversary, the Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is thrilled to announce the return of the $1 for $1 Anniversary Match Campaign, building on the incredible success of last year’s 30th anniversary event. 

In 2024, nearly $200,000 was raised to support local nonprofits serving Owen County. This year, OCCF invites donors and nonprofits to make an even greater impact.

Running from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, this match campaign offers a $1 for $1 match for donations made to Agency and Designated funds established at OCCF. These funds specifically support the work of nonprofits serving Owen County, providing them with both immediate resources and long-term sustainability.

“Spencer Main Street, Inc., took a big step forward in 2024 by establishing an agency fund with ‘our’ Owen County Community Foundation,” Julie Coffin, President of Spencer Main Street, Inc. said. “I think we don’t even realize yet how this strengthens our organization in terms of keeping us sustainable and giving us longevity. And those are vital qualities to have because we intend to keep working to make sure that Historic Downtown Spencer continues to be the heart and center of our community for another 205 years. The first word of our mission statement is ‘collaboration,’ and we are so grateful for OCCF’s support and collaboration as we all go forward!”

How the Match Works
For every dollar donated to an eligible fund, OCCF will provide a matching gift, which is designed to strengthen nonprofits in two ways:

• 60 percent of OCCF’s match will go into the fund’s permanent endowment, ensuring sustainable, ongoing support for the organization.
• 40 percent of the match will be immediately available to address pressing needs or launch new initiatives.

This model allows nonprofits to meet immediate needs while building a stable financial foundation for the future.Participating Funds
Only Agency and Designated funds are eligible for the match. These funds support a wide range of causes, including youth development, historic preservation, animal welfare, community health, and more. A full list of participating funds is available on the OCCF website or by contacting the OCCF office directly. As of Feb. 5, the following funds were included in the matching campaign:

• Area 10 Agency on Aging
• Bennie J & Joan R. Woodruff Methodist Church Fund
• Bonness Family Fund
• Boys & Girls Club of Owen County Fund
• Braysville Homemakers Fund
• Carolina Cemetery Fund
• Cataract Volunteer Fire Department Fund
• Economic Development Fund - Owen County Chamber of Commerce & EDC
• Flona Everly Query Memorial Fund - Vandalia Preservation Association
• Freedom Community Center Fund
• Garrard Chapel Church & Food Pantry Fund
• Gosport History Museum Fund
• Irene & Arthur Kelley Beech Cemetery Fund
• Irene & Arthur Kelley Patricksburg Lutheran Cemetery Fund
• Jim Vance Owen County YMCA Fund
• Jark R. & Marilyn K. DeFord Library Fund
• JMF Drescher Fund
• J. Welch Wampler Fund - Ferry Bridge Maintenance
• La Campagne Ministries Fund
• Lloyd H. & Rosalie E. Lucas 4-H & FFA Fund
• Mark of Discipleship Fund
• McCormick’s Creek State Park Fund
• MyPath Fund
• New Beginnings Pregnancy Resource Center Fund
• OCCF HR Fund
• O’Connor Family Fund - Summerfield Health Center
• Olive Hill Cemetery Fund
• Owen County 4-H Council Fund
• Owen County 4-H Livestock Fund
• Owen County CASA Office Fund
• Owen County Garden Club Fund
• Owen County Humane Society Fund
• Owen County Ministerial Fund
• Owen County Preservation Fund
• Owen County S.O.U.N.D.S. Fund
• Owen Valley Alumni Association Fund
• Owen Valley Band Boosters Fund
• Owen Valley Jr ROTC Fund
• Palmer’s Pawsitively Powerful Animals of Owen County Fund
• Riverside Cemetery Fund
• Senior Friends of Owen County Fund
• Spencer Main Street Fund
• Spencer Pride Fund
• St. Jude Catholic Church Fund
• The Owen News Endowment Fund
• Tivoli Theatre Endowment Fund
• Visionary Fund
• White Cemetery Fund
• William Donald & Maxine Wells - Fiscus Cemetery Fund
• Winters & Shouse Cemeteries Fund
• YMCA Legacy Fund

‍How to Donate
Organizations can accept donations in the following ways:

1. Online Donations: Donors can contribute directly to their favorite fund online during the match period at bit.ly/donate2occf.
   
   
2. Mailed Donations: Donations sent via mail must be postmarked between now and Feb. 28 to qualify for the match. Donors should list the fund name in the check memo. 

‍Join Us in Building a Brighter Future“The success of last year’s 30th Anniversary Match Campaign was a testament to the generosity and commitment of our community,” Karah Bobeck, OCCF’s Programs and Communications Director said. “We’re excited to offer this opportunity again and look forward to seeing the incredible impact it will have for Owen County nonprofits.”Nonprofits interested in participating in this campaign and establishing a fund at the OCCF, should contact the OCCF’s office at 812-829-1725.