We're "ON" It! - The Owen News

The month of October brings fall, which also brings fall festivals. Several different festivals will take place in Owen County within the next month. Here are a few worth noting.

Cataract Volunteer Fire Department Bean Dinner Festival: Oct. 3 to 5

The Cataract Volunteer Fire Department will host the 56th annual Bean Dinner Festival, set for Oct. 3 to 5 in northwestern Owen County.

The festival will, of course, feature the CVFD's signature ham and beans cooked over an open fire. Beans will be served from noon to 8 p.m. on Oct. 3, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 4 and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 5.

The event also features live music and more than 125 vendors.

For more information, visit cataractfire.com or email cataractbeandinner@yahoo.com.

The Cataract VFD relies on this festival to generate more than 60 percent of its annual operating funds.

Spencer Pride Festival: Oct. 4

The annual Spencer Pride Festival will take place from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4 in downtown Spencer.

The festival includes free parking and free admission.

The event will feature live, local entertainment, and local brewery Civilian Brewing Corps will be onsite selling alcohol for those 21 and over.

This year's festival marketplace will feature more than 150 booths from retail businesses and not-for-profit organizations. A huge variety of festival foods will be available, including cotton candy, pretzels, fresh baked goods, elephant ears, specialty ice cream, candies and more.

Additionally, plazas will be spread throughout the event, where individuals can gather and focus together.

Official Spencer Pride Festival merchandise will be on sale at the festival, including limited edition t-shirts which tend to sell out during the event. These items are available at the Spencer Pride commUnity center, located on the north side of the Owen County Courthouse square.

A variety of free Health & Wellness services, including HIV screening, vaccinations and more, will also be available at the Spencer Pride Festival. The festival also features a blood drive.

There is also a ticketed 21+ only after party hosted at the Spencer Pride commUnity center. Tickets can be purchased online.

The Spencer Pride Festival is a place where all are welcome, regardless of their age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, socioeconomic status or ability. For more information, visit spencerpride.org, call 812-652-5000, or email info@spencerpride.org.

Fiesta! Owen County: Oct. 11

Fiesta! Owen County is making its return on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Get ready for an unforgettable celebration of culture, music and community. The event takes place from 2 to 8 p.m. on Market Street in downtown Spencer, adding more than two additional hours of fun.

Fiesta! Owen County will feature salsa dancing, Lotería, crafts, cultural booths, piñata and authentic Hispanic food.

Bring your family and friends to celebrate together with great music, delicious food and lots of fun activities.

Event sponsors include the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, Boston Scientific and the Sweet Owen Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Pumpkins in the Park: Oct. 11

The annual Pumpkins in the Park at the Gosport Town Park will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 11.

While this event isn't free, all proceeds go to support the Lazy Days Festival.

Admission is $10 and includes games, pumpkin painting, a bounce house, face painting, pinatas, potato sack races and a pumpkin roll relay.

The event is sponsored by Gosport Dental, Insurance Services, Gosport VFW Post 7850 & Auxiliary, The Crazy Lady Nextdoor, Penguin Cycle Works, Harriman Farms & Greenhouse, Brighton Developments, Babbs, Harvest Moon Farms & Winery, Value Market, Niki Gessler Artist, 67 Auto Salvage, Style Station and Owen County State Bank.

Arts in the Park: Oct. 25

Sweet Owen Arts Commission will host an inaugural Arts in the Park and Classic Car Show.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 in Cooper Commons Park.

Car show registration begins at 11 a.m., with awards starting at 3:30 p.m.

The event will feature live performances, live demonstrations, kid activities, art, food and fun.

Vandalia Chili Fest: Nov. 2

The annual Vandalia Community Preservation Association (VCPA) Chili Fest will take place on Sunday, Nov. 2, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Chili and dessert will be served in the historic Vandalia one-room schoolhouse beginning at 1 p.m. The multi-talented Lloyd Wood and Band will perform a variety of classic country music in the Vandalia Historical Chapel starting at 2 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon of great entertainment and food while supporting a great cause. The cost of the event is $12 for adults and $5 for children (age 10 and under), which includes both the meal and the live music.

Proceeds benefit VCPA for preservation and maintenance of the historic chapel and schoolhouse. The event will take place in the village of Vandalia (six miles west of Spencer on S.R. 46) at 5471 Vandalia Rd., Spencer.

Visit the VCPA Facebook page, facebook.com/vandaliacpa, and website, vandaliacpa.org, for more information.

Green's Bluff Nature Preserve, a hidden gem nestled in the hills of rural Owen County, is expanding thanks to a recent land donation to The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Owned and managed by TNC, the preserve comprises 1,134 acres of land and features a grove of eastern hemlock trees, cave entrances and remnants of an old grist mill. Scarlet tanagers, wood thrushes, bobcats and great blue herons have been spotted passing through the area's hardwood forests.

Now, thanks to an anonymous donation to TNC, Green's Bluff will expand by nearly 83 acres. This means more forest protection for Raccoon Creek, which meanders through the preserve. It also means a larger swath of intact forest for migrating songbirds.

"Green's Bluff has a tremendous array of plants and animals," said Vince Garmon, land protection specialist with TNC. "The preserve is actually two separate properties, and the new acreage connects directly to pieces of existing preserve near the center, providing connectivity inside the preserve. These additional protected acres will help flora and fauna thrive."

Apart from the new addition, TNC has been very busy at Green's Bluff over the past several years. TNC has improved existing trails and added interpretive signage to enhance visitor enjoyment. In October, TNC will unveil a new trail engineered and created by the Hoosier Hikers Council.

"It's a great win, not just for TNC but the entire state of Indiana to have this property," Garmon added. "TNC has done a remarkable job of making acquisitions here over the last five years, making this place a scenic destination for all Hoosiers."

Green's Bluff currently features two hiking trails: the North Loop Trail and Raccoon Woods Trails. North Loop Trail is a 1.2-mile moderate loop trail through the northern section of Green's Bluff. The trail overlooks hemlock bluffs above Raccoon Creek, then descends a steep slope to continue along the face of the bluff down to the creek. This portion of the trail can be quite rugged.

The trail continues along the creek, where a sharp eye may notice the stone foundation of James Green's grist mill from the late 1800s.

Raccoon Woods Trail is a 1.4-mile moderate loop trail through the newer southern section of Green's Bluff. After starting in a clearing where TNC has planted rows of oak trees, the trail winds through deep woods with many mature oak, beech and hickory trees. As it descends into steep ravines, the trail crosses spring-fed creeks. Climbing out of the ravines, it offers views of the forest canopy. At the far end of the loop, the trail rises into an open area where TNC is attracting birds and insects with pollinator plantings.

The North Loop Trail can be rugged, while the Raccoon Woods Trail is more moderate. Interpretive signs can be found along both trails.

Travel directions: From Spencer, take S.R. 46 E. to S.R. 43 S. Continue south on S.R. 43S for about five miles, then turn right on to Sherfield Road. This road comes to a "T" after about a mile. Turn left and go about 0.4 mile to where the road ends. You'll see a Green's Bluff Nature Preserve sign at the trailhead.

To get from the North Loop Trail to the Raccoon Woods Trail, head north on Heddings Rd./C.R. 75E to Sherfield Rd./C.R. 525S. Turn right onto Sherfield Rd./C.R. 525S. Travel one mile and then turn right (south) onto State Road 43S. Travel 1.9 miles and turn right onto E. Porter Ridge Rd./C.R. 675S. Travel about two miles. Parking for Raccoon Woods Trail will be on the right (north) side of the road.

New trail opening

Join TNC and the Hoosier Hikers Council (HHC) on Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate the grand opening of their new trail at Green's Bluff. Described as a five-mile extension to the Raccoon Woods Trail in the southern portion of Green's Bluff, the new trail system will be six miles long and offer views of ephemeral waterfalls, oaks, hickories, ferns, beech and maple trees.

This event is co-hosted by HHC and TNC and will feature special remarks from HHC and TNC leaders about the site and trail, a six-mile or two-mile hike with leaders (your choice), a trail-naming activity and other activities for kids.

Light refreshments will be provided before the hike.

RSVP online at bit.ly/GreensBluffNewTrailOpeningRSVP.

Note: the access and meeting location for this event is NOT a public access area and is only open for this special event.

U.S. Army Private First Class (Pfc.) Brett Everett Wood, a 2010 graduate of Owen Valley High School, was remembered and honored at separate events held in Gosport and Spencer in the month of September.

Wood, 19, served during Operation Enduring Freedom and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

He was killed in Mushan, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device (IED) on Sept. 9, 2011.

Wood joined the Army in July 2010 and graduated from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He arrived in Alaska in November 2010. His brigade had deployed to Afghanistan in mid-April 2011 for a planned one-year tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

A Patriot Day Celebration held Sept. 13 in Gosport Town Park honored several Gold Star Families, those who have lost an immediate family member in the line of duty of military service, including the families of Pfc. Wood, Army Sgt. Christopher K. Hilgert, Marine Lance Cpl. Kyle Price and Army Staff Sgt. James Patton.

"To you, the mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of the fallen, we offer our deepest gratitude and respect," began VFW Post #7850 Commander Michael Oaks. "Your loved ones gave the last full measure of devotion to this nation, and you've worn that sacrifice with strength and dignity. Please know that we see you, we honor you, and we will never forget the price your family has paid for our freedom."

Oaks recalled one of the darkest days in our nation's history – Sept. 11, 2001.

"Our nation awoke to a morning like any other, but by the end of that day our world had been forever changed," he said. "We all remember where we were when we heard the news, and we remember the shock and disbelief and the grief, but we also remember something else, the way our nation came together in the days that followed. Strangers comforted one another, communities rallied, and Americans stood united under one flag. Out of the smoke and rubble rose the enduring spirit of the American people. That is why Sept. 11 is not only a day of mourning, but also a day of remembrance of what it means to be a Patriot."

Oaks noted the global war on terror would become the longest conflict in American history.

"With that came sacrifice, lives lost and families changed long after the battlefield," he said. "As we pause to honor those who gave their lives in the years since 9-11, let us also remember that they stand in a long and unbroken line of American heroes, from the Revolution that first secured our freedom to the battlefields of the Civil War that preserved our Union. From the trenches of World War I to the beaches of World War II, to the frozen hills of Korea, the jungles of Vietnam and the sands of the Persian Gulf. Every generation that produced Patriots who were willing to lay down their lives for liberty. We are here today because of them, because of their courage, their sacrifice and their families who bore their absence. Patriot Day reminds us that their legacy did not end in the pages of history; it lives on in every veteran and every Gold Star Family and in every citizen who chooses to serve something greater than themselves."

The program also featured guest speaker, retired Brigadier General Michael Osburn.

General Osburn began his career as an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army in 1975 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Indiana Army National Guard in June 1982. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 as Commander of 2nd Battalion, 19th Agribusiness Development Team and later served as the Deputy Commander, 81st Troop Command, during the Indiana floods of 2008.

In addition, General Osburn's long and distinguished career included serving as Commander of Division Artillery, commanding a 1,000 person hurricanes Katrina and Rita Task Force in 2005, as well as serving as the Commander of Operation Noble Eagle from 2003 to 2005.

"Those who have served and those who are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice," General Osburn said. "We are compelled to never forget that while we enjoy our daily pleasures, there are others who have endured and may still be enduring agony of pain, deprivation and internment. We must never forget it is the strength of our military that has brought us to this point, and it is that strength that will continue to ensure our liberties."

Each of the Gold Star Families in attendance was later presented with triangular flags in wooden display boxes, along with Gold Star Family flags presented by the VFW Post #7850.

The following morning, Sept. 14, a special program was held in front of the Owen County War Memorial in downtown Spencer, featuring words of remembrance, stories of military service, laughter and countless tears from those who served alongside Pfc. Wood. The group also visited his headstone, located near the Soldiers Memorial Pavilion inside Riverside Cemetery.

Those who took part in the program, many traveling long distances to be in attendance, said it helped provide some closure to Pfc. Wood's passing. They told of visiting his headstone and the significance of placing coins on headstones of a service member or veteran as a show of respect and honor. A penny, they said, means someone has visited the grave. A nickel signifies that the visitor served with the deceased service member at boot camp. A dime means the visitor and deceased service member served together at some point. A quarter, they said, is left by someone who was physically with the service member when they died.

The words spoken during the 30-minute program by Pfc. Wood's fellow soldiers could best be summed up by a post shared to the In Remembrance of Brett Wood Facebook page the following day by Eric Yepez of Fresno, California: "Brett was more than a uniform – he was a son, a friend, a brother and a hero. His courage, dedication and selflessness will never be forgotten. Though his time with us was far too short, his impact is everlasting. We carry his memory with us every day, and we speak his name with pride. Rest in peace, Brett. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten."

Work began late last month to restore the "Spirit of the American Doughboy" statue outside of the Owen County Courthouse.

The project will include pouring a new concrete plaza around the Doughboy statue, adding limestone benches and placing a total of seven obelisks near that corner of the courthouse.

Six of the obelisks or stone pillars will be for each branch of the United States Military, and they will be lighted in the evening. There will be a different, smaller obelisk or pillar honoring Ernest Moore "E.M." Visquesney, the sculptor of the Doughboy.

The Doughboy was created to honor the veterans and casualties of World War I. Visquesney was from Spencer.

In addition, the project will include a few small concrete pads added near the existing flagpole to make it ADA accessible and support a podium for memorial events.

There will also be a new sidewalk connecting the Doughboy to the perimeter sidewalk around the Courthouse.

The limestone for the project is coming from Romona Quarry, which is based in Owen County and is the quarry from which the original base of the Doughboy statue.

The goal is to have the project completed in time for the plaza to be rededicated on Veterans Day in November.

Cris Lunsford and Jack White have spearheaded the project with support from the Owen County Commissioners and the Owen County Community Foundation.

The MYPath trail is bringing economic, social and health benefits to Owen County, and the more the trail expands, the greater those benefits will be. That was the finding of an intensive study by Indiana University O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs graduate students and the IU Center for Rural Engagement.

The final study was entitled MYPath, Our Community: The Future of Trail Systems in Owen County, Indiana. The report was shared at an Aug. 8 community meeting at McCormick's Creek State Park.

Based on the impact of similar trails around the state and country, local users of MYPath spend between $7.21 and $11.33 per daily trail visit. Non-local users spend between $13 and $70.50 per day trip. Overnight visitors spend between $98 and $176.98. By expanding the trail, the economic impact will increase because more people will be attracted to MYPath for both day use and overnight visits.

In addition, the study determined that trails like MYPath increase property values and attract both business and residential development. Social and health benefits have also been recorded with similar trails. Long-term discussions to connect MYPath to McCormick's Creek State Park, and then to Ellettsville and Monroe County trails would increase all these benefits as even more, as more people use the trails.

The study also outlined considerations for trail expansion. They recommended the creation of a Trail Expansion Advisory Group of local stakeholders to identify routes and funding possibilities.

The third section of the study focused on communication strategies. It encouraged participating in more public events and inviting more people to use the trail. With increased trail use, more stakeholders are created.

The study was created when the Owen County Community Foundation and the Regional Trail Advocates group had asked the Center for Rural Engagement (IUCRE) for assistance in determining the economic impact of MYPath and regional trails and for strategies for trail expansion. Through the IUCRE, 11 O'Neill School graduate students from around the country, completing their IU Masters of Public Affairs degree, spent weeks studying MYPath and surrounding trails. The course culminated in an intensive week visiting MYPath and the community. Their result was shared with community members on Aug. 8 at McCormick's Creek State Park. If anyone would like to see the entire 107-page study, contact mypathspencer@gmail.com

A juvenile person of interest has been detained following the shooting deaths of two adult males in northeastern Owen County last month.

Owen County Dispatch received a call at approximately 3:42 p.m. on Aug. 9 concerning a gunshot victim at a home in the 1500 block of Truesdel Road.

Upon arriving at the scene, Jeffrey Fauber, 61, and Grantham Adam Chandler, 41, were found deceased from gunshot wounds.

Owen County Sheriff's Department, Owen County Coroner's Office, Indiana State Police, Morgan County Sheriff's Office, Owen County EMS, Bloomington Police Department and Owen County Prosecutor's Office personnel all responded to the scene.

"This investigation is tragic, and I am at a loss for words on such a horrendous violation to these two victims. It is sad, but the good thing that comes from all of this is all of the law enforcement units that come together to help get justice for the people and the victims," Owen County Sheriff Ryan White said at a press conference held at the Owen County Courthouse. "Although this is a tragic event and our hearts and prayers go out to the family and the victims, it is heartwarming to see law enforcement officers and public servants come together for the good of the people, and that is what we had here today."

White noted several officers and agencies went above and beyond by coming in to assist on their day off.

The press conference took place at 9 p.m. on Aug. 9.

The person of interest, whose name has not been released, was located in Morgan County.

The Martinsville Police Department posted to their Facebook page that at approximately 4 p.m. "Martinsville Police Officers were notified of a male that entered the Morgan County Sheriff's Department lobby, advising there was an incident in Owen County that was criminal in nature. Martinsville Police Officers identified and detained the juvenile male."

White said that Owen County residents do not have anything to worry about and that there is no further threat that residents need to be concerned about at this time.

Prosecutor Benjamin Kim would like to remind the public that all persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

What charges the juvenile would face and whether or not they will be charged as an adult has not been made public. A court hearing was scheduled for Aug. 28 to determine whether or not the juvenile would be tried as an adult, at which point their name would be made public. That hearing was continued until Oct. 27.