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My sisters and I traveled down to Greene County today for Marsh Madness. The Friends of Goose Pond have partnered with the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area for the past 17 years to organize this event. "Something for Everyone" is their motto. The two-day event signals the arrival of thousands of waterfowl in the area. Visitors can pick from a large list of things to do. Visitors can enjoy a bus tour, self-guided tours, activities for children, presentations by bird experts, meeting local artists and seeing their work, meeting other folk who enjoy the wonders of the natural world. The event is fun and educational. Today, I picked up information for a couple of future columns, including one on the invasive pest, the spotted lanternfly.

Today was a cold and windy day. We began our visit in Linton at the headquarters in the park. Several artists displayed their creations. I liked the gourds a talented woman turned into little birds. We picked up information about the Dobbs Park Nature Center in Terre Haute, whooping cranes, sandhill cranes and invasive plants. One of the highlights was our stop at the Herpetological Society's booth. They had a variety of snakes on display. My favorite was a very friendly, light orange and tan colored south-eastern corn snake. When she wrapped around my arm and peach colored sweater, her color seemed to intensify. My sister called her Tangerine and that became her name!

We headed out of town on Highway 59 under a gray sky. The ponds along the highway are dotted with dozens of muskrat homes. The small domes of sticks and mud stick out of the water surface. The wind splashes the water up to kiss the sides of the muskrat homes. I wondered if they could hear that gentle noise. We stopped at the Visitor's Center perched on a hill overlooking the marsh and several ponds. There were booths there with information and activities for children. But we came to see birds, so off we went to explore the 8,000 acres that make up the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area. I remember when many of the acres were corn fields. The crops often flooded as the land tried to return to its original marshy existence. There are still several farms in the area. Most of them are raising cattle and corn, it seems. We stopped a couple of times to talk to the cows. They don't get many visitors. My sister worked on a dairy farm for years. She loves cows and speaks their language.

Today we discovered a farmer with a great sense of humor. He had installed a huge flock of pink plastic flamingos in the corn field across the road from his farmstead. Further down the road we spotted a flock of sandhill cranes eating corn the picker missed last fall. I was hoping they would entertain us with their joyful mating dance, but they were too busy gobbling up corn. Their gray humpback silhouettes almost faded away in the gray, misty landscape. As we watched a huge flock of geese soared into view. We watched as they gracefully descended, as one big organism a half-mile away. Later we saw hundreds of snow geese floating on the silvery surface of the pond.

If you need a day away from the stress of life and want to soak up some nature, I suggest a visit to Goose Pond.

'til next time,

Annie

The other day I came across a photo of an old store that brought back a world of memories. As a child, my parents used to take me shopping at a little store in the small town of Gosport. Some of you might remember the name of it: Moore's Variety Store. The store was owned by Gosport residents, Bob and Irene Moore. It was located on Main Street and had an attractive storefront that just seemed to draw people in.

My first recollection of the place probably goes back to around the age of five. The store was a feast for the eyes for a kid like me. The store had candy, soda, chips and a big collection of toys. The toys ranged from pop guns to yo-yos, coloring books, dolls, airplanes, model car kits and the list went on and on. And then there was the candy. Some of the candy was contained in large glass cases so that the customer could see the contents from every vantage point. There were gumballs, chocolate covered peanuts, peppermint sticks and jawbreakers. There were jars of licorice and displays filled with candy bars.

Of course, Moore's supplied the town with other needed items as well, including sewing notions, household items, toasters, irons, dishes, tools, gifts and greeting cards, paper, and school supplies.

I guess the one thing that stood out to me the most as a child was the owner himself. Mr. Moore always had a smile on his face when greeting customers, and Irene always seemed to know exactly where an item could be found if asked. It was a place where neighbors met and where new friends were made.

When I was older, and I had my first child, I began to take her to the little variety store. My daughter and I made regular weekly visits to the store, even though she could not have been more than a few months old at the time. As the day of her first birthday approached, I had decided that I wanted to give her a special gift, a keepsake.

One day we made a special trip to the store where we were greeted as usual with a big smile and a little conversation. And then I explained how I was looking for something special for a little girl who was turning one year old. Bob smiled really big and said, "I have just the thing for you." Then he pulled out the cutest ceramic piggy bank I had ever seen. It even had a name glazed into the underside, "Corky Pig." It was so named because it had a hole in the end of its nose with a cork that fit snuggly into it. There was a slot on the top to put the money in and to get it out, you would remove the cork. When I saw it, I knew I had my gift. Bob wrapped it up carefully, and Corky became a new resident of my home.

Many years went by and the piggy bank not only held my first child's pennies, but continued to hold countless pennies, dimes and nickels over the years for all four of my children. It brought a lot of joy to our family, long after the variety store had closed. Eventually, my children grew up and started their own lives. The little bank made its way to a box in my closet.

One day, I was looking through some things and came across the old piggy bank. Its cork was missing but other than that, time had been very kind to the little pig. I remembered that my oldest daughter had a birthday coming up. I thought it was time to return the pig to its original owner. I cannot express in words the emotions that I felt when I gave my daughter that old piggy bank. For a little while, we were both transported back in time to a little variety store in Gosport, Indiana. The old store closed in the late 1970s after being in business for 57 years.

That piggy bank held more than just pennies all those years. It was a bank full of memories. I often wondered if Bob knew what I was getting when he smiled and handed me that little piggy bank. I'd like to think that he did.

Happy spring!

Susan

At Owen Valley High School (OVHS), preparing students for life beyond graduation is more than a goal...it's a commitment. Through its innovative Next Level Programs of Study, known locally as Patriot Pathways, OVHS is opening doors to hands-on, real-world experiences that empower students to discover their passions and build meaningful futures.

Designed to align with Indiana's workforce needs and post-secondary expectations, our Patriot Pathways provide structured sequences of courses that allow students to explore career interests while still in high school. From Engineering and Biomedical Sciences to Agriculture, Business, Criminal Justice, Civic Arts and beyond, OVHS offers one of the most diverse selections of career pathways in the region.

This fall, OVHS is proud to expand those opportunities even further with the addition of three new pathways: Construction, Teaching Careers and Cosmetology. These additions reflect the school's ongoing commitment to responding to workforce demand and student interest. Whether students see themselves leading a classroom, managing a construction site or building a career in the beauty industry, OVHS is creating opportunities to turn those ambitions into action.

Patriot Pathways are intentionally designed to provide hands-on learning experiences that mirror real workplace environments. Students in Engineering tackle design challenges and problem-solving projects. Agriculture students engage in animal science, horticulture and natural resources management. Those pursuing Health Sciences gain exposure to medical interventions and human body systems. Broadcasting students step into audio and video production studios, while Business and Marketing students dive into digital design and entrepreneurship.

These experiences extend beyond textbooks. Through partnerships with the Hoosier Hills Career Center, OVHS students can access specialized training in areas such as welding, fire and safety, automotive technology, culinary arts, mechanical design and more. Many pathways culminate in capstone experiences, internships or work-based learning placements that allow students to apply their skills in authentic settings.

Research consistently shows that students who engage in hands-on, career-connected learning are more motivated, better prepared and more confident about their futures. Owen Valley understands that education must connect classroom learning to real-world application, and our Patriot Pathways do exactly that.

Beginning with the Class of 2027, Indiana's graduation requirements emphasize both academic readiness and post-secondary preparation. Students must complete required coursework in English, math (including Algebra II or its equivalent), science and social studies, while also demonstrating Post-Secondary-Ready Competencies such as employability skills, project-based learning experiences, credentials or service-based learning.

Additionally, students must meet one of three Graduation Pathways Seals: Enrollment Seal (for students planning to attend a two- or four-year college), Employment Seal (for students entering the workforce), or Enlistment Seal (for students entering the military).

The Patriot Pathways directly support these requirements. By completing a coherent sequence of courses within a pathway, students gain technical skills, industry-recognized credentials and real-world experience. Many pathways offer dual credit opportunities, certifications or work-based learning hours that align with Indiana's Post-Secondary-Ready Competencies. Whether a student is college-bound, career-focused or planning to serve in the military, OVHS ensures they graduate with both knowledge and a plan.

Owen Valley High School takes pride in offering such a wide range of interests for students to explore. The diversity of pathways reflects the understanding that success looks different for every student. Some Patriots will head straight into the workforce with industry certifications. Others will step confidently onto college campuses. Still others will answer the call to military service.

No matter the destination, the journey begins with opportunity and OVHS is committed to providing it.

Families who would like to learn more about Patriot Pathways and the Next Level Programs of Study are encouraged to contact the OVHS office at 812-829-2266.

At Owen Valley High School, the future isn't just imagined. It's built, designed, cultivated, performed and achieved every single day.

Albany man found guilty of felony charges

On Jan. 18, 2024, Victor Holding of Albany, IN was charged with multiple felonies, including two counts of intimidation with a deadly weapon. The State also filed a notice of intent to seek habitual offender status.

According to information released by the Owen County Prosecutor's Office, a jury trial was held Feb. 17 to Feb. 20. The jury found Holding guilty on both charges.

Following the trial, Holding admitted the allegations contained in the State's notice of intent to seek habitual offender status.

Sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, March 20 in the Owen County Circuit Court I.

Prosecutor Benjamin Kim and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Parker Trulock represented the State. Owen County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) Lieutenant Clint Wampler served as the State's designated witness at trial.

The prosecutor's office issued special thanks to the officers of the OCSD, Indiana State Police and the Indiana State Police laboratory for their "dedication and service in helping secure this guilty verdict and for keeping the community safe."

Defendant sentenced for child molesting

Heath Eli Bennett of Clayton, IN pleaded guilty on Feb. 4 in Owen County Circuit Court I to a Level 4 Felony charge of child molesting. According to information released by the Owen County Prosecutor's Office, the terms of the plea agreement allowed Bennett to be sentenced in the court's discretion with a maximum sentence of eight years at the Indiana Department of Correction.

The court also sentenced Bennett to lifetime sex offender registration and a $500 sexual assault victims' assistance fee and $100 child abuse prevention fee as required by law.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Parker Trulock represented the State in this case.

The prosecutor's office extended its appreciation to the Owen County Sheriff's Department, Owen County Department of Child Services and Susie's Place Child Advocacy Center for "helping secure justice in this case."

EPA to host public meeting March 17

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a public meeting as an update to the Franklin Street Groundwater Superfund site.

The meeting will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on March 17 at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer.

The EPA will present the data that has been collected so far. The presentation will be posted online after the meeting.

Public testing for vote machines is March 24

MicroVote machines used for the primary election in Owen County will be tested at 9:30 a.m. on March 24.

This is a process in which the election board selects individuals to test the function of the machines to ensure they work properly ahead of the start of early voting.

The public is welcome to observe this process, which will take place on the first floor of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

GoFundMe established to help family

Rev. Bill Pursell and his wife Lillian are receiving community support after a fire tore through their rural Freeman Road home on Saturday, Feb. 7, leaving them displaced. The couple was not injured, and their home was reportedly insured. They were also able to evacuate their pets from the home unharmed.

Bill serves as Pastor of the Cloverdale Church of the Nazarene. Both he and Lillian are also well-known locally for their many years of volunteer service as 4-H leaders/volunteers, Owen County Fair Board officers and White River Poultry Club officers/volunteers to name a few. Bill also owned and operated Area Realty Key Associates near downtown Spencer.

As of March 1, a Go-Fund Me page set up for the family had generated 42 donations for a total of more than $3,500.

The GoFundMe page is accepting donations to help the family with immediate needs and recovery costs. Neighbors and friends are encouraged to share the fundraiser and offer support as the family begins to rebuild. Visit https://gofund.me/323d4a95a.

Daylight Saving Time begins March 8

It's almost time to "spring forward." Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8.

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 7, 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. 1 at 2 a.m.

Owen Valley Fine Arts Festival

The first-ever Owen Valley Fine Arts Festival is scheduled for Sunday, March 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. This exciting, free community-wide celebration will take place throughout the Owen Valley High School Commons, café, main gymnasium and auditorium.

Be inspired by incredible artwork from talented OVHS students on display in the Commons, including special Senior Showcases you won't want to miss.

The day's performance lineup will include:

1 p.m. -- State Send-Off Performances (Patriot Hall). Cheer on the Owen Valley Winter Guard and Indoor Drumline as they perform their State Finals routines before heading into competition season.

2 p.m. -- Big Band Live in the Café. The Owen Valley Big Band will perform their ISSMA setlist and more, featuring everything from classic swing to modern funk.

3 p.m. -- Choir Q3 Concert. The Owen Valley Choir Program will take the stage for their Quarter 3 Concert. Come support the school's travel choirs and enjoy music that's sure to move you. (Please note: This concert has a $5 admission fee).

Keep your ears open throughout the day for solo and ensemble performances happening in the hallways.

This festival is set to be a celebration of the amazing talent, dedication, and creativity within the Owen Valley Fine Arts Department. Bring your friends, bring your family and spend the afternoon supporting the arts in our community.

SES students win Patriot's Pen competition

Spencer Elementary School students Mia Freeman and Bentley Ward recently received second and third place, respectively, in the recent Patriot's Pen essay competition organized by the Spencer VFW Post #1405.

Mia, a sixth grader at SES, is the daughter of Shane and Stephanie Freeman.

Bentley, also a sixth grader at SES, is the son of Daniel and Crystal Ward.

The awards were presented by Sharron Barger, President of the VFW Post #1405 Auxiliary.

The Patriot's Pen is a nationwide youth essay competition sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Its goal is to encourage students to think about and express their views on patriotism, American history and civic responsibility.

MCES student builds box for U.S. Flag

Rob Anderson, a fourth grader at McCormick's Creek Elementary School (MCES), recently donated a handmade, one-of-a-kind storage box to the school. Each day Anderson proudly raises and lowers the school's flags with care and respect. There was just one small problem, however; MCES did not have a proper place inside the school to store the flags.

Rob, never one to shy away from a problem, would soon come up with the solution to build a storage box. He went on to work with his dad, Robert, to make it happen!

According to the MCES, thanks to Anderson's "initiative, teamwork and craftsmanship, our flags have a safe and respectful home. We couldn't be more proud of his leadership, responsibility and heart."

Anderson is the son of Robert and Rebecca Anderson of rural Gosport.

Firefighter visits Patricksburg Elementary

Third graders at Patricksburg Elementary School were treated to a special visitor on Feb. 19.

Retired firefighter Gary Brandt took time out of his schedule to speak to the students about his previous career with the Carmel Fire Department and his past service with the Indiana Task Force 1 / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue Team.

Brandt now serves as a volunteer with the Patricksburg Community Volunteer Fire Department.

OVMS hosts Madam Mayhem

Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS) hosted one of the first and largest girls-only wrestling tournaments in the state of Indiana on Feb. 21.

The Madam Mayhem brought together female wrestlers from 25 schools across Indiana, showcasing strength, grit and sportsmanship. Teams traveled from as far as Jasper and Indianapolis to compete in an event that continues to grow the sport of wrestling for young women.

NED Show comes to GES

The NED Show entertained students at Gosport Elementary School on Feb. 23. Teaching three critical skills, the story of a loveable cartoon character NED® is designed to give students the tools they need to become champions at school and in life. NED's name serves as an acronym that makes the message easy to remember -- Never Give Up, Encourage Others and Do Your Best®.

GES students enjoyed an engaging performance that focused on the importance of persistence, kindness, diligence and excellence. Humor, audience participation, storytelling and amazing yo-yo tricks all combined to make it a truly NEDucational experience.

For information about The NED Show, visit theNEDshow.com.

Safe Sitter® program is March 20

The nationally recognized Safe Sitter® program is coming to the Purdue Extension-Owen County office, 180 S. Washington St. in Spencer, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20. This program prepares students in grades 6 to 8 to be safe, responsible and confident babysitters.

Participants will learn essential skills including basic childcare, safety and injury prevention, first aid and how to handle emergencies. The class also covers behavior management and tips for running a successful babysitting business. Space is limited. Register by calling 812-829-5020. Cost is $20 per person.

Annual C.A.R.E Cornhole Tournament

The third annual Cops Applauding Recovery Efforts (C.A.R.E.) Cornhole Tournament and Family Cookout is set for Saturday, June 13 beginning at noon at the Owen County Fairgrounds in Spencer. The registration deadline is April 24. Signup online at https://forms.gle/yN4iKej9oXTeqELy5. This event is hosted by the Owen County Drug and Alcohol Resource Team (DART). The meal will be catered by Scott Huffman.

Like to sing? Join the Community Choir

Come raise your voice with the Owen County Theatre & Arts Alliance Community Choir. The choir meets every Thursday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene, 126 E. Market St., in Spencer.

Singers of all experience levels are welcome. For more information, contact Michael Grubb at mjgrubb@gmail.com.

Hello! I'm Jamie Jo Lowder, your local Purdue Extension Health and Human Sciences Educator, and I get to teach practical, research-based programs that help individuals and families build healthier habits, stronger relationships and more confident lives. Think of me as your friendly neighborhood resource for turning everyday routines into healthier ones—without the overwhelm.

As we open the windows and start clearing out closets this March, it's also the perfect time to "spring clean" our health. Purdue Extension focuses on small, research-backed steps that make a big difference over time. Just like cleaning a home, improving health doesn't require a total overhaul—just a thoughtful look at what to keep and what to toss.

Toss: All-or-Nothing Thinking

Keep: Small, Sustainable Changes

Research consistently shows that sustainable habits are built gradually. Instead of extreme resets, focus on one or two manageable changes. For example, adding one additional serving of fruit or vegetables per day can improve overall nutrient intake. Replacing sugary beverages with water a few times per week can significantly reduce added sugar consumption. Small steps, practiced consistently, are more effective than short bursts of drastic change.

Toss: Skipping Meals

Keep: Balanced, Regular Eating

Purdue Extension nutrition programs emphasize the importance of balanced meals throughout the day. Skipping meals can lead to overeating later and reduced energy levels. Aim to include lean protein, whole grains, fruits or vegetables, and low-fat dairy when possible. Planning simple meals ahead of time—even just a few days at a time—supports healthier choices and reduces stress.

March is also National Nutrition Month®, making it a great reminder to "Make Every Bite Count." Focusing on nutrient-dense foods helps fuel both body and brain.

Toss: Sedentary Winter Habits

Keep: Daily Movement

As the days get longer, look for opportunities to move more. Research supports at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week for adults, along with muscle-strengthening activities twice weekly. That may sound like a lot, but it breaks down to about 30 minutes, five days a week.

Movement does not have to mean a gym membership. Walking, gardening, stretching or playing outside with children or grandchildren all count. Even short 10-minute movement breaks throughout the day contribute to overall health benefits, including improved mood, better sleep and reduced risk of chronic disease.

Toss: Poor Sleep Routines

Keep: Consistent Sleep Habits

With Daylight Saving Time in March, sleep schedules can easily get off track. Research shows adults generally need seven to nine hours of sleep per night for optimal health. Maintaining a consistent bedtime, limiting screen use before bed and creating a relaxing nighttime routine can improve sleep quality.

Quality sleep supports immune function, heart health, mental clarity and stress management—all essential parts of overall wellness.

Toss: Chronic Stress Without Support

Keep: Healthy Coping Strategies

Stress is a normal part of life, but chronic stress can negatively impact both physical and mental health. Research-based strategies such as deep breathing, physical activity, time outdoors, social connection and structured routines can help manage stress effectively.

Spring is also a great time to reconnect socially. Sharing meals, engaging in community activities and maintaining supportive relationships are strongly linked to improved well-being.

Spring cleaning your health does not require perfection. It simply means taking inventory and asking: What habits are serving me well? What habits need a refresh?

Start small. Choose one area to focus on this month. Celebrate progress, not perfection. Research shows that positive reinforcement and realistic goal setting increase long-term success.

If you're interested in learning more about nutrition, physical activity, stress management, food safety, financial wellness or strengthening family connections, I would love to connect with you. Purdue Extension offers research-based programs and lessons designed to meet the needs of our community.

Feel free to reach out to me at 812-829-5020 or lowder0@purdue.edu to learn about upcoming programs or to request a presentation for your group.

Be sure to check the Community Calendar section of this newspaper for upcoming programs you can attend and follow our Facebook page or website for the latest updates and resources.

Let's make this the season we freshen up more than just our closets—let's refresh our health, one small step at a time.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a new work zone initiative to increase worker safety. INDOT is implementing Project Greenlight, a program to equip highway workers with Guardian Angel safety lights, to help bring awareness to workers in times of limited visibility.

Guardian Angel safety lights are wearable devices with flashing green patterns that increase worker visibility from all directions. When worn with a high visibility vest, these lights help workers become 89 percent more visible to the traveling public according to a study from Battelle Memorial Institute.

Bright green is the most visible color to the human eye and is the most visible from longer distances. The color green is also easily distinguishable from the rest of INDOT's standard work zone lighting.

"Studies show drivers are more likely to move over and slow down when they see these green lights in work zones," said INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist. "The safety of our team is always our top priority as they make improvements to Indiana's infrastructure, and we hope this small tool will have a big impact."

INDOT began piloting the green safety lights in fall 2025 within the three Hoosier Helper patrol areas -- Northwest Indiana near Gary, Indianapolis metropolitan area and Southeast Indiana near Louisville -- and within highway maintenance crews in the Indianapolis Subdistrict and various crews throughout the state.

As the program moves forward, approximately 375 lights will be distributed across the state, starting with the INDOT Northwest District. INDOT Highway Technicians and Hoosier Helpers are encouraged to use the green lights during nighttime operations, as well as during times of inclement weather like fog, rain or snow, when visibility might be lower.

Green safety lights were brought to INDOT through its Innovation and Process Improvement Division. Innovation is one of INDOT's core values as the agency looks to challenge the status quo through creative thinking and new technologies. An annual competition is held for INDOT employees to submit innovative ideas that make jobs safer, more efficient and more effective. Those ideas are then voted on internally and implemented throughout the agency.

About the Indiana Department of Transportation

INDOT is responsible for planning, constructing, maintaining and operating the State of Indiana's more than 29,000 highway lane miles and 5,700 bridges, and providing support for 4,500 rail miles and 127 aviation facilities throughout the Hoosier State. With six district offices and over 3,500 employees, INDOT works to ensure safe, efficient and reliable transportation infrastructure while supporting the state's economic vitality. The department is committed to fostering innovation, sustainability and safety in transportation planning and development, in addition to collaborating with local governments and private sector partners to meet the state's transportation needs. For the eighth consecutive year, Indiana has placed in the top 10 in the nation for infrastructure in CNBC's "America's Top States for Business" rankings. Learn more at in.gov/indot.

About Buckle Up Phone Down

Buckle Up Phone Down is a safety initiative adopted by the Indiana Department of Transportation in late 2023. Unrestrained motorists and passengers, as well as distracted driving continue to be contributing factors in fatal and serious injury crashes on Indiana roadways. Buckle Up Phone Down is one of many efforts to change driver behavior and improve roadway safety across Indiana.

The actions are simple: when you get into a vehicle, buckle up. If you are the driver, put the phone down. Every trip. Every time. Learn more and accept the challenge at BUPDIN.com.

There are many exciting things happening at the Owen County Community Foundation this spring, and we're grateful for the opportunity to share a few updates with the community.

First, please join us in congratulating our colleague Karah and her husband Winston on the birth of their new baby. Karah is currently on maternity leave and will return to the office this summer. During her leave, Kyle Hannon, who many in the community know from his work as MYPath Director, has stepped into a new role as Director of Community Projects and will be assisting with several of Karah's responsibilities.

One of the Foundation's newest initiatives is the launch of the Owen County Nonprofit Alliance, created to strengthen the many nonprofit organizations that serve our community. We recently sent a needs-assessment survey to every nonprofit serving Owen County and invited them to participate in an in-person meeting on March 4. During this meeting, participants engaged in an asset-mapping exercise designed to help organizations better understand each other's missions, identify areas of collaboration and uncover potential gaps or redundancies in services.

Based on the survey responses and meeting discussions, we have identified several priority areas for future education, training and shared services among local nonprofits. Our next Nonprofit Alliance meeting will take place on April 1 and will focus on financial reporting and budgeting. As an added incentive for collaboration, nonprofits that completed the survey and attended the inaugural meeting received bonus points on their 2026 Community Investment Grant applications.

The Community Foundation is also working with several partners on initiatives that support education and workforce development in Owen County. In collaboration with Uplands Smart Start and Spencer-Owen Community Schools (S-OCS), we are exploring the creation of an early childhood education career pathway for high school students. This concept could include an early care and learning center at the high school to serve the children of S-OCS staff while providing valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in careers in early childhood education.

In addition, the Community Foundation is partnering with the school system and adult education leaders to explore the development of a career and technical education facility that could serve high school students during the day and adult learners in the evening. Early program ideas include training in welding and HVAC, with the potential to expand into additional programs such as CNC machining in the future.

Our staff also remains deeply engaged in volunteer service throughout the community. Connie continues to volunteer at the Tivoli Theatre, the Freedom Community Center and Spencer Pride. Connie and I are also volunteering with the VITA Free Tax Service at the Owen County Public Library, helping local residents prepare and file their taxes at no cost.

The Foundation's Community Investment Grants program continues to support local nonprofits doing important work across Owen County. Round One of the 2026 grant cycle closed on Feb. 28, and grant recipients will be announced at the end of March. A second cycle of Community Investment Grants offering awards from $1,001 to $5,000 will open on April 1. Nonprofits interested in applying can find more information on the Community Foundation's website or by contacting our office.

Finally, we are excited to share that the Foundation will award a record number of scholarships in 2026. Local students will receive their awards during the OCCF Scholarship Award Celebration on April 26. Supporting students as they pursue higher education and career training remains one of the most meaningful ways the Community Foundation invests in the future of Owen County.

As always, we are grateful for the donors, volunteers and partners who make this work possible. Together, we are building a stronger Owen County for today and for generations to come.

Does a run or walk through flowering dogwood trees and spring wildflowers sound invigorating? Lace up your shoes and get ready for the Friends of McCormick's Creek 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 18 at McCormick's Creek State Park.

The paved race route begins at the Nature Center and makes a loop through some of the most scenic areas of the park. Families, friends, co-workers and individuals enjoy fellowship and encouragement as they strive for their best personal times. Owen Valley cheerleaders are also on hand to keep you motivated!

Packet pick up and on-site registration begin at 7 a.m. at the Nature Center and the starting pistol fires at 8:30 a.m. There is an optional post-race pancake breakfast for only $5, but please register early so adequate supplies can be purchased. An awards ceremony will follow the race with recognition of age group and overall winners in the Run and Walk divisions.

Early entries will receive a discount. Register online at: https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Spencer/FriendsMcCormicksCreek5k.

Those registering before April 3 can receive a race shirt. Late registrants may receive shirts while supplies last. Proceeds from the race fund park improvements and educational programs.

The Friends of McCormick's Creek would like to thank the following race sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors: Hoosier Energy and Sweet Owen Convention & Visitors Bureau. Gold Sponsors: Spencer Lions Club, Owen County State Bank and Boston Scientific. Silver Sponsors: Green Dental and Insurance Services, Inc. Bronze Sponsors: Home Team Properties, Crane Credit Union, Commercial Service, RE/MAX Select Associates, Byers Home Furnishings, Butterfly Hill Flower Farm, Friends of MYPath, Endeavor Communications, Farm Bureau Insurance, Ridgeline Veterinary Services and Racetrackers. Additional Sponsors: Canyon Inn and Nite Owl Promotions.

Finish line refreshments provided by McDonald's of Spencer and Babbs Supermarket.

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 the return of our annual 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 29. Entries are free this year and are not limited, so keep hunting as the season progresses. The winners of the second annual contest, which is sponsored by A Fungus Amoung Us, LLC, will be announced in our June 2026 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 the Owen County Community Foundation, 60 E. Market St., Spencer, during their normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Morel Mushroom Contest Rules

1. Open to Owen County residents only.
2. Entries are free and unlimited - keep hunting as the season progresses.
3. Contest closes at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2026.
4. Only yellow or gray morel (sponge) mushroom varieties are eligible.
5. All entries must have been found in Owen County.
6. All entries must be measured in person at the Owen County Community Foundation, 60 E. Market St., Spencer, during normal business hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–noon and 1–5 p.m.
7. The largest morel is determined by combined length + width measurement.
8. Winners will be announced in the June 2026 issue of The Owen News.
   

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!

The Owen County 4-H Program is rolling out the green carpet for its highly anticipated 2026 4-H Project Fair, happening March 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Owen County Fairgrounds' 4-H Exhibit Hall. This lively, interactive event is designed to welcome everyone—from long-time 4-H families looking to explore new projects to those who are brand new and curious about what 4-H is all about.

With more than 20 hands-on projects on display, the Project Fair offers a fun and inspiring evening where kids can explore their interests, families can connect with volunteers and everyone can experience the excitement that makes 4-H such a special part of the community.

From animals to arts, science to leadership and everything in between, there is truly something for every young person to discover.

Friendly volunteers, club leaders and experienced 4-H members will be stationed throughout the Exhibit Hall, ready to share stories, answer questions and help families navigate all the opportunities available. Whether a child wants to try something totally new or dive deeper into a favorite project, this event makes it easy—and enjoyable—to explore.

Our goal is simple: make sure every child and family feels welcome, supported and excited for the year ahead.

We want families—both returning and brand new—to walk in and immediately feel the energy and possibility that 4-H offers. There's no better time to see what makes 4-H so fun, so hands-on and so empowering for kids.

This year's Project Fair also shines a spotlight on the 2026 Project of the Year: Electric! Families can visit a special interactive table packed with demonstrations, resources and guidance for getting involved. Youth can explore circuits, energy and the science behind everyday electronics in a project that sparks creativity and curiosity.

The event is not just an opportunity to explore—it's also a great time to enroll and save. Families who register on-site will receive $5 off the enrollment fee for grades 3–12. Even better, Mini 4-H enrollment for grades K–2 is completely free during the event. Volunteers will be ready to walk families step-by-step through the enrollment process, making it quick, simple and stress-free.

Visitors can look forward to: Meeting enthusiastic club leaders and volunteers eager to help kids learn and grow; hearing directly from 4-H members and project experts who love sharing what they do; receiving on-site enrollment assistance in a friendly, family-focused environment; exploring brand-new project areas and discovering unexpected interests; and checking out the energizing 2026 "Electric" Project of the Year demonstration table.

Whether you're a seasoned 4-H family or just beginning to wonder if 4-H might be right for your child, the Project Fair is the perfect place to start. Warm smiles, fun conversations and hands-on discovery make this event one of the most welcoming moments of the 4-H year.

For more information about the Project Fair, contact Purdue Extension-Owen County at owences@purdue.edu or 812-829-5020.

Turkey season is approaching fast.

Across the Midwest, most turkey hunters are less than two months away from early morning drives fueled by gas station coffee. If things go well, strutting gobblers will send chills down our spines on opening day. For me, there is no rush in the outdoor world like the one felt while trying to lure an old limb hanger into range.

Greening hardwoods dotted with red buds and dogwoods represent the arrival of spring. Gobbling turkeys, aggressive crappie and morel mushrooms lure us outdoors. The excitement builds quickly this time of year, but successful hunts rarely happen by accident. The best hunts result from preparation, and right now is the window when getting ready matters most.

Preparation for the coming season begins with taking inventory. Pull your turkey vest from the closet and go through the pockets. After you throw away last year's half-eaten snacks, lay everything out. Check calls for working condition. Mouth calls often need to be replaced, box calls need to be chalked, and the surfaces of slate calls need to be roughed up. Make sure your gloves and facemask are still there and in good shape. Put loose shells back in the box or correct pockets. Organization prevents opening morning frustration.

Your shotgun deserves special attention. Every season, hunters assume last year's setup is still dialed in. Too often, those hunters discover problems at the worst time. Clean your gun thoroughly. If you're using a scope or red dot, make sure the mounts are rock solid and the sight is dialed in. Make sure the shotgun cycles shells properly. Most importantly, head to the range and pattern your shotgun. Patterning isn't just about confirming accuracy. The process builds confidence.

While preparation of your gear is paramount, scouting may be the single most valuable task hunters can focus on right now, especially if you're planning to hunt public land. Turkeys follow predictable patterns before hunting pressure arrives, and early scouting reveals where birds roost, travel and feed. Listen at dawn when possible. Glassing field edges in the evening should clue you into roost areas birds regularly return to. Take morning drives around your hunting area.

Boots on the ground are another way to locate birds, but you run the risk of bumping them out of the area. I would not recommend scouting in the woods you plan to hunt in the days leading up to the season. If you want to get out now and walk your area looking for shed antlers, then keep your eyes open for turkey tracks, droppings and scratching areas in leaves. These are clear signs that turkeys are using an area regularly.

Knowing where turkeys are before hitting the field on opening day changes everything. Instead of wandering and hoping to strike a bird, you can slip quietly into a known area or set up near a consistent travel zone. Public-land hunters need to have multiple locations identified ahead of time, since hunting pressure can change turkey behavior quickly once the season opens.

Preparation should also include calling practice. Whether you favor a box call, slate call or mouth call, spending a few minutes every day working on cadence and control makes a difference. I do a lot of this while I'm driving to and from work. Good turkey calling isn't about volume, and it's not for show. It's about realism and restraint. Go on YouTube and listen to recordings of real turkeys. Imitate that, not some award winner selling you how-to tips. Being familiar with your calls helps you react naturally when a gobbler is listening.

Perhaps the greatest reason turkey season holds such a special place is what it represents. It marks the true arrival of spring. Songbirds return. Trees and plants bloom. Rivers warm and fishing opportunities expand. Campgrounds reopen, and travel plans begin to take shape after a long winter indoors. Another year is upon us, and we have the opportunity to make the most of it. Use these final weeks wisely and enjoy another season of adventure in the turkey woods.

See you down the trail...

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

The Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees addressed a variety of topics during its Feb. 9 meeting, from financial audits and grant approvals to recognizing the achievements of local students and staff.

With six of the seven board members present, the session balanced routine administrative duties with significant updates to corporation policy and personnel.

Under routine matters, the board voted to approve meeting minutes for executive, regular, and the annual finance meeting held on Jan. 12, as well as executive and special sessions held Jan. 19.

Superintendent Greg Linton presented the latest claims and financial reports, which totaled $2,968,858.32. This figure includes three payroll cycles since the board's previous meeting on Jan. 12.

Addressing new business, the board voted 6-0 to approve the disposal of items deemed classroom surplus at Cloverdale High School (CHS) in 2026.

In a move prompted by a recent State Board of Accounts exit audit, the board voted unanimously to update the 2026 Micro-Purchases Threshold.

Superintendent Linton explained that the policy must be updated annually, and this year's approval effectively raises the threshold from $10,000 to $50,000.

The board also secured future funding by unanimously accepting the 2025-27 Title IV Grant, amounting to $19,581.23.

Reflecting an uptick in student numbers, the board approved a 6-0 vote for a new C.L.A.S.P. learning disability instructional assistant at CHS. Lauren Gellenbeck was later named to fill the position.

One donation for Cloverdale Elementary School (CES) and four donations for CHS were later approved, as well as two cash transfer-ins.

The board also took time to celebrate excellence within the district:

Students of the Month: Connor Pettijohn (CES), Brady Rubeck (CMS), and Sarah Nichols (CHS).

Staff Member of the Month: Cyndi Byrer, Head Custodian at CHS.

Citizens of the Month: Jamari Berryhill and Giovanni Martinez, recognized by School Resource Officer (SRO) Roger Tonna.

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

Professional Leave

Jan. 13 -- Jamie Nees, work on Individualized Education Program (IEP) paperwork and goals, CES.

Field Trips

Feb. 2 -- CMS eighth grade class, Reality Fair/Area 30 Career Center, Greencastle.

Feb. 25 -- CMS Bring Change 2 Mind, Advocacy Youth Day at Statehouse, Indianapolis.

March 5 -- CES third grade class, WonderLab Museum of Science, Health, and Technology, Bloomington.

March 6-7 -- CHS Jazz band, South Vigo High School.

March 13-14 -- CMS seventh/eighth grade band, Monrovia High School.

March 19 -- CES fourth grade class, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis.

March 31 -- CHS Greenhouse & Soils, Galema's Greenhouse, West Lafayette.

April 17-18 -- CHS Concert Band, Northview High School.

April 21 -- Academic Super Bowl Teams, Greencastle High School.

May 5 -- CES kindergarten class, Historic Tivoli Theatre, Spencer.

May 8 -- CES fourth grade class, Putnam County Fairgrounds, Greencastle.

May 9 -- CHS academic Super Bowl Teams, Purdue University, West Lafayette.

May 9 -- CHS Band, Kings Island, Mason, Ohio.

Facility Use

Feb. 9, Feb. 23, March 2, March 16 -- Public meetings for proposed Cloverdale Township Fire Protection Territory, Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Feb. 13 -- CMS fifth grade dance, CMS gymnasium.

Feb. 14 -- Select baseball teams' tryout, CHS auxiliary gymnasium, Cloverdale Community Youth League (CCYL).

Feb. 18 -- Baseball/softball coaches meeting and draft night, CMS library, CCYL.

Feb. 21 -- CCYL board meeting, CMS library, CCYL.

March 4 -- CMS/CHS choir concert, CMS cafeteria.

Sept. 26 -- Vendor setup, electricity and bathrooms, CHS Café, gymnasium, and parking lot area, Cloverdale Main Street.

Additional personnel matters receiving board approval included:

Resignations

Tyce Jackson -- CHS instructional assistant.

Sandi Price -- CMS Snails to Trails.

Lori Halloran -- CMS Snails to Trails.

Employment

Aubree Branigan -- CMS instructional assistant.

Lauren Gellenbeck -- C.L.A.S.P. instructional assistant.

Brittany Thomas -- Part-time custodian.

Alaina Abegg -- Knoy part-time teacher.

Coaching Hire

Mcguire Lee -- CHS junior varsity baseball coach.

The Cloverdale School Board—consisting of Vivian Whitaker, Katrina Lewis, Donna Fidler, Melissa Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann and Mike Rightmyer II—is scheduled to meet again on Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building.

Sixty-four counties in Indiana, including Owen County, received Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) natural disaster designations due to severe storms in spring of 2025.

This Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

There are three events which qualify:

1. Presidential Designation M4882:

Impacted Area: Indiana Triggering Disaster: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding that occurred between March 30 through April 9, 2025. Application Deadline: March 23, 2026

Primary Counties Eligible:

Indiana: Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Crawford, Decatur, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Harrison, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison, Marshall, Martin, Montgomery, Morgan, Orange, Owen, Perry, Switzerland, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Washington and Union Counties.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Kentucky: Boone, Breckinridge, Carroll, Daviess, Gallatin, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, and Trimble Counties.

Ohio: Butler, and Hamilton Counties.

2. Presidential Designation M4882, Amendment 1:

Impacted Area: Indiana Triggering Disaster: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding that occurred between March 30 through April 9, 2025. Application Deadline: April 13, 2026 Primary Counties Eligible:

Indiana: Warren County.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Illinois: Vermillion County.

Indiana: Benton, Fountain, Tippecanoe, and Vermillion Counties.

3. Presidential Designation M4882:

Impacted Area: Indiana

Triggering Disaster: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding that occurred between March 30 through April 9, 2025. Application Deadline: April 21, 2026

Primary Counties Eligible:

Indiana: Clay County

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Indiana: Greene, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, and Vigo Counties

More Resources

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.

FEMA offers different assistance programs for individual citizens, public groups including government agencies and private nonprofit organizations. To find the FEMA help you need following a disaster event, visit fema.gov/assistance.

When I was a kid, I remember watching the Smog Monster crawl out of a polluted harbor to terrorize the city. Only Godzilla could defeat this monster and save the day. Where did the Smog Monster come from? It oozed to life from all the trash and chemicals that were dumped by people and companies into the rivers and ocean.

This movie came out in 1971, when throwing bags of trash out of moving cars was frowned upon, but it was still very common. Today wonderful volunteers on road clean-ups still find plenty of garbage to collect, but I remember that it was much worse back then.

Maybe people my age learned that carelessly discarding trash could lead to monsters that were nearly as powerful as Godzilla. Or maybe communities realized that litter should result in heavy fines, which deterred litterbugs. Maybe people finally became fed-up with events like the burning of the Cuyahoga River in Ohio. Whatever the motivation, litter became unacceptable. Yet we still see it.

The book "Garbology: Our Love Affair With Trash" by Edward Humes outlines the history of trash. It has always been one of the top challenges of every community. Did you realize New York City used to let pigs roam the streets to eat people's trash?

We have more sophisticated means of disposal now. But we also have more challenges. Plastic bags used by stores are strong, light and inexpensive, but they are also discarded everywhere. Plastic water bottles are light, convenient and inexpensive, but they are also discarded everywhere. K-cups for single-use coffee machines are inexpensive and convenient, but they are also discarded everywhere. And then, what happens to the plastic that is used to create these strong, light, convenient and inexpensive products? Do they ever go away?

So that brings us to MYPath. Even though public litter is not as common as in the last century, it's certainly not rare. Friends of MYPath has hosted trash pickup days along River Road and collected plenty. The White River always seems to have trash along the shore. As MYPath grows in popularity, discarded trash should be a big problem. Yet it is not.

I give credit for a clean MYPath to the users of MYPath. Every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m., we host a weekly walk. (You are all invited.) We usually see one to three pieces of litter. Not one to three piles. And one of us picks it up to throw away at home. Trash pickup is not the point of this walk, but people pick up trash anyway.

In addition to the weekly walk group, I see individuals on the trail all the time. If I ask them about trash, they say, "Yeah, there was a piece of paper, but I just picked it up." As I have said before, MYPath has the best trail users. When we have volunteer days, we can focus on big jobs like spreading wood chips, clearing fallen branches and removing invasive plants. Trash is not a big issue.

Some people have asked why we don't have any trash cans along the trail or in the parking area. We are following the Indiana State Park policy of carry in/carry out. I think sometimes trash cans actually attract trash from people's homes and cars. Realistically, people who would drop wrappers on the trail wouldn't bother to walk their trash to the next container.

Will you see trash next time you visit MYPath? Maybe, but don't be surprised if you don't. I think people appreciate the community trail as their own. To the MYPath users, thank you for helping keep it clean.

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.

With election day just around the corner, here's a list of who voters will see on the May 5, 2026 ballot for the Democratic and Republican primaries.

Circuit Court II Judge, 78th Judicial Circuit

Kelsey B. Hanlon -- R

Prosecuting Attorney, 78th Judicial Circuit

Ashley M. Fleetwood -- R

Benjamin C. Kim -- R

Kristin Szczerbik -- D

Circuit Court Clerk

Diane Stutsman -- R

Nicholas Pecenica -- D

Commissioner, District 1 (Harrison, Montgomery, Taylor or Wayne Township residency)

Jeffery Johnson -- R

Norman C. Warner -- R

Coroner

Shelby Hershberger -- R

Timothy R. Wright -- R

County Council, District 1 (Harrison, Montgomery, Taylor, part of Washington or Wayne Townships residency)

Loretta Foster -- R

Lori L. Warner -- R

Sandra K. Calvert -- D

County Council, District 2 (Part of Washington Township residency)

Anton Karl Neff -- D

County Council, District 3 (Jackson, Jennings, Lafayette, part of Marion or Morgan Townships residency)

Don Bingham -- R

Lynda Sands -- R

Mark Anthony Searcy -- R

Mark Snapp -- D

County Council, District 4 (Clay, Franklin, Jefferson or part of Marion Townships residency)

Andy Wood -- R

Recorder

Nicole VanDerMoere -- R

Joseph Newman - D

Sheriff

Sam Hobbs -- R

Ryan T. White -- R

Surveyor

Amy L. Meier -- R

Pam Rogers -- R

Treasurer

Shelly Townsend -- R

Township Trustee -- Clay

Marjorie Ann Clouse -- R

Debbie Keith -- R

Township Trustee -- Franklin

Leroy Gentry -- R

Township Trustee -- Jackson

Bradley Salsbury -- R

Township Trustee -- Jefferson

Daryl Kasper -- R

Township Trustee -- Jennings

Susan M. Huftel -- R

Township Trustee -- Lafayette

Doris Scully -- R

Township Trustee -- Marion

James Elliott III -- D

Township Trustee -- Montgomery

M. Sue Carpenter -- R

Amanda L. Huntington -- R

Township Trustee -- Morgan

Dave G. Davies -- R

Collin Rotella -- D

Township Trustee -- Washington

Patty Edwards -- R

Phillip O'Neil -- D

Township Trustee -- Wayne

Linda Ann Studer -- R

Township Trustee Board -- Clay

Jacob Balash -- D

Township Trustee Board -- Franklin

Denise Line -- R

Kim Voelker -- R

Shea B. Finnegan -- D

Bruce McCallister -- D

Township Trustee Board -- Harrison

Catherine Richardson -- R

Clarence Walls -- R

Township Trustee Board -- Jefferson

Richard L. Hofmann -- R

Athena Goulet -- D

Township Trustee Board -- Jennings

Ernest DuFault -- R

Township Trustee Board -- Lafayette

Randy Hendershot -- R

Brenda Miller -- R

Kenneth Sebastian -- R

Township Trustee Board -- Marion

Paul Culler -- R

Roberta L. Harden -- R

Ethan L. Wood -- R

Township Trustee Board -- Montgomery

Douglas K. Carpenter -- R

Janet Long -- R

Ermond V. Poore -- R

Township Trustee Board -- Morgan

Sharon Close -- R

Ronald A. Jackson -- R

Rita Shunk -- R

Stephanie Barlow -- D

Township Trustee Board -- Washington

Daniel L. Melton -- R

Suzanne R. Simmerman -- R

Susan A. Ciresi -- D

Julie Coffin -- D

Ruth A. Jones -- D

Township Trustee Board -- Wayne

Debra Wampler -- R

Precinct Committeeman -- Clay 2

Jacob Balash -- D

Precinct Committeeman -- Franklin

Shea B. Finnegan -- D

Bruce McCallister -- D

Precinct Committeeman -- Jackson

Kristin Szczerbik -- D

Precinct Committeeman -- Lafayette

Mark Quigley -- D

Precinct Committeeman -- Montgomery

Sandra K. Calvert -- D

Precinct Committeeman -- Morgan

David Henk -- D

Precinct Committeeman -- Washington 1

Anton Karl Neff -- D

Jane Rubeck -- D

Precinct Committeeman -- Washington 2

Jo Ann Neal -- D

Democratic Convention Delegate

Jacob Balash -- D

Stephanie Barlow -- D

Frank Coffin -- D

Julie Coffin -- D

Aliyah Keuthan -- D

Jo Ann Neal -- D

Mark Quigley -- D

Collin Rotella -- D

Jane Rubeck -- D

Kristin Szczerbik -- D

Republican Convention Delegate

Andrew Horning -- R

Verl Keith -- R

Denise Line -- R

Kelsie Risk Reyes -- R

Kristi Risk -- R

Lori L. Warner -- R

Norman Warner III -- R

United States Representative, Eighth District

Mark Messmer -- R

Mary Allen -- D

Mario Foradori -- D

Christopher Rector -- D

Tabitha Zeigler -- D

State Senator, District 39

Tanner Bouchie -- R

Jeff Ellington -- R

Kristi Risk -- R

Joseph Baughman -- D

State Representative, District 46

Thomas L. (Tom) Arthur -- R

Bob Heaton -- R

James H. Pittsford (Jimmy), III -- D

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 5. General Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Early voting begins April 7 in the first floor lobby of the Owen County Courthouse.

Vote Centers will be located at:

Faith Baptist Church (11612 State Road 243, Cloverdale)

Millgrove United Methodist Church (11151 Millgrove Rd., Quincy)

Lighthouse Fellowship Church (5392 S.R. 67, Gosport)

Clay Township Fire Department (5663 S.R. 43, Spencer)

Freedom Community Center (5552 Freedom-Arney Rd., Freedom)

Jefferson Baptist Church (4019 Main St., Coal City)

Garrard Chapel Church (7410 W. S.R. 46, Bowling Green)

Spencer First Church of the Nazarene (126 E. Market St., Spencer)

For all election-related questions, contact Linda Roy, Owen County Deputy Clerk of Elections, at 812-829-5028 or email linda.roy@owencounty.in.gov.

For up-to-date candidacy filings, visit in.gov/sos/elections/ and click on 2026 Primary Candidate List.

The Spencer Town Council addressed a packed agenda during its regular meeting on Feb. 17, focusing heavily on long-term infrastructure investments, departmental maintenance and economic development.

The centerpiece of the evening was the introduction and passing of Resolution 2026-01, a preliminary determination to issue sewage works revenue bonds and bond anticipation notes. Town attorney Richard Lorenz clarified that the principal amount for these bonds is not to exceed $14,500,000. The council voted 3-0 to move forward with the resolution, signaling a significant commitment to upcoming sewer improvements.

In related utility news, Spencer Sewer Department Superintendent Ryan Klaassen received council approval for an emergency control board repair from Cummins Engines totaling $3,596.09; an $8,375 contract with Dubois Excavating to replace 60 feet of clay tile pipe in the alley between Jefferson and Wayne streets; and the purchase of a new $1,564 laptop equipped with GIS for field line locations, partially reimbursed ($900) by an apprentice program.

The council also renewed several key service contracts for the 2026 calendar year, including:

Economic Development: The Owen County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) contract was presented and approved. The total amount of the contract is $61,222.52, to be made in quarterly payments of $15,305.63. The EDC promises to routinely provide a list of contacts associated with economic progress involving both the town and county. Council member Ginger Kohr will serve as the town's liaison and be included in the monthly EDC meetings.

Rural Transit: Renewed at a cost of $18,000 annually ($1,500 monthly) to maintain consistent transportation services. Monthly activity reports will be submitted to the council.

Tree removal: Re-engaged Chip's Outdoor Services, LLC at last year's rates to prepare for potential severe weather.

Issues of public safety and maintenance were also addressed, with Spencer Police Department (SPD) Chief Terry Sips reporting that a 2018 Ford Interceptor requires over $9,200 in repairs. He also requested approval for the purchase of training ammunition for sidearms totaling $1,510.78 from Cheaper Than Dirt. Both expenditures were approved.

Meanwhile, the Spencer Street Department and Superintendent Tony Floyd received a budget of up to $6,000 for garage door and truck repairs. Floyd later highlighted David Anderson's promotion to CDL driver following his certification and requested Anderson's salary be raised to the base pay amount for that position.

In a sentimental moment, the council approved a request from the family of late council member Mike Spinks to place a memorial bench on North Washington Street, located between the Historic Tivoli Theatre and Civilian Brewing Corps.

Looking ahead, clerk-treasurer Cheryl Moke proposed hiring Colleen Minnemeyer as a "project manager" at a $250 monthly stipend to handle "back burner" tasks. The council also discussed taking a firmer stance on neglected properties, with attorney Lorenz outlining a legal process for cleanup that could begin with official deficiency notices.

I used to fish only for bass. Now I've wised up and realize that bluegill, crappie and a few other species can be a lot of fun, which is what fishing is all about. The second angling perk is that panfish make great table fare. You just can't beat properly fried crappie or bluegill fillets. It makes me hungry just thinking about it. After a long Indiana winter, and they're all long, it's fishing season and time to restock my freezer fish supply.

There's something about watching a cork with a minnow below slowly slide under. You know when that happens that it's a crappie or maybe a bass. I never get tired of seeing my cork disappear. That usually happens much more frequently with crappie than in typical bass fishing. One's patience is tested when bass casting for hours has yielded few results.

Crappie don't go deeply into semi-hibernation in the winter. That makes them a favorite target of ice fishermen and one of the first species to bite after the freeze thaws. Several local guys go south for crappie early in the year. Alabama and Mississippi are popular destinations. In terms of record fish, Old Miss has a long-standing crappie record. A five-pound, three-ounce behemoth white was taken below Lake Enid dam in 1957. The black crappie record is five pounds even caught from a private lake in Missouri in 2006.

A crappie success story happened a few years ago just about this time. A retired teacher and I were using minnows in a small private lake on a very windy but warm day. Boat control became difficult, and that usually means trouble for successful crappie fishing. Crappie are very relaxed, laid-back critters. They like to look at an offering awhile before giving in and striking. That's a general rule and there are exceptions, but usually the boat must be anchored, and one must place his bait in the exact spot. Wind makes that difficult, but stiff breezes also stir fish activity. We had no success, until...

We got out of the wind in a small cove and tried a little brush pile that I've caught a few out of over the years. This time, zilch. The wind blew my boat into the brush, and that nixed any future chance we may have had there.

While we were more or less stuck, on a whim I tossed my minnow about 30 feet further down the bank into about five feet of open water. Pretty soon, down went the bobber, and I set the hook into a very nice 12-inch crappie.

I thought to myself how strange it was to catch a crappie in that spot, with no obvious cover around. I had never caught anything in that area before. I put on another minnow, tossed back to the spot, and pretty soon another nice crappie joined the first in the livewell.

I told my buddy to come up to the front of the boat and that we could both fish this area. Maybe I was onto something. He eagerly complied. In about an hour, we boated 19 beautiful crappie from a spot the size of a bathtub. A couple were in the 15-inch range. We quit fishing while they were still biting. That was enough for my friend to take home and clean.

Later I looked at this spot on a calm day when the water had cleared. There was something dark on the bottom, but I couldn't tell what it was. Maybe a big stump, maybe something else. Whatever it was, it was a crappie spawning magnet on that spring day. Sometimes in fishing you just catch a break.

'Tis the season. Best of luck to you. Often that's what it takes.

The Owen County Public Library (OCPL) continues to grow and evolve, bringing new opportunities, resources and support services to our community. This season, we are excited to introduce several new and returning programs designed to engage learners of all ages, support families and connect residents with valuable resources.

One of our newest initiatives is Learn and Earn, a fun and rewarding way to test your knowledge. Visitors can answer a trivia question during their library visit for a chance to win a prize. It is a simple way to spark curiosity, encourage learning and add a little extra excitement to your time at the library.

Another important seasonal service now available is Free Tax Preparation, offered now through April 14. Community members are encouraged to call the library to see if they qualify and to schedule an appointment. This service helps ensure residents can file accurately and confidently while keeping more money in their pockets.

Our Adult Education program is also launching its spring session, with enrollment now open for several free certification courses. Community members can build valuable workforce skills through programs including CompTIA A+, QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel and HVAC-R. Those interested should contact Jamie at jamieh@owenlib.org, or call 812-510-7655 to learn more and enroll. Classes fill quickly, so early registration is encouraged.

For those looking to improve wellness and reduce stress, our Tai Chi class meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is known for its gentle movements, balance benefits and calming effects, making it an excellent option for beginners and experienced participants alike.

Supporting caregivers remains a priority at OCPL. Our Dementia Caregiver Support Group meets every fourth Thursday and offers two convenient sessions, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. This group provides a compassionate space for caregivers to share experiences, gather resources and find encouragement from others who understand the journey.

At the Owen County Public Library, our mission is to meet people where they are and provide meaningful opportunities to learn, connect and thrive. We invite everyone in Owen County to stop by, try something new and see what is happening at your library.

For more information about these and other programs, visit the Owen County Public Library at 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer, or follow us on social media.

Jeremy Kristopher Heidrich, 51, went to be with the Lord on Feb. 2, 2026. Jeremy was born in Chicago Heights, IL to Robert Heidrich and Sharon Cafe.

Jeremy was a devoted Christian who lived his life rooted in faith, service and love. He was known for his unwavering work ethic and his deep commitment to caring for others. Jeremy cherished every moment he got to spend in the beauty of God's creation, whether he was hiking or sitting patiently in the woods during hunting season. He also had a gift for working with his hands fixing cars, tackling projects and finding satisfaction in building or repairing whatever needed attention.

Above all, Jeremy loved his family and friends. He poured himself into the people he cared about, offering guidance, encouragement, and a steady presence that will be profoundly missed. His legacy is one of service and love, carried forward by all who were blessed to know him.

Jeremy is survived by his wife, Deena (Saglibene) Heidrich; daughters, Allyson Heidrich and Kristen Robinson (Marcus); mother, Sharon Cate; sisters, Kelly Durbin, Wendy Creech, and Bethany Sallee (Todd); brother, Stephen Heidrich; stepbrothers, Stephen Cate (Carol) and Andrew Cate; stepsister, Irene Selby (Edward); and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Daniel Heidrich; stepfather, William F. Cate; son, Hunter Malachi Heidrich; nephew, Ryan Durbin; and stepbrother, Thomas Cate.

Jeremy's memory will continue to shine through the lives he touched, the kindness he showed and the faith he lived daily.

Three candidates were removed from the primary ballot in Owen County following nearly six hours of testimony before the County Election Board and more than two hours of results spanning two days.

The board heard a total of nine CAN-1 challenges, two of which came from County Republican Chair Kristi Risk. The other seven came from local citizen Pam Rogers.

CAN-1 is the specific name of the form used to challenge whether or not a candidate is legally qualified to appear on the ballot. These forms trigger a hearing brought before the county election board.

The election board consists of chair Tony Voelker representing the Republican Party, vice chair Frank Coffin representing the Democratic Party and board secretary Diane Stutsman, who is also Owen County's Clerk. Voelker and Coffin are former county chairs of their respective parties.

Also present and guiding the board was attorney Richard Lorenz.

The results meeting took place on Feb. 26, while the testimony from those filing the challenges and the candidates being challenged took place the day prior.

Lorenz said the hearing revealed broader issues with how candidate forms are completed. He also noted the high level of scrutiny from the challenges and that that level of scrutiny would yield similar results across the state.

He pointed out that the candidate guide for the State of Indiana consists of 150 pages.

"If the form is only two pages and it takes you 150 pages to explain all the details and ramifications, it is evidence there's a little bit more to this than might appear," he said.

He noted that similar errors were made by multiple candidates, suggesting confusion with the form rather than intentional misconduct.

Voelker said he would weigh whether the forms were delinquent or defective. He noted that delinquency has civil penalties attached to it, unless the election board unanimously votes to waive them. Defectiveness, on the other hand, is given a period of time to address the issue or issues beforehand.

He also thanked Rogers who "pointed out some systemic failures in our county" and agreed that the issue is likely statewide. He called it "a good teachable moment."

Coffin concurred, saying that his approach is to have candidates on the ballot unless there is no choice to do so provided in the legal remedies. He said the challengers "call you to account" and thanked the candidates, noting, "These are judgements of law, not judgement of person."

He thanked Voelker and his other colleagues for being nonpartisan in their shared work.

"It's not that we've never disagreed, but we've always gotten along," he said. "I'm grateful because when you take an oath, if you're a poll worker or an election board worker, you quit being a Democrat or a Republican. You become a citizen representing the interests of the citizen."

He then said that many of the challenges were technical challenges.

"Error is not fraud. Error is error," Coffin said.

He said a mistake on a form does not invalidate the entire form. He stressed issues with delinquent and defective CFAs or campaign finance reports, which he said he intends to follow up on. Those issues can still be brought up in a separate hearing to cure deficiencies in those forms, as campaign finance extends until that particular campaign finance committee is formally disbanded. During those additional hearings, the board can issue fines, penalties or referrals based on the CFA forms.

The election board then considered the challenges, candidate by candidate.

Dustin "Dusty" White, Republican candidate for County Assessor

The election board first considered the challenge for Dustin "Dusty" White, the only Republican candidate for County Assessor. The challenge was brought forth by Rogers.

Voelker said that the overriding factor in his view is that White did not submit a CAN-12 with his CAN-2 and that the law says that the clerk shall not accept a CAN-2 without a CAN-12, which cannot be amended or added after the fact.

A CAN-2 is the form used to declare a nomination for the primary ballot on either the Republican or Democratic ticket, while a CAN-12 establishes a campaign's finance committee.

Voelker said not filling a CAN-12 disqualifies a candidate from a primary ballot and that this was clearly an error but that the law was clear.

"We don't have wiggle room," he said.

He said this overrides the other challenges raised in the challenge.

Because this would make it an open ballot position, with no Republican candidate, the party has the ability to caucus White to place him on the November ballot as a Republican. The deadline to do so is July 3. He also has the option to run as an independent.

Coffin also felt like the board did not have a choice and that it was simply an error with no malfeasance.

"I hope it serves, not just in his case, but it serves as the warning I was talking about earlier," Coffin said. "You need to take this stuff seriously. You can't just walk in and say, 'Hoodie doody.'"

Voelker moved to disqualify White from appearing on the Republican primary ballot, and Coffin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, 3-0.

This leaves no candidate for either party for county assessor.

Walter Newman, Republican candidate for County Council District 1

The first of the two "open and shut" cases considered was the challenge for Walter Newman, Republican candidate for County Council District 1. During his testimony the day prior, Newman said it was his intent to run as an independent and that when filing the form, he did not wish to make a party selection.

The challenge for his candidacy was filed by Risk because Newman did not vote in the Republican primary during the last two elections, which is a requirement for party eligibility. The other option, according to the CAN-2 form, is certification from the county's party chair, which Newman did not receive.

Voelker said that he felt the law was clear and Coffin agreed. Coffin said if Newman wants to run as an independent in the fall as he intended to do, he still can and should do so, but he is not eligible to run as a Republican.

Voelker moved to disqualify Newman from appearing on the primary ballot, and Coffin seconded the motion before it passed 3-0.

This leaves Loretta Foster and Lori L. Warner on the Republican ballot, and Sandra K. Calvert on the Democratic ballot. Lori Warner and Calvert also faced CAN-1 challenges of their own.

William D. Fulk, Republican candidate for County Council District 4

The other "open and shut" case heard by the election board was the challenge for William D. Fulk, Republican candidate for County Council District 4.

Fulk was also challenged by Risk for the same reasons as Newman—he did not vote in the last two primaries or receive certification from the party chair.

Fulk did not provide testimony the day prior like Newman, but like Newman, he too could run as an independent.

Coffin moved to disqualify Fulk from appearing on the Republican ballot. Voelker seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

This leaves Andy Wood as the only Republican on the GOP primary ballot for the position. There is not currently a candidate on the Democratic ticket.

Sandra K. Calvert, Democratic candidate for County Council District 1

The election board then considered the challenge for Sandra K. Calvert, Democratic candidate for County Council District 1.

The challenge was filed by Rogers.

Voelker said that the only aspect that had merit to him was missing a section in the middle that specifies how one's name should appear on the ballot. He said there was another aspect challenged saying that Calvert did not sign the CAN-2 under oath. Voelker said that was proven to be not true. Whether or not the forms were signed under oath was of the aspects continually called into question with several of Rogers' challenges.

He called the failure to specify how the name should appear on the ballot a "harmless error."

Coffin concurred.

"If you look at that form, that doesn't look like a signature block. In all the forms we've seen, that's the one that least looks like a signature block. Anybody can miss it. I've missed it myself, in former times," he said.

In addition, several of Rogers' challenges also questioned the signatures from the clerk's office. Coffin said that in his opinion, the seals and file stamps on the documents show the clerk's office's intention to accept the documents.

The election board unanimously voted to deny the challenge and uphold Calvert appearing on the primary ballot.

Calvert is the only Democratic candidate on the primary ballot for the position, meaning she has secured the party nomination for the general election and will appear on that ballot as well. In November, she will run against either Foster or Lori Warner who will secure the GOP bid. Lori Warner's challenge can be found below. If Newman refiles as an independent, he would also appear on the ballot for consideration of this council spot.

Leonard "Sam" Hobbs, Republican candidate for Sheriff

Next, the election board considered the challenge of Leonard "Sam" Hobbs' candidacy for Owen County Sheriff on the Republican ticket. Hobbs is currently a county commissioner.

The challenge was filed by Rogers and centered around Hobbs' CAN-2 form, but her testimony noted issues with the CFA forms. Because they were not on the official challenge document, the board could not consider them.

Voelker noted that the challenge alleged delinquency in the forms, but that to him it appeared as if they were filed or attempted to be filed but done incorrectly. He specified that the law is different depending on if a form is delinquent or defective, with defective forms receiving an opportunity for correction. He noted that Hobbs' testimony acknowledged errors in the forms, which Hobbs filed corrected versions the day before, following the election board hearing.

Failure to correct the forms could lead to civil penalties.

Voelker said that he believes the intent is for CFA forms to be treated differently than the CAN-2 and CAN-12 forms because they have separate civil penalties.

Coffin agreed citing the fact that the financial reporting extends beyond the life of any given campaign and said he intended to press for audits on the CFA forms.

Part of the findings included that the campaign financial reports are in controversy in some way and that the board would hold a separate hearing to audit all past or unfilled campaign finance reports and reporting requirements.

Voelker moved to deny the challenge and for the board to do a continuing audit on the CFA forms. Coffin seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.

Hobbs, who is a former two-term Owen County Sheriff, will appear on the Republican primary ballot against incumbent Ryan T. White. There is not currently a candidate from the Democratic Party for sheriff.

Amy L. Meier, Republican candidate for County Surveyor

The election board then considered the challenge for Amy L. Meier's candidacy for County Surveyor on the Republican ballot.

The challenge was filed by Rogers, who is also running for surveyor on the Republican ticket.

While the challenges centered upon similar technical issues as other candidates, there was also a challenge on Meier's residency, which the election board did not substantiate.

Voelker did specifically note that there were several blocks of questions not filled out on Meier's CAN-12, which should have at least included "N/A" instead of leaving them blank. However, because they were not part of the CAN-1 challenge, despite being included in testimony, the board did not feel that they could issue a finding on the form under the challenge that was filed.

"I think the state of the CAN-12 was a disgrace to be blunt about that," Coffin said, adding that leaving questions like who is your spouse blank bothered him. "She just didn't bother to answer the questions, and I was troubled by that. But at the same time that my being troubled by that is irrelevant because the challenger didn't bring it up."

Voelker said that Meier would be included in the board's future hearing on financial forms.

"Those were substantial errors that there really is no excuse for," Voelker began.

"Neglect," Coffin interjected.

"It was neglectful. It really was," Voelker finished.

Voelker moved to deny the challenge, and Coffin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Lori L. Warner, Republican candidate for County Council District 1

The election board then considered the CAN-1 challenge for Republican candidate for County Council District 1, Lori L. Warner. Rogers filed the challenge.

Similar technical issues from other challenges were present.

One point that did have some merit was that the CFA-1 form was erroneously filed without a signature. Voelker said that the guide for the election board states that if a candidate files without one, the election board may file one on their behalf without a signature. To him, the oversight of it not being signed does not qualify as a reason to remove a candidate from the ballot.

Voelker moved to deny the challenge, which Coffin seconded. The motion passed 2-1, with Stutsman voting against the motion.

Norman "Norm" C. Warner, Republican candidate for County Commissioner District 1

Next, the election board considered the challenge for Republican candidate for County Commissioner District 1, Norman "Norm" C. Warner. The challenge was filed by Rogers.

In addition to the same technical issues from other challenges, the board noted several errors on his CFA, which were not brought up on the CAN-1 challenge form but did come up in testimony.

Voelker moved to deny the challenge and to talk further about the issues on the CFA forms. The motion was seconded by Coffin and passed 3-0.

Norm Warner will appear on the Republican primary ballot in a contested race against fellow Republican hopeful Jeffery Johnson.

Nicholas Pecenica, Democratic candidate for County Clerk

Finally, the election board considered the challenge for Democratic candidate Nicholas Pecenica for Owen County Clerk, which was also filed by Rogers.

Pecenica was challenged on residency, which was disputed by utility bills, in addition to the other technical issues.

Voelker moved to deny the challenge, and Coffin seconded the motion. The motion passed 2-0-1, with Stutsman abstaining because she and Pecenica will be opponents in the general election, with Pecenica being the only Democratic candidate on the primary ballot, securing the party nod, and Stutsman being the only GOP candidate on the primary ballot.

Closing remarks from the election board

After concluding with the last challenge, the election board members each offered closing statements about next steps.

Voelker said he plans on making recommendations on how the voter registration office processes the paperwork moving forward as well as encouraging additional training from the local Republican Party. He also said there would be ongoing hearings about the CFA forms.

Coffin thanked Rogers, noting that while there might be disappointment in some of the outcomes, there is remedy for the challengers if they so choose.

Stutsman said she wants to work together to ensure candidates have the resources they need and that her office encourages candidates to complete all areas of the forms to avoid future technical challenges. She said her office cannot tell candidates how to answer any particular question.

Voelker stressed that they can "very adamantly say every single thing needs to be answered" and to not leave blank fields.

Coffin said he will be reporting the information to his party chairman, Bill Breeden.

Lorenz offered that there were other challenges which could have been made but were not filed.

"Some of the other candidates may find these same deficits in their portfolio, but they were not challenged," Lorenz said. "Those that were challenged and upheld are sort of standing as surrogates for the people that might have been challenged."

Voelker's focus was on preventing these issues moving forward and addressing the CFA forms in a future hearing. As of press time, that hearing had not yet been scheduled.

"You can't put toothpaste back in the tube," he said. "We understand that for things that have happened in the past, but we can get it right going forward and stay there. And that's kind of our goal, I believe, for all of us. Let's tighten up the ship and get it sailing straight."

Amidst the rolling hills of Owen County—a landscape that guest speaker Don Lamb joked can make a "Boone County flatlander" like himself a little queasy—local farmers and conservationists gathered Feb. 26 at the Owen County Fairgrounds for the Owen County Soil & Water Conservation District's Annual Meeting Dinner & Expo.

Lamb, the Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), was introduced by SWCD Executive Director Tammy Bingham and delivered a keynote address that was part personal heritage and part strategic vision.

A second-generation grain farmer from Lebanon, Lamb used the platform to "recruit" the audience into what he calls "Team Ag Indiana."

"We all need to be on the side of agriculture. We're a small group," Lamb told the crowd. "What can you do that can help out agriculture? Because we need everybody."

Lamb opened his remarks by reflecting on his roots, sharing photos of his father, a military veteran and first-generation farmer who started his operation by securing land via newspaper clippings mailed to him while he was stationed in Italy. He also displayed photos of himself as a child with his first toy tractors—items he still keeps today.

"If you grew up in agriculture, you know there's just something special; it gets in your blood from a young age," Lamb said, noting that at 59, he represents the average age of a Hoosier farmer—a statistic he hopes to change by encouraging more young people to enter the industry.

Despite being only the 38th largest state by land mass, Lamb highlighted that Indiana punches well above its weight class in global production. The state currently ranks first in popcorn and duck production, is among the top five in pork, corn, soybeans, eggs and poultry, and currently ranks as the seventh largest agricultural exporter in the nation.

Lamb specifically praised Owen County's unique contribution to these statistics, noting the county's strength in forest land and the hardwood industry.

"Owen County has a lot of patient farmers," Lamb remarked, referring to the long-term stewardship required for timber, which contributes to a $10.5 billion industry statewide.

Lamb also addressed recent shifts in federal and state health policies, specifically the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement. While initially nervous about how new federal and state leadership might view traditional agriculture, Lamb noted that the focus on "real food" has been a positive conversation starter.

Under Governor Mike Braun, Lamb is currently working on an executive order to identify barriers to local food production.

"I look at it as economic development," Lamb said. "Anytime you turn dollars over in a local community like this, those dollars turn over several times."

However, he cautioned against creating a divide between "small" and "big" agriculture.

"As soon as we start dividing... saying that's good for the small guy, not the big guy, or vice versa—it's all agriculture," he said. "We ought to be cheering every part of that food chain."

The meeting also touched on the pressing issue of "lost" farmland. Lamb reported that Indiana lost 350,000 acres of farmland between 2010 and 2022 to residential and industrial development. While efficiency has allowed farmers to produce more food on less land, he emphasized that the state is now conducting studies every five years to monitor the trend.

Lamb concluded by urging Owen County leaders to integrate agriculture into their regional economic development plans.

"Economic development shouldn't be a four-letter word to us in agriculture," he said, encouraging the community to find ways to add value to local products, such as turning raw hardwoods into finished barrels (not just staves) right here in Owen County.

The annual meeting also served as an opportunity for the SWCD to report on its conservation efforts. District officials discussed ongoing partnerships between local, state and federal agencies to protect water quality and soil health, emphasizing that conservation is essential to the county's overall quality of life.

Corbin Abrell, SWCD Board of Supervisors & Elections Chair, conducted the night's election of two new officers, with Owen County Councilman Anton Karl Neff later swearing in new board members Aaron Dunn and Jean Ann Schmittgens to begin their three-year terms of service. Dunn and Schmittgens join Abrell and fellow board of supervisors' members Steve Fox and Doris Scully.

The evening also featured a plate dinner prepared by the Spencer VFW Post #1405 Auxiliary, along with 22 vendor booths and an array of silent auction items.

In preparation for the primary election, The Owen News will host a "Meet the Candidates" event on Monday, April 20 at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, located at 24. N. Washington St., Spencer.

The event is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Candidates appearing on the primary ballot for either the Republican or Democratic parties for state and county-level offices are invited to participate. Each candidate will be given up to two minutes to introduce themselves, if they choose. Candidates who are unable to attend may submit a written introduction in advance, which will be read on their behalf during the program.

Following introductions, candidates in contested primary races will have the opportunity to answer questions posed by the moderator, Nicole DeCriscio, Executive Editor of The Owen News.

Other candidates are welcome to stay for individual questions from constituents and mingling following the end of the program.

In addition to the live forum, all primary candidates will be invited to respond to a candidate questionnaire that will appear in a special election section published with the April issue of The Owen News. The section is designed to provide readers with additional information about candidates and voting information ahead of the primary election.

"We see this as a natural extension of our reporting," DeCriscio said. "Our mission is to provide reliable, fact-based information that helps our community make informed decisions. Hosting a public forum and publishing a comprehensive candidate questionnaire ensures voters have direct access to the people asking to represent them."

She added that convening candidates and community members in the same space reflects the newspaper's role beyond publishing.

"Local newspapers have always served as a forum for civic life," DeCriscio said. "By bringing candidates and residents together at the Tivoli, we're helping create transparency and accountability while giving the community the information it needs in one place."

Coverage of the "Meet the Candidates" event will be published online at theowennews.org and featured in the May issue of The Owen News.

Candidates interested in participating or submitting an introduction in advance should contact The Owen News for additional details.

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

1-30

Permanent Cosmetics by Michele, 660 W. Morgan St., Spencer. Routine inspection. No violations

2-24

Owen County Sheriff's Department (jail kitchen), 291 Vandalia Ave., Spencer. Routine inspection. No violations.

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.

2-5

Travis Sanders, 59, Poland, IN, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by Owen County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) Sergeant Torrey Wallace.

2-7

David Bixler, 41, Gosport, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. Spencer Police Department (SPD) officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

Jesse Monnett, 35, Cloverdale, preliminary charges of violation of specialized driving privileges, resisting law enforcement, driving while suspended with a prior charge, and operating while intoxicated. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich.

2-10

Brandon Mullis, 32, Etowah, TN, preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated. SPD officer Ben Muncie was the arresting officer.

Victor Holding, 29, New Albany, preliminary charges of robbery, intimidation (two counts), and probation violation. Arrested by OCSD Major William Snodgrass.

2-11

Forrest Jackson, 58, Bloomington, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich was the arresting officer.

2-12

Michael Allen, 63, Eureka, MO, preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

2-17

Justin Delp, 37, Cloverdale, preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated and operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator (HTV). Indiana Conservation Officer Matt Mauder was the arresting officer.

2-19

Calvin Hall, 32, Spencer, preliminary charges of strangulation, domestic battery, disorderly conduct, and intimidation. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

Ashley Hodge, 32, Spencer, preliminary charges of operating with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 or more, auto theft, and probation violation. OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic was the arresting officer.

2-20

James Davis, 36, Spencer, preliminary charges of unlawful possession of a syringe, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a narcotic drug, and possession of methamphetamine. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic.

2-21

Rene Hernandez, 34, Solsberry, preliminary charge of driving without a license. OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler was the arresting officer.

2-22

Justin Carter, 24, Ellettsville, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge and operating a vehicle without financial responsibility. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Stephen DeWitt II.

2-25

Mateo Cantera Salinas, 45, Spencer, preliminary charge of operating without a license when required. SPD officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

2-26

Athena Skiddle, 47, Spencer, preliminary charges of battery against a public official, resisting law enforcement, battery, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct. Arrested by SPD officer E.J. Westgate.

Jaymison Copeland, 21, Bowling Green, preliminary charges of operating a vehicle without financial responsibility, motorcycle learners permit violation, driving while suspended with a prior charge, and failure to appear. Indiana Conservation Officer Matt Mauder was the arresting officer.

2-27

Thomas Houtchins, 25, Terre Haute, preliminary charge of criminal recklessness. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Stephen DeWitt II.

2-28

Samantha Mayhew, 33, Poland, IN, preliminary charge of involuntary manslaughter. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

Breanna Frields, 26, Bloomington, preliminary charges of theft, dealing or possession of a lookalike substance, and failure to appear. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark.

3-2

Dakota Ballard, 32, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of criminal recklessness, invasion or privacy (two counts), strangulation, domestic battery on a person less than 14 years old (two counts), domestic battery (two counts), auto theft, and burglary. OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic was the arresting officer.

The second and final Legislative Breakfast took place Feb. 28 at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship.

The annual events are hosted by the Owen County Chamber of Commerce to provide residents with the ability to connect with their legislators, share their concerns and ask questions about pending legislation in the year's legislative session.

This year was a short or non-budget year that ended on the evening of Feb. 27 because the legislature started the session a few weeks early in December. Typically, the legislative session begins in early January, but the Indiana House and the Indiana Senate met in December to consider redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The February Legislative Breakfast was sponsored by South Central Indiana REMC. Main Street Coffee served as the coffee sponsor, and unique to this month's event was an additional breakfast spread from the Owen County Extension Homemakers.

All three of the county's state legislators were present. They include Senator Rod Bray, District 37 and President Pro Tempore of the State Senate; Senator Eric Bassler, District 39; and Representative Bob Heaton, District 46 and majority whip.

The event was moderated by County Councilman Anton Neff.

Neff reminded folks that information on particular pieces of legislation, including their final versions and whether or not they had been signed into law by the governor could be found at www.iga.in.gov.

Neff encouraged folks to bring issues to the legislators sooner rather than later.

"It's never too early to think about things that need attention for the next go-around. A lot of times, and man, I'm guilty of that too, you kind of wait until it's perhaps a little too late to actually talk about nuts and bolts on some things," he said. "It's good to engage with your state elected officials now and year-round about the issues that concern you because there sometimes needs to be time to research things and develop and draft legislation that simply can't be done in January of next year."

Neff also recognized Bassler, who will not be seeking reelection.

"He will be retiring here at the end of the year. He has served or will have served 12 years as senator, and just as a point of personal privilege, I want to say that I've always been impressed with Senator Bassler," Neff said, recalling how he met Bassler at a pancake breakfast fundraiser for Owen Valley High School prom before Bassler ran for office.

Neff asked for opening comments from legislators before taking questions and comments from the audience.

Bray began and noted that the session ended around 6:00 the night before.

"Today we can kind of outline some of the things that happened during the legislative session," he said.

He noted that they begin working on legislation for the upcoming year in May in order to be able to file it in late December or early January.

He highlighted Senate Bill 1, which focused on Medicaid and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).

"As I've said from this table before, that's something that we really need to make sure we're operating with integrity and fidelity because those are programs that people in our community really, really need. They have the tendency, however, to grow out of control, and we can't allow that to happen," he said, citing the need to balance all of the resource needs and being good stewards of the state's resources.

He specifically noted that these are not cuts but rather ensuring that those who qualify for the assistance are the ones receiving it.

He also highlighted a potential constitutional amendment that would allow judges to hold individuals without bail pending trial if there is no other way to ensure the public's safety. Currently, individuals accused of a crime can only be held without bail if they are charged with murder or treason.

This potential amendment will appear on November's General Election ballot as a state referendum.

"Essentially what it will say is that if the evidence is strong and there is clear and convincing evidence that there's no type of condition that would allow the person out of jail pending trial that would keep the public safe, then you can hold them without bail," he explained. "There's a lot of due process there. It would require a hearing for a judge to look at the evidence and decide whether or not that's the case."

Bassler was the next to provide opening remarks.

"I was thinking on my drive up that although this is the last one of these that I will attend in my official capacity, I think maybe next year I'll come to them and just sit out with you and complain to these guys. I'm looking forward to that," he said.

The room laughed at the joke.

"But in all seriousness, it has been a pleasure to represent you," Bassler said.

He shared that he was proud of his time serving as a state senator.

He said this year, they worked on legislation related to social media engagement among individuals under the age of 16.

He noted that mental health issues, attempted suicides and suicidal ideation have significantly increased among young people in the last decade.

"A lot of that can be directly tied back to social media," Bassler said.

He said the algorithms are intended to be addictive and that while the minutia is still being worked out, the legislation would require parental consent.

"I think that's going to be an extremely impactful bill over time. I think it will help when it comes to teen suicide and suicide attempts, and so I'm looking forward to seeing the positive impact that bill can have in the coming years," Bassler said.

Heaton thanked everyone for being there and said he just finished his 16th year as state representative.

"I was here before these two fine gentlemen were here, and Senator Bray, I served with his father [those] first couple years," he said, "but I still feel very young."

Heaton focused on issues with a DLGF or Department of Local Government Finance bill on townships.

He also stressed the importance of working together across both chambers and party lines. Heaton shared that 90 percent of the bills passed in the first half of the legislative session were bipartisan.

"I think a lot of people couldn't understand that because they just think we're always fighting, the Democrats and Republicans, and that's not really the case up there [at the Indiana Statehouse]," Heaton said.

The trio took questions and comments from constituents on a myriad of topics.

A weekend gathering turned tragic in the early hours of Feb. 28, leaving a young woman dead and another facing felony charges following a violent struggle near a backyard fire pit.

Samantha Mae Mayhew, 33, of Poland, IN, has been remanded to the Owen County Security Center on a charge of involuntary manslaughter following the death of 27-year-old Kiersten Moore.

A Chaotic Response

The incident began in northwestern Owen County at approximately 12:32 a.m. when authorities with the Owen County Sheriff's Department responded to a disturbance at a residence on Private Road 525 West. Dispatchers warned responding officers that a physical fight had occurred and one participant was no longer breathing.

Upon arrival, the first responding officer encountered Mayhew walking along the roadway. According to the probable cause affidavit, she appeared highly distressed, with blood covering her face and clothing and a visible laceration on her cheek.

While Mayhew initially requested to be left alone, she allegedly told the officer, "They were trying to get her for that girl not breathing," and urged him to "go down there and get that girl breathing."

Life-Saving Efforts at the Scene

At the residence, the officer discovered the property owner performing CPR on Moore, who was found lying on her back near a rock pile and a fire pit. Despite the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and continued life-saving efforts by authorities and first responders with the Cataract Volunteer Fire Department, Moore never regained consciousness. She was later pronounced deceased at Putnam County Hospital.

Witness Accounts of the Struggle

Witnesses told investigators that the evening had been calm until an argument erupted while Taylor Mayhew—Samantha's brother and the victim's boyfriend—had briefly stepped away.

A male witness informed police that Moore had been sitting quietly when Samantha Mayhew began aggressively questioning her regarding the custody of her child. The confrontation escalated when Samantha Mayhew allegedly grabbed Moore by her hoodie and tackled her backward into a rock pile.

Taylor Mayhew reported returning to the fire to find Samantha on top of Moore. He admitted to "slamming" into his sister to pull her off the victim. Witnesses suggested the injuries to Samantha's face occurred during this secondary struggle with her brother as he attempted to intervene.

Evidence of Intoxication and Conflict

Police noted that Samantha Mayhew exhibited strong signs of intoxication, including the odor of alcohol, slurred speech and unsteady balance. While Moore had reportedly smoked marijuana earlier in the evening, witnesses stated she had not been drinking and remained "calm" until the physical assault began.

During the investigation, Mayhew's behavior was described as erratic. She reportedly escaped from the back of a patrol vehicle multiple times. At one point, she allegedly stated, "I did this," before later telling officers, "I promise I didn't do this."

Ongoing Investigation

A search warrant was executed at the property, where the probable cause affidavit notes Indiana State Police crime scene investigators located blood evidence on the ground, a white table and a hat near the site of the struggle.

Samantha Mayhew was treated for her facial injuries at a local hospital before being booked into jail. The investigation remains active.

Legal Proceedings

Following a medical evaluation, Samantha Mae Mayhew was remanded to the Owen County Security Center. During an initial hearing on March 2, her bond was set at $30,000 (cash, surety, or 10%).

The court has scheduled the following dates for the case: pretrial conference, April 16; final pretrial conference, July 10; and a trial by jury, Aug. 18.

According to Indiana law, involuntary manslaughter is "the unjustified, unexcused, unintentional killing of one human being by another human being without malice aforethought."

The involuntary manslaughter charge Mayhew faces is a Level 5 Felony. In Indiana, the maximum penalty for such a crime is a six-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.

Speculation on Social Media

In response to growing social media chatter, the Owen County Sheriff's Office issued the following statement via its Facebook page on March 3:

"The internet and social media is an amazing thing for many reasons, but an absolute super spreader of misinformation in many instances. For some reason people love to speculate and spread things they 'know for a fact' on social media regarding criminal cases. In reference to the case involving the arrest of Samantha Mayhew, we have not released any information due to one imperative part of the investigation not yet being complete. While we understand the probable cause affidavit is public record and has been obtained and published on other sources, we disagree with this practice until all facts are made available. Please do not post speculations, theories, opinions or rumors out of respect for the victim and her family. We have not made a press release or announced a cause of death, because a cause of death has not yet been determined. An autopsy was conducted today (March 3), and that information will be made public when it is available."

Prosecutor Benjamin Kim reminded the public that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A recent stroke of financial luck and strategic maneuvering dominated the Spencer Redevelopment Commission's special meeting on Feb. 25. Highlighting the evening was the news that the town will no longer need to pledge residential tax revenues toward its sewage project, potentially saving the town's long-term funding flexibility.

A Win for Ratepayers

Initially, the commission met to consider a resolution pledging Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues to pay for sewage works revenue bonds. However, town attorney Richard Lorenz announced that lower-than-expected project costs have rendered the pledge unnecessary.

The winning bid for the town's planned sewer improvements project came in at an eye-catching $7,777,777.77, a figure Lorenz noted was well below the initial estimate.

"It's been suggested that the combination of the loan and grant, together with the project bids that were received, amounts to better than a 1.5-million-dollar benefit to the ratepayers," Lorenz explained.

Beyond the immediate savings, the decision to forgo the TIF pledge protects the town's future. Because the debt won't be issued against the residential TIF, a "20-year clock" on the TIF's expiration will not be triggered.

"If the debt is not issued there is no expiration date," Lorenz said. "By removing the TIF pledge from the deal, we will not start the 20-year clock."

Former Riddle Property Prepared for Sale

The commission also shifted its focus to the former Riddle Tractor Sales property at North Short and West Morgan Streets. The town purchased the six-lot site in 2023 and is now looking to offload a portion of it to a private developer.

An unidentified company has expressed interest in two lots formerly used for equipment sales. To facilitate a sale, the commission voted unanimously to transfer those two lots from the Town of Spencer to the Redevelopment Commission.

The Proposed Timeline

March 31: Target date for two commercial appraisals (estimated at $6,000 each).

April 22 & 29: Public notice of the property disposition to be published.

May 13: Commission meets to receive proposals and purchase prices.

June 30: Expected closing date for the sale.

Lorenz noted that if no other bids are received during the public process, the town can negotiate directly with the interested party.

"The bottom line is we believe that the sales of these two lots will pay for and extinguish the loan that we have on the properties in its totality," Lorenz said, leaving the remaining four lots as a "net gain."

The other four lots are already being eyed for community use; the south-side lots are a potential future site for the Owen Valley Fire Territory, while an existing building to the east is currently used by the Spencer Street Department.

Housing and Aerospace Interest

Before adjourning, Lorenz provided a glimpse into Spencer's growing economic momentum. He cited interest from an aerospace industry employer looking to establish a local presence, as well as a proposal for a 40-acre residential development on County Line Road that could bring 80 new homes to the area.

"We keep making these little inroads that are very valuable," Lorenz said. "They are coming along at just the right pace that we can almost keep up with them."

The Spencer Redevelopment Commission consists of members Wally DeFord, Evan McKalip, Ed Hines, Gary Brinson and ex-officio member Andy Cline.

Dateline, January 23, 2026: A huge winter storm approaches. The weather forecasters do not agree on the finer points of the storm. It may be 12 inches of snow, or the storm may only dump six inches of snow on southern Indiana. One thing they do agree on - the temperature will dive below zero. They also agree we should get prepared for the storm. They do agree our part of Indiana will escape the ice storm. The poem, "A Winter Piece" by William Cullen Bryant explains why some appreciate the beauty of an ice storm:

Come when the rains
Have glazed the snow and clothed the trees with ice,
While the slant sun of February pours
Into the bowers a flood of light.

My mind goes to the many birds that depend on the bird feeders that I fill daily. The small one in front gets refilled twice a day at least. That won't be too much of a challenge to fill. I may need snowshoes to make it to the one that hangs in the back yard.

The enjoyment I receive from watching the variety of birds that dine here is worth every dollar I spend on bird seeds. Small red finches, many varieties of sparrows, black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, and gold finches share my offerings with blue jays. The birds share their dining table with a pair of squirrels. These squirrels, like most, are fantastic acrobats and empty the feeders quickly. They are experts at stealing the suet hangers. I know spring is coming soon, the male gold finches are already beginning to get their mating colors.

The larger feeder that hangs from the old pine tree in the backyard attracts more blue jays, crows, and an occasional starling or dove. They are cautious about getting their lunch there, because a young red-tailed hawk likes to sun itself on the limb of the old pine tree that fell last summer. When the cold winds blow across the field that stretches over to the river, he fluffs up his feathers to retain some warmth. The sun shines on his pale breast as he scans the empty field for a mouse or? What a joy it is to enjoy nature surrounded by human activity. The wild creatures have learned to accept and adjust to the invaders of their homes.

February marks the end of winter here. Time to plan the gardens we will plant come warm weather. I am reading the Old Farmer's Almanac my sister gave me for Christmas. Many memories from childhood flood my brain as I turn the pages. My Mother always had one of these little yellow books. She "planted by the stars and moon." It has changed since I last held one. The front third of the book is mostly ads printed on slick paper. The almanac portion is still on newsprint paper. I found a recipe for a hot toddy buried in the pages. I giggled a bit as I read it. Our mother kept us healthy in the winter with hot toddies. The first sniffle was a sign we needed one. The recipe in the current book advised the reader to substitute lemon juice for the bourbon when making one for a child. Now I support that advice. The hot toddies we drank contained Kentucky bourbon along with ginger and cinnamon.

'til next time,

Annie

Tax season is here, and United Way of South Central Indiana (UWSCI), in partnership with local organizations, is offering free in-person and online tax preparation through its 2026 Free Community Tax Service. Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 27, IRS-certified volunteers will serve community members at eight in-person sites across Brown, Monroe, and Owen counties.

Hoosiers earning $67,000 or less annually may qualify for free assistance with filing both federal and Indiana state tax returns.

Tax preparation is provided at no cost, with trained volunteers working one-on-one with clients to help ensure they receive every dollar they're eligible for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

One site managed by the AARP Tax-Aide Program, located at Endwright East at the Bloomington College Mall, does not have income or age requirements for service.

In addition to in-person assistance, residents with a combined Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $89,000 or less can file their taxes online for free from home or anywhere with an internet connection.

Community members can learn more about both in-person (Owen County Public Library) and online options at www.unitedwaysci.org/FreeTaxes.

2025 Impact

During the 2025 tax season, the Free Community Tax Service brought together 78 volunteers to help local residents file 851 federal tax returns, saving clients more than $200,000 in tax preparation fees and returning over $1 million in refunds and credits to the community.

United Way managed seven full-service tax sites, with AARP managing two additional locations.

Nearly $250,000 in Earned Income Tax Credits was claimed, with 128 filers receiving EITC and working families receiving $112,097 in Child Tax Credits. Approximately 64% of clients were seniors, many of whom reported using their refunds to cover essential expenses such as food, housing, medical care, transportation, and savings.

Supporting ALICE Families

The Free Community Tax Service is part of UWSCI's broader strategy to advance stability and opportunity for ALICE families - working households who earn too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to meet the cost of living. Alongside grantmaking, UWSCI directly invests in programs such as the Financial Stability Alliance, Bank On Bloomington, Truancy Case Management, youth mentoring, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and more. Together, these initiatives strengthen financial security, improve health outcomes, and expand opportunities for young people—ultimately connecting more families to possibility.

Carmen Chamorro Avilés, Community Impact Manager at United Way of South Central Indiana, said, "With the help of our dedicated volunteers, United Way is proud to continue offering this critical service to help community members receive their full refunds and avoid costly preparation fees. Now more than ever, these dollars make a real difference in strengthening financial stability for families in our region. We're grateful for the trust our clients place in us."

To learn more about the Free Community Tax Service, visit www.unitedwaysci.org/FreeTaxes.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

New this year: Indiana Legal Services' Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) will offer walk-in tax consultations at the Bloomington City Hall site during regular operating hours.

The LITC assists Indiana residents experiencing tax-related issues with the IRS by providing education, advocacy, and, when appropriate, representation. While the clinic is funded through an IRS grant, it operates independently of the IRS and does not typically provide tax preparation services.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can provide a significant boost - up to $8,046 for those who qualify. The EITC is a refundable federal tax credit for low- and moderate-income working individuals and families. Because it is refundable, eligible taxpayers may receive a refund even if no taxes are owed.

Despite its impact, one in five eligible individuals does not claim the credit. Filing a tax return is required to receive the EITC, even for those who are not otherwise required to file. United Way's tax volunteers are trained to help ensure eligible residents can access the EITC and other available credits.

Bilingual Tax Preparation Assistance

United Way is again partnering with the City of Bloomington to offer a full-service Spanish-language tax site. Spanish-speaking residents can file their taxes with certified bilingual volunteers. Appointments can be made in Spanish by calling 812-349-3860.

Nonresident Taxpayers

Free Community Tax Service locations are not certified to prepare returns for nonresident taxpayers. Nonresidents affiliated with Indiana University may contact the Office of International Services for assistance at www.ois.iu.edu.

Partners

United Way of South Central Indiana serves as the lead convener, working alongside a strong network of partners to deliver the Free Community Tax Service. Partners include 2-1-1, AARP, Area 10 Agency on Aging Endwright East Community Center, Brown County Public Library, City of Bloomington, Financial Stability Alliance of South Central Indiana, First Financial Bank, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Indiana Legal Services – Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington, MCCSC Broadview Adult Learning, Monroe County Public Library – Ellettsville Branch, Owen County Public Library, and dedicated community volunteers.

Dementia Friendly Owen County, in conjunction with Area 10 Agency on Aging, has partnered with the Alzheimer's Association to facilitate care partner support group meetings locally in 2026.

Support groups are held at the Owen County Public Library (OCPL) on the fourth Thursday of each month. Questions should be directed to Amy Guerrettaz by calling 812-935-2582 or emailing aguerrettaz@area10agency.org.

The meeting schedule for January through April 2026 is as follows:

Thursday, Feb. 26, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26, 5 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 26, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 26, 5 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, Apr. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, Apr. 23, 5 to 6 p.m.

Become a Dementia Friendly Business

Many Owen County organizations have completed Dementia Friendly Business training already, including McCormick's Creek State Park, Owen County EMS, Owen Valley Fire Territory, Owen County Public Library, Babbs Supermarket, Owen County Health Department, and Spencer Pride.

Recently, staff from Area 10, Home Instead and Owen Valley Memory Care each participated in Dementia Live®! By simulating sensory and cognitive changes, participants experience what it may feel like to live with dementia - deepening empathy and improving how we communicate, care, and connect.

Schedule a complimentary training, education event, or Dementia Live® experience for your business or group by contacting Area 10 Agency on Aging Dementia Outreach Specialist Amy Guerrettaz at 812-935-2582 or aguerrettaz@area10agency.org.

I've never been what you would call a bird watcher, unless that applies to observing our amusing summer hummingbirds jockey (fighting) for position on our feeders. There's also a mockingbird pair that frequents our neighborhood, and one of them always selects the tallest perch he or she can find. I figure it's a male since that high spot indicates ego is involved. Their loudspeaker voices immerse the area in song. These are birds with attitude, even chasing away squirrels that get too close.

As a member of the Hoosier Outdoor Writers, I get their publication. The editor is a big-time bird man. He makes special trips to photograph them and publish his work in our magazine. OK. That would be a nice hobby.

I love watching eagles. There's a private lake near the Patoka River that frequently rewards me with an eagle sighting. This majestic bird also inhabits an area I fish on the White River near Shoals. My son likes to photograph an eagle group near his cabin on Beaver Lake near Jasper.

Sad to say, when growing up I used to kill umpteen sparrows, starlings, and blackbirds near my Perry County home. Dad told me that these targets were acceptable to shoot, but that I shouldn't bother more "desirable" birds, such as redbirds, wrens, and robins. Bluejays were iffy, but they were pretty, so I didn't bother them. I don't know what made sparrows and such undesirable, but I learned how to shoot by hunting these guys. I even had a scope on my potent BB gun.

In the old days I hunted quail, a most enjoyable sport depending on how the dog worked. Mr. Bobwhite has largely disappeared, since their habitat of brushy fencerows and unused weed fields have decreased. I used to crow hunt, first using a mouth call and then a taped distressed crow sound on a portable player. It seemed wasteful though. I would kill a crow, and then what would I do with it? I figured then the only living things I would ever shoot would be something I could bring to the table.

An issue with birds is the potential for human disease. In addition to avian flu, histoplasmosis is a serious respiratory illness that results from a fungus growing in bird droppings. Encephalitis is spread by mosquitoes which have fed on infected birds carrying the virus. Dust from droppings can be sucked through ventilators and air conditioners, contaminating food or cooking surfaces.

So, I knew birds have some downsides, but I found out some positives when I recently read an article by Barry Yeoman entitled "What Do Birds Do for Us?" Some highlights:

*An estimated 1,300 bird species face extinction over the next century, and many more are suffering from extreme habitat loss due to human activity.

*Healthy bird populations are essential to human welfare. Birds help keep farmers in business; they help protect our drinking water by preventing erosion; they help keep the furniture industry supplied with timber; they provide critical environmental data. Insect eaters protect apple orchards in the Netherlands and safeguard Missouri white oaks, which are highly prized by furniture makers. They reduce losses at wineries by consuming the larvae of pests.

*When the Mormons settled Utah in the 19th century, the first two crop seasons were destroyed by western crickets. One historian wrote that the people were in despair until sea gulls came by the thousands. Before the next season's grain could be entirely destroyed, they devoured the insects so that the fields could be mostly free of them. The settlers regarded this as a heaven-sent miracle.

What about those crows that I used to hunt? There's a huge amount of roadkill on our highways. Things would get pretty nasty if we didn't have scavengers around to clean up the mess. In India, Hinduism prohibits the slaughter and consumption of cows, so livestock dies out in the open. Vultures arrive, and in short order they finish everything perishable—no mess and no stench. In the '90s researchers noticed a drop in the population of oriental vultures. Today their numbers have been reduced by 99 percent. The cause has been traced to an anti-inflammatory called diclofenac, which is used as a painkiller for aging cows but triggers fatal kidney disease in vultures. Without vultures, carcass disposal has been left to feral dogs, who now roam India's trash dumps looking for piles of dead cattle. With this came more dog bites and instances of rabies. Between 1992 and 2006, dog bites resulted in 48,000 additional deaths. The vulture-dog connection produced health costs of $34 billion over 14 years.

Most of us have heard of canaries in the coal mines reacting to poisonous gas, but have you heard that pheasants were used in World War I to detect oncoming hostile aircraft? They gave the alarm through insistent cries. How about carrier pigeons? They dodged bullets to transport messages that helped the Allies capture German submarines.

Birds alone can't tell scientists everything they need to know about ecosystem health, but if there are major problems with the environment, one researcher says, "We're going to pick it up through birds."

The Historic Tivoli Theatre is inviting the community to take part in a one-of-a-kind fundraising event that blends adventure, storytelling, and generosity. Inspired by classic cinematic adventures, the event will guide guests through an immersive experience designed to raise funds for free community movie screenings, operational cost, and the projector replacement at the Tivoli.

Attendees will begin their journey at Base Camp, where they will collect a map and set out to explore the theatre in search of "relics" hidden throughout the building. These relics include auction items available for bidding as well as movie sponsorship opportunities that directly fund free movie experiences for the community.

From there, guests are encouraged to venture onto the stage, where lost artifacts and hidden treasures await among coils and shadows. Additional discoveries can be found high above in the balcony, while the Den of Viquesney houses a carefully guarded collection of rare finds, some available through spirited bidding and others offering the chance to sponsor free movie nights.

The adventure continues through the halls, where participants will help maneuver a rolling boulder challenge, with every donation moving it closer to the finish and unlocking additional free movies for local families.

"This event is about more than fundraising - it's about access," said theatre director Andrea White. "Every artifact discovered, every bid placed, and every sponsorship claimed helps ensure that movies remain a shared experience for everyone in our community."

The event will feature both in-person and online auction participation, allowing supporters near and far to join the expedition. Proceeds will directly support the Tivoli's mission to provide free and affordable movie programming while preserving the historic theatre as a community gathering place.

More information, including event details and online participation options, can be found at www.spencertivoli.org.

Spencer-Owen Community Schools (S-OCS) Corporation continues to look for ways to support student learning while balancing safety, flexibility, and the realities of our community. One such effort is the implementation of Synchronous E-Learning, a structured approach to online instruction that allows teachers and students to connect in real-time when in-person learning is not possible.

S-OCS firmly believes that in-person instruction is the best environment for student learning. Face-to-face interaction, hands-on activities, and daily personal connections remain the foundation of effective education. However, there are times (such as hazardous weather or unsafe road conditions) when school must be canceled to ensure the safety of students and staff. In those situations, synchronous learning provides a valuable alternative that allows learning to continue without disruption.

What is Synchronous E-Learning?

Synchronous E-Learning involves live, scheduled online lessons where teachers and students interact at the same time. During these live lessons, teachers provide direct instruction, explain concepts, answer questions, and guide students through learning activities. Teacher support is built into the day, giving students the opportunity to receive help just as they would in a traditional classroom setting.

In addition to live instruction, students are given independent work time to practice skills, complete assignments, or apply what they have learned. This balance of live teaching and independent work helps maintain structure while allowing flexibility for students and families at home.

Why Synchronous Learning matters

When hazardous conditions force school closures, synchronous learning allows S-OCS to continue providing meaningful instruction without extending the school calendar. This approach eliminates the need to add make-up days at the end of the year, helping families avoid changes to summer plans, including summer school, camps, vacations, and childcare arrangements.

For families in Owen County, this flexibility is especially important. With rural roads that can become unsafe during winter weather or other hazardous conditions, many students would otherwise be absent. Synchronous learning ensures that students can still participate in lessons safely from home.

Benefits for parents and students

Parents have shared that live lessons make E-Learning more manageable for students. Seeing their teacher, hearing explanations in real-time, and having a set schedule helps students stay engaged and focused. Live instruction also reduces confusion, as students can ask questions immediately rather than struggling independently.

Synchronous learning also helps prepare students for the future. By participating in virtual meetings, students practice skills that are increasingly important in college and the workforce, such as online communication, time management, and digital responsibility.

Appropriate online learning expectations

To create a productive virtual learning environment, students are expected to follow clear online meeting guidelines: microphone muted unless speaking; use the hand icon when you have a question or need help; and camera on to promote engagement and accountability.

These expectations mirror professional virtual meeting standards and help ensure that live lessons run smoothly.

Strong participation and positive results

Building administrators across the district were pleased with the high level of student engagement during synchronous learning days. The majority of students across the district attended live lessons, demonstrating strong participation and commitment to learning despite challenging conditions.

S-OCS staff and administrators continue to emphasize that in-person instruction remains the priority. At the same time, the corporation appreciates the flexibility that synchronous learning provides when circumstances require an alternative. By combining safety, structure, and live teacher support, Synchronous E-Learning ensures that students remain connected, learning, and moving forward... no matter the conditions outside.

Owen County's 4-H program is preparing for another year filled with hands-on learning, community connection, and youth leadership — and the need for passionate volunteers continues to grow. As more young people join 4-H each year, the Purdue Extension–Owen County office is inviting community members to step into roles that help shape the next generation of leaders, creators, and problem-solvers.

Volunteers are the heart of 4-H. They guide clubs, teach project skills, assist at events, and serve as mentors who help youth discover their strengths. In Owen County, those roles are as varied as the interests of the youth who participate. While agriculture remains a beloved cornerstone, today's 4-H members explore everything from photography and fine arts to robotics, wildlife, foods, sewing, and leadership development.

Because of this wide range of interests, the Extension office is especially excited to welcome volunteers who want to run project workshops or lead clubs based on topics they genuinely care about. The idea is simple: if someone in Owen County has a passion, there is likely a young person eager to learn it.

A gardener might lead a summer plant-care series. A baker could teach cake decorating. A local mechanic might introduce youth to small-engine repair. A crafting enthusiast could host a weekend workshop. When volunteers bring their own enthusiasm into the room, youth feel it — and that spark often becomes the beginning of a lifelong hobby or even a future career.

Extension staff emphasize that volunteers don't need to be experts. What matters most is a willingness to share, encourage, and guide. Some of the most memorable 4-H experiences come from adults who simply enjoy helping kids try something new.

While Owen County 4-H is eager to welcome new volunteers, the application process is intentionally thorough. Indiana 4-H follows a detailed screening procedure to ensure the safety and well-being of every child involved. Prospective volunteers complete an application, provide references, undergo background checks, and participate in required trainings that outline statewide youth protection guidelines.

The process can feel lengthy, but it reflects 4-H's commitment to creating safe, supportive environments where young people can thrive. Volunteers who complete the steps often say they feel more confident stepping into their roles because they understand expectations, policies, and best practices before working with youth.

Despite the time investment, the rewards are significant. Owen County volunteers frequently describe their involvement as one of the most fulfilling parts of their year. They watch young people grow in confidence, develop new skills, and build friendships. They become part of a community tradition that has shaped generations of local families.

As the county prepares for another busy season of club meetings, workshops, camps, and the Owen County Fair, the need for caring adults remains strong. Anyone interested in volunteering — or simply curious about what opportunities exist — is encouraged to contact the Purdue Extension–Owen County office or email Cassie Linville, 4-H Educator, at cassiel@purdue.edu.

In a community like Owen County, where neighbors support neighbors and traditions run deep, 4-H continues to thrive because of the adults who step forward. For anyone with a passion to share, now is the perfect time to get involved.

In celebration of its 32nd 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 31st anniversary event. In 2025, 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 now 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.

"Establishing a designated fund with the Owen County Community Foundation marks an important milestone and long-term commitment for Compass Rose Farm Sanctuary," said Nancy Marshall, Founder and Executive Director of Compass Rose Farm Sanctuary. "This fund allows us to plan more intentionally for the future and strengthens the sustainability of our work, providing lifelong care for rescued animals, expanding educational opportunities and practicing responsible stewardship of our land and resources. We are deeply grateful for OCCF's collaboration and for the donors who are investing in a future rooted in compassion, connection, and shared purpose."

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: 70 percent of OCCF's match will go into the fund's permanent endowment, ensuring sustainable, ongoing support for the organization; and 30 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 bit.ly/donate2occf or by contacting the OCCF office directly.

How to Donate

Organizations can accept donations in the following ways: Online donations can be made directly to their favorite fund during the match period at bit.ly/donate2occf. Mailed donations 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 continued success of OCCF's matching campaigns reflects the deep generosity and shared commitment behind local philanthropy," said Karah Bobeck, OCCF's Director of Programs and Communications. "As we celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Owen County Community Foundation serving this community, we're excited to once again amplify the impact of local giving and strengthen the nonprofits serving Owen County."

Nonprofits interested in participating in this campaign and establishing a fund at the OCCF should contact the OCCF's office at 812-829-1725.

About the OCCF

The OCCF is a public charity founded in 1994 as a resource to connect caring individuals with causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. Since its founding, OCCF has been able to grant more than $12 million to area nonprofit and charitable organizations in our community. OCCF is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of Owen County, now and for generations to come. For more information, visit owencountycf.org or call 812-829-1725.

As winter settles in and the days grow shorter, many of us naturally slow our pace. While colder weather can keep people indoors, it also creates the perfect opportunity to rediscover one of life's simplest pleasures: reading.

Reading during the winter months offers more than just a way to pass the time. Studies consistently show that reading helps reduce stress, improve focus, and support mental well-being. When seasonal routines change and daylight is limited, spending time with a good book can provide a much-needed sense of calm and comfort.

Winter can also be a challenging time for mental health. Limited sunlight and increased isolation can impact mood, but reading keeps the mind active and engaged. Stories allow readers to escape the gray days, connect with new ideas, and experience a sense of companionship through characters and shared experiences.

With outdoor activity often reduced, reading is an excellent way to stay mentally sharp. It strengthens concentration, builds vocabulary, and keeps the brain engaged without relying on screens. Reading before bed can also promote better sleep habits, especially when it replaces evening screen time.

For families, winter is an ideal season to build meaningful reading traditions. Reading aloud, sharing favorite stories, or setting aside quiet reading time together creates lasting memories while reinforcing literacy skills for children and teens.

Those looking for their next cozy winter read are encouraged to visit the Owen County Public Library (OCPL). From bestselling novels and timeless classics to audiobooks and digital titles that can be enjoyed from home, the library offers something for every reader. Staff members are always available to provide personalized recommendations and help readers find books that fit their interests and comfort level.

As the cold months continue, making time to read can help make winter feel warmer and more fulfilling. A good book has the power to brighten even the darkest days, and the library is the perfect place to begin that journey.

The OCPL is located at 10 S. Montgomery St. in Spencer and can be reached by calling 812-829-3392.

In addition to sharing information about the legislative priorities, Indiana's attempt to redistrict ahead of the 2026 mid-term election was also the center of conversation during the first of two legislative breakfasts hosted by the Owen County Chamber of Commerce. The event took place on Jan. 24.

The January legislative breakfast was sponsored by BBP Water Corp. and was hosted at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. Main Street Coffee served as the event's coffee sponsor.

District 46 State Representative Bob Heaton and District 37 State Senator Rod Bray were in attendance. District 39 State Senator Eric Bassler was not at the event. County Councilman Anton Neff served as the moderator.

He began by introducing Bray and Heaton.

"The other thing I'd like to mention, if you'd like to follow along on certain subjects or certain legislation is to follow the state's website with their bill tracker and the resources that are available there," Neff said in his opening remarks. The website that Neff was referring to is www.iga.in.gov.

Neff also explained that this year is a shorter session because it is not a budget year for the state. Indiana's legislature drafts a two-year budget on odd numbered calendar years. During those years, the legislative session is approximately one month longer than the non-budget years.

This year, the session started early in December instead of its typical start in January.

Bray was the first to introduce himself. He said that the "short" session years, or non-budgetary years are typically finished by Mar. 15.

"This is not exactly a shorter session. We just started a different time," he said. "We came in in December to address the issue of redistricting and spent about two weeks in session then. Because of that, we're basically taking two weeks off at the end of the legislative session. So we will be finished with our work by about Feb. 27 of this year, which is approximately two weeks earlier than we would be in a short session."

He then highlighted the priorities of the Senate. Bray, who is a Republican, is the President Pro Tempore.

One of those priorities was Senate Bill 1.

"It works in the space of Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) trying to make sure that that program is executed with integrity and fidelity so that the people that need those programs are getting those programs," Bray said.

He said that the state has had issues with folks receiving the benefits despite making more than the allowed income threshold.

"Medicaid is a fantastic program, but it's been growing at an unsustainable rate, so we want to make sure that we're executing that with as much fidelity as absolutely possible," Bray said. "This bill does a couple of other things, and it kind of works with the federal Big Beautiful Bill. It passed over the summer, last summer."

Bray also highlighted the effort to improve healthcare across rural Indiana.

He also highlighted a constitutional amendment resolution which would be placed on the ballot in November's general election if it passes both the Indiana House and Senate.

That amendment would expand the reasons that a judge could hold the accused without bail. Currently, judges can only hold those accused of crimes without bail if they are accused of murder or treason. The amendment would allow for judges to hold the accused without bail if there is strong, clear and convincing evidence of both the person's guilt and that there is no condition of the bond that can be placed that will help keep society safe. Hearings would still be required for this to ensure due process.

"So those are the couple things that I'll highlight as our priorities. I'm sure we'll talk about lots of other things because as I've said before, when we come here to Owen County, we talk about an array of different things. That's one of the reasons I enjoy coming here so much," Bray said.

Heaton then took a moment for his opening remarks, starting with saying that it is an honor to serve with Bray and recalling an experience of the two walking in the parade at the Gosport Lazy Days festival.

"Rod and I were there, and I think your son and you brought your dog with you," Heaton began.

"She's much more popular than I am," Bray said.

Heaton continued setting the scene in which someone yelled out, "Hey, Tom Cruise."

"And I look back and he's talking to Rod about that. So I tell you what, Rod Bray, Tom Cruise, whatever, it's good to serve with you," Heaton said.

He then talked about the difference in topics that come up when he visits the various counties in his district.

"Everybody's got their different viewpoints and issues within their county and district," Heaton said.

He said that addressing the Medicaid spending is also a priority for the House. Heaton, who is also a Republican, serves as the majority whip for the Indiana House of Representatives.

He said that 22 percent of the $44.5 billion two-year budget goes to Medicaid.

"Twelve years ago, that was about 10 percent," he said.

Heaton also brought up House Bill 1414, which deals with cutting trees in the state forests and bills to cut or eliminate township government. There was a bill that originated in the House as well as a suggested point system proposed in Senate Bill 270.

"It's trying to make local government more efficient. It's not eliminating all townships and that type of thing. It really affects my district, maybe two or three townships," he said. He added that he has approximately 23 townships throughout his district.

After the opening comments, the event went into questions and comments from constituents, which covered a myriad of topics.

At one point, redistricting and the fact that it did not pass the Indiana Senate came up. It did pass the Indiana House of Representatives.

Bray addressed the matter and why he did not vote in favor of redistricting, despite pressure from the federal government.

"It didn't feel like the right thing to do for Indiana for a couple of reasons. First of all, I'll say that the idea that we could go from seven to two, where we are right now, and then just simply flip a switch and go to nine to zero is fiction. I don't think we can get that done," he said.

He explained why he believed it to be fiction.

"You'd have to take the Democrats that are concentrated in Marion County and Lake County and disperse them around into other congressional districts. So you would, by definition, weaken every other congressional district in the state, and you would make those people, those concurrent sitting congressional delegations, to run in districts that they have never run in before. And then you presume that you've got people that are going to sign up and run for Senate congressional district one and seven, which are the two that are held by Democrats right now. There's no preeminent candidate for that. Even today, there's not a preeminent candidate to run for those two seats. They haven't walked in a parade. They haven't gone to a fair. They haven't eaten a tenderloin with constituents in any part of the district at this point. They haven't raised a dollar of money," he said. "So I think it's fiction to think that all of a sudden we can turn that into nine zero, and that's a big part of the reason."

Bray also said that he was contacted by many of his constituents and that for every 10 that were against the mid-cycle redistricting, he only had one that was in favor of it.

"That was a big part of my decision as well," he said.

He then addressed the notion that he rallied the Indiana Senate and the Senate Republicans against redistricting.

"With regard to 'I put my caucus against it,' that is inaccurate. The people who made that allegation, including the (U.S.) Vice President (JD Vance), I've spoken to him a couple of times about this issue, and that's not how I lead my caucus," he said. "It's the honor of my life to be the President Pro Tem in the Senate. I lead by consensus. We work together to figure out what the right thing to do is. The people that decided they were for it were for it. I gave them no pressure or punishment whatsoever. The people that weren't for it, it was their decision completely, and that's where the Senate landed."

Other topics addressed during the legislative breakfast included: concerns about the legislation proposed to eliminate several elected county offices to be appointed by county commissioners; Senate Bill 182, which is known as the birth certificate bathroom bill; increasing beginning and overall teachers pay; extending the deer shotgun hunting season; repairs to the McCormick's Creek State Park campground; and forestry management at Indiana state parks and forests, especially at Owen-Putnam State Forest.

The next legislative breakfast will take place at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 28 at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship, 338 S.R. 43S, Spencer.

The Natural Resources Commission recently approved the dedication of Barnebey Woods in Owen County as a nature preserve and an expansion of Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve in Lake County.

"Nature preserves represent Indiana's most unique and significant natural areas, which is why we're committed to continuing to work with partners to protect them," said Governor Mike Braun. "These new and expanded protected natural areas in Owen and Lake counties now have Indiana's highest level of protection, conserving them for future generations."

A nature preserve is an area of high natural significance that is representative of what Indiana would have been in the pre-settlement period, and it is given the highest protection possible by state law.

Barnebey Woods Nature Preserve is owned and managed by Sycamore Land Trust, which acquired the property last year with funding from the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust. It features 141.5 acres of mature upland forest with excellent tree species composition. It has moderate slopes with deep drainages interspersed among long ridges. A small bedrock overhang creates a waterfall when it rains and is a habitat for rock dwelling species such as walking fern.

There are currently no trails at Barnebey Woods Nature Preserve, but Sycamore is considering future trail additions as part of its long-term planning for the property. The preserve is not open to the public at this time to protect the sensitive natural area.

The expansion to Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve is known as Sundew Prairie and adds 24.77 acres of wet sand prairie and oak savanna to one of the largest tracts of its type in the state. Many rare species such as northern bog clubmoss, paper birch, and several sedges can be found on the addition.

The preserve lies within the boundary of Indiana Dunes National Park and is owned by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Sundew Prairie is not open to the public at this time.

To support the conservation of land like this across Indiana, consider purchasing the blue Environmental Plate when it's time to renew your license plate. All funds received from plate sales are used to protect the land, waters, and wildlife of Indiana through the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust.

Learn more about nature preserves at IN.gov/dnr/nature-preserves. Learn more about the blue Environmental Plate at on.IN.gov/enviroplate.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted an open house last month to meet with citizens concerning the progress of the remedial investigation into the Franklin Street Groundwater Contamination in Spencer.

The site was added to the national priorities list in May of 2018, but work on the site, which starts with the remedial investigation, did not start until the fall of 2023.

The contaminant tetrachloroethene (PCE) was first detected by the BBP Water Corp. in 2011 and has been completely removed from the treated water since 2017. Even at the initial detection the contaminant's levels were 1.2 parts per billion (ppb), which is under the maximum contaminant level set by the EPA at 5 ppb.

PCE is also sometimes referred to as PERC.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), PCE "is a manufactured chemical that is widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics and for metal-degreasing," and "it appears as a clear colorless volatile liquid."

PCE is both a known and probable carcinogen, and it can harm the nervous system.

PCE is also a volatile organic compound, meaning that it easily can go from water to vapor. It is also more dense than water, meaning it sinks.

PCE can contaminate drinking water, indoor air quality through soil vapor intrusion, and groundwater.

"We're the ones that found the problem in the first place because we do annual water testing," BBP CEO Todd Gardner previously told The Owen News.

"Even though the finished water was under the guidelines set for the chemical [PCE] the BBP Water Corporation Board of Directors decided to be proactive and in 2014 designs for treating and removal of all PERC from the finished water was being engineered," BBP's 2022 annual water quality report explains.

In addition to a new well being added, BBP added air strippers and reverse osmosis filtering units.

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

Dion Novak, Remedial Project Manager for the Franklin Street Groundwater site, shared information about the site's progress.

"Over the past couple of years, the bulk of the field work sampling has been done," he said. "Because of the (federal government) shutdown, I'm still waiting on a lot of the results because our labs shut down, obviously as well."

The shutdown also impacted plans to have a fall open house.

"We were supposed to be here in October, and we couldn't because of the shutdown," he said.

There is still some additional work to be done in 2026, as they continue to monitor 25 to 30 wells in town to test the groundwater. They take samples quarterly and must have eight samples.

"We may do some additional source characterization, which is sampling where sources of contamination might be. We've already done some of that, like at the Pride Center and around McDonald's," Novak said. This testing has been done because they are known locations of former dry cleaning businesses, which the chemical is commonly used in.

He also said they plan to do another meeting, presenting what they know so far in March.

"We may do some additional source characterization to help us put the puzzle together," he said.

He added that there will be a report of the indoor air sampling as well, though the EPA cannot share who had their property sampled and what the individual results were for each property.

They have tested approximately 100 properties.

They will release a summary of the information without the personal information, in addition to the soil and groundwater information, which is releasable.

"I will be putting that out just to kind of give people a picture of what we're finding here in town, and then my contractor will start working on the overall investigation report, which is a huge report that summarizes everything that's been done," he said. "A big component of that is what we call a risk assessment. We take the sampling information and then we run it through and determine if there's excess cancer risk based off of exposure to the contamination that we're finding in soil or groundwater or whatever."

Novak reiterated that nobody is directly drinking the groundwater (untreated) in town, which limits a lot of the exposure.

"This risk assessment will be done on all of that sampling data that we've collected including the indoor air sampling that we've done, and then we'll determine if there's what we call unacceptable excess future cancer risk," he said. "We're overly conservative. We assume you're eating dirt from a contaminated area every day for 25 years. What is your excess chance of getting cancer over and above your normal chance, which unfortunately is pretty high these days."

He stressed the extra caution taken as to the need for remediation taken by the EPA.

"That is the reason we have to collect all that information so we can make a statistically, conservative based decision. We want to be overly protective. We want to overly design something to provide more protection just to be on the safe side. That's how we run the Superfund program," he said.

Novak anticipates that the final investigation report will be complete in 2027 because of the need for additional groundwater sampling.

"The good thing is we're not finding as much contamination in this town as I originally thought we would, based on the type of site that we have here, which is old dry cleaners. I think the good thing is that the dry cleaners are old enough that if there was contamination coming from them, it's long gone," he said. "So 40 or 50 years ago, I mean, there would probably be more contamination there than there is now."

Novak also addressed how the Franklin Street Groundwater site compares to other similar sites.

"For an old dry cleaner site like this, and there's a lot of these across the state. There's a lot of these across the country," he said. "You will typically have what we call a plume, an area that's contaminated within this whole area. That's normally what we find. We're not finding that. We're finding blobs of contamination here and there, but we don't have that big area."

He added that the State had originally assumed the entire town was the Superfund site, based on the information that was available at the time, before the remedial investigation began.

"I can tell you that it's not the whole town," he said.

Novak continued.

"You're in a river valley, so there's a lot of sand under the town and groundwater flows through the sand pretty quickly. So the fact that there's not as much contamination as I thought means that Mother Nature has kind of done her thing. It's not surprising that we're finding what we're finding based on the age," he said.

It has been roughly 40 to 45 years since there was a dry cleaner in Spencer. Novak also noted that older systems required taking the clothing, wet with the solution, and placing it in a dryer, leading to the chemicals dripping onto the floor and seeping into floor drains and cracks in the flooring itself. Now, newer technology has the entire process done in one system.

After the report is released, an interim decision will be made on how to remediate the contamination and there will be a public meeting with a proposed solution. That meeting will allow for public comments, questions and input. Those comments are then used to determine a final course of action, and Novak said the EPA has to show how it considered the public comments when making a final remediation decision.

Options for remediation vary based on what is contaminated. With soil vapor intrusion, the health risk is when that vapor is inside buildings. Systems similar to those used to remove radon to move the vapor intrusion outside to be disbursed into the atmosphere can be installed.

For contaminated groundwater, the water can be treated using air strippers or bioremediation techniques such as using bacteria and other chemicals to eliminate the PCE from the water.

For contaminated soil, it can be removed and taken somewhere else. It can also be treated in place or a cover or cap can be placed over the contaminated soil to prevent it from recontaminating the ground water.

"There's a number of different ways that we can treat the contamination in the soil or in the water," Novak said.

The report will include a feasibility study to look at alternatives and what is most effective.

Once a final decision has been made, the site has to wait in line for EPA to provide funding for the remediation efforts.

That is, unless responsible parties can and will provide funding for remediation.

"Our objective is to get the companies responsible for the pollution to pay for the cleanup," Novak said.

However, when it is not possible because the party will not take responsibility or the business is no longer open, the funding does come from the EPA budget, eventually.

Novak said he may break the remediation into two parts, one for soil vapor intrusion and one for the soil and groundwater contamination. The advantage to this is that the site can get in line for part of the funding earlier.

More information about the Franklin Street Groundwater Superfund Site can be found on the EPA's website, www.epa.gov.

Even with McCormick's Creek State Park (MCSP), Cataract Falls, Owen-Putnam State Forest, and Green's Bluff Nature Preserve, Owen County still has less access to trails than many other Indiana counties. MYPath Trail, the latest addition to the trail mix, is very popular, but it is still nearly two miles from reaching the MCSP gatehouse.

With the end of Governor Eric Holcomb's administration came the end of the Next Level Trails (NLT) program. Until Gov. Mike Braun announces something new, trail advocates are working hard to keep trails moving. Only one-third of the applications for the NLT program received funding (including MYPath). That means two-thirds of the communities have had to look for other ways to build trails.

Even though the NLT program is gone, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources still funds the Indiana Trails Program (ITP). MYPath has an application under consideration right now. With NLT gone, you can imagine how competitive the ITP grant is. Wish us luck.

The Indiana Greenways Foundation awarded $92,000 in grants in 2025. MYPath has received grants from the Greenways Foundation, including for our trail counters. This is a great organization, and I'm not just saying that because I served on their board for four years. They get funding from the Indiana automobile license plates you see that say, "I Support Trails." One of those would look nice on your car.

The Indiana Trails Community and the Hoosier Rails-to-Trails Council are other organizations that support our trails. Indiana Trails Community is advocating for Indiana state parks to be connected to nearby communities for recreational and economic benefits. I completely agree with them because that is exactly what MYPath has been trying to do since 2014. While NLT focused on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Indiana Trails Community proposes using funding from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). Trails are active transportation alternatives used by a lot of people and are worthy of INDOT support.

Bicycle Indiana is another organization that receives funding from a specialized license plate. They hosted Bicycle Indiana Day at the Statehouse on January 22. Many other bicycle organizations joined them and advocated for legislation to improve safety and access. This is not a state budget session, but there are still many issues that impact alternative transportation.

The national Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) has a big dream of connecting a trail from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Indiana has made significant progress on its section of this trail. While the proposed trail will not go through Owen County, the RTC advocates have been very supportive of legislation that supports us.

Understandably, a national organization can seem very far away. Even the Indiana Statehouse seems, at times, like it's on another planet, even though local lawmakers have been very supportive.

For real, measurable trail progress, we need to turn to local and regional sources. The Regional Trail Advocates is a group of trail builders from MYPath, Owen County, Ellettsville, Monroe County, and Bloomington. We meet monthly at McCormick's Creek State Park. Stay tuned for updates.

The Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development has always included MYPath in their plans and discussions. Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), through promoting quality of place and workforce attraction, has been supportive of our efforts.

And, of course, the Owen County Community Foundation has been vital. They created the MYPath Trail System and they have supported the trail every step of the way. They remain the main organization that others use to support MYPath.

Without a large pot of trail money, like NLT, we have to work harder and be innovative to complete trails. Walk on a trail because it is good for your physical and mental health. Advocate for trails, because that helps others too.

Burgess returning as OVHS head football coach

Veteran head coach Troy Burgess is returning to the sidelines of Patriot Field for the 2026-27 football season at Owen Valley High School (OVHS). Burgess was approved last month by the Spencer-Owen School Board.

Patriot fans will no doubt remember Burgess, who guided the varsity Patriots to a 33-9 overall record from 1998-2001, highlighted by a pair of undefeated regular seasons and three West Central Conference titles.

Burgess, who currently serves as athletic director at South Putnam High School, owns a 121-92 career record across 20 seasons. He last coached at Frontier (2017-19) before returning to South Putnam where he was head coach from 2006-13.

OVHS is where Burgess began his career, first as an assistant, then as head coach before assistant Duane Potts took over the reins for the next 19 years. Potts, who came back as an assistant last year for coach Eric Crouch, will remain on staff as defensive coordinator. Potts also serves as assistant principal at Owen Valley Middle School.

Burgess was recently added to the Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. His coaching career has included two sectional championships at South Putnam. He later led Evansville Central to the Class 4A title game in 2018, losing in a memorable four overtime showdown.

In high school, Burgess was Steve Alford's backcourt mate for two seasons at New Castle. He later played football for two years at Purdue before transferring to Ball State, where he was strictly a student.

PES hosts Hunter's Education course

Patricksburg Elementary School (PES) hosted a Hunter's Education course on Jan. 31. Nearly 70 participants received instruction in the areas of safe firearm use and handling while hunting, as well as in the home, hunter ethics and responsibility, game identification, and conservation management.

PES partnered with Indiana Conservation Officers Caleb Hutchison and Matt Mauder, along with Daniel Rhienhart and Mitchell Fleetwood to provide this valuable community service.

Officer Hutchison (an alumnus of PES) and Officer Mauder led the day-long Hunter's Education instruction, while Rhienhart and Fleetwood guided participants through the medical and safety portion of the training.

State law requires all hunters born on or after Dec. 31, 1986 to complete hunter education certification before purchasing a hunting license in Indiana.

Owen-Putnam State Forest 50/50 Trail Race

The annual Owen-Putnam State Forest 50/50 Trail Race will take place Saturday, Mar. 21. Participants will tackle a demanding mix of hiking trails, horse paths, and service roads throughout the state forest. Distance options include 50 miles, 50K, 14 miles, and a 10K.

For course information, complete details, and to register, visit www.ops5050.com.

The Owen-Putnam State Forest office is located at 2153 Fish Creek Rd., Spencer.

Indiana CCAA recognizes Judge Hanlon

Owen County Circuit Court II Judge Kelsey Hanlon was recently honored by the Indiana Commission on Court Appointed Attorneys (CCAA) for her eight years of service to the CCAA. Hanlon received a plaque of appreciation from CCAA Chair Mark Rutherford and CCAA Executive Director Derrick Mason.

Since 1989, the Indiana CCAA has existed to recommend standards for indigent defense in capital cases, to adopt guidelines of salary and fee schedules for individual county reimbursement eligibility, and to review and approve requests for reimbursement in capital cases. In 1993, the responsibility of the Commission was expanded to include the adoption of guidelines and standards for county reimbursement eligibility in non-capital cases.

The Commission is comprised of 11 members: three are appointed by the Governor; three by the Chief Justice; one by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute; two are members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; and two are members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

To learn more about the CCAA, visit www.in.gov/ccaa.

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.

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Mauricio Peralta, 33, Spencer, preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated endangering a person. Arrested by Spencer Police Department (SPD) officer Ben Muncie.

Collin Brandenburg, 25, Camby, preliminary charges of burglary (two counts) and probation violation. SPD officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

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James Hayden II, 37, Bowling Green, preliminary charges of probation violation and nonsupport of a child. Arrested by SPD officer Ben Muncie.

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Zoe Burchfield, 22, Spencer, preliminary charge of battery. Owen County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) Sergeant Torrey Wallace was the arresting officer.

Jacob Summitt, 26, Spencer, preliminary charges of domestic battery, intimidation, and interference with the reporting of a crime. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Torrey Wallace.

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Ivy Utley, 31, Gosport, preliminary charges of theft; receiving stolen property (two counts), unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle (three counts), and theft. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

Paul Hepner, 34, Bloomington, preliminary charges of failure to appear and driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

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Robert Christenberry, 39, Spencer, preliminary charge of writ of attachment. OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler was the arresting officer.

Daniel Weaver, 38, Bloomington, preliminary charges of criminal mischief, unlawful possession of a syringe, possession of paraphernalia, criminal trespass (two counts), theft, and pretrial release violation. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

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James Corns, 55, Ellettsville, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, and resisting law enforcement. OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey was the arresting officer.

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Robert Christenberry, 39, Spencer, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Tony Stevens.

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Gretchen Carlisle, 60, Freedom, preliminary charge of criminal trespass. OCSD Deputy Tony Stevens was the arresting officer.

Nicky Wright, 57, Freedom, preliminary charge of criminal trespass. Arrested by SPD officer Seth Givans.

David Padgett, Jr., 31, Freedom, preliminary charge of writ of attachment. SPD officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

Douglas Escobar, 26, Bicknell, IN, preliminary charge of driving without a license. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Luke Wright.

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William Russell, 44, Spencer, preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated. SPD officer Ben Muncie was the arresting officer.

Michelle Lawrence, 36, Terre Haute, preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

Jeremy Devylder, 47, Gosport, preliminary charges of invasion of privacy and probation violation. OCSD Deputy Jacob Williamson was the arresting officer.

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James Featherston, 58, Spencer, preliminary charge of domestic battery. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Stephen DeWitt II.

Joseph Fair, 45, Gosport, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge and failure to appear. OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic was the arresting officer.

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Brent Sowers, 62, Bowling Green, preliminary charge of possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Cory Poland.

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Allen Gipson, 23, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of domestic battery, criminal mischief, interference with the reporting of a crime, and disorderly conduct. OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich was the arresting officer.

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Joshua Awbrey, 35, Bowling Green, preliminary charges of public intoxication and battery resulting in bodily injury. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Luke Wright.

Jerry Poindexter, 49, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of auto theft and probation violation. SPD officer Chester Richardson was the arresting officer.

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Tanner Van Ermen, 21, Munster, IN, preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated. Arrested by SPD officer Ashton Banks.

Joshua Shumaker, 43, Quincy, preliminary charges of failure to appear and theft. OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

Larry Tussey, Jr., 48, Freedom, preliminary charges of unlawful possession of a syringe and probation violation. Arrested by OCSD K9 Deputy Charles Hallam.

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Vicki Mitchell, 71, Poland, IN, preliminary charge of residential entry. OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

Bradley Baugh, 25, Seymore, IN, preliminary charges of burglary and probation violation. Arrested by OCSD K9 Deputy Charles Hallam.

Christy Truax, 52, Spencer, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge (two counts) and failure to appear (two counts). OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey was the arresting officer.

Paul Cazee, 45, Spencer, preliminary charges of failure to appear and driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark.

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James Shelburne III, 31, Lyons, preliminary charges of probation violation and operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person. SPD officer EJ Westgate was the arresting officer.

Larry Patterson, 63, Poland, IN, preliminary charge of residential entry. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Cory Poland.

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Daniel Stewart, 47, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of possession or use of a legend drug or precursor, auto theft, possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey was the arresting officer.

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Christina Jackson, 45, Gosport, preliminary charges of theft (two counts). Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

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Rusty Button, 29, Crystal, MI, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a syringe, and probation violation. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

Robert Adams, 52, Bloomington, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge and failure to appear. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Luke Wright.

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Brian Wininger, 41, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of methamphetamine. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

Brandie Rogers, 45, Gosport, preliminary charge of conversion. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic.

Shane Terrell, 43, Spencer, preliminary charge of conversion. OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic was the arresting officer.

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Jack Cameron, 56, Spencer, preliminary charge of domestic battery. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Jacob Williamson.

1-29

Kyle Hanna, 36, Bloomington, preliminary charges of operating with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 to .14, violation of specialized driving privileges, and probation violation. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

Justin Delp, 37, Vincennes, preliminary charges of probation violation and operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator (HTV). Arrested by OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler.

1-31

Jeremy Kilgore, 48, Spencer, preliminary charges of strangulation, domestic battery, and resisting law enforcement. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

2-2

Jhonatan Guillen, 28, Spencer, preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated, driving without a license, and operating with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 or more. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Torrey Wallace.

Let's be honest — by the time winter hits its stride, many of us are ready to trade gray skies and icy sidewalks for sunshine and sandals. If you've found yourself feeling a little more tired, less motivated, or just blah this time of year, you're not imagining it. The "winter blues" are real — and the good news is, you don't have to face them alone.

Hi! I'm Jamie Jo Lowder, your Purdue Extension-Owen County Health & Human Sciences Educator and helping individuals and families feel their best — physically, mentally, and emotionally — is what I do. From food and finances to health and family, Extension research gives us practical tools that work in real life, even during the coldest months of the year.

What are the 'winter blues?'

According to Purdue Extension, the winter blues often show up as lower energy, changes in sleep or appetite, trouble concentrating, or a general feeling of sadness when daylight hours are shorter. In some cases, these symptoms may be linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression associated with reduced sunlight and seasonal changes.

The shift in daylight can disrupt our internal body clock and affect chemicals in the brain that regulate mood — which helps explain why winter can feel harder than other seasons.

Light matters — even on cloudy days

One of the most effective ways to fight the winter blues is increasing exposure to natural light. It is recommended that you spend 15–30 minutes outside daily, even when it's cold or overcast. A brisk walk, playing with kids or grandkids, or bundling up for a short stroll can make a noticeable difference.

When outdoor time isn't possible, open curtains, sit near windows, and consider light-therapy lamps — which research shows may help improve mood and energy during darker months.

Move your body, lift your mood

Physical activity is a powerful mood booster. Research shows regular movement — even moderate exercise like walking or stretching — can reduce stress, increase energy, and support emotional well-being. Keeping a consistent routine for meals, sleeping, and daily activities also helps your body stay balanced when winter disrupts normal rhythms.

Connection is key

Winter often means more time indoors — and sometimes more isolation. Extension educators encourage making intentional connections with others. Whether it's meeting a friend for coffee, calling a family member, or joining a local program, social interaction plays a big role in emotional health.

Here in Owen County, Purdue Extension offers programs, workshops, and gatherings throughout the year that provide learning and connection — two things that matter deeply during winter months.

Self-care isn't selfish

Self-care doesn't have to be fancy. It can be as simple as reading a good book, journaling, cooking nourishing meals, practicing gratitude, or enjoying a warm cup of cocoa. Small, consistent habits help build resilience and support mental wellness all season long.

Local support is available

If winter blues linger or begin to interfere with daily life, it's important to reach out for help. Purdue Extension encourages seeking support from healthcare providers or mental health professionals when needed.

And remember — local resources matter. As your Purdue Extension-Owen County educator, I'm here to help connect you with programs, education, and trusted information that support your well-being all year long. Call 812-829-5020 or email lowder0@purdue.edu to learn more about our programs. You can also find upcoming programs in the Community Calendar section of this newspaper, on the Purdue Extension-Owen County Facebook page, or at https://extension.purdue.edu/county/owen/hhshome.html.

Winter is prime time for building fish habitat. Cedar trees are one of the best options, and you can find them popping up in forests and pastures all over the place. Most landowners want them gone, so to collect a few, all you're probably going to need to do is ask for permission to help remove them from the landscape. They're easy to come by, so gather a few, sink them in waters you own or have permission to do so in, and you'll build habitat to hold fish all year long.

Anglers have been sinking brush piles for generations to create fish-holding covers. Cedar trees are perfect for the job because they're abundant, easy to handle, and their wild branching structure creates ideal cover.

Sunken brush provides shelter not only for fish, but also for all sorts of underwater forage those fish depend on. Minnows rely on vegetation and woody cover to escape predators, and predator fish know it. Crappie, bass, and other game fish often stage along limbs and branches, waiting for an easy meal to swim by. When you add structure, fish respond quickly. When placed in ponds and small lakes, these become go-to fishing spots.

I grew up on a lake in a large subdivision. My grandpa and uncle were two of the most consistent fishermen on those waters. Their success didn't come from fancy gear or cutting-edge technology. It came from winter weekends spent building brush piles. Most of them were made from old Christmas trees, but cedars work just as well.

It's a little late to find a lot of discarded Christmas trees at the end of driveways, but if you know where a few have been dumped off, that could be a gold mine for brush to sink. We used to cruise the neighborhood with a flatbed trailer behind my uncle's van, picking up trees from the ends of driveways until the trailer was stacked so high we couldn't take any more. Back at the garage, we'd get to work preparing them for sinking.

We prepped trees two ways. Most often, we'd lash a few together into a bigger pile, wrap a chain around the bundle, and thread it through a couple of cinder blocks. For a single-tree structure, we'd drop the trunk into a small bucket, usually an old ice cream tub from Schwan's, and fill it with concrete. Both methods are easy and cost-effective.

Our favorite spots were deep water in front of docks and along sharp drop-offs. We used a Jon boat to place the trees, and since this was long before GPS mapping apps, we kept a paper map marked with every brush pile. Today, you can just mark them on your sonar or onX. Big piles went in open water. Individual trees lined docks and edges where fish naturally traveled.

As the trees break down, they attract invertebrates, which draw in small fish. Small fish bring bigger fish, strengthening the entire food chain. When spawning season arrives, young fish use those trees as nursery cover, increasing survival rates and improving the fishery for years to come.

Manmade ponds and reservoirs often lack the natural structure found in rivers and lakes. If you want good fishing, someone must create that structure. Wintertime brush building is good for the fish and is one of the most effective tools available for improving your fishing opportunities while benefiting the entire lifecycle of the body of water.

Sinking brush isn't a secret. Plenty of anglers do it around their own docks. Fewer people take the time to think bigger to improve habitat across an entire pond or lake. Those who do gain an advantage that lasts through every season.

Some of my best outdoor memories haven't come from the moment of the catch or the shot, but from the preparation that made it possible. I'll always remember the excitement of loading up Christmas trees with my family, and the satisfaction that followed months later as we gathered for another fish fry. In the outdoors, effort has a way of paying you back.

See you down the trail...

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

Indiana Conservation Officer Caleb Hutchison, who serves Owen County, has been selected as the 2025 District 5 Officer of the Year.

"Across Indiana, conservation officers are on the front lines promoting public safety in the outdoors and protecting our state's vital natural resources," said Governor Mike Braun. "I congratulate the officers from each of the 10 districts who have earned this distinguished honor for their exceptional service on behalf of Hoosiers in 2025."

Hutchison, a 2010 graduate of Owen Valley High School, has served as a conservation officer for four years. Prior to that he served as a deputy with the Owen County Sheriff's Department for seven years.

In addition to his normal duties as a field officer, Hutchison serves as a field training officer, sonar operator, and emergency vehicle operation instructor for the Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement.

District 5 includes Greene, Sullivan, Parke, Clay, Vigo, Vermillion, Putnam, and Owen counties.

The district award puts Hutchison in the running for the Pitzer Award, which is presented to the top overall conservation officer in the state and is selected from the 10 district winners.

The Pitzer Award is named after Conservation Officer James D. Pitzer, who was fatally shot while investigating illegal hunting activity on Jan. 2, 1961, in Jay County.

Routine food inspections were conducted by the Owen County Health Department during the month of January 2026. Reported below are the critical and non-critical comments left for these establishments:

1-12

Bivi's Tamales, 554 Paradise Point Rd., Spencer. Routine inspection. No violations.

1-15

Spencer Elementary School -- basketball concession stand, 151 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer. Routine inspection. No violations.

Preserving our history as a people is important. It's often left up to those of us who are here now to make sure that history is passed on to the next generation. Some pieces of history that I'm happy to say are still here are covered bridges.

Presently, there are supposed to be around 90 covered bridges still standing in our state and many of those were built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Considering there used to be about 600, that's still a good number.

Indiana's first covered bridge was completed in 1835 in Henry County when the National Road first crossed the state. Those early bridge builders were men of vision. Two such builders were J.J. Daniels and Joseph A Britton. They both resided around the Rockville area, which explains why there are so many bridges in Parke County to date. There are about 30 covered bridges left in Parke County. Another builder, M. Kennedy, lived in Rushville. Between the three men, they built a total of 158 bridges during their lifetime.

One of my favorite bridges can be found at Cataract Falls in Owen County. This is the only existing covered bridge in Owen County that I know about. It was built in 1876 and was not closed to traffic until 1988. It was built over Mill Creek by the Smith Bridge Company. It's located north of Spencer in Jennings Township at Cataract Falls and is 140 feet long. This past fall, I made a trip up to this bridge to take some photos. I soon found myself fascinated by the old structure.

There was a quiet serenity about the place. It was as if time was standing still, and I felt transformed to another place and time. A time remembered. The only sound I could hear was the sound of water downstream from me, rushing over the edge of the falls to the rocks below. That, coupled with the wind blowing through the trees, made for a soothing symphony of nature. It was autumn and the bright red paint that covered the bridge against the backdrop of the earthtone colors of fall, made a beautiful palette that would inspire any artist.

Of course, the county that really stands out in my mind for bridges is Parke County. It's known as the "Covered Bridge capital of the world." It currently boasts 31 bridges that have been preserved and are on the route for several tours during the Covered Bridge Festival and throughout the year. There are a few other bridges in the area that are within an hour's drive if you are so inclined. There are a couple in Brown County and some in Greene, Putnam, and Vigo counties. To me, these bridges are like a piece of artwork from the past. Like any other artwork, they were made by human hands, but the idea and the dream was first formed in the human heart. That's what makes preserving history so important to us as a people.

These early bridge builders could see far off into the future. They knew that someday we would have to get from one side to the other. They built the best that they could come up with to make sure the future generations would be sure to get there.

Yes, it's important to preserve our history. And it is up to us to make sure we pass ours on to others. And as long as there are a few covered bridges around, we are sure to get there.

A quote that I found that seems to fit: "Somewhere along your journey, you are going to realize that, after facing so many obstacles, you were always brave enough to cross the bridge." -- author unknown

Just remember to cross that bridge at a walk!

Susan

The Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board voted 6-0 to approve the cancellation of Ms. Jill Schrieber's teacher contract at a special meeting held Jan. 19th in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building. Schrieber had previously served as a special education teacher at Cloverdale Middle School.

Board member Mike Rightmyer II made the motion to approve the contract cancellation, with Emily Haltom seconding the motion prior to the 6-0 board vote. The entire meeting lasted just four minutes.

The contract cancellation was effective as of the Jan. 19th board meeting.

"I believe it is necessary to explain the process used and the legal responsibilities of this board," explained board president Vivian Whitaker. "As school board members we are not allowed to talk about personnel matters as individuals or as a board in order to protect the privacy of the person or persons involved. This evening, we cannot divulge the reasons for (Cloverdale Middle School Principal) Ms. (Chelsey) Meluch and (CCSC Superintendent) Mr. (Greg) Linton determining the termination and cancellation of Ms. Schrieber's contract. I personally attest that the legal counsel has been involved in the entire process. All laws and policies have been followed by our administrators and the board."

Ms. Whitaker continued by saying, "People have been allowed to state their opinions at our December and January board meetings. Many opinions have been expressed on social media, much of which was directed at our middle school principal, superintendent, and the board. Hate mail was received. Threats to vote out the entire board was stated on more than one occasion. It is sad that some in our community have shed such a negative light on our school corporation. Every person on this board swore an oath to support the laws of the State of Indiana and its constitution. I believe each of us have done so in every action we have taken during my tenure of service. In addition, I wholeheartedly believe that each of us put the wellbeing of each child at the center of our decisions. To think that any of us hold personal biases against this teacher is both absurd and absolutely not true. The decision we made tonight is based upon evidence provided in the hearing, nothing else."

A couple was caught by the camera Feb. 1st capturing a memory in front of the frozen falls at McCormick's Creek State Park (MCSP) east of Spencer. The month began with the scenic park encased in an icy cathedral following a month of volatile winter weather.

In January 2026, "Sweet" Owen faced a series of intense weather events, including a major winter storm from January 24–26 that dropped between six and 13 inches of heavy snow across portions of Indiana. Temperatures during the month plummeted well below freezing, reaching a bone-chilling low of -9°F on January 28, leaving the park's famous falls encased in thick, shimmering ice.

Despite the month of January bringing heavy snow and bone-chilling cold, the park's beauty remained a significant draw. Winter transformed the Indiana landscape into a serene sanctuary, where the typical rush of the falls was replaced by the delicate tinkling of "ice bells" and the sculptural beauty of snow-laden hemlocks.

The lack of foliage offered hikers a unique, unobstructed view of the park's rugged geology, proving that the limestone canyons of Owen County are just as breathtaking draped in snow as they are in summer green.

The sheer volume of recent visitors was also evident in the snow-packed trails; a vast tapestry of overlapping shoe prints and boot treads created a silent ledger of the thousands who braved the record-breaking cold to witness the falls in its frozen state.

While the bitter cold of January kept many indoors, the hushed beauty of the limestone canyons and the sculptural ice formations proved an irresistible draw for those seeking the serene "hushed" majesty of Indiana's first state park in winter.

Candidates continued to file this week for the May 5th primary election in Owen County.

Here's a rundown of those who have filed to run for office as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4:

Circuit Court II Judge, 78th Judicial Circuit

Kelsey B. Hanlon – R

Prosecuting Attorney, 78th Judicial Circuit

Ashley M. Fleetwood – R
Benjamin C. Kim – R

Assessor

Dustin (Dusty) White – R

Circuit Court Clerk

Diane Stutsman – R

Commissioner, District 1
(Harrison, Montgomery, Taylor or Wayne Township residency)

Norman C. Warner – R

Coroner

Shelby Hershberger – R
Timothy R. Wright – R

County Council, District 1
(Harrison, Montgomery, Taylor, part of Washington, or Wayne Townships residency)

Loretta Foster – R
Walter Newman – R
Lori L. Warner – R
Sandra K. Calvert – D

County Council, District 2
(Part of Washington Township residency)

Anton Karl Neff – D

County Council, District 3
(Jackson, Jennings, Lafayette, part of Marion, or Morgan Townships residency)

Don Bingham – R
Lynda Sands – R
Mark Anthony Searcy – R
Mark Snapp – D

County Council, District 4
(Clay, Franklin, Jefferson, or part of Marion Townships residency)

Andy Wood – R
William D. Fulk – R

Recorder

Nicole VanDerMoere – R
Joseph Newman – D

Sheriff

Sam Hobbs – R
Ryan T. White – R

Surveyor

Amy L. Meier – R

Treasurer

Shelly Townsend – R

Township Trustee – Clay

Debbie Keith – R
Marjorie Ann Clouse – R

Township Trustee – Franklin

Leroy Gentry – R

Township Trustee – Jefferson

Daryl Kasper – R

Township Trustee – Jennings

Susan M. Huftel – R

Township Trustee – Lafayette

Doris Scully – R

Township Trustee – Marion

James Elliott III – D

Township Trustee – Montgomery

Amanda L. Huntington – R
M. Sue Carpenter – R

Township Trustee – Morgan

Dave Davies – R
Collin Rotella – D

Township Trustee – Washington

Patty Edwards – R
Phillip O'Neil – D

Township Trustee – Wayne

Linda Ann Studer – R

Township Trustee Board – Clay

Jacob Balash – D

Township Trustee Board – Franklin

Denise Line – R
Bruce McCallister – D

Township Trustee Board – Harrison

Catherine Richardson – R
Clarence Walls – R

Township Trustee Board – Jefferson

Athena Goulet – D

Township Trustee Board – Lafayette

Kenneth Sebastian – R

Township Trustee Board – Montgomery

Douglas K. Carpenter – R
Janet Long – R
Ermond V. Poore – R

Township Trustee Board – Morgan

Rita Shunk – R
Sharon Close – R
Ronald A. Jackson – R
Stephanie Barlow – D

Township Trustee Board – Washington

Suzanne Simmerman – R
Susan A. Ciresi – D
Ruth A. Jones – D

Precinct Committeeman – Clay

Jacob Balash – D

Precinct Committeeman – Franklin

Bruce McCallister – D

Precinct Committeeman – Montgomery

Sandra K. Calvert – D

Precinct Committeeman – Morgan

David Henk – D

Precinct Committeeman – Washington 1

Anton Karl Neff – D
Jane Rubeck – D

Precinct Committeeman – Washington 2

Jo Ann Neal – D

Democratic Convention Delegate

Jo Ann Neal – D
Jacob Balash – D
David Henk – D
Stephanie Barlow – D
Collin Rotella – D
Aliyah Keuthan – D
Jane Rubeck – D
Jonathan Balash – D

Republican Convention Delegate

Verl Keith – R
Andrew Horning – R
Denise Line – R
Lori L. Warner – R
Norman Warner III – R

United States Representative, Eighth District

Mark Messmer – R
Mary Allen – D
Mario Foradori – D
Christopher Rector – D

State Senator, District 39

Tanner Bouchie – R
Jeff Ellington – R
Kristi Risk – R
Joseph Baughman – D

State Representative, District 46

Thomas L. (Tom) Arthur – R
Bob Heaton – R
James H. Pittsford (Jimmy), III – D

The deadline for filing a candidacy is Friday, Feb. 6 at noon. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 5. General Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Vote Centers will be located at:

Faith Baptist Church (11612 State Road 243, Cloverdale)
Millgrove United Methodist Church (11151 Millgrove Rd., Quincy)
Lighthouse Fellowship Church (5392 S.R. 67, Gosport)
Clay Township Fire Department (5663 S.R. 43, Spencer)
Freedom Community Center (5552 Freedom-Arney Rd., Freedom)
Jefferson Baptist Church (4019 Main St., Coal City)
Garrard Chapel Church (7410 W. S.R. 46, Bowling Green)
Spencer First Church of the Nazarene (126 E. Market St., Spencer)

For all election-related questions, contact Linda Roy, Owen County Deputy Clerk of Elections, at 812-829-5028 or email linda.roy@owencounty.in.gov.

For up-to-date candidacy filings, visit https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/ and click on 2026 Primary Candidate List.

No testimony was heard, no witnesses were called and no evidence was presented before a mistrial was declared in what was expected to be an eight-day murder trial in Owen County.

The trial, which was slated to begin Jan. 20, halted during jury selection after the court was unable to seat enough jurors and has now been rescheduled for July 21.

Quentin Lamont Porter, Jr. is charged with the murder of Malik Darea Sims, whose body was discovered July 15, 2024, off Stephenson Road near the Owen-Monroe county line. Porter was arrested later that month and has been awaiting trial since.

Owen Circuit Court I Judge Don VanDerMoere II declared a mistrial during jury selection after the court was left with two open juror seats and only one potential juror remaining — a shortage he says mirrors the court's previous two jury trials in 2025. While juror shortages marked the court's previous trials, this is the first case in which the issue resulted in a mistrial.

VanDerMoere explained that his staff typically sends out 120 jury questionnaires for each case ahead of potential trials. He said that other counties send out large blocks of more than 500 questionnaires for a six-month period, during which those who have filled out the questionnaire could be called.

"We're actually sending out more questionnaires in a six-month period than some of these surrounding counties," VanDerMoere said. "The jury rules specifically require us to go through the Supreme Court's approved list of potential jurors. Now that draws from all kinds of state agencies and web-based programs — driver's license, voting rolls, taxpayer rolls, those sorts of things. So there's a group of potentially vetted people with contact information and those sorts of things. Some folks ask, 'Well why don't you get some folks off the street?' Well there's a jury rule that prohibits us from just getting bystanders. That's not an option to us by law."

After the questionnaires are sent out, the bailiff goes through the returned questionnaires, screening those who will be summoned for jury duty.

Individuals aged 75 and older are screened out but can opt in to jury duty, and the court can excuse individuals from being summoned for various reasons.

Naturally some are sent back as undeliverable.

"Those are few and far between," VanDerMoere said.

With Porter's case, 120 questionnaires were sent out and a little more than one-third of the questionnaires, or 42, were not returned at all, whether by the post office as undeliverable or by the individual.

"We are under the impression at this time that the folks got the mailers and did nothing with it. So that's a huge block. I mean, that's nearly a third of our jury pool, so we're operating under that, plus dealing with all the paperwork associated with the folks that did show up or did respond," VanDerMoere said. "The court can take some responsibility for those 42 people, and we are going to implement changes in the future that if after the second notice, in a short period of time, if we don't get a response, then we're going to need to send the sheriff out to serve people directly."

Then, as with any case, only a fraction that are not initially screened out are asked to appear through a summons or court order.

In Porter's case, there were 41 potential jurors summoned, and only 31 appeared.

"So now we've got the block of 42 that didn't respond plus now we've got 10 that have already acknowledged the process and then those folks don't show up, and then that is where the contempt comes in. Once the summons, which is a court order to appear at a certain time, at a certain location on a certain date, those folks are potentially subject to a criminal contempt," VanDerMoere said.

He added that the 42 who did not respond to the questionnaire is not as clear cut as to the consequences for not following through.

"That's kind of a gray area as to whether or not those individuals could be held in contempt. It's still part of the system, but because it's a questionnaire versus a summons, we have to deal with that. So that's where we're going to have to adjust in the future," he said.

Throughout the process of voir dire, otherwise known as jury selection, each side, both the state and the defense, have 10 peremptory challenges.

Peremptory challenges must be race neutral, but it allows each party in a trial to remove a prospective juror without stating a reason. Discrimination based on ethnicity or sex is also prohibited. But with peremptory challenges no particular reason has to be given.

"It could be any number of things based on their training or experience, maybe the statements that a potential juror has given," VanDerMoere said. "That's what voir dire is about, trying to figure out, of those folks that show up, who doesn't have an interest, who understands the process, who's willing to have an open mind, who's willing to be fair to the state and the defense."

This does not include the fact that an unlimited number of jurors can be dismissed for cause, which requires proving that a juror is biased. Other for-cause reasons can include stated refusal to follow the law, contradictory statements between the questionnaire and what is said during jury selection, or being related to one of the witnesses in the case.

"So of the 31, in a particular case, now you're narrowing it down to a very small group of folks. In our most recent case, we had two seats open, and we had one potential juror left," VanDerMoere said.

That case was the Porter case, and it did not include having any alternates, which is risky for an eight-day trial.

"I hate to do cases without alternates," Owen County Public Defender Megan Schueler said.

Schueler explained that without an alternate, if a juror has an emergency and is no longer able to hear the case, a mistrial is declared and they have to try the case again.

Taken together, the numbers left little room for error.

Shortage strains resources

"There's always a financial cost," VanDerMoere said of trials.

And with a mistrial, many of the costs will be incurred again when the case goes to trial in July.

VanDerMoere said for his office there is the cost of man-hours, paper, and postage for the juror questionnaires.

In addition, his office still has to reimburse the jurors who showed up for their mileage, pay them for the majority of the day and compensate them for lunch since they were there until the early afternoon.

For the court, just the juror mileage and compensation for the mistrial declared in Porter's case, the known expenses total $1,242.

In addition, those that appeared for their summons are now deferred from jury service for one year, having fulfilled their service obligation.

VanDerMoere, who previously served as Owen County Prosecutor, also addressed the time, energy and resource cost to the attorneys.

"Think of preparing for a big case as the prosecutors. You may take a month or more to really focus on getting all of your witnesses and subpoenas and all of these things together, prepared for trial, and then when somebody's life is potentially hanging on the line, defense attorneys have to do the exact same thing," VanDerMoere said.

He added that it doesn't include other trial preparation such as depositions and discovery motions.

"There's a lot of hours, and then those hours aren't wasted in the investigation, but when you get ramped up, you've spent nearly a month preparing for an eight-day trial, and then it becomes a dud. That's a lot of wasted time," he said.

Schueler also spoke to the time it takes to prepare for trial.

"It literally takes weeks, months to prepare for a trial, but you do a lot of preparation at the last minute just to make sure that you're teed up," she said, which includes going over exhibits, preparing outlines and reviewing juror questionnaires.

And ahead of the new trial date, a lot of the preparation will have to be repeated.

"This isn't something that you do right before trial and then you never have to do again. If the trial doesn't go, that same kind of prep is going to happen again. Now, maybe it won't take as long because you've done the nitty gritty once, but you've got to go through that process again," Schueler said.

Prosecutor Ben Kim also explained the challenges the prosecution faces.

"A mistrial resulting from the lack of a sufficient jury panel results in both financial and time-related costs for the State. In major cases of this size and complexity, trial preparation involves significant coordination and resources. This can include arrangements for expert witnesses, travel and scheduling assistance for witnesses and logistical preparation by law enforcement and office staff. When a trial does not proceed as scheduled, some of those resources must be expended again at a later date," he wrote in an email. "From a time standpoint, this case has required substantial preparation. Prosecutors, investigators and staff have devoted many hours reviewing reports, evidence, recordings and other materials to ensure readiness for trial. Law enforcement officers and analysts from multiple agencies have also adjusted their schedules in anticipation of trial. Witnesses, including civilian witnesses, likewise made arrangements to be available to testify."

In addition, some expert witnesses charge for their testimony and their fees will still be incurred, even when the trial is canceled or postponed.

Schueler also pointed to another cost.

"It's also a huge cost to me for the defendant and their family," she said. "It's the waiting period, the 'Hey your day in court keeps getting delayed.' And if it's not delayed because your case isn't ready because you and your attorney have made this decision, if it's delayed because of things you can't control, that's really difficult. And it's also really difficult for the defendant's family because they're taking days off work. They're trying to be there for their kid or their nephew or their person."

VanDerMoere said that there are trials that he believes will move forward in February, March, April, May and June, which is why the earliest it could be scheduled is in July, which pushes out other cases that may have otherwise been scheduled for that month.

And now, while the parties are available in July, each party has to ensure that all of their witnesses are available for July.

"We could run into issues then," VanDerMoere said.

This was something Kim also cited.

"When a trial is delayed, additional challenges can arise. Rescheduling witnesses, re-coordinating agencies, and re-preparing the case all require significant additional effort and time. Delays can also complicate scheduling and availability issues that affect all parties involved in the process," he wrote in the email.

In addition to creating congestion in the court system, memory deterioration also impacts cases.

"It's a case with age on it. Some folks like that. Some folks don't like that. For the average lay witness, it's only fair that we get the case tried within a year. That is the best case scenario for memories. The longer you go, it could hurt both sides," VanDerMoere said.

It was a concern that Schueler also raised.

"If things are pushed out and pushed out, it could be a huge disadvantage to one side or the other, and sometimes it's great for the defendant if you push things out, and other times it can really cut the other way. You just never know," she said.

She added that for law enforcement officers, it also poses a challenge for them to remember other details that are not in their reports that otherwise would be fresh in their minds.

"Our goal is to move cases forward efficiently and fairly in accordance with the law. Delays unrelated to the merits of a case can make that process more difficult for everyone involved, including the court, the parties, witnesses and the broader justice system," Kim said.

In addition, the sheriff's department has its own expenses with transporting the accused. It also has the challenge of altering the schedule, which can include overtime, in order to ensure coverage for officers called to testify.

"It's a cascading effect that really the width and breadth, I think would be hard to calculate what that is, but it's significant," VanDerMoere said in summary.

Shortage signals broader trend

VanDerMoere pointed to the last three jury trials in his court, which included a Level 4 felony, a Level 1 felony and a murder trial.

Last June, the Level 4 felony had only three potential jurors left after selecting the 12 jurors and two alternates.

In December, a Level 1 felony had only two potential jurors left at the end.

"And then in this most recent case, we had a deficit of jurors. We had no jurors left. We couldn't even fill the 12 slots that were mandatory," VanDerMoere said.

From what he knows, other counties face issues with jury responses too.

"This isn't just an Owen County problem. It seems like a statewide issue, but it's really left to individual counties to figure out a way around that," he said.

In the meantime, his staff will be sending out 200 questionnaires for all Level 1 and 2 felonies and murder.

VanDerMoere sees the lack of response as the biggest challenge.

"That's where I feel like the breakdown is, and I don't have a good answer as to why that's occurring," he said.

He also doesn't think the deficit of jurors in the most recent case, the Porter case, was just bad luck or an unfortunate coincidence.

"I would say it would be [bad] luck that we have that few unavailable in this particular case if our last two juries didn't also have those same number of deficits," he said. "There's something that I'm missing, and I wish I had the answer. But now we're going to spend more money sending more juror questionnaires out to try to get a larger audience. But again, we could run into the same situation."

Shortage spurs possible changes

In addition to sending more juror questionnaires out, there are other changes in the process that VanDerMoere plans to implement to avoid repeating this situation.

"There's not an easy answer, but I think we're going to have to be a little more proactive in shaking the bushes and figuring out why are 42 of you not responding," he said.

He also said there is the potential for delaying the trial by a few hours and sending out officers from the Owen County Sheriff's Department to have those who fail to appear for their summons called in.

"Yes, technically, there is a rule that if you've been summoned and you have that in your hand and you fail to show up, yes, you could be held in contempt," he said.

But he also called it a tenuous situation.

"Do you want to bring in jurors and hold them in contempt and potentially sentence them to 180 days in jail or fine them these exorbitant fees and these sorts of things to just gain compliance with the judicial process? I'm not saying that that would never be available as an option, but it seems like that would be a last resort," he said. "I'm hopeful that tweaking our mechanism for how we bring jurors in will gain some compliance. We certainly don't want to go to that last round of issuing writs for folks, but I've not had this occur in the 20 some odd years that I've been an attorney. In my experience, and I've tried a lot of cases in a lot of different counties in the state, this is maybe a more modern problem, and I don't understand why that is. I fail to understand that, and the burdens that you're putting on all these other folks to just not respond to a jury questionnaire or summons, I'm missing why you would choose to do that."

VanDerMoere said he had to research it, but someone who knowingly misrepresents a material fact on a jury qualification form for the purpose of avoiding or securing service as a juror commits a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 60 days in jail.

"I've never heard of somebody doing that and being prosecuted under that, but I'm kind of having to relearn or figure out exactly what the width and breadth of my power is to gain compliance, and in no job do you want to go to the extremes to get that done," he said.

VanDerMoere is reluctant to go to that extreme and hopes that the solution lies in informing the community about why jury service is essential.

"I don't want an article written where the tenor is that VanDerMoere is going to start issuing writs and he's going to have sheriff's officers knock on doors and knock down doors to drag people out. That's not it. This is an effort to educate the public on the importance and necessity of complying with the process," he said.

Schueler also shared her thoughts on why it is important.

"When you're part of society, there are rules. And society provides things to you, you need to give back, and whether you like some aspects or not is not really the question...You also kind of have to follow through on the duty to be a juror in a case so that other people have their rights protected. That's kind of the way I feel like people need to look at it, and it's just a shame that we're not getting that," she said. "Jurors are the backbone of the justice system. I mean, if we don't have enough jurors, we can't have jury trials, and that means we can't dispense justice. Our system will collapse if we do not have jurors. That's how it's set up, at least in the criminal side. So while you may think it's stupid or it's boring or I don't want to do this, you're actually the backbone of a system."

At the end of the day, VanDerMoere hopes that this situation will serve as an educational opportunity for the community to understand the importance of jury duty.

"I think the general public should realize that that is a significant impact on the entire group that's trying to just provide justice in a single case on a single day in single Owen Circuit Court I. We've got another court. We've got other cases... we've got other victims, other defendants that are counting on the court's time to get their cases processed. Everything is important to that person, because that's their case," he said, "and it's a shame that we're finding ourselves in a position — again, it doesn't seem like other counties aren't experiencing these issues, so I feel good in that respect. But I always like to hold Owen County up to a little higher standard that, yeah, we don't have as many of the big county problems because we're a pretty cohesive county. So I don't want to lose that fabric of, in my mind, that it's a cohesive county that's willing to work and do their part to make sure that the county works, but the recent past is starting to just eat at that hope."

Prosecutor Kim issued a reminder that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees met Jan. 12th to elect officers for the 2026 calendar year, approve routine matters, and to address several items under the new business portion of the meeting.

Three community members were also in attendance to address the recent departure of Cloverdale Middle School (CMS) special education teacher Jill Schreiber.

Under board organization, Vivian Whitaker was elected to continue in her role as board president for 2026, while Mike Rightmyer II was nominated and approved to serve as vice president, and Donna Fidler as board secretary.

The board also voted to continue holding regular board meetings on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building.

Board member compensation was set at $2,000 a year, with an additional compensation of $75 per board member for each meeting held outside of the regular board meetings.

Noting board compensation has remained unchanged for more than 20 years, Whitaker said a change in state law would have permitted the board to increase the per person compensation amount to 10 percent of a beginning teacher's salary, which would amount to $4,830.

"We thought that to be an excessive jump, but due to the fact that we will be hiring a new superintendent and we have a couple of work sessions on items that are coming up, we are going to add a stipend for those meetings, so that is our rationale," Whitaker explained.

Next, the board voted to appoint Mendy Shrout as corporation treasurer, Sara Zaring as deputy treasurer, and Michelle Cooper with Lewis & Kappes Law Firm and Tim Shelly with Warrick & Boyn as corporation attorneys.

Under routine matters, the board voted unanimously to approve meeting minutes for executive and regular sessions held Dec. 8, 2025, as well as the latest claims and financial reports, which CCSC Superintendent Greg Linton advised totaled $2,455,061.71 (including two payrolls).

Regarding communications, the board recognized the corporation's latest Student of the Month honorees, which included Cloverdale Elementary School (CES) student Lily Flinchum, Cloverdale Middle School (CMS) student Macy Mescall, and Cloverdale High School (CHS) student Zaydin Knight.

Jessica Fidler, fifth-grade math teacher at CMS, was honored as the latest CCSC Staff Member of the Month.

Cloverdale Police Department Sergeant Wade Warren had the honor of recognizing the department's latest Citizens of the Month, which included CES third-grader Liam Bernard and CMS student Alea Crecelius.

Addressing new business, the board voted 7-0 to approve hiring a temporary transportation director assistant while full-time director Joel Kennelly is on family medical leave (FMLA).

The board also voted 7-0 to approve updating the corporation's mileage reimbursement rate to match the updated federal rate for mileage reimbursement of 72.5 cents per mile, which went into effect on Jan. 1st. The corporation's previous mileage reimbursement rate was 70 cents per mile.

Next, the board cast separate votes to approve the Chromebook responsibility and financial liability policy, the 2025-27 Title II Grant in the amount of $47,563.48, and compensation for students who work in the Clover Student Café.

"We have a small group of students who have agreed to learn the coffee industry in our Cloverdale Student Café and in order to encourage more participation Mr. (Sonny) Stoltz has requested $30 for each student for each time they complete a shift in our café of an evening during a school sporting event or other ECA (extra-curricular activity)," superintendent Linton explained.

The board also voted unanimously to accept donations for CES and CHS, and one cash transfer-in for CHS.

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

Professional leave requests

Jan. 2 -- Brian Siddons, girls' sectional wrestling, Ben Davis.
Jan. 7 -- Kenzie Pigg, legislative lobby meeting, Indiana Statehouse.
Jan. 13 -- Kim Bailey, Advanced Classroom Management, Area 30, Greencastle.
Jan. 21 -- Drew Boyette, MI-BAT Beginning Ag Teacher Workshop, Trafalgar.
Jan. 22 -- Kenzie Pigg, IAAE Winter Workshop, Indiana FFA Leadership Center.
Jan. 30 -- Jessica Fidler, Strategies for Preventing and Eliminating Chronic Disruptive Behaviors, Greencastle West Central.
Feb. 10 -- Chelsey Meluch, School Culture Workshop, West Central.
Feb. 17 -- Chelsey Meluch, Proactive Leadership Workshop.
Feb. 20, Mar. 13 and Mar. 16 -- Kenzie Pigg, conventions and conferences of Serving the Indiana Farm Bureau State Committee for Young Farmers & Ag, French Lick, IN, Anaheim, California, Indianapolis, and Portland, Oregon.
Feb. 24 -- Chelsey Meluch, Teacher Retention Workshop, virtual.
Mar. 13 -- Karl Turk, JAG competition, Ivy Tech, Greencastle.

Field Trips

Dec. 22, 2025 -- CHS varsity girls' basketball team and families, Coachman Fairground.
Jan. 13 -- CMS fifth grade class, Putnam County Courthouse, Greencastle.
Jan. 20 -- CMS fifth grade class, Putnam County Courthouse, Greencastle.
Mar. 6 -- Bring Change 2 Mind, Eagle Creek Reservoir.
Mar. 13 -- CHS Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG), Ivy Tech, Greencastle.

Facility use

Jan. -- May -- Girl Scout Troop 1142, Girl Scout Juniors working on Bronze Award, Mrs. Vaughn's kindergarten classroom.
Jan. -- Apr. -- 4-H Club, 4-H meetings, CHS ag room.
Jan 25 and Jan. 31 -- Cloverdale Community Youth League (CCYL), softball/baseball open gym and evaluations, CHS auxiliary gym.
Feb. 7 -- CHS class of 2027, fundraiser for prom, CHS auxiliary gym.
Feb. 21 -- Softball clinic, CHS auxiliary gym.
Apr. 17 -- FFA, District VII Leadership Contest, CHS gym, auxiliary gym, cafetorium, and media center.

Additional personnel matters receiving board approval included:

Employment

Amy Bates -- bus aide.
John Brush -- CHS part-time AEP-discipline assistant.
Cyndi Byrer -- CHS custodian, moving from part-time to full-time.
Seth Geiger -- CMS long-term substitute.

Coaching resignation

Seth Geiger -- track coach.

Coaching hire

Martha Miles -- CHS winter cheer coach.
Ken Schnepp -- CHS assistant track coach.

Coaching volunteer

Brantson Scott -- CHS assistant basketball coach.

The Cloverdale Community School Board will meet again on Monday, Feb. 9 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 Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann, and Mike Rightmyer II.

Spencer Town Council members Jon Stantz, Evan McKalip, and Ginger Kohr met in regular session Jan. 20, along with clerk-treasurer Cheryl Moke and town attorney Richard Lorenz.

Following approval of the Jan. 5th meeting minutes, the council heard from Steve Withem of Spencer Main Street concerning memorial benches being considered to honor Spencer attorney John Fuhs and former town council member Mike Spinks, both of whom passed away in 2025. Although the exact locations have yet to be determined, Withem noted the benches would be purchased and installed at no cost to the town.

Next, the council received an update from Lorenz concerning three town contracts/agreements he was working to finalize for 2026, including with the Owen County Humane Society, Economic Development Corporation and Rural Transit.

The council also approved a public hearing for Tuesday, March 10 to consider the adoption of local sewer rates. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building at 90 N. West St.

In departmental reports, Spencer Chief of Police Terry Sips announced the resignation of reserve officer Sam Robinson due to personal reasons. Sips also noted the appointment of reserve officer Jeremy Burke to serve as president of the department's reserve officers' division.

The council later voted 3-0 to approve the purchase of two 2026 Dodge Durango police vehicles for the department from the John Jones dealership. The total cost approved was $149,345.20.

Sewer Department superintendent Ryan Klaassen later provided the council with an update regarding site visits that were being scheduled with contractors and subcontractors related to obtaining quotes for the town's planned sewer improvement project. Klaassen also indicated he was still awaiting a quote for a second pump for the State Road 43S lift station, though he was tentatively anticipating a cost of around $10,000.

Klaassen also indicated a desire to have around 60 feet of sewer main replaced on W. Wayne Street near Riverside Cemetery due to deterioration of the existing sewer main and the presence of tree roots that have infiltrated the damaged line. Klaassen said he had received a quote from HFI (Harrell-Fish, Inc.) of Bloomington for the replacement of 60 feet of PVC sewer main, three new taps, and a new cleanout. The quote was for about $20,000. He noted additional quotes would be obtained.

Street department superintendent Tony Floyd provided the council with an update concerning the installation of new banners on light poles in and around downtown Spencer. He said during periods of colder weather, the staff had been working to clean and organize the street department building, as well as repainting traffic barricades in preparation for spring.

Floyd noted the department had recently purchased a load of salt, bringing the department to the halfway point of the amount budgeted for the purchase of salt this winter.

Lastly, Floyd spoke of the need to post signage at the new pickleball and basketball courts on Spencer's south side advising park patrons of the park's hours of operation, suggesting dawn to dusk. Councilman McKalip noted he would bring the issue to the attention of the Spencer Parks and Recreation Board.

The Spencer Town Council will meet again on Monday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St.

Spencer and Owen County residents are very aware of the power of water. The annual White River floods leave behind debris and cause other damage.

And the constant work of erosion eats away at the riverbank and can even change the course of the river.

Before MYPath was established on the south side of the river, across from Cooper Commons, staff and board members from the Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) noticed the White River had begun digging a gouge into the south shoreline.

Stopping erosion is no small task.

The SWCD applied for a grant from the Department of Natural Resources Lake and River Enhancement Fund (LARE) to try to control the erosion. Funding for LARE comes from boat license fees. That includes the $15 dollars I pay annually for each of two kayaks.

After multiple applications, a search for matching dollars and finding the right contractor, the erosion control project was ready to begin. Then we had rough weather that kept pushing the project back. Would it be finished this year?

In December, The Stanger Group from Goshen, Ind. began removing trees and plants from the shore and along MYPath. Their work opened up a wide area, exposing a new view of the White River. You are likely to experience one of three responses, perhaps all of them.

Your first response will be to gasp at the new open view of the river. This area had been blocked by trees for many years. Now it provides an expansive riverscape overlook, a nice addition to the MYPath experience.

Your second response will be to gasp at the loss of trees. MYPath is known as a great spot for birding and observing wildlife. Bird hobbyists have even registered MYPath as a "hotspot" on the e-bird website. Over 130 species of birds have been identified.

The loss of any trees seems counterproductive to what SWCD is all about. The SWCD is proud of the lowlands reforestation project that has been happening on the other side of MYPath, right across from the new treeless area. The reforestation project includes the "food forest" and the "tree tubes" along the trail. Won't we miss the trees that were removed?

Well, there were a lot of invasive mulberry trees and other plants. To replace them, tree plugs have been replanted along the bank. You can see them right now. At this point, they are sticks, but this mixture of dogwood, willow, and sycamores will grow to bring back tree cover and help hold the bank.

The bank itself will be further stabilized by grasses and other plants. You can see the heavy mats along the slope and the straw mats along the level areas. These mats hold the seeds in place for growth this spring. The large rocks at the bottom of the slope provide protection for the lower bank, but I'm excited to see the natural plants protecting the majority of the slope.

Your third reaction will be to gasp at the large gouge in the shoreline that is caused by erosion. If you had been studying overhead images of the river on GIS maps and photographs, you were aware of the impact. But now, with the trees and vegetation removed, the damage is obvious to any MYPath walker.

MYPath has become an important community asset, and I'm pleased with this project to keep it from washing away. Special thanks to Devin Brown who received the initial design grant from LARE. Sean Huss submitted the first construction grant. Current SWCD Director Tammy Bingham got the project across the finish line and has received planning grants for the next sections of the riverbank that need help. Thank you to the Indiana DNR for the LARE grant, and thanks to the organizations that provided matching funds including the Soil and Water Conservation District, Owen County Community Foundation, Owen County and the Town of Spencer. The county and town funding came from Indiana Riverboat proceeds, so no local property tax dollars were used.

More than 170 fifth-grade students from across Spencer-Owen Community Schools (S-OCS) gathered at McCormick's Creek Elementary School (MCES) for the 9th Annual Fifth Grade Career Expo, an engaging event designed to open young minds to the many possibilities their futures may hold.

With more than 30 different careers represented, the Expo provided students with early, meaningful exposure to a wide range of professions and pathways.

Early career exploration is a vital step in helping students understand that success can take many forms. Whether their interests lead them toward the trades, self-employed entrepreneurship, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, public service or careers requiring a college degree, students benefit from learning that there is no single "right" path. Just as important, they begin to see the connection between education, training and future opportunities.

Throughout the morning, students rotated from table to table, where professionals shared what a typical "day in the life" looks like in their field. Representatives from US Aggregates, respiratory therapy, real estate, financial advising, law enforcement, nursing, book publishing, directing, optometry and many other careers explained daily responsibilities, work environments and the training or education required to enter their profession.

Students asked thoughtful questions about specialized skills, challenges and what they enjoy most about their work, demonstrating curiosity and growing self-awareness.

S-OCS places strong emphasis on soft skills. Communication, teamwork, problem-solving and responsibility, and more are embedded throughout daily instruction.

The Career Expo reinforced the message that while technical knowledge and training are important, soft skills are essential across all careers.

Many presenters highlighted how reliability, positive attitudes and strong interpersonal skills play a key role in long-term success, regardless of the industry.

Providing hands-on, real-world learning experiences like the Career Expo is just one of the ways S-OCS continues to stand out. By connecting classroom learning to real careers, the district helps students dream big, explore boldly and begin shaping their futures with confidence and purpose.

The event was made possible through the support of many dedicated individuals and community partners. A special thank-you goes to the OVHS JAG students who assisted throughout the day and to Steve and Deana Stickels for warmly welcoming guests. The annual event was planned by Patricksburg Elementary School Principal and Director of Communication Kris Samick.

S-OCS extends sincere appreciation to the many volunteers who shared their time and expertise, helping make the 9th Annual Fifth Grade Career Expo a memorable and inspiring experience for all involved.

The following volunteers helped make the Career Expo a success: Nicole Lynn, Owen County Unit Director (Boys & Girls Club); Eric McFarland, Frye Towing; Beth Sewell, OVHS Guidance Counselor; Jennifer Frye, OCPL Program Coordinator; Samantha Carver, Real Estate; Crystal Minnick, Respiratory Therapy; Sherri Knieriem, YMCA CEO; Jennifer Abrell, 4-H College/Career Specialist; Mychal Doering, College & Career Coach; Vicki Tarrence, Owen County Court Reporter; Rick Smeltzer, Engineer; Marce Johnson, OC Chamber of Commerce CEO; Dr. Jennifer Heill, Optometrist; Eric Reno, UAGG; Linda St. John, Registered Nurse; Nicole DeCriscio, The Owen News; Brandi Hamilton, OC Boys & Girls Club Director; Marcus Robinson, Financial Planner (Edward Jones); Kyle Hannon, Book Publishing; Opie Rhienhart and Ryan Bonebrake, S.R.O.'s; Larry Hensley, Director of Finance; Janet Rummel, OCCF CEO; Melissa Arnold, BSC QA Documentation; Brian Simkins, BSC; Kelly McVicker, BSC; Kennon Wright, BSC; Marissa Hays/Danielle Conner, Owen County State Bank; Monica Smith/Tori Floyd, OC Health Department.

The Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees met Dec. 8, 2025 to approve routine matters and to address several items under the new business portion of the meeting.

Five community members were also in attendance to address the recent departure of Cloverdale Middle School (CMS) special education teacher Jill Schreiber.

One of the individuals who spoke was Tiffany Duncan.

"This fight isn't about me; it's about my children and all children at Cloverdale schools," Duncan said. "I guess now it's for the teachers too because they can't speak up for themselves without there being repercussions at this point. I've asked Mr. (Greg) Linton and anyone that would listen routinely about an issue with my son and how he has issues regulating his emotions. Once again, my concerns have fallen on deaf ears. When is someone actually going to listen to the needs of the kids and teachers and make a change for good?

"I've been in this school system for 18 years and it's always the same story, same political answers without any real changes. How many kids need to be failed before you realize the problem starts at the top and not at the bottom with the kids? You guys are trying to fire her (Schreiber) because she stands up for what is right and challenges things that (are) wrong. The principal is getting rid of special needs teachers left and right and we don't have enough as is. The principal is destroying CMS one teacher and student at a time. I will be filing a formal complaint to the state school board and anyone who will listen. It's time that you guys are held accountable for your actions and your shortcomings and quit blaming the students."

Once the concerned community members had addressed the board, board president Vivian Whitaker responded by reminding those in attendance that "there are due process procedures in place, and we have to follow those as a school board. I can assure you that our administrators and board are fully acting according to both school policies and legal requirements."

Under routine matters, the board voted to approve meeting minutes for executive and regular sessions held Nov. 10, 2025.

Next, the board voted to approve the latest claims and financial reports, which CCSC Superintendent Greg Linton advised totaled $3,381,247.20 (including two payrolls and retro pay resulting from employee pay increases) since the board's previous meeting.

Regarding communications, the board recognized the corporation's latest Student of the Month honorees, which included Cloverdale Elementary School (CES) student Xander Stone, CMS student Avery Bailey, and Cloverdale High School (CHS) student Hina Kainoa Serrano.

Brad Sandy, physical education (PE) and music teacher at CES, was honored as the latest CCSC Staff Member of the Month.

Addressing new business, the board voted to approve a social media agreement for the school corporation to enter into an agreement with Camryn Scott to assist in marketing CCSC in various social media spaces.

"I believe she has the skillset and experience to aid in promoting all the great educational initiatives we are supporting locally and statewide," Linton said. "I believe that this type of social media support will help to increase enrollment in both in-person and virtual settings."

The board also voted to approve the 2026-27 school calendar, to pay end-of-the-year claims, a stipend for the CMS Choice Program, the 2025-26 High Ability Grant in the amount of $38,000, the 2025-26 Clover Cupboard Food Pantry Secretary Stipend, the Knoy bus route rate of $65 per day, a Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) instructor stipend for Karl Turk, and donations and cash transfer-ins.

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

Professional leave requests

Dec. 3, 2025 – Tara Baugh, school safety conference, Avon, IN.

Dec. 5, 2025 – Heather Clingan, district welding contest, Ivy Tech, Terre Haute.

Dec. 8, 2025 – Cathy Ames, Cathy Smith, Taulbee Jackson, Megan Puckett, and Erica Burnett – Using Ilearn Checkpoint Data, Greencastle.

Dec. 8-9, 2025 – Drew Boyette, FFA Toy Drive, C Bar C Expo Center, Cloverdale.

Dec. 12, Jan. 9, and Jan. 12-14 – Kenzie Pigg, IN Farm Bureau State Committee for Young Farmers and Ag Professionals conventions and conferences.

Dec. 15-16 – Cathy Ames, Lori Halloran, and Katina Wetter, IN Association for the Gifted conference, Indianapolis.

Jan. 13 – Taulbee Jackson, Jenna Sullivan, Jaralee Branigan, Anna Linton, Jill Schreiber, and Michaela Marcum, Advanced Classroom Management Workshop, Area 30, Greencastle.

Jan. 22 – Heather Clingan, IAAE Winter Workshop, IN FFA Leadership Center, Trafalgar.

Jan. 30 – Taulbee Jackson and Cathy Smith, Eliminating Chronic Disruptive Behavior Workshop, Area 30, Greencastle.

Feb. 2-3 – Ethan Linton, Basic School Safety Specialist Academy, Indianapolis.

Feb. 17 – Heather Clingan, Plug Auction, Rockville Produce Auction.

Facility use

Dec. 11, 2025 – District VII Christmas party, CHS Ag room, auxiliary gymnasium, and cafeteria.

Dec. 11 and Jan. 15 – Cloverdale Community Youth League (CCYL) board meetings, CMS library.

Jan. 12 – Putnam County Planning Commission special meeting (solar project), CHS cafetorium.

Jan., Feb., Mar. 2026 – CCYL volleyball clinic, third through sixth grades, CMS gymnasium.

Feb., March 2-26 – CCYL youth wrestling practices and competitions, CHS gymnasium and wrestling room.

Additional personnel matters receiving board approval included:

Employment

Kenzie Pigg – part-time Knoy teacher.

Coaching hire

Debbie Steffy – CHS girls' golf coach.

Coaching volunteer

Kiersten Wade – CMS volunteer girls' swim coach.

Michael Starks – CMS volunteer girls' basketball coach.

The Cloverdale Community School Board will meet again on Monday, Jan. 12 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 Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann, and Mike Rightmyer II.

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

12-5

McCormick's Creek Elementary School, 1601 W. Flatwoods Rd., Spencer. Routine inspection. No violations

12-16

Spencer Elementary School, 151 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer. Routine inspection. No violations.

Owen Valley Middle School, 626 S.R. 46W, Spencer. Routine inspection. No violations.

Owen Valley High School, 622 S.R. 46W, Spencer. Routine inspection. No violations.

I am writing this column on the Winter Solstice. This is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Tomorrow the sun will shine a few minutes more as the sun returns. Humans have celebrated the return of the light on this day for… I am searching for a word that describes forever or since time began. Humans created all sorts of rituals to mark this day. In northern parts of our planet the day signals the beginning of the cold time when the earth rests. Animals hibernate, trees store their sap far below ground and make energy for the warm season that will come.

For centuries we humans have celebrated the Solstice. Our celebrations have different names, different rituals, different customs; they all celebrate the return of the light. Solstice Blessing is a greeting used to convey peace, harmony and connection with nature during the winter. The Solstice was celebrated long before the more modern religious festivals were created. Many of us say Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or Happy New year at this time. It is all the same. A wish for a good year to come.

Many of us make resolutions to ensure a better year. While doing some research, I discovered that the Babylonians made resolutions 4,000 years ago. They made theirs on the Spring Equinox to ensure a good harvest. They had parades and feasts. They also promised to return borrowed tools and pay their debts. For some reason that made me think of the Rose Bowl Parade which I love to watch and how many of us celebrate by watching football games on New Year's Day.

The New Year is the perfect time to rest, to contemplate, a time for review, a time to plan, a time for self-reflection. Nature is resting. Hidden away in the cold earth, bulbs are storing energy so they can burst forth with blooms come spring. This is when many of us create a roadmap for a more fulfilling life. To set goals, make plans. We put up calendars with the dates marching across the pages in neat little boxes.

For years I have celebrated New Year's Eve by burning my calendars for the ending year. I banish the negative and celebrate the positive of the ending year as the pages of the months go up in smoke. Rituals are important, tangible acts that can represent intention.

The next morning, I put up calendars for the new year. I see the empty boxes as opportunities. The New Year is a time to reflect on what we want to achieve, to create, to announce places we want to visit. A calendar can be a roadmap for a more fulfilling life. Of course, there is no guarantee that we will be given all those days. I think approaching life with optimism is necessary. It isn't always easy. The older I get the more difficult that task is to achieve. Life sometimes has other plans for us. This is a good time to reevaluate, activate hope, and envision a better future. We make plans to improve our personal and professional lives. Many of us contemplate how we can make even small changes to make life better, easier for others and ourselves. And that, dear readers, is my resolution for 2026.

'til next time,

Annie

The spotlight is shining bright on Owen County 4-H as it prepares for its newest theatrical adventure, Clovers Along the Yellow Brick Road. This production is part of the 4-H Leading Roles program, designed to give youth the chance to explore the performing arts while building confidence, creativity, and teamwork.

Auditions and Call-Out Dates

The excitement begins with auditions at the Owen County Purdue Extension-Owen County office located at 180 South Washington Street in Spencer. Youth enrolled in 4-H from kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to participate. Youth who wish to enroll can contact our office prior to auditions or register for 4-H at the auditions! Everyone who auditions will be given a role in the production. Call-out and audition sessions will be held on Monday, Jan. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

These sessions will allow participants to meet the directors and volunteers, learn about the production, and try out for roles both on stage and behind the scenes.

Rehearsals and Show Dates

Practices will kick off the week of January 19, giving the cast and crew plenty of time to prepare for the big performance. Practices take place typically from 4 to 5:30 on select weeknights, with the official practice schedule still to come. The show will take place at the Tivoli Theater on March 24 and March 25, promising two nights of entertainment for the entire community.

A Creative Twist on a Classic Tale

Clovers Along the Yellow Brick Road offers a fun, 4-H-inspired spin on the beloved story of The Wizard of Oz. Audiences can expect familiar faces, whimsical adventures, and a message that celebrates courage, friendship, and the power of working together—values that align perfectly with the 4-H pledge.

Open to All 4-H Members

One of the most exciting aspects of Leading Roles is its inclusivity. Whether a child dreams of being center stage or prefers helping with costumes, props, or set design, there's a place for everyone. Mini 4-H members (grades K–2) will also have opportunities to participate, making this a true community effort.

Why Theater Matters for Youth

Theater programs like Leading Roles help young people develop essential life skills. From public speaking and creative problem-solving to teamwork and time management, participants gain experiences that will serve them well beyond the stage. This production is about more than putting on a show, it's about giving youth the confidence to take on any challenge.

Community Support Encouraged

Owen County 4-H invites local businesses and volunteers to support the production through sponsorships, donations, or sharing expertise in theater arts. Community involvement ensures that this program continues to thrive and provide meaningful opportunities for youth.

Don't miss your chance to follow the Yellow Brick Road with Owen County 4-H! Join us for Clovers Along the Yellow Brick Road on March 24 and 25. For more information about auditions, volunteering, or sponsorship opportunities, contact the Purdue Extension-Owen County office at 812-829-5020 or visit our Facebook page with Purdue Extension-Owen County.

Many VFW Posts nationwide participate in Wreaths Across America each December, sponsoring wreaths to honor the memory of veterans laid to rest at their local cemeteries.

On Dec. 20, 2025 members of VFW Post #7850 and its Auxiliary in Gosport placed a total of 453 wreaths on the graves of veterans buried at Gosport and Little Mount cemeteries during the annual Wreaths Across America event.

With the help of volunteers and members of the Owen County 4-H Fishing Team, members of Post #7850 turned this solemn ceremony into a memorable community event to honor, remember, and educate others about the service and sacrifices of all veterans.

The Pledge of Allegiance, led by Kayne Mills, was recited by those in attendance.

"Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the mission to remember the fallen, honor those that served and their families, and teach the next generation the value of freedom," said Harriet Figg, past VFW Auxiliary State President. "It takes several people countless hours to make this event a success, and I want to thank all of them for their hard work for this past year. I also want to thank the families that have ordered wreaths for their family members, which helps us tremendously to meet our goal and to make sure every veteran in Gospel Cemetery is presented a wreath."

Nationally, the wreath-laying observance continues to grow each year, with volunteers of all ages helping to ensure that veterans and their stories are neither forgotten nor overlooked during one of the busiest times of the year, according to Wreaths Across America.

"We encourage every volunteer here today who places a wreath on a veteran's grave to say that veteran's name aloud and take a moment to thank them for their service to our country," said Jan Torgerson, current treasurer of the Post #7850 Auxiliary. "It's a small act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive. Remember, we are not here today to decorate graves. We are here to remember not their deaths, but their lives. Each wreath is a gift of appreciation from a grateful America."

Torgerson explained how the live Balsam fir wreaths symbolize "our honor to those who have served and are serving in the Armed Forces of our great nation, and to their families who endure sacrifices every day on our behalf."

For many participants, the event provided a personal moment of reflection. Friends and families of those fallen were seen visiting and paying respect throughout the morning.

"To our children, we want you to understand that the freedoms you enjoy today have not been free but have come with a cost that someday you may have to pay yourself," Torgerson added. "As a nation standing together, we can defeat terrorism, hatred and injustice. Thanks to our veterans, we have the freedom to do that."

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization that places wreaths on veterans' graves to honor them and educate others about the value of freedom. The organization's mission is "Remember, Honor, Teach."

To learn more, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Well, we made it through the holidays, and now most of us are settling into our winter routines. Trying to stay warm is my main goal. I have always thought of January as a month to reflect on my own life and on any changes that I might need to make. It's a time of planning, a time to make changes, and a time to take stock of things. Life continues to bring its challenges to me daily, but the winter world around me seems oblivious to its demands.

Nature seems to be lying in a state of hibernation. Except for the occasional rabbits, birds, or squirrels that I see in my neighborhood, things appear to be quiet. Winter seems to have poetry all its own, but this poetry must be sought out. One must be silent to hear its whispers. When I step out into a forest, I hear no sound except the crunch of my footsteps as they walk on the frozen path in front of me. The silence that greets me nurtures my need for solitude. I look for signs of life in the winter landscape, but only after a dusting of snow do I see the animal tracks scattered along the edge of a well-worn trail that I frequent.

Our lives are like that. We leave footprints wherever we choose to go. It's proof of life to those who follow us. It's humbling to me to wonder where I fit into the bigger scheme of things. There's a poem by Robert Frost, Dust of Snow, that fits in with observing wildlife and the feel of winter that can sometimes interfere with our days:

The way a crow
Shook down on me,
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree.

Has given my heart
A change of mood,
And save some part,
Of the day I had rued.

Sometimes winter is like that. We can be brooding over our problems when suddenly life intervenes with small interruptions such as enjoying the birds as they eat from a feeder, watching the warming sun reflect off the new fallen snow, or listening to the winter silence. These are the interruptions that remind us that life is more than the cold, barren landscape that we see with new eyes. It is full of life and movement, light and mystery.

Under the cold, hard earth lies a hope of spring. In the grand scheme of things, winter is necessary and beautiful in its own right. A season of change that creeps up on us slowly, takes hold and doesn't let go until it has finished this work.

It is necessary to go through the cold of winter so that we will appreciate the warmth of the coming spring. Winter is poetry in motion. The words are not always visible, but they are there all the same. Take time to read the poetry of winter. It makes for a very good read. Besides, spring is just around the corner. And I can live with that.

Stay warm!

Susan

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.

12-3

Kayla Anderson, 27, Spencer, preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent; child selling, and probation violation. Arrested by Owen County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) Deputy Elijah Volrich.

12-5

Gage Reynolds, 28, Jasonville, preliminary charges of burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm by a domestic batterer, theft, and false informing. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

Zackery Thacker, 25, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of sex offender registration violation and probation violation. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

12-6

Russell Bandy, 56, Spencer, preliminary charges of dissemination of matter harmful to minors and sexual battery. OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey was the arresting officer.

12-7

Leo Kent, 52, Worthington, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge (failure to appear). Arrested by OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark.

12-9

Travis Clay, 30, Avon, preliminary charges of battery resulting in bodily injury and disorderly conduct. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

Rukundo Ndayishimiye, 29, Kalamazoo, MI, preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, identity deception, and failure to appear. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

Camilla Stewart, 42, Poland, IN, preliminary charge of theft. Indiana Conservation Officer Caleb Hutchison was the arresting officer.

12-10

Kegan West, 36, Mooresville, preliminary charges of battery resulting in bodily injury and disorderly conduct. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

Jonathan Townsend, 39, Coal City, preliminary charges of domestic battery and disorderly conduct. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

Brent Wallace, 41, Brazil, IN, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Arrested by Spencer Police Department (SPD) officer Bryce Brock.

12-11

Ashley Lovell, 32, Bloomington, preliminary charges of failure to appear and identity deception. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

12-18

Michael Kays, 29, Spencer, preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark.

12-20

Johnathon Martin, 40, Mooresville, preliminary charges of operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator (HTV) and operating while intoxicated. OCSD Sergeant Torrey Wallace was the arresting officer.

12-21

Jeremy Epeards, 47, Spencer, preliminary charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death and operating while intoxicated endangering a person. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark.

12-23

Joshua Griffin, 31, Spencer, preliminary charges of probation violation and sex offender registration violation. OCSD Deputy Luke Wright was the arresting officer.

Richard Waggoner, 41, Greencastle, preliminary charges of burglary and probation violation. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

Crystal Brawley, 56, Spencer, preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated endangering a person and operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person. OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey was the arresting officer.

Larry Neal, 64, Poolesville, MD, preliminary charges of battery against a public safety officer and operating while intoxicated endangering a person. Arrested by SPD officer Ashton Banks.

Jaymison Copeland, 20, Bowling Green, preliminary charges of operating without a license when required, driving while suspended with a prior charge, operating a vehicle without financial responsibility, and failure to appear. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

12-26

William Riley II, 60, Gosport, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Brandon Garparovic.

12-28

Heather Havens, 48, Spencer, preliminary charge of operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator (HTV). OCSD Deputy Stephen DeWitt was the arresting officer.

Joshua Stahl, 44, Freedom, preliminary charge of invasion of privacy. Arrested by SPD officer Ben Muncie.

Roger Bakemeier, Jr., 21, Palestine, IN, preliminary charge of resisting law enforcement. Indiana Conservation Officer Caleb Hutchison was the arresting officer.

12-29

Steven Brown, 42, Coal City, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia. Arrested by OCSD K9 Deputy Charles Hallam.

In the middle of winter, it's always inspirational for us outdoorsmen to attend the various sport shows around the area. Here's a list of some upcoming area shows: Louisville Boat, RV, and Sport show, Jan. 28 to Feb.1, Kentucky Exposition Center, Fairgrounds; Indianapolis Boat, Sport, and Travel Show, Feb 15 to 24, Indiana State Fairgrounds; Indianapolis Deer, Turkey, and Waterfowl Expo, Feb 27 to March 1, Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Interesting seminars on fishing and hunting, a tremendous variety of outdoor products and willing vendors who actually make time to chat with you make these expos a fun time.

I recall once walking by a White River (Indianapolis) smallmouth guide's booth. He had a high visibility line on all his sample reels, and I inquired about that. His reasoning was that his clients often were not aware they had a strike, and the hi-vis line helped a lot. The fish don't see it, but the fisherman does. I've since used this type of line, which especially helps fishing soft plastics and crappie jigs.

Last time I talked about the appropriately named Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. My wife has family there, and we go out once a year or so. I get to spend time at the outdoorsman's playground, the original Bass Pro Shop, called the "Granddaddy of Outdoor Stores." Now right next to the store, finally opening after 10 years of construction, is the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium.

If you read the last column, you know the first part of the mile and a half walk-through experience is the wildlife, and it's truly amazing. The reproductions and mounts are artistic achievements. Great art and a variety of displays are everywhere. Don't be in a rush; take it all in (with kids this could be a problem but be patient).

You'll appreciate the stop at a conveniently located restaurant after the wildlife experience. Then it's on to the aquarium. Sure, you've been to aquariums, but this one's special.

Something like 35,000 live fish, mammals and reptiles are showcased in super-clear glass environs and scenes. There's an amazing 300,000-gallon "open ocean."

One sight I hadn't seen in previous aquariums was a giant ball of small ocean baitfish spinning around in a cone-shaped ball, pretty much like they do in their natural home. Small children are allowed to crawl inside tubes that get them extra close to the penguins and fish. The incredible variety of fishes on this planet, from small organisms to sharks, just boggles the mind. There's one knockout display of a full-size ocean fishing boat fighting a marlin or swordfish, complete with realistic-looking waves.

At the very end, there's the International Fishing and the Bass Fishing Halls of Fame. Good stuff, but my wife and grandson were done for the day. I could've spent another two hours checking out the two Halls, especially the Bass Hall. The old guys like Roland Martin and Bill Dance along with the newer pros like Kevin Van Dam and many others are featured, together with interesting stories about how far professional bass fishing has come. Next time I'll allow time and energy for those displays. Johnny Morris has come a long way since he started selling bass lures out of the back of his dad's Springfield liquor store.

Hope you get a chance to check out the Wonders (wondersofwildlife.org) and next door the original Bass Pro Shop, which in itself is a half day or more worth of looking and shopping. On the second floor is a replica of the first Bass Pro shop, a humble affair, along with lots of historical displays depicting BP's rise. Check out the other attractions Springfield has to offer by going online. There's a Civil War battlefield with interesting displays, excellent shopping, and nice parks. In season you could sample the golf courses. Branson with its boatload of year-round entertainment options and Table Rock and Tanneycomo lakes lie 45 minutes south. My personal Branson favorite is Sight and Sound Theatre's biblical shows. You won't believe the stage and the visual effects.

A fine fisherman and human, former President George H. W. Bush passed at 94 years young. He was also a good friend and fishing buddy of Johnny Morris. He once said: "The days a man spends fishing or hunting should not be deducted from the time he's on earth. In other words, if I fish today, that should be added to the amount of time I get to live."

Remember to conserve, protect and enjoy our great outdoors.

In an era where information is available instantly on our phones and computers, it's reasonable to ask whether libraries are still necessary. At the Owen County Public Library (OCPL), that answer is clear, the library remains an essential part of our community, perhaps now more than ever.

While technology has changed how people access information, it has not eliminated the need for guidance, access, or trusted support. Not every household in Owen County has reliable internet, updated devices, or the skills needed to navigate an increasingly digital world. The Owen County Public Library helps bridge that gap by providing free access to computers, Wi-Fi, printing, and knowledgeable staff who are ready to assist patrons of all ages.

In a time when misinformation spreads quickly online, the library serves as a trusted source of accurate, unbiased information. Our staff help patrons evaluate sources, conduct research, and find reliable answers, without tracking, advertising, or algorithms influencing what they see. Protecting patron privacy and intellectual freedom remains a core value of the Owen County Public Library.

The library also continues to play a vital role in education and lifelong learning. From early literacy programs that prepare children for school success, to digital resources like eBooks, audiobooks, and online databases, the Owen County Public Library supports learning at every stage of life. Programs, workshops, and reading initiatives provide opportunities for growth, creativity, and discovery, both in person and online.

Beyond access to information, the library offers something increasingly rare, a safe, welcoming public space that belongs to everyone. The Owen County Public Library is a place to study, collaborate, attend programs, or simply spend time, without the expectation of spending money. These shared spaces strengthen community connections and foster a sense of belonging.

The library does not compete with technology; it evolves alongside it. We adapt services, introduce new tools, and help patrons build digital skills while remaining grounded in our mission of equitable access. Whether helping someone apply for a job, learn a new device, explore career options, or rediscover the joy of reading, the library meets people where they are.

The digital age has transformed how information is delivered, but it has not replaced the need for libraries. Instead, it has highlighted their importance. The Owen County Public Library stands at the intersection of technology, education, and community, ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need to learn, connect, and thrive.

In a world overflowing with information, the Owen County Public Library remains a trusted guide, a welcoming space, and a vital community anchor. That is why the library still matters, here in Owen County and beyond.

The OCPL is located at 10 S. Montgomery St. in Spencer and can be reached by calling 812-829-3392.

I have the ice fishing bug. Last winter I went to Devil's Lake, North Dakota with the goal of catching a 15-inch yellow perch. The longest I landed was 14. I'm going back this year, again with the hope of landing a wall hanger. But I must admit, being on the ice makes me nervous. Precautions must be taken.

When anglers and snowmobilers start to feel the itch only frozen water can scratch, it's hard to hold them back. But ask any seasoned ice angler, and they'll tell you, the way to stay safe is to assume there's no such thing as safe ice.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is pushing that reminder this year. As winter begins and folks rush to claim their favorite spots on prime ice fishing lakes, the agency is urging everyone to pay attention and treat every frozen water with respect. Early ice may look solid, it may even feel solid, but underneath may be a different story.

"Early in the season especially, ice conditions are unpredictable and can change quickly on Wisconsin's rivers and lakes. The ice covers hide the currents, debris and underground springs still feeding lakes and rivers, thinning the ice in spots," said Lt. Jacob Holsclaw, DNR Off-Highway Vehicle Administrator. "No matter if you're on foot, on a snowmobile or in a UTV, it's important to remember that ice is never 100 percent safe."

It is good to speak with someone who is keeping track of ice thickness, if possible. The DNR doesn't. They can't. Conditions change too fast. The people who usually know the most about local lakes are the ones who are either on them daily or are serving customers who use the ice. You'll find these folks in bait shops, fishing clubs, and working as outfitters. If you're determined to venture out early, talk to one or more of them. They'll know if there are danger spots.

Some lakes have springs that create soft spots. Others have inlets and outlets that remain open and are dangerous because they're hard to see. Narrow channels with current flow are dangerous. These and other reasons can cause thin ice in areas that don't advertise themselves. A lake might be solid in one spot and dangerous 20 yards away.

Pressure ridges are ice heaves that form when temperatures swing. These are another hazard. They look like frozen shorelines or seams in the ice, but they can shift, open, or thin without warning. Strong winds can make them worse. Avoid these areas.

When you are heading out on the ice, you should never go alone and always tell others where you'll be and when you'll be back. Wear crampons and use a spud bar to test ice thickness as you walk. Keep ice picks handy where you can grab them fast, and don't travel at night through unfamiliar territory.

For someone who didn't grow up around ice, it's wild way up north where people drive trucks, snowmobiles and ATVs on the ice. Vehicles bring their own challenges. Last winter, Wisconsin saw six fatalities linked to ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles going through the ice. Their weight demands much thicker ice than most people realize.

Even with precautions, ice accidents still happen. If you fall in, the most important thing is to stay as calm as possible. Grip your ice picks and stick them in the ice. Kick hard to get your chest flat on the ice and slide forward, moving one pick forward at a time.

Ice fishing is drawing me to frozen water and it kind of freaks me out. But it's awesome, and the fish taste amazing coming out of such cold water, so I'll be out there. You can bet I'll be cautious and ask questions of the more experienced guys I'm fishing with. No walleye in the world is worth falling through the ice to me. If it's not safe, I'm not going. You shouldn't either.

See you down the trail…

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

By working together, the arts community in Owen County is having an impact on future public developments and community activities, say leaders of the new Sweet Owen Arts Commission (SOAC).

Last year, the commission brought nearly 40 county artists together to provide input into the design of a proposed amphitheater for a Cooper Commons park renovation. In late fall, the commission hosted an arts showcase for artists to display and sell some of their works. A connection made during a SOAC networking meeting led to the display of sculptures along the MYPath trail.

"Owen County is extremely fortunate to have a lot of artists from a wide variety of genres," said SOAC president, Melody King, from S.O.U.N.D.S. Musical Arts. "We are thrilled that the art community had an impact last year and we are looking forward to the future."

Future projects for the 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization include a partnership with Owen County 4-H to artistically paint a crosswalk by the fairgrounds. In addition, the Arts Commission plans to support free community arts workshops and arts festivals while building a volunteer network.

King said the group just completed a 2026 strategic plan for the organization, focusing on more opportunities for artists to work together. All artists are welcome to participate and are invited to register on the SOAC site, www.sweetowenarts.org. Categories include culinary arts; fiber and textile arts; metal and woodwork; mixed media; music and performance; photography; visual art; writing and spoken word; and arts organization.

SOAC was created thanks to a grant from the Indiana Arts Commission. The grant additionally helped artists collaborate and influence the design of the amphitheater in the park proposal. A grant from the Owen County Community Foundation helped SOAC form as an official nonprofit. An appropriation from the Town of Spencer helped pay for the Cooper Commons Amphitheater plans.

As the calendar flips to a new year, many of us feel the familiar pressure to start fresh. New Year's resolutions often come with big promises: eat perfectly, save thousands, get organized overnight, or finally become a morning person. While the intention is good, research consistently shows that most resolutions don't last very long — often fading by February. That doesn't mean people fail. It means the approach needs to change.

Extension research and behavior science agree on one thing: lasting change doesn't come from doing everything at once. It comes from choosing one small habit that fits your life and sticking with it.

As your Purdue Extension-Owen County Health & Human Sciences Educator, I'm here to share helpful tips and ideas all year long — especially when it comes to food, finances, health, and family. And when it comes to starting a new year strong, one of the best strategies is refreshingly simple: skip the resolution and focus on something small that can truly last.

Instead of a resolution, try choosing a "tiny habit." A tiny habit is something so manageable it feels easy — even on busy days. Extension educators often talk about habit stacking, which means attaching a new habit to something you already do. For example, stretch for two minutes after brushing your teeth, drink a glass of water with breakfast, or take a short walk after dinner. Because the habit is connected to an existing routine, it becomes part of your day instead of another item on your to-do list.

Being specific also matters. Research shows that people are more successful when goals are clear and written down. Vague goals like "be healthier" or "save more money" can feel overwhelming. A more helpful approach might be "add one vegetable to lunch three days a week" or "set aside $10 each payday." Small, clear actions are easier to follow — and easier to celebrate.

Another important piece of lasting change is meaning. Habits stick longer when they connect to something that matters to you. That might be having more energy, managing stress, improving finances, or keeping up with kids or grandkids. When a habit supports your values and your daily life, it feels less like a chore and more like a gift to yourself.

It's also important to remember that small does not mean insignificant. Tiny habits add up over time. One small step practiced consistently can lead to better routines, stronger confidence, and healthier choices without the burnout and guilt that often come with all-or-nothing resolutions.

This year, give yourself permission to start small. Choose one habit that feels doable, meaningful, and realistic. Let it grow naturally as the year unfolds. Like twinkling lights on a winter evening, small changes may seem subtle at first — but together, they can brighten your entire year.

Try This Tiny Habit

Pick one habit and keep it simple: Drink a glass of water with breakfast; add one fruit or vegetable to lunch; stretch for two minutes after brushing your teeth; save $10 each payday; or take a five-minute walk after dinner.

Write it down. Tie it to something you already do. And remember — consistency matters more than perfection.

Want to learn more about more exciting programs? Call the Purdue Extension-Owen County office at 812-829-5020. Looking to bring a program to your group? From food and health to family and finance, I've got you covered! Shoot me an email at lowder0@purdue.edu and let's make it happen.

And don't forget — you can always spot my upcoming programs in the community events section of this newspaper, on our Facebook page, or on our website: https://extension.purdue.edu/county/owen/hhshome.html.

Owen County Theatre & Arts Alliance (OCTAA) is proud to sponsor the inaugural Blue Box Film Festival, a one-day international film festival celebrating independent filmmakers from around the world.

The live event will take place Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre in Spencer, Indiana.

The Blue Box Film Festival emerged through a convergence of OCTAAA's long-term goal to expand its film-based arts programming and the independent interest of artists already deeply connected to the organization.

As OCTAAA explored opportunities to broaden its creative offerings beyond live theatre, Lex Barrett—who has been involved with the theatre since its inception—and Mandy Samick brought forward a shared enthusiasm for creating a film festival, aligning naturally with the nonprofit's vision. Together, the organization and its collaborators developed the Blue Box Film Festival as a new avenue for artistic expression within the community.

The festival will showcase a curated selection of short and feature-length films representing a wide range of voices, experiences and filmmaking styles. Submissions were accepted from Oct. 1 through Dec. 17, 2025, offering a compelling snapshot of the current state of independent filmmaking worldwide.

Films were submitted by creators ranging in age from 17 to 68, including students, hobbyists and full-time professional filmmakers. Entries were received from across the United States and internationally, with submissions coming from Portugal, Italy, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Iran, India, Finland, Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, New Zealand, Israel, Hungary and Australia.

In keeping with its commitment to artistic integrity, the Blue Box Film Festival prohibited AI-generated content, emphasizing human-created storytelling and craftsmanship. The festival also granted all fee-waiver requests submitted by filmmakers experiencing financial hardship, reinforcing its mission to reduce barriers and support global artistic voices.

A panel of predetermined judges will award Best Short Film and Best Feature Film, while attendees will have the opportunity to participate in Audience Choice voting for both categories during the event.

Community members, film enthusiasts and supporters of the arts are invited to attend this unique international event and experience independent cinema on the big screen in one of Indiana's most historic theaters.

The Owen County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Owen County: Dustin Jackson of Owen Valley High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are recognized for their community involvement, academic achievement, character and leadership.

"It is an honor to award Dustin the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. His leadership, character and commitment to learning, both in his own pursuits and in supporting others within his community, embody the values this prestigious award is intended to recognize. We are confident that his passion for computer science will continue to have a positive impact," remarked Ronda Stogsdill, 2026 Committee Chair – OCCF Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Committee.

Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Scholars also join the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects them with resources and opportunities to lead on campus and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI).

"The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is what grants me the perfect opportunity to pursue my dreams. I am grateful to be granted this opportunity from the Community Foundation, and I promise I will not take it for granted. Not only will this make college more affordable for me, but it will also make it easier for me to give back to the community I've grown up in," shared Dustin Jackson, Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.

In nominating Owen County's Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, the Committee considered eligibility, academics, leadership and accomplishments. After narrowing the field of applicants, nominees were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), the statewide administrator of the program, for final selection.

"This year's scholarship applicants brought exceptional talent, dedication and heart to the process. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship requires students to demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, community involvement and strong communication skills, and this year's candidates rose to the challenge. Each student who applied showed impressive potential and a genuine commitment to making a difference, embodying the qualities that strengthen our community and inspire the next generation," expressed Janet Rummel, President & CEO of the Owen County Community Foundation.

Since its inception in 1997–98, Lilly Endowment has supported this program with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million, benefiting over 5,400 Indiana students. The program's primary purposes are to raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana, to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations play, and to encourage and support Lilly Scholars' engagement with Indiana leaders to improve quality of life statewide.

About Owen County Community Foundation:

The Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is a public charity founded in 1994 as a resource to connect caring individuals with causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. Since its founding, the OCCF has been able to grant more than $12.3 million to local students, area nonprofits and charitable organizations in our community. The OCCF is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of Owen County, now and for generations to come. For more information on the scholarships awarded or how to begin your own philanthropic journey, please visit owencountycf.org, call 812-829-1725 or stop by our office located on the Courthouse Square at 60 E Market Street in Spencer.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.:

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment supports community development, education and religion, with a special commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana.

About Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI):

Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for Indiana's 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana's highest four-year graduation rates and produce 30 percent of Indiana's bachelor's degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.

Free tax service volunteers needed

Each year, the Owen County Free Community Tax Service helps residents prepare and file their taxes at no cost, putting critical dollars back into the hands of individuals and families who need it most. This year, additional volunteers are urgently needed to keep the program operating at full capacity.

Owen County typically has three certified tax preparers and three intake specialists, but due to health issues, the service is currently down to just two tax preparers and one intake specialist. If organizers are unable to fill these volunteer roles, they will unfortunately need to reduce the number of clients they can serve.

How You Can Help

Intake Specialists (No Tax Preparation Required!): Intake Specialists help welcome clients, collect information and assist with paperwork. You do not prepare taxes, and this role is a great, easy way to support an important community service.

Certified Tax Preparers: If you have tax preparation experience or certification, your skills are especially needed.

Volunteers can serve one to three shifts per week, depending on availability.

Program Details

Location: Owen County Public Library
Season: February through mid-April

Available Shifts: Tuesdays, 1 to 4 p.m.; Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to noon; Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Learn more and sign up here: tinyurl.com/TaxVolunteerInfo.

EPA plans Jan. 13 open house

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host an open house Tuesday, Jan. 13 to discuss your questions and concerns about the ongoing investigations at the Franklin Street Groundwater site. EPA will also share details about current and upcoming activities in Spencer.

The open house will take place at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St. in Spencer. If you have questions or need special accommodations, contact Ruth Muhtsun, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at 312-886-6595, or email muhtsun.ruth@epa.gov.

For more information, visit epa.gov/superfund/franklinstreetgroundwater.com.

First Legislative Breakfast is Jan. 24

The Owen County Chamber of Commerce's first legislative breakfast of the 2026 calendar year is slated for Saturday, Jan. 24 beginning at 7:30 a.m. This event is sponsored by the BBP Water Corp. and will be held at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship, 338 S.R. 43S, Spencer.

These 90-minute events are meant to serve as a public forum where participants can learn about legislators' key issues, ask questions and discuss issues that are important to you and your business.

A second legislative breakfast event will take place Saturday, Feb. 28 at the same location, also beginning at 7:30 a.m. This event is sponsored by South Central Indiana REMC.

These legislative breakfasts are in no way intended to reflect an endorsement for, or opposition to, any candidate or political party.

Hunter Education course is Jan. 31

A one-day Indiana Hunter Education course is being offered in the new year. The instructional session will be held in the gymnasium at Patricksburg Elementary School, 9883 S.R. 246, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Indiana Hunter Education courses provide instruction in the areas of safe firearm use and handling while hunting, as well as in the home, hunter ethics and responsibility, game identification and conservation management.

State law requires all hunters born on or after Dec. 31, 1986 to complete hunter education certification before purchasing a hunting license in Indiana.

Hunter Education classes are offered by knowledgeable volunteer instructors and Indiana Conservation Officers. To be certified, participants must attend the entire class including all sessions.

Attendees under 11 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at every session. Additionally, at the first session, those under 18 years of age are required to provide the instructor with a signed, completed liability release form.

The release form, available at the online link below, must include the parent or guardian's signature.

For more information or to register for the course, visit register-ed.com/events/register/237252.

Owen County SWCD joins STAR

The Owen County Soil and Water District (SWCD) recently became an affiliate of Saving Tomorrow's Agriculture Resources (STAR), a national non-profit organization established to develop and expand conservation practice evaluation, implementation and valuation.

The STAR framework inspires, guides and standardizes conservation practice adoption and implementation across a variety of agricultural production systems at scale through state level STAR affiliates. Designed and led by producers, the STAR Tool utilizes science and experience to target local solutions for local natural resource concerns and to support farmers on their conservation journey.

Learn more about this program online at starconservation.org or contact the Owen County SWCD at 812-829-2605.

Owen County sees flu uptick

The Owen County Health Department has issued a public health advisory concerning increased flu activity in the county. The department has seen an increase in influenza (flu) cases.

Flu is a contagious respiratory illness that can cause mild to severe symptoms and may lead to serious complications, especially for young children, older adults, pregnant individuals and those with chronic medical conditions.

Common symptoms include fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches and headaches, fatigue, and nausea or vomiting (which is more common in children).

To reduce the spread of the flu, it is recommended to do the following: Get your flu vaccine if you have not already done so; wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow; avoid close contact with people who are sick; stay home if you are ill until at least 24 hours after fever has resolved; clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces; and avoid touching your face, especially eyes, nose and mouth.

For flu vaccination information, prevention tips or updates on local flu activity, contact the Owen County Health Department.

ON introduces walk-in office hours

The Owen News is excited to offer walk-in office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Jan. 6 as a way to stay connected and accessible to the community we serve.

These open hours are a chance for readers, advertisers, sources and neighbors to stop by without an appointment.

The hours will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and from 1:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays. Any changes or cancellations to the hours due to inclement weather, illness or news coverage needs will be posted to our Facebook page.

"We believe strong local journalism starts with listening. Walk-in office hours are one more way we're creating space for conversation, transparency and trust," Executive Editor Nicole DeCriscio said. "Come say hello, share what's happening in your corner of sweet Owen County or learn more about how The Owen News works."

A 56-year-old Spencer man, out on bond awaiting trial in a separate case related to allegations of child sexual abuse, is facing new charges of dissemination of matter harmful to a minor and sexual battery, both level six felonies.

Russell William Bandy was arrested and preliminarily charged on Dec. 6, 2025 following an investigation conducted by Indiana State Police Detective Riley Nungester.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Detective Nungester was contacted by the Owen County Department of Child Services (DCS) on Nov. 3 to request a forensic interview between the detective and a female juvenile, which took place four days later at Susie's Place, a child advocacy center in nearby Bloomington. During the interview the juvenile disclosed how Bandy had sexually abused her, the affidavit indicates, and was grooming her. She indicated Bandy had touched her and made her feel uncomfortable. The juvenile also alleged her cousin, also a female juvenile, had experienced similar incidents with Bandy but what he had done to her was "far worse." She stated that Bandy was "found guilty on that charge for touching her cousin, and his wife bonded him out of jail."

The female juvenile went on to describe the alleged incidents when she felt uncomfortable around Bandy, which included him hugging her and rubbing her back up and down. She thought of these incidents as "grooming."

She also described another incident after Bandy had picked her up from school and she was riding in a car with him. The female juvenile reported Bandy again inappropriately touched her, allegedly placing his hand on her thigh, just above her knee.

Another incident described by the female juvenile allegedly occurred the previous year and again involved an inappropriate touch. On this occasion she described him as being drunk, according to the affidavit, and that she could tell because "she could smell it on his breath."

The final incident described by the female juvenile involved Bandy encouraging her to view an adult magazine he was looking at. She says she declined multiple times despite Bandy's repeated requests for her to view the material. She said what she ultimately saw in the magazine, according to the affidavit, was "three naked ladies."

The affidavit goes on to outline how Detective Nungester contacted Bandy by phone on Nov. 7 to advise him that he was working a criminal investigation regarding a sexual allegation and matter harmful to a minor. During their conversation, Bandy allegedly asked the detective, "how many times am I going to get arrested for this," which the officer believed was in reference to a previous case.

Bandy has secured the legal services of criminal defense attorney Ashley Fleetwood of Gibson Law Office in Bloomington, while the State is represented by Owen County Prosecutor Benjamin Kim.

A pretrial conference in the case is set for Jan. 22 at 10:30 a.m. in the Owen County Circuit Court I. A final pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 8, also at 10:30 a.m., followed by a jury trial, to be presided over by Judge Don VanDermoere, on June 16 beginning at 9 a.m.

At the time of his arrest, Bandy was out on bond in the amount of $5,000 cash, surety, or 10-percent alternative stemming from an earlier Oct. 2025 charge of invasion of privacy. That case is slated for a final pretrial conference on April 10 and a jury trial set to begin on May 19.

He also faces similar felony charges of child molesting – fondling or touching a child under the age of 14, and sexual misconduct with a minor in a case opened Jun. 25, 2025 in Owen Circuit Court. Bandy's bond in that case was later revoked on Nov. 13, and he was ordered to report to Owen County Probation where he was placed on Level 4 GPS monitoring. A final pretrial conference in that case is set for April 10, followed by a jury trial on May 19.

No contact orders have been issued by the court related to all three cases.

Prosecutor Kim has issued a reminder that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Judith "Judi" Epp did not wait for community to find her. Instead, she built it steadily, visibly and with a kind of courage that made others feel less alone.

Epp, one of the founding board members of Spencer Pride and a beloved community member, passed away at the end of November.

The Spencer Pride commUnity center, one of the many tangible reminders of Epp's legacy was overflowing with more than 200 individuals attending a celebration of life for Epp last month.

And per her final wishes and ever true to her nature of building for the future, the celebration of life also served as a fundraiser for the organization she helped create. She had it all planned, leaving her family to just execute the plan.

"She wanted Truman and Lucie to do the music. She wanted Jonathan to speak, and she knew that I couldn't," Jacob Balash said.

Jonathan Balash's remarks are recorded and posted to the Spencer Pride Facebook Page.

Balash and his husband, Jonathan, met Epp and her late first wife Beverly Camden in 2007. Balash heard about Epp's efforts to start a PFLAG in Owen County on BloomingOUT radio.

"It wasn't long and we realized that it wasn't adequate," he said. "We realized that straight people didn't want to talk to gay people about their gay kid. It needed to be a straight person talking to a straight person about their gay kid. So we were like, we do think this is a very important organization that we've created, but it needs to be more focused towards queer people, and so then we created Spencer Pride."

But Epp wasn't just a co-founder of Spencer Pride with Balash.

"Our relationship with Judi just sort of evolved. We found each other, and then we created pride, and then that relationship got deeper," he said. "It's interesting how we started out as just co-creaters, like we're going to do this thing because we're passionate about this, and then she just became family."

One of those significant deeper moments came when the Balash family considered expanding by having their son Truman.

"She approached us when Truman was in the oven and said, 'I've been Aunt Judi to lots of children, and that's great. And if there's any way, would you consider me being Grandma Judi to Truman?' I was taken aback by that because it's so sweet," Balash said. "I think titles are important, and I said, 'So if you did it, it could never go back. You will always be Grandma Judi no matter what.'"

And the permanency of such a title was never an issue for Epp.

"She's always been Grandma Judi to Truman, forever," Balash said.

Eventually, Epp's first wife Beverly passed away. The couple had been together for 40 years and married for 10 of those years once gay marriage became legal.

Epp then joined an online spousal grief support group and met Lucie Mathieu, whom she later married.

Approximately five years ago, Epp asked Balash to make her legally Truman's grandmother by allowing her to adopt Balash as her son. Though when Balash thinks about their relationship, Epp became family long before she legally adopted him as an adult.

"She's been grandma-mother for forever," he said. "I don't care about legal... What love tells you is real is real."

Epp and Balash shared tea and time together every Thursday and worked with one another on several projects and fundraisers for Spencer Pride throughout the years.

One of those projects was completed this year: installing an elevator to provide access to the upstairs of the Spencer Pride commUnity center.

While they all agreed accessibility was important, Balash thought the project would be toward the end of the list of renovations to the building that Spencer Pride owns, especially with a $200,000 price tag.

Epp insisted that it be moved up the priority list and secured a donation to fund the project.

"That was done this year. She rode in that elevator," Balash said. "I knew we would get it eventually, I just did not think it was going to be this year. That is all her."

In part of the area remaining to be renovated, the space will have a board room named in Epp's honor adorned with a 30-year-old African Violet that belonged to her.

"The nice thing is she has left such a legacy, and so many people that adore her and then are going to continue this mission," Balash said.

He said they wanted to raise more at Epp's celebration of life than they did for her 70th birthday, which they have done, though donations will be collected through the Owen County Community Foundation until the end of January. The extended time allows for donations to be made in honor of Epp's birthday month, as she was born on New Year's Day.

In addition, there will also be a blood drive in Epp's honor.

"When they were trying to save her, they used 20 units of blood, which was terrible. So we're doing a blood drive, and we're going to do 21 units of blood, at least, is the goal to try to give back to the community," Balash said.

He spoke about how important giving to others was to Epp who was also an organ and tissue donor. Portions of her skin was donated to help five breast cancer survivors.

"She was always focused on helping people and doing the best she could for the community," Balash said. "We want to continue her legacy...It's a lasting legacy that she has helped shape this community and make it what it is today just by being who she is, which I think is amazing. She realized early on that she was going to make life happen. She wasn't going to be the victim of life. She was going to take this and do the best she could."

He pointed to other aspects of who Epp was.

"She was a lesbian, a feminist, a career woman, when none of those things were acceptable," he said, adding that she did it anyway.

Balash also said she didn't take life for granted.

"She knew that she lived a fortunate life," he said. "She lived it to her fullest. So, as much as I wish she was still here, I think it's a treasure that she realized that she had a nice life. She was going to enjoy it. She was going to make the world a better place as much as she could."

He continued.

"Life didn't happen to Judi; Judi happened to life because she didn't just lay down and take anything," he said.

Epp was on what she called her decade of adventure, traveling around the world with her wife Lucie. The couple was scheduled to leave for a trip to the Galapagos Islands the day after she passed.

Balash spoke about Epp's belief in being authentic, bold, brave, unafraid of being visible.

"That's why Judi was so miraculous, and it was great that she was of a different generation than we were, and that she could show you, even a long time ago, you can live your truth, you can be who you are," he said.

In addition to filling the Spencer Pride commUnity center, several community members expressed their condolences and memories of Epp on social media. Balash said Epp had a way of taking care of and supporting others, knowing what they needed and providing it.

Former Spencer Police Chief posted "Glad I got the chance to hug you one more time. Going to miss that smile," along with photo from his retirement just a few months prior to Epp's passing.

Donald Bingham posted, "Tremendous loss not just for Pride but for the whole community. No, for all who work for a better world."

And Owen Valley Winery Owner Anthony Leaderbrand posted a tribute following Epp's celebration of life. "Today I was able to sit in a room and look upon the people who you touched. I listened to them speak of strength, power, intelligence, organization, resilience, dedication," he wrote. "I love you, and will never forget our conversations, and I will always appreciate your graceful spirit delivered with that beautiful smile challenging me to be a better person. You set the bar high, and walked the walk."

It was a sentiment that Balash shared in his own post, which he said was everything he wanted to be able to say at Epp's celebration of life but was unable to do so.

"When I got frustrated with people, she'd remind me that many folks are doing the best they can, and not everyone is built the way we are. She taught me to give grace," a portion of the post reads. "I'll continue working to make our community the best it can be --- creating the kind of love and acceptance she fought for and lived by."

Donations can be made online, by mail or in person to the OCCF with the memo Spencer Pride and Epp's name.

The pending murder trial for Quentin Lamont Porter, Jr., accused of the July 2024 shooting death of 23-year-old Malik Darea Sims, is scheduled to begin later this month.

Although the trial was originally set to get underway on Jan. 21, 2025, the trial was first delayed until May 12 of last year. On May 5, however, a hearing was held in the Owen County Circuit Court I on a motion for continuance filed by the defense. Arguments from both sides were heard, with the court ultimately resetting the start date to July 21.

A series of subpoenas/summons were filed on July 9 and July 10 in preparation for the Aug. 4 start date, however, the trial start was again cancelled on and rescheduled for Jan. 20, 2026 beginning at 9 a.m. in Owen County Circuit Court I.

Porter remains in custody without bond. The court has allotted eight days for the trial, excluding Saturday and Sunday.

More in-depth coverage of the case was published in the August 2024 issue of The Owen News. The full article and coverage of each of the delays can be accessed on our website.

George L. Allison, 93, of Spencer, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at the Owen Valley Health Campus in Spencer.

George was born on December 6, 1932 in Robinson, Illinois to George R. Allison and Edith (Lindley) Allison. George graduated from Robinson High School in Illinois. He proudly served his country in the United States Army, earning the rank of Sergeant. On March 7, 1954, he married the love of his life, Jetta L. (York) Allison and they were married for 64 wonderful years. George graduated from Eastern Illinois University and then from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking. George retired from Owen County State Bank in Spencer, Indiana as President/CEO, where he worked from 1963 until 1997. He also served on the Owen County State Bank Board of Directors, serving as Chairman of the Board for many years. In all, he worked at Owen County State Bank for 57 years. He was the Chairman of the Indiana Bankers Association in 1996-1997. George received the IBA Leaders in Banking Excellence Award in 2020. He was also a member of the IBA 40 Year Club. He received the Sagamore of the Wabash in 1997.

George loved his community and serving others. He was instrumental in the start-up of the Owen County Family YMCA and was a Founding Director of the Owen County Community Foundation. He served on the Spencer-Owen Chamber of Commerce for 35 years, serving as President for two years. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Bloomington Hospital for many years, where he served on several committees and acted as Treasurer. George also had a "special red suit," paired with a snowy white beard, that allowed him to bring joy to many youngsters in Owen County during the holidays. George loved the Lord and attended the Spencer United Methodist Church for many years and also enjoyed going to the Spencer Christian Church.

By far, his greatest joy was his family. George is survived by his daughters, Julia (Michael) Donham and Jennifer Dunning; grandchildren, Amber (Kenny-Ray) Augustus, Allison (Josh) Totten, Andrew Donham, and Alexandra Donham; great-grandchildren, Xavier Dunning, Gabi-Rae Augustus, Graham Totten; three nieces; and many extended family members and friends.

George was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Jetta, granddaughter, Ashley Dunning, brother, William Heber and sister-in-law, Alberta Heber.

Funeral services were held December 20, 2025 at West & Parrish & Pedigo Funeral Home in Spencer. Dr. Diane Wells and Dr. Allan Lewis officiated. Burial followed in Chambersville Cemetery in Spencer.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in George's memory to the Allison Family Fund at the Owen County Community Foundation.

EDITOR'S NOTE CORRECTION: Richard Lorenz is quoted in this article as working for BBP Water Corp. While the quote was reported accurately as stated during the meeting, a board member of BBP Water Corp. has since clarified that Lorenz does not work for the corporation.

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Concerns welled up from residents who filled the room to speak against a conditional use transfer considered by the Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) until the new year.

The request was required as part of a change of ownership for a commercial water pumping enterprise on Pottersville Road.

The matter was ultimately tabled.

BZA President Sandra Calvert and members Beth Wood, Chad VanRyn and Alfio Saitta were all present at the meeting. Member Corbin Abrell was not in attendance at the Dec. 22 meeting.

The application came from BlueTriton Brands.

In 2021, One Rock Capital Partners and Metropoulos & Co. purchased Nestlé Waters North America and formed BlueTriton Brands. The company is in the process of merging with Primo Water to create Primo Water Brands. The company is responsible for bottled water brands such as Poland Spring, Arrowhead, Deer Park, Ice Mountain, Primo Water, Saratoga, Canadian Springs, Crystal Springs, Sierra Springs, Pure Life and Splash, among others.

BlueTriton was represented by local attorney Richard Lorenz.

"The application is for a conditional use, and it's because of the fact that there would be a change of ownership in this particular case. In 2017, this board, members here and other predecessors, had the opportunity to hear the application at that time, and they approved the conditional use at that time for Hydrology, and that was for essentially the extraction and distribution of water from the wells on that property and all," Lorenz said, adding that he reviewed the transcript from 2017 as well as the last BZA meeting. "I think many of the concerns are something I would call in Owen County the fear of change and all; that something is going to happen that is going to do harm or injury to someone or something. I don't think those things are present in this case. Some of the concerns about the amount of water being removed are totally limited by the voluntary agreement by the entity to keep the extraction at 50,000 gallons per day and all. Even the threshold for the state DNR is at 100,000, so you're half of that quantity."

Lorenz said that the sale and transfer is time sensitive, needing to be finished by the end of 2025.

He said they considered applying to just rezone the property.

"The fact of the matter is the application for conditional use actually gives the BZA more authority than it really would have over the rezone. The rezone would open it to any commercial enterprise thereafter without having to even come to the board except for the site plan and all. So you really have a willingness on the part of the applicant to limit its operations," Lorenz said.

Lorenz said that he spoke with the county highway department to ensure that the proper turnaround changes were made.

He also encouraged the BZA to consider the concerns brought forward in 2017 moot for this application.

"That's not before this board at the present time. Whatever those concerns were, I would suggest to you that they're substantively incorrect and legally incorrect. But the fact of the matter is the board has previously authorized this particular use, and it continues in use today and will tomorrow. That's not going to change. So those particular arguments are out of bounds for this particular matter," Lorenz said.

He added that a requirement to give back to the community was one thing that was discussed.

"I would like to encourage the board to think very pragmatically about what's happening here. You have a very significant buyer here who would be coming into our community much like Boston Scientific and Cook Urological that will automatically by its own initiatives contribute to the community. The current owners have already set up accounts with the community foundation in order for them to contribute to the community," he said. "It's also very dicey to think in terms of what do I have to give back to the community in order to get a zoning variance of any nature. It sounds like a quid-pro-quo that you've got to be very careful about in terms of how it appears to be. It's not a matter where you go in and buy a zoning application."

He said that the board has a standard for findings for the applications.

"It's not a matter where we come in and have an overall opinion that somehow this is not a good thing. We don't like water of this nature, or we don't like this particular jewelry store or that number of gas stations. That's not what we're doing in this particular proceeding or in actually any BZA matter. What you're trying to do is determine whether the applicant has met the criteria for the application," Lorenz said.

He said that it is "going to be particularly helpful to the community at large," citing that every convenience store in the county carries the water, with it coming back to the community, which is drinking it.

"We understand why people would be fearful that something would happen to their wells or whatever, but remember on the well on that individual property is privately owned and is able to be used. It is not a community public resources, and there are arguments that the State of Indiana has said we, state of Indiana, will control how much is take from the ground and under what circumstances that the aquifers are in the jurisdiction of the state and not of the county," Lorenz said.

Arlene Vincent, Senior Natural Resource Manager at Primo Brands, spoke next saying that they submitted letters and testimonials from other communities in which the company operates in. She also cited examples of the company's emergency disaster response in Indiana and Kentucky in which the company sent water to the impacted area, saying the company has a long track record of doing so.

The matter was then opened for public comment, all of which was against the conditional use.

One of the comments came from Tom Parrish who resides next to the site.

"As Mr. Lorenz indicated, there's a lot of things that Blue Triton's doing, and you know, all I'm hearing is they're taking resources from Owen County. They're extracting the water, sending it to Greenwood," he said. "So basically at this point, you know, as I stand, I'm still opposed to this. I don't like large corporations coming into Owen County and taking the finite resources from our tax base."

Jacob Balash also spoke.

"I would be against pumping any more of the water out. I just think this is a finite resource, and this is just exiting our county and there's only so much of it. So then we have wear and tear on our roads which is not wonderful and then the depletion of water," he said. "I would rather this not happen at all, and I'd love for it to just be stopped."

The potential for weight in excess of the limits for county roads and bridges came up several times. The company hauls the water in 6,000 gallon tanker trucks, which weigh between 20,000 and 35,000 pounds or 10 to 17.5 tons when empty, which exceeds the 16,000 or 8 ton limit that a member of the public claimed the county has on Pottersville Road. Water weighs 8.34 pounds per gallon, meaning 6,000 gallons of water along weighs 50,040 pounds or just more than 25 tons. Combined, the weight of the tanker truck and the water could be between 70,000 pounds or 35 tons and 85,000 pounds or 42.5 tons.

Shea Finnegan was next to speak and asked questions.

"I just have questions I guess, and I don't feel like we're getting 100 percent transparency," Finnegan said. "As far as how is this benefitting out community, I'm still not clear in what way this is benefitting our community. What I do know is yes, there are tanker trucks on Pottersville Road, which just by the sheer weight and frequency of use destroys the road over time. And that is a county concern because that's who will be responsible for repairing the road."

Finnegan also cited concerns over 50,000 gallons per day being drawn.

"The average household uses about 300 gallons a day, conservative estimate. And in that way, that would be 166 households per day that they're taking that much water out of our aquifer. It's a finite resource," Finnegan said. "I have significant concerns, and yeah we may be drinking the same water that comes out of it at the local store. I don't want to have to pay for water. I have water, you know? There's a well at my house. Water comes out of the faucet. That's the kind of water I want. I don't want purified water coming out of a plastic bottle that I then have to dispose of responsibly."

Finnegan also asked who monitors how much is taken out daily, who enforces that limit and who monitors the reports which are generated by the company without outside verification.

John Tucker was the next to speak.

"I was here at the 2017 meeting. Everything that was said has been violated. Everything that was said is wrong," he said, adding that in that meeting, the owner allegedly said they would take 6,000 to 12,000 gallons per month. "That has been violated big time, and they just want to keep continuing to violate. Maybe the board wouldn't have approved it. Maybe us neighbors would have complained strongly, more strongly against it had we know what was actually coming. What we were told and what has become is absolutely two different things. We feel lied to period. I feel like what was said meant nothing."

This was later called into question.

Tucker said that in the 2017 meeting, the stated use was allegedly for geological surveys to combine the water with dye to see where the water goes when it comes to holes and sink holes.

"He needed clean water for that. That was the original variance. That's what the water was for. Nothing was said about selling that water. Nothing was said about putting it in water bottles. None of that stuff was said," he said.

Wood said that the recorded conditional use from 2017 was approved for up to 50,000 gallons per day.

Jill Hudson raised concern about the self-reporting nature of the amount of water that is being drawn from the well.

In 2021, regulators from the California Water Resources Control Board found that Nestlé Waters North America was taking tens of millions of gallons yearly when their limited valid rights allowed approximately 8.5 million gallons per year in San Bernardino in addition to operating with expired permits. Controversies surrounding inadequate permits, environmental harm and community opposition also took place in Michigan, Maine and Canada.

"I have a really big problem with that. I feel like there should be better controls over that," she said. "I mean, if you tell me to self-report, I'll tell you how many pieces of candy I ate. You know, you can't trust me; I like candy."

Hudson pointed to the ties to Nestlé Waters North America.

"It's wrong on so many levels. I'm not afraid of change. I am afraid as a person who lives in Owen County. I am afraid of a $6 billion company coming in here and pushing their way around," she said.

Kevin Wright spoke, asking about an environmental impact study.

Wood said that there was a brief water study that was submitted.

"It seemed like from the study they couldn't really tell us what the impact would be. To me, I feel like there needs to be more studies that need to be done then if we're not exactly sure what the impact would be. They're kind of saying, 'Well, trust us and maybe in the future we could give you more information.' I'd like to have that information before there's a variance granted," Wright said. "I know they're on a timeline. They've got to have their stuff turned in by the end of the year, but Owen County has a timeline too. And I care a lot more about our natural resources than I do about a big company's bottom line."

It was then that Lorenz spoke to the issues that were raised, including that with the work being done by the highway department as part of a normal permitting process for the turnarounds and what the resolution from 2017 says.

"The other thing that's involved here is there's an obvious concern about whether or not the aquifer and the spring are adequate and all," he said. "I work for the Bean Blossom Patrick Water Corporation, which takes millions of gallons out of the aquifer yearly, and I know from my conversations with the DNR and from our resource people and IDEM that we have one of the largest aquifers in the state in our locale and out here. It's one of our major assets. Now that's not to say that it couldn't ever go dry. That's not the point. The point is that it is adequate now for all the resources that are drawn upon it and all and the DNR is the third arty involved here who is monitoring it, and you have the reports that are voluntarily provided by the entity, and you'll see that there are daily totals with in the last month or so where it's only 6,000 to 12,000 gallons. It's not 50,000 gallons a day. It's a limit on that and all."

He also addressed the self reporting.

"There's a meter that tells you how many gallons you're drawing out per day. That is the number that's going on there, unless you're willing to believe that everybody is just fraudulently filing these records every day and trust no one about anything, then you're in that ball game," Lorenz said.

He then addressed the matter of it being a large corporation.

"Sum total is we recognize the right for these people to raise this questions and make comment about the application, but I think it comes down to the practical reality. This has been a process that's been going on for eight years. The mergers of BlueTriton and its subsidiaries, parents and other mergers and all is beyond the scope of the BZA and beyond frankly my comprehension. These are just giant operations that are beyond the scope of thing and all. And I can't take the position that there is somehow some horrible awful thing about big corporations that they are automatically against community interest. I don't think that's true," he said. "I understand the fear, but it is untruthful in this matter and unfounded."

Vincent then spoke on the concerns. She said that they are not a foreign company as was alleged, that they are incorporated in Delaware and have two different headquarters, one for BlueTriton in Stanford, Connecticut and one for Primo Brands in Tampa, Florida.

"Before we even decide to purchase water from the site, which we've been doing again for over a year, we did extensive studies on that," Vincent said.

"The spring nature and purpose of this water use currently would not require this level of analysis," she read from the report.

The state of Indiana regulates through the Indiana Department of Natural resources (DNR) any facility that draw more than 100,000 gallons of water daily, regardless of if it is from ground or surface sources. Registration is required for these facilities. Anything below that threshold is not required to be registered.

"If there was this big increase, which is not what we're asking. We're asking for a name change. The site has been operation at the 50,000 gallon condition. There's been no complaints of any wells being impacted. I understand the concern, that the people are concerned about the future, but all we're asking for is what conditions have been approved and has been operating for the site as it has been operating," Vincent said.

It was also mentioned that the DNR has a program that will monitor residential wells.

"One last comment about roads. It's abundantly clear that roads in Owen County are not in good repair. I'd be happy to testify about that. But we are where we are, and truck traffic, particularly logging trucks, water trucks, the various semis that we have, all of the contribute to the problem with the roadways that we have. I think this board or the county in general would be hard pressed to stop all of the road traffic on trucks that might be exceeding the capacity of Owen County's roads. In fact, Owen County is in violation of state regulations on what its road capacity should be," Lorenz said.

The discussion, which included public comment and comments from the applicants, lasted nearly two and a half hours, before a brief recess was taken.

The newest BZA member, Saitta, was the first to speak on the matter.

"I think we've had a number of clearly outlined concerns by the community. You all have done your best to address those. I think the primary issue that's overriding this whole conversation is the speed at which you would like to conduct this transaction, which is something that's outside of the scope of [the BZA]. Those are not our concerns. We have other concerns," Saitta said, adding that the report from The Indiana Geological and Water Survey (IGWS) did not alleviate the concerns.

"At this time, we don't have the information that we need to be able to in good faith say that the request that you are submitting in fact meets the five criteria that we have to satisfy to effectively approve this variance, the ongoing variance. I think that's where we're kind of odds in terms of trying to both satisfy the public concerns and also address the application in the timely fashion that you all have requested," Saitta said.

Wood said she would like to have additional research and for Abrell who was not present at the meeting to be involved, as Abrell is also on the soil and water board.

"I think we can find a happy medium, and I'm sorry we can't make the time constraint. I'm hoping that you can work that out, but if we put certain stipulations on this, I don't see why we would not be able to reasonably make everybody happy," she said.

She moved to table the matter until there was further research.

One of the applicants said they would have to reassess. It was asked why that was the conclusion.

"The standards for the variance very clearly says the approval will not be injurious to the public health, safety and morals and general welfare of the community. The use and value of the areas adjacent to the property included in the variance will not be affected in a substantial adverse manner. So I mean those are just the first two," Saitta said. "I think you all agreed that it made sense to have an outside party look at the site and provide some sort of assurance that theses… we're not experts on water, right? So we had the agreement to have IGWS look at it. They came back with a report that is less than, obviously under very severe restraints, that is less than endorsing of what you all are doing."

Saitta continued, "This is not a personal thing. It's just we're asked to go up or down on something that we're not experts on. That's what came back from the third party, and as of right now with the information that we have in front of us, I don't want to speak for my fellow board members, but we just don't have… we all went out to your site. I can say that you all seem like super reasonable people. There was nothing nefarious going on there. It seemed like a very easy thing to assess in person, but we have a standard that we have to rise to. As of right now, we don't have what we need. At least I don't feel like I have enough to support your application."

VanRyn was the next to speak.

"My opinion is this pretty easily could be a problem for the neighbors, which is something that we have to consider. They're hauling twice the amount the weight at least, maybe even more than that, on our roads, which is not good for anybody in Owen County. What else do you need? To me, it's pretty clear this needs to be voted against, no. That's my opinion. I don't think we need to table. I don't think we need to drag it out. It needs to be done. They're still going to continue doing it. There's just not going to be BlueTriton doing it," VanRyn said.

Wood's motion died for a lack of a second.

VanRyn moved to deny the conditional use application. The motion was seconded by Saitta.

"I don't think we need to drag it out another month. I mean, it's not going to stop what's going on now, but it keeps it from being transferred to a new owner," VanRyn said.

Calvert also indicated that she would like to have Abrell's input and that she was not ready to approve it.

"I mean denying this application does not prohibit it them from reapplying with other materials and support or giving us time to consult with IGWS," Saitta said.

VanRyn and Saitta voted in favor of denying it, while Wood and Calvert voted against the denial, saying they would prefer to table it.

The motion did not pass because it did not have a majority.

Wood once again made a motion to table the matter and gather more information. This time, VanRyn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously 4-0.

In 2019, all 11 Indiana Uplands counties came together through the Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) Ready Communities initiative to develop and implement projects and programs that build quality of place, grow regional capacity for workforce development and attraction and improve attributes and amenities that make the Indiana Uplands a great place to live, work and play.

When the Ready Communities initiative launched initially, each county assembled a Quality of Place and Workforce Attraction Committee (QPAT) made up of stakeholders from their county. These teams were charged with developing a prioritized plan that identified key areas of focus as well as projects and programs aligned with the plan.

With plans completed, counties across the region were equipped to pursue resources to activate their plans. For example, ROI offered three rounds of quality of place grants. Owen County received funds for the South Main Street portion of the MYPath Trail System and improved sidewalks, planted trees, and installed streetlights, benches and signage. Communities also used their Quality of Place and Workforce Attraction plans to inform applications for READI 1.0 and 2.0 funding. County plans can be found on the ROI website.

Six years later, Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) has provided grant funding for county teams to update our Quality of Place and Workforce Attraction plans. Your participation in this short survey will shape the direction of Owen County's plan. To take the survey, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G3SMZQZ

While our communities and schools are facing challenges, the update of these plans will allow each county to identify priorities and target strategies for sustaining regional momentum. With plans in hand, counties and communities will be better equipped to maintain momentum, seek resources and be ready when opportunities present themselves at the regional, state and national levels.

For more than a century, Owen County 4-H has stood as a cornerstone of youth development, leadership and community engagement. Rooted in the national 4-H movement that began in the early 1900s, Owen County's program has grown from modest beginnings into a vibrant organization that continues to shape the lives of local youth.

The 4-H movement started as a way to teach rural youth practical skills in agriculture and home economics, while fostering character and responsibility. Indiana was among the early adopters, and Owen County quickly embraced the program. By the 1920s, local clubs were forming under the guidance of the Purdue Extension Service, which remains the backbone of 4-H programming today.

Early Owen County 4-H clubs focused on hands-on learning through projects such as crop production, livestock care and sewing. These activities were more than hobbies—they were essential life skills for families who relied on farming and homemaking. Club meetings often took place in schoolhouses or community halls, where young members pledged their "Head, Heart, Hands and Health" to better themselves and their communities.

As decades passed, Owen County 4-H evolved to meet changing times. The mid-20th century saw an expansion of project areas beyond agriculture, introducing topics like photography, woodworking and public speaking. The annual Owen County Fair became a highlight for members, offering a chance to showcase their hard work and compete for ribbons. For many families, the fair was—and still is—a cherished tradition that brings the community together.

Leadership development has always been at the heart of 4-H. Owen County youth have participated in state and national conferences, served as Junior Leaders, and taken on roles that prepare them for future careers. Alumni often credit their 4-H experience with teaching them confidence, responsibility and teamwork—skills that last a lifetime.

Today, Owen County 4-H serves hundreds of youth from kindergarten through 12th-grade. Mini 4-H introduces younger children to the program with fun, age-appropriate activities, while older members tackle projects ranging from robotics and environmental science to creative arts and animal husbandry. Programs like "Minds in Motion" reflect 4-H's commitment to innovation, engaging youth in STEM education and critical thinking.

The organization's impact extends beyond individual members. Owen County 4-H fosters community pride, volunteerism and family involvement. Generations of residents have participated, creating a legacy that ties the past to the present. As agriculture and technology continue to change, 4-H remains a constant—a place where young people learn by doing and grow into leaders.

As Owen County 4-H looks to the future, its mission remains clear: to empower youth with skills, knowledge and values that strengthen both individuals and communities. From its humble beginnings to its dynamic programs today, Owen County 4-H stands as a testament to the power of education, service and tradition.

December is here, and Owen County is officially wrapped in twinkly lights, hot-cocoa vibes and all the festive energy that makes this month so special.

As your Purdue Extension-Owen County Health & Human Sciences Educator, I'm here to share helpful tips and ideas all year long—especially when it comes to food, finances, health and family. And let's be honest… December is a month when we can all use a little extra support in those areas!

Of course, with all the excitement comes something else too: the temptation to splurge. Between gift shopping, special meals, holiday outings and those "just one more little thing" moments, it's easy for spending to snowball faster than a holiday to-do list on Dec. 23.

But here's the bright side—with a little planning and a sprinkle of creativity, you can enjoy everything this season offers without letting holiday spending pile up like snowdrifts.

1. Make a Holiday Spending Plan (Before the Sleigh Takes Off)

Before you start shopping, take a few minutes to write down: Who you need gifts for, special events or meals, travel or fuel costs, and "Extras" you know you love (shopping during Christmas at the Square… anyone?). Setting limits ahead of time helps you avoid those last-minute splurges.

2. Make Memories, Not Purchases

Kids and adults remember experiences far longer than store-bought items. Try: A backyard "winter wander" to look for animal tracks, a family game night with hot chocolate, driving around the community to look at holiday lights, or a cozy movie night with popcorn. Kids often remember the laughter—not the price tag.

3. Shop Smart, Shop Local

Supporting Owen County businesses is a gift in itself. Local shops often have unique items at affordable prices, plus shorter lines and friendlier faces. Set a "local shopping day" and stick to your list—you'll support the community and avoid overspending at big stores.

4. Give Gifts That Don't Come from a Store

Some of the most heartfelt gifts cost little to nothing: A jar of your favorite homemade cocoa mix, a family recipe passed down on a handwritten card, a "winter chore coupon book" for grandparents, or a framed photo or drawing. These gifts carry meaning, not price.

5. Plan Potluck-Style Gatherings

Food costs rise quickly in December. Instead of cooking everything yourself, invite family and friends to bring a dish. Not only does it cut down on spending—it also brings a wonderful variety of flavors that reflect our community.

6. Focus on Experiences Over Expenses

Set a family goal to choose one meaningful experience this month: A puzzle night, sledding at McCormick's Creek (weather permitting!), a holiday movie marathon, or story time with grandparents. When we shift focus to connection, the urge to splurge naturally fades.

December brings sparkle to Owen County—glowing lights, warm gatherings and memories waiting to be made. And the best part? You don't need to overspend to enjoy it all. With smart choices and a creative touch, your holidays can stay bright without breaking the bank.

Want to learn more about more exciting programs? Call the Purdue Extension–Owen County office at 812-829-5020. Looking to bring a program to your group? From food and health to family and finance, I've got you covered! Shoot me an email at lowder0@purdue.edu and let's make it happen.

And don't forget — you can always spot my upcoming programs in the Community Calendar section of this newspaper, on our Facebook page or our website extension.purdue.edu/county/owen/hhshome.html.

It's becoming harder to find quality deer processors. The good ones are so covered up in work, they can continue to raise prices, but the customers keep coming. I tried a new place this year and was charged 50 cents for every one-pound bag my ground meat was stuffed into. A lot of hunters can't afford or just don't want to pay $200 to have a deer processed. The alternative is an investment of time.

Here is a look at the tools you'll want for a basic at-home butcher shop.

Game Processing Knife Set

You're going to need more than one knife to properly butcher an animal. You're also going to need a meat saw. You need a skinning knife, a butcher knife and a boning knife. A skinning knife has a large round blade and dull point. A butcher knife has a large, heavy, sharp blade. A boning knife has a narrow blade and sharp point for slicing meat off the bone. A meat saw has a long, fine-tooth blade for cutting through meat and bone.

Electric Meat Slicer

When you go to the deli and ask for lunch meat, the person behind the counter slices it on a meat slicer. You want one of these machines in your home butcher shop. You can set the blade to cut different thicknesses. You can use a meat slicer to craft perfectly uniform loin steaks or cut hams into thin strips of steak. Smoke a couple of wild turkey breasts and slice them into lunchmeat.

Manual Meat Tenderizer and Jerky Slicer

Once you have sliced your steaks, you can run them through the tenderizer. Some people say venison is tough and gamey. Take big flat pieces of meat and run them through a tenderizer to produce perfectly sized jerky pieces ready to be seasoned then smoked or dehydrated. It doesn't take buying too many bags of gas station beef jerky to understand this economic benefit.

Dehydrator

Jerky is just dried meat. A dehydrator dries meat. First cure your meat, then place the strips on the tray and set the temperature and timer. Bigger is better but a four-tray dehydrator will get you started. An eight-tray or larger will make short work of jerky strips.

Grinder

After slicing steaks and backstraps, you're left with miscellaneous pieces you'll want to grind. Go over the carcass cutting off all meat you aren't saving as steaks or roasts and drop it in a meat lug. Use a grinder to turn these pieces into ground meat. Grinders come with plates to regulate thickness and tubes for injecting sausage casings. Grinders also allow you to mix beef or pork fat into your wild game. Meat needs to be cold when grinding.

Mixer

For mixing seasoning into ground meat before turning it into jerky or sausage, a meat mixer is the ticket. Not only does it make the task much easier on your forearms, but it also spreads the seasoning out uniformly. With a mixer like the 10- and 20-pound meat mixers allow you to season a lot of meat at once.

Sausage Stuffer

Once your ground meat is mixed with seasoning, use a sausage stuffer to fill casings. Casing comes in different sizes for summer sausage and snack sticks. Dump the mixed ground meat in the canister and attach the right sized tube. Hi Mountain Seasoning's Sausage Kits have everything you need.

Burger Press

Perfect burgers are formed with a burger press. A simple single burger press makes every patty uniform. Adjust the thickness to build whatever size burgers you desire. You need to separate burgers with a piece of wax paper. You've seen the stacks before with frozen burgers separated that way. You need to do the same. Vacuum seal or package your burgers in freezer paper.

Smoker

If you consider yourself a sportsman and don't already own a smoker, you need one. Smoked wild game roasts, loins, lunchmeat and especially sausage will get you through the year. Electric smokers make the job easier. I've used one for years that drops wood discs automatically.

Vacuum Sealer

Vacuum sealers package your game air-free, reducing freezer burn. They suck the air out and seal the package so no air can get in. You can store vacuum-sealed meat for years. Some food sealers can be used with a 12 volt DC adaptor – if you are trying to process an animal in the field this is helpful.

Accessories

You'll need basic accessories. For ground meat, use weight-specific freezer bags. Freezer paper and freezer tape are also necessary if you are not vacuum sealing. Meat lugs are big plastic tubs you want for holding meat at different stages of the butchering process. An apron is nice. A high-quality knife sharpener is a must. So are rubber processing gloves.

You can purchase everything covered in this article for under $1,000. When you consider how much it costs to have a deer butchered, especially when you have jerky and sausage made, the savings add up quickly. Sharing equipment with hunting buddies is an option. If you go three ways, your portion of the expense equals the cost of having a couple of deer butchered.

Not only is butchering your own animals cost-effective, but it also adds an entire element to being a hunter. You killed this animal, and now you are processing it. You own every step of the process from the field to the dinner table. The core of being a hunter is to provide meat for the dinner table.

See you down the trail…

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

The Owen News's participation in NewsMatch 2025 continues through the end of the month.

NewsMatch is a collective, matching campaign through November and December for member publications of The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), of which The Owen News is part of. NewsMatch provides a 1:1 match for any donations or memberships made to The Owen News. It also provides certain goal-based bonuses.

NewsMatch will match new or increased monthly pledges at the amount for the full year. For example, a new recurring donation set up at $10 per month would be matched at $120 for the entire year.

Additionally, The Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is providing a local match of up to $20,000, creating a 2:1 match. This means that every dollar donated to support local, independent journalism will be tripled, helping us to fulfill our mission to be Owen County's leading source of reliable and unbiased local news in order to foster an informed and engaged community.

In addition to one-time donations, there are several ways to support The Owen News throughout November and December.

Fundraising Event at Tivoli

The Owen News will host "A Super Night to Save Local News," a fundraiser screening of the original "Superman: The Movie" (1978) at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15 at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer.

The event will feature remarks from The Owen News board members and staff highlighting our upcoming projects. It will also include appetizers, adult beverages and a silent auction.

Tickets will cost $30 and will be made available online through theowennews.org and on our Facebook page. There will also be the ability to purchase reserved balcony seating for your group at an additional cost.

Businesses wishing to donate as part of the silent auction should email info@theowennews.org.

Proceeds from the event and the silent auction, if paid by check or online will qualify for the match through NewsMatch.

Renew or Sign up for a Membership

The Owen News will continue offering mailed copies of the paper to our members, making now the ideal time to renew your own membership or give the gift of news this holiday season.

As part of Newsmatch, the donation portion of the individual sponsorship or membership tier will both count toward the fundraising goal and will be considered tax deductible.

The membership tiers and benefits are as follows:

Friends of the Owen News ($5 per month/ $60 per year): Benefits include: mailed print edition of The Owen News, access to members-only merchandise that will have an exclusive annual design, a monthly e-newsletter with behind-the-scenes insights, and recognition on The Owen News website.

Headline Supporter ($15 per month/ $180 per year): Benefits include: all Friends of The Owen News benefits and an The Owen News tote bag.

Columnist Champion ($25 per month/ $300 per year): Benefits include: all Headline Supporter benefits, an The Owen News mug, your name listed in the printed edition of The Owen News, and a special invite to an exclusive quarterly virtual Q&A session with the editorial team.

Editor's Circle ($50 per month/ $600 per year): Benefits include: all Columnist Champion benefits, an Owen News travel mug, and special recognition in the annual member guide and report.

Publisher's Partner ($100+ per month/ $1,200+ per year): Benefits include: all Editor's Circle benefits, an Owen News t-shirt, and a ¼ page ad for individual use (subject to The Owen News' ad policy).

Give the Gift of News

This holiday season, consider giving the gift of news, specifically The Owen News. Gift memberships will also be matched 2:1, and The Owen News will send a special card letting them know that you've gifted them a one-year membership to The Owen News.

All orders placed by Dec. 16 will have a card set out ahead of the USPS holiday deadline to arrive by Christmas. Gift orders placed after the deadline through the end of the year will still receive the card, but The Owen News cannot guarantee that it will arrive before Christmas Day.

Those interested in making a donation or becoming a member can do so through OCCF or by contacting The Owen News at info@theowennews.org.

Individuals interested in volunteering with The Owen News should email volunteers@theowennews.org. Volunteers are needed in several areas including as trained correspondents, fundraising and staffing festival booths to name a few.

"The non-profit news model allows us, first and foremost, to be a community partner in our community. But most importantly, by being a non-profit, The Owen News will forever be owned by our community," Executive Editor Nicole DeCriscio said. "At the end of the day, the success of The Owen News thus far is a testament to the strength of our community, and we're relying on community support to capitalize on this important fund-matching opportunity."

On a trip to England a few years ago, my wife and I were blessed to see so many fascinating sights, from the Queen's plush royal palace to the humble, rustic, tiny cottage of William Wordsworth in the beautiful lake district up north. One of the poet's quotes resonates with me as I reflect on the year I've had pursuing fish and game:

"Come forth into the light things, let nature be your teacher."

Like the poet, I feel there is something truly inspiring about being outdoors, whether or not you're angling or hunting, or just taking a walk through the woods. The cares of the day disappear. It's better therapy than taking a pill. Nature teaches us to slow down and look at what's in front of us, instead of checking who's texting us. I'm sure many folks in the future will be cursed with neck pain as they grow older—too much looking down at a screen. I'm blessed with having hobbies that entertain and challenge me—fishing, then golf, and hunting in the winter. I feel sorry for folks who retire without a hobby that really turns their crank. I've seen quite a few men in that situation. Perhaps it's why so often males pass away fairly soon after retirement. Maybe a goal for this year would be to find something, preferably outdoors related, that you can sink your teeth and your spare time into.

If you're looking for an outdoor-related getaway this winter that's indoors, consider heading west past St. Louis on I-44 to Springfield, Missouri. There you'll find what Bass Pro owner Johnny Morris has created, the Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium and Museum, next to his original Bass Pro Shop. It's hard not to overstate how amazing this place is. My wife and I just returned from visiting family in Springfield. I vividly recall my first experience there a few years ago. The brochure said it was a mile and a half walk-through, so one needs to allow four hours or so. My wife and I and grandson thought that was a bit much, but it turned out to be accurate. We started at 10 a.m. so lunch would break up our tour, and it was a good plan. A café with appetizing choices situated between attractions was a much-needed break. The cost of admission can be found on their website. It might sound pricey, but you get what you pay for, in spades. If you're older like my wife and I, pause for rest breaks, because it's a long but delightful journey through this wildlife wonderland.

Johnny's video of his reasons for starting this gigantic project starts off things. He gives compelling reasons for enjoying and taking care of our precious outdoor gifts. He is a true conservationist who's been all over the world pursuing fish and game, and his take on why we need to all be aware of the delicate balance that sustains wildlife is well presented. We all must do our part to conserve and protect all game and our environment.

After the video comes an immersion into the world of wildlife. From great art to amazing reproduction mounts of every animal one can conceive of, it's just one mind-boggling display after another.

The first hall deals with well-displayed artifacts of the American Indian, our first outdoorsmen and conservationists. From these artifacts one gets a feeling of true admiration and appreciation for Native Americans. Then it's an artistic tribute to Lewis and Clark, followed by portraits by outdoorsman President George W. Bush. Further on, it's all manner of wildlife left and right set up in beautiful displays.

Example: I've seen bighorn sheep mounts, but I've never been in a giant room that made me feel like I was on a western mountain with sheep all around. I've seen lion and elephant mounts but never have I been made to feel that I was actually on an African safari watching them on the plains. It's an immersion experience.

Your children may be concerned about how all these beautiful creatures ended up here and not somewhere in the wild. A media rep told me that the animals "were acquired from private collections or donated from zoos after they died from natural causes. Every animal featured inside Wonders was responsibly acquired in accordance to local, state, federal and international laws. A small percentage of the animals featured are scientifically accurate authentic recreations."

After the animal segment and lunch, it's on to the aquarium. Lots to talk about there. You've been to aquariums, but you really need to check this one out. We'll get into that and more next time.

Remember to conserve, protect and enjoy our bountiful American outdoors. Happy 2026.

The Owen County Heritage & Culture Center (OCHCC) will host a Christmas Open House on Saturday, December 6, from noon to 3 p.m., during Christmas at the Square.

OCHCC features a variety of displays showcasing the history of Owen County. While you're there, visit the coffee shoppe to enjoy free holiday treats, such as homemade cookies and persimmon pudding, coffee and tea.

The gift shop also features books by local authors, greeting cards, prints of sketches and paintings by Ken Bucklew, Lloyd Wood Christmas CDs and Lloyd Wood Band live show CDs.

Make plans to visit to learn about Owen County's history and enjoy the warm, historic charm of the old Spencer Carnegie Library building.

OCHCC is located on the southeast corner of the courthouse square at 110 E. Market St. in Spencer. Admission is free. For more information, visit owencountyindhistory.org.

Time has certainly flown at the Owen County Public Library (OCPL).

As I sit here writing this article on my eight-month anniversary as director, I'm amazed at how quickly the days have gone by. In some ways, it feels like I've been here forever; in others, it feels like I just walked through the doors for the first time.

Each day has been filled with new learning experiences. I've discovered things I never imagined I'd need to know, like elevator maintenance and construction processes. But above all, I've learned just how vital the library is to our community. The days of libraries serving solely as places to access information are long behind us. Today, a library is a resource for space, knowledge, connection and time.

On any given day, all our reservable rooms are bustling, social care workers meeting with clients, online students focused on their coursework and groups of friends using the library as a welcoming home base. Our Community Room regularly hosts local organizations and groups, and we've welcomed many classrooms who visit the Read and Feed Garden as a field trip destination.

I would be remiss not to highlight the importance of our programs and outreach. We continue to maintain strong partnerships with each Spencer-Owen Community Schools school, whether through program visits or weekly bookmobile stops.

Here at the library, our programming has expanded significantly, offering Owen County residents a growing variety of free activities and resources. Some of our newest offerings include legal advice from the IU Maurer School of Law and in-depth genealogy programming. And this is just the beginning—keep an eye out for author visits and more exciting events to come.

Our adult education program has also grown tremendously. This year, we added four new certification classes to the schedule, all at no cost to students. We are thrilled to see this program continue to expand and support the needs of our community.

We also continue to curate a robust collection of nonfiction and fiction books, movies and CDs for patrons to enjoy. This year, we launched our new Library of Things, allowing patrons to check out items like wagons, tents, tools and yard games. And of course, Libby remains your portal to e-books, magazines, podcasts and audiobooks. OCPL truly has something for everyone.

If you haven't been to the library recently, I encourage you to stop in and see what we can do for you. We are a lot more than a place for books these days. The OCPL is located at 10 S. Montgomery St. in Spencer and can be reached by calling 812-829-3392.

There are several ways to celebrate the Christmas holiday in Owen County throughout the month of December. Here are some of the local offerings this month:

Dec. 5

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.

Cookies and Cocoa with Santa, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Canyon Inn inside McCormick's Creek State Park, 451 McCormick's Creek Park Rd., Spencer. Free.

Winter Lights at Lieber State Recreation Area, 6 to 9 p.m., 1317 W. Lieber Rd., Cloverdale. Drive through the electric campground and see the park's annual light display, Dec. 5 to 7 and Dec. 12 to 14. There is no gate fee.

Dec. 6

Donuts with Santa, 9 to 11 a.m. at Endeavor Communications, 2 West St., Cloverdale. Free donuts, crafts and pictures with Santa.

Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cloverdale High School, 205 W. Market St., Cloverdale. The event will benefit clothe-a-child.

Christmas at the Square, noon to 5 p.m., hosted by Spencer Main Street in downtown Spencer. Santa will arrive at the market around 12:30 p.m. before making his way to the Tivoli for photos from 1 to 4 p.m. The vendor market will take place on Washington and Franklin streets and inside the Spencer Pride commUnity center.

Owen County Heritage & Culture Center Christmas Open House, noon to 3 p.m., 110 E. Market St., Spencer, during Christmas at the Square. Check out the history museum, coffee shoppe and gift shop in the Old Spencer Carnegie Library building. Enjoy holiday refreshments. Free admission. For more information, visit owencountyindhistory.org.

Owen Valley Patriot Choirs will perform a holiday set during Christmas at the Square, 12:30 to 1 p.m. at the corner of Washington and Franklin streets in Spencer.

A Snoopy Christmas, 1 to 4 p.m., presented by the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, 120 S. Main St., Spencer. Crafts, toys and photo ops with Snoopy. Sponsored by Duke Energy.

Owen County Courthouse dome Christmas lighting ceremony, with entertainment by the Owen Valley Big Band, 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Christmas in Cloverdale Lighted Parade, 6 p.m. in Cloverdale. Santa will be at the Icehouse following the parade, ready for photo ops and for children to tell him their Christmas wishes. Complimentary hot chocolate and cookies will be available. Hosted by Cloverdale Main Street.

Dec. 7

Spencer Pride general meeting, 4 p.m. at the Spencer Pride commUnity center, 17 E. Franklin St., Spencer.

Dec. 8

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

Owen Valley FFA Christmas Party, 6 to 8 p.m. in the Ag room at Owen Valley High School, 622 S.R. 46W, Spencer. Games, tacos and a toy drive to spread holiday cheer. Toys will be donated to Owen County Department of Child Services for foster children in need.

Dec. 9

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.

Patricksburg Elementary School Christmas Festivities, 5:45 to 7:30 p.m., 9912 S.R. 246, Patricksburg. The Christmas program begins at 5:45 p.m., followed at 6:15 p.m. by hot chocolate and cookies, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the opening of Santa's Workshop Store.

Dec. 10

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

Free showings of "Young at Heart," 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by the Amos family.

Paint your pet portrait event, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Activity Room at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer. Call 812-829-3392 ext. 3 for more information and to reserve your spot.

Dec. 11

Writing Workshop, 6 p.m. at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer. Led by author Julia Karr.

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

Dec. 12

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

Mountain Strings Dulcimer Group, 2 to 3 p.m. in the Hearth Room at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer.

Owen Valley High School Cheer Christmas Showcase at halftime of the varsity basketball game at OVHS. Spirit, sparkle and a little holiday magic. The varsity game begins around 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 13

Breakfast with Santa, 9 to 11 a.m. at the Cloverdale American Legion Post #281, 501 S. Main St., Cloverdale. Enjoy free pictures with Santa, crafts with Boys Scouts, books and a small gift for kids under 12. Hosted by Cloverdale Main Street.

Breakfast with Santa, 9 to 11 a.m. at the Cataract Lake Community Center, 5530 S.R. 42, Poland. Featuring crafts and pictures with Santa.

Breakfast with Santa, 10 a.m. to noon at the Owen County Democratic Party headquarters, 152 E. Jefferson St., Spencer. Breakfast, free photo ops with Santa and gifts for the first 60 kids in attendance. Free.

Gosport Holiday Festival, Santas of the World, 12 to 5 p.m., presented by the Gosport Business Association. Cookie walk, cake/dessert walk, vendors, games and face painting, live nativity, ugly sweater contest, selfies with Santa, snowball drop and more.

OVMS/OVHS Patriot Choirs' Sounds of the Season concert, 3 p.m. in the Owen Valley High School Auditorium, 622 S.R. 46W, Spencer. Admission is $5 (cash or card). Join the choirs for an afternoon of music, sparkle and holiday cheer. Doors open 30 minutes before the show.

Community Christmas Dinner, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Coal City American Legion Post #141, 4188 Main St., Coal City. Free.

Dec. 15

A Super Night to Save News, 6 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. This is a fundraiser to support the operations of The Owen News. Admission is $30 per person. Tickets include admission to the original "Superman" (1978) movie, one glass of wine and charcuterie from Owen Valley Winery. The event will also feature a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased online at bit.ly/OwenNewsHero.

Dec. 16

Owen County Democratic Party monthly meeting, 5:30 p.m. at the Democrat Headquarters, 152 E. Jefferson St., Spencer. Dinner and social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. The December meeting will feature Mary Allen, a candidate for U.S. Congress in the 8th District.

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

Dec. 17

Owen County Caring Hands meeting from 9 a.m. to noon at 1580 Pottersville Rd., Spencer. For more information, contact Sandy Arthur at 317-446-1346.

Free showings of "A Christmas Story," 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by Youth Service of Monroe County.

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

Dec. 18

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

Calico Homemakers meeting, 2 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 the Owen Valley Winery, Vineyard & Bistro, 491 Timber Ridge Rd., Spencer.

Christmas Caroling, 6:30 p.m., meet at the Gosport Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 119 N. Seventh St., Gosport. Enjoy a hot chocolate bar immediately afterward.

Grow Your Own Fruit & Nuts workshop, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. in the Community Room at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer. Featured presenter will be Chris Gonso of WAG Farm, Patricksburg. Sponsored by the Owen County Soil & Water Conservation District. For more information, call 812-829-2605.

Dec. 19

Live performance by Pat Otto on mandolin, 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. in the Hearth Room at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer.

Community-Wide Christmas Sing-Along/Backpack Buddies Food Drive, 6 to 7 p.m. at the Spencer First Baptist Church, 110 N. Washington St., Spencer. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 21

A Christmas Night of Worship, 6 p.m. at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship, 338 S.R. 43S, Spencer. Everyone is welcome.

Free showing of "The Man Who Invented Christmas," 7 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by the Amos family.

Dec. 23

Free showings of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," starring Jim Carrey, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by Elizabeth Ruh, Personal Financial Services, LLC.

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

We all know where it is right now. We all know where it's supposed to go. We all know where it is supposed to go after that. However, we do not know how to connect those dots. What we need now is a plan.

When the MYPath trail system was envisioned by the Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF), the idea was to join the Owen County Family YMCA on the west side of town to McCormick's Creek State Park with a path. Since that time, with the help and support of the OCCF, and the encouragement of the public, the trail has made remarkable progress toward its goal. Most notably, the ribbon cutting last fall of the new, paved, trail along the White River that has created the first multiuse trail in the county.

MYPath is very popular. Nearly 2,000 people each month are on the trail, all ages, all abilities, enjoying the main trail and the natural surface side paths. When those users reach the end of the trail at River Road, they are less than two miles from the McCormick's Creek gatehouse.

Now what?

How do we close that gap? And then, how do we start connecting to Flatwoods Park in Monroe County, where our neighbors' trail will be reaching.

Today, I could draw this all out on a map. But that would be pointless. I haven't asked anybody for permission. I don't have the money. I don't know what the community actually wants.

From the beginning, MYPath has been a community trail. Most of the route from the YMCA is on shared-surface public right-of-way, like sidewalks. Now we are getting into areas where we will cross rough terrain and private ownership. It is time for the community to drive this process.

The Owen County Commissioners have applied for a planning grant from the Indiana Department of Health. If we are awarded this grant, we will be able to work with experts and hold public meetings. We can talk about possible routes. We can evaluate costs. We can draft the likely route for MYPath, as preferred by the community. Stay tuned. Please take part in these meetings. Your input is valuable.

When the County Comprehensive Plan was updated in 2022, MYPath expansion was talked about in several sections. I have mentioned in this column that there is a real economic benefit to expanding the trail. The health benefits of a recreational trail like MYPath are also important to this community.

Why not Spencer? Why not Owen County? You have seen recreational trails in other parts of the state. They are sources of pride for those communities. There is no reason we can't have a trail like that, if not better.

Last week I attended the ribbon cutting for the new pickleball and tennis court facility at Cooper Commons. Adults were excited and kids were playing. I walked to the ribbon cutting from MYPath, where I had just witnessed, on the trail, adults being excited and kids playing. Isn't this the future you want for this community?

More than once, I have heard people on MYPath say, "I can't believe we have something like this in Spencer." Well, you better believe it. And it's only going to get better.

Spencer-Owen Community Schools proudly recognized the courageous men and women who have served our nation during a series of heartfelt Veterans Day programs across the district. Their selfless dedication and sacrifice have protected the freedoms we hold dear, and our school community came together to express its deep and lasting gratitude.

Each year, Spencer-Owen schools set aside time to honor veterans, and this year's events were filled with pride, patriotism and reflection. At the elementary level, students and staff worked together to create meaningful tributes. Veterans were invited into the schools for special presentations, giving students an opportunity to shake hands, say thank you and learn firsthand about the true meaning of service.

Gosport Elementary hosted a lively Veterans Parade, where students lined the school grounds to cheer on veterans as they drove by, waving flags and handmade signs. Patricksburg Elementary showcased their honored guests with an Honor Walk through the building, followed by a special breakfast prepared in appreciation of their service. At McCormick's Creek Elementary, families and veterans gathered for a warm and moving patriotic program featuring music performed by students. Spencer Elementary held a student-led convocation, recognizing each veteran in attendance and celebrating their contributions to our country.

At the secondary level, the tributes continued with powerful messages and solemn ceremonies. Owen Valley Middle School welcomed Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L. Davis and his wife, Dixie, as honored guests. Their visit brought an inspiring message of courage and commitment. The school's JROTC program presented the traditional flag-folding ceremony, reminding all in attendance of the symbolism and respect behind this time-honored ritual.

Owen Valley High School held its annual convocation in the auditorium, led by the JROTC and featuring music, speakers and expressions of gratitude from students and staff. The program highlighted the importance of recognizing and thanking veterans, not just on Veterans Day, but throughout the year.

These moments across the district were more than ceremonies—they were lessons. S-OCS believes in teaching students the importance of honoring those who have served. By learning about the sacrifices made by past and present military personnel, students gain a deeper understanding of gratitude, courage and patriotism. These values help ensure that the spirit of freedom continues to thrive in future generations.

As our community reflects on Veterans Day, S-OCS extends its heartfelt thanks to all veterans. Their bravery and dedication continue to inspire, reminding us all of the true meaning of service.

With any election changes come to us, whether it's at the state level or the federal level or even higher. The reduction or elimination of funds in the areas of early learning, adult learning, food support, and community parks and recreation have taken a big hit. Our fellow Owen Countians have taken life-altering blows unless we at the county level can work to pick up the slack.

The Owen County Community Foundation has been working to help soften the blows. There are several funds that are currently available to support those Owen Countians in need.

Basically, the funds work as follows: Donations are provided by those who can. The funds are invested and managed by a professional group. Therefore, the money in each fund grows based on the market returns. Depending on the fund a percentage of the balance is provided each year for those groups who are providing services. Individuals in need should be directed to those not-for-profit or government agencies that facilitate. The Owen County Community Foundation can guide donors and those in need.

The result is cash flow for perpetuity for each of those needs and a position to increase the value. The dollars in each fund are restricted. The funds can only be used for their designation.

If you have further questions, please reach out to the Owen County Community Foundation, CEO, Janet Rummel. Janet is a wonderful lady who can help guide.

— Tom Wallace

Mother Nature prompted a last-minute change to this year's Veterans Day program, with organizers opting to move the Nov. 11 program indoors to the warmer confines of the Spencer VFW Post #1405. Historically, the annual event has been held on the northwest lawn of the Owen County Courthouse, with attendees gathering around the "Spirit of the American Doughboy" statue as they honor military veterans of our nation's Armed Forces.

Despite the change in venue, the "Doughboy" once again took center stage as Owen County Historian Tony Neff shined the spotlight on the late Spencer sculptor Ernest Moore Viquesney and his famed pressed copper statue. The program was originally intended to include a rededication of the statue, which remains the focus of an ongoing restoration project.

"Today we honor and recognize the veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces," Neff began. "Today we witness the revitalization of the 'Spirit of the American Doughboy,' the life-sized statue designed by Spencer native Ernest Moore 'Dick' Viquesney. It was designed to honor the veterans and casualties of World War I, so the sacrifice of the men and women who gave so much to preserve our freedom may never be forgotten."

Produced during the 1920s and 1930s for communities throughout the United States, Neff said the statue's design was the most popular of its kind. A total of 145 are known to be in prominent places in 38 states, he noted, including 35 on the grounds of county courthouses. Indiana is home to 11 such statues.

"Viquesney was born in Spencer in 1876," Neff continued. "His father, a French immigrant, was a stone mason who moved to Spencer in 1874 and started a monument business where Dick presumably learned his skill as a sculptor."

Viquesney was himself a military veteran, having served as a corporal stationed at Pensacola, FL during the Spanish-American War in 1898.

"He was a patriotic and community-minded man," Neff explained. "He was a founder and the commander of the Spencer Spanish-American War Veterans Post."

Neff later told how Viquesney relocated from Spencer in 1905 and went on to work for several monument companies. While employed as a chief designer by Schneider Marble Company in Americus, Georgia between 1918 and 1920, Viquesney designed the "Doughboy" statue we know today.

"He was meticulous about details," Neff said. "He interviewed veterans, studied hundreds of photographs, and used two models in full uniform to perfect his statue of the 'Doughboy' to the finest detail. In 1921 the first 'Doughboy' was toured by train so respective buyers could see the statue. It was eventually installed in Nashville, Georgia."

Viquesney returned to Spencer in 1922, Neff said, and four years later offered to sell the County its own 'Doughboy' for $1,000, which was the cost he said it took to produce each statue.

Raising money for the "Doughboy" proved to be a community affair following a suggestion made by Carl Anderson, editor of The Owen Leader, in January of 1926. The Owen County Board of Commissioners would contribute $300, although it would take until January 1927 before enough money ($1,236) would finally be raised. The addition of a Romona limestone base at a cost of $200 would bring the total cost to $1,436, which in today's dollars would be roughly $27,000.

Neff said the statue was officially dedicated on May 19, 1927 to coincide with Decoration Day, which today we know as Memorial Day. Some 3,500 guests were in attendance for the dedication, led by Capt. Joseph Clark who served as the master of ceremonies.

Neff said the statue was "unveiled by Mrs. Hight, whose son Edward was the first Owen County man to be killed in service during World War I, and Mrs. Call, whose son Leland was the first Owen County man killed while in action in World War I."

This year's Veterans Day program also featured remarks by former VFW Post #1405 Commander Ted Mangin, a ceremonial three-volley salute and the playing of Taps by the Owen County Honor Guard, and the ceremonial laying of wreaths by officials from the VFW Post #1405, Spencer American Legion Post #285 and the Gosport VFW Post #7850.

The ongoing Owen County Doughboy Revitalization Project is focused on restoring the statue and transforming its setting into a welcoming, accessible plaza where history, community and remembrance come together. The design includes a concrete plaza with seating for gatherings and ceremonies; landscaping and lighting to enhance security and highlight the Doughboy at night; obelisk monuments honoring each branch of the U.S. military; and concrete benches that will both invite reflection and protect the courthouse by serving as a safety barrier.

To donate to the project, visit bit.ly/DoughboyFund or contact the Owen County Community Foundation at 812-829-1725.

Routine food inspections were conducted by the Owen County Health Department during the month of November. Reported below are the no violation, critical and non-critical comments left for these establishments:

11-17
Gosport Elementary School, 201 N. Ninth St., Gosport. Routine inspection. No violations.

11-19
Patricksburg Elementary School, 9912 S.R. 246, Patricksburg. Routine inspection. No violations.

The following marriage licenses were issued since the last issue of The Owen News. Please note that this information is based on the applications. Marriage licenses are valid for 60 days from when they are issued, and the information below does not reflect whether or not the two individuals followed through with a marriage or if the signed marriage license was returned to the Owen County Clerk's office.

11-3
Michael Wolford (age 73) & Carol S. Wolford (age 73)

11-10
Raylena A. Dowdy (age 35) & Nathan William Perkins (age 35)

11-18
Ashley M. Cox (age 40) & Chris Benjamin Ruggles (age 47)

11-25
Cecelia L. Raub (age 22) & Nicholas J. Nelson (age 23)
Brooklyn Welding (age 27) & Clayton Dove (age 25)

11-26
Makayla Hampton (age 29) & Steven Sharpee (age 36)

+++

The following dissolutions of marriages were filed since the last issue of The Owen News in Owen County Circuit Court 2.

11-7
Wesley F. Penland & Amber Penland

11-11
Andrea Bixler & Donald Bixler

11-12
Nicholas Christy & Karen Christy

11-17
Heather Turpin Graves & Brittany Graves

11-21
Laura L. Hamm & David E. Hamm

11-25
Vera Barnett & William Barnett

The world became infinitely more interesting the day Judith Annette Epp arrived in Indianapolis on New Year's Day, 1949. It's fitting that she was born at the very start of a year; Judi never waited for life to happen. She planned it, executed it, occasionally bedazzled it, and then invited everyone else in.

Judi grew up in Indianapolis, later dedicating many years to AT&T before deciding early retirement sounded better than corporate conference calls. Retirement, for Judi, was not an exit - just a costume change. She poured her energy into volunteerism across countless causes, but her heart found its truest home co-founding Spencer Pride, Inc.

For two decades, Judi was the kind of leader nonprofits dream of and spreadsheets fear. She did everything - fundraising, secretarial finesse, treasurer wizardry - and then helped decide that transforming a historic building into the Spencer Pride commUnity center sounded like fun. She spent her final years spearheading its renovation, including the installation of its shiny new elevator this October. Yes, Judi literally helped our community rise.

Judi believed that life should be lived beautifully and that nails should be maintained accordingly. When she wasn't improving the world, she enjoyed the quiet joy of her lakeside home, a mani-pedi that put diamonds to shame, time with family (dogs absolutely included), a good book, and the fine art of spoiling her grandson, Truman.

She was preceded in death by her beloved wife Beverly Camden, and leaves behind her wife Lucie Mathieu, her son Jacob Balash and his husband Jonathan Balash, and the grandson she adored, Truman Balash. Judi didn't just love her family - she curated experiences for them, as though life itself were her favorite hobby.

Judi died on November 25, 2025, in Bloomington, surrounded by those who loved her fiercely. She left detailed instructions - naturally - that her farewell be a Celebration of Life, held not in hushed tones but in the ballroom of the Spencer Pride commUnity Center. In perfect Judi fashion, she requested it serve as a fundraiser. The celebration will take place Saturday, December 20, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern, and attendees are encouraged to come honor Judi.

If you wish to honor Judi's legacy, donations can be made to the Spencer Pride Fund at the Owen County Community Foundation. Flowers are lovely, but Judi was allergic to them and always preferred helping a community bloom.

Judi was a hard worker, a committed fundraiser, and a game changer - not just for Spencer Pride, but for anyone lucky enough to orbit her. Her absence leaves a void; her example leaves marching orders.

The Owen County Community Foundation has opened its 2026 Scholarship Application, offering more than 65 scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors and adult learners pursuing higher education.

The application is now available and will remain open until Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Students can apply by creating an account at bit.ly/OCCFscholarship.

Awards range from $500 to $40,000, with an average scholarship amount of $1,800. In 2025, 48 percent of all applicants received at least one scholarship, and awards were distributed across a wide range of students and future educational goals.

In 2025, 63 scholarships totaling more than $145,000 were awarded to 42 students from Owen Valley High School, Cloverdale High School and surrounding communities.

Scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors, students currently enrolled in college or vocational and technical programs, adults beginning college for the first time, adults returning to school after an extended break and students pursuing advanced degrees. Most scholarships are intended for individuals whose permanent residence is in Owen County. Students who are living in on-campus or off-campus housing remain eligible as long as their permanent address is within the county.

Some scholarships are general academic awards, while others are specific to township of residence, intended career field, chosen college, extracurricular involvement, volunteer service or having family ties to legacy Owen County high schools such as Spencer, Freedom, Quincy, Patricksburg or Gosport.

Students can access the application by typing bit.ly/OCCFscholarship into their browser or by visiting owencountycf.org/students, selecting the STUDENTS tab, and clicking the Login to Scholarship Manager button. Students who are creating a new account should use a personal email address rather than a school email that will deactivate after graduation.

All required materials including transcripts, essays and third-party recommendation letters must be submitted by the Jan. 16 deadline. OCCF will offer in-person help sessions at the Owen Valley High School library in the weeks leading up to the deadline. Applicants are also welcome to stop by the OCCF's office located at 60 E. Market St. in Spencer for one-on-one application assistance.

All scholarship recipients are required to attend the Scholarship Awards Program on April 26, 2026, at the Owen Valley High School Auditorium to accept their awards and meet the generous donors behind the scholarships.

Students are encouraged to follow the Owen County Community Foundation on Facebook and Instagram for reminders and updates.

For questions, contact Karah Bobeck, Director of Programs and Communications, at karah@owencountycf.org or 812-829-1725.

About the Owen County Community Foundation

The Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is a public charity founded in 1994 as a resource to connect caring individuals with causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. Since its founding, the OCCF has been able to grant more than $12.3 million to local students, area nonprofits and charitable organizations in our community. The OCCF is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of Owen County, now and for generations to come. For more information on how to begin your own philanthropic journey, please visit owencountycf.org, call 812-829-1725, or stop by our office located on the Courthouse Square at 60 E. Market St., in Spencer.

I have many memories of my father at Christmas. Memories of trips to the City Market in Indianapolis, making cookies, picking out the perfect tree. Each tinfoil icicle, each ornament was placed with precision. My most precious memory is of a lesson dad taught us the year I was 10. I do not know how it relates to nature, but it is a story worth telling.

My father was a policeman. One cold morning, the week before Christmas, dad came home upset. He was acting strangely and whispering to mom. I heard her say, "Oh, Bob," repeatedly as she puttered around the kitchen making coffee. It was time to get ready for school, so I got up and wandered into the kitchen. I was surprised to see my older brother sitting at the table in his pajamas. I could tell by my parents' faces something was wrong.

Mom told us to get dressed so we could have breakfast with dad before we went to school. "He wants to talk with you." Someone had plugged in the Christmas tree lights. Bubble lights were shining like tiny candles; the glass balls dangling from the fragrant limbs were shining from reflecting lights. The perfectly placed icicles were gleaming. I smiled at the presents under the tree as I passed by. I felt a rush of excitement about what might be in the ones with my name on them. Was I going to get another story book doll for my collection? I collected small dolls dressed in costumes from other countries. What books were waiting to take me away from my life to live in the pages with the characters that seemed so interesting?

When I returned to the kitchen, both my brothers were there, eating oatmeal. Dad was drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette. The look on his face was sad and serious. "Kids," he started, "I want to tell you something, and I need your help." He proceeded to tell us about a house fire he had been called to. The home of a family with four children had burned to the ground. The family had escaped, which was a miracle, but they had lost everything. Dad looked at us sadly, "Now I know you don't have many presents under the tree. But those kids don't even have a tree. I'd like for you to pick out one of your gifts to give to these kids."

My brother Red looked at me, his blue eyes twinkling. I knew what he was thinking, "which one?" Which one was THE present we really wanted? Neither of us said, "No, we won't." No kid wants to give away their Christmas presents. There was something in our father's voice, his slumped shoulders that convinced us that this was the time to do as he asked. After all, we had more than one present. We were not forced to run out in the cold winter night to escape a fire. The three of us walked to the tree and searched for a present with our name on it. I decided on a present wrapped in white paper with green holly and bright red berries. Mom had tied a red ribbon around it. I did not know what it was, but it was a pretty package.

We handed the presents we had chosen to Dad. Mom picked one of my baby sister Linda's. She was only four and still asleep. As Dad put the presents in a shopping bag he said, "Thank you. I am proud of you all for giving up one of your presents for these kids." Later, I learned that the firemen and the officers on duty had taken up a collection to help the family. We weren't the only policeman's kids that shared our presents with children we did not know.

Sometimes I wonder what was in the pretty box I gave to a girl I didn't know. It wasn't my story book doll. I received a beautiful Dutch doll with wooden shoes and blonde braids that year. What I gave away doesn't matter. My life is unchanged by the absence of that gift. My existence is richer by far by the invaluable lesson I learned. 'Things' are not what life is about. A pile of presents is not the meaning of Christmas. My father gave us a gift that year that is worth more than anything that could have been in that pretty box tied up with a red ribbon. He taught us by example, to think of others, to share what we have, to give to those that are in need. That is how human nature is supposed to be.

'til next time,
Annie

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 mycase.in.gov. This information is public record. All people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

11-5
Grant Daugherty, 30, Freedom, preliminary charges of burglary and probation violation. Arrested by Owen County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) Deputy Tony Stevens.

George Thomas III, 57, Poland, IN, preliminary charge of sex offender registration violation. Spencer Police Department (SPD) officer Ben Muncie was the arresting officer.

11-6
Jack Herrington, 37, Freedom, preliminary charge of intimidation. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic.

Timothy Hickey, 44, Spencer, preliminary charge of intimidation. OCSD K9 Deputy Charles Hallam was the arresting officer.

Phillip Howard, 63, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of domestic battery, failure to appear, and invasion of privacy. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich.

Brooke Neal, 46, Unionville, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine, driving while suspended with a prior charge, failure to appear, and possession of paraphernalia. SPD officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

11-7
Russell Bandy, 56, Spencer, preliminary charge of invasion of privacy. Arrested by OCSD Deputy John Lowder II.

11-9
Dustin Stahl, 39, Bowling Green, preliminary charges of kidnapping and probation violation. OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey was the arresting officer.

11-11
Christopher Daniels, 35, Spencer, preliminary charge of domestic battery. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Torrey Wallace.

11-12
Bryan Collins, 44, Freedom, preliminary charges of pointing a firearm, intimidation, and disorderly conduct. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

Philip Dennison II, 30, Spencer, preliminary charges of battery and disorderly conduct. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

Kyal Campbell, 34, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of criminal trespass, resisting law enforcement (failure to appear). OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

11-14
Paul Cazee, 45, Spencer, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey.

Destiny Goff, 30, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of criminal trespass and probation violation. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

11-15
Laramie DeFord, 26, Spencer, preliminary charge of writ of attachment. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Jacob Williamson.

Jaymison Copeland, 20, Bowling Green, preliminary charges of probation violation, driving while suspended with a prior charge, and child exploitation; possession of child pornography. OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic was the arresting officer.

11-16
Duran Morgan, 30, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, probation violation, leaving the scene of an accident, false informing, and operating without a license when required. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic.

Pamela Miller, 54, Paragon, preliminary charges of invasion or privacy and criminal trespass. OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich was the arresting officer.

11-17
Toby Chandler, 30, Spencer, preliminary charge of failure of a sex offender to possess identification. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.

Chad Willoughby, 44, Bowling Green, preliminary charges of probation violation, resisting law enforcement, and driving while suspended with a prior charge. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

11-18
Kara Fleming, 45, Bloomington, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey.

Louann Collier, 61, Spencer, preliminary charges of attempted residential entry, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct. Tony Stevens was the arresting officer.

Thomas Walls, 50, Worthington, preliminary charge of operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator (HTV). Arrested by Indiana State Police (ISP) Trooper Robert Martin.

11-19
James Groh, 63, Heltonville, IN, preliminary charge of failure to appear. OCSD Deputy John Lowder II was the arresting officer.

Cody Kepner, 38, Spencer, preliminary charge of animals running at large. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic.

Trenton Steele, 35, Spencer, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge and criminal mischief. OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey was the arresting officer.

11-20
Robert Orman, 56, Spencer, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Jordan Hardey.

11-22
Leo Kent, 52, Worthington, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge – unfounded. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

11-23
Alex Whitfield, 24, Newberry, IN, preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Torrey Wallace.

Oscar Rubio, 31, Spencer, preliminary charges of driving without a license, operating while intoxicated, and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. OCSD Deputy Bill Brown was the arresting officer.

Raymond Branam, 19, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of intimidation, resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief, and domestic battery. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark.

11-28
Aleesha Nagorski, 24, Freedom, preliminary charges of domestic battery and disorderly conduct. SPD officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

11-29
Hong Ho, 41, Ridley Park, PA, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

Christopher Dover, 45, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of failure to appear, strangulation, and domestic battery. OCSD Deputy Jacob Williamson was the arresting officer.

11-30
Donald Anderson, 69, Stinesville, preliminary charge of operating with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 or more. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

Jason Hall, 56, Bloomington, preliminary charges of disorderly conduct, battery against a public safety official, resisting law enforcement, intimidation, and neglect of a dependent; child selling. SPD officer Bryce Brock was the arresting officer.

Andrea Hahn, 43, Spencer, preliminary charges of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

The Friday, Nov. 7 issue of The Owen News carried a "Letter to the Editor" from a Mr. Ellington, a Greene County politician running for the State Senate in District 39. It was a thinly disguised "campaign speech" that amazingly turned out to be quite prescient. Mr. Ellington rambled about the need to increase the 7-2 majority the GOP already has in the House of Representatives from Indiana. He then went on to rail against the opposition to re-districting in Indiana by a "handful" of Republican members of the Indiana Statehouse.

He predicted that these Republicans who balked at redrawing districts would incur the "sizable wrath of the MAGA BASE." While not knowing if he had his letter printed in other publications, there is no way of telling or sure whether or not his prediction inspired the seven or eight SWAT phone calls later made, which led to armed officers of the law being called to the houses of these politicians who did not follow the governor's and the White House's wishes.

Were the unbalanced people who made these illegal and certainly family-frightening calls about people being harmed in the households of these non-compliant GOP politicians inspired by the latter words of Mr. Ellington? Because he then goes on to say we are in an "arms race" with a "Cabal of National Democrats" and refers to a "gerrymandering war." No way of proving.

I live in beautiful Owen County. I have been in Greene County more times than I can count - it also is a lovely part of Indiana. Mr. Ellington's vitriol and incendiary words are not needed in Greene nor in any other county which he wants to serve as a representing politician.

— Ed Staubach

When I was growing up, my father had certain Christmas traditions that we followed every year. One tradition had to do with our Christmas tree. My dad believed in getting a real Christmas tree. It was quite an adventure to say the least, and I look back fondly on those days and smile.

We would go out and pick out our own live tree. Dad called these adventures, "The great Christmas tree hunts." We didn't go out to a tree farm, but dad had his own idea of places to find a tree and of course we always did it together as a family. My father had a friend who owned some land in the country that was full of Eastern Cedar trees. Every year, the owner allowed my father and the rest of us to go onto his property and pick out a tree to cut down for our Christmas tree.

There always seemed to be a method to my father's madness. My dad would get out his handsaw, grab some rope, then load our little family up in the car, and we would go for a grand adventure of finding the perfect Christmas tree. My dad had certain spots where he knew there were lots of trees that grew and where the nicest ones were. I can't tell you where that spot is now, but if I had to guess I would say it was out in the middle of nowhere.

My dad would lead his family (my mother, brother and myself) out into the wilderness, and we never left that place until we found what he considered to be the perfect tree. We would walk around a while, and it was usually snowing, which made the whole experience quite special for me. The snow would blanket the countryside, causing the effect of a winter wonderland as the woods laid silent before us. There was a quiet expectation among us, but no one dared say a word as we watched my father inspecting every tree on the planet. Finally, my dad would find the one he wanted. He had brought us along to help, but in the end it was always my dad's decision. He was sort of like a Christmas tree connoisseur. At least he thought so.

After he made the choice, he would get out his trusty saw and start working on getting the tree down and into the trunk of our car. The tree was always bigger than the trunk, thus the reason for bringing along the rope. He tied the trunk down so the tree wouldn't fall out. We would then make our way home where the prized tree would be placed in the middle of our living room, waiting to be adorned with decorations and lights. It just wasn't Christmas in our house until the tree was officially up.

Today, a lot of people use artificial trees. I am guilty of this myself. But sometimes the pull of tradition is strong, and I have a deep longing in my heart to experience a Christmas like I did as a child. My father is gone now, and I know you can't go back to that place in reality, but in small ways, in my memories, I can go back to the place in the wilderness where the Christmas trees grew. I can still revisit the silence of the woods.

I put my tree up the other night, and I don't know if anyone would consider it to be perfect. But I think if my dad was here to judge, he would think it was pretty nice. In fact, I think he would say that it was perfect. At least I'd like to think so.

Merry Christmas!
Susan

Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Superintendent Greg Linton recently announced his intention to step away from the position when his current contract ends on June 30, 2026. The announcement was made during the Nov. 10 meeting of the CCSC Board of School Trustees.

Linton, who began his career in public education at Gosport Elementary School in 1989, has served as CCSC superintendent since 2014.

"I've been blessed to serve in public education for the past 37 years, with experience as a teacher, building administrator and district leader," Linton told The Owen News. "My time at Cloverdale Community Schools has been especially meaningful. I've had the privilege of working alongside dedicated educators, a supportive board and a community that genuinely puts students first. The years at CCSC have truly been a highlight of my career."

Although the decision to step away was not easy, Linton said he believes the timing is right for him both personally and professionally.

"We are at a natural transition point as a district—we've built strong momentum, we have exceptional leadership at every level, and many of the major initiatives and long-term plans we've worked hard to develop are well underway," he explained. "I'm grateful to be leaving at a time when the district is stable, thriving and positioned for continued success. In the remaining months of my contract, I look forward to establishing a smooth transition process, especially as we continue moving forward with our building and renovation projects. These upgrades will serve students well for many years to come, and it's exciting to see our vision becoming reality."

Linton called Cloverdale a "truly special place" and said he's grateful for the support he's received since his arrival on campus more than a decade ago.

"Our teachers, administrators, support staff and bus drivers are exceptional professionals who care deeply about students," he said. "The board of school trustees has consistently been supportive, student-focused and committed to the long-term success of the district. I will support the board in any way they request as they begin the search process, but the selection of the next superintendent is ultimately their responsibility. My goal is to ensure a smooth, well-planned transition so the next superintendent can step into this position with confidence."

CCSC board president Vivian Whitaker noted at the close of the meeting that Linton plans to remain with the corporation at the close of his current contract, although in a different role. What exactly that role will be has yet to be announced publicly.

"Mr. Linton has come as close to my ideal of a superintendent as anybody I've worked with or been around," she said.

Linton, a Clay County native and an Indiana State University graduate, also served for nearly five years as superintendent for Spencer-Owen Community Schools. In addition to his time spent as a superintendent, Linton's more than 35-year career has seen him serve as the principal at North Clay Middle School and Spencer Elementary School, as well as several other administrative roles and classroom teacher positions.

The Nov. 10 meeting began with routine matters, where the board approved meeting minutes for the work, executive and regular meetings held on Oct. 13, as well as tentative agreement and executive sessions held Oct. 27.

Next, the board voted 7-0 to approve the latest claims and financial reports, which Linton advised totaled $2,782,987.34 (including two payrolls) since the board's previous meeting.

Regarding communications, the board recognized the corporation's latest Student of the Month honorees, which included Cloverdale Elementary School (CES) students Jeriden Vaughn (October) and Rowan Harrison (November), Cloverdale Middle School (CMS) students Ella Bailey (October) and Emma Naughton (November) and Cloverdale High School (CHS) student Addison Collins.

Also recognized were Parker Pritchard and Elijah Ferran, who earned Good Citizen Awards, presented by CCSC School Resource Officer (SRO) Roger Tonna.

Traci Scott, English Language Arts teacher at CHS, was honored as the latest CCSC Staff Member of the Month.

Addressing new business, the board approved the contractual agreement between CCSC and the Cloverdale Education Association (CEA).

"The red line version that is included in the board packet will allow you to see where changes were made to the contract," Linton advised. "The public hearing was held on Sept. 9, teachers ratified the contract on Oct. 23, and the board held the TA meeting on Oct. 27. The final step in the process is for the board to ratify the contract during this meeting. After the contract is approved, teachers will receive retro back pay to the start of their contracts on Nov. 20, and their new regular pay on Nov. 21."

The board also approved pay increases for non-certified employees and administrators, as well as the Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) program, which underwent significant changes during the 2025 legislative session. Per Indiana Code 20-43-16, TAG was established to provide millions of dollars directly to schools and thousands of dollars to Indiana's educators to attract, reward and retain teachers who significantly impact student outcomes. House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1001-2025 outlines requirements which must be met to receive TAG dollars.

"In your board packet you will find the TAG grant process that our administrative team has developed to provide guidance and directions for our local application process," Linton added.

Additional items receiving board approval included the 2025-26 Title I Grant, the addition of a homebound instructor for CMS, an instructional assistant position at CMS, stipends for the Clover Café manager and CCSC EF Tours liaison, six donations to CHS, 10 professional leave requests, five field trip requests and six facility use requests.

Additional personnel matters receiving board approval included:

Retirement
Greg Linton – superintendent

Employment
Crystal Tincher – CES instructional assistant.
Jenny Wiggs – CMS instructional assistant.
Lance Dooley – CMS long-term substitute.
Regina Wiley – CMS Drama assistant.
Ethan Stattner – CHS long-term substitute.

FMLA
Sandi Price – CES teacher.
Ken Schnepp – CHS teacher.

Coaching resignation
Camille Garcia – CHS cheer coach.
Brandon Moon – CMS boys' basketball coach.

Coaching hire
Patrick Rady – CHS junior varsity boys' basketball coach.
Paul Starks – CMS seventh grade girls' basketball coach.

The Cloverdale Community School Board will meet again on Monday, Dec. 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 Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann and Mike Rightmyer II.

Firewood permits available at MCSP

The public is invited to cut and remove certain downed trees at McCormick's Creek State Park for firewood through Mar. 20, 2026.

Eligible trees, located along roadsides or in public areas such as picnic areas, have fallen naturally or were dropped by park staff for safety reasons.

A $10 permit is required for each load, defined as an eight-foot standard pickup truck bed without any modifications including sideboards. Additional charges will be incurred for a larger truck and trailer load.

Permits are available at the park office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Firewood is for personal use only and cannot be sold.

All proceeds will be used for resource management and restoration efforts at the park, including replacement of trees.

Merry Commons Light Up

A holiday light display is coming to Cooper Commons on E. Cooper St. in Spencer. A wide variety of Christmas lights and decorations will transform the park into a holiday wonderland beginning Dec. 6 and continuing through Jan. 11.

Initiated by the Spencer Parks & Recreation Board, donations to support this project can be made to the Town of Spencer Parks & Recreation Fund at the Owen County Community Foundation. To learn more, call 812-829-1725 or visit owencountycf.org.

Drawing held for state fair queen program competition

A drawing was held Oct. 3 to determine the contestant order for all 82 counties entered into the 2026 Indiana State Fair Queen Program Competition.

Owen County, represented by 2025 Miss Owen County Fair Queen MiaRose Hess, was selected for the 39th position. The 2026 Indiana State Fair Queen Program Competition will be held Jan. 3 and 4 at the Corteva Coliseum, located on the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

Owen Valley Fire Territory receives DHS grant

The Owen Valley Fire Territory was recently awarded a grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The grant enabled the department to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

According to the website startinghearts.org, an AED is a compact, battery-powered medical device used to treat individuals experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). AEDs help restart the heart during a sudden cardiac arrest by analyzing the heart's rhythm through sticky pads placed on the chest. If the device detects a dangerous rhythm like ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT) it delivers a controlled electric shock that can reset the heart's electrical activity, restore a normal rhythm and potentially save the person's life.

A political party caucus held Nov. 14 at the Owen County Democratic Party Headquarters culminated in Ginger Kohr being selected to fill an open seat on the three-member Spencer Town Council. The position was previously held by Mike Spinks, an elected Democrat, who passed away on Oct. 23.

Kohr, who recently retired from her role as director of the Owen County Public Library, will complete the remainder of Spinks' elected term, which ends Dec. 31, 2027.

"I have loved watching this county grow and the downtown (Spencer) revitalization," Kohr said. "I want to have an open door where people feel comfortable coming to talk to me and know that they are being heard. I appreciate so much the people who had faith in me and suggested I throw my hat in the ring."

Kohr's first official town council meeting followed on Nov. 17, where she joined fellow council members Jon Stantz and Evan McKalip.

A cold snap and the early darkness of late fall didn't deter roughly 50 protesters gathering on the sidewalk outside of the Nov. 10 Owen County Lincoln Day dinner.

The dinner featured a fireside chat with Governor Mike Braun and Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith moderated by Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray and Owen County Republican Party Chairwoman Kristi Risk.

Protesters gathered with signs reading, "Braun cheats for Trump," "Hoosiers aren't cheaters! No redistricting," "Hear ye! Hear ye! Fund SNAP," and "Listen to Hoosiers not Trump." They beat upon a drum and yelled chants as folks entered the event.

But the protests outside didn't deter the dinner inside.

The event started with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance before honoring distinguished guest John Sutton, Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame Inductee and Owen County hero.

After dinner, Matthew Barnes, a volunteer chaplain for the Indiana Statehouse and the founder of the ministry Public Servants' Prayer, explained what he does.

"I minister to the most maligned and disparaged people group in the world—politicians," he said, evoking laughter from the crowd.

Bray then offered a few opening remarks before introducing Braun and Beckwith.

"I think at the end of the day, a Lincoln Day dinner is simply a celebration. It is, if you will, a way to define exactly who we are as a party and who we are as a state. And it's a time to celebrate all the accomplishments that we've had. And let me just be very clear, we've got some pretty neat accomplishments to talk about here in the state of Indiana that we have been able to achieve over the last few years," he said.

He cited Forbes deeming Indiana the best state in the country to start a business.

"We've watched business come from other states and from other nations. In 2017 we broke a record for capital investment in Indiana. It's $2 billion, over $2 billion. I remember at the time being ecstatic about the amount of capital that came in to Indiana. Since that time in 2017, we've broken that record in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024," he said.

That capital investment is now north of $39 billion, which Bray said has brought jobs to Indiana.

Bray also spoke about educational progress surrounding the importance of reading in which Indianapolis Public Schools saw a 10 percent increase in their iRead scores this past year and that the state has cut taxes 20 times within the last 10 years.

One of the topics that was discussed during a few different questions was the working relationship between Braun and Beckwith. Beckwith was not Braun's choice of a running mate. Rather, Beckwith gathered enough delegates at the state Republican convention in June 2025 to usurp Representative Julie McGuire, placing him on the ticket. Beckwith announced his desire to run for the lieutenant governor position through this process at the Owen County Lincoln Day dinner held in the spring of 2024.

"Micah, it's good to have you on the team as well because we are walking hand in hand, arm in arm," Braun said during the first question which was about where the Republican Party is most united.

"It's an honor to serve alongside you. I've said about Governor Braun as I got to know him—he embodies the fiscal prowess of Mitch Daniels, but the social conservatism of Mike Pence. I really believe that as I've gotten to see him in action. I think that's kind of what we've been asking for for the last few years," Beckwith said of Braun.

Beckwith said that some division in the party is inevitable.

"We're family, and any family is going to have a pound the table moment, and we're going to have those divisions and those fights. My ask anytime I come into a problem with the Republican Party is, 'Hey, we can pound the table, but don't take offense.' I always try to say, 'Hey, don't hold on to it so tightly that you get offended by what somebody says. Sometimes there has to be passion,'" he said.

The topic was brought up again when discussing cohesion between the different areas the duo prefer to emphasize.

"It's really good when you have a team that has diverse backgrounds," Braun said.

He discussed his extensive business background and his history as an elected official, including serving in the U.S. Senate prior to being elected governor.

"That doesn't mean I'm not just as interested in the cultural issues, as I told you earlier I was. And here, I have a partner that comes from the pulpit, that knows culture and religion and a legislature that embraces all of that. That's why I say these next three to seven years, I'm going to be involved with it. We've got opportunity that we've never had before as a state being enterprising conservatives. Generally when you have those two words together, the other side of the aisle likes to use enterprising with liberalism. We make a good team and compliment one another," Braun said.

"Absolutely. I couldn't agree more. I think you just heard him announce his re-election campaign," Beckwith said. "It's true. I think he said it so well. I love serving with Governor Braun. I think we compliment each other really well. He brings fiscal business prowess of running a business, a successful business, an entrepreneur, and you gotta have that. A conservative state needs good business policy, good entrepreneurial vision, and he brings it. But I also know he's just as conservative on the social stuff as I am, and I think he knows I'm just as gung-ho about good fiscal policy as he is."

Beckwith also said that his wheelhouse, where he comes from is "the culture wars."

He also cited faith and family values as the foundation of the nation and something they have to protect.

"I know he's got my back when I say things like that, and we've had conversations, and he's doing great things on executive orders, signing legislation that the legislature's giving him that are protecting those values. So when I'm out there, you know, I just kind of lead with that. I know he's right there 100 percent supportive," Beckwith said. "I think really, we've made a great team, and we're going to continue to make a great team for another three to seven years."

He noted that people ask about their relationship a lot.

"I think he's becoming a good friend. I look at him as a mentor and somebody that I'm learning a lot from," Beckwith said. "It's been an honor to serve alongside of you, and I think we're probably going to have one of the better, if not the best relationships between governor and lieutenant governor that we've seen in 20 years because it was kind of an arranged marriage."

Risk, who works in the lieutenant governor's office, talked about the patience and calmness that Braun brings to the work he does, which Beckwith agreed with.

Braun said that the only thing that has really offended or upset him was when Senator Chuck Schumer and Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist George Soros spent millions on a campaign calling Braun a liar and a hypocrite.

"That is when you really feel offended. And then you know what you do? You outwork them, you out maneuver them, and you get the better of that," he said.

Braun also talked about the importance of his faith in his journey to being governor of Indiana and the hope he has for the future.

"We're all together here at a moment in time when we set the bar for Midwest conservatism," he said.

The event closed with honoring and recognizing the Vincennes University chapter of Turning Point USA, an organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk who was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking on the campus of Utah Valley University.

Beckwith performed a mashup of "Amazing Grace" and "God Bless America" on the guitar also in honor of Kirk.

Editor's Note: The Owen News was comped a ticket to cover the event. Offering comped tickets or observer only access is a common journalistic practice. The Owen News is disclosing this in an effort to be overly transparent in our access to ticketed events.