Search All Our Articles

Next week, from Aug. 13 to 16, downtown Gosport’s annual Lazy Days Festival will return to the town with vendors, live music and a range of competitions. The Gosport John Brighton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7850 is set to present the colors during the opening ceremony, host a fish fry and provide cheeseburgers. 

Festival leaders will provide chalk for a free to enter sidewalk chalk art contest. The most creative and best “Come Together” themed designs will receive prizes. 

At the festival, the winners of the Little Miss and Mister contest will be announced during the opening ceremony and be placed in the parade lineup. 

Meineke Car Care is sponsoring the Tim Dittemore Memorial Car Show, where judges will award cars prizes in categories such as best vintage car, sports car and custom car. 

To round out the weekend, on Sunday the Gosport Baptist, Christian and Methodist Churches, Eminence Baptist Church, Family of God and Mount Olivet Christian Church will sponsor a community church service in the park, followed by a community pitch-in. The churches will provide fried chicken and attendees with the last name first initial A-G are encouraged to bring a side dish, H-N bring dessert, O-U bring drinks and V-Z bring bread/rolls.

Here’s the full festival schedule:

Thursday, Aug. 13

• 5 p.m. - Vendor booths open
• 5 p.m. - Registration for free sidewalk chalk art contest
• 5:30 p.m. - Sidewalk chalk art contest begins
• 6 p.m. - Opening ceremonies, with a prayer by Darren Fauber, presentation of colors by the Gosport VFW Post 7850, national anthem by Rose O’Neal, committee introduction by Lazy Days President Chris Wesley, announcement of outstanding senior citizens and outstanding citizens and presentation of Little Miss and Mister
• 6:30 to 9 p.m. - The Fab Four on the Bandstand

Friday, Aug. 14

• Gosport History Museum open
• 4 p.m. - Tim Dittemore Memorial Car Show
• 5 p.m. - Vendor booths open
• 5 to 7 p.m. - Gosport VFW Post 7850 auxiliary fish fry
• 5:30 to 7 p.m. - Kid’s games
• 6 p.m. - Car show judging
• 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Bad Penny on the Bandstand
• 9 to 11 p.m. - Ellie Grayce Band on the Bandstand

Saturday, Aug. 15

• Gosport History Museum open
• 6:45 to 7:15 a.m. - Gosport Lion’s Club 5K registration
• 7:30 a.m. - 5K begins
• 8:30 a.m. - Bike race registration, children 13 and under
• 9 a.m. - Bike race begins
• 9:30 a.m. - Baby contest sign in, pre-registration required
• 10 a.m. - Baby contest begins
• 10 a.m. - Kid’s games
• 11 a.m. - Vendor booths open
• Noon to 1 p.m. - Parade line up and registration at the Gosport Community Building
• 1 p.m. - Parade
• 2 p.m. - Bed race
• 3 p.m. - Journey wrestling
• 3 p.m. - Kappa Kappa Sigma raffle
• 3 to 7 p.m. - Kid’s games
• 5 to 7 p.m. - Gosport VFW Post 7850 cheeseburgers
• 5 to 7 p.m. - Eastern Wing Band on the Bandstand

Sunday, Aug. 16

• 10 to 10:45 a.m. - Community Church Service gospel sing at the park
• 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. - Sermon
• Noon - Community pitch-in

Ellie Wright competes in the Kiddie Tractor Pull on July 10 outside the Exhibit Hall at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Owen County Fair attendees cheer on participants in the Kiddie Tractor Pull on July 10 outside the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Ellie Wright works to move her tractor forward in the Kiddie Tractor Pull on July 10 outside the Exhibit Hall at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Ellie Wright looks behind her while racing in the Kiddie Tractor Pull on July 10 outside the Exhibit Hall at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Colston Granger poses for a photo with the champion ribbon he earned during the Kiddie Tractor Pull on July 10 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Josh Schonfeld announces the champion of the Kiddie Tractor Pull tournament of champions on July 10 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Colston Granger competes in the Kiddie Tractor Pull on July 10 outside the Exhibit Hall at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

From left, Kevin Cooper, Judge Andon Boocher, Kailee Cooper and Grand Champion Gilt winner Bryson Cooper pose for a picture while Keagan Shively holds a plate for the pig on July 9 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

From left, Judge Andon Boocher stands next to Reserve Grand Champion Gilt winner Rowan Cooper and Wade Cooper while Keagan Shively holds a plate for the pig on July 9 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

From left, Grand Champion Market Hog winner TJ Rice stands next to Hudson Rice and Judge Andon Boocher while Thurman Rice holds a plate for the pig on July 9 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

From left, Kevin Cooper stands next to Judge Andon Boocher, Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog winner Bryson Cooper and Kailee Cooper while Keagan Shively holds a plate for the pig on July 9 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

From left, 2026 Miss Owen County Makayla Hall poses next to Elliott Page, who holds his Grand Champion rooster in the Poultry Show on July 8 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

From left, 2026 Miss Owen County Makayla Hall poses next to Ily Swan, who holds her Reserve Grand Champion goose in the Poultry Show on July 8 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Jennifer Zigler talks to Winston and Barrett Zigler as they prepare to take a photo at the Book 2 Barn event on July 6, 2026, at the Owen County Fairgrounds.

The book “Interrupting Cow” lays on a table next to bubbles at the Book 2 Barn event on July 6, 2026, at the Owen County Fairgrounds at 364 S. East St., Spencer.

Rubber wristbands with farm animal designs lay on the table at the Book 2 Barn event on July 6, 2026, at the Owen County Fairgrounds.

Winston and Barrett Zigler hold up props for a photo at the Book 2 Barn event on July 6, 2026, at the Owen County Fairgrounds.

Anya DeFord watches as Winston Zigler works on a cow-themed craft at the Book 2 Barn event on July 6, 2026, at the Owen County Fairgrounds.

From left, Miss Congeniality Jenna Smith, Princess Makynlie Hall, Drew Jennings, 2026 Miss Owen County Makayla Hall and First Runner-up Tori Merchant pose with Jennings’ Grand Champion rabbit. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

From left, Ily Swan poses next to 2026 Miss Owen County Makayla Hall with her Reserve Grand Champion Rabbit at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Judge Danielle Rowe assesses a rabbit during the 2026 Owen County Fair rabbit show on July 6 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. The entrants watched Rowe judge their projects. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

A first place ribbon hangs on July 6 in the Rabbit Barn at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Ily Swan and Cash Weaver wait for judge Danielle Rowe to judge their rabbits on July 6 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Reagan Hauser poses for a photo with Drew Jennings on July 6 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. Hauser was the champion of the Mini 4-H Rabbit Show. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Reagan Hauser turns her rabbit on its back during the Mini 4-H Rabbit Show competition while Rabbit Barn Superintendent Nicholas Heck hosts the competition on July 6 at the Owen County Fairgrounds. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

The number of volunteer firefighters across the United States is declining.

Gosport is no exception.

These unpaid responders account for more than 60 percent of firefighters and more than 80 percent of fire departments in the country, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Gosport, a town of less than 900 people in rural Owen County, has relied on its volunteer fire department and a mutual aid agreement with the Owen Valley Fire Territory, but it might not be enough anymore.

“Fewer and fewer young people are becoming volunteer firemen,” Gosport town attorney Terry English said during a July 10 work session. “That’s not just here, that’s across the nation. And so we don’t have as many warm bodies as we might have had previously to man the pumps.”

To give the town fire protection, and keep decisions about funding it with tax rates with local leaders, the town is considering forming a fire territory. Fire territories are fire service consolidations that bring together two or more contiguous taxing units into one fire protection district.

In Gosport’s case, the territory would encompass the town, which is in Wayne Township and one of the other bordering townships, such as Montgomery Township to the west.

The main advantage of forming a territory is increasing revenue for fire protection services, which could fund equipment, property and positions for a territory serving Gosport. Creating the territory would lead to raised tax rates for the town, but it could be successful in revitalizing fire protection for the area.

According to Gosport Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Brian Leonard, the maximum levy possibility for the territory would be 40 cents. Meaning, if a taxpayer’s home is worth $100,000, they would pay $400 per year toward fire protection. English said the actual rate funding the territory would likely end up being around Spencer’s tax levy of $128 per year.

“We’re not talking about great sums of money here, but we are talking about more money on top of taxpayers in Owen County, who are already burdened and already upset about the amount of the assessed valuations of their homes,” English said. “What you have to determine is whether or not fire protection is important enough.”

According to the Journal Review, based in Crawfordsville, IN, Vernon Township in Hancock County increased its revenue by 488 percent by establishing a fire territory, and Pendleton increased its revenue by 921 percent.

This could go toward buying equipment that the State of Indiana may mandate, but that Gosport doesn’t currently have the money to buy.

“There’s no way we can stay open to the way we’re done,” town council member Michael Miller said. “The cost of everything has gone up so much.”

Regardless of the town’s final decision in creating a territory, Miller said the tax rates will go up regardless.

Public Law 134, signed by Gov. Mike Braun in March, requires local governments to compile data on each township and assess their performance by Dec. 31, 2026 and requires qualifying townships to merge by Jan. 1, 2029.

Miller said depending on how the mergers affect Gosport and the Owen County township trustees, the county commissioners could move forward with determining tax rates for the areas that are higher than what they are now.

“Our population’s too small,” Miller said. “I mean we choose to live here because of that, but now it’s gonna cost us. We need to have the fire protection.”

The territory would have an advisory function, making decisions about property ownership and equipment purchases, for example. However, Indiana law requires one of the entities involved to act as the provider unit and oversee the budgeting, accounting and bills. The Town of Gosport would take care of that end, giving the fire territory board a budget, English said.

The town needs to start having conversations about the territory, English said. The window to begin collecting money in 2028 requires the town to have finished the paperwork between Jan. 1 and March 31.

The town is also required to hold three public hearings about the potential territory.

“It’s just a matter of starting to move in the right direction and having the townships before we start committing money for preparation of documents, we have some idea from the township trustees that they, in fact, are interested in moving forward,” English said.

A vehicle matching the description of that owned by missing Johnson County man, Tyler Wagaman, has been located in Owen County.

Deputies with the Owen County Sheriff’s Department received a call in the area of US231, State Road 67 and Estes Road, otherwise known as Biscuit Junction.

According to a press release from the department, “the caller advised he had located a black pickup truck far into a wooded area on Estes Road.”

Upon arrival, a heavily damaged black Ford F-150 “bearing license plates matching those of a similar truck registered to Tyler Wagaman” was found by officers.

Wagaman was last seen in Johnson County on June 15.

A deceased individual was located in the vehicle and was taken into the care of the Owen County Coroner’s Office to make a positive identification.

“At this point in the investigation, it appears the driver was traveling southbound on State Road 67 at a high rate of speed and proceeded through the stop light at the 67/231 junction. He continued onto Estes Road, where he left the roadway to the west. The vehicle rolled several times and came to rest well out of view of the roadway,” the press release said.

Owen County Rescue Team responded to the scene to assist.

Owen County Sheriff Ryan White said that it appears to be a single-vehicle accident.

He also extended his thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of Wagaman.

“I understand this will be a difficult time. The grieving process will take weeks, months and years to get through,” he said.

White stressed the importance of sharing what one sees, even if it takes time to connect it to an incident.

“The observations of one person led to this discovery, even though he wasn’t sure exactly what he saw, but he had the due diligence to follow through,” he said.

To read day five trial coverage, click here. 

‍

Quentin Lamont Porter Jr. sat at the defense table in the Owen County Courthouse listening to himself talk. 

On the sixth day of his trial, two years after his initial interview with police took place, Porter sat while the jury watched and listened to a three-hour-long recording of that interview. Porter was arrested for the murder of Malik Darea Sims that same day, July 24, 2024.

On the wheeled-in television screen, Porter sat in the corner of the room, with a Coca-Cola bottle, wearing yellow shorts and a grey T-shirt, being asked questions by Owen County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Nathan Martin, Bloomington Police Department Detective Jeff Rodgers and BPD Detective Chris Scott. 

Before the video began, Owen Circuit Court I Judge Don VanDerMoere II told the jury that what the police say during the interview is not evidence and should not be considered so. The information revealed “may or may not be true,” he said. 

“I’m not going to play it off like we haven’t done our homework,” Rodgers said in the video. He told Porter he was going to lay out everything they have within the investigation. “I think there’s two sides to every story,” he said. 

The detectives asked Porter what he was doing with Sims and why he made the decisions he did after Sims was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head. 

Porter was the last person seen with Sims before Sims was killed on Stephenson Road in Owen County. 

At the beginning of the interview, Porter either remained silent or shook his head in response to questions the detectives asked him. As time went on, he opened up a bit more, revealing more and more of the story he claimed occurred and explained his innocence. 

Rodgers took the first go at talking to Porter, trying to get him to talk.

“I’m trying to understand right now, everything that they’re showing us is making you look like this cold-blooded killer,” Rodgers said. “You don’t seem like that kind of guy.”

Rodgers was trying to figure out if what happened was an accident, he said. Eventually, the situation will go to court, Rodgers told Porter, where strangers will be watching. They’re all going to ask why he didn’t say from the beginning if something else happened, if there was an accident, why Porter acted the way he did, Rodgers said.

“They’re going to want to know why you put the bag over his head,” Rodgers said. “Were you ashamed of what happened?” 

Porter didn’t respond. Sims was found lying in a field, with no shirt, socks or shoes. He was lying on his left side, wearing a pair of red shorts and had a black plastic trash bag tied over his head. 

The detectives continued to try and coax answers out of Porter.

“This is going to bother you for the rest of your life, no matter what happens from this day forward,” Martin said.

Rodgers said if an innocent man were sitting in front of him, the first thing he would say is that he didn’t do it. 

“This looks like you killed a kid and left him out like trash,” Rodgers said. “Tell me how something else happened. Tell me how I explain this, to his mom, to his family.”

Eventually, Porter told the detectives that he didn’t do it, that he was just trying to get a ride home from Sims. He said that Sims was shot by someone in a white SUV, while he sat inside Sims’ Audi A4. 

After Sims’ death, Porter allegedly drove away in the Audi and used Sims’ credit card and name to make purchases for days after. He used it to rent a car and to try to tow the Audi. 

“If it was a drug deal, I don’t give a sh*t,” Rodgers said. “I’m not the drug police."

Porter said after Sims was shot, and the SUV drove away, he drove the car about 75 yards up to him. He said he tried to drag Sims into the backseat of the car and used the plastic bag to control the massive bleeding. 

Porter said he wasn’t able to get Sims into the car, and instead left him in the middle of the road. He said he did not move Sims into the field where he was found the next day.

Porter said he didn’t call 911 because he didn’t have his phone and Sims’ was locked. After Sims died, Porter drove to his grandmother’s house in Indianapolis. Porter’s phone was later analyzed. Martin said police did not find much activity at all on the phone for about a week before Sims died. 

The detectives asked Porter why he didn’t stop at a gas station, or try knocking on someone’s door for help. 

“Why would I want to be associated with that?” Porter said. “Why would I want to sit around and get shot?”

Over and over, Porter told them he was trying to avoid a “bad situation.” He told them he was in the middle of nowhere and didn’t want to get shot too. 

“This whole situation is wrong,” Porter said. “The only reason I’m even in here is because I crossed paths with him on that day. I got a ride from Malik, that’s it.”

The detectives asked Porter why Sims didn’t actually drop him off at his mother’s house in Bloomington, and instead drove through Ellettsville and into Owen County. 

Porter said he didn’t know. 

“You’ll never convince me that you didn’t know more about that meeting than you’re telling me about,” Martin said. 

Porter said he thought Sims was “making a play.” Throughout the trial, Sims’ roommates and other witnesses confirmed they knew he sold marijuana. However, Porter also told the detectives that he didn’t really know Sims' business.

“If you can’t be honest about the little sh*t, we’re not going to believe you about the big sh*t,” Rodgers said. 

Scott asked Porter about what happened to the clothes he wore that day, if they were bloodied and where he washed them. Porter said he didn’t know where they were, and then mentioned taking them to his mother’s. At one point, Porter said he only got blood on his arms and hands from trying to drag the body into the car and cleaned it up with a towel. 

Martin said this wasn’t true. He claimed Porter shot Sims in the car, breaking the window. Then, he dragged him out and into the field. 

“You’re dodging anything factual, and you think that’s going to save you,” Martin said. 

Porter explained his actions by saying that he didn’t want to be involved in the situation, that he was just focusing on getting out of there. 

“You’ve shown no remorse,” Scott said. “You’ve done nothing but sit here, yawn and act like we’re wasting your time. You’ve done everything you could do to make yourself look guilty.”

Public defender Jacob Fish asked Martin questions after the video ended. He confirmed that Sims owned a Glock 23 handgun and asked if Martin took Porter’s statement about making a play to mean criminal activity. Martin said it could be. Fish also said Porter claimed that he did not tie a knot in the trash bag wrapped around Sims’ head, and confirmed with Martin that the DNA swabs taken around that area did not return to Porter. 

Porter decided not to testify that day, and both the prosecution and defense rested their cases. The next day of the trial will include closing arguments, VanDerMoere said. 

Ongoing trial coverage

• Day one
• Day two
• Day three
• Day four
• Day five

To read day four trial coverage, click here. 

‍

On the fifth day of the trial of Quentin Lamont Porter, Jr., who is charged with murder, Owen County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Nathan Martin took to the stand to begin his testimony, which was expected to last more than four hours. 

When 23-year-old Malik Sims’ body was discovered on July 15, 2024, Martin was one of the law enforcement officials called to the scene. He made observations about the victim and the location and condition of his body. Martin served as the lead investigator.

Sims was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head. A medical examiner said the bullet entered near his right temple and exited near the left. 

During the course of the investigation, Martin said he went back to that spot on Stephenson Road at least 15 to 20 times, sometimes looking for new evidence as weather changed and crops were harvested.

On July 27, 2026, Martin told the courtroom at Porter’s trial the path he took to investigate the murder. Martin detailed the business records he went through, evidence he collected and places he traveled to, looking for more information. 

After leaving the scene where Sims was found, Martin went to Sims’ apartment in Bloomington to collect statements from two of his roommates. He received consent to look around their apartment and, after speaking with them, developed a person of interest: Porter. 

The following day, Martin went to Indianapolis, where Sims’ Audi A4 had been located by assisting detectives. He noticed the large trash bag over the driver’s side window. The car was consistent with the images Martin obtained from Flock Safety camera footage that followed the car on its path from Bloomington to Stephenson Road, and then to Indianapolis, he said. 

On the day Sims was found, two of his friends had used Find My iPhone location sharing to identify where Sims’ body was, and then to Indianapolis, where Porter traveled after Sims died. 

Martin was able to recover the phone, which had been sold using ecoATM, an automated kiosk that can be used to sell smartphones. He tracked it to a warehouse in Louisville, Kentucky and retrieved it.

As mentioned in earlier days of the trial, investigators looked through purchases made with Sims’ credit card after he died, purchases believed to be made by Porter. Martin worked to compare the Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) codes for items purchased from the item to the receipts found in Sims’ vehicle, which Porter allegedly drove away in after Sims was murdered. 

Martin analyzed seat covers and duct tape found in the vehicle, an iPad, a black New York Yankees hat bought from the Lids in Bloomington and earrings bought from KAY Jewelers. During the trial, Martin showed some of the items to the jury, wearing plastic gloves and using scissors to cut open plastic and brown paper evidence bags. 

Martin also spoke with Porter the day he was arrested, July 24, 2024. He said the defendant told him he was with Sims the day he died because he was trying to get a ride home. On the route the two took to Stephenson Road, they passed by Porter’s mother’s house, but didn’t stop there. 

“Quentin didn’t provide a great explanation,” Martin said when Owen County Prosecutor Benjamin Kim asked if Porter said why he wasn’t dropped off. 

Porter also said he didn’t have Sims’ wallet and didn’t know the location of the credit cards at the time of the interview. He did allegedly admit that he made transactions using Sims’ card to purchase food, fuel and at some stores. 

According to Martin, in the interview, Porter said when Sims was shot, by someone he claims was in a white SUV, he was the length of a football field away from the vehicle. He claimed that the driver’s side window was broken by a rock and that he used the plastic bag found wrapped around Sims’ head to “control bleeding” as he attempted to “load” Sims into the car, Martin said. 

Martin also testified that Porter told him he didn’t stop to ask for help after claiming to witness Sims be murdered because he was concerned that he would be perceived as responsible. 

Martin said he believes the incident took place inside the vehicle, where investigators were unable to find casings. Some bullets and fragments were recovered from the scene after crops were harvested. 

Indiana State Police forensic firearms examiner Rafael Perez testified and presented his analysis of Porter’s Taurus G2C 9 millimeter handgun, which was recovered from his backpack. Perez said he was not able to say whether any of the bullets presented from evidence on day five of the trial were fired from the gun. 

The jurors were given a chance to look at the gun and the bullets. 

Day five of the trial ended early, and Owen Circuit Court I Judge Don VanDerMoere II said the next day would begin with the three-hour-long video footage of Porter’s police interview. The trial is expected to take a total of eight days. 

Ongoing trial coverage

• Day one
• Day two
• Day three
• Day four
• Day six

In a joint meeting of the Owen County Council and Owen County Commissioners, both bodies approved the purchase of 18 acres on State Road 46 to build a new jail.

After more than two hours of public comment, each body passed a resolution approving the expenditure and the land purchase. The closing on the property is anticipated for 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 30.

More information about the meeting will be included in a full story later this week.

To read day three trial coverage, click here.

‍

From the gravel on Stephenson Road to the inside of a Taurus 9-millimeter handgun, jurors on Friday followed the trail of forensic evidence that investigators collected after Malik Darea Sims’ death and later analyzed through DNA testing. 

Friday was the fourth day of testimony in the trial assessing Quentin Lamont Porter Jr.’s involvement in the murder of 23-year-old Sims and related charges of auto theft, identity deception and theft.

Sgt. Ian Matthews, an Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigator for the Bloomington District, spent roughly two hours walking jurors through how investigators documented and processed evidence from the case.

During his testimony, he shared photos from the three of the four areas he collected evidence in the case: the scene on Stephenson Road, Sims’ gray Audi A4 and a Nissan Sentra Porter rented after the shooting. Although Matthews also collected evidence during Sims’ autopsy alongside the forensic pathologist and coroner, jurors were not shown photographs from that portion of the investigation.

The photographs from Stephenson Road showed disturbed gravel in the middle of the road, tempered glass fragments, a water bottle on the side of the road that was collected but never tested for DNA and red staining on the gravel that was later confirmed to be Sims’ blood. 

Jurors also viewed photographs of Sims as investigators found him. He was lying on his left side, wearing only a pair of red shorts, with a black plastic trash bag tied over his head. No shirt, socks or shoes could be seen on Sims’ body. There was also light-colored dust on Sims’ knees and thighs, which Matthews later testified appeared consistent with the gravel roadway, though it was not specifically tested. 

Matthews also documented what he described as potential drag marks leading from the center of Stephenson Road toward the area where Sims’ body was found. However, while the pattern was consistent with drag marks, without more distinctive characteristics, he could not definitively say whether the marks were the result of Sims’ body being dragged.

ISP forensic biologist Meredith Livingston later testified that swabs collected from the red staining tested presumptively positive for blood and produced a DNA profile matching Sims. 

Matthews also showed photos of the inside of the Audi A4, which included red staining along the stitching as well as streaky metallic silver spray paint on the seats that had been covered by seat covers. Matthews said he observed the smell of a cleaning solvent inside the vehicle as well. 

“There is no real good way to go about describing this pattern,” Matthews said of the blood pattern in the vehicle. 

Matthews said the closest description was pooling, with blood saturating toward the bottom of the seat because of gravity. 

On the driver's seat, there was not a splatter or smearing pattern that could be seen. But a dark red stain could be seen concentrated on the left side of the back of the seat where the back and seat join one another. 

According to Livingston, swabs collected from inside the Audi tested presumptively positive for blood and the DNA profile matched Sims.

Investigators testified the Nissan had been rented by Porter using Sims’ identification after Sims’ death. Inside that vehicle, a black Kenneth Cole Reaction backpack was found on the front passenger seat upon Porter’s arrest on July 24, 2024. 

Inside the backpack, Matthews said investigators found the Taurus G2C 9 millimeter that Porter purchased from Ace Pawn on July 9, 2024. 

The semi-automatic pistol was found to have red staining on the tip of the gun and on other areas. It was also found loaded with one cartridge in the chamber and nine in the 12-round magazine. There were also two loose cartridges found in the backpack. 

Matthews testified that they could not be sure if there were originally 12 bullets or 13, as it is possible that one was manually loaded into the chamber before adding the magazine. 

The most detailed forensic testimony centered on the Taurus handgun recovered from the backpack.

Livingston also testified that seven samples were taken from the weapon – an unstained area of the grip, inside the barrel, the end of the barrel, the slide lock, the chamber opening, the trigger and a stained area of the grip. While nearly all of the stained samples from the weapon tested presumptively positive for blood, only two swabs yielded samples sufficient for DNA testing. 

The unstained sample from the trigger had samples from two individuals, but only one profile was suitable for comparison and it matched Sims. 

Both Sims’ and Porter’s DNA was found in the stained sample from the grip of the weapon. 

Livingston explained how touch DNA is dependent on several factors including skin shedding rates, how frequently someone washes their hands, the item type and texture and how long the item was touched. In addition, she testified that the presence of touch DNA can be impacted by the environment, outside influence such as cleaning and exposure to the elements, particularly rain and the sun’s UV rays.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Megan Schueler highlighted several items investigators either did not submit for DNA testing or tested only for the presence of blood, questioning the completeness of the forensic investigation.

Schueler pointed to the fact that the water bottle found at the scene was not tested for DNA evidence, that the backpack was only tested for a presumptive positive for blood and not DNA and that Sims’ driver’s license was also not tested for DNA. 

Earlier in the day, Kevin Essett, who knew both Sims and Porter testified that on or around July 22 he notified police that Sims’ ID was found on the outside of his vehicle, tucked under his driver’s side windshield wiper near the hood of the vehicle. Essett said his vehicle, which was distinctive and depicted on his Instagram, was parked outside his residence while he was in Northern Indiana with his girlfriend prior to driving it to a driving range where he found the ID on his vehicle. 

Schueler also questioned Detective Chris Scott about his interviewing techniques after Porter was arrested on July 24, 2024 at a convenience market located at the corner of 17th and Dunn in Bloomington with the help of Bloomington Police Department's CIRT or Critical Incident Response Team. Porter was arrested without incident. She asked if the interview that followed was accusatory in nature. 

“I just talked to him,” Scott said. “I believe the interview had questions.”

Schueler also asked about the white SUV, possible marijuana sales by Sims and the alleged burglary that took place at Sims’ residence two months prior to his death. 

Investigators said that they did not observe nearby surveillance footage of a white SUV, though they had reviewed the footage prior to being given that information upon Porter’s arrest. 

Prosecutor Benjamin Kim has yet to have lead investigator, Owen County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Nathan Martin, take the stand or to show video footage of Porter’s police interview. Both elements are expected to be shared next week when the trial resumes on Monday, July 27 and is expected to take a total of eight days.

Ongoing trial coverage

• Day one
• Day two
• Day three‍
• Day five
• Day six

To read day two trial coverage, click here. 

‍

A trove of witnesses gave testimony scattered across the timeline attorneys have been piecing together throughout a trial assessing Quentin Lamont Porter, Jr.’s innocence in the murder of Malik Darea Sims. 

Several discussed what happened to Sims’ gray Audi A4, which was found by police near Indianapolis, outside of Porter’s grandmother’s house. 

Sims was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the head on July 15, 2024, off Stephenson Road in Owen County. He had last been seen with Porter, when he allegedly gave him a ride. 

According to public defender Megan Schueler, Porter claimed Sims was killed by someone who pulled up in a white SUV. Schueler said Porter was scared for his life and thought the incident might have to do with marijuana. 

Law enforcement used Flock Safety cameras, Snapchat data and business surveillance cameras to track Sims’ vehicle and phone from his Bloomington apartment, through Ellettsville, to the location he was found and up to the Indianapolis area. 

Makayla Moore told Owen County Prosecutor Benjamin Kim that she was at her grandmother’s house when Porter, her cousin, arrived around 11 p.m. July 14, 2024.

On July 23, 2026, the third day of Porter’s trial, she said no one was expecting him when he showed up that night. The house was asleep. She didn’t talk to him that night, but saw him through the doorbell camera. She had never seen the vehicle he was driving before. 

He had allegedly arrived in Sims’ Audi A4. 

Porter wasn’t at the residence when police came on July 16, 2024. Indiana State Police evidence technicians processed the vehicle the next morning, finding blood, bleach and seat covers. 

On July 17, Jared Lentz, who owns JL Transport Towing and Recovery in Bloomington, received a call from someone claiming to be Malik Sims, asking to tow a car. The person paid with Sims’ credit card. 

Lentz had heard about Sims’ death on the news that morning, but said in his testimony that he didn’t make the connection and couldn’t remember where he had heard the name before. 

He sent a driver out to tow the car from an address on the east side of Indianapolis, but when he got there, he couldn’t find the car. 

Moore said a tow driver appeared at her grandmother’s house looking for the Audi A4, which police had already towed themselves, and her family explained that it was gone.

The towing company called the number that had requested the tow. 

“I tried calling the number back at least a dozen times,” Lentz said.

It turned out that the number belonged to Mia Hilkowitz, who was a student at Indiana University at the time. 

She told the courtroom that on July 17, someone approached her at the pool at her apartment in Bloomington, and asked to use her phone. He said his car broke down and his phone was dead. 

He returned it a few minutes later. After the man left, she received a text message with a towing bill. She started getting calls from a tow truck company, saying they were looking to tow a car. Eventually she picked up and told them it wasn’t hers. 

Later, one of Lentz’ drivers told him where he must’ve remembered Sims’ name from, and he called the police. 

Max Rollins with Saguaro Forensic Consulting Firm, the firm that performed Sims’ autopsy, was brought in as a witness after Lentz. Rollins is a forensic pathologist and told the jury his job includes determining the cause and manner, or circumstance, of a person’s death.

In Sims’ case, the cause of death was a gunshot wound, and the manner was a homicide, Rollins said. 

While the autopsy was performed on July 18, Sims’ body was in a state of decomposition. Rollins said there was “extensive larvae activity” around the neck, armpit and face. 

The defects caused by maggots eating tissue and laying eggs can obscure examiners’ analysis of injuries. 

The autopsy report was still able to show that the bullet entered through the left temple, near the trachus, and exited near the right temple. However, the decomposition had changed the head severely enough that the skin couldn’t be used to determine the distance of the gunfire. Rollins said he didn’t recall seeing soot on the entrance of the wound, which would indicate it wasn’t a contact headshot. 

Rollins also said he found a small bullet fragment in Sims’ head. 

The amount of decomposition that had occurred also made it extremely difficult to determine the time of Sims’ death, Rollins said. 

Later, the court heard testimony from several Ellettsville business owners, who shared their surveillance footage of the road with law enforcement. 

The trial is ongoing and is expected to take place over the course of eight days. 

Ongoing trial coverage

• Day one
• Day two
• Day four‍
• Day five‍
• Day six

To read day one trial coverage, click here. 

‍

Most nights, Malik Sims played video games with his friends. They would play Call of Duty, Fortnite or an edition of NBA 2K. 

On the night he went missing, he wasn’t online. His username didn’t show up as active. 

The night he went missing, on July 14, 2024, he had made plans with a girl. But as the day went on, she stopped receiving messages from him. 

The next day, Jennifer Hawkins was driving along a gravel stretch of Stephenson Road, near the Owen-Monroe county line. She saw what looked like someone laying on their left side, head down. She called 911. 

Sims was found dead with a black plastic bag over his head, covering up a single gunshot wound.

On July 22, 2026, Sims’ friends sat at the witness stand in the Owen County Courthouse, recounting the last communication they had with him the weekend he died. Hawkins shared what she saw at the scene. Law enforcement offiers detailed the steps they took to investigate.

Sims’ friends and roommate also told the prosecutors what they knew about Quentin Lamont Porter, Jr., the 27-year-old Bloomington man charged with murder, auto theft, identity deception and theft in connection with Sims’ death.

On July 13, the day before Sims disappeared, his roommate at the time, Tyler Roudebush interacted with Porter several times. Porter had come to their apartment, asking for Sims. 

“He was acting kinda strange,” Roudebush said. “He was profusely sweating. He didn't look like a normal, taken care of person. It was odd.” Porter was jittery, wearing a white tank top and a backpack filled to the brim, Roudebush said. 

Roudebush woke Sims up. A couple hours later, Porter was back. One time he knocked on the door that day, he asked if Roudebush would sell him marijuana, something that Sims did in small quantities, Roudebush said. 

“I told him no, that I don't do that,” he said. 

Public defender Megan Scheuler asked Roudebush if he knew of Sims being indebted to anyone. Roudebush denied it. 

The next day, Porter allegedly came back about three times. Roudebush said he saw him for the last time between 4 and 5 p.m. 

On July 15, Jayden Street, one of Sims’ close friends, received a phone call from his mother, telling him that Sims was missing. Their mothers were friends and Sims’ had not been able to find him.

Street and Sims shared locations with each other on Find My iPhone. Street saw that Sims’ location last registered 22 hours ago. He drove to that location, which ended up being the scene police were already investigating. 

Street also said he has known Porter, who was often referred to as QP, since fifth-grade, and was friends with him. 

“Did you know if there was any beef, so to speak, between him [Sims] and QP?” Scheuler asked. 

Street said he did not. 

Tyshawn Pruitt also had Sims’ location. He gave it to their mutual friend Kevin Mimms, who said he grew up with Sims. Mimms used the location, which had last registered near Indianapolis. He drove to the location and found what appeared to be Sims’ car, an Audi A4. But, there were trash bags covering the windows. 

Mimms told Owen County Prosecutor Benjamin Kim that this was unusual for Sims. Later, Indiana State Police evidence technicians found blood, bleach traces and spray paint on the interior. According to a probable cause affidavit, Porter’s grandmother and family members told officers Porter arrived at his grandmother’s residence in the Audi A4 at 11 p.m. on July 14, 2024. 

Spencer Police Department Officer Benjamin Muncie described to the courtroom the work he did to track Sims’ phone using Snapchat data. He also obtained records from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, O’Reilly Auto Parts, T-Mobile and various businesses for surveillance video. 

The data showed Sims’ location moving from his Bloomington apartment through Ellettsville on the route he was believed to take to the place he was found. Public defender Jacob Fish asked Muncie if, of the 1,500 locations the Snapchat data returned to him, he could tell that Sims had been to the location he was found more than once. 

Muncie said he looked through everything, but wasn’t able to say with certainty.

FBI Special Agent Nicole Robertson also outlined the path Sims’ phone took that day, using a  historical cell-site analysis. That data shows what cell towers handled a phone’s connection during a certain period of time. Using timing advance data, analysts can determine the distance of a device from a specific tower. After 6:39 pm July 14, Robertson found no activity until the following day at 2:46 pm, when the phone was in Lawrence, Indiana, near Indianapolis. 

The trial is ongoing and expected to take approximately eight days. 

Ongoing trial coverage

• Day one
• Day three
• Day four‍
• Day five‍
• Day six

Malik Darea Sims, a 23-year-old from Bloomington, was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head in July 2024. 

On July 21, 2026, 12 jurors were selected at the Owen County Courthouse to determine whether or not Quentin Lamont Porter, Jr. was responsible. 

Sims’ body was found by a passerby about 20 feet from Stephenson Road near the Owen-Monroe County line with a black plastic bag pulled over his head. 

Owen Circuit Court I Judge Don VanDerMoere II said Porter’s trial is expected to take eight days. He is being charged with murder, auto theft, identity deception and theft. 

At the trial, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Parker Trulock said the jury will see photos, physical evidence and business records and watch surveillance video and a recorded interview with Porter and law enforcement. They will hear accounts from a forensic entomologist, witnesses, officers, detectives and attorneys representing Porter and the State of Indiana. 

During the jury selection process, voir dire, VanDerMoere, Owen County Prosecutor Benjamin Kim and public defender Jacob Fish asked the potential jurors if they had any connection to the case and how they determine someone’s credibility. They inquired how the jury pool felt about marijuana, if they watch true crime television shows, if they had been victims of a violent crime and what reasonable doubt means to them, among other topics. 

Of the 200 summoned for jury duty, 84 appeared. The selection process went through about eight rounds before the jury box was filled and two alternates were selected. 

After, the jurors were sworn in and VanDerMoere read the preliminary instructions. He asked them to keep an open mind throughout the trial, consider all the information and evidence, refrain from doing research or discussing the case with non-jurors and remember that people charged with crimes are presumed to be innocent. 

With the picks solidified, the attorneys presented their opening statements — a “roadmap” of what the attorneys expect the evidence to show, Trulock said. 

As for the prosecutor’s fight for Porter, 27, to be found guilty, the evidence will show what Porter allegedly did, said and how his account compares to the evidence. It shows that Sims was shot and killed, a passerby found his body and the victim’s car, driver’s license and credit card was gone, Trulock said. 

“Everything in the case comes back to that one question: Who murdered Malik Sims?” Trulock said. “Standing alone, no single piece [of evidence] answers the question.”

Put together, it will, he said.

Trulock said the recorded interview between Porter and the law enforcement officers is one of the most important pieces of evidence. Porter admitted that Sims gave him a ride, that they left together and that Sims was never seen alive again, he said. 

The attorney encouraged the jury to pay attention to Porter’s word choice in the video and compare what he says with the evidence. 

Trulock said Porter claims that someone pulled up in a white SUV and killed Sims. Following his death, Porter didn’t call 911, report the SUV or seek medical attention for Sims, Trulock alleged.

Instead, he allegedly drove off in Sims’ 2012 Audi A4. 

Law enforcement tracked the vehicle using Flock Safety data and cameras and found it was driven to an Indianapolis address registered to Porter’s grandmother, according to a probable cause affidavit. 

During a search of the residence, Porter’s grandmother and family members told officers Porter arrived at the residence in the Audi A4 at 11 p.m. on July 14, 2024. He told them the vehicle “was going to be his” after being asked if it belonged to him.

Later, Indiana State Police evidence technicians found blood, bleach traces and spray paint on the interior. Porter was charged with theft of Sims’ cell phone, driver’s license and credit card. He allegedly used Sims’ card to purchase seat covers found in the vehicle and to tow it from Indianapolis to Bloomington. 

“Investigators followed the evidence wherever it led,” Trulock said. 

The court must prove everything Porter was charged with beyond a reasonable doubt, Trulock said. 

Public defender Megan Schueler gave her statement after Trulock. She said some of his questions were valid, but that by the end of the trial, the jurors will not know who murdered Sims. 

Following Porter’s account of Sims’ death, that someone in a white SUV shot him, Scheuler said he was scared for his life. 

“My client got the heck out of there when he saw someone murder his friend,” she said. 

Porter thought the incident might have to do with marijuana, which Schueler said Sims sold.

Scheuler agreed with Trulock that the video interview is an important piece of evidence, but shows something different than he claimed. 

“He tells the officers — which the state neglected to tell you — that he did try to help his friend,” Schueler said. Porter tried to limit the bleeding and couldn’t carry Sims. Regarding the stolen items, those were in the vehicle Porter used to flee the situation, she said. 

Scheuler also said the identity theft allegation is “a little murky.” Porter may have used Sims’ card, but he signed his own name and used his own rewards card, she said. 

The attorney asserted that Porter was interrupted in the video interview at least 19 times and told what happened instead of being asked actual questions. 

Porter’s public defender said even more evidence complicates the case, such as how Sims’ blood was found on Porter’s gun, but Porter’s DNA was not. 

“All of the forensics in the world cannot tell you anything about who killed Malik Sims,” Scheuler said. 

The trial began yesterday, July 21, hearing evidence to establish the purchase of a Taurus 9 millimeter handgun from Ace Pawn in Bloomington on July 9, 2024 through business records and testimony before breaking for the day. 

Ongoing trial coverage

• Day two
• Day three
• Day four‍
• Day five‍
• Day six

Thirty years have passed since the headlights of a red Pontiac Trans Am cut through the night air on U.S. 231/67 just north of Spencer. There, a single gunshot shattered the quiet of July 17, 1996, cutting short the life of 18-year-old Bryan Edward Haltom and leaving an enduring wound in the heart of Owen County.

Today, the case remains one of the area’s most prominent unsolved mysteries—a stack of files transferred years ago from local custody to the Indiana State Police. For Haltom’s mother, Lynn Carmichael Highland, the passage of time hasn’t faded the memory of her fun-loving son, who was born on Christmas Day, 1977, nor has it quieted the agonizing questions that have lingered for half a lifetime.

Before he walked out the door that night during what was a typically busy county fair week, a mother and son shared a familiar, lighthearted exchange.

“We used to say… we’d do the ‘I love you more’ thing,” Highland shared in a recent retrospective interview from her home in Florida where she lives with her husband, Tom Highland. “That’s the last thing I said to him, I said ‘have fun, I love you more.’ That was it. I’m just so thankful we weren’t arguing over anything though. I see so many parents that, you know, they’re arguing with their child... but they leave. And you know, that’s the last time they see them. And I’m so grateful we weren’t fighting.”

Late to the wheel

Given his father Ed Haltom’s background as a mechanic, it seemed almost inevitable that Bryan Haltom would develop a passion for cars—even if it took him a little longer than most teenagers to get behind the wheel. When he finally showed an interest in driving at 17, his parents began searching for a reliable vehicle.

“His dad was a mechanic, but Bryan didn’t actually get his license until he was about 17,” Highland recalled. “He really wasn’t interested in getting it right when he turned 16, and he didn’t even take driver’s ed. I think I was more interested in him getting it than he was, just so I could quit bussing him around while his dad and I were working.”

When the time came to pick out a vehicle, a clash of styles quickly emerged. While his mother had a sensible, practical vehicle in mind, Haltom had entirely different ideas about what his first set of wheels should look like.

“When he finally got interested, we started looking for a car. I definitely wanted him to get a Volkswagen Beetle, and he was like, ‘No way, Mom,’” Highland said.

The standoff didn’t last long. A chance conversation at work opened the door to an affordable compromise that combined a teenager’s dream car with a project his mechanic father could easily handle.

“Around that time, I was talking to a coworker at Boston Scientific who had a Pontiac Trans Am for sale,” Highland explained. “I told her I was looking for a car for Bryan and asked what she wanted for it. It wasn’t much at all—only about $1,000 or $1,500, because it had been wrecked a little bit in the front. It had a bra over the front that covered the damage, so it didn’t really make a difference, and Ed could fix anything wrong with it mechanically.”

Any lingering thoughts of a practical Volkswagen vanished the moment Haltom laid eyes on the red sports car. It was, his mom recalled, love at first sight.

“When we went out to look at it, Bryan’s eyes got huge. There went the VW right out the window,” Highland said. “We bought it from her, and he just fell in love with it. It had T-tops, and it was a four-speed, so Ed taught him how to drive it. We brought it home, and that was his car.”

A fateful ride and competing accounts

The evening of July 16, 1996, began like many others during an Indiana summer. The Owen County Fair was drawing crowds of teenagers into town, and though Haltom had initially planned to stay home, he headed out to meet friends after a phone call, agreeing to an 11 p.m. curfew his mom recalled.

Later that night, Haltom reportedly connected with Trevor Powell in the parking lot of Fulk’s OV Restaurant (today the site of Byers Home Furnishings). Powell was described by Highland as more of a casual acquaintance than a close friend.

According to early statements provided to police by Powell, the sequence of events that followed was framed as an escalating teenage night. Powell contended that they were traveling in Haltom’s Trans Am when another vehicle—described as a sporty maroon or dark red import—struck or passed them near Main and Morgan streets.

According to Powell’s original account, an angered Haltom allegedly ran a red light, sped up to catch the maroon car, turned north on Fletcher Ave., passed it and pulled onto the shoulder less than a mile north of State Road 46. Powell claimed Haltom then exited his vehicle and walked back toward the trailing car, where a shot was fired from within the suspect vehicle, striking Haltom in the chest. Investigative files later revealed the weapon used was believed to be a .38 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

For decades, Haltom’s family has found this road-rage sequence difficult to accept. Bryan’s father publicly doubted the logistics of that timeline.

“I still don’t believe what he’s telling me... you run a car 80 miles an hour down through the middle of town, somebody’s going to notice,” Ed Haltom noted in a 2000 interview printed in The Spencer Evening World. “It would be difficult for any car to wait completely through a red light at Main and Morgan and catch up with a second vehicle by Fletcher.”

Dispatch chaos and the midnight hunt

Archival accounts from the first responding officers paint a vivid picture of the immediate, chaotic aftermath of the shooting. Former Owen County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Joe Pettijohn recalled that the fair had just wound down when the call fractured the night.

“Everyone had dispersed from the fair; I was off and hadn’t been home more than 30 minutes, and I got a call from dispatch,” Pettijohn noted in an interview with The Spencer Evening World in 2011. “They told me they had a shooting on Epitomist Hill (just north of Boston Scientific), and they had a report that the suspect was driving a red mid-sized car, no make or model, and headed north.”

Pettijohn immediately mobilized toward Gosport, parking just past where the Casey’s General Store stands today. Meanwhile, Sheriff Steve Cradick dispatched every available unit to strategic county lines.

“All notifications were made to area emergency personnel, Spencer Police and the sheriff’s department,” Pettijohn recalled. “All we knew was we were looking for a red, mid-sized car. Ellettsville, Bloomington, Greene County, Morgan County, Putnam County, all of the notifications were made... everybody was looking for a red car... we would have probably stopped a red Volkswagen even.”

Despite the massive net cast across southern Indiana, the shooter slipped away. Indiana State Police Evidence Technician J.D. Maxwell arrived on the scene shortly after the shooting, according to previous accounts, confirming the road was locked down north and south, but the suspected vehicle’s direction of travel was eventually reported as changing toward the south.

Powell’s early description of the gunman was documented: a well-built male, roughly 30-years-old at the time, with dark hair and a two-day-old beard. Yet, as years dragged into decades, street gossip contaminated the official record.

“You had all kinds of people calling in saying, ‘I think so and so did it,’” Pettijohn lamented. “Word of mouth travels around... People just made their own assumptions. There was only one known witness to the crime.”

Pettijohn, who served with the sheriff’s department for more than 20 years before retiring, passed away on April 16, 2026, at the age of 63.

A mistaken accident, a shocking truth

The evening began normally, with Haltom leaving the house in the late afternoon. Highland recalled the timeline of that night and her strict rules regarding her son’s curfew.

“Bryan left the house at approximately 4 to 4:15 p.m. I had to be at work the next morning, so by 10 p.m., I went to bed. I usually got up at 5 [a.m.]. When I told him to be home at a [certain] time, he better be home at that time or I’d take his car keys and he’d be grounded,” she said. “Not everyone had a cell phone then, so I always worried about him. Bryan was rarely ever late. If he was, he always had a good reason, and if he could get to a phone he called.”

As midnight approached, his dad grew anxious when his son failed to return home. While Highland said the police later claimed they tried to call the house, she disputed their account.

“Ed was outside working on a truck. Around 12 a.m., Ed came in and woke me to tell me Bryan wasn’t home yet,” Highland recalled. “He was worried that maybe he should go in [to town] and look. I looked at the clock and said to give him a few more minutes, that he must have had car trouble—a flat tire or something. Ed ended up falling asleep in the recliner, and we both fell asleep. The cops later said that they tried to call us and our phone was off the hook, which was very, very strange. I honestly never did believe it; our phone was not off the hook.”

The quiet night was abruptly shattered around 1:30 a.m. when their niece, Cindy Collins—who had been sent by family after the sheriff’s department notified them—came rushing into the unlocked home.

“Cindy came running through the door, screaming, ‘You have to get to the hospital, Bryan has been in an accident.’ It was July 17th so it’s hot, and we never locked doors or anything. She said, ‘You have to go through Gosport, don’t go into Spencer,’ Highland recalled. “We pulled on our clothes and ran out the door. As we pulled up to the intersection at the end of Coon Path, there were firemen directing traffic. They knew who we were and told us to go through Gosport too. They said they weren’t sure what happened but to hurry. We raced all the way to Bloomington Hospital. We thought it was a car accident, and he wrapped himself around a tree in that damn car.”

Upon arriving at Bloomington Hospital, Highland ran inside to handle the paperwork, completely unaware of the violent nature of the incident until a doctor delivered the devastating news.

“When we got to the hospital, Steve Craddick [Owen County Sheriff] pulled in right behind us. Ed said, ‘I’m gonna go talk to Steve,’ and I went on in ’cause I’m the one that carried the insurance,” Highland said. “The doctor walked up, introduced himself, and stated very matter-of-factly, ‘Your son has been shot to death.’ Bryan had been shot through the heart.”

Sifting through small-town rumors

In the long absence of an arrest, local whispers grew increasingly complex. One prominent theory explored by the family involved a Stinesville man who had befriended area teenagers and was later arrested on unrelated drug and sexual misconduct charges. Rumors surfaced alleging that Haltom was on the verge of exposing the man’s illicit activities to authorities, prompting a retaliatory, paid hit.

Other persistent theories involved illicit drugs and even local political interference. While the barrage of gossip was exhausting, Highland viewed the community talk as a double-edged sword.

“In those rumors -- somewhere -- is the truth. It’s just a matter of following each one of them and find where the truth lays,” Highland stated in 2000. “And as a parent, you don’t want your son to be forgotten. At least if the rumors are going on, (the murder is) not being forgotten.”

Shadows on the highway

Archival records reveal that local law enforcement did encounter bizarre developments along the way. Around the time of the 11th anniversary in 2007, Indiana State Police Sgt. Jeff Deckard revealed a strange occurrence where a file folder scrawled with a specific individual’s name was found physically attached to Haltom’s roadside memorial cross north of Spencer.

Furthermore, first responders recalled unusual activity near the scene on the night of the crime. Former Owen County Sheriff’s Department Detective William Snodgrass, one of the first officers to arrive, noted that within 15 minutes of police arrival, a large group of local teenagers had gathered just down the road. Snodgrass noted in 2007, “It just seemed unlikely... maybe someone in that group that night knew more than they were willing to share with police.”

Snodgrass, now a Major with the sheriff’s department, today serves as Commander of the Owen County Jail.

Highland also recalled a localized lead regarding a nearby ditch. A resident living near the site contacted her to report seeing an individual pacing the ditch the morning after the shooting, appearing to look for a discarded object. Though the sheriff’s department searched the area with metal detectors, no weapon was ever recovered, she said.

Waiting on a witness

With the passage of time and the absence of key physical evidence, the path to justice in Haltom’s case has grown increasingly narrow. Fearing early investigative missteps and a lack of a physical weapon have limited the role that modern forensics can play, Highland believes the resolution of the mystery is likely to hinge entirely on human breakthrough rather than laboratory science.

“Oh, I think it is going to take a witness. If the person who knows what happened isn’t dead already—which is what concerns me—it’s not going to be solved through DNA or anything like that,” she said. “There is nothing really left. We never found a gun, and they screwed up the ballistics of it all. So ultimately, it’s going to take somebody finally breaking their silence.”

Left in the dark

Highland remains profoundly frustrated by the lack of communication and perceived stonewalling from investigators tasked with solving the case. When asked if she maintains contact with the law enforcement agencies overseeing the active investigation into her son’s death, Highland revealed a perceived rift between local efforts and the state authorities who now control the file.

“They gave Sam [Hobbs] an incredibly hard time when he was sheriff,” Highland said, noting she believes the perceived pushback severely hindered local progress. “Sam did all kinds of legwork on Bryan’s case and they just, oh, they just gave him such a hard time about it and wouldn’t let him do all kinds of things.”

According to Highland, the jurisdictional handoff has left her completely in the dark regarding any potential breakthroughs or updates.

“[Sheriff] Ryan [White] told me it’s not under Owen County anymore. It hasn’t been for years,” she explained. “But yet the State Police have absolutely no contact with me whatsoever—they haven’t talked to me in at least 20 years.”

Investigation shifted to Cold Case Team

The investigation has officially transitioned to a specialized state unit, according to Sheriff White. White confirmed on July 12 that the case was handed over to the Indiana State Police (ISP) Cold Case Team approximately three to four months ago. While White stressed that the extensive volume of evidence means a quick resolution is unlikely, he emphasized that lines of communication remain open.

“The case belonged to the Indiana State Police three days after the murder occurred, so it’s not been part of the sheriff’s office other than those first three days,” White said. “However, I did meet with the state police detective this past week regarding the case and discussed some key points that I thought needed to be looked at. Bryan‘s case has been turned over to the Cold Case Team with the Indiana State Police. There’s a lot to look at, so I’m sure it will not be quick. They have a lot of information to review before they can act on anything. I can’t discuss specifics regarding the case, but folks with information to share can contact me at my office, and I can share it with the ISP.”

A ‘mama’s boy’ frozen at 18

While the paper files and police logs focus on the logistics of a crime scene, Highland’s mind constantly returns to the vibrant, fun-loving teenager who filled her home with life. Three decades later, she still pictures the boy who loved high-energy summer nights and shared a unique, tender bond with his family.

“He was a mama’s boy, even if he wouldn’t admit it,” Highland smiled, recalling his protective yet affectionate nature.

Stolen on a dark stretch of U.S. 231 three decades ago, Haltom’s missing milestones leave an empty space that Highland frequently fills by imagining his unlived life—the career he would have built, the partner he would have chosen and the family that should have been.

“I wonder all the time,” Highland shared, her voice carrying the quiet weight of three decades of unfulfilled dreams. “You know, about his kids... what they would look like, who he would be today.”

A mother’s final plea

Today, Haltom rests in Riverside Cemetery. Years ago, Highland replaced his original limestone marker with a permanent black marble headstone bearing his etched photograph and the words “Love You More” carved on the back side of the stone.

As she navigates her 69th year, the lack of closure weighs heavily on Highland, compounded by the fear that she or her 86-year-old mother may pass away before justice is served.

“There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of Bryan. Not one day. And there’s not very many days that I don’t think of the case,” Highland shared. “I want justice before I die. And I just don’t know if I’m gonna get it... The next time I go [to Indiana], I hope I’m in that damn courthouse. Yeah, that’s where I wanna be.”

With an independent investigative podcast slated to be released near the 30th anniversary of the tragedy, Highland hopes a human conscience will finally break the decades of silence.

“If it’s a stranger that got away with it, it’s like, how could you just turn and run like that? You just changed our lives forever,” Highland said. “But, if it’s somebody that knew Bryan, knew us… how does he do that to us? To leave us hanging… all these years of not knowing what happened, cause the not knowing what happened is probably… it’s almost harder than losing Bryan.”

Three decades after losing her son, Highland wants the public conversation to shift away from the small-town rumors that clouded the investigation and return to the person she believes her son truly was. As the community marks this milestone anniversary, she hopes readers will look past the gossip and remember a young man defined by his kindness rather than the myths that followed his death.

“I want them to remember him like he really was. He was a truly kind kid,” she said. “I want people not to go off the rumors they heard about drugs and everything, because that wasn’t the kind of person he was. The rumors that went around back then were just horrible, and they simply weren’t who he was.”

Anyone with information regarding the July 17, 1996, shooting death of Bryan Edward Haltom is urged to contact the OCSD at 812-829-5757, or the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post at 812-332-4411. Callers may remain anonymous.

From left, former Gosport VFW Post 7850 Commander Mike Oakes, Post Commander David Cornett, state auxiliary president Carolyn Patch and 2026-2027 State Commander Dave “Muffin” Hammons pose for a photo next to the 80th anniversary celebration banner. NICOLE DECRISCIO | THE OWEN NEWS

Attendees enjoyed free hamburgers, hotdogs and sides as part of the 80th anniversary celebration for the Gosport VFW Post 7850 on July 11. NICOLE DECRISCIO | THE OWEN NEWS

The monument commemorating the 80th anniversary of Gosport VFW Post 7850, which was founded on June 24, 1946 can be seen. NICOLE DECRISCIO | THE OWEN NEWS

A cake celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Gosport VFW Post 7850 can be seen. NICOLE DECRISCIO | THE OWEN NEWS

‍

The Town of Gosport was under a 48 hour boil water advisory until July 8.

The town is investigating an incident, Town Council President Marian McGee wrote in an email.

“As this is being investigated we are not allowed to talk about this, as soon as we know something we will let you know,” she wrote.

In a Facebook comment posted to the group “Gosport Chatter,” McGee said someone almost drained the water tower dry. The water tower sits along 6th Street.

A paper advisory sent to town residents said the water notice was due to vandalism.

The advisory encouraged anyone with questions to contact town hall at 812-879-4334.

Former Owen County Community Foundation President and CEO Mark Rogers reads the Declaration of Independence on July 8 on the lawn of the Owen County Courthouse at 60 S. Main St., Spencer. Rogers said he was surprised by the emotion he felt while reading the document. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Owen County residents listen to Mark Rogers read the Declaration of Independence on July 8 on the lawn of the Owen County Courthouse at 60 S. Main St., Spencer. On the same day in 1776, the document was read to the public for the first time. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

When someone falls and can’t get back up, emergency service responders arrive to help. They take them to the hospital if they’re hurt and provide medical care.

Oftentimes, these responders return to the same addresses to help with the same issues over and over.

Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) could change that, and fill a gap in preventative care for Owen County residents.

MIH delivers care to patients’ homes or in a mobile environment and connects them with resources that fit their needs. It focuses on giving individualized, holistic care to improve quality of life.

Owen County EMS Director Cris Lunsford recently applied for a five-year grant through Indiana Rural Health that would bring the program to the county.

Instead of waiting for injuries to treat, it works to identify how to reduce calls ahead of time. For example, rather than helping someone prone to falls again and again, MIH employees may be referred to a patient and identify the problem areas in their homes.

Shelby VanDerMoere, Bloomington community emergency medical technician and MIH program manager, said the city’s MIH team goes through a home safety checklist and checks ways to prevent future injuries, such as by identifying hazards, areas that are not ergonomically safe or places where grab bars should be installed.

Or, maybe the problem is that someone fell because they become dizzy suddenly after standing up. A MIH responder might push them to get in contact with a doctor to address the root cause of their falls.

MIH includes telehealth platforms and in-person teams that can provide health screenings, vaccinations, treatments, follow-ups, social work, substance abuse resources, mental health resources and chronic disease management, among other services.

Both Bloomington’s MIH program and the still developing potential Owen County program include vehicles that will allow the MIH responder to meet patients where they’re at, whether it is their home, the street, a McDonald’s, doctor’s office or a park.

The Owen County grant, which would give $200,000 for the first year of the program, includes a paramedic position, their training, a vehicle outfitted with lights and graphics, a heart monitor and possibly a computer that can be used for telehealth medicine.

Lunsford said MIH, which will give free services, will largely focus on prenatal and postnatal care. This would include teaching safe sleeping habits, ensuring the mothers and infants are taken care of and helping them navigate the healthcare system. It will also include follow-up care for patients who recently left the hospital.

“We have people that maybe have problems accessing medications, navigating the health care system,” Lunsford said. “Some people use the ER as their primary care physician, and this will help educate those people and help them maybe get in to see a primary care physician, instead of calling the ambulance to do that.”

It helps find solutions and alleviate some calls from the EMS load, he said. The program could also develop to include smoking cessation and drug rehabilitation.

VanDerMoere, who lives in Owen County, said she thinks the area could also really benefit from MIH providing elderly and chronic disease management.

One time, Bloomington MIH was able to help someone who had been homebound for several years get a ramp installed in their home, giving them the ability to leave.

“Mobile Integrated Health is going to be able to provide an outlet for those people to get the help they need with allowing people to realize that the only option isn’t just going into a nursing home,” she said.

Additionally, VanDerMoere recommended that the county’s future MIH program work closely with the local school resource officers to identify families that might need “a little bit of extra help and make sure that they have the things that they need to be successful.”

“Our school resource officers are going to be able to easily identify those families,” VanDerMoere said. “And then if you could just kind of wrap some extra love around them, to help make sure that the kiddos are having some protective shields around them in the hopes to maybe prevent some issues later in life, that’s a huge deal.”

Bloomington first implemented its MIH program about 3.5 years ago and has fleshed it out to include different areas of expertise.

“What it looks like from the beginning, if you do Mobile Integrated Health correctly, and you don’t get so focused on what you think it should look like, then it should constantly be evolving to what the community needs,” VanDerMoere said. “What it might need right now does not mean three years from now, is what it still needs.”

To keep serving the community well, it’s important for the MIH paramedics to remember the “why” behind what they’re doing and keep in close relationships with the community and its partners, she said.

Lunsford said one way he aims to do this is by seeking out the county’s Amish and Mennonite communities to see if MIH could be helpful to them.

“Taking the time to build the relationships up front is my biggest advice,” VanDerMoere said. “Take the time to invest up front, and build the relationships, and it will pay great dividends in the end.”

The grant is still very early in the process, but Lunsford said he hopes to start slowly implementing the program in January 2027. In the meantime, he plans to meet with MIH leaders in different counties to learn more about preparing for and integrating the program.

“There’s still a lot I need to learn,” Lunsford said. “We’re just hoping to make a difference in people’s lives, help people access what they need, help them and help the county also.”

New sidewalks take shape along U.S. 231 in Freedom on July 2 as part of an Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) improvement project. Contractor Crider & Crider, Inc. began work recently between County Road 550 West and Freedom-Arney Road, with completion slated for late July, weather permitting.

The work is part of a $2.6 million contract awarded in February 2026. A 10-foot lane width restriction is currently in effect for both northbound and southbound traffic during construction. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS

A vibrant celebration of Indigenous culture, dance and history is returning to northern Owen County later this summer. The community is invited to attend the Gathering of the People Powwow, scheduled to take place Aug. 1 and 2 in Cataract.

The two-day cultural event will open at 10 a.m. both days at 9582 Hi Ridge Trail. Visitors will have multiple opportunities to witness the spectacular Grand Entry, which signifies the official beginning of the dance sessions.

Grand Entries are scheduled for noon and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1 and at noon on Sunday, Aug. 2. Additionally, a special Glow Dance is slated to take place at dusk on Saturday evening.

The gathering will feature powerful traditional music provided by Host Drum Iron Bear Singers and Co-Host Drum Little Whirlwind. An esteemed lineup of Head Staff will lead the weekend’s proceedings, anchored by Buffalo Child serving as the Master of Ceremony and Leroy Malaterre operating as the Arena Director and Co-MC.

The leadership team also includes Head Veteran Daniel Blue Tail, Head Man Shawn Skeel, Head Lady Kichie Malaterre, Head Junior Man Kevin Hudson and Head Junior Lady Bentlie Malaterre.

A major highlight of this year’s powwow is the return of Buffalo Child, who is of 14/16 Plains Cree and part Nakota heritage. An accomplished actor and performer, Buffalo Child has appeared in over 100 movies, films and television shows, with notable credits including Dances with Wolves, Crazy Horse and Call of the Wild.

Beyond his master of ceremony duties, he will share the rich history of Smudging and Powwows and captivate audiences with a traditional Hoop Dance performance. These special presentations will run from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Organizers note that seating is limited, and attendees are strongly encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.

The event offers affordable admission tiers to encourage wide community attendance. Children aged three and under can enter for free, tickets for children under 10 are $3, individuals aged 10 to 59 are $5, and elders aged 60 and older receive free admission. Furthermore, complimentary entry is extended to all dancers, veterans, EMTs, police officers and firefighters who present a valid ID.

For more information regarding the event, the public can reach out to coordinator Cyndi Capps at 812-821-4406.

Routine food inspections were recently conducted by the Owen County Health Department, including the following:

5-30

Outlaw BBQ, Spring Demolition Derby, Owen County Fairgrounds. Routine inspection. No violations.

Hoosier Mama Cookin, Spring Demolition Derby, Owen County Fairgrounds. Routine inspection. No violations.

Carlson Concessions, Spring Demolition Derby, Owen County Fairgrounds. Routine inspection. No violations.

6-5

Sweet Escape Baking Studio, 109 S. Main St., Spencer. Routine inspection. No violations.

7-6

Tasty Sweet Sips, 2026 Owen County Fair. Routine inspection. No violations.

Dottie’s Cinnamon Rolls, 2026 Owen County Fair. Routine inspection. No violations.

China Rainbow, 2026 Owen County Fair. Routine inspection. No violations.

Jay’s Kitchen, 2026 Owen County Fair. Routine inspection. No violations.

Wayz, 2026 Owen County Fair. Routine inspection. No violations.

Gather Around BBQ, 2026 Owen County Fair. Routine inspection. No violations.

Metal Mania Designs, 2026 Owen County Fair. Routine inspection. No violations.

Serena’s Food Hut, 2026 Owen County Fair. Routine inspection. No violations.

Richie’s St. Tacos, 2026 Owen County Fair. Routine inspection. No violations.

A new patriotic mural was officially dedicated on July 4 as part of the “Spencer Celebrates 250” block party hosted by Spencer Main Street and VFW Post #1405. The Independence Day celebration drew local families and veterans to North Washington Street, between East Morgan and East Franklin Streets, for an afternoon of free public entertainment and a historic tribute to local military service.

The day featured family-friendly festivities, including a bounce house and face painting, alongside live musical performances. Food and refreshments were offered throughout the afternoon by Civilian Brewing Corps and Post #1405.

The centerpiece and a special remembrance

The centerpiece of the celebration featured the official dedication of a new patriotic mural on the east side of Post #1405. The VFW Honor Guard kicked off the ceremony with a formal presentation before a crowd of local families and veterans.

Prior to the ceremony, the artist and organizers had the honor and privilege of remembering Army veteran and VFW Post #1405 member Mike Barger, the late husband of Past Department President and current Secretary of the VFW Post #1405 Auxiliary Sharron Barger. In a deeply moving tribute, Mike’s family mixed a small handful of his ashes into the paint, forever making Mike a part of this commemorative mural as they placed their own brushstrokes onto the wall, filling in the words “VFW Post 1405.”

Completion of the mural was made possible through the financial support of the Owen County Community Foundation, Wally DeFord, Rob Babbs, the Spencer Exchange Club, the Sons of the American Legion and the Spencer VFW Post #1405 and Auxiliary.

The artist behind the vision

The vibrant artwork was painted by neighboring Monroe County resident Adam Long. Remarkably, Long has no formal art training—having studied elementary education and business at Franklin College—and didn’t begin painting professionally until the age of 40. Today, he and his wife, Nicole, live in Smithville with their daughter, Lorene Maree.

Long noted that Owen County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marce Johnson came up with the original design concept for the project, while he added his “own spin with vivid colors and life.”

It took Long an estimated 20 hours to complete the piece on the VFW wall—a process made richer by the community itself.

“I enjoyed seeing many old friends stop by and made several new friends,” Long shared. “People were inviting!”

Reflecting on the unique addition of Mike Barger’s ashes to the artwork, Long noted the profound emotional weight of the project.

“Public art often tells the stories of communities, but this piece now carries something even deeper—the memory of a man who served his country and the love of the family who continues to carry his legacy forward,” Long said.

This is not Long’s first landmark piece in the area; in early 2025, he created a memorable mural for Travis and Krista Dill at their property along West State Road 46. For that project, Long quickly built upon an initial flag and eagle concept, expanding it over an estimated 40 hours to incorporate the scenic falls at McCormick’s Creek State Park, alongside “Spencer, Indiana” and the name of the couple’s business, KMSJ Services.

To contact the artist or to view more of his portfolio, visit “Adam Long” or “Art Happens” on Facebook.

A deeply rooted history of service

Following the Honor Guard’s presentation, Owen County Historian Tony Neff took the podium to deliver an insightful keynote address.

Neff explicitly connected the national milestone to local heritage, noting that July 4, 2026, marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, PA.

“This momentous event cannot be overstated,” Neff said. “Because the signing of the Declaration of Independence is the foundation stone of the world’s oldest modern constitutional democracy: Our United States of America.”

Neff walked the crowd through the earliest days of local settlement, pointing out that when Indiana became the 19th state in 1816, the first pioneers arrived in what would become Owen County.

He noted that in November of that year, Phillip Hart, his family, and James Bigger settled on the land where Boston Scientific is located today, just a few years before Spencer became the county seat in 1820.

Owen County’s lifelong connection to American conflict

The central theme of Neff’s address was the unbroken line of military service that defines local families.

He highlighted that Owen County residents have participated in every single American war, insurrection or expedition since 1776. Reading from an original Revolutionary War recruiting flyer that called on “all brave, healthy, able bodied and well-disposed young men” to join General George Washington, Neff emphasized that this exact mindset has long been the norm for the county.

“Revolutionary War, Indian Wars and War of 1812 veterans settled in Owen County,” Neff explained, crediting research by local historian and veteran journalist Dixie Richardson for identifying 34 American Revolutionary War veterans who made the county their home. “Owen County and Spencer are named after soldiers who died in the Battle of Tippecanoe: Colonel Abraham Owen and Captain Spier Spencer, both from Kentucky.”

The symbols on the wall

Turning the crowd’s attention to Long’s newly unveiled artwork, Neff broke down the deliberate historical and patriotic symbolism crafted into the design.

“The mural we are dedicating today shows the American flag and the freedom and unity it symbolizes,” Neff shared. “An American Eagle and the strength, independence and resilience it symbolizes. A WWI Doughboy in the heat of battle, showing the courage, honor, patriotism and the sacrifices of our veterans.”

Local heroes: The Cassady cousins

Neff illustrated that courage by sharing the remarkable, interwoven histories of two Spencer High School graduates from the class of 1914 who went on to serve with distinct heroism in both World Wars.

The first, Captain Thomas G. Cassady of Freedom, bypassed a medical career to volunteer as an ambulance driver in France in 1916. He later joined the French Foreign Legion, became a fighter pilot and shot down five German planes.

When the United States entered WWI, he joined the U.S. Air Service and claimed four more aerial victories. On the day Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941, Cassady was called back to duty by the Secretary of the Navy to serve as an undercover agent in Vichy France, where he endured a year of German imprisonment before being exchanged. He concluded his service as a Chief Intelligence Officer for the OSS in newly liberated Paris.

The second hero, Admiral John H. Cassady, served in the Navy during WWI and rose to command the famed aircraft carrier Enterprise in the Pacific theater during WWII. Neff revealed an extraordinary piece of naval trivia regarding his appointment.

“In 1943, Admiral Cassady took over the command of the aircraft carrier Enterprise in the Pacific from Admiral Henry M. Mullinnix, who was also born in Spencer, and who also served in both WWI and WWII,” Neff told the crowd, noting that Mullinnix tragically went down with his ship later that year. “This is the only time in Navy History where a major Navy ship command was exchanged where both Admirals were from the same small town, Spencer.”

A lasting tribute

Closing his address, Neff emphasized that the vibrant new imagery on the VFW wall serves as a visual testament to the continuous protection of American liberty.

“In conclusion; this powerful, 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence mural, by the Spencer VFW Post #1405, we dedicate today, exemplifies our veterans’ role in establishing and maintaining our nation and the freedoms we enjoy,” Neff said, offering a final word of gratitude to the community and a blessing for the country. “For 250 years, the story of America has been shaped by the service and sacrifices of the brave men and women who answered the call of duty.”

The new mural now stands as a permanent fixture in downtown Spencer, ensuring that the legacy of Owen County’s veterans—now physically and spiritually holding the memory of heroes like Mike Barger—continues to greet and inspire residents for generations to come.

From left, Amy Meier, Kim Frazier and artist Ken Bucklew pose for a picture on July 2 at Bucklew’s studio at 2266 E. State Road 46 in Spencer. Meier was this year’s Delta Theta Tau winner of Bucklew’s painting of flowers and butterflies. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

John Kay lost his driver’s license in 2005.

His eyesight was declining. To get around, he started using Rural Transit, an Area 10 Agency on Aging public transportation service that gives door-to-door service to anyone, regardless of age or ability, for $3 a ride.

It’s the only public transportation in Owen County.

Rural Transit also services Monroe, Putnam and Lawrence counties, with one deviated fixed-route in Greencastle, IN.

The roughly 20 Rural Transit drivers — who Kay has gotten to know over the years — pick him up from his home in rural Spencer and take him to the laundromat and doctor’s appointments in Bloomington.

According to a 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment by the IU Bloomington Health Hospital, Owen County was designated as a Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area.

In 2025, Owen County residents took 7,962 rides through Rural Transit, allowing people to travel to medical appointments, grocery stores, the pharmacy, out to eat, work and other services. This makes up 19.11 percent of the trips for the four counties.

At the Owen County Council’s June 8 meeting, Area 10 Agency on Aging Executive Director Amy Guerrettaz urged the county to contribute $30,312 to Rural Transit for 2027. The money would complement what the Town of Spencer and Federal Transit Administration has already given via a Section 5311 Formula Grant for Rural Areas.

Rural Transit used to receive money from the county to help fund the program but more recently has not been included in the budget.

Council vice president Anton Neff said the council has time to make a decision and invited Guerrettaz to come to the council’s 2027 budget workshops in August.

“I did feel like they heard the need and that I was well received, so I’m very hopeful,” Guerrettaz said.

Why is Rural Transit important?

For people who are homebound or don’t have regular access to transportation, Rural Transit isn’t just a way to run errands but a social outlet for its users, Assistant Transit Manager Lisa Salyers said. They talk to the other riders, the drivers and get a break from the isolation they may live in.

“They know each other; they’re considered friends,” Salyers said. “They just grow a bond together.”

It also allows elderly people living in rural areas to stay in their homes longer and avoid moving to nursing or assisted living facilities to have access to transportation.

“I think having the independence, being able to maintain your independence and still have your home that you’ve lived in and your gardening, your pets, all the freedom, that that allows,” Guerrettaz said. “That’s really healthy for us to maintain as much independence for as long as possible, as we age.”

Kay’s neighbor gives him rides sometimes, but it wasn’t always that way. Without the service, many users throughout Owen County wouldn’t have a way to leave their homes. Ride share services like Uber and Lyft aren’t reliable in rural areas, may have long wait times and much higher costs than the $3 each way that Rural Transit offers.

“I hope they get their money,” Kay said. “Because we need it. I’m sure I’m not by myself.”

The only way the community can thrive and survive is by supporting each other, Guerrettaz said.

“I hate to think of somebody who relies on Rural Transit to get to dialysis, and then they don’t have that transportation,” she said. “That’s life-threatening, so there are those situations, and I think that more and more the focus is going to have to be from the community supporting its own residents, since the state and federal levels are kind of cutting that funding.”

How does Rural Transit work?

Salyers said Rural Transit requests that riders call three to five days in advance to reserve a ride, but that if they call on the day of and there’s room in the schedule, they’re often able to work them in.

They’ll give the dispatcher the necessary information, like their address, where they want to go, when and for how long.

Rides are $3 each direction within the county and an additional $3 for rides outside the county. Salyers also said for people who might be nervous using Rural Transit for the first time, they can have a family member ride with them on their first trip to get familiar with it and learn to trust the program.

The rider gets a call reminder from an automated system the night before the ride and when the driver is on the way. It tells them about how long it will be until the driver arrives.

Drivers can give assistance from the door of the riders home to the vehicle and then from the vehicle to the door of wherever they’re going.

“I gotta have help,” Kay said. “I can’t see, I just barely can see just a little, but very little. They help me. IU Health, my doctor’s on the second floor, so it’s a hassle. The bus drivers are really accommodating and take me up there. When I get done, they’ll run back up there, and we’ll go to the elevator and go out the door, go to the bus, and that’s super nice.”

When the driver is on the way to pick the rider back up, they initiate another call to let them know when they’ll be there.

Guerrettaz said she would really like to see ridership grow and have more people take advantage of the service.

“I would like people to know that even though they don’t need the service and they don’t have anybody that they know that needs a service, that there are people that need the service, and that it does actually help not only that individual that needs it, but their family members from not having to take off work to help them or make other arrangements,” Guerrettaz said. “It gives those people independence, so they can control what they’re doing without asking permission for somebody else to go to the grocery store.”

Expect delays: S.R. 46 construction continues

Motorists traveling near Vandalia are navigating ongoing delays following the start of flagging operations on State Road 46 earlier this month.

Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) contractors initiated the traffic restrictions on or after Monday, July 6, between White Hill Road/Bixler Road and County Road 750 W. Crews are currently working to waterproof the State Road 46 bridge over Six Mile Creek.

As part of the ongoing project, drivers should also prepare for an upcoming one-day total road closure at the bridge site. The overall project is expected to last through August, though the schedule remains weather dependent.

INDOT continues to urge drivers to use extra caution and remain alert when traveling through the active work zone.

Daytime flagging operations underway near Carp

Local drivers are advised that daytime flagging operations began earlier this week on U.S. 231 near Carp.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and its contractors reduced traffic to a single lane over Branch Mill Creek—located just southeast of Rocky Hill Road—starting on Monday, July 13. Flaggers are currently on-site during daytime hours to direct motorists through the construction zone while crews work to waterproof the bridge.

The project is anticipated to continue through August, though the final timeline remains weather-dependent and subject to change.

OCSD seeking community support for K9 unit

The Owen County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) is calling on the community to help support its vital K9 program, which relies 100 percent on local donations to operate. The department’s two working K9s, Hank and Paya, serve a crucial role in the county by tracking down missing or wanted individuals and detecting illegal drug activity. To keep Hank and Paya trained, healthy and active on the streets, the department is currently seeking financial contributions for its dedicated K9 fund.

Community members looking to support the program can donate directly to the fund by calling the Owen County Sheriff’s Department at 812-829-5757 and connecting with Sheriff Ryan White, Chief Deputy Matt Miller, Deputy Daniel Rhienhart (handler for K9 Hank) or Deputy Charles Hallam (handler for K9 Paya).

AAFCS honors OVHS alumna and retired teacher

It was a historic, full-circle spring for Owen County education as Owen Valley High School alumna Lee Ann Dunning DeMoss (Class of 2000) and her former teacher, Brenda Duncan Davis, both received prestigious statewide honors.

DeMoss brought home a trio of accolades this spring, most notably being named the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Indiana Teacher of the Year. Currently an educator at Walker Career Center—located adjacent to Warren Central High School in Indianapolis—DeMoss also received the Walker Career Center Journey of a Graduate Award and was recognized as a Class of 2026 Warren Central Top 30 Award winner. Following her graduation from Owen Valley, DeMoss earned her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 2004 and later completed her master’s degree at Ball State University.

Outside of the classroom, DeMoss and her husband, Travis, reside in Cumberland, IN. Their daughter, Katie, will be a senior at New Palestine High School. Katie is highly active alongside her parents in the high school marching band program, as well as the Jazz and Concert bands, 4-H, and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).

Adding to the celebration, retired Owen Valley teacher Brenda Duncan Davis was also honored this year by the AAFCS. In a remarkable testament to the lasting impact of local educators, DeMoss was once a student in Davis’s high school child development preschool program at OV—proving that great teaching truly comes full circle.

Sign up by July 18 for Cataract Lake Back-to-School Event

The Cataract Lake Community Center has announced its upcoming Back-to-School Event, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the center located at 5530 S.R. 42.

Families interested in participating must register their children in advance, as space is limited to the first 50 children signed up, and children must be present at the event. The deadline for registering is July 18. To secure a spot, parents should email cataractlakecommunitycenter@gmail.com with the subject line “Back-to-School Registration” and include the child’s name, age, and grade.

The community center is also turning to the public for donations to ensure every child is equipped for the school year. The center is currently accepting new supplies, including backpacks, scissors, markers, crayons, erasers, glue sticks or bottles, hand sanitizers, and one gallon or quart-sized Ziploc bags.

Community members who can donate any of these items are asked to reach out via the center’s email address cataractlakecommunitycenter@gmail.com to arrange a meeting time at the facility for drop-off. For more information, call 765-276-7154.

Next ‘Sale on the Square’ is July 25

Clear out your clutter or hunt for hidden treasures at downtown Spencer’s next Sale on the Square, happening Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Organized by Spencer Main Street, this monthly community event transforms Franklin Street into a bustling open-air market filled with “little yard sales.”

Whether you are looking to shop local deals or want to set up your own stand, there is a spot for you. Vendor spaces can be reserved for $20, with a $10 refund given right back to you upon set-up. Can’t make it this month? Mark your calendars for the remaining dates of the season: Aug. 29, Sept. 26 and Oct. 31.

Come out to sell, shop and enjoy everything Downtown Spencer has to offer!

For more information or to reserve your spot, visit spencermainstreet.org/events.

Back-to-School Beach Bash Expo is July 25

Area families can dive into preparation for the upcoming school year at the 12th Annual Back-to-School Beach Bash Expo. This free community event will take place on Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Owen Valley Middle School, 626 S.R. 46 in Spencer.

The expo is packed with free resources and essentials to help local students kick off the new school year. Attendees can receive free backpacks, school supplies, clothing, socks, shoes and hygiene products. Free haircuts, as well as vision and hearing screenings, will also be available on-site.

In addition to these resources, the event features plenty of family fun, including games, prizes, refreshments, a Touch-a-Truck display and information from various community partners. The entire family is invited to attend this free bash to get ready for a successful school year.

S-OCS releases 2026-2027 open house schedules

Spencer-Owen Community Schools have released the open house schedules for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year, providing students and parents the opportunity to visit classrooms, meet teachers and explore their schools before classes begin.

Owen Valley High School, located at 622 W. S.R. 46 in Spencer, will kick things off with self-guided tours running from Monday, July 27 through Friday, July 31, between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily. Owen Valley Middle School, at 626 W. S.R. 46 in Spencer, will follow with its open house on Thursday, July 30, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Elementary school events are scheduled for early August. Spencer Elementary, located at 151 Hillside Ave. in Spencer, will open its doors on Monday, Aug. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. That same evening, Gosport Elementary (201 N. 9th St., Gosport) and McCormick’s Creek Elementary (1601 Flatwoods Rd., Spencer) will both host their events from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Patricksburg Elementary, located at 9883 S.R. 246 in Patricksburg, will round out the open houses on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Parents are also reminded to ensure their children are registered for the new school year in FinalForms by visiting spencerowen-in.finalforms.com.

Cloverdale announces back-to-school registration dates

Cloverdale Community Schools have announced key dates for families preparing for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. School offices are scheduled to reopen on Monday, July 20, to assist families ahead of the official enrollment period. Student registration will then formally open on Wednesday, July 22.

Parents seeking additional details or specific enrollment instructions are encouraged to call their child’s respective school building. For Cloverdale Elementary School (grades PreK–4th), call 765-795-4339. For Cloverdale Middle School (grades 5th–8th), contact the office at 765-795-2900. For Cloverdale High School (grades 9th–12th), registration inquiries can be directed to 765-795-4203.

Cloverdale Knoy After-School Program awarded $47,525 grant

Cloverdale Community Schools’ Knoy After-School Program has received a major financial boost to help support local students beyond the regular school day. The program announced it was recently awarded a $47,525.68 grant from the Putnam County Community Foundation.

According to program representatives, this generous funding will be used to enhance daily programming, provide valuable educational resources and create new, meaningful learning opportunities for participating students. The grant ensures the program can continue to deliver a safe, supportive and enriching environment for the children it serves.

Knoy After-School Program staff expressed immense gratitude to the Putnam County Community Foundation for investing in local students and for its ongoing commitment to supporting vital nonprofit organizations throughout Putnam County.

2027 Lilly Scholarship applications now open

The Owen County Community Foundation has announced that the application period for the prestigious 2027 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is officially open. One life-changing scholarship will be awarded to a singular Owen County resident or Owen Valley High School student, covering full tuition and required fees for four years at any accredited public or private four-year college or university in Indiana.

The scholarship also includes a $900 annual book stipend, though it does not cover room, board or travel expenses. To be eligible, applicants must be high school seniors graduating by June 30, 2027, and must either hold a permanent Owen County address or attend Owen Valley High School. Additionally, candidates must have achieved a minimum cumulative unweighted grade-point average of 3.75 and an SAT score of 1,100 or above (or an ACT equivalent of 21) by June 15, 2026. Financial need is not considered in the selection process.

The deadline to submit applications is Sunday, Aug. 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Interested students can find complete details and apply online by visiting bit.ly/OCCFscholarship.

After the inaugural VentFest, Tony Award winner Jay Johnson told organizer Steve Withem that he had spent the entire weekend trying to pinpoint what made the fledgling festival special.

“It finally occurred to me,” Johnson told him on the drive to the airport. “This was the first time in my life I got to hang out with a number of ventriloquists who were all working, performing ventriloquists.”

That feeling has become the festival’s calling card, now in its fifth year.

It’s why Ronn Lucas, who was the first ventriloquist to have a residency in Las Vegas and was dubbed “the world’s best ventriloquist” by The New York Times, wanted to come back.

And it’s why Jim Barber wanted to be part of this year’s lineup.

“For me, the reason to come back a second time was what I’d heard from other ventriloquists — the camaraderie. To be in a room with maybe five or six other people who do exactly what you do, you don’t even have to talk shop,” Lucas said, despite his first experience including a power outage that left him stuck at the airport for five hours. “There’s just a certain communication, a certain feeling of ‘Oh yeah, we’re all in this together,’ and it’s very rare.”

Lucas said that sometimes he thinks of ventriloquists as solo artists, as they serve as their own writers, directors, producers, puppet builders, promoters and costumers, among other roles.

“I think, on a very unconscious level, we all want to think we’re the only one in the universe who can do what we do, and it jars us when another ventriloquist shows up,” he said. “But in this case, there was no competition. It was just all camaraderie. It was great, and I thought, I’ve got to come back to this.”

Barber, who will be performing at VentFest for the first time, echoed the sentiment.

“Rarely do I get a chance to perform on stage with my peers, my fellow ventriloquists. Usually we’re in different places on the same nights performing, and all of these folks on the bill this year are friends of mine that I’ve known for years and years,” he said.

But the feeling of community is only part of the event’s success. The other crucial part is Withem himself.

“I think the reason I’m enjoying it so much is actually Steve Withem. He’s a very passionate person,” Lucas said, who had VentFest recommended to him by one of his mentees, Nikolas Bushi. “The group that he keeps calling together is just really good, solid family entertainment.”

This year’s festival may feature the strongest lineup in its history, with Johnson, Lucas, Barber, Willie Tyler, and other internationally recognized performers joining veteran favorites and rising stars.

“I’ve got ventriloquist friends of mine who are coming from around the globe—Australia, Canada, Europe, São Paulo, Brazil—to come see this lineup because they know how historic and extraordinary it is,” he said.

He said he hopes local residents will come check out the festival.

“The art form is honestly so unique. It’s so hard to do, and it’s rare to find good performers. That’s just not the sort of thing people think of. It’s not the sort of thing they think to do. They think of going out and listening to music. They think of going out and watching a movie. They even think of going out to a comedy club, but not a ventriloquist show, which is comedy,” Withem said. “But it’s a very unique form of comedy, and when it’s done well, I think it’s one of the most entertaining art forms there can be. But it’s so hard to do and so rare to see it done well.”

Lucas also talked about the perceptions associated with ventriloquism.

“If you just mention I’m a ventriloquist, I’m a magician, I’m a juggler, there was an automatic negative connotation, or at least there was a direction to that,” he said, adding that in the past folks had to know they were good first.

But Lucas said there is more curiosity as a result of the success of folks like Jeff Dunham and other ventriloquists.

“So there’s been a serious turnaround, at least for ventriloquism, and definitely for magic, where everyone is kind of expecting and hoping that you’re going to be a good performer, so that’s what’s happened in my lifetime, and Jeff has been a big part of that,” he said.

The prevalence of the art form in recent times is also something that Barber touched on.

“Ventriloquism, I think, is stronger than it’s ever been, thanks to some of our younger, upcoming artists like Darci Lynne [Farmer] and even Tansy [Lou] Davis, who’s going to be on our show this year,” he said.

That being said, Lucas stressed the importance of constantly challenging the art form.

In fact, his business card last year said: “Ventriloquism is a dying art, and I’m helping to kill it.”

He said he was asked if he really felt that way.

“I said, ‘Well, as long as we keep innovating and keep changing and keep adding things, then it’s going to be okay.’ My version of killing it was: not really contributing anything new to the art form,” he said. “But I’ve always done that. What makes me different is that I’ve always come up with different ways of trying to perform, different ways of approaching the art form.”

Barber challenges the art form with a bit of a role reversal with his main character, Seville.

“My main character, that I’m known for, is called the Barber and Seville, and Seville is actually a six-foot-tall ventriloquist holding a little dummy, but my head is on the dummy, the little body, so it looks like a switch when we walk out on stage,” he said.

The full lineup for the July 24 to 26 festival and tickets for each show can be found at ventfest.org. Performances will kick off with a show at 7 p.m. Friday evening, continue with both a 2 p.m. matinee and a 7 p.m. evening show on Saturday and conclude with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

“You’re going to come and see a bunch of professionals that were handpicked by Steve Withem, and he is very much a ventriloquist aficionado. He picks really, really good people, and people that are different from each other. So you’re going to see a variety show, which is going to basically pivot around the art form of ventriloquism,” Lucas said.

Barber said he thinks first-time attendees will walk away excited for next year’s festival as they see several different takes on the art form.

“Comedy can go in a lot of different directions, and so can ventriloquism,” Lucas said. “I think the power of ventriloquism is you create a character that is once removed from reality, which means that everything he or she says, meaning the puppet, can bump people, but never really leaves a bruise.”

Forty years ago, Bill Breeden thought he was making a statement.

Instead, the Owen County resident sparked a week-and-a-half manhunt, found himself at the center of a federal prosecution and inspired an award-winning documentary after stealing a street sign honoring John Poindexter at the height of the Iran-Contra scandal.

The film will be shown next week at the Historic Tivoli Theatre.

Breeden, who is the only individual to have served jail time in relation to the Iran-Contra scandal, recalled the series of events.

At the time, he was in his mid-30s and lived in a teepee in Brown County. He didn’t have electricity, but he just so happened to stop by someone’s house who did. And it just so happened to be the same night that Ronald Reagan’s National Security Adviser John Poindexter resigned.

Poindexter resigned as a result of the Iran-Contra affair, a secret Reagan administration operation that illegally sold weapons to Iran and diverted the proceeds to Contra rebels in Nicaragua, despite a congressional ban.

Poindexter and Breeden were from the same small southern Indiana town of Odon, and Breeden’s sister dated him at one point.

Breeden watched as Poindexter claimed it was a secret operation he and Oliver North had conducted and that Reagan had nothing to do with it.

“He believed that the government had the right to lie to the people, and he resigned,” Breeden said.

The next morning, Breeden went to see his mom in a nursing home in his hometown and saw a street sign for Poindexter.

When he asked what it was for, he was told that NBC had interviewed residents about Poindexter and the scandal. He said it was on the news that the people of Odon supported Poindexter and were waiting for him to return to dedicate the sign and newly named street after him. The street was four blocks long.

“I wanted people to know that some of us didn’t support it, and so I took this [sign]. We were going to take a picture, and my camera wouldn’t work, and then I decided to steal it, and I left a note on the sign saying, ‘There are some graduates of this high school who do not believe the government has the right to lie to the people, lo how the mighty have fallen,’ and we signed it ‘the Midwest Liberation Front’ as a joke, and that was the thing that kicked it all off,” Breeden said.

That led to a week-and-a-half manhunt for Breeden, as security officials believed Breeden was training guerrillas to kill Poindexter.

After a close encounter in Brown County, Breeden called the deputy sheriff in Odon and offered to turn himself in.

Breeden spent four days in jail and is the only documented person to serve jail time in relation to the Iran-Contra affair.

“I say in a song I wrote about it that I took an inch and they gave me a mile or something like that because had they just ignored it, it would have never had the impact that it did,” Breeden said. “I was really fortunate, just lucky that I happened to see Poindexter resign at another house. I happened to see a sign put up the day before and took it down, so it was just kind of one of those things that landed in your lap, and you had to do something with it.”

It later became a senior prank for students to steal the Poindexter signs like Breeden had done.

The ordeal led to the award-winning 1994 documentary, “The Times of a Sign,” which Breeden will show at the Tivoli at 7 p.m. on July 23. Breeden’s band, The Midwest Liberation Front, named after the experience, will provide live music starting at 6 p.m. The free showing is a fundraising event for the Owen County Democratic Party, of which Breeden is the chairman.

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.

6-31

Juanfran Lemus, 19, Indianapolis, preliminary charge of driving without a license. Arrested by Owen County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) K9 Deputy Daniel Rhienhart.

7-5

Clark Williams III, 40, Indianapolis, preliminary charge of theft. OCSD Sergeant Torrey Wallace was the arresting officer.

Sanjin Kaliman, 36, Plainfield, preliminary charges of possession of a controlled substance, theft (four counts), and resisting law enforcement. Arrested by OCSD K9 Deputy Charles Hallam.

7-6

Evan Rice, 29, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of failure to appear and commitment order. OCSD Deputy Tony Stevens was the arresting officer.

7-7

Christopher Weaver, 48, homeless, preliminary charges of battery, intimidation, criminal recklessness, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, and burglary. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich.

Joseph Reimer, 23, Morgantown, preliminary charges of probation violation (two counts), cruelty to an animal, and theft. OCSD Deputy Mitchell Fleetwood was the arresting officer.

John McGuire, 61, Solsberry, preliminary charges of intimidation and operating while intoxicated. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark.

Shane Sparks, 47, Gosport, preliminary charge of battery. OCSD Sergeant Torrey Wallace was the arresting officer.

7-8

Thomas Morgan, 68, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of obstruction of traffic and intimidation. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Tony Stevens.

7-10

James Featherston, 59, Spencer, preliminary charge of invasion of privacy. OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic was the arresting officer.

Caleb Brewer, 31, Gosport, preliminary charges of criminal recklessness and violation of home detention. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Mitchell Fleetwood.

If you’ve ever walked outside in July and immediately questioned every life decision that brought you to the driveway, welcome to an Indiana summer!

The air feels like you’re wearing a warm, wet blanket, your sunglasses fog up before you even get to the car, and just carrying groceries inside counts as your daily workout. Summer is full of backyard cookouts, county fairs, gardens bursting with fresh vegetables, vacations and afternoons by the pool. It’s one of my favorite seasons, but it also brings one important reminder: the heat is no joke.

I’m Jamie Jo Lowder, your Purdue Extension Health and Human Sciences (HHS) Educator serving Owen County. Health and Human Sciences is all about helping individuals and families live healthier, safer, and more fulfilling lives through research-based education. Each month, I enjoy sharing practical tips that you can use, and with temperatures climbing, there’s no better topic than staying safe while still enjoying everything summer has to offer.

Our bodies are amazing. They come equipped with their own cooling system: sweat. The catch? That system only works well if we replace the fluids we lose.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until they feel thirsty to grab a drink. By then, your body is already waving a little yellow caution flag. Instead, sip water throughout the day, especially if you’re spending time outdoors, exercising, gardening or cheering on the grandkids at the ball field. Think of your water bottle as your summer sidekick. Take it everywhere.

Want another easy way to stay hydrated? Eat your water! That might sound funny, but many fruits and vegetables are packed with water.

Watermelon earns its summer superstar status, but strawberries, oranges, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and even celery all help add fluids back into your body while providing important vitamins and minerals. It’s hard to beat a cold slice of watermelon after mowing the lawn.

Speaking of mowing the lawn, timing can make all the difference. If you have gardening, yard work or outdoor exercise on your to-do list, try tackling it during the cooler morning or evening hours. The hottest part of the day is usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

If you do need to be outside, take frequent breaks in the shade or somewhere air-conditioned. Your tomatoes may enjoy the sunshine all afternoon, but you don’t have to prove you’re tougher than the tomato plant.

What you wear matters, too. Loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing helps your body stay cooler by allowing air to circulate and reflecting sunlight instead of absorbing it.

A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses offer extra protection, and don’t skip the sunscreen. Even on cloudy days, ultraviolet rays can reach your skin. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and remember to reapply every two hours, or sooner if you’ve been swimming or sweating.

It’s also important to know when the heat is becoming dangerous. Heat exhaustion often starts with heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, muscle cramps, nausea, weakness and cool, clammy skin. If you notice these signs, head to a cool place, drink water if you’re able, loosen tight clothing and use cool, wet towels to help lower your body temperature.

Heat stroke, however, is a true medical emergency. If someone has a body temperature above 103 degrees, becomes confused, stops sweating, has hot, red skin, loses consciousness or has a seizure, call 911 immediately. While waiting for help, move the person to a cooler area and begin cooling them with cold water, fans or ice packs if available.

Some people are especially vulnerable during hot weather, including young children, older adults, individuals with chronic health conditions and those who work outside. Don’t forget to check on neighbors who may need a little extra help during heat waves.

And of course, let’s not leave out our four-legged family members. Pets need plenty of fresh water, access to shade and should never be left in a parked vehicle. On an 85-degree day, the inside of a car can become dangerously hot in just minutes.

Summer memories should include sticky popsicles, fireflies, family picnics and cannonballs into the pool, not trips to the emergency room. A little planning goes a long way. Drink plenty of water, eat hydrating foods, dress for the weather, seek shade when you need it and learn the warning signs of heat-related illness. That way, the only thing melting this summer can be your ice cream cone.

At Purdue Extension, we’re here to help you and your family make informed decisions every day. If there is a program or class you’d like to see offered on topics such as health, nutrition, food preservation, parenting, financial wellness or healthy living, I’d love to hear your ideas.

Feel free to reach out by email at lowder0@purdue.edu or by phone at 812-829-5020. I’m always happy to help connect our communities with practical, research-based information that makes everyday life a little healthier, a little easier and a lot more enjoyable.

For a long time one of my bucket list places to fish has been Hovey Lake, located near the Ohio River south of Mt. Vernon, Indiana. So eventually curiosity got the better of me, I picked up my youngest son on the west side of Evansville, and we made our way down to the lake.

I’ve always considered Reelfoot to be one of the gems of Midwest fisheries. The fact that I haven’t done that well there myself is because it’s one place where a guide is darn near a necessity, unless you want to constantly battle running into stumps and end up catching very few fish. But I’m too cheap (and too proud) to hire one.

Hovey looked a lot like Reelfoot from the online images, so I thought we could catch some crappies. I also recall years ago reading Steve Ford’s outdoor columns in The Evansville Courier about the big crappie residing there.

Hovey is a natural lake, created when the Ohio changed course. It’s all of 1,400 acres inside a DNR managed property of over 7,000 acres. When Justin and I pulled up to the boat ramp parking lot on a nice Saturday afternoon, there was exactly one boat trailer.

“This can’t be good,” I thought.

We launched on a wide concrete ramp and headed out into a fishy-looking cypress tree-studded lake. The water color looked cloudy, but that can be OK. We spent some time casting the brushy bank for bass near the launch ramp, but no go. We then checked out the situation out in the middle where some standing trees looked inviting.

I had minnows and began dabbing them around while Justin continued to cast for bass. Nothing doing. The deepest water I could find on my graph was about seven feet, pretty shallow.

The whole place just seemed dead as a fishery. Something just wasn’t right. About then Justin brushed into a tree limb and was bombarded by a horde of bugs, maybe mosquitoes. I wouldn’t want to be on this lake at sunset.

We continued motoring. Where was that other boat?

We found it way up toward the east side. We pulled up and inquired how they were doing. Anyone with a spider rigged boat like they had knows about crappie and is proficient at catching them.

“Any luck?” we inquired.

“Nothing on crappie, but we just caught a 25-pound catfish on six-pound line. Took us about 45 minutes to get him in.”

“Been here before?”

“Nope. First time. We won’t be back. It’s a waste of time.”

Darn, I thought. What a great looking lake to not hold anything but carp and catfish. We motored back to the ramp, spooking hundreds of rough fish out of the shallows along the way.

Craig Jansen, Big Rivers Fisheries biologist, told me that a crappie sampling with good results was done in the spring of 2017. There are very few bass or bluegills, but apparently the netting showed good numbers of large crappie and lots of big catfish.

If you like to fish for cats, this might be a place to try. The water level is influenced by the river somewhat, as once or twice a year flooding comes over the culvert pipes at the drain. Lower lake levels could be the result of natural silting, he said.

Waterfowl hunters should keep this place in mind too. You can see how ducks and geese would be attracted to the area.

Property Manager Nick Echterling told me that when the lake was five feet higher in February and March this year, crappie were caught by bank fishermen on the west (road) side.

“The lake is heavily influenced by the river levels, so that’s why there are rough fish. The crappie are there though,” Nick said.

So, the takeaway is that this might be a place to check out in the early spring when the lake is up. Nick’s office is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern; phone is 219-838-2927.

The day was still ahead of us, so we went to Plan B, the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife area northeast of Evansville. It’s a huge, reclaimed coal mine locale—2,532 acres overall with 28 strip pits and 600 acres of water. It’s named after the nearby Bluegrass Creek.

A few years ago Justin and I had tried the largest lake, naturally named Bluegrass, but the wind had driven us off. There were quite a few boat trailers in the big lake parking lot, and that was a good sign.

After discussing the area with a local fisherman, who bemoaned the good old crappie days at Hovey, we decided to try smaller Loon Lake just across the road, where we saw fewer trailers.

Outboards with a 10-mph limit are permitted in Bluegrass, Loon and Otter pits. On the rest it’s trolling motor only. We motored out into a gorgeous pit with clear water and fishy-looking grass beds here and there. Gin clear water is usually tough going for fishing.

After a couple of hours of fruitless casting, we got into the south neck of the lake that had some grass beds bordering a channel. I caught a nice two-pound bass on a crankbait, and it surely felt good.

After that I caught a crappie, and Justin caught something that looked like a muskie. Maybe it was a pike or a pickerel. I had never seen a fish quite like it, 18-20 inches long and sporting odd markings and a nasty set of teeth.

That was it for the catching, but being with my son was well worth the drive. Our trips together don’t happen often enough. We talked incessantly about life and his brothers and his job and Evansville and, well, you know. It was all good.

Years ago, when I was a kid, mid-July was the middle of summer. We had six weeks left before school started. There were many days to play in the creek, explore the woods, ride our bikes, lay in the shade of a tree and read a book, or see what adventures we could conjure up.

My brother Red was very good at creating adventures for us. Of course, there were also days when mom or dad would hand out a list of chores. Those days, we spent cleaning the barn, cutting grass, weeding the garden or picking vegetables from the garden.

Then there were hot hours spent in the kitchen helping mom “can” the vegetables we produced in those long rows we hoed. Picking blackberries was another task for mid-July.

Blackberries! They are one of the best gifts Mother Nature bestows upon us mortals. We do have to put a bit of effort into gathering the luscious fruits from the evil brambles.

The rewards are many. Just for a moment, envision a chilly winter morning. There is a big fluffy biscuit, fresh from the oven, slathered in blackberry jam sitting on your plate for breakfast!

Picking blackberries was a family adventure. Everyone attended the event. If you were tall enough to reach the branches loaded with the juicy black jewels, you had a bucket to fill.

If you weren’t, you just tagged along. One of the pickers would stick a berry in your mouth occasionally. It was perfectly allowed to eat a few as we picked. So many memories of sunny days and good times spent with the family on berry picking days.

When I bought my piece of forest in the ’90s, the huge old trees had been logged. Gaps in the canopy let sunlight reach the forest floor. Blackberries were among the first plants to appear.

Before long, the brambles grew thick, and by the second year, they were producing berries. Walking through them was nearly impossible, but they served an important purpose. They and other plants helped hold the topsoil in place.

Logging done hastily and without regard for the forest’s health is devastating. The wildlife panicked because their habitat had been destroyed. The critters that remained quickly took advantage of the berries.

If I wanted a few for a pie I had to be quick to pick. Picking is easy now. My son put a half mile driveway down the edge of my property back to his place.

The berries are thick on both sides of that road; in some places they arch over the drive. I can pick the black fruit from some of those briars without getting out of the car! But that is cheating.

Blackberries are not only delicious, they are also nutritious. They give us manganese, calcium and vitamins E, C and K. Spring came early this year and so did the black berries.

When you read this in mid-July most of them will be gone. There is always next year!

’til next time.

Annie

Kris Samick isn’t done with Patricksburg Elementary School (PES).

After a year of being interim principal at the school she taught at for 17 years, Samick was offered the official position. The PES staff had repeatedly asked if she would stay, and after talking to Spencer-Owen Community Schools Corporation Superintendent Andy Cline, Samick was set up to continue what she started.

“One of the reasons I decided to stay and apply was because they wrote a letter to Mr. Cline, asking if I could stay another year, just for consistency and to continue on the changes that we had made, to get them more embedded in our culture,” Samick said.

During her year at PES, Samick said she heard people say the school felt very similar to how it did about 20 years ago. The school has a family atmosphere and many students are the children of kids she taught years ago, Samick said.

“It’s a very calm building,” Samick said. “It’s a happy building, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

Samick became interim principal last year on short notice, just two days before the school year began, because former principal Mike Robison was on medical leave.

She taught at Spencer Elementary School for seven years and had done administrative work at the S-OCS Central Office for eight years, including positions as S-OCS director of communications and district readiness coordinator, which she will continue in. Samick had gotten used to looking at the corporation-wide strategic plan and was able to see the school with a “district point of view.”

“It helped that I knew a lot of the staff too, but what I knew is that we had strong teachers and they just needed support,” Samick said.

One of the first things she did was send out a survey asking teachers and all other staff members how she could help support them during the academic year. With that input, Samick said she prioritized communication and being visible throughout the school year.

Samick strove to be accessible by being out at the car pickup and dropoff lines. The staff should be at the door, welcoming kids into the building, Samick said.

“The best way we can teach them is have them there in the building, so if we can make it a fun place to be, kids want to be there and then when they’re there, they learn,” Samick said.

During the 2026-2027 school year, Samick plans to work on the district’s math interventions to be in line with state guidelines. She redid the schedule to ensure that the school offers a common time in the day for kids to work on the skills and standards they need.

“We’re trying to just plug kids in where they need the most assistance,” Samick said. “If they need help with math fluency or maybe just number sense, we want to drill down and meet our kids where they need us.”

When it comes to giving kids the assistance they need, Cline said Samick has prioritized making sure the needs of students of all abilities are met.

“Whether a child was dealing with a health impairment or whatever it may have been, trying to make it as normal as possible for the student to be successful,” Cline said. “Just taking time to involve all of the parties that need to be at the table to ensure those successes for children.”

She also plans to bolster student attendance by instilling an “intrinsic motivation” to learn. For PES, this means being a model for good behavior and citizenship. Samick’s philosophy for leading is to keep the kids at the forefront of all decisions and treat the teachers how she would want to be treated.

Cline said Samick puts lots of thought into the elementary school’s operations and takes the time to make changes for the betterment of the school and its students.

“Patricksburg is a hidden jewel, because it’s small, it’s a very nice building, the staff genuinely cares about the kids and wants what’s best for them, and they are fiercely protective of the students,” Samick said. “And I think when you come in the building, you can feel that there’s a great culture there, and that kids are happy, and the staff’s happy.”

Amy Guerrettaz has been in various roles that support seniors at the Area 10 Agency on Aging for more than four years.

On May 1, she stepped into the executive director role, succeeding Chris Myers, who spent more than 10 years at the nonprofit.

The Area 10 Agency on Aging is an organization aimed at bridging older adults to resources that encourage living independently. This includes the Aging and Disability Resource Center, long-term care advocates, in-home care companions, case managers and home-delivered meals.

The agency also has a Reliable Experts Providing Accessibility, Independence Rehabilitation and Safety (REPAIRS) Team that can assist with repairing unsafe parts of the home, installing safety features and building ramps.

Area 10 also runs Rural Transit, a public transportation service that gives door-to-door service to anyone, regardless of age or ability, for $3 a ride in Monroe, Putnam, Lawrence and Owen counties.

When Myers decided to retire and focus more on her home life, Guerrettaz wanted the new executive director to understand the importance of the people Area 10 serves and the programs it has.

“We’ve had a lot of changes happening here in the state of Indiana with care management, Medicaid waivers and all the different services that we provide, as well as funding, lots of cuts to our funding,” Guerrettaz said. “I was concerned about what would happen if someone from the outside came into our agency.”

While at Area 10, Guerrettaz has served as a care manager, options counselor, activities and programming manager and dementia outreach specialist.

“She really was shining in that community outreach, community leadership role, and [I] felt like that would be a good fit for potentially transitioning to fill my position after I decided to retire,” Myers said. “She was directly working with me, and so I got to really see her passion for our mission and ability to really drive a project and build community relations, and just really care about what we do.”

That was the most important quality Myers was looking for in a new executive director, she said. It is important in moving forward amid the “challenges” that come with the state shift to managed care for the 60 and older population two years ago and the upcoming shift affecting case management for the 60 and under population.

Indiana has 16 Area Agencies on Aging. In 2024, it transferred AAA management for those 60 and over to three Managed Care Entities — Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, United Healthcare Community Plan and Humana Health Horizons of Indiana.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported that this shift could cause AAAs to lose their ability to provide certain programming and services that the MCEs won’t.

On Aug. 1, a similar transition will happen for waiver case management for care for the 60 and under population. Five Indiana agencies were selected to manage cases, 11 down from the 16 AAAs in the state.

“That takes the remaining Medicaid waiver care management away from Area 10 and Area Agencies on Aging, which is really unfortunate, because those are truly your most vulnerable seniors and people with physical disabilities who need that kind of local connection for support, and now they’re going to be much more regionalized,” Myers said.

In regionalized care, people will fall through the cracks and be less trusting of their options, Myers said.

“There’s just no way you can have a local connection when you have, you know, so many counties that you have to represent for people,” Myers said. “That local connection, that trusted source of people who can help you navigate things and find the answers and resources is just so important.”

Myers trusts Guerrettaz to have the strength, focus and intelligence to do what is best for Area 10, she said, but acknowledged that she’ll need community support.

“Many changes are being made at the upper state and federal levels, so many cuts are happening that I feel the stronger communities can be for each other and the stronger that communities can support their residents,” Guerrettaz said. “I think that’s the only way that people are going to be able to thrive and survive.”

As Guerrettaz continues in her new role, her goals for the organization include growing Rural Transit ridership. She also hopes to expand the home-delivered meals program and the Bloomington support groups for those living with brain change and their care partners.

To support Area 10, Guerrettaz said people can donate. To make a donation or find other ways to back the organization, visit area10agency.org/showyoursupport.

Owen County Commissioner Sam Hobbs reaffirmed his commitment to the community’s safety and jail project’s legality during a heated July 2 commissioners’ meeting.

The commissioners opened the floor for public discussion specifically relating to the jail project that Thursday night and announced that the land the county plans to purchase for the new jail construction is roughly $90,000 more expensive than originally believed.

A completed survey of the area between Walmart and the Owen County Family YMCA determined that the property is about an acre larger than initial agreements stated, bringing the property to 18.003 acres and $1,620,270.

Multiple attendees questioned how the property could justifiably cost $90,000 per acre, raising concerns about conflicts of interest in the property sale and asking why the county is moving toward building a jail in one of the most expensive parts of the county.

Former local business owner and county resident Denise Sudol encouraged the commissioners to take more time to consider the direction the county plans to go for the jail.

Currently, the Owen County Commissioners and Owen County Council plan to hold a joint work session at 6 p.m. July 27 to make a decision about moving forward with the project. The meeting was originally scheduled for 5 p.m. on July 13 but was rescheduled last week.

“I’m asking you to stop this right now and let’s get another month and get it right,” Sudol said, receiving applause from some meeting attendees.

Hobbs also clarified that the county had not yet made a decision regarding where on the property the jail will sit. Some suggestions have been made to construct the jail at the back, so the county can sell the property nearest to the road and be more likely to sell it due to the sewer lines that will already be in the area. Hobbs said the county will eventually seek community input to decide what to do with the excess property.

For the past two weeks, Hobbs said, he has been hearing that he is corrupt or crooked. He maintained that he and the rest of the commissioners are not in their positions to do anything illegally.

“I would never do anything up there to jeopardize the safety of this community,” Hobbs said. “I live here. I have for many, many years. I’ve served in this community for 16 years and will continue to serve to the best of my ability.”

No matter what, the decision made at the work session won’t satisfy everyone, he said.

Spencer Elementary School teacher Kevin Wright also made a comment and asked the community to consider the implications of further delaying progress with the jail and deciding not to buy the property.

The money spent on surveys, environmental studies and appraisals would be “down the toilet,” and the county would be forced to spend more time searching for another property, he said.

“We lose our momentum that we have with our current board of commissioners and our current council members who are ready to meet on the 13th and get this done after 14 years,” Wright said.

The need for a new jail was first discussed more than a decade ago, and each year construction is delayed racks up millions of dollars in rising costs and inflation. To avoid a lawsuit from inadequate conditions at the current jail and growing prices, county leadership has been pushing for planning decisions to be finalized.

With the added acreage costs, today the jail is expected to cost about $38 million. If the county fails to make progress, it could be mandated to build a jail, removing local say in the construction and planning, leaving the door open for even greater costs.

“The overall cost of what it’s costing us for the delay is insurmountable, $8,000 a day,” Hobbs said.

Township merger

At the meeting, commissioner Norman Warner discussed the state’s move toward combining townships that score four or more points on a state-issued performance evaluation. Public Law 134, signed by Gov. Mike Braun in March, requires local governments to compile data on each township and assess their performance by Dec. 31, 2026 and requires qualifying townships to merge by Jan. 1, 2029.

“We would like to get out in front of that instead of having the state tell us who that’s gonna be and where they’re gonna go,” Warner said.

He said the county government needs to plan meetings with the township trustees to begin those discussions.

Water protection ordinance

Plan commission member Alfio Saitta presented a draft of a water protection ordinance the plan commission began discussing in February.

The ordinance is aimed at filling a gap in county and state guidelines for water usage that falls between 10,000 and 100,000 gallons per day. The county has regulations for sources that draw less than 10,000 gallons and the state regulates high capacity wells with the capability of withdrawing greater than 100,000 gallons per day.

The plan would give the county more say over sources that would draw the amount of water in the gap and require them to produce things such as drainage plans and disclosing where the water will go.

Part of the ordinance includes suggesting creating a drainage board.

“We can’t control how much water they take out of the ground, but we have as a local entity, the law provides us the ability via a drainage board to have a say about what is happening once that water is taken out of the ground,” Saitta said. “The drainage board is a really critical vehicle to controlling that water usage.”

At the June 16 plan commission meeting, Saitta explained that the ordinance would consider projects such as data centers, but also reassess and reevaluate the county’s water resources and put “those in a relationship with community needs.”

Warner said there will have to be readings and public input on the ordinance but the county needs to get started on approving it and getting something in place.

The commissioners will meet again at 6 p.m. July 16 in the Commissioners’ Room on the second floor of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

The 2027 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Owen County through the Owen County Community Foundation. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Owen County. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university.

The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Owen County through the Owen County Community Foundation, is open to all Indiana residents who: 

• graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2027 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2027
• intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana
• meet the criteria specific to their local community foundation. Visit www.owencountycf.org/students for complete information regarding the Owen County application criteria.

Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Owen County and apply for this scholarship by creating an account as bit.ly/OCCFscholarship.  Applications must be completed and submitted by Monday, August 31 by 11:59pm to be considered.

Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: eligibility, academics, leadership, and accomplishments.  One finalist will be nominated by the Owen County Community Foundation, and their name will be submitted to ICI for final selection of the recipient.  The scholarship recipient will be notified in December.

Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million. More than 5,400 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception.

The primary purposes of LECSP are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state. 

The Owen County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 28th year in Owen County.  “The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship reflects the belief that investing in young people is one of the most important ways we can build a stronger future for Owen County. This scholarship not only opens doors for outstanding students to pursue higher education, but it also encourages them to develop their talents, leadership skills, and commitment to service. We are proud to be part of a program that helps our students achieve their dreams while strengthening the quality of life in our community for generations to come,” said Janet Rummel, President & CEO of the Owen County Community Foundation. 

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 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!

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, Lilly Endowment Inc. is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff, and location. In keeping with its founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 28 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,400 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5.3 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.

Contact Information: Karah Bobeck, 812-829-1725, karah@owencountycf.org

July 6

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

July 9

Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

July 10

Gosport Town Council work session, 9 a.m. at Gosport Town Hall, 3 E. Main St., Gosport. The council, along with Gosport Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brian Leonard, will discuss what the town wants to do about creating a fire territory. According to minutes from the council’s April meeting, the town has until June 30, 2027 to progress toward a fire territory or district.

July 13

Owen County Council and Commissioners work session, 5 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Owen County Council, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Owen Valley Fire Territory Board, 6 p.m. at the Owen Valley Volunteer Fire Department, 401 Walnut St., Spencer.

Cloverdale Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.

July 14

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

July 15

Spencer Redevelopment Commission, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

July 16

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer.

July 20

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

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

July 21

Owen County Advisory Plan Commission, 6:30 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

July 27

Spencer Parks and Recreation Board, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

July 28

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

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

August 3

Owen County Council, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

August  6

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

August  10

Owen Valley Fire Territory Board, 6 p.m. at the Owen Valley Volunteer Fire Department, 401 Walnut St., Spencer.

Cloverdale Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.

August  11

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

August  13

Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer. Board work session/budget workshop.

Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

August  17

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

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

August  18

Owen County Advisory Plan Commission, 6:30 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

August 19

Spencer Redevelopment Commission, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

August  20

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

August  24

Spencer Parks and Recreation Board, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

August  25

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

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

August 26

Spencer Economic Development Commission, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

August  27

Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer.

Sept. 3

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Sept. 7

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Sept. 8

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

Sept. 10

Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer. 2027 public budget hearing.

Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Sept. 14

Owen County Council, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Owen Valley Fire Territory Board, 6 p.m. at the Owen Valley Volunteer Fire Department, 401 Walnut St., Spencer.

Cloverdale Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.

Sept. 15

Owen County Advisory Plan Commission, 6:30 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Sept. 17

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Sept. 21

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

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Sept. 22

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

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

Sept. 24

Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer.

Sept. 28

Spencer Parks and Recreation Board, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Oct. 1

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Oct. 5

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Oct. 8

Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer.

Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Oct. 12

Owen Valley Fire Territory Board, 6 p.m. at the Owen Valley Volunteer Fire Department, 401 Walnut St., Spencer.

Cloverdale Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.

Oct. 13

Owen County Council, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

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

Oct. 15

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Oct. 19

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

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Oct. 20

Owen County Advisory Plan Commission, 6:30 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Oct. 21

Spencer Redevelopment Commission, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Oct. 26

Spencer Parks and Recreation Board, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Oct. 27

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

Nov. 2

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Nov. 5

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Nov. 9

Owen County Council, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Owen Valley Fire Territory Board, 6 p.m. at the Owen Valley Volunteer Fire Department, 401 Walnut St., Spencer.

Cloverdale Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.

Nov. 10

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

Nov. 12

Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer.

Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Nov. 16

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

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Nov. 17

Owen County Advisory Plan Commission, 6:30 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Nov. 19

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Nov. 23

Spencer Parks and Recreation Board, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Nov. 24

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

Dec. 3

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Dec. 7

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Dec. 8

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

Dec. 9

Spencer Economic Development Commission, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Dec. 10

Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer.

Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Dec. 14

Owen County Council, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Owen Valley Fire Territory Board, 6 p.m. at the Owen Valley Volunteer Fire Department, 401 Walnut St., Spencer.

Cloverdale Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.

Dec. 15

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

Owen County Advisory Plan Commission, 6:30 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Dec. 16

Spencer Redevelopment Commission, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Dec. 17

Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Room, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

Dec. 21

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

Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Dec. 28

Spencer Parks and Recreation Board, 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.

‍

After more than a year of delays, the Owen County Circuit may make a decision on Quentin Lamont Porter, Jr.’s involvement in the murder of Malik Darea Sims this month.

Porter’s trial is set to begin 9 a.m. July 21 at the Owen County Courthouse. Porter, 27, was charged with one count of murder for the death of Sims, 23, shortly after the man’s body was found by a passerby July 15, 2024 off Stephenson Road near the Owen-Monroe county line. 

An autopsy report determined Sims was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head. He was found about 20 feet from the road wearing red gym shorts, a white tank top, no shoes and had a black plastic bag pulled over his head. Evidence technicians also found what they believed to be related blood and glass fragments.

While law enforcement was at the crime scene, an individual appeared and told them that by using “Find my iPhone” software he could see Sims’ location had been at the spot he was found for at least 20 hours, according to a probable cause affidavit. Law enforcement preliminarily identified the body as Sims.

Another individual, Sims’ friend and roommate, showed up to the scene at about 5:25 p.m. and told investigators he last saw Sims at about 1 p.m. the day before. He later said he saw Sims after 2 p.m. that day with Porter on the front porch of their apartment.

Detectives also spoke to Sims’ girlfriend, who said Sims sent her a Snapchat message mentioning Porter the day before he was found. It said, “Be this ni**a QP got me going through some bulls***.”

Using Flock Safety data and cameras, law enforcement tracked Sims’ gray 2012 Audi A4 and found it was driven to an Indianapolis address registered to Porter’s grandmother on July 14, 2024. As of December 2025, more than 1,800 Flock license plate reader cameras operate in at least 80 Indiana counties and can track drivers in real time. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant for the residence on July 16, 2024, and did not find Porter there at the time, according to the affidavit. 

During the search, Porter’s grandmother and family members told officers Porter arrived at the residence in the Audi A4 at 11 p.m. on July 14, 2024, and told them the vehicle “was going to be his” after being asked if it belonged to him.

Indiana State Police evidence technicians processed the vehicle on July 17, 2024, and found a large amount of blood, bleach traces and spray paint on parts of the interior, as well as seat covers that led police to believe Porter had attempted to clean up or conceal the blood, the affidavit stated.

Using a receipt and surveillance video, ISP found that a man matching a picture of Porter had purchased seat covers and duct tape found in Sims’ vehicle at 10:22 a.m. on July 15, 2024, from O’Reilly Auto Parts.

At about 9 p.m. on July 17 2024, someone called JL Transport Towing and Recovery in Bloomington to tow what they said was a 2012 or 2013 Audi from Porter’s grandmother’s address to an auto care shop in Bloomington. The caller paid $400 for the towing with the same credit card used to purchase the items from O’Reilly, according to the affidavit.

The Owen County Sheriff’s Department arrested Porter with assistance from the Bloomington Police Department, ISP and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Porter is also facing two level 6 felony charges for auto theft and identity deception, as well as two misdemeanor theft charges. His trial was previously slated for Jan. 20, 2026, but was delayed to July after Owen Circuit Court I Judge Don VanDerMoere II declared a mistrial. 

Of the 120 jury questionnaires sent out for Porter’s trial, 42 were not returned. The court was left with two open juror seats and only one potential juror remaining. 

In May 2025, Porter appeared in court to face related but separate charges of escape and battery against a public safety official, level 5 and 6 felonies. He was found guilty on both counts.

During the July trial, Porter will be represented by public defenders Jacob Fish and Megan Joan Schueler. Owen County Prosecutor Benjamin Kim would like to remind everyone that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Ongoing trial coverage

• Day one
• Day two
• Day three
• Day four
• Day five‍
• Day six

Owen County Fair Week begins next week with a host of events at the fairgrounds at 364 S. East St., Spencer. 

The fair’s Carnival - Arm Band Night - $30 Unlimited starts 6 p.m. to close Monday and returns each night until Saturday. The Kiddie Tractor Pull beside Exhibit Hall is for kids 85 pounds and under and follows the same schedule.

The fair’s theme is “America 250,” and over the past two weeks, a slew of pre-fair events have taken place at the fairgrounds, including the Dog Show, Baby Contest, Creative Expo and Exhibit Open Hall Judging for a wide range of 4-H projects. 

Here’s the rest of the fair schedule:

July 4

• 7 to 11 a.m. - Livestock Check-In at the Livestock Barns, includes cattle, goat, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine 
• 11:30 a.m. - Exhibitor Meeting for all livestock exhibitors at the Show Arena
• 1 to 5 p.m. - Horse and Pony Enter at the Horse Barn
• 5 to 7 p.m. - Exhibit Hall Open Judging at the Exhibit Hall, includes baked foods, garden, mini foods and preserved foods

July 5

• 1 p.m. - Market Beef Show at the Show Arena
• 5 to 6:30 p.m. - Community Vesper Service at the Show Arena
• 7 p.m. - Perishables Auction at the Show Arena
• 7:30 p.m. - Queen Contest, Princess Contest and Little Mister and Little Miss Contests at the Show Arena, $5 per seat

July 6

• 9 a.m. - 4-H Rabbit Show at the Rabbit Barn 
• 9 a.m. - Mini 4-H Rabbit Showmanship/Vintage Showmanship at the Rabbit Barn 
• 2 to 9 p.m. - Exhibit Hall Grand Opening 
• 2 p.m. - Exhibit Hall Open Class Building opens 
• 3 p.m. - Sheep Show at the Show Arena 
• 3:30 p.m. - Mini 4-H Sheep Showmanship/Vintage Showmanship at the Show Arena 
• 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. - Book 2 Barn Event at the Show Arena 
• 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Spirit Night and Senior Recognition at the Show Arena 
• 6 p.m. to close - Carnival - Arm Band Night - $30 Unlimited
• 6 p.m. - Kiddie Tractor Pull beside the Exhibit Hall 
• 6 to 7:30 p.m. - Kevin Wright at the Free Stage 
• 8 p.m. - Barnyard Bash at the Main Arena, tickets are $5 for those 12-years-old and up, $3 for 4-to-11-year-olds and free for children 3 and under

July 7

• 7 to 8 a.m. - State Fair Swine Optional Check-In at the Swine Barn 
• 9 a.m. - Dairy Goat Show at the Show Arena 
• 10 a.m. - Mini 4-H Goat Showmanship/Vintage Showmanship at the Show Arena 
• 11 a.m. to noon - Book 2 Barn Event at the Free Stage
• 2 to 9 p.m. - Exhibit Hall open
• 2 p.m. - Open Class Building opens
• 3 p.m. - Meat Goat Show at the Show Arena 
• 5 to 7 p.m. - Optional Poultry Meat Pen Check-In at the Poultry Barn 
• 6 p.m. - Horse and Pony Contesting at the Horse Arena
• 6 p.m. to close - Carnival - Arm Band Night - $30 Unlimited
• 6 p.m. - Kiddie Tractor Pull beside Exhibit Hall 
• 6 to 7:30 p.m. - Thomas Petry at the Free Stage
• 7 p.m. - Poultry Meat Pen Weigh-Ins at the Poultry Barn
• 8 p.m. - Mud Volleyball at the Main Arena, tickets are $5 for those 12-years-old and up, $3 for 4-to-11-year-olds and free for children 3 and under

July 8

• 9 a.m. - Poultry Show at the Poultry Barn
• 9 a.m. - Egg Check-In at the Poultry Barn
• 9 a.m. - Mini 4-H Poultry Showmanship/Vintage Showmanship at the Poultry Barn 
• 2 to 9 p.m. - Exhibit Hall open
• 2 p.m. - Open Class Building opens
• 4 p.m. - Dairy Cattle Show at the Show Arena
• Beef Cattle Show following the Dairy Cattle Show at the Show Arena
• 6 p.m. to close - Carnival - Arm Band Night - $30 Unlimited 
• 6 p.m. - Kiddie Tractor Pull beside Exhibit Hall 
• 6 to 7:30 p.m. - The S.O.U.N.D.S. at the Free Stage 
• 8 p.m. - Hog Wrestling at the Main Arena, tickets are $5 for those 12-years-old and up, $3 for 4-to-11-year-olds and free for children 3 and under

July 9

• 9 a.m. to noon - 4-H Horse & Pony Fun Show at the Horse Arena
• 2 to 9 p.m. - 4-H Exhibit Hall open
• 2 p.m. - Open Class Building opens 
• 3 p.m. - Swine Show at the Show Arena
• 4:30 p.m. - Mini 4-H Swine Showmanship/Vintage Showmanship at the Show Arena 
• 6 to 8 p.m. - 4-H Scholarship Auction at the Show Arena 
• 6 p.m. to close - Carnival - Arm Band Night - $30 Unlimited
• 6 p.m. - Kiddie Tractor Pull beside Exhibit Hall
• 6 to 7:30 p.m. - The Rotations at the Free Stage
• 8:30 p.m. - Vintage Round Robin at the Show Arena
• 8 p.m. - Livestock Auction Entry Deadline at the Show Arena
• 8 p.m. - ATV - Indiana State Dirt Series Flat Track Racing at the Main Arena, tickets are $10 and $5 for those 12 years old and under
• 10 to 11:30 p.m. - Release All Non-Auction Livestock at the Animal Barns

July 10

• 7 to 8:30 a.m. - Release All Non-Auction Livestock at the Animal Barns
• 9 a.m. - Round Robin Showmanship at the Show Arena
• 2 to 9 p.m. - Exhibit Hall Open
• 2 p.m. - Open Class Building opens
• 4:30 to 6 p.m. - Livestock Auction Buyer Meal in front of the Poultry Barn
• 4:30 p.m. - Exhibit Hall Newspaper Pictures (Grand and Reserve Grand) at the Exhibit Hall
• 6 p.m. to close - Carnival - Arm Band Night - $30 Unlimited
• 6 p.m. - Kiddie Tractor Pull beside Exhibit Hall
• 6 p.m. - 4-H Livestock Auction at the Show Arena
• 8 to 10:30 p.m. - Line Dancing at the Poultry Barn, tickets are $5 for those 7-years-old and older and free for children 6 and under
• 8 p.m. - Motorsport Madness at the Main Arena, tickets are $10 and $5 for those 12-years-old and under

July 11

• 9 a.m. to noon - Release 4-H Exhibit Hall projects at the Exhibit Hall
• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Release Open Class Exhibits at the Open Class Building
• 11 a.m. - Old Fashion Country Fair Games/Pet Parade at the Show Arena
• 5 p.m. - Midwest Territory Wrestling outside Grandstands
• 6 p.m. to close - Carnival - Arm Band Night - $30 Unlimited
• 6:30 p.m. - Power Wheels Derby at the Main Arena
• 7 p.m. - Demo Derby at the Main Arena, tickets are $10 and $5 for children 3 and under

All State Fair Static Projects are due to the Extension Office at 4 p.m. July 29.

The Owen County Chamber of Commerce is egg-cited to announce the winner of the inaugural Chicken Chuck Window Painting Contest. Seven businesses and organizations around the courthouse square participated in this year's competition, transforming their windows into colorful chicken-themed displays in celebration of the annual Chamber Chester Chicken Chuck.

Each participating location adopted its own uniquely named chicken character, bringing plenty of personality and creativity to downtown Spencer. This year's flock included:

• Yolko Ono at Spencer Pride
• Newsworthy Nugget at The Owen News
• Bawk Lava at Sweet Escape Bakery
• Mavis Drag-hen-fly at The Dragonfly Gallery
• Penny the Philanthro-hen at the Owen County Community Foundation
• Orville Reden Bawk Bawker at The Tivoli
• Bell at Medical Polymers

The Owen County Chamber also decorated a window and named it's chicken Wall-Horn Leghorn

Three community judges visited each location and evaluated the creative displays before selecting a winner. After careful consideration, Spencer Pride's "Yolko Ono" rose to the top of the pecking order and was named the first-ever Chicken Chuck Window Painting Champion!

Spencer Pride was officially recognized during the Chamber Chester Chicken Chuck event, where Connie Murphy received the traveling trophy topped with a chicken. The trophy can be proudly displayed throughout the coming year, along with the coveted "clucking rights" that come with being the contest's first champion.

To add to the fun, Chester's chickens have "escaped" throughout downtown Spencer. A special Chicken Chase map has been created to help community members track them down and visit each decorated window. Maps can be found online on the Owen County Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. Participants are encouraged to take photos with the chickens they discover and share them on social media using the hashtag #ChesterChickenChase. Don't be a chicken—grab a map and join the hunt!

The Chamber would like to thank all of the participating businesses and organizations for helping bring creativity, color, and community spirit to downtown Spencer. Each chicken added its own flair to the festivities and gave visitors plenty to crow about.

This year's first competition was no yolk, and we look forward to seeing even more egg-ceptional chicken creations hatch in the years to come!

What started as a routine welfare check resulted in Owen County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) Sgt. Detective Nathan Martin being shot in the line of duty and airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital.

Martin has since been released and is recovering.

On the afternoon of Friday, June 12, the Owen County Probation Department contacted OCSD requesting they respond to a home in the 4000 block of Texas Pike in Spencer to conduct a welfare check on Wendell L. Hart, according to the probable cause affidavit filed by Detective Michael Tummers with the Indiana State Police (ISP). A welfare check on Hart, 58 of Spencer, was initiated because Hart, who was on probation, had missed a check-in with his probation officer, his electronic monitoring system had been disabled and he could not be reached via his cell phone.

Deputies William Browne and Jacob Williamson who performed the welfare check announced their presence and knocked on the door to Hart's residence. There was no arrest warrant for Hart at that time.

"They heard a male state that they had five minutes to get off of his property, followed by immediate gun fire from inside of the residence," the affidavit reads. "The responding officers maneuvered to the northwest corner of the residence, taking a covered position."

Hart then exited the front door and fired multiple shots. It was then that Browne and Williamson called for backup, including Martin, to later arrive on scene.

"Officers returned fire, after announcing their presence again, as Hart advanced towards their location. Hart can be heard yelling at the officers, 'Where are you b*tch? Come here b*tch,' as he advanced," the affidavit reads. "Hart was observed outside of the residence yelling at the officers to get off his property, he would kill them and to get out of his town."

Hart fired another shot that struck Martin in the upper torso as he stood near the driveway entrance to Hart's residence. Spencer Police Department (SPD) officer Bryce Brock and OCSD Lt. Clint Wampler were standing next to Martin when he was shot.

Officers notified dispatch that shots had been fired and an officer was down. In response, officers from several agencies, including OCSD, SPD, ISP, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the FBI, according to Sgt. Matt Ames, public information officer for the Indiana State Police (ISP) Putnamville District.

"As additional officers began arriving at the scene, Hart opened the north door of his residence. Officers can be heard giving verbal commands to Hart to drop the gun and show me your hands. Officers then fired multiple shots, ultimately striking Hart, who ran back inside the residence and again barricaded himself," the affidavit reads.

The OCSD quickly posted an emergency alert on social media, warning local residents of an active "criminal incident." Neighbors were urged to avoid the Texas Pike area, lock their doors, and immediately report any suspicious activity to 911.

Because authorities were initially uncertain if Hart was still in the garage or had escaped into the dense surrounding woods, a massive perimeter was established. The ISP aviation unit deployed helicopters to scour the area from above and later assist investigators with aerial photography.

The tense standoff lasted between two and two-and-a-half hours. It ultimately came to a peaceful conclusion after police negotiators and Hart's family members successfully convinced him to surrender. The Indiana State Police SWAT team moved in and took Hart into custody without further incident.

Hart was transported to a hospital in Bloomington to address injuries he received during the incident. He was booked into the Owen County Jail on June 19. He can be seen wearing a sling in his booking photo.

On June 22, Hart was charged with five felonies and a misdemeanor in relation to the incident. Those charges include felony counts of attempted murder, battery by means of a deadly weapon, battery with bodily injury to a public safety officer, and two counts of criminal recklessness. Hart is also facing a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.

According to court records, a notice to seek habitual offender status has also been filed by Owen County Prosecutor Benjamin Kim.

An initial hearing took place on June 22. Owen County Public Defender Jacob Fish was appointed to represent Hart, and a cash-only bond of $250,000 was set, noting that Hart would be placed on GPS Level 3 monitoring if the bond is met.

A jury trial is currently scheduled for Dec. 15.

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

During the June 25 county commissioners meeting, the commissioners voted 2-0 to provide Martin with full pay while he is recovering from his injury. Commissioner Sam Hobbs said that the other officers on administrative leave because of the incident receive 100 percent of their normal pay, but Martin, who was injured in the line of duty would only receive 66 percent through workers compensation. Hobbs said an updated policy is in the works.

"There's no sense in the guy being cut short of his pay in this type of situation," Hobbs said.

Senior Correspondent Travis Curry contributed to this article.

Partners of the Town of Spencer’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion and participants at its groundbreaking toss dirt in the air and celebrate on June 24 in Spencer. The ceremony was held at 151 E. Cooper St., Spencer. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

‍Leaders of the Town of Spencer’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion stand with their hands on shovels at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony on June 24, 2026 in Spencer. The project was designed to increase the plant’s treatment capacity from about 0.7 to 0.88 million gallons per day. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

Graves Construction Services President Andrew Graves speaks at the Water Treatment Plant Improvements Project groundbreaking ceremony on June 24 in Spencer. Graves said Spencer is at the forefront of doing things for the community. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

‍Commonwealth Engineers Partner and Project Manager Drew Flamion speaks at the Water Treatment Plant Improvements Project groundbreaking ceremony on June 24 in Spencer. Flamion said investing in the community like how the Town of Spencer has, allows businesses and communities to flourish. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

‍Spencer Town Council President Jon Stantz speaks at the Water Treatment Plant Improvements Project groundbreaking ceremony on June 24 in Spencer. Stantz said the project “will mean a lot for us for the next 25 years.” CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

‍Commonwealth Engineers Business Development Manager Maureen Hayden kicks off the Water Treatment Plant Improvements Project groundbreaking ceremony on June 24 in Spencer. About 20 people attended the ceremony. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

‍Cookies celebrating the Town of Spencer’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project are pictured at its groundbreaking ceremony on June 24 in Spencer. The project plans included replacing the Hart Avenue lift station with a submersible life station, wet well, valve pit, electrical controls and cloud-based monitoring. CHLOE ODEN | THE OWEN NEWS

After several weather-related delays, the Sweet Owen Arts Commission revealed its newest public art project, a painted pedestrian crosswalk.

The first painted crosswalk mural is now displayed in front of the Owen County Fairgrounds, near the intersection of South East and East Clay Streets, and is ready to welcome visitors throughout fair season. A future painted crosswalk is planned in front of the Owen County Public Library.

This project was made possible with a grant from the Indiana Health Department. Work began in May with the help of volunteers and community partners, including students from Owen Valley High School who assisted during their day of service.

If you're attending events at the fairgrounds this summer, be sure to stop by and take a look.

Owen Valley High School Patriot Award winner Noah Hall is pictured. Noah broke a long standing school record for high jump this year.

OV's Aubrey Sparks earns All-Star honors

Incoming Owen Valley High School junior Aubrey Sparks put on a strong performance at the 18th Annual Indiana Girls All-Star Basketball Classic hosted at Anderson University.

The multi-game event showcases the state's top underclassmen, dividing standout freshmen and sophomores into multiple matchups. Sparks made her mark in Game 3 of the showcase—a Futures game featuring Class of 2028 and 2029 prospects. Playing for Team Red, the 5-foot-7 shooting guard scored 26 points, with 21 of those coming in the first half alone. Her offensive performance led her team and earned her Co-Most Outstanding Future Player honors for the game alongside Angola's Kendal Vanderwal, who finished with 25 points.

OV Bass Fishing Team nets third place state finish

The Owen Valley Patriots bass fishing team reeled in massive success at the 2026 State Championship, capping off an outstanding season with a third-place overall team finish. This stellar performance marks Owen Valley's fifth top three state finish within the last nine years, further cementing the program's reputation as one of the most consistent and talented high school angling powerhouses in Indiana.

The Patriots found plenty of action on the water with several standout individual performances. The duo of Louis Barnes and Carsyn Wheeler delivered a strong showing to capture fourth place overall in the tournament. Adding to the team's historic run, Austin Boltinghouse and Bryson Hamilton finished in second place in the highly competitive State Angler of the Year points race.

Boltinghouse and Hamilton's remarkable season-long consistency has earned them an elite bid to compete at the National Championship on Kentucky Lake this month (July). Their qualification marks the second consecutive year that OV has successfully advanced a team to the national tournament stage. Program organizers expressed deep gratitude to the parents and dedicated volunteer boat captains whose extensive travel commitments and support made the memorable 2026 championship season possible.

First Annual Patriot Invitational boys' soccer tournament

Local soccer fans are in for an action-packed evening as Owen Valley High School hosts its First Annual Patriot Soccer Invitational on Saturday, July 18. Presented by Anthony's Lawn Care, Tree Removal and Landscaping, all tournament matchups will take place at Patriot Field (the Owen Valley High School varsity field) located at 622 S.R. 46 in Spencer.

The tournament kicks off with game one at 5 p.m., featuring a matchup between host Owen Valley and Seven Oaks Classical School. Immediately following, game two will see Eastern Greene face off against South Vermillion at 6:15 p.m. The action continues into the evening with the consolation round, as the losers of the first two games compete in game three at 7:30 p.m. The invitational concludes with the championship matchup in game four at 8:45 p.m., where the winners of game one and game two will battle it out for the tournament title.

Admission to the entire event is completely free for all spectators, and concessions will be available for purchase throughout the evening. Anyone with questions regarding the tournament is encouraged to reach out to coach Stephen Jones at 812-679-8533.

CHS grad dominates in Prospect League opener

Former Cloverdale High School (CHS) standout Drake Hoffa is making a major impression on the summer baseball circuit. The 2025 Clovers graduate, who currently plays collegiate baseball as a right-handed pitcher for Vincennes University, was recently honored as the Prospect League's ArmCare.com Pitcher of the Week for the opening week of the 2026 season.

Suiting up for the Danville Dans, Hoffa put together a dominant stretch on the mound from May 26 to June 1. Over the course of two game appearances, the local product logged six complete innings pitched while giving up zero hits and zero walks. Hoffa completely stifled opposing batters, racking up ten strikeouts and earning a perfect 2-0 record alongside a flawless 0.00 ERA to guide the Dans through a successful opening week of play.

OVMS summer football workouts

Middle school athletes looking to hit the gridiron this upcoming season can now prepare for the Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS) summer football program.

Activities will begin with equipment distribution during pad pickup on July 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Following equipment distribution, official summer workouts are scheduled to begin July 14. These training sessions will regularly take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

To participate in any of the scheduled sessions, all student-athletes must have a completed physical form on file with the school. For more details or questions regarding the summer workout schedule, please contact the OVMS athletic department at 812-829-2249.

OVSC celebrates successful season

League organizers, coaches and families are celebrating the conclusion of another highly successful youth baseball and softball season at the Owen Valley Sports Complex (OVSC) in Spencer. Despite battling a mix of summer rainouts, high temperatures and plenty of mosquitoes, the 2026 league season successfully crossed the finish line thanks to the dedication of local players, volunteer coaches, umpires and supportive parents. Organizers expressed deep gratitude to the community and local sponsors whose commitment keeps Owen Valley youth sports thriving each year.

The tournament brackets wrapped up with thrilling championship games across multiple age divisions. In the 12U leagues, Languell Title Company captured the baseball championship title over finalist Lifeway Baptist, while HomeTeam Properties secured the softball crown against finalist OC Rentals. The 10U division saw Tucker Paving claim the baseball championship with Elite Auto finishing as the finalist, while OCSB (Owen County State Bank) took home the softball title ahead of finalist BBP Water Corporation.

The competitive spirit continued through the younger divisions on the diamond. In 8U play, Mason Private Locating won the baseball championship over finalist Truesdel Heating, Cooling & Maintenance and General Interior earned the softball title over finalist JSR.

Finally, in the 6U division, Pete's Economy Muffler finished as the baseball champion with Bone Dry taking the finalist spot, while Valley Optical secured the softball championship over finalist Pfeiffer's Auto Repair.

League officials congratulated all the young athletes on their hard work and sportsmanship, wishing everyone a safe summer before returning to the ballpark next season.

Spencer Lions offer free Summer Food Service Program

The Spencer Lions Club has officially launched its annual Summer Food Service Program, which will run weekdays through July 31. Healthy lunch meals are served on a first-come, first-served basis from noon to 1 p.m. at the Lester F. Litten Community Building, located at 59 N. Main St. in Spencer.

The program provides free meals to all children aged 18 and under. Free admission to the meal service is also extended to individuals over the age of 18 who are enrolled in a state-approved educational program for the mentally or physically disabled. For all other adults wishing to eat, meals are available for purchase at $3 each.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, meals are identical for all participants, and discrimination of any kind is strictly prohibited during the service. For more details, general questions or regulatory information regarding the program, community members can contact Lion Charlotte Query at 812-829-4496.

MCSP to celebrate 110th anniversary

McCormick's Creek State Park (MCSP) is gearing up for a historic dual celebration this July 4th, marking both Independence Day and the park's 110th anniversary. Dedicated on July 4, 1916, as a centerpiece of Indiana's centennial celebration, MCSP holds a proud legacy as Indiana's very first state park.

The site's rich history dates back to 1816, when it was first settled by John McCormick after serving as a shared hunting ground for Native American tribes. Over the decades, the park evolved from a popular local picnic spot into a protected natural treasure, aimed at preserving its scenic limestone canyon, native resources and waterfalls. Its historic landmarks tell a story of their own: the park's beloved Canyon Inn originally opened in 1888 as a sanitarium founded by Dr. Frederick Denkewalter, while much of the enduring stone infrastructure, iconic arch bridge, shelters and 90-foot fire tower were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s.

The upcoming anniversary highlights the park's centuries-long role as a vital outdoor landmark. While recovery and trail restoration efforts continue following a damaging tornado in March 2023, the park remains open for a full lineup of celebratory, family-friendly events.

Visitors on July 4 can participate in park activities starting with an all-day Red, White and Blue Scavenger Hunt hosted at the Nature Center.

Later in the morning, the Nature Center will also host a patriotic crafting session titled "Nature's Fireworks" starting at 11 a.m.

The festivities will conclude in the evening with a guided night hike called "O'Say" Can You See a Firefly, which departs from the Canyon Inn at 9:30 p.m. to look for summer's natural light display.

Park visitors are invited to come out, participate in the activities and explore the history and outdoor heritage that have defined Indiana's state park system for 110 years.

Standard daily gate admission fees apply, which are $7 per vehicle for vehicles with in-state license plates and $15 per vehicle for out-of-state visitors. Valid Indiana State Park annual entrance passes ($50 for residents, $120 for non-residents) or a Golden Hoosier Passport ($25) will also grant full admission to the park and the day's activities.

New playgrounds inside MCSP

Playgrounds at Deer Run and Pine Bluff inside McCormick's Creek State Park east of Spencer are among the 43 playground updates that are being installed across Indiana State Parks.

These playground updates are made possible as part of a $50 million grant awarded to the Indiana DNR by Lilly Endowment Inc. in 2024. The grant is being used for a variety of enhancements at Indiana State Parks, including $11 million invested into playgrounds.

The new playgrounds provide updated equipment and improved accessibility. Sixteen playground installations have already been completed, five more will be complete by early June, and the remainder will be completed by fall 2026. An updated playground is also planned for Sunny Acres inside nearby Lieber State Recreation Area.

This historic investment is an important part of the statewide effort to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities and improve accessibility across DNR properties, reflecting DNR's commitment to ensuring that all Hoosiers have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.

SWCD Riverfront Restoration Project accelerates

The Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has announced that phase one of its highly anticipated Riverfront Restoration Project has been a major success.

According to SWCD Executive Director Tammy Bingham, the initial phase accomplished all its targeted goals, successfully stabilizing a key area along the White River that had been eroding for decades and threatening both Cooper Commons and the MYPath Riverfront Trail.

The initial $100,000 Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) construction grant was awarded in 2024 to control severe erosion and flooding along the riverbank. This critical work was made possible through a Community Investment Grant from the Owen County Community Foundation, which successfully inspired matching funds from both the Spencer Town Council and the Owen County Council. Completed in December 2025, the initial repairs have proven durable and have been highly praised by the community.

Following a six-month assessment period to evaluate the project's durability, impact and local reception, the SWCD is officially moving forward with the next phases of the restoration. Bingham announced she has secured a $55,000 LARE design grant to engineer solutions for additional critically unstable sites along the river.

Once these designs are approved, the district will apply for a subsequent LARE construction grant. Thanks to the initial local and state investments, a project timeline originally projected to take seven years—and later reduced to four—is now on track to be completed in just two years, preserving the vital natural resource for future generations.

WOW 2026 Women's Conference

The Christian Life Center, located at 157 S. Montgomery St. in Spencer, will host the WOW 2026 "Dancing in the Rain" Women Of the Word event from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 11.

This year's featured guest speaker is Tara Dickson—author, podcaster and Director of Education for Heart Christian Academy. After losing her husband in 2016, Dickson turned her personal journey of grief into a mission of hope, which she now shares through her podcast Seek and Savor and her devotional book Let All the Weary World Rejoice.

The day promises an uplifting lineup of music, singing, local speakers, praise and prayer. A $20 donation is requested for each participant, which includes a goodie bag, a book, snacks and lunch. Attendees are also welcome to bring a young lady along for free (though she must still be registered).

Registration applications can be sent to Shiloh Wesley Chapel UMC, P.O. Box 554, Spencer, IN 47460. For more information, contact wells.bdmd@yahoo.com.

Employer Partnership Exchange event is July 14

Local business owners, managers, HR professionals and skilled trade employers are invited to help shape the next generation of local employees at the upcoming Employer Partnership Exchange. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 14 at Owen Valley High School, located at 622 S.R. 46 in Spencer. Attendees are asked to use the building's back entrance, and a complimentary lunch will be provided.

The exchange acts as a direct bridge connecting area employers with schools to develop graduation-aligned, work-based learning (WBL) opportunities. During the session, business leaders will receive a comprehensive overview of the high school's WBL program, including an explanation of required graduation seals, student hour requirements and the various experience pathways available such as internships, apprenticeships, career mentorship and job shadowing.

The interactive meeting will allow participating businesses to complete a Letter of Interest, identify specific work-based learning designations they want to offer and ask questions regarding program expectations and support. School representatives will also be on hand to help employers schedule follow-up meetings to develop individualized student engagement pathways that address local workforce demands.

Organizers ask that all interested industry partners RSVP for the event by July 3. For more information or to secure a spot, community members can contact Marce Johnson at 812-829-3245 or via email at exchange@myowencountychamber.com. Alternatively, inquiries can be directed to Jake Steinmetz at 812-829-2266 or jsteinmetz@socs.k12.in.us.

Free 'Adulting 101' virtual series for young adults

Are you a young adult or recent high school graduate ready to take on independent living with confidence? Purdue University Extension is hosting Adulting 101: Embracing Independence, a free four-part virtual series designed to teach you essential, practical life skills. This valuable series will help participants bridge the gap between graduation and full self-sufficiency by tackling everyday challenges that everyone eventually faces.

The interactive sessions will take place on consecutive Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom, starting on July 21 with a dual focus on self-care and car care. The following week, on July 28, participants will learn vital quick meals, kitchen tips and household tips. On Aug. 4, financial advisor Justin Campbell will lead a crucial discussion on personal finances, and the series will wrap up on Aug. 11 with strategies to protect your digital self, alongside basic interview skills.

Advance registration is required to access the virtual meetings. To secure your spot or to learn more, contact Beth Evans by calling 574-235-9605 or emailing bevans4@purdue.edu. Please note that anyone in need of special accommodations to attend this program should contact Evans by July 7.

Tivoli plans 'Summer Send-Off'

Say goodbye to the season in style! The Historic Tivoli Theatre in downtown Spencer is hosting a jam-packed "Summer Send-Off" event Aug. 1 featuring cars, live concerts and cinema. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and settle in for a full day of community fun.

The festivities kick off with a car show hosted by the B-Town Dub Club from 1 to 5 p.m., concluding with an awards ceremony from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Both the car show and the awards are completely free to the public.

Music lovers can enjoy free live concerts from 2 to 5:30 p.m. (with a brief intermission for the car awards). The stage will feature country tunes from Zach N Den alongside classic rock sets from the 46 Drifters.

For moviegoers, the Tivoli will also host two indoor screenings of Spider-Man: Brand New Day at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Regular admission ticket prices apply for the cinema screenings at $7, $5 and $3.

Registration open for MYPath 5K Run/Walk

Fitness enthusiasts and community supporters are invited to grab their friends and hit the trail for the upcoming MYPath 5K Run/Walk. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, kicking off at 8:30 a.m. at the Owen County Fairgrounds in Spencer.

Participants will enjoy a picturesque route that begins and ends at the fairgrounds, winding through the grounds, looping through Cooper Commons and showcasing the natural beauty of the MYPath trail itself.

Registration for the event is $25 per person, which includes a commemorative event t-shirt. All proceeds raised from the run/walk will directly support the ongoing maintenance and future extensions of the MYPath trail system. Interested participants can sign up online ahead of time at bit.ly/MYPath5K.

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.

6-1

Betsy Hovis, 44, Bloomfield, preliminary charges of probation violation and possession of methamphetamine. Arrested by Owen County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) Special Deputy Levi Miller.

6-3

Christopher Sheese, 43, Bloomington, preliminary charges of probation violation and child exploitation, possession of child pornography (six counts). OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

Timothy Shadrick, 37, Evansville, preliminary charges of possession of paraphernalia, driving while suspended with a prior charge, and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Arrested by Spencer Police Department (SPD) officer Ben Muncie.

6-5

Michael Richards, 42, Spencer, preliminary charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a syringe, obstruction of justice, and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia (two counts). OCSD Deputy Cory Poland was the arresting officer.

6-6

Eric Edwards, 39, Mooresville, preliminary charge of domestic battery. Arrested by OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler.

6-7

Daniel Doerflein, 37, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of criminal mischief, failure to appear, and intimidation. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.

Tristan Strausburg, 29, Columbus, IN, preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person and probation violation. Arrested by OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler.

6-8

Chelsea Finchum, 30, Indianapolis, preliminary charge of theft. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

John Todd, 36, Spencer, preliminary charge of disorderly conduct. Arrested by SPD officer EJ Westgate.

Mackenzie Wyatt, 21, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of harassment and intimidation. OCSD K9 Deputy Daniel Rhienhart was the arresting officer.

6-9

James Bullock, Jr., 36, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated ad leaving the scene of an accident. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Stephen DeWitt II.

6-10

Joshua Wright, 32, Spencer, preliminary charges of domestic battery, interference with the reporting of a crime, and disorderly conduct. OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller was the arresting officer.

6-11

Evan Rice, 29, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of probation violation and attempted residential entry. Arrested by SPD officer Zach Brock.

6-14

Brady Miller, 28, Jasonville, preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated. OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich was the arresting officer.

6-16

Joseph McBride, 48, Linton, preliminary charges of probation violation and possession of methamphetamine. Arrested by Jacob Williamson.

Breanna Frields, 27, Bloomington, preliminary charges of failure to appear and theft. OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler was the arresting officer.

6-18

Brooke Neal, 47, Unionville, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge, failure to appear (two counts), possession of paraphernalia, and possession of methamphetamine. Arrested by SPD officer Bryce Brock.

6-19

Zachary Atkinson, 41, Bloomington, preliminary charges of possession of paraphernalia, fraud, theft, possession of methamphetamine, counterfeiting, and pretrial release violation. OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.

Wendell Hart, 58, Spencer, preliminary charges of probation violation and criminal trespass. Arrested by OCSD Major William Snodgrass.

6-24

Rhonda Carter, 51, Spencer, preliminary charges of battery resulting in injury to a public safety official (two counts) and domestic battery. SPD officer Ben Muncie was the arresting officer.

6-25

Kerry Noe, 52, Spencer, preliminary charges of possession of paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic.

Robert Greene, Jr., 44, Spencer, preliminary charges of possession of paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic.

To fund large capital projects, it is common for governments to use municipal bonds. They function like a mortgage or bank loan and — paired with a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model — are fated to fund almost all of Owen County's proposed jail project.

The county chose the BOT model for the project to protect the county and taxpayers, Owen County Sheriff Ryan White said.

"It is a protection for the county and the taxpayer," White said. "It is a system that provides protection so that we're not getting charged beyond what we have and what we can afford."

With this model, which the county is using for the first time, it enters a contract with the jail builder that sets a maximum amount of money for the project. So, if the builder exceeds that amount, the excess costs are their responsibility, not the county and its taxpayers.

The BOT model also does not require a bidding process, White said. The selected contractor can find a company it is familiar with and has a relationship with. The county also may use local subcontractors they know and have used before.

The BOT model became an option for governmental bodies in 2022, when Senate Enrolled Act 166 went into effect and allowed those entities to finance projects with public-private agreements.

However, the jail project is different from other ways governments use the BOT model, like for a subway system or roadway, which can collect fares and tolls. Typically, the company involved in building the project would operate it for a contracted amount of time until they reimburse themselves for the costs. After, the company would transfer ownership to the government.

"With the jail, that's not possible," White said. "There's no revenue that they're going to receive from the jail. There's just not. And any revenue that is generated in the jail is definitely not enough to sustain what it would cost to build."

So, in this case, the county is still using a BOT model, but is funding the construction through bonds. These are initially backed by using the Owen County Courthouse as collateral. Once the construction is complete, the jail itself becomes the collateral for the bonds.

Jeff Peters, the county's municipal adviser for the project, said a county jail doesn't act as collateral in the same way that a house might for a mortgage.

"Nobody would have a use for it other than the county," he said. "So the security and the repayment comes from the taxpayers that utilize the jail or have the jail utilized on their behalf."

Peters' job is to serve as the fiduciary for the county and look out for its best interests to ensure it gets a fair deal that meets all of its needs and requirements in the open market transaction.

In this case, the companies involved in building the jail are Build BW and Garmong Construction Services. Garmong specializes in BOTs, White said, and will act as a liaison between Build BW and the county commissioners. The county also entered into an agreement with Elevatus Architecture firm.

To fund the project, the county plans to use county resident income taxes, which are set by the county council. Governments can also use property tax repayments, revenue stream for utilities or tax increment financing (TIF) districts to repay bonds.

The issued bonds will be bought by bank institutions and private individuals that buy them retail, for example, Peters said.

The jail project's underwriter is global wealth management and investment banking company Stifel, which dices the required jail funding money into $5,000 increments. Then, those increments are sold to a "broad market of people" who buy and resell them "to the people who most want that certain amount of debt and interest income."

In return, the county gets the lowest interest rate it can.

"As different buyers bid against each other to buy these securities, they obviously accept lower and lower yields," Peters said. "So, therefore, the interest costs to Owen County and its taxpayers are going to be less."

One benefit of municipal bonds for Owen County taxpayers is that they are tax exempt, Peters said. Therefore, the people who buy the bonds get a smaller, untaxable yield or interest rate. The county and its residents, in return, are anticipated to pay about 4.5 percent, a much smaller interest rate for the bonds than they would at a commercial bank loan or mortgage, Peters said.

Municipal bonds can reach maturity, or reach the point where the issuer repays the initial amount borrowed, in as little as one year. The county jail project will mature in about 20 years, Peters said. Each year, the county will pay back part of the bond.

However, White said, the county could repay the bond several years earlier, depending on the county's growth. A higher population results in more people contributing to the money garnered from income taxes.

The proposed jail is expected to cost between $37.4 and $38.5 million total, depending on the chosen jail design. About $4 million is already reserved from the county levying income taxes from residents over roughly the past six years. Municipal bonds will fund the remainder.

Although the securities will be repaid by income taxes, the back stop, or safety net, is property taxes. Owen County has "no anticipation of using property tax to pay it back, but it makes for the best security in the market," Peters said.

As a result, bond holders are more comfortable with buying the debts and therefore accept smaller yields and charge less interest, Peters said.

For funding a large capital project such as the jail, there are a few other options. One of these is a bank loan — a bond funded by a single bank. However, Peters said, banks typically charge higher interest rates and want debt that is 10 years in length or less. The county's plan to use an open market where the bond is split into small pieces, results in lower interest costs for the county and its taxpayers, he said.

Another option would be for the county to continue saving up money until it could pay for the jail in cash, like it has with the $4 million. The county is 15 to 20 years away from that, Peters said, which is not a feasible length of time for the shape the jail is in. Right now, the jail is not in compliance, White said.

"None of us want to build a jail," White said. "That's not what we want to do. There's lots of things that I would rather do, law enforcement related, or that helps the community in other ways. But if we don't, and we end up being sued, then it's gonna cost every taxpayer a whole lot more in property tax, because they would have to raise the taxes to pay for the lawsuit."

Additionally, the cost of building a new jail will continue to grow by about $2.5 million each year, White said.

"Waiting is not in our favor," he said. "The only way it's gonna be cheaper is if you do it sooner than later."

The Herald-Times reported former Owen County sheriff Sam Hobbs said a new jail would have cost $12 million in 2015 and according to the Spencer Evening World, in 2021, a new jail was expected to cost $20 million. Due to inflation and rising costs, the cost of building a new jail has grown by $15 million in five years to reach the $37.4 and $38.5 million total expected in 2026.

When jail construction begins, White said he will be consistently involved with the contractor and subcontractors, giving input on security decisions.

Some logistics of funding are uncertain, Peters said. The county council can't vote on income tax rates and allocations again until July 1, 2028, and must do so before Oct. 1 that year. Along with that, the state legislature meets again in 2027 for a long legislative session, and again, in 2028 for a short session, before the council can vote. So, the state legislature may change the rules and the allocations before that time, Peters said.

The council's goal is to not have to raise the income tax rate, but the future is up in the air.

Five individuals have filed for the three seats available throughout Owen County for the Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of School Trustees.

The seats up for reelection include Districts 2, 3 and 5. Those seats are currently held by Mark Rogers, Lizz Bixler and Jack White, respectively.

Bixler is the only incumbent seeking reelection.

Joseph Pavich is running unopposed for District 2.

Bixler is being challenged by Anthony Bonds, while Jacob Zeunik and Jama Brown are both vying for the District 5 seat.

These candidates will appear on the ballot for the Nov. 3 General Election.

For the first time this year, candidates had the option to declare a party affiliation if they chose to do so.

Four of the five candidates chose to remain nonpartisan and not declare a political party. Brown was the only candidate to declare affiliation with a political party by designating herself as a Republican.

While candidates must reside in the district they seek to represent, all registered voters that live within the S-OCS district can vote in each of the school board races.

As of June 25, no candidates had filed for the Owen County seat on the Cloverdale Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees representing Taylor Township. For Cloverdale Township, Aragon Gould (R) and current board president Vivian Whitaker have both filed.

Laura Paglin first drove to Pike County, Ohio, because of a crime that had captured national attention.

She kept coming back because of the people.

Paglin shared that story with a Spencer audience last week following a screening of her documentary, This is Pike County, at the Historic Tivoli Theatre.

The film made its Owen County debut in late January during the inaugural Blue Box film festival. The festival, which was coordinated by Lex Barrett and Mandy Samick, coincided with inclement weather that prevented Paglin from being at the festival. At the Blue Box Film Festival, This is Pike County won best feature film and audience choice feature film.

The film details how a rural community in Appalachian Ohio is tested with several challenges – a former uranium plant being decommissioned and used to process toxic waste, addiction, poverty and an unsolved mass murder. "Between the temptation to give up and the urge to hold on, the film lingers on what it means to come of age in a place left behind," the description on Paglin's website reads.

Mitch Teplitsky, who connected Paglin to Barrett and Samick, kicked off a question and answer portion of the encore screening.

He began by asking her how Paglin, who is based in Cleveland, learned about Pike County, which is a 3.5 hour drive from her.

Paglin said she first heard of Pike County when it made national headlines for a mass murder of eight individuals in April 2016. Eight members of the Rhoden family were found shot to death, execution-style in four different locations across the county.

"I heard about this, but I figured, that's not really for me," Paglin said.

But a year later, she was talking with a friend, a crime writer, who said the murders still had not been solved.

So she decided to make the trip, and ended up going alone after her friend was unable to make it.

That trip happened to be during the annual Pike County Dogwood Festival that takes place in Piketon during the last full weekend of April.

Paglin didn't know what to expect or if people would even talk to her.

"People were actually pretty open about talking to me. I was sort of surprised. I wasn't sure how I would be received, being really a complete outsider," Paglin said. "I found ultimately I was attracted more to just the whole mood of the place."

She began visiting the area roughly once per month for two years to film, still not knowing if she had a documentary.

But she was drawn to the place and the people – from the Piketon Motel that resembles Bates Motel to a gentleman at the local diner talking about philosophy.

But she wasn't sure how to put things together and described her filming as random across two years.

"Ultimately, I kind of set a theme of the next generation, are they going to inherit all these problems – the environmental, the drugs, the lack of employment? What are these kids going to be like?" she said.

She still wasn't entirely sure if there was a film to be made. Paglin shot and edited the film herself, which she said was partly out of necessity but that it also kept it more intimate.

"[After] about a year, I kind of had to evaluate, and then I did decide to focus more on Lily, the little girl, because she's really the one who has the potential to grow and change," Paglin said.

Paglin said she has kept in touch with Lily, who was 11 when the film was being made and is now 19.

"It's been difficult because they kind of see me as Santa Claus, having money, and I mean, just compare it to their situation. I have to be kind of careful," Paglin said.

She said she offered to help Lily with her future.

"She's had so much dysfunction in her life," Paglin said. "But she's earnestly trying, and the family is in a better place than they were."

Paglin said the demeaning former stepfather depicted in the film is no longer part of the family, Lily's biological father earned sobriety and Lily enrolled herself in an online high school to finish school.

Paglin said the two talk several times a month and that Lily has seen the film.

"Lily said it made her kind of be more determined to make something of herself, so they kind of got to see themselves in perspective, and I think they're grateful for me to capture their lives," Paglin said.

One of the things that Paglin spoke to was the change in how documentaries are produced and then selected for distribution.

"It's been a struggle, and that's partly because even though I think this is my best film, and I've been at much more prestigious festivals like Sundance in the past, the market is so saturated now," Paglin said.

She has also produced and directed Unseen (2016), No Umbrella: Election Day in the City (2006) and The Nightowls of Coventry (2004).

Paglin said that the increase in the number of film programs and the increased access due to technology has made it more competitive.

"Festivals have kind of their tastes in certain films," she said.

She said what makes This is Pike County difficult is that it has no villains, the protagonist is a community, the story is layered and it's slow.

Paglin said she was surprised by how trusting and welcoming the community was to her.

"I think there are actually some similarities to here,where people in general are, maybe it's sort of a southern aspect with it, or Midwestern, where they kind of liked me asking questions and talking," she said. "I just became part of the community after a while. I mean, it's so small, and I'm living there, and I'm going to the diner."

She also highlighted the ability to falsely assume that nothing is going on in a small town and used Spencer as an example.

"I think you could go anywhere. It might look like if we drive through Spencer, oh there's just a little square; it's really quiet, but things happen," she said. "I think if you spend time in any place, there will be things if you listen."

Paglin also said that she likes showing her films in person.

"I really really love just showing it in person because, especially after making it for years and years, I just find there's nothing more rewarding as a filmmaker than to show it and have conversations," she said.

Sue McNeive heard what sounded like a roaring train on the night of June 17.

She sat on her reclining couch at her home on Buskirk Road in rural Gosport, surrounded by her four chihuahuas and German shepherd, Choco.

When an EF-3 tornado passed through Owen and Monroe counties, McNeive said the roughly 45 seconds it took the twister to rip the metal roof from her home and mangle her yard felt like an hour.

The National Weather Service determined the tornado, which traveled 18.5 miles and had a maximum width of 880 yards, was rated a three on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, reaching 136 to 165 mph gusts of winds.

Just before the storm disconnected the woman's electricity, Choco laid his head on McNeive's feet.

"I heard trees falling around me, and I was so scared, I prayed to God," she said. "God was the only thing that saved us."

She couldn't sleep the rest of the night. For a while, she sat in the dark, frozen, terrified, before going to light an oil lamp and make sure most of her house was intact. In the morning, she emerged from the house. Her picnic table and chairs on the porch were scattered. The only thing remaining was a stone angel statue.

McNeive's husband, who died three years ago, had given it to her.

"I don't even know how I'm gonna move forward," she said.

She plans to stay in her home, and try to make repairs. McNeive's daughter set up a GoFundMe page to help her rebuild. As of June 26, it had amassed more than $16,200 in donations.

Not all of McNeive's neighbors will be able to fix their homes. Just down the road, a tree fell through the roof of a house, right where Mary Pence's former neighbor was hiding.

Pence and her husband moved from their Buskirk Road home 14 years ago, but remain close with their neighbor Carolyn.

Pence watched the news that night and realized a tornado was heading right toward Carolyn, who lived alone. She called her former neighbor, waking her just in time to seek shelter.

"She no sooner got in her closet, where she was sitting, then it hit her house," Pence said. "The tree came down through the closet she was sitting in and water was just pouring in."

Carolyn had lived in her home for more than 30 years, but the damage and the cost to fix it might be too much.

Pence and her husband came in the morning to help Carolyn assess the damage, secure her home and track down some of her belongings. Her detached garage was destroyed and the wind had swept her back porch to the front yard.

Amy Rice and Mike Fouts, with the American Regulators in Goshen, Ohio, arrived on the street at around midnight after the tornado passed through. American Regulators mobilizes volunteers to travel to disaster sites and provide search and rescue, disaster response and connect affected communities with recovery services.

Rice is an emotional crisis responder.

"As we go home by home, we do assessments, we're doing cleanups. I meet with the homeowners, and I talk with them," she said. "Most of what I do is listen. The biggest thing people need to understand, that are working with victims of natural disasters, is to listen to them, to let them tell their story."

Another home was ripped from its foundation and scattered in pieces in the wooded area behind it. All that remained was a slab of concrete and the belongings salvaged from the yard, including a kayak, booster seat, lawn mower, fishing pole and Nerf gun.

Rice said she and the other volunteers were working to help get the residents totes for the recovered items and set up a storage unit while they start to move forward.

"We want them to understand that we are out here for them," Rice said. "We are not out here for any monetary give back. We're not out here to take them for anything. We are out here for the people. We are out here to help them, to care for them and to, in their time of need, to help them see what can be done, and get it done for them, so that they can start to move and take the first steps into recovery."

Fouts said the area was one of the hardest hit. The NWS initially dubbed the tornado as an EF-2 and had to end its survey of the damage in Monroe County at the entrance of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest due to the amount of tree damage preventing the team from traveling further.

The rest of the tornado's path was later surveyed by drones and found debarked hardwood trees near and east of Interstate 69, consistent with EF-3 damage. Satellite imagery also later showed tree damage spanning all the way to the Monroe County border.

The NWS also determined that night, three EF-1 tornadoes, which cause 86 to 110 mph winds, hit Jackson, Vigo and Clay counties. Seven tornadoes, ranging from EF-0 to EF-3, left damage in Illinois that night as well.

One Buskirk Road homeowner was taken to a hospital to recover from a hurt ankle, Rice said.

The American Regulators were joined by a wealth of lineman and disaster response workers the day after the storm, sawing trees, clearing debris and fixing power lines.

Owen County Emergency Management Agency Director Jack White said in an email that early damage assessments found most damage was to infrastructure caused by downed trees on power lines and roads.

"I know the power companies have been working hand in hand with the Owen County Highway Department to restore electricity and clear roadways," White wrote. "I have received reports of two dwellings with significant damage."

White encouraged anyone with damage to call 211, the system county residents can use to report damage.

On June 19, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun issued a state of emergency for 63 counties due to the severe weather, flooding, tornadic activity and derecho impacting the state between June 9 and 18. The state also opened its disaster relief fund for individual assistance for eligible applicants.

A couple days later, on June 21, tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for northeastern Owen County. The NWS reported based on survey damage, an EF-0 tornado caused tree damage near Patricksburg. It had peak winds of 80 miles per hour, a track length of 0.9 miles and a maximum width of 25 yards.‍

The former Bloomington High School North school resource officer charged with a felony count of child seduction signed a plea agreement on June 4, pleading guilty to the felony with his other charges to be dismissed at sentencing.

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

According to the plea agreement, Tatlock, a Spencer resident, will plead guilty to the child seduction charge and his other charges will be dismissed. His sentence also cannot exceed two years.

"The parties remain free to present evidence and argument regarding the appropriate sentence," the plea agreement says. "The Court is not bound by any sentencing recommendation other than the cap set forth herein."

The agreement also says that the no contact order in place to protect the victim will remain in effect throughout the sentence. Tatlock is required to register as a sex offender and must pay a $100 child abuse prevention fee.

Tatlock also previously served as an Owen County sheriff's deputy, a Seymour Police Department officer and an investigator for a public defender's office. He was first investigated in June 2024 after an Indiana Conservation Officer received a report of alleged sexual misconduct during a fishing trip to Cataract Falls that Tatlock took with a juvenile female.

Tatlock allegedly admitted to getting the victim gifts, touching her during the lake trip and emailing with her.

The Monroe County Community School Corporation shared a message with families and employees on June 24, 2025 describing the incident and saying it immediately placed the resource officer on administrative leave and launched an investigation upon receiving a report of an alleged assault from the victim's guardian.

Tatlock was previously set to go to trial on June 16 at the Owen County Courthouse, but now is scheduled for a change of plea hearing at 8:15 a.m. on July 7.

Persecution.

Freedom.

Fight.

Forgiveness.

About 15 people in the audience listened to Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor's story and progression from anger to forgiving the Nazi doctor that conducted experiments on her in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Filmmaker Ted Green and Kor's son, Alex Kor, presented the 2018 documentary "Eva A-7063" and facilitated a discussion on June 6 at the Owen County Public Library.

When Green first heard Eva speak, he was "mesmerized right away," he said. "Something struck me, something kind of gnawed at me about her talk."

Eva stood apart from other Holocaust survivors because of her focus on forgiving the Nazis who killed six million Jews and millions of others.

But, while listening to Eva's story, Green noticed something was missing. She presented her story in two parts: her life leading up to and being liberated from Auschwitz and how she forgave the Nazis. The decades in between were absent.

"Her forgiveness didn't quite work for me, because it just seemed so quick," Green said. "What I set out to do is to uncover those 50 years, in hopes that it would better reveal Eva, who she was, and also better explain her path to forgiveness."

The documentary begins with Eva's shaky recorded voice, detailing what she sees and feels during a 1984 trip to the concentration camp with her twin sister, Miriam Mozes Zeiger. Later in the film, more than 70 years after she was deported to the camp, Eva could still remember the moment she arrived and was separated from her mother. She remembered their arms stretched out to each other.

"Mom, I will tell our story," Eva says in the recording. "I will tell our story, because the world must know."

The film explores the history of the Holocaust and Eva's experience with cruelty and antisemitism before and after she was liberated by the Soviet Army. After meeting her husband Mickey — also a survivor — in Israel, the couple moved to Terre Haute, Indiana.

The forward facing goal of Green's work, he said, was to "chronicle the triumph of the human spirit."

In 1984, Eva created the organization Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors (CANDLES) to find other twins that survived the abusive experiments — where many were mutilated, forcibly sterilized and injected with diseases — conducted by Dr. Josef Mengele.

She worked to bring attention to what she and 3,000 other twins endured and launched a campaign to publicize the experiments and hold Mengele accountable. Up until Eva died in 2019, she spread awareness of the Holocaust, but for many years, harbored anger, the documentary discussed.

She was a fiery activist and was arrested while she demonstrated in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in 1986.

Working toward forgiveness was her way of moving forward.

"She no longer despised her parents; she no longer hated anything German," Alex Kor, her son, said. "She realized that what she needed to do, in her name only, is forgive her mom, forgive her dad, who she really resented, because they didn't save the family. Forgive herself for hating them, forgive Mengele all in her name only. Because she knew it was healthier and happier, and that made her healthier and happier."

Some audiences were skeptical of the documentary at first, but many came to understand and respect her after watching it, Green said.

After hearing Eva's story, or listening to her speak at the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute, they noted the profound impact her message of forgiveness had on their lives.

Spencer resident Michelle DeFord attended the screening. She met Eva at the museum 10 to 15 years ago.

"She changed, my roommate and I, both of our lives just by her words of forgiveness," DeFord said. "I'm thinking, how does a person do that? How is this person able to forgive when such terrible things have happened?"

Both the audience and Alex wiped tears from their eyes that day, watching the film and discussing what forgiveness is to them.

Alex, also a full-time podiatrist, worked with Green on "Eva A-7063" and convinced his mother to be part of the film. He said even now, as he travels with Green to show and discuss the piece, he cries when watching it and often becomes emotional when he gives the presentation about his life, and his mother and father's stories after the screening.

"I would write, it'd be two, three, four in the morning on a Saturday night, writing, crying, reliving my mom's death, reliving my dad's death," Alex said. "And I thought, at some point, what's my end game? Why am I doing this?"

When speaking to some Fort Wayne, Indiana, high school students after their trip to the Dachau Concentration Camp, a professor and expert in death and dying gave a presentation with a slide that said "storytelling is healing" and Alex started crying.

He found an answer to why he was doing it, what he was meant to be doing. He hopes that by sharing his mother and father's stories, he does his part to "remember the past to protect the future."

Green and Alex are now working on developing a feature film about Eva's life.

"The message is so needed," Green said. "It's so critical beyond the Holocaust. I hate to say it, but it's true. With human rights, what's going on in our country, is going on around the world. You have to get these stories out there."

Sixteen kids scribble inside paper booklets and shade in drawings with colored pencils and markers.

They're writing a children's book. One about a pig named Porky that eats penne pasta and becomes a knight. Another about horses. One girl writes about a chicken jockey from "A Minecraft Movie."

They're all participants at the Owen County Art Guild's fourth summer art camp.

Volunteer Leslie Asher helped lead the camp and said the children worked through several projects of different mediums. One of them involved using Indian ink and two-foot long drawing sticks. The kids created monocolored paintings on paper propped against easels.

The children also used pastels to create pastel drawings of green frogs sitting near lily pads in a pond, using their hands to blend the colors.

The young artists did a different project this year, which moved away from what the guild typically does, and created their own children's books, using their imaginations to practice storytelling.

Lucas Smeltzer wrote the story about Porky the pig. He said it's fun to see how silly art can look when it's only halfway finished but also appreciates the reward of a completed work.

"It's kind of challenging when you're doing it, but at the end, I think it's worth it just to see what you came up with and just all of the things you can do," he said.

Felicity Arthur's favorite thing to draw is horses. She said that creating art makes her, "Excited for what it's gonna look like at the end," she said. "I love it a lot."

For one collage project, the children painted a series of squares and drew designs on top. Then, they ripped them into pieces. On another sheet of paper, the kids glued the pieces in a halo of hair around a watercolor painting of a woman in dress.

Not only did the children create pieces of art to take home and present at the art show at the end of the camp, but they created artist trading cards to share with the other participants.

At the end of the five-day camp, Asher and the other volunteers, Sharon Moore and Linda Barrett, taught the kids how to do a gallery walk. Each child created 16 small cards and went around the room trading their original work with the other kids.

"They get a little piece of each person's art," Asher said. "It's very cool."

Asher said that what she enjoys most about leading the camp is watching the kids explore and be creative when creating and designing the different projects.

She hopes the camp gives them "The love of being creative and doing art."

Laughter filled the Owen County Courthouse Square on Saturday, June 13, as residents and visitors gathered for the Owen County Chamber of Commerce's Second Annual Chester Chicken Chuck.

Beginning at 10 a.m., the unique event combined hometown fun with a beloved piece of Owen County history, drawing participants of all ages to downtown Spencer.

The festivities kicked off with a special appearance by Owen County's own Medal of Honor recipient, Sammy Lee Davis, who served as the honorary Master of Ceremonies and had the honor of tossing the very first chicken to officially begin the competition.

The main event, the Chester Chicken Chuck, featured seven teams competing to catch as many rubber chickens as possible as they were launched from the rooftop of the Owen County Courthouse by members of the Owen Valley Fire Territory. This year's competition included a new twist—a special Santa Claus Chicken, worth two points, adding even more excitement to the fast-paced contest.

When all the chickens had flown, The Mighty Clucks, consisting of Liam Ruple and Andrew Moore, emerged as this year's champions, earning bragging rights and the grand prize of Babbs Fried Chicken for a Year.

Following the championship competition, attention turned to the Charity Chicken Chuck, where six teams competed to catch just one chicken. Thanks to the generosity of the Owen County Community Foundation, each participating team received a $50 donation for the charity of its choice, making the event not only entertaining but impactful for local nonprofit organizations.

This year's celebration also expanded with several new activities that brought even more community involvement.

A Chicken Window Decorating Contest invited local businesses to showcase their creativity with custom chicken designs painted by local artist Steve Adams. The winning business, Spencer Pride, took home a traveling trophy topped with a chicken, earning a full year of "clucking rights."

Participants also had the opportunity to show off their creativity during the Chicken Costume Contest, where Jenny Osbourne and Chris Summit captured first place and the $50 grand prize with their crowd-pleasing costumes.

The fun continued with the ever-popular Open Flys, giving everyone a chance to join in the excitement. The festivities began with the Little Chick Fly for children ages 12 and under. Foam chickens, each carrying a prize sticker, were dropped from the courthouse roof, and young participants redeemed their catches at the Babbs tent for prizes.

Next came the Teen Scramble for ages 13 to 17, followed by the Babbs Open Fly for adults ages 18 and older. Every chicken was a winner, but one lucky participant, Robin Reynolds, caught the special prize chicken and walked away with the grand prize—a 98-second shopping spree at Babbs SuperValu.

The Chester Chicken Chuck is more than just a fun-filled competition. It is a modern recreation of a cherished Owen County tradition dating back to the 1930s. Shortly before Christmas, residents gathered downtown to catch live chickens, ducks, and turkeys, which they would then prepare for their family's holiday meal. The event was originally created by Dwight Johnson, Fred White and Chester Babbs as a way to encourage residents to shop locally during the holiday season. Today, the Chamber continues that tradition of supporting local businesses while celebrating the community's rich history. Chester Chicken himself proudly carries the name of one of the event's original founders, Chester Babbs.

The Owen County Chamber of Commerce extends its sincere appreciation to the Owen Valley Fire Territory, volunteers, participants, and the many sponsors whose generosity made this year's event possible.

Whole Bird Sponsors

• Babbs SuperValu
• Smithville
• Spencer Main Street
• Cook Medical
• Owen County Community Foundation

Half Bird Sponsors

• Insurance Services
• Indiana Uplands Realtor
• Technology Services
• World Arts
• Compass Rose

Nugget Sponsors

• Tote-Ally Fresh
• Bates Mechanical
• Andy and Beth Cline

Popcorn Sponsors

• Byers Home Furnishings
• Boys & Girls Club
• Patriot Manufacturing
• Busy Bee Café
• Owen Valley FFA

With another successful year in the books, the Second Annual Chester Chicken Chuck once again proved that few communities can combine history, hometown pride and feather-filled fun quite like Owen County. The Chamber is already looking forward to welcoming everyone back next year for another chance to catch a chicken, win big and celebrate one of the county's most unique traditions.

Owen County is spending more than $100,000 each year just to keep its aging jail limping along.

"That's just trying to keep it running," Jail Commander Major Bill Snodgrass said. "There's a lot of stuff that we should do that I'm not doing because I don't want to spend the money."

He pointed to the peeling paint on the walls in the jail cells at the Owen County Security Center, but he can't see spending money on a cosmetic repair when a new facility is on the horizon.

Or rather, with a new facility being closer than it has been since the need for a new jail was first discussed more than a decade ago. Snodgrass said he's avoided cosmetic repairs, like the new paint, for the last six years.

In the first six months of the year, Owen County has spent $44,305.39 on repairs just to keep the current jail functioning.

According to numbers provided by Snodgrass, HVAC repairs have cost the county $38,889.64, and plumbing repairs $2,732.85.

And those numbers are only climbing.

Snodgrass estimated that there is another $10,250 in repair expenses that have not yet been billed, including replacing a leaking HVAC valve and blower components serving both the entire facility and the administrative offices.

In addition, at a recent jail committee meeting it was estimated that each month the county waits to start building a new jail increases the cost by approximately $125,000.

A sinking foundation

In the current jail, all the sewer lines are beneath it, so as they deteriorate and need repair, the jail's concrete floor must be broken to access them. Then, new concrete has to be poured to repair the floor.

This all adds to the cost of repairing the jail.

In fact, a few years ago, when a drain collapsed in one of the holding cells known as a drunk tank, it cost $34,000 to repair.

Sheriff Ryan White said with the excess rain in mid-May, the entire facility smelled like raw sewage, and as he pointed out, if you look closely on the outside of the facility at its corners, the brick is cracking as the jail sinks further into the ground.

White, Chief Deputy Matt Miller and Snodgrass led a tour of the facility, and the first issue they pointed out was that the outside door leading into the sallyport is rusted and unable to be secured.

This is something noted in this year's jail inspection report.

"As mentioned in previous years' inspection reports, some doors do not function consistently in PODs F and J and require frequent repair. Sallyport side door does not lock at all, causing facility security issues from the outside," it reads.

This also means that between the booking area and holding cells, there is only one locked door preventing escape.

There hasn't been an escape at this jail facility, but White said they've come close.

"We had a murder suspect who made it all the way to this door and tried to get out," he said.

The jail inspection report also routinely indicates derogatory marks because items are stored in the hallway due to inadequate storage, and items cannot fit through the doors, which are not ADA-compliant. This poses a hazard for ingress and egress in the event of an emergency.

White pointed to the sealer for inmate belongings, which has cut down on disease, odors and insect infestations such as lice and bedbugs.

"It won't fit through the door. We wanted it in here, but it won't fit through the door," White said.

The indoor rec room is empty. Snodgrass would like to get some limited stationary workout equipment, but it too won't fit through the door of the current facility.

The door between the indoor and outdoor rec spaces is also defective. While it doesn't pose the same security threat as the sallyport door, in order to shut and lock the door, it has to be lifted with a crowbar.

When entering one of the pods, White pointed out the boot marks on the door leading into the pod.

"This is from them having to kick the door repeatedly to get the door to function," White said.

Miller said there are doors that haven't worked properly since he started working in the jail in 2004.

Cracks run along the edge where the floor and the wall meet as the two separate, and the jail sinks down. This causes insect problems as well.

"The inmates will take toilet paper, roll it up, get it wet and stuff those holes to keep the ants from coming up because since it's sinking, it has access to bugs," White said.

He also said that they have been fortunate because the current design provides bars up above the cell door, which are all possible ligature points and are off camera from what jail staff can see without entering the pod.

Aside from the high step both in and out of the shower, which the department said has led to inmates falling, the floor of the shower is rusted out, with a white liner added in as an attempt to avoid replacing it, which is pricey.

One of the questions on the jail inspection report asks if plumbing fixtures are repaired promptly.

"Yes, however, as mentioned in last year's inspection report, because of the age of the facility, plumbing issues continue to plague operations as the plumbing fixtures continue to deteriorate, causing operational interference," it reads.

What's worse is that, according to county commissioner Sam Hobbs, the county will be unable to insure the building next year unless they have started working on a new facility.

The county also risks being sued due to the conditions of the jail and the need to preserve constitutional rights.

"The vast majority of people in that facility are not convicted; they're pretrial; they're presumed innocent, and they are not criminals at this point," Miller said. "And even if they are, they still have constitutional rights and the basic conditions that we have to provide for them that we have no choice in that matter."

Eliminating blind entries

One of the important aspects of a new jail is safety, both for staff and inmates.

In the new design, the jail officer at the command center can see inside of every cell in every pod without relying upon a camera or a small window into the pod.

"Each cell, unlike now, each one of these cells also will have cameras in them. So all your shenanigans happen inside the cell, because we can't see in the cell," White said.

Currently, inmates have the ability to use paper to block the window and throw wet toilet paper at the camera to block that view.

"This creates a safe environment, one for the inmates, because if there's a fight, we can see it," White said of the new facility. "Whereas now we have no idea until we go back and review footage… Plus if we have to make entry, we don't know what we're entering. We have no idea; we can't see."

White said it is impossible to change that in the current facility.

Miller said this means officers have to enter the block blind.

"You have no idea what's on the other side of it," he said. "Not only is that an issue for the staff, it's an issue for the inmates because when they do that, it prolongs our entrance into that block to stop whatever may be happening in there."

When that happens, a road officer has to be dispatched to the jail. That officer could be in one of the far-flung parts of the county, requiring 20 minutes or more just to get to the facility.

In addition, the design of the booking desk in the current facility poses a risk to the jail officer booking them, as they can simply walk around the desk.

"When I worked in here, we had one jail officer that was on the floor and almost handcuffed with their own handcuffs before the other officer heard him yell and was able to get around here and get to him, so it does happen," Miller said.

The new facility eliminates that risk.

"This jail is so much more secure than that one. It meets all ADA standards. The safety for our officers and the inmates is absolutely amazing," White said.

Future-proofing the facility

As the project becomes a reality, Snodgrass and White stressed the importance of building for the future. There's a balance between setting the facility up to be used for the full 70 years and trimming costs.

Snodgrass worked in the previous jail, before the current one was built.

"In my opinion, you always want to build for the future in something that's this expensive, that's going to be around that long, not for what works for today; it needs to be bigger than what you need today," he said.

Snodgrass said that when the current jail opened in 1988, it featured 36 beds. It quickly became too small and was expanded to 72 beds by adding extra beds in the cells. This had more wear and tear on the infrastructure.

White said that the 112-bed facility is essential to the future because it has parts that cannot be expanded upon later should the county ever need another pod added on to the facility. The idea of the need for a second pod isn't far-fetched.

White and Hobbs, who was sheriff for two terms before White, said that the maximum that the current jail has had in the last decade was 104 inmates.

Prior to COVID, the jail averaged between 70 and 80 inmates on any given day.

With the pandemic came changes to pre-sentencing guidelines and the ability to release those who are accused on their own recognizance, and that has meant that the average population is between 40 and 60.

"To be honest with you right now, if we were to go out and serve every warrant that is active in the county right now, we'd fill this thing up double," Miller said. "That's just kind of how it goes."

In addition, the legislative changes could mean that the Level 5 felons are eventually housed at the local level, not just Level 6 felons and those with misdemeanor charges.

White pointed to the potential loss for Circuit Court II, which was nearly cut by the legislature this past year. He said that would cause a delay in the courts that would increase the inmate count as well.

The rec area for the new facility includes a toilet and a shower. This means, in a pinch due to a temporary increase in inmates, the new facility could house more inmates by putting portable beds called boats into the area.

Miller also explained that it's very rare that the current jail could hold 72 inmates and properly classify them.

"You have to understand that when you're talking about the population of inmates, a 72 bed count… that means physically we have a place for 72 people to lay their heads," Miller said. "According to jail standards and different statutes, we're required to classify inmates."

That requirement began in 2014 and requires that inmates be segregated not only between men and women but also by the type of crime. They are also required to house codefendants separately.

If the county were to build the 104-bed facility, it would lose adequate group holding and detox holding cells. White explained that these cannot be added on later, as they would require tearing down the sallyport, expanding the secure part of the jail and then rebuilding the sallyport.

"You can't go back. Once it's done, it's done, and you lose that forever," White said.

White also addressed why the site of the current jail isn't adequate for a new jail. There are power line easements that would have to be relocated and three residences that would have to be purchased, in addition to the logistics and cost of housing Owen County's inmates elsewhere for at least 18 months while the jail is being built. It also means the county could never add another pod on, if needed.

"We shoot ourselves in the foot in the future," White said.

There is a joint meeting of the county council and the county commissioners at 5 p.m. July 13. Details on the considerations, comments and concerns from the county council as well as coverage of the jail committee meeting that took place last week can be found on the Owen News' website, theowennews.org.

"The song and dance is over," Hobbs said. "We have to move forward because we don't want to waste any more money."

Blue Flame Music fills the historic Vandalia chapel with their signature live bluegrass fusion on Sunday afternoon. Pictured, left to right; Savanna Musgrove on fiddle, 2018 National Flatpick Champion Luke Lovejoy and 2023 National Mandolin Champion Ethan Batan. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS

Members of the Vandalia Community Preservation Association (VCPA) serve up fresh strawberry shortcake inside the historic one-room Vandalia School. Pictured from left to right are volunteers Cathy Boler, Jason Kinney, Caroline Riley, Barb Shoemake and Susie Summerlot. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS

History, community and sweet treats came together on June 7 for the Seventh Annual Strawberry Fest, hosted by the Vandalia Community Preservation Association (VCPA). The historic village in Owen County welcomed a fantastic turnout of locals and visitors alike for an afternoon dedicated to celebrating regional heritage and supporting community preservation.

Attendees gathered at the historic one-room schoolhouse to enjoy homemade strawberry shortcake before heading over to the chapel for a lively performance of bluegrass fusion by Blue Flame Music. Organizers declared the event a resounding success, with all proceeds directly benefiting the ongoing maintenance and preservation of Vandalia's landmark chapel and schoolhouse, both of which are proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places.‍

The Spencer-Owen Community School Corporation (S-OCS) might not be able to afford offering elementary school students free breakfast.

Superintendent Andy Cline told the S-OCS Board of School Trustees at its June 11 meeting that the district is analyzing whether or not it can continue to offer free breakfast. The board set a potential price for the breakfast and discussed price increases to school lunches.

The board requested a 10 cent maximum increase for elementary and secondary lunches, making them $2.90 and $3.30.

Reduced breakfast and lunches will stay the same, at 30 and 40 cents.

Adult lunches are not subject to the 10 cent maximum and will increase by 20 cents, making them $5.20. Across all S-OCS schools, 348,650 meals were served during the 2025-2026 school year.

S-OCS Food Service Director Balinda Wagner said the district's reimbursement rates haven't kept up with inflation, causing the district to reevaluate if they can sustain the program if the surplus costs are left to the district to pay.

Previously, the district was receiving close to $54,000 per year through funding issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly covered the free breakfast. The district also used to receive food through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program.

"That money was used to provide minimally processed local proteins and produce," Wagner said. "The farmers would get paid for that, and then the schools would receive that food, free of charge, because of the grant money paid for it. We would be able to get fresh beef from Fischer Farms."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture cut the program in March 2025, along with the Local Food Purchase Assistance cooperative agreement, totaling a roughly $1 billion cut in programs that connected communities to local farmers and ranchers.

If the district decides to proceed with paid elementary school breakfast, it would be $1.40. If a student qualifies for free or reduced meals, they will still receive free breakfast, Cline said.

During the 2025-2026 school year, the district served 104,947 free breakfasts for elementary school students, Wagner said in an email. Across all the elementary schools, 649 students qualify for free meals, 90 qualify for reduced meals and 523 don't qualify for either.

All board members were present during the meeting and approved Cline's contract renewal from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028 for $135,000 annually. The contract also includes a $2,500 stipend if the corporation receives an A letter grade and a $1,000 stipend if it receives a B.

The board approved former assistant principal Jacob Steinmetz to take over as Owen Valley High School principal and former interim principal Kris Samick as Patricksburg Elementary School principal. Samick will also remain in the Director of Communications role.

The board also approved the 2026-2027 student handbooks for the elementary schools, Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS), Owen Valley High School (OVHS), OVHS Alternative School and the OVMS and OVHS athletic handbooks.

It unanimously approved the following items:

• Harmon Consulting Services, LLC 2026 to 2027 contract.
• OVMS first floor flooring quote.
• OVMS surplus item list for English/Language Arts.
• One time stipend for superintendent.

During the meeting, OVMS Principal Tom Arthur gave a presentation detailing data about the school. The school issued more than 460 high school credits this past year, the attendance rate slightly increased, and the school's discipline record has continued to trend downward, he said.

Arthur also talked about the school's approach to teaching math. This past year, the middle school had student teachers from Indiana University. Arthur received an email from IU Clinical Assistant Professor Lori Burch, who asked how the school had developed its conceptual understanding framework.

She told Arthur that IU teaches students that the students they go on to teach need to understand the "why" behind math and how things work.

"'The problem is when I send them out into the field, there's not very many classrooms that that's actually happening in,'" Arthur remembered Burch saying. "'It's still very procedural instruction,' she says. And Dr. Burch looked at us and said, 'To be honest with you, I think you guys are the only ones that's actually doing this.'"

Arthur said the school is working to create more partnerships to give college students field experience inside OVMS math classrooms.

Cline also announced the district had just finished up the grant preparation process for a $35 million artificial intelligence grant, part of a consortium of 10 school corporations. The district will find out by September if it will receive money or not, he said.

He encouraged businesses to attend the Owen County Chamber of Commerce's Employer Partnership Exchange event from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 14 at OVHS. New diploma requirements mean more community service, work or apprenticeship for local teenagers.

"We need our businesses to be prepared to take on some of our students for that type of work," Cline said. "Whether it be paid or not, it is going to be a requirement that will be a challenge for Owen Valley High School."

The board also approved three resignation, one contract, one retirement, one transfer and 13 employment requests.

Resignations

• Kaitlyn Orick, OVHS English teacher
• Chad Smith, OVHS boys cross country coach
• Susan Huffman, SES cook

Contract

• 2026-2028 superintendent contract

Retirement

• Karen Evans, SES nurse assistant

Transfer

• Kali Smith, OVMS bookkeeper

Employment and educational credential assessments

• Bryanna Noesges, SES second-grade teacher
• Emma Yartz, GES first-grade teacher
• Leigh Michael-Peterson, SES severe/moderate instructional assistant
• Holly Murray, SES instructional assistant
• Harrison Wright, SES kindergarten teacher
• Emilee Woods, PES summer custodian
• Matt Beckwith, OVMS YES sponsor
• Jacob Steinmetz, OVHS principal
• Kris Samick, PES principal
• Charley Truax, SES fifth-grade teacher
• Brian Greene, OVHS assistant football coach
• Chase Hiland, OVHS assistant football coach
• Chad Smith, OVHS assistant football coach

The board will meet next at 7 p.m. June 16 in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer.

The Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees met for its regular session on June 8, addressing a hefty agenda of routine financial approvals, community partnerships and a major leadership transition. Five of the seven board members were present at the session, with members Katrina Lewis and Emily Haltom absent.

In routine financial business, the board reviewed and approved claims and financial reports totaling $3,162,581.18. The approved amount covered two standard payroll cycles for the school corporation's employees.

The evening marked a significant milestone for the corporation as Superintendent Greg Linton attended his final school board meeting after 12 years at the helm. Linton is set to transition into a new role leading the Cloverdale Distance Learning Academy (CDLA). During the superintendent comment portion of the meeting, Linton took the opportunity to thank the board, faculty and community for what he described as "12 very enjoyable years."

Linton expressed his deep appreciation for the board's unwavering support, noting that while there were challenges along the way, he always knew the board trusted the administration team to make the best decisions possible. He also shared a lighthearted moment, thanking his wife Heather for her presence and noting her reminder that he had been in education for 37 years. Looking ahead, Linton welcomed Dr. Stacy Mason, who will officially assume superintendent duties on July 1, expressing confidence that the district will experience a "seamless transition" under her leadership.

CCSC Board President Vivian Whitaker offered an emotional farewell on behalf of the board, pointing to a plaque of Arthur L. Johnson. Whitaker stated that Johnson had been a lifelong role model, mentor and friend, and noted that Linton was the only person to ever fully check all those same boxes for her. Whitaker echoed Linton's praise regarding the hiring of Dr. Mason, calling it a stellar choice, though she noted that some people, like Linton, simply cannot be replaced.

Moving into other business, the board approved an addendum to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) originally signed in June 2025 with the Town of Cloverdale. The addendum extends the current agreement for the town to provide the school corporation with a full-time school resource officer (SRO) through the 2026-2027 school year, with no other changes made to the original document.

The board also took time to celebrate student achievement, recognizing Cloverdale Distance Learning Academy third-grader Addison Neiswinger for being named a 2026 National Math Star nominee. Cathy Ames, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, informed the board and audience that Neiswinger placed in the top two percent of the approximately 84,000 third graders across the state of Indiana based on her test scores.

Facility upgrades were also at the forefront of the meeting. Linton presented a proposal to replace the existing track, the fencing around the football field and the scoreboard at the high school. Linton emphasized the administration's desire to thoroughly evaluate the facility to determine the best next steps for providing quality athletic areas for district students. The board provided verbal agreement to move forward with the project proposal.

In personnel and administrative actions, the board approved Coordinator Employer Agreements for the 2026-2027 school year for Food Service Coordinator Billy Boyette, Maintenance Coordinator Eddie Byrns and Transportation Coordinator Joel Kennelly. The agreements maintain the same compensation rates as the previous school year. Additionally, the board approved the creation of a new special education instructor position at Cloverdale High School (CHS), as well as a special education instructional assistant position to replace the current C.L.A.S.P. position. Outdated furniture at Cloverdale Elementary School (CES) was also officially declared for disposal.

Community outreach programs will soon have a new home following the board's approval of a lease agreement with Judith Butler for the former Purple Cow Building, located at 103 S. Main St. In a written recommendation, Linton explained that moving the CHS food pantry and FFA thrift store to the downtown location will allow both programs to expand and better serve the community. The building will also be utilized to support the Work Based Learning curriculum and related graduation pathways.

Finally, the board approved a facility improvement request submitted by Athletic Director James Wade on behalf of the Cloverdale Community Youth League (CCYL). The approved upgrades include improvements to the concession stand at Murphy Stadium and the installation of new fencing around the back diamond of the softball complex. In his written request, Wade noted that as partners with the CCYL, these enhancements will help the league run more smoothly and host more games, ultimately benefiting future student-athletes.

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

Field Trips

• May 21 – Arts Honors Club, St. Louis, Missouri.
• June 4 and 5 – CHS boys' basketball, Vincennes University, Vincennes, IN.
• June 28 through July 2 – Soul Harvest Church, Cross Oak Camp.
• July 26 through Aug. 14 – FFA, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis.

Facility Use

• June 1 through July 31 – Indiana Rebels baseball, 15U practices, CHS baseball field.
• June 13 – Jalen Moore Basketball Camp, CHS gymnasium and auxiliary gymnasium.
• Aug. 28 – CMS sixth grade dance, CMS gymnasium.
• Oct. 6 – Indiana FFA, SAE for all committee meeting for Ag teachers, CHS Knoy/LIM Room.

Additional personnel matters receiving board approval included:

Retirements

• Jonna Rady – CMS language arts teacher.
• Cindy Shepherd – CMS instructional assistant.

Resignations

• Alethea Mann – CES/CMS nurse office medical assistant.
• Jean Raney – CES/CMS cafeteria.
• Marcia Vaughn – CHS JAG/Spanish teacher.

Employment

• Christina Kemp – CES third grade teacher.
• Maura Bagg – CHS FACS teacher.
• Crystal Tincher – transfer from CES instructional assistant to CES/CMS certified nursing assistant.
• Dani Cummings – CMS instructional assistant.
• Melissa Kline – CMS special education teacher.
• Aliyah Maldonado – CMS instructional assistant.
• Corey Branigan – summer maintenance assistance.
• Logan Hamm – summer maintenance assistance.

Coaching Resignation

• Paul Starks – CMS seventh grade girls' basketball coach.
• Jerry McCullough – CMS eighth grade girls' basketball coach.
• Kiersten Wade – CMS seventh/eighth grade girls' basketball coach.
• Kiersten Wade – CHS junior varsity volleyball coach.
• Jacob Whitaker – CMS football coach.

Coaching Hire

• Drew Boyette – CMS assistant football coach.
• Mark McCammon – CMS seventh/eighth grade football coach.

Coaching Volunteer

• Michael Nees – CHS assistant football coach.
• Mike Parks – CHS assistant football coach.
• Christian Conkling – CHS assistant football coach.
• Logan Carrington – CHS assistant football coach.
• Corey Branigan – CHS assistant football coach.
• Levi Johnson – CHS assistant football coach.
• Tayt Jackson – CHS assistant football coach.
• Brantson Scott – CHS assistant basketball coach.
• Kyle Thomas – CHS assistant basketball coach.
• Kade Schroer – CHS assistant basketball coach.
• Joey Hart – CHS assistant basketball coach.
• Aubree Branigan – CHS junior varsity volleyball coach.

The Cloverdale School Board—which includes Vivian Whitaker, Katrina Lewis, Donna Fidler, Melissa Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann and Mike Rightmyer II—is scheduled to reconvene for its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 13. The meeting will be held at the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.

Despite a recently fully filled crew, the Owen County Highway Department and its pothole patching team hasn't made much progress this summer.

June storms and multiple tornadoes have occupied the department with cleaning fallen trees and other debris blocking roads.

"We've just not had the manpower with what we've had to deal with," department superintendent Chad Walker said at the June 25 Owen County Board of Commissioners meeting.

As long as big storms don't continue to roll into the area, the crew will resume patching the roads on June 29, Walker said.

"What I've told people is we have to open roads before we can patch holes on other roads," County Commissioner Norman Warner said. "I mean, people have to be able to get in and out. It's a public safety issue. That has to take precedence. Not popular, but that's how it is."

Working with asphalt is very weather dependent, Walker said, because of the asphalt plants that shut down if there's a chance of rain.

Commissioner Sam Hobbs emphasized the importance of fixing the roads and being open with county residents about the progress the department has made and where it plans to start fixing next. He also suggested that it could be justifiable for the county to get quotes from private companies and see if it can afford the help to fix the roads.

"Sometimes the pain is gonna be worth the gain," Hobbs said. "I'm just thinking outside the box because I know we're way behind schedule, but we've got numerous calls from all over the county."

At the meeting, the commissioners also discussed a position in development that was suggested to relieve the commissioners and the auditor's office. The position would designate a person to take calls, answer questions and relay information to the commissioners, as well as handle human resources duties for the auditor's office.

Auditor Sheila Reeves stressed the importance of finalizing a job description so the county can get started hiring someone to fill the role.

On June 12, Owen County Sheriff's Department Sergeant Nathan Martin was shot while conducting a welfare check. Hobbs said while he has been recovering, he has only been receiving 66 percent of his pay. The commissioners passed a motion to sustain his full pay and work to get a new policy enacted.

The commissioners also approved a new postage machine contract to move forward.

Additionally, the commissioners briefly discussed the county jail project, with the announcement that the future jail property owner approved moving the closing date from July 4 to 31. On July 13, the county council and commissioners will meet to review moving forward with the jail.

"I want the public to understand that on July 13, it's just for the council to approve moving forward with the jail project," Hobbs said. "There's still a lot of legwork to do."

Heather Huntington, county building and planning department administrator, asked the commissioners to help gather a clear idea of what parcels were affected by the recent severe weather. She wants to consider exempting those who lost meter boxes from having to pay permit fees when the county does electrical inspections and repairs.

Reeves said the county has an ordinance that deals with similar emergencies on a case-by-case basis.

"I just feel like they've been through enough," Huntington said.

The Commissioners will meet again at 6 p.m. on July 2 and July 16 in the Commissioners' Room on the second floor of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

High-speed internet expansion and local infrastructure updates took center stage June 1 as the Spencer Town Council tackled a swift but productive agenda during its regular bi-weekly meeting.

The session, led by council president Jon Stantz, vice president Evan McKalip and council member Ginger Kohr, featured unanimous votes on major technological advancements and vital department personnel shifts. Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Moke was also present to oversee municipal business.

The headline item for the evening was the approval of a Broadband Economic Development Agreement between the Town of Spencer and Mainstream Fiber Networks, LLC. Aimed at strengthening regional connectivity, the pact moved forward seamlessly when Stantz offered a motion to sign the agreement. McKalip seconded the motion, which secured unanimous approval from the board in a definitive 3-0 vote.

The council also finalized routine paperwork for the Sudol property, located at 40 W. Clay St. A motion by Stantz to sign the presented planning and zoning mylar map was seconded by McKalip and passed with an identical 3-0 vote.

Prior to these measures, the council quickly handled routine business, unanimously passing motions to approve both the minutes from the previous meeting and the latest docket of municipal claims.

In operational reports, street department superintendent Tony Floyd approached the council with a personnel request to handle the town's seasonal workload. Floyd requested that a former temporary laborer be brought back onto the payroll in a permanent part-time capacity, logging 24 hours per week. Recognizing the department's ongoing maintenance needs, the council gave the transition its full approval.

Spencer Police Chief Terry Sips provided an update on law enforcement personnel and operations, noting a key return to the lineup. Assistant Chief Rannix Tinsley was officially cleared to return to active duty. Additionally, Chief Sips informed the council that he has obtained competitive repair quotes for two department fleet vehicles.

Several updates were benched due to absences. Sewer department superintendent Ryan Klaassen and town attorney Richard Lorenz were both away from the meeting. As a result, no reports were submitted on behalf of the sewer department, town attorney, redevelopment commission, parks board or the fire territory.

The Spencer Town Council addressed police technology upgrades, department staffing requests and property plat approvals during its regular bi-monthly meeting on June 15.

Council president Jon Stantz, vice president Evan McKalip and member Ginger Kohr were present to conduct the town's business, alongside clerk-treasurer Cheryl Moke. Town attorney Richard Lorenz participated in the session remotely via telephone.

Following a swift approval of the prior meeting's minutes and the standard docket of municipal claims, the council transitioned into departmental updates.

Spencer Police Department Chief Terry Sips provided an update regarding the department's fleet vehicles, reporting that a Dodge Ram truck was at the body shop for repairs. Sips estimated that it would likely be three weeks before the vehicle was fully completed and returned to active patrol service.

Chief Sips then introduced Officer Ryan Combs, who delivered a presentation to the council regarding TLO, an online investigative tool widely used by law enforcement agencies.

Combs explained that the platform significantly accelerates suspect identification and evidence gathering during criminal investigations. The service costs the town $900 annually, which accommodates an average of 75 specialized searches per month.

Combs noted that the Spencer Police Department can combine its search data and tools with Owen County law enforcement agencies for more rapid and effective information sharing across jurisdictions.

Following the presentation, the board designated Chief Sips and Assistant Chief Rannix Tinsley as system administrators, while Combs and officer Bryce Brock will serve as the primary users authorized to conduct searches.

Several town entities had no developments to report during the mid-June session. Sewer department superintendent Ryan Klaassen was absent, and no updates were submitted on behalf of the Spencer Redevelopment Commission or the Owen Valley Fire Territory.

The Spencer Town Council will meet again on July 6 and July 20. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building at 90 N. West St., Spencer.

Owen County is preparing for a data center.

Even though a massive facility housing servers and using up to 5 million gallons of water each day isn't planned for the county, the plan commission is gearing up for the possibility with a water protection ordinance.

At the commission's June 16 meeting, the members continued a discussion about how to protect the county water that began in February. They also approved two subdivisions and announced a vacancy in the commission.

At the meeting, member Alfio Saitta said the commission is looking to fill in a gap in county and state guidelines.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources regulates high capacity wells that have the capability of withdrawing 100,000 gallons of ground water in a day. County Commissioner Norman Warner said the county has its own regulations for sources that draw less than 10,000 gallons in a day. The proposed ordinance would cover the "gray area" in between, he said.

"I think we're kind of working to a solution that is a more elegant thing than passing an ordinance that says no data centers, which doesn't do anything for anybody," Saitta said.

Saitta said he spoke with the BPP Water Corporation CEO, who said the company doesn't have clients that use more than 10,000 gallons of water a day and wasn't sure if it could handle that volume without a significant growth in infrastructure.

At the plan commission's April 21 meeting, Warner said the water protection discussion would need to come to a result soon.

"On the backside of that is going to be a discussion of potentially putting a moratorium in place for data centers, or at least something in place for Owen County," he said. "If the state takes that away, it takes it away. There's nothing we can do about that. We need to at least have something in place to protect our water and then to protect our electric grid."

At the June meeting, Warner pointed to Parke County, which on June 15 approved an ordinance restricting data center development in the county by blocking projects that would stress water and electricity resources, WTHI-TV reported.

"I think it would behoove us to get something like that in place so that we're not at the mercy of trying to figure it out on the fly while there's something going on," Warner said.

Saitta explained that the ordinance would take into consideration a project such as a data center, but also acts as a way to reassess and reevaluate the county's water resources and put "those in a relationship with community needs."

The commission unanimously approved a motion Saitta made to present the ordinance to the commissioners on behalf of the planning commission.

"This is not an anti-data center thing that we're doing here," Saitta said. "This is simply trying to marshall the resources that we have on the ground here at Owen County.

Also at the meeting, the commission made the final plat approval for the 2026-02 Woods Minor Subdivision and passed the 2026-06 Kevin Cooper "Cooper Manor" Minor Subdivision on to the county commissioners, with some caveats.

The commission approved the subdivision, with the condition that it be split into two parcels instead of three. This would include a lot that already contains a house, with a section carved out of the third lot for a pole barn to be constructed, and the remainder. The commission made the condition to avoid delaying progress further.

The commission also moved to delay moving forward with the 2026-05 Land of Indiana, INC "Porter Ridge Subdivision" Major Subdivision so Travis Norman, who represented Land of Indiana, could provide the commission with more information about the project.

Norman said the subdivision would consist of 253 acres split into 12 tracts of land, with the smallest being 5 acres, and the largest being 68. The property is located on Porter Ridge Road and Cedar Lane in Clay Township.

"We're not looking to do a normal subdivision," Norman said. "We're just looking to try to, at the best, preserve this area, but maximize what we can do with it now that we're ready to sell it."

Norman said the plan includes a private road shared by seven of the tracts, with a shared maintenance agreement.

The commission told Norman they would consider the plans once they receive a drainage report, plans for retention and detention ponds, an agreement for the private road, septic samples and any covenant or home owner's association plans that the subdivision may have.

At the end of the meeting, building and planning department administrator Heather Huntington read a statement announcing it would be member Donna McIntyre's last meeting, as she moves to Kentucky.

"I want to thank all the board members and community from my Owen County hometown," Huntington read. "It is filled with nothing but love and compassion for each other. My husband and I have been fortunate enough to spend many years here and build many memories, but we are now at a point in our life where we have made some changes, and we are now moving to Kentucky."

The commission also announced the interviews for a plan commission vacancy would take place during an executive session at 6:30 p.m. June 30. The next plan commission meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. July 21 at the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

The Owen County Council discussed new positions, Rural Transit funding, the jail project and a riverfront restoration project during its June 8 meeting.

Owen County municipal adviser Jeff Peters took questions from the council about the county jail project, its funding and potential income tax changes in the next couple years. Peters is with Peters Franklin based in Indianapolis.

For the county highway department, the council members talked about the position currently held by Bennita Woodward, the highway department secretary.

County highway department superintendent Chad Walker said Woodward does the work of about three positions, acting as administrative assistant and secretary and is set to work 35 hours per week. It would be "absolutely wrong" for her to not get a pay raise, he said.

She helps manage payroll, the budget, the Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) program and insurance, among other duties.

"It amazes me what you do, and you do it well," council president Polly Chesser said. "I know how hard you work."

The council moved to take time to review and evaluate her position, hours and compensation with a consultant, with the July 13 council meeting as the next date to discuss.

Amy Guerrettaz, Area 10 Agency on Aging Executive Director, urged the council to contribute $30,312 to complement what has already been raised and pledged for the Rural Transit public transportation service for 2027.

Rural Transit provides door-to-door service to Lawrence, Monroe, Owen and Putnam counties. Last year, Guerrettaz said, Owen County residents used the service for 7,962 rides to medical appointments, grocery stores and other services.

She read testimonies from residents who depend on the support, including John K., who gave up driving in 2005 due to declining eyesight and regularly uses it for doctor appointments and other services.

"We really need the service," the testimony said.

Owen County makes up 19.11 percent of the trips for all four counties, and operations within the county cannot be funded without local match support, Guerrettaz said.

The total local match for 2027 is $100,059 and $69,747 has already been raised and pledged, leaving the $30,312 deficit Guerrettaz requested from the council members.

Council member Anton Neff said the council has time to make a decision and encouraged Guerrettaz to come to the council's 2027 budget workshops in August.

Additionally, the council considered a request for an Emergency Medical Service Mobile Integrated Health program. According to the state EMS website, the MIH program delivers care to patients' homes or in a mobile environment. It includes telehealth platforms and in-person teams that can provide health screenings, vaccinations, treatments, follow-ups, social work, substance abuse resources, mental health resources and chronic disease management, among other services.

Owen County EMS Director Cris Lunsford is applying for the grant through the Indiana Rural Health Association and received approval from the commissioners to proceed at their May 7 meeting. The request also includes adding a paramedic position, Neff said.

The position is different from the typical paramedic that makes runs and works 24 hour shifts and is a bit more administrative, he said. The program would limit people from using the hospital as their primary care physician and do preventative work to reduce repeat calls, Lunsford said at the May meeting.

"I think it's an excellent idea," Chesser said. "Something like this would be really nice to kind of alleviate those."

The county would receive $200,000 for the first year of the program. The council unanimously approved the request.

The council also discussed the need for a new position within the courthouse to handle human resources and administrative duties. County commissioner Norm Warner explained the value of the position for the commissioners, saying it would make them more easily accessible to the public.

"It's supposed to do two things for us," Warner said. "It's supposed to alleviate the human resource function from the auditor's office, and it's also supposed to man an office for the commissioners to be our person in the office on a day-to-day basis."

An official proposal was not created yet, but Warner and auditor Sheila Reeves gave updates and explanations for the need for the position. It would create a point person to take calls, answer vendor questions and relay information from residents to the commissioners, as well as ease the load of the auditor's office by handling HR duties.

The council, commissioners and auditor's office will continue to decide what tasks the role would take on, pay and hours.

"It's a work in progress," Warner said.

Tammy Bingham, Executive Director of the Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), asked the council to consider helping fund the next steps for a riverfront restoration project partly funded through the Department of Natural Resources and Lake and River Enhancement (LARE).

The LARE program gives assistance for projects that "reduce non-point sediment and nutrient pollution of surface waters to a level that meets or surpasses state water quality standards," according to the DNR.

The SWCD previously completed a LARE Restoration/Construction project in December 2025.

Bingham said she identified four additional critical sites that need to be stabilized and reinforced to preserve the White River bank's integrity near Cooper Commons and the MYPath Riverfront Trail.

Bingham recently secured a $44,000 LARE Design/Engineering Grant with a match of $11,000, bringing total costs for the project to $55,000. Bingham said she has obtained $4,000 in in-kind match and friends of MYPath pledged $500. She plans to reach out to other entities and apply for another LARE grant. Her hope from the council is that they would pledge $5,000 to help with the project.

"I think that would look good for you," Bingham said. "I think it would look good for the county, for the community. This is for future generations to come."

MYPath and the SWCD recently acquired property to extend the Riverfront Trail closer to McCormick's Creek State Park, Bingham said. Preserving the riverbank is something that will draw people to the county to use the MYPath trail, she added.

Bingham said the county needs to decide by the fall and asked that her request be put on the agenda for the next meeting. The council approved the postponement to July.

All council members were present for the meeting. They approved additional appropriations for the probation fund and county commissioners: $45,000 for care of patients was approved unanimously and $150,000 for other services were approved by all members except Neff, who abstained.

The Owen County Council will meet again at 6 p.m. July 13 at the Owen County Courthouse.

Water runoff causing flooding for town residents was a primary topic of discussion at the June 23 Gosport Town Council meeting.

For one house at the intersection of Second and North streets, water from a drain that was recently cleared had been flooding and gushing into the yard and garage. Town resident Ron Niebel suggested putting a large pipe down or putting up a wall in the area. The council discussed how best to alleviate the flooding without just diverting the water into another person's yard.

"Something has to happen," council member Michael Miller said.

Niebel said the town has been trying to find a solution for the flooding for about three years.

"We're gonna get it fixed," council president Marian McGee said.

At the June 9 meeting, the council approved a motion to purchase three yards of concrete to add a curb at a Fifth Street address to redirect water from flooding the property's yard. The yard, street and sidewalk are level, with nothing to stop the water. But, at the June 23 meeting, McGee said the homeowner decided he did not want a curb added.

The council is reevaluating how to address the issue. McGee said one of the only other options is to raise the sidewalk. The concrete approved at the previous meeting had not been purchased yet.

Also at the June 9 meeting, the council approved a bimonthly meeting schedule from June to September, returning to having meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of those months. The meetings, which are at 7 p.m. at the Gosport Community building, are suggested for the following dates:

• July 14
• July 28
• Aug. 11
• Aug. 25
• Sept. 8
• Sept. 22
• Oct. 13
• Nov. 10
• Dec. 8

Gosport Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brian Leonard and the council scheduled a work session to discuss what the town wants to do about creating a fire territory for 9 a.m. July 10. The session will be open to the public and likely take place at Gosport Town Hall at 3 E. Main St., Gosport. According to minutes from the council's April meeting, the town has until June 30, 2027 to progress toward a territory or district.

"If the council does nothing and just rides it out the county will basically take over the fire department," the minutes said.

At the June 23 meeting, Leonard told the meeting attendees that part of County Line Road would be closed the next day. He said crews working to clean debris and trees from the road after the previous week's tornado hauled out 26 loads that day.

The town council will meet again at 7 p.m. July 14 at the Gosport Community Building, 301 N. Ninth St., Gosport.

At the June 9 Gosport Town Council meeting, the council members discussed sidewalk improvements, a surplus lot being sold at public auction and an amendment to the council's meeting schedule.

All three council members were present for the meeting. This included president Marian McGee, member Michael Miller and member Ernie Arnold.

At the meeting, the council members approved a motion to purchase three yards of concrete to add a curb at 358 N. Fifth St. to redirect water from flooding the property's yard. The yard, street and sidewalk had been level, with nothing to stop the water.

Town resident Ron Neibel estimated that the concrete would cost $200 per yard. McGee predicted that the area would be fixed at the beginning of the next week. The council approved the motion with the understanding that the excess concrete would be used to fix sidewalks throughout the town.

Gosport Town Attorney Terry English asked the council to approve Resolution #26-1, which would allow the town-owned property at 122 W. North St. to be sold at public auction.

The auction will take place at 6:30 p.m. July 14 at the Gosport Town Hall at 7 E. Main St. English said the opening bid will be set for $6,300 to reimburse the town for the amount spent in attorney fees and site restoration to bring the property to marketable standards. The lot won't be sold for under the amount set for the opening bid.

According to the resolution, immediately following the sale and before 5 p.m. July 16, the buyer must deposit $500 to English and execute a binding purchase contract.

English clarified that it is the responsibility of the buyer and not the town to guarantee that the property is free and clear of judgements, liens or other encumbrances of record and is free of title defects.

The council approved the resolution.

Town resident Robert Wheeler, Jr. attended the meeting with concerns about a speed limit sign and some town properties for the council to look into. McGee told Wheeler the town would check out the issues he raised.

The council also approved a mileage reimbursement rate of 62.5 cents per mile.

Miller made the recommendation that the council return to having meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

"There's just so much stuff that's going on," Miller said. "I don't feel like we're getting it done right. We need to be able to talk more."

McGee added an idea that the council return to one meeting per month in the winter. The council approved the change, with the next meeting set for 7 p.m. June 23, pending availability at the Gosport Community Building, 301 N. Ninth St., Gosport.

The Owen County Highway Department announced six filled positions during the June 4 county commissioners meeting, with plans to ramp up road and pothole fixtures throughout the summer.

The department filled two laborer and four operator positions, creating a team of 20 with the "manpower" to flesh out the patching crew, highway superintendent Chad Walker said at the meeting.

"The majority of them will start Monday," Walker said. "Once they're there, it is full throttle on hot boxes and filling pot holes."

Hot boxes are machines that keep asphalt at the optimal temperature for patching roads throughout the day. As long as it isn't raining, Walker said, the crew expects to be working on the roads everyday.

"Once these guys get there, that's gonna be their bread and butter every day," Walker said.

Walker also said Tower Road, between U.S. Highway 231 and Fidler Road, would be closed for about a week starting June 9 to replace a box culvert — a concrete structure used to allow water to flow under the roadway — so the road can be resurfaced, which will take place in late summer or early fall of this year.

"We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but the result will be a much smoother and safer road surface to drive on," the department wrote in a Facebook post. The post also said the resurfacing is funded through the Indiana Department of Transportation 2026 Community Crossings Matching Grant.

In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Connie Murphy, the county's connect chair for the Indiana anniversary committee, came to the commissioners to request a public reading of the Declaration of Independence on the Owen County Courthouse steps by Mark Rogers at 6 p.m. July 8, the same day the document announcing the 13 colonies' separation from Great Britain was first read publicly in 1776.

The commissioners approved the request.

Another option to celebrate the anniversary was to plant a "Liberty Tree." Spencer Main Street board member Jacob Balash requested the commissioners approval to use a grant from the state to plant two trees with commemorative plaques flanking the sidewalk at the front of the courthouse.

Commissioner Norman Warner said he likes trees and the idea of the anniversary plaques, but he had concerns over security. Courthouse security and their cameras need to have an unobstructed view, and growing trees could hinder it, he said.

One audience member suggested Veteran's Memorial Park, an idea Warner said would be fitting. The commissioners ultimately denied the request due to security.

Also at the meeting, the commissioners approved a bid from Servpro, a professional restoration and cleaning services company in Bloomington, to clean, strip and wax the floors and landings on all three floors of the courthouse.

Warner said the maintenance was "long overdue" and said the floors are part of "our view from the public."

The commissioners also approved the Owen County Health Department to apply for the annual Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant. The grant helps the department keep response plans for different public health scenarios updated. This could be infectious disease outbreak, tornadoes, water contamination and bioterrorism, among other situations.

The grant also currently contributes to paying the contract for Allan McBride.

The commissioners voted to adopt a revised county building permit fee schedule. County attorney Tony Overholt said the amendment, Ordinance 2026-008, is designed to bring the fees more in line with what nearby counties are doing to fund the county building department and make it self sufficient.

"We hadn't updated those fees forever," Warner said. "What we were charging was, quite frankly, ridiculous compared to other counties and municipalities around us."

The county building department will lose revenue from the storage units it owns. They sit right next to the jail and will be torn down and sold with the rest of the property to offset the jail costs.

"We're gonna try to make that up in some other ways, and this is one of the ways we're gonna try to do that," Warner said.

According to a proposed new fee schedule that will become effective Aug. 11, Class I structures will be $1,000 plus 20 cents per square foot over 2,000 square feet. Additions or alterations to Class I structures are $700 plus 25 cents per square foot over 1,250 square feet.

Previously, Class I structures were $750 plus 20 cents per square foot over 2,500 square feet. Additions or alternations to Class I structures were $450 plus 20 cents per square foot for over 1,250 square feet.

Class II structures in the new schedule will be $400 plus 20 cents per square foot over 650 square feet. Unfinished porches and decks are 10 cents per square foot and additions or alterations to Class II structures are $200 plus 20 cents per square foot over 500 square feet.

The previous fee schedule had Class II structures as $200 plus 10 cents per square foot for over 720 square feet. Additions or alterations to Class II structures were $125 plus 10 cents per square foot for over 500 square feet.

The new schedule also set fees for demolition permits, electrical and re-inspection, among other fees.

The fees cannot be changed for a five-year period following amendment, Owen County Auditor Sheila Reeves said.

Beginning with the June 4 meeting, the commissioners announced a three minute limit to public comments. Warner also announced the community picnic scheduled for June 20 was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts with the organizers.

In today's political climate, it can be hard to know if legislation is good or bad for what we care about.

One side tells us a bill would be the best thing to ever happen for your issue, while the other side tells you the sky will fall if it were to pass. As far as conservation legislation goes, I look to see where the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) falls on the issue.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed a new rule in May that I wasn't sure I could trust.

The rule summary states: "We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to open or expand hunting opportunities on 111 field stations, including 107 units of the National Wildlife Refuges System (Refuge System or NWRS) and 4 units of the National Fish Hatchery System (Hatchery System or NFHS). This includes opening hunting or sport fishing opportunities for the first time on 14 National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) and three National Fish Hatcheries (NFH). The proposed actions will open or expand more than 1,450 opportunities for hunting and fishing across the NWRS and NFHS. In accordance with Secretary's Order 3447 and Director's Order 233, we also propose to make changes to existing station-specific regulations in order to improve the clarity and accuracy of regulations, reduce the regulatory burden on the public, ensure consistency across FWS lands and waters, and comply with a Presidential mandate for plain-language standards."

It sounded good on paper, but I was scared I might be missing something. Then AFWA issued a press release announcing, "The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies applauds the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the proposed opening and expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities within the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) and National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS)."

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing hunters and anglers today is finding a place to go. With leases locking up most prime private ground acreage, which is forcing a swell of public land use, there is little hope for newcomers to find an affordable place to hunt. And elites continue to try and privatize our rivers and streams. So to open up federal public land and water access under the watchful eye of the USFWS is a good move. As long as sound conservation remains the focus and the fish and wildlife don't suffer.

The proposal includes language about simplifying regulations to better match the fish and wildlife laws of the states where they are located. This point may be secondary, but it matters. As someone who has successfully hunted in 40 states, two Canadian provinces, two Mexican states and South Africa, I can tell you, fishing and hunting laws are confusing. Especially if you travel to hunt. A concerted effort should be made to simplify regulations and make them more universal.

Season dates, legal methods, bag limits and equipment requirements vary from state to state, and often from unit to unit within each state. On top of that, federal regulations don't line up with state rules. It breeds confusion. I argue for following our game laws and actively support conservation law enforcement for the work they do to protect our wildlife and wild places, but we could make their jobs easier.

As far as hunting and fishing on these new or expanded public lands, the proposal reflects the success of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which is the most successful wildlife management system in the world. Built on the principle that wildlife belongs to all citizens, not private landowners or government officials. The model relies on science-based management and sustainable harvest to maintain healthy wildlife populations.

Hunters and anglers are central to the model's success. Through the purchase of licenses and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing tackle and marine fuel, billions of dollars have been generated for habitat restoration, wildlife research and public access. The remarkable recovery of species such as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, elk and waterfowl stands as proof that conservation works when science, sound management and sportsmen work together.

State fish and wildlife agencies are the primary managers of wildlife populations. Biologists in those agencies spend their careers studying local habitats, monitoring wildlife numbers and setting seasons to balance opportunity with conservation. Federal lands exist within states. Successful management depends on cooperation between state agencies and the federal government. These partnerships have made North America the envy of the world for wildlife.

Opening additional acres won't come without some challenges and unwanted occurrences. However, the important point here is more Americans having opportunities to enjoy the public lands that already belong to them. It sounded good to me at first, then AFWA confirmed my suspicions. Conservation depends on participation. Many participated in creating this rule, so many may participate in the outdoors. Sounds good to me.

See you down the trail...

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

The Owen County Adult Education (OCAE) program is proud to celebrate another successful year of helping residents achieve their educational and career goals. During the 2025-2026 program year, students demonstrated remarkable dedication and perseverance, resulting in numerous accomplishments that will positively impact their futures.

One of the year's greatest achievements was the earning of 22 High School Equivalency diplomas, opening doors to new employment opportunities, higher education and personal growth for students throughout the community.

In addition to these academic milestones, 19 learners earned industry-recognized certifications in QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel, gaining valuable workforce skills that are highly sought after by employers. These certifications help students strengthen their resumes and increase their competitiveness in today's job market.

OCAE students also expanded their technology and professional skills through advanced training opportunities. During the program year, 10 learners successfully completed courses in Salesforce and CompTIA A+, building expertise in customer relationship management and information technology support.

Best of all, these educational and workforce training opportunities were provided at no cost to the learner, helping remove barriers to education and allowing more Owen County residents to gain the skills needed to succeed in today's workforce.

"We are incredibly proud of all of our students and the progress they have made this year," said OCAE staff. "Each accomplishment represents hard work, determination and a commitment to building a brighter future."

As the program looks ahead to the 2026-2027 year, new educational and workforce training opportunities are being planned. Community members interested in earning a high school equivalency diploma, gaining workforce certifications or developing new skills are encouraged to stay tuned for the upcoming class schedule.

To learn more about available courses or express interest in future classes, complete the interest form at https://forms.gle/coBBeTpFwvYEcNBS7 and a member of the Adult Education team will contact you. Interested individuals may also call 812-829-3392 ext. 212 for additional information.

Whether your goal is to earn a diploma, gain a new certification or prepare for a career change, Owen County Adult Education may have a class for you.

We have talked about the economic impact of trails. People who use the trails tend to spend money, boosting the local economy. And we talked about the trail counts. The pavement, bridge and other improvements have brought an increasing number of visitors to the MYPath Trail. Now it's time to combine those concepts and talk about real dollars.

Last year a group of graduate students from Indiana University conducted a thorough study of MYPath and the regional trail concept. One of the key findings was an economic impact analysis. Based on similar economic studies of similar trails in similar communities, they estimated the impact of local users was between $7.21 and $11.33. The median value of that is $9.27 per visit.

We have had trail counters in three spots on MYPath. These are simple counters, not cameras. They do not provide any photos or any videos of any visitors. What they do quite well is record when something passes by. We have been recording MYPath crossings since April 2023. In May of 2023, we recorded 698 passages. In May of 2026, we recorded 2,791 passages.

Okay, it's time for some math. Take the economic impact of each person, $9.27, and multiply it by the number of people who visited in May of this year. I needed my calculator for this. The economic impact of MYPath, for the month of May 2026 was $25,873.

If you doubt the economic impact of a trail visitor, I invite you to join us for a Wednesday walk. Better yet, join those of us who meet at Main Street Coffee before the hike. I get at least a cup of coffee. Sometimes I get a muffin. More than once, I've gotten breakfast. Others in the group have had breakfast by the time I get there, and at least one usually orders a lunch to be picked up later. I frequently get lunch somewhere else. The people who don't join us at Main Street Coffee may fill up their gas tank, visit Babbs or take advantage of being in town to do other shopping.

The economic activity is real. It is at least $25,873 for a single month. And it is happening only because the MYPath trail exists.

I submitted this column before I had the chance to download the June 2026 numbers. Do you think they will be higher? Do you believe we will hit 3,000 monthly users before the end of summer? Then the impact will be $27,810. Will we hit 5,000 users one of these months? That's $46,350. Those are only monthly figures. What will be the impact for a year?

Now, these are just local users. The economic impact for non-local users is between $13 and $30.50 per person. Overnight visitors generate between $98 and $176.98 each. As MYPath expands and people become more aware of it, usage and economic impact will increase. Just wait until we connect to McCormick's Creek State Park.

In Owen County, we are fortunate to have events and activities that draw visitors and their money. Think how good the Owen County Fair is for local businesses during fair week. Think of the Apple Butter Festival. Think about the other fun events we host around the square. These are all important parts of the economic mix. Do they generate over $20,000 each month?

I haven't even talked about the positive impact on housing and development. Recently, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail reported the impact of that trail through our capitol city is at $3 billion.

Right now, a paved MYPath with a bridge is less than two-years-old. And it is starting to grow, in both usage and its reach. It is time to start treating MYPath as a key economic driver in Owen County right now. And it's only going to get bigger.

If you're a regular reader of The Owen News, you've probably noticed this issue looks a little different. You're right.

The calendars are shorter. There are fewer columns than usual. And this issue is arriving on a Thursday, not the usual first Friday of the month.

While the holiday explains the Thursday publication, the shorter calendars and fewer columns have a different explanation. Beginning this month, The Owen News is expanding to a twice-monthly publication schedule.

Four years ago this month, the founding board of what would become The Owen News met for the first time.

None of us knew exactly what would come of that first meeting. All we had was hope and a vision for what local journalism could mean for Owen County and a belief that our community deserved it.

I personally am forever grateful for those founding board members who generously gave of their time and talents based on an idea that had never been done in Indiana – a nonprofit newspaper. You could almost even call it a pipe dream.

But as we all know, two years ago, thanks to the support of this community, that dream became a monthly paper. Since then, you've helped us build something remarkable. Throughout the last two years, the paper has grown, nearly doubling in size from 16 pages to 28 pages, to tell more stories and dig deeper into the challenges and successes in our community. We've produced special sections, increasing what we offer each year, for the fair, graduation and elections. Each one reflects our commitment to documenting the moments that shape Owen County and embracing the important role that a local, community newspaper should play.

And now, it's time to increase it some more, offering two editions each month on the first and third Fridays. We're also investing in how we deliver the news online, bringing more timely reporting to our website and launching an app this fall so local news can reach readers directly.

None of these changes are about growing for the sake of growing. They're about serving Owen County better. Publishing twice each month means we can share more of Owen County's stories. Every step we've taken has been guided by one simple question: How can we better serve our community?

That question has shaped nearly every decision we've made, including hosting our first Meet the Candidates forum in April, investing in digital news and deepening our reporting.

That same question also led us to another exciting milestone as part of our next chapter: leasing our own office space on Spencer's downtown square. We'll be moving into the former office of the late John Fuhs, whom we miss deeply. John devoted decades of his life to serving Owen County. Being in the space that was John's for more than 30 years is an ever-present reminder of what it means to serve our community well.

While we have appreciated the start and beautiful space at The Exchange, we've quickly outgrown it, not only in terms of space, but in its ability to meet the unique needs of a growing newsroom. In order for us to continue to grow and build The Owen News, we need a home of our own, where our staff can gather and our community can connect with us.

Once our space is ready, we can't wait to share it with all of you, to honor John and the Fuhs family and to specifically celebrate and thank those that have or will step up to help us take this next step. (And yes, we're still looking for furniture if you have something you'd like to donate!)

Four years ago, I wasn't sure if we'd ever be able to publish our first issue. Today, we're publishing twice a month and opening our own space downtown. That's not something I take for granted.

Because at the end of the day, our success is the community's success, and we're only able to do this because of our community's support. I've long said that if you take care of your community, your community will take care of you. The last four years have proven that to be true.

Maybe you've donated or become a member.

Maybe you've bought an ad.

Maybe you've called with a news tip, written a letter to the editor, shared one of our stories, picked up a copy for a neighbor or simply encouraged us when we needed it most.

However you've supported The Owen News, you've helped write our story. As we begin this next chapter, I know we'll continue writing it together because Owen County believes local news is worth having and worth supporting. So yes, this issue looks a little different, and I can't wait to see what we write together next.

I recently attended an auction. It was out in the country at someone's house. They had restrooms set up for people, but I couldn't help but notice something out of the corner of my eye that was more historical than any of the antiques that the auctioneer was offering up. It was an outhouse.

Now some of you might not be old enough to remember what they are, but they were usually an old, wooden, small, outside building no bigger than a closet. It had a bench to sit on that had a hole in it. A hole was dug out underneath, so that a person could sit to relieve themselves. In other words, it was the equivalent of a modern bathroom. This was before running water and electricity. And I thought since it's the 250th anniversary of our country, what better thing to write about than a piece of history. It just shows you what modern progress has brought us.

I became so fascinated by the subject that I went to the local library to do research on outhouses. I also used the Internet. Now before you start thinking that this writer is one outhouse short of a door, this is something that was historical before modern technology. Even my parents talked about how they had one when they were children. I couldn't fathom the idea when I was six-years-old when they were talking about it, but that's a story for another time.

From colonial times through the early 20th century, these simple wooden structures were placed 50 to 100 yards from homes to manage waste, while the iconic crescent moon on the door was used to provide light and ventilation. Back in the day, it sparked widespread historical debate. Crescent moons supposedly represented the women's facility while a circle or sun shape represented the men's facilities. This way there could be no confusion. Sometimes the outhouse was called the privy.

Today, outhouses are mainly built for decoration, even though I suspect some people use them for the real purpose. Actual outhouse legality is decided by the states and county health departments. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates human waste disposal to prevent groundwater contamination and disease transmission. The EPA does provide guidance to the states.

The transition to indoor plumbing swept through wealthy urban areas in the mid-19th century, but rural parts of the United States continued to rely on outhouses well into the mid-20th century. Today, these historical structures survive only on historic farm steads, in parks and at outdoor events.

Our country has come so far in the last couple hundred years, but we still have so far to go. You have to hand it to the inventors and innovators of our times. Where would we be without them?

In any case, this was a little bit of humor thrown into a great big birthday that's coming up. Happy 250th birthday to the United States of America!

Happy Fourth of July!

Susan

Each summer, the Owen County Fair becomes a place where hard work, creativity and community pride come together.

From July 5 to 11, the Owen County Fairgrounds will once again host one of the most anticipated events of the year, inviting families, friends and neighbors to gather and celebrate. At the heart of the fair are Owen County 4-H members, whose projects and events truly shine throughout the week.

Visitors to the fair are encouraged to take time to explore the 4-H Exhibit Hall, where months of learning are displayed in creative and inspiring ways. Rows of exhibits highlight projects such as artwork, photography, foods, sewing, woodworking, science, technology and many other areas of interest. Each exhibit represents a young person's dedication, problem-solving and willingness to try something new. Fairgoers often leave impressed by the variety and quality of work created by local youth.

Livestock projects are another cornerstone of the 4-H experience at the Owen County Fair. Throughout the week, 4-H members will show beef, swine, sheep, goats, poultry and rabbits, demonstrating the care and commitment required to raise animals. Behind each show is a story of early mornings, daily chores and valuable lessons in responsibility and leadership. Watching these youths in the show ring offers a glimpse into the dedication that defines 4-H.

Beyond exhibits and livestock, the Owen County Fair features special events that celebrate youth achievement and bring 4-H members together. One highlight of the week will take place on Monday, July 6, beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the Senior 4-H Member Recognition. This meaningful event honors older 4-H members for their dedication and accomplishments, including several seniors who have completed 10 years of 4-H involvement. Their commitment reflects the lasting impact 4-H can have on young people as they grow, learn and lead.

Following senior recognition, the fairgrounds will come alive with energy during 4-H Spirit Night, an annual favorite for members and spectators alike. Spirit Night brings together 4-H community clubs from across Owen County to compete in a variety of fun, teamwork-focused games. Clubs earn points throughout the evening for participation, teamwork and enthusiasm, all in pursuit of bragging rights for the coming year. Laughter, friendly competition, and club pride make Spirit Night a celebration of the community connections that 4-H helps create.

The Owen County Fair offers more than just entertainment—it offers a chance to see learning in action and to support the youth who are shaping the future of the community. Whether walking through the Exhibit Hall, watching a livestock show or cheering on clubs during Spirit Night, fairgoers will see firsthand how 4-H projects and events shine. Everyone is invited to join us at the fairgrounds this July to celebrate the dedication, growth and achievements of Owen County 4-H members.

An Owen County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) deputy is reportedly recovering in stable condition after being shot Friday afternoon, June 12, while conducting a welfare check at a rural residence, sparking an hours-long standoff that drew a massive multi-agency law enforcement response.

The suspect, 58-year-old Wendell Hart, later surrendered to authorities following extensive negotiations and conversations with family members.

According to Sgt. Matt Ames, public information officer for the Indiana State Police (ISP) Putnamville District, the incident began after the Owen County Probation Department requested a welfare check on Hart, who had failed to show up for a scheduled probation appointment earlier in the day.

Ames noted during a media briefing that the responding deputy did not have an arrest warrant and was purely checking on Hart's well-being. However, when the first deputy arrived at the residence on Texas Pike, just north of Manhattan Road, they were met with gunfire.

The wounded deputy managed to call for emergency backup. Within 10 to 15 minutes, additional units from the Owen County Sheriff’s Department and the Spencer Police Department (SPD) arrived at the scene. A second exchange of gunfire ensued between Hart and the arriving officers, according to preliminary ISP reports.

As the situation escalated, Hart retreated and barricaded himself inside a garage on the property.

The OCSD quickly posted an emergency alert on social media, warning local residents of an active “criminal incident.” Neighbors were urged to avoid the Texas Pike area, lock their doors and immediately report any suspicious activity to 911.

Because authorities were initially uncertain if Hart was still in the garage or had escaped into the dense surrounding woods, a massive perimeter was established. The ISP aviation unit deployed helicopters to scour the area from above and later assist investigators with aerial photography.

The tense standoff lasted between two and two-and-a-half hours. It ultimately came to a peaceful conclusion after police negotiators and Hart's family members successfully convinced him to surrender. The Indiana State Police SWAT team moved in and took Hart into custody without further incident.

The report of an officer down triggered a massive, rapid deployment from local, state and federal law enforcement. Agencies responding to the scene included the OCSD, SPD, Indiana State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI.

The injured deputy was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital. Officials confirmed Friday evening that the deputy remains in stable condition, though their identity has not yet been publicly released.

Hart was also transported to a local hospital for medical treatment before being jailed. State police have not disclosed the exact nature or severity of Hart’s injuries, nor have they released details regarding his original probation case.

ISP crime scene investigators remained at the Texas Pike property late Friday evening to process the scene, recover the firearms involved and conduct ballistics testing. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be forwarded to the Owen County Prosecutor’s Office to determine formal charges.

This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

At the June 9 Gosport Town Council meeting, the council members discussed sidewalk improvements, a surplus lot being sold at public auction and an amendment to the council’s meeting schedule. 

All three council members were present for the meeting. This included President Marian McGee, member Michael Miller and member Ernie Arnold. 

At the meeting, the council members approved a motion to purchase three yards of concrete to add a curb at 358 N. Fifth St. to redirect water from flooding the property’s yard. The yard, street and sidewalk had been level, with nothing to stop the water. 

Town resident Ron Neibel estimated that the concrete would cost $200 per yard. McGee predicted that the area would be fixed at the beginning of the next week. The council approved the motion with the understanding that the excess concrete would be used to fix sidewalks throughout the town. 

Gosport Town Attorney Terry English asked the council to approve Resolution #26-1, which would allow the town-owned property at 122 W. North St. to be sold at public auction. 

The auction will take place at 6:30 p.m. July 14 at the Gosport Town Hall at 7 E. Main St. English said the opening bid will be set for $6,300 to reimburse the town for the amount spent in attorney fees and site restoration to bring the property to marketable standards. The lot won’t be sold for under the amount set for the opening bid. 

According to the resolution, immediately following the sale and before 5 p.m. July 16, the buyer must deposit $500 to English and execute a binding purchase contract. 

English clarified that it is the responsibility of the buyer and not the town to guarantee that the property is free and clear of judgements, liens or other encumbrances of record and is free of title defects. 

The council approved the resolution. 

Town resident Robert Wheeler Jr. attended the meeting with concerns about a speed limit sign and some town properties for the council to look into. McGee told Wheeler the town would check out the issues he raised. 

The council also approved a mileage reimbursement rate of 62.5 cents per mile.

Miller made the recommendation that the council return to having meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. 

“There's just so much stuff that's going on,” Miller said. “I don’t feel like we're getting it done right. We need to be able to talk more.”

McGee added an idea that the council return to one meeting per month in the winter. The council approved the change, with the next meeting set for 7 p.m. June 23, pending availability at the Gosport Community Building, 301 N. Ninth St., Gosport.

The Owen County Council discussed new positions, Rural Transit funding, the jail project and a riverfront restoration project during its June 8 meeting. 

Owen County municipal adviser Jeff Peters took questions from the council about the county jail project, its funding and potential income tax changes in the next couple years. Peters is with Peters Franklin based in Indianapolis. 

For the county highway department, the council members talked about the position currently held by Bennita Woodward, the highway department secretary. 

County Highway Superintendent Chad Walker said Woodward does the work of about three positions, acting as administrative assistant and secretary and is set to work 35 hours per week. It would be “absolutely wrong” for her to not get a pay raise, he said. 

She helps manage payroll, the budget, the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program and insurance, among other duties. 

“It amazes me what you do, and you do it well,” Council President Polly Chesser said. “I know how hard you work.”

The council moved to take time to review and evaluate her position, hours and compensation with a consultant, with the July 13 council meeting as the next date to discuss. 

Amy Guerrettaz, Area 10 Agency executive director, urged the council to contribute $30,312 to complement what has already been raised and pledged for the Rural Transit public transportation service for 2027. 

Rural Transit provides door-to-door service to Lawrence, Monroe, Owen and Putnam Counties. Last year, Guerrettaz said, Owen County residents used the service for 7,962 rides to medical appointments, grocery stores and other services. 

She read testimonies from residents who depend on the support, including John K., who gave up driving in 2005 due to declining eyesight and regularly uses it for doctor appointments and other services. 

“We really need the service,” the testimony said. 

Owen County makes up 19.11 percent of the trips for all four counties, and operations within the county cannot be funded without local match support, Guerrettaz said. 

The total local match for 2027 is $100,059 and $69,747 has already been raised and pledged, leaving the $30,312 deficit Guerrettaz requested from the council members. 

Council member Anton Neff said the council has time to make a decision and encouraged Guerrettaz to come to the council’s 2027 budget workshops in August.

Additionally, the council considered a request for an Emergency Medical Service Mobile Integrated Health program. According to the state EMS website, the MIH program delivers care to patients’ homes or in a mobile environment. It includes telehealth platforms and in-person teams that can provide health screenings, vaccinations, treatments, follow-ups, social work, substance abuse resources, mental health resources and chronic disease management, among other services. 

Owen County EMS Director Cris Lunsford is applying for the grant through Indiana Rural Health and received approval from the commissioners to proceed at their May 7 meeting. The request also includes adding a paramedic position, Neff said. 

The position is different from the typical paramedic that makes runs and works 24 hour shifts and is a bit more administrative, he said. The program would limit people from using the hospital as their primary care physician and do preventative work to reduce repeat calls, Lunsford said at the May meeting.  

“I think it’s an excellent idea,” Chesser said. “Something like this would be really nice to kind of alleviate those.”

The county would receive $200,000 for the first year of the program. The council unanimously approved the request. 

The council also discussed the need for a new position within the courthouse to handle human resources and administrative duties. County Commissioner Normal Warner explained the value of the position for the commissioners, saying it would make them more easily accessible to the public. 

“It’s supposed to do two things for us,” Warner said. “It’s supposed to alleviate the human resource function from the auditor’s office, and it’s also supposed to man an office for the commissioners to be our person in the office on a day-to-day basis.”

An official proposal was not created yet, but Warner and Auditor Sheila Reeves gave updates and explanations for the need for the position. It would create a point person to take calls, answer vendor questions and relay information from residents to the commissioners, as well as ease the load of the auditor’s office by handling HR duties.

The council, commissioners and auditor’s office will continue to decide what tasks the role would take on, pay and hours. 

“It’s a work in progress,” Warner said.

Tammy Bingham, executive director of the Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District, asked the council to consider helping fund the next steps for a riverfront restoration project partly funded through the Department of Natural Resources and Lake and River Enhancement (LARE). 

The LARE program gives assistance for projects that “reduce non-point sediment and nutrient pollution of surface waters to a level that meets or surpasses state water quality standards,” according to the DNR. 

The SWCD previously completed a LARE Restoration/Construction project in December 2025. 

Bingham said she identified four additional critical sites that need to be stabilized and reinforced to preserve the White River bank’s integrity near Cooper Commons and the MYPath Riverfront Trail. 

Bingham recently secured a $44,000 LARE Design/Engineering Grant with a match of $11,000, bringing total costs for the project to $55,000. Bingham said she has obtained $4,000 in in-kind match and friends of MYPath pledged $500. She plans to reach out to other entities and apply for another LARE grant. Her hope from the council is that they would pledge $5,000 to help with the project. 

“I think that would look good for you,” Bingham said. “I think it would look good for the county, for the community. This is for future generations to come.”

MYPath and the SWCD recently acquired property to extend the Riverfront Trail closer to McCormick’s Creek, Bingham said. Preserving the riverbank is something that will draw people to the county to use the MYPath trail, she added.

Bingham said the county needs to decide by the fall and asked that her request be put on the agenda for the next meeting. The council approved the postponement to July. 

All council members were present for the meeting. They approved additional appropriations for the probation fund and county commissioners: $45,000 for care of patients was approved unanimously and $150,000 for other services were approved by all members except Neff, who abstained. 

The Owen County Council will meet again at 6 p.m. July 13 at the courthouse.

The Blue Box Film Festival (BBFF) and Owen County Theatre and Arts Alliance (OCTAA) are proud to announce a special encore screening of the award-winning documentary, This is Pike County, on Tuesday, June 23, at the Historic Tivoli Theatre in Spencer. Director Laura Paglin will be in attendance for Q&A after the screening.

This is Pike County had its Indiana premiere at the inaugural Blue Box Film Festival in January 2026, where it took home both the Best Feature Film and Audience Choice Feature Film awards.

This is Pike County is a gripping portrait of a rural Appalachian county in Ohio (a four-hour drive from Spencer), where mounting pressures, including an unsolved family murder, test a close-knit community. Between the temptation to give up and the urge to hold on, the film lingers on what it means to come of age in a place left behind.

New York Times bestselling author Arlie Hochschild (Strangers in Their Own Land) described the film as “haunting, quietly searing, hard to forget.”

Letterboxd’s Don Iannone wrote, “This Is Pike County belongs alongside the great humanist documentaries of American life—from Barbara Kopple’s Harlan County, USA to Robert Frank’s The Americans.”

Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. with the film starting at 6 p.m. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated in support of future programming.

Attendees are welcome to purchase drinks next door at Civilian Brewing Corps to enjoy inside the theatre during the event.

About the Filmmaker

Laura Paglin is an award-winning filmmaker whose recent films have focused on the struggles of marginalized communities. Her films have screened at Sundance and numerous other Film Festivals and broadcast on PBS nationwide. More about Laura and her films at paglinfilms.com.

About the Blue Box Film Festival (BBFF)

The Blue Box Film Festival is an independent film festival founded by Lex Barrett and Mandy Samick in 2026 to bring new independent films to the Historic Tivoli Theatre, from emerging Indiana filmmakers to directors from around the world.

The Southern Indiana Development Commission (SIDC) is excited to partner with USDA Rural Development (RD) to package applications for the USDA RD 504 Home Repair Program. USDA RD Director Steve Howell, USDA RD Deputy State Director Curtis Johnson, USDA RD Acting Single Family Housing Program Director Terri Weyer and USDA RD Single Family Housing Loan Specialist Gennifer Schaefer came to the SIDC office in Loogootee on May 6 to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Also present were SIDC Executive Director Greg Jones and SIDC Housing Program Manager Jenny Dearwester.

The Section 504 Home Repair program provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. The applicant must own and live in the house. The maximum grant amount for the elderly age 62 and older is $10,000. The maximum loan is $40,000, termed at 20 years and a 1 percent fixed interest rate.

"The Trump - Vance Administration are committed to rural America through the work of USDA Rural Development,” Howell said. “The home repair assistance available through USDA Rural Development’s Section 504 Home Repair program provides loans and grants to very low-income homeowners in rural areas to mitigate health and safety concerns. We are pleased to join SIDC in this effort to revitalize rural communities and continue to serve rural Hoosiers in southwest Indiana."

Dearwester, Housing Program Manager for SIDC, will be the direct contact at 812-295-3707, ext. 2 for packaging applications for the 504 Program.

SIDC will package loans for interested homeowners living within the following counties: Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Lawrence, Perry, Pike, Posey, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vigo and Warrick.

“I look forward to this new venture,” Dearwester said. “SIDC works with many communities on Owner Occupied Rehabilitation projects and homeowners often need additional funds to get necessary items fixed on their house. We will be able to help homeowners in applying for the 504 program funds.”

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance is excited to announce that Jessica Roth has joined the company as an agent in the Spencer office at 743 E. Franklin St. She has completed Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance’s professional insurance training program.

Roth brings valuable insurance experience to her new role with Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. She doesn't just want to sell coverage. She wants to understand clients' unique needs and goals. Roth hopes to help provide families with greater financial security.

She is a graduate of Purdue University. Roth and her daughter, Ava, live in Bloomington along with their dog, Kodak, and cat, Queenie Beanie. Outside of the office, she enjoys fishing, camping, hiking, bowling, crafting and baking with her family and friends.

About Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance:

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance has served Hoosiers for more than 90 years. Organized in 1934 by Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc., the company has grown to include insurance products for auto, life, home, business and farm.

Health plan benefits, banking and other financial services and products are also available through its local offices and online at www.infarmbureau.com. With a home office in downtown Indianapolis and local offices in all 92 counties, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance serves Hoosiers with more than 450 agents and approximately 1,200 employees living and working throughout the state. The company is a leader in auto and homeowners insurance and the largest writer of farm insurance in the state.

The annual Vandalia Community Preservation Association (VCPA) Strawberry Fest will take place June 7.

Strawberries, shortcake and ice cream will be served at the historic Vandalia Schoolhouse from 2 to 4 p.m.

Blue Flame, a bluegrass band featuring Savanna Musgrove on fiddle, Ethan Batan on mandolin (2023 National Mandolin Champion) and Luke Lovejoy on guitar (2018 National Flatpick Champion), will perform a variety of bluegrass, country and more at the Vandalia Historical Chapel from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

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

Proceeds benefit VCPA for preservation, restoration and maintenance of the historic chapel (built in 1895) and one-room schoolhouse (built around 1860).

The event will take place in the village of Vandalia (six miles west of Spencer on S.R. 46) at 5471 Vandalia Rd., Spencer, off of S.R. 46 and S.R. 246.

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

As Indiana communities honor the sacrifices of U.S. service members and their families this Memorial Day, the Duke Energy Foundation awarded $3,000 to Gosport’s Crossroads Ranch through the second round of funding in its America250 initiative.

Funded by Duke Energy shareholders, this grant is among seven awarded in the Hoosier state and will support the nonprofit’s Operation Freedom program.

Operation Freedom is a free, four-week wellness and workforce-readiness program designed specifically for veterans. Each weekly session at the ranch includes hands-on equine-assisted learning, guided art therapy and a shared meal. Veterans work with gentle horses to develop trust, emotional regulation and communication – core skills that also translate directly into the workplace.

“It’s truly a pleasure for us to recognize and assist those who served and their families by helping them get the care and skills they need to succeed after their military service has come to an end,” said Stan Pinegar, Duke Energy Indiana president. “By collaborating with these organizations, we can directly support veterans in communities across our service territory. And it’s an honor to do so.”

These grants build on the Duke Energy Foundation’s America250 initiative that focuses on community-driven projects throughout the company’s six state service territories to recognize America’s 250th anniversary.

Earlier this spring, the Foundation announced grants supporting projects that revitalize local parks, green spaces and shared community spaces. The third and final round of grants will support initiatives that expand access to history and civics education and will be announced later this summer.

About the Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides nearly $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

About Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 6,800 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 930,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier

The Owen County Board of Commissioners met twice during the month of May.

During the first meeting of the month, board president Sam Hobbs shared that financial advisor Jeff Peters would attend the upcoming council meeting to share information on the financial aspects of the jail project.

They also, in acting as the county drainage board, held a public hearing for a drainage report in relation to a minor subdivision property. There were no public comments, and the request was approved unanimously 2-0, as commissioner Dave Risk was not present at that meeting due to illness. The commissioners also approved a rezone of the parcel following a favorable recommendation by the county plan commission.

They also heard a proposal for participation in a Mobile Integrated Health program grant application through Indiana Rural Health.

During the second meeting of the month, the commissioners reaffirmed their acceptance of the drainage board report. Commissioner Norm Warner made the motion in support of reaffirming both the drainage board approval and the request to rezone the property. The motion was seconded by Hobbs and passed unanimously, 3-0. All three commissioners were present at the May 21 meeting.

The commissioners also heard an update from Ron Remak, President and Owner of Bill C. Brown Associates.

In addition to going through the ancillary benefits offered by the county, that is, benefits that are not health insurance, Remak provided an insurance update on the group health insurance rates.

Remak reminded everyone of the history of the county’s group health insurance rates. The county had health insurance plans through IU Health Plans for roughly five years with little to no rate increase during that time.

The county had signed a two-year rate guarantee contract with IU Health Plans. During that first year, Anthem purchased IU Health Plans. They did not honor that rate for the second year, leading to Remak filing a complaint with the Indiana Department of Insurance last fall.

Anthem did eventually offer to hold the rate, but they put in a clause that the county would be responsible for a penalty of 10 percent in the first quarter of 2027 if the county’s claims to premium ratio was not at or below their company average.

Remak went to the marketplace and found an offer from United Healthcare (UHC) to match the rate for the second year, with a maximum increase of 19 percent for 2027, regardless of what that ratio looks like in 2026.

Based on January and February of 2026, the claim to premium ratio is elevated with $397,000 in claims compared to $181,566 in premium rates for the first two months of the year.

The commissioners will meet again at 6 p.m. June 4 in the Commissioners’ Room of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.

The Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of School Trustees met on May 14 for their first of two regular meetings.

Board president Derek Morgan, vice president Deana Stickels and members Mark Rogers, Chad Cooper, Rick Smeltzer, Lizz Bixler and Jack White were all present. Superintendent Andy Cline and attorney Christine Bartlett from Ferguson Law Office were also present.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Owen Valley High School (OVHS) students Sean Goss, Maui Tilo Da Silva Gomes and Victoria Simmerman. Cline gave each student a certificate and a chocolate chip cookie from Crumbl.

Rogers moved to approve the consent agenda, which included financial reports, claims, minutes from the April 9 regular meeting and executive session, principal reports and director reports. Cooper seconded the motion, which passed unanimously 7-0.

Chad Smith was then recognized with the You Make a Difference Award. Smith, who is a teacher at OVHS, was nominated by principal Robert Boltinghouse for his efforts in launching the school’s second student-run business, Colonial Cup.

The board also had a presentation from McCormick’s Creek Elementary School’s (MCES) High Ability Student Presentation.

Wendy Ward, a student at MCES, was also recognized for receiving the National Math Stars Award, which is given to students whose iLearn Math scores are within the top two percent for the state.

Under old business, the board considered a request to approve a policy revision to PO 7510 Community Use of School Facilities. White moved to approve the request, with Rogers seconding. The motion passed 7-0.

The board then considered two field trip requests together. The first was an overnight field trip for the MCES Student Council on May 15 to Hoosier Alley, Domino’s Pizza and an all-night stay at MCES. The second was for an international educational field trip for OVHS FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences) students to the Dominican Republic in June of 2028. Bixler moved to approve the field trip requests. White seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Next, the board considered three donations and approved them together. The first donation was for $1,000 from Jean Trull to the OV Backpack Buddies program. The second donation was for $5,000 from the Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) and $4,101 from Owen County Wrestling Club Corp. for wrestling mats at Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS). The third and final donation was for $1,705.04 from OCCF for the payment of completion of the summer Emergency Medical Technician Course at Bloomington Ivy Tech for an OVHS student. Rogers moved to approve the donations, and Stickels seconded. The motion passed 7-0.

The board also approved requests for the following:

• Indiana Principal Leadership Institute Application for Jake Steinmetz;
• an agreement for Food Services Management 2026-2027;
• 2026 summer school staff;
• a title change from Grounds Keeper to Maintenance for position control #12719; and
• permission to pursue the Hoosier AI & Workforce Collaborative Grant Consortium.

The board also had a first reading (waiving the reading of the policies out loud) for the following policies for NEOLA Volume 38, Number 2:

• 0100 Definitions;
• 0151 Organizational Meeting;
• 1220 Employment of the Superintendent;
• 1662.01 Threatening and/or Intimidating Behavior Toward Staff Members;
• 3139 Staff Discipline;
• 3142 Cancellation of a Teaching Contract;
• 3362.01 Threatening and/or Intimidating Behavior Toward Staff Members;
• 3430 Leaves of Absence;
• 4150 Disciplinary Actions;
• 4362.01 Threatening and/or Intimidating Behavior Toward Staff Members;
• 5111 Determination of Legal Settlement and Eligibility for Enrollment of Students Without Legal Settlement in the Corporation; Proof of Indiana Residency;
• 5136 Personal Communication Devices;
• 5136.01 Personal Electronic Equipment Other Than Personal Communication Devices;
• 5310 Health Services;
• 5840 Criminal Organizations and Criminal Organization Activity;
• 7420 Hygienic Management;
• 7541 Electronic Data Processing Disaster Recovery Plan; and
• 8305 Information Security.

The board also approved the following personnel items together:

Resignations

Mike Robison, Patricksburg Elementary School (PES) principal.

Ellie Rising, Gosport Elementary School (GES) second-grade teacher, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Julie Orman, Spencer Elementary School (SES) fifth-grade teacher, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Robert Siscoe, OVHS 29-hour custodian.

Morgan Robbins, SES instructional assistant.

Marissa Strunk, OVMS severe/moderate instructional assistant.

Damon Adams, varsity assistant football coach.

Sarah Coleman, SES kindergarten teacher, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Sarah Fox, GES first-grade teacher, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Chana DeMoss, SES cook, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Hannah Marlett, SES cook, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Rebecca Reynolds, MCES cook, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Lillian Pruitt, MCES instructional assistant.

Taylor Jerrell, OVHS inclusion instructional assistant.

Aaron Siek, OVMS assistant football coach.

Dianna Hansen, OVHS cook, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Robert Hansen, OVHS cook, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Joshua Orman, OVHS cook, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Danny Sparks, OVHS cook, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Madesyn Bonds, MCES instructional assistant, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Christine Rice, MCES instructional assistant, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Fred Lingle, OVMS 29-hour custodian.

Noel Gillenwater, OVHS biology teacher.

Donna Walden, OVMS cook, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Retirement

Wesley Galloway, MCES head custodian.

Leaves

Gabriella Corder, kindergarten teacher at GES, 15-day leave from Aug. 5 to 28.

Jennifer Zigler, guidance counselor for OVMS, from Aug. 22 to Oct. 9.

Roy Seibert, head custodian for PES, intermittent leave from April 16 to July 10.

Nicholas Julian, inclusion teacher for OVMS, FMLA from April 11 to May 17.

New hires

Casey Ulinski, second-grade teacher at MCES.

Samantha Etzler, sixth-grade teacher at MCES.

Cheyenne DeMoss, cook for SES.

John Garrison, OVHS MTSS instructor.

Savanna Robinson, OVMS digital tech teacher.

Stacey Wheeler, OVMS math Academic Super Bowl coach.

Terminations

Jeff Eaves, S-OCS grounds maintenance.

The motion was made by Cooper and seconded by White. It passed 7-0.

Bixler made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Smeltzer and passed unanimously.

Every spring I come to the same conclusion; mowing grass is a colossal waste of time. While I go around and around on a lawnmower, my mind drifts to the fish I could be catching. Time is our most precious resource, and I’m spending mine on a task I do not enjoy, when all I have to do is convert my lawn into a field of native grass and flowers to free myself from the monotonous burden.

I understand this isn’t an option for everyone, as some people live under rules requiring certain appearances to be met. And for some odd reason, the appearance of native prairie plants a foot tall or more surrounding a house in a subdivision doesn’t appeal to the powers that be. Native grasses and wildflowers are beautiful and support pollinators, birds and all sorts of critters. Natives are also beneficial to erosion and eliminate the need for fertilizer. Prairie yards shouldn’t be banned; they should be encouraged.

Instead of Kentucky bluegrass, think about spreading switchgrass. It’s one of the toughest, most adaptable native plants you can put in the ground. It tolerates a diversity of soil types from sand to dry slopes to marshes. Once established, it needs no fertilizer and very little water. The airy seed panicles emerge in summer in shades of yellow, pink or purple. Then the whole plant lights up in gold and red as fall arrives.

Switchgrass is a staple species of tallgrass prairies, a habitat that once covered 170 million acres stretching from Texas to Minnesota. Today, less than four percent remains. The vast majority of these fertile lands have been converted to agriculture and subdivisions. Subdivisions where precious water is pumped from depleting aquifers to water manicured lawns of imported varieties. Costing untold homeowners hours upon hours of evenings and weekends that could have been spent on any number of more enjoyable tasks.

Give me a field of switchgrass, big and little bluestem, and I’ll be happy watching nature take its course. But there is no reason to not let a native habitat shine. Adding in a wildflower mix brings even more beauty and excitement to the landscape, as reds and blues and purple and yellow combine to paint a native masterpiece. Two common, yet gorgeous, wildflowers are the purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan.

The drooping petals of a purple coneflower around a spiky orange cone are unmistakable. Every bee, butterfly and goldfinch in the county seems to know exactly where to find them, and they will thank you with their appearance for restoring this essential wildflower.

Coneflowers bloom from early summer into fall, then keep giving after the petals drop. Those spiky seedheads are winter bird feeders, which release the seeds to propagate more flowers. This is a slightly taller plant, ranging from two to four feet for the straight species and anywhere from one to five feet for the many available cultivars in red, orange, white and yellow. It handles part shade, tolerates dry and rocky soil and doesn't need fertilizer.

Black-eyed Susan is a native perennial that shows off golden-yellow daisies with dark chocolate centers from midsummer to the first hard freeze. Goldfinches and other songbirds flock to the seedheads. Black-eyed Susan tops out at two to three feet. It spreads steadily via rhizomes and self-seeding, so expect a bigger colony each year. It's cold-hardy and laughs at heat, humidity and drought once established.

These are just a few of the amazing native grasses and wildflowers we should be celebrating on our landscape instead of banning their appearance with a four-inch maximum grass height rule to satisfy the neighbors. Even if you can’t convert an entire lawn to natives, just restoring a portion will save you time and money, giving you a great excuse to go fishing.

See you down the trail…

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

The Boys & Girls Club is proud to announce an exciting new collaboration with the Spencer-Owen Community School Corporation (S-OCS) to expand access to affordable, high-quality youth programming for families across Owen County.

Beginning in August, the Club will partner with S-OCS to provide accessible after-school programming that supports working families while creating safe, engaging environments for young people to learn and grow. As part of this expansion, the Club will now serve as the official afternoon latchkey provider for students at McCormick’s Creek Elementary School (MCES) and Spencer Elementary School (SES). Existing Boys & Girls Club Programs will continue to operate in Gosport Elementary School (GES) and Patricksburg Elementary School (PES) with no changes, ensuring continuity for families already engaged in those communities.

All after-school programs provided by the Boys & Girls Club in the schools will be open until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Boys & Girls Club membership fees will be kept at just $20 per year for full after-school programming, which includes academic success, healthy lifestyles and character and leadership-focused offerings. A healthy snack is also provided for each child every day.

Middle and high school youth in Owen County will still have access to after-school programming offered by the Boys & Girls Club. They will be transported to SES for Tween and Teen programming each day.

The Club’s lease for its current space on Shepard Patrick Road will end July 31, 2026, and will not be renewed.

“We are tremendously thankful for our original Club home in Owen County. It has served us well. We believe this next iteration of the Owen County Boys & Girls Club, operating in the schools, will help families better access the affordable, high-quality programs we provide,” said Leslie Abshier, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club.

S-OCS and the Club are working together to ensure that break-day and summer programming can still be offered through this school-based Club model. This is a one-year commitment by both entities, with plans to evaluate and renew the partnership until the Club finds a more permanent home in town.

“This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in ensuring that all youth in this community have access to safe, supportive and enriching afterschool experiences for just $20 per child per year,” Abshier said. “By working alongside our local schools, we are able to meet families where they are and remove more barriers to participation.”

Additional details about program schedules, enrollment and offerings will be released soon. Families are encouraged to visit bgcowen.org or follow us on Facebook to stay informed and sign up for updates from the Club.

Andy Cline, Superintendent of Schools, emphasized the importance of this collaboration by saying, “Working in collaboration with the Boys’ and Girls’ Club provides our families an opportunity to have close-to-home resources afforded to them. This is a chance for working parents, guardians and the school system to provide a reasonable and sustainable means to support our students throughout the afternoons.”

About the Boys & Girls Club of Owen County

As part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington, the Owen County Club is an organization dedicated to empowering all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as caring, productive and responsible citizens. The organization currently operates three units serving youth in Monroe County at Lincoln Street, Ferguson Crestmont and Ellettsville; and, three units serving youth in Owen County at LaCampagne, GES and PES. Offering low annual rates, the Club is a place where all local youth can safely learn, grow and become the adults of tomorrow. Focusing on academic success, healthy lifestyles, good character and leadership, and the arts, programming at the Club is enriching and varied, led by professional staff and volunteers. To learn more about programs and events at the Owen County Boys & Girls Club, or to make a donation, or to register a member, visit bgcowen.org, call 812-250-6500, or follow the Owen County Club on Facebook and Instagram.

Col. Koester serves as guest speaker for Memorial Day 2026

Under a wide cathedral sky, the grass of Gosport Cemetery held a quiet crowd. They came as they do every year, drawn together by a shared, silent history, to stand among the weathered stones and remember.

The morning air carried the weight of names carved deep into granite, but the day’s keynote speaker, Retired United States Army Colonel Joy Koester, asked the gathering to look past the stone, past the military rank, and into the breathing human lives that once were.

Standing before the crowd on May 25, Col. Koester began not with a formal Memorial Day address, but with an invitation to step inside the quiet spaces of memory.

“I’d like to begin with a simple request: close your eyes for a moment, and imagine a quiet field of thought, rows of white markers standing in perfect formation, each one a silent witness to a life given in service,” she said. “Now picture a name, not just the name carved into stone, but a person, someone who once laughed, dreamed and loved. Someone who wore our nation’s uniform and never came home. That name might belong to a soldier from a century ago, a Marine from Vietnam, an airman from Afghanistan or a sailor from World War II. Whoever they were, they stood in the gap for us. They gave up their tomorrow so that we could have our today.”

Col. Koester continued by weaving a thread of connection, bridging the past with the living present.

“So today we gather, not just to remember those names etched in stone, but the beautiful lives, the dreams and the sacrifices they represent,” she said. “Some of us here have worn the uniform, while others have waited at home for a loved one’s safe return; some have felt the deep pain of loss. We are all bound together by gratitude, gratitude that transcends generations.”

Her voice rose against the backdrop of our modern, frantic world, offering Memorial Day as a necessary sanctuary, a rare moment to pause the endless rush of time as traffic on State Road 67 sped past the otherwise quiet cemetery.

“Memorial Day is more than history. It is a living tradition, a promise passed from one generation to the next that we will never forget,” Col. Koester continued, “From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of Afghanistan, from the skies over the Pacific to the deserts of the Middle East, their courage has shaped the course of history. We live in a world where the pace is fast, the news cycle is short, and distractions are endless. Yet Memorial Day calls us to slow down, to stand still, and to remember.”

To illustrate what this sacrifice looks like in real life, Col. Koester shared the story of a brave military nurse answering the call to serve overseas.

“Let me share with you the story of Captain Jennifer Moreno, a US Army nurse who volunteered for a dangerous mission in Afghanistan,” she said. “She was not required to go, but she went anyway, because her brothers in arms needed her. In the chaos of battle, she ran toward the wounded, knowing the risk. She never came back.”

Moreno, 25, was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain and awarded the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart after her death in the line of duty.

Bringing the heavy map of global sacrifice back to the very soil beneath the audience’s feet, Col. Koester turned her heart toward home, calling out the names of Gosport’s own sons.

“I’d like to remember four other men today, in particular because these heroes recognized Gosport as their home of record,” she said. “Albert William Warthan, a 26-year-old staff sergeant in the United States Army, started his tour in January of 1968 in South Vietnam and died in hostile artillery in April of 1968.”

She continued the roll call, invoking the memory of a 20-year-old soldier who never got the chance to grow old. “Genie Lee McDonald, a sergeant in the United States Army. He was 20 years old when he was killed in South Vietnam during a ground attack of small arms fire.”

Next came the memory of an airman, lost to the sky and the sudden violence of a crash: “Alfred Funck, he was a staff sergeant serving in the US Air Force. He was 35 when he was killed in South Vietnam in an air crash.”

And finally, Col. Koester spoke the name of a 19-year-old soldier, whose future ended in the valleys of Southeast Asia: “And lastly, Danny Lee Bolin, a PFC (Private First Class) in the United States Army, 19 years old, was a ground casualty in an air loss in South Vietnam.”

As the echoes of those names settled over the cemetery, Col. Koester reminded those listening that the very breath of a free society is a fragile thing, sustained only by the weight of such profound devotion.

“Freedom is not self-sustaining; it must be defended, generation after generation,” she said. “The men and women we honor today understood that. They believed in something bigger than themselves. The idea that liberty is worth protecting, even at the cost of one’s life. Their sacrifice is the reason we can gather here without fear. It’s the reason we can speak freely, worship freely and live freely. It’s about pausing our busy lives to say, ‘We remember, and we are grateful.’”

But remembrance, she urged, cannot merely be a passive feeling; it must transform into an active, breathing covenant in the way we treat the living.

“Memorial Day is not only about remembering the dead; it’s also about how we continue to honor them,” Col. Koester said. “We honor them when we care for their families. We honor them when we support our veterans. We honor them when we teach our children the value of service and sacrifice. And we honor them when we live lives worthy of their gift.”

Looking out at the generations gathered among the graves, she reached back to the words of Abraham Lincoln to issue a modern charge—a call to speak the names of the fallen into the wind and live with a fierce, everyday grace.

“President Lincoln, in his Gettysburg Address, spoke of the greatest task before us, to ensure that those who died shall not have died in vain,” Col. Koester explained. “That task is still ours today. So, what can we do? We can remember their names, visit a cemetery, read the inscriptions and say their names out loud. We can tell their stories, share them with your children, your neighbors and your friends. Live with gratitude. Let your daily choices reflect the freedom you’ve been given. Let us be good neighbors, and let us stand up for what is right.”

To close her address, Col. Koester let the timeless, poetic cadences of the past wash over the quiet hills of Gosport, leaving a final benediction to linger in the late morning sun.

“The poet Laurence Binyon once wrote, ‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them,’” she said. “May we never take them for granted. May we live lives worthy of their sacrifice, and may God bless the memory of our fallen, their families and the United States of America.”

Earlier in the program, Mike Walls delivered the opening prayer, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by 11-year-old Kayne Mills, an incoming sixth grader at Gosport Elementary School, and a rendition of the National Anthem sung by Kelly Jo Rooney. The service concluded with full military honors. The American Legion Post #230 Honor Guard of Martinsville performed a solemn three-volley rifle salute. Bringing the ceremony to a poignant close, the sharp cracks of gunfire gave way to the hauntingly beautiful notes of Taps, performed by Zondra Kale-Griffin, a bugler and treasurer for the Indiana Spirit of ‘45.

Members of the Owen County Honor Guard prepare for a 21-gun salute during the Memorial Day service in Chambersville Cemetery on May 25. There were four services in the Spencer area, starting at Chambersville Cemetery, moving to the Owen County Courthouse, making a stop at Veteran's Memorial Bridge and concluding at Riverside Cemetery.

Former VFW Post #1405 Commander Ted Mangin gives the speech at the Owen County Courthouse Memorial Day service.

Spencer American Legion Post #285 Commander Mitchell Muse (left) and Spencer VFW Post #1405 Commander Brian Nash pose for a photo.

Past Department President and current Secretary of the VFW Post #1405 Auxiliary, Sharron Barger (right), places a wreath during the Memorial Day service in Riverside Cemetery. NICOLE DECRISCIO | THE OWEN NEWS

Owners Josh Singh (left) and Harry Singh, pictured alongside employee Prince Singh (right), welcome customers to their new convenience store and Shell gas station at 5720 Main St. in Freedom. In addition to standard convenience store staples like snacks, beer, wine, and fountain drinks, BJ Market serves hot food items - including chicken and breakfast sandwiches - and will soon feature made-to-order options through an upcoming partnership with Hunt Brothers Pizza. The business is now open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS

Guest speaker Daryl Kasper speaks at the podium while American Legion Putoff-Lautenschlager Post #141 Honor Guard members Helen Jones (left), Randy Mitten and Rick Hoffman stand steadfastly in the falling rain during Memorial Day services at the Lutheran Cemetery near Patricksburg on Sunday, May 24. As part of the program, Owen County helped carry the light of America 250 forward by welcoming a commemorative lantern (shown on the table) traveling across Indiana. Inspired by the lanterns of the Revolutionary War era, the relay leads up to the nation’s semiquincentennial and symbolizes remembrance, unity and the enduring spirit of patriotism connecting communities today. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS

American Legion Post #141 Honor Guard members Jack Hauser, left, and Arthur Bailey carry the U.S. flag and the flag of Indiana through the Lutheran Cemetery near Patricksburg during Memorial Day services on May 24. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS

Putoff-Lautenschlager Post #141 Honor Guard member Frank Jones plays Taps on a ceremonial electric bugle as a fellow guard member salutes during Memorial Day services at the Lutheran Cemetery near Patricksburg on May 24. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS

Featured speaker Pastor Alan Farmer addresses the crowd during a Memorial Day ceremony held May 25 at the historic Hudson Hill Cemetery chapel in northeast Montgomery Township. Originally established as “Decoration Day” in the wake of the American Civil War—to honor fallen soldiers by decorating their graves with flowers—Memorial Day has evolved into a deeply rooted national tradition of remembrance. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS

A total of 3,238 voters cast ballots in the local 2026 primary election, a 21.41 percent turnout of the county’s 15,122 registered voters. Election summary results show 1,236 votes were cast by walk-in absentee ballot, 72 by paper absentee and a combined 1,930 on election day at the county’s various vote center locations.

Complete primary election results for local office races were as follows:

Winners are indicated in bold and marked with an asterisk*

Circuit Court II Judge, 78th Judicial Circuit (Republican)

* Kelsey B. Hanlon – 2,232

Prosecuting Attorney, 78th Judicial Circuit (Republican)

* Ashley M. Fleetwood – 1,520

Benjamin C. Kim – 937

Prosecuting Attorney, 78th Judicial Circuit (Democrat)

* Kristin Szczerbik – 531

Circuit Court Clerk (Republican)

* Diane Stutsman – 2,045

Circuit Court Clerk (Democrat)

* Nicholas Pecenica – 506

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

Jeffery Johnson – 973

* Norman C. Warner – 1,288

Coroner (Republican)

* Shelby Hershberger – 1,305

Timothy R. Wright – 1,075

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

* Loretta Foster – 313

Lori L. Warner – 259

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

* Sandra K. Calvert – 138

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

* Anton Karl Neff – 155

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

Don Bingham – 170

* Lynda Sands – 175

Mark Anthony Searcy – 131

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

* Mark Snapp – 95

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

* Andy Wood – 624

Recorder (Republican)

* Nicole VanDerMoere – 1,991

Recorder (Democrat)

* Joseph Newman – 522

Sheriff (Republican)

Sam Hobbs – 712

* Ryan T. White – 1,865

Surveyor (Republican)

* Amy L. Meier – 1,344

Pamela Rogers – 885

Treasurer (Republican)

* Shelly Townsend – 2,022

Township Trustee – Clay (Republican)

* Debbie Keith – 180

Marjorie Ann Clouse – 147

Township Trustee – Franklin (Republican)

* Leroy Gentry – 170

Township Trustee – Jackson (Republican)

* Bradley Salsbury – 91

Township Trustee – Jefferson (Republican)

* Daryl Kasper – 122

Township Trustee – Jennings (Republican)

* Susan M. Huftel – 61

Township Trustee – Lafayette (Republican)

* Doris Scully – 135

Township Trustee – Marion (Democrat)

* James Elliott III – 17

Township Trustee – Montgomery (Republican)

Amanda L. Huntington – 46

* M. Sue Carpenter – 72

Township Trustee – Morgan (Republican)

* Dave Davies – 128

Township Trustee – Morgan (Democrat)

* Collin Rotella – 26

Township Trustee – Washington (Republican)

* Patty Edwards – 656

Township Trustee – Washington (Democrat)

* Phillip O’Neil – 203

Township Trustee – Wayne (Republican)

* Linda Ann Studer – 143

Township Trustee Board – Clay (Democrat)

* Jacob Balash – 77

Township Trustee Board – Franklin (Republican)

* Denise Line – 109

Kimberly S. Voelker – 105

Township Trustee Board – Franklin (Democrat)

* Shea B. Finnegan – 27

Bruce McCallister – 22

Township Trustee Board – Harrison (Republican)

* Catherine Richardson – 26

Clarence Walls – 21

Township Trustee Board – Jefferson (Republican)

* Richard L. Hofmann – 117

Township Trustee Board – Jefferson (Democrat)

* Athena Goulet – 19

Township Trustee Board – Jennings (Republican)

* Ernest M. DuFault – 64

Township Trustee Board – Lafayette (Republican) (Vote for 3)

* Randy Hendershot – 94

* Brenda Miller – 82

* Kenneth Sebastian – 95

Township Trustee Board – Marion (Republican) (Vote for 3)

* Paul Culler – 83

* Roberta L. Harden – 77

* Ethan L. Wood – 89

Township Trustee Board – Montgomery (Republican) (Vote for 3)

* Douglas K. Carpenter – 82

* Janet Long – 71

* Ermond V. Poore – 74

Township Trustee Board – Morgan (Republican) (Vote for 3)

* Rita Shunk – 58

* Sharon Close – 99

* Ronald A. Jackson – 107

Township Trustee Board – Morgan (Democrat)

* Stephanie Barlow – 26

Township Trustee Board – Washington (Republican) (Vote for 3)

* Daniel L. Melton – 380

* Suzanne Simmerman – 447

Township Trustee Board – Washington (Democrat) (Vote for 3)

* Susan A. Ciresi – 158

* Julie Coffin – 188

* Ruth A. Jones – 163

Township Trustee Board – Wayne (Republican) (Vote for 3)

* Debra L. Wampler – 148

Precinct Committeeman – Clay (Democrat)

* Jacob Balash – 28

Precinct Committeeman – Franklin (Democrat)

* Shea B. Finnegan – 20

Bruce McCallister – 16

Precinct Committeeman – Jackson (Democrat)

* Kristin Szczerbik – 27

Precinct Committeeman – Lafayette (Democrat)

* Mark Quigley – 35

Precinct Committeeman – Montgomery (Democrat)

* Sandra K. Calvert – 38

Precinct Committeeman – Morgan (Democrat)

* David Henk – 28

Precinct Committeeman – Washington 1 (Democrat)

* Anton Karl Neff – 102

Jane Rubeck – 15

Precinct Committeeman – Washington 2 (Democrat)

* Jo Ann Neal – 67

Democratic Convention Delegate (5 selected)

Jo Ann L. Neal – 276

* Jacob Balash – 316

* Stephanie Barlow – 280

Frank Coffin – 269

* Julie Coffin – 339

Collin Rotella – 131

Aliyah Keuthan – 113

* Jane Rubeck – 315

Mark Quigley – 139

* Kristin Szczerbik – 349

Republican Convention Delegate (7 selected)

* Verl Keith – 1,844

* Andrew Horning – 1,616

* Denise Line – 1,613

* Kelsie Risk Reyes – 1,508

* Kristi Risk – 1,546

* Lori L. Warner – 1,681

* Norman Warner III – 1,786

In the following races, only the results from Owen County are known at this time and are as follows:

United States Representative, Eighth District (Republican) (Owen County Results Only)

* Mark Messmer – 1,952

United States Representative, Eighth District (Democrat) (Owen County Results Only)

* Mary Allen – 296

Mario Foradori – 34

Christopher Rector – 80

Tabitha Zeigler – 128

State Senator, District 39 (Republican) (Owen County Results Only)

Tanner Bouchie – 133

* Jeff Ellington – 651

Kristi Risk – 396

State Senator, District 39 (Democrat) (Owen County Results Only)

* Joseph Baughman – 220

State Representative, District 46 (Republican) (Owen County Results Only)

Thomas L. (Tom) Arthur – 951

* Bob Heaton – 1,497

State Representative, District 46 (Democrat) (Owen County Results Only)

* James H. Pittsford (Jimmy), III – 528

During the Nov. 3 general election, Owen County voters will cast their ballots for school board member seats up for election this year.

The Spencer-Owen Community School Corporation School Board of Trustees has seven members, including a secretary, secretary pro tem, vice president and president. School board elections are held every two years.

This fall, three S-OCS seats will be on the ballot, including Districts 2, 3 and 5. The seats are currently held by Mark Rogers, secretary Lizz Bixler and Jack White, respectively.

The school board member seats that are not up for election this year are currently held by president Derek Morgan, vice president Deana Stickels, secretary pro tem Rick Smeltzer and Chad Cooper.

The S-OCS school board oversees the county’s four elementary schools, middle school and high school. The board is responsible for managing and making policies and decisions for the district and its facilities, employees, students and programs, according to the S-OCS school board policy manual.

The board members serve four-year terms and are responsible for appointing the superintendent.

Owen County school board filing is open from May 19 to June 18 at noon, Owen County Election/Voter Registration Deputy Linda Roy said in an email. Candidates must obtain 10 signatures and live in the district they are filing for.

Additionally, one Owen County seat on the Cloverdale Community Schools school board is up for election in the fall. The Cloverdale school board has seven members, and candidates can run for one Cloverdale Township and one Taylor Township seat, which are currently held by board president Vivian Whitaker and member Emily Haltom. The other five seats will be up for election in 2028.

To file, candidates are required to fill out a petition of nomination and consent for school board office form and a statement of economic interests for local and school board offices form. These can be found on the Indiana Secretary of State website or at the county clerk’s office. Candidates for the CCS Taylor Township position must file with the Owen County Clerk’s Office. The petition requires candidates to include their name, address and office sought.

For the first time this year, the races have the ability to be partisan. The petition requires candidates to choose one of four political affiliation options to appear on the ballot.

Candidates can choose to declare a party affiliation, independent candidacy, choose not to declare an affiliation or that they are not affiliated with a political party and don’t identify as an independent candidate. According to the Indiana School Boards Association, candidate affiliation is determined by the party the candidate voted for in the last two Indiana primary elections that the candidate participated in.

Additionally, candidates must have resided in the school district for at least one year prior to the election.

To be eligible for the school board election, candidates must be at least 18-years-old and registered to vote in the election district they seek to represent. Candidates also cannot have been convicted of a felony unless it was pardoned, reversed, vacated, set aside, not entered or expunged.

Individuals who are employed as teachers or employees of the school corporation are also not allowed to be members of the corporation’s governing body. They may run, but must resign before taking office.

The Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of School Trustees met for a second quick meeting for the month of May.

Board president Derek Morgan, vice president Deana Stickels and members Mark Rogers, Chad Cooper, Rick Smeltzer, Lizz Bixler and Jack White were all present. Superintendent Andy Cline and attorney Christine Bartlett from Ferguson Law Office were also present.

The board began by approving their consent agenda, which only consisted of minutes from their May 14 regular session and an executive session also held on May 14. Rogers moved to approve the minutes, and Cooper seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.

Next, the board addressed old business. The only item on old business was a request to have a second reading and approval of policies for NEOLA Volume 38, Number 2 updates. The board also waived the reading of the policies out loud. They approved the following policies:

• 0100 Definitions;
• 0151 Organizational Meeting;
• 1220 Employment of the Superintendent;
• 1662.01 Threatening and/or Intimidating Behavior Toward Staff Members;
• 3139 Staff Discipline;
• 3142 Cancellation of a Teaching Contract;
• 3362.01 Threatening and/or Intimidating Behavior Toward Staff Members;
• 3430 Leaves of Absence;
• 4150 Disciplinary Actions;
• 4362.01 Threatening and/or Intimidating Behavior Toward Staff Members;
• 5111 Determination of Legal Settlement and Eligibility for Enrollment of Students Without Legal Settlement in the Corporation; Proof of Indiana Residency;
• 5136 Personal Communication Devices;
• 5136.01 Personal Electronic Equipment Other Than Personal Communication Devices;
• 5310 Health Services;
• 5840 Criminal Organizations and Criminal Organization Activity;
• 7420 Hygienic Management;
• 7541 Electronic Data Processing Disaster Recovery Plan; and
• 8305 Information Security.

Cooper made the motion to approve the policies, and Rogers seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

The board then moved on to new business where they:

• approved a request to declare band textbook materials as surplus;
• approved the minimum instructor pay for JROTC instructors for the 2026-2027 school year;
• approved the 2026-2027 FY High Ability Program Grant Allocation of $35,543;
• approved a $4,400 grant from the Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) for the Owen Valley High School (OVHS) Military Honor Wall Project;
• approved the purchase of an air conditioning package replacement for Gosport Elementary School (GES) for just under $150,000 using some of the remaining 2024 bond funds; and
• approved a contract with Elite Painting, LLC to paint the main hallways and remove peeling wallpaper at Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS).

The board then took all personnel items together where they approved the following:

Resignations

Molly Tamplin, Spencer Elementary School (SES) instructional assistant, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Daniel Bixler, OVMS custodian, effective June 3.

Madisyn Moats, Patricksburg Elementary School (PES) instructional assistant, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Cara Harmon, PES instructional assistant, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Felisha Medford, S-OCS behavior tech, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Ashlyn Boltinghouse, S-OCS school psychologist instructional assistant, at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Kirstin Richardson, OVMS softball coach.

Michael Hopkins, OVHS assistant varsity basketball coach.

Caleb Ward, OVHS percussion director.

Robert Boltinghouse, OVHS principal.

Tracy Patterson, SES kindergarten teacher.

Leave

Madison Glenn, S-OCS speech pathologist, from Aug. 3 to 31.

Employment

Elizabeth Anderson, OVMS social studies teacher.

Emma Johnson, GES second-grade teacher.

Chelsea Miller, S-OCS occupational therapist.

Leah Taylor, GES temporary kindergarten teacher.

Alyzah Yeryar, school psychologist.

Rogers moved to approve the personnel items. Stickels seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

The board will meet again at 7 p.m. June 11 in the Mike Wells Memorial Board Room at Central Office, 205 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer.

Seventy-five Owen County Theatre and Arts Alliance participants will bustle onstage and behind the curtain throughout June for the group’s production of “Frozen the Broadway Musical.”

The cast and crew, ranging in ages from five to 67 will perform the result of months of brainstorming, planning and rehearsals, which began when the Alliance applied for the rights to the musical last August.

The troupe will have performances at 7 p.m. June 12, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 13 and 2 p.m. June 14 at the Owen Valley High School Auditorium, 622 W State Rd 46, Spencer. Tickets are on sale on the Owen County Theatre and Arts Alliance website (octaaa.org) and cost $7 for kids and $15 for adults.

Jessica Turnbull, the Alliance’s artistic and dramatic director, said she is excited to see the audience be “wowed” by the princesses and “moved by the powerful numbers.”

“Frozen” is different from other princess stories, she said, because it doesn’t play out like many others, where a man saves a damsel in distress.

“I love the story, how it’s not a generic princess story,” Turnbull said. “It highlights how sisterly love can be true love and how family really matters.”

One number, “Monster,” isn’t in the 2013 Disney movie, and is more introspective, she said. Turnbull was surprised by how it dealt with dark topics and the struggle inside Elsa, Arendelle’s queen with magical ice and snow manipulation powers. She grapples with feeling like a monster and wanting to destroy that part of her, Turnbull said.

“That’s an interesting kind of deeper layer to something that would be perceived as just a childhood fairy tale,” Turnbull said. “[I’m] so, excited to see audiences respond, young and old, to different layers of meaning.”

Most of the time, the Alliance performs at the Tivoli Theatre, but took its two-hour performance to OVHS due to the size of the production and the technical capabilities the auditorium has.

The Alliance plans to draw audiences into the musical in a way it hasn’t done before. Snow speckled across the stage, lighting effects that make the town look like it’s frozen and audience interaction are a few of the special effects and features the cast and crew will introduce to the community.

The people involved in the show have a vast range of skills, Turnbull said, from those who have never been on stage before, to professionals.

“My mission is to include all levels,” Turnbull said. “I just want to bring art and theater to this community, and I just would like everyone to know that it’s not highbrow; they can come if they want. They can be a part of it. We would love to have everyone be involved and everyone view this. It’s not some secret club.”

The Alliance plans to reveal next year’s season in the coming months.

The recent Athletic Expo at Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS) and Owen Valley High School (OVHS) was a tremendous success, welcoming fifth-grade students from across the corporation for an exciting afternoon focused on future opportunities in Patriot athletics and student involvement.

The event gave students and their families the chance to explore the many athletic programs and extra-curricular opportunities available as they prepare to transition into middle school and eventually high school. From basketball and volleyball to football, cheerleading, wrestling, cross country, track and field and more, students were introduced to the wide variety of sports and activities offered at OVMS and OVHS.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the involvement of current OVHS student-athletes, who led activity rotations throughout the event. Student leaders shared their personal experiences, explained the fundamental skills involved in each sport and encouraged younger students to jump in and participate. Fifth graders had the opportunity to ask questions, try drills, test out equipment and experience firsthand what it means to be part of Patriot athletics.

The energy throughout the building was contagious as students eagerly rotated from station to station, discovering new interests and imagining themselves as future Patriots. Coaches, student-athletes and staff members worked together to create a welcoming and engaging environment for all attendees.

Participating in school athletics provides students with valuable experiences that extend far beyond competition. Through sports, students develop teamwork, leadership, communication skills, confidence, discipline and school pride while building friendships that can last a lifetime. The Athletic Expo served as an important reminder of the positive impact extra-curricular involvement can have on students both academically and socially.

“Our goal is to help incoming students feel connected before the school year even begins,” said S-OCS Superintendent Andy Cline. “Athletics provide students with opportunities to build confidence, friendships, leadership skills and school pride.”

In addition to learning about athletic programs, students also received important information regarding eligibility requirements, practice schedules, physical forms and expectations for student-athletes. Coaches emphasized the importance of commitment, teamwork, positive character and maintaining strong academic performance while participating in school activities.

School leaders also highlighted the many opportunities available outside of athletics, encouraging students to explore all areas of involvement within the school community.

“We want every student to find a place where they belong and feel supported as they begin middle school, whether it is band, choir, sports, academic teams or clubs,” Superintendent Cline added.

The Athletic Expo not only introduced students to future opportunities but also strengthened connections between schools, coaches and the community. Organizers hope the event will continue to grow and become an annual tradition for future fifth-grade classes.

A special thank you goes out to the OVHS student-athletes, coaches and staff members whose time, enthusiasm and leadership helped make the event such a memorable experience for our students.

With the excitement and participation seen throughout the afternoon, one thing is certain… the future of Patriot athletics is looking bright.

The Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees moved forward on a major new educational initiative during its May 11 meeting, greenlighting a specialized program aimed at improving student behavior and academic performance through brain and nervous system development.

With board member Emily Haltom absent, the remaining six members voted unanimously (6-0) to launch the NeuroBalance Project at Cloverdale Elementary School (CES) this summer.

The board heard a detailed presentation from Michele Shetter, one of the creators of the NeuroBalance Project, who explained that the program will initially feature nine elementary classrooms. The program is grounded in research-based neuroscience practices and will focus on improving learning readiness, emotional health, engagement and executive functioning skills.

According to Shetter, the initiative centers on “teaching the teachers to look at the brain and central nervous system for any dysregulations or an underdeveloped brain.”

The rollout begins in July with an intensive two-day training session for educators. All kindergarten and first-grade teachers will participate in four professional development sessions and will receive year-long support from Shetter to ensure effective implementation of the program.

“Your teacher will walk away from this understanding what it is that they can do as the adult in their world to make that learning environment most conducive to that child,” Shetter told the board.

Following the teacher training, the school will introduce the NeuroLab, a hands-on environment featuring a six-station rotation based on Shetter’s research. Students will spend approximately 30 minutes in the lab, either daily or on an alternating A/B schedule, with the lab’s activities changing every nine-week grading period.

“These are the places where students will hopefully have a ton of fun while also working on those crucial skills,” Shetter said, noting that teachers will use data sheets monthly to track whether students are improving, staying the same or experiencing expected regressions due to outside circumstances.

Superintendent Greg Linton expressed strong enthusiasm for the initiative.

“I’m very excited about what this could bring to Cloverdale,” Linton said. “We’re talking about improvements in everything from classroom behavior, test scores and more. I feel like this is something that is really needed.”

The board also approved a 29.5 hour classified position to manage the lab, which Linton said will “allow students the opportunity to rotate through 30-minute sessions each week.”

Before diving into standard business, the board took time to honor outstanding individuals across the corporation for their hard work and dedication:

• Students of the Month: kindergartener Justin McHugh (CES), fifth-grader Kinley Fidler (Cloverdale Middle School) and senior Mason Paauwe (Cloverdale High School).
• Citizen of the Month: CES fourth-grader Jaxston Box.
• Staff Member of the Month: Gwen Stattner, secretary at CHS.

In routine financial business, the board approved claims and financial reports totaling $2,576,650.13, which covered two standard payroll cycles.

Additionally, the board approved a variety of personnel and logistical items to prepare for the upcoming summer and future school years:

• Administrator contract extensions: The board approved one-year contract extensions (through June 30, 2028) for several key administrators, including:
• Sonny Stoltz (CHS Principal) and Brent Sailor (CHS Assistant Principal).
• Chelsey Meluch (CMS Principal) and Ethan Linton (CMS Assistant Principal).
• Mary Jane Elkins (CES Principal) and Megan Puckett (CES Assistant Principal).
• Cathy Ames (CCSC Director of Curriculum and Instruction).
• Summer help and programs: Approvals were granted for the Summer Marching Band program, summer school transportation for a special education student and seasonal staff requests. The Summer Bus Maintenance staff will include Debbie Atwood, Jessica Burdge, Abbie Kenworthy, Sherry Flory and Asyria Ford. The 2026 part-time custodial summer painting staff will consist of Robin Hallam, Brenda Mowery, Chandra Titus, Chelsea Adams and DeeDee Skiles.
• Future travel: Looking further ahead, the board gave the green light for an international student field trip to England and France scheduled for 2027, led by CHS social studies instructor Lesley Spatta.

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

Field Trips

May 3 – Post Prom, Kings Island, Mason, OH.

May 13 – Bring Change 2 Mind Club Officers, 3G Bowl.

May 13 – Students passing ILearn Biology, Indianapolis Zoo.

May 18 – High Ability, Louisville, KY.

Facility Use

April 26 – Putnam County Sheriff’s Department weapons/search tactical training, CHS.

April 30 and Wednesdays in May – Wabash Valley Family Sports, AAU practice, CHS gymnasium.

May 17 – Cloverdale Christian Church community prayer and praise for the nation, CMS cafeteria.

July 18 – Baby shower, CHS coffee lounge.

Additional personnel matters receiving board approval included:

Retirements

Robert Al Jonte – Custodian

Sandi Price – CES third-grade teacher.

Employment

Amy Kenworthy – Bus aide.

Andy Tyler – CMS Athletic Director substitute.

Coaching Resignations

Ken Schnepp – Fine Arts Superbowl coach.

Jessica Fidler – CHOICE Committee

The Cloverdale School Board—which includes Vivian Whitaker, Katrina Lewis, Donna Fidler, Melissa Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann and Mike Rightmyer II—is scheduled to reconvene for its next regular meeting on Monday, June 8, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.

On what would have been former Owen County Sheriff Harley Melton’s 91st birthday, the Owen County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) dedicated its new shooting range in his honor.

Melton was a four-term sheriff.

The range is located on county-owned land that was previously the Patricksburg landfill.

Prior to this range, the department trained on property owned by Melton, who has since passed away.

OCSD Chief Deputy Matt Miller gave the opening remarks, in which he highlighted what the department used prior to the new range and ensured that proper appreciation was given for the many years in which officers in Owen County and surrounding counties all trained at the range on Melton’s property.

To Miller’s understanding, somewhere around 1978, when Melton was a reserve deputy with the department, he offered space on his property for a range.

“There’s a lot of people standing here today that trained out at that range and shot out at that range, and there’s a lot more officers out there all over the place,” Miller said. “For a long time, that range was used by most of the surrounding counties.”

Miller noted that it also included state agencies and that Melton allowed the various law enforcement agencies to use the range at no cost.

“That was something that Harley took on himself to build that range and allow agencies to come in and use it to train,” Miller said.

The range had eight lanes, a storage shed to store targets in and an old bridge that Miller said he has fallen off of a couple times.

“I don’t know if Harley envisioned when he built it what it was going to be, and how long it was going to operate and how many police officers were going to train at that range,” Miller said. “I find it hard to believe that with the training that officers did out at that range, that that range and him allowing that facility to be used didn’t have some impact on saving lives at some point, whether it’s officers’ lives or members of the public due to the training that officers got at that range.”

Miller said that when he started his career in law enforcement as a reserve in Monroe County, the first range he shot at was Melton’s range.

“Every department since that I went to used Harley’s range, so that was my home range from the beginning,” Miller said.

Miller said that they wanted to recognize Melton for giving up part of his property for the range for nearly 50 years.

As the requirements and firearms have changed for departments, OCSD needed a space where they could have more lanes and shoot from further back, and the former landfill was identified as a potential space. The department worked with the county commissioners and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).

The new range has 12 lanes and allows officers to shoot from as far as 200 yards.

The pavilion, range and a small shed for storage that now sits on the property were funded through the department’s firearms fund. This meant that the department did not need to ask the county for any additional funding to build the range.

Miller, who has run the department’s firearms program since 2009, said he is still going to miss aspects of Melton’s range.

“It seems like there was hardly a time that I was out there popping off that I didn’t hear Harley’s buggy fire up, cruising down the road there. He’d stop at the picnic table there at the parking lot and kind of sit and watch for a minute,” Miller said.

He also recalled a time when he and a new deputy were out in the pouring rain trying to complete the 40-hour pre-basic training, and Melton came and spoke with the pair for 45 minutes.

Miller said he always stressed to new officers Melton’s contributions, not just in his years of service to the department, but also for what he did for officers in Owen County and others, allowing them a place to train.

Melton’s son, Greg, was present at the dedication.

“Greg, on behalf of the sheriff’s office and citizens of the county, I want to thank Harley and your family for what you guys have provided to the law enforcement officers for all these years, and that it’s with the greatest respect and appreciation that we’d like to dedicate the Sheriff Harley E. Melton Memorial Range to the memory of Harley and the unmeasurable gift he gave to deputies like me and the citizens of the county that he loved,” Miller said.

Greg Melton was unable to speak at first as he fought back tears.

“Well, he absolutely loved that. He loved being sheriff, and he loved his men,” Greg Melton said.

“And he did like telling stories,” added Amy Casebeer, Greg Melton’s wife.

“And one of the things that I really appreciate is your people kept him included,” Greg Melton continued, recalling a time when an officer let his dad shoot his AR.

Several other memories of Harley Melton and his lasting legacy were shared as the dedication concluded.

Robert Boltinghouse took the lead of the Owen Valley High School Patriots seven years ago, after spending about 15 years as a special education teacher, athletic director, assistant principal and middle school principal in other districts.

In the fall, Boltinghouse will return to Edgewood High School, the school he taught at for eight years and graduated from in 1998, as principal. He hopes to bring the skill set he developed at OVHS, his vision for career pathway development and philosophy of individualizing education for students.

Despite a slightly larger student body and change of day to day scenery, Boltinghouse’s goal stays the same.

“It’ll be the same mission at Edgewood,” Boltinghouse said. “No matter who you are, no matter where you go, leave it better than you found it.”

Andy Cline, Spencer-Owen Community Schools Superintendent, has worked with Boltinghouse since he began as superintendent five years ago. He said Edgewood is receiving a student-driven principal.

“He will be thinking about the kids first in whatever capacity that may be, whether it’s academics, or the arts or athletics,” Cline said. “He will always put those students first. He’ll look to support those kids and their families in whatever ways he can.”

OVHS legacy

At OVHS, Boltinghouse helped develop a career pathway program containing about 20 options that give students the opportunity to tailor their high school education to explore a career of their choice and integrate them into the community to gain experience.

It was a team effort, Boltinghouse said, that required a supportive staff, teachers and guidance department to work together to focus on individual students and interests while equipping them with skills they could use after graduation.

Derek Morgan, S-OCS School Board President, said he thinks of Boltinghouse as a “bold and decisive leader,” qualities that make him an asset for Edgewood.

“He is somebody who sees a problem, and identifies a path forward and pursues that path and goes at it with force,” Morgan said. “He doesn’t sit back and wait for things to get worse.”

Both Cline and Morgan pointed to Boltinghouse’s work to revitalize OVHS through an inclusive culture and fun atmosphere. One project the principal executed was placing bright graphics and phrases around the school. They made students feel seen, like they were a part of something, Morgan said.

“That’s been something he’s worked hard at and something that I think is going to be a lasting legacy in that building,” Morgan said. “I think everybody should strive to make the place better than they found it, and I fully believe that he’s left it better than he found it.”

Boltinghouse said he tried to stretch the money from the school’s Coca-Cola sponsorship to take care of and show appreciation for teachers and revitalize the school. OVHS was in good shape and well maintained, he said, but “very bland and very boring.”

“We wanted the student body to have an identity,” Boltinghouse said.

The project, parts of which used district money and local sponsors, included bright, Patriot-themed wraps on the gym doors, a track and field record board and signs with phrases like “Proud to be a Patriot” and “Patriot Proud.” Outside, at the front of the school, blue channel letters light up to spell “Home of the Patriots,” a way to market the school from State Road 46, Boltinghouse said.

When Boltinghouse first came to OVHS, he would hear people say things like, “What do you expect? This is Owen County,” an outlook he believes stunted students from seeing they could succeed and achieve.

The signage and “Patriot Nation” mantra came from his desire to remind students on a daily basis that they belong.

“They start to build a belief and a pride in themselves, that no matter what they want to do, college, workforce, military, that they could go out and they could achieve those things,” Boltinghouse said. “I think that has shifted. Kids take pride in what they’re doing.”

Plans for Edgewood High School

Edgewood leadership had given him opportunities to return to the school in the past, but it never felt like the right time, Boltinghouse said. This year, Edgewood principal Dirk Ackerman is retiring, with Boltinghouse’s role to officially begin July 1.

Taking the lead of the Edgewood Mustangs this fall felt like an opportune chance to use his skill set in career pathway development and keep the momentum the school already created going. Boltinghouse specifically believed he could help the school bolster its hands-on learning opportunities.

“It’s a chance to go home,” Cline said. “There’s always high expectations going home. Just take the best things that you have and go home and make your hometown better. That’s what I’ve always said to him in our conversations.”

Following some construction down the line, Edgewood is set to be one of the first schools in the state to offer opportunities in robotic manufacturing and the addition of a medical-related wing for a medical pathway program in partnership with Cook Medical and Boston Scientific.

Just like in Owen County, Boltinghouse plans to reconnect with people he knew while growing up in the area and build connections with the businesses and organizations in the community to connect the school and students with chances for experience.

“To be back at Edgewood, I told them in the interview, this is not just a job for me,” Boltinghouse said. “This is something that I take very serious, but it’s also kind of an honor to be back and serve the same community that invested so much in me.”

Making the decision to move schools was difficult and bittersweet, Boltinghouse said. But, the move was about his vision and where the Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation is headed.

“I was definitely not out shopping for jobs,” Boltinghouse said. “I probably would not have left for anything but Edgewood, and it just had to be the right time, right place.”

New principal search

Owen Valley’s search for a new principal is already underway, with about 18 applicants, Cline said. The hiring committee has begun reviewing applications and holding interviews for the position and is expected to narrow down a finalist soon, Cline said.

“He will be missed, and he has made a positive impact on our kids,” Cline said. “But as we move forward, we’ll try and find a person with similar qualities, and who has an endearment towards our community and our kids.”