WIN Energy REMC - April 2025 Indiana Connection

Attend the WIN Energy REMC Annual Meeting

WIN Energy REMC’s

America’s PAGES 20-25 STORYTELLER War correspondent Ernie Pyle’s legacy lives on 80 years after his death

APRIL 2025

WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT1

Geothermal gives you the freedom to focus on life WaterFurnace geothermal systems provide reliable operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—rain or shine, day or night, windy or not. They use the stored solar energy in the ground to provide your family luxurious comfort and incredible savings. In fact, it’s the only HVAC system that’ll pay you back—and with the renewed 30% federal tax credit1, there’s never been a better time to switch to the Reliable Renewable.

Contact Your Local WaterFurnace Dealer Delphi Blue Fox Htg & Clg (765) 822-2200 bluefoxhvac.com

Greensburg Wallpe Htg & Clg (812) 663-7252 wallpegeothermal.com

Lebanon Blue Fox Htg & Clg (765) 859-0880 bluefoxhvac.com

Farmersburg Heady Htg & Clg (812) 696-2396

Indianapolis Masters Htg & Clg

by Van Valer, Inc. (317) 881-9074 mastersingeothermal.com

Nappanee Crist Plbg, Htg, Electrical (574) 831-4630 cristnappanee.com

Flora Camflo Htg & Clg (574) 967-4200 camfloheatingandcooling.com Fort Wayne Masters Htg & Clg, Inc. (866) 824-4328 mastersingeothermal.com

Jasper Hulsman Refrigeration, Inc. (812) 634-1492 hulsmanrefrigeration.com Laotto T&T Plbg, Htg, A/C & Geothermal (260) 200-4003 tt-ph.com

North Vernon Air One Htg & Clg, Inc. (888) 346-1790 aironehvac.com Ossian Collier’s Comfort Services (260) 622-6622 collierscomfort.com

visit us at waterfurnace.com

Warsaw Colliers Htg & Air Conditioning (574) 203-2492 trustcolliers.com Waterloo Gibson’s Htg & Plbg, Inc. (888) 754-1668 gibsonsgeothermal.com Westfield Precision Comfort Systems, Inc. (317) 867-2665 precisioncomfort.com West Lafayette Blue Fox Htg & Clg (765) 252-0051 bluefoxhvac.com

1. ENERGY STAR rated units qualify for 30% through 2032, 26% through 2033 and 22% through 2034.

WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. ©2025

from the editor

In the footsteps of history The average Hoosier may not have heard of the person showcased in this month’s feature story. Ernie Pyle, whose popularity peaked during the late 30s and early 40s, is not regularly covered in high school history. But during my time at Indiana University’s journalism school, I became familiar with Pyle’s career.

While I was at IU, I was fortunate to be admitted into the “Footsteps of Ernie Pyle” class. Led by Professor Owen Johnson — a Pyle historian and super fan — we studied Pyle’s life and writings all semester and then traveled to London, Normandy, and Paris during spring break. I had never been out of the country before that trip, and it was astounding to experience different cultures and soak up the history of England and France.

The moment that stuck with me most was visiting Ohama Beach in Normandy, the site of the D-Day invasion. As our class stood on the cliffs overlooking the English Channel, our tour guide explained the struggle

VOLUME 74 • NUMBER 10 ISSN 0745-4651 • USPS 262-340 Published monthly by Indiana Electric Cooperatives Indiana Connection is for and about members of Indiana’s locally-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives. It helps consumers use electricity safely and efficiently; understand energy issues; connect with their co-op; and celebrate life in Indiana. Over 311,000 residents and businesses receive the magazine as part of their electric co-op membership. The average printed and mailed cost per issue is 54 cents.

CONTACT US: 11805 Pennsylvania Street Carmel, IN 46032 317-487-2220 info@indianaconnection.org IndianaConnection.org INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OFFICERS: Steve McMichael President

of the U.S. troops. As they exited the boats and moved through the cold

Dr. Richard Leeper Vice President

water, dodging underwater obstacles on the way to the beach, they faced

Jamey Marcum Secretary/Treasurer

enemy soldiers shooting at them from the top of the cliffs. If they were lucky enough to survive the shooting and the land mines buried in the sand, they had to scale the cliffs, knowing that more soldiers were waiting for them at the top. I thought about how terrifying it must have been for these men, many of whom were younger than I was at the time, and how their bravery turned the tide of the war. success but also horrified by the loss of life. Pyle’s writings are the true spirit of journalism. His job was to report to his readers what he saw across the ocean, but his personal touch and keen insight made his columns impactful. For a class of aspiring journalists, Pyle’s columns were full of lessons we needed to learn.

Editor bdavis@indianaec.org

On the menu: July: Have an award-winning recipe?

Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist Lauren Carman Communication Manager Kiley Lipps Graphic Designer Ashley Curry Production and Design Coordinator Amber Knight Creative Manager Mandy Barth Vice President of Communication

Pyle wrote three columns about D-Day. He was in awe of the campaign’s

Britt Davis

John Cassady CEO EDITORIAL STAFF: Britt Davis Editor

you.

Submit your favorite blue-ribbon recipe, deadline May 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.

Giveaway: Enter to win two adult admission tickets to the Indiana State Museum Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests or send your contact information to the address below. The deadline to enter is April 30.

Three ways to contact us: To send us recipes, photos, letters and entries

ADVERTISING: American MainStreet Publications Cheryl Solomon, local ad representative; 512-441-5200; amp.coop Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.

UNSOLICITED MATERIAL: Indiana Connection does not use unsolicited freelance manuscripts or photographs and assumes no responsibility for the safekeeping or return of unsolicited material.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $12 for individuals not subscribing through participating REMCs/RECs. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you receive Indiana Connection through your electric co-op membership, report address changes to your local co-op.

POSTAGE: Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, Indiana, and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: Indiana Connection, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, IN 46032. Include key number.

No portion of Indiana Connection may be reproduced without permission of the editor.

for gift drawings, please use the forms on our website indianaconnection.org; email info@indianaconnection.org; or send to Indiana Connection, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, IN 46032.

APRIL 2025

3

contents

APRIL

12

18

county

03 FROM THE EDITOR 05 CO-OP NEWS Energy news and information from your electric cooperative 10 ENERGY Sealing leaks minimizes wasted energy and utility costs

food

12 COUNTY Fayette County 14 TRAVEL Take a tour of Indy’s eclectic White River State Park 16 SAFETY Be mindful when driving through work zones

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Indiana Connection 4 APRIL 2025

20

30

cover story

backyard

18 FOOD These single-serve desserts will satisfy your sweet tooth

28 HOOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS

20 COVER STORY War correspondent Ernie Pyle’s legacy lives on 80 years after his death

29 IN EATS Aladdin’s Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Cuisine is a family affair (NOT IN ALL EDITIONS)

26 PET CONTEST Congratulations to Cheddar Bay Biscuit, the winner of our pet photo contest

30 BACKYARD Native wildflowers add a pop of color to any garden (NOT IN ALL EDITIONS)

On the cover A sculpture of Ernie Pyle at work was added to the front of Franklin Hall on the campus of Indiana University in the fall of 2014. Learn more about the legacy of this prolific Hoosier in this month’s cover feature. (Photo courtesy of Wolterk, Getty Images)

www.winenergyremc.com CONTACT US Toll Free: 800-882-5140 Local: 812-882-5140 Fax: 812-886-0306 AUTOMATED EXPRESS SERVICES For outages and payments, call: 888-456-9876 OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. ET Monday-Friday VINCENNES OFFICE 3981 S. U.S. Highway 41 Vincennes, IN 47591 PRINCETON OFFICE 1314 W. 100 N. Princeton, IN 47670 SULLIVAN OFFICE 2044 W. State Road 154 Sullivan, IN 47882 UNDERGROUND LINE LOCATING Please call 811 at least two business days before you plan to dig.

2025 OFFICE CLOSURES Good Friday: Fri., Apr. 18 Memorial Day: Mon., May 26 Independence Day: Fri., July 4 Labor Day: Mon., Sept. 1 Veterans Day: Tues., Nov. 11 Thanksgiving Holidays: Thurs. and Fri., Nov. 27 and 28 Christmas Eve: Wed., Dec. 24 Christmas Day: Thurs., Dec. 25 New Year’s Eve: Wed., Dec. 31 METER READING DATES Cycle 1: April 2; Cycle 2: April 7; Cycle 3: April 16; Cycle 4: April 25; Cycle 5: May 1; Cycle 6: May 1

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/winenergyremc

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE POWER:

LINEWORKER APPRECIATION DAY If you are like me, you probably wake up in the morning and turn on the lights without thinking much about it, but there is countless work and education that go into that flip of a switch. It takes the whole WIN Energy REMC team to provide you with reliable service, and lineworkers are certainly important people behind your power.

Did you know that becoming a lineworker takes four years of training, which includes 8,000 hours of on-thejob training and classroom instruction?

This month, on April 14, we celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day. The day is a chance to recognize the lineworkers that keep our communities powered.

At WIN Energy REMC, we have 21 lineworkers, seven in each district.

Many of our lineworkers have completed their four years of training and are journeymen, while others are in the middle of their education and are called apprentices. Even though our lineworkers are at different levels of training and experience, they all work together to provide you with the service you rely on every day. They teach and learn from one another and encourage each other to work safely.

It is commendable how they work to

keep the lights on across 2,600 miles of line in eight different counties, serving more than 12,500 WIN Energy REMC members.

In addition to the time these individuals spend maintaining the electric system throughout our service territory, they are also dedicated to working whenever outages occur to restore power to our members. That can be at two o’clock in the morning or during a Sunday afternoon football game, but no matter what, these employees are always dedicated to you, our members.

I am thankful and proud of the entire team of dedicated employees at WIN Energy REMC. This month, as we celebrate the men and women who ensure reliable power, let’s recognize their unwavering dedication to the local communities they serve. Next time you flip a switch, take a moment to remember the people behind your power.

LESLIE BEARD CEO

APRIL 2025

5

co-op news

HELP CELEBRATE EARTH DAY BY GOING PAPERLESS WIN Energy REMC is aware of mail delays and recognizes that some members are not receiving their paper bills in a timely fashion, resulting in late payment. In an effort for members to receive their bills on time and honor Earth Day on April 22, WIN Energy REMC is encouraging members to consider going paperless. You will still receive your bill, just via email. To go paperless, update your preferences on SmartHub or call our office at 800-882-5140. Take advantage of this free service for WIN Energy REMC members. Better for you, better for the planet.

AUTOMATED EXPRESS SERVICES UPGRADE As of March 25, our Automated Express Services number, 888-456-9876, received an upgrade! To enhance account security, members must create a four-digit PIN number when making e-check payments. If a PIN is not tied to the account, a birth date will be needed. For more ways to pay, visit our website, winenergyremc.com.

6 APRIL 2025

PLAN TO ATTEND THE WIN ENERGY REMC DRIVE-THRU AND IN-PERSON ANNUAL MEETING

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2025 Red Skelton Performing Arts Center 20 W Red Skelton Blvd

DRIVE-THRU: 9 a.m.-11 a.m. EDT

Vincennes, IN 47591

IN-PERSON MEETING: 11 a.m. EDT

Each registered member will receive a registration gift and annual report, and be eligible to vote for directors and win prizes.

ual Meeting Map

rking

king

g Arts

***To register at the Annual Meeting, member must bring registration card, which will be mailed to members in May.

MEETING MAP Drive-thru route Registration Optional parking for in-person meeting Red Skelton Performing Arts Center

APRIL 2025

7

Digging into an Outdoor Project?

Upcoming

OFFICE CLOSURE WIN Energy REMC offices will be closed on Friday, April 18, in observance of Good Friday.

Regular hours will resume on Monday, April 21.

8 APRIL 2025

Before you dig, dial 811 or visit www.call811.com to protect underground utilities. Careless digging poses a threat to people, pipelines and underground facilities. Contact 811 first and help keep our community safe.

It seems horses excel at people skills.

From celebrated horses and equine farms, to spectacular museums and outdoor adventures, you’ll be awed by all the experiences you can share in our new Kentucky home.

Plan your sensational getaway today.

KentuckyTourism.com

L AN E’ S EN D FAR M , VE R SAI L LES

energy T H E PAT H T O E N E RGY E F F IC I E NC Y

Sealing When it comes to making a home more energy efficient, many people know that adding the correct amount of insulation in attics and over crawl spaces and basements can make a huge difference.

However, sealing leaks is crucial to minimizing energy use.

Air can leak through outer walls, windows, doors, and other openings. A well-sealed home and the proper insulation can save you significant money on utility bills.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs alone by air-sealing their homes and adding insulation.

If you added up all the leaks, holes, and gaps in a typical home, it would be the equivalent of having a window open every day of the year.

Here are some ways to prevent that by sealing your home:

Sealing leaks minimizes wasted energy and utility costs

Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air. While you’re at it, caulk and seal leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, and ceilings.

Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlets and switch plates on the walls.

use shrink-to-fit plastic wrap over existing windows.

Replace exterior door bottoms and thresholds with ones that have pliable sealing gaskets.

Seal leaks around fireplace chimneys, furnaces, and gas water heater vents with sheet metal or sheetrock and furnace cement caulk.

Conduct a proper inspection around your home. Look for dirty spots in any visual insulation, ceilings, and carpets to check for leaks and mold. These spots could indicate a leak at interior wall or ceiling joints and wall or floor joists. Low-expansion spray foam and caulking can solve most of these issues.

Keep the fireplace flue damper tightly closed when not in use. Flues can also warp and break, creating a path for air loss. If that’s the case, you could seal the flue when not in use with an inflatable chimney balloon.

Replace single-pane windows with more efficient double-pane, low-emissivity windows or use foam sealant on larger gaps around windows or baseboards where air may leak. Another option is to

These changes can make a difference, no matter the time of year or the weather outside.

Check your dryer vent to be sure it is not blocked, saving energy and preventing a fire.

Contact your co-op for more information on making your home more efficient.

by Jessica

Kaufer Member and Energy Solutions Specialist Clark County REMC

10 APRIL 2025

100 20OFF ACT NOW AND GET

%

AND

$

TAKE AN EXTRA

OFF Your Entire Purchase

All Windows and Doors

1

Minimum purchase of 4

Minimum purchase of 4

AND NO Money Down | NO Monthly Payments | NO Interest for 12 months

1

Minimum purchase of 4 – interest accrues from the date of purchase, but is waived if paid in full within 12 months

TESTED, TRUSTED, AND TOTALLY PROVEN. 3

“My overall experience was great. I love the window, and from sales to scheduling, the experience was very good. The installers are highly skilled professionals and I would recommend Renewal by Andersen to all my contacts.”

Nation's Best Warranty†

LYNN F. | RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN CUSTOMER

70%

KEEP THE COOL AIR IN AND THE HEAT OUT! Solving your window problems and having a comfortable home is easy and enjoyable when you choose Renewal by Andersen.

Take advantage of this great offer to save money on your window project – and help save on high energy bills for years to come!

MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT IN SUMMER2

SmartSun glass Helps keep the heat out and the cool in.

Offer Ends May 31 Call for your FREE consultation.

855-560-3065 FINDYOURWINDOW.COM

1

DETAILS OF OFFER: Offer expires 5/31/2025. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Get 20% off your entire purchase and 12 months no money down, no monthly payments, no interest when you purchase four (4) or more windows or entry/patio doors between 4/5/2025 and 5/31/2025. Additional $100 off your purchase, minimum purchase of four (4), taken after initial discount(s), when you purchase by 5/31/2025. Subject to credit approval. 12-month Promo Period: while no payments are due, interest accrues but is waived if the loan is paid in full before the Promo Period expires. Any unpaid balance owed after the Promo Period, plus accrued interest, will be paid in installments based on the terms disclosed in the customer’s loan agreement. Financing is provided by various financial institutions without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or familial status. Savings comparison based on purchase of a single unit at list price. Available at participating locations and offer applies throughout the service area. See your local Renewal by Andersen location for details. License numbers available at renewalbyandersen.com/license. Some Renewal by Andersen locations are independently owned and operated. ‡Review aggregator survey of 5-star reviews among leading national full-service window replacement companies. January 2024 Reputation.com. †It is the only warranty among top selling window companies that meets all of the following requirements: easy to understand terms, unrestricted transferability, installation coverage, labor coverage, geographically unrestricted, coverage for exterior color, insect screens and hardware, and no maintenance requirement. Visit renewalbyandersen.com/nationsbest for details. 2Values are based on comparison of Renewal by Andersen® double-hung window U-Factor to the U-Factor for clear dual-pane glass nonmetal frame default values from the 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018 International Energy Conservation Code “Glazed Fenestration” Default Tables. 3Based on testing of 10 double-hung units per ASTM E2068 20 years after installation. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. © 2025 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. RBA14201 *Using U.S. and imported parts.

county feature

Fayette County In the early 1800s, Fayette County became a place for settlers after land was purchased from Native Americans through treaties like the 1809 Treaty of Fort Wayne.

This cleared the way for new communities to grow and develop in southeastern Indiana, which was once part of the larger Northwest Territory.

SUDOKU’S PUZZLING ORIGIN STORY Howard Garns, an American architect from Connersville, Indiana, created Number Place — the logic puzzle later known as Sudoku. Garns designed it while working at Daggett architecture firm in Indianapolis. In May 1979, Dell Pencil Puzzles and Word Games published Number Place without crediting him. Will Shortz, a crossword compiler for The New York Times, later identified Garns as its creator by noting his name in the magazine’s contributor list whenever Number Place appeared. The puzzle gained popularity in Japan in the 1980s, where it was renamed Su Doku. Garns died of cancer in 1989 before Sudoku became a global phenomenon when The Times of London printed it in 2004.

Photo courtesy of Kameron Perensovich

FEATHERED FRIENDS IN CONNERSVILLE The Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, managed by the Indiana Audubon Society, is a notable birding destination in southeastern Indiana. The sanctuary is named after Mary, the daughter of Finley and Alice Gray. When Mary died of a typhus-related brain infection in 1940, her parents donated 264 acres of their land to the Indiana Audubon Society in her memory. More than 110 bird species have been spotted across the sanctuary’s 700 acres in Connersville. Visitors can hike the sanctuary’s forests and wetlands while observing bird conservation first-hand with Saw-whet owl banding in the fall and hummingbird banding in the summer.

12 APRIL 2025

COUNTY FACTS FOUNDED: 1819

NAMED FOR: Marquis de la Fayette, a French military officer in the American Revolutionary War

POPULATION: 23,398 Public domain

COUNTY SEAT: Connersville

Photo courtesy of Whitewater Valley Railroad

INDIANA COUNTY NUMBER: 21

ALL ABOARD INDIANA’S SCENIC RAILWAY The Whitewater Valley Railroad is a nonprofit museum with a preserved 1950s-era branch line railroad. Known as “Indiana’s Best Scenic Railway,” the railroad traces its roots back to the mid-1800s when it was a vital transportation route connecting towns and industries in southeastern Indiana.

Now, the train operates April through December, departing from Connersville’s Grand Central Station and journeying to Metamora, a historic canal town offering a glimpse into 19th-century life. Visitors can explore nearly 40 unique shops and restaurants, stroll along the canal, or discover the only operational wooden aqueduct in the United States.

Nicole Thomas is a freelance writer from Indianapolis.

Connersville

HELP US IMPROVE THE MAGAZINE The staff of Indiana Connection is continually working to make the magazine the best it can be. Every three years, Indiana Connection works with an independent research firm to survey our readers on various aspects of their lives and interests and their relationship to the magazine.

This year, the survey will be sent in print and digital forms to randomly selected readers. If you receive this survey, please take a few minutes to fill it out and send it back. The research firm will receive your answers, so the responses are anonymous.

Thank you for helping to guide the direction of Indiana Connection!

MARKETPLACE

Guided Tours Domestic and International Charter Bus Service Call for a free catalog

1-800-682-8214 www.timistours.com

WE REPAIR LEAKY LAKES GUARANTEED We know how to find all water leaks underground.

Call us!

812-987-4119 Serving IN, OH, IL, KY & TN www.WhatsBelow.com APRIL 2025

13

profile travel

Indy’s backyard Retreat from the hustle or revel in wonder in this unique pocket of downtown Indianapolis

Photos courtesy of White River State Park

Downtown Indianapolis’s easy-to-

State Museum, and inside, go from the

traverse grid system harbors a generous

Ice Age to the unknown, celebrating

reward for those venturing toward its

Indiana through the ages. The Eiteljorg

west end: White River State Park. The

Museum boasts the Midwest’s best

urban escape is home to miles of trails,

Native American and Western art

pockets of wonder, and world-class

collections. The museum tells the story

attractions, making it a must-visit for your

of Indiana’s indigenous peoples through

2025 calendar.

art, artifacts, and historic photos. At

Natural wonders

the NCAA Hall of Champions, get in the game with hands-on displays and

Whether you’re escaping from your cubicle or destined to explore downtown, White River State Park provides a

sports simulators that help you feel a part of the action. You could also relive your glory days with one last free throw

breath of fresh air. Stroll the Canal Walk, making an already easy 3-mile loop even more fun. Pause to peruse the season’s flora, cruise the Canal on a gondola, or rent a bike to cover more ground. Don’t miss the Old Washington Street Bridge, formerly part of the Historic National Road, now a pedestrian bridge connecting the Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens to the park, featuring stunning artwork to admire and interact with along the way.

at the museum’s retro gym.

White River State Park is open

Rock on

daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Find

There’s no replacement for live music,

events, attractions, and a park

and there’s nothing better than hearing

map at whiteriverstatepark.org.

your favorite band at The Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park. The completely reimagined and updated venue reopened in 2021, featuring a permanent facility with lawn and reserved seats, state-of-theart amenities, and a welcoming guest

Awaken history

experience. See your favorite artists

If you want to learn about Indiana,

on the venue’s summer concert lineup

you’re in the right place. Take the free

or go all-in with a season ticket for a

92 County Walk outside of the Indiana

summer you will never forget.

14 APRIL 2025

The Everwise Amphitheater

Natalie Derrickson is a writer based in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Zoo

Generational Wealth A future for generations to come

PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY

319

$

ea.

Minimum order of 5 coins

GENERATIONAL WEALTH is of paramount significance as it represents a beacon

of financial stability. It serves as a tangible testament to the hard work, diligence, and financial acumen of previous generations, offering a solid foundation upon which future generations can build their dreams and aspirations.

American Gold Reserve is releasing Government issued $5 Gold American Eagles completely free of dealer mark-up for only $319 each. These beautiful $5 Gold American Eagles are a perfect way to enter the gold market. They are set for immediate public release and will sell out fast.

LIMITED OFFER Special arrangements on orders over $50,000 Mention vault release code: AMS-IN04

CHECKS

24 hours - 7 days a week

1-866-852-3346

• Free of dealer markup.

• Protection against inflation and deflation.

• Gold offers financial cover during geopolitical uncertainty.

• Good portfolio diversifier.

AMERICAN

GOLD RESERVE

Strict limit of 10 per house hold, per lifetime. For new clients only.

safety

BE MINDFUL WHEN DRIVING THROUGH WORK ZONES According to the Indiana

When motorists

Department of Transportation, 269

see the orange

people have been killed in work

diamond-

zones accidents over the past

shaped work

decade. Victims include motorists

zone warning

and workers. In 2023, according to

signs and

work zone crash data, 33 people

vehicles with

were killed, and more than 1,750

flashing lights,

were injured in INDOT work zones.

they should slow down and

should always be courteous to those

National Work Zone Awareness

prepare for the zone ahead.

parked on the shoulder. Give them

Week (April 21-25) aims to remind

Indiana law requires motorists to

motorists to be careful around those whose jobs put them along the roadways. Work zones also include utility crews who work along the roadsides to build, repair, and maintain the network of electric power lines. Sometimes, crews can be around the next corner or just over the hill — day or night.

“All motorists need to keep in mind that our crews can be working at any hour, so they need to be careful when they see signs and flaggers,” said Jon Elkins, vice president of safety, training, and

approach cautiously and change

and help prevent tragedies.

lanes away from emergency

“Our workers already face dangers

vehicles if they can do so safely.

on the jobs,” added Elkins. “We

If not, they should reduce their

ask motorists to please not add to

speed to 10 mph under the posted

that danger by speeding or driving

speed limit and proceed with

recklessly so closely by them.”

caution. Motorists should not stop in the roadway; this could cause a rear-end collision with other vehicles.

Violating the law can result in a fine and a suspended license.

Steeper penalties, including jail time, are enforced for infractions within work zones.

compliance at Indiana Electric

Though move-over laws are only

Cooperatives.

for emergency vehicles, drivers

16 APRIL 2025

room to safely repair their vehicles

Rear-end crashes are the most common type of accident in work zones. Nationally, four out of five people killed in work zones are drivers and passengers. Here’s something else to remember: It takes just one more minute to travel through a two-mile work zone at 45 mph than 65 mph.

Chris Adam is a freelance writer from Lafayette. Source: nwzaw.org, in.gov/ indot/safety/work-zone-safety

TRANSFORM YOUR BATHROOM

IN 1 DAY Professionally Installed In As Little As One Day!

BEFORE Why wait? Easily customize and build your dream bathroom with Safe Step! We’re here to help you every step of the way!

Call today and receive

exclusive savings of up to

$1,000 OFF! FOR A LIMITED TIME*

1-800-996-7934

AFTER *With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Shower. Not applicable with any previous walk-in shower purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Market restrictions may apply.

Offer available in select markets only.

CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 13VH11096000

food

Dessert FOR one

These small-scale desserts will satisfy your sweet tooth, no sharing required

M IC ROWAV E BROWNIES Donna Dettmer, Columbus, Indiana 3 Tbsp flour

In a microwave-safe coffee mug,

3 Tbsp brown sugar

combine all of the ingredients.

3 Tbsp cocoa powder

Microwave on high for 60 to 75 seconds, depending on the type of microwave.

3 Tbsp canola oil

When fully cooked, a wooden toothpick

3 Tbsp water

should come out mostly clean. Cool

1 tsp vanilla

slightly before eating. Top with ice cream

Pinch of salt

or cool whip, if desired.

M INI PUM PKIN DUM P CAK E Patricia Piekarski, Harvey, Illinois CAKE

TOPPING

½ cup pumpkin puree

1

⁄3 cup flour

¼ cup milk

1

⁄3 cup granulated sugar

¼ cup granulated sugar

¼ tsp baking powder

½ tsp cinnamon

2 Tbsp butter, room temperature

¼ tsp nutmeg

2 Tbsp chopped nuts (optional)

1 egg Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 5x5 baking dish. Stir together the pumpkin, milk, sugar, and spices, then stir in the egg. Pour the batter into the baking dish. For the topping, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder.

Sprinkle it over the pumpkin mixture. Top with the butter and nuts. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

18 APRIL 2025

food

AP P L E C OBB L ER Alicia Unger, North Manchester, Indiana FILLING

1 medium apple — peeled, cored, and diced 2 Tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 10-ounce ramekin or other equivalently sized baking dish with butter.

To make the filling, combine the diced apple, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Stir until

⁄ 8 tsp or a pinch of

the apple pieces are well coated. Transfer

ground cinnamon

the apple mixture to the prepared dish and

1

½ tsp lemon juice Butter to grease the baking dish COBBLER TOPPING

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour 1½ Tbsp granulated sugar ¼ tsp baking powder 2 Tbsp milk CINNAMON SUGAR TOPPING (optional)

½ tsp granulated sugar

carefully spread the apples evenly.

To make the cobbler topping, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk in a separate bowl until smooth. Carefully pour this mixture over the apple mixture and spread it evenly. Mix the cinnamon and sugar and lightly sprinkle evenly over the cobbler topping.

Place the filled dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drippings during baking. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the topping turns a light golden brown.

When baking is complete, remove the dish from the rimmed baking sheet and place

⁄ 8 tsp or a pinch of

it on a cooling rack. Let it set for 5 to 10

ground cinnamon

minutes, then enjoy.

1

APRIL 2025

19

Pyle works on an article in March 1944 while visiting the Anzio Beachhead in Italy.

(Photo courtesy of National Archives, SC 191705)

America’s STORYTELLER

War correspondent Ernie Pyle’s legacy lives on 80 years after his death

BY BRIAN D. SMITH

20 APRIL 2025

E

rnie Pyle was an embedded reporter more than a half-century before anyone ever heard the term, sending regular dispatches from the European, North African, and Pacific battlefronts of World War II. The Dana, Indiana, native witnessed the firebombing of London, wandered Omaha Beach at Normandy on the morning after D-Day, and shared in the revelry of a liberated Paris. He ate, drank, smoked, slept, and dug ditches with the U.S. Army, rode aboard a Navy aircraft carrier, and accompanied Marines on an island landing.

Pyle’s columns mentioned big battles, Allied victories, and even the occasional setback. But what endeared the native Hoosier to his readers — all 13 million of them — was his homespun way of chronicling the lives of everyday soldiers down to their hometowns. As he wrote in 1943, “I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mudrain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end, they are the guys that wars can’t be won without.”

World War II ended on Sept. 2, 1945, but Ernie Pyle didn’t get to write about it. While riding in a jeep on the Japanese island of Ie Shima, he came under fire from an enemy sniper and was shot to death on April 18, 1945 — just six days after the passing of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and 80 years ago this month.

Memorial tributes were issued from all corners of the nation, starting from the top. Newly sworn-in President Harry S Truman said, “No man in this war has so well told the story of the American fighting man as American fighting men wanted it told.” Other dignitaries joined the chorus, including Generals Omar Bradley and Dwight D. Eisenhower, who would succeed Truman as

Pyle visits Indiana University to receive an honorary degree in November 1944. He is pictured with John Stempel, who led the journalism department from 1938 to 1968.

(Photo courtesy of Indiana University Archives)

president, and widowed First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

American newspapers gave Pyle a hero’s farewell with expansive frontpage coverage and stirring editorials.

The Tampa Times hailed him as the “chief spokesman for the fighting GIs” and asserted that “he will rest well — in a glory that will not be forgotten for decades.”

A DWINDLING COLLECTIVE MEMORY Eight decades later, however, it’s not so much a question of how many

Americans remember Ernie Pyle’s glory, but rather, how many knew about it in the first place. “If you have no memories of World War II, you may not recognize the Pyle name,” wrote a New York Times reporter in 2011, two years after the State of Indiana closed Ernie Pyle’s birthplace. The rationale for withdrawing state funding was that the home — now owned and operated by the nonprofit Friends of Ernie Pyle — had drawn only 1,000 to 1,500 visitors annually. continued on page 22

APRIL 2025

21

continued from page 21 But the reporter’s point is well taken, for the same reason that life insurance companies keep actuarial tables. Of the 16.4 million U.S. veterans of World War II, fewer than 1 percent (about 66,000) were alive in 2024, with a median age of about 98 years old, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. As the National WWII Museum website reminds us: “Every day, memories of World War II … disappear.”

Pyle as a student at Indiana University in 1922. (Photo courtesy of Indiana University Archives)

That is unless they’re shared with subsequent generations. Author David Chrisinger did his part with his 2023 book, “The Soldier’s Truth: The Story of Ernie Pyle and World War II,” in which he retraced Pyle’s steps through the old battlefields where the Hoosier war correspondent once plied his craft.

But as Chrisinger sheepishly admitted, he didn’t recognize Ernie Pyle’s name the first time he heard it from a tour guide on Okinawa, where he was researching a story about his grandfather’s military service. Worse yet, he mistakenly associated Pyle with a very different kind of military operation. “Is this the guy that they based Gomer Pyle upon?” asked Chrisinger, recalling the cheerful bumpkin played by Jim Nabors in the popular 1960s sitcom “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” Dumbfounded, the tour guide said, “If you want to understand what your grandfather went through, you’ve got to read Ernie Pyle.”

Pyle poses with his wife, Geraldine Elizabeth “Jerry” Siebolds, in the backyard of their apartment building in Washington, D.C., in 1925.

(Photo courtesy of Indiana University Archives)

22 APRIL 2025

Then again, it’s a safe bet that many of those reading this story would also have drawn a blank if asked to identify Ernie Pyle. Yet the war correspondent was so famous in the 1940s that anyone asking, “Who’s Ernie Pyle?” would have sounded as clueless as a current Hoosier asking, “Who’s Dave Letterman?”

At the pinnacle of his success, his syndicated column appeared in 400 daily and 300 weekly newspapers and was often the best-read item in the paper. The power of his popularity was evident in the dizzying array of career highlights that Pyle experienced in 1944, including a Pulitzer Prize for “distinguished war correspondence”; the publication of “Brave Men” — the third of his four books featuring some of his best wartime columns; making the cover of TIME magazine, which also wrote a profile about him; and the selection of Burgess Meredith, then an Army captain on active duty, to play him in a Hollywood film, “The Story of G.I. Joe.” Meredith’s physical attributes helped him secure the part — the slightly built journalist, who was in his 40s during World War II, stood only 5-foot-8 and weighed 115 pounds.

Pyle was so well known that he even appeared in a 1944 magazine advertisement for Chesterfield cigarettes above the caption: “On every front I’ve covered … with our boys and our allies, Chesterfield is always a favorite.”

It was all heady stuff for the former farm boy whose yen to see the world resembled that of George Bailey, the Jimmy Stewart character in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

“But Ernie was George Bailey who got out,” said Ray Boomhower, senior editor of Indiana Historical Society Press. That hadn’t surprised Pyle’s family. “He always said the world was too big for him to be doing confining work here on the farm,” his father told TIME magazine. Even so, Pyle spent nearly all of his first 23 years on Hoosier soil.

SATISFYING HIS WANDERLUST Ernest Taylor Pyle — the only child of tenant farmers William C. and Martha Taylor Pyle — was born in 1900 on an 80-acre grain farm southwest of

Dana in rural Vermillion County, not far from the Illinois state line. The family moved to a white farmhouse when he was 18 months old, and Ernest, as his relatives called him, resided there until his 1918 graduation from tiny Helt Township High School. In an era before the yellow school bus, Pyle often rode his favorite mare, Cricket, to the school building 3 miles south.

Pyle (center) visits with a tank crew of the 91st Tank Battalion in the Anzio Beachhead in Italy, circa March 1944. (Photo courtesy of National Archives, SC 191704)

After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force. But World War I ended before he could complete his training, so he enrolled at Indiana University in 1919.

Pyle didn’t major in journalism. He couldn’t — IU didn’t offer a journalism degree until 1932. He majored in economics and started signing up for journalism classes as a sophomore.

Pyle later said, “I took journalism at Indiana University because it was a cinch course and offered an escape from a farm life and farm animals.”

Yet he would serve as editor-in-chief of the IU student newspaper, join the journalism fraternity — Sigma Delta Chi, and become a $25-a-week reporter for the La Porte Daily Herald — leaving IU in early 1923 with just one semester to go.

Four months later, the young reporter was on the move again, this time to the Washington Daily News in the nation’s capital. In 1925, he married Geraldine Elizabeth “Jerry” Siebolds, whom he’d met at a Halloween party, and the following year, the restless Pyle quit his job, bought a new Model-T Ford roadster, took his new bride on a tour around the country, and as he recalled, “wound up six weeks later in New York, broke.

Had to sell the new Ford for $150 to get money for the next meal.” After brief stints with two New York City newspapers, he made a momentous decision to rejoin the Daily News in 1927.

His interest in the burgeoning field of aviation prompted him to launch the first-ever daily column devoted to the subject, which wound up in syndication with Pyle as aviation editor for the entire Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. Flying more than 100,000 miles, he tackled topics ranging from airmail pilots to whether passenger flights would ever be profitable and gained no less a fan than Amelia Earhart — who once remarked, “Not to know Ernie Pyle is to admit that you yourself are unknown in aviation.”

A promotion to managing editor in 1932 marked the end of the column, but after three years of office work, Pyle contracted influenza and found his way back to column writing. During a recuperative leave of absence, he hit the road with Jerry and returned to write 11 stories about his experiences.

An editor sensed “a sort of Mark Twain quality,” and Pyle soon traded his desk job for a gig that catered to his wanderlust. “I am a roving reporter,” he once explained. “Go where I

please, write what I please, and keep no office hours.”

His syndicated column ran six days a week under several titles, including “Roving Reporter,” “Hoosier Vagabond,” and “Vagabond from Indiana,” and frequently mentioned wife Jerry — variously identified as “the Girl Who Rides With Me,” “That Girl Who Travels With Me,” or simply “That Girl.”

They spent five years on the road, crisscrossing the country 35 times in an era before interstates, roadside McDonald’s, and other amenities that modern-day travelers take for granted.

“This was Depression-era America,” Chrisinger said. “He was driving on dirt roads most of the time.”

For Americans struggling to put food on the table, Pyle provided a daily escape with reports from such far-flung localities as Alaska, Hawaii, South America, and the Panama Canal. continued on page 24

APRIL 2025

23

continued from page 23 Readers appreciated his folksy writing style, his attention to unsung people and places, and his self-effacing persona — a “prose Charlie Chaplin,” as TIME magazine put it.

REPORTS FROM THE FRONT LINES But the onset of World War II took Pyle to more distant destinations with life-and-death dramas. Yearning to write more consequential columns, he journeyed to England in 1940 to cover the Battle of Britain. He vividly described a German bombing that left “London stabbed with great fires, shaken by explosions, its dark regions along the Thames sparkling with the pinpoints of white-hot bombs.”

When American forces entered the war in 1941, Pyle went with them.

He toted a manual typewriter and submitted several stories at a time by military mail or by having them read over a shortwave radio. His Hoosier roots inspired occasional analogies, as when he compared a group of tanks preparing for battle to “the cars lined up at Indianapolis just before the race starts” and likened Okinawa to “Indiana in late summer when things have started to turn dry and brown, except that the fields were much smaller.” But his most memorable columns detailed the plight and sacrifice of the average GI. In Pyle’s most acclaimed effort, “The Death of Captain Waskow,” he painted a haunting picture of soldiers mourning the loss of a beloved young officer who perished in Italy: “He reached down and took the dead hand, and he sat there for a full five minutes, holding the dead hand in his own and looking intently into the dead face, and he never uttered a sound all the time he sat there. And finally he put the hand down, and then reached up and gently straightened the points

24 APRIL 2025

of the captain’s shirt collar, and then he sort of rearranged the tattered edges of his uniform around the wound. And then he got up and walked away down the road in the moonlight, all alone.”

This sign was built by Corporal Landon Seidler to mark the spot of Pyle’s death on Ie Shima.

(Photo courtesy of Indiana University Archives)

A LASTING LEGACY In 2011, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists voted “Captain Waskow” the top American column in history. If nothing else, the honor attested to the staying power of Ernie Pyle in the 21st century, at least among fellow journalists.

Whether that applies to the public at large on the 80th anniversary of his passing is less certain. It wasn’t always so — Pyle’s death in 1945 prompted an outpouring of buildings, roads, schools, and even military equipment named in his honor, including a troopship and a B-29 Superfortress.

Nowadays, Pyle lends his name to streets in Galax, Virginia; Fort Meade, Maryland; and Fort Riley, Kansas, along with a middle school and a public library in Albuquerque that occupies the only house Pyle and his wife ever owned. Two elementary schools in California and one in Indianapolis bear his name, but two others in Indiana have closed since 2010 — the first in Gary and the second, ironically, in Vermillion County, where he was born and raised.

Fortunately, Vermillion County still boasts Pyle’s birthplace and museum

in Dana. It’s planning an adjoining Ernie Pyle and Veterans Memorial Park — not to be confused with Ernie Pyle Rest Park, which just happens to be located near a stretch of U.S. 36 known as the Ernie Pyle Memorial Highway. Pyle’s name also adorns a travel plaza on the Indiana Toll Road and an island in Cagles Mill Lake.

Even Captain Waskow has a high school named after him in Texas, a testament to Pyle’s influence.

Perhaps it falls to current residents of Pyle’s home state to serve as keepers of the flame. In addition to his birthplace in Dana, the Indiana State Museum periodically displays some Pyle possessions, including one of his typewriters.

And nowhere is his legacy stronger than at Indiana University, home of Ernie Pyle Hall, the former journalism school building, and a Pyle statue outside Franklin Hall, where tomorrow’s reporters — some known as Ernie Pyle Scholars — hone their

talents at the Media School.

Students can also take an Ernie Pyle class that travels to Europe on spring break to follow his path. “If you ever go to IU [for journalism],” said Boomhower, “it’s hard not to be influenced by Ernie Pyle.”

True Ernie Pyle fans can collect a 16-cent Ernie Pyle stamp issued in 1971 and an Ernie Pyle G.I. Joe, complete with a typewriter, created for Hasbro’s D-Day Collection in 2001.

And the 1945 Ernie Pyle movie, “The Story of G.I. Joe,” can still be seen occasionally on cable movie channels — and free anytime on YouTube.

Pyle, an advisor on the film, never lived to see it, nor did the movie include his death.

Ernie Pyle will also be remembered this month in a place far from Indiana.

The American Legion post in Okinawa has held a memorial ceremony in his honor each year since 1952. Though Pyle is buried in Hawaii, participants gather at the Ernie Pyle Monument on the island of Iejima, its current name.

The Tampa Times predicted in 1945 that Pyle’s glory would not be forgotten for decades. Although Ernie Pyle deserves greater historical prominence, it’s heartening to know that he won’t be forgotten in this decade. Author Chrisinger discovered as much in 2019 when his online New York Times story about Pyle received more than a million views by the second day.

Apparently, the legacy of the farm boy from Dana still resonates. A 2020 documentary by WTIU, “Ernie Pyle: Life in the Trenches,” summed it

up: “From an accomplished Indiana University alumnus to a celebrated national newspaper columnist to the world’s most widely read war correspondent, Ernie Pyle was truly America’s storyteller.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Want to read some of Ernie Pyle’s work? Visit our website, indianaconnection.org, to read the entire column, “The Death of Captain Waskow”. You can also visit erniepyle.iu.edu to read more of his wartime columns and see a photo gallery of Pyle throughout the years.

From a small garage to tinker on your vintage automobile to an elaborate workshop to focus on your woodworking hobby, a residential storage and hobby building designed and constructed by Morton is crafted to provide a stronger, longer-lasting, better-looking structure customized to fit your needs. Don’t settle for second best — because Morton has a quality that’s unmistakable, just like you.

Visit mortonbuildings.com or call 800-447-7436.

4943

Built Stronger. Lasts Longer. Looks Better.

©2025 Morton Buildings, Inc. A listing of GC licenses available at mortonbuildings.com/licenses.

APRIL 2025

25

profile

Adorable reader pets In the January issue, we asked Indiana Connection readers to send in cute photos of their pets, and they delivered. After receiving almost 450 submissions of pets of all shapes and sizes, our team chose their top 10 favorites. Congratulations to our winner, Cheddar Bay Biscuit! Read on to learn more about our finalists.

Submissions edited for clarity.

Cheddar Bay Biscuit S U BM I T T E D BY K R I S T I N R I E S E N BE C K

“Cheddar Bay Biscuit is a Feline Infectious Peritonitis survivor.

She loves to play fetch and chase ribbons. She enjoys tablet games like smacking swimming fish. Her favorite treat is Churu.

You can follow her on Instagram at @cheddarbaybiscuit.kitty.”

Lila

Benny

Butterball

SUBMITTED BY AUDREY MCDANIEL

S U B MI TT E D BY J A M I E BR I D GE S

SUBMITTED BY ANDREA BATTISTA

“Lila is a 3-year-old Ragdoll and

“Benny is a 2-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi with quite the personality! He loves rolling in the snow and cuddling on the couch.

He is rambunctious and uses his voice when waking up in the morning with a rolled growl that sounds like Chewbacca.”

“Butterball is the king of our property and will be turning 10 years old this year, which is quite old for a turkey.

He is truly a lovable guy. He likes all baked goods and will not turn down any type of pasta, preferring mac-n-cheese. Although he isn’t a traditional pet, he has quite a following of people who have met and adored him.”

loves snuggling, stroller rides, and bird watching. She is obsessed with her 'big brother,’ our male Ragdoll cat, Grayson, and follows us around like a puppy. She is also very playful and chatty.”

26 APRIL 2025

profile

Daisy and HeiHei SUBMITTED BY KATHLEEN BOOK

Hank, Rosie, and Mr. T SUBMITTED BY KENDRA STOLL

“Hank in the back is an English Springer Spaniel. The Miniature Dachshund in the front is Rosie.

Mr. T is a tan, mixed breed. They are completely spoiled rotten and living their best lives. I had a Springer before Hank and just love the breed, so I had to get another one. Rosie and Mr. T are rescues and had rough beginnings in life, but now they receive unconditional love from us.”

“We first got our rooster, HeiHei, and then our dog, Daisy, shortly after.

We wanted Daisy to be raised with chickens so she would protect and be friends with them. They quickly became great friends and love to play together. HeiHei loves to run under Daisy, while she loves to roll on top of HeiHei. After playing, they are content to sit side by side. Daisy always looks for him in the chicken coop first thing in the morning so they can be together.”

Ellie SUBMITTED BY HALEY WHITTINGTON

“My pup's full name is Eleanor Elephant Whittington, but we call her Ellie. She is almost 2 years old and loves fetch, sunbathing, and her baby brother. Although she can shred a toy in a matter of minutes, she has the sweetest and gentlest personality.”

Irwin SUBMITTED BY MARTHA MARTIN

Leo and Liam SUBMITTED BY ERIC AND SUSAN NEWMAN

Carlos SU BM IT TE D B Y E MILY STE NG ER

“Carlos is a Nigerian Dwarf Wether and my first 4-H goat. I’ve had him since he was a baby. In this photo, he is 8 years old.”

“The yellow cat is Liam, and Leo is the grey cat. Liam was found in a barn a week after Leo was born, and Leo’s mother let Liam join their family. He was super small, and we thought he would be a runt. Well, that didn’t happen. Liam weighs 18 pounds, and Leo is 8.5 pounds. They are super spoiled.”

“Irwin was adopted as a puppy from the Dubois County Humane Society in January 2021. His mom is a blue heeler, and a DNA test showed he is half Great Pyrenees. Irwin enjoys traveling with his human mom, Gillian Martin of Roanoke, Indiana, and has dipped his paws in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the same year! Irwin's hobbies include catching frisbees, watching birds, and meeting new friends at the dog park.”

APRIL 2025

27

Hoosier Energy news

MENTORS MAKE A

DIFFERENCE Mann and Wilson receive W. Eugene Roberts and Daniel L. Schuckman Memorial Scholarships

M

entors certainly made a difference for the first two 2025 recipients of Hoosier Energy’s W. Eugene Roberts and Daniel L. Schuckman Memorial Scholarships. This year, the scholarship total is being expanded with Hoosier Energy anticipating awarding two scholarships each semester to attendees at the North American Lineman Training Center in McEwen, Tennessee.

Blayden Mann

Blayden Mann and Brett Wilson, who graduated from NALTC in December, are the first two honorees. Both cited the influence of others in their decision to pursue a career as a lineman.

For Mann, one of those influences was close to home.

His brother, Dillon, is a lineman at RushShelby Energy and a 2019 graduate of NALTC, which resulted in several conversations about attending line school. Mann was also influenced by his former baseball coach, Jason Connell, a lineman at Johnson County REMC. Now, Mann and Connell are co-workers at JCREMC. The Indian Creek graduate, who was not only on the baseball team but also the fishing team for the Braves, found a job close to his hometown of Trafalgar at the beginning of January.

Wilson’s story is similar. The Sellersburg native and graduate of Silver Creek, where he played football, moved houses in high school and met a new neighbor in retired Clark County REMC Lineman Dave Casey. With Casey providing instruction and guidance, Wilson studied outside of high school for electrician work and did multiple internships at Gaylor Electric before deciding to go to line school. Wilson now works at ElectriCom, where he started in late January.

28 APRIL 2025

Brett Wilson

Indiana eats

A rich

culinary heritage Aladdin’s Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Cuisine showcases the Sajaja family’s passion for flavor

A

laddin’s Mediterranean & Middle

Aladdin’s menu balances traditional

Eastern Cuisine, near the Ohio

Mediterranean recipes with

River in New Albany, has proven

evolving customer tastes, featuring

a testament to family passion and

a curated selection of dishes

culinary excellence. This eclectic

perfected over the restaurant’s

and satisfying restaurant has been a

decade-long journey.

beloved dining destination since its founding in 2013.

Their most noteworthy offerings — juicy chicken kabobs, tender

What started as a small Mediterranean

lamb chops, and the wildly popular

coffee shop quickly transformed into

chicken and steak curry bowls

a full-service restaurant, driven by the

— showcase the Sajaja family’s

community’s appetite for authentic

commitment to flavor.

Middle Eastern flavors.

The restaurant also offers favorites

Aladdin’s — led by owner Majid

like pita bread, falafel, gyros, tzatziki,

(Mike) Sajaja and supported by his

and imported pickles and olives.

wife, Zein, daughters Ala and Nancy, and professionally trained chef son Mohammad — has perfected a dining experience that celebrates a rich culinary heritage.

enjoying meals at home. This restaurant’s substantial takeout business speaks to the family’s serving their community.

Ala crafts in-house. Her baklava and baklava cheesecake have become restaurant staples and best sellers. ghanoush, and tabbouleh — with

explained, “but soon after, when we

recipes perfected by Zein and Nancy

saw the demand for our food had

— complement the main courses.

going really well ever since.”

revenue coming from customers

beautiful homemade desserts, which

Mediterranean coffee shop,” Mike

catering and restaurant, and it’s been

Find them on Facebook to learn more.

adaptability and commitment to

Traditional sides like hummus, baba

our business model to full-service

37 Bank Street New Albany, IN 47150

The Sajaja’s take pride in their

“We started in 2013 as a small

grown by a hundredfold, we changed

ALADDIN’S MEDITERRANEAN & MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE

As a Jordanian family-owned business, Aladdin’s does more than serve food — it shares a time-honored story, bringing the warmth and flavors of the Mediterranean basin to New Albany. Each dish represents a blend of tradition and genuine passion for

While Aladdin’s provides a welcoming

sharing memorable flavors.

dine-in atmosphere, the restaurant

Stephanie Bernaba is a freelancer with national reach who thrives on topics like food and entertainment.

has found significant success in takeout and delivery, with 40% of

APRIL 2025

29

backyard

A spring show N AT I V E W I L D F L O W E R S A D D A POP OF COLOR TO ANY GARDEN

Take a walk with me as we explore native spring wildflowers that are perfect for most of our gardens, small or large. Here are three ready to present their spring show.

Wild geraniums Hardy wild geraniums can be found in the wild and are named to differentiate them from hybrid geraniums. The flower varies with shades of white, pink, or blue. It blooms in spring and early summer for about a month and grows well in shade. Wild geranium attracts bees, butterflies, and flies.

Cut back wild geraniums when they are done blooming or if they get too scraggly. The plant’s leaves stay green all summer and change to a beautiful red, purple, or orange in the fall. If the winter is mild, the plant is evergreen or semi-evergreen.

This native perennial easily doubles as a flowering ground cover. It creates a long-lasting mat with multiple seasons of interest and little maintenance. It’s also a good companion for spring-blooming bulbs and adds a different texture to hosta.

30 APRIL 2025

Virginia bluebells Talk about magic plants. Virginia bluebells are my favorite spring ephemeral. They appear, hang around for a while, and then disappear without you doing anything.

Virginia bluebells have stalks of blue, bell-shaped flowers. The oval leaves have purple hues when they break ground in early spring and turn a medium green as the plant grows.

There are white and pink variations.

Virginia bluebells are slightly fragrant and can be cut for a vase with other spring flowers.

Grow Virginia bluebells in shade to part shade and moist soil. Once established, the plants can tolerate drier conditions. These native ephemerals self-sow, but not in a pesky way.

At 12 inches tall, Virginia bluebells are another good companion plant for spring bulbs, especially yellow daffodils. For a lovely color combo, they can also be planted under forsythia or Japanese kerria.

These plants can be hard to find in garden centers because they look like a pot of dirt once they go dormant.

Some retailers carry and ship Virginia bluebells already growing in pots, ready to go in the ground for the spring show.

Hepatica An Eastern U.S. native perennial, hepatica sports blue, white, or pink flowers for about a month in spring among liver-shaped leaves. It’s a favorite of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

Hepatica is a diminutive plant that does best in an area where it can flourish for years without disturbance. Plant it in clusters of uneven numbers in part sun to shade. The low-growing leaves are glossy green, turning a rust color in fall and remaining on the plant through winter.

Hepatica’s texture and form make it a good companion plant with shadetolerant ferns. As a spring bloomer, it also provides an early-season companion with spring bulbs. Hosta, the shade-go-to plant, also does well with hepatica.

Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp blogs at hoosiergrdener.com. She’s been writing and speaking about gardening for more than 30 years.

WAS $26.99

$

9.99

USE CODE WWC7D1

62

Soft Wide

Raspberry Sorbet

Save

ELASTIC WAISTBAND

Primrose Yellow

A Relaxed Fit in Sizes

S-6X

Pretty Jade

Pretty Turquoise

“Good fit.

Quality material.

Very comfortable.”

ELASTIC-WAIST KNIT SHORT. 25-86358-1262 Comfy, lightweight with pockets.

9" inseam.

Cotton/poly.

Machine wash.

Sizes S-6X WAS 26.99

Purple Magenta

Bright Cobalt

Navy

%

★★★★★

10 GREAT COLORS

White

NOW

–Darlene, Online Customer

S-6X SIZING: S(12), M(14-16) L(18-20), 1X(22-24) 2X(26-28), 3X(30-32) 4X(34-36), 5X(38-40) 6X(42-44)

Heather Grey

NOW 9.99

FREE SHIPPING

Heather Grey

Black

USE CODE WWC7D1 SEE DETAILS BELOW

The TRUSTED EXPERTS in SIZES 12W TO 44W Item # 25-86358-1262

Color

Item name Knit Short

Size

Qty

Price

Total

Charge my (circle one): Card# _____________________________________________

Use code WWC7D1 to get items 25-86358-1262 for $9.99 and get free shipping on your order. Free shipping applies to standard shipping only, not including any additional shipping surcharges.

Shipping upgrades additional. Does not apply to clearance.

Discount is priced as marked in checkout. Not applicable to gift cards or prior purchases. May not be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers. Returns credited at discounted price.

Only applies to in-stock merchandise. Expires 5/31/2025. Order by mail: Woman Within, 500 S. Mesa Hills Drive, El Paso, TX 79912

Signature ___________________________________________

Merchandise total Shipping & handling

FREE

For express delivery add $11.99 Sales Tax: We collect sales tax where required.

TOTAL Your satisfaction is guaranteed!

Card expires (month/year) ______________________________ Name ______________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________ City/State/Zip _______________________________________ Phone _____________________________________________ Email ______________________________________________

READY TO SAVE? HERE’S HOW TO SHOP ONLINE! 1 Go to: WOMANWITHIN.COM

2 Find at the top of the page

3 Type in your item number

4 Hit SEARCH

CLICK CATALOG TO ORDER FROM CATALOG

Call 1.800.248.2000 Now... or go to WOMANWITHIN.COM

ACT FAST! SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER PLUS FREE SHIPPING!

Comfy Knit Short

OUR #1 BEST SELLER!

36 FEBRUARY 2019