S.R. 67 bridge reopening
By Travis Curry Correspondent
A nearly month-long closure was expected to come to an end this week with the reopening of the State Road 67 bridge over Little Indian Creek north of Gosport.
Sidney Nierman, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Southeast Public Relations Director, said contractor Force Construction anticipated reopening the span late this week. “Crews will complete additional punch list work under flagging operations,” she
added.
The road closure, which began Oct. 1, resulted in motorists attempting alternate routes on rural Owen County roadways such as Lingle Road, Drunkards Pike and others. Local officials responded by placing temporary barriers to deter oversized vehicles and semis from utilizing and potentially damaging the roads and county bridges.
This project was part of a $2.6 million contract awarded to Force Construction, based in Columbus, Indiana, in September 2023.
‘There is no hurry ’
Residents speak out against UDO, Plan Commission to review draft
By Nicole DeCriscio Correspondent
With entry lines nearly reaching the back door of Owen Valley High School, approximately 400 concerned citizens packed the OVHS Auditorium and provided two hours worth of comment concerning the draft Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) set before the Owen County Plan Commission.
A UDO is a local policy instrument that combines zoning, subdivision and other regulations into a single document.
More than 25 individuals signed up to provide public comment, at the Oct. 22 meeting, with each comment being against the UDO in general or the current draft of the document.
The meeting followed an Oct. 3 open house held at the Owen County Courthouse.
“This UDO document that we have before us is a draft. I don’t know if that was ever made clear to everyone, but
UDO | PAGE 6
Owen County residents filled the Owen Valley High School auditorium for a Plan Commission meeting concerning the draft Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). NICOLE DECRISCIO | THE OWEN NEWS
Election Day coverage from ON
Staff Report
Early voting for the 2024 General Election began Oct. 8 and ends at noon on Nov. 4 at the Owen County Courthouse
Early voting will also be held on Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both the Owen County Courthouse and the Faith Baptist Church, 11612 State Road 243. The 2024 General Election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at each of the eight local vote center locations. Vote centers will be located at: - Faith Baptist Church (11612 State Road 243, Cloverdale) - Millgrove United Methodist Church (11151 Millgrove Rd., Quincy)
ELECTION | PAGE 5
ON to offer mailed papers, seeks donations Staff Report
2:1 matching funds offered through end of year
The Owen News is excited to announce its participation in NewsMatch 2024 and the availability of mailed copies of The Owen News starting in January.
NewsMatch is collective, matching campaign through November and December for member publications of The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), of which The Owen News is part of. NewsMatch provides a 1:1 match for any donations or memberships made to the Owen News. It also provides certain goal-based bonuses.
NewsMatch will match monthly pledges at the amount for the full year. For example, a recurring donation set up at $10 per month would be matched at $120 for the entire year. Additionally, The Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is providing a local match of up to $20,000, creating a 2:1 match. This means that every dollar donated to support local, independent journalism will be tripled, helping us to fulfill our mission to be Owen County’s leading source of reliable and unbiased local news in order to foster an informed and engaged community.
The Owen News specifically has the goal of raising enough funds to hire an inaugural Executive Editor and other staff.
“Moving beyond our volunteer-only model will allow The Owen News the opportunity to expand coverage and increase our print frequency. There is so much more that we want to do and cover that is restricted by our reliance solely on volunteers” Board President Nicole DeCriscio
Force Construction continued rehabilitation work earlier this week on the State Road 67 bridge over Little Indian Creek north of Gosport. The bridge was expected to reopen later in the week.
TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS
OWEN COUNTY’S UDO
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Gosport’s Pumpkins in the Park
6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.
Nov. 5
Owen County Courthouse closed due to 2024 General Election Day.
Nov. 6
Owen County Board of Commissioners, 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Room on the second floor of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
Nov. 11
Owen County Courthouse is closed due to the Veterans Day holiday.
Owen Valley Fire Territory Board, 6 p.m. at the Owen Valley Fire Department, 401 Walnut St., Spencer.
Cloverdale Community School Board, 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.
Nov. 12
Gosport Town Council, 7 p.m. in the Gosport Community Building, 301 N. Ninth St., Gosport.
Nov. 14
Spencer-Owen School Board, 7 p.m. at Spencer Elementary School, 151 E. Hillside Ave., Spencer.
Nov. 18
Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.
Obituaries
Coming soon!
Our community, through the Needs Assessment completed as part of the Large Impact Planning Grant, resoundingly said that obituaries are a priority.
At The Owen News, we strive to get obituaries into the print product. However, the nature of a monthly paper means that printed obituaries can never be the main way to share this information with our community.
Our goal is to have our website be the go-to place for obituaries and to have this space, in our printed paper be a space of rememberance of those who have passed.
Commission, 6:30 p.m. location TBD.
Nov. 20
Owen County Board of Commissioners, 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Room on the second floor of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
Spencer Redevelopment Commission, 6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.
Nov. 21
Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m. at the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
6 p.m. in the Commissioners Room on the second floor of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
Nov. 26
Gosport Town Council, 7 p.m. in the Gosport Community Building, 301 N. Ninth St., Gosport.
Nov. 28-29
Owen County Courthouse closed due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Dec. 2
Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.
South Elementary School students Carson (left) and Cooper Smith, sons of Chelsey Smith of Martinsville, were caught by the came concentrated on painting their Halloween masterpieces during the recent Pumpkins in the Park event held at Gosport Town Park. J in the fun was seven-year-old Victoria Bradley (right), a student at Gosport Elementary School and daughter of Mitchell Bradley Brown. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS
Community Events Calendar
Nov. 2
Flatwoods Park Star Party, 8:30 to 10 p.m., 9499 W. Flatwoods Rd., Gosport. Constellation and star talks with the IU Astronomy Department and Monroe County Parks and Recreation. Guided telescope observations. Hot beverages provided. Free, familyfriendly event.
Nov. 3
Vandalia Community Preservation Association chili supper and songfest, 2 to 4:30 p.m., 5471 Vandalia Rd., Spencer. Serving begins at 2 p.m. Cost is $12 for adults and $5 for children age 10 and younger.
Lloyd Wood & Band will perform at 2:30 p.m. in the chapel. All proceeds will support the preservation and maintenance of the historic Vandalia Chapel and schoolhouse. Visit the VCPA Facebook page and website, vandaliacpa.org, for more information.
Bonfire Bash at the Gosport Christian Church, 5 p.m., 117 W. Main St., Gosport. The event will feature hayrides, hotdogs, smores and an evening worship service. All are welcome.
Spencer Lions Club meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Club, 59 N. Main St., Spencer.
The Owen County Community Foundation will be reporting the results from the five “Solution Sessions” hosted throughout Owen County last winter. Come hear the results, 6:30 p.m., at the Cataract Volunteer Fire Department, 9582 Hi Ridge Trail. This will be part of the Cataract Lake Area Crime Watch meeting.
Nov. 4
Spencer Main Street board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Spencer Pride, 17 E. Franklin St., Spencer. Open to the public.
Nov. 7
‘80s Trivia Night, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Exchange, 114 S. Main St., Spencer. Cost is $30 per team. Prizes, food, and drinks. Limited seating.
Call 812-829-3245 to reserve your spot.
Coal City Crime Watch meeting, 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Baptist Church, 4019 Main St., Coal City.
Nov. 8
Spencer VFW Post 1405 to host Salute to Service, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 78 E. Franklin St., Spencer. Enjoy an evening filled with food, door prizes and the camaraderie of a euchre tournament.
Nov. 9
The Friends of the Library monthly book sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Community Room at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer. Live music with Steve & Dan at Owen Valley Winery, Vineyard & Bistro, 4 to 6 p.m., 491 Timber Ridge Rd., Spencer. Free.
Nov. 10
Veterans Day Worship Service, 11 a.m. at the Alaska Christian Church, 7230 Lewisville Rd., Quincy. Pre-worship fellowship begins at 10 a.m. All veterans are encouraged to attend.
Nov. 11
Jolly Homemakers meeting, 1 p.m. at the Freedom Community Center, 5558 Freedom-Arney Rd., in Freedom. For more information, call 812-8295020.
Nov. 12
Braysville Homemakers meeting, 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Elevator access is available. For more information, call 812-8295020.
Nov. 13
Harrison Homemakers meeting, noon at the Owen County-Purdue Extension office, 180 S. Washington St., Spencer. For more information, call 812-8295020.
Free showing of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored
by David Friedel and Ann Mahrdt.
Nov. 16
Annual Tri Kappa Christmas Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Owen Valley Middle School cafetorium, 626 State Road 46W, Spencer. Get started on your Christmas shopping by supporting local artists and small businesses. Those interested in becoming a vendor should email SpencerAlphaDelta@trikappa. org.
Live music with Steve & Pam at the Spencer VFW Post 1405, 7 p.m., 78 E. Franklin St., Spencer.
Live music with Tony Hopkins at Owen Valley Winery Vineyard & Bistro, 4 to 6 p.m., 491 Timber Ridge Rd., Spencer. Free.
Nov. 19
Spencer Lions Club meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Club, 59 N. Main St., Spencer.
Nov. 20
Free showing of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by Owen County State Bank. Spencer Pride Board of Directors meeting, 6:30 p.m., at Spencer Pride, 17 E. Franklin St., Spencer. Open to the public.
Nov. 21
Calico Homemakers meeting, 2 p.m. Meetings are held at a different restaurant each month. For more information, call 812-8295020.
Nov. 22
Live music with Tony Brown at Owen Valley Winery, Vineyard & Bistro, 5 to 7 p.m., 491 Timber Ridge Rd., Spencer. Free.
Nov. 23
Live music with Aaron Wills, 4 p.m. at Owen Valley Winery, Vineyard & Bistro, 491 Timber Ridge Rd., Spencer. Free.
Nov. 25
Spencer Main Street board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at
the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer.
Nov. 26
Monthly Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District board meeting, 4:30 p.m. at the SWCD office, 788 Pottersville Rd., Spencer. Open to the public.
Nov. 27
Free showing of “The Grinch,” 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by JPBL coach Robin Reynolds.
Nov. 30
Small Business Saturday Raffle hosted by the Owen County Chamber of Commerce. Shop local businesses on this day and turn in your receipts to the OCCC on Dec. 2 and 3. Participants will receive one raffle ticket for each local business where a purchase was made. The drawing will take place on the Wednesday following Small Business Saturday.
Live music with Dave Bruker Jazz, 4 p.m. at Owen Valley Winery, Vineyard & Bistro, 491 Timber Ridge Rd., Spencer. Free.
Dec. 3
Spencer Lions Club meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Club, 59 N. Main St., Spencer.
Coal City Crime Watch meeting, 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Baptist Church, 4019 Main St., Coal City.
Dec. 4
Free showing of “Elf,” 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by the Owen County Chamber of Commerce.
Dec. 7
Christmas at the Square, noon to 5 p.m. on the Owen County Courthouse Square, Spencer. All vendor types are welcome. This is an outdoor event. Hosted by Spencer Main Street. For more information, email spencermainstreet@gmail. com.
OVMS hosts Read-n-Feed event
By Kris Samick Director of Communications, Spencer-Owen Community Schools
The excitement was palpable at Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS) prior to Fall Break as students and staff came together for a Read-n-Feed event featuring renowned author Michael Spradlin.
Known for his best-selling novels and Edgar Award nominations, Spradlin captivated the hearts and minds of both middle schoolers and elementary students alike during this immersive celebration of literature.
From the moment students entered the school, they were greeted with an extraordinary transformation that transported them straight into the world of Spradlin’s gripping novel, Prisoner of War
Inspired by the book, dedicated OVMS staff members, including teacher Brittany VanHook and retired Media Specialists Darla Staley and Myrna Fields, worked tirelessly to create an engaging
Students could wander through a carefully recreated scene from the novel, allowing them to step directly into the pages of the story.
Spradlin, who grew up in a small Michigan town, brought with him not only a wealth of storytelling experience but also an infectious enthusiasm for writing. Spradlin shared invaluable tips on becoming a successful author, encouraging students to tap into their imaginations and dream big. His anecdotes, infused with humor, made writing feel accessible and fun, sparking conversations among students about their own writing aspirations.
The Read-n-Feed event was not just about reading; it was a full-fledged festival of creativity and collaboration.
Students participated in engaging discussions led by teachers and community members, diving deep into the themes of Prisoner of War and exploring its rich narrative.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as students shared
their thoughts and reflections, showcasing the power of literature to connect minds and hearts.
excitement was a custom board game designed around key points from the book.
in teams to strategize and compete, reinforcing their understanding of the novel while having a blast. The laughter and camaraderie were infectious, as students cheered for each other and celebrated their newfound knowledge.
A highlight of the day were the delicious snacks inspired by Prisoner of War carefully crafted by the OVMS team. Students munched
which served as exciting door prizes. These contributions added to the festive atmosphere, ensuring that every student felt part of something truly special.
The commitment of OVMS staff was evident, particularly with Staley flying in all the way from Ft. Myers, Florida to make this event unforgettable. Her dedication, alongside the efforts
community, creativity, and the boundless potential of young minds.
With memories of laughter, learning, and inspiration, students left the event eagerly anticipating their next reading adventure, forever grateful for the magic that Michael Spradlin and the OVMS team brought to their school.
FROM TOP:
students to tap into their imaginations and dream big. // S-OCS School Board Vice President Mark Rogers led one of the table groups to discuss “Prisoner of War” by Michael Spradlin.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY KRIS SAMICK.
County files unsafe building complaint
By Nicole DeCriscio Correspondent
The Owen County Building, Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals department filed a complaint to enforce orders pursuant to the Owen County unsafe building and premises law against James E. Kirby in early October.
The civil case was filed on Oct. 9 by County Attorney Dana Kerr.
“The department has received numerous complaints regarding the condition of the property owned by the defendant,” the legal complaint says.
The property in question is on Beaver Hollow Rd.
The complaint says
that Kirby was given notice of the violation and order by posting it on the home on the property and through certified mail. The notice and order as it is referred to is dated Aug. 7.
“Defendant was ordered to exterminate all vermin in and about the unsafe premises; remove all trash, debris, fire
hazardous material, or and public health hazards in and about the unsafe premeises; And, repair or rehabilitate the unsafe building(s) to bring it into compliance with standards for building condition or maintenance required for human habitation, occupancy or use,” the complaint reads. “Defendant
was also notified of existing building code violations and to remove a dilapidated camper.”
The complaint requests an injunction for compliance to the notice and order.
As of Oct. 28, no court date has been set in the matter.
67/231 detour south of Spencer, near Worthington
Staff Report
A detour is currently in place for motorists traveling State Road 67/U.S. 231
between 100 W (near Worthington) and Strouse Road, approximately seven miles south of Spencer. Road maintenance work is in progress and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has indicated this stretch of highway is open for local access only.
ELECTION | FROM PAGE 1
- Lighthouse Fellowship Church (5392 S.R. 67, Gosport) - Clay Township Fire Department (5663 S.R. 43, Spencer) - Freedom Community Center (5552 Freedom-Arney Rd., Freedom)
- Jefferson Baptist Church (4019 Main St., Coal City) - Garrard Chapel Church (7410 W. S.R. 46, Bowling Green) - Spencer Nazarene
DONATIONS | FROM PAGE 1
said. “Volunteers are, and still will be essential to the longterm sustainability of The Owen News, but we need key staff positions to build capacity.”
In conjunction with the NewsMatch campaign, The Owen News is also launching membership tiers, which includes the ability for The Owen News to be mailed directly to members.
As part of Newsmatch, the donation portion of the individual sponsorship or membership tier will both count toward the fundraising goal and will be considered tax deductible.
The membership tiers and benefits are as follows:
Friends of the Owen News ($5 per month/ $60 per year): Benefits include: mailed print edition of The Owen News, access to members-only
A detour is in operation from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays until Nov. 15 at about 11:59 p.m.
S.R. 67/U.S. 231 is closed between mile marker 106114 to allow for pipe replacements at seven different locations. Local access is available up to the points of closure. The road will reopen each evening then close the next morning.
Church (126 E. Market St., Spencer)
Registered voters can choose to cast their ballot at any one of the eight vote centers, regardless of the precinct in which they reside. All vote center locations are
merchandise that will have an exclusive annual design, a monthly e-newsletter with behind-the-scenes insights, and recognition on The Owen News website.
Headline Supporter ($15 per month/ $180 per year):
Benefits include: all Friends of the Owen News benefits and an Owen News tote bag.
Columnist Champion ($25 per month/ $300 per year):
Benefits include: all Headline Supporter benefits, an Owen News mug, your name listed in the printed edition of The Owen News, and a special invite to an exclusive quarterly virtual Q&A session with the editorial team.
Editor’s Circle ($50 per month/ $600 per year):
Benefits include: all Columnist Champion benefits, an Owen News travel mug, and special recognition in the annual
handicap accessible and help will be available for anyone who needs assistance due to vision loss or who may require non-English speaking materials. For more information, call the Owen County Election Office at 812-829-5028. The Owen News will post local election results on its Facebook page and a full story will be included online and in the December edition.
member guide and report.
Publisher’s Partner ($100+ per month/ $1,200+ per year):
Benefits include: all Editor’s Circle benefits, an Owen News t-shirt, and a ¼ page ad for individual use (subject to The Owen News’ ad policy).
“One of the most asked for amenities concerning The Owen News is the ability to have the paper mailed directly to them. We hear those requests, and introducing the sponsorship tiers is the answer to that. We believe quality local news should be accessible to our entire community. As such, these sponsorship tiers and the addition of mailed copies of The Owen News does not replace our current at-will donation, pick-up model. Our newspapers will still be available for pick-up at local businesses,” DeCriscio said.
Those interested in making a donation or becoming a
member can do so through OCCF or by contacting The Owen News at info@ theowennews.org.
Individuals interested in volunteering with The Owen News should email volunteers@ theowennews.org. Volunteers are needed in several areas including as trained correspondents, fundraising and staffing festival booths to name a few.
“The non-profit news model allows us, first and foremost, to be a community partner in our community. But most importantly, by being a nonprofit, The Owen News will forever be owned by our community,” DeCriscio said. “At the end of the day, the success of The Owen News thus far is a testament to the strength of our community, and we’re relying on community support to capitalize on this important fund-matching opportunity.”
AT THE TIVOLI THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Kick off the holidays Nov 8-10 with a live performance of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." A fun-filled production by the Owen County Civic Theatre creating plenty of laughs and touching moments.
Capture the moment with a 15-minute photography session at the Mini Session Fundraiser on November 2 and 3, you can book a session for $35 through the following link: www.spencertivoli.org/mini-sessionbookings.
You can enjoy a holiday classic with free admission on a Wednesday with an additional showings scheduled at 10 am. To check out the full lineup, visit www.spencertivoli.org.
Dress up and come see the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra in a holiday performance on Dec 3 at 7:00pm. Admission $15 adults / $5 students.
Catch one (or more) of these new release movies, Red One, Moana 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King, on the big screen in November and December. Admission just $5 adults / $3 youth 12 and under.
Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
a draft is a document that’s in progress, and we will edit it as needed,” Plan Commission President Norm Warner said. “We already have planning and zoning. It was implemented in 2002. I don’t know how many folks knew that this UDO is an update to those documents. There are parts of the UDO that bring us into compliance with state statute. The rest can be changed to fit our needs.”
Warner continued providing background information at the start of the meeting.
“The only way the zoning on your property can be changed is if you come to the planning commission and you ask for it to be changed. These documents don’t do any of that,” he said.
He noted that the plan commission is an advisory board. As such, the commission can choose to make a favorable, unfavorable or no recomendation before the matter goes to the county commissioners.
“No one on the steering committee or the planning commission sitting up here wrote a single word of this documentl. This was done by a consultant with input from the steering committee. The problem with that is due to the times of the meetings, which was right in the center of the day, I work a job, and most of the people up here do as well. I made three out of 10 meetings,” Warner said. “No decision on this thing will be made tonight or any time in the near future by this commission, until we have time to go through it [and] document [changes] chapter by chapter.”
He added, “What we do not want to do is get in a hurry here at the end and get stuff that we do not want.”
He proposed creating a subcommittee or steering committee set by the Plan Commission to act as a working group to review and edit the draft UDO.
“And if it takes a year, it takes a year. If it takes 16 or 18 months, it takes 16 or 18 months. There is no hurry. So if you think we’re going to shove it through, that’s not the case. Won’t let it happen, not as long as I’m sitting here anyway,” Warner said.
Plan Commission member Bill Purcell shared the attendance of the various steering committee members for the UDO and pointed out again that the meetings were held during
the middle of the day.
“Please be kind to those people because they were doing their best,” Purcell said.
It was determined that Purcell would chair the subcommittee.
Warner began the public comment period by reading a statement from former sheriff and commissioner-elect Sam Hobbs.
“To the people of Owen County, as your commissionerelect for 2025, I encourage everyone to just take a deep breath and relax,” Warner read on Hobbs’ behalf. “I believe we need to regroup and sit down with the people of Owen County to establish what is in the best interest of the people of Owen County. The draft needs to be dissected, and we, the people need to address each and every chapter slowly and take as much time as needed to estqablish what’s best for the citizens of Owen County… I will not, as your commissioner-elect, move forward with this current draft until it is meticulously and thoroughly examined and resolved.”
Members of the public had up to three minutes to speak.
Several of the initial comments centered around not wanting a UDO at all, and many of the comments criticized the Plan Commission.
“The planning and zoning board here, they are not your punching bag for today. They were handed this by another entity. It is not them that this stuff is for. It’s not them that will approve it. They are here to make adjustments for it and send it to the commissioners for approval or denial. It’s your commissioners that you need to be in an uproar with,” County Council candidate Joe Frye said. “If we send something back, and we say we don’t want it, then what you’re going to get is what’s already there. So we’ve got to comb through it. We’ve got to fix it.”
One member of the public requesrted that footnotes are included to indicate what the changes are, what the previous zoning law dictated and whetheror not it is based on state statute.
Commissioner candidate William Jennings also spoke. He said that the UDO would never pass with him on the board.
“I call this meeting adjourned. I think we ought to adjourn because 90 percent of the people here do not want it,” he
said, recommending that the Plan Commission vote to not recommend the UDO that night.
County Council President Polly Chesser who is seeking reelection this year spoke up from the audience.
“You do not want this going to the commissioners right now. I promise you, because they don’t have to take [the Plan Commission’s] recommendation. If they sent this to the commissioners right now, the current commissioners that are sitting on there, I guarantee would pass this, disregarding whatever they said,” Chesser said. “What they’re doing, slowing it down until after the first of the year is exactly what needs to be done.”
Resident Will Daubenspeck spoke about the UDO, citing the potential for growth both along the I-70 corridor and State Road 46. He said he experienced the creation of a UDO in Hamilton County years ago and that it was part of why he moved to Owen County in the first place.
“This us your chance to make a stand properly to protect yourself,” he said. “If you don’t put the right things in this UDO, you’re gong to be wishing you would’ve… Everyone’s wanting to fight against it. These people up here will help you put in what needs to be put into it to protect yourself and your property. So this meeting should be more about things that you don’t want in it versus we don’t want a UDO. I’m telling you, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’ve lived it. That’s the reason I moved to Owen County…I don’t think those people standing up there really want to be talking about this right now, but I’m going to tell you, if you don’t put regulation in to control growth, you will be sorry. I’ve seen it.”
Resident Chris Carey also spoke on the matter.
“What we really need to keep in mind, I know you guys don’t have any power to really do anything, except for the commissioner [Bob Curry who sits on the plan commission], and the other commissioners and whoever else is involved with bringing this in and sticking it in our laps, if they’re not going to show up and allow us to voice our opinions, we need to take it to them,” he said. “Find their
addresses, their phone numbers, their emails and just light it up and tell them what we think, and don’t let up. I mean, we need these people to understand this is our county, they work for us, they’re our employees, and we can’t just go making these decisions willy nilly.”
Commissioner candidate Dave Risk also spoke on the matter. He commented on the Enabling Act and what is and is not legally required of the county.
“There’s a structure already in place in Indiana code for ordinances,” he said. “I have verified we are not required to have a UDO in Owen County.”
He added, “The purpose of a UDO is to combine the various series of local ordinances into one document.”
Chesser then took her three minutes to speak.
“These people have nothing to do with getting this done under the radar. It was not them. They’re doing exactly what they need to be doing. They’re slowing this down until we get our new commissioners in because like I was trying to say, if they pass this right now… and said no we don’t want this, the commissioners can still say, ‘We don’t care what you say. We want it anyway.’ So the fact that they are slowing this down and getting your input and listening to all of you, that’s what needs to be done. That’s what should have been done in the first place,” Chesser said.
She added that the steering committee was filled with good people but that the daytime meetings meant they were not always there and understandably so.
“Those people on the committee are going to listen to their neighbors, they’re going to take out the crap, and they’re going to protect you. So the fact that they’re doing it this way is awesome, and that’s the way it should have been done,” Chesser said before encouraging people to stay engaged both with this issue and other county government matters.
The Plan Commission will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19. Warner said that the OVHS auditorium would not be available but that he would look into reserving space at Owen Valley Middle School.
A young Owen County resident holds up a sign saying ‘Say No to the UDO’ during the Oct. 22 Plan Commission meeting in the Owen Valley High School auditorium. A subcommittee was formed to go through the draft UDO chapter by chapter.
NICOLE DECRISCIO | THE OWEN NEWS
Fall is a time for new projects at OCPL
By Ginger Kohr OCPL Director
The Friends of the Owen County Public Library will be holding their monthly Book Sale on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This month’s sale will be featuring holiday items.
The library now has a dedicated, supervised teen space (formerly the “tech room”), which has been welcoming students after school, during fall break and is also sometimes useful to home schooled students during the school day as well. There are planned activities every afternoon except Thursday from around 4 to 6 p.m. Some are using it as a place to get homework done, others just to “hang out,” or for the fun, the friendship and the competition of games being played. Plans are being made to continue to add to the possibilities for entertainment, literacy and learning.
Another project that we plan to roll out sometime in the month of November is a “Library of Things.” Many libraries do this, and it is something we have discussed for some time. We are finally making it happen.
The idea of a Library of Things is that there
are a lot of items that would be useful to own, but because the cost may be prohibitive, or because of lack of space to store them at home, or because you may only use them a few times, you just wouldn’t make that purchase. But if we have it at the library, you can check it out with your library card (just as you would a book or DVD) and return it when you’re finished.
Some of the items that will be available are a foldable stroller/ wagon for two children (great for visiting parks, zoos, festivals, etc.), a metal detector, a post hole digger, a large push broom, a wireless p.a. system, a large Bluetooth speaker, a light therapy lamp, a rubber stamp set, a corn hole game, a Tonie Box music and story toy (look it up, they are so fun for any child who loves to listen to stories and music, and/ or who love children’s animated movies. It’s so easy for them to operate themselves, and they’ll love the little characters that come with it), a pickle ball set, a giant Jenga set and some cloth scenery and a frame to be used as photography backdrops.
The Owen County Community Foundation,
in support of the Library of Things, gave us a gift that will allow us to add items, replace missing or damaged parts and just generally keep the program going.
Our English Language class has expanded to be able to accommodate students at various stages of learning: The Beginning classes meet on Tuesday and Friday at 3:30 p.m. The Advanced class meets Monday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The intermediate groups meet on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Anyone who is learning English as a second language or who feels that they could use some extra help to improve is welcome to attend. Classes are held in the Community Room of the library.
One longtime library project is finally being called “completed.” On Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m., a celebration will be held to dedicate the library pavilion. While you may not see this announcement until it is too late to attend, we wanted to let the public know that the dedication has taken place, and the pavilion has been named the Tom and Kaye Erney Pavilion in honor of the couple who really made its existence possible
when we had nearly given up the idea.
As early as late summer of 2019, the idea of building a pavilion had been suggested and considered. We applied for a grant in May of 2020. But of course, we all know that everything was stalled in 2020. During the pandemic, we were convinced more than ever that having an outdoor space could be a very useful thing, and so we waited through several levels of the grant process, which ran into 2021. By the summer of 2021 we were informed that we were not going to be awarded the grant. There were many applicants, and they could not award all of us. At that point we felt that the pavilion was just not meant to be.
As a requirement of the grant application, we had asked for pledges of donations to match the amount required by the grant. Mr. Erney, in his work role, was one of several on the list who was approached for a pledge.
When he heard that we had not received the grant, he and his wife Kaye discussed the possibility of personally making donations to the project as a way
of leaving a legacy to benefit the community. They pledged 75 percent of the amount needed to build the building if we could raise the remainder. The Owen County Community Foundation made up the difference. Others in the community made donations that were used for specific improvements after the building was in place. This was a long-time idea that finally came to fruition after many difficulties including a pandemic, drainage problems, hailstorms and difficulty finding construction workers (it seemed they were all busy replacing roofs and repairing hail damage all over town!). At one point we asked Scott Winders to be our project manager to see to it that all the finishing work was done. When he could not hire people, he did much of the work himself with the help of Josh Hogan. We wanted to honor everyone who participated in so many different ways to make the pavilion possible, as well as celebrating some of the ways the pavilion is being used. Some of our music students from the Sounds program at the library will be providing entertainment for us at the celebration.
Purdue Extension - Thinking about farm leases
By Jim Luzar
year in duration, this scenario repeats itself every year as fall transitions to winter. This article provides some basic information on structuring a farm lease, be it for crop ground, pasture or farm building and bin rentals. As with every legal instrument used in the farm business, please seek legal advice to review your lease situation.
The first point to review
is the term of the lease in consideration. Verbal leases are legal in Indiana, and there are many instances where the landlord and tenant make a verbal agreement. Sometimes a written lease will even lapse, and the parties agree verbally to continue with the terms, and this is a binding agreement.
When does a verbal lease terminate? Historically, the lease year for a verbal lease is Dec. 1. This means that if you don’t provide your tenant with a written termination notice before Dec. 1, the tenant could claim to maintain control of the leased property for the coming crop year. Verbal lease disputes can wind up in a court. If you want to terminate your tenant, it is highly suggested to send a written termination notice by certified mail to be delivered in November. Again, consultation with legal counsel may be necessary.
What about written farm leases with a stated term? This is why I keep encouraging tenants
and landlords to get the lease in writing with a fixed term noted in the instrument. You don’t rent a boat at a marina without a written lease that states for how long you have control of the asset. The same case is made for term farm leases, so if the tenant applies fertilizer in the fall, plants wheat or cover crop, or applies lime, if the lease is for only one year, they are doing so at their own risk of not getting a renewed lease. Communication is key here for both parties: now is the time to express interest in terminating the lease or making lease amendments.
What is the ideal lease term? In Indiana, a lease longer than three years must be recorded at the courthouse. Each situation may be different. For example, a tenant renting a pasture in need of improvement may request a longer lease to recoup expenses like lime and fence upkeep. Some may like doing a two-year lease so as to not have to review the lease each year. I like a yearly review because each party can
review how the lease functioned and make suggestions for changes.
Items besides the term of the lease include cropping program and land use (specific exclusion of hunting access has been noted recently), landlord rights, tenant’s rights and general terms. General terms relate to compensation amount and timing.
I have seen leases that were only a few paragraphs and leases that were over 25 typed pages. The main point is to have a lease instrument that gives communication to both parties as to how the lease transaction will operate. Farm leases with buildings and improvements should have provisions for repair and maintenance of structures.
Having the lease in writing should provide peace of mind for all involved, in case something unforeseen happens to either party. Purdue Extension has several resources available to assist in the effort to get the
Christmas festivities coming to Spencer, Gosport next month
Staff Report
Christmas at the Square returns to downtown Spencer on Saturday, Dec. 7 from noon to 5 p.m.
The annual event, sponsored by Spencer Main Street, will again
feature a holiday market, merry meter contest, food vendors and more. Children can visit with Santa from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Vendor space is limited. Cost is $10
per booth. For more information, visit spencermainstreet. org or email spencermainstreet@ gmail.com.
The holiday cheer continues on Saturday, Dec. 14 when the Gosport Business Association plays host
to its annual Holiday Festival at Gosport Town Park. This year’s theme is “Olde Towne Christmas.”
Featuring the annual arrival of Santa Claus, vendors, a cookie walk, snowball drop, free children’s events,
Fiesta! in Owen County
Staff Report
best decorated house contest, costume and decorating contests and more. This year’s event takes place from 1to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit the Gosport Holiday Festival on Facebook.
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) recently decreased the speed limit on State Road 67/U.S. 231 from Abrell Road to just north of Strouse Road in Freedom.
The speed limit decreased from 55 mph to 45 mph from Abrell Road to just south of Freedom Road and from 45 mph to 35 mph from just south of Freedom Road to just north of Strouse Road.
INDOT says the decreased speed limit is intended to help enhance safety and mobility in the area.
East Market Street in Spencer played host to an unforgettable celebration of culture, music, and community during the first-ever Fiesta! Owen County event held Oct. 18. Attendees enjoyed salsa dancing, perused craft and cultural booth and indulged in authentic Hispanic food.Mariachi Internacional de Bloomington (pictured below) provided the evening’s soundtrack, bringing the vibrant sounds of Mexican-American, Mexican and Latin American music to life. Event sponsors included the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, Boston Scientific, Connor Group, LLC Rentals and the Sweet Owen Convention and Visitors Bureau. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS
Owen Valley High School Sports Calendar
Nov. 5
6 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ basketball vs Eastern Greene at Owen Valley.
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Eastern Greene at Owen Valley
Nov. 9
6 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ basketball vs South Vermillion at South Vermillion.
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs South Vermillion at Owen Valley.
Nov. 12
6 p.m. –Junior varsity girls’ basketball vs. Greencastle at Greencastle.
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Greencastle at Greencastle.
Nov. 16
6 p.m. –Junior varsity girls’ basketball vs Sullivan at Sullivan.
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Sullivan at Sullivan.
Nov. 19
6 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ basketball vs West Vigo at Owen Valley.
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs West Vigo at Owen Valley.
Nov. 21
6 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Eminence at Owen Valley.
Nov. 22
6 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ basketball vs North Central-Farmersburg at Owen Valley.
6 p.m. – Varsity boys’ basketball vs North CentralFarmersburg at North CentralFarmersburg.
Nov. 25
6 p.m. –Freshman boys’ basketball vs Linton-Stockton at Linton-Stockton.
Nov. 26
6 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ basketball vs Terre
Haute South at Terre Haute South.
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Terre Haute South at Terre Haute South.
Nov. 27
6 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ basketball vs Bloomfield at Bloomfield.
7:30 p.m. –Varsity boys’ basketball vs Bloomfield at Bloomfield.
Nov. 30
5 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ basketball vs Bloomfield at Bloomfield.
6 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Bloomfield at Bloomfield.
Cloverdale High School Sports Calendar
Nov. 5
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Riverton Parke at Riverton Parke.
Nov. 8
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs South Putnam at South Putnam.
Nov. 12
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Clay City at Clay City.
Nov. 15
7:30 p.m. Varsity girls’ basketball vs Shakamak at Shakamak.
Nov. 19
5:30 p.m. – Varsity coed wrestling Green/Black Intersquad Scrimmage at Cloverdale.
5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ wrestling Green/Black Intersquad Scrimmage at Cloverdale.
Nov. 21
7 p.m. – Varsity boys’ basketball vs White River Valley at Cloverdale.
Nov. 23
9 a.m. – Varsity boys’ wrestling vs Sheridan (Dave Kiley Duals) at Cloverdale.
9 a.m. – Varsity coed wrestling vs Sheridan (Dave Kiley Duals) at Cloverdale.
Nov. 26
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs White River Valley at Cloverdale.
Nov. 30
6 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ basketball vs Greencastle at Greencastle.
Dec. 3
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs North Putnam at Cloverdale.
Dec. 6
6 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ basketball vs Edgewood at Cloverdale.
6 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Edgewood at Cloverdale.
7:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ basketball vs Edgewood at Cloverdale.
Dec. 2
6 p.m. –Freshman boys’ basketball vs Northview at Owen Valley.
Dec. 3
6 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ basketball vs Cascade at Owen Valley.
7:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Cascade at Owen Valley.
Dec. 4 6 p.m. –Freshman boys’ basketball vs Sullivan at Sullivan.
Dec. 5 6 p.m. –Freshman boys’ basketball vs
Indian Creek at Owen Valley.
Dec. 6 6 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ basketball vs Indian Creek at Owen Valley.
6 p.m. – Varsity girls’ basketball vs Indian Creek at Owen Valley.
6 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ basketball vs Indian Creek at Owen Valley.
7:30 p.m. –Varsity boys’ basketball vs Indian Creek at Owen Valley.
7:30 p.m. –Junior varsity girls’ basketball vs Indian Creek at Owen Valley.
OVMS Sports Calendar
Nov. 5 6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade boys’ basketball scrimmage night at Owen Valley.
Nov. 7
6 p.m. – Seventh grade boys’ basketball vs Greencastle at Greencastle.
6 p.m. – Eighth grade boys’ basketball vs Greencastle at Owen Valley.
Nov. 14
6 p.m. – Seventh boys’ basketball vs North Clay at Owen Valley.
6 p.m. – Eighth grade boys’ basketball vs North Clay at North Clay.
Nov. 18
6 p.m. – Seventh grade boys’ basketball vs Bloomfield at Owen Valley.
7 p.m. – Eighth grade boys’ basketball vs. Bloomfield at Owen Valley.
Nov. 20
6 p.m. – Seventh grade boys’ basketball vs Eastern Greene at Owen Valley.
7 p.m. – Eighth grade boys’ basketball vs Eastern Greene at Owen Valley.
Nov. 21
6 p.m. – Seventh grade boys’ basketball vs Edgewood at Owen Valley.
6 p.m. – Eighth grade boys’ basketball vs Edgewood at Edgewood.
Nov. 25
6 p.m. – Seventh grade boys’ basketball vs Monrovia at Owen Valley.
7 p.m. – Eighth grade boys’ basketball vs Monrovia at Owen Valley.
Dec. 2
6 p.m. – Girls’ basketball scrimmage night at Owen Valley.
Dec. 3
6 p.m. – Seventh grade boys’ basketball vs Cloverdale at Owen Valley.
7 p.m. – Eighth grade boys’ basketball vs Cloverdale at Owen Valley.
Dec. 4
6 p.m. – Seventh grade boys’ basketball vs South Putnam at South Putnam.
7 p.m. – Eighth grade boys’ basketball vs South Putnam at South Putnam.
Trailing or Leading: Creation of a 5k
By Kyle Hannon Project Manager, MYPath Trail System
People were smiling. They were smiling after running or walking for 3.2 miles. I consider that a declaration that the inaugural MYPath 5k was a success. A few months ago, I shared with you that we were planning a 5k race on the new MYPath trail to highlight the trail… that wasn’t finished yet. Also, the race was planned as a fun community event that promoted healthy activity. Here is a little behind the scenes look at planning a 5k race. First of all, a 5k race seems more achievable by more people. A 10k is a longer event, obviously. It
requires more prep by the participants and the organizers. Walkers are discouraged because they take too long. A halfmarathon requires even more preparation and serious training by the participants. A marathon? Let’s not even talk about that.
But a 5k is very doable. There are online guides on how you can train from “couch to 5k.” People don’t have to be in their best shape to participate. There are always people participating in their first 5k, just to see what it’s all about. Walking is fine. There was even a dog at our event. And, like I said, everybody was smiling, even the dog. So, the participants had fun. What about the organizers? We had several meetings. I have participated in many 5ks, but I
have never planned one. Shawn Williams and Curt Winders are very experienced at planning race events, most notably Hoosiers Outrun Cancer that is held each year in Bloomington. At our meetings we talked about cost to register. We talked about t-shirt design. We talked about timing the race. We talked about prizes for the winners. We talked about sponsors. We talked about the route. In other words, we had fun too.
Route? You may remember a few columns ago, I shared how we were going on faith. We were planning a race before the MYPath trail was finished. Pavement wasn’t complete. There was NO bridge over Elliston Creek. We couldn’t measure the route, to make sure it was a 5k, until a few weeks before the race.
And then we had to make adjustments. There are online ways to estimate a route’s distance. But eventually, you have to get out a measuring wheel and walk the route. Our route ended up starting near the Owen County Fairgrounds’ big chicken. Participants went into the fairgrounds and circled out to the north entrance and ran on streets into Cooper Commons. Then they crossed the Veterans Memorial Bridge and followed the paved MYPath all the way to River Road. They ran and walked a short distance down River Road and cut back onto the trail and wound through the tree tubes until they got back to Pottersville Road. Then they returned to the start/finish line near the chicken. We had the route. But we needed to mark the
route. We placed a lot of signs to make sure people knew where to turn. We placed a lot of traffi c cones to keep people safe and to make sure they didn’t get lost. We placed volunteers at some of the turns, again to make sure people knew where to go. We spent a lot of time on the natural-surface tree-tube trail filling holes and painting stumps and other trip hazards with bright paint. Our great volunteers made this work. In addition to Shawn Williams and I, Mike Steinway helped place and collect cones. Lisa Williams and Shawn Hannon helped participants check in. Barb Thompson, Will Watt, Mark Rogers and Jim Hardy helped participants know where to turn. Terry Urban and Amy Arnold were at the water table, providing water for thirsty people on the course. Congratulations go to the fasted male competitor, Ricky Eakin with a time of 18.51. Anne Eakin was the fasted female and the number two overall finisher with a time of 23:05. But don’t look at those times and think this race is not for you. The last place time was about one hour. You can fit in this range of times, and have fun. If you think you need a year to get ready to participate in a 5k, get started. We will do this again about this time next year. Kyle Hannon is the project manager for the MYPath Trail System. He has served in many community development and trail connection roles throughout the state. On many weekends, he serves as an interpretive specialist at McCormick’s Creek State Park.
Outdoor Type: Quail Memories
Guns are being or have been cleaned, hunting apparel has been checked over, and deer scouting is underway.
Quail and rabbit season opened Nov. 1. Quail ends here in the south on Jan. 10, and rabbit ends Feb. 28. Deer firearm season is Nov. 16 to Dec. 1 and muzzleloader Dec. 7 to 22.
Archery ends Jan. 5. Lest we forget, squirrel harvests are still legal until Jan. 31.
I miss the good ol’ days of quail
hunting. I grew up with bird dogs and hunted bobwhites near my northern Perry County home. Dad had a good dog before my shotgun time, but sadly Lady got old and feeble. I won’t forget the scene when my dad walked her over the hill with his double barrel, not to go hunting with her. For days he was down in the dumps. “She was a good dog,” said my heartsick father. But it was not to be the last time he was to be saddened over a bird dog.
The pointer I grew up hunting with was Pretty Boy, a castoff who was nearly shot by his previous angry owner. PB was wild, ranging as far from us as he could. He was also impatient when he found birds. If you weren’t around, he just couldn’t resist getting too
where he was. The reason we often wouldn’t be around our dog is that the areas we hunted were hilly and brushy, often concealing a dog on point. Of course, this was way before electronic collars.
cheap. I believe him. I’m sure his former owner, a dentist who could probably afford a good dog, bid good riddance to PB. Just when we were ready to shoot him ourselves, he would make a beautiful point and hold it, pretty as a picture. But then if he could find it, his hard mouth would mangle any bird we managed to down.
When we were in college at Indiana State, a friend of mine invited me to bird hunt with him and his uncle, who had three Brittany spaniels, beautiful dogs who stayed close, worked the cover thoroughly and found birds. No need to
kindly located and retrieved downed birds without crunching them.
Ah, a taste of bird hunting heaven.
Naturally, I was interested in getting one of these dogs for myself, so the uncle let me know when he had a pup available. Aptly named Freckles, he was the cutest thing. It just seemed like a natural name with the orange spots covering his light-colored coat. I knew he would make a great dog, but I was still in college and couldn’t care for it.
Dad, without a dog at the time, said he would mind it until I was able to.
About a month later on a visit home, I inquired
CMS Sports Calendar
Nov. 18
5:30 p.m. –Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) vs Cascade at Cloverdale.
Nov. 19
6 p.m. –Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) vs West Vigo at West Vigo.
Nov. 21
6 p.m. - Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) vs White River Valley-Lyons at Cloverdale.
Nov. 25
6 p.m. - Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) vs Eminence at Eminence.
about Freckles and how he was doing. Dad hesitated, then in a low voice told me that the pup had been killed on the highway. Freckles followed Dad around a lot, and once when Dad crossed the highway in front of our house, he thought Freckles was right behind him. He turned, saw the dog on the other side of the road and was dumbstruck when Freckles dashed out right in front of a car. Heartsickness number two.
There are few quail around these days in most areas. Fence rows aren’t the wide and wooly terrains they used to be. Farmers naturally want to get the biggest bang for their ground, so most plant crops up to the edges, and who can blame them? A state program sounds promising though. The Indiana Private Lands Access Program’s main idea is to encourage landowners to allow limited hunting on their property. Something like 99 percent of Indiana land is privately owned, so that leaves only the fish and wildlife areas for many hunters. Information is available on the Indiana DNR website.
Dec. 2
6 p.m. –Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) vs Greencastle at Cloverdale.
Dec. 3
6 p.m. –Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) vs Owen Valley at Owen Valley.
Dec. 9
6 p.m. –Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) vs Clay City at Clay City.
Dec. 14
2 p.m. –Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) at Patriot Invitational at Owen Valley.
Dec. 16
6 p.m. –Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) vs Edgewood at Cloverdale.
Dec. 17
6 p.m. –Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) vs North Putnam at North Putnam.
Dec. 19
6 p.m. –Boys’ basketball (7th/8th) vs South Putnam at South Putnam.
A successful upland bird hunter holds a downed quail at the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife area near Evansville. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY LARRY LAGRANGE.
Driftwood Outdoors: Treestand safety a must
By Brandon Butler Guest Columnist
Treestands are elevated platforms used by hunters in pursuit of game, usually deer, but sometimes for other species. Unfortunately, hunters lose their lives or are seriously injured each year because of falls from treestands. Most of these accidents are avoidable if a few simple rules are followed.
Treestand safety is a topic I cover every year, because I know first-hand the devastation a family experiences when they lose a loved one to a tree stand fall. After waiting beyond a reasonable amount of time for his father to show up at their predetermined meeting place after an evening hunt, a friend of mine went to find out what was taking his dad so long. Sadly, he walked up on his
father deceased at the base of his tree. He was not wearing fall protection. The Treestand Manufacturers Association (TMA) supplies information to combat treestand falls. They help guide rules and regulations set by state game agencies. Here are some tips the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department put together to help hunters stay safe by avoiding unnecessary falls:
Choose a live, straight tree. Avoid trees in decline and be sure to use a tree large enough to support the weight of hunters. Avoid ash trees that may be in decline due to emerald ash borers. Buy smart. Only use stands certified by the Treestand Manufacturers Association (TMA). Inspect treestands each time you use them. Check your treestand for wear and tear each time you go out into the woods. If
you are using straps, make sure they are in good order. Do not use straps left up from last year.
Always wear a safety harness in the stand. Safety harnesses have become smaller and less intrusive. Wearing one is more comfortable than expected. There is no excuse to be in a treestand without a safety harness.
Always wear a safety harness when climbing. Most falls occur going up and down the tree and getting in and out of the stand. Make sure your safety harness is in good condition. Especially, check the straps.
Don’t go too high. The higher you go, the smaller the vital zone on a deer becomes, while the likelihood of a serious injury increases. Climb within your personal limit.
Never carry firearms or bows up and down trees.
Always use a haul line to raise and lower all gear. Make sure your firearm is unloaded.
Familiarize yourself with your gear before you go. The morning of opening day is a poor time to put your safety belt on for the first time. Be careful with long-term placement. Exposure can damage straps, ropes and attachment cords. Also, the stand’s stability can be compromised over time, as the tree grows.
“Hunter education instructors want you to be safe this coming season,” said Nicole Meier, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s Hunter Education Program Coordinator. “Falls from treestands are a major cause of death and serious injury to hunters, but they are preventable by always wearing a full-body harness and staying connected to the tree.”
Aside from personal
safety, you must know the rules about treestand use where you are hunting. On most public lands, it is illegal to damage a tree in any way. Meaning no nails, screw-in steps, or claws that rip off bark may be used. You are also not to build permanent stands on public lands. On private lands, you must have landowner permission to set up a treestand, cut or remove trees or other plants, or to cut limbs. All stands, including ground blinds, must be marked with the owner’s name and address on most public lands.
Learn more about treestand safety here: tmastands.com/ safety/.
See you down the trail… For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.
Ramblings: Feeding the birds
By Annie Bright Guest Columnist
The sassafras saplings beneath the tall pines glimmered in the sun as I went about my chores this week. The weatherman promised frost. Packing up the garden for winter is a chore I avoid. Not because it is difficult, but because it signals the end of morning coffee on the deck. The deck furniture must be stored away, no more balmy nights sitting under the stars. House plants that enjoyed the summer’s sun return to their winter homes in the house. When everything
was back in their winter homes, I hung a suet cake on a small branch and rested on the steps to soak up the sun. Soon a tufted titmouse came for a snack. His appearance told me it was time to get the feeders out and buy some seed.
Using various kinds of feeders reduces waste and attracts a variety of birds. Woodpeckers, jays, nuthatches, chickadees and finches feed in trees and prefer their food served at higher feeders. Cardinals, towhees, sparrows and juncos usually feed near the ground. Last winter a pair of doves were frequently busy on the ground under my big feeder. Their soft cooing added a mournful sound to the winter wind. Place feeders where they are visible from a window so that you can enjoy the action. To avoid birds crashing
into your windows, don’t put your feeders too near windows. That may result in collisions.
If you have one bird feeder, a tube feeder for sunflower seed is the best choice. Hang the feeder at least five feet off the ground. These feeders are especially attractive to small birds such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and finches. Suet will attract titmice, chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers. Wrens and warblers occasionally pick at the suet. You can hang suet chunks from a tree in an onion bag or a half-inch hardware cloth basket, or in a cage feeder. Hairy and downy woodpeckers often visit to dine on the suet cakes. Black oil sunflower is the preferred seed of many birds. The large birds love striped sunflower seeds. White millet is the favorite food
of most small-beaked ground-feeding birds; they will also eat red millet which is in many seed combinations. Millet attracts quail, doves, juncos, sparrows and towhees. Medium cracked corn is about as popular with groundfeeding birds as millet, but it is vulnerable to rot. Feed small amounts, mixed with millet, on feeding tables. Avoid fine cracked corn, since it quickly turns to mush; coarse cracked corn is too large for smallbeaked birds. Cracked corn attracts quail, doves, crows, jays, sparrows, juncos and towhees. Milo, wheat or oats are frequently mixed into lowpriced bird seed blends. Most birds discard them in favor of other food, which makes a mess under the feeders. Black thistle is the preferred food of American
goldfinches, house finches.
Experts agree that feeding birds at a feeder is not as helpful as improving backyard habitat through landscaping, which provides food and shelter and nesting places. Think about improving the habitat for wildlife when you plan changes to your garden next spring. Offering a banquet for our feathered friends provides hours of entertainment during winter and gives them the boost they need when ice and snow covers the landscape. Don’t forget our feathered friends need water in the cold months, too. Winter is just around the corner and all the snowbirds from up north will be arriving soon. It is time to put out the welcome mat.
‘til next time, Annie
It’s Just a Country State of Mind: Legend of the Wampus Cat
By Susan Anderson Guest Columnist
the one about the Wampus cat.
According to my grandfather, a Wampus cat was some kind of cat that lived in the wild. He likened it to a bobcat, which you may be familiar with.
I suppose everyone has memories from when they were a child of being afraid of something. Some people grew up being afraid of the bogeyman or others might’ve been fearful of the dark. Many times, an uncle or grandfather would help that fear along with stories to make even the bravest among us tremble with dread.
My grandfather used to tell me stories that could make your hair curl. One of his most famous stories was called the “Legend of the Wampus cat.”
I used to spend the night at my grandparents’ house quite frequently as a child. My grandfather almost always had a bedtime story to tell me before the lights went out. The story I heard most often was
The Wampus cat supposedly walked the neighborhood at night, looking for unsuspecting sleeping children. I was never told just what the cat would do with said children after it found one. But I decided early on that I wasn’t even going to find out.
After the lights would go out at my grandparents, I would lay in bed, listening to the sounds of the night outside the screen window by my bed. I would lay there, trying to go to sleep, and my grandfather would be sneaking outside and positioning himself strategically underneath the window where I was sleeping.
I would be dozing off when I heard the noise outside my window. It was the sound of some sort of cat but with a more sinister growl. I would quickly throw the blankets over my head.
I never got a good look at the Wampus cat because I
was too busy hiding under the covers. But if the truth be told, I would say he probably looked something like my grandfather.
As I grew older, the legend of the Wampus cat began to fade into a distant memory.
One day, when I was about 20 years old, my mother and I decided to take a hike in a remote area where I grew up. We decided to check out where an old quarry used to be.
It was near where my grandparents’ house used to be. We were walking along, talking as we followed the wellworn path that ran through the woods, when I happened to look up. There, about 50 yards in front of me was the biggest cat I had ever seen in my life. It was tan in color and had big, yellow eyes and probably weighed around 50 pounds.
What I was seeing was a North American Bobcat. But in my mind what I thought I was seeing was a good old North American Wampus cat. My childhood fears had finally caught up with me.
I couldn’t pick up my feet fast enough to get out of there. It was all my poor mother could
do to keep up with me because I ran for all I was worth down that old worn path. Later, as I tried to relay the story to others, I was met with some skepticism.
I guess my listeners didn’t share my views that a cat could get that big around these parts, but I beg to differ. In any case, it made a believer out of me.
A couple of years ago, someone told a tale of a big cat hanging around the old neighborhood. They also claimed to hear a sharp piercing growl late one night. The general consensus was it was probably a bobcat. I could feel that old childhood fear rising up in the pit of my stomach.
I recently did an Internet search and looked up the Wampus cat. Something did come up about the Wampus cat. It seems there really was such a legend.
It was a real legend. Legends make good conversations.
And for sure they make good storytelling material for grandfathers. Especially mine. Have a great November!
- Susan
OPSF hosts open house
By Travis Curry Correspondent
Owen-Putnam State Forest was one of several state forest properties to host a recent open house, where division personnel displayed information on forest, recreation and facility management. Attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions and comment.
“These open house events provide Hoosiers with a chance to receive first-hand information about how the state forests are working to provide diverse wildlife habitat, forest products and recreational opportunities,” State Forester Jack Seifert said. “They also allow us to receive valuable feedback from our neighbors and users about state forest management.”
Seifert, who also serves as the Director of the DNR’s Division of Forestry, oversees the certification of state and private forestlands under the North American and international sustainability “green” standards and is active with the Indiana Tree Farm program, the Indiana Woodland Owners Association, the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association and the Indiana Forest Industry Council.
Established in 1948 with
most of its landholdings purchased as smaller noncontiguous tracts in the 1950s and ‘60s, OwenPutnam State Forest contains 6,688 acres of forested land. Along with hiking and horseback riding trails, the state forest is home to three campgrounds. Each campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis and has its own selfregistration booth. All campgrounds are primitive.
The office is located at 2153 Fish Creek Road, five miles west of Spencer and less than one mile north of State Road 46. For more information, call 812-8292462.
speak
DNR seeks public opinion on forestry strategic plan
Submitted Article
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) plan for the strategic direction of the DNR Division of Forestry is now available for public comment.
“Science-based, sustainable management of Indiana’s public and private forests has been a driving mission for the DNR Division of Forestry for more than 120 years,”
said Dan Bortner, DNR director. “This plan focuses on supporting the growth of healthy, diverse forests for today’s Hoosiers and future generations to enjoy.”
The plan can be reviewed, and public comments can be made at on.IN.gov/forestmanagement.
In addition to providing public comment online, Hoosiers are invited to attend public meetings in November
or December to learn more about the five-year strategic plan and ask questions. Comments will be accepted online through Dec. 17 at 5 p.m.
The DNR Division of Forestry manages approximately 160,000 acres of forest in 15 state forests across Indiana; manages the Classified Forest and Wildlands program, which provides guidance on the management of over 881,000 acres of
private woodlands; grows and sells 3 million tree seedlings annually; and administers a statewide urban forestry program.
State forests are managed for multiple uses and benefits, including hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, hiking, mushroom hunting, and picnicking. Other benefits include timber production; conservation of air, soil and water resources; and forest aesthetics.
The dates and locations for the five sessions are:
Wednesday, Nov. 6: 6:30-8 p.m. at Fort Harrison Inn, Indianapolis. Thursday, Nov. 14, 6:30-8 p.m. at Salamonie Lake, Nature Center, Andrews.
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Spring Mill State Park Inn, Mitchell.
with Indiana DNR Division of Forestry. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS
55TH Annual Cataract VFD Bean Dinner Festival
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The Cataract VFD Bean Dinner Festival once again attracted a large crowd and featured more than 100 vendors. The Cataract VFD relies on the festival to generate more than 60-percent of its annual operating funds. // A large pot of ham and beans slowly cooks over an open fire during the 55th Annual Cataract VFD Bean Dinner Festival. // Cataract Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Clint Galloway (foreground) and Captain Pat Gamble (kneeling) helped cook an estimated 900 pounds of ham and beans during the three-day Bean Dinner Festival.
TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS
Lisa Patys, Karen Williams, Elisabeth Solchik, Phillip O’Neil, Berta Medicus-Moore and John Settle-Corbin pose for a photo on one of the ramps at the festival. The ramps were added to make the festival more accessible. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JACOB BALASH.
Above: More than 150 vendors were placed along Franlin, Main, Market and Washington Streets in downtown Spencer.
Below: Several pets were present at the festival, which is dog friendly. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY JACOB BALASH.
Joy Hellman, Barb Thompson and Kindra Holsapple pose for a photo. This year’s theme was Ready to Soar. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JACOB BALASH.