Melton suspended amid claim concerns
Past commissioners approved payments for
By Nicole DeCriscio Executive Editor
Highway
Superintendent Greg Melton was suspended without pay on Saturday, March 22, amid concerns over unpaid and held claims for the department. Those unpaid claims total $1,037,985.59, according to a spreadsheet shared by County Auditor Sheila Reeves. Commissioner
President Sam Hobbs first confirmed the suspension last week.
“It is a personnel issue, of course, and we’re under the advisement of our attorney to follow certain protocol, which we’re doing to the max,” he said. “He is suspended. He has not been terminated. We’re conducting a thorough fact-finding.”
Hobbs expressed multiple times that no theft or other criminal activity had occurred.
“I will put out there boldly… no money has been stolen. It’s not like there has been a theft of money,” Hobbs said. “I want people to understand that right now. It’s not a thing about stolen money… I don’t want anybody accusing Greg or saying that Greg Melton stole money from the county highway. That would be a false statement.”
Then, earlier this week, Hobbs shared additional details
this year “
“I feel like I have done absolutely nothing that I wasn’t told to do.”
— Greg Melton
about the budgetary issue they were looking into.
“We’ve uncovered numerous unpaid invoices,” Hobbs said, adding that the majority
OVMS rallies behind classmate battling cancer
By Kris Samick S-OCS Director of Communications
The halls of Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS) are often filled with the usual chatter of students and teachers going about their day. But in recent weeks, those
halls have also echoed with something even more powerful: an incredible outpouring of love and support for one of their own.
Thirteen-year-old Kira Herrington, a bright and beloved OVMS student,
RALLIES | PAGE 7
were from 2024.
According to the spreadsheet of unpaid claims from Reeves,
Murder suspect’s trial begins April 21
By Travis Curry Correspondent
The murder trial for Kenron Laing, accused of the November 2022 shooting death of 39-yearold Gildardo Garcia Salinas in northern Owen County, is scheduled to begin April 21 in the Owen County Circuit Court.
A two-year investigation culminated in the arrest of Laing, 24, in November of 2024.
Detectives from the Indiana State Police (ISP) Bloomington Post traveled to Fort Liberty, northwest of Fayetteville, North Carolina on Nov. 14 of last year where they were joined by Army Criminal Investigation Division agents in arresting Laing without incident.
Fort Liberty, formerly known as Fort Bragg, is one of the largest military installations in the world by population, with over 52,000 military personnel.
According to an article published in the Nov. 20, 2024 edition of Stars and Stripes, a daily newspaper reporting on matters concerning members of the United States Armed Forces, Laing enlisted in the Army in August 2023, about 10 months after Salinas was killed.
Private First Class Laing was identified by Stars and Stripes as a petroleum supply specialist assigned to the 82nd Airborne’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
An initial hearing was held Nov. 21, where Owen County Prosecutor Benjamin Kim said Laing was advised of the charges against him and his constitutional
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Food Inspections
Routine food inspections were conducted by the Owen County Health Department during the month of March 2025. Reported below are the critical and non-critical comments left for these establishments:
3-5
SommHerr’s
Bakery, 125 E. Main St., Gosport: 2 noncritical. All foods prepared within the establishment not intended for immediate consumption must have dates on the labels. Can use “prepared on,” “packaged on” or “expires by” dating. Cold-holding
equipment needs to have a temperaturemeasuring device for easy viewing. Dollar General #11053, 600 N. Seventh St., Gosport: No violations found.
3-11
Gosport Tavern, 130 E. Main St., Gosport: preoperational inspection. Suggestion – hang “watch your step” signage on the inside of both bathroom doors.
3-28
Dollar General #3676, 293 W. St. Rd. 46, Spencer: 3 noncritical. Observed dust buildup on the front of Pepsi/Celsius cooler.
Observed a buildup of debris inside the cooler. Observed dirt buildup on the wire racks of the milk cooler. The floor needs to be cleaned under the trash can containing mops and brooms, located in the back corner of the store.
Circle K #4700020, 148 E. Morgan St., Spencer: 3 non-critical. Observed soda spilled on the floor of the walk-in cooler. Observed syrup on the floor, walls, nozzles and hoses on the syrup boxes for the fountain machine in the back storage area. Clean up to prevent insect/ rodent attraction. Door handles and cabinet
Government Meeting Calendar
April 7
Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.≠≠
April 8
Gosport Town Council, 7 p.m. in the Gosport Community Building, 301 N. Ninth St., Gosport.
April 9
Spencer Redevelopment Commission, 6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N.West St., Spencer.
April 10
Spencer-Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the gymnasium at Patricksburg Elementary School, 9883 SR 246, Patricksburg.
April 14
Owen County Council, 6 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
Owen Valley Fire Territory Board, 6 p.m. at the Owen Valley Fire Department, 401 Walnut St., Spencer. Cloverdale Community School Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.
April 15
Owen County Advisory Plan Commission, 6:30 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of
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.
the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
April 17
Owen County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
April 18
Owen County Courthouse closed in observance of Good Friday.
April 21
Owen County Public Library
surfaces are sticky to the touch.
Circle K #4702370, 404 W. Morgan St., Spencer: 1 critical, 2 non-critical. Observed ants under the counter containing coffee machines. Management has spoken with an exterminator. Cleanup counter and storage area to remove debris. Syrup boxes for soda fountain: observed some leaking onto the floor, a buildup of syrup on the floor, nozzles and hoses. Clean up to prevent insect/ rodent attraction. Buildup of debris under the storage shelf containing extra syrup boxes and extra drinks.
Board, 5 p.m. in the OCPL Vault Room, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer.
Spencer Town Council, 6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.
April 22
Spencer Plan Commission & BZA, 6 p.m. at the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St., Spencer.
Gosport Town Council, 7 p.m. in the Gosport Community Building, 301 N. Ninth St., Gosport.
Community Events Calendar
April 4
Blood drive, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Open Class Building, Owen County Fairgrounds, 364 S. East St., Spencer. Hosted by the Owen County Extension Homemakers, Owen County Fair Board and the American Red Cross. Register online at redcross.org. Enter the Spencer zip code, 47460, to find the drive held in Owen County.
April 5
Bluebird nest box building workshop, 1 p.m. at the Pine Bluff Shelter inside McCormick’s Creek State Park, presented by the Brown County Bluebird Club. Preregistration is required at b4bluebirds@gmail.com.
Owen County Farmers’ Market Vendor Meeting, 3 p.m. in the Community Room at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer.
April 6
Spencer Pride general meeting, 4 p.m. at the commUnity center, 31 E. Franklin St., Spencer.
April 8
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.
April 9
Harrison Homemakers meeting, noon at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office, 180 S. Washington St., Spencer.
Free showing of “The Big Sleep,” 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by the Historic Tivoli Theatre.
April 10
McCormick’s Creek Elementary School STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Night, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at MCES, 1601 Flatwoods Rd., Spencer. Open to all Spencer-Owen elementary students and their families.
White River Beekeepers field day, 6:30 p.m. Current and prospective beekeepers are welcome to attend. For
more information, visit the White River Beekeepers page on Facebook.
April 11 to 13
Wildflower Weekend at McCormick’s Creek State Park, April 11 to 13. Visit www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/ parks-lakes/mccormickscreek-state-park for a full schedule of events.
April 12
White River Poultry Club Spring Show, 9 a.m. at the Owen County Fairgrounds.
The Friends of the Library monthly book sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Community Room of the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer.
Spencer Pride Health & Wellness Fair, noon to 3 p.m., 17 E. Franklin St., Spencer.
Poland Community Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt, 1 p.m. at Poland Community Lions Club Park, just north of the intersection of SR 42 and Bowling Green/Poland Rd. Open to children up to age 12. Bring your own basket. Rain date is April 13. Easter Dinner, 2 to 5 p.m. at the Cataract Lake Community Center, 5530 SR 42, in Poland. Bring a nonperishable food item for the blessing box, or a cash donation.
April 13
The Road to Resurrection: Easter Egg Tour, 4 to 5 p.m. at the Gosport Christian Church, 117 S. Main St., Gosport.
April 14
Jolly Homemakers meeting, 1 p.m. at the Freedom Community Center, 5558 Freedom-Arney Rd., Freedom.
April 16
Owen County Homesteaders meeting, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer.
Spencer Pride Board of Directors meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the commUnity center, 17 E. Franklin St., Spencer.
April 17
Calico Homemakers meeting, 2 p.m. Meetings are held at a different restaurant each month. For more information, call 812-8295020.
Franklin Street Groundwater Superfund Site open house and presentation, 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. For questions of if you need special accommodations, call 312886-6595 or email muhtsun. ruth@epa.gov.
Trivia Night with Rance Fawbush, 6 p.m. at the Owen Valley Winery, Vineyard & Bistro, 491 Timber Ridge Rd., Spencer.
April 18
Annual Owen Valley High School FFA Banquet, 6 p.m. at OVHS, 622 W. SR 46, Spencer.
Annual Easter Egg Hunt, 6 p.m. at the Owen County Fairgrounds in Spencer. Sponsored by the 4-H Fishing Team. Open to children up to age 10. A special area will be available for physically handicapped children.
April 19
Friends of McCormick’s Creek 5K Run/Walk, 8:30 a.m. at McCormick’s Creek State Park. Register online at runsignup. com/Race/IN/Spencer/ FriendsMcCormickscreek.org.
Annual Gosport VFW Post 7850 Easter Egg Hunt, noon at Gosport Town Park. Open to age groups 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10 and up.
April 22
Gosport Farmers’ Market, 3 to 6 p.m. in Gosport Town Park. Weather permitting.
Owen County SWCD Board of Supervisors meeting, 4:30 p.m. at the SWCD office, 788 Pottersville Rd., Spencer. Open to the public.
Area V 4-H Performing Arts Contest, 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer.
April 23
Free showing of “Labyrinth,” 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer. Sponsored by Civilian Brewing Corps.
April 24
Owen County Chamber of Commerce Paws and Connect event, 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Keller’s K9s, 330 W. SR 46, Spencer. This event is designed specifically for local business owners who want to expand their professional network
while enjoying a fun and relaxed atmosphere with their furry companions. Sponsored by Duke Energy and Keller’s K9s.
April 26
Annual Cloverdale Township VFD Pancake and Sausage Day, 6 a.m. to noon at the Cloverdale American Legion Post 281, 501 S. Main St., Cloverdale. All-you-caneat. Adults $10; $15 ages 12 and younger. Proceeds benefit the VFD.
Tailgate Sale on the Square, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on East Market Street in Spencer. Hosted by Spencer Main Street.
Community Baby Shower, 10 a.m to 2 p.m. in the 4-H Building at the Owen County Fairgrounds, 364 S. East St., Spencer. Educational materials, community resources, diapers, wipes, onesies, socks, diaper bags, games, prizes, and refreshments. Hosted by the Owen County Health Department.
April 27
Owen County Community Foundation Scholarship Awards program, 1 p.m. at Owen Valley High School, 622 W. SR 46, Spencer.
April 29
Gosport Farmers’ Market, 3 to 6 p.m. in Gosport Town Park. Weather permitting.
May 1
Friends of McCormick’s Creek State Park board meeting, 4 p.m. in the Program Room inside the MCSP Nature Center. Open to the public.
Coal City Crime Watching meeting, 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Baptist Church, 4019 Main St., Coal City. Open to the public.
May 3
Owen County Farmers’ Market, 8:30 a.m. to noon, 459 W. Morgan St., Spencer. Live music by Caleb Hawkins. Fifth Annual Barbecue Challenge Fundraiser for the Cunot Food Pantry, 3 p.m. at The Dry Docks at Cataract Lake, 10710 Boat Dock Rd., Poland.
May 4
Spencer Pride general meeting, 4 p.m. at the commUnity center, 31 E. Franklin St., Spencer.
Area 10: Navigating aging and Dementia
Submitted Article
To increase awareness and provide additional services to residents of Owen County, Area 10 Agency on Aging Dementia Outreach Specialist Amy Guerrettaz collaborates with organizations such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Service and Dementia Friendly Indiana. Guerrettaz also offers free confidential memory screenings by appointment. A memory screening is
Jail Bookings
EDITOR’S NOTE: Booking information is provided by the Owen County Security Center. These are preliminary charges and may change as cases are processed through the circuit court system. To follow a court case, search the state’s court records at mycase.in.gov. This information is public record. All people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
3-8
Kory Kleinow, 32, Bloomington, preliminary charges of probation violation, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of paraphernalia. Owen County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Lieutenant Clint Wampler was the arresting officer.
3-9
Cristobal Osiel, 33, Spencer, preliminary charge of operating without a license when required. Arrested by OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler.
3-10
Kelcie Grigsby, 29, Spencer, preliminary charge of writ of attachment, failure to appear. OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.
3-13
Ronald Cooper, 61, Poland, IN, preliminary charge of possession
a simple and safe “healthy brain check-up” that tests memory and other thinking skills. The National Memory Screening Program is an initiative of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
To schedule a memory screening at Area 10 Agency on Aging in Ellettsville, call 812-935-2582.
Area 10 also offers free Dementia Friendly Business training throughout Owen County. Organizations can demonstrate their commitment to empowering those living with dementia
of methamphetamine.
Arrested by OCSD K9 Deputy Charles Hallam. Rex Smith, 38, Freedom, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. OCSD Deputy Cory Poland was the arresting officer.
Jeremy Sizemore, 49, Plainfield, preliminary charge of invasion of privacy. Arrested by Indiana Conservation Officer Nicholas Hartman.
Jeremy Reynolds, 47, Vincennes, preliminary charges of possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine (two counts), possession of a narcotic drug, unlawful possession of a syringe, carrying a handgun without a license, and failure to appear (two counts). OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.
3-14
Cathy Ray, 54, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of invasion of privacy and failure to appear. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.
3-16
Stephen Dwyer, 22, Bloomington, preliminary charges of theft and criminal mischief. OCSD Deputy Cory Poland was the arresting officer.
3-17
and their care partners by becoming a Dementia Friendly Business. For additional details, call 812-935-2582 or email aguerrettaz@area10agency. org.
Currently, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Service provides Navigating Aging and Dementia classes at the Owen County Public Library every other month. These classes are designed to help individuals maximize their own self-care and learn new skills for supporting a loved one living with dementia.
Ryan Walden, 27, Freedom, driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD Sergeant Brandon Gasparovic.
Kyal Campbell, 33, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of residential entry, resisting law enforcement, and criminal trespass.
OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.
Carlos Sanchez, Jr., 31, Indianapolis, preliminary charge of battery. Arrested by Spencer Police Department (SPD) officer Chester Richardson.
3-18
Michelle Wess, 40, Indianapolis, preliminary charges of public intoxication and failure to appear.
OCSD Major William Snodgrass was the arresting officer.
Kenneth Long, 37, Ellettsville, preliminary charges of theft and driving while suspended with a prior charge. Arrested by OCSD K9 Deputy Daniel Rhienhart.
3-19
Walker Spurlock, 26, Spencer, preliminary charge of failure to file as a violent sex offender. OCSD Deputy Cory Poland was the arresting officer.
3-23
Jordan Calhoun, 27,
For more information or to register, contact Dayna Thompson at dthompson6@ iuhealth.org or 812-3539299.
Upcoming class dates and topics include: April 11, Understanding Brain Change – Normal vs. Not Normal Aging; June 11, Positive Physical Approach and HandUnder-Hand; Aug. 8, Building a Support Team; Oct. 10, Connecting for Success; and Dec. 10, Care Partner Stress Management.
Martinsville, preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. Arrested by OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich.
3-24
Kyle Ordway, 33, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of domestic battery on a person less than 14 years old, disorderly conduct, and false informing. SPD officer Ben Muncie was the arresting officer.
3-25
Korey Taylor, 31, Bloomington, preliminary charge of writ of attachment. Arrested by OCSD Special Deputy Levi Miller.
Hope Grow, 40, Gosport, preliminary charges of driving while suspended with a prior charge and probation violation. OCSD Deputy Elijah Volrich was the arresting officer.
Ashley Clark, 33, Spencer, preliminary charges of unlawful possession of a syringe and probation violation. Arrested by OCSD Lieutenant Clint Wampler.
3-26
Damian Phillips, 24, Spencer, preliminary charges of intimidation and disorderly conduct. SPD sergeant Terry Sips was the arresting officer.
Jeremy Kilgore, 21, Spencer, preliminary
charges of intimidation, pointing a firearm and disorderly conduct. Arrested by SPD Sergeant Terry Sips.
3-31
Collin FernandezRuss, 20, Coal City, preliminary charges of illegal possession, consumption or transportation of alcohol by a minor, and criminal recklessness. OCSD Sergeant Torrey Wallace was the arresting officer. Adam Bean, 39, Spencer, preliminary charges of unlawful possession of a syringe, and possession of methamphetamine. Arrested by SPD reserve officer Jeremy Burke. Sunshine Fisher, 33, Gosport, preliminary charge of driving while suspended with a prior charge. OCSD Deputy Brennan Clark was the arresting officer.
4-1
Joshua Donoghue, 40, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of assisting a criminal and failure to appear. Arrested by Indiana Conservation Officer Caleb Hutchison. Matthew Tussey, 40, Poland, IN, preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia. Indiana Conservation Officer Caleb Hutchison was the arresting officer.
CCSC hears updates on curriculum, athletics
By Travis Curry Correspondent
Working in the absence of Katrina Lewis, the remaining six members of the Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees met in regular session on March 10 to approve routine matters, recognize student and staff members of the month, and to address several items under the new business portion of the meeting.
Under routine matters, the board voted 6-0 to approve meeting minutes for executive and regular sessions held Feb. 10.
Acting on a motion from board member Melissa Carrell, seconded by Emily Haltom, the board voted unanimously to approve the latest claims and financial reports, which CCSC Superintendent Greg Linton advised totaled $2,463,999.17 since the board’s previous meeting.
Next, the board recognized the corporation’s Student of the Month honorees for March, which included Cloverdale Elementary School (CES) firstgrader Mila Green, Cloverdale Middle School (CMS) student Ryder Pettijohn and Cloverdale High School (CHS) student Isabella Montgomery.
“Thank you for being good kids and good students,” board president Vivian Whitaker said at the conclusion of the presentations, addressing the
Student of the Month recipients. “We’re so happy that you’re Clovers. Each of you have bright futures ahead of you.”
Carrie Hall, special education teacher at CMS, was recognized as the latest Staff Member of the Month.
Also recognized were Rumor Jones and Wyatt Lane, who earned Good Citizen Awards for the month of March, presented by Cloverdale Town Marshal Adam Hull.
“Rumor is a silent leader in the fifth grade,” Hall explained. “She pitches in around the classroom and the school whenever she can. You can count on Rumor to always do the right thing.”
Hall added, “Wyatt is a wonderful young man. He works hard in class and always puts forth his best effort. Wyatt is very caring and a friend to many. He often gives to others and likes to make birthday gifts for his classmates.”
Next, the board heard a presentation led by CCSC Director of Curriculum and Instruction Cathy Ames regarding planned diploma and student schedule updates.
“As Indiana graduation requirements have changed, it’s really important that our academic programs here at Cloverdale change as well, not only to support our students, but to support our teachers and our school community,” Ames said. “The updates are necessary in order for students
to gain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful and, quite frankly, to be able to graduate. We want to make sure they are ready for their career paths and can think critically, work well with others, and handle the future challenges that they will face, not only in school, but also in college or in the workforce or military.”
Ames added, “By making these changes now we can create a more engaging and supportive learning environment for our students and help them on their road to success. We didn’t want to just sit back and wait… we wanted to be pro-active and jump right in.”
A few of the key points of Ames’ presentation included making sure students have options to personalize their graduation plan to align with their unique interests and goals; to ensure work-based learning is accessible to more students; the ability to earn high school credit at the middle school level; adding additional dual credit classes to provide students with increased opportunities for college credit; utilizing the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to assess potential military recruitment; and to open up space within the high school schedule for flexibility in the graduation pathway.
The board also heard from CHS Principal Sonny Stoltz,
who commented on the school’s ongoing participation in the “Leader in Me” program.
“If things go well with our last training session in April, we’ll be ready to apply to be a Leader in Me high school,” Stoltz said. “What makes that even more special for us is that we’d be the first Leader in Me school in the state of Indiana. I have to give a ton of credit to everyone involved. This whole program has been counselor, teacher and student driven.”
The Leader in Me program aims to help students with leadership skills, character development and personal growth, both in school and in their personal lives.
James Wade, CHS Athletic Director, later provided the board with an update regarding the addition of Vincennes Lincoln to the Western Indiana Conference, the success of the school’s new outfitting of athletic teams, athlete reward program, and the development of a Booster Club beginning in May. Wade said the Booster Club aims to be in service beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Moving on to new business, the board voted 6-0 to approve a resolution determining the need for renovation and improvements to facilities throughout the school corporation, including the “construction of a training facility, site and athletic improvements
throughout the school corporation and the purchase of equipment, real estate and technology and leasing all or a portion of the project from the Cloverdale High School Building Corporation.”
Next, the board acted on a motion from Donna Fidler, seconded by Joe Mann, voting 6-0 to adopt a resolution approving a form of lease agreement. The agreement says in part, “the Cloverdale High School Building Corporation has previously been organized pursuant to the Indiana Nonprofit Corporation Act of 1991 for the purpose of constructing, renovating and improving facilities for the use of the Cloverdale Community School Corporation.”
The board also cast separate 6-0 votes to approve the adoption of a resolution reapproving the formation of the building corporation and appointing a new member, as well as the issuance of one or more series of bonds and one or more series of BANS (Bond Anticipation Notes).
Also under new business, the board unanimously approved the distribution of Early Literacy Achievement Grant Funds, the CES/ CMS Snails to Trails Summer Program and the acceptance of one grant and three donations for CHS.
Acting on a recommendation from Superintendent Linton, CCSC| PAGE 23
Gosport among CCMG recipients
Staff Report
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) recently announced the list of recipients of the Spring 2025 Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) Program.
According to INDOT, more than $200 million was awarded through the program aimed at improving roads and bridges
throughout the state of Indiana.
To qualify for funding, local governments must provide local matching funds – 50 percent for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities – from a funding source approved for road and bridge construction. Communities are also required to submit an INDOT-approved asset management plan for maintaining existing roads
and bridges.
The Town of Gosport was among the latest recipients and will receive $198,807. The town will provide the required 25-percent construction match.
Gosport also received funding during the round of CCMG grants announced in November of 2023, with that funding utilized to complete portions of street paving and sidewalk improvements in the spring of 2024.
Established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016, the CCMG Program aims to advance community infrastructure projects, strengthen local transportation networks, and improve Indiana’s roads and bridges.
Open to all local government units in Indiana, the CCMG Program offers two rounds of applications each year, one in January and one in July.
Gosport Fire Department seeks volunteers
Staff Report
The Gosport Volunteer Fire Department is actively seeking dedicated individuals to join its volunteer firefighter program. Applications are available at Gosport Town Hall during normal business hours, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is closed for lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m.
In addition to completing a membership application and other requirements, applicants are asked
to sign the “Volunteer Firefighters Pledge,” which reads as follows:
“I will attend all training sessions so that I may be fully informed and efficient in the proper operation of all equipment, regulations and tactics. When responding in the fire apparatus or personal vehicle, I will observe all traffic, obey all laws and be prepared to stop if traffic should not yield. Upon returning to the station, I will obey all traffic regulations.
“I will comply with orders given by the Fire Chief, or the highest-ranking officer
present on scene, and will gladly assist in the care, maintenance and improvements made to equipment or buildings in my spare time and will attempt to make all work details called.
“I will participate in all fund-raising events, helping the department grow.
“I will protect all department equipment as well as humanly possible from theft, damage or improper use. I will not allow any department keys to be duplicated.
“I understand that I am expected to make at least 50 percent of runs, meetings
and work details through the year, and if I fail to attend three consecutive training sessions or meetings without a legitimate excuse, I will gladly return all department items to the Equipment Captain or another officer of the department and no longer be an active member of the fire department.
“I agree to conduct myself in a manner that is respectful and courteous to those around me and to treat all members of the department with trust and respect at all times. I will participate
in the duties and functions of the fire department only in the state of strict sobriety.
“I pledge to comply fully with each of the above agreements without any reservations.”
Anyone interested is encouraged to apply, regardless of prior experience. For further details about the volunteer firefighter program and its requirements, call Gosport Town Hall, 812-879-4334, or firefighter Ron Neibel at 812-821-4082.
Gosport Town Hall is located at 7 E. Main St., Gosport.
EPA to host update presentations
By Travis Curry Correspondent
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host an open house and presentations for the Franklin Street Groundwater Superfund Site on Thursday, April 17 at the Historic Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer.
Presentations are set for 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., with the EPA to share details about current and upcoming sampling activities throughout Spencer, which include soil, groundwater and vapor intrusion sampling at commercial and residential areas.
According to the EPA, Tetrachloroethene (PCE) was detected in finished water samples collected from the BBP Water Corporation (BBP) as part of regularly scheduled required testing for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). In 2014, IDEM conducted additional sampling and detected PCE in raw water at all three active drinking wells.
Monthly raw water samples collected since 2014, the EPA has said, continued to show
detections of PCE. Groundwater samples collected at various locations down and upgradient to possible sources was also reportedly contaminated with PCE. Despite several investigations in the area, the origin of the contamination is unknown.
According to IDEM, the municipal water supply in Spencer is blended and treated before distribution to residents and meets the Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
PCE has not been found in BBP’s finished water since the air strippers at the water treatment plant were turned on in May of 2017, completely removing it from the finished water.
“Even before then we weren’t using the well that had the contamination,” BBP CEO Todd Gardner told The Owen News in May of 2024, “so we never sent treated water that was contaminated. It was a well that wasn’t being used at the time that it popped up on.”
For questions of if you need special accommodations, call 312-886-6595 or email muhtsun. ruth@epa.gov.
To learn more, visit epa.gov/superfund/ franklinstreetgroundwater.
Reduced speed limit on SR 46
Staff Report
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced plans to reduce the speed limit on State Road 46 in Ellettsville, on or after April 1st. The speed limit on SR 46 will
decrease from 45 mph to 35 mph from Red Hill Road to West Arlington Road.
According to INDOT, the decreased speed limit is “intended to help enhance safety and mobility along SR 46.”
Spencer Council hears department updates
By Travis Curry Correspondent
Spencer Town Council members Jon Stantz, Evan McKalip and Mike Spinks met in regular session March 17, along with clerk-treasurer Cheryl Moke, town manager Hunter Stogsdill and town attorney Richard Lorenz.
Following approval of the March 3 meeting minutes, the council heard from Julie Coffi n, President of Spencer Main Street, with a request to approve the organization’s fi fth annual Tailgate Sale on the Square. The council voted 3-0 in favor of the event, scheduled for April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on East Market Street. In the event of rain, Coffi n said the sale will be rescheduled for May 3.
The council also voted 3-0 to approve the temporary closure
of four parking spaces along the west side of South Main Sreet. to accommodate an open house event for Rustic Delights, located at 65 S. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 5.
Under public issues, the council voted 3-0 to approve signatory authorization resolution 2025-01, giving the council the ability to move forward with a planned wastewater infrastructure improvements project and council president Stantz authorization to sign relevant paperwork.
Acting on a motion from Stantz, seconded by McKalip, the council voted 3-0 to authorize the signature of amendments to the wastewater treatment plant’s Asset Management Plan, as well as a modifi ed State Revolving Fund (SRF)
| FROM PAGE 1
was recently diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, a crucial part of the body’s immune system. While Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is considered highly treatable, the journey is far from easy. Kira has already undergone two surgeries, including a biopsy and port placement, and has met numerous doctors along the way. Despite these challenges, she has remained resilient, facing her battle with an inspiring level of strength.
Currently, Kira is undergoing an intense chemotherapy regimen, which includes three consecutive days of treatment every couple of weeks for three to four months. The toll of the treatment, combined with the emotional and financial stress on her family, is immense. Recognizing this, the OVMS community sprang into action, determined to make a difference.
One of the most heartfelt efforts came from OVMS teacher and Student Council Sponsor, Mr. Marc Ruble. Wanting to help Kira’s family, Mr. Ruble
plan process related to the wastewater infrastructure improvements project budget.
In other business, the council voted 3-0 to approve four invoices from Commonwealth Engineers related to wastewater system improvements and extensions, including Wastewater Improvements Phase 1, $11,400; Wastewater Improvements Phase 1, $55.57; MCSP (McCormick’s Creek State Park) Project, $3,285.68; and miscellaneous on-call, $2,786.57.
Two additional invoices were also
challenged the student body to raise $300 by Thursday, March 13. If they succeeded, he promised to sleep overnight on the front lawn of the school. What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary.
Students, teachers and families rallied together, surpassing the initial goal in a matter of days. Donations poured in, and by the time the fundraiser concluded, the school had raised approximately $3,000—ten times the original target. The overwhelming generosity of the OVMS community left everyone in awe, proving that even in difficult times, kindness and compassion shine the brightest.
Chief Richard Foutch later addressed the council, requesting and receiving unanimous council approval to hire Ben Muncie as a full-time offi cer, fi lling a void left following the departure of offi cer Kyle Jackson.
“We’re still going to move forward with the hiring process,” Foutch said. “We know we’re going to have one, maybe two positions that will need to be fi lled in the near future. We currently have 10 applicants.”
Foutch also noted offi cer Zack Brock is scheduled to graduate from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy
Sewer department superintendent Ryan Klaassen provided the board with a quote to purchase a new 28-horsepower pump for a lift station located along Beem Street totaling $6,598, as well as a quote to repair the existing 28-horsepower pump at a cost of $3,982. The council voted 3-0 to approve both requests.
Klaassen also noted the department’s new hydro-jetter trailer purchased from Brown Equipment Company (BEC) was to be delivered soon, while the order had been placed for its previously approved
Kira’s mother, Laura Herrington, expressed her deep gratitude in a heartfelt Facebook post. “He (Mr. Ruble) is one of the best for sure. So, so grateful for his and the whole school’s support and everyone in the whole community who has donated and supported us. We can truly never thank you all enough.”
Beyond the school walls, the support for Kira and her family continues to grow. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist
with travel expenses and groceries for the family of seven, allowing them to focus on what matters most—Kira’s health and well-being.
In times of adversity, communities often reveal their true character. OVMS has shown that their character is built on empathy, strength and unity. Kira’s battle is far from over, but she is certainly not fighting alone. With the unwavering support of her school, family
and the broader community, she continues to inspire those around her with her incredible courage.
For those wishing to contribute, donations can be made through the GoFundMe page dedicated to Kira and her family (https:// gofund.me/108fd789). Every contribution, no matter the size, is a testament to the power of community and the belief that no one fights alone.
OVMS teacher Marc Ruble followed through on his pledge to camp out in front of the school if the students raised $300 for Kira Herrington. The students not only met the goal, but they raised nearly $3,000. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY SPENCER-OWEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
RALLIES
OVHS announces 2025 Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate recipients
By Kris Samick S-OCS Director of Communications
Spencer-Owen Community Schools is thrilled to share that 27 of our outstanding seniors have met the rigorous requirements to earn the Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate (GWEC), which is a prestigious recognition of their dedication to employability skills, academic achievement and a minimum of six hours of community service.
The GWEC is a statewide, employer-recognized certification designed to prepare students for success in college, careers, and beyond. Recipients have demonstrated excellence in persistence, respectfulness, teamwork, initiative and efficiency, while also meeting high standards for attendance (98%+), academic performance (2.0 GPA+) and behavior (1 or fewer referrals).
Congratulations to the following students for this remarkable achievement:
— Calvin Dean
— Anya DeFord
— Skylar Dill
—¸Elliza Gentry
— Kalyn Greene
— Catie Harris
TRIAL | FROM PAGE 1 rights as an accused facing criminal charges.
Public defender Megan Schueler was appointed by the court to represent Laing, who remains in custody without bond at the Owen County Security Center pending the upcoming trial by jury.
The court has allotted five days for the jury trial.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case by ISP Detective Ian Matthews,
— Allyson Heidrich
— Trizza Jover
— Sawyer LaGrange
— Lucas McBee
— Eli McDaniel
— Rheann McMillen
— Makayla Nichols
— Vishwa Patel
— Alyeska Ranard
— Ezra Rehmel
— Kearston Roan
— Rylan Robinson
— Anna Sare
authorities from the state police were contacted on Nov. 2, 2022 to initiate an investigation following the shooting death of Salinas. The shooting happened at Salinas’ residence in the area of North Cataract Road and U.S. 231.
Authorities with the Owen County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) were first on the scene, having been notified via a 911 phone call received at approximately 8:25 p.m., the probable cause affidavit indicates. The caller reported gunshots
— Kennedy Shay
— Landon Summerlot
— Julia Sutton
— Ashlin Thacker
— Emily Tucker
— Josimar Trejo
— Maddex Weaver
To celebrate their success, these students will be featured on a billboard across from OVHS in midApril for 12 weeks. We extend a special thanks
had been fired and a male had been shot. Police arrived shortly thereafter to find Salinas deceased outside of his home from apparent gunshot wounds.
In total, authorities say two discarded iPhones were discovered at the scene. The first was located in a gravel area, the probable cause affidavit indicates, approximately 15-20 feet east of the victim’s body. Identified as a black iPhone housed in a clear case, the phone appeared to
to our friends at the Owen County Community Foundation for generously providing the grant to cover the billboard cost.
Patriot Pride is on full display with this incredible group of seniors. Their hard work and dedication exemplify the values of Owen Valley High School and the bright future they have ahead.
authorities to have been “wiped” or factory reset. Although the screen read “The iPhone has been locked,” an associated Gmail account would reportedly help police determine the phone belonged to Laing. According to the probable cause affidavit, authorities with the ISP Cyber Crimes Unit were able to uncover identifying information from the phone which was used to gather subscriber information and records from both Apple and AT&T. The subscriber of the
phone and associated service, authorities would discover, was listed as “Mr. Kenron Laing.”
Additional coverage of the case was published in the December 2024 issue of The Owen News . The article can be accessed on our website at Owen County murder suspect arrested at Fort Liberty | The Owen News.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Twenty-seven GWEC recipients from Owen Valley High School will be featured on a billboard across from the high school in mid-April for 12 weeks. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY SPENCER-OWEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
Bray, Bassler honor OCCC’s 100th anniversary
Submitted Article
A resolution authored by Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) and State Sen. Eric Bassler (R-Washington) honoring the Owen County Chamber of Commerce (OCCC) unanimously passed the Indiana Senate on March 11.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 27 celebrates the 100th
anniversary of the OCCC and recognizes the important work it does within the Owen County community. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of any community, and chambers of commerce help foster growth among local businesses in the communities they serve and beyond,” Bray said. “I’d like to congratulate the Owen County Chamber of Commerce for a
century of service to their community, and I look forward to working with them to promote continued growth in the area.”
The Owen County Chamber of Commerce was founded on June 25, 1925 and has grown to more than 270 businesses and organizations from throughout the county and beyond.
“As someone who owns and operates my own small businesses,
I’ve seen firsthand how important a chamber of commerce is to its community and the people it serves,” Bassler said. “For 100 years, the Owen County Chamber of Commerce has championed its neighbors and promoted locally owned businesses across the county, and I am grateful for the work it has done to support growth and opportunity.”
To learn more about the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, visit MyOwenChamber.com.
Bray represents Senate District 37, which includes Morgan County and portions of Johnson, Owen and Putnam counties.
Bassler represents Senate District 39, which includes Daviess, Greene, Knox, and Martin counties and portions of Owen and Sullivan counties.
Owen County receives $1.5 million in CCMG funds
Press Release
Communities in Senate District 39 will receive more than $7.5 million to improve roads and bridges through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program (CCMG), said State Sen. Eric Bassler (R-Washington).
The CCMG, established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016, aims to advance community infrastructure projects, strengthen local transportation networks and improve Indiana’s roads and bridges.
Since its enactment, the program has awarded more than $2 billion in state
Ready to
matching funds for local construction projects.
In Senate District 39, the following communities received grants:
- Owen County received $1.5 million;
- Daviess County received $1,120,970.25;
- Knox County received $1.5 million;
- Martin County received $1,106,930.25;
- Merom received $24,842.42;
- Newberry received $102,000;
- Oaktown received $82,200.57;
- Shoals received $271,411.50;
dig?
- Sullivan County received
$1.5 million;
- Washington received $260,753.75; and - Wheatland received $74,999.58.
“Maintaining high-quality infrastructure throughout our state ensures that state and local government leaders deliver the vision for a brighter and safer way of life for districts like Senate District 39,” Bassler said.
“The Community Crossings Matching Grant Program is a great way to align the progress of our economy with the infrastructure stability that Hoosier communities rely on.”
Through the program, the Indiana Department of
Transportation matches up to $1.5 million annually when localities invest in road and bridge repairs. Counties with populations fewer than 50,000 and cities and towns with populations fewer than 10,000 receive a 75%/25% match, while counties with populations greater than 50,000 and cities and towns with populations greater than 10,000 receive a 50%/50% match.
To view the full list of communities receiving matching funds, visit in.gov/indot/doingbusiness-with-indot/localpublic-agency-programs/ community-crossingmatching-grant-program/.
Duke Energy reminds residents to call 811 before beginning spring digging projects
Press Release
April is National Safe Digging Month, and Duke Energy is recognizing the importance of calling 811 before starting any digging projects.
This simple step helps protect the nation’s underground utility infrastructure and ensures the safety of both customers and professional excavators.
“Even if you or your contractor are digging just a few inches below the surface, underground
utility lines can still be present,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana.
“Taking the time to check and be aware of what’s buried below is the best way to dig safely and prevent potentially dangerous damage to our underground utilities.”
Call first, dig second The national 811 “Call Before You Dig” system was created so anyone who plans to dig can make a free call to have underground utility lines clearly
marked. Contractors, homeowners, business owners and anyone preparing for an excavation project should call 811 at least three business days before digging begins. The local utilities will send a crew to mark underground lines in the area (electric, natural gas, water, sewer, phone, cable TV and others) with stakes, flags or paint.
Digging into the damage data
In 2024, Duke Energy reported nearly 350 cuts
to underground electric lines in Indiana.
“Our strongest safeguard is raising awareness and providing continuous education about calling 811 before digging,” Pinegar said. “We are dedicated to the safety of our customers and communities, and spreading this message helps prevent digging and excavation incidents.”
For additional information about 811, visit Duke Energy’s Call 811 Before You Dig webpage. To get in touch with the 811 center, dial
811 or visit call811.com. For additional information, see our story on illumination.
Duke Energy Indiana
Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 910,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.
SWCD hosts annual community meeting
Staff Report
The Owen County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) held its annual community meeting on March 27 in the 4-H Building at the Owen County Fairgrounds.
The program featured live music, a silent auction, charcuterie-style dinner, special presentations and the showing of a documentary film related to land conservation.
SWCD Executive Director Tammy Bingham provided the evening’s welcome message, followed by an election of officers and the annual meeting.
SWCD Chairman Corbin Abrell called for nominations for a vacant board position. The reelection of Corbin Worland, treasurer, to the SWCD Board was voted on and unanimously approved by attendees.
Other members of the Owen County SWCD Board of
Supervisors include vice chairman Steve Fox, Tim Dunfee, Doris Scully and Chris Gonso.
Many local businesses, residents and organizations sponsored door prizes, distributed by Owen Valley FFA members after SWCD Outreach staff Amy Arnold read aloud the winning numbers. Silent auction winners were announced later in the evening.
The program’s special presentations started with Indiana State Department of Agriculture Resource Specialist Holden Abrell who requested attendees fill out surveys related to Owen County agricultural priorities and challenges.
Laura Demarest, West Central Indiana Watershed Alliance’s 319 Watershed Coordinator, provided an overview of the Fish Creek Watershed Management
Plan previously completed and ongoing Implementation Grants.
“The Fish Creek Watershed is quite larger than what most people think – it covers over 170,000 acres,” Dermarest said, pointing out the diversity of the watershed comprising forested land, cropland, pastureland and over 10,000 acres of managed lands including McCormick’s Creek State Park.
Demarest reviewed the impairments for Fish Creek identified during the planning and monitoring process and explained the next steps for starting to address impairments impacting the watershed.
The 319 Grants primarily address issues related to sediment, nutrients and E-coli from non-point source pollution. The SWCD, being aware of these issues, was awarded an
IDEM 319 Grant for $114,950 where the County matched $76,633 with cash and in-kind labor and contributions. Furthermore, the County applied for and was awarded $350,000 for implementation funding which is leveraged by $233,333 of match and in-kind contributions. The implementation and cost-share grant will begin in 2026.
Priority areas for implementation grants and costshare were explained as well as eligible and ineligible activities for the funding.
Cover crops, field borders/ riparian buffers, livestock grazing practices, wetland enhancement and tree/shrub
establishment are among the eligible activities.
Grant applications are not yet available, but the Owen County SWCD can add names to an interested parties list. The Advisory Committee will establish program guidelines and grant caps in early 2026 and make applications available. For more information, contact the SWCD at 812-829-2605, or visit the SWCD office at 788 Pottersville Rd., Spencer.
Amy Rednour, a first-generation mushroom farmer and owner of A Fungus Amoung Us LLC, served as one of the evening’s exhibitors, in addition to providing a
presentation on her Owen County farm. She shared tips related to morel mushroom hunting and gave an overview of the type of mushrooms grown at their farm. The farm specializes in fresh and dehydrated mushrooms along with seasonings, extracts and other products.
The evening ended with a showing of the documentary, “The Story of America’s Private Lands Conservation Movement –an exclusive documentary by the USDA.” The film provided a look into the life of Hugh Hammond Bennett, who helped move American agriculture out of the Dust Bowl era.
Endwright Center Senior Games starting this month
Submitted Content
The Endwright Centers’ 2025 Senior Games is quickly approaching.
This year’s theme is “Around the World in 40 years,” to celebrate 40 years of our Senior Games here in Owen and Monroe Counties. Going along with the theme, games and food for this year’s Senior Games will be from around the world. The first priority is for seniors 50+ to have fun, laugh and enjoy the comradery of other seniors. Events will be held in several locations around Bloomington and Ellettsville and will take place from April 22 to May 9. Join us this April as a participant, volunteer or sponsor.
For more information, or to register for the 2025 Games reach out to Kris Campbell at kcampbell@area10agency.org or call 812-9352542. Or get more information online at area10agency.org.
FROM TOP: Leslie Asher, representing the Owen County Art Guild, speaks with Owen Valley FFA members Audri Roberts, Alli Anderson, Landrin Wolford, Madeline Hauser, Eliza Tragesser and Allyson Heinrich during the recent Owen County SWCD Annual Community Meeting. // Amy Rednour, a first-generation mushroom farmer and owner of A Fungus Amoung Us LLC, served as an exhibitor and guest speaker at the recent Owen County SWCD Annual Community Meeting. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY JILL CURRY.
FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2025
$296,504.11 of the claims are from 2024, with the oldest dating back to April 2024. That claim, which is for $1,495.70, is for storm damage repairs to bridge number 52 by CLR, Inc.
“We are still actively looking for some answers. We’re going to leave no stone unturned,” Hobbs said. “It’s easy to say that everything is one person’s fault. As of right now, I don’t believe that is the case. … I think there’s a whole scenario of things that we’re still digging into and uncovering.”
Hobbs said that Melton will have an opportunity to share his side of what happened at the April 17 commissioners meeting.
“I think he has the right to defend himself,” Hobbs said. “We’re giving him that right to speak his mind.”
Hobbs reiterated that Melton has not been terminated and he believes it is important for Melton to have a chance to share his side.
“I want the guy to have a chance to speak,” Hobbs said.
As of press time, Hobbs once again confirmed that the fact-finding is not a criminal investigation, but rather an internal investigation to which they’ve asked for assistance from the State Board of Accounts.
The list of unpaid claims, dates and vendors include:
-Oct. 22, 2024 –Evergreen, $141,873.67 for multiple stone invoices.
-April 10, 2024 –CLR, Inc., $1,495.70 for storm damage to bridge #52.
-Oct. 14, 2024 –
CLR, Inc., $28,440, with an original bill of $228,440, and $200,000 scheduled to be paid on April 4, 2025.
-Jan. 27, 2025 –CLR, Inc., $192,960 for completion bridge #106.
-Oct. 7, 2024 –CLR, Inc., $28,720 for completion bridge #114.
-Feb. 28, 2025 –Caterpillar, $3,031.50 for late fee-lease payment.
-Nov. 18, 2024 –Milestone, $55,151.82 for surface.
-Nov. 18, 2024 –Milestone, $31,441.66 for surface.
-Dec. 17, 2024 –Palmer Trucks, $502.80 for plow parts.
-Feb. 26, 2025 – E 3 Bridge, $103,018.95 for material.
-March 19, 2025 –United Consulting, $10,428.03 for bridge inventory.
-March 26, 2025 –Vestis, $539.53 for uniforms.
-Sept. 12, 2024 –Southeastern Equipment, $8,878.46 for multiple unpaid months - lease rentals.
-March 26, 2025 –Premier Energy, $2,798.72 for fuel.
-Jan. 10, 2025 –Frye Towing, $2,344 for claims January and February.
-Feb. 4, 2025 –Vomac Truck, $555.34 *four other claims paid Feb. 19, 2024 to Jan. 7, 2025.
-April 4, 2025 –Vomac Truck, $337,131.67 for est. new truck lease, first pay 2026.
-March 14, 2025 –Spencer Hardware, $24.98 for lumber.
-March 27, 2025 –Lincoln Park Stone, $76,390.48 for multiple loads March 5 to March 27.
-March 24, 2025 –Seal Master, $3,037.50 for heated hose machine.
-March 1, 2025
“
“The thing that troubles me the most is that the highway superintendent was held accountable for things that me, my fellow two commissioners and the county council were looking after. Greg [Melton] did everything he was asked to and voted on by commissioners, and he never took any actions into his own hands.”
— Joel Lowe, Former Owen County Commissioners
–Menards, $676 for shelf.
-March 19, 2025 –Bedford, $410.09 for office supplies.
- March 5, 2025 –Napa, $4,360.68 for multiple claims.
- March 24, 2025 –Kaden Shaw, $200 for Chevy driver side door.
- March 12, 2025 –Rural King, $2,981.68 for tanks, meters and filters.
- March 4, 2025 –Walmart, $86.12 for office supplies.
- March 4, 2025 –Office Depot, $76.21 for office supplies.
- March 27, 2025 –REMC, $430, past due one month.
Hobbs said he does not count the 2025 claims, as many of them are new. In fact, $741,481.48 of the claims have a 2025 invoice date.
He said they are still looking into 2023 and prior.
“This is going to take some time,” Hobbs said. “We’ve had the highway office staff contact every vendor that we use, every one of them, and search to see if we had any outstanding invoices for them.”
Hobbs also addressed rumors surrounding layoffs and said that none are planned at this time for full-time employees. However, part-time and seasonal employees will not be working for at least the next 30 to 60 days
Currently, Deputy Superintendent Chad Walker is leading the department
Hobbs also addressed that the cleaning of the highway department’s garage and shop was a coincidence with discovering the unpaid claims and Melton’s suspension. Melton and Highway Liaison Commissioner Dave Risk also confirmed this.
Hobbs said that road repairs and the work for the $1.5 million community crossings grant that the county received are the focus of the department
“We’re going to make those repairs,” Hobbs said. “I don’t want the taxpayers to think that we’re going to let them down.”
Adding, “I appreciate the vendors for working with us,” and, “I don’t like it at all that we’re in this situation.”
Melton confirmed his suspension.
“I was suspended last Saturday. I was not given a reason.
“We’re going to make those repairs. I don’t want the taxpayers to think that we’re going to let them down.”
— Sam Hobbs, President Owen County Commissioners
They did not comment. I was told to start with, I was suspended for two weeks, now indefinitely,” he said. “I feel like I have done absolutely nothing that I wasn’t told to do.”
He cited a long history of the county building bridges in the late fall or early winter and paying for them in the spring once the bridge fund received the spring settlement. The bridge fund is one of the few property taxdependent highway department funds, while other funds rely on fuel taxes, vehicle registrations and wheel taxes.
When asked about this history, former commissioner Joel Lowe said, “That’s fact.”
“We agreed to pay, we had some ARPA funds that we were going to use, as well as bridge funds from 2025 into repair bridges in 2024,” Lowe said. “They went ahead and did the work in 2024, but they were going to invoice in 2025. We as commissioners – me, Bob Curry, and Gary Burton – agreed to that.”
He said that he believes that it is only the bridge fund that is without funds, which the commissioners knew would be the case in 2024 when approving bridge work.
“I supported all of this at the time, with the highway superintendent, Gary Burton and Bob Curry, that we would take ARPA funds and [the] bridge fund and pay for the critical bridges, which we were going to have to close or not even use them at all. We agreed to this,” Lowe said. “We all agreed to let CLR fix our critical bridges in the fall of 2024. We were going to use ARPA funds to pay for those, a portion, not all of it, but a portion, and then [the] bridge fund. That was going to wipe our bridge fund for 2025, which meant we’re not building any bridges in 2025. But having said that, most bridges were going to
make it another year.”
He said that closing some of those bridges would stifle traffic and the plan was to pay them in 2025.
“The thing that troubles me the most is that the highway superintendent was held accountable for things that me, my fellow two commissioners and the county council were looking after,” Lowe said. “Greg [Melton] did everything he was asked to and voted on by commissioners, and he never took any actions into his own hands.”
Recordings of at least one previous commissioners meeting support this. During the Aug. 23, 2023 meeting, Melton brought up bridge 138, located on Sutton Road. During that meeting, the commissioners reviewed the plans and prepared the bid packet, including adding the approaches to that bid packet and all future ones.
“Commissioners, this bridge will be paid for out of [the] bridge fund, so there is not a question about funding,” Melton said, estimating the cost to be between $200,000 and $230,000.
Burton asked for the amount in the bridge fund.
Melton said he did not know it off the top of his head, “but this will come out, if it was the winter build, come out of next year’s.”
Burton acknowledged it, saying, “It’s fine Sheila if we’re going to roll it over to next year.”
“By the time we get our December [tax installment],” Burton began, before Melton finished, “It won’t be a problem.”
Bridge-related claims, regardless of year, total $365,062.68.
If you remove bridge claims and 2025 claims, the total number of unpaid claims from 2024 totals $237,848.41.
Burton did not return a request for a phone interview prior to press time.
Lion’s Club presents check for additional siren
Last month, the Spencer Lions Club presented a generous $5,000 donation toward the expansion of Owen County’s Outdoor Emergency Warning System, now slated to get two more sirens thanks to a matching grant awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Lions’ contribution will count as part of the match requirement. The approximate additional two locations that this FEMA grant will make possible will include the area of Cuba in Montgomery Township and the area of Adel Road between Franklin and Clay Townships.
Accepting the check from Spencer Lions Club Treasurer Jim Query is Owen County Emergency Management Director Jack White, shown here along with siren committee members Owen County Councilman Anton Karl Neff (also a Lion) and Bruce Hamlin. This photo was taken in front of the existing siren site at Cooper Park in Spencer, which is pictured to the right.
If you, an organization or a business would like to help contribute toward the local match for this FEMA grant, consider a donation to Owen County Government via “Siren Fund 4917”, directed to the attention of the Auditor’s Office, Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer, IN 47460.
PHOTO AND CONTENT SUBMITTED BY ANTON NEFF.
Wabash College Dean’s List
Submitted Article
Jerry D. McBee of Freedom was named to the Wabash College Dean’s List for the fall 2024 semester. McBee maintained a 3.5 grade point average or better on a
4.0-point scale.
Located in Crawfordsville and founded in 1832, Wabash College is a private liberal arts college, which teaches men to think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively, and live humanely.
Aubrey Sparks and Austin Boltinghouse both won the Patriot Award for the 2024-2025 winter sports season. From left, Sparks, OVHS Athletic Director Brad Greene and Boltinghouse are pictured. The winter sports awards banquet was held on March 25.
NICOLE DECRISCIO | THE OWEN NEWS
Owen Valley High School Sports Calendar
April 4
5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. South Knox at South Knox.
April 8
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Bloomfield at Bloomfield.
5:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Eminence at Owen Valley.
7:30 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. Eminence at Owen Valley.
April 9
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Monrovia at Owen Valley.
6:30 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. Monrovia at Owen Valley.
April 10
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. North CentralFarmersburg at Owen Valley.
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf three-way match vs. South Putnam and Indian Creek.
5 p.m. – Varsity co-ed track & field vs. South Putnam, Northview and Clay City.
April 11
6 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball at Lady Braves Bash at Terre Haute South.
April 14
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. LintonStockton at LintonStockton.
April 15
4:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs. Edgewood at Owen Valley.
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf three-way match vs. North Central and Eastern Greene at Owen Valley.
5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. South Putnam at South Putnam.
7 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. South Putnam at South Putnam.
April 16
5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Brown County at Owen Valley.
5:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Brown County at Owen Valley.
7 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. Brown County at Owen Valley.
April 17
4:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs. Edgewood at Owen Valley.
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. LintonStockton at LintonStockton.
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs. Northview at Owen Valley.
5 p.m. – Varsity co-ed
track & field vs. Monrovia at Owen Valley.
5:30 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ baseball vs. Monrovia at Monrovia.
7:30 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. Linton-Stockton at LintonStockton.
April 19
Noon – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Shakamak at Owen Valley.
Noon – Junior varsity boys’ baseball vs. Shakamak at Owen Valley.
9:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis at Sullivan Invitational.
April 21
4:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs. North Daviess at North Daviess.
April 22
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs. Northview at Owen Valley.
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Northview at Northview.
5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Northview at Northview.
7:30 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. Northview at Northview.
April 23
4:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs. Terre Haute
Cloverdale High School Sports Calendar
April 5
10 a.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Crawfordsville at Cloverdale.
April 7
5:30 p.m. –Varsity girls’ softball vs. Union-Duggar at Cloverdale.
5:30 p.m. –Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Union-Duggar at Cloverdale.
April 8
5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track vs. North Putnam and Eminence at Cloverdale.
5:30 p.m. –Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Eminence at Eminence.
6 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. White River Valley at Cloverdale.
April 10
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Clay City at Cloverdale.
5:30 p.m. –Varsity girls’ softball vs. Bloomfield at Bloomfield.
April 12
10 a.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. White River Valley at White River Valley.
10 a.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track at Hall of Fame Patriot Invitational at Owen Valley.
1 p.m. –Varsity boys’ golf at Northview Invitational at Northview.
April 14
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track vs. White River Valley and Lighthouse Christian Academy at White River Valley.
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball
vs. Monrovia at Cloverdale.
April 15
5:30 p.m. –Varsity girls’ softball vs. West Vigo at West Vigo.
5:30 p.m. –Varsity boys’ baseball vs. West Vigo at West Vigo.
April 17
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. South Putnam at Cloverdale.
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. South Putnam at Cloverdale.
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs. LintonStockton and North Central-Farmersburg at Linton-Stockton.
April 19
10 a.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball at the County Tournament at North Putnam.
10 a.m. – Varsity girls’ softball at the County Tournament at North Putnam.
April 21
4:30 p.m. –Varsity boys’ golf vs. Shakamak at Shakamak.
5:30 p.m. –Varsity girls’ softball vs. Indian Creek at Cloverdale.
5:30 p.m. –Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Indian Creek at Cloverdale.
April 22
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Greencastle at Greencastle.
5 pm. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Greencastle at Greencastle.
April 23
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track vs. South Putnam, Lighthouse Christian
South at Terre Haute South.
5 p.m. – Varsity co-ed track & field vs. Cloverdale at Cloverdale.
5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. West Vigo at Owen Valley.
5:30 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. West Vigo at Owen Valley.
7 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. West Vigo at Owen Valley.
7 p.m. – Junior varsity boys’ baseball vs. West Vigo at Owen Valley.
April 24
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs. West Vigo at Owen Valley.
April 25
5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Eastern Greene at Eastern Greene.
April 26 Noon – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Clay City at Owen Valley.
April 28
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs. Indian Creek at Indian Creek.
5 p.m. – Varsity co-ed track & field vs. Eastern Greene at Owen Valley.
5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Monrovia at Owen Valley.
April 29
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Cloverdale at Cloverdale.
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs. North Putnam at North Putnam. 5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Cloverdale at Cloverdale.
7 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. Cloverdale at Cloverdale.
April 30
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Greencastle at Owen Valley.
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs. South Vermillion at Owen Valley.
5:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Greencastle at Owen Valley.
7 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. Greencastle at Owen Valley.
May 1
4:30 p.m. – Varsity boys’ golf vs. Edgewood and Bloomfield at Edgewood.
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Clay City at Clay City.
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ tennis vs. Brown County at Owen Valley.
7:30 p.m. – Junior varsity girls’ softball vs. Clay City at Clay City.
Academy, and Owen Valley at Cloverdale.
April 24
4 p.m. –Varsity boys’ golf vs. Monrovia at Cloverdale.
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Northview at Cloverdale.
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Northview at Cloverdale.
April 25
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Shakamak at Cloverdale.
April 26
9 a.m. – Varsity boys’ golf at Bob Arnett Invitational at Rea Park in Terre Haute.
10 a.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track vs. Edgewood at Edgewood.
April 28
4:30 p.m. –Varsity boys’ golf vs. North Putnam at Cloverdale.
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Bethesda Christian at Bethesda Christian.
April 29
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ and girls’ track vs. North CentralFarmersburg at North CentralFarmersburg.
5 p.m. – Varsity boys’ baseball vs. Owen Valley at Cloverdale.
5:30 p.m. –Varsity girls’ softball vs. Owen Valley at Cloverdale.
May 1
5 p.m. – Varsity girls’ softball vs. Parke Heritage at Cloverdale.
5 p.m. – Varsity
boys’ baseball vs. Parke Heritage at Cloverdale.
5:30 p.m. –Varsity boys’ and girls’ track vs.
Cascade and TriWest at Cascade.
Friends of McCormick’s Creek 5K this month
Press Release
As the chill of winter abates, many fitness enthusiasts search for Spring events that help motivate them to renew or commence training. Friends of McCormick’s Creek 5K Run/Walk is just such an event.
Runners and walkers from across the state look forward to a fun-filled morning of fellowship, challenging themselves and encouraging others to attain their personal best times. This event is for all ages and fitness levels, whether it’s your first
5K or your hundredth. Online registration is available at: runsignup.com/Race/IN/Spencer/ FriendsMcCormicksCreek5k
Runners and walkers are encouraged to register soon to take advantage of the early discount and receive a race shirt.
This Mag 7 Series road race, winding through blossoming trees and wildflowers at scenic McCormick’s Creek State Park, is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, with an 8:30 a.m. start time. Packet pick-up and race-day registration begins at 7 a.m. at the Nature Center. McDonalds and Babbs Supermarket will
provide refreshments. There will be a prize drawing and age group awards following the race. Proceeds from the race fund park improvements, restoration from the tornado, and educational programs and events. The Friends of McCormick’s Creek would like to thank all the sponsors who make this event possible.
Platinum Sponsors: Hoosier Energy, Sweet Owen Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Boston Scientific.
Gold Sponsors: Owen County State Bank and Spencer Lions Club.
Cloverdale Middle School Sports Calendar
April 14
5 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Kingsway Christian, Lighthouse Christian, and South Putnam at South Putnam.
April 21
5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. North Putnam at North Putnam.
April 28
5 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Southmont at Cloverdale.
May 8
5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field at Putnam County Meet at Greencastle.
May 12
5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. North Clay and South Putnam at South Putnam.
Silver Sponsors: Green Dental and Insurance Services Inc.
Bronze Sponsors: Home Team Properties, REMAX Select Associates, Commercial Service, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, MYPath, Byers Home Furnishings, Racetrackers, Crane Credit Union, Endeavor Communications, Ridgeline Veterinary Services, McDonalds, Babbs Supermarket and Canyon Inn.
For more information email race-director@ friendsmccormickscreek.org. happy hunting!
May 13
5 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Owen Valley at Owen Valley.
May 17
8:30 a.m. – Co-ed track & field at WIC Meet at Owen Valley.
First annual ON morel mushroom contest
Staff Report
Is it the thrill of the hunt, or the taste of the magnificent morel that drives Owen Countians wild? Whether foraging in the woods or frying up a batch of flavorful fungi is your favorite part of the annual spring tradition, The Owen News is pleased to announce our first-ever Morel Mushroom Contest!
In addition to “Sweet Owen” bragging rights, the mushroom hunter who finds the largest morel (length + width) will receive $50, while second place will be awarded $25, and third place $10.
The contest is open to Owen County residents only and will officially close at
4 p.m. on Friday, May 23. Entries cost $5 each and are not limited, so keep hunting as the season progresses. Entry fees may be paid online, by check or money order or by cash at the time of entry. All proceeds will support The Owen News. The winners will be announced in our June 2025 issue.
The contest is limited to yellow or gray morel (sponge) mushroom varieties. All entries must have been found in Owen County.
All entries must be measured at our office, 114 S. Main St., Spencer, either by appointment by calling 812-5104662 or emailing info@theowennews. org. Office hours specifically for the mushroom contest are:
April 8, 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
April 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
April 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
April 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
April 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
May 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
May 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
May 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
May 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
May 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
May 23, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hours are subject to change due to coverage needs, and folks are encouraged to call ahead. This year’s contest is
sponsored by A Fungus Among Us, LLC.
As a reminder, morel mushrooms typically start to emerge when the soil temperature reaches around 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They prefer air temperatures in the 60s and 70s during the day and no lower than 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
For the best longevity and to prevent mushrooms from going bad, mushrooms should be stored in a brown paper bag or lined with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Storing them in plastic traps moisture, leading to a slimy texture and creates the potential for mold growth.
The best way to harvest morel
mushrooms is to cut them at the base with scissors or a knife, or pinch them off at the base with your fingers. Cutting or pinching ensures that the mushroom is removed without damaging the mycelium, which is the underground network that helps the mushrooms grow.
Using a mesh bag is also recommended because it allows the spores to fall back to the ground as you continue your hunt, potentially helping to maintain or increase the morel population. Morels are found in various habitats, often near dead or dying trees such as elms, poplars and ash trees, as well as in old apple orchards. Morel mushrooms are considered to be mycorrhizal, meaning they form a mutualistic relationship with the roots of trees. This relationship benefits both the fungus and the tree, with the fungus receiving carbohydrates from the plant and the plant gaining access to more water and nutrients from the soil due to the increased surface area provided by the mycelium of the fungus. This dual nature of morels—being both mycorrhizal and saprotrophic— explains why they can be found in a variety of environments, including around dead or dying trees. Good luck and happy hunting!
Driftwood Outdoors: Sports Hall of Fame Induction
By Brandon Butler Guest Columnist
When I published my first article in September of 2006, the idea of being enshrined in a hall of fame for my work in outdoor media was not something I imagined. When I received the news of my induction in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, I was shocked. It’s a humbling honor I never expected. I’m grateful for the recognition, but more so view it as a responsibility to further increase my efforts of promoting and protecting our natural resources, and the enjoyment of the great outdoors for as long as God will allow.
My love of nature has always been evident and has continued to grow in strength over my 46 years. Early camping trips to Indiana State Parks laid the foundation of seeking adventure in nature. Fishing trips with my grandparents to the northern reaches of Wisconsin and Minnesota began at eightyears-old. They introduced me to the excitement
of exploring new destinations.
I’ve chased that carrot ever since. Never able quench my thirst for fishing new lakes, paddling new rivers and exploring forests and prairies I’d never met before.
My journey over the past 20 years has taken me on adventures beyond my boyhood imagination. I left Indiana after graduating from Purdue University and headed to Colorado. My stay was short before moving to Montana. I consider my four years under the Big Sky the adventure of my lifetime, but I found my place in Missouri. The last 15 years here have been filled with outdoor adventure. The Missouri Model of Conservation sets the bar for the rest of the country. The incredible diversity of high-quality opportunities here ranks Missouri right at the top of places to live if you love to fish and hunt.
I am without question an outdoors generalist. I love it all. If the season is open and someone wants to go, I’m interested.
I fish all year, hunt turkeys, shed antlers and mushrooms in the spring, and just about everything else in the fall. As I have noted in previous columns, I’m enjoying the pursuit of a personal quest to successfully hunt in every state by the time I turn 50. Hunting is just the vehicle I’m using to meet incredible people while exploring as much of our beautiful country as possible.
It’s the people and places I’m most interested in. I have never aspired to be a how-to writer. Instead, I prefer to focus on the “why.” Why should you visit this destination? Why should you consider this way of fishing or hunting? Why should you care about clean water? Why does it matter to conserve wildlife and native habitats? My hope is to motivate an audience to care about our shared natural resources, then to go out and explore for themselves with just enough information to get started. I wholeheartedly believe the journey is the destination. My hope has
share and advice I give to help figure it out and make the most of it with their tribe.
The list of people I owe gratitude for the opportunities I have been given and others for their involvement along the way is far, far too long to attempt. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today if not for the love and support of my family. My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, brother and cousins all played a role in my early development as an outdoorsman. Friends along the
more so than my current partner in Driftwood Outdoors, Nathan “Shags” McLeod. My daughters, Bailee and Annabel, have given me the joy of sharing time outdoors with my children. There is no greater gift.
Most of all, I want to thank you. Everyone who has read my columns over the last 19 years has given me the opportunity to live a dream come true. If anything, I’m persistent, as I haven’t missed a week yet, and I don’t plan to anytime in the future.
local newspaper. I studied fishing and hunting magazines, owned some of the first VHS hunting tapes and attended as many seminars as possible. To emulate those early icons of my life has been amazing. All of you have given me the chance. Thank you.
See you down the trail… For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on driftwoodoutdoors. com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.
Rob Marsh, Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, presents Brandon Butler (right) with his induction plaque on March 11, 2025.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY DRIFTWOOD OUTDOORS.
Outdoor Type: Crappie thrive in the Ohio River embayments
in the 12-inch range. I caught three, none of which were that big.
After thinking it over, I came up with four factors. One, my buddy was experienced on the water we were fishing. He had been there numerous times and had caught lots of crappie, and he knew the spots. In these waters, if you’re inches away from the fish, you might as well be miles. That’s typical of persnickety crappie.
Two, he was in
the front of the boat. When you’re cruising around dropping your minnow beside one stump after another, the guy in front does get the first crack at the choice spots. On the other hand, there are a lot of stumps in these creeks. The best spots are where a clump of stumps form. Your minnow placed right in the middle of the heap is the goal. I had plenty of good shots at spots too, but I didn’t connect as often.
The Long Pole’s Advantage Three, he had a 10-foot-long crappie pole, while I had a standard spinning rod, a six-footer. The thing was, he would often catch fish right beside my minnow. He seemed to have “the touch.”
Naturally I had to go out and get one of those long poles myself, and I have to admit it does have a place in crappie fishing. I purchased a casting type reel
for the rod, but I’ve found I do better with an ultralight spinning reel and sixpound fluorocarbon line. At times you might want to toss the minnow a ways, and the casting reel makes that difficult. The six-eight pound fluorocarbon line allows me to bend the fine wire crappie hook, if I pull gradually when I get hung up. And if you fish around cover, which is most of the time in crappie fishing, you will get hung up, a lot. Some cover you can see, but most you can’t. The long rod allows you to drop the minnow or jig straight down and retrieve it straight up, cutting down on hangups.
Don’t Be Too Quick
Another thing my buddy taught me is not to pull the trigger too soon on biting fish. Let them take it, take it, till you can’t stand it, then ease back on them.
I jumped the gun too many times, and I jerked too hard. When I saw the cork disappearing under a limb or log, I got antsy, fearing loss of fish and rig. The jerking too hard is because of my bass fishing experiences. Putting the hook through both of the minnows’ lips from the bottom up seems to help with hooking fish. A Gulp nibble on the tip of the hook cuts down a little on getting snagged, and it adds color and appeal.
The embayments off the Ohio offer nice crappie opportunities almost all year long. Big and Little Oil, Big and Little Deer and Poison are creeks located in Perry County upstream from the Cannelton Dam. You could have a warm spell in November or December and get a few, and you might even have a good outing in January or February. You could
get crappie there on the hottest day in July. Of course, right now through May is prime. As with any other fishing, you can have slow days as well. A lot depends on creek conditions, as rains screw up the works. Then it calms down fairly soon, and the crappie get back to their normal routines. But some years have been a special challenge for a couple of reasons. For one, the amount of rainfall. You need fairly clear, stable water conditions for the bite to be right.
The Carp Problem
The second reason is a toughie. There are numerous Asian carp in these creeks. What effect this has on the crappie fishery is pretty much unknown, but it can’t be good. These plankton feeders muck up the water, coloring it even when there’s little rain. They consume a food source shad
need to survive. No shad—few crappie. If you don’t keep up your guard, they’ll also body slam you while you’re serenely motoring along. If these fish are shallow and a motor comes puttering, they go into panic mode. On a June trip we witnessed several jumpers, and then as we wrapped up one morning, a seven- or eightpound carp jumped four feet out of the water and landed at my partner’s feet. He was glad it wasn’t in his lap. He had experienced a higher speed carp encounter at Reelfoot Lake, so he knew what these fish could do to a boater. We were idling along. If we had been cruising faster, that one could’ve hurt. Fewer carp have been the case recently—let’s hope it keeps up. It’s fishing season. Best of luck.
Trailing or Leading: MYPath a place to meet
By Kyle Hannon Project Manager, MYPath Trail System
As many people in our community are discovering, the MYPath trail is a great place to walk, run and ride a bicycle. With new improvements, MYPath has also become a great place to sit, talk, share a picnic and meet others.
Last year, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) revealed that loneliness and social isolation were affecting the mental health and wellbeing of Hoosiers, especially in rural communities. During the pandemic, a lot of gatherings were cancelled. A lot of social networks were frayed. To help, OCRA offered
the Building Socially Connect Communities grant program.
The MYPath Riverfront Trail was in the process of being paved. A new bridge was on the way. We knew the path was going to be a nice trail for the community. But we also knew it could be more. Wouldn’t a new trail be a great resource for people to get together? Our Wednesday walks were nice activities for a small group of people. Couldn’t other groups meet, at other times, for other reasons?
MYPath could be more than a trail. It could be a resource, a facility for community groups to meet.
We submitted our Meet Me on MYPath program to OCRA. We shared that, according to census records, Owen County has 2,500 people living alone. In a county of less than 22,000 people, that is “a gripping number,” we said. Through
partnerships with area organizations, we would host events at MYPath, giving more people an opportunity to connect with one another.
First, we needed infrastructure for gatherings. People are encouraged to come to MYPath regardless of physical abilities. Some people can run a long way, but due to health considerations, other people can’t walk very far at all. All should feel welcome. So, we asked for seven benches along the trail, for resting, bird watching or just talking.
To help support events, we asked for a new pavilion, with picnic tables. We shared plans for a new fire ring with benches. We proposed wayfinding signs so visitors could follow all the side trails. And we pledged partnerships with Area 10 Agency on Aging, Boys and Girls Club of Owen County, Owen
Valley Rehabilitation and Health Care and Spencer Pride. Thankfully, OCRA granted us money to pursue our goals. It was a matching grant, so the Owen County Community Foundation and community members provided resources too.
From the beginning of MYPath, we envisioned the trail being an amenity for gathering. In fact, our original construction plans included benches and signs with a placeholder for a pavilion. Unfortunately, the bridge cost way more than anticipated. To afford the trail and the bridge, we needed to scale back our plans, eliminating the benches and signs.
OCRA’s efforts to Build Socially Connected Communities and our efforts to build a socially connected trail matched perfectly. Thank you to OCRA for
completing our vision.
OCRA’s contributions are working as planned. We see people resting on the benches, talking to each other and trail walkers. The Boys and Girls Club of Owen County has already had a walk on the trail, where they were having fun trying to complete a nature scavenger hunt. Spencer Pride has a Rainbow Birders event planned for July 19.
We hope you have had a chance to see the new benches. The new pavilion is fabulous, and it is known as Dave’s Pavilion, in honor of the late Dave Allen, who was a tireless community advocate and founder of the JROTC program at Owen Valley High School.
Trail usage is increasing, thanks in part to the upgraded trail and the new benches and tables. Our Wednesday at 10
a.m. walks have been growing. We just added a new event, Wag and Walk, with walkers and leashed dogs on Sundays at 2 p.m.
Feel free to join one of our scheduled walks. Of course, you are certainly welcome to visit the trail on your own time. If you have a chance to bring a friend or neighbor, please do. At the very least, please nod politely to other people using the trail. If loneliness is a challenge in our community, we can all do our part, so others feel connected.
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.
OCPL: A hub of knowledge and learning
By Brittany Van Hook OCPL Incoming Director
Growing up in Owen County, I have vivid memories of visiting Owen County Public Library (OCPL), only I wasn’t there for books, I was there to check out the VHS of the musical Annie for the hundredth time. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined myself as the future director of the library.
The love of reading did not come naturally to me. My older sister could and would
read anything put in front of her, while I could barely sound out simple words. My grandparents and parents rushed into action and found a tutor to help me. After more after-school tutoring sessions than I could count, I could figure out the words on the page, but that zest for reading still wasn’t there. And then it happened! I feel like most avid readers are either born that way or can tell you the moment they become readers. For me, it hit my seventh-grade year at Owen Valley Middle School. I don’t know if it was having my first author visit, working at the student bookstore or hearing Darla Staley read aloud with all the character voices,
but for the first time, books weren’t just piles of pages with ink on them. Books were suddenly alternate worlds that I wanted to be a part of. Almost immediately, I knew two things: I wanted to read every book I could, and I wanted to grow up and be one of the people who helped others want to read! So that is what I did, I went to school to be an English teacher.
After graduating from Indiana University, I was fortunate enough to get the job of my dreams, teaching language arts at Owen Valley Middle School (OVMS). Not only did I get my wish to show others the joy of reading, but I would get to do so in the place and with the
programs that made me a reader. I was re-introduced to the library after I started teaching at the Lifelong Learning Center (LLLC), the library’s adult education program, where I just celebrated my 10th anniversary. The LLLC offers a range of classes, from high school equivalencies to laser printing, digital literacy and Microsoft certifications, just to brush the surface. Being a part of adult education gave me a new perspective on the library system; it showed me that a library is more than a place to check out a book or movie, but rather a hub of knowledge and learning. Looking forward, I
cannot express how proud and privileged I feel to continue the legacy of OCPL. At any given moment, the library building is abuzz with patrons looking for books, using computers, learning new skills and even playing instruments. Some are even looking for movies like I did. I am constantly amazed by all the talents of the staff, seamlessly jumping from assisting one person to another. With their dedication, I know OCPL will continue to grow and serve the everchanging needs of our community.
To quote Little Orphan Annie, “I think I’m gonna like it here.”
4-H SPARK clubs, workshops inspire and educate
By Cassie Linville 4-H Youth Development Educator
of learning and creativity, several SPARK clubs and workshops are set up to ignite curiosity and skillbuilding among participants of all ages. Here’s a sneak peek into the upcoming events: Entomology
SPARK Club
Dive into the fascinating world of insects with the Entomology
SPARK Club! This club offers handson experiences in identifying, collecting and studying various insects. Perfect for budding entomologists and nature enthusiasts, this club provides a unique opportunity to explore the miniature world of insects. This will take place on May 29 and May 31.
Sewing SPARK Club
Unleash your creativity with the Sewing SPARK Club. Whether you’re a beginner or have some sewing experience, this club provides a supportive environment to learn and enhance your sewing skills. From basic stitches to creating your
own garments, participants will enjoy a range of projects that cater to all skill levels. The last two sessions will take place on April 24 and May 12.
Gingerbread Creation Workshop
This workshop is a delightful opportunity for 4-H members to design and decorate their own gingerbread houses. With a variety of candies and icing at your disposal, let your imagination run wild and create a gingerbread masterpiece! Attendees will walk away with a project they could display as a 4-H project at the Owen County Fair!
Stay tuned for the date!
Needle Craft Workshop
Explore the art of needlework in the Needle Craft Workshop. Participants will have the chance to create beautiful, handcrafted items while learning the intricacies of needlecraft. The workshop provides all necessary materials and guidance, making it accessible for beginners and experienced crafters alike. Stay tuned for the date!
Mini 4-H Mess Makers
For the younger crowd, the Mini 4-H Mess Makers club is a fantastic way to get handson with fun and messy projects. Designed for 4-H members in K-2 grade, this club encourages creativity and exploration through activities like painting, slime, play doh and more. It’s all about having fun while learning new skills! Stay tuned for the dates!
E lectricity Workshop
Spark your
interest in science with the Electricity Workshop. This workshop offers an interactive experience where participants can learn about the principles of electricity and circuits. Through engaging in experiments and projects, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how electricity powers our world. Stay tuned for the date!
Photography Workshop
Capture the beauty around you with the Photography Workshop. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced photographer, this workshop provides tips and techniques to improve your photography skills. The workshop covers the basics of camera operation and more advanced techniques for capturing different types of images, offering guided photo walks to practice skills. Stay tuned for the date! Bridges to Adventure SPARK Club
Prepare for the great outdoors with the Bridges to Adventure SPARK Club, focusing on survival skills. It’s an excellent opportunity for adventure seekers to gain confidence and knowledge in outdoor survival. The last session is on May 17th.
These 4-H SPARK clubs and workshops are designed to inspire and educate, offering something for everyone. Don’t miss out on the chance to learn new skills, meet like-minded individuals and have a great time. Mark your calendars and get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and creativity! Have any questions or are you interested in any of these programs? Stop by the Purdue Extension Office or follow us on Facebook by searching Purdue Extension-Owen County or Owen County 4-H –Indiana.
Purdue Extension: Ready, set, plant!
environment that is conducive for good germination of seed or start of transplant development.
Darker soil,
typically with more organic matter, tends to warm up faster than a brown soil type. Soil temperature needs to be in the range of 50 degrees for germination. Deeper planting will make a lesser temperature, and more crop residue will cool soil
Anyone planting seeds must monitor soil temperature and be mindful of soil type, depth of seed placement and residue cover.
Potatoes can be planted now but plant them two to three inches deep, otherwise sprouting may be subdued by a cooler soil temperature.
Planting later in May typically ensures warmer soil temperatures will follow. April planting can be tricky and seed placement an inch too deep can be problematic. Also, small seeds require less soil depth at planting. Don’t bury your mustard seeds! Soil contact
We call this seedto-soil contact with respect to planting seeds, be they lawn grass, corn or lettuce. The seed needs coverage of soil to have a moist environment and to not dry out.
We typically get enough rain in April to not have a dry seedbed issue.
But never say
never. I had soybean seed one dry spring that took two extra weeks to germinate because of a dry seed bed. Getting seed covered with soil is important: lawn grass only needs a spritz of soil covering the seed to do well. Again, follow planting depth recommendations and don’t plant too deep.
Light
Trick question! Seeds DO NOT require light to germinate. What light reaches a seed of corn planted two inches deep? Seeds need oxygen and moisture. Get that seed covered. Light is only a necessity when photosynthesis
starts. Good seed Germination of seeds is not a problem with stored seeds that are dry and have not been compromised with moisture. I am never afraid to plant seed from last year, if it has been stored properly. The University of Illinois has a fascinating study going back decades where seeds were stored and each year some were planted and germination recorded. Early season diagnostics
Each planting failure or problem sets up a crime scene investigation. “Why did my seed not
grow?” could be due to a variety of causal factors like insects, fungal disease or soil conditions.
Like any crime scene, the earlier you collect evidence, the better your chances to figure out what went wrong. Standing in foot tall corn trying to determine why there are skips in the row is often able to yield enough clues.
Monitor your garden or crop field weekly and give me a call at 812-8295020 or email luzar@ purdue.edu if you have questions. Happy planting!
Spring: A time for renewal and rejuvenation
By Jamie Jo Lowder Health and Human Sciences Educator, Purdue Extension-Owen County
The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and the days are getting longer—spring is finally here! Just like nature shakes off the chill of winter, it’s the perfect time for us to do the same. Whether it’s refreshing your routine, spending more time outdoors or finding new ways to relax, spring is all about renewal and rejuvenation.
If winter stress has left you feeling drained, now is the time to reset. Try deep breathing exercises, daily walks in nature or getting creative with crafts to bring more peace into your day.
Simple changes—like decluttering your space, staying active and soaking up the sunshine—can do wonders for your mind and body.
This spring let’s bloom into a season of less stress and more joy! What’s your favorite way to refresh and unwind?
Stress is a normal part of life, but too much can harm your well-being. Purdue has some tips and tricks to help manage it:
- Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulnessbased stress reduction (MBSR) techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, to reduce anxiety and improve attention.
- Engage in Physical Activity: Regular exercise increases endorphins, improves sleep and boosts self-esteem, all of which helps alleviate stress.
- Improve Time Management: Efficiently managing your time can reduce stress by allowing for rest and personal activities.
- Identify Stressors: Recognize the sources of your stress to develop effective coping strategies.
- Maintain Social Connections: Spending time with family and friends provides support and helps mitigate stress.
- Adopt Relaxation Techniques: Incorporate relaxation methods such as deep breathing, counting slowly or taking short walks to manage immediate stress.
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott
Here are some programs that I have coming up soon:
April 16
Hero Story Time. I will be at the library every other week to read a book from our “hero” series teaching about being kind, controlling behaviors, being a good friend and more for our preschool age kiddos. Join us at the library at 10 a.m. Contact the Owen County
Public Library or the Purdue Extension-Owen County Office for more information.
April 17
Parents Forever, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office. This is an educational program for families experiencing divorce, separation, a change in child custody or just wanting to learn how to parent better together. Please pre-register for this event by calling 812829-5020 or emailing lowder0@purdue.edu.
May 5
Get WalkIN Owen County. This competition will be held each day, Monday through Friday, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Courthouse Square. Each day you will log the amount of time that you walk and the day that you walked. Our local health department will be giving out swag on certain days throughout the competition. At the end of June all those that have completed six or more weeks with us will
be entered in a drawing for some bigger prizes. Stay tuned to Purdue Extension’s Facebook page and website for more information on this event. You can always email lowder0@purdue. edu or call 812-829-5020 for more information.
June 9
Matter of Balance. Stay tuned for more information, but mark your calendars for this class. It will be held each Monday, from 10 a.m. to noon, for eight weeks at the Owen County Public Library. More programs will be added throughout the month, so stay tuned to our Facebook page and website for updates.
If you’re interested in a program on food, finance, family or health, let me know—I’d love to bring one to your group or organization.
To feature a program at your event/meeting, email the details to lowder0@purdue. edu. I look forward to connecting with you!
Ramblings: Signs of Spring
By Annie Bright Guest Columnist
of spring this week. The daffodils and the forsythia are blooming. The bright yellow blooms brighten gardens. Those two domesticated flowers say spring has finally arrived.
Daffodils always bring a smile to my face. The bright yellow blooms exude joy.
Daffodils are stubborn. They survive without attention or care. Several times, when I
have been hiking in the woods, I have walked into a sunny spot of ground covered with the golden blooms of the narcissus. The daffodils are a reminder that someone once called that place home. The homesteader planted them and waited for the blooms to come in the spring. Planting bulbs is an exercise in faith. Planting bulbs is a statement. “My feet are through wandering; I am staying here for a while.”
In several places along the roads of Owen County daffodils mark old home sites. The bulbs have multiplied over the years, and the bright yellow blooms have spread across the clearings that surround the old home sites. They are the only clue that a family once
called that spot home. A few have escaped and now grow in the ditches between the roads and fields.
Daffodils are poisonous, deer won’t eat them, neither will squirrels nor moles. On the side of a hill above Sciscoe Creek where it flows into Lake Monroe, the daffodils a woman of my clan planted two centuries ago still cover the hill with bright yellow blooms to herald spring’s arrival. A few years ago, part of my family trekked back to the old home site. The bright yellow blooms of those daffodils were a beacon to help us find the site my ancestors called home. All that remains of the cabin is a few rotting timbers and the stone foundation. The daffodils
and some spearmint plants have survived. I like knowing that the women in my family planted those plants. I dug a few bulbs out of the ground with a pocketknife and brought them home to the Ridge. Their golden blooms brighten my garden this week. I know my many times greatgrandmother Sciscoe would approve of sharing her daffodils with me. Daffodils or narcissus come from around the Mediterranean Sea. Planting native plants is something I support, but I want my daffodils too. A beautiful yellow native is also blooming. The south facing slope is carpeted with small yellow trout lilies. The leaves are more plentiful than the blooms. The mottled leaves are
beautiful beside the green moss. They have a single yellow bloom about an inch wide. The blooms have three petals and three sepals which curve backward. The blooms look like caps for elves. I can imagine dainty elfin ladies dancing through the dew wearing one of the blooms atop her curls. Many morel hunters are checking their ‘early’ spots for mushrooms because they usually appear when the trout lilies bloom. I saw plenty of blooms on my hike today, but no morels. I urge you to take a walk in the woods to enjoy the awakening land. Nature is a great stress reliever. ‘til next time, Annie
It’s Just a Country State of Mind: Brown eggs for sale
By Susan Anderson Guest Columnist
you seen a sign along an old country road that reads, ”Brown eggs for sale?”
A long time ago, I saw such a sign while out for a casual country drive.
There’s a certain amount of romance to be found in brown eggs for sale in the country. It brings to mind pictures of long, hot summer days in June, the smell of fresh cut hay and a backyard full of chickens.
It was a sign such as this that planted the idea of having my own chickens.
When I was a younger adult, I lived in the country
on several acres. One day, I decided that it was time for a henhouse to be built and for some baby chicks to be ordered to put into the henhouse. And so, it began.
Lumber was found from the remnants of an old shed for the chicken coop. Next, little nest boxes were built, along with a little door for the chickens to go in and out. Chicken wire fencing was placed around the henhouse to protect the chickens from predators. And fresh straw for the nest boxes. I ordered some chicks from the local hardware store. I learned that Rhode Island Reds were the chickens that laid brown eggs. So, I ordered 25 Rhode Island red chicks.
While waiting on the chicks to arrive, I kept myself busy by ordering things that I
needed: a heat lamp to keep the chicks warm, chick feeders and waterers, and feed.
I found an old box and layered it with newspaper to keep the chicks dry. It seemed like a lot of money, but I figured that I’d get my money back when I start selling eggs.
At last, the much anticipated chick day arrived. I drove into town to the hardware store to pick up my chicks and then headed home.
The first few days with my new chicks was wonderful. They chirped, ate and slept. They grew fast and soon it was time to move them into the chicken house.
I quickly settled into a routine, feeding my chickens and checking for eggs every morning. An unforeseen problem developed though. Not all of the
chickens were hens. There were a few roosters in the batch! I separated the boys from the girls, and I was back in business.
I’ll never forget the exhilaration that I felt the first time I found the first brown egg in a nest box. I gingerly picked it up from the nest and proudly carried it into the house.
After a few days, I started finding more and more eggs. It wasn’t long until my refrigerator started overflowing with brown eggs.
I realized that I had to start marketing my eggs. I made a sign that read “brown eggs for sale” and strategically placed it at the end of my driveway. Days went by without a phone call. Why wasn’t the phone ringing off the hook with egg orders? I didn’t know the answer to that question, but I did
know that I had eggs everywhere. I had to start giving eggs away to my friends and family. They ended up with a bunch of eggs in their refrigerators too.
I decided to go talk to some people that I knew that raised chickens and sold eggs. I started out the next morning to go to their home. After I arrived in their driveway, I went to the door, and knocked. My friend came to the door and asked if she could help me. I quickly told her that I had seen her sign advertising eggs for sale and that I wondered if she was still selling them. She said that a few years ago, she got the idea to raise chickens and to sell eggs. She said her chickens laid so many eggs that she couldn’t find enough buyers for them. She said that she finally
had to get rid of all her chickens.
I thought I’d faint when she asked me if I wanted to buy some brown eggs. I shook my head no and left. Some kind of mumbling sounds could be heard coming out of my mouth as I made my way back to my car. I got out of the chicken business after that. I can tell you that in the future, if I see a sign that says “brown eggs for sale” I’ll probably stop and buy a dozen. And with the price of eggs these days, that’s something to think about. After all, there’s a certain amount of romance to be found in brown eggs for sale in the country. Who said romance is dead? Happy Easter!
— Susan
Celebrating one year of The Owen News
By Nicole DeCriscio Executive Editor
I’ve always loved Spring. Between flowers blooming, the weather warming up and morel mushrooms, there’s a lot to love about this time of year.
But now, April holds something else to love and celebrate – the anniversary of the print start of The Owen News.
While the conversation sparking the idea for The Owen News happened three years ago, last April, we started providing a monthly printed product filled with local content. And it’s been a wild year.
In early 2024, our board set the goal of releasing the first edition of The Owen News ahead of the solar eclipse. Afterall, the start of a new newspaper in today’s online world
is relatively as rare as a total solar eclipse, and it was our hope that visitors to our community would know that we have a lot to be proud of.
As a board, we didn’t know what to expect or whether or not we would be able to sustain printing a paper in the longrun. While we’re still working on total sustainability, we’re a lot closer than we were a year ago.
At that time, all we had to go on was the faith and trust that our community would be there to support and value local news. And our community showed what can happen when we rally together around something to better our lives and the lives of our neighbors.
We’ve hit a lot of milestones in our first year:
- In May, we held a ribbon cutting to
celebrate with our community.
- In August, we printed our first Fair Special Section.
- In September, we won nonprofit of the year from the Owen County Chamber of Commerce.
-I n November, we launched our first NewsMatch campaign, leading to receiving the full match of $23,500.
- In January, we hired myself and our Advertising and Business Manager Lola Garrison.
- In February, we won Regional Opportunities Initative’s Quality of Place Innovation Awards.
- Last month, we brought back the beloved Morel Mushroom Contest. And we’re only just beginning. We have a lot of hopes and plans for the remainder of 2025 and the start of 2026. A few of them
Owen Valley Middle School Sports Calendar
April 7
6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade baseball vs. Cloverdale at Owen Valley.
6 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Batchelor at Owen Valley.
April 8
5:30 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs. White River Valley at White River Valley.
April 10
5:30 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs. Monrovia at Monrovia.
April 12
11 a.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball at Early Bird Tournament.
April 14
5 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Linton-Stockton at Owen Valley.
6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth
grade softball vs. North Daviess at Owen Valley.
April 15
5:30 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade baseball vs. Monrovia at Owen Valley.
April 16
5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. North Clay at North Clay.
April 17
6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade baseball vs. John Wooden Middle School at Owen Valley.
April 21
5:30 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade baseball vs. Edgewood at Edgewood.
5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. South Putnam and Greencastle at South Putnam.
6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs. Cloverdale at Owen Valley.
April 22
include:
- Producing our first Graduation Special Section;
- Hopefully winning some awards at the Indiana Society of Professional Journalists banquet next month;
-Expanding to a twice-monthly printing schedule;
- Expanding our advertisement options and pick up locations;
- Growing our members;
- Developing a community information and resource app;
- Growing our volunteer base and training some volunteer correspondents;
- Having a successful NewsMatch 2025 campaign; and
- Publishing the first The Owen News Community Calendar. There is a lot to look forward to, and we know that the
5:30 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs. Eminence at Owen Valley.
5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Eastern Greene at Owen Valley.
April 23
5:30 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade baseball vs. Greencastle at Greencastle.
April 24
6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs. Batchelor at Batchelor.
April 28
6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs. Brown County at Owen Valley.
April 29
6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball vs. Edgewood at Owen Valley.
sky’s the limit if our community works together.
After all, the reason we’re here celebrating one year of printing Indiana’s first nonprofit newspaper is because of our community and the support we’ve received.
We truly couldn’t do this without the support from the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, the Owen County Community Foundation, our advertisers and pick up locations, our board, staff and volunteers (including Kim Frazier who delivers papers for us and that I forgot in January’s column) and most of all, you, our readers.
If you have questions about or want to be part of one of our goals, please reach out to me at info@theowennews. org.
6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade baseball vs. Bedford at Owen Valley.
May 1
5:30 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Jackson Creek at Owen Valley.
May 3
8:30 a.m. – Co-ed track & field at Patriot Invitational at Owen Valley.
9 a.m. – Seventh and eighth grade softball at Eminence Invite at Eminence.
May 5
6 p.m. – Co-ed track & field vs. Edgewood at Edgewood.
May 6
6 p.m. – Seventh and eighth grade girls’ softball vs. Edgewood at Edgewood.
2025 fishing licenses available for purchase
DNR News Release
It’s time to begin planning your 2025 fishing trips, with fishing licenses available to purchase for this year’s adventures on the water.
Licenses valid now through March 31, 2026, can be purchased through the new DNR Fish & Wildlife Activity Hub at GoOutdoorsIN.com, via the mail, or through in-person retailers listed at on.IN.gov/
HuntFishLicenseRetailers.
With your 2025 fishing license, you can aim for a new state record, as was recently confirmed for Lafayette angler Isaac Switzer. His shortnose gar weighed two pounds, 15.9 ounces, beating the previous record by more than 10 ounces.
Switzer caught the fish on June 17, 2024, while using a Carolina rig and cut baitfish. It’s the second time in less than four years the species’
record has been broken, both times by catches on the Wabash River.
“I was fishing with my older brother on the Wabash River at night as we had done a hundred times before, targeting gar and catfish,” Switzer said of his record catch.
He said he instantly knew the fish was a shortnose gar record, having researched the record and catching similar-sized fish of the species previously.
Switzer considers gar
one of the best Hoosier fish and hopes that the recent broken records raises awareness about them. Gar are common throughout Indiana in rivers, streams, creeks, inland lakes, reservoirs, sloughs and marshes. Anglers who want to target the species or another Indiana sport fish can use DNR’s Fisheries Status & Trends dashboard to find lakes and reservoirs where they are most abundant.
The previous shortnose gar record was set by Kyle Hammond with a two-pound, 5.6-ounce fish caught in Wabash County in 2021. Hammond also holds the spotted gar state record, which he caught in 2024.
Learn more about the Indiana Record Fish program at on.IN.gov/ recordfish.
Learn about purchasing a fishing license at on.IN.gov/ fishinglicense.
NRC approves bobcat trapping rules
DNR News Release
The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) recently granted final adoption to allow the limited, regulated trapping of bobcats in designated southern Indiana counties.
Bobcat Trapping Rules
In 2024, the Indiana General
Assembly passed legislation (SEA 2412024) directing the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to have rules in place for bobcat harvest by July 2025.
The approved rules include:
Establishing a bobcat trapping season in 40 southern Indiana counties, including a limit of one bobcat per trapper and a
CCSC | FROM PAGE 5
the board also unanimously approved the creation of an assistant principal position at CES, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
“As the board is aware, the student population at CES continues to increase with the addition and growth of our preschool program,” Linton noted. “CES has the highest enrollment of our three schools. The increase in student enrollment, and the overall increased social/emotional needs of students in general, has generated the need for [CES Principal] Mrs. [Mary] Elkins to have additional help in managing CES.”
In addition, the
cumulative season limit of 250 bobcats for all trappers combined.
Allowing bobcats and their parts that are legally acquired to be sold.
Allowing bobcats that are found dead to be kept by people with a permit.
Adding bobcats to the list of species for which a game breeder’s license is required.
use requests: Professional Leaves
Feb. 18 – Sarah Campbell, CPI training, ONT/Area 30.
Feb. 26 – Paige Glassburn, CPI training, ONT/Area 30.
Feb 26 – Jill Schreiber, webinar on disability and community, CMS.
March 13 – Chelsey Meluch, SPED 101 for Administrators, Area 30.
March 18-20 –Taulbee Jackson, ILearn PLD Review virtual workshop, CMS.
March 19 – Heather Clingan, Indiana FFA proficiency grading, Southmont High School.
March 21 – Jared Metzger, annual tour of schools, CES/CMS/ CHS.
April 2 – Ivy Oberkrom, required
The NRC granted preliminary adoption of the rules in September 2024, and it later held two public comment periods and two public hearings.
Research maintained by the DNR and Purdue University shows that the bobcat population in Indiana has expanded during the last two decades.
Schools Advanced Academy, Indianapolis.
April 16-17 – Cathy Ames, Title Con 2025, Plainfield.
May 7 – Beth Williams, hang artwork for Art Fair, CES/CMS.
2025/2026 school year – Carrie Hall, one day each month, Asset Program, online.
Field Trips
March 13 – CES fourth grade class, Indiana State Museum.
April 11 – CES first grade class, Terre Haute Children’s Museum.
April 11 or 12th –CHS band, Northview High School.
April 22 – CHS Academic Super Bowl Team, Greencastle High School.
April 24 – CES kindergarten, Historic Tivoli Theatre, Spencer.
May 9 – CES sixth grade class, Bogey’s Family Fun Center,
May 10 – CHS
This research can be reviewed at on.IN.gov/dfw-rulechanges.
Bobcats have well-established populations in the 40 counties where trapping will be allowed. Analysis shows that this highquality habitat can support regulated harvest while also maintaining a healthy, sustainable bobcat population.
Academic Super Bowl Team, Purdue University.
June 2-9 – Snails to Trails, South Bend.
June 3-10 – Snails to Trails, Kentucky.
June 4-11 – Snails to Trails, Indianapolis.
June 5-12 – Snails to Trails, Crawfordsville.
June 6-13 – Snails to Trails, St. Louis, Missouri.
Facility Use
March 5 – Haltom 8U softball parent/ player meeting, CMS Media Center.
March 11-12 –Cloverdale Community Youth League (CCYL), CPS, AED, and first aid training, CMS library.
March 19 – CCYL board meeting, CMS library.
April 30 – CHS National Honor Society induction ceremony, CHS cafetorium.
April 30 – Drama Club school play, CMS cafeteria.
After the rule’s adoption, DNR anticipates that Indiana’s first bobcat trapping season will begin this fall. A summary of all rules and regulations will be available in the annual Hunting & Trapping Guide, which is typically available in August.
Fair, CES and CMS.
Additional personnel matters receiving unanimous board approval included:
Employment
Holly Watkins –part-time bus aide. Alisan Staletovich – CMS guidance secretary.
FMLA
Lori Halloran – CMS teacher.
The Cloverdale Community School Board will meet again on Monday, April 14 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale. Members of the board include Vivian Witaker, Katrina Lewis, Donna Fidler, Melissa Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann and Mike
FROM LEFT: CES student Mila Green, CHS student Isabella Montgomery and CMS student Ryder Pettijohn were recognized as CCSC Students of the Month for the month of March. // CES students Rumor Jones and Wyatt Land received Good Citizen Awards for the month of March from Cloverdale Marshal Adam Hull. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY CLOVERDALE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION.
