Honoring 50 Years
The Hendricks County Historical Museum Celebrates a Half-Century
ALYSSA RINEHART’S BIG BREAK
INDIANA NATIVE SHINES IN CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
Hendricks County’s Annual BBQ Bash Returns this Month
6 ALYSSA RINEHART’S BIG BREAK Indiana Native Shines in Cirque du Soleil
12 HONORING 50 YEARS The Hendricks County Historical Museum Celebrates a HalfCentury 15 JUNE EVENTS
16 RIB-FEST TURNS 20 Hendricks County’s Annual BBQ Bash Returns this Month
20 INSIDE THE SHERIFF’S ACADEMY Hendricks County Program Offers HandsOn Law Enforcement Experience 23 JUNE CROSSWORD
PUBLISHER
DARREN BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812
KEY CONTRIBUTORS ASH INTERACTIVE MELISSA GIBSON LAURA MULLER
NICOLE SPEER
ABBIE WILLANS
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.
FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599
PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK
CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS
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This year at Avon Orthodontics we are celebrating Dr. Gregory Johnson’s 30th year of service to the Hendricks County community.
Over the last 30 years, Dr. Johnson has helped over ten thousand patients achieve the smile of their dreams. Our office is full of friendly smiles from our team members, including the occasional tail wag from our office dog, Karma. Some of our employees here at Avon Orthodontics have been working for Dr. Johnson for over 20 years!
Our practice has a fun, easy-going atmosphere to welcome patients. Whether it is your first appointment with us, or you are a current patient, we will make it our priority to ensure you are comfortable during your visit.
Avon Orthodontics welcomed another doctor into the practice, Dr. Lauren Wright. Both Dr. Johnson and Dr. Lauren trained and graduated from the Mayo Clinic, so their practice philosophy and approach to patient care is very similar. As our practice continues to grow, we are blessed to have Dr. Lauren as a part of our team.
Our Avon Orthodontics Team looks forward to serving the Hendricks County community for years to come!
Dr. Johnson & Dr. Lauren
ALYSSA RINEHART’S BIG BREAK
INDIANA NATIVE SHINES IN CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
Many young students dream of making it in the big city, but Indiana’s own Alyssa “Lyss” Rinehart actually made that dream come true. She is the youngest performer in Cirque du Soleil’s *Mad Apple* show in Las Vegas, and after graduating from Plainfield High School in 2024, she has been thriving there for a year now.
“Starting off, I was a little worried about being the youngest,” Rinehart says. There are many types of performers in the show, including singers, acrobats and dancers, and she was afraid she might not fit in with them.
“But it’s actually a really welcoming cast. They’re all funny, regular people, and it’s great to be around that energy: where everything’s lighthearted, and I’m not having to be on my toes all the time,” she says.
Some Cirque shows have a base story, but *Mad Apple* is themed around New York. It features live singers performing classic songs associated with the city. It’s more atmospheric than narrative.
“The show I’m in is the most intimate group of dancers for Cirque du Soleil in Vegas. Our cast only has six dancers on stage at all times. I don’t have to play a role when I get to work; I get to be myself, just enhanced on stage. We do a wide range of styles — west side ballroom, vogueing, whacking and hip-hop. We don’t just stick to one thing, and I feel like that kind of challenges my brain every night,” she says.
Her workday starts around 4:30 p.m. Hair and makeup take about an hour, followed by a 30-minute warm-up with the dancers.
Writer / Abbie Willans Photographers / Nicole Speer & Laura Muller
They perform two shows, each lasting 90 minutes.
“I really enjoy Las Vegas. I’ve always wanted to live a city life, but it’s not as crazy and hectic as it sounds. It’s pretty calm, unless you’re on the Strip, and I never really go there.”
She plans to continue with Cirque du Soleil for another year or so but eventually would like to get into choreography and artistic directing. Rinehart has never received formal training for choreography; it’s all been learned from her own firsthand experience. She choreographed for a Las Vegas show called “Carnival” last year and would someday love to choreograph for music tours, like Ariana Grande’s.
Awarded as the Talent on Parade National Grand Champion during her senior year.
“Growing up in Indiana, and especially my community, there aren’t a lot of people who take risks like this in the arts community. For example, there are tons of dance and arts schools in L.A. and New York, but in the Midwest, we’re raised to go to college and work. I feel like having the passion I did was kind of rare,” she says.
“I always had support from my friends. My mom really wanted me to go to college. I’m her firstborn, so she wanted me to do the things that she wasn’t able to do. But now she’s very supportive, and her Facebook is filled with all kinds of things about me that I didn’t even know were posted,” Rinehart says, laughing.
“It’s great to have that support now, because at first, I was feeling a little bit of resentment from family because I wasn’t going the college route — but now, being able to prove that I can actually do it, it feels really good,” she adds.
“Of course, you’re always going to get people who say, ‘Oh, well, dance isn’t really a career.’ Hearing that, and then being able to make it work, has helped me to gain confidence and believe in myself, that I can pursue what I want.”
More of her work can be found on @ lyssrinehart. For more information about Mad Apple, visit cirquedusoleil.com/mad-apple.
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HONORING 50 YEARS
THE
HENDRICKS COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM CELEBRATES
Writer / Melissa Gibson
A HALF-CENTURY
The Hendricks County Historical Museum is celebrating 50 years in 2025.
Chances are, if you haven’t visited personally, you’ve likely heard about the original sheriff’s residence within walking distance of the courthouse in Danville.
Maybe you’ve heard of the jail cells in the basement — a favorite among visitors — or perhaps you’re familiar with their popular fundraiser, Dancing with the Hendricks County Stars.
Fifty years ago, a few forward-thinking leaders in the county imagined a museum that would honor the legacy of Hendricks County history.
“When they moved the jail and the sheriff’s residence out of the home, the county commissioners had to decide what to do with the property,” said Pat Baldwin, president of the Hendricks County Historical Museum board. “All sorts of ideas were floated, including tearing it down. At the time, the Hendricks County Historical Society encouraged them to preserve the building and create a museum.”
They began collecting artifacts, news articles and information on the history of the county, offering tours to visitors and residents.
Each room is themed. The Central
Normal room is dedicated to the history of the Danville college and the students who attended there for 73 years. The military room is dedicated to the Civil War and Hendricks County soldiers. Two kitchens offer a glimpse of late 1800s and 1940s amenities, and two bedrooms are decorated with historical furniture and more.
Deanna Hindsley & Pat Baldwin
From 1866 to 1974, prisoners were housed in the jail cells in the basement of the sheriff’s home. The sheriff’s wife would make their meals and the sheriff would keep an eye on their behavior.
Deanna Hindsley, former board president and volunteer, said her favorite room is the parlor.
“I love the stories. We have two portraits that hang over the fireplace of William and Mary Calvert. He was the great-greatgreat-grandfather of a gentleman in Florida who found these original paintings in their attic,” Hindsley said. “Sheriff Calvert and his wife Mary were the first couple with children who moved into the home in 1868. William painted the portraits of he and his wife. They were in poor condition, so we had them restored through a Hendricks County Foundation grant.”
There are also two rooms in the annex that are rotated by theme each year.
“Right now, we have a display of the National Register of Historic Places and also the state historical markers. The other display is hats over the decades in Hendricks County,” Baldwin said. “The rest of the rooms stay the same, but we often bring out something new. We just refreshed the military room, highlighting two county soldiers from World War I and World War II, so there’s always something new to see.”
In addition to tours Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment, the Hendricks County Historical Museum offers activities for the public throughout the year.
“This is our sixth year for Children’s Day on the first Saturday in June. We’ve done the Road Rally in October for more than 10 years,” Baldwin said. “Dancing with the Stars has been around for 10 years and has been a huge success with a huge amount of community support. It’s how we fund almost everything else we do.”
They also host a popular tea event each November at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex and are currently scanning historical photos into Indiana Memory for those at home to view.
It takes manpower and volunteers who have a love for their community.
“We are mostly operated by volunteers. We don’t dress up in costume and there’s no minimum number of hours, but everyone who has volunteered with us has always said the same thing. They loved meeting the people that came through and it was fun,” Baldwin said. “We even have several different areas to volunteer. For example, we need someone to scan the photos, write for the newsletter and update the website.” It’s all to preserve and educate others about the rich history of Hendricks County.
For Hindsley, she recalls vacations with her father, who insisted on spending an
afternoon at a historical site.
“When I was first introduced to the museum in the early 2000s, like many, I had never been to the museum even though I’ve lived in the county all my life,” Hindsley said. “I was in awe of this building and all of a sudden, history became a tale of people and stories throughout these towns. That means something to me. History is a personal thing. It begins the day before you were born and looks back.”
The museum volunteers see it every day through school groups, Girl Scout troops and visitors coming in from across the country. Each person looks at the rooms and artifacts differently.
“When you walk into the parlor, we have stereoscopes and our school groups are often asked, if there’s no TV, no radio, no movies and no telephone, what are you going to do after dinner? How will you spend your time? For the younger ones,
it’s hard for them to think about not being able to look up something on their phone,” Baldwin said. “So much of history happens every single day. It’s what makes us who we are — our towns and our communities.”
After spending 2024 celebrating the Hendricks County Bicentennial, there are no plans for a special event or celebration this year. However, Baldwin said their mission will continue to move forward and remain strong.
“We’ve worked too hard and this museum is too valuable to let it slide. We will continue to upgrade, learn from others and continue to stay aware in our community,” Baldwin said.
Want to see a virtual tour of the museum? Visit midwestvirtualexp.com/hcmuseum for a sneak peek of all the museum has to offer.
5
DWIGHT YOAKAM
7 PM
Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
JEREMY PIVEN LIVE
7:30 – 9 PM
Clowes Memorial Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave.
6
INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 11 AM
Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Cir.
7
INDIANA VS KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STARS
5 PM
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 N. Pennsylvania St.
9
TEDDY SWIMS
8 PM
Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
14
COUNTING CROWS: THE COMPLETE SWEETS! TOUR WITH THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
7:30 PM
Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
RYAN ADAMS: HEARTBREAKER ‘25 WORLD TOUR 8 PM
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.
THE WALLFLOWERS 7 PM
Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Rd.
18 WICKED 7 PM
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.
19
OPEN MIC
Helium Comedy Club, 10 W Georgia St.
20
JOE GATTO: LET’S GET INTO IT 7 - 8:30 PM
Clowes Memorial Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave.
21
EDDIE GRIFFIN 7:30 PM
Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Ave.
26
INDIANA FEVER VS. LOS ANGELES SPARKS 7 PM
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 N. Pennsylvania St.
Rib-Fest Turns 20
HENDRICKS COUNTY’S ANNUAL BBQ BASH RETURNS THIS MONTH
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photographer / ASH Interactive
Believe it or not, the Hendricks County Rib-Fest and BBQ will celebrate 20 years on June 28 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
What began as a unique event to get the community of Avon together has grown into an Indiana event bringing thousands to Hendricks County each year.
“For an event that started in a small park, hoping we’d get 500 people there to now welcoming 8,000 to 10,000 people every year has come a long way. We’ve changed
locations multiple times to accommodate the crowds and it’s just been super fun, exciting and really rewarding,” said Tom Downard, executive director of the Avon Chamber of Commerce.
Over the years, activities offered have come and gone, and some have even returned. The layout of the event has changed to accommodate everyone, and more BBQ businesses want to join in on the fun.
This year, along with presenting sponsor Ray Skillman Hyundai, Rib-Fest 2025 will kick things off with the annual Rise & Swine Hendricks County Rib Run 5K run/walk and Riblet Run for children ages 1 to 12 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively, at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex.
Damage from the 2024 Ribfest storm that cancelled the event.
By 10 a.m., the event begins with BBQ vendors, other food vendors and entertainment.
“Each year, we have new vendors that want to come in and participate. We’ll have 12 to 14 BBQ vendors, but there will be other food as well,” Downard said. “For example, Square Burger in Danville will be out there with some of their products. They’re having a Rib-Fest burger during the month of June to help promote the event.”
In addition, the Avon Kiwanis, Cabin Coffee, Kona Ice, MashCraft Brewing, among others, will offer food and beverages.
From 2 to 3:30 p.m., celebrity judges will test the participating BBQ vendors in the
Best Ribs and Best Sauce competition and give two lucky winners bragging rights until 2026.
Around 5:30 p.m., music fans can catch central Indiana bands Toy Factory, a cover band with current and past hits, followed by Crush: The Bon Jovi Concert Experience on stage in the horse arena.
The Plainfield Lions Club will once again host its craft fair from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Hendricks Expo Hall and North Hall. The balloon glow will return at dusk, and the traditional fireworks show will conclude the evening.
New this year, an entire area on the fairgrounds will be dedicated to youth.
“We’ve partnered with the Children’s Entrepreneurial Market. As kids go
through the process of learning about business and being an entrepreneur, they make their own product and sell it,” Downard said. “It might be necklaces, trinkets, food — whatever they make. It’s like a farmers market.”
The opportunity will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but alongside 25 to 30 entrepreneurial children’s booths, the popular touch-a-truck program will return.
“The trucks have always been popular with our kids. There will be fire trucks, ambulances, police equipment, bulldozers and all sorts of things the kids can check out,” Downard said.
“There will also be a petting zoo in that area. We’ve just designated a space for the kids, and it’s free for everyone.”
The process of creating an event that offers so much entertainment and activity for the community can be a daunting task. Downard said the day after Rib-Fest, they quickly start planning the next one.
“We’ll have a follow-up meeting shortly thereafter. As you go throughout the day, we’re seeing things we want to change or we’d like to add next year. It always brings up new thoughts and ideas,” Downard said. “When we first moved to the fairgrounds in Danville, we set up the food vendors in a way we thought would be perfect, and five hours into the event, we could see that was not the right way to set it up. It’s things like that we correct for the next year.”
One of those positive additions is the Rib-Fest app for visitors to download and view a map of the layout of the property and all events, including a schedule so you don’t miss your favorite band or vendor show.
When asked if he thinks the community has deemed the Hendricks County Rib-Fest and BBQ an annual tradition, he said, “Without question.”
“People are talking about it earlier and earlier. When I talk to people about it, they almost always say they know about it and they go every year,” Downard said. “I rarely hear someone say they’ve never heard of it, and it continues to get more and more popular. For many, it’s a kickoff to the Fourth of July too.”
Many activities at the Rib-Fest are free. However, to purchase food, you’ll want to buy tickets in exchange for BBQ and other food and drinks. Vendors do not accept cash.
Tickets can be purchased at the Avon Chamber of Commerce at 8244 E. U.S. Highway 36, Suite 140, or at two ticket tents at the event.
Admission is free, but there is a $10 parking fee per vehicle. Credit and debit cards are welcomed and encouraged.
For more information, visit avonchamber. org/hendricks-country-rib-fest or download the app to keep track of all activities and entertainment throughout the day.
INSIDE THE SHERIFF’S ACADEMY
HENDRICKS COUNTY PROGRAM OFFERS HANDS-ON LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE
Writer / Melissa Gibson
everal towns in Hendricks County offer citizen academy programs in police and fire departments, teaching everyday citizens the ins and outs of the operations that protect residents.
However, the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy, moving into its second year, is a different ballgame.
“This is different from what you’ve seen at the local police academy. It’s an exclusive opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the inner workings of what we do at the sheriff’s office,” said Hendricks County Sheriff Jack Sadler.
Think of it as the location where it all comes together.
If there’s an arrest in Brownsburg, the individual is taken to the Hendricks County Jail, managed by the sheriff’s office.
If paperwork is served by the Hendricks County court system, it’s a Hendricks County Deputy who knocks on your door.
The Hendricks County deputies cover the unincorporated areas within the 408 square miles of the county and provide security for the Hendricks County Government Center and courthouse. With 148 employees, you can imagine the many moving parts required to successfully do the job.
It’s important for them to connect with the community, to create understanding and open lines of communication.
The 10-week course is once per week from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
“We’ve adjusted the classes from our inaugural year so you’re not sitting in a classroom week after week. You might be down at the range one week and in the classroom the next. We delve into
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a lot of different topics including crash reconstruction, drones, traffic stops and the multiple divisions at the sheriff’s office from the jail to enforcement to civil,” Sadler said.
Take a tour of the jail and the courthouse, watch a K-9 demonstration, do a mock traffic stop to understand exactly what an officer can see and how quickly the situation can evolve, and follow a crime scene investigation from start to finish.
“We culminate everything together into a case study. It’s one we worked here, and you learn everything it took to get a conviction on the suspect,” Sadler said. “I think it surprises people to see how contentious they are, the detail, the technology we use today and all the avenues we can use to find evidence. Putting a case like that together last year was something that really interested last year’s class.”
There’s an educational component, too. Sadler said they can’t be everywhere, every second of the day. Having members of the community who understand just what they do and have built trust with the sheriff’s office opens up dialogue and
allows people to be more comfortable in sharing what’s going on in their neighborhoods.
The Citizens Academy was something he had in mind from the beginning.
When Sadler was running for sheriff, an elected position in the county, connecting and communicating transparency with the public was one of his top goals.
Ironically, sitting down as an administrative group after his election, Sadler said they learned several leaders on the sheriff’s team had the same idea individually.
“This was something we hadn’t done in the past, and I said coming in, I wanted to do more things to make connections with our members of the community. It was neat to see so many of our members say, ‘I want to help, I want to be a part of this.’ They did a lot of great work to put this program together, and it’s a reflection of the team we have here,” Sadler said.
The Hendricks County sheriff grew up in Danville, graduated from the high
school in 1992 and has served as a police officer for 29 years. He’s seen the growth in every town across the county and watched law enforcement receive some negative backlash over the years.
Luckily, Hendricks County citizens have shown support and interest when it comes to understanding what our first responders do each day.
“We are blessed to serve here. Not many get to serve a community that supports them like Hendricks County supports us,” Sadler said.
That’s why it’s important to Sadler and the entire sheriff’s office to get to know the people from Avon to Coatesville and everywhere in between. They want to form relationships and develop trust in the community.
“These are your neighbors, their kids go to school with your kids, they’re coaching baseball and basketball. A program like this can make a big difference as others gain a new perspective and really understand how law enforcement works today,” Sadler said.
Anyone in the county is welcome to apply.
Applications will open June 1. Visit the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page to access the application and get additional information.
The first class will be held Aug. 7, 2025.
“What I really love about this is how our citizens get to see the heart and soul of the dedicated men and women who are serving them. They get to take a look inside and see that heart,” Sadler said.
Sadler is also hosting one-day Citizens Firearms courses. Following their Facebook page will alert citizens to more opportunities to learn about safety, the law and how the sheriff’s department deals with such situations.
Solutions
ACROSS
1. Mouth roof
5. Produces (egg)
7. Ocean mammal
8. Hoarse sound
9. Invalid
10. Bake in oven
11. Opponents
13. Part of eye
14. Sloops or ketches
18. Plan
21. Horse’s gait
22. Gold lump
24. Send abroad in disgrace
25. Kitchen professional
26. Loose flesh
27. Not healthy
28. Iridescent gem
29. Fume
DOWN
1. Play the part of 2. First Greek letter
3. Washstand jugs
4. Made do
5. High-protein pulses
6. Shouting
12. Set fire to 15. Zeppelin
16. Detestable
17. Meet (requirements)
19. Australian bird
20. Significant
22. Ants’ homes
23. Social blunder
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