Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced 17 rural Indiana communities will receive $11.1 million in federal grant funding to create and expand community facilities, and improve water infrastructure.

“I applaud the local leaders across Indiana who always take the extra step when it comes to bettering the lives of their community members,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, “I look forward to seeing how each of these projects revitalize rural Indiana.”

The State of Indiana distributes Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities, which assist units of local government with various community projects such as infrastructure improvement, downtown revitalization, public facilities and economic development.

“Quality of life improvement projects such as these can be transformational for our rural towns and cities,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “I commend the leaders in each of these 17 communities for investing in critical infrastructure needs to improve their public facilities, stormwater management and wastewater or drinking water systems.”

The Stormwater Improvement Program strives to reduce flooding, cut stormwater treatment and energy costs, protect rivers, lakes and vital landscapes, and generate jobs to spur economic revitalization.

Among projects receiving Stormwater Improvement Program grant funding include:

The Town of Cloverdale is awarded $600,000 to make necessary improvements to its stormwater system. The scope includes improvements to various culverts and the creation of new open ditches. This project will correct ponding water and improve stormwater infrastructure that is currently undersized to address stormwater backup experienced by residents.

The goals of the Wastewater/Drinking Water Program are to protect public health and the environment, reduce utility rates for low-to-moderate income communities, and improve rural infrastructure to enable long-term economic growth. 

Among projects receiving Wastewater Drinking Water Program grant funding include:

The Town of Clay City is awarded $700,000 to build a new elevated water tower and to demolish the existing tower. The current tower is a 75,000-gallon water tank built in 1949. The new tower will reduce the amount of boil orders and improve water pressure for residents.

The Town of New Market is awarded $700,000 to make improvements to the wastewater treatment plant, including installing a submerged aerated gravel reactor system to reduce the levels of pollutants such as ammonia in the wastewater. The SAGR system improves the overall efficiency of the plant by reducing the pollutants entering the system, improving the quality of wastewater entering the treatment plant, and as a result, reducing the cost of the treatment. Additionally, the plant will switch from a controlled discharge to a continuous discharge. This will allow the wastewater treatment plant to discharge whenever needed to help reduce overflows in the community.

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The front office at the Greencastle Police Department is temporarily closed Thursday.

You can still request an officer through dispatch at 653-5115 or by picking up the phone in the lobby.

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Governor Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) today announced that over 40,000 students have been automatically enrolled in the 2027 cohort in the 21^st Century Scholars program.

Automatic enrollment in the 21^st Century Scholars program was a key item on the Governor’s 2023 Next Level Agenda to help increase educational attainment. 

Created in 1990, the 21st Century Scholars program is nationally recognized and one of Indiana’s keys to narrowing gaps in educational attainment. The scholarship covers up to full tuition and fees at Indiana colleges and universities for students from low-income backgrounds. The Commission estimates over 20,000 additional students will be enrolled in the program for each 8th grade class. Students who are automatically enrolled must still meet subsequent requirements to obtain the scholarship.

“Indiana’s workforce depends on a skilled talent pipeline,” said Gov. Holcomb. “For over 30 years, the 21st Century Scholarship has played a transformative role in getting more Hoosiers prepared to enroll and succeed in college. Automatically enrolling income-eligible students into this life-changing program will lead to greater levels of educational attainment, stronger communities, and a globally competitive workforce.”

Central to the Commission’s strategy, the program has seen significant change this year with recent legislation that allows the Commission to automatically enroll all financially eligible students into the program. HEA 1449-2023, authored by State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., was signed into law by Gov. Holcomb in May after receiving bipartisan support in the Indiana General Assembly.

"This legislation will ensure higher rates of equity for Hoosier students from all walks of life and help more Indiana students achieve a higher education and all the blessings that come with it," Harris said. "Helping students get enrolled in the 21st Century Scholars program will not just help individual students and their families, but the state as a whole by helping us build a skilled, 21^st Century economy. This bill is a testament to the good that can happen when lawmakers work together for the benefit of their constituents, and I look forward to seeing the impacts of this bipartisan piece of legislation for generations to come."

Gaps in educational attainment call for intentional, focused action

Earlier this year, Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery called attention to the college-going rate for low-income Black, Hispanic and Latino students in the State of Higher Education Address.

“The college-going rate for students from low-income households who are not part of the 21st Century Scholars program is 30 percent,” Lowery said. “When multiplied by their on-time college completion rate of 27 percent, those students have roughly an 8 percent likelihood of graduating from high school and completing college on time. For Black students, the likelihood is 10 percent, for Hispanic and Latino students, it’s 17 percent. This is unacceptable, and in my view, it is an emergency.”

For Indiana, the 21st Century Scholars program tackles disparities impacting students from low-income households. Since the program’s creation, over 50,000 Scholars have earned a college degree through the scholarship. The Commission’s 2023 College Readiness Report shows that 81 percent of Scholars attended college in 2021 compared to 30 percent of their non-Scholar, low-income peers.

In addition to providing a way to manage the cost of college, the 21st Century Scholars program gives students a peer network and support system, ensuring students have what they need to be successful in college.

About 21st Century Scholars

Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program is an early college promise program designed to help ensure that every Hoosier

student can afford the opportunity provided by a high-quality postsecondary degree or credential. Income-eligible students who maintain the Scholar Pledge through excellence in school and life can receive a scholarship for up to 100 percent of tuition at an eligible Indiana college or university upon graduation from high school. The program was created in 1990 and celebrates 30 years of success in 2020.

A man sentenced in federal court for online contact and transporting an Indiana girl to have sex.

Arnold Castillo, 23, of Paterson, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.

According to court documents, from January to May 2022, Castillo used a false identity, “Jacob Shedletsky,” to communicate with and groom a 15-year-old girl via social media and gaming applications such as Instagram, Roblox, and Discord.

Castillo engaged in grooming behaviors such as buying the girl’s anime artwork using CashApp and purchasing other high-value items on Amazon such as an Artist’s Glove for Drawing Tablet, a Max Smart Tablet Drawing Stand, and a Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 13 Windows 10 computer to be delivered to her parents’ home in Indiana.

Castillo intentionally led the girl to believe that he had the ability to connect her to employment opportunities in the online gaming industry and used this leverage to engage in sexually explicit conversations with her. Castillo coerced and persuaded the girl into believing they were in love and that her family was her enemy.

During these conversations, Castillo discussed his plans to arrange for the girl to travel from Indiana to New Jersey so they could be together and engage in sexual activity. Castillo used the Uber application to find and hire a driver in New Jersey to transport the girl the 700 miles to his residence. Castillo paid the driver $500 through CashApp before they left New Jersey, and another $500 in cash when they returned with the victim.

When the girl arrived at Castillo’s New Jersey residence, Castillo sexually abused her on multiple occasions and used Uber to have others purchase or attempt to purchase the “Plan B” pill to prevent the child from becoming pregnant.

For days, Castillo kept the girl in New Jersey and continued to abuse her, knowing that her family and law enforcement were desperately searching for her. In a recorded phone interview on May 5, 2022, Castillo lied to law enforcement officers, stating that he had no idea where she was and that she must have run away.

On May 11, 2022, eight days after the girl was reported missing, FBI agents recovered her from Castillo as the two were walking in front of his residence. At the time of his arrest, Castillo had several unopened condoms in his pocket. Castillo admitted to law enforcement agents that he kept the victim in his care, custody, and control in a small room and controlled her movements in and out of the room. He also controlled her access to food and basic necessities, knowing that she had no financial resources or ability to travel back to Indiana.

“No parent should have to endure eight torturous days not knowing if their child is alive or dead, only to learn that a stranger used social media and other online tools to groom their child and spirit them across the country,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “This defendant is a stone-cold, manipulative, child predator who used the tools of social media and gaming to abuse a vulnerable child and then obstructed the efforts of law enforcement officers to secure her safe return home. I commend the outstanding work of local law enforcement agencies along with the FBI’s Indianapolis and Newark Field Offices for working around the clock for eight days to bring the victim home safely. Thanks to the outstanding work of these law enforcement officers and our federal prosecutor, this dangerous predator will be unable to harm another child.”

“This was a horrible nightmare for both the child lured away from home under false pretenses and the family who was left to worry about where she was, if she was safe, and if they would ever see her again,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our partners will always do everything in our power to safely recover a child and reunite them with their loved ones.”

The FBI Indianapolis and FBI in Paterson, New Jersey investigated this case along with local law enforcement. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Castillo be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years following his release from federal prison and pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim.

Technical problems have prompted the closure of the Greencastle splash park.

Director of Greencastle Parks and Recreation Greg Ruark stated in a release, "Due to the failure (again) of the UV disinfection system, the splash park is now closed. The system will require repairs before we can reopen the facility."

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FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall.

The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.

The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.

FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.

The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11. 

The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones. 

This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).

All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:

• Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message. 
• For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
• Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”

WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration. 

Important information about the EAS test:

• The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.
• The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.

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The City of Greencastle says paving crews are scheduled Wednesday through Friday for the Locust Street reconstruction project.

Completion date is in about two weeks, Friday, September 15.

In preparation for the paving work, all access ramps to driveways and cross streets was removed Tuesday. Vehicle access to the area will be very limited. Residents are asked to find alternate parking locations, if needed.

Access to Greencastle City Hall is extremely limited. The drive-up utility payment window is closed to vehicle traffic at this time. Limited access to City hall will resume on Tuesday.

Through Friday, work is also scheduled for Franklin Street between Spring and Locust to complete the street resurfacing work in that area.

The cross streets of Walnut and Seminary will be reopened Friday afternoon. Locust Street will remain closed while street lights and landscaping are installed.

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The Indiana State Police Putnamville Post has received several concerns from citizens reporting an apparent phone scam. 

The Putnamville Post receives numerous reports of phone scams each year, but this particular scam involves using the Putnamville State Police phone number and officers’ names.

The scammer is using a Caller ID showing “Indiana State Police” with “765-653-4114”, which is a phone number to the Putnamville State Police Post.  The scammer then identifies him/herself as an Indiana State Police Trooper and proceeds to tell the citizen that he/she is the victim of an ID theft, requesting a social security number.  The Indiana State Police would NEVER ask for your social security number or personal information over the phone. 

The Putnamville Post would like to remind all citizens that phone scammers are persuasive, convincing, and technically savvy.  Scammers will often play on your emotions and fears in order to get your personal information and money.

The easiest way to protect yourself from being scammed over the phone is to either ignore unsolicited calls from unknown callers or just hang up when something doesn’t seem right.  If you feel as though you have been a victim of a phone scam, immediately report the incident to your local law enforcement agency and alert your bank as soon as possible so the payment can be stopped.

As a reminder, never give out personal information such as date of birth, social security number, or bank/credit card numbers. Many of these scammers want you to make a hasty decision and may pressure you to get your money or personal information. Be aware that transactions made by prepaid card or wire transfer are nearly impossible to recover once sent.

It is important for everyone to talk to their family about these phone scams and to have a plan in place should a scammer call you or someone you love. Phone scams have become nothing short of an epidemic and being aware of potential scams is a great first step in protecting yourself from falling victim to one.

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A lengthy investigation by the Clay County Sheriff's Department's Criminal Investigative Division has resulted in the arrests of numerous individuals, including a Greencastle man, on drug charges. 

According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office, a total of seven individuals from Brazil, Greencastle and Indianapolis were arrested and booked on felony drug charges. 
Those arrested were: Jonathon G. Hamilton, 40, Brazil; Curtis Cooper, 43, Brazil; Michael Thompson, 32, of Brazil; Britteni L. Bowles, 38, of Brazil; Amanda S. Atkinson, 31,of  Indianapolis; Matthew Eversole, 41, of Greencastle; and Billy J. Phillips, 51, of Brazil.

Hamilton was charged with a level 3 felony count of dealing in methamphetamine and a level 4 felony count of possession of meth, while Cooper was charged with a level 3 felony count of dealing in meth and a level five felony count of possession of meth, and Thompson was booked on a level three felony count of dealing in meth and a level 5 felony count of possession of meth. 

Bowles was booked on a level 4 felony count of dealing in meth and a level 6 felony count of possession of meth, while Atkinson was booked on a level 4 count of dealing in meth and a level 6 felony of possession of meth. Eversole was booked on a level 4 felony of dealing in meth and a level 6 felony of possession of meth, while Phillips is facing a level 2 felony of dealing in meth, a level 3 felony of possession of meth, a level 3 felony of dealing in meth and a level 5 felony of possession of meth. 

The arrest of Phillips didn't come without incident, as he barricaded himself inside his residence, initially refusing to surrender, while making threats. After the Terre Haute Police Department's SWAT team showed up, Phillips surrendered without incident and also was charged with a level 6 felony of resisting law enforcement. 

Agencies involved in the drug sweep were the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Brazil Police, Terre Haute Police, The United States Marshal Task Force and the Indiana State Police. 

As a child, Matt Rees could be found drawing. 

If he had paper and a pencil or pen, Rees was there drawing animals. 

"I'm not sure why kids gravitate towards one thing or another, but I always drew as far back as I can remember," Rees told The Putnam County Post. 

By the time he arrived in high school, Rees was simply known by his classmates as the one who drew, admitting he fell into it as his identity. 

"Drawing was also a way for me to deal with stress and those ups and downs of being a teenager. Another huge factor was my art teacher, North Putnam's brilliant, Linda Gjesvold. I think she recognized I was serious about art, so she let me explore it on my own terms. That kind of freedom was exactly what I needed. She also made it possible for me to take classes at Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis on the weekends, which I did. I'm indebted to her for that and my father for driving me back and forth. What I enjoy most about art is the pure adrenaline rush coming from that initial jolt of inspiration. Everything after is just chasing that feeling, which comes and goes while you work on the piece. I've gotten more into advocacy as I get older, using my art to fundraise, and I've found there is some satisfaction in watching a piece of art take on a life of its own and help empower something I care about," Rees said. 

Over the years, Rees has done woodblock prints of the Putnam County Courthouse, various businesses in Greencastle, a woodblock print of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s visit at Gobin United Methodist Church in Greencastle and other pieces that are specific to Putnam County. 

For him, it's been "wonderful" realizing how special his county is. 

"I had the "too cool for school" attitude as a teen. I looked at Putnam County as a podunk town I needed to escape from. I didn't get very far. I live 10 minutes from where I grew up. It took me some time and maturity to realize how wonderful and special our county is," Rees said. 

But, his speciality, is birds, local birds. 

"I am fortunate that Putnam County is still largely rural and proud of it. We have important ecological habitats for my subject matter. Even more fortunate, we have strong advocacy in Putnam County and some wonderfully determined people who protect and expand this precious wilderness. So, yes, it is extremely important to me that my artwork reflects my community, that I highlight our local, wild spaces and avian species. Not only because they are beautiful, but also because they are under constant threat of destruction. And, if I could make a public service announcement here: dear reader, enjoy and use our Putnam County People's Pathways, our numerous nature parks and preserves, help support these spaces by becoming a member of Friends of the Park of Putnam County. Your small membership fee helps ensure we will always have these wonderful places to enjoy," Rees said. 

While some artists may dabble in painting or photography or a combination, Rees prides himself on being a woodblock printer, despite starting in traditional oil and watercolor painting.

"Most of my heroes are painters. But a few years ago, I saw an interview with world famous printmaker, Tom Huck, of St. Louis. I'd seen some of his work in museums and I'd always admired woodblock prints in general, but I'd never been exposed to the process. I was mesmerized by that interview with Tom Huck, and long story short, I ended up apprenticing with him at his print shop, Evil Prints. This eventually led to me starting my own print shop here in Putnam County, Wildwood Press," Rees said. 

He admits woodblock printing appeals to him for a variety of reasons. 

"One, the artform was invented in 300 A.D. and hasn't changed much since. For a guy who grew up in the 80's, that's as analog as you can get, and I strongly resonate with that, especially now. Secondly, most of my strengths as an artist do not apply to this artform. I'm good with color. Woodblock prints require as little color as possible. I'm good at making a mess. You must be meticulously neat in printmaking. I'm good with free flowing, let's see what happens spontaneously. Everything in a woodblock print must be carefully planned out. And all that planning doesn't change the fact that I'm having a conversation with a piece of wood, once a living entity, and that entity has its own ideas and opinions as to how the final art will turn out. I know it sounds a little strange to be attracted to that. I'd say it's a lot like my favorite dog in my world, my blue heeler, Frankie. She opposes and confounds every plan I have, and I love her to death for it. That's what woodblock printing is like. Maybe I just thrive on the struggle," Rees said. 

For more information on the Friends of the Park of Putnam County, visit https://putnamparks.org/support and more information on Rees can be found at www.mreesart.com. 

The Indiana Senate Republican Caucus is offering paid spring-semester internships in its communications, information technology, legal, legislative, page, and policy offices during the 2024 legislative session.

Qualified candidates may be of any major and must be at least a college sophomore. Recent college graduates, as well as graduates and law school students, are also encouraged to apply. Positions are open to Indiana residents, as well as nonresidents who attend an Indiana college or university.

Interns earn a $900 biweekly stipend and benefit from scholarship and academic credit opportunities, professional development, community involvement, and networking.

Senate internships are full-time positions at the Statehouse in Downtown Indianapolis that typically begin with a mandatory orientation in late December and conclude at the end of the legislative session in March 2024.

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Indiana Conservation officers are investigating the drowning death of a Shelbyville man.

Dennis Kitsko, 64, reportedly dove into the water of Raccoon Lake about 4 p.m. Sunday. He was pulled unconscious from the water by other boaters.

The Bellmore Fire Department and Parke County EMS attempted life saving efforts at the scene.

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Governor Eric J. Holcomb was joined by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) and firefighting leaders from across Indiana on Friday to announce the first phase of a large-scale plan to expand physical firefighting training for Hoosiers. Gov. Holcomb prioritized more training site funding as part of his 2023 Next Level Agenda.

“Indiana will always support its public safety personnel, who selflessly risk their lives to protect the communities in which they live,” Gov. Holcomb said. “This plan will ensure that Hoosier firefighters have the skills and the equipment necessary to do their job safely and effectively.”

The first phase of this Hub-and-Spoke training model will include four new physical training locations to be built in Corydon, Linton, Rensselaer and Wabash. These new sites are expected to be completed and ready for use in the first quarter of 2024.  In total, the state will be investing $7.7M in new training sites like the four sites announced today. The goal with these funds is to provide high-quality, physical training structures within 30 miles or 45 minutes of all career and volunteer departments. The new sites will join more than a dozen sites already utilized for state firefighter training.

“When you look at the gaps we have in fire training, it’s primarily in rural areas,” said Steve Jones, Indiana State Fire Marshal. “Volunteers do not have the flexibility to travel for hours to attend trainings. We selected these first sites to address some of these ‘training deserts,’ and there was significant local buy-in for the need for these sites.”

The updated training model includes a live burn training structure on the sites by IDHS, home to the Indiana State Fire Marshal. The sites will be locally owned and maintained, although the state will construct the training facility and help with site preparation where necessary. Any fire department interested in more information and expressing interest in setting up a new training site should click here.

In addition to the $7.7M provided by the General Assembly in the most recent two-year budget, IDHS was also granted an additional $10M to provide new personal protective equipment (PPE) for volunteer firefighters across the state. Of the nearly 870 fire departments across the state, over 600 of these are volunteer fire departments. The goal with these funds is to fully outfit close to 900 volunteer firefighters with essential sets of PPE Volunteer departments often operate with outdated equipment and little funding to replace it as needed.

Volunteer fire departments interested in acquiring new PPE through this program should sign up here. Following the award of a bid, IDHS will reach back out to those expressing interest to determine specific needs, eligibility and make final awards.

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A love of agriculture combined with the livelihood of being a farming family has turned into quite the business endeavor for Putnam County residents Caleb and Erin Carpenter with Carpenter Farms. 

Carpenter Farms has expanded from its farming aspect to roadside stand for homegrown produce, as well as produce from neighboring farms, according to Erin Carpenter. 

"My husband started growing and cutting hay when he was younger with his dad. He took a break from it and got back into hay in 2013. Ever since then, he has become a first generation farmer by growing corn and beans also. In 2018, he began growing pumpkins and wholesaling them to a local orchard to help supplement and mitigate disease with their crop," Erin Carpenter told The Putnam County Post. 

Erin Carpenter admits the passion of agriculture for her and her husband has become a lifestyle they wish to pass on to future generations. 

"The joy that we receive from people from produce and pumpkins is wonderful. We offered a sunflower field last year and so many people had kind words and were so happy to be around it. The joy pushes us to do what we do and is something we want to be able to offer the entire community," Erin Carpenter said. 

The joy extends to a new, self serve roadside stand, which has been successful for the Carpenter's, as they are able to offer "high quality produce" to the community. Carpenter Farms is located at 1551 N. County Road 400 West, Greencastle and the produce stand runs from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. 

"It's only been a few days, but, so far, it's been great. We've been offering bi-color sweet corn from Beasley's Orchard. We are hoping to offer apples and green beans from them soon. Plus, our homegrown tomatoes and herbs. Once our pumpkins are available, we will be able to offer those as well," Erin Carpenter said.  

With fall right around the corner, Carpenter Farms is ready and has several opportunities to help the community with all of their needs.

"As of right now, we will be offering homegrown pumpkins -- jack-o-lanterns, specialities and minis -- to the public as pre-picked options. We hope to add more fall related items for people to purchase for all their fall decor needs," Erin Carpenter said. 

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The Greencastle Police Department is warning the community of a new scam making its way around town after they have fielded numerous reports recently. 
According to the police department, there are individuals on Facebook claiming to have a large amount of high dollar merchandise that must be sold quickly and cheap. The items need to be sold because the individual has an ongoing family issue or needs to relocate due to a job and they have photographs of the items for sale. 

"A lot of times, these are folks from your friend list who have had their pages hijacked so that you feel safe contacting them," the Greencastle Police said in a Facebook post. 

Once the contact is made, the seller will reply with a price for the items and ask for the funds to be placed on VISA gift cards as a down payment hold for the merchandise. However, once questions are asked by the buyer, the seller will proceed to block the person. 

"Beware of anyone that asks you for payments via gift cards, visa cards or down payments for Facebook purchases. Only accept in person transactions and please make sure that you do your homework. Always choose a neutral/public location for transactions for safety," the police department said. 

Officials with the police department said the scams have filtered through several local yard sale sites as well as Facebook Marketplace where these are occurring. 

"These scammers are from overseas and cannot be tracked/prosecuted by local authorities and any monies that are given are lost forever," the post said.

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The 166th Indiana State Fair wrapped up Sunday.

Hoosiers from all corners of the state enjoyed fairgoer favorites, including the traditions of food, animals, exhibits and rides. Many popular new attractions were also unveiled this year, including the Illuminate Lantern Display, Basketball themed exhibits (Hoopfest & Land of Legends), daily free concerts, Baby Otters and so much more! 

The stars of the show this year were the unveiling of the NEW Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, hosting its first event in the Indiana State Fair Swine Competitions and the celebration of the Year of Basketball.

 “This year marks such a special moment in our history. Not only did we unveil the World-Class, premiere livestock facility in the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, but we also celebrated the State that Grew the Game of Basketball, with our great partners at Pacers Sports & Entertainment. 2023 was a remarkable and memorable year!” said Cindy Hoye, Indiana State Fair Commission executive director. “Watching 4-Hers and families showing livestock and making memories in our newly renovated swine barn, which is already packed full of a century of traditions, was nothing short of remarkable.”

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2023 INDIANA STATE FAIR

Despite navigating very challenging weather, 2023 State Fair attendance reached 840,414. (Slight increase over 2022)

Implementation of new safety measures, including the new Minor Policy, proved very successful. 

Final numbers show that fairgoers spent their entire day enjoying the Fair, with many vendors and partners reporting record sales.

6,700+ exhibitors showed or displayed a combined nearly 50,000 animal and non-animal projects.

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It's that time again when music fans from all over make the pilgrimage to Greencastle for the annual Greencastle Music Fest. 

The 14th annual event kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. with the kids area opening and the music starts at 6 p.m. with the Woomblies Rock Orchestra, followed by The Crashers around 8:30 p.m. 

On Saturday, the event opens at 3 p.m. and a cornhole tournament will be held at 5:30 p.m. The music starts at 3:30 p.m. with The Big Fun Band. Levi Riggs follows The Big Fun Band and The Flying Toasters will cap the event. 

The event began in 2010 by Almost Homes owner Gail Smith and has grown significantly since its inception. In 2019, it became a two-day event and the festival has won an award for the Best Event with a budget under $300K by the Indiana State Tourism Association. 

"It's exciting and humbling over an idea to boost commerce in Greencastle," Smith told The Putnam County Post. 

Smith said the festival's success can be traced back to the Greencastle community, as well as those who make the way to Greencastle from outside Putnam County. 

"We have huge support from the community, businesses and individuals. The hotels are full, the bed and breakfasts are full, and we have a large amount of people from outside town that come. It's a really cool event," Smith said. 

And, the success can also be traced back to the event committee, according to Smith. 

"We have a very small committee that includes the mayor and former mayor, who celebrate this event that benefits the quality of life, fellowship, tourism and commerce. The volunteers not only enjoy the event, but feel a sense of accomplishment, appreciation and joy to be a part of Greencastle Music Fest," Smith said. 

Tickets are $10 each night or $15 for a two-day pass, but children 10 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at greencastlemusicfest.com. 

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A Vigo County man has been sentenced on federal child moletation charges.

Paul Hoopingarner, 62, of Terre Haute, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material, three counts of receiving child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, beginning in at least January 2021, and continuing to at least February 2021, Hoopingarner used Kik to distribute and receive images and videos of the sexual abuse of children as young as eight-years-old. Hoopingarner used the screenname “domeeasey69” to communicate and share images and videos of adults engaged in sex acts with children with others who were also sexually interested in children. The material Hoopingarner shared and stored included depictions of the sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence as well as depictions of the sexual abuse of toddlers and infants.

Hoopingarner is a repeat and dangerous sex offender against children, following his 1996 conviction for Child Molesting in Morgan County, Indiana.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Indiana State Police Superintendent, Douglas Carter, and Jeffrey R. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the USSS Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.

“Pedophiles use the perceived anonymity of communications apps to share horrific images of child sex abuse and communicate with like-minded criminals,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “This defendant engaged in a series of horrific crimes and abuses against children, online and off, and he has now been held accountable for his actions. Thanks to the outstanding work of the Secret Service, Indiana State Police, and our federal prosecutor, the serious federal prison sentence imposed here ensures that he will never again harm a child.” 

The United States Secret Service and Indiana State Police Investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon ordered that Hoopingarner be supervised by the U.S. Probation office for the rest of his life following his release from federal prison. 

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If you have spent any time traveling around Greencastle, odds are you've been frustrated with the amount of traffic and construction around town. 

With that being the case, Greencastle Police deputy chief Ed Wilson has advice for motorists. 

"My advice for motorists in Greencastle right now is to be patient, and to give yourself extra time to get where you're going. Find alternative routes, if available, and pay attention to one way signs. Also, remember GPS may not always recognize that streets are closed or one way, so be prepared to deal with that. Be neighborly and forgiving and be prepared to give direction to those that may be lost," Wilson told The Putnam County Post. 

The issues are not just confined to U.S. 231, according to Wilson. 

"We see a lot of semi tractor/trailers that end up going the wrong way on Bloomington because their GPS directs them.  Be prepared for INDOT to be manually directing traffic in areas.  Also follow the Greencastle Police Facebook page, we try to update the public on road closures and congestions when they occur," Wilson said. 

With construction all over town, as well as DePauw back in session, Greencastle Police are out in full force, Wilson said. 

"GPD has been patrolling the construction areas looking for wrong way drivers, speeders and lost persons.  With DePauw back in session, we have observed an increase in out of town folks getting lost.  A lot of our time has been spent on Bloomington Street alone watching for wrong way drivers, and those that are getting lost.  Officers have become proficient in giving directions through town to get around construction," Wilson said. 

Wilson said the construction hasn't been the primary reason for accidents, but instead, they can be traced back to inattention by drivers, abrupt turning or being lost. 

"Only a few wrong way crashes have been reported.  A big problem is the increase of traffic on side streets such as Percy Julian, Walnut and Locust due to folks trying to get around.  Be aware of the increase and watch for increases in traffic," he said. 

And, with construction slated to last for a while, Wilson said there is no "magic solution to these problems." 

"Construction is here whether we like it or not and we all have to bear with it and get through as safely and efficiently as we can. Also remember that the Police have to deal with the construction as well. It is taking us longer to get to complaints and emergencies," Wilson said. 

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When faculty, staff and students returned to Cloverdale Community Schools earlier this month for the 2023-24 school year, they noticed quite a few upgrades at various buildings within the district. 

Upgrades include the installation of new carpet at Cloverdale Middle School and the central office. The new carpet in those buildings comes on the heels of new carpet placed down at the high school and elementary school the summer before. 

"In addition, we completely remodeled the CHS weight room, painted several classrooms and hallways, replaced several bridges on our nature trail and completed a huge clean-up campaign left behind by the summer storms. I am very pleased that we were able to compete these projects over the summer. It is always a very busy time of the year, but we always seem to get several large projects completed," superintendent Greg Linton told The Putnam County Post. 

According to Linton, the upgrades extend past this summer. 

"Next summer, we plan to install new secured entry ways at all three school building locations, replace tile flooring in the middle school and high school, remodel the elementary restrooms and, possibly, enhance/expand the Cloverdale High School gym entrance," Linton said. 

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Governor Eric Holcomb Tuesday broke ground on an historic expansion of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) training facility.

Gov. Holcomb was joined by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Director Timothy Horty and Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter.

ILEA provides basic training to more than 600 Hoosier law enforcement officers annually and is the state’s only residential facility to house student officers who are in training from across the state. The project will provide a new dormitory, updated classrooms and training facilities, Indiana State Police offices, emergency vehicle track and a scenario-based training village. 

“I am proud to break ground on this world-class facility so we can continue training up law enforcement officers throughout our state,” said Gov. Holcomb. “It is critically important to invest in police instruction and training and Indiana is doing just that.”

In 2021 Gov. Holcomb supported new funding for ILEA and signed HEA 1006 into law providing a $70M appropriation. Through this and additional federal funds, ILEA will now benefit from a total of $95M in greatly needed upgrades.

With each graduating class, ILEA strives to produce highly trained officers to protect and serve Hoosier communities while continuing to search for the best in contemporary, state-of-the-art instruction. Law enforcement agencies who use the facility include state police, conservation officers, excise police, sheriffs’ departments, local police departments and more.

The expansion is expected to be completed by late December 2025. 

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The Indiana chapter of Jobs for America’s Graduates announced today that this year's graduating class earned more than $23,200,000 in scholarship money. Recipients included students from 52 Indiana counties.

JAG Indiana, which is administered by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, is a state-based, national non-profit organization dedicated to helping high school students of promise who have experienced challenges achieve success through graduation. JAG students receive adult mentoring while in school and one year of follow-up counseling after graduation. 
"This year's graduating class is the latest example of young Hoosiers overcoming challenges to succeed in school, and begin their journey to a productive and rewarding career," said DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk. "JAG starts with jobs, and local businesses continue to pour in advice and support to students to not only expose them to job opportunities, but also the career pathways available in their hometowns."

The scholarship money includes millions of dollars for JAG graduates who are receiving funds from the 21st Century Scholarship and Frank O'Bannon Grant.

"With many graduates receiving the 21st Century Scholars and the Frank O'Bannon Grant, JAG Indiana continues to be a leader in increasing access to education beyond high school for all Hoosier students," said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery. "I applaud and recognize JAG Indiana in its efforts to empower and prepare young people for success after high school."

Recently, JAG Indiana received the “6 of 6” Award at the 40th Annual National Training Seminar held in Louisville, Ky. The award recognized the Indiana program for exceeding six goals set at the national level relating to graduation rates, post-secondary education, job placement and other significant milestones.

JAG Indiana’s achievements for the 2022-2023 school year include:

• 95% graduation rate (national goal is 90%);
• 83% full-time employment rate (national goal is 80%);
• 82% positive outcome rate (national goal is 80%);
• 96% maintain contact with student through their first year after high school (national goal is 91.5%);
• 72% job placement rate, including military (national goal is 60%); and
• 39% further education rate (national goal is 35%).

“JAG Indiana students continue to achieve amazing results that will set them up for success now and later in life,” said DWD Director of Youth Initiatives Brianna Morse. “We're so proud of our statewide team and classroom Specialists for all they've accomplished this year to benefit Hoosier students."

Since 2006, more than 40,000 students have participated in JAG Indiana with 95% graduating from high school.

County            Students /scholarship         Sum of Total Scholarship/Grant Value

Clay                                  8                                  $88,495.00

Hendricks                      19                                $398,360.00

Parke                              42                                $653,589.00

Putnam                          69                                $797,539.00 

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A heat advisory continues for much of Indiana Tuesday.

The National Weather Service advisory is scheduled thgouh midnight on Thursday. 

Heat index values up to 108 are expected across portions of central, south central, southeast, southwest and west central Indiana.

Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur.

People are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening.

Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing, when possible.

To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments.

Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.

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With temperatures ratcheting up this week throughout the state, and many organizations opening cooling centers, The Duke Energy Foundation has announced a donation to multiple organizations and agencies.

The foundation will be donating more than $90,000 to 15 organizations across the state to allow the purchase and distribution of fans to older adults and low-income households.

Among the organizations, Duke said they donated these amounts to the following:

United Way of the Wabash Valley – $10,000

Western Indiana Community Action Agency – $2,000

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With the 2023-24 school year underway, the Greencastle Community School Corp. has seen exciting upgrades at various schools across the district. 

The upgrades and improvements have taken place at Greencastle High School, Greencastle Middle School, Ridpath Primary, Deer Meadow Primary and Tzouanakis Intermediate. 

"It is a very exciting time to be a Greencastle Tiger Cub. We have been able to touch all five buildings with this construction project, and we are proud of that," Superintendent Jeff Gibboney told The Putnam County Post. 

The project, which comes with a price tag of about $32 million, began with work at Harbison Stadium, which included about $1.5 million in upgrades to the playing surface and facility. 

In addition, there will be an indoor connector, connecting Greencastle High School to McAnally Center, as well a new entrance to McAnally, an expansion of the cafeteria and kitchen space and new flooring in the science lab and redoing second floor classrooms. There have also been steps taken to make pick up and drop off in the bus area in front of McNally safer with the addition of gate arms, according to Gibboney. 

Gibboney said when the school year began recently, they were back to 95 percent in the high school and the four new science labs were up and running. 

"Students and teachers are back into the classrooms. Football and volleyball are in the new locker rooms in McAnally. The connector is beginning to take shape, and we expect that to be completed around December or January. At the beginning of October, we expect the new cafeteria and kitchen space to be ready. It is moving along rapidly, and we are excited," Gibboney said. 

The work isn't confided to just Greencastle High School, as there are plenty of things happening at Greencastle Middle School, according to Gibboney. 

Upgrades include a new office, new media center, a new nurse's station, and revamped classrooms. 

"We are wrapping up the science labs and they are thrilled. We've changed the existing surface, there is a new front entrance and it is pretty exciting. It has gone pretty well," Gibboney said. 

Upgrades also took place at Ridpath Primary, Deer Meadow Primary and Tzouanakis Intermediate, including secure entrances, sidewalk work and other upgrades, according to Gibboney. 

While building projects can often hit snags when it comes to construction prices, weather and other variables, Gibboney said things have gone smoothly for his district thus far. 

"We have been fortunate with the timing, beginning with our initial study to securing finances to now. We were able to take advantage of good interest rates and got ahead of the game. We haven't seen a lot of issues and it has been relatively smooth," Gibboney said. 

And, he admits the district continues to have its eye on the future and other plans to enhance the facilities and educational opportunities for Greencastle students. 

"It is exciting and it will be nice to devote more time to academics. Safety, secure access and 21st Century learning opportunities were the three big things we heard about from our stakeholders. We are always trying to evolve, adapt and overcome. We always have a list of needs in the background. We want to keep up with our maintenance program and be respectful of funds, but we owe it to the community to take great care of our facilities and provide opportunities for our students. It takes a collective effort," Gibboney said.  

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Walking up and down the hallways of Fillmore Elementary School, students, faculty and staff can feel the excitement Amanda Gibboney is bringing to the building. 

The new principal is no stranger to the district or being a principal, as Gibboney previously served as principal at Eastern Greene Elementary School, and she has hit the ground running with the 2023-24 school year underway. 

"I am really excited to be the principal at Fillmore Elementary School. Over the years, I've had opportunities to work with teachers and administration in the South Putnam school district and I spent some time working with Fillmore staff. I know that Fillmore is a special place and the families and students take great pride in their school and culture. I have always been impressed with the student first culture of Fillmore Elementary School. When the position of Principal became available, I knew that I wanted to be part of the Fillmore family," Gibboney told The Puntam County Post. 

As for how she got into education, Gibboney admits it traces back to how she saw her children learning when they were in elementary school. 

"When my kids were in elementary school, I volunteered and I enjoyed watching the different ways kids learn. I realized the impact that teachers can have on student learning and student growth socially and academically and this inspired me to become a teacher," Gibboney said. 

With the school year underway, Gibboney said her goals for this year center around getting to know her students, staff and families. 

"This will allow me to determine areas where I can best support our school family," Gibboney said. 

She has already begun getting to know her staff as she is working on ways to support students in the areas of reading and STEM, she said. 

"The staff at Fillmore are amazing and I've learned that they will do whatever it takes to set students up for success," Gibboney said.

That success extends outside the classroom, as Gibboney has been working alongside the PTO to support parent involvement in the schools. 

"I'm so impressed with the support of our PTO and I know we will continue to work together to provide opportunities for families to stay involved in the school," Gibboney said.

And, she wants families to know her door is always open. 

"I want families to feel comfortable reaching out to me at any time. Our students are most successful when families and the school have open lines of communication," Gibboney said. 

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Dangerous heat and high humidity are in the forecast throughout the region this week. 

“Nearly our entire region will experience at or near historic high temperatures this week, but high heat index values will make for an extremely dangerous situation for many residents,” said Tom Sivak, FEMA Region 5 regional administrator. “We all need to take precautions. Regularly check yourself and those you care about—especially children, older adults and pets—for the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and be ready to respond to them.”  

After weeks of comfortable temperatures, don’t be caught unaware as highs spike this week.

• Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a list of warning signs and symptoms of heat illness and recommended first aid steps.
• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. If you don’t have access to air conditioning at home, find places in your community with AC, such as a local cooling center.   
• Keep your home as cool as possible. For example, roughly 40% of unwanted heat buildup in our homes is through windows. Use awnings or curtains to keep the heat out, and check the weather stripping on doors and windows to keep the cool air in.
• If you must be outside, find shade. Avoid strenuous activity, cover your head with a hat wide enough to protect your face and wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty.
• NEVER leave people or pets in a parked car.  

Finally, follow the direction of local and state officials for locations of cooling centers and other resources when available during the high heat.

For more information and tips on being ready for extreme heat, visit www.ready.gov/heat. 

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Motorcycle riders, enthusiasts and even those on four wheels are invited to take part in the inaugural Rodney Gaffney Charity Ride Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Greencastle American Legion Post 58.

The event will honor the life and memory of the late post Commander, who passed away last August. Gaffney served in the United States Air Force, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Upon leaving the Air Force, he opened a construction company in Greencastle and became a golf course superintendent, in addition to serving at the legion, where he was active in initiatives to help families in need, as well as conducting clothing drives for veterans . 

Registration for the event will take place at 9:30 a.m. with kickstands up at 11 a.m. The ride is expected to return to the Legion between 3 and 4 p.m. 

The fee to participate is $20 for a single rider and $30 for a couple and there will be food, music and more at the Legion following the ride. 

The Indiana State Fair cotinues with a full slate of activities on Friday, August 18.

Putnam County farms owned and operated by the same family for at least 100 years were recently honored with Hoosier Homestead awards.

"Farming is not an easy job, and to maintain a farm for 100 years or more in the same family is a remarkable achievement," said State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle), vice chair of the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. "These families are truly deserving of this recognition."

The Hubert L. McGaughey Farm, in operation since 1916, received the centennial award, and the Rissler Farm, in operation since 1829, received the sesquicentennial award.

"As someone who does a bit of farming myself, I know how hard this work is and how special it is for family farms to endure over multiple generations, and I'm grateful to see these family-owned operations recognized for their contributions to our communities and state," said Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville). "Family farms continue to serve an important role in Indiana's economy, and I'm pleased to congratulate our local awardees on these major milestones."

Farms owned and maintained by the same family for 100, 150 and 200 years can qualify for centennial, sesquicentennial or bicentennial Hoosier Homestead awards.

"It is always encouraging to see Hoosiers who are passionate about what they do, and it is that shared passion that has helped these farms flourish for over a century," said State Sen. John B Crane (R-Avon). "I am proud to serve a district with hardworking individuals like the Rissler and McGaughey families and I hope for their continued success in the years to come."

These farm families were among 103 awardees recently recognized at the Indiana State Fair for their commitment to agriculture.

Hoosier Homestead award ceremonies are conducted yearly in the spring and summer to commemorate farm families for their legacies and contributions to Indiana's agriculture industry. Since the program started in 1976, the state has honored more than 6,000 farms with this designation.

For more information on the Hoosier Homestead Award Program and to nominate a farm, visit in.gov/isda. Nominations for the March 2024 ceremony are due by Nov. 1.

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While the state of Indiana struggled when it comes to I-Read3 results, as it was announced Wednesday, Putnam County students fared very well on the statewide test for third graders.

According to data released by the Indiana Department of Education Wednesday, one in five Indiana students are unable to read at the conclusion of the third grade. 

Students in the third grade saw their results improve .3 percentage points across the state, improving from 81.6 percent proficient in reading in 2022 to 81.9 percent proficient last year. 

IREEAD-3 is given each spring to students in the third grade to measure their reading ability, and there is an increased focus on reading across the Hoosier State as education officials and lawmakers have set a goal of having 95 percent of third grade students reading proficiently by 2027. 

In order to get there, the state has invested over $100 million to boost literacy efforts, as the state looks to the science of reading program, which will teach literacy based on phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. 

The science of reading will show up in classrooms beginning in the 2024-25 school year.

While students around the state struggled with proficiency, Putnam County schools fared well for the most part. 

In South Putnam, the district saw 87.2 percent of students test proficient. 

At Central Elementary School, 87.5 percent of those tested were proficient, while Fillmore Elementary saw a huge jump in students testing proficient. In 2023, 86.4 percent tested proficient, which is a 15.8 percent increase from 2022. 

Cloverdale saw 90.5 percent of its students across the district test proficient. At Cloverdale Distance Learning Academy, 90.1 percent tested proficient, while 91.2 percent of students at Cloverdale Elementary were proficient. 

At North Putnam, 85.4 percent of students across the district tested proficient. At Roachdale Elementary, 94.3 percent of students tested proficient, while Bainbridge Elementary saw 80.9 percent test proficient. 

Greencastle saw 82.3 percent of its students test proficient. At Tzouanakis Intermediate School, there was an 8.3 percent drop in proficiency from the previous year, as 82.3 percent were proficient. 

For Greencastle superintendent Jeff Gibboney, the results show there is room for improvement. 

"We have changed our reading curriculum to Amplified Reading as the state moves towards the science of Reading. Our new curriculum meets and provides literacy foundational skills. We will have a lot of training with our faculty. We are not performing at a level we expect or are capable of," Gibboney told The Putnam County Post. 

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Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a hunting accident that occurred Tuesday morning at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.

At approximately 8 a.m., emergency personnel were dispatched to the Morgan-Monroe State Forest property office to assist an individual who stated he had been shot while hunting.

William Long, 72, of Monrovia, reported that he was shot by another hunter in the area while squirrel hunting. The incident is currently under investigation.

Long was transported to Morgan County Hospital in good condition and was later released.
Indiana Conservation Officers remind hunters to always identify their target and be aware of what is around it before shooting in the field.

Assisting agencies include Indiana University Health Ambulance and the Monroe County Fire Department.

It's finally time in Greencastle. 

The grant application window for the Greencastle Main Street Downtown Development Grant opened on Aug. 10 and is available on a first come, first served basis, according to executive director Russel Harvey. 

The grants are designed to increase the aesthetic appeal and property values of the commercial lots within the Main Street designated area and adjacent commercial districts. 

"By working directly with businesses and property owners, the DDG stimulates investment through external improvements that preserve and care for the historical aspects of buildings," Harvey said. 

According to Harvey, improvements made to downtown facades must provide a uniform aesthetic while maintaining a historic appeal. 

"This helps to foster a unique, artistic style that separates Greencastle from other cities. Through the grant program, Main Street Greencastle creates a welcoming and cooperative environment for entrepreneurs, new businesses and business expansions. Partnering with building owners, we strengthen community and personal relationships in order to make a more vibrant downtown and city," Harvey said. 

The first round budget includes $95,000 for grants and $10,000 for design assistance and the proposed grant amounts are 75 percent reimbursable grant of the first $10,000 up to $7,500 and 50 percent reimbursable grant over $10,000 up to $42,500 for a total grant amount of $50,000.

The proposed grant areas are:

Year 1: Downtown Greencastle Main Street Program Area Design Assistance, which includes projects that require design work items such as sign design, awning color or storefront design and a $1,000 design assistance grant can be added to the total grant amount. However, all design work is subject to the evaluation of the selection committee for approval to keep in line with the overall downtown appeal. 

Fire Protection: The program will encourage Fire Protection upgrades and initiatives. 

Anyone wishing to apply for a grant or seek more information, is asked to contact Harvey at Hello@mainstreetgc.org. 

The grant will be awarded on a first come, first served basis and will be selected by a committee made up of members from Main Street Greencastle. 

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Indiana farmland prices once again hit record highs in 2023, according to the recent Purdue Farmland Value and Cash Rents Survey.

Statewide, the average price of top-quality farmland averaged $13,739 per acre, up 7.3% from June 2022. Average- and poor-quality farmland increased 5.8% and 0.7% to $11,210 and $8,689 per acre, respectively.

“While farmland prices reached a new peak in 2023, the appreciation rate from 2022 to 2023 was much lower than the record-high price growth observed between 2021 and 2022,” said Todd H. Kuethe, the Schrader Endowed Chair in Farmland Economics and the survey’s author. “Farm incomes and liquidity are playing a role in boosting price growth; however, rising interest rates continue to put downward pressure on purchases financed through mortgages.”

Statewide, cash rents increased by a modest amount between 2022 and 2023, yet in nominal terms, all three quality grades are at an all-time high. Per-acre cash rental rates for top-, average- and poor-quality land exceeded the previous highs set in 2013, 2014 and 2021. Indiana per-acre cash rent for top-quality land increased by 1.99% to $306. Cash rental rates for average- and poor-quality land increased by 2.09% and 2.50% to $257 and $212, respectively.

Kuethe says that it’s important to note that these modest changes at the state level mask some of the larger variation across land qualities and regions. For example, cash rental rates grew by 32.8% to 47.2% in the Southeast region for top-, average- and poor-quality land, but cash rental rates fell by 2.2% to 10.7% in the Southwest region. The highest cash rents, across all three quality grades, were observed in the West Central region. Across all regions and quality grades, rent as share of land value (the capitalization rate) held relatively steady between 2022 and 2023.

A divergence was also found in values for farmland transitioning out of agricultural production and those of farmland used for recreational purposes in 2023. Statewide, the per-acre value of farmland transitioning out of agricultural production increased by 4.1% between June 2022 and June 2023 to $25,228. However, the value of recreational land declined by 10.4% to $8,170 per acre.

For more in-depth analysis on the survey, the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture has released a new Purdue AgCast episode. Listen as Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe, James Mintert and Michael Langemeier discuss Indiana farmland values, cash rents and results from the 2023 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey. The two-part series is available for free at https://purdue.ag/farmland-values.

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A case of road rage led to gunfire as troopers from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post responded to an emergency 911 call in Clay County on westbound Interstate 70.

Indiana State Police say about noon on Monday the incident involved a driver of a silver Mercury allegedly firing a weapon at a Black Honda.  Indiana State Police troopers and officers from the Terre Haute Police Department were able to locate the two vehicles on US 41 near a fueling station and detained the driver of the Mercury.

Indiana State Police detectives were called to the scene and the preliminary investigation indicated that the driver of the Mercury, Michael E. Smith, 52, of Wentzville, Missouri, became enraged at the other vehicle while traveling on Interstate 70 and allegedly fired at least one shot at the Honda, striking the other vehicle which was occupied by an adult driver and one child.  Detectives were able to secure evidence at the scene.

As a result of the investigation, Smith was arrested and transported to the Clay County Justice Center.    

Smith was charged with:

• Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, Level 5 Felony
• Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon, Level 5 Felony 
• Criminal Recklessness (2 counts), Level 6 Felony

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The City of Greencastle announced that Owl Creek Construction will begin work on the city’s annual sidewalk replacement project beginning the week of August 14. Each year, the city makes repairs to damaged sidewalks and ADA ramps around the community.

The contractor has broken the city up into several zones to organize the work. Depending on the weather, work is scheduled as follows:

• Areas south of Hanna Street and west of Bloomington Street, the southwest corner of the community, will be under construction from August 14 to September 8.  Approximately 28 locations will be repaired.
• Areas south of Franklin Street, west of Wood Street, and north of Hanna Street are scheduled from September 11 to October 19. Approximately 19 locations will be repaired in this area.
• Areas north of Franklin Street and Indianapolis Road and west of Fawn View Lane and Deer Meadow Drive, the northwest area of the community, are scheduled from October 23 to October 26. Approximately 23 locations will be repaired in this area.
• Areas east of Wood Street, Fawn View Lane, and Deer Meadow Drive, and north of SR 240, are scheduled for October 30 to November 9. Approximately 13 locations will be repaired in this area.
• Areas east of Bloomington Street and south of SR 240, the southeast corner of the community, are scheduled for November 6 to November 9. Approximately 8 locations will be repaired in this area.

Construction schedules are subject to change and dependent upon the weather. The contractor expects to complete the work by November 16. The contract with Owl Creek Construction provides for the work to be complete by November 30.

Work consists of replacing a few sidewalk panels to eliminate deteriorated sections or trip hazards. In other locations, longer lengths of sidewalk may be replaced. Some areas include replacement of curb and gutter and driveway aprons to bring sidewalk segments into compliance with ADA standards. The city, through the Board of Works, with funds budgeted by the City Council, is investing $239,900 in this project.

Citizens are asked to watch for construction crews and slow down on areas where work is underway. Others that may be walking in neighborhoods are asked to avoid the construction areas.

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A pedestrian was killed in a crash with a law enforcement vehicle.

An off-duty Hendricks County Sheriff’s deputy was involved in crash about 1:30 a.m. Monday near Brownsburg on I-74. 

Crash reconstructionists from the Brownsburg Police Department in addition to the Hendricks County Coroner’s Office are investigating.  Initial investigation by the Brownsburg Police Department indicates the deputy was traveling eastbound on I-74 when for an unknown reason, the yet unidentified person walked into the path of the deputy’s vehicle.  The individual was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Brownsburg Police Department, the deputy exhibited no signs of impairment during their investigation. 

Concurrent with the crash investigation by the Brownsburg Police Department, the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an administrative investigation, per policy, to review the incident.  The involved deputy is being placed on paid administrative leave, as is normal procedure in these types of incidents.

The Hendricks County Sheriff’s office encourages anyone with information about this crash, to please contact the Brownsburg Police Department at 317.852.1109 Ext. 2123 .   

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Nestlé USA is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough “break and bake” Bar (16.5 oz) products due to the potential presence of wood fragments.

This voluntary recall is isolated to two batches of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough “break and bake” Bar products that were produced on April 24 and 25, 2023. This product was distributed at retailers in the U.S. 

This recall does not involve any other NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® products, including other varieties of refrigerated cookie dough in “break and bake” bars, rolls, or tubs, or Edible cookie dough

No illnesses or injuries have been reported, but the company taking action out of an abundance of caution after a small number of consumers contacted Nestlé USA about the issue.

Consumers who have purchased NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bar (16.5 oz) with batch codes 311457531K and 311557534K should not prepare or consume the product and should return the product to the retailer where it was purchased for a replacement or refund.

For any further support needed, contact Nestlé USA at (800) 681-1678 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. EST.

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State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) co-chaired the 2023 Rural Caucus meeting in the Normandy Barn at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Legislators met with stakeholders to discuss key issues impacting Indiana's rural communities, including health care, broadband, agriculture policy, energy sustainability and local economic development.

Speakers included:

Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04);

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch;

Biofuels Director Helena Jette, Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance;

Chief Strategy Officer Amy Kent, Indiana Department of Health;

Director Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture;

Director Dr. Roberto Gallardo, Purdue Center for Regional Development;

Executive Director David Bottorf, Association of Indiana Counties;

Indiana State Veterinarian Dr. Bret March, Indiana Board of Animal Health; and

Senior Vice President of Community Affairs Mark Wasky, Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

"Chairing Rural Caucus, listening to the speakers and discussing these topics is always rewarding and provides great insight on issues our local communities or agriculture sector may need more help with," Leising said. "As chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, I look forward to ongoing discussions and using the insights when considering policy that will help our rural areas continue to grow."

Following discussion, attendees toured the new Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion. The building is 196,000 square feet and has the potential to host a variety of events throughout the year, such as the 2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.

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As a student at South Putnam High School, Patrick Thibodeau began thinking seriously about his future when an idea came to him. 

Unsure about the opportunity to go to college, the oldest of five sons and a shaky economy at the time, Thibodeau sent a card out of a magazine to the United States Marine Corp inquiring about joining. 

"They sent me back a nice letter that essentially said call us when you graduate," Thibodeau told The Putnam County Post. 

Thibodeau said he had a classmate whose father was a Colonel in the Indiana National Guard who told him the guard would let you join as a junior in high school, and one could attend Basic Training the summer between your junior and senior year and then complete Advance Individual Training the summer after graduation. 

"I thought it would be good to get started early to get some rank and experience before I graduate and then look at options to go into the Army or the Marine Corp," Thibodeau said.

He would enlist as a Private E1 in the Indiana National Guard Battery A/2-150 FA in Greencastle on May 15, 1985, and it would begin a military career that would span 38 years, allow him become a commissioned officer, serve at every officer rank, including brigadier general, travel the world and command and lead at every echelon; Tactical, Operation and the Strategic level. 

"Not only to be the assistant Adjutant General of the State of Indiana but to be dual hatted as the Deputy Commander of Southern European Taskforce Africa (SETAF-AF). It is unreal that a National Guard Officer from rural Indiana would have the opportunity to be a deputy commander of an active duty two star command with the responsibility of working with the land component commanders of 54 African nations," Thibodeau admitted.      

In 2008, Thibodeau deployed with the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and was part of the largest single unit deployment from the Indiana National Guard since World War II, as he headed to Iraq. 

"What I realized during that deployment is that the civilian acquired skills that citizen Soldiers bring to the table directly impact the ability of the Army to be self-reliant. The army has pretty good capability for kinetic and non-kinetic operations but when all you have is hammers, everything looks like a nail, you end up trying to fit square pegs into round holes," he said. 

He recalled that the soldiers didn't always work the way the unit was organized for combat. 

"Instead we task organized based on civilian acquired skills. You may have a Lt. Colonel and an E4 working side by side on infrastructure like electricity or plumbing; not the mission set of a IBCT. In 2008, DOD was working to transition the “Sons of Iraq’, Military aged males from standing checkpoint to working civilian jobs but the economy was slow. We had the opportunity to work with the State Department and USIAD to work economic development, something that our citizen Soldiers excelled at, a capability that didn’t not reside in the active components. What I learned is that everyone brings something to the table and together we can do more and do it faster," Thibodeau said.

His military service is drawing to a close as Thibodeau is retiring from the Indiana National Guard. However, he continues his life of service, serving on the Greencastle Fire Department and also serving as the Greencastle City Building Commissioner/Inspector. 

He says service is a huge part of his life.  

"As a citizen soldier, I have had the opportunity to serve my community, the state of Indiana, several other states and our Country for essentially all of my adult life. Service is extremely rewording, people always thank you for your service which is nice but the biggest sacrifice is from your family that cover your responsibilities while you’re wearing the uniform. It is extremely difficult to serve without support from your family, friends and your civilian employer. I have been very fortunate to have support from all three. The City of Greencastle/GFD has been a phenomenal employer, I can’t say enough good things about them. I wish all or citizen Soldiers had employers with the same level of commitment," Thibodeau said.          

He admits his service in the military helped prepare him for his careers within the city. 

"Being successful in the military requires a program of continuous learning through experience, civilian education and military education, it’s a continuum of self-development. When you decide to stop leaning and being relevant the system is designed so the Soldier behind you gets to pass you. So to be successful you need discipline, focus, to be technically and tactically proficient and to be respected as a leader. My position as a Building Commissioner is simply to enforce the standards for construction that are published by both the City of Greencastle and the state of Indiana; I have to be the technical expert, the trainer and the person that ensures everyone meets the standards across the board. Frankly, I think anyone that is a successful leader in the military is perfectly suited to for my job, they really complement each other," he said.

And, as the sun sets on his military service, Thibodeau said he has lived a lifetime of adventure, learning and self development. 

"I have done thing I couldn’t have ever imagined.  I have had the opportunity to work for some of the most brilliant leaders in the world and I have had the opportunity to lead some of Americas finest soldiers and airmen. I can’t think of anything that is so demanding at times yet so fulfilling. I have had some long days but it never really seemed like work to me. I was always excited to wake up and start my new adventure. I will miss serving in the Indiana Army National Guard but I have a lot of friends that I share a bond of service with. Now that my social calendar has opened up, I plan to focus on spending time family and friends. There is an old saying that a leopard doesn’t change his spots; I’m sure I will find something service oriented to leverage what I have learned over the years. I will fondly remember being a Soldier, a leader and a defender of freedom," Thibodeau said. 

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The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration today announced that software used by a contractor experienced a security breach that exposed certain personal information of Indiana Medicaid members.

The names, addresses, case numbers and Medicaid numbers of more than 744,000 members of Indiana Medicaid were exposed in the breach, which occurred in the MOVIEit application used by Maximus Health Services. Social Security numbers of four additional Medicaid members were impacted.

The MOVEit application breach affected companies and organizations worldwide and occurred in late May.

Maximus alerted FSSA of the breach. The people affected in Indiana are members of Medicaid who had received a communication from Maximus regarding the selection of a managed care entity. Maximus is contacting all Medicaid members affected with information and options for credit monitoring.

For questions or additional information, individuals can call 1-833-919-4749 toll?free.

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Tremendously busy and productive.

That is how South Putnam Community Schools Corporation superintendent Dr. Corey Smith describes the months leading up to the start of school this week. 

The reason?

His district was in the midst of several small projects and the finalization aspects of its renovation project. 

"As part of the renovation project, we finalized the following: high school restrooms; locker rooms; coaching offices; athletic laundry facilities; athletics storage; high school science labs and preparation areas; extensive carpeting throughout the high school hallways, offices and some classrooms; significant upgrades in HVAC with five new AHUs, ductwork and all associated plumbing/piping which serve the newly updated areas; teachers' lounge and workroom upgrades; along with other significant aesthetic upgrades," Smith told The Putnam County Post. 

In addition, two major roof sections were replaced and upgraded, new bleachers in the upper deck of the high school and Central Elementary were finalized, sound system upgrades were finished in the high school/middle school gym, the parking lot and driveway at the middle school/high school was upgraded, several trees were removed or trimmed, painting was done and some cement repair work was completed at Fillmore Elementary. 

Smith said the district currently finds itself in the midst of a "significant safety/security project." 

"We are updating our door access control and alarm systems, along with significant security surveillance upgrades throughout the district. Some buildings have a majority of the work completed, but we still have some work to do to complete this project," Smith acknowledged. 

And, while there is still some work left to do with the HVAC control system, basketball controls in the main gym and parking lot upgrades at Central Elementary have been delayed to next summer, Smith admits it is an exciting time for South Putnam. 

"We are very excited to start the school year with the majority of the projects at or near completion. The last two years were impacted, especially last year, with displaced teachers and staff in temporary rooms and spaces, but it is great to have everyone back in their rooms and offices. There is great excitement throughout South Putnam seeing our vision and goals coming to fruition," Smith said.

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While other school districts may be struggling to find teachers despite the school year starting, the Greencastle Community School Corporation is not. 

"The start to school has gone relatively smooth. We have new teachers and two new principals. The kids and teachers are settled in," superintendent Jeff Gibboney told The Putnam County Post. 

According to Gibboney, the district was short only two certified positions when school began. 

"Staffing has been an ongoing challenge since Covid. We are short two certified positions, but outside of that, we are full. We actively seek and recruit talent, and we have exciting things to offer inside our buildings, as well as competitive salaries and opportunities. The fact that we are in good shape goes to the people in our buildings and leadership," Gibboney said.

While the staffing is solid, there is one area that Gibboney will aim to improve across the district this school year and that is redefining mentorship. 

"It is hard to be a first year teacher, and we want to make sure support and mentors are in place. I am hopeful it'll help retain staff. We will provide access to mentors and pair up seasoned teachers with new teachers and bring new teachers together with each other. We want them to feel a connection to the community and their schools," Gibboney said. 

Gibboney also hopes that through the mentorship program, future leaders will be created who can take administrative jobs when they open up again. 

"We had two principal openings and no internal applicants this year. We want to do a better job grooming our staff to take the next step. We have to be more intentional. Teacher retention around the state has not been high, but Becky McPherson, our assistant superintendent, has led the charge with this program," Gibboney said. 

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A Hendricks County man has been sentenced to federal prison time.

Vimalkumar Trivedi, 41, of Plainfield, has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to the possession of false identity documents and operating an unlicensed money transfer business.

According to court documents, from April 2017 through April 1, 2021, Trivedi defrauded multiple victims, including some elderly individuals, into sending cash to various locations, including Indianapolis via FedEx. Trivedi and his co-conspirators in the U.S. and India masqueraded as federal law enforcement agents and told the victims that their Social Security numbers had been found in connection with criminal activity, often narcotics trafficking. The criminals stated that the victims would be arrested if they did not immediately withdraw large sums of cash and mail it to fictitious individuals.

Trivedi tracked the packages of money sent by fraud victims to the fictitious recipients and picked them up at multiple FedEx locations. In each instance, Trivedi used a false identification document in the name of the listed package recipient. In total, Trivedi possessed at least 53 false identification documents, each with his picture but containing different identifying information. He used these false identification documents to pick up at least 122 packages containing $901,124 in cash proceeds of the fraud. Trivedi kept $60,000 stolen from victims for his own use and forwarded the remainder to his associates.

Through the investigation, law enforcement agents have identified and confirmed approximately 17 victims, identified approximately 50 other suspected victims, and identified approximately $1.5 million in losses to the victims.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office; Welber Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Norfolk Field Office, Rodney Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division; and Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, OIG made the announcement.

“International fraud conspiracies steal from hard-working people using lies, manipulation, and fear,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “These vicious crimes often devastate families and individuals victimized by these heartless thieves. The sentence in this case demonstrates that fraudsters seeking a quick buck will pay a heavy price for their crimes. I commend the dedication of the FBI, NCIS, Postal Inspection Service, and Social Security Administration OIG, to hold these criminals accountable and seek justice for victims.”

“The sentence imposed on the defendant sends a very clear message to those who attempt to profit from fraud. You will be caught, and you will face time behind bars,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “Protecting the community from becoming victims of these types of schemes will always be a priority for the FBI and our partners.”

“Mr. Trivedi’s conspirators threatened and scared innocent victims into sending him large sums of money in a vile scheme for which he deserves to be held fully accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Welber Hickman of the NCIS Norfolk Field Office. “This sentencing should serve as a warning that NCIS and our partners will expose and bring to justice those who seek to defraud our nation’s warfighters and their families.”

“Trivedi was part of an imposter scam that used scare tactics and identity theft to scam innocent victims out of hard-earned money. Today’s sentence shows that such behavior will not be tolerated,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “I thank the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and work on this case.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Trivedi be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.  

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Are you searching for a convenient and effective way to enhance your physical activity and overall well-being?

Look no further – walking is the perfect solution. With its simplicity and accessibility, walking serves as an excellent starting point for embarking on a journey towards a more active lifestyle. If you're seeking the ideal motivation but find it challenging to commit to scheduled classes, there is an ideal solution tailored just for you: the Get WalkIN’ program, a remarkable initiative brought to you by Purdue Extension in Putnam County.

Get WalkIN’, a revolutionary, free-of-charge email-based walking program aimed at transforming your health and vitality. Developed by Purdue Extension's School of Nursing, this innovative program is designed to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule. Overcoming time constraints and lack of motivation is a breeze with Get WalkIN’.

You can expect 16 carefully crafted emails to guide you through your walking journey, offering encouragement and tips to keep you on track. It’s also tailored for busy individuals, helping you take steps towards better health even during a hectic schedule.

While the program originates in Putnam County, Indiana, its benefits are not confined by geographic boundaries. Get WalkIN’ warmly welcomes participants from outside the county, ensuring that everyone has access to this transformative opportunity. Feel free to share this exciting program with friends, family, and colleagues who may also be interested in embarking on this wellness journey.

Mark your calendar for the program's commencement on September 5, 2023. For registration, simply reach out to Abbi Smith at asmith22@purdue.edu by September 1, to secure your spot.

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If there are two constants when it comes to coaching they are landscapes constantly change and friendships are always created.

Such was the case for the late Michael Meyer and current Avon football coach Rob Gibson, who graduated from South Putnam High School. 

While the two competed against each other the last two years, with Gibson serving as head coach at Owen Valley and Meyer coaching Greencastle, their paths extended well beyond the rivalry and it's one reason why Gibson took the news on Aug. 4 extremely hard when notified that Meyer had passed away unexpectedly while getting ready for the first day of school at Greencastle. 

"Coach Meyer was as good a person as I have ever met. I spent a lot of time with him in his classroom 1 on 1 for a few years. He cared about his players, he cared about his students and he loved his family. He talked about his family all the time. Every conversation had a story about one of his kids or his wife, Brenda. The world could use more people like Mike Meyer," Gibson told The Putnam County Post. 

After graduating from South Putnam, Gibson left for Marian University, where he spent two years coaching at South Putnam and two seasons at Cardinal Ritter. 

It was Meyer who gave him his first job after college, and it was Meyer who taught Gibson a lot about the profession. 

"You learn a lot about what not to do from a lot of people. I learned a lot from him about how to do things. Coach Meyer was detailed in his practice plans, he watched as much film as any coach I've worked with, and he found ways to use the players to their strengths," Gibson said. 

He continued by saying he took a lot away from his time with Gibson. 

"But the thing that I will always take from him is that he always found time to spend with his family even during the season. Every Thursday night was his date night with Brenda. As important as football was to him, his family was always more important," Gibson said. 

Gibson acknowledged when Meyer left Greencastle as head football coach, he hired him at Avon. 

"He's been with us since April. He was having so much fun," Gibson said. 

As for how the Orioles are planning on replacing Meyer, Gibson said they can't,

"You don't replace Mike Meyer. He does things and knows things that a lot of people wouldn't think of. When he wasn't going back to Greencastle, I gave him some time to relax and spend time with his family. Then I called him, told him he was coming to Avon. He laughed and then we met for lunch and agreed to it. I have already reached out to our decal company to discuss some things we can do for our helmets. I will really miss having him here. We have spent a lot of days together here. I love the Meyer family," Gibson said. 

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While District 5 Indiana Conservation Officers were assisting in looking for a wanted individual in Owen County a concerned homeowner reported an unknown male using a neighbor's garden hose before running away.

Near the garden hose ICOs located a shirt that contained wild ginseng root.

ICO K9 Finn was called in and a 1.8 mile track ensued. ICO K9 Finn flushed the ginseng digger out to an awaiting ICO. After a foot pursuit, the male was taken into custody.

It was later determined the male, name unavailable as of this report, had an active arrest warrant out of Putnam County. Charges include harvesting ginseng in a closed season, resisting law enforcement, and criminal trespass.

Indiana DNR says ginseng is a natural resource vulnerable to overharvesting because of slow growth, low seed production, and loss of forest habitat. The roots can be legally harvested during the established season with permission from the landowner. They also can be sold to licensed dealers during the selling season

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A Greencastle family had their house damaged following an early morning fire on Monday.

According to Greencastle Fire assistant chief Rob Frank, Greencastle Fire chief John Burgess was first on the scene at the residence, which was located at 409 1/2 Ohio Street after calls came in of an active fire around 5:30 a.m. 

"Our guys did a great job making a stop on the fire. When our Chief arrived there was fire coming from a bedroom window at the rear of the home. They stretched a line to that window and knocked the fire down. The second line was stretched to the interior of the home to finish putting the fire out. From dispatch time to the fire being marked out was about 11 minutes," Frank told the Putnam County Post. 

Upon arrival, all occupants escaped safely and no injuries were reported. 

Frank confirmed the fire was accidental in nature and the cause is still undetermined. 

"There is smoke damage throughout the home, but it's repairable. There was no real structural damage. It's what we would call a room and content fire," Frank said. 

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Warm temperatures combined with rain have served as the perfect recipe for mosquitos this summer, and as a result, health officials have confirmed West Nile Virus is present in Putnam County. 

The Indiana Department of Health confirmed they have found the presence of the disease in mosquitos, but also report that, as of Aug. 3, there have been no human cases confirmed. 

With that said, health officials are urging residents to exercise caution and protect themselves from West Nile Virus. 

Several tips to protect themselves include:

Application of insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to clothing and exposed skin. 

Cover exposed skin with a hat, long sleeved clothing and pants where mosquitos are. 

Avoid being outdoors when mosquitos are most active, which is late afternoon, dusk to dawn and early in the morning. 

Discard old tires or any item that can hold water. 

Repair failed septic systems. 

Keep grass cut short and trim shrubs and hedges. 

According to the Indiana Department of Health, West Nile is the most commonly reported mosquito borne disease in both Indiana and America.

Anyone who believes they may have contracted West Nile Virus is asked to contact their primary care physician. 

In addition, the Putnam County Health Department is offering free mosquito briquets to help control mosquito larvae. They can be obtained by calling the health department at 765-301-7660. 

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The Community Shred Event, scheduled for Saturday, September 9, at the Putnam County 4-H Fairgrounds, is poised to provide individuals and businesses with a valuable opportunity to safely dispose of confidential documents and contribute to a worthwhile cause.

Hosted by the Putnam County Board of REALTORS and made possible through the sponsorship of North Salem State Bank and Earl & Co, CPA, the event aims to address the growing need for proper document management.

Scheduled to take place from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, the Community Shred Event promises a streamlined and convenient experience. Attendees are encouraged to bring any documents they wish to have securely destroyed, including tax returns, bank statements, credit card information, and other sensitive materials. To ease the process, small binder clips, staples, and paperclips can remain attached, while larger binder clips and plastic folders/binders are to be removed.

Upon arrival at the Putnam County 4-H Fairgrounds, participants will be guided by event staff to designated areas for document drop-off. Vehicles can remain stationary as trained volunteers unload the materials and transfer them to the pre-shred bin. Importantly, all shredding will take place on-site, ensuring the highest level of security for attendees' confidential information.

While this is a free event for non-business entities, donations are encouraged. All donations contribute to Putnam County Board of REALTORS Scholarship fund.

Businesses within the community are also encouraged to participate in this initiative. While business disposal is limited to ten boxes per entity, each box requires a minimum donation of $5. This contribution not only supports the event but also contributes to the Putnam County Board of REALTORS Scholarship fund, an investment in the educational future of local students.

The organizers express their gratitude to the Putnam County 4-H Fair Association for graciously providing the fairgrounds as the venue for this community event. 

For those seeking additional information, please contact the Putnam County Board of REALTORS at 765-720-2091.

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Get your Mega Millions ticket for tonight's over $1 billion drawing.

The pot sits at an estimated $1.55 billion. It's the third highest in lottery history. The largest prize was a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot last November.

Cut-off times for buying tickets vary by state.  If you're waiting for the last minute in Indiana, Mega Millions cut-off time is 10:44 p.m. Eastern.

For Powerball, cut-off time to purchase a ticket is 9:58 p.m. Eastern.

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It took four days for a jury to find a Brazil man guilty of murder for his role in a 2020 homicide. 

Cody Allen Wade, 33, Brazil, was arrested in June 2020 after police arrived to a residence at 236 East National Avenue, Brazil. Upon arrival, officers found a victim, later identified as Carl Haviland, 53, Brazil, wounded inside the residence. Haviland died as a result of being stabbed. 

Wade was initially arrested on charges of murder, battery against a public safety official and resisting law enforcement. 

A Clay Superior Court jury found Wade guilty of felony murder, two felony counts of battery resulting in bodily injury to a public safety official, a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement and a felony charge of battery against a public safety official, as well as a habitual offender enhancement. 

According to court records, Wade has a lengthy criminal record, including a level four felony conviction of arson, and felony convictions for burglary. 

Following the guilty conviction, Wade was remanded back into custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 6. 

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A total team effort was how Greencastle Fire Department assistant chief Rob Frank described the efforts of June 23 after calls came in for a rescue mission at Fern Cliff Nature Preserve. 

Multiple first responders responded to extricate an individual who called 911 and told dispatchers they had fallen an approximate 50 feet off a cliff and were in need of medical help. 

Initially, first responders had to deal with tough terrain, including cutting fallen trees and multiple cliffs attempting to reach the individual. 

An hour after arriving on the scene, first responders were able to carry the victim out, transporting him to a waiting medical helicopter and the victim was flown to a hospital. 

This week, those first responders, who came from the following: 

Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department, Greencastle Fire, Putnam County EMS, Roachdale Fire, Bellmore Fire and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, were recognized by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security State EMS Director Kraig Kinney. 

Greencastle assistant fire chief Rob Frank said the incident was one he had not experienced before. 

"It is pretty rare. I have been on full-time for 11 years, and that was the first time. It was a team effort, and I am glad all departments can come together and work together to accomplish a big task like this," Frank told The Putnam County Post. 

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Greencastle schools and the community are mourning the loss of Mike Meyer.  Meyer passed away suddenly.

The following letter was sent by Greencastle Superintendent Jeff Gibboney.

Dear Greencastle Families,

It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of Mike Meyer, longtime English teacher, and former football coach at Greencastle High School.  The GCSC staff sends our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to his wife Brenda, their children and all his extended family during this difficult time. 

School administrators implemented our crisis management plan.  We will continue to support our students and staff.  Greencastle High School will have additional counselors and staff members available beginning Monday, August 7.  If your student needs help, please encourage them to reach out to a teacher or member of the GHS administrative team.

Sincerely,

Jeff Gibboney

Superintendent

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There were 252 new Indiana laws approved this year by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and enacted by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, mostly during the month of April.

While a few laws took effect immediately, such as Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 2 reclassifying certain Indiana business taxes to enable some companies to qualify for a larger federal tax deduction, the bulk of the new state statutes — as usual — take effect July 1, including the two-year budget in House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1001.

Here's a look at some notable new laws Hoosiers should know:

Book bans — Every public school board and charter school governing body is required to establish a procedure for the parent of any student, or any person residing in the school district, to request the removal of library materials deemed "obscene" or "harmful to minors." School districts must also post a list of the complete holdings of its school libraries on each school’s website and provide a printed copy of the library catalogue to any individual upon request. (HEA 1447)

Speed cameras — The Indiana Department of Transportation is authorized to use camera enforcement to ticket motorists exceeding the speed limit by at least 11 mph in highway work zones. Speeding motorists would get off with a warning for a first violation, a $75 fine for the second and a $150 fine for each subsequent violation. (HEA 1015)

Juror pay — The pay for prospective jurors is doubled to $30 a day while seated jurors must be paid $80 a day for the first five days of a trial, and $90 for each trial day thereafter. Prospective and seated jurors also continue to be entitled to a daily mileage reimbursement for travel to and from the court. It's Indiana's first juror pay increase in a quarter-century. (HEA 1466)

Lake County convention center — The Lake County Board of Commissioners must begin soliciting proposals to construct and operate a convention center and adjacent hotel. The Lake County Council may increase the innkeepers' tax rate on hotel stays up to 10% from 5% to partially fund the convention center. The city of Gary can obtain up to $3 million a year for blighted building demolition from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, so long as the city puts up a matching amount. (SEA 434)

21st Century Scholars — Eligible students automatically are enrolled in the state's 21st Century Scholars program that guarantees a low- or no-cost college education to individuals who comply with program guidelines. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education must inform eligible students and their families of their enrollment in the program, along with the academic requirements the student must meet to obtain and maintain a college tuition scholarship. (HEA 1449)

Public health — More state resources are available to local public health departments to prioritize preventative health care and enact other organizational and mission-driven reforms following the COVID-19 pandemic. Altogether, $225 million is appropriated over two years to begin the work. (SEA 4)

AirTags — The unlawful use of a remote tracking device, such as an Apple AirTag, is in most cases a felony, punishable by up to two and a half years behind bars for a repeat offense or if the person being tracked has a protective order against the tracker, or six years in prison if the equipment is used for stalking. Prosecutors may also seek a penalty enhancement of up to six additional years in prison if the person employing a remote tracking device commits another felony causing serious bodily injury while using the equipment. (SEA 161)

Charter schools — The proceeds of each new voter-approved school funding referendum in Lake County must be shared with local charter schools in proportion to the number of children living in the school district who attend charter schools. Beginning July 1, 2024, all incremental property tax revenue growth at Lake County school districts must be shared on a proportional basis with local charter schools. (SEA 391, HEA 1001)

Encroachment — Twenty-five feet is set as the minimum bystander distance if a police officer orders a person to stop approaching when the officer is lawfully engaged in the execution of his or her official duties. Police and firefighters may clear an area 25 feet away from any emergency incident, such as a car crash or fire, or a greater distance if the area is marked using flags, barricades or emergency tape. (HEA 1186)

Pension investments — The $45 billion Indiana Public Retirement System is prohibited from contracting with investment managers who consider environmental, social or governance (ESG) factors — such as reducing air pollution or ensuring diverse corporate board membership — when making investment decisions, unless the INPRS board determines ESG investments are in the financial best interest of its members. INPRS also is required to divest all of its holdings that are closely associated with the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party. (HEA 1008, SEA 268)

Domestic violence — Individuals arrested for any of 13 domestic violence-related offenses must be jailed without bail for at least 24 hours after arrest — triple the state's former eight-hour cooling-off period. The crime of invasion of privacy also is a Level 6 felony, instead of a Class A misdemeanor, if the person has a prior, unrelated conviction for stalking. (SEA 158)

Gary schools — A five-member, appointed school board is reestablished for the Gary Community School Corp. to eventually replace the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board as the governing body for the formerly cash-strapped school district. Gary’s mayor and the Gary Common Council appoint one member each, and the three others are chosen by the Indiana secretary of education, including at least one Gary resident, one resident of Gary or Lake County, and a final member from anywhere. (SEA 327)

Illiana Expressway — All references in state law to the never-constructed Illiana Expressway, a public-private toll road that would have connected Interstate 65 in south Lake County to Interstate 55 near Joliet, Illinois, in an effort to relieve through-truck congestion on the Borman Expressway, are deleted in the hope of ending Illiana uncertainty that has depressed property values and slowed development in south Lake County. (SEA 44)

Animal facilities — All newly constructed or remodeled facilities for dogs and cats, including animal shelters, veterinary offices, pet shops and boarding centers, must have an operating fire alarm system that automatically contacts the local fire or police department, or staff present in the building any time a dog or cat is on site. The mandate follows a 2021 inferno at an Indianapolis pet shop that killed more than 100 animals. (SEA 277)

Throwing stars — The easily concealable, star-shaped, knife-like weapons with blades set at different angles are treated the same as other types of knives recognized by Indiana — ending a nearly four-decade state throwing star ban. Throwing stars still cannot be brought to a school, on a school bus or another student transport vehicle. (SEA 77)

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As students head back to the classroom, state and local law enforcement agencies are reminding motorists to stop for school buses or face the consequences. Over the next couple of weeks, officers will be increasing patrols to prevent stop-arm violations, speeding and other forms of reckless driving around school buses and in school zones.  

More than 200 agencies are participating in the back-to-school Stop Arm Violation Enforcement campaign – better known as SAVE. The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). 

Despite thousands of motorists being cited under the SAVE program, unsafe driving around school buses continues to be a concern, according to state officials.? 

In April, thousands of bus drivers who participated in a one-day observational survey counted 2,091 stop-arm violations in Indiana. That one-day total, when multiplied by the number of school days, adds up to a potential 376,380 violations throughout the school year.? 

"It is disheartening that we still have people who are willing to put the lives of students and bus drivers at risk," said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. "Law enforcement cannot be everywhere, so it is up to drivers to do the right thing and exercise caution around school buses. Students' lives depend on it."? 

The data comes from the National School Bus Illegal Passing Driver Survey, which is managed by the Indiana Department of Education in the state. This year, data collection took place on April 25, with 6,665 bus drivers participating from 195 school districts.? 

To prevent unsafe driving, officers will use a range of enforcement strategies from high-visibility patrols to police spotters on buses. For each jurisdiction, officers will coordinate with local bus drivers and school transportation officials, with efforts concentrating in the morning and afternoon hours. Agencies will also be working to raise awareness about the importance of school bus safety and following the law.  

Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the overhead lights on a school bus are flashing yellow. Once the lights turn red and the stop arm extends, drivers are required to stop on all roads with one exception. On highways divided by a physical barrier, such as a concrete wall or grassy median, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop. 

Motorists should also be mindful of posted speed limits, avoid distractions and watch for children in or near school and residential areas. Planning ahead and allowing for extra time during each commute will help keep all road users safe. 

Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a Class A Infraction. Violators could pay a fine of up to $10,000, have their license suspended for up to 90 days for the first offense or up to 1 year for the second.?? 

If the person disregarding a school bus stop arm causes bodily injury to a person, the offense becomes a Class 6 felony. Violators face anywhere from six months to two and a half years in jail. If someone is killed, the offense becomes a Class 5 felony, carrying a sentence between one year and six years.??

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The Indiana Secretary of State’s Office is proud to be part of the Indiana State Fair. Secretary Diego Morales invites Hoosiers to come out tomorrow and enjoy the first $3 Thursday.

The Secretary of State’s Office is the sponsor of all three $3 Thursdays (August 3, 10, 17.)  During those Thursdays, the office will have tents located at the 38th Street main entrance and North entrance where staff will be encouraging Hoosiers to register to vote and answering questions about voting and elections.  Our team will have iPads on hand so eligible Hoosiers can update their registration and get registered to vote on the spot.  The Secretary of State’s Office will also be welcoming local sports mascots to interact with fair goers.

There is a Secretary of State Investor Education and Voting Registration booth set up inside the Mercantile Building operating every day of the State Fair.

“Like so many Hoosiers, we’ve been counting down the days until the Great Indiana State Fair, a Hoosier tradition. Since taking office, one of my goals has been to increase voter turnout. Registering to vote only takes a few minutes and our team will be at the State Fair, ready to help you or you can register online anytime. I want to make sure every eligible Hoosier is registered to vote and getting to the polls,” said Diego Morales, Indiana Secretary of State.

IndianaVoters.com allows Hoosiers to register, confirm, or update their voter registration, look up their polling place, get directions to their polling location, find out who's on their ballot, track their absentee ballot application, and contact their local election officials.

In order to be eligible to register to vote, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be at least 18 years old on or before the next general, municipal, or special election 

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Thanks to Linda Merkle and her team, National Night Out was a huge success this year in Greencastle.

Numerous groups showed up to engage with and show their support for the community with events for children and family, free food and free supplies being handed out to families in the community.  Groups representing the community included but were not limited to the Hamilton Center, MHA Putnam County, Moose Lodge, Indiana National Guard, Boy Scouts of America Cub Scout Pack 99, Troop 99 and Troop 999, Putnam County Sheriff's Department, the Greencastle Police Department, Duke Energy, Coats for Kids, Rotten Ever After and Krypton Comics.

Attending groups showed support to the community with school supplies for children like backpacks, pencils, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, earbuds, Post-It Notes, informative picture books on how to handle bullying, sandals, and childrens books.

Community members and families could also find free things for everyone being given out at the event such as gun locks, stickers, candy, children's fire hats, snow cones, trading cards, a bag of groceries (upon leaving the event) and more. 

Childrens car seats for ages 6-8 were also available for free at the event being provided by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, saying “We’re just trying to keep children safe”.

Families were seen enjoying free food including pizza, hot dogs and drinks.

Also available were a variety of activities like a biking obstacle course, and entry into a drawing for a free bike sponsored by Garl’s Bike shop upon completing the course, playing Rocket League together in the National Guard ESports Camper, attempting to dunk officers and Greencastle Superintendent Jeff Gibboney in a dunk tank sponsored by the Greencastle Police Department, getting their pictures taken in a variety of race cars provided by Moose Lodge, and getting their pictures taken in front of the air boat sponsored by Duke Energy.

The companies attending National Night Out also sponsored prizes for the raffle drawing, with a prize pool including two $25 gift cards, tickets to any Indianapolis Indians 2023 home game, tickets to the Indy Eleven and merchandise, a Plaza Lanes strike pack and pin, tickets to any showing at the Putnam County Playhouse 2023 season, 60 minute passes to Sky Zone, one day passes to Splash Island, WonderLab one-day free passes, and free games at 3G Bowl. 

National Night Out was a resounding success with the Greencastle community this year, having more groups show up to represent Greencastle, and a larger community turnout this year as well.

Cloverdale firefighters as well as responding firefighters from Greencastle had a busy morning Tuesday, as they fought a vehicle fire that snarled traffic on I-70 and left several vehicles damaged. 

Photos courtesy of Paul's Scanner Facebook Page

According to officials with the Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department, a car hauler had a mechanical issue, prompting a fire to start that destroyed the tractor and trailer, as well as five cars on the trailer. One vehicle on the trailer was salvageable but had heat damage to it. 

No injuries were reported to the driver.

The fire caused traffic to be shutdown in the westbound lanes of I-70, forcing traffic to be diverted off the interstate. 

If you think it appears there are multiple construction projections on the roads around Greencastle, you would be correct. As a result, the Indiana Department of Transportation has offered up an update on numerous projects around Greencastle. 

Currently, chip seal operations continue on U.S. 231, which is closed 1.05 miles north of I-70 to almost a quarter mile south of State Road 240. 

In addition, INDOT is performing milling and paving on State Road 240 between U.S. 231 and County Road 475 East with traffic being controlled by flaggers. The work is slated to last until October 2024. 

When it comes to northbound U.S. 231, it remains closed as part of a large pavement improvement project in Greencastle. The northbound lane is restricted between State Road 240 and Washington Street with traffic shifted going northbound into the existing southbound lane within the work zone. During the process, state officials have discovered the pavement is worse than originally thought. As a result, that project has now shifted to a full depth replacement, while INDOT works with the designer and contractor on a new design.

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The driver involved in Monday’s fatal crash on US 40 has been identified as Ryan Bell, 17, of Plainfield. 

Bell was an incoming Senior at Cascade High School and was a student athlete. 

Original story posted Monday

A teenage driver was killed in a US 40 accident Monday.

Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office crash reconstructionists in addition to the Hendricks County Coroner’s Office are investigating the single vehicle fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on US 40 near the intersection of Co Rd 300W near Stilesville.  This crash has left the driver of the vehicle, a 17-year-old male, dead.    

Deputies were called to the scene about 6:20 a.m. when the crash was reported to the Hendricks County Communications Center.  The preliminary investigation shows that a Saturn passenger car was traveling eastbound on US 40 when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. 

The driver, and sole occupant, of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.  Drugs and alcohol are not suspected as a contributing factor at this time. 

The identity of the deceased is not yet being released, due to pending notification of the family. 

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A Brazil man at the center of an investigation that began in Terre Haute has come to an end as James Levi Orman was arrested on a litany of charges. 

Orman, 34, Brazil, had been under investigation by the Terre Haute Police Department last month after receiving information Orman was involved in and part of alleged criminal activity centered around minors in Clay County. 

Orman was finally arrested and charged with the following: two counts of Level 1 felony child molesting where the defendant is at least 21, a count of Level 5 felony child solicitation for sexual intercourse, a Level 6 felony count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors, and a count of Level 6 felony possession of child pornography. 

According to court records, Orman was held on a $50,000 cash bond and has a jury trial slated for March of next year. 

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A unique club with a mission to serve sums up exactly what the Cloverdale Lions are all about and they will be serving families with school starting back up this week with its Back to School Haircuts initiative on Aug. 6. 

"We are, collectively, the youngest club in the state and most of our members are women. Our mission is to serve, and we are always looking for new ways to make a positive impact in our community. Back To School Haircuts started when most of us were starting to emerge from Covid. The club had the idea to pay for student’s haircuts to save the parents a few dollars right when school starts and students need supplies, clothes, lunches, and books," Cloverdale Lions Club President Dakota Lanham told The Putnam County Post.

This year's event will be held Aug. 6 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Cloverdale Barbershop and haircuts were by appointment only.  

"Brian Smith, owner of Cloverdale Barbershop and friend, agreed to help me with the project. It was a trial-and-error event with scheduling, but we feel that we have a much better grasp on the event. This year, we are beyond excited to offer haircuts to girls heading back to school. Last year we had many girls show up to the event and had to be turned away. Lexi Dickison volunteered this year to cut hair at the barbershop in our event," Lanham said. 

Lanham said the opportunity to give back and creating a positive impact throughout the county is something he is "very passionate" about. 

"Being married to a Cloverdale kindergarten teacher, working at First National Bank, serving as the President of the Cloverdale Lions, and being a member of several organizations in Putnam County, I hear stories of the obstacles that arise at the beginning of every school year. It is a stressful time for parents and children, so giving a free haircut is a unique opportunity to shorten the checklist for back to school. Nothing helps a kiddo’s confidence more than a fresh, clean haircut before making their first impression for the school year," Lanham admitted. 

The Lions are about head into its busy season of the year, as they will be providing vision screenings to all students in grades third, fifth and eighth across the county shortly after the beginning of school. 

"It is always an event that takes several volunteers to make it as efficient as possible. After our vision screenings, we move to preparing for Cloverween during the last Saturday in September. We host a food booth and our annual Blood Drive through Versiti. We look to provide additional vision screenings for children during this year’s event. Following Cloverween, we switch to our Annual Appreciation Dinner where we recognize individuals throughout Cloverdale that have made significant impacts to our community. Last year’s Civic Award recipient was Pam Gilman. We are currently accepting recommendations for this year’s winner," Lanham said. 

Finally, the Lions are co-hosting a raffle through Cloverdale Community Dollars for Scholars with the prize being a Traeger Grill valued at $600. The tickets will be sold at upcoming Cloverdale home football games and during Cloverween, as well as other events and locations that are yet to be determined. Tickets are $5 each.

"We look to fund our two existing Lions scholarships that are administered through Dollars for Scholars with the proceeds of the raffle," Lanham said. 

For more information on the Cloverdale Lions Club, contact Lanham at 765-346-8396 or dlanham1364@gmail.com. 

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