Local News

Public Meetings

This listing of government bodies meetings for the coming week is compiled from notices provided to The Courier-Times. People planning to attend may wish to contact the group first to be sure the meeting has not been canceled. MONDAY New Castle Utility Review Board

Old Friends and Fathers

Front row, seated: Myron Bell. Standing (left to right): Ned Wright, Marvin Luellen and Richard Moore. Combined, the men have 19 children, 187 descendants and 271 years of marriage.

By REX BELL - For The Courier-Times We’ve been officially celebrating Father’s Day for 108 years, since 1910, and although no one has been able to locate anybody that was honored on the first one, there are four friends from Mooreland who have been fat

BBQ restaurant gets variance approval

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com The New Castle Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) had a full docket Thursday night. Along with a few requests for additions to residential properties, the board also heard requests from prospective businesses wanting to open in

Ivy Tech offering new 5-week summer courses

Ivy Tech Community College is offering five-week courses this summer. Courses in math, science, English, communications, business and sociology begin June 25. These courses can help recent high school graduates get a head start on their core courses required for ma

JUBILEE DAYS ROYALTY

Knightstown Jubilee Days Queen Makenna Leisure, daughter of Reggie and Rochelle Leisure, and Princess Hope Sharp, guardian of Judy Tompkins, were crownedthis week. The winners were sponsored by Psi Iota XiSorority.

JUBILEE DAYS ROYALTY

Expo Center project details announced

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com They were sitting in the REMC Community Room, but in spirit, members of the New Castle-Henry County Economic Development Board were taken on a tour of what will be the new Expo Center at Memorial Park. A place that w

LOCAL BRIEFS

Wilbur Wright Road closing Monday over I-70 Wilbur Wright Road will be closed from County Road 500 South to County Road 600 South starting on or around Monday, June 18, for work crews to replace the Wilbur Wright Road bridge over I-70. Traffic will be detoured via

Henry County Community Foundation presents Judy Melton Award

Beverly Matthews, right, president of the Henry County Community Foundation, listens as Betts Adams thanks HCCF board members for naming her the 2018 recipient of the Judy Melton Award.

By ELDON PITTS - For The Courier-Times The Judy Melton Award for 2018 was presented Thursday during the annual meeting of the Henry County Community Foundation. Beverly Matthews, HCCF president, presented the award to Betts Adams, the first woman to receive the awa

BANANA PIANOS

Thursday, a group of kids at the New Castle-Henry County Public Library participated in the Make it! Banana Piano activity, which tests different conductive and non-conductive objects to play piano, drums and video games.

BANANA PIANOS

FOOD INSPECTION REPORTS

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com The Environmental Public Health Office of the Henry County Health Department conducted 10 routine inspections, 20 temporary inspections and one complaint inspection during the first week of June. County inspector

For the Record

POLICE June 15 David Abbott, 56, was arrested and preliminarily charged with possession of marijuana and resisting law enforcement.  Bellina Firth, 40, was arrested and preliminarily charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, public intoxication and r

'Horton Hears a Who' in Memorial Park

JoJo, played by Kya Duggleby, rises high thanks to help from Horton the Elephant (Ben Thompson) and Mr. Mayor (Hunter Tabor) during Friday’s performance of “Seussical the Musical Jr.,” a play presented by participants in the Henry County YMCA Musical Theatre Camp.

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com The Cat In the Hat was there. So was Horton the elephant, who did, indeed, hear a Who. Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie the lazy bird, the Grinch and a whole host of other characters were there, too. Thanks to a cast of talen

Flashback Friday

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com The following are snippets of news and feature items from Courier-Times archives.  50 Years Ago A former Cambridge City resident became one of the latest casualties of the Vietnam War. The death of Second

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

TODAY AA: 7:30 p.m. St. James Episcopal Church. AA: 9 p.m. First Baptist Church, 709 S. Memorial Drive. SATURDAY NA: 6 p.m. The Sanctuary. Sons of Legion: 1 p.m. American Legion, 419 New York Ave., New Castle. Grand Avenue Baptist Church Men’s Prayer Breakfas

Local schools have certified, non-certified job openings

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com Summer vacation is the perfect time for Henry County schools to catch up on building projects. It’s also a good time to start filling staff vacancies. Nettle Creek School Corporation is looking for a new principal at

Local sophomore attends HOBY leadership seminar

Hagerstown Jr./Sr. High School student Brooklyn LaMar recently attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar held at University of Indianapolis in Indianapolis. LaMar joined more than 160 other young high school leaders from the region. Brook

What's on tap?

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com Some Knightstown residents are worried they are getting a little something extra when they turn on the faucet. Rather than running crystal clear, sinks and toilets have been filling up with yellow or sometimes brown w

Local briefs

Small biz workshop luncheon set Citizens State Bank is hosting a free “power lunch” small business workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21 in the New Castle-Henry County Public Library. Networking is 11:30 a.m. to noon and discussion is

Turbulent times for wind opponents

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com Henry County Commissioner Kim Cronk said a revised wind turbine ordinance has “one of the largest setback requirements in the state.” Local business owner Gary Rodgers called the same ordinance “a d

Local growers participating in WIC program

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com The Henry County Interlocal Community Action Program (ICAP) and the Henry County Farmers Market are partnering once again this summer to make it a little bit easier for local families to bring fresh fruits and ve

Live birds of prey coming to Summit Lake

Summit Lake State Park will host live birds of prey from Salamonie’s Raptor Center from 7-8 p.m. Friday, June 22 at the Harvey shelter. Participants will find out what an eastern screech owl sounds like, look into the eyes of a red tail hawk and learn how the

For the Record

CORRECTION A photo caption that appeared on page A1 of Thursday’s newspaper was incorrect. The little girl pictured attending day camp at Fierce Martial Arts Academy was Teagan Swift, age 8, not Kendra Brewington, age 9. The Courier-Times regrets the error.&#

Believe & Achieve Mentoring replaces local Big Brothers Big Sisters

Long-time Big Brothers Big Sisters Henry County (BBBS) staffers Casey Knight, left and Ashley Huffman display the logo for the newly-named all-local organization, Believe and Achieve Mentoring (B.A.M.) that replaces BBBS. The logo was designed by Macy Kissick and David Nantz.

By DONNA CRONK - dcronk@thecouriertimes.com For more than 40 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Henry County (BBBS) has served local youth by pairing adults and kids for one-on-one time together. The programming will continue here under a new name, Believe and Achi

ALL FUN AND GAMES

Eva Radford, 5, raises her hands in the air while on the swings Wednesday at the Jubilee Days Carnival in Knightstown.

ALL FUN AND GAMES

Knightstown bakery closes

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com Six months after opening its doors, the Knightstown Corner Bakery & Restaurant has hung up the “Closed” sign. Owner Rex Stephens announced the decision Thursday morning on the bakery’s Facebook page.

Kirk Amman named new high school principal

Kirk Amman was hired Thursday afternoon as the new principal of New Castle High School. Amman previously served as the New Castle Middle School principal. Amman, far left, is pictured with his wife, Lynae, and their children, Arianah, Anyah, Alanah and Kaeson.

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com A familiar, smiling face will welcome Trojans to New Castle High School when classes resume in August. Kirk Amman spent four years at New Castle Middle School and is now going to be the principal of those same ki

District deals with water issues

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com Officials with the Henry County Solid Waste Management District have been dealing with lots of liquid lately, something they took action to address at Wednesday’s board of director’s meeting. When it rain

OUT ABOUT FAITH

Annual Canoe the Big Blue River: rescheduled 10 a.m. Saturday, June 16. Bring canoes, kayaks or rent one for free trip down the Big Blue River. Drop off at 350 W bridge southwest of New Castle, drive to Knightstown and park at South Washington St. and South 4th Str

Tennis camp starts June 20; guest coaches to pass on knowledge

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com Registration is still open for the 2018 New Castle Summer Tennis Camp. The four-day camp is already on track to beat out last year’s numbers. Camp Director Curt Huntley is also the New Castle High School assistant te

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

TODAY AA: 7:30 p.m. Kennard Friends Church, 101 N. Vine St. Kennard. AA: 7:30 p.m. St. Anne Parish Center. TOPS: 5:50 p.m. weigh-in, County Road 950 North, Middletown. New Castle-Henry County Kiwanis Club: noon, Mancino’s. BNI: 7 a .m. Raintree Square. NA: 6

High school principal says goodbye

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com New Castle High School Principal Chris Walker starts a new chapter in the fall when he will become the principal of Loogootee High School/Middle School. When Walker took over as New Castle principal in 2010, “Chrysle

Glass treasure found behind decaying facade

Tom Brammer (left) and Jeff Ray (right) hold up pieces of rare prism glass discovered as repairs were being made to the 1321 Broad St. building, remembered by some as the former home of Allen’s Young Fashions.

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com Saving an old building can be a treasure hunt of sorts. Recently, Tom Brammer, a master carpenter, had to stop what he was doing to call Preserve Henry Co. Inc.’s Jeff Ray with some exciting news about a projec

Friends of Memorial Park celebrates 1st year

Members and supporters of Friends of Memorial Park try out some of the new benches the groupunveiled Tuesday evening.

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com Randy Newman first sang “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” more than 20 years ago. The line could be a mantra for the group of Henry County residents who have come together to help Memorial Park c

CATCHING A MOVIE

Donna Hoffa, left, Amanda Cash, Garrett Mingle and Brayden Cash, right, picked up some popcorn and drinks from The Castle concession stand before settling down to watch “The Emoji Movie” Wednesday. The New Castle theater is showing free familyfilms at 10 a.m. every Wednesday this summer. Next week’s movie is “The Boss Baby.” Visithttp://castlenc.com/familyfilmfest.htm for a complete schedule.

CATCHING A MOVIE

Miracle League preparing for its 10th season

The 2017 Victory Lane Camp Pirates. Sign ups for this year’s Miracle League season are today and Friday.

The New Castle Miracle League will have sign ups for players and buddies from 2-5 p.m. today at 321 Go Kids Rehab, 1912 Bundy Ave., New Castle. There will be a second sign up from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Miracle League diamonds in Baker Park. Players are ages 3

For the Record

POLICE June 12 Robert Schoettmer, 69, was arrested and preliminarily charged with battery and interfering with reporting a crime.  Brandy McIntosh, 29, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for Henry Circuit Court 2, and also preliminarily charged with posses

Dispute over parking spot leads to man's arrest

Courier-Times Staff Report KNIGHTSTOWN — A Whiteland man was arrested Tuesday evening in Knightstown, accused of pointing a firearm at another man during an argument over a parking spot.  Edward Eugene Cooper, 55, was arrested and preliminarily charged w

Questions about White Estates sewer project continue

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com Questions and suggestions continued to surface during the final scheduled public informational meeting on the White Estates sewer project Tuesday night. Arguments against the court-ordered $6.4 million project were v

HIYA!

Coach Jaycee Wilburn bows to a student after class Wednesday at Fierce Martial Arts Academy. The class teaches students focus, discipline and self-confidence.

HIYA!

KNIGHTSTOWN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

Knightstown Intermediate School has announced their award winners for the 2017-2018 school year. Grade 4 FLAG EDUCATION WINNERS: Domynic Jones, Kinzie King, Nathan Owens, Mackenna Cleek, Caden Oldham, Cameron Brewer FLAG POST WINNERS: Isaac Livesay & Lilly Love

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

TODAY NA: 7:30 p.m. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. AA: 7:30 p.m. 47 E. Main St. Hagerstown. Breakfast Optimists: 6:30 a.m. Raintree Square. BNI Prime Time: noon, Montgomery’s Steakhouse. Henry County League of Women Voters: 5:30 p.m. New Castle First Friends C

FOOD INSPECTION REPORTS

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com The Environmental Public Health Office of the Henry County Health Department conducted 13 routine and two temporary inspections during the last week of May and first week of June. County inspectors identified five

City school lunches staying at same price next year

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com New Castle families have to budget for certain back-to-school necessities every fall, whether it’s new clothes, band equipment fees or increased textbook costs. However, Trojans won’t have to dig deep

Amateur Radio Field Day 2018 just around the corner

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com The air waves will be alive June 23-24 with call signs, check-ins and, if need be, emergency calls for help. The Henry County Amateur Radio Club is getting ready for the annual ARRL Field Day, that special t

Career center gets 'provisional' Early College endorsement

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com Since 2016, the New Castle Career Center has been an Early College site for Ivy Tech Community College, meaning students can graduate with industry certifications in-hand. Now, Henry County school leaders have learned that

Notes from the Naturalist!

Grab your smartphone and get ready for this week’s Notes from the Naturalist! This week I’m going to tell you about some of the great new nature apps that are a valuable resource for nature lovers. This first one is my personal favorite. It’s an a

LOCAL BRIEFS

Library offering free computer classes New Castle-Henry County Public Library is offering a basic computer class to teach the community the basics of connecting to and using the internet.  Two sessions of the same class are available: 10 a.m. Thursday and

'Annie' at Beef and Boards

The orphans sing about their “Hard Knock Life” asthey dance around their room in the orphanage.

By John J. Guglielmi - For The Courier-Times Little could Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley fathom that one of his most popular poems would become a comic strip, musical plays, radio programs, television shows and movies. “Little Orphan Annie,&

Commissioners may look at revised wind ordinance tonight

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com A revised wind energy ordinance is expected to be on the agenda when the Henry County Commissioners meet at 6 p.m. in the Henry County Courthouse. Butch Baker, president of the commissioners, confirmed Tuesday m

Six arrested following drug investigation

Courier-Times Staff Report Six people were arrested Monday night following a drug investigation at a home in the 200 block of N. Hillsboro Road.   Around 8:45 p.m., the Henry County Area Drug Task Force, along with the Henry County SWAT Team, New Castle

Man faces charges after allegedly selling drugs to cops

Courier-Times Staff Report MIDDLETOWN — An Anderson man is now facing drug-related charges after he allegedly sold heroin to undercover detectives with the Henry County Area Drug Task Force.  Ty’Queil Stennis, 21, was arrested Monday in Middletown

For the Record

POLICE June 11 Terry Perkins, 59, was arrested and preliminarily charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.  Arrest information, including the name, age, address and criminal charges, are obtained from police media reports. All suspects are presumed i

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

TODAY AA: 7 p.m. Middletown United Methodist Church, 625 High St. Information: 354-2561. Knights of Pythias: 7 p.m. Pythias Hall. Noon Optimists: Mancino’s. Henry County Community Band: 7-8:30 p.m. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. NA: 6 p.m. Sanctuary Church Fam

Library book club starts Thursday

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com A lot of people visiting the New Castle-Henry County Public Library have been asking librarian Krystal Stanich to host a book club. Stanich is excited to announce that the first meeting of the Rose City Book Club is j

High school gym renovations underway

Classmates from 1979 gathered in Blue River Valley Jr./Sr. High School Shelton Gym last week to take a final picture with the Viking muralthat their class gifted to the school nearly four decades ago.Front row, from left, Scott Johnson, Dave Branham and Tracy Evans. Back row, from left, Kevin Bennett, Tony May, Carla Bryantand Cindy Spade.

By TRAVIS WEIK - tweik@thecouriertimes.com Now that students are out of class for the summer months, the folks at Blue River Valley schools have started doing some safety and maintenance work on the high school’s Shelton Gym. “Our gym is one of the

Knightstown Jubilee Days starts Wednesday

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com Gas was 17 cents a gallon. Bacon was 50 cents a pound. It was September of 1949 and a new event was ready to entertain the people of the Knightstown area. Fast forward about 70 years and that event –

For the Record

POLICE June 7 Gary Brown, 32, was arrested and preliminarily charged with possession of meth, possession of paraphernalia and possession of a syringe.  Shawn Amonette, 47, was arrested on a warrant for intimidation, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, publi

LIPSTICK AND LIFESAVERS

Jordan Van Duin holds 6-month-old infant Tinley, who seemed eager to pick out lipstick during Saturday’s Vendor Fair at the New Castle Armory. Kristen Flores (right) traveled from Mishawaka to participate in the event, proceeds of which go to raise money for the local “Shop With An Officer” program.

LIPSTICK AND LIFESAVERS 

FAIR THEE WELL

Ashley Thompson (right) monitors a new “endothelial function” test for Ruby Blackburn (left) during Saturday’s Henry County Community Health Fair at the YMCA. The three-minute test - done simply by placing a finger into a small device connected to a computer - provides valuable information to determine risk of cardiovascular-related disease. “What you are measuring is elasticity and contractility of your blood vessels, which is, in an indirect way, checking for a heart risk,” said Dr. John Miller. “It’s very good for people in their 30s and 40s who want an assessment for their heart. If they have family history of heart issues, they should come in and be checked.” One person at the fair taking the new test was reportedly told to see a heart doctor in the next month, based on the quick test results.

FAIR THEE WELL

STRAWBERRY QUEEN'S DELICIOUS REIGN

Call them Team Strawberry. Dishing out the delicious treats at Saturday’s Raintree Square Strawberry Festival were (left to right) Kathy Miller, Carrie Stewart and Tonya Lowhorn.

STRAWBERRY QUEEN’S DELICIOUS REIGN

Spiceland seeks Community Crossings Grant

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com Sometimes a community needs to spend money to get money. That was the consensus at last week’s Spiceland Town Council meeting when the board approved hiring Kieser Consulting Group, LLC in Lawrence, Ind. to ass

Wright Birthplace, festival continues to thrill

Wilbur Wright Birthplace and Museum caretaker Tanya Thompson joins Lenny Payne (right) and others in providing music for the annual festival. Thompson said people who come to visit the facility are “off-the-charts amazing.”

By DARREL RADFORD - dradford@thecouriertimes.com There was a time when the State of Indiana considered selling the birthplace of aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright to the highest bidder. This past weekend, amid food, fellowship and music during the annual Wilbur W

Local briefs

County gets emergency funds Henry County was awarded $9,414 in emergency food and shelter funds. These funds are to be used for food pantries, homeless shelters, utility and rent assistance services. Any non-profit is eligible to apply for funding and if interested