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The Baby Contest will be held Saturday June 29, 3 p.m.

The location is First Baptist Church of Pekin which is located at 1145 E 5th St., Pekin, IN 47165

Everything You Need to Know

1. Entry Fee is $20 per baby or $30 for multiples (twins, triplets, etc.)

2. Pre-Registration is highly appreciated with forms mailed in and received by Friday, June 22, 2024. However, it is not required. You can register the day of at the church from noon until 2:30 p.m. You do not have to stay if you register earlier in the afternoon. You may leave and come back closer to time of contest but you are responsible for keeping up with your index card.

3. Entries will be separated by gender from 0-3 years old.

4. There will be a multiples category (twins, triplets, etc). This category will only include one trophy but each baby will receive their own participation ribbon.

5. Once you receive a trophy, the Betterment is no longer responsible for them and they will not be replaced if it gets broken in any way.

6. Participants will be judged solely on their personalities ONLY. Judges will judge based on outfits only IF there is a tie.

7. Babies may bring one small toy with them on stage and only 1 escort is allowed.

8. Winners must stick around for pictures after the contest.

9. Derogatory remarks or bad behavior from parents/guardians will result in being banned from future contests.

10. Accepted forms of payments: check, cash or money order. Please make checks out to Pekin Betterment Community Organization.

11. Payments are non-refundable!!

12. Mail forms to: 102 Mahuron Dr. Salem, IN 47167. Anything dropped off at this address will be automatically banned from contest without warning!!!

Day of Contest Information:

1. PARKING: you must park in the main parking lot only! If you need handicap assistance, please let us know and we will help you with this arrangements.

2. Registration: Registration will be upstairs in the lobby before going downstairs where the contest will be held.

3. No running!!

4. No entering the classrooms or the sanctuary!!

5. Absolutely no smoking, vaping or alcohol on property

6. Out of respect of our host, all participants and guests must be mindful of your dress attire and foul language!!!

Call or text Tisha Coles with any questions at (317) 430-8277

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WHEN: Sunday, June 2, 2024, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm

WHERE: The Jeffersonian, 10617 Taylorsville Rd, Jeffersontown, KY

WHO: Media are invited to attend the ceremony.

WHAT: The Older Girl Recognition Ceremony recognizes area Gold Award Girl Scouts, Silver Award Girl Scouts, and Girl Scouts graduating from high school.

The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Recipients are high school Girl Scouts who identify an issue and complete meaningful projects to contribute lasting change. This year Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana has recognized seven Gold Award Girl Scouts from across central Kentucky and Southern Indiana, and three Girl Scouts will be present at the ceremony. To learn more about the incredible work of our Gold Award Girl Scouts and descriptions of their projects, visit www.gskentuckiana.org/goldaward2024.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Amanda Carrithers, Bardstown, Kentucky

Katie Green, Sellersburg, Indiana

Kirsten Sexton, Salem, Indiana

The Silver Award is the highest award a middle school Girl Scout can earn and is a precursor to the Gold Award. This year Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana has recognized 75 Silver Award Girl Scouts, and 13 Girl Scouts will be present at this Louisville ceremony.

Silver Award Girl Scouts

Willow Carpenter, Louisville, Kentucky

Reece Caswell, Mount Washington, Kentucky

Lilith Dixon, Mount Washington, Kentucky

Kadence Dunn, Mount Washington, Kentucky

Trinity Franklin, Calvert City, Kentucky

Caroline Gallagher, Louisville, Kentucky

Charlotte Garman, Louisville, Kentucky

Ava Gott, Mount Washington, Kentucky

Cecilia Huggins, Frankin, Kentucky

Ellie Leonard, Louisville, Kentucky

Olivia Norris, Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Nora Siegel, Louisville, Kentucky

Sadie Smith, Mount Washington, Kentucky

Our graduating high school seniors represent Girl Scouts who have committed most of their lifetime to Girl Scouts. Their commitment to being a part of Girl Scouts for 12-13 years is astounding and speaks to their dedication.

The Girl Scouts marked with an asterisk also received the Jean Cole Scholarship. These recipients are recognized for their dedication to Girl Scouts and achievements in their school and community. They each receive a $1,000 scholarship for their accredited college/university or vocational school.

Graduating High School Seniors

Elizabeth Ashford*, Louisville, Kentucky

Courtney Crittenden*, Louisville, Kentucky

Meghan Emrich, Louisville, Kentucky

Farrah Everhart, Sellersburg, Indiana

Emily Hawes*, Louisville, Kentucky

Morgan Lincoln*, Louisville, Kentucky

Madison Livers, Louisville, Kentucky

Kimberly Mattingly, Louisville, Kentucky

Kailen McGregor, Paducah, Kentucky

Anabelle Ruiz*, Louisville, Kentucky

Kirsten Sexton*, Salem, Indiana

Lyric Thomas, Louisville, Kentucky

Claire Walsh, Louisville, Kentucky

About Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate visit www.gskentuckiana.org.

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As a single show, Washington County Theatre (WCT) will present three one-act plays that represent important segments of the American cultural past. “Trifles,” “Sorry, Wrong Number,” and “The Hitch-Hiker” are all mysterious tales guaranteed to hold your attention. WCT’s production of the three plays will be on June 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. and on June 9 at 2:30 p.m. at Gary W. Hartsook Hall in Salem.

Directing for the first time are three young women who each appeared in at least 30 Pied Piper Productions plays in Salem, starting when they were small children. Amelia Hendricks is directing “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell. First produced on the radio in 1916 and inspired by a true story, the play is about a woman accused of murdering her husband. Investigators (played by Daniel Main, Cameron Geary, and Graham Edwards) come to her home to try to solve the case. Meanwhile, two local women (played by McKenna Hedrick and Abigail Ferguson) are also present and find clues at the house, as well: “trifles” that are being overlooked by the official investigators but that lead the two women to a horrifying conclusion about what really happened.

Hendricks said she hopes the community will come out to see “Trifles” and the other plays that are part of the show so that theatre can continue to thrive in Washington County. Hendricks said, “It’s important to support directors who are just starting out so that they can have the confidence to continue and better themselves. We can then carry on the legacy that we’ve built here. The more support we get, the more we can keep it growing and moving forward.”

The second and third one-act plays that will be presented as part of program are “Sorry, Wrong Number” and “The Hitch-Hiker,” both by Lucille Fletcher, who adapted the stage plays from radio scripts that were first produced in 1941 as part of “Orson Welles’s Mercury Radio Theatre.”

“Sorry, Wrong Number” is about Mrs. Stevenson (played by Rebecca McKinley), a sickly, bedridden woman whose link with the outside world is her telephone. When lines are crossed, and she overhears others’ conversations, she becomes convinced that she’s about to be murdered. Hannah Ingram said directing “Sorry, Wrong Number” has allowed her to gain a new perspective on being involved in theatre. “I enjoy getting to see the people act instead of being on stage with them. I’m enjoying going through this process and seeing maybe what people who have directed me in the past have seen. I’m kind of hoping it helps me when I get back on stage,” she explained.

Miranda Smith said directing “The Hitch-Hiker” instead of acting in the show has taken some getting used to. “It’s weird to direct the person who taught me everything about theater, that’s for sure. It’s interesting and a lot of fun. We’re one big family – they all make it easier,” she said.

“The Hitch-Hiker” is a ghost story about a motorist (played by Daniel Main) who sees a hitchhiker (Rebecca McKinley) mysteriously appearing again and again as he drives from New York to California. The hitchhiker appears to be trying to tell the driver something. Both “Sorry, Wrong Number” and “The Hitch-Hiker” were made into teleplays and featured on the show “The Twilight Zone” in the 1950s.

Also appearing in the plays are Mary Anne Knapp, Casey Miller, Mariah Thacker, Gabriel Porter, and Elle Strother.

The three plays will be presented together, with a brief intermission between each play. Concessions will be offered. Gary W. Hartsook Hall is located at 405 N. Shelby Street in Salem, behind the Church of the Nazarene. Available at the door, tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Doors open a half-hour before the show. For more information, call 812-620-3701.

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entomolo

Weekly Review for May 29, 2024

This informal report by the Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology is a commentary on insects, diseases, and curiosities division staff encounter on a week-to-week basis. Comments and questions about this report are welcome and can be sent to your respective Inspector.

Our Website
Inspector Territories

Jared Spokowsky (Nursery Inspetor & Compliance Officer) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are short on time but if anyone wants to submit their colony loss data for this year, the Apiary Inspectors of America and Auburn University are doing a colony loss survey. However, it’s only open until Friday, May 31.

Also, anyone interested in using oxalic acid extended-release strips I would encourage you to go to this website. Betterbee is going to be the sole distributor for Varroxsan, an oxalic acid impregnated strip that is labeled for extended use to control Varroa mites.

Kristy Stultz (Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

There seems to be a lot going on with roses this spring. Several dealer locations have had material showing heavy signs of rose mosaic virus. Symptoms can be variable since there are several viruses that contribute to the disease complex. I don’t remember ever seeing so many different symptoms on the same plant. One mode of transmission is through grafting or budding infected material onto healthy plant stock or vice versa. When receiving stock from any source, take some time to look it over. There’s no easy cure for rose mosaic virus. Sanitation of tools is important to remove the risk of spread to uninfected stock as well.

Eric Biddinger (Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

There has been all kind of talk about cicadas this year with the co-emergence of Brood XIII (a 17-year brood) and Brood XIX (a 13-year brood), though the ranges of these two broods do not overlap. On top of that, there are reports of some early emergence of Brood XIV (expected in 2025) and Brood XXIII (expected in 2028) occurring. There’s not much going on in my neck of the woods, but on a recent trip to Valparaiso I was blown away by the volume (noise) and volume (quantity) of cicadas.

As far as landscape damage is concerned, cicadas pose the largest risk to small and newly planted trees. While it is a little late to take protective measures such as netting, scouting trees for flagging and other signs of stress should continue throughout the summer, even after the cicada songs have faded away. For more information about all things cicada, visit cicadamania.com.

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By: Pekin Betterment Organization

The Pekin 4th of July parade is quickly approaching.

Adult floats, antique tractors, school bands, bicycles, commercial floats or vehicles, clowns, fire trucks/departments, historical cars, classic cars, horseback riders, horse drawn vehicles, mini vehicles, side-by-side, military, motorcycles, political parties, saddle clubs, Shriners, and youth floats are the categories that will be accepted. You must register separately if you wish to have a Shriner.

Some guidelines to keep in mind:
1. Registration forms are due by Friday, June 28 at 5 p.m. No exceptions.
2. Only one entry is allowed per entry form.
3. This form is for parade entities only. This form does not enter you in the Prince, Princess, Firecracker, Dynamite, or queen competitions.
4. KEEP MOVING through the parade and through the park. DO NOT STOP DURING THE PARADE. KEEP MOVING.
5. No throwing or tossing candy, souvenirs, or other giveaways.
6. All categories are allowed 2 floats per department (1 trailer per vehicle is allowed). No trailers over 10 feet long!
7. There are no walkers allowed!
8. Please be at line-up the morning of the 4th no later than 8:30 a.m.
9. If you do not register before the parade, you will NOT be allowed to participate! Pre-Registration only!
10. Those driving a motor vehicle must have a valid driver’s license. (Tractors are excluded if the driver is accompanied by an adult with a license)
11. You may email your form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mail it to the Parade Chairman at 102 Mahuron Dr. Salem, IN 47167. MAIL IN ONLY! Anything dropped off at this address will be automatically banned from the parade without warning.
12. Parade complaints are to go directly to parade chairman. She will take them to the Betterment president.
13. For additional information, contact parade chairman Tisha Coles at (317) 430-8277

Please do your part in making the parade an organized, safe and enjoyable 4th of July celebration. Thanks!