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The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the town of Sheridan celebrated the start of construction for phase 1 of the Monon Trail extension in northern Hamilton County today.

The asphalt multi-use trail will be constructed by the town of Sheridan with help from a $2,089,850 Next Level Trails (NLT) grant. The award was announced by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb in April 2022 as part of the third grant round of NLT. “The Monon Trail is well known for making connections between communities across central Indiana,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director.

“The Monon’s excellent connectivity set an early example of ways we’d bring communities together through Next Level Trails, including with the construction of the Monon South Trail in southern Indiana. Next Level Trails has now helped communities build more than 100 new miles of trail–and growing—across Indiana.”

The new trail will extend 0.75 miles north from the existing Monon Trail at State Road 47. The trail follows the historic railroad corridor north into the town center of Sheridan to 2^nd Street. To the south, the existing Monon Trail extends more than 26 miles and travels through Westfield, Carmel, and Broad Ripple, ultimately terminating at 10^th Street in downtown Indianapolis.

Phase 2 of the project will work to extend the trail 1.1 miles north to the Hamilton/Boone county line, thus completing the trail within Hamilton County.

"Funded in large part by a $2 million grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Next Level Trails grant program, this project is a collaborative effort that will bring the Monon into our downtown, where trail users will find our richly unique Main Street lined with storefronts that are seeing new life," said Sheridan Town Council President Silas DeVaney III. "We are confident the completed trail will add to the quality of life for our residents as well as invite people to Sheridan that might not otherwise have a reason to visit our small town.”

As part of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Connections initiative, NLT is the largest infusion of trails funding in state history. The now $180 million program is administered by the DNR and facilitates critical trail connections within and between Hoosier communities. Thirty-four of the 89 NLT projects are complete, totaling more than 100 miles of trail built since the program’s inception. Several projects are under construction, with many more slated to break ground during the next year.

In December 2023, Gov. Holcomb announced that 14 communities received a combined $31.2 million for 28 miles of new trail as a part of NLT’s fourth round. The grants awarded in the fourth round include seven regional projects and seven local projects. The list of awards, project descriptions, and a map are posted at on.IN.gov/nlt-round-4.

More information about NLT is at on.IN.gov/NextLevelTrails.

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

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

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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A section of State Road 56 west of Scottsburg will be closed June 1, 6 a.m. through June 15, 11:45 p.m.

The stretch of road is located between Mount Road and Finley Firehouse Road. The road will be completely closed, and a detour route will be marked.

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By Jerrry Curry, Staff Writer

Derick Brough is the guy that hosts and created a monthly Bike Night on the Salem Public Square.

Brough is from Pekin and graduated in 1991. He owns American Family Insurance in Bloomington. He is retired military and owns a 2024 Harley Davidson Road Glide.

Brough said, “I got tired of not much to do on Saturdays so I started Bike Night.”

On Saturday, May 25, 85 bikers showed up to show off their rides, experience lots of camaraderie, view the talents of Paul Doodle Pinstriping of Pekin and enjoy concessions from the Speakeasy Pizza truck from Orleans. Bikers attending the event spanned from North Vernon to Simpsonville, KY.

Next bike night will be Saturday, June 22, 6-9 p.m., although Brough is considering other venues for the meet. He hopes to include a cornhole tournament, more vendors, and possibly a band on the brick street, if possible.”

Information and photographs provided by Derick Brough.