Floyd isn’t getting ready to take a Space Walk or try out the latest Slip N’ Slide. Instead, he is demonstrating the easy accessibility of the new Storm Shelter offered by his company.
By Matt Boat
Cloverdale – Local entrepreneur Floyd Freeman, affectionately known by many of his friends as “High Pockets”, stands nearly 6’10” and presents an imposing image and captivating personality. He represents the very best of American entrepreneurship--recognizing needs and finding solutions that work--and has been doing so for many years. Most men Floyd’s age are looking forward to retirement, but not Floyd, he’s still solving problems and searching for opportunities. His latest venture is the nearly indestructible Granger In-ground Safety Shelters, a product designed to keep families safe from the worst Mother Nature has to offer. Inspired by the often devastating and destructive severe weather in Indiana, Floyd saw a need for quality products available to stand up to the brute force of severe weather. In his search for a solution Floyd partnered with Granger Plastics of Middleton, OH, and began selling their polyethylene storm shelters soon after.
Floyd and Shirley Freeman are the owners of Smart Tech Homes, located at 504 N. Main Street, Cloverdale, IN and are offering a much needed product to a community in which devastating tornado activity has been rampant. Floyd says, “There are a ton of different shelters on the market, but we have the best; the most safe.” Unlike many other shelters which are composed of fiberglass or concrete, the Granger shelter is made of thick double polyethylene walls, completely resistant to the cracking that can occur with settling in those other structures. The 1,100 pound shelter can easily seat an entire family, with room to comfortably house up to six adults, or more in case of an emergency. (more)
2012 Owen County 4H Scholarship Winners
The 2012 Owen County 4-H Scholarship Winners were awarded with a total of $2200, money raised from the annual donation auction at the fair each year. Shown from L-R are: Sarah Law, daughter of Tim Law and Laura Gentry of Freedom, Mike and Sean Scully, son of David and Doris Scully of Spencer, Skyler Pardue, nephew of Debbie and Verl Keith of Spencer and Jocelyn McKay, daughter of John and Sandra McKay of Spencer. (Courtesy Photo)
Sign Up Now for Indiana State Police Summer Youth Camps
By I.S.P. Sgt. Curt Durnil
The 2012 Indiana State Police summer youth camps will soon be in session. Are you looking for something a little different to do this summer? The Indiana State Police summer youth camps are for students entering grades 5 through 12. Students annually interact with peers who have expressed common interests in law enforcement. Campers learn teamwork skills while gaining self-confidence. The Indiana State Police camps and programs teach students that discipline is a pre-requisite in gaining self-respect, and self-respect is the first step in gaining the respect of others.
Camps are held at colleges and universities around the state and offer campers a unique glimpse of campus life. Each program includes well-balanced meals and comfortable sleeping facilities. Camp staffs are hand-picked, responsible law enforcement personnel who have committed themselves to preparing today’s youth for their future.
For more information about our Indiana State Police Summer Youth Camps or to download an application go to our website at www.in.gov/isp/ or the youth services web site www.trooper.org, or call toll free (800-671-9851).
Morgan County - An independent audit of the cost of living and doing business around the nation has added Morgan County to the Cost of Living Index (COLI), and calculated that the community has one of the lowest costs of living in Indiana for the first quarter of 2012. The Cost of Living Index is produced by the Council for Community & Economic Research.
Morgan County, located between Indianapolis and Bloomington, has a composite index of 88.4. Both Morgan County’s composite index figure of 88.4 and Indianapolis’s figure of 93.7 demonstrate that the metropolitan region offers businesses and residents an attractive, cost-effective environment for goods and services. Both numbers are below the national average cost of living index figure of 100.0.
The Morgan County Economic Development Corp. (Morgan County EDC) took the initiative to have the county’s cost of living information reported as a way to benchmark elements of the business environment in the community. The EDC recently formed a Blue Ribbon Committee that is examining the strengths and weaknesses of Morgan County. “During meetings of the Blue Ribbon Committee, the advantages of living and doing business in Morgan County were highlighted. The cost of living data affirms the Blue Ribbon Committee’s discussions related to business costs,” said Joy Sessing, executive director of the EDC. (more)
Owen County - McCormick’s Creek Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center, located at 210 St. Hwy 43 in Spencer, IN, will be hosting the first annual Senior Health & Fitness Day Fair, Friday, May 25th from 10am-2pm. With free blood sugar and blood pressure tests, hearing tests, chair massages, spinal screenings, strength testing, and BMI screenings, the event serves as a great opportunity to spread community awareness of the importance of providing these health services.
Over $150 in gift cards, including a $50 gas gift card, as well as door prizes provided by local vendors such as Beltone, Vibrant Home Health, and Intrepid Home Health will be available. Guests will receive and deposit a raffle ticket upon their arrival, with prize winners being announced at the end of the event. Aiming to provide individuals and the community as a whole with the proper resources for maintaining a healthy and proactive life, McCormick’s Creek’s Marketing Director, Lindsay Clark, describes the role of the Health Fair. “An event like this is important in raising people’s awareness that there is a need for providing these kinds of services within our community. By offering people the opportunity to utilize free services they might not usually want to pay for, we hope that people will recognize their importance in maintaining the body’s health.”
Hoosier Energy, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Mike Rampley (Left) and Owen County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Denise Shaw (Right) presented the “Memorandum of Understanding” for the County Council’s approval and signature. (Photo by James Baughn)
By James Baughn
Owen County – The Owen County Council met in their regularly scheduled meeting April 9th in the Commissioner’s Room of the Owen County Courthouse. In attendance were all members of the Council; Mark Snapp, Nick Robertson, Chuck Hess, Anton Neff, Mike Wood, Patty Steward and Irma Jean Franklin. Also in attendance were County Attorney Richard Lorenz and Karen Weaver Acting Secretary in place of Auditor Angie Lawson.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, the meeting was called to order by Council President Mike Wood.
The minutes of April 9, 2012 were approved with correction 7-0.
Owen County Community Corrections Program Director Donna McElroy requested appropriations, all from the Adult Probation Fund. The requests were for $560 to the Probation Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) fund, $384 to the Probation Public Employee Retirement Fund (PERF) and $7,308 to the Probation Officer fund. The council approved the appropriations 7-0.
Veteran Service Member Ron Morley requested appropriation to the Veteran Service Fund in the amount of $450 for vehicle gasoline. The appropriation was approved 7-0.
Motorists who refuse to wear their seat belts – beware. Indiana State Police announced that Indiana’s 2012 Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign is underway.
This national mobilization will take place over the Memorial Day holiday period and is supported by thousands of law enforcement agencies and traffic safety advocates across the country. In Indiana, more than 250 law enforcement agencies will conduct special patrols – day and night, to identify and ticket unrestrained drivers and passengers. The effort will conclude on June 3.
Click It or Ticket has been credited with increasing Indiana’s seat belt usage rate from 63 percent in 1995 to an observed usage rate of 93 percent in 2011. Last year in Indiana, there were 3,322 crashes involving unrestrained drivers/occupants and 202 fatalities. Wearing your seat belt increases your chances of surviving a crash by more than 50 percent.
Motorists should be prepared to see more law enforcement on the roads during this 15-day period. Special patrols will take place around the clock, and if law enforcement finds you on the road unbuckled at any time, you can expect to get a ticket. No excuses and no exceptions.
“Click It or Ticket” is an annual enforcement effort that is supported by federal Highway Safety funding awarded to more than 250 state and local law enforcement agencies from ICJI’s Traffic Safety division. Indiana’s enforcement mobilization is reinforced by paid, statewide advertising combined with targeted public outreach efforts aimed at comprehensively promoting the life-saving benefits of regular seat belt use to all motorists.
Miss I.U., Brianna McClelland and Marge Sutton are shown above with the beautifully restore Model A Ford.
By Allen Pease
Bloomington - “We had folks from Gosport, Spencer, Bloomington, Ellettsville, Nashville, Unionville, Martinsville and even Terre Haute and Columbus,” said Allen Pease of Bloomington, referring to the Kiwanis Club of Bloomington’s annual Pancake Breakfast & Antique Model A Ford Show held the last Saturday of April. According to Pease, president of the club, total attendance was 245 making this year’s event one of the most successful ever. The pancake breakfast and Model A Ford Show took place at the First United Church adjacent to Eastland Plaza in Bloomington.
“It was so successful this year because the cost was the same as the past ten years, just $5. We called it a bountiful breakfast!” said co-chair Judie Iverson of Bloomington. “In addition there were those beautiful cars and a lot of fun events to go along with the big breakfast.”
Student members of Circle K of IU conducted a bake sale and provided free face painting for children. Miss IU Brianna McClellan was on hand greeting guests and signing autographs. Balloon twister David Weigand entertained children by creating balloon critters and balloon flowers. Every child present received one of the balloon creations free of charge.
