The Awareness Washington County (AWC) Class of 2014 is pleased to announce the GRAND OPENING of its class project – the COMMUNITY FITNESS PARK – on Thursday, July 9 at 5 pm.

The public is invited and food and drink will be available. Come celebrate the opening of this family friendly park which is located at the corner of Homer and Mill Streets in Salem, Indiana.

The Community Fitness Park is in close proximity to the Walking Trail, contains 9 pieces of permanent outdoor exercise equipment and is free to the public.

The Salem Tree Board has generously agreed to provide and plant shade trees at the site. Picnic tables made by local craftsman Jacob Schmidt will be placed amongst the trees.

Further local support has come from equipment sponsors, as well as materials and financial donors; Eddie Gilstrap Motors, John Jones, St. Vincent Salem Hospital, Salem Crossing, GKN, Senior Citizens Center, Jeans Extrusions, Jason Wade State Farm, La Gene’s Jewelers, Quick Seal, Meadowview, Fox Purlee, Knapp Miller Brown, Marshall Monuments, Salem Lumber, Deer Country, Ace Hardware, Ewen Insurance, Anne Terrell and Tom Fultz. Residents of the immediate neighborhood have donated good will, valuable advice and insight as well as tools.

The class extends a special thank you to Temple and Temple, who excavated and drilled through rock in order to prepare the site; without their help, the project would have been impossible at its current location. Property was donated by the City of Salem; it was formerly owned and donated by the Tarr family.

The purpose of Awareness Washington County is to develop informed, skilled, and committed civic leadership. The program is designed to assist a diverse group of participants in acquiring a broad understanding of the issues facing the Washington County area, fostering leadership potential, enriching leadership skills, and building relationships that will facilitate collaborative efforts in resolving today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. It is a leadership development experience different from most of the trainings given by companies.

AWC helps individuals develop and strengthen their own leadership potential, empowering them to make positive change in the community wherever they see the need. Anyone who lives or works in Washington County is eligible for membership. Contact Marji Morris (mlmsoar@hotmail.com) or Debbie Mildenburger (dmildenburger@gmail.com) for more details or to join next year’s class.

Awareness Washington County is currently accepting applications for the class of 2015-16 according to co-directors Debbie Mildenburger and Marji Morris.

Awareness Washington County is a community leadership organization that began in 1983. Over 500 graduates have participated in the class and continue to take an active role in the community.

The class meets monthly, September through May. Participants learn about the community. develop their personal leadership skills. Class members will actively explore the county’s history, local  economic and social issues, arts, and government. While guest speakers are a part of the class, the emphasis is on hands-on learning, discovery, and reflection.

The class will select and implement a project, based on the members’ interest and perception of community need.

Past projects include such areas as county beautification, downtown revitalization, historic preservation, leadership expansion, Lake Salinda development, and programs of benefit to youth, such as purchasing seats for the Pied Piper Theatre. The class of 2002 endowed a scholarship to honor community service and encourage young people to return to Salem after furthering their education. The 2003 class organized “Unify to Beautify Washington County,” a campaign to involve all parts of the community in cleaning up roadside dumps, streets and highways, and even creating a play area at the community park in Livonia.

Another class formed Friends of Beck’s Mill, which provided the framework to  restore Beck’s Mill, a site rich in early history, beauty, and memories. More recently, the class of 2014 created the Fitness Station on Homer Street, and the class of 2015 is Lighting the Way by installing lights along the walking trail.

Mildenburger and Morris encourage adults of all ages and backgrounds to apply for the class. “We would like to see the class reflect the diversity of the community,” Morris stated. “The greater the mix of people involved, the more successful the program will be.”

Morris and Mildenburger will contact those who apply in order to set up an interview during the summer.  Between 20-25 people will be selected for the class.

Applications should be submitted by July 30. An application form is included below. For further information, call 812-752-2278, 812-216-6505 or 812-896-1930 and leave a message.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is seeking applications from Indiana residents for membership in its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Community Advisory Working Group.

INDOT seeks individuals from a broad cross-section of Indiana for its ADA Advisory Working Group, and membership is open to any individual. In particular, individuals with disabilities, disability advocates, or individuals who provide services to persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Members serve two-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms.

Selected working group members provide information and recommendations regarding INDOT’s ADA Transition Plan, including efforts to increase the public involvement of persons with disabilities in transportation planning. The voluntary consultative group meets quarterly at various locations throughout the state.

The ADA Transition Plan examines INDOT’s current facilities and services for artificial access barriers to persons with disabilities. INDOT uses this plan to quantify and prioritize changes that will bring its programs and practices into compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title II of the ADA, Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all related statutes, regulations and directives.

The document is available for review in Microsoft Word and PDF format on INDOT’s website atwww.in.gov/indot/3036.htm.
How to apply

Individuals interested in becoming members should submit a letter of interest or a resume by Aug. 3 to Erin L. Hall, INDOT’s Title VI/ADA Program Manager, via email at ehall2@indot.in.gov or via fax at317-233-0891. Applications may also be sent via mail to 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N750, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Jackson County’s efforts to provide free, high-quality preschool services to low-income children beginning this fall has resulted in double the expected capacity.

A second open enrollment period for the state-funded On My Way Pre-K program begins today and continues through July 31.

Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis at the Jackson County Learning Center, 323 Dupont Drive in Seymour.