The Dogwoods are blooming and that is a sign that the Dogwood festival is fast approaching.

Orleans Chamber of Commerce executive director Robert Henderson says the theme chosen for the 2013 Dogwood Festival is “In Spring, Dogwoods Beckon Us Home.”

This year’s festival begins on April 27 and continues non-stop through May 5th.

Henderson says, the Chamber will again play host with over 40-plus events including the popular Town-Wide Yard Sale on the opening weekend and our main “Fun-raiser” of the year, the Silent Auction.

Follow all the festival happenings on-line at www.orleansdogwoodfestival.com or on Face Book.

Congrats to longtime businessman and hometown barber Elmo Wolfe for being named as the 2013 Dogwood Parade Grand Marshal. The parade is May 3. everyone’s favorite parade.

2013 Dogwood Festival Calendar of Events

All Week
**First Aid Station – South side of Congress Square
Carnival – Congress Square – 5 -10 p.m. nightly
Photo Contest – OCC Unity Hall
Student Art Show – Orleans Public Library
Vendor Arts & Crafts – Congress Square
Dogwood Festival Headquarters – Chamber of Commerce

Friday, April 26
ALL DAY-Town wide Yard Sale

Saturday, April 27 (Opening Day)
ALL DAY – Town Wide Yard Sale
8 am 1st Annual Dogwood 3 on 3 Basketball Tourney -Congress Square (basketball court).
9 am Baby Contest- Orleans Elementary
11 am Fire Department Pork Roast- Congress Square
Noon Kiwanis Bubble Gum Contest- (Bandstand)
1 pm Horseshoe Tourney- Airport
1 pm Pet Parade – Congress Square (Bandstand)
6 pm Queen Contest – Orleans Elementary
6 pm Citizen of the Year – OES

Sunday, April 28
2 pm Tiny Miss & Little Miss Blossom – Orleans Elementary
5 pm Little Miss Petal & Little Miss Dogwood – OES

Monday, April 29
4 pm – 7:30 pm Student Art Open House- Library
5:30 pm OES/OHS Choir performance- Main Stage
6 pm OHS Pep Band performance- Congress Sq.
7 pm WUME Lip Sync contest- Main Stage

Tuesday, April 30
6 pm Phi Beta Psi Style Show & Salad Supper- OES
6 p.m. Tumble Time/OC Fitness-Main Stage
7 pm Acoustic Jam- Library North Lawn

Wednesday, May 1 (Church Night)
4:30 pm “Knitting Witness” – Prayer Shaw Ministry Orleans UMC – Congress Square
6 pm Community Gospel Sing- Sponsored by the Orleans Ministerial Association – Festival Main Stage

Thursday, May 2
11 am – 8 pm Silent Auction- OCC Unity Hall
11 am – 8 pm Photo Contest – OCC Unity Hall
4:30 pm – 7 pm Art Walk- TBA
6:30 sign in/ 7 p.m. Game Starts Euchre Tourney- Fire Department
5 pm Registration /6 pm Races – Cub Scout Rain Gutter
Regatta- Congress Square (North Side)
5:30-6:15 pm – Sam Vernon’s Martial Arts & Fitness
6:30-8:30 pm .50 Caliber Band – Concert- Main Stage
TBA Local observance of National Day Prayer – Congress Sq.

Friday, May 3 (Youth Night)
11 am – 8 pm Silent Auction – OCC Unity Hall
11 am – 8 pm Photo Contest – OCC Unity Hall
4:30 pm – 7 pm Art Walk- TBA
5 – 7 pm Orleans UMC Ham & Bean Supper-Orleans Ele.
5 – 6 Brendan Batman (2012 Dogwood Idol) Main Stage
6:30 pm OHS REDLINE Dance team – performance- Basketball Court
7 pm Moore Monsters Band – Main Stage
8 – 10 pm Pet Monkey Band- Main Stage

Saturday, May 4
6:30 am – 9:00 am Kiwanis Breakfast- Orleans Elementary
9 am – 12 pm Tri County Tractor Club Classic Tractor Exhibit
DP Grain Parking Lot
9 am – 6:00 pm Silent Auction- OCC Unity Hall
9 am – 5:00 pm Photo Contest Display – Unity Hall
Noon PARADE- Theme “In Spring, Dogwoods Beckon Us Home”
2 pm (approx.) Sweet Water – Main Stage
5 pm – Carnival Rides Close

Sunday, May 5
9:45 am OCC “Be the Church” Community Clean-up (to clean up litter along the route of the parade and Congress Square)
6 pm Vesper Service – Orleans United Methodist Church

Some events subject to change or cancellation due to weather. Main St. Entertainment will be moved to Orleans Elementary, SR 337 E in the event of bad weather.

This year’s Little 500 bike race is launching an additional competition off the track.

Teams are competing with each other to raise money for scholarships online.

The Little 500 bike race, a 63-year-old Indiana University tradition, is adding what may become a new fundraising tradition this year.

Fundly, the world’s largest online crowdfunding platform is partnering with the Indiana University Student Foundation to raise money for student scholarships. More than 60 cycling teams have created pages online and are competing with each other to win prizes such as tickets to an IU basketball game.

Fundly CEO Dave Boyce says the website integrates well with social media, because users can easily reach out to their family and friends for donations.

“You could say, hey, great, why don’t you go door to door and collect checks, or why don’t you send out e-mails and steer people to a central landing page,” Boyce says. “Those are things that used to be the most efficient way but today the place where most people keep track of their friends and their networks, is on social media.”

Indiana University Student Foundation Director Dana Cummings says their goal is to raise $50,000 through the new initiative.

“We’re always thinking about new and innovative ways that we can reach folks to ask them to support the university,” Cummings said.

The women’s Little 500 race is set for Friday and the men’s race is April 20 at the Bill Armstrong Stadium

Early Sunday morning Indiana State Trooper Robbie Lambert attempted to stop a white 2001 Chevrolet Camaro on US 150 near Elm Street in Paoli for an equipment violation and for following too closely.

But that is when the driver 28-year-old Delbert Keith Bowling, of Mitchell refused to stop.

The pursuit which began at 2:15 am, went for about 22 miles mainly on State Road 56 and State Road 337 in Orange and Washington Counties until Master Trooper David Henderson successfully deployed Stop Sticks on SR 337 at the REMC parking lot in Orleans.

The Stop Sticks deflated the Camaro’s tires and Bowling stopped the car, about a half mile later on Liberty Road.

Bowling and the passenger, 23-year-old Jennifer L. Clark, of Mitchell were arrested without further incident.

Bowling was taken to IU Hospital in Paoli for a blood alcohol test and a drug screen.

Trooper Lambert says, the tests at the hospital revealed that Bowling was over the legal limit for alcohol .09% BAC and he tested positive for THC the active ingredient in marijuana.

Both Bowling and Clark were taken to the Orange County Jail.

Bowling, was charged with resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Class D felony; operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor; Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor; operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor; reckless driving, a Class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana under 30 grams, a Class A misdemeanor; maintaining a common nuisance, a Class D felony.

Clark was charged with possession of marijuana under 30 grams, a class A misdemeanor; visiting a common nuisance, a Class B misdemeanor.

Investigating Officer: Trooper Robbie Lambert

Assisting Trooper Lambert were: Master Trooper David Henderson, Trooper Michael Allen, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Paoli and West Baden Springs Police Departments.

The action of three state troopers saved the life of a 51-year-old Charlestown woman Sunday morning.

Senior Trooper Stephen Wheels was called to the crash site at 8 am after a report of a vehicle overturned in the southbound lane on I-65 at the Jackson Bartholomew county lines.

When the trooper arrived he found 15-year-old Nathaniel Bell thrown from the vehicle and lying nearby. The driver 51-year-old Malinda Miller-Bell had also been partially ejected with her head pinned under the vehicle.

Trooper Wheels broke out the front windshield to gain access to Miller-Bell.

That is when Troopers Brent Lykins and Korry Clark arrived. Lykins and Clark took car jacks and positioned them under the vehicle.

They were able to lift the 2005 Ford Free Star van enough to keep the van from crushing Miller-Bell’s head. They continued to break through the windshield until they could get access to Miller-Bell. The fire department then arrived and used airbags to remove her from under the van.

According to Wheeles, Miller-Bell was traveling northbound on I-65 in the van when for some unknown reasons she lost control, traveled through the median into the southbound lanes of I-65.

When the van entered the southbound lanes it was struck head on by a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche driven by 89-year-old Vernon Thacker, of New Palestine.

After impact the Avalanche ran off the west side of the interstate where it rolled over one time coming to rest on its wheels.

The van also ran off the west side of the interstate where it rolled an undetermined number of times ejecting the Malinda’s son, Nathaniel and partially ejecting her, before coming to a stop on the passenger’s side pinning Malinda.

Neither of them was wearing a seatbelt.

Miller-Bell was airlifted to University Hospital in Louisville where she is expected to survive her injuries. Nathaniel Bell and Thacker were both transported to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour with non life-threatening injuries. Thacker was wearing his seatbelt.

Senior Trooper Wheeles was assisted by Troopers Brent Lykens and Korry Clark. Also assisting at the scene was Seymour Fire Department, Jonesville Fire Department, Jackson County Ambulance, PHI Air Ambulance, and 31 Wrecker Service.

Catch Washington County Commissioner David Brown on Coffee Club tomorrow morning at 8:00a on WSLM 97.9 FM and AM 1220.

The rest of the week, catch these guests, Shirley Nale of the Salem High School Alumni Dinner committee, Good Samaritan’s Inn and Keith Shelby of Southern Hills Church.

The City of Salem Utilities’ Department will be performing flushing of the fire hydrants throughout the entire city. The flushing will begin Monday, April 22, 2013, thru

Tuesday, April 30, 2013, between 7:00am –5:00pm.  Customers may experience low water pressure during the flushing period. Please call the City of Salem Municipal Utilities’ office, 883-3937 if you have any questions concerning this process.

CINCINNATI (April 13, 2013) — The Cincinnati Reds and Major League Baseball will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on Monday, April 15 to honor the legacy of the legendary Hall of Famer and all players and on-field personnel will wear Number 42.

 The annual celebration to commemorate the 66^th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier in 1947 will feature ceremonies and events at Great American Ball Park that include:

• Jackie Robinson Foundation scholar alumnus Brittany Jones throwing out a ceremonial first pitch.
• SBM Management Services will accept the 2013 Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner Award from Reds COO Phil Castellini and Sean Rugless, President and CEO of the African-American Chamber of Commerce. The award is presented annually by the Reds and Major League Baseball.
• The Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati will honor Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Cheryl Grant along with three scholarship recipients.
•  “Slick” Willie Shaw of the Harlem Globetrotters will be the Honorary Captain of the game.
• 42: The Jackie Robinson Story movie trailer will be shown pregame and fan giveaways throughout the game will be movie tickets and promotional items from the movie.

 Fans can visit the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum to see highlighted artifacts from Jackie Robinson, including:

• 1954 All-Star team-signed ball (featuring Jackie’s signature) showcased in the “Signature Reds” exhibit.\
• A photo of Jackie at second base ensuring that New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thompson touches the base in the “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” NL-pennant winning home run from 1951.

 “The game of baseball continues to feel the influence of Jackie Robinson on the field and in the stands,” said Rick Walls, Executive Director of the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum. “His courage and determination through extreme adversity serves as an inspiration to us all. The Number 42, worn proudly on our uniforms on April 15 and displayed continuously in ballparks across the nation, serves as a reminder and pays tribute to how one man transformed the game. We are proud to join Major League Baseball in celebrating Robinson’s legacy and immeasurable contributions.”

 Additionally, on Monday morning at 9:42 a.m. EST, baseball fans worldwide will be encouraged to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day with a worldwide Twitter thank you using the hashtag: #Jackie42.

St. Vincent Salem Hospital is now taking applications for teen volunteers during summer break.

St. Vincent Salem Hospital’s teen volunteer program is designed to provide teens with experience in the healthcare field.  This serves as an opportunity to gain experience in healthcare, develop job skills, take an active role in community service, meet new friends, develop new interests, and develop high self-esteem.

This opportunity is available to all students between the ages of 12 and 18 years of age. 

Teen volunteers will sign-up to work 4-hour shifts from 8:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. or 12:00p.m. to 4:00p.m.  Orientation to the program will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on May 29, 2013. 

Because of the overwhelming response from our community teens, we will again be offering two four week volunteer sessions this summer. 

Session one will begin on June 3, 2013 and will end on June 28th.  Session two will begin on July 1, 2013 and will end on July 26th.

Teen volunteers can learn valuable job skills.  Some of the job skills teen volunteers learn are customer service, appropriate dress for the workplace, the importance of a positive and helpful attitude, how and when to take initiative and managing increasing levels of responsibility.
Please note spaces are limited and are based on a first come first apply basis. 

Deadline to apply to become a Teen Volunteer is May 17, 2013.  To apply to become a teen volunteer, please stop by the Human Resources office at the Hospital to fill out an application or contact Val Potter at vkpotter@stvincent.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Pekin-Eastern Alumni Association will host their annual banquet on Saturday, April, 27, 2013 in the Eastern High School Cafeteria.

The doors will open at 5:30 and the meal will begin at 6:30.

Speakers for the honor classes will be: Larry Hobson, Class of 1963; Dr. Paul Elliott, Class of 1988; and Dr. J. D. Souder, Class of 2003.

The graduating class of 2013 will be recognized, with a response given by their class president, Kayla Beach. 

Tickets for the banquet are $15, and may be purchased at Salem Electric or the Pekin branch of PNC.

Tickets are available through any alumni board member, or you may contact Lynn Neal via email at lneal0104@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by cell, 812-620-4461.

All money raised by the Alumni Association is used for scholarships for graduating seniors of Eastern High School.

Rebecca Lauster, the former Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District coordinator accused of taking money from her office, has pleaded not guilty to six counts of Class D felony theft.

Lauster had her initial hearing before Judge Frank Guthrie on Tuesday, March 26, in Jackson Circuit Court, Brownstown.

The woman was targeted as a suspect in an Indiana State Police investigation requested by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office last November. According to Detective Rachel Eickholtz, allegations had been made that Lauster had misappropriated funds from the office while acting as the District’s coordinator and treasurer.

After an audit was completed by the Indiana State Board of Accounts, a number of unauthorized personal expenditures and what was described as “excess” expenses were discovered on the business account credit card. Those amounted to over $13,000 and were allegedly tied to Lauster.

In addition, the investigation also reportedly uncovered a second, unauthorized business credit card purportedly opened by Lauster. She is alleged to have forged the board president’s signature to open that account, which has a balance of $7,900. Lauster is no longer employed by the soil and water district.

Lauster, 50, has retained Mark Dove of North Vernon to act as her attorney in the matter, according to court records.
She posted a $1,000 cash bond on March 27 and was released. No trial date has yet been scheduled, but an omnibus and pre-trial conference date of May 9 was set by Judge Guthrie, at which she is ordered to appear.

Judge Guthrie also set a plea agreement deadline of August 30.