Washington County expanding collaboration with IU Center for Rural Engagement

January 27, 2020

Building upon the energy of nearly two years of arts, cultural and quality-of-place planning and programming with the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, Washington County will partner with the center’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative to connect faculty and students with community-identified projects.

A yearlong engaged teaching collaboration, Sustaining Hoosier Communities harnesses more than 20 IU Bloomington courses and the energy of hundreds of students to address projects including health and wellness, infrastructure planning, and natural resources management. This initiative received international recognition as the 2019 Outstanding Program of the Year from the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities-Network.

“We are so excited to partner with the Center for Rural Engagement,” said Judy Johnson, executive director of the Washington County Community Foundation. “Over the last year, we have had many community meetings and opportunities for our citizens to express their ideas for creating our preferred future in Washington County. I think the timing is perfect for Washington County; as we begin a new decade, we have the opportunity to work together to make our community an amazing place to live, work, play and raise a family.”

About 50 miles southeast of the IU Bloomington campus, Washington County is home to 28,415 residents, vast natural resources including a portion of the state’s longest hiking trail — the Knobstone Trail — and historic sites such as the John Hay Center complex and Beck’s Mill. The county’s economy is rooted in agriculture and the metal and lumber industry. Washington County will be the fourth county to partner with the center on the Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative.

With the center’s launch in 2018, Washington County established a strategic effort focused on quality of place, including an ongoing rural arts series involving the Jacobs School of Music, IU Cinema, the Department of English, and other Arts and Humanities Council campus partners.

“The IU Center for Rural Engagement welcomes this opportunity to deepen our partnership with Washington County during the 2020-21 academic year,” said Kerry Thomson, the center’s executive director. “This engaged teaching initiative will connect a breadth of resources to projects that meet the community’s goals and continue to expand local capacity for new initiatives with an intensive, comprehensive approach.”

Community meetings to generate ideas, hear feedback, and discuss possible projects and plans will be held throughout the county in February. Each meeting will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the following dates:

Feb. 4: Campbellsburg Community Building, 21 W. Oak St. in Campbellsburg.
Feb. 6: Pekin Park Community Building, 325 E. Karnes Court in New Pekin.
Feb. 11: Senior Citizen Center, 1705 N. Shelby St. in Salem.

These meetings are open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. Residents are encouraged to attend any of the scheduled sessions for a full discussion and planning activities.

Reds Sign Free Agent Castellanos; Agrees To 4-Year Contract

January 27, 2020

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Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams tonight announced that free agent OF Nick Castellanos (Ca-ste-yah-nos) has agreed to terms on a 4-year, $64-million contract through the 2023 season.

The contract includes salaries of $16 million in 2020, $14 million in 2021, $16 million in 2022, $16 million in 2023 and a $2 million buyout on a $20 million mutual option for 2024. It also includes opt-out clauses following the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Castellanos will be introduced at a press conference at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow in the Williams Family Champions Gallery in the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

“This is an off-season where we have prioritized adding to the offensive side of the club,” Williams said. “Nick was one of the most attractive options on the market. He has been a consistently elite producer offensively and that complements our existing team well.”

Castellanos, 27, at last summer’s July 31 deadline was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Chicago Cubs for RHP Alex Lange and RHP Paul Richan. In 151 appearances for those 2 teams, he combined to hit .289 with 58 doubles, 27 HR, 88 extra-base hits and 100 runs scored all career highs. Castellanos became only the third right-handed batter in Major League history to produce in a season at least 55 doubles and 25 HR, joining Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg (1934) and Joe Medwick (1937). He made 136 starts in right field and 4 starts in left field, all for the Cubs.

With 58 doubles in 2019, Castellanos led the Major Leagues and became only the 10th player to produce that many doubles in a season. His 229 doubles beginning with the 2014 season tie Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox for the most of any player in the Major Leagues over the last 6 years, and his 104 doubles in 2018 and 2019 led all Major League players.

Castellanos’ 88 extra-base hits last season were second-most in the majors behind Boston’s Rafael Devers (90). He is 1 of only 5 players in the Major Leagues to produce at least 70 extra-base hits in each of the last 3 seasons, joining Nolan Arenado, Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor, and J.D. Martinez.

The Tigers’ first draft pick in 2010, 44th overall, Castellanos played in at least 148 games in 4 of the last 5 seasons. He led the American League with 10 triples in 2013 and over the course of his career has ranked among league leaders in games played (9th in 2017, 6th in 2018), hitting (9th in 2018), hits (3rd in 2018), doubles (4th in 2018, 1st in the majors in 2019), total bases (10th in 2017, 8th in 2018) and RBI (9th in 2017).

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Reds designated for assignment OF Jose Siri.

Mary Margaret (Magner) Arnold, age 96

January 27, 2020

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Mary Margaret (Magner) Arnold, age 96, died on Jan. 24, 2020 at the Salem Crossing in Salem, IN.

She was born on Sept. 30, 1923, in Paoli, IN. and was the oldest of 6 children of Lowell & Carrie Marie (Morris) Magner.

Mary Margaret graduated from Orleans High School in 1941 and received a degree from Bryant-Stratton Business College in Louisville, KY.

She started work at Link Handle Company in Salem and then served as Treasurer of Salem Community Schools for over 30 years.

She was also Treasurer of the First Baptist Church for over 50 years and managed the Washington County Memorial Hospital Gift Shop for over 25 years.

Mary Margaret married Robert Lee “Bob” Arnold on Nov. 26, 1944.

They owned Boggs & Justi men’s clothing store on the Salem square and had one son Robert Reed “Bobby” Arnold. Bobby married Jacqueline “Jackie” Jones of Salem and they had one daughter, Laura.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law Jackie Arnold of Salem, IN., granddaughter Laura Arnold and Todd Fisher of New York, NY., brother Harold & Joyce Magner of Shreveport, LA., sister Joanne & Morris Hudson of Columbia, MO., and sister-in-law Betty Magner of Corydon, IN.,

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son and siblings: Howard Magner, Lawrence “Larry” Magner and Imogene (Magner) Hazelbaker.

Mary Margaret will be remembered most for her independent spirit, love of friends and family, and her commitment to community and church. She did things “her way” for 96 years and will be missed by all those who knew her.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the:

First Baptist Church, 200 E. Walnut St., Salem, IN 47167, or
Washington County Community Foundation, P.O. Box. 50, Salem, IN. 47167.

Paul Edward Allison, age 88 of Campbellsburg

January 27, 2020

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Paul Edward Allison, age 88 of Campbellsburg, Indiana passed away Sunday, January 26, 2020, at 11:04 pm, in his residence.

Born October 14, 1931, in Danville, Illinois, he was the son of the late William H. Allison and Lola Irene (Meadors) Allison.
On March 28, 1954, he married Remona (Reid) Allison, who passed away on December 21, 2017.

He was a member of Enon Baptist Church, served during the Korean War in the U.S. Army. Paul was a member of the Campbellsburg Conservation Club, the N.R.A. and loved hunting and shooting guns.

Survivors include:
Son: Billy Wayne Allison of Campbellsburg, Indiana;
Son: Jeffrey L. (Sherry) Allison of Goodland, Indiana;
Son: Patrick S. (Ruth) Allison of Winlock, Washington;
Daughter: Zena Beth (Jeff) Petty of Campbellsburg, Indiana.

He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by 1 granddaughter and 4 great-granddaughters.

Funeral Service: 1:00 pm Friday at Dawalt Funeral Home with Pastor Greg Strother officiating.

Interment at Crown Hill Cemetery in Salem, Indiana.

Visitation: 4 to 8 pm Thursday and 10 am to 1 pm Friday at Dawalt Funeral Home.

Memorial Contributions to:
Washington County Relay for Life
C/O Jeanette Nolan
945 North Rush Creek Road
Salem, Indiana 47167

Van B. Smith, age 71 of Salem

January 27, 2020

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Van B. Smith, age 71 of Salem, Indiana passed away Saturday, January 25,
2020 at 09:18 am, in his residence.

Born August 10, 1948, in Salem, Indiana, he was the son of the late
Halbert Van Smith and Marjorie (Graves) Smith.

On November 9th, 1987 he married Becky (Burns), Smith.

He was a life resident of Washington County, a member of the West Side
Baptist Church and played music in the church band. He was a Salem high
school graduate, class of 1966, a member of Western Hills Country Club
and he loved music and started playing in bands at age 15.
He also loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them, cars and
anything with an engine, golf, I.U. Basketball and enjoyed nature and
walks in the wood.
He retired in 2011 as an independent men’s clothing salesman, then
worked for Baird homes in Salem and then worked part-time at O’Reilly
Auto Parts in Salem.

His survivors include:
His wife: Becky (Burns) Smith of Salem; 2 Daughters: Jennifer (Burns)
Bush of Salem and Kimberly (Smith) Maurer of Medford, MA; 1 son: Casey
Smith of Salem and Daughter In Law: Michelle Smith/Ryan of Salem;
1 brother: Martin (Glenda) Smith of Pekin and 1 sister: Chris Smith; 1
nephew: Tyler Smith and 2 nieces: Hailey and Harper Timberlake; 1
grandson: Austin Bush and 1 great-granddaughter: Kinsley Bush.

Visitation: 4 to 8 pm Tuesday and 9 to 1 pm Wednesday at Dawalt Funeral
Home.
Funeral Service: 1:00 pm Wednesday at Dawalt Funeral Home with Pastor
Kevin Carty officiating.
Interment will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery in Salem.

Memorial Contributions can be made to:
Westside Baptist Church
C/O Pastor Kevin Carty
606 Mitchell St.
Salem, IN 47167

Todd A. Spurling, 57, of Mitchell

January 27, 2020

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Todd A. Spurling, 57, of Mitchell, passed peacefully at 11:12 AM on Sunday, January 26, 2020, at his residence after a short battle with cancer.

He was born March 9, 1962, in Shelbyville, IN, the son of Jerry Spurling and Marcia Pulido.

He married Evette (Cavaness) Spurling on May 31, 1980, and she survives.

He was an active member of the First Apostolic Church in Mitchell. He was a graduate of Waldron High School class of 1980. He worked for UPS for 30 years and after retirement, he worked at Superior Small Engines in Mitchell. He enjoyed going to truck shows and restoring late model Chevy trucks.

He is survived by his wife of Mitchell; father, Steve McCracken (Pam) of Mooresville; mother, Marcia Pulido of Bedford, grandmother, Lois Snyder of Shelbyville; two sons, Jeremy Spurling (Priscilla) of Bedford and Zach Spurling (Rachel) of Orleans; three grandsons, Westin, Peyton, and Drake; Two Sisters, Kimberly (Scott) Sawyer of Shelbyville and Tammy Long of Indianapolis and one brother, Anthony Pulido of Shelbyville.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jerry; grandfather, Maurice “Boots” Snyder and two granddaughters in infancy, Reagan Elizabeth and Emmelyn Grace.

A Going Home Service will be at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at First Apostolic Church in Mitchell with Pastor Robert Burton officiating and Elder Terry Meade assisting. Burial will follow in Mitchell Cemetery.

Friends are invited to visitation at the church on Friday from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM and on Saturday from 12:00 PM until service time.

Ochs-Tetrick Funeral Home is in charge of these arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Apostolic Church in Mitchell.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at ochstetrick.net.

Houchin’s Child Services Bill Passes Out of Senate

January 27, 2020

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State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem) made the following statement today regarding the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 345 out of the Senate Committee on Family and Children Services:

“Thank you to my colleagues on the Senate Committee on Family and Children Services for voting unanimously to support my legislation, Senate Bill 345.

“SB 345 would establish the Child Services Oversight Committee to review cases where the Department of Child Services (DCS) and juvenile courts had prior involvement with a child, and the child ultimately experienced a negative outcome, such as serious bodily injury from neglect or abuse, or if a child fatality occurred in the child’s home.

“Understanding the causes of such heartbreaking incidents and fully analyzing actions taken before such tragedies occur is an essential component to preventing similar outcomes for other children and families, and providing the legislative, policy, and training recommendations toward that end.

“We have made great strides in improving outcomes for children in vulnerable situations, and this simple legislative oversight is another piece in our ongoing efforts to keep all Hoosier children safe.”