Clarence Edward Bane, 75, of Charlestown, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at Rolling Hills Health Care Center in New Albany.
He was born on January 24, 1950, in Scottsburg, Indiana, the son of the late Robert and Mary (Petty) Bane. He graduated from Salem High School in 1968 and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Louisville.
Clarence’s life was defined by hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit. He worked as an engineer, contractor, and business owner, and also farmed alongside his family throughout his life. Known as both a risk-taker and a caregiver, he devoted himself to caring for his wife, Nancy, during her illness and was always ready to help others—truly the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back.
He enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting, caring for his animals, spending time at the casino with friends, and, most of all, making memories with his family—especially his grandchildren.
Survivors include his sons, Brad (Mary) Bane of Greenfield, Indiana, and Christopher (Elizabeth) Bane of Prospect, Kentucky; and his grandchildren, Jolie and Jaxon Bane.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Nancy, whom he married in 1970.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5:00–8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 12:00–1:00 p.m. at Dawalt Funeral Home.
Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Larry Perkinson officiating.
Burial will be at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Scottsburg, Indiana.
Maurita Sue Jones, age 77 of Salem, passed away on Monday, August 25, 2025 at St. Vincent Salem Hospital.
Mrs. Jones was born March 26, 1948 in New Albany, Indiana, the daughter of Maurice Elrod and Opal Oliver Elrod. She had her masters degree in teaching from Indiana University and was a teacher at Bradie Shrum School. She had retired from Eastern Community Schools as a Home Economics Teacher. Maurita was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church and was a member of the Salem Order of Eastern Star.
Mrs. Jones is survived by her husband of 51 years, Warren N. Jones. She is also survived by her daughter, Caitlyn Davis (Michael) of Salem, and her granddaughters: Kelsey, Kaci and Khloe.
Mrs. Jones is preceded in death by her parents.
Services will be held on Thursday, August 28, at 12:00p.m at Weathers Funeral Home. Visitation will be Wednesday, August 27, from 4:00-8:00p.m at the funeral home and on Thursday morning from 10:00a.m until the time of the service. Burial will take place following the service at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Clarence Edward Bane, 75, of Charlestown, Indiana, passed away
peacefully on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at Rolling Hills Health Care Center in New Albany.
He was born on January 24, 1950, in Scottsburg, Indiana, the son of the late Robert and Mary (Petty) Bane. He graduated from Salem High School in 1968 and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Louisville.
Clarence’s life was defined by hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit.
He worked as an engineer, contractor, and business owner, and also farmed alongside his family throughout his life. Known as both a risk-taker and a caregiver, he devoted himself to caring for his wife, Nancy, during her illness and was always ready to help others—truly the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back.
He enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting, caring for his animals, spending time at the casino with friends, and, most of all, making memories with his family—especially his grandchildren.
Survivors include his sons, Brad (Mary) Bane of Greenfield, Indiana, and Christopher (Elizabeth) Bane of Prospect, Kentucky; and his grandchildren, Jolie and Jaxon Bane.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Nancy, whom he married in 1970.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5:00–8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 12:00–1:00 p.m. at Dawalt Funeral Home.
Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Larry Perkinson officiating.
Burial will be at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Scottsburg, Indiana.
A recent decision by the Washington County Fair Board to eliminate groundskeeper Randy Lee has ignited a local firestorm on social media and was a topic of discussion at this morning joint meeting of the Washington County Council and Washington County Commissioners.
Second District Commissioner Todd Ewen made a motion to eliminate the groundskeeper position and First District Commissioner and President Phillip Marshall provided the second, but after some discussion between the public, the council and commissioners, decided to vote with Third District Commissioner Tony Cardwell (1-2) against the decision.
Marshall stated he wanted to ask a few more questions from the fair board and tabled the decision until the board’s meeting in September.
County Commissioners Todd Ewen and Phillip Marshall originally voted 2-0 to approve, but Marshall reversed his vote and the vote concluded 1-2 against eliminating Lee’s position. Marshall asked that the action be tabled until the next meeting.
RANDY LEE DISMISSED BY FAIR BOARD
According to a statement read in his absence this morning, Lee stated “On August 13, I received a letter from the fairboard saying that my position would be eliminated as of August 23 and I would have 60 days to remove my personal belongings.
“I feel this is an unjust and untimely decision made by the fair board. As a county employee, I’m curious on how a non-elected board would have such authority to do this.”
Commissioner’s Attorney April Geltmaker said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the county and fairboard “allows for the County to hire a groundskeeper but the fairboard ultimately has control over that groundskeeper’s daily activities and decisions regarding his employment and his retention including his termination.”
Geltmaker also said the MOU allowed the County to pay for mowing, weedeating and spraying through the MOU but also pays the groundskeeper separately from county funds.
Lee said he had been the groundskeeper for the fairgrounds for 15 years and had never had a reprimand or any disciplinary action against him.
He is also allowed to live on the grounds, with utilities paid for his mobile home.
Lee also said he felt the decision to release him was political, noting that Ewen had called him on March 3 and intimidated him.
“I received a threatening and intimidating phone call from Commissioner Todd Ewen,” noted Lee. “Which led to a State Police investigation where two other witnesses, Mr. Ewen and myself were interrogated by the state police detective which led to pending intimidation charges. At this time, i feel this is the reason behind this latest play and authoritarian tactics. I would like for you all to record this decision and feel that Mr. Ewen should be excluded from any decisions regarding these topics while these charges are pending.”
It was Ewen that made the original motion to eliminate the groundskeeper position at the meeting.
FURTHER DISCUSSION
Ewen said the fairboard was trying to restructure the fairgrounds.
“That’s the intention,” said Ewen. “Nobody likes it when a position is eliminated. It’s basically their decision. We have to honor their decision. Everyone on the fairboard works very hard to try to maintain the fairgrounds. They’re not compensated in any way shape or form. It’s getting harder and harder to find people to serve. We have to honor their wishes.”
Ewen made the motion to eliminate the position, based on the fairboard’s recommendation.
He said the elimination would save the county about $10,000 a year.
Ewen said the mowing work would be subcontracted out and they currently had a “verbal” bid of $20,000 a year.
He did not say who made the “verbal” bid.
Marshall agreed that it would be a savings and should be subcontracted.
“This year we had the state fire marshall come in,” said Marshall. “A lot of things that hadn’t been corrected over the years had to be made up so we could put the fair on. We had to fight with that. If someone is overseeing the facility, they should see something that needs to be corrected, then it should have been corrected before now. This being said, i think subcontracting this out will come out cheaper for us.”
Marshall also said that previous Commissioner Rick Roberts had pointed out several times that the fairgrounds had not been kept up.
Councilmember Brad Gilbert questioned the timeline for eliminating the position, since the previous Council had approved the position to run through the fiscal year until Dec. 31.
Ewen said eliminating the position now was to give Lee 60 days to remove his property from the fairgrounds.
Someone from the public asked if request for proposals would be issued for bids to be taken for the subcontracted grounds work and Geltmaker repeatedly said that there was no public comment allowed and that this was a decision for the board to make.
Marshall said. “Wherever we can save money, I’m all for doing it. I’m all for paying someone to do a job but we’re here to serve and save money. I think we’ll be throwing this money away if we wait until the end of the year. I have a few questions myself. How do [the fairboard] plan on doing this? I haven’t seen the report from the fair board. I will table this for another month to get some further discussion.”
The motion was on the floor and Marshall reversed his vote and vote no along with Cardwell.
Many people on social media have blamed the fairboard firing to a letter Lee issued to Salem’s Mayor regarding water treatment issues.
The Fairboard issued a letter to Lee on August 13 and Lee took a letter to Mayor Green on the morning of August 14 with concerns about the city’s water. Lee also serves as a member of the Salem City Council.
Social media posts noted that the firing was due to the letter Lee presented to the Mayor.
However, the fairboard’s decision was made at least 24 hours prior to the letter Lee gave to Salem’s Mayor, who has no authority over the fairboard.
The fair board will hold it’s annual meeting on Monday, October 13 at 6p at the 4H Building.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board approved Corelogic to have access to use county maps.
Paul Eckart from Temple and Temple gave an update on the county highway garage project.
County Highway Department Superintendent Rick Graves gave an update on projects and noted paving work was winding down for the year and preparations for projects for 2026 were being made.
The County Council and Commissioners discussed a possible wheel tax, which is being suggested by the State of Indiana to help make up for revenue due to this spring’s move to reduce property taxes.
There was some discussion that if counties do not inact a wheel tax they might not be elligible for Community Crossing Grants.
Voyles said he felt that was not true and said a new grant would be enacted in 2027 called the Lane Mile Direct Distribution grant.
He said either grant would be available for up to $1 million, but counties couldn’t get both grants. And that if a county wanted to get the LMDD grant, it would have to have a wheel tax in place.
But, he said, not to get the Community Crossings Grant, which has been reduced from $1.5 million to $1 million per award.
Marvin Terry Allen, 79, of Milltown, Indiana passed from this life on August 17, 2025 at his home. Marvin was born on June 7, 1946 in Milltown, Indiana to the late Stanley A. and Wilma I. (Bowman) Allen. Marvin married Martha Carol Centers on August 17, 1968.
Marvin was retired from the CXS Railroad- fruit grower’s express with 43 years of service. He was a member of the Milltown Baptist Church and the Milltown Masonic Lodge F & AM #661.
Marvin was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Darrin L. Allen; brother, Harlan D. Allen; and a niece, Laura Finch.
Marvin is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carol Allen of Milltown, Indiana; a son, Terry S. Allen (Janice) of Milltown, Indiana; brothers, Benny L. Allen (Mary) of Depauw, Indiana, Wayne S. Allen (Linda) of Milltown, Indiana, and Larry D. Allen (Dorothy) of Milltown, Indiana; grandchildren, Tyler Allen (Liz Etta) of Tucson, Arizona and Corey Allen of Milltown, Indiana.
Funeral services will be on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Milltown, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Milltown Baptist Cemetery.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 from 4-8 p.m. and on Thursday, August 21, 2025, after 9:00 a.m. until time of the service at 11:00 a.m., all at the funeral home.
Bro. Jim Smith will officiate the service.
Masonic funeral rites will be on Wednesday, August 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m., at the funeral home and performed by the Milltown Masonic Lodge #661.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Milltown Masonic Lodge #661 and/or to the American Diabetes Association.
Brown Funeral Home in Milltown, Indiana is entrusted with the arrangements.
Jewell Gholson, age 83 of Salem, passed away on Monday, August 18, 2025 in her home.
Mrs. Gholson was born October 6, 1941 in Bimble, KY, the daughter of Andrew Morris and Ethel Smith Morris. She was a member of Westview Christian Church. Mrs. Gholson retired from the Washington County Treasurer Office.
Mrs. Gholson is survived by her husband of 63 years, Lester Gholson. She is also survived by her three sons: Jeff Gholson (Tenice) of Sugar Hill, GA, Andy Gholson (Deanna) of Anderson, IN, and Keith Gholson of Knoxville, TN, her grandchildren, Ashley, Evan, Drew, Austin, step-grandchildren: Kenny, Brandyn, and Lauren and her great grandchildren, Dawson Mae, Knox, Weston, Noa, Oakley and step great-grandchildren, Nevaeh and Adeline. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Gholson is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Kenneth Morris, and her two sisters, Ruth Moore and Lenora Harrod.
Services will be held on Friday, August 22 at Westview Christian Church at 11:00a.m. Visitation will be on Thursday, August 21, from 4:00p.m-8:00p.m at Westview Christian Church and also on Friday morning, from 9:00a.m until the time of the service. Burial will take place at Crown Hill Cemetery following the service.
Harrison County farms were recently honored by the state with Hoosier Homestead awards, according to State Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown) and State Sen. Gary Byrne (R-Byrneville).
“Farming is tough work, and keeping a family farm up and running for over 100 years is no small feat,” Engleman said. “These persistent workers have tirelessly preserved Indiana’s past and helped to advance our economic future.”
Hoosier Homestead awards honor farms owned and operated by the same family for 100, 150 and 200 years with centennial, sesquicentennial or bicentennial awards.
“Indiana is the ninth-largest farming state in the nation,” Byrne said. “It’s thanks to farm families like these that have served our state and local communities for generations that we are one of the top agricultural producers in the country.”
The Leffler Farm, in operation since 1874, received the sesquicentennial award, and the Martin Farm, in operation since 1914, received the centennial award.
These farm families were among 95 awardees recently honored during a ceremony at the Indiana State Fair.
Hoosier Homestead ceremonies are conducted every spring and summer. Since establishing the program in 1976, Indiana has recognized more than 6,000 farms for their economic and cultural impact to the state
More information on the Hoosier Homestead Award Program and nomination forms are available at in.gov/isda. Nominations for the March 2026 ceremony are due by Nov. 1. Questions may be emailed to HoosierHomestead@ISDA.IN.gov.
IC 35-48-4-6.1(A)FL6 ~ POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE
IC 35-48-4-8.3(A)MA ~ POSSESSION OF PARAPHERNALIA
IC 35-48-4-13(b)FL6 ~ MAINTAINING A COMMON NUISANCE
IC 35-48-4-11(A)MB ~ POSSESSION MARIJUANA/HASH OIL/HASHISH OR SALVIA
IC 35-48-4-8.3(A)MA ~ POSSESSION OF PARAPHERNALIA
IC 35-48-4-6.1(A)FL6 ~ POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE-PRIOR
IC 35-48-4-11(A)MB ~ POSSESSION MARIJUANA/HASH OIL/HASHISH OR SALVIA
IC 35-48-4-6.1(A)FL6 ~ POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE
IC 35-48-4-1(E)FL2 ~ DEALING IN COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG – AT LEAST 10 GRAMS
IC 35-48-4-8.3(A)MA ~ POSSESSION OF PARAPHERNALIA
IC 35-48-4-6(B)FL6 ~ POSSESSION OF COCAINE OR SCHEDULE I OR II NARCOTIC DRUG – AT LEAST 5 LT 10 GR
