The Grissom Boyhood Home is once again hosting The Galactic Gathering for 2018 with special guest speaker, Former Astronaut and Moonwalker Charlie Duke.

This is the second event to be hosted in Mitchell, after last summer’s successful historical gathering of 7 of 9 living Indiana-born Astronauts. 

Duke is an American former astronaut, retired U.S. Air Force officer and test pilot. As Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 16 in 1972, he became the tenth and youngest person to walk on the Moon.

A former test pilot, Duke has logged 4,147 hours flying time, which includes 3,632 hours in jet aircraft; and 265 hours in space, plus 20 hours and 15 minutes of extravehicular activity.

A resident of New Braunfels, Texas, he is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

In April 1966, Duke was one of the 19 selected for NASA’s fifth group of astronauts.

In 1969, he was a member of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 10. He then served as CAPCOM for Apollo 11, the first landing on the Moon, where his distinctive Southern drawl became familiar to audiences around the world.

As CAPCOM, he became the voice of a Mission Control nervous by a long landing that almost expended all of the Lunar Module Eagle’s fuel.

Duke’s first words to the Apollo 11 crew on the surface of the Moon were flustered, “Roger, Twank… Tranquility, we copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We’re breathing again. Thanks a lot!”

Duke was backup Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 13, however shortly before the mission he caught German measles from a friend’s child and inadvertently exposed the prime crew to the disease.

As Ken Mattingly had no natural immunity to the disease, Mattingly was then replaced as Command Module Pilot by Jack Swigert. Mattingly would be reassigned as Command Module Pilot of Duke’s flight, Apollo 16.

Duke served as Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 16 in 1972 where he and John W. Young landed at the Descartes Highlands and conducted three EVAs, making Duke the tenth person to walk upon the surface of the Moon. He also served as backup Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 17. Duke retired from NASA in December 1975.

Various ticketed events will be offered throughout the weekend, as well as “for donation” guided tours and activities at the home.

There will also be various activities to participate in at Spring Mill State Park for free, as this event will once again take place in conjunction with Gus Grissom Days hosted by Spring Mill State Park.

All proceeds for The Galactic Gathering will go toward the Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom Boyhood Home, which is dedicated to restore and preserve the history of the home Grissom was raised in.

Timeline:

Friday, July 20, 8 pm – 10 pm – Launch Party; 1960 Cocktail Party held in the Spring Mill Lakeview Room
*Tickets are required and limited. A cash bar will be available at an additional cost to you that evening.

Saturday, July 21, 11 am – 4 pm – Tours Through The Grissom Boyhood Home
*Tickets are not required. Donations will be accepted and appreciated. Tours will be open house style and will include dessert bar.

Saturday, July 21, 2-4 pm – Photo Opportunity with Charlie Duke at First Baptist Church 
*Purchase individually or bundle with symposium tickets for discount.

Saturday, July 21, 7:00 pm – Symposium held at the Mitchell Opera House
*Special presentation from moonwalker, Charlie Duke. Tickets are required and limited.

If you are planning to purchase tickets and need lodging while in town, limited rooms are set aside in the Spring Mill Inn for this event. Call 812-849-4508 for reservations and reference Galactic Gathering.

*There will be no autograph opportunities during this event.

After the first week of filings to seek party nominations in the May Primary, out of 17 already filed, most are Republicans. Only two Democrats have filed to run in the election so far. 

Of those are Brent Miller for Sheriff and Marsha Guthrie for Township Trustee of Vernon Township. 

The filing period will continue through Friday, Feb. 9 at noon.

Other Candidates who have filed as of Tuesday afternoon are:

Republicans 
Randall “Randy” Bills – Auditor 

Tim Rodman – Recorder

Terri L Graves – Recorder

Roy A. Overshiner – Sheriff

Todd M. Ewen – Commissioner, District 2
Preston Shell – Commissioner, District 2
John P. Revels – County Council, District 2

Jason W. Nelson – County Council, District 4

David Brown – Brown TWP Trustee

Steven L. Anderson – Franklin TWP Trustee

Matthew Incantalupo – Jackson TWP Trustee

Angela “Angie” Wilson – Monroe TWP Trustee

Dennis R. Fleming Sr. – Pierce TWP Trustee

Brice Robinson – Washington TWP Trustee

Scott K. Miller – Pierce TWP Advisory Board

Police in Clark County say three people were arrested after authorities found meth, marijuana and a stolen weapon inside a home.

According to a release from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 59-year-old Adrian May, 54-year-old Lawrence Hoskins and 46-year-old Lisa Tesch, all of Charlestown, were taken into custody.

On January 11, 2018, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division, with assistance from the Jeffersonville SWAT and Southeast Regional SWAT executed a search warrant at Adrian May’s residence located in the 6900 block of Hibernia Rd., Charlestown, Indiana.

After successfully executing the search warrant approximately 2 ounces of Methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were located along with a rifle that was recently reported stolen from a burglary in the area.

Two other suspects were located inside the residence and were identified as Lawrence Hoskins and Lisa Tesch.

Adrian May, 59 years of age, Charlestown, Indiana, was arrested and charged with:

• Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
• Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Stolen Property – A Misdemeanor
• Possession of Marijuana – A Misdemeanor
• Possession of Paraphernalia – B Misdemeanor

Lawrence Hoskins, 54 years of age, Charlestown, Indiana, was arrested and charged with:

• Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Level 6 Felony

Lisa Tesch, 46 years of age, Charlestown, Indiana, was arrested and charged with:

• Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Level 6 Felony

Shortly after 6:30 pm, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call of a domestic situation with weapons at 102 Lapping Road, Hardinsburg, in Washington County.

When deputies and troopers arrived on the scene they made contact with a male subject who stated he was the one who called 911.

He stated he and his ex-wife got into an argument earlier in the evening and he left the residence to run errands.

He stated when he returned home his ex-wife threatened him with a firearm and allegedly fired a round from the gun.

He stated he left the home and called 911.

The female was allegedly in the home by herself.

A perimeter was set up around the home and shortly after this Indiana State Police Negotiators and SWAT members arrived.

At 9:18 pm, the female, from the above mentioned address, surrendered to officers.

She was taken into custody and transported to the Washington County Sheriff’s Department for questioning and to be booked in. 

The victim recovered from the pond last night has been identified as Gregory Davis (51) from Camby Indiana.
 
 
Davis was life lined from IU Health Morgan to IU Methodist in critical condition. Upon arrival, the victim was pronounced deceased.  
 
Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an incident involving Davis who fell through the ice on a pond in Martinsville, Indiana.

Davis was recovered from the water and transported to IU Health Morgan. 
 
The incident occurred at a private pond in the 5800 block of Hackers Creek Road.

The property owner noticed foot prints walking on the ice leading to a hole with fishing equipment but no fisherman or returning footprints. At that time he called 911.
 
Washington Township Fire Department dive team was first on scene and recovered a white male.
 
Indiana Conservation Officers are working to identify the male.
 
Assisting agencies include Morgan County Sheriff Department, Washington Township Fire Department, Harrison Township Fire Department, Morgan County EMS, Martinsville Fire Department, Green Township Fire Department and Paragon Fire Department.
 
Always be cautious when venturing out on the ice and wear a life jacket.