SIL - July/Aug 2019

Southern 

IndIana 

July/ August 2019 

Living 

Indiana 

Cavern’s 

Escape 

Room 

Sweet Stop: 

Uncommon 

Cups 

& Cones 

Top 10: Southern Indiana Parks

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July/Aug 2019 • 2

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Featured Stories 

10 | COZY, COLD TREATS 

Local ice cream shop offers unique flavors in an 

old-fashioned setting 

17 | A HIDDEN GEM 

Sycamore Springs Park 

31 

20 | TOP TEN 

Southern Indiana Parks 

31 | EXPLORE & ESCAPE 

Indiana Caverns offers aerial coaster, escape rooms, cave 

tours and more 

36 | FROM TRAGEDY TO HOPE 

Crossroads Agope holds inaugural fashion gala 

40 | A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION 

Racers & Pacers 

17 

42 | PERSONAL COUNSELING SERVICE 

Celebrating 60 years of helping others 

Southern Indiana Living 

JULY / AUGUST 2019 

In Every Issue 

7 | FLASHBACK PHOTO 

Independence Day Picnic, Galena, IN, 1915 

8 | A NOTE TO BABY BOOMERS 

Much ado about doing over 

26 | COMMUNITY PAGES 

Spotlight on Leadership Southern Indiana, the Lewis 

and Clark Trail Extension, and more! 

10 

28 | #SHOPLOCAL 

Local Business Spotlight 

46 | EVERYDAY ADVENTURES 

The Lost Art of Picnicking 


Fun. With a Twist. 

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Southern 

IndIana 

Living 

JULY / AUG 2019 

VOL. 12, ISSUE 4 

PUBLISHER | 

Karen Hanger 

karen@silivingmag.com 

LAYOUT & DESIGN | 

Christy Byerly 

christy@silivingmag.com 

COPY EDITOR | 

Jennifer Cash 

Flashback 

Independence Day Picnic 

Galena, Indiana 

July 4, 1915 

COPY EDITOR | 

Sara Combs 

ADVERTISING | 

Take advantage of prime 

advertising space. 

Call us at 812-989-8871 or 

e-mail karen@silivingmag.com 

SUBSCRIPTIONS | 

$25/year, Mail to: Southern 

Indiana Living, P.O. Box 145, 

Marengo, IN 47140 

Contact SIL 

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812.989.8871 

karen@silivingmag.com 

ON THE COVER: A bike 

filled with flowers outside 

Uncommon Cups & Cones 

at 518 Vincennes Street in 

New Albany, Indiana // Photo 

by Michelle Hockman 

Check out more 

features and stories 

on our EPUB Exclusive! 

www.silivingmag.com 

// Photo courtesy of Stuart B. Wrege Indiana History Room, New Albany-Floyd County Public Library 

Southern Indiana Living is 

published bimonthly by SIL 

Publishing Co. LLC, P.O. Box 

145, Marengo, Ind. 47140. 

Any views expressed in any 

advertisement, signed letter, 

article, or photograph 

are those of the author and 

do not necessarily reflect 

the position of Southern 

Indiana Living or its parent 

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SIL Publishing Co. LLC. No 

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business 

In this glimpse at life over a century ago, a crowd gathers at Jersey Park for a 

Fourth of July picnic. According to library records, the park was located north 

of Galena, just off Borden Road. 


A Note to Baby Boomers 

Much Ado About Doing Over 

Along with lunch, we had 

chewed through politics, aches 

and pains, sports, simpler 

times. 

The usual stuff. 

Then a question came from out of 

the blue: What from our past would we 

like to do over? 

Which regrets haunt us the most? 

I am not young, but I was the youngest 

person at this table. Our lives are mostly 

history. We cannot run marathons. We 

no longer see or hear so great. Our kids 

have not been kids in a while. We rely on 

Medicare like we used to rely on the milkman. 

We use weekly lunches both to keep 

in touch and to keep us off the couch. 

We know some of each other’s bad 

times. We cannot change our pasts, of 

course. 

We can, though, change the conversation. 

And we did. 

What if we hadn’t? If I could rewrite 

my story, where would I start? How about 

you? Do you yearn for second chances? 

Do you lose sleep over lost loves and 

lost opportunities? 

Some people swear they have no regrets. 

They seem as full of contentment as 

I’d like to be of Cracker Barrel’s new fried 

chicken. Then again, people lie or rationalize. 

Perhaps they are Doris Day groupies, 

intent to look on the bright side. 

Or perhaps they do not lament a lot 

because they did not expect a lot. 

I really like the TV show “This Is 

Us.” The plot fills in routinely with flashbacks, 

even flash forwards. All the backand-forth 

business can get confusing. 

But making sense of real life can 

be even more confusing. Why am I me? 

What most mattered? Who most mattered? 

Which mistakes taught me? Which 

ones scarred me? 

Why do I continue to have more 

questions than answers? 

I am a pro at being curious. One 

publication or another has paid me to ask 

questions for nearly a half-century. I’m 

much more comfortable quizzing others, 

thinking that it’s better to reveal than to 

be revealed. 

But to be fair, it’s best to be honest. 

I mostly enjoyed being an only 

child. I didn’t share a bedroom, a basketball 

a car or a college fund or, of course, 

the attention and affection of my parents. 

I wanted for nothing I needed. 

I will forever be at peace with occasionally 

being alone. However, I was 

spoiled. 

Being a brother or a sister brings 

humility. Only-child disease can be overcome. 

But it takes more effort than I’ve 

given it. 

There’s one regret. 

Another is that I was too self-centered 

to learn everything I could about my 

parents and their parents and others, and 

Google is of little use for once. 

There’s another regret. 

I was no bully, but I was around bullying 

and did nothing to stop it. Keeping 

quiet kept me on the right side of some 

wrong people. More regret. 

]I regret giving up making music. I 

was a totally-mediocre trombone player. 

But I thoroughly enjoyed marching at 

football games and honking up a storm 

during breaks in basketball games. Band 

people were my people. Yet the day I left 

high school was the day I put in storage 

my affair with Sousa and scales. 

I did keep my horn, for some reason. 

I flirt with relearning which end to blow 

into. Maybe tomorrow or next week, I 

keep saying. I borrowed a music stand, 

hit up Amazon for a new mouthpiece and 

some beginners’ lesson books. A community 

band or two would take me and my 

trombone. Instead of tunes, I practice procrastination. 

Regret. 

I regret never having visited any 

other country. I am too stubborn even to 

fetch a passport. The closest as I get to 

going international is buying up a storm 

during German week at Aldi. 

I regret being hopelessly behind the 

times technologically. I lost any chance 

If I could rewrite my story, where would I start? 

How about you? Do you yearn for second chances? 

keeping up when I thought programming 

the VCR was impossible. Now my phone, 

my televisions, my computer and my car 

all pretty much mock me. 

I regret never learning to cook much 

or change a tire or ice skate. I regret being 

so impatient. My list could go on. 

I am beyond getting through the 

night without trip after trip to the bathroom. 

It seems like a lost cause to convince 

my grown daughter that car oil changes 

and dentist visits are not commie plots. 

At some age, doing much of anything is 

a feat. But for me for now, doing better remains 

within reach. 

I have lived a good life. I still live 

one. I am incredibly lucky that my regrets 

are not more regrettable. Join me and my 

lunch bunch in looking back. Cuddle up 

to the good. Be appreciative. Be proud. 

Be ready to do better as well. Fix 

what can be fixed. It may be late, but it is 

not too late. 

Now where is my trombone? • 

After 25 years, Dale Moss 

retired as Indiana columnist for 

The Courier-Journal. He now 

writes weekly for the News and 

Tribune. Dale and his wife Jean 

live in Jeffersonville in a house 

that has been in his family 

since the Civil War. Dale’s e- 

mail is dale.moss@twc.com 


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Local Spotlight 

Cozy, Cold Treats 

Local ice cream shop serves a variety 

of unique flavors in a beautiful, old-fashioned setting 

July/Aug 2019 • 10 

Story by Darian Eswine 

Photos by Michelle Hockman

When you walk into the small 

shop at 518 Vincennes St. in 

New Albany, you feel like 

you walked into a scene 

from “Alice in Wonderland.” A quilt on 

the ceiling, mismatched chairs and tables, 

and a collection of teacups are just a few 

of the pieces that make this place cozy and 

inviting. 

Uncommon Cups and Cones opened 

two days before the Harvest Homecoming 

parade this past fall. The co-owners, 

sisters-in-law Joanne Kiefer and Kim Barbour, 

had been planning to open the shop 

for about a year. 

“I thought about doing all different 

kinds of desserts like cakes and pies and 

stuff and thought I’d start with ice cream,” 

Barbour said. “I knew I didn’t want to 

and couldn’t do it on my own without the 

brains — she’s definitely the brains. It all 

just fell together.” 

Kiefer, on the other hand, said that 

anything in the shop that is cute or decorated 

is all Barbour. 

Barbour’s mom owned the building 

that housed the Box of Chocolates consignment 

shop for eight years. Barbour 

and Kiefer had a bit of notice that the shop 

would close, so they were able to begin 

planning. 

When Barbour’s daughter turned 

16, she wanted a teacup birthday theme, 

and Barbour started collecting cups. 

“It’s really what kind of started the 

thing,” Barbour said. “We decided we’re 

going to serve ice cream out of the teacups 

and then we came up with the ‘Uncommon’ 

because we wanted to be different, 

plus every teacup is different.” 

Barbour started collecting tables and 

chairs to ensure that “difference” was a 

theme throughout the ice cream shop. 

They carry this theme into their 

flavors. Open year-round, the shop carries 

standards such as vanilla and butter 

pecan, but they also stock unique flavors 

such as Loaded French Toast, Green Tea 

and one called “Exhausted Parent” (described 

as “bourbon-spiked espresso ice 

cream swirled with bittersweet chocolate 

chunks”). 

“We wanted to try to keep them as 

different as they can be from each other 

and from other places,” Barbour said. 

The shop also offers soy and dairyfree 

options. 

As for Kiefer and Barbour’s favorites, 

that’s hard to pin down. 

“Caramel Chaos, but I love the Exhausted 

Parent, too, but I really like the 

cookie dough, too,” Kiefer said. 

“I’ve only got like six favorites. I 

can’t decide,” Barbour added. 

Other flavors include Munchie Madness, 

a mix of cake batter ice cream, Oreos, 

Joanne Kiefer, co-owner 

“We decided we’re going to serve ice cream 

out of the teacups and then we came up with 

the ‘Uncommon’ because we wanted to be 

different, plus every teacup is different.” 

- Kim Barbour 

Co-Owner of Uncommon Cups & Cones 


M&Ms, peanut butter cups and a salted 

caramel ripple, and Zanzibar Chocolate, 

which is made up of three kinds of cocoa. 

Not only is the ice cream delicious, 

but the pink-and-yellow-flowered teacup 

in which it is served make it all the more 

enjoyable. 

One specialty the shop serves in the 

colder months is a hot chocolate float, 

which the owners came up with this past 

season. 

“Probably the most interesting thing 

I’ve found in the last eight months is the 

comments of people who come in who especially 

remember Emery’s,” Kiefer said. 

Emery’s was an ice cream shop and 

staple of the New Albany community 

from 1930 to the mid-1990s. 

“They feel like that this somehow 

captures a little bit of that for them, of just 

that old-fashioned ice cream experience 

that Emery’s held for them,” Kiefer said. 

The charm is continued upstairs in 

what’s called “the Upper Room.” It’s used 

for overflow seating, but it’s also a free 

space for parties and meetings, holding 

about 25 people. 

“We have ladies that play bunco, 

Bible study groups — it’s kind of a like a 

good little getaway,” Barbour said. 

Kiefer said Floyd Central High 

School has also held their calculus test 

preparation sessions there. 

The part of the shop that inspires a 

lot of comments is the ceiling. 

“I did not want to do drywall, so we 

could do metal, but that’s kind of hard to 

deal with and it’s pricey and I think it feels 

cold. So I don’t know what popped in my 

head about these sheets,” Barbour said. 

Originally, she had wanted to hang 

quilts, but Kiefer and Barbour worked together 

to create a “ceiling quilt” out of the 

bed sheets she had. 

“Joanne was very patient. She cut 

them all out and sewed them together and 

then we stapled them in strips on the ceiling,” 

Barbour said. 

“It is so fun to hear people come in 

and go ‘I had those sheets when I was 

little’ or ‘my grandmother has those 

sheets,’” Kiefer said. 

Kiefer said the shop’s familiarity and 

coziness are what make it welcoming and 

warm. “It’s a place where you feel like you 

can sit down and be comfortable without 

feeling hurried or anything.” 

Though it has only been open less 

than a year, the shop is already a member 

of One Southern Indiana and Develop 

New Albany. Both organizations have 

also had meetings in the Upper Room. 

“Stefanie Griffth from Strandz and 

Threadz Salon has really helped us to feel 

very welcome on the Vincennes street corridor 

here in uptown New Albany,” Kiefer 

said. 

One goal for this year is to become a 

part of the New Albany Farmers Market, 

held every Saturday. The shop also caters 

events. 

Kiefer’s favorite part of the job is 

seeing families come in together. 

“The little kids might be wiggly, 

but all of a sudden you put an ice cream 

cone in their hands and they’re like, ‘I’m 

focused; I’m just gonna lick this thing and 

not move,’” Kiefer said. 

The support of the small business 

community is also something both Barbour 

and Kiefer have felt — not only from 

community members, but also from other 

small-business owners. 

“People have been really great and 

everyone’s happy when they’re eating ice 

cream,” Barbour said. 

The shop is open 1 to 9 p.m. daily 

and it lives up to its motto — it’s an uncommon 

ice cream experience uniquely 

served. • 

Uncommon Cups and Cones is located at 518 

Vincennes Street in New Albany. For hours 

and more information, check out their facebook 

page at www.facebook.com/UncommonCupsandCones. 

Pictured: (this page) the Uncommon Cups and Cones storefront (left hand page, from top, clockwise) The shop offers a variety of eclectic comfortable seating; Joseph Muhlbaier, visiting 

with his family, picks out his favorite flavor; the ceiling is lined with a patchwork “quilt” made of old sheets. 


A quilt on the ceiling, 

mismatched chairs and 

tables, and a collection of 

teacups are just a few of the 

pieces that make this place 

cozy and inviting. 


“It’s a place where you feel like you can sit down and be 

comfortable without feeling hurried or anything. 

- Joanne Kiefer 

Co-Owner of Uncommon Cups & Cones 

Pictured: Kate Muhlbaier with her sons, Joseph (left), Gabe (middle), and John (right) enjoying an ice cream treat. 


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Parks of Southern Indiana 

A Hidden Gem 

Sycamore Springs Park provides the perfect gathering place for families 

When Clayton Roberson put 

$100 down on property in 

western Crawford County 

in the early 1930s, he likely 

didn’t visualize what the land would look 

like in 2019. 

“That was during the Great Depression,” 

said Nidrah Roberson Dial, Roberson’s 

daughter. “The agreement was to 

pay an additional $100 a year for the next 

12 years.” Roberson and his wife, Beatrice, 

were living in Indianapolis at the time, 

where he was a railroad worker. Roberson 

met the agreement, and 13 years after the 

first payment was made, he and Beatrice 

moved their family to the Tunnel Hill 

Road property — which is now Sycamore 

Springs Park in English. 

Story by Sara Combs 

Photos by Ruth King 

“That was 1945,” Dial recalled. “I 

was 5 years old when we moved.” 

In 1996, the family started clearing 

land around the home, Dial said. 

“At first we just thought we would 

make it a gathering place for the family,” 

she said. 

However, they saw a need for a family-oriented 

park in Crawford County. So, 

they formed the Clayton Roberson Family 

Foundation and went to work. 

Dial and her husband, James Dial, 

donated 135 acres to the foundation, and 

this land was used to create Sycamore 

Springs Park, named for its trees and 

springs. The park opened in 1997 and 

since has been expanded by 115 acres. 

Sycamore Springs offers fishing, hiking, 

swimming, picnicking, a basketball 

court and softball field free of charge. It is 

open 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 1 to Nov. 1. 

Overnight camping — both RV and primitive 

— is available for a small fee. 

Campers are asked to recognize that 

they are guests and act accordingly. “We 

want campers who are happy to have a 

quiet environment,” park offcials posted 

on the facility’s Facebook page. The park 

is locked during the hours it is closed; 

only campers are given the code to enter 

and leave. 

Alcohol is not permitted, and guests 

are asked not to bring any kind of guns, 

including those that shoot BBs. 

Golf carts are permitted, but drivers 

must be licensed. ATVs are not allowed. 



The park includes 10 shelter houses, 

two large restroom/shower buildings, 

ample picnic tables, three fishing ponds, 

35 primitive camping sites (some with 

electricity), 34 RV sites and numerous 

well-equipped playgrounds. 

“I think they have more playground 

equipment than any park in the state,” 

said Susan Reed. She and her husband, 

Bill, are regulars at the Sycamore Springs 

campground. “The community is really 

blessed to have a clean, well-kept facility 

like this,” she said. 

A board of directors provides oversight 

and direction to the foundation that 

operates the park. There is a Town Hall 

building for adults to hold meetings, play 

cards or gather to visit. There are also 

three playhouses with toys and games for 

children, including a replica of a one-room 

schoolhouse. Family reunions keep the 

shelter houses busy, Dial said; an average 

weekend will bring over 1,000 visitors to 

the park. 

One of the main attractions is a chapel 

for weddings and special church services. 

The church has stained glass windows 

from English Presbyterian Church, 

which was destroyed by a flood in 1979. 

“It took two years to get these reconstructed,” 

Dial said. The bell from the 

English church is also displayed. Beams 

came from the offcers’ club at Fort Knox, 

and the pews are from Fairview General 

Baptist Church in Taswell. Some windows 

came from a church in Paoli and the large 

window in the front is from a cathedral 

in New York. Steps leading to the church 

were repurposed from a motel the Dials 

owned and remodeled in Michigan. 

“They make a good setting for wedding 

party photos,” Dial said. 

“We could have done (the project) 

faster if we had used new,” she said, but 

they wanted to preserve these bits of history. 

Special events at the park include 

a car show in September and Halloween 

festivities the second week in October. The 

highlight of the Halloween celebration is a 

visit to the Haunted Hut, which was built 

and operated by the Hedinger family, of 

near Birdseye. 

Susan Reed, who entertains as 

the park’s Halloween witch, said she 

loves that event. “Kids and parents walk 

around together and trick-or-treat just like 

in the old days,” she said. “Parents and 

even grandparents dress up sometimes 

and kids come in elaborate costumes, or 

maybe with a little paint on their faces. 

Everybody just has a good time.” Refreshments 

are served and there is a contest for 

best costume and best decorated campsite. 

About 800 people showed up for last 

year’s event.

The park is mostly staffed by the 

Roberson family. Dial is assisted in the office 

by her sister, Mercedese Wheatley, a 

retired nurse. The staff also includes their 

brother, Dale Roberson, and Dial’s husband, 

James, an Ohio native. “I am fortunate 

he loves Crawford County as I do,” 

Dial said. 

Mike Riddle is the grounds and facilities 

manager and oversees employees, 

and Ruth King is the park photographer 

who assists in many aspects. “They are 

both wonderful,” Dial said. “I cannot say 

enough about how much we appreciate 

them. And we certainly value the support 

of the community. What if we had done all 

this work and nobody had come?” 

And what would Roberson think if 

he could see what has become of his longago 

investment? 

“Well, he was a people person,” 

Dial said. “I think he would have a grand 

time walking around the park and campground 

talking to all the people.” • 

For information, to make camping reservations, 

rent the chapel or reserve a shelter 

house, visit sycamorespringspark.com or call 

812-338-3846. 

One of the main attractions is a chapel for 

weddings and special church services. The 

church has stained glass windows from the 

English Presbyterian Church, which was 

destroyed by the 1979 flood. 


TOP TEN: Southern Indiana Parks 

1 

Sycamore Springs Park 

This free public park is bordered by Blue 

River in English, Indiana. Facilities include 

11 shelter houses, three walking 

trails, playgrounds, and a full range of 

campground facilities. Kids can enjoy 

“The Village”, an interactive play area 

with a school house, playhouse, and 

town hall. 

2 

Spring Mill State Park 

Located just south of Bloomington, Indiana, 

Spring Mill State Park covers 1,358 

acres. Unique features include a pioneer 

village with interpreters demonstrating 

crafts and skills from the early 1800s, the 

Gus Grissom Memorial with the Gemini 

3 space capsule, access to multiple caves 

including a boat tour of the Twin Caves, 

a nature center, and campgrounds. 

3 

O’Bannon Woods State Park 

Nestled along the Ohio River, this park is 

surrounded by the 26,000 acre Harrison- 

Crawford State Forest. This park is full 

of family-friendly destinations including 

the Family Aquatic Center, Wyandotte 

Cave, a working hay press barn and a 

pioneer homestead. A variety of educational 

programs are offered. 

4 

Ferdinand Forestry 

Ferdinand Forestry is a favorite for fishing 

and hunting. Outdoors enthusiasts 

will find over 8 miles of mountain bike 

trails, as well as 8 miles of hiking trails. 

Primitive campsites are available. Rowboat 

and Canoe rental is available from 

mid-May through October. 

5 

Hayswood Nature Reserve 

This family friendly destination near 

Corydon includes three playgrounds, 

a small lake with a handicap accessible 

fishing pier, hiking trails, a horseshoe 

pit, and a variety of picnic areas. The 

Indiana Creek Trail connects Hayswood 

Nature Reserve to downtown Corydon, 

along a two-mile, paved trail. 

6 

Buffalo Trace Park 

Swimming, boating, and canoeing are 

favorite lakeside activities at Buffalo 

Trace Park. The park includes a petting 

zoo, hiking trails, a disc golf course, tennis 

courts, and a sand volleyball court. 

Camping and cabin / RV rentals are 

available. 

7 

Falls of the Ohio State Park 

The Falls of the Ohio State Park is located 

on the banks of the Ohio in Clarksville, 

Indiana. Visitors can get an up close look 

at exposed fossil beds along the Ohio 

River, and dive into the history behind 

these fossils and the beautiful falls area 

at the Interpretive Center. A variety of 

educational programs are offered for all 

ages throughout the year. 

8 

Lincoln State Park 

The Lincoln State Park offers 10 miles 

of hiking trails, two lakes, and an interpretive 

center. Tours are available of the 

home of Colonel Jones, a merchant and 

Civil War offcer who employed young 

Abraham Lincoln. In the park, you will 

find the Lincoln Amphitheater, one of 

the largest, fully-covered amphitheaters 

in the United States. The nearby Lincoln 

Boyhood National Memorial Park 

includes recreated 1820s homestead and 

a memorial building honoring our 16th 

president. 

9 

Patoka Lake 

Patoka Lake includes 26,000 acres of land 

and water. The lake includes a campground 

with over 500 sites, a large beach 

with a designated swimming area, an archery 

range, boat ramps, a cross-country 

skiing course, a disc golf course, and hiking 

and biking trails. Houseboats, floating 

cabins, pontoon boats and more are 

available for rent from the Marina. 

10 

Charlestown State Park 

This beautiful park offers over 11 miles 

of hiking trails rated between moderate 

and rugged in diffculty. Trail #7 offers 

an up close look at Rose Island, an abandoned 

theme park that closed after the 

flood of 1937. Remains of stone pillars, 

metal archways, a stone fountain, and a 

swimming pool can still be seen. 


// Photos by Ruth King

H 

County 

One location with O’Bannon 

Woods State Park, county 

parks, canoes & kayaks, bike 

trails, caves, a zipline and more. 

thisisindiana.org 


812-936-3418 • vflwb.com • #MyFrenchLick 


Visit French Lick 

West Baden Upcoming Events 

Saturdays 

June - Oct. 

July 6 

Orleans Farmer’s Market 

Congress Square, Orleans 

Thunder Over Patoka - Patoka Lake 

Select Dates Wild West Holdups 

July - Sept. French Lick Scenic Railway 

July 20 

July 25-27 

Martina McBride - French Lick Resort 

Cirque Ma’Ceo - French Lick 

August 9-10 Paoli Music Fest - Paoli 

August 17 

Gary Allen - French Lick Resort 

Select Dates Fall Foliage Wine Cruise 

Sept. - Oct. Patoka Lake 

Sept. 14-15 

Sept. 20-22 

Sept. 21 

Vintage Baseball - West Baden Springs Hotel 

Block Bash - French Lick Town Green 

America - French Lick Resort 


LOCAL PLACES TO STAY: 

• Big Timber River Cabins 

• Blue River Valley Farm 

• White Oak Cabins at 

Patoka Lake 

• The Cove 

On Patoka Lake 

• Horseshoe Bend 

Cabin Rental 

• Marengo Family 

Cabins 

• Patoka 4 Seasons 

Resort 

• Patoka Lake Marina 

& Lodging 

• Patoka Lake Winery 

Suites 

• Scott’s Timberline 

Cabin 

• The Village 

• Wise Old Owl Cabin 

Call 812-739-2246 today! 

www.crawfordcountyindiana.com 

www.facebook.com/crawfordcountyindiana 


Enjoy the 

sunset on the 

river & 

the sounds & 

sensation of 

the river 

at night 

7 mile trip 

112 West Main St. - Milltown 


Your Community presented by 

Leadership Southern Indiana 

GRADS LEAD THE WAY 

Graduates of two Leadership Southern Indiana programs were feted this 

spring when alumni and sponsors gathered for a festive dinner. Among 

the 44 Discover grads and 10 Elevate grads were, counter-clockwise from 

left, Jeremy Stewart of Greater Clark County Schools, who was elected to 

speak on behalf of his Elevate class; Emily Carter-Essex of Dare to Care 

and a Discover graduate; and John Spencer of the City of Charlestown, 

who was elected to speak on behalf of the Discover class. Todd Frossard 

represented the sponsoring WesBanco. Lauren Taylor, administrative coordinator 

of Leadership Southern Indiana, helped plan the event, and 

Stephen Lukinovich represented the sponsoring MCM CPAs & Advisors. 

For information about Leadership SI, call 812-246-6574. 

Crossroads Agape 

HUNDREDS RALLY FOR SAFER COMMUNITY 

The Grand in downtown New Albany was packed this spring with people who answered the call to raise awareness and 

fight human traffcking right where we live and beyond. The first “Break Every Chain” gala was hosted by the newly 

formed Crossroads Agape in conjunction with the Southern Indiana Human Traffcking Coalition. Founder Stacey Miles 

Mecier introduced the evening that featured dozens of young women in an UNCHAINED Fashion Show with powerful 

commentary about the realities of human traffcking and its devastating effects. 

Above: Guests Phyllis Robinson; Dr. Irv Joshua and his wife, Mary 

Joshua; and Rosalie Rickman. 


These pages are sponsored by Idealogy 

Left: The Honorable J. Terrence 

Cody, honorary gala 

chair, and his wife, Peggy 

Cody; and guests Juanita 

Schmitt and Ladonne Patterson.

Lewis and Clark Historic Trail Extension 

CLARKSVILLE TAKES NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT 

Hundreds of local, regional, and national guests gathered at the Falls of the 

Ohio Interpretive Center this spring to celebrate the extension of the Lewis 

and Clark National Historic Trail. Against a backdrop of the statue symbolizing 

the handshake that began the exploration and near a replica of the keel 

boat brought from St. Charles, Missouri, the crowd was regaled with fascinating 

history and human interest angles that culminated in the special day. 

Dignitaries like Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Senator Todd Young, and 

Congressman Trey Hollingsworth were among speakers who hailed the diligent 

work of several leaders who spent 20 years working for the 1,200-mile 

expansion that put Clarksville on the map. The trail now spans more than 

4,900 miles from Pittsburgh to Oregon. 

Above: Sixth District Congressman Greg Pence of Columbus; Bud Clark of Michigan, 

great-great-great grandson of explorer William Clark; Phyllis Yeager, Indiana Lewis and 

Clark Expedition Commission board member and Eastern Legacy Committee of the Lewis 

and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation; Paul Fetter, Clarksville Town Council President; Jim 

Keith, chairman of the Indiana Lewis and Clark Expedition Commission; and Ninth District 

Congressman Trey Hollingsworth. 

National Day of Prayer 

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER” 

Nearly 200 people gathered at the sponsoring Salvation Army of Southern Indiana in New Albany to join thousands of communities 

in the country praying at noon on the first Thursday of May. It was the 68th year for the commemoration nationwide, and several 

local participants spoke or prayed for various segments of the community. 

Left: Capt. Catherine Fitzgerald, 

Joe Brown, Sheriff Frank Loop, 

Chris O’Neal, Mayor Jeff Gahan, 

the Rev. Kent Fowler, and Meri- 

Beth Wolf. Not pictured is Phil 

Ellis. 

Middle: Capt. Jonathan Fitzgerald, 

David White, Dr. Dan 

Eichenberger, Bill Hanson, 

Miguel Hampton, Sandy Carter, 

Mark Seabrook, Janie Whaley, 

and, in front, Ryan Brown. 

6500 State Road 64 • Georgetown, IN 47122 

www.ideology.biz • 812-399-1400 

Families and friends, among dozens of uniformed military veterans and 

patriotic flags, assembled in May to honor nine graduates of Veterans 

Court. Since 2011, Veterans Court has provided an alternative to incarceration 

and chance at accountability, treatment, stable housing, higher 

education, and employment for veterans facing a criminal charge after 

military service. An impressive 85% of graduates do not re-offend, and 

veterans restore relationships with family. With Supervising Judge Maria 

Granger, who founded the program, are grads Traci Walker, Kirk 

Richards, and Kenneth Meyer. 

These pages are sponsored by Idealogy 

Veterans Court 

CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES! 


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Respite stays are an option for those who need 

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accommodate that, too. 

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New ADVENTURES! 

Escape Rooms At Indiana Caverns! 

Indiana Caverns is exploding with all 

new adventures! Two new escape rooms 

challenge your puzzle solving and 

observation skills. Grab your friends and try 

to beat the clock to solve the mysteries and 

escape the room! 

Bat Chaser! 

Fly like a bat... this new attraction combines the 

thrill of zip lining with the twists and turns of a 

roller coaster. It’s the second zip 

coaster of it’s kind in the US and the 

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IndianaCaverns.com

The term “show cave” might not 

be a familiar phrase to many, 

but Gary Roberson knows it 

quite well. For more than 40 

years, Roberson has been involved 

in the exploration and eventually the 

development of commercial caves, known 

these days as show caves. Roberson is the 

lead developer, part owner and CEO of 

Indiana Caverns in Corydon. He began 

developing show caves in Indiana back 

in the early 1970s, including Squire Boone 

Caverns and Marengo Cave, but his 

underground adventures began when he 

was just a boy. 

“When I was 11 and in Boy Scouts, 

my very first camping trip was in October 

of 1958 and we went to a place called 

Cave River Valley,” he said. “I crawled 

into a cave with a bunch of Scouts, with 

our flashlights, and I just became smitten 

with caves.” On the first day he was able 

to drive, he and his friends returned to 

that same spot to go exploring. “This has 

been a driving force in my life for many, 

many years,” Roberson said. 

The first place Roberson was given 

an opportunity to work with show caves 

was Squire Boone Caverns. The site had 

been purchased by a man named Fred 

Conway who needed people to assist in 

developing the attraction. As Roberson 

explained, it wasn’t an easy task to transform 

the cave into a tourist destination. 

“Squire Boone was developed entirely 

from scratch. We had to drill a 55- 

foot shaft for the exit and drill a tunnel for 

the entrance, put in a 57-foot bridge and 

steel walkways,” he said. Roberson said 

that developing a cave is like building an 

Egyptian pyramid underground. “You 

can’t call in a big construction company to 

come in to do this,” he said. “If you did, it 

would cost a billion dollars. You just kind 

of slug it out. We carried in thousands of 

bags of supplies, but we could do it then 

because we were young.” The development 

of the show cave began in 1971, and 

it opened in 1973. 

After spending time at Squire 

Boone, Roberson’s adventures took him 

to Marengo Cave, which he purchased 

with three other investors. “Marengo has 

been open since 1883, but it was a small, 

run-down operation,” he said. “It was a 

good cave, but very poorly run on a small 

scale. We built it up. Marengo is probably 

one of the biggest natural attractions in 

the state of Indiana.” He spent 28 years at 

Marengo until he and his wife, Laura, sold 

their portion in 2001 and ventured on to 

Indiana Caverns. 

Roberson was quite familiar with 

Indiana Caverns, part of the Binkley Cave 

system, as he’d explored the area when he 

was in his 20s. He and his partners began 

Adventures in Southern Indiana 

Story by Sara Combs 

Photos provided by Cave Country Canoes 

Explore and Escape 

Indiana Caverns offers tours, 

an aerial coaster, escape rooms, and more 

Story by Julie Engelhardt 

Photos provided by Indiana Caverns 


There’s something for everyone! 

Discover the Past, Enjoy the Present 

Spend the day hiking, fishing, kayaking 

and more at Delaney Creek Park and 

Lake Salinda. 

Get in on the racing action at the 

Salem Speedway and Thunder Valley 

Raceway! 

Journey back in time with a visit to 

Beck’s Mill and The John Hay Center. 

Enjoy a night’s stay at Cobblestone Inn 

& Suites, Knight’s Inn or at one of our 

Bed & Breakfasts like The Gladden House, 

or The Destination! 


Contact us at: 

www.washingtoncountytourism.com 

or call 812-883-4303 to plan your trip!

discussing the development of the cave 

system into a show cave in 2012, and on 

May 29 of that year the development began. 

On June 15, 2013, the cave opened 

to the public. Roberson even wrote a 400- 

page book about his explorations and 

work on the Binkley Cave system, titled 

“Fifty Years Under the Sinkhole Plain.” 

One of the first attractions to open 

at the caverns was the cave tour, where 

visitors take a 1½-hour expedition that 

includes walking and a 25-minute boat 

ride. There’s also a mining sluice where 

people may purchase bags of gemstones 

and mine an ore. In addition, the owners 

built the Cavern of the Sabertooth, a cave 

simulator. “You crawl through a pipe for 

almost 400 feet underground, wearing a 

helmet. It gives kids an idea of what it’s 

like to go cave exploring without getting 

in the mud and water,” Roberson said. 

“There’s only one way to go so you can’t 

get lost.” There are also nature trails and 

an interpretive trail where people can take 

in the beauty surrounding the cave area. 

In 2015, the owners purchased adjoining 

property and opened the Deep Darkness 

Tour, which involves climbing down a 93- 

foot ladder with belay, continuing on another 

descent down a slope to a subterranean 

river, and then kayaking on the river 

through the cave. 

Although the cavern has had visitors 

from all 50 states and 29 foreign countries, 

Roberson is constantly researching 

ways to entice more visitors. One way 

to do that is by bringing in new attractions. 

The newest thrill is the Bat Chaser, 

an aerial roller coaster that combines ziplining 

and free-falling in a family-friendly 

atmosphere. The suspended, single-rail 

zip coaster zooms past treetops and over 

There are two escape 

rooms on the property. 

One requires the team 

to save miners who are 

trapped underground. 

Once the puzzles, 

valves and math 

problems are solved, 

you are able to “rescue” 

the miners. If you fail, 

the miners run out of air 

and eventually “expire.” 

Pictured: (this page) Indiana Caverns offers two escape rooms. The first, a 30-minute long game named “1000 Feet Down” 

requires you to solve a series of puzzles, math problems, and valves to rescue trapped miners. The second, “The Lost 

Temple”, is a slightly longer challenge at 60-minutes, requiring you to solve a series of puzzles to escape from a temple 

you’ve just discovered. 


the sinkhole plain of Indiana’s cave country. 

The Bat Chaser is the second ride of its 

kind to be built in the United States and 

the first in the Midwest. It’s manufactured 

by a company called Walltopia, which is 

based in Sofia, Bulgaria. “They’re excellent 

at what they do. It’s definitely a topquality 

product, so we ended up going 

with them,” Roberson said. 

Riders begin their journey by 

first climbing a 50-foot tower. One they 

reach the apex, they’re equipped with a 

full body harness and helmet and then 

strapped into a trolley device that hangs 

under a track. The ride is powered by 

gravity, with riders descending from the 

tower through a 360-degree loop down 

three separate drops, eventually reaching 

speeds of over 20 miles per hour on over 

605 feet of track. 

Besides the Bat Chaser, Roberson 

has opened two escape rooms on the 

property. One, named 1,000 Feet Down, 

is a 30-minute game that requires a team 

to save miners who are trapped underground. 

Once the puzzles, valves and 

math problems are solved, the team will 

“rescue” the miners. If the team fails, the 

miners run out of air and eventually “expire.” 

The hour long game is called The 

Lost Temple. “You’ve found this temple in 

the desert. Once you get in there it closes, 

and if you don’t figure out a way to get 

out then you won’t be able to escape for 

500 years,” Roberson explained. 

Roberson said that by incorporating 

the escape rooms by the caves, they’re 

offering something rather different from 

other places around the country. “The 

30-minute game is for people who are 

local, like the ones you find in Louisville. 

But, if people are here for the cave 

tour, Bat Chaser and other activities, the 

30-minute game can be part of their overall 

experience,” he said. “We don’t know 

of any other escape rooms that aren’t in a 

big city. There are approximately 3,000 in 

the United States, but none of them in a 

setting like we have. We’re hoping people 

will come out from Louisville or New Albany 

and play our games at night.” 

Unlike other seasonal attractions 

in the Midwest, Indiana Caverns is open 

year-round. “In our case, because we’re 

underground, it’s 56 degrees in the cave 

all year. So it’s just a good a time in January 

as it is in June or July; maybe even better,” 

Roberson said. • 

For more information about Indiana Caverns 

and its attractions, go to indianacaverns.com. 

Pictured: (top) This 40-foot waterfall is visible on the 

walking tour of Indiana Caverns. During the 90-minute 

tour, you will descend 110 feet below ground, and enjoy a 

25 minute boat ride. 


Reader Submitted Photo 

The Green family of Pekin, IN 

attended the National Christmas Tree 

Lighting Ceremony in Washington 

DC. Pictured are Mark, Ruth Ann 

Green and their sons, Conner and 

Caleb Green with Southern Indiana 

Living magazine. 

An Uncommon 

Ice Cream Experience 

Uniquely Served 

Hours: 

Mon. - Thur. – 1:00 to 8:00 

Fri. & Sat. – 1:00 to 9:00 

Closed Sunday 

518 Vincennes Street 

New Albany, IN 47150 

812-948-2957 

Upper Room available for parties and meetings

Amazing views only rivaled by the great 

food and friendly atmosphere! 

The Overlook is positioned uniquely 

on a bluff in Leavenworth, Indiana the 

Overlook Restaurant offers a 20 mile 

panoramic vista of the Ohio River. As you 

enjoy your meal, watch barges churning 

up and down the river or the sun setting 

behind the wooded hills of Indiana. 

Summer Hours: 

11:00 AM - 8:00 PM 

Sunday - Thursday 

_________________ 

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM 

Friday and Saturday 

Walters Pub features different types 

of beer including draft and craft beer 

selections. Walter’s serves mixed drinks 

as well as a food menu consisting of 

appetizers and pizza. Customers can sit 

out on the deck and enjoy a spectacular 

view of the Ohio River. 

Come In For A Pizza! 

Now Open: 

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

812-739-4264 

812-739-4264 | www.theoverlook | 


Making a Difference 

Above: Stacey Mecier in front of The Grand in New Albany before the fashion show sponsored by Crossroads Agape. 

From Tragedy to Hope 

Crossroads Agape hosts inaugural fashion gala to assist abuse survivors 

An intrusion of sexual abuse 

into the otherwise peaceful existence 

of a New Albany family 

brought outrage, resentment 

and frustration to the parents of an injured 

daughter. It was that frustration — “an utter 

sense of helplessness” — that ignited a 

passion within Stacey Mecier to seek avenues 

of healing: first for their daughter, 

then for herself, her family and, ultimately, 

for other victims of sexual abuse and 

human traffcking in Southern Indiana. 

This year, Mecier founded the nonprofit 

organization Crossroads Agapé, 

described on its website as “a safe community 

offering a path towards holistic 

healing and restoration for survivors of 


sexual abuse and exploitation, addiction 

and poverty; providing education and 

training, life skills, work experience and 

healing central engagement,” after learning 

of the tragic events that befell Cheyenne, 

the youngest of her two daughters. 

Cheyenne was just 6 years old in 

2006 when the first unwanted sexual contact 

occurred. The second attack was two 

years later. Both were conducted in public 

places, and the male abusers were unknown 

to Cheyenne. 

“We knew something was bothering 

her,” Mecier said of Cheyenne who, along 

with her older sister, was excelling in her 

budding modeling career but displaying 

social “hiccups” in increasing regularity 

Story by Tom McDonald 

Photos provided by Crossroads Agape 

in other settings. The possibility of sexual 

abuse as the culprit was “not even on our 

radar. We were hyper-diligent parents. We 

kept close tabs on both our daughters.” 

In April 2016, the then-16-year-old 

Cheyenne had an emotional episode, and 

she finally told her mother the cause of 

her anxiety. 

“She thought she was going to die,” 

Mecier said, “and I did, too. Dying of grief 

is a real thing. I know, because I almost 

did, too.” 

Mecier’s first reaction was rage. It 

was not, however, aimed at the abusers. 

Rather, it was the “gnawing” understanding 

that for 10 years, “Cheyenne had to 

navigate the trauma of abuse on her own.

It was devastating for her.” 

In the process of searching for healing 

avenues for Cheyenne and the family, 

Mecier learned how to “keep my sanity 

and survive. I had to channel what I was 

feeling into something positive and productive 

or I would have lost my mind. I 

needed to do something to pay forward 

the grace we had been given to survive.” 

That became the impetus for Crossroads 

Agapé. 

Without the hope of something positive 

to overcome the gloom within Cheyenne 

and the anger within herself, Mecier 

feared the abuse would extend and compound 

the tragedy, resulting in an inability 

for Cheyenne or herself to live normal 

lives. 

During their search for healing, 

Mecier and Cheyenne reached out to 

available services, including counseling 

and faith-based venues. Cheyenne was 

especially grateful for the assistance of 

pastor Tim Johnson of Pfrimmer’s Chapel 

United Methodist Church in Corydon. In 

addition to counseling services, “Pastor 

Tim” heads Camp Freedom in Lincoln 

State Park in Santa Claus, a program that 

Cheyenne enjoyed throughout her youth. 

Mecier’s healing process was somewhat 

dampened, however, because she 

wanted more than personal peace; she 

wanted to help others in her situation 

overcome their tragedies. She had many 

ideas of what she wanted to accomplish 

but could not find a focal point to get started. 

Then she learned of Stephanie Catani, 

co-founder of the UNCHAINED Fashion 

Shows. A faint glimmer of light began to 

dawn. Her healing process had begun, 

too. 

An Unrelenting Problem 

Every 92 seconds, an American is 

sexually abused, according to RAINN (the 

Rape, 

Abuse & Incest National Network). 

Ninety percent of victims are female. 

RAINN reports that one out of every 

six American women has been a victim 

of an attempted or completed rape in 

her lifetime. About 3 percent of American 

men, or 1 in every 33, have experienced an 

attempted rape in their lifetime. 

From 2009 to 2013, Child Protective 

Services agencies found strong evidence 

that 63,000 children a year were victims 

of sexual assault and rape. A majority of 

child victims are 12 to 17 years of age, with 

34 percent under the age of 12. 

Overcoming Tragedy 

The desire to help others who have 

experienced sexual abuse and human 

Stacey’s healing process was somewhat 

dampened, however, because she wanted more 

than personal peace; she wanted to help others 

in her situation overcome their tragedies. 

traffcking in Southern Indiana became a 

driving force of Mecier’s recovery. While 

“white-knuckling” her way through 

the many websites of organizations 

and groups offering assistance, Mecier 

dreamed of a facility that combined many 

of the services she found to be helpful. 

Thistle Farms, based in Nashville, 

Tennessee, is the model Mecier most 

wants to emulate. Becca Stevens, an Episcopal 

priest, opened Thistle Farms in 1997. 

The facility provides residential housing, 

therapy, free medical help for up to two 

years, and employment so survivors can 

earn a sustainable income. Mecier hopes 

to bring a facility like that to Southern Indiana 

within five to 10 years. 

“That’s my dream,” Mecier said. 

“That’s what I envision and what I’ve 

set my mind to. I see a farm setting that I 

know will become reality someday.” 

Still, Mecier needed a flashpoint to 

get started. It was when she learned about 

UNCHAINED Fashion Shows that it all 

began to coalesce. 

UNCHAINED Fashion Shows, 

based in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a program 

that uses a fashion runway setting 

to tell the story of sexual abuse from innocence 

to tragedy and recovery. The format 

was ideal for Mecier and Cheyenne 

because of Cheyenne’s familiarity with 

the industry through her modeling career. 

Mecier reached out to Catani and 

brought the show to New Albany under 

the title of the Break Every Chain Gala. 

The Crossroads Agapé inaugural event, 

in partnership with the Southern Indiana 

Human Traffcking Coalition, was held 

April 13 at The Grand theater in New Albany. 

“It was a ‘grand’ success,” Mecier 

said of the Crossroads Agapé kickoff. 

Even though it had the stiff competition 

of Thunder Over Louisville, which draws 

more than a million visitors annually, the 

Break Every Chain Gala had more than 

400 people in attendance and raised about 

$30,000. 

“It was a great show and helped us 

get our feet on the ground,” Mecier said. 

“We’re on our way.” • 

Information about upcoming events and gatherings 

will be announced on local radio stations 

and billboards, as well as on their website, 

www.crossroadsagape.org. 

Pictured: (top) Stephanie Catani, left, founder of 

UNCHAINED Fashion Team, model Corinne Lerma from 

Cincinnati center, and Elizabeth Nesselroade Morgan, a 

member of the UNCHAINED team, discuss alterations to 

be made for the model to wear the dress in the show that 

evening. 


Your 

Hospital! 

www.hchin.org 

hchin.org 



#ShopLocal 

A Step in the right Direction 

Local shop helps customers find the perfect shoe for all foot-related issues 

Story by Jon Watkins 

Photos provided by Pacers & Racers 

The classic idiom “Walk a mile in 

someone else’s shoes” serves as 

daily encouragement to continue 

the journey in empathy as human 

beings. For those involved at Pacers & 

Racers (P&R), there is not only an adherence 

to this philosophy, but also a concentrated 

effort to make every journey, both 


physically and mentally, the most comfortable 

one that anyone can take. 

Opened in 1998 by Mike and Judy 

Stallings, the New Albany shoe store came 

to fruition when Mike desired not only a 

change in scenery from his long corporate 

career but in the manner in which an industry 

could be managed. The graduate of 

the Indiana University School of Business 

and runner of 36 years said, “We could 

just do things — not only the right way 

— but for the right reasons, and that was 

really intriguing.” Judy “was onboard immediately,” 

he said. 

Mike’s first business cycle consisted 

of exhilaration and trepidation, yet the

continuing notion of improvement overrode 

any nervousness and led him to become 

a bastion of knowledge and expertise. 

For example, in discussing issues 

with pronation of the foot, he said, “Pronating 

can lead to planar fasciitis and IT 

band syndrome, shin splints and things 

like that. You can tell if somebody is doing 

that by watching them, but you can also 

look at the bottom of their shoes.” 

This knowledge inspired Mike to 

adopt a commitment to implementing a 

multifaceted approach at P&R to helping 

customers, including measuring their feet, 

observing their walking and running patterns, 

asking what activities they will be 

engaging in while wearing the shoes, and 

even examining the bottom of their current 

shoes. 

Yet, the attributes of the staff and 

current owners Derek Ingersoll, Sam Wiley, 

Michael Whitehead and Mike and 

Judy’s children Ashley Selfridge and Brett 

Stallings far exceed even those knowledge 

skillsets. 

Mike, who retired as an owner at 

the end of May 2018 and now works as an 

employee, said, “They share some traits, 

and that’s not a coincidence; it’s not an accident. 

They’re intuitive; they’re likeable; 

they’re active listeners; they look you in 

the eye when you’re talking to them, and 

they really care about you, and they have 

a sense of humor.” Mike also said that 

when customers “leave here, not only are 

they wearing the right shoe, but they enjoyed 

the whole process.” 

Ingersoll, co-owner and customer 

service manager, said that with customers, 

“You may have a conversation out 

there where shoes is just a footnote to everything 

else.” 

Ingersoll also assures those hesitant 

to venture into the store that while P&R 

does see numerous runners throughout 

Southern Indiana, they also delight and 

excel in accommodating everyone from 

casual walkers to those with occupations 

that keep them on their feet throughout 

the day. 

But the wonderful engagements 

between Pacers & Racers and the community 

of Southern Indiana is not limited 

to in-store interactions. The company 

also strives to give back through several 

means. 

Selfridge, co-owner and community 

outreach manager, said the company assists 

with charity events and outreach programs 

such as the Barnyard Dash, with 

proceeds going to the Crusade for Children 

for the past several years, and Small 

Business Saturday, a nationwide event 

encouraging shoppers to visit local stores 

on the Saturday between Black Friday and 

Cyber Monday. Last year, P&R gave a portion 

of their Small Business Saturday proceeds 

to Personal Counseling Services in 

Southern Indiana. 

The company also assists with races 

in the area by providing everything from 

advisement to race cones and timekeepers. 

“There’s lots of different reasons why 

people put on races, but the supplies can 

be so expensive,” Selfridge said. 

P&R sees a variety of customers with 

shoe-related issues on a daily basis. Intelligently 

and kindly, the staff and owners 

continue to provide care and understanding 

before worrying about a sale. At P&R, 

no matter which foot comes forward, the 

customer always comes first. • 

Pacers & Racers is located at 3602 Northgate 

Ct in New Albany, Indiana. The store hours 

are: Monday - Friday: 10-7, Saturday 10-5, 

and Sunday 1-5. For more information on 

Pacers & Racers, visit pacersandracers.com. 

Pictured: (left hand page) Jen Allessandro, an employee of 

Racers & Pacers for over 12 years, helps a customer; (this 

page, top) Mike and Judy Stallings ( founders) with their 

daughter Ashley Selfridge in the middle. Ashley is one of 

the new owners; (this page, bottom) Michael Whitehead, 

one of the new owners, walks up a ladder in search of the 

perfect shoes. 

This knowledge inspired Mike to 

adopt a commitment to implementing 

a multifaceted approach at P&R to 

helping customers, including measuring 

their feet, observing their walking and 

running patterns, asking what activities 

they will be engaging in while wearing 

the shoes, and even examining the 

bottom of their current shoes. 


SPRING PICNIC 

All ages gathered at Personal Counseling Service on May 11th for the first annual Spring Picnic. Guests 

enjoyed games, face painting, a bounce house, inflatable slide, cotton candy and the chance to pie a PCS staff 

member! The event drew PCS staff, board members, volunteers, clients and many other community members. 


Celebrating a Milestone 

Personal Counseling Service 

Celebrating 60 years of helping others in Southern Indiana 

Story by John Watkins 

Photos provided by Personal Counseling Services 

Nearly everyone at some point 

in their lives will need an ear to 

listen, a shoulder to cry on and 

possibly an expert to help guide 

them in a journey of healing. Personal 

Counseling Services has been providing 

assistance to people in Southern Indiana 

for 60 years and is now celebrating its 

past, present and future. 

Founded in 1959 by Bea Vaxter, Berniece 

Nicholson and Mary Vawter, Personal 

Counseling Services (PCS) sought 

to fill a void in the mental health-care options 

available within Southern Indiana. 

“There were a lot of hurting people. 

There were addictions, even back then — 

marital problems, abuse — things that 

pastors couldn’t deal with,” said Doug 

Drake, who has been the president and 

CEO of PCS since 2005. Drake said that all 

three women felt that something needed 

to be done to help the community, so they 

created the nondenominational and nonprofit 

facility. 

In 1961, PCS joined the Clark County 

Community Chest (which later became 

Metro United Way), and in 1982, PCS became 

accredited by the Samaritan Institute 

and American Association of Pastoral 

Counselors. That “really gives us a whole 

network of information and support,” 

Drake said. 

Skylar Hermann, PCS’s director of 

marketing and development, joined the 

team at PCS just over a year ago. 

“I know mental health had a way 

worse stigma in the ’80s, but it still does 

in a way,” she said. By reaching out to the 

community and marketing for fundraisers 

and other outreach programs, Hermann 

hopes that when it comes to mental 

health-care needs in the community, PCS 

can help to “normalize” them while providing 

such services as family counseling, 

pastoral counseling and even pet therapy. 

PCS is also the first Southern Indiana 

clinic to offer music therapy. The music 

therapy building, purchased with funds 

from the Bales Foundation and Ogle 

Foundation, was renovated with materials 

given by Bobby Libs, the CEO of AML 

Inc. The building now features multicolored 

rooms for therapy and an open-space 

area with books and instruments. These 

instruments, acquired through donations, 

include guitars, a piano and even an ocean 

drum, which sounds like waves in the sea. 

Elayne Strecker, PCS’s director of 

music therapy, said she “became a boardcertified 

therapist in June of 2016. In September, 

I was hired on here with a full caseload. 

They were just ready.” Strecker said 

that PCS and the music therapy program 

has undergone tremendous growth. “We 

have 100 individuals that we see weekly.” 

In order to accommodate some of these 

clients, the program currently extends its 

services across 11 counties in Southern Indiana. 

“We travel all over,” Strecker said. 

“We see people all the way up to Seymour 

and all the way out to Madison.” 

Strecker added that “Music therapy 

uses music as a tool to work on goals that 

aren’t inherently musical. So, we’re working 

on academic goals; we’re working on 

communication or motor goals or even 

emotional and coping skills, and we’re using 

music as a tool to do that. It’s very specific 

for each client and what their needs 

are and what their goals are.” 

Drake is looking toward the future 

of PCS, and he hopes to create a continual 

board of “ambassadors” that forms “a 

smaller group of people that are active in 

the community” so they can “be ambassadors 

for mental health in general, ambassadors 

for PCS and our mission and what 

we do, but also to be able to specifically 

connect us to other organizations or people 

that may help us.” The current list of 

ambassadors includes Judge Dan Moore, 

In order to accommodate some of these clients, 

the program currently extends its services across 11 

counties in Southern Indiana. 

Stephanie Redd and Marcy Grube. Drake 

wants to bring two more individuals on 

board soon. 

Drake also would like to create a 

wellness campus for people who have 

limited or no insurance or transportation. 

The campus would provide various 

physical and mental health-care services 

within a short distance. 

PCS is empowering the people of 

Southern Indiana by addressing their 

mental health-care needs and breaking 

the barriers and stigmas for those seeking 

treatment. In the future, PCS aims to 

change the way in which mental health 

care can be provided by health-care professionals. 

PCS will continue to uphold 

their mission “to offer assistance to all persons 

desiring to achieve wellness of body, 

mind and spirit.” • 

For more information regarding Personal 

Counseling Services, visit pcs-counseling.org. 


HELP US~Help Ann’s Angels of Hope 

improve the lives of local students. 

TK Wholesale (7460 Highway 135 NE, New Salisbury) in 

conjunction with Ann’s Angels of Hope is having a donation drive 

Saturday, July 27 • 10AM-6PM 

Stop by for FREE hot dogs, water, cookies and chips! 

TK Wholesale will have drawings for prizes for those who donate 

to Ann’s Angels of Hope. 

Ann’s Angels of Hope, founded by Annissa Reas, of Kellum Imprints, 

Ramsey, works with local school counselors to improve the lives of 

students through this non-profit agency that collects and distributes 

new and gently used clothing, shoes and hygiene products to the 

families of referred children kindergarten through grade 12. The agency 

currently serves 20 schools in 3 counties. 

Needed Donations~ 

• Basic Needs: Household, Laundry Detergent, 

Body Wash, Deodorant, Toiletries 

• Shoes - Tennis 

• Drawstring Athletic Shorts/Pants 

• Underwear 

• New or gently used clothing 

(Baby to adults sizes) 

• School supplies 

Ann’s Angels of Hope 

Kellum Imprints, 1675 Highway 64 NW, 

Ramsey Phone 812-347-2546 


Generosity X 3! 

For Every 

Dollar You Give, 

Your Community Gets $3! 

Right now, every dollar you give to a Builder’s 

Fund at the Harrison County Community 

Foundation will be matched by $2 from Lilly 

Endowment Inc. So your $100 gift equals 

$300. A $2,500 gift turns into $7,500. A 

$10,000 gift becomes $30,000. 

Why is this important to you? 

Builder’s Funds provide money that is not 

restricted to a particular use but rather 

allows the foundation to direct it to the most 

pressing community needs. Funds are used 

to address needs that exist now, but equally 

important, Builder’s Funds provide the means 

to meet the needs of the future. 

Your gift to a new or existing 

Builder’s Fund will leverage outside 

money into Harrison County. Once 

here, that money can be put to work 

for our community. 

If you’ve ever wished you could honor a 

loved one or denote a special occasion, now 

you can by creating a new Named Builder’s 

Fund. The minimum to establish a new 

Builder’s Fund is $2,500. 

From now until the end of 2020 you can 

“seed” that permanent endowment and then 

grow it to the minimum level. When you do, 

Lilly Endowment Inc.’s matching program 

will turn that $2,500 into $7,500! 

Triple Your 

Impact Today! 

• Donate online at hccfindiana.org. 

• Mail your gift (payable to HCCF) to 

P.O. Box 279, Corydon, IN 47112 

• Call 812-738-6668 for more 

information. 


Everyday Adventures 

The Lost Art of Picnicking 

The world would be a better place 

if people had more picnics. We 

spend too much time eating in 

our cars and not enough time eating 

on blankets. Car eating isolates you. 

Picnic blankets bring people together. To 

pull off a picnic you actually have to get 

everyone on the same piece of fabric. In a 

car you can just stare out the window. 

The brilliant thing about picnics is 

they can happen anywhere at any time. 

You don’t even need a table, just a bit of 

bare ground to spread your blanket, and, 

of course, some food. 

During the summer months my 

family always keeps a picnic blanket in 

the car because you just never know. The 

last thing you want is to stumble onto a 

perfectly good spot for a picnic and not 

have a blanket. At that point you’re just 

eating on grass which is one step removed 

from the grazing habits of cows. 

Of course, picnics bring their fair 

share of challenges. I’ve had dogs crash 

my picnic, ants invade my blanket and 

rain dampen the meal, but that’s all part 

of the adventure. When you eat inside, 

you know exactly what’s going to happen. 

When you go on a picnic, all bets are off. 

The Bible is full of stories about picnics, 

and they usually happen in the midst 

of diffcult circumstances. When the Israelites 

were starving in the desert, God invited 

them to a picnic of manna and quail. 

When the prophet Elijah was running for 

his life, God sent an angel to prepare him a 

picnic of fresh bread and water. When the 

disciples had thousands of people to feed, 

Jesus catered a picnic of fish sandwiches. 

God provided for his people when 

they were desperate, hungry and tired, 

and he still does the same thing today. 

The Bible doesn’t mention red and white 

gingham blankets, but they were picnics 

just the same, a moment to rest, be 

strengthened and connect with the one 

who invited them to the meal. We all need 

more of that in our lives. 

My favorite biblical picnic takes 

place in the 23rd Psalm. It’s the shepherd 

David’s poem about God’s tender care 

and provision. “The Lord is my shepherd,” 

David wrote, “I lack nothing. He 

makes me lie down in green pastures, he 

leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes 

my soul” (Psalm 23:1-2 NIV). 

Sounds peaceful doesn’t it? Like a 

perfect summer day. Yet it’s easy to forget 

David’s picnic didn’t take place at a 

park but on a battlefield. The valley of 


Of course, picnics bring their fair share of 

challenges. I’ve had dogs crash my picnic, ants 

invade my blanket and rain dampen the meal, but 

that’s all part of the adventure. 

the shadow of death. What does God do 

in such a dark and gloomy place? David 

said, “You prepare a table before me in the 

presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5). 

When the armies attacked, God 

spread out a blanket and invited David 

to join him for lunch. I don’t know about 

you, but that’s good news for my soul. 

Some days our lives feel more like a 

war zone than a walk in the park. We may 

be under attack at work, in our families, 

in our friendships and just in the hard circumstances 

of life. Sometimes the battle 

is even more personal as we wrestle with 

anxious thoughts and fears that come 

from within. We may feel like we’re living 

in the valley of the shadow of death. 

But remember what God does on 

the battlefield? He pulls out his picnic 

basket and provides for our needs. He 

restores us, renews us and invites us to 

join him in a place of refuge and peace. 

That’s why this summer I recommend 

keeping a picnic blanket in your 

car. Not only will you be prepared for impromptu 

dining opportunities in the great 

outdoors, but it will remind you that God 

is available any time, anywhere as your 

safe retreat. • 

Jason Byerly is a writer, pastor, husband and 

dad who loves the quirky surprises God sends 

his way every day. You can catch up with Jason 

on his blog at www.jasonbyerly.com or on 

Twitter at www.twitter.com/jasondbyerly. 

Image credit: Rawpixel.com / shutterstock.com

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SIL - July/Aug 2019

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