SIL - May/June 2019

Behind the Times Bakery | Summer Fun in SoIN | Local Pottery
Southern
IndIana
Our
50th
Issue!
May/ June 2019
Living
Thrifting
with a mission

Helping you shine as long
and bright as you can
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May/June 2019 • 2

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Missi Bush-Sawtelle, owner
www.AlongBlueRiver.com

May/June 2019 • 4

17
Featured Stories
12 | GIVING FROM GRACE
Local thrift shop gives back to the community
22 | LOOKING BACK
A celebration of our 50th issue
30 | LIVING A DREAM
Charlestown High School student pursues acting career
Southern Indiana Living
MAY / JUNE 2019
Special Section: Summer Fun
33 | WATER FUN ON THE BLUE RIVER
Cave Country Canoes plans first ever paddle fest
36 | FRENCH LICK WINE & SPIRITS
Family-owned business offers gifts, cafe, and more
In Every Issue
33
7 | FLASHBACK PHOTO
Pleasureland, Santa Claus, IN, 1955
8 | A NOTE TO BABY BOOMERS
May I rest in peace, but not just yet
10 | A WALK IN THE GARDEN WITH BOB HILL
In Praise of Peonies
17 | OUR TOWN
Tell City, Indiana
26 | COMMUNITY PAGES
Spotlight on the Floyd Memorial Foundation, the IUS
Chancellor Medallion Dinner, and more!
18
45 | REAL LIFE NUTRITION
Burger Breakdown
46 | EVERYDAY ADVENTURES
Blockbuster Faith
May/June 2019 • 5

Fun. With a Twist.
The World’s #1 Wing Coaster, the World’s 2 Longest Water
Coasters and the #1 Wooden Coaster in the Nation are one
thing. But free soft drinks, free parking and free sunscreen?
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May/June 2019 • 6

Southern
IndIana
Living
MAY / JUNE 2019
VOL. 12, ISSUE 3
PUBLISHER |
Karen Hanger
karen@silivingmag.com
LAYOUT & DESIGN |
Christy Byerly
christy@silivingmag.com
COPY EDITOR |
Jennifer Cash
Flashback
Pleasureland
Santa Claus, Indiana
1955
COPY EDITOR |
Sara Combs
ADVERTISING |
Take advantage of prime
advertising space.
Call us at 812-989-8871 or
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Contact SIL
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ON THE COVER: An
annual farm to table event
in Tell City, Indiana //
Photo provided by the Perry
County Visitors Bureau
Check out more
features and stories
on our EPUB Exclusive!
www.silivingmag.com
Photo courtesy of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
Southern Indiana Living is
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Pleasureland Ride Park in Santa Claus Land opened in 1955.
May/June 2019 • 7

A Note to Baby Boomers
May I Rest in Peace, But Not Just Yet
May/June 2019 • 8
Friends are dying. So are Little
League teammates and familiar
faces from study hall.
My generation begins to
make itself at home in the obits. Not all of
our moms and dads have stopped being
moms and dads, of course. Many have,
though.
More than many, I hate to say.
Now, we decide what grandkids
should call us. It’s our turn to milk senior
discounts and to break in new knees.
We gnaw on traditions like my dog
Toby gnaws on rawhide bones. If anyone
still visits cemeteries, it is us. We know
what the inside of a bank looks like. And
we actually enjoy meandering aisles at the
grocery.
Though I never imagined my wife at
a sweater rack at Kroger.
We seem to be no one’s prime demographic
except for people that sell chairlifts
to the heavens — or at least to the second
floor. Smart seniors flee to homes that
only go sideways, not up and down.
The rest of us are a broken hip away
from bathing in the kitchen sink.
They make tech toys that can tell us
the president of Paraguay or five can’tmiss
chili recipes. Sneakers lace themselves
up. Not all cars need drivers. Some
of us are in line to rocket into space.
Time machines, though? Can’t buy
one yet at Best Buy.
Which leaves my crowd increasingly
shrinking. The typical age of death
for guys is not around the corner for me,
at age 65. Neither, though, is it way over
yonder. I better get busy, right after my afternoon
nap.
I have been warned the hard way.
My parents died before their time. A happy
sort, an overachiever, Dad especially
got robbed. I have lived longer without a
father than with one. I counted on always
remembering his voice, his smell, his shoe
size, why he liked beet soup and paid bills
the same day he got them.
But I forget.
Dad, my hero, is not around to answer
questions I should have asked. Mom
told me more. She all but begged me to
realize that her past was my start. If only
I had paid attention to her like I did to my
baseball cards. My mother, my own personal
Google, passed away two decades
ago.
There is absolutely no one left who
knows what she knew.
Here I am, then, a proud Hall of
Fame storyteller, unable to tell enough of
my own story. Unable even to know it.
Shame on me.
Today’s obits, tomorrow’s too, will
be full not just of contemporaries. They
too had more to say and much to teach.
Let’s hope their sons and daughters made
much more of opportunities like I wasted.
It cannot be too soon. It sure can be
too late.
When our parents die, are we orphans?
It makes sense. Parents, mine anyway,
were better bosses than any of my
other bosses. I did not always please Mom
and Dad, for sure. I always wished I had,
though.
My parents expected a lot but, looking
back, not too much. They never left
my side. They truly spent their very last
breaths on me. I was myself a parent, nowhere
near ready to stop being a son.
My first Father’s Day as a father was
my last having a father. Made the day less
sad, I suppose.
Cheated of being with Dad, I can
settle for being like him. That is, I park
seemingly nine miles from the store. The
best days are when the San Francisco Giants
win. A glass of water cannot be too
cold. There isn’t much that beats a long
back scratch.
The Mom side of me mostly reflects
my comfort with words. She was an English
major who could conjugate a verb as
effortlessly as she filled out orders for the
milkman.
Mom also is who grew up in the family’s
Civil War-era farmhouse that she and
Dad ultimately trusted to me. It is drafty
and leaky and altogether impractical.
Still, it is my favorite place on
Smart seniors flee to homes that only go sideways,
not up and down. The rest of us are a broken hip
away from bathing in the kitchen sink.
Earth. There, thank God, I indeed can feel
less like an orphan.
My two children are busy being
grown-ups. I do not fault them for focusing
on the million matters at hand. They
take care of business. They wear themselves
out with responsibilities. They, too,
love dogs. They make me so proud.
They will get around to hearing
more of Mom and Dad’s stories — our
wisdom, using that term loosely — or they
won’t. In the blink of an eye it will be their
pals, their classmates, being mourned.
May my children reach that stage full of
joy and empty of regrets.
In the meantime, the best son I
can be is to be the best father I can be. •
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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May/June 2019 • 9

A Walk in the Garden with Bob Hill
A detailed look at the Indiana state flower
May/June 2019 • 10

Contrary to public perception, the
Indiana State Flower is not the
basketball, nor the hayseed. Its
name will be revealed shortly,
but not until you take a jump shot at the
following quiz:
The Indiana State Flower is:
A – The sunflower
B – The John Deere Marigold
C – The cornflower
D – Mike Pence
E – None of the above.
Yes, you guessed it: E. The actual
Hoosier State Flower is the peony, which,
somehow, pardon the stereotypes, just
doesn’t see to fit with our down-home,
midwestern “Crossroads of America”
state motto or even our state insect, the
firefly.
Nor, more importantly, is it even an
Indiana native, which is often a starting
point for state flowers. But they are plentiful.
According to The American Peony
Society’s Registry of Peony Cultivars, peonies
now number 6,736 cultivars.
They are originally natives of Asia
and Western Europe, which adds even
more mystery and intrigue to the pure selfserving
politics behind it being named our
state flower, but more on that later.
Peonies are at least 4,000 years old,
come in 33 species and many are raised in
greenhouses in Alaska, land of the midnight
sun.
They basically come in three types —
herbaceous, in which the stems die back
every year; tree peonies with stiff, woody
stems that can grow 4 to 7 feet tall; and
“Itoh,” or intersectional, which combine
the traits of the first two but will bloom a
lot longer and don’t require staking.
Other peony facts with which you
can bore your friends include peonies being
the floral symbol of China, they’re vital
to any happy marriage, they come in
every color except blue and they can live
for 100 years. Indeed, I remember touring
a garden in Europe where an ancient tree
peony towered over my head.
My personal peony observation —
and we have dozens around the property
— is that after waiting about 11 months
for full, dynamic, colorful, fragrant peony
blooms, the week they show up will also
bring severe thunderstorms, blowing
those exquisite flowers to kingdom come.
Yet they are so worth it. They’re just
fun to watch come up from the ground,
their stalks pushing upward in a thick
clump. Their flowers can be so elegant, a
frothy, billowy almost royal crown. The really
regal ones might require a green wire
basket around those stalks to keep the
flowers upright until the thunderstorms
So how did we get the peony as the state flower?
History shows that it is actually our fourth chosen
representative. The English carnation was named in
1913, the native tulip poplar tree flower in 1923, the
Mexican Zinnia in 1931 and then, in 1957, the peony.
blow in.
The dark cloud in that silver lining,
of course, is ants. For much of their 4,000
years of history, a semi-myth has persisted
that peonies need ants to bloom, with the
tiny creatures eating the sticky, sugary
stuff that coats the peony bud scales, enabling
them to burst forth in previously
mentioned glory.
That is not true. Peonies can and will
bloom on their own. Ants, in fact, take advantage
of the plants by munching away
a lot of that nectar that forms on the buds.
But ants also can dine on other insects that
might damage the peony, which is their
way of paying rent for their elevated location.
If you want to take peony blooms inside
— and why else grow them? — just
harvest the stems and buds just before
they bloom and the ants show up.
So how did we get the peony as the
state flower? History shows that it is actually
our fourth chosen representative. The
English carnation was named in 1913, the
native tulip poplar tree flower in 1923, the
Mexican Zinnia in 1931 and then, in 1957,
the peony.
According to an article in The Indianapolis
Star, a bill in the Senate called
for the tulip tree blossom to be reinstated
to replace the zinnia. Zinnia lovers went
nuts about that, but politics ruled. Then,
at the last minute, the state flower was
changed to the dogwood blossom.
But by the time the bill got to the
Indiana House, Rep. Laurence Baker of
Kendallville persuaded the House Public
Policy Committee to amend it to read
“peony.”
Dogwood blossom. Peony. Both are
pretty much spelled the same.
So, guess who was a commercial
peony grower with greenhouses in Kendallville,
Bloomington and Corydon? Yup.
One Rep. Laurence Baker. It was all made
offcial when Gov. Harold Handley — and
who remembers him? — signed the peony
bill into law.
How do you spell “collusion”?
Other attempts to reverse the wrong
have failed. According to the Indianapolis
Star article, in 1995 the Indiana Academy
of Science joined with the Indiana Native
Plant and Wildflower Society to select a
new state flower that grew a little closer
to home.
A group of 55 experts joined with
27,000 fourth-graders to pick fire pink, a
native with tiny clusters of red star-like
flowers. Several legislative attempts were
made to have it become our flower, but all
failed. The peony it is; our finest predictor
of violent thunderstorms. •
Image credit: Valentina Goryunova/shutterstock.com (left)
and Serhii Brovko/shutterstock.com (top)
About the Author
Bob Hill owns Hidden Hill
Nursery and can be
reached at farmerbob@
hiddenhillnursery.com.
For more information,
including nursery hours
and event information, go
to www.hiddenhillnursery.
com
May/June 2019 • 11

Local Spotlight
Giving from Grace
Local thrift shop gives back to the community
Story by Jon Watkins
Photos by Michelle Hockman
May/June 2019 • 12

Pictured: Mary Beezy, store manager Marilyn Carmack, Tee Kinchius, and Jon Peace
“We’ve had a lot of stories come in about a lot of
people, in this neighborhood especially,” Carmack
said, adding, “They are so thankful that we are here
because they can afford the stuff that they are able
to purchase here because it’s very reasonably priced.”
- Marilyn Carmack
Manager of Grace Station Thrift Shoppe
The spring season means that
the annual task of cleaning our
dwellings, rustling the dust
bunnies and organizing our
possessions will be upon us. The clothes,
accessories, books, games and furniture
we decide to part with often still have
value and use left, so the next step
involves finding out what to do with these
items. One of the best options for ensuring
that the items will be put to good use is to
donate them to people in need. For Grace
Station Thrift Shoppe, helping those in
need is the driving force behind a jubilant
and committed group of people whose
goal is to give back to the community.
Grace Station Thrift Shoppe, off
Grant Line Road in New Albany, first
started when Jon Pearce, the congregational
care pastor at Graceland Baptist
Church, sought to use his experience from
a previous position to continue pursuing
philanthropic endeavors. Having prior
involvement with starting a thrift store
for First Baptist Church in Crothersville,
Pearce aimed to construct another thrift
shop to establish an autonomous charitable
institute that could continue generating
funding for Graceland’s food pantry
and mercy ministries. Pearce said that
when churches are going through a financial
crunch, the first set of cuts are often
dealt to measures such as outreach programs.
“I was put over all the mercy ministries,
like benevolence, food pantry, outreach,
things like that, and I thought I’d
like to have a source of income for some of
those ministries that would not diminish
as things changed,” he said.
Pearce approached Graceland’s
leaders with the idea to create the thrift
shop in 2014. “It was almost like a Christian
‘Shark Tank,’” Pearce said, laughing.
“They kept saying, ‘You need to write out
a business plan.’” Assisted by Dan Williamson,
one of Graceland’s elders, Pearce
eventually came up with a business plan.
The next step involved finding a suitable
location. Thankfully, Williamson found
one — an “abandoned old smoke station,”
according to Pearce. Finally, a name was
needed. Pearce said, “The name that I felt
the Lord had given me was ‘Grace Station
Thrift Shoppe.’”
Pearce, along with other volunteers
from Graceland, then worked diligently
to renovate the building. When everything
was finished, the operation needed
just one more thing: a hard-working and
compassionate staff. And Grace Station’s
team of volunteers not only embodies
those attributes, they exceed them.
Smiles and warm greetings are exchanged
between the volunteers and
anyone who drops by to browse, donate
or simply say hello. In the back, volunteers
sort the various items they procure
through donations. So many items are
taken in that Mondays and Tuesdays are
reserved specifically to manage them and
to restock the store. Grace Station’s volunteers
also try to only allow items of quality
to make it past the sorting process. The
volunteers will “go through, and if there’s
a stain on something or a rip, they’ll get
rid of it,” Pearce said. “I rarely see anything
that’s not quality on the racks.”
In addition, the prices of the items
are fair. For example, an entire highquality
drum set was offered for only $50
and books in the book corner can sometimes
be marked as low as 50 cents. The
low prices mean that items rarely stick
around. “As soon as it comes in, it goes
out, usually,” said Marilyn Carmack, the
store’s manager. “We sell towels as fast as
they come in. We sell sheets as fast as they
come in. We get some nice Coach purses.
As soon as they come in, they’re gone.”
Courtney Clarke, Grace Station’s
assistant manager, said that gloves and
scarves are also usually in high demand,
depending on the weather. And while certain
products might not always be available,
the staff is never out of kindness to
share.
“We’ve had a lot of stories come in
about a lot of people, in this neighborhood
especially,” Carmack said, adding, “They
are so thankful that we are here because
they can afford the stuff that they are able
to purchase here because it’s very reasonably
priced.”
Even in cases where someone may
not be able to afford the items, the staff
does not let this become an obstacle.
“We’ve had a lady come in two to three
weeks ago. She was buying stuff for a
homeless lady who had just come out of
the homeless shelter, and I said, ‘No, you
don’t have to. We will give it to you.’ That
lady was so happy,” Carmack said.
Bob Schulz, a retired special education
teacher, adds that clothes, towels
and sheets are not the only items that lift
someone’s spirits. “You can tell on their
faces, especially the people who buy the
furniture,” he said. His wife, Anita Schulz,
also a retired teacher in marketing and
sales management, commented on an interaction
she engaged in with a woman
who came in to buy children’s clothing
May/June 2019 • 13

for a friend who was raising her grandchild.
“After those kinds of experiences,
you think, even on a busy day when you
don’t really want to be standing on that
concrete, you realize why you do it.”
The store’s success has allowed for
an expansion of opportunity to give back
to the community. “Recently, we gave
a $10,000 check to Hope of Southern Indiana
and then also a $25,000 check to
Choices for Life Resource Center,” Pearce
said. The store has also given to programs
like Residents Encounter Christ and Louisville
Rescue Mission’s branch in Southern
Indiana. “At church, we work with
Goodwill. We give out vouchers all the
time — Goodwill vouchers — to people
who are in need,” Pearce said. These
vouchers, for people to use to buy items
at Goodwill stores, are given in exchange
for Grace Station bringing items they cannot
use at their store to Goodwill. “It’s for
anybody that needs them. All they got to
do is go up to the church, and they will
give them to them,” Carmack said, who
also stated that around two years ago, the
total value of the vouchers handed out
roughly amounted to $17,000.
Despite already having an impressive
list of accomplishments, Grace Station
is just getting started and is currently
looking to expand. For those looking to
either purchase or donate items, the generosity,
quality and compassion of Grace
Station Thrift Shoppe is simply stunning.
Their continued mission is being carried
out with a determination and kindness
that befits the very definition of their
namesake: grace. •
For more information on Grace Station Thrift
Shoppe, including items they take and how to
donate, visit: gracestationthriftshoppe.org.
Helping those in need is the driving force behind a
jubilant and committed group of people whose goal is to
give back to the community.
May/June 2019 • 14

Good things
come in
threes.
Shop our trio
of stores.
Spend your
day shopping
downtown Salem
Square while
visiting other
places of interest!
CHRISTIE’S
Enjoy Lunch with us Monday - Sunday. We also cater and have cooking classes.
SISTERS
Find your style and that perfect outfit. Also, shoes and accessories. Shop Monday - Saturday.
BRICK STREET SAMPLER
Home furnishings, decor and gifts. Serving Salem Since 1984. Shop Monday - Saturday.
Christie’s
34 Public Square • 812-883-9757
Sisters
35 Public Square • 812-883-1776
Brick Street Sampler
36 Public Square • 812-883-1473
May/June 2019 • 15

May/June 2019 • 16

Our Town:
Tell City, Indiana
Our Town
Story by Sara Combs
Photos provided by Perry County Visitors Bureau
Story by Sara Combs
Photos submitted by Perry County Visitor’s Bureau
T
ell City is unique in several ways.
To begin with, it is thought to be
the only city with that name in the
United States. Also, while most
towns began almost by accident, starting
as small settlements and growing gradually
in a haphazard way as people moved
in, Tell City did not. The now-thriving
city of about 7,600 residents was planned.
And, it was almost located in Missouri.
It began with the Swiss Colonization
Society, organized in 1856 in Cincinnati
by a group of German and Swiss people.
The organization was negotiating for land
in Missouri for its proposed town when
members learned of available ground in
Southern Indiana along the Ohio River.
Tracts of land totaling 4,152 acres
were purchased the following year. A surveyor
was named, and the town was laid
out in 392 town blocks. By the end of the
next year, there were more than 1,500 people,
300 houses and a post offce. Initially,
the town was named Helvetia, but it was
soon renamed Tell City to honor the legendary
Swiss hero and liberator William
Tell. A statue of Tell and his son sits upon
The Tell City Pretzel
Factory was established
in 1858 and is now owned
by Brad and Sandy Smith.
The company is famous for
its hand-twisted pretzels
that are sold nationally.
a fountain outside the city hall.
With its rich history, scenic location
and enterprising people, the city is flourishing.
It has always been a good place to
live, said Larry Kleeman, a fifth-generation
resident. It is conveniently located to
Evansville and Louisville, so residents can
take advantage of bigger city amenities,
said Kleeman, the retired executive director/CEO
of Lincoln Hills Development
Corporation. “Yet, it maintains its smalltown
atmosphere.” The proximity to the
Hoosier National Forest is also a big advantage,
he said.
Kleeman has seen changes. The
woodworking plants the city was once
known for are no longer there, he said.
However, the town’s reputation for fine
furniture is being preserved by Chris Cail,
who owns William Tell Antiques and specializes
in buying and selling William Tell
furniture, he added.
Another change, he said, is that computers
have allowed people to work from
home.
Long-time businesses include the
Tell City Pretzel Factory, which was established
in 1858 and is now owned by Brad
and Sandy Smith. The company is famous
May/June 2019 • 17

for its hand-twisted pretzels that are sold
nationally.
The Tell City Farmers Market brings
people from throughout Southern Indiana
during gardening season, and is held at
the Tell City Depot. The Depot, which was
built to pay homage to the former train depot
that was destroyed by fire, also houses
the Perry County Convention Center and
Visitors Bureau and a gift shop.
Major employers include Waupaca
Foundry, Walmart Supercenter, Perry
For Morgan Cail, owner-operator of
the Behind the Times Bakery in Tell
City, her bakery is about providing
a hub for people to gather, get
a good cup of coffee and some delicious
food. It is what she began dreaming about
when she and her family moved back to
their hometown after her husband, Kyle,
completed his military service.
She seems to have achieved that.
Although the facility just opened its Main
Street shop in October, it has already become
a Tell City staple.
“I don’t know what we would do
without it,” said Wendi Rich, executive
director of the Tell City Chamber of Commerce.
“It is a real asset. And the food
can’t be beat.”
Morgan’s dream included recapturing
some of the warmth associated with
the 1950s, as well as the history of the
building, which housed a bakery from the
1870s until the 1960s. After that, it housed
an interior design studio for 40 years or
so, she said.
“I want it to feel like you have
stepped back in time when you walk in
the door,” she said.
The Cails were not afraid to put in
the elbow grease needed to bring back
that earlier era. “My husband restored the
floors,” Morgan said. That turned out to
be quite a task. “There were 100 years of
linoleum, many layers.” Also, the original
tin ceilings were restored.
Adding to the ambiance, some display
cabinets are over a century old, and
the barstools are from the 1930s. Wall
hangings include a recipe handwritten by
the owner of the former bakery. There is
a shadow box containing Morgan’s greatgrandmother’s
apron and picture, and
family and historic photos and newspaper
clippings are displayed under glass
on the countertop and tables.
Morgan said she has always enjoyed
baking. She also serves lunch, with a new
menu daily. A Saturday brunch is especially
popular, she said. “And everything
May/June 2019 • 18
County Memorial Hospital and the Tell
City school system, which includes William
Tell Elementary and Tell City Jr.-Sr.
High School.
Kleeman is pleased with the direction
his hometown is taking. “There are a
lot of people working to improve the quality
of life here by adding walking trails,
scheduling events and providing gathering
places. New businesses are coming
into the Main Street area, including
Behind the Times Bakery, a Dear Polly’s
Business Spotlight: Behind the Times Bakery
we serve is made from recipes I came up
with and practiced over the years.” she
said.
She baked frequently while Kyle
was in the Army and she was home with
her two young sons, Layne and Rhett,
now 7 and 5, respectively. (She also has
a stepdaughter, Haley, 12.) Wherever she
lived, Morgan created recipes and made
goodies for friends and neighbors. It
wasn’t long until they asked her to bake
for them, and she had a ready-made clientele.
However, as it is with most military
families, they moved a lot, so opening a
brick-and-mortar store was not feasible.
Then, two years ago, they returned to
their hometown, making the bakery possible.
“I have had a lot of support to
make that a reality,” she said.“I have a really
good team. The community has been
amazing and I have a lot of support from
family.” Citing an example, she points to
an antique coffeepot display. “My mom
[Joyce Stath] got those for me at auctions
dress shop, and a fitness club.”
Those are part of Tell City’s ongoing
revitalization effort, said Erin Emerson,
vice president of the Perry County Development
Corporation. “Tell City has been
going through this effort for the last five
years. There is a whole new vibrancy with
the new businesses and younger people.”
Events that attract people to the city
include a half marathon and 5K, as well
as many other runs, walks, festivals and
celebrations, she said.
as a birthday present.”
Morgan said scones and giant cinnamon
rolls are her most popular items.
However, muffns, cupcakes and pecan
rolls aren’t far behind. “People seem to
like all my baked goods,” she said. Also
available are coffees, espressos, cappuccinos
and lattes.
“All my food is old-fashioned, made
from scratch,” she said. “It takes a lot of
time and work, but it is worth it.
“I love local history and I love my
family and its history,” Morgan said. “I
have found a way to bring it all together
with my love of food.” But, she admits
she has another goal — getting a visit
from the Food Network’s Guy Fieri and
having the bakery featured on “Diners,
Drive-Ins and Dives.” •
Behind the Times Bakery, at 411 Main St. in
Tell City, is open Tuesday through Saturday,
6 a.m. to 2 p.m. •
Photo credit: Ace Image

“It is important to create an environment
that welcomes new people,” Emerson
said. “That is what we are working to
do.”
Tell City is the Perry County seat
and PickPerry, a campaign to promote the
county’s assets, has been successful, she
said. The campaign highlights the county’s
natural beauty, its outdoor activities
and businesses with a goal of attracting
new residents and bringing in visitors.
Barbara Ewing, former Tell City
mayor, said PickPerry came about after
employers expressed the need for additional
people in the workforce. The first
Friday of the month has been designated
as PickPerry Day, and locals are encouraged
to wear T-shirts with the PickPerry
logo. Participating stores, restaurants and
services offer discounts and other specials
to customers who do so.
“The good thing about this campaign
is it is not about any one person,”
Ewing said. “It is a whole community
working together. Good things are happening.
We are excited to see what the future
holds.” •
https://www.facebook.com/pickperry-
Visit
county
“It is important to create an environment that welcomes new
people. That is what we are doing.
- Erin Emerson
May/June 2019 • 19

“There are a lot of people working to improve
the quality of life here,adding walking trails,
scheduling events, and providing gathering places.”
- Larry Kleeman
Pictured: A Farm to Table Meal was prepared and served by the Perry Central FFA and Tell
City High School Culinary Arts students. The event included live music, a chalk art contest,
local artisans, face painting, a balloon artist, and a petting zoo. The next farm to table meal is
scheduled for September 21, 2019. For more information, call 812-547-8377.
May/June 2019 • 20

Tucked away at the end of a narrow,
wooded backroad outside
Tell City, the pottery studio of
Indiana Artisan Nita Claise is
strikingly spacious and filled with natural
light. The largest of the two rooms is
outfitted with four pottery wheels, a slab
roller, a pug mill for mixing clay, a wedging
table and shelves for holding works in
progress, and there is still plenty of room
for Claise’s grandchildren to spread out
and play or create their own clay works of
art. The view from the generous windows
in this room includes a pond, woods and
open field. The adjoining smaller room
holds her four kilns.
Since creating a piece of ceramic
art involves many steps, Claise’s studio is
arranged into distinct work stations. “In
the beginning,” Claise said, “there is just
clay — cold, damp, and with a mind of its
own — requiring extensive kneading and
wedging. Used scraps of brittle clay can
also be recycled by running them through
the pug mill.”
Wheel-throwing is probably what
most people think of when they think of
making pottery, but imagination and inspiration
are needed for shaping fascinating
pieces.
Claise is inspired by nature. Her
hands can infuse life into a teapot, turning
this ceramic staple into a spirited work of
art. She also hand-builds some of her flatter
pieces, like platters.
The next step is drying, “which can
take weeks in Indiana’s humid climate,”
Claise said. “If the clay is not bone-dry, it
can explode in the kiln.”
The first firing of the clay is the
bisque firing, which converts the piece
into something that can be safely handled
during the decorating and glazing process.
To finish her pieces, Claise chooses
one of several techniques: raku, horsehair,
obvara, mishima or sgraffto.
Raku is a ceramic firing method developed
by the Japanese between the 15th
and 16th centuries.
ArTIST SPOTLIGHT: Nita Claise
Claise explained this exhilarating
process: “The pottery is glazed, fired and
removed from the kiln while the glaze
is still molten. Using tongs, the piece is
placed in a container filled with straw or
sawdust, which burst into flames on contact
with the hot clay. The heat causes the
glaze to change color. At the right moment,
when the colors are at their peak,
the piece is doused with cold water.” Seconds
can count for deciding when to stop
the process. The whole drama can finish
in 10 minutes.
Unlike many raku potters who buy
their glazes commercially, Claise has
spent more than eight years developing
her own glaze recipe to achieve the metallic
lusters — bright reds and blues — that
characterize her raku pieces.
The horsehair technique is similar to
raku, except the pottery is not glazed. The
decoration is created by placing pieces of
horsehair on the hot pottery, then torching
the hair. The burning hair produces
delicate smoky patterns and trails on the
work. Claise gets her horsehair from a violin
bow maker, bartering her pottery for it.
Obvara is a firing technique developed
in the Baltic region. It is sometimes
Story by Judy Cato
Photos by Lorraine Hughes
called “Baltic raku” because of its similarity
to raku. The difference is that when the
unglazed pottery comes out of the kiln, it
is dunked in a solution of flour, sugar and
yeast, then water. The result is that the pot
comes out with formations that look like
wood.
Claise often completes her obvara
pieces with handles made of reed, cane,
seagrass or driftwood found on the banks
of the Ohio River. These natural materials
complement the warm earth tones created
by the obvara method. As with raku, each
piece will have unexpected and unique effects.
Claise uses the techniques of mishima
and sgraffto to decorate her functional
dinnerware and tiles. Using the
mishima technique, she carves a design
into the pot before it dries, then covers the
entire piece with black slip (a mixture of
clay or other particles in water). The slip
is then scraped off, leaving a clear design
where the black liquid fills the crevices
made by her carving. Her sgraffto tiles
are made by first covering the entire tile
in black, then carving out a picture, often
of an animal.
Claise has won numerous awards
for her pottery — one of her studio walls
is covered in blue ribbons. Being designated
as an “Indiana Artisan” is also
quite an honor. But, at 62, she says she is
not so much focused on the end results of
her work or on competition, but on the
creative process itself. She listens to classical
music while she works and watches
the rustic scene unfold through her large
windows.
She continues to experiment for
the simple pleasure of trying new things.
“Pottery is my therapy,” she said, “from
the quiet parts when my hands are immersed
in soft clay to the raku firing when
there is always some breathtaking excitement
— even danger.” •
For more information on Nita Claise, go to nitaclaise.com
May/June 2019 • 21

Thank You
to our
ADVERTISERS
Southern Indiana Living Magazine, published by SIL Publishing Co., LLC
As we celebrate our 50th issue of Southern Indiana Living, we want to say “THANK YOU” to the
people who have believed in us and made these 50 issues possible . . . our ADVERTISERS!
Southern Indiana Living is free to our readers because of these amazing companies and people.
These businesses and organizations are the heart of our community, and we are so grateful they
have partnered with us as we share the best of our region, from fascinating people, great food, and
local shopping to recreation, ways to give back, and so much more.
When you advertise in Southern Indiana Living, you become a part of a close-knit family and we
work hard to promote your business. We are very proud of the long-term relationships we have
built with all the people and companies who keep the magazine free for our faithful readers.
Please support these companies and individuals who support us. Every advertiser is important.
We appreciate each one of you and hope to continue to have a great working relationship when
we celebrate another 50 issues.
Thank you to everyone who has ever placed an ad in Southern Indiana Living Magazine. Thanks for
being a part of helping us to keep growing and getting better, issue after issue.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
The SIL Team
Karen Hanger, Publisher
Christy Byerly, Creative Editor and Director
May/June 2019 • 22

Celebrating
Southern
IndIana
Living
Our 50th Issue
May/June 2019 • 23

Ripple Effect?
Try a Triple
Effect!
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.
May/June 2019 • 24

Your
Hospital!
www.hchin.org
hchin.org
May/June 2019 • 25

Your Community presented by
Floyd Memorial Foundation
CHAPEL CAMPAIGN OFF AND RUNNING
Off the main lobby, a new Christian chapel will be built and available
to the community at Baptist Health Floyd, 1850 State St. in New Albany,
thanks to support from donors. At the fund-raising kickoff this
spring were Dayna Ashley, vice chair of the Floyd Memorial Foundation
board of directors; Meredith Lambe, executive director of the
foundation; Tom Milllea, Jr., of Laughlin Millea Hillman and architect
of the new chapel; Dr. Dan Eichenberger, president of Baptist Health
Floyd; and Joe Glover, secretary of the foundation’s board of directors
and chair of the chapel capital campaign. To contribute, contact Meredith
Lambe at 812-949-5519.
New Albany-Floyd County Education Foundation
GALA SUPPORTS STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOLS
More than 550 people attended the New Albany-Floyd
County Education Foundation’s eighth annual “Education
Celebration!” gala, which raised $140,000 to benefit projects
for NA-FC Schools’ 11,300 students. These include the
Dolly Parton Imagination Library, scholarships, Blessings
in a Backpack, educational tours to Junior Achievement,
arts projects, Pigs 4 Kids, first-year teacher gifts, and much
more, according to Executive Director Tyler Bliss.
Several corporate sponsors helped provide an evening of
hors d’oeuvres, buffet dinner, live and silent auctions, photo
opportunities, and table centerpieces created by students.
Top, Left: Chris and Casey
Street, John Whitbeck, and Angie
and Dan Graf
Bottom, Left: Dr. Kris Pugh,
Elaine Murphy, Tom and Elizabeth
Hilbrich, and Larissa Jerke
May/June 2019 • 26
These pages are sponsored by Idealogy
Bottom, Right: Tina Herring
and Amber Chambers

Indiana University Southeast
CHANCELLOR’S MEDALLION HONORS STANDOUTS
Nearly 500 people brought a festive air to Horseshoe Southern Indiana on April 6 for the 24th annual Chancellor’s Medallion
Dinner, a gala hosted by IUS Chancellor Ray Wallace. The university’s largest fund-raising event of the year recognized
leaders for distinguished service to the community and university, lending talents to promoting human welfare
and community well-being, and serving as role models through integrity, leadership, and commitment. Honored with the
coveted Chancellor’s Medallion were Alice Miles, Wendy Dant Chesser, and Jerry Finn.
In addition, eight full-time students were awarded scholarships for academic achievement, leadership, extra-curricular
and civic activities, and perseverance at IUS and in the community. Recipients were seniors Brittany Harris, Miranda
Ochoa, Katherine Shircliff, and Alexandra Stepp, and juniors Adam Beasley, Cory Byers, Bradley Cross, and Amanda
Goodridge.
Through attendance, corporate support, and live auction proceeds, the Chancellor’s Medallion Dinner raised nearly
$145,000 for scholarships.
Left: IUS Chancellor Ray Wallace,
left, and honorees Jerry Finn, Wendy
Dant Chesser, and Alice Miles
(seated)
Right: Guests Catrina Tate, Vanessa
Medina, and Rita Thomas
(seated); and Blake Gilley, William
Medina, and Phil Thomas.
Impact 100
LEADING THE WAY TO $100,000+
Impact 100 is making a difference to thousands in the community. The non-profit is an
initiative of the Women’s Foundation of Southern Indiana, a fund of the Community
Foundation of Southern Indiana, and empowers women to dramatically improve lives
by collectively funding significant grants that make a lasting impact in the community.
6500 State Road 64 • Georgetown, IN 47122
www.ideology.biz • 812-399-1400
Grants of $50,000 and $100,000 were awarded in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and Impact
100 will soon call for applications from non-profits in Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties,
hoping to award a grant of at least $100,000 this fall.
Left: New offcers: Julie Blocher, treasurer;
Crystal Billingsley, vice president;
Lori Lewis, president; and Linda
Finney, secretary.
Right: New Advisory Board members
Leah Huber and Stacie Thompson
(seated); and Katie Peterson,
Kelsi Dempster, and Vicki Carmichael
(standing). Not pictured are Cindy
Kanning and Amy Romines.
These pages are sponsored by Idealogy
May/June 2019 • 27

Southern
IndIana
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Local Business Spotlight
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May/June 2019 • 29

People of SoIN
Above: Preston Sparkman as Arno, Dallas Edwards as Emperor Marcus III and Elizabeth Loos as Deena
Living a Dream
Dallas Edwards, Charlestown High School student, pursues
acting career in movies, stage, and television
Most teenagers spend their
time attending school, doing
homework, hanging out with
friends and checking their
phones. Fifteen-year-old Dallas Edwards,
a freshman at Charlestown High School,
is really no different from his peers, yet
there are days when he breaks away from
the everyday teen routine to concentrate
on his first love: acting. Dallas is a professional
actor with some impressive credits
already under his belt. He started his
May/June 2019 • 30
journey by performing in local theater,
but during the past five years he’s taken
his avocation and turned it into a career,
appearing in dinner theater plays, movies
and most recently on television.
Dallas’s interest in acting began
when his mother, Tammy Edwards, enrolled
him in a summer camp at the Derby
Dinner Playhouse in Clarksville. “It
was the summer after second grade and
he needed something to do,” Tammy said.
When he finished his first day, she asked
Story by Judy Engelhardt
Photo courtesy of Derby Dinner Playhouse
if he’d had fun. She says he answered,
“‘Yeah, it was really fun. I’m going to be
an actor.’” Tammy asked Dallas how he
was so sure about that, and he said he
liked being someone different every day,
and he also liked it when people clapped
for him. “We knew he liked to entertain
and make people laugh, but nobody knew
he actually wanted to act or perform,”
Tammy said. His first role was Pumbaa 2
in Derby Dinner’s production of Disney’s
“The Lion King.”

Tina Jo Wallace, Derby Dinner’s
director of children’s theater and audience
development, said the campers use
Broadway show material to study voice,
singing, dance, choreography and acting.
All students participate in a creative dramatics
class where they work on improvisation.
“That’s where you see their personalities
shine,” Wallace said. “You could
see that Dallas, even at his young age, had
quite the personality.”
Dallas continued to return each
summer to the theater camp. He also began
performing in high school productions
while in elementary and middle
school. His roles included a beaver in
“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,”
and characters in school-produced plays
and musicals with titles such as “We will
Rock You,” based on the band Queen, and
one called “Back to the 80’s.”
His first professional appearance at
Derby Dinner was in “The Wizard of Oz,”
where he played a munchkin. While appearing
in “Oz,” he was approached by
an adult actor who was impressed by the
performance Dallas gave. “The man who
played the lion came up to me and said,
‘You know, you should really think about
getting an agent because you’re really
good at this,’” Dallas said. The man gave
the Edwards a card from the Louisvillebased
Heyman Talent Agency and Dallas
eventually signed on with the agency.
Dallas was cast in his first film role
in 2014 at the age of 10. In “Masterminds,”
which was released in 2016, he played the
role of Ken Chambers, the stepson of a
character named Steve, portrayed by actor
Owen Wilson. The film also starred
Zach Galifianakis plus Saturday Night
Live cast members Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis,
Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones.
Dallas wasn’t quite sure how to process
it all when he was hired for the part. “I
don’t think it really hit me when I first
found out,” he said. “I thought it was cool
and stuff, but I didn’t really think it would
take off. I thought it would be a one-time
thing.”
Dallas continued auditioning for
other film roles and landed parts in independent
features such as “And Then
I Go,” with Justin Long and Tony Hale;
“Orphan Horse,” with Jon Voight; and
“Better Start Running,” with Jeremy Irons
and Jane Seymour. Working on the sets
gave the young actor better insight into
the process of shooting a film. “It takes a
long time. I thought it was like you filmed
once and you’re done,” he said, “but I
didn’t know you would be filming the
same scene over and over. I didn’t know
why they kept doing it, but learned they
had to change camera angles and things
like that.” He and his mother also became
Dallas was initially slated to appear in
just one episode, which worked out well
with his school schedule because filming
took place during fall break. He thought
it would be something fun to do once, but
that one appearance ended up turning
into several more.
aware of how diffcult film acting can be.
They knew that stage actors have rigorous
schedules with rehearsals, memorization
and fittings, but they both gained an appreciation
for film actors and the schedules
they keep. “They work really hard,”
Dallas said.
Dallas’ latest venture involves appearing
on the small screen in a new television
show called “Schooled,” which is a
spinoff of the popular show “The Goldbergs.”
He portrays high school student
Aaron Rubin. He had to tape his audition
locally then send the video to Los
Angeles. He heard back pretty quickly
from his agency. “We got a call on a Friday
and they said they wanted to ‘pin’ him,
which means they were pretty sure they
wanted to use him, but they weren’t 100
percent certain,” Tammy said. “Then they
called back on Monday, Oct. 8, and said
they wanted to use him.” The kicker was
that they wanted him to be on set the next
day at 7 a.m. Tammy and Dallas caught
a flight to Las Vegas that afternoon, arriving
at midnight. Tammy rented a car and
drove to Los Angeles, making it to the studio
just in time. “This was a big deal,” she
said. “He had done a lot of auditions for
the Los Angeles people but nothing really
hit. He had a couple of close calls, but this
just seemed like it was perfect timing.”
Dallas was initially slated to appear
in just one episode, which worked
out well with his school schedule because
filming took place during fall break. He
thought it would be something fun to
do once, but that one appearance ended
up turning into several more. “The writers
called his agent the first day of filming,
and then his agent called me the next
day and told me they loved him,” Tammy
said. “She told me the writers wanted to
keep writing him into episodes. ‘Would
that be OK?’ the agent asked. As a mom,
what are you supposed to say, ‘No?’ Of
course, we had to let this happen.” Dallas
appears in seven episodes during season
one, and now that they’ve wrapped up
shooting, he’s currently waiting to see if
the series will be picked up for a second
season and to find out if his character will
return.
Juggling his acting schedule and
school responsibilities keeps Dallas very
busy, but his teachers are willing to work
with him to ensure he keeps up with his
studies, and he’s also able to log into his
work online. “My school has been very
flexible about delivering my schoolwork
to me and allowing me to take my tests,”
he said.
Although Dallas is living the dream
of being a film and television actor, he still
remains loyal to his local thespian roots.
In February, he had the lead role of Emperor
Marcus III in “The Emperor’s New
Clothes” at Derby Dinner, and in March,
he played Mr. Mushnik in “Little Shop of
Horrors” at his high school.
When asked what the future holds,
Dallas says he’s just living his life one day
at time. He’s not sure what will happen if
his career takes off and he’d have to move
to the West Coast. “If it has to come to that,
we will, but we’re pretty happy living in
Indiana,” he said. •
If you find yourself in town, be sure to stop by
the Atheneum Visitors Center (401 N. Arthur
St.). There, you’ll find information on New
Harmony then and now, as well as walking
tours of the district. For more information,
visit:usi.edu/hnh, indianamuseum.org/newharmony,
and visitnewharmony.com
May/June 2019 • 31

Recognizing Heroes in Our Community: The PCS Samaritan Awards
A
commitment to wellness has
been the mission for Clarksville,
Indiana-based Personal Counseling
Service Inc. (PCS). PCS is a
nonprofit that provides outpatient mental
health services to 13 counties in Southern
Indiana and four counties in Kentucky.
Over the past 60 years, PCS has adapted
to the needs of the community and added
programs and services, including counseling
specialties, group work, outreach programs,
and innovations in therapy such as
play therapy and music therapy. Assisting
all people who desire to achieve wellness
of body, mind and spirit is PCS’s mission.
To recognize the community’s support of
that mission, PCS hosts an annual event,
the Norman Melhiser Samaritan Awards
Dinner, to honor community leaders and
businesses that exhibit the importance of
business ethics and social consciousness.
Since 2009, the Samaritan Awards
have carried the name of Norman Melhiser,
an Emeritus Member of the PCS
Board of Directors. Norman, a community
leader, retired CPA, and devoted grandfather,
father and husband, has been a shining
example of business ethics and civic
involvement. We are proud to have these
awards endorsed with his name.
The Samaritan Awards, named for
the Bible parable of the Good Samaritan,
reflect the spirit of unconditional love
and support. The parable of the Good
Samaritan was spoken when Jesus was
questioned on eternal life. “And behold,
a lawyer stood up to put him to the test,
saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit
eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written
in the law? How do you read it?’ And
he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your strength and
with all your mind, and your neighbor as
yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have
answered correctly; do this, and you will
live.’
“But he, desiring to justify himself,
said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’
May/June 2019 • 32
Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down
from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell
among robbers, who stripped him and
beat him and departed, leaving him half
dead. Now by chance a priest was going
down that road, and when he saw him he
passed by on the other side. So likewise,
a Levite, when he came to the place and
saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came
to where he was, and when he saw him,
he had compassion. He went to him and
To recognize the
community’s support of
that mission, PCS hosts an
annual event, the Norman
Melhiser Samaritan Awards
Dinner, to honor community
leaders and businesses that
exhibit the importance of
business ethics and social
consciousness.
* ADVERTISEMENT *
bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and
wine. Then he set him on his own animal
and brought him to an inn and took care
of him.” (Luke 10:25-37)
Through this parable, Jesus illustrates
that our ultimate purpose is to love
and serve humanity. To be a Good Samaritan,
you must love and serve your
neighbor. The Samaritan Awards honor
community heroes who, through business,
nonprofit work, servant leadership
or selfless giving, make a difference in the
lives of others.
Four Samaritan Awards are given
each year at the dinner held in August.
The first, the Les and Virginia Albro For-
Profit Business Award, is given to a business
that makes significant contributions
to the community through time and money.
Past recipients of this award include
Duke Energy, Truman Law Offces and
Big Lots of Clarksville.
The Nancy and John Keck Nonprofit
Award is given to a nonprofit organization
that demonstrates innovative programs
and approaches to solving community
problems. Past recipients have been
Friend for Life Cancer Support Network,
Pure Education Initiative and Kentucky
Harvest.
The Alice and Richard Schleicher Individual
Award is given to a person who
has made significant contributions to the
community through nonprofit work, volunteer
efforts and monetary gifts while
demonstrating a commitment to personal
values and influence in the community.
Past recipients have been Dr. Whitney
Nash, Dawne Gee and Dr. Michael Bonacum.
The Diane Fischer Award of Excellence
is given to an employee of a business
or organization who demonstrates
outstanding commitment to ethical behavior
and exceptional civic involvement.
Past recipients of this award include Kym
Wilkinson, Dr. David Dageforde and La-
Vada Brooks.
Nominations for the 2019 Norman
Melhiser Samaritan Awards are now being
accepted at pcs-counseling.org. Click
on the “Events” tab, and then the “Annual
Samaritan Awards.”
For more information, contact Skylar
Hermann, director of marketing and
development, at (812) 283-8383, ext. 146. •
PCS is located in Clarksville, Ind. and has
been serving the community since 1959. The
organization provides counseling services in
the form of pastoral counseling, play therapy,
trauma counseling, addictions therapy, music
therapy, and more. There are also several
outreach programs such as the older-adult
community choir or the summer arts camp
for kids. For more information, please visit the
website at www.pcs-counseling.org or call our
intake coordinator at 812-283-8383 x21.

Special Section: Fun In Southern Indiana
Water Fun on the Blue River
Cave Country Canoes plans first ever paddle festival for May 31 to June 2
Story by Sara Combs
Photos provided by Cave Country Canoes
Besides its regular Blue River
trips — including 7- and 14-mile
journeys — Cave Country Canoes
at Milltown has scheduled
something new for this summer.
“This is the first ever Paddle Festival,”
said Sherri Nail, guest service manager.
From May 31 to June 2, guests can
canoe or kayak 37 miles of the Blue River.
The three trips over three days will
start 12 miles above Milltown and go to
Blue River Chapel on the lower river, according
to Nail. “Camping will be free to
those doing multiple trips. We also welcome
guests who have their own boats,”
she said.
The Milltown American Legion will
be serving breakfast on Saturday, June 1,
and there will be other food vendors. Music
is scheduled on the campgrounds for
Friday and Saturday nights.
Four Full-Moon Floats are also on
the docket. “These start at dusk,” Nail
said, “and end after dark. Of course, they
are scheduled when the moon is full. They
are a little more adventurous; there is a little
more mystery about them with the different
sounds and sensations on the river
at night.” The last one is scheduled in August
to coincide with the annual Milltown
Fall Festival and ends with fireworks.
“That is kind of special,” Nail said.
Also, on Friday mornings throughout
the summer, there will be events to accommodate
people who just want to hang
out and fish.
Blue River is Indiana’s first scenic
river. “We can be very proud of our beautiful
river,” Nail said. “It is a jewel.”
Located in a rural countryside, with
little industry along its banks, Blue River
is one of the cleanest. It is home to the endangered
hellbender salamander and the
wood rat, and there are several rare species
of plants. Canoeists see wildlife daily,
including eagles, turtles, otters, deer and
many species of birds and fish.
“Instead of harping at our grandkids
May/June 2019 • 33

to turn off their electronics and do something,
we showed them how to do that
with a Cave Country Canoe trip on Blue
River,” a visitor wrote in an online review.
“It was family time well spent.”
Kids aren’t the only ones who need
to escape electronics, Nail said. “Millennials
have so much technology in their lives,
they need some downtime, a time when
they can’t get a cell phone signal, a time to
enjoy nature.”
That is what many are doing, she
said. “Last year, we were just short of
25,000 people taking canoe or kayak
trips.”
Cave Country Canoes is owned by
Gordon Smith. Jeff Knieriem is the manager.
The establishment is a major summer
employer for Crawford and surrounding
counties. “At the height of the season, we
employ as many as 65 people,” Nail said.
“It is a good summer job for teens and we
get a lot of school bus drivers, teacher’s
aides, people who work in the school system
and need summer jobs.” •
For information on the Paddle Festival, or any
of the trips or events, call 812-365-2705, visit
Cave Country Canoes on Facebook, or go to
cavecountrycanoes.com.
Special Section: Fun In Southern Indiana
“Millennials have so much technology in their lives,
they need some downtime, a time when they can’t get a
cell phone signal, a time to enjoy nature.”
- Sherri Nail
World-class entertainment as seen in Branson, MO is now in French Lick, IN at the Abbeydell Hall. The theatre sits on a
beautiful estate, formerly known as the residence of basketball legend Larry Bird. Now transformed into a dinner theatre, audiences experience a
variety of original musical productions. Audiences find themselves singing along, connecting with the performance and yes, even dancing in the
aisles. Each show is a one-of-a-kind experience and fun for all ages!
The Abbeydell Hall is a dinner & show venue and the buffet is sure to delight those attending. With slow-cooked meats, vegetables, salads,
delicious sides, dessert, and drinks included, there is something for everyone. There is also a show only option available.
The American Variety Show
Reminiscent of The Andy Williams Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The American
Bandstand, and many other classic variety shows we all grew to love. From rock
n’ roll, country, pop, jazz and Broadway...this show has it all! “The AMERICAN
Variety Show” also includes an original segment paying tribute to the United
States of America. Featuring comedy, dancing, incredible vocals, live musicians
and fun, there is something for everyone. Enjoy the best of entertainment!
I’ve Got the Music In Me
A Branson, MO style show featuring music of the 1960’s and 70’s. This hit musical
production will take you back to the days of beach blankets to the BeeGees, the
British Invasion and Motown. With over 70 songs represented, audiences enjoy
selections such as Breakin’ Up Is Hard To Do, It’s My Party, Bridge Over Troubled
Water, and who can forget the tight harmonies of Frankie Valli and The Four
Seasons...the list goes on. Enjoy this outta site journey of music, dance and the
rockin’ harmonies of the day.
Tickets: LegendOfFrenchLick.com or call 812-936-5300
Abbeydell Hall • Legend of French Lick • 7328 West County Road 100 North • West Baden Springs, IN 47469
May/June 2019 • 34

Enjoy a 20-mile panoramic
view of the Ohio.
Mile-High Pies
812-739-4264 | www.theoverlook
The Overlook Restaurant sits on SR 62
in Leavenworth, and is located only 3
miles from I-64, off Exit 92. It is uniquely
positioned high above the Ohio River.
The view only rivals the delicious food
and friendly service.
We feature weekend specials that can be
viewed on Facebook and our web page.
We take reservations, simply call
ahead an hour prior to your arrival. We
welcome large parties and set up buffets
for parties of 25 or more.
Now taking reservations
for Mother’s & Father’s Day
Now taking Mother’s and Father’s Day
reservations for any size party.
Summer hours begin May 3rd. Sunday-
Thursday 11:00AM-8:00PM. Friday and
Saturday 11:00AM-9:00PM. Walters Pub
opens May 3rd. Reach us by phone at
812-739-4264 following the prompts,
on Facebook, or check out our website
www.theoverlook.com.
Call us to reserve your next Party,
Corporate Gathering, or Holiday
Celebration.
May/June 2019 • 35

Special Section: Fun In Southern Indiana
French Lick Wine & Spirits
Family-owned business offers a variety of wines and spirits, cafe, and a gift shop
It’s been a long, cold winter for the Midwest, but with
summer finally approaching it’s time to get out of the house
to do some exploring in our beautiful part of the state. If
you’re seeking a place for a girlfriends’ outing or a romantic
getaway, head to French Lick Wine & Spirits in West Baden
Springs.
This iconic spot in Southern Indiana is owned by John and
Kim Doty. It all started 24 years ago, when the couple decided
they wanted to open a winery. When John was younger, he’d experimented
with winemaking with his grandfather, but neither
he nor Kim had any practical experience in commercial winemaking.
Both graduated from Purdue University — John with
a degree in agricultural economics and finance and Kim with a
degree in horticulture. He went on to work for Production Credit
Association, then moved to First National Bank in Huntingburg,
and she worked for 19 years for the United States Postal Service.
They both knew that if they were going to be successful in their
new venture, they needed to learn more about vineyard management
and winemaking. They furthered their education about the
industry, with Kim attending the American Wine Society wine
judge training program, which takes three years to complete.
John retired in 2003 and began to put his full attention toward
winemaking. The winery had been located in the cellar of
the Beechwood Mansion but relocated to West Baden Springs to
a 42,000-square-foot building that originally housed the Kimball
Piano Factory. The building is divided into several sections and
has a gift shop, restaurant and dining area, wine lab, winery and
tanks, distillery, barrel room and barrel storage.
The business is definitely a family affair. John and Kim’s
sons, Aaron and Nick, and Nick’s wife, Laurelin, are all owners.
Aaron is in charge of the grapes, the juice and the fermenting
process, and Nick and Laurelin are winemakers.
An important part of this operation is the farm that has been
in Kim’s family since 1888. In 2015, the farm was designated as
a Hoosier Homestead farm by the Indiana State Department of
Agriculture. This distinction is awarded to farms that have been
in operation 100, 150 or 200 years and owned by the same family.
The farm has been passed down generation after generation
through the women in the family, with Kim being part of the fifth
generation to own the land. The farm is used to grow grapes and
grain for the winery and distillery.
The winery produces several products, including dry
wines, semi-dry/semi-sweet wines, sweet wines, sparkling
wines and fortified wines. The dry wines include Merlot, Cabernet
Sauvignon and Chambourcin. The semi-dry/semi-sweet varieties
include the popular Leon Millot, a semi-dry red wine with
cherry, blackberry and strawberry flavors. One of the semi-sweet
varieties includes the Chambourcin Rosé with notes of strawberry,
raspberries and a hint of melon. If you’re partial toward sweet
wines, their Blackberry, Blueberry, Crazy Cranberry, Cherry Pie
or Just Peachy will satisfy your palate. Their sparkling wine selection
offers Moscato, Eleganza or French Tickle. Moscato is a
semi-dry bubbly white made from Muscat grapes, the Eleganza
is a semi-sweet Bella Vista with bubbles, and the French Tickle
is a sweet bubbly blush with tangy citrus flavors. Their fortified
May/June 2019 • 36
Story by Julie Engelhardt
Photos provided by French Lick Wine & Spirits
This iconic spot in Southern
Indiana is owned by John and
Kim Doty. It all started 24 years
ago, when the couple decided
they wanted to open a winery.
wine, the Heaven’s View Port, has a higher alcohol content than
most wines and is considered to be a “sipping wine.” It’s made
from ripe Norton grapes grown in their vineyard.
The distillery portion of the campus is new to the operation,
opening three years ago. Head Distiller Alan Bishop came over
from Copper and Kings in Louisville to head up the operation.
“My duties are to keep an eye on quality of ingredients, quality
of the fermentation that we’re doing, distillation, blending and
coming up with new products,” he said. “I also write a lot of history
and play into what we’re doing with marketing.”
According to Bishop, the Dotys began discussing opening
a distillery when the farm distillery law was introduced in the
state in 2014. “For a long time, distilling wasn’t even on the radar
in Indiana,“ he said. “Indiana used to be quite the place for
distilleries. There were over 155 distilleries in a six-county radius
up until prohibition began.” Craft distilleries are now becoming
quite popular, with the Dotys’ distillery being one of about 38
in the region. “We’re not the largest of the craft distilleries, but
we’re the largest pot still distillery while others are using column
stills,” Bishop said.
Their spirits selection is quite tantalizing. “We have what I
call the four pillars — bourbon whiskey, brandy, botanical spirits,
and American whiskey,” Bishop said. They carry Aquavit, Old
Tom Gin, Absinthe Le Blue, Blackberry Eau-de-Vie, SonRoho,
Vodka, White Bourbon Whiskey and Stamper’s Creek Rum.
An important aspect of the distillery is that they want to
pay tribute to the “spirits of the past” — not just to the distilleries
that existed 100 years ago, but also to the people who lived in the

Special Section: Fun In Southern Indiana
region. “We have the Lee Sinclair Bourbon Whiskey. He was a local
businessman responsible for the Dome in West Baden. He was
a banker and mill owner,” Bishop said. “I think our Lee Sinclair
is good for people who don’t think they like whiskey. They like it
because it’s sweeter and smoother.” The distillery will be producing
a high-rye bourbon called the Mattie Gladden, named after
the proprietor of a bordello located in Salem in the 1800s, and an
apple brandy called Old Clifty, named for a former distillery that
was north of Campbellsburg. In total, there are roughly 23 different
products in the pipeline, Bishop said. “Not all of those will go
into distribution. Some of those will be exclusive to the winery and
distillery or exclusive to different accounts.”
Besides the winery and distillery, there’s also a lovely restaurant
called the Vintage Café. “We serve Italian food, but it’s on the
higher end,” marketing director Jolee Kasprzak said. “We make
our own sauces and desserts, our own oil and vinegar blend, and
we roast our garlic fresh every day. We have appetizers, salads,
pastas and pizza. Our pizzas are on a sourdough crust, which is
unique, and the sourdough starter came from Naples, Italy. Our
kitchen manager is Shanna Jones and she does an incredible job.
She makes sure everything is on point and she’s specific as to how
food comes out of the kitchen. If things aren’t right, they go back
in and are made over again.”
If you want to take a little piece of French Lick Wine & Spirits
with you, their delightful gift shop sells clothing, wine and alcohol,
glassware, cheeses and cheese spreads, and Indiana-grown products.
They also sell fun signs and upcycled gifts, like handmade
soy candles in recycled wine bottles created by Laurelin Doty. •
For further information about tastings, tours or special events, call
French Lick Wine & Spirits at 812-936-2293.
CAMPBELLSBURG
COUNTRY FESTIVAL
Truck Pull • Dances • Food
Music • Family Fun
JUNE 7 - 9
JUNE 1 - 3
For more information, call 812-755-4520 or follow the event on facebook
at http://www.facebook.com/groups/101348509906371/
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
May/June 2019 • 37

Friday Night on the Square
May 17th
Campbellsburg Country Festival
June 7th-9th
Washington Co. Farmers-Merchants Fair
June 16th-22nd
Pekin 4th of July Celebration
July 3rd & 4th
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,
The Lanning House or The Destination!
Contact us at: www.washingtoncountytourism.com or call 812-883-4303 to plan your trip!
May/June 2019 • 38

Special Section: Fun In Southern Indiana
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
May/June 2019 • 39

I’ve Got the Music In Me
Abbeydell Hall
Select Dates May - July
Gretchen Wilson
French Lick Event Center
May 17
French Lick Classic Fun Run 5K
French Lick Event Center
May 18
HomeGrown Orleans
Farmer’s Market
Orleans Congress Square
Saturdays May 18 - October 26
Wild West Hold-Ups
French Lick Scenic Railway
Select Dates May - July
Sunset Wine Cruises
Patoka Lake
Select Fridays June - August
Dinosaur Adventure Train
French Lick Scenic Railway
June 22-23, 29-30
The Thomas Brothers
Abbeydell Hall
June 27
Thunder Over Patoka
Patoka Lake
July 6
Chocolate Tasting Train
French Lick Scenic Railway
July 20
May/June 2019 • 40

#MyFrenchLick • 812-936-3418
vflwb.com •
May/June 2019 • 41

May/June 2019 • 42

May/June 2019 • 43

Bluegra
egras
grass
s
on
the
Square
Historic Downtown Corydon
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Free Admission
Save the
Dates
June 22
July 27
August 24
Just 30 minutes from Louisville
Bring lawn
chairs &
blankets.
MakE it A Day
AND Visit our
Shops &
Restaurants
May/June 2019 • 44
Vist thisisIndiana.org/bluegrass for updates

Burger Breakdown
Real Life Nutrition
Have you ever thought about
where your food comes from?
There are many things to consider
when it comes to choosing
food: hunger, taste preference, cost,
accessibility, etc. Convenience seems to
be the most influential reason why we
choose some foods over others. But there’s
one thing that tends to be an oversight
when it comes to food choices, and that is
sustainability.
Sustainability is meeting the needs
of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their
needs. The food choices we make today
will significantly impact the choices, quality
of life, and opportunities of future
generations. Around 25 percent of global
climate change pollution can be attributed
to food choices that we make every day.
To put that into perspective, global greenhouse
gas emissions from agriculture, forestry,
and other land use is greater than
all the cars on the planet, contributing to
more than twice as much greenhouse gas
pollution.
Some foods pack a more powerful
punch to the planet than others. One
serving of a grass-fed rib-eye steak is
equivalent to 330 grams of CO2 emissions
- comparable to driving a car three miles.
In comparison, one serving of chicken
equates to 52 grams and vegetables only
14 grams of CO2.
Livestock accounts for more than 14
percent of greenhouse emissions which
is equal to all of the emissions from cars,
trucks, planes, trains, and ships on the
planet. Whoa! But why? What is it about
beef that causes significantly more emissions
than other foods?
I’m sure you’ve heard that cows are
gassy, producing methane gas which is 25
times more potent in its warming potential
than carbon dioxide. But the hidden
resource chain that goes into putting a
burger on your plate is where most of the
trouble shows up. Raising cattle requires a
lot of land for growing feed and grazing,
fertilizer, and billions of tons of grain for
feed. All of these inputs come with their
own carbon cost. If the land that went into
growing feed for cattle were directly used
to feed people, we could feed an additional
3.5 billion people, eliminating a significant
amount of carbon dioxide produced
from cow production, reducing hunger,
and freeing land for other uses.
In addition, most cows take a crosscountry
trip or two to get to your grill.
Once cows are raised, they are shipped
to feedlots to be ‘finished’ on grain. They
are then transported for slaughter, transported
again for processing and packaging,
and then transported one more time
to stores. This transportation also requires
refrigerated trucks.
CAR MILES IN 1 YEAR
1,700
1,500
1,300
1,100
900
700
500
300
100
0
1,542
373
Now that we see what’s behind our
plates, what can we do? I’m a vegetarian,
but does that mean everyone should be
vegetarian or vegan? Of course not. Believe
it or not, there’s actually a solution
that doesn’t require veganism and still
has a positive impact on the planet - the
Mediterranean Diet. The Mediterranean
Diet has been shown to have a similar environmental
impact to veganism and vegetarianism.
The diet calls for poultry and fish a
few times a week, beef once a month, and
generous amounts of fruits, vegetables, legumes,
and olive oil. This diet is not only
good for the environment, it’s also good
for your health. I work with many cardiac
patients that need assistance lowering
their triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood
pressure. I often recommend this diet to
help them improve their lipid panels and
their overall health.
Lean protein, such as poultry and
fish, is low in saturated fat. With that, fatty
fish, such as salmon, is filled with hearthealthy
omega-three fatty acids. Fruits,
vegetables, and legumes can help to counteract
high blood pressure, are rich in vitamins
and minerals, and can help reduce
359
272
205
total cholesterol. Olive oil is filled with
heart-healthy mono-unsaturated fat in
comparison to butter that is pure saturated
fat which contributes to heart disease.
Believe it or not, the food you eat
does matter. The foods you choose to purchase
at the grocery store and restaurants
125
FOOD
can and will have an impact on the earth
and future generations. So choose wisely.
Choose foods that will not only help improve
your health, but will also help improve
the environment.
Article References:
39 32 24 20 3
Gallagher, James. “A bit of meat, a lot of veg - the flexitarian
diet to feed 10bn.” BBC, 17 Jan. 2019, www.bbc.com/
news/health-46865204.
Vox. “The Diet That Helps Fight Climate Change.”
YouTube, YouTube, 12 Dec. 2017, www.youtube.com/
watch?v=nUnJQWO4YJY.
About the Authors
Image created by Lucas Smith
Maji Koetter-Ali, MS,RD,LD,CD is a licensed
registered dietitian at Baptist Health Floyd.
She uses a real-life approach to nutrition when
counseling her clients, and encourages them to
strive for progress not perfection. She is passionate
about helping everyone find their own
way to living their happiest and healthiest lives.
Ellen Trahan is the Sustainability Coordinator
for Dining Services at the University of
Louisville. She is passionate about educating
students and the university community about all
facets of sustainability, and knows that food is
an excellent way to start the conversation about
the health of our planet and communities.
May/June 2019 • 45

Everyday Adventures
Blockbuster
Faith
If you’ve never been to a drive-in movie,
you are missing out. When I was
a kid, I loved everything about the
drive-in. My mom would pop popcorn,
and we would pack a cooler full of
drinks. Then, we would pile into our Ford
Pinto with lawn chairs and blankets and
spend the evening watching movies under
a starry sky.
I couldn’t wait for the day I could
share this magical experience my own
kids. The only problem is my daughters
don’t like going to the movies. They
would rather stream an old TV show on
YouTube than watch the latest blockbuster
on the big screen. Growing up watching
videos on phones, tablets and portable
DVD players has turned them off to the
whole cinematic experience.
To make it even harder, they don’t
like movies that aren’t classic musicals or
have the words American Girl in the title.
Good luck finding one of those playing at
the drive-in.
Not to mention the fact that every
summer the outdoor theaters within driving
distance of our house are dropping
like flies. I was lucky enough to grow up
in an era with four drive-ins within 45
minutes of my hometown. These days, we
only have one.
Still, I wasn’t about to give up the
dream. I was determined that eventually
I would find a free weekend with good
weather and a movie playing that I could
con my kids into watching. A couple of
years ago, on the last day of school, I hit
the jackpot.
Smurfs 2 was playing at our local
drive-in; the weather was perfect, and we
had absolutely no plans. What better way
to kick off summer vacation than a night
of watching movies in the great outdoors?
Just like the old days, we popped
our popcorn, loaded up the cooler, and
packed lawn chairs and blankets. It was
going to be perfect.
When we pulled into the gravel lot,
we spotted some friends from school, and
before I knew it, my girls were kicking a
soccer ball around the grass as we waited
for the sun to set. They were having the
time of their lives.
Until the movie started. That’s when
my youngest decided it was too loud. She
wanted to get back in the minivan and
May/June 2019 • 46
I loved everything about the drive-in. My mom
would pop popcorn, and we would pack a cooler
full of drinks. Then, we would pile into our Ford
Pinto with lawn chairs and blankets and spend the
evening watching movies under a starry sky.
watch something on the iPad. You have to
be kidding, I thought. The minivan over
the summer sky? A 10-inch touch screen
over a 45-foot drive-in screen?
I wanted to share this awesome
experience with her, but instead she preferred
what felt comfortable and small.
The iPad was familiar, and she could pick
the movie, adjust the volume and be in
complete control. I couldn’t help feeling
she was missing out.
Thinking about this later, I realized
I’ve done the same thing in my relationship
with God. God loves me and has
so much he wants to share with me. Yet
often I’d rather settle for the familiar and
small. I prefer the iPad life where I’m in
control and everything feels nice and safe.
But God’s dreams for us are so much
bigger than our comfort zones. Like
drive-in big. No ceiling. No limits.
You want me to do what, God? Love
someone who’s different than me? Serve someone
I don’t even like? Go on a mission trip?
Get up and speak? Share my stuff? Forgive
them after what they did? That’s too much,
God. Too big. I’ll just be over here in the minivan
if you need me.
At the end of the day, it didn’t matter
how my daughter preferred to watch
movies. The drive-in’s not for everyone.
She had fun watching her movie that
night, and we had a blast with our oldest
daughter watching ours.
When it comes to the issue of how
we live our lives, however, playing it
safe is much more tragic. We’re not just
missing out on a great movie experience.
We’re missing out on the grand purpose
we were designed to fulfill.
A wise king named Solomon once
wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your
heart; do not depend on your own understanding”
(Proverbs 3:5 NLT). That’s easier
said than done. I like my own understanding.
It’s where I’m in control, and it
requires no risk. The older I get, however,
the more I regret the times I settled for
a 10-inch touchscreen life when I know
deep down I was created for nothing less
than a life of adventure under the stars. •
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: Everett’s Collection / shutterstock.com

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May/June 2019 • 47

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