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THE BEACON
www . goBEACONnews . com PUBLISHED MONTHLY SINCE 1994 April 2018
INSIDE The BEACON
Mardi gras a Huge Success
An evening of fun was had by all at the Mardi Gras Ball benefitting the Children ’ s Advocacy Center of Southeast Indiana . Page 3A
Metamora
Metamora Trailhead
US 52
Whitewater Canal Trail Open Planned Parking / Access
Yellow Bank Trailhead
Brookville
Tecumseh Landing
Exploring New Trails
A nonprofit group in Franklin County has developed new hiking / biking trails throughout the area . More trails are planned for the future .
Page 7A
Eating Healthy
A Harrison mom uses a recreational sport for providing healthy food for her family .
Page 7B
Proposed Rate Re-establishment- Minimal Impact
Dearborn County Commissioners discussed the reestablishment of the original rate of the Cumulative Capital Development Fund during the Feb . 20 meeting . The Cumulative Capital Development fund was established in 1993 and was funded at the rate of . 0333 % per $ 100,000 of a property ’ s assessed valuation .
As mandated by the State , the Cumulative Capital Development Fund rate decreases each year unless the rate is re-established by the Commissioners . Over the past decade , the decreasing funds were subsidized by riverboat gaming funds rather than by the re-establishment of the original rate . However , as many residents are aware , the riverboat gaming funds received by Dearborn County have been
The South Dearborn High School Football team filled emergency sand bags for property owners to use to protect entry ways .
The Flood of 2018
As the Ohio River crested at 61 ’, volunteers pitched in to help those who were affected . Fire fighters from Aurora , Moores Hill , Dillsboro , and Manchester worked tirelessly pumping water and shovelling sludge . Emergency management , Commissioners , and police worked handin-hand to keep residents safe from flooded roads and hazardous areas .
High waters flooded buildings and closed roads throughout the area .
Jason Sullivan , Roger Fehling , and Commissioner Shane McHenry discuss the status of flood issues in the county .
Aurora firemen Bob Brunner , Jason Rogers , and Brian Gibbs were joined by Lee Bruce from Moores Hill Fire Dept . to assist with flood control .
By Susan Ray
While traveling through much of Indiana , hundreds of acres of tall corn and thick soybeans can be seen , interrupted only occasionally by a picturesque white house or bright red barn in the distance . But what isn ’ t so easy to detect while driving along the highway or over a county road is the perseverance , the research , and the hope that are as integral to every successful crop as sun and rain and soil .
In 2017 , this region yielded almost 160 bushels of corn , and about 50 bushels of soybeans per acre , mostly through the year-round commitment of family farmers . Franklin County residents Philip and Susann Wendel grow mainly corn and soybeans on their family farm , in addition to operating an agritourism enterprise . Mrs . Wendel explains why she believes that farmers are optimists , “ They have to be because even if you have a terrible year , the farmer always says next year is bound to be better . We ’ re optimistic because it ’ s like someone taking the money that they make in a year ’ s time and putting it in the ground and hoping it will grow - and that ’ s exactly what we do … a lot of farmers
THE BEACON
declining .
The Cumulative Capital Development Fund was established for the construction , repair , and remodeling of courthouses ; construction , repair , remodeling , enlarging , and equipping the county jail or detention center ; maintaining public buildings ; acquiring land for public construction ; demolishing of improvements for construction of public buildings ; acquiring land for right-of-ways ; constructing public ways , sidewalks ; acquiring land for sewers ; purchasing utilities ; purchasing land for use by utilities ; purchasing land for parks ; purchasing vehicles for police or fire departments ; retiring bond obligation ; purchasing or leasing
Continued on page 3A
Lawrenceburg Invests in The Future
The City of Lawrenceburg is dedicated to growing Downtown Lawrenceburg and is willing to put their money where their mouth is . A new program called the Lawrenceburg Redevelopment Commission ( LDC ) Investment Program has been put into place according to Lawrenceburg ’ s Redevelopment Director , Bryan Messmore .
The goal of the program is to develop the downtown area so that private entities will be able to support the area independently . The LRC Investment Plan standardizes the grant program process and streamlines the requirements that are being administered by Lawrenceburg Main Street .
The LRC Investment Program consists of seven categories- five are business oriented , and two are designed for residents .
The paint and façade program for commercial and mixed-use properties in Downtown Lawrenceburg is for exterior projects such as painting , pressuring washing of exteriors that are not paintable , door and window replacement , roofs , gutters , and façade restoration . Funding for qualifying projects is a $ 2 match for every $ 1 invested by the property owner .
The second LRC Investment Program is for signs and awnings . Eligible projects include new or refurbished signs and awnings . An owner must
Continued on page 3A
Perseverance , Faith , and Hope are a Way of Life
Philp and Susann Wendel are glad to share their love of and respect for farming .
have a good faith . You have to .”
Mr . Wendel agrees , saying , “ It ’ s like you plant this thing that looks like dead seed out there . So we have the seed , the equipment , then we worry about whether it ’ s an inch and a half deep or two-inches deep … did your press
Continued on page 4A
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