Kiwanians continued their service at the Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau’s Nourish program this year by helping to unload the food truck containing all of the food for delivery to needy kids in our schools. The Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club is proud to be helping in these endeavors on a monthly basis during the school season. If you would like to help come on out to one of our meetings held every Thursday at the Crawfordsville District Public Library at 11:30 am.

Pictured below are Kiwanians Morris Odle, Andy Biddle, Mac Petty, Larry Sayler, Stu Weliever, one of the alternative school kids, Dennis Coons and Jim McCampbell. Thanks guys for all your hard work.

Lori Curless, the Airport Manager for Crawfordsville Regional Airport spoke to the Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club on Thursday 9-14-23. Curlessot herself, has been with the Crawfordsville Airport for 6 years and has helped make the airport one of the top regional airports in the state.

With about 30 tenants paying rent for the hangers, selling fuel to those that land and take off here, having an aircraft rental business and a very good pilot training business operating out of Crawfordsville the airport has grown and has become successful. It is one of the major reasons that businesses are moving here because there is quick access from around the country.

The airport recently supported the Ironman race in Crawfordsville having planes bringing race teams to the city for the race from as far away as Chile.

Lori says she really enjoys being an EAA Young Eagle Coordinator providing free flights for kids ages 8-17 who may want to learn to fly. Lori is also a 2023 recipient of the National Business Aviation Association’s Top 40 under 40.

It’s great having a community supported by an airport with all of these services.

Have you heard of Achaius Ranch? Elisha McCulloh, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Master of Social Work (MSW) is the founder and Executive Director of Achaius Ranch in Ladoga, IN. Elisha spoke to the Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club this past Thursday to tell us about the ranch and some of the programs that they are offering.

Achaius Ranch has horses, miniature donkeys, goats, chickens and even numerous dogs that all work to help provide meaningful therapy to children of middle school and high school age. Their Nature Based Therapy Groups allows participants to partner with horses and various other animals to engage in therapeutic activities in the woods, to manage stress, mood and anxiety.

One of the new groups starting up is their Life Skills Homeschool Groups to help children learn life skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork, integrity, courage and kindness.

You can find out more about Achaius Ranch at achaiusranch.org or by calling 765-376-9535 to talk to Elisha or the managing director, Nicole Wilson.

Yes, there is art in Crawfordsville. You see it everywhere, from the business store windows to the signs on the lampposts, art surrounds us and the non-profit Athens Arts which recently moved to 216 E Main St. helps all of us to see the art around us. Diana McCormick, the Director of Athens Arts recently spoke to the Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club about the many educational programs that they have for “preschoolers to pensioners” along with the fantastic art gallery in their new premises.

Athens Arts works with community artists to provide educational opportunities to preschoolers at various schools in the area and also provides opportunities for adults to learn about art by making their own in classes that are held at the art gallery.

To learn more visit athensartsgallery.com

Chadd Jenkins, CEO/GM of Parke County REMC spoke to the Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club about their Operation Round Up program. This program allows REMC members to “round up” their payments to the next dollar each month as a donation. Parke County REMC, through their Operation Round Up fund, provides various monetary grants to organizations in the local community. Since this fund was started in 2000 it has provided grants of over $1.1 million to local nonprofits that are making a difference in the communities where we live and serve.

Examples of grants that have been awarded include:

$2,500 for helmets to the Southmont Youth Football program

$3,000 to the New Market PTO for playground equipment

$1,075 to the Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau’s JUMP program

$1,000 for clothing to the Mountie Mission.

If your non-profit organization is raising money for a project helping kids you too can request a grant by visiting pcremc.com for more information.

Kylie Williams of Centerstone Foster Care Select showed the members of the Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club the importance of becoming a foster parent. Williams, who later adopted her children, was a foster parent in the past leading her to become an adoptive parent.

Currently there are almost 12,000 children in foster care in Indiana with only 5,000 foster homes to help them. Because of this shortage many children must stay in group homes or institutions. It is easy to become a foster parent. Just e-mail Kylie at [email protected]

Crawfordsville resident Luke Rice is a 15 year old boy with a sweet and happy spirit who enjoys wearing hats and watching people.  At seven days old Luke had open heart surgery due to a heart defect at birth. At 6 months old Luke was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and he is currently doing physical therapy to help with his muscle tone.

Luke’s therapist at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Sarah Gonzalez, suggested to Luke’s parents that the Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club might be able to help by providing some adaptive equipment that would help Luke exercise his legs. The Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club was happy to help.  Through a short fundraising campaign and with the help of the Montgomery County Community Foundation the club was able to order a new adaptive bike for Luke.

On Thursday, August 3^rd, the club presented the bike to Luke and his parents at their regular meeting. Luke was very excited and even took the bike out for a test ride when he got home.

The Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club is thankful to the donors in the community that were able to help in providing this piece of adaptive equipment to Luke. If you would like to hear more about the club’s efforts in working with kids in the Montgomery County community, you are invited to attend one of their meetings held every Thursday at 11:30 am in the Donnelly room at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.

Pictured is Luke Rice at the meeting and on his first trip around home.

Did you know there is a rodeo in Crawfordsville? PAC Mid-west Rodeo located at 2350 Indianapolis Rd, Crawfordsville, IN is bringing entertainment like many have never seen to Crawfordsville.

Picture provided by Simply Unnoticed Photography

From the little ones, two year olds riding sheep, to the big guns riding the 8 seconds on that big bull it is a world of fun.

Picture provided by Wild Rodeo Photography.

The owners, Crawfordsville native Glen Price, along with Emanuel Allbrook and Bobby Cunningham have put together an amazing year of entertainment. They started out a few years ago with 8 bulls that they had purchased and now have 29 bulls and 18 steers along with an assortment of sheep. When Price came up with the idea he thought that they may be able to draw 400-500 people. At the first rodeo that had over 1,400 people in attendance! They now have 7 rodeos a year and have contestants from as far away as Oklahoma. Glen’s son, Cole, travels around the US competing in numerous rodeos and has won many of them including his first when he was only 8 years old!

Although there are some bleachers most attendees bring their coolers, blankets and chairs to sit on the rise to watch the show. Price, Allbrook and Cunningham all are very disciplined and require all participants to be in cowboy wear which includes boots, jeans (Without holes), a long sleeve cowboy shirt (tucked in) and a helmet for the ride.

It’s only $15.00 for an adult and kids 10 and under are free so go on out and enjoy the fun. The next show is August 26th, 2023.

Pictured are Bobby Cunningham, Emanuel Allbrook, Glen Price and speaker chairman Don Thompson.

Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton gave a thorough update to Kiwanians in attendance at our meeting on July 13, 2023.

Mayor Barton talked about the new branding initiative for the city that will be put in place soon. He also discussed the change in quality of life initiatives. Barton explained that in the past people would find a job and move closer to the job. Today people are finding a community that they want to live in and then finding a job in that community. With that in mind the goal is to make Crawfordsville more attractive to people so that they choose this community and then build the jobs for people to fill. Currently there are 250-300 full time jobs with benefits available in the area and Barton expects that in the next three years there will be over 1,000 more.

Consultants have said that one of the most important aspects of the Quality of Life goals are family entertainment so Barton outlined the family aspects that will affect families moving to Crawfordsville.

Brickyard Nature Park – A park consisting of 100 acres southeast of Concord Road on the city’s north side.

Milligan Park Pool – Evaluate the pool and develop a master plan for pool improvements.

Downtown Mural Alley – Develop into a Community gathering place.

Shortz Nature Park – 47 acres donated by past resident Will Shortz which will include multi-use trails, sledding hills, a parking area and all in a puzzle themed design.

Lincoln Park – Oak & Wabash street – Rebuild the park to include more basketball and pickle ball courts.

Francis Wooden Park – A public/private park at the site of the old Speed Cabin from the Underground Railroad.

Canine Plaza – Improvements that will incorporate features of the historic Crawford hotel. Also planned is a replacement/rebuilding of the fountain in the plaza.

Along with the quality of life goals Barton talked about the economic development successes of increasing investment and job growth. Barton talked about new companies investing about $278 million and adding about 560 jobs to the area. Along with that some of the current companies that have announced expansions will include investments of almost $500 million and 150 new jobs.

Barton announced that a major home builder, Arbor Homes, is coming to crawfordsville and will be building almost 170 homes at an average price of $280,000. Along with that there will be a builder that is building 300-500 units near the newly expanded Purple Heart Parkway on the south side and reported that there is currently in discussion a project to bring apartments to the downtown area.

As far as services Barton talked extensively about Crawfordsville’s fully integrated SWAT & Trauma team where paramedics are part of the team that goes into a SWAT situation. The Paramedics are fully trained in the SWAT procedures and go directly into the crisis to provide medical attention and they have the ability to administer whole blood. This is the only team in Indiana that can do this and there are only 4 or 5 in the entire US.

It looks like there is a lot of activity in Crawfordsville! Keep it up Mayor Barton!

On June 29, 2023 Crawfordsville Kiwanians were pleased to hear a report from Sheriff Ryan Needham, Montgomery County Sheriff. Sheriff Needham reported that from Jan 1, 2023 through June 28, 2023 the department had 11,341 calls that they had to deal with. They had given out 3,141 traffic warnings and 262 tickets during that time.

Staff included 26 Deputies and officers along with approximately 42 jail guards and employees. Also during that time the jail had 158 inmates.

One of the laws coming into effect in July is the 25 foot rule. Under the new law, which goes into effect July 1, Indiana police and firefighters can order onlookers to stay a minimum of 25 feet away to clear an emergency scene or stop approaching bystanders. Needham said this will help with crowds around an incident scene.

Thanks Sheriff Needham for all that you and your deputies do.