Steadfast in Care

   A progression of people have maintained and managed the New Hope Cemetery, located one-half mile south of Phlox in Union Township.  The New Hope Monthly Meeting (Friends Church) established the cemetery in 1885.  The land was donated by James A. Ellis.  The first woman to be buried in the cemetery was Miriam Overman and the first man was Joel Adams.  The cemetery is sometimes referred to as Ellis Cemetery (after the donor) or Phlox Cemetery. 
   The cemetery association was incorporated in 1919 with the new directors being Carl Tennell, James Sanders, Oscar M. Fox, Job Russell, Robert Stack, Ollen Moorman, and Rollo Shockney.  As time as passed the board membership has changed.  Currently it is Jim Smith, Jim McCauley, Lamoine Clouser, Leonard Smith, Francis Hannah, Tim Singleton and Dave Buck. 
   Jim Smith was a close friend of Elden Kepler, sexton of the cemetery.  Jim helped Elden open graves with
a shovel.  Jim has been president of the cemetery association for 47 years. 
   The cemetery finances are in good shape but there are expenses each year, primarily for grounds upkeep.  The association has been able to fund that from interest on savings until recently, when interest rates dropped to nil.  Perhaps there are existing members of the families buried in the cemetery who would feel moved to make a donation in their honor.  Those surnames are
ABBOTT, ADAMS, ADDISON, ANDERSON, ARMSTRONG, AYERS, BAKER, BANNON, BARRETT, BEASLEY, BENEFIEL, BERGAN,
BERRY, BESS, BONE, BOYLES,

Carolyn Johnson Elected Clerk-Treasurer

   In a quiet Greentown election with no visible campaigning, Carolyn Johnson received 67 votes to Holly Hord-Melton’s 46, making her the Greentown Clerk-Treasurer for a 4 year term, 2012 - 2015. 
   The office has been in a bit of flux the past few months.  Barbara Middleton resigned, effective June 30, 2011.  April Herglund became Clerk-Treasurer by the process of a caucus of the Howard County Republican Party.  She was the only person to file for the open seat.  When Carolyn Johnson and Herglund, both Republicans, filed to be on the ballot in November, a convention of Greentown Republicans was held and Johnson became the candidate.  Herglund resigned, effective Oct. 28, and Council President Joyce Higginbottom appointed Joyce Flick to the position since there was not enough time before the November 8 election date to call a caucus.  It was imperative that there be an acting Clerk-Treasurer to fulfill the necessary post of  one of 3 members of the Election Board.  Johnson’s election on Nov. 8 does not take effect until Jan. 1, 2012, therefore, Craig Dunn, Howard County Republican Party Chairman, called a caucus which elected Johnson to the seat for the remainder of 2011.
   Ed. Note: Now, who’s on first?  Only Abbott and Costello fans will understand.
          

Greentown Holds Election

   Normally, a town election would not be of particular importance unless there were one or more hotly contested seats.  The Greentown election of November 8 was notable for other reasons.  First, it was the first town election since 2003.  Normally there is a local election every 4 years, but no election was required in 2007 because all 5 council seats and the Clerk-Treasurer office had only one applying for each position. 
   Secondly, the 2011 election was notable for the low voter turn-out, perhaps the lowest in history, although we don’t have data for all past years.  Out of 1,763 names in the poll books, only 113 voted in this election.  Four of those voted with absentee ballots.  That puts the voter turnout at about 6.5%.  The Grapevine reported the 1995 voting results as 251 voting out of a pool of 1,308, or a little more than 19%.  Ironically, we called that a “low turnout.” 
   Informal quizzing of people who did not vote this year yielded the following: At least one person went to the Performing Arts Center, where primary and general elections are held.  One didn’t know there was an election going on (humbling to the Grapevine, as we put it on the front page in October and November).  One “meant to,

Historical Political Participation with a Local Emphasis

   The Greentown Historical Society will be presenting an exhibit and programs July through December 2012 on political participation.  It will feature candidates from eastern Howard County as well as those who have had special political involvements.  It will include state and national candidates and office-holders who visited Greentown. 
   The committee is gathering a list of people who held office or ran for office, particularly at the county level and higher.  Any material such as newspaper clippings, certificates, campaign items and other memorabilia is sought for consideration for display.
   Information may be sent to greentownhistory@comcast.net, mailed to Greentown Historical Society, P.O. Box 313, Greentown, IN 46936, or by calling Rachel Jenkins, 765-628-3564, or Wayne Frakes, 765-628-2014.

Eagle Project Adds to Comet Trail

                                                                                                                  photo by Rachel Jenkins

   In the photo above are: Jolene Rule, Parks & Trails Chairman; Monty Maggart, Eastern
   Elementary science teacher; Eagle Scout, Austin Mitts; and Mary Miller, member of Parks and
   Trails committee.  The group is standing behind the #5 post.

Austin Mitts, Boy Scout Troop 528's newest Eagle, completed his project in June and was recognized at a Court of Honor on Oct. 18.  He selected 10 trees on the Comet Trail in Greentown and researched them.  The project includes identification posts, painted green, with yellow numbers 1 - 10.  The portion of the trail involved is from Meridian Street to Harrison Street.  The trees are honey locust, silver maple, basswood, white pine, red oak, walnut, jack pine, butternut, hackberry, and red mulberry.  A brochure with information about the trees is available at the Greentown libraries and at City Hall.

Decorated for the Holidays

One of the nicest light displays in town is that of Mary Mast Pier, 12 Green Hills Court.

Christmas at the Pioneer Village

A new feature at the Pioneer Village in the fairgrounds in Greentown is a light display.  Over 200,000 lights are installed on the buildings and various other features.  There are also several inflated characters.  The lights are on from 6 to 10 p.m. through January 1.  Signs give direction for parking in order to walk the trail or driving the perimeter. Donations are accepted for the Greentown Lions Club.