The Tribune from Seymour, Indiana • A1

Switchboard: 812-522-4871 Toll-free: 800-800-8212 CALL US ObitUArieS Tuesday, March 14, 2023 tribtown.com $1.00 JACKSON COUNTY, INDIANAThe Tribune Our purpose Connecting people, building community and improving life Daily LOCAL newS Seymour Maxine P. Duwe, 86 10th annual butler blood drive coming up The 10th annual Butler blood drive with Versiti Blood Center of Indiana will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 31 at MAX Professionals, 1403 E. Tipton Seymour.

The Butler University bus will be there this year, and people will have the opportunity to participate in the blood challenge. Butler alumni are asked to type in the notes section when sign- ing up and your donation will be counted. Giving blood is a quick, simple way to give back to your community. The donation process from the time you arrive to the time you leave is about an hour, but the actual donation time is only 8 to 10 min- utes. Every participant will be entered in a prize draw- ing, and refreshments will be provided to each donor inside the office.

To pick your time slot to donate, visit donate.indi- ana.versiti.org/donor/ YOU ShOULd knOw have a story idea? Do you have a story idea like to see in print? Share it with The Tribune newsroom. Call 812-523- 7051 or send an email to com. Story ideas may also be submitted online at tribtown.com. To submit a news item and photos about your business, church, club, sorority or any other orga- nization, visit aimmedia. newsengin.com/gps2/ dropbox.html and click the a button.

hAve YOUr SAY on your mind? on your mind about stories in the news today? Share your thoughts with other read- ers in The Tribune and online at tribtown.com. Send letters to The Tribune, 121 N. Chestnut second floor, Seymour, Ind. 47274. Or email them to readersub- Letters may also be submitted online at tribtown.com.

By Zach Spicer The Tribune John Mellencamp was born in a small town, and he lived in a small town. That was in a home at 714 W. Fifth St. in Seymour. Kevin Burke, who said he has owned the house since 1979 and has had it as a rental for 40 years, recently announced his plans to turn the home- place of the Seymour native and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer into an Airbnb.

According to airbnb.com, Airbnb began in 2008 when two designers who had space to share hosted three travelers looking for a place to stay. Now, millions of hosts and guests have created free Airbnb accounts to enjoy each unique view of the world. From cozy cottages to elegant penthouses, hosts are happy to share their places. Whether a work trip, a weekend getaway, a family vacation or a longer stay, there are millions of places to visit, the website states. Burke wants the Mellencamp home- place to be included on the website.

First, though, he needs a land use variance to be approved. The first step in that process was sharing his plans with the Seymour Plan Commission. During a meeting Thursday, that board voted 9-1 and passed it on to the Airbnb planned at Mellencamp homeplace Zach Spicer The Tribune Seymour native and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Mellen- camp grew up in this house at 714 W. Fifth St. Kevin Burke, the current owner, wants to turn homeplace into an Airbnb.

Land use variance advances from city plan commission to board of zoning appeals (SEE variance PaGE a2) By auBrey WoodS The Tribune BROWNSTOWN The Jackson County Commis- sioners recently received some information about the pursuit of a grant designed to reduce the number of county residents with substance use and mental health disorders who have re- peat encounters with law enforcement. we went through that process in pulling that grant application together, it became clear that perhaps there was not infor- mation out, certainly among commis- sioners and among the community around recovery residences, and what they might need to Sherri Jewett said during a commissioners meeting March 7 at the courthouse. Jewett, executive director of Alliance for Substance Abuse Prog- ress in Bartholomew County, said her goal was to give commis- sioners that information and talk about what will potentially happen and what process the state is putting in place with recovery residences. Recovery housing is just one of many com- ponents of the $3 million grant application Healthy Jackson County recently submitted to the In- diana Family and Social Services Administration to set up an Integrated Reentry and Correction Support program. The state has set aside $25 million to allow any of the 92 counties to put IRACS in place.

The state is funding the program, which also pro- vides support for those who have encounters with police even if they are not arrested, with its opioid settlement monies. Healthy Jackson grant applica- tion includes requests for funding to help about 15 governmental agencies and other organizations in the county who deal with those who have substance use and mental health issues. As part of the grant process, the state is looking for counties, Commissioners discuss recovery housing effort Jewett (SEE housing PaGE a4) By erika Malone The Tribune Following a record- setting year of enrollment for On My Way Pre-K, Indi- Office of Early Child- hood and Out-of-School Learning is now accepting ap- plications for the 2023-24 school year. On My Way Pre-K allows 4-year- olds from lower-income families to receive a free high-quality prekinder- garten education through only state-spon- sored prekindergarten program. enrolled more than 6,200 children in 2022 and expect to enroll even more this said Courtney Penn, director of the Indiana Family and Social Services Adminis- Office of Early Childhood and Out-of- School Learning.

In 2022, 58 Jackson County children, 12 children from Jennings County and 95 children from Bartholomew County received grants. Purdue University long-term study released last year showed that chil- dren who attend On My Way Pre-K are better pre- pared for school and that the benefits continue well into elementary Penn said. we enroll On My Way Pre-K applications now open Penn (SEE applicaTions PaGE a2) By lori Mcdonald The Tribune A life is devastated and a life is ended every 19 hours within the counties served by Clarity of Central Indiana. Clarity consists of 10 center locations, a mobile unit and education programs for students and res- toration programs for those wanting healing from past traumas. The headquarters is in Columbus.

During the Clarity 2023 fundraising banquet March 7 at Cornerstone Com- munity Church in Seymour, a video was shown that explained the history and services it provides. Seymour resident Jennifer Kwasniewski also shared the story of how she chose life when she discovered she was pregnant in 2001. was a freshman in high school and decided to go to Planned Parenthood for birth control, and before they give you birth control, they do a pregnancy she said. found out I was Clarity celebrates 40 years of help, hope and healing Pictured from top: Jennifer Kwasniewski and Officer Tim Toborg with the Seymour Police Department attend the Clarity fundraising banquet March 7 at Cornerstone Com- munity Church in Seymour. Pam White, Clarity center director for Seymour, gives the welcome to attendees at the Clarity fundraising banquet last week at Cornerstone Community Church in Seymour.

(SEE clariTy PaGE a4) SPOrtS b1 We at AIM Media stand with the Ukrainian people to support their freedom sovereignty. WORKING HARD TO HELP THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE IN THEIR TIME OF NEED. aimmediacares.com STAND WITH UKRAINE aimmediacares.com Victory Field Challenge Owls continue tradition of preseason fun.