A haunted Hoosier ROAD TRIP
Whether a fan of spooky legends or terrifying tales, this tour of some of Indiana’s haunted places has something for everyone
Pages 20-25
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Indianapolis Masters Htg & Clg by Van Valer, Inc. (317) 881-9074 mastersingeothermal.com
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Laotto T&T Plbg, Htg, A/C & Geothermal (260) 200-4003 tt-ph.com
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Ossian Collier’s Comfort Services (260) 622-6622 collierscomfort.com
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West Lafayette Blue Fox Htg & Clg (765) 252-0051 bluefoxhvac.com
from the editor
A month to celebrate co-ops
October is National Cooperative Month. Indiana Connection is published by Indiana Electric Cooperatives, which is the service organization for our state’s member-owned electric co-ops. If you’re receiving this magazine, you are probably a co-op member.
It’s easy to think of your co-op as just an electric company, but as I’ve learned over the last 10 months as editor, it is so much more than that.
Co-ops operate according to seven cooperative principles, which include:
• Voluntary and Open Membership
• Democratic Member Control
• Members’ Economic Participation
• Autonomy and Independence
• Education, Training, and Information
• Cooperation Among Cooperatives
• Concern for Community
These principles are the main reason that your co-op is different from a for-profit electric company. Unlike other electric companies, your co-op never takes in a profit. It only uses enough funds to power your electricity and returns the rest as capital credits.
I have been most impressed with how the co-ops take the “Concern for Community” principle seriously. From Operation Round Up to scholarships, Camp Kilowatt, and Youth Tour, the co-ops make a concerted effort to support their local communities. Those programs can make a huge difference in people’s lives.
It’s common practice for companies to be all about profits and competing with others. Indiana’s electric co-ops strive to be more than that and do some good along the way. That’s something to celebrate.
Britt Davis Editor bdavis@indianaec.org
On the menu: January: Submit your favorite peanut butter recipes, deadline Nov. 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.
Giveaway: Enter to win a Halloween prize pack. Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests or send your contact information to the address below. The deadline to enter is Oct. 31.
Three ways to contact us: To send us recipes, photos, letters and entries for gift drawings, please use the forms on our website indianaconnection.org; email info@indianaconnection.org; or send to Indiana Connection, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, IN 46032.
VOLUME 74 • NUMBER 4 ISSN 0745-4651 • USPS 262-340
Published monthly by Indiana Electric Cooperatives
Indiana Connection is for and about members of Indiana’s locally-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives. It helps consumers use electricity safely and efficiently; understand energy issues; connect with their co-op; and celebrate life in Indiana. Over 311,000 residents and businesses receive the magazine as part of their electric co-op membership. The average printed and mailed cost per issue is 54 cents.
CONTACT US: 11805 Pennsylvania Street Carmel, IN 46032 317-487-2220 info@indianaconnection.org
IndianaConnection.org
INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OFFICERS: Steve McMichael President Dr. Richard Leeper Vice President
Jamey Marcum Secretary/Treasurer John Cassady CEO
EDITORIAL STAFF: Britt Davis Editor
Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist
Lauren Carman Communication Manager
Kiley Lipps Graphic Designer
Ashley Curry Production and Design Coordinator
Amber Knight Creative Manager
Mandy Barth Vice President of Communication
ADVERTISING: American MainStreet Publications
Cheryl Solomon, local ad representative; 512-441-5200; amp.coop Crosshair Media 502-216-8537; crosshairmedia.net
Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.
UNSOLICITED MATERIAL: Indiana Connection does not use unsolicited freelance manuscripts or photographs and assumes no responsibility for the safekeeping or return of unsolicited material.
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Rise
Gather
Fans of spooky legends and terrifying tales will enjoy this haunted Hoosier road
Pie
This month’s feature takes readers on a road trip throughout Indiana, showcasing seven spooky and potentially paranormal locations.
www.kremc.com
CONTACT US
Local: 574-267-6331
Toll-Free: 800-790-REMC
EMAIL mail@kremc.com
OFFICE HOURS
7:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday–Friday
ADDRESS
370 S. 250 E., Warsaw, IN 46582
SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS
To report a service interruption after hours, please call 574-267-6331 or 800-790-REMC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tony Fleming, Chairman
Dan Tucker, Vice Chairman
John Hand, Secretary/Treasurer
Tyler Bouse
Pam Messmore
Steve Miner
Rick Parker
Loretta Schafer
Todd Smith
FEDERAL TAX CREDITS
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 empowers homeowners to save money on energy efficiency improvements.
A few upgrades covered through the IRA include new exterior doors, windows, insulation, heating/cooling equipment and other major appliances. Visit energystar.gov/federal-tax-credits to learn if you qualify for a tax credit. - Energy.gov
Papa John’s 2511 E. Center St. Warsaw
574-269-3200
Offer:
XL pizza at regular price and get a medium 1-topping pizza FREE.
Supporting our community and Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Each time the seasons change, it feels like a bit of a surprise, even though we always know it’s coming. With the arrival of fall, October brings transformation at the cooperative. It’s also National Cooperative Month, a time to celebrate our history, community, and the principles we hold dear.
When we talk about cooperative principles, we often hone in on concern for community. It is one of the cooperative principles we value most. While we are first and foremost concerned with bringing safe, reliable, affordable electricity to our community, at Kosciusko REMC, we strive every day to do more. Our membership is comprised of caring, hardworking people, and when they come together for a cause, anything is possible. That is why I ask you to join our member services team in supporting a very special organization for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Francine’s Friends, a non-profit organization, brings vital mobile mammography services to our area. Our team will be accepting donations in the lobby throughout October, helping Francine’s Friends provide mammograms to as many women as possible. Please consider donating when you visit our office. Your support truly makes a world of difference.
For our seasonal residents, now is the time to winterize your electric account. This issue of Indiana Connection provides helpful information on how to get started. For all our members, now is a good time to consider your home's weatherization needs. Ensuring that your home is well-prepared for the colder months can save you money on energy bills and make your living space more comfortable. Our website, kremc.com, has many resources to help you weatherize your home.
I hope you enjoy the beauty of the season and all our caring community has to offer over the next weeks. Thank you for being a valued member-owner of KREMC. We’re wishing you a Happy National Cooperative Month.
KURT CARVER
President and CEO
KREMC rates and rebates
RATES
Residential and farm service
Service charge $29.50 per month
Kilowatt-hour (kWh) charge @$.0922 per kWh
Tracker charge @$.006779 per kWh
Outdoor lights*
40w LED
$8.75 per month
70w LED $12.25 per month
REBATES
Electric water heaters 50 gallons or larger:
• Gas to electric replacement — $125
• New construction water heater — $125
• Geothermal desuperheater — $50
HVAC:
• Geothermal system installation — $250
• Air-source heat pump system — $150
• Programmable thermostat — up to $25
Visit kremc.com for complete guidelines and restrictions. Additional rebates can be found at powermoves.com.
co-op
Moore reflects on 35 years of service and leadership at Kosciusko REMC
For Kosciusko REMC's Vice President of Engineering & Operations, Jeff Moore, a career meant not just a job but a lifelong commitment to growth, service, and embracing change. After celebrating 35 years with the cooperative, Moore reflects on his journey from meter technician to VP and the technological transformations that have marked his path.
When Moore thinks back to 1989, the year he was hired, his father-in-law comes to mind.
“My father-in-law was a lineman at Fulton County REMC, and that’s how I was introduced to the co-op world,” he said. “He knew there was a job opening. I started in the meter department. At the time, I was working in a trailer factory. It was cool, but I didn’t really like it. I was married and had kids so I was thinking about something career-minded.”
Moore acknowledges that while that long-term career mindset has somewhat shifted over the years with society, the electric cooperative industry has consistently provided opportunities for a successful career.
“When I was younger, I was looking for something you could work at for a long time, have benefits, and… you know, you can stay there,” he said.
Once Moore found his way into Kosciusko REMC, he stayed.
“I started in the meter department, but my intention was to get into the line department. I did not necessarily want to work in the meter department, but I was there for six years. The intention was always to get into the line department and do something there,” Moore recalled.
Moore described himself as more of an IT guy and said he has always liked technology and computers. He’s also hands-on and enjoys fixing things. According to Moore, he related to his father-in-law in that way.
“Being around him — that’s the way he was. So, I was always hoping to get into the line department,” said Moore.
Kosciusko REMC is a small company, but it was smaller 30 years ago. Employees had to be patient and stick with the cooperative for a lengthy period to earn a promotion. Moore explained that when growth did
happen, it was due to the growth of the surrounding community.
“When I started, Kosciusko County wasn’t really growing. Around here, it was more like, ‘Someone’s going to have to retire for me to get into the line department.’ I started in ’89. In ’95 or so, Kosciusko started growing a bit and adding subdivisions, so I had an opportunity. They were ready to add someone to the line department,” said Moore.
When Moore was presented with that opportunity, he did not instantly become a lineworker. Like there is today, there was training and apprenticeship to complete before that title was earned.
“You’ve got to go to climbing school first and show that you’re not scared of heights,” Moore laughed.
Moore said over the years he has seen significant improvement in the training and curriculum the lineworkers complete. While the training is similar, there is much more that the lineworkers are taught at the beginning of their careers compared to when he was getting started.
“But really,” Moore continued, “onthe-job training is the most important aspect of it.”
The biggest change since Moore started at KREMC in 1989 has been the technological advancement and digitization of the industry. During the 1990s and 2000s, electric cooperatives underwent a significant transformation due to increased digitization. In particular, the move from paper mapping systems to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) dramatically improved operational efficiency, service reliability, and decision-making.
Moore recalled reading about the move toward GIS early on in his career and taking a special interest due to his affinity for technology. He remembers all too well the rolled-up paper map that used to accompany each lineman wherever they went. He described marking new homes in the service territory with a red dot on the main operations map and then remembering to make the change to his own map.
“You had to keep that updated for your books. You would find the dot and count the dots up to the intersection to locate the right place. When everything went to GIS, everything was inventoried. Now, you can click on a pole, and it tells you the date of the pole, the size of the pole, and the construction unit that’s on it. Now you can overlay that with Google Earth, get a visual, and basically with GPS and phone, you plug it in, and it takes you right to it,” Moore explained.
Through the years and the changes, Moore has continued to learn and progress in his career. He has always been driven to grow, he said. When asked what advice he would give someone who is early on in their career as a lineworker, he emphasized going the extra mile.
“I always wanted to move to the next level. You have to have that drive, and then you have to show a willingness to stand out,” said Moore.
According to Moore, just verbalizing that you would like to advance in a company isn’t enough.
“You have to make it known, yes. But you must show something above and beyond. Demonstrate that you want to go the extra mile,” Moore said.
Moore said taking initiative is vital to becoming a successful lineworker.
”Learn as much as you can because there’s a lot,” he said. “Even when you make lineman after four years, there is still going to be a lot of learning to do.”
It wasn’t always easy for him. Moore acknowledged that while technology and ambition came naturally to him, communication did not.
“I’m not exactly a people person. I don’t mingle. Probably the hardest thing was learning to be more that way and learning to coach people,” he said. For Moore, it was a necessary part of getting to where he is today.
“You have to be honest with yourself at what you’re good at and what you’re not good at, and then try to fix it,” Moore stated.
After 35 years of service and counting, Moore is looking toward retirement in the not-so-distant future. While he has golf and maybe bowling on his mind, he’s truly anticipating spending more
time with family. Moore and his wife, Angela, have 10 grandchildren spread across several states.
“At some point, when I retire, I’ll spend more time trying to visit the grandkids,” Moore chuckled.
Looking back on his career, Moore is thankful for the opportunities and successes he had. He firmly believes the electric cooperative industry offers career stability that is not to be taken for granted.
“One thing about this place is you can make a career out of it. The benefits and everything are great. A lot of people keep bouncing around and looking for something better. If you embrace this place, you can be here for a long time,” said Moore.
Embrace this place, he did. For 35 years, Moore has not only adapted to change but driven it at Kosciusko REMC. From his early days in the meter department to his leadership role in engineering and operations, Moore's commitment and expertise have helped shape the cooperative's success. As he looks ahead to retirement, his legacy continues to light the way for future generations.
TEST-DRIVES & TACOS
REMINDER TO SUMMER RESIDENTS
Our third annual EV Test-Drive Experience will be at the KREMC facility on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Test-Drives & Tacos!” This educational event gives co-op members an opportunity to learn about electric vehicles and test-drive them on a predetermined route without any sales-related pressure. Our knowledgeable staff and event partners look forward to sharing information with you and accompanying you on a test-drive. This year, we will be joined by our friends at Wabash Valley Power Alliance, Jay County REMC, Kankakee Valley REMC, Lakeside Chevrolet of Warsaw & Huntington, and Armando’s Tacos. Scan the QR code or visit kremc.com/2024-ev-testdrive-experience to learn more.
If you spend your summers in a lake house on Kosciusko REMC lines, make sure to winterize your electric account before you leave for the season. We make it easy to monitor the home’s energy use while you’re gone. Throughout the winter, you can digitally view the kilowatt-hours that are being used in the house and notice any potential issues you may be returning to after the winter thaws. You can also sign up for High Energy Usage Alert text messages to receive alerts of any unknown energy sources that may result in a higher electric bill. Visit kremc. com/service, then select “My Account.” Set your mind at ease while you’re away. We’ll see you next year!
Battery-powered VERSUS plug-in hybrid
The two types of electric vehicles offer flexibility for owners with different priorities
Electric vehicles continue to be a hot topic in the energy and environmental fields. However, throwing electric vehicles under one umbrella is not entirely accurate. Let’s look at the different types of electric vehicles available on the market.
BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
What most people mean when they say “electric vehicle” is a fully battery-powered EV or BEV (battery electric vehicle).
BEVs run exclusively on electricity from at least one or multiple large batteries. There is no internal combustion engine to convert gasoline into propulsion power, so there is no need for oil changes and zero tailpipe emissions.
Fueling a BEV is done by plugging a charging cord and connector into a port that looks similar to a car’s traditional gas cap. It is estimated that around 80 to 90%
of BEV charging is done at home although public charging stations have become readily accessible. Depending on the vehicle, a single charge could last anywhere from 100 to 300 miles.
PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES
One of the alternatives is a plugin hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). These are similar to traditional hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in that they run on gas and battery power, but PHEVs get their power from plug-in chargers like a BEV. Most can travel 20 to 35 miles purely on electricity and switch to a backup gas engine when the power runs out.
PHEVs can be charged at home and at public charging stations, which gives you a taste of EV life while still having the security of a tank full of gas for longer trips. The charging time is also much shorter because the battery is smaller — approximately 10 times smaller than
a BEV. In addition, PHEVs do a little bit of recharging while on the road, primarily via regenerative braking.
Although PHEVs fit a niche between BEVs and HEVs, they often cost at least $5,000 more because they have the components of gas engines and electric batteries.
Whether you’re just dipping your toe in the electric vehicle waters or ready to take the plunge, there are multiple options in the electric vehicle market. Find the BEV, HEV, or PHEV that is right for you.
by Matt Brames Manager of Engineering Dubois REC
Scott County
Scott County honors its pioneer past at the Scott County Heritage Center and Museum, located in the former Scott County Poor Farm. Established in the late 19th century, the poor farm provided shelter and care for those unable to support themselves because of economic hardship or disabilities before modern social welfare programs existed. Residents would harvest crops, tend gardens, manage household chores, and make or repair clothing and furniture.
GOT GOAT MILK?
Since 2005, the Jonas family has raised a herd of dairy goats on their farm in Scottsburg. This family of 10’s mission is to educate visitors about goats and goat milk’s many uses. At their farm store, Goat Milk Stuff, the Jonases sell soaps, lip balms, lotions, and more skin care products made from their goats’ extra milk. They also offer personalized recommendations on which goat milk products can help different skin types, like dry or oily skin, and skin conditions, like eczema or rosacea. Additionally, the Jonases offer a behind-the-scenes tour of their working dairy farm and an experience where visitors can meet and snuggle with the farm’s baby goats.
LAKE LIFE, HARDY STYLE
Hardy Lake — Indiana’s only state reservoir not created for flood control — maintains a stable water level yearround, which benefits its shoreline, fishing, and wildlife. Hardy Lake also features one of the Indiana Department of Natural Resource’s raptor centers. The Dwight R. Chamberlain Raptor Center cares for injured birds of prey and educates visitors about hawks, owls, falcons, and vultures. The Raptor Center’s name honors Dwight R. Chamberlain, a Scottsburg resident and conservationist known for his research on crows and ravens.
NATURE’S SWEET BLOOMS
Open July through October, Knobstone Flower Farm in Scottsburg has over 5 acres of sunflowers, 11 acres of wildflowers, a nature trail winding around the flower fields, and a 3-acre lake. Visitors can create custom bouquets at the farm’s You-Pick flower experience with blooms like zinnias and celosias. Knobstone Flower Farm also sells honey harvested from its bees, who collect nectar from the farm’s buckwheat cover crops. Throughout the year, the farm hosts events, including its recent Sunflower Music Festival with food trucks, live music performances, and yard games, like cornhole and croquet.
COUNTY FACTS
FOUNDED: 1820
NAMED FOR:
General Charles Scott, the governor of Kentucky from 1808 to 1812
POPULATION: 24,384
COUNTY SEAT: Scottsburg
INDIANA COUNTY NUMBER: 72
PRODUCT RECALLS
DEWALT BATTERY PUSH WALK-BEHIND MOWERS AND DEWALT BATTERY SELF-PROPELLED WALK-BEHIND MOWERS
If water gets into the DeWALT Battery Push walk-behind and selfpropelled mower’s handle support while the battery is installed, the mower can fail to shut off when the bail handle is released or start without a key, posing a laceration hazard to the user. The mowers were sold at The Home Depot, Tractor Supply, Ace Hardware, and various stores nationwide and online from January 2024 through July 2024. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled mowers if they have gotten wet and contact DeWALT to receive a free repair at an authorized service center nearby. For more information, go to dewalt.com/push-mowers-recall or call 800-990-6421.
HALO 1000 PORTABLE POWER STATIONS
The lithium-ion batteries in the HALO 1000 Portable Power Station can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards that can lead to serious injury or death. The units were sold through ZAGG, ACG, and QVC from October 2021 through March 2022. Consumers should immediately stop using the portable power stations and contact the HALO Recall hotline for a free replacement portable power station. For more information, call 888-345-0481, email at halo5528@sedgwick.com, or go to halo1000recall.expertinquiry.com/.
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A hauntingly
GATHER YOUR GHASTLY GHOULS FOR A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION OF ALL THINGS HALLOWEEN IN HISTORIC IRVINGTON
If you’re a Halloween fanatic, there’s only one spot to be this fall — the 78th Annual Historic Irvington Halloween Festival. A community-wide celebration of all things spooky, Irvington located about 15 minutes east of downtown Indianapolis, welcomes all to enjoy their shared affection for the haunting season. Kicking off on Oct. 19 with the Masquerade Ball, guests 21 and older will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and intrigue.
Be bewitched at the Spooky Organ Concert on Oct. 20, purchase original art on Oct. 21, and try keeping your eyes open during the Horror Shorts Movie Night, presented by Heartland Film and Playground Productions on Oct. 22. If horror isn’t your genre, the Family Movie Night on the 23rd may be your ticket. Continue your patronage of the arts on the 24th and listen to a special reading of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and tales from local writers. Dress up and tour Irvington’s spine-chillingly decorated neighborhoods on Friday’s Zombie Bike Ride.
Saturday’s Vampire Run begins at 9:30 a.m., and the street fair opens at 10 a.m. Arrive early to register your canine or yourself in the festival’s costume contests. Kids 12 and under can get their mid-day wiggles out in the free Little Bat Dash at 11:30 a.m. Do your best Monster Mash with the kids at the family stage and jam out at the main stage as the battle of the bands rocks out. Shop for Halloween decor and handmade goods, and enjoy delicious food from vendors offering burgers, vegan fare, and sweet treats. Don’t miss the beer garden’s eight breweries and cidery or the family zone, home of the family stage, and pumpkin carving contest. The festival parade departs from Washington Street at 4:30 p.m., featuring witches, goblins, superheroes, princesses, and more of all ages in a final celebration of the spookiest festival of all.
Natalie Derrickson is a freelance writer from Indianapolis.
FOR MASQUERADE BALL TICKETS, CONTEST AND RUN REGISTRATION, AND EVENT MAP AND TIMES, VISIT
safety THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF electric vehicle safety
Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining traction in the United States. If you drive an EV or are considering buying one, there are unique safety items to know.
“There are some important differences to keep in mind if you drive an EV instead of a gaspowered vehicle,” said Jon Elkins, vice president for safety, training, and compliance for Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “While EVs can be good investments for drivers, it’s important for owners to stay up to date on unique safety precautions related to these vehicles.”
OVERALL EV SAFETY
First, it can be helpful to remember that EVs seem to hold up well in simulated crashes. According to CBS News, tests done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) showed that EVs are durable because their batteries make them heavier, offering better protection to those sitting inside.
You might be wondering about the fire safety risk of the lithium-ion batteries associated with EVs. While there are fewer EV fires than internal combustion engine fires, EV fires can pose unique challenges.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), damaged or defective lithium-ion batteries can enter a state called thermal runaway. That means the battery cells begin heating up uncontrollably, spreading from one battery cell to another and leading to
a fire. In addition, these batteries can release toxic and flammable gasses that could lead to an explosion.
AFTER AN ACCIDENT
What should you do if you’re in an accident, see smoke, flames, or smell burning coming from your EV? Here are some actions to take according to the NFPA:
• First, pull over as soon as you can safely and move to a safe location off the road.
• Once you are stopped, turn off the engine and get everyone out of the car. Do not return to the burning car for anything.
• Get everyone at least 100 feet from the burning car and well away from traffic. If you can, go where the wind blows away from the vehicle.
• Call 911 or your local emergency number and tell them there is an EV involved.
SAFE CHARGING
In addition to knowing what to do in an accident, here are some reminders from the NFPA about safely charging an EV at home:
• Remember that EVs have highvoltage batteries.
• Battery maintenance needs to be performed by the manufacturer.
• Do not touch the orange highvoltage cables.
Chris Adam is a freelance writer from Lafayette.
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Rise AND shine
Start your morning off right with a hearty breakfast
FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE
Angela Rouch, Peru
3, 8-oz French baguettes
8 oz cream cheese
2 tsp vanilla, divided
2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups fresh blueberries
6 eggs
2 cups milk
¾ cup sugar, divided
1½ tsp ground cinnamon
Grease a 3-quart baking dish. Cut each baguette into 1-inch slices, cutting to but not through the bottom of the loaf. For filling, in a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until smooth. Beat in the powdered sugar until combined. Fold in the blueberries. Arrange the baguettes side by side in the prepared dish. Spoon the filling between the baguette slices.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, 1/2 cup sugar, remaining 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Pour over the bread. Cover and chill overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Uncover the dish. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle over the bread. Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes or until the egg mixture is set, covering with foil the last 15 minutes, if necessary, to prevent overbrowning. Remove and let cool slightly.
BISCUITS AND GRAVY CASSEROLE
Marilles Mauer, Greensburg
1 lb pork sausage
¼ tsp crushed red pepper
¼ cup butter
¼ cup flour
2 cups milk
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp pepper
1 can of grand biscuits (8 count)
6 large eggs
¼ cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 13x9 pan. In a skillet, brown the sausage. Add the crushed red pepper in the last few minutes of cooking. Once brown, set aside. In a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for several minutes, whisking constantly until the mixture turns golden brown. Slowly whisk in the milk, salt, onion powder, and pepper. Continue to whisk until the gravy thickens. Add ½ cup of the cooked sausage and stir to combine.
Cut the biscuits into quarters and scatter them in a single layer in the greased pan. Top with the browned sausage and sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with heavy cream until well combined. Pour the egg mixture over the cheese. Pour gravy over the egg mixture and cover with the remaining 1 cup of cheese. Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until lightly browned and eggs are set.
TAILGATE BREAKFAST SLIDERS
Gale Rhodes, Battle Ground
1 package slider buns
8 eggs
¼ cup milk
2 tbsp sliced chives
Kosher salt
Freshly ground
black pepper
10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
3 tbsp butter, divided
1 tsp maple syrup
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Slice the slider buns in half lengthwise. On the bottom layer of the slider buns, sprinkle 2 cups of cheddar cheese. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with milk and chives. Season with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of butter. Cook eggs to desired consistency. Place the eggs and crumbled bacon on the bottom layer of the sliders. Top with the remaining 2 cups of cheese. Cover with the slider tops. In a small bowl, mix the butter with the maple syrup. Brush on top of the sliders. Bake for 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and slider tops are golden. Makes 12 sliders.
A haunted Hoosier ROAD TRIP
Whether a fan of spooky legends or terrifying tales, this tour of some of Indiana’s haunted places has something for everyone
BY CHRIS ADAM
Are you a fan of fright and haunted places? Do you like to check out locations with spine-tingling tales?
If so, you don’t need to travel far. Indiana is home to many spooky locations with terrifying tales of their histories. Some of these places may be right in your backyard. This road trip features slightly scary to truly frightening places and legends across Indiana, from Fort Wayne to Evansville, with stops in between. Along the way, you can discover mansions, cemeteries, and other locations with sometimes ghastly folklore. Let’s go!
STOP 1: THE BELL MANSION, FORT WAYNE
Want to explore the unexplained? Then, visit the Bell Mansion in Fort Wayne.
It’s just one of many spooky mansions in Indiana. The Bell Mansion was a funeral home for over 90 years, where between 400,000 and 500,000 bodies were embalmed.
Paranormal tours and other events help maintain the 14,000-square-foot, 131-year-old mansion. People who work in or have visited the mansion have experienced everything from fullbody apparitions to footsteps with no one else in the building, music playing with no radio, lights being turned on, doors shutting on their own, and disembodied voices. The team at Bell Mansion has been told their spirits are super friendly and tricksters. Multiple paranormal teams who don’t know each other tell similar stories or have similar experiences.
The Bell Mansion offers ghost tours, and the historic event center can also be used for weddings and parties. Many volunteers work together to preserve it.
STOP 2: AVON HAUNTED BRIDGE, AVON
It’s time to make a stop at an Indiana bridge that’s said to be haunted. There are several legends about why ghosts could occupy the Avon Haunted Bridge.
According to Visit Indiana, one story that has circulated for years is that of a drunken rail worker who slipped during construction and was buried alive in the wet cement. The tale is that when a train goes over the bridge, people claim to still hear his moaning. Another story about the bridge is that a young mother was walking the tracks to take her sick baby to the doctor. She slipped and fell from the bridge, killing both her and her baby. At night, the sounds of the mother screaming for her infant can be heard. The last common legend is of four workers falling to their deaths into White Lick Creek. People claim to still hear thuds and splashes in the creek.
STOP 3: INDIANA STATE SANATORIUM, ROCKVILLE
The Indiana State Sanatorium in Rockville has been called the Midwest’s premier location for paranormal investigation and urban exploration.
continued on page 22
continued from page 21
The Sanatorium was the state’s main tuberculosis hospital from 1908 to 1968. In 1976, it re-opened as a health care center. The site was a nursing home and private mental hospital until 2011, when it suddenly closed, leaving behind hundreds of beds and hospital equipment.
Today, the Sanatorium includes the historic tuberculosis hospital, nursing home, mental hospital and supporting buildings, with thousands of feet of steam tunnels.
If you want to explore this location for yourself, there are tours and paranormal investigation opportunities. You can also book the Sanatorium for special events.
STOP 4: EDNA COLLINS COVERED BRIDGE, PUTNAM COUNTY
The next stop on our road trip is another bridge — the Edna Collins Covered Bridge. According to Putnam County Historian Larry Tippin, this is the county’s shortest and most recently constructed covered bridge. Here’s the story, according to Tippin:
Some have claimed the bridge is haunted, either by Edna Collins or another young girl who was said to
have drowned in Little Walnut Creek below the bridge. Folklore suggests that this little girl’s parents would drop her off to swim at the bridge and run errands. Upon returning, they would honk their horn three times, and the child, accompanied by the family dog, would come to the parents’ car. One day, the parents returned to the bridge and honked. The family dog came running, but the child did not, and the parents found her drowned in shallow water.
Some stories add that the mother of the drowned child was so distraught she hung herself on the steps of a nearby church. The legend includes the warning that if a person parks by the bridge and honks three times, handprints will appear on the car windows.
Tippin adds that this legend appears to be based on factual events, but not at the Edna Collins Covered Bridge and not with the people noted.
STOP 5:
100 STEPS CEMETERY, CLAY COUNTY
Is the most haunted cemetery in Indiana near Brazil? Some say so.
The next stop on the haunted road trip is a cemetery in Clay County, known by a few names. Whether you call it the 100 Steps Cemetery, Carpenter Cemetery, or Cloverland Cemetery, it’s a magnet for folklore enthusiasts and ghost hunters.
According to Author Chris Flook, the cemetery was established during the American Civil War and is still active.
Visitors must ascend 100 steps to reach the summit.
According to Flook, a couple of ghostly legends surround this cemetery. The first is that at midnight, under a moonless sky, visitors should count 100 total steps when they reach the summit. Then, they should walk back down and count again — they might count a different number (perhaps caused by a supernatural sleight-of-hand).
The second legend is much spookier. In this one, the visitor looks down the hill from the summit and sees a caretaker who will reveal how the visitor will die. The vision was wrong if the visitor counted the same number of steps while going back down. If there is a different number, the visitor will die in the manner revealed by the phantom caretaker.
Here are two other notes about this haunted location: the cemetery was attacked by at least one body snatcher in 1892, and it’s only open from sunrise to sunset.
STOP 6:
THE BENJAMIN SCHENCK MANSION, VEVAY
This road trip includes another haunted mansion — this time in southern Indiana.
The Benjamin Schenck Mansion in Vevay is said to be one of the most haunted places in all of Indiana.
continued on page 24
According to legend, the Schenck Mansion was built on the ruins of an older structure lost in a fire that consumed it and a couple trapped inside. There have also been stories about guests at the Schenck Mansion feeling the presence of “non-living guests” and single men being woken up by ghostly kisses. There have also been reports of flickering lights and unsourced sounds.
The Schenck Mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022. In 2020, it was sold to tattoo artist and television personality Kat Von D.
STOP 7: WILLARD LIBRARY, EVANSVILLE
You may have heard about the Willard Library, as it’s gained a lot of attention from ghost hunters.
Willard Library in Evansville was built as a tribute by Willard Carpenter, who never saw its completion due to his death in 1883. Opened in 1885, the gothic-revival library was left to the Board of Trustees, bypassing his family. His daughter, Louise, unsuccessfully sued for property rights and later moved to New England, where she died in 1908.
In 1937, the first sighting of the Grey Lady Ghost occurred in the library’s basement. continued from page 23
A maintenance man saw a young woman in a Victorian-era dress disappear while stocking the furnace with coal. The Grey Lady Ghost has since made her presence known through the scent of perfume, distant crying, and books falling off shelves. Several sightings have also been captured on the library’s 24/7 ghost cams, which were installed in the early 2000s.
These haunted road trip stops are just the tip of the iceberg regarding scary places in Indiana. There are hundreds of locations across the state that have the potential to give you a fright. The opportunity to experience paranormal activity could be closer than you think.
GRAB A FORK AND BUCKLE UP
The Hoosier Pie Trail offers endless varieties for every kind of pie connoisseur
For fans of flaky crusts and an abundance of filling across Indiana, the Hoosier Pie Trail beckons. Indiana Foodways Alliance, a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to the celebration, promotion, and preservation of the authentic food culture of Indiana, has compiled a list of 36 stops throughout the state.
What’s your pleasure? Crispy, nutty, fruity, or velvety smooth? Seasonal, traditional, historical? The list includes diners, restaurants, candy stores, and even a brewery offering anything your palate might desire. Below, we highlight three stops that might tempt your appetite for travel and gastronomic adventure.
MRS. WICK’S RESTAURANT & PIE SHOP
100 Cherry St., Winchester wickspies.com | 765-584-7437
With 1940s beginnings as humble as the sugar cream pie believed to have been brought to the state in the mid-1800s by the Shaker community, Mrs. Wick’s Restaurant & Pie Shop has turned Indiana’s sweet trademark into a culinary empire, staking its claim as “the largest sugar cream pie manufacturer in the world.”
Still a Wickersham family enterprise with a restaurant and retail outlet at their full-service bakery on Cherry Street, Wick’s Pies include chicken, turkey, and beef, and dozens of dessert pies diners may eat in or have shipped. Just a sampling includes all the standards you would expect,
DAS DUTCHMAN ESSENHAUS
240 U.S. 20, Middlebury essenhaus.com | 574-825-9471
Opened in 1971 by Bob and Sue Miller as an Amish-style restaurant, Das Dutchman Essenhaus has grown to include an inn, conference center, and a bakery that landed the business on the Hoosier Pie Trail. In addition to pastries, bread, cookies, cakes, and muffins, the establishment’s pie menu offers about three dozen seasonal selections and several sugar-free options. The list includes shoofly, praline pecan cream, chocolate peanut butter banana, butterscotch, and their top two bestsellers, red raspberry cream and Dutch apple.
STORIE’S RESTAURANT
109 E. Main St., Greensburg facebook.com/storiesrestaurant | 812-663-9948
In the small town made famous for the tree growing from the top of its courthouse tower, Tony and Gega Sharp purchased Storie’s Restaurant in 2021, complete with the family recipes served there since its opening by the Storie family in 1977.
On the menu is the tale of the “tower tree,” as well as Storie’s comfort food staples, like its tenderloin sandwich, homemade meatloaf, and fried chicken. The restaurant’s dessert menu consists of an assortment of pies, including the traditional sugar cream and Reese’s pie, with an Oreo cookie crust, peanut butter, and melted chocolate topping. Whether fruit, cream, baked, or meringue, all the pies are made fresh in-store, sold whole or by the slice. About 150 pies are sold per week, with Sunday’s leftovers sold at
Veni Fields is a journalist and freelance writer from Virginia Beach.
To see all the Hoosier Pie Trail stops and to plan other culinary adventures with Indiana Foodways Alliances’ 20 other food trails, go to indianafoodways.com/trails.
Wabash Valley Power news
THE
power
OF
partnership
Our recipe for affordable, reliable electricity
Wabash Valley Power Alliance is a not-for-profit electric cooperative that provides wholesale power to 23 electric distribution cooperatives. That makes us a co-op of co-ops! Our strong partnership with our member co-ops across Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri is how we deliver great rates.
AN ELECTRIFYING JOURNEY
How does the partnership work? Imagine electricity as a traveler on a long road trip to reach your home or business. It starts at WVPA, where electricity is generated or purchased. WVPA is like a big power factory, using different energy sources — natural gas, coal, wind, sunlight, and nuclear energy — to create electricity.
ENTERING YOUR COMMUNITY
Before electricity enters your home or business, the “pressure” needs to be lowered so it makes a pitstop at a substation. Here, the electricity transforms from high voltage to low voltage. From there, your local distribution cooperative manages the electricity’s journey through smaller power lines to ensure it reaches every destination.
ON THE ROAD
Once created, electricity needs to travel to you through unique paths. These are the high-voltage transmission lines, big towers, and cables you see stretching across the land. They act like highways for electricity, carrying it over long distances.
THE FINAL LEG
Now, at the right “pressure,” the electricity travels on smaller power lines to your neighborhood. These lines are like the local streets and roads that lead directly to your home, business, school, or farm. After one final transformation, the “pressure” is at the perfect level. From the morning’s brewing coffeemaker to your home-cooked family dinner, this electricity powers you and your family through your day, every day.
THINK PINK IN OCTOBER
DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS?
KREMC is hosting a Francine's Friends fundraiser in the lobby throughout the month of October. Francine's Friends is an all-volunteer non-profit organization providing mobile mammography in partnership with Parkview Health and Breast Diagnostic Center. Stop into our office to contribute, and follow us on social media to learn more.
DO YOU NEED A MAMMOGRAM?
Francine's Friends will be at Metzger Trucking at 208 S. Jefferson Street in Silver Lake on Oct. 18 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Francine's Friends Mobile Mammography offers convenience and privacy for this screening test, which takes about 15 minutes. Specially trained technicians from the Breast Diagnostic Center provide the mammography service. Call 260-483-1847 to schedule a mammogram with Francine's Friends. Appointments are preferred. Walk-ins are accepted based on availability.
Stay Connected and Protected.
Experience Arlo Secure with lightning-fast fiber internet, now available from Kosciusko Connect.
Scan the code with your mobile device or visit kosciuskoconnect.com to learn more.
THE COLOR OF
My wife and I are country people, and for four or five months of the year, we watch as a lush green curtain is gradually pulled around us. It is a welcomed thing after we have outlasted the brown and muddy months of winter. Still, with deep woodlands behind us to the east and endless fields stretching toward the western horizon, we eventually look out every window in our house into a sea of green. In the hottest summer months, we feel nearly smothered by our own trees.
That is until late August and early September. By then, we begin to notice a thinning, a sense that the green is giving way to a new palette. First, in the skinny and reddened fingers of creepers and ivies that have spent all summer conquering fence posts and power poles alike, and then in the haggard yellowing leaves of the soybeans that often go to bronze in a matter of a few days. The opportunistic roadside sumacs seem to follow soon after.
By late in the ninth month, there are hints that we have reached a point of no return, that in a fevered rush, those once vigorous trees, juicy corn stalks, and ravenous and
spreading roadside weeds have entered into a race of sorts as they pull off a quick change and then drop into a ground carpet of rich decay. Their mingled scents, the bluer, clearer skies of October, and the almost-welcomed bite of first frosts and early sunsets and brown rattle usher in, then out, the colors of fall.
The two of us make the time in mid-October to take a special walk, one that has become a tradition. Together, we tramp along a rocky, shallow branch that gurgles out of the hills of her parents’ small farm, and from there, we climb to the top of a beautiful wooded ridge, always under the shade of poplars and beeches, each year noting that it takes just a bit longer for us to reach the top. It is a favorite day, for if we choose it well, the colors of fall are peaking, and there is no better place to see them than in the woods where she spent a childhood, one that she would return to in a minute if she had the chance.
I once asked a quantitative forest ecologist why trees changed colors and why some years were better suited for it than others. He told me that foliage changes
color in a “complex bioclimaticphysiological system,” and he mentioned temperature anomalies and precipitation amounts and the trees’ production of certain chemicals, such as “anthocyanin and carotenoids.” Partially because I once took a course in botany and am interested in such things, I even understood much of what he said.
But if you are ever to ask me, as our young grandsons have as we’ve hiked along the creek’s banks or climbed those same steep hillsides under a glittering shower of maple orange and black cherry gold, I would say it is magic, that the leaves tire of their greenness and drop for reasons we are too small to fully understand. We should just breathe deeply, take it all in, and enjoy it together while we can.
Mike Lunsford is a freelance columnist, feature writer, and photographer, primarily for the Terre Haute Tribune-Star and Terre Haute Living magazine. The author of seven books lives in Parke County with his wife, Joanie. Contact Lunsford at hickory913@gmail.com.