Local News Headlines: August 16, 2021

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Off-duty ISP Trooper Hatchett helps to save the life of accident victim
Just before 4:00 PM on Saturday, August 14, 2021, Trooper Matt Hatchett was off duty and driving home in his Indiana State Police vehicle after completing his training commitment for the Indiana Army National Guard when he was flagged down by a group of motorcycle riders on Sunset Drive near Sweetwater Lake in Northeast Brown County. The motorists requested assistance for a female motorcycle operator who had crashed while operating the vehicle and was lying in the grass off the side of the road struggling with injuries and losing consciousness. Trooper Hatchett quickly grabbed his medical gear and began assessing the rider when he noticed severe damage to one of the victim’s lower legs which caused heavy bleeding. Trooper Hatchett applied a tourniquet to the leg to stop blood loss from the injury. This possibly saved the female motorcycle rider’s life. She was then flown, via medical helicopter, to an Indianapolis Hospital.

Indiana State Police Sgt. Greg Day praised the quick thinking and efforts of Trp. Hatchett, “Even though he was off-duty, Trooper Hatchett put his training into action without hesitation. His efforts no doubt saved a life. Our thoughts are certainly with the crash victim and her family.” Trooper Hatchett has served as an Indiana State Trooper for nearly four years and resides in Brown County with his family. All Indiana State Troopers are issued tourniquets as part of their duty gear. Officers train annually on the benefits and proper application of tourniquets.

Driver killed in fatal crash with bus driver named by Coroner
The Thursday evening crash on SR 67 between a Spencer Owen Community School bus and a passenger car, as reported on August 13th, claimed the life of previously unidentified driver Ronald E. Denton Jr., 61, of Indianapolis. Dentonwas named by the Owen County Coroner’s Office as the driver of a 2003 Toyota that was involved in the two vehicle fatal crash involving a Spencer-Owen Community School Corporation bus on SR 67 north of Gosport. At the time of the crash, the bus was occupied by 9 students, and the driver, 56 year-old TaresaTharpe, of Gosport. Each occupant of the bus was evaluated by emergency responders and of the bus occupants, 7 juveniles were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. All other passengers were transported to Gosport Elementary where they were assisted by the SOCS Corporation.

Indiana State Park Upcoming Activities
Beginning Memorial Day weekend, programs and activities are typically offered at Paynetown State Recreation Area (SRA) (and occasionally at other SRAs around the lake) at least five days a week through the summer. Most of them are not featured in this e-newsletter due to space issues. We encourage you to check our FULL ONLINE EVENT CALENDAR prior to visiting Monroe Lake. The online calendar is currently finalized through Sept. 30.

Campfire Cooking Mini Workshops, Aug. 29 (Paynetown SRA)
Sign up for just one session or register for all three and spend the day cooking with us over the fire! Each session is limited to eight people and restricted to ages 12 and up. Registration for all sessions is required by Aug. 22.

Flora Field Day, multiple dates
Want to work on your flora identification skills? Practice with a naturalist! Field day emphasis is on proper use and application of an ID key, which opens the door to identifying thousands of species. The naturalist will work with each attendee based on their prior experience. If you’ve never worked with flower ID before, this is a great way to learn. If you have prior experience, this is a fun way to practice your skills and maybe add some new blooms to your life list.

Explore Monroe Paddling Trips, multiple dates
Explore the quieter side of Monroe Lake during these guided paddling trips that journey through backwaters, wetlands, bays, and/or slow-moving streams. Trips highlight beautiful views, hidden wildlife, aquatic plants, and unique land features. Find your new favorite place to kayak! Two hours… Each trip is limited to 10 people, restricted to ages 16 and up. All participants must have at least two hours of prior paddling experience OR have completed one of our Beginner Kayaking workshops. Trip fee is $10 per person. You can bring your own canoe/kayak or rent a kayak from us ($20 per kayak rental fee). 

Salt Creek Valley History Week, Sept. 12-18
We will have daily programming on local history during our inaugural Salt Creek Valley History Week! The program schedule includes activities that require advance registration (with limited space available) and others that are open to everyone without registration.

  • Sept. 12, “Then and Now” Challenge from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; FREE, no registration required; Paynetown SRA, Campground Playground
  • Sept. 12, Explore Monroe Paddling Trip at 5:30 p.m.; $10 per person and limited to 10 people, advance signup required by Sep. 8, kayak rentals available; Pine Grove SRA; bit.ly/exploremonroe-sep12-2021 *6 spots open
  • Sept. 13, Underwater Cemeteries at 6:30 p.m.; FREE public presentation, no registration required; Lawrence County Museum of History (Bedford, IN)
  • Sept. 14, Explore Monroe Paddling Trip at 9 a.m.; $10 per person and limited to 10 people, advance signup required by Sep. 10, kayak rentals available; Pine Grove SRA; bit.ly/exploremonroe-sep14-2021 *2 spots open
  • Sept. 15, Friendship Baptist Church Hike at 10:00 a.m.; FREE but limited to 15 people, advance signup required by Sep. 11; Friendship Lane; bit.ly/churchhike-sep15-2021 *13 spots open
  • Sept. 16, Hughes Cemetery Tour at 10 a.m.; FREE but limited to 20 people, advance signup required by Sep. 12; Paynetown SRA; bit.ly/hughestour-sep16-2021 *13 spots open
  • Sept. 17, Bald Eagle Hacking Tower Hike at 10 a.m.; FREE but limited to 20 people, advance signup required by Sep. 13; Northfork Service Area; bit.ly/hackhike-sep17-2021 *12 spots open
  • Sept. 17, Buzzsaw Pioneer Toy from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; FREE, no registration required; Paynetown SRA, Campground Playground
  • Sept. 18, Marble Games from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; FREE, no registration required; Paynetown SRA, Campground Playground
  • Sept. 18, Southern Indiana Folk Music at 8 p.m.; FREE, no registration required; Paynetown SRA, Activity Center, Amphitheater

Stillwater Marsh Hike, Sept. 26
Join us for a hike through Stillwater Marsh to learn how Monroe Lake manages this area with wildlife in mind. We’ll explore the crops planted for wildlife food, check out the nesting boxes, see where (and how) the marsh gets flooded each year to create a seasonal wetland, and explore the types of trees, plants, and animals that live here. Free but limited to 20 people, recommended for adults. Register by Sept. 24 at bit.ly/stillwaterhike-sep26-2021 *19 spots open

Northfork Fields Hike, Sept. 26
Learn more about wildlife management at Monroe Lake as we hike through the fields and check out the levee system in our Northfork area. We’ll explore how this area is managed to support mourning doves, ducks, and other species, including crop plantings, seasonal and year-round ponds, and open woodlands. Free but limited to 20 people, recommended for adults. Register by Sept. 24 at bit.ly/northforkhike-sep26-2021 *18 spots open

Upcoming Virtual Programs

  • LIVE PRESENTATION! Invertebrate Investigation on Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 11:30 a.m.– KID FRIENDLY! Go out in the woods (virtually) with Monroe Lake’s interpretive naturalist, Jill Vance, to search for invertebrates! She’ll share techniques and tools to aid in your search and end by demonstrating how to make a simple “bug hotel” to temporarily keep and observe invertebrates that you find. This live stream will be hosted on the Monroe Lake Facebook Event (For those unable to watch live, a video recording will be available on the Monroe Lake Facebook Videos tab, as soon as the live stream concludes.)
  • LIVE PRESENTATION! The Landscape of Indiana – Ice Age to Modern Age on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 11:30 a.m.– What did the landscape of southern Indiana look like during the last Ice Age? The image you have in your head is probably different from reality! Monroe Lake’s naturalist, Jill Vance, will compare and contrast the flora of Ice Age Indiana with that of our modern-day landscape. This live stream will be hosted on the Monroe Lake Facebook Event (For those unable to watch live, a video recording will be available on the Monroe Lake Facebook Videos tab, as soon as the live stream concludes.)

Click here to view recordings of ALL our previous live broadcasts!