It was not a perfect autumn day for North Vernon Main Street’s first ever Autumn Stroll last Friday, but a few determined souls braved the rainy weather in order to enjoy the warm drinks and live music performed by Connor Ertel at the new Main Street office located on Stellar Plaza. They cam…

North Vernon Main Street is hosting its Autumn Stroll this Friday, October 29. 25 businesses and organizations participated and their hard work and creativity is literally on display for all to see on the downtown lightpoles and in windows. Make sure to vote for your favorites!

Sweet Street is getting even sweeter this year!

The Jennings County Historical Society wasn’t talking just a bunch of “Hocus Pocus” when they announced their Movie Night on the Courthouse Lawn event, promising boxed dinners, an outdoor movie featuring the Halloween film “Hocus Pocus” and the possibility of a Bigfoot sighting.

Perceptions Yoga, Mindfulness & Art in Vernon is inviting the public to attend the September Art show featuring the artwork of Vernon native Dalton Bolser, and Perceptions’ first ever jewelry exhibit, Occasional Cabs and Slabs — Finding Beauty in Nature, featuring lapidary artist and cra…

The 49th Annual Paris Crossing Alumni Association Annual Banquet will meet on Friday, September 10 at the Pines Evergreen Room located on Hwy 31, South of Hwy 50, near Seymour, the same location as in previous years.

Join in the fun of Hayden’s Harvest Past on Saturday, September 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Perceptions Yoga, Mindfulness & Art in Vernon is inviting the public to attend the August Art show featuring Tom Speer, a retired captain of the North Vernon Police Department (NVPD). The opening reception will take place on Friday, August 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a closing reception on F…

The community is invited to attend a concert by singer, songwriter, and storyteller Daryl Mosley on Sunday, August 1 at 10 a.m. at First Christian Church, 108 E. Walnut Street in North Vernon.

photos By KYLAN HIGGS

The Historical Society’s July 26, 6 p.m. monthly program will feature artist, Madalyn “Maddy” Hovious. Maddy will share her expertise in the segment entitled “Ink & Letter” as part of a series of artistic presentations the Society has sponsored this year.

A film entitled Historic Barns of Jennings County will premiere at the North American House in Vernon on July 8 at 7 p.m. The film was produced by Drew Yeager and Wyatt Brooks and narrated by Jaime Garcia. They were funded through a grant from the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street — Stories …

The Jennings County Historical Society invites the public to attend a short program Thursday, June 24 at the North American House at 6 p.m., commemorating the 50th anniversary of President Richard Milhous Nixon’s visit to Jennings County, his ancestral home. He visited June 24, 1971 at the i…

Mercy Rescue of North Vernon is hosting an outdoor garden party complete with live music to raise money for their animal sanctuary on June 28 in an effort to join the forces of garden and animal lovers alike.

The Fair Board, 4-Hers, livestock, vendors and fair goers alike couldn’t ask for better weather to accompany the week of the 2021 Jennings County Fair.

The pandemic year brought a silver lining to the Country Squire Lakes Fishing Tournament last Saturday; since last year’s event had to be canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, it meant there was plenty of fish to go around.

4-H projects have been submitted, a queen has been crowned, and entertainment has been booked: let’s head to the fair, y’all.

The City Park Pool and Splash Zone opens for its second summer season Memorial Day weekend. The Park Board is hoping for a good turnout at the Saturday noon opening time, swim-suited and ready for a day of play and relaxation, similar to when it opened its doors for the first time back in 2020.

After more than a year without the Jennings County favorite that is the Park Theatre — which sadly included the tragic passing of its co-founder, Bill Reichenbach — this civic center is finally reopening on June 4 after the COVID-19 pandemic closed its doors back in March 2020.

Summer time is BBQ time.

The City of North Vernon is pleased to host a retirement ceremony to celebrate James Webster’s 27-year career as a police officer. James began his service on January 1, 1994 and was sworn-in as an officer by Mayor John Hall. Throughout his career he has served as a patrol officer, Sergeant, …

The Jennings County Farmers’ Market opened for its 25th season in North Vernon last week. The market is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the city park’s shelter house No. 2 until October.

Story and photos By KYLAN HIGGS

Graduates of Vernon High School, which was discontinued in 1964, will gather once again for their annual meeting on May 1. This year’s president is Roger Taylor with Dale Boyd acting as vice-president.

Perceptions in Vernon will host artist Rob Apsley’s “They’re All Florals” art show during the month of April. The galleries will be open April 9th from 5 to 7 pm for the opening and then again April 30th from 5 to 7 pm for the closing. Other viewing times can be scheduled by appointment. Aps…

The Jennings County Community Foundation (JCCF) happily sponsored the Sixth Grade Essay Contest for the third year in a row. It started in 2019 as a part of the yearlong 25th anniversary celebration of the JCCF, but the essay contest was such a success, the Foundation decided to do it each y…

The Jennings County Youth Foundation (JCYF) has outgrown its workspace and are ready to upgrade their office along with their list of fun and participatory activities.

The Friends of the Muscatatuck River Society is hosting the 20th Annual Spring River Cleanup (a.k.a. “12th Annual Kevin’s Kleanup”) in memorial of Kevin Jayne, former president of the Friends of the Muscatatuck, on Saturday, April 24.

The Historical Society has been busy updating museum exhibits over the winter months. Max Hill, Vice President of Max Hill Powder Coating, recently restored a vintage wash tub to its original color.

The Jennings County Historical Society announces the arrival of spring with the 59th Annual Sassafras Tea Festival and Civil War Living History. The two-day event is slated for April 24 and 25 in Historic Vernon. Civil War re-enactors camp on the courthouse lawn and around the square as soci…

The annual Vernon Ghost Walk, known as Hector’s Hauntings, is scheduled to rise from the COVID grave for Oct. 8 and 9 of this year. The Jennings County community can get an early taste of this Halloween tradition during a presentation by special effects makeup artist Danielle Colbert, who wi…

8,696. For 8,696 days, I was completely normal. I grew up in a normal house, with a normal life. I lived under a spotlight. My mother was a teacher in the elementary school that I attended from kindergarten through sixth grade. My dad had been a police officer since before I was born, and wh…

Strolling through the livestock barns, a homemade New Bethel ice-cream cup in hand, while the grandstand announcers are heard in the distance may not just be a forgotten dream this year. The 2021 Jennings County Fair is scheduled for June 14 to June 19 and there are a number of exciting changes.

“A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions — all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all…

(There was no Plain Dealer on record for this day)