Last Thursday afternoon the Sellersburg Police Department received a special delivery. A special delivery that will help educate the students at Silver Creek Middle and High School for many years to come.
    Clark County Council President David Abbott delivered a $1,600 check to Officer John Cortie, Chief Russ Whelan and Deputy Chief Donald Ross Jr. on behalf of Judge Steven M. Fleece, Clark County Superior Court No. 3.
    Recently Judge Fleece has been awarding grants from the Clark County Alcohol and Drug Services fund to local organizations.
    According to a press release from Judge Fleece, "the Clark County Alcohol and Drug Services Fund is under the direct administration of Judge Fleece. However, all expenditures must also be approved by the Clark County Council. Funds are raised by fees charged to persons convicted of an alcohol or drug related crime. Also, a small portion of the amount charged on each traffic ticket goes to this fund."
    The Sellersburg Police Department has already put their donation to good use. Officer John Cortie purchased the Fatal Vision Premiere Class Kit #2 with the donation.
    According to Cortie, the kit includes three sets of goggles of different impairment levels, three DVDs about impaired driving and drugs, several activities to interact with the goggles, a body microphone for group presentations and assemblies and several class guides for classrooms presentations.
    "This will be good for After Prom activities and classroom presentations from middle school to high school," Cortie explained.
    Cortie learned about the grants being awarded by Judge Fleece from the Indiana State Police Post.
    "Once I learned of the opportunity, Assistant Chief Ross assisted me in preparing the documentation for Judge Fleece’s Office," Cortie stated.
    The Kit actually arrived at the Sellersburg Police Department on Monday morning. By Monday afternoon Officer Cortie had already opened the large brown box to discover the different parts of the kit inside.
    "I just received it (the Fatal Vision Kit) today, so I have not really had the opportunity to see what all the kit offers. I know we will be able to put all the equipment to good use rather soon," Cortie stated.
    The first plan Cortie has to use the newly purchased kit will be at Silver Creek High School’s Prom activities.
    "I plan on using the Fatal Vision goggles at the After Prom event. I also plan on using it at some drunk driving and some drug presentations before Prom," Cortie said.
    Cortie will be able to truly implement the new kit on the night of Silver Creek’s Prom as he, along with a fellow officer, will be working the Prom and After Prom event.
    Cortie was also excited about the longevity of the kit.
    "We will be able to use the equipment for years to come. The goggles will never loose their value. The kit will have an impact on students at Silver Creek High School for many, many years," he added.
    Cortie concluded by thanking Judge Fleece.
    "I really appreciate Judge Fleece and his efforts to distribute money for good causes in the community. I just want to thank him for the donation," Cortie concluded.
    Ross was quick to explain what Cortie’s goal is regarding the Fatal Vision Kit.
    "Officer Cortie’s goal is to have each student that attends Silver Creek Middle and Silver Creek High School to attend at least one of his Fatal Vision classes each year. The kit will also be beneficial when we focus on impaired driving around the high school Prom and other youth activities, especially in cooperation with the Clark County Youth Coalition," Ross explained. "The program will have an immediate impact since the Prom is right around the corner."
    Ross continued, "I hope this program helps students make better decisions when having after prom parties."
    According to Ross, the department only requested $1,550 of the cost of the program for the grant.
    The total cost of the Fatal Vision Kit was $1,604.25.
    Ross also wanted to thank Judge Fleece and the Clark County Council for the grant.
    "I want to especially thank Judge Fleece and the Clark County Council for providing funding for the education project, without the funding, purchasing this program would not have been possible for Officer Cortie," Ross added. "Previously he (Cortie) only had one pair of goggles and a small amount of literature to conduct a make-shift program," Ross stated.
    He added, "Now Officer Cortie is equipped with an Alcohol Prevention Program that will be taught annually at Silver Creek Middle and High Schools."
    Ross concluded, "I have already personally thanked Dave Abbott when he delivered the donation to the Sellersburg Police Department and John and I intend to invite Judge Fleece and the members of the Clark County Council to his (Cortie’s) 2008 Prom Presentation where we will be able to personally thank them as well."
    Sellersburg Chief Russ Whelan was excited about the opportunity the Fatal Vision program will bring to the students at Silver Creek Middle and High Schools. He also praised the work of Officer Cortie and Major Ross.
    "I can’t say enough good things about John Cortie, our School Resource Officer. John is always looking out for projects like this to improve upon all of the programs he teaches at the schools and throughout our community. If you don’t know it by now, I can tell you he is truly an asset to our department and this community," Whelan stated.
    He concluded, "John came to me with the idea of increasing his impaired driving program for the students at the schools. He had spoken to an Indiana State Trooper, who advised him about the Clark County Alcohol and Drug Services Fund with Judge Fleece’s Office, so I advised him to get with Major Ross, our grant writer. Together they proposed a grant letter to Judge Fleece and the County Council members. I’m very proud of the work they’ve done and I am very pleased that the County Council and Judge Fleece agreed that this was a program important enough to fund. I want to give a thank you to each of them."
    Clark County Council President David Abbott was glad to be able to deliver the check to the Sellersburg Police Department on behalf of Judge Fleece.
    "I think the program Officer Cortie has purchased for the students will be a great asset to the education of our youth. From what I understand the goggles can really open some eyes to how it feels to be impaired on different levels. I believe the students will be amazed by the difference in the different levels of impairment," Abbott stated.
    The grant was one of several that Judge Fleece has awarded locally in recent weeks.
    "While everybody hates to get a traffic ticket, it is good that we are able to keep part of that revenue here in this county to help us fight alcohol and drug abuse. These grants are an excellent example of the courts and the county council working together to benefit the community. The council members and I are delighted to be able to assist the good people and groups in this county who are working to overcome the tragedy of alcohol and drug abuse," Judge Fleece stated in a press release.
    The Clark County Council consists of: President Abbott, Vice President Jack Coffman, Chuck Moore, Monty Snelling, Danny Yost, Barbara Hollis and Jackie Dickman.

    May 28^th is the deadline to submit applications for the Leadership Southern Indiana (LSI) 2008-09 class.
    LSI is a non-profit organization that develops and educates leaders in Clark and Floyd counties. LSI was founded in 1981 and facilitates communication among leaders within the community and fosters action by serving as a catalyst for solving community problems.
    LSI selects adults for each year’s class who, upon graduation in May, are expected to become and active participant in LSI and community stewardship initiatives. Individuals may sponsor themselves, or their employer may sponsor them.
    LSI participants are required to attend the following: a two-day opening retreat at Wooded Glen Retreat and Conference Center in Henryville on July 31 and August 1; full-day sessions devoted to a different aspect of the community and leadership on September 10, October 8, November 12, December 10, January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13; and the evening graduation program on May 14.
    Each graduate must serve on a planning committee for one of the monthly program days for the following year’s class. This will require attending approximately six to eight one hour meetings (possibly during work hours), and attending the class day itself for the 2009-10 term.
    To receive an application, cost of the program, and additional details, call LSI at 812-246-6LSI (6574) or find the application on line at www.leadershipsi.org. The firm application deadline is May 28.
    Questions regarding Leadership Southern Indiana or any of their upcoming events can be directed to the Executive Director, Donna Riley, at 812-246-6574, or via e-mail at Driley@LeadershipSI.org.

     Applications are now available for the Fiscal Year 2009 (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009) Regional Partnership Initiative Grants. Through the Arts Council of Southern Indiana, these grants are being offered to fund arts programming of nonprofit organizations and Indiana public agencies in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Scott and Washington counties.
   The Regional Partnership Initiative (RPI) was developed as an effort of the Indiana Arts Commission to enhance support for the arts throughout Indiana, especially in under-served areas. The RPI Grants are intended to support arts programs and projects that are of the highest quality, that demonstrate community impact, and that are well planned and managed.
   To be considered for a grant through this program, an organization must:
   C Be classified as a nonprofit organization or Indiana public agency.
   C Be able to demonstrate non-profit and/or tax-exempt status in Indiana at the time of application.
   C Be able to match grant request on a dollar for dollar basis. The match may consist of cash and in-kind contributions. The cash portion must be at least 50 percent of the match.
   C Reside and present projects in the counties specified about in the fiscal year 2009.
   C Comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and ordinances including, but not limited to, those which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
   C Not be receiving funding through any other Regional Partnership Initiative grant programs.
   The deadline for applications is April 1 at 4:30 p.m. No faxed or e-mailed applications or other materials will be accepted.
   To learn more about the RPI grants and the application process, interested parties should attend a grant workshop being offered free of charge. A workshop will be held Tuesday, February 26 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Arts Council of Southern Indiana, 820 East Market Street in New Albany.
   Call 812-949-4238 to reserve a seat at the workshop. Applicants are encouraged to review the application and guidelines prior to attending and to bring a copy of each with them.
   Applications and guidelines may be downloaded from the website, www.artscouncilsi.org. To request a copy by mail, contact Edie Luther, Program Manager, at eluther@artscouncilsi.org or 812-949-4238.