On Sunday, August 13, Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Jamey Noel of the Sellersburg Police Post was awarded the Police Officer of the Year Award by the Eighth District of the Indiana American Legion.
    Each year the Eighth District of the Indiana American Legion picks a police officer from southeastern Indiana who is deserving of the award. The award is presented to an officer in recognition of his/her outstanding performance and dedication to God and country.
    Senior Trooper Jamey Noel is assigned road patrol in Clark County which is part of the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg. He is a 13-year veteran of the Indiana State Police.
    Noel resides in Clark County with his wife, Misty, and four daughters.
    District Eight of the Indiana American Legion covers all of southeastern Indiana.

    "Defensively we are starting to play. They (Madison) never moved the ball on us," stated Charlestown head coach Jeff Purichia after his Pirates captured the season opening win.
    During the off-season the Charlestown Pirates made a commitment to hold on to the ball and to close out the game.
    Last Friday night the Pirates did just that. Charlestown held a 14-8 advantage late in the fourth quarter. Andrew Smith found the endzone with 77 seconds left in the game to give the Pirates the 21-8 victory over the visiting Cubs of Madison.
    "Last year we were six plays away from a six win season," Purichia added. "We made the commitment that next year we will start making the plays and not to turn the ball over."
    Charlestown started the scoring with a quarterback draw. Smith broke loose and scampered 27 yards to the endzone. Craig Brown tacked on the extra point giving the Pirates the early 7-0 lead with 6:37 left in the first quarter.
    Late in the first quarter Pirate sophomore runningback Mike Blackford left the game with an apparent broken right ankle.
    Both teams swapped drives for the remainder of the half.
    "We didn’t know how their defense would play," Purichia added."
    Madison senior Eddie Miller put the Cubs on the scoreboard on an 85-yard kick off return in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Cody Crabtree hooked up with Justin Downey for the two point conversion. With 11:47 left in the third quarter Madison took the 8-7 advantage.
    The Pirates came back and took the lead on the legs of Smith. Smith found the endzone from five yards out. Brown added the extra point giving Charlestown the 14-8 lead with 4:03 left in the third stanza. Charlestown would not relinquish the lead again.
    Late in the game Smith scored his third touchdown on a 20 yard sprint to the goal line. Brown nailed the extra point to give the Pirates the 21-8 victory.
    "We went in for the score and put the game out of reach," Purichia continued. "We are going to treat this like last year, we are going to look at the film and take a hard look at special teams."
    Purichia praised Smith and Colin Nash after the game.
    "Smitty benches 260 pounds. He is our second strongest player. Colin Nash did a great job disrupting their plays," Purichia concluded.
    This Friday night the Pirates will travel to Lawrenceburg. The kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

    Fifty Indiana farms are now a part of a prestigious list of over 300 Hoosier agriculture operations who have been recognized for outstanding farm management practices that protect the soil and water resources. They are the 2006 winners of the River Friendly Farmer Award handout out last Wednesday, August 16, at a special ceremony at the Indiana State Fair.
    Clark County Farmer Davide Lewis, Charlestown, was among those honored.
    Environmental stewardship is the focus behind the River Friendly Farmer Award, a program established in 1999. It is designed to recognize farmers who protect and enhance Indiana’s rivers, lakes and streams by using sound cropping and livestock management practices in their operations.
    "This year’s winners represent 37 Indiana counties across the state," said Gene Weaver, president, Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD), one of the award sponsors.
    "They are men and women who make decisions based on the impact their choices will have on the environment," Weaver added. "Economic viability is certainly an important criterion as well, but these RFF winners also know that a healthy environment only sets the stage for a farm’s healthy overall bottom line...not to mention the legacy it leaves for future generations."
    Recipients were honored last week at a ceremony held in the 4-H Exhibit Hall Auditorium on the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It was an appropriate venue considering it also was Farmer’s Day at the 150^th Indiana State Fair.
    Joining Weaver in congratulating the 2006 winners were award presenters: Carol Hegel, second vice president, Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. and Andy Miller, director, Indiana State Fair Department of Agriculture.
    "Indiana Farm Bureau is proud to support this important environmental program," said Carol Hegel, Indiana Farm Bureau second vice president. "We applaud the intelligence and persistence of these farmers who are being honored today (August 16) for their consistent application of management practices that keep our soils and waterways productive and clean."
    "While conserving our natural resources is the responsibility of everyone, I am pleased that we can recognize our farmers for doing their part in this important effort," said Agriculture Director Andy Miller. "Farmers make a living from their land, so it is even more important for them to take an active role in caring for it."
    River Friendly Farmer award recipients are nominated locally by the county Soil and Water Conservation District using 11 criteria established for the program.
    The following are the criteria for the River Friendly Farmer Award:
    Soil loss on all land is at or below tolerable (T) soil loss levels, either by maintaining 30 percent crop residue or by other appropriate tillage or crop rotation measures.
    Fields soil tested at least once every three years.
    Fertilizer applied at correct application rates based on soil tests. Realistic yield goals used in setting fertilizer application rates for crops.
    Nutrient credits given for manure applied and legumes (i.e. soybeans, alfalfa, clover) used in rotation.
    Nitrogen best management practices for your region (i.e. N stabilizers/inhibitors for fall or pre-emerge nitrogen applications, sidedressed N, no fall N on sandy soils) as recommended by Purdue University.
    Phosphorous fertilizer banded or incorporated when applied on crop land, or incorporating practices used to keep soluble phosphorus from reaching water sources.
    Livestock manure utilization part of your farming operation. Fencing used to exclude livestock from sensitive areas. Manure storage facilities that have at last 120 days storage capacity.
    Livestock facilities that are currently approved by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) or in the process of being approved.
    Pesticides and their containers handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with labeled recommendations. Label instructions followed for all applicable water quality restrictions, and use of cultural or other management practices to reduce the volume of chemical controls
    Non-cropland areas are managed and/or enhanced in an environmentally appropriate manner.
    Farm records kept to track inputs and conservation practices.
    The award is sponsored and supported by a collaboration between local, state, federal and private entities.
    The 2006 sponsors are:
    Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the state’s 92 county SWCDs
    Indiana Farm Bureau Inc.
    Indiana State Department of Agriculture Division of Soil Conservation
    Purdue Cooperative Extension Service
    USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
    Additional information on the award program is available from the IASWCD by calling 317-692-7325 or visiting their web site at www.iaswcd.org/RFFpage.htm.

     The annual reunion tour of the Fifth Army Veterans of World War II Italian Campaign, their families and friends will visit Rome, Anzio, Cassino, Nettuno, Pisa, Florence, Futa Pass, Bologna, Venice and American Military Cemeteries.
   Veterans who battled Nazi forces from 1943 to 1945 will visit Italy with their families and friends for 10 days from May 7 to May 18. It will be a nostalgic tour of cities, towns and places where battles were fought and many died.
   Those interested in joining this tour should contact Sy Canton at 561-865-8495 or write to him at 5121 B Nesting Way, Delray Beach, Florida 33484.