The Charlestown Beautification Committee and the City of Charlestown will be hosting its annual Trunk or Treat on the square on Wednesday, October 31 from 6 to 9 p.m.
    The members of the CBC would like to encourage all residents and businesses to join in the festivities. Everyone is welcome to bring candy and goodies to distribute or just bring the family and trick or treat.
    The Beautification Committee will be selling hot cocoa and hot dogs. They will also be holding a costume contest.
    For more information please contact Donna Coomer or Heather Mick at 256-7126 or visit the website at www.ctownbeautification.com.

 
                                                  Staff photo by JANNA ROSS
    Charlestown football senior Bowman Thrasher celebrated
 the team’s perfect 9-0 season after the Pirates captured the
 35-16 victory over Lawrenceburg.

    The Perfect Season. Those three words mean a lot to any athlete, coach or fan. The three words are often thought as perfect seasons come within reach but rarely are accomplished.
    The Charlestown Pirates accomplished the feat last Friday night as they took their perfect 8-0 record on the road to Lawrenceburg. The Pirates found the scoreboard first and never looked back as they captured The Perfect Season, a perfect 9-0, on the 35-16 victory over the Tigers.
    The Pirate faithful also hit the road last week for the almost two hour drive to Lawrenceburg. Once the fans arrived the blankets were brought out as the infamous ‘football weather’ had actually arrived. Although the temperatures were cool, the No. 4 Class 3A Pirates did not cool off facing the Class 2A Tigers.
    Lawrenceburg junior Sean Snider coughed up the pigskin on the Tigers opening possession. Charlestown defensive end Bowman Thrasher arose from the bottom of the pile with the pigskin in hand.
    After the Thrasher recovery, the Pirates drove down the field as junior Mike Blackford capped off the drive on a four yard run into the endzone. Senior Pirate kicker Craig Brown tacked on the extra point for the early 7-0 Charlestown lead with 2:58 remaining in the first quarter.
    The Pirates defense forced the Tigers of Lawrenceburg to punt. The time expired as Charlestown was driving the football down the field.
    Early in the second stanza Tiger junior Brett Bondurant picked off Pirate quarterback Andrew Smith as he stepped in front of a Charlestown receiver.
    The Tigers would not capitalize on the Pirate turnover as Charlestown’s defense would stop the Lawrenceburg drive.
    The next Pirate possession saw Charlestown junior Cameron Metzger punch the ball in from three yards out for another Pirate touchdown. Brown’s extra point split the uprights at the 5:53 mark. The score would be the last of the half for the Pirates.
    Lawrenceburg would take the remaining ticks on the clock and drive down the field and with just one second remaining Jared Reynolds nailed a 38-yard field goal to put the Tigers on the board.
    As the teams left the playing field for the halftime break Charlestown held the 14-3 lead.
    Charlestown opened the third quarter with an almost six minute drive. The Pirates marched down field before Metzger found pay dirt on a three yard run. Brown again connected on the extra point for the 21-3 Pirate advantage.
    Lawrenceburg then took the remaining minutes of the third quarter and some of the fourth to put together an eight minute drive. The drive ended on a blotched field goal attempt.
    The Pirates took advantage of the opportunity as they drove down field before Smith powered through the Tiger line for the score. Brown nailed the extra point attempt as Charlestown held the 28-3 lead with 5:17 left in the ballgame.
    Lawrenceburg’s Sean Powell took the ensuing kickoff to the Pirate 15 yard line. The kickoff return would prove to set up a Tiger touchdown as quarterback Sam Ritzmann would hook up with Corbin Pratt. The 16 yard pass would be celebrated by Tiger fans as their first touchdown of the night. Reynolds tacked on the extra point for the 28-10 Pirate lead with 4:58 remaining in the game.
    Charlestown took just 67 seconds to find the endzone as Metzger scampered nine yards to the goal line. Brown added the extra point for the Pirate 35-10 lead.
    The Tigers would take the remaining 3:51 to close out the ballgame as Lawrenceburg capitalized on a Charlestown penalty.
    As the clock ran to 0:00 a defensive penalty was called on the Pirates. A ballgame cannot end on a defensive penalty. Due to the infraction the Tigers were given one last play with the time expired.
    Lawrenceburg took the last chance and scored on a Ritzmann pass to Michael Gloss. The score would not be enough as Charlestown took the 35-16 victory at Neary Memorial Field.
    Metzger tallied 206 yards on 28 carries to lead the Pirates and Graham recorded 29 yards on five carries. Smith was 9-for-14 for 93 yards. The Pirates scored on five of their six possessions as they ran 52 plays earning them 264 yards on the ground and 93 yards in the air. Charlestown tallied 357 yards in the ballgame.
    Once the game actually ended the Pirate Nation stormed the field to congratulate the Pirates and coaches on the perfect season.
    As the victory circle engulfed the Pirates, Coach Jason Hawkins made his way to the center with his young daughter in hand. He again addressed the team and fans.
    Hawkins was proud of his team’s accomplishment. The Pirates have worked hard the entire season and have been rewarded with different strategies, one spelling out respect, another, spelling out MSC after taking their conference for the first time since 1989.
    After this game, Hawkins again pulled out the white paper. This one simply stated "9-0- The Perfect Season." The perfect season was accomplished by a group of Pirates and coaches who believed in each other.
    "I believe in our kids," Hawkins stated within the victory circle.
    The Pirates started the ballgame just a little flat as one could tell they were playing for much more than just a victory.
    "When you want something so bad sometimes you come out a little flat," Hawkins explained after the ballgame. "They wanted to be 9-0."
    He concluded, "They played hard. I’m very proud of our kids. They responded well against adversity."
    Charlestown will start Sectional 23 play this Friday night as they will travel to Brown County. The kick off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

    The temperatures are finally starting to cool off. The recent drought had many believing that the cooler temperatures of the fall may never come.
    The leaves are beginning to change to be beautiful colors of fall, the department stores now have the scarecrows, inflatables and decorations out for the lovers of fall to decorate for the season. Big orange pumpkins and bumpy gourds are also out for decorations, also a festive sign of the fall.
    Another sign of the fall is Historic Bethlehem’s Autumn on the River.
    This year the two-day festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and 21 at the Bethlehem schoolhouse and commons area surrounding the school. The event co-chairs, David Abbott and Andi Oles, are excited about this year’s schedule and overwhelming sponsor support.
    "We are very excited about this year’s festival," Abbott stated. "We have had such a great response of citizens who have wanted to support the festival and sponsor an event."
    Abbott did admit that this is a nerve racking week and that his stomach has been flipsy-flopsy most of the week.
    "This has been crazy week trying to get everything finalized for the festival," Abbott stated. "But I do know that the volunteers will pull everything together. I really do not have anything to worry about, but I still tend to worry until the event begins."
    According to Abbott, this year’s festival has many new sponsors for different activities and events. Some of the sponsors are: Joe Weber sponsored the first Prince and Princess Contest, Mike Hall sponsored the corn hole and horseshoe tournaments, Jack Coffman sponsored the ham and bean soup supper, Dan Moore sponsored the second annual dog show, Jerry Jacobi and Dave Abbott sponsored the Autumn on the River Quilt that will be raffled on Sunday. Raffle tickets are available at the information booth. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5.
    Other sponsors include: Danny Rodden is donating a television to be raffled and Chuck Moore is donating a DVD to be raffled. Mike Moore is donating 50 pounds of hamburger for the chili supper. The New Washington State Bank is sponsoring the cookie booth.
    The Autumn on the River festival proves to bring thousands to the quaint town of Bethlehem every year. The residents of New Washington and Bethlehem often take advantage of the heavy traffic and set up small yard sales and craft sales on Bethlehem-New Washington Road leading to the site of the festival.
    "This seems to be a great way for people to make a little extra money before the big holiday shopping season begins," Abbott laughed.
    The festival crowd is always ready for the ooey-gooey festival food. This year will be no exception as festival goers will enjoy such festival favorites as funnel cakes, corn dogs, pulled pork and pork tenderloin sandwiches, corn on the cob, kettle cooked popcorn and the Clark County Cattlemen’s Association again will sell ribeye sandwiches.
    "We had an overwhelming success with the Clark County Cattlemen’s ribeye sandwiches last year. The line was always long and those waiting did not mind the wait," Abbott recalled. "I must admit that they ran out not once, but twice last year and had to run to Jeffersonville to get more steaks because the demand was so high."
    In the schoolhouse basement the Historic Bethlehem Association will again host the bean soup and chili supper.
    "Sheri does an excellent job. Her famous bean soup and chili draws a huge crowd year after year," Abbott stated.
    The following is a list of entertainment and activities that will be held this weekend.
    Saturday, October 20
    12-12:45 p.m.- Smith’s (Bluegrass)
    1:15 to 2 p.m.- Kelsey Abbott
    3 to 6 p.m.- Marlinaires
    Sunday, October 21
    12-12:30 p.m.- Marsha and Randy Hensley (Gospel)
    1-2:30 p.m.- Radio Disney
    3-5- Marlinaires
    The festival will begin with a benefit auction at 10 a.m. on Saturday. For more information about the auction please contact Joe Madera at 293-4197.
    Other highlighted events include:
    Saturday, October 20
    12 noon- Star Dedication- near the schoolhouse
    12 noon- Cornhole Tournament on the commons area. Contact Jeff Shepherd for more information at 256-9458.
    12:30 p.m.- Second Annual Dog Show. Contact Tracy Madera at 293-4197 for more information regarding the dog show.
    2 p.m.- Veterans honored with special ceremony. Please contact Rick Roehm at 293-3183 for more information.
    2:30 p.m.- Parade. This year’s Grand Marshall of the parade will be Ronnie Haycock, a life-long resident of Bethlehem. Contact Sandy Lewis for more information at 293-4113.
    Wagon rides will also be offered throughout the festival. The ride will take you on a tour of the historic village. Also there will be an encampment with re-enactors depicting the time period when Bethlehem was founded.
    Sunday, October 21
    12 noon- Horse Shoe Contest. Contact Jeff Shepherd at 256-9458.
    This year Autumn on the River will also feature a Tractor and Classic Car Show. For more information regarding the show please contact Dan Waterfill at 256-6111 or Mike Oles at 317-491-4148.
    "We are expecting a great crowd for all of the activities, of course that is if Mother Nature cooperates with our plans," Abbott grinned. "Last year we had beautiful weather and record crowds. Hopefully we will have the same this weekend."
    Abbott’s personal goal for the event is to make it a family friendly atmosphere.
    "I just want families to be able to come over the hill, spend the day without spending a lot of money. Families will be able to come meet old friends while grandparents can reminisce about old times while making new friends. This festival is one that always has a great family atmosphere and I believe that is just one of the reasons why it is always so highly successful."
    Abbott concluded, "I know I have said it before, but it is worth saying again, this is just one of the ways we can all come together and make Clark County a better place to live and raise a family," a humble Abbott stated with a smile.
    For more information about this weekend’s Autumn on the River festival please contact Co-Chairs Andi Oles at 317-491-4148 or David Abbott at 502-931-4669 or 812-256-6080.

    Officials applaud the dedication of the new water tower in Charlestown.

    Mayor Mike hall address the crowd.        Hall turns the valve to fill the tower.

              
                     The new tower should serve residents for years to come.

    The citizens of Charlestown and those who travel State Road 403 regularly have watched the progress of the city’s new water tower over the past couple months. After the erection of the tower was completed Charlestown Mayor Mike Hall held a dedication ceremony for the new water tower.
   After welcoming those in attendance on Friday morning, Hall said this was the beginning of the end.
   "This water tower allows us to begin the war against brown water in Charlestown. As you know, our system has been plagued for years with discolored water and various things have been attempted to solve the problem," Hall stated during the dedication ceremony. "We now have a solution that will work, our new tower that we are dedicating today (Friday) will give us enough volume and pressure to be able to flush our lines and begin removing the minerals that has discolored our water in some areas of the city for years."
   The new water tower located at State Road 403 and Gospel Road in Charlestown, is just the first step in Hall’s plan to fix the city’s water problems. The next step will be to construct a new water filtering plant that will sand filter all the water that will be put in the city’s system.
   Hall stated that the public safety will also be increased due to the tank allowing the significant increase of fire hydrant flow capacity in key areas of the city.
   The white tank, which stands 143 foot tall and is 50 foot wide holds 500,000 gallons of water, was built at a construction cost of $725,000. The engineering company was HWC Engineering of Indianapolis while the contractor was Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors of Avon, Indiana.
   According to Hall, "The great thing about all of this is that the costs of these solutions have been covered by the current water rates. No new rate charges will be needed to complete our plan."
   The dedication ceremony continued as Hall recognized the city, county and state officials who were in attendance as well as the water department employees and engineers who worked on the project. Hall presented each with a special water tower dedication ceremony edible cookie.
   Clark County Council President David Abbott was in attendance for the ceremony. He said the city has something to be proud of.
   "I think Charlestown has something to be proud of. The mayor and city council have worked hard to make today’s (Friday) dedication possible. They had a lot of hard decisions that had to be made. All of them should be commended for their hard work," Abbott stated. "The citizens of Charlestown should really be commended for their patience over years of problems concerning the water in Charlestown. The citizens have been very patient with the water problems. The water has been an issue for years. This is a great time for the city and something for everyone to be proud of."