The Indiana State Department of Agriculture announced the State Soil Conservation Board (SSCB) recently awarded more than $400,000 in Clean Water Indiana (CWI) Grants to 49 Indiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) across the state. Clark County SWCD was among those receiving grants.
    The SSCB funded projects that demonstrate cooperative conservation by connecting their local business plans to the statewide Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP) Strategic Plan. SWCDs were encouraged to work together across county lines and to leverage local, state and federal resources to put more conservation on the land and bring more funds home to Hoosier landowners.
    This round of CWI projects brings together approximately 100 local organizations, governments and communities, as well as state and federal agencies, to showcase what Hoosier conservationists can do when given the resources to make a difference. Proposals concentrated on unique partnerships; regional technical assistance; centralized office coordination of state, federal and local agencies; and marketing conservation programs to landowners.
    The CWI Grants Program provides financial assistance to SWCDs to implement conservation practices to reduce non-point sources of water pollution through education, technical assistance, training and cost-sharing programs.
    "Our land and water are our state’s most precious natural resources and conserving what we have is critical to our Hoosier environment and economy," said Agriculture Director Andy Miller. "We are committed to working with our partners to develop more conservation practices and get the necessary funding into the hands of Indiana landowners as quickly as we can."
    "Water in Indiana will be cleaner and the soil more productive as 49 local SWCDs carry out plans funded by the recent CWI Grants. SWCDs, directed by a board of local people, know best how to meet the conservation needs in their communities," said SSCB Chairman Bob Eddleman. "CWI grants provide the opportunity to boost their local efforts. Technical help to implement the grants will come from district staff, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s Division of Soil Conservation (ISDA-DSC), the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) and many local businesses and conservation groups. Many of the grants will help SWCDs and local land users accelerate the implementation of federal and state conservation programs as well."
    Administered by the SSCB, the CWI Program is funded through the CWI initiative created in 1999 and funded in 2005 by a unanimous vote of the Indiana General Assembly.
    Entitled "Water Quality Improvement Buffer Initiative," the Clark County SWCD’s grant project consists of utilizing CWI dollars to double the amount of water quality improvement buffers installed in Clark County compared to previous year’s averages. The primary conservation practices targeted for installation will include filter strips, riparian forested buffers and grassed waterways. The start date for the project is January 1, 2007.

    The leaves are starting to change and fall from the trees. The Fall season is upon us and local citizens are beginning to decorate their yards and homes with harvest decorations of straw, bright orange pumpkins, colorful mums and scarecrows.
   Along with the harvest decorations and the changing of the seasons come the thoughts of local children deciding what to be for Halloween.
   Many children prepare their costumes weeks in advance and have picked out the perfect fit for their little personalities. Soon the local streets will be overflowing with princesses, cowboys super heroes and villains. Of course, there will also be the ever-popular ghosts, goblins and witches also strolling the streets filling their trick-or-treat bags, buckets and pillow cases with lots of yummy candy.
   While they put so much effort into the night of trick-or-treating parents also need to be aware of some of the safety tips that need to be followed to ensure their child returns home safely.
   According to representatives from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Charlestown Police Department and the Sellersburg Police Department, the local area will observe Halloween trick-or-treating on Halloween night, October 31, from 6 to 9 p.m.
   The Charlestown Beautification Committee will also host their annual Trunk or Treat on October 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. on the city square. All community organizations, whether for-profit or not-for-profit are invited and encouraged to participate in the Trunk-or-Treat festivities.
   Traditional ages for trick-or-treat festivities are 12 years old and younger.
   The Sellersburg Police Department will have extra volunteer officers patrolling during the trick-or-treat time frame on Halloween night.
   Members of the department will begin their safety awareness on Tuesday at Silver Creek Elementary School. School Resource Officer John Cortie will be on hand to give a safety talk and safety tips to the children. Cortie will be accompanied by the Sellersburg Police Department’s "Spike the Safety Pup" and other officers. The kids will be given safety bags.
   "We, along with Spike the Safety Pup, will be distributing safety bags from the National Child Safety Council. Enclosed in the bags will be AAA Hoosier Motor Club bookmarks with safety tips for parents to teach their young trick-or-treaters to be safe and still enjoy Halloween, a few small pieces of candy items, a tri-fold pamphlet with additional safety tips for parties, costumes and treats, a Safety Pup pumpkin pattern to carve your pumpkin and a glow stick to use as a necklace or bracelet for their night of trick-or-treat fun," stated Deputy Chief Donald Ross Jr.
   Cortie and Spike will also visit St. Paul’s Elementary School to teach the students safety tips for Halloween. The students, staff and faculty will enjoy the duos visit at the school on Friday, October 27.
   Ross provided some safety tips for the local children to keep in mind as they make their way around the local area filling their goody bags with lots of ooey-gooey goodness:
   Here are the safety tips offered from the Sellersburg Police Department:
    * Trick-or-Treat when it is still daylight outside with little children.
    * Wear a costume easier for you to walk, see and be seen in.
    * Use make-up instead of a mask.
    * Cross streets at corners, never cross between cars or midway through a block.
    * Tell family which streets or neighborhoods you will be trick-or-treating in and set up a meeting time.
    * If there are no sidewalks always walk facing the traffic.
    * If parents have a cell phone take it with you and make sure the battery is fully charged for the night.
    * Avoid eating homemade treats from people you do not know.
    * Only go to the homes where the porch light is on.
    * Be aware of aggressive pets that people may have in their yards.
    * Inspect treats before eating and never eat the candy if it is open.
    Ross said younger children may enjoy a party sponsored by a local group or organization as an alternative to the traditional trick-or-treating.
    "For younger children who may enjoy parties sponsored by civic groups, departments or concerned parents in the area, the Sellersburg Police Department always wants you to know how long it will last. Parents should also always leave an emergency telephone number in case something would happen," Ross added.
    Ross continued, "Always remember Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, it was one of my favorite holidays as a kid, and following some of these common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun! Last year was a safe Halloween in Sellersburg and we hope this year is just as safe."
    The Charlestown Police Department will also be kept extremely busy during the festive Halloween trick-or-treat night.
    According to Chuck Ledbetter, Assistant Chief of the Charlestown Police Department, the Charlestown Police and Fire Departments will be working for the safety of all the little trick-or-treaters.
    "The Charlestown Police and Fire Departments will be out and visible in full force throughout the city on Halloween night in an effort to keep trick-or-treating festivities as safe as possible," Ledbetter stated.
    He added, "Halloween is one of the most festive nights of the year for children, but it also ranks among the most dangerous for young pedestrians. Please help us keep kids safe and take steps to avoid accidents. Anytime a child has an accident, its tragic."
    Ledbetter urged parents to keep the following tips in mind for the Halloween trick-or-treating night.
    Here are the tips offered from the Charlestown Police Department:
    * Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make it fire proof with eyeholes that are large enough for good peripheral vision.
    * Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, that it’s tips or edges are smooth and flexible enough not to cause injury if fallen on.
    * Children should go out during daylight hours only unless accompanied by a responsible adult. Stop only at familiar houses in your own neighborhood unless an adult accompanies them. Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their return home. Make sure children are old enough and responsible enough to go by themselves.
    * Instruct children to never go into the home of a stranger or get into a car with a stranger. Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields. Make sure they know to stay in populated and well-lighted areas. Remind to look both ways before crossing any street.
    * Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.
    * Groups are always safer, small children should never be allowed to go out along on Halloween. Make sure an older sibling or adult is with them.
    * Explain to children the difference between tricks and vandalism. Throwing eggs at a house may seem like fun but they need to know the other side of the coin as well, clean up and damages can ruin Halloween. If they are caught vandalizing, make them clean up the mess they’ve made.
    * Explain to your kids that animal cruelty is not acceptable. Kids may already know this, but peer pressure can be a bad thing. Make sure they know that harming animals is not only morally wrong but also punishable by law and will not be tolerated.
    Ledbetter concluded, "Do your part in making this Halloween another safe holiday in Charlestown, when driving, keep in mind that vehicle speed limit zones will be strictly enforced due to area pedestrian traffic."
    Sgt. Jerry Goodin of the Indiana State Police also wanted to ensure local trick-or-treaters enjoy their evening of fun but keep safety in mind.
    "It’s Halloween time again, which is usually associated with fun for children, but it can present some hazards. A few safety suggestions may be all that is necessary to prevent a tragedy in your home or community," Goodin stated.
    The following are tips from Goodin and the State Police Post in Sellersburg:
    * Parents should accompany their children and visit only homes of people you know.
    * Homes that are well lit should be chosen over those that are not.
    * Children should refrain from eating anything until inspected.
    * Costumes should be light in color and reflective tape should be used on them.
    * Costumes should have eye opening for good visibility and be properly fitted to prevent stumbling.
    * Children should carry a flashlight and cross at marked intersections only.
    According to Sherry Deane, Public Affairs Specialist with AAA Hoosier Motor Club, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated, Halloween is consistently one of the top three days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
    In addition, a study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that children are four times more likely to be hit by a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other time of the year.
    "AAA Hoosier Motor Club and the National Child Safety Council has been instrumental in helping our department raise awareness for Halloween safety by supplying the items we will be passing out at the school on Halloween. All we supply is the candy and glow sticks," Ross concluded.
    For more information about Halloween safety in Sellersburg please contact the Sellersburg Police Department at 246-4491.
    For more information about Halloween safety in Charlestown please contact the Charlestown Police Department at 256-6345 or contact Assistant Chief Chuck Ledbetter via e-mail at majorledbetter@ctownpd.com.