The Indiana Retired Teachers Association, Southeast (IRTA) is making available a college scholarship to a college sophomore or junior who plans to major in education. The applicant must meet the following criteria: must be an Indiana resident and be the son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, legal dependent or spouse of an active, retired or deceased member of the Indiana State Teachers Retirement Fund. Membership in the IRTA is not a prerequisite for consideration.
    The applicant must have achieved a "C" or higher grade point average for three semesters to be eligible to apply.
    An applicant may apply with a sophomore class standing to receive the scholarship as a junior or with junior class standing to receive the scholarship as a senior.
    For more information or to receive an application form call Marilyn White, IRTA-SE Scholarship Chairperson at 282-3771 or by email to bob.jville@juno.com.
    Completed applications must be received by the state IRTA Scholarship Committee by February 16.

    Greater Clark County Schools is now accepting nominations for the 2007 Teacher of the Year. One candidate is chosen annually to represent Greater Clark County as the WHAS-TV ExCEL Award Winner and the corporation’s candidate for the Indiana Teacher of the Year Program.
    As the ExCEL winner, teachers are given $1,000 to use in their classroom. The winner will be recognized at a ceremony at his/her school in April 2007 and will be invited to a black tie dinner in September. If chosen as the Indiana Teacher of the Year, the candidate will receive $1,000, a certificate, ring and admission to an awards banquet.
    These awards are given to recognize a teacher who exemplifies excellence through innovation, excitement and enthusiasm in teaching. Candidates should possess meaningful personal relationships with students, parents, colleagues and community members and should show a personal commitment to continued professional development. Candidates are required to have five years teaching experience with Greater Clark before being considered for the awards.
    The deadline for submitting a candidate as the Greater Clark County Schools Teacher of the Year is Friday, February 9, 2007. To nominate a teacher, please state the reasons you are nominating this individual in type-written form. Nomination letters should be between 200 and 500 words. Return the nomination form to: Greater Clark County Schools Administration Building; Attn: Erin Boisseau; 2112 Utica-Sellersburg Road; Jeffersonville, IN 47130.

    The past several months the Sellersburg Police Department has been short-staffed. The department is now 13 strong again with the addition of a new officer in Todd Knight.
    Knight was hired by Sellersburg Police on October 19 after a transfer from the Georgetown Police Department.
    "I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Sellersburg Police Department and now that I’m here I see a lot of those things are true and I’m glad to be a part of it," Knight stated.
    Knight transferred from Georgetown Police Department to Sellersburg Police Department for better opportunities for the eight-year veteran.
    "Georgetown is even a small department," Knight added. "Sellersburg had a lot to offer such as better benefits and more opportunities."
    The former New Albany resident graduated from New Albany High School in 1991 before graduating from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1999. Knight was a Corrections Officer before becoming part of the Georgetown Police Department.
    "I served four year for Floyd County Corrections as a Corrections Officer. I left there as a Sergeant," Knight added.
    Knight knew as a child he wanted to become a police officer. Knight has law enforcement running through his blood as his father was also in law enforcement.
    "Actually as a child I knew I wanted to be a police officer. My father, Steve Knight, is recently retired from Floyd County Sheriff’s Department after 30 plus years," Knight said.
    Knight answered quickly when asked why he decided to become a police officer, "I get a certain self satisfaction in being able to help others and serve the community in which I live."
    Knight and his wife Karen now reside in Sellersburg and have several children.
    The Knights received some help in relocating to Sellersburg.
    "Chief Russ Whelan and Assistant Chief Donnie Ross also provided assistance in helping my family and I relocate to Sellersburg," Knight stated.
    Knight concluded, "Chief Russ Whelan went out of his way to personally introduce me to co-workers, town employees and many others. Everyone on the department has welcomed me which has made the transition a lot more comfortable for me."
    Chief Whelan was looking for someone to fill the vacancy at the department when he began talking to several people and Knight’s name kept popping up.
    "Once I got the approval for a lateral transfer I talked with other officers I know to see if someone was interested in lateraling from their department. We’ve been short for almost seven months now," Whelan stated. "His name came up several times in the conversations."
    Whelan knew Knight when he was working at Harrison County.
    "I knew him and heard nothing bad. I talked with Floyd County, New Albany and Indiana State Police Officer and every one of them told me if I was able to get him he’d definitely be a benefit," Whelan stated.
    He continued about his new officer, "All of these comments are true. He’s an asset to the department. He fits in well with all the guys and he’s an excellent officer. The Town of Sellersburg and the Sellersburg Police Department are lucky to have him on."
    Whelan is already preparing for the department to benefit from the eight-year veteran’s ability.
    "He’s not brand new. He’s an eight year veteran. He’s already taught part of the Defensive Tactics Course for the new reserve officers. He’s going to be a Defensive Tactics Instructor that’s something the department has never had. I want to build on that with an Advanced Ground Fighting Tactics Course to take place in 2007."
    Whelan added, One of the things is being a good police officer and working the road, the other is a good instructor to teach our officers and other officers Defensive Tactics. I would have had to make arrangements with another department to do that and possibly be out some money, but now we won’t have to and the only money the town will be out will be his already set salary."
    The Chief has heard nothing but praise for the newest member of the Sellersburg Police Department family.
    "In the two months since he came aboard I’ve heard nothing but good things from officers in the department," Whelan stated. "How he fits in and deals with the public. He’s very professional. All things I like to see. It makes things easier. All my guys are very professional. He fits that mold to a tee!"

    The past several weeks have brought many to local stores grabbing the last presents on their list. The Christmas shopping brings joy to many especially when faces, both young and old, light up with joy when the gifts are opened.
   Monday morning local children woke up very early to see what Santa had brought them. Nineteen local children were able to wake up with presents under their tree thanks to the Charlestown Police Department.
   Last Monday, December 18, the officers and members of the Charlestown Police Department family took the first graders to Target to enjoy the 27^th annual Charlestown Police Department Shop With A Cop program.
   "We have 19 kids from Jonathan Jennings and Pleasant Ridge with the help of Ruthie Jackson and the Outreach. The students were selected from the schools through help of teachers and staff who have day-to-day interactions with the students," stated Terry Braswell, the Shop With A Cop Coordinator for the fourth consecutive year.
   The children met at the Charlestown Police Department around 4 p.m. A bus then transported the kids to Target in Clarksville for a couple hour shopping spree.
   The bus driver Tony Wimsatt and his wife, Teresa, who owns the bus, truly enjoy their annual Shop With A Cop trip.
   "We always donate the check back to the Charlestown Police Department. Just seeing the kids and their faces, that’s so much of what Christmas is all about," Teresa stated.
   The children were allotted $400. According to Braswell, who has worked with the Shop With A Cop for eight years, approximately $250 was spent on clothes and $150 on toys.
   The department has received tremendous community support for the program. They conducted a couple road blocks but the majority of the money needed for the program was donated by local businesses.
   "We had a lot of support. We usually do," Braswell stated. "I need to thank Harpring Steel and Mr. Cooper, Blake Fields of Fields Custom Cabinets, Brenda Nickles, Webb’s Body Shop, Target, Bus Driver Tony and Teresa Wimsatt, Don Garr and George Fergison, D.A. Inc., The Feed Store and Archery, Mike Akemon and MR Homes and the V.F.W.," Braswell added. "A special thanks goes out to Santa Claus for his 27^th year. He helps out every year."
   Brenda Nickles, owner of Lakeside Reflections, caters a meal for the officers, children and volunteers each year.
   The Charlestown Police Department Shop With A Cop program is very near and dear to Nickles’ heart.
   "I helped get it started. Tommy Anderson and I, about 20 years ago began it. As long as they ask, I’ll never say no," Nickles explained. "When we had the Powder Keg we took the kids there. The first time we took four kids. Now, since Lakeside Reflections opened, they have come here."
   She continued, "We put out mayonnaise jars to help collect donations. We had jars all over town. We also had cuss jars at the Powder Keg. Every time somebody cussed they donated. We raised $3,000."
   Nickles praised the efforts of the officers to ensure the success of Shop With A Cop.
   "They work really hard with the road blocks and cutting a deal with Target. I worked with Terry the last few years and Darren Baker before that. Terry has done a good job," Nickles added.
   She concluded, "It’s just a good thing for the community and the kids. Charlestown needs it. I just wish we could do more. I wish we could do 40 or 60 kids. I just think it’s a good cause and as long as they ask me, I’ll never say no."
   The program continues to take the kids to Target. The employees of Target look forward to the annual night of shopping.
   Whitney Immerson, Executive Team Lead Over Guest Experience at Target, was excited about the event.
   "This is my first year with Target. They (CPD) do it (Shop With A Cop) year to year. They did it at the old store. It was brought upon me that Target done it so I was ton continue on," Immerson said. "I talked with Officer Braswell and seen what they needed and what the store needed to do to help."
   According to Immerson, Target stores continually look to help the community.
   "This is a way to help the community. Target is big on supporting the community. We are already busy today (December 18) and it will be even better this afternoon when all the kids get here."
   During the event Immerson presented Braswell with a gift card donation to the Shop With A Cop program.
   After enjoying the shopping Target offered light refreshments for the children and officers.
   The children then boarded the bus again and traveled to Lakeside Reflections where Nickles was ready to serve a delicious catered meal. After the children ate the highlight of the night came.
   The night concluded with a visit from Santa Claus. The children were able to visit with Santa and get their pictures taken with him. After each child talked with Santa, he presented them with a very special gift.
   The very excited children then were transported back to the Charlestown Police Department where they were met by parents and guardians.
   Don Garr and his son-in-law George Fergison have donated their time for the past several years. They always pack the toys up in a van and bring them back to the department. This year the duo wanted to personally thank Uhaul.
   "We have done this for years. We usually have a van but this year we had to call Uhaul. They donated the truck for this. They really need to be thanked," Garr stated.
   Braswell concluded, "It’s a good thing for the community and the department to work together. It’s events like this that show that good things happen when you work together."