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Over the course of two days, July 12th and 19th, a total of 37 inmates (approximately 1/3 of the total population) from the Washington County Detention Center (WCDC) were baptized through the Residents Encounter Christ (R.E.C.) ministry, along with local pastor, George Parsley. Each Tuesday and Thursday, R.E.C. and local ministers visit the detention center in order to share scripture from the Bible. The men are ministered to on Tuesdays, and the women on Thursdays.
George Parsley has been ministering as the Jail Chaplain since the beginning of 2017.
“We’ve had several [baptisms], usually about once a year we’ll have some. But that’s been the biggest number so far,” said Parsley.
Parsley attributes this surge in WCDC baptisms to “simple Bible teachings.”
He went on to say, “we’ll go in and we’ll just open up a Bible, and they open up their Bibles. Myself and the other ministers already have a text in mind, so they already know where we’re going to be at. We just try to break it down and make some accurate life applications based on what is being said and what will have a positive impact on these men and women. Paul said, ‘the gospel is the power of God’s salvation.’ That’s the short answer.”
The inmates of WCDC have welcomed this ministry with open arms. Parsley said these men are broken, and many of them actually say, “I need this. This is my wake up call.”
“They’ve been broken down just by the wisdom of this world: the partying, the drugs, the drinking… all the norms that are out here in this life,” he added.
Parsley went on to give an example of the material they have been covering, and how he has been applying it to the men he has been ministering to.
“Especially with the guys, we’ve been in the gospel of Matthew. We’ve talked about Joseph and Mary obviously, but we have really been spending time on Joseph specifically. The Bible doesn’t say a lot about Joseph, but what it does say is very applicable to these guys. What we’ve been trying to do is make those applications about him: being a husband, being a father, and being dependable. They know all this stuff,” said Parsley, “but sometimes when it isn’t coming from the family, it tends to resonate.”
Parsley’s plans for the future of this ministry are simple: “we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing. There’s no better medicine or help for these guys and gals in jail than just the pure gospel. The hope that comes from all these miracles that Jesus did, and how He changed their lives. And the unconditional love that came right along with it.”
He remarked that sometimes the biggest hurdle is simply confessing or speaking it out loud because now it’s going to be known.
“But He already knows what you’ve done,” said Parsley, “where you did it, and who you did it with. It’s irrelevant. He already knows all of that, but sometimes for us to verbally speak that is a big hurdle. That has resonated with a lot of the guys. Some of these guys break down and get teary-eyed. That’s the power of the gospel.”
Parsley said that many of the inmates have no hope at all. However, he said there is always hope.
“There is somebody that loves you and somebody that cares about you. Your family may not, you may have burnt all those other bridges. People might be saying ‘you’ve made your bed, now lie in it.’ It’s easy to say that and throw up our hands when it gets to a certain point, but the thing is, God never does that. He’s always there.” Parsley said.
Parsley concluded by saying, “One of the most satisfying moments is when you can look in their eyes and you can see it’s resonating with them. Not getting mad or upset, but they’re getting it. That makes it all worth it. I don’t know where it’s going to go, but I know the seed is planted.”
Parsley greatly appreciates the help and support he and the other ministers have received from Sheriff Brent Miller and Captain Joseph Keltner. They have been incredibly instrumental in making this ministry happen each week.
Chaplain George Parsley is a preacher of Westside Church of Christ, and he is incredibly passionate about ministering and spreading the Word of God. Not only to the residents of WCDC, but to all who will listen.
The 2024-25 Hunting & Trapping Guide features teal hunting tips and tricks, interviews with some of Indiana’s waterfowl hunters, plus a duck-stuffed jalapeño popper recipe from our grassland gamebird biologist. Grab your copy to read the latest information and regulations for all hunting and trapping.
Pick up a copy at a nearby Fish & Wildlife Area, your local license retailer, and the Natural Resources Building during the State Fair or view the guide online. While you’re at it, purchase your fall hunting license.
This guide provides a summary of Indiana hunting and trapping regulations. This guide is not intended to be a complete digest of regulations. If you need complete versions of Indiana rules and regulations for hunting, they can be found in Indiana Code or in Indiana Administrative Code Title 312.
By Monika Spaulding
With hopes of helping struggling students to reach their full potential, Homestretch is looking for community support as it gets established in Washington County.
Last Thursday evening, the group held a fundraising, informational dinner at Westview Church. During the event, community members heard from the organization’s board about what the group is doing and wants to continue doing in the community.
Maria Burks led the evening, discussing everything from the group’s logo to their mission. She said Homestretch is something that has been on her heart for years, she just wasn’t sure how to get it up and going. That’s when she reached out to others about her vision and the ball started rolling.
The group specifically helps students who are 18 years old, are seniors in high school and do not have a home. She said although those are very specific terms, there is a great need to help students who match those criteria.
“This is a real problem that lives right here in our county,” said Burks. “We have a homeless camp. We have homeless kids.”
She said the goal is to get kids in a home their senior year and help them with life skills, including things like money management. This will allow students to finish high school in a more stable environment, get their high school diploma and be ready for the real world.
Burks said she is someone who wants to find out where God is working already and join there. She has been walking through open doors to make this organization a reality.
“We are in the iron grip of poverty in this area,” she said, adding that there are kids living in sheds, no bed, no water, no electricity.
She said when bad things happen, people seem to ask, “where is God in all of this?”
“God’s weaving a pattern and we all have a part in it,” she said, gesturing to everyone present. She said everyone in attendance has been part of her life in one way or another and bringing everyone together to work on this project is one example of God at work.
Burks reached out to David Miller at Hoosier Uplands about 15 months ago. Her original thought was to have a house where these students could live, but Miller convinced her that it would be too big of an expense and the upkeep, insurance, etc. would be too much. That’s when she turned to the idea of finding host families, people who would be willing to let these students live with them for a school year.
“Sustainability is the key,” said Burks. “Why start something if you can’t keep it going?”
She decided that host families would make the program more sustainable. Often students in this situation are “couch surfers” or kids who go from home-to-home sleeping at friend’s houses, places where they feel comfortable. With Homestretch, those places can become year-long homes for these students.
Hoosier Uplands liked the idea of Homestretch and saw the need, donating $10,000 to get things started, which allowed them to get the 501(c)(3). Burks said after figuring that part out, the question became how can we bring resources to the homes and help them?
Thanks to a fund with the Washington County Community Foundation, the families will receive a $400 stipend every month to help with expenses. They will also give $100 a month to the youth to help with teaching money management. Host families will help get them on their feet, get doctor’s appointments, etc. and give them the care they may not have received in the past.
Burks said WCCF Director Judy Johnson shared with her information she came across that were “rules” to follow to keep yourself out of poverty. The three rules were: graduate from high school, wait to get married until after age 21 and do not have children until you’re married, work a full-time job. Burkes said if these are followed you have a less than 2% chance of living in poverty.
“We want kids to take responsibility for their own life,” said Burks. “Personal decisions trump anything the government will ever do.”
Attendees Thursday evening heard testimonials from West Washington students who were helped by families in the community.
Charles Madden Jr., who was a 7th grader when Burks was the school counselor 10 years ago, was one of the success stories. His dad was arrested at a football game and everyone wanted to make sure Burks talked to him because he’d be so upset. Burks said he was upset, but it was because he didn’t want to blow the good things he had going at school. He was a good kid who didn’t do drugs and alcohol and he wanted to make sure he stayed that way and that he graduated from high school. He needed someone in his corner to support him and his goals.
Madden said coach Phillip Bowsman did a lot of mentoring for him. He got the encouragement and support he needed to graduate. His parents didn’t graduate, making him even more proud of his accomplishment. Now, Madden is getting ready to graduate college from Indiana State in construction management.
“Charles flipped the lens for me,” said Burks. “He was telling me that ‘what I need is support.’”
Another testimonial was a student who didn’t have a place to live or stable environment to grow in. His grades were suffering, and he missed a lot of school. This past school year, he moved in with Coach Jeremy Lowery. He turned his grades from Fs and Ds to As and Bs and only missed one day of school. He graduated and is currently working full time at a factory in Madison.
Robert Chandler is a student who moved in with the Nance family. He said he learned “water can be as thick as blood.
“They were there for me every single day. It has changed my whole life.”
Tracy Smith lost her parents when she was 5 and her sister was 1. They lived with grandparents until she was 17 when her aunt and uncle took over due to the death of her grandparents. It was not a good situation.
She said she met Don and Sherry Elgin through her best friend who was with the Elgin’s all the time. They stepped up and took Smith into their home.
“They were loving and consistent,” she said, adding that two years later, they took her sister in, too. “They gave me a place to be a teen instead of having to grow up too soon.”
These are just a few of the success stories that Homestretch would like to build on in Washington County.
“When we tell people about this, a light comes on in their eyes: they want to give us money or they want a kid,” said Burks.
There is a school committee at West Washington that helps find students who need placement. The committee includes counselors, teachers, coaches and parents. Applications are also on the Homestretch website.
The goal is to get the program going to benefit students at all three county schools.
The organization needs help in many ways and encourages the community to help in whatever way they can: monetarily, providing a home or serving on the organization’s board.
Learn more at homestretch-foundation.org.
The new artificial turf installation is under way at the Salem Lions football field. The Salem School Board approved the turf and a new press box at their January 18 meeting.
The turf field costs $1.7 million and the press box $481,413.
The field is named after Jim Ralston, who was the coach from 1977 to 1996. After that Ralston was principal at the high school, retired, and then was brought back as the elementary school principal. He was instrumental in the lives of many and just a huge part of the community.
The official dedication will be Friday, August 9.
Coach Ralston was there last Saturday with about 20 ex-football players when he found out the field was named in his honor.
The Hellas construction company wanted to do the field as a showcase to other high schools and adjusted the price to reflect that. They had the Indiana University football field in their portfolio along with the indoor and outdoor fields for Indiana Colts and Lucas Oil Stadium, but had never installed a turf field for a high school.
Hank Weedin, the Salem High School athletic director, gave an insight to the installation process. First a lot of dirt is removed and crushed rock is put down and leveled out. There is a drainage system under the field allowing the field to be used after a rain storm. Rubber pads are then installed to absorb the shock. The tuff is put down and stretched like carpet.
It may look finished now put a special fine pea gravel is placed over the gravel. Then very small rubber pellets are applied, which allows the turf material to stand up.The field is brushed with a sweeper every 40 hours. Once a year the Hellas Company will return and brush the field again and address any issues.
There are also new goal posts and an area for broad jump and pole vaulting.
Salem High is in partnership with the Indianapolis Colts. The football players will be there August 23 and on October 18 with the cheerleaders. Salem High School is one of the five schools that the Colts will visit.
The press box will not be installed in October – November so it will not interfere with the football season.
Weedin said “It’s expensive but the field is more versatile. The field will be used for band invitationals, soccer teams besides football. The soccer team will enjoy the restrooms, lighting and concession stand that they don’t have at their present location. This is definitely a show class for Salem.”
Weedin also pointed out the nice aluminum grandstands that were donated by Jack and Marcia Huckleberry, and Don and Ruth Huckleberry on Sept. 11, 1987. It was dedicated in memory of Roy and Gladys Huckleberry and their son Dale.
Another bit of history can be found behind the ball diamond. It’s the old pedestrian bridge that use to be at the Salem Speedway and now provides a path across Brock Creek. The bridge was removed from the speedway in 1977 by speedway owner at that time, Sherman Armstrong.
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Latest Washington County Mugshots
The following individuals were arrested recently by local law enforcement agencies. Those listed, in most cases, are just facing charges at this point, and are to be considered innocent of those charges unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges are often dropped or lessened. Mugshots are collected from local law enforcement agencies on Mondays and are public records.
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