Saluting Lincoln's Hoosier Roots - Lincoln Boyhood Home Celebration

Lincoln flatboat will launch Sept. 9

New Telling of Lincoln's Indiana Boyhood in Works for Ampitheatre

US 231 widening to continue this spring

The work, part of Gov. Mitch Daniels' Major Moves statewide highway construction initiative, will continue expanding U.S. 231 to a four-lane roadway from Indiana 162 in Gentryville to Indiana 62 in Dale and is scheduled to begin construction in the Spring.

LEDC Annual Luncheon

Click here to view a slide show from our annual luncheon.

Land of Lincoln Ind. officials support Spencer County artist's depiction

Suellen Reed, state superintendent of public instruction, will present a canvas print of Thomas Kennedy's painting in her capitol office at 1:15 p.m. EST as part of a literacy campaign promoting reading about the 16th president.
Kennedy, who has given oversized prints and reproductions of the montage to Reed and Gov. Mitch Daniels, attended the event along with an entourage of supporters bused to Indianapolis from Spencer County.
The showcase is more than just a "thanks" for the gift, however.

It was a first public showing in a campaign to put Kennedy's painting in Indiana classrooms, and to make it an official image for the state and national commissions planning celebrations of the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth in 2009.

Less expensive prints
Reed has said she would like to see less expensive lithographs of the painting, a collection of scenes from Lincoln's life, go up in every school across Indiana.

She sees it as an eloquent biography presented without pages of text.

"I think it will serve as a model for all the ways we learn and take in information," she said. "And it points out that Lincoln spent his formative years in Indiana."

Moving from bottom to top, the painting takes viewers from Lincoln's birth in Kentucky through his years in Indiana, then Illinois, to the White House, where he led the nation through the Civil War and the end of slavery in the United States.

The center section focuses on scenes from his life in Southern Indiana, where he lived from ages 7 to 21 with his family in what would become Spencer County. Today, the area remembers him with Lincoln State Park and the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, which preserves the site where his family lived from 1816 to 1830, before moving to Illinois.

Pushing for adoption
Reed intends to work with Connie Nass, executive director of the Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial, to push for the art to be adopted by both the state and national commissions.

"It just tells the whole life story of Abraham Lincoln in pictures," Nass said.

Kennedy is a Louisville, Ky., native who grew up in Owensboro, Ky., and spent most of his career working as an illustrator with ad agencies in Evansville and Newburgh. He's done full-color illustrations for text books, trade journals and magazines.

Throughout his career, he drew and painted portraits and made fine art. He's continued doing so in a home and studio in Spencer County, where he moved several years ago.

Kennedy spent more than two years researching and painting his Lincoln history, which measures 32-by-44 inches.

Kennedy has sold 30 to 40 limited-edition, stretched canvas reproductions created with a Newburgh company. The original-sized copies sell for $1,500. The 42-by-58-inch "estate" reproductions, like those given to Reed and Daniels, retail for $3,000.

Gift to first lady
Kennedy also recently presented a print to first lady Laura Bush when he and Reed visited the White House to view an 18-foot tree decorated with ornaments representing the national parks. Kennedy created the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial's ornament, depicting Lincoln and scenes from his life and legacy.

For more information on Thomas Kennedy, visit www.thomaskennedyart.com

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Artist Thomas Kennedy's Lincoln Ornament
on Display in White House Blue Room

A hand painted Christmas ornament, by Thomas Kennedy representing Abraham Lincoln’s life in Indiana is prominently displayed on this year’s official White House Christmas Tree. The ornament, representing Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, located in Spencer County, Ind., is one of 391 on the tree, which celebrates the theme “Holiday in the National Parks.”

Artist Thomas Kennedy, of Rockport, designed and painted the ornament for Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial following suggestions from the park with four vignettes of the Lincoln story in Indiana. The four vignettes are: the Lincoln cabin, the Indiana sculpture from the Memorial Building, the tombstone from Nancy Hanks Lincoln’s grave, and a youthful Abraham Lincoln.

Kennedy attended the reception for the artists on Nov. 28 at the White House with his guest, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Suellen K. Reed. Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial will host Indiana’s Lincoln Bicentennial Kick-off Event, a Mothers Day ceremony, on Sunday, May 11, 2008. Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln is buried in a pioneer cemetery located on the Memorial grounds. For more information on this event and others near Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, visit www.ThinkLincoln.org.

Dr. Reed will host a reception for Tom on December 19th, 1:00pm at the Indianapolis State House where his original painting "The Life of Abraham Lincoln" will be unveiled. A bus will be leaving from Santa Claus that morning for area residents who wish to attend the reception. For more information on departure or to reserve a seat, contact Lorrie at the Lincolnland Economic Development office at 812-649-2119.

For more information on Thomas Kennedy, visit www.thomaskennedyart.com

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Holiday World Owners Receive National Attention

The December issue of the national magazine Family Circle will include an article on the owners of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari. The feature on the Koch family will also include information about the theme park, the town of Santa Claus, nearby Lincoln City, the upcoming “Christmas in Santa Claus” festival and Jasper’s Schnitzelbank Restaurant.

In addition, a video shot at Holiday World back in May by a crew from NBC’s popular “Deal or No Deal” game show is now available to view on the “Deal” website.

US Highway 231 is on the Fast Track

The State of Indiana is "fast tracking" the improvements to US Highway 231 as a super connector. Following is a brief outline of the updated completion schedule.

• U.S. 231 in Spencer and Dubois County, $46.7 million.
• Estimated completion: fall 2007.
• Scope: New interchange at U.S. 231 and SR 62, new pavement from SR 62 to CR 2050N, new bridges and ramps at interchange.

Spencer County Lures Ethanol Plant

The plant will be designed for expansion up to 200 million gallons from its present design capacity of 100 million gallons of ethanol per year. Its initial operating phase, scheduled for groundbreaking near Rockport, Indiana this summer, will achieve full operating capacity within 24 months.

Lincolnland Economic Development Corp., Spencer County's economic development organization, recruited the Biofuels project in response to the county's strategic development plan for value-added agricultural processes.

Lincolnland director Tom Utter said: "In seeking the biofuels opportunities, I approached international companies with existing locations in our county. Mr. Sieckman's organization has successfully operated its existing $25 million AMROX plant here for over eight years. In addition to projects in the United States, Mr. Sieckman's global team is also constructing and operating projects in Argentina, China, Russia, India and Korea, so it is an honor that they think enough of Spencer County to accept our invitation to build an alternative fuels plant in our community."

New Inter-modal Port Announced for Spencer County Indiana

Plans for the port, to be part of an industrial park and logistics center on the riverfront in Rockport, were revealed at the Lincolnland Annual Meeting in Rockport. I & M President and Chief Operating Officer, Helen Murray said that I & M will transfer about 600 acres of property along the Ohio River near Rockport to MidAmerica Terminals to construct an intermodal operation that will be open to agriculture, steel, furniture manufacturers and mining sectors. 

Construction is expected to start this summer. Lincolnland Economic Development Corp. and MidAmerica Terminals, in  cooperation with Spencer County government, say they are already negotiating more than $160 Million in additional new investment into the river port.

Over the Top Christmas

SANTA CLAUS, IN---The town of Santa Claus, Ind., was recently included in a holiday special aiedr on the Home and Garden Television Network.

The special, was titled “Over the Top Christmas” .

Santa Claus, Ind., was featured in a segment of the show about the Jolly Old Elf himself. The special also included segments highlighting holiday-related world records, holiday sightseeing, and folks who get an early start to the Christmas season. A segment was dedicated to Christmas lights and competing decorators who go all out to make the holiday bright.

Spencer County also was featured on HGTV in a 2001 holiday special titled “Small Town Christmas.”

Building Skills

Holiday World garners four Golden Ticket Awards

Thermwood to Expand HQ, Manufacturing Operations in Southern Indiana

Thermwood is planning what it calls the largest expansion in the company's history. Thermwood, which is in Spencer County Indiana in Dale, produces CNC routers for the woodworking, plastics, aerospace and defense industries. The company says the expansion will include its headquarters and manufacturing facility.

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LEDC was awarded the Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education's (IAACE) Business/Industry Award. Tom Utter, Executive Director of LEDC accepted the award.

Santa Claus Museum Opens

The history of the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, will be unwrapped for visitors as the Santa Claus Museum opens to the public.

“This is a dream come true,” says the museum’s founder, Pat Koch. “So many visitors to our town want to know its history, from the naming of the town to our famous post office, plus the creation of the world’s first theme park. I’m very grateful that so many believers have pitched in to help create the Santa Claus Museum.”

The museum includes artifacts and photographs from Koch’s private collection, the Holiday World archives, plus loaned and donated treasures from collectors with personal ties to the town of Santa Claus. Koch predicts visitors will be surprised and delighted with the variety of memorabilia, photos, and articles on display. In the spirit of Christmas giving, she adds, there is no admission charge to tour the museum.
The museum includes exhibits on:

• The early beginnings of Santa Claus, IN.
• The history of the famous Santa Claus Post Office
• The beginning of tourism in Santa Claus with the Candy Castle and Barrett Park
• The history of Santa Claus Land and its evolution to Holiday World; and Letters to Santa and the local tradition of responding to the millions of children who send them

The Santa Claus Museum is located two doors south of the Santa Claus Post Office in the Kringle Place shopping center. For more information, call 1-812-937-2687, or visit the museum’s website at www.santaclausmuseum.org.

Project Excellence Job Skills Program Educational Model Praised by State

The Indiana Board of Education convened at Santa's Lodge on Wednesday and Thursday to conduct a business meeting and observe what members said could be a statewide educational model - an advanced manufacturing technology lab at nearby Heritage Hills High School and South Spencer High School.

Project Excellence, which receives funding from the state Workforce Development Cabinet, was established two years ago to address workplace skills in Spencer County and the manufacturing sector.

The program is being utilized by high school classes and companies offering employee training. It is also working with Spencer County's GED and other adult education efforts.

"The partnership between schools, business and nonprofit agencies is paying dividends", said Tom Utter, executive director of the Lincolnland Economic Development Corp.

Participants "are completing their work at an average of two grade levels higher than when they started," Utter said. "That obviously makes them more confident and more competent as well. The enthusiasm it generates among the work force is resulting in lower turnover levels at these companies and higher productivity, making them more competitive."

The board of education chose Santa Claus to host its first meeting away from Indianapolis since 1993. They were invited by new board member Jim Edwards of Santa Claus, a business owner who along with Utter has been giving presentations across Indiana about Project Excellence.

State education officials said the pilot program at Heritage Hills and South Spencer could be duplicated elsewhere in Indiana.

"This idea is, if they can do this here, we can do this in other parts of the state," said Suellen Reed, superintendent of public instruction.

While at Heritage Hills, state officials got to talk with students involved in the project.

"Going to see kids is something I love to do, because that makes it real," Reed said.

From Left to Right above: Mike Kamp (Town of Santa Claus), Mike Sodrel (U.S. Congressman 9th District), Sandy K. Baruah (US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development), Lisa Gehlhausen (Exec. Director, Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission), Theresa Criss-Hartwig (Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission), Kim Christensen (Town of Santa Claus), Ron Smith (Town of Santa Claus), Kevin Burke (Town of Santa Claus)

Santa Claus receives $2 million EDA grant U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Sandy K. Baruah and U.S. Congressman Mike Sodrel presented a $2 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) investment check to the town of Santa Claus. The investment will build water system infrastructure needed to help local businesses expand operations. It will also help create more than 300 jobs and generate $70 million in private capital investment. "President Bush is committed to partnering with communities to promote innovation and competitiveness," said Baruah. "Through economic development grants like these, the Commerce Department will continue to encourage investments in local areas, grow the economy and create jobs." The water system upgrade is vitally important for the future economic growth of Santa Claus and northern Spencer County," Sodrel said. The upgrade is expected to attract much needed jobs to Santa Claus and enhance the viability of the Santa Claus industrial park," he said.

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The Voyage, the record-breaking wooden coaster given a sneak preview Thursday morning at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.

The 173-foot-high coaster towers over the park's new Thanksgiving section, and in tribute to the voyage by pilgrims in 1620, the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain was invited to take the first to ride. The public got its chance Saturday (May 6th) when Holiday World began its 60th season.

What makes The Voyage outstanding, Andy Hine, 39, of London said, "are two key elements. The air time, where you float over your seat, and the high banking on the bends. On some of them you're completely on your side going round. Normally, that only happens on modern steel coasters."

"I have a hard time being humble about this coaster," Will Koch said, noting he wanted The Voyage "to be different. This coaster may go down as one of the great roller coasters."

Thus, there are 24.2 seconds of air time, more than any other coaster; three drops of more than 100 feet, one with a 66-degree angle of descent; a record five tunnels (providing eight "underground" moments); three sections of 90-degree banking; and a surprise triple-dip drop near the end.

Until The Voyage came along, The Legend was the park's big boy. But The Voyage's ride not only lasts 45 seconds longer, it has three 28-passenger trains running versus two for The Legend.

At 1.2 miles in length, The Voyage takes the traditional "out-and-back" layout to the extreme, making it among the three longest and fastest wooden coasters. Its top speed is 67.4 mph.

Some out-and-back coasters slow down where they make the turn home and have a fairly straight shot back to the station. Koch made sure The Voyage has a high-speed turnaround and the trip back not only is fast but full of zig-zags.

Built with 320,000 board feet of southern yellow pine and 750 tons of steel, The Voyage is part of a $13.5 million expansion, largest in the park's history.

Thursday's preview was for media, coaster fans and radio and TV station contest winners. For park information, call (877) GO-FAMILY or log on to www.holidayworld.com

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Tom Utter presented a limited edition print of "Hold Me" by Spencer County artist, Tom Kennedy to representative Russ Stilwell at the April meeting of the Spencer County Regional Chamber of Commerce. The gift was intended as a thank you from the Lincolnland Economic Development Council (LEDC) and the artist to Mr. Stillwell for his efforts on behalf of Spencer County.

Utter Turns the Table on Lt. Governor

Utter presented the Lt. Governor with a limited edition print by local artist Tom Kennedy on behalf of the LEDC and Spencer County following her presentation of a certificate of recognition to Utter for his efforts in the initiative.

Spencer County, represented by Phil Schmidt of the Purdue Extension office, Commissioner Dan Rininger and Tom Utter presented an update on the county’s progress on county strategies and goals at the March 22nd forum in Pike County.

To date the following strides have been made:

• 3 areas have been identified as having strong potential for farmer’s markets in Spencer County and efforts continue to negotiate for land and vendors.
  
• Study continues to identify area crops and growth patterns in Spencer County to take advantage of Agri-tourism and divers opportunities in expanding commercial markets.
• Bioenergy studies have confirmed that assets in Spencer County (logistics, river commerce, diversity and competition) make the area prime for development of competitive bioenergy production. Spencer County topography also indicates additional potential for biomass production of alternate raw material in addition to surplus grain providing Spencer County with a competitive edge in providing creative alternatives for Bioenergy production.

Spencer County Visitors Bureau Names New Executive Director

Miller will coordinate marketing and public relations efforts to promote Spencer County as an overnight destination to new and returning visitors. She will also supervise the operations of the visitor’s bureau, including the Nancy Hanks Tourism Information Centers located on Interstate 64 in Spencer County. The centers are staffed seven days a week by professional travel counselors.

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New Legislation Affecting Jobs and Economic Growth

Major Moves (HB 1008) – Provides $3.85 billion from the lease of the Indiana Toll Road to fund nearly 200 statewide transportation and economic growth projects throughout the state.

Telecom Reform (HB 1279) – deregulates telephone services and creates statewide video franchising. Encourages new investment and competition in the provision of advanced telecommunications and video services, resulting in more choices and lower prices for Hoosier consumers.

Single Tax Factor (in HB 1001) – Provides after a phase-in period that corporate business income is apportioned to Indiana for adjusted gross income tax purposes using a single sales factor. Makes Indiana more competitive with surrounding states and eliminates tax “penalty” on companies with substantial Indiana employment and investment.

Reform workforce training system (SB 370) – Authorizes IEDC to create no more than 11 Workforce Development regions (versus 17 today) with streamlined boards accountable for the regional training programs they must now award through competitive bidding. Also consolidates four existing training programs to improve efficiency and make more funds available for training vs. program administration.

HQ Relocation Tax Credit (HB 1380) – Reduces from $500 million to $100 million the amount of annual worldwide revenue that a business must have in order to qualify for the headquarters relocation tax credit.

EDGE Tax Credit Extension (HB 1380) – Provides that an applicant for an EDGE credit for the retention of jobs must employ at least 35 persons (instead of 75 as required by current law). Increases the $5,000,000 per year cap on the amount of EDGE credits that may be granted to retain existing jobs during each state fiscal year to $10,000,000 per year.

Common Sense Consumption (HB 1113) – Grants immunity from civil liability for certain persons in the food and beverage industry, including advertisers, marketers, and advertising media, as to a claim concerning weight gain, obesity, a health condition associated with weight gain or obesity.

Professional Licensing Reform (SB 333) – Makes numerous changes to the state’s licensing rules for various professions.

Hoosier Business Investment Tax Credit (HB 1380) – Extends the deadline by which a qualified investment must be made in order to be eligible for the HBITC until January 1, 2012.

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AK Steel's Rockport plant gets safety designation

Tourism expected to increase

Congratulations Spencer County!!!

• To LEDC Board Member Jim Edwards for his appointment by Gov. Daniels to the Indiana Board of Education
• To LEDC Administrative Assistant Lori Spalding for being nominated as a Spencer County Business Woman of the Year
• To LEDC Board Member Chris Middleton and LEDC Special Projects Coordinator Jacqui Duncan for being chosen to represent Spencer County in the Pilot Program Connect with Southern Indiana
• To LEDC for being awarded the Friend of Literacy award by SINE
• Spencer County Government for receiving two AIC County Achievement Awards for the Fulda Regional Sewer Project and the Jail GED Program

Spencer County Indiana is Model for State Agricultural Economic Development Program

Tom Utter of LEDC points out, "Agriculture represents a major portion of Spencer County's economy. For several years, LEDC and the Spencer County Extension Office have been seeking value-added agriculture opportunities." 

Tammy Lawson, ISDA's Director of Industry Information and Regulatory Affairs contends that agriculture will be a significant component of Indiana's economic comeback and this sector must be considered within the broader context of economic development.   

Spencer County, having already participated in the regional version of this initiative, now takes the lead by forming the state's first local action team and hosting the state's first local action meeting at the Chrisney youth center. 

Phil Schmidt, Spencer County's Agriculture Education Extension Agent, summed up the effort, "We want our agriculture sector to have greater control of its destiny through innovation and planning."

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