Daniels: summer program to hire 2,000 young adults

Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps Facts

• The Department of Natural Resources expects to restore up to 2,600 acres of natural habitat areas, build up to 110 miles of new trails, rehabilitate over 1,100 miles of existing trails and restore about 40 structures. The work will take place at about 100 DNR sites, including state parks, reservoirs, recreation areas, state forests, nature preserves, and state historic sites.
• About 2,000 young adults will be hired at a salary of $8.50 per hour for 16 weeks between May 1 and September 30. Those hired will be 16 to 24 years old and have family income at or below the poverty level. The state will seek veterans and those currently receiving unemployment benefits.
• Job applications are being accepted by the Department of Workforce Development online at www.in.gov/yhcc
• Training will include basic construction, historic preservation, and greenway development skills.
• Indiana will receive about $24 million in stimulus funds and will use it to hire workers this summer. Should the program prove successful, remaining funds will be used to renew it next summer.

Project examples

• Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve (Lake County): Habitat restoration and invasive plant species removal on 120 acres.
• Potato Creek State Park (St. Joseph County): New trail construction and major trail rehabilitation.
• Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve/Limberlost State Historic Site (Adams, Jay counties): continued restoration of historic Limberlost wetland habitat.
• J. Edgar Roush Lake (Huntington, Wells counties): removal of shrubs, trees and restoration of wildlife openings to maintain wildlife diversity.
• O’Bannon Woods State Park (Harrison County): control and eradication of harmful invasive vegetation.
• Deam Lake State Recreation Area (Clark County): Construction of new six-mile horse trail loop.
• Patoka Lake (Crawford, Dubois, Orange counties): Re-construction and restoration of historic log cabin.
• Knobstone Trail (Clark, Scott, Washington counties): New construction and major rehab of Indiana’s longest hiking trail.
• Turkey Run State Park (Parke County): Rehabilitation of historic Leiber Memorial.
• Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site (Noble County): Repair and maintenance of historic GSP home.
• Mississinewa Lake (Miami, Wabash counties): Repair work on historic Frances Slocum shelter.
• Pokagon State Park (Steuben County): Preparing Trine State Recreation Area to open to the public (Trine would be the newest state recreation area).

Click here for a map of Indiana DNR properties that will be part of the Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps program.

Click here for audio from the announcement.

Game Night - CANCELLED!

****THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED****

Next Sunday (May 3) is a scheduled Game Night for those in Middle and Senior High. These evenings have traditionally been 6-9 p.m. this school year, although it’s open to those “doing it.” I will be away for the weekend and so for this to happens there needs to be people step-up to lead and plan the evening. If you are interested, please e-mail me. THANK YOU! Let me know by Wednesday evening. Otherwise, I will call the evening off.

Hope for the Homeless Dinner and Silent Auction

The Hope House will have its 6^th Annual Fundraiser on Tuesday, May 12 at Park Chapel Christian Church (1176 E. McKenzie Rd.) in Greenfield. Tickets are available for purchase at $40/per plate or $320/table of 8.

The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with a catered meal by Ty Hunt Catering and music of Renee Wu. A silent auction will simultaneously be held and the keynote speaker of the evening will be Tim Brown. Mr. Brown is a former Philadelphia Eagles Running Back and a graduate of Morton Memorial High School (Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Children’s Home) in Knightstown.

Some of the items for the silent auction include: autographed Colts items (including actual game cleats worn by Gary Brackett), a year’s membership to the Hancock Wellness Center, queen-size hand-crafted quilt (beautiful!), earrings from Reis-Nichols valuing at $400 and many other items and gift baskets.

Hope House serves the counties of: Hancock, Rush and Shelby by: providing short-term housing to homeless families and individuals; providing training through “Life Leads” program to teach adults essential life-skills; providing “Breaking the Cycle” education to end alcohol and drug abuse; providing the community with low-coast thrift clothing and household items through the WEARhouse Thrift Store; allowing individuals in the three county area to build ownership in the Hope House mission through a volunteer program.

As a Board member, I have tickets to sale for this event and I NEED TO SALE THEM! Please consider this opportunity and contact me if interested.

Troy Davis' Bid For a New Trial

As a denomination firmly against the death penalty, please consider this from Amnesty International:

It's not the end of the road for Troy Davis, but the news is not good.

On Friday, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Troy Davis' bid for a new trial. In a 2-1 vote, the court cited technical reasons to reject Davis' petition for a hearing.

But all hope is not lost. Troy has 30 days to file another petition with the US Supreme Court.

Troy and his lawyers are doing everything they can to fight this decision from the inside. It is up to us to turn up the pressure on the outside. Even if you've taken action before, keep flooding Governor Perdue's office with emails demanding justice for Troy.

And pass the action on to everyone you know. There is power in numbers and when you stand behind Troy Davis, you make the fight for justice even stronger!

We can't thank you enough.

In solidarity,
Sue, Brian, Jessie, and the rest of the Death Penalty Campaign team

P.S. Save the date — National Day of Solidarity for Troy Davis coming in May. We'll be in touch soon to let you know how you can support Troy in your own community!

30-Hour Famine Details

You could still sign-up for the Famine, but I need to know NOW (deadline was today)! This is open to all Middle and Senior High Youth and their friends. You need to get your famine packet from me ASAP!

We need parents to help with the concert, provide transportation during Community Service Project time and 2 adults to help with the break-fast meal. Let me know in what way you can help! This is a 5-church event. Trinity Park UMC, Mt. Comfort UMC, Brown’s Chapel Wesleyan Church, Greenfield Christian Church and Bradley. All other churches have at least 10 participants, some of the churches are over 20 participants!!!!

I currently have 6 youth signed-up from Bradley.

Here’s a more detailed agenda:

FRIDAY, APRIL 24:

5:30 p.m. – Begin arriving at Mt. Comfort UMC (we’ll car pool / transport from Bradley)

5:40 p.m. – Mixer / Ice Breaker

6 p.m. – Card Board House / City Assembly & Building

7:30 p.m. – SevenGlory Concert (famine participants NEED a ticket – from ME – but you do not pay)

9:30/10 p.m. – Dodgeball Tournament

12:30/1 a.m. – Individual Church Devotions

NIGHT-NIGHT

SATURDAY, APRIL 25:

8 a.m. – Rise and Shine!

8:45 a.m. – Hit the road for Community Service Projects (Greenfield & Indianapolis)

12:30 p.m. – Return to Mt. Comfort (free-time in gym, change clothes, etc.)

1:30 p.m. – Educational Rotation Stations

3:10 p.m. – Group Activities (Inflatable Obstacle Course, Basketball, Kickball, etc.)

5:15 p.m. – Individual Church Reflections

5:45 p.m. – Closing Thoughts, Announcement of $$$ Raised, Worship Songs

6:00 p.m. – Pray and EAT!