Bloomfield News Blog

Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Greene County Daily World

The community of Scotland will celebrate the town’s 175th anniversary in conjunction with this year’s Scotland Festival — which is slated for Sept. 18.

Look for arts, crafts, live music, food and fun along with an “Artists’ Alley” to be a part of the day.

The festival began 46 years ago as an area art show with artists and crafters attending the event, explained Tonjua Toon in a press release on the traditional fun.

“However for the past 10 or so years this event has not happened,” she added. “We are bringing this back to the Scotland Festival this year celebrating 175 years of the town.”

Look for fine arts and crafts to be available for purchase at the Artists’ Alley — which will be located south of the Scotland Hotel. …<more>

Monday, September 6, 2010
Greene County Daily World

A Scotland woman was jailed for operating a vehicle while intoxicated following a Sunday night wreck on U.S. 231 south of County Road 600S.

Shelly Lockhart, 44, lost control of her 2001 Pontiac Sunfire about 9:18 p.m. and hit several trees and then came to rest at the edge of a pond.

Greene County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jeremy Inman said Lockhart “had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on her breath and was unable to stand very well by herself.”

She was transported to the Greene County Sheriff’s Department for field test and was later arrested for OVWI after she tested .14 BAC and failed all field tests, according to Inman. …<more>

Thursday, June 10, 2010
Greene County Daily World

For the 18th year, the village of Scotland will be bustling with yard sale activity Saturday.

The annual community yard sale event, sponsored by the Scotland United Methodist Church, will run from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

There are more than a dozen yard sale locations included on a guide map that will be passed out at the Taylor Township Fire Station starting at 7:30 a.m., when a breakfast, sponsored by the Scotland UMC Church begins.

“There are usually more that have them and don’t tell me,” event coordinator Janet Merkel said. “There will be the typical yard sale stuff. There will be a little bit of everything.” …<more>

Friday, April 30, 2010
Greene County Daily World

The memories of two area youngsters, who passed away last year after suffering severe burns in a tragic accident in the small Greene County village of Scotland, will be perpetuated in a special community celebration of life that will unfold in late June. …<MORE>

Tuesday, December 29, 2009
By Nick Schneider, Assistant Editor
Greene County Daily World

Three members of rural Scotland family and several pet dogs escaped their burning home unhurt early Tuesday morning.

However, the blaze that was reported about 6 a.m. ravaged the single-story ranch style home owned by Charles Procter.

The residence, located on State Road 58, east of the U.S. 231 junction, was termed a “total loss” by Richland-Taylor Township Fire Chief Randy Baker.

Baker said he believes the fire was electrical in nature and started in an utility room.

Three area fire departments — Richland-Taylor Township, Center Township and Owensburg-Jackson Township — battled the fire in sub-freezing temperatures.

“It was a normal winter-time house fire. The kind we don’t like to have,” Baker said. “It was pretty cold out there.”

Also assisting at the scene were personnel from the Greene County Sheriff’s Department and Greene County Emergency Management Agency Director Roger Axe.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) assisted by putting sand down on the roadway near the fire site to assist the fire vehicles with traction.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
By Anna Rochelle, Staff Writer
Greene County Daily World

Tuesday, November 24, 2009
By Anna Rochelle, Staff Writer
Greene County Daily World

Sunday, September 20, 2009
Photos by DaNae Seymour
Greene County Daily World

Luke Oliphant age 8, son of Scott and Kelly Oliphant (at left) and Jack Townsend, eight-year-old son of Brent and Laura Townsend carry the Scotland Festival Parade banner.

Cora Hedrick, the 10-year-old daughter of Maggie and Aaron Hedrick, gets her face painted by Britney Pinnick, who is a sophomore at Bloomfield Junior-Senior High School.

Justin Shank, the 12 year-old son of Ryan and Becky Walls of Scotland, makes his way down the giant inflatable slide.

Patrons look over one of the vendor booths.

The Bloomfield High School Band, under the direction of Alyssa Wayman, marched in the paradea then performed at the Scotland Festival.

Tractors are always part of this Greene County festival parade.

Bagpipers were part of the festivities in Scotland on Saturday.a

Mr. Scotland Festival 2009.

Jami Corbin and Tonya Toon carry the Scotland Festival Grand Marshal banner.

Thursday, September 17, 2009
By Chris Pruett, Editor
Greene County Daily World

The Scotland Festival may not be the biggest festival in Greene County each year, but it may be the most family friendly.

And that’s by design.

“We have a lot of good, quality vendors and it’s clean,” festival publicity director Brenda Massette said. “They don’t sell a lot of junk.

“We pride ourselves in trying to keep it the best we can, and keep it going and provide family entertainment.”

This year’s festival — the 45th annual — will be Saturday. It starts with the annual breakfast at the fire station at 7 a.m. and ends with the parade at 3 p.m. along Main St.

The Scotland Historical Society is in charge of the festival, and all money raised goes to the Scotland Festival Fund.

“That’s a branch off the historical society,” Massette said. “We operate from that. In case we have a rainout or something, we have expenses that need to be covered.”

The basis for the festival is simple: Provide a good time for Scotland residents and anyone else who wants to attend.

“It’s about the community, the small community we are, bringing everyone together. In the past we’ve had a lot of people come and it’s kind of been the older generation … kind of like a reunion,” Massette explained. “You can meet your old high schools friends. We still have some of that. We see it as an opportunity to bring people together.”

Festival organizers have focused on the younger generation the past few years.

“We’ve worked on trying to have activities for children. We have the giant inflatables, and it’s free,” Massette said. “We want something for families in these times, money wise like we have … they can bring their children and play all day, and it’s free. Plus, it’s good, clean fun.”

The entertainment — at the Music Wagon — begins at 9:45 a.m. “and runs to the time the parade starts. People can bring their lawnchairs and enjoy the music,” Massette said.

Massette noted that the festival was expanded to two days once, but it was too much work for the small town of about 100 residents.

“A lot of other festivals are two days, but we don’t have the manpower to do that,” Massette said.

So the historical society tries to put on the best possible festival with the resources available.

“We try to provide something for everyone … crafts and food vendors. Come and eat breakfast or wait and come for lunch,” Massette said.

“We don’t charge for anything. I think that’s important.”

The schedule of events:

7 a.m. — Breakfast at fire station (biscuits and gravy, sausage, coffee, juice, milk).

8:30 a.m. — Horseshoe pitching north of barber shop.

9 a.m. — Flea markets, crafts, and Scotland Festival stands open; giant inflatables: Giant slide, 5 & 1 Bouncy House, Obstacle Course (furnished by the Army National Guard (all free) — opens (next to hotel).

9:30 a.m. — Crowning of Little Mister & Miss Scotland (Music Wagon).

9:45 a.m. — Bret Raper and Brent Townsend (Music Wagon).

10 a.m. — Memorial to Billy Ed Hostettler (Music Wagon); restored Historic Scotland Hotel opens; chainsaw carvings by Jim Lee (Cady Grove).

10:15 a.m. — Lost River Risin’ Bluegrass (Music Wagon).

11:45 a.m. — Bloomfield High School Center Stage & ROTC Color Guard (Music Wagon).

Noon — Silverado (Music Wagon).

1 — DORA! (Hotel); parade line-up (water tower).

1:30 p.m. — parade judging.

1:45 p.m. — Rob Feutz and the Storm (Music Wagon).

2:55 p.m. — Awards/winners announced for jar count contest and other raffles.

3 — Parade (Main Street).

The giant inflatables will be open until approximately 5 p.m

Sunday, April 19, 2009
By Nick Schneider, Assistant Editor
Greene County Daily World

The names of the injured boys who were taken to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis is not being released by authorities.

Richland-Taylor Fire Chief Randy Baker lives a short distance from the accident scene and was one of first responders on the scene. Baker said both boys — in the 10-11 year old range — sustained “serious burns”.

At last reports, he said both were in surgery on Saturday night.

Baker said the accident remains under investigation, but he did confirm that gasoline was involved as the source of the fire that happened outdoors across the street from the Richland-Taylor fire station in Scotland.

“It was a bad deal,” Baker said.

A neighbor told the Greene County Daily World that the boys survived the night, but were listed in critical condition.

One of the boys is a student at Bloomfield Elementary School, while the other one lives at Crane Village and attends school in Loogootee.

Assisting Air-Evac and the Richland-Taylor Fire Department at the scene were two units from the Greene County Ambulance Service.

This story will be updated as information is released.