Volunteers Karen Chilman, left, and Karen Jackson set up the “identity cabinet” in North Vernon’s Stellar Building in preparation for the Smithsonian exhibit that opens there this week.—Photo by Ralph Cooley
The Smithsonian Institute is coming to North Vernon this week as Jennings County is the next stop on the Indiana tour of the Smithsonian's Crossroads: Change in Rural America exhibit.
The exhibit's six-week run will kick off Thursday, Dec. 12, with a reception from 4 to 5:45 p.m. at the Stellar Building (also known as the Picklesimer Building), 22 N Madison Ave, at the north end of the Stellar Plaza.
Then at 6 p.m. on Thursday, the opening ceremonies continue across the street at the Park Theatre Civic Centre for a special concert and free showing of the movie "Friendly Persuasion."
As part of Indiana Humanities' INseparable initiative, the interactive display in the Stellar Movie tracks the national ebb and flow of rural America from farming to industrialization to the digital age with the local exhibit to emphasize Jennings County. The Smithsonian exhibit will continue to be on display in North Vernon through Sunday, Jan. 26.
Several local components will be among the exhibit's highlights. They include a Jennings County "identity cabinet" made by Jennings County High School students and filled with drawers of local historical artifacts and an attractive timeline display that juxtaposes local history with national events.
"This project is about building pride in our community and an awareness of where we've come, where we are and where we're going," said Joanie Van Horn, executive cirector of the Jennings County Community Foundation.
Starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, a travel-through-musical history concert by the Woodshop Boys will take place at the Park Theatre Civic Centre. Then at 7 p.m., a special showing of the 1956 Hollywood movie "Friendly Persuasion," will begin. Monday, December 9, 2019
In this state, there are currently more than 1,500 children eligible for adoption. During Adoption Month, the sun shines in on this normally private legal matter and the public is allowed to witness firsthand the beauty of adopting a child and welcoming them into their forever family.
For Jennings County High School's Haley Engelking, the choice was clear.
Christmas seems like a particularly good time to get acquainted with the Wayside Inn homeless shelter as we all celebrate the homeless Mary and Joseph who sought refuge in a manger to welcome their newborn son.
City sidewalks are dressed in holiday style and downtown is all ready for Saturday's Christmas in the City festival.
Battle against drug dealers Jennings County Sheriff Kenny Freeman says he is staying true to his word on the battle against drug dealers after five people were arrested, four on charges of dealing heroin or methamphetamine, in North Vernon and Country Squire Lakes Thursday evening, Dec. 5.
Dana Mutz, left, St. Vincent Jennings Hospital administrator, and Bee Murphy, Jennings County Coordinating Council director, look over some of the toys donated this week by the hospital for the Coordinating Council's annual Christmas Food Basket Baskets and Toys Project. The North Vernon hospital, working in partnership with St. Vincent Peyton Manning Children's Hospital and Indiana Pacers, delivered 200 toys to the Coordinating Council for the project. "This is going to help make a lot of kids happy!" exclaimed Murphy.-Staff Photo by Bryce Mayer
