Contents
Contributors
Contents
16 The Goat Conspiracy ~ by Bob Gustin 22 Field Notes: Thanful
~ by Jim Eagleman 28 Playhouse Plans
~ by Jeff Tryon 34-35 Photos ~ by Michele Wedel * 36-38 Calendar of Events 39 Holliday Highlights 44 Winter Hike Series
~ by Chrissy Alspaugh 48 Life is Good at JB Goods
~ by Paige Langenderfer 52 Ralph Emerson Lee
~ by Julia Pearson 56 Beware of Falling Rocks ~ by Mark Blackwell 60 Sampler: Heavenly Biscuit 62 Oak Ridge Boys Christmas
~ by Ryan Stacy 64-65 Brown County Info Pages
66 Santa Laws
Cover: The Goat Conspiracy
~ by Simon Schonemann-Poppeliers
OUR BROWN COUNTY
ourbrowncounty. com ourbrown @ bluemarble. net
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P. O. Box 157 Helmsburg, IN 47435( 812) 988-8807
Singing Pines Projects, Inc. copyright 2019
Bob Gustin worked as a reporter, photographer, managing editor, and editor for daily newspapers in Colorado, Nebraska, and Indiana before retiring in 2011. He and his wife, Chris, operate Homestead Weaving Studio. She does the weaving while he gives studio tours, builds small looms, and expands his book and record collections.
Joe Lee is an illustrator and writer. He is the author of The History of Clowns for Beginners and Dante for Beginners and illustrator of six other titles, including Dada and Surealism for Beginners, and Music Theory for Beginners. He is an editorial cartoonist for the Bloomington Herald Times, a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and a veteran circus performer.
Jeff Tryon is a former news editor of The Brown County Democrat, a former region reporter for The Republic, and a former bureau chief for The Huntsville Times. Born and raised in Brown County, he currently lives with his wife, Sue, in a log cabin on the edge of Brown County State Park. He is a Baptist minister.
Jim Eagleman, recently retired DNR naturalist, and his wife Kay, enjoy hiking the many natural areas, preserves, and land trust sites in Brown and neighboring counties. His FIELD NOTES have appeared in this publication for several years. Contact Jim with comments and inquiries at < jpeagleman @ gmail. com >.
Contributors
Cindy Steele is the publisher and editor of this magazine. She sells and designs ads, sometimes writes, takes photos, and creates the layout. For fun, she likes to play the guitar or banjo and sing.
* Michele Wedel is a photographer and visual imaging artist in Nashville. She is the house photographer for the new Brown County Music Center. She grew up visiting the area and moved here six years ago. She finds inspiration for her art in the natural beauty of Brown County and in the variety of amazing people that live here. You can view more of her work on Facebook at Michele Wedel Photography
Ryan Stacy is a content writer at Monroe County Public Library, and also enjoys writing about Brown County. He and his wife live in Bloomington, where they can often be found chasing movies, good food, and cultural events. His other interests include reading, photography, and music.
Paige Langenderfer is a freelance writer and communications consultant. She writes for numerous publications. She earned her Bachelor’ s degree in journalism from Indiana University and her Master’ s degree in public relations management from IUPUI. Paige lives in Columbus with her husband and daughters. Contact her at < langenderferpaige @ gmail. com >.
Julia Pearson wrote for a Franciscan magazine for ten years and served as its human interest editor. She and husband Bruce now reside in Lake Woebegone Country for life’ s continuing adventures. Julia enjoys traveling and visiting museums of all types and sizes, with her children and grandchildren.
Mark Blackwell no longer makes his home in Brown County where“ the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines and present a meatless, barren, backbone effect.” He now resides within sight of the sixth green of an undisclosed golf course. He was born in the middle of the last century and still spends considerable time there.
Chrissy Alspaugh is a freelance writer and owner of Christina Alspaugh Photography. She lives in Bartholomew County with her husband, Matt and three boys. She can be reached at < christina _ alspaugh @ yahoo. com >. View her work at
< ChristinaAlspaughPhotography. com >.
Special thanks to Kara Barnard and Gunther Flumm for their contributions this issue.
Thanks, Mom, for making it happen!
10 Our Brown County • Nov./ Dec. 2019