Contents
Contributors
Contents
13 COLORING CONTEST 15 HISTORY MYSTERY
SUBSCRIBE
16 Small Town Showdown ~ by Boris Ladwig
22 Spears Gallery ~ by Bob Gustin
28 Collector’ s Showcase 2025 ~ by Julia Pearson
34 Armadillos ~ by Mark Blackwell
38-39 Photos by Seth Teeters *
40-42 CALENDAR / EVENTS 43 Happening Highlights
45 Responder Aid 2025 ~ by Jeff Tryon
52 Nashville General Store ~ by Brian Blair
56 Terror of Brown County ~ by Mark A. Randall
59 Brown County Studio Tour
60 Corn Botany ~ by Jim Eagleman
64 Sampler: Range 46 Wine Co. 72-74 INFO PAGES
Cover: Jan and Larry Spears at Spears Gallery ~ by Bob Gustin
Jeff Tryon is a former news editor of The Brown County Democrat, and a former regional reporter for The Republic. 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.
Joe Lee is an illustrator and writer. He is the author of Forgiveness: The Eva Kor Story, The History of Clowns for Beginners, and Dante 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.
Jim Eagleman is a 40-year veteran naturalist with the IN DNR. In retirement, he is now a consultant. His program“ Nature Ramblings” can be heard on WFHB radio, the Brown County Hour. He serves on the Sycamore Land Trust board. He enjoys reading, hiking, music, and birding.
Boris Ladwig is a Columbusbased journalist who has worked in print, online and TV media in Indiana and Kentucky and has won awards for features, news, business, non-deadline news, First Amendment / community affairs and investigative reporting.
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.
Mark Blackwell no longer makes his home in Brown County where“ the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines.” 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.
Julia Pearson loves learning and writing about local history, faith communities, and the radically ordinary lives of people. She continues the work and association of her late husband, Bruce L. Pearson, with the Wyandotte and Delaware tribes, and visits museums of all types and sizes.
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. He enjoys expanding his book and record collections.
Brian Blair is a former longtime features writer for The Republic in Columbus. His work has appeared in publications ranging from the Miami Herald to U. S. News and World Report.
Mark A. Randall is a freelance artist / illustrator specializing in paranormal-related artwork. He has published 14 books, designed over 30 book covers and provided nearly 300 illustrations for film. He has also produced art for trading cards, posters, games, t-shirts, web media and CD / DVD packaging, just to name a few. He lives with his wife in Indiana.
* Seth Teeters has had a passion for photography since high school. He later took it to another level when he studied digital art and design in college. As a photographer, designer, art director, and now primarily a marketer, he takes pride in the diversity of his work, and loves sharing what he is able to see and capture.
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Sept./ Oct. 2025 • Our Brown County 9