soin 08132015

AUGUST 13, 2015 — Issue 78A News and Tribune Publication

TOP THREE: "Heroes at the Falls" program EXHIBIT: "Meditations in Color" at Gadabout

Hayswood Theater brings

Patsy Cline to life on stage

Got a story you're just dying to see in SoIn? Tweet or Facebook us and your idea could be our next SoIn feature. For the latest SoIn content, follow/like us online.

EDITORJason Thomas

DESIGNClaire Munn

STORYElizabeth DePompei

PHOTOGRAPHYChristopher Fryer

WHERE TO FIND SOIN:• ON RACKS: We offer free copies of SoIn at numerous hotels and restaurants around Clark and Floyd counties.• IN YOUR PAPER: Every Thursday in the News and Tribune• ONLINE: newsandtribune.com /soin• ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/YourSoInWeekly• ON TWITTER: @newsandtribune

2 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015 | SOIN

Director Allen Platt looks on during a dress rehearsal for “Always…Patsy Cline” at Hayswood Theatre in Corydon. | STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER FRYER

A combination coffee/bike shop comes to SoIn.NEXT SOIN:

Got a story you're just dying to see in SoIn? Tweet or Facebook us and your idea could be our next SoIn feature. For the latest SoIn content, follow/like us online.

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ON THE COVER:

SOIN THE KNOW• WHAT: ‘Meditation in Color’ exhibit• WHEN: Aug. 14 through Sept. 6; opening recep-

tion, 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14• WHERE: Gadabout Gallery and Artisan Shoppe,

249 Spring St., Jeffersonville JEFFERSONVILLE — Debbie Welsh’s exhibition,

titled “Meditation in Color,” features whimsical still life paintings that are full of energy, according to a news release from Gadabout Gallery and Artisan Shoppe. Welsh’s style of painting, blending action with observa-tion, results in layers upon layers of color and motion.

“The color appears to me as magical. It comes out as a glow. Color has energy,” Welsh said in the release. “The subjects that I paint remain fluid and I’m apt to change them frequently while I’m building a combination of layered images.”

Welsh is a Southern Indiana native and finds inspira-tion during her meditative walks in the region’s local parks and along the Big Four Bridge.

Ten percent of the artist’s proceeds benefit Project 321 Read, a service of Communities In Schools of Clark County. For more information visit cisofclark.org.

The opening reception will be held in conjunction with Gadabout’s first birthday celebration featuring live demonstrating artists.

Downtown Jeffersonville will also be hosting a free Trolley Hop that evening, where guests can enjoy live music while perusing the locally owned shops and res-taurants on Spring Street. The events are free and open to the public.

Discovering layers of color

Allen Platt was bitten by the theater bug way back in high school.

Funny thing about such a bug — it can come back to bite you.

Platt, 46, is making his directorial debut with “Always ... Patsy Cline,” opening Aug. 21 at the Hayswood Theatre in Corydon. Platt, who was appointed to the Indiana Arts Commission by Gov. Pence in 2013, was drawn to the stage by the interaction between audience and performer, Elizabeth DePompei writes in today’s cover story.

He sees the same connection with the two-actor play, which centers on the true friendship between Cline and Louise Seger. In her correspondence with Seger, the singing legend would sign her letters, “Always ... Patsy Cline.”

Life has a way of taking over. After high school Platt continued to perform “here and there” throughout college before getting a law degree and starting a family and

career, DePompei writes. About seven years ago Platt was innocently watching rehearsals of “The Fiddler on the Roof” at Hayswood — his three daughters were on stage — when he was asked to join the cast.

Hook. Line. And sinker. Since then he’s been heavily involved, serving as a member on the theater’s board and eventually as its president. He now acts as treasurer.

That’s what we do in SoIn. Even after a few detours we follow our dreams while giving back to the community.

It’s about finding something worthwhile and that is a value to others, Platt says.

You can put that in bright lights.

Jason Thomas is the editor of SoIn. He can be reached by phone at 812-206-2127 or email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopThomas.

Succumbing to the theater bug

JASON THOMASSoIn Editor

FIRE UP THE KILN A GENTLE TURN OF EVENTS

• WHAT: Glass artist Marilee Mundy Burnside• WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14• WHERE: Vintage Fire Museum, 723 Spring St.,

Jeffersonville• INFO: VintageFireMuseum.orgIn conjunction with Jeffersonville’s Trolly Hop, the

Vintage Fire Museum will feature local glass artist Marilee Mundy Burnside. For a $1 raffle donation, visitors can help create a glass platter Marilee will fuse together at her kiln. A drawing for the finished platter will be held from the $1 donations. All proceeds go to benefit the Vintage Fire Museum. Trolleys go through the downtown Jeffersonville historic district.

• WHAT: Tai Chi at library• WHEN: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17• WHERE: New Albany-Floyd County Public

Library Strassweg Auditorium, 201 W. Spring St., New Albany

• INFO: 812-949-3523; open to all ages; freeThe program is geared toward learning about Tai

Chi, a Chinese martial art noted for its gentle turning and stretching movements. Members of the Taoist Tai Chi Society will lead the discussion, demonstrating moves throughout the program. Members will also discuss the health benefits of Tai Chi, which include improved balance and posture, increased strength and flexibility, improved circulation, and reduced stress.

GOTTA GO: Interested in seeing your event in our 3 To Go? Email SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at [email protected]

• WHAT: Carnegie Center Welcomes author Chuck Parrish for Lunch & Learn Program, “Heroes at the Falls: Louisville’s Lifesavers”

• WHEN: Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug., 18• WHERE: Carnegie Center for Art and History, 201 E.

Spring St., New Albany• INFO: Participants can bring a lunch, drinks are

provided. This program is free, but registration is required; call 812-944-7336 or email Delesha Thomas at [email protected].

The Carnegie Center for Art and History with historian Chuck Parrish will present the program “Heroes at the Falls: Louisville’s Lifesavers”, as part of the Carnegie Center’s Lunch and Learn series. Parrish is co-author and editor of the book “Heroes at the Falls: Louisville’s Lifesavers,” a history of the United States Lifesaving Station at the Falls of the Ohio, published in 2014.

| 3SOIN | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015

1 A LIFESAVING AFFAIR3 TO GO Where to go and be seen in Southern Indiana

2 3

Downtown Jeffersonville will also be hosting a free Trolley Hop that evening, where guests can enjoy live music while perusing the locally owned shops and res-taurants on Spring Street. The events are free and open to the public.

Discovering layers of color

career, DePompei writes. About seven years ago Platt was innocently watching rehearsals of “The Fiddler on the Roof” at Hayswood — his three daughters were on stage — when he was asked to join the cast.

Hook. Line. And sinker. Since then he’s been heavily involved, serving as a member on the theater’s board and eventually as its president. He now acts as treasurer.

That’s what we do in SoIn. Even after a few detours we follow our dreams while giving back to the community.

It’s about finding something worthwhile and that is a value to others, Platt says.

You can put that in bright lights.

Jason Thomas is the editor of SoIn. He can be reached by phone at 812-206-2127 or email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopThomas.

Succumbing to the theater bug

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ORYDON — Sitting in the director’s seat looked a lot easier to Indiana Arts Commis-sioner Allen Platt when he was just another

performer on the stage. But after more than a month of rehearsals for his directorial debut, “Always … Patsy Cline,” he’s singing a different tune.

“When you’re sitting in that seat, it’s really hard,” Platt conceded as he sat center stage at the Hayswood Theater in Corydon.

Told through a two-person cast, “Always … Patsy Cline” is a 28-song musical based on the true story of the friendship between a Houston house-wife and country star Patsy Cline. It opens Aug. 21 and runs through two weekends.

Platt isn’t new to the stage, by any means. He’s been in the theater world since his days at Floyd Central High School, which Platt considers a “national level” high school theater program. He witnessed a level of performance not seen in most high schools, and that’s how he caught the bug.

“Being in those shows, I think I just really learned to appreciate theater arts,” Platt said. “There was something really neat about that interaction between audience and the people in the show.”

Platt continued to perform “here and there” throughout college before getting a law degree. He now works as general counsel for Samtec, an electronic parts supplier based out of New Albany. About seven years ago, Platt reluctantly was bitten by the theater bug again.

He was sitting in on the first rehearsal for “Fid-dler on the Roof” at Hayswood, but Platt was only there for his three daughters who were cast in the play. In true community-theater fashion someone randomly approached him about being in the show to fill in the adult roles. The person had no idea they were asking a veteran of the stage.

At the time, Platt ran his own private law practice. With work and family, he wasn’t sure he had the time or energy to take on another kind of role. But he couldn’t resist the opportunity, and soon, his wife, Heidi, was enlisted to the stage too. It was a family affair that Platt described as “phenomenal” and “neat,” a word he often uses to describe the theater.

Since then, Platt said he and his family have done numerous shows at Hayswood and beyond, includ-ing murder mystery improv in French Lick with his wife that Platt described as “a little bit like play time for adults.” About four years ago, he became a member on the theater’s board and eventually served as its president. He now acts as treasurer.

“It’s busy, but I like it,” Platt said.With “Always … Patsy Cline,” he’s even busier.

The idea to produce the musical for a Corydon au-dience came up almost 10 years ago when longtime Hayswood performer Jill Robertson saw the play in Nashville with her husband. Robertson said she’s wanted to see the play on the Hayswood stage ever since. Fellow performer and Hayswood board mem-ber Rita Hight felt the same way.

Robertson and Hight would star as the musical’s stars, Patsy Cline and Louise Seger. But first they

had to convince the board to invest in the musical, which would require buying expensive rights to the 28-song script written by Ted Swindley. The board eventually decided to give it a shot, it just needed a director and enough money. With Robertson and Hight attached, Platt volunteered to direct.

“I volunteered because I knew they both are really good and I knew that to start out as a director it would probably be the best scenario to do a show that just has two people in it,” Platt said. “It just seemed like the right time to do it.”

Private businesses would end up financing the production, a first for Hayswood Theater. The the-ater’s season is typically funded through donations and the Harrison County Community Foundation. Hayswood puts on four to five shows every year. It also hosts an annual workshop for children and an annual gala.

Jeremy Yackle is the executive director at the Harrison County Convention & Visi-tors Bureau, which also acts as the theater’s box office. Yackle said Hayswood has a reg-ular community following and brings people to downtown Corydon. Recently, the theater allowed the bureau to use the space for a Civil War re-enactment of Morgan’s Raid.

“I think from the standpoint of my line of work, getting some spotlight back on some arts and entertainment is huge for us,” Yackle said, adding that Hayswood is “just a good community-minded group.”

Beginning Aug. 21 and lasting two weekends,

Rita Hight will be known in Corydon as Louise Seger, a Texas woman she de-scribes as a “tough, country-loving, cig-arette-smoking, beer-drinking person.” Though Hight often acts as director, she said she loves performing sharp, comedic roles like Louise.

The story of Louise and Patsy Cline’s friendship isn’t all that different from Hight’s friendship with Jill Robertson, the woman playing Patsy. The two met when Hight direct-ed her first play at Hayswood about 12 years ago. Robertson was in that play and the two became friends.

“Every time she sings, I feel like I’m listening to an angel,” Hight said of Robert-son’s voice, adding that it’s the same way Louise feels about Patsy’s voice. “The minute she hears [Patsy’s] voice … [Louise] says it ‘just absolutely stopped me in my tracks.’ And that’s how Jill’s voice affects me.”

Directorial debut puts spotlight on legend with ‘Always ... Patsy Cline’By ELIZABETH DEPOMPEI

[email protected]

Jill Robertson portrays Patsy Cline during a dress re-hearsal for “Always … Patsy Cline” at Hayswood The-atre in downtown Corydon.

IF YOU GO• Tickets for “Always — Patsy Cline” cost $14 for adults, less for seniors and students, and can be reserved by calling 812-738-2138.Hayswood Theatre is located at 115 S. Capitol Ave., Coryd-on. For more information visit hayswoodtheatre.org.

Rita Hight, right, portrays Louise Seger while Jill Robertson portrays Patsy Cline during a dress rehears-al for “Always … Patsy Cline” at Hayswood Theatre in downtown Corydon. | STAFF PHOTOS BY CHRISTO-PHER FRYER

SEE SHOW, PAGE 8

ALBUMS: BOOKS:MOVIES:AUG. 18é “Friction” by Sandra Brown “The Murderer’s Daughter”

by Jonathan Kellerman

AUG. 14é “Midnight” by Grace

Potter “Archangel” by Soulfly

AUG. 14é “The Man From

U.N.C.L.E.” “Straight Outta Compton”

6 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015 | SoIn

ENTERTAINMENT This week's entertainment releases

LOUISVILLE — Single tickets for the Kentucky Opera are on sale, according to a KentuckyOpera news release. The season features three unique opera perfor-mances. Kicking off the season will be Verdi’s “Mac-beth.” Performances are slated for Sept. 18 and Sunday Sept. 20. Next up, Friday Nov. 13 and Sunday Nov. 15, is Jake Heggie’s “Three Decembers,” followed by Kern & Hammerstein’s “Show Boat” with performances Thurs-day through Sunday, Feb. 18-21.

MACBETH"Macbeth" is a bold presentation that teems with

madness, the supernatural and deliciously unrestrained passion of this classic Shakespeare thriller. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth burn with ruthless purpose in Verdi’s op-era based on the classic play. After they take the crown, their reign of terror and corruption is engulfed by their doomed fate. With magnificent sets and costumes from the Opera Pacific Victoria, this production offers a vivid portrayal of Verdi’s richly emotional score. Sung in Ital-ian with English supertitles.

Conducted by our Music Director Joseph Mechavich and staged by Keturah Stickann, the cast includes: Ger-gory Dahl as Macbeth and Lyne Fortin as Lady Macbeth.

THREE DECEMBERSThis three hankie opera will peel back decades of

misguided love, secrets, resentment and unacknowledged

family truths in this intimate chamber opera by Jake Heggie, starring world-renowned mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves.

We peek in on Madeline, the Broadway star and her two grown children over three Christmas Holidays to dis-cover them wrapped ever tighter in conflict and affection. A story of a family facing success and failure, “Three Decembers” is a beautifully poignant and heart wrench-ing work. Sung in English with English supertitles.

SHOW BOATKentucky Opera embraces this American Classic with

an operatic side of musical theater in a splendid presenta-tion of Kern & Hammerstein’s “Show Boat.” Life on a Mississippi riverboat is depicted in grand opera style, combining the spectacle of glorious singing and staging, with sumptuous costumes and familiar tunes, all driven by powerful themes of prejudice and enduring love. Classic songs from Show Boat include “Ol’ Man River,” “Make Believe” and “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man.” Sung in English with English supertitles.

The cast includes: Liam Bonner as Ravenal, local so-prano Emily Albrink as Magnolia, Alyson Cambridge as Julie LaVerne, Derrick Parker as Joe, and Angela Renee Simpson as Queenie. The production will be conducted by Joseph Mechavich, staged by David Gately with cho-reography by Barbara Cullen.

Kill the wabbit!SOIN THE KNOW• WHAT: Kentucky Opera single tickets• WHEN: On sale now• INFO: Visit KYOpera.org or call 502-584-7777

NEW ALBANY — From a former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General comes the epic tale of his great-grandfather’s struggle to survive in the middle of the 19th century in Jeffersonville, as chronicled in the book “Orphan Hero,” according to a news release from author John Babb. Told by his stepmother that he alone had been responsible for the death of his mother, aban-doned by the earlier departure of his father for the California gold rush, and threatened with being locked in a cage with his stepmother’s psychotic brother, 8-year-old Benjamin Franklin Windes decides to abandon home and trail his father’s path.

“Orphan Hero,”was recently selected by the Historical Fic-tion Society as an “Editors’ Choice” for August. It will be discussed by the author John Babb, at Destinations Booksell-ers, 614 E. Spring St., in New Albany from 4 to 6 p.m. Satur-day, Aug. 15.

Thus begins a trip of constant battles with disease, severe

weather, hardship, Indian at-tack, and death on his journey via steamboat and wagon train across 2,000 miles of what is now the United States. He spends the next eleven years in gold rush towns in Califor-nia — first as a barber, then as a physician’s assistant — be-fore departing for the Gulf of Mexico, where he becomes a blockade runner during the Civil War.

After the war, he travels to the Missouri Ozarks, where he opens a mercantile store and meets the girl of his dreams. But their romance is threatened by a man from his past and a band of bushwhackers.

Novel based on 1840s-era resident

SOIN THE KNOW• WHAT: Book discussion of

‘Orphan Hero’• WHEN: 4 to 6 p.m. Satur-

day, Aug. 15• WHERE: Destinations

Booksellers, 614 E. Spring St., New Albany

LOCAL SOIN HAPPENINGS | 7SoIn | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015

Feeling left out? Send your establishment’s and/or orga-nization’s upcoming events/new features/entertainment information to SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at [email protected]

KAPPAPALOOZAWHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15WHERE: New Albany Production House, 1736 E.

Main St., New AlbanyCOST: $5 advance/$10 door (children 10 and under

may bring a canned good for admission)Fundraiser for Tri Kappa - New Albany Chapter;

CMN Trio; Drew Alexander; No True Lies and The Hart Strings

LIVE MUSIC AT HUBER’SWHEN: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, SundayWHERE: Huber WinerySaturday, Aug. 15: Aquilla Bock; Sunday, Aug. 16:

Natalie Graham; Saturday, Aug. 22: Joe Dotson; Sunday, Aug. 23: Petar Mandic; Saturday, Aug. 29: Joe & Arrow; Sunday, Aug. 30: Josh Glauber

[huberwinery.com]

LIVE MUSIC AT WICK’SWHAT: Live on StateWHERE: Wick’s, 225 State St., New AlbanyFriday, Aug. 14: The Jackson Way; Saturday, Aug.

15: Wax Factory; Saturday, Aug. 21: Polly O’Keary & The Rhythm Method; Saturday, Aug. 22: Six Mile South; Saturday, Aug. 29: Usual Suspects

CONCERTS IN THE PARKWHEN: 7 p.m. FridayWHERE: Warder Park, Court Avenue and Spring

Street, JeffersonvilleAug. 14: Rascals of Ragtyme; Aug. 21: The Saints

Blues Band; Aug. 28: Indigo; Sept. 4: Moonlight Big Band; Sept. 11: Cloigheann Irish Band; Sept. 18: Wulfe Brothers

RIVERSTAGE CONCERT SERIESWHEN: 7 p.m. Friday

WHERE: RiverStage, Riverside Drive and Spring Street, Jeffersonville

Aug. 14: Juice Box Heroes with guest The Hiding; Aug. 21: Tony & the Tanlines with guest Blues and Greys; Aug. 28: 100% Poly with guest Muji Fuji; Sept. 4: Steamboat Days The Louisville Crashers with guest Derby City Rockers; Sept. 5: Steamboat Days; Sept. 6: Steamboat Days Dance-A-thon/ Kidz ROCK the Stage; Sept. 12: Zumba Glow Party; Sept. 13: Rock on Wa-ter Jason Gray with guest Carrollton & Hush Harbor

BICENTENNIAL PARK CONCERT SERIESWHEN: 6 p.m. FridaysWHERE: Bicentennial Park, Pearl and Spring streets,

New AlbanyAug. 14: Marrow: A band from Chicago with a full-

length album scheduled for release in September; Aug. 21: Horseshoes & Hand Grenades: A Blue-grass and folk band that released its third album earlier this year; Aug. 28: Anderson East: A singer and songwriter from Alabama; Brooks Ritter: A songwriter and musician specializing in rock, folk and soul.

LIVE MUSIC AT NAPHWHERE: New Albany Production House, 1736 E.

Main St., New AlbanySaturday, Aug. 14: Hip-hop showcase, with JB

Deeds, more, $6 advance/$10 door; Sunday, Aug. 16: Harlow, Mercy Beach, Unbroken Silence, Dark Horse, Point Blank, 3:30 p.m., $6 advance/$8 day of show; Tuesday, Aug. 18: Last Ten Seconds Of Life, Barrier, Knocked Loose, Left Behind, 6:30 p.m., all ages, $15

[naproductionhouse.com]

LIVE MUSIC AT BIG FOUR BURGERS + BEER JEFFERSONVILLEWHERE: Big Four Burgers + Beer, 134 Spring St.,

JeffersonvilleWHEN: Friday and SaturdayFriday, Aug. 14: Josh and Joanna; Saturday, Aug.

15: Kelsey Allen; Friday, Aug. 21: Kyle Hastings; Saturday, Aug. 22: Kelsey Allen; Friday, Aug. 28: Tyler Stiller; Saturday, Aug. 29: Kelsey Allen

[bigfourburgers.com]

LIVE MUSIC AT BIG FOUR BURGERS + BEER NEW ALBANYWHERE: Big Four Burgers + Beer, 114 E. Main St.,

New AlbanyWHEN: Friday and SaturdayFriday, Aug. 14: Katie and Kaela; Saturday, Aug. 15:

Josh and Joanna; Friday, Aug. 21: Kelsey Allen; Saturday, Aug. 22: Tyler Stiller; Friday, Aug. 28: Katie and Kaela; Saturday, Aug. 19: Kyle Hastings

[bigfourburgers.com]

NEW ALBANY — The Indiana University Southeast Theatre Department will hold open auditions for the comedy, “Noises Off,” by Michael Frayn on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. in the Robinson Theater in the Ogle Center on the IU Southeast campus, 4201 Grant Line Road, New Albany.

Roles are available for adults age 18 to 65, according to an IUS news release. Those audi-tioning should prepare a brief comic monologue. Auditions will also consist of cold read-ings. Please bring a resume and headshot, if available.

Performance dates are Thurs-day, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Nov. 8, and Thursday, Nov. 12 through Sunday, Nov. 15.

CASTING POLICYAuditions are open to the

public.Every effort is made to cast

the best and/or most appro-priate actor for each role for

each show. However, since IU Southeast is first a foremost an institution of higher learning, it is often necessary to consider the needs of students in order to further educational goals.

Those who are cast, regard-less of whether they are a mem-ber of the IU Southeast student body or a member of the general public, are expected to attend all rehearsals and perform all performances.

Chance to be on stageSOIN THE KNOW• WHAT: ‘Noises Off’ audi-

tions• WHEN: Friday-Sunday,

Aug. 28-30• WHERE: Robinson

Theater, Ogle Center on the IU Southeast campus, 4201 Grant Line Road, New Albany.

• INFO: Contact the direc-tor, Jim Hesselman, at [email protected] or call the IU Southeast Theatre Depart-ment 812-941-2655.

IUS Theatre to hold auditions for ‘Noises Off’

The IU Southeast Theatre Department will be hosting auditions for "Noises Off" beginning Friday, Aug. 28. | FILE PHOTO

BY GARY [email protected]

JEFFERSONVILLE — An em-ployee of Red Carpet Liquors inJeffersonville was shot during an at-tempted robbery Saturday night.

Jeffersonville police reported Pa-tel Kamleshkumar, 41, of Jefferson-ville, was shot multiple times about8 p.m.

Kamleshkumar was shot by the

masked gunman, said another em-ployee, Loretta Banister, ofClarksville, who witnessed the inci-dent.

Banister said she and Kamleshku-mar were both working when thegunman entered the business onCrestview Court and 8th Street.

She said she was in the back ofthe business retrieving several bot-tles to stock when she heard thedoorbell that rings when the front

door is opened.As she came from the storage

area to the front of the business shesaw the gunman with his armsstretched over the counter pointing afirearm at Kamleshkumar.

“I ducked down so he didn’t seethat I was there,” Banister said.

She said she never got a goodlook at the suspect during the inci-dent, but she could see from hercrouched position his arms holdinga gun pointed at her co-worker.

News and TribuneW E D N E S D A Y , J A N U A R Y 2 , 2 0 1 3

newsandtribune.com 75 cents

SEE SHOOTING, PAGE A6

■ FLOYD COUNTY

WHAT’S IN STOREFOR 2013?

Three firefighters spenttwo weeks in New York


JEFFERSONVILLE —A group of Jeffersonvillefirefighters have returnedfrom helping out with Hur-ricane Sandy recovery andsaid help there is ongoing.

Jeffersonville Fire De-partment Maj. Michael Mc-Cutcheon, Maj. TravisSharp and Capt. RickVanGilder spent nearly twoweeks in Long Beach,N.Y., organizing relief ef-forts for the city of more

than 30,000 people follow-ing the October hurricane.

The work was more pa-per-filing than pulling peo-ple from homes, but theirservices were greatly need-ed as the entire four-milelong island had been cov-ered by water during thesurging storm.

JFD Chief Eric Hedricksaid the need for relief serv-ices — after initial crewsconduct search and rescueefforts — are often under-estimated.

“After immediate re-sponse to save lives, thereare still efforts needed formonths and months,”Hedrick said.

SWAT Team deployed in New Albany incident


NEW ALBANY —Floyd County Metro SWATTeam was called out earlySunday morning to assist inextracting a man from hishome.

James Ross, 56, of 3770Gap Hollow Road, wassuspected of assaulting his14-year-old grandson andkeeping him in the homeagainst his will, the FloydCounty Sheriff’s Depart-ment said.

The child used Facebookto contact his aunt, whoalerted authorities aboutmidnight. Officers first re-sponded to the home about1:30 a.m., officials said.

No one would come tothe door, even though offi-

cers suspected the homewas occupied, said JasonJones, Floyd County Sher-iff’s Department officer andassistant SWAT command-er.

Jones, who acted as theincident commander, saidofficers spent the next sev-eral hours receiving infor-mation from the boy’s auntand attempted to make con-tact to the occupants in thehome. He said authoritieswere not sure if the boywas in the home or if theaccusations were valid.

Jones said at one pointduring the investigation, thehome’s land phone line wasdisconnect by a resident.

The aunt told officers thatRoss kept a large firearmarsenal in the home. TheSWAT unit arrived at thehome about 6:15 a.m. andRoss and the boy exited the

Employee injured in Jeffliquor store shooting

Jeffersonville firefighters Mark McCutcheon, Rick VanGilderand Travis Sharp recently spent two weeks in the city of LongBeach in New York aiding in Hurricane Sandy relief.

STAFF PHOTO BY C.E. BRANHAM

Help when it’sneeded most

NICE ICERight, David Mull, of Sellersburg, holds hands with his son Jack, 5, as he tries iceskating for the first time at the Jeffersonville Ice Rink. The rink will be open sevendays a week through Jan. 6, then remain open only on weekends through Jan. 27.For specific times visit www.jeffmainstreet.org.

STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER FRYER

Below, Blair Kaelin enjoyed some time at the Jeffersonville Ice Rink Mondayafternoon.

STAFF PHOTO BY C.E. BRANHAM

JFD gets relief to hurricane survivors

SEE FIREFIGHTERS, PAGE A6

40 firearms, 5pounds of potfound in home

SEE SWAT, PAGE A6

A busy 2013 BY DANIEL SUDDEATH

[email protected]

NEW ALBANY — New Albanyand Floyd County will celebratemilestones, launch separate parksdepartments and break ground onnew facilities this year.

While there will be memorableevents such as the celebration of thecity’s 200th anniversary, there willalso be challenges for local govern-ments including funding two mur-der trials and attempting to mendsomewhat disjoined relationshipsbetween New Albany and FloydCounty.

Here are someissues, events andstories to keep aneye on in 2013.

CAMM, GIBSONMURDER TRIALS

Accused serialkiller WilliamClyde Gibson isset to stand trialfor three murdersbeginning in July.

Gibson, of New Albany, has beencharged with the murders of 75-year-old Christine Whitis, 35-year-

old Stephanie Kirk and 45-year-oldKaren Hodella.

Unless another continuance isgranted, Gibson will first stand trialfor the murder of Whitis this sum-mer. Whitis was found strangled inGibson’s home in the 800 block ofWoodbourne Drive in New Albanylast year.

Hodella’s body was found inClark County in 2003, and accord-ing to authorities, Gibson implicat-ed himself in her murder while be-ing questioned in the death ofWhitis.

Several items to keepan eye on this year

WILLIAM CLYDEGIBSONAccused of threemurders

SEE 2013, PAGE A6

Red Carpet Liquors employee gives account

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8 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015 | SOIN

Robertson has performed at Hay-swood for about 15 years. She never studied theater, but she said she’s loved it since she hit the stage in high school. Between raising children and juggling a career, Robertson didn’t have enough time to pursue that love. Then in her 40s she decided she could try out for something at Hayswood.

“I’ve been hooked ever since,” Robertson said.

Robertson grew up listening to country music. Once she started singing country music in her 30s, she leaned toward the classics, like Patsy Cline. During rehearsal one day last week, Robertson did more than sing Patsy Cline songs. Dressed in a bright blue sequin dress and a short, black wig, Robertson channeled the country music star.

“I don’t think you can really sound like Patsy Cline, she’s so iconic” Rob-ertson said before rehearsal. “But I try to phrase things the way she might phrase them or give a lot of energy to certain notes. She just had a real style that you can’t mimic exact.”

Before Robertson belted out Patsy Cline classics like, “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “I Fall to Pieces,” Hight, dressed as Louise in country boots and fringe to match, command-ed the set as she energetically remi-nisced about the first time she heard Patsy Cline on the radio and how the two women met. At one point, Hight left the stage to interact with pretend audience members, moving them to dance along to “Come On In.”

Meanwhile, Platt sat a few rows back next to his production manager Emily Trinkle, often laughing and whispering notes to one another. Platt said the production is further along earlier than any other production he’s worked on. He said he won’t be ner-vous for himself on opening night, but he’ll be nervous for his stars.

“I’ll be nervous for them for sure,” he said. “Not because I’m worried

about their performance but because I really want them to have a good experience because they have worked so hard on it and for two people, it’s a lot to carry.”

Along with Hight and Robertson’s performances, the small, 70-seat the-

ater will be treated to a six-piece band. Robertson said she hopes the show will draw in a new audience, one that may not love theater, but loves coun-try music and live performance.

“We have a really nice loyal fol-lowing of local community people

that have always come to Hayswood,” Platt said. “My guess is that 50 percent of the audience will be people that never come to our shows.”

The interaction between audience and performer is what drew Platt to the stage years ago, and it’s one reason he wanted to direct “Always … Patsy Cline.” He said he’s thankful that Corydon has seemed to embrace live

performance and that Hayswood is an important piece to the arts community. It’s why he joined the theater’s board in 2012 and why he was appointed to the Indiana Arts Commission two years ago.

“You kind of have to find what you think is worthwhile and a value to others,” Platt said. “And for me this has been it.”

SHOW: Robertson says she hopes show draws new audienceCONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

A likeness of Patsy Cline is pictured on a banner advertisement for “Always … Patsy Cline” outside of Hayswood Theatre in downtown Corydon.

The marquee for Hayswood Theatre is pictured outside of the theater in downtown Corydon. | STAFF PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER FRYER

The Indiana Arts Commission consists of 14 commissioners repre-senting districts throughout the state. Commissioners are appointed by the governor and serve a three-year term, which can be renewed once for a second term.

Allen Platt, 46, Floyds Knobs, was appointed in the fall of 2013 after former commissioner Judy Hess referred him. Platt represents the 12th district which includes Washington, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Clark, Scott and Jefferson counties.

According to the IAC website, commissioners must attend four meetings each year, serve on two IAC committees and attend special functions throughout the year.

“As commissioners our job is to be kind of the governing body over the arts commission and to help in working with them on the strate-gies to utilize those funds around the state,” Platt said. “The goal really is to foster the arts around the state.”

Platt said the people appointed to the commission aren’t politicians.“They’re literally people who love the arts, think about the arts all

the time and just try to make sure that we have those vibrant arts communities,” he said.

— Elizabeth DePompei

soin 08132015

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