Job well done

Thumbs up to the organizers of the rejuvenated Jackson County Watermelon Festival held this past weekend in Brownstown for the first since 2015. The list is lengthy but must include Conner Barnette, vice chairman of Brownstown Ewing Main Street, and other members of the nonprofit organization’s board, President Luke Nolting, Treasurer Chad VanLiew, Secretary Fayeann Hauer, Mitchell McIntyre, Heather VonDielingen, Ashley MacTavish, Arann Banks and Jake Brown, along with nearly 100 other volunteers and 50-plus sponsors who helped make it a success.

Making history

Thumbs up to the many donors, grantees and other supporters who made the Seymour Museum Center at 220 N. Chestnut St. possible. The center’s gala grand opening was held Saturday, and guests were able to tour the center, which features portraits of Meedy and Eliza Shields, who founded Seymour, the Welch antique telephone collection, the Railroad Room and more. A related thumbs up to Lenny Hauersperger of Seymour, who led the effort, and the family of Linda McCoy, who was the first recipient of the Meedy and Eliza Shields Founders Award for her support of the museum prior to her death.

National champs

Thumbs up to the members of two Hoosier Daddy Rifle and Pistol squads that earned national championships during the 2023 Scholastic Action Shooting Program National Championship at Marengo, Ohio. Members of the intermediate (junior high) squad with the Freetown-based organization that won national championships in both rimfire pistol and rimfire rifle were Dominick Neal, Kenlei Bragg, Evan Blahunka and Jacob Griffin. The same squad also earned third place in 1911 (pistol). A second thumbs up to Bragg for placing first in rimfire pistol and rimfire rifle. An awards ceremony was conducted prior to practice July 18 at South Central Gun Club in Freetown.

Seymour Stars

Thumbs up to the 2023 Dancing with the Seymour Stars lineup, which features Elmer Velasquez and Nancy Rendon, Daniel Luecke and Emily Mowery, Tom Gray and Randall Rust, Shawn Charlton and Kelly Trask, Allen and Jill Mikles, Ed and Amy Kriz and Colin Smith and Michelle Stephens. The event, which is always a crowd-pleaser, will benefit Seymour Main Street and the Boys & Girls Club of Seymour. It’s set for Sept. 23 at Celebrations, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 101, at Shops at Seymour, and a matinee performance that’s a family-friendly event also is planned.