Ron Harsin,in a rare moment of downtime.

Ron Harsin is a native of Jefferson County,he was born in King’s Daughter’s Hospital here in Madison and has lived in the area for most of his life. He is a 1970 Southwestern High School graduate who attended Purdue University;during which time he studied computer programming,specifically the programming language “Cobalt”,which helped him land a position with IBM. He’s also worked for Motorola,General Motors,TRW,Eli Lilly,Proctor & Gamble,and Ameritech and taught,briefly,at Ivy Tech Community College. He also worked at the never operational,and now entirely defunct,Marble Hill Nuclear power plant where he was employed as a Meterological Weather Stations Engineer and an Environmental Field Technician.
After the plant’s unexpected and somewhat sudden closure (which Ron attributes to poor financial management rather than the oft repeated tale of a poorly constructed concrete conatainment unit),he eventually,due to some insistence from his father,took a position at River Bend Nuclear Generating Station in St.Francisville,Louisiana. While there he served as a Radiation Protection Technician.

Somewhere along the line(during his third year at Purdue) he managed to find time to marry his high school sweetheart Ilene with whom he has two(now grown) children. He and his family moved back to Madison from Louisiana,after which started a retail electronics store on Madison’s hilltop with his brother-in-law Loren Bair. The business was ultimately unsuccessful but it gave Ron a taste of being his own boss,something he would find a way to apply to his life again later.

Of all of his ventures and jobs he may be best known for co-authoring(with hydroplane racing historian Fred Farley) a series of four books covering the long history of hydroplane racing generally and the Indiana Governor’s Cup race as well as the Madison Regatta held annually here along historic Madison’s Ohio River waterfront.

All of this is only the tip of the iceberg that has been the long,and varied,career he’s enjoyed and,in light of all of this,he maintains that he is “just an avereage guy”.

This self proclaimed “average guy” is also a published musician with seven(so far) songs(search his name using Google and his music page pops up) to his name,a hunter and firearms enthusiast,with a particular interest in using muzzle loading,black powder weapons. 
Ron says that hunting provides an excuse to get away from the modern world,and enjoy the peacefulness of the forest. He has taken many deer with both a conventional rifle and a black powder model but maintains that a successful ‘hunt’ does not necessarily mean that he comes home with a deer,just the experience of being out in the woods and finding and watching the deer and the other wildlife is often it’s own reward.

These days when Ron isn’t hunting,writing a book,composing a song or enjoying being a grandfather,he’s kept quite busy applying the lessons about being his own boss that he learned all those years ago at his latest occupation as the owner and operator(alongside his wife,Ilene) of the quite successful laser engraving business: Precision Laser Graphics.

By no means is this a full accounting of  Mr.Harsin’s history but,it does offer some insight into what many would consider to be the extraordinary life of  “just an average guy”.

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This video turned up on YouTube from the Madison Ribberfest performance by Buddy Guy. It gives you a little taste of the annual event, without the barbecue.

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The "Scott Block" ground level stands completely vacant as of August 2011.

Some went running, at least that’s the phrase that came to mind while walking downtown this afternoon. The heart of our downtown historic district continues to struggle with vacant storefronts. In this post I’ll share my window count statistics for the blocks between Broadway and Jefferson Street. While this is only a snapshot of the downtown conditions, the problem is growing more serious.

There were 22 vacant units among the 93 we counted. The heaviest concentration was on the South side of West Main in the 200 and 300 block. This includes the historic “Scott Block” pictured above. That section boasts a 45% vacancy rate on the street level with 9 out of 20 units available. This low point is despite the immediate access to parking and public restrooms.

What are the causes?

We could debate this one all afternoon, especially if you’re looking to pin the blame on your favorite target. The real situation is likely more complex. Here are the top six reasons in my mind, be sure to leave a comment to share your ideas.

1. Retail competition from Hilltop box stores
2. Lost Courthouse traffic
3. Concerns about the hospital’s relocation
4. The Great Recession and weak consumer spending
5. Higher rents for downtown space compared to Hilltop retail
6. Poor business models and execution

Some would expand this list to include failures by our local government. I’m not convinced any city program could overcome the confluence of those six forces. All the same, they may offer some suggestions moving forward.

What’s the normal rate?

It’s hard to pin down an exact answer. Many residents have said now is about as bad as they remember. I checked the national average for retail real estate. It stands at 12.6% according to the National Association of Realtors.

Friday 5 August 2011 Tally

I counted all ground level units facing Main Street. Any storefront not usefully occupied were considered “vacant” even when their was not rental sign. Counts are subject to error, so please offer any corrections in a comment below.

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Three local Madison schools will accept state tuition vouchers for the 2011-2012 school year. This is part of the newly created “Indiana Choice Scholarship Program.” Space is limited and parents are required to verify income and previous enrollment status. Local schools approved include:

• Christian Academy of Madison 273-5000
• Pope John XXIII School 273-5835
• Shawe Memorial High School  273.2150

There is no online application for school vouchers and everyone must work through one of the qualified schools. The official Indiana Department of Education website states:

Work with the school to complete the Choice Scholarship application. The application will be done via a password-protected website that only school administrators will have access to. The application process may include providing a copy of your tax returns or other documents proving household income. The school is required to keep this information on file in case the department decides to audit the school, so be as helpful to the school as possible.

Indiana School Vouchers Requirements

The program is limited to children who have previously attending an public school. There is also a sliding income requirement based on household size. For example, a household of four could make up to $41,347 and qualify for the maximum benefit. That same family earning up to $62,021 would qualify for a partial voucher. The program is limited to students in grades 1 through 12.

To be eligible, a student must meet the following requirements: Have legal settlement in Indiana;
Be accepted for enrollment into a participating school that is located in Indiana; Be between the ages of 5 and 22 no later than August 1 of the school year; Live in a household at or below the household income limits;

Either: (A) Have been enrolled in an Indiana public school (grade 1 through 12, charters included) that did not charge the individual transfer tuition for at least two (2) semesters before applying for a Choice Scholarship; or(B) Have received a scholarship from one of the following in a previous school year: Educational Choice Charitable Trust, School Scholarship Granting Organization of Northeast Indiana, Tuition Assistance Fund of Southwestern Indiana, North Central Indiana Scholarship Granting Organization, Sagamore Institute.

To see the full list of limitations, visit the program’s official website.

Does this program reduce public school funding?

This program does not directly reduce money from local public schools. Student census is determined by enrollment on “counting day” every September. State funding is apportioned according to those numbers. In reality, all education alternatives result in the same drop in enrollment. On the other hand, opponents of the program predict eventual drops in public school funding statewide.

More Information

• Coverage in the Madison Courier
• School Choice Indiana
• Indy Star News Coverage
• Indiana Non-Public Educational Association

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4-H'er Abigail Simpson

4-H would be nothing, literally, without the fantastic kids who participate in it. Abigail(Abby) Simpson is one of those fantastic kids.

Abby is her 6th year of 4-H and belongs to the “Hanover No Names” club. This is her second year showing animals and this year she’s exhibiting 9 chickens,3 rabbits,and a single goat.

Among her 9 chickens she has “Cochins,Banties and White Plymouth Rocks”,and of the Plymouth Rocks she says,”They’re really good egg layers”. Her 3 rabbits are a Rex,Lionhead,and a Crossbreed, and her goat is a Pygmy.

In addition to 4-H Abby will be a Junior at Southwestern High School this coming school year and is working at the Milton,KY Dairy Queen for the third summer in a row.

Last year Abby attempted to earn the title of Poultry Ambassador but “completely failed” the test for it. This year she’s hoping to become the Rabbit Ambassador and she should stand a far better chance as  her employer,Ellen Long,a former Jefferson County 4-H’er herself as well as one of the leaders of downtown Madison’s “River Kids” club,recommended her for the Rabbit Workshop program held at Purdue University’s West Lafayette,IN campus in June of this year.

The Animal Science’s Workshop,which rabbits are included in,has the following objectives:

• To develop life skills through interaction with others.
• To teach the scientific principles of Animal Sciences to young people.
• To prepare delegates to assist and/or teach others in their local communities what they learned from taught by Purdue faculty and staff
• To increase awareness of Animal Industry Issues.
• To inform participants about careers in animal agriculture and educational opportunities at Purdue University.

Miss Simpson is just one of hundreds of young people in Jefferson County that participate in 4-H and each and every one of those members is already a winner in our book!

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1. Project Check-in Day at Jefferson County 4H Fair
2. Jefferson County Courthouse Fire (Madison Indiana)
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One of  downtown Madison’s finest features is it’s accessibility on foot and bicycle. This great accessibility furthers the sense of connectedness and community that Madison imbues to those of us who reside here and to those folks fortunate enough to be able to visit our fair city. Unfortunately Madison is divided into two parts,downtown and the hilltop,and,until the construction of the Heritage Trail,there was no easy access between the two parts of our city for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Heritage Trail of Madison is the much desired link between the two distinct areas that’s been missing from the equation. While not connected to the commercial areas of the hilltop,the trail does give Madisonians a safe,and attractive,path to use both for exercise and for non-motorized travel to or from the hilltop and downtown. The trail begins downtown along the far west end of Vaughn Drive along the Ohio River,following the tracks of the railroad that was so vitally important to commerce here. Eventually terminating on the hiltop on the grounds of the old State Hospital.

The following is a photo review of the trail (only a fraction of it so far,there’s more to come later) offered in an effort to show those of you haven’t trekked along it yet what it is that you’re missing.

Enjoy!

The sign marking the beginning of the trail.

Old foundations.

The trail passes along the waterfront where the city’s once bustling shipping industry was located. These foundations are almost all that’s left of that time.

Exploring off path could be dangerous due to the treacherous footing here,so use caution if you decide to play archaeologist.

Another view of the remnants of the old waterfront along the trail.

Riding the rail.

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4H Project Check -In Day at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds

Yesterday was D-day,as in ‘due day’,for the many,many kids involved in 4H here in Madison and all throughout Jefferson County. The lines were long and the projects varied. Projects ranged from the traditional, including: Geology,Electrical,Photography and Cake Decorating,to the lesser known: Aquatic Science,Aerospace,and,a holdover from last year,Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial;an Indiana 4H Project commemorating the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln,the 16th President of the United States,who lived in Indiana for roughly 15 years.

Those who arrived late ran the risk of not getting projects turned in on time(cut-off was 7 p.m.),especially those with multiple projects to turn in. Fortunately the judges were kind enough to wait till the last minute before cutting off further entries. 

Thursday’s check-in was for all non-animal projects. Today’s(Saturday’s)check-ins are for Poultry,Rabbits,Sheep & Goats and will run from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. .

The exhibit hall will open today at 4 p.m. .

Good luck to all Observer-area 4H kids!

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H1 Unlimited has uploaded the on board video from Sunday’s 2011 Regatta finals. As the heat moves forward you can see the water getting rough. Then at 2:50 into the video you see the final turn and the split second crash scene.

• Click here to watch this video on their website. We’ll embed it here as soon as possible.

This Regatta crash video confirms the lane violation ruling that gave Miss Madison the win. You can also see first hand the crash was impossible to avoid.

You can also see the official Madison Regatta results and point totals on the H1 Unlimited website.

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Hearing the call of Walter’s parade song, I loaded the family van and headed down to Main Street. My goal was to film a few seconds of each float. In the end I cut a few because of time and battery life on my camera. Enjoy and leave a comment to share your favorite..

• Click here to see over 120 pictures from the parade on our Facebook page.

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“I love a parade, the tramping of feet,
I love every beat I hear of a drum.
I love a parade, when I hear a band
I just want to stand and cheer as they come.
That rat-a tat-tat, the blare of a horn.
That rat-a tat-tat, a bright uniform;
The sight of a drill will give me a thrill,
I thrill at the skill of everything military.
I love a parade, a handful of vets,
A line of cadets or any brigade,
For I love a parade.”

Starting at 6:15 PM and running from east to west along Main Street in downtown Madison is the annual Regatta parade, the theme for which this year is “Music”! With this parade we not only celebrate the start of yet another exciting hydroplane racing competition but also the Independence Day (4th of July) holiday.

There will be floats and boats aplenty,as well as area church groups,marching bands, the Ohio Valley Celtic Society, various Shriner organizations and gymnasts and much more. While all of this alone may be enough for many of us to attend the parade I want to point out what I see as the most important persons in the lineup, those individuals who are serving our country now and those who have served her in the past. Our soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, National Guard and Reservists that fight and have fought to secure, for we assembled masses along our town’s Main Street tonight, the blessings of Liberty and Freedom.

On the eve of our nation’s 235th birthday when we are at war in two countries and involved in conflicts in two others; why shouldn’t we show those who work to protect us and defend our Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, how much they are appreciated by standing and cheering them as they pass by? Perhaps we can even doff our caps in a display of appreciation for the risks they take, or have taken, so that the rest of us may stay safe here at home?

I, for one, will do these things. I will encourage my children to do them as well because our freedom isn’t really free; it has been bought and paid for time and again by the scarifice of those who fight to ensure it.

I love a parade and I hope that you do as well but, I also hope that you love our country and those who serve in her armed services as well! Hope to see you there! I’ll be the guy standing as our men and women in uniform parade by.

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1. 2011 Madison Regatta Parade Video & Photos
2. Madison Regatta Parade: Tips for 1st Time Guests
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