Flip
Weekly update #301 10/26/2025 to 11/1/2025
I am sure we have all told a friend or family member about an experience we have had at a local business. Before I expand this thought further let me share some of my week serving as mayor of the best small town in America.
Good work to Key Club at Seymour High School for raising several thousand pounds of food for a local food bank. If you are worried about friends and neighbors going hungry with the SNAP benefits being shut off with the current government shutdown, several area organizations are working to help those in need. The Lions Club is currently hosting a can drive with drop-off points at Seymour City Hall, Seymour Police Department, and all three Seymour Fire Stations. This is just a few of those who have service projects going on. If you need a list of available services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to City Hall, and we can send you a resource guide. Thank you to everyone working to help those in need.
This past week, we saw trick or treating a few times. Downtown Trick or Treat was on Monday night and was brought to you by Seymour Main Street and was immediately followed by the Seymour Evening Lions Club Halloween Parade. I believe this was the 58th annual parade and ends with a costume contest for the participants. Add in several trunk or treats, and everyone had a good chance to dress up and have some fun. To everyone who came out and everyone who hosted, thank you for making all the different events more fun.
I had a chance to attend the Local Technical Assistance Program, LTAP, this week, and it is always a learning experience. The focus is on how to assist local agencies in areas of need, and they do it in several different areas. From simulator training to employee onboarding they have really branched out beyond what most are used to. I enjoy serving on the LTAP Advisory Board and getting to be a voice in the group as they choose the path forward.
Did you know that the Freeman Field Municipal Airport does not have a tax levy and is supported by rents on industrial land, farm ground, hangar rental, and fuel sales on the aviation side? While I had known this for many years I learned this week that they are just one of two airports in the state of Indiana that don’t have a tax levy. They do still receive grant funding for special projects as part of their capital plan updates. With more corporate jet traffic and other increases they have had several good years. If you are curious about the other Indiana airport without a tax levy, it is Indianapolis International Airport. To the team at Freeman Field Municipal Airport keep up the good work as the small changes are showing.
Time to get back to that opening thought. If you have a bad experience in an area, business statistics say you will tell nine to fifteen people. If you have a good experience, you will tell four to six. While I was visiting with the Seymour Fire Department this week, I had a chance to jump on Engine 2 for a few runs, and to watch our crews do what they do is impressive. They are often a calm voice in an emergency, and they do occasionally get a thank you note after the fact. Most of them would probably humbly tell you they are just doing their job and leave it at that. I am encouraging everyone to focus on flipping those numbers and tell the good more than the bad. Today I will leave you with a quote from Jim Rohn, "Learning the art of expressing gratitude will force you to focus on the positive."