Weekly update #354 11/1/2026 to 11/7/2026
Even though it was a short week, I still had plenty on the calendar to work on. Let me share some highlights from my week serving as mayor of the best small town in America.
Almost every Wednesday since I started serving as mayor, I have spent the morning working alongside one of our departments. From going on runs with Seymour Fire to jetting a clogged sewer main with Water Pollution Control, I have had the chance to help in many different ways. This week, I spent the day with the Department of Public Works (DPW) and jumped in to help pick up curbside recycling using a rear-load packer. With Tuesday being Election Day, Wednesday became a double day, with pickups for both Tuesday and Wednesday routes. DPW had plenty of ground to cover. Mix in a little rain, and it made for a fun day of work! Thank you, Josh and Terry, for letting me slow down the process, and thank you, Farron, for snapping a few pictures when you saw us out.
For years, I have visited Seymour radio stations to share what is going on here in Seymour. Last month, I was given the opportunity to spend a few minutes doing the same on QMIX, based out of Columbus. This week, I made my second visit, and we covered upcoming events like Christmas at Crossroads on November 28, when we will light up the tree, and the Christmas Parade of Lights on December 19, which will be followed by fireworks. We also discussed Sertoma Christmas Miracle and Shop with a Cop, both of which are still accepting applications. Another topic we discussed was leaf pickup, which is in full swing following the recent rain. If you rake your leaves to the curb by the end of the day your trash is picked up, DPW will come through the route the following day to collect them. If they haven't been picked up after a few days, don't hesitate to call DPW at 812-524-1100 and provide your address so they can add it to the pickup list. Thank you to all the area radio stations for giving me time each month to share what is going on here in Seymour.
Over the years, I have been involved in many service clubs and organizations. This week, I had a chance to attend the Seymour Noon Lions Club meeting and learn more about YoJACK, a program offered by Leadership Jackson County for our youth. Each semester, I take part in the final session and help recap public speaking and community involvement. At the Lions Club meeting, I had a chance to learn about the other sessions and the different areas they cover. I also learned that they have more than 80 openings for middle school students across Jackson County and receive more applications each year than they have available spots. If you have a seventh grader here in the county, I would encourage you to make sure they complete the YoJACK application so they can be considered for the program in eighth grade. It takes just one day a month for either the first or second semester, but it could help them develop leadership skills they will use for the rest of their lives. Thank you to everyone involved in YoJACK, and thank you to the Seymour Noon Lions for the educational lunch session.
There you have it, just a small glimpse into my short week serving as mayor. This week, I want to leave you with this quote from singer Robert Breault, "Get involved. You don't want to look back on your life and realize that you successfully managed to stay out of it."