Indiana
A Summer Road Trip Along Highway 41 – Travel Indiana
story by Mike Davis, Executive Director Kentland Economic Development
As I drove from Highway 41 into Kentland, I thought about the town from a visitor’s perspective. And because I’d just left a meeting where we discussed the positive impact women have on the local economy, I became keenly aware of businesses that are owned and/or managed by females in the area.
Pulling into the north side of town, I was enticed by a classic ice cream stand where you order from your car and pay in cash—a nod to simpler times and certainly an ideal way to celebrate a summer road trip. The pleasant voice, ready to take my order through the drive-in’s speaker, was Kim Donohue, who, along with her husband, owns Don’s Drive-In, now in its 50th year. While the menu includes traditional items like chili dogs, corn dogs, and more, I opted for one of their ice cream specialties. I was not disappointed.
As I continued through town, the Robert & Jeanette Batton Park caught my eye. The 5.5-acre park features a new pavilion, in addition to picnic facilities, baseball fields, and playground. Next to the park is the recently-opened Autumn Trace senior living community.
Driving further south and around Kentland, I took some time to visit two other parks: Cast Park, featuring a soccer field and fishing pond; and the newest park–Wonder Park–dedicated to children ages 2-12, and surrounded with spectacular designs created by South Newton elementary, middle school, and high school art students. The park system is overseen by another female leader, Park Board President Casey Ward.
Approaching the town square, a quaint full-service grocery store came into view. Murphy’s Food King, now in its 77th year, is the only full service grocery in all of Newton County, and is managed by Colleen Clifton. Taking a quick turn from the grocery, an unusual feature in the town came into view: the parking lane in the middle of the street. Hopping out of the car I took a stroll down 3rd Street, stopping by Cottage on Main, a charming antique and floral shop, owned by Judy King. The shop is a few doors down from the Old Colonial Inn, a fine dining establishment in a classic building constructed in 1894, and directed by Mara Davis.
I passed by Inspiration Fitness Studio created by Bailey Geswein, who also organizes the popular monthly farmers market in downtown Kentland. Crossing the street, I pass by Jodie Havens’ recently opened Simply Stylish Boutique. The charming storefront next door is J.P. STYLE CO., owned by Jessica Pence, a wonderful tasteful ladies and children’s clothing store. Cars were parked in front of a popular style salon owned by Becca Harrington for over a decade.
Backtracking, I sauntered by DX Creations owned by Amanda Rhanor-Saldana, which is adjacent to the Graham Street Barbershop owned by Alicia Gust.
By now I hope visitors realize Kentland truly has a lot to offer; and checking out the real estate market would be a positive exercise. The Real Estate Shoppe on 4th Street is owned by Debby Shuffle- barger, who also serves as the president of the Kentland Town Council, with her associate Ladonna Davidson; there are also two other real estate agents in town. Judy Wirtz and Andrea Standish. Leaving the Real Estate Shoppe you can’t miss the Newton County Mural where historians Kay Babcock and Janet Miller preside over the rich history of Newton County.
Jumping on US24 West, I pass by Si Senor Restaurant run by Gabriele Moreno, and Market No. 48 with owner McKenna Strasburger. By this time two things were obvious to me. One, Kentland Indiana is a charming small town gem; and two, more than 20 women business owners and directors clearly drive a significant part of our local economy. Their contributions make Kentland a delightful community to visit, work, and live in.
For more information visit: kentland.in.gov.
NORTHWEST INDIANA’S NEWEST ATTRACTION!
SOR WILDLIFE ADVENTURE
Exotic Animal Wildlife Park
SOR Wildlife Adventure is a family-owned Wildlife Park. It is situated on approximately 80 acres in Lake Village, Indiana. Raising and caring for exotic animals has always been a part of this family’s everyday life. In early 2021, the SOR family purchased a beautiful plot of land and began building a place where the public can enjoy and learn about wildlife while preserving the natural land their animals call home.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU VISIT SOR
When you enter the ranch and pull up to the ticket booth, you will be greeted by a member of the SOR staff. You will stay in your vehicle and immediately drive through a tree-covered terrain admiring the animals as they roam their natural, vast enclosures. So, get comfortable, roll your windows down and see who can spot the animals first! The driving path will end in the parking lot. From there, visitors can park their vehicle and enter the walk-thru portion of the ranch. Take your time, stroll the beautiful landscape and get a closer look at SOR’s smaller animal exhibits. Within the walk-thru adventure, you have the opportunity to feed the animals and possibly meet one of SOR’s baby animals.
WWW.SORWILDLIFE.COM
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announced an extension of the state’s gas tax holiday through July 7.
The move extends the suspension of Indiana’s 7% Gasoline Usage Tax and the state’s Gasoline Excise Tax for a second time. The current suspension had been scheduled to expire June 7.
Braun said the extension is part of an effort to keep costs down for Indiana families.
“Indiana has the cheapest gas in the country because we are using every tool in the toolbox to save Hoosier families money,” Braun said in a statement. “Affordability is my number one priority.”
By the numbers:
According to AAA, Indiana currently has the nation’s lowest average gas price, with regular gasoline averaging $3.585 per gallon.
State officials said drivers will save more than 62 cents per gallon while both taxes remain suspended. For June, the Gasoline Usage Tax would otherwise total 26.5 cents per gallon, while the Gasoline Excise Tax stands at 36 cents per gallon.
Dig deeper:
The extension is being carried out under Indiana’s energy emergency statute. State officials said an energy emergency declared in April remains in effect and allows the governor to continue related relief measures for up to 120 days.
Indiana lawmakers limited a governor’s emergency powers tied to statewide disaster declarations to 60 days following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, state officials noted that energy emergencies operate under separate legal authority and retain a 120-day maximum duration.
Braun first suspended the Gasoline Usage Tax on April 8. He expanded the relief on May 6 by also suspending the Gasoline Excise Tax, more than doubling the savings available to motorists.
The latest extension means Indiana drivers will continue receiving the tax relief through at least early July.
The Source: The information in this report came from the Indiana Governor’s Office.
Indiana football’s Curt Cignetti raises concerns over costs
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is speaking out on rising roster costs. Cignetti says players should get paid, but universities can’t handle it.
Josh Hoover is replacing a guy who won the Heisman Trophy while leading Indiana football to a national championship. No pressure there, right?
Being the guy who replaces the guy brings Hoover the distinction as the top college football transfer entering the 2026 season, according to Billy Tucker of ESPN.
The Hoosiers have four players on this 100-player list, three of them in the top 20.
According to the story: “Each player is ranked based on a team’s need and what physical skill set they bring to their new team.”
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Need: “With Fernando Mendoza off to the NFL and backup Alberto Mendoza having transferred to Georgia Tech, the Hoosiers needed another experienced passer capable of sustaining College Football Playoff expectations in Bloomington. Indiana has become one of the portal’s premier destinations for quarterbacks, and Hoover, who transferred from TCU, is next in line after Kurtis Rourke and national champion and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.”
Value: “Hoover gives (coach) Curt Cignetti extensive experience, skill and production after throwing for 9,629 yards and 71 touchdowns at TCU. He is a confident gunslinger who thrives pushing the ball vertically and operating within RPO concepts. His swagger and aggressiveness should unlock explosive plays through the air, albeit with some volatility. Hoover has 42 career turnovers and only one season without double-digit interceptions.”
No. 11: Nick Marsh, Indiana wide receiver
Need: “Marsh is a proven No. 1 receiver as the Hoosiers transition to a new era at the position after Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt moved on to the NFL. They couldn’t afford to wait on a younger, more projectable receiver. Marsh instead is a ready-made top target and established focal point. He should be the clear primary receiving option.”
Value: “A former ESPN 300 recruit, Marsh led Michigan State in receiving in back-to-back seasons, totaling 100 catches for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns. At 6-3, 203 pounds, he brings Big Ten-ready size paired with vertical speed, allowing him to win downfield and on contested 50-50 opportunities. He is effective as a deep threat and as a physical receiver who can work through contact. Cignetti saw Marsh’s ability up close. He had 12 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns across two games against Indiana, reinforcing his ability to elevate the passing attack immediately.”
No. 18: Tobi Osunsanmi, Indiana edge rusher
Need: “Adding Osunsanmi, a Kansas State transfer, will help Indiana reload for its national title defense. The Hoosiers lost Mikail Kamara, Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt, creating a clear need along the defensive front. Osunsanmi is an ideal plug-and-play addition. The versatile pass rusher should translate fluidly to defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ scheme.”
Value: “Osunsanmi suffered a season-ending injury that forced him to miss the second half of last season, but he flashed during the spring, creating havoc up front. He brings a strong combination of speed and power to pressure offensive tackles. His power allows him to play stout at the point of attack, set the edge or walk blockers back into the backfield to collapse the pocket. He also has the quickness and agility to win on loops and stunts, along with a motor that shows up in pursuit outside the box.”
Need: “The Hoosiers lost their two leading rushers from last season’s championship team with running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, who combined for 2,160 yards, off to the NFL. Though they return two other productive backs in Khobie Martin and Lee Beebe Jr., they also added production in the transfer portal with Richard, a Boston College back with a scheme-fitting skill set. The 5-8 rusher didn’t have many Power 4 offers out of high school, but one of the first programs to offer him was James Madison when Cignetti was at the helm.”
Value: “Richard had a very productive season in 2025 with 749 yards on the ground. He has a compact build that helps him play with a low center of gravity and the ability to break tackles. His running style is patient as he has a good feel to cut off the backside of blocks. He runs behind his pads and finishes runs with good demeanor. As a receiver out of the backfield, he also provides a reliable checkdown option. Cignetti noted that he liked what Richard did this spring as he will have the opportunity to be impactful and a reliable option at running back for an Indiana team that is looking to repeat.”
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Two future Boilermakers are taking the floor and will go head-to-head during Indiana All-Star Week. 2026 signee Luke Ertel and 2027 commit Isaiah Hill are battling it out on Wednesday, June 3, as the Indiana All-Stars will play the Indiana Junior All-Stars.
Wednesday will be the third time Ertel and Hill have played against each other this season. During the IHSAA basketball season, Ertel’s Mt. Vernon team took on Hill’s Pike squad twice.
Hill led the Red Devils to an 84-81 overtime victory during the regular season. In the Regional of the Class 4A IHSAA Basketball Tournament, Ertel guided Mt. Vernon to a 57-54 overtime victory. The Marauders went on to win the state championship.
Who will win the third and decisive battle between the future Boilermakers on Wednesday? Here’s the information necessary to watch the game.
How to watch the Indiana All-Star Game
- What — Indiana Junior All-Stars vs. Indiana All-Stars
- When — Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Where — Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind.
- Tipoff time — 8 p.m. ET (approx.)
- Ticket price — $15
- Stream — ISC Indiana Sports Network YouTube Channel
Hill participated in Indiana-Kentucky Jr. All-Star Game
Wednesday night’s Junior-Senior All-Star Game will be the second time Hill has competed during Indiana All-Star Week. The Pike star and five-star center also played in Sunday’s Indiana-Kentucky Junior All-Star Game.
Hill put together a solid performance, scoring 15 points, grabbing a team-high seven rebounds and recording three blocks. His efforts helped lead Indiana to a 109-99 victory over Kentucky.
Ertel and the Indiana All-Stars have not yet played during Indiana All-Star Week, with their first game scheduled for Wednesday against the Junior All-Stars. Then, to close out the week, Ertel will participate in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Series, with games being played in Lexington and Indianapolis.
Ertel, Hill highly rated recruits in respective classes
There’s already plenty of hype surrounding Ertel and Hill, both players who are highly-ranked recruits in their respective classes.
Ertel is the top-ranked player from Indiana in the 2026 recruiting class and is considered a top-50 prospect by 247Sports. He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball, averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in his senior season at Mt. Vernon.
Hill is a year younger, but became the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to play at Purdue. The 2027 product was a star at Pike High School during his junior season, averaging 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. He is a five-star prospect and ranked as the No. 10 player in the class, per ESPN.
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