Carroll County REMC’s Round Up doles out grant monies

Operation Round-Up board Members of Carroll County REMC’s Operation Round Up Board are (l-r): Front - Bill Penn, Herb Campbell, Karen Guckien, Barb Roller. Back - Dan Gottschalk, Jerry Sibbitt, Bill Ruch. Photo provided Carroll County REMC’s Operation Round Up Program has distributed $7,500 to community organizations during this first quarter of 2010.

“In this grant cycle, all grants were $1,000 or over” said Peg Minnicus, Carroll County REMC member services representative. “Our cooperative has 76.8% of its members rounding up their monthly electric bills earmarked for the Round Up fund. Quarterly, we award funds to non-profit organizations for worthwhile community programs.”

The five grant recipients were the Carroll County Council on Aging, Carroll County Sheriff’s Dept., Camden Jackson Twp. Volunteer Fire Dept., Wildcat Creek Foundation, and Carroll County Historical Museum.

Carroll County Council on Aging, a non-profit agency, operates a senior center in a community landmark building, the Stone Barn. Owned by the City of Delphi, the stone barn was converted in 1979 to house offices, a recreation and nutrition center with a kitchen area for the Council on Aging.

“The Stone Barn received little maintenance during the 30 years since it was converted to a senior center,” said grant applicant Anita Force. “As the senior nutritional site, Midland Meals, also a nonprofit agency, serves meals to seniors Monday through Friday.

“The kitchen equipment is at the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.”

The Council on Aging was awarded $2,500 to upgrade the kitchen area.

Carroll County Sheriff’s Department received a $2,000 award to assist in funding the Every 15 Minute Program.

“This program is an indepth drunk driving, alcohol awareness program designed to impact teenagers at preand initial driving ages,” said Detective Steve Mullin. “This program carefully selects high school students and their parents on the basis of their familiarity and ability to impact classmates and peers.”

“Over a 12 to16-week period, approximately 24 students and parents are introduced to the hazards and consequences of drunk driving,” explained Mullin. “With their assistance, the program culminates in a twoday school enactment which involves a mock event designed to emulate the impact and consequences of drunk driving.” The program has been effective in communicating to teens and parents the potential tragedy of drunk driving.

The Camden-Jackson Township VFD received a $1,000 award earmarked for the purchase of medical First Responder equipment.

“The purchase of this equipment will allow the department to have a State of Indiana certified Basic Life Support (BLS) non-transport vehicle,” said grant applicant Eric Foreman. “With this equipment, the department will be able to better respond to the Town of Camden and the townships of Jackson, Washington and Carrollton.”

Wildcat Creek Foundation received a $1,000 grant to assist in funding a new map and brochure entitled, “Exploring the Wildcat Valley.”

“The Wildcat Creek that flows across southern Carroll County is one of only three “natural and scenic” streams officially designated by the State of Indiana,” said grant applicant Dan Towery. “Wildcat Creek is one of the premier canoeing streams in the Midwest. The valley and surrounding area is steeped in rich pioneer history.”

The “Exploring the Wildcat Valley” map and brochure will provide clear information on the availability and access of the many points of interest in the whole stretch of the Wildcat across Carroll County. Three area non-profit organizations are collaborating to produce the marketing product. Local artist Terry Lacy has been retained for the design work.

The Carroll County Historical Society/Museum received a $1,000 grant for the purchase of a new copier. Carroll County Historical Society President Phyllis Porter said the new copier will help change the newsletter format.

The group believes this will help build interest in the museum and genealogy.

Carroll County REMC started rounding up in January 2005 and since that time the cooperative has donated $145,759.75 to community organizations.

“Carroll County has a rich heritage that we are helping preserve,” Carroll County REMC CEO Randy W. Price said. “We are proud of our members who see the benefit of rounding up.”