To the editor:

As I sit here on my hilltop enjoying the spring season in Brown County, thoughts fly in and out of my head like the birds and bugs around me.

As this school year ends, I am hoping for a better next year related to the COVID pandemic and that everyone is safe, comfortable, and in class learning and being taught by the wonderful staff who have worked so hard and the staff that support all the building, busing, sports, arts, music, theater and all other activities.

I appreciate the staff at the Circle K for the work they do and the fact that they are just complying with a corporation policy that I totally disagree with. Thank you staff for putting up with me; ONIONS to Circle K management who has not called me back or communicate with me over the numerous calls I have made requesting information and understanding of their policy which is I have to give them my birthdate in order to buy a lottery ticket. I refuse! I know, by law, I have to present I.D. to buy tobacco (I never have nor will buy tobacco due to family history) and alcohol even though I am definitely older than 21. So my business has moved to Speedway.

My thoughts on Sam, thanks for being patient with me. I finally got to the nursing home to see you and it was a wonderful visit. Thank you for blessing me. George and Katie, I will get back to see you guys!

My prayers and thoughts for the families of Michael O’Hara, Jean Kritzer and Christopher Barnett for their loss and pain. Please hold onto the good memories that make you smile and bring you joy. I did not know Christopher, but I know his mom, and hope for peace for her. Jean made me laugh and smile when I saw her and I know the family has great stories about her. And Michael, oh Michael, one of my favorite Marines in Brown County. (All veterans are on my special in my heart, mind and soul.) My house is still standing from all the years ago when you built it with Charlie Bailey, and boy do I have the memories. Bless you all.

Recently, a commissioner stated that the school corporation is the largest impact on property taxes in the county. Although they are correct, the rest of the story is that in the majority of all the counties in Indiana — not quite 100 percent — the school corporations are the largest impact on the property taxes in the county. So, we are not alone in this.

I have a little group that I have been doing the word of the week to start the work week off on a positive note with a positive word. We happened be using the letter W and I have been using my late husband’s dictionary.

I want to end this letter with the word “Weep.” It is not a negative as you will see in a moment. I weep with joy in the knowing of Dr. Laura Hammack through the years from Nashville Elementary when she was Miss Laura Allport. I share in the joy when she became the assistant superintendent during the summer of 2007 and I came on the board in September 2007. I wept with sadness when she left and with joy when she came back with additional experience and knowledge which helped get our school corporation financially in the black and able to support the world class experience/education we are doing. That we were able to do what we have done without RIF which is laying people off by questioning any and every job opening and what was the best way to manage it and make recommendations to the board. I do not weep with sadness that Laura is leaving because I know that she made that decision for what was best for her and her family. As I always say to my patients, if you do not take care of No. 1, yourself/family, then you can not take care of the rest, family and any other people/concerns in your life.

So I will smile at the last meeting, last graduation this month for the honor of knowing Laura all these years with a lot of great memories.

Now, as she reads this letter, I ask, do not cringe, do not put yourself down, do not make me go all Jersey Momma on you. I will always love and care for her and Anthony and will be there for her. I have her number and she has mine.

Love and prayers to all,
<p style="text-align: right"><strong>Carolyn V. Bowden, Brown County</strong></p>