Erika Malone 0:00

This week on Beyond the Headlines, Johnson County Fair crowns the 2026 Fair Queen. Argersville considers speed limit changes for golf cart safety. 20 years later, Franklin remembers Blake and China Dickus, and kids cheer what it takes to be a 4-H tur.

SPEAKER_01 0:16

From the Daily Journal, this is Beyond the Headlines, a local news podcast focused on story shaping Johnson County.

SPEAKER_00 0:40

Pretty good. Very glad it's a little less hot out today.

Erika Malone 0:43

Yes, it's uh it's been it's fair week. It's been uh a little hot yesterday. Uh, you know, the weather wasn't bad. Uh we're filming this on uh Thursday, so I was out there Wednesday. Um and yeah, the weather wasn't bad, but it's it's been a busy week, lots of lot of fair stuff going on. So uh and this is have you covered a fair before?

SPEAKER_00 1:04

Not this fun, but I'm excited to get out there hopefully Saturday and spend some time out exploring, seeing the animal auction, and maybe trying a few things.

Erika Malone 1:13

Yeah, yeah. It'll uh it's definitely uh a fun fair to cover. Everyone's so nice there. Um, so but yeah, we have some fair news uh we've been keeping up with. Uh and they elected um the 2026 fair queen. So let's talk a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

Ainsley Botkin was crowned Miss Johnson County 2026 at Sunday's pageant held at McCarty Mulch Indoor Arena. Botkin also earned the title of Miss Congeniality, showing she was a favorite among judges and fellow contestants. Ten young women competed for the crown, with Addie Morris, the 2025 Queen, passing the title. Other members of the Queen's court were Hale Chadwell, Morgan Keith, Charlie Kramer, and Chloe Farmer.

Erika Malone 1:52

Yeah. So a lot of women were vying for this crown. So, um, and Ainsley took it home. So uh tell us a little bit about uh Ainsley Botkin.

SPEAKER_00 1:59

Yeah. So Botkin is a Franklin Community High School grad and will be a sophomore at the University of St. Francis. She's currently studying to become a cardiovascular surgical technician. She has deep Johnson County roots, um, and her family was among the county's earliest settlers. So she grew up involved in 4H and spent a lot of time in the sheep farm.

Erika Malone 2:19

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 2:20

Yeah. She also said she was inspired by previous Fair Queens, and she wanted to continue their legacy of determination, leadership, and kindness.

Erika Malone 2:27

Oh, that's so nice. Yeah. I was um I was talking with a former fair queen uh yesterday, and uh just about the process, and it's all um the whole experience kind of brings a a sisterhood as well, um, amongst the contestants as well. Yeah. Um, but something new this year, uh the contestants were able to give speeches. So uh what did Ainsley say?

SPEAKER_00 2:48

So Ainsley's speech focused on her cherished fair memories and the importance of the Johnson County Fair to the community. Um, preparation for the speech included daily speech practice, mock interviews, stage rehearsals, and building confidence and poise. And, you know, you mentioned that sisterhood fellow contestants emphasized their strong sense of friendship and sisterhood throughout the competition. Yeah, so they were cheering for each other backstage, and it sounds like they had a really good sense of camaraderie.

Erika Malone 3:14

Oh, yeah, absolutely. And I I could see it um being there. I've covered uh fairs before, and you kind of see that camaraderie build um, you know, during the competition, but also throughout the fair, too. So it's it's kind of it's a kind of a fun thing to witness as well. So, but um, what was her reaction when she found out that she won?

SPEAKER_00 3:32

So she said she was shocked when her number was announced as the winner, and she credited her faith and the support of fellow contestants for helping her succeed. Um, her parents also expressed a lot of pride in her accomplishments and the hard work that she put into the competition.

Erika Malone 3:45

That's awesome. Yeah, well, that's great. And congratulations to Ainsley Votkin. Um, you know, uh it's always nice to cover a fair uh fair queen each year. So uh, and they all have something different to say. So that's great. We have some more news for you, uh, not fair related, but just uh what's going on around Johnson County. So uh Bargersville officials are considering new speed limit changes aimed at improving traffic safety and expanding golf cart access to downtown amenities. Now, golf carts are becoming increasingly popular as well, too. So uh this proposed was introduced at the July 14th town council meeting and was still uh and it still needs to go through a public hearing and second uh reading before it uh before it's adopted. So uh town leaders say the plan is part of a broader effort to improve mobility, neighborhood connectivity, and safe access throughout the community. A lot of um a lot of the suburban neighborhoods in uh Bargersville uh don't really have a connective trail to go uh to downtown. So this is kind of their way to do that. Under current rules, golf carts are allowed on town streets with speed limits of 30 miles per hour or less, and golf cards are not permitted on sidewalks, trails, State Road 135, or Old Planck Road, unless you're crossing at an intersection.

SPEAKER_00 5:03

So, Erica, what are the proposed speed limit changes and where could they be implemented?

Erika Malone 5:08

So proposed speed limit reductions to 30 miles per hour includes County Road 144 from Renion Road to Schoolhouse Lane, Saddle Club Road from Hunt Club Parkway and New Battle Lane to County Road 144, and Morgantown Road from County Road 144 to Whiteland Road. Other segments would be adjusted to 40 miles uh per hour to create a more gradual transition within the town, too.

SPEAKER_00 5:34

And so what did the council say about this proposal? Like, are they all pretty excited about it? Is this something that they want?

Erika Malone 5:39

Well, not all the council members are on board with this, actually. So, council member Ruth Amore, uh, she expressed uh concern for drivers coming over the hills that could collide with golf carts. She even said that it gives her nightmares. Um, you know, County Road uh being at least on that stretch, uh a lot of people don't follow the speed limit through there, uh, just because it's a long stretch of road. And also, uh town manager Dax Norton said golf carts are already heavily traveling County Road 144, and the slowing traffic near Kephard Park is a major motivation behind this proposal as well. Um, police chief Todd Bertram said enforcement will be needed to get uh drivers to adjust to lower speeds, but the transition should not overly be disruptive. Uh but uh the data that was provided to me at least uh that at least five crashes in the last year occurred uh in the County Road 144 area and nearby roads with um and also numerous traffic stops as well. So the council is still gonna continue looking at this to balance the two priorities for more um accessibility for golf carts, um, while also addressing uh safety concerns as well.

SPEAKER_00 6:49

Yeah. Well, it sounds like the council has a lot to consider before they vote on this again.

Erika Malone 6:54

Yeah. And uh, you know, there's golf carts everywhere. So this is just another way to keep them safe, I guess. So yeah, we're gonna take a quick break and be right back. Want your business to reach our listeners in Johnson County and beyond? Reach out to the Daily Journal by calling 317-736-2730 to ask about our advertising opportunities. And we're back. Um, and we have some more news for you. There was uh a very um a very nice memorial uh service earlier this week. Um, and Kirsten, you want to tell us a little bit more about uh about that?

SPEAKER_00 7:32

Yeah. The Franklin community um gathered Saturday at Needham Elementary School to honor Blake and China Dickus, whose murders remain unsolved nearly 20 years later.

Erika Malone 7:42

Yeah. This is uh something I've uh I believe we've been covering um from what I've been told uh for a while, um, and something that still remains unsolved. And with it being its 20-year anniversary, uh they kind of made this memorial a little more special.

SPEAKER_00 7:58

Yeah. Yeah, it sounds like you know, the focus was really on trying to remember Blake and China Dickus. Um, participants carried blue balloons and they released butterflies around Blake's memorial tree. So their goal was to remember the lives of both victims rather than the tragedy itself.

Erika Malone 8:13

Yeah, that's very nice. Well, um, you know, just for uh context, what uh what happened to Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:20

So on July 24th, 2026, 10-year-old Blake Dickus and his stepmother China were murdered in their Franklin home in the Brannigan Woods neighborhood. The case remains active, and Franklin police continue to investigate, according to the Franklin police chief. In the months surrounding the murders, several nearby homes were burglarized in a similar manner, though no arrests have been made in the homicide case.

Erika Malone 8:40

Wow, that's crazy. Um, and I know during the memorial a lot of um a lot of people, family members spoke as well. So um, share a little bit about what they had to say about them.

SPEAKER_00 8:50

Yeah, absolutely. So Blake's mother, Christina Dickas, spoke about the impact of losing her son and the pain of living without answers for two decades. She described Blake as a joyful kid who loved riding his bike, eating pancakes, going to Pizza King, and camping with family. She reflected on the life that Blake never got the chance to live, which included milestones such as graduating high school, um, getting married, and entering adulthood. Family members also honored China's love and devotion to Blake, noting that she cared really deeply about him. And then speakers also encouraged the community to remember Blake not for the way he died, but for the kind, energetic child he was while he lived.

Erika Malone 9:27

Well, he sounds like a very nice kid, you know, uh just from uh the speech that they gave and you know how they described him. So and this case still remains insult, too, right?

SPEAKER_00 9:37

Yes. Um actually there's a $25,000 reward that is still available for any information that leads to an arrest. Um and anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 317-346-1100.

Erika Malone 9:51

Yeah, if anyone has any information about that, um, like you said, this has been 20 years since they've uh tragically passed. So um if anyone has any information, uh, you know, there's still a tip line available. So yeah. And I think it's good that they keep the uh their memories alive.

SPEAKER_00 10:08

So I think so. It sounds like it was a beautiful memorial service with the butterflies and balloons.

Erika Malone 10:13

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Well, we're gonna take a quick break and uh be back with our round table. Like listening to this podcast, you can help support it. Subscribe to the Daily Journal at subscribe.dailyjournal.net to support your local newspaper and this podcast. Your support helps make everything we do possible. And we're back with our round table. We got some more uh fair stuff going on. Um, but yeah, we've you know been out and about. Uh, you know, I always love covering the fair. I love the food side of it too. So uh what's your favorite thing about uh fairs in general? So I know you've uh you've covered some before, yeah, um, but you haven't covered this one. So what makes uh this one a little different?

SPEAKER_00 10:57

You know, I'm I'm really excited to see which fair food our intern Nathan really likes the best. Yeah. So after he uh finishes with his taste test, I might go out and try some of his recommendations.

Erika Malone 11:10

Oh yeah, that's a good idea. So for um the those that might not know, we uh are working on a video, it might already be up by then, um, about uh we're having our intern Nathan go out and try some different fair food. So he's kind of our like our um our guinea pig. Yeah, he's our guinea pig. Um so and he was all for it too. He was like, we're like, hey, do you want to like go taste test some fair food for a video? He's like, yeah, absolutely. So uh yeah, he's really excited. But um, besides fair food, there's so much about the fair to kind of appreciate as well. Um, especially 4-H'ers too. Yeah, they work so hard, you know, all year long um to show these animals and they uh learn a lot of lessons too. So yeah, we talked to uh some 4-H'ers about, you know, kind of what it takes uh to be in the position that they're in. So 4-H is more uh much more than just about showing animals, honestly. Uh and a lot of the members say it teaches them responsibility, respect, leadership, and life skills too. And I talked with um see no some 4-H volunteers and leaders and livestock judges too, and they've all said the same thing as well. So uh local 4-H'ers, they spend months um caring for uh caring for and preparing their animals before a fair week. A lot of it uh goes into it um as well, uh on top with managing, you know, their their school, their schooling and things like that. So Ellie Johnson, who shows pigs, says 4-H has taught her responsibility and helped her find confidence in something she's passionate about. Um and Evelyn Gesey, uh, she shows cattle and poultry and enjoys the hands-on learning uh that comes with raising animals too, you know, getting up in the morning, doing your chores, feeding the animals, uh things like that. Kipton Poe, in his first year of 4-H, says the program has taught him respect while helping him develop sheep showing skills as well. And Rhett uh Backshider, a mini 4-H member, enjoys showing goats and learning how to work with the judges and animals too. So all four of these uh young exhibitors uh highlighted the friendships, family involvements, and the lessons uh learned throughout the program along the way.

SPEAKER_00 13:20

Wow, that is incredible. Yeah, it is yeah, those are great life lessons. It is, yeah. And I don't think I asked you, Erka, what's your favorite part of the fair?

Erika Malone 13:28

My favorite part? Oh, um I think I honestly think it is the fair boot, but also um I just love talking to people at the fair at the different fair booths and seeing the camaraderie and the community that's there. You know, it's so uh fun to like watch someone like you know, maybe it's so and so like you know, they haven't seen each other in years, and but at the fair it's like the one time that they see each other. Yeah. So I don't know, it's like it's it's a good way to like catch up with friends and stuff like that too.

SPEAKER_00 14:02

So yeah, yeah. That's such a great point. It's just a great way to get involved with the community and meet new people and catch up with the people you haven't seen in a while.

Erika Malone 14:10

Yeah, absolutely. Well, um, with uh after fair week, uh school will be right around the corner as well.

SPEAKER_00 14:18

Yes, it will be. We have quite a few first days of school coming up. Um starting with Clark Pleasant Community School Corporation on July 29th. Um and then Greenwood Community School Corporation's first day is August 4th. Center Grove starts on August 5th, uh, and then Franklin Community Schools Corporate Corporation starts August 5th. Actually, a few school corporations start.

Erika Malone 14:40

A few there's at least four of them that all start on the same day. So Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:45

Yeah, because we have Indian Creek School Corporation starting on August 5th, and then Edinburgh Community School Corporation again is on August 5th.

Erika Malone 14:53

Yeah. Um, so one thing that we kind of started doing last year uh is we go out on the first day of school and take photos um as well. So uh we'll all kind of you know be out there, but not not sure what school yet, but uh you might see us out there with a camera just getting first day of school photos. Those are always so fun, especially the little kids, you know. Yeah. Um, you know, you can see them come in holding hands, they're so excited, and then maybe you get to the high schoolers and they're like, why is it so early? You know, summer's over. Summer's over. Why am I here at 7 30 in the morning? But um, no, it's a it's a really fun day. So I'm really excited um to with being the education reporter. I'm excited for school to start back up again. Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of Beyond the Headlines and let us know what you would like to hear by submitting your thoughts at news tips at dailyjournal.net and follow us wherever you get podcasts and leave a review. And we hope you tune in next time.