You can also check out a story that reports Indy 500 fans tightened their belts when it came to spending their cash this spring.

Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for logging on to TribTown.com.

Post from: Dan's Blog

That word came from Don Cummings with the fair board, Scott said. They were working on preparing this summer’s fair program.

We’ll report more when find out more.

Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for logging on to TribTown.com.

Post from: Dan's Blog

This is the first time a Miss America has been included in the Time promotion.

The annual list asks the public to rate each candidate on their influence on the world. Those recognized fall in one of five categories: Leaders & Revolutionaries, Builders & Titans, Artists & Entertainers, Scientists & Thinkers and Heroes & Icons.

Within each category, the 20 most influential people are selected, for a total of 100 each year.

Miss America officials said the organization is “truly excited that Miss America is being honored as a finalist among so many other notable figures in the world today such as President Obama, Pope Benedict XVI, Katie Couric and Oprah.”

Here’s what the Time Web site said about Stam:

“PRO: The former Indiana farm girl overcame laryngitis to become the first Hoosier crown winner in the show’s 88-year history. So far, she’s managed to avoid arrest and/or Internet scandal, which is an accomplishment in itself.

“CON: Despite attempts at an “American Idol”-style makeover, the pageant drew a middling 3.5 million viewers this year — hardly star-making numbers.”

While I realize the part about managing to avoid arrest or Internet scandal is deserved for some of the more recent winners of a variety of pageants given some of their exploits, but it seems out of place for Stam, called by many in the area, including our headline after she crowned, as “Our Miss America.”

What do you think of Stam’s influence, or Miss America’s influence.

Let us know, and we’ll share your thoughts with our readers.

Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for logging on to TribTown.com.

Post from: Dan's Blog

The photo was e-mailed to us by Katie Moreau, press secretary for 9th District Rep. Baron Hill of Seymour. She received the photo via e-mail from a White House staffer.

Take a look for it.

Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for logging on to TribTown.com.

Post from: Dan's Blog

Whether you did or didn’t, staff writer Aubrey Woods will you about he saw at the festival, including the appearance by Miss America 2009 Katie Stam.

Also, a wire story from The Lebanon Reporter will tell you about Stam crowning the new Miss Indiana.

Read about it in Monday’s edition of The Tribune and online at TribTown.com.

Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for logging on to Tribtown.com.

Post from: Dan's Blog

Did you snap a great picture of Katie with your camera or on your cell phone?

Catch a great video moment?

E-mail them to us and we’ll share them with readers of The Tribune and users of TribTown.com.

Please include your name, adddress, phone number and a brief description of your photo or video.

Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for logging on to TribTown.com.

Post from: Dan's Blog

No, the topics aren’t related.

They’re two separate stories.

One will offer more information about Stam’s Jackson County homecoming next week, including a fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network.

In the other, reporter Jill Treadway will offer insight into Ash Wednesday, the religious service that for many kicks off the Lenten season.

As part of that story, Jill is attending the Ash Wednesday service at noon today at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Seymour.

Take a look for the stories.

Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for logging on to TribTown.com.

Post from: Dan's Blog

The question resulted from a comment made a fellow diner at an Indianapolis restaurant soon after Katie Stam of Seymour was crowned Miss America on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas.

Lester Tracy, a collector of “Life” magazines, a wonderful old, colorful magazine from the golden age of such publications, called to cast a vote for the Reno Gang and what’s purported to be the world’s first train robbery.

Tracy mentioned a 1952 edition of “Life” that included an article on that robbery. It’s an interesting spread, one that John M. Lewis once shared with me and other readers of The Tribune when the former attorney, judge, state lawmaker and local historian wrote about it in one of his Look Back columns.

And William Ackeret left a voicemail with a vote for John Mellencamp, the Seymour native who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year. He said Mellencamp’s music will be long remembered and that the community should embrace Mellencamp more than it has over the years.

Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for logging on to Tribtown.com.

Post from: Dan's Blog