Cope Environmental Center (CEC) is excited to announce two empowering outdoor experiences
this spring sponsored by REMC: EmpowerHER Outdoors: Empowering Women in Nature 2.0 on
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 12:00-7:00 p.m. for women ages 16 and up, and EmpowerHER
Together: Empowering Women and Girls in Nature on Sunday, April 19, 2026, 1:00-4:00 p.m for
women and girls ages 8-15 to attend together. Both events provide safe, women-only spaces
led entirely by experienced female instructors, designed to build confidence, independence, and
connection with nature.

EmpowerHER Outdoors 2.0 invites women to engage in a full-day program of hands-on
workshops, including Camping Basics, Wildlife Tracking and Navigation, Wilderness First Aid,
Mindfulness in Nature, and Fire Craft & Outdoor Cooking. The day emphasizes practical
skill-building, personal growth, and forming supportive connections with like-minded
participants.

EmpowerHER Together extends the experience to families, offering interactive stations where
women and girls explore Camping Basics, Walking with Awareness, and Outdoor Safety & First
Aid side by side, fostering resilience, teamwork, and shared confidence in the outdoors.
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Both programs emphasize empowerment, skill development, and community, giving participants
the opportunity to strengthen bonds, embrace adventure, and create lasting memories in a
supportive environment. Tickets are $50 per participant for EmpowerHER Outdoors 2.0 and $25
per pair for EmpowerHER Together, spots are limited. Register today at www.VisitCope.org.
Join us for these EmpowerHER experiences and discover a day of adventure, learning, and
empowerment, where women and girls can learn, grow, and thrive in nature together.

​Richmond, IN, March 2, 2026. Natco Credit Union announced the appointment of Tim Frame as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, marking an important leadership transition for the organization. Frame succeeds Cindy Duke, who will retire after 39 years of dedicated service to the credit union and the communities it serves.


The Board of Directors’ decision follows a thoughtful and comprehensive search process and reflects confidence in both Natco’s strong foundation and its future direction.


“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are proud to announce Tim Frame as the next President and CEO of Natco Credit Union,” said Mike Helms, Chair of the Board. “As we celebrate Cindy Duke’s extraordinary 39 years of service, we are deeply grateful for the growth, innovation, and stability she has brought to our members and communities. Because of her leadership, Natco is strong and well-positioned for the future. Tim’s strategic vision, operational expertise, and commitment to community-based financial services make him the right leader to build on that foundation and guide Natco into its next chapter.”


Frame brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in the financial services industry, having served as Chief Lending Officer and President and Chief Executive Officer of West End Bank, and most recently as Regional Market President at 3Rivers Federal Credit Union. Throughout his career, he has combined strategic vision with operational expertise to strengthen lending performance, support disciplined growth, and guide organizations through evolving market conditions. His leadership reflects a deep alignment with the credit union philosophy and a belief in financial services as a catalyst for long-term community impact.


Frame holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Indiana University and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He has also completed advanced executive education through the American Bankers Association and the Central States Conference of Bankers Association, demonstrating his continued commitment to leadership development and industry excellence.


As Natco prepares for this leadership transition, Duke reflected on the organization's strength and the team she has helped shape over nearly four decades. “I am incredibly proud of what our team has built together over the past 39 years,” said Cindy Duke. “Natco Credit Union’s strength has always been its people and its culture, and I am confident Tim will honor that foundation while bringing fresh perspective and leadership as the credit union moves forward.”


Frame expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead Natco into its next chapter and serve its members and communities. “I am honored and excited to join Natco Credit Union as its next President and CEO,” said Frame. “Natco is an invaluable local financial institution dedicated to empowering members and uplifting communities. Together, we will build upon this strong foundation, embrace new opportunities, and remain focused on delivering the highest level of service, convenience, and value to every member.”


Under Frame’s leadership, Natco Credit Union will continue advancing its mission to improve communities by serving people, one person at a time. His experience and forward-looking approach position the organization for sustained growth and measurable impact in the years ahead.


The search was completed in partnership with Humanidei. Humanidei brings decades of credit union system experience to the recruiting process, ensuring executive placements that will carry organizations forward in fulfillment of their mission. www.humanidei.com

​Contact:
Karen Houser
khouser@natcocu.org

​Fountain City, Indiana — Fountain City Forward is now accepting applications for the 2026 Hometown Heroes Banner Program, an annual initiative honoring local veterans and first responders who have served our country and community.

The program recognizes individuals who have served or are currently serving in any branch of the United States military, as well as those who have served in law enforcement, fire service, or emergency medical services. Honorees may be living or deceased.

Commemorative banners will be displayed throughout Fountain City from Memorial Day through Veterans Day. Each banner includes a QR code directing viewers to a dedicated profile page on the Fountain City Forward website, highlighting the individual’s service and legacy.

Sponsorship for a 2026 banner is $100. Space is limited to 32 banners, and applications will be approved in the order they are fully completed and submitted. Fountain City Forward hopes to honor new individuals each year, and priority for 2026 will be given to those who have not previously been recognized through the program.
The deadline to apply is March 31, 2026.

Sponsors must submit a completed application, sponsorship payment, high-resolution photo, and a 150–300 word biography (or detailed biographical information).

To view past honorees, access the printable application form, or complete registration and payment online, visit:
https://fountaincityforward.org/fchometownheroes
​
For additional information, contact Fountain City Forward at fountaincityforward@gmail.com.

​The Supreme Court nullified tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Other authorities (e.g., Section 301 and Section 232) remain in force.
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What’s changed:

• The IEEPA‑based global tariffs (10–50%) are no longer valid.
• The administration quickly moved to re‑impose some tariffs under other statutes and is using the next 150 days to investigate future actions.

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The $130 billion question:

• About $130 billion was collected under now‑invalid tariffs. The U.S. Chamber has made clear these funds should be refunded, especially to small businesses, but no formal refund mechanism exists yet.

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Resource for your members:

• The Chamber’s “Tariff Refunds FAQ: What Small Businesses Need to Know After the Supreme Court’s Ruling” helps companies:
  • Determine if they paid IEEPA‑based tariffs
  • Identify potentially refundable duties
  • Prepare documentation for a future refund process

​The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce has introduced Student Future Success (SFS) as the new umbrella brand for its Work-Based Learning (WBL) initiatives, creating a clear and consistent identity for student workforce development efforts across Wayne County.

Student Future Success brings together programs that support career exploration, job shadowing, internships, and hands-on learning experiences under a unified framework. The branding is designed to help students, schools, employers, and community partners more easily understand and navigate opportunities at each stage of a student’s development.

“This new branding helps us tell a clearer story about how students engage with career and workforce experiences over time,” said WCACC Director of Employer Engagement, Shawntel Baker. “Student Future Success is intended to support the great work already happening in our schools while providing a shared identity that strengthens communication and collaboration with employers.”

The SFS brand introduces a new visual system designed to reflect trust, growth, and long-term opportunity for students, while remaining aligned with existing Chamber branding. The branding is intended to complement, school-led programs and does not change program requirements or district autonomy.
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By aligning program language, structure, and visual identity, the Chamber aims to strengthen employer engagement, improve clarity for students and families, and support long-term workforce readiness across the county.

RICHMOND, Ind. — The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the people, partnerships, and progress shaping the community during its 2026 Annual Dinner, themed “Wayne’s World: Party On, Wayne County!” The high-energy evening brought together business leaders, elected officials, educators, and community partners to recognize excellence across service, business, and individual leadership.

Emceed by Derric Watson, the event blended entertainment with purpose — opening with Wayne’s World–inspired tributes to what makes Wayne County unique, while spotlighting the individuals and organizations driving real momentum across the region.

“The Annual Dinner is our opportunity to pause, celebrate, and shine a spotlight on the people who move Wayne County forward,” said Melissa Vance, President & CEO of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. “This year’s theme reminded us that while we work hard, we can also celebrate boldly — and our award recipients truly represent the heart, creativity, and commitment of this community.”

Celebrating Leadership & Impact
The evening began by recognizing outstanding volunteers from each of the Chamber’s five Action Committees, highlighting the behind-the-scenes leaders who support Chamber programs year-round:

Outstanding Chamber Committee Members

• Awards, Celebration & Events Committee: JoAnn Spurlock, Wayne Bank
• Business & Education Committee: Christy Tollett, Purdue Polytechnic Richmond
• HYPE Wayne County: Taylor Rogers, First Bank Richmond
• IMPACT Committee: Alfredo Diamond, Better Homes & Gardens First Realty Group
• Issues & Advocacy Committee: Marty Van Der Burgt, Belden

Outstanding Service Awards

• Volunteer of the Year: Rinda Litton
• Champion of Diversity: Belden’s Women in Manufacturing Program
• Bob Rosa Buy Local Award: Maria Haber, Paint the Towne
• Outstanding Service to Agriculture: Centerville Farmers Market
• Achievement in Excellence – Nonprofit: Girls Inc. of Wayne County

Outstanding Corporate Awards

• Partner in Education: Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County
• Achievement of Excellence – Small Business: Whisenhunt Construction
• Achievement of Excellence – Large Business: Milestone Contractors
• Corporation of the Year: Ahaus Tool & Engineering

Outstanding Individual Awards

• Young Professional of the Year: Mark Broeker, Neighborhood Health Center
• Educator of the Year: Peggy Muller, Nettle Creek School Corporation
• Excellence in Higher Education: Bonita Washington-Lacey, Earlham College
• Emergency Professional of the Year: Erin Campbell, Wayne County 911 Emergency Communications
• Art Vivian Distinguished Community Leader: Patricia Heiny

WC Leads Cohort

• Anna Garrett, Reid Health
• Chelse Leonard, Holiday Inn
• Evan Silvia, 3Rivers Federal Credit Union
• Eva Maritta, Earlham College
• Jarrett Focht, McGowan Insurance
• Kalleigh Smith, Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce
• Katie Stephan, Reid Health
• Lindsay Freed, Richmond Housing Authority
• Mary Parrett, Bethany Theological Seminary
• Matthew Keller, City of Richmond
• Nathan Parker, Wayne Bank
• Sam Battistone, Wayne County Public Defender’s Office
• Seth Stegall, Ivy Tech

In addition to celebrating achievements from 2025, Chamber leaders emphasized the momentum heading into 2026 — including expanded work-based learning initiatives, the continued growth of the Wayne County Leads (WC Leads) leadership program, new member benefits such as Chamber gift cards and health insurance options, and enhanced marketing efforts like the Behind the Business storytelling series.

“The theme we kept coming back to was momentum,” said AJ Sickmann, 2026 Chamber Board Chair. “Momentum in education, momentum in workforce development, momentum in business growth and momentum in how we tell Wayne County’s story.”
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The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner remains one of the organization’s premier events, celebrating collaboration, leadership, and the shared belief that when businesses and community partners work together, the entire county thrives.

Check out all pictures on the Chamber Facebook

The MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index is 68.4 this quarter, down from last quarter (72.0) and similar to Q4 2024 (69.1).Most measures this quarter do not show a significant decline, however, there is a slight softening across some key measures, including comfort with cash flow and future hiring/investment expectations.

Notably, fewer small businesses report being very comfortable with their current cash flow this quarter. Additionally, views of their local economy have declined slightly, with two in five (43%) small businesses saying that their local economy is in good health. At the same time, views of the national economy are stable: 38% say the same of the U.S. economy, similar to last quarter. Longer term, outlooks for both the national and local economies are more optimistic compared to this time last year.
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This quarter, inflation continues to be the biggest challenge facing small business owners, but these inflation concerns have remained stable for the past two quarters. However, more small businesses are reporting increased challenges for both revenue and employee retention. Slightly more small businesses cite employee retention (17%) as a challenge this quarter (was 12% in Q4 2024). In the same vein, compared to this time last year, concerns about attracting talent have more than doubled. This quarter, 14% said attracting talent was a top challenge (up from 6% in Q4 2024).

Read More on the US Chamber Website

MEDIA CONTACT
Cody Mattox
Coles Marketing
812-870-1866
​cmattox@colesmarketing.com

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Nov. 19, 2025) — The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) has announced the recipients of its latest round of Heritage Support Grants, awarding $50,642.97 to 14 local history organizations representing 12 Indiana counties.

​The Heritage Support Grants program, provided by the Indiana Historical Society and made possible by Lilly Endowment Inc., offers critical funding to local, county and regional historical societies, museums and sites. These grants support projects that address high-priority needs in collections stewardship, capacity building, sustainability and planning.

Heritage Support Grants – Project Grant, Mini Cycle B
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● Cedar Lake Historical Association, Lake County — Cedar Lake Historical Association received $2,300 to repair trim in the museum at Lassen’s Resort to restore it to its original state.

● Daviess County Historical Society, Daviess County — Daviess County Historical Society received $4,294 to cover reenactor fees and table and chair rental for their upcoming Pioneer Days event.

● Evansville Wartime Museum, Vanderburgh County — Evansville Wartime Museum received $4,999 to purchase Bluetooth-compatible audio devices to provide self-guided tours of the museum when docents are unavailable and to expand accessibility.

● Friends of the Crown Point Library, Lake County — Friends of the Crown Point Library received $3,200 to fund speakers for its upcoming History Speaks & Hope Acts: America 250 program to engage the public for the US’ 250th.

● Friends of the National New York Central RR Museum, Elkhart County — Friends of the National New York Central RR Museum received $2,500 to create new interpretive signage for their 20th Century Limited exhibit to revitalize the exhibit.

● Friends of the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library, Hendricks County — Friends of the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library received $4,875 to digitize microfilm of the Plainfield Messenger newspaper issues from the years of 1962 – 1979.

● James B Eads Parent-Teacher Organization, Lake County — The James B Eads Parent-Teacher Organization received $1,000 to purchase new Indiana History books for use in their fourth-grade history program.

● Madison County Historical Society, Madison County — The Madison County Historical Society received $4,680 to purchase and install a new, code-compliant fire security exterior door.

● Preservation Alliance, Inc., Scott County — Preservation Alliance, Inc. received $1,450 to replace all the museum’s existing fluorescent lighting with 3000-3500K LED lights to preserve historical artifacts by minimizing UV damage and heat emission.

● Roberts, Thomas, Bonds Historical Society, Marion County — Roberts, Thomas, Bonds Historical Society received $4,999 to develop a professional cemetery preservation plan for the Thomas & Roberts cemetery at the historic Lick Creek settlement.

● SullivanMunce Cultural Center, Boone County — SullivanMunce Cultural Center received $1,847.97 to purchase accessible shelving units, storage bins, and stackable storage systems to store supplies used for their school programs.

●Upland Historical Society, Grant County — Upland Historical Society received $4,500 to purchase archival storage materials and a shared scanner, and to develop a searchable digital index of its collections.

● Washington County Historical Society, Washington County — Washington County Historical Society received $4,900.00 to hire a consultant to create a comprehensive, five-year strategic plan that will provide a roadmap for membership, property maintenance, restoration, fundraising, and planned giving for the WCHS/John Hay Center.

● Wayne County Historical Museum, Wayne County — Wayne County Historical Museum received $4,999 to purchase archival storage systems and environmental controls to modernize the museum’s storage, and to acquire a photo scanner, a laptop, and storage materials to catalog, scan, and preserve the newly donated Pyle photographic collection.

● Union Literary Institute Preservation Society, Randolph County — $25,000 to remove remains of the North wall of the historic Union Literary Institute, the first school in Indiana to admit both Black and white students.

● Washington County Historical Society, Washington County — $50,000 to rehabilitate its 1929 Monon Railroad Caboose with roof, siding and safety improvements.

Since the program launched in 2015, IHS has awarded millions of dollars in Heritage Support Grants to strengthen Indiana’s historical organizations. In addition to funding, the program also provides fundraising education workshops, coaching and opportunities for participants to serve on award selection panels. Guidelines and applications are available on the IHS website at www.indianahistory.org/grants or by calling the IHS at (317) 232-1882.