>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," BACKLASH WAS SWIFT AND LOUD AFTER THE MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL CORPORATION ANNOUNCED A CHANGE LAST WEEK THAT WOULD PUT ALL FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS ON A COMMON SCHEDULE.

[ CHEERS ] >> THE SCHOOL BOARD LISTENED, PUTTING THE BRAKES ON THE PROPOSAL THIS WEEK.

HELD UP IN THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR WEEKS, NOW IT'S THE WEATHER PUTTING THE BLOOMINGTON MONOLITH ON HOLD UNTIL AT LEAST NEXT YEAR.

>> WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR UPDATE ON EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE GOING ON THIS AT THE MOMENT.

>> TWO CONTRACTS WORTH MORE THAN $1 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT ARE IN JEOPARDY.

>>> AND WE VISIT THE RUNDOWN KNOX COUNTY POOR ASYLUM WHICH ONE GROUP IS HOPING TO SAVE.

WE'LL HAVE THOSE STORIES PLUS THE LATEST NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WHEN THE MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION EMAILED PARENTS LAST FRIDAY ITS PLAN TO PUT ITS FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS ON A COMMON SCHEDULE NEXT YEAR, THE PUSHBACK WAS IMMEDIATE AND LOUD.

AS PAT BEANE REPORTS, IT WAS ALSO EFFECTIVE AS THE SCHOOL BOARD STOPPED THE PROCESS IN ITS TRACKS.

>> A PROTEST ON THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE AGAINST THE SCHEDULE CHANGE DREW MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE MONDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT'S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WAS PACKED WITH THOSE WANTING TO SPEAK OUT.

THE MAIN COMPLAINTS WERE ABOUT WHAT THEY PERCEIVED WAS A RUSHED PROCESS BY THE SUPERINTENDENT'S ADMINISTRATION.

>> I HOPE YOU HEAR MY VOICE LOUDLY AND CLEARLY AS I STATE CLEARLY THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS NOT CHOSEN TO LISTEN TO THE HEART OF THESE HIGH SCHOOLS WHICH ARE THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND THEREFORE MUST BE REMOVED.

>> McCALL WAS FIRST OF MORE THAN 40 PARENTS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CAME TO THE MEETING TO PROTEST THE SCHEDULE CHANGE.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD PUT BLOOMINGTON NORTH, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, AND THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ON A COMMON HYBRID BLOCK SCHEDULE OF EIGHT 60-MINUTE CLASSES.

NORTH HAS ALTERNATING CLASSES OF FOUR 80-MINUTE CLASSES AND SOUTH IS ON A TRIMESTER AND HAS THE SAME FIVE 60-MINUTE CLASSES EVERY DAY.

THE FLEXIBILITY OF SOUTH'S SCHEDULE WAS A LIFELINE FOR HIM AFTER BOTH PARENTS DIED BY SUICIDE.

>> I WAS ABLE TO CREATE TRIMESTERS THAT WERE ACADEMICALLY BALANCED AND ALLOW ME TO DEAL WITH THESE CHANGES AND NOT SLIPPING IN SCHOOL.

>> HE PRAISED THE TEACHERS WHO WERE LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS.

>> THESE TEACHERS HAVE AIDED ME FINANCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, THEY HAVE BEEN COUNSELORS FOR ME AND GUIDED ME.

WITHOUT THEM, IT'S MORBID TO SAY, BUT I CAN'T SEE MYSELF TURNING OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY FROM MY PARENTS.

>> IN THE END THEY ALL GOT WHAT THEY CAME FOR.

THE SCHEDULE CHANGE IS ON HOLD UNTIL AT LEAST THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR AND ANY DECISION ON FUTURE SCHEDULE CHANGES NOW REST WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND NOT THE SUPERINTENDENT.

HASWALD TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WAY THAT THIS PROPOSED CHANGE CAME ABOUT.

>> I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR A PROCESS THAT IS MAYBE OVERLY COMPLEX OR MESSY.

THAT WASN'T OUR INTENT.

>> THE BOARD ACTION RESULTED FROM EMOTION BY BOARD MEMBER APRIL HENNESSY, BUT LISTENING TO SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER, THE MOTION.

IT INCLUDED FIVE MIN POINTS CONTINUE WITH THE FOCUS GROUPS AS PLANNED, SHARE DATA WITH BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY, CREATE A CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMUNITY AND CONSULT WITH THE TEACHERS SHOCK AND DELAY IMPLEMENTATION 2025-2026.

>> I WOULD ASK YOU HOW WE EXECUTE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND ASK THAT WE DO SO WITH A PROCESS THAT'S ABOVE BOARD, THAT BUILDS TRUST RATHER THAN DIMINISHES IT AND DOES IN A WAY THAT IS MEASURABLE.

>> A LENGTHY AND SOMETIMES HEATED DISCUSSION FOLLOWED, MUCH FOCUSING ON EQUITY, THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE SCHEDULE CHANGE.

>> I KEEP -- >> I UNDERSTAND.

>> NO, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU DO RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE -- NO.

NO.

PLEASE LET ME SPEAK.

>> I WILL LET YOU SPEAK.

>> I'M ASKING BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ASKING REPEATEDLY FOR NUMBERS.

I WANT TO KNOW THE NUMBERS OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE IMPACTED.

>> HASWALD SAYS 100 STUDENTS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO TRANSFER OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

>> WHEN WE HAVE A STUDENT THAT'S NEGATIVELY IMPACTED OR HARMED, THERE'S URGENCY THERE.

>> AND ALMOST FIVE HOURS AFTER THE MEETING BEGAN, IT PASSED 4-3.

IT MAY BLEED OVER INTO A CRITICAL ISSUE IN MCCSC, THE UPCOMING ISSUE WHERE ANOTHER SCHOOL REFERENDUM IS ON THE BALLOT.

>> AND I'M VERY UPSET BY THIS SCHEDULE IF FIASCO AND I'M REALLY TORN WITH WHAT TO DO WITH THE REFERENDUM.

IT WOULD BE MY FIRST TIME TO VOTE NO.

>> BUT AT LEAST FOR NOW, IT WILL BE SCHEDULE AS USUAL FOR MCCSC'S FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

[ CHEERS ] FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M PAT BEANE.

>>> THAT SCHOOL REFERENDUM IS ON THE BALLOT FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT ELECTION IN MONROE COUNTY.

LAST YEAR'S REFERENDUM TO FUND TEACHER SALARY INCREASES PASSED WITH NEARLY 67% OF THE VOTE.

THIS YEAR, MCCSC IS ASKING FOR THE TAX INCREASE TO MAINLY FUND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

>>> AFTER WEEKS OF DELAYS, THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON SAYS IT'S UNABLE TO BUILD A MONOLITH IN MILLER SHOWERS PARK THIS YEAR.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE NOW CONSIDERING CHANGES TO THE DESIGN.

ETHAN SANDWEISS TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT WHERE THIS MONOLITH CAME FROM AND HOW THE PUBLIC BACKLASH DERAILED THE CITY'S PLANS.

>> SQUEEZE BETWEEN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON WALNUT STREET AND COLLEGE AVENUE, MILLER SHOWERS PARK IS BLOOMINGTON'S ENTRANCE FOR TRAVELERS HEADING DOWNTOWN.

THEIR FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE CITY COULD BE A 40-FOOT MONOLITH WITH LIGHT UP LETTERS SPELLING BLOOMINGTON.

THE CITY ANNOUNCED CONSTRUCTION PUBLICLY IN SEPTEMBER, BACKLASH WAS IMMEDIATE.

>> WE SET UP A PROTEST AS A PUBLIC ARTS CITIZEN COMMITTEE THAT WAS ON OCTOBER 11th AT CITY HALL.

AND THAT WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS DID NOT MOVE IT FORWARD.

>> CRITICISM MAINLY FOCUSED ON THE MONOLITH'S DESIGN.

SOME CRITICS BULKED AT THE MILLION DOLLARS PRICE TAG AND WORRIED ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF L.E.D.

LIGHTS ON MIGRATORY BIRDS.

AFTER DELAYS FROM GETTING THE APPROVAL TO BUILD, THE MONOLITH THAT WAS APPROVED YEARS AGO IS IN LIMBO.

IT MAY CHANGE THE DESIGN.

>> WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR UPDATE ON EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH THIS AT THE MOMENT, HOWEVER, WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, CONSIDERING WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC AND THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND OTHER FOLKS IN DETERMINING HOW WE CAN BEST MOVE THIS FORWARD.

>> IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR TWO CONTRACTS WORTH ALMOST $1 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT.

>> ANYBODY THAT DOES WORK FOR US, WE WILL PAY THEM.

IF IT ENDS UP BEING A VERY DIFFERENT GATEWAY AND IT'S NOT THE SAME PROVIDER, THEN WE MAY OWE THEM SOME MONEY FOR DESIGN, IF THAT GETS CHANGED.

>> IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT BECAUSE OF THE DELAY, THE CONTRACT MIGHT FALL THROUGH.

>> UNCLEAR AT THIS TIME.

>> PLANNING THIS MONUMENT PLAYED OUT IN THE OPEN, IN PUBLIC MEETINGS OVER FIVE YEARS.

HOW ARE THE PEOPLE OF BLOOMINGTON CAUGHT SO OFFGUARD?

HAMILTON PITCHED TO CITY COUNCIL SELLING $10 MILLION IN BONDS TO IMPROVE PARKS, TREES AND, ALLEYS, AND ENTRANCES, INCLUDING BEAUTIFICATION OF THE CITY'S GATEWAYS FOR THE CITY'S BICENTENNIAL IN 2018.

>> SUCH AT THE MILLER SHOWERS PARK GATEWAY.

>> AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD COMMUNITY INVESTMENT.

I SEE THIS AS A LEGACY PROJECT.

>> THE ENTRYWAYS, IF THEY WERE STANDALONE, I WOULD NOT -- I WOULD VOTE AGAINST THAT.

>> THE PUBLIC GOT ITS FIRST PEEK AT THE MONOLITH DESIGN BY INDIANAPOLIS ARCHITECTURE FIRM ROUNDEL ERNESTBURGER ASSOCIATES IN DECEMBER OF 2019.

IT WAS ONE OF THREE PROPOSED AND SHARED ON THE CITY WEBSITE.

THE PROCESS WAS DELAYED BY THE PANDEMIC AND THE MONOLITH'S DESIGN DIDN'T RESURFACE UNTIL THREE YEARS LATER, WHEN THE PARK COMMISSION SENT IT TO THE ARTS COMMISSION FOR COMMENT.

DESPITE SOME CRITICISM, THE PARKS COMMISSION REVEALED IMAGES PUBLICLY IN AN OPEN MEETING.

>> IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO IS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> NOBODY FROM THE PUBLIC WEIGHED IN.

THAT CHANGED AFTER A CITY PRESS RELEASE THIS FALL THAT BROUGHT THE MONOLITH INTO THE SPOTLIGHT.

>> THIS SYMBOL THAT'S BEING PROPOSED FOR THE ENTRANCE TO THE CITY WITH THE PICTURE "BLOOMINGTON" ON IT AND COLORED LIGHTS COMES AS A GREAT SURPRISE TO MANY OF US.

AND SOME -- AND AN AFFRONT, I MUST SAY.

>> SOMEBODY STARTED THE ALL HAIL THE MONOLITH FACEBOOK GROUP, WHICH WAS KIND OF A SATIRE.

>> THE MONOLITH WAS APPROVED AND CONTRACTS WERE SIGNED.

ALL THAT REMAINED WAS ONE PROCEDURAL STEP, GETTING RIGHT-OF-WAY FROM THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS SO CONTRACTORS COULD BEGIN.

BUT FOR THREE MEETINGS IN A ROW, THE BOARD TABLED THE VOTE.

NORMALLY ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC WORKS MEETING IS SPARSE BUT THE MONOLITH DISCUSSION ATTRACTED A VOCAL GROUP OF CRITICS.

BOARD PRESIDENT KYLA COME DECK EFFORT SAYS HER DECISION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC PRESSURE.

SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT HOW PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY WOULD AFFECT THE CORRIDOR.

>> MY CONCERN WAS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THESE TWO CITY PROJECTS AND THE WAY WE COULD MAKE THOSE WORK BEST WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF IMPACT TO THE RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR THE PUBLIC ESPECIALLY, THAT PARTICULARLY BUSY INTERSECTION.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE AIL SECOND AT THIS TIME -- A SECOND AT THIS TIME.

MOTION FAILS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> WHEN NOBODY SECONDED THE MOTION IN THE OCTOBER 10th OCTOBER 10th MEETING, THE AUDIENCE APPLAUDED.

THE MONOLITH IS STILL IN THE WORKS, BUT STREET AND HAMILTON SAY THEY ARE CONSIDERING PUBLIC FEEDBACK MADE LATE IN THE PROCESS.

>> I KNOW IT WAS CERTAINLY OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC A COUPLE TIMES, BEFORE WE REACHED THIS FINAL RELEASE THAT CAME OUT IN SEPTEMBER.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T FIND IT OR MAYBE MISSED THAT AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT.

>> SOMETIMES YOU GET A PROCESS OF INPUT, WHETHER IT'S ON A PARK OR IT'S ON A GATEWAY OR IT'S ON A PLAN, AND WE GET A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT, AND THEN PEOPLE MAY LOOK AT IT LATER AND SAY, HEY, I DIDN'T GET TO WEIGH IN ON, THAT AND I WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT.

SOMETIMES IT'S TOO LATE AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT AND GOVERNMENT TRIES TO ACCOMMODATE THAT AS BEST WE CAN.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ETHAN SANDWEISS.

>>> WE'RE NOW JOINED BY ETHAN SANDWEISS JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THAT MONOLITH, THIS WAS ONLY A SMALL PART OF THAT WHOLE PROJECT.

>> IT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT THE ORIGINAL PROJECT WAS GOING TO BE, BUT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE THIS PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, ARLINGTON PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER STATE ROAD 45 AND IN-DOT ENDED UP NIXING THAT.

THE ENTIRE PROJECT IS OVER $1 MILLION, $134,000 ARE GOING TO THE ARCHITECTURE FIRM THAT DESIGNED THE MONOLITH.

$400,000 ARE GOING TO THE FIRM THAT ARE BUILDING THE MONOLITH AND THEN ANOTHER $575,000 ARE GOING TO THE INSTALLATION PEOPLE, THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN BLOOMINGTON.

>> SO NOW THEY'RE SAYING IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HAPPENING UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW ADMINISTRATION.

>> YEAH.

I SPOKE WITH KERRY THOMPSON ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING, ACTUALLY, AND KERRY THOMPSON SAID SHE'S GLAD THE MAYOR HIT PAUSE ON THIS PROJECT FOR NOW AND SHE WANTS TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE EARLIER DESIGNS THAT WERE PROPOSED BY THE ARCHITECTURE FIRM AS A JUMPING OFF POINT FOR THIS PROJECT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

WE ARE JOINED NOW BY CALI LICHTER FOR THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

HI, CALI.

>> HI, JOE.

BIOPHARMA SOLUTIONS WHICH WAS SOLD IN MAY BY BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED WILL BE RENAMED CIMTRA BIOPHARMACY.

IT EMPLOYED BY 700 PEOPLE.

IT WILL CONCENTRATE ON COMMUNITY-BASED GROWTH CREATING LOCAL JOB STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THEY WILL -- OPPORTUNITIES.

THEY WILL IMPROVE INJECTABLE MEDICINE PRODUCTION.

THE BLOOMINGTON FACILITY HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR 27 YEARS.

>>> TEMPERATURES ACROSS STATE APPROACHED 80 DEGREES THIS WEEK.

IT'S PART OF A TROUBLING TREND OF WARM WEATHER DURING COLDER MONTHS.

THIS SEPTEMBER WAS THE HOTTEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD, WITH OCTOBER FOLLOWING IN ITS FOOTSTEPS.

>> IF YOU AND YOUR LISTENERS ARE NOTICING THAT THE -- YOU KNOW, THE TEMPERATURES SEEM A LITTLE WARM THAN NORMAL, IT'S NOT YOUR IMAGINATION.

2023 IS ON TRACK TO BE THE HOTTEST YEAR IN RECENT HISTORY.

>> NOVAK ATTRIBUTES THIS DUE TO FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS.

SHE SAYS THE EFFECTS HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED ALANINEIO.

>>> THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION APPROVED A $353,000 DEMOLITION CONTRACT LAST WEEK WITH RETICENT.

IT'S THE SAME COMPANY THAT DEMOLISHED THE OLD HOSPITAL.

NINE BUILDINGS AND ONE OF TWO LISTED AS ALTERNATE OPTIONS WILL BE DEMOLISHED, THE FORMER BLOOMINGTON CONVALESCENCE CENTER AND A HOME ON FIRST STREET.

>>> MONROE COUNTY HAS A NEW WEB PAGE FOR LOCAL GEOGRAPHIC DATA CALLED THE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM.

IT CENTRALIZES DIFFERENT TYPES OF DATA ON MONROE COUNTY, THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION ON THE 2024 SOLAR ECLIPSE PATH, LOCAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES, RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OL' 2020 CENSUS BLOCKS AND DEMOGRAPHICS.

>> THESE INCLUDE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC FACING APPLICATIONS, AS WELL AS SOME KIND OF DATA ANALYSIS TOOLS THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO BE KIND OF -- HAVE SOME WIDE-SPREAD INTEREST FOR RESIDENTS OF MONROE COUNTY AND ELSEWHERE.

>> THE COUNTY ALSO GATHERS LAND RECORD DATA INCLUDING PROPERTY OWNERS AND SALES INFORMATION.

>>> INDIANA U.S.

SENATOR MIKE BRAUN INTRODUCED A BILL TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SIZE OF INDIANA'S ONLY WILDERNESS AREA, ALONG WITH THE LAND AROUND IT A NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.

NATIONAL RECREATION AREAS ARE LANDS NEAR LARGE RESERVOIRS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO FISHING, SWIMMING, AND BOATING.

>> ALL TOGETHER THE PROPOSED NATIONAL RECREATION AREA WOULD SPAN ABOUT 57,000 ACRES AROUND CHARLES C.D.

WILDERNESS SOUTH OF BLOOMINGTON.

THE FACT THAT SO MANY LANDOWNERS LEASE THEIR LAND FOR HUNTING IN THE STATE SHOWS THAT THERE'S MORE NEED FOLLOW OUTDOOR RECREATION.

>> MANY OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I GOT TO KNOW, WEIGHED IN HOW THEY WISH THERE WAS MORE LAND AVAILABLE FOR PURE RECREATION.

>> THE NATIONAL RECREATION WOULD PROTECT THE WATER QUALITY IN LAKE MONROE WHICH SERVES AS DRINKING WATER FOR 128,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN INDIANA.

BECAUSE IT'S OWNED BY THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST, NO NEW LAND WOULD NEED TO BE ACQUIRED.

BRAUN IS RUNNING FOR INDIANA GOVERNOR IN THE 2024 ELECTION.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>> INDIANA SECRETARY OF STATE, DIEGO MORALES HAS LAUNCHED A TEXT HOTLINE.

TO USE THE NEW TOOL, HOOSIERS TEXT IN TO 45995, THEY WILL THEN RECEIVE A LINK THAT TAKES THEM TO A WEBSITE WHERE THEY CAN REQUEST INFORMATION, ASK A QUESTION, REPORT A PROBLEM OR FILE A COMPLAINT.

MORALES' OFFICE SAYS ELECTION STAFF WILL THEN FOLLOW UP WITH PEOPLE DIRECTLY.

>>> REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE BRAD CHAMBERS WANTS TO CREATE MEASURES TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE.

>> ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES THAT PARENTS HAVE IN TODAY'S, YOU KNOW, TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO JUST MAKE A PRIORITY.

>> HIS PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE STRICTER AGE VERIFICATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, GAMING PLATFORMS AND ADULT SITES.

IT WOULD LIMIT DATA COLLECTION OF USERS UNDER AGE 18 AND IT WOULD REQUIRE EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND THE DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT, JOE, SIMILAR EFFORTS IN OTHER STATES HAVE MET LEGAL HURDLES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELECTION DAY COMING UP.

>> YEAH.

VERY, VERY SOON.

>> THANKS CALI.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," A NONPROFIT IN VINCENNES IS HOPING TO TURN THE RUN DOWN KNOX COUNTY POOR ASYLUM INTO AN END-OF-LIFE CARE CENTER.

>>> AND WE CHECK IN WITH THE BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL NORTH BAND WHICH IS COMPETING FOR A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEKEND.

>> THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

A GROUP IN VINCENNES HOPES TO SAVE AN ENDANGERED POOR HOUSE AND TRANSFORM IT INTO A HOSPICE.

BUT ETHAN AND WEISS SANDWEISS REPORTS THAT DECAY AND FINANCIAL SHORTFALLS COULD MEAN THE CLOCK IS RUNNING OUT.

>> STANDING ALONE IN A FIELD IN KNOX COUNTY AN ABANDONED 19th CENTURY ASYLUM IS NOT FIRST PLACE YOU WOULD THINK TO SEND AN AILING RELATIVE BUT COUNTY FARM HOSPICE HOUSE INCORPORATED HOPES YOU WILL.

>> I THOUGHT WHAT A GREAT IDEA IF WE COULD TAKE THE OLD POOR FARM THAT USED TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, FOR INDIGENT PEOPLE AND REPURPOSE IT INTO SOMETHING AGAIN THAT IS GOING TO BE USED BY THE COMMUNITY.

>> HE GREW UP IN VINCENNES IN THE SHADOW OF THE KNOX COUNTY POOR ASYLUM.

HE REMEMBERS NEIGHBORS VISITING RELATIVES IN THE ASYLUM, WHICH CLOSED ITS DOORS IN 1974.

>> EVERY SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH, THEY WOULD COME OUT HERE AND THEY WOULD HAVE A MEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

SO, YEAH, THERE'S -- THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD STORIES THAT COME OUT OF THIS FACILITY.

>> NOW HIS NONPROFIT OWNS THIS SITE.

BARMIS AND HIS WIFE HOPE TO TRANSFORM THIS INTO AN END-OF-LIFE CARE CENTER.

>> MY WIFE IS A NURSE, AND WHEN SHE WAS WORKING HOSPICE, SHE NOTICED THERE WAS A VOID IN THE HOSPICE CARE.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

>> HE SAYS HE'S DRIVEN PAST THE ASYLUM ALMOST EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 2020 THAT HE SAW IT UP CLOSE.

THAT'S WHEN HE DECIDED IT NEEDED SAVING.

>> THIS IS A POOR FARM.

WHY WOULD YOU -- WHY WOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT DETAIL?

BUT THEY DID.

YOU KNOW?

THATAND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE BUILDING SPECIAL TO ME.

THEY TOOK THE TIME TO GIVE BUILDING DETAIL.

>> BETWEEN 1831 AND 1860 STATE LAW REQUIRED EVERY COUNTY TO BUILD A POOR ASYLUM.

47 REMAIN STANDING.

FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AND CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL HISTORY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADDED THE KNOX COUNTY ASYLUM TO THE NATIONAL REGISTERNATIONALREGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 2018.

>> YOU HAD BLIND AND LAME AND INSANE AND FEEBLE MINDED AND JUST UNEMPLOYED FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, A BROKEN ARM OR WHATEVER.

AND HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THOSE?

>> KNOX COUNTY BUILT THIS FACILITY IN 1882, ON THE SITE OF THE PREVIOUS ASYLUM.

>> ONE OF THE INMATES THERE SET FIRE TO IT, AND BURNED IT DOWN, MR. SMITH WAS HIS NAME.

AND, OF COURSE, THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HIM BECAUSE HE WAS CRAZY.

AND SO -- SO THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO BUILD A NEW MORE IMPROVED POOR HOUSE.

>> KNOX COUNTY HIRED EVANSVILLE ARE AKILL TECTSVILLE ARCHITECT JOSEPH K. FRICK.

>> HE CAME UP WITH THE POPULAR STYLE OF THE DAY, WHAT IS CALLED THE ITALIAN 8 STYLE THAT HAS THE ARCHED WINDOWS, THE HOODS ABOVE THE WINDOWS, AND IT HAS PROJECTING ROOF AND THEN THERE'S BRACKETS AND UNDERNEATH THE EAVES.

>> THEY ARE TAKEN WITH THE ASYLUMS BEAUTY, BUT THE HISTORY WAS NOT ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL.

>> I GUESS FOR LACK OF BETTER TERMS WOULD YOU CALL IT THE RUBBER ROOM?

AGAIN, JUST SOMETIMES THIS IS CALLED THE ASYLUM, THE INSANE ASYLUM, BECAUSE OF INSANE PEOPLE, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.

>> NOBODY REALLY WANTED TO STAY IN THE POOR HOUSE, IF POSSIBLE.

IT WAS ALWAYS CONSIDERED TO BE NOT THE PLACE TO GO, AND THEY WOULD EVEN OFFER TO MOVE ELSEWHERE IF THEY WOULD BE GIVEN THE MONEY TO MOVE AWAY FROM THIS, JUST TO GET AWAY FROM IT.

BUT SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHOICE.

>> FOR TWO YEARS, INDIANA LANDMARKS HAS LISTED LISTED THE ASYLUM AS ONE OF THE TEN MOST ENDANGERED PIECES.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ROOF THREATENED WHAT VERY MAINS BUT BARMIS SAYS IT CAN BE SAVED.

HE ESTIMATES IT WOULD TAKE $3 MILLION TO DO SO.

>> IT WILL TAKE THE COMMUNITY'S HELP AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN RALLY THE COMMUNITY'S HELP TO -- TO DO THIS, BECAUSE IT WOULD -- IT WOULD BREAK MY HEART TO SEE THIS BUILDING IN A PILE OF RUBBLE.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ETHAN SANDWEISS.

>>> THE BLOOMINGTON NORTH COUGAR BAND QUALIFIED THIS YEAR FOR THE STATE'S MARCHING BAND FINAL SATURDAY AT LUCAS OIL STADIUM.

KATIE SPACK MET UP WITH THE BAND AT ONE OF ITS FINAL REHEARSALS.

>> ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY EVENINGS, YOU MAY HEAR THE SHOUT OF TRUMPETS.

♪ OR THE CLICK OF A METRONOME.

♪ COMING FROM THE BLOOMINGTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD.

THE COUGAR BAND HAS BEEN PRACTICING ITS SHOW, LITTLE RED AND THE BIG BAD SINCE MID-JULY.

THIS YEAR, THE COUGARS SECURED A SPOT AT FINALS WITH THEIR HIGHEST SCORE EVER, THE 84-MEMBER ENSEMBLE IS SUPER EXCITED TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE OF THOUSANDS.

>> THEY READ THE TOP TEN FINALIST BANDS IN PERFORMANCE ORDER.

SO YOU KNOW RIGHT AWAY IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE TOP TEN FINALISTS OUT OF THE 20 BANDS THAT PLAYED LAST SATURDAY.

>> THE BAN HAS BAND HAS SPENT MORE THAN 200 HOURS AND COMMITTING EACH NOTE TO MEMORY.

ON TOP OF THAT, THEY DO A DOZEN PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING FOOTBALL HALFTIME HALFTIME SHOWS, PARADES AND COMMUNITY CONCERTS.

>> IN GENERAL, IT'S A REALLY, REALLY HARD SHOW, BUT I THINK WE ARE DOING EXCEPTIONAL THIS YEAR.

>> IT FEATURES A MIX OF CLASSICAL EXCERPTS FROM BEETHOVEN AND JAZZ STANDARDS FROM JUKE DUKE ELLINGTON.

>> THIS MEANS MORE TO HIM THAN COMPETING.

>> GOING TO THESE COMPETITIONS, I GET TO SEE MY FRIENDS FROM EITHER SCHOOL.

IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE, BUT WE DO IT FOR THE GOOD FUN TO PERFORM AND HAVE FUN WITH OUR FRIENDS.

♪ >> IT CREATES A REALLY GREAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY, LEARNING HOW TO WORK TOGETHER, BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO SOMEBODY OTHER THAN YOURSELF.

♪ >> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M KATIE SPACK.

>> THIS YEAR MARKS THE 50th 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDIANA MARCHING COMPETITION.

>>> THE TEAM ON THE OTHER SIDELINE IS NOT THE ONLY OPPONENT INDIANA HAS BEEN BATTLING, THREE STRAIGHT LOSSES HAVE TESTED THE MORALE OF THE HOOSIERS, HEADING SATURDAY'S GAME AT NUMBER 10 PENN STATE.

INDIANA HEAD COACH TOM ALLEN SAYS HE CHALLENGED HIS TEAM'S LEADERS TO RISE UP.

>> JUST TALK TO THEM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LIFE AND HOW YOU BATTLE THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES AND BEING ABLE TO STAY THE COURSE AND STAY TOGETHER AND WHAT THAT MEANS, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND I LIKE THE WAY THEY RESPONDED.

WE'VE GOT TO PROVE IT ON GAME DAY.

>> SATURDAY'S GAME KICKS OFF AT NOON ON CBS.

THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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