County 47: Parke

As I travel around the state, I enjoy doing something I call “windshield research”. And as I traveled through Parke County I witnessed the abundance of state parks and lakes in addition to their covered bridges. Parke County offers a lot of tourist attractions with Turkey Run and Shades State Parks as well as Raccoon Lake. After talking to local leaders, I know they’re looking forward to the summer travel season and if this weather holds up they will hopefully see huge numbers.

After moving through the county I reached my destination: the town of Montezuma. A few years ago, local officials worked hard to win a very competitive $500,000 Community Focus Fund grant from our Office of Community and Rural Affairs to build a community center. To their credit, they raised $88,500 of their own money as well. 



Lt. Governor Skillman tours a Community Center in
Montezuma which received grant funding from her
 Office of Community and Rural Affairs



Cathy Morgan, the town clerk treasurer, offered to show me the product of our collaboration. The Community Center was fantastic. It had several large rooms for meeting space, a built in projector and screen, and a nice big kitchen. During my visit, I talked to a few of the members of the community who were eating their lunch before helping out with the local meals on wheels program. The Center hosts everything

from a family Christmas party, to graduation open houses, to town meetings, and community events. I can say the money has been put to good use.

Allen Cobb, the town council president, also came out to discuss several of their local projects with me. The town has also received a grant for a new fire truck and recently fixed up their town park. Needless to say this small community is doing big things. 

My fourth visit to Parke County as Lt. Governor was quite successful. I was extremely pleased with our state’s investment in the Montezuma Community Center and certainly enjoyed my “windshield research” of all the beautiful scenery in Parke County.