Images and story submitted by Rob Stone The Vance-Tousey House stands as one of Lawrenceburg's most important historic landmarks and a lasting reminder of the city's earliest days along the Ohio River. Built around 1818 by Samuel C. Vance, founder of Lawrenceburg, the elegant Federal-style mansion was constructed just sixteen years after the town itself was established. Vance was more than a successful businessman; he was instrumental in the creation and growth of Lawrenceburg, a city named in honor of his wife, Sarah Lawrence Vance. He was also a military associate and friend of William Henry Harrison, the future president. As the community grew into one of southeastern Indiana's most important river towns, the Vance family home reflected both the prosperity and the ambitions of the era. The house was built to be seen. Situated on high ground above the river during a time when riverboats served as the primary means of transportation and commerce, the home presented an impressive picture to travelers approaching by water. Its two-story main façade faces the river, designed to capture the views and to impress the river goers passing along the busy waterway below. Period accounts describe an avenue of cedar trees leading up to the mansion, with riverboats landing right on the grounds. For many years, it was said to be the finest residence on the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Louisville. When Vance built the home, it occupied a commanding position overlooking the Ohio. Today, that view is largely hidden by the flood control system and levee built to protect Lawrenceburg from high water. While the river can no longer be seen from the property as it once was, the home's location still hints at the prominence it enjoyed during the city's formative years. Architecturally, the house is a refined example of the Federal style. It is a two-story, five-bay brick and sandstone dwelling with a low hipped roof, its main block flanked by one-and-a-half-story wings. Fluted Doric columns flank the main entrance, crowned above by a Palladian window. Inside, the ceilings are high and the walls thick, and the home's most striking feature rises through the center of the house: a soaring circular staircase that reaches from the first floor all the way to the attic. Local stories add a touch of mystery, telling of a hidden compartment beneath the staircase where Vance reportedly stored his money and valuables. The design, craftsmanship, and scale remain impressive more than two centuries after construction. Over the years, the house passed through several owners and eventually became associated with the Tousey family, giving the property the name it carries today. The Tousey name is well known throughout the Ohio River Valley. In Boone County, Kentucky, the historic home in Burlington was built by Erastus Tousey in 1822, just a few years after the Lawrenceburg home was completed. The same pioneering family also lent its name to Touseytown, a small river settlement near present-day Petersburg, Kentucky. Founded by the Tousey brothers, who settled along the Ohio around 1803, the community operated a ferry directly across the river to Lawrenceburg. Though little remains of that settlement today, it once served as a river landing and shipping point. These connections offer a fascinating glimpse into how closely linked the communities along the river once were. Families, businesses, and commerce regularly crossed the Ohio, tying together places like Lawrenceburg, Burlington, and the now-forgotten settlement of Touseytown. Throughout its more than 200-year history, the Vance-Tousey House has served a variety of purposes, including, at one point, a college, while remaining one of the region's most recognizable historic properties. Today, it is home to the Dearborn County Historical Society, which continues to preserve the building and share the stories of the people who helped shape southeastern Indiana. The society offers genealogical research assistance, a restored log cabin, and a variety of programs and special events. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000, the Vance-Tousey House remains a tangible connection to Lawrenceburg's founding generation. More than two centuries after Samuel C. Vance built the mansion overlooking the Ohio River, it continues to stand as a symbol of the city's rich history and enduring legacy, linking the stories of Lawrenceburg, the Tousey family, and the communities that once thrived along the river that connected them all.

As told to the SEI Times by Matt Burkhardt, retired, Indiana State Police After 34 years with the Indiana State Police, retired trooper Matt Burkhardt looks back on his calling, a small-town beat, and a career he was proud to dedicate to his neighbors. Every issue, our Citizen Spotlight aims to turn the page over to the neighbors whose work too often goes unrecognized. The people who quietly hold our communities together. This month, we're proud to honor Matt Burkhardt of Lawrenceburg, who retired in January 2026 after 34 years with the Indiana State Police. For more than three decades, Matt served and protected the communities of Southeast Indiana, answering the kinds of calls most of us will never have to make and carrying the weight of a job he describes as both thankless and impossible to walk away from. A Lawrenceburg native, he policed the same Dearborn County community that raised him, standing watch over neighbors in their hardest moments, sometimes arresting people he'd grown up beside, and showing up, day after day, for a place he never left. His career took him from local back roads all the way to the sidelines of the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis. We asked Matt to share his story in his own words, and this is what he said… There have been a lot of "can you believe this happened" moments in my career. When you grow up in a small community and spend your life policing it, the distance between the people you protect and the people you arrest can get uncomfortably short. There were kids I went to school with who were arrested for murder. One man I graduated with tried to shoot one of my co-workers. I hadn't seen him in 25 years, but I recognized his voice before I ever saw his face. Not all of those connections were hard ones. Two of my high school buddies ended up serving alongside me on the State Police: Detective Sergeant Kip Main and Trooper Charlie Scarber, who now works for the federal government. Kip and I once spent a night locked inside a prison during a riot. That’s the kind of night you don't forget, and one you can only really share with someone who was standing right beside you. The job took me places I never expected, too. I worked the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis, and I crossed paths with more familiar faces than I can count at events throughout my career: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Toby Keith, Trisha Yearwood, the Doobie Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and even Barry Manilow, among many others. But the people I'll remember most aren't the famous ones. They're the men and women I worked beside every day. I can honestly say they were some of the most dedicated people I've ever known. They worked hard to serve and protect their communities, and they worked just as hard to make sure victims got justice. Being a cop is a thankless job. It's also one that, once it gets in your blood, is hard to quit. When you put on the badge, you become part of a group of people who put it on the line every single day. We run toward violence while others run away. That calling comes at a cost. One of the hardest things about the job is that you spend your days dealing with people who aren't making good decisions, in an environment that is relentlessly negative. If you're not careful, that negativity gets into you and wears you down, mentally and physically. They say the average person experiences about eight critical incidents in a lifetime. The average cop sees around 800 over a career. You have to fight to stay positive and to keep seeing the best in people. Negativity is a cancer, and it can ruin a cop's career. If you're considering a career in law enforcement, here's the advice I'd give you. Understand that most of your contact with the community will come through criminal investigations, civil disputes, traffic enforcement, and crash investigations. Understand that from the day you start, you are always on camera, so act accordingly and carry yourself professionally. You will go to court as a result of doing your job. You will make mistakes, and you will learn from them. After 34 years, I can say it plainly: I enjoyed being an Indiana State Police officer.

Photo courtesy of Dearborn County.org Stand anywhere in Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland, Ripley, or Franklin County and you are standing on a piece of ground with an identity crisis for the ages. There is a wedge of land here, bounded by the Ohio River, three state lines, and an old treaty boundary, that the history books nicknamed “The Gore.” “The Greenville Treaty of 1795 was signed with the Indians which included all land in the following area: land north of the Ohio River and west of the present Indiana-Ohio state line, and east of a line running north-northeast from the mouth of the Kentucky River (now the site of Carrollton, Kentucky) to Fort Recovery, Ohio. This area formed an elongated triangle which in sewing parlance is called a "gore." Thus, Dearborn County was within the area in the Greenville Treaty that was called the Gore.In the year 1800, the Indiana Territory was created. On March 7, 1803, William Henry Harrison proclaimed all land in the Gore to be called "Dearborn County." The name derived from Major General Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War under President Jefferson. Israel Ludlow began surveying from the first meridian line (Indiana-Ohio state line), and soon after William Ludlow and Benjamin Chambers were assisting in the surveys.” https://townofversailles.com/about-us/history And it has the strangest distinction in the state: an early settler here could have lived in the Northwest Territory, then in Ohio, then in the Indiana Territory, and finally in the State of Indiana — without ever once moving from his own front porch. The world rearranged itself around him while he stood still. Honestly, in 2026, that feels relatable. So in honor of the country’s 250th birthday, let us imagine an ordinary Tuesday on this land, then and now. Morning Then: You woke when the light did, because the light was the alarm clock and there was no second option. The fire had gone out overnight and someone had to coax it back before anyone ate. Breakfast was whatever the season and the larder allowed. The day’s work announced itself by simply existing: the animals were hungry, the garden watered, and the morning chores began. Now: You wake when a small rectangle vibrates on the nightstand, having already been awake in spirit since it buzzed at 2 a.m. with a notification from Facebook. The coffee is at your fingertips, with a simple press of a button. Breakfast is a frozen breakfast sandwich, quick pre-made oatmeal packets, or boxed cereal.. The day’s work announces itself in a glowing list of notifications, which are also, somehow, hungry for response. The commute Then: There wasn’t one. Work was where you stood. The longest journey most people made was to the county seat at Lawrenceburg — a genuine expedition, planned for days, undertaken on roads that were dirt, at best. Now: You can be in Cincinnati in under an hour, in three states before lunch, and on a video call with someone in another time zone before your coffee cools. The roads are paved. The expedition sometimes being from your bed to your desk, sometimes being an hour trip in traffic to Cincinnati to work. News and gossip Then: News traveled at the speed of a horse and the volume of a tavern. You learned what happened when someone who was there told someone who told you. By the time word of a faraway event reached the Gore, the event was old, digested, and probably improved in the retelling. Crucially, you knew the person doing the telling and how trustworthy they were. Now: News travels at the speed of light and the volume of a scream. You can learn about something on the other side of the planet before the people next to it do. And yet — and here is the part that ought to give us pause — many of us could not tell you what happened at last week’s council meeting one mile from our homes. We are drowning in news from everywhere and starving for news from here. Plus, it’s hard to know what’s trustworthy. You don’t know the character of faraway corporate office heads that are deciding what can be told as fact. Evening Then: When the sun went down, the day was genuinely over. There was firelight and there were the people in the room with you, and that was the entertainment, the company, and the closing ceremony of the day all at once. You talked. You went to bed early because there was nothing else to do and tomorrow started at dawn. Now: The sun goes down and our second day begins, lit blue, scrolled through alone-together on the same couch. We have conquered the darkness so thoroughly that we have nearly abolished the evening itself. So who had the better Tuesday? It would be easy, and dishonest, to say they did. Their Tuesday included diseases we have cured, labor we have mechanized, and a child-mortality rate that should make any honest romantic sit down quietly. Nobody should want to actually go back. The dishwasher is a miracle and the antibiotic is a bigger one. But notice what the settler on his unmoving porch had, that we have to work to recover. His attention was undivided because nothing was competing for it. His news was local because local was the only thing that could reach him. His evenings belonged to the people in the room. He knew, intimately, the few square miles he called home, while we can name a hundred faraway places and not the road behind our own house. Two hundred and fifty years moved the whole world around us while, in some ways, we have been standing on the same porch as that settler — watching the jurisdictions of our attention get redrawn by forces we did not vote for. The good news is the same as it was for him: the land is still here. The neighbors are still here. The council still meets a mile away. We can simply choose, any ordinary Tuesday, to look up and notice it.

The South Dearborn Community School Corporation wrapped up the 2025–26 school year with the community showing up to celebrate graduating students and retiring staff alike. In late May, the district congratulated 146 graduates, witnessed millions of dollars in scholarships, recognized its best educators, and said goodbye to a dozen longtime staff members retiring. A Class That Left Ready When the South Dearborn High School Class of 2026 crossed the stage on Friday, May 22nd, they brought more than diplomas with them. The 146 graduates collectively earned $2,935,232 in scholarships — including $67,120 in outside scholarships, $2,273,150 in college and university awards, and more than $100,000 through the local South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars program. The class also accumulated 3,572 dual credit hours, saving families an estimated $491,390 in Ivy Tech tuition. Forty-five graduates earned state and industry-recognized credentials through the Southeastern Career Center before ever leaving the building, and one senior was named a finalist for the Dearborn Community Foundation Scholarship. Whether headed to college or directly into a career, this class left South Dearborn prepared for their next chapter! Scholarships Across the Community The week's celebrations started the Sunday before graduation. On May 17th, 55 SDHS seniors and their families gathered for the annual South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars scholarship ceremony. South Dearborn alumnus J.J. Backman, owner of KFI Fireworks, added two full-ride scholarships on top of the $96,000 the program itself was prepared to award. "I was blessed to spend a few hours with 55 South Dearborn High School seniors and their families," said Superintendent Dr. Ron Ross. "We are so grateful for the generosity of our community and our partnership with South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars." The giving extended to the middle school as well. Eight SDMS eighth-graders were each awarded a $200 South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars Scholarship: Myah Bailey, Gabby Gonzalez, Trey Gump, Gabe Kassem, Brody Lagaly, Colton McBroom, Callan Rollins, and Harper Storey. Retirees and Award Winners Earlier that same graduation morning, faculty and staff gathered for an end-of-year breakfast to mark the close of the school year together. Twelve staff members were recognized for their years of service as they head into retirement: Shirley Berry, Dawn Bowers, Todd Bowers, Rod Bradley, Jim Hallgarth, Carl Lee, Michelle Mitchell, Terri Nicholson, Kim Piche, Bev Pyles, Dan Rogers, and Sallie Streitenberger. From there, the room turned its attention to the educators and staff who stood out this year. Each building recognized a Staff Member of the Year and a Teacher of the Year: Aurora Elementary School Staff Member of the Year: Julie Whitaker | Teacher of the Year: Dianna Petty Dillsboro Elementary School Staff Member of the Year: Gina Oles | Teacher of the Year: Nina Litchfield South Dearborn Middle School Staff Member of the Year: Britany Logan | Teacher of the Year: Sara Powell South Dearborn High School Staff Member of the Year: Deb Walston | Teacher of the Year: Sally Bender Southeastern Career Center Staff Member of the Year: Kara South "The energy in the room was electric," Dr. Ross said. "It was an amazing way to end the school year."

June marks another session of Leadership in Law, a program that has been operating for over 16 years under the direction of Judge McLaughlin. This year, 11 students from local high schools are participating in the initiative, which aims to give young people interested in legal careers direct exposure to how the criminal justice system actually works. Photo courtesy of Prosecutor Lynn Deddens. A Week Inside the Criminal Justice System For 11 high school students from local schools, this week has been far more than a classroom lesson. Through the Leadership in Law program, now in its 17th year under Judge McLaughlin's direction, these young people are getting an intimate look at how the criminal justice system actually operates. The week began with an immersive introduction to the courts themselves. Students observed initial hearings with judges McLaughlin and Cleary, then heard from a lineup of professionals explaining their roles. Prosecutor Deddens outlined how charges move through the system. State Representative Garrett Bascom discussed the legislative process that shapes the laws being enforced. Detectives Gena Allen and Derek Stevens shared what investigative work really involves, while Crime Scene Investigator Charlie Olsen explained forensic analysis. The day concluded with a K-9 demonstration that brought the reality of law enforcement home in a tangible way. As the week progressed, students gained exposure to corners of the criminal justice system most people never see. They toured the dispatch center with 911 Director Kris Heitmeyer, watching the complex coordination that happens when emergencies are called in. They heard from Coroner Cameron McCreary about his role in both routine and suspicious deaths. A roundtable with law enforcement officers from agencies ranging from the Indiana Gaming Commission to small-town police departments gave students candid conversations about what drew these professionals to their work and what their daily responsibilities look like. The education extended beyond the courthouse. A field trip to the Hamilton County Coroner and Crime Lab in Cincinnati gave students a behind-the-scenes look at autopsies and forensic analysis, demonstrating just how critical this work is to criminal investigations. Wednesday brought theory into practice. Students were divided into two groups and tasked with investigating a mock crime scene. Some worked as crime scene technicians, photographing evidence and dusting for fingerprints. Others played detectives, conducting witness interviews and gathering investigative information. The experience is laying groundwork for what comes Friday: a full mock trial where students will present opening arguments, examine witnesses, introduce evidence, and make closing arguments. Thursday brings another full day of preparation and instruction before the students finally get their chance to put it all together. For many, the week may spark a genuine interest in legal careers. For all of them, it's an opportunity to see that the system protecting their community runs on the dedication of real people doing serious work.