GAVEL GAMUT

By Jim Redwine

www.jamesmredwine.com

(Week of 20 October 2025)

LESSONS LEARNED

Peg and I used to live on 12 acres just outside of New Harmony, Indiana. We enjoyed taking care of it ourselves. We now live just outside Barnsdall, Oklahoma on a small acreage we do enjoy but find its care occasionally more of a challenge. Such was our recent experience. In fact, we almost got nostalgic for town living when we decided to attack the repair of our mower. It all seemed so simple, in theory.

I had just finished mowing the high hill we call “Mogul Margaret’s Mountain” and was going back down the trail along the side of the mountain when the zero-turn mower controls quit controlling. I was headed into a ravine. I pushed the brake and stopped the mower just before taking the plunge. Since I had left my cell phone in the Cabin, I could not call for Peg to jump in the 4-wheel drive dune buggy and bring me a towing chain. So, I walked down the half-mile trail and found Peg working in the vegetable garden. We devised what appeared to us to be an easy solution to a rather mundane maintenance situation. We jumped in the dune buggy after throwing a chain in the bed and headed back up the mountain.

When we got to the disabled mower, I surveyed the damage and drew upon my vast knowledge of mechanics. I related the complexity of our modern mower to the walk-behind push mowers my brother, Phil, and I used to use to mow yards a mere seventy years ago. I remembered how we would sharpen the blades with a file, change the oil in ten minutes and repair the engine with a screw driver. Well, Gentle Reader, due to the great improvements in technology, our zero-turn mower now resembles a simulation of a spaceship. D.I.Y. has been usurped by, “What’s that and where does it go?”

Anyway, my first idea was to get the mower down to the line shed (the barn) so I could stare at it in puzzlement indoors and out of the heat. Here’s what I did. Oh, by the way, Peg has disavowed all responsibility for my approach. First objective, get the mower away from the ravine and the other side of the mountain, which is an even bigger drop-off. I had to ease the dune buggy past the mower so I could get it turned around. This required that Peg, staying far away, edged along the trail so she could guide me. She did and I managed to not slip off the side into oblivion.

Then I attached the chain to the mower and dune buggy. I asked Peg to slowly ease the dune buggy down the trail as I guided the mower with just the brake. Of course, the main problem was the tires could not be turned, so only the brake stood between me and an Olympic ride down the ridge. Fortunately, Peg did not see me, as yet, as dispensable so she skillfully eased me between the ravine and the hillside as I rode the mower like a mechanical bull.

When we got the mower to the line shed, I did rely upon my years of book-learning and referred to the repair manual. What my expert analysis was? I had no idea how to fix the problem, whatever the problem was. However, I did remember an important lesson from my past mistakes and decided to call the service department of the Scag dealer. They will be out tomorrow.

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Thanksgiving Distribution

Evansville, IN – [October 17] – The Evansville Rescue Mission (ERM) is excited to announce that sign-ups for this year’s Gobbler Gathering will take place Monday through

Thursday(Oct. 20 – Oct. 23), from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Washington Square Mall, located at 1107 Washington Square, Evansville, IN — in the hallway outside The Thrift Store by

Evansville Rescue Mission.

The Gobbler Gathering is one of the Tri-State’s longest-running Thanksgiving traditions—providing thousands of families each year with everything needed to prepare and

enjoy a full holiday meal. Each registered household receives a Thanksgiving food box filled with items like a turkey, stuffing, canned vegetables, and other holiday favorites.

“Each year, the Gobbler Gathering is a powerful reminder of what can happen when our community comes together,” said Tracy Gorman, President/CEO of the Evansville Rescue

Mission.

“We’re honored to continue this century-old tradition of providing not just food, but hope, to families across our region.

To register, individuals must bring a photo ID and proof of address. Only one registration is allowed per household.

This year’s Gobbler Gathering distribution will take place in November, continuing ERM’s mission to provide support and compassion to families in need during the holiday season.

The City of Evansville this week fully reopened the Walnut Street corridor, a showcase project designed as a “Complete Street” with new pavement, sidewalks, and a dedicated bike path.

The project reflects a modern approach to safer, more accessible streets, making Walnut Street an ideal example of what the city hopes to replicate through its adoption of the Vision Zero initiative.

“Walnut Street shows us what the future of Evansville’s streets can look like,” said Mayor Stephanie Terry. “It’s safer. It’s accessible. It’s built for everyone, no matter how they get around. This project is a perfect example of the kind of long-term change we want to see citywide through Vision Zero.”

Vision Zero is a global movement to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries through smarter roadway design, data-driven enforcement, and community-centered planning. In July, the Evansville City Council advanced the city’s adoption of the initiative by passing a resolution declaring its support.

The local effort to bring Vision Zero to Evansville began with a personal request from Dr. Ahmed Khan, whose son, Muhammad, was tragically killed in a traffic accident in 2024. Dr. Khan approached city officials with a proposal: help him honor his son’s memory by committing to a safer future for all Evansville residents.

In response, the Office of Mayor Stephanie Terry convened a Vision Zero task force, led by Deputy Mayor Lindsay Snyder and with representatives from the City Engineer’s Office, Evansville Police Department, Evansville Fire Department, and other city officials; alongside key community organizations such as the Welborn Baptist Foundation and SWIRCA. Together, the group has begun developing a roadmap to embed Vision Zero principles into Evansville’s infrastructure and policies.

“Too many families in Evansville have been impacted by traffic crashes,” Mayor Terry said. “Vision Zero is about changing that. Every resident deserves to move around our city safely, whether they’re driving, walking, biking, or taking the bus.”

Vision Zero originated in Sweden in 1997 and has since spread to cities across the United States and the world. Its core philosophy is simple: no loss of life on our streets is acceptable. Unlike traditional approaches that place responsibility solely on individual road users, Vision Zero emphasizes systemic changes—such as safer street design, improved signage, speed management, and robust data analysis—to create a safer transportation network for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.

Evansville’s City Council resolution marked the second of three required steps to become an official Vision Zero city. First, municipalities must adopt a formal resolution; second, they must form a leadership committee; and finally, they must submit a Vision Zero application outlining safety goals, strategies, and implementation plans.

Evansville has submitted that application, and is awaiting a final response.

Meanwhile, Dr. Khan and a community partner have established a nonprofit organization to help raise funds that will support Evansville’s Vision Zero goals, from education campaigns to infrastructure improvements.

The Walnut Street corridor now stands as the first visible example of that commitment. As Evansville moves forward with Vision Zero, residents can expect more investments in safe, multimodal transportation options designed to make every trip – to work, school, the store, or home – safer and more reliable.