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Derby Dinner Playhouse announces
that longtime company member and Producing Artistic Director, Lee Buckholz,
will retire effective March 1, 2025, following an accomplished 35-year
career at the Playhouse. Veteran Derby Dinner actor and current Director of
Children’s Theatre and Audience Development, Tina Jo Wallace, will step into
the role of Derby Dinner’s new Producing Artistic Director upon his
departure.

Buckholz has been a fixture at Derby Dinner Playhouse since 1989, when he
began as an actor with the company, performing in dozens of productions. He
went on to become Resident Scenic Designer and Associate Producer, before
being chosen by Bekki Jo Schneider as her successor. Buckholz assumed the
role of Producing Artistic Director in 2018, following the passing of
Schneider.

During his tenure with the company, Buckholz directed 92 productions,
created countless scenic designs, and hired dozens of artists and
technicians. His many accomplishments include helping the company navigate
and persevere through COVID-19. The company now serves over 200,000 audience
members each season.

“Lee’s contributions to Derby have been immeasurable. His artistic vision
has inspired and delighted audience members across the country. He has been
a supportive partner throughout the many years that we have worked together.
He has continued to bring exciting and challenging productions to our
audiences and our production staff, and we have all grown with his
leadership. I am thankful to have worked alongside him, and wish him a
wonderful well-earned retirement,” said Cindy Knopp, General Manager and
co-owner of Derby Dinner Playhouse.

Buckholz shared, “Through the years, it has truly been a pleasure and a
privilege to work alongside so many talented actors, musicians,
choreographers and designers. From concept to curtain, we’ve experienced
great success and sometimes difficult challenge, but have consistently
created magic and memories for audiences of all ages. A product that I will
always be proud of. A foundation for continued success. I’m especially
grateful for guidance from my mentor, Kathy Mulay and unconditional support
from my partner, Michael Tierney, and am looking forward to a new chapter,
walking along the shoreline of Lake Michigan.”

Buckholz’s final production will be the musical URINETOWN, beginning
performances on the Playhouse stage February 19, 2025.

Knopp has selected Tina Jo Wallace as the fourth Producing Artistic
Director in Derby Dinner Playhouse’s 50-year history. Wallace has been a
company member for 22 years, performing in numerous productions on the main
stage, children’s theatre, and as a Footnote. Since 2013, she has also
served as Director of Children’s Theatre and Audience Development. In this
capacity, she has directed and created musicals, created and managed
education programs for thousands of students, and expanded the theatre’s
social media presence.

Wallace’s former position will be restructured and expanded, welcoming
staff members Sally Scott as Director of Children’s Theatre, Christina
Booker as Musical Director of the Children’s Theatre, and Tonilyn Hussey as
Director of Education. Long-time Company Manager and Director of Marketing,
Annie Myers, will assume the title of Associate Producer.

“I’m deeply honored by this privilege of serving as Derby Dinner
Playhouse’s next Producing Artistic Director,” said Wallace. “I’m beyond
grateful to the staff, board, creative team, and all those who’ve come
before, building this incredible organization. Derby Dinner has been my
artistic home for the past two decades, and I couldn’t be more excited for
the opportunity to lead us into this next chapter.”

ABOUT DERBY DINNER PLAYHOUSE

Derby Dinner Playhouse is a theatrical entertainment leader in both Indiana
and neighboring state Kentucky, noted for their professional productions of
Broadway musicals and lighthearted comedies. Each dinner theatre production
comes alive with the magic of lights, costumes, a live orchestra, and a
stage full of professional performers. Derby Dinner operates with over 100
employees, working in the restaurant and theatre portions of the business.

The Our Southern Indiana Regional Development Authority meeting scheduled for January 10^th had been cancelled.

The next public meeting is scheduled for February 7^th at Ivy Tech - Sellersburg. Public Notices will be sent out prior to the meeting.

The RDA will process financial claims as scheduled and ratify those at the February meeting to ensure disbursements are completed as soon as possible.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), in collaboration with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), announced today they are hosting an Indiana Pavilion at the 2025 Sweets and Snacks Expo in Indianapolis. Snack and confectionery companies are invited to exhibit in this pavilion alongside fellow Indiana companies from May 13 – 15, 2025, at the Indiana Convention Center.

The Indiana Pavilion is a 2,400-square foot space on the Sweets and Snacks Expo trade show floor designated for Indiana exhibitors. The goal is to promote Indiana companies and provide a competitive advantage by offering enhanced amenities. ISDA hosted the first Indiana Pavilion in 2024 and through an MOU with IEDC is expanding in 2025.

The 2025 Indiana Pavilion includes the following:

25% discount on booth space rental cost
Targeted business-to-business connections through a networking reception hosted by ISDA and IEDC
Indiana branding and signage throughout the pavilion
Enhanced booth space package
Optional shelf in the Featured Product Showcase
Inclusion in the Indiana Pavilion advertisement in the Show Daily Magazine
Exhibitor education series for trade show preparation
Connections with state legislators, ISDA and IEDC staff

“This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our Indiana agribusinesses on a national and global scale,” said Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture director. “The Sweets and Snacks Expo is renowned for innovative businesses, new ideas and connections to new opportunities. This is sure to be an exciting time for our Hoosier snack and candy businesses!”

The Sweets and Snacks Expo is hosted by the National Confectioners Association to promote confectionery and snack manufacturers. With over 950 exhibitors and 16,000 attendees, it is the largest U.S. trade show devoted to candy and snacks. Visit the exhibitor prospectus to learn more about the benefits of exhibiting.

Suppliers to confectionery and snack manufacturers for products such as ingredients, flavors, packaging, machinery, business services, etc. are encouraged to register for the Supplier Showcase on May 12 – 13, 2025, rather than the Indiana Pavilion.

“The IEDC is excited to continue and expand our partnership with ISDA to support Indiana's small businesses at the 2025 Sweets & Snacks expo,” said David Watkins, Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. “The Indiana Pavilion will highlight the amazing work Hoosier entrepreneurs are doing in the industry and showcase Indiana as a leader in agricultural innovation.”

Snack and confectionery companies interested in exhibiting in the Indiana Pavilion at the 2025 Sweets and Snacks Expo should contact ISDA International Trade Director, Drew Sherman (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Pictured above is the 2024 Sweets and Snacks Expo Indiana Pavilion.

Recently announced, JB's Barnyard and Risin' Creek Creamerywere awarded funding from the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) for value added facilities to their farms.

JB's Barnyard, located near Evansville, was awarded $100,000 for ice cream machinery. JB's Barnyard produces 16% butterfat ice cream that is available for purchase from its mobile ice cream trucks, at a private event booking or at various wholesale locations. JB's Barnyard will use the funding to further develop its wholesale ice cream business by expanding its delivery capabilities. This project aims to increase production and sales, creating new jobs and expanding market reach.

"JB’s Barnyard is a dream of ours, and by receiving this funding from the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance we will be able to further expand our offerings to wholesale locations beyond our local region,” said Briley Simpkins of JB’s Barnyard. “We are excited to continue growing our business while providing our community with high quality, delicious ice cream.”

Risin' Creek Creamery, located in Martinsville, was awarded $49,206 for a fluid milk bottle filler to grow its goat milk processing and expand into drinkable yogurts. Risin’ Creek Creamery currently produces award-winning fresh Chèvre, a smooth classic spreadable goat cheese, goat milk feta, a goat milk caramel sauce and several hard cheeses. All of Risin' Creek Creamery's products are made from milk that is produced by its herd of Nubian goats.

“We are so honored to be the recipient of this very sought-after grant from DBIA,” said Tim Vanzant of Risin' Creek Creamery. “Our goat business started as a 4H project in 1984, but now has grown to encompass three generations of our family! We produce award-winning fresh goat cheeses, and we are excited to embark on a fluid goat milk and yogurt journey thanks to this grant funding.”

The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance, a partnership between the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR), awarded 39 grants totaling more than $3.3 million to farmstead operations and dairy processing businesses across the Midwest. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture serves as the Indiana state collaborator. Since 2022, ten Indiana dairy businesses have been awarded more than $833,000 from DBIA to grow their operations.

The grants will be awarded through the DBIA’s Dairy Business Builder and Dairy Industry Impact grant programs. The Dairy Business Builder grant program is targeted at small-to-medium size farmers or processors. DBIA’s grant programs advance the organization’s mission to support small and mid-size dairy processors across its 11-state service area of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

“We are delighted to be able to assist the growth of our regional cheese plants and small dairy businesses; once again farmsteads were an important focus. We are also happy to help companies with their exports and sustainability challenges,“ said John Lucey, CDR Director.

The DBIA is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was created in the 2018 federal Farm Bill. Since then, the DBIA has awarded over $20 million across more than 250 grants to Midwestern dairy farms and businesses. The program also offers technical assistance to dairy farmers and processors in participating states.

Effective July 1, 2024, Indiana law requires retailers and craft manufacturers (small brewers, farm wineries, and artisan distillers) located in Indiana with an active alcohol permit for on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages to hold liquor liability (i.e., “dram shop”) insurance with a total minimum coverage of at least $500,000. The purpose of this notice is to remind applicants and permit holders of the deadlines to submit proof of liquor liability insurance as required by IC 7.1-3-1-6.4. Please review the information below to determine if and/or when you are required to submit proof of insurance if you haven't already done so.

Active Permits:

Proof of liability insurance must be submitted on or before December 31, 2024.
On or after January 1, 2025, permits for which proof of liability insurance has not been provided to the ATC will not be issued or renewed.
On or after January 1, 2025, permit applications submitted must contain proof of liquor liability insurance. Permit applications submitted without proof of insurance will be considered incomplete and may be rejected or returned at the ATC’s discretion.

Inactive/Escrow Permits:

Proof of liquor liability insurance must be provided to the ATC prior to the permit being made active.
On or after January 1, 2025, permits for which proof of liquor liability insurance has not been provided to the ATC will not be activated or removed from escrow.

Proof of insurance must be submitted in the form of a certificate of insurance or policy declaration from the insurance carrier or insurance provider which includes the following information:

The address(es) of the insured location(s) to which the coverage applies*
A specific line or note indicating the policy includes liquor liability coverage, as well as the amount of the insurance coverage
The name of the permit holder (as it appears on permit issued by the ATC) listed as an insured party
The effective date and expiration date of the policy coverage

(*NOTE: More than one permit premises may be listed on a single policy document, but each permit address must be listed separately.)Failure to comply with the liquor liability insurance requirement may result in the suspension or revocation of your permit. For more information regarding the new liquor liability insurance requirements, please click here. For more information on how to submit your proof of insurance, please click here .