Plasse named Sheriff of the Year by training retreat youth ranch

Jan. 8—Vigo County's John Plasse has been named "Sheriff of the Year" by leaders of the Indiana Sheriffs' Youth Ranch, a training retreat in Brazil for future law enforcement officers, at-risk kids, young witnesses and victims of crime.

Plasse serves as the group's volunteer board president and heads ISYR's fundraising, construction and programming.

"It's an honor being named Sheriff of the Year by ISYR," Plasse said. "There are many people involved in making the ISYR the great youth ranch that it is, especially Executive Director Scott Minier. I accept this award on their behalf. ISYR has touched the lives of many youth and I am proud to be a part of it."

"Under Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse's leadership this past year, ISYR saw tremendous growth and student engagement," Minier said.

Minier said Plasse's first year as board president saw new facilities and new partnerships come to fruition:

—Construction of the United Auto Workers 933 Youth Cabin and the Dr. Everett Clark Youth Cabin. Each bunkhouse will accommodate 10 students and two adult chaperones during overnights, weekend retreats and weeklong leadership academies.

—Hosting Indiana's first-ever joint Sheriff & Police Cadet Academy for high school students wanting to pursue public safety careers in Clay, Parke, Putnam and Vigo counties.

—Hosting college students from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, DePauw, Eastern Illinois, Indiana, Indiana State and Vincennes universities to expand higher education partnerships. Dozens of ROTC cadets bivouacked at ISYR where they learned first aid, radio communications, land navigation and other leadership skills.