Wanda English Burnett, Editor

“The governor might be staying overnight at our house,” a simple statement made from a husband to a wife in southeastern Indiana, could be taken as a joke. That’s exactly what Karen Black of Osgood thought when husband Mike made the statement. “I said, ‘yeah, right’”, she told the Osgood Journal. “He’s always joking with me.”

It was no joke. Mike, who is a detective with the Indiana State Police, Versailles Post, had been asked to host Governor Mitch Daniels for a night as he made stops in several neighboring counties.
“We knew about a week in advance that he could be coming, but weren’t given the exact date until the day before,” noted Karen. “Then I got in high gear,” she laughed.

From their beautifully decorated spacious home on US 421 in Osgood, the Blacks talked about their “once-in-a-lifetime” experience and said they were honored to host the governor. “We just wanted him relax,” Karen noted, saying the conversation didn’t have a political flavor, but more casual.
Governor Daniels arrived at the Black home a little after 9:00 p.m. Wednesday night, January 23 and visited with the family. The Blacks have a daughter still at home, Jenna, who attends Ivy Tech. Their other children, Jared, is a state trooper at the Seymour Post, and daughter Stephanie is employed with Riley Hospital, Indianapolis. They came home at the request of their parents, for the occasion. The Blacks enjoyed having their family all together, and Mike said he was pleased with the dialogue between the younger generation and the governor.

The governor explained to the Blacks that he started staying in the homes of Hoosiers as he criss-crossed the state as a cost saving measure. Now, he says he likes it so much it’s more than saving money. He told Karen they were about the 90th home he’s visited since taking office nearly four years ago.

What sort of things do you discuss with the governor if you’re not talking politics? Well, the Blacks learned that the governor enjoys a good game of golf and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He was interested in the town in which he was lodging for the evening. Economic development was discussed, along with the restoration of the Damm Theatre, which is always a point of interest. Matter of fact, the Blacks invited Steve Gloyd, board member of the Gilmore and Golda Reynolds Foundation, to their home, where they talked about the local economic development, and how the foundation has benefited the town.

Neighbor and relative of the family, Ann Black, was invited over to meet the governor. Mike said he wished he could have invited more people, and noted, “You do feel like you leave people out, but this needed to be low key.”

The governor only stayed the night, and right on schedule, the next day, he was picked up at 8:15 a.m. The security and staff entourage that travels with the governor also stayed in Osgood for the night, at the Victorian Garden Bed and Breakfast.

Saying he admires the governor for his willingness to make difficult decisions that aren’t always popular, Mike said he feels Daniels has a “genuine appreciation for public safety.” Of course he noted, that’s near and dear to him in his line of work.

Karen said the governor was an “easy” houseguest, even making his own bed!

Her initial concerns included one that most women would wonder, do I need to cook? The answer was no, but Karen said she was prepared to do so. As it was, the governor came late, left after just a piece of fruit and some juice, with the Blacks saying, “He made us comfortable.”

Mike noted that the arrangements were made through Detective Vance Patton, who is also employed through the Versailles Post for the Indiana State Police. Patton had been assigned to the governor’s security detail for about two and a half years. When the governor’s staff called Vance for a suggestion, he thought of the Blacks.

How many people can say the governor of their state has spent the night with them? Well, 89 others, according to Karen, who said she asked Daniels how often he has done this. But no one in Osgood has had the honor before.

Governor Mitch Daniels traveled from Osgood last Thursday morning to Versailles, where he made a stop at McDonalds to shake hands and answer a few questions with constituents. He was in between attending a Lincoln Day Dinner in Dearborn County and an appearance at Hanover.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT BOTTOM PHOTO/ABOVE PHOTO SUBMITTED ABOVE: Pictured at the home of Mike and Karen Black of Osgood are from left: Mike Black, Governor Mitch Daniels, Jared Black, Jenna Black, Karen Black and Stephanie Black. The governor stayed overnight last week with the Black family. BOTTOM: Pictured with Governor Mitch Daniels are employees of McDonald's in Versailles, Rita Sizemore, left and Vickie Clayton, right. The governor stopped in the Versailles eatery last week.