Volume 1, Issue 4, Paid Edition - March 20, 2026

Animal Shelter Reaches No-Kill Status

Noelle Maxwell

“Achieving that is amazing,” Greensburg Decatur County Animal Shelter director Brenda Emsweller said of the shelter attaining No Kill status with the Best Friends Animal Society March 12. Reaching this status came earlier than anticipated – GDCAS expected to attain it this summer – and gives the shelter greater access to grant and funding opportunities.

With “the heat turned up on actual fundraising,” as Emsweller described, the shelter is collaborating with Decatur County commissioners and the Friends of the Greensburg Decatur County Animal Shelter group to plan. Their primary goal is constructing a new facility because the current facility, completed in 2005, no longer meets the shelter’s needs.

When the current facility was planned and constructed, “no-kill shelters were really nothing of note,” Emsweller observed. GDCAS had fewer employees and euthanizing animals for space was standard – in 2026, they have seven staff members handling up to 16 dogs and over 30 cats. “It can get quite crowded and quite chaotic,” said Emsweller. There’s no quiet space where families can meet and get to know animals and when there’s significant rainfall, animals are often evacuated to foster homes for flooding. Recent heavy rains put a spotlight on flooding – GDCAS received state and national news coverage after evacuating animals between March 4 and March 10.

“We’re just looking to create a better space for the staff and for the animals,” said Emsweller describing the need for a new facility, “so that we can better serve the people of the county.”

Decatur County commissioners signed a letter of intent March 16 to proceed with constructing a facility, committing to the project on a county level – their next step is determining the definite address for the new facility. Once an address is determined, that opens GDCAS up to pursuing grants for the facility. At this point, according to Emsweller “we are in the planning stages.” The Friends of the Decatur County Animal Shelter, a 501c3 non-profit support group for GDCAS, is working to raise $250,000 to put towards the new facility – as of March 19, the campaign has raised over $4,000 via Zeffy. The campaign can be found here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/second-chances-start-here-2 “They’re doing well with it,” Emsweller said of the campaign, “it’s just a matter of getting word out and having that physical address,” so GDCAS can tell people where the building will be and where their money goes when they donate.

No Kings Know Before You Go: Q & A

Noelle Maxwell

No Kings 3.0, the third nationwide day of peaceful protest, is Saturday, March 28. Greensburg-based RISE For Justice, along with organizers Tammi Bailey, Christian Byrd, Beth Steele and Amy Phillips are holding a protest on the courthouse lawn at 150 Courthouse Square, Greensburg, from 12 to 2 PM. Previous No Kings’ Day protests in Greensburg have drawn approximately 150 attendees. The Independent spoke to RISE For Justice co-founder Hollie Payton about why the protests are being held and what people should know about the movement.

Independent: What’s the goal of the protest?

Payton: Just to raise awareness of what’s going on in the country. I feel like we, as an organization – RISE For Justice – we feel like our democracy is faltering and our freedoms are being taken away. So, we just want to express our First Amendment right to freedom of speech and have everyone come together. This No Kings, of course, we want to have our voices heard. We’re upset so we’re going to show that, but we also want to bring that sense of hope. We’re all coming together and the more of use that use our voice, I feel like there’s going to be more of a positive change.

Independent: How can those who can’t attend a protest make their voices heard if they’re interested in doing so?

Payton: I believe talking to people – social media can be good and bad, right? It can be a toxic place or it can be an educational place. If you have social media, just posting your feelings on social media then talking to people, having a civilized conversation with folks on what you feel is going on. Of course, primaries are coming up, so voting at the primaries, letting people know that you’re educated to vote. In order to be educated to vote, you should look at all the candidates running and vote for who you feel best aligns with your values.

Independent: What do people need to know about protests they’re interested in attending, e.g. planning for weather, basic safety information, that sort of thing? Because there are posts going around on social media from national organizations such as Indivisible outlining what people should be aware of.

Payton: We’re “come how you want,” I know a couple people will be wearing inflatable frog costumes just to show it’s going to be a non-violent rally. We’re going to have speakers, we’ll have a few tables set up and we’re asking folks to bring some non-perishable [food items] because we want to fill our food boxes again. We have three local food boxes and in the past have done food drives, but it’s been a while since we’ve done that.

Bring, if you can, non-perishable goods so we can help feed families who can’t afford it. Right now, with the prices of everything going up, it's tough for a lot of folks.  We want to fill those three food boxes that we have locally.

Independent: Is there anything else you want first time or new participants, especially, to understand?

Payton: Yes – I remember the first time I went to a protest. It was in Indianapolis and I was a little overwhelmed with the amount of people. We’ll have security people there for safety reasons. Make sure you look around, be aware of your surroundings. We want this to be a joy-filled event – we’re going to have some photo ops, if money is tight for you and you can’t make a poster or you don’t know how to make a poster, we’ll have extra posters there that you can make. You don’t have to have a poster, you don’t have to dress a certain way, you, just showing up, is proof enough that there are enough of us out there that want to bring about change. And the change we want to bring about is having our basic freedom and our basic rights. So, don’t worry about dressing a certain way or bringing a certain poster or whatever. Just be yourself and be there – being able to experience like-minded people makes you feel more comfortable.

This is No Kings 3.0 – I encourage people to bring three friends. You’re going to feel safer and more confident if you’re around people, so bring three friends with you for No Kings 3.0!

Independent: Anything else you want the community, generally, to know about No Kings?

Payton: The movement speaks for itself. I know a lot of folks may say, “well, why do you say ‘no kings?’ We obviously don’t have a king, right?” Our main focus is we want everyone to be aware that the people are in charge. We elect the people and not one person should have the say over the whole country. Again, we want to bring about our freedoms and our right of free speech.  We want to educate people and make a positive change where we can – that’s our big thing.

CORRECTION: On March 21, 2026, we edited this article for accuracy, adding the names of the other organizers. The organizers for the March 28 No Kings Day protest are Hollie Payton (RISE For Justice co-founder), Christian Byrd, Tammi Bailey, Amy Phillips and Beth Steele.