CLARKSVILLE, IN (August 4, 2023) – The next election may be months away, but Clarksville kids have new representation in the Town of Clarksville. The new members of the Clarksville Youth Council were sworn-in at Tuesday’s meeting of the Clarksville Town Council. President Ryan Ramsey administered the oath of office to the new members.

This year’s representatives include Catherine Massingill and Kodah Mendlik (Clarksville High School), Clare Hinton, Jillian Hinton and Lauren Hinton (Providence High School), and Eva Wheatley and Lorianna Liu (Silver Creek High School). The Youth Council will also include two representatives from Jeffersonville High School, however, the school and Greater Clark County School have yet to appoint it’s new members for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Town Council created the Youth Council in 2022 to serve as an advisory body. Composed of local youth, the Clarksville Youth Council provides advice and counsel to the local governing body and its affiliated regulatory boards and commissions, as well as other community organizations. The Youth Council will also be able to implement and participate in a variety of youth-identified community initiatives. Last year’s Youth Council led a Mental Health Awareness campaign.

The first item on the agenda for the new Youth Council will be to administer a new $2,000 grant from Indiana American Water to plant new trees around town, including on the campuses of the various schools represented by the council. During its first meeting this month, Clarksville High School representative Catherine Massingill volunteered to lead the way for using the grant. The Youth Council also voted on new officers, naming Jillian Hinton (Providence) as President, Lorianna Liu (Silver Creek) as Vice-President, and Kodah Mendlik (Clarksville) as Secretary.