Milan freshman captures photo of opening day of Dillsboro Festival

Festival takes place through Saturday

(DILLSBORO, Ind.) – The first community festival of the year in Southeast Indiana is now underway.

The annual Dillsboro Homecoming Festival began last night and goes through Saturday.

It features carnival rides, games, festival food, a 5K run/walk, beer garden, music and a parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday. 

It also features some fun contests including  “Frog Jumping” and “Best Dressed Frog.”

Milan freshman Drenden Bowman captured the above photo during the opening night festivities on Wednesday. 

During the opening ceremonies, the festival named Lawrenceburg Police Officer Garrett Schmaltz as the Police Officer of the Year.

Read about Dillsboro native and 2009 South Dearborn graduate Garrett Schmaltz here:

The Police Officer of the year is Dillsboro’s lifelong resident, Garrett Schmaltz.

Officer Schmaltz attended Dillsboro Elementary from kindergarten through 6th grade, then South Dearborn Middle School and graduated from South Dearborn High School in 2009 with academic honors.

Garrett Schmaltz was sworn in as a Police Officer with the Greendale Police Department on October 10, 2011. During his tenure, he successfully completed the Indiana Law Enforcement Tier 1 Basic Academy. He began developing his own approach to community policing, became a certified range master, and laid the foundation for a future role as an investigator.

On September 1, 2018, Officer Schmaltz accepted a position with the City of Lawrenceburg Police Department. As he adjusted to patrolling a new city, he remained committed to community engagement and built strong relationships with the residents he served. He received numerous letters of appreciation recognizing his professionalism and compassionate handling of various incidents.

In August 2019, Officer Schmaltz was part of a team that responded to a shooting at a local establishment. The incident required officers to secure the crime scene and locate the suspect and his vehicle at a separate location. Working collaboratively with his colleagues, Officer Schmaltz helped bring the situation to a peaceful resolution and supported a thorough investigation.

On October 24, 2020, Officer Schmaltz was the first to respond to a domestic violence call at Summit Pointe Apartments. Upon arrival, he encountered a naked man armed with a knife. Demonstrating courage and composure, Officer Schmaltz issued verbal commands for the suspect to drop the weapon. When the suspect charged, Officer Schmaltz was forced to act in defense of himself and others. It was later determined that the suspect had fatally injured his girlfriend prior to police arrival.

On March 2, 2024, Officer Schmaltz responded to a reported robbery at Hollywood Casino, where it was initially believed the suspect had taken a hostage. Working alongside fellow officers, he helped coordinate the response. The suspect was eventually located and taken into custody. While on scene, Officer Schmaltz worked with the Indiana Gaming Commission and provided real-time updates on the suspect’s description and last known direction of travel.

Officer Schmaltz has continued to grow in both patrol and investigative roles. In January 2025, he was assigned to assist the Lawrenceburg Police Department’s Detective Division with active cases. In May 2025, he was appointed Sergeant Detective, recognizing his leadership skills and investigative expertise.