If any owner of the land affected by the opening, changing, or closing of a public highway is a nonresident, then notice to the owner's agent or attorney, if the owner's agent or attorney resides in the county, shall be sufficient. If there is no such agent or attorney, then the notice shall be made by publication for four (4) consecutive weeks in the newspaper having the greatest circulation in the county, the last publication to be at least one (1) week before the hearing.