Champs shine bright
The city of Columbus was well represented at the girls gymnastics state championship meet on March 11. North’s Claire Thompson (balance beam) and Ashley Holliday (vault) and East’s Adi Minor (uneven bars) earned individual state titles. Holliday also received the Mildred Ball Mental Attitude Award.
North finished as the state runner-up in the team competition after claiming the title last year, and East finished sixth.
The girls displayed great skill and their efforts put Columbus gymnastics in the spotlight.
Grant for good use
Growing interest in the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum in Columbus, which observes its 25th anniversary this year, has necessitated an expansion of the museum building by the city’s airport so additional space can be found for storing artifacts.
Those artifacts will be important as the museum offers new attractions and displays. Thankfully, a $20,000 grant from the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is making the 1,800-foot expansion possible.
A helping hand such as this grant will go a long way toward telling the story of the former Bakalar Air Force Base and the city’s aviation history to the museum’s 6,000 to 8,000 visitors each year.
From Columbus to Broadway
Congratulations to Columbus native Mary Claire King, who made her Broadway debut as a member of the “War Paint” cast March 7 at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City.
King’s talent has been evident for some time in Columbus, where she graduated from North High School in 2008. Besides singing in high school, she was the inaugural headliner for Cabaret at The Commons, drawing the biggest audience ever — more than 400 — for individual concerts from the series.
Her success should serve as inspiration for a generation of younger performers who also yearn to one day reaching Broadway. With desire and dedication, dreams can come true.
