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Conference shakeup?

By
Ted Schultz
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After 43 years in the Hoosier Hills Conference, Columbus East might soon be looking for a new home.

East athletics director Pete Huse said Madison, the conference’s smallest school, is considering seeking independent status, while the next smallest schools — Jennings County and Seymour — might be looking at switching conferences.

If those three schools bolt, that would leave the HHC with only five schools — likely not enough to sustain a major conference. With that scenario a concern, Huse said he has put out feelers to the Mid-State Conference to gauge its interest in adding East as an eighth school should the HHC fall apart.

But Jennings athletics director Mike Broughton said his school has not made any move as far as presenting anything to schools in the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference, which has been their rumored destination.

“We’re one of the smallest schools in the (HHC) now, and we’ve wondered if we’re a viable option for the HHC, and right now, we think we are,” Broughton said.

Seymour athletics director Kirk Manns declined to comment.

With football appearing to be the sticking point for the smaller schools, Huse and Broughton said the conference’s athletics directors have discussed going to a big school and a small school division for the sport. East, Floyd Central, Jeffersonville and New Albany would be in the big school division, while Bedford North Lawrence, Jennings, Madison and Seymour would be in the small school division.

The Olympians, who have won 70 consecutive HHC football games and have won or shared the conference title each of the past 13 years, actually are smaller than Bedford North Lawrence and are among the bottom half of the HHC in enrollment. But those schools would trade places to ensure more competitive balance.

“We have a school like Madison that has 800 enrollment, and you have a school like Jeffersonville with 2,000,” Broughton said. “Baseball, you only need 11 kids. Basketball, you need six or seven. Football, you need a lot of bodies. I think football is an issue because really, to put out a team, you need at least 30 to 35 guys that can plan on a Friday night.”

If the HHC does go to the two-division format, it likely wouldn’t happen until at least 2018 since schools would have to find four more non-conference games to fill their schedules.

“It’s hard to get teams to play,” Broughton said. “You’d have to look at it as, ‘Can we fill in the schedule. You still have to find an opponent. It’s something we’ll discuss in the weeks ahead.”

Broughton said those discussions likely will happen at the winter athletics directors meeting in January.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

A look at the Hoosier Hills Conference schools by enrollment:

Jeffersonville;2,072

New Albany;1,837

Floyd Central;1,759

Bedford North Lawrence;1,571

Columbus East;1,548

Seymour;1,485

Jennings County;1,346

Madison;962

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Man arrested after pulling a knife during argument

By
Staff Reports
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A local man who was believed to be intoxicated was arrested after he was accused of pulling a knife and making threats to a woman during an argument.

Melvin G. Foree, 34, 1113 California St., was arrested on a preliminary charge of intimidation with a deadly weapon at about 4:35 a.m. Friday, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.

Officers were sent to the 1100 block of California Street about a disturbance inside a home, Harris said. When they arrived, they heard an argument upstairs in the home and saw that a bedroom door had been kicked in and knocked off its hinges, Harris said.

Residents in the home said Foree was intoxicated and began threatening a woman inside the house with a knife, Harris said. The witnesses told police Foree kicked open a bedroom door and a struggle ensued, he said.

For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.

High school scoreboard – December 9

By
Staff Reports
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GIRLS BASKETBALL

Columbus North 63, East Central 37

East Central;6;6;15;10;—;37

Columbus North;19;17;12;15;—;63

East Central (8-2): Logan Cox, 0 1-2 1, Hayley Tippitt 0 0-0 0, Hannah Schloemer 3 0-0 9, Alex Disbro 1 0-0 3, Brilan McCory 1 1-2 4, Courtney Robbins 2 3-4 7, Abby Koch 0 0-0 0, Corryn Caudy 1 1-2 4, Alyssa Robben 3 3-5 9. Totals: 11 9-15.

Columbus North (6-2): Ashlyn Huffman 3 2-2 8, Jahna Smiley 2 0-1 4, Imani Guy 3 0-0 6, Jenna Borger 1 0-0 3, Tessa Lomax 1 0-2 2, Maliah Howard-Bass 7 5-6 23, Nadia Lomax 2 2-2 6, Kenzie Patberg 1 0-0 3, Agustina Fainguersch 0 0-0 0, Liz Tynan 3 0-0 8. Totals: 23 9-13 63.

3-point goals: East Central 6 (Schloemer 3, McCory, Caudy, Disbro); Columbus North 8 (Howard-Bass 4, Tynan 2, Patberg, Borger).

Hauser 42, South Decatur 38

South Decatur;7;12;14;5;—;38

Hauser;4;15;12;11;—;42

South Decatur (1-10, 0-3): Stacy Fox 0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Kopplin 4 2-2 10, Annie Gant 2 2-2 7, Taylor Best 5 0-0 13, Madison Owens 3 0-0 6, Sierra Deppe 0 0-0 0, Sierra Lang 0 2-3 2, Samantha Goodfellow 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 6-8 38.

Hauser (7-2, 3-0): Tori Chandler 6 4-4 17, Sarah Tedder 4 0-0 8, Grace Hasler 2 0-2 4, Hailey Lange 1 0-0 2, Lauryn Starnes 2 0-0 4, Taylor Henderson 1 3-4 5, Ali Hoover 0 0-0 0, Jada Asher 0 0-0 0, Mykenzie Ault 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 7-10 42.

3-point goals: South Decatur 4 (Best 3, Gant); Hauser 1 (Chandler).

Greenwood Christian Academy 44, Edinburgh 38

Greenwood Christian;7;7;8;22;—;44

Edinburgh;9;13;6;10;—;38

Greenwood Christian (5-5): Grace Peters 6 3-4 16, Katie Cruse 2 0-0 5, Alexis Mead 4 0-0 10, Grace Apgar 3 2-3 8, Allie Dalton 2 1-3 5, Morgan Haynes 0 0-0 0, Anna Subris 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 6-10 44.

Edinburgh (4-6): Taylor Tatlock 2 1-1 5, Brianna Howard 2 0-0 4, Abi Scrogham 0 0-0 0, Sidney Beier 2 0-0 5, Allie Schooler 4 2-2 10, Destiney Ramey 5 0-0 12, Haven Link 0 0-0 0, Vanessa McManaway 0 0-0 0, Kenzie Hill 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 3-3 38.

Three-point goals: Greenwood Christian 4 (Mead 2, Peters, Cruse); Edinburgh 3 (Ramey 2, Beier).

Trinity Lutheran 57, Rising Sun 43

Trinity Lutheran;17;17;12;11;–;57

Rising Sun;8;10;9;16;–;43

Trinity Lutheran (2-7): Jodi Goecker 0 3-4 3, Abby Hackman 1 6-7 8, Whitney Rogers 4 3-4 11, Morgan Gabbard 5 0-0 13, Laney Acton 0 2-2 2, Emilee Lang 1 0-0 3, Maddie Bell 2 0-0 4, Savannah Harweger 3 4-5 10, Savanna Setty 1 0-0 3. Totals: 17 18-22 57.

3-point goals: Trinity Lutheran 4 (Gabbard 3, Lang).

Hauser uses late rally to top South Decatur

By
Staff Reports
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HOPE — South Decatur came close to pulling off an upset against Class A No. 9 Hauser, but the final three minutes of the game, the Jets turned up the defensive intensity.

That intensity forced the Cougars into several turnovers that led to Hauser points. After South Decatur took a 38-33 lead, the Jets scored the final nine points of the game to win a key Mid-Hoosier Conference girls basketball battle 42-38.

“They show that they can come together as a team,” said Hauser assistant coach Ruben Martinez, who filled in for head coach Brad Hamilton. “They all rely on each other, and everyone does their part and it kept them going.”

For South Decatur, turnovers were a big key in the outcome. They committed 31 turnovers, including eight in the decisive fourth quarter, when things started to slip away.

“It was the difference in the game,” South Decatur coach Kelly Fox said. “We just did not take advantage of the opportunities and finish the job.”

After a sloppy first quarter by both teams, the Cougars (1-10, 0-3) went ahead 11-6 early in the second period after a Mackenzie Kopplin basket and two free throws. The Jets (7-2, 3-0) then went on a 13-4 run to go ahead 19-15.

After South Decatur scored a basket late, it stole the inbound pass and Annie Gant added a basket to tie the game at 19-19 at halftime. Hauser scored the first six points of the second half to take a 25-19 lead, but a couple of baskets by Kopplin, along with a couple of 3s from Taylor Best gave the Cougars a 33-29 lead.

“Best and Kopplin both had great games, and they have not had that breakout game this year,” Fox said. “We got a lot of people involved and doing some really good things.”

With South Decatur leading 38-33, the Jets’ Grace Hasler hit a long bank shot from the left side. Tori Chandler then took over by scoring the next four points to give Hauser a 39-38 lead.

Chandler sank two free throws, and Taylor Henderson added a free throw to seal the game.

“We realized that we needed to hustle and step it up to create turnovers and get baskets,” said Chandler, who finished with a game-high 17 points. “That is something we are good at, but we just need to apply it in the early quarters and not just the final quarter.”

Sarah Tedder added eight points for the Jets. Best scored a team-high 13 points for the Cougars, while Kopplin added 10.

North’s eight 3-pointers overwhelm East Central

By
Staff Reports
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Columbus North had a big shooting night Thursday against East Central, hitting eight 3-pointers.

Senior Maliah Howard-Bass hit four 3-pointers to help the Class 4A No. 10 Bull Dogs beat East Central 63-37. Her 23 points moved her into seventh place on North’s all-time scoring list.

Liz Tynan hit a couple shots from behind the arc, and ended the game with eight points. Kenzie Patberg and Jenna Borger both scored on a 3-pointer, as well. The Bull Dogs (6-2) have now won three games in a row.

“It was more than just shooting,” North coach Pat McKee said. “It was really good up-tempo running stuff and executing, which led to good shots that we converted.”

Imani Guy picked up two quick fouls in the first 3 minutes, 15 seconds of the game and had three before the end of the first quarter. McKee said the method for Guy right now when she gets into foul trouble is to play through it, and she did just that.

Guy fouled out with 6:08 left in the game but not before scoring six points, blocking four shots and forcing three steals. McKee said she did a good job of playing well while in foul trouble.

“I had to be a lot more cautious of my fouling,” Guy said. “My coaches and teammates kind of got on me a little bit. So I think I just knew to try to be smarter about my fouls.”

Ashlyn Huffman, who just returned last week from an ACL injury, showed some of her explosiveness, scoring eight points.

East Central tried to make a third quarter surge by hitting four 3-pointers. Hannah Schloemer knocked down three of them and had nine points.

The Bull Dogs finished with 12 steals, and Howard-Bass said they are getting more comfortable into the North style of play.

“We knew East Central was going to be a really tough team,” Howard-Bass said. “All of them are over 6-foot, so we had to play just as big as they did. We exposed their weaknesses, and that is how were were successful.”

High school sports roundup – December 9

By
Staff Reports
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SWIMMING

Olympians sweep Panthers

The Jennings County boys won seven events to five for Columbus East Thursday night, but the Olympians had more depth in a 110-66 win.

The East girls prevailed 105-77, despite being without top swimmer Cortney VanLiew, who is in New York for the Wendy’s High School Heisman activities.

Austin Smith won the 50-yard freestyle (24.48 seconds) and 100 freestyle (54.47) to lead the Olympian boys. Griff McGaha took the 100 backstroke (1:06.38), and East captured the 200 medley (2:01.11) and 200 freestyle (1:41.81) relays.

The Panthers were led by wins from Peyton Moore in the 200 freestyle (1:51.55) and 500 freestyle (5:10.24) and Trey Hundley in the 200 individual medley (2:19.57) and 100 breaststroke (1:13.56). Austin Mills took the diving competition (221.75 points), Evan Dubben captured the 100 butterfly (1:01.19) and Jennings won the 400 freestyle relay (3:40.24).

For the East girls, Whitley Eicher won the 200 IM (2:26.66) and 100 butterfly (1:02.77), and Lizzy Frazier took the 50 freestyle (27.46) and 100 freestyle (59.71). Annie Frazier captured the 100 backstroke (1:07.94), Jennifer Utterback won the 100 breaststroke (1:19.61) and the Olympians took the 200 medley (2:03.37) and 400 freestyle (4:00.91) relays.

Ashton Koons won the 200 freestyle (2:09.92) and 500 freestyle (5:44.42) to lead the Jennings girls. Hailey Brown took the diving (226.10), and the Panthers captured the 200 freestyle relay (1:56.47).

WRESTLING

Panthers rout Pirates

GREENSBURG — Jennings County won 11 of the 14 matches in rolling to a 60-14 victory at Greensburg.

Brady Shepherd (285 pounds), Victor Antunez (120), Rusty Vaughn (138), Jacoby Trotter (152), Zane Beineke (160) and Sam Wolff (182) all won by pin for the Panthers. Shon Warner (220) and Teagan Johnson (106) won by forfeit, and Logan Allen (132) won by injury default.

Jennings’ Brooks Wathen (145) and James Jump (195) won by decision.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Cougars rally past Lancers

EDINBURGH — Greenwood Christian Academy rallied from a nine-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter to claim a 44-38 win at Edinburgh.

Destiney Ramey finished with 12 points to lead the Lancers (4-6). Allie Schooler added 10.

North senior will use funds to pursue teaching

By
Staff Reports
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Tears of joy, happiness and surprise.

Columbus North High School senior Daniela Chaparro began to cry as she learned Thursday afternoon she is one of two Bartholomew County Lilly Endowment scholars.

Chaparro, 18, didn’t know as she entered the school’s main office conference room at about 1:30 p.m. that she was about to be surprised with the scholarship announcement.

The Lilly Endowment Scholarship will cover Chaparro’s tuition for four years at any Indiana college or university and provide a $900 stipend for required books and equipment.

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Her older sister Luisa was at the announcement, along with representatives from the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County and members of the Lilly scholar selection committee.

Chaparro, the daughter of Cristobal Chaparro and Juana Isela Lopez, called her parents by cellphone and delivered the news about the scholarship in Spanish.

“This is great,” Chaparro said as she wiped away tears. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe it.”

This year, 101 students applied for the coveted scholarships, with 10 finalists being selected for an interview, said Amy Laker, scholarship manager with the Heritage Fund.

Chaparro has not determined where she wants to attend college to study art education. She said she is considering Ball State University, Indiana University or Notre Dame as her top choices.

Chaparro grew up in Mexico on the border near El Paso, Texas, until she was 14 when she and her family moved to Columbus the final nine weeks of her eighth-grade year.

“I think this is just the greatest gift anyone can receive, the gift of education,” Chaparro said about the scholarship. “It’s the greatest help.”

Chaparro serves as co-president of the Diversity Council at North, where she is also involved with National Art Honor Society and the National Honor Society. She was junior varsity team captain on the soccer team and captain of North’s fine arts academic team.

She tutors those who are learning English in an after-school program, she said. She also volunteers at the Ethnic Expo each year and has also been active as an ambassador and counselor for Project Stepping Stone, which helps Hispanic and Latino students high school students from Indiana prepare for college.

She also volunteers and is a choir member at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church. She is a soloist for SHALOM Choir and a folk dancer with Ballet Folklorico Columbus.

Chaparro said she initially was hesitant about applying for the scholarship after hearing how competitive it was. Several of her friends were also pursuing the Lilly Endowment scholarship, she said.

But after receiving encouragement from her teachers, she decided to fill out the application.

Chaparro said she was more nervous after her finalist interview with the selection committee, saying she thought she didn’t do very well. Her interview focused on her time growing up in Mexico, and talking about learning to speak English after she arrived in the United States.

Her sister said she is proud of her sibling, describing her as a role model who always works hard.

“She definitely deserves it,” she said.

Matt Kirr, Lilly selection committee chairman, said Chaparro is a good writer who has worked hard by demonstrating good grades, along with her involvement at school.

Katie Chaplin, a North Advance Placement English literature teacher, wrote one of Chaparro’s letters of recommendation as part of the scholarship application process.

They embraced after Chaparro learned she was a scholarship recipient.

“She has a huge heart,” Chaplin said.

Chaparro said she is passionate about pursuing a teaching career, as there is a teacher shortage in Indiana. She credited her father with inspiring her to be successful and to help others.

“I know I want to make a big change and be someone that other minorities can look up to because I always try to help out as many people as I can,” Chaparro said.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Daniela Chaparro” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Name: Daniela Chaparro

Age: 18

School: Columbus North High School

Parents: Cristobal Chaparro and Juana Isela Lopez

College: Undecided, but is considering Ball State University, Indiana University at Bloomington or Notre Dame.

Major: Art education with hopes of becoming a teacher

[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

The Lilly Endowment community scholarship program began in 1998 and pays four years of tuition to any Indiana college or university, as well as a $900 stipend for required books and equipment.

Since the program started, 43 Bartholomew County students have been named scholars, including this year’s recipients.

This year, Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County moved up the announcement for the winners (normally announced in early spring) to allow the recipients more time to consider their choice of schools, said Amy Laker, Heritage Fund scholarship manager.

Scholarship applicants are evaluated on academic performance, scholastic activities, community involvement and employment, leadership, financial need, responses to questions and a 450-word essay and two recommendations.

Finalists who do not receive the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship each receive a $1,000 award from the Heritage Fund.

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Columbus East High School

Kennedi Satterfield

Matthew Furnish

Lauren Schumacher

Columbus North High School

Matthew Allman

Ujwala Pamidimukkala

Karol Espinoza

Charlotte Verbanic

Columbus Signature Academy – New Tech

Brayden Burbrink

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Duke Energy outages planned for Saturday

By
Staff Reports
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Duke Energy plans two emergency power outages Saturday which will affect more than 200 customers in Columbus.

The first planned outage will be from 9 to 11 a.m. and will affect about 60 customers near Reeveston Drive on the city’s east side.

The second planned outage will be from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and will affect about 270 customers near Fox Pointe Drive on the city’s northeast side.

In both intances, tree-trimming work is necessary to maintain a high level of reliability for customers in that area, said Duke Energy spokesman Chip Orben, who indicated affected customers are being notified by phone.

With temperatures Saturday forecast to be in the low 20s in the morning to low 30s by early afternoon, workers will make every effort to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible, Orben said.

“We apologize for this inconvenience and ask for your patience while we conduct this critical vegetation work,” he said.

Indiana cities appeal ruling in LGBT lawsuit

By
Staff Reports
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Columbus and three other Indiana cities have asked the Indiana Court of Appeals to overrule a judge’s ruling allowing conservative groups to continue with a lawsuit challenging anti-discrimination ordinances.

The cities, which include Bloomington, Carmel and Indianapolis, argue the appeals court should take the case because it will cost the cities substantial expense arguing the lawsuit on its merits and because the case involves substantial questions of law that have broad implications. The ordinances include protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the Herald-Times of Bloomington reported.

The cities are appealing a decision by Hamilton County Superior Judge Steven Nation rejecting their requests that the lawsuit be dismissed. The ordinances are being challenged by the Indiana Family Institute, Indiana Family Action and the American Family Association of Indiana.

Around Town – December 9

By
Staff Reports
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• Dec. 9

Orchids to …

• Burnsville Christian Church for hosting the South Central Indiana Men’s Fellowship and for an awesome cornbread and bean supper.

• Julie Malson and Suzanne Jowers of Columbus Housing Authority for looking out for their clients this winter.

• Alvin Balmer for his kindness on Tuesday night for driving the New Hope Christian Church van to the South Central Indiana Men’s Fellowship.

• the garden club that decorated the walkway between the parking garage and Washington Street with beautiful flowers all summer and now Christmas trees. 

• Len at Excel Auto Glass who helped me get home in the rain a couple of days ago, from Cyclin’ Bill.

• the Columbus East football team, especially coach Gaddis, from a proud grandparent.

• the wonderful Terrace Lake Church volunteers and all the other great volunteers who helped us Dec. 3 at Turning Point.

• the manager at Crew Car Wash and Kimmer at Kroger, for your kindness and compassion.

• John Krull for a well-written column about the president-elect.

Onions to …

• the person that hides behind a mental illness as an excuse to purposely break rules.

• people in the office who always find a reason to complain.

• people too lazy to put shopping carts in their proper place, causing other people to have to move them in order to park. 

• the Social Security system that gave a small raise then took it back to what people already made.

Happy Birthday to …

• Debbie Black Divan, from your family and Donna.

• Masahiro Sato, from your family, co-workers and Donna.

• Ray Jackson

• John Stephens Jr.

• Keith Hill, from Aunt Debi.

• Kay Burton, from your family.

Belated Wishes to …

• David Ray, from Kimberly.

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