Local sports briefs – November 24

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November 24, 2016

Jennings routs Batesville in season opener

NORTH VERNON — The Jennings County wrestlers opened the season Tuesday night by rolling to a 72-6 win against Batesville.

Xavier Barberis (126), Dalton Craig (132), Rusty Vaughn (138), Brooks Wathen (145), Jacoby Trotter (152), Zane Beineke (160), Alex Skelton (170) and James Jump (195) all won by pin. Dathan Malone (113) and Victor Antunez (120), Sam Woolf (182) and Brady Shepherd (285) all won by forfeit.

Panthers drop conference contest to Red Devils

NORTH VERNON — Jeffersonville outscored Jennings County by 17 points over the middle two quarters Tuesday night to pull away for a 66-52 Hoosier Hills Conference win at Jennings County.

Sidney Gerkin led the Panthers (2-3, 0-1) with 19 points. Brooklyn Gaines added 18 in the girls basketball game.

Columbus athlete to play in All-American Games

Zachary Wager of Columbus will participate in the Junior All-American Games Friday through Sunday at the Baltimore Orioles Spring Training complex.

The Junior All-American games will feature top baseball players of various ages from more than 20 states. The event will feature an opening ceremony, game competition, instruction, a skills showcase, player evaluations and a home run derby.

Wager plays travel baseball for the Indiana Blazers.

Run 5K or 10K today on Turkey Day

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Staff Reports

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November 24, 2016

People with a hunger to help others today can burn off some calories before feasting with the 5K on Turkey Day, which is expanding this year with addition of a 10K race.

The event, a senior project for Columbus North student Maddy Neal, benefits the Love Chapel food pantry in Columbus.

She is attempting to raise $10,000 and bring in 2,500 cans of food for Love Chapel.

Registration for adults is $25 for the 5K and $35 for the $10K. For students 17 and younger, it is $15 for the 5K and $25 for the 10K. All runners are asked to bring a minimum of five canned goods to donate to the pantry.

Although online registration has closed, runners can bring a personal check payable to Love Chapel or pay by cash at check-in, which starts at 7 a.m. for the 8:30 a.m. races.

The run/walk event begins at the Indiana National Guard Armory, 2160 Arnold St., on Columbus’ north side.

Brother gets chance to make good on vow made 6 years ago

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November 24, 2016

Saturday’s Class 5A championship football game will be a chance for one Columbus East player to fulfill a six-year-old promise to his older brother.

Westin Cordier was a senior on the 2010 Columbus East team that ended its year with a loss to Whiteland in the second round of sectionals, marking his final game as an Olympian.

That season, parents Ira and Kathryn Cordier had a tradition of meeting their son at the 30-yard-line after each game. But after that game, Westin was greeted by his younger brother, Clayton, who was 12 at the time, with tears, hug and a long embrace.

“Westin apologized to him, saying he was sorry that he couldn’t win a state championship for him,” Ira Cordier said. “There was definitely a lot of emotion tied to it.”

Cordier said Clayton looked up to his old brother and said he would one day win a championship for him.

Westin Cordier, who graduated from Columbus East in 2011, will be flying in from Rexburg, Idaho, to attend the state championship game with the hopes that a promise his brother made six years ago will come true.

“He always looked up to his big brother,” Cordier said of his younger son, Clayton.

The brothers were six years apart in age and had little in common until football bonded them together, their father said.

But when Clayton got involved with the Central Middle School Chargers in the seventh grade, he received guidance from Westin, their father said.

Growing up, Westin spent time working with his younger brother on offensive and defensive drills.

And Clayton aspired to be just like his older sibling, Cordier said.

“There’s definitely a bond that was created because of football,” he said.

When Westin’s team lost six years ago, “it crushed me and it crushed my whole family,” said Clayton Cordier, now 18 and a starting defensive lineman for the Olympians.

“I want to go out there and play the best game of my life,” the senior said. “Hopefully I get to fulfill that promise and celebrate with him.”

Clayton said he is excited that his brother will be at Lucas Oil Stadium to watch the game, one that Westin said he wouldn’t miss.

“I want him to hug me and tell me that he kept that promise,” Westin said. “It’s incredible to see it go full circle.”

Ira Cordier said he knows Saturday’s game between the No. 4-ranked Olympians and No. 5-ranked Westfield Shamrocks will be one to remember regardless of the outcome.

“I promise you there will be emotion, win or lose,” Cordier said.

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Interest has been so high for tickets to the Class 5A state championship football game between Columbus East and Westfield that the Columbus school ordered an additional 750 tickets — beyond the initial 1,500 — to make available for local fans to purchase in advance.

Tickets for the game, which starts at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, can be purchased at the following times:

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday inside the main entrance of Columbus East High School, 230 S. Marr Road.
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday before the Franklin Central at Columbus East girls basketball game.

Cost: $15 for all students and adults; children who are not school-age are admitted free. Columbus East gets to keep $1 of each advance ticket sold.

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A Columbus East fan caravan is planned for Saturday, with participants asked to arrive at the high school’s bus lot no later than 3:15 p.m. The caravan will depart from the high school at 3:30 p.m. and follow the football team bus to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Columbus East Quarterback Club has organized an Olympian Tailgate Party at the Gate Ten Event Center, located across the street from Lucas Oil Stadium.

Parking, with 700 spaces, opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, with a $15 parking fee for autos and $30 for a bus or recreational vehicle, payable with a credit card. Reserve parking online by visiting this address: https://squareup.com/store/GateTen

The Gate Ten Event Center, at 343 W. McCarty St., opens at 3 p.m. It is a 7,500-square-foot indoor event space that offers the opportunity to purchase food or drinks at its bar and food court, with tables for seating and restrooms available.

The East faithful is invited to set up their own tailgating in the parking lot, or come inside the building.

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Win or lose, the Columbus East football team will celebrate its 2016 football season when it returns to Columbus after Saturday night’s Class 5A championship game — about 11:30 p.m. in the main gymnasium.

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Around Town – November 24

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Staff Reports

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November 24, 2016

• Nov. 24

• Orchids to

• people who think of disabled people during this holiday.

• Donald Trump for deciding not to prosecute Hillary Clinton.

• the union representative at the local factory for the Christmas bonus.

• Paul Chandler for the ride to VA, from Don Weddle.

• Don for helping me move furniture from our garage sale to my sister’s house, from Roy.

• Sherry Grimes for her excellent, accurate and eloquent letter to the editor on freedom.

• all the volunteers at First Nazarene Church who prepared and served meals and cleaned up, Sheriff Matt Myers and all the deputies who delivered meals, Texas Roadhouse, Johnson-Witkemper Insurance, Ivy Tech Community College and every individual who donated money, food and time to make our Thanksgiving dinner at the America and Roby Anderson Community Center a huge success, from State Street Area Association.

• Sherry Grimes for her very true, outstanding, well-written letter to the editor.

• Denny Dorsett and Louie Mensendiek who rescued me on a rainy night when I was trapped in my wrecked car as you are my heroes, from Mrs. B.

• whoever found my debit card in the ATM and turned it back in to the Business and Industrial Credit Union.

• Onions to

• the person who wrote an Onion about the People Trail that hasn’t learned yet that Columbus doesn’t take care of what it has and yet wants to build and add on more.

• the rude neighbor who parks in front of our house instead of in their own driveway.

• drivers who believe that other drivers should merge on their behalf.

• people who get on the treadmill directly next to you at the gym when a countless number of other treadmills are open and available.

• doctors who make you come back every three to six months, take blood and then tell you everything is fine.

• drivers who do not know how to negotiate a left turn from Beam Road onto National Road or from National Road onto Beam Road.

• the city of Columbus for not having an official Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.

• people who don’t realize employment statistics don’t include those that have quit looking for a job or are underemployed, and some employers are only hiring part-time employees to get around health insurance and the overtime law.

• Happy Birthday to

• Lindsey Regan, from your family and Donna.

• Kristopher Whipker, from your family and Donna.

• Jennifer Pittman, from all your neighbors.

• Joan Allman, from Alice, Emily, Charlene and all of your family.

• Joann Paige, from W.W.

• Tammy Magner, from friends at the Moravian Church.

• Eric Wiseman.

• Todd Boren.

• Teresa Buck from your sisters, Ava and Brenda, and the rest of your family.

• Patty Cash from Rosemary, Brenda, Velma, Debbie, Bill, your children and grandchildren, and Carol.

• Mabel Richard, on No. 92, from Debbie Richard, family and friends.

• Bob Hart, from your sister.

Belated Wishes to …

• Keegan Fox, from great-grandparents Mamaw Rennie and Pop.

Looking Back – November 24

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Staff Reports

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November 24, 2016

2006

The clerk of a Mexican general store on Central Avenue was tied up at gunpoint, and three men escaped with an undetermined amount of cash and calling cards.

1991

A 10-by-14-foot pump house was constructed on the site of the former Tri-State Plating hazardous waste site to help control and monitor contamination.

1966

An ordinance regulating the parking of recreational trailers and “campers” and also specifically prohibiting house trailers except in trailer parks was adopted by Columbus City Council.

Athletes of the Week

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November 24, 2016

Zack O’Connor, Columbus East junior football player

O’Connor returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown Friday to help lead the Olympians to a 35-15 semistate win at Bloomington South.

His performance last week: “As a team, we were solid, and we did what we had to do to win.”

Do you do anything special to prepare? “Just focus on what I have to do and don’t mess around before the game.”

Favorite drink: “Lemonade”

Favorite food: “Steak”

Favorite book: “’Hatchet’ by Gary Paulson”

Favorite class: “Math”

Role model: “My dad (Albert O’Connor)”

Best advice: “Keep your head up and play the next part”

Athletics goal: “To win the state championship”

If you could travel anywhere: “Probably Mexico, just to see the beaches.”

Kristen Lyons, Columbus East junior basketball player

Lyons led the Olympians with 11 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and five blocked shots in a 42-39 win against East Central.

Her performance last week: “I thought our performance was pretty good. We all played really great team ball.”

Do you do anything special to prepare? “I eat a piece of candy with my teammate Addy (Galarno).”

Favorite drink: “Powerade”

Favorite food: “Fried chicken”

Favorite book: “The Book Thief”

Favorite class: “AP Biology”

Role model: “Coach (Danny) Brown”

Best advice: “Never give up, and even if it looks bad, just keep on going.”

Athletics goal: “We’d like to win conference this year and get a sectional championship.”

If you could travel anywhere: “Australia, just because it’s really pretty.”

Local Police, Fire – November 24

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Staff Reports

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November 24, 2016

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following information was summarized from the records of city, county and state police and fire and hospital agencies.

Arrests

Sunday

Tameka D. Brantley, 30, 432 Center St., Columbus, domestic battery, 5:58 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, released on $5,000 bond.

William L. Tidwell, 52, 247 Center St., Columbus, operating a vehicle as an habitual traffic violator, 9 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, released on $7,500 bond.

Joshua J. Cowan, 34, 508 Della Road, Columbus, probation violation, 10:15 p.m., by Community Corrections, held with no bond.

Tony W. Hiatt, 53, 815 McClure Road, Columbus, Bartholomew County warrant and resisting law enforcement, 10:26 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held in lieu of $5,800 bond.

Monday

Garrett Mack, 25, Greenwood, possession or use of legend drug or precursor, 7:52 a.m., by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, released on $7,500 bond.

Fire, medic runs

Monday

4:21 a.m. — Unconscious person at the intersection of Central Avenue and Parkside Drive.

11:29 a.m. — Unconscious person in the 2100 block of Midway Street.

2:49 p.m. — Grass fire in the 1700 block of Laurel Drive.

6:54 p.m. — Unconscious person in the 3300 block of Virginia Street.

9:02 p.m. — Unconscious person in the 3400 block of Central Avenue.

9:05 p.m. — Structure fire in the 2900 block of West Inwood Drive.

Incidents

Monday

12:43 a.m. — Property damage in the 16000 block of South Jonesville Road.

6:36 a.m. — Subject refusing to leave in the 1000 block of Pennsylvania Street.

7:32 a.m. — Drug violations in the 3000 block of North National Road.

8:34 a.m. — Theft reported in the 2400 block of West Jonathan Moore Pike.

8:43 a.m. — Property-damage accident in the 2200 block of State Street.

10:39 a.m. — Residential burglary in the 1000 block of Charles Street.

10:39 a.m. — Shoplifting in the 2500 block of Eastbrook Plaza.

1:03 p.m. — Attempted theft in the 1200 block of West County Road 650N.

3:03 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 2400 block of West Jonathan Moore Pike.

3:11 p.m. — Theft reported in the 400 block of Market Street.

3:20 p.m. — Leaving the scene of an accident in the 5500 block of South Inwood Drive.

3:23 p.m. — Shoplifting in the 700 block of Whitfield Drive.

3:28 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 300 block of Washington Street.

3:40 p.m. — Drug violations in the 1500 block of California Street.

3:44 p.m. — Property damage in the 1300 block of South County Road 525W.

3:56 p.m. — Subject refusing to leave in the 1600 block of Central Avenue.

4:08 p.m. — Theft reported in the 8100 block of East County Road 400N.

4:10 p.m. — Mischief or vandalism in the 2800 block of Village Drive.

4:20 p.m. — Theft reported in the 800 block of North Knollwood Drive.

4:23 p.m. — Theft reported in the 8100 block of East County Road 400N.

5:52 p.m. — Residential burglary in the 3900 block of North County Road 500W.

8:20 p.m. — Vandalism in the 1500 block of Whitney Court.

8:38 p.m. — Vandalism in the 2500 block of Lakecrest Drive.

9:24 p.m. — Burglary in the 5200 block of South Lincoln Village Drive.

10:02 p.m. — Mischief or vandalism in the 3000 block of Wedgewood Drive.

11:30 p.m. — Property-damage accident at mile marker 68 of I-65 North.

Regional Hospital, Police – November 24

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Staff Reports

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November 24, 2016

JENNINGS COUNTY

Arrests

Monday

Joseph Smith, 21, North Vernon, resisting law enforcement, possession of paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and trafficking with an inmate, 2:38 a.m., by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, $1,055 bond.

Donavan Martin, 19, North Vernon, warrant, 11:20 a.m., by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, $2,605 bond.

Anthony Roberts, 23, Hope, theft and criminal mischief, 11:02 p.m., by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, $605 bond.

Incidents

Monday

11:45 a.m. — Shoplifting in the 2400 block of North State Highway 3.

3:48 p.m. — Theft reported in the 2400 block of North State Highway 3.

8:08 p.m. — Disturbance in the area of Harms Street.

North inviting basketball alumni back for special night

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November 24, 2016

Columbus High School and Columbus North have a rich basketball tradition, and Bull Dogs coach Paul Ferguson wants his current players to feel a little bit of that.

So Ferguson is inviting all former Bull Dog players back to Memorial Gym. Alumni Night will be Dec. 9 for the boys game against Franklin Central.

“The purpose of the evening is to help our current players and families understand the great legacy and tradition that they’re a part of,” Ferguson said. “We want to help them get connected to the alums of the past and give those two groups a chance to get to know each other better.”

Ferguson said he is going to do a scouting report before the game and invite all of the former players in attendance to be a part of that. The alums will be announced at halftime.

The program will have reception for current and former players and their families in the cafeteria. The coaches have been splicing together some old Bull Dog game footage to show.

Former players are welcome. No RSVP is necessary.

Ferguson thinks the last time North did something like this may have been on Pack the Place night when longtime coach Bill Stearman retired in 1996.

The committee for Alumni Night includes former athletics director Hedy George, along with Dave Horn, David Welmer, Rory Glick, Scott Wilson, Bill Russell and his son Brian Russell.

“We’ve been working pretty hard on this the last couple of months, drumming up support to try to get people back,” Ferguson said. “We’re hoping it’s a special night.”

Olympians, Jets seniors named All-State

Two seniors who led their teams to regional titles have been selected to the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association All-State volleyball team in their respective classes.

Columbus East senior Cortney VanLiew in Class 4A and Hauser senior Brea Metz in Class A made the first team. Hauser junior Sydney Schoen and Edinburgh senior Mara Cox are honorable mention selections in Class A.

North senior takes 38th

Columbus North senior Rachel Brougher finished 38th in 19 minutes, 43 seconds for 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) in Saturday’s Mideast Cross Country Championships in Kettering, Ohio.

Brougher was part of and Indiana girls team that finished fourth with 108 points. Michigan won with 41, while Illinois edged Ohio 46-49 for second.

Indiana finished second behind Michigan in the boys competition.

Senior selected MVP

Senior Addy Lang has been named MVP of the Columbus North girls soccer team.

Tanner Johnson was selected Offensive Player of the Year, and Marina Hughes was named Defensive Player of the Year. Natalie Teo won the Bull Dog Award, and Elise Whitley was named the Most Improved Player.

Reeya Chenanda was selected MVP of the junior varsity team.

Junior, senior named MVPs

Junior Charlie Allen and senior Rachel Brougher have been selected MVPs of the Columbus North boys and girls cross-country teams.

John Sluys and Olivia Morlok won the Bull Dog Awards. Elijah Brooks, Alec Embry and Eli Fischer were recognized as boys team captains; and Sydney Perry, Ana Singhal, and Arig Tong were honored as girls team captains.

John York Sr.

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November 24, 2016

Columbus

John O. York Sr., 63, of Columbus, died at 3:14 p.m., Monday, November 21, 2016, at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.

John enjoyed bowling, going to car shows and spending time with his family and friends. He worked as a machinist at Enkei America for over 22 years, retiring in 2016.

Mr. York was born in Columbus, Indiana, July 30, 1953, to the late John and Dimple Huffines York. He married his first wife, Nancy Ann Robinson on January 5, 1973. She preceded him in death in April 2000. John then married Amy Williams on November 10, 2001, in Columbus, Indiana.

Survivors include his wife, Amy Williams York; children, Johnny York Jr., Crystal (Ricky Cox) York, both of Columbus, Mike (Stacy) York of Hope, Sean (Brittany) Matney of Columbus; brother, Dave (Karen) York; sister, Betty (Paul) Hamilton, both of Columbus; mother-in-law, Joan Williams; grandchildren, Zac, Brentyn, Jackson York, Aubree Burton and another grandchild expected in early May.

John was also preceded in death by his father-in-law, Larry Williams.

The funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Novmeber 26, 2016, at Barkes, Weaver and Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street with Virgil Clotfleter officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, November 25, 2016, and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Flat Rock Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society for Mesothelioma or Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.

Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the York family and a video tribute may be viewed at barkesweaverglick.com.