The Southsider Voice - Top Stories

(PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN MILLER)
Southport’s Robin Miller, holding plaque, is with the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race all-time greats, from left, front, Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, and Johnny Rutherford. The occasion was the announcement of the Robin Miller Award at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 2019 to honor an “unheralded individual” who has enriched the “500” and IndyCar racing. Also, it was Miller’s 50th “500” and the 50th anniversary of Andretti’s “500” win. They are holding commemorative T-shirts. They are with, back row, from left, Paul Page, Penske Entertainment Corp. president and CEO Mark D. Miles and IndyCar president Jay Frye.

By Al Stilley
Editor

“Thank God, there’s only one Robin Miller.”

Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt made that comment in May 2019 when the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced the Robin Miller Award in a media center ceremony attended by Foyt, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, and Johnny Rutherford. The award is in recognition of an “unheralded individual” who has enriched IndyCar racing.

Miller, a Southport High School alumnus, reveled in the surprise announcement by IndyCar and the Speedway during his 50th anniversary of covering the “500.”
Also in 2019, Miller was inducted into the Indiana Sportswriters and Broadcasters Hall of Fame at the Valle Vista Conference Center in Greenwood.

The irascible motorsports writer from the Southside was a little bit taken aback by his latest honor as one of 10 inductees into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MHFA) Class of 2021.
He is the media inductee and is among some fast company that includes the late NASCAR ace Davey Allison, three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon Jr., Indy and NASCAR trailblazer Janet Guthrie, 2006 MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden, and the late USAC and NASCAR engine and car builder Ray Nichels of Griffith, among others.

Miller has been writing for RACER magazine and RACER.com since SPEED folded and also is on NBCSN IndyCar telecasts.

He also is a self-described “flunky,” who dropped out of Ball State University and worked with the legendary Jim Hurtubise at the 1968 Indianapolis 500 on the last roadster to be in the race. In his younger years, he has raced sports cars on road courses and midget cars on dirt tracks and the Indianapolis Speedrome.
Miller was hired to answer phones for deadline sports calls and later, thanks to sportswriter Ray Marquette of Southport, became a sports writer where he began covering USAC and IndyCar racing. His early forte in covering the “500” was his ability to write stories about the little teams that came to Indy on a shoestring budget in hopes of being in the race.

He worked there for many years, writing his most controversial stories during the famous CART-Tony George split. A few years later, he was fired by The Star for allegedly violating company policies. He was hired by ESPN and worked on the Wind Tunnel show with legendary motorsports announcer Dave Despain.
Miller accepted his latest honor reluctantly because there are many others whom he considers as far more deserving.

“It’s flattering, but you also feel a little guilty about it,” Miller penned recently in his RACER magazine column. “But what do you say? I flunked out of college, I’m a borderline village idiot, but I got lucky. The Indianapolis Star gave me such a huge platform for over 30 years, and that was the most-read racing paper in the country.”

His tenure with The Star ended in 2001, and he had a frigid relationship with the IMS hierarchy and some city political leaders for many years. His stature on the national stage soared higher as he continued to back CART during the IndyCar racing split and was on several motorsports TV and radio programs.
His run-ins with Foyt and Indy 500 greats are legendary. In 1981, Foyt punched Miller after being accused of cheating. Not too long ago, Miller sat with Foyt for a lengthy TV interview at A.J. Foyt’s Wine Vault in Speedway.

Regarding his MHFA induction, Miller rattled off numerous names that are worthy: renowned motorsports writers Pete Lyons, Joe Scalzo, Gordon Kirby, Al Pearce and Ed Hinton; Despain and original Thursday Night Thunder producer Terry Lingner; dirt racing legend Jan Opperman; modified kings Bentley Warren, Richie Evans, and Brett Hearn; Gary Bettenhausen and Sammy Swindell who are on the 2022 ballot; Willy T. Ribbs; competitive IndyCar racers Sarah Fisher and Danica Patrick; and the late motorsports publicist Bill Marvel.
In recent years, Miller has been battling cancer; but he can still be found occasionally at Charlie Brown’s and the Workingman’s Friend on the westside.

While acknowledging his NHFA honor, Miller summed up his career.
“When you’re a kid and you grow up in Indianapolis, and you’re sneaking into the pits, and you’re stooging for Jim Hurtubise at 18 years old, and you watch Foyt and Parnelli (Jones) and Mario and Hurtubise as they start off in sprints and midgets and make their way up, then you go from being a fan getting their autograph, to writing about them, and then later in life becoming friends with them to where you can call them up anytime … It’s not a cliché; you cannot ask for a better life. If you’re into motor racing, how can you top that?”

“I’ve been friends with Robin since childhood. I was there when he started racing midgets in our early 20s. We have had many good laughs through the years and met many awesome people. It’s a well deserving honor for him.”
– Larry Schmalfeldt, Longtime friend

(SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Friends Jimmy King, Eric Davidson and Tate Hall when they were at UIndy. Tate is now a Loyola (Chicago) Rambler. King and Davidson were in the crowd Sunday to witness Hall’s victory.

“I dreamt of being in an NCAA Tournament, but not making it this far. Sweet 16 ... It’s a surreal feeling right now. Obviously being in Indy is indescribable. I just can’t put it into words. It’s just an awesome feeling being at home and doing this right now.”
– Tate Hall, 6-6 guard, Loyola Chicago Ramblers

Sweet 16 bound

By Kelly Sawyers, Publisher and Bob White
Community Outreach

When Greenfield-Central High School grad and former University of Indianapolis basketball standout Tate Hall decided to transfer to Loyola University in Chicago after his sophomore year, it was to follow his dream of playing NCAA Division 1 basketball.

In March 2018, Rob Hall got a phone call from his son, “Dad, do you have a minute? I’ve been thinking about this for a few weeks and want to transfer. I want the chance to play in March Madness.”
After the initial shock and waiting until his wife, Noelle (Young) Hall, finished teaching that day, they face-timed son Tate to figure out the next step.

Noelle, a Rushville High School grad, was a 1984 Indiana All Star and played for Indiana University 1984-1988, so she understood her son’s athletic dream.

As a sophomore at UIndy, Tate was named Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) first team All Conference. He started 24 of 28 games, averaged 32.0 minutes per game, and ranked 44th in NCAA Division II with a 56.0 field-goal percentage. He led the Greyhounds with 14.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

His former UIndy teammates and close friends, Jimmy King and Eric Davidson, have been his biggest supporters and they got to witness Loyola’s dominant win over Big 10 champion and No. 1 seed Illinois, 71-58, Sunday in one of several big upsets in the NCAA tournament, all played in Indiana for the first time.
Tate made sure two of his tickets were reserved for his buddies.

“It’s humbling for Tate to have such great friends like Jimmy and Eric,” Rob Hall said. “They’ve hung with us, ate with us and we’re friends with their families. Just great people.”... just great friends.”
He continued, “Tate is on cloud nine, but it’s not over yet. They (Loyola) have a great team. Their victory yesterday (Sunday) was a tribute to their defense. After the win, Tate looked up and pointed at his friends in the stands.”

In Tate’s first year with the Ramblers, he quickly asserted himself in the Missouri Valley Conference, earning third team All-MVC honors and being named to the All-MVC newcomer team, averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals.

Still beaming Monday in an exclusive interview with The Southsider Voice, Tate said, “My first game in March Madness was just living the dream in Hinkle Fieldhouse. You just can’t make this stuff up.”
The 6-6 senior guard played 19 minutes, scored three points and had five rebounds and four assists as the Ramblers stunned Illinois
.
He said “I definitely have some superstition in my blood. I’ll have the same people at my upcoming game. They’re my lucky charms.”

The Ramblers face No. 12 seed Oregon State at 2:40 p.m. Saturday.

Former UIndy teammate King stated, “I’m privileged to be his friend. Seeing him play at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse was magical. I’m not surprised with his success, because he is a hard worker and wasn’t content being all-conference Division II.”

And you can be sure that Loyola, Tate Hall and the Ramblers’ famous 101-year-old cheerleader/Sister Jean won’t be content with just reaching the Sweet 16.

Samaria Blackwell lived in Beech Grove

By Fred Shonk
Columnist

The City of Beech Grove held a community gathering Sunday evening on the steps of City Hall in honor of the FedEx employees who lost their lives in last week’s tragic mass-shooting.
Stuart, our therapy dog, and I arrived a bit early and saw several local television cameras being set up for telecasts later Sunday. Beech Grove Mayor Dennis Buckley greeted several people who also had gathered early.

Bill Chandler, a good friend of mine, approached and he informed me that one of the eight victims was a Beech Grove resident. I was among those in attendance who had no idea of a local connection with the tragedy that happened at the far-westside FedEx facility.
Chandler explained to me that he, his wife Cheryl, and their family were friends with 19-year-old Samaria Blackwell, her parents and her older siblings. He told of how their families came to know each other and pointed out some common friends and family members.

Samaria was home-schooled by her mother Tammi. She was a student-athlete who played basketball and soccer. She played for the Indianapolis Homeschool Wildcats and Indy Genesis. She had been working at FedEx for only a few months.

Samaria had planned on becoming a police officer. Several Beech Grove police officers were in attendance.
Mayor Buckley spoke to the crowd briefly and told of his long-time connection with Samaria and her family. He told us that Samaria’s mother was a babysitter for his kids many years ago. Those who spoke pulled the crowd together in the aftermath of the tragic shootings.

The observance honored all eight of the victims with additional thoughts and prayers for those who were injured in the shootings.

In addition to Samaria Blackwell, seven more indiviuals lost their lives in the shooting last week: Matthew Alexander, 32; Amarjeet Kaur Johal, 66; Amarjit Sekhon, 48; Karli Smith, 19; Jasvinder Kaur, 50; Jaswinder Singh, 68; and John (Steve) Weisert, 74.

Those who spoke, including Rev. Dan Bailey and Sikh member Gaganpal Singh Dhaliwal, emphasized healing and unity. Four of the shooting victims were Sikh. Prayers helped the healing.
Buckley recognized that of all the recent mass shootings in the nation that this one, although on the far westside, was too close to home because a local girl was among the victims.
The mayor also pointed out that several residents in Beech Grove work for FedEx which has several locations in central Indiana.

FedEx officials were unsure when the facility where the shooting occured would re-open.
As the observance began, a small rain shower began. The rain varied during the emotional gathering. I’m sure that many of the folks there, including myself, thought of it as tears from heaven.
Stuart also noticed those in attendance along with the pets that were there. The calm and quiet that special dogs can provide their owners is invaluable, especially in times of grief.

Stuart and I were humbled to be part of the crowd that attended the observance last Sunday at City Hall as Beech Grove honored the eight victims of this senseless tragedy.

Fire destroys historic Greenwood grain elevator

(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY AL STILLEY)
Firefighters from four different departments put out blaze that destroyed a grain elevator on East Main Street near downtown Greenwood on April 27. Top photos, firefighters also had to pour water continuously on nearby trees directly east of the grain elevator. Firefighters reported to the scene around 3:30 p.m. Traffic was blocked on Main Street for several hours until the blaze was fully extinguished. Two nearby businesses were damaged.

By Al Stilley
Editor

A spectacular fire destroyed a vacated grain elevator in Greenwood that had stood for 80 years during the late afternoon on April 27.
The blaze also heavily damaged two adjacent businesses – Sports Plus and You Are the Artist – at 200 E. Main St. Sports Plus owner Scott Beasley, a standout student-athlete at Greenwood High School (Class of 1991), said that the building could be reopened in three months but that damage from smoke could call for a complete rebuild that would take nearly a year.
“I started shoving stuff out the front door with that inferno behind me, but so many people – strangers that I don’t even know – came in and helped move things out of the front part of the store,” Beasley said. “It restores a little bit of my faith in humanity; they helped me out of their kindness and at great risk.”
Beasley said that all customer clothing left for sewing or embroidering was saved and placed in a trailer provided by Tillman’s. Clothing inventory and equipment for screen printing was lost. However, Beasley mentioned that screen-printing competitors have offered their facilities and equipment for use.
Sports Plus opened in 1983 and was founded by Beasley’s parents, Jerry and Linda Beasley.
Teresa Taylor, who owns a small art studio in the same L-shaped single story building, estimated that most of the studio cannot be salvaged and that up to 70 paintings were destroyed. Taylor has leased space from Sports Plus for five years for the art facility where classes are held with lessons in canvas and wood painting and tumbling decorating.
An estimated 25 percent of the building may be salvageable.
Firefighters from Greenwood, White River, Indianapolis, and Whiteland battled the blaze and also continuously sprayed several burning trees east of the adjacent railroad tracks.
There were no injuries. Traffic was blocked for several hours in the area on Main Street.
Greenwood historian Brad Nemeth reported that the first grain elevator was built on the site in the 1820s. Fires in 1909 destroyed that building and two barns and another grain elevator in 1952.
The grain elevator was a familiar site to motorists traveling east and west on Main Street near the CSX railroad tracks. The tall facility that had not been used for years had a familiar Co-op logo. It was a long remaining symbol of the importance of agriculture in Greenwood when it was a small rural town.
Investigators began searching for a cause of the fire that remained unknown at press time.

(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY GENTRY APPLEGET)
Greenwood aerial fire apparatus and fire trucks spray water on historic but abandoned grain elevator to prevent fire from spreading. Firefighters also from White River Township, Whiteland, and Indianapolis reported to the scene. Smoke from the blaze could be seen from several miles away.

(SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Doug Settle, middle, holds a special plaque that was presented to him recently in honor of a towering home run that he hit when playing Perry Township Pony League baseball in 1965. Settle is with teammate Dr. Ed Wills, left, and Barry Hix.

By Barry Hix
Historian

As a youngster growing up in the early 1960’s, I always looked forward to the arrival of spring which signaled warmer weather around the corner.
It also wouldn’t be long before lots of kids living in Perry Township would be playing organized summer baseball. Boys 8 to 12 years old played Little League baseball at fields in Edgewood, Southport and University Heights.

Edgewood Little League was located on the grounds of Edgewood Elementary, Southport Little League was at Homecroft Elementary, and University Heights Little League was at Indiana Central College, now University of Indianapolis.

From 1953 until 2007, thousands of 13-14 year old boys continued to play baseball in the Perry Township Pony League with diamonds at 5391 Shelby St.

I played ball at the Edgewood LL (1953-1963) and Pony League (1964-1965). I still have a lot of fond memories of those summers I played ball at the Edgewood Little League (‘59-‘63) and Pony League (‘64-‘65). My most memorable summer was 1965 on the Temperly Trucking team that became league champions with a 15-3 record. We played the majority of our games ‘under the lights’ which give most of us a major league feeling.

One special event that summer turned out to be my most cherished Pony League memory. It was a warm mid-July evening and our team was down a run in the next to last inning. With a runner on second base, one of our best hitters, Doug Settle, stepped up to the plate. I was standing against the fence next to the third-base dugout when I watched him hit what has been considered the longest home run ever hit at the field.

The ball nearly hit the lights in left-centerfield which stood 25 feet above the top of the fence. It finally landed in a yard across Shelby Street and those who witnessed the blast estimated the ball traveled an amazing 420 feet.

The entire team ran out on the field and greeted Doug as he reached home plate. As we headed back to the dugout we noticed he had tears running down his cheeks. A few of us patted him on the back but none of us said a word because we understood the reason for the tears.

As he sat down on the bench Doug told us he hit that home run for his father, Chuck, who had passed away just one month earlier. It was an extremely emotional experience for everyone who attended the game and that special moment has stuck with me for the past 55-plus years.

On a beautiful day last November, a small group gathered at the former Pony League Field, presently Bulldog Stadium, where we presented Doug with a plaque commemorating his historic home run. Joining in the celebration was our former teammate and SHS classmate Dr. Ed Wills, former longtime Pony League coach Steve Harnedy, Bulldog Stadium administrator John Parmalee and former Pony Leaguer Ted Lobdell who coordinated the photos on the plaque.

His homerun is a special memory that still echoes throughout Perry Township wherever today’s youngsters play organized baseball.

Commemorative plaque shows Doug Settle, Pony League team, and parents.

(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY)
Christel House Manual athletic director Nolen Dowling, left, and assistant athletic director Robert Orkman are all smiles as the first day of school approaches on Aug. 4. Most teams will compete in IHSAA Class 3A as the “Eagles” instead of “Redskins.” Below, the message board in front of the school on South Madison avenue shows the official full name of the Christel House charter/innovative Indianapolis Publlc Schools merger. Christel House Watanabe High School at Emmerich Manual High School will be known commonly as Christel House Manual.

By Al Stilley
Editor

A new high school is emerging on the near-Southside with a 126-year history.

The changes at Emmerich Manual High School are dramatic as well as far-reaching into the future of the 68-year campus on Madison Avenue and Pleasant Run Parkway. Last year after eight years of being operated as a state-mandated charter school, EMHS was approved by the state to be operated by Christel House and as an innovative school of Indianapolis Public Schools.

EMHS officially is now known as Christel House Watabe Manual High School and will be easier identified publicly as Christel House Manual. The students from Christel House, grades K-12, will be educated on the EMHS campus with those students in grades 11-12.

The school’s high school athletic teams will compete as the “Eagles” in IHSAA Class 3A in most sports as Manual’s traditional nickname “Redskins” goes in the history books. The two high school’s competed separately last year with the Christel House Eagles in Class A and Manual Redskins in Class 3A.

“The offerings, academics and athletics, are exciting,” Christel House Manual athletic director Nolan Dowling said Monday. “Great opportunities lie ahead for the students.”
Dowling said that school will offer football, coed soccer, volleyball, cross country, boys and girls basketball, wrestling, track and field, and cheerleading for the 2021-2022 school year that begins Aug. 4.

Assistant athletic director Robert Orkman, who has coached at EMHS for six years, will continue to coach boys basketball. Last year, EMHS did not have enough players for teams in baseball, volleyball, and boys and girls soccer. EMHS advanced three wrestlers to the IHSAA regionals.
Orkman, a former EMHS football coach, said the number of football players increased for the upcoming season with 38 players reporting. He expects a larger number of students to try out for all sports.
“Both schools have diverse student populations,” said Orkman. “We expect to be able to grow all (athletic) programs.”

Dowling, a former Western Kentucky University football player, was more emphatic when stating, “There is a proud athletic history here, but that was many years ago. We want to build a new history of success on the Southside.”

Three schools combined into Christel House Manual are: Christel House South, K-8; Christel House Watanabe, 9-12; and EMHS, 11-12. Manual juniors and seniors will receive EMHS diplomas. Christel House also offers an evening school for adults that will expand to a daytime option in 2022-2023.
ROTC, graphic arts, photography, welding, band and some dual-credit classes are among the offerings at Christel House Manual.

A quick walk through the newly-named Christel House Manual reveals workers who have been busy renovating the main classroom building since January. Christel House Academy and the adult high school also will be separated. First floor classrooms are being renovated for kindergarten through second-grade students. An existing courtyard is to be turned into a school playground.

The gymnasium reveals the past with a red “M” in the middle of the hardwood court and the future with a scorer’s table from the home of the Christel House Eagles.

“Right now, we’re doing the best we can to merge schedules while looking at previous commitments of Christel House and Manual,” Dowling said. “It’s a challenging process, but it is going smoothly.”
An eight-game CHM football schedule has been put together by Dowling four home games at Ray Schultz Field.

CHM has a unique history.

The Industrial Training School at 525 S. Meridian St. opened in 1895 and was renamed Manual Training School in 1899 and Charles E. Emmerich Manual Training High School in 1916 in honor of the first principal of the Industrial Training School. The school was relocated to its current site at 2405 S. Meridian St., with the former site renamed Harry E. Wood Vocational Training School that operated until 1978.

Christel House was founded in 1998 by the late Christel DeHaan and expanded to five different learning centers by 2002.

Dr. Sarah Weimer serves as executive director of Christel House Schools, including the current transition of combining EMHS with Christel House on the EMHS campus. She spearheaded the partnership with IPS as an innovation school and Christel House as a charter.

SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY KELLY SAWYERS)
Donte McDonald Jr., right, is the 2021-2022 Youth of the Year recipient of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis. McDonald has been a member of the Keenan-Stahl club for 11 years. He is with the Board President of Keenan-Stahl club, Bob White, seated, and Donte’s parents Donte Sr. and Denitria McDonald.

“Keenan-Stahl Boys & Girls Club has been an extremely important part of my life. Being a member of such an amazing club has helped me develop and grow into the person I am today. It has provided me opportunities that will help open doors to a bright future.”
Donte McDonald Jr.

By Kelly Sawyers
Publisher

The Blue Door Gala, benefitting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, was held Saturday downtown at the Crane Bay Event Center.
The gala is a yearly fundraising event for the organization, as well as, the event that honors a youth to represent Indianapolis and compete in statewide competition in the spring.
This year’s recipient is Donte McDonald Jr., a senior at Southport High School. He is the son of Donte McDonald Sr. and Denitria; and brother of Davion, a freshman at Southport, and an 8-year member of the club.
McDonald is a stellar student and plays basketball and baseball. He also is a Hank Aaron scholarship award winner. That scholarship allowed him to participate in activities for sports development. He plans to attend college.
“This was very emotional for me. I coached Donte at the club and seeing him up on the stage made me so proud. He’s such a great kid,” said Bob White, board president of Keenan-Stahl Boys & Girls Club.
White played ball at the same club with Donte’s great uncle Doug Nance as youngsters and sent a text to Nance of a photo of his nephew as the honored recipient on the stage.
McDonald and four other honorees – Cortez Carter, LeGore Boys & Girls Club; Heaven Longmire, Wheeler-Dowe Boys & Girls Club; Dayinairia Misiewicz, Lilly Boys & Girls Club; and Kylie Graves, Finish Line Boys & Girls Club – completed applications, wrote essays and participated in interviews with board members and community partners who were to select one youth for the coveted award.
“Donte is known around our club as a powerhouse simply due to his consistency and unflappability to making meaningful bonds with others.”
“There is something to be said about the kindness and positivity that exudes from him. Great leaders are positively infectious and he is a leader in every sense of the word.”
“He inspires me to continue to offer my best self to the kiddos we serve and I hope I have inspired him to believe in his greatness just the same,” said Isia Williamson, Program Director, Keenan-Stahl Boys & Girls Club.
The gala that raised $153,888 and surpassed its goal of $150,000 was emceed by Alexis Rogers, anchor of News 8 Midday and co-host of ‘All Indiana’ on WISH-TV, and Cameron Ridle, host of ‘Open Lines’ on WTLC-FM and WHHH-FM.
Attendees enjoyed dinner, a silent and live auction and heard stories of the remarkable lives of young people who have overcome challenges and distinguished themselves with outstanding contributions to their communities and their club.

(Note: Jennifer Chan, Porch Light PR, contributed to this article.)

Merrill “Doc” Simmerman, wearing the Saint Barbara’s medal and his wife Barb, wearing the Molly Pitcher medal, at a Indiana Military Academy (OCS) graduation dinner.

By Kelly Sawyers
Publisher

Merrill D. “Doc” Simmerman, Major (Ret.), 71, enlisted in the Army in 1974.
His basic training was at Fort Leonard Wood as commander of a radar battery. He was close to being deployed during the Gulf War, but never deployed for combat.
“The good Lord has kept me out of harm’s way,” said Simmerman.
He served in many training missions with the regular Amy at several military facilities in the U.S. and Germany.

During his Army career, he furthered his training at OCS, Command General and Staff College; and received many awards, but his highest was the Indiana National Guard Distinguished Service Medal Ribbon. This award is given to members of the Indiana National Guard who perform unusually distinguished meritorious service, which to a marked degree is reflected in the increasing efficiency of the militia, for which brings exceptional and great honor or credit and commands that attention and respect of the citizens of the State and members of the Military established through the United States.

He retired from his military career as a major in 2000. He held various positions in the United States Postal Service (USPS) and retired as district manager of TACS, USPS in 2010.

He stays busy in our community by being a door keeper for Indiana Senate when in session, Republican precinct committeeman, Mason at Southport Lodge/Scottish Rite/Shriner, a tour guide at the Scottish Rite, and board member of the German American Klub.

He also has stepped up many times and volunteered delivery of The Southsider Voice.
Simmerman and his wife, Barb, between them have six children,10 grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren. When his wife retired, they started BJ’s Lucky Dog Rescue and in the first 15 years, they have found homes for more than 60 dogs – one being my dog Reggie, rescued in 2011. Many of the rescues became members of their family.

He loves family time together and traveling to little getaways with Barb. They are young at heart and are the perfect match.

He enjoys photography and keeping active in many organizations and is always, always, always, ready to have a great cup of coffee.
Simmerman said, “It’s a wonderful life.”

Harold Metheny with his family at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony Oct. 20. Wife Diane, front, with daughters Rachel, left, and Amy. Middle, next to Metheny, is granddaughter Maddie, daughter Krista and granddaughter, Grace. Back is daughter-in-law Cathy and grandson, Gavin.

Harold Metheny stationed at the US Army base at Trois Fontaines Ammunition Depot in Bar-Le-Duc, France several miles east of Paris.

By Al Stilley
Editor

Southport’s Harold Metheny is a retired U.S. Army veteran who proudly served his nation overseas in France.
He served overseas in 1958 and 1959. With his Hoosier roots, it’s no surprise that he also played basketball on the base team throughout the country in 1958 and appropriately coached the team in 1959.
Teams from Army bases in France played each other on weekends. Metheny compared the men’s basketball quality to NCAA Division 2. He was a Specialist 4 and supervised an ammunition warehouse at a base several miles from Paris.

Of course, it was appropriate that he played basketball in addition to his other duties. He had played basketball at Shelburn High School and graduated in 1952. He later graduated from Indiana State University.
When he returned to Indiana from serving in the U.S. Army, he taught government and U.S. history at Carlisle High School where he was an assistant boys basketball coach. Metheny and his wife Diane moved to Southport in 1962.

He was recently honored as the 2020 Indiana Fever Silver Medal Award recipient for his contribution to girls basketball on the Southside with the induction class of players honored by the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. The award is presented annually to an individual who makes an outstanding contribution to Indiana high school basketball but not as a player or coach.

Metheny and his wife are the parents of daughters Amy, Krista and Rachel. Amy was a member of the Southport state championship team and an inductee into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. He also coached them in softball leagues. They played basketball at Southport High School collectively from fall 1976 through spring 1984. Amy graduated in 1980, Krista 1983, and Rachel 1985.
He created the Baxter YMCA summer league for high schools in 1974 that eventually developed and attracted the top girls basketball players and teams from central Indiana. Their three daughters played in that league.

Metheny had wanted to coach high school basketball but that was thwarted by his wife.
“He became a high school teacher and coach,” daughter Amy recalled. “But mom didn’t like hearing people in the stands criticizing his coaching, so when he received a job in Indy as a guidance director at Southport High School he decided to hang-up coaching.”
He would serve Perry Township Schools as a guidance counselor for nearly 30 years.
While at Baxter Y, he coached Southport varsity and junior-varsity teams for 12 years, mostly during the summer. Metheny won 90 percent of games that he coached in his first four years with assistant coach Chuck Mallender and wound up with a 12-year winning percentage well over 80 percent in nearly 500 games.
He also coached teams in White River Games, Peace Games, Lutheran League, Catholic League, Municipal Gardens, Garfield Park, Fletcher Place and Riverside leagues.

Many girls sought him out to play for him. Metheny thus provided opportunities to scores of girls and coached more than three dozen players who earned college scholarships with 11 of them, including daughter Amy in 2008, as Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inductees. He also coached 11 Silver Anniversary players, numerous Indiana All-Stars, including Southport’s Linda Mallender, and 32 basketball scholarship players when college coaches didn’t really seek out players.

His 12-year success in various summer leagues with Southport players transferred to the Cardinals with great accomplishments. During that same span, the high school girls team that was coached by Marilyn Ramsey won the county tourney, five sectionals, three regionals, one semi-state, and a coveted state championship.

In her waning weeks of battling Stage 4 cancer, Ramsey dictated a letter of support in Metheny’s nomination for the Silver Medal award that also mentioned Chuck Mallender as his four-year assistant.
“I was so fortunate to have two knowledgeable and committed parents who ran the off-season program. The new season always began with players fit, skill improved, and with more game knowledge exhibited. Several of my coaching contemporaries spoke with envy of the stability of my off season opportunities.”
Metheny also was the first to integrate the Baxter Y league when he brought in Washington High School standout Cheryl Cook, who later would become Miss Indiana Basketball and praised him for being a great influence. She also played for the University of Cincinnati.

“He was a father figure to me,” Cook stated with admiration. “He would pick me up in my old neighborhood Haughville and allowed me to venture outside of my neighborhood and gave me the opportunity to play with such a great bunch of girls who became my family. I will be forever grateful to him because he never treated me any different and never saw color.”

To this day, Amy Metheny gives high praise to her father whom she considers “a ‘girl’s dad’ long before Kobe.” And she recalls that he did it without ever raising his voice.
“He taught girls the game of basketball and gave them opportunities that only the boys had previously known,” she added in her letter of recommendation for the Silver Award. “What he did for girl’s basketball in central Indiana during those 12 years is unprecedented.”

Ironically, he only coached one high school varsity game. In the 1974-1975 season, he coached Southport’s boys team to a regular season win against a favored Decatur Central team when the Cardinals’ head coach was ill and could not coach.

After serving his country in the U.S. Army, Harold Metheny came to Southport and served his family, his community, his young athletes, and his high school.

Metheny with daughter Amy at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle, for her induction in 2009.

Harold Metheny when he coached one of his daughter Amy’s (No.1) first Baxter Y teams.

Metheny when he coached his younger daughters Krista (No. 7) and Rachel (No. 4) at the Baxter Y.

GETTING STARTED
A groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 9 on the grounds of a massive $83 million redevelopment project in the heart of downtown Greenwood launches the beginning of construction for multiple-use buildings and amenities. Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers at the podium greets guests who attended the special ceremony. Standing behind Myers are additional dignitaries who spoke of the project’s importance, from left, Greenwood council member Ezra Hill, Great Lakes Capital managing director Clay Scheetz, and Greenwood Redevelopment Commission president David Hopper. They later donned white hats and grabbed shovels for the ceremonial groundbreaking with financier Chris Reid, second from left, and former Johnson County Sheriff Terry McLaughlin, far right. (SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY)

By Al Stilley
Editor

Proclaiming the value of smart investments and smart partnerships, Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers opened a groundbreaking ceremony that will make the redevelopment of “The Madison” a reality.

“The Madison” is the new name for an $83 million multi-purpose development on 19 acres of land where the old Greenwood Middle School was located. The redevelopment project that has been on the drawing board since 2013 and includes the Greenwood Fieldhouse to be opened in early 2022 and several more buildings. The Madison features a combination of residential units (condominiums, townhouses and apartments), 18,000 square feet of commercial, retail, restaurant, and entertainment space, and a 356 car capacity parking garage.

“We are taking a major step toward building the Greenwood of tomorrow,” Myers proclaimed.
The public-private partnership that Myers praised consists of $15 million in street and site improvements plus the parking garage and $68 million in private investment.

The area is south of the Greenwood Public Library and forms a link with Old Town Greenwood, amphitheater, nearby splash pad, the new city park, spacious Craig Park to the east, and the reimagined Madison Avenue corridor.

Myers also praised business owners in Old Town Greenwood along Main Street and Madison Avenue.
“This project and the Greenwood Fieldhouse are important milestones in a years-long effort to revitalize Old Town,” Myers emphasized. “They (business owners) believe in the message we have here for Greenwood and they want to be a part of it.”

Groundbreaking speakers also included Great Lakes Capital managing director Clay Scheetz, Greenwood City Council member Ezra Hill and Greenwood Redevelopment Commission president David Hopper.
The City of Greenwood also formally closed on an agreement between CRG Residential and Great Lakes Capital and also bonds to fund the project.

Hill emphasized that The Madison brings life back into Greenwood because of the project’s revitalization of Old Town, improved amenities, its link to trails and parks, its density, and even more opportunities for development.

Scheetz, the son of a Greenwood business owner, said, “Following the city’s strong economic development activity and growth through the years, we are confident in our decision to invest in Greenwood.”
The updated plans also call for two additional buildings along Surina Way potentially for condos.
Scheetz also emphasized that The Madison is “a community within a community” that provides residents with a place to live, work, and play.

The project, according to Hopper, is anticipated to add an additional one million dollars in tax revenue for the city without increasing taxes for current city residents.

No estimate was provided on the completion of The Madison
.
The property is bordered by Madison Avenue, Smith Valley Road, Meridian Street, and Surina Way.

(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY)
A bouquet of 21 white roses held by, from left, Megan Wise, Leeanne Lollar, and Kara Johnson Drew, honors the white rose initially placed on the casket of the Tomb of the Unknown Solder 100 years ago. The three women are veteran members of the Samuel Bryan Chapter (DAR).

By Al Stilley
Editor

A standing-room crowd of young and older patriots honored our nation’s veterans Thursday during the annual observance at Beech Grove City Hall.

The Veterans Day event on the Southside was observed with hosting organizations City of Beech Grove and the Samuel Bryan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The local DAR chapter also led a special observance of the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Nearly 100 patrons, including several youngsters, attended the one-hour ceremony held inside City Hall due to inclement weather.

“We congregate today as free people,” Beech Grove Mayor Dennis Buckley stated in his welcoming remarks.
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) reminded patrons to hold onto “our precious freedoms” to honor veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of America’s freedoms and democracy. He also posed for photos afterward with members of the Beech Grove High School Junior ROTC who served as greeters as patrons entered the council room on the second floor of City Hall.

Participating organizations included American Legion Post 276, American Legion Auxiliary Post 276, Beech Grove Fire Department, and Beech Grove Police Department.

The annual event also honored 20 veterans from Beech Grove who gave their lives in military service seven in World War II, five in the Civil War, five in the Vietnam War, two in the Korean War, and one in the War of 1812.

Beech Grove resident Steve Nontell read In Flanders Fields, the patriotic poem from World War I, Doug Hardwick played Amazing Grace on bagpipes, and all guests stood and sang the National Anthem and God Bless America.

Members of the DAR chapter presented a moving program in honor of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that included the ringing of the bell 21 times, presentation of 21 white roses, a two-minute “great silence” in recognition of the establishment of the tomb on the 11th hour, 11th day, and 11th month in 1921, and Taps.
Following the observance at City Hall, a reception was held at American Legion Post 276 in Beech Grove.

Cadets of the Beech Grove High School Junior ROTC greet patrons as they enter the council room due to inclement weather outdoors at City Hall. The cadets are, from left, Ethan Brown, John Schlegel, David Flores, and Andrew Howard.

Young Joe Ake working on a television.

Southside business founded by Ake epitomizes the value and popularity of locally-owned establishments

By Fred Shonk
Columnist / Historian

On Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Perry Township / Southport Historical Society held its bi-monthly meeting and program. The guest speaker was Joe Ake Jr., who talked about his dad’s ownership of the Recommended TV business that was founded by his father, Joe Ake.
Ironically, the son remembered that his father told him when he was nine years old that “one day you will hang your TV on the wall.”

The Ake family lived in the very first house west of Madison Avenue on Thompson Road. Joe Ake and his wife Katheryn raised a large family of nine children that included eight daughters and a son. Seven of the daughters recalled many memories in a video that Joe Jr. made and was shown at the meeting.
Ake worked for an insurance company for several years. He became interested in televisions when they first came out in the 1940’s. He learned about working on televisions and started out helping neighbors and local families when they were needing repairs.

In 1949, Recommended TV was started. It was located in part of their home on Thompson Road. Over the years, the business grew and took over more of the family home.

With nine children in the home, daughter Julie Butler recalled, “I remember being in a family that had continuous activity. There was always something going on somewhere with or without the TV business.”

A couple of the sisters explained that it seemed a bit strange when they had to answer their home telephone by saying, “Recommended TV”. Later there was a normal business telephone with its own number.
During the early days of television, many of the TVs were very large and bulky. When the TV stopped working, a repairman needed to be called. The early days of Recommended TV required Ake to make many house calls to repair customers televisions. Daughter Carol Evans recalled that her dad would bring home the used burnt-out TV tubes.

“My favorite activity was putting the tubes that he brought back on the shelves,” she said. “There were hundreds and hundreds (of tubes).”

Each of his daughters accompanied him on house calls which they enjoyed most of the time, although they sat on many couches in many homes watching their dad make repairs to TV sets. Many times they enjoyed french fries that their dad would pick up for them.

The business grew over the years. This required taking over more of the space in the house. In the early 1960’s there was quite a bit of expansion connected with their business as Madison Avenue was converted into a four-lane street.

The reception and showroom areas were expanded. At some point, Recommended TV also sold appliances. During the presentation at the historical society meeting, he also explained they displayed and sold furniture for a while.

Their service and tech areas also grew over the years. The daughters remember their dad having a large carrying case filled with parts and tubes to repair TVs. It looked like a large case that a doctor would carry. They had several repair trucks that were driven to the customer’s house to get their televisions back in running order. Most of that changed with the digital era.

Recommended TV grew to a few other locations. They opened one in Nora Plaza in 1971. There were a couple of other locations as well but the main operation was always at Thompson and Madison. Part of the growth was attributed to a popular jingle on radio commercials on WIFE.

I remember one of the girls telling us that their father sometimes drove some of the employees up to the Teepee and purchased their lunch. His daughters revealed stories on the video of how kind their father was to his employees.

When I was growing up, we lived on Madison Avenue. Our house was just a block north of Thompson Road. Our family and the Ake family were friends and neighbors for many years.

My mother belonged to a ladies’ club. When color TVs became popular, mom would hear some of her friends talking about purchasing a new set. Mom would direct her friends to Recommended TV and Mr. Joe Ake.

One day, I came home to discover a new color TV in our living room. Ake had made mom a special deal because of all the customers she had directed his way.

The Recommended TV building eventually was torn down. The site is now the location of the Turkey Run gasoline station and food mart.

The presentation brought back memories of a viable Southside business that was founded locally and was locally owned. It is a reminder that even today, we need to support family-orientated and locally-owned businesses on the Southside.

Attendance was good at the historical society meeting and attendees were highly interested in the history of a local business. The video that Ake’s son presented at the historical society meeting may be viewed online at: https://youtube.com/ watch?v=7H6iVplyTCg&feature=s hare
(Thank you to Editor Al Stilley for contributing to this story).

Ake sisters Ruth Mercer and Vicki Van Meter telling stories about their family.

(SOUTHSIDER PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY)
BGHS state champion wrestlers, from left, Danny Coyne, Ethan Harris, Steven Bradley, Gary Pierson, and Ralph Edwards hold their awards in front of appreciative crowd.

By Al Stilley
Editor

Beech Grove High School honored its five Indiana state champion wrestlers in a special ceremony Thursday before the Hornets match against Christel House Manual.

The honorees were IHSAA state champions Ralph Edwards, 98-pound class in 1972; Gary Pierson, 119 pounds in 1972; three-time champion Steven Bradley; Ethan Harris, 112 pounds in 2005; and Danny Coyne, 112 pounds in 2006. Bradley won successive championships from 1996 through 1998 in 118- and 126-pound classes respectively. The champions were special guests with family and friends at a reception before going into “The Hive” to be honored on Matt English Court. Hosts for the special recognition were Beech Grove Athletics, Beech Grove Alumni Association, and the Beech Grove Wrestling program. Current BGHS head wrestling coach Ryan Williams explained his association with all five champions.

Coach Williams also honored BGHS wrestling supporter and P.A. announcer Steve Nontell with a special award from Beech Grove Wrestling and mentioned that Nontell “bleeds orange and black.”
Nontell later introduced each of the state champion Hornets and emphasized that the wrestlers brought home two IHSAA state team championships. He drew applause when he announced to the crowd that the wrestling program turned Beech Grove into a “city of champions.”

Longtime BGHS P.A. announcer Steve Nontell, left, chats with Ethan Harris at reception. Below, Nontell, a wrestling program supporter, is honored by the BGHS wrestling program and head coach Ryan Williams.

Engine and car builder honored as 2006 Speedrome Hall of Fame inductee

By Al Stilley
Editor

The world of dirt track late model racing lost its icon on New Year’s Day with the passing of famed engine and racecar builder Carl J. “CJ” Rayburn, 81, Whiteland.

Anyone who met him at Rayburn Race Cars on Graham Road soon realized that he was a multi-tasker who always had his mind set on making his racing engines more powerful and durable and his racecars lighter and faster. He was called eccentric, innovative, friendly, genius, irreverent, cantankerous, friendly, and generous.

He also would open the shop to late model teams in the middle of the night, telling them to pick your parts to make your car or engine better. He enjoyed telling stories to anyone who would listen in the shop or in his living room where he would offer guests a sandwich and a cold beer without hesitation.

Self-taught by experience, Rayburn began building 400-cubic inch small-block engines for drag racing in 1976 and also built 350-cubic inch motors for pavement oval and Figure-8 racing at the Indianapolis Speedrome in 1978 where employee Royce Johnson raced. Kenny St. John won the 1982 World Championship Figure-8 three-hour endurance race in a Rayburn-powered racecar in 1982.

At the time, a section of Graham Road was better known as “racer’s row” because NHRA Pro-Stock king Bob Glidden’s home and engine shop was on the corner, Figure-8, drag racer, and dirt track driver Charlie Reed’s home was next and then Rayburn. Late model dirt track champion Steve Barnett’s home and shop was about a mile south.

He received many honors: inaugural member of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame plus Kentucky Motorsports, Brownstown Speedway, and Indianapolis Speedrome halls of fame, Kentucky Colonel, and Sagamore of the Wabash, and many lifetime achievement awards.

An accomplished racer himself who learned how to drive fast in the hills of Kentucky, Rayburn was driven to win and wanted to put the winningest engines and racecars on the track for numerous drivers. Teams virtually lined up to purchase his engines and chassis. Rayburn Race Cars build 300 chassis yearly in addition to cranking out high-horsepower motors. By the early 1980s, his cars had been driven to nearly 40 track championships nationwide.

Rayburn Race Cars engines and chassis appropriately bore the label “Stronger than Dirt.”
When a driver wasn’t up to par in one of his cars, Rayburn would moan that he would rather see that driver in someone else’s car instead of one of his creations. NASCAR stars Tony Stewart and Kenny Wallace drove his late models on dirt.

Any questions about Rayburn’s status in racing were answered when he was talking basketball with a son-in-law, Chris Pohl of Greenwood. They were talking about Knight’s fame when Rayburn remarked in all honesty, “Bobby Knight is the C.J. Rayburn of basketball.”

In an exclusive interview with Rayburn in his living room in 2006, Rayburn admitted that his success came about because he was “dumb smart.”

Rayburn remarked, “Most guys in this business are in the money business, not the customer business. It’s a rumor-operated sport, and the more a part costs, the more people will want it. Those expensive parts can slow down car instead of making it faster.”

Most mornings at the shop, Rayburn saved a few hours for phone calls from those involved in racing or who wanted his cars or motors. He answered all inquiries honestly.

“Someone once said, If you can’t handle the truth, don’t ask C.J. Rayburn,” he said. “It’s all common sense.”
He also owned a Sunoco station at the corner of U.S. 31 and Tracy Road in New Whiteland where his family worked.

Rayburn, a native of King’s Mountain, Ky., is survived by six children, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Services were held Jan. 6 at Swartz Family Mortuary in Franklin and Jan. 8 in Liberty, Ky., with burial in Yosemite, Ky.

Rayburn will be honored April 17 with a Super Late Model race at Circle City Raceway that is operated by Speedrome track owner Kevin Garrigus at the Marion County Fairgrounds. The event is labeled as the inaugural CJ Rayburn Stronger than Dirt Memorial Classic.

Sophomores Kevin Rogers, left, and Sarah Cook, and senior Aiden Burr, right, check out the chassis for a robot during after-school CyberCards session. (SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY)

By Al Stilley
Editor

The buzz of activity in classrooms on the southside of the Southport High School building is unmistakable.
High school students in a large room work on various CAD designs while they consult with other students, their coaches, and mentors for ideas. They are among all robotics teams in the state who are designing and building robots for FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competitions.

The CyberCards get tips on design and builds from an adjacent room, students are busily looking over design printouts, cutting and fashioning pieces and wiring, and building a robot.

The rooms are the home of the CyberCards, the FIRST robotics team, at the high school and one of three teams on the Southside, including CyberBlue at Perry Meridian and Red Alert at Center Grove. Each of the teams has had successes in FIRST competitions.

On this particular evening, Southport assistant robotics coach Jason Germann reviews the design protocol with CAD sub-team leader Jay Johnson. Students in the adjacent build room are active under SHS teacher Anthony Stanich.

Twenty-five young CyberCards members with only one senior work together - the robotics program is the epitome of teamwork.

Overall, they design, build and program a robot for competition, apply real math and science concepts, develop problem-solving and organizational skills, and not only compete against other teams but form alliances with other teams in FIRST competitions.

Their enthusiasm is undeniable.

“Robotics has fueled my passion to be around like-minded people,” said sophomore Katie Essex. “Also to experience what I’ve never experienced before, seeing all the different robots and people working through problems for a common goal is something that is super-interesting.”

Essex was on the student council when programming teacher and robotics program director Mike Snodgrass presented a Mini-Movers program to provide a modified ride-on car for a physically disabled Perry pre-school student to move around independently.

She wound up supervising the project, one of many that is part of the CyberCards community outreach program, that has been expanded to children at a physical therapy center in downtown Indianapolis.

Essex also has earned her student pilot license and will receive her private pilot’s license in January at age 17. She wants to major in aeronautical engineering and aviation at Purdue University.

Junior Adam Bartley became interested in robotics in Snodgrass’ programming classroom that is adjacent to the robotics build room. He initially became a part of the program’s zoo toys program for the Indianapolis Zoo.

“I want to get involved with software design and engineering,” Bartley said. “This (robotics) provides me the steps through programming and design to the final project.”

His participation began with a team that is developing a robot with a small camera and transmitter that can enter a room undetected and scan the area for the Southport Police Department. He now is the student supervisor of developing the much-needed robot.

“I know it’s only one robot,” Bartley said. “It’s better that no one is hurt in certain situations; it could save a life.”

The community outreach programs take place from May to January before the competition robotics build season for district and state events through April.

“As part of our vision statement, we try to share our passions with our community,” Snodgrass said. “Our hope is that other future students see us at our community activities and want to become a part of our program.

The robotics program includes a variety of activities which attracted sophomore Rose Haflett, who is in operations. She has some interest in STEM but helps in CyberCards community outreach and has changed her post-high school interest from architectural engineering to communication or infomatics.

“No matter what their interests, there’s room for students in robotics,” Haflett said. “I know the mentors and coaches will steer the students in a good direction.”

The program also includes the CyberCards Steelbeaks at the Southport Middle School.

The CyberCards have appeared at various community events as they seek year-round funding from businesses and corporations. They were 2016 district champions among being district finalists and also have received entrepreneurship and spirit awards.

They recently had their first competition at West Lafayette since 2019 due to covid restrictions and they will compete in league and state championships during this school year.

Snodgrass concluded, “Our team’s most important accomplishments have been to make more students career-ready.”

Info: www.southportrobotics.org.

Southport student Jay Johnson, a CAD sub-team leader, gives CyberCards team members advice on robotics designs.

Sophomore Dick Sledge operates cutter for a major part in robot being built by CyberCards for competitions.

This trio of Southport students is among key CyberCards who have specific but different roles. They are, from right, team captain Katie Eggers, programming team member Adam Bartley, and Rose Haflett, operations captain.

By Al Stilley
Editor

Young Christian Stewart didn't know it at the time, but when he became a sixth-grade student at St. Roch Catholic School, the rest of his life would change in many ways.

"I had been missing something that I didn't know I was missing," said Stewart, who is a product of Roncalli High School and an outstanding senior on the Marian University basketball team.

The sharp-shooting backcourt ace for the Knights (16-4) is having an outstanding year as he recently scored 31 points for a career-collegiate high in a Jan. 18 home win against Mt. Vernon Nazarene. He led the Knights with 23 points Saturday in a 67-54 home win against Taylor University and ranks 10th among MU's All-time scorers.

Stewart has a string of five 20-plus point games since early Jan. 11.

Earlier Saturday, he talked about his background as a student-athlete, but, most importantly, the impact of Catholicism which he was introduced to in the sixth grade. He had attended public schools in Decatur Township through the fifth grade.

"St. Roch's was the first instance of dealing with religion in my life," Stewart recalled. "Academically it was a struggle, but I learned about faith there. I definitely began a different transition in how to go about things. It all seemed genuine. After that at Roncalli, I just tired to surround myself with people who had my best interest."

As Stewart continued with the Rebels (now Royals), he continued their hardwood legacy of four more winning seasons (57-44, all games). He shared the backcourt with Jimmy King as a sophomore, then averaged 18.8 points as a junior with a high-game of 36 points. Battling injury, he played in 13 games his senior year (15.6 points).

Stewart said his four years at Roncalli with small classes and devoted teachers helped lead him to the success academically and in the way he approaches life today. He is a member of the Class of 2017.
Considering Marian University, Stewart realized that the Knights utilized an offense with coach Scott Healy that had similarities to the spread-motion offense that coach Michael Wantz used at Roncalli.

"I had always been a scorer, but I have become a better defensive player," Stewart said. "Here (Marian), they have worked with me on my leadership and communication skills, on and off the court. And that has helped me and also has made the team better as a whole."

Stewart is a business management major and expects to enter the business world after graduation. Also, he still wants to be involved with the sport, perhaps as a coach.

His parents are Natasha and Jeff and he has two sisters, Hannah and Avery, and one brother, Brady.

By Al Stilley, Editor and Kelly Sawyers, Publisher

Lifelong Southsider Mark Stansbury was only nine years old when he went with a family neighbor to see his first Indianapolis 500 in 1964.

“Our neighbor invited my dad to go to the race at the last minute,” Stansbury recalled. “Dad couldn’t go, so he suggested that he take me; so off we went. We had seats on the inside of Turn 2. At the time those bleachers were small steel bleachers, very uncharacteristic of what you’d see there today.”
He had been to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in previous years for time trials and to visit the museum but never to the 500-mile race.

Young Mark and his neighbor could not anticipate the tragedy that would happen early in the race.
“Little did we know that the race would stop due to a terrible accident,” he said. “I remember realizing the cars didn’t come around (second lap) and saw all black smoke. I remember later that they announced Eddie Sachs had died.”

The horrific crash also claimed the life of Dave MacDonald whose car swerved into the inside wall of the front stretch after coming off Turn 4. The fuel tank on MacDonald’s racecar exploded upon impact and Sachs, with nowhere to go, drove into the fiery crash.

Stansbury did not go back for another “500” until the 1980s, but listened to the broadcast on radio and watched highlights on TV.

Meanwhile,he attended high school at Manual for two years before his parents moved to a home in Southport in 1970. He graduated from Southport High School in 1972 where he took an art class and several industrial arts classes.

“Being an artist never crossed my mind,” said Stansbury, who took a class, Purdue Engineering Graphics, at IUPUI.

He started sketching to pass the time between phone calls at a company where he answered technical questions from technicians.

“I was taught how to draw concept drawings in three-view and isometric and freehand,” he said. “I began to enjoy capturing the detail and saved several sketches. My family and friends asked for a copy; my parents loved them, and it progressed to a hobby from there.”

Owning his own business, he continued to sketch in the mornings. His interest in the “500” resulted in his first racecar sketch of a boat-tail racer from a Model T that was displayed at the Speedway for a roadster show.

“The car was supercharged,” Stansbury said. “It (Model T) was an instant inspiration because of the amount of detail, its age, and the graphics on it. You just don’t see “Indian gas” on signs anymore.”
Stansbury’s second car that he sketched was the famed Johnny Lightning racecar driven to back-to-back “500” wins by Al Unser and there’s a story behind the sketch.

“While drawing it at the Speedway under the trees behind the Pagoda some years ago, it was nearly done when suddenly a bird pooped on it,” he said with a grin. “I had no napkins, handkerchief or towel: my hand had to be it. I was quick enough and it (smudge) is barely noticeable on it today.”

Among his more interesting sketches are:
*A go-kart that the customer raced but was later killed in a midget car race on the Fourth of July.
*The No. 3 car of Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe among the newer racecars sketched.
*Two dirt-track drawings, one of A.J. Foyt and another up on two wheels.
*The Barney Oldfield sketch was a detail challenge and is all about no tire changes during the 1920 race.
*A top view of the famed Borg Warner trophy.
*A DeSoto with wire wheels that Stansbury believes was not raced in the “500.”
*A racecar with spinning wheels coming out of the pits was a challenge to get the smoke and proportion to look right.
*The No. 83 Lotus Ford driven by Bobby Johns in the “500.” The twin No. 82 racecar won the “500 with Jimmy Clark in 1965.

A sketch that brings back memories to those who went to the track in the ‘50s and ‘60s is the sketch of the old wooden front entrance to the track.

“With regard to the Speedway sketches, it seems that when I post these on my Facebook site, or on pictorial Indiana, it sparks a lot of talk about the cars, and interesting background, as well as the perspective of the drivers,” Stansbury observed. “Then you get those who were there and saw the cars run, chime in which makes it even more interesting.”

Some of Stansbury’s “500” sketches are on display in the Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St., and in the Pumpkinfish shop in The Garage, 906 Carrollton Ave., suite 440, near the new Bottleworks Hotel.

(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY)
Co-owners, mother Sheila Wright, right, and daughter, Jessica Alexander are in front of BG Express, 17 N. 5th Ave., in Beech Grove with entrepreneur Joe Wolfla, founder-owner of MU Technologies and Good Morning Publishing in Beech Grove. BG Express is the exclusive shipping and packaging company for those two Beech Grove-based businesses.

New Beech Grove business owners are Jay and Shelia Wright. He owns an independent contractor business, Jay’s Home Remodeling, LLC and she is co-owner of BG Express, a full-service shipping and packaging business.

By Al Stilley
Editor

The Wright family has brought several essentials to Beech Grove that enhance the quality of life on the Southside.

Husband and wife, Jay and Sheila Wright, moved to the Southside four years ago after living in Tuscon and San Diego and also serving as missionaries for 18 months in Amsterdam through the Shield of Faith.
They came to the Southside so they could be with their daughter, Jessica Alexander, and her three sons, who live in Greenwood.

The Wrights live their lives with the priorities of God, family, and work.

Sheila and daughter Jessica are co-owners of a much-needed shipping and packaging business in Beech Grove, BG Express, 17 N. 5th Ave. They opened BG Express a few months ago because it was a business that was needed, particularly in Beech Grove, especially along Main Street, because the closest FedEx and DHL shippers are about five miles away. BG Express is soon to be affiliated with UPS, according to Sheila.

BG Express is a full-service shipping and packaging facility that has all mailing services, private mailboxes, professional packing, notary service, office supplies, greeting cards, copying services, business cards, key duplications, and computer rental on site.

BG Express is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, closed on Sunday.

They are the official shippers of BU Technologies and Good Morning Publishing on Main Street in Beech Grove.

BG Express is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, closed on Sunday.

For over a year, Sheila and Jessica, who is a Notary, had been searching to establish a business service that was needed in Beech Grove.

“You know what’s not here in Beech Grove? A shipping and packaging location,” Sheila recalled. “We agreed, especially with Jessica being a Notary, that it would be a great service to offer Beech Grove and the area.”
“Senior citizens are glad we are here because we have a copier and a fax machine available,” Sheila said.
The community response has been heartwarming.

“I love Beech Grove, the small hometown feel, and our Main Street,” Sheila said. “The Main Street area is changing because of new businesses here, the mom and pop shops, and the restaurants. Beech Grove has been very welcoming.”

Sheila also has a Real Estate broker’s license in Indiana and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from National University.

Jessica’s boys are: David, 15, who attends Whiteland High School; Luke, 9, and Benjamin, 7, go to Grassy Creek Elementary School. She serves as one of the directors of food services with Indianapolis Public Schools.

“I’ve always been community-orientated and heavily involved with the church,” said Sheila.

She and her husband operate the not-for-profit Peace Oasis Empowerment through Celebrate Recovery, 955 Alton Ave., a Christ-centered, 12-step recovery program for adults struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind in a safe environment away from the issues controlling their lives. The Wrights are hopeful of adding a certified program for adult literacy and English as a second language soon.

The Wrights are active members of Songs of Hope in Beech Grove.

Jay is an ordained minister and is active at Celebrate Recovery and Songs of Hope. In Tuscon, he was an assistant pastor at Emmanuel Grace Church. He is an independent contractor, owner of Jay’s Home Remodeling, LLC, a business that he launched several months ago in Beech Grove. Jay specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling and exterior siding and roofing.

Jay and Sheila were married in 1985 in Tuscon, “the home of rattlesnakes and catcus,” according to Jay.
And now they are at home with a much-needed business in Beech Grove, the home of the Hornets. As their BG express motto says: “Let Sheila do it!”

Info: bgexpress.net, or call 317-220-8682, and jayshrllc@gmail.com.

Standing in back of the BG Express business vehicle are, from left, co-owners Sheila Wright and daughter Jessica Alexander and entrepreneur Joe Wolfla. BG Express, a full-service shipping and packaging company, recently opened at 17 N. 5th Ave., Beech Grove.

(SUBMITTED PHOTOS)
Nathan Epler, left, with his family. Brad (dad), Sandy (grandma), Brett and Jacqueline Singer, (cousins), a friend of the Singers, Morris (grandpa), Kim (aunt) and Kristin (mom).

Nathan Epler with his high school sweetheart and wife of almost five years, Alexa. She is a huge supporter of his endeavors in competing and business; and also competes in bodybuilding.

Personal Recollections
by Fred Shonk

Back in the days when I was a kid, most of the businesses that folks living on the Southside supported were owned by local folks. This was prior to the national organizations and even businesses with several locations in just Indiana moving into our area.

My father opened his service station located on Madison Avenue in 1956. I attended high school with many fellow students that had parents with local businesses. I’m so pleased to see that there are still local folks opening businesses on the Southside.

A few weeks ago, I received a call from Brad Epler. He introduced himself and explained that he was the son of Morris and Sandy Epler. I have known his parents for most of our lives. All three of us had families that owned and operated service stations on the Southside.

I rode Norwood Epler’s (Morris’ dad) school bus for several years.

The Epler family has a very strong connection with Perry Township. The original large Epler home, located just west of the Edgewood Grade School property, on Epler Avenue, has been owned by Perry Township for years and housed the township offices.

Brad Epler explained to me that his son, Nathan, was in the process of opening a new fitness and muscle development facility on the Southside. He gave me Nate’s number, so I called him and we made a plan to meet so I could learn more and see the facility.

The gym is located at 7747 Shelby Street. It is in a large strip mall on the east side of Shelby. I was very surprised at the size of his facility. I was told that this part of the mall had been sitting empty for about 10 years. It is about 23,000 square feet in size.

I sat down with Nate and he told me his story. He graduated from Greenwood High School in 2012. He was a wrestler in high school.

He graduated from UIndy in 2016 with a degree in Sports Management and Business.

After he finished college, Nate became involved in competitive body building. He won his first event in Evansville in 2019, then began traveling the country and competing. He won in Chicago. Six weeks later, he won in Las Vegas. He was second in Indianapolis and won in New York.

In 2019 he competed in the world championship and finished fifth. Fifth in the World! This is the world championship competition in which Arnold Schwarzenegger used to compete.

He started training and coaching in 2019. He has been planning to open a facility of this type for several years. Nate explained to me that a good friend of his has partnered with him and they are excited to get things going. This talented fellow is 28 years old.

The American Muscle Factory is very impressive and now open for business. You can learn lots more about this new locally owned business at amfindy.com or their Facebook page. The Epler family is back in business on the Southside.

Check out the new gym ...

Beech Grove native Kyle O’Gara celebrates 100-lap sprint car race win Saturday night at Anderson Speedway with wife Marissa and crew members, mechanic Nick Lundgreen and crew chief Brad Larsen.

By Al Stilley
Editor

Kyle O’Gara is on the hottest streak of his open-wheel pavement racing career with three consecutive wins.
First, the 27-year-old Beech Grove native captured his first-ever win June 30 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) in a 35-lap special event USAC midget car feature.

And then last Saturday at the high-banked quarter-mile Anderson Speedway, O’Gara took the 50-lap midget car feature and the prestigious 22nd annual Glenn Neibel Memorial 100-lap 500 Sprint Car Series race. Neibel’s drivers won the Little 500 six times and two USAC championships.

“First one in a long time,” O’Gara smiled Sunday at Whiteland Raceway Park before the unveiling of an historical marker.

“Our last double-header win was in karting about 14 years ago,” he added. “But that doesn’t compare in any way to last night (Saturday) at Anderson because that memorial sprint car race is so prestigious to win.”
Neibel, whose engine shop was in Edinburgh, powered drivers to six Little 500 wins and two USAC championships.

At Anderson, O’Gara started the memorial race in fourth place, moved to second in one lap and took the lead nine laps later.

He won the opening midget car feature after starting third, grabbed second immediately and passed Bobby Santos on lap 10.

“I think running the midget car race helps because we need more laps up there,” O’Gara said. “The midget translates to the sprint car, driving-style wise. The hundred lap sprint car race went quick and was easy.”
The sprint car is sponsored by O’Gara’s Irish Pub in Beech Grove and the midget car is backed by SFHR Development, Chick-fil-A, and Speedway Indoor Karting.

He still considers the five-eighths-mile paved IRP in Brownsburg as his home track
“Our entire family enjoys going there (IRP) and it’s close to our shop (Speedway Indoor Karting),” O’Gara said. “We battle against some of the best pavement racers in the country, and we finally beat them.”
He took his first USAC feature win at IRP by passing Bobby Santos on lap 20 and holding off Chuck Gurney in a five-lap sprint to the finish after a late-race caution.

O’Gara finished third earlier that night at IRP in a USAC sprint car race.

Kyle’s dad, John O’Gara, is a former crew chief for several Indianapolis 500 drivers including Sarah Fisher who married Kyle’s older brother, Andy O’Gara, a crew chief and race strategist, in 2007 at St. Roch Catholic Church. Their roots are in karting and their two kids, Zoey and Danny, race karts at Whiteland Raceway Park.
Kyle also began racing karts at WRP. He won a USAC/STARS midget car race in August 2012 at Grundy County Speedway before he started his senior year at Roncalli. Before graduating, he raced in the Indy Lights Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In May, Kyle was fourth in his fifth Little 500 sprint car classic at Anderson Speedway where he matched his best finish of 2020.

Through the years, Kyle has won several races but none as prestigious as Saturday’s sprint car race at Anderson.

Off the track, Kyle is vice president of operations at Speedway Indoor Karting in Speedway and Daytona Beach and a managing partner at WRP.

A Roncalli High School alumnus, Kyle and his wife Marissa enjoy their home life and their two dogs.
“I’m happy where we’re at; we’re traveling the country as a family and doing what we love,” Kyle said. “As long as I can stay in a seat in a race car, I’m happy.”

(INDY RACING IMAGES PHOTO)
Beech Grove native Kyle O’Gara (67) makes the winning pass against Chuck Gurney (44) on lap 20 as the Southside racer goes on for his first career USAC midget car win at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

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Racer Kyle O’Gara rides hot streak with three straight pavement wins