Liberty-Perry (aka Wapahani) Alumni Association

Wapahani - Center - Selma

In The News

This page is for good news of any Liberty-Perry alumni, schools or the communities around them, from The Star Press or other news sources.  You can send us stuff, too!  Email to history@wapahanialumni.com.

From The Star Press, Sun., July 18, 2010

Roberts 50th

George and Bonnie (Wilkinson) Roberts will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a “SURPRISE” open house give by their children, Sunday, July 25, from 2-5 pm at Selma Lions Club (9901 E. Jackson, Selma).
George retired from Westinghouse/ABB. Bonnie an appreciated homemaker.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were married July 23, 1960 in Selma.
They have 3 children: Greg (Debbie) Roberts, Julie Roberts, and Missy (Mike) Davis, 5 grandchildren: Adrian (Megan) Aul, Maleah Roberts, Kodi, Jayden, Hanna Pfleeger and 2 great-granddaughters, Ava and Alexis Aul.

From The Star Press, Sun., July 18, 2010

Davis - Johnson

Scott and Becky Davis of Selma are pleased to announce the engagement and approaching marraige of their daughter, April Dawn Davis of Selma to Michael Nolan Johnson of Losantville. He is the son of Ilona Johnson of Muncie and Nolan and Nancy Johnson of Losantville.
The bride is a 2001 graduate of Wapahani High School. She is a 2010 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University where she earned a masters in business administration with an accounting specialization. She is an accounting specialist for Sherry Laboratories of Indiana, LLC, Daleville, Indiana.
The prospective groom is 1995 graduate of Union High School. He is a 1997 graduate of Northwestern where he earned a associates degree in deisel mechanics. He is a mechanic at Smith Implements, Richmond, Indiana.
The wedding is planned for 2:30 pm Saturday, July 31, 2010 at Harris Chapel Church of the Nazarene.

From The Star Press, Sun., July 18, 2010

Reese 40th

Stephen and Lorraine (Odle) Reese were married July 18, 1970 by Reverend Russell Siferd at Harris Chapel Church of the Nazarene in Selma.
Lorraine teaches at Ivy Tech Community College and Stephen is retired from Maxon Corporation.
Lorraine is involved in church activities at Harris Chapel and enjoys gardening in her spare time. Stephen spends most of his free time at Reese Airport where he is a flight instructor and flies for fun.
The couple has two children Kara (Justin) Pennella, and Ryan (Heather) Reese, and one grandchild.
There will be a celebration given by their children at a later date.

From The Star Press, Mon., June 14, 2010

Light the candles

Name: Betty J. (Lewellen) Odle, Selma. Lifelong resident of Perry Township.
Birthday: 92 years old on June 13.

Other info: She has been active in local home ec clubs, WCTU and is a member of Harris Chapel Church of the Nazarene.

Favorite pastimes: Quilting and gardening..

Occupation: Retired from J.C. Penney.

Family:  Children, Donald Odle, Selma, and Lorraine Reese, Albany; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Send birthday greetings to: 8900 S. County Road 560-E, Selma, Ind. 47383.


From The Star Press, Sun., June 13, 2010

Ford - McGregor

Mark and Jan McGregor would like to announce the engagement of their daughter, Lychell to Aaron Ford, the son of Teresa Ford and Brian Ford.
Lychell graduated from Wapahani High School, continuing on to Ivy Tech for her Associates and then to Ball State earning her Bachelor’s Degree.
Aaron graduated from Yorktown High School and then went on to Ball State, earning his Bachelor’s and then his Masters.
They both work at First Mechants.
The couple will be married on January 1, 2011.

From The Star Press, Sat., June 14, 2010

INTRODUCING: Bud Richman's always loved horsing around

DALEVILLE -- It's not often you meet a man who maintains a horse-racing track on his property. Then again, it's not often you meet a man who ran his last horse race 10 years past retirement age, either.

"I've always been horse nuts," said Bud Richman, who is now 87, while not far away a sulky driver kicked up dust, steering one at racing speed on his half-mile oval. "I drove my last race at Hoosier Park over here when I was 75 years old. ... I've been down, tromped on, struck, bit, kicked."

As he spoke, he sat in an easy chair in the pristine house that recently replaced the one he lost in a fire last year, but sitting in easy chairs isn't something he has spent much time doing.

Growing up in Daleville, he had an active childhood. A picture of him as a baby, asleep on a mare's back, hinted at his equestrian leanings.

"I raced my first pony at the Muncie Fair when I was 6 years old," he recalled.

A Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, as a kid he played basketball and baseball, including pitching American Legion ball on one particularly notable occasion.

"My only claim to fame is, I beat (future Brooklyn Dodger star) Carl Erskine, one to nothing," Richman said, grinning.

Life was also full of work and fun for the senior class' salutatorian and president, who milked cows for his grocery-store owning Dad's dairy, plus labored with a "hay ring," pitch-forking the stuff into bundles known as "doodles," then hoisting them into farmers' mows for "a dollar a day and my dinner."

 His social life flourished, meanwhile. He and a date could ride a street car to Anderson, check out a nationally touring big band at the Palladium, then grab a burger at Hoosier Pete before heading home, all for the lordly sum of 75 cents.

"People don't realize how much of a change has taken place," he said.

Graduating in 1942, Richman was soon in the Army Air Force, flying some of the scariest attack missions imaginable, strafing Japanese air fields as a waist gunner in B-25Gs.

"I could look up and see the tops of the coconut trees," he said, recalling how his plane returned from his last mission with more than 300 holes in it.

 Home from the war, Richman worked for Bell Telephone before earning his degree in education at Ball State, rushing through in three years. Even then he kept up a frenetic pace of outside activities working as a bartender at Daleville's American Legion, of which he became the youngest state commander ever at 24, plus starting the Daleville Volunteer Fire Department as a Legion project.

After graduating, he taught and coached in Richmond for $1,800 a year, painting houses in the summers. Then he headed west to work in industry in California, before returning with a master's degree to another coaching job at Daleville, where his baseball teams won Eastern Conference championships four years in a row.

Sportsman to the core

During the war years and post-war years, by the way, his athletic experiences piled up.

Playing for an Army team in Seattle, he was humbled by encountering the Harlem Globetrotters.

"I thought I knew a little bit about basketball, until I played them," he said, noting how one Globetrotter made 10 free throws in a row, from the opposite free-throw line. "It was the most phenomenal thing I ever saw in my life."

However, he excelled, too, in an industrial baseball league that paid $10 a game, and was about to have a tryout with the pre-major league California Angels when he snapped an elbow muscle on a hard pitch.

That ended that.

But back in Indiana, what became a 38-year education career flourished, seeing him earn a doctorate while rising through every professional position possible, ending up as superintendent of Liberty-Perry Schools.

Beginning in the 1950s, his horse-racing career flourished, too, both as a sulky driver and breeder, owning 16 brood mares at the top of his operation, plus a Standard-bred stallion of great repute named King Omaha. Some afternoons after school, he'd load up two horses, drive to Chicago to race them, then drive back here by 5 a.m., throw on a suit and head to work.

"I thought I was "having fun", he recalled, laughing.

As already noted, the father of four's racing passion didn't wane with age. After retiring, he spent seven years in Orlando, race-training colts, and after Hoosier Park opened, he was named to represent horsemen in dealings with the track.

Still, his love of horses notwithstanding, he looks back with particular fondness on his teaching career.

"I think the thing I liked the most, was the fact that I could help kids," Richman said, pondering his life and smiling at the memories. "Sometimes I get to thinking how, really, life's been good to me."

Contact John Carlson at 213-5824.

 

From The Star Press, Fri., May 14, 2010

2010 Delaware County Athletics Hall of Fame inductees

John Bartle

John Bartle's basketball career began in junior high school in Selma. In 1963-64, Selma High School had an undefeated regular season before losing to Southside 58-55 in the Muncie Sectional. Bartle was a frequent starter on that undefeated team and during the 1964-65 season, he was one of Delaware County's leading scorers. 

Bartle has been a significant financial contributor to the Delaware County Old Timers Basketball Tournament, which began in 1988. He is also the tournament's all-time leading scorer and the Selma/Wapahani teams on which he participates have won 10 tournament titles.

Currently, Bartle is a developer and operator of senior living communities and has developed over 50 properties in eight states.

J.D. Craft

When J.D. Craft was born seven weeks early in June 1980, his stomach was not fully developed and he had severe club feet. Both of his feet were upside down and almost completely backwards, and doctors gave him little hope to ever walk properly. But even from the beginning, Craft proved to be a fighter.

After spending several years in and out of casts to help his club feet, Craft made significant progress and even began wrestling at 8 years old. He continued his wrestling career into high school for Central High School, where he posted a 121-26 record. He went on to wrestle briefly for Harper College in Palatine, Ill., before a foot injury brought him back to Muncie, where he attended Ivy Tech and Ball State.

Following his time in college, Craft began fighting in Mixed Martial Arts. To date, his professional  record is 3-0.

Stacey Herron-Pursley

A lifelong resident of Delaware County, Stacey Herron-Pursley is one of two people to ever graduate from Wapahani High School with 13 varsity letters. She was a key player on the Raiders' volleyball, basketball and track teams, and she was named all-conference for volleyball and basketball.

She was one of three Wapahani students to graduate in 1993 as valedictorian of her class with a 4.0 grade-point average. At 17, she turned down college scholarship offers for athletics and went to Ball State on a full Presidential Academic Scholarship. At the beginning of her sophomore year of college, she was in a severe car accident that would have ended her college athletics career if she was playing. She has permanent nerve damage to her upper and lower back and beat the odds of doctors advising her she would never play sports again.

Today, Herron-Pursley works at Ontario Systems LLC in Muncie, where she has worked for over 12 years. She is also the head coach of the Munciana Huskies.

Eric Jacobson

Eric Jacobson moved to Yorktown at age 10 and played baseball, basketball and football. As a sophomore in high school, he lettered and started at outside linebacker for the 1984 sectional champion football team.

In his senior year, Jacobson was named a team captain, Headhunter Award winner and first-team all-state. He was named a starter for the North team in the Indiana North-South Shrine Game.

Jacobson was awarded a full scholarship to Miami University to play college football. There, he was a three-year letterman and one-year starter at outside linebacker.

Jacobson has worked in the Human Resources field for Rockwell, Eaton and Pentair for more than 15 years.

Virginia Jay

Virginia Jay was born in July 1928 in Van Buren, Ind., and she graduated from the Van Buren school system in 1946. After two years at Huntington College, she transferred to Ball State Teachers College.

In 1950, she married Neal D. Jay, and the two had five children. She returned to teaching in 1962 at Selma High School, teaching physical education and general business. Jay coached Wapahani's first volleyball team in 1973, and she went on to help coach the school's first girls basketball team.

Virginia and her husband retired in 1982, moving to West Palm Beach, Fla.

Greg Jones

Greg Jones attended Southside High School, where he was a three-year letterman in basketball.

In his senior year, Jones averaged 21.7 points per game and was named all-city, all-conference and All-American in 1976. He graduated with a 3.87 GPA and as a member of the National Honor Society.

Despite interest from several big name schools, Jones opted to remain in close to home and play for Taylor University. He was Taylor's leading scorer three years in a row and was named all-conference in each season.

Currently, Jones serves as Chief Operating Officer of ProTech Compliance, Inc. He has served as a mentor to several great basketball names in Delaware County, including Ray McCallum, Patrick Jackson, Billy Butts and Dee Erby.

Anne Koester

Anne Koester attended Burris in the late 1990s and was a member of the varsity volleyball team throughout her four years there. She was named to the All-East Central Indiana team her last three years at Burris. During her senior year, the Owls won their second straight Class 2A state title, and Koester was awarded the Mental Attitude Award at the state finals.

Koester accepted a full-ride athletic scholarship to the University of Illinois in 1999. After two years, she transferred to the University of Kentucky, where she was named to the Academic All-Southeastern Conference Team.

Dre' Knox

Dre' Knox was born and raised in Muncie and attended Central High School.

In 1991, he served as the football team's starting defensive back and quarterback. A year later, he was named Delaware County Player of the Year for football, first-team all-conference and all-state. In basketball, he was named first-team all city and area.

Knox went on to play football for Indiana State University, where he was named freshman of the year for the Gateway Conference. He was named to the academic all-conference team for three years. His senior year, he was named first-team all-conference, and he left with the second-most interceptions in school history.

Ginger Lingenfelter

Ginger Lingenfelter was born and raised in Selma and attended Wapahani High School.

She became the first athlete in school history to receive 13 varsity letters, playing volleyball, basketball, softball and running track for one season. She was an all-county and all-conference athlete her junior and senior years in both volleyball and basketball, and she was an all-state athlete her senior year in volleyball.

Lingenfelter received a full-ride athletic scholarship to play volleyball for the University of Cincinnati and helped turn the team from 12-21 her freshman year to 28-7 her junior year. She ranks fifth in school history with 148 digs, and now coaches the Wapahani volleyball team.

Mike Lingenfelter

Mike Lingenfelter was born and raised in Lexington, Ky. and went on to play volleyball for the University of Cincinnati as a scholarship athlete in 1980.

In 1980-81 and 81-82, he was named to the all-conference team. In 1982, he made the U.S. Olympic Festival team. The 1982 season turned out to be Lingenfelter's last at Cincinnati, as the program was dropped the next year.

Lingenfelter ultimately transferred to Ball State in 1983 as a scholarship athlete and played the 1982-83 season under coach Don Shondell. BSU ended up as the No. 5 ranked team in the country that year. In 1985, he became the youngest head coach in NCAA  Division I volleyball when he became coach at Cincinnati.

Following his stint in college, he moved to Delaware County and became athletic director, physical education teacher and head volleyball coach at Wapahani High School. Along with his high school coaching, he also has been deeply involved in the Munciana Volleyball program. He has been co-director and head coach of the 18-1 Samurai squad the last seven years.

Kristopher Luce

Kris Luce has spent the majority of his life in and around Delaware County. He attended Perry Elementary, Selma Elementary, Selma Middle School and Wapahani High School.

Kris was a four-year starter in baseball and a three-year starter in basketball for the Raiders varsity teams. During his baseball career, Kris batted a school-record .416, hit 20 home runs, 32 doubles and had 102 RBIs. He also holds school pitching records in innings pitched (269) and is third in wins (31), earned run average (1.97) and strikeouts (257). He was voted all-conference for four straight years and All-Delaware County for three years.

In basketball, Kris averaged 14.2 points per game for his career, including 17.7 points in his senior season. He was voted all-conference three times and all-county twice.

Following high school, Kris received an athletic scholarship to play baseball at Purdue University, cracking the school record books in several categories. He then played five seasons for the Portland Rockets, a semi-pro baseball team from Jay County. Kris, who lives in Muncie, also has enjoyed being an IHSAA baseball official since 2003.

Ann MacMillan

Ann MacMillan grew up in Daleville and attended Daleville Elementary and Daleville Junior High School before transferring to Burris for her freshman year of high school in 1994, where she played on the volleyball team. In a single-class era, Burris won state championships during her freshman and senior years.

During her varsity career, she was a three-time all-area selection, three-time all-conference pick, four-time Mid-Eastern Conference champions and a two-time all-state pick.

She also played basketball for Burris, where she scored more than 1,000 career points and helped lead the Owls to their first-ever girls basketball sectional victory in her senior year.

MacMillan received an athletic scholarship for volleyball at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in 1998 and was a two-year starter. In 2000, she transferred to the University of New Orleans. She made the Sunbelt Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2000 and 2001 and made the all-conference team in 2001.

Gerry Moore

Gerry Moore moved to Muncie from Louisville, Ky., in 1992 and attended Southside High School from 1992-96.

During his years at Southside, Moore earned nine varsity letters -- four in track, three in basketball and two in football. He is in the athletic hall of fame at Southside. As a track athlete, he garnered six Olympic Conference titles and won the sectional title in the long jump. During his senior year, he was ranked No. 1 in the state in the long jump and went undefeated during the regular season. He also went undefeated during the regular season in the 200 and 400 races.

Moore earned a track scholarship to Miami University, where he competed in the 400, the 1,600 relay, the long jump and the triple jump. Moore placed sixth in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump at the Mid-American Conference Championship.

In 2008, Moore and his family moved back to Muncie, where he assumed the role of assistant principal at Southside.

Mike Paluch

Mike Paluch was born in Chicago and moved to Indiana in 1950, enrolling at Yorktown High School. While a student at Yorktown, he earned two letters in basketball and four letters in baseball.

In his senior year, he was a member of the Delaware County champion baseball and basketball teams. In baseball he was undefeated, 4-0, as a pitcher on the 9-0 championship team. Upon graduation from high school, Paluch was awarded a Storer Scholarship and attended Purdue and Ball State.

In the fall of 1959, Paluch was hired as a teacher and coach at Storer Junior High in Muncie, where he worked for the next 11 years. When Northside High School opened in 1970, he was hired as a teacher and coach. He coached golf, basketball and baseball. He went on to serve as Activities Coordinator at Northside for six years and began umpiring high school baseball in Central Indiana.

Richard Rees

Richard Rees has lived in Delaware County for most of his life after attending Albany High School. There, he lettered four years in baseball, one year in junior varsity basketball, three years in varsity basketball and one year in cross country, which was only offered his senior year. His senior season, he was named honorable mention on the sectional basketball team. As a a baseball player, he batted .412 in his senior year. He pitched two back-to-back no hitters in three days and never lost a game as a pitcher during his senior year.

After graduation, he attended Ball State for a year before transferring to William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa to play basketball. He lettered three years in both basketball and baseball at William Penn.

In the spring of 1967, Rees was named head baseball coach at Selma High School. The next year, Selma and Center consolidated and became Wapahani High School. Rees became the freshman basketball coach, head baseball coach and cross country coach. He coached varsity baseball for the next 11 years.

In 1984, he coached at Delta Middle School, assisting with girls basketball for three years. He then became assistant girls varsity coach at Delta High School when his daughter began school there.

Compiled by Jesse Temple

 

 

From The Star Press, Fri., May 14, 2010

Lingenfelters enter Hall of Fame together

As Mike Lingenfelter read the letter congratulating him on his selection into the Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame, his heart swelled with pride, only momentarily, though, before a bit of heartache set in.
See, Lingenfelter imagined telling his parents, particularly his mother, about the honor. In his mind, he heard the excitement in her voice as she congratulated him.  And then cruel reality awoke him from his daze. Lingenfelter lost his mother two years ago, and his passed away eight years earlier.

When Lingenfelter discovered his wife received the same congratulatory letter for her selection into the Hall of Fame, he immediately advised her to call her parents and soak up every minute of the conversation he missed out on.

"I remember the first thing I said to Ginge, was to call her parents, because the first thing I wanted to do was call my mom, right away," Mike says. "I knew she would be out-of-her-mind proud of me. That was the first person I wanted to call. I told Ginge, 'Call your mom, because it's important.'"

For Mike and Ginger (Jordan) Lingenfelter, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame together is apropos. After all, for the past 17 years their lives have been intertwined together around sports. Their favorite sport, volleyball, brought the two together in 1993 at the University of Cincinnati and they have proven inseparable since.

Before he emerged into an outstanding volleyball coach, Mike excelled as an athlete. He played basketball, volleyball and ran track throughout grade school. He chose volleyball out of those three in pursuit of his Olympic dream.

"Volleyball's really the thing that captured me," Mike says. "... I thought surely no one else in the free world plays volleyball and I could easily make it to the Olympics.  .Low and behold, I got into volleyball and everything was more pleasant. I enjoyed training in it and I enjoyed playing it more."The 6-foot senior outside hitter overcame his relatively short stature -- for a volleyball player -- to propel Tates Creek High School (Lexington, Ky.) to the 1980 state championship.  Mike then took his fiery spirit to the University of Cincinnati where he notched All-Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association honors as a freshman and sophomore before the school dropped the program. He fell short of his Olympic dream, but he settled for an impressive consolation prize with his selection to the 1982 United States Olympic Festival Team.  The elimination of the Cincinnati volleyball program led Mike to Delaware County as he transferred to Ball State. He played a prominent role for Ball State in the 1982-83 season as the Cardinals finished ranked No. 5 in the nation.

"At that time, it was either Cincinnati, Ball State or the West Coast," Mike says. "Ball State had a renowned program. Don (Shondell) was a great recruiter. When he started talking to me about coming, he really convinced me this was the place to be, and then the program sold itself. At that time, it was one of the top five or six programs in the country."

Mike played with the same passion he now coaches. His intensity on the court resonates from all of his knock-down, drag-out battles in the backyard with his brothers. He is the third of five boys, all of whom played college sports.

"I probably coach volleyball more like a football coach," Mike says.

His wife possesses that same fieriness and hails from a similarly athletic family. Ginger followed in the footsteps of an older sister and brother who both played college sports. Her sister, Stacy -- a Delaware County Hall of Fame member in her own right -- played volleyball at Ball State. Her brother, Jason, played  baseball for the Cardinals.

Ginger showcased exceptional athletic talent as a youth. She won county championships in volleyball and basketball in each of her three years at Selma Middle School, and she played for Steve Shondell on the 1989 national champion Munciana Volleyball Club 14-under team.

At Wapahani, Ginger and fellow 2010 Hall of Fame inductee Stacey (Herron) Pursley set a school record by garnering 13 varsity letters each. As a freshman, Ginger lettered in two sports in the spring -- softball and  track and field.  She ultimately chose softball, a wise decision considering her father decided to establish and coach the program for her.  "He built the ball diamond," Ginger says. "He had helped (Wapahani baseball coach) Brian Dudley with his diamond for years, so then they just took that backfield and turned it into a softball field."  Ginger excelled in basketball and volleyball, notching all-conference honors in both. She chose to pursue volleyball in college and accepted a scholarship offer from Mike at Cincinnati where he returned in 1993 for his second tenure as the Bearcats head coach.

Mike coached Cincinnati to a 43-23 record in the 1986 and 1987 seasons. He then posted a 56-24 record in two seasons (1989-90) at Memphis State.

Upon his return to Cincinnati, Mike revamped the roster bringing in nine freshman. Ginger proved to be one of the best as she notched conference all-newcomer team honors. The Bearcats won only 12 matches in 1993, but rebounded to win 46 matches over the next two seasons before Mike and Ginger departed to start a family. Ginger played only three seasons, yet ranks fifth in school records with 148 aces.

The couple married and moved to her hometown of Selma where they now live and raise three children -- 12-year-old Kiley and 4-year-old twins Kody and Kory.

The Lingenfelters found an outlet in Delaware County for their volleyball passion through coaching at Munciana and Wapahani High School.

Mike coached Wapahani to the 2002 Class A state championship and he cemented his place on the Mount Rushmore of Delaware County volleyball coaches last spring when his Munciana 18-1 Samurai won the AAU and Junior Volleyball Directors Association national championships. Mike joined Kenna (Knapp) Jones, Wes Lyon, Dave Shondell and Steve Shondell as the only area head coaches to win a prep state championship and a national club title.

Ginger primarily assisted Mike over the years before she ventured out on her own in 2008 as the Wapahani head coach. She led the Raiders to the county championship and a 27-6 record in her first season. She followed with a 28-5 record and a top five Class 2A ranking last season.  Ginger cited her desire to someday coach her daughter Kiley, a seventh-grade Selma Middle School student, as one of the reasons she took over the Wapahani program in 2008. She currently coaches Kiley on the Munciana 13-1 Mogwai.  "They've brought a high level of expertise and high energy level," says Munciana co-director Wes Lyon, who coached Ginger for the club and toured with Mike on the beach volleyball circuit in the 1980s. "They just do a great job promoting volleyball in the area."

Mike co-directs the club with Lyon and spends up to 60 hours a week at the Munciana Facility. His passion for volleyball at age 48, matches, and perhaps surpasses, what it was when he played as a teenager.

"I think for Mike, volleyball coaching really drives him," Ginger says. "It's his one true love. Me, I love volleyball. I'll never lose my love for volleyball, but my priorities have changed a little bit. Sometimes I think God, I've got to go to practice, then I have to go home and get the kids, get them showered and get them to bed.

"But it's just a release. That's the two hours of the day I can just really enjoy myself with the kids out there. That's the fun thing about coaching Kiley. She may drive me absolutely crazy on the court half the time, but I'm spending that time with her."

Both the Lingenfelters flash megawatt smiles when the conversation switches to their children. Kiley plays multiple sports -- highlighted by volleyball, of course -- and the 4-year-old twin boys undoubtedly inherited the same blessed athletic genes. Toss the boys any ball and they play for hours.

For Mike and Ginger, sports promise to remain a staple of their lives through coaching or cheering on their three children as they set out to pave their own paths in the athletic arena.

"Sports has been huge with our families, both of them," Mike says. "Both of our families are hugely competitive. Sports has been a common thread for both of us, whether it be our marriage or it be our children."

From The Star Press, Thurs., April 1, 2010

Rozelle Leaves Yorktown
YORKTOWN --Yorktown Community School Supt. Zach Rozelle is moving on.  Rozelle was hired by the Union County-College Corner Joint School Board on Monday, March 29.
  He received a three-year contract that begins July 1 and will be paid $96,500 per year, board president Michael Murray said. Rozelle will be allowed to transfer his accumulated sick days and receive four weeks of vacation.  His new district takes in students from four counties in Indiana and Ohio.  Rozelle began his education career as an elementary art teacher for Liberty-Perry Community Schools.  He served as assistant principal at Grissom Elementary School, Muncie, and principal of Daleville Elementary School before becoming superintendent of the Caston School Corp. in July 2001.  Rozelle was superintendent of Monroe Central School Corp. from 2004 to 2008 and from 2006 to 2008 also was the superintendent of Union School Corp. at Modoc. He joined the Yorktown district in 2008.The Union County-College Corner board interviewed four candidates to replace Supt. Lynn Sheets, whose resignation is effective July 1, after serving three years.

From The Star Press, Mon., Feb. 22, 2010

 Light The Candles

Name: Lois Vardaman, Muncie.

Birthday: 100 years old March 7.

Celebration: Open house for family and friends, 2-4 p.m. March 7, Christ United Methodist Church, Selma. The family requests that gifts be omitted, please.

Occupation: Farmed with late husband, Dallas, in Randolph and Delaware counties before moving to Selma in 1954. Retired from Selma Post Office after 17 1/2 years as a substitute carrier and postal clerk.

Other info: Member of Christ UMC, Selma Women's Club and is a 68-year member of former Modern Farm Wives Extension Club. She is an active member of RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), crocheting newborn baby caps for Ball Memorial Hospital.

Family: Husband of 59 years, the late Dallas Vardaman. Children, the late Beverly Redman; James (wife: Janet), Selma; three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren.

Secret to longevity: Keeping busy.

From The Star Press, Sun., Dec. 13, 2009

Selma shows what's 'truly important' at Christmas time

MUNCIE -- An idea to create a winter wonderland for a student writing activity snowballed into a community-wide Christmas celebration.

In an effort to get students motivated to do a writing assignment two years ago, Selma Elementary School faculty decorated a hallway with a winter wonderland theme. This year, the conversation turned from the writing activity to a parents night activity to a community-wide activity. The Selma Community Christmas Night on Tuesday will be a chance to spotlight the entire community, showcase local talent and celebrate friends and family.

"I think the community of Selma is a diamond in the rough," Selma Elementary Principal Joel Mahaffey said. "I don't think people realize what a great community it is."

Selma Community Christmas Night will have plenty of holiday activities for families. The event, which is free, will offer s'mores and other food, activities like cookie decorating and nail painting, and a bake sale with goods donated by community members and local businesses. Some booths, such as photographs with Santa Claus, will have a small fee. Money raised will be donated to the school, Adrienne Mahaffey said.

Residents of the town of Selma have come out in full force. Besides organizations such as the Lions Club and American Legion, teachers, business owners, parents and students have banded together to create a spectacular event. Students will sing Christmas carols, band members will perform and milk jugs are being donated to make luminarias. To keep costs down, people are using 40-percent-off coupons to buy decorative lights from Hobby Lobby to donate, and those who can't buy lights are donating old sets.

The recession has refocused attention on community and family -- true wealth -- instead of material possessions, Joel Mahaffey said. "You really get down to what's truly important in our community," he said.

From The Star Press, Tues., Oct 13, 2009

Selma P.E. teacher covers all the bases

SELMA -- Tammy Brant admits she couldn't spend her days in a traditional classroom.  It's too confining for me," Brant said.

Still, she knew as a middle school student that she wanted to teach.

So she found her ideal classroom: The gym.

But that's not to say Brant, 39, fits the stereotypes or movie-screen roles of physical education teachers. She's more than a gym rat.  She's writing grants, incorporating technology into her everyday lessons and intertwining activities for the brain with those for the body.

And now the Indiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance has named her the state's middle school teacher of the year.

But there's no hint of superiority as her students hit the court inside Selma Middle School. She's excited to teach students more than just how to shoot a basket. She wants them to connect the dots among what they eat, how much they exercise and how they feel.

"I wanted to get kids active, to try to make a difference," Brant said. "My goal for them is to get them to do activities they can do for the rest of their lives."

Last year she was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Ball Brothers Foundation to buy heart rate monitors for her students. And though that wasn't enough to buy every student an individual monitor, she's developed a rotating system for students to share.  When it's their turn, students wrap a band around their chest and strap a monitor onto their wrist.

At the start of class, students lie on the ground in silence to gauge their resting heart rate. During Tuesday's fitness class, the students advanced from light jogs around the court to push ups, crunches and jumping jacks. Students already know they have a target heart rate, and if they exceed a certain range, their monitor starts beeping.

Brant said students have a tendency to want to push the envelope -- to run or do anything as fast as they can. But that's not always the healthiest option because they can burn muscle instead of fat. Students slow down as their monitors beep. Not everything is a race.  This particular class is more than the average physical education class. It's for eighth-graders only, and they must apply to be admitted. It's a daily class that combines advanced health lessons with physical education. She plugs in her iPod and pumps up the volume on the speakers.  After 50 minutes, the students are less talkative because they're out of breath. And their cheeks are flushed with color.

"That was hard," said student Wes Royse.

Now in her 16th year of teaching -- the first nine at Blue River Valley and the last seven at Selma Middle School -- Brant is accustomed to creating new things in her classroom. This is the only school in the state to earn the STARS accreditation, a national evaluation program. And her advanced fitness class is also one-of-a-kind. 

Students not only track their heart rates, but they also maintain an activity log.

She knows students aren't as active today as they were when she was a student in Liberty-Perry Schools. So she's eager to try anything to get them excited.

"I have two boys. I fight against the same things," Brant said. "People have to start realizing if we don't do something we're going to hurt our kids.

"I like that they're still eager to do things."

From The Star Press, Sun., Oct., 4, 2009

Lawson 70th

Ivan and Ella Mae Williams were married on October 4, 1939 in the parsonage of The Main Street Methodist Protestant Church (now Main Street United Methodist Church) by the late Rev. J. V. Siberal.
Ivan graduated from Center High School in 1938 and Ella Mae from Muncie Central the same year. The two had initially met in the third grade at Harrison Township School.
They farmed in Perry Township for several years, moving to Muncie almost 40 years ago. Ivan retired from Indiana Steel and Wire. He became a real estate broker and continued in that field after retiring. Ella Mae had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mother and homemaker.
Both have been members of Main Street United Methodist Church. Ella Mae for over 70 years. Ivan is a member of the Central Indiana Old Car Club and several Masonic organizations. Ella Mae is a member of the RFD Extension Homemakers Club and the Selma Woman’s Club and both volunteer for Delaware County Christian Ministries and the 21st Century Scholarship Program.
Their union has been blessed with a beautiful and caring family. Two children: daughter Carolyn (Don) Rodeffer; and son Philip (Kathy) Lawson. They have six grandchildren: Pamela Rodeffer; Kenneth (Michelle) Rodeffer; Bradley (Melinda) Rodeffer; Anthony (Jennifer) Lawson; Timothy (Stacy) Lawson; and Julie Lawson-Eiser. And six great-grandchildren: Hunter Rodeffer; Kelsey Lawson; Anthony Franklin; Bret Lawson; Olivia Lawson; and Ashlee Eiser.
They will be celebrating with their family at Bearcreek Farms later this month.

From The Star Press, Mon., Sept. 21, 2009

Friends & Neighbors

AIR FORCE RESERVE AIRMAN Aaron Wilson recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The son of Gil and Eloise Wilson of Selma, he is a 2004 graduate of Wapahani High School, Selma.

 

From The Star Press, Sun., Sept. 13, 2009

Lackey 50th

Ron and Shelva (Murrell) Lackey recently celebrated their 50th  Wedding Anniversary. They were married at the Selma E.U.B. Church on September 18, 1959 by the late Paul Hill. They are the parents of Cinda (Don) Priddy of Muncie; Lana (Darrell) Doss of Parker City; and Ronda (Larry) Snider of Gaston. Their grandchildren are Derek (Kara) Priddy, Dustin (Jessie) Priddy, Megan (Derek) Bohm, Cody Stamper, Joey Snider and Skye Snider. Their great grandchildren are Clint, Jake, Jordan, Wyatt, and Kaydin Priddy.
They graduated from Selma High School with the class of '55.
Ron spent four years in the U.S. Navy and retired after 35 years at Westinghouse ABB in Muncie. Shelva retired after 30 years as the Secretary/Treasurer of Selma Elementary School.
They were surprised with a limo ride and party at the Hickory Hills Golf Club in Farmland on August 8, 2009 by the children and grandchildren.
They are members of the Selma Christ United Methodist Church. They enjoy spending time with family and friends and quilting.

From The Star Press, Sun., Aug 9, 2009

Hughes - Whitmire

Angela Hughes and Matthew Whitmire were married July 18, 2009, during an evening ceremony at the home of the groom's mother and stepfather in Selma.  Angela is the daughter of Pat Hughes, Muncie, and Al Hughes, Sr., Parker City.  Matt is the son of Diana and Kevin Bennett, Selma, and Billy and Terry Whitmire, Muncie.  Bridesmaids were Lacy McCarthy, Sarah Buckles, Katie Mee,r and Amanda Adkins.  Maid of Honor was Mariah Groves.  Groomsmen were Shawn McCarthy, DavirGroves, Jason Meer, and Josh Meer.  Best Man was Mike Burkes. The couple honeymooned in Las Vegas.  They live in Muncie.

From The Star Press, Mon., Aug. 3, 2009

Light the candles

Name: Margaret A. Miller, Muncie.

Birthday: 75 years old Aug. 9.

Celebration: A celebration with family and friends is planned.

Favorite pastimes: Spending time with family, social luncheons and events with friends, being involved in church functions.

Secret to longevity: Staying active, exercising and eating healthy.

Occupation: Retired in 1996 from Muncie Community Schools in the food service director's office.

Family: Daughters, Jennie Cook, New Castle; Kim (Danny) Vester, Selma; four grandchildren. A brother, Fred Bicknell, is deceased.

Memberships: Selma United Methodist Church, Muncie Central Alumni (Class of 1952), Retired Food Service Employees.

Send information about 75 or older birthdays to Light the Candles, c/o Renee Jennings, P.O. Box 2408, Muncie, Ind. 47307-0408 or e-mail reneej@muncie.gannett.com. Deadline for information is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

From The Star Press, Sun., July 26, 2009

 Paul 64th

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Paul of Muncie will observe their 64th Wedding Anniversary during a private dinner party with their family and friends on Wednesday,July 29th. Mr. and Mrs. Paul were married July 29, 1945 in Muncie by Rev. Jesse Baker. Mrs. Paul is the former Myrtle Mae Alexander.

They are the parents of Larry Lee Paul, wife Kathy of Louisville, KY and Steve Charles Paul, wife Carol of Muncie. They have three grandsons, Bruce B. Paul, wife Amy, of Louisville, KY, Charles K. Paul, wife Amber of Muncie and Seth M. Paul, girlfriend Megan
Russell of Indianapolis. They have two great-grandchildren, Alexander and Emily Paul.
Mrs. Paul was born in Grant County and moved to Muncie as a teenager. A 1941 graduate of Muncie Central, she worked at Ball Stores for 22 years, retiring in 1986. She is past president of City Sisters Extension Homemakers and a member of Mary Martha Circle of Gethsemane Church.
Mr. Paul is a Henry County native, and a 1942 graduate of Center High School. A Navy veteran of World War II, he is retired from the Muncie Police Dept. after 31 years. He also worked at Sears for 33 years. He is a member of Whitney Lodge 229 and Fraternal Order of Police. Both are members of Gethsemane United Methodist Church.

From The Star Press, Sun., July 26, 2009

Reynolds - Tunnell

Christy Reynolds and Andrew Tunnell would like to announce their engagement. The couple will be wed on August 29, 2009, in the Minnetrista Cultural Center Rose Garden, with a reception to follow at Horizon Convention Center.
Christy is the daughter of James R. and Janet K. Reynolds of Albany. Christy is a 1998 graduate of Delta High School, Valencia College in 2002, and Florida State University in 2004. Christy was born and reared in the Muncie area and attended collge in Florida after working at Walt Disney World. She is currently a Registered Dietitian and the Director of Dietectics at Ball Memorial Hospital.
Andrew is the son of Ruben W. and Sharon S. Tunnell of Selma. Andrew is a 1991 graduate of Wapahani High School and attended Ball State University. As the son of a Navy Chaplain, Andrew spent time on military bases across the country. Andrew’s most recent experiences are in restaurant and food service management, where he specializes in fine dining and wine. Andrew has a passion for music and is an avid record collector. Andrew proposed to Christy on a beautiful moonlit night in downtown Indianapolis during a horse drawn carriage ride.

From The Star Press, Sun., July 26, 2009

Paul 64th

 Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Paul of Muncie will observe their 64th Wedding
They are the parents of Larry Lee Paul, wife Kathy of Louisville, KY and Steve Charles Paul, wife Carol of Muncie. They have three grandsons, Bruce B. Paul, wife Amy, of Louisville, KY, Charles K. Paul, wife Amber of Muncie and Seth M. Paul, girlfriend Megan
Russell of Indianapolis. They have two great-grandchildren, Alexander and Emily Paul.
Mrs. Paul was born in Grant County and moved to Muncie as a teenager. A 1941 graduate of Muncie Central, she worked at Ball Stores for 22 years, retiring in 1986. She is past president of City Sisters Extension Homemakers and a member of Mary Martha Circle of Gethsemane Church.
Mr. Paul is a Henry County native, and a 1942 graduate of Center High School. A Navy veteran of World War II, he is retired from the Muncie Police Dept. after 31 years. He also worked at Sears for 33 years. He is a member of Whitney Lodge 229 and Fraternal Order of Police. Both are members of Gethsemane United Methodist Church.
Anniversary during a private dinner party with their family and friends on Wednesday,July 29th. Mr. and Mrs. Paul were married July 29, 1945 in Muncie by Rev. Jesse Baker. Mrs. Paul is the former Myrtle Mae Alexander.

From The Star Press, Fri., July 24, 2009

Now playing: Daily community sports news

VOLLEYBALL

Anthony Franklin and Brian Winchester have been named the new volleyball co-head coaches at Union High School. Franklin graduated from Wapahani and was a state finalist all four years in volleyball. Winchester graduated from New Castle High School and played four years of volleyball at Ball State. He is currently playing semipro volleyball with USAV Division 1.

From The Star Press, Mon., July 20, 2009

School notes

 SELMA -- Brandon A. Morvilius is the first recipient of the Owen D. Suits Memorial Scholarship, given by the Wapahani Alumni Association.

 Morvilius is the son of Bruce and Shonda Morvilius and plans to attend Ball State University to study elementary education or special education. The scholarship is in memory of Liberty-Perry elementary teacher Owen Suits.

Wapahani scholarship

SELMA -- Natalie Dudley is the 2009 recipient of the Wapahani Alumni Scholarship, awarded by the Wapahani Alumni Association.

Dudley is the daughter of Brian and Christine Dudley and plans to attend Ball State University and study math or science. The scholarship is awarded to a student with a parent or grandparent who is a Wapahani alumnus.

From The Star Press, Tues., July 14, 2009

MARRIAGE LICENSE APPLICATIONS

Mark Zachary Nemyer, 25, 10218 E. Jackson St., Selma, and Meghan Marie Perkins, 25, 11667 S. U.S. 35, Selma.

From The Star Press, Sun., July 12, 2009

Phillips - Harris

           Samantha Phillips and Philip Harris are happy to announce their wedding on August 15, 2009 at the Minnetrista Center in Muncie.  Samantha is the daughter of Ed and Cathy Phillips.  She graduated from Wapahani High School, and is a 2008 graduate from Ivy Tech with a degree in Radiologic Technoloty.

      Philip is the son of Carolyn and Sam Harris.  He attended Wapahani High School as well, and his is attending Ivy Tech to obtain a degree in Biotechnology.

     The happy couple lives in Selma.

From The Star Press, Thurs., July 9, 2009

School Notes

Grace Maring Scholarships

SELMA -- Kaitlin L. Roscoe and Bryce Cook are the 2009 recipients of the Grace Maring Scholarships awarded by the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County.

Cook plans to study exercise science or sports medicine. He is the son of Bryan and Sharyl Cook.

Roscoe plans to study veterinary technology at Purdue University. She is the daughter of Rick and Pam Roscoe.

These scholarships are awarded to Wapahani High School students living in Perry Township.

From The Star Press, Sun., July 5, 2009

Oxley 50th

Lothair and Marsena Oxley will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house on Sunday, July 12 at Buck Creek Church of the Brethern from 2¬4pm. Please omit gifts.
The couple were married on July 16, 1959 at the Philadelphia Christian Church by the Rev. Gerald Groves.
Lothair is a farmer and school bus driver for the Liberty¬Perry School Corporation. Marsena is a homemaker.
They have 2 children: Teresa (Martin) Kidd, Selma and Dean (Janet) Oxley, Fort Wayne. They have 5 grandchildren: Jonathan & Katelyn Kidd and Marianne, Jared and Claire Oxley.

From The Star Press, Fri., July 2, 2009

Ball State draft pick, Wapahani graduate signs with Red Sox

Former Ball State and Wapahani player Jeremy Hazelbaker has played professional baseball in the Boston Red Sox organization for less than a week, and he's already received a promotion.

Hazelbaker launched his career in pro baseball last week with the Lowell Spinners in the short-season Class A New York-Penn League. The centerfielder this week was moved to the Class A Greenville Drive in the South Atlantic League.

Hazelba-ker played three games in Lowell, Mass., near Boston. The Red Sox placed Hazelbaker there while he finalized terms of his signing bonus and took his physical. That allowed him to see live game action since he hadn't played since Ball State's season ended in May.

"When he agreed to terms (on June 19), part of it was with the understanding that he would play in Greenville, which is a great assignment for him," Ball State coach Greg Beals said. "That's basically a year ahead of most guys who come out in the draft the first year."

Hazelbaker was selected in the fourth round of last month's major league baseball first-year player draft. The Web site soxprospects.com reported Hazelbaker received a signing bonus of $191,700 from the Red Sox. As a first-year minor-league player, he'll receive a monthly salary of about $900 with Greenville.

Hazelbaker, who was playing Thursday night and unavailable for comment, got his first professional hit with Lowell. It was his only hit in eight at-bats with the team. In his debut with Greenville on Tuesday, the Mid-American Conference's batting leader in 2009 (.429) batted 1-for-5.

"The thing he needs to do more than anything is get acclimated to the different atmosphere of professional ball," Beals said. "Too many guys make the mistake that once they get drafted and signed, they think they've 'done it.' He knows his next mission is to play in the major leagues, and he's going to start working toward that this summer."

Working hard is something that Hazelbaker's high school coach, Brian Dudley, has seen from his former player for a long time.

"He'll work on the things they want him to work on," Dudley said. "He's always been a hard worker who tries to work on his weaknesses. Hopefully he'll continue to improve and work his way up the ladder."

Hazelbaker is the second player coached by Dudley at Wapahani to play professional baseball. Shortstop Doug Bolton played for the Richmond Roosters in the independent Frontier League in the 1990s.

Contact sports writer Doug Zaleski at 213-5813.

From The Star Press, Fri., July 2, 2009

School Notes

Couch scholarship

SELMA -- Brittany Snyder, a 2009 graduate of Wapahani High School, was awarded the Alyssa Anne Couch Scholarship.

She was chosen for her academic, leadership and volunteering. Snyder plans to attend Ball State University and study nursing.The scholarship is awarded annually in memory of Alyssa Couch, a Wapahani graduate and Ball State student who died in an automobile accident in 2006.

(Historian Note:   Brittany was an applicant for the Wapahani Alumni Association Alumni Scholarship.  She received an Individual One-Year Membership in recognition of her outstanding high school career.)

From The Star Press, Sun., June 28, 2009

Stinefield runs way to AOY in boys track and field

Wapahani senior Derek Stinefield holds no grudges about what happened to him in the 1,600 meters at the boys track and field state finals.ust as Stinefield prepared for his final kick, a runner behind him kicked his left foot. The contact threw Stinefield off balance and as he tried to correct his form he bumped into the railing and tweaked his ankle. Stinefield tried to finish but overcome by pain he pulled up and limped to the infield.

"You've got to experience that," Stinefield said. "Being in a giant pack and coming out on top is what it's all about."

His showing at the state finals proved to be a cruel conclusion to an otherwise brilliant four-year run at Wapahani. Stinefield won the 1,600 at county, sectional and regional and in the process secured The Star Press AOY in boys track and field for a third time (2006, 2008 and 2009).

Stinefield said all of his other victories this season lost some of their glimmer when he fell short at state finals. He finished fourth at the 2008 state finals and expected to be in contention to win the title this spring.

"It was mediocre," Stinefield said of his season. "We had our sights set on state pretty hard."

The Wapahani senior stayed within striking distance of the leaders before the kick to his foot threw him off balance. Stinefield admits he still wonders what if.

"I was feeling really good at state. Honestly, I think I could've given the winners a run for their money," Stinefield said.

Future plans: Stinefield accepted a half scholarship to run at Indiana State. He strained his Achilles tendon at the state finals and is still in recovery mode as he prepares to train with Indiana State in August.

From The Star Press, Thurs., June 11, 2009

Ball State's Hazelbaker picked by Boston Red Sox in fourth round

MUNCIE -- Ball State baseball coach Greg Beals isn't sure he's ever seen the transformation of a player like the one he witnessed this year by Jeremy Hazelbaker.
A year ago, Hazelbaker struggled while trying to figure out the college game. Shaky defense led to subpar performances at the plate.

So Beals and Hazelbaker arrived at the same conclusion after the 2008 season. Hazelbaker, who had played an infield position ever since he took up baseball as a youth, would move to the outfield for his junior season in 2009.

The results were dramatic. The Wapahani graduate found a fresh outlook to the game from his new position in center field and parlayed it into an opportunity for a professional career with his favorite baseball team.

Hazelbaker was selected in the fourth round of major league baseball's first-year player draft Wednesday by the Boston Red Sox. He was the 138th player picked.

The Red Sox called Hazelbaker's agent, Joe Bick, during the round to see how eager Hazelbaker was to join their organization. Bick called his client, and Hazelbaker said he would welcome a shot with the Red Sox.

"Six picks later Boston's name came up, and we sat there watching the computer screen and listening," Hazelbaker said. "When the name 'Hazelbaker' showed up on the screen, that's when it really sunk in."

A year ago, such an opportunity might have looked like a long shot. Hazelbaker made several errors from his position at second base, and the miscues caused mental anguish that contributed to an unimpressive .244 batting average.

"It became apparent second base was not the best place for him," Beals said.

Hazelbaker moved to center field when he played for Licking County in the Great Lakes Summer League after Ball State's season ended. When he came back to Ball State last fall, Beals saw a different player.

"We could see he definitely took to it," Beals said.

Hazelbaker's performance soared this spring. He led the Mid-American Conference in batting at .429 (23 points higher than the next-best hitter and fifth best in school history), on-base percentage (.550), runs (77), walks (48) and triples (8). He was third in stolen bases with 29.

"I don't think I've ever seen (a turnaround) to that degree," Beals said. "The biggest thing Jeremy figured out was learning how not to just be fast but to play fast. The move to center field seemed to take a weight off his shoulders."

Switching to the outfield wasn't tough physically or emotionally for the lifelong infielder. Hazelbaker found a comfort level at the plate this season because he said he was able to relax.

"I really became comfortable and figured out how to play the game I was capable of playing instead of being a power hitter," he said. "I'm a fast guy, that's my No. 1 tool. I learned how to play with my speed."

As a result, major league baseball teams became interested.

When Ball State played at Northern Illinois the second weekend in May, many of the Red Sox's upper level scouting executives attended the series to zero in on Hazelbaker.

"You know when a team's scouting director comes in for a game that they're seriously looking at a guy in the top five rounds," Beals said.

Hazelbaker could return to Ball State for his senior season, but he said that is unlikely. He plans to let contract negotiations between his agent and the Red Sox take its natural course. Until then, he plans to play with his Great Lakes Summer League team.

Beals said Hazelbaker would likely play with the Red Sox's short-season Class A team, which will play about 70 games this summer.

The Red Sox also selected a center fielder in the first round. Puerto Rican high schooler Reymond Fuentes, a cousin of the New York Mets' Carlos Beltran, was taken with the 28th pick in the draft.

From The Star Press, Wed., June 10, 2009

Ball State's Jeremy Hazelbaker drafted by Boston Red Sox

MUNCIE — Ball State centerfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker today was picked in the fourth round of the professional baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox.
Hazelbaker, a Wapahani High School graduate, finished his junior season with the Cardinals this spring by leading the Mid-American Conference in batting with a .429 average.

“This has always been something that was in the back of my head,” Hazelbaker said of his longtime goal to become a pro baseball player. “It was something off in the future, and ultimately was a goal I had to work toward. For a small kid coming from a small town, it wasn’t something that seemed realistic.”

But it became reality after Hazelbaker experienced a breakthrough season for the Cardinals this spring.

He won the MAC batting championship by 23 points over the runner-up while earning first-team all-conference honors. His .429 average was fifth best in Ball State history.

Hazelbaker also led the MAC in runs (77), walks (48) and triples (8). He was third in stolen bases with 29.

From The Star Press, Sun., May 31, 2009

Mahnensmith - Pease

Nicholas Pease and Caroline Mahnensmith would like to announce their engagement.
Nicholas is the son of Suzanne Pease and Alan Pease, both of Muncie. He is a 2002 graduate of Wapahani High School, is attending Anderson University and is in the Army Reserves.
Caroline is the daughter of Jerri and Ted Mahnensmith of Syracuse, IN. She is a 2003 graduate of Wawasee High School and a graduate of Anderson University. She is currently teaching 2nd grade in Noblesville.
The couple plan to marry August 1, 2009 at North Webster Church of God.

From Palm Beach Post, Fri., May 22, 2009

Motherly woman who registers Palm Beach County's strippers keeps hand sanitizer near

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, May 22, 2009

Motherly but firm, Barbara Wilmoth is the perfect person for registering strippers for Palm Beach County.

She is sympathetic, even protective, toward the women who troop up to her counter, more so to the small children that they sometimes bring.

Often, the women feel comfortable enough to tell their stories to Wilmoth, with her short gray hair, wire-rimmed glasses and open-hearted Indiana manner.

A teacher for 23 1/2 years, she decided it was time for a career change after a freak collision with a filing cabinet left her with a broken jaw. She got her present job in 2007.

"It's been a remarkable job," said Wilmoth. "Every day is a new adventure. Before, my stress was up to here," she says, raising a hand over her head. "Now it's down to here," she said, bringing her hand down to her knee.

The county identification program, which began in 1998, is meant to keep underage girls from working in strip clubs. More than 4,000 adult entertainers, almost all women, have been registered since then.

Most club owners will not even let a woman audition without the ID card. Club owners are also fined $125 for every unregistered exotic dancer they employ. Some dancers complain to Wilmoth about the $75 fee, but it is a bargain, compared to the $125 fine for getting caught working without one.

"Two or three months after I started working here, one of the clubs got raided. Out of 220 dancers, only 25 had their IDs," said Wilmoth. "For three days, they were out the door registering."

Wilmoth can accept credit cards, but more often is paid in cash. Occasionally, she has had to spray the bills with Febreze before depositing them in the county coffers. She also keeps hand sanitizer close by.

One woman, apparently on her way to an audition, sprayed so much perfume on herself that Wilmoth went into a sneezing fit, which caused her jaw to spasm, followed by an asthma attack.

Now there is a stern no-perfume warning taped to her counter.

Situated right by the elevator in the foyer of the Emergency Operations Center, Wilmoth often attracts a gaggle of male co-workers when some of the more spectacularly enhanced women appear at her desk.

But from where she sits, the composite life of "adult entertainers" is far from glamorous. One woman was so inebriated that she had to be propped up twice before Wilmoth could get a proper ID photo.

"This was at 3:30 in the afternoon," said Wilmoth. "I don't know if she was coming or going from her job."

At least twice, she has seen men drop off women at the door, then toss out the women's baggage and drive away.

Occasionally, the identification program has a more grisly use: detectives sometimes identify dead women by running their names through the system.

She has written 33 pages toward a book, Sit Back in the Chair and Smile for the Camera, a collection of anecdotes and wacky stripper names.

One professional name was a mystery until a co-worker came by Wilmoth's desk waving a tube of lip gloss.

"Look at the name!" she said. "Chocolate thunder!"

(Historian note:  Barbara S. Wilmoth is the daughter of Mrs. Virginia "Mama" Jay, retired SHS/WHS girl's Physical Education teacher.)

From The Star Press, Sun., May 24, 2009

Robert and Jana Adams of Selma, proudly announce the engagement of their daughter, Erin, to Joseph Willard, son of William and the late Edna Mae Willard, Greenwood, Indiana.  Erin is a 1991 graduate of Wapahani High School and a graduate of Ball State University. She is an Associate Information Consultant at Eli Lilly, Indianapolis. Joseph is a 1989 graduate of Decatur Central High School and is currently attending Ivy Tech. He is a Chemical Dispensing Technician at Eli Lilly, Indianapolis.The couple plans to marry on June 6, 2009 at Shawnee Heights Baptist Church, with a reception following at the Cornerstone Center for the Arts, Muncie.

From The Star Press, Sun., May 24, 2009

Smith 50th

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Noah Edward “Ed” Smith as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on May 31, 2009. The event will be commemorated by a family celebration.
The couple married on May 31, 1959, in a wedding officiated by the Rev. Fred Hill, at Wawaka United Methodist Church.
Mr. Smith graduated from Selma High School, worked at Indiana Steel and Wire for 30 years, and retired in 1993. Mrs. Smith, the former Sonita Fenimore, graduated from Selma High School, and Muncie School of Practical Nursing. She worked as a nurse for Ball Memorial Hospital, Dr. Thomas Gibson and Dr. Michael Burt before retiring in 2005. The pair attend Selma United Methodist Church. They also enjoy wintering in Florida, bicycling, walking, gardening, and spending time with their neighbors, friends, and family.
They are the parents of Don and Laura Smith, Indianapolis; Jeff and Dayna Bloch, North Port, FL; Gene and Deanne McComas, Selma; and Dean and Lorrina Smith, Muncie. They are the grandparents of Marni and Mallori Smith, Ryan and Sara Roberson, Thomas Stearns, Katie Bloch, Janelle Jones, Brandon McComas, Lucas and Olivia Smith and great grandparents of Chevella Jones.

From The Star Press, Sat., May 16, 2009

2009 Delaware County Athletics Hall of Fame inductees, Part II

Joe Bradburn

Joe Bradburn attended Wapahani High School and Ball State University. He is married to Dena Bradburn and has two kids, Kyle, 9, and Lauren, 6.  Bradburn was a two-sport athlete at Wapahani and received All-County and All-Conference awards. He led Wapahani to its first-ever sectional title as a junior in 1983. His 9.1 assists per game average is fifth all time for a season. He is Wapahani's season and career assist record-holder.  In baseball, he threw a no-hitter in his senior season. The Raiders won the Mid-Easter Conference championship that season. He began coaching at Cowan in 1993, and was then hired as coach at Yorktown the following season. He was named Ball State Alumnus Coach of the Year and Indiana Basketball News Coach of the Year in 1998. In that season, he led the Tigers to the Clasas 3A state finals and an undefeated Rangeline Conference Championship.  He now coaches at Huntington North High School.

From The Star Press, Fri., May 8, 2009

INDOT OKs funds to demolish bridge

The Star Press • May 8, 2009

SELMA — Delaware County has received $864,320 to demolish a 1920s timber bridge that carries County Road 419-E over the Cardinal Greenway and to construct an at-grade crossing at the intersection.  The bridge is narrow, it has an inadequate railing, emergency vehicles can't cross it, it has poor sight distance, and it has a five-ton load limit, said Angie Moyer, project director for the county.

She expects demolition of the bridge and construction of a new intersection at the greenway and the road to occur in 2012. The site is south of County Road 650-S.

Funding was awarded by the Indiana Department of Transportation.

From The Star Press, Wed., April 29, 2009

State-caliber prep baseball teams square off today

By THOMAS ST. MYER tstmyer@muncie.gannett.com 

Wapahani holds a slight advantage in coaching experience today in its Mid-Eastern Conference showdown against Cowan.  Slight as in 24 years.  The Don of Delaware County baseball coaches, Brian Dudley wrapped up his first season at Wapahani before Cowan coach Camden Parkhurst graced this Earth.  Dudley owns 540 wins, 10 sectional titles, five regional, one semistate and 19 conference titles in this his 26th year as Wapahani skipper.

"To build a program like he has, has to be the goal of anybody who starts out coaching," says the 25-year-old Parkhurst. "Year in and year out they're one of the most solid programs, not just here but in the state. I'd be very fortunate to be in that situation someday."

Parkhurst prefers to stay in the present and let the future play out as fate sees fit. He stepped into an ideal situation last spring when he inherited a wealth of talent at Cowan. He coached the Blackhawks to the Class A state finals and a 24-7 record in his first season as skipper.

Wapahani handed his Blackhawks one of those losses. The Raiders steamrolled the Blackhawks 8-2 behind a masterfully pitched game from Devin Wilburn.  Wilburn returns to the mound today for a marquee pitching match-up against Cowan flame-thrower Justin O'Conner.  "This is the biggest game I'm looking forward to all year," says Wilburn, who owns a 3-1 record with a 1.17 ERA in four starts this season. "Justin and I have been going back and forth all year. Justin gets a lot of hype, so it's fun to go out there and compete against a guy like him."  Wilburn bested O'Conner in their 2008 showdown. He pitched a complete game, holding the potent Blackhawk lineup to three hits and striking out seven. The Raiders only totaled three hits off O'Conner, but they took advantage of his five walks to score six runs before Parkhurst pulled him with one out in the sixth inning.  O'Conner dealt with his share of control issues in the past when he relied predominantly on his heater. He dedicated his offseason to bettering his control by mixing in an assortment of off-speed pitches.  His dedication in the offseason turned his already filthy stuff into nearly unhittable. This year he holds a perfect 3-0 record, has allowed zero runs, and has struckout 33 batters, walking only four, in 14 innings.  "He's our big-game pitcher," Parkhurst says.

Dudley says he remembers when he threw freshmen against downtrodden Cowan and the Raiders still won by lopsided scores. But that all changed when the right mix of coaches and parents took over the Cowan little league program.  "You've got to start with a foundation somewhere," Dudley says. "When you look at their kids they had a very strong little league program back when these kids were younger, and we've had a very good little league program for a long time."

Both programs possess a talented core of players ripened in their little league programs since age 5. And perhaps best of all, both programs possess an ace pitcher, the pre-requisite to challenge for a state championship in their respective classes.

"It helps your team from a confidence standpoint to know you got a guy on the mound who has a chance to hold a team down and keep you in game," Dudley says. "When you get to tournament time I don't care what school you're at, whether 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, there's at least one good pitcher. Pitching is crucial come tournament time."

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