Stories from Sunday, December 9, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Historical Society has announced a public campaign to raise $23.8 million to create and deliver "The Indiana Experience," to Hoosiers as well as visitors from across the nation. The announcement was made Monday evening at the IHS annual Founders Day Dinner at the Indiana History Center...

The Brazil Times will be publishing a directory in 2008 of all Clay County businesses. It will contain phone numbers and addresses in addition to e-mails, websites and fax numbers. The directories will then be made available to the public through The Brazil Times office or through individual businesses...

To the Editor: Thank you French Funeral Home. In the early morning hours of Dec. 5, 2007, we lost a big part of our lives, our beloved, faithful friend and pet, Kody, our husky. We were blessed with him for 12 short years. We didn't want to put him in the cold ground, so we decided to have him cremated and keep his ashes with us forever...

To the Editor: Thank you, thank you. What we have needed for years has finally been obtained. Just think, our wishes for street lights on Murphy Avenue has been installed to the entrance of Colony Acres as of Dec. 5. Wonders never cease to happen in the Brazil community to make it a safer and better place to live. It's the first light (to my knowledge) ever to be installed between United States 40 and Pinckley Street...

To the Editor: I find it interesting (as a former Clay Community Schools teacher) that after five years of insisting there is no money for a teacher salary increase, there is suddenly money for not only teachers, but also for other CCS employees. I do not begrudge the raise of other employees. I worked for several years with aides who deserved much higher pay than they received...

If you are going to host a tournament or an invitational, keeping the trophy when your opponents leave is a great feeling. On Saturday, for the first time under coach Dan Mikesell, the Knights warded off the competition in fall five rounds of wrestling at the Northview Invitational...

CLAY CITY -- Coming off a tough road loss to rival Bloomfield on Friday night, Clay City didn't suffer much of a let down as Eminence came to call on Saturday. Clay City rang up 45 first-half points and pulled away in the second half for an 81-62 Tri-River Conference victory...

Donors are needed year round to maintain a blood supply. There's a constant need. Every single day of the year, volunteers are recruited and donations collected to meet the needs of hospitals. It takes as many as 550 volunteer donors per day. During the holiday season, volunteer donations often see a decline because of the busy schedules and holiday activities...

The Harmony Town Council will conduct its last meeting this year at 6 p.m., Dec. 28, at the Harmony Community House in conjunction with its annual Christmas dinner for the council and board members. Final claims for 2007 will be presented at the meeting. There will be no meeting in January...

Northview High School students competed in the Voice of Democracy essay contest through the VFW, and the winners were presented with their awards on Friday at the school. Pictured are (from left): Northview Director of Guidance Don Harrison, Post Commander Les Walden, second place finisher Melissa Roberts, third place finisher Olivia Herron, first place winner Jordan Allen, Ladies Auxiliary President Maxine Metz and contest Chairman John Schraedley...

Clay County Justice Center The following jail bookings occurred at the Clay County Justice Center during Dec. 7-9. Due to the new software installation, criminal charges will be listed by categories with suspects name and age underneath. Awaiting Arraignment...

Jack F. Apple, 80, Brazil, died at 6 p.m., Dec. 8, 2007, at St. Vincent Clay Hospital. Born June 12, 1927, in Vigo County, he was the son of Fred Apple and Cloe Paulk Apple. He served in the United States Army during war time. He was retired from GTE as an electrical switchman. He was a member of the IBEW local 725...

Hazel M. Kelly, 90, Brazil, died at 5:08 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007, at St. Vincent Clay Hospital. Funeral services will be 3 p.m., Monday (today), at Moore Funeral Home, Brazil, with Reverend William Price officiating. Burial will follow at Croys Creek Cemetery...

Patsy R. Cassida, 78, Greencastle, died on Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. Funeral services will be held Monday (today), at 1 p.m., at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, with Rev. Steve Williams officiating. Internment will follow at Forest hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007, from 3-6 p.m., at the funeral home...

If national polls give a good indication of the direction citizens want the country to go in, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will receive the nod to run on the 2008 ticket. If The Brazil Times' latest online poll means anything, it's Mike Huckabee...

With the arrival of snow and freezing rain, officials urge drivers to pay attention to the driving hazards that winter weather can create. "Unfortunately, when the first snow comes, people forget how to drive in the weather conditions," Clay County Sheriff Mike Heaton said. "People need to pay attention to the weather, allow extra travel time, slow down, be courteous to other drivers, and always wear their seat belts."...

The Clay County Homemakers Choir put on a holiday performance at the Brazil branch of Riddell National Bank Saturday morning. Doris Pell directs the choir, which included bells provided by First United Methodist Church, Brazil.

Santa Claus made a visit to the Clay County Sheriff's Department Saturday afternoon for the department's annual Christmas party for the employee's families and children. The party, which was funded by a private benefactor and not by taxpayer money, had 49 children in attendance. The children received large stockings with their names painted on them and a small jar of candy...

'Tis the season for giving, and community members are taking it seriously. The Clay City Police Department and the Clay City Dollar General are teaming up for the second year to put on a toy drive for disadvantaged children. "Clay City Dollar General approached us about doing one. Of course we were all for it," Clay City Police Chief Terry Skaggs said...

Visitors of the Poland branch of the First Financial Bank will be able to enjoy a Christmas display and honor past and present military personnel at the same time. "We chose a military theme this year to support our active military and honor our many local veterans," Pioneers Extension Homemakers Club President Lucy Strauch said about the club's winning first-place entry in the bank sponsored Christmas decorating contest. ...

Members of the Brazil City Fire Department were able to get a roaring trailer fire at 120 East Ridge Street, Brazil, under control within five minutes of the initial report. No one was hurt, but TransCare personnel helped an oxygen-assisted resident at the home whose oxygen tank ran out during the incident. Officials at the scene were unable to determine a cause due to the firefighters still fighting hotspots within the trailer...

Are you counting down the days, the hours, the minutes until Christmas? Do you have the food menu for all those hungry guests that will invade your house during the upcoming holidays finalized? Is your holiday decorating and shopping done? If you are organized and ready, kudos to you...

To the Editor: I used to write about past history in Brazil. I'm doing it again in this letter. February 1948, the Cooper Theater opened with the color movie "Red Stallion." I believe the Beverly was showing Disney's "Song of the South," a movie called "Margie" was at the Fox. Not sure but I think "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankstein" was at the Lark...

To the Editor: This letter is my way of saying "thanks" to Jim (the owner) at Funtime Scuba. I have been going to water aerobics at Funtime Scuba since last February. In that time, I have lost more than 80 pounds, and have noticed that I can walk a little better on dry ground...

To the Editor: I am a Democrat voting for Ron Paul (R-Texas). Ron Paul seeks to uphold the constitution of the United States of America. You may ask, as I did when I first began learning about this man, what does he believe? He believes in the constitution. ...

To the Editor: The morning of Nov. 24, I was on my way to an early morning wedding at the Rock Run Church. I had no idea where the church was at, but I went with a cousin who said she had gotten directions. But we got lost anyway and found ourselves at a sign that said, "Welcome To Vigo County."...

Eugene Higginbotham, 90, rural Martinsville, Ill., died Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 at Heartland Nursing Center, Casey, Ill. Born Oct. 13, 1917, at Anderson Township, Clark County, Ill., he was the son of Harry Higginbotham and Bertha Ledermann Higginbotham...