Stories from Thursday, January 10, 2008

If you make a New Year's resolution, and you don't follow through on it, what are the consequences? It all depends. If you vow to learn French, but you never get past "Oui, mademoiselle," your life will probably go on pretty much as before (unless, of course, you're now living in France)...

When purchasing a home, there are so many details to take care of that the last thing you need to worry about is a problem with your closing. Hopefully, you've hired skilled professionals to handle the details and make sure everything runs smoothly...

Lieber State Recreation will conduct its "Friends of Lieber" January meeting at 7 p.m., Jan. 17, at the Lieber Visitor's Center. The organization is still attempting to generate interest in forming a group to develop a lasting partnership that benefits both people and its natural and cultural resources...

Clay County Courthouse The following transactions took place at the Clay County Courthouse Jan. 10: Clay Superior Court -- Civil American Acceptance Company, LLC Vs. William L. Black: Civil Collections Clay Circuit Court -- Civil GE Money Bank Vs. Raymond Thomas: Civil Collections...

Terry L. York, 48, Greencastle, passed away Wednesday. Born Feb. 15, 1959, in Greencastle, he was the son of Burnard and Joyce (Sturgeon) York. He was a self-employed contractor for several years and had been employed by Great Dane Corp. for several years...

Several residents of Clay County were recently recognized for leadership in the Wabash Valley Human Resources Association. Chartered on June 9, 1959, the Wabash Valley Human Resources Association is an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). SHRM currently has more than 575 affiliated chapters within the United States and more than 225,000 individual members...

The Brazil City Parks Board has a new president, but is dealing with some old problems. Caroline McCullough was elected president in a 4-1 vote Wednesday night, replacing Ruthann Jeffries. Before officer elections, Jeffries made an emotional statement that she would not be able to fulfill presidential duties in 2008 because of personal issues...

Northview High School boys' basketball freshman Trent Lancaster reads while 10-year-old Lauren Knight listens. Members of the NHS basketball squad visited Meridian Elementary Thursday morning as part of the Reading is Fundamental program. Lancaster read to students in Leah Schuch's fourth-grade classroom. Lauren is the daughter of Yvonne and Tony Knight. Members of the basketball team will read at Eastside Elementary today...

A tiny celebrity, Clay County's 2008 New Years' Baby, visited The Brazil Times Thursday afternoon with her mother. Marsha Dowell's seven-day old daughter, Sarah Jolene, is the county's newest citizen. "Our family is thrilled," Marsha said of the birth of her fourth child with husband Travis. "She is so quiet, you can't hardly hear her cry, and she's so funny. She already holds her head up and giggles."...

The Clay Community School Board was inundated with important reports during its first meeting of 2008 Thursday night at North Clay Middle School. In the midst of the presentations, an important personnel decision was reached. The board approved the job description for an assistant superintendent 5-2, and gave Superintendent Dan Schroeder the go-ahead to post the position and start the interview process...

Times Staff Report CLAY CITY -- The Clay City Eels dropped their third consecutive game on Thursday night, falling 36-27 to Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference foe Bloomfield. The Cardinals pulled away down the stretch, using a 15-7 advantage in the fourth period to edge out the Eels...

By CAREY FOX Times Sports Editor MARTINSVILLE -- If Martinsville was trying to make a statement following a three-game losing streak, the Northview girls were the unfortunate recipient of that message in a 70-22 loss on Thursday night. Martinsville came out firing with a 28-point first quarter on 10-of-17 shooting that includes five 3-pointers in the quarter...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Jantel Lavender scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead No. 19 Ohio State to a 71-59 win over Indiana on Thursday night. Tied 41-41, Tamarah Riley was fouled on a layup with 11:44 remaining and made the free throw to give Ohio State (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten) a lead it never relinquished. The Buckeyes have won three straight...

WEST LAFAYETTE -- Lakisha Freeman had 14 points, and the Purdue Boilermakers held on to beat Michigan 56-51 in a Big Ten matchup on Thursday night. Danielle Campbell had 13 points and nine rebounds and Kalika France finished with 11 points for the Boilermakers (7-8, 3-1 Big Ten), who rebounded from a 50-point loss to No. 1 Connecticut on Jan. 6...

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS -- Purdue might announce the successor to football coach Joe Tiller as soon as Friday, a person familiar with the coaching search said. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because negotiations are ongoing, said Thursday that the 65-year-old Tiller will coach the Boilermakers in 2008, and the successor would take over after that...

BOYS' BASKETBALL Argos 55, Oregon-Davis 28 Carmel 75, Indpls Cathedral 60 Ft. Wayne Keystone 76, Lakewood Park 72 Allen County Tournament Semifinal Bluffton 68, Woodlan 43 S. Adams 47, Leo 46 Northeast Corner Conference Tournament...

By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer WASHINGTON -- Alexander the Great has a contract worthy of his nickname -- the first $100 million deal in NHL history. Alex Ovechkin signed a $124 million, 13-year contract extension Thursday with the Washington Capitals, a handsome reward for the 22-year-old charismatic Russian who has been a nonstop goal-scorer since coming to the NHL in 2005...

INDIANAPOLIS -- George Hill scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead IUPUI to a 60-46 victory over North Dakota State on Thursday night. Gary Patterson and Austin Montgomery scored 11 each for the Jaguars in a game that included six ties and four lead changes...

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer HONOLULU -- Jimmy Walker would love to have a fairy-tale finish at the Sony Open. Given the bad memories from this place, he was thrilled Thursday with the first chapter. Walker hit 7-iron to 12 feet below the flag on the par-5 ninth to finish with an eagle for a 5-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead among the early starters in surprisingly calm conditions at Waialae Country Club...

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS -- Matt Howard had 22 points and nine rebounds, and No. 14 Butler beat Wisconsin-Green Bay 74-65 on Thursday night for its seventh straight win. Mike Green scored 18 points, A.J. Graves added 13 and Willie Veasley had seven points and a career-high 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs (15-1, 4-1 Horizon League), who tied the 2002-03 team for the best start in school history...