Redskin Rally

By Mike Alexander

[caption id="attachment_5129" align="alignleft" width="225" caption=") Manual basketball player Chrishawn Hopkins (second from left) was presented the McDonald’s All-American award by marketing manager Debbie Gilliland (at right). Looking on are Chrishawn’s mother (left), Tamika Slaughter, grandmother Sharon Watson (barely seen), Manual principal Rocky Grismore (third from right) and athletic director Chris Walker (second from right). Photo by Mike Alexander"][/caption] Manual alums cheer All-American Hopkins and Redskins to victory Manual High School and the Southside rose again. About 1,500 — most of them alums — painted a sea of red in the Richard C. Cummins gymnasium Friday of last week. They were there to pay honor and maintain tradition to the school, second oldest in Indianapolis behind Shortridge. [ad#single-post] And they were there to cheer on the Redskins to a 65-62 overtime victory against city rival Arlington. It was Manual’s sixth victory in 18 games. Honored was Manual senior guard Chrishawn Hopkins, who was presented the McDonald’s All-American basketball team award at halftime. Debbie Gilliland, McDonald’s marketing manager, presented the award, with Chrishawn’s mother, Tamika Slaughter, and grandmother Sharon Watson, school principal Rocky Grismore and athletic director Chris Walker looking on. Hopkins didn’t let the home crowd down, scoring a season-high 36 points, 10 above his average. With quick, silky smooth moves and giant leaping ability, Hopkins showed why he was among the top 90 high school all-stars selected from across the nation by McDonald’s. Hopkins, a 6-3, 175-pound guard, has accepted a full scholarship to play for Butler University next fall. Coach Jim Meslie kept the after-game talk brief so the players could return to the gym and thank the alumni for their support. “The alumni stayed to the end,” said athletic director Walker. “No doubt our kids will talk about this (outpouring of support) for the rest of their lives.” Gordon Durnil, a 1954 Manual graduate, organized the alumni gathering event, following the successful turnout for the school’s Christmas Spectacular concert in mid-December. Durnil was Republican state chairman during 1981-88. Durnil said alumni need to keep showing Manual students “that we care about them and support their goals of pursuing success in high school and life.”

A Noble Quest

By Mike Beas

[caption id="attachment_5125" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="» Charleston Shi Book Signing at South Grove Intermediate School Literacy Night Thursday, March 18 • 6 p.m. Books available for $16"][/caption] Thirteen-year-old Charleston Shi of Avon puts his imagination to words with his 11-book series, “The Quest of the Phoenix” The wheel spins. Swiftly and regularly it rotates, slowing to an eventual stop only when its owner, 13-year-old Charleston Shi, is fatigued enough to concede defeat and actually lay his head on a pillow. And even that’s a window left barely ajar considering the five to six hours of sleep he averages. Asked about his thoughts, the ones enabling Shi, an energetic and ambitious eighth-grade honors student at Avon Middle School South, to write a new book every four months, the young man behind wire-rimmed glasses moves his right arm in a circular motion. [ad#single-post] It’s the wheel, explains Shi. Constantly turning. Continuously producing. Having already produced the text and storyline direction for six books in an 11-book series entitled “The Quest of the Phoenix,” Shi recently had his first book, the 17-chaptered, 168-page The Phoenix and the Yeti, published by Dog Ear Publishing in Indianapolis. The series’ central character is Tom, a 14-year-old introduced to the reader as the 10th reincarnation of the phoenix who serves, literally and figuratively, as the lone glimpse of light in a time of darkness and anguish. An orphan, Tom must set out on a journey to Alaska, battle an evil Yeti and in time gain his great power of fire. Asked why he made Tom an orphan, Shi thinks for a moment before answering, “I wanted to make him an orphan because what happens when someone that age doesn’t have parents? Who would influence your path?” In the case of Shi, it’s been his parents, who have helped shape and mold the work ethic, personality and attention to detail of Charleston, as well as his younger sisters, Elizabeth, 12, and Angelina, 10. Dad would like nothing more than to see the oldest of his three children follow his footsteps and pursue an engineering degree. However, Charleston’s dream bubble shows him enrolling at Harvard University as a law student five summers from now. Somehow, though, a passion for writing seeped between these mindsets, and Shi was on his way. “I started when I was in kindergarten. There was a story called “A Journey to the West,” a Chinese classic with a lot of magical creatures. And the Harry Potter Series, my sister and I really like that a lot,” said Shi. “I just try to connect with everyone in my books. I just like to create.” The inventiveness required to produce such books, each approximately 55,000 words, usually has to be stashed away until the weekends. It’s all about properly managing one’s time, say his parents. “We’re trying to keep him very balanced. Monday through Friday we normally don’t let him do any writing,” said his father. “Monday through Friday are school days.” As for what the future holds, Shi’s final book in the series, The Glory of the Phoenix, isn’t expected to be completed until 2013, his junior year at Avon High School. By then, the young man who also loves playing the piano, swimming, singing and acting might need to take a step back from writing for awhile. Then again, these first 11 books pack the potential of steering Shi in a direction from which he won’t want to deviate. “Maybe after that, another series. And after that another series,” said Shi. “Like I said earlier, the wheel is always running.”

Roncalli’s Braun stars as Aladdin in Beef & Boards production

By Submission For The Southside Times

[caption id="attachment_5121" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Submitted photo"][/caption] Tyler Braun, who plays the title character in Disney’s Aladdin Jr., is a student at Roncalli High School. Disney’s high-flying adventure won’t be grounded in March after all, as Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s Pyramid Players have extended the run of Aladdin Jr. The stage adaptation of the popular Disney movie, which opened the 2010 Live Theatre For Kids series, is now on stage through April 24. Originally scheduled to close March 20, this exciting adventure has had 9 performances added. The audience has the opportunity to meet the cast of Disney’s Aladdin Jr. after each show for pictures and autographs. Pyramid Players productions are one hour in length and are presented without intermission. Performances are for all ages, but offered particularly for children in preschool through sixth grade. All tickets are $12.50 and include a snack. Performances take place at 10 a.m. on Fridays and at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays. For reservations, contact the box office at 872-9664. For more information or show schedule, visit the theater’s Web site, www.beefandboards.com.

Obituaries for the week of 02.25.10

By Submission For The Southside Times

Gary A. Dickey, 63, of Trafalgar, died February 19, 2010. Dickey was born September 21, 1946, in Indianapolis. He was President of Acadia Windows in Indianapolis. Survivors include his loving wife, Devon (Frazier) Dickey; daughters, Heidi (Travis) Sichting and Natalie Dickey; three grandchildren, Sierra, Alexis and Skyler; mother, Bea (Savin) Dickey and brother Ronald Dickey. He was preceded in death by his father, Forrest Dickey. Services were held February 24, 2010 at G.H. Herrmann Greenwood Funeral Home. [ad#single-post] Bill Hendrickson (Pooch), died February 21, 2010. Bill was born in Indianapolis on July 24, 1939. He was a beloved husband of 44 years to Sandy (Lee) Hendrickson. He was a devoted father to Gary Hendrickson (Kellie) and Kim (Sal) Tiano. A loving grandfather to Austin, Marissa, Salvatore (Tory), Brenna, Cassie, Nick, Alexa and Lexie. He was like a father and grandfather to Santina Iaria Wood and her two children Marie and Nicola. He was one of four children born to Roscoe and Pearl Hendrickson. He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as three siblings, Anna Marie Dooley, Pearl Etta and Rex (Babe) Hendrickson. Services will be held Thursday, February 25, 2010 at Singleton Community Mortuary and Memorial Center from 1 to 8 p.m. A service will be held on Friday, February 26, 2010, at 11 a.m. at the mortuary and will be conducted by pastor Shan Rutherford. Reed M. Kiser, 83, Beech Grove, died Saturday, February 20, 2010. He was born June 12, 1926, in Worthington, Ind., to the late Howard and Maggie Kiser. After 38 years, Reed retired from Conrail and worked at Steve’s Flowers & Gifts. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Delores Harris Kiser; children, Pamela and Matthew (Lisa) Kiser; grandson, LCpl. Nathaniel Kiser, USMC; sisters, Kathryn Burch and Martha Lewis; and nephew, Larry J. Burch. A memorial service will be at a later date. Arrangements by Little & Sons Beech Grove Chapel. Micki Mary Louise Lowder, 90, of Beech Grove, died February 18, 2010. Micki was born to Ollie and Minnie Small on February 25, 1919. Micki’s parents, four siblings, and grandson Christopher Cook preceded her in death. Mrs. Lowder leaves behind sons Michael D. (Lynn) Cook, Steven R. Cook; daughter, Janice (Wayne) Martin; grandchildren, Misty Kaufman, Shawn Steimel, Quinn Steimel, Christina Stone, Michelle Neville, Stephanie Schiemann, and Stacey Snyder. Services were held February 22, 2010, at Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center. John J. McNulty, Sr., 81, of Beech Grove, died February 22, 2010. He was born September 26, 1928, in Indianapolis to the late James and Catherine McNulty. After 31 years, John retired from Ford Motor Co. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 50 years, Glory Jean McNulty; daughter, Tricia Holton; and brothers, Vincent and Edward McNulty. He is survived by his son, John J. (Mary) McNulty, Jr.; sister, Mary Meyers; brother, Jim McNulty; grandchildren, Phillip, Paul, Amy, Lindsey, Deveney, and John “JT”; great grandchildren, Casey, Kayla, and Palmer; son-in-law, Phil Holton; sisters-in-law, Martine Thibo, Carole Wilson, and Judy Wylie; and brothers-in-law, John and Jim Devney. Visitation is Thursday, February 25, 2010, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Little & Sons Beech Grove Chapel, where the funeral is Friday, February 26, 2010, at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Danna R. Rice, 59, of Indianapolis, died February 17, 2010. She was born September 11, 1950, in Steele, Ala. Danna is survived by her husband, Ronald E. Rice; sons, Kevin (Ammie) Rice and Chris (Christina) Rice; step-sons, Jack (Julie) Rice and Scott Rice; step-daughter, Kelly Rice; brother, Bill McAnalley; sister, Brenda Hopper; six grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, and her beloved dogs, Nina, Cindy, and Angel. She is preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Thelma McAnalley, and brothers, Jim McAnalley and Bob McAnalley. Burial was held Febraury 20, 2010, at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Curlers put the gray matter to work — and I’m hooked

By Mike Redmond

Like many of you, I’ve been transfixed by the exciting Winter Olympics. OK, that’s a lie. I’ve given it at most a few hours, and most of those have been here and there, not continuous viewing. It’s not that I don’t like to watch winter sports. After all, you never know when you’re going to see one of those Agony Of Defeat guys fly out of his skis and go pinwheeling down the side of a mountain, and I’m always rooting for one of those tippy-toe skaters to do a face plant. It’s just that you have to wait around for these things to happen and right now I have other, more pressing things to do, such as have a life. [ad#single-post] The other day, though, my life went on hold for an Olympic event. Really. I spent hours — I’m not kidding, hours — on the edge of my seat, glued to the tube, watching … Curling. Also known as “sliding big rocks on the ice.” If you’ve never seen this sport, let me explain it to you. Some guys stand on opposite ends of a rink and slide 42-pound rocks at each other, in slow motion. While the rock travels down the ice at a blistering two feet per hour, other guys come out with brooms and sweep like crazy, allowing the rock to increase its speed to two and one-eighth miles per hour. Thus the rock has a great deal of momentum when it crashes into another rock down at the target area, and sends them both off the ice, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing. Sometimes it’s hard to tell. This goes on for about 12 days, at which point, someone is declared the winner and everyone goes for refreshments. Now, at first glance, it’s hard to see these folks as athletes, in the same way that it’s hard to see horseshoe pitchers or pinochle players as athletes. It’s also difficult to see them that way at second glance, and third. You don’t exactly hear the theme from “Rocky” ringing in your head while you watch a curling stone go moving — glacier-like — down the ice. I’ll tell you what they are, though. I finally saw it after watching them for a few ends, which is curling-ese for innings. They’re chess players and pool sharks rolled into one. Really. It was like a veil lifting. I was sitting there making fun of them and all of a sudden I began to see how carefully they were placing the stones on the target area so as to influence the other side’s strategy two, three, four shots down the line. Blocks, caroms, curving shots — these guys are thinking all the time. To there you go. I got hooked on curling in spite of myself. I thought I was watching iced-over shuffleboard and found something really interesting. I found the Brainiacs of the winter games. You really have to put the ol’ gray matter to work if you’re going to be a world class curling-type person. Which, now that I think about it, may be why they chose curling to begin with. No crashes. No face-plants. Smart choice. Really, there doesn’t seem to be much potential for injury at all, unless they drop one of those stones onto their shoes. Then, truly, they would know the agony of the feet.

Where’s my apology, Tiger?

By Kevin Kane

Last Friday, Tiger Woods faced the nation and apologized for his recent unfaithful actions. If you saw or heard the address, you may have noticed that Woods apologized to nearly everyone from his wife to the guy who washes his red Sunday shirts. He was throwing out one “I’m sorry” after another, perhaps one for every mistress, as if he knew class-skipping college kids may be using it for a drinking game. Over and over again he apologized, but I personally didn’t get it. [ad#single-post] Yeah, he screwed up. His actions brought upon his family a host of problems and new nuisances. He destroyed his image and jeopardized his close relationships, but what did he do to you? What did he do to anyone aside from his wife, kids, family and friends? Was he in a relationship with you? I guess it’s possible, but probably not. Did he sleep with someone you know? For the slim majority of Americans, that’s a “no” as well. Tiger’s infidelity didn’t take money out of your wallet. It didn’t make your life more difficult. His actions only affected a small group of people, so why was he delivering a mass apology? Golf fan or not, what sort of person’s life is in disarray until Tiger Woods apologizes for being a jerk? I know there probably are people like that, as I can recall the numerous suicides immediately following Michael Jackson’s death. Considering how extreme fans can be, surely there were some who legitimately felt they were owed an apology. Well those who did got what they wanted, but in my opinion, Tiger shouldn’t have given those hardcore fans or the rest of the world any sort of apology. Even if I was a crazed Woods fan, the type to follow him on tour and buy his unwashed clothes on eBay, I wouldn’t expect Woods to tell me he’s sorry, assuming I could think rationally. I don’t think anyone’s disagreeing that what he did was despicable, but it was his decision to make. Private behavior shouldn’t require public apologies unless a crime’s committed. Yes, he defined the word “sleaze,” but he never promised the world he wouldn’t, either. So why was he basically forced to make a public apology for personal wrongdoings that, face it, aren’t really uncommon? Why does being a celebrity mean that we’re owed an “I’m sorry” for every major screw up? No one wants a stranger to approach them with “I just want you to know, I cheated on my wife, and I’m sorry I let you down.” We don’t need to hear it from Tiger, either. Anyone saying we should expect more from Woods and other celebrities because of their status is farther removed from reality than Dennis Franz is from People’s title of “Sexiest Man Alive.” We should expect celebs to behave like middle schoolers with money. Maybe worse. Come on. Tiger wasn’t really sorry, at least not when he said it to us. That was evident from the Charles Barkley-like acting when he said “I’m sorry.” It probably even said “Close eyes, lower head and sigh” in his script. It looked that forced, but it doesn’t matter if he meant it or not, because we didn’t really need an apology from him anyways. I don’t think of Tiger any differently after his press conference last week. If anything, the “sorry” session left me feeling a little slighted. He apologized to his family, friends, fans and employees, but he didn’t specifically address non-fans and people who don’t give two putts about him. I have to listen to all this Tiger talk just like everyone else, so it would have been nice for my category to be included, too. Screw the screwing around. He let me down by leaving me out.

Top ten recent quotes from Will Rogers (were he alive today) #5

By Torry Stiles

10. “The doctor told me I can’t have any more bacon, ham or pork chops. I reckon they’re saving all the pork for Congress.” 9. “I’m guessing it really smarts to have them earrings put in their noses or dangly things in their eyebrows and what-nots. Probably the only smarts those kids have.” 8. “Things are warming up in Washington. Congress is back from vacation and there’s a lot more hot air.” 7. “Listenin’ is a lost art. Just look at all the folks talkin’ on their phones. Maybe if they listened a little better they wouldn’t have to talk so much.” 6. “I read that the kids at the university have to pay more these days. I reckon the kids are learnin’ what their parents already know.” 5. “Heard they had some buildings fall down in Southport the other day. Looks like the housing market isn’t the only thing crashing.” 4. “Seems every month some government group is spending another million dollars to study about building a new light rail system somewhere. They’ve been doin’ that for 40 years now. They must have a really nice school for this studyin’ but nobody ever seems to graduate.” 3. “When I call City Hall I have to dial “1” to talk English to ‘em or “2” to talk Spanish to ‘em. I want the number I dial to talk some sense to ‘em.” 2. “I like reading the paper. I always start with the funny pages. Then I open it up and read the comics.” 1. “Seems Washington wants to stimulate the economy by adding on some new taxes to the folks that are still working. Ain’t that kinda like trying to stimulate a drownin’ man with a bucket of ice water?”

Beaten half to death by the Bargain Bra

By Sherri Coner-Eastburn

I’m a diehard bargain-hunting haggler, so of course I bought the bra. It was marked down from $30 to $6, and I almost pulled a muscle when I grabbed that thing so quickly from the rack. I also found a $4 sweater, so I sprinted happily to the cashier with my mega deals in hand. Yesterday, I decided to wear my brand spankin’ new bra and my gorgeous, new, slightly-ugly-but-still-a-bargain sweater. [ad#single-post] Within minutes of leaving home, I could hear my dad’s voice in my head, “You get what you pay for, Sherri.” An apparent loose thread on the back of my sweater got caught on the screen door, so I suffered whiplash when the sweater snagged on the door knob. When I turned to free myself from the door, I discovered two more snags. I won’t tell you what I said about that — out loud and in my worst demon voice — but I promise it was nothing nice. Since I was running late, I had no choice but to wear the sweater and hope the snag business was stopped. While driving, minding my own business and singing along with the radio, I nearly slammed into a tree when I was overcome by an extremely painful sensation. “Oh my gosh, something is biting me on the back!” I yelled as I struggled to pull the car safely off the road. I envisioned big-fanged spiders hiding in the sweater. I hyperventilated with horror. Then it felt more like a few dozen bees were stinging the middle of my back — yes, right in the vicinity of where my new $6 bra happens to fasten. I rushed into the nearest restaurant bathroom and yanked off my ugly sweater to examine my back. That’s when I found invisible nubs of razor-sharp plastic jutting through the back of my $6 bra. Giant welts were now crowded into a big, feverish lump on my back. “Lovely,” I muttered as I realized that I’d now have to purchase some kind of cream to treat the welts. In the store, with the back of the bra still biting big chunks of my skin, I bent down to choose a tube of anti-inflammatory cream. That’s when my left lung was suddenly punctured. The underwire of my $6 bra had sprung free and was now stabbing me mercilessly in the chest. When I tried to discreetly tend to the situation, more underwire erupted through the cheap sweater and almost poked my eye out. Moral of the story? I ended up purchasing a not-one-penny-on-sale bra, along with the medicated cream and a bottle of aspirin to treat my stress headache. And that’s when I finally got what I paid for. “This is our dumbest version,” the pimple said. “Perfect,” I smiled.”I’ll take it.”

Navigating tax season: How to avoid an audit

By Steve Maple

The Liberty tax preparers are dancing on the street corners. The IRS is expecting a 1040 (and perhaps a check) from you. April 15 will come as surely as it snows in Indiana in January and February and March. Just as the TV stations warn you of impending storms, this article discusses ways to avoid an audit. The good news is that less than 1 percent of our income tax returns are audited. That figure is probably greater than the odds of getting a speeding ticket. Yet most of us do get stopped by Officer Friendly. Let’s lower the audit odds. [ad#single-post] Check your math. Invest in a calculator. Math errors are a significant reason for audits. Likely the auditor thinks that one math error may indicate other errors that can increase your tax bill. Sign your return. Many taxpayers simply forget to sign the return (joint returns need to be signed by both spouses). If the return is unsigned, the IRS may wonder if your “forgot” to include income you received during the year. Don’t under report income. The IRS gets those 1099s you received for dividends and interest. There is no threshold amount before you have to report the income; $10 still counts. Cash payments may be hard to trace back to a taxpayer, but it can be done, particularly if the payment to you is a business deduction for someone else. The IRS is not amused when the taxpayer plays “hide and seek” with income, and when caught, substantial penalties and interest are sure to follow. File your return and pay the tax on time. A late return probably guarantees an audit. If you cannot compute your tax by April 15, file for an extension and pay what you believe is your tax. The extension is only for filing and is not an extension for payment. By the way, the IRS does notice when you stop filing. Death is not even an excuse because your executor may need to file your last return for the year of death. Don’t overvalue charitable donations. Former President Clinton, while governor, listed items of underwear he donated at 25 cents each. Clothing doesn’t have much resale value. Most of our personal items probably should be valued at garage sale prices, and certainly not at replacement value. Most charities will give you a receipt for the donated items, but will not place a value on the gifts. Don’t deduct what isn’t deductible. You may make a political contribution to your favorite candidate and want to deduct the contribution. You can’t. Loans to friends may turn bad and uncollectible. The IRS will insist that you show that the debt existed, such as a promissory note, and what you did to collect, such as suing the debtor. Forget about taking a deduction for the bad loan to your child, because the IRS will reject that claim every time. Don’t estimate your deductions. Keep accurate records. The burden of proving each deductible amount is on the taxpayer. If you have deductible business mileage or charitable mileage, keep a log and record every mile and every toll paid. If you have a business, record each expense and its purpose. If you pay for child care so that you can work, get a receipt. Keep track of your unreimbursed medical expenses. We sign our tax return “under penalties of perjury”, which should be a sobering reminder that the 1040 is, as attested by our signature, correct and complete.

Plant your peas in early spring

By Carol Michel

With the snow melting, and hopefully warmer days ahead, it’s not too early to think about planting what are often referred to as “early spring crops,” like peas. There are just a few tricks to learn when growing peas, but learning them is well worth the time, because peas grown in your garden taste much better than any canned or frozen peas bought in a store. Many new gardeners are surprised at how early we can plant peas in this area. My preferred date to plant peas is March 17, or whenever the ground has reached a temperature of around 45 degrees at about an inch deep in the soil, the depth for planting peas. Like most vegetables, they should be grown in full sun. [ad#single-post] There are three kinds of peas we can grow. English, or shelling, peas are removed from the pea pod to eat. One variety I’ve been successful with is Green Arrow, which usually have eight to 10 peas in a pod, compared with some varieties that have only three or four peas in a pod. The other kinds of peas we can grow are snow peas and sugar snap peas. These peas are harvested when the pods are still tender and are eaten as pea pods. For all of types of peas, after sowing them directly in the garden early in the spring, provide some support to allow the pea vines to climb up so they don’t sprawl on the ground. If you have rabbits around, protect the vines from them, because the rabbits can eat the vines to the ground rather quickly. Don’t worry if we have frosts between when you plant the peas and when you harvest the peas. We will have frost. The peas will survive it and continue to grow, producing pods that are ready to pick around late May or early June. Then once it gets hot, the pea vines will no longer produce and should be pulled and composted, making room to sow a summer crop like green beans.