There was good news and bad news for teams such as Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Westfield and Zionsville when the IHSAA announced the pairings for the Westfield Baseball Sectional. The good news is Southeastern, Fishers, Westfield and Zionsville, in order to win the championship, will not have to face both Carmel and Noblesville, the two favored squads entering the sectional. The bad news is that whichever team - Southeastern, Westfield, Fishers or Zionsville - reaches the championship game, waiting will be a well-rested Noblesville or Carmel pitching staff. Noblesville and Carmel, probably the two teams with the deepest pitching staffs in

Staff report Jake Wood hit a game-tying double in the sixth inning and Dominic Fornero hit a bases-clearing, game-winning triple in the top of the eighth as Noblesville rallied past Westfield, 5-2 Friday at WHS. Fornero’s triple was on a 1-2 pitch with two outs. Noblesville improved to 19-6 overall and 13-2 in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. The Millers have a two-game lead over Brownsburg. Kyle Kramp pitched a solid game in the loss. The junior went seven innings, allowing just two runs and two hits while striking out eight. Westfield’s Kevin Plawecki and Andy Gehr both had run-scoring hits

AFP - A deadline for Take-Two Interactive Software shareholders to agree to a buyout by video game giant Electronic Arts has passed with neither firm commenting on the takeover bid's fate.

CLEVELAND - The U.S. federal government isn't used to being snubbed when it offers to help local governments.

With two of the area’s best pitchers sitting in the dugout, awaiting the start of the sectional next week, Noblesville and Carmel went to war in softball Friday evening. It wasn’t pretty, but it was exciting. Carmel scored three runs in the top of the eighth to pull out a 9-6 victory over the Millers. “The win gives us momentum going into the sectional,” said Carmel coach Emily Good, whose Greyhounds finished 21-4 and ranked No. 2 in Class 4A softball. Neither coach, Good or NHS mentor Mike Ramsey, went with their top pitchers, Noblesville sophomore Kaitlyn

One year ago, Noblesville went into the sectional semifinals without its No. 1 singles player and pulled off a nail-biting 3-2 victory over Hamilton Southeastern. The roles were reversed Friday at Carmel. Hamilton Southeastern's Shelly Tang won her match at No. 2 singles, defeating Noblesville's Shelby Baker. Missing No. 1 player Carol Hsu with a wrist injury, Hamilton Southeastern picked up big wins from Shelley Tang (No.

It was predicted to be a barn-burner, another head-to-head clash between state powers Carmel and Noblesville. Bingo! In the IHSAA Sectional at Carmel the host Greyhounds defeated second-place Noblesville by 6.5 points. In many ways it was predicted to be a repeat of the Hamilton County Meet. Bingo! Carmel had defeated Noblesville by four points in the county. Fishers won a third-place battle with Hamilton Southeastern, the Tigers finishing with 80 points and the Royals with 71. Hamilton Heights was sixth, Westfield seventh, Sheridan ninth and

Reuters - For years, video games have been blamed for turning kids into idle layabouts who only venture off the couch to fill up on potato chips and soda.

Investor's Business Daily - Nintendo's "Wii Fit" video game is likely to continue the company's winning streak as it keeps finding new ways to break the traditional video game mold.

The Eagles have flown from the Atlanta Post Office. The ornate antique post office boxes engraved with eagles that have secured mail for residents in this northern Hamilton County town for a half century have been replaced with austere modern boxes. The Eagles have flown: The ornate Post Office boxes adorned with raised relief eagle engravings have been replaced with plain steel, key-locking doors.

Indiana Department of Environmental Management staff Todd Davis, environmental manager, left, and Jim Stahl, senior environmental manager, practice reading sediment levels under the water during a recent training exercise at the Morse Reservoir in Cicero with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. More than two dozen emergency responders prepared for future incidents through a partnership between IDEM and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. A DNR

Although May in Indiana is best known for racing, a signature event hosted by the Carmel Arts & Design District is helping to cast the spotlight on the budding arts mecca beyond the Brickyard. The Gallery Association of the Carmel Arts & Design District will welcome spring with its third Carmel Gallery Walk 5 to 10 p.m. Friday. The event is free and open to the public. During the Gallery Walk, area galleries will host receptions featuring works by local and international artists, and offer customized hors d’oeuvres and signature drinks that reflect the theme of each location’s

Hamilton Heights High School senior Elizabeth Roper has planned a community event today to help “Kick Butt” and raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and tobacco use. The “Kick Butt” kickball tournament will be held at Hamilton Heights High School to promote tobacco prevention efforts. The tournament runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature individual competitions for four age groups – elementary, junior high, high school and teachers. Roper said that tobacco products kill over 438,000 Americans each year. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Lung Association

The White River Sertoma Club will present Patrick Olmstead at its regular monthly meeting, 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church of Noblesville, 1207 Conner St. Olmstead is a charter member of the board of directors of Veterans of Valor, an organization launched from the heart and experience of Sgt. Klay South after he was critically wounded Nov. 11, 2004, during a spearhead into Fallujah, Iraq. The public is invited to the meeting to hear Olmstead speak about the work Veterans of Valor is accomplishing for men and women serving in the military.

First Sgt. Tim Kaiser, acting commander of the Indiana State Police Pendleton District, has announced troopers will participate in the upcoming “Click It or Ticket” campaign. The statewide “Click It or Ticket” seat belt mobilization will take place now through June 1. There is an emphasis this year on convincing more motorists to buckle up day and night. Troopers will be observing for unrestrained motorists around the clock. Through high-visibility enforcement efforts all drivers and passengers in the Hoosier state will be reminded to buckle up. According to the 2007 annual observational survey Indiana’s overall observed seat belt usage rate increased from 62.1 percent in

In an effort to further beautify the downtown area, the city of Noblesville is sponsoring a downtown improvement project which is currently underway. Sixteen benches and three bike racks were recently placed throughout the downtown area, and within the next month, 72 light poles will be repainted. “With spring and warmer weather finally arriving, we wanted to help encourage people to come to downtown Noblesville,” said Mayor John Ditslear. “By providing benches where people can sit and linger and racks where people can secure their bikes, we hope to provide an atmosphere that encourages people to come and

Prevail Inc. of Hamilton County has elected four new board members. Dave Dishong of Amicus Financial, Pat Manifold with F.C. Tucker, Cindy White of First Merchants Bank and Susan Ziel of Krieg DeVault join five other board members serving the crime victim’s awareness and support organization. Each member may serve two three-year terms. Members of the board are chosen for their passion and commitment to Prevail and its efforts to provide advocacy, awareness, education and support services to victims of crime in Hamilton County. The Board of Directors is responsible for the hiring of Prevail’s executive director, establishing

Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous May 24-25 The Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous, one of the largest living history events in the Midwest, is designed to bring back to life the sights, sounds and smells of late 18th and early 19th century Vincennes. The 32nd annual event will be May 24-25 on French Commons, located on Willow Street in Vincennes. It was here that the British surrendered to George Rogers Clark in 1779 and it is here that the George Rogers Clark National Historic Park now stands. Authentic Early American food, merchants and traders. Candlelight tours of Vincennes

I have received my tax rebate under the recently passed Economic Stimulus Act of 2008! A windfall, I guess. In last week’s column I used my basic math skills to reflect upon the total cost for fueling up my minivan. This week I get to apply my college economics degree! Should I do my duty as a citizen and spend all of it instantly on consumer goods? In doing so, the economic multiplier effect kicks in and my $2,100 starts working its magic through the companies who produce the products that I choose to buy. My spending $2,100 increases

This week’s column is dedicated to my mom, Eleanor Ruth Miller Kinney, who by her example taught me the power of faith in God, prayer and Christian service to others. Following are several stories, submitted by readers, about their mothers who did the same. Mom and Cherry pie Cherry pie has always been my favorite. One afternoon when I was 12, I arrived home from school and went to the kitchen for something to eat. I immediately noticed a cherry pie Mom had just taken out of the oven. Assuming it was for dinner, I

Snow plows from units at Tipton, Kokomo, Westfield and Fortville will compete in a skills contest at the Indiana Department of Transportation subdistrict facility at Tipton. Competition for this first round of the Eighth Annual Safety Truck Roadeo is May 20-23. INDOT drivers will compete in a skills contest at the Tipton Subdistrict Roadeo, May 20-23. Photo submitted Events include “the mailbox curve,” diminishing

Brig. Gen. Stewart Goodwin, executive director of the Indiana War Memorial, calls it the best kept secret in Indiana. "And we don't want it to be," he says. "Last year we had 200,000 visitors. We should have more than that." It may be in the works. Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard chose the War Memorial for the site of his swearing-in ceremony last January. On May 5, the eve of the state's primary election, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama hosted a rally at the American Legion Mall, part of the Indiana War Memorial Plaza Historic District. Today the Memorial

JONESBORO, Ark. - Police in Arkansas say DNA found on a half-eaten candy bar helped them zero in on a robbery suspect.

While throwing yellow foam balls at each other may not seem very kindhearted, the Westfield High School dodgeball tournament was one of many events for students to participate in during the school’s “Week of Compassion.” Westfield High School junior Carson White participates in a dodge ball event that raised funds for an orphanage in Congo. The school celebrated a “Week of Compassion” just like other spirit

NewsFactor - Players of Disney video games on the Nintendo DS now have their own avatar-based online community. On Thursday, Disney announced that its DGamer community is now available, along with the Nintendo DS version of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Alan Lyon edges out James Hopkins Jr. Sheridan Community School Board candidates Alan Lyon and James Hopkins, Jr. were separated by just one vote on Election Night. Lyon had come out on top 177 votes to 176. The Boone County Clerk’s Office could not call the race before counting any provisional votes and military absentee ballots that could have changed the results. As it turns out, the two had to wait until Friday to hear Boone County election officials say, “nothing has changed from Election Night.” One provisional ballot was waiting to be counted. “The one provisional ballot did

TORONTO - Peter MacKay will be looking to provide a different kind of defence Monday.

TORONTO - Peter MacKay will be looking to provide a different kind of defence Monday.

MONCTON, N.B. - While most grooms spend the day before their wedding double-checking their tuxedo, Serge Cormier was making sure his radio cables were in good working order.

AP - Sumo wrestlers were the main inspiration behind Wii Fit, Nintendo's latest attempt at getting you off the couch when you play video games.