Earning a diploma was highly unlikely for student who did not receive any formal education before starting high school It’s hard for Ali Hussein to relate to any of his peers at Noblesville High School. The Afghanistan native is from a different world, far removed from the suburbs in which his classmates have spent their lives. But Friday night, he found himself one of them – a proud graduate of NHS.

There were as many flashes of light outside the pavilion of Verizon Wireless Music Center as there was under the roof, but Eric Clapton played on, losing himself in the familiar blues riffs of his music. Eric Clapton performs at Verizon Wireless Music Center Friday night. Clapton played to a sellout crowd Friday night despite nearby tornado warnings and storms that drenched other areas. The rain held off until just before his encore.

Westfield leads three county teams in top 20 The girls track teams of Westfield, Hamilton Southeastern and Carmel don’t have to tell anyone they belong at the IHSAA state meet. They prove it every year with consistent finishes at the meet. This year was no exception, as all three Hamilton County squads landed in the top 20. The Shamrocks repeated as 4x800 relay champions on their way to a sixth-place team finish, the Royals took 13th thanks to the leadership of the great Portia Bailey, and Carmel’s young squad tied for 20th by earning medals in three events.

Curry Harden has resigned as the head baseball coach at Hamilton Southeastern. The Royals’ mentor for the last six years, Harden made the announcement to his team following HSE’s loss to Fishers in the Westfield Sectional. “He told us a couple weeks ago,” said Hamilton Southeastern athletic director Greg Habegger. “It’s a tough job, being a head coach,” Habegger continued. “Curry was trying to juggle family, teaching and coaching. We’re excited for him as he goes a different direction.” “My wife is starting her own law firm and that’s a major commitment for our family,” Harden told the Daily Times.

Noblesville sectional loaded with solid teams Two talented Hamilton County boys’ golf teams will not survive the opening tournament of the postseason. Such is the nature of the IHSAA sectional in Noblesville. Eight county teams will compete at 12:30 p.m. Monday at Fox Prairie including heavyweights No. 5 Carmel, No. 9 Hamilton Southeastern, No. 14 Noblesville, Fishers and Westfield. One county team, Hamilton Heights, will join a 12-team field at Chippendale Golf Course at 10 a.m. Monday. Rankings and records will mean little at Noblesville. All of the county powers have been inconsistent, struggling at times in 18-hole tourneys.

SAN DIEGO - A 26-year-old T-shirt designer could turn San Diego's mayoral election on its head.

ARVADA, Colorado - Police in a Colorado town are searching for two robbers whose masks showed plenty of fashion sense but little modesty: women's thong underwear.

Sixteen hits. How sweet they were. The Westfield baseball team had a stunning offensive explosion in Thursday’s Sectional 8 championship game, using hit after hit to dismantle third-ranked Carmel 9-2. The Shamrocks hosted the sectional this year, and gave their fans plenty of reasons to cheer as the game went on.

Corey Dolan put the Guerin Catholic offense on his shoulders Thursday in a memorable performance but his heroics were tainted by the hot-hitting Tipton Blue Devils. In the Class 2A Sectional 40 finale at Oak Hill, Dolan smacked three home runs but Tipton answered with 16 hits as the Blue Devils earned the sectional crown with a 14-8 win. One day after hitting two home runs in a semifinal win over host Oak Hill, Dolan added three

After taking on the Dragons Thursday afternoon at the New Palestine Sectional, it might be tough to convince Hamilton Heights that New Pal is the No. 3 ranked team in Class 3A baseball. The way they played against the Huskies in a 10-0, six-inning victory, Heights may have come away thinking its opponent should be No. 1. Hamilton Heights catcher Jared Mills attempts to tag a

HUGHES, Ark. - Police in Arkansas say they didn't have to look too hard to figure out where an abandoned soda vending machine came from.

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. - A substitute teacher and a student at a suburban Atlanta high school have been charged with disorderly conduct after a fight during class that was captured on video.

Debbie Marinaro hopes for the best, but is bracing for the worst when a section of Allisonville Road closes Monday for a bridge rehabilitation project over Stony Creek. The work should be complete and the road should reopen by Aug. 1, said Matt Knight, bridge program engineer for the Hamilton County Highway Department. Marinaro, a Wellington Northeast resident for the past 17 years, is worried the Wellington subdivision will become a major thoroughfare. “Traffic heading north on Allisonville road has become extremely heavy,” Marinaro

Officials with Noblesville’s new trash service say they understand it will take a while before their newest customers are comfortable with the subtle changes. Beginning Monday, Republic Waste Services of Indiana will handle trash and recyclable pickup for more than 14,500 residences in Noblesville that will require pickup. “People don’t need to worry about anything until we actually deliver the carts,” said Barry Pruitt, general manager of Republic’s Indianapolis region. “Everything will remain as is until that time.” The city agreed to a four-year, $7.5 million agreement with Republic on May 16. Republic’s bid was lower

The National Bank of Indianapolis announces Robin E. Patterson has been named Vice President and Banking Center Manager of the Westfield/Carmel Banking Center. In addition, John T. Snyder has been named Vice President and New Banking Center Development Officer, and is assisting with the opening of the new Westfield/Carmel Banking Center.

The Noblesville Veterinary Clinic, located at 3355 E. Conner St., is celebrating 55 years of service to Noblesville and surrounding cities. Veterinarian James Fleck started the business and his son Tim Fleck now runs the practice. Starting in June, the clinic will have monthly specials to help celebrate the milestone, and an open house is planned for sometime in late summer or early fall. For information about the clinic visit www.noblesvillevetclinic.com or contact Nancy Brown at 773-3283.

ASUNCION, Paraguay - President-elect Fernando Lugo raised eyebrows for his choice of footwear during a recent meeting with his predecessor, but the former clergyman's "bishop sandals" are catching on with Paraguayans.

ALEXANDRIA, La. - An umpire teasingly calls him "Bat Man." His teammates consider it an embarrassment and a "slap in the face." His former ballclub sees it as a bit of harmless fun.

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The view along Illinois highways this summer should be beautiful - for the turkey vultures.

Video courtesy of news gathering partner WISH TV.

About 100 skiers are expected to take to the water at Morse Reservoir this week in a most unexpected way, and as many as 100 more people will be helping them to master the waves. A skier uses adaptive equipment to skim across Morse Reservoir despite a disabling physical condition. The Adaptive Water Skiing Clinic is set for Wednesday and Thursday, based at Red Bridge Park

The new Westfield Market is set to open shop 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 6 at the corner of South Walnut and Main streets in downtown Westfield. Officials on Thursday “cut the ribbon” on the new Westfield Market, which will run each Friday between June 6 and Oct. 3. Submitted by Alan Young The local market will be held weekly, with a variety of items

Citing transportation as a critical need for expecting and parenting teen mothers, Hamilton Centers Youth Service Bureau is looking for help to acquire vehicles for its Promising Futures program. Promising Futures assists young mothers with pre and postnatal care, education and independent living skills. It will begin taking in teen mothers at its residential facility in Noblesville next week. The program also assists mothers who are otherwise living in more stable home environments, said Executive Director Stephanie Lyons. “Transportation has been the biggest need,” Lyons said. The center is seeking a minivan and/or

Sherry Sinclair has recently joined the Meyer Najem team as a Director of Business Development, Commercial. Sinclair has worked extensively throughout the Indianapolis community within the commercial construction industry obtaining 20-plus years of preconstruction strengths with a diverse design-build background of varied facilities, site development and infrastructure work as early as site acquisition. Fifty percent within owner level management representation in engineering and design positions, six of which were within the medical manufacturing industry. Prior to joining Meyer Najem, Sinclair’s experience includes four years tenure for Shiel Sexton Company Inc., with most recent experience within complex alternative

NORTHERN MICHIGAN – It all started with the snow. Typically, more than 115 inches each season. That, combined with the hills, made skiing a natural. So in the fall of 1956, a small ski area named Buck Hills was created near Thompsonville, Mich., about 30 miles south of Traverse City. A few years later, under the new name of Crystal Mountain, it went big with chairlifts, lodging, dining and, in recent years, snowmaking. In 2005 Ski magazine named it the No. 1 ski resort in the Midwest. But winter is not yearlong, so Crystal Mountain offers a

Sunday ‘A Great Day in Indy’ A day-long celebration of Indianapolis’ Jazz Cultural Legacy is set for June 1. This historic event, called “A Great Day in Indy,” will honor Indianapolis’ jazz musicians and benefit local music and jazz education. In the morning, more than 100 musicians will gather at the Indiana History Center for a photograph inspired by the 50th anniversary of Art Kane’s iconic 1958 Esquire magazine photo “A Great Day in Harlem.” Then, noon-3 p.m., a brunch buffet and jam session will be at the Columbia Club. Join Indy’s jazz musicians for great music and great food. Tickets

I have written before of how important it is to the spiritual life to take a break from the routine flow. For most people the spiritual routine includes weekly worship, the study of scripture and being in the community of believers. To keep the relationships of the routine healthy, one needs to take an occasional trip alone to the wilderness. The wilderness can be likened to what the cast of Monty Python called “and now for something completely different.” The wilderness is not so much about going into the deep wild away from all forms of civilization, although that

I am grateful that from time to time the “column” format in which I write allows me to share not only what is happening at area institutions of faith, but what is going on inside my head about the topic of faith – and more. This is such a time. Several weeks ago I began to think about how important it is to have faith in our fellow man, as well as having faith in God and whatever other beliefs we hold dear. It just so happened that I was doing a bit of traveling at that

The Promise Church in Fishers is partnering with the Fishers United Methodist Church Food Pantry and is in need of the following basic items: grape jelly, strawberry jelly, flour, sugar and macaroni and cheese. Donations for this ongoing collection can be dropped off at The Promise Church at 12648 E. 116th St. For more information contact the church office at (317) 845-9599.

SonHarvest Country Fair Kids Camp will take place June 16-20 from 9 a.m.-noon each day at Grace Community Church in Noblesville. Following the scripture “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23), SonHarvest County Fair takes kids to the country for some down-to-earth farm fun. Through the examples of Jesus and His parables, children will grow the fruit of the Spirit in their lives: love, joy, peace, patience and kindness. Kids will love creating their own blue-ribbon arts and crafts, going hog-wild playing fun games, eating yummy snacks, singing