It’s not like we couldn’t see it coming. Our paper, like virtually every daily paper across the nation, was suffering financially. But knowing this day was practically inevitable didn’t cushion the blow when it finally arrived. At 9:17 a.m. Wednesday, I learned that the Noblesville Daily Times was stopping the presses, and my heart broke. Words can’t express what it feels like for a journalist to lose a paper. At least not my words. I’m not that good of a writer. For journalists, this business is not just a job. It’s not just a career. It’s our passion.

It is clear from all the phone calls and e-mails I have received over the past several days that the Noblesville Daily Times made an impact on this community in our short five year life. The staff and I are grateful for all of the sentiments you have expressed. They have been overwhelmingly positive and supportive. There’s little left to do but to thank everyone for their part in this bold adventure. First, I must thank Schurz Communications. They took a chance on us at a time when very few would have dared start a newspaper. Although it didn’t

Lance Busby will spend 20 months in prison for embezzling nearly $112,000 from River Clean-Up, the non-profit group that coordinates the annual White River cleanup event. U.S. District Judge Larry J. McKinney sentenced Busby Friday, following his guilty plea to having forged and negotiated checks drawn on the River Clean-Up bank account. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe H. Vaughn said McKinney imposed two years of supervised release following Busby’s release from prison. He was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $111,951 to River Clean-Up. U.S. Attorney Timothy M. Morrison said Busby, who was vice president of the organization,

Four members of the Hamilton County Council said they would support the county funding a company to broadcast county council meetings over the Internet. The comparison of costs between what an out-of-state company is offering versus Noblesville’s own Hometown Television might change the minds of Rick McKinney, Brad Beaver, Meredith Carter and John Hiatt – councilors now in favor of broadcasting county meetings. Rick Vanderwielen, owner of Hometown Television, said he would charge the county the same amount he charges Noblesville City Council and Fishers Town Council to broadcast their meetings – $200 a meeting. No set up costs would

The following services will be on alternative schedules due to the Labor Day holiday Monday. All public libraries will be closed Monday. All Hamilton County offices will be closed. All government offices in Noblesville will be closed. Trash pickup in Noblesville will not be available. Those who normally have trash picked up on Mondays will have a Tuesday pickup. No other pickup days will be affected by the holiday. The Noblesville Daily Times offices will be closed. The paper will not publish on Monday, or any day thereafter for that matter.

Janus Developmental Services, Inc. appears to have $550,000 funding in place for 2009. The Hamilton County Council revisited the topic at a special retreat Thursday after it narrowly approved $650,000 for the non profit organization during budget hearings last week. It was revisited Thursday because it was determined the council might not have enough support to legally override a Hamilton County Board of Commissioner’s original request to approve $550,000. The council would need 75 percent of its members to approve an amount higher than what commissioners recommended, Commissioner Steven Dillinger said Monday. Just four of seven council members

Voter registration hours have been extended for the 2008 General Election. Voters can register from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. The final day to register is Monday, Oct. 6, and voters can register until 6 p.m. Key dates for the 2008 General Election: Sept. 3 – closed for Labor Day Oct. 2 – Deadline to mail absentee ballots received by Sept. 27. Oct. 4 – Extended voter registration hours, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 6 – First day to vote absentee; last day to register to vote Oct. 25 – Absentee voting, 9 a.m. to 4

A man who pleaded guilty to one count of child molesting was sentenced in Hamilton Circuit Court Thursday to a one-year suspended prison sentence and five more years of probation in the Hamilton County Community Corrections Program. Brandon J. Ragsdale, 25, agreed to plead guilty to a Class C felony child molesting charge April 10. In exchange, a Class B felony charge was dropped. Brandon J.

Staff report An anonymous tip helped members of the Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force to seize more than 20 pounds of marijuana and arrest two Carmel residents. Byron Beard Byron K. Beard, 41, and Christina M. Cataldo, 37, are charged with dealing marijuana over 30 grams, a Class D felony; possession of marijuana over 30 grams, a Class D felony and maintaining a common nuisance, a Class

A year and a half ago I sat down to lunch with Ron Browning, the editor of the Times. My intention in that meeting was to introduce myself as a new pastor in town and to make a connection with one of the fine voices of many voices that make up this community. We shared hopes and dreams. We lamented the current condition of civil discourse in public life. Ron extended an invitation to me to add my voice to the discourse. After I agreed to write a weekly faith column, Ron then added, “Oh, by the way,

I don’t have to tell you that times are tough. You are reading the last Higher Ground column that I will write for the folding Noblesville Daily Times. Putting gas in your car is downright painful and a visit to the grocery store means fewer bags and a higher receipt total every time. You’ve probably also heard the phrase “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” and that is exactly what these tough times have brought to pass at Cicero Christian Church. One Saturday each month, the men of the church are up early in order

The Aug. 4 column about Lydia Pinkham’s, Geritol and Hadacol brought a number of comments from readers. Jim Higgins of Carmel reported he had an uncle who took Hadacol regularly, saying it cured everything that ailed him. Others said that the alcohol in the early Geritol mixture seemed very strong. One of my neighbors said her aunt purchased a bottle at the Corner Drugstore, but when she got to the corner to cross Ninth Street, she accidentally dropped it. When it broke, it smelled exactly like she had dropped a bottle of whiskey. That really embarrassed her.

I went to see my phlebotomist the other day. Phlebotomists are the brave men and women who stick needles in your arm and take your blood. (Wait a second, we’re the brave men and women for just sitting there and letting them do it.) It is a tough profession. Imagine having a job where everyone hates you for what you are about to do, and your first instruction to them is “make a fist.” My phlebotomist, Shirley, uses the same joke every time I see her. She looks at me with flirty eyes and says, “It’s too bad

Teenage girls are going for a new trend. In order to get attention from boys they kiss each other in front of them. And evidently, it’s working for some of them. Anybody shocked? I doubt it. So much bizarre stuff has been happening we turned into a nation of the numb. Whether it’s OK or not OK, it doesn’t matter; we just let things slide by. I must admit sometimes I wonder if some of us are trying to redefine what being human is. We have pushed the envelope so hard, it’s not easy sometimes for me to recognize

On behalf of Noblesville High School faculty and students, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to Friday’s enjoyable evening at Lucas Oil Stadium. Don Seal and Brandon Bennett of the Noblesville Parks Department deserve special thanks for conceiving and carrying out the Miller Village. Their efforts provided a convenient and enjoyable location for Miller Backers of all ages to prepare for the game. The food, the band, and most of all, the gathering of community members all contributed to a memorable evening. Thanks also to Pam Lehman, Steve Hurst and Mark Wilkinson of the NHS Athletic

Recreation - Comedian Randy Montgomery, 9:45 p.m., Saturday, The Artist’s Vineyard, 68 N. 9th St., Noblesville. $5 cover and two-drink minimum. Clan show guaranteed, reservations recommended at rsvp@theartistsvineyard.com, 219-3481. - The Boys and Girls Club of Noblesville will be closed to youth programming through Monday. The office will be open for membership renewal. Information at www.boysandgirlsclubofnoblesville. - Footloose Square Dance Club square dance lessons Tuesdays Sept. 9 – January 2009. Cost per lesson is $4, lessons on Sept. 9, 16, 23 are free to try. Mainstream lessons 7-8:30 p.m., 8:309-9:30 p.m. for plus lessons. Led by Darrin Henry at

Past: President Harry S. Truman visited Noblesville on Oct. 15, 1948, on his reelection campaign tour through the Midwest. His train, the “Presidential Special,” stopped at the corner of Eighth and Conner streets on the southwest corner of the Noblesville Courthouse Square. President Truman is shown as he prepared to address the crowd of thousands of people who gathered at the site. Henry F.

Taste a little of the summer … Grandma put it all in jars. A line from a song on Up North, a CD I received from a friend in Duluth, Minn. It makes me think not of my grandmother but of my daughter. My wild daughter who claimed, as a teen, that Indianapolis was small, dull and boring. She had plans to go off to New York City or, more likely, Los Angeles. Instead she left for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where the entire population is perhaps 300,000. New York City, by comparison, has more than

Last week, I had a phone conversation with one of the men in my matchmaking service. Knowing that he is a triathlete (running, biking and swimming), I asked him if he had been watching any of the Olympics. His reply was, “You bet I have. I haven’t been to bed before midnight any night this week, and some mornings I’ve gotten up at 4:30 to catch other events.” I, too, watched a fair amount of the Olympics. Thankfully, because of Tivo I was able to do so without losing any sleep. I found the Olympics fascinating. I enjoyed the

After operating more than five years as a daily newspaper serving Noblesville and Hamilton County, the Noblesville Daily Times will stop the presses. The Noblesville Daily Times has operated in the Model Mill Building since January 2007. Steven Furlow / sfurlow@noblesvilledailytimes.com Publisher Michael Corbett announced Wednesday that the newspaper will cease operations at the end of this week. The final edition of the paper will be

After operating more than five years as a daily newspaper serving Noblesville and Hamilton County, the Noblesville Daily Times will stop the presses. Publisher Michael Corbett announced Wednesday that the newspaper will cease operations at the end of this week. The final edition of the paper will be published Saturday. Corbett said three factors were considered in the decision to close the paper,

A Noblesville auto dealership hopes a $10,000 reward will put whoever is responsible for damaging the glass on more than 100 vehicles behind bars. A Nissan Maxima at Noblesville’s Butler Nissan dealership is one of more than 100 vehicles recently targeted by vandals who punched holes in the windshields. Steven Furlow / sfurlow@noblesvilledailytimes.com General Manager Anthony Hurt of the Butler Nissan dealership located at 3477 Conner

Westfield officials found out in a resounding way what several area residents think of a plan to annex nearly 5 square miles into the city. More than 100 people packed City Hall Monday with most of them interested in hearing about the proposal to integrate more than 475 property owners – which include homes, farms and businesses – in 19 separate areas of Washington Township into Indiana’s newest city.

Hamilton County officials will revisit the amount of funding Janus Developmental Services will receive for 2009 at a special retreat Thursday. Last week, the Hamilton County Council voted 4-3 in favor of funding the non-profit organization $650,000. The $650,000 included an additional $100,000 Janus added after its original submission of a $550,000 request. That vote, made during budget hearings, however, was not an official vote for funding, said Hamilton County Attorney Mike Howard. The budget hearings were held in order for the Hamilton County Auditor’s office to prepare the budget for final approval in September. In July, the

Hunter Beale, left, takes some time out of his Monday afternoon to enjoy ice cream with his mother Joanna outside of Alexander’s on the Square in Noblesville. Pleasant weather conditions are expected to continue this week with mild temperatures and only a chance for showers, making for plenty of opportunities to enjoy a summer snack outside. Steven Furlow / sfurlow@noblesvilledailytimes.com

In an effort to eliminate paying for the same service twice, the city of Westfield and Westfield Washington School Corporation are teaming up to share resources, which officials say will cut costs and save local taxpayers money. Keen “Anything we can do with the school system affects the taxes,” said Westfield Mayor Andy Cook said. “Combined, we

In an effort to eliminate paying for the same service twice, the city of Westfield and Westfield Washington School Corporation are teaming up to share resources, which officials say will cut costs and save local taxpayers money. Keen “Anything we can do with the school system affects the taxes,” said Westfield Mayor Andy Cook said. “Combined, we

A planned pedestrian overpass at 146th Street took a small step toward reality Monday. Davis A preliminary engineering agreement was reached between the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners and the Hamilton County Highway Department on the project that would take Monon Trail over 146th Street. The agreement includes survey work on the project, said Hamilton

Westfield Mayor Andy Cook announced that the city has submitted six applications for the Transportation Enhancement Grant for improvement projects throughout Westfield. Applications were submitted to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the total amount to be distributed is $3,770,000. The city hopes to receive grant money for projects such as the Monon Trail extension; sidewalks, paths and crosswalks at Oak Trace, Shamrock Springs, Washington Woods and Carey Ridge Elementary Schools; and bridge construction on Indiana 32. Westfield is among many communities applying for the same funding pot. The MPO will review all the projects for