IndyStar.com: Johnson County
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
Realistic Franklin grad still has a big league dream
Jeff Mercer has a pretty good idea what major league scouts are thinking as they watch him this year, during his stellar senior season with the Wright State baseball team. Sure, the guy has some skills and swings a pretty good bat, he imagines them...
Not guilty plea entered for ex-youth pastor accused in sex scandal
A not guilty plea was entered today in Johnson Superior Court 3 on behalf of a former youth pastor accused in a sex sandal at a Greenwood church. Jonathan James Hartman, 8700 block of Winding Ridge Road, Indianapolis, faces two counts of child...
Columbus man charged in Edinburgh crash that killed garbageman
A Columbus man faces felony charges after a September crash in Johnson County that killed a Rumpke employee. Steven R. Perkins, 45, was charged last week with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and operating a vehicle while...
Center Grove suspends 3 students after bomb threat
GREENWOOD, Ind. — Three students have been suspended from Center Grove High School and could be expelled after a bomb and suicide threat was sent via e-mail. The threat was sent Wednesday morning to a guidance counselor and prompted a lockdown...
3 students suspended in Center Grove bomb hoax
Center Grove High School was placed on lockdown Wednesday morning, and three students have been suspended, after a guidance counselor on maternity leave received an e-mail containing a bomb and suicide threat. By chance, that counselor checked her...
3 Greenwood teachers to face layoffs
Three first-year teachers in Greenwood will receive layoff notices later this month. The Greenwood School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the layoffs. Additionally, four teachers who resigned or retired voluntarily will not be...
Greenwood youth pastor arrested on child-molestation charges
A Salvation Army youth pastor in Greenwood has been arrested on preliminary child-molestation charges involving three 15-year-old girls. Jonathan James Hartman, 29, Indianapolis, was arrested Tuesday and faces one preliminary count of child molesting...
Center Grove plans reductions of teaching staff
Center Grove schools will lay off two teachers and not replace most of the teachers that voluntarily leave the district this year, Superintendent Steven Stephanoff said during Monday’s School Board meeting. About eight teachers have already announced...
Johnson Co. planners to discuss land development
FRANKLIN — Johnson County Department of Planning and Zoning next week will contiunue to update its 20-year comprehensive plan. Public meetings will be 7-9 p.m. Monday at Scott Hall at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, 101 Fairground St.,...
Half of county high schools miss mark
Only Clark-Pleasant makes the list of failing districts Nearly 40 percent of Johnson County schools failed to meet adequate yearly progress standards this year as required under the No Child Left Behind Act. Fourteen of the county’s 36 public...
Center Grove graduate hope to be major league draft pick
Pitcher J.B Paxson works to get leg healthy for scouts J.B. Paxson is winding a college career full of twists and turns in a surprising place. The former Center Grove High School football and baseball standout is getting plenty of time as a pitcher...
Friends forever
Age:1 year. Breed:Collie mix. Sex:Male. Description:Shea is a sweet pup with a smooth collie structure and personality. He is a real charmer. Age:1 year. Breed:Lab/German shepherd mix. Sex:Male. Description:Koda doesn’t like cats or other small...
4 from area are 500 Festival princesses
Princess Jenna Liechty, Greenwood, and her twin sister draw on encouragement of their mother to pursue interests Twins Jenna and Jill Liechty, both Greenwood, found inspiration in their mother’s fortitude battling multiple sclerosis. Debbie...
IDEM: No contaminants after warehouse fire
Storm water in Bargersville has been cleared of having any contaminants following a Tuesday fire that destroyed a rubber mulch warehouse in the Johnson County town. The blaze caused $348,000 in damage to a storage facility at Rubber Mulch Products,...
Buyer supports funding for new I-65 interchange
Local officials are trying to obtain funding from state Frustrated with the process to secure federal stimulus money, local officials are looking at other avenues to fund a long-planned thoroughfare project. Enter U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind. Buyer...
Player: Making healthy choices can pay off
The Partnership for a Healthier Johnson County has put a little muscle behind its effort to encourage students to participate in its six-week fitness program at two area middle schools. That muscle belongs to Indianapolis Colts offensive guard Jamey...
Ballplayer takes aim at a career in the military
Jesse Aubrey’s friends and teammates on the Greenwood baseball team know better than to complain about how busy they have it. Take this weekend. The Woodmen are playing in the Columbus East Invitational most of Saturday. But Aubrey won’t...
Births
Reported April 7 Boys — Wheeler, Melissa; Santellana, Erica. Girl — Schroeder, Jamie. Reported April 8 Boys — Patterson, Scott and Tara; Speer, Chris and Maria. Reported April 6 Girl — Gray, Shane and Melissa. Reported April...
Kirkpatrick picks DePaul for college volleyball
Center Grove volleyball playerChelsea Kirkpatrick, the Johnson County Star’s All-South Player of the Year last fall, has made an oral commitment to play at DePaul University. Last fall as a junior, the 6-foot-2-inch outside hitter had 290...
14 of 36 Johnson Co. schools fail progress standard
Nearly 40 percent of Johnson County schools failed to meet adequate yearly progress standards this year as required under the No Child Left Behind Act. Fourteen of the 36 public schools in Johnson County, or 38.9 percent, failed according to results...
14 of 36 Johnson Co. schools fail progress standard
Nearly 40 percent of Johnson County schools failed to meet adequate yearly progress standards this year as required under the No Child Left Behind Act. Fourteen of the 36 public schools in Johnson County, or 38.9 percent, failed according to results...
Fire's out; IDEM monitoring water runoff
Environmental concerns remain after a fire has been brought under control at a rubber mulch warehouse in Bargersville in Johnson County. A massive blaze broke out at about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Rubber Mulch Products storage facility, 82 S....
Twp trustee avoids jail in credit card case
FRANKLIN — A former White River Township trustee in Johnson County has avoided jail time in his felony theft case involving township-issued credit cards. Danny Maple pleaded guilty on Monday to conversion, a class A misdemeanor. All charges...
Congressman seeks $10M for interchange
Greenwood — Local officials are eyeing federal money to kick-start construction of a long-planned thoroughfare that would include a new interchange on I-65. U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., announced at a news conference Monday at the Greenwood...
Buyer questions Obama's delay on using force against pirates
Representative also apologizes to British woman about return of Churchill bust GREENWOOD — President Obama’s reaction to the hostage drama involving a U.S.-flagged ship off the coast of Somalia was on the mind of a U.S. Congressman...
Rep. Buyer seeks $10M for I-65 interchange rebuild
Greenwood and Johnson County officials are eyeing federal money to kick-start construction of a long-planned thoroughfare that would include a new interchange on I-65. U.S. Rep Steve Buyer, R-Ind. announced at a news conference today that he has...
New law could affect opening of pool
Greenwood Safety regulations tied to a newly enacted federal law could jeopardize the opening of the Greenwood city pool. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires public pools to install drain covers that meet anti-entrapment safety...
Johnson County farmers to plant crops around pipeline work
Farmers preparing to plant their crops are learning to weave around a natural gas pipeline that is working its way across Johnson County. More than 80 percent of the 42-inch-wide pipeline — part of the 639-mile Rockies Express-East project...
Area player of the year pondering college hoops
Whiteland High School’s Michael Kirkham has been named the All-South boys basketball player of the year. He answered the following questions: Question: What do you think was the biggest reason for your improvement this season? Answer:My coaches...
Conference honors ex-Greenwood golf standout Piepenbrink
University of Indianapolis seniorKristi Piepenbrink(Greenwood) has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference women’s golfer of the month. Piepenbrink averaged 78.65 per round during three March events. She tied for 21st at the Peggy Kirk...
