IndyStar.com: Johnson County
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
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...
Births
Reported March 24 Boys — Harmon, Jake and Jana; Ladisich, Robert and Mary. Girls — Pletcher, Kyle and Elizabeth; Wampler, Christopher and Kristi. Reported March 25 Girl — Wein, Brittney. Reported March 23 Girl — Pitrock,...
Pastor accused of having sex with 15-year-old
15-year-old attended his New Whiteland church FRANKLIN, Ind. — Police were tight-lipped after announcing the arrest of the pastor of a New Whiteland church on charges of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old member of the...
Pastor faces sex misconduct charges
A pastor in Johnson County was arrested today on charges he had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old member of his church. Pastor Daniel J. Moore of New Whiteland Baptist Church on Sawmill Road in New Whiteland was jailed on two counts of felony...
Mailbox explodes; pipe bomb suspected
Greenwood Johnson County sheriff’s deputies are investigating an explosion in a mailbox Wednesday night that could have been caused by a pipe bomb. Sheriff’s officials were called to the 4000 block of Diamond Ridge in the Hickory Stick...
Ex-Edinburgh workers face 39 felony charges
Two former Edinburgh employees face multiple felony charges after investigators say they used taxpayer-funded town credit cards to purchase gas for their personal vehicles. Brandon K. Reed, 30, Edinburgh, was charged with one count of fraud on a...
Publication's name changes reflect area's evolution
W hat to name the baby? For any expectant parent, the question is an exciting and often time-consuming one. And for the child, it’s sometimes cause for second-guessing. Next week, you’ll notice a new name — The Johnson County Star...
Births
Reported March 17 Boy — Hellinga, Adam and Danielle. Reported March 13 Boy — McCloud, Brandon and Courtney. Reported March 16 Boy — Adams, Kyle, and Dick, Abby. Reported March 19 Boy — Mullins, Corey and Kylie. Reported March...
Teen sexting leads to arrest of Nineveh firefighter
FRANKLIN, Ind. — The 19-year-old host of a party tainted by underage drinking and cell-phone videos of sexual activity was jailed Thursday on a felony charge of sexual misconduct with a minor. The party Saturday in a mobile home in Nineveh drew...
Raines repeats as top coach
Grizzly Cubs close ‘solid year’ with strong tournament effort Franklin girls basketball coach Walt Raines has been named the All-South Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season. Raines led the Grizzly Cubs to a 16-7 record and the...
Years of practice pay off for standout 5-3 guard
Indian Creek High School’s Kylee Hamilton is the Greenwood Star’s 2009 All-South Player of the Year in a vote of local coaches and Star staff members. Question: Kevin Hamilton, your dad, is a former Indian Creek player and had a big...
Cooling off period is set for $145M CG school project
Economic changes divide public over planned renovations and building of a new elementary The nearly $145 million plan to renovate Center Grove High School and replace two aging elementaries is on hold after a surprise move by the School Board this...
Center Grove puts off $150M school project
GREENWOOD — In a surprise move Monday night, the Center Grove School Board opted not to proceed with a public referendum on the nearly $145 million renovation plan. Citing concerns about the economy and a community divided over the plan...
Center Grove votes not to proceed with referendum
GREENWOOD, Ind. — The Center Grove School Board voted unanimously tonight not to proceed with a public referendum on a nearly $150 million renovation plan. Citing concerns about the economy and a community divided over the plan details, the...
Crash injures 3 from Purdue on spring break
All stable at Methodist; speeding on I-65 blamed Three Purdue University students on their way south for spring break were injured in a crash on I-65 in Johnson County Friday evening. Authorities say all three are in stable condition at Methodist...
Restaurants adapt to survive
Weathering tough times means trying new things to bring in customers Restaurant operator Kristin Collins-Payton began to see the signs more than a year ago. Her lunch business had all but dried up. New restaurants were popping up like daisies in...
$400,000 fund increases options for Greenwood's Freedom Park
Dog park, fishing, playground among project ideas The 72-acre Freedom Park may see some new amenities this year. The Greenwood Board of Parks and Recreation is considering selecting from among several options, using some or all of more than $400,000...
Greenwood player on winning softball team
Greenwood’sScott Dillionwas a member of the Floors Unlimited softball team that won the Class D title at the National Softball Association Winter World Series. The tournament was Feb. 20-22 in Naples, Fla. Floors Unlimited is based out of...
Unability to finish games haunted Trojans
The Center Grove boys basketball team ended a trying season by blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and losing to Perry Meridian 49-48 last week in the first round of the Class 4A Center Grove Sectional. CoachCliff Hawkinsstopped short of calling...
Army moving 500 soldiers to Camp Atterbury
EDINBURGH, Ind. — The Army is moving about 500 soldiers to the Indiana National Guard’s Camp Atterbury this spring to help train troops being sent to Afghanistan. The central Indiana base, which mobilizes about 10,000 soldiers a year for...
Johnson Co. foundation hires CEO
FRANKLIN, Ind. --The Johnson County Community Foundation has named Gail Richards as its new chief executive officer.Richards, who was a business development officer at First Merchants Bank, formerly Lincoln Bank, was chosen from a pool of about 30...
Johnson Co. government offices open
All schools are closed in Johnson County, though county government facilities are open today, said Forrest Sutton, emergency management director. He said all the main roads are snow-covered, slick and hazardous as county highway workers try to...
Prostitution's a constant problem at 2 truck stops
WHITELAND --A manager's attentive eye led to a prostitution arrest at a truck stop in Johnson County Monday evening, activity that sheriff's officials say is a constant nuisance.Carrisa G. Chapman, 21, Jeffersonville, Ind., was charged with...
Driver swerves to avoid box on I-65, crashes
An Indianapolis woman was injured and I-65 closed when her vehicle rolled over several times near the Franklin exit.Cynthia D. Green, 46, Indianapolis, was driving southbound on I-65 near the 87-mile marker when she swerved to avoid a cardboard...
Braves see opportunity in County Tournament
Like any coach, Indian Creek’s Ryan Williamson isn’t about to declare his boys basketball team a favorite in the Johnson County Tournament, especially when it’s the second-smallest in terms of enrollment in the field.But Williamson,...
Johnson County flood aid center to close
A donation center established to help Johnson County victims of the June flooding will close this month.United Way of Johnson County will operate the center, 301 Westview Drive, Franklin, from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays through Jan....
Clark-Pleasant cuts $8M from school project
The Clark-Pleasant School Board cut about $8 million from its $60 million plan for a new middle school during a work session Thursday.Superintendent John Coopman said the project had to be scaled back. When it was originally approved the bond term...
