Cleveland Dietz

One need not look any further than the Christmas tree for German influence in the United States. Historians credit Germans with the first printed reference to a Christmas tree, in 1531, and the invention of artificial Christmas trees during the 1800s. Many believe the German Protestant reformer Martin Luther established the tradition of lighting them. … Read more

Standing outside a window and dressed as Santa Claus, Charlie Muston, of Plainfield, jingled his bells. A little girl stricken with leukemia put her hand against the window from inside, and he put his against the glass to meet it. Harriett Muston, 79, of Plainfield, didn’t reveal the girl’s name to protect her privacy. However, … Read more

As Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma reflected on his time at Beech Grove High School, he spoke about teachers who focused on the big picture. The 1976 graduate said his math and physics teacher also taught at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. “He was an inspiring guy for me,” Bosma, who went on to study engineering … Read more

Last year, Katie Gearlds led Marian University’s women’s basketball team to a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II championship. It was her third year as a coach. Now entering her fourth year as a coach, Gearlds has a reputation for being tough but caring. Her former coaches helped shape her coaching style, but it … Read more

Three-time state wrestling champion Steven Bradley graduated from Beech Grove High School in 1998. This year, he became Marian University’s first wrestling coach. Under Beech Grove coach Fritz Feigert’s leadership, the wrestling team qualified for state when Bradley was a sophomore. Bradley was state runner-up as a freshman and champion the next three years. As … Read more

In 1894, H.H. Holmes rented a small cottage in the Irvington neighborhood of Indianapolis. He was on the run from Chicago and Philadelphia police for committing several grisly murders, but he didn’t stop killing. After leaving Irvington, the charred remains of a 10-year-old boy were found in his chimney. He was caught in Boston in … Read more

The Monroe County Income Tax Council met Sept. 27 to pass the public safety local option income tax again. With 95 of 100 votes cast at the meeting, the 0.25% tax will continue into 2017. Ellettsville Town Council, which has the remaining five votes, tabled its vote until Oct. 10. The tax council is composed … Read more

The Richland Township Board of Trustees approved a general bond issue up to $485,000 at its Sept. 28 meeting. The money will support construction of a new 2,400-square-foot building for the Township Trustee’s Office. All board members – Candi Haley, Todd Durnil and David Williby – attended. Richland Township Trustee Marty Stephens, Richland Township Deputy … Read more

Collaboration and business were hot subjects at the League of Women Voters forum for Monroe County commissioner candidates. Candidates for District 2 were Republican Nelson Shaffer and Democratic incumbent Julie Thomas. For District 3, they were Republican Paul White Sr. and Democrat Amanda Clerkin Barge. During opening comments, the candidates summed up their platforms. “I … Read more

For more than 75 years, the town of Ellettsville has struggled to figure out how to address flooding along Jack’s Defeat Creek. The board of trustees of Richland Township will consider issuing bonds to fund the construction of a new building on Sept. 28 after its building flooded on Sept. 8. It was the fourth … Read more