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face to face Southsiders answer the question, "Do you prefer to read an electronic book (ebook or digital book on a Kindle, Nook, iPad or tablet) or a paper-based book (hardback or paperback)? Why?" Page 6 BEECH GROVE • CENTER GROVE • GREENWOOD • SOUTHPORT • FRANKLIN & PERRY TOWNSHIPS FREE • Week of March 19-25, 2015 Serving the Southside Since 1928 ss-times.com Get the Dot ➢ Sporting Expressions Beech Grove’s Ashleigh Davids earns her 17th varsity letter. rolling… Page 3 Franklin MARCH HOOPLA 2015 BIG COLLEGE BASKETBALL Township PAGES 15-20 fifth grader Brayden Gogis programs his first game app, Dot Worlds, now sold on the Apple App ➢ The Jokes (Not) on Jeff Greenwood VFW to host Southside come- Store dian Jeff McDonald as part of a fundraiser page 7 for the VFW and USO. Page 4 Spring into Rosegate and take advantage of our great move-in specials! Pick up a FREE GIFT when you “Where caring people tour a Garden Home by April 30th. make the difference!” ASCSeniorCare.com 2 Week of March 19-25, 2015 • ss-times.com COMMUNITY The Southside Times Photo by Nicole Davis Stephen B. Morris Indianapolis firefighter says he feels fortunate for comradery, challenges and opportunities in his work Compiled by Nicole Davis ing me about police work. I didn’t really want BEHIND the BADGE to do police work but he began telling me about firefighters and EMTs and other people Stephen B. Morris has served on the In- he was meeting. It was the perfect marriage dianapolis Fire Department for eight years. of the comradery and the work that was chal- Growing up on the Eastside and graduating 2015 Lexus 2015 Lexus lenging, interesting and rewarding at the same from Warren Central High School, the now time. IS 250 RX 350 Franklin Township resident said he feels lucky All-Wheel Drive FWD with the opportunities he’s already received What has been one of your Lease for Lease for from working with IFD. favorite moments on the job? “I’ve been pretty fortunate,” Morris said. Day one. The day I got hired. I remember it “I’ve got good support at home and good very well. I was in between careers working at $ $ friends on the job that have gone through sim- a restaurant. I was in several hiring processes. /mo /mo ilar things already and are very supportive.” I come home from work and there was a mes- 299 345 Morris began working with the Franklin Buy from Buy from sage on the machine with an offer for me. Township Fire Department before it consol- $ $ idated with Indianapolis. Morris had spent What aspect of the job do you find most 41,200 44,075 some time in different jobs after serving in the challenging? 27 months, 10,000 miles per year. $3,999 due at signing plus tax, title, license and dealer fees. WAC. Marine Corp., but says firefighting was exactly Long hours away from my family. See dealer for details. Security deposit waived. Offer ends 3/31/15. what he was looking for, and more. “Helping other people, in whatever work What do you enjoy doing in your off-time? Indy’s Exclusive Home for Lexus I was doing, service to people was a reward I’m kind of a homebody. I like working on in itself,” Morris said. “I was starting to un- projects around the house and spending time derstand the importance of that. The people with my family. The last few years, my garden I work with, the organization I work for and has gotten bigger and bigger. I like growing my the people that I help, all of it’s been great. As own food. ironic as it sounds, (I enjoy) the teasing, the fun that we have with each other... My fellow What are your future goals, professionally firefighters: we really are brothers and sisters or personally? and I love every one of them.” Personally, I’m pretty content. I’ve already been blessed with more than I could have 4610 E 96th St | 888.928.2572 What was your inspiration to imagined. become a firefighter? TomWoodLexus.com A friend of mine was in the process of be- What would you have done if you hadn't of coming a police officer. I was in the Marine became a firefighter? Ask about our concierge service Corps from 1992-’96. I missed the comrad- I honestly can’t imagine doing anything ery in the Marine Corp. My friend was tell- else. The Southside Times COMMUNITY ss-times.com • Week of March 19-25, 2015 3 Contact the Editor Have any news tips? Want to submit a Sporting expressions calendar event? Have a photograph to share? Call Nicole Davis at 300-8782 or Beech Grove’s Ashleigh Davids earns her 17th varsity letter email her at ndavis@ ss-times.com. Remember, our news FEATURE deadlines are several days prior to print. By Nicole Davis Ashleigh Davids was recognized on March 11 with her 17th varsity Want to Advertise? letter from Beech Grove High School. She’ll have 18 after the spring The Southside tennis season is finished. Having participated in soccer, golf, swim- Times reaches a ming, tennis and wrestlerettes through her high school years while vast segment of maintaining her 3.7 GPA, Ashleigh has always balanced a full schedule. our community. For “When I got to high school, everyone told me to get involved and information about that’s what I did,” Ashleigh said. “I just like playing sports. It’s kind of reaching our readers, how I express myself.” call Brian Ruckle at Ashleigh moved to Beech Grove from Evansville in her eighth grade 300-8782 or email year, and said she enjoys the small-town feel and their “good sports him at bruckle@ programs.” She will attend University of Indianapolis next year with an ss-times.com. academic scholarship to study athletic training and won’t be playing any sports so that she can concentrate on her academics. Ashleigh said school always comes first, and managing her time and making sure she has a social life is her greatest challenge. Her moth- er, Larissa, said Ashleigh has always taken that initiative to keep her schedule organized, including when she needed to discuss how to play Gerald Sargent Publisher Emeritus both golf and soccer with her Beech Grove coaches because an athlete A product of Rick Myers doesn’t typically play both of those sports which fall in the same sea- Publisher son. She was named MVP for golf, made all-conference and was the Brian Kelly team captain twice. Chief Executive Officer “I think soccer has always been a great outlet for her and helped Nicole Davis her through rough times,” Larissa said. “I watched her playing golf Editor against other teams. She’s al- Eric Ellis Editorial Assistant ways making friends and con- Carey Germana tacts. When she went to the Production/Art Manager Rotary Club leadership camp Graphic Design (last year), there are still peo- Jeen Endris ple she socializes with from Graphic Design that. She’s always reaching out Ashleigh Davids and her mother, Larissa Davids, celebrate Senior Recognition Night Serving the Southside and networking. It’s nice walk- for wrestling and the Wrestlerettes. Ashleigh was participating in a home swim meet ing behind her in golf because and ran to the gym in between events. Since 1928 she’s always talking to the girls Members of and keeping things relaxed. Even though they’re there in a competitive manner, she’s able to build relationships and keep “When I got to high things friendly.” Ashleigh’s 18th birthday is March 19. school, everyone told For more information, contact us at: “I don’t think she realizes [email protected] how much she’s accomplished me to get involved and Tel. 317.300.8782 in just 18 years,” Larissa said. Fax. 317.300.8786 “People give her a pat on the that’s what I did. I just like back and tell her congratu- 7670 US 31 S lations, good job, but I don’t playing sports. It’s kind of Indianapolis, IN 46227 think that she realizes it.” how I express myself.” www.ss-times.com Times-Leader Publications, LLC ~ Ashleigh Davids ©2015. All Rights Reserved The views of the columnists in The Southside Submitted Photos Times are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper. Ashleigh Davids has played soccer through her four years at Beech Grove High School. 4 Week of March 19-25, 2015 • ss-times.com COMMUNITY The Southside Times The jokes (not) on Jeff GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG Greenwood VFW to host Southside comedian Jeff McDonald as part of a fundraiser for the VFW and USO a reverse raffle at a local fraternal organiza- FEATURE tion. Since then, he’s decided to perform for more local organizations, corporations and By Nicole Davis small theaters. He’s gotten back into acting Greenwood Southport City Council When Jeff McDonald graduated from Cen- and spending more time at his home in Foun- Common Council Meeting, March 16 ter Grove High School in 1986, teachers wrote tain Square. Meeting, March 16 messages about him on the diploma he was “My show has grown from 45 minutes to handed at the ceremony. He was called ‘in- What happened: Resolution 2015-5 was an hour to now almost two hours,” McDon- passed. corrigible’ and a ‘class instigator.’ Having gone ald says. “I’ve had to cut back. That’s a good What happened? Ordinance No. 15-15, on to eventually become a professional come- problem to have.