HAMILTON COUNTY Hamilton County’s Hometown Newspaper www.ReadTheReporter.com REPORTER Facebook.com/HamiltonCountyReporter TodAy’S Weather Sunday, April 4, 2021 Today: Partly sunny. Tonight: Mostly clear. Arcadia | Atlanta | Cicero | Sheridan Carmel | Fishers | Noblesville | Westfield NEWS GATHERING Like & PARTNER Follow us! HIGH: 67 LOW: 45 A hymn … Arcadia breaks ground medicine on downtown splash pad for the soul I can name that COLUMNIST hymn in five notes. Actually, it takes a few notes more than five. Perhaps it was all those years as the church organist/pianist that have the melody engrained in my head. JANET HART LEONARD But oh, when my heart From the Heart hears the words! Give me a hymn to sing and my heart sings, too. There is something truly sacred about a hymn. It is medicine for a hurting soul. So, I'll cherish the "Old Rugged Cross" "Because He Lives" ... I can face to- morrow. Mercy there was great and grace was free ... "At Calvary" Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to thee ... "How great thou art" It's never more than at Easter when the hymns seem so sacred, when they soothe my soul and calm my anxious heart. I am reminded of the despair and dark- Photo provided ness of Good Friday, when Jesus was cru- The Town of Arcadia recently broke ground on a new splash pad for residents and visitors to use during the cified. Hope was nailed to the cross. The summer months. The splash pad will be located in downtown, in the heart of Arcadia, at 126 W. Main St. skies went dark. What now? Jesus' death changed everything. The next day had to consume the be- lievers with questions and more fear and doubt. Grief beyond description. Carmel Street Department will soon begin (I've had a few days after devastation to know how that feels. My body could not comprehend the pain. I was overwhelmed. $5.2M in street paving, road upgrade projects I was in shock.) The REPORTER This year’s budget for street BUT ... More than 80 streets are paving includes a $1 million Then came the morning of the third day. scheduled for an upgrade this Community Crossings grant Range Line Road, Westfield The stone was rolled away. The tomb was spring and summer as the City from the Indiana Department EMPTY. of Carmel Street Department of Transportation, which will Boulevard construction updates And the world would never be the kicks off its annual paving allow the city to repave sev- The REPORTER about project at 111th Street same. There would always be hope. Jesus' projects with a budget of $5.2 en of its busiest parkways and The City of Carmel has and a new culvert installation resurrection changed everything. million to improve local thor- thoroughfares. decided to postpone a portion at Carmel Creek will prompt In my darkest hours. In my times of de- oughfares. Some of Each paving proj- of the next phase of construc- the closure of Westfield Bou- spair. When nothing made sense. I had so the preliminary work ect begins with pre- tion on Range Line Road be- levard from just south of many questions. began this past week liminary concrete and tween City Center and Elm 116th Street to 111th Street But then ... with major paving curb repairs that can Street until after the July 4 beginning on or after May 10 I was reminded in the scriptures. If that set to begin April 12. take a few weeks to holiday. The construction of until about mid-August. The wasn't enough, I would listen to a hymn. "As much as we complete before the a new roundabout at Walnut roundabout project will in- Because He lives, I can face tomorrow focus our efforts on big job of milling the Street (6th Street) and South clude utility work and a full Because He lives all fear is gone building new round- top surface of black- Range Line Road will begin closure for about 45 days. Because I know He holds the future abouts and increasing top and repaving it sometime after July 6 and After that is completed, work And life is worth the living just because our multi-purpose with a new layer of will include a full closure of will begin on the culvert He lives. trails and pathways, Brainard about 1.25 inches in the intersection for approxi- project under Westfield Bou- And the cross? Well, it is still making a it is also important thickness. Typical mately 75 days. levard at the creek, just south difference for me. to keep our existing roadways milling and paving projects take Meanwhile, a new round- of 116th Street. Are you overwhelmed with hurt? Are in top condition," Mayor Jim three to five days to complete you stuck in the "what now"? Are you fear- Brainard said. "We work hard and require lane restrictions. ing the unknown future? to create a high quality of life in "Our goal is to have all the until November if needed," calendar year when the weath- May you, this Easter, feel the hope and Carmel and that includes hav- pavement work done before said Carmel Street Commis- er starts to turn colder." blessings from the empty tomb. ing smooth, pothole-free roads school starts in the fall, with sioner Terry Killen. "Concrete Click here to view the full Yes, just a few notes and be reminded on which to drive in our city." concrete street repairs lasting work can be done later in the list of upcoming projects. ... "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." Congresswoman Spartz visits Host families needed in Westfield ahead of with local farmers, ag community Grand Park’s college The REPORTER Congresswoman Victo- ria Spartz (R-Ind.-05) spent summer baseball league the day this past Monday By KATIE WISELY the roster process. The plan connecting with the agri- WISH-TV | wishtv.com is to have eight teams. It cultural community in In- won’t happen without host diana’s Fifth Congressional Grand Park’s college families. All players need District. baseball summer league is a roof over their head, a Rep. Spartz toured At- needs 25 host families to place to sleep and a wash- lanta-based Beck’s Hybrids, house college students for ing machine for laundry. one of the largest seed pro- two months. Players would only be stay- ducers in the country, learn- Young players are com- ing for the months of June ing about new, innovative ing in from across the coun- and July. initiatives happening at try and Pro X Athlete De- League officials say this their facility. She also met velopment says it’s a great opportunity can create last- with the members of In- chance to help out a college ing relationships. diana Farm Bureau from student. About 200 players “It can be a really cool across the district, hosted by are set to sign contracts, but experience,” Pro X Athlete George Kakasuleff, Presi- 40 percent have yet to make Development Director of dent of the Hamilton Coun- a final decision. They’re Operations Mark Walther ty Farm Bureau Board, at waiting to see if they’ll said. “I know guys who the family farm in Cicero. have a place to stay. played in leagues like this “As a farmer myself, I The program was cre- that had host families like understand the importance ated in 2020, right after the this and are still in touch of agriculture for Indiana Photo provided pandemic hit and leagues years later with those same and the real GDP produced Congresswoman Victoria Spartz met with members of Indiana Farm Bureau across the country were host families because it by farmers. It’s always at George Kakasuleff’s family farm in Cicero. canceled. At that time, there was such a well-respected great to hear about the is- appreciate all the hard work Issues discussed includ- latory environment, taxes, were more than 275 players. relationship.” sues and perspective from the farmers do for our com- ed infrastructure, work- sustainable agriculture, and This year the program the ground,” Spartz said. “I munities, state, and nation.” force, immigration, regu- rural broadband. is being more selective in See Host . Page 2 2 News Host from Page 1 Most are players are in- a week and then train the in Indiana like Indiana Uni- coming college freshman other days. The league will versity, Purdue, Butler, In- or returning athletes. They have a wide variety of play- diana State and Ball State. will play three of four days ers from schools right here Opening day is Memorial Day. The season will run through the end of July. Families who are inter- Live Music At Pasto Italiano ested in becoming hosts can reach out to Pro X directly ITAL Benito DiBartoli Every Wednesday O I or send an email to mwal- T A (1/2 Price Bottles of Wine On Wednesdays) S N O [email protected]. A Bobby Stardust: Friday April 9 P Reservations Recommended Host families have the chance to get two season RESTAURANT ticket packages, a free entry & BAR to all tournaments through- 317-804-2051 out the summer or a mem- 3150 East State Rd. 32, Westfield bership at Pro X. Photo provided Osborne will set up shop and work with clay in the garden by The World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 10. Carmel Arts Council’s Art in the Garden to feature local artist Scott Osborne The REPORTER man with Mary tions.