(L-R) Mike McGriff, Scott West, Jerry Middleton, Bill Pebworth and Mike Alford are pictured at Lucas Oil Stadium where they officiated the State Football Finals.

Local Group Officiates IHSAA
State Football Finals

By Janis Buhl
    These men officiated the State Football Finals November 28, when Evansville Reitz defeated Lowell. The crew has been working together for approximately eight years.
    They have worked games all over the state, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Seymour, New Palestine, Columbus East and Columbus North, and more, as they feel it is good to get everyone to know them.
    Bill Pebworth tells me that Mike Alford was the original member of the crew. Bill worked as an individual and at times had worked some games with Mike. Mike was a part of Paul Beatty’s crew. Beatty had to have knee surgery so was leaving and Mike asked Bill to referee for them. Later, when another member of that crew left, Jerry Middleton joined them. Scott West was the next to join them and then Mike McGriff.
    Pebworth is the keeper of the schedule and gets most of their games although all of the members at times schedule a game. They let him know if it is definite and then he posts it for all to see that date is taken. They are entirely booked through 2014, only have a few openings in 2015 and already have one booking for 2016.
    To become an official one can apply over the IHSAA website. You must pass the test with at least a 70% score, but Bill says, "The real test is out on the field." As a referee you have to be able to explain the rules. He referees for this crew because none of the others want to do it.
    Jobs are awarded according to the coaches votes. If you aren’t known, you don’t get the votes. Pebworth says, "You have to climb up the mountain. If you want to move up, you have to be willing to travel and get your name and your officiating known." This group operates on the idea that ‘your goal must be to be the best at the sport you are in.’ You don’t do it justice if you don’t. He’s not saying they are perfectionists, but they try to be.
    Scott West is Assistant Principal at Connersville High School and due to his duties there, misses about three games during the season. Tim Eadler of Centerville is an alternate for the crew filling in when needed.
    Mike Alford and Bill Pebworth both grew up in Milton. Mike also officiates basketball and has served as an alternate at girls state finals and has worked the "Tournament of Champions." He also has a license to work softball.
    Pebworth has worked four state finals in football and has worked softball tourneys also.
    Jerry Middleton is from Richmond and has worked three previous state finals. He has driven a car in the ARCA (3rd Tier of NASCAR) and has played professional basketball. He currently serves as secretary of the Indiana Officials Association.
    Scott West grew up in Cambridge City, but now lives in Connersville. He has worked girls and boys basketball and last year officiated at the girls state finals. To show the ranges of their ages, Scott grew up with Bill’s son and probably had him for a coach some time.
    The boys state game gave Scott his second state finals for the year.
    Mike McGriff is from the Shelbyville area but now lives south of Milton. He works girls basketball and worked the girls semi-state last year, making him eligible for the state this year. He also works the boys games, however his highest level is in the girls games.
    As their crew reached the highest level this year, they have to start over with sectionals, the following year regionals, then semi-state and will not be eligible to officiate state finals again until 2015. In the meantime, it looks as if they will stay plenty busy. Their already contracted schedule includes some pretty large schools.

Cambridge City Town Council Hears Several Project Updates

By Jenny Pugh
    The Cambridge City Town Council met in chambers on Monday, December 14, at 5:30 p.m. with all members, several guests and town attorney present. Several projects were updated as this was the last regularly scheduled meeting of 2009.
CCYL news
    Marvin Himelick, the new CCYL Baseball Commissioner, and three other board members attended the meeting. In order to improve communication between the two organizations, council members will be invited to observe CCYL meetings and CCYL members will provide the town with semiannual reports.
    The annual lease of the ball fields between the town and league will be updated.
    In the future, all complaints concerning the CCYL must be filled out and signed, with three copies being made; one each for the complainant, town, and CCYL to insure that every complaint is properly addressed.
    Council and league members both hope for a successful season next year, with every child having a chance to play.
Housing rehab grant
    Joyce McCarty of Star Development updated the Council on the housing rehabilitation grant. The town received half of the requested funding, which will allow about six homes to be repaired. Homes that received the highest score per income level in the target area will be chosen for the repairs. Library update
    Verne Clingenpeel, Vicki Melek, Paul Gordon and an associate from Beumer Consulting updated council on the library project. Construction bidding will start soon, with actual construction scheduled to begin May 31, 2010. The project should be finished in 2011, but no move-in date has been set.
    A $2.22 million bond issue will be sold in March 2010. Until then, the library will obtain a $200,000 bond anticipation note to cover current costs.
    Council members were impressed with the architect’s drawings, saying the new library looks like a great facility and they can’t wait till it is finished.
Safe Routes to School
    Jeff Peters, of M.D. Wessler & Associates addressed the possibility of an alternative route for the Safe Routes to School project. INDOT would need proof that the new route is as safe or safer and would still be used as much as the old route. For more of this story please subscribe.

Local Schools On ‘Best Buy’ List

   Lincoln and Centerville high schools have been named to the Indiana Chamber’s Best Buys list for excelling by offering the highest levels of academic achievement for the lowest amount of tax dollars:
    Hagerstown and Northeastern high school are also on the list.
    The study examined 357 Indiana public high schools with the appropriate available data. Using ISTEP+ pass rates, ISTEP+ Pass+ rates, graduation rates, SAT participation rates and average composite scores, and Advanced Placement passing scores, the Indiana Chamber developed a total school performance index for each school.
    Called the school’s quality index, it was compared to each school’s total revenues per pupil to determine "best buy" schools. From that list, "honor roll" schools were selected based on each school’s at-risk student/poverty rate, as measured by participation in the federal free/reduced lunch program. For more of this story please subscribe.