The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 21

The Indianapolis Star lndyStar.comstarwest Wednesday, October 1, 2003 Section InfoUne: 624-INFO (4636) Serving Hendricks and Morgan counties and the adjacent areas of Marion County INSIDE TODAY siai boost mmmmm PIKE TOWNSHIP group concept $417,000 grant to aid specialized programs addressing students' academic and social needs in a small setting. This week, the district won a $417,000, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop and support their academies. "We are extremely excited," Pike's academies director, Meagh-an Argay, said Tuesday after learning that her grant request was approved. "It's going to be pretty exciting because we are going to be able to achieve some of By Michael Dabney michael.dabneyindystar.com De'Ondray Pope is only a senior at Pike High School but he knows what he wants to do with his life.

That is why he is enrolled in the Judicial and Global Studies academy at Pike, a small learning community for students interested in government, politics, the law and related fields. Pike High School developed the academies last year as a way of Sculpture to mark Galyan's headquarters ft Kudos are in store for local newsmakers From new jobs to school awards, find out who's making news in Names and Faces. W2 Stagnant offense holds Red Devils down Despite lofty per-carry av erages by running backs Cornelius Ed-mond (above) and Ray Mack (left), Pike's football team has struggled on offense this season. Coach Ken Coudret attributes the problems to turnovers and quarterback injuries. W3 Schedule of StarWest high school athletics Find out when your favorite StarWest high school sports team plays.

W3 Today's best bet Gardeners can get a head start on next sea son with a bulb and. ground cover exchange at Browns- burg Public Library. The exchange will be at 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in meeting rooms A and B.

Everything should be labeled by name and whether it needs sun or shade. Master Gardener Colletta Kosiba will be on hand to discuss care for each plant type. Registration is required. The library is at 450 S. Jefferson St.

For information, call 1-317-852-3167 or log on to www.brownsburg.lib.in.us Don't forget An informational meeting on Mooresville High School's June 2004 trip to Spain will be at 6:30 p.m. today in the high school library. Students interested in going on the trip are encouraged to attend and have one parent present. Parents are invited to go on the trip with their children. The estimated cost per person is $1,700.

For information, call 1-317-831-9203, ext. 219. L- 'i Mm ill Pike uses small Staff report The "small learning communities" concept is used especially in large schools and districts to separate students into groups that focus one subject area, said Meaghan Argay, director of academies at Pike High School. For example, Pike has six small learning communities that focus on judicial and global studies, business and information technology, the performing arts, medical and applied health, science and engineering -f x.v'r several years in White River State Park. Berg, a Herron School of Art graduate, is gaining a reputation for his outdoor and metalsmith works.

He has received commissions for art works on the campuses of Eli Lilly and Co. and Kiwanis International "The monumental sculptures invent are executed in steel and glass, occasionally incorporating wood. Intended for display in the out-of-doors, the pieces are decidedly inspired and based on natural forms," he explains on his Internet site at www.bergstudios.com. He said the play of natural light is important to the rhythm and balance that he envisioned for each piece. So, as the daylight changes, the colors in the metal and wood will seem to change.

The cedar wood on the massive fish "has a coating on it, but the wind, water and weather will gray it out a little over time," he said. Motorists along Perry Road may be surprised by the giant fish jumping up from the pond. "It is placed very well in relation to the building, and it is a nice centerpiece for the site," Berg said. "I hope people enjoy and it draws their eye. Call Star reporter Bruce C.

Smith at 1-317-272-4403. our dreams. The grant will enable us to go out and do it right." The grant will support staff development, the purchase of resource material and the development of service learning projects such as internships. Community service projects and student internships are part of the focus of Pike's academies that the federal grant will support. "We want every kid who graduates to have the opportunity to be involved in the area they want to go into," Argay said.

"We don't want a kid saying they Want to be- See Academies, Page W2 v4 i of its leading corporate citizens and employers rooted in the community. The town has sold a $9 million bond issue, which includes $7 million for construction of the new Galyan's headquarters. Construction began in May on the three-story building, which features a curved arch over the front entry like many Galyan's retail stores. Berg's bears are in some of the 40 Galyan's retail stores throughout the country. One bear is on display in Indianapolis in Eagle Creek Park, visible from 56th Street west of 1-465.

It was moved there after to be new I it Joe Vlttl The Star Fish story: Workers fasten a 30-foot-tall wood and stainless steel fish to its base in the pond in front of the Galyan's headquarters under construction in Plainfield. The fish was designed by Indianapolis artist Matthew Berg. A second fish is in Columbus, Ohio. This fish is hard to miss and visual arts and communications. "It's based on student interests and choices," she said.

Students also take all the normal classes. Small learning communities also can be created to serve a single grade level At Pike, the freshman center will become a small learning community when it opens next year. Argay said the center was created with the idea of helping ninth-graders achieve academically and ease into high school Board rewrites athletic office job School's principal gets direct oversight of athletic secretary in light of problems. By Michael Dabney michael.dabneyindystar.com The Avon school board has redefined the position of athletic department secretary at the high school and appointed Debbie Goodpaster to the post. Goodpaster has worked as athletic department secretary since the former secretary resigned in March.

That action came after state auditors revealed that as much as $70,000 was taken from an athletic department fund over a four-year period. AVON In the redefined the position, Goodpaster will have broader financial responsibilities than the athletic department secretary had in the past, said board President Steve Pearl The athletic department secretary also will serve as the high school's deputy treasurer. "Her function is for the entire school building, not just the athletic department," he said. Superintendent Richard Helton said Goodpaster "will be able to perform any function the treasurer can do when he is not there." The board also amended the position to make sure the athletic department secretary has oversight directly from the high school principal, not just the athletic director. "This is a whole new concept for the school," Pearl said.

After Sandy Bennett resigned in March, the district announced several procedural changes to safeguard the department's bookkeeping, including requiring all expenditures be approved by either principal or school treasurer, said Pearl "There were lots of little of double checks," Pearl said. Goodpaster had served in another clerical position in the high school before becoming secretary in the athletic department, district officials said. Her salary in the new position will be $22,163. Call Star reporter Michael Dabney at 1-317-272-4414 Shelbyville native Rick Ruble, 43, arid his family have lived In Martinsville for 13 years. 7:.

i -a. J-L A Big stocking: TheGalyan's fish waits to be assembled. "It is a nice centerpiece for the site," said artist Matthew Berg. "I hope people enjoy it and it draws their eye." By Bruce C. Smith bruce.smithndystar.com Every fisherman with hopes of reeling in a whopper can only dream about the fish jumping in the pond in front of the new Plainfield headquarters of Galyan's Trading Co.

This fish isn't real. It's a metal and wood sculpture. The 32-foot-tall work by Indianapolis artist Matthew Berg is fashioned from cedar planks and sections of stainless and galvanized steel "The concept is about Galyan's, which is an outdoor sports retailer, and it is trying to create an icon that fits with their stores for the outdoors-man," Berg said. He created two of the huge fish plus several large bear figures in 1997, while he was an artist working for Galyan's and developing outdoor artwork to represent the company. The other 32-foot-tall fish was installed in a pond next to a Galyan's store in Columbus, Ohio.

The fish in front of the new headquarters Monday has been in storage, waiting for a good location where it could appear to be leaping up out of a pond, Berg said. That location was found earlier this year when Galyan's planned construction of its new MORGAN COUNTY PLAINFIELD office headquarters on Perry Road in Plainfield. The road is a four-lane boulevard cutting through the town's industrial park. And a new shopping center is proposed across Perry from the new Galyan's building and Berg's fish. "This is not typical I just hope people will enjoy it," Berg said.

Galyan's was founded in Plainfield in 1960, and town officials were anxious to keep one County officials choose lawyer plan director "will help him to understand the underpinnings of the zoning ordinance and other regulations. "Rick also understands that it is not always necessary in planning and zoning to use the biggest stick to get compliance with the ordinances." Ruble replaces Don Koverman, who left nearly four months ago to take a statewide position. Koverman was the director during a period when the current County Commissioners restored planning and zoning and reappointed a Morgan County Plan Commission, which had been abolished by the prior com- missioners. Ruble, who will be paid $46,500 a year in the post, closed his Martinsville law office about five months ago. He said the work representing clients in both civil and criminal cases was demanding 80 hours or more each week.

"I was working all the time, and I just reached a point where I said my family and my son are worth more to me," he said of his decision to switch to a job closer to home, with more typical business hours. Call Star reporter Bruce C. Smith at 1-317-272-4403. county at heart," Quyle said of Ruble. While county officials hoped to attract a professional land planner or someone experienced in government planning and zoning, Quyle said county officials didn't get many applicants with that background.

Instead, they found Ruble, who has an undergraduate degree in economics from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and a law degree four years ago from IU. He also worked about a dozen years in research and statistics for the Indiana Department of Labor. Ruble's legal training, Quyle said, Citing desire to spend time with his family, Rick Ruble opts for a job with more regular hours. By Bruce G. Smith bruce.smithindystar.com The Morgan County Plan Commission has chosen a Martinsville attorney to be the new county plan director.

Rick Ruble, 43, takes over the job Monday. The Shelbyville native and his family have lived in Martinsville for 13 years. "My objective in this new position is to try to use all of my skills and abilities to help the people of Morgan County and to improve the quality of life for everyone," Ruble said. Plan Commission President and County Commissioner Jeff Quyle said Ruble was selected from several candidates who were interviewed for the job. "First, he is a Morgan County resident who has the best interest of this.