Breaking Barriers
HER PROGRAM AT JOHNSON MEMORIAL HEALTH OFFERS NEW HOPE FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH
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ON THE HO FORMER
CGHS FISHING CLUB MEMBER WINS COLLEGE-LEVEL COMPETITION
Writer / Matt Keating
Scott Sledge, a former member of the Center Grove High School Fishing Club and 2020 graduate of Greenwood Community High School, and this teammate, Tyler Cory, recently won the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College Classic, presented by Bass Pro Shops.
“We won the five-bass, 22-pound limit in Oklahoma,” Sledge said. “We were the last of nine teams in the tournament to weigh in. The tournament ended at BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.”
Sledge, a senior at the University of Montevallo, said he and Cory qualified for the Bassmaster College Classic because they placed second in the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series.
“Winning was very exciting,” Sledge said. “We were so close so many times before and it was great to get it. There was really something special about this tournament. We were able to get a big bite, and when it’s your time to win, it’s your time. I think it’s all part of God’s time when he lets you succeed.”
Sledge said it was great to see his family and Cory’s family at their winning tournament.
“It was so nice to have them there supporting us,” Sledge said. “I had between 200 and 300 people reaching out to me to congratulate me.”
Sledge said he started fishing when he was 8 or 9 years old.
“I really loved it, and started getting into fishing tournaments when I was 8 or 9 years old, and started winning tournaments,” Sledge said. “I thought that was fantastic and I was able to win $200 in one tournament. I loved it. Winning that much money as a kid is great. You can buy a lot of candy.”
Sledge fishes all the time.
“I fish between 150 and 225 days a year,” Sledge said. “There is a lake at school. I can usually be there after classes by 2:45 in the afternoon, and I love finding time to fish.”
“He was a high-motor player and a great teammate. Going into his senior year, he approached me about our Saturday practice rule - if you don’t attend practice, you don’t play. That said, players go on college visits on Saturdays for football all the time, and it is an excused absence if prearranged. So, in our conversations, Scott talked about his ranking on the bass circuit and tournaments he needed to fish. We worked out a schedule for him to be where he needed to be, and it has worked out great for him.”
Campbell added that Sledge puts a lot of effort into what he does.
“I’m really proud of the work Scott has put into his career, and to see him win a huge tournament was validation of his efforts,” Campbell said. “I’ve kept in contact with his mom and brother as well, and it is always great to catch up and hear about his successes.”
Jason Roberts, owner of Honey Creek Tackle, said Sledge worked for him for several years and was a great employee.
FAIR GAME
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE INDIANA STATE FAIR
Writer / Devon Dean
Gird your loins, grab your sunblock, antacid, and a few friends and head to the Indiana State Fair August 2-18. While there’s plenty to explore, the food competition is always a huge attraction.
This year, the “Taste of the Fair” offers a literal smorgasbord of food and drinks to try out. Definitely bring an empty stomach and an open mind. Fairgoers are encouraged to vote for their favorite new food items by visiting any of the information booths around campus or by scanning the QR code that will be available at the concession stands.
The annual competition is for more than just bragging
rights. The winning food stand will receive a $2,500 cash prize, followed by the second place receiving $1,000, and third place receiving $500. In addition, for the first time our partners at the World Food Championships will award the top three winners a Golden Ticket entry to the World Food Championships event taking place in Indianapolis this fall for the first time in history at the State Fairgrounds.
fabulous fair food
Fairgoers can hit up to 43 different stops on their tour de eating. The expansive menu includes:
• A Bloody Mary topped with a mini corn on the cob, cheeseburger slider, fried mac and cheese, fried pickles, waffle fries, hotdog slider, and a mini apple pie
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch funnel cake
• Strawberry cheesecake funnel cake
• Pickle-flavored pale ale
• Deep fried golden Oreos
• Amish peanut butter pretzels topped with a peanut butter and marshmallow spread
• Dill pickle Dr. Pepper
• Dill pickle lemon shake-ups
• Peanut butter & jelly chicken wings
OTHER STATE FAIR ATTRACTIONS:
The State Fair is always held during what is traditionally one of the hottest months of the summer. To offer a respite, the MHS Family Fun Park will include an all-new splash pad for folks of all ages to cool off.
The Olympic Games in Paris are happening at the same time as the State Fair. WTHR will host the Olympic Zone to celebrate the Hoosiers competing for Team USA. This experience promises to capture the spirit of the games even from a continent away.
The Fair is also celebrating a historic moment - 60 years ago, a small group from Liverpool called The Beatles played at Pepsi Coliseum. Fair officials are celebrating the Fab Four’s legendary stop in the Circle City on August 3 with Beatles-themed entertainment all day, including a performance by tribute band A Hard Day’s Night and a celebration of the music of Paul McCartney.
If you’re on a budget, you’re in luck. Not only is $2 Tuesday back on the schedule, but the $5 value menu offers a variety of options for everyone in the family.
Finally, the concert line-up for the fair is a mix of all genres of music. Gladys Knight, Buddy Guy, Bell Biv Devoe, Lita Ford, and Dogstar are just a few of the artists playing the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage. If you are not familiar, Dogstar’s bassist is best known for his role as John Wick.
Discounted tickets and the complete schedule are available at IndianaStateFair.com. Don’t forgetthe fair folk need their rest too and are closed on Mondays.
If you hit up the Indiana State Fair, be sure to share your photos on the Towne Post social media Facebook pages.
MARATHON HOLIDAY
Writer / Fredda Kovacs
Vic Singh had always dreamed of owning a business that would not only thrive, but also become a cornerstone of his community. Two years ago he took a leap of faith and purchased Holiday Marathon gas station and convenience store, at 560 N. State Road 135 next to LA Fitness.
For Singh, it isn’t just about selling products; it’s about creating a welcoming space where neighbors can connect, and where quality and community are paramount.
The Marathon store gleams with cleanliness and safety, a testament to Singh’s attention to detail and commitment to excellence.
Beyond the usual convenience-store fare, Singh has curated a selection of products that cater to local tastes and desires. One standout is the array of European chocolates, particularly the beloved Milka bars.
To further enhance the community experience, Marathon Holiday offers a gourmet coffee bar and bakery section. In the coming months a kitchen will be added. Freshly made food items made with quality ingredients will be available throughout the day. While some customers will pick up a meal to take home, Singh welcomes you stay and visit a while.
“Center Grove is unique,” says Singh. “While the area and population continue to grow, it still retains its sense of community. That’s what drew me to Center Grove; it aligns with my philosophy, and I want to help foster that spirit.”
To that end, he is actively seeking Center Grove school organizations and sports teams to sponsor. Whether it is providing funds for band and choir performances, athletic equipment, academic organization
needs, or even snacks for after-game celebrations, Singh is all in on making sure his support benefits the community.
Critical to Singh’s vision of community activity and support is his team of employees. He handpicked each member for their friendly demeanor and dedication to customer service. They know regulars by name and greet everyone with a genuine smile. It isn’t just about transactions; it’s about building relationships and making sure each customer knows they are valued.
Many plans are in development for enhancements to the Marathon Holiday experience. For instance, a rewards program will be launched that will benefit customers by way of exclusive offers and everyday savings.
Singh invites you to come in and meet him at Marathon Holiday gas station and convenience store. It’s more than just a place to fill up on gas or grab a snack; it’s a community gathering spot - a place where neighbors meet, friendships blossom and local organizations find support.
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Breaking Barriers
HER PROGRAM AT JOHNSON MEMORIAL HEALTH
OFFERS NEW HOPE FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH
Writer / Katie Hosea Photographer / Emily Stewart
Dr. Emily Cline, MD, has passionately served women and families of Johnson County for more than 28 years with Johnson Memorial Health (JMH) as a board-certified OB-GYN. Alicia Fischer, also an employee of JMH in patient accounts, was a patient of Cline’s in 1998. She and her husband, Eddie, felt so strongly about the care they received that they named their daughter Emily. Now, more than 25 years later, Emily Fischer works for JMH in a pediatrician’s office.
In January 2017, after a brief period in Knoxville, Tennessee, Cline returned to JMH to embark on a new chapter in her career: the creation of the HER program. This initiative was born out of Cline’s recognition of a significant gap in women’s health care - namely, the lack of spaces where women could openly discuss and address their health issues without fear of judgment or stigma. Cline is now a Greenwood resident and currently works in the JMH Primary Care Center in Whiteland.
Cline’s HER program was created to provide a safe and supportive place for the discussion and treatment of women’s health issues, mainly urinary incontinence. Cline says the goal was to create a program that provides “community, education, resources and wellness” for women facing health challenges in silence, affecting their quality of life and mental health as a result.
The HER program was designed to be a sanctuary for women facing a variety of health challenges. Cline’s vision for the program was clear and ambitious: to create a community-oriented, educational and resource-rich environment for women’s health. She wanted to establish a space where women
“I really firmly believe, and I’ve been like this my whole medical career, if you get patients in, women particularly, and if you give them the information they need to make good decisions on their own health care, they will by and large pick the thing that is best for them.”
- Dr. Emily Cline
could find wellness and support, free from the constraints of societal norms that often discourage open discussion of women’s health issues.
In her time as a physician, she’s seen countless women ignore health concerns because society taught them not to talk about those concerns, and put everyone else before themselves. Her goal is to change that, and help women realize that while some health concerns may be common, they can still be treated to improve overall quality of life.
According to Cline, societal norms can discourage open discussion of women’s health issues, leading women to confide in
a few trusted individuals who might also be unaware of treatment options. “We are trained to not talk about those things, so if women talk about it, they talk about it in very small groups with their close friends or their families,” she says. “The people they talk to probably also don’t know there are treatments.”
Such issues that have driven Cline to create a program that is informative and provides access to women in need. The HER program puts an emphasis on providing resources and treatments for issues like urinary incontinence, pelvic and organ prolapse, pelvic pain, and endometriosis. Cline reflects on the issues concerning women’s health.
“They are unmentionables,” she says. “We must be ladylike and we can’t talk about these things in public. We are brought up with this sense that these things are normal. Scrubbing toilets comes ahead of getting your bone health take care of.”
While these health concerns often go untreated, they can lead to serious physical and mental health issues. Women with health concerns they feel are unmentionable, and therefore go untreated, often have decreased self-image, depression, interference with relationships, and isolation from their social network. “If you have to run to the bathroom every 30 minutes, are you going to say yes to going to the movies with your friends?” Cline says. These are missed opportunities that women face regularly, but they don’t have to. The population is aging and the population of women who need these services is continuing to grow. Throughout her career, Cline has seen many women suffering in silence.
By breaking the silence and creating a safe place for women to talk about their health concerns, Cline is breaking the mold. These issues are no longer unmentionable in the HER program. They need to be discussed so that women can be treated. Cline focuses on reducing stigma and increasing awareness. “I really firmly believe, and I’ve been like this my whole medical career, if you get patients in, women particularly, and if you give them
the information they need to make good decisions on their own health care, they will by and large pick the thing that is best for them,” she says.
Cline specializes in treating very common concerns often left out of routine exams. Treatment is highly individualized and focuses on treating the root cause of the problem, whether it be mechanical (related to the structural issues in the body) or functional (related to the muscles, bones, joints and nerves).
For example, urinary incontinence, a condition that affects many women but is rarely discussed openly, can be managed through a variety of treatments. Cline offers minimally invasive surgical options that involve smaller incisions, quicker recovery times and less pain, compared to traditional surgeries. Additionally, she provides injections that can help to improve the function of the urethra and reduce symptoms of urinary incontinence. Each patient’s treatment plan is crafted based on her specific needs and preferences, grounded in evidence-based practices.
The HER program also allows women to call or email to schedule appointments without the referral of their primary care physician. This reduces the stress around discussing uncomfortable topics and creates a more direct route to adequate care. When new patients call, the navigator will complete an indepth intake with lab work and an extensive history, to ensure Cline is well-informed and ready aid the patient in accessing the right treatment during her appointment.
In the future, Cline hopes to expand the HER program to a brick-and-mortar establishment with more expansive resources. Her goal is to create a space for women to come and put their health first. She envisions this space as providing communal rooms free educational discussions, community space, areas for women to bring their children and be together, coffee shops and other amenities, and a navigator to guide them to the resources they need. Women are often the ones bringing each member of their family to the doctor, and it is important to build a space they are comfortable in. “They will bring their family
to get good care if you open a door for them to walk through, but they have to know the door is there,” Cline says.
Cline is grateful to serve the community of Franklin and admires the city. Her favorite thing about Franklin is the growth and rejuvenation of downtown. She is always happy to go through town and see people out walking, and she enjoys the local events at the DriveHubler.com Amphitheater. She also loves to visit the farmers markets on Saturday mornings. Cline is thankful the city came together and helped so many small businesses make it through hard times during the COVID pandemic. “It’s real, it’s authentic and it’s not trying to be anything else,” she says of Franklin.
Cline’s work through the HER program represents a significant step forward in women’s health care for the community. By creating a
space where women can openly discuss their health issues without judgement and receive the expert care they deserve, she is challenging outdated norms and offering hope for a better future for women’s health. Her dedication to her patients and her vision for expanding the HER program reflect her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of women in our community and beyond.
For an opportunity to hear more from Cline about the HER program, visit johnsonmemorial.org/her. Look out for an upcoming event at the Artcraft Theatre in November, which will include free snacks and drinks, a free movie, and discussion on the importance of women’s health and breaking the silence about bladder leakage. To schedule an appointment, call 317-530-3111.
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SOME SERIOUS PIPES
INDIANAPOLIS 500 GORDON PIPERS ENJOY PERFORMING AT COLTS GAMES AND A RANGE OF OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS
Writer / Matt Keating
Doug Hardwick, president and pipe major for the Indianapolis 500 Gordon Pipers/ Horse Shoe Pipes and Drums, says he has thoroughly enjoyed his time with the band, and is looking forward to performing at the Indianapolis Colts games.
“I have been with the band since 1969,” Hardwick said. “The founder of the band, Dr. Wallace Gordon Diehl, was our neighbor as a child growing up in Pike Township. I heard the bagpipes and drums at a practice at the Diehl ranch and was hooked at age 9. I started playing in the eighth grade.”
Hardwick noted that the Gordon Pipers are as popular as ever, and he is looking forward to performing at the upcoming Indianapolis Colts games.
“We play at all Indianapolis Motor Speedway events, and all Indianapolis Colts home games,” he said. “The best thing about being a member is seeing the joy in the eyes of people as we play. I also enjoy the smiles I see in the parade from young children and seniors. The heartfelt stories people tell me about being the bagpiper at a relative’s funeral, the unexplainable feeling I get honoring a fellow veteran as the family and friends pay the final respect - I have performed at over a thousand veteran funerals. I have performed for five presidents: Nixon, Ford, Bush, Bush Jr. and Obama. I have also performed at Arlington National Cemetery.”
Hardwick also enjoys meeting Colts fans, many of whom are from Center Grove and the southside of Indianapolis.
“Our job at the Colts games is tailgating with the fans,” he said. “The Irsay family takes very good care of the only NFL bagpipe band in the world. I love playing for Colts fans!”
Hardwick said that in 1957, Diehl started self-tutoring on bagpipes. In 1962 he and others got together to form a musical group known as the Gordon Pipers.
In 1962, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Owner Tony Hulman saw them perform at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Hardwick said that by 1963, they became the Indianapolis 500 Gordon Pipers.
Hardwick said the Gordon Pipers have enabled him to meet new people.
“The band has afforded me friendships worldwide,” he said. “I have met and become friends with people I would have never imagined. I ended up working in IndyCar from 1984 to 2010 because of my relationships created at the track marching. My wife, Patty, my sons, Derick and Jochen, along with my grandsons, Skylar and Ayrton, participated as well. I’m really living the dream.”
Hardwick said there are members in the group from different parts of the southside. The members include Steve and Tricia Dawson of Indianapolis, who have had a great time with the Gordon Pipers.
“I’m a retired teacher from Perry Township,” Steve Dawson said. “My wife, Tricia, plays bagpipes and joined in 2020. I enjoy the camaraderie and friendships with bandmates. Our goal is to present a highquality, entertaining show.”
Connie Summers of Franklin said she has played the pipes in the band since 1968.
“I started out as a Highland dancer and then learned the bagpipes later,” Summers said. “I never dreamed I would still be playing with them. My daughter, Melissa Whybrew, started [with the Gordon Pipers] when she was 3 years old. She led the dogs in the Pipers when she was very young. She also competed in Highland dancing. She’s also a drummer and is now a dance instructor with the Pipers. My grandson, Carter Whybrew, is also in the Gordon Pipers.”
Summers said she likes to be able to travel with the Gordon Pipers.
“We traveled to Rhode Island and to Daytona, Florida,” Summers said. “We performed at the Nascar race in Daytona, which was fun. We have also been able to meet a lot of different people.”
Summers noted that the Gordon Pipers met singer Rod Stewart.
“We played for Rod Stewart in the 1980s and he waited around to get pictures with us,” Summers said. “We saw him again the next year and we gave him a soccer ball with all our names signed on it. We also performed at the Rolling Stones concert at the Speedway and met the Rascal Flatts band.”
Summers also loves being at the Indianapolis 500 race and the Colts games.
“I love walking around the track and seeing the fans at the Colts games,” Summers said. “I also enjoy being with everyone in the Pipers. We like to think of each other as family.”
“The band has afforded me friendships worldwide. I have met and become friends with people I would have never imagined.”
AUGUST CROSSWORD PUZZLE
ACROSS 1. Budding socialite 4. Inconclusive 8. Foot division 12. Word of support 13. One with a glazed look? 14. Something to walk on
Playing pieces
Do some cutting, maybe
Aspen forecast
Adversary of Bugs
Shared airs
Chesterfield, e.g.
Outlet 25. Old hat
“___ cheese!”
Top secret? 31. Some jazz ensembles 33. Sauce for falafel
Is in the past? 36. Conned
Knuckleheads
Dentist’s request
DOWN
1. Three Gorges project
2. Good looker?
3. Fund-raising events
4. Bullet on an agenda
5. Bona ___ (credentials)
6. Plays footsie, perhaps
7. “Are we there ___?”
8. Focus of debate
9. All alternative
10. Congeal
11. Wields an ax
19. After the deadline
20. Wood nymph
21. Put aboard
22. “Jaws” craft
24. Bit for a stable diet?
26. Behavioral principle
28. Venus or Serena
29. Passionate about
30. Essence
32. Sorry
34. Throng
37. Reserved
39. Electrician’s concern
40. Hearsay
42. Erstwhile
43. Christmas tree?
44. Hawaiian root
46. Manage without assistance
48. Shark sighting, often
50. Dr. No, to 007
51. Post-breakdown need
41. Part of a schedule
42. Sight-related
45. Muslim legal adviser
47. Dear companion?
48. Vapor
49. Mariner’s direction
52. Nurse’s offering
53. Club choice
54. Bossy bellow
55. Archer of myth
56. Hardly Mr. Cool
57. Fix the rent?
Remembering
GARY ROBINSON
Writer / Kevin Conrad, CG Sports Network
“As the saying goes, ‘A good coach can change a game; a great coach can change a life,’” says Venus (Harmeyer) Thorne of her former high school assistant basketball coach, Gary Robinson.
The Center Grove community lost a true hero with Robinson’s passing in July. He was a 1973 Center Grove High School (CGHS) graduate, taught social studies for 37 years at Center Grove Middle School Central (CGMSC), and coached middle and high school athletics for 43 years.
“Coach Robinson, or G Rob as he was widely known, is one of the best humans I have had the privilege to know,” says Thorne. “I know G Rob has changed many lives, and I am a better person having him as a part of my life journey.”
Thorne played under Robinson, an assistant coach for the Trojan girls basketball team, which won the state championship in 1996.
“I will always remember how he made people feel,” says Thorne. “G Rob just had a way of making you feel special and important. He always had a way of recognizing the little things you did, and the energy and effort you brought. He made me feel like one of the best players out there.”
Robinson was a player on the CGHS boys basketball squad’s 1972 sectional and regional championship team. He was the unsung hero in CGHS’s upset win over state-ranked Richmond in the semi-state semifinal game at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Robinson came off the bench in the fourth quarter to spark his team, making perhaps the most remarkable pass in school history
by finding his teammate Guy Ogden for the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
“Gary was a loyal friend,” says Ogden. “He always had your back. As a player, he was a constant cheerleader and always optimistic. He was a Trojan and wanted the best for Center Grove. He strived to keep the school heading down the right path. He was interested in everyone he met and motivated them to succeed.”
Robinson’s high school basketball coach, Tom Jones, recalls his first impressions of his basketball abilities.
“As we started drills I noticed he was slow, couldn’t rebound and was not a great shooter,” says Jones. “However, he was at his best with locker-room talk. He kept the players laughing even if they had skinned
knees and were exhausted. As time passed I began to see why Gary’s presence was significant. He carried the team emotionally and mentally. Gary’s personality was filled with positivity and confidence. The students he taught and the athletes he coached were shown how to love school and sports for their entire lives. A great person is gone but never forgotten.”
Besides being a teacher and a coach,
Robinson was also very active in his church. Robinson’s basketball teammate and lifelong friend, Rob Richards, says he did not hide his faith, but rather shared it freely.
“I was so proud of him for starting a Bible study group for high school male athletes,” says Richards. “He did so because he knew many wanted a safe place to support and encourage each other. After learning of his death, this study group gathered at the high
school football field for prayer and to share their grief. Nearly everyone in White River Township knew the man he was, and the difference he made in people’s lives and the community. His legacy is his relationships and impact on others.”
Robinson coached volleyball and football at CGMSC, whose Athletic Director Jamie Wingler says he was highly regarded and respected.
Gary was indeed an unbelievable, genuine human being. I’ve never met someone who had such a passion for students and education.
– Jamie Wingler
“Gary was indeed an unbelievable, genuine human being,” says Wingler. “I’ve never met someone who had such a passion for students and education. I will always be amazed at how he treated his players, officials and everyone he encountered. His spirit was always genuinely uplifting.”
Robinson spent time as an assistant boys basketball coach with Zach Hahn at Center Grove High School. He was a player for
CGHS’s first regional championship in 1972, and a coach when the Trojans won their second regional in 2019. Robinson was a significant asset to Hahn’s program.
“He had such an infectious personality that he changed the energy level in the room,” says Hahn. “He made everyone feel like they had a special moment with him as he would positively lift them. He knew the relationship was the most important
thing in teaching and coaching. Gary will be remembered for his bond with others and his passion for life. He left a legacy that will last for years through the people he impacted by his teaching and coaching. He is a hometown hero who helped CG grow into the wonderful community that it is today.”
BOYS GOLF ON PAR TO COMPETE FOR A STATE TITLE IN 2025
Center Grove boys golf finished the 2024 season with a successful postseason tournament performance. The Trojans took fifth in the state finals after winning sectional and regional titles.
“Securing a coveted top-five spot resulted from our team’s strength and determination,” says Center Grove Golf Coach Matt Rodman. “This season was incredibly successful. Our team demonstrated incredible depth and talent, with seven individuals capturing tournament titles throughout the season.”
The Trojans look to build on the success.
“Looking ahead to next year, we are excited that the lineup from the state finals will return,” says Rodman. “While we recognize there are areas for improvement, our expectations are high and we have the potential to compete for a state championship.”
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