Hannah Romero De Gante poses proudly in her sash and crown with a 500 Festival car.
Submitted photo
Regional romp
Thumbs up to the Brownstown Central High School boys basketball team who added a third regional crown to the program on Saturday by beating Forest Park 64-49 in the Class 2A Southridge Regional. Members of the 23-4 Braves squad are seniors Jakob Arthur and Carson Darlage, juniors Jack Benter, Parker Hehman, Caiden Gwin and Adam Stahl, sophomores Colby Hall, Chace Coomer, Gregory Hutcheson and Pierson Wheeler and freshmen Carter Covert, Lane Pendleton and Micah Sheffer. The Braves will face 18-6 Scecina at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Southport Semistate.
Talking turkey
Thumbs up to Richard “Rick” Steward who recently became one of the first 32 inductees into the Grand National Competition Custom Call Hall of Fame. Steward, who lives near Dudleytown, also earned two medals and a plaque for his box call 1864 during the 2023 Grand National Calling Championships in Nashville, Tennessee. The box call was the 115th turkey call he has made over the years.
Ready to race
Thumbs up to Seymour native Hannah Romero De Gante who recently was named a 500 Festival princess. The 21-year-old junior at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis plans to spend time participating in community outreach projects in Seymour and Jackson County while not busy fulfilling her princess duties in the months leading up to the 107th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indianapolis 500. Romero De Gante also received a $1,000 scholarship for being selected as one of 33 princesses.
Freedom writers
Thumbs up to Seymour Middle School Sixth Grade Center student Finley Barlow who penned the winning essay in the Sertoma Club of Jackson County’s annual What Freedom Means to Me essay contest. Barlow and the four runners-up, Sophia DuSablon, Zander Hopkins and Valerie McIntosh from Immanuel Lutheran School and Lily Surface from St. Ambrose Catholic School, read their essays during the club’s Freedom Banquet at First United Methodist Church in Seymour.
All-State Band
Thumbs up to Seymour High School junior Lucas Jablonski who recently was selected for the 2023 Indiana All-State Band. Jablonski, who plays the French horn, performed with the band Sunday at Purdue University in West Lafayette.
Fighting cancer
Thumbs up to the Crothersville High School English Club which raised a record $900 for the American Cancer Society through its Night of Colors fundraiser. A related thumbs up to everyone who contributed to the cause.