Goshen native and South Bend opera singer Ben Ganger will defend his Jeopardy title on Monday Philo or Pluto TV or by TV screening services DirecTV Stream Opponents: Data analyst and opera singer Ganger will face Charlottesville editor and yoga teacher Ellen Goldlust and Hickory NC scientist and entrepreneur Rhyne Modlin What's at stake: Ganger has won four straight games for a total of $96,415 and a fifth win would qualify him for an automatic bid into the yearly Tournament of Champions (WSBT) — No one was injured after a fire broke out at a South Bend business Monday morning Smoke was seen coming through the roof when firefighters arrived Crews at the scene told WSBT 22 News the fire was under control in 15 minutes No one was inside the building at the time of the fire It is now time to vote for the South Bend Tribune Athlete of the Week award for April 28 - May 4 WE HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED THE RULES TO THE POLL You will now only be able to vote once per hour We are hoping this makes thing as fair as possible to give everyone a shot at winning the vote More: Here are the best South Bend area high school girls sports performances, April 28 - May 3 More: The best South Bend area boys high school sports performances, April 28 - May 3, 2025 The poll will still remain open until 11:59 p.m You can find the link to the poll by SCROLLING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE Fairfield softball sophomore Madison JonesJones recorded four RBIs and five runs scored of her own during the three NECC Tournament games she played this week Jones has a .618 batting average and nine home runs Goshen girls tennis senior Landry SchrockSchrock had a 4-0 week highlighted by a straight sets win over NorthWood Tuesday in a key Northern Lakes Conference battle The RedHawks are 9-0 overall (4-0 NLC) on the season right now New Prairie softball senior Ava GeyerGeyer hit a career milestone this week recording the 1,000th strikeout of her career 10-inning win against Riley Wednesday where she finished with 20 strikeouts in that game alone Feece helped the Pilgrims complete a 3-0 week one against Goshen Monday and one against Wawasee Wednesday He smacked a combined three home runs in those two games as well Marsh was a four-time winner at the South Bend city meet Thursday: individually in the 100- and- 400-meter dash and on the 4X100- and 4X400-meter relay teams The Eagles easily claimed the team title at the event South Bend Riley boys volleyball senior Austin PflugnerPflugner had a strong week for the Wildcats 27 digs and five blocks Monday against Penn He did this while also competing in the South Bend city track meet Thursday night Elick swept the hurdles races at the South Bend city meet Thursday winning the 110-meter race in 15.76 seconds and the 300-meter race in 40.12 seconds He also added a second place showing in the long jump helping the Huskies win the team title in the process Note: this story has been updated to update information for one of the nominees Investigators told the South Bend school board on April 28 they had found evidence of thousands of grades being changed across the district's high schools and students receiving credits for classes they hadn't earned but that wasn't the first time the board had heard those allegations it had been nearly two years since those claims were presented to the board including giving students a score that doesn't reflect the amount of coursework done the time spent in the course or otherwise doesn't support earning the credit they found students passing classes they'd spent less than 2-5 hours in Details of allegations: Investigators say thousands of grades changed in South Bend high schools to raise grad rate Investigators said the findings came from the online educational platform Edmentum as well as from teachers who self-reported instances of grade changes is an online program that allows students to recover credits if they've taken an in-person course and failed at least once It's allowed by the Indiana Department of Education and several Indiana school corporations use the program Leyva told The Tribune that the board will meet with district administrators and then recommending some standards for SBCSC's use of Edmentum The SBCSC board can create policies and guidelines for the district's grading practices adding that he's heard from teachers and administrators that there should be standards for SBCSC's online learning platforms A history of allegations?According to a video on the district's YouTube channel high school English teacher Joseph Beachey addressed the board and said he was resigning from SBCSC after six years because of concerns about cheating and unearned credits (Editor's note: Beachey's comments begin at the 1:36:12 mark of the video.) Beachey said he'd seen evidence of students earning a lot of credits in a short amount of time on Edmentum went from fewer than 20 credits to 40 in the span of a month I've watched this online Edmentum program be turned into something where we usher kids across the stage instead of teaching them," Beachey said "… I couldn't sit there and do that anymore — getting pressured to pass kids." He also said he'd seen widespread cheating adding some students had told him they'd cheated in every class "They cheated their way through graduation they could really be something if they just had the right push," Beachey said Beachey told board members he had reported the problem but nothing was done "I reported it and nothing came of it," he said The Tribune reached out to Beachey on three separate occasions between April 30 and May 2 but did not receive a response Beachey's comments were mentioned in a December 2023 letter addressed to the SBCSC board and signed by former Clay High School Assistant Principal Robert Smith which was also sent to the Indiana Attorney General Smith calls for further investigation into the allegations and suggests that the grade inflation "is all being done to ultimately boost Superintendent (Todd) Cummings' payment since his contract was extended because of increased graduation rates." Smith implicated building principals in his letter saying they served as teacher of record on some of the bogus course credits Smith added that he'd heard about the issue from "numerous teachers and school counselors" at SBCSC who had evidence of grade inflation but were concerned about retaliation if they came forward In a note to Attorney General Todd Rokita attached to the letter to the SBCSC board Smith said SBCSC "has reaped the benefit of the fraudulent credits" and the increased graduation rate by receiving a $3 million federal grant for students using Edmentum Smith said he'd also reached out to several government agencies and individuals including IDOE and his representive on the St numerous times since August 2023 to ask for an investigation into the issue but hadn't been contacted by an investigator and the board at the time looked into the allegations by talking with Cummings school principals and district administrators "I never was presented with any evidence or anything other than rumor or innuendo that it was true." "I'm not saying that someone didn't change grades somewhere said he remembered the principal at Beachey's school was "surprised by the allegation" but the principal confirmed the issue had been resolved And Kate Lee said she's learned since 2023 that "sometimes a grade change in the system is actually a correction based on internal reviews and protocols." "I believe as we dig in more on the initial findings we will all learn a lot about the challenges that come with online learning and how it coexists with traditional in-person classes," Lee said A spokesperson from SBCSC said the district is aware of the previous allegations He added that SBCSC had sent them to the state but the state didn't take any further action Former trustees Stephanie Ball and Leslie Wesley didn't respond after The Tribune reached out for comment on May 1 investigators Tim Corbett and Joe Speybroeck and the team still needs to speak to teachers allegedly involved in grade changes a spokesperson from the Indiana Department of Education told The Tribune that IDOE is aware of the allegations exploring all investigatory options and monitoring SBCSC's internal investigation The Indiana State Board of Accounts conducts biennial audits of school corporations told The Tribune that school grades and graduation rates are not under the Board's purview Bearsch added that IDOE takes allegations like these very seriously "(I)t is crucial that each student's diploma accurately reflects their knowledge and overall preparedness as they take their next steps after graduation," she said in the email "… Regardless of the outcome of this particular investigation grade manipulation of any kind is wholly unacceptable and violates the trust between school leaders and the students and parents we serve." said the district is also taking the allegations seriously and he asked for patience from district families and community members until the investigation concludes "Our responsibility is to educate young people and we will not shrink from that responsibility," Eid said and we will take appropriate action to restore trust where it has been lost." Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Rayleigh Deaton at rdeaton@gannett.com MISHAWAKA — When Schmucker Middle School teacher L.A High walked back to his classroom after a morning meeting on Monday High, an eighth-grade math teacher, was chosen as Penn-Harris-Madison's Secondary Teacher of the Year and when he opened his classroom door Monday morning he was greeted with cheers from his students and a group of administrators to surprise him with the news After P-H-M Superintendent Jerry Thacker told him he'd been chosen High shared that Monday was the ninth anniversary of his father's death from cancer really special one to be recognized in this one," he said "That's something that doesn't happen by chance." High reflects on 16 years of teachingHigh said he's in his 16th year of teaching he's formed deep connections with students fellow teachers and community members "who have helped me get to this part." "You just become one big family with the people that you work with," he said and just realizing all the people and all the things that have happened to take me to this place today." he's discovered teaching is his "calling in life," and he said it's incredibly rewarding to work with students which may not be every student's strong suit "I've been blessed with a lot of God-given gifts in order to carry it out," he said because it's a very formative time when kids are creating habits before entering high school they're not "too cool for school" and still enjoy being silly and participating in things like spirit week "I guess you can take the boy out of middle school but you can't take the middle school out of the boy," he said High was chosen through a nomination and selection process out of the almost 400 secondary teachers at P-H-M who took his math class in High's first year of teaching at Grissom Middle School and now works as a counselor at Schmucker Marks said High is "the most selfless person ever," adding that she remembers his class being a welcoming and safe place to ask questions "I was not the best student academically," she said and I believe that had a lot to do with L.A.'s relationship-building." High said he's grateful for the award and for the community around him "I'm so thankful to be recognized," High said "It's one of those careers where it's rewarding at times but it can kind of go a long time without seeing that reward sometimes President Donald Trump has signed an executive order slashing federal funding to public broadcasters PBS and NPR The order issued Thursday instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS,” eliminating about $500 million in support for public radio and TV stations around the country Station President and General Manager Amanda Miller Kelley tells us not only have the feds cut off funding but the state of Indiana last week also stripped public funding for them “The state is about 10% of our budget and federal is about 22.5%,” Kelley said we’re looking at a third of our budget just gone.” Kelley says WNIT will now have to take a very hard look at the programs and services it provides to determine what will have to be changed She notes WNIT operates five stations total including the main station airing a variety of local and national programs and specialty stations that air children’s programming and weather It will be difficult to maintain all of those services Kelley says Friday’s news was “deeply disheartening” because she believes PBS provides viewers with content they don’t get anywhere else So that’s what we’re looking to continue to be for this community for the people who watch us because they rely on us for their children or because they watch us because they value what we bring to their homes.” Kelley says the station does have to pay for licenses to air many of its most popular programs She was to take part in a manager’s call with the national PBS organization to learn more Friday Kelley tells us the total loss of funding to WNIT as a result of recent cuts comes out to about $1.3 million. Those who support the station with their pledges could help by increasing them WNIT has operated in South Bend since 1974 Here are some of our most read articles that might interest you Nonprofits that serve seniors and the poor are nervous about a leaked federal budget that shows the Trump administration ending funding for a variety of programs A Michiana agency leader says the cuts would be devastating The leaked fiscal year 2026 federal budget shows a complete elimination of funding for programs that seniors and the poor have relied on since the 1960s They include the Long Term Care Ombudsman program which monitors abuse and neglect in licensed facilities which does the same thing for seniors still living in their homes "That's scary to have no way to help seniors who might be being abused in a nursing facility or assisted living," said Karla Mapes the South Bend-based nonprofit that helps seniors and the poor across five counties She’s still hopeful that the Republican-controlled Congress ultimately will keep the programs in the budget bill accepted her invitation to ride along on Meals on Wheels deliveries to three seniors in South Bend Yakym sits on the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee "He was very positive about our organization," Mapes said "He didn't give anything of a yes I'm voting for this or that but at least he was able to see it and understand the impact of those programs." One man was hospitalized after experiencing a gunshot wound in the early morning hours of Sunday at a restaurant and bar on West Sample Street The South Bend Police Department was notified on the way to a ShotSpotter notification in the 3400 block of West Sample Street around 1:15 a.m The man's injuries were reported to be non-life-threatening remains under investigation by the police department's Violent Crimes Unit Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com by Asher Bookspan Over a hundred protestors gathered in the Jon Hunt Memorial Plaza and lined the streets of downtown South Bend rallying against actions taken on the federal and state levels One protester says a major issue for her right now is workers' rights saying she is not only is she concerned about cuts made by DOGE "We're also not okay with what they're doing to the unions And people die all the time at the workplace and they want to get rid of the things that keep our workers safe," Mary Ellen Hegedus said Another protestor saying she does not feel listened to by elected representatives and is unhappy with actions being taken regarding womens' rights citizens regardless of political party affiliation need to work together to make change "We don't need a war to bring us together We just need to look at our commonalities and do something that serves the greater good," Mitzi Sabato said Today's protest was more than just speaking out and raising awareness organizers made an emphasis on using the event as a way to bring resources to the community There's a lot been going on at the state level and at the federal level And so we felt like we need to start taking donations to local food pantries that we can distribute," Carrie Bowie said Organizers emphasizing that anyone unable to attend protests can still make their voice heard by calling or writing to their elected officials speaks during an introductory press conference Wednesday (AP) — Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers drove into the teeth of the Las Vegas Aces defense during the first quarter of her WNBA preseason debut Bueckers connected on a left-handed floater from 5 feet It was a welcome-to-the-league moment that might leave a bruise 1 overall selection in the WNBA draft after leading UConn to a national title a month ago scored 10 points in 23 minutes on Notre Dame’s home floor as the rebuilding Wings lost 112-78 to the perennially title-contending Aces Jackie Young scored 28 points for Las Vegas She was one of three former Notre Dame players in the game joined by teammate Jewell Loyd and Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale Bueckers is hoping to turn around a franchise that went 9-31 in 2024 The playmaking guard averaged 24.8 points in the women’s NCAA Tournament for UConn finally delivering the title that she’d been chasing since her sensational freshman season Now she’s trying to reset after grinding her way through a 40-game college season that ended a month ago “It’s super surreal in terms of the turnaround from where I was two weeks ago to where I am today,” Bueckers said “I’m just soaking it up and enjoying every moment I’m just excited to be playing basketball again with this new group and continue to grow and get better every day.” Bueckers said the pace of the game and the level of talent in the WNBA are much different from anything she’s experienced She noted the Aces had five former Olympians in their lineup The physicality of the league appeared to get to Bueckers at times She questioned a no-call when she was trying to ignite a fast break and ran into Young who made a steal and turned it into a pair of free throws for the Aces She looked unhappy with the three fouls called on her Fighting her way through screens was an issue Caitlin Clark came into the league with unusual star power and immediately boosted attendance and ratings while clashing at times with the WNBA’s more established players The Wings hope to help Bueckers have a smooth transition into the pro game “We have that example (of Clark’s first season) to learn from already and I think we’re prepared,” Wings coach Chris Koclanes said and she’s prepared to be able to handle everything that comes her way and we’ll do everything we can to support her “You try to prepare and teach and put her in positions to be able to find success and you got to let her live and let her experience it,” Koclanes said “So it’s a balance just feeling out what that ultimately ends up looking like.” (WSBT) — Six weeks after the South Bend school board voted to terminate its maintenance contract SSC Services for Education filed a WARN notice with the state of Indiana saying 203 employees will be laid off June 30 South Bend Community School Corporation's Communicator Director tells WSBT 22 that the corporation is in the process of onboarding many of these employees to their new in-house maintenance team Goetz adds that a notice was sent out to employees impacted by the decision informing them of opportunities within South Bend Schools It is unclear how many employees will stay with the school corporation board members decided to insource their building maintenance needs to save money RELATED: South Bend School Board ends costly maintenance contract to save millions annually South Bend Schools expects the move will save $3 to 5 million a year (WSBT) — A man was taken to the hospital after an overnight shooting on South Bends west side Police have confirmed that one person was shot just after 1 a.m at Don Juan Cantina and Grill on West Sample Street The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries There is no word on what led up to the shooting or any possible suspects Anyone with information on this shooting is asked to contact police at (574)-235-9263 An anonymous tip can also be made through Michiana Crime Stoppers at (574)-288-STOP Stay with WSBT 22 News as we continue to learn more Joseph County homeowners got good news about the appeals they’d made for their property assessments But then the latest assessment arrived with their annual tax bills with some seeing yet another surprising spike in value County officials are planning town hall meetings over the coming months to address an array of property tax issues Some residents have complained of assessments that have increased about 100% County Assessor Mike Castellon affirmed that some properties are indeed over-assessed while some are under-assessed “It’s not lost on me," he said of the ultimate cost But he said there may be some confusion over what home owners are observing is the impact of housing market costs catching up to their assessments if their property tax appeal is successful adjustments to the property’s assessment are driven by market costs Castellon noted that property reassessments are done every four years on a given property (The county completes a quarter of them each year.) So depending on where you fall in that four-year cycle your appeal could be good for anywhere from one to three years The changes that property owners see each year in their assessments are adjustments based on the market and sales of similar properties you’re bound to see the effect of market-related costs to your assessment It’s a process set by the state of Indiana assessors must value properties using something called "mass appraisals," which helps to value large numbers of properties mass appraisal lends itself to various fluctuations in market value and cannot determine exact value," Castellon said "Because mass appraisal looks at large numbers of homes using a micro amount of sales most assessments will be close to market value you will have some over-assessed and under-assessed properties This is why I stress the appeal process is so important giving home owners a individual look at their home." “Property assessments should mirror the market,” he said he said his office did find and has worked to correct land that had been unequally assessed under a prior assessor this process (from the state) is going to happen.”  He asked that property owners be patient with his office “I’m here to work for them (taxpayers)," Castellon said But I have to follow the law (the state’s required process).”  What are a couple of tips for those filing appeals If you're trying to figure out your home’s real value Castellon suggested reaching out to a local Realtors association They may be able to help you to answer: What will my house sell for when you receive a letter in the mail or email in response to your appeal The problem with relying on the tax credit The credit now is in place for three years meaning that you can apply through the end of 2026 Castellon said his office inherited 13,000 appeals from the prior assessor when he started his term in January 2023 his office has about 600 of those left to resolve Castellon said to pay the spring installment bill and wait for an adjusted fall bill to arrive Joseph County officials will hold four town hall meetings in May September and December to talk about and answer questions about property taxes The speakers will be Assessor Mike Castellon and his chief deputy along with county Auditor John Murphy and his chief deputy to noon May 17 in the Howard Park Event Center June 14 in the New Carlisle Public Library 13 at Palmer Funeral Home community complex St. Joseph County officials remind home owners who are age 55 and older that they can still apply for a property tax credit if they haven’t done so The county council had approved the temporary tax credit for up to three years and residents were first able to apply for it in 2024 They should be seeing the effect of that credit on their most recent bill (found on section 4D of the tax bill) It caps the increase in your taxes at no more than 2% the county council will have to vote to continue the credit beyond these initial three years simply allow it to end after 2026 or even vote to end it before the three years are up You can apply at http://www.sjcindiana.gov/2302/auditor or by calling 574-235-9668 the homeowner must have lived in their home for at least 10 years and have a homestead deduction There are no income limits or assessment limits You cannot also receive the Over 65 Circuit Breaker Credit at the same time Remember, property owners will receive just one mailing this year, as in the past. The mailing that arrived in April included both your spring and fall remittance coupons South Bend Tribune reporter Joseph Dits can be reached at 574-235-6158 or jdits@gannett.com One person was injured after a vehicle swerved onto the path of a school bus in South Bend IN (WSBT) — One person was taken to the hospital after a vehicle swerved onto the path of a school bus in South Bend The crash happened on Bendix Drive just after 9:30 on Friday morning Officials say no children were on the bus during the crash and the driver of the bus was not hurt the driver of the vehicle swerved from the middle lane into the bus’s path The driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital for precautionary measures It is unknow what caused the vehicle to swerve but officials say the driver did not seem to remember being in the middle lane The Music Village is celebrating Michiana musicians with a block party in downtown South Bend The annual celebration is taking place at Howard Park and a raffle benefiting TMV’s tuition assistance program for students of all ages we want to bring people together to celebrate The Music Village is Michiana's Community Musical Arts Center in school And it's really our mission to educate people to engage in music in some way," says Executive Director of the Music Village The event is free and runs Saturday night until 8 PM Western Avenue has reopened after being closed Monday morning as firefighters addressed a fire at a commercial business The South Bend Fire Department responded to a fire at the 2100 block of West Western Avenue around 5:30 a.m. which caused significant fire and smoke damage inside the business The fire was brought under control after 15 to 20 minutes no one was found inside the building and no injuries were reported The department didn't say what the assessed value of the property damage was saying they are still early into the investigation Kendra is a 5-month-old mixed breed puppy who loves to play and have a good time She came into the South Bend Animal Resource Center as a stray and is ready to find her forever home She has a ton of puppy energy and absolutely loves to play with anything she can chew on SBARC staff say Kendra should be kept away from little children for now simply because she still has so much puppy energy Kendra would be a perfect fit for someone who is active and would love to have her come along on a run She does well with other dogs and even cats She will be microchipped before she goes home with her forever family SBARC is running their Bissell pet even until May 15 which means all dog adoption fees are just $25 If you are interested in adopting Kendra, fill out an adoption application online A full list of all pets up for adoption at SBARC can also be found on their website While from the outside the building looks almost ready to welcome customers It has been nearly 6 months since a fire tore through Maxi's Food & Spirits Barn in South Bend.(Provided photo) IN (WSBT) — It has been nearly 6 months since a fire tore through Maxi's Food & Spirits Barn in South Bend Anchor Julianna Furfari walked through the property with the manager and owner of Maxi's and asked the question many customers have: What's next Customers are eager to get back inside the small business that has been around since 1990 Drone footage shows the damage in the building following the late November fire heavily damaged behind us in the maintenance room and the kitchen you could have walked in that day,” said Barb Court While the west side of the building sustained the most damage video and photos show the rest remaining visibly untouched we took our finger on the bar and wiped the soot off but everything else was completely untouched,” said Katie Van Tornhout since then the building been completely gutted “This is like it's going to be torn down is what it looks like There's not even a light switch left,” said Katie Photos were taken after the flames and now all that is left are wood beams WSBT 22 asked: Why was your whole building gutted We probably never will know because they say one thing insurance says another thing,” said Katie “We never expected it to go to this extent and that's when things kind of went down from there,” said Katie The family that runs Maxi's says the entire process has been a challenge; they feel they were taken advantage of You give them rights to your entire property And then when you see things that are missing and they respond with It's a key to our life because this is a huge.” the family says that they were left in the dark and they say they may never know why the entire building was gutted “But somebody doesn't guide you and say You and your family could have done this and that to get the process going in an honest And there should just be somebody and tell you every step,” said Barb They believe the restoration company was after the money and did not have the business’ best interest in mind And I expected this whole process to be run in the same manner,” said Barb The family did not want the restoration company named They do believe there should be an advocate to help those navigating the loss of a home or business They said they asked too many questions too late They did this story because of their customers; they don't want them left in the dark MISHAWAKA ― A new sporting goods retailer is headed to the space in Wilshire Plaza that Burlington most recently occupied Academy Sports + Outdoors a senior public relations specialist with the company The Mishawaka store will be the chain’s ninth location in Indiana The store, which already is under construction, is located at 5652 Grape Road at the northern end of the plaza. Burlington relocated from the spot to Princess City Plaza just south on Grape Road in 2024 The 71,801-square-foot store will employ about 60 people There are more than 300 Academy stores across 21 states as well as exercise equipment and firearms It also has a localized merchandising strategy to ensure customers in the community can find what they want including gear for Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans Academy also offers private-label brands that offer value-focused outdoor apparel and equipment The new store will be the third sporting goods store in the Mishawaka shopping district. Dick's Sporting Goods opened in a new store at Princess City Plaza two years ago, and Dunham's Sports opened a second area store at 5851 Grape Road last year Email Tribune Market Basket columnist Ed Semmler at esemmler@sbtinfo.com with tips about retail and restaurant openings and closings Tribute musicians playing the hits of Elton John, John Mellencamp and Garth Brooks will take the stage May 10 at the inaugural Tribute Fest at Ironworks Plaza in downtown Mishawaka The bands Small Town, No Fences and Elton Jeff and the Honky Cats will each perform a 90-minute set Small Town is set to perform from 4 to 5:30 p.m with No Fences playing the hits of Garth Brooks from 6 to 7:30 p.m Elton Jeff takes the stage for the night's feature performer with songs from Elton John's musical career from 8 to 9:30 p.m "We are playing off the success of Retro Fest and the ❜80s and the ❜90s music," Parks Superintendent Phil Blasko said "We are trying to come up with ideas that are unique to the plaza." There will be food trucks and alcohol and beer tents inside the venue Cost for Tribute Fest is $15 per person, with children 5 and younger free. Tickets are available at: https://mishawaka.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=830 Starting Monday, May 5, tickets also will be available for purchase at the front desk of The Battell Community Center at 904 N Blasko said tickets also will be available at the gate at Ironworks Plaza and there will be ticket lines for cash or card purchase Email Tribune staff writer Greg Swiercz at gswiercz@gannett.com Preparations are underway to tear down a longtime summer staple in South Bend IN (WSBT) — A long-time summer staple in South Bend is almost gone The Potawatomi Park pool is set to be demolished and some upgrades are planned in its place the loss of the neighborhood pool is hitting home for many who grew up around it Crews were preparing and securing the area around the pool as the city gets ready to demolish it “We have awarded the bid for the pool demolition and that work is beginning We also have a project out to bid and we should receive bids on May 13th That project entails updates to Wall Street from Greenlawn to Ironwood traffic calming measures and a safer crossing at Ironwood and Wall St It is anticipated that this work will start in the summer and be completed before the end of the year,” said Allison Zeithammer it marks the closing of a chapter filled with summer memories and neighborhood connections A fence now surrounds Potawatomi Pool in South Bend’s Potawatomi Park. The pool has sat empty since 2022 including a leaking liner and failing concrete Officials say rebuilding it would cost millions and ultimately isn’t sustainable Mary Beth grew up just blocks away from the pool She says she understands the high cost of rebuilding but says she still feels the loss — not just of the pool but of what it represented for generations “I think the community is really sad about losing it and losing the opportunity for today’s kids to be playing in it And my grandkids to be playing in it so it’s a loss and we are hoping that we don’t lose our trees and other things in the park,” said Mary Beth RELATED: South Bend Venues Parks and Arts looks to reimagine Potawatomi Pool Families who live nearby say they’re also disappointed the pool will be gone "We are bummed that they decided not to keep the pool there just living so close in our neighborhood It was going to be the closest pool for us," said Ally Swanson the closure means fewer local options for her kids to learn and enjoy the water The nearby park and pool were part of what drew them to the neighborhood in the first place and so we have to find a different place to go to do that,” said Ally Swanson an aquatic center will be added to help kids cool off and there are plans for a new pool at Kennedy Park across town Ben Ganger continued his dominant run with a fourth straight win in Friday's episode of Jeopardy As has been the case in each of Ganger's wins he was essentially assured of a win going into the Final Jeopardy round by virtue of having more than double the score of his closest competitor Ganger's winning total Friday of $20,000 left him with a four-day total of $96,415 in winnings Ganger works as a data analyst at Goshen-based Viewrail He also sings with South Bend Lyric Opera and co-founded the South Bend chapter ofOpera on Tap South Bend, which hosts monthly recitals at Iron Hand Wine Bar South Bend is the only city in the state with both an opera company and Opera on Tap chapter Ganger proudly told The Tribune on April 30 A win on Monday's episode would give him the five wins needed to automatically qualify him for an entry in the year-end Jeopardy Tournament of Champions according to the guidelines on jeopardy.com CA marketing manager Shweta Balasubramanian and Atlanta attorney Sam Sabulis Ganger continued his trend of fast starts to the games He had $3,400 before either of his competitors was on the board at all and he rolled into the first commercial break with $4,000 to Sabulis' $1,200 and Balasubramanian's negative $1,000 He finished the Jeopardy round with $5,600 ahead of Sabulis' $1,800 and Balasubramanian's negative $200 His lead quickly grew in the Double Jeopardy round as he ran through the Classical Music category correctly answering four of the five clues He quickly added another $8,500 by correctly answering both daily doubles one in Governors and another in A is for Capitals The 18-team field for the 2025 men's college lacrosse championship bracket was revealed on Sunday night 1 overall seed of the tournament after finishing the season with a 14-1 record dropping its lone game to Penn State in overtime REQUIRED READING: Where will Notre Dame men's lacrosse open 2025 NCAA Tournament? 2 Maryland play the winner of play-in games with the winner of Albany-Siena facing Cornell and the winner of Robert Morris-Air Force taking on Maryland Each men's college lacrosse matchup will air live on ESPN's family of networks in 2025 Here's a look at the bracket and schedule for the men's college lacrosse championship: Here's a look at the 2025 men's college lacrosse championship bracket: Here's the full seed list for the 2025 men's college lacrosse championship: Cornell (14-1)Maryland (11-3)Princeton (12-3)Ohio State (14-2)Penn State (10-4)Syracuse (11-5)Duke (12-5)North Carolina (10-4)Men's college lacrosse championship schedule 2025All times Eastern Here's the full game schedule for the 2025 men's college lacrosse championship: NEW CARLISLE — A small workplace fire that broke out at the Amazon Web Services data center construction site last month is under the investigation by three agencies What we know about the fireThe New Carlisle Fire Department arrived on the scene at the 31100 block of Edison Road around 11:30 p.m. on April 24 after receiving the report of two victims injured in a construction incident, The Tribune's reporting partners at WNDU-TV said the fire department received reports indicating that Building 104 was filled with smoke and saw people evacuating the area The fire was out by the time fire crews arrived New Carlisle Fire Department's Assistant Chief Chad Hess said on April 29 describing the fire as "isolated" and the smoke as white we just had do deal with the patients and evacuating smoke," he said An Amazon spokesperson provided a statement by email saying “A small fire at the construction site of a non-operational facility was quickly contained today and we’re thankful to local first responders for their swift action.” More: Fire during Amazon construction Two Amazon construction workers airlifted to hospital for 'severe' injuries after fire Two workers who were injured in the incident were treated on the scene by responding medics but were airlifted to the hospital due the severity of their injuries He did not provide an update on their condition citing the inability to keep in contact with speciality hospitals outside their reach with whom they don't have an existing relationship When asked what the victims' injuries were on the scene whether the men suffered from burns or smoke inhalation Hess relayed only that their injuries were severe What we know about the investigationThe fire is under the investigation of the New Carlisle Fire Department, fire investigators with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security State Fire Marshal and the Indiana Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration Hess said the fire department is working with investigators with the State Fire Marshal because of the "scenario of the injuries," and have not had any conversations with IOSHA Hess couldn't determine how long the investigation will take He said there's specialized equipment in the facility that investigators aren't used to and they need subject matter experts A media spokesperson with the State Fire Marshal's office said on April 29 that the incident remains under investigation and no updates are available at this time IOSHA confirmed they have a safety compliance inspection in progress The winner will advance to the NCAA quarterfinals in Annapolis That matchup at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium will be against the winner of the first-round battle between No 5 seed Penn State (10-4) and unseeded Colgate (10-7) coach Kevin Corrigan’s Irish are coming off a 14-12 loss to Syracuse in the ACC Tournament semifinals on May 2 Jordan Faison: How Notre Dame football, lacrosse plan to share Jordan Faison's talents this spring On March 8 at Arlotta Stadium in South Bend Ohio State scored with seven seconds remaining to escape with a 10-9 win That loss was the second straight for the Irish after opening their title defense with a 3-0 start Ohio State enters the NCAA Tournament with a season goal differential of plus-63 Notre Dame is at plus-56 after allowing just 108 goals through 12 games Only Army (105 goals allowed) was stingier at the Division I level but the Black Knights were snubbed by the selection committee after an upset loss to Colgate in the Patriot League tournament NCAA Championship Weekend is May 24-26 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough Notre Dame was seeded third in 2023 on its way to the first NCAA title in program history The Irish entered the 2024 event seeded No The top three seeds in this year’s NCAA Tournament are Cornell (14-1) which has made 18 of the past 19 tournament fields has reached the quarterfinals or better all but once in its past 13 NCAA Tournament appearances Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com President Trump is delivering on his promise to the American people: bringing common sense back to Washington and putting America first While the Biden Administration spent four years making excuses President Trump and House Republicans are taking action the first piece of legislation President Trump signed into law was the Laken Riley Act protecting innocent Americans by removing criminal illegal aliens from our streets I was proud to support this bill and am grateful to finally have a president willing to work with House Republicans to put Americans first and keep our communities safe I'm fighting to extend and expand the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act These tax cuts delivered real relief: 91% of middle-class taxpayers received a tax cut This act also sparked pro-growth business reform cutting taxes for small businesses and driving new investments Extending these tax cuts isn't just smart policy; it's essential for protecting the financial security of millions of hardworking Americans President Trump is also unleashing American energy and cutting the red tape that has strangled small businesses and farmers for years we've already repealed 10 damaging Biden-era regulations From rules targeting rubber manufacturers and energy producers to burdensome restrictions on walk-in coolers these are important wins for Indiana and communities nationwide Common sense is returning across the government We've ended radical DEI mandates in the military and federal agencies and are protecting women's sports by keeping biological men out of female competitions As a father of two daughters who play sports I know how important it is to ensure fairness and opportunity for young women House Republicans are also working with President Trump to root out waste I introduced the Improper Payment Transparency Act to hold Washington accountable for the $2.8 trillion in improper payments made over the past two decades We also passed the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act which extends the statute of limitations for pandemic-related fraud from 5 to 10 years recovers taxpayer dollars and increases transparency for hardworking Hoosiers I'm more determined than ever to deliver real results for Hoosiers and with President Trump leading the charge America's greatest days are just beginning Rudy Yakym represents Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District INDIANAPOLIS — The ink is barely dry on Gov. Mike Braun’s signature on the $44 billion budget bill with speculation already growing that it might not last the entire biennium The persistent talk in the Statehouse hallways is that President Donald Trump’s tariffs will induce a recession and If Indiana’s April revenue forecast was glum what might be just over the horizon is a fiscal disorder that will hit all 50 American statehouses Look no further than Wednesday’s U.S. Commerce Department report revealing the American gross domestic product — a sum of all the goods and services produced from January through March — fell at a 0.3% annualized pace This was the first quarter of negative growth since Q1 of 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee since 2013 told reporters after the House adjourned that Republicans have failed to account for the economic turmoil resulting from Trump’s tariff announcements and other actions That could force lawmakers back into a special session in the coming months to deal with the fallout “We have to understand that taking care of Hoosiers is our No and we have to be very cognizant of what may transpire at the federal level So we just have to be prepared to come back in and address that.” Braun’s first biennial budget was hardly blissfully ignorant of the gathering economic storm House Enrolled Act 1001 made 5% budget cuts across the board. The budget slashed $3 million from Indiana Public Broadcasting. There was a 25% cut to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. as Braun signed an April 8 executive order to launch audits of nonprofit foundations and corporations that receive state funds there has been a round of deeper probes by the Braun Governor’s Office in large part prompted by some questions .. most notably Elevate Ventures,” Hannah News Service reported The Hannah report said Braun staffers are following “a money trail that external counsel for IEDC suggests may have involved significant improper commingling of funds … and continued failure of Elevate leaders to comply with requests for account breakdowns and precise accounting for state government dollars.” Eric Holcomb’s final biennial budget slashed public health grants to $40 million from $150 million All 92 counties adopted this funding for preventative care to improve maternal and infant health prevent chronic diseases and address other clinical needs “This budget sends a clear and troubling statement about our priorities,” state Rep and this one reflects the state’s choice for austerity over accessibility WISH-TV reported that the state cuts come on the heels of the Trump administration’s freezing billions of dollars in federal aid to county health departments, including about $400 million earmarked for the Hoosier State, according to the Indiana Public Health Association Johnson County Health Department Director Betsy Swearingen told WISH-TV that the cuts will curtail partnerships on suicide prevention tobacco cessation and “Stop the Bleed” and CPR classes for teachers and community organizations “My big message is that I think we’re in trouble,” Indiana Public Health Association CEO Marc McAleavy told WRTV “I believe that these cuts will impact rural Indiana worse than any other part of our state We lost over 75% of promised support from the state for public health departments and agencies stable level funding and all we’ve been given is a roller coaster ride.” Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray told reporters early Friday morning that “if revenue improves,” lawmakers hope to restore public health funding in the 2028-29 budget which they will craft during the 2027 legislative session “There’s no question passing a balanced state budget this year was a tremendous challenge but we were able to do so by exercising serious fiscal discipline and making difficult decisions,” Bray said in a statement this budget will meet the needs of Hoosiers while protecting our taxpayers our caucus is celebrating the passage of $1.3 billion in property tax relief for Hoosier homeowners and other good-government measures that will help our state continue to grow and thrive.” Lawmakers addressed the looming budget shortfalls by passing a $2-per-pack cigarette tax increase “That’s going to have a huge benefit for Medicaid costs going forward,” Bray said But a proposed federal fiscal package includes $880 billion in Medicaid cuts for states over the next decade — a move that could force a return to the drawing board before 2027 Braun said in a statement released Wednesday: “In 100 days we’ve made tremendous progress on the Freedom & Opportunity agenda: cutting taxes drawing a clear line against extreme wokeness and illegal immigration and making state government more efficient Howey is a senior writer and columnist for Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs Follow him on X @hwypol and Blue Sky @hwypol.bsky.social SOUTH BEND — Cinco International started in 2014 at 112 W two business partners and he believed in opening their own place Leonardo came to the business about a year into the venture and he slowly got more involved to the point today where he is the owner and the visionary behind the Mexican and Thai restaurant "I came in on Saturdays helping out with whatever," Duran says. Over time, Duran's father, who was the chef at Siam Thai eventually brought over the menu from the closing business and the younger Duran eventually took over the operation Photo gallery: Cinco International offers Mexican and Thai cuisine in South Bend "My dad knew all the menu, everything from Siam (Thai), Nat (Buraprateep) gave him the blessing, the right to continue the whole Siam cuisine," Duran says about the owner of the popular restaurant that closed in 2015 when Buraprateep moved back to Thailand "When we started, it was never meant to be labeled a Mexican restaurant," Duran says as my Dad knew how to cater to more than just traditional Mexican cuisine." Duran's father had worked at a variety of restaurants, including Houlihan's and Siam Thai "It was just that my Dad wanted his own place because he was in the industry for maybe 30-plus years," Duran says none of us knew how to run or manage the business Leonardo began taking over the overall management largely because his initial thoughts of catering all the food to everybody was not in the best interest of the dining experience "We had to shrink it down to where the guests would ask for more." Duran says while his father and the others knew the food the business side needed to be addressed and he was the person to concentrate on it "It has to do with efficiency in the kitchen the food costs and how can we provide a good service and mentality and consistency as well," Duran says "We stay with the Mexican and Thai because that's why the guests come," Duran says Cinco's most popular entrée for customers is the Khao Pad Pad Thai and Siam noodles also are favorites with diners "We didn't know if that was going to work." customers seem to lean toward the Thai food more often He says many customers mix it up when ordering: Some may order an egg roll and then get a Mexican dish while others may get chips and salsa to start and then order Thai cuisine Consistent growthDuran says while the downtown has seen growth, Cinco international has stayed consistently steady with customers, especially by being near the Morris Performing Arts Center "The Morris is what kept us alive in the beginning," Duran says people would come downtown and we would get guests to come in and eat." The consistent and attentive team members also help draw in their clientele and transform them into return customers "It's how they make you feel that what makes you come back," Duran says "I get asked what makes me different from the others I look at as being around the team members who work at how do they make you feel when you're here It could be a good taco or a good Thai dish but you will remember the experience that you had." Future improvementsThe dining room at Cinco International is undergoing a remodeling that is also changing the stairway configuration Duran says he hopes to have the first floor work done by the end of the year and is changing the second floor as well giving the restaurant a look much different than what was set in its former life as Mark's Chinese restaurant and former uses The restaurant will have two new staircases and modernized restrooms and additions Duran says the changes are to improve the dining experience but that is something that is planned for years down the road the location and the future growth of South Bend play into his success has helped Cinco International make it to its 10th anniversary "There are a lot of good reasons for our success," he says When asked what Cinco International will be in the next 10 years largely because he wants to make his current restaurant the best experience he can muster for his customers "How can we make it THE place?" Duran says the spot that we can't miss when we go to South Bend?" ■ For more information: Call 574-520-1455 or go to https://www.cinco5sb.com/ If you know of a restaurant that should be featured in an upcoming Taste column, email Tribune staff writer Greg Swiercz at gswiercz@gannett.com What was making news in our area during this week in years past The History Museum offers these South Bend Tribune newspaper excerpts to give you an idea 1901: “The South Bend and Mishawaka boulevard committee held a meeting on Friday evening in the city council chamber Members from South Bend and Mishawaka and property owners along the proposed driveway on the St The meeting was marked by unusual enthusiasm over the boulevard project and property owners made brief talks in which they advocated the boulevard and expressed a willingness to do all in their power to further the project.” 1911: “Pertinent facts on the advisability of the purchase of voting machines for use in South Bend and St Joseph county are contained in a report to the Chamber of Commerce made public to-day The committee reported unanimously in favor of the machines from the standpoints of both economy and practicability as compared with the present voting system.” Leeper the winner of the republican nomination by a plurality of 224 votes over City Attorney Lewis W The race between Leeper and Hammond was one of the closest in the history of the city.” 1932: “The Farmers’ State Bank of Wyatt today filed suit in circuit court to replevin 800 pounds of peppermint Oil which it claims is being wrongfully held by Ambrose was distilled in 1931 on a farm near Wyatt on which the bank has a claim and was given to the Majors by Louise Hillaert who is said to be claiming an interest in the property.” 1941: “Sheriff Steve Molnar and his aids Wednesday afternoon enacted what could have easily been a scene snipped from some wild-west saga when they conducted a roundup at Darden and Hollyhock roads The county crew substituted lariats for revolvers when a call was received that a herd of 20 cattle had formed a bovine blockade of the road intersection.” 1958: “Mishawaka’s board of school trustees accepted bids on several maintenance projects approved the purchase of equipment for the gymnasium of the Emmons Elementary-Junior High School 1968: “The trainer of United States astronauts said here Thursday that there is no rescue plan included in the coming Apollo moon flights should any men become stranded on the moon.” See what Cinco International can offer by way of Mexican and Thai cuisine in a downtown South Bend setting The restaurant is celebrating its 10th anniversary Read all about Cinco International in this week's Taste column, too. Riley High School special education teacher Heidi Daren has been named South Bend schools' Teacher of the Year. Cecilia Stanton-Verduzco, who teaches Spanish at Adams High School Daren and Stanton-Verduzco were selected during an award ceremony on Thursday that recognized 28 nominees selected by their peers A panel of evaluators and current and retired teachers chose Daren as SBCSC's top educator marking the 46th anniversary of the SBCSC Teacher of the Year program As Teacher of the Year, Daren will receive a $2,500 Professional Growth Grant from the South Bend Education Foundation and be the district's candidate for the 2024-25 Indiana Teacher of the Year so I'm just so thankful to be here and representing Riley and all of our kids," she said during the award ceremony Daren has more than a decade of experience and is a National Board Certified Teacher Known for her "innovative approach to education," the release says, she founded the Best Buddies International chapter at Riley and introduced a therapy dog named Milo to support her students' emotional and social growth Daren has also increased the participation of students with disabilities in general education classes and extracurriculars "Daren is a dedicated and passionate teacher who truly deserves this recognition," Mansour Eid "We congratulate all the nominees and winners of this year's Teacher of the Year awards for their commitment to education." (WSBT) — Do not be alarmed if you see a fire Monday morning at the South Bend International Airport — it is part of fire training that will take place The Saint Joseph County Airport Authority Department of Public Safety will do the FAA required training It will include live fires at the airport from 8 a.m This training will not impact flight operations The menu may vary except for the hamburgers Dining room seating and carryout available Mee the men and women of the MSP who work and serve the Niles community Please check with the venue for any cancellations Note: this story has been updated with times for the NorthWood sectional games Even though we are still three weeks away from the IHSAA baseball postseason tournament beginning the sectional pairings were released Sunday culminating with the championship games on the holiday baseball sectionals will not begin until after the holiday One-game regional championships are set for Saturday at 16 different host sites across the state The two closest in the South Bend area are La Porte and NorthWood Semi-state will follow its same semifinal games in the morning/title game at night format it has the last couple of years The four northern host sites for semi-state are Four Winds Field in South Bend Which Class travels to each semi-state location will be determined after regionals The state championship games will be played Friday The South Bend area features some of the top teams in the state The defending Class 3A state champions also reside in the area in New Prairie The Cougars and Huskies share the same sectional meaning only one will have a chance to make a deep postseason run Here are three quick takeaways on area sectional matchups Penn baseball looks for three state titles in four yearsTop-ranked Penn looks primed to make another long state tournament run who were upset in the sectional a year ago Penn sits at 17-1 after suffering their first loss of the season on Saturday The Kingsmen have a deep and talented pitching staff and the offense includes senior star Mason Braun the only other team in the La Porte sectional field with a winning record should meet their rivals Penn in a semifinal clash The field in the Class 3A Plymouth Sectional is loaded 2 South Bend Saint Joseph set to face Culver Academies in the opener of the seven-team field The Huskies have lost just twice through May 4 a league setback to Elkhart and a 3-1 loss to Lakeshore (Michigan) on Saturday faces a dangerous Mishawaka Marian team in what should be a fine semifinal contest at Plymouth Wide open Sectional 4Elkhart is the team to watch in the Class 4A Northridge Sectional Coach Scott Rost's Lions meet the host Raiders in a semifinal matchup Warsaw is the favorite to come out of the other bracket at Northridge All times Eastern unless indicated otherwise Sectional 3 at La PorteGame 1: Penn (17-1) vs More: What happens when baseball is not an option for Saint Joseph senior Brody Zielinski? Sectional 34 at JimtownGame 1: Jimtown (10-4) vs Class 1A notes: Triton will play North Judson in the opener of the Class 1A South Central Sectional The winner advances to play South Central in a semifinal matchup The path to sectional championships is now known for area high school softball teams after the IHSAA released the brackets Sunday One-game regional championships are scheduled for Tuesday with the odd-numbered sectional winners hosting the even-numbered ones (ex: Sectional 3 winner hosts Sectional 4 winner) with semi-state semifinal games that morning/afternoon and championships at night The four northern semi-state host sites are Lafayette Harrison (Class 4A) The four state title games will take place across Friday June 14 and Saturday June 15 at Bittinger Stadium at Purdue University in West Lafayette The biggest note for the South Bend area this year is New Prairie moving up to Class 4A from 3A due to the IHSAA success factor who won the 3A state title in 2023 and reached the semi-state final in 2024 are now part of a loaded 4A sectional that includes perennial power Penn and Mishawaka Below are the Class 4A-2A South Bend area softball sectional pairings Here are three quick takeaways on local sectional matchups after the IHSAA draw was held Sunday night received a favorable draw in one of the toughest sectionals in the state who have won 11 straight games as of May 4 earned a bye into the semifinals at the Mishawaka Sectional which lost in the semi-state final a year ago will face either rival Mishawaka or South Bend Adams in the semifinals The Kingsmen own a pair of wins over Adams and also beat the Cavemen so far this season Coach Beth Zachary's team is definitely the favorite led by Notre Dame recruit and Miss Softball candidate Ava Zachary which lost in the Class 3A semistate title game in 2024 who will face Penn in league play later this month Class 3A sectional is wide openSaint Joseph is the team to beat at the Class 3A Plymouth Sectional have persevered through injuries to their top three pitchers this season including Oklahoma recruit Berkley Zache (who will miss the entire season) Joe could likely face host Plymouth in the sectional final The IHSAA did Jimtown no favors in the Class 2A Bremen Sectional should meet the Jimtown-Winamac winner in the title game Jimtown did receive a boost last week when standout pitcher Kiyla Eberhart returned to the circle from injury IHSAA softball 2025 sectional pairings for South Bend area teamsRecords listed below as of May 4 Class 1A notes: Triton will play Elkhart Christian Academy in the opening game of the Class 1A South Central Sectional The winner of this game will face Argos in a semifinal contest Note: this story has been updated with times for the Michigan City sectional matches For the second time in the 2024-25 academic year the IHSAA will crown an inaugural state champion After the first ever girls wrestling season was a success in the winter it’s now boys volleyball’s turn to get the IHSAA spotlight for the first time All 136 teams competing in the first sanctioned season learned their postseason fates Sunday with the release of the sectional brackets More: IHSAA boys volleyball has arrived. These South Bend area teams will be playing The 16 winners will advance to regionals Saturday playing regional semifinal games in the morning and championship games at night The four regional winners move onto state, where state semifinals and a championship game will be played Saturday, May 31, inside historic Mackey Arena on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette The semifinal games will be in the morning and final at night Nine schools from the South Bend area are competing — two in the Michigan City sectional and seven in the Elkhart sectional. Both sectional winners will head to the Valparaiso regional. Here is how those brackets shook out. Full pairings can be found online at ihsaa.org All times listed for the Elkhart sectional Eastern Match 4: South Central-Union Mills (13-5) vs Nearly everyone knows Alexander Hamilton as a Founding Father. It is hoped that others may know him as the first Secretary of the Treasury, or the subject of a hit Broadway musical The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other book sites. Also check Samantha’s website at samanthawilcoxson.com Samantha has written several historical fiction and nonfiction books about Nathan Hale Elizabeth of York and the Women of the American Revolution Reviews of her books note her extensive research narrative style and putting readers in the heads of the characters Originally from central Michigan and now from Edwardsburg Her first professional career was in accounting and finance she needed the flexibility of staying home “I was always a reader and had an interest in history.” She added that she didn’t dislike accounting but now this more about following her passion for history Samantha became fascinated with James as she researched the women of the American Revolution “I dug into the American Revolution and James’ mother,” she said Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton supported her husband’s revolutionary causes and was an early philanthropist There were about two years of research in libraries and museums before putting the quill to paper Samantha read through boxes of letters and found his handwriting to be a challenge “It has been said that great minds produce bad penmanship," she said James advised Abraham Lincoln and Salmon P Chase on banking and constitutional matters.” James was close to his father and worked to preserve his memory and protect his name Few people were able to see the politics and the events of the formative years of the country Samantha continued that the Founding Fathers left an outline for a country but “left a lot to figure out” — for example states’ rights and slavery He wrote a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation for Lincoln had five children and built an estate in Irvington which is about 25 miles from New York City which is the name of the island where his father was born Nevis changed hands within the family and later ended up with the DuPont family The DuPonts gave the grounds to Columbia University to be used as an arboretum The grounds are now used for the study of high energy particles and nuclear physics Samantha recently was invited to speak about her James Hamilton book at Nevis She had the chance to be in the room where it happened Contact Kathy at kfborlik@yahoo.com.