TOP THREE:
A News and Tribune Publication
NOVEMBER 12, 2015 — Issue 91
Jeffersonville Merchants Open House
EVENT:
'Brews and Bruises' in Louisville
X-TREME GRAPPLING Southern Indiana a h otbed for independe nt wrestling
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Getting a view from the top rope
EDITOR
Jason Thomas
A
DESIGN
Claire Munn
STORY
Matt Koesters
PHOTOGRAPHY Tyler Stewart
WHERE TO FIND SOIN:
• ON RACKS: We offer free copies of SoIn at numerous hotels and restaurants around Clark and Floyd counties. • IN YOUR PAPER: Every Thursday in the News and Tribune • ONLINE: newsandtribune.com /soin • ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/YourSoInWeekly • ON TWITTER: @newsandtribune
ON THE COVER:
Muscles subdues Overdrive after hitting him over the head with a fold-up chair, briefcase and computer keyboard during the free-for-all match at The Arena in Jeffersonville. | STAFF PHOTO BY TYLER STEWART
NEXT SOIN:
Hey, mind your own bees-ness
More unique stories from Southern Indiana.
First Church of God 2248 Charlestown Road New Albany, IN 47150
In Honor of Our 100 Year Anniversary Proudly Presents
Larnelle Harris Friday, November 13, 2015
favorite pastime of mine and my sister’s Koesters writes. was tuning in to WAVE-TV — back Amateur wrestling — with locals angling for when there were only four television a shot at the big time at WWE, a billion dollar stations — to watch local wrestling as we industry run by Vince McMahon — provides scarfed down our cereal. some harmless fun in an era of technological adIt was a great way to start the weekend, diction. Wrestling offers an escape a world apart watching the likes of Stagger Lee, Ted DiBifrom watching videos on a three-inch cellphone ase, Koko B. Ware, Junkyard Dog, Jerry “The screen. JASON THOMAS King” Lawler and all the other colorful personIt engages you and stokes your imagination. SoIn Editor alities whack each other to a pulp with metal Just watch out for the flying chairs. folding chairs. Announcers Lance Russell and Local wrestling leagues also have a big Dave Brown provided the commentary with fantastic heart: Southern Indiana Championship Wrestling is askhyperbole. ing its fans to support Toys for Tots when they come to Who needed cartoons when you had that kind of ficsee SICW’s show on Friday, Nov. 20. Read the details tional animation? inside. Turns out the grappling tradition continues in Southern Then suplex your copy of SoIn. Indiana, as you’ll read about in today’s centerpiece. At least four independent promotions are active in Clark — Jason Thomas is the editor of SoIn. He can be reached by and Floyd counties alone, with several more operating in phone at 812-206-2127 or email at jason.thomas@newsandnearby cities like Columbus, Corydon and Madison, Matt tribune.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopThomas.
7:30 PM
Tickets may be purchased at Church Office. VIP $35 (Meet & Greet with photo option) Floor Seating $15 • Overflow Seating $10
Call the Church Office for more details 812-945-2361
Bristol plans for January honey month LOUISVILLE — What started as an experiment with an area beekeeper turned into a true roof-to-table experience for the Highlands Bristol Bar and Grille, 1321 Bardstown Road, Louisville. The beehive placed on top of the building in May yielded four gallons of honey, according to a Bristol news release. Ginger Davidson of Geez Beez installed, maintained and harvested the hive last week. Davidson says typically you do not get any honey in the first year. That was not the case for this urban hive. Now, the Bristol Bar and Grille is ready to serve its guests what was created from the nectar of neighboring trees, flowers and plants. Each day in January, chef Austin Wilson will create specials featuring the honey at lunch, dinner and brunch. Dishes will be determined by the ingredients available to chef Wilson each week and will be posted on the restaurant’s website and social media pages. Some examples could include honey buns and honey butter for the waffles at brunch, honey cocktails, smoked honey with local dates and a bourbon honey pork chop. For more information, visit bristolbarandgrille.com. The hive will remain on the roof of the Bristol through the winter. Davidson will continue to care for the bees and expects to remove more honey in the spring making the honey month a new biannual tradition at the Bristol for years to come. For more information about Geez Beez, visit GeezBeezHoney.com.
SOIN | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015
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3 TO GO
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Where to go and be seen in Southern Indiana
STROLL DOWNTOWN • WHAT: Downtown Jeffersonville Merchants Open House
• WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Nov. 12
• WHERE: Downtown Jeffersonville
Shop, dine and explore historic downtown Jeffersonville. Ride the Trolley, see the sights. The Liberty Clarinet Quartet, from the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, will perform at the Vintage Fire Museum as part of the Open House. The public is cordially invited to this free event, which is family-friendly and for all ages. The ensemble, stationed at the Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, will present two concerts featuring marches, light pop, and classical music at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
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SEE WITH YOUR HANDS • WHAT: Carnegie Center Free Family Fun Workshop: ‘Photos for Fingers’
• WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 14 • WHERE: Carnegie Center for Art and History, 201 E. Spring St., New Albany
• INFO: To register call 812-944-7336 or email De-
lesha Thomas at dthomas@carnegiecenter.org. Some people who are blind or who can only see a little bit like to feel a picture in order to “see” it. These kinds of pictures are called tactile graphics: “tactile” because they appeal to the tactile/ touch sense, “graphics” because they represent a graphic/picture. This activity presents a number of opportunities for children to explore opposites, learn a bit about braille readers, and (as always) express themselves in a new way.
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OLD CAN BE NEW • WHAT: Arts and crafts event • WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sunday, Nov. 13, 14 • WHERE: Old Bridge Inn, 131 W. Chestnut St.,
Jeffersonville Enjoy fine art and crafts, antiques, and collectibles from more than 16 vendors in Jeffersonville’s historic Old Bridge Inn. There will be vintage jewelry, photography of local sites, painters selling paintings prints and cards, handmade knitted items, soaps, honey, antique furniture, china and glassware, and more. Old Bridge Inn is a neo-classical home built by a prominent Jeffersonville family in 1836. The entire house, which has a fireplace in the parlor, is decorated with antiques.
GOTTA GO: Interested in seeing your event in our 3 To Go? Email SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com
WRESTLING A DREAM Southern Indiana grapplers seek a shot at the big time
By MATT KOESTERS newsroom@newsandtribune.com
S
OUTHERN INDIANA — If you’re not a fan of pro wrestling, you may have only heard of WWE, a multinational, billion dollar business run by Vince McMahon. Generation X’ers may remember growing up in the “Rock and Wrestling” days, when Hulk Hogan and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper mixed it up with the likes of Mr. T and Cyndi Lauper. Pro wrestling enjoyed another boom time in the late 90s, when Ted Turner’s WCW took on what was then known as the WWF in the “Monday Night War.” Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, D-Generation X and the NWO were at the center of popular culture. McMahon’s creation may not be enjoying the same popularity it had during the “Attitude Era,” but the company is still strong, with millions of fans across the globe. It’s the place where up-and-coming wrestlers dream of working. But they have to get their start somewhere. Usually, somewhere else. Across the country, hundreds of independent pro wrestling promotions give those who dream of being international superstars a chance to cut their teeth, and several of those promotions call Southern Indiana home. Professional wrestling may not enjoy the mainstream popularity it once did, but the sport’s fans are hungry for action. Just as with music, it’s almost always better live. “They love being able to interact and be a part of the show,” said Tim Tilton, co-founder of Southern Indiana Championship Wrestling. “I have fans that really, really get into it.”
LOCAL VENUES
SICW holds monthly shows at “The Arena” at 1416 Spring St., Jeffersonville. Tilton esti-
Jeffersonville wrestler, Kamillion, pins down Louisville-based wrestler Big Dave for the match win at The Arena in Jeffersonville. mates that the average crowd numbers around 60 fans. Many of the wrestlers that perform for SICW also work for other promotions, and their fans follow them from show to show regardless of which promotion they’re working for, Tilton said. And it’s not odd to see the owners of one promotion cheering along with the fans at another promotion’s show, he said. “I feel like we help each other out in getting the word out about independent promotions,” Tilton said. “We work together. We go to each other’s shows. We try to help each other out.”
At least four independent promotions are active in Clark and Floyd counties alone, with several more operating in nearby cities like Columbus, Corydon and Madison. Louisville’s Ohio Valley Wrestling is a regional draw, and was once contracted by WWE to be its official developmental territory. OVW remains a popular promotion Independent wrestling promotions are sometimes founded by experienced pros; other times, though, they’re established by fans of
SEE WRESTLING, PAGE 8
Southern Indiana Champion | STAFF PHOTOS BY TYLER ST
TAG TEAMING WITH TOYS FOR TOTS Southern Indiana Championship Wrestling is asking its fans to support Toys for Tots when they come to see SICW’s show on Friday, Nov. 20. Those who bring an unopened toy to the show will receive $1 off entry. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 7-12, and children 6
onship Wrestling contender Muscles flies from the top ropes of the ring for an aerial attack as wrestler, Grimm, attempts to escape by throwing a stop sign during their match at The Arena in Jeffersonville. TEWART
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ENTERTAINMENT
This week's entertainment releases
A stereograph of the New Albany Centennial. | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CARNEGIE CENTER FOR ART AND HISTORY
Buried photo treasure NEW ALBANY — Kaitlyn Markert, archivist at the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, will present the program “Photo Treasures from the Indiana Room” from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, as part of the Carnegie Center for Art and History’s Lunch and Learn series. The Indiana Room Archives at the New AlbanyFloyd County Public Library currently house about 15,000 photographs, according to a Carnegie news release. Markert will discuss the different types of photographic processes, starting with daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and ferrotypes (tin types), and working through cartes de visites, cabinet cards, cyanotypes, albumen prints, and more. She will also talk about the history of photography in New Albany and the most prominent photographers/photographic studios, including Heimberger & Son, J.A. Wilson, and Fetsch. Markert will also bring selected items from the Indiana Room’s collection for attendees to view. Participants can bring a lunch, drinks are provided. This program is free, but registration is required by calling 812944-7336 or emailing Delesha Thomas at dthomas@carnegiecenter.org. The Carnegie Center, 201 E. Spring St., New Albany,
SOIN THE KNOW
• WHAT: “Photo Treasures from the Indiana Room”
MOVIES: NOV. 13 “The 33” “By The Sea” “Spotlight”
é
ALBUMS:
BOOKS:
NOV. 13 é “Made in the A.M.” by One Direction “Purpose” by Justin Bieber
NOV. 17 é “The Mistletoe Inn” by Richard Paul Evans “Stealing America” by Dinesh D’Souza
• WHEN: noon Tuesday, Nov. 17
• WHERE: Carnegie Center
for Art and History, 201 E. Spring St., New Albany • INFO: carnegiecenter.org
Wrestling with 'Brews and Bruises' SOIN THE KNOW
will be closed to the public Nov. 17 through 21, but open on Tuesday, Nov. 17 for this program. Markert graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s in History and Honors in 2012. She went on to graduate from Western Kentucky University with a master’s in Folk Studies and Historic Preservation in 2014. Markert worked with the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution while in graduate school. After graduate school she worked as the contract archivist at Historic Locust Grove in Louisville, processing its collections and creating their archival holdings. Markert became Archivist at the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library in July 2015. She is a member of the Society of American Archivists, the American Folklore Society, and Preservation Kentucky.
• WHAT: ‘Brews and Bruises’ • WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21; meet-and-greet, 5:30 p.m.
• WHERE: Slugger Field, downtown Louisville • INFO: For tickets go online to https://ovw-brewsbruises.eventbrite.com
LOUISVILLE — Ohio Valley Wrestling, the region's premiere professional wrestling organization, presents “Brews and Bruises,” sponsored by Against The Grain Brewery and Dauntless Distributing. Brews and Bruises is a professional wrestling event unlike any other, as it will coincide with the latest Against The Grain Brewery release of Poffo Pils, according to a news release. “Brews and Bruises” features a soiree of matches including many stars from around the U.S. Events of note are a one night tag team tournament including internationally known tag champions The Wolves, Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards and former WWE and ROH tag champions Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin better known as the World’s Greatest Tag Team. In addition, the card will include an eight-man grudge match, which will include OVW superstars and AtG brewmasters Jerry Gnagy and Andrew Ott vs. The Dauntless Distributing team, featuring Michael Minton and Atticus Coleman. The event is the culmination of a story developing weekly on Ohio Valley Wrestling TV and from the creative teams at Against The Grain and Dauntless Distributing. In addition to the matches, AtG and Dauntless are proud to include the release, for the first time ever, Poffo Pils in a 16-ounce can. This beer, which is classic, crisp,
and undeniably drinkable, will be available at Against The Grain prior to the match and in the concessions at the match at Slugger Field. AtG implores everyone who has ever enjoyed the classic wrestling events that we sat entranced and watched as kids, to join us. It implores those who would sneak and stay up late watching the Monday night main events, it implores the folks who dreamed of stepping into the squared circle.
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LOCAL SOIN HAPPENINGS TRIBUTES TO COUNTRY LEGENDS
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 Where: That’s the Ticket, 8368 Ind. 64, Georgetown Cost: $10 advance/$15 day of show Info: 812-399-1174; thats-the-ticket.net Melissa Combs as Patsy Cline, MIke Owens as Willie Nelson, Paul Penny as Roy Orbison, Sarah Patrick as Loretta Lynn.
WINE SALE AT HUBER’S
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 13 through Thursday, Nov. 19 WHERE: Huber Winery INFO: huberwinery.com; 812-923-9463 The semi-annual wine sale will run Nov. 13-22. During this time there are extended discounts on wines (and spirits) based on the quantities purchased. For 6 to 11 bottles: Save 10 percent; for one to four cases: save 20 percent; for 5-plus cases: save 30 percent. • The Pop’s Reserve Release Party is from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 19. The winery opens at 10 a.m. that day, and you may purchase the wine starting then. It’s a free event and features samples of Pop’s, live music, and complimentary chili, cheese and crackers.
LIVE MUSIC AT HUBER’S
WHEN: Friday, Saturday, Sunday WHERE: Huber Winery Saturday, Nov. 14, 1 to 5 p.m.: Lauren Ide; Sunday, Nov. 15, 1 to 5 p.m.: Corey and Stacey [huberwinery.com]
LIVE MUSIC AT WICK’S
WHAT: Live on State WHERE: Wick’s, 225 State St., New Albany Friday, Nov. 13: Steeplechase Millionaires; Saturday, Nov. 14: The Killer Lips; Friday, Nov. 20: Bella Blue Band; Saturday, Nov. 21: Lawn Dart Accident; Saturday, Nov. 28: Eight Inch Elvis
LIVE MUSIC AT NAPH
WHERE: New Albany Production House, 1736 E. Main St., New Albany Friday, Nov. 13, 6:30 to 11 p.m.: Klinch, Pop Kiss Chainsaw, The Rezidue, Guerrilla Red, $10 advance/$15 day of [naproductionhouse.com]
LIVE MUSIC AT BIG FOUR BURGERS + BEER JEFFERSONVILLE
WHERE: Big Four Burgers + Beer, 134 Spring St., Jeffersonville WHEN: Friday and Saturday Friday, Nov. 13: Kelsey Allen; Saturday, Nov. 14: Nick Dittmeier; Friday, Nov. 20: Eric and Kenny; Saturday, Nov. 21: Kyle Hastings
LIVE MUSIC AT BIG FOUR BURGERS + BEER NEW ALBANY WHERE: Big Four Burgers + Beer, 114 E. Main St., New Albany WHEN: Friday and Saturday Friday, Nov. 13: Aquila; Saturday, Nov. 14: Josh and Joanna; Friday, Nov. 20: Kyle; Saturday, Nov. 21: Kelsey Allen
IU SOUTHEAST OPEN AUDITIONS
WHAT: ‘Guys and Dolls’ auditions WHEN: 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, Tuesday, Nov. 17 The Theatre Department at Indiana University Southeast will be holding open auditions for its spring 2016 production of “Guys and Dolls,” 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16 and Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the Robinson Theater in the Ogle Center on the IU Southeast campus, 4201 Grant Line Road, New Albany. Those auditioning should prepare a brief (one minute) comic monologue, and 16 bars of a musical theatre song. Callback auditions will be on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. Production dates for “Guys and Dolls” are April 7-10 and April 14-17, 2016. For more information, e-mail Jim Hesselman at jhesselm@ius.edu or contact the IU Southeast Theatre Department at 812-941-2655.
VETERANS’ DANCE
WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 WHERE: Wilbur M. Ruby Post 204 of the American Legion, 412 N. New Albany St., Sellersburg The Wilbur M. Ruby Post 204 of the American Legion will host a Veterans Day dinner Saturday, Nov. 14, at the post, 412 N. New Albany St., Sellersburg. Social hour will start at 5 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m. The cost is free for veterans and $5 for non-veterans. For more information call 812-246-4064.
‘ALL MY SONS’ AUDITIONS
WHEN: 6 p.m. Nov. 15; 7 p.m., Nov. 17 WHERE: Clarksville Little Theatre, 301 E. Montgomery Ave., Clarksville Clarksville Little Theatre will hold auditions for “All My Sons,” by Arthur Miller, directed by Kathi E. B. Ellis, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. and Nov. 17, at 7 p.m., at the theatre. Performance dates: Jan.14-17 and 21-22, 2016. Bring a current headshot and resume. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Needed are six men and four women (ages 20-65).
TRIVIA NIGHT FUNDRAISER
WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13 WHERE: Wick’s Pizza, 33 State St., New Albany Family Ark, Jeffersonville, is hosting the second annual Trivia Night Fundraiser, 6 to 9 p.m., Nov. 13, at Wick’s Pizza, 33 State St., New Albany. Great giveaways and a grand prize will be awarded to the winning team. For information or to register, call 812- 288-6800 x207 or email to dnichols@thefamilyark.org. Ticket prices are $20 per person or $150 for a team of eight. Proceeds will benefit Family Ark’s child and family programs.
USO SHOW
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 WHERE: Veteran’s Hall American Legion Post 28, 1930 Grant Line Road, New Albany Veteran’s Hall American Legion Post 28, 1930 Grant Line Road, New Albany, is hosting a USO show, 7 p.m., Nov. 14, at the post. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets in advance $5 or $7 at the door. Tickets are available in the lounge at the post. Focus on the years 1940-50s, as the legion celebrates the 70th anniversary ending of World War II. Snacks provided and door prizes.
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WRESTLING: Tucker co-founded Diehard Wrestling CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 the business that don’t know what it takes to keep it running. That’s been the problem in Southern Indiana in recent years, and that’s why it’s difficult to say exactly how many promotions are active locally today. “We’ve seen it a lot here in Southern Indiana,” Robert A. Tucker said. “It’s a vicious cycle.” Tucker is one of the co-founders of Kentuckiana Diehard Wrestling, a promotion founded in Memphis in April 2015. Tucker — who performs as a manager for several of the promotion’s top wrestlers — and his partners are working to try to avoid the pitfalls that have swallowed up independents run by less businesssavvy promoters. To do that, KDW hopes to train new wrestlers and build on a solid foundation of homegrown talent.
CHASING A DREAM
Some of KDW’s wrestlers may get a look from larger independent promotions, Tucker predicted. “The Misfit” Billy Mattern, a cruiserweight and high-flyer, got his start in Madison, but came to Jeffersonville in the hopes of getting noticed. Tucker thinks that Mattern is every bit as skilled as the best wrestlers at OVW. One thing’s for sure: Wrestlers on the independent scene aren’t doing it for the money unless they think they can move on to more lucrative promotions. The average gate at a KDW show is about $200, Tucker estimated. The ticket sales are used to pay the talent, while the concessions and merchandise sales go toward running the promotion. But that doesn’t stop the wrestlers from performing, and it doesn’t stop the fans from coming out to watch. After all, professional wrestling has been a part of American culture since the late 19th Century. Tucker predicted that it’s only a matter of time before it makes its way back into the mainstream. “I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon,” Tucker said. “It may struggle sometimes, like it’s doing right now. It struggled through the early 90s up through the Attitude Era. It’s a cyclical type of sport.”
NOTABLE LOCAL PROMOTIONS
Southern Indiana is home to several independent wrestling promotions, putting on shows often enough to keep even the most hardcore wrestling fan’s appetite for action sated. Many Indiana-based wrestlers work for more than one of the promotions, but each offers something unique. IWA Mid-South Hardcore Wrestling: Not for the feint of heart, IWA Mid-South caters to fans of ECW-style hardcore wrestling. Founded in 1996, the promotion has gone in and out of dormancy a few times, but is active. It puts on its shows at Jammerz Rollerdome in Clarksville. ON THE WEB: facebook.com/iwamidsouthwrestling Underground Wrestling Alliance: UWA may not be Southern Indiana’s oldest promotion, but it certainly has the broadest reach. The promotion can be viewed by wrestling fans across the country on the Indie Wrestling Channel on Roku, and it also has a show on Time Warner Cable. Matches are held at New Albany Production House. ON THE WEB: facebook.com/wrestlinguwa Southern Indiana Championship Wrestling: A newcomer to the Southern Indiana wrestling scene, SICW puts on monthly shows at The Arena in Jeffersonville. Co-founder Tim Tilton says Memphis Wrestling and USWA were the inspirations for the “family-friendly” promotion. ON THE WEB: facebook.com/southernindianachampionshipwrestling Kentuckiana Diehard Wrestling: Founded in April, Kentuckiana Diehard Wrestling recently relocated from Memphis to Jeffersonville. The growing promotion holds weekly shows every Sunday, and has an interesting mix of young and experienced talent. ON THE WEB: http://kdwrestling.com/
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