Helping the cause

Thumbs-up to those who supported The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign during the holidays. The campaign raised $21,455.40.Tops on the trackThumbs-up to Tyler Cain of Seymour for repeating as the DIRTcar UMP Sportsman national champion. Cain, who plans to move to the late model division this year, won 22 races in 2015 and finished ahead of fellow Seymour racer Matt Boknecht for the title.

Best in show

Thumbs-up to the Brownstown Central boys basketball team for winning the Graber Post Buildings Classic for the second year in a row. The fifth-ranked Braves knocked off Barr-Reeve, which was ranked No. 1 in Class 2A at the time, and South Knox before beating Pike Central in the final. A related thumbs-up to Braves senior Zach McCory for being named tournament MVP and joining teammates Cody Waskom, Cam Shoemaker and Jacoby Shade on the all-tournament team.PrestigiousThumbs-up to Crothersville native Bobby Eldridge, who once again acted as a primary floral designer on an award-winning float on New Year’s Day in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. Eldridge, a member of the elite American Institute of Floral Designers and owner of Prestigious Affairs in downtown Seymour, worked on “The Bachelor” float. It received the President’s Trophy for most effective floral use and presentation. He also provided assistance to a float sponsored by Northwestern Mutual that received the Past Presidents Trophy for the most creative design and use of both floral and nonfloral materials. A related thumbs-up goes to those helping Eldridge, including Sue and Renee Nehrt, both of Brownstown, and Melanie Eglen Bradley, a Cortland native and a Seymour High School graduate who has lived in southern California for many years.