Friday night dinner theater will begin this Friday, October 5, at A Step Back with dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by Vevay’s Hoosier Theater Production of A.R. Gurney’s, Love Letters, directed by Libby Kinman.
    Love Letters chronicles the relationship between a man and a woman solely through correspondence. The play tells the story of Andrew Makepeace Ladd and Melissa Gardner, whose poignantly funny friendship and ill-fated romance takes from the second grade through adolescence, maturity and into middle age. The cost is $24.95 includes dinner, dessert and the play.
    Friday, October 12 and 19, after dinner Riverrun Theatre Company will present Marion Bridge, a play by Daniel Macivor. Three sisters have all come to Cape Breton Island to care for their dying mother, and at first, the audience might wonder how much they care for each other.
    "But this is not a play about death," said director David J. Loehr. "It’s a play about hope, about life and how to make the most of it."
    As they keep a darkly comic vigil, they rehash the past and dread the future until they discover a way to move forward with grace.
    In other words, when life gives you lemons, learn how to juggle.
    This first show of Riverrun’s2007-2008 season, features Lindsay Bullock, Tamara Dearing and April Singer. Riverrun will also perform Marion Bridge at the Lydia Middleton School at 714 W. Main Street in Madison on October 4, 5 and 6. The play does contain adult themes, so parental discretion is advised.
    The Friday, October 26 performance is still to be announced.
    A Step Back is located at 409 E. Main Street in New Washington. For more information call 293-2225.

    A high school basketball event of a lifetime will be taking place all day Saturday, November 24. Charlestown officials are told t his event is sure to be a sell out so they encourage you to purchase tickets as soon as possible at the Charlestown High School Athletic Office. Tickets are $4 in advance, $5 at the door if still available. Games tip off at 3 p.m. The Pirate Pride Booster Club will be selling "We’ll Rattle Your Bones" t-shirts specifically designed for this event. The day will include four games Charlestown vs Silver Creek boys and girls JV and Varsity.
    Some of the events planned for the day include meeting and watching Indiana Pacers’ Boomer and Bowers half time dunk show, meeting Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders, Miss Indiana USA, Sellersburg Twist and Turn Mini Dance Squad, 10 mascots playing basketball half time show, Louisville Fire Cheerleaders half time show, first 1,000 fans receive free gifts at the door and a player press conference on Friday, November 23.
    Starting at 11a.m. Charlestown fans are planning a tail gate party in Silver Creek’s school parking lot (no open flames or glass permitted). The famous Indianapolis Colts Caravan will be in the parking lot for fans to visit. Hopefully face painting, a corn hole tournament, Indianapolis 500 race car simulator and much more will be planned.
    Charlestown High School has been given 1,000 tickets to sell for this event, however they have been given a deadline of November 1. Then all remaining tickets go back to Silver Creek for them to sell to their fans. Silver Creek’s gymnasium holds about 2,800 fans.
    If you should have any questions or suggestions or would like more information please contact any Pirate Pride Officer, Chris Grayson, Carl Chastain, Michael Grayson or David Trotter.
    For additional information regarding the Dragon-Pirate Mania basketball event please visit www.uniontownshipinfo.com and just click on Dragon Mania

    Charlestown's defense converges on Salem ball carrier Eric Zink during
the Pirates game against the visiting Lions last Friday.
    The win by Charlestown assured them of at least a tie for the MSC
crown.

    Dutch Reis Field was the site for some serious high school football last Friday night. The Lions of Salem traveled the 45-minutes to Charlestown with one thing on their minds, a share of the Mid Southern Conference (MSC) title.
   The Pirates, on the other hand, got to their home field early to prepare for a rivalry and chance to redeem last year’s 56-0 loss. Charlestown had more on their mind than just redemption, the victory over the Lions, would also give them a share of the MSC title.
   Heading into the ballgame the Pirates stood 6-0 while the Lions were 5-1 with their only loss coming at the hands of the Braves of Brownstown Central.
   The stands were filled to capacity as both sides were ready for some football. The teams did not disappoint as Charlestown clinched at least a share of the MSC title with the 27-6 victory.
   "Coach Hawkins has done a great job," stated Brian Motsinger, head coach of the Lions. "They deserve to win the conference title," he added after the Lions loss.
   During the first quarter the fans seen the teams’ defense prevail as the Pirates and Lions failed to score. The quarter tallied two punts from Charlestown, a turnover on downs from Salem and a Lions turnover.
   The Pirates capitalized on the fumble recovery early in the second stanza as junior running back Damon Vest found the endzone from 13 yards out. Charlestown senior Craig Brown tacked on the extra point for the early 7-0 Pirate lead with 11:37 remaining in the quarter.
   After the Charlestown defense forced Salem to punt the Lions defense stepped up to force junior running back Cameron Metzger to fumble the football.
   The Lions steadily drove down the field before senior Trevor Shell would smash his way into the endzone from just one foot out. Sophomore Francisco Bravo’s extra point attempt was blocked by Pirate senior Bowman Thrasher.
   The score at the 2:14 mark of the second stanza would prove to be Salem’s only score of the ballgame.
   The Pirates would just need 103 more seconds to find the endzone before the halftime break. Metzger rambled 18 yards to pay dirt with just 31 ticks remaining in the first half. The extra point attempt by Brown was wide right as Charlestown held the 13-6 advantage heading into the halftime break.
   "We came out a little bit too ready. It took us a half to calm them down," stated Pirate head coach Jason Hawkins.
   The third period belonged to the Pirates.
   After forcing a Salem punt, Charlestown drove down the field. The drive was capped off by Metzger’s 4 yard gallop into the endzone. Brown tacked on the extra point for the 20-6 Pirate advantage with 4:26 remaining in the third stanza.
   The Pirates would find the endzone in the last minute of the third quarter as Metzger bounced and rolled off several Salem defenders until he found an opening. The opening was all he needed as he sprinted 35 yards to the goal line. Brown would add the last point of the ball game at the :55 mark in the third quarter.
   The final 12 minutes of play saw both teams punt and both teams give up interceptions before the final buzzer.
   After the final buzzer sounded and the Pirates claimed the 27-6 victory, the crowd of Pirate faithful poured out of the stands and onto the field.
   The victory gave Charlestown at least a share of the Mid Southern Conference title. The 2007 MSC Champs t-shirts and yard signs were brought out for purchase after Coach Hawkins was presented a shirt.
   "It looks pretty good on me, doesn’t it," Hawkins stated after he made his way through the crowd to the center of the circle with the team.
   The Pirates have not clinched a share of the MSC title since 1998. They have not won a conference title out right since 1989.
   "I can’t express our feelings," stated Coach Hawkins, "but we can’t be satisfied with just a share of the MSC championship."
   Hawkins continued, "We are going to work hard. We are doing the little things right. We want to get to the Sectional final and just see what happens."
   Salem head coach Brian Motsinger was frustrated with his team’s missed tackles.
   "The missed tackles were the most frustrating thing to me, especially in the second half," Motsinger stated. "We didn’t tackle well tonight."
   Hawkins gave credit to the Lions after the Pirate victory.
   "We played a good football team tonight. This was a big week for us," Hawkins stated.
   Charlestown was led by Metzger with 210 of the Pirates 356 total yards. He had 26 carries on the night with three touchdowns.
   Pirate senior quarterback Andrew Smith completed seven of 12 passes for 76 yards. Vest tallied 49 yards on eight carries including one touchdown. Senior Stephen Grayson recorded 64 yards on four catches.
   The Pirates will travel to Ramsey Friday night for the final MSC game. The match up with the Cougars of North Harrison will kick off at 7 p.m.
   Motsinger concluded, "They’re (Charlestown) going to be a tough team to beat."