Leo Hickman, "Smithville School Issue Lines North against the South," Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana), Star Courier, November 13, 1953, p. 1A. NOTE: The article noted below was abbreviated from the original as noted by the ellipsis. The original is accompanied by one picture of the school built in 1938. It's the north versus the south in a civil war of Clear Creek Township. The conflict over Smithville High School and whether it is to continue operations at its present location in Smithville, isn't something that cropped up over night. It's been going on for nearly 40 years, ever since the high school was moved from the southern half of the township at Harrodsburg to the north at Smithville. One group of property owners from the Harrodsburg area are determined not to leave a stone unturned in their efforts to have Smithville High School closed and the pupils moved into the Bloomington Metropolitan School system. The courts here have yet to decide the case. Fiercely proud of their school, resident s of the northern half of Clear Creek Township and most of the pupils in the school are putting up a valiant fight to preserve their high school.They note that although the overflow from the main building built in 1938 has required the use of a nearby lodge hall for four classrooms, and another outbuilding for serving meals, the eight acres of school property allow plenty of room for expansion. Attention is called to the effort made a few years ago to build a four-room addition to the main building and the fact that this was stalled by the efforts of the same group now pushing for abandoning the high school. The pride that Smithville school followers take in their activities is no better shown than in their basketball games. The old gym, built around 1916 (difficult to read), is packed regularly with an average attendance of more than 500 shouting, cheerful fans. For the trustee, Mrs. Peal Deckard, who took over management of the school following the death of her husband, there is also high praise from the teachers. One teacher remarked that "Mrs. Deckard has fought to preserve the school harder than a good many men would have under similar circumstances." .Whether the civil war between the north and south in Clear Creek Township continues is not troubling the teachers or the pupils, according to (Alva) Botkin, (current principal). They are going right ahead with plans for the next school year.