New Fitness Court! 💪 The new BCBS Fitness Court was officially opened today! The first to use it were the Homewood fire and police departments as they squared off for a friendly competition....police won! They got to see first hand how it all works! Located in West Homewood behind the tennis courts and next to the Mega field , this outdoor space promotes exercise and community bonding, offering diverse workouts for all. It also represents a remarkable advancement in providing free access to top-notch workouts and fostering equitable exercise opportunities within our community. With seven exercise stations designed to harness the power of your own body weight, it offers a unique outdoor gym experience for a comprehensive workout. There are QR codes on-site that can provide information, or you can visit HERE to learn more about how to use it. The City of Homewood paid $75,000 toward this project, while Blue Cross Blue Shield provided a grant of $50,000. It is open to everyone!

Tim Shepler is retiring from Homewood High School's basketball program after three decades of coaching! "It was just time," Coach Shepler said. "But no rocking chair for me. I am unsure what is next, but I know God will show the way." Hailing from a devout Christian household, his upbringing instilled in him strong values that have shaped his character and outlook on life. His focus transcends mere victories or defeats, aiming to impart invaluable lessons that shape the character and values of the young men under his guidance. Born and raised in Indiana, the heart of basketball country, he developed a passion for the sport from a young age. His formative years coincided with the heyday of Bobby Knight's tenure at Indiana University. After graduating as a player from Oral Roberts University, Shepler took a job coaching football and basketball at a middle school in Louisiana. And then a few years into his career, on a whim, he called the legendary John Wooden, who not only answered the phone, but then invited Coach Shepler to his home to talk further! This amazing opportunity became a pivotal eight hour conversation that truly helped shape his coaching career. "He never talked about winning," Coach Shep said. "He only talked about your best effort, doing your best. And if you do that, you can be satisfied. His old, famous definition of success was basically doing the best with what you have, all the time." Wooden said that when he got to UCLA in 1948, nobody cared about basketball. It was all about surfing and other things. So it took time to grow that program. Wooden didn't win a championship until 1964, his first of ten. Inspired by Wooden's longevity and emphasis on character, integrity, and teamwork, Shepler adopted these principles as the cornerstone of his coaching style, eventually building up to a Class 6A state title in 2016. "John's was a 16 year plan, mine was a 20 year plan to build a championship team," Coach Shep jokes.