Stories from Monday, April 27, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS -- As we enter the final days of the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly, lawmakers will spend the next week finalizing details in conference committees and passing bills that will become law. I am hopeful we can get our work done on time to avoid a special session. There are about 100 bills in need of a resolution...

Congressman Brad Ellsworth has launched an online grants workshop to help organizations, small business, community organizations and local government officials learn more about the federal grants process. The online workshop is a result of several Federal Grants Workshops hosted by Ellsworth recently...

Clay Jones and Wanda Elkins are familiar faces around Putnam County. Elkins has worked at the real estate office since 1991 and is the Principal Broker at Coldwell Banker. Jones recently purchased the Coldwell Banker Putnam Real Estate Center from Charlie Cooper. He splits his time between Houston, Texas and seven other locations where he owns Electrical Supply Companies...

Each year, members of Putnam County Extension Homemakers look forward to a special program in the spring to celebrate and honor all new members. This year, there is much to celebrate as the number of new members recently surpassed 30 and two new clubs have also been formed during the last year...

Genevee "Genny" R. Williams, 90, of Greencastle, formerly of Indianapolis, died on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at The Waters of Greencastle. She was born on March 27, 1919 in Owen County and was the daughter of the late Everett Clell and Ida Maude Zenor Cook. She was married to Darrell R. Williams, and he preceded her in death on Nov. 23, 1944...

Carl "Bill" Loveall Sr., 69, of Carbon died Friday, April 24, 2009, due to complications following a heart transplant in November at the Cleveland Clinic. He was born March 9, 1940 in Clay County, the son of James Arthur "Art" Loveall and Mary Jane Crabb Loveall. On Feb. 17, 1961 he married Marcella Muncie Loveall, and she survives...

Raymond Stephen Bussing, 84, of Greencastle died Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 5:35 a.m. at the Millpond Health Campus. Mr. Bussing was born April 7, 1925 in Jackson Township, Clay County, the oldest of seven children born to Raymond Stephen Bussing Sr. and Marjorie Candice Fisher Bussing. He attended Annunciation B.V.M. Grade School and graduated from Brazil High School in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II...

Sharon L. Bryant, 66, of Norfolk, Va., died Friday, April 17, 2009. Born April 7, 1943 in Greencastle, she was the daughter of Harold and Mary Knauer Day. She was a graduate of Greencastle High School, Indiana State University with a bachelor of science in English and history and received her masters of arts in history from Indiana State University. ...

At 10 a.m. Saturday, there will be a special Greencastle Veteran's Memorial Highway Arbor Day program. The program will honor the many sacrifices of the veterans who have and do serve our nation, as well as recognizing the City of Greencastle's 10th year of being named by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA...

The Putnam County Sheriff's Department has released further details on a seven-hour standoff Friday that resulted in the suicide of a Stilesville man. A release from the department said Dennis Dean, 46, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 10:38 p.m. Moments before, Dean had released his wife unharmed from the camper where he had barricaded her and himself just before 3 p.m...

The Banner Graphic has added two paper retriever bins to the one already in its parking lot. "It filled up so fast we had to have them keep coming back to empty it. So we added another bin and then a third," said Machelle Whitney, who is coordinating the project for the Banner Graphic...

LINTON -- The Cloverdale High School softball team brought home the Linton Softball Tournament championship Saturday. The Lady Clovers defeated Linton 3-0 in the first game and then defeated Vincennes Lincoln, 5-2, in the championship. Senior's Kristin McCammon and Kayla Sheppard led the Clovers. McCammon went 2-for-5 for the day with a single and a RBI double. She was also the defensive player on the day, having five unassisted put outs at third base while Shepherd went 3-for-6 on day...

TERRE HAUTE -- The Greencastle High School boys' golf team placed third in the Braves Invitational at Rea Park Saturday. Greencastle finished the day with a 325 with Wade Huber leading the team, carding a 77 while Jimmy Wheeler turned in a 79. Luke Crimmins finished the day, shooting an 84 while Brad Haussin followed closely behind with an 85. Tyler Hopkins rounded out the Tiger Cubs score card with a 94...

The South Putnam High School softball team tacked on another win to their flawless record, knocking off North Vermillion 10-1 Saturday. Brooke Boetjer earned the win, fanning 11 batters while allowing only two hits and one earn run. Leading the lady Eagles hitting squad was Krystal Welch who went 3-for-3 while Brooke Boetjer went 1-for-2 and Sarah Burnham went 1-for-1...

The Greencastle High School softball team picked up a big win Saturday, defeating Danville 11-2. The Lady Tiger Cubs collected 14 hits for the day with several players getting multiple hits. Taylor Pruitt went 3-for-3 for with one RBI, two runs scored and three stolen bases. ...

Indianapolis -- The North Putnam High School baseball team lost 6-4 on the road Saturday to Covenant Christian. The Cougars collected nine hits with Scott Hunt and Kyle Alcorn both going 2-for-4 for the day while Jerrett Ban, Brock Jones and CJ Lofton all had singles...

The Greencastle High School girls' tennis team picked up a win Friday night defeating Edgewood 4-1. The Lady Tiger Cubs took all three singles matches and one doubles match. Katie Collins had a come-from-behind win in the No.1 singles, losing the first set 6-4 and came back winning the next two 6-2, 6-2 for the win. At the No.2 singles, Kate Babington won 6-2, 7-5, and at the No.3 singles, Sophomore Katie Farris won 6-3, 6-1...

Relay For Life is more than just a fundraiser to help find a cure for cancer. It is a time of celebration. For those who have survived the diagnoses and various treatments, it is a celebration of life. For those who have been left behind by loved ones lost to cancer, it a celebration of memory and honor...

The South Putnam softball team defeated North Putnam 12-0 in five innings Monday. Eagle starting pitcher Brooke Boetjer collected seven strikeouts on night and helped her own cause with a first inning homerun. Complete coverage of the game will be in Wednesday's edition of the Banner Graphic...

The South Putnam High School baseball team defeated the North Putnam Cougars, 6-4, Monday night. Cameron Chestnut had two stolen bases and two home runs in back-to-back innings. In addition, the two teams raised $112 for cancer research. Complete coverage of the game will be in Wednesday's edition of the Banner Graphic...

Steven K. O'Neal, 63, of Franklin, Ky. died Thursday, April 23, at the Medical Center in Franklin. A native of Greencastle, Indiana, Mr. O'Neal was the son of the late Joshua O'Neal and Ruby Siddons O'Neal. He was a retired employee of General Motors after 41 years of service. He was a member of the Greencastle Church of Nazarene...

Joe K. Blacketer, 56, of Ft. Myers, Fla. died on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at Hope Hospice, Ft. Myers after a long struggle with cancer. He was born on January 23, 1953 in Greencastle, IN, a child of Robert J. and Dorothy Varvel Blacketer. Mr. Blacketer and his wife moved to Ft. Myers in 1979. He was a graduate of Florida State University and a Certified Public Accountant who owned and operated Blacketer and Associates, Inc. in Ft. Myers for many years...