Stories from Tuesday, July 6, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- Boys and girls in kindergarten through 10th grade are invited to attend the DePauw's Kid's Best Friend Camp on July 26-28. The cost of the camp is $65 per child, with a $5 discount for those who register by July 16. The camp will take place at the Lilly Center on the DePauw campus...

GREENCASTLE -- Mother Nature graced a record-setting 110 runners and walkers with an excellent morning for Saturday's Mike Rokicki Memorial 5K Run/Walk. This year's 5K event was the 19th annual foot race organized by the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department as the kick off event to the annual Friends of the Park Association of Putnam County's Celebrate "4" Celebration...

PUTNAMVILLE -- One of the largest crowds in years was on hand to celebrate Independence Day at Lincoln Park Speedway on Saturday night. A crowd of more than 2,100 fans was treated to an aerial fireworks show by Circle City Pyrotechnics and a field of more than 100 racers put on another thrilling show for a packed grandstand at the Putnamville oval...

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- Hoosier Heartland State Bank recently hired Zach Hockersmith as assistant branch manager in the Crawfordsville south branch, located on US 231 South. Hockersmith graduated from North Montgomery High School in 2006. He attended Indiana Wesleyan University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in finance and economics in December 2009...

Owner of Covered Bridge Cyclery Larry Shinn holds the ribbon cutting scissors in front of his new store location at 24 S. Indiana St., the former Blue Door Café. The full-service bicycle shop will celebrate its grand opening Friday and Saturday during normal business hours.

GREENCASTLE -- The hotel, restaurant and conference facility which has been a fixture on the DePauw University campus since 1986 has new management and a new name, effective July 1. As announced in April, Dora Hotel Company LLC, one of Indiana's largest hotel management companies, is assuming management of the 54-room facility, which is now known as The INN at DePauw and Conference Center (formerly Walden Inn)...

4-Hers, don't forget about many of the pre-fair activities like demonstration contest, summer judging and public speaking contests. These three contests help to develop important life skills in 4-Hers that can give one an edge up in seeking employment or admittance into a post high school education program...

MARSHALL -- There's something for everyone at the Turkey Run State Park nature center. Visitors to the center can observe wild animals outside the wildlife viewing room, see a nature movie on a giant screen, experience live snakes and turtles, or attend one of the nature or history hikes and programs offered there each week...

The Cloverdale Volunteer Fire Department team of, from left, Steve Caulkins, Dustin Burnham, Jordan Curtis, Brian Stout and Kerry Shepherd won the inaugural drum roll competition at Robe-Ann Park Sunday.

Maralynn Rosa, 91, of Knightsville passed away at Cloverleaf Health Care on Sunday, July 4, 2010 following an extended illness. She was born December 13, 1918 in Frankfort, the daughter of Russell C. and Brenetta Jane Northway Stoms. Maralynn graduated from Van Buren High School with the class of 1936. She later graduated from Smart Appearance Beauty College. Before starting her family, Maralynn owned a beauty shop for several years. She married Joseph R. Rosa October 28, 1945...

Charles R. Carman, 78, of Greencastle, passed away on Monday, July 5, 2010. He was born in Putnam County on March 22, 1932 to William B. Carman and Amanda Stroup Carman. Mr. Carman served his country in the US Army. He was a member of Victory Baptist Church, Terre Haute Teamsters No. 144 and had been employed at Cash Concrete for 35 years and driven part-time for Schwerman's Trucking. Charlie had been a Fillmore Little League coach...

GREENCASTLE -- Allstate Insurance Company is building a movement to end texting behind the wheel and make the roads safer for American families. The company's "Thumbs Up to X the TXT" program is a national campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving and encourages teens and their families to pledge not to text and drive...

Seven young women from across Putnam County will compete for the title of Miss Putnam County July 17 during the Putnam County 4-H Fair Queen Contest. The contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the community building at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. Admission is $3 per person.

CLOVERDALE -- The former Altra Biofuels plant has a new owner, who says it will invest more than $30 million in upgrades to the existing facility, while creating new jobs in Putnam County and helping the local agriculture business community. POET Biorefining announced it purchased the 147-acre facility, located on US 231 north of Cloverdale, last week after it went up for sheriff's sale for $107 million...

Gracie Smith and her dog Maci took part in the dog fashion show at Robe-Ann Park Saturday morning during Fourth of July festivities.

On the 4th of July, GiGi came down from heaven to retrieve her beloved daughter Gail Randall, 72, Mooresville. She was born on April 28, 1938 in Hartford, Conn. to Lyle and Albertine Marcotte Holmes. She married David Randall on Sept. 13, 1980. Gail was a trust officer for Bank One Indianapolis for 26 years, retiring in 2003. Gail celebrated 27 years of sobriety with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous; she enjoyed working in her flower garden at home and also enjoyed making crafts...

James C. "Chris" York, 33, of Greencastle passed away Sunday, July 4, 2010. He was born in Van Wert, Ohio on Oct. 18, 1976. He worked for Kenny Friend of Fillmore as a concrete finisher. He was a "very loving father." Survivors include his wife Amber Daniels-Call York; children Christian James York, Andrew Tyler Hubert York and Destine Call, all at home; father James York and wife Karon of Greencastle; mother Joyce Lynch and husband Larry of Van Wert; grandmother Mary Meeks of Convoy, Ohio; brothers and sisters Lynn Whitaker of Van Wert, Dawn Neese of Greencastle, Bob Buis of Greencastle and Diane Kendall of Greencastle; and father-in-law and mother-in-law Rick and Kay Call of Roachdale.. ...