Stories from Monday, December 14, 2020

Hoosier comedian Jim Gaffigan said recently that if 2020 were a song, it would be “Hotel California” by the Eagles. Because, as he mused, “you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” You can’t argue with that. And while it seems quite astute, I’ll see your “Hotel California” and raise you a Hot Pocket and a Billy Joel tune...

With the proximity of the final Putnam County Council meeting to the end of the year, the group met recently in a special session to approve additional appropriations. Auditor Lorie Hallett explained the meeting was mainly a housekeeping matter, which would allow her staff to submit the claims to the State of Indiana...

After a year spent agonizing over raising water rates and maneuvering city resources in the ongoing COVID-19 battle, the Greencastle City Council closed out 2020 on a lighter note at its recent December meeting. Without a soul in the City Hall audience, the Council wrapped up several issues and concerns in its shortest meeting of the year, with adjournment coming just a minute past the half-hour mark...

A sold-out gathering of 50 people is greeted by The Grinch Saturday morning as he bounds into the new Owl Ridge Wedding and Event Center for the Greencastle Park Department’s annual Breakfast with The Grinch event...

The Vigo County School Corporation Wabash Valley Classic will now be played at a new set of times. Games will now be played at Terre Haute North and South starting at 12 and 1:30 p.m. during the afternoon session and 6 and 7:30 p.m. during the evening session...

Through its COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, the United Way of Putnam County has made grants available to each Putnam County school corporation to help them through the challenges of this school year and ensure the safety of students and staff. Since the funding was made available in August, Greencastle and North Putnam have taken advantage of these grants to help improve the quality of care for their students and staff...

John Farris, 77, passed away Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 at IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. He was born in Brazil on Sept. 22, 1943 to the late Stanley and Vada (Flockhart) Farris. John graduated from Staunton High School in the class of 1961, and worked in sales most of his career...

It’s beginning to look a lot like 2020 is finally going to see its first snowfall of meteorological winter in west-central Indiana. The National Weather Service is predicting about a quarter-inch to an inch of snow to fall Tuesday night into Wednesday across most of central Indiana...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Walmart has announced an additional $700 million in cash bonuses to its U.S.-based associates, bringing its total 2020 quarterly and special cash bonuses for its U.S.-based associates to more than $2.8 billion. The company’s latest bonus announcement includes $10.3 million in quarterly bonuses paid to Indiana associates in their Nov. ...

The Christmas shopping season is in full swing and with Christmas just around the corner the Greencastle Police Department wants to share some safety tips for this Christmas season. The Greencastle Police Department is issuing the following holiday safety tips to be shared with the members of the Greencastle Community. The Greencastle Police Department wants everyone to have a safe holiday shopping season, Chief Tom Sutherlin said...

The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without agriculture. When you look at holiday decorations, agriculture can be seen in many different ways including the plants we decorate, the flowers that we give (poinsettias) and items that we set around our houses...

BAINBRIDGE — Gleaners food distribution will again be at the Bainbridge Elementary School on South Washington Street as a drive-through event on Saturday, Dec. 19. The event, which runs from 10-11:30 a.m., is open to all in need. Volunteers are needed by 9 a.m. to help with traffic and preparation...

The Fillmore Community Volunteer Fire Department will host its next monthly breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 7-11 a.m. On the menu will be biscuits and gravy, pancakes with syrup, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, orange juice, coffee and water. A free-will donation is encouraged...

Six people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently. Sunday • At 3:59 p.m. James E. Dismon, 41, Indianapolis, was lodged at the jail on a Johnson County warrant. • At 10:54 a.m. Richard W. Kutz, 60, Fillmore, was taken into custody for battery and intimidation...

The Putnam County Non-Food Pantry will be distributing non-food items from noon until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 520 E. Seminary St., Greencastle. This will be a drive-through distribution of products only. Because of safety concerns, only pre-packaged bags will be distributed. Organizers have been unable to purchase some cleaning products because of supply issues...

BAINBRIDGE — In conjunction with Bainbridge emergency responders, Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit Bainbridge on Saturday afternoon. From 2-4 p.m., they will be dropping by the Bainbridge Town Hall parking lot for hot chocolate as well as ornament making...

Cloverdale’s basketball teams were the only among the county quartet to play a boys/girls varsity doubleheader on Friday night, hosting Indian Creek for a pair of WIC games. The Clover girls fell behind 12-0 early and the hosts were never able to get in front of the Braves, falling 49-26...

Though at Robe-Anne Park instead of the Putnam County Courthouse this year, Santa Claus took time out of his busy schedule Saturday for his annual Greencastle visit.