2015 Putnam County dancing stars unveiled

Smiling as they prepare for an intense 10 weeks of dance training are 2015 Dancing with the Putnam County Stars competitors (from left) Suzanne Masten, David Berry, Clayton Tomasino, Rebecca Howard, John Tischer, Cathy Tipton, Sheila Cash, Bob Tomaw, Nathan Kober, Mike Mahoy, Amy Walter and (not pictured) Joanie Knapp. The annual fundraiser for the Putnam County Youth Development Commission is set for Saturday, April 11 at C Bar C Expo Center, Cloverdale. (Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN)

Even as the world outside prepared for the snowstorm that wasn't, the Putnam County Youth Development Commission (PCYDC) served up its annual reminder that spring is just around the corner.

With only 10 weeks to prepare, the competitors for the 2015 Dancing with the Putnam County Stars were unveiled Saturday morning at Greencastle City Hall.

The seventh annual PCYDC fundraiser is set for Saturday, April 11 at C Bar C Expo Center in Cloverdale. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the dance competition at 7:30 p.m.

Ranging from a competitor with no boss (a CEO) to one with four bosses (a stay-at-home mom) to another with 38,000 bosses (a county commissioner), the dancers come into the competition from a variety of careers and organizations around Putnam County.

The 2015 dancing stars include County Commissioner David Berry; Sheila Cash of Cash Concrete, DePauw University and Greencastle Schools; Rebecca Howard of Putnam County Comprehensive Services; North Putnam Middle School teacher Joanie Knapp; DePauw Assistant Director of Admissions Nathan Kober; mother and civic volunteer Suzanne Masten; Roachdale Town Marshal Mike Mahoy; Bob Tomaw of ResCare; Greencastle Christian Church minister John Tischer; Scorpion Protective Coatings CEO Clayton Tomasino; Cathy Tipton of Eli Lilly, United Way of Putnam County and Putnam County Operation Life board; and Amy Walter of Felling & Felling Law Office.

As in years past, the competitors will be part of a large routine to open the night as well as learning a couple's routine with one of a number of local dancing professionals.

At night's end, judges Mike Goss, Karen Temple and Eddie Felling will choose one star as the 2015 champion of Dancing with the Putnam County Stars.

Of course, the real point of the night is raising money for the youth of Putnam County, so the top fundraiser among the 12 competitors will be taking home another important award.

Money raised by the event will aid PCYDC in its mission of delinquency prevention, information and referral services, community education and child advocacy.

The commission strives for these goals through programs such as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the Choices Program, Coats for Kids, National Night Out, Teen Court and School-Based Teen Court.

Tickets are not yet on sale, but sponsorships for the annual event are available in support of any of the dancers. Sponsorship levels include Diamond ($700), Gold ($500), Silver ($200) or Bronze ($100).

For more information, contact your favorite dancer (if he or she hasn't contacted you) or the PCYDC office at 653-9342.

Tickets for the event go fast and will be available to the public beginning Monday, Feb. 16.