Letters to the Editor

Realtors event shreds five tons of paper

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Putnam County Board of Realtors, I would like to thank everyone that participated in our Community Shred Event on May 9.

Despite the threat of rain, individuals and businesses brought roughly five tons of paper to Saturday's event to be shredded.

According to ProShred, recycling the contents of the shredded paper from our event helped conserve the following:

-- 82 trees.

-- 1,829 gallons of oil.

-- 33,688 gallons of water.

-- 23,100 kilowatt hours of energy.

-- 481 cubic yards of landfill space.

The Putnam County Board of Realtors covered the cost of the shredding truck, providing the service for free to anyone that was able to attend. Many participants chose to make a donation to our scholarship fund, which will allow us to add an additional $1,000 to our endowment. This will benefit Putnam County high school seniors in years to come.

In the next two weeks, the Putnam County Board of Realtors will awarded four $500 Scholarships to Putnam County high school seniors.

The Putnam County Board of Realtors hopes to be able to provide this free service to the community again next year.

Thank you to everyone that volunteered that day (Jim Christy, Wanda Elkins, Rita Goss, Angie Long, MaryAnn Pearson, George and Suzy Schneider, Jana Sillery, Chris Skillern and Cecil VanArsdale), and to everyone that participated in the event.

Diane Ummel

Executive Officer

Putnam County

Board of Realtors

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To the Editor:

On behalf of the Putnam County Youth Development Commission we wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Putnam County community for the ongoing support of our seventh annual event "Dancing with the Putnam County Stars." Words cannot begin to express how humbled we are to live in such an exceptional community that embraces our mission of serving the children and youth of Putnam County. This event continues to bring together everyone to have fun, highlight the areas outstanding talent, while raising money for our most precious assets, the youth of Putnam County.

We celebrated our second year at C Bar C Expo Center located in Cloverdale. We are thankful to owners Carl and Cindy Harlan and Steve Jackson, facility manager, and the staff for their kindness and generosity. In addition to a night filled with the most exciting, heart-pounding competition everyone has come to expect, we raised $65,000, and once expenses from staging are finalized, proceeds should total over $40,000. Thank you, Putnam County, this is absolutely amazing.

To our special volunteers whose work and selflessness means so much: Sherry Cash, Rita Goss, Narda Cotton, Melissa Van Wormer, Trisha Guinn, Megan Wagner, Shelly Chadd, Josh, Addison and Levi Gibson, Trudi and Gabby Selvia, Bob and Linda Merkel, Bill Merkel, Tom Sutherlin, Cory Robinson, Stacey Monnett, Cathy Westman, Adam and Jennifer Edwards, Eileen Johnson, Samantha Richardson, Anna Harmless, Chris Torrance, Joe, Jamie, Brooke and Noah Mourey, Dan, Paula, Sarah, Grace and Katie Fry, Lyndi Parent and Nancy Zennie.

Thanks to our judges, Mike Goss, Eddie Felling, Karen Temple and the 2015 Indiana State Fair Queen -- Madeline Hayden; co-hosts, Jana Brothers and Jeff Rich, DJ Mike Welch and videographer Joel Bottom. We appreciate the partnership with Amber Bowers Photography and the amazing pictures she captures, and to Clay Carter and DePauw Media Services for their contributions of equipment and staff personnel.

Also to Eileen Johnson for the program design and Wilson's Formal Wear. We must not forget to thank Judges Matt Headley and Denny Bridges for their time in driving the Club Golf Carts (donated by Detro Trailers), your service to our agency continues to be appreciated.

Our dancing instructors continue to amaze everyone how in just a few short weeks they transform our stars into accomplished and competitive dancers. We begin with thanking Tara Gardner for her ongoing dedication and commitment to ensure the opening group number and individual routines will be entertaining and competitive. Our other awesome instructors include Lita and Brad Sandy, Logan Kuhne, Ashley Clute, Jessyca South, Sarah Bond, Josh Bain, Lee Reberger, Kristi Glotzbach, Katie Wallace and Andre Williams.

To our 2015 Putnam County "Stars," your sacrifice and competitive nature in making this event a night to remember will never be forgotten, the performances were absolutely entertaining and inspirational: Joanie Knapp, Sheila Cash, Rebecka Howard, Amy Walter, Nathan Kober, Cathy Tipton, Clayton Tomasino, Bob Tomaw, John Tischer, Mike Mahoy, David Berry and Suzanne Masten.

We must not forget our returning alumni from 2009-2014 for their enjoyable performance in the opening group number: Stacy Monnett, Mike Balka, Teena Bryant, Cindy Hennette, Chet Clodfelter, David Zeiner, Penny Long and Tara Baugh,

The silent auction was another great success thanks to Penny Long and certainly all the wonderful donations: Big Splash Adventure at French Lick, NAPA Auto Parts, Cincinnati Reds baseball, Starbucks, North Putnam Schools, Chicago's Pizza, Butler University, Lindsey Birt, Zumba Movers (Martha Sanders), Ron and Mary Anne Birt, Purdue University, South Putnam Schools, Auto Zone, Super Car Wash, York Buick GMC (Rob York), Cloverdale Schools, DePauw University, Almost Home, Greencastle Christian Church, Ashley Square Cinemas, Inn at DePauw, Indiana University, Indianapolis Indians, Staybridge Suites, Indonesian Interiors, Ball State University, Beefcake Burgers, Logan Kuhne, Holiday World, Brad Tucker, State Farm Insurance, Windy Hill Country Club, Twin Bridges Golf Club, Deer Creek Golf Club, Tomahawk Golf Club, Taylor Graphics, Clover Meadows Golf Club, The Putnam Inn, Casa Grande, Extreme Tanning, Joyce Green, Kroger, Walmart, Co-Alliance, Wildtree Spices, Vera Bradley, Anthony's Pizza, Purdue Athletic Department, Donna and Friends, Scentsy, Completely Nuts and Candy, Younique, Date Night, All-American Karate Academy, Kara's County Cottage, Photography by Christa, Di Carter-Christfest, Stampin'Up, Jerrod Baugh, Pink Lady Cupcakes, Masten Bird Basket, Putnam County Hospital and Teachers Credit Union.

A big thank you to all our sponsors:

Premier: C Bar C Expo Center, Co-Alliance, Dance Workshop, Detro Trailers, LLC, Eitel's and Co. Florist, Greencastle Christian Church and Scorpion Protective Coatings, Inc.

Gold: All American Karate Academy and Fitness, Almost Home, Amber Bowers Photography, Chicago's Pizza -- Jenny Hutcheson, Greene Realty, Inc. LLC, Green Legal, Almost Home, Eitel's Flowers and Gifts, Hopkins Rector/Bittles and Hurt Funeral Homes, Hoosier Heartland State Bank, Knapp Farms, Pershing and Company and York Chevrolet Buick GMC Inc.

Silver: Artsy Canvas, Cash Concrete Products, Inc. Cline Grain, Inc., Gavilon Grain, Greencastle Hometown Dental, Hayes, Murphy, Sharp and Brackney Insurance, Hendricks Power Cooperative, John Storm Family, Judy Sheer, Mikey's Tobacco Shop, Paul Wright, Roachdale Presbyterian Church, Spear Corporation, S & W Feed Center and Shuee's Great Buys Plus.

Bronze: AA Huber & Sons, Anderson Alpaca Farm, Bane-Welker Equipment, LLC, Beefcake Burgers, Brad Tucker, State Farm Insurance, Bray and Associates, LLC, Brian and Robin Gerard, Buser Farms, Charlie's, Cook Heating and Air, Crosby Farms, Delp Farms, LLC, Farm Credit Mid-America, Harrison Street Tavern, HBG Insurance and Bonds, Jack's Trash, Joe and Carolyn Giguere, Loyal Order of Moose Greencastle Lodge 1592, Marvin's, Miethe's Auto Care, LLC, Monical's Pizza, Mr. Quick Home Services, Parsons, Cunningham and Shartle Engineers, R & R Construction, Roachdale Hardware, $5 Investments, LLC, Services Master Clean, Trina Snyder, Farm Bureau Insurance, The Putnam Inn, The Bobby Hopper Agency, Farmers Insurance, Tri-County Bank & Trust, TJD Roofing and Exteriors, Wabash Capital and Wathen Financial Group, LLC.

We continue to appreciate the many families that support our open dress rehearsal; six 55-gallon containers of non-perishable food items were shared with the following food pantries: Soul Harvest Church in Cloverdale, Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry, New Providence Church, and Roachdale Christian Church.

The evening was a huge success and because of your generous contributions, the following programs and events will continue to be offered at no cost to Putnam County families: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program, Putnam County Teen Court, Choices, Coats for Kids and National Night Out. Annually the PCYDC touches the lives of over 3,500 children. Thank you again, we are blessed.

We hope to see you next year as we present and celebrate our eighth annual event.

Lora Busch, President

Linda Merkel, Executive Director

PC Youth

Development Commission