2017 lineup of dancing stars announced

Taking advantage of one of the few Putnam County crowds that rivals its own marquee event, the Putnam County Youth Development Commission (PCYDC) used the forum of Saturday’s Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner to announce the 2017 contestants of Dancing With the Putnam County Stars.

Set for Satuday, May 6 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds, the ninth-annual event will again feature 12 local stars paired with a dozen local dancing “pros.”

Nine of the 12 were in the crowd Saturday night and introduced by PCYDC Executive Director Linda Merkel.

Those dancing stars include Linda Clute of the DePauw University Prindle Institute, attorney and real estate broker Amber Greene, professional race car driver and Racers Auto owner Brian Hayden, Myers’ Market owner Mitch Myers, South Putnam counselor and coach Heath Pruitt, attorney and business owner Trudy Selvia, Kedric Siddons of Teachers Credit Union, Putnam County Community Foundation financial services officer Julie Thompson and Greencastle City Councilman Tyler Wade.

Those unable to make Saturday’s event included Heather Taylor of State Farm Insurance, Cloverdale Middle School Principal Dawn Tucker and Greencastle Police Sgt. Ed Wilson.

The 12 stars will not only be competing against each other on the dancefloor, they will also be competing to see who can raise the most money for PCYDC. Last year, that crown went to Phyllis Legan, while the dancing crown went to Allison Creekmore.

Besides the Saturday event, there will also be a Thursday, May 4 dress rehearsal at which admission will be donations to the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry.

More information about the event, including ticket prices and availability, will be announced on Saturday, Feb. 12.