Stories from Monday, October 23, 2006

A combined 30 students and administration from all four Putnam County schools kicked off Red Ribbon Week this morning at Jackson's Family Restaurant, and heard some disturbing news. Putnam County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Renee Marsteller said she's seen a recent increase in drug use -- particularly prescription drug use -- among students in the county schools...

SPENCER -- The Greencastle Tiger Cubs' volleyball team saw its season come to an end with ah eartbreaking loss to the Sullivan Golden Arrows Saturday in the second round of the Owen Valley sectional. In the first game, the Tiger Cubs were able to hang tough early, but Sullivan went on a four-point run to get the Arrows rolling...

LIZTON -- The Cloverdale High School volleyball team claimed the Tri-West sectional championship Saturday with a victory over South Vermillion. The Clovers won, 25-13, 25-16, 25-18, in a match in which they utterly dominated the Wildcats. Amber Curtis led all scorers with 15 points, and Heather Moon had seven...

Elmer "Bob" Spencer, 87, Greencastle, died Sunday at his residence at Asbury Towers. Funeral arrangements are pending at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle.

Donna Lee Middleton, 72, Greencastle, died Sunday. Born in Merrill, Mich., she was the daughter of John Franklin and Bertha Irene (Bish) Herbage. She was a member of New Hope Fellowship. She married Ross T. Middleton on Nov. 4, 1950. He died Aug. 30, 2001...

Edward Hawes Beswick, 83, Cloverdale, formerly of Plainfield, died Saturday. Born in Columbus, he was the owner and barber of Ed's Barber Shop in Indianapolis on Michigan Road from 1950-68, on West 30th Street from 1968-76, and on East Street in Plainfield from 1976-2006. His career spanned 70 years...

VanBibber Lake Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting a safety fair noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 across from the VanBibber station. Since October has been designated Fire Prevention Month, the Greencastle Fire Department smoke house will be available for children and adults to go through. The firefighters will also talk to the public about what they should and should not do during a fire...

Several prominent national leaders and thinkers will be on the DePauw University campus this week for a symposium on current issues. Among the speakers coming together for DePauw Discourse 2006 on Thursday and Friday will be U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings; President Bush's chief economic adviser Allan Hubbard; Lee Hamilton, co-chair of the Iraq Study Group and vice chair of the 9/11 Commission; and Pulitzer Prize-winner Taylor Branch...

Putnam County residents and participants in the recently launched Walking for Wellness program are encouraged to participate in a special walk on Saturday, Oct. 28 as part of a statewide event to encourage healthy, active lifestyles. The local walk is one of many going on across the state during the last full week of October. ...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Greencastle cross country runner Andy Weatherford is headed back to the IHSAA Cross Country State Finals. Weatherford posted an 11th-place finish Saturday at the Franklin Central Semistate to advance to the state championships for the second consecutive season...