Stories from Wednesday, November 21, 2007

By JARED JERNAGAN Sports Editor The strongest programs in any sport don't rebuild; they reload. Greencastle boys' swimming looks to do so this season, as they replace not only a good senior class, but also a legendary coach. With the retirement of Paul Bretscher, his son Daniel Bretscher takes over the reigns of GHS boys' swimming. The elder Bretscher left on top, with GHS winning its first sectional in more than two decades...

The South Putnam School Board met Monday and discussed the pending completion of communication towers that will place South Putnam students smack into the 21st Century. In his report to the school board, South Putnam Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt announced that construction on the long awaited point-to-point communication towers will be completed by December 15, allowing all South Putnam School Corporation students to access the Internet...

Putnam County Jail Three people were booked into the Putnam County jail recently. Sheriff's Dept. Putnam County Sheriff's Deputies responded to two crashes recently. Karen L. Stinson, 62, Cloverdale, told police she was driving north on U.S. 231 when she struck a tree, according to a police report...

Imogene Pollom Azbell Burk, 98 Tucson, Ariz., and formerly of Greencastle, died Thursday. Born in Cayuga, she was the daughter of Dr. M.R. and Ida Stroube Pollom. A 1927 graduate of Greencastle High School, she played cornet in the orchestra, band, and school theatre orchestra, and sang in the school chorus and glee club. ...

William "Bill" E. Beeler, 80, Brazil, died Monday at Clay Health Center. Born in Brazil, he was the son of George E. Beeler and Maude Delores (Aker) Beeler. He attended Brazil High School before joining the U.S. Navy. He served on the USS Flint during WW II and worked at Arketex Plant for nine years. ...

A memorial service for Michael Ray Jones, 46, Cloverdale, is set for Saturday, Nov. 24 at Clov-erdale United Methodist Church. Visitation begins at 4 p.m. with a service at 5 p.m., to be followed by a dinner. Memorial contributions can be made to a college fund for his daughter, Danielle Jones, at First National Bank of Clov-erdale...

Wendell Dickey, of Greencastle, died Tuesday. Arrangements are pending at the Chandler-Hays Funeral Home in Greencastle.

The Christmas Store is accepting both applications and donations to meet community needs this holiday season. The Christmas Store is a place where parents Putnam County parents that are having financial difficulty can go Christmas shopping for their children, for free. Children must be under the age of 11 and reside with the parent shopping...

This is the last week at work for 31 International Automotive Components employees. The company notified the second-shift workers Monday that it had eliminated their jobs to make up for production slowdowns and cuts at Chrysler and the other "big three" American automakers, said IAC spokesman David Ladd. Their last day is Nov. 25...

Greencastle's video rental options are set to expand with the grand opening of a new Family Video store in the coming weeks. After a 90-day building blitz, the company pledges to provide good paying jobs, quality customer service and a healthy dose of competition to the local video rental market...

State uncertainty about property tax relief had led the Putnam County Council to vote down a Local Option Income Tax. At least for now. The council has considered implementing LOIT, which offers some property tax replacement with a two-year freeze on some tax increases, an income tax increase for local wage-earners, and a special tax for public safety. ...

Across the nation, food pantries are bearing down for a tough winter. As the economy skids, food donation rates are down and more families are finding themselves in need of a help to put food on the table, the Putnam County Emergency Food Bank is working hard to meet an ever-increasing demand...

Mary Rose Moore, Greencastle and Treasure Island, Fla., died Sunday. She was the daughter of Ross and Dessie (Smith) Hood. A 1949 graduate of Greencastle High School, she was a homemaker. Surviving are her husband, Robert J. Moore; children, Greg Moore and wife Susan, Mia Yusypchuk and husband Gene, and Brad Moore and wife Beatriz; four sisters, Eileen Cole, Virginia Runyan, Edith Clements and Wanda Wagner; seven grandchildren and many nieces and nephews...

A late-morning fire tore through a Greencastle home on Wednesday, destroying everything inside. The family -- two adults and two children -- made it out of the home safely but watched as firefighters battled the blaze for about an hour. Greencastle firefighters were dispatched to 1009 Avenue D shortly after 9 a.m. When they arrived, they found the front of the house fully engulfed in flames, said Greencastle Fire Chief Bill Newgent...