Stories from Friday, November 23, 2007

A child playing with a lighter apparently started a fire Wednesday morning that gutted a Greencastle home and destroyed everything inside, firefighters said. The family -- two adults and three children -- was home when the blaze started, but made it out safely. They watched, still in their pajamas and stocking feet, in horror as firefighters battled the blaze for about an hour...

By JARED JERNAGAN Sports Editor Greencastle wrestling will see a changing of the guard this season as first year coach Matt McCommish takes over after the retirement of long-time Tiger Cub coach Russ Hesler. The young coach inherits a rather young squad...

With a strong performance from Oceaia Boetjer, the South Putnam girls' basketball team defeated West Vigo 58-48 Tuesday night. The fourth quarter was the difference maker for the Eagles. South Putnam outscored the Vikings 18-7 in the final period to seal the victory,...

By MIKE CLODFELTER For the BannerGraphic NEW MARKET -- The North Putnam Cougars boys' basketball team traveled to Southmont Wednesday night to open the 2007-2008 season against the Mounties. The Cougars entered the game with many obstacles in their path...

By CAINE GARDNER Sports Writer MARSHALL -- Things got off to a rocky start for the South Putnam Eagles in their season opener against Turkey Run Wednesday night. The Eagles lost to Turkey Run 47-35 in a game that South never established itself of the offensive end...

By CAINE GARDNER Sports Writer Throughout our lives, we have many individuals that enter and depart. If we are lucky, some of those individuals leave an indelible mark on the lives they touch. Mike Rokicki was that type of individual. Rokicki not only touched lives -- he improved them. He was a member of 19 organizations, including a three-term stint as president of the Greencastle City Council...

By LISA MEYER TRIGG Editor A Clay County woman sustained multiple injuries after she was struck by a pickup truck on Interstate 70 at the westbound 36-mile marker. Dortha Gwinn, 46, Staunton, was airlifted to Methodist Hospital with head injuries and several broken bones from the 7 p.m. accident...

By ADAM COATES Assistant Editor Just in time for their annual Christmas tree recycling drive, the Greencastle Yardwaste Recycling Center is on the move to a new location. Residents of the West Central Recycling District, which covers all of Putnam County, can drop off live Christmas trees for free, beginning the day after Christmas and continuing until Jan. 20...

By JOSIE BODE Staff Writer As hay prices soar across Indiana, one local charity is turning to the Putnam County community and asking for help to survive the winter. Hope's Way Inc., a recreation center for special needs children, will have a Christmas Hay Parade from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24 at the Putnam County Fair Grounds to gather hay bales and accept cash to feed their stock through the winter...

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...

Wendell E. Dickey, 81, Greencastle, died Tuesday at Methodist Hospital. Born in Greencastle, he was the son of Raymond Dickey Sr. and Beulah Phelps Dickey. He married Doris Jean Leslie Dickey, his wife of 56 years, and she survives. He served with the U.S. ...

Agnes Ruth Porter Beaudry, 74, Plainfield, passed away on Wednesday. She was born in Charleston, W.Va. She earned a bachelor's degree from Marshall University and was a Fulbright Scholar. She obtained a master's degree from Case Western University, and received a fellowship to pursue a doctorate in French at the University of Illinois. She then taught French at DePauw University for 31 years, retiring in 1998...

Luanne Golden, 49, Benton, died Tuesday. Born in Greencastle, she was the daughter of Robert Lewis Sutherlin and Ida Mildred Mitchell Sutherlin. She is survived by her husband, Roy Golden, parents, Roy and Ida Sutherlin, Greencastle, brothers Roger Sutherlin and wife Paula, Greencastle, and Gordon Sutherlin and wife, Cynthia, Beebe, Ark.; sister, Teresa Parker and husband Rusty, Dover, Ark.; and many nieces and nephews...

Elinor C. Johnson, 90, Indianapolis, died Monday. Born in Indianapolis she was the daughter of William and Annetta Eichman Schwier. She was employed 25 years for Dr. Patrick Logan. She was a long-time member of Little Flower Catholic Church. Survivors include her five sons, Ray "Larry" Johnson and wife Joannie, Indianapolis, David W. ...

Melvin E. Cassida, 77, Greencastle, died Wednes-day morning at Putnam County Hospital. Arrangements are pending at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle.

More than 100 runners showed enthusiasm and energy as the Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta at DePauw University conducted its second annual 5K Fun Run for CASA. Informational signs about CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, were displayed throughout the 5K race, which started at Blackstock Stadium and continued through the DePauw Nature Park. ...

The Knoy Resource Center will be hosting an exciting event for all parents. The evening is expected to increase the parent's knowledge of what is going on in their student's life. The evening will consist of speaker Jim Williams with the topic of discussion being "Awareness is the Key". ...

A community blood drive is set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 at the DePauw Union Building Ballroom. Each donor will receive a gift and can enter a regional drawing for a $1,000 shopping spree. Donors must be at least age 17, weight a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good general health...