Stories from Thursday, December 6, 2007

By KEITH BODNARICK For the Banner Graphic The nationally-ranked DePauw women's basketball team looked like anything but defending NCAA champions in a sloppy victory over visting Augustana Wednesday evening. The Tigers moved to 5-1 on the season with a 58-41 win, a margin that was particularly deceiving...

By CAINE GARDNER Sports Writer Just a week before the County Championships, the North Putnam Cougars and South Putnam Eagles wrestling squads squared off against each other Wednesday. The Eagles were victorious, 44-30 over the Cougars. "I thought our guys did really well. They worked with each other, talked to each other and they listen to us. I was very pleased with them," South Putnam coach Todd Crosby said...

Putnam County Jail Several people were booked into the Putnam County Jail recently. Greencastle Fire Dept. The Greencastle Fire Department went on several runs recently: Reelsville Fire Reelsville firefighters saved a rural barn after an electrical fire was reported at 1:26 p.m. Tuesday...

Sylvia Underwood, 78, Greencastle, died Sunday, Dec. 2 at Putnam County Hospital. Born in 1929, she was the daughter of Emerson and Lydia (Patterson) Scott. She worked many years at the Double Decker Restaurant. Surviving are two nephews, several great-nieces and great-nephews, and a cousin...

Vivian Reta Runnells, 69, Greencastle, died Sunday. Born Dec. 28, 1937, in Greencastle, she was the daughter of Everett and Violet (Miller) York. She was a cook at DePauw University for several years and a cashier at Wal-Mart. She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and was an active member of the Lutheran Ladies Missionary League...

JoEllen Justus, 43, Greencastle, died Tuesday. Born in Indianapolis, she was the daughter of Jack Justus and Jennie Harsch. She was a nurse and had worked at Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianpaolis, and at several central Indiana nursing facilities...

Anita Bauer Giesen, 97, Greencastle, died Tuesday at her residence. Born in Dale, Wisc., she was the daughter of Herman and Mable Lippold Bauer. She married Leo Giesen, and he preceded her in death. She had been in sales with Schneider Jewelry for 11 years in New Holstein, Wisc., and was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, the Alter Guild and Ladies Aide until three years ago when she moved to Greencastle to be with family. She became a member of Peace Lutheran Church...

The Russellville Community Center invites all citizens to attend a free Community Christmas Choir performance of "Unspeakable Joy: A Christmas Musical." The production, directed by Jamie France and Dawn Broughton, includes a choral performances, multi-media presentation, theatrical productions, and narration by Jim Elliott...

A subdivision with roads that were not built to county specifications will have a site review by the commissioners, at the request of the Putnam County Community Foundation. George Murphey and Alan Stanley told the commissioners Kristina Warren, Gene Beck and Jim Baird that the Parker Place Subdivision west of Cloverdale has roads that are only 20-21 feet wide, though the road base is four inches deep and meets the county requirement. ...

Putnam County drivers reported only four crashes -- all of them only involving one vehicle -- as a result of the Central Indiana's first major snowfall of the year. No injuries were reported Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Don Lewis responded to a single vehicle crash at 8:49 a.m. Wednesday...

A Putnam County woman whose husband died following a car accident in Marion Township in October has been arrested and charged with allegedly causing the crash. Tonya M. Benassi, 34, Fillmore, was taken into police custody Wednesday night on charges of reckless homicide and criminal recklessness. Both are class C felonies...

As ceremonial tree lightings and candlelit paths illuminated Greencastle streets on Tuesday evening, DePauw University Hillel members gathered at sunset to light this year's first Hanukkah candle. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev every year and ends at sunset on the eighth day...

ROACHDALE -- Indiana State Police are investigating claims that the former Roachdale Clerk-Treasurer owes the town more than $49,000. Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter confirmed on Wednesday that he has asked ISP Det. Scott Stockton to look into the results of the 2006 state audit which states that former town clerk Jennifer Archer Crum has been asked to reimburse $49,337.40 to the town...