Stories from Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Issues surrounding the protection of Putnam County's Big Walnut Creek garnered notable interest in a recent environmental report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in its review of a proposed natural gas pipeline to be built here next year...

Greencastle Fire Dept. The Greencastle Fire Department responded to several recent runs. On Thursday: On Friday: On Saturday: On Sunday: On Monday: Correction In the Dec. 24 story in the BannerGraphic "Audit shows ongoing problems with PCSD Commissary Fund," the dates of the exit interviews with State Board of Accounts auditors for the 2002 Sheriff's Department audit were incorrect...

James C. Taylor, 72, Bainbridge, died Monday at Putnam County Hospital. Born in Estill County, Ky., he was the son of Charlie and Allie Brandenburg Taylor. He married Hannah Haynes, and she survives. Before retiring, he owned and operated several businesses, including used car lots, rental properties, Lakeview fishing lake, farmed and raised cattle...

The Walden Inn and Conference Center invites you to have a "groovy" New Year's Eve and to start 2008 on a charitable foot by attending a party to benefit the United Way of Putnam County. "For the second year in a row, the Walden Inn has graciously promised $2,500 to the United Way from its New Year's Eve celebration proceeds," said Cathryn Ensley, Executive Director of the United Way of Putnam County. ...

Keeping a law office going can be difficult at times. Keeping a law office going while also being a state legislator can be even more difficult, especially when you're facing surgery. Brazil resident and Indiana State District 44 Representative Amos Thomas has been doing just that throughout the holidays...

Physical limitations more than what most people experience in their lifetime didn't stop a Greencastle man from seeing a dream come true recently. Jason Vermillion, who became confined to a wheelchair following a racing accident in 1996, recently harvested a trophy whitetail deer on a recent hunt. And he did it all on his own...

The annual "Eagle Holiday Sports Festival" will take place this weekend at South Putnam High School. This event will be Friday, Dec. 28 and Saturday, Dec. 29. The festival will feature every varsity and reserve winter high school team. The festival begins at 9 a.m. Friday with the Eagle Super Six-way, a six-team wrestling invitational including teams from Blue River Valley, Cloverdale, Fountain Central, Charlestown, South Putnam and Turkey Run...

Indiana State Police say they are close to making an arrest in the alleged theft of at least $34,000 from the Van Bibber Lake Conservancy in a case that has shaken up the political balance in the small community and cost taxpayers at least $100,000, local leaders say...

Ruby Katherine Jones, 97, Greencastle, died Tuesday. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle.

Jeanette Birkemeier, 97, Greencastle, died Wednesday at Autumn Glen Assisted Living Community. Born at Moorefield in Switzerland County, she was the daughter of Henry Jackson and Jessie Louise Kern Monroe. After graduating from Vevay High School, she attended Indiana University until her marriage to Charles William Birkemeier on Dec. 24, 1930. In her early years of teaching, she taught at a one-room schoolhouse in the town of Florence and at the Vevay Elementary School...

Robert Allen Cooper, 77, Mescalero, N.M., died Thursday at his residence. Born in Ellettsville, he was the son of Charles Emmett Cooper and Elsie J. (Jackson) Cooper. He was a graduate of Cloverdale High School and Purdue University and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War era. He was a retired forestry ranger at the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in New Mexico...

Putnam County Jail Ten people were booked into the Putnam County Jail recently. Sheriff's Dept. Four accidents were investigated recently by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Gregg Slover reported that Lindsey Hettich, Cloverdale, was driving a 2003 Dodge Neon on CR 700 South when the deer entered the roadway and she was unable to avoid hitting the animal...

A new state 911 mandate has created some confusion on the phone lines in Putnam County, but is helping to save lives in medical emergencies, says Dave Costin, Putnam County 911 director. The Indiana State Legislature required 911 centers to implement an Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) program in 2003. Putnam County 911 activated its EMD program last August and, according to Costin, the system is meeting all requirements...

Over the years our Putnam County 4-H Junior Leaders have identified a need to expand their basic understanding of local government entities and what it takes to be an involved citizen of any community. Some of the activity plans and learning experiences they have mastered are "The ABC's of Putnam County Elections", "Who Our Elected Official Are and What Areas They Serve", and "Where Did You Say to Go -- Left at the 'T'?" (a study of map reading and the 911 addressing system). ...

Beams plays with Indiana All-Star Band Amber Beams, a senior at North Putnam High School, performed in the Indiana State All-Star Band at Indiana State University Dec. 8-9. Beams was selected as a flute player her first year with the band. She has also played at Purdue University in Lafayette with the Indiana 4-H All-Star Band...

A Greencastle man was injured Wednesday night after crashing his car through a fence and into a field on West Walnut Street Road. Brian Erwin Kinpon, 33, was driving eastbound at approximately 8:54 p.m. when he lost control of his 1995 silver Volvo. A witness to the accident told Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Ronnie Campbell that the car rolled at least four to six times before coming to rest approximately 125 feet from the road...