Stories from Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Hendricks Symphony Orchestra and Hendricks Symphonic Choir are holding auditions for new members. You do not have to reside in Hendricks County to become a member. Choir Auditions are from Aug. 11-15 from 6 pm to 9 pm at Bartlett Chapel United Methodist Church, 4396 E. Main St., Avon...

The Greencastle girls' golf team dropped its first match of the season, falling to Monrovia 224-234 Monday. "This is pretty much what I expected for our first match," GHS head coach Brad Kingma said. "We have a young team with four sophomores and a freshman, so we should be able to see some good improvement as the year goes on."...

Cloverdale Twp. Volunteer Fire Department (CTVFD) responded to an injured person in Cataract Lake Sunday afternoon. When CVFD arrived, they had to take their pontoon boat out due to the 32-year-old Indianapolis man still being in the water. They were able to stabilize him on a backboard while he was still in water...

Putnam County Jail Three people were booked into the Putnam County Jail recently. Sheriff's Department One accident report was turned in at the Putnam County Sheriff's Department recently. Damage was estimated between $5,000 - $10,000...

For the second straight year, the local tobacco control coalition for Putnam County is teaming up with state health officials to sponsor a statewide stop smoking contest known as Quit 2 Win. For people who smoke, there has never been a better time to quit -- the contest will offer cash prizes totaling $5,000, including a top prize of $2,500...

CLOVERDALE -- In a quiet setting surrounded by stilled voices, he goes about his work returning recognition to lives once lived. Mark Davis and his crew methodically and meticulously are restoring old grave stones in the Cloverdale Cemetery. Reduced to blackened and weathered surfaces -- some even broken -- Davis' work returns old monument stones to the appearance of their time period...

Putnam County Commissioners approved accepting a donation of $30,000 from the Forfeiture Fund administered by Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter to the Humane Society. "I don't know that we can do this every year, but this year we want to offer the funds to help with spaying and neutering animals," Bookwalter told commissioners Kristina Warren, Gene Beck and Jim Baird at Monday's meeting...

INDIANAPOLIS --Statehouse leaders have assigned State Rep. Amos Thomas, R-Brazil, to the Public Defender Commission. The commission is one of several statutory study commissions, which are designed to prepare the General Assembly for issues that are likely to be discussed during the next legislative session...

Putnam County Commissioners Kristina Warren, Gene Beck and Jim Baird agreed to Putnam County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Kim Hyten's request to ask DePauw University for help in insuring a Mobile Command Unit. The EMA received an Indiana Department of Homeland Security Grant for the Mobile Command Unit and was chosen to house the vehicle for District 7...

To the Editor: I am grateful to the woman who protested hog wrestling at this year's Putnam County Fair. I would not have known otherwise and I am disappointed more did not speak out as well. I have not attended the fair in many years. Ever since I was a child I have felt the fair to be unfair to the very creatures we bring there. I could never understand how my 4-H friends could bond with an animal only to sell him for his flesh at the end of the summer...

To the Editor: The Cloverdale Police Dept., Reserve Division, would like to express there sincere appreciation to Tony Gregory, trainer from the Marion County Sheriff's Department. Mr. Gregory donated his time and expertise in training to teach the 40-hour pre-basic course required by the State of Indiana to our new reserve deputies. With the training (free of charge), the reserve officers have all completed their requirements and are ready for field training...

To the Editor: I have recently had the pleasure of taking a 5-year-old grandson to swimming lessons. Greencastle should be very proud of their lifeguards. I know there are several of them, but the only two I came into contact with were C.J. and John. As I sat and observed, these two young men had patience and perseverance that were unbelievable...

To the Editor: I would like to commend the editor of the Banner Graphic for the coverage of this year's Putnam County Fair. I read you editorial regarding your concern of not being able to publish every winner's photo. I would just like to say that I think this year's coverage is the best it has been in years. You have been very thorough in listing all the classes and placings, plus had some very nice articles and pictures of a broad mixture...

The South Putnam School Board approved a new administrator at Central Elementary this year in their special meeting Monday evening. Former South Putnam High School Physical Education teacher Debbie Steffy will be the new assistant principal at Central Elementary...