Stories from Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Lloyd Richard Shamel, 86, of Brazil and formerly of Greencastle, died on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Mr. Shamel was born on Oct. 23, 1921 in Greencastle to Edgar and Mabel Lawton Shamel. He retired from Conrail Railroad as a signalman with 42 years of service, which began with the New York Central Railroad...

Edna Pauline (Littrell) Sims, age 65, passed away Oct. 12, 2008. She was born Dec. 27, 1942, in Greencastle to Lawrence and Elizabeth (Pierce) Littrell (both deceased). She was a homemaker, and attended Clayton First Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband, Leon Sims; one daughter, Madonna (Jerry) Boswell of Greencastle; sisters, Ruth (Curtis) Norman of Rockville, Lola (Stanley) Carter of Cloverdale, Marie (Don) Cross of Dayton, Ind., Mary Constantino of Indianapolis, Kay Sauer of Indianapolis, Linda Sutherland of Greencastle, and Rita (Bill) Paitson of Terre Haute; one grandson, Levi Boswell.. ...

Michael L. Ratts, 60, of Jamestown, died Oct. 13, 2008 at Parkwood Healthcare Center after a short battle with cancer. Michael was born Sept. 9, 1948, in Martinsville, to the late Ira and Bernice (Shields) Ratts. He married Sharon Chestnut Ratts on Oct. 15, 1982, and she survives...

Albert David Johnston, 67, of Roachdale, died Monday, Oct. 13, 2008 at his residence. He was born April 17, 1941 in Indianapolis, the son of the late Albert E. Johnston and Doris Barr Johnston. He did inventory in the freezers at Maplehurst Bakery. Surviving are his wife, Rozella Johnston, son, Timothy Wayne Johnston of Roachdale, daughter, Kristina Leanne Salinas of Roachdale, grandchildren, Jesslyn Rozella Johnston, Alex Ventura, Martina Salinas, Messina Salinas, Robert Johnston, and Kathryn Woodcock, and a sister, Shirley Brown of Bainbridge.. ...

Jerome "Jerry" Hyde was born in Indianapolis June 14, 1928 and died October 8, 2008. He was a United Methodist pastor and served pastorates in Edinburgh, Mount Auburn, Connersville, Shelbyville, Indianapolis, Jeffersonville, and Greencastle. He is survived by brother David; wife, Martha; children, Steve Hyde, Paula Kassig, Ruth Crisp, and four grandchildren...

George Friedt, 83, of Coatesville, died Sunday at his residence. Born Oct. 7, 1925 in Rastadt, Saskatchawan, Canada, he was the son of Joseph and Beatha Dinius Friedt. He had been a ticket taker and conductor for NYC-Penn. Central-Conrail and Amtrack railroads for several years...

Rex E. DuBois, 86, of Patricksburg, died Monday, Oct. 13, 2008 at the Residence at McCormick's Creek, Spencer. Born April 9, 1922, in Shelburn, he was the son of Christian Nicholas and Stella Mae (McGranahan) DuBois. He married Ellen M. (Graves) DuBois on April 21, 1944, and she survives...

John Cavins Baughman, 42, of Indianapolis died Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 in Indianapolis. Born in Indianapolis, he was the son of John J. and Elizabeth (Bowden) Baughman. He graduated from Greencastle High School in 1984 and attended Hanover College and Indiana University...

Ralph Edwin Arnold, 84, of Coatesville, died Friday, Oct. 10, 2008 at Roudebush, V.A. Hospital. Born Sept. 10, 1924, in Coatesville, he was the son of Schuyler and Sadie F. O'Neal Arnold. He was a lifetime Putnam County farmer and served in the U.S. Navy as a signalman in World War II. He was a member of the Greencastle American Legion and VFW...

Author Mark Spragg will be at the Putnam County Public Library on Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Currently working on his 4th book at his home in Cody, Wyoming, Spragg accepted an invitation to visit Putnam County, one of only two visits he will make the entire year...

Cloverdale Superintendent Carrie Milner says chemistry and math teachers are "tough to get" these days. It seems people in these particular subjects do not go into or stay in teaching. Linda Mann, school board member, asked, "Does the state have a plan for public schools to obtain chemistry and math teachers?"...

Children undergoing traumatic situations requiring them to be transported by local law enforcement may get some comfort from stuffed animals that will be carried by police, town marshals and deputies in Putnam County thanks to the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity on the DePauw campus...

Visiting the Reality Store at the Putnam County Fairgrounds on Monday was an eye-opening experience for county eighth graders. "We just started and I am already going broke," smiled Christina Lewark who pulled the job of zoo manager. Over 640 students spend a couple of hours finding out the reality of having to pay their own way at the educational, hands-on event sponsored by Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary Clubs with help from Kappa Delta Phi and Delta Theta Tau Sororities...

To the Editor: On behalf of the Greencastle Fire Department, I would like to thank the donors for the eighth annual open house event on Oct. 2. Your commitment to helping the Greencastle Fire Department in our community is sincerely appreciated. Each year the Greencastle Fire Department hosts our open house event with the intention of educating both adults and children in fire prevention. Through our programs like this, we have seen many lives changed for the better...

To the Editor: At the recent South Putnam-Cloverdale football game, the South Putnam bus drivers conducted a fundraiser for Phyllis Curry. Phyllis is one of our drivers, and she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The response we received from our bake sale and the student council "passing the blanket" was tremendous. Your kindness resulted in contributions of $1,144...