Stories from Friday, November 28, 2008

MOORESVILLE -- The Greencastle wrestling team went 1-2 at a four-way meet Tuesday. The Tiger Cubs defeated Tri-West, but lost to Mooresville as well as Cascade. Jacob Wright led the Tiger Cubs with a 3-0 record on the night. Tommy Downing, Jesse Vermillion, Jesse Ford and Andy Harrison all had solid nights with 2-1 records...

The Greencastle and South Putnam eighth grade boys basketball teams split a pair of games recently. In the A game, the Tiger Cubs defeated the Eagles 25-18. GMS is now 3-0. In the B contest, the Eagles won 34-30 in overtime. The Tiger Cubs fell to 2-1 with the loss...

The South Putnam boys' basketball team opened its season Wednesday evening with a 59-44 loss to Turkey Run. No further details were available at press time.

ROACHDALE -- After a coaching change, learning a new coach's system can be a challenge for a team. This proved to be the case for the North Putnam boys' basketball team in new coach Brady Armstrong's debut on Wednesday. The Cougars did some things well, but ultimately fell to Southmont 68-42...

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- Crawfordsville coach John Blackwell must have thought it was Halloween and not the Thanksgiving holiday season to kick off the 2008 high school basketball season. The first-year Athenian coach had a trick up his sleeve with the emergence of sophomore guard Trent Crabtree in the starting lineup Wednesday in Crawfordsville's 51-39 win over Greencastle...

Wilma J. Whetsel 63, of Roachdale passed away at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008 at Hickory Creek at Sunset in Greencastle. She was born Sept. 17, 1945 in Greencastle to Vitus M. Clemens and Susie Mae Clements Clemens. She was a homemaker. She married Charles Whetsel who preceded her in death...

The popularity of gift cards continues to rise, with holiday sales forecast to hit $35 billion to $40 billion this year, says Purdue University retail expert Richard Feinberg. Because of the economy Feinberg, a researcher with the Purdue Retail Institute, predicts a significant increase in gift card sales for grocery stores, gas stations and superstores (such as Wal-Mart, Super Target, Sam's Club and Costco) due to the economy...

BAINBRIDGE -- Thanksgiving came a little early for the four first grade classes at Bainbridge Elementary School as they celebrated the holiday with their grandparents on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students sang songs, recited poetry and performed for their grandparents in Mrs. Conley, Mrs. Hankins, Mrs. Powell and Mrs. Risings classrooms...

When Nina Richey died this past spring, she left a legacy of generosity that is being carried on through a foundation at the Putnam County Community Foundation that bears her name. Richey was also generous with her time and talents, and for the five years preceding her death she would decorate Christmas trees and take them to the Veterans Hospital in Indianapolis...

A Greencastle man was arrested earlier this week for possession of a destructive device, a Class C felony. Thomas Garrett, 19, entered a not guilty plea in Putnam County Circuit Court, and was released from jail after posting a $1,000 bond the day of his arrest. He is set to be in court for a pretrial conference on Jan. 15...

CLOVERDALE -- The planning board of Cloverdale has been busy revamping it zoning ordinance since April. The five-member board has been going through the ordinance controlling land use and building standards, said Jerry Acrea, president of the board...

Three Putnam County families had something extra to be thankful for this year -- their soldiers made it home from Iraq in time for Thanksgiving. Spc. Anthony Smith and Spc. Loren Leonard, both of Greencastle, and Spc. Joseph Cope of Bainbridge, members of Alpha Battery 2nd Battalion 150th Field Artillery, all came home late Wednesday morning. Smith and Leonard were transported to the National Guard Armory in Greencastle, while Cope was taken to Stout Field in Indianapolis...