Stories from Saturday, December 13, 2008

A Brazil man will be in Putnam County Circuit Court for a change of plea hearing on Jan. 12. Michael S. Batchelor, 52, is facing charges of attempted arson, domestic battery and theft of a vehicle. According to a case report filed by Putnam County Sheriff's Department Deputy Ronnie Campbell, Campbell was dispatched on Oct. 7 to a residence in the 9000 block of South C.R. 825W, Reelsville, for "a domestic that had turned into an attempted arson."...

Putnam County resident A. J. Hacker has joined the American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter as its Putnam County Community Development Coordinator. Hacker's duties will include increasing the number of Red Cross volunteers in Putnam County and building the necessary financial resources to support Red Cross services in the County...

CLOVERDALE -- Former Cloverdale and Indianapolis resident Christina Williams, 80, Bushnell, Fla., died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 at Mike Conley Hospice in Clermont, Fla. She was born June 17, 1928 in Greencastle to Fisher Austin and Maggie (Tuner) Austin...

In January 2009 the Bon Ton Restaurant in Bainbridge would have been 73 years old. That is, if it were still open. The landmark business went on the auction block this week. Gene Hess opened the Bon Ton in January 1936. At that time, Bainbridge had a lot of traffic running through the town on U.S. 36...

A federal pilot project beginning in January and running through 2013 will award doctors additional money from Medicare if they use electronic prescribing systems known as e-prescribing. Purdue University research, this will help deliver safer and more efficient care to patients while also cutting costs...

Richard Julius Stommel, 80, Brazil, died at 8:10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 at St. Vincent Clay Hospital. Richard was born Oct. 20, 1928, in Detroit, Mich., as the son of Stephan Lewis and Dorothy Kunze. He worked as a supervisor in manufacturing plants. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps...

By MOLLY MCLAUGHLIN For the Banner Graphic Cascade edged South Putnam 51-48 Friday night. A major part of the first quarter was turnovers by both teams. However, very aggressive play, both offensively and defensively, by the Cadets allowed them an eight point lead...

South Putnam won the tip and from that moment, the game became very fast paced and physical on both ends of the court. The Eagles ultimately fell 49-42. The Eagles allowed many turnovers that Cascade was able to capitalize on and built a lead of 14-4 with 2:16 left in the first quarter. ...

ROACHDALE -- Sitting at 0-3 on the season and still learning a new system, the North Putnam boys' basketball team really didn't need to see Rockville rolling in to the gym on Friday night. The Rox came into the game at 2-0 and ranked No. 1 in class A...

By CAINE GARDNER Sports Editor Friday was a tale of two teams. One was looking to be back in the win column; one was just trying to find its identity. Greencastle used a solid effort on both ends of the court to defeat Cloverdale 44-21. "We needed one; we've lost a lot of close ones. I felt really good for the kids because their confidence was shaken badly in that fourth quarter against Danville," GHS head coach Glenn Hile said...

By CAINE GARDNER Sports Editor Just when you caught your breath from the last time these two team met up, here we go again. After battling in the first round of the county tourney, Greencastle and Cloverdale were at it again Friday. The two squads fought to a 63-61 outcome in favor of GHS, leaving both players and fans breathless...