Stories from Friday, January 16, 2009

CLINTON -- The Cloverdale high school wrestling team traveled to South Vermillion last Saturday in the Wildcat's eight team invitational. The Clovers had a very strong showing and finished the day in second place, just behind the host South Vermillion. The Clovers also had three wrestlers finish in first place, four in second, and three in third...

Putnam County Jail Eric Huber, 18, Bainbridge was booked into the Putnam County Jail at 2:11 p.m. Thursday for probation violation. Sheriff's Department Shane Hoadley of Dillon, Mont, and Steven Scott of Spencer were involved in a collision at 5:55 a.m. Wednesday on U.S. 231. Hoadley was attempting a left turn onto County Road 900 S., when he failed to see Scott's vehicle due his view being obstructed. Scott's vehicle made contact with the left rear of Hoadley's vehicle...

Homer E. Wallen, 67, of Stilesville died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 at his residence. Mr. Wallen was born Oct. 7, 1941 in Hendricks County to Eunice and Amanda Kirkpatrick Wallen. He was a self-employed body shop owner. Surviving are his daughters, Lora Morgan and husband Tim of Indianapolis and Phyllis Key of Indianapolis, Tonya Murphy and husband Gene of Pittsboro, Kimberly Goens and husband Andrew of Greencastle and Teresa Wallen of Greencastle; son Troy Wallen of Stilesville; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers James, Neal, Henry and Abraham Wallen; sisters Iris and Marie Wallen; and step brothers Robert, Howard and Raymond Stanger.. ...

Charles W. Rains, 94, of Greencastle died on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. He was born in Francisville on Jan. 22, 1914, the son of William S. and Emma Nitzchke Rains. He married Frances Moore on March 19, 1942, and she survives. Mr. Rains was a minister for 66 years, serving at various churches in Greencastle, Cloverdale and Indianapolis. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He attended Wildwood Evangelical Church...

Kenneth C. Gorham, 79, of Greencastle died Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 at Mill Pond Health Campus after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born in Putnam County on Aug. 16, 1929 to Dora and Jewell Ruark Gorham. He married Mildred Huffman on July 5, 1947 and she survives...

The sentencing of a Greencastle man convicted of severely beating his brother-in-law has been continued. Jay C. Unger, 55, was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday on charges of Class B felony aggravated battery, Class C felony battery by means of a deadly weapon, Class D felony criminal recklessness and two counts of Class B misdemeanor battery. A motion to continue was filed earlier this week, and Judge Matthew Headley reset the sentencing for Feb. 2...

A Greencastle man pled guilty in Putnam County Circuit Court Thursday for his role in a June beating that severely injured another man. Cody McNew, 19, entered a guilty plea to Class C felony battery resulting in bodily injury. Judge Matthew Headley accepted McNew's plea and set sentencing in the case for Feb. 19...

A Cloverdale man pled guilty to and was sentenced for a methamphetamine possession charge Thursday in Putnam County Circuit Court. Judge Matthew Headley sentenced Michael L. Kolesar, 26, to five years with two years executed on a charge of Class C felony possession of methamphetamine. Under the terms of a plea agreement, a charge of Class A felony dealing in methamphetamine against Kolesar was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea to the Class C felony...

CLOVERDALE -- A section of pipe has been replaced at the corner of Lincoln Street and U.S. 231 in front of the Silver Bell Flower shop. "The 150-foot section of AC piping was removed due to a leak," said Don Guthrie, utility manager. This type of pipe was used in the 1940s to early 1950s, he explained, and was set in limestone...

As the new year unfolds, state health officials remind Hoosiers the best time to quit smoking is right now. "The start of a new year is a time when many people prepare themselves for making positive changes in their life and we want to encourage anyone who is trying to quit smoking to access the free resource available to help them be successful," said Karla Sneegrass, executive director, Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation agency...

A Greencastle woman who was arrested in October for allegedly drugging her two young children has been released from jail and allowed to enter a drug rehabilitation program. On Thursday, Putnam County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley approved Amy Marie Reed's release from jail and her entry into outpatient drug treatment through Salvation Army's Harbor Light program in Indianapolis...

A jury convicted a Russellville man on three methamphetamine-related felony charges Thursday in Putnam County Circuit Court. Chad Buttery, 28, was found guilty of Class B felony dealing in meth and Class C felonies possession of anhydrous ammonia and possession of chemical reagents. In addition, the jury found that Buttery should be deemed a habitual offender...

Basketball games for Cloverdale, Greencastle, North Putnam and South Putnam have been called for tonight due to the weather.

The United States Postal Service operations will be limited Monday. In observance of Martin Luther King Day, postal employees will only be delivering Express mail items. There will be no home delivery. All U.S. Postal Service stations and branches will be closed...

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of Jason and Amanda Bridgewater, of rural eastern Greene County, after preliminary charges of class D felony possession of marijuana were filed against both of them this week. The charges came about after the Greene County Sheriff's Department assisted Greencastle Police Department Assistant Chief Brian Hopkins with the execution of a search warrant at the Bridgewater residence on Blue Sky North in eastern Greene County...

Justin Agrelo and Sasha Pena, both of Kelvyn Park High School, Chicago have received four-year, full tuition scholarships from the Posse Foundation reports the Chicago bilingual paper Extra. They will both attend DePauw University this fall. The Posse Foundation identifies, recruits, and trains student leaders from urban public high schools to form multicultural teams called "posses."...

INDIANAPOLIS -- The General Assembly began its second week with a number of ceremonial activities, including the inauguration of our state's leaders and a joint session between the Indiana House and Senate to hear the annual State of the State address by Governor Mitch Daniels...

Robert Lee Walls 72, Ladoga, passed away Friday morning, Jan. 16, 2009 at Hendricks Regional Health Hospital. He was born on Sept. 30, 1936,in Indianapolis to William Edward and Anna Ross Walls. He retired from Raybestos Products in Crawfordsville after 31 years. He served in the U. S. Navy...

Maurice W. Bousman, 92, Anderson, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 at St. John's Medical Center following an extended illness. He was born Aug. 15, 1916 in Anderson to William and Mary (Bristol) Bousman. For more than 30 years, he worked in production at General Motors. He was also a life-long farmer and was a bus driver for Highland High School and College Corner for 20 years...

NEW YORK -- A day after taking part in a massive rescue mission that saw more than 150 people pulled from the frigid waters of the Hudson River, DePauw juniors Matthew Nance and Megan Soultz were still a bit shellshocked by their experiences. The students -- both of whom are interning with DePauw alumnus Dr. ...