Stories from Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Some Putnam County elementary school students are learning important lessons about drugs, alcohol and nicotine at an early age. On Monday evening, several of those children were able to impart those lessons on others. At the Putnam County P.I.E. Coalition's annual meeting and recognition night, six fourth- and fifth-graders from Putnam County schools shared their Red Ribbon Week drug free essays. ...

Cloverdale Elementary School's kindergarten round up was well attended by parents signing their children up for the 2009-10 school year. Those in attendance visited the kindergarten classrooms while copies of birth certificates and immunization records were turned in...

To the Editor: On Sunday, March 8, our beautiful home burned to the ground while we were at church. Lightning took our home, in less than 2 hours it was gone. Our oldest daughter Mischa called us from church and we rushed home to find that it was pretty much out of control. ...

The Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce will be hosting "Indiana Internships: Moving Students from the Classroom to the Boardroom" from noon to 1:30 p.m. April 24 at Windy Hill Country Club. No matter how large or small, companies can benefit from hiring an intern this summer. Now more than ever, today's challenging business environment offers an opportunity to access talented student interns willing to put their creative energy to work...

BAINBRIDGE -- A charitable organization is unique among human endeavors in that it is formed entirely for the benefit of others and its ultimate goal is to put itself out of business. Jeff Fordice and Wendy Pearl, organizers of Two Fish Food Pantry, which opened Saturday at the Bainbridge Christian Church have kept these things in mind in their organization's fledgling stage. They wish their efforts weren't necessary, but they are responding to northern Putnam County's need in difficult times...

Betty Jean Williams, 82, of Greencastle died on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. She was born Nov. 11, 1926 in Greencastle to Ralph Paul and Ethel Mae Carpenter Crousore. She married Walter Clair Williams on March 14, 1947, and he preceded her in death. She was a 1944 graduate of Greencastle High School and attended DePauw University, where she subsequently worked until retirement. After retirement, she worked with Fidelity Real Estate and later with the Waldron Company...

Putnam County Jail John Martin, 28, Rockville, was booked into the Putnam County Jail at 5:22 p.m. Friday for probation violation. Courtney Wright, 25, Indianapolis, was booked at 5:57 p.m. Friday for failure to appear. Garry Coffman, 60, Bainbridge, was booked at 8:44 p.m. Friday for failure to appear...

The Greencastle High School Dance-a-thon is set for April 11 from 6 p.m. to midnight in McAnally Center. This event is open to the public with proceeds going to Relay For Life. The contest is for couples and cost is $20 per pair. Spectators are welcome and will be charged $5 at the door. A school student ID must be presented, if you not registered for the event. Couples should purchase tickets ahead of time...

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. today for music legend Todd Rundgren's appearance at DePauw University. The man who has been called "rock's Renaissance man" will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. to discuss "Music, Technology and Risk-Taking" in a Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture at DePauw's Green Center for the Performing Arts (605 S. College Ave.), which is free and open to the public...

A recent scolding from a customer has convinced Clerk of Putnam County Circuit Court Marty Watts that the courts need to offer credit card payments as an option for those who do business with the courts. "I had an 80-some-year-old woman come in and scold me because she couldn't pay her traffic ticket with her debit card," Watts told the Putnam County Commissioners Monday. "Nobody carries cash anymore."...

The Middle School bowling league kicked off Friday with 10 local bowlers competing. Austin Alspaugh won the boys event with a 364 series, followed by Reggie Alex with a 333. Tyler Nield was third with a 316 series, Michael Hyten was fourth with a 298 series and Joey Zaborski was fifth with a 295 series...

Bowling Standing As of 4/7/09 Bubba Crawley Memorial League High Team Scratch Game -- Elks Lodge 680 High Team Scratch Series -- Elks Lodge 2394 High Individual Game -- Walt Marshall 246 High Individual Series -- Walt Marshall 849 Commercial League Thursday Morning Mixed League...

ROACHDALE -- It was cold, it was windy and it was the start of WCC play between the baseball squads from North Putnam and Greencastle Tuesday. Despite the difficult conditions, North Putnam powered to an early lead and held on to win 12-2 in five innings...

CLOVERDALE -- Noah Boswell tossed a four-hitter, while Cameron Chestnut collected stolen bases left and right and Josh Flory got his first save of the season against his old team. The Eagles opened the season with a 6-2 victory against Cloverdale. In the midst of tossing the four-hitter, Boswell struck out 12 batters while allowing two earned runs...

ROACHDALE -- Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning made a surprise visit to North Putnam Middle School Tuesday to recognize the school's ISTEP performance. "You had the best ISTEP scores in the county last year," principal Terry Tippin told the gymnasium filled with cheering students "You get to meet one of my heroes thanks to Olivia and Isabella Zarate's family."...