Stories from Friday, November 27, 2009

Walt Becker's Old Dogs is a fluffy flick that has some laughs throughout, but suffers greatly from sluggish and very predictable storytelling. It's a story with peaks and valleys and unfortunately, the valleys win out. Fresh off his divorce, Dan (Robin Williams) is whisked away to Miami by best bud and business partner Charlie (John Travolta). The duo swim in a sea of liquor, make a stop at the tattoo parlor and meet up with two women...

Warren G. Roberson, 87, of Canton, Ill. died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 at the Graham Hospital in Canton. He was born Oct. 7, 1922 in Orion Township, Fulton County, Ill. to Richard Vern and Mabel Shover Roberson. He married H. Berniece Meyer on Dec. 31, 1946 in Orion Twp. She preceded him in death on May 1, 2000...

Wilma S. Lemmon, 95, of Brownsburg died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Born Feb. 26, 1914 in Indianapolis, she was the daughter of Fred and Helen Caldwell Yarbrough. She married John C. Lemmon, and he preceded her in death in 1984...

MANSFIELD -- Escape to Parke County for the Covered Bridge Christmas celebration. Shoppers can skip the crowded malls for old fashioned gifts and a celebration of the holiday season in Mansfield Village. The annual festival is held over from today through Sunday and Dec. 4 through 6. Hours for the event are Friday night from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m...

Affordable Comfort Inc. has been collecting non-perishable items for the Putnam County Food Pantry for a couple of weeks. "We knew they needed items and we wanted to help," explained Rick Rice with Affordable Comfort. The staff of the heating and cooling company has been talking about collecting items for a while and hope it becomes an annual event that grows larger every year...

GREENCASTLE -- Members of the Greencastle Moose recently held an All Clubs benefit for Riley Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House. "The unofficial sum raised is just over $13,000," said Moose member Danny Wallace. "It may be a couple of months before all the pledges are paid."...

GREENCASTLE -- It's time to get into the holiday spirit, as the Greencastle Civic League kicks off the holiday season on Dec.1 at 6 p.m. at Greencastle City Hall with its 26th annual "Lights of Love" ceremony. "We are excited to once again, begin celebrating the holiday season with this time-honored community tradition," said Lights of Love chair Cathryn Ensley. ...

GREENCASTLE -- When sudden cardiac arrest strikes every second counts, and if not treated immediately, can be fatal. Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States killing 325,000 people each year. In Indiana, only about one person in 20 suffering sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital will survive. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is the only measure that can help reverse sudden cardiac arrest, if performed immediately...

ROACHDALE -- For any team to win a high school basketball game, it has to play all 32 minutes and the North Putnam High School boys' basketball team realized that Wednesday night. The only problem was that it realized that one quarter too late. The Cougars dropped their home season opener to Southmont, 77-52, and it was the second quarter that sealed the Cougars' fate...

Brecquelyn Burkhammer and Everett Mucky, both of Indianapolis were married Oct. 10 in an outdoor ceremony held at Lumiere du corps in Lebanon. Rev. Robert Boyd officiated and a reception followed. The bride is the daughter of Chris and Brenda Burkhammer of Crawfordsville. She graduated in 1997 from Tuscola High School in Illinois. She is employed at Walgreen's in Indianapolis...

Before I get too far into this discussion, a disclaimer: I spent much of 2000 in one of my "current music is awful" phases, so my favorite album in 2000, was probably something like The Stones' Beggar's Banquet. But I don't think anybody would buy that as the best album of 2000...