Stories from Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Putnam County Commissioners issued a level three snow emergency Wednesday afternoon, raising the level of alert from a level four. A level three watch means routine travel or activities may be restricted in an area because of a hazardous situation. The public should use caution or avoid these areas. Schools and businesses may implement their emergency action plans...

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- The Ray Guy/ProKicker.com Kicking Academy has recently announced that Seth Arnold of South Putnam High School has been named to its National Rankings List. Arnold was one of thousands of high school athletes who attended the Ray Guy/ProKicker.com Kicking Academy, which is held annually in over 30 cities across the nation. ...

BRAZIL -- Still amped from a thrilling victory Saturday night, the Knights of Northview rode a dominant second half to a 56-34 rout of Greencastle. After a fairly even first half, Northview (5-12) grabbed the momentum heading into the locker room as Johnathan Bradshaw capped a 10-point first half with a last-second put in, giving the Knights a 27-22 lead at the half...

To the Editor: The Indiana Natural Resources Commission has responded to citizen petitions to prohibit the taking, harassment/killing of coyotes/ foxes for dog "training/penning" purposes, and the use of these animals as "live bait" in the wild, by directing a comprehensive review by Indiana Department of Natural Resources...

To the Editor: The Humane Society of Putnam County would like to thank everyone who helped to make the recent HSPC/Family Video Adopt-a-Thon a huge success! Mindy Cook, Greencastle's Family Video manager, and all of her staff went out of their way to make the volunteers, animals and public feel welcome and comfortable...

To the editor: Putnam County Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Department would like to thank all of our sponsors and donors for this year's Shades of Red Runway Event in honor of Wear Red Day for heart disease awareness. This event would not have been possible with out the help from our co-sponsors; the Walden Inn and Martin's Emporium, along with our models from local high schools. Thank you to all who came out for the event in spite of the weather. The fashion show was a great success!...

Yesterday was Andy Taylor's birthday. He turned 49. Now, how many of you can tell me who Andy Taylor is? Take a second. Those of you who were children of the 1980s like I was will probably get it pretty quickly (or you should, if you knew what was cool). I'll give the rest of you a second to run over, bring up Wikipedia on your computers and look it up...

Girl Scout Alina Bemish sits in the dog cage with Spot at Family Video during the Humane Society's adopt-a-thon. Five cats and two dogs were given good homes because of the event.

CLOVERDALE -- The town has been working for a little more than a year to have three vacant and unsafe structures razed. During the January town council meeting, sealed bids for demolition were opened and read. Council members agreed to accept the lowest bid from Spiker Excavating for all three properties...

GREENCASTLE -- South Putnam Community School students had a tough time getting home on buses Tuesday afternoon. "We had four buses get stuck and have to be towed out of snow drifts," reported School Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt at the South Putnam Community School board meeting Tuesday night...

Greencastle Fire Department Crews were dispatched to 403 E. Seminary St. at 12:46 a.m. Thursday for a gas odor investigation. Nothing was found and they were back in service at 1:10 a.m. Crews were dispatched to 208 E. Olive St. at 10:01 p.m. Friday for a fire alarm. They were disregarded and back in service at 10:07 p.m...

Edwin S. Robertson, DDS, Indianapolis, died in Greencastle on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 after a seven-year battle with cancer. Born March 8, 1934 to the late Dr. Ray B. and Helen Bockstahler Robertson, Ed attended Culver summer camp for many years and was a 1952 graduate of Culver Military Academy. Following graduation from Denison University in 1956, he served in the U.S. Army...

Bruce Conrad, 67, of Crawfordsville died Monday, Feb. 15, 2010 at St. Vincent Heart Center in Indianapolis. He was born Aug. 12, 1942 in Crawfordsville, the son of Glenn and Darlene Pickering Conrad. He was a graduate of New Ross High School and Purdue University with a civil engineering degree...

Get ready. It's coming soon. It's new and fresh. It will tantalize your senses with a smorgasbord of mouthwatering sights and fresh picked flavors. What you ask? The Taste of Home Cooking School, the No. 1 culinary demonstration in the country, presented live at Putnam County Fairgrounds in The Community Building on March 11...

GREENCASTLE -- Director Jason Reitman, whose latest film "Up in the Air" is nominated for six Academy Awards -- including best picture, best director and best adapted screenplay -- will visit the campus of DePauw University eight days after the Oscar ceremony to deliver a Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture...

Putnam County Commissioners signed a proclamation this week declaring March Red Cross Month in Putnam County. Pictured are Barb South of The Waters, which is co-sponsoring a chili supper on Feb. 26 to benefit the Red Cross; Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray; Ken Heeke and Ginger Scott of the Red Cross Leadership Council; and Commissioners Gene Beck and Jim Baird.

The Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) certified Putnam County's 2010 budget order and tax rates Monday. "This paves the way for on-time property tax bills for the first time in at least three years," said Putnam County Treasurer Sharon Owen. "The budget certification came 101 days sooner than last year, putting the county in a position to have taxes due on May 10, 2010."...

GREENCASTLE -- When the Putnam County Public Defender's Office closed on Jan. 1, the two secretaries who were employed there lost their jobs. Now, the county has received paperwork from the state notifying them that one of the former employees has filed for unemployment benefits -- and no one is certain who should fill out the necessary paperwork at the county level...