Stories from Thursday, February 18, 2010

The Greencastle sixth grade girls' basketball A and B teams defeated North Putnam Wednesday. The A-team won 35-14, while the B-team were victorious 29-8. Megan Haltom, Marley Haltom and Allison White led the GMS A-team with eight points each, with Sage Klinger adding six points, Amelia Smith four and Lucy Hayes one point in the win...

The Greencastle Middle School wrestling team defeated North Putnam 67-25 Tuesday. Grabbing wins for GMS were Troy Wardlow, Mike Thompson, Michael Cole, Logan Beck, Tyler Scott, Riley Jayne, Devin Mooney, Billy Finch, Nathan Meadows, Jonas Trammell, Jorden Froderman and Mark Coghill...

Wabash Valley residents can fight back against cancer and share hope for those facing the disease by supporting the American Cancer Society Daffodil DaysŪ. This longstanding program, which involves offering daffodils to donors every spring in appreciation for their contributions, is about more than just giving beautiful flowers; it is an opportunity to share hope for a world with less cancer and more birthdays, where cancer never steals another year from anyone's life. ...

North Putnam Middle School students Taylor Thornell recently spent a day at the Statehouse in Indianapolis serving as a page for State Sen. Connie Lawson. Thornell is the son of David Thornell. During the legislative session, pages spend one day at the Statehouse working with their senator and Senate staff. According to Lawson, student pages start the day in orientation before touring the historic Statehouse. Throughout the day, pages spend time in the Senate Chamber observing the introduction of bills, listening to debates and delivering important messages among senators and staff. Students in grades six through 12 are invited to serve as pages. Sen. Lawson represents Senate District 24, which includes portions of Hendricks and Putnam counties.

On Feb. 13, 68 members of the Greencastle High School and Middle School bands participated in the ISSMA Solo & Ensemble Contest held at Terre Haute North High School. The results are as follows: The Greencastle bands are directed by Robert Hedge and Kathryn Dory...

GREENCASTLE -- Indiana pork production will take center stage Monday at the meeting of the Greencastle Lions Club. David Hardin of Hardin Farms near Danville will address the group at 6:30 p.m. at Monical's Pizza, 29 Putnam Plaza, Greencastle. "The Pork Industry: More Than Just the Other White Meat," the speech by Hardin, will showcase the industry's rural economic impact plus on-going programs to enhance the nutritional quality of pork, to protect the environment and to treat livestock humanely.. ...

Putnam County Comprehensive Services Peer Support Group collected money to be donated to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund. Pictured are a few of the 54 members of the group, from left, Mary Pryor, Jennifer Pike, Clint Wix, Putnam County Red Cross Representative, Kathie Skeel, Charles Johnston, Mary Williams and James Langley.

Putnam County Jail James W. Webb, 46, Cloverdale, was booked at 6:09 p.m. Monday for violation of probation and possession of marijuana. Jon R. Kennedy, 43, Cloverdale, was booked at 11:19 p.m. Monday on a warrant out of Owen County, petition to revoke probation, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and public intoxication...

GREENCASTLE -- For those planning a trip outside the country, mission work or a holiday vacation, the Greencastle Post Office will be accepting passport applications from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 25. The Greencastle Post Office is located at 8 E. Walnut St...

4-H beef superintendent Karl Gillette, right, works the beef tagging and weight-in Saturday at the fairgrounds. Assisting is fellow beef volunteer Keith Smith.

GREENCASTLE -- As the end of winter approaches, maple syrup season hits full bloom in Putnam County at one of Indiana's largest maple syrup producers. Harris Sugar Bush Camp has over 3,400 taps and more than 15 miles of plastic tubing and vacuum lines for collection of the sweet stuff...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Any self-respecting child of the 80s is familiar with the plot of the 1984 motion picture "Footloose." We know the story of Ren McCormack, the hip Chicago kid who is transplanted to the tiny town of Bomont -- where the Rev. Shaw Moore dictates all the rules and where dancing is strictly forbidden...

I didn't catch it in theaters, but I must say after catching it on DVD, "The Informant" starring Matt Damon is one perplexing flick. It's herky-jerky, sometimes difficult to stay with, takes a while to get going, but in the end I found myself becoming a fan...

When legendary Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt died on New Years Day 1997, he left behind a shoebox full of unpublished poetry. He left with the poetry a strange request -- he wanted it given to Israeli musician David Broza. What made the request so strange was Broza and Van Zandt weren't collaborators or even friends. They had performed together once, during a "Writers in the Round" concert in 1994...