Stories from Monday, February 22, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ryan Villopoto had to take the long way around to win the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Saturday night before a crowd of 60,019 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Villopoto crashed out in the first corner of his heat race when a water pump failed. ...

INDIANAPOLIS -- As lawmakers enter the final weeks of the 2010 session of the Indiana General Assembly, members of the House have been spending most of our time recently debating bills sent to our chamber from the Indiana Senate. From the start, I believed our attention should focus on ways to provide more jobs for Hoosiers, address the financial concerns of our schools, and create effective policies that will meet the needs of the people of our state...

Please come and join us on Saturday Feb 27 for a full day of Gardening programs. We have great speakers line up for this program. Trees by Pam Maus, Indian DNR, Weill Discuss how to pick a tree, planting the tree in the proper way, and caring for your tree, Indoor Gardening by Tom Commins, Owner of Apple House in Terre Haurt Indiana will provided information you need to know about caring for you indoor plants. ...

The Purdue University Regional Goat Meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. March 3.. Mike Neary, Purdue Extension small ruminant specialist, will speak on feeding programs for meat goats. Regional grazing specialists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service will speak on March 3 at Greencastle Courthouse Annex Building, 209 Liberty St., Greencastle...

GREENCASTLE -- The Blue Door Cafe is once again open for business and offering their specialty coffees and baked goods at their new location on Washington Street. The menu has been simplified with the baked goods prepared by the Scholars-Inn Bakery in Bloomington. Beef stew and a chicken salad wrap are the only non-bakery items currently being offered...

Kathryn Ann "Kathy" Woodall, 62, of Greencastle died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010 at her residence with her husband, children and family at her side. Born July 20, 1947 in Indianapolis, she was the daughter of Ralph and Dellora Weimuth Stafford. She married Robert C. "Bob" Woodall on Dec. 18, 1963 and he survives...

Rex Kevin Wood, 54, of Greencastle died Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 at his residence. He was born Dec. 18, 1955 in Lebanon to William Raymond and Marjorie Blue Wood. Mr. Wood had been a forklift driver for Lear Corporation for 11 years as well as having been a veteran of the Vietnam War...

Steven Ray Penley, 42, of Indianapolis died Feb. 17, 2010. He was born Oct. 12, 1967 in Kankakee, Ill., the son of Vernon L. and Evelyn L. Penley. Mr. Penley was a steel worker for the Steel Workers Local Union. He is survived by son Steven "Alex" Penley; daughter Morgan Alexandria Penley; sons Nathan Cole and Cole Christian Penley; grandson Owen Carter Griffin; parents Vernon L. and Evelyn L. Penley; brother Brian W. (Sandra) Penley; and sister Pamela Sue Schuelke...

Ted "Katman" Katula passed away on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 in Punta Gorda, Fla., after a six-year battle with Alzheimer's Disease and a fatal sepsis infection. He leaves behind a legacy of courage in the face of adversity and love of family; athletics, students, and alumni of DePauw University; and golf and football -- not necessarily in that order...

Tanner Kyle Speed Fenwick, 13, of Greencastle died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010. Born March 14, 1996 in Indianapolis, he is the son of Gary and Lynn Scobee Fenwick. Tanner was a seventh grade student at Greencastle Middle School. He loved working on cars and trucks and building and painting model cars. He was active in wrestling, youth basketball and youth and peewee football. Tanner was an avid NASCAR fan and Motocross fan, riding motocross bikes and 4-wheelers. He also enjoyed skateboarding...

Clay County is mourning the loss of one of its own. On Friday, Marine Cpl. Gregory Scott Stultz was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan. He was 22-years-old. Cpl. Stultz is the first soldier from Clay County to die in the War on Terror and the first soldier from Clay County to die during combat in more than 30 years...

Marj Peeler, left, signs a copy of the latest Putnam County Museum book "Peeler Pottery: A Retrospective" for her good friend Eileen Johnson Saturday night during a celebration of its completion. The nearly 350-page book details the life and work of Marj and her late husband Richard Peeler. With more than 700 glossy photos, it showcases the couple's artwork. DePauw University President Brian Casey opened his home, the Elms, to host the extravagant event with nearly 150 people in attendance. Copies of the book are still available for purchase at the museum, 1105 N. Jackson St. A limited edition hardbound volume with dust jacket is $75 or a $40 for a softbound.

FILLMORE -- Today is the second anniversary of the event that forever changed the lives of Drew Christy and his family. On Feb. 22, 2008 Drew was driving by himself east of Manhattan Road on U.S. 40 when his 1999 Pathfinder hit a patch of ice and crashed into a tree. ...

GREENCASTLE -- With snow still on the ground and temperatures in the 20's and 30's it's the perfect time for the annual Wabash Valley Chapter of the America Red Cross Chili Dinner fundraiser Feb 26 at the National Guard Armory. Hungry visitors can get a bowl of chili, cornbread, drink and dessert for a free will offering. They can also enjoy entertainment, bid on silent auction items, and pick up information from emergency management personnel and the United Way...

Bula Fay Butler Renne Keeton, 87, of Port Orange, Fla. passed away Feb.19, 2010 at home surrounded by her family. Bula was born June 7, 1922 at home near Madison in Jefferson County. She was the daughter of William F. and Hallie Dunaway Butler. She was a gracious lady, an astute businesswoman, a kind and generous volunteer with both her time and her money, and an example and inspiration to her many friends, relatives, and colleagues...

Dell Pursell Hale, 69, of Fillmore passed away Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 at the Putnam County Hospital. Born March 23, 1940 in Mansfield, she was the daughter of Donald and Jane (Kemper) Berry. She was a graduate of Van Buren High School with the class of 1958 in Brazil...

Roberta Mae Batman, 81, of Roachdale died at Hickory Creek at Crawfordsville on Monday at 5:45 a.m. She was born on Dec. 27, 1928 to Bernard Ross and Thelma Elizabeth Chiles Stadler. She was a member of Crossroads Community Church of the Nazarene, Young at Heart Club at the Church, Ladoga Senior Citizens Club. She had served as organist at the former Ladoga Nazarene Church and also played the organ for many years at Servies & Morgan Funeral Home...

GREENCASTLE -- Authorities are still investigating the Saturday death of a Greencastle teenager. Tanner K. Fenwick, 13, died as the result of a single gunshot wound to the head, Putnam County Coroner Thomas Miller said. Miller said the shooting had been deemed "non-suspicious and undetermined," meaning that although it was self-inflicted, it is not yet known whether or not it was accidental...

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- When sectional season rolls around, so much of swimming is really between the ears. There's no controlling the opponent, just racing your own race. On that front, all three Putnam County coaches were proud of their teams coming out of Saturday's sectional. Greencastle finished second to the host Athenians, while South Putnam was sixth and North Putnam was 10th...