Stories from Friday, July 2, 2010

Jester (Jest"er) n: a professional clown employed by a king or nobleman. My July 1 was dominated by one LeBron James. Everywhere I looked, I couldn't escape it. Where will he go? When will he decide? I've got a better question -- who really cares?...

Samantha Pearson does not plan to take off the jade bracelet encircling her wrist. To her, it symbolizes more than her recent trip to China with Indiana State University. It's something of a family tradition for the sophomore psychology major from Greencastle whose grandmother is Chinese...

GREENCASTLE -- In these challenging economic times, a new initiative --Greencastle's Project Ignition, Inc. (GPI) -- aims to expand small businesses and stimulate much-needed economic growth in Putnam County. GPI, headquartered in Greencastle, is available to support local entrepreneurs with services including marketing, web development, accounting, technological access, and retail space at discounted prices...

The Belle Union Class of 1958 held their first reunion on June 25 at the Double Decker. Pictured from left are class members Leon Herbert, Nema (DePew) Cooper, Robert Barnette, Albert Sheppard, Barbara (Cosner) Llittle, Kay (Cooper) Nelley and Larry Salsman. Members unable to attend the reunion were Sharon (Sinclair) Salsman, Lou Ann (Sinclair) Fields and Sarah (Hacker) Johnson. Deceased classmates are Nancy (Carter) Buis, Jewell Terry and Linda (Lane) Parrish.

James V. Greenier, 39, Indianapolis, was booked at 8:53 a.m. Thursday for failure to appear. Tracy D. Huber, 39, Greencastle, was booked at 6:34 p.m. Wednesday for intimidation and battery. Ryan L. Gillespie of Greencastle was traveling west on CR 300S at 12:59 a.m. Thursday, when he approached a curve and his vehicle left the roadway, traveled into a ditch and struck a power pole, which broke in half and knocked the lines to the ground. Gillespie was not injured in the crash...

To the Editor: On Saturday, June 19 the Greencastle Fire Department, along with title sponsor, Carpenter's Union Local 859, held the 11th Annual GFD Golf Scramble at Old Hickory Golf Course to help raise money for the Hoosier Burn Camp. The Hoosier Burn Camp is held each year for children 8-18 years of age that have been burned and hospitalized. The camp helps these children with their self-esteem, to develop new friendships, to be themselves without being judged, and to have lots of fun...

To the Editor: To those who gave a little in the memory of the one who gave it all. We want to send a special "thank you" to each person who came to our fourth annual "Capt. Jim Baugh Memorial Blood Drive" on Friday, June 18. To those who were able to donate -- you have truly given of yourselves. ...

To the Editor: It is unbelievable that the State of Indiana is turning its back on Ernie Pyle. Reasons given for closing the Ernie Pyle State Historic Site are because of the small number of visitors and the cost to operate it. Perhaps the Governor should personally look at how the pie (budget) is cut by the Division of Museum and Historic Sites. ...

I have a confession to make: This isn't much of a column. As you can see, there isn't loads of space to fill this week. Basically, I just wanted a reason to write this headline. It came to me Thursday morning as I gathered items for the garage sale Nicole and I, along with her family, are having...

Senator Connie Lawson recently presented a donation to the Mary Allison Children's Trust in support of its upcoming golf outing. Lawson joined Duke Energy, First National Bank, Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church, Tri County Bank and Trust Co., Wabash Capital, Inc., Walmart Distribution and its stores as a trust patron for the Mary Allison 6th annual golf outing July 9 at Old Hickory Golf Course. Teams can still sign up and hole sponsors along with door prizes are still needed. To sign up or become a hole sponsor or to donate door prizes, call Ginger Scott at 655-2333, Mary Allison Trust president Jim Jackson at 522-1000 or board member Joe Ferguson at 653-9258. Pictured are, from left, are Mary Allison Trust board members Cliff Higgerson III and Lucy Wieland, Lawson, and board members Ginger Scott and Darren Hughes.

Roland Glen Cushman, 86, of Russellville passed away at Williamsburg Health Care on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. He was born on May 8, 1924 to Forrest J. and Clara Segers Cushman at Creole Springs, Ill. He graduated in 1942 from Veedersburg High School. He was a member of the Russellville Community Church and Russellville American Legion and Booster Club. He owned and operated Standard Oil and R & M Oil in Russellville. He served in the US Army Air Force...

GREENCASTLE -- A Greencastle man was sentenced Thursday for battering an 18-month old. Anthony M. Cox, 22, was convicted on one count of Class D felony battery. Judge Matthew Headley sentenced Cox to 18 months with one year executed. Cox will spend the last three months of his executed time on house arrest, with the final six months on probation...

FILLMORE -- Town council president Jeff Osborn opened Thursday's meeting by telling residents the council has been working at improving the town, and he thinks this is being accomplished. "We are making progress, and I hope people can see that," Osborn said...

GREENCASTLE -- Ask a group of children what they want to be when they grow up, and odds are at least one of them will say "a police officer." This past week, a group of local sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders got to experience firsthand what police officers have to go through during training during a Police Boot Camp. ...

GREENCASTLE -- Event organizers at The Waters of Greencastle Nursing Home invited residents, employees and community members to witness and participate in the facility's first-ever Independence Day parade Thursday morning, complete with live entertainment and patriotic fare...

The mainstay of Independence Day celebrations -- fireworks -- will light up the night sky across the country this holiday, and using proper precautions and following the law in using pyrotechnics will make the festivities safer and saner for everyone...

GREENCASTLE -- With Independence Day falling on a Sunday this year, Greencastle's Fourth of July celebration will stretch the entire weekend, with activities both today and Sunday. The celebration began this morning with the 19th annual Mike Rokicki Memorial 5K Road Run as well as Pancakes for Parks and Pathways, to benefit Friends of the Park and People Pathways...

Mark K Walton, 48, North Salem, died Thursday, July 1, 2010. He was born Aug. 9, 1961 in Indianapolis, son of Verne Clay Walton, Jr. and Vera Keal Walton. He married Kathy Wray on June 20, 1987. She survives. He was a member of North Salem United Methodist Church and the NRA...

A memorial service will be held for Vera J. Osborne at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 11, 2010 at Forest Hill Cemetery. She was a lifetime resident of Greencastle and spent her last eight years living in Florida.

PJ Kelley begins making his one-of-a-kind fireworks T-shirt during the Putnam County Museum's fireworks fling program. Children learned about the history of Independence Day and why there are fireworks on the Fourth of July then used squirt bottles filled with various colors of dye to create a unique T-shirt to wear all year long. ...