Stories from Thursday, July 22, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- When DePauw women's basketball assistant coach Mary Smith arrived in Greencastle several years ago she came upon a number of stray dogs who were in need of homes. She was fortunate to place several dogs in loving homes, and two dogs she opened her own heart and home to were puppies Jake and Tanner, and later Grace...

If you want to see Andy Griffith as you've never seen him before, check out Marc Fienberg's "Play the Game" and witness an actor who's as funny as ever and brave enough to stretch beyond the norm. Griffith plays Grandpa Joe; a man reserved to his retirement community, two years removed from his wife's passing and spends his days waiting for his grandson to visit...

By CAINE GARDNER Film Critic The year 2010 has been a big year for Greek mythology and cinema. Most people will turn to the epic "Clash of the Titans" first, but it was "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" that took to the top spot for me...

Sylvia Sue Hall, 57, of Indianapolis, formerly of Greencastle, passed away Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis. Born Jan. 4, 1953 in Greencastle, she was the daughter of Bennie Lee and Sylvia Jane (Martin) Hall. She was a 1972 graduate of Greencastle High School...

Alvin J. Erpelding died on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. Al was born in Winona, Minn. on May 16, 1919 to Magdelena (Miller) and Edward Erpelding. Al graduated from Cotter High School in Winona and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, where he learned firefighting. ...

Thelma R. Swope, 74, Mooresville, formerly of Cloverdale, passed away on July 13, 2010 at her residence. She was born in Cloverdale on Aug. 27, 1935 and was the daughter of the late George Wesley and Divona Parks Query. She was married to Jack E. Swope in 1953 and he survives...

Connie Rodgers of Plainfield was traveling east on US 40 at 7:40 p.m. Saturday, when she lost control of her vehicle due to heavy rain. Her vehicle crossed the median and came to rest in a ditch. Nathan Gaffeny of Greencastle was traveling on CR 725E near Bainbridge at 3 p.m. Sunday, when his vehicle rounded a curve and he veered right to avoid an oncoming vehicle and lost control. His vehicle came to rest overturned in a ditch...

GREENCASTLE -- An eighth continuance has been granted in the case of a Greencastle woman who pled guilty in June to three Class D felony counts of neglect of a dependent. Amy Marie Otterman (formerly Reed) was arrested in October 2008 after her 1-year-old and 3-month-old daughters tested positive for methamphetamine, methadone, cocaine and marijuana...

Banner Graphic/ JAMIE BARRAND Representatives from the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Greencastle Police Department and Greencastle Fire Department responded to a minor personal injury accident Wednesday afternoon just after 1 p.m. The two-vehicle accident happened when a minivan pulled out into the intersection of U.S. 231 North and C.R. 75N. One person was transported via ambulance to the Putnam County Hospital. No further details were available at press time.

A U.S. Military transport semi tractor carrying two passengers overturned as it was heading southbound on U.S. 231 South at Plessinger's Hill near Faith Walkers Community Church Wednesday afternoon. No injuries were reported, and no other vehicles were involved. Three members of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, including Sheriff Steve Fenwick, reported that the call to investigate the overturned vehicle came at around 4:20 p.m. Cpl. John Chadd said the vehicle likely overturned because it lost control turning around a corner when roads were slick. Further details will become available after police file a report Thursday morning, according to PCSD officials.

GREENCASTLE -- Lois Clark will be 80 years old on Jan. 27. After all these years, she's developed a serious addiction. It's skydiving. On June 19, Lois went skydiving for the first time. "It was something I wanted to do for my 80th birthday, but I didn't want to skydive in January," Lois said...

GREENCASTLE -- Lee Creed remembers how he was able to convince Dick Funk to start the Beetle brigade that has capped off the annual Putnam County 4-H Fair Parade for the past 10 years. "Years of whining and him telling me no," he said. "It took getting enough people ganging up on him. We needed people to plant a bug in his ear."...