Stories from Wednesday, August 4, 2010

CLAYTON -- The Greencastle girls' golf team opened its season with a win over Monrovia Monday. The Tiger Cubs carded a score of 200, while the Bulldogs fielded an incomplete team. Chelsea Samuels led the Tiger Cubs with a score of 42, with Katie Hedge adding a 48 and Diane Wokoun a 49. Kay Wood shot 61 and Makenzie St. Marie came in with a 70...

BRAZIL -- August in only a few days old, but the Putnam County schools have already begun their fall sports campaigns for the 2010-11 school year. On Tuesday, Cloverdale and South Putnam's girls' golf teams both competed in the Eagle Pride Golf Invitational at Oak Ridge. The host Eagles placed fourth on the day with a team score of 417, while Cloverdale did not qualify for the team scores...

Eric Dehaven of Greencastle reported that he stopped at the stop sign on Hillsdale and Shadowlawn avenues at 8:34 p.m. July 31 when he looked east and did not see the vehicle of Andrew Carr of Greencastle traveling westbound on Shadowlawn Avenue. Dehaven then said he started to turn west from Hillsdale Avenue onto Shadowlawn, where a collision occurred...

My mom used to tell me all the time that I shouldn't be in such a hurry to grow up. "When you have kids of your own," she'd tell me, "You'll be amazed at how fast time starts to go by." Funny how over the years the things my mom used to say to me have come back to me, sounding more and more sage every time...

A new Web site, iwritelike.com, is for wordsmiths who want to compare their literary style to world-renowned writers. Many authors are surprised to find out who they are emulating because they have never actually read another person's book or poem. Just cut and paste a short nugget from your unfinished novel, an old term paper or the dirty limerick you wrote on a napkin, and before you can say Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the computer analyzes your word choices, sentence length, rhythm and structure. ...

To the Editor: My wife and I purchased the Marsh building over two years ago. We have really enjoyed the people we've met in Greencastle; contractors are fair and the labor we have dealt with shows up on time and always does a great job. The tenants have been terrific and even the kids that congregate in the parking lot place all the trash in the trashcan...

To the Editor, Last month, July 4th marked 44 years since the landmark Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was signed into federal law -- yet Americans are still distrustful of government. A recent Pew Research Center poll showed that only 22 percent of Americans surveyed say they can trust government in Washington "almost always or most of the time" -- among the lowest ratings in the half-century since pollsters have been asking the question...

To the Editor, To all who are involved in the military: I was driving down Highway 40 the other day as I noticed a sign on the right side of the road. It said, "Make it your mission to thank a soldier." I had a movement in my heart to do so. I have never been one to really think about just what the Army as a whole does for me and means to me...

As exhausting as it may feel, for those who are heavily involved in the county Fair, for most it is a labor of love. Where else can you see so many of your family, old and new friends, neighbors and acquaintances in one place? It's a time to view exhibits by the young and not so young and to get your fix of those not so healthy but oh-so-tasty fair treats...

Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce a number of serious health problems that can be difficult or expensive to treat in your companion animal. It can make your dog or cat a better companion for you and your family. Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark their territory with pungent urine...

Merle Schroeder of Greencastle was the lucky recipient of the Quilt Block Contest Quilt, which was given away in the Adult Open Class Exhibit Hall on the final night of the fair. The quilt was one of two that were made from the quilt blocks entered in the 2009 Quilt Block Contest.

The Greencastle Police Department plans in the near future to have extra patrols when new four-way stop at S.R. 240 and Zinc Mill Road. Questions can be directed to the GPD at 653-2925. Sarah Myers, a junior at Ball State University and rural Fillmore resident, studied in London, England for a semester last year...

ROACHDALE -- North Putnam Community School Corp. is the recipient of a nearly $2 million grant that will aid in renovation and repair projects across the district, superintendent Mary Sugg Lovejoy announced at a school board work session Tuesday. The district will receive the $1.95 million bond through a Qualified School Construction Bond, which will allow NPCSC to purchase bonds at a net 0 percent interest rate for rehabilitation and repair projects around the district...

GREENCASTLE -- An independent consulting firm has offered its services to the county as officials continue to explore courthouse annex options. Kramer Companies owner Dan Sulkoske made a presentation to the Putnam County Commissioners at Monday's meeting...

GREENCASTLE -- A former Carmel High School student accused of attacking younger players will not be enrolling at DePauw this month. Robert Kitzinger, 19, will not be among the 621 freshmen converging on campus for when orientation begins on Aug. 21...

BAINBRIDGE -- In trying times, one Bainbridge family is hoping the generosity of others will help them through. Randy Neeley, a school bus diesel mechanic for North Putnam Community School Corporation, was diagnosed with carcinoid tumors, and starting undergoing treatments for more aggressive forms Monday...

GREENCASTLE -- Roger Bailey, County Executive Director for the Putnam/Hendricks County Farm Service Agency, announced recently that a general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) runs through much of August. The sign-up began on Aug 2 and continue through Aug. 27. During the sign-up period, farmers and ranchers may offer eligible land for CRP's competitive general sign-up at their county Farm Service Agency (FSA) office...

(Left to right) Dylan and Connor Barcus, ages 3 and 6 respectively, look on as Deborah Kovach pumps air into a model of a lung at the Johnson Nichols Health Clinic booth at the 27th National Night Out Tuesday night at Robe-Ann Park. The event, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, aims to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness.

GREENCASTLE -- The Greencastle Summer Classical Music Festival continues tonight as violinist Federico Agostini (of the Inidana University Jacobs School of Music faculty) and DePauw School of Music piano professor Claude Cymerman perform sonatas by Debussy, Ravel, and Franck...

GREENCASTLE -- The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announced today the intersection of State Road 240 and Zinc Mill Road/Percy Julian Drive in Greencastle will become a four-way stop condition. Crews with INDOT will install the stop signs beginning Wednesday. Motorists are urged to pay attention to the changes in traffic patterns...