Stories from Monday, January 31, 2011

AVON -- When tournament time comes the motto is live to fight another day. Following Saturday's Avon wrestling sectional, 15 local wrestlers will be packing their bags once more and making the trek south to the Mooresville regional. Cloverdale was the top finishing Putnam County team, leap frogging and eventually edging Greencastle by a half a point, 111.50-111.00, when all was said and done. South Putnam was ninth with 53 points and North Putnam was 10th with 32 points...

Ever wanted a few chickens or a horse on your property? Have you been curious about what it takes to own goats, sheep, pigs, or cows? Come and learn at this new class series. The Back to Basics: A Novice's Guide to Farm Animal series is designed for aspiring small farmers, land owners, or 4-Hers interested in owning farm animals...

CLOVERDALE -- The Putnam and Owen County SWCDs are hosting a contractor's breakfast meeting on Feb. 10, 2011 at the Cloverdale Holiday Inn Express to update contractors on the Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) guidelines for building land structures...

Gary D. Newman, 76, of Asheville, N.C., formerly of Lafayette, passed away Monday, Jan. 17, 2011 at his residence surrounded by his family. A native of Putnam County he was son of the late Leonard Coy and Mildred D. Leap Newman. He graduated from Fillmore High School in 1952, honorably served in the U.S. ...

GREENCASTLE -- The Putnam County Community Foundation announced recently that Alfred P. "Doc" Page and his wife, Dorsey, established an endowment that will provide financial support for the care and maintenance of the fire safety training center in Greencastle...

GREENCASTLE -- South Putnam High School guidance counselor Becky Brothers doesn't seek recognition for the things she does for the community. So when she was announced Saturday night as the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year at the organization's annual dinner, she was more than a little surprised...

CUNOT -- William "Billy" Bottoms participated in many activities at the Cunot Community Center. With that in mind, it makes poetic sense to have a celebration of his life there. The center was filled to the brim Sunday afternoon as well over 150 family members, friends and well wishers came together to remember a boy from the small town who died recently...

Charles C. "Bud" Hall Jr., 75, of Greencastle passed away on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. He was born on Jan. 15, 1936 in Indianapolis to Charles C. Hall, Sr. and Ada Brown Hall. Mr. Hall was a member of Greencastle Christian Church and the N.R.A. He retired from Allison Transmissions in Indianapolis...

Oscar Kenneth Miller, 83, of Fillmore passed away Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 at his residence at Autumn Glen. Born Dec. 26, 1927 in Fillmore, he was the son of Otha James and Lola (Arnold) Miller and had attended Fillmore schools. He married Verna May (Bruner) Miller on Dec. 27, 1944 and she preceded him in death on April 24, 1994...

Howard J. Earl, 91, of Bonita Springs, Fla. died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011 at Life Care Center of Estero, Fla. Formerly a resident of Greencastle, Howard had resided in Florida for over 20 years. He was born Jan. 7, 1920 in Terre Haute to the late Harry and Minnie (nee Hutchinson) Earl...

The Putnam County Middle School Boy's Basketball Tournament that was scheduled for this evening has been postponed (a new date has not been set). Additionally, all athletic practices scheduled for Greencastle schools for this evening have been canceled, with the exception of eighth grade girl's basketball...

James "Coach" Huter, 85, of Greencastle passed away on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011. Visitation will be on Thursday from 2-8 p.m. at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Interment with Honors will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery...

GREENCASTLE -- With weather agencies forecasting an inch or more of ice accumulation Tuesday, county and municipal officials met Monday afternoon to make plans in the event of an ice storm this week. Police, fire, highway and other emergency and public safety officials from throughout the county met at the Putnam County Emergency Operations Center to discuss the plans of the individual agencies as well as how they will cooperate if the ice storm hits...

All four county school corporations will be closed Tuesday due to the winter storm.

Robert E. Orcutt Jr., 62, Poland, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011 at Terre Haute Regional Hospital. He was born on June 14, 1948 in Beech Grove and was the son of Robert E. Orcutt Sr. and Betty Jane (Krieger) Orcutt. He was married to Emma Jean Shearin on Sept. 5, 1998 and she preceded him in death on April 28, 2007. He had been employed by RCA in Bloomington, was a US Army veteran of Vietnam and was very active in Bassmasters...

Barbara Ann Buckelew, 70, of Sun Lakes, Ariz., passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on Jan. 15, 2011. She was born in Springhill, La. on Nov. 23, 1940. She was a school teacher and proudly taught school in four states: Louisiana, Virginia, Indiana and Kansas. She was a talented artist and doll maker who was blessed with an abundance of creative skills...