Stories from Monday, February 7, 2011

February is American Heart Month and it has nothing to do with Valentine's Day. Since 1963, Congress has required the president to proclaim February "American Heart Month" to raise public awareness about heart disease. One of the major risks for heart disease is having too much sodium in your diet which can increase blood pressure and raise the risk for not only heart disease but also stroke and kidney disease. Heart disease and stroke are the nation's first and third leading causes of death...

Greencastle Police Department Damage $2,501-$5,000. Carmichael was ticketed for unreasonable speed, driving while suspended and operating without financial responsibility. Carmichael's vehicle towed by Seniour's. Damage $2,500-$5,000. Information included in the Putnam Scanner is taken from reports provided to the Banner Graphic by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Greencastle Police Department and Greencastle Fire Department...

CLOVERDALE -- Today is the first meeting of a new group at the Putnam County Center for Women's Ministries in Cloverdale. Julie Goss is the group facilitator. "The curriculum is titled Making Peace with your Past," Goss said. "It's a small group of ten women."...

GREENCASTLE -- After the recent winter storms, a trip to a tropical paradise may seem like a welcome escape. The United Way of Putnam County is offering just that at their annual dinner March 5, raffling off a grand prize trip to the Cayman Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea...

On Wednesday, the DePauw women's basketball players will hold a basketball clinic at the Lilly Center, for boys and girls in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. The clinic will be from 7-8:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the door. While there is no set charge to attend, all participants are asked to make a donation in any amount...

GREENCASTLE --This Thursday, the Putnam County Public Library will be host to magic -- not the magic of reading and literacy but the stage magic of C. R. Ryan Demler, at 4 p.m. Demler's act involves his six-year-old son. "I'm actually a third generation magician," Demler said. "My grandfather did a little bit of magic, as did my father. I'm really the one who took it, ran with it and made it a career. Now my son, the fourth generation in the Demler household is performing with me."...

GREENCASTLE -- Many football fans likely spent the Super Bowl glued to their televisions to watch every play and commercial. The Hawaii Club at DePauw University was able to watch the game and also play a few rounds of nou pohaku, a traditional Hawaiian game similar to a boulder toss but traditionally involving spears...

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- After a postponement of the sectional prelims, the finals came around for the swimmers less than 24 hours later on Saturday. Much to the surprise of many, Putnam County's girls achieved personal bests in the short turnaround time. Greencastle placed second in the meet with 242 points, behind Crawfordsville's score of 310. South Putnam was ninth with a 59...

MOORESVILLE -- With snow still flying outside and road making everyone take a little extra time to get there, 15 Putnam County wrestlers took to the mats at the Mooresville Regional in hopes of making it to the semi-state in Evansville. When the dust settled Saturday afternoon, six wrestlers moved on with their dream of a state title still intact. ...