Stories from Thursday, June 2, 2011

By ERIC BERNSEE Editor WASHINGTON, D.C. - The 28th annual Scripps Howard Spelling Bee semifinals continued Thursday without nine-year-old Addison W. Hughes of Putnam County. A South Putnam Central Elementary School fourth-grader, Hughes was one of 234 spellers eliminated Wednesday when the national contest cut the field of 275 competitors to 41 semifinalists...

Sarah Jarosz makes you laugh, she makes you cry. Her voice is comforting and haunting. The music comes from someplace traditional, yet modern. It's music of beauty and contradictions. And it all works wonderfully. It was outstanding on her debut album, "Song Up In Her Head," and again on "The New 45" EP, a two-song teaser between her first and second album...

When the first previews for Nicolas Cage's "Drive Angry" were flying around, I barely gave it another look. Another quicky flick to make a little cash -- that's seemed to be Cage's formula for success at this point in his career. However, after "Drive Angry" showed up in my mailbox and I popped it in my DVD player, I found something very surprising...

The Greencastle boys' golf team defeated South Putnam 305-399 Tuesday as the two squads ready for the sectional tournament Monday. Alec Davis led four GHS golfers with scores in the 70s on the round. Davis shot a 73, followed by Brad Haussin's 75, Jim Wheeler's 76 and Luke Brotherton's 79. Raymond Stinson shot an 81, with Tanner Dean adding an 82, Derik Thomas an 89 and Tyler Hopkins a 93...

The following are honor rolls from various grade levels and schools: Bainbridge Elementary 4th nine weeks Grade 3 A: Adam Ammons, Grace Catney, Emma Haste, Olivia Haste, Taylor Hensley, Melanee Brown, Cauy Whaley A/B: Lucius Alexander, Wes Branchfield, Sierra DeWees, Sara Godddard, Kaelynn Howard, Grant Jarboe, Zane Mason, Baylee Osburn, Austin Rader, Cory Ellsworth, Clarissa Gibson, Anna Grimes, Casey Herring, Lauren Lotzow, Josie Lyons, Preston Parks, Katie Pierce, Zephyr Tallman, Dana Tennis, Matthew Trotter, Ella Gilbert, Eli Warner, Kyle Young, Clara Alford, Silas Gill, Collin Hines, Carissa Jones, Ashley Witty. ...

City Police Two recent arrests were made by Greencastle City Police officers. Capt. Mike Hanlon was called to Superior Court in the Putnam County Courthouse at 9:39 a.m. Wednesday on the report of an intoxicated person in the courtroom. Arrested was Kevin K. Huber, 45, Greenwood, who was appearing in court on a May 29 arrest for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated...

BRAZIL -- The Brazil Concert Band, under the direction of Matthew S. Huber, opens the 2011 season Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Forest Park bandshell (or pavilion if rain). The concert is free and open to the public. Now in its 154th year of continuous operation, the BCB will present "Seen and Heard," dedicated to the late Jim Dressler (1935-2011) former long time editor of The Brazil Times. He was a journalist for 38 years and titled his column "Seen and Heard."...

The Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department recently announced a number of events for the summer of 2011. Celebrate Kids Fishing Day: Grab your tackle box and favorite fishing rod and head to Jaycee park on Saturday for a fun-filled morning of fishing. ...

On Saturday, the Hendricks County Trail Development Association along with Hendricks Regional Health is hosting the 19th annual B&O Bicycle Tour. The tour will begin at 9 a.m., starting and ending at Williams Park, 940 South Locust Lane, Brownsburg...

PUTNAMVILLE -- A veteran Indiana State Police trooper assigned to the Putnamville Post recently celebrated 30-plus years with the department and was publicly recognized at a post meeting. Master Trooper Don Farris was appointed to the Indiana State Police Department on April 26, 1981 after successfully graduating from the ISP Recruit Academy...

FILLMORE -- It's another 90-degree day in Fillmore but if you were to pull onto the Croan property, you would probably find Charles Thomas Croan climbing into his tractor. While many men who have been retired for as long as Croan might be sitting in their living room watching TV in the comfort of air conditioning, you would find Croan heading off to the hay fields for the afternoon...

Eyeing expanded recreational opportunities, the Greencastle Park Board Tuesday night finalized a proposal seeking $210,000 in grant funding for proposed improvements at Big Walnut Sports Park. The proposal was due Wednesday at Indianapolis in order for the city to qualify for the possibility of a 2011 Land & Water Conservation Fund Grant...

Campers at the 2011 Putnam County Fair will be able to use air-conditioning units this year, thanks to a fairgrounds project being completed by McCloud Electric Service, Roachdale.

Mrs. Frances Lucille Oliver, 86, Greencastle, passed away on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at Hickory Creek at Sunset. Born November 1, 1924 in Indianapolis, she was the daughter of Benjamin and Bertha (Conrad) Stepro. Frances had retired, having been a supervisor in housekeeping, working in the state of Alaska...

Ernest J. "Ernie" Ford Jr., 70, Greencastle, passed away on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Ernie was born on June 7, 1940 in Salt Lake City to Ernest J. Ford and Helen Worthen Ford. He received his formal education from the University of Utah, attaining his bachelors and masters degrees in journalism...

On Thursday, May 26, North Putnam Middle School celebrated the end of the year with their annual Carnival celebration, sponsored by school group the Cougar Ambassadors.