Stories from Monday, June 13, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS -- An athlete only gets so many chances at redemption. South Putnam's Jenny Thompson didn't let hers slip away in Saturday's Class 2A softball state championship game. The junior catcher, 0-for-3 entering her ninth-inning atbat, sent a laser to the left field fence for a three-run double that scored teammates MaKenzie Trisler, Janet Crafton and Emily Dabkowski...

As part of an ongoing effort to better serve the military community, the American Red Cross has recently announced its Service to the Armed Forces program will move to a single telephone number for its emergency communication services. Beginning June 13, all military members and their families can use one number, 877-272-7337 (U.S. Toll Free), to send an urgent message to a service member...

Judy Ann Smyser, 58, Greencastle, passed away Thursday, June 9, 2011 at Putnam County Hospital. She was born June 15, 1952 to Henry and Rose (Goff) Pennington. Judy is survived by her husband, Oren; mother, Rose; sons, David and Larry; daughters, Donna, Deann, Amber and Ashley; brothers, George, Chuck, Tom and Wayne; sisters, Juanita, Diane, Kathy and Darlene; 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren...

The 2011 Greencastle Summer Music Festival continues Wednesday as Duo Amabile (violinist Matvey Lapin and DePauw University faculty/staff pianist Katya Kramer-Lapin) play a program of Russian music for violin and piano. There is no admission charge for the 7:30 p.m. performance at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church...

Jeanine Peterson's second-grade class at Bainbridge Elementary presented 15 books, written by the students, to Putnam County Hospital Marketing Coordinator Jennifer Bedwell recently. The books will be available for hospital patients to read during their stay at PCH.

A new sustainability initiative at DePauw University has been selected as a 2011 winner of the Ball Brothers Foundation Venture Fund competitive grant program. The $15,000 award will be used at DePauw to institute a first-of-its-kind program at an Indiana college...

Parkfest, a homegrown concert series featuring local musical talent in a family-oriented venue, begins its 18th season Tuesday with a 7 p.m. performance at Robe-Ann Park in Greencastle. Sponsored by the Greencastle Civic League, the long-running series offers free concerts for audiences of all ages picnicking, visiting with friends and watching children take advantage of nearby playground equipment at the Bob Flanigan bandshell...

PUTNAMVILLE -- Barely 48 hours had passed since fans had witnessed a barn burner of a show at "Indiana Midget Week" at Lincoln Park Speedway featuring the USAC Mopar Midgets, but on Saturday, the show was second-to-none as seven features, three of the make-up variety due to weather on June 4, left the crowd on the edge of its seats...

INDIANAPOLIS -- The celebration of South Putnam's state softball title had barely begun when one of the Eagles' male athletes shouted a question through the Ben Davis fence to Coach Chris Jones. "Hey Jones, are you satisfied now?" came the facetious query...

INDIANAPOLIS -- The IHSAA Class 2A softball tournament began with 100 teams. If the average team has a roster of 16, and we figure one out of four of those players is a senior, that makes 400 players making their last go-round in the tournament, give or take...

Margaret "Marge" Miller, 73, Cloverdale, passed away on June 11, 2011 at her residence. She was born on April 1, 1938 in Greencastle and was the daughter of the late Herbert Gordon and Olas (Gardner) Hinkle. She was a 1956 graduate of Greencastle High School. She had worked as a waitress at the Cloverdale Truck Stop for 15 years before she retired and then worked at CVS. She was a member of the Women of the Moose No. 138, Greencastle...

Douglas R. Cowart, 64, Noblesville, passed away on Monday, June 13, 2011 at home. He was born on Jan. 8, 1947 to Clifford and Madge (Mason) Cowart in Iron City, Tenn. 

Doug was retired from Riverview Hospital and was member of the Noblesville Moose Lodge and Amerian Legion...