Stories from Thursday, June 30, 2011

PUTNAMVILLE -- Moweaqua, Ill. native Shannon Babb is quickly picking up steam in pursuit of his third career DIRTcar Summer Nationals championship. Babb started fourth and surpassed current DIRTcar Late Model National points leader Ryan Unzicker on the 14th circuit at Lincoln Park Speedway on Tuesday night and went on to score his second consecutive feature victory on the tour...

After the debacle that was "Revenge of the Fallen", director Michael Bay had something to prove with the newest installment of the Transformers franchise "Dark of the Moon". The movie is a definite improvement, and perhaps the best of the three films, but purists of the Autobots and Decepticons will leave the theater grumbling. But first things first, let's get on with the review...

PUTNAMVILLLE -- The Putnamville Correctional Facility was the recipient of the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award and the Above and Beyond Award during the Employer Support of the Guard Reserves (ESGR) annual awards banquet. PCF was bestowed the awards recently in recognition of outstanding service and continuing support of military employees...

The Greencastle Arts Council will be having a variety of activities this weekend at its monthly First Friday event. The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at locations across Greencastle. The first events will be held at Robe Ann Park. Lenora Bowlby will be showcasing her bookshelf art, Kim Pieper will display photographs from her recent trip to Washington D.C. ...

After stops in Jacksonville, Fla., and New York, Clay County native Andrea Kennedy is back home again in Indiana as the new sales and marketing manager for the Banner Graphic. She succeeds John York, who will be leaving July 8 to take a job outside of newspaper advertising...

While one of the best small-town fireworks displays in Indiana will again be the centerpiece, the annual Greencastle Fourth of July celebration will be much more than bombs bursting in air. Monday's activities will begin and 7 a.m. and conclude sometime in the 10 p.m. hour with food, competition, fun and games on the menu...

It is time again to be thinking about the Putnam County Fair Parade. This year, the parade will take place Friday evening, July 22. The starting time is 6:30 p.m., with plans to arrive at the courthouse square by 7 p.m. Those who are planning to have a float for judging must have it ready at the Greencastle High School parking lot by 4:30 p.m. The streets will be closed at 5 p.m., so all other entries should be checking in by that time as well...

The 2011 Putnam County 4-H Fair Queen Contest is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 16 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds Community Building. Ten young ladies will vie for queen this year, with 2010 Queen Stephanie Berry, center, crowning the 2011 queen at night's end. Pictured are, from left, Julie Cox, Emily Dean, Samantha Croan, Paxton Stephenson, Danielle Harbison, Berry, Cara Stanley, Chelsea Hilburn, Cierra Perry, Katherine Oliver and Megan Robinson.