Stories from Monday, July 11, 2011

WHITELAND -- Garry Waters of Cloverdale did two things he, or any other parent, would never imagine doing Saturday. He said goodbye to his 21-year-old son James Allen Waters -- a U.S. Army infantryman who was killed in action July 1 when his unit was attacked in Afghanistan by insurgents detonating an improvised explosive device...

WHITELAND -- He was called a hero. An inspiration to all those with whom he shared locker rooms or Army barracks. He was called a brother in arms. A great son. A perfect soldier. A true American. If James A. "Jimmy" Waters had heard all that ... if he had seen all the hoopla in his honor ... if he had known about all of the people he had never met who came to see him Saturday ... what would he have thought?...

PUTNAMVILLE -- With dirt car drivers embroiled in battles around multiple tracks around the state, Lincoln Park Speedway played host to an intense fan base and a large car count chasing the lion's share of winners' money. Casey Shuman, a night after testing his own Barnhill/Shuman machine with a new XXX .360 cubic inch power plant at Gas City to open Indiana Sprint Week, captured an impressive sprint car victory. ...

The Putnam County Airport Appreciation Days (PCAAD) Group has announced that raffle tickets will go on sale to help raise funds for the Putnam County Airport's annual Appreciation Days event. The raffle tickets will cost $5 each or three for $10. This year's event will be greatly expanded, with many more activities planned for the entire family...

The Mongrel Dogs, a Parkfest staple for several years, will bring a new repertoire to the Robe-Ann Park Bandshell from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday night. Istvan Csiscery-Ronay and Ron Dye have been playing music as a duo since 2007. Over most of that time, it's been mostly cover songs, but they've changed direction in the last year...

It's a combination "welcome back" and "farewell" concert as the Greencastle Summer Music Festival continues at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church. Festival founder and DePauw University cello professor Eric Edberg is performing in Indiana for the first time since returning from a sabbatical in New York City...

Legionburgers and cattle judging at the Putnam County Fair do not occupy the fairgrounds for a couple more weeks. But that doesn't mean the week-long festival can't be kicked off a little early. That was what the Fairgrounds Endowment Committee had in mind when it held an ice cream party Sunday afternoon at the Putnam County Fairgrounds community building. ...

South Putnam Community Schools will open the 2011-12 school year on Tuesday, Aug.16 for students in kindergarten through 12 grade. All kindergarten students must be at least five years old before Aug. 1 to be eligible to enroll. Students will be in attendance all day on Aug. 16, and lunch will be served...

Windy Hill Country Club is pleased is hosting a golf scramble for women with the proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer research. The Rally for a Cure scramble will be held on Sunday, July 17 with a shotgun start at 1 p.m...

OWEN COUNTY -- A multi-county high-speed chase has resulted in the death of a Poland man. According to a press release from the Owen County Sheriff's Department, deputies spotted a suspicious vehicle at approximately 12:34 a.m. Saturday at the Cunot Community Center...

Ronald Lee Hoff, 78, of Heritage Lake, formerly of Cumberland and Greenfield, passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2011. He was born Aug. 11, 1933 to Walter and Lillie Hoff. Mr. Hoff was a graduate of Warren Central High School and Indiana University and received his Masters Degree from Ball State University. He taught elementary school for eight years at Mt. Comfort and McCordsville and 29 years at IPS School 14...

Beverley M. Sears, 77, Fillmore, passed away on Sunday, July 10, 2011. She was born April 22, 1934 in Benton County to Chester A. Liptrap and Clarice G. Smith Liptrap and they preceded her in death. Mrs. Sears was a graduate of Greencastle High School, a member of First Christian Church in Greencastle, D.A.R. and a former member of O.E.S. She was employed at Putnam County Hospital for 15 years as a nurse's aide...