Stories from Monday, July 25, 2011

PUTNAMVILLE -- It's hard to pick a hotter sprint car driver than the winner of the Indiana Sprint Week Championship Chris Windom, but Dave Darland is no stranger to the winner's circle at Lincoln Park Speedway. On Saturday night, it was nearly a photo finish as Darland passed Windom on the final 200 feet to pick up his fourth feature win of the season in the Daryl Tate-owned 21x sprinter sponsored by Leer Racing, Earl's Indy, Rod's End Supply, Hoosier Tire, DRC machine. ...

The Greencastle Summer Music Festival continues Wednesday as the Encore Duo -- harpist Jill Pitz and cellist Marjorie Hanna -- performs at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church. As always, the concert is free and open to the public (donations are accepted)...

ROACHDALE -- High fuel prices over the last year meant the North Putnam School Corporation lost money on athletic transportation last year in spite of charging athletes $15 in transportation fees. With the shortfall and continued budget constraints, the school board voted 7-0 on Thursday to raise the fees to $20...

The 10th Annual Putnam County Museum Gala and annual meeting is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 in the ballroom of the DePauw University Student Union with guitarist Sandy Williams as guest speaker. The theme of the annual meeting and gala is being coordinated with the opening of the music exhibit and release of the "Putnam County Prime Cuts" CD, which will include more than 20 songs written by and/or performed by Putnam County musicians...

When unemployment statistics are issued monthly, the media and the reading public basically see numbers and percentages. Judy Miller sees sad eyes and people in need. "This is really a trying time for everyone," the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry director and board president said...

Madonna M. Finchum, 91, Cloverdale, passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2011 at Hickory Creek at Sunset in Greencastle. She was born on Sept. 3, 1919 in Greencastle and was the daughter of the late Samuel and Pearl M. (Broadstreet) Cosner. She was married to Robert Earl Finchum on Sept. 2, 1941 and he preceded her in death on June 15, 1983. She was a member of the Cloverdale Christian Church and was a barber...

Penny Lyn (Tellas) Blair, 59, Phoenix, passed away Friday, July 15, 2011 at Paradise Valley Hospital in Phoenix from a blood clot in her heart. She had been hospitalized since July 9 for severe abdominal pain. She was born Oct. 9, 1951, the daughter of Don and Virginia Tellas...

BAINBRIDGE -- A tractor-trailer wreck and hazardous materials spill shortly before 10 a.m. Monday kept emergency personnel busy throughout the day. At approximately 9:50 a.m., a call came in of an overturned semi tanker with an entrapped driver at U.S. 36 and U.S. 231...