Stories from Thursday, September 15, 2011

What can you learn about a band in five brief songs? Quite a bit, actually. In the case of "This One's Different," the debut EP from Minneapolis-based upstarts Howler, you learn about their influences. It's a mix of pop hooks, classic garage-surf rock, a touch of Hüsker Dü and a heavy dose of modern alternapunk smarts and attitude...

In a stage show as brazen and brass as she, Carrie Fisher gives us "Wishful Drinking", an exploration through her life that filled with interesting and funny stories about life with her famous parents Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher and her battles with mental illness...

By CAINE GARDNER Film Critic I recently received a quad of modern classics from Lionsgate Home Entertainment and was amazed that time hasn't done anything to take away from their influence. Lionsgate recently released Blu-ray versions of "Swingers", "Good Will Hunting", "Rounders" and "Trainspotting" and while they have their share of flaws, the films showcase what was at the time a crop of up and coming talent who have cemented their place in Hollywood...

The Greencastle boys' soccer team defeated West Vigo 4-0 Tuesday on the road. Sonney Basham scored two first half goals to get Greencastle going. Jon Good extended the lead with 29:33 remaining in the contest. Closing out the Tiger Cubs scoring was freshman Brayden Watson, scoring his first career goal on rebound from a shot by Sedrick Weinschenk...

The North Putnam eighth grade football team lost a close contest to Tuttle Tuesday, 8-6. The Cougars had an early lead when Brad Hodges connected with Jimmy Rutter touchdown pass. Tuttle's defense held strong against some nice Cougar drives, including a goal line stand to end the first half...

There will be a Powder Puff football game next Tuesday at Greencastle High School in celebration of homecoming week. The freshmen and sophomores get things going at 7 p.m., followed by the juniors and seniors. It will be a fundraiser for the girls' basketball program...

TERRE HAUTE -- Indiana State University will host its annual Family Day on Saturday, Sept. 24. The event is an opportunity for ISU students to show their appreciation for the important role that families play in their education and their lives. It's also an opportunity for families to see their student's home away from home...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana once again posted significant gains in the number of students taking Advanced Placement (AP), SAT and PSAT exams, according to a report released this week by The College Board. Each year, The College Board releases data evaluating the college readiness of students in Indiana and across the United States...

The Walmart Greencastle transportation office has chosen Greencastle High School to receive a $1,000 donation as part of Walmart's commitment to education. Private fleet truck drivers for Walmart -- already among the safest drivers in the country -- drove extra carefully during the week from Aug. 6-12, and for every accident-free mile they drove during that week, the Walmart Foundation made a financial contribution to local schools...

City Police A 48-year-old Gr-eencastle man was arrested and lodged in the Putnam County Jail Tuesday night for allegedly stealing a juvenile's scooter. Larry E. Dickerson was arrested at 9:34 p.m. by Officer Eric Vaughan after reportedly taking a 2010 Renegade scooter from the front yard of a home in the 900 block of East Washington Street. The scooter was valued at $800, police said...

CLOVERDALE -- As the school year gets into full swing, things are looking good for the Cloverdale Community School Corporation. Dianna Whitlock, the Cloverdale Elementary assistant principal, updated the board Monday night on the progress of the CCSC High Ability Program...

CLOVERDALE -- Finances and utilities were the main focus yet again of the Cloverdale Town Council at Tuesday's meeting. The meeting lasted a little over an hour and covered things such as the standpipe updates, the Smyser Demo project, as well as highway zoning...

Stopping by the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce office on South Jackson Street Wednesday morning, Jamie France receives a dozen roses from Chamber Executive Director Tammy Amor as part of the annual Friendship Day event. Some 4,000 roses were given away Wednesday at a number of local sponsor locations with one caveat -- that the recipient keep just one rose and distribute the remaining 11 flowers to other people as a sign of friendship.

For the next few weeks Putnam County Library will host Story Time for children of all ages, Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. It also hosts Family Time stories on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. Stories will feature different themes for the children and their families to enjoy.

The last time Police Chief Tom Sutherlin spoke candidly in front of the Greencastle City Council, he became the harbinger of doom. At the August Council meeting, Chief Sutherlin talked about how local police calls were up considerably, calling it the product of "hard times" and warning city officials that Greencastle may not be immune to the type of crimes seen elsewhere in alarming fashion...

Telling the evil Krojack (Dustin Bond, left) to keep his mitts off the embassy personnel, The Chef (Ric McFadden) brandishes a wire whisk in a scene from the Putnam County Playhouse production of "Don't Drink the Water." Miss Burns (Sandi Rossok) and Mr. Kilroy (Don Collins) use The Chef as a shield. The Woody Allen comedy will close the 50th anniversary season of Putnam County Playhouse with 8 p.m. performances nightly through Saturday at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre on Round Barn Road in Greencastle. Tickets are $10 each and ticket information is available by calling the box office at 653-5800 from 5-8 p.m. nightly.

The third annual Family Movie Night at Robe-Ann Park in Greencastle will feature the film "Rio" on Saturday, Sept. 17. Admission is to the G-rated movie will be free of charge. Refreshments will be free as well, the Putnam County Youth Development Commission noted...

On Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, our son, brother, uncle, nephew, grandchild, cousin and friend, Kevin Eugene Phelps of Bloomington, passed away unexpectedly at 46. Kevin was born in Indianapolis on Feb. 25, 1965 to Hershel Phelps and Shirley (Williams) Brock...

Nov. 3, 1924-- Sept. 15, 2011 Mrs. Katherine Irene Finchum, age 86, Belle Union, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 at the Millpond Health Campus. Born Nov. 3, 1924 in Putnam County, she was the daughter of Ralph and Agusta (Wallace) Secrest. She married Woodrow J. Finchum on Feb. 17, 1943, and he preceded her in death on Sept, 6, 1987...

July 31,1933-- Sept. 15, 2011 Jessie V. Lucas, 78, Cloverdale, passed away on Sept. 15, 2011 at Kindred Hospital, Indianapolis South at Greenwood. She was born on July 31, 1933 in Catlin, Ill., and was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Ruth (Carson) Bishop...

Kevin Dale Carrington, 56, Russellville, died Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 14, 2011 at St Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. He was born Feb. 17, 1955 at Crawfordsville to Philip and Doris Marsteller Carrington. He graduated from North Putnam High School and IUPUI...