Stories from Monday, January 9, 2012

CLINTON -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came up short against South Vermillion last Thursday 48-38. The team put together a solid first half, leading 23-21 at the break. Head coach Matthew Langdon acknowledged his team's first half performance on the night...

The Greencastle Middle School winter volleyball practices started Sunday and will also take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All practice times will run from 3:30 to 5:10 p.m. On Jan. 28, the winter volleyball practices for the fifth grade girls will start. Practices will be every Wednesday from 3:10 to 5 p.m...

ELLETTSVILLE -- The Greencastle freshman boys' basketball team captured the Edgewood Invitational Saturday. Using a superior team defensive effort, the Tiger Cubs defeated Bloomfield 39-14 and the host Mustangs 30-17. Greencastle did not allow more than five points in any quarter for the day...

The GHS boys' junior varsity basketball team split a pair of close games last week. On Thursday at McAnally Center, the young Tiger Cubs fought back from a 16-4 half-time deficit and lost to the Sparkplugs by six, 35-29. Down 18-4 after the first possession of the second half, Greencastle ratcheted-up the defensive pressure and went on a 20-7 run and were down 25-24 with a chance to take the lead at the free-throw stripe. ...

After experiencing the high of a six-game winning streak, the GHS girls' basketball team was dealt a harsh dose of reality when it matched up against Brown County Saturday. The Tiger Cubs came out flat after a big win the night before at Speedway and fell 56-32 to the Lady Eagles...

For the first time in some time, Greencastle's girls' swim squad was a part of the hunting pack at the WCC meet Saturday at DePauw University. Despite winning 10 of 12 events, defending champions Cascade were stunned when Greencastle reclaimed the WCC title by a solitary point, 367-366. South Putnam placed third with North Putnam finishing fourth...

Greencastle's boys' swim squad recorded its 15th straight WCC title at DePauw University Saturday afternoon while avenging a previous loss to second-place North Putnam with a 330-305 score. South Putnam placed third in the team score, 28 points better than fourth-place Cascade...

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is looking for the strangest trees in the state. The DNR Forestry division is accepting submissions for its 2012 "Invasion of the Weird Trees" online publication, which identifies the weirdest tree for each county. The list is updated every four years...

Curtis F. "Curt" Batty, age 51, of Mooresville passed away on Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. He was born on March 31, 1960 in Indianapolis to Fred F. and Carolyn Brown Batty. He married the former Kay Phipps on Feb. 6, 2001. She survives. Curt was a very loving husband and father...

Eugene "Gene" D Lindsey, 55, Coatesville, peacefully went to Our Lord Friday, Jan. 6, 2012 at his home, surrounded by all his loved ones. He was a true warrior against his long, 12-year battle with cancer, with a strong will and positive attitude. He amazed many by beating the odds against him many times...

The Alabama-based company known as IBEC has announced it will cease providing Internet service to Parke County REMC customers. IBEC, a company that has been providing Internet service over some of Parke County REMC power lines, recently told its customers in the area that it was going out of business and would shut down Internet service, perhaps as early as the end of January...

The new year's first Wednesday means the opening session of the Winter Edition of Walking Wednesdays as walking regular Darrel Thomas signs up for the morning program. Anyone who would like to walk with others interested in walking indoors at the DePauw University Track and Tennis Center may join the third season of the program conducted 8-10 a.m. each Wednesday through Feb. 22.

The Putnam County Public Library welcomed the return of Toddler Time Thursday morning as participants Addalyn Brinkman, Aiden Brinkman and Laney Cash listen to six stories read by Cortina Ziuchkovski, as well as participating in a craft following the story time.

DePauw University Professor Bruce Stinebrickner teaches and writes about American politics. Four years ago Stinebrickner observed the last three days of campaigning in the Iowa City area before attending an Iowa precinct caucus in Grinnell. This year he went to central Iowa and observed six Republican candidates at 14 campaign events over a four-day period starting on New Year's Eve.

As the number of visitors to the Banner Graphic website -- www.bannergraphic.com -- continued to increase in 2011, it was the stories of crime and controversy that drew the most readers' attention. The number of page views and unique visitors to bannergraphic.com, reached new heights in 2011, with both measures of traffic up more than 10 percent...

The Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its Annual Dinner for Saturday, Jan. 28 at the DePauw University Indoor Tennis and Track Facility. The evening will begin with social hour from 6-7 p.m. with DJ Jim "Figgy" Hardwick providing music. His appearance is sponsored by Duke Energy...

There's an old adage that says "gold is where you find it," and that's certainly an apropos sentiment for a guy like Mick Burney. Gold, silver, bronze or brass, Burney is apt to find it as he runs his trusty metal detector over the grounds at places like Greencastle's Robe-Ann Park...

The Greencastle Department of Public Works is continuing its annual Christmas tree pick-up efforts through Jan. 13. Residents within city limits may place only live Christmas trees (no tree stands or decorations) between the curb and sidewalk. Those who do not have a curb or sidewalk are asked to put their trees out near the street, but not in it where it could affect traffic or drainage...