Stories from Friday, March 2, 2012

FLORIDA -- Chad Collins began The Honda Classic with an opening round 71 Thursday in Palm Beach Gardens. Collins carded a bogey on the ninth hole to move him to even par through nine holes played. On the back nine he recorded eight pars and a bogey on the 14th hole to account for his one-over-par score...

The DePauw women's basketball team opens the NCAA Division III tournament tonight as it hosts the first and second rounds at the Neal Fieldhouse. The Tigers earned their bid by winning the NCAC tournament on their home court just a short week ago. In its first year as a member of the NCAC, DePauw made its presence known in a big way. It cruised to a perfect 16-0 conference record, earned the conference title and picked up some major accomplishments along the way...

Cloverdale United Methodist Church, 364 W. Robert Weist Rd., will be taking orders for the March menu of Smart Choice Food Ministry on March 3, 10 and 17 from 10 a.m.-noon each day. Food distribution will be on Saturday, March 31 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. At this time, the program accepts cash, check and money orders. Organizers hope to accept food stamps within the next couple of months...

The Putnam County Community Foundation has announced the first in its 2012 Non-Profit Learning Series. The workshop will take place on March 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Inn at DePauw. Stephen Earnest of IUPUI will be presenting "Meetings That Work." With more than 30 years teaching graduate courses on how to run more effective meetings, Earnest is a national expert...

The Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Sycamore Trail Resource Conservation and Development are conducting their second annual tree and plant sale. The Putnam County SWCD's mission is to protect the soil, water and natural resources of Putnam County for future generations. Sycamore Trails RC&D Council has been a valued partner in this endeavor as their charge is resource conservation and development...

PUTNAMVILLE -- Indiana State Police troopers in the Putnamville District Friday joined more than 250 other Indiana law enforcement agencies across the Hoosier state in the "Drunk Driving -- Over the Limit -- Under Arrest" March crackdown on impaired and dangerous drivers...

PUTNAMVILLE -- The Putnamville Correctional Facility (PCF) and the Indiana Department of Correction have extended appreciation of years of service to retiring employees. PCF Supt. Stanley Knight expressed sentiments of gratitude to retirees. "Our success is a direct reflection of the job that you do," PCF Supt. Knight said. "I commend you for the many years of distinguished service and congratulate you on your retirement. You've been an asset to the facility and will be missed."...

To the Editor: The radical right-wing wants to mandate that personhood begins at conception. The proposed law is dishonest. It twists the definition of a person to serve a religious agenda. Cows and pigs exhibit more traits related to personhood than do newly conceived fetuses, yet I see no conservatives advocating for animal rights. The law pushes a Christianist doctrine that is not literally found in the Bible (the notion of conception did not exist in Biblical times)...

Several people were booked into the Putnam County Jail recently. At 6:20 p.m. Teddy Kennedy, 21, Quincy, was arrested for failure to appear. At 2:45 a.m. Damon John Miller, 35, Greencastle, was arrested for probation violation. One alcohol-related arrest was reported Thursday by Greencastle City Police...

The Putnam County Library will be hosting an introductory photography class with Joseph and Deborah Ashby, beginning March 12 from 6:30-8 p.m. The introductory class on March 12 will have no fee as the librar

The West Central Indiana Economic Development District will be hosting a "Dance Fitness for Funds" fundraiser on Saturday, March 10. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and will begin at 10 a.m. in the Booker T. Washington Park Community Center located in Terre Haute. The cost of the program is $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the programs of Area 7 Agency on Aging and Disabled...

Northern Putnam County Girl Scouts came to their recent cookie rally with old T-shirts they converted into T-shirt tote bags filled with books and crayons as a community service project for children at Putnam County Hospital.

Almost Home will host the Putnam County Community Foundation's Youth Philanthropy Night on Thursday, March 15 from 5-9 p.m. Local students on the Youth Philanthropy Committee will assist servers and all tips will benefit the local Youth Philanthropy Endowment...

An intriguing national political environment featuring a compelling U.S. Senate primary, a Republican presidential contest coming to Indiana and how modern polling is rapidly evolving will be topics for national pollsters Christine Matthews and Fred Yang and Howey Politics Indiana Publisher Brian A. Howey at a DePauw University seminar on March 6...

INDIANAPOLIS -- It was a Thursday afternoon filled with pride as Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett recognized 20 schools, including Central Elementary, at the Statehouse. Schools were recognized for having the largest percentage of students achieving high academic growth in mathematics or language arts last school year...

Brenda Jean Hinkle, age 61, of Jasonville, formerly of Greencastle, passed away on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at Sullivan County Hospital. Born Jan. 31, 1951 in Indianapolis, she was the daughter of Raymond Eugene and Martha Joan (Fisher) Miller and had attended Greencastle High School...