Stories from Friday, August 17, 2012

Consider this: As you are reading this, a new generation of college students is arriving on campuses all over the country. At DePauw University, new students are due to arrive by Saturday when orientation is scheduled. So you'll have to forgive us if we're feeling a little disoriented ourselves...

To the Editor: Rich Lowry's recent column, "The anti-Ryan smears" was laughable both for its hypocrisy and its dishonesty. It was hypocritical because earlier this year Lowry wrote a column full of non-substantive smears of Joe Biden. It's dishonest for several reasons. One need only go to the actual Ryan budget proposal on the internet to see why...

McCloud Nature Park will be the site of a river raft build on Saturday, Aug. 18. The activity will coincide with a showing of the movie "Huck Finn." During the film, which begins at noon, a naturalist will help participants build a raft. Following the film, activities will move to Big Walnut Creek where the models will be tested for seaworthiness. A life-size raft will then be built for youngsters to ride in the creek...

McCloud Nature Park will be hosting a free program, Pollinators of the Prairie, on Saturday, Aug. 25 beginning at 2 p.m. The program will include a naturalist-guided hike through the prairie as in search of the pollinators that do so much for us and are fascinating to watch this time of year. Bees, hummingbirds and butterflies are some of the remarkable creatures that are so important in our everyday lives...

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced a patch and resurface project on Interstate 70 from U.S. 40 (Old State Road 46) to State Road 59 will begin on or after Monday, Aug. 20. This project was awarded to Wabash Valley Asphalt for $9.9 million. The project will have the interstate down to one 11-foot lane in a five-mile work zone. It is scheduled for completion on June 30, 2013...

Fire Department The Greencastle Fire Department went on several runs recently. At 8:58 p.m. fire workers investigated a gas leak at 2 W. Seminary St., then returned to station at 9:20 p.m. At 10:59 p.m. they were dispatched to 300 S. Warren Drive for an alarm. They returned at 11:31 p.m...

The Care Net Pregnancy Center of Putnam County will expand its annual Walk for Life to a Day of Life on Saturday, Sept. 8. A full day of activity is planned for the first Day of Life with the Walk for Life at 9 a.m. The two-mile walk will begin at the shelter house between the softball field and the band shelter at Robe-Ann Park. Registration will open at 8:30 a.m...

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute has announced that it is partnering with Attorney General Greg Zoeller and AT&T to raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving. In 2011, the Indiana General Assembly passed House Enrolled Act 1129 making the practice of texting while driving illegal...

After dropping their opener on Tuesday, South Putnam hosted Clay City Thursday night looking to pick up their first win of the season. Although they took the first set, the Eagles eventually lost the next three sets to lose to the Eels 3-1. South Putnam started off quickly in the first set, scoring the opening eight points behind the serving of Makayla Albers and led by as much as 14-4...

It may be called the Little League World Series, but for anyone who has watched the intense action over the years, there's nothing little about it. This year, Putnam County residents have one more reason to set its sights on Williamsport, PA -- and his name is Tim Porter...

Drug charges against a Coatesville man also accused of beating a police officer in July have been dropped. Paul R. Wittig, 45, was arrested on Aug. 5 on three counts of possession of a controlled substance. The following day, Putnam Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley revoked Wittig's bond in an earlier case involving a Putnam County Sheriff's Department reserve officer...

As the Heritage Preservation Society (HPS) of Putnam County concludes preparations for the Civil War Soldiers' Monument fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 18, timely news has been received. Putnam County Community Foundation Director Elaine Peck has informed HPS of an offer of $5,000 in matching funds available for the purpose of reaching the goal to assess and stabilize the county's rare monument at Forest Hill Cemetery...

Almost Home and the Swizzle Stick Bar are among the first in Greencastle to see the effects of the Stellar Grant. Rick Easterbay (pictured), Fernando Cerda and Jason Hicks of Advanced Restoration began to tear down the sheet metal siding. However, due to yesterday's weather they were unable to continue their work of taking down the wood paneling to reveal historic brick beneath the façade...

ROACHDALE -- Close to 30 members of the Roachdale community gathered at the town council meeting on Tuesday, looking for information not about the council's actions, but about the future. Joe Buser, a former resident of the town, gave a passionate speech about the Roachdale Revitalization Committee, his goals for returning commerce and residents to the town and how Purdue University has offered to help...

Seven Greencastle streets will be getting an extreme makeover, asphalt edition, this fall. Those streets were unveiled Wednesday evening when the Greencastle Board of Works and Public Safety awarded the resurfacing bid and notice to proceed to Wabash Valley Asphalt, Terre Haute...

Vicki L. Small, age 65, of Greencastle, passed away on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012 at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Born April 2, 1947 in Indianapolis, she was the daughter of Lowell and Mary L. (Hanner) Morgan. She was a 1965 graduate of Plainfield High School. She received her B.S. Degree in education from Ball State University in 1969 and her Master's in education from Indiana University in 1974...