Stories from Wednesday, September 19, 2012

To the Editor: In an effort to increase our community impact, we could not be more pleased with the turnout for this year's United Way Day of Service. Again this year, we had extended the Day of Service to two days, Friday, Aug. 24 and Saturday, Aug. 25. Through the service of many individuals, we were able to impact so many in our community...

Today we have but one, short, simple question: Why? Why, why, why, why, why! Lately I have found myself asking just that. Time and time again. Of course, the smart-aleck answer to the why question is almost always "because." But the issues and incidents that have left us perplexed and wondering why defy logic and a legitimate answer...

LITTLE POINT -- The ongoing Interstate 70 resurfacing project will cause the closure of the eastbound entry and exit ramps at Little Point (Exit 51) for several days, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced. Crews plan the following schedule of closures:...

POLAND -- A lone gunman robbed the Poland branch of First Financial Bank of an undisclosed amount of cash Tuesday morning, Indiana State Police at Putnamville reported. At 9:53 a.m., Indiana State Police troopers and Clay County Sheriff's deputies responded to the reported robbery at the bank, located at 8490 E. State Road 42 in Poland...

The South Putnam School Board continues to make progress as it addresses several key issues, including bonds and a new roof project. The issue of bond refinancing has been talked about for the past several months. However, this month the board came with some good news for the taxpayers...

Several people have been booked into the Putnam County Jail recently. At 8:55 p.m. Mathew J. Speth, 36, Reelsville, was lodged in the jail for operating while intoxicated. At 10:37 p.m. Marc Thomas Yakel, 37, Brazil, was charged with operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction and public intoxication...

Evan Smith, a senior from Greencastle High School, was selected as a player on the United States Soccer Developmental Academy, Indiana Fire, sponsored by the MLS team Chicago Fire. This past Saturday the Indiana Fire played it's first regular season game against Crew Soccer Academy at Columbus. Smith played the entire game for the Fire. The Indiana Fire won 3-2...

The Greencastle volleyball teams battled Terre Haute North Monday, with both falling to the Patriots. The varsity lost in three sets 25-14, 25-20 and 25-19, while the junior varsity lost in two sets 25-21 and 25-22. Rayleigh Amis led the Tiger Cubs with 11 kills, seven blocks and one stuff block. Alex Basile had 13 assists, with Quinci Miller adding four blocks and two stuff blocks...

The North Putnam seventh grade football team defeated Terre Haute North 14-6 in dramatic fashion Monday. With the game tied 6-all, Ethan Christy returned an interception 90-yards for the winning score with :50 left in the game. Hayden Rudes connected with Iolas Lewis for the two-point conversion...

The Greencastle boys' soccer team defeated Sullivan 2-1 Saturday to improve to 6-6 on the season. After falling behind 1-0 in the first half, Greencastle stormed back to score two second half goals for the win. Freshman Justin Hartman scored both second half goals for the Tiger Cubs, with assists coming from Jacob Kessler and Zach Wilkerson...

The North Putnam athletic department is hosting its annual golf outing Sept. 23 at Clover Meadows Golf Course. York Automotive will be sponsoring a hole-in-one contest for a care during the event. The scramble will consist of teams of four at the cost of $200 per team or $25 per student. The fee will include lunch, green fees, golf cart and prizes for the event...

Putting hammer to chisel, Jason Hicks of Advance Restoration, Indianapolis, chips away at uncovering the brick and stone north wall (south side of West Franklin Street) of the Abstract and Title Guaranty building at 50 N. Jackson St. The faux cinder block exterior is literally being chipped away to reveal the old brick and stone beneath as part of the facade restoration project within the City of Greencastle's Stellar Community Grant program.

South Putnam's volleyball squad slumped to 0-3 in the WCC after dropping a four set contest to Monrovia at home on Monday. The Eagles stumbled out of the blocks 13-25 and 18-25 before winning the third set 26-24 but falling in the decisive fourth set 20-25...

On Friday, Sept. 21, county rival football teams will work together to collect coats as a kickoff to the 13th annual Coats for Kids Campaign. Teams will set aside their rivalries as North Putnam plays Greencastle and Cloverdale faces off with South Putnam...

Bright lights, loud noise and flying dirt: It's just living the dream for the hotshoes who flock to dirt tracks every Saturday night. For residents of Putnamville and the surrounding area, the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 9 played out more like a nightmare...

RUSSELLVILLE -- Mosquitoes in a pond near the water treatment plant in Russell-ville have tested positive for West Nile virus, council president Don Reddish announced at the town meeting on Monday. There have been no confirmed cases of humans being infected, but the council is hopeful that Russellville residents won't take any chances...

MORTON -- An accident Tuesday morning on U.S. 36 left one Indiana Department of Transportation worker fatally injured. At 10:18 a.m. police were dispatched to U.S. 36 approximately one-half mile west of C.R. 600 West, just west of Union Chapel United Methodist Church...

Patricia Harlan, 80, of Greencastle, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. She was born on Oct. 4, 1931 in Clay County, Ind., to Thomas Riggs and Florence Johnson Riggs. Mrs. Harlan was a member of Beech Grove United Methodist Church. Her parents; husband, Robert E. Harlan; son Philip E. Harlan; and great-grandson Reid Bozell preceded her in death...

Senior candidates for 2012 North Putnam High School homecoming queen are (from left) Katie Welch, Morgan Robinson and Halsey Foltz. The queen and her court of class princesses will be crowned at halftime of the North Putnam-Greencastle football game Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Homecoming Spirit Week activities at NPHS include hall decorating, daily dress-up days (PJs, Super Hero, Neon, Wear Pink and Blue and Orange), a boys' volleyball tournament, girls' powder puff football game Wednesday evening, a pep session Friday featuring class competition in an obstacle course and a cornhole tournament before the game on Friday.

Steven E. Overbay, 27, of Roachdale, died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 on U.S. 36 near Morton. He was employed by INDOT. He was born on April 12, 1985 in Danville to Charles Lee and Virginia Miles Overbay. He was member of the New Maysville Community Church and the Roachdale Masonic Lodge. He graduated from North Putnam High School in 2003...