Stories from Monday, January 14, 2013

The Greencastle Tiger Sharks made their usual practice mean a bit more on Saturday. They held the inaugural "Laps for Life" in which each section of practice was dedicated to people in their lives who had been diagnosed with cancer. "Laps for Life" was done to tie in with Relay for Life, and students collected donations to swim up to 100 laps that day. At the end of practice, Coach Kent Menzel's (center) swimmers formed a ribbon in the pool as a tribute to the cause.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have declared Central Indiana an area of widespread flu outbreak. What is the flu? The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms...

VEEDERSBURG -- Defense had been the word of the day Friday when North Putnam's boys' basketball squad traveled to Monrovia. Saturday night, the Cougars found their offense at Fountain Central. At the same time, the Mustangs got a handle on their own scoring touch and outpaced the visitors 74-57...

C Bar C Expo Center in Cloverdale hosted the Midwest Archery and Whitetail Deer Expo during the weekend. The expo included such things as a 3-D Pop-Up Shoot-Em Challenge, seminars, vendors and more. Dillon Caillas spent time shooting a bow for the first time during the expo. He hoped to later enter some competitions.

To celebrate Lego's birthday, the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department will be throwing a birthday bash from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan.19 at City Hall. Attendees will be able to view special Lego collections on exhibit, watch a special movie, play games and enjoy an opportunity to free-build with the department's assortment of building blocks piled high on City Hall's floor...

Basement flooding caused by the heavy rains of the weekend kept the Greencastle Fire Department busy on Sunday morning. Firefighters responded to four different dispatches ultimately linked to high water in basements. A call of smoke in the residence at 513 Anderson St. came in at 1:41 a.m., resulting in a nearly five-hour investigation by department personnel...

The Putnam County Public Library invites the public to the community celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Saturday, Jan. 19. An Art Reception begins at 1 p.m. and features acoustic and electric blues and jazz by Jonathon January and Cliff Gammon...

The Greencastle girls' junior varsity basketball team beat South Putnam on Thursday, 45-18. GHS forced 26 turnovers in the 24-minute game and vaulted itself to a 19-point lead by halftime. Taylor Stoltey (11 points, two quarters) and Alison White (10 points) led the Tiger Cubs in scoring...

ELLETTSVILLE --Every game can't be a classic, or none of them would be. Such is conundrum the Greencastle boys' varsity basketball team found itself in on Saturday night, a 59-51 loss at Edgewood. The young Tiger Cubs wrapped up the most intense game of the year less than 24 hours earlier against South Putnam, their county adversary...

Dishing up a big spoonful of roasted potatoes, Mill Pond Health Campus executive chef Patty Shugars serves resident Grace Poynter Sunday during the community brunch at Millpond. Waiting in line for such delicacies as barbecue ribs, braised beef, garlic mashed potatoes and even waffles and made-to-order omelets are Mill Pond resident Emma Alice Smedley and her family friends, Addison, Beverly and Adam Hughes.

At its monthly meeting Thursday night, the North Putnam School Board elected new officers for the year, revisited the Bainbridge Elementary roofing project and discussed several topics concerning the upcoming school year. The board has inducted three new members and has elected officers for the new year...

CLAY CITY -- Perseverance finally paid off for the Cloverdale Clovers on Saturday night.
 Brandon Dorman hit a three-point shot from just outside the free throw circle with 1.1 seconds left on the clock to give the Clovers a 74-73 victory over the host Clay City Eels...

Greencastle resident Christina Paul never thought five years ago she would be riding a bike, let alone winning a state title in cycling, but she has done just that. Paul recently captured first place in the Indiana Cyclocross Cup. Several years ago Paul decided to make a life-changing experience by quitting smoking...

When the championship game of the Eagle Holiday Classic tipped off at 3 p.m. Saturday, the South Putnam girls' basketball team was beginning its third game in 22 hours. So following the Eagles' 50-46 loss to Rockville, South Putnam coach Lindsay Blackman was disappointed but not entirely shocked by the result...

If you park your car or truck outside, you probably got a free car wash this weekend. But that was about the extent of the good news on the local weather front. And if you're unlucky, that same car or truck might be a little difficult to open today with freezing temperatures coming in the aftermath of the rain and warmth of Saturday and early Sunday...