Stories from Friday, February 1, 2013

Like it or not, we're living in the golden age of communication. And while that certainly has its advantages, it has its inherent disadvantages as well. For you can now reach me any time, day or night, via email (several address versions actually), tweet, text, cell phone, fax or home phone...

To the Editor: Time for boots on the ground. It's safe to say we can add another to the list of supporters in nullifying ObamaCare. As Indiana Senate President David Long continues to personally block discussion, Sen. Johnny Nugent, District 43, responds to a letter (paraphrasing) urging that the federal government has overstepped its constitutional limits, and the states can put an end to the federal government takeover of our healthcare system and other unconstitutional federal initiatives. ...

To the Editor: In response to the article "Area 7 Nutrition Site to close temporarily in Putnam County" in the Jan. 30 issue of the Banner Graphic, here are some facts which were not mentioned by the writer (of the press release): The Senior Center has provided the following assistance to Area 7 for many years:...

Local youngsters are invited to join the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department in making their very own Valentines, cards, bags and more. The creative event is set for Thursday, Feb. 7 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Tzouanakis Intermediate School. Fee is $5 per child...

McCloud Nature Park will be hosting a free program to introduce visitors to the sandhill crane on Saturday, Feb. 9. Interested participants are invited to join a park naturalist at the Nature Center at 2 p.m. to learn about these birds and their seasonal migratory pathways, including their stopovers in Indiana. Participants may hear their haunting vocalizations and learn how to easily identify these birds as well as when you can expect to see their formations...

Greencastle Middle School instrumental students competed Saturday, Jan. 26 in the ISSMA Solo and Ensemble competition at Terre Haute North High School. The students spent many hours preparing a solo or ensemble piece and performed before a highly qualified judge...

The Greencastle High School alumni scholarships are being offered again this year. The GHS alumni scholarship fund has awarded 105 scholarships to GHS graduates since its inception in 1995. The fund is housed in the Putnam County Community Foundation and only the interest is used for the scholarships so that the fund may continue...

County Jail Three people were booked into the Putnam County Jail recently. On Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 11:10 a.m. David K. Shotts, 35, no city listed, was arrested failure to comply. At 12:30 p.m. Kevin Ryan Spurrier, 38, homeless, was charged with parole violation...

The North Putnam Middle School wrestling team competed against the Tuttle Middle School Trojans on Thursday. Winning matches for the Cougars were Jarrek Montgomery, Damon Attkisson (2-0), Patrick Kimes, Talon Ball (2-0), Alan Aynes, Jacob Plessinger, Jacob Sexton, and Nick Goode...

AVON -- North Putnam began the 2011-12 season with only one swimmer on its girls' team. They've got a full squad, but for the young group, competing in Thursday's sectional preliminaries at Avon was an eye-opening experience. Nerves overcame the squad in the hot, muggy pool but the group will still send sophomore Elizabeth Alford to Saturday's main event...

AVON -- Saturday morning's diving event will be key for the South Putnam girls' swimming and diving team. The Eagles qualified both sophomore Courtney Sullivan and freshman Maddison Plunkett, the county and West Central Conference champion. In addition to the divers, SPHS will send it's medley relay team senior of Morgan Deszi, junior Katie McHugh, senior Lyndsie Beasley and freshman Katie Hansel...

AVON -- The Greencastle Tiger Cubs girls' swimming and diving team will enter Saturday's sectional final with an enormous amount of momentum after a dominant performance at the preliminaries on Thursday. GHS qualified multiple swimmers into nearly every individual final, including several who will swim in the advantageous center lanes for the main heats: freshman Mallary Meyer, junior Rosio Gomez in the 100 fly, freshman Amelia Smith in the 100 free, freshman Libby Brush in the 500 free, juniors Sydney Cassidy and Rachel Custis in the 100 back and the 200 medley relay team of Meyer, junior Emily Wheeler, Brush and Smith.. ...

PLAINFIELD -- A massive accident involving at least 20 semis and 15-20 cars Thursday afternoon closed Interstate 70 in western Hendricks County for most of the remaninder of the day. "It looked like utter carnage," Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts, the Putnamville District public information officer, said, describing I-70 when he arrived on the scene...

Even as he sentenced a convicted child molester to what amounts to life in prison, Putnam Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley expressed his concern for the man's rehabilitation. Headley sentenced 38-year-old David L. Williams, of Coatesville, to a 99-year sentence on Thursday, with 90 years to be executed with the Indiana Department of Correction...

BAINBRIDGE - Hendricks Regional Health Bainbridge, located at 1152 E. U.S. 36, is now accepting new patients in its primary care practice. Services at the Bainbridge office include child and adult well assessments, preventive care, newborn care, immunizations and allergy shots, hearing and vision screenings, care for acute and chronic conditions, sports/camp physical exams, employment physical exams, minor surgical procedures, injections to treat arthritis and joint pain, testing and evaluating for asthma and other lung conditions.. ...

As part of the celebration of DePauw University's 175th anniversary, an exhibition will honor a former faculty member who is one of Indiana's best-known ceramicists. "Looking Back / Looking Forward: Richard Peeler and His Students," will survey the life and legacy of Peeler, a 1949 graduate of DePauw who taught ceramics, sculpture and photography at his alma mater from 1958 to 1972...

The DePauw women's basketball players will hold their second free basketball clinic on Monday. Boys and girls in pre-K through eighth grade are invited to attend. The event is Feb. 4 from 7-8:30 p.m. The clinic will focus on fundamentals, teamwork and fun, and offers a chance for kids to spend time and learn from the top-ranked team in the country...