Stories from Friday, March 1, 2013

Editor's Note: The following editorial is the first in a periodic set of columns to be submitted by the Greencastle Community School Corporation. The goal of the series is to celebrate diversity and promote understanding. This piece was written by an autistic student and his mother in reaction to the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings, which were allegedly perpetrated by a man on the autism spectrum...

To the Editor: At the Putnam County Farm Bureau Legislative Update session on Saturday, February 16, it was reported (Banner-Graphic 2/22/13) that Senator Rodric Bray said that the Medicaid expansion will "cost Hoosier taxpayers $1.4 billion by 2020." This may be so if we only consider the dollars paid out under the program. ...

County Jail Two people were booked into the Putnam County Jail recently. At 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Brian Scott Woody, 44, Bainbridge, was arrested for operating while intoxicated and probation violation. At 12:54 a.m. on Thursday, James Lester Steele, 59, Cloverdale, was charged with operating while intoxicated and resisting law enforcement...

Not all champions are created equal. Some win with offense, some defense. Sometimes it's just the right combination of chemistry and skill. For the No. 1 DePauw women's basketball team, every aspect of the game has been championship-caliber this season...

The DePauw women's basketball team has been ranked No. 1 since the first poll of the regular season. They're undefeated (28-0) entering the NCAA tournament on Friday and will host at least the first two rounds. But things haven't been easy for the Tigers lately. The team struggled in a game at Wittenberg late in the regular season and, after the first round of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, lost starting forward Alex Gasaway to a knee injury...

Cloverdale High School students Jackson Szczerbik and Christa Asbury join District 37 State Sen. Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) for the day as legislative pages at the Indiana Statehouse recently. Pages spend a day touring the historic building, observing debates from the chamber floor and interacting with their state senators. ...

The Putnam County Public Library Board held its monthly meeting Wednesday evening, in which it discussed several routine maintenance issues. One major item on the list is the renovations to the Children's Room. Board members Nancy Zennie and Lisa McCoy came before the board with two proposals for the project, one from Odle McGuire Shook and one from Ratio...

A two-vehicle accident occurred Thursday afternoon on Manhattan Road leaving one man being sent to Putnam County Hospital. The Greencastle Police Department responded to the call at 4:05 p.m. Investigating officer Darrel Bunten stated that Donnie Trumbo, Greencastle, was driving northbound in his 2007 GMC Sierra truck as Tina Catt, Brazil, was driving Southbound in her 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser...

BAINBRIDGE -- North Putnam Schools will be celebrating National Breakfast Week March 4-7. Food Services Director Robin Smith has come up with several ways to get kids to come enjoy the first meal of the day. "Each child participating will get a star and a prize for each day that they participate in." Smith stated...

HERITAGE LAKE --The board of trustees for Floyd Township Fire Department held a meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Several audience members voiced their opinion on matters concerning the department and the board made several decisions to try and improve the department...

Charlie's Chill and Grill is now open. The new restaurant is part of a long-term plan, which was started three years ago by Putnam County Comprehensive Services. The restaurant's primary intent is to provide integrated training opportunties and possible job placement for individuals with disablities. ...

A Tippecanoe County woman has been sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay $116,853 in restitution for stealing from a local medical practice. Melinda D. Mishler, 50, Romney, appeared in Putnam Circuit Court Thursday morning, changing her plea to guilty to Class C felony theft...

Ralph H. Barcus, 90, of Greencastle, passed away on Friday, March 1, 2013. Born Nov. 14, 1922 in Indianapolis, he was the son of Edward O. and Barbara (Cox) Barcus. He was a 1940 graduate of Cloverdale High School. He married Geraldine G. Barcus on June 30, 1946, and she survives...

Frank C. Hutcheson, 81, of Greencastle, passed away peacefully at his home, Autumn Glen, on Thursday, Feb, 28, 2013. He was born on April 13, 1931 in Putnam County to Claude and Mary Olive (Hamilton) Hutcheson and was a 1948 graduate of Greencastle High School...