Stories from Thursday, March 7, 2013

The first-ever North Putnam High School Jazz Choir competed in the ISSMA State Jazz Contest on Saturday, March 2 at Brownsburg East Middle School. The choir received a gold rating for its performance of the songs "Route 66," "In My Life" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." The NPHS Jazz Choir is under the direction of Kelly Thomas (left) with assistance from Taylor Truster (right), a DePauw University student. ...

INDIANAPOLIS -- WGU Indiana has announced the creation of 10 new Mathematics and Science Educators Scholarships, an effort aimed to curb the deficiency of highly qualified math and science teachers in our state. Each valued up to $4,000 over the course of a student's degree program, these scholarships are intended to help aspiring and current math and science educators go further by earning their degrees. ...

Roachdale Elementary recently announced its Roachdale Award winners for the month of February. Among the winners were Kalvin Burdine (front,let), Preston Truax, Haylee Duncan, Ethan Taylor, Ben McHargue, Billy Stevenson, Regan Long, Camryn Wolf, Abby Kimes, Aaron Pickle, Austin Tripp, Hannah Clark and Lexie Claycomb...

McCloud Nature Park will host a poetry and nature journaling workshop on Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. This free program, designed for ages 10 and over, will feature short readings by selected poets and authors focused on nature as a theme. Enjoy learning to soothe your spirit with nature's beauty using basic nature journaling techniques. Then put your new skills to work and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature while you hike the trails at McCloud Nature Park...

One recent arrest was reported at the Putnam County Jail. At 1:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Joshua Scott Spencer, 30, Indianapolis, was arrested for probation violation. The Greencastle Fire Department responded to a pair of dispatches on Tuesday night. At 9:41 p.m. crews were called to 234 Hillsdale Drive for arcing power lines. A tree limb had fallen onto the line, causing the problem...

The Greencastle Middle School wrestling team finished in sixth place at the Frankfort Invitational on Saturday. Cauy Thomas won his weight class and Harry McCarty took second. Trae Carrington, Braydon Bollman, Derek Ummell and Ashton Burchett each finished third and Austen Cox and Branden Lady were fourth in their weights...

The Greencastle Youth Baseball and Softball League is holding its final registration event on Saturday, March 9 at the Greencastle McDonalds (940 Indianapolis St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fees for coach pitch, minor and major divisions are $60, and T-ball is $50...

North Putnam High School is inviting community members to its Winter Sports Awards Program on Tuesday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m at the high school gymnasium. The event, previously scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, was postponed due to inclement weather. The program is honoring the hard work and dedications of the school's 2012-13 athletes...

Though soccer season has yet to arrive, a local student has already been recognized. Former Putnam County Youth Soccer Association player, Peter Urban, 14, of Fillmore, has been named the male Olympic Development Program Spirit Award winner. Urban was chosen from ODB participants across the state of Indiana...

MOLINE, Ill. -- Greencastle senior Brett Gierke will represent the United States as part of the American Football Worldwide ELITE team in a game against the national U19 team of France scheduled to take place in Paris on Saturday, March 30. "Playing for team USA is such a privilege and I'm honored to represent the stars and stripes," said Gierke, who played defensive end for Josh Buis' Greencastle team this past fall...

CLOVERDALE -- Snowy and slick conditions appeared to be contributing factors to a fatal accident that claimed the life of a Lawrence County woman Tuesday evening along Interstate 70, just west of Cloverdale. The accident, which resulted in the death of Tiffany Ann Mikel, 36, Bedford, occurred just before 5:30 p.m. and involved a passenger car and a semi tractor-trailer at the 40-mile marker, a mile west of U.S. 231...

The Fluttering Duck and Relay for Life have recently teamed up in an effort to help raise money for relay fundraising. During several dates throughout March and April, 10 percent of one's bill will go toward relay fundraising. Purchases must be made on the following dates between 5-7 p.m. Dates include, March 13, April 2, April 9 and April 16...

Ferid Murad, the 1958 DePauw University graduate who received the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine, will return to his alma mater this Saturday, March 9, to present a 175th Anniversary Distinguished Alumni Lecture. The talk will begin at 4 p.m. in Meharry Hall, located within historic East College. Attendance is free and the speech is open to all...

When DePauw University President Brian Casey first came to the Greencastle five years ago, he found a beautiful campus but he knew there was room for improvement. "The great campuses are always beautiful," Casey told the Greencastle Rotary Club Wednesday, contending that a campus should attract people and pull them toward the middle...

While only a couple inches of snow fell around Greencastle overnight, Brehigan Warren took advantage of a rare snow day Wednesday morning.