Stories from Sunday, December 15, 2013

Carey D. Stapert, 40, of Fillmore, passed away Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 in the Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home, Plainfield, where friends may call on Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 4-8 p.m. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, Plainfield...

After last season ended with (another) championship, I decided to retire fantasy football. Like anything else competitive, the magnitude of frustration from a loss was much greater than the magnitude of happiness from a win. Losing was horrible. Winning is good because it meant I didn't lose...

Fred "Mac" Nicholls, 87, Poland, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 at Mill Pond Health Campus at Greencastle. He was born Jan. 11, 1926 at Brazil, and was the son of the late Fred and Olive (Whitaker) Nicholls. He was married to Edith Lucille (Johnson) Nicholls on June 17, 1951, and she preceded him in death on Feb. 18, 2008...

The Indiana Blood Center is conducting a blood drive at First Christian Church in Greencastle on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Hours are 2-6:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, although appointments are suggested and easily made at www.donorpoint.org. The Indiana Blood Center needs 550 donors every day to annually provide the 170,000 blood components to more than 60 hospitals throughout Indiana...

The New Life Baptist Church food pantry and the Greencastle Walmart store invite Putnam County residents and families to a Christmas breakfast on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The 9:30-11:30 a.m. breakfast will be at the church, located at 51 Ridgeway St., south of Veterans Memorial Highway...

Little Raccoon Regional Waste District will hold a public hearing on Saturday, Dec. 21 to consider an additional surcharge for customers. The 10:30 a.m. meeting at the Waveland Town Hall will immediately follow the regular monthly meeting at 10 a.m...

The Putnam County Non-Food Pantry, hosted by St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, will be distributing items from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, in the parish hall at 520 E. Seminary St., Greencastle. Persons should note that this is one week earlier than usual, because of the holiday...

City Police Eight recent traffic citations were issued by Greencastle City Police officers. -- At 7:56 p.m. Thursday, Kyle Tincher, 22, Greencastle, received two citations from Officer Nick Eastham. Tincher was ticketed at Indianapolis Road and Percy Julian Drive for having an expired license plate (Nov. 14) and having no proof of insurance...

Jennifer Kennedy was recently presented a Certificate of Completion by the sponsors of the Opportunity Knocks Seminar Series (OK Series). Ken Eitel (second from left), director of the Ivy Tech Business & Entrepreneurial Services Center, Dick Pittelkow, Business Adviser of West Central ISBDC and Tammy Johnson (left), the Executive Director of the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce. ...

As the holiday season is upon us, we must also acknowledge the dreaded flu season. Although flu activity is unpredictable, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports flu activity usually peaks between January and February. Flu activity has been known to last until May in some instances...

The Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Citizen of the Year Award. The winner will be announced during the annual membership dinner of the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Dixie Chopper Business Center...

Perhaps sharing some of the finer points of life after the ministry, retired St. Andrew's Episcopal Church rector Bill Wieland (center) and wife Lucy congratulate Peace Lutheran Church minister Alan Barber at the latter's Saturday retirement reception. Installed at Peace Lutheran in July 1983, Barber will deliver his final sermon at the Greencastle church at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29. The congregation hopes to fill the sanctuary for Barber's send-off...

Oh, the weather outside's been frightful but the news is so delightful. Call it good news. Call it a Christmas present for the community. Call it the culmination of a splash park project that began with initial discussions of the idea in spring 2011...

The Greencastle Police Department recently named Officer Nick Eastham and Reserve Officer David Clodfelter as the 2013 Officers of the Year. The award recipients are chosen by their fellow officers based on the quality of work throughout the year. "They were chosen by other officers on the department for their outstanding performance," Assistant Chief Brian Hopkins said. "They both have done a great job and deserve it. By them doing such a great job it makes mine easier."...

Donald Lee Williamson, 85, Mt. Meridian, passed away on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. He was born May 2, 1928 in Hendricks County, and was the son of the late Clarel Alta and Mabel Claire (Brown) Williamson. He retired in 1998 as supervisor of the Building Department for Ameritech at Indianapolis after 21 years of service...