Stories from Thursday, February 27, 2014

Helen Louise Webster Bussing, 84, of Greenwood, formerly of Greencastle, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014. The daughter of Ralph and Emilie Behrendt Webster, Helen was born Sept. 8, 1929 in Stickney, W. Va. Known as the "Rose Lady of Greencastle," Helen and Raymond grew 78 varieties of roses, which they distributed to local nursing homes, doctor offices and other business...

Thomas Robert "Big Tom" Nearhoof, 25, Cloverdale, passed away on Feb. 23, 2014 at St. Vincent Hospital at Indianapolis. He was born on March 9, 1988 at Hoffman Estates, Ill., and was the son of Keldakay (Knott) Nearhoof and Ronald E. Nearhoof. He is survived by his mother, Keldakay Nearhoof Sisk and dad Dean, Cloverdale; his father, Ronald E. ...

Natoma Jane Ray, 81, Sand Springs, Okla., formerly of Poland and Indianapolis, passed away on Feb. 21, 2014, at the Sands Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at Sand Springs, Okla. She was born Aug. 15, 1932 at Oxford, Miss., and was the daughter of the late William Byron and Annie Mae (Barrow) Stroup...

Joseph C. "Joe" Allee Sr., age 52, of Greencastle, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. Born May 2, 1961 in Greencastle, he was the son of James J. and Mary Rose (Query) Allee and a graduate of Greencastle High School, Class of 1980. Joe married Penny J. (Evens) Allee on June 1, 1980, and have enjoyed 34 years together...

Area 30 Career Center students recently competed in the Skills USA Regional Competition held at Vincennes University on Feb. 2. More than 350 high school students participated in the competition. The Skills USA organization emphasizes technical skills, leadership and interpersonal skills training. It exposes students to various career paths and encourages success in their selected field...

South Putnam High School will present Bel Kaufman's "Up the Down Staircase" at 7 p.m. both Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, March 1. Tickets are $5. "Up the Down Staircase" is a funny and touching story of an idealistic teacher whose clash with school bureaucracy is a timeless lesson for students, teachers and parents. ...

North Putnam Middle School recently honored its February Students of the Month, which included sixth-graders (from left) Ash Cummins and Grace Fry, seventh-graders Garrett Kindle and Kinzie Young and eighth-graders Jacy Holtze and Dillon Binnion.

Do you want to serve and make a difference in Putnam County? Are you a high school or college student interested in developing your leadership skills while learning about philanthropy? If that describes you then here is your chance. The Putnam County Youth Philanthropy Committee is receiving applications now for 2014-15 academic year...

Twenty-five Greencastle High School students competed in the Indiana State School Music Association State Solo Ensemble competition Saturday, Feb. 22 at Perry Meridian High School. All the GHS students had earlier received Gold Awards at District competition at Terre Haute North High School on Feb. 8...

CLOVERDALE -- Cloverdale Community School Corporation has announced that it has received a $2,500 CVS Caremark Community Grant. The support from CVS Caremark will help CCSC host a free weekly fitness class. The Community Grants Program was created by CVS Caremark as part of its commitment to help people achieve their best health by providing financial assistance to programs that are focused on wellness and prevention...

CLOVERDALE -- A free community concert is scheduled for Saturday, March 8 at the C Bar C Expo Center in Cloverdale. The free 7:30-9 p.m. concert is sponsored by the Midwest Youth Rodeo Association, JJET Leasing Inc. and Tribute Equine Nutrition. Performing will be singer/songwriter Madison Bolin, whose says her style is country influenced by alternative rock...

The Putnam County Public Library will host adventurer Bryan Brown on Tuesday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. Brown, a 57-year-old Hoosier native, will present "100 Days on the Mighty Colorado," which recounts his solo trip on kayak down the Colorado River. An experienced outdoor traveler, Brown has hiked the Appalachian Trail, completed a solo, transcontinental bike ride and has climbed nearly 40 peaks of 14,000 feet in elevation...

With Inn at DePauw server Hannah Cochran carrying around a tray of hors d'oeuvres, Greencastle Chamber of Commerce members relax in the newly designed lobby and library at the former Walden Inn at 2 W. Seminary St., Greencastle. The Inn at DePauw hosted the monthly Chamber Business After Hours social and networking event Tuesday evening, offering a champagne toast to the redesigned lobby, which features classic lines redefined...

REELSVILLE -- A 29-year-old Putnam County mother is facing three counts of neglect of a dependent following an investigation by child services officials and the Indiana State Police. Heather Nicole Rutherford, of Reels-ville, reportedly placed her three children in a situation that "endangered their lives and health and furthermore deprived them of the necessary support they were in need of," Indiana State Police (ISP) revealed in a press release...

Nathan Gardner, 17, is a student athlete at Greencastle High School. He was born on April 3, 1996 to Craig and Shelley Gardner. He has one sister, Krista Gardner. His favorite teacher is Mr. Michael Meyer and his favorite class is E.M.T. In school he is involved in band, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and French Club...

WOOSTER, Ohio -- Four teams finished the North Coast Athletic Conference season with winning records this season. The same four men's teams took care of business in the first round of the conference tournament, leaving them standing in the semifinal round on Friday...

The program's first loss in two years now in the past, as well as a 71-40 win over Wooster to open the NCAC tournament, DePauw women's basketball is back in a familiar position, hosting the NCAC semifinals and finals for the third consecutive year. The Tigers (25-1, 15-1 NCAC) are 7-0 in the conference tournament since joining the NCAC in 2011. As the top seed each year, all of those games have come on the Tigers' home court, and this weekend will be no different...

Whether it's the first time or the fourth, qualifying for the IHSAA Swimming State Finals is special for any swimmer. So it is with the four Greencastle Tiger Sharks making the trek to the IUPUI Natatorium on Friday evening for the prelims of the state meet...

First semester All A Grade 2: Alden Douglas Beadles, Aubree Blaydes, William Edward Boone, Alyssa Breuer, Emilee Burris, Keaton L. Chew, Addison Gabbard, Chole Heet, Evan Hinkle, Caroline Hodge, Elly Holland, Griffin W. Jones, Stevie Violet Keenan, Lexi Jo Langley, Savannah Rose Joy Lawson, Yasmin Lee Nail, Alexa Newby, Hallie Ronan, Christopher Allen Sprinkle, Barrett M. Truner and Damien Wiegand...

Current Putnam County Commissioner Max L. Watts is a candidate for re-election as 2nd District commissioner on the May 6 Republican primary ballot. Watt is a retired lieutenant colonel with 34 years of logistics, the last 10 years working with facilities and engineering, which dealt primarily with government buildings and roads in all 92 counties and 60 armories...