Stories from Sunday, March 16, 2014

Donald Keith Folck, 62, of Bainbridge, left his temporary home on Monday, March 10, 2014, surrounded by family and friends. He defied all odds for 13 years of his hard-fought battle with cancer while inspiring all of those who knew and loved him. He was one of nine children born to Keith and Hattie Lee (Scott) Folck in Indianapolis on Aug. 20, 1951...

LaDonna M. Fox, 67, Reelsville, passed away Saturday, March 15, 2014. Born on Dec. 23, 1946 in Indianapolis, she was a homemaker. She enjoyed fishing and bird watching. Survivors include her husband of 47 years Herman "Jerry" Fox; children Richard Fox, Jerry (Stephanie) Fox, Mark Fox, Dawn Fox, Angela (Dan) Waltz, Shannon Montgomery, Ben (Nicole) Fox and Vonnie (Ian) Pingleton, and 21 grandchildren...

D. Charlene Davis, 76, of Greencastle, passed away on Saturday, March 15, 2014. Born Nov. 10, 1937 in Indianapolis, she was the daughter of Charles K. and Dorothy C. (Simms) Lindsay. She married Willard M. Davis, and he preceded her in death. Charlene had retired from the Putnam County Assessor's Office, where she had worked for more than 10 years...

Keith L. "Chico" Gaddis, age 70, of Cloverdale, passed away on Wednesday, March 12, 2014. Born June 7, 1943 in Lawrence, Ind., he was the son of Clyde and Bessie (Ross) Gaddis. He was a 1962 graduate of Cloverdale High School. Keith married Phyliss (Williams) Gaddis on Aug. 26, 1966, and she survives...

Central Elementary was host to 13 teams for the annual regional M.A.T.H. competition Thursday, Feb. 27. Area elementary teams that participated were Bainbridge, Roachdale, Fillmore, Tzouanakis and Central. Tzouanakis was the overall site winner and itsdivision winner with 24 correct responses...

North Putnam Community School students make the best sports fans. As part of a recent ISTEP rally, the school held a surprise basketball game on Friday that placed third-, fourth- and fifth-graders versus their teachers. The students cheered when their classmates scored and jeered when the teachers scored, at one point erupting into a cacophonous chant of "Kids rock! Kids rock! Kids rock!" Members of the high school boys' basketball team gave the students tips to help them succeed in taking the statewide test and spirits were friendly throughout the event.. ...

On Saturday, March 15, the North Putnam Middle School Seventh and Eighth Grade Choirs participated in the Indiana State School Music Association Organizational Contest at Cloverdale High School. Both choirs earned a gold rating from all three judges...

CLOVERDALE -- On Saturday, March 8 the Cloverdale High School FFA hosted 252 students from all over Indiana for its ninth annual livestock judging invitational. Students were called upon to evaluate nine classes of livestock and then defend their placings to the officials, who were from Lakeland Junior College in Mattoon, Ill...

Students from Jill McCammack's fifth-grade class recently donated needed items to the Putnam County Non Food Pantry. The students chose to make the donation in lieu of a class gift exchange. The next non food distribution will be held at St. Andrew's Church on March 22 from 1-3 p.m. Present for the donation were Colin Lundy (front, left), Jace Robinson, Kortnee Sparks, Ava McHugh, Bryce Wiggins, Dawson Cash, Mrs. McCammack and Grace Torres...

Before students head south for spring break, the DePauw Jazz Ensemble, lead by Mark McCoy, will get in a few hot licks in a superb mix of settings and styles on concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Green Center's Kresge Auditorium. After featuring guest artists on the past few programs, the band gets to shine on its own this week with a variety of music for big band. ...

Singer-songwriter Amy Andrews -- whose sound has been described as "the perfect marriage of Alison Krauss purity and Patty Griffin soul" -- will visit DePauw University next week to present a concert as part of the Performing Arts Series. The free event, which is open to all, is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19 in the student social space at the Inn at DePauw...

This year's theme for salt awareness week focuses on the need for clear and consistent nutrition labelling so consumers know how much sodium they are consuming each day and can choose foods with lower sodium. A large amount of sodium increases your blood pressure, which is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Most of the sodium we eat -- more than 75 percent -- comes from packaged, processed, store-bought and restaurant foods (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014)...

With the winter weather hopefully on its way out, the Putnam County Hospital Cancer Center is holding its cancer support group meetings on a monthly basis again. The support group meets every third Tuesday of the month from 4-5 p.m. in the cancer center lobby, which is located on the second floor of PCH...

Senior Education Ministries Inc. has scheduled Dine with a Doc on the fourth Monday of every month from 10 a.m.-noon at the Putnam County Hospital. Dine with a Doc is a free program that welcomes the local senior public to hear the doctor of the month present an educational topic with complimentary lunch...

The idea of wind power as a big-time energy factor certainly may be more than just hot air. But as an alternative energy, its impact will likely be more candle in the wind than the wind beneath our wings. Despite the desire and need for alternative energy, neither wind nor biofuels nor anything else is "going to do away with oil, coal and natural gas in my lifetime," Purdue University Energy Extension Specialist Chad Martin said in addressing a growing global demand for all sources of energy...

It is estimated that at least 700 people in Putnam County are physically disabled. Often, these citizens cannot make it to the grocery store or doctor's appointments (without the aid of emergency services or friends) because they are trapped within their homes...

While the new director of the Indiana Department of Agriculture says he has seen Hoosiers in different facets of agriculture turning against each other, Putnam County stands as an example of doing things the right way. That was the assessment of Ted McKinney, keynote speaker for the annual Ag Day Breakfast Saturday morning at the Community Building on the Putnam County Fairgrounds...

Capturing top honors as Hall of Fame award winners at the annual Putnam County Ag Day Breakfast Saturday morning at the Community Building on the fairgrounds are Larry and Pat Gottschalk (above), receiving the 32nd annual Farm Family of the Year Award from Steve Cash, and district forester Allen Royer (right) getting the 25th annual Friend of Farmer Award from Cash...

With a reputation of putting her students first, Area 30 Career Center instructor Mary Anne Birt has earned the February Teacher of the Month award. Nominated by one of her current students, Alyssa Bolin, Birt was particularly touched to receive such an award because it came from someone she has inspired...