Stories from Friday, July 4, 2014

Two Putnam County students were among those who graduated from the University of Evansville's 156th commencement, held Saturday, May 10 at the Ford Center in Evansville. During the ceremony, the University awarded 583 degrees to 568 graduates. Local graduates are MELISSA BALL of Greencastle and CODY FOREMAN of Cloverdale...

Community members will have the opportunity to have their computer questions answered this July. The Community Technology Enhancement Program (CTEP) at DePauw is hosting office hours on Wednesday, July 9 from 1-3 p.m. and every following Wednesday in July...

Rachel Ann Egold of Cloverdale and Drew Jacob Cash of Greencastle are planning to be married at the Washington Pavilion in Avon on Aug. 2. Rachel is the daughter of Kirk and Maureen Egold of Cloverdale. She is a 2010 graduate of South Putnam High School and a 2014 graduate of Anderson University. Drew is the son of Bart and Kathy Cash of Greencastle. Drew is a 2010 graduate of South Putnam High School and a 2014 graduate of Anderson University...

Charley and Phyllis Riggle will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary on July 27. Their children, Charley Jr. and Laura of Westfield and Aaron and Nikki of Roachdale, grandchildren Callee, Camryn, Carson and Kambelle Riggle, along with special friends Megan and Dustin Lawn and others, invite other friends and family to share in their celebration...

BELLMORE --Cecil M. Harden Lake, also known as Raccoon Lake, is currently experiencing better water clarity than in recent memory, according to Harden Lake ManagerJoe Staigl. White "Water Quality Notice" signs posted around the lake are to inform the public that Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) have occurred at the reservoir in the past and could appear again...

Mike Smithers and Jade Griffin were united in marriage in Las Vegas on Feb. 14.

Mike McCarty, founder and CEO of Safe Hiring Solutions, was nine years old when four men burst into a home on Valentine's Day 1977 in the sleepy Parke County town of Hollandsburg, lined up a mother and her four boys up on the floor and began executing them with shotguns...

Passing motorists on U.S. 231 saw an odd sight in Putnam County early this week, as Erik Bendl, the "World Guy,"" has slowly made his way north, rolling a giant globe as he went. Bendl and his dog Nice have walked and rolled their giant globe ball in parts of 42 states, all in the name of diabetes awareness. Bendl chose the cause after his mother passed away from the disease...

Capturing the "Best Look-alike" category in the July 4 Pet Costume Contest at Robe-Ann Park in Greencastle were Gayle Baugh and her Cairn Terrier Iggy. Gayle is the daughter of Tara and Jerrod Baugh, Greencastle.

Hundreds showed up to Robe-Ann Park to top off their Independence Day celebrations. The fireworks started promptly at 10 p.m. and lasted roughly 30 minutes. Although, the firework display was the centerpiece of the Independence Day celebrations, Robe-Ann had many activities to celebrate the holiday throughout the day including a fun run, live music, food and even a hamburger eating contest. See more photos on Page 12A...