Stories from Friday, August 22, 2014

SHERMAN, N.Y. -- Authorities have reportedly arrested two Pennsylvania homeless men in connection with the fatal shooting of Greencastle native Mary Elizabeth Whitaker at her summer home earlier this week in southwestern New York State. It is believed the 61-year-old professional violinist was shot to death late Tuesday or early Wednesday while reportedly trying to thwart a robbery on the rural Chautauqua County property she frequented each summer from late June to early September...

Standing against the morning fog over Big Walnut Creek is the bare skeleton of Baker's Camp Covered Bridge in northwestern Floyd Township. The bridge is in the early stages of a federal aid rehabilitation project that will address a number of issues to the 113-year-old structure. ...

Cloverdale forced six Brown County turnovers Friday on the way to a 6-0 win over the Eagles in week 1 football action. Ethan Boyd had the only score of the game, a 5-yard plunge with 7:31 to go in the second quarter. The play was set up by a Jackson Szczerbik fumble recovery at the 5-yard line...

Greencastle and DePauw University will welcome one of the strongest -- if not the academically strongest -- incoming classes in its 177-year history when the Class of 2018 arrives on campus Saturday. A total of 540 new students are arriving with their families to move into their living units, attend the traditional 4 p.m. opening convocation led by President Brian W. Casey and go to orientation sessions...

County Jail Three people were recently booked into the Putnam County Jail. *At 10:55 a.m. on Wednesday, Nicholas Robert Lieske, 31, Waveland, was charged with a probation violation and theft. *At 11:21 a.m. Wednesday, Anthony Michael Paul, 23, Greencastle, was arrested on a probation violation...

CLOVERDALE-- With weather putting a hold on South Putnam's road trip to Southmont on Wednesday, the Eagles took to Clover Meadows to host Greencastle and Danville Thursday night. Neither visiting school proved to be kind guests as the Tiger Cubs ran away with a 197-234-259 win over the Warriors and hosts...

On Thursday night, the Clay City volleyball team traveled to South Putnam for its second volleyball game of the year. The Eagles, who were coming off of a Tuesday night loss to West Vigo, hoped to tip the scale against the Eels but couldn't get a groove going and took the loss, three games to none...

CLOVERDALE--The Cloverdale Clovers' volleyball team opened up its home and conference schedule Thursday night with a sweep of the Cascade Cadets. "I am ever so proud of my girls tonight," Clovers' coach Kathy Moore said. "They've been working so hard. They played in the summer league in Plainfield. We scrimmaged Bloomfield last week and we were just hitting the heck out of the ball. Tonight it was just a continuation and they were surprising themselves."...

Richard A. Plummer, 78, of Cloverdale, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014. Richard was born on Sept. 25, 1935 in Greencastle to Bennett Plummer and Evelyn Plummer. He was a graduate of Greencastle High School and served his country in the United States Air Force...

Robert Wayne Jones, 84, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014. Born and raised in Chadd Valley, he graduated from Fillmore High School in 1948. Bob co-owned Jones Construction Company with his father Foster. He also owned Rose's Fresh Eggs with his wife Rose...

CLOVERDALE--The Cloverdale Girls' golf team hosted the Crawfordsville Athenians Tuesday night and won by five strokes, 215-220. "After speaking with their coach we figured this would be a very tight match," Coach Matthew Langdon said, "Girls at each position had shot similar scores all year. In this type of match it becomes whether you can beat the girl you are playing with."...

DANVILLE--The Cloverdale Clovers' varsity volleyball team fell in three sets to the Danville Warriors on Tuesday night. The set scores were 25-17, 15-25 and 25-10 with Danville winning all three. The top performers for the Clovers were senior Bailee Stevens scoring six with two aces, and senior Jessica Winders also scoring six with two aces...

For South Putnam fans things are going to look a little different on the sideline this year. After taking their season into the regional final last year and losing to Eastern Hancock, 29-14, capping off their 11-2 season, they lost most of their offensive line and they also lost their coach, Troy Burgess, to resignation. With that said it does not mean spectators will see a lackluster season...

The last two seasons for the Tiger Cubs' football team have had major expectations and for the most part Greencastle has played well and lived up to the expectations. Last year Greencastle took its 8-1 regular season record into the sectionals and stood tall against the high flying Bruins of Tri-West...

CLOVERDALE-- Looking for a fresh start, the Cloverdale Clovers football program is looking to gain some momentum this year as coach Jarrod Duff returns for his second season at the helm. Duff came to Cloverdale last year following several years of coaching at the Greencastle schools. Previously, Duff had served as basketball coach at the high school, assistant softball coach as well as helping out with the football program...

After its worst season in nearly 20 years the North Putnam Cougars football team is trying to convalesce after going 1-9 last season. They are going into this season with high expectations and great confidence according to coach Greg Barrett. "You keep doing what you're doing," Barrett said. "You get the kids in the right places. I like this team we got."...

A Texas man was arrested on Interstate 70 in Putnam County Friday for possessing synthetic drugs. At 1:46 p.m., Indiana State Trooper Yan Dravigne stopped a 1991 Dodge pickup for a lane change violation on eastbound I-70 near the 37-mile marker. While conversing with the driver, Trooper Dravigne noticed indicators of possible criminal activity...

PUTNAMVILLE -- Indiana has 46 new troopers assigned to state police districts throughout the state now patrolling the roads. Members of the 73rd Indiana State Police Recruit School that graduated on May 1 received their patrol cars Tuesday morning at the Indiana State Police Youth Education and Historical Center, located at the Indiana State Police Indianapolis District...

At its monthly meeting Thursday night, the North Putnam School Board addressed handbooks, school technology and building projects. Opening the meeting, however, Superintendent Dan Noel addressed the strain that a recent tragedy involving the death of an elementary school student has put on the community...

County council gears up for budget season With 2015 budget hearings just around the corner on Sept. 2 and 3, the Putnam County Council spent part of its August meeting discussing a number of issues that will be considered again in a couple of weeks...

Putnam County law enforcement officials recently took part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Greencastle Police Officer Kyle Lee (above, left), Reserve Officer Jeremiah Jackson, Sgt. Charles Inman, Officer Ed Wilson and Putnam County Sheriff's Department Officer Phillip Troyer took part in the challenge at the Greencastle Police Station Thursday evening after challenging one another. I...

After months of construction work, South Indiana Street has reopened to traffic, parking and commerce just south of the courthouse square in Greencastle. The patient people at First Christian Church on South Indiana Street were among those applauding the new look Friday, even offering a sign thanking not only the City of Greencastle but the construction crew from Rieth-Riley, Indianapolis. Included in the work were a new asphalt surface, new sidewalks, brick pavers and street trees...