Stories from Tuesday, September 9, 2014

TERRE HAUTE -- The trial of Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy T.J. Smith, who is being charged with four counts of deprivation of civil rights under color of law, began Monday morning at the U.S. District Courthouse in Terre Haute. If convicted, Smith could face up to 40 years in prison and $1 million in fines...

FILLMORE -- At 5:12 a.m. on Tuesday, the Putnam County Sheriff's Department was dispatched to the scene of an inverted vehicle on fire with entrapment. Deputies arrived on scene to find a 2004 Ford Taurus inverted and fully engulfed in flames on the train tracks between Old Right-of-Way Road and North County Road 425 East...

Celebrating a new runway and a new name, Putnam County Airport Authority President J. R. Scott cuts a ceremonial ribbon where the new runway meets the old Saturday afternoon as local dignitaries surround him to kick off Airport Appreciation Days 2014. The ceremony also included the unveiling of a new Putnam County Regional Airport sign, the back of which includes a list of contributors to the $3.9 million runway project that carried a local match of $295,000...

Winifred A. Frederick, 82, of Greencastle, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. Born Dec. 22, 1931 in Chicago, Ill., she was the daughter of Walter and Margaret Feld. She was a 1949 graduate of Greencastle High School. She married Gene Frederick in January 1949, and he preceded her in death in September 1987...

Dr. John Price Jackson, 62, of Bainbridge, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at Union Chapel Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, Sept. 12 from 4-8 p.m. at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle...

On Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at Greencastle City Hall, the Greencastle League of Women Voters will be presenting "Strong Schools, Strong Communities." Trish Whitcomb Sipes, special advisor to Glenda Ritz, Superintendent of Public Instruction will be the special speaker...

A New York Times analysis of American higher education finds that DePauw University is among the nation's most economically diverse colleges. For the report by David Leonhardt, which appears in today's editions, the Times "analyzed data for every college with a four-year graduation rate of at least 75 percent. We combined data on enrollment and tuition costs to measure how hard each college is trying to attract and graduate poor and middle-class students. The result is our College Access Index."...

North Putnam Middle School recently announced its students of the month as (from left) sixth-graders Caleb Taylor and Megan Earley, seventh-graders Sierra DeWees and Austin R. and eighth-graders Ethan Lasley and Tori Gregory.

The Fillmore United Methodist Church will host a chili supper from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13. A free will offering will be collected. Hot dogs and desserts will also be served. Condiments will include onions and ketchup. Two cakes will also be available for bid...

The Putnam County Coin Club will host its 2014 coin show from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Greencastle Church of the Nazarene. Buy, sell and trade coins, as well as numismatic-related items and gold and silver jewelry scrap. The event will feature free admission, free parking and free prizes...

Union Chapel United Methodist Church will be hosting its annual fish fry on Saturday, Sept. 13, with serving beginning at 4 p.m. The congregation and the community always look forward to the fish fry, which provides an opportunity for families, friends, neighbors and passersby to spend an evening together for food, fellowship, fun and lots of reminiscing, while children can enjoy the playground that's adjacent to the shelter house...

The 53rd Putnam County Playhouse season will come to an end with a production of "The Man Who Came to Dinner" by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. The comedy will be presented this Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 11-13 and again Sept. 17-20. All performances begin at 8 p.m. All tickets are $10. Reservations can be made by calling the Hazel Day Longden Theatre box office at 653-5880. Box office hours are 5-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday...

From flu shots to blood pressure checks to informative information, bingo, lunch and door prizes, Putnam County seniors enjoyed the annual Senior Fair, sponsored by the Senior Center, Tuesday at the Community Building on the fairgrounds. While at the event, Joe Baumann of Greencastle has his blood pressure taken by Jennifer Dobson, an exercise specialist from Putnam County Hospital...

The following cases were filed in Putnam County courts recently. Criminal Cases Jason E. Waller, 18, Greencastle, Class A misdemeanor battery with bodily injury and Class A misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance William D. Baird, 57, Greencastle, Class A misdemeanor invasion of privacy, Class B misdemeanor battery...

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- Putnam County drivers are urged to take note that U.S. 231 south of Crawfordsville will close on or after Monday, Sept. 8 for a new bridge project. The U.S. 231 bridge will be replaced over a branch of Offield Creek located between Montgomery County Roads 300 and 400 South, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced...