Stories from Sunday, December 13, 2015

Eldon Maurice Wheeler, 86, of Belle Union, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. He was born on March 6, 1929 in Belle Union to James Austin Wheeler and Alda Rose Butler Wheeler. As a teenager, he received salvation and became a member of Union Valley Baptist Church in Belle Union...

Donald Alan "Donnie" Hansen, 54, of Greencastle, passed away on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. Donnie was born on Sept. 22, 1961 in Greencastle to Ronald Ellis Hansen and Barbara Jean Mason Hansen. He served his country in the Indiana National Guard. Donnie attended Ivy Tech Community College and had been employed at the Putnam Inn and Happico...

Nancy Ruth Ross, 78, Fillmore, passed away Sunday morning, Dec. 13, 2015 at Hendricks Regional Health. She was born in Greencastle on July 21, 1937, the daughter of Herbert Lee Sutherlin Sr. and Ruth Jane Morgan Sutherlin. She was a co-owner and secretary-treasurer for 3D Auto Supply Co. Inc. since 1974...

Four players scored in double figures as the DePauw men's basketball team defeated Oberlin 75-66 for its first North Coast Athletic Conference win on the season while ending a three-game losing streak in the process. The DPU women stayed perfect in the NCAC against Oberlin and extended their win streak to four with a 63-45 victory...

NEW MARKET -- For all practical purposes Saturday night's basketball game between South Putnam and Southmont was over in the first quarter. The Eagles (1-3) were never able to fully recover from a disastrous opening quarter in a 57-39 loss to the Mounties (3-3)...

MONROVIA--The Monrovia men's basketball team hosted Cloverdale on Saturday night and the Clovers came away victorious in the matchup 70-54. "In this three-game stretch we have had great ball reversals and sharp cuts," Cloverdale coach Pat Rady said. "We found the open men. Our post guys have stayed after it and they are able to finish. Nick (Winders) is coming into his own, he is a good shooter and he has been taking it to the rim. He is gaining confidence."...

The Purdue University Education Store has a broad assortment of media, including apps that are informative for hobby activities, improving quality of life or of career benefit. These items are very inexpensive and many would make great stocking stuffers...

Dec. 13-19 Monday, Dec. 14 -- Family Quiet Time in the Imagination Portal, 9 a.m. to noon. Looking for a little quiet in the library? These hours are for you. Enjoy the without monitors, video games or music in the background. -- Community Help Desk, 2-4 p.m...

Here are the latest stray animals currently held at the Putnam County Animal Care and Control Shelter, 4700 E. State Road 240. -- Dog: Adult, male, tan/black, mix, found in Greencastle. -- Dog: Adult, male, tan, Chihuahua mix, found in Bainbridge. -- Cat: Adult, male, gray/white, short-haired...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- With schools concerned about big drops in Indiana's standardized tests scores, a top legislator on education issues says he's coming up with proposals to adjust how the state uses the results. Those scores are used in determining teacher raises and A-F ratings for local schools. Officials are blaming the double-digit drop in passing rates for students on changes made to last spring's ISTEP exam...

The last day for kids to see Santa Claus at WynWay Technologies and get a free photograph with the jolly old elf is Tuesday, Dec. 15. Santa will be on hand from 4-6 p.m. at WynWay, 122 E. Washington St., Greencastle. Wilson's photography will be taking photos (no cost) with free cookies and goodies for every child...

BRAZIL -- Members of the Brazil Concert Band will perform "Christmas at the Park" on Friday, Dec. 18, beginning at 6 p.m. at the bandshell in Forest Park at Brazil. The BCB will play Christmas favorites arranged by Guy Holmes. Trumpeter Bekki Eisele and her husband Aaron decorated the bandshell recently...

With the employee Christmas party planned for the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 23, the Putnam County Courthouse will close at noon. With Christmas Eve, Christmas and the weekend to follow, the courthouse will reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 28.

BAINBRIDGE -- Gleaners Mobile Food Truck will return to the Bainbridge Community Building on Saturday, Dec. 19. Food distribution is from 10 a.m.-noon for anyone in need with no age requirement. In anticipation of inclement weather, distribution will be held in the large social room of the Community Building...

CLOVERDALE -- Three local FFA chapters and the Cloverdale Police Department have come together and started a charity event for needy families in Cloverdale and surrounding towns. The inaugural Clovers, Cops and Christmas is set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, at the C Bar C Expo Center in Cloverdale. It is open to the public and all families are welcome to attend...

Dropping in to visit Putnam County Museum members at their annual holiday gathering Wednesday night, Santa Claus takes Sandi Rossok for a ride in his no-horse open sleigh. Complete with a sign that says "Ring me" attached to its bells, the old-fashioned sleigh is on display at the museum, 1105 N. Jackson St., Greencastle. Regular hours at the museum are 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday...

For the first time, the Putnam County Sheriff's Department and the Humane Society of Putnam County are inviting the community to help "clear the kennels" at a Home for the Holidays event on Saturday, Dec. 19 from noon to 4 p.m. Cats and dogs will be available for a reduced rate so that they may all spend the holidays in their forever home...

After eight years of her sharing her time and talent with the people of Greencastle, it's time for residents to say thank you to Mayor Sue Murray. The accomplishments and achievements of Mayor Murray, whose second and final term will end Dec. 31, will be celebrated with a public reception Thursday, Dec. 17 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Music on the Square, 21 N. Indiana St., Greencastle (the old Goodwill store on the courthouse square)...

Roachdale's annual Christmas Celebration kicked off Friday evening, consisting of a parade, arts and crafts for visitors of all ages and a chance for the kids to visit with Santa at the Roachdale VFW. Taking their turn with Mr. and Mrs. Claus are (from left) Trace, Brookley and Khloe Oliver...

Mayor-elect Bill Dory, still wearing his Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center executive director hat and no-nonsense approach, offered up some impressive statistics in summarizing the past eight years of local development. Pointing to numbers from the eight-year period coinciding with the two terms of outgoing Mayor Sue Murray and retiring City Council members Jinsie Bingham and Phyllis Rokicki, Dory said the timeframe produced 15 significant projects that were shepherded through the City Council by his office.. ...

PUTNAMVILLE -- In today's world, recent events have shown us that trouble can strike in the blink of an eye and at any location. One of those events is the far too frequent active shooter. For the last few years, Indiana State Police has been providing training and information to Indiana schools to educate students and staff on the options they have during an armed intruder assault...

With Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray and DePauw University archivist Wes Wilson (right) holding onto the Indiana Bicentennial flag, Rick Long of the City Department of Public Works raises it at noon Friday in front of City Hall, participating in a statewide ceremony commemorating Indiana's 199th birthday as a state. The event kicks off a year-long celebration of the bicentennial year, celebrating 200 years since Indiana was admitted to the Union on Dec. 11, 1816...