Stories from Sunday, June 26, 2016

Marta Joan Jeffries passed away Saturday, June 25 in her home at Ladoga. She was born to Cecil and Mabel Cox in 1933, and raised in Darlington along with her three sisters, Judy, Jane and Margaret. She had a very interesting and mischievous childhood and could tell stories of her escapades that would definitely surprise those who knew her in later years...

The Celebrate 4 committee has announced the schedule of events for Independence Day at Robe-Ann Park on Monday, July 4. Beginning in the cool of the morning and lasting until the final fireworks well after dusk, it will be a day full of activity in Greencastle...

With only three weeks remaining, the 2016 edition of Greencastle ParkFest is quickly coming to a close. On Tuesday the free concert series sponsored by the Greencastle Civic League will feature Blues Side Up and Mike Balka. The show runs from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Bob Flanigan Bandshell at Robe-Ann Park. Food will be for sale from Anthony's New York Style Pizzeria...

While Illinois is the Land of Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky and spent his boyhood and a quarter of his life in southern Indiana. But Lincoln the man -- perhaps the ultimate name among U.S. presidents -- is known to have had more than one connection to Putnam County. Yes, Abe Lincoln. Honest...

The USDA Summer Feeding Program will continue to provide free meals to children in Greencastle through the end of July. Debbie Carrico, who administers the program and also serves as the director of food service for Greencastle Schools, said the response to the program, rolled out this year in late May and early June, has been positive, with food being served at three GCSC schools, as well as through mobile locations at Robe-Ann Park and the Putnam County Public Library...

The Greencastle Summer Music Festival continues its weekly concert series Wednesday in Gobin United Methodist Church with acclaimed singer/songwriter Krista Detor. Detor has toured internationally, playing her heartfelt songs coupled with perfected musicianship...

Putnam County Hospital, Mill Pond Health Campus and The Waters of Greencastle are joining forces for a sweet celebration. Strawberry Fest 2016 will be Friday, July 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the north parking lot of the Putnam County Hospital campus...

A three-full day biblical studies conference will be held July 8-10 in Greencastle on the Speeches of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. This is not a church revival, but live study sessions on the topic: "Reading the Bible Like Jesus: Scribes Trained for the Kingdom of Heaven."...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. It is thought to be an immune-mediated disorder, in which the immune system incorrectly attacks healthy tissue in the CNS...

The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) has recently recognized 25 organizations from around the state for their efforts to preserve Hoosier heritage with awards totaling $500,000 from its first-ever Heritage Support Grant. No Putnam County recipients were named, but neighbors receiving the award were the Hendricks County Historical Museum and the Lew Wallace Study Preservation Society of Montgomery County. ...

Award-winning journalist, Miranda S. Spivack, who spent nearly 20 years at the Washington Post as an editor and reporter, is coming to DePauw University to serve as Eugene S. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Professor of Journalism for the 2016-17 academic year...

After more than 40 years in the Farm Credit Organization, Ken Carrington is retiring June 30. Carrington began his Farm Credit career on Oct. 15, 1975 with Production Credit Association (PCA) in Martinsville. Beginning in January 1981, he was promoted to a credit position in the Greencastle Central Office. In 1985, PCA and Federal Land Bank merged into what was then called Farm Credit Services and now called Farm Credit Mid-America...

Bane-Welker Equipment (BWE) recently partnered with Ivy Tech Community College, Catholic Charities in Terre Haute and Westminster Village and Wabash Valley Master Gardeners in a project that contributed to local food banks throughout the state. BWE is an agriculture equipment company offering new and used equipment, parts, sales, service, precision farming and customer support...

BAINBRIDGE -- Ranked third in the state of Indiana in 2015, the town of Bainbridge expects its annual Fourth of July fireworks festival (to take place this year on Saturday, July 2) to carry on in familiar fashion. Bainbridge Town Council President Jerry Lents and others reported at the town's June 15 public meeting that the show has grown in size year after year, resulting in an yearly exhibition known far and wide...

PUTNAMVILLE -- Lincoln Park Speedway provided a night of "firsts" on Saturday evening with several different drivers making emotional trips to Victory Lane at the Putnamville oval. Tyler Thomas strapped into the Burton Masonry No. 04 for the second time and took the checkered flag despite dogged efforts from Jeff Bland Jr. and Brady Short...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the last installment in a two-part column series examining the status of basketball today, both nationally and in Indiana. I'm not sure how basketball, in my view, has gotten so far off track -- but there are several theories...

TERRE HAUTE -- Northview standout running back Ben Girton rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday night to lead the Black Division team to a 28-7 win over the Gold Division team in the 12th annual Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association All-Star Game...

First Friday on July 1 will mean an extra dose of outside entertainment as two musical acts will perform on the Franklin Street stage until 11 p.m. Singer Mike Balka will perform first, followed by that First Friday staple, War Radio, which generally performs inside the Swizzle Stick each month...