Stories from Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Keeping with the current theme of things this week, Putnam County has probably earned itself a red ribbon for its latest unemployment efforts. Not grand champion caliber. Not the blue-ribbon effort of a top 20 finish or the white-ribbon placing of the bottom third, but a middle-of-the-road ranking worthy of the middle of the pack...

Having already cleared the first hurdle in June, Spear Corp. is ready to begin another expansion at its Roachdale headquarters. The Putnam County Council recently approved a tax abatement request for another expansion at the facility at State Road 236 and County Road 50 West. This came on the heels of approval of the property as an economic revitalization area during the June council meeting...

Caroline Good is conducting her Children's Theatre Workshop at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre this week. The theme for this year's study is Greek Mythology. The workshop will culminate in a works-in-progress presentation on Friday, July 29, at the theater at 7 p.m...

Gerald R. Purcell, 81, of Greencastle, passed away Monday, July 25, 2016 at 12:18 p.m. at the home of his niece, with his family by his side. He was born Oct. 26, 1934 in Annapolis, Ind., the son of Archie Purcell and Merrie Kiger Purcell. Mr. Purcell served his country in the USMC for 22 years, retiring as an SSgt in 1975...

Calling herself "a collaborator" who embraces bipartisan support, Democratic candidate for Indiana lieutenant governor Christina Hale visited the Putnam County Fair Tuesday night. And it didn't take long for Hale, the Indiana District 87 state representative from the north side of Indianapolis, to make good on her promise to continue to "work across the aisle" for the good of Hoosiers and the state...

Entries of all ages competed Tuesday in the 4-H Fair's annual Beef Show at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. Winners, including both grand champion and reserve grand champion for steers and heifers are listed.

For three days this fall, DePauw University will be a destination for world thought leaders and performers seeking answers to problems brought about by seismic global shifts in the rapidly changing music marketplace. The 21CMposium, coordinated by Mark Rabideau, director of DePauw School of Music's 21st-Century Musician Initiative, will take place Sept. 9-11 in the Judson and Joyce Green Center for the Performing Arts at 605 S. College Ave., Greencastle...