Stories from Thursday, May 18, 2017

TERRE HAUTE — The Clinton-area funeral director who wrecked a van on Interstate 70 Tuesday may not have been authorized to handle remains, according to a media report. Citing the Vigo County Health Department, WTHITV 10 in Terre Haute reported Wednesday that Matthew Fitzthum ‘s license to handle remains expired in December...

Aiden Chance McMullin, 2, of Greencastle, was taken into God's Care on Monday, May 15, 2017. Aiden was born in Danville on Dec. 17, 2014, the son of Aaron McMullin and Toni (Ballard) Howard. He was the little brother of David, Brittany, Jeremy and Jenna Howard, the grandson of Odis McMullin, Mark Ballard and Evelyn Ballard, and the nephew of Jason McMullin, Loren Fritz David, Christopher David, Evelyn Ballard and Holly McMullin, and he had several cousins...

James Max McCarter, 83, Greencastle, passed away Thursday, May 18, 2017. Arrangements are pending at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle.

Frederick Allan Hutcheson, 78, Farmington Hills, Mich., went to be with his Lord and Savior. Fred lost his battle to esophageal cancer on Friday, May 12, 2017. Born Jan. 5, 1939 at his grandparents' home, Phillip and Rachel Hutcheson, at Manhattan. His parents were Woodrow and Thelma (Berry) Hutcheson. They preceded him in death...

To the Editor: I write to offer public thanks to former Greencastle mayors Mike Harmless, Nancy Michael and Sue Murray, and current mayor Bill Dory for their recent participation in an event that I was privileged to moderate -- “Four Mayors: Firsthand reflections on three decades of governing Greencastle.”...

To the Editor: On behalf of the Putnam County Board of Realtors, I would like to thank everyone that participated in our Community Shred Event on Saturday, April 29. The event was sponsored by Earl & Co. CPA and Daniel Builders, who covered the cost of the shredding truck, enabling us to provide the shred service for free to the community...

To the Editor: In regard to the 2017 legislative session, once again, some schools will receive more funding and some less. In other words, we will have some winners and some losers. State Representative Jim Baird should only be concerned that the schools in his district are winners. Would you not agree? Total school funding for the school districts in HD 44 for the years of 2016 and 2017 can be seen in Figure 1...

Every few months we have to contemplate the very real possibility that the government might close its doors. Is this really the best we can do? Think about this for a moment: Two days away from a federal shutdown, Congress comes up with a stopgap measure to keep the government operating... ...

Three people were booked in the Putnam County Jail on Tuesday. • At 10:52 p.m. David Arthur Buroff, 37, Greencastle, was lodged at the jail for criminal trespass. • At 12:28 p.m. Kevin Ryan Spurrier, 43, Greencastle, was taken into custody for escape and violation of home detention...

The following cases were filed in Putnam County courts recently. Justin Levi Burnham, 30, Greencastle, Level 6 felony unlawful possession of a syringe Ryan K. Basler, 32, Greencastle, Level 6 felony theft Joshua Lee Cunningham, 32, Greencastle, Level 6 felony theft...

Sullivan emerged as the improbable winner of the Western Indiana Conference baseball championship year, after defeating Indian Creek 4-0 on Tuesday in a game where the Golden Arrows were held hitless by Braves’ pitchers. In other games, Northview won third place by defeating Edgewood 6-3 and the games determining the rest of the placings all were one-run contests...

Skylar Price hits a sacrifice fly in a game against Cascade earlier this season. Banner Graphic: How long have you been playing softball? Skylar Price: “I’ve been playing softball since T-ball, and haven’t stopped. I started playing travel ball in middle school. I became a starter in the outfield my sophomore year. I’ve had my ups and downs, but I have improved at both hitting and fielding.”...

BRAZIL — In a repeat of the 2015 Northview Tennis Sectional final, Greencastle will take on the host Knights for the title. The Tiger Cubs advanced to tonight’s 5:30 p.m. match by way of a 4-1 victory over South Vermillion Thursday evening. No further details for the match were provided...

Sherry Shipley is planning to run to represent Indiana’s 4th District in Congress (the seat currently held by Todd Rokita) in the 2018 election. She will be holding a public meeting to introduce herself and her campaign to Putnam County voters at Starbucks in Greencastle next Wednesday, May 24 from 6-7 p.m...

As the 2017 Putnam County United Way campaign winds down, McDonald’s will be the last stop for the United We Dine program on Tuesday, May 23. “All day, at both locations in Cloverdale and Greencastle, proceeds will be contributed to your United Way of Putnam County,” United Way Executive Director Joe Buser said. “We thank McDonald’s and the Jedele family operation for making this possible. This is very exciting for us and we hope many from the community will stop by and visit with us.”...

ROACHDALE -- Although a number of details are still to be worked out, Roachdale officials now have a clear signal as to what cellphone amplification will mean for the rural Putnam community. Giving the go-ahead to proceed with preliminary work after hearing his initial proposal in April, the town board decided to continue backing Brian Ramirez at its latest public session following an update of his efforts, approving a contract with the wireless technology company Cellect Towers LLC. (CTL)...

Indiana State Auditor Tera Klutz visited Greencastle Tuesday for a budget workshop with county auditors. Klutz became Indiana’s 57th Auditor of State after being appointed by Governor Eric Holcomb Jan. 2, and shortly thereafter established her executive team and top initiatives...

TERRE HAUTE – South Putnam’s Kieffer Vittetow and Greencastle’s J.T. Matthews captured individual titles on Thursday evening at the Terre Haute North boys’ track sectional. Vittetow won the 1,600-meter run in a time of 4:33.31, while Matthews defended his high jump title with a best leap of 6-foot-3. Vittetow also qualified for the regional by placing second in the 3,200...