Stories from Monday, January 8, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS — Between three and five Putnam townships would be forced to merge with others under a plan proposed by House Republicans. All townships with populations of less than 1,200 people would be consolidated into others within five years under the legislation announced Thursday, The Indianapolis Star and The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette reported. House Bill 1005 would affect 309 townships — nearly a third of the 1,005 in the state — mostly in rural areas...

Two of Indiana’s most respected voices in the nation and around the world will visit DePauw University on Thursday, Feb. 15. Former U.S. Congressman and 1952 DePauw University graduate Lee H. Hamilton and former U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugarwill discuss today’s political and everyday discourse and what it might take for lawmakers, and their constituents, to embrace civility...

Ruth Marie Hanlon, 81, of Greencastle, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. Born Jan. 13, 1936 in Clay County, the daughter of Estel and Herberta (Leberer) Sutton and was a graduate of Greencastle High School. Ruth had retired from DePauw University where she had worked as an accounting clerk for 38 years. She was a member of the Greencastle Presbyterian Church and the Greencastle Order of Eastern Star...

INDIANAPOLIS -- District 44 State Rep. Jim Baird (R-Greencastle), a Vietnam War veteran, will make remarks Tuesday, Jan. 9 during the 2018 Indiana Military Veterans Legislative Day at the Indiana State Capitol. The fourth annual event for the IMVLD, co-sponsored by Baird and State Rep. John Bartlett, is intended to get veterans together with their legislators to discuss specific issues our veterans and their families face...

County Jail Ten people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently. Sunday • At 1:51 a.m. Jeffrey Ray Skinner, 60, Fillmore, was taken into custody for possession of methamphetamine Saturday • At 8:47 p.m. Megan Lynn Gaskin, 22, Indianapolis, was booked in for false informing and on warrants out of Hamilton and Johnson counties...

The following cases were filed in Putnam County courts recently. Criminal Cases Meghan Winton, 19, Danville, Level 6 felony possession of methamphetamine, Class B misdemeanor possession of marijuana Megan E. Lavely, 29, Greencastle, Class A misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance...

A late 9-0 run lifted No. 12 DePauw to a 64-58 North Coast Athletic Conference win over visiting Kenyon. The Tigers improved to 14-1 overall and 6-0 in the NCAC with their 10th straight win, while the Ladies fell to 12-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play...

The South Putnam Eagles boys’ basketball team was as cold as the weather outside on Saturday night against the Edgewood Mustangs. The Eagles shot just 28 percent (11-of-37) from the field as they fell to the Mustangs 47-35 at home. The Eagles fell to 6-6 on the season...

BAINBRIDGE — North Putnam swept a pair of Putnam County semifinal junior high basketball games on Monday night to advance to Wednesday’s championship games. The Cougars jumped out to a 25-4 lead at halftime in the seventh-grade game and coasted to a 46-18 victory...

North Montgomery (7-9) at Greencastle (10-7)The coaches: Ryan Nuppnau is in his fourth year at North Montgomery. Bradley Key is in his ninth year at Greencastle. Season recap: The Chargers have lost six of their last seven games after a 6-3 start. The Tiger Cubs have lost three of their last four games after a nine-game winning streak...

ROCKVILLE — In order to compete for sectional titles, high school basketball teams have to develop the ability to grind out victories in close games. For Greencastle coach Bryce Rector, last weekend showed the progress his team is making. After pulling out a one-point win over Northview on Friday night, the Tiger Cubs came back from a six-point deficit after three quarter to edge Rockville 37-35...

Indiana is a Red State and Hoosiers are known for their conservatism and old-fashioned values, yet Hoosier conservatives continue to be frustrated by crony politicians who campaign on these points and yet fail to deliver time after time, candidate Jess L. Norton says. “Excessive spending continues, we hear nothing but requests for increased taxes to cover the roads, and solid conservative legislation continues to be killed before it ever leaves committee discussions,” so Norton, a Roachdale resident, has declared his candidacy for the District 44 seat in the Indiana House of Representatives in the 2018 Republican primary...

Having been appointed to the board in a time of upheaval, a Greencastle Community School Board member is set to leave the board this month with the local school corporation in a much calmer place than it was in 2012. Board member Denise Sigworth announced her resignation from the school board in a recent letter to board president Mike White. The resignation will take effect on Monday, Jan. 22...

In a special called meeting of Putnam County Democrat precinct committeemen Sunday, Kim Fidler of Greencastle was elected to chair the Putnam County Democratic Party following the resignation of former chairman Adam Cohen. Cohen decided to step away from the leadership role to focus on other things for the party, mainly candidate recruitment...

Darell "Pete" E. Nelson, 83, of Greencastle, passed away on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. He was born June 27, 1934 in Greencastle, the son of Lewis and Euniece (Sutherlin) Nelson. He was a veteran having served in the United States Army. Pete had been a truck driver for R.L. Schutt & Company in Indianapolis...

CAYUGA — North Putnam continued to get good balanced scoring on Saturday night, defeating North Vermillion 53-44 in boys’ varsity action for its third straight win. Caleb Duncan hit five 3-pointers for 15 points to lead the Cougars, while Elliot Gross and Andrew Pickel each had 11 points and Treyton Smith and James Duncan each added eight...