Stories from Monday, January 28, 2019

A man who has given more to his community in retirement than most people ever do in a lifetime has been named the 2018 Citizen of the Year by the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce. Firmly entrenched in Act II of his career after a successful run as a merchant and entrepreneur at Horace Link Furniture and as fourth-generation owner of his family business, Eitel’s Flowers, Ken Eitel was honored Saturday night during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting at the Community Building on the Putnam County Fairgrounds...

CLOVERDALE -- A two-vehicle personal injury accident on U.S. 231 at CR 700 South near Cloverdale has caused U.S. 231 in Putnam County to be closed in both directions, beginning at about 6:35 p.m. Monday. Described as a "high-speed, head-on" collision by first-responders, the accident between a full-size car and four-wheel-drive pickup occurred about 6:20 p.m. with at least two injuries reported...

With escourt Emma Blanford at his side, North Putnam senior James Duncan celebrates his crowning as the 2019 Homecoming King Saturday night at the high school. Homecoming festivities also featured performances by alumni cheerleaders and the Pacers Power Pack dunkers. Unfortunately for Duncan and his Cougar teammates, the evening wasn’t quite so successful on the court...

Having named Chris Flegal as its new executive director in December, the United Way of Putnam County is hosting a special meet-and-greet from 8-9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Music on the Square, 21 N. Indiana St. The event is free and open to the public and will include light refreshments provided by Putnam Inn...

The award-winning Culinary Arts students at the Area 30 Career Center will host two February Ivy Gallery luncheon events, Culinary Arts instructor Mary Anne Birt has announced. The luncheons are scheduled for Wednesdays, Feb. 13 and Feb 20 with seating beginning at noon...

DELPHI – Cloverdale completed a successful weekend in boys’ basketball action on Saturday night, winning its fourth straight game with a 61-49 victory at Delphi. The victory came on the heels of Friday night’s 51-50 homecourt win over Sullivan, and extended the first multiple-game winning streak of the season for the Clovers...

When the award-winning German cellist Julian Steckel takes the stage with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's return to Kresge Auditorium, Sunday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m., it will mark not just the guest artist's much-appreciated Green Center debut. His three-concert run with the ISO, led by acclaimed Italian conductor Daniele Rustioni, including two performances in Indianapolis, also will be a celebration of the soloist's American debut...

Benny Joe Roth, 86, of Paragon, formerly of Seymour, Eminence and Mooresville, passed away Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 at St. Francis Hospital in Mooresville. Benny was born Jan. 17, 1933 in Illmo, Mo., to Oscar Christoph Wilhem and Ellen Dora Watts Roth...

Don't be fooled by those nearly 40-degree temperatures that teased their way across Greencastle and Putnam County on Monday. Some of the harshest air the area has seen in 25 years is expected to arrive Tuesday night into Wednesday morning with wind chills expected in the -30 to -45 range. The National Weather Service (NWS) says record lows are possible Wednesday and Thursday with the bitter cold finally easing by Friday morning...

Eleven Putnam County wrestlers finished in the top four places of their weight classes in IHSAA sectional competition on Saturday, and will advance to regional action on Saturday. None of the county wrestlers finished in first place, but Greencastle’s Trace Thomas (170 pounds) and Cloverdale’s Caydhan Stevens (145) both finished second...

BAINBRIDGE — North Putnam battled South Vermillion tough through the first half of Saturday night’s homecoming game, trailing 28-23 at the intermission. The Wildcats came out firing in the third period, however, pouring in 24 points to break the game open and roll to a 69-37 victory...

OBERLIN, Ohio — Maya Howard hit two free throws with 17 seconds left and Oberlin missed a 3-pointer with one second remaining as No. 16 DePauw took a 51-48 North Coast Athletic Conference win at Oberlin on Saturday in women’s college basketball. The Tigers moved to 16-4 overall and 10-1 in NCAC play, while the Yeowomen dropped to 11-8 overall and 6-4 in conference play...

INDIANAPOLIS — Taking the court again just 15 hours after the end of their game at Edgewood on Friday night, Greencastle’s Tiger Cubs knew they would have to try to find all the energy reserves they had against Tri-West at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. With the game tied at 33-33 going into the fourth quarter, and many players having never left the court in either weekend game, the Tiger Cubs were somehow able to hit 15 of 20 free throws in the final period to clinch a 55-45 win over the Bruins...

The Indiana DNR Division of Law Enforcement is looking to fill Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) positions across the state with highly motivated, outdoor-centered individuals. Anyone interested in a career as an ICO should first to go to dnr.IN.gov/lawenfor and complete the pre-screening test. Completion of the test by midnight Feb. 4 is required to be considered for the 2019 hiring process, which starts in late February 2019...

Today 6 p.m. — Crawfordsville (2-20) vs. Southmont (6-15) 7:30 p.m. — Greencastle (14-7) vs. Benton Central (20-4) Friday, Feb. 1 6 p.m. — Lebanon (12-10) vs. Crawfordsville-Southmont winner 7:30 p.m. — North Montgomery (3-19) vs. Greencastle-Benton Central winner...

The annual 4-H Grows Knowledge workshop for 4-H volunteers, Junior Leaders and current or prospective judges at 4-H or other events is slated for Saturday, Feb. 23 at Cloverdale High School. Both 4-H members and volunteers may sign up for the workshop using the same website in.4honline.com used to enroll for the local 4-H program. ...

County Jail Nine people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently. Monday • At 4:23 a.m. Michael James Blankenship, 41, New Paris, Ohio, was lodged at the jail on a local warrant. • At 3:37 a.m. Shane Michael Baker, 34, Fillmore, was taken into custody on a local warrant...

Both Greencastle and North Putnam will be looking to unseat defending champions tonight, as girls’ sectional basketball action gets underway for three Putnam County teams at Southmont and Cloverdale. At Southmont Greencastle (14-7) and Benton Central (20-4) take the two best records into the Class 3A Sectional and meet in tonight’s second game. Lebanon (12-10) and Southmont (6-15) meet in the opener...

A question for longtime Banner Graphic readers: When was the last time this newspaper missed a scheduled publication date? Was it during the Blizzard of ‘78? No. Despite the heaviest snowfall levels in memory, the Banner was published each day, with employees sent with papers in hand on their way home to deliver to each box they could reach...

Living up to its name as the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday during its annual meeting, the Chamber honored a pair of businesses located a bit more than a stone’s throw from Greencastle courthouse square. They are also two businesses that seem to be doing their part to make the Putnam County community, well, greater...