Stories from Friday, March 20, 2020

Sharon Ann Daubenspeck, 71, of Quincy, passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2020 at her home. She was born on Nov. 11, 1948 to Bernie and Irene (Pierson) Hiatt in Noblesville. Sharon worked in the kitchen of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Tipton and for Hamilton Heights Schools. She loved dancing, cooking and gardening and her farm animals. Most of all, Sharon loved her family...

The following cases were filed in Putnam County courts recently. Criminal Cases Casey C. Storkman, 26, Greencastle, Level 6 felony escape-violation home detention Kara N. Steadman, 33, Oklahoma City, Okla., Level 6 felony auto theft, Class B misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident...

City Police Four recent arrests were reported by Greencastle City Police officers. • At 6:56 p.m. Thursday, Cory Scobee, 39, Greencastle, was arrested by Officer Alec Pettit for theft at the Walmart store on Indianapolis Road. Authorities said Scobee attempted to take $82.20 in merchandise by skip-scanning at the U-scan register. He reportedly scanned 41 items but skipped 22 others in his cart...

CLOVERDALE -- Cloverdale officials have been trying to figure out how to efficiently maximize, stretch and distribute the town’s funds. However, how to keep the Cloverdale Police Department going financially, as well as maintain its current officers, held the town council’s attention during its monthly meeting recently...

In the interest of public health and safety, the Putnam County Museum is suspending public hours for the next two weeks, it was announced Friday.   Museum Director Lisa Mock said emails will be responded to and phone messages will be monitored during the period...

BAINBRIDGE -- On the cusp of the state announcing that all Indiana schools were to be closed until at least May 1, the North Putnam School Board considered staff pay as the corporation’s COVID-19 response develops. The board approved a resolution Thursday evening to ensure that school staff would be paid as the closures continue. Additionally, it was stated that the school corporation will use waiver days from yesterday until Friday, April 3. These days were allotted by the state last week...

Only state approval stands in the way of the new BreadWorks bakery and bistro receiving a rare downtown Greencastle alcoholic beverage license following Greencastle City Council action. During its March meeting, the Council unanimously approved a recommendation by the Downtown Greencastle Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) to grant the new bakery/bistro at 2 E. Walnut St. one of the nine remaining unique downtown liquor licenses created by 2015 legislation...

Despite the cancellation of this year’s Ag Day Breakfast, the Putnam County Ag Breakfast Group donated $1,000 to the Putnam County Fairgounds endowment fund

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s political leaders announced Friday that they agreed to push back the state primary by nearly a month, to June 2, and to allow all voters to cast mail-in ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb said during a news conference with the state GOP and Democratic Party chairmen that only during such emergency times would he support moving the primary from its scheduled May 5 date...

This is part of a series of articles on how local businesses are currently coping with the coronavirus and its related issues. What happens to an event rental company when events come to a screeching halt? Greencastle-based Big Bounce Fun House rentals is dealing with that reality right now in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic...

North Putnam students perhaps got a bit of good news recently as they come off of a week of e-learning. In a letter sent out to parents Thursday evening, Superintendent Nicole Singer announced that spring break would be extended another week in response to the COVID-19 outbreak...

While expressing its ongoing commitment to serving victims and families in the region, Family Support Services of West Central Indiana on Friday announced some changes to how it provides service during the coronavirus pandemic. In an effort to protect the staff and volunteers and to maintain the recommendations of the CDC, FSSWCI has developed and implemented new service standards during this time of social distancing...

Responding to the needs — or lack of them at present — of the Subaru Lafayette Auto Plant, Heartland Automotive in Greencastle is going on hiatus. Starting Saturday (today), Heartland will shutter both its Greencastle and Lafayette operations, Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center Director Kristin Clary told the Banner Graphic...