Stories from Thursday, August 13, 2020

The Greencastle McDonald’s was temporarily shut down Thursday after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. McDonald’s spokesperson Erica Jones told the Banner Graphic Thursday afternoon the fast-food restaurant was closed so a deep cleaning could be done inside...

PUTNAMVILLE — A week after a large spike in cases at Putnamville Correctional Facility, positive COVID-19 tests at the prison and in the county are still on the rise, though the increase has slowed. After leveling off for a few days immediately after the county added 43 new cases last Thursday, Putnam County added 38 new positive cases over a three-day period — 21 on Monday, nine on Tuesday and eight on Wednesday, according to the Indiana State Department of Health...

CLOVERDALE -- Even with the uncertainty surrounding the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, the time has come when school administration look to finances for the next year. Foregoing a PowerPoint presentation due to power outages during the Cloverdale School Board’s regular meeting Monday evening, Superintendent Greg Linton gave a rundown of where Cloverdale Schools may stand with its budget in 2021...

As area school corporations begin an unprecedented school year, South Putnam Schools is now set to continue needed renovations throughout its buildings. However, funding has become a waiting game. During the South Putnam School Board’s regular meeting Wednesday evening, Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt gave an update on the start of school at South Putnam, as well as where the school corporation stands with enrolled students...

TERRE HAUTE -- A Whitehall, Ohio, girl was found safe Wednesday after being taken from outside her home by a family member without her parents’ knowledge. Detectives from the Whitehall Police Department tracked the vehicle, which was then believed to have been used in kidnapping the four-year-old. The Indiana State Police were notified of the missing child and of the possibility of the vehicle’s location...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) joined Indiana veterans Thursday in a virtual town hall to discuss the importance of American global health, diplomacy and development programs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the health and safety of all Americans – in Indiana and across the country...

The 25th annual Gathering of the People Pow Wow at the Vigo Conservation Club has been canceled, said Mel Eastham, Pow Wow Chairman. The reason is COVID-19 and the health restrictions imposed by the pandemic.

TERRE HAUTE -- A little bit of the old railroad days in Putnam County lives on in Terre Haute. The Vigo County Historical Museum has announced the addition of a vintage crossing flasher to the railroad display in the Transportation exhibit on the first floor...

The following cases were filed in Putnam County courts recently. Lana M. Joyce, 34, Roachdale, two count of Level 6 felony neglect of a dependent Harry Swinehart, 70, Roachdale, Level 6 felony criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon Adam W. Smith, 36, Greencastle, Level 6 felony possession of methamphetamine, Class C misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia...

Avery Hopkins, 93, of Roachdale, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020. He was a lifelong grain and livestock farmer. He was born January 1, 1927 in Morocco, Indiana to the late Pfrimmer Hopkins and Dewana Herron Hopkins. His wife of 64 years, Marjorie Camblin Hopkins, whom he married June 6, 1948 at the Portland Mills Christian Church, passed away Sept. 21, 2012...

When Josh Willer started LIVEstock Music Festival two years ago, of course bringing music to his family farm was part of the motivation. However, Willer also wanted to find a way to support the community. With the proceeds from the 2019 show, he was able to do just that, donating to Project Cultivate, a non-profit started by Parker Black when he was still a Greencastle High School student...

While COVID-19 has been blamed for canceling everything from the fair parade to the Greencastle Music Festival, at least one good result has come from circumstances surrounding the virus. Greencastle Park Superintendent Rod Weinschenk told the Park Board at its August meeting that “something good has finally come from COVID-19.”...

Progress is ongoing as Putnam County Habitat for Humanity continues work on a new home on the city’s northeast side. Zach Davidson of Holdfast Technologies (front) helps construction manager Keith Goad (back) and volunteer David Berry open some of the insulating concrete form panels...

The NCAA called off fall championship events — a move Thursday that does not affect major college football — because not enough schools will be competing in sports such as men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball during the first semester. NCAA President Mark Emmert made the announcement in a video posted on Twitter, but it has been clear this was coming as conferences canceled fall sports seasons because of the coronvirus pandemic...

LINTON — Cloverdale’s girls’ golf team placed second among three teams in a triangular match on Tuesday in its season opener. Northview won the meet with a 189, while the Clovers shot a 232 and Linton-Stockton had a 238. Senior Drew Steffy led the way with a 49 for Cloverdale, while Alyssia Elmore shot a 55, Michaela Nees shot a 59 and Phoebe McDonald carded a 69...

The long-awaited full reopening of Indiana High School Athletic Association sports takes place on Saturday, when competitions can begin for all sports with fans in attendance. Girls’ golf teams have played several matches over the past couple of weeks with seemingly few problems, although crowds are normally limited to family members walking together or on golf carts and players can easily observe social distancing...

Did you drive to the store today? Did you flush the toilet? Take out the trash? These day-to-day activities are an example of the importance of our municipal government. Our local governmental units impact us more frequently than our state and federal governmental bodies. They provide us with our water, fire and police departments, street repairs, road signs and other services that we take for granted...