Stories from Monday, August 17, 2020

With all four Putnam County school corporations beginning the year with fewer students than 2019-20, the added hit of reduced funding for virtual students would make for even larger budget shortfalls. If counts of in-person and virtual students as of late last week were taken, county schools would stand to lose a combined $644,755 in state funding...

With school back in session in Putnam County, at two local school has students who have tested positive for COVID-19. The Putnam County Health Department confirmed Tuesday afternoon that both Cloverdale and North Putnam schools have had positive cases...

A partnership between the City of Greencastle and Putnam County Comprehensive Services (PCCS) has literally proved rewarding. The City of Greencastle has received the 2020 Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (INARF) Statewide Community Partnership Award, it was announced at the August City Council meeting by PCCS Executive Director Andrew Ranck...

The Heritage Lake Property Owners Association can move forward with a request to rezone the marina property. The Putnam County Commissioners gave the request final approval Monday morning, affirming an earlier decision by the Putnam County Plan Commission...

Clifford “Cliff” Earl Phillips, 89, of Greencastle, was called to heaven on Jan. 31, 2020 in Punta Gorda, Fla. He was born Nov. 1, 1930, the youngest of seven children to Olney and Hazel (Figg) Phillips of Coatesville. Cliff was the beloved husband to S. Louise (Stienecker) for 61 years, and she survives. He was a much-loved father to daughters Cheri (John) Janssen and Susie (Jim) Curtis...

Kick It is Putnam County Hospital’s new tobacco cessation program which offers one-on-one counseling based on best-practice guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Patients will be referred from primary care or specialty care to work with a tobacco treatment specialist (TTS) at the hospital...

Marjorie Ann (Smith) Hodgen, 91, of Macon, Mo., and formerly of Darlington, passed away on Friday, Aug. 15, 2020 at Samaritan Hospital in Macon, Mo. She was born on Feb. 16, 1929 in Clinton County to the late Albert “Minor” and Alta (Bowen) Smith. On Sept. 10, 1949 in Clarks Hill, she married Bob Hodgen, who preceded her in death on Sept. 17, 2005...

Donald E. Sublett, 89, of Cloverdale, passed away of congestive heart failure on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020 at Hickory Creek at Sunset. Donald was born in Woodbury, Ky., on Feb. 18, 1931, the son of Ben E. and Mary Lucille (Gilliam) Sublett. Don was a graduate of George Washington High School in 1948. He attended Indiana University Extension, Alexander Hamilton Institute and many continuing education schools...

Tax abatement continues to pay dividends for Greencastle and the Putnam County communities. Long considered a necessary local economic development tool that allows abatement on real property (real estate) and personal property (essentially equipment), tax abatement basically trades abated real and personal property taxes for the increase in income taxes paid by the new employees created as a result of the company’s creation or expansion...

The Greencastle Virtual Music Festival launches Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 8 p.m. with a one-hour live stream performance by Blues legend Tad Robinson and his band. This new series of interactive live-streamed performances featuring artists from Putnam County and the rest of Indiana will be available at greencastlemusic.org and www.facebook.com/GreencastleVirtualMusic/...

ROCKVILLE -- Saying the health of the community was more important than the revenue the Covered Bridge Festival brings in, the Parke County commissioners have voted to cancel the 2020 event. Known as the largest festival in Indiana that typically brings nearly a million visitors to Parke County each year, the 10-day event had been scheduled for Oct. 9-18...

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Charles Howard Amers of Seymour on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, at the age of 85 years. Charles was born in Terre Haute to the late George and Etta (Hinote) Amers. Charles lived a long and productive life. He graduated from Greencastle High School while living on his own and working four jobs. After graduation, Charles proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1954-57...

BAINBRIDGE — Gleaners food distribution will again be at the Bainbridge Elementary School on South Washington Street as a Drive-through event on Saturday, Aug. 22. The event, which runs from 10 a.m.-noon., is open to all in need. No identification or proof of residence is required...

County Jail Ten people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently. Sunday • At 11:26 p.m. Michael M. Artimovich, 59, Plainfield, was lodged at the jail on a Marion County warrant. • At 2:38 p.m. Frank D. Saathoff, 35, Brazil, was taken into custody on a warrant for possession of methamphetamine...

Many Putnam County high school sports teams took advantage of Saturday’s “opening day” by jumping headfirst into competition, and the remaining teams will get under way this week. Don’t forget this is the first week of high school football, with three games to be played in the county on Friday night as North Putnam hosts North Montgomery, Greencastle hosts Crawfordsville and Cloverdale hosts South Putnam (for Senior Night)...

Greencastle’s boys claimed first place on Saturday in the Kieth Puckett Invitational cross country meet, edging runnerup Monrovia by a 63-64 margin. The Tiger Cubs were led by freshman Charlie Menzel, who won his first varsity race by placing first in a time of 18:34...

This October, Endeavor Communications will host its sixth-annual Monster Dash 5K event. In order to keep participants safe, it will be held virtually this year. Runners may register online by clicking the Monster Dash link on the home page at WeEndeavor.com.  ...

CLOVERDALE -- Town officials in Cloverdale are now considering whether to adopt local registration rules for golf carts. Town Marshal Steve Hibler related to the Cloverdale Town Council a week ago that many golf carts were being driven on U.S. 231. He was concerned about drivers’ safety, especially the downtown area where the speed limit is not consistent...

Starting in July, 2020 census takers began the door-to-door process of making sure the U.S. Census count is as accurate as possible. Census takers have completed virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing and other health and safety protocols in preparation for in-person interviews...