Stories from Thursday, January 28, 2021

Among the many lessons learned in a pandemic is the fact that science moves forward almost hourly. It should be no surprise, then, that laboratories completed decades ago may not fully meeting the needs of today’s high school and middle school students...

Local real estate broker Eric Wolfe will join two other individuals in being named to the Indiana 4-H Foundation’s board of directors. The Indiana 4-H Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides financial support for 4-H youth development programming across the state. It receives funding from individuals, corporations, granting agencies and through sales of Indiana 4-H license plates...

Even as it comes off of a year which saw a shrinking-in of services and patronage, The Putnam County Public Library’s financial situation remains healthy into 2021. The caveat is that some uncertainty remains. Mark Hammer of Hammer and Co. gave rundown of these finances to PCPL’s board of trustees during its regular meeting held virtually Wednesday evening...

Believe it or not, after nearly 12 months of hunkering down, quarantining at home, wearing almost exclusively sweats and living like a hermit, I think I’m coming out of my Covid Cocoon. Motivated by an old “Seinfeld” episode and spurred on by my first haircut since last July, I believe I’m ready for the New Normal. Bring it on...

Putnam County remained in the Orange Status on the Indiana Department of Health COVID-19 map for the past two weeks, meaning athletics at the four county schools have moved back to their orange map guidelines. Attendance at athletic contests will now be open to the public up to 25 percent capacity. ...

For a half, it looked as if Greencastle would go into IHSAA Girls’ Basketball Sectional play sleepwalking as the home team struggled to get the offense going against South Vermillion Thursday night. A wakeup call just before the end of a 15-11 first half got the Tiger Cubs rolling in the second half as the hosts held the Wildcats to just nine points across the final 16 minutes, signing off the regular season with a 42-24 win...

Iris J. Presley, 70, of Greencastle, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. Born June 29, 1950 in Muncie, she was the daughter of Jess Thomas and Edna Opal (Tackett) Hiles. She was a graduate of John Marshall High School. Iris was a homemaker. She was a prayer warrior for God and loved telling everyone about Jesus...

Michael Lee Havens, 69, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Michael was born in Mattoon, Ill., on Jan. 29, 1951, the son of Alfred Elwood and Billie Lou (Clark) Havens. He was a 1969 graduate of Danville High School...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Indiana 4th District Congressman Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) will continue to serve on the Agriculture Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee for the 117th Congress, he announced Thursday. “I look forward to continuing vital work on both committees,” Rep. ...

The scholarship committee of Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma is seeking worthy applicants for its recruitment grant-in-aid. The grant is open to any female Putnam County high school graduate who is currently a university sophomore or junior majoring in education. Such students who could use some additional funds are asked to consider applying...

With the recent temperature drops across the state, Indiana Conservation Officers are advising Hoosiers across the state of the potential hazards of being on frozen lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. It’s also important to keep a watchful eye for other people who may venture out on neighborhood retention ponds, lakes and other waterways and find themselves in trouble...

The following cases were filed in Putnam County courts recently. Marianne M. Shearer, 40, Cloverdale, Level 3 felony possession of methamphetamine, Level 5 felony carrying a handgun without a license with a prior conviction, Class C misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, Class C misdemeanor driving with a BAC of .08 or more...

Seven people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently. Wednesday • At 3:34 p.m. Travis L. Smith, 43, Greencastle, was lodged at the jail of nonsupport of a dependent child. • At 8:55 a.m. Christina M. Payton, 41, Greencastle, was taken into custody on a writ...

With the girls’ swimming and diving sectionals next week, Greencastle saw its boys’ team strike out on its own against Danville and North Montgomery Tuesday night., a meet the girls competed in back in November. The Tiger Sharks split with the two Sagamore Conference schools as the Warriors won 128-46 while the hosts beat the Chargers 99-65...

Greencastle’s Brody Whitaker has been named as the District 2 IBCA/Franciscan Health Sports Medicine Player of the Week. It’s Whitaker’s second Player of the Week nod. North Putnam’s Mason Brooks and Cloverdale’s Kyle Thomas were among ‘Top Nominees’ this week...

Zoe is a senior at Greencastle and participates in two sports, soccer and swimming. ——— Banner Graphic: How important are sports to you, and what have you learned from them? Zoe Weltz: “Sports are very important to me because I’ve always been involved in sports and that’s how I’ve made the majority of my friends. ...