Stories from Thursday, August 19, 2021

Driven by a recent spike in overall cases and positivity rate, Putnam County has reached the red advisory level for COVID-19 as determined by the Indiana State Department of Health. In the latest ISDH county data released Wednesday, Putnam County had a total of 193 new positive cases of COVID-19 during the week of Aug. 10-16...

The odds were stacked against Cloverdale in the 2020 season from the word go. Trying to work around COVID restrictions while fielding a roster roughly half the size of the one the year before, the Clovers were battered in their opening game by South Putnam and would end a winless season without playing a sectional game following a COVID cancellation and a cancellation of their own...

Despite winning a sectional title in 2018, South Putnam had not had a winning season in four years going into the 2020 season. A senior-heavy squad led the Eagles to a school record 12-straight wins, a WIC small school title and a sectional title with eventual state champions Covenant Christian the only squad to take South Putnam down...

Following a pair of eight-win seasons, North Putnam saw head coach Sam Carnes depart with Ryan Burress taking over a team in transition in the middle of the COVID summer of 2020. Replacing the bulk of the skill position players on offense and several key pieces of the defense resulted in a bumpy 2-8 season that ended the same way the previous two had with a defeat to a Western Boone team that was headed for state finals glory...

After a tough 2019 season, Greencastle rode the back of a sturdy offensive line and a two-headed monster in the backfield to a winning record in 2020, including a sectional win, before falling to Tri-West in the sectional semifinal. While only five seniors graduated, the Tiger Cubs lost several important pieces to both sides of the ball as a result and will have a different feel on both sides of the ball heading into the 2021 campaign...

Trystan is a senior at South Putnam and participates in two sports, tennis and baseball. ——— Banner Graphic: How important are sports to you, and what have you learned from them? Trystan Smithers: “Sports have always been a big part of my life. I’ve been playing since I was five or six. ...

Ivy Tech Community College in Greencastle welcomed students to the fall semester on Wednesday, Aug. 18. The 2021 cohort of students accepted into the Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP) program also began classes. This unique program allows students to earn an associate degree in 11 months. ASAP graduates can transfer to a four-year college to earn their bachelor’s degree. Students must apply and be accepted into this rigorous program...

Putnam County Hospital is planning the 2021 Senior Health Fair for Sept. 15 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. The Putnam County Senior Health Fair is open to seniors in the community aged 62 and older. “We are looking forward to hosting the senior health fair this year,” Director of Marketing Brooke Trissel said. ...

Throughout Indiana, many owners of Hoosier Homestead Farms have submitted their farm history for inclusion in the upcoming book, “Hoosier Homestead Farms: Honoring Farm Legacy in Indiana.” Time is running out to do so as the deadline of Aug. 31 is nearing...

Six people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently. Wednesday • At 10:33 p.m. Scott A. McKnight, 48, Cloverdale, was housed at the jail for contempt of court. • At 7:31 p.m. Jeremiah W. Bills, 41, Fillmore, was booked in for invasion of privacy...

The following cases were filed in Putnam County courts recently. David W. Thompson, 35, Greencastle, Level 6 felony possession of methamphetamine Thomas L. Gorham III, 41, Greencastle, Level 6 felony auto theft Wuilmer R. Ramos, 40, Indianapolis, Class C misdemeanor driving without ever receiving a license...