Stories from Monday, February 21, 2022

Masks are no longer required in Putnam County offices. The Putnam County Commissioners voted 2-0 on Monday morning to rescind the mask mandate put in place more than a month ago as COVID-19 cases rose in the midst of the omicron variant surge. Commissioner Tom Helmer made the motion, which was seconded by David Berry. Commissioner Rick Woodall was not in attendance Monday...

Barring a court intervention, a Thorntown Republican will not appear on the May 3 primary as a candidate for U.S. Congress. In a Friday decision, the Indiana Election Commission voted to uphold two challenges to the candidacy of T. Charles Bookwalter, thus denying ballot access to the only challenger to Congressman Jim Baird (R-Greencastle)...

Competing for new business prospects with the likes of Texas, Tennessee and Ohio, the state of Indiana is trying to streamline the process, state legislators representing Putnam County said Saturday morning. Speaking at the Legislative Update program at the Farm Bureau Insurance office, District 44 State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) and State Sen. Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) expressed their hopes for SB 361, which is currently undergoing scrutiny by the Senate Ways and Means Committee...

An up-close and personal experience has fueled the interest of District 44 State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) on a House bill that focuses on craft hemp flower and hemp production in Indiana. House Bill 1043, which has been assigned to the Senate Commerce and Technology Committee, excludes craft hemp flower from the definition of “hemp product” and removes references to smokable hemp...

With more than $50,000 raised, the first Putnam County Youth Development fundraiser in nearly three years certainly looks like a success to organizers. PCYDC Executive Director Anna Kendall was certainly happy with what she saw. “This was my first time being a part of the event, and it was a great joy to see the way our board came together to create such a fun, yet meaningful, evening,” Kendall said. ...

CLOVERDALE — A recently-fired employee of Lou’s Diner has been charged with the Feb. 15 burglary of the Cloverdale eatery. Apprehended by the Cloverdale Police Department on Friday, Kevin. M. Bain, 36, Quincy, was in Putnam Superior Court on Monday, facing charges of Level 5 felony burglary, Level 6 felony theft with a prior conviction and Class C misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia...

CLOVERDALE -- Two New Hampshire juveniles -- missing for a week -- were arrested in Putnam County Friday afternoon more than 1,000 miles away after being involved in a car accident north of Cloverdale. Jonathan Wood, 15, and Jenna Smith, 14, were located at approximately 1:30 p.m. ...

SPENCER - The Owen Valley Patriots made 18 of 25 free throws on the night to outlast the visiting Greencastle Tiger Cubs 63-58 in a Western Indiana Conference matchup Saturday night. In a matchup of teams fighting for position in the conference standings, Owen Valley would take a slim three-point advantage in the first quarter. Senior Cayden Paquette scored all 14 Patriot points. Cole Hutcheson had six in the early going to keep the Tiger Cubs close...

CLOVERDALE – While weather may have bobbled the schedule a bit, senior night still came Saturday at Cloverdale as Kyle Thomas and Brady Koosman were honored for their efforts with Clover basketball. Eminence did its best to frustrate Thomas all night but that was too tall a task for the Eels to complete as Thomas finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds in a 65-45 win...

Two Putnam County swimmers will compete twice in finals Saturday at the IHSAA Plainfield Swimming Sectional. Additionally, all nine county relay teams will compete in the finals while there are 25 individual swims in the consolation finals. North Putnam Carter Thomas and Greencastle’s Vincent Martoglio each had fourth-place and eighth-place finishes in the prelims Friday night, the former fourth in the 100 fly in 58.77 and eighth in the 200 IM in 2:17.65 while the latter was fourth in the 50 free in 23.52 and eighth in the 100 free in 53.28.. ...

The sectional draw for the IHSAA Boys’ Basketball State Tournament took place Sunday evening with the four Putnam County schools learning their assignments for next week’s play. In Class 3A Sectional No. 25, Greencastle will face Danville for a second time this season on Wednesday at Frankfort. The Warriors defeated the Tiger Cubs 65-50 on Jan. 22. The winner will face the winner of Frankfort and Monrovia on Friday...

Wesley Steven Custis, 77, of Solsberry, passed away Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 at the IU Health Hospice House in Bloomington. Born Sept. 15, 1944 the son of Wesley Steven Custis Jr. and Louise (Grantham) Custis. Steve was retired from Lonestar Cement as a salesman. He attended the Solsberry United Methodist Church and had served his country in the National Guard...

Keith A. Monnett, 70, of Cloverdale, passed away peacefully in his sleep Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. He was born Aug. 31, 1951 in San Diego, Calif., to the late Claude and Betty (Cummings) Monnett. He married Christina (Himes) Monnett on Oct. 7, 2013, and she survives...

One in nine Americans struggles to have access to enough food, also known as food insecurity. Putnam County has a 12.9 percent projected insecurity rate for 2021 (Feeding America), or 4,560 people in the county are estimated to be food insecure. When households have trouble getting enough food, this can lead to stress and other health problems. Many resources can provide help to get food. One of the most well-known food resources is a food pantry...

The following cases were filed in Putnam County courts recently. Ciera Roberts, 31, Kokomo, Level 6 felony auto theft Michael L. Doan, 30, Brazil, Level 6 felony strangulation, Class A misdemeanor domestic battery Joshua D. McGlaughlin, 37, Cloverdale, Class A misdemeanor driving with an ACE of .15 or more, Class C misdemeanor driving while intoxicated...

BAINBRIDGE — Gleaners food distribution will again be at the Bainbridge Elementary School on South Washington Street as a drive-through event on Saturday, Feb. 26. The event, which runs from 10 a.m. until food runs out, is open to all in need. Volunteers are needed by 9 a.m. to help with loading boxed food items and traffic control...

The Putnam County Non-Food Pantry, hosted by St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, will be distributing non-food items from noon until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the church, 520 E. Seminary St. in Greencastle. Saturday’s distribution will be a drive-through event of products only. Because of concerns about safety, volunteers will distribute only pre-packaged bags, so there won’t be a choice of items. Sack lunches will be given out at this February distribution...

Roachdale is moving into the next phase of Community Crossings after accepting a bid from Milestone Contractors, as recommended by Midwestern Engineers Inc. Construction in the downtown area is scheduled to begin in the spring, and work to be completed will include but is not limited to pavement milling, sidewalks, curbs, ramps, grade adjustments and road markings...

Eight people were booked in the Putnam County Jail recently. Sunday • At 8:16 p.m. Sharyl J. Peck, 53, Cloverdale, was lodged at the jail for driving while intoxicated. • At 3:16 a.m. Kelly L. Jurca, 45, Ladoga, was taken into custody for battery...

Are you looking for ways to help or support your community in 2022? Join us on Wednesday, March 16 from 6-8 p.m. at The Putnam Inn to learn more about the Women Who Care group.  The Putnam County Women Who Care is a group of women who care deeply about our community. ...