Stories from Monday, March 20, 2023

HERITAGE LAKE — A Heritage Lake home was significantly damaged in a fire that called upon multiple fire departments from Putnam and Hendricks counties Monday morning. A box alarm was dropped at about 6:40 a.m. for a structure fire reported at 116 Mill Springs. Heavy black smoke was coming from the eaves and the top of the roof, as well as from the back of the structure, as units arrived...

A 31-year-old Greencastle man, already denied an appeal of his voluntary manslaughter conviction in the Sept. 12, 2012 fatal stabbing of his father, now has lost out on sentence modification as well. Thomas W. Badgley, who was just 21 when he stabbed his 53-year-old father, Tommie Dale Badgley, to death, has been denied sentence modification in a ruling by Putnam Superior Judge Denny Bridges...

Retired local educator Alan Small got quite the introduction to Mary Emma Jones School as he was settling into his office as principal years ago. The year was 1980, and Small was making himself at home in the office that had been occupied by predecessor Robert Harbison since 1968...

Inevitably when discussion would get around to school funding, as it most often did at the Legislative Update sessions each winter, Murray Pride was always there with the perfect analogy. “There’s only so many pieces of the pie,” he would offer in that wonderful Kentucky drawl...

The Greencastle/Putnam County yard waste site, located off South Jackson Street on County Road 250 West (just past the county highway department), will open for the season on Saturday, April 1. Residents may bring grass clippings, twigs, branches, leaves and other organic yard waste. No stumps, sod, soil or treated lumber are permitted. A fee sheet is available on the West Central Solid Waste District website and Facebook page...

Larry Lee Bonesteel, 85, of Greencastle, passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Born Dec. 27, 1937 in Robinson, Ill., he was the son of Virgil and Alice (Ralston) Bonesteel. Larry was a graduate of Robinson High School and attended Memphis State University...

Julie J. Hoffa, 72, of Cloverdale, passed away Monday, March 20, 2023. She was born March 1, 1951 to the late John and Rose (Boudreaux) Fisher. Julie married Gerry Hoffa on Sept. 6, 1969, and he survives. In addition to her husband Gerry she is also survived by her daughter, Lori (Ed) Halloran; sons Travis (Amber) Hoffa, Patrick Hoffa, grandchildren Michael Halloran, Matthew Halloran and Meghan Halloran; brothers John Fisher, Robert Fisher and Charles Fisher; and sister Dorothy Fielding...

Gary Michael Barcus, 75, of Greencastle, passed away on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at St. Vincent Ascension Heart Center in Indianapolis surrounded by loved ones. He was born Dec. 15, 1947, in Charleston, Ill., to Donald and Gladys (Ewbank) Barcus. He was a 1966 graduate of Charleston High School and a 1971 graduate of Eastern Illinois University...

Janice Jester of Belle Union went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 19, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was born on May 11, 1937 to Verlin Scott and Dorothy (Call) Scott in Brilliant, Ohio. Her family moved to the Belle Union area in 1942 and she graduated from Belle Union High School in 1955...

Robert Steven Moore was born in Indianapolis on June 30, 1942. Steve (as he was known by most) went to be with his Lord on Saturday, March 18, 2023 after a lengthy stay at Hutsonwood Nursing Facility in Brazil. He was preceded in death by his loving mother, Myrtle Mills, Indianapolis; his granddaughter, Haley Nicole Dyer; his son-in-law, Douglas S. Kitchen; and his lifelong best friend and brother-in-law, James M. Gillian...

STILESVILLE -- Ongoing restrictions on U.S. 40, between County Road 700 West and County Road 625 West are set for a bridge replacement project near Stilesville, in Hendricks County, the Indiana Department of Transportation has announced. U.S. 40 will be down to two lanes. Traffic will be maintained by a temporary barrier wall. These restrictions will last through early November, weather permitting...

The Putnam County Public Library is now equipped with a digital kiosk offering legal resources and services for free to residents and visitors. The kiosk will be located on the upper level of the library, near the reference desk. The Indiana Bar Foundation (IBF), Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and Indiana Supreme Court unveiled 120 of these kiosks in November. They are being installed across the state...

Ivy Tech Community College has positioned health care professionals, manufacturing specialists, entrepreneurs, businesses leaders and other leaders to thrive professionally and help drive Indiana’s economy for nearly 60 years. On April 11, alumni, friends of Ivy Tech and all Hoosiers can help the college develop a new generation of leaders by contributing to Ivy Tech Day, its first-ever day of giving...

BAINBRIDGE — The Bainbridge Volunteer Fire Department is appealing to the community for more to become volunteer first responders. Bainbridge Fire Chief Kevin Thorson notes that the department responds to 200-plus calls a year, covering various emergencies apart from fires and motor vehicle incidents. As the community grows, the number of responses increases...

The Central Indiana Land Trust Inc. (CILTI) has received a matching challenge grant from the Efroymson Family Fund in support of fundraising to purchase and protect Fern Station Nature Preserve, an environmentally-rich, 570-acre site just west of Greencastle...

Congratulations! You decided to save or invest (more) money in 2023 as a New Year’s resolution. Now it’s time to start setting money aside, but you are wondering where you can put $1,000 or less. Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many savers/investors start with just several hundred dollars. In other words, they practice “small step investing.” If done consistently over time, it can result in five-, six- and even seven-figure sums...

The Putnam County Non-Food Pantry will distribute cleaning and hygiene products this Saturday, March 25 from noon-3 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Greencastle. This will be a drive-through distribution and sack lunches will be given out. The church is located at 520 E. Seminary St. Those attending should enter the church’s parking lot from Bloomington Street...

The Clinton Falls Cemetery Board advises the public that it will be removing any winter mementos and ground decorations that will interfere with the grounds mowing process on April 1. Anyone wishing to keep these items should retrieve them before that date. Everyone is thanked in advance for his or her cooperation...

The Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department will host a spaghetti dinner on Saturday, March 25 from 5-8 p.m. Besides the main fare, the menu will include garlic bread, salad and dessert along with tea, lemonade and coffee. The meal is for a free-will donation, and proceeds will go toward daily operations and equipment costs...