Stories from Thursday, May 18, 2023

BRAZIL — Jon L. McGuff, 25, formerly of Reelsville, has entered not guilty to the murder charge of Billy Matherly, 48, Cloverdale, which occurred last Thursday in Brazil. In his initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon in Clay Superior Court, McGuff entered a not guilty plea and was appointed a public defender, Matthew Robert Effner...

With criminal cases increasing in Greencastle, Police Chief Chris Jones is taking a proactive approach, shuffling his personnel a bit and adding a third detective to City Police ranks. Veteran Officer Darrel Bunten, with more than 16 years experience with GPD and “hundreds of investigations” to his credit, was approved Wednesday afternoon by the Board of Public Works and Safety for a promotion to detective. He joins Det. Capt. Michael Collins and Det. Sgt. Matt Huffman as city detectives...

Tiger Cub baseball fans could not have asked for a better scenario Thursday night. With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth and the bases loaded, clean-up hitter Treyten Clark hit one over a pulled in outfield for a walk off 3-2 extra inning victory over the visiting Clay City Eels...

TERRE HAUTE – Behind another three-win night from Nolan Hackleman, North Putnam finished fourth at Thursday’s IHSAA Terre Haute North Boys’ Track Sectional. The Cougars finished on 62 points, 12 ahead of fifth-place Greencastle on 50 points. South Putnam finished eighth on 37 points and Cloverdale 10th on 15 points...

Thursday’s opener at the IHSAA Greencastle Girls’ Tennis Sectional went almost as easily as the hosts would have liked against South Vermillion. A surprise third set for No. 1 doubles pair Caroline Gooch and Sophie Riggle against Leah Sampson and Emily Vaughn lasted only as long as it took the duo to iron out some issues from the second set as the Tiger Cubs eventually claimed a 5-0 sweep over the Wildcats...

It isn’t uncommon for someone to call the Purdue Extension office stating they saw something online, but weren’t sure if it was true. For example, one of the common questions we get is, “Will mothballs prevent the moles digging up my yard?” Purdue Extension cannot recommend any home remedies (bubble gum, razor blades, mothballs, lye, mole dances, spinning or electric devices, flooding tunnels with water or car exhaust, etc.) for mole control because they are not research-based. ...

Four years of hard work for DePauw University seniors will culminate on Sunday morning with commencement exercises at the university. The ceremony is set for 10 a.m. on the East College lawn, outside the Emison Building. The commencement speaker will be poet Ross Gay, who has published four books of poetry and is currently an English professor at Indiana University in Bloomington...

Putnam Parks & Pathways is sponsoring a hike on Owl Trail at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 20. John Hawthorne will be the guide. The hike will pass through a large grove of trees that were planted 20-plus years ago. Plants along the trail will be identified. Hikers will stop at a seasonal pond and view a large pollinator planting...

After revising six policies, DePauw University has earned the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) “green light” rating, the highest possible rating for policies that regulate student speech on campus. DePauw’s new rating represents one of the most successful turnarounds in the history of FIRE’s “Spotlight” rating system. Only a few years ago, DePauw was a “red light” school and came in last in FIRE’s 2021 College Free Speech Rankings...

The Fillmore Community Volunteer Fire Department will host its next monthly breakfast this Saturday, May 20 from 7-11 a.m. On the menu will be biscuits and gravy, pancakes with syrup, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, orange juice, coffee and water. The meal is for a free-will donation...

BAINBRIDGE — Gleaners food distribution will again be at the Bainbridge Elementary School on South Washington Street as a drive-through event on Saturday, May 20. The event, which runs from 10 a.m. until food runs out, is open to all in need. No identification is required...

Barbara S. Higgins, 82, of Greencastle, passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023. She was born Feb. 4, 1941 to the late Richard and Mamie (Morgan) Jackson. Barbara married Charles Higgins on Aug. 29, 1959, and he preceded her in death May 17, 2014. She is survived by her children, DeElla Keith of Terre Haute, Charles Higgins and wife Stacey of Cloverdale, Terry Tuttle and husband Bob of Greencastle, Tina Spencer and husband Fred of Bainbridge, Robert Higgins of Greencastle and Heather Fauber and husband Brian of Greencastle. ...