Four more Putnam County stars set to vie for dancing crown

Darrell Felling

Darrell E. Felling is an attorney for Felling & Felling Law Firm. He earned his B.A. from DePauw University and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from IU School of Law, Indianapolis.

He and wife Jill have four children, four grandchildren and one great-grandson. His son Darrell "Eddie" Felling II is his new law partner in Greencastle.

Felling's hobbies include deer hunting, mushroom hunting, small-scale farming, wildlife management and landscaping. His community activities include the DePauw University Community Relations Committee, a lifetime NRA member, Teen Court judge and volunteer attorney for Pro Se and other legal pro bono work.

He is also a former state representative in the Indiana General Assembly.

Felling is going into the competition with a sense of humor, saying he agreed to participate "to provide the community a great laugh and, hopefully, to earn an 'A' for the effort for such a worthy cause."

He also hopes to "learn a little bit about choreography, to remember humility always being first and help raise some needed funds for our community youth."

Dance experience:

"Only with my wife of 26 years -- by and large a non-professional, as the judges will soon find out."

Shawn Gobert

Shawn Gobert is the principal at Ridpath Primary School.

He has two children, daughter Ellen, 17, a senior at Greencastle High School, and son Nathan, 14, an eighth-grader at Greencastle Middle School.

His hobbies include exercising, "and, of course, hip-hop dancing."

His community involvement includes former experience as a coach of various sports, both at school and in youth leagues.

Gobert said he is happy to be participating in an event he has admired in the past.

"I have wanted to participate in the past, but wasn't able to do so," Gobert said. "The YDC provides many important services for our youth and I am happy to help support this valuable cause."

He added that he hopes to have fun and make some new friends while supporting a great cause.

Dance experience:

"I had to take a 'modern dance' class in college, so I am modestly skilled at pretending to be a rock or a tree -- and capable of switching from one to the other in a matter of seconds."

Nancy Holsapple

Nancy Holsapple is the director of Old National Trail Special Services Inter-Local.

She is married to Brien and has two children, Emmett (a North Putnam sophomore) and Emma (a North Putnam seventh-grader).

Her hobbies include reading, cooking, camping and gardening.

Holsapple has also been involved in 4-H Council, the chairperson of the Child Protection Team and the Greencastle Rotary Club.

She said the potential embarrassment is worth it to raise money for PCYDC.

"The services that Putnam County Youth Development provides to our children in the community are outstanding and much needed for many children," Holsapple said. "In order to support that cause, I agreed to dance in public."

She hopes to enjoy her time dancing and help raise money for a worthy cause.

Dance experience:

None.

Penny Long

Penny K. Long is the school secretary at Fillmore Elementary School.

She is married to Jerry Long and has two children, Lindsey Birt and husband Daniel and Cody Long. She also has two grandchildren, Jaxon and Hallie Birt.

Long's hobbies include running, Zumba, biking, baking and throwing eggs at the oak tree with her grandchildren.

She is involved in the community as a 4-H leader for 16 years, the board of the Roachdale Community Garden and many years on the Fillmore Elementary PTO.

"I always try to participate in community charitable activities whenever possible," Long said.

She sees dancing in this event as another way to do so.

"By doing DWTS I hope to be able to give back to the community," Long said. "It makes me proud to raise money that will be used to develop programs for the youth of Putnam County.

"It sure takes a village to raise the children."

Long added that dancing will let her step out of her comfort zone and take on a new challenge.

"I've also enjoyed meeting all the great people who have volunteered their time and I think I've learned a few new dance moves," she said.

Dance experience:

"I am a Zumba instructor for Dance Workshop. Zumba is about all the dance I do except when I dance in my kitchen when no one is around."