Meet the Putnam County 'stars'

Sunday, April 5, 2015

A dozen local celebrities to dance for a good cause.

The seventh annual Dancing with the Putnam County Stars is set for Saturday, April 11.

The fundraising event will be hosted at the C Bar C Expo Center in Cloverdale. At 7:30 p.m., the local celebrities will take the stage to dance to raise money for the Putnam County Youth Development Commission, which aids local youth by focusing on delinquency prevention, information and referral services, community education and child advocacy.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will begin at 6 p.m.

David E. Berry

Putnam County Commissioner David Berry is retired from Nucor Steel. He has been married to LaDonna for 40 years, and has three daughters, Shannon Kinkead, Emily Berry and Stephanie Alcorn.

His hobbies include helping the 4-H youth with their sheep projects, hunting, fishing, shearing sheep and spending time with his grandchildren.

Berry is an elder at the Roachdale Presbyterian Church, is a member of the Putnam County 4-H Board and serves as the sheep barn superintendent. He also reads to kindergarten students in the county once a month through the United Way of Putnam County Mentor Program.

He agreed to participate in the event to help raise money for a worthy cause.

Berry said he hopes the event will help him to meet new people and "maybe learn how to dance."

Dance experience:

None

Joanie Knapp

North Putnam Middle School teacher Joanie Knapp is married to Forest, and they have two children, Jennifer Jackson and Neal Knapp.

Knapp's hobbies include traveling and hiking.

She is active in the Delta Theta Tau sorority, Rochdale Revitalization Cooperative Alliance, North Putnam Alumni Board of Directors, North Putnam Middle School PTO and Roachdale Christian Church.

Knapp said she agreed to participate in the event because, "As an educator, I am constantly aware of our students' need for opportunities to reach their potentials. I hope to demonstrate to them that not only will they be OK if they step outside of their comfort zones and try something new, they can have fun doing so."

She said she agreed to participate in the event because, "I hope that through this experience, Putnam County youth will see there are a lot of awesome ways to participate in our local community."

Dance experience:

None

Suzanne Masten

Suzanne Masten is a mother and civic volunteer. She describes her employment title as "CEO Casa Masten, taxi driver, coach and teacher."

She is married to Todd, and together they have four children, Elle, Isabelle, Stewart and Beau.

Her hobbies include sports, such as volleyball. She enjoys woodworking, spending time with her four children and Purdue University.

She is a member of the Greencastle Civic Lodge and 100 Women Who Care.

Masten said she agreed to participate in the event to "support PCYDC, step out of my comfort zone and learn something new."

She hopes to make new friends and learn more about what PCYDC does for the community.

Dance experience:

None. Not even high school prom.

Cathy Tipton

Cathy Tipton works in human resources at Eli Lilly and Company. She is married to Greg, and she has one son, Brandon Huber.

Her hobbies include shopping, flower decorating and crafts.

Tipton is the president of the United Way of Putnam County, vice president of the Operation Life Board, vice president of the Cloverdale Board of Zoning Appeals, secretary/treasurer of the Rockwell Foundation and serves on the Cloverdale Planning Commission.

She agreed to participate because it is a great event that serves the community, serves as a great fundraiser and she has always been interested in participating.

Tipton said she hopes to make new friends, help the PCYDC raise money and also hopes this event will serve as motivation for exercising.

Dance experience:

Minimum (learns fast)

Amy Walter

Amy Walter works at Felling and Felling Law Office.

Her hobbies include traveling and being outside. She enjoys spending time with family, her fiancé and niece.

Walter is new to the community. She sits on the board for the Putnam County Youth Development Commission and is the treasurer for the Greencastle Civic League.

She agreed to participate in the event because, "It is for a great cause that I am really passionate about. Anything I can do that will help forward the mission for PCYDC -- I'm all in."

Walters said, "I am trying to go into the experience with the mindset this is not about me. It is all about the children in this community, however I am excited to learn some new dance moves and make some new friends along the way."

Dance experience:

"I have absolutely no dance experience whatsoever, but I am more than willing to learn and hopefully even put on a good show."

Michael E. Mahoy

Michael Mahoy will be putting away his badge as Roachdale town marshal and putting on a pair of dance shoes. He has been married for 22 years, with two children, Kayla and Cole.

He enjoys being a K-9 handler, being outside and spending time with family and friends.

He is active in Summerfest, National Night Out, Putnam County PIE Coalition, vice president of the Indiana Town Marshal Association, works with community service workers and serves on the Friends of the Park board.

Mahoy agreed to participate in the event because "it is just a great way to help our youth in Putnam County."

He hopes to meet new people in the county.

Dance experience:

Um ... none!

Rebecka Howard

Rebecka Howard is a receptionist at Putnam County Comprehensive Services. She has been married to Russell Howard for 19 years, and they have two children, Savannah and Ryder.

Howard's hobbies include fitness and running, such as half marathons, triathlons. She enjoys step aerobics, kick boxing and taking amateur photos.

She is active in the Pink Halloween Fun Run 5K and I Run 4 Ashleigh events.

Howard agreed to participate in the event "to spread smiles, to wear a pretty dress and making fitness fun."

She hopes to make new friends, spread heart health awareness and raise money for PCYDC.

Dance experience:

Nada

Clayton Tomasino

Clayton Tomasino is the CEO of Scorpion Coatings. He is married to Beth and they have two children, Eliam and Leila.

His hobbies include reading, hiking, camping, watching movies with his wife and spending time with his children.

Tomasino said Scorpion Coatings employee Beau Battin gave him a "guilt trip", but ultimately agreed to participate in the event because it supports a good cause.

He said he hopes to learn a few dance moves and to raise money for PCYDC.

Dance experience:

Ill-advised dancing in his "younger days" and classes with his wife more than seven years ago.

John Tischer

Greencastle Christian Church Pastor John Tischer is married to Anisha, and they have two children, Ella and Josie.

Tischer's hobbies include guitar, golf, wood working and playing Disney Memory with his daughters. He is active in the Real Men Read program.

Tischer agreed to participate in the event because, "It's for a great cause, I get to dust off my jazz hands and my wife wouldn't let me say no."

He said he hopes to have fun at the event and make new acquaintances.

Dance experience:

Three years high school show choir and musicals. One semester of ball room dancing in college.

Robert Tomaw

Robert Tomaw works directly with area youth. He serves as the Program Director for Youth Services at ResCare.

His hobbies include camping and reading.

Tomaw said he agreed to participate in Dancing with the Putnam County Stars "to experience something new and to help out my community."

When asked what he hopes to gain from the experience Tomaw said, "I hope to have a lot of fun and to laugh at myself."

Dance experience:

None

Sheila Cash

Sheila Cash works at Cash Concrete, DePauw University and Greencastle Schools. She is married to Tim Cash, and they have two children, Cameron and Kayla.

Cash enjoys boating, water skiing, snow skiing, camping, running and cooking. She is also serves as a children's church teacher.

Cash agreed to participate in the event to help local youth.

By participating in the event, she hopes to meet new people and get out of her "comfort zone."

Dance experience:

None

Nathan Kober

Nathan Kober serves as the assistant director of admissions at DePauw University.

His hobbies include sports, spending time outdoors and running. He works with the Greencastle Youth Basketball program and was active with community service while he was a student at DePauw.

Kober agreed to participate "to have fun, represent DePauw in the community and support the Putnam County Youth Development Commission.

He said he hopes "to be able to put on a great show and learn how to manage these two left feet of mine."

Dance experience:

None

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