Remnants of Hurricane Gordon wreak havoc on weekend events

With the aftermath of Hurricane Gordon rolling into Central Indiana on Friday and expected to stick around all weekend, a weekend overflowing with events has all but floated away.

As the deluge loomed late Friday morning, news of cancellations, postponements and relocations began to roll in.

Among the victims was the annual Taste of Putnam County, slated to be part of First Friday festivities in downtown Greencastle. Main Street Greencastle and the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce made the early call to postpone Taste events until the October First Friday on Friday, Oct. 5.

All other First Friday events were either canceled or moved inside.

Cloverdale High School also canceled homecoming festivities, though the Clovers still hosted Cascade for a varsity football game. The homecoming parade has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 11, with the homecoming court to be crowned between the junior varsity and varsity volleyball games on Tuesday evening.

Putnam County Airport Appreciation Days will be only a single day at best, with event organizers making an early call to cancel Saturday events for the safety of vendors and participants.

Organizers are hopeful that the weather will clear on Sunday, at least providing one day for the annual EAA Young Eagles Rally and other events celebrating the Putnam County Regional Airport.

Rain or shine, the Red Cross will be on hand at the airport from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.

“The Red Cross is unable to cancel the blood drive for Sunday,” Red Cross representative Meg Ahlering said. “The hospitals are counting on the blood.”

To sign up to donate during the Airport Appreciation blood drive, go to www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time.

Walk-ins are also welcome.

Finally, a celebration of National Recovery Month that was scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Saturday on the Putnam County Courthouse Square will take place at Greencastle Christian Church.

The program is designed to celebrate those in recovery, educating and offering awareness to those who are still fighting the fight, while remembering those who we have lost and help end the stigma of addiction.

Bobbie Lancaster and Terry Pepple are slated to provide live music for the event, while speakers are due to include Tony Smith, Brandon Drake, Amanda Renick, Taren Proctor, Stephen Bridges and Anjali Cohan.

Booths are expected from several groups, along with Cummins Mental Health, the Hamilton Center, Bridges of Hope and more.

As of press time, no word had been given on the status of the 35th annual Russellville Roundup, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in the northern Putnam County town.