Stories from Thursday, October 3, 2024

Highlighted by a visit from U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Valerie McCray, a Sunday meet-and-greet event gave local voters the chance to interact with state- and regional-level Democratic candidates. The Democratic Party of Putnam County, in conjunction with the College Democrats of DePauw University, hosted the event at the Inn at DePauw on Sunday, Sept. ...

Putnam County now has three more Automated External Defibrillators as Hendricks Regional Health Foundation’s AED Fund donated the AEDs last week. Putnam County Museum, Putnam County Playhouse and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church/Putnam County Non-Food Pantry were visited by members of the Hendricks Regional Health leadership team as they made presentations at each location...

Putnam County Community Foundation annual Share the Dream program began Tuesday, Oct. 1. This year, the PCCF Philanthropic Development Committee is offering an endowment building opportunity for 12 of its component funds that are working toward endowment status. Donors are encouraged to help eligible funds reach their fundraising goals during Share the Dream with the added incentive of $30,000 in available matching funding...

Lilly is a senior at South Putnam and participates in three sports, volleyball, basketball and track. She is the daughter of Matthew and Rena Emmerich. --- Banner Graphic: How important are sports to you, and what have you learned from them? Lilly Emmerich: "Sports are pretty much my whole life. I revolve everything around them. I’ve learned a lot from sports, but pretty much just have fun. You only have four years of school and have fun and make the most of it when you can."...

Applications open on Monday, Oct. 7 for hunters to participate in Indiana State Park deer management draw hunts. These hunts follow science-based wildlife management to maintain healthy deer populations in the regions where the hunts are hosted. In the vicinity of Putnam County, included parks and recreation areas include Raccoon SRA and Shades and Turkey Run state parks in Parke County as well as McCormick’s Creek State Park in Owen County.
“Across Indiana’s public lands, we work throughout the year to assess and properly manage our wildlife populations, designed around promoting healthy ecosystems,” said Anthony Sipes, natural resources manager for Indiana State Parks. ...

Joyce Ann Hanlon was born on Aug. 5, 1938 to Dorothy (Balay) and Delbert Unversaw of Martinsville, the second of four children Maurice Unversaw (deceased), Donna Broadstreet (Jerry) of Fillmore and Phyllis Bundrick (John – deceased) of Marion.  Moving to Amo with her family in 1944, Joyce found her love of music and Bible studies at the First Baptist Church of Amo, where she sang her first solo at age seven. She gave her life to Jesus at the age of 11 and pursued her love of music with seven years of piano lessons, two years of vocal lessons and was a member of the four-handed piano players. ...

John Dennis “Denny” Fajt, 81, of Plainfield, passed peacefully away on Sept. 30, 2024. Denny was born in Latrobe, Pa., to John R and Mary M. Guzik Fajt. He married Patricia “Patty” Vadas on June 6, 1964, and she preceded him in death in 2016. Denny was chief executive officer at Paris Community Hospital in Paris, Ill., and had a 22-plus year career as the administrator of Putnam County Hospital in Greencastle...