July 2006 Archive

The Versailles Republican - July 27

New ordinances passed at meeting
Sunman to be lead agency for sewer district

Cathy May – Contributing Writer


After being turned down by the Ripley County Commissioners and the Ripley County Council for the sewer district petition, Roger Lang asked the Sunman Town Council to be the lead agency. The district has received $35,000 grant money from the Rising Sun Regional Foundation to get the feasibility study done and the petition is the hold up. Council agreed to be the lead agency.

Governor Daniels visits Riley Co. 4-H Fair

Mike Maune – Intern Write

For a day, Miss Ripley County Amanda Harmeyer played second fiddle at the fair. She was upstaged when a giant, soy-diesel RV pulled into the fairgrounds parking lot with the seal of the state of Indiana painted on its side. Governor Mitch Daniels stepped out of RV One and greeted a crowd of around fifty adults and teens who then proceeded to give the governor a tour of this year’s Ripley County Fair.

 

Milan School Board swears in new member
Cindy DiFazio, Staff Writer
At a special meeting, preceding the regular meeting, of the Milan School Board held on Monday, July 10, school attorney Larry Eaton issued the oath of office to new members Randy Kirk, Timothy Tuttle and Gregory Lewis. The floor was then opened for nomination of officers. Timothy Tuttle made a motion nominating David Voss as president which was seconded by Randy Kirk. The motion carried 4-0 with Voss abstaining. Randy Kirk then nominated Edward Amberger as vice-president, seconded by Timothy Tuttle. The motion carried 4-0 with Amberger abstaining. Edward Amberger nominated Timothy Tuttle as secretary, seconded by Gregory Lewis. Motion carried 4-0 with Tuttle abstaining.

 

 

 

Osgood Journal- July 25

County partners with Purdue
Economic director needed now

Cindy DiFazio – Staff Writer

The Ripley County Council met in regular session on Tuesday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m. All council members, Attorney Neil Comer and Auditor Mary Ann McCoy were present. Minutes from the June meeting were approved as read.

Councilman Edward Armbrecht, reporting for the Economic Development Committee, informed the council that Ripley County is partnering with Purdue University in its search for a new Economic Development Director. Armbrecht was enthusiastic, noting that Purdue’s reach is worldwide and could make huge resources available to the county. He informed the council that this is a pilot program, and said, “I think the ink is just about dry,” regarding the partnership. Armbrecht gave credit to Dave Osborne for putting it together, and told the council that the plan is to have a new director in place in August.

Osgood Town Council hears reuest to close streets

Cathy May – Contributing Writer
Several members of the Osgood Sesquicentennial Committee attended the Osgood Town Board meeting requesting certain streets are closed during the events and permission to put up some banners. The board agreed to their requests.

John and Louquetta Spinner were present complaining about the junk in their neighbor’s yard. Board member Linda Krinop questioned Spinner about cleaning up his own yard. The Spinners stated they have complied every time they have received a letter. Krinop asked him about the building in his backyard and asked if he had a permit for it. Spinner stated they did not need one.

2006 Ripley County 4-H Fair Schedule

TUESDAY, JULY 25
4-H Swine Show
12:00 Noon- Gilts • 5:00 p.m. - Barrows
Exhibit Hall open to Public
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
QUAD & CYCLE FLAT DRAGS
7:30 p.m.
Adults - $7.00 • Children - $3.00
No Entries after 6:30 p.m.
Entry Fee: $20.00/Class
Pit Pass: $15.00
80% Payback
CLASSES
CYCLES
125cc and Open
QUADS
2 strokes and 4 strokes
NATIONAL PEDAL PULLERS & RACERS
Free Stage
Adults $5.00 • Kids $2.00
5:30 p.m. Register
6:30 p.m. - Pedal Tractor Pull

 

 

 

The Versailles Republican - July 20

No one injured in blaze
Milan family loses home in fire
Wanda English Burnett - Editor


John and Darla Orem lost nearly everything they own in a house fire last Saturday. They are still thankful. “We have our family...no one was hurt,” they agreed as they, along with five of their seven children, were sorting through what was left of their belongings.

Murder suspect turns himself in
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

A tip led police to find a body in a well on a Westport farm over the weekend. The murder suspect was on the loose, according to Indiana State Police, until about 8:00 p.m. last night, July 19 when he turned himself in to an Indiana Conservation Officer at Madison.

 

Proposed sewer district discussed at commissioners' meeting
Cindy DiFazio, Staff Writer
Wayne Bailey, an engineer with Commonwealth Engineers out of Indianapolis, approached the Ripley County Commissioners at their regular meeting on Monday, July 17. Bailey attended the meeting, along with Roger Lang of Sunman, in an informational capacity regarding the proposed Sunman regional sewer district project.

 

Osgood Journal- July 18

Meeting set for this Thursday, July 20
Osgood museum taking shape

Cathy May - Staff Writer

If you are interested in hearing all about how the plans are coming along for the Osgood Museum, here’s your chance. There will be a meeting on July 20 at 7:00 p.m. for all interested persons to attend.

The idea of having a museum in Osgood started in 2003 with several public meetings. There seemed to be an interest and a small board of directors was established to get things started. The board consists of Bill Gloyd, president; Helen Caplinger, vice-president; Doug Thayer, treasurer; Sandra Gloyd, secretary and Anne French, member.

Versailles firefighters get checked out

Mike Maune, Intern Writer

“Go... go... go... go... go... stop!” the EMT/P cheered as she gave Versailles firefighters their annual pulmonary test on July 12. Each of the 15 firefighters had to breathe quickly into a device and then keep breathing until Stacy Melling said to stop. The pulmonary function test determines whether the firefighters are able to wear the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) which protects them from smoke inhalation and helps them breathe in a burning building. Dr. William Lovett of Margaret Mary Community Hospital, works with Public Safety Health and Wellness to administer the medical exams in the fire station at Versailles.

RSRF awards $426,042 in new grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $426,042 in 20 new grants at its June 28 meeting. These grants included:

• $2,104 to the Ripley County 911/Communications for the purchase of two computer systems for its communications center.

• $15,000 to the Town of Osgood toward expenses for the Osgood Sesquicentennial celebration.

 

 

The Versailles Republican - July 13

Changes made to enhance fair experience
Plans underway for 4-H fair
Wanda English Burnett - Editor


Changes made to the 2006 Ripley County 4-H Fair set for July 22-29 at the Osgood Fairgrounds, include no pre-registration for the Baby Contest on Monday night and no parade throughout the town on Sunday. Some firsts will be an Antique Tractor Pull on Saturday, July 22, and fairgoers will be able to see animals at the fair on Sunday this year. Also, there will be a Parade of Champions on Saturday, July 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the free stage.

The Miss Ripley County 2006 Queen and her court have already been chosen - another first. This year the queen is Amanda Harmeyer, who along with her court, will preside over a number of activities at this year’s fair. Ashley Carpenter is Miss Congeniality, fourth runner-up is Daniele Wiedeman, third runner-up is Alicia Batta, second runner-up is Elizabeth Record and first runner-up is Kaitlin Hughes. These decisions were made July 8, at the “Wish Upon A Star” pageant held at the Hopewell Baptist Church activity center.

Felony charges filed against Elkins
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Prosecutor Ric Hertel has filed a felony charge against John Elkins, 38, of Lexington, KY, relating to an accident he was involved in on June 17. The charge is Operating a Vehicle With a .08 Blood Alcohol Content Causing Death, a Class C felony.

According to information from the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed in Ripley Circuit Court on July 7, Elkins was driving the vehicle when it crashed on Hwy. 46 in the Sunman area killing Gregory Peters, who was a front seat passenger. Another passenger, Christina Brown, was injured in the accident.

 

IDEM responds to complaint at Holton
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

No violations observed. That’s the message from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to the town of Holton, after they received a complaint at the Holton Wastewater Plant.

A letter from IDEM noted that a complaint was received from Daniel Beach on June 2, saying the “town was extending the wastewater plant final effluent pipe, damaging the creek bank, and placing rip-rap on his (Beach’s) property. The letter further stated that “at the time of the investigation it was noted that there was no extension of the discharge pipe. Silt had been removed around the pipe. It was hauled to an upland site away from the stream. There was no damage to the creek bank.”

 

 

Osgood Journal- July 11

Pageant judges face tough decisions
Miss Ripley County 2006 named

Cindy DiFazio – Staff Writer

Anticipation grew as the drum roll sounded and the queen and her court for 2006 was named. Amanda Harmeyer, a recent graduate of Jac-Cen-Del, was sashed and crowned by outgoing queen Jessica Geisler at the pageant Saturday evening at the Hopewell Baptist Church auditorium. With the facility packed with family and well-wishers, the “Wish Upon A Star” Miss Ripley County 2006 pageant was a hive of excitement.

Emergency units respond to mock helicopter crash
Aircraft goes off radar

Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Ripley County Communications received a call last Thursday that a helicopter had crashed somewhere in the vicinity of US 421 and 100, near the State Park property. The 911 dispatchers were in on the secret that the crash was a “mock disaster” but they immediately called out all the appropriate emergency service personnel, who responded appropriately.

 

 

 

The Versailles Republican - July 6

Several injured as vehicle plows through crowd
Runaway car halts Madison Regatta
Wanda English Burnett - Editor


The 2006 Madison Regatta had already seen its share of trouble with debris on the river causing problems for several boats, when a car careened through the crowd and plunged into the Ohio River on Sunday, July 2.

According to witnesses at the scene, the car barreled through the crowd with the driver slumped over the wheel. Police would later learn that 18-year-old Michael Bowen of Madison, was the driver who was carrying a passenger, Cory Luedeman, 16, of North Vernon, when he drove a black 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo out of control injuring eight spectators on the shore.
4th of July celebration
Gary Franklin Photos

See photo inside...

 

Holton man killed in motorcycle, truck accident

Jerry D. Brower, 53, of Holton, lost his life in an accident that occurred Friday, June 30, at approximately 4:04 p.m. near Osgood.

According to information from the Ripley County Sheriff's Department, the accident occurred when Amanda J. Smith, 18, of Versailles was operating a maroon 1999 Dodge pickup truck traveling west on County Road 300 North and collided with the motorcycle Brower was operating. He was traveling south on Tanglewood Road near Osgood.

 

 

Osgood Journal- July 4

Letters sent to residents
Efforts underway to clean up Osgood

Cathy May - Contributing Writer

The town of Osgood continues to work on clean up. Of the 14 letters sent to those who had yards that needed mowing, junk or trash sitting around, 12 have complied. One homeowner on Cardinal Lane (Todd Norman) will be taken to court. He did mow his property and did some clean up, but not everything that needed done. The town council noted that a property owner on Leslie Street will continue to work to get their property back into shape.

K-9 unit assigned to ISP

Wanda English Burnett, Editor

The Indiana State Police Versailles District has a new officer - a German Shepherd named Heiko. He is partnered with Trooper Chris Richey and the two just recently completed an intensive training session.
Trooper Richey and Heiko, along with two other officers and their K-9 partners, completed a 14-week training under the charge of Master Trainer Bob Compton, who has headed up the canine training for the Allen County Sheriff’s Department for the past 30 years. He has trained over 1,000 dogs for law enforcement. The students spent more than 500 hours training and preparing themselves for their new partners and the new challenges that lie ahead.

Home ownership – what a feeling!

Mike Maune - Intern Writer

.Christopher and Debbie Hayes are the new residents of 102 S. State Road 101. They bought the brick house with two car garage just a few miles outside Milan. The Hayes and their two children, Steven and Ralynn, moved in June 23 after closing on the property the day before. Yet without the help of the USDA Rural Development program, their new home would never have been possible.