Wanda English Burnett, Editor

The weather cooperated fully with the 106th Versailles Pumpkin Show giving four days sunshine and summer-like temperatures last week.

From the first night when the King and Queen were crowned to the last dance at the Tyson Auditorium in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 28 people enjoyed a variety of events.

Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer

Michael Brandes, lay coach for the Milan varsity football team, spoke to the board concerning an incident of “bad conduct” by school board member Randy Kirk at the regular Milan School Board meeting held Monday, September 22. According to Brandes, Kirk engaged in a verbal confrontation with Brandes at a Milan-Lawrenceburg football game held at Lawrenceburg on September 5.

“What kind of example is he setting for the kids?” asked Brandes. Noting that Kirk’s behavior was inexcusable, Brandes stated that Kirk had betrayed the trust of the people who elected him into office. He then requested Kirk consider resigning from the board.

Local soldier receives medal

Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Ripley County Council members signed a tentative agreement to give Belletech a ten-year tax abatement for 100 percent on real and personal property at their regular meeting September 15.
County Attorney Neil Comer explained the resolution he had prepared for council members saying the only action requested at the meeting was that the members adopt the resolution, which can be confirmed, rescinded or modified at the public hearing, which was set for October 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the commissioners’ room of the courthouse annex.

Mark McIntyre, vice president of Belletech, spoke at the meeting, requesting the abatement. He noted that they are working on a “very, very tight time frame,” with plans to actually be delivering their product to Honda in Greensburg by May 15, 2009.

Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer

The issue of the use of golf carts on town streets was discussed at the Osgood Town Council meeting held on Tuesday, September 16. Even though the town has an ordinance allowing golf cart use, users can still be ticketed by the state police, according to town attorney Mary Ann Gay. According to Gay, county prosecutor Ric Hertel researched the issue and determined that the state law does overrule local ordinances.

Osgood Town Marshal, John Hegge, told the council that the golf cart issue is being considered at the state level, and believes that if enough golf cart owners push the issue, a change might be made in the law. Attorney Gay will revise the ordinance to remove the portion allowing golf carts. Council pointed out that ATV’s such as mules are still allowed on the streets.

106th Versailles Pumpkin Show set for next week
Got talent? You could win cash!

Wanda English Burnett, Editor

A cold front brought a lot more than cold air Sunday, September 14 as remnants of Hurricane Ike made its way through Ripley County. From Holton to Morris and down to Friendship, reports came in of heavy wind damage, downed power lines and fallen trees.

There was one fatality due to the storm. According to Chuck Gunter, spokesperson for the Versailles Volunteer Fire Department, rescue crews responded to the Versailles State Park where a tree had fallen on a 64-year-old man. Donna Million, dispatcher for the county’s 911 center, confirmed a man was transported to Margaret Mary Community Hospital, and did not survive. No additional information was available concerning the man’s name or residence. Rescue workers believed he was camping with his wife in the area and was from another state.

The home of Jack and Shelba Wiley at 8259 West US 50, Holton, was a total loss after fire raged through it Friday evening, September 12.

A passerby, Paul Wagner, noticed black smoke billowing from the front of the house and called 911. Then, he ran up to the house and knocked on the doors, making sure no one was inside. “I didn’t know if anyone was home or not,” he noted at the scene that night, where he stayed on hand to help direct traffic or do whatever he could.

Governor Daniels officially announces Honda supplier's move to Versailles

Wanda English Burnett, Editor

“She’s our hero,” Leighann Hall of Milan said of Katie Bolling, who was caring for Hall’s children the day of the eight alarm fire in Milan, August 22.

Bolling was displaced along with three other tenants when fire completely destroyed the apartment building she lived in on Carr Street.

The people of Ripley County made it easy for Belletech officials to choose the Versailles Industrial site as the location for their facility, a factory that will assemble windshields for the Honda plant in Greensburg.

It was a tough decision to choose between sites at Osgood, Sunman, and Versailles, because according to Mark McIntyre, vice president of Belletech, “Everyone was so great to work with.” Several factors come into play when a company is looking for a site. The fact that the Versailles site was “shovel ready” was a big factor.

Is it legal to operate a golf cart on a public roadway?

Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer


“It’s fun for all ages,” promises Carl Moore, Osgood, organizer for the Napoleon Living History Days set for September 6 and 7. The weekend will provide a variety of events, from a ladies high tea to an actual Civil War encampment, in and around the Napoleon Community Center on State Road 229.
Visitors to Napoleon will have the opportunity to meet Grubstake MacGregor, a prospector from Colorado. The 80-minute performance will entertain audiences with tall tales and music from the Old West. A variety of instruments are used by MacGregor, including banjo, squeezebox, autoharp, dulcimer, and the Indian flute.