Fayette County has an additional COVID-19-related death while Franklin County records 25 new positive test results

By John Estridge from ISDH data Fayette County had an additional COVID-19-related death in numbers reported Saturday, December 5 to the ISDH. That brings that county’s total to 40. Franklin County had 25 more positive test results, leading the three counties of Franklin, Fayette and Union. Franklin County’s total number of positive test cases is …

Old Guy Rant: The truth must prevail

A Political Column by Franklin County resident Larry Wiwi George Washington famously stated the “Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light,” and that is our challenge right now, to take the pains to bring it to light. Full disclosure: I am a Trump supporter, but with regard to this election, …

Test driving all the gods

By Adrienne Greene Q: Dear Pastor, Should someone attend a religious service from multiple faiths before picking a religion? A:             I’ve never been asked this question before, but I’ve certainly debated spiritual cherry-pickers numerous times. Mostly, it’s a young person who feels the need to explore the spiritual landscape before settling down. I call …

Obituary for David Lewis Sherwood

DAVID LEWIS SHERWOOD David Lewis Sherwood, 81 of Laurel, passed away on December 3, 2020, in Rushville. He was born on October 10, 1939, in Rush County, to the late Raymond C. and Mildred F. (Holden) Sherwood. David was a 1957 graduate of New Salem High School. He married Marilyn (Whitcomb) Sherwood on October 14, …

Obituary for Esther I. Kunkel

ESTHER I. KUNKEL Esther I. Kunkel, age 76 of Batesville, died Thursday, December 3, 2020, at Ripley Crossing in Milan. Born December 12, 1943, in Franklin County, she is the daughter of Marie (Nee: Rahe) and Elmer Barnhorst. She married Irvin Kunkel April 18, 1964 at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg. Esther was a homebody …

Obituary for Joyce M. Gesell

JOYCE M. GESELL Joyce M Gesell, of Brookville, was born July 11, 1950, in Batesville, a daughter to Elmer and Gertrude (Tebbe) Schwegman. Joyce married Glenn Gesell April 8, 1972, at St. Michaels Church in Brookville. She was a member of St. Michaels Catholic Church. Joyce had been a member of the Franklin County Extension …

Obituary for Bernard “Buddy” Mengedoht

BERNARD “BUDDY” MENGEDOHT Bernard “Bubby” Mengedoht, 46, of Connersville, passed away on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at Reid Health in Richmond. He was born on April 10, 1974, in Connersville, and is the son of Charles E. Mengedoht and Nina Gaddis Mengedoht. Bernard had worked at Keeners for several years, where he began in 1987. He was …

Positive test results up almost everywhere

By John Estridge from ISDH data For the second straight day, Indiana recorded more than 8,000 positive test results in the ISDH daily update. Friday, December 4, the number was 8,003 for a total of 367,329. And 84 deaths in the state attributed to COVID-19 were reported for the same time span for a total …

FC police need help with missing person Bobbie J. Woods

Franklin County Sheriff’s Department press release On Tuesday, December 1, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a missing person.  It was reported by family members and witnesses that Bobbie J. Woods, age 45 of Laurel, was last seen on Friday, November 27, at approximately 7 p.m. Woods was picked up at a residence …

Obituary for Helen Ann Koch

HELEN ANN KOCH Helen Ann Koch, age 97 of Batesville, passed away, Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at Margaret Mary Health. Born on April 2, 1923, in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the daughter of Edward and Catherine Paff. Helen married Elmer Koch, and he passed away on June 23, 1990. The devoted St. Louis Catholic Church …