Provided by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department
August 24
Dalton C. Beard, 22, East 7th Street, Brookville, was arrested at 11:42 a.m. at Franklin Circuit Court II by Franklin Circuit Court II Judge Clay Kellerman for three counts of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Autumn M. Bills, 32, U.S. 52, Laurel, was arrested at 2:10 p.m. at the intersection of Mill and Cleaver streets in Brookville by Brookville Police Department Officer Sam Williams for Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana/Hash.
Steven K. Dennison, 32, Rochester Street, Cedar Grove, was arrested at 9:25 a.m. at the courthouse, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy R. Gordon on an Arrest Warrant.
Rachael L. Fisher, 50, High Street, Brookville, was arrested at the intersection of Mill and Cleaver streets in Brookville by Brookville Police Department Officer Sam Williams for Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana/Hash.
August 26
David N. Bennett, 30, Indiana 101, Brookville, was arrested at 3 p.m., at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department by Brookville Police Department Officer Jefferey Staat for Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated.
Virginia M. Pennington, 51, Mound New Haven, Brookville, was arrested at 7:10 p.m. in Brookville, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Brad Lecher on an Out-of-County Warrant Hold.
August 27
David R. Baldrick, 40, Cavalcade Drive, Harrison, Ohio, was arrested at 10:30 a.m. at the Hamilton County Ohio Jail by Franklin County Deputy A. Maxie on an Arrest Warrant.
Deanna L. Buis Jenkins, 46, North State Street, West Harrison, was arrested at 2:40 p.m., at the Dearborn County Jail by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy A. Maxie on an Arrest Warrant.
Daniel R. Massie, 41, Lawrenceburg, was arrested at 2:40 p.m., at the Dearborn County Jail by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy R. Gordon on a Probation Violation.
Dale M. Maxie, 44, West Neff Street, Laurel, was arrested at 6:04 p.m., at Laurel, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy A. Bowers, for Resisting Law Enforcement and Possession of Methamphetamine.
Brandon A. Peters, 41, Vallonia, was arrested at 3:35 p.m., at the Interstate 74 Rest Area, by Batesville Police Department Officer Haylie Brown for Theft.
Andrew W. Welke, 47, Gobles Creek Road, Brookville, was arrested at 2:13 p.m. in Brookville, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy A. Bowers on an Arrest Warrant.
August 29
Ryan L. Chester, 28, Selma, was arrested at 4:25 p.m., in Brookville, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dusty Hill for Possession of Marijuana/Hash Oil/Hashish/Salvia.
Christopher D. Southwick, 31, Marion, was arrested at 4:25 p.m. in Brookville by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dusty Hill for Possession of Marijuana/Hash Oil/Hashish/Salvia.
Gregory Thomas Ritzi, 70 years old, of Guilford, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 30. He was a graduate of Elder High School and the first graduating class from Northern Kentucky University. Greg was a huge sports fan, especially enjoying his time playing on Elder’s baseball team and for the American Legion Bentley Post. He coached his son, Chris’s, baseball team and held season tickets to the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals. Greg worked in sales with different printing companies and when he retired he worked at West Side Paving and Excavating. For many years, he could be found flipping burgers on the deck at Perfect North Slopes. When Greg wasn’t involved with sports, you could find him on the dance floor, swinging anyone willing across the room. Greg and his wife, Sandy, loved to go to the disco when they were dating. Always the life of the party, Greg had never met a stranger. Everywhere they went, Greg was sure to know someone, and if he didn’t, he knew a good handful before they made their exit. He enjoyed his group of friends that would meet at McDonald’s in Lawrenceburg.
Greg’s family loved their vacation every year to Destin, FL where Greg fully immersed himself in their community. He was on the Board of Directors for their condo and was in charge of overseeing the landscaping crews. There were many adventures with their Florida friends who quickly became lifelong friends. Greg wanted to take his family to all of the National Parks and they were able to check many of them off their list. Even though Greg loved to travel, he loved his time home with the family. He was a hard worker and took pride in maintaining his property. He could spend hours on his John Deere or bushhog, or simply piddling with the landscaping.
Greg will be deeply missed by his wife of 41 years, Sandy nee Hamrock, and children Chris (Kari) Ritzi and Ashley Ritzi; grandchildren Alyssa and Mariah Ritzi and Caleb and Connor McIntosh; sister Karen Maushart, brother Mike Ritzi, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Dorothy and Thomas Ritzi, and brother-in-law Neil Maushart.
Visitation for Greg will be on Thursday, September 2, from 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home at 25615 State Rt. 1, Guilford, IN 47022. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, September 3, at 11 a.m. at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, All Saints Parish, at 8044 Yorkridge Rd, Guilford, IN 47022. Burial will immediately follow at St. Martin’s Cemetery. For those not able to attend, mass will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily. Memorials for Greg can be made to VITAS Hospice at Drake Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Association. Memorials will be accepted at the visitation or can be mailed to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home at 25615 State Rt. 1, Guilford, IN 47022. Please visit www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com to sign the online guestbook and offer condolences.
Dennis Pollitt, 54 of Winchester, passed away on Friday, August 27, 2021, at Reid Health. He was born on June 4, 1967, in Connersville to William Pollitt and Patricia Steele Pollitt.
Dennis worked for various places doing roofing and siding. You could often find him out fishing, listening to music. Most importantly he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Dennis is survived by his children, Justin (Rebecca) Pollitt, Kristin Pollitt, April Pollitt, Joanna Dealey, Melissa Pollitt, Jennifer Miller, Samantha (Matt) Schweizer and Goldie Miller; brothers, Thomas Pollitt and Jason Pollitt; a sister, Dorothy Thomas; 15 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Timothy Pollitt and Bill Pollitt; and sisters, Judy Smith, Susan Bushong and Janet West.
Visitation for Dennis will be held Thursday, September 2, 2021, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, 513 W. 8th St. Connersville, Indiana 47331. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave the family a personal message visit www.urbanwinklerfuneralhome.com.
It seemed perfunctory, which is strange after all the drama.
In about 13 minutes, the Franklin County Health Board and the Franklin County Commissioners unanimously approved Dr. David Welsh as the county’s new health officer.
The action occurred Tuesday afternoon, August 31, in a special joint meeting with the health board and the commissioners in the commissioners’ room at the Government Center. Welsh, who is also the Ripley County Health Officer, did not attend the meeting.
There has been a succession of health officers this summer. Dr. Scott Marsteller resigned in July because he did not support state COVID-19 guidelines to vaccinate children and teens. By Indiana Code, public health officers have to support state health department guidelines and mandates.
Dr. David Jetmore was appointed as the county’s new health officer during a special commissioners’ meeting on August 17. Less than four hours later, he resigned that position, stating he tried to fire a part-time health department employee who stated that person believed COVID was a Chinese bio-weapon that country used to reduce the world population, according to an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Apparently, that firing did not occur.
When asked at the August 31 meeting about Welsh’s control over the health department, commissioners said it was Welsh’s to control.
“He will have full capacity,” commission president Tom Linkel said.
Commissioners were also asked how Welsh came down on the administrator issue. This is currently a hot-button issue. The former health board voted to add an administrator to the department instead of a second nurse. This came after the nurse supervisor left the department in July, leaving only one nurse. But that was before Marsteller left. Marsteller apparently accidentally took the contract with him.
Commissioners deferred the question to the remaining nurse in the department, Debbie Tibbetts. Later in the August 31 meeting, Tibbetts was named as the supervising nurse and will receive back pay for all the overtime she worked as the only remaining nurse in the department. The back pay is contingent on it being approved by county council.
Tibbetts said Welsh did not say anything about an administrator, but he suggested instead of hiring another RN, the health department could hire an LPN.
Welsh is a surgeon who works out of Margaret Mary Health and also Decatur County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg.
According to an article on the Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA) website dated June 9, 2020, after graduating cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, Welsh earned his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine and completed his residency program at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati.
In June 2020, the ISMA announced Welsh, a past president of the ISMA, was re-elected to the American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Science and Public Health. In addition, Welsh has been named to the council’s executive committee.
The AMA Council on Science and Public Health consists of 12 physicians who advise on policies through scientific evidence that can improve patient care, promote medical progress and enhance public health.
According to the June 2020 article, Welsh serves as chair of the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section Governing Council and is a past chair of the Joint Commission Hospital Professional and Technical Advisory Committee. In 2014, Welsh represented the AMA at the World Medical Association Leadership and Advocacy meeting in Singapore.
Welsh has served as a governor of the American College of Surgeons, which honored his service with the Arthur Ellenberger Advocacy Award for Excellence in State Advocacy. He was elected president of the Indiana State Medical Association in 2008 and has also served on the ISMA Commission on Legislation and as chair of the Board of Trustees.
The article went on to say: “His nearly 40 years of medical training have been critical to his work serving the community as Ripley County health officer. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Welsh has been a leading voice in southern Indiana’s fight against the coronavirus.”
Welsh is a black belt and filmed videos for the Ripley County Health Department in 2020 concerning combating COVID using his black belt as a theme.
Near the end of the August 31 meeting, commissioners Tom Wilson and Linkel thanked the health department employees for all of their work in the last few months when the department was shorthanded.
EDITOR’S NOTE AND EDITORIAL COMMENT: This is the second of a multi-part transcription of the August 24 Brookville Town Council meeting’s pertinent parts relating to Golf Course Purchase, Zimmer Building Purchase and Frisbee Golf Course. I wanted to break this down into parts because it will be a very long piece, if I can even finish it. It takes a long, long time to go over and over a recording to do a transcription, especially with how fast and slurred Curtis Ward, BTC president, is when he begins talking about something that apparently excites him.
Lora Crockett, resident on Franklin Avenue, “Hi, my name is Lora Crockett, and I live on Franklin Avenue. And I really believe this is a very unwise decision for the town board. I think that things need to be looked at and taken apart, investigated, piece by piece. I also believe that we, as a town, have a lot of businesses, as that young man just said that have went under. I mean numbers businesses. And the ground (Progress Street) that is breaking apart behind George’s (Pharmacy). Our town needs to come first before we own a golf course.”
At this point, in the heat, Lora became sick. She said she has a bad heart, her blood pressure was up and her head was pounding. Wayne Monroe, sitting in the first row, got out of his chair and moved it up behind Lora, and she sat down. Gina Gillman, Brookville Clerk/Treasurer, went to get Lora a bottle of water and a wet paper towel. Brookville Police Chief Terry Mitchum asked if Lora needed EMS. She declined. Lora continued to try to talk about the golf course while all of this was going on.
Lora Crockett: “I have prayed about this situation. It’s a very unwise decision. You guys have a lot of … I debated coming here. Please pick this to death, because it is just not your life, it just not your guys’ philosophy, it’s ours. And we have a lot of investment. I love this town. I love this community. It has been so good to me. My father owned a farm on Duck Creek, and I’ve been here, not all my life, but most of it.”
Dusty Robinson, Brookville resident: “My only question from what I’ve been hearing the last couple of weeks is this is a business investment, right? And this is a tourist town built on people coming to this town to enjoy the things of Brookville. What percentage do we know of the people coming to town go to the lake, the rivers, everything that is in Brookville? What percentage goes to the golf course?”
Curtis Ward: “I’m not sure. I’m not aware of it.”
Dusty Robinson: “I think we should look into this deeper before we make any decisions. I don’t think this is a good decision. You are jumping in too deep. It’s time to pull out before it’s too late, before we ruin this town. That is my opinion. Thank you.”
He received loud applause.
Curtis Ward: “I appreciate it.”
Wes Ball: “Good evening. My name is Wes Ball. And I live on the golf course. I have two properties up on the golf course. I have nothing against the golf course. I read in the paper a week or so ago they have two fulltime and 17 part time employees. What’s your plan in keeping personnel? Do you have any idea how many you will have?”
Curtis Ward: “When we started the talks, the LLC had asked us to consider keeping anyone who would be willing to stay. Obviously, I would be in favor of that. I can’t speak for the rest of the board. But I believe there is value in consistency. So, if those employees want to up there at the golf course once we’re the lawful owners, I’d love to see them all stay. They know the golf course better than we know the golf course. Anyone who wants to stay, we’d love to have them. It’s going to take as many if not more employees than they currently have to run that golf course effectively once we take over up there and once and it’s acquired by us.”
Wes Ball: “I understand some of them have been up there a long time. Do you have any idea how many you will need up there?”
Curtis Ward: “Any of them that’s willing to stay, I would be willing to keep. Again, I’m not going to speak for the rest of the board. But I can’t imagine we would want to get rid of people who knows the ins and outs of that particular golf course whether it’s the groundskeeper, front office staff or the general manager who knows the new point-of-sale system all the way back to the clubhouse renovations. Again, they know more about that golf course than any of us can learn in three to four months. If anyone wants to stay, we are happy to have them there.”
Wes Ball: “I was kind of reaching to part of the people who work there; they’re just putting their time in. They’re not on staff.”
Curtis Ward: “There are members of the LLC who donate quite a bit of their time. They don’t draw any salary. That was never their intention to make any money out of it. They do not charge. It’s all donated out. There’s probably two or three of them who do that, not on a fulltime basis, but more of a high-level manager-oversight, similar to what role that Tim (Ripperger, town manager) will play, what the town board or Gina (Gillman) will play in terms of financing and personnel oversight. So, we would kind of equate that system they have there with what we would likely implement.”
Wes Ball: “Because I’ve been involved with a lot of companies, a lot of business. I’ve never seen one that went into something without knowing anything about it as far as moneywise.”
Complete and utter silence.
Wes Ball: “Are the employees up there going to have health insurance?”
Curtis Ward: “If they’re fulltime employees that are fulltime with the town, they will get the same benefits as fulltime (employees) with the town. If they are part-time seasonal, then they are treated like part-time employees. They wouldn’t get the health insurance. They follow our structural payroll and personnel.”
Then there was a back and forth among Wes, Curtis and Gina in determining how many hours is considered fulltime. It is 32 but Gina said it is according to the position.
Wes Ball: (Wes asked another question about insurance, concerning the number of new employees at the golf course eligible for health insurance.)
Curtis Ward: “There would be at least two for sure depending on the months that qualify at 32.”
Wes Ball: Said he has been involved in the golf course business and it is a tough business. There was no response “That’s all I’ve got to say.”
John Race, business owner in Brookville, Brookville native and currently lives on the hill: “I think what Wes is trying to say is have any of you ever owned a business, or a golf course business?
Curtis Ward: “We opened a pool recently.”
John Race: “Why is the pool closed now?”
Curtis and fellow board member Brooke Leffingwell talked about how the lifeguards and pool workers had to go back to school, and the pool was unable to stay open except on weekends.
EDITORIAL COMMENT: Curtis and Brooke have described the opening of the pool as chaotic. It is a pool, kind of one dimensional, which is much easier to run than a financially strapped, unkempt golf course. And the town has a history with a pool but not a history with a golf course.
John Race: “I think what Wes was trying to say is and everybody else is thinking why is the town of Brookville … If I had a business going under, would you buy it from me?”
Curtis Ward: “It’s according to if that business would benefit the town.”
There were many moans
Curtis Ward: “Thank you anyone else?”
Bernie Rosenberger, retired owner of Rosenberger’s Main Meat Market and a Brookville resident, who spoke earlier in the meeting: “I understand you made the statement, and I didn’t actually hear it clearly about LLC when it began. They were under the impression they would be bought out by the town.”
Curtis Ward: “Yes.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “You made that. How did you know?”
Curtis Ward: “Because when we, recall the timeline of events, when Dave White brought that property up for auction, he hosted a series of meetings and one of those was a joint meeting with the (Franklin County) commissioners and town council and county council. At that point in time, the town council stood up prior to the LLC ever being mentioned or thought of and said they wanted to buy the golf course. That was the end of October of 2018. Since that time, the town has worked with the intention of buying the golf course. The LLC was formed mid-, I’d say mid-2019? To help bridge the portion of time that it took to buy the golf course and transfer it over to town. Their entire point of existence was not to run a golf course or not to permanently have the golf course but to hold it for two to three years and transfer it over to the town. During that time, they were going to make a viable golf course, improve play count, improve memberships and improve the course. And that’s what they’ve done.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “My point is, you made those intentions at that time without reference to the citizens of Brookville?”
Curtis Ward: “That was all done in public meetings. We had a series of open conversations over the past three years. It has not been private discussion or private purchase. It’s been very open since 2018.”
This caused rumblings from the crowd
Bernie Rosenberger: “I think it’s been very quiet. I mean I don’t know — we are transitioning to a technology age where a lot of people have transitioned already, but a lot of us haven’t. I still am used to a local newspaper. And I don’t remember all of that.”
Curtis Ward: “It has been open. We ordered appraisals back in 2018 on this golf course. We negotiated the deal in 2018.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “How was it recorded?”
Curtis Ward: “It was recorded in our minutes. It was recorded in the Observer. It was recorded in Whitewater Publications. It was recorded everywhere.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “I understand there has been a feasibility study going on.”
Curtis Ward: “There is a feasibility study going on.”
This caused murmuring and laughter
EDITORIAL COMMENT: it has been proven over and over there is no feasibility study ongoing and there has never been a feasibility study started by town council even though Curtis has made the assertion at almost every public meeting for a year.
Bernie Rosenberger: “So has any of that been revealed?”
Curtis Ward: “It has not.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “So, is the feasibility about the golf course, about annexation?”
Curtis Ward: “It’s about annexation. It’s not about the golf course.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “So, there’s been no feasibility (study) of the golf course?”
Curtis Ward: “We have not done a feasibility of the golf course because we’ve been able to view the financials.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “So, those financials will be made public?”
Curtis Ward: “No. It won’t be made public.
Bernie Rosenberger: “Why? It involves us. We’re spending a million dollars.”
Bernie turned to the crowd with a sweep of his hand and repeated himself.
Bernie Rosenberger: “We’re spending a million dollars.”
Curtis Ward: “It is part of the non-disclosure to the golf course (with LLC).”
Voices from the crowd “Really.” “That’s so funny”
Bernie Rosenberger: “That makes no sense to me. You’re representing the town, right? You all are? So, do you listen to your people?”
Many different people in the crowd said the word “no” over and over. One person said “One term.” No one from council answered Bernie, but Curtis said “two” in response to the one term comment Cutis ran unopposed in the last election.
Bernie Rosenberger: “Has anything been resolved about the petition that was going around and was signed, I signed it?”
Curtis Ward: “I’m not sure of what you are referring to?”
Bernie Rosenberger: “You’re not aware of it?”
Curtis Ward: “No.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “You’re not aware of a petition going around against the golf course?”
Curtis Ward: “No.”
Eric Johnson, council member: “Tell us what it is.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “I’m sorry. I don’t know you.”
Eric Johnson: “You’ve made the buildup, now you want to tell us what it is.”
Someone from the audience said “it was a couple of years ago, he probably doesn’t remember.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “I know it is a petition I signed. I know a number of people have signed it. I would hope you are representing the majority of people not just the LLC. I know they have a lot of money between them.”
Curtis Ward: “We were committed to this prior to the LLC. So, when everybody says you are doing this for the LLC, it’s the opposite way around. Look…”
Bernie Rosenberger: “You weren’t committed to the LLC?”
Curtis Ward: “We were committed from the original purchase, from the original seller. We had committed from that point in time we wanted to buy the golf course back in 2018…”
Bernie Rosenberger: “You wanted to (buy the golf course)?”
Curtis Ward: “We negotiated the deal simultaneously with the LLC…”
Bernie Rosenberger: “You said the LLC wasn’t involved.”
Curtis Ward: “We negotiated with the owner, they (LLC) bridged … we agreed to buy it for $1 million.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “And you talked to the LLC before that?”
Curtis Ward: “We talked to Dave White, and we talked to Sparky Renaker that was our primary point of contact. It evolved. We made no negotiation. We were driving the negotiations. They wanted $1.1 million, and the LLC stepped up to bridge that gap. We were still committed to buy it for $1 million at that time.”
Bernie Rosenberger: “You were committed then to buy it?”
Curtis Ward: “What?”
Bernie Rosenberger: “You said you were committed. So, you were committed under law to purchase it?”
Curtis Ward: “Our contract, if we approve it, would start tonight, but we have negotiated that deal previously. All this has been negotiated out for three years now.”
Peggy Race, Brookville resident and retired Franklin County Senior Citizen Administrator: “Am I misunderstanding? Who was committed to it? Are you saying you were committed to this as a board?”
Curtis Ward: “Yes. The previous board.”
Peggy Race: “Where is it said the previous board members signed a contract with the LLC that committed them. The LLC purchased the golf course.”
Curtis Ward: “If you look at the minutes from 2018…”
Peggy Race: “We are a town; Brookville is a town, not a corporation, not a huge city. We’re not a conglomerate. Not a whatever. Brookville has always taken care of Brookville. If you are a public entity, you are supposed to take care of police, fire, the safety of the people there, make sure they have safe drinking water. Those are the priorities. They have safe streets. They have sewage. To go out and buy a business to help you make money as a town to run a big business. We’re not in the business of running a business. You get our tax dollars to provide safety: for our water, our sewer, our kids, public schools, fire and police. We’re not in the business of making money from a business. And where do you get off thinking that is what a town should do? Name me a town, a town our size that is going off and buying a golf course. We can barely take care of our parks. We couldn’t even renovate the pool. We had to go out and get donations to renovate the pool. Now where are you going to be coming up with the money to buy a golf course? And who is going to take care of that? The town board? The town board is supposed to take care of the town’s citizens. Do you see people rallying around you here to try to take care of it? You can’t even take care of the pool without donations. Do not buy a golf course.”
Loud applause
John Race: “If we wanted to buy a golf course, we’d buy a golf course. But the town does not want to buy a golf course, and you’re supposed to be representing us.”
Loud applause
Peggy Race: “You are doing the exact opposite. Why Curtis, why? You’re the only person driving this. You are behind it.
“For the money” several people said at once.
EDITORIAL COMMENT: as it was revealed in Part I, Curtis Ward purchased nine lots adjacent to the golf course on July 7, and told everyone the golf course had to be purchased right now at the Aug. 10 meeting, barely one month after purchasing those properties. But he told Ken Murphy earlier in the meeting, in Part I, there was no emergency to buy the golf course.
Peggy Race: “With all the frustrations and all the people against this, why do you continue to just railroad this? With the consensus from a town board that signed an agreement with the LLC and it’s not in the minutes.”
Curtis Ward: “I didn’t say we signed an agreement with the LLC.”
Peggy Race: “That is what you said.”
Curtis Ward: “I said we reached an agreement with Sparky Renaker…”
Peggy Race: “How could you reach an agreement without voting on it?”
Sr. Helen Eckstein, formerly Sr. Antonella, age 81, of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, died on August 30, 2021, at the Motherhouse. Born as Helen Eckstein on March 31, 1940, in St. Nicholas, to Romilda (Nee: Gauck) and Joseph Eckstein, she was the second of seven children and arrived on her mother’s birthday.
The following year, the Eckstein family moved to Enochsburg and resided with Grandpa Gauck on his farm, and two more brothers were born. In the summer of 1945, they moved to a farm near Morris and a sister and two more brothers joined the family. Helen was enrolled at St. Anthony School at Morris where she first met the Oldenburg Franciscans and began to consider her religious calling.
In 1953, on the Feast of St. Blaise, Helen’s world changed forever when her father, mother and two youngest brothers were coming home after church and their car was struck by a train, leaving no survivors. Helen and her remaining four siblings went to live with various aunts and uncles with Sr. Helen going to live with her aunt and uncle, Margaret and Quirin Gauck in Enochsburg. She completed her grade school years at Enochsburg before enrolling at Oldenburg Academy and becoming an aspirant in 1958, as she chose to follow her calling and join the Franciscan Sisters.
On August 12, 1958, Sr. Helen was invested and became a Novice, receiving the name, Sr. Antonella, “little Anthony” after St. Anthony parish in Morris. On August 12, 1963, she made her final vows. She earned a teaching degree at Marian University and her Master’s in education at Xavier University, all while teaching full-time and attending classes during the summer and on weekends.
Starting in 1960, Sr. Helen taught for three years at Holy Name in Beech Grove, two years at St. Vincent de Paul in Cincinnati, and then 40 years at St. Michael – where she served alongside her friend, Sr. Dominica Doyle. Sr. Helen and Sr. Dominica both returned to the Motherhouse in 2000, and she continued to volunteer on campus, first in the Associate Office and then for 13 years in the Development Office. In addition, she volunteered throughout the Motherhouse assisting at the switchboard, operating video equipment, playing in the Sisters’ Chime Choir and comforting Sisters in St. Clare Hall.
When asked about some of her favorite memories, Sr. Helen once noted, “Teaching was fulfilling for me because there was always something new to discover, and I liked the variety that came with the increasing use of computers. I have fond memories of my European trip with Sr. Dominica and Sr. Helen Saler, but I’ll always treasure times when our remaining family would gather … and enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a slice of my sister Rosella’s homemade pie.”
Survivors include siblings Anthony Eckstein of Cincinnati and Rosella Koehne of Batesville, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers Joseph, Paul, Howard and Earl Eckstein.
Visitation is Thursday, September 2, from 1 – 3 p.m. at the convent chapel. Funeral services follow at 3 p.m. with Rev. Vincent Lambert officiating and burial in the convent cemetery. Guests who have been vaccinated are welcome to attend but masks are mandatory. For those unable to attend, services will be live-streamed at https://youtu.be/-IZgMBi7BJo.
Charles Everett Yorn, 89, of Batesville, passed away on August 29, 2021, in Greensburg. He was born to Russell and Gladys (Wise) Yorn in Greensburg on May 25, 1932. He married the love of his life, Helen Powell, on April 25, 1953. Charles was a longtime member of Berean Baptist Church and proudly served in the United States Army. After 32 years, he retired from Hill-Rom as a supervisor.
Charles thoroughly enjoyed his time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved working in the sawmill, tinkering with tractors, wood working, and making odds and ends for his kids and grandchildren.
He enjoyed helping the farmers who lived nearby and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.
In his free time, Charles liked to watch tractor shows. However, he could normally be found sitting on his front porch waving and watching the farmers as they went by.
Charles will be deeply missed by his wife, Helen (Powell) Yorn; children Carolyn Scheele (Edwin), Vicki Eckstein (Jerry), Kelly Yorn (Brenda), Kelvin Yorn, Karla Hartman (Steve), and Keith Yorn (Bev); sisters Elizabeth Collins (Earnest) and Carol Prickel (Bob); 16 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and eight great great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Louis, Paul, and Tom Yorn; sisters Dorothy Swango and Dianah Walters; daughter-in-law Kim Yorn and one great grand-daughter.
Visitation will be held from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 2, 2021, with funeral services officiated by Pastor Steve Hasselbusch at 2 p.m. all at Meyers Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Batesville Methodist Cemetery.
Memorials in honor of Charles can be given to Berean Baptist Church. They may be brought to services or mailed to: Meyers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 202, Batesville, IN 47006.
Please feel free to leave a memory or a message of comfort for the Yorn family in the online guestbook.
Stanley Lee Woodward, 55, of Glenwood, passed away Sunday evening, August 29, 2021, at Reid Health, Richmond.
He was born December 1, 1965, in Vincennes, one of eight children of Jack Joe and Carolyn Sue Richards Woodward.
Along with his dad, he enjoyed driving stock cars and racing at Whitewater Valley Speedway. In 1976, at the age of 10, Stanley won his very first race on a Big Wheel at Whitewater Valley Speedway. Throughout his life, he enjoyed all types of racing.
Other than racing, Stanley also enjoyed the demolition derby, working at Jack Woodward’s garage, and spending time with his family. He also had a great devotion to his pets.
He was employed for Circle K in Shelbyville, formerly Big Foot.
Survivors include his mother, Carolyn Sue Woodward of Connersville; six siblings, Chuck (Nancy) Woodward, Joe Woodward, David (Jerrie) Woodward, Becky Woodward, and Ed (Nisa) Woodward, all of Connersville, and Brad (Leslie) Woodward of Rushville; aunts and uncles, Tom (Betty) Woodward of Palestine, Illinois, Betty (Bill) Schultz and Bert (Vance) Pinkstaff, both of Russellville, Illinois, Lucy (Joe Wagner) Woodward-Silver of Evansville, Rachel (Larry) Hunsaker and Tim (Kay) Woodward of Lawrenceville, Illinois, Betty Dunlap and Sharon Collins, both of Robinson, Illinois, and Judy (Gene) Chapman of Connersville; and many nieces and nephews.
Stanley is preceded in death by his father, Jack Joe Woodward, who passed away February 15, 2021; a sister, Cindy Fletcher; two nephews, Tyler and Steven Woodward; and a great nephew, Bryce Woodward.
Friends are invited from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday, September 3, 2021, at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. the same day at the funeral home with Pastor Richard Ware officiating. Burial will be at Dale Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
Boyd Hayward Day, age 85, of Scipio, died August 29, 2021, at Hospice of Hamilton after a brief illness. He was born in Letcher County, Kentucky, on November 4, 1935, to Lawrence and Vera (Calihan) Day. Hayward married Vivian Ruth Hogg on September 3, 1955, and she preceded him in death on May 10, 2012. He worked for more than 45 years for Brower-Pease and in his spare time was an avid outdoorsman who also enjoyed woodworking and loved being with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren. Hayward was a founding member of the Franklin County Water Association serving on its board for many years. He was proud to be a Kentucky Colonel, and loved purple martins.
Survivors include two sons, Terry (Judy) and Tim (Gigi) of Okeana, Ohio; one daughter, Kim “Sis” of Batesville; grandchildren, Justin (Kelly), Kyle (Ashley), Jacob (Kayla), Caleb (Morgan), Kelsey (Nick), and great-grandchildren, Lydia, Lucy, Simon, Roland, Jameson, Evelyn, Henry, Juniper, and one on the way. Also surviving are his brothers, Leon (Luann) and Don (Sheila) as well as sister, Linda York. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Iva Jean Day and Barbara Gindling and one brother, Ed Day.
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, from 10 a.m. until time of service at 12 noon at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home, 929 Main Street, Brookville. Brother Bill Halcomb will officiate the service at the funeral home and burial will follow immediately in Union Cemetery, Scipio.
Donations may be directed to New Horizons Rehabilitation Inc., – day program and mailed to PO Box 98, Batesville, IN 47006. To sign the online guestbook or to leave personal messages please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to care for the family of Boyd Hayward Day.
The family wants to thank all the family, friends, and neighbors for their many caring thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
David Matthew “Big Dave” Downard, age 60, of Metamora, died Friday August 27, 2021, at Christ Hospital on Cincinnati; where he had fought a hard battle and been an inpatient for 51 days.
Born November 16, 1960, in Batesville, he was one of 11 children born to the late Thomas and Nancy Carol (Watterson) Downard. He was a United States Army Veteran, and had worked for Shamrock Enterprises where he was a plumber and serviced commercial pools.
He was a member of Scipio United Baptist Church, where he was Baptized. In his leisure time, his greatest joy was time spent with his family and friends. He also loved fishing, mushroom hunting, gardening, collecting guns, knives and marbles.
Survivors include a son, David Alexander Downard; two sisters, Donna (Gary) Cook of Brookville, Ruby Erjavec of Fruitland Park, Florida; three brothers, Roger (Ruthann) Downard of Metamora, Bruce (Kim) Downard of Brookville and Michael Downard of Hamilton, Ohio.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Jane Downard, Joyce Jordan and her husband, Walter; three brothers; Tim, Donnie, and Phillip Downard; as well as a sister-in-law, Sue Downard and a brother-in-law, Jim Erjavec.
Pastor David Smith will officiate the Memorial Services on Saturday, September 18, 2021, 3 p.m. at Scipio United Baptist Church, 7999 Cincinnati-Brookville Road, Okeana, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
The staff of Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home is honored to serve the Downard family to sign the online guest book or send personal condolences please visit www.phillipsandmeyers.com.
