Virgil Alan “Pappy” Ronan, 70, of Connersville, went home to be with the Lord Sunday morning, August 22, 2021, at his home.
The youngest of four children of Floyd Darrel and Bertha Mildred Stapp Ronan, Alan was born in Rushville, on August 14, 1951, and graduated from Rushville Consolidated High School with the class of 1969.
For more than 40 years, Alan was a professional truck driver for several companies, lastly Quickway Carriers of Shelbyville. On September 16, 2016, Alan was married at Crosspointe Biker Church to Linda Sue Sullivan Allen of Lynn. Mrs. Ronan survives.
Pappy was a devoted member of Crosspointe Biker Church. A motorcycle enthusiast, he enjoyed attending many motorcycle activities and rides. He was a 34-year member of Abate and was known as Alley Dog Ronan.
Besides his wife, Linda Sue Ronan, survivors include a step-son, John (Brandy) Allen of Johnson City, Tennessee; a special daughter, Mandy Nichols and her daughter, Cheyenne; two sisters, Kathleen Kilgore and Janet Kile; and a sister-in-law, Carolyn Ronan.
Pappy was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Ed Ronan.
Family and friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 12 noon on Friday, August 27, 2021, at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home. Pastor Chris Lovett will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Pappy to Crosspointe Biker Church. Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
Elizabeth Louise Housman, 78, of Connersville went home to be with the Lord, Sunday afternoon, August 22, 2021, at her residence.
She was born on August 22, 1943, in Connersville, one of seven children of Leonard Alvernest and Lula Catherine Reynolds Warner.
In February of 1963, she married William Joseph Jones, Sr. in Connersville who passed away in September of 2013. On March 18, 1985, she married Larry Gene Housman. Mr. Housman passed away September 24, 1997.
Elizabeth worked at Visteon for 31 years until her retirement.
She attended East Side United Methodist Church.
In her leisure, she enjoyed fishing, tending her flowers, gardening, and crafts. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. Louise was known as being a motivator. Her love for life was evident to everyone around her.
Survivors include five children, William Joseph Jones, Jr., Melinda Faye (Steve) Lunsford, Robert Charles Jones, Michelle Renee (Ernest, Jr.) Chasteen, and Steven Ray Housman, all of Connersville; six grandchildren, Rebecca SueAnn Paige Chasteen, and Seth Allen Gene Housman, all of Connersville, and Austin S. Jones, Blake W. Jones, Adina L. Jones, and Grace C. Jones, all of Melbourne, Florida; and three great-grandchildren, Nalani R. Jones, Amora N. Hendrickson, and Zayla M. Hendrickson, all of Melbourne, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Other than her husbands and parents, she is preceded in death by two granddaughters, Miranda Rosalee Catherine Lunsford and Sarah Elizabeth Lunsford; her sisters, Lou Ella Earl, Mary Brown, Helen Warner, and Eunice Hisle; and her brothers, Clifford Franklin Warner and Arthur Phillip Warner.
Friends may visit from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday with Pastor Jeremiah Burdon officiating. Burial will be at Valley Grove Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Elizabeth to the Fayette County Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
Vince Tolley, of Sunman, was born on August 2, 1956, in Cincinnati, a son to John, Jr. and Ruby Brown Tolley. He served his country in the Unites States Army. Vince married Catrina Ruth on December 24, 2004, and she survives. He worked at Formica for several years. On Monday, August 23, 2021, at the age of 65, Vince passed away at his residence.
Those surviving who will honor Vince’s memory include his loving wife, Catrina; one son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Samantha Wiechert of Burlington, Kentucky; two grandchildren, Brooklyn and Mackenzie Wiechert; five sisters, Beverly, Loria, Veronica, Sylvia, and Deva, and one brother, Shannon. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Vince’s wishes were to be cremated, and there will be no public services. To sign the online guestbook or to leave a personal condolence, please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to care for Vince and his family.
Technically, the Town of Brookville did not buy the Brook Hill Golf Club Tuesday night, August 24, but in every other way, it did.
It is just awaiting the signatures of the LLC that currently owns the golf course. I think it is safe to assume, they will take their $1 million and run, allowing us to own whatever is left up on Snob Hill.
In the course of the meeting, only one person stood up and spoke for the purchase of the golf course. Many, many people spoke against it. And it seemed that most of the people there, if not all but the one who spoke for it, were against it.
While the four town council members present and the one on the remote hookup did not speak while the many people spoke against purchasing the golf course, the council members obviously did not listen.
It was a unanimous vote to purchase the golf course.
Also, the town signed a nondisclosure agreement with the LLC, so the taxpayers are not privy to how much money was made or lost this year on the golf course by the LLC. I am going to check on the legality of that. BTC president Curtis Ward would not allow me to ask council’s attorney Tammy Davis. He was very stern and grim faced about that.
Nothing was said about the golf course’s infrastructure needs or costs. I really don’t think they have the vaguest idea about that.
Former FC Sheriff Ken Murphy asked Curtis about Curtis’ July 7, purchase of nine lots near the golf course and if that was the reason the golf course had to be purchased RIGHT NOW. Curtis said that was not the reason. But he did not really give the reason it had to be purchased RIGHT NOW.
To even write a full editorial, these are somethings I have to do:
Cool down some
And think about what all occurred tonight as well as what all was said. The people who came and let their opinions be heard were passionate. Also, I want to put as much as I can about what Curtis said in response.
Again, I don’t want to get too involved now, but we were told the Zimmer purchase is going to go forward even though council members do not know how much it will cost to upgrade the building for a police department.
With the police station moving off Main, where it has been since 1808, we will have another empty storefront on Main Street, but Curtis said there is a multi-facetted plan to fill that storefront once again. At some point we may be privy to it.
The annexation will occur.
And, this one really got me: The Frisbee golf course in the town park is going to be put in place as planned.
One of the nicest ladies in the world, let alone Brookville, Mary Alice Helms, went to the podium and gave a very well-thought-out and researched argument against putting a Frisbee golf course in a well-used town park with walking paths.
The entire night leading up to Mary Alice’s presentation, I thought — just to show Brookville residents they have a smidgen of compassion — the council members would agree with Helms and nix that plan.
But no.
We are also going to have a Frisbee golf course. Council member Cathy Pelsor dissented on that vote only. No other council members dissented on anything else during the long, baking night.
As I said: I will have an entire editorial in a day or two along with another article with what each person said to council and how council members – meaning Curtis – responded.
One thing the school board members said Monday night at their meeting that really stuck with me on Tuesday night. “There are many things we have no control of. We have to work on the things we control.”
And that is what I have to do now. And that is what the taxpayers of Brookville have to do now.
Provided by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department
August 11
Charles H. Lowe II, 54, Vanetta Road, Laurel, was arrested at 11:47 p.m. at his residence by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy D. Enzinger for Invasion of Privacy.
Ramonte D. Robinson Jr., 24, Indianapolis, was arrested at 1 p.m. at the Franklin County Security Center by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Corp. R. Young on an Arrest Warrant.
August 12
Carl E. Lewis Jr., 37, West County Road 750 South, Connersville, was arrested at 10:50 p.m., at Connersville, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Arin Bowers, on an Arrest Warrant.
Joshua T. Trammell, 43, Church Street, Brookville, was arrested at 9:37 a.m. at Catfish Court, Brookville, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jason Lovins on an Arrest Warrant.
August 13
Aaron L. Rose, 68, West Union Street, Laurel, was arrested at 2:37 p.m. at his residence by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy D. Huntsman for Intimidation, Pointing Firearms at Subject and Obstruction of Justice.
Joshua T. Trammell, 43, Church Street, Brookville, was arrested at 11:51 a.m., at Walleye Drive, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy D. Huntsman, on two Arrest Warrants.
August 14
Dalton C. Beard, 22, East 7th Street, Brookville, was arrested at 12:20 a.m. at the Family Dollar parking lot by Brookville Police Department Officer Ryan Lackey for Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated and Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated Endangerment.
Troy V. Couch, 49, McGuire Ridge Road, Laurel, was arrested at 10:22 p.m., on Pipe Creek Road by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dusty Hill for Possession of Marijuana/Hash Oil/Hashish/Salvia.
Travis L. Curtsinger, 20, Trace Branch Road, Metamora, was arrested at 2:17 p.m., at the intersection of Main and Charles streets in Laurel by Laurel Police Department Officer Brian Reams on an Out of County Warrant Hold.
Alicia L. Gibbs, 41, Brook Drive, Batesville, was arrested at 1:45 p.m., at her residence, by Batesville Police Department Officer Chris Smith for Domestic Battery.
August 15
Dustin A. Buckhave, 32, Winn Road, Brookville, was arrested at 3:40 p.m., at Main Street in Brookville by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy D. Huntsman on an Arrest Warrant.
Skylar D. Campbell, 28, South Franklin Street, Greensburg was arrested at 1:26 a.m., at Andersonville by Laurel Police Department Officer Brian Reams for Driving while Suspended Conviction of Criminal Offense.
August 16
Jada A. Farler, 40, College Corner Pike, Oxford, Ohio, was arrested at 3:05 p.m. at the Preble County Jail by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy R. Gordon on an Arrest Warrant.
August 17
Paige R. Christenberry, 19, Bank Street, Brookville, was arrested at 6:29 p.m., on St. Mary’s Road by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy D. Huntsman for Operating without Ever Obtaining a License, Second Offense.
Timothy D. Fields, 22, West Starlight Drive, Connersville, was arrested on Lower Jim Run Road, for Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated and Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated Endangerment.
Lakendall A. Hunter, 41, North 13th Street, Richmond, was arrested at 12:05 p.m., at the Franklin County Security Center by David Limburg on a Warrant.
August 18
David W. Allen, 41, U.S. 52, Metamora, was arrested at 2:31 p.m. at New Castle by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy R. Gordon for Court.
Donald R. Church, 38, Wolf Creek Road, Brookville, was arrested at 5:30 p.m., at the Decatur County Jail by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy R. Gordon for Court.
August 19
Daniel C. Hundley, 37, Snail Creek Road, Metamora, was arrested at 5:26 p.m., at Brookville, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Arin Bowers for Disorderly Conduct.
August 20
Zachery R. Hauser, 19, East Indiana 48, Sunman, was arrested at 8:57 a.m. at the Probation Office by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy A. Maxie on an Arrest Warrant.
August 21
Matthew E. Barrett, 20, Holland Road, Brookville was arrested at 7:04 a.m. on Gloeckner Creek Road, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy D. Huntsman for Public Intoxication by Alcohol.
Anissa D. Mullins, 50, U.S. 52, Metamora, was arrested at 12:38 p.m. at her residence by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy D. Huntsman, on a Probation Violation.
Ricki A. Owens, 37, West U.S. Highway Street, Rushville, was arrested at 10:14 p.m. at Laurel by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dusty Hill for Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated and Possession of Marijuana/Hash Oil/Hashish/Salvia.
Travis J. Schirmer, 29, Schuman Road, Brookville, was arrested at 7:44 p.m. at Brookville by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dusty Hill for Possession of Marijuana/Hash Oil/Hashish/Salvia.
August 22
Anthony E. Hyser, Iowa Avenue, Connersville, was arrested at 4:32 p.m. at the Franklin County Jail by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy D. Huntsman on an Arrest Warrant.
Vance C. Johnson, 50, Brookville, was arrested at 12:45 p.m. at Brookville, by Brookville Police Department Officer J. Staat, for Possession of Marijuana/Hash and an Arrest Warrant.
Alicia A. Neanover, 40, Fairfield Causeway Road, was arrested at 1:50 a.m., at Franklin by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dusty Hill for Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe or Needle and an Arrest Warrant.
Marilyn G Roberts, age 72, of Brookville, died Saturday, August 21, 2021, at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, following a brief illness.
Born March 31, 1949, in Rush County, she was the daughter of the late Donald George and Norma Lee (McDaniel) Gray. On October 31, 1970, she was united in marriage to Ervin E. Roberts, and he survives.
Marilyn was retired, having been a farmer and homemaker, in addition to working for many years for the U.S. Postal Service as a Rural Letter Carrier.
She was a faithful member of the Whitcomb United Methodist Church; Tri Kappa; Board member of the Franklin County 4-H Association; Franklin County Extension Board; Junior Advisor for the Indiana Hereford Association; the Franklin County Cattlemans Association; as well as the Franklin County Community Foundation.
In her leisure time, she enjoyed gardening, baking, and being with her grandchildren. She was an avid Purdue fan, and enjoyed Purdue Glee Club performances.
Besides Ervin, her husband of nearly 51 years, survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Eric (Kari) Roberts of Brookville, Ryan (Jessica) Roberts of Falmouth, and Craig (Rose) Roberts of Brookville; six grandchildren, Kelby, Hayden, Easton, Karlee, Grant, and Claire Roberts; one sister, Janet (Mike) Sparks of Shirley; a sister-in-law, Ursula Roberts of Brookville.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her step-mother, Mary Ann Gray; a brother, Brian Gray; as well as her brother-in-law, Edwin Roberts.
Family and friends may visit from 4 until 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home, 1025 Franklin Avenue, Brookville.
Rev. Steve Rundel, pastor of the Whitcomb United Methodist Church, will officiate the Funeral Services at 10 a.m., Friday, August 27, 2021, at the Whitcomb United Methodist Church, 7084 Oxford Pike, Brookville. Burial will then follow in Big Cedar Cemetery in Brookville.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Franklin County Community Foundation Cultivating Donor Development Fund or the Rush County Community Foundation Gray Family Fund.
The staff of Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home is honored to once again serve the Roberts family, to sign the online guest book or send personal condolences please visit www.phillipsandmeyers.com.
Franklin County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees had a special meeting Monday night, August 23. The meeting was supposed to be a nice event, a tour of the new music addition and the new upgrades at other parts of Franklin County High School.
That was postponed.
The topic was COVID and the number of students with positive COVID test results.
For about 50 minutes, the school board members and superintendent Tammy Chavis engaged in a very thought-provoking and open discussion about the situation and the options.
In the end, the final decision was a compromise. If a family member tests positive, the other students in that family have to quarantine. If a student comes in close contact, in a short amount of time, with multiple students who have tested positive for COVID, then the school nurse can decide if that student has to quarantine. Visitors and volunteers in schools are going to be limited. With case conferences, the first choice is virtual, but if they have to be in person, they can be in person. Field trips are suspended with the exceptions of academic team and FFA competitions. If any building has 20 percent of the student population out with COVID, then there will be an emergency meeting of the school board to see if other measures should be taken. Also, FCHS Guidance Counselor Whitney Gillman will send out a questionnaire allowing parents to opt out of the contact tracing. If they do opt out, then they will not receive a call from the high school about their child being exposed. And if there is a need, Chavis has the ability to hire people to help with the contact tracing notifications. She will use COVID money to pay for those hired in those positions if needed.
If students, administrators and teachers want to wear masks while in school, it is their prerogative. Also, parents can decided whether or not they want their children to be quarantined if notified through contact tracing except where it is a family member who is positive or the school nurse decides a student has multiple contacts with positive students in a short time.
The vote was 6-1 with Grant Reeves against.
Reeves said he believes more stringent measures should have been taken at this meeting, because he believes the school board will be back in an emergency meeting in very short order.
But not even Reeves is for mandatory masks over the long haul. He suggested the masks be temporarily mandatory by building – in the case of high school or middle school — where students mingle in different classes, or classrooms in other elementary buildings where the students are more isolated from other students in the building.
According to Reeves, the current COVID spike should begin to recede about mid September and then there will be a trough. During the times when the COVID numbers are down, then the mask mandate would not be utilized. And if the numbers come down on their own in the affected buildings or classrooms, then the mask mandate would be removed.
Every school board member spoke during the meeting, and there were no raised voices. While there were about 18 people in attendance, and many more connected through audio, no one from the public spoke out during the meeting.
According to Chavis and Reeves, the number of COVID-positive students at FCHS went from three to 33 in one week, which necessitated Monday evening’s meeting.
Almost every board member said they have received a large amount of feedback from the community where the parents do not want a facemask mandate. Board member Justin Moore said there would be a large number of people take their children out of the school system if masks are mandated.
Chavis said the opposite is true also as some parents will take their children out of the schools because they do not believe the school board has gone far enough with safety procedures. However, she admitted the number in that scenario is much smaller than the number who would remove their children if masks are mandated. But, she said the board members and administration should look to the safety of the students as their No. 1 priority.
Several board members said whatever decision was made Monday night would not make everyone happy or satisfied.
Board member Beth Foster explained what she was dealing with concerning this decision because she is a grandmother of a 6-year-old.
She started her comment by saying there are several students dealing with mental health issues due to COVID and how it is affecting their education. Some students felt isolated last year with the different schooling solutions which included virtual learning in different forms. However, her 6-year-old grandson would have problems sitting through a day of school in a mask.
“We have a lot of kids going through mental issues right now,” Foster said. “Not only because they’re isolated at home if we would send them home, or if we try to make a 6-year-old sit all day in a mask. I know I have a 6-year-old grandson, and he would have a hard time in a mask. I don’t know what the answer is either.”
Almost every school board members said they did not have answers for this tough situation. At the meeting’s end, school board president Sharon Wesolowski said being a school board member on nights like Monday night is very difficult.
“I hope people understand this is not easy,” Wesolowski said. “Sitting up here and making these decisions is not easy. Because for as many people who are listening and as many people who are here that have their opinions about what they believe is right, there are just as many people on the other side with very strong opinions about what they believe is right. And we are trying to represent everybody. And this is not a decision that is ever going to represent everybody.”
Board member Secret Brougher pleaded with parents to have some common sense in this difficult situation
“If your kid is sick, don’t send them to school,” Brougher said.
Also, don’t send students to school if a COVID test is pending, they said. Reeves mentioned as he was driving to the meeting, the line around the EMS building in Brookville, where COVID tests are being performed, was wrapped around the building.
Zackery Lee Rea, 24 of Laurel, passed away on Thursday, August 19, 2021. He was born on October 29, 1996, in Cincinnati, to Donald “DJ” and Lucy Rea.
Zackery was a member of Garrison Creek Baptist Church for most of his life but attended Grace and Truth Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill, Missouri when he could.
You could often find Zack enjoying the great outdoors as long as his dad and brother could get his wheelchair up and down the many paths he travelled. He enjoyed quality time with his mom and sister when shopping, taking a nice walk, eating out or travelling back and forth from Indiana to Missouri. Zack’s favorite video was “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree,” and he would laugh when Pooh got stung by the bees. Zack was a devoted son, brother, grandson, cousin and friend to many.
Along with his parents DJ and Lucy, he will be greatly missed by his brother, DJ Rea II, of Laurel; a sister, Emilee Rea, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; grandparents, Al and Jody Abshear, of Laurel and John and Pat Gordon, of Falmouth; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Zackery was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Joe Hensley and Donnie Rea.
Visitation for Zackery will be held on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, beginning at 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Garrison Creek Baptist Church, 5952 S. Garrison Rd., Connersville, Indiana. The funeral service will be on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at the church at 11 a.m. with Pastors Tim Fluty and Brent Blaise officiating. Burial will follow in Laurel North Cemetery.
Urban Winkler Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Rea family with arrangements. To sign the online guestbook or to leave the family a personal message visit www.urbanwinklerfuneralhome.com.
Gabriel Joseph Stone, 14, of Connersville passed away late Saturday evening, August 21, 2021, at his home.
A son of Ronald Joseph Stone and Renee Allen Gough, Gabriel was born in Oxford, Ohio, on August 31, 2006.
Gabriel was an active 8th grade student at Connersville Middle School and in his free time, enjoyed playing video games, hanging out with his friends, and watching basketball.
Survivors include his mother, Renee Gough of Connersville; two sisters, Faith (Nicholas) Bass and Ainsley Stone all of Connersville; a brother Ben (Christine) Stone of Laurel; maternal grandmother, Theresa (Dale) Dale Lanning of Connersville; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Gabriel was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Joseph Stone; paternal grandfather, Ronald Z. Stone; and paternal step-grandparents, Thomas and Ruth Keller.
Family and friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at Higher Praise Worship Center, 812 Ziegler Road, Connersville, Indiana. Pastor Dennis Perkins will officiate. Burial will follow in Dale Cemetery. Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
