A Brookville man charged with four felonies regarding a head-on collision on U.S. 52 and resulted in the death of the other driver claimed it was the other driver who crossed the centerline.
Franklin County Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp charged Josh Trammell, 43, Brookville, with Operating a Vehicle under the Influence of a Controlled Substance, as a Level 4 Felony; Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated Causing Death, as a Level 4 Felony; Reckless Homicide, as a Level 5 Felony; Illegal Possession of a Syringe, as a Level 6 Felony; and Habitual Offender.
If found guilty of the last charge, Habitual Offender, and guilty of the other charges, then Trammell’s sentence will be enhanced.
Jenni Fasbinder, Brookville, was declared dead at the scene of the accident.
According to an Affidavit for Probable Cause written by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jason Lovins, two hypodermic needles were found with the debris that fell out of Trammell’s 2001 Chevrolet Silverado when it was righted by a wrecker.
Following the accident, Trammell’s blood was taken at Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville. It was then sent to the Indiana State Department of Toxicology for analysis. The affidavit claims the toxicology report states Trammell had amphetamine and methamphetamine in his system at the time of the crash.
Lovins, was the first law enforcement officer on the scene the day of the crash, July 7.
According to a press release, concerning the accident released at the time of the accident, the accident occurred on U.S. 52 west of Brookville and east of its intersection with Yellow Bank Road. It was near the rock house on the north side of the road.
It was determined the Silverado, with Trammell the driver and only occupant of the Silverado, was pulling a trailer in the eastbound lane and went left of center, colliding head-on with a 2014 Kia operated by Fasbinder.
After the collision, the Silverado rolled over, coming to rest on its driver’s side, while the trailer became dislodged from the pickup truck. The Kia Soul went off the south side of the road where it caught fire.
Brookville Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the flames.
The on-scene investigation, which included the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police, took six hours with the highway closed the entire time.
Lovins said in the affidavit, Trammell sustained head and facial injuries and appeared to be bleeding profusely. When Lovins questioned Trammell about the accident, Trammell said the Kia went left of center striking his Silverado.
According to Lovins, Trammell’s claim was not supported by what Lovins observed at the scene.
Trammell was transported to the hospital for treatment of his injuries and the subsequent blood draw. Lovins received the results of the toxicology reports on Wednesday, August 11. Charges were filed the next day.
On the charging Information for the Habitual Offender charge, Huerkamp alleges Trammell is a Habitual Offender because he has accumulated three or more prior, unrelated felony convictions. Huerkamp then listed Trammell’s prior felony convictions.
They are: Battery, as a Class D Felony, October 17, 1997; Resisting Law Enforcement, as a Class D Felony, July 28, 2010; Theft, as a Class D Felony, July 28, 2010; Theft, as a Class D Felony, July 3, 2012; Theft, as a Class D Felony, December 3, 2014; Check Fraud, as a Class D Felony, December 18, 2014; Theft, as a Class D Felony, November 6, 2017; Possession of a Narcotic Drug, as a Level 6 Felony, March 23, 2017; and Intimidation, as a Level 6 Felony, February 9, 2019.
Trammell has another three cases pending in Franklin Circuit Court 2. They are: Resisting Law Enforcement Using a Vehicle, as a Level 6 Felony and Driving while Suspended with a Conviction within 10 Years, as a class A misdemeanor, which was filed on February 22; Operating a Vehicle while Being an Habitual Offender, as a Level 6 Felony, which was filed on July 7, 2020; and a Miscellaneous Criminal case filed on June 22, 2020.
If convicted of a Level 4 Felony, Trammell could receive a sentence of two to 12 years in prison.
Trammell was arrested on the morning of August 12 and as of this writing remains in the Franklin County Security Center.
I attended my first Brookville Town Council meeting in person – since I started working on Tuesday nights — Tuesday night, August 10.
My goal was to write several articles about the meeting. I really wanted to write those articles.
However, at least in the Old School Journalism – what I call Little Picture Old Direction (LPOD), a reporter writing an article is supposed to be an observer and tell the facts without letting opinions get introduced in the article. Anyone tuning into Fox, CNN, MSNBC and many others know that in New School Journalism, which I call Big Picture New Direction (BPND), that is no longer the case. People act like they are writing articles, but they are really writing editorials masked as news articles.
So, folks, once again this is an EDITORIAL.
Does a “pig in a poke” mean anything to anyone? How about “pennywise and pound foolish:” Ever heard that one?
Both of those old adages pretty well sum up Brookville Town Council members and my impressions since my first meeting back in person.
WARNING WARNING WARNING
Taxpayers, we are going to expend $1 million to buy a golf course right now. We can’t wait.
And we are going to spend $600,000 on the Zimmer property. Again, we can’t wait. We have to do both things right now.
Oh, and Progress Street is moving, which seemed to come as a shock to BTC President Curtis Ward. That means the paving project just to try to keep the street stabilized is going to be an ongoing expense, a really big ongoing expense. And we have to do that because the Valley House developer did not plan for enough parking spaces. So, we — the taxpayers — get to pay for his lack of planning.
First, the Golf Course, the Pig in a Poke.
Remember, not that long ago. The annexation proposal – notice I left out the word volunteer, which should be used before the word annexation – was supposed to be all about buying the golf course. But we are in such a hurry to buy a golf course the annexation is on the backburner. You residents on Snob Hill, don’t worry. The annexation is a done deal just like this golf course was a done deal just like the Zimmer property was a done deal.
I digress here.
I could write a book about Curtis and the feasibility study for annexation that has been ongoing for — I don’t know — a decade maybe according to Curtis, but it never was.
Let me repeat that. The feasibility study on annexation Curtis told his taxpayers at every meeting was ongoing was a figment of his imagination. And I am being kind by describing it in that manner.
He made that announcement Tuesday night, sort of. He would not give up on that it is an ongoing study, but it was never (NEVER) started; there are no bills, nothing has transpired, but Curtis has told everyone, especially the taxpayers, up to this point at every meeting: “The feasibility study is ongoing.” And Tuesday night he still refused to admit there has never been a feasibility study even when clerk Gina Gillman quietly shook her head no to the question to Gina from another reporter: “Has the company sent any invoices for a feasibility study?”
But I rant. Oh, it is so easy to rant. But, back to the golf course.
We are going to buy a golf course for $1 million and do it in a hurry without even glancing at any books to see “how is that golf course doing financially?” I asked Curtis. I got to ask him right to his face and see what seemed to me a reaction that this was the first time anyone had mentioned something like that to him.
Well, Curtis, once we buy this golf course, are all the taxpayers going to see about a $250,000 annual profit where we can have a huge party each year and eat caviar and drink champagne or is it going to lose $250,000 a year and our taxes go up to pay for the $1 million price tag plus the yearly losses or will we have to give up something or some things. Will we be forced to have a Brookville version of defund the police? Or the fire department, or the street department? Will any of those be part of the equation so you can have your municipally owned golf course?
When I floated the prospect of losing $250,000 a year on the golf course, Curtis said he thought that was too high. How do you know Curtis? It might be too low. There have not been any feasibility studies on the town owning a golf course. Maybe, it is also ongoing.
I asked him about an assessment on the immediate costs. I have heard the golf paths at this point would be right at home at Haspin Acres. I asked him about those and he gave me the same look he did when I asked him about looking at the books. I never got an answer on that. Someone from the back said they heard the sprinkler system doesn’t work. He said that was not true, so apparently Curtis was all wet at some time.
We have to buy the golf course right now because the investors in the LLC want to pull their money out right now, right this minute. They do not want to wait until the annexation, which is what we have always been told. To give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they found out the truth about Curtis’ feasibility study.
“They are not making anything on their investments,” Curtis said as to why the investors want their money NOW.
Hey, Curtis, I’m not a CPA, but if the golf course was making money, those deep pocketed investors would not be demanding you – I mean we – buy that golf course this instant. They would tell you, “Curtis, take your time in buying this. We are rolling in the money. Please, we may not even want to sell this cash cow to you.”
They are not doing that Curtis. They are demanding you – again I mean we – buy the golf course immediately. IMMEDIATELY. Town attorney Tammy Davis is drawing up the purchase agreement as you read this.
Don’t want $1 million of your tax money to buy a pig in a poke. Tough. Curtis and his two or three musketeers are going to buy that golf course and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
There is so much wrong about this situation, I cannot find anything right.
Get this: The LLC demanded the town keep the golf course a golf course for 25 years as a point before the LLC would allow town council to give them $1 million of our tax money. And the LLC was demanding the council put that in writing in the purchase agreement.
I have heard there were people watching the meeting on video. Look at Curtis’ face when he said that and then look at his face when Davis told him that demand was a nonstarter. She explained to him that ANYONE would not want to buy property with that caveat on it, because, well, it is stupid. Really STUPID. She did not say those words, but she got the point across.
Can you imagine losing $250,000 per year on something and not being able to stop it because some idiot signed an agreement to that effect using your money? Or if it is making money and you wanted to add something to it like a zip line (wink, wink, nod nod) to make more money. You couldn’t because some idiot agreed to that demand from a seller who wants to sell the property to them RIGHT NOW.
Another LLC demand on the purchase agreement is that the LLC gets the right of first refusal in buying back the golf course. Davis — it seemed like she might have felt she was talking to a kindergarten class at that point, but I disparage kindergarten classes by saying that – explained to Curtis, there are statutes, meaning laws, in place that governmental entities must follow when selling property and giving some private company first refusal rights is not in the Indiana Code Book right now.
Really, in Curtis’ defense, he has never really paid attention to state statutes before, and it is kind of hard for him to start now when he is in such a hurry.
For the taxpayers out there, the town is going to float a bond to pay for the initial purchase price of the golf course. However, they do not have a clue how they are going to pay the annual subsidies to keep that money pit running.
The Zimmer Property
We are spending $600,000 on the entire property down there and not just one building, Curtis was proud to tell us.
Again, this was and is being done in a hurry because this is the deal of the century and if we taxpayers don’t grab that property now, it will be gone once it hits the market. Thus, we will be left with egg on our faces. At this point most of us can still afford eggs, but that might not be the case soon.
I think the argument of having to purchase it now or we lose out is similar to Curtis’ take on the ongoing feasibility study.
And we need to spend $600,000 because we, the taxpayers, really need a new town hall because Curtis told us we really need a new town hall. Oh, but it is not going to be a new town hall. It is going to be a police station and something to do with the street department.
Curtis is not really good on giving specifics. We are to take his word for it: The taxpayers really need a new police station and something for the street department. And the empty storefront on Main Street caused by the police department moving down to High Street, well, we don’t know too much about that either.
It does not seem that long ago the taxpayers paid a goodly amount for a major remodeling at the police station. It was needed at that time. I can attest to that. But I have not heard anyone grumbling about a dire need to have a new one and leave all that remodeling that was done with our money to be in an empty storefront on Main Street.
Now remember, ladies and gentlemen, $600,000 is for the property. We have not been privy to what it is going to cost to remodel the property and improve the property for the new police station and whatever the street department is going to have down there. Thank goodness plywood is not more expensive than gold anymore. I think it might be down to the price of silver times three or four.
I have nothing against the owners of the Zimmer property. I hope they get what they can get for their property, but I don’t want to pay for it. I don’t need it. It sounds like the town doesn’t need it either.
It would be different if Curtis had said “We really need a new place for the police department. And we really need to do something for the street department whatever that something is.” But he has not even said that. He talked about the need for a new town hall, but that is no more. Apparently, we never needed a new town hall. But we need this. Trust me.
Since the Zimmer property is so hot, I would really like to see the Zimmer property go on the market and a business purchase it. That way it will stay on the tax roll. Maybe some jobs would come out of it and those employees could pay taxes. Remember, we are investing $1 million on a golf course we have never seen the books on and we do not know what our annual costs will be, so we should keep all the property in town on the tax rolls and maybe get a little more from employees at the new businesses.
That is my suggestion. But who am I but a taxpayer and a constituent.
Since I am using old sayings here, how about “Is my money burning a hole in your pocket, Curtis and the four others who follow in Curtis’ steps?”
Pennywise and Pound Foolish
While the town council members thought nothing of pledging $1.6 million just to start action on some things that will cost us a lot more, they did take almost 20 minutes discussing Town Administrator Tim Ripperger’s need for a new laptop.
Know how the meeting video was real crappy in the recent past? That was because Tim’s laptop was dying a computer death. However, his replacement was deemed too expensive. At any other meeting, I would have been smiling over my town council members being concerned about spending too much money on a computer.
Let’s discuss the meaning of the word IRONY.
Irony is “a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result.”
There is more
This seems miniscule when compared to everything else Brookville Town Council members did Tuesday night and have been doing for awhile, but to me it is very strange and troubling.
There is going to be a Frisbee golf course in our beautiful town park.
This is something Curtis apparently feels passionate about. He is so passionate he has not made the course’s layout public. He kind of has that “take my word for it everything is going to be all right” attitude.
If anybody wants to, reread the first 22,000 words of this EDITORIAL to see why that is probably a bad idea.
They are going to pour concrete for the posts to hold up the baskets, and they are going to cut down at least two trees. Beyond that, we don’t know because it is sort of like why do we need a new police station, something for the street department whatever that is, and no idea how much the golf course is going to cost us in the long run. Curtis has not deemed it necessary to tell any details to the people who pay the bills.
When fellow town council member Chuck Campbell said it would be unfortunate if hikers and path walkers get hit with Frisbees while they are out enjoying our beautiful park, Mr. Compassion, I mean Curtis responded (and I am paraphrasing) they – meaning you reading this — could already get hit by Frisbees and he has seen people get hit by softballs, so what’s the big deal?
One last question for Curtis: Are the marionette wires that have been attached to you come with yearly maintenance, or do they have a lifetime warranty? I’m asking for a couple thousand friends.
Hey, if people do not come en masse to the next town council meeting, if people do not flood the council members with phone calls and stop them on the streets and tell them to STOPTHIS INSANITY, then people you get what you get and I have no sympathy for you.
All of these big ticket items might turn out to be some of the best things to happen to Brookville in years. If so, it should be a very easy sell to the taxpaying citizen. This board is doing everything possible to create suspicion and contempt rather than build consensus and trust. If your ideas are good, tell us why they are good. Or, if you have to hide what is under the hood, we probably won’t want to buy your car.
The next council meeting will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 24, at the Schilling Center, which is a new meeting venue.
Virginia Hummell from Moores Hill, was Born on October 9, 1928, to Benjamin and Barbara Herbert Paul in Oldenburg. She was married to Mitchell C. Hummell on August 10, 1949, at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg. Virginia graduated from Oldenburg’s Immaculate Conception Academy in 1947, and worked at McPhersons in Sunman, and retired as a caregiver to the Crosley family in Moores Hill.
She was a devout Catholic and most recently was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Aurora. Virginia played on the basketball team at Oldenburg Academy and also belonged to a bowling team. She also loved gardening, fishing, visiting family and friends, and most of all she loved being with her children and grandchildren for meals and social events.
On Sunday, August 8, she passed away at home with her family present by her side. Virginia is survived by her daughter Gloria Cowin from Moores Hill, and Mark Hummell from New York, NY; her grandchildren Doug Miller, Jennifer Brubaker, Anthony Miller, Saundra Nolen, Michael, Michelle, Virginia, and Mitchell Hummell; 25 great-grandchildren; 12 great great children and her sibling Melvin (Metzie) Paul of Oldenburg.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Mitchell C. Hummell, her children Donna Miller and Michael Hummell, and siblings: Jerome Paul, Francis Paul, Robert Paul, Anna Mae Flodder, and Dorothy King, Helen Rose Nunlist, and Mary Agnes Stahley.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday, August 13, at the funeral home. Funeral services follow at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Family Church with Rev. Mike Chowning officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to Oldenburg Academy.
Charles H. Smith, 93, of Connersville passed away Monday evening, August 9, 2021, at Golden Living Center – Golden Rule, Richmond where he had been a resident for the last two weeks.
The only child of Louis and Essie Golden Smith, Charles was born in Franklin County, on March 6, 1928.
On February 22, 1947, Charles married the former Lora Pauline Brown. Mrs. Smith passed away on May 23, 1995.
Charles served his country in the United States Navy during World War II. He returned to Connersville and was employed at Visteon, retiring in 1994.
In his leisure time, Charles enjoyed travelling and spending time with his family.
Survivors include three children, Linda (Willie) Lucas of Connersville, Charles V. (Geraldine) Smith of Liberty, and Marcella Gibbs (companion, Tim Sturgeon) of Connersville; six grandchildren, Vernon (Brenda) Smith of Brookville, Billie Jo (Pat) Earlywine of Greensburg, Kim (Dave) Fuller of Connersville, Sherel Smith-Case of Liberty, William Lucas, and Kristy Smith, both of Connersville; eight great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Besides his wife of 48 years, Lora Smith, Charles was preceded in death by his parents; and companion, Maudie Barrett.
Family and friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. on Monday, August 16, 2021, at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home. Pastor Richard Ware will officiate. Burial with military honors provided by Fayette County Veterans Council will follow in Dale Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
Franklin County Commissioner Tom Wilson read a statement concerning the county’s policy on masks into the official record near the end of their meeting Tuesday, August 10.
It essentially said conditions concerning COVID in Franklin County do not match other places in the country, and commissioners believe individuals should make health choices about themselves and their children.
“The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention recently came out with new guidelines regarding mask wearing. The CDC also called for all children to wear masks in school. The new CDC guidelines reflect circumstances that exist in other places that are different from the conditions experienced in Franklin County, Indiana.
“In dealing with local conditions related to the pandemic, our local authorities should exercise common sense. In Franklin County, we believe health decisions are best made by individuals, not national health agencies.
“Each individual should decide whether a mask provides them with the protection that they desire. In Franklin County, Indiana, persons who wish to be vaccinated have plenty of opportunities to do so. Similarly, we respect the right of individuals to choose whether to wear a mask and whether to be vaccinated.
“Although we understand the federal and state agencies have a role to play in providing information to citizens regarding the pandemic, we do not support governmental mandates and orders regarding how individuals choose to move forward.
“We respect the authority of our local school boards and their citizen members to make decisions regarding the re-entry of students to our schools, but we continue to believe that parents are in the best position to make medical decisions for their children and that these parents’ rights should be strongly considered as such decisions are made by our local school boards.
“We believe that given the amount of information available regarding COVID-19, our citizens can make intelligent decisions about what is best for them and their families. We will continue to do everything within our power to see that necessary services for testing and vaccination are made available to everyone in Franklin County.”
It is signed by all three commissioners.
Wilson said Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville was recently contacted by the commissioners and that facility did not have any individuals at that facility being treated for COVID.
Zachary L. Bennett, 28, 9075 Indiana 101, Brookville, was arrested and charged with two really troubling crimes.
Bennett is alleged to have burned his 1-year-old on the face with a cigarette and battered a female while they were all staying at Mound Haven Motel.
According to an Investigative Narrative filed by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Adam Henson, at 9:01 p.m., Sunday, August 8, the Franklin County Communications Center received a 911 call from another resident at the Mound Haven Motel reporting the domestic battery.
Henson was in Laurel at the time of the call where another arrest was being made in a unrelated incident. Before Henson could get to Mound Haven, two Indiana Conservation Officers, Grant Larson and Travis Stewart, who were on Indiana 101 near the Mounds Recreation entrance at the time of the 911 call, responded to the scene.
Henson got on scene six minutes after the COs and found Bennett sitting in front of the room he was renting. Bennett was in handcuffs and talking to Larson. Henson went into another room at Mound Haven and spoke with Stewart, who was, in turn, speaking to the alleged victim.
The victim said Bennett shoved her into the wall, grabbed her by the hair and threw her down. Then, she said Bennett took her toes and yanked them to the side causing them to “pop really loud.”
She had bruises on all the places she mentioned, and Stewart photographed the bruises. The victim then pointed out the burn on the child’s face. She said another person at the motel had witnessed Bennett burn the child with a cigarette a couple of days prior to the current incident. Stewart took photos of the burn.
A witness said he and a female had taken Bennett and the alleged victim to lunch earlier on Sunday. He said during the time spent going to and from lunch and lunch itself, Bennett was saying “appalling” things to the alleged victim. He said in that trip, Bennett “put hands” on the alleged victim. That witness was also in Bennett’s room Sunday night when the alleged battery took place on the female.
According to the witness, Bennett grabbed the victim by her hair and threw her down. At the time of the incident, the witness was holding the 1-year-old. The victim told the witness to run and take the child with him, which he did.
The witness said the child became burned when Bennett was holding the child, and the child was facing away from Bennett. Bennett reached around with the cigarette and put the cigarette out on the child’s face. In fact, the witness said he thought Bennett put the cigarette out in the child’s eye.
Henson then went to speak with Bennett. Bennett denied everything. Earlier, Bennett had been read his Miranda rights by the COs.
Bennett told Henson the victim threw her shoes at Bennett the night before, causing her to fall off the bed, and she hit her back on the room’s heater. Also, she stubbed her toes on the bed frame as she was chasing Bennett out of the room.
As to the child, Bennett said the child ran into some boards stacked out in front of their motel. Henson told Bennett the wound looked like a burn. Bennett responded the scab came off, making the wound look like a burn.
Henson then arrested Bennett. However, after handcuffing Bennett behind Bennett’s back, it was discovered Bennett would not fit in the back driver’s side passenger seat. Thus, Henson moved the handcuffs to Bennett’s front and put Bennett into the seat.
Bennett was charged with Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Person Less Than 14 Years of Age, as a Level 5 Felony; and Domestic Battery, as a Level 6 Felony.
If convicted of a Level 5 Felony, Bennett could receive a sentence of one to six years in prison. If convicted of a Level 6 Felony, Bennett could receive a sentence of six months to 2.5 years in prison.
Joseph Brinker, 71 years old, of Guilford, unexpectedly passed away on Saturday, August 7, 2021. Originally from Price Hill, Joe moved to Greendale and then Guilford after meeting his wife, Pamela, at an anniversary party for mutual friends. Joe was a proud veteran who fought in the Vietnam War. Joe was a member of the Sheet Metal Worker Local 24 for 40 years. He loved to take pictures of cats, flowers, and his nieces and nephews and would share his talents by making calendars with his artwork. Joe enjoyed traveling on vacation and he and Pamela took trips to Alaska, Hawaii and New Orleans. He found a thrill in gambling, often playing the lottery, betting on horses and frequenting Belterra in his time off.
Joe will be deeply missed by his wife of 15 years, Pamela Brinker, and siblings Eileen (Russ) Brown, Jerry (Sue) Brinker, Janet (Tony) Grubb, and Marian (Tom) Lock, many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Rita Brinker.
Visitation for Joe will be on Thursday, August 12, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home at 25615 State Rt. 1, Guilford, IN 47022. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12 p.m. at St. John’s Campus, All Saints Parish, at 25743 State Rt. 1 Guilford, IN 47022. For those not able to attend, mass will be lived streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily. Burial will immediately follow at Greendale Cemetery at 886 Nowlin Ave, Greendale, IN 47025. Memorials can be made to Miller York Volunteer Fire Department or Spinal Muscular Atrophy Association. Memorials will be accepted at the visitation or can be mailed to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home. Please visit www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com to sign the online guest book or offer condolences.
Holly (Snyder) Taylor, 56, of Liberty, passed away on Friday, August 6, 2021. She was born on October 31, 1964, in Richmond, and is the daughter of the late Darlh Snyder and Jeannine Carter Snyder.
On June 22, 1984, she married Brian Taylor at Brownsville United Methodist Church.
Holly had worked as cosmetologist for more than 20 years. She had also been employed by Reid Hospital Orthopedics for three years as a medical receptionist, and at Walmart in Oxford as a department manager. She was the proud owner of Holly’s Homestyle Eats & Sweets for six years.
She enjoyed baking and cooking, traveling, and watching Hallmark movies. Holly was such a beautiful soul who loved the Lord and was a woman of faith devotion. Holly was greatly loved by all who knew her and gave memorable hugs to everyone she loved. She poured her heart in her husband, Brian, and her children, Ashley and Ryan, and her granddaughter, Elle, and dedicated her free life to all of them. She loved to spoil her furry shih-tzu son, Oreo, by preparing him meals like chicken and pork chops.
Holly will be greatly missed by her husband, Brian; a daughter, Ashley (Jason) Pippin; a son, Ryan (Falyn) Taylor; two brothers, Dean (Tracy) Snyder and Joe (Lora) Snyder; a sister, Starla (Michael) Morgan, and her granddaughter, Elleanah “Elle” Pippin; her in-laws, Marion and Barbara Taylor; Melanie and Tom Woodby (parents of daughter-in-law), and many nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her Grandma Mary and Grandpa Walt.
A memorial service for Holly will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2021, from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m., at Liberty Church of the Nazarene, 220 W High St. Liberty, Indiana. Urban Winkler Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. To sign the online guestbook or send the family a personal message, please visit www.urbanwinklerfuneralhome.com.
Joyce Pennington, 91, of Connersville went home to be with the Lord Saturday afternoon, August 7, 2021, at her home.
She was born near Laurel on August 9, 1929, one of 11 children of Harry and Gladys Angle Strait and was a graduate of Connersville High School.
On May 22, 1948, she was married to Don Lee Pennington on the front porch of Reverend Herbert Fitzpatrick’s home. Before retirement, Mr. Pennington was the pastor of Garrison Creek Baptist Church for 14 years, and he passed away October 4, 2013.
For many years until her retirement, Joyce was employed as a telephone operator for GTE.
She was a faithful member of Garrison Creek Baptist Church. In her leisure, she enjoyed collecting and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Survivors include three sons, Larry R. Pennington and his wife Kathryn, Michael D. Pennington and his wife Paula, and David Alan Pennington and his wife Mary, all of Connersville; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Besides her husband of 65 years, Don Pennington, she is preceded in death by her parents; a son, Ricky Lee Pennington, who passed away in 1965; two sisters, five brothers, and three infant siblings.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 12, 2021, at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Fluty officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery. Friends may visit from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
Whitewater Valley bird lovers can bring the birdfeeders and hummingbird feeders back out of the closets.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced today that Hoosiers in 76 counties across the state can resume feeding birds but asks that residents of the remaining counties keep their feeders down while the investigation into what is killing songbirds continues.
None of the counties in the Whitewater Valley are on the moratorium list.
DNR recommended a statewide moratorium on bird feeding on June 25 to slow the spread of a still-undetermined illness that is killing birds across the state. Hoosiers answered the call, removing feeders, cleaning birdbaths, and submitting more than 3,400 reports of sick or dead birds. DNR biologists believe there to be more than 500 cases in 72 counties that involve a very specific set of clinical signs (crusty eyes, eye discharge, and/or neurological issues).
Based on the data, it appears that the bird illness is consistently affecting specific areas. There is no imminent threat to people, the population of specific bird species, or to the overall population of birds in Indiana.
DNR recommends that residents of the following counties continue to refrain from feeding birds: Allen, Carroll, Clark, Floyd, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Lake, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Porter, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe, Whitley.
Residents of other counties may again put out their feeders. Seed and suet feeders should be cleaned at least once every two weeks by scrubbing feeders with soap and water, followed by a short soak in a 10 percent bleach solution. Feeders should be thoroughly rinsed and dried before being filled with birdseed. Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned at least one a week with a 10 percent bleach solution and rinsed thoroughly.
While the data is pinpointing specific areas, the total number of deaths among songbirds is declining.
“Cases are declining, but the exact reason for that is unknown,” Amy Kearn, assistant ornithologist with DNR, said. “It might be because most of the affected birds were fledglings, and as we are now reaching the end of the nesting season, there are fewer fledglings on the landscape. Yes, there are differences by area – it seems that in Indiana we have hotspots in certain areas.”
While birdfeeders can go back out and the number of deaths is in decline, there is still no known cause for the disease and the experts still have not pinpointed what disease is being dealt with. As when this first started, the experts know what the disease is not, but not what it is.
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center’s avian disease experts are working to determine the cause of this disease outbreak.
“We are currently working with multiple labs in an interagency group, which includes the National Wildlife Health Center, in determining what is causing this disease,” Kearn said. “We have ruled out some possibilities so far, like avian influenza, West Nile virus, and other flaviviruses, Salmonella and Chlamydia (bacterial pathogens), Newcastle disease virus and other paramyxoviruses, herpesviruses and poxviruses, and Trichomonas parasites, but we are not close to any definitive results.”
While this avian disease is in no way connected to COVID, the new disease is taking the experts some time to understand.
“Partner agencies are dedicating much time and effort to determining the cause, but it is indeed taking some time,” Kearn said. “This is similar to our experiences with COVID where it took several months to learn more about how it is transmitted and what causes it. The songbird disease was first detected in late May, so only two months have passed for the diagnostic laboratories to work on determining a cause. Defining a new disease and finding its cause typically takes several months to perhaps even years.”
If you see a sick or dead bird with the above symptoms, report it at on.IN.gov/sickwildlife. Reports help DNR staff continue to track this outbreak.
