A blog about what is going on in the Whitewater Valley
PEGGY FIELDS
Peggy Fields, 76, passed away on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Birmingham, Alabama. She was born on February 4, 1945, in Maysville, Kentucky.
Visitation for Peggy will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, Connersville. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m., at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Dale Cemetery.
Irene Gertrude (Hornbach) Dickman, 87 of Batesville, passed away in her home at 6:13 pm on Saturday July 17, 2021. She was born in her home on Esther Ridge in Yorkville, on July 29, 1933. She was the daughter of Anthony and Mary (Hegarty) Hornbach. After graduating from Guilford High School, she married her love, Richard Dickman on June 19, 1954.
After graduation from high school, Irene worked in bookkeeping and sales at Home Furniture Store in Lawrenceburg. She spent the remainder of her life nurturing her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Irene took pride in her flower and vegetable garden and loved digging in the dirt. She is famous for planting hen and chicks in old boots and shoes.
She loved to celebrate her Irish heritage and shared family stories of how her mother made her way to America through Ellis Island in 1921. She loved celebrating reunions with her extended family and was the official minute taker documenting the attendees and the previous year’s award winners.
Irene and Richard enjoyed buying treasures at auctions and reselling the wares at the flea market in Miamitown and at her personal yard sales. The biannual family garage sales were full of “New, Used, Old and Unusual items”.
The annual family campouts became a cherished tradition spanning more than 40 years. Through the years when she was asked, “What do you want for your birthday?” She would reply, “a day of peace.” She treasured having her home and kitchen always open for any family member or friend to stop in for lunch or a visit.
She was a woman who leaned on the power of prayer, and her faith was strong. Irene and Richard were committed to providing their children a Catholic Education at St. Louis School and sending all nine daughters to the now Oldenburg Academy.
She is survived by daughters and sons-in-laws Karen and Dave Snuffer of Shelbyville, Mara and Steve Kruthaupt of Batesville, Ellen and Jeff Paul of Oldenburg, Shelia and Tim Merkel of Cincinnati, Geralyn and Gary Litzinger of Hamburg, Colleen and Greg Doll of Morris, Carmen and Gary Belter of Batesville, Nancy and Gus Kinker of Maryland, Ann and Tim Sweeney of Greensburg; sons and daughter-in-law Dennis Dickman and Vera of Greensburg, Daniel and Rhonda Dickman of Batesville; sister Marjorie Miller Wendell of Yorkville; brother Andy and Fran Hornbach of St. Leon; Maurice Hornbach of Harrison Ohio; 29 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 65 years, Richard Dickman; son Brian Dickman; sisters Kathleen Haas and Marie Gillman; grandson Zachary Litzinger and daughter-in-law Mary Dickman.
Visitation is Thursday, July 22nd, from 9 a.m. – Noon at the funeral home. Funeral services follow at 12:30 p.m. at St. Louis Church with Rev. Stan Pondo officiating and burial will be in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the St. Louis Cemetery Fund, Zachary A. Litzinger Memorial Scholarship Fund or Margaret Mary Health Foundation Hospice.
MARTHA L. SUCHLA
Martha L. Suchla, 77, left this earth for her heavenly home on July 20, 2021. She was born in Minneapolis to Mary Lou Riseland and Otis Slaydon. She was educated in El Monte Community College in California. She worked as a key punch operator there, and at Roots Blower and American Waterworks, retiring in 2000. She then worked at Walmart for 20 years.
In her spare time, she enjoyed sewing and making crafts. She was an Avon rep for 30 years.
Martha is survived by two daughters, Candy Carmack and Kelly (Rick) Julien. She has six grandchildren, Melissa (Craig) Johnson, Desiree Julien, Jon D. Gilbert, Ashley Gilbert, Danielle (Alicia) Robinson, and Paul Carmack, and five great-grandchildren. She has one brother, Paul (Mary) Meikel and a stepbrother, Dennis (Barb) Backdahl. She will be missed by many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew, Troy Meikel.
Visitation for Martha will be held on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, Connersville. The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m., at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Dale Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fayette County Cancer Society, those may be made at the funeral home or sent to P.O. Box 480, Connersville, Indiana 47331.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave the family a personal message visit www.urbanwinklerfuneralhome.com.
By John Estridge
Eight days ago in answering two questions about Brookville’s new town hall with there is nothing to update, Brookville Town Council President Curt Ward apparently has something to update.
But the public is not invited.
Brookville Town Council will hold an executive session prior to the public meeting on Tuesday, July 27. The public cannot attend executive sessions. If the public is lucky, during the public meeting, maybe town council will tell the taxpayers what they just purchased, if they purchased anything.
This is the notice sent out via email by Brookville Clerk/Treasurer Gina Gillman:
“Please be advised that the Brookville Town Council will hold an executive session Tuesday, July 27th at 6:00 p.m. prior to the regularly-scheduled Council meeting. Said meeting regarding 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(D) The purchase or lease of real property by the governing body up to the time a contract or option to purchase or lease is executed by the parties.”
That was the same wording sent out with the first notice before Ward unleashed the fact the town was going to get a new town hall, which the town did not need until he told the townspeople, the people who will pay for a new town hall, they did need it.
Apparently, now they are going to get it, just after reporting there’s nothing new to report.
Or maybe not.
https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/dennis-kolb-brookville-in/100081480
Political Column by Franklin County resident Larry Wiwi
If you believe Biden is calling the shots as president, you are sadly mistaken since he proves almost daily he can barely put words together in coherent sentences, and Kamala Harris has demonstrated why she did not even make to the primaries in her own bid for the presidency, she is largely an empty suit. So who is calling the shots? We may never know, but if you look at how his six months in office have been nearly an exact re-play of the Obama era, I personally bet it is Obama and/or some combination of Obama and Susan Rice – folks that none of you voted for in this current term.
Like Obama, Biden has gone after the oil and coal industries, pushing instead the massively expensive and hopelessly unreliable wind and solar power even as he approves the Putin pipeline to Europe to enrich Putin and help make Europe dependent on a hostile government led by one of the most evil men on earth. The side “benefits” of his attack on oil is gas prices have skyrocketed, making everything delivered by truck and rail – which is pretty much everything, much more expensive which of course hurts low income families the most.
Like Obama, he wants to breath new life into the Iran nuclear deal which almost certainly is the worst international agreement ever negotiated – giving money and a path to develop nuclear weapons to a bunch of terror exporting, freedom hating mullahs will never end well.
Last week was especially telling as we saw two inexplicable policy statements: First, the regime, that like Obama opened the southern border to anyone, including COVID infected illegals who are being dispersed around the country, is telling freedom seekers from Cuba, they will not be welcome – apparently Biden, like Obama does not want to anger the evil Cuban government.
Second, Secretary of State Blinken re-ignited a version of the Obama apology tour as he invited the UN to investigate racism in the United States. It is beyond my ability to comprehend absurdity and stupidity to imagine why the US would want a body as corrupt as the UN to do any investigations of any kind in this country. Remember, this is the body that at times has had nations like Iran and Syria on its human rights committee and whose World Health arm has been completely in bed with the Communist Chinese government as it probably developed and certainly spread COVID worldwide.
Conservatives knew all of this was coming, I wonder if the Biden supporters did?
Larry Wiwi
EDITORIAL by John Estridge
The new town hall the citizens of Brookville are going to get come hell or high water, and we have had a bunch of high water lately, and regardless whether anyone, much less a majority of town taxpayers want it, was briefly discussed at the Brookville Town Council July 13 meeting.
I say discussed, but really it has never been discussed and Tuesday night’s meeting was no exception.
As a reporter, I attempted to get a discussion going by sending a question to council members by email. I am at a disadvantage as I have to work for a living, and my job does not allow me to attend a complete town council meeting. If I would come after my work day is over and that is without eating supper, I would miss more than an hour of the meeting, and as a reporter, that would put me at a decided disadvantage. Also, I am not afraid of anyone in government anywhere, but I really do not want to watch other people I know be treated rudely. And I really don’t want to be treated rudely either. And at least two and maybe three council members treat people rudely as often as they breathe air.
Thus, I use the video on the town’s Facebook page to cover the meeting.
That is problematic now since the audio for the meeting has deteriorated to such an extent hardly a word can be heard with the video. BTC President Curtis Ward was really compassionate when he was informed none of the public watching on Facebook could hear the meeting. He noted the many empty seats at the Brookville Public Library meeting room and went on with the meeting seemingly upset with the interruption and not upset with the fact taxpayers could not hear what was going on with their money.
Let’s take a moment here. His action at that point is very ironic. At the meeting, sitting in one of those chairs was Bridget Hayes, who is a reporter for the Observer. When Brookville Town Administrator Tim Ripperger told council members nobody watching the video could hear, Hayes commented.
“No one can hear anything,” Hayes said. “I just stopped complaining. That’s why you guys don’t use the microphones anymore. The microphones were great when they worked. There was just a little feedback problem. I can’t imagine anyone watching on there and hearing anything.”
It was as if Ward also could not hear Hayes. More likely, he treated Hayes the way he treats everyone else: He did not care what she said.
“They’re welcome to attend,” Ward said ignoring Hayes, who was sitting right there in front of him, saying she has trouble hearing. “So if they have trouble hearing, they can attend. We have ample seating. They’re free to join us.”
Hayes is a Brookville resident and a taxpayer.
Also, apparently, Ward does not realize everyone does not have the time or the ability to come to every town council meeting in person. And/or he does not care. With his actions before this meeting and during this meeting, I would believe Ward just does not care about any of his constituents.
As the new town hall project clearly shows, Ward could care less about the Brookville taxpayers he is supposed to represent. And he cares even less about what the taxpayers from the town would like done with their tax money. Ward has shown from the first he knows what is best for the populace, and it is best that we become sheeple and get out of his way. After the fact, when our pockets are emptier, we should grin and thank him for whatever has happened to us because of whatever he had decided to do to us.
To go back to the iconic movie Animal House “Thank you sir. May I have another?”
This was my question: “Forgive me for having you (clerk treasurer Gina Gillman) forward this question to the town council. My work schedule does not allow me to be at the council meetings in person. What is the status of the new town hall?”
Because I cannot hear anything on the Facebook video of the July 13 meeting, I asked to hear the recorded version taken in person at the meeting. It did help, but it is hard to hear each individual word, especially with Ward and council member Brooke Leffingwell as they talk very fast and the audio, even for the tape recorder at the meeting, is poor at times. There is a back static. Gillman and town administrator Tim Ripperger are heard very well. And Brookville Police Chief Terry Mitchum talks slower, and his voice tends to carry. Other than Ward, Leffingwell and the other council members were apparently talking without microphones.
But here goes about our new town hall.
Ward: “Right now we are still in the construction estimation phase. There is nothing else to discuss right now.”
Not mentioned is when, where, why or what. But it apparently is still on a need-to-know basis and we, the taxpayers, have no need to know.
Hayes tried to get clarification from Ward.
Ward, however, did not clarify his earlier remarks or any other remarks that has been made on this subject.
“Construction estimate has been large delay there was a time lapse Greg (?) was getting the architecture done inside and so it was slower … we would hope to have this done sooner. Sooner than later. I would not be comfortable giving a timeline.”
To me, he seemed uncomfortable just saying that and was not ready to answer Bridget’s or my questions. We really should not have been so bold as to ask him anything tax-related.
But let’s get into conjecture here because Ward refuses to give any facts.
Franklin County Commissioners, who Ward really talked bad about in a different part of the meeting, are in negotiations with the Indiana Department of Transportation concerning taking over INDOT’s property near the intersection of Ninth and Mill streets in Brookville. INDOT has a new facility on Indiana 101 north of Brookville.
Franklin County apparently does not want the entire property located at Ninth and Mill. That property would make sense for the town because a town hall there would be at the epicenter of town activity. The pool is across an alley directly east of the property in question. The Schilling Center and the Brookville Town Park are north across Ninth Street from the property in question.
But there is another property that could apparently work for the town and remains a hot rumor in the void of facts and that is the former Zimmer Tractor property. Now it is not close to anything, probably harder for the public to reach, and I would not think it would be so hot on the market that the town would have to enter secret negotiations with the present owner or risk losing access to it.
That was the original reason the town had to move at the speed of light on the project because the present owner was going to give the town the first chance or that owner was going to put it on the market for everyone, and Ward publically estimated when the property went on the market for everyone, it would be gobbled up.
Real estate has never been my forte, and Ward owns a real estate agency, but I cannot imagine those extensive buildings and large property would be swooped up overnight as there are many empty buildings and vacant properties in town.
But that is just me, and I am just a taxpayer in the town I have lived in for more than 30 years. For Ward, people like me and you are insignificant.
And for you folks living on Snob Hill and those who want to live on the future Snob Hill’s Snob Hill, Million Dollar Hill, once the forced – I mean voluntary — annexation occurs, you too can be treated as indentured servants as we huddled masses here in the present town are treated now.
Also, you can look forward to as many code blitzes as our police chief wants to unleash upon you and your private, because there is nothing you can do about it. Enjoy your freedom while you have it.
This is not the first town board that likes to operate in secret. Unfortunately, it will not likely be the last. Gone are the days when a member floated an idea, gained a consensus from the board and then built support from the public for the proposal. If the public is disinterested, that is unfortunate. If the public is uninformed, that is sinister. If all these ideas of Ward’s are so great, it should be an easy sell. If they are so poor they must be kept secret, suspicion is inevitable.
https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/dennis-kolb-brookville-in/100081480
Provided by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department
July 10
Christopher Dodd, Greensburg, at 10:30 a.m., he was operating a vehicle and backing into a parking space on Water Street in Oldenburg when the vehicle hit an electric pole near the street. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jason Robinson investigated the accident.
July 13
At 8:20 a.m., Tracy Meyer, Big Cedar Road, Brookville, was operating a vehicle westbound on U.S. 52 when a deer ran onto the road and Meyer was unable to avoid the deer, with her vehicle striking the deer. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Adam Henson investigated the accident.
July 17
At 1:40 a.m., Robert O. Markland, Bryan Street, West College Corner, was operating a vehicle westbound on U.S., 52, when his vehicle ran off the road and into a culvert that was filled with flowing water. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Tyler Ford investigated the accident.
Mackenzie Stephen, Oho Avenue, Connersville, at 10:48 p.m., was operating a vehicle on U.S. 52 at its intersection with a campground. Stephen was attempting to negotiate a curve, over corrected and the vehicle ran off the road, overturning in the process. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Arin Bowers investigated the accident.
July 18
Ryan Marlang, Country Trails, Bonita, California, at 1:48 a.m., was operating a vehicle on Oxford Pike when he failed to negotiate a left-hand turn onto Liberty Pike. The vehicle ran off the road, striking a fence. It came to rest on a large stump/bush. Marlang was arrested for Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated and Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated Endangerment. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Arin Bowers investigated the accident and made the arrest.
Shytana Whitfield, North Clay Street, Laurel, at 4:43 p.m., was operating a vehicle on St. Mary’s Road, when an oncoming vehicle went left of center. Whitfield tried avoiding the collision, with her vehicle running off the road and striking a culvert. This caused the vehicle to rotate nearly 180 degrees, running off the south side of the road and down an embankment. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Arin Bowers investigated the accident.
https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/dennis-kolb-brookville-in/100081480
Information provided by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department
July 13
Ashley M. Feeback, 29, Laurel Road, Connersville, was arrested at 3:50 p.m., at Main Street in Brookville, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jason Lovins on an Arrest Warrant.
July 14
Chad P. Farler, 43, College Corner Pike, Oxford, Ohio, was arrested at 9 a.m., at the courthouse, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jeremy Noah on an Arrest Warrant.
Shane L. Lewis, 48, Bridgetown, Ohio, was arrested at 1:45 p.m., at the Brown County Ohio Jail by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy R. Gordon on an Adult Probation Violation.
July 15
Derrick B. Lakes, 33, West Country Club Road, Connersville, was arrested at 8:30 a.m., at Pavey’s in Metamora, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jason Lovins for Driving while Suspended.
July 16
Jason D. Fletcher, 43, Eibeck Lane, West Harrison, was arrested at 1:45 p.m., at Putnamville Prison by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy R. Gordon on an Arrest Warrant.
Brandy M. Lohrey, 42, St. Mary’s Road, Brookville, was arrested at 4:35 p.m., at an address on Westview Road in Brookville, by Brookville Police Department Officer S. Williams on two Arrest Warrants.
Donald Rose, 57, St. Mary’s Road, Brookville, was arrested at 9:21 a.m., at his residence, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy D. Huntsman, for Check Deception.
July 18
Ryan M. Marlang, 35, Bonita, California, was arrested at 4:03 a.m., at Brookville, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy A. Bowers for Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated and Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated Endangerment.
https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/dennis-kolb-brookville-in/100081480
By John Estridge and John Estridge photos
Progress Street Hill slipped two inches during construction of a new sewage main at the bottom of the hill, officials claim. Thus, the street is once again breaking apart, and that is negatively affecting many things, including the angled parking spaces Valley House Flats needs for its residents.
Also, the overlook on Progress Street is named for Don Jobe, and his wife, Billie Jean Jobe. Don wants the town to cut the trees back off the hill or top them so people can once again see the river and have a nice view from the overlook. Now all one can see from the overlook is a forest of trees, with branches and leaves at the same height or higher than the overlook. Nothing can be viewed but a sea of trees, leaves and branches.
The hill where Progress Street is, is all fill. Engineers who earlier studied the situation said the fill was put in “unengineered,” meaning there is no telling how many voids are in there, how large the voids are and there is no way to predict how much the hill will slip at any given time.
Many believe when the overlook was constructed through a grant secured by former State Representative Jud McMillin, the cutting of the trees on the hill to allow a beautiful view of the Whitewater River’s west fork, exacerbated the hill’s problems and caused the hill to slip a great deal. The sidewalk on the south side of Progress Street toward its intersection with Fourth Street slipped so much, the sidewalk was undermined to the point a grown man could crawl underneath the sidewalk. For a long stretch of the sidewalk, there was no support for the sidewalk. It was hanging in air. That caused town officials to remove the sidewalk. After the sidewalk was taken out, the street was extensively patched to the point of an almost entire repavement.
Looking at the street after the latest slippage, large cracks are running all the way to the middle of the street. The cracks grow much larger toward the hill’s edge just to the west of the street. However, unlike when the sidewalk was undermined, this slippage is on the north end of Progress Street near its intersection with Fifth Street.
A woman, whose mother lives at Valley House Flats, complained to Brookville Town Council members at their latest meeting, Tuesday, July 13. She said her mother lives there and would like to have a car, but there are not enough parking spaces available for the residents. And, there are not any handicap parking spaces available for any of the Valley House Flats residents, the woman said in her communication to council.
Brookville Police Chief Terry Mitchum said there are no more parking places there. He said there can be no parking places from the overlook to the theatre because of the slippage. That can change when the town repaves the street, he told council.
Mitchum wants council members to fix the road and put more parking spaces between the overlook and the theater. He also wants to put handicap parking there.
BTC President Curtis Ward is confident now that the sewage line is in, the hill will become stable. Once the street is repaved, the parking problems will be alleviated, he said.
“Construction is done, there was minimal amount of drop elevation change after the last survey after the pylons were in,” Ward said.
Also, the woman’s daughter told council members in her communication she is also afraid Valley House Flats building will slip down the hill to the river.
Ward said that could not happen as the Valley House Flats project was engineered so it would not slip even if the hill did. Pylons were driven deep into the hill he said, and the building was constructed to be safe. What happened with the building collapse in Miami, Florida, killing more than 100 people will not happen here, he said.
“I think the way to address this is the Valley House was engineered, and the town took every possible avenue to make sure the liability that was deferred,” Ward said. “With parking, we will be addressing that.”
He said if the town does not get the Community Crossings Grant, the council will revisit that and then make a decision on how best to pay for the repaving.
Some on council believe making the street one-way will alleviate some of the parking problems. It is planned to be one way from Fifth Street west to Progress Street then south to Fourth Street and east to Main Street. However, Brookville Town Administrator Tim Ripperger said the engineering plan for the change was sent to the state for its approval and has been in Indianapolis for seven months waiting for that approval. To date, no action has been taken on it by the state, officials said.
Ward was upset the state has not taken any action on the application.
“That’s a long time,” Ward said.
Ripperger promised to do everything in his power to get the project approval moving at the state level.
Then, Ward addressed Jobe’s request to cut the trees back on the hill to allow the overlook to function as it was intended as an overlook.
“Create an overlook; I get it, it was beautiful while it was there, but we also have to have common sense,” Ward said about Jobe’s request. “I think we need to err on the side of caution.”
Justin Moore, a school board member who attends town council meetings, said taking out the tops of trees should not negatively affect the trees’ root system.
https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/dennis-kolb-brookville-in/100081480
TONI ADAMS
Toni Adams, 42, of Connersville, passed away on Thursday, July 15, 2021, at St. Vincent 86th Street Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born on November 13, 1978, in Connersville, and is the daughter of Mike Smullen and Sabra Sturgis Adams.
Toni loved spending her time in the woods and going fishing. She also enjoyed watching her favorite show, Vampire Diaries, and playing cards. She truly cherished the time she was able to enjoy with her family and friends, as well.
Toni will be greatly missed by her parents; her daughter, Mikalia (Joe) Daniels, of Chelsea, AL; her two sons, Joseph Taylor and Aaron Taylor, both of Connersville, and her granddaughter, Avery Rose Taylor.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Sharon Sturgis, her stepfather, Marvin Adams, and her brother, Michael Smullen.
Visitation for Toni will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, Connersville. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m., at the funeral home, with Reverend Joe Daniels officiating.