Indiana Conservation Officers have recovered the body of Robert L. Austin, 26, of Connersville, from the Whitewater River.
Family notification has been made and an exact cause of death is pending autopsy results.
This incident is still under investigation and further inquiries should be directed to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted in the recovery by the Everton Fire Department and Fayette County Coroner’s Office.
Indiana Conservation Officers began the search for Austin on Thursday, July 8, in the vicinity of Mahan Park, commonly referred to as “Three-Mile Bridge,” near Indiana121 in Connersville.
After receiving notification from Fayette County Dispatch at approximately 5:45 p.m., Thursday, Conservation Officers arrived on scene and discovered a vehicle and several articles belonging to Austin.
Conservation Officers, and other area agencies searched the Whitewater River with boats and sonar, as well as utilizing an ISP helicopter and drones.
Agencies which assisted in the search include: Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, Everton Fire Department, Laurel Fire Department, Fayette EMS, Bentonville Fire Department and Richmond Fire Department.
Indiana Department of Transportation press release
The Indiana Department of Transportation announces an emergency road closure for Indiana 101 one mile north of U.S. 50 between U.S. 50 and County Road East 50 South.
The road is closed due to a failed culvert pipe. Ind. 101 is expected to reopen on Monday, July 19, weather permitting.
Motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow U.S. 50, Ind. 129 and Ind. 350.
Expanded Services: The Libraries are open for “Grab-&-Go: services. Patrons may enter the buildings to select books, movies, magazines, etc. Computers are available. Brookville’s study rooms are available. Toys, and video gaming systems are NOT available. Social distancing is encouraged.
Meeting Rooms: Room capacity is reduced. Laurel’s meeting room accommodates 6, Brookville’s flex room holds 10, and Brookville’s large meeting room seats 20. Call to make reservations.
Summer Reading: Reading programs run through July 31st. Turn in reading logs for chances to win prizes. All ages are invited to participate.
Brookville’s Totspot Storytime: Mrs. Profitt holds storytime at 10:00. Mrs. Herbert conducts storytime at 1:00 on Mondays. Mrs. Profitt will continue to host virtual programs. Check our Facebook page for updates.
Weird Animals Trivia: Test your weird animal knowledge! Get all the questions correct for a secret code. Turn in your secret code for a small prize! Laurel Children’s Dept.; July 8 – 15.
Laurel’s Coloring Contest: Pick up a coloring sheet, color the page, and turn it on for a chance to win a prize. New sheets available every Monday in July.
DIY Denim: Bring an old or new pair of jeans, jean shorts, or jeans jacket and paint something awesome on them. Make something unique to you and your style. Acrylic paints and paintbrushes provided. Wear old clothes that can take spills and splatters. Brookville, Lower Annex Programming Room, Wed, July 14, come and go from 9am – 5 or 6pm.
Blobfish Craft & Story Time: We will be learning about the Blobfish and make a fun slime craft! Brookville, Children’s Dept., Wed, July 14, 10:00 – 11:00.
Laurel Family Story Night: Join us for a short story, craft, and snack. Thursdays, July, 15, 22, and 29, 5:00 – 6:00.
Tales about Tails: Join Kristie Ridgway, Interpretive Naturalist from Mounds State Recreation Area, to learn about Indiana’s wildlife. She will have live reptiles and amphibians and many tales to tell about these fascinating creatures! RSVP at (765) 647-4031. Sign-up is limited to 25. Brookville, Thurs., July 15, 2:00-3:00
Laurel Kids’ Movie: Every Friday in July features a different movie. On July 16, a courageous ant recruits insect friends to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers. Weekly at 1:00.
Family Fingerprint Art: Come in on your own schedule and make fingerprint art! We will have all the supplies for several small fingerprint art projects in the Children’s area. Brookville, Sat, July 17, 9:00 – 3:00; Laurel, Sat, July 24, 9:00– 3:00
Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales~Is Bigfoot Real?: Let’s talk about Bigfoot and other myths and legends that are out there. Stories from Heather, our teen librarian, about Bigfoot and many more. Bring your own ideas about myths and legends. Is Bigfoot real? Were the Greek myths real? How about mermaids and sirens? There is so much more…. Brookville, Mon, July 19, 6-7 pm; Laurel, Tue, July 27, 6:00 – 7:00.
Meet the Water Bear: Come learn about Tardigrades (Water Bears) through several learning stations. This is set up all day and self-guided, so come when your schedule allows! Laurel, Tue, July 20, 10:00– 4:00.
Interactive Movie: Swim along with an overprotective daddy fish as he searches for his missing son. Children may participate by doing activities that go along with the movie. Laurel, Friday, July 23, 1:00.
Take-and-Make Crafts: Stop and pick up a take-and-make craft kit. Available at both libraries, at Brookville, they are located by the Children’s area. Available until gone. Yearbooks Sought: If you have any old yearbooks that need a home, the library’s Local History Department is searching for school annuals from Oldenburg Academy, East Central High School, Batesville High School, and Laurel High School. In addition, if you have any of the elementary school annuals from St. Michael, Mt. Carmel, or Laurel Elementary, we are looking for those also. If you aren’t willing to part with your copies, we would gladly scan a copy.
Marlene Callahan Laker, 86 years old, passed away on Friday, July 9, 2021. Born and raised in St. Leon, Marlene graduated from Guilford High School in 1952. She and her late husband, Robert, moved to Indianapolis where they raised four children, David, Dale, Maureen and Daryl. Marlene loved God and the church and after leaving St. Joseph’s in St. Leon, became a member of Holy Name Catholic Church in Beech Grove. Marlene gave of herself on a daily basis. Whether she was donating to her favorite charities or going out of her way to help others, she was always thinking of those around her. Marlene was very involved with her family and loved to dote on her grandchildren and especially enjoyed watching them play softball and soccer games.
Playing euchre with friends was a favorite pastime of Marlene’s, and she continued to play with her children until just recently. She loved to sit on her front porch where she would read the newspaper from cover to cover, complete all the puzzles she found inside, and play solitaire. Marlene, although a good cook, loved to go out to eat. Ponderosa was her favorite. It became a meeting spot for her family as her daughter worked there and her son loved to surprise her when she was with her friends. For her birthday or Christmas, all she wanted was gift cards so she could go out to eat. But, if she didn’t have a gift card, it didn’t matter. Marlene always wanted to pay for everyone. Never owning a credit card, she would pay in cash or use the $10 in change she constantly carried in her purse. Her children would tease her about how much change she carried in her purse and how heavy it would become. But she had everything you could ever need in that purse, nail files, tissues, medicine, you name it, she had it. Marlene was sentimental and kept every recipe, greeting card and religious item because they all meant something special to her.
Marlene will be dearly missed by her children David (Dorothy) Laker of Indianapolis, Maureen Laker of Beech Grove, and Daryl (Gail) Laker of Shelbyville, sister-in-law Anna Mae Callahan, daughter-in-law Angela Laker, 12 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and many friends. Marlene is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Laker, twin brother Jim Callahan, younger brother Dennis Callahan, son Dale Laker, grandson Terry James Laker, and parents Madeline and Maurice Callahan.
Visitation for Marlene will be on Tuesday, July 13, from 5 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 Wednesday, July 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Campus All Saints Parish, at 7536 Church Lane, W. Harrison, IN 47060 with Father Daniel Mahan presiding. For those not able to attend, mass will be lived streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily. Burial will immediately follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery, 1207 E Rd, Brookville, IN 47012. Memorials can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Donations will be accepted at the visitation or can be mailed directly to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home. Please visit www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com to sign the online guest book or offer condolences.
Gretchen (Haverkos) Enzinger, 86, of Oldenburg, passed away surrounded by her family on July 9, 2021. She was born on May 5, 1935, to Edwin and Cecilia Haverkos. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Louis Enzinger of Oldenburg; four children, Marty (Karen) Enzinger of Batesville, Jennifer (Tom) Sanderson, of Fair Oaks, CA., Gerard (Carla) Enzinger of Oldenburg, Maria (Bob) Huber of Guilford; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren and one on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers (Jerome and Romauld) and 1 infant child (Lorelei).
Gretchen was a graduate of Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception. She worked at Union Furniture Company and then worked at Batesville Casket Company where she later retired. She loved playing cards and was a member of both the Oldenburg Mission Card Club and Daughters of Isabella. In later years, you would often find her at her home playing cards with her family and friends. Some of her favorite card games were Hand and Foot, Golf, Swoop, 500 and War. Gretchen was a member of the Red Hat Ladies and some of her other interests were upholstering, and camping/traveling with family and friends.
She enjoyed her occasional glass of wine and Margarita. She made sure she always had a stash of Chocolate, Oreos and various other sweets for whoever stopped by (mainly grandchildren). She is known for her Famous Homemade Egg Noodles and her French Cookies and homemade cheesecake. Her face lit up every time one of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren walked through the door. She was a mother to more than just her family. She touched the lives of everyone she met and never had a bad word to say about anyone.
Visitation will be Friday, July 16,2021, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg, with mass immediately following at 11 a.m. Mass will be livestreamed through the Holy Family Church Oldenburg Facebook page.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church Window Renovation Fund or the American Lung Association. They may be brought to services or mailed to: Meyers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 202, Batesville, IN 47006.
Rita Lynn Holcomb, 55 of Connersville, passed away on July 8, 2021, at her home. She was born on January 1, 1966, in Connersville to Aaron Charles Harrison and Eunice Stella Venable Harrison.
Rita attended Higher Praise Worship Center in Connersville.
She worked at Ford and Parkview Restaurant for more than 10 years.
Rita’s family had owned and operated the Harrison Auction Barn. She was an avid football fan and in her eyes, the Steelers were No. 1. She was a loving mother, grandmother and sister. Rita would do anything for anyone.
Rita is survived by a daughter, Amanda Lee (Tony Jr.) Ferguson; a son, Brian Scott (Pamela) Holcomb; five grandchildren, Briauna Holcomb, Mercedes Holcomb, Makynna Ferguson, Tony L. Ferguson III and Ayden Morrison; brothers, Lee Aaron (Lisa) Harrison and Randy Jay (Michelle) Harrison; two half-brothers, Tony and Bobby Hoop; best friend, Lavelle Carpenter; and several nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents Rita was preceded in death by her sisters, Sheila Ellis and Cheryl Corbin.
Visitation for Rita will be held on Wednesday, July 14, 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. Burial will follow in Lutheran Cemetery in Richmond.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave the family a personal message visit www.urbanwinklerfuneralhome.com.
Eugene “Gene” Caudill, 83, died on Thursday, July 8, 2021, at his residence in Moores Hill.
Gene was born in Letcher County Kentucky on April 21, 1938, to Howard and Gladys Madden Caudill. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served two tours in Vietnam and in Germany also. Gene married Brenda Trent on October 1, 2003, in Titusville, Florida. He was employed as a heavy equipment operator. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion in Milan. Gene enjoyed fishing, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
In addition to his wife, Brenda, of Moores Hill, Gene is survived by a daughter: Deann Dehne of Ohio; Several grandchildren; three brothers: Johnie Caudill of Milan. Donnie Caudill of Milan, and Bob Caudill of Versailles; four sisters: Maryann Graf of Sunman, Brenda Bates of Florida, Tina Stenten of Florida, and Irene Gray of Milan; long time friend: Jack Proctor of Florida, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 12 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2021, at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home ~ 107 Vine Street in Sunman. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will follow at 2:45 p.m. at Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery ~ 1415 MSH N Ln, Madison, IN at the Chapel with Military Rites by the Madison American Legion. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice.
For more information, send condolences, or sign the online guest book, go to www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve Gene’s family.
Ellen Emmaline (Emma) Estridge of Brookville, peacefully entered eternity July 9, 2021, surrounded by her family.
She was born March 3, 1932, in Gainesville, Texas, to the late Walter and Cora (Powell) Parker. She was a member of the Valley Christian Church in Brookville. Ellen was a strong woman, loved by many, and will be missed by all who knew her.
A homemaker, Ellen had several hobbies: reading, crossword puzzles, word searches, playing cards and yardwork. In addition, she was an excellent cook, and no one ever left her table hungry. Lastly she enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and loved spending time with each of them.
Survivors include her husband of more than70 years, Herbert Estridge, and their three children, Pam (Steve) Henson, Herb (Betty) Estridge, and Bryan (Donna) Estridge. Four Grandchildren, Kim Meyers, Jennifer (Jason) Hacker, Christopher (Susan) Estridge, and Amber Henson; three great-grandchildren, Brennan Meyers, Brianna Meyers, and Emma Hacker. Four siblings, Barbara Vones, Ronald Parker, Richard Parker and Naomi Toups.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Frances Ramsey, Joe Parker, Walter Parker, Ralph Parker, Charleen Kelly, Aleta McDonald, Linda Roy, Jimmy Parker and Don Wayne Parker.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Valley Christian Church, 173 East 4TH Street, Brookville, Indiana.
In keeping with her request, there will be no public services. The staff of Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home is honored to serve the Estridge family, to sign the online guest book or send a personal condolence please visit www.phillipsandmeyers.com .
Why would I want to go to heaven? Life is good here and besides, I’d probably need to make some changes!
A:
If you’re looking for a sales pitch on the benefits of heaven, this tells me you haven’t read the Bible; specifically Revelation Chapter 21. Many passages of God’s book describe heaven, but that particular chapter gives details and exact measurements of that eternal, heavenly city, along with a few choice reasons why you would want to go. And of course, there is another bit of scripture you must review before you make up your mind as well: “…those who truly believe in Jesus will not perish but be given eternal life. For here is the way God loved the world—he gave his only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it!”(John 3:14:17, TPT)
I’m thrilled your life is wonderful and that you’re having a great time, but unfortunately we can’t control everything that happens to us, least of all death. All things will have an end (except God because he’s eternal.) A wise Christian man said this, “Every human being is appointed to die once, and then to face God’s judgment. But when we die we will be face-to-face with Christ, the One who experienced death once for all to bear the sins of many! And now to those who eagerly await him, he will appear a second time; not to deal with sin, but to bring us the fullness of salvation” (Hebrews 9:27, 28, CEV.)
The business of facing God’s judgment, which I’m sure caught your eye in that scripture above, doesn’t mean that God plans to spoil your fun on the earth or cramp your lifestyle. He’s stating a fact that all our deeds…thoughts, motivations, agendas, attitudes…are recorded in the books of heaven. When our life ends (not if) those books are opened and we will give an account of our lives in a heavenly courtroom. Jesus will be there; the only Court Advocate who can fight for you if your lifestyle didn’t look the way heaven hoped it would. Some of the questions may look like this: Did you live life with God in mind? Did you love people more than yourself? Did you have a relationship with Jesus Christ?
“I won’t be around for that,” you reply. “I will cease to exist when I die, so I won’t need heaven and I’m fine with it.” Unfortunately there’s a problem: your soul was created immortal, so you don’t have a choice about ceasing to exist or not. You see, human beings were crafted by God in his image (Genesis 1:27.) God is eternal, so therefore our souls, which are the core of our essence, are eternal also. Our bodies simply house the soul temporarily. Upon death, your soul will depart to some kind of eternal home. There are only two options on that eternity: heaven or hell. You must choose. It behooves you to understand the criteria for residence in both places, by the way.
You seem to be a lively sort of person, and someone who takes risks and enjoys a challenge. Here’s your challenge: Find a Christian Bible and check out Revelation chapter twenty-one. Then read the Book of John. While you’re reading, keep an open mind and ask God to speak to you. Ask him a question or simply spend some time alone and start a conversation with him like you would with your friends. But do not do this if you’re afraid of God responding to you. The Lord is powerful and he takes us seriously when we talk to him! Then, if you think you may have encountered God, read another book of the Bible…like Matthew…and so on. Read, ask a question, hear from God, read again, etc. The Bible has already set this challenge before you—I’m simply adding a twist. Here’s what it says: “Discover for yourself that the Lord is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be glad” (Psalm 34:8.)
Do you have a question or comment for Pastor Adrienne? Send your inquiries to: info@adriennewgreene.com or write to P.O. Box 214, Harrison, OH 45030. For more information and resources, please visit www.askpastoradrienne.com or the “Ask Pastor Adrienne” YouTube channel for sermons and insights.
Local voices apparently played a large part in delaying the closure of Indiana 101 in Union County.
But Union County residents would like to keep the major highway open through the construction phases whenever they finally take place.
Local business owner and farmer Terry Abernathy came to the Union County Commissioners Friday, July 9 meeting to talk about the situation.
Originally, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) planned to close Ind. 101 on July 5 and keep it closed until at least early September. However, July 5 came and went with signs giving information about the closure being removed in many instances. According to an INDOT press release from late June, crews will be building new approaches to the bridge, giving it a new deck overlay and will be doing work under the bridge as well as new concrete guard rails. The bridge is about four miles south of the U.S. 27 and Ind. 101 intersection in Liberty and a short distance south of Ind. 101’s intersection with Dunlapsville Causeway and Retherford roads. Ind. 101 will be closed in both directions between Scratch Gravel Rd and County Road W 725 N, according to the press release. The official detour is a long one going from Liberty to Connersville on Ind. 44 and then south to Brookville on Ind. 1 and vice versa.
While that is the official detour, county officials and others know the county’s back roads will be utilized by four-wheel vehicles, vehicles pulling boats and campers as well as commercial traffic. And the increased traffic is one of the biggest concerns of local officials and local residents. The county’s road infrastructure consists of narrow, hilly and oftentimes not well-maintained roads that are barely wide enough for farm machinery. Putting a large amount of traffic, including tourism-related traffic, with drivers unfamiliar with driving on narrow back roads with local farm machinery seems to be a recipe for disaster.
Also, the local detour will add six minutes to an emergency response. Commissioner Tim Williams said the county’s EMA Director Jim Franklin had made the calculation after the closure became known to local officials.
Six minutes is a very long time when there is a structure fire or a medical emergency, Williams, who is a volunteer firefighter, said.
“Six minutes at a building on fire is a lot,” Williams said. “Six minutes of CPR by somebody trying to help a loved one, is a lot.”
Prior to Abernathy’s turn in the sweltering commissioners’ meeting room, Williams texted State Senator Jeff Raatz (R-Centerville) to find out if Raatz heard anything recently about INDOT’s plans. Raatz did not return the text by meeting’s end.
Williams said he had been contacted by several people in June when INDOT’s plan for a road closure beginning on July 5 was discovered. After being contacted by local people, Williams called Raatz. And Raatz informed him Ron Cross, an attorney from Richmond and Wayne County’s attorney, had already contacted Raatz about the situation.
Raatz then contacted INDOT and Gov. Holcomb’s office. A few days after that Williams was notified by INDOT the closure had been postponed until the day after Labor Day. At that point, Williams asked Raatz to try to get INDOT to agree to keeping Ind. 101 open with at least one lane of traffic. Raatz pledged to seek that option.
Williams contacted Kurt Courtney, an area engineer for INDOT, about the one-lane option. Courtney told Williams that option had been discussed, and it was not possible. Williams then tried a different approach, asking Courtney if the contractor actually needed the road closed for 73 days, the project’s entire length. Williams suggested a maximum of a five-day closure. Courtney promised to get back with Williams. However, before the termination of the call, Williams asked Courtney if Courtney’s answer was negative, Williams wanted Courtney to come to a meeting in Union County and tell the local residents why the road had to be shut down for 73 days.
While Courtney has not given Williams his decision as of Friday, Williams continues to pester Raatz and officials with Gov. Halcomb’s office trying to get their help in working with INDOT and Union County in this situation.
“I don’t know where we’re at,” Williams said.
Commissioner Howard Curry suggested if the state cannot go down to one lane, to delay the project to late winter/early spring.
Abernathy said he is upset with the postponement if INDOT’s position is for a full closure during the entire project. As the area nears fall, the amount of agricultural-related traffic will just increase exponentially. And it will not only impact Union County-based agricultural traffic but ag traffic from Franklin County as well.
Also, commissioner Paul Wiwi said school traffic will be out and about during the time from past Labor Day until the project is completed. Having school buses on narrow back roads with semis and other traffic usually on Ind. 101 will be dangerous to say the least. Wiwi said it will be very difficult for semi traffic to make the turn from Velocipede Pike to Liberty Pike, which will more than likely be part of the route of the unofficial detour.
Williams said the six-minute delay for emergency vehicles will be lengthened by the presence of farm machinery. If that occurs, Williams said Franklin County-based emergency services will have to be utilized in southern Union County.
According to Williams, Courtney’s number may be shared with other members of the public so the public members can express their concern directly with Courtney.
“They (INDOT employees) work for us,” Williams said.
Abernathy said he could easily distribute Courtney’s number.
“I didn’t know if that needed to be done yet or not,” Abernathy said. “It’d be nice if they would just get this taken care of before (that option is utilized).”
Also, commissioners are going to have Franklin pen a letter to INDOT and the governor’s office explaining the problems a 73-day closure will create for emergency response.
Two emails were sent to INDOT’s Greenfield Office by this blog, after July 5 came and went without closure, seeking more information about the situation. Neither email was answered by anyone from INDOT.
