Priscilla Scott, age 72, of Metamora, passed away on Friday, May 14, 2021, at her residence, surrounded by those she loved.
Priscilla was born on October 6, 1948, in Batesville, a daughter to Pearl and Katie Miller Allen. She graduated from Brookville High School with the Class of 1966. Priscilla married Michael Scott on December 27, 1969, at the Bible Baptist Church in Metamora. She had a career of more than 50 years caring for others as a nurse. Priscilla was a member of the Elm Grove Baptist Church. She was an avid reader and writer who enjoyed antiquing and spending time with her grandchildren, family, and friends.
Priscilla is survived by four children: Chasta Scott of Metamora, Rachel Miller (Shaun) of Kentucky, Morgan Scott (Mandy) of Batesville, and Katie Peters (Kurtis) of West Virginia; 10 grandchildren: Haley, Alexis, Robert, Lakin, Lainee, Grayce, Gavin, Sarah, Katie, and Jaxon; a sister: Laverna Peters; and many beloved nieces and nephews, cousins and members of her extended family.
In addition to her parents and her husband Michael, who died on March 11, 2002, Priscilla was preceded in death by two brothers: Lawrence and David Allen; and a sister: Jeanette Deaton.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19, at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home ~ 929 Main Street, Brookville ~ with Stan Scott officiating. Interment will follow at Cupps Chapel Cemetery, State Road 229, Metamora. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Wednesday from 12 p.m. until the time of service. Memorial Contributions may be made to CRF First Choice, 1117 Central Ave. Connersville, IN 47331.
For more information, or to send condolences or memories, or to sign online guest book, please go to www.cookrosenberger.com. The Staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve Priscilla’s family.
Indiana Conservation Officers located a group of kayakers on the Whitewater River in Wayne County that had been reported missing early Sunday.
The three kayakers, one of which was eight months pregnant, were reported missing by family members at approximately 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
At 5:30 a.m., Indiana Conservation Officers Matt Garringer and Cole Hollingsworth were able to locate the group within minutes of arriving on scene with the use of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly referred to as a drone. The vehicle which is equipped with a thermal sensor was able to locate the missing subjects in the dark. GPS coordinates were taken and with the assistance of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, the group was able to be reached.
The group started kayaking early yesterday afternoon in Richmond. Sometime before dark, they capsized and became stranded in the remote area. They were able to build a fire for warmth and decided to camp on the riverbank overnight.
River levels are still elevated in the area following heavy rains earlier in the week. Indiana Conservation Officers would like to remind paddlers of the importance of scouting their route, filing a float plan with friends and relatives, and always wearing personal flotation devices (PFD’s) when on moving water.
Deborah A. Cox, age 71 of Oldenburg, passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at home. Born August 5, 1949, in Batesville, she is the daughter of Viola (Nee: Billman) and Jerome “Bud” Prickel. She married the love of her life, Gary Cox June 3, 1972, at Holy Spirit Church in Evansville.
Debbie graduated from Oldenburg Academy and earned her Master’s degree in education from Indiana State University. She taught in Junction City, Kansa,s for five years and 15 years at the North Posey Indiana School District. In addition to Kansas, Debbie and Gary spent 10 wonderful years in Austin, Texas, where she founded and served as president of the Barton Creek Country Club Women’s Golf Association. She was a surrogate Mom to many teenagers from St. Michael’s Academy. She enjoyed entertaining, cooking, and traveling around the world with Gary. Her favorite destination was London, England. Her happiest times were spent drinking beer or wine by the pool in Austin, or on the porch in Hamburg with her dear family and friends.
Debbie possessed a green thumb and loved to garden. She was most at peace spending time in her greenhouse, where she raised her garden from seeds while she sang and danced. She also canned her own tomatoes and other vegetables in the fall. Debbie thoroughly enjoyed putting the top down on the convertible for rides in Austin with The Traveling Wilburys or John Mellencamp blasting away. When Debbie and Gary purchased their country estate in Hamburg, they named it Bull Fork Valley and Debbie loved the peace and tranquility the property offered. However, her greatest joy was being with her three grandchildren.
She is survived by her beloved husband Gary; daughter Shona Eden of Arlington, her (adopted) son Doowhee Song from South Korea; sisters Susan Schutte of Napoleon, Mary Beth Knueven of Greensburg, Amy Mehlon of Batesville, Audrey Miller of Plainfield; brothers Nicholas Prickel of Harrison, Ohio, Tim Prickel of Westfield, and her precious grandchildren Savannah, Athena, and Olivia. She is preceded in death by her parents, and she will visit family and friends as a cardinal.
There will be no services. Debbie’s wishes were to be cremated. Memorials may be made to Phi Beta Psi Sorority Cancer Research and forwarded to the funeral home (P.O. Box 36, Batesville, Indiana, 47006).
Sherry Lynn Long, 57, of Rushville, passed away on Thursday, May 13, 2021. She was born on July 31, 1963, in Richmond, to Robert and Lula Roberts Taylor and Johnny Branstutter
On April 6, 1996, she married Richard Long in Connersville.
Sherry was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She loved playing a good game of bingo and crafting. She was social butterfly. Most importantly she enjoyed her time spent with her grandchildren and family.
Along with her husband of 25 years she will be greatly missed by her daughters, Heather (Danny Ray) Sizemore, Crystal (Keith) Hyden, Angela (Caleb Cox) Abrams and Danielle (Juan) Gutierrez; 14 grandchildren, Katlyn, Dylan, Chesley, Alan, Erika, Hailey, Graciela, Manuel, Estrella, Carlos, Nancy, Dakota, Taylor and Lil Eric; two great grandchildren, Vinny and Elijah; two brothers, Albert Taylor and Gary Branstutter; and a special niece and nephews, Amanda Sherwood, Zach and AJ Taylor; and the father of her children, Jerry Abrams.
Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Taylor.
Visitation for Sherry will be held on Wednesday, May 19, 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 on Wednesday. Burial will follow in Laurel North Cemetery.
I wanted to end tonight’s meeting with a statement and a call to action for our community. Since our last meeting, and especially last week, social media has been ugly. What I’ve seen and heard is not representative of the community I believe we live in. I’ve always loved brookville. I love the small town atmosphere, I love the places and businesses, and I love the people. I did not love what I witnessed last week.
It seems to me that over the past few years that it’s become seemingly more popular to be divisive and critical of each others (sic) and ideas. The notion of you can’t be right if i feel I’m right prevails. There is no opportunity to have a healthy debate and simply agree to disagree.
Last week was a great example of that. Assumptions and conspiracies prevailed. Common courtesy and respect did not.
I read accusations against board members, heard accusations and severe criticism of employees, and listened as friends and family recanted tales of unwarranted comments about the board and our town.
That is not the community I believe we live in. That is not the community we all work tirelessly to improve.
Tim Ripperger, I personally apologize for the comments others made against you. You are an extraordinary asset to the town. Your dedication over decades is not unnoticed or unappreciated
For those in our community that reached out with words of encouragement or to offer to help those in need who were given notices to improve properties last week, thank you. You are the examples of the Brookville I believe in.
Finally, to all of my fellow community members, let’s all strive to be better. Take a moment to fact check stories and accusations before spreading them as if they were gospel. Take the time to spread joy and positivity over fear and negativity. And most importantly, Be Kind.
Franklin County Commissioners will hold an executive session prior to their public meeting Tuesday morning, May 18.
At the public meeting, commissioners will discuss possible amendments to the recently adopted zoning regulations involving solar farm and wind farm business concerns.
The former, solar farms, has been the most pressing for some residents, commissioners and Area Plan Commission members.
Solar companies have approached various landowners in the Bath and Springfield townships seeking to lease land for solar farm purposes. When this all became public knowledge in the summer of 2020, Franklin County did not have any zoning regulations involving solar and/or wind farms.
A series of meetings by the FC APC and commissioners worked out a zoning ordinance regulating the two business concerns. However, the ordinance was passed quickly to have something on the books before any applications were made by solar farm concerns to the county’s zoning department.
When passed by the commissioners, the commissioners promised to add amendments to the zoning ordinance, which would greatly increase the regulations regarding those enterprises.
With the executive session, the commissioners have at least one pending lawsuit concerning the five people killed in the spring of 2020 when an approach to a bridge washed out and Franklin County dispatchers at the county’s Communication Center appeared to ignore warnings of the washout, and did not send any officials to investigate it prior to the drowning deaths.
Another pending litigation matter involves an abandoned road on the Dearborn/Franklin counties line. The Wilhelm family want a road on the county line designated a county road and improved so there can be a housing addition in that area on property owned by the Wilhelms, which will be in Dearborn County.
Two of the three commissioners first agreed with this matter, but then an attorney for a resident, whose driveway is part of the road in question, brought up questions on whether action of this type by the commissioners would set a precedent which could cause the county to improve hundreds of abandoned township roads within the county.
One executive session was already held recently to talk about the road situation.
Tuesday’s executive session, which is not open to the public, begins at 9 a.m., while the public meeting takes place one hour later at 10 a.m.
Anyone interested in becoming an Indiana Conservation Officer is encouraged to attend a recruiting event that DNR Law Enforcement’s District 9 will host on Sunday, May 23, at the Recreation Hall inside Versailles State Park starting at 3 p.m.
A second event will be hosted on Saturday, June 5 at the Schilling Community Center in Brookville, starting at 10 a.m.
The address for Versailles State Park is 1387 E. US Highway 50 in Versailles. The address for the Schilling Community Center is 900 Mill Street in Brookville.
District 9 includes Rush, Fayette, Union, Decatur, Franklin, Jennings, Ripley, Dearborn, Jefferson, Switzerland, and Ohio counties.
Each event will cover critical portions of the 2021 Indiana Conservation Officer hiring process, including duties of a conservation officer/hiring process, preparation for the written exam, preparation for core values training, and physical agility testing requirements.
Participation at either recruiting event does not guarantee you a position but should provide insight into the competitive hiring process.
To see if you qualify to be an Indiana Conservation Officer and to complete the pre-screen exam, see on.IN.gov/dnrlaw and click on Become a Conservation Officer.
Questions regarding the District 9 recruiting events should be directed to ICO Travis Stewart, 812-340-8323.
God said it is not good to be alone. Do this means I don’t have to marry but I can still be with someone?
A:
Your question is a good one. I relate to it because I’ve been single almost all of my adult life. There are times the loneliness is unbearable. In answer to your question, which sounds like it might be about a man and woman moving in together (while skipping the wedding vows)…the Bible says “no.” Choosing a short-cut to gratification instead of a commitment to God’s covenant of marriage is not what he intends for his children.
Christ followers are given all the tools, resources and abilities to live well, no matter what hand we’re dealt. Not just a good life, by the way, an abundant life. Jesus explained this to his disciples and to us in John 10:10. Even though we seek an end to our loneliness and deeply desire a partner or companion for our lives, we must remember that our God is able to meet every need himself until a destiny in marriage unfolds. Our job is to believe that God wants to do this and trust him that he will. Indeed, it is a mighty test of the human will to deny what you want and to wait for God’s best instead. Your tenacity to choose God over your perceived-need will determine who is running your life. It will also determine your level of faith and spiritual promotion. God is looking to see what you’re made of: seeking him first (Matthew 6:33) or putting him second, after yourself. God-seekers will be promoted in the Kingdom.
As a pastor, I’ve watched people of all ages make terrible relationship decisions which go against the Bible’s plan for marriage. They choose to live together, “shack up” and/or stay in worthless relationships that don’t honor God at all…simply because they believe the Bible justifies their response to loneliness. “After all,” they say, “it is not good for man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18.) This method of applying partial scriptures to life in a convenient, agenda-driven way is in fact a misuse of God’s grace and a distortion of the Bible’s intent.
When we justify sin we are missing God. We miss what he’s saying; we miss what he’s asking us to do; and we may even miss our destiny in the process. An example of this would be a woman who lives, unmarried, with a man for many years. He doesn’t marry her because he doesn’t see the need to (in his unsanctified mind.) After all, his desires are met. Yet because they are not legally married, this woman will not receive the legal benefits the law provides for a spouse. Further, in the eyes of a holy God, the relationship cannot be blessed because it makes a mockery of marriage. It is the very counterfeit. This woman lives without honor, perhaps even shame. She accepts all these terms because she doesn’t want to be lonely. Years go by, and now as an older woman, she forfeits the bearing of her children as she waited for the man to marry her and desire a family. The woman missed God’s best plan while also missing her destiny—all because she believed the lie that shacking up was no different than a marriage; that giving up her life for the sake of a selfish man was her role in the earth. God had a plan for her which never unfolded.
When we live our lives in response to our needs instead of in response to what God has said in his Word, we quickly discover dissatisfaction. Only our relationship with God will remove our aching need. We must say, “Do I trust God?” “Do I trust him enough to bring me a mate?” “Am I willing to wait for God’s timing?” Truly, this waiting is difficult but rewarding work—I know because I’ve lived this way for decades.
We say, “Even God agrees I should be with someone by now!” But the Holy Spirit adds, “As you passionately seek his kingdom above all else, he will supply your needs. So don’t ever be afraid, dearest friends! Your loving Father joyously gives you his kingdom with all its promises!” (2 Luke 12:31, 32.)
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.
Indiana health officials are urging Hoosiers to protect themselves from tick bites while outdoors as warmer weather increases tick activity.
Indiana Department of Health entomologists have found the black-legged tick, which can carry pathogens that cause Lyme disease, babesiosis and other diseases, in all but three Indiana counties. Lyme disease bacteria have been detected in adult and immature black-legged ticks in many Indiana counties, especially in the northwest and west central parts of the state, where the largest numbers of human Lyme disease cases are reported. In July 2020, a babesiosis case with strong evidence of local tick-borne transmission was detected in northern Indiana for the first time.
“We know that Hoosiers are eager to resume outdoor activities and attend seasonal events that were canceled last year,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Jennifer Brown, D.V.M., M.P.H. “All Hoosiers should take precautions against tick bites when enjoying the outdoors, no matter where they are.”
While Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Indiana, Hoosiers are also at risk for other tick-borne diseases, such as ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland virus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and related diseases. Residents of southern Indiana are at greater risk for ehrlichiosis, which is associated with the bite of the lone star tick.
Hoosiers can reduce their risk of tick bites by:
Wearing a long-sleeved shirt and light-colored pants, with the shirt tucked in at the waist and the pants tucked into socks, if they will be in grassy or wooded areas
Treating clothing and outdoor gear with 0.5% permethrin, which is an insect repellent specifically designed for this purpose (permethrin should NOT be used on bare skin)
Using EPA-registered insect repellents with active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone
Treating their pets for ticks
Once indoors, people should thoroughly check for ticks on clothing, gear, pets and skin. Tumbling clothes in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes will kill ticks, and showering can help remove any unattached ticks.
“Tick checks are an essential part of preventing tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease,” Brown said. “Quickly finding and removing a tick can help prevent you from becoming sick.”
Ticks may be safely removed by using tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and then pulling outward with steady and even pressure. After the tick is removed, the area should be washed thoroughly. The tick should be discarded by submerging it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape or flushing it down the toilet. Ticks should never be crushed with the fingernails.
Anyone who becomes ill after finding an attached tick should see a medical provider immediately and alert the provider to the exposure. Tick-borne diseases can be treated with antibiotics, and prompt diagnosis can help prevent complications.
You also can visit the state Department of Health at health.in.gov for important health and safety information or follow us on Twitter at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StateHealthIN.
