James L. “Burk” Burckey, of Cedar Grove, was born on June 15, 1950, a son to Warren and Dorothy Cummins Burckey. He married Terry Baker on September 13, 1997. James spent his career in the Iron Worker Union, Local 44. He was a member of the Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department and the Indiana Blacksmith Association. In his free time, James loved blacksmithing, making wine, and bowling. On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at the age of 70, James passed away peacefully at home.
Those surviving who will cherish James’ memory include his wife of more than 23 years, Terry Burckey; six children, Jessica Burckey, Wendy (Mike) Reed, and James W. (Carly) Burckey, all of Cedar Grove, Nicholas (Nicole) Burckey of Liberty Township, Stephanie (Donnie) Barrett of Brookville, and Jessica (Wendel) Russell-McMillin of Harrison; 13 grandchildren, Audrey, Charlie, Henry, Noah, Luke, Ryan, Samantha, Matthew, Andrew, Aaron, Adam, Julie, and Emma; as well as one brother, Fred “Fritz” (Paulette) Burckey and one niece, Kristy (Brian) Meyer. James was preceded in death by both of his parents, as well as one stepson, Jody Walker.
Honoring his wishes, cremation was chosen by the family. A celebration of life is being planned and will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions can be directed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, also known as JDRF, by going to their website at www.jdrf.org and clicking “Donate,” and then clicking “Memorial Donation,” to donate in memory of James.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave personal memories, please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of James Burckey.
Gregory D. Halcomb, of Metamora, was born on July 5, 1964, in Metamora, a son to Herb and Donna Fox Halcomb. Gregory Married Kitty Riley in 1985, in Metamora, and together they raised two children. In his spare time, Gregory enjoyed listening to music, going to yard sales, having cookouts and family gatherings, and he enjoyed animals. On Monday, March 15, 2021, at the age of 56, Gregory passed away unexpectedly at home.
Those surviving who will cherish Gregory’s memory include his wife of more than 35 years, Kitty Halcomb; his father, Herb (Sue) Halcomb; four siblings, Lisa Smith, Zach Floyd, Gary Cox, and Jeff Cox; two children, Dan (Miranda) Halcomb and Kayla (Eric) Grimmeissen; six grandchildren, Daniel, Emily, and Parker Halcomb, Lawson and Elias Grimmeissen, and Logan Hardebeck. Gregory was preceded in death by his mother Donna; two grandparents, Virginia and Ted; one nephew, Caleb; one niece, Sara; four uncles, Jim, Gene, Mark, and Lowell; as well as one aunt, June.
Friends may visit with the family on Friday, March 19, 2021, from 11 a.m., until the time of service at 1 p.m., at the Metamora Church of God, 20152 US 52, Metamora, IN 47024. Burial will follow immediately after in the Metamora Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be directed to the Metamora Church of God.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave personal memories, please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Gregory Halcomb.
It seems a plan to have a 50-50 match grant fund for new or repaired sidewalks in Brookville may be put on hold for a while.
Brookville Town Council initiated a 21 by 21 Project where the BTC members solicited public opinion and put together a list of 21 projects to better life in Brookville and that can be accomplished in 2021. One of those was a 50-50 grant program for property owners in Brookville to repair or replace sidewalks.
It is to be funded by the Brookville Redevelopment Commission.
However, at the BRC’s March meeting, Monday evening, March 15, some BRC members said the BRC needs to complete some of its ongoing projects before adding more.
BRC maintains property tax funds derived from a Tax Increment Financing Zone or District. Basically, the TIF Zone is all of Brookville. When it was formed, a benchmark was placed on the property taxes on properties within the zone. Then, any increases in those property taxes from that time of the benchmark go to the TIF District. BRC then uses that money to enhance the economic vitality of the area.
It currently has two ongoing projects. It is planned to construct a sidewalk from Fairfield Avenue to the school property off Oxford Pike. The second one is constructing a parking lot off Sixth Street near its intersection with Main Street. For each project, the BRC has not received cost estimates at this time.
Another ongoing smaller project is the facades program with a maximum of a $10,000 matching grant.
Also, BRC just completed a project for the improvement of storm water and wastewater lines in southern Brookville mainly along First Street. It was done to help existing businesses and to make property in that immediate area more conducive to development. The project cost $182,070 with $50,000 coming from the BRC.
Currently, the BRC has $75,492.67 in its Lawrenceburg Fund and $118,262.39 in its TIF Fund. The Lawrenceburg Fund came from the Lawrenceburg boat money. That program has been suspended for a number of years as the Lawrenceburg City Council has stated the advent of gambling operations in Cincinnati has seriously eaten into gambling revenue at the Lawrenceburg Casino. BRC uses that fund for grant money projects, BRC chairman Todd Thackery said at the March meeting. An example is it is now paying for engineering studies for the sidewalk project to the school property from Fairfield Avenue. Then, the fund is reimbursed by money sent back by the Indiana Department of Transportation according to that grant’s guidelines.
That fund does not look to be increased at all and will not be replinished.
At the March 15 meeting, BRC members Darrel Flaspohler and Beth Foster as well as Thackery talked about waiting to see how much money the two ongoing projects will cost the BRC. They were responding to BRC secretary and Brookville Town Council member Brooke Leffingwell, who wanted to set aside money at the March 15 meeting for the sidewalk project.
“There are two projects we got right now that we need to look what we have in those,” Flaspohler said. “We have to complete those before we start anything. One hundred thousand in the bank now and another $100,000 coming in (estimate of annual property tax revenue) is not going to go very far. I’m fine with the sidewalk project, the matching, but we have to wait for what Nick Lawrence says also.”
Lawrence is with the Wheatley Group and is under contract with the BRC and the Franklin County Redevelopment Commission as an economic advisor.
“It might not benefit us to set aside a budget for that,” Thackery said.
Flaspohler explained a set aside budget is where the BRC commits a certain amount of money to a fund on an annual basis. He used the example of $50,000. And when that amount is gone in any given year, the BRC has to wait until the next year to supply more money for matching grants to be used in the project.
Foster said one of the problems, especially with the parking lot, is construction prices have greatly escalated since that project was first discussed. Also, the need for multiple retaining walls around much of the parking lot is one of the factors driving up the construction cost, Foster and Thackery said.
The parking lot program has been a very long ongoing process that began with a state program called Blight Elimination. It took years to jump through all the state loopholes to get the dilapidated structures on the property torn down. Since that occurred, the BRC has been trying to get the parking lot project completed.
Thackery showed an engineering plan to place seven parking spaces in the parking lot with an access drive to Sixth Street and a walkway from the parking lot, between Nixies and Korner’s Restaurant to Main Street. BRC members were emphatic at the March meeting, it would be a free parking lot without parking meters.
“I agree with Darrel with waiting on what is actually going to cost us before we start a new project,” Foster said.
However, Leffingwell continued to hit at the need to put aside money now. She said for those who contributed ideas for the 21 by 21 Project, sidewalks were the number one priority she garnered from those who responded.
“To me setting aside money for sidewalks would be important,” Leffingwell said.
However, Thackery remained adamant about waiting before committing money to that specific project.
“I think I would recommend not doing it tonight,” Thackery said. “First, finding out the legalities and how we can do it with TIF funds is probably the critical first step before we allocate (funds).”
Earlier in the meeting, Thackery said Lawrence is going to work on getting an ordinance written for the allocation of funds for the sidewalk project and also Lawrence is to research the legalities of the BRC spending money on that type of project.
From the TIF Districts program beginning around the state, the ways to use TIF funds have been greatly expanded. Later in the meeting, Leffingwell asked about using the money for landscaping, lighting in alleys and exterior work around town, and Thackery said he thought those were examples of where TIF funds can be expended.
BRC’s next meeting will be 6 p.m., Monday, April 19.
The Indiana Department of Health announced today that Hoosiers age 45 and older are now eligible to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine. This expansion of eligibility makes the vaccine available to an additional 415,640 Hoosiers.
Additional groups will be added as more vaccine becomes available.
Vaccine appointments for this newly eligible population will be available over the next several weeks to align with expected vaccine deliveries to the state. Individuals seeking an earlier appointment are encouraged to look at openings in surrounding counties.
To schedule a vaccine, visit https://ourshot.in.gov and select a location from one of more than 400 clinics around the state. Hoosiers who do not have a computer or cell phone or those who need assistance scheduling an appointment can call 211 or contact one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging or AARP. Nearly 70 libraries around the state also are helping Hoosiers schedule their appointments.
Vaccination clinics that are part of the federal vaccine program, including those at Meijer and Kroger, appear on the clinic map at https://ourshot.in.gov but are scheduled through those retailers’ platforms, not through the state centralized system.
I’m not into anonymity with the written word, but I am going to make an exception with this one subject.
The latest rumor to come to me by social media on where the new town hall will be is the old state highway department property in Brookville. It really makes sense. Everything would be together. They can have the town hall, town police and the water, park and street departments right across Ninth Street from the fire station, Schilling Center and across the parking lot from the pool. And the Brookville Town Park is right there. There is parking galore.
I don’t know if I dreamed this, but I thought this new town hall was going to fill a vacant storefront downtown so we will not have as many empty storefronts for the tourists to see as they drive through. Some go on Mill Street, but it would be kind of hidden back there to the majority of tourists. Just sayin. However, I know the government knows much better than a taxpayer on what to do with our money.
Any other rumors, send them my way. I will give those who share their rumors anonymity.
Jeffrey Dirr, 57 years old, from Bright, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 13, 2021. Originally from Bridgetown, Jeff and his bride of 26 years, Molly, raised two daughters in a home immersed in love and faith. Always living life to the fullest, Jeff loved to travel and enjoyed planning trips for the family. Visiting National Parks was at the top of the list as was skiing, snowmobiling, and boating. Whether it was remodeling the basement or bathroom, building something, or just tooling around the house, he was always active. Jeff, or 632, as some would call him, followed the motto work hard, play hard. He was an amazing husband, father, and friend whose laugh was infectious. He could hang with the best at any party but was also the best listener a friend could ask for. Jeff was truly a breath of fresh air and maintained a constant attitude that was happy and vivacious. He collected model trains and about a year ago finally broke down and bought the red Jeep Wrangler that he had wanted for so long. Jeff was deeply religious and faithful to the core, sharing his love for God with his family and their foreign exchange student by experiencing mass at many of the Catholic churches in the area.
Jeff will be deeply missed by his wife, Molly, and their two daughters, Morgan and Ashley; his brothers Gary (Darla) Dirr, Dennis (Karen) Dirr, and Wayne Dirr; and many friends. His is preceded in death by his parents Darline and Robert Dirr.
A memorial service for Jeff will be held on Friday, March 19 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., at St. Lawrence Church in Lawrenceburg, beginning with the Rosary at 1 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial, officiated by Fr. Ben Syberg, will begin at 3 p.m. Memorials can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or for a future memorial at Miami Whitewater Forest where Jeff and his family loved to spend time. Memorials will be accepted at the memorial service or can be mailed to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home at 25615 State Rt. 1, Guilford, IN 47022. Please visit www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com to sign the online guest book or offer condolences.
Rosalyn Ellen King Marschand, 81, of Connersville, passed away on Sunday, March 14, 2021, at Reid Health in Richmond. She was born on September 18, 1939, in Vincennes, and is the daughter of Howard King and Freda Ellerman King. After graduating from high school, Rosalyn went on to attend Vincennes University and Butler University, majoring in elementary education.
On November 1, 1972, she married Robert Dale Marschand in Connersville, and they were able to enjoy more than 40 years together before he passed on January 21, 2013.
She was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church, where she played the piano for many years and was a member of the United Methodist Women’s Club. She also was a member and officer of the ESO General Federation of Women’s Reading Club and was a former member of Tri Kappa.
Rosalyn took pride in her involvement with the community, especially when it came to donating to the animal shelter and the public library. She genuinely loved working with the children at Frazee Elementary School as the school librarian. Along with reading, shopping, and swimming, she had a great enthusiasm for traveling, watching Broadway musicals, and playing Euchre. Above all else, she enjoyed spending time with her family.
She will be greatly missed by her nine children and their spouses, Tish and Stan Conaway, of Chatham, VA; Robert “Bud” and Teresa Marschand, of Pelzer, SC; Peggy Helton, of Austin, TX; Carol and John McKinney, of Hicksville, NY; Barb and Bill Isaacs, of Connersville; Robyn and Bob Sabourin, of Northville, MI; Jimmy and Becky Marschand, of Connersville; Nicole & Keith Packard, of Bowling Green, KY; and Kristen and Mark Brunton, of Richmond; a brother, Howard King; two nieces, Kelley King and Kim Barkes, of Columbus; 25 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She was looking forward to the upcoming birth of a great-granddaughter.
Along with her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Jason Pereyra, and a sister-in-law, Carol King.
A private memorial service will be held by the family. Urban Winkler Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, Grace United Methodist Church, or the Fayette County Animal Shelter.
The historic Elsie Dreyer Nursing Home building is safe for now and apparently going to be used as a daycare center instead of a new town hall for Brookville.
As Brookville officials have been silent on which building the town plans on buying to make into a new town hall, the Elsie Dreyer building was listed as one of the possibilities in the rumor mill that sprang up because there are no available facts.
Derik and Kehlie Orschell asked for a conditional use to open a daycare at the facility located at Third and Main streets in Brookville. During the Board of Zoning Appeals at its March 10 meeting, Kehlie made the presentation. It had received a favorable recommendation from the Area Plan Commission earlier in the meeting.
Kehlie said there is the capacity to have up to 100 children in the facility, but at this point, she does not plan to have that many attend. She is licensed with the state and has followed all the state-mandated protocols.
At least three BZA members were concerned about parking along Third Street and the possibility of a parking issue during drop offs and pickups. They mentioned the possibility of traffic backing up on Main Street.
David Mannix and later Ed Derickson, BZA members, asked Kehlie if the drop offs and pickups could be staggered by age group. She explained it is not like a school with fixed start and ending times; thus, drop off and pickup times are built around the parents’ work schedules.
BZA members said the couple should work with Brookville town officials to see about possibilities for better traffic flow and parking in the area. There is an alley behind the building, which can be utilized as a pickup and drop off point. Traffic may be able to flow one way in the alley to make that process smooth, Kehlie said.
Thus, the BZA unanimously approved the conditional use application on the contingency the couple work with the Brookville town officials and come up with a plan for traffic flow in the area.
