Some UC residents concerned about transmission lines coming into county from Ohio solar energy project

By John Estridge

With snow up to hips and cold weather to the wrong side of zero, it is hard to think about the sun, but solar energy was one of the topics of conversation at the Union County Commissioners’ meeting Friday, February 19.

Preble County, Ohio, to the east, has a solar power project ongoing and Franklin County, to the south, has one on the horizon.

Union County Commissioner Paul Wiwi talked about opposition to transmission lines from the Preble County project that is about three to four miles north of College Corner, Ohio. A transmission line is projected to go through part of Union County.

Wiwi said it is his understanding the transmission line would go across State Line Road and hook into a substation off Greenwood Church Road. According to Wiwi, the local group against this plan is going to come to a future commissioner meeting and present a petition against the transmission line.

However, county officials said the transmission line will probably fall under the utilities classification, meaning there is nothing local government can do in regulating a utility.

“There is nothing we can do if they want to run a line,” commissioner Tim Williams said.

Wiwi said the group members seem to understand that, but they want to come to a commissioners’ meeting anyway to put it on the record concerning their opposition. According to Wiwi, he told the group only a couple of people can represent the group because of the need for social distancing in the commissioners’ small meeting room.

Commissioner Howard Curry said there is also a concern the solar project construction will interfere with field tiles that run across the state line. A break in the tiles could cause problems for agriculture on both sides of the state line.

According to Curry, it is his belief county attorney Jim Williams has already written a letter to the company overseeing the solar energy project telling the company if there is damage to field tiles, the company is responsible for rectifying that problem.

Officials also talked a short time about the situation in Bath Township in Franklin County where a company has talked with various farmers in that area about leasing property for a projected solar farm. In Franklin County, the Area Plan Commission and Franklin County Commissioners are working on an amendment to the county zoning ordinance to regulate solar and wind farms. The amendment is in the public hearing stage. However, a public hearing slated for February was postponed due to inclement weather.

Union County APC Director Jeff Mathews said wind energy is not a concern in Union County, because there is just a small east west section up near the Wayne County line that meets the criteria needed for a successful wind energy project.

Currently, if a solar energy project would be interested in coming into Union County, it would go before the Board of Zoning Appeals, Mathews said. He said it would go under the Special Use category of the county zoning ordinance. He said if the county would like to have an amendment to the zoning ordinance that is just for solar power, he will do the research and present something to the APC. From there, it would go to the commissioners.

Mathews said he received an email from a solar energy company interested in coming into Union County. And he said it is his opinion a solar energy project would not be welcome in the county. According to Mathews, the county is a farming community. And the solar energy company that contacts landowners is usually not the solar energy company who will finish the project.

Curry said the companies contacting landowners are headhunters. And Wiwi said there is no farmland being manufactured. What farmland is presently here, will not be increased.

Williams said there is a bill before the Indiana House, HB 1381, which would take all local control away from the approval process of solar energy projects and leave it solely up to the state. He is against the proposed law and suggested Representative Randy Lyness be contacted by county residents so the people to state their own opinions on the matter.

About the Preble County Project.

According to the Angelina Solar Project website, Angelina Solar I, LLC submitted an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need to the Ohio Power Siting Board in December 2018. At a capacity of 80 Megawatts, the project will be constructed and operate within an approximately 827-acre area of privately owned land approximately four miles north of College Corner, Ohio.

According to the Ohio Power Siting Board, Angelina Solar I, LLC is owned by Blue Planet Renewable Energy, LLC, which is a joint venture partnership between MAP Energy, Inc. and Open Road Renewables, LLC.

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Old Guy Rant: Passing of a friend

A Political Column by FC resident Larry Wiwi

As everyone in the political world now knows, Rush Limbaugh passed away earlier this week and there have been hundreds of tributes already written but if you can stand one more, hopefully mine will be a little different.

Like so many millions of listeners, I consider Rush the best friend I never met but unlike many listeners, I can say that Rush really did not teach me about conservatism since I had already learned it the way he did, but he did teach me two really important things:  First, he taught me how to spot liberal bias in media, in global corporations, and in many of the “reach across the aisle” kinds of politicians.

Second, Rush taught me how to explain conservatism in a non-combative way which is really important since we conservatives usually feel we are on defense since the heavily biased mainstream media portrays conservatives as racist, cold hearted, people who would like nothing more than to return to treating women as second-class citizens and re-establish Jim Crow.

Rush taught me that more than anything conservatism is love – love of people as competent, free individuals, love of our remarkable country’s Founding and love for our country as still the land of opportunity, the shining city on the hill.  Conservatives really do love people, and we want the best for them, to freely pursue their dreams and become the best they can be, to pursue happiness as so eloquently stated in the Declaration.  We don’t see people by class, race or sex and we certainly don’t see them as victims, we see them as potential, and the government’s real job is to help them realize that potential or at least stay out of the way.  That said, sometimes love is tough love, the discipline side of love, which in government normally means we are willing to give a short-term helping hand, but if you are physically and mentally capable of supporting yourself, we are not going to give an ongoing hand out.

Conservative’s love of country is demonstrated in our insistence in protecting our borders and expelling illegal aliens.  We do this not because we are racist but because we love our country and our unique culture and want to preserve it, and we cannot do that if we are not careful about whom and how many we let in.  We understand how incredibly fortunate we are to be born as Americans, and certainly understand why so much of the world wants to come here, but we also know our culture / country must be carefully protected if it is going to remain great.

Whether you have ever listened to Rush or not, I encourage you to find his 2009 CPAC speech, which he gave off-the-cuff, with no preparation, it is the best explanation of conservatism I have ever heard or read.

Larry Wiwi

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I’m tired of waiting; why won’t God answer my prayers?

A theological column by Adrienne Greene

Q:

Dear Pastor,

I’m tired of waiting on God. Why won’t He answer my prayers?

A:

            Everyone reading this article has felt that way a time or two.

We are encouraged in the Church to stand in faith; to trust God that he has heard our prayers and intends to answer them. Seasoned Christians have learned the hard way that God’s timing is rarely aligned with ours…yet waiting on God feels the same as being ignored. I understand the frustration more than you know.

We’re in great company! Many of our favorite Bible characters and heroes of the faith wrote about the pain of waiting on God: Abraham waited 25 years for God to fulfill his promise of fathering a son and heir. Joseph was 17 years old when God revealed his destiny in a dream, but he was enslaved and imprisoned until he was 30, when the dream finally came true. David was anointed as king but did not reign on Israel’s throne for at least 15 years. Mary, the mother of Jesus, waited thirty years for her promised son to be proclaimed the Messiah. The Hebrew people waited four hundred years for their release from slavery in Egypt. Over 500 years passed as God’s people waited for a word from the Lord (Malachi to John the Baptist.) What is all this waiting about? Process.

Few ministers discuss or teach a whole lot about process, yet all of life is involved in it. God is a farmer; his way of producing anything on the earth, from people to crops to governments to atmospheres, happens through a growth process. It is a series of steps each building upon the other to fulfill a completed work. We are helpless to alter God’s process because only God can see the whole game-board and all the pieces upon it. Our job is simply to persevere and trust his methods. We pray our best prayer and God goes to work. We believe this in faith. What we forget, however, is the process required to answer our prayer.

I am not suggesting that God is limited in power in any way. I’m not saying he cannot instantly or suddenly respond. He often does. But even in what appears to be swift answers to prayer, close examination finds that a process of seeds being planted, watered and grown was involved. As they joke in Nashville music circles, “An overnight success takes about 10 years.”

As we enter our Lenten season, we see that our Savior endured his process as well: the road to the cross began on what we now call Ash Wednesday: “Afterward, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the lonely wilderness in order to reveal his strength against the accuser by going through the ordeal of testing. And after fasting for 40 days, Jesus was extremely weak and famished. Then the tempter came to entice him to provide food by doing a miracle. So he said to Jesus, ‘How can you possibly be the Son of God and go hungry? Just order these stones to be turned into loaves of bread.’ He answered, ‘The Scriptures say: Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every word, which constantly goes forth from God’s mouth’” (Matthew 4:1-4, TPT.)

Satan stalked our Lord; mocked him and enticed him to prove his power, over and over, multiple times. Jesus endured the testing by restraining himself as God—yet as a man, suffering through repeated attacks of the Devil. This process prepared Jesus for the three years of intense ministry that would follow. Had he not successfully withstood the siege of evil for 40 days, he would not have been able to run the rest of his race to the cross. Three years later, the disciples were trained, the regions surrounding him were won to Christ and he lay down his life in completion of his task; his process of being Messiah and transforming the earth.

Stay the course, my friend. Your prayers are being answered. Believe God for his wisdom in the timing. The best is yet to come.

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, please visit www.adriennewgreene.com or tune into the “Ask Pastor Adrienne” YouTube channel for sermons and insights.

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Obituary for Joed Connaway

JOED CONNAWAY

Joed Connaway, 73, of Connersville, passed away Thursday morning, February 18, 2021, at his residence.

He was born August 11, 1947, in Connersville, the son of William Edgar and Pauline Lenore Landis Connaway and was a proud graduate of Alquina High School, Class of 1965.

On January 17, Joed married Judith Yvonne Hannefy. Mrs. Connaway passed away January 31, 2020.

For more than 25 years, Joed was employed at Design & Manufacturing until its closing. He later was employed for Advance Auto Parts. All through his life, he farmed not only the family farm but other farms in the area.

He had been a member of the Eagles and Moose lodges.

Survivors include three children, Jamie (Gary) Naylor, Joel Connaway and Dana Baldwin, all of Connersville; six grandchildren, Jason Naylor, Tommy Naylor, Anna Connaway, Nicholas (Emily) Baldwin, Shaina Baldwin (Chandler Gable), and Madison Laird; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Lucinda (Danny) Roberts and Diana Hannefy (Mark Frank), all of Laurel; two nephews, Rodney Peters and Willy Vail; and a niece, Tina Barnes.

Besides his wife of 39 years, Judith, he was preceded in death by his parents; two grandsons, Justin Naylor and Jeffry Connaway and a niece, Sherry Vail Taylor.

As per Joed’s request there will be no public services. A private family graveside committal in Union Cemetery will be held at a future date. Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alquina Blue Arrow Park and to the Justin Naylor Addiction Recovery Program.

Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.

Obituary for Terrall L. Fuchs

TERRALL L. FUCHS

Terrall L. Fuchs, age 59 of Indianapolis, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis.

Terrall was born on June 1, 1961, in Connersville, a son to Paul and Edith Eva Hunter Fuchs. He served his country in the United States Air Force and then spent the remainder of his career as a plumber. Terrall was a member of his local American Legion post in Indianapolis. When he was not working, which he enjoyed doing, you could find Terrall spending time with his family and friends.

Those surviving who will cherish Terrall’s memory include his mother, Eva Fuchs of Metamora; former wife, RaeJean Fuchs; one daughter, Melissa Fuchs (David Kugelman Jr.) of Indianapolis; one son, Jason Fuchs of Indianapolis; two grandchildren, Hailie Fuchs and Kelsie Kugelman; four siblings, Janie Reynolds of Metamora, John (Melissa) Fuchs of Brookville, Connie Ragle (Art Hamilton) of Metamora, and Bill (Tammy) Fuchs of Rushville; as well as several nieces and nephews. Terrall was preceded in death by his father, Paul Fuchs.

Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, February 27, 2021, from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. at Metamora Church of God, 20125 US Highway 52 Laurel, IN 47024. Pastor Wayne Ison will officiate the service and burial will follow immediately after at Metamora Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be directed to be used as the family wishes or the donor’s choice.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, all attending must follow Governor Holcomb’s mandates: You must wear a face mask; you must social distance; and if you are not feeling well, or if you have a compromised immune system, you are encouraged to stay home.

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 care for the family of Terrall Fuchs.

UC Courthouse to reopen to public on March 1

By John Estridge

Union County’s Courthouse will reopen to the public on March 1.

That was the unanimous decision of the Union County Commissioners at their meeting Friday morning, February 19.

The courthouse has been closed for several months going back to when the county was declared red by the Indiana Department of Health over the number of COVID-19 cases in the county. Public could still access the courthouse, but to enter it and do business with an office in the courthouse, required an appointment. Also, some business was done through email.

Commissioners first talked about it at their earlier meeting in February on February 5. At that time, commissioner Tim Williams said he wanted to wait until Governor Eric Holcomb relaxed limitations placed on the public and public gatherings through the governor’s executive orders concerning COVID-19.

This time, as at the last meeting, commissioner Howard Curry broached the subject near the end of the meeting. He said he had asked county health nurse Kim Klein about her and the county health department’s thoughts about reopening. According to Curry, Klein did not see any problems with it, but she wanted to talk to the county health officer first. However, Curry said that had been two weeks ago, and he still did not have an official answer from the health department.

Fellow commissioner Paul Wiwi said he had asked auditor Cheryl Begley to do an impromptu survey of county employees in the courthouse on reopening. Begley did what she was asked and said the survey results were: six negatives, six positives and eight people had no opinion on the matter.

Commissioners then talked about how many people have received COVID-19 vaccinations at the county health department. Jeff Mathews said they are averaging 100 vaccinations per day. However, not all of those vaccinated are county residents. He said the state controls who is sent to the Union County Health Department for vaccinations. Thus, people from the surrounding Indiana counties also receive vaccinations in Union County.

According to Mathews, by March 1, 2,000 vaccinations should have been performed at the county facility. Also, he predicted those 60-65 years of age would become eligible for the vaccination in about one week.

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Obituary for Mary T. Nobbe-Volz

MARY T. NOBBE-VOLZ

Mary T. Nobbe-Volz, age 89 of Batesville, died Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at St. Andrew’s Health Campus. Born May 20, 1931, in Ripley County, she is the daughter of Minnie (Neihaus) and Alois Stolz. She married Werner Nobbe October 28, 1950, at St. Louis Church in Batesville, and he preceded her in death September 16, 1988. She married Harry Volz April 24, 1997, at Holy Family Church, and he preceded her in death September 28, 2015. She worked in the sewing department at Batesville Casket more than 20 years before retiring in 1996.

Mary loved nothing more than a room filled with family and laughter. A great cook, it wouldn’t take long for the house to fill with the anticipation of her fried chicken and lemon dessert. Like any good grandma, she doted on and spoiled her grandkids as well as Bootsie the cat, her beloved furry friend. Never one to watch much T.V., Mary was an avid reader, quilted for much of her life and liked doing crossword puzzles and word searches. She also loved working in her flower beds and vegetable garden. The garden provided an abundance of produce, canning the excess to help feed the family over the winter. In later years, she and Harry would winter in Florida where she took up golfing.

Mary is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Belinda and Chris Brown of Greensburg; sons and daughters-in-laws Ken and Teri Nobbe, Doug and Cathy Nobbe, Cliff Nobbe, Tom and Nancy Nobbe, Bill and Elizbeth Nobbe, all of Oldenburg; stepson Tim Volz of Batesville; step daughter Janet Andrews; 13 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and one great great grandson. In addition to her husbands and parents, she is also preceded in death by her son Gary “Gramps” Nobbe and stepdaughter Judy Caruso.

Visitation is Saturday, February 20, from 10 – 11 a.m., at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg. The current Governor’s mandate requires all attendees wear a facemask and observe physical distancing. The mask must cover the individual’s nose and mouth at all times. Funeral services follow at 11 a.m., with Rev. Carl Langenderfer O.F.M. officiating with burial in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to Eagle Fire Company or the Holy Family Cemetery Fund.

Obituary for Demia Robertson

DEMIA ROBERTSON

Demia Robertson, 50, of Nulltown, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at IU Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born in Rush County, on October 26, 1970, and is the daughter of Helen Zeh Robertson and Ernest J. Robertson.

She loved spending time with her family, especially her three grandchildren, and her beloved dog, Diogie.

Demia will be greatly missed by her mother, Helen; her daughter, Ashley Ranee (Ronnie Rea) Thomas, of Connersville; her son, Devin Thomas, also of Connersville; three sisters, Patricia Robertson, Karen Hunter, and Doreen (Mark) Bowles; two brothers, Melvin (Bernice) Robertson and Chester Robertson; three grandchildren, Leighton Rolane Dye, Kaliga William Thomas, and Kilynn Mary Thomas, as well as her long-time companion, Ben Watts.

She was preceded in death by her father.

A Celebration of Demia’s Life will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2021, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m., at the James Robert Building in Robert’s Park. Urban Winkler Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements.  

Obituary for Joseph Jerry “Joe” Hughes (updated)

JOSEPH JERRY “JOE” HUGHES

Joseph Jerry “Joe” Hughes, 73, of Connersville, passed away Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at Reid Health of Richmond where he was surrounded by his loving family.

One of 12 children of Glenn and Christine Tanksley Hughes, Joseph was born in Connersville on October 29, 1947.

On February 4, 1967, Joe was married in Connersville to the former Nancy A. Turney, who survives.

For more than 24 years, he was employed at Standard Grocery and Marsh Supermarket where he became produce manager. Joseph then became employed for 13 years for Tri-State Beef of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Joseph enjoyed boating and many outdoor activities. Along with his wife, he enjoyed attending their children’s and grandchildren’s activities.

Besides his wife of 54 years, Nancy Hughes, survivors include two children, Julie (David) Weiler and Jay (Tricia) Hughes, all of Connersville; five grandchildren, Bailie (C.J. Risch) Weiler, Macie Weiler, Lindsy Hughes, Trey Hughes, Samantha Snyder, all of Connersville; two brothers, Arthur Hughes and Dale (Lorraine) Hughes, all of Connersville; a sister, Carolyn (Joseph) Steele of Connersville; a sister-in-law, Nancy Hughes of Leesburg, Florida.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents; and eight siblings, Lavaughna Kays, Herbert Hughes, James Hughes, Marian Cornn, David Hughes, Richard Hughes, Howard Hughes, and Hedgemond Hughes.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m., on Friday, February 19, 2021, at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home. Todd Jennings will officiate. Burial will follow in Village Creek Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Fayette County Cancer Society and online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.

Laurel woman injured when she swerved to miss a deer, hit a tree and tree fell across her vehicle

From a Franklin County Sheriff’s Department press release

A Laurel woman was injured in a one-vehicle accident when she swerved to miss a deer, hit a tree and the tree fell on top of her vehicle and the highway.

According to a Franklin County Sheriff’s Department press release, Heather N. Hentz, 35, was transported to University Hospital in Cincinnati by Brookville EMS-2 for non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident occurred Sunday, February 14, at 12:24 a.m., just east of Yellow Bank Road’s intersection with U.S. 52.

Hentz was westbound on U.S. 52 in a 2005 Nissan Murano when she swerved to avoid a deer on the road. This caused her to lose control of her vehicle, going off the south side of the road, through a ditch and striking a tree. The tree broke off and fell across the hood of Hentz’s vehicle and onto U.S. 52.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Department deputies investigated the accident. They were assisted at the scene by Brookville and Metamora volunteer fire departments, Responder 24 and Brookville EMS-2.

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