Jeannine M. Currens, 84, of Cincinnati, formerly of Cedar Grove, passed away on Friday, May 13, 2022, while in Hospice care at Hillebrand Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center.
Jean was born in Cincinnati, to Daniel and Sophia Johnson on July 17, 1937. She grew up on the Westside of Cincinnati attending Western Hills High School in the mid 1950s. She married William Von Gries in 1961 and after his passing, she met and married William Alfred Currens in 1972. Jean had twins in 1974, and the family moved to Cedar Grove, in 1978, where they called home for 18 years before retiring and moving to Ft. Meyers Florida. Jean’s husband and daughter Colleen were killed in a vehicle accident in 1999. and Jean moved back to Cincinnati in 2000.
Jean is survived by her son Craig (Emily) Currens of Erlanger, Kentucky; her stepdaughter Linda (Joe) Kaufman of Minnesota; a sister: Marlene (Ed) Bender of Cincinnati; a twin brother: Stanley (Janet) Johnson of Cincinnati; Grandchildren: Kyle and Kolten Stevens of Indianapolis and Benjamin Ireland and Wesley Currens of Erlanger, Kentucky; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents; husbands: her first husband of 10 years, William Von Gries, and her second husband of 27 years, Alfred; two daughters: Connie who was stillborn and Colleen; two sisters: Ceil Macke and Sophia “Chick” Dugan; a brother Daniel Johnson.
A funeral service will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home ~ 929 Main Street ~ Brookville, IN. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until the time of service. After cremation, burial will take place at Holy Guardian Angel Cemetery in Cedar Grove at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Franklin County Community Foundation in memory of the Colleen Currens-Stevens Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Delhi Davita, Mom’s home away from home over the past eight years. The nurses and staff were like family to her. Hillebrand Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for taking care of Mom over the last couple of months and Queen City Hospice for their caring support over the last few days.
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 Jean’s Family.
Friday evening, May 13, the Indiana State Police began investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred in Franklin County.
The initial investigation by detectives with the ISP-Versailles Post indicated that deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to an address on Main Street in Cedar Grove, at approximately 10:30 last night after receiving a report of an adult male who was suicidal and in possession of a gun.
Upon arriving at the residence, the deputies encountered the man who was still in possession of a firearm. It is believed that the man fired at least one shot at the officers. The deputies returned fire, striking the suspect at least one time. No officers were injured in the incident. The deputies provided immediate medical attention to the suspect. He was transported to University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment of the injuries he sustained. His condition is unknown at this time.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office requested the Indiana State Police conduct the investigation into the incident.
The investigation is ongoing. The name of the suspect as well as the name of the officers involved are being withheld at this time.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
I hadn’t thought much about Erma Bombeck in some time. The national columnist was part of the average American homemaker’s life for 30 years through her consistent output of domestic common sense and humor.
I’m sure that many women considered her almost a friend who dropped by whenever the paper arrived.
It seemed that she would always be at it, cranking out the copy from her laundry-room beat; that maybe we haven’t heard from her in a while due to a backlog of dirty clothes, with a funny story coming right up about how that happened.
Her death at age 69 in 1996 meant we would never share her life’s roadmap through her 70s, 80s, and even now, in what her 90-something self would have to say about life and aging. Today, oddly, I’m feeling the loss of that loss.
The humorist came back on my radar recently when my friend, Cathy, mentioned that she wanted to record a PBS show about Erma. I decided to stay up and watch it. While not a new program, I had never seen it before so it was new to me. It brought back memories.
When I came to the New Castle paper in 1989, Erma’s columns arrived in a large white Universal Press Syndicate envelope and had to be typed into our news program. It’s hard to remember how we got things done before the internet changed everything, but for sure, there was considerably more typing things into video display terminals (VDTs). I remember spending entire afternoons keying in club minutes and wedding write-ups, for example. It fell to me to type Erma’s work.
I did the math, and at that time, she was a year younger than I am now. She lived only another seven years, passing from complications of a kidney transplant, a few days after penning her final column.
How can it be that she’s been gone for an entire generation—folks born, raised, and then some—without the wit and wisdom of one of the funniest women who ever knew her way around home row. I wonder if anyone under 50 has heard of her.
The thing about Erma is that while she is funny on paper, I didn’t think her charm translated well into TV spots. I wanted to laugh … but (sorry, Erma), it didn’t work. She was a paper person through and through. So was I, getting so nervous I nearly froze back then when I had to speak at newspaper-sponsored recipe contests.
I thought her lack of stage presence made her all the more believable and “like us.” She looked and sounded like your own mom, sister, or yourself, up there on the big stage or in the talk-show-guest’s hot seat.
Her gift was finding the insights and humorous irony in ordinary-life situations combined with an ability to crank out endless column masterpieces that had the same inch-count as the previous ones, and the ones to come the next week. She pulled a writer’s version of dancing backward in high heels.
Her humor had none of the mean-girl snark nor insinuation that someone of a different political bent than hers is a horrible person. She found the common ground. I couldn’t tell you her politics.
Erma inspired us all. She truly was “just a housewife” from Ohio, and she really did make the casseroles and care for her family despite 30 million readers looking in, well, reading what she wrote.
Once I won a statewide newspaper-contest award for column writing. The judge jotted in the comments section that you never know from where the next Erma Bombeck will come.
Well, she didn’t come from me, but putting Erma’s name in the same sentence to describe my writing was worth more than the plaque. And I do like plaques.
These days, I think of Erma in a new way. How is it that 70 once seemed old and now… not so much. I told a friend the other day that, “When I use the phrase ‘older woman,’ it will always mean someone older than I am.”
Years ago we bought Brian’s mom a collection of Erma’s columns for a Christmas gift. When Mary passed, and we went through things in preparation for an estate sale, I saved back the Bombeck book. I thought it was surely dated, though. What did I know? I was then a youngster in my late forties.
Now? Even though the hunky actors she mentions on her pages are dead, and we use computers instead of typewriters, and too much comedy has turned vicious, I expect that if I read that book, I’d find that Erma is timeless.
The last time I sat down and read her work or enjoyed it as I retyped her columns for the paper, we weren’t peers—writing or otherwise. Now we are. I’ve caught up. We’ve both seen our 60s. We both had columns for at least three decades. Heck, we both had husbands who were school principals.
It sure would have been nice to read Erma’s take on the sunset side of life, those missing years she didn’t get; the ones I still hope to see.
The unique twist of being common, yet one of a kind: that was Erma. She gave us the sustenance we needed to assemble a meatloaf after a long day, can the green beans when the garden is on summer overload, fold the laundry (yet again) and run the sweeper (yet again). And come on! No matter what other Big Things we’re doing, who likes a crunchy carpet or damp laundry? Seeing to the mundane is part of life.
Erma would now be 95. I miss her.
Union County native Donna Cronk is retired from the New Castle Courier-Times. She still writes columns for three papers and enjoys giving programs and attending book club discussions about her new book, There’s a Clydesdale in the Attic: Reflections on Keeping and Letting Go. Connect with her at newsgirl.1958@gmail.com.
On Tuesday, May 10, at approximately 4: 45 pm, Indiana State Troopers Josh Bayly and Trooper Jacob Ridgeway were dispatched to a serious crash on Pottershop Road west of Creek Road near Centerville. When they arrived, it was determined the crash involved three vehicles.
A preliminary investigation by the Indiana State Police Reconstruction Team determined a 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle operated by Samuel Weller, 47, of Liberty, was westbound on Pottershop Road. At the same time, a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan operated by Ericka Lundy, 51, of Richmond, was eastbound on Pottershop Road. The Dodge Caravan was followed by a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox operated by Rafael Lopez, 27, of Richmond.
As the two vehicles approached a hill, the Equinox began to pass the Caravan in a marked, no-passing zone for eastbound traffic. During the illegal pass, the Equinox collided head-on with the motorcycle causing Samuel Weller to be thrown from the vehicle. After the collision, debris from the Kawasaki and the Equinox struck the left side of the Caravan causing damage to it.
When Trooper Bayly arrived, he began to provide medical assistance to Samuel Weller, however, he was pronounced dead at the scene by Wayne County Coroner James Jones. Both Ericka Lundy and Rafael Lopez did not sustain any injuries during the crash.
Trooper Ridgeway transported Rafael Lopez to Reid Hospital in Richmond, to submit to a certified chemical test per the Indiana Implied Consent Law. During any serious bodily injury or fatal crash, operators of vehicles are required by law to submit to a chemical test. It was determined that Lopez was operating a vehicle without a valid Indiana driver’s license.
The investigation is ongoing, and when it is completed, all reports will be submitted to the Wayne County Prosecutor for further review.
Pottershop Road was closed for approximately four hours while the crash was being investigated.
Assisting with the crash were Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Reid EMS, Abington Fire Department, Centerville Fire Department, Stamper Towing, and Wayne County Coroner James Jones.
A Michigan male’s desire to stay true to his girlfriend, who is in jail somewhere, directly led to he and his female companion ending up in the Franklin County Security Center on felony drug charges.
According to a Narrative written by Brookville Police Department Lt. Ryan Geiser, at 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 3, Jeremy R. Spotts, 47, and Dena M. Cook, 47, both of Charlotte, Michigan, were traveling from Michigan to Florida “for a job.”
While traveling, Cook expressed a desire to perform oral sex on Spotts. However, Spotts declined because he has a girlfriend who is in jail somewhere. That led to a verbal altercation, and the couple decided to stop at Dairy Cottage in Brookville.
Parking on the south side of the popular family restaurant, Spotts apparently began taking his belongings from the white four-door passenger vehicle and putting them on the adjacent sidewalk. At some point, he apparently grew frustrated and began walking south along Main Street. He was described as a skinny white male wearing a black shirt and black ball cap.
Cook continued taking Spotts’ belongings from the car and placing them on the sidewalk. At some point, a local male became concerned and asked Cook if she was OK. She replied that it was a beautiful day and then began mumbling to herself. The male thought she must be under the influence of drugs and called 911.
Geiser responded to dispatch’s request for an officer.
He found “a number of backpacks and a bicycle scattered everywhere.” Geiser approached Cook who was still actively removing items from the open driver’s side of the vehicle. Geiser told her he was there because a person was concerned for her wellbeing. While talking to her, Geiser smelled marijuana.
That led to Geiser asking Cook “if there was anything in the vehicle that I needed to know about.”
Cook said there was marijuana and a pipe, and she showed Geiser a medical marijuana card through Michigan, which allowed her to possess marijuana. Geiser placed Cook in handcuffs and she was read and said she understood her Miranda rights. She told Geiser her marijuana was in her purse, and there was possibly a joint in the ashtray.
Prior to searching the car, Geiser conveyed Cook’s personal information to the Franklin County Security Center. It was found Cook had a suspended driver’s license and the vehicle’s registration had expired in January.
In a brown-colored purse, Geiser found 11 grams of marijuana, which is less than half an ounce. However, he then found two clear zip lock baggies which contained about 170 grams of marijuana, which is about six ounces.
According to www.suncrest.com, an ounce of marijuana is worth between $230 to $380, which makes the total amount found worth somewhere between $1,472 and $2,432.
Police Chief Terry Mitchum and Assistant Chief Michael Strait arrived on the scene as backup. Mitchum got a description of the male from Dairy Cottage employees and went in search of him. Spotts was found near Zimmer Tractor along U.S. 52 on the southside of town.
It was discovered Spotts had warrants out of Arizona and Colorado; however, there was no extradition attached to the warrants.
Spotts was read his Miranda rights and acknowledged his understanding of them. He said he had earlier smoked some pot and was still feeling the effects. Spotts claimed all the pot was Cook’s while Cook said she possessed only the 11 grams of marijuana and the rest belonged to Spotts.
Cook was found to have a previous conviction for Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance on Nov. 16, 2010, in the Adams County, Colorado Court. Spotts has a prior conviction for a “drug offense” on October 16, 2001, in District Court 56A in Michigan.
Both were transported to the Franklin County Security Center where they remain on Friday, May 6. Jolliff Towing removed the vehicle from the Dairy Cottage parking lot.
Cook and Spotts are each charged with Possession of Marijuana, as a Level 6 Felony. If found guilty of that offense, they could receive a jail sentence of six months to 2.5 years.
Long-time Franklin County Commissioner Tom Linkel was defeated by John Heis in Heis’ first attempt at an elected office. Heis defeated Linkel 1,721-1,129 or 60.3 percent to 39.6 percent in the Tuesday, May 3 primary.
Other incumbents who went down to defeat in county elections were two county councilmen. In District 1, Joe Sizemore lost to Mary Strong as she had 377 votes to Sizemore’s 204. Cody Hollars had 196. The percentage totals are 48.4, 26.2 and 25.4, respectively.
Dean McQueen, after sitting out one term on council, defeated incumbent Scott McDonough in District 2, 312-203 or 60.1 to 39.4 percent.
Bob Evans defeated Dwight Ball, 541-296 or 64.6-35.4 percent in County Council District 4. It was both men’s first attempt at a county council seat. Evans will be against Democrat incumbent Joe Gillespie in the fall.
All of the above are on the Republican ticket. While this is only the primary, the Democrats may be able to field candidates in the fall election against the Republican winners in Tuesday’s primary.
Also on the Republican ticket, in the District 55 State House of Representatives race, FC native Lindsay Patterson trounced all her opponents in Franklin County taking almost 40 percent of the vote. Fellow Franklin County native Curtis Ward almost came in third place in his home county narrowing getting past David Welsh by 12 votes, 617-605. That is 20.92 percent to 20.52 percent. John Moton came in fourth in the county with 557 votes (18.9 percent).
Overall, Patterson is winning the district as of 9 p.m. with Union County left to report totals, according to the Indianapolis Star website.
The overall vote total, according to the Star website, is Patterson, 2,733 (38.7); Ward, 1,641 (23.3); Welsh, 1,459 (20.6); and Moton, 1,225 (17.4).
Ward was beset by problems in his home county as he is Brookville Town Council president and was under an Indiana State Police investigation into possible Conflict of Interest concerning his making Brookville taxpayers purchase Brook Hill Golf Course (Pig in a Poke Golf Course) after he bought several parcels of land adjacent to the golf course.
Financial books concerning how the golf course has done financially in the past few years have never been made public even though the public has asked for access to the books on numerous occasions. For the past year, BTC has apparently placed roadblocks in letting the public speak freely at BTC meetings.
It seemingly showed how the local populace has reacted to the situation seeing how badly Ward did in his home county.
Speaking of Brookville Town Council, Bridget Hayes summarily defeated Benjamin Summey, a relative to Ward, 300-102 or 74.6-25.4 percent in Ward 2.
In Ward 4, Earl Moore defeated John (Rudy) Rudisell 216-169 or 56.1-43.9 percent.
One Advantage, LLC vs. Paula L. Davis for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,239.70 plus costs and post-judgment interest as allowed by law.
Unfifund CCR, LLC vs. Crystal N. Knippenberg AKA Ison for the plaintiff in the amount of $800 plus interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum from the date of judgment until paid.
Bank of America N.A. vs. Pamela K. Wilkerson for the plaintiff in the amount of $4,294.52.
Discover Bank vs. Cassie L. Roth for the plaintiff in the amount of $4,025.60 plus $185 costs. This judgment shall accrue interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum until paid.
Crown Asset Management, LLC vs. Sheryl A. Newport for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,317.32 plus court costs.
Default Judgment
LVNV Funding LLC vs. Tammy Ward AKA Tammy S. Tidwell for the plaintiff in the amount of $786.86.
Citibank, N.A. vs. Gerald D. Burger for the plaintiff in the amount of $2,659.03 and costs.
Credit Acceptance Corporation vs. Richard Robinson for the plaintiff in the amount of $20,467.17 plus $157 costs and $28 for private process server.
TD Bank USA, N.A. vs. Sonja Marcum for the plaintiff in the amount of $2,667.07 plus interest at the statutory rate of 8 percent per annum from the date of judgment and costs.
LVNV Funding LLC vs. Cassie Roth for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,356.65.
Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. vs. Gary W. Corn for the plaintiff in the amount of $2,481.29 plus costs.
Capital One Bank (USA) vs. Sonja F. Marcum for the plaintiff in the amount of $2,612.65 plus costs.
Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Judy Francis for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,476.96 plus continuing post judgment interest at the rate of 8 percent annum and $157 costs and $35 for private process server for a total of $1,668.96.
LVNV Funding LLC vs. Jarman Mays for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,1381.83 plus continuing post judgment interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum.
Citibank, N.A. vs. Pamela K. Wilkerson for the plaintiff in the amount of $8,205.06 plus costs.
LVNV Funding, LLC vs. Thomas Swain for the plaintiff in the amount of $793.22 plus costs.
Midland Credit Management, Inc. vs. Dylan Thomas for the plaintiff in the amount of $873.57 together with post-judgment interest at the rate of 8 percent from the date of judgment until satisfied plus costs.
LVNV Funding LLC vs. Terry Summey for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,561.26.
Capital One, N.A. vs. Joshua V. Gibson for the plaintiff in the amount of $5,895.11 plus costs.
Creditmax, Inc. vs. Brandon E. Schwartz for the plaintiff in the amount of $9,460.65.
Gateway Financial Solutions vs. Melissa A. Olson for the plaintiff in the amount of $2,244.95 plus interest thereafter at the rate of 8 percent per annum until paid plus costs.
LVNV Funding LLC vs. Katherine A. Ashcraft AKA Katherine Chessor for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,153.74 plus post-judgment interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum..
LVNV Funding LLC vs. Nate Garrett for the plaintiff in the amount of $2,376.17 plus continuing post-judgment interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum.
LVNV Funding LLC vs. Patricia Grimes for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,002.47 plus continuing post-judgment interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum.
LVNV Funding LLC vs. Virginia Keith for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,190.26 plus continuing post-judgment interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum.
Midland Credit Management, Inc. vs. Rhiannon Cecil for the plaintiff in the amount of $2,172.22 plus continuing post-judgment interest at the rate of 8 percent annum.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. vs. Cherie M. Bremer aka Cherie Ferguson for the plaintiff in the amount of $12,593.51 together with filing fees in the amount of $157, sheriff costs in the amount of $28 and out-of-pocket expenses in the amount of $6.01.
TD Bank USA, N.A. vs. Kevin Grogan for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,849.21 with interest at the statutory rate of 8 percent per annum from the date of judgment and costs.
Cavalry SPV I, LLC as assignee of Citibank, N.A. vs. Hope Lawson for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,311.01 with interest at the statutory rate of 8 percent per annum from the date of judgment and costs.
Agreed Judgment
Citibank N.A. vs. Christopher A. Norris for the plaintiff in the amount of $3,500.
Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. vs. John T. Cole for the plaintiff in the amount of $4,111.59.
Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. vs. Matthew J. Kolb for the plaintiff in the amount of $10,401.41.
Synchrony Bank vs. Misty Freese for the plaintiff in the amount of $3,088.77 plus costs.
Small Claims
Finance System of Richmond, Inc. vs. Julie S. Heyward Precht for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,287.77 plus post-judgment interest and Sheriff’s service fee.
Finance System of Richmond, Inc. vs. Brooke Morford for the plaintiff in the amount of $2,995.58 plus post-judgment interest and Sheriff’s service fee.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Department press release
April 19
David W. Allen, 42, U.S. 52, Metamora, was arrested at 2:50 p.m. at the Fayette County Jail by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy A. Maxie on order of the Court.
April 20
Jeannie A. Gabbard, 33, Stacy Road, Metamora, was arrested at 11:51 a.m. at the Dearborn County Jail by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy A. Maxie on order of the Court.
April 22
Brandon T. Maxie, 29, West 8th Street, Connersville was arrested at 5:55 p.m. in Laurel by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dusty Hill for Criminal Recklessness and Criminal Mischief.
April 25
Shelly M. Meadows, 44, Flamingo Drive, Brookville, was arrested at 3:01 p.m., at the Decatur County Jail by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy R. Gordon by order of the Court.
Pastor William L. Russell, 95, of Connersville, went to be with his Lord on April 25, 2022, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on September 24, 1926, in Jackson County, Kentucky to Sherman and Martha Fox Russell.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle Louise Russell, who he married August 6, 1949, in Peppertown. They served the city of Connersville together for more than 65 years in pastoral ministry, touching the lives of many, young and old alike.
A veteran, he proudly served his country in the United States Navy.
William worked unselfishly for his family and for the gospel message of Jesus Christ. He was a man of prayer and devotion. He began his pastoral ministry at the Eastside Pentecostal Church and then transferred to Park Road Pentecostal Church where he led the congregation through an amazing time of growth and expansion. He was one of the founders of the Eastern Indiana Pentecostal Fellowship that is still touching lives today. He, along with his wife and eldest son, founded a new ministry in 1980, now known as PTC Ministries. Located in Connersville, PTC Ministries is currently being led by his youngest son and is touching many areas around the world.
During his years of ministry, he also worked outside the church. He spent time at a few local factories, ultimately ending up at HH Robertson for 38 years until his retirement.
He will be greatly missed by his family, including five daughters, Patty King, Dorris Turner, Marcella (Mark) Ketcham, Rosealie Witt, and Gloria (James) Urban; eight sons, Phillip (Donna) Russell, Donald (Carol) Russell, Leroy (Mary) Russell, Tim (Teresa) Russell, Arnold (Coleen) Russell, Michael (Georgia) Russell, Alvin (Lisa) Russell, and Ronald (Debbie) Russell; 36 grandchildren, 81 great grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren; and five sisters, Vera Whitt, Ethel Graham, Wilda Lawson, Carol Rose, and Della Mae Kincaid.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Myrtle Louise Russell, who went to be with her Lord April 3, 2018; two brothers, David Russell and Albert Russell; two sisters, Nora Humbarger and Edna Loman; a son-in-law, Gary Witt; two grandsons, Nathan Marcum and Travis Ketcham; and one great grandson, Ezra Abrams.
Friends may visit from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, April 28, 2022, at PTC Ministries located at 1892 W. State Rd 44, Connersville. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 29, 2022, at PTC Ministries with William’s sons, Ron, Phil, Tim, and Don Russell, officiating. Burial with military honors conducted by the Fayette County Veterans Council will follow at Dale Cemetery. Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
Pastor William L. Russell’s legacy continues to live on through his family and all the lives he touched through ministry. His task is completed; his race is won. Surely, he has entered his eternal dwelling with these words from the Father, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
