Ohio man killed in FC crash on U.S. 52 East

Indiana State Police press release

Thursday, February 10, troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post investigated a two-vehicle crash in Franklin County, which resulted in the death of a Winchester, Ohio man.

The initial investigation by Trooper David Owsley indicated that at approximately 8 am this morning, a 2009 Honda passenger car being driven by Elvis E. Faul, age 42, Winchester, Ohio was traveling eastbound in the 9000 Block of US 52, south of Brookville.  For an unknown reason, Faul’s vehicle crossed the centerline into the path of a westbound 2007 Kenworth semi pulling a trailer, being driven by Taranjit Singh, age 38, West Chester, Ohio.

The vehicles collided in the westbound lane of US 52. As a result of the collision, Faul sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Franklin County Coroner’s Office. Singh was not injured in the crash. 

The investigation is ongoing. Toxicology results are pending.

US 52 was closed for approximately four hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

Elvis Faul’s family has been notified.

Trp. Owsley was assisted by the Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Franklin County EMS, Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department, and the Franklin County Coroner’s Office.       

Obituary for Matilda Hoffbauer

MATILDA HOFFBAUER

Matilda Hoffbauer of New Alsace, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at the age of 99. “Tillie” as she was known to all her friends and family, was an active member of the community and touched many lives. As a lifelong member of All Saints Parish, Tillie proudly held the honor of being the oldest parishioner. She had a passion for cooking and was favored to cater many weddings in the area. She was also the head of the kitchen for St. Paul’s Church festivals and has claim to fame by developing the secret dressing recipe that is still used today. In fact, when the Cincinnati Enquirer wrote an article about Southeastern Indiana local church festivals, Tillie and her dedication to the festival fare was featured. In addition to cooking, Tillie loved to play card games, like euchre and 31, and was an avid bingo player. She followed her schedule for the week, traveling around town based on locally hosted bingo games. She was known to shut down the bingo booth at church festivals and easily played nine cards at a time, only reducing her cards to four in the last few years of her life. Everyone in Tillie’s family received a quilt, which she crafted with love. She gifted them to her children and grandchildren for their weddings and her great grandchildren received baby quilts when they were born. Tillie also shared her quilts with the community as she donated them to the church picnic raffles.

Tillie had a lot of fun, but she was also a hard worker. Working on the family farm, she grew and canned the vegetables and took care of all the farm animals. She ran the egg route to Cincinnati where they would take their eggs and vegetables into the city to sell them. She also served on the Kelso Township Advisory Board for 39 years, taking the place of her husband. As a Grandma and Great-Grandma, Tillie would always have her favorite chocolate chip cookies on hand for when the grandkids stopped by.

Tillie will be deeply missed by her children Ruth Griesser of Frisco, Texas, Larry (Pat) Hoffbauer of New Alsace, Paul (Nella) Hoffbauer of Guilford and Marilyn (Dick) Bower of New Alsace, 10 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Joseph Hoffbauer, her parents Elizabeth and William Trabel, and son-in-law Mike Griesser.

Services for Tillie will be held on Friday, February 11, 2022, at St. Paul’s Campus, All Saints Parish, at 9788 North Dearborn Rd, Guilford, IN 47022. Rosary will begin at 9 am with visitation from 9:15 am – 11 am. Mass of Christian Burial with Father Mahan presiding will begin at 11am with burial immediately following at the church cemetery. For those not able to attend, the Mass will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily. Memorials can be made to St. Paul’s Cemetery Fund. Memorials will be taken at the visitation or can be mailed to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home at 25615 State Rt. 1, Guilford, IN 47022. Family and friends are encouraged to leave condolences at www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com

Obituary for Kevin Brian Weiskittel

KEVIN BRIAN WEISKITTEL

Kevin Brian Weiskittel, 33, of Metamora, passed away on February 6, 2022. He was born October 5, 1988, in Daytona Beach, Florida to Jennifer (Phillips) Putt and Kirk Weiskittel Sr.  

Kevin was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a musician and loved playing guitar and writing songs. Kevin was an accomplished artist and could often be found drawing or painting. Most of all, Kevin loved spending time with his kids and family.

He was friendly, generous, and loving and will be missed by all who knew him.

Kevin is survived by his children, Kimmy Weiskittel and Harlan Weiskittel; parents, Jennifer Putt (Mark) and Kirk Weiskittel Sr.; brothers, Kirk, Kenny (Brooke), Skyler, and Logan Weiskittel, and Jack Putt; grandparents, Carolyn Medders, Myrtle and Larry Weiskittel; nieces and nephews, Layla, Miles, Luke, Parker, and Dayne; and many more friends and family.

Kevin was proceeded in death by his grandfather, Virgil Medders, step father, Scott Oatman, and his uncle, Greg Spivey.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 12, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville.

Memorials can be given to Kevin’s children, Kimmy and Harlan, by bringing to the services or mailing to Meyers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 202, Batesville, IN 47006. Checks should be made out to Kate Neeley.

Obituary for Kelley C. O’Neal

KELLEY C. O’NEAL

Kelley C O’Neal, 54, of Connersville, died Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at his residence.

Kelley was born on October 25, 1967, to Chester Jr., and Goldie Gibson O’Neal. He attended and graduated from Connersville High School with the Class of 1986. Kelley was an entrepreneur who started his own Satellite internet company. He played on several co-ed softball and basketball church leagues. In addition, he coached his children’s sports teams when they were younger. Kelley enjoyed cooking, camping, riding his quad, and sifting for gold while listening to classic rock. He adored spending time with his grandchildren and his canine companion, Karma. Kelley will be missed by his family and friends. Kelley is survived by his son: Zachary Tyler O’Neal; daughter: Ashley Marie O’Neal all of Indianapolis; grandsons: Steven Carson and Gio Greyson; many friends. Kelley is preceded in death by his parents.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Thursday, February 10, 2022, at Showalter Blackwell Long, Myers Chapel, Connersville, with Pastor Richie Ware and Pastor Mal Gibson officiating. Burial will follow at Dale Cemetery. Friends may visit the funeral home from 11 a.m. until time of service. Memorial contributions may be made in Kelley’s honor to an organization of your choice that assists with substance abuse.

Obituary for Shirley Laverne Barrows

SHIRLEY LAVERNE BARROWS

Shirley Laverne Barrows, age 84, of Connersville, passed away on Wednesday February 9, 2022, at Heritage House of Connersville. Shirley was born in Fairfield, on August 29, 1937, the daughter of the late Sherman and Zelma Crawley Browning.

On April 4, 1956, she married Charles C. Barrows. They were blessed with three children. Mr. Barrows passed in 2002.

Shirley was a loving wife, mother and grandmother that enjoyed vegetable gardening and canning, word searches, listening to gospel music and attending church when her health permitted. She was well known for her embroidering, especially the pillowcases she would give as wedding presents, and crocheting candles for her family, friends and staff at the nursing home.

She was a member of the Growing Branches for Christ. She was proud to be a founding member of the church, helping with the construction in any way she could.

She is survived by her daughter, Pattie Reed of Connersville; a son, John A. Barrows of Rhode Island; a daughter in law, Debbie Barrows of Connersville; a brother, Ronald (Joan) Browning of Kentucky; sister, Ruth Wilson of Rush County; two grandchildren; two great grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews. 

In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by a son Robert Barrows; son in law, David Reed; brothers, Paul Browning, Richard Browning and an infant brother; and sisters, Patricia Kersey and Sharon Case.

Funeral services will be conducted at Growing Branches for Christ, 3362 N Western Ave, Connersville, on Friday February 18, 2022, at 1 pm, with Eric Hopkins and Pastor Leonard Cranfil officiating. Friends and family may gather from 11 am until the time of service. Burial will follow at Lick Creek Cemetery.

Urban Winkler Funeral home is honored with assisting the family with Shirley’s arrangements.

Old Guy Rant: Critical Race Theory 101

A Political Column by Larry Wiwi

Over the weekend I began a self-education process to learn more about Critical Race Theory (CRT) than the snippets and soundbites one gets from news and social media and downloaded Critical Race Theory: An Introduction, 3rd Edition by authors Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic.   It is truly a stunning and disturbing read that left me wondering among other things, how is that people who have had the good fortune to grow and live in this country learned to hate it so intently?  Here are the key points I got from the book:

  1. White people constantly work to keep other races down, even perhaps unknowingly because the capitalist system is designed to keep those in power, in power.
  2. Capitalism is evil not only because it is a mechanism to keep Whites in power, it delivers unequal outcomes – in the CRT world the outcomes should be equal, in other words “equity” is what we should be pursuing, not equality.
  3. Laws and sentences for crimes should be adjusted based on one’s “racial experience,” resulting in a world where two people of different races committing exactly the same crime for the same reasons would be sentenced differently because the judge and jury would have to consider racial experience factors.  In other words, that whole 14th Amendment notion of equal protection and due process would no longer apply
  4. CRT would not only expand affirmative action, it promotes reparations, and not just for Blacks, but for Native Americans, Asians, Muslims, etc.  The authors apparently did not notice or do not care that imposing reparations would create a new form of slavery
  5. CRT proponents are impatient with the pace of civil rights achievements to date and if they could, would impose their ideas immediately, though to their credit they are careful to avoid words like “overthrow” or “revolution.”
  6. Conservatives of any stripe, whether a Tea Party type, Talk Radio, conservative media or conservative Republican are racists because they tend to support smaller government and promote capitalism, which again is the system used to keep non-whites oppressed.
  7. CRT supports open borders and abhors any regulation of immigration since this is the White’s system to keep non-whites out of the country, primarily to preserve their majority.
  8. They do acknowledge the higher crime rate of Black males but rather that offer any useful way to reduce it, they instead insist it really is not so bad because it is dwarfed by the damage caused by white collar crimes committed by Whites

Folks this non-sense was created by Ivy-League law school academics, not some average activist who stumbled on a copy of Marx’s Das Kapital.  Our job is to root this stuff out in our schools and the workplace, but it will take diligence to spot since it is a “theory” working its way into existing subjects and work practices, not an overt new program that is easy to spot and oppose.

Larry Wiwi

Obituary for Eula Turner

EULA TURNER

Eula Turner, age 92, of Brookville, died Monday evening February 7, 2022, at her residence in Brookville following a lengthy illness. 

Born December 1, 1929, in Letcher County, Kentucky she was the daughter of the late Chris and Synthia (Adams) Shepherd. On May 1, 1954, she was united in marriage to Berry Turner, and he preceded her in death on August 19, 2001.

She had been employed at the former Elm Drive-In and Dairy Cottage as a cook and had also worked as a housekeeper and at American Greetings.  In her leisure time she enjoyed visiting with family and friends. 

Survivors include two children, Gary Turner of Brookville, and Kathy Turner of Brookville; three grandchildren, Shelby Hamilton, Trevor Turner and Karissa Turner; three sisters, Dorothy Damon of Bright, Lori Schrichten of Dillsboro, and Lavern Webster of Bright.

In addition to her parents, and husband Berry, she was preceded in death by a son Gregory Lee Turner who died in 2010.

Private services will be held for the family with burial in Maple Grove Cemetery. The staff of Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home are honored to serve the Turner family, to sign the online guest book or send personal condolences to the family please visit www.phillipsandmeyers.com.

Obituary for Mark A. Greye

MARK A. GREYE

Mark A. Greye, age 59, of South Portland, Maine, and formerly of Brookville, died Sunday, February 6, 2022, at McCullough Hyde Memorial Hospital in Oxford, Ohio following a brief illness.

Born July 2, 1962, in Connersville, he was the son of the late James W. ‘Tom’ and Dorothy Ruth ‘Dot’ (Updike) Greye. 

Survivors include his wife, Denise (Madjerac) Greye; two children, Adam Greye and Taylor Greye; a brother, Michael Greye; stepdaughters, Brianna (Matthew) Rothman of Cumberland Maine, and Andrea Campbell of South Portland, Maine; four grandchildren that were the loves of his life, Isabelle, Holly, Pierce and Ruby, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was a wonderful ‘Popi’ and took great pleasure in being a grandfather, stepdad, and husband.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Ronnie Greye and Gary ‘Tiny’ Greye.

Private services will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Maine Transplant Program. 19 West Street, Portland, Maine 04101. The staff of Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home is honored to once again serve the Greye family, to sign the online guest book or send personal condolences please visit www.phillipsandmeyers.com .

Obituary for Zetta Banks

ZETTA BANKS

Zetta Banks, age 72, of Laurel, passed on February 3, 2022. She was born on February 4, 1949, the daughter of the late Baxter and Mary Lee Woods Banks. 

Zetta was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed crafting, crossword puzzles and spending time with her family. She retired after 12 years of service at Gecom in 2013. 

She is survived by a son, Kevin (Jacque Collins) Banks; daughters, Tracy Moore, Teresa Banks, Carolyn (Belinda Davidson) Banks, and Christina Banks; as well as several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded by a son, Wayne Banks; a grandson, Brandon Banks; and siblings, Ruby Hacker, Gladys Saterfield, Shirley Lunsford Heiob, Beulah Banks, Dallas Banks, and Fred Banks.

Private services will be conducted at the convenience of the family.

Urban Winkler Funeral Home is honored to assist the family with the arrangements for Ms. Banks.