Ripley Publishing Company

February 16, 2012

Vietnam Wall replica coming to Versailles

The Ripley County Veterans Memorial Committee joined by Ripley County Veterans Service organizations are pleased to announce an upcoming Vietnam Veterans Tribute, which will honor veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam War. Recognition will be given to veterans who lived in Ripley County at that time, as well as veterans who are currently living in the county.
The Vietnam Veterans Tribute consists of two major events which will be held in Ripley County in July. The first event begins on July 18 when the American Veterans Travelling Tribute will arrive in Versailles and be ready for viewing the afternoon of Thursday, July 19 through July 22. The focal point of the American Veterans Travelling Tribute consists of an 80% replica of the Vietnam War Memorial, which includes all names of Vietnam veterans that are engraved on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. In addition to the Vietnam War Memorial replication, the American Veterans Travelling Tribute honors all who have contributed to the cost of freedom in the United States with panels which honor those veterans who died in Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. There are also panels which pay tribute to veterans from World War II and Korea, as well as a 911 panel honoring firefighters and policemen from the War on Terror.
The Southeastern Career Center on US 50 in Versailles will be the site of the display. The second event will be held on Saturday afternoon, July 21 at the South Ripley High School Gymnasium. Sammie Davis, Vietnam Medal of honor recipient, will be the keynote speaker. Ripley County Vietnam Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Medal recipients will be honored. The event will also honor surviving family members of Vietnam Veterans killed or missing in action in Vietnam. Ripley County Vietnam and Vietnam era Veterans present will also be recognized.
All residents of Ripley County are invited to attend to give a long overdue "thank you" to a Vietnam vet. A dinner and dance with 60’s and 70’s music will follow at the VFW Post 6234 in Milan. The major part of the funding for this project is due to a grant awarded by the Rising Sun Regional Foundation, Inc. Donors to date include the John C. Bishop Memorial Fund. Additional funding and volunteers from the community are needed to complete this project. To volunteer your time or to make a monetary donation, contact C.T. "Sugo" Castner at 812-689-7110.

Ison pleads guilty to 5 murders

Wanda English Burnett
Editor

Just days after Franklin County Prosecutor Mel Wilhelm filed the charge of Life Without the Possibility of Parole against David Ison, 46, of Glenwood, Ison pled guilty to murdering five people in Franklin County.
Ison pled guilty in Franklin Circuit Court on Tuesday, February 14 to killing four members of one family and a neighbor near Laurel on September 25. 2011. The deceased are: Roy Napier, 50, Angela Napier, 47, Melissa Napier, 23, and Jacob Napier, 18, along with their neighbor Henry X. Smith, 43. Ripley Publishing Co files revealed that Ison and his live-in girlfriend, Amanda Napier (no relation to the Napier family that was murdered) went to the Napier’s home to purchase oxycodone. A Probable Cause Affidavit said that Ison was going to buy 50 pills, but Roy Napier only had 30. That, along with the $2 change in price were apparent reasons for the killings, according to court records.
Another crime that had occurred in May in Ripley County had provided DNA evidence of Ison as he had attempted to rob the G.A. Triplett and son Pharmacy in Osgood. Through the investigation, police kept vigilant watch on the Ison home in Connersville. When he left and was pulled over for a traffic violation he was found in disguise and told police he was wearing the disguise because there was a murderer loose in the county. In the car, police found a .380 handgun along with an AK-47 assault rifle. Police had reason to believe that Ison, and his girlfriend, Napier, who was with him, were on their way to commit a robbery at the CVS Store in Batesville.
Sentencing for Ison has been set for March 14 in the murder case in Franklin County. Since he has pled guilty, he gave up his right to appeal the verdict. Judge Steve Cox said the March 14 date is just for victim impact statements. Ison will still have his day in court in Ripley County for the attempted robbery at G.A. Triplett and son Pharmacy in Osgood, as will Napier. Pre-sentencing is set for July 30 with a jury trial set for September 18 for Ison. Napier, who is still incarcerated in the Ripley County Jail, will have a pre-trial on April 10 and her jury trial is scheduled for May 22.

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