Wanda English Burnett
Editor

Officers responded to an accident site last Thursday, October 25 to find a baby had been struck by a pickup truck in the Dabney area (4722 W. Hopewell Road).

CPR was in progress on Adrik Kei Hanaway, 14 months old of North Vernon, who was lying in the middle of the road when officers arrived.

Police say that he had been playing with his brother and sister in the yard and were unsure why he was in the road.

Jonathon Phillips, 19, of Holton, told officers he was driving his 1992 Ford Ranger pickup truck heading westbound on Hopewell Road and had been texting before the accident.

Phillips told police he looked down to set his cell phone down and that's when he hit something in the road. He said he thought he struck an animal and turned around to see what he had hit. It was then the teenager realized he had struck a child.

Officers say that Phillips was very distraught, but cooperated with investigators completely. Police say drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the accident.

The baby was taken by Rescue 69 personnel and the Ripley County Medic to Jennings County Hospital. From there he was flown by PHI to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis where he died from injuries received in the accident.

Adrik was described as a "happy, smiling boy." His mother told the media it was almost more than she could bear, saying she had already lost another son, Jayren. She told parents to hold their kids a little tighter.

Jedidiah and Alicia Hanaway, who are from North Vernon, noted they were at the home of a relative in Dabney helping to seal windows before the winter months. No one knows exactly why the child was unrestrained, as the mother told that she had buckled him into his car seat as they were almost ready to leave. She told media that she believed one of the children unbuckled the baby and that's how he got out.

The Hanaways say they feel if Phillips hadn't been texting the outcome might have been different.

According to Sheriff Tom Grills, "Law enforcement cannot reiterate enough that driving a vehicle requires all of the driver's attention." He went on to say, "Communication devices, radios, reading material, and applying make up, to name a few, are all things officers observe on the roadways that distracts drivers and leads to tragedies such as this."

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 31 at Vernon Cemetery. The family is asking that memorials be made through Sawyer-Pickett Funeral & Cremation Service at PO Box 112, North Vernon, IN 47265 and will go to the family to help with costs at this time.

Grandparents of Adrik include Jim and Alma Hanaway of Queensville; Tom and Shirley Tyler (formerly of Holton) North Vernon; Leah Lopez, Columbus; Bill Brinson, North Vernon; Darrel & Pamela Simpson, Versailles, and Penny Wood, Madison.

Survivors also include a sister, Novalee and brother, Darius.

The accident is still under investigation by the Ripley County Sheriff's Office. They were assisted at the sceen by Osgood, Holton, and Versailles police departments, Indiana State Police, Holton Fire, Rescue 69 and Ripley County Medic.

Sheriff Grills told the Osgood Journal when the investigation is complete it will be forwarded to the prosecutor's office for review for any charges that might be filed.

Adrik Kei Hanaway

Karen Reynolds
Contributing Writer

At the Holton Town Board meeting held October 11 the board held a 2013 budget hearing. Just after the budget hearing was closed, Trick or Treat hours were set for Wednesday, October 31 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The board noted other dates to remember:

October 17: Project Aftermath to hold an emergency preparedness workshop.

October 27: The Holton Wesleyan Church will be holding a community event at the Community Center starting at 4:00 p.m.

Unanimous approval was given per a request from the Holton Fire Department for the town to be the applicant for a Community Focus grant from the State of Indiana to construct a new fire house.

A contract was presented from the Holton Water Company for the contracting of the sewer billing. There were several proposed changes. John Ertel, town attorney, will review this contract.

Unanimous approval was given to work with Richard Zinz, state licensed home inspector and attorney John Ertel on complaints received concerning unsafe buildings in town.

Approval given for Gretchen Moore, town clerk, to get estimates for sidewalks and signs for the upcoming January grant cycle of the Rising Sun Regional Foundation.

Financial reports of the revenue and expenses related to the March 2, 2012 tornado were presented for review. All claims related to the tornado have been paid. the Red Cross will be contacted regarding the expenses paid for by the town related to using the Holton Community Center as a shelter following the tornado. The remaining balance of private donations into the Park Disaster Relief Fund is $2,659.00. These remaining monies will be used to replace the park flag pole and do lettering on the shelter houses. Unanimous approval given for Seth Wenning to volunteer time with the Maintenance Department for community service hours for a scholarship.

Town workers Jimmy Adkins and Ronnie Downey noted that the water fountain and mulch has been installed at the town park. They are gearing up for leaf pickup. Approval was given for Dave O-Mara to seal all the roads in town.

Those attending this meeting were Andy Stratton, Angi Farrell, Paul Hughes, and Gretchen Moore.

The next meeting will be November 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the community building.