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October 23, 2014 • Headlines
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New Town of Versailles employee Ken Cone helps with leaf pickup.The pickup is on Mondays and Thursdays until Nov. 21. Versailles residents are asked to have leaves at the edge of the road for machine pickup. MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO |
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Scott Huffman shows EMS members Personal Protective Equipment to be used if Ebola symptoms are suspected in a patient. Training was held Tuesday at Delaware Fire Department building located on SR 129. MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO |
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A ‘friendly’ painted hay bale awaits visitors at the entrance to the Jacob Scare Memorial Haunted Woods. The haunted woods is just one of many Halloween happenings in the area. MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO |
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Halloween hours and happenings
Mary Mattingly
EDITOR
mmattingly@ripleynews.com
There will be pretty princesses, tough ninja turtles, scary vampires, haunting ghosts and gross goblins roaming local streets come Oct. 31. It’s Halloween and Trick or Treat is staged to be celebrated in the county on the actual holiday, Friday, Oct. 31. Last year, it was delayed due to a bad storm.
MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO
Brian Vogel, pictured left, sets up the haunted woods for The Jacob Scare. The fundraiser is held at the Vogel's property on Olean Road off SR 129 south of Versailles on weekends from 8 to 11 p.m.
Trick or Treat
All but one of the communities in Ripley County will have Trick or Treat on Friday, Oct. 31. Holton, Versailles, Milan, Osgood, Sunman and Napoleon are from 5 to 7 p.m. Batesville is from 6 to 8 p.m. with the legion parade beginning at 6 p.m. Versailles parade starts at 7 p.m. at the American Legion post on Washington and Water Street. Friendship will have trick or treat on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Costume contest
The Versailles American Legion Halloween Costume Contest is a “don’t miss” for candy and costume lovers. Roger Kavanaugh, legion representative, said, “We have done this for many years, at least 30 or 40 years. It’s part of our service to the community. We’ll have probably 200 kids participate in the parade.” Versailles Town Marshal Joe Mann will escort the parade, followed by the South Ripley Jr. High band, with the fire truck at the end. It will end at the former bank building on the square, now the Ripley County Historical Building, where judges will have the difficult task of deciding who has the best costume. There are 9 categories, with cash prizes for the top four. The categories include: clowns and cartoon characters, witches and vampires, animals, ghosts and goblins, prettiest, ugliest / scariest, best homemade, heroes and villians and miscellaneous. First place gets $4, second, $3, third, $2, and $1. But all of the parade participants will get a soda pop and regular size candy bar.
Halloween happenings
There are several events to either scare or entertain you for Halloween. On Oct. 31, the Tyson United Methodist Church is hosting a Trunk or Treat and inviting little ones to stop by for treats.
MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO
Pictured right, Ann Vogel moves The Jacob Scare decorations from the house to set up for the haunted woods fundraiser for the next two weekends.
“The Jacob Scare” is a haunted woods adventure on Olean Road just off SR 129 south of Versailles. Brian and Ann Vogel's family and friends have gone all out to scare visitors as they walk through the woods on their property. It costs $5 per person or $15 for groups of four. All proceeds go to the Jacob Vogel’s Memorial Fund. The funds are being raised for the Jacob Vogel Memorial Fund, an endowment fund within the Ripley County Community Foundation to benefit the fund. The haunted woods is open the following two weekends, weather permitting.
Southeastern Indiana YMCA has fall harvest celebration on Friday Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and it is open to the community. For the bigger set, there is
In Batesville, a former furniture and coffin factory has been converted to a haunted house. About 70 people are involved in the tour, and proceeds go to Cierra’s Club to provide drug-free healthy fun for teens. It costs $5 for 18 and under, $10 otherwise, and is open Friday and Saturdays at RomWeber Marketplace south entrance. See Coming Events for more Halloween happenings.
Versailles prepares for big salt cost
Mary Mattingly
EDITOR
mmattingly@ripleynews.com
The price of salt to treat the roads in the winter has skyrocketed. Kevin Hensley, Versailles utility superintendent, reported to the town council at their regular meeting Oct. 16, that last year they paid $65 a ton for salt, and the best quote he has so far is $136 per ton. He’s checked with other towns and they are reporting similar quotes.
The town went through 300 tons of salt last winter, but “it was a bad winter,” he acknowledged. He’ll order some sand and use brine also to treat the roads. Hensley negotiated with the state and said the price will be over $100 per ton, but they have to commit to taking 80 percent, even if they don’t end up needing it. Morton’s supply orders were not as strict as the state, but it was expensive. He said the county highway will also provide about 20 tons of salt should they need it, but will charge the town. “There’s not much I can do,” he commented. The good news is weather forecasters are not calling for a polar vortex like last winter, but several heavy storms are predicted.
Hensley also reported the sewer line work on High Street will end up to be costly due to the deep rock. He said they spent $7,000 on gravel, and installed two manholes and 600 foot of sewer line. There’s another $3,000 worth of work slated for a North Adams sewer project, and a much larger one near the grocery store which crosses the highway that will be about $45,000. He said they’ll need a grant to help fund that project.
Hensley will also be removing a dilapidated barn on Tanglewood and High Streets, and town attorney Larry Eaton is looking into a lien on the property. A storage shed on West Street will also be taken down and the owners billed.
Marshal’s report
Joe Mann said he’s been working on solving several vehicle and other burglaries in town. “I have a good idea of who it is,” he said. He mentioned money from the cash box at the Moonlite Motel was taken, and burglaries from a couple of apartments on Horton Street and Tanglewood.
Mann was approached by the county probation department for assistance with home drug probation visits. They are asking several police units in the county to help on certain days which would then reduce overtime hours. Mann said he is willing to do so on Wednesdays and it shouldn’t interfere with his town marshal schedule. The council was okay with it, as long as it didn’t interfere with his hours and the car stayed in town. Mann didn’t think he would have to go outside of the county and thought it could lead to helpful criminal information for the future. After some discussion, it was agreed to try it for a 90 day period.
The town is considering adding playground equipment at the sports complex. Equipment is costly, and they may be able to build swing sets or a sandbox on their own. They can’t use South Ripley’s equipment due to insurance reasons. Council member Steve Mathes suggested they start planning soon for the next season. Clerk Kiersten Libby thanked Andi Richter for coordinating the soccer finances, scheduling, teams, etc. “She did a great job,” she said. Libby commented she has received sales inquiries about the water plant building equipment.
Annexation
A first reading on the North Main Street annexation ordinance was held. Attorney Larry Eaton said he has had no objections. The property owners have been receiving town services even though they were not annexed. Second readings on annexation for the Baugh, Begley, Lohrum and Sheets and Son properties were held. Third readings will be next month at the council meeting, with the hearing in December. A third reading on the South Main and Harvest Ridge properties was held, and that hearing will be next month.
All three council members, Sue Meisberger, Steve Mathes and John Holzer attended the meeting, along with Clerk-Treasurer Kiersten Libby and Attorney Larry Eaton. The meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the town hall.
Mary Mattingly
EDITOR
mmattingly@ripleynews.com
There will be pretty princesses, tough ninja turtles, scary vampires, haunting ghosts and gross goblins roaming local streets come Oct. 31. It’s Halloween and Trick or Treat is staged to be celebrated in the county on the actual holiday, Friday, Oct. 31. Last year, it was delayed due to a bad storm.
MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO
Brian Vogel, pictured left, sets up the haunted woods for The Jacob Scare. The fundraiser is held at the Vogel's property on Olean Road off SR 129 south of Versailles on weekends from 8 to 11 p.m.
Trick or Treat
All but one of the communities in Ripley County will have Trick or Treat on Friday, Oct. 31. Holton, Versailles, Milan, Osgood, Sunman and Napoleon are from 5 to 7 p.m. Batesville is from 6 to 8 p.m. with the legion parade beginning at 6 p.m. Versailles parade starts at 7 p.m. at the American Legion post on Washington and Water Street. Friendship will have trick or treat on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Costume contest
The Versailles American Legion Halloween Costume Contest is a “don’t miss” for candy and costume lovers. Roger Kavanaugh, legion representative, said, “We have done this for many years, at least 30 or 40 years. It’s part of our service to the community. We’ll have probably 200 kids participate in the parade.” Versailles Town Marshal Joe Mann will escort the parade, followed by the South Ripley Jr. High band, with the fire truck at the end. It will end at the former bank building on the square, now the Ripley County Historical Building, where judges will have the difficult task of deciding who has the best costume. There are 9 categories, with cash prizes for the top four. The categories include: clowns and cartoon characters, witches and vampires, animals, ghosts and goblins, prettiest, ugliest / scariest, best homemade, heroes and villians and miscellaneous. First place gets $4, second, $3, third, $2, and $1. But all of the parade participants will get a soda pop and regular size candy bar.
Halloween happenings
There are several events to either scare or entertain you for Halloween. On Oct. 31, the Tyson United Methodist Church is hosting a Trunk or Treat and inviting little ones to stop by for treats.
MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO
Pictured right, Ann Vogel moves The Jacob Scare decorations from the house to set up for the haunted woods fundraiser for the next two weekends.
“The Jacob Scare” is a haunted woods adventure on Olean Road just off SR 129 south of Versailles. Brian and Ann Vogel's family and friends have gone all out to scare visitors as they walk through the woods on their property. It costs $5 per person or $15 for groups of four. All proceeds go to the Jacob Vogel’s Memorial Fund. The funds are being raised for the Jacob Vogel Memorial Fund, an endowment fund within the Ripley County Community Foundation to benefit the fund. The haunted woods is open the following two weekends, weather permitting.
Southeastern Indiana YMCA has fall harvest celebration on Friday Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and it is open to the community. For the bigger set, there is
In Batesville, a former furniture and coffin factory has been converted to a haunted house. About 70 people are involved in the tour, and proceeds go to Cierra’s Club to provide drug-free healthy fun for teens. It costs $5 for 18 and under, $10 otherwise, and is open Friday and Saturdays at RomWeber Marketplace south entrance. See Coming Events for more Halloween happenings.
Versailles prepares for big salt cost
Mary Mattingly
EDITOR
mmattingly@ripleynews.com
The price of salt to treat the roads in the winter has skyrocketed. Kevin Hensley, Versailles utility superintendent, reported to the town council at their regular meeting Oct. 16, that last year they paid $65 a ton for salt, and the best quote he has so far is $136 per ton. He’s checked with other towns and they are reporting similar quotes.
The town went through 300 tons of salt last winter, but “it was a bad winter,” he acknowledged. He’ll order some sand and use brine also to treat the roads. Hensley negotiated with the state and said the price will be over $100 per ton, but they have to commit to taking 80 percent, even if they don’t end up needing it. Morton’s supply orders were not as strict as the state, but it was expensive. He said the county highway will also provide about 20 tons of salt should they need it, but will charge the town. “There’s not much I can do,” he commented. The good news is weather forecasters are not calling for a polar vortex like last winter, but several heavy storms are predicted.
Hensley also reported the sewer line work on High Street will end up to be costly due to the deep rock. He said they spent $7,000 on gravel, and installed two manholes and 600 foot of sewer line. There’s another $3,000 worth of work slated for a North Adams sewer project, and a much larger one near the grocery store which crosses the highway that will be about $45,000. He said they’ll need a grant to help fund that project.
Hensley will also be removing a dilapidated barn on Tanglewood and High Streets, and town attorney Larry Eaton is looking into a lien on the property. A storage shed on West Street will also be taken down and the owners billed.
Marshal’s report
Joe Mann said he’s been working on solving several vehicle and other burglaries in town. “I have a good idea of who it is,” he said. He mentioned money from the cash box at the Moonlite Motel was taken, and burglaries from a couple of apartments on Horton Street and Tanglewood.
Mann was approached by the county probation department for assistance with home drug probation visits. They are asking several police units in the county to help on certain days which would then reduce overtime hours. Mann said he is willing to do so on Wednesdays and it shouldn’t interfere with his town marshal schedule. The council was okay with it, as long as it didn’t interfere with his hours and the car stayed in town. Mann didn’t think he would have to go outside of the county and thought it could lead to helpful criminal information for the future. After some discussion, it was agreed to try it for a 90 day period.
The town is considering adding playground equipment at the sports complex. Equipment is costly, and they may be able to build swing sets or a sandbox on their own. They can’t use South Ripley’s equipment due to insurance reasons. Council member Steve Mathes suggested they start planning soon for the next season. Clerk Kiersten Libby thanked Andi Richter for coordinating the soccer finances, scheduling, teams, etc. “She did a great job,” she said. Libby commented she has received sales inquiries about the water plant building equipment.
Annexation
A first reading on the North Main Street annexation ordinance was held. Attorney Larry Eaton said he has had no objections. The property owners have been receiving town services even though they were not annexed. Second readings on annexation for the Baugh, Begley, Lohrum and Sheets and Son properties were held. Third readings will be next month at the council meeting, with the hearing in December. A third reading on the South Main and Harvest Ridge properties was held, and that hearing will be next month.
All three council members, Sue Meisberger, Steve Mathes and John Holzer attended the meeting, along with Clerk-Treasurer Kiersten Libby and Attorney Larry Eaton. The meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the town hall.
