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October 7, 2014 • Headlines
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Jim Cole and daughter Megan take advantage of the free race at South Dearborn HS, after the HS Invitational to practice. Winning doesn’t just happen, it takes work and lots of it. GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO |
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The Versailles Pumpkin Baking Contest was held as part of the 112th Versailles Pumpkin Show. Sponsored by Ripley Publishing Co., several awards were given in various categories. In the bread category, pictured from left, first place went to Lisa Sanders, 2nd place to Lindsey Hostetler and third to Alvin Busching. MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO |
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River Valley Financial Bank located in Osgood celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting recently. Pictured from left, front row Amy Thomas, Alicia Berry, Henrietta Lay, Deanna Liter, Kerri Morris, Matt Forester, Marilyn Turner, Jenny Darnold and Alesha Neal; second row Justin Smith, Phil Hart, Bob Morrison, Lonnie Collins, Fred Koehler and Bart Hicks. LINDA CHANDLER PHOTO |
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Six injured, one killed in accident
Versailles man facing charges
A 23-year-old Versailles man is facing numerous charges from a two-vehicle accident that claimed the life of a Kansas man and injured six others Saturday afternoon. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.
INDIANA STATE POLICE SUBMITTED PHOTO
Police were on the scene of the two-vehicle accident Saturday. Pictured left is the Ford Focus driven by Jordan Griffin involved in the crash. The passenger, John Thomas Walker, 21, of Kansas, was killed.
According to Trooper Matt Holley, at approximately 3:50 p.m. a 2013 Ford Focus driven by Jordan T. Griffin of Versailles was northbound on U.S. 421 near the Jefferson Proving Ground main entrance. A 2001 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Charles L. McRoberts, Jr., 37, also of Versailles, was southbound on U.S. 421 when the Ford Focus crossed the centerline and struck the pickup truck head-on. John Thomas Walker, 21, a passenger in the Ford Focus from Arkansas City, Kansas, was pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers and four passengers in the Dodge Ram were taken to King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. Three of the passengers were the driver’s children. The passengers included 11-year-old Bailey McRoberts; Tyler Smith, 11; Hogan Jackson, 11; and two-year-old Pacey McRoberts. Bailey McRoberts, Tyler Smith and Hogan Jackson were later air lifted to University of Louisville Hospital for more serious injuries.
INDIANA STATE POLICE SUBMITTED PHOTO
Pictured right is the Dodge Ram, involved in the two-vehicle accident on US 421. There were five people in this vehicle, four of those children. They all sustained injuries. The investigation continues.
Griffin suffered minor lacerations and bruising and Charles McRoberts, Jr. suffered head injuries. Blood alcohol testing indicated Griffin to have a BAC of 0.41 percent and he is facing numerous charges as a result of his impaired driving condition. The crash remains under investigation. Griffin is a 2009 South Ripley graduate. Holley was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.
Safe Passage shelter
Fire destroys playground
Flames and thick, black smoke filled the downtown Batesville sky Sunday afternoon from a fire at Safe Passage, the domestic violence shelter. The fire burned down the entire playground, which is fenced in at the back of the brick building. The shelter serves residents from five counties, including Ripley. No one was hurt, but residents were evacuated.
MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO
Pictured left, fire destroyed the Safe Passage shelter playground. The cause is under investigation.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, and the state fire marshal arrived Sunday evening to continue the investigation, according to Jane Yorn, executive director of the residential shelter. When asked if it was deliberate, she said they are not ruling it out. She also said detectives will be reviewing the security cameras that were in place around the building. Despite the smoke, the shelter remained open for the residents. There were several families occupying the rooms at the time, Yorn said. “We have a contingency plan in place in case of fire,” she said.
A person across the street saw the flames at the playground and called 911around 4 p.m. Batesville police dispatched the call, and three fire departments, Batesville, Oldenburg and Morris responded, along with the EMS squad. Fire Chief Todd Schutte said they arrived within one minute from the call, and within 3 minutes had water spraying on it, extinguishing the fire in 30 seconds. Because of the rubber tire, mulch flooring and vinyl fencing, he noted, “It got real hot, real fast,” he said, causing the heavy black smoke. There was no damage to the interior, but Schutte said a big challenge was getting the smoke out of the old, three-story building. Cecil Ison, owner of a nearby restaurant, commented, “I couldn’t see out our front window because the smoke was so black.” The smell of smoke was also strong in the building.
Yorn said the playground equipment was about a year old, and the slide alone cost about $25,000. Yorn said they were fortunate no one was hurt, and noted the firefighters responded quickly and so did the community. Rev. Dave Johnston with the Batesville Ministerial Association came to offer support. Many of the residents stayed at the restaurant as the firefighters cleared the scene. Upon hearing of the fire, a pizza delivery customer contributed money to provide pizza for the shelter resident families. “This community is just great,” Yorn said, touched by their quick outpouring. She was also grateful the shelter has insurance. Ironically, October is domestic violence awareness month. Ripley County is the largest recipient of the five counties the organization serves, with one-third of the shelter’s clients from Ripley County.
Versailles man facing charges
A 23-year-old Versailles man is facing numerous charges from a two-vehicle accident that claimed the life of a Kansas man and injured six others Saturday afternoon. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.
INDIANA STATE POLICE SUBMITTED PHOTO
Police were on the scene of the two-vehicle accident Saturday. Pictured left is the Ford Focus driven by Jordan Griffin involved in the crash. The passenger, John Thomas Walker, 21, of Kansas, was killed.
According to Trooper Matt Holley, at approximately 3:50 p.m. a 2013 Ford Focus driven by Jordan T. Griffin of Versailles was northbound on U.S. 421 near the Jefferson Proving Ground main entrance. A 2001 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Charles L. McRoberts, Jr., 37, also of Versailles, was southbound on U.S. 421 when the Ford Focus crossed the centerline and struck the pickup truck head-on. John Thomas Walker, 21, a passenger in the Ford Focus from Arkansas City, Kansas, was pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers and four passengers in the Dodge Ram were taken to King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. Three of the passengers were the driver’s children. The passengers included 11-year-old Bailey McRoberts; Tyler Smith, 11; Hogan Jackson, 11; and two-year-old Pacey McRoberts. Bailey McRoberts, Tyler Smith and Hogan Jackson were later air lifted to University of Louisville Hospital for more serious injuries.
INDIANA STATE POLICE SUBMITTED PHOTO
Pictured right is the Dodge Ram, involved in the two-vehicle accident on US 421. There were five people in this vehicle, four of those children. They all sustained injuries. The investigation continues.
Griffin suffered minor lacerations and bruising and Charles McRoberts, Jr. suffered head injuries. Blood alcohol testing indicated Griffin to have a BAC of 0.41 percent and he is facing numerous charges as a result of his impaired driving condition. The crash remains under investigation. Griffin is a 2009 South Ripley graduate. Holley was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.
Safe Passage shelter
Fire destroys playground
Flames and thick, black smoke filled the downtown Batesville sky Sunday afternoon from a fire at Safe Passage, the domestic violence shelter. The fire burned down the entire playground, which is fenced in at the back of the brick building. The shelter serves residents from five counties, including Ripley. No one was hurt, but residents were evacuated.
MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO
Pictured left, fire destroyed the Safe Passage shelter playground. The cause is under investigation.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, and the state fire marshal arrived Sunday evening to continue the investigation, according to Jane Yorn, executive director of the residential shelter. When asked if it was deliberate, she said they are not ruling it out. She also said detectives will be reviewing the security cameras that were in place around the building. Despite the smoke, the shelter remained open for the residents. There were several families occupying the rooms at the time, Yorn said. “We have a contingency plan in place in case of fire,” she said.
A person across the street saw the flames at the playground and called 911around 4 p.m. Batesville police dispatched the call, and three fire departments, Batesville, Oldenburg and Morris responded, along with the EMS squad. Fire Chief Todd Schutte said they arrived within one minute from the call, and within 3 minutes had water spraying on it, extinguishing the fire in 30 seconds. Because of the rubber tire, mulch flooring and vinyl fencing, he noted, “It got real hot, real fast,” he said, causing the heavy black smoke. There was no damage to the interior, but Schutte said a big challenge was getting the smoke out of the old, three-story building. Cecil Ison, owner of a nearby restaurant, commented, “I couldn’t see out our front window because the smoke was so black.” The smell of smoke was also strong in the building.
Yorn said the playground equipment was about a year old, and the slide alone cost about $25,000. Yorn said they were fortunate no one was hurt, and noted the firefighters responded quickly and so did the community. Rev. Dave Johnston with the Batesville Ministerial Association came to offer support. Many of the residents stayed at the restaurant as the firefighters cleared the scene. Upon hearing of the fire, a pizza delivery customer contributed money to provide pizza for the shelter resident families. “This community is just great,” Yorn said, touched by their quick outpouring. She was also grateful the shelter has insurance. Ironically, October is domestic violence awareness month. Ripley County is the largest recipient of the five counties the organization serves, with one-third of the shelter’s clients from Ripley County.
