Stories from Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Jack and Sylvia Heuby of Lyons will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Sunday, Jan. 30 with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Lyons Health & Living Center, County Road 800 West, Lyons. Friends are invited to attend, but the couple requests that gifts be omitted. Cards may be sent to 4750 W 200 S, Lyons, IN 47443...

A long-time Bloomfield business has a new partner. The Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce conducted a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony last Wednesday afternoon for Stadler and Company's new tax service operation at 22 South Franklin St. -- the former Jerry Frye Tax Service on the west side of the courthouse square...

Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cheryl Hamilton has been named president of the Indiana State Festivals Association (ISFA). According to a press release, Hamilton will serve for the 2011 and 2012 years. She has served on the board of directors for ISFA since 2006, and served as the organization's vice president in 2009 and 2010...

A power pole was broken in a one-vehicle crash on Lone Tree Road on Tuesday evening but the driver was wearing her seatbelt and was not reported to have been injured. Lora Rumple, 21, of Worthington, was southbound on Lone Tree Road in a 2002 Jeep Cherokee when the accident occurred at approximately 6:55 p.m...

The Greene County Sheriff's Department is investigating a fatal traffic wreck that occurred Tuesday night on State Road 54 near the junction with County Road 800E in Center Township. The victim, who was deceased at the scene, has been identified as Coralee M. VanPelt, 34, of Linton. The other occupant of the vehicle was Jeannie J. Stephens, 32, of Solsberry. She was transported to Bloomington Hospital with unspecified injuries, according to GCSD Major Mike Hasler. The hospital has no information to release on Stephens' condition, according to a Bloomington Hospital spokesperson Todd Curtis. Police have been unable to determine which one of the vehicle's occupants was actually the driver, Hasler told the Greene County Daily World. Hasler said investigators are interviewing witnesses and trying to determine what happened in the 10:41 p.m. single-vehicle crash. "We believe there was only two occupants of the vehicle," Hasler said. "The detectives and the deputies are doing the follow up and interviewing witnesses and possible witnesses. It's still ongoing." Assisting the GCSD at the scene were Center Township Fire and Rescue, the Greene County Coroner's office, and the Greene County Ambulance Service.

Eastern Greene High School will host its annual basketball homecoming Saturday against North Central. King and queen and prince and princess candidates are (front, from left) Morgan Groomer, Chelsey Bailey, Haley Jones, Sydney Spice, Kasey Rogers, Brittany Igel, Leanna Bailey; Nicole Hudson, and (back, from left) Cole Postell, Blade Burris, Tanner Clark, Keith Milhoan, Davis Russell, Brody Martin, Jarred Groomer, and Cody Hopkins...

Two Democrat mayoral candidates in Linton tossed their hats in the political arena Wednesday -- the first day to file for the upcoming city elections. Greene County Council President John Wilkes and former Greene County Highway Department Superintendent Mike Hennette both formally filed candidacy for mayor before 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The two men will be looking to succeed current Mayor Tom Jones, who has earlier announced he will not be a candidate for a third term. "There have been so many people (talk to me). I wasn't going to do it and different ones have asked me. There have been so many of them. We're going to give it a whirl and see what happens," Wilkes told the Greene County Daily World on Wednesday morning. Wilkes, who owns Mercury Cleaners in Linton and Bloomfield, is starting his third term on the council. He served as president in 2009 and 2010 and was vice president for the three previous years. He has been heavily involved in the county budget process. The veteran businessman has also been active in the Greene County Shrine Club and serves on the Friends of Phil Harris Golf Tournament Committee as well as the Greene County Foundation Weekend Planning Committee that annually oversees the Evening with Roy Clark scholarship benefit show. Wilkes said he preferred at this time not to talk about issues or the specifics of his campaign, but would have a statement and more details in a few days. Hennette, in a formal statement issued to the Greene County Daily World, stated, "As we continue into the 21st century under the current economic times, Linton needs someone as mayor who has the experience of staying within a budget and has been able in the past to make more out of less. Having spent my adult life in three different positions that have dealt with million-dollars-plus budgets, I have the experience Linton needs." Hennette, who resigned as county highway department Sept. 24, 2010, cited a desire to spend more time with his family as a primary reason for his decision to leave the county post. He started the job January 2009, and had previously served in the same leadership position for three years before retiring at the end of 2005. He previously held a middle management position with Peabody Coal Company for 27 years. Hennette also served as an engineering assistant with the Indiana Department of Transportation. Speaking about his tenure as county road superintendent, Hennette said, "Working with a limited budget, tough calls were made by me concerning money on where and what to spend. Those decisions became tougher as funding from the state was reduced. However, when making a decision, I constantly asked myself, 'Are we getting the most bang for our buck? Are we helping the most people we can with this decision'." The mayoral candidate said being a successful leader (mayor) isn't just staying within a budget. The mayor needs to be a good people person, he said. "Having good people and letting them do what they are trained and hired to do is essential. The mayor is like the CEO of a company. He hires people to run the various departments and perform tasks, gives them a directive on what his vision for the city is, and then gets out of the way and allows these people to do their job. This is what I have done over the years in other jobs and what I will continue to do if elected mayor," he stated. Hennette proposed to conduct quarterly meetings with the citizens of the town so they can share with him ideas and concerns as well as allowing him to share with them updates about the city. In other Linton races, Jathan Wright, a political science/history major at Indiana State University and grandson of former Linton Mayor the late Jimmie K. Wright, filed for a city council seat in Ward 6. He's a 2008 graduate of Linton-Stockton High School and president of the Greene County Young Democrats. In Linton, clerk-treasurer, City Council Ward 3, City Council Ward 4, City Council Ward 5, City Council Ward 6 and City Council Ward 7 are on the ballot. The filing period ends at noon Feb. 18.

Betty L. Coffin, 84, of Terre Haute passed away Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011 at 11:40 p.m. in Exceptional Living Center in Brazil. She was a retired Unit Manager for Reuben H. Donnelley. Betty was born March 14, 1926 in Riley to Clarence E. Trout and Trellah P. (Jeffres) Trout...

The White River Valley Lady Wolverines fell to 2-15 following a 52-23 loss at South Knox Tuesday night. The Spartans jumped to an early 10-0 lead and the Lady Wolverines were never able to recover trailing 17-2 at the first stop, 32-5 at intermission and 42-9 after three quarters...

Coralee May VanPelt, 34, of Solsberry, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011 in a car accident in Center Township. She was born on March 25, 1976, in Rockledge, Fla., to Clyde F. and Phyllis E. (Adcock) Felton. Coralee was a homemaker. She enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with her family...

Unless you pay real close attention, you might not notice Blake Eaton the next time you're at a Linton-Stockton Miners basketball game. The 6-3 junior center is the third man in a trio of big men inside for coach Joey Hart and one who is most often overlooked when it comes to getting credit...

Friday, Jan. 21 Boy's Basketball Bloomfield at Loogootee, 6 p.m. Linton-Stockton at North Daviess, 6 p.m. Shakamak at White River Valley, 6 p.m. Union ((Dugger) at Eastern Greene, 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22 Boy's Basketball Bloomfield at Shoals, 6 p.m...

The Linton-Stockton Elementary School boys fifth and sixth-grade basketball teams split a pair of games with Shakamak Tuesday night. In the fifth grade game the Lady Miners improved to 3-1 with a 21-19 win. Ryleigh Fiddler led Linton-Stockton with 17 points while Sierra Flater and Kaley Buckalew added two each...

After the Indiana State Police received a tip early Tuesday, that someone was planning to make meth that day, possibly with a child present, state troopers swooped into Bloomfield to investigate and one man was arrested before the day was done. Adam Benjamin Schafer, 27, of Bloomfield, was booked in to the Greene County Jail by ISP Trooper Joshua Allen...

...

The Linton Police Department's activity log for Tuesday included two requests for information, one assist to the utility department after hours, one lost and found, one medical/illness and one animal complaint.

GREENE CIRCUIT COURT CIVIL CASES Roy David Cook v. Shawna Marie Cook, dissolution Glenda Kay Stone v. Jewell Edward Stone, dissolution Karen S. Lazzell-Floyd v. Donald J. Floyd, dissolution GREENE SUPERIOR COURT CRIMINAL CASES State v. Helen B. Deckard, check deception...

Thursday, Jan. 20 Saturday, Jan. 22 Tuesday, Jan. 25 Wednesday, Jan. 26 Thursday, Jan. 27 Friday, Feb. 4 Tuesday, Feb. 8 Monday, Feb. 14 Tuesday, Feb. 15 Saturday, Feb. 19 Ongoing Events...

Bloomington-- When motorists encounter lone State Troopers on the side of an interstate, US highway, or state highway with their patrol vehicle's emergency lights on, they are attempting to warn motorists of a crash or slide-off ahead. In an effort to reduce secondary crashes, troopers strategically space their patrol vehicles apart prior to the affected area. This is to warn motorists to reduce speed and move to the adjacent lane of travel where the crash is located...

WORTHINGTON -- Worthington area residents sounded off Wednesday night about their future of their elementary school and the message was loud and clear. The vast majority of those attending a community engagement meeting felt strongly that they want to keep their school saying by an 84 percent majority that they agree the benefits of a smaller school outweigh the advantages of a larger, centrally located consolidated elementary school...