THE SNOW, SHE IS A-BLOWIN by Joe Awad

INSIDE: The serial story

Mr. Eads’ Bridge Part 3 on Page 2.

theRISING SUN recorder &

COURTHOUSE NEWS See Page 7.

OHIOCOUTYNEWS.COM

Port prompts Ind. 101 Plans

theOHIO COUNTYnews THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

157 TH YEAR ISSUE NO. 6 $1

THE SNOW, SHE IS A-BLOWIN’

Counties asked to assume highway maintenance

CHANDRA L. MATTINGLY Staff Reporter Indiana Department of Transportation representatives and state officials are continuing to meet with Ohio, Dearborn and Switzerland county representatives regarding plans to extend Ind. 101 from Markland Dam to U.S. 50, said Ohio County Commissioner Tom Baxter at the Monday, Jan. 4, commissioners meeting. The state folks aren’t asking the counties to get involved in planning the road extension; rather, they’re asking each county to assume responsibility for at least one state highway within that county. For Ohio County, the original request was to take over Ind. 156 and Ind. 262, said Baxter. Now, Ohio County is being asked to take over just Ind. 262 and INDOT representatives have spoken of completely repairing and paving the highway first. Ohio County Highway Superintendent Ron York said there was a mention of setting about $65 million aside, but that might have included Ind. 156 work. York accompanied Baxter to a meeting with state highway representatives and commissioners from the other two counties in November. There have been at least two such meetings held, and a third was planned for 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 6, in the commissioners room at the Ohio County Courthouse. Ohio County Councilman Ron Spurlock also was planning to attend, said Baxter, who planned to attend as did York. State Representative Randy Frye also has been attending, and supports the Ind. 101 extension, noted Baxter. York said he had been asked what it would cost the county to take over Ind. 262. The 10-mile stretch through

Ohio County includes three major bridges, culverts and drainage ditches, as well as slips INDOT has indicated it would repair. The county receives a dollar amount per mile for its roads. “We’d pick up those miles, but those (amounts) are never sufficient to pay for the maintenance on the road,” he said. “They’re going to pave everything after they fix the slips,” said York. But in 7 to 10 years, the highway would need to be resurfaced “and there’s culverts and bridges …. there would be a lot of major work.” Baxter said the only way the county could accept the highway would be if it were “cost neutral.” “That’s the way it has to be,” he said, later explaining the county has no fat in its budget and cannot afford the additional expense. There’s a cost of $18 to $20 million just in what INDOT plans to do now, to bring the road “supposedly current,” said commissioners attorney John Stroup. Perhaps the county should present the cost and request money be banked, with the interest to cover the future expense. “It’s just a shot in the dark, is all it is,” he added, referring to estimating the future maintenance cost for the highway. Meanwhile, INDOT has not publicized plans for extending Ind. 101, nor discussed a proposed route through Ohio County or the other counties. Previously, Baxter said INDOT representatives were talking about a “straight shot.” “It’s all about the port, we know that,” said commissioner president Connie Brown, referring to the Port of Indiana port proposed for the old Tanners Creek Power Plant site in Lawrenceburg. Commissioner Todd Walton was absent.

Redevelopment eyes downtown building CHANDRA L. MATTINGLY Staff Reporter

The Rising Sun Redevelopment Commission discussed purchasing a Main Street business building and voted to take a first step of getting appraisals of the structure. The building houses Amber's Antiques & Eclectic Treasures, 211 Main St., and the adjoining Hygge Hus, 213 Main St. Business owner Amber DePrez said the building also has two apartments upstairs, and the property includes a small court yard and shed, and a garage. Owner Diane Dawson died recently, and her children are clearing out the apartment where she lived, said DePrez. She would live in that apartment and rent the other out as an Air B&B if redevelopment buys and leases the property to her, she told them at a special meeting Friday, Feb. 1. And she would continue with her antique shop and the Hygge Hus. “It's kind of become this community gathering place. The teenagers really like it,” said DePrez. The concept and name are Danish, and in the U.S. started on the east and west coasts. “It's all about being cozy, sitting by the fire.”

Visitors, including the teens, play chess, Monopoly and other board games, she said. A dozen teens were in Sunday, four on the floor playing Monopoly, four by the chess table, and the rest just hanging out, she said. “They like it; they're really good. It's cell-phone free,” said DePrez. Tourists also enjoy it, and locals are coming in as well, especially on Wednesdays. The shop is closed Monday and Tuesday, she added. Redevelopment member Tim Phelps asked about the court yard. “If that was fixed up a little bit, could the kids extend out there?” he asked. “Oh yeah, we had a wedding out there last summer,” said DePrez, adding she would like to rent the Hygge Hus out for weddings, receptions and other gatherings. Her plans for the court yard include offering gardening tools in the shed. Redevelopment member Sandy Kinzer asked if the Hus has pop machines. DePrez replied she offers free tea, coffee, and hot chocolate, and sells brownies, muffins and other goodies. On Mother's Day this year, she plans to have a breakfast bar, and this summer hopes to offer pizza

See BUILDING Page 8

CHANDRA L. MATTINGLY PHOTO

Rising Sun Street Department employee Brandon Turner blows snow from Main Street sidewalks Wednesday morning, Jan. 30, in single-digit temperatures, as it was too cold for salt to work.

Water rescue volunteers dive in when needed DENISE FREITAG BURDETTE Assistant Editor

Editor’s Note: Dearborn County Water Rescue often provides service outside that county, including regular visits to Ohio County. The team were on hand every year Rising Sun sponsored a regatta, and have helped with other riverfront chores. In the near future, the divers will attempt to locate a couple of spuds left in the river when the city’s docks were removed. Recognizing their efforts, Ohio County Council included $500 in the 2019 budget for the all-volunteer crew. As part of the Dearborn County Water Rescue team, volunteer crew members and divers can literally tread dangerous waters. What you might not expect when arriving on a call is the need to save a pet lion caught in floodwaters. SUBMITTED PHOTOS But after 35 years, founder Bill Black Jr., Greendale, and his Bill Black Jr., left , receives training on Dearborn County Water Rescue’s new side scan team have almost seen it all. It all started when Black placed an ad in the newspaper asking if anyone was interested in starting a county dive team. They ended up training seven divers. All of them had no expeDearborn County Water rience, said Black. Rescue recently received a Black had trained as a diver $57,230 grant from the Dearwith Boone County Water Resborn Community Foundation cue, which helped Dearborn County get their team started. for replacement of side scan He was walking around in sonar equipment. Florence Mall in 1980 when he A similar unit was pursaw a booth for Boone County chased 14 years ago but Water Rescue, said Black. through equipment failures the “I always thought about divgroup learned that the software ing. … “I asked, ‘How do I learn was no longer being supporthow to dive?’ They said ‘Sign ed, said Sherri Black, Dearright here,’” he said. born County Water Rescue. The research was extenWhen Dearborn County Water sive and with the help of the Rescue started, everyone had to Foundation we were able to pay for their own lessons and use purchase new equipment from their own equipment, said Black. EdgeTech, she said. The group was approved by “The EdgeTech 4125 Side Dearborn County commissioners Scan Sonar System will ento be part of the county Emerable us to search the dark wagency Management Agency, ters of the Ohio River, local which was led at that time by ponds and other waterways,” the late Bill Black Sr. After his said Sherri Black. retirement, Black Jr. also led the county EMA for many years, Services are extended to following in the footsteps of his all Dearborn County law enfather, until his own retirement. forcement agencies and local The classroom training was Dearborn County Water Rescue was started in 1983. The governments when requested held in Bill Black Sr.’s Down- volunteers have responded to many types of situations to help in underwater searches, town Lawrenceburg insurance through the years. she said. office while water training was said. said Keith. “This equipment enables conducted with the help of Boone Crew volunteer Meghan One of the exercises is our divers to complete their County, Cincinnati Dive Center Keith, Lawrenceburg, said navigating through an obstaand even the pool at South Dear- watching the divers train is cle course in a pool - with a tasks more efficiently and in born High School, Aurora, said very interesting. blackout mask - because river doing so helps keep the divers Black. safe by shortening their time “The first one I ever The final check-out dive took watched I was blown away,” under the water,” she said. See RESCUE Page 8 place in Crystal Rivers, Fla., he

Grant helps purchase side scan sonar

Detailed training

WEATHER Thursday

HIGH .....63 friday

HIGH .....31

rain

LOW.....28

partly Cloudy

LOW......20

Saturday

INSIDE today Sunny

HIGH .....37

LOW......29

Sunday

PM light rain

HIGH .... .42

Group has come to the rescue for over 35 years

LOW......39

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157th Year, No. 6