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Ripley Council moves on cleaning up village Issue 42, Volume 127
BY Martha Jacob
Ripley Village Council met in regular session on Oct. 11 before a full council and wasted no time getting down to business and heard comments from local resident Judith Gray regarding a house next door to her and the sidewalk in front of it. “About 10 years ago the village went through and replaced all the sidewalks according to an ordinance,” said Village Administrator Pete Renshaw, “people could pay for it or they could have it assessed on their taxes, which is normal. Apparently the house next door to Ms. Gray got skipped. It’s also been empty since 2006.” Renshaw said that since that time it has remained empty and there is no one to contact who owns it because the house is now owned by Wells Fargo Bank, which is why the property sidewalk
repair has not been taken care of. Renshaw said he would look into what is necessary to get the sidewalk fixed, which could be repaired by spring next year. He added that he would be checking other properties with the same problem, and do them all at the same time. Several other members of the community also attended the meeting to further discuss issues that needed to be taken care of in the village regarding old cars, rubbish and litter in the village. The group was told that things are getting done in the village; it will just take a while to get accomplished. Ripley Mayor Tom Leonard told council that he was currently working with a grocery store owner out of Kentucky and was hopeful they will come into the Village of Ripley and build a grocery store which is desperately needed.
Ripley residents to vote on fire protection levy BY Martha Jacob
Voters in the Village of Ripley will be voting on an additional 2 mills levy for a continuing period of time on their Nov. 8 ballot which should generate about $329,000. According to Ripley Fire Chief Tony Pfeffer, the levy is needed for the purchase of replacements for aging equipment at the fire house. Pfeffer told Ripley Council in June of this year that a committee had been organized consisting of Ripley Mayor Tom Leonard, Pete Renshaw, administrator, Heather Hauke, fiscal officer and himself, for the purpose of deciding how much revenue was needed. “We needed to immediately replace 18 sets of turnout gear for our firefighters,” Pfeffer said, “That was absolutely necessary right away and we’ve been able to pay for them out of our budget. We needed things like new pants, coats and helmets. After 10 years, these turn-out gear sets have to be replaced and ours are much older. Each set cost $1,800, which included pants and a coat, but not the helmet. That
cost $33, 300, but we’re glad to have new ones.” Pfeffer said his department also needs to replace an old 1976 back-up ladder truck, a 1979 ladder truck, a 1979 mini-pumper and a 1981 hose tender. He added that he would like to replace the three vehicles with two newer pieces of apparatus for his department. He said the cost of a new mini pumper to replace the current one would be $125,000. A new engine would cost $375,000. Including the cost of replacing the turn-out gear, it would cost the department a total of $533,300. The fire department has been saving money for several years and to date, with what the village contributes, $288,000 has been saved through the last 16 years. Pfeffer said the levy would cost most Ripley residents between $28 to about $70 a year for the average homeowner. Pfeffer added that he hopes voters will pass this levy so that his department can be the best that it can be, and his firefighters will be safe.
INDEX Editorial: 4 Sports 6-7, 14 Classifieds: 9-10
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Martha B. Jacob/Ripley Bee
Bobby Cantrell, owner of the 1st Stop Marathon station in Ripley, is moving quickly on the construction of a new, better facility in the center of town. The new station, which will be approximately three times bigger than the old one is scheduled to open sometime in Jan. 2017.
The Ripley 1st Stop Marathon station owner, Bobby Cantrell, has torn down the old service station and begun building a new facility which will include not only gas, but a small deli which will provide some groceries for the community. “We anticipate the new 1st Stop opening its doors in
January and we are all excited about it.” Renshaw said, “This new place will be exactly like the station in Aberdeen, about three times as big as the old one. We’ve relocated some electric service lines and made our city workers available to help when they can, to move the project along.”
In other business at the meeting, Wendi Van Buren, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry taught a pruning class at the city building and some of the village’s department workers and members of the Ripley Tree Committee attended the class. The group traveled to
the library to trim some trees. During Renshaw’s report, he told council that most of the pipe had arrived, most of the easements have been signed and construction is ready to begin on the raw water main well project. It will begin behind the high school, travel through two other properties, and go down beside Pond Drive into the property where the village owns into the treatment plant. “Unger Construction is doing the job and they will begin next week,” Renshaw said. “We anticipate the project taking a couple months, but because of where it is, it won’t affect any traffic.” Renshaw announced to council that three old dilapidated houses had been demolished in the village in the past several weeks. The homeowners actually took care of the demolition.
Ripley Museum receives Presentation Sword from Rankin descendant BY Martha Jacob
The Ripley Museum has a new Civil War display. Don Degrap of Walnut Creek, California, a direct descendant of the abolitionist Rev. John Rankin, has graciously gifted Adam Lowry Rankin’s Presentation Sword. Adam Lowry, Rankin’s eldest son, was assigned to the First Brigade of the Second Division of the 15th Army Corps in the Civil War. This unit presented him with the sword after deferring an appointment until his regiment was mustered out of the army. It is a wonderful sword and scabbard that is engraved: “Presented to Captain A. L. Rankin, chaplain of the 113th Regiment of the Illinois Infantry Volunteers by his comrades as a token of their love and esteem.” Degrape also donated Rankin’s Bible that he carried
Provided/Ripley Bee
The Ripley Museum recently received a very important ‘presentation Sword’ which belonged to Adam lowry Rankin. The Ripley Museum is filled with a great selection of Civil War memorabilia.
in the Civil War and his Campaign Chair. The museum has a fine collection of Civil War memora-
bilia. A variety of displays a shaving mirror. show case guns, pistols, The museum is open 10-4 swords, power horns, portraits on Saturdays. Non- member and may unique items such as admission is only $4.
Big plans in the works Ripley River Village Christmas BY Martha Jacob
Members of the Ripley River Village Christmas Committee have hit the ground running and are busy making preparations for this year’s Ripley River Village Christmas. This year’s event which will be held the second weekend in December will include many of the old favorites like the community concert to take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10. All new this year will be a Christmas Talent Show coordinated by the very talented Harriett Groh. For more information on the talent show please email harriettgroh@yahoo.com. Anyone interested in participating in this year’s event please send your information to fredd@mikal.com or call (937) 392-4576. Other events planned for this year’s Ripley River Village Christmas that were part of the 2015 RVC will include: • Friends of the Library Tree Lighting with music • RULH music department
singing Christmas Carols • JROTC Color Guard presentation with Clark Castle giving the invocation • Friends of the Library Book Sale • Co-Hearts River House Restaurant to host a Christmas Event with dinner and entertainment from Harriett Groh • 5K Jingle Run/Walk • Pancake breakfast at the Ripley Life Squad building • Santa at First State Bank .The Rosary Altar Society Bake Sale at Rockin Robins • Church of the Nazarene crafter sale • Ripley Museum will be open featuring the Victorian Christmas display and Angel Tree • Shops for treats and specials, the Christmas Store at the Ripley Florist and Bristow’s • Carriage Rides, photo booth, and much, much more. The RVC Committee would like to promote a Church Tour during this year’s event and is looking for more information from local churches.
CHEERLEADING COMPETITION 2016 BROWN COUNTY FAIR
WESTERN BROWN HIGH SCHOOL - SAT., OCT 22 • 6 pm ADMISSION $5.00 For more information call Juanita Barricklow at 937-378-3558
Wade Linville//Ripley Bee
The Christmas Tree lighting is one of the highlights of the annual Ripley River Village Christmas events, and this years scheduled events will exceed last years.