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Issue 25, Volume 127
Ripley Fire Department to place 2 mill, 8-year levy on November ballot BY Martha B. Jacob The Ripley Bee Ripley Fire Chief Tony Pfeffer approached Ripley Village Council June 14 with a request to run a 2 mill, 8-year fire levy which would generate $329,000 in the 8 year period. “We have to do something about the aging equipment at the fire house,” Pfeffer said, “that’s the reason I’m here to night. We have a committee put together which includes Pete (Renshaw), Tom (Leonard), Heather (Hauke, fiscal officer) and myself, and we’ve been working together on this project.” He continued, “The first issue we have, which has
to be taken care of right away, is that we have to replace 18 sets of turn-out gear for our firefighters. We need new things like pants, coats and helmets. After 10 years, turn-out sets have to be replaced and ours are much older. Each set costs $1,800, which includes pants and a coat, but not the helmet. That’s $33,300.” Pfeffer went on to say that the biggest issue is department is facing is the need to replace an old backup 1976 ladder truck, a 1979 mini-pumper and a 1981 hose tender. He said he wants to replace the three vehicles with two newer pieces of apparatus for his department. “Insurance Service Offices (ISO), which sets
the insurance rates, has given us with a Class 4 rating, which is really good,” Chief Pfeffer said. “But right now, ISO is saying that our 1976 ladder truck is our primary ladder in their eyes. Our 2001 ladder truck is our first new engine in ISO’s eyes and our engine that we run first is our 1995 pumper. So eventually the 1976 will get to the point where we can’t buy parts for it. It’s time to replace this equipment.” Pfeffer said he would like to buy an engine and a mini pumper. He passed out some information to council members. Councilwoman Nowana Bingaman commented that the old pumper is on its last leg and has been
Provided/RIPLEY BEE
The Village of Ripley’s Fire Department in hoping to pass a Fire Levy in November to help the department replace old equipment and fire trucks.
for quite a while. He said the purchase of a new mini pumper would replace the 1979 mini pumper. The cost for a
new mini-pumper is $125,000. A new engine would cost $375,000, and the turn-out gear is $33,300. That’s a total of
$533,300. “That being said,” Chief Pfeffer said, “Here’s the good news. We have
See LEVY | 3
Odyssey Canvas Works temporarily relocates to old shoe factory in Ripley after fire BY Martha B. Jacob The Ripley Bee Ripley Village Mayor Tom Leonard announced at council’s June 14 meeting that Odyssey Canvas Works, Inc. would be leasing the old shoe factory building as a temporary place to operate the business after losing nearly everything in a fire on May 27. Owner operator of Odyssey Canvas, Bob Blom said in a phone interview that he is working hard to get back up to full operation, and is currently operating out of three different locations in order to fulfill his obligations to customers. “I’m operating partially out of our burned out building, plus a location owned by Jim Griffith and now the
old shoe factory,” Blom said. “I have six employees and we are struggling to get all our orders out, but we’re doing it. I do plan to rebuild at our location, it’s just going to take some time.” Odyssey Canvas Works, Inc. has been a locally owned and operated business in 1962, specializing in manufacturing custom fabric and aluminum awnings, signs, electric signs, letter signs and signs advertising specialties manufacturers. “We are glad to have Bob renting the shoe factory,” Mayor Leonard said. “I need for council to approve the contract with Odyssey. This is a good business for our village and we need to do what we can to get him back and keep him here.” Council immediately approved the contract of
$500 per month for rent in the shoe factory. In other actions Administrator Pete Renshaw talked briefly about at least four recent power outages in two weeks .and issues he was having with fallen branches over power lines that had to be addressed. He said Georgetown, Russellville and Higginsport had the same experience. He said he would be launching an aggressive tree trimming project in cooperation with Duke Energy. Renshaw said the village has not experienced any more vandalism in the past couple of weeks and he was happy to report that. He said that police officers had discussed the issue with some young people in the village and hopefully the vandalism
will stop. “We’ve been busy filling in potholes on our streets,” Renshaw said. “They’ve all been filled with hot mix, and they’re in good shape right now. Also, the Women’s Club has donated to the dog waste stations, which will be here in about a week so we’ll be getting them installed. Councilman Travis Arnett told council that he was going to look into what it would cost to place surveillance cameras at the ball park near the village bathrooms. Councilwoman Nowana Bingaman said that the Ripley Life Squad has surveillance cameras everywhere and invited Mayor Leonard to inspect them and see how well they operate before making any purchase.
Martha B. Jacob/RIPLEY BEE
The owner of Odyssey Canvas Works, Bob Blom experienced a fire, May 27 at his business in Ripley, losing nearly everything he owned. But it’s business as usual for the owner as he currently works out of three locations to fill his orders.
Martha B. Jacob/THE RIPLEY BEE
The Odyssey Canvas Works, Inc. business will temporarily operate out of the old shoe factory building in Ripley.
R-U-L-H School Board prepares for new year, Pay to Participate fees lowered BY Martha B. Jacob The Ripley Bee Members of the RipleyUnion-Lewis-Huntington Board of Education met in regular session on June 15. Superintendent Dr. Linda Naylor gave a brief report on various meetings and activities that she had attended since the last board meeting; “We had our 2016 high school graduation ceremony, highlighting 81 graduates of the Ripley High School on May 29,” Dr. Naylor said. “Our high
school gymnasium was full of family, friends and guests of the graduates in honor of the accomplishments of the Class of 2016.” In other actions at the meeting, Food and Nutrition Supervisor Michele Rau gave her annual report on the food service program, including changes to the National School Lunch Program. Ms. Rau also presented the revised Wellness Policy for the board to consider. The District Wellness Committee met during the
2015-2016 School year to make recommendations for policy revisions. The committee will meet again at the beginning of the 20162017 school year to finalize plans for the district and building wellness programs. Melody Dragoo spoke briefly to the board regarding her concerns for the school district, including changes in teaching staff and student enrollment and withdrawals. Board treasurer, Jeff Rowley presented the 2015-2016 school year’s
final amended certificate and final appropriations resolution, as well as the temporary 2016-2017 appropriation resolution. Both items were approved as presented. Rowley noted that funds generate by the permanent improvement levy had been used recently to purchase two new buses which will be ready for the start of the 2016-2017 school year, as well as new computer towers for district classrooms and offices. Rowley provided an update on the HB264
Project, (energy saving program) which is well underway in all buildings across the district. “This project allows the district to make energy-saving capital improvement,” Rowley said. “These include new LED lights and new HVAC controls and enveloping to buildings, and pay for the capital improvements over time with the savings.” Rowley added that without the HB264 Project, the energy-saving improvements would be well beyond the district’s budg-
et. Superintendent Naylor made the following recommendations to the board: • approve a bus maintenance service contract with Applegate’s Auto Service beginning June 22, 2016 and running through June 21, 2021; • accept the resignations of Patricia Skaggs as cafeteria supervisor, Gregory Jordan Maiberger as high school business teacher, Amanda Beetem as middle school intervention specialist, Emily Godby as high
See RULH | 3
RULH senior Oberschlake receives Tom DeFosse award
INDEX Editorial: 4 Sports 5-6 Classifieds: 7
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The Ripley team of First State Bank was pleased to present Michael Oberschlake with the Tom DeFosse Self-Reliant Award on June 7. The annual award is given to a Ripley graduating senior who demonstrates outstanding selfmotivation. Tom DeFosse, a graduate of Ripley in 1966, served as a Marine and was the only soldier from Ripley who lost their life in the Vietnam Conflict.
The annual award, established in remembrance of DeFosse, recognizes a graduate with outstanding potential. “We were excited to be able to present this award to Michael,” said Gerry Schumacher, manager of First State Bank locations in Ripley and Georgetown. “He has already accomplished much success and we wish him the very best on all of his future endeavors,” said Schumacher.
Provided/NEWS DEMOCRAT
Gerry Schumacher, manager of First State Bank in Ripley and Georgetown presents the Tom DeFosse Self-Reliant Award to Ripley High School graduate Michael Oberschlake. Also shown is Paula Planck, FSB Ripley office manager.
Dugan designs Aberdeen Bicentennial Flag THE BROWN COUNTY PRESS
This beautiful Aberdeen Bicentennial Commemorative Flag was designed by resident Kevin Dugan and formatted by Tom Birt. The June 16, 2016 issue of the Ripley Bee attributed the wrong person as having designed the flag.