DEARBORN COUNTY REGISTER
thedcregister.com
155TH YEAR ISSUE NO. 35 $1
TUESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2015
County Council walks budget high wire By Denise Freitag Burdette Assistant Editor newsroom@registerpublications.com
After four days of sifting through proposed departmental budgets, Dearborn County Council members started off the fifth day of 2016 budget hearings Friday morning, Aug. 28, trying to figure out what to tackle next. “What are we looking for?,” asked one member.
“Money,” quipped another. Balancing the budget has become an increasingly tricky high-wire act for county council members whose riverboat casino revenue safety net continues to shrink along with revenues collected from property taxes. Even after almost a week of slashing most department budgets to 2015 numbers and lower, the proposed 2016 budget remained at $14 million, with a goal to bring it down closer to $13.6 million.
A lot to consider
Requests made by county engineer Todd Listerman were typical of many of the departments. His budget included what he felt were basic needs, holding out hope next year’s riverboat casino revenue draws would be large enough for county council to funnel a little bit more money his way. The projected bridge upgrade list for 2016 should end up at 20, Listerman told council
members Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 25. In reality, however, the county likely will have only enough money to tackle a few of the bridges on the list next year. Tim Grieve, county transportation department, was one of many department heads trying to find ways to save money wherever possible. He told council members he has been renting versus making large purchases on equipment that might not be heavily uti-
See BUDGET Page 8
Historic district almost reality
Closing arguments set for murder trial By Chandra L. Mattingly Staff Reporter cmattingly@registerpublications.com
By Chris McHenry Contributor Greendale’s National Register Historic District is finally “close to being a reality.” Camille Fife of the Westerly Group, which has been working on the nomination preparation for several years, told the Greendale Redevelopment Commission that preliminary paperwork has been submitted to Indiana historic officials, who must give their approval before it can be considered at the national level. Fife explained the district will be bounded by Ridge Avenue, Greendale Cemetery, Nowlin Avenue and part of the former Joseph E. Seagram distillery. The cemetery is included in the district because it was among the first facilities to be designed by a landscape architect. The district also includes 640 to 650 residences and the nomination runs to a little more than 200 pages of information Fife also informed the commission that inclusion in a historic district does not prohibit the property owner from making changes to, or even demolishing, a structure, nor does it require a building be open to the public. Meanwhile, Lawrenceburg School Corporation Superintendent Karl Galey attended a marathon series of meetings considering a bond issue to benefit Queen City Candy Company to protest the action. The company is in Greendale’s TIF District and the bond, which would be for “up to $915,000” would be repaid out of increased real estate and personal property taxes from the company. Galey argued that by diverting additional tax money to redevelopment, the school corporation is being deprived of revenue. A total $722,000 of the
See DISTRICT Page 8
A Soleful Journey PHOTOS BY JOE AWAD/The Register
Although Jake Brown’s feet may appear filthy to the untrained eye, they actually look pretty good after just completing a trek from Versailles to Lawrenceburg, said the adventurist, who is running across the nation barefooted. They are no comparison to how nasty they looked after crossing rocky desserts in California and Arizona.
Barefoot runner going coast-to-coast for a cause By Joe Awad Managing Editor
jawad@registerpublications.com
OK, the boy with the stinky goat got through town without a story. I drove around for an hour on a hectic Monday looking for the dude after he was spotted near Walgreens in Greendale. No luck. I read on Facebook later that he was spotted in the back of a pickup, bearded pet and all. In total reparation, I bring you the story of the man with the stinky feet. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, I received a call at about 3 p.m. from Jake Brown, who informs me he is running from LA to NYC for an altruistic cause I couldn’t grasp mostly because of traffic noise as he hoofed it east near Dillsboro. He anticipated making Lawrenceburg by 5 p.m. and wanted to meet me at the Hilton Doubletree, where he would spend the night. Yeah, the light went on: road warrior by day, all
comfy by night. I’ll get to that, but first things first. Jake is a 150-pound throwback. He is, no doubt, bright. He is anti-establishment character but extremely social. He likes to talk as much he likes to run. And, for the love of God, this dude is running across the country barefooted. The feat (feet, get it?) will be the first recorded in history. After a couple of unanticipated stops to talk with curious onlookers, he arrived at 6:05 p.m., running down the south sidewalk of Walnut Street, straight as an arrow, steady and sure; almost like a walk/run. He stops on a dime, but takes no deep breaths through his mouth. He doesn’t bend over, put his hands to his hips, over his head, or anything else you might expect from a guy who started that day’s run in Versailles. I suggested we sit on a bench in front of the hotel because I was worn out from taking pictures. Jake
Jake Brown says good-bye to Osgood resident Robert Rolf, who drove Brown’s 55-pound backpack from Ripley County to Lawrenceburg. tells me his story, 2,500 But you didn’t fall off the miles into the trek. The Indiana cantaloupe truck yeschallenge began on March terday. Jack’s expeditions and 5, but why? “It’s pretty much a label sub-projects are funded by that I slapped on something sponsors and donors. He that already exists. The raises money for charities Bare Sole Project is a pri- and donates up to 51 percent vate initiative that promotes of his personal income to a global community and 501(c)(3) organizations reca conscious lifestyle. We ommended by people they are neighbors; the fact that have helped. Jake is running I can greet you makes us for good causes, but he also neighbors. … I like making is running for a living. During his travels, he has new friends. That is better encountered artists, writthan any paycheck anybody See SOLE Page 8 can ever offer.”
Presentation of evidence concluded Friday, Aug. 28, in the Danielle Green murder trial in Ohio County Circuit Court, with closing arguments set for Tuesday, Sept. 1. The prosecution rested its case Friday after 6 1/2 days of testimony and presenting more than 200 items of evidence. Defense attorneys David Zerbe and Del Weldon presented just three witnesses Friday afternoon, Kathryn Feldkamp, Ohio County, an investment specialist who also was a neighbor to Green and the victim, her ex-husband Raymond Green; a Florida postal carrier who testified she saw Danielle Green with injuries shortly before Green moved back to Indiana in 2012 to care for her parents, Clarence “Butch” and Jane Steinke; and a horse trainer who leased stable space from Danielle Green in Florida. Both Steinkes died in 2013, about six months apart, according to trial testimony. Danielle Green is charged with murdering her ex-husband Monday, May 26, 2014, by shooting him five times, walking down a hall and reloading, then shooting him another five times with a .38-caliber revolver. The defense argues the shooting was self-defense. Feldkamp, Ind. 262, Dillsboro, said she knew Danielle Green as a child and after she came back in 2012. The weekend before Raymond Green was killed, Danielle Green came to Feldkamp’s house “visibly upset,” said Feldkamp. “She looked scared to me … especially when she started asking about, ‘What’s going to happen if I die?’” said Feldkamp. She gave Green a blank will form and Green asked Feldkamp if she would be her executor, said Feldkamp. Postal carrier Norma Schneider’s discovery deposition was read to the jury, as she
See TRIAL Page 2
Do you have what it takes to pull a truck? Lawrenceburg Fire Department is partnering with Special Olympic Indiana- Ripley Ohio Dearborn Counties to host the annual Fire Truck Pull Saturday, Sept. 5, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, at the Hollywood Casino overflow parking lot off U.S. 50 in Greendale. The Fire Truck Pull is an event for teams of 15 or less to pull a 74,000-pound fire truck, compete with others and raise money to support Special Olympics athletes. © REGISTER PUBLICATIONS, 2015
Register Publications is a media sponsor. “We’re very excited to be partnered with Special Olympics to
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host the Fire Truck Pull,” said Rob Schuette, deputy fire chief of the Lawrenceburg Fire Department. “We’re proud and honored to be able to support the (Special Olympics) athletes in our community.” Teams that participate in the pull raise at least $500 through hosting fundraisers, individual pledges, and/ or sponsorships. SOIN-ROD uses the funding to provide year-round
See TRUCK Page 8
WEATHERforecast
Today: High: 87 Low 67 Wed: High: 89 Low: 68
INSIDE TODAY
OBITUARIES...................2
SPORTS.....................6-7