April 11, 2013

Natalie Brinson, a senior at South Ripley High School, Versailles, had no idea when she went to school on Wednesday, April 3 the great news that she would receive that morning.

Brinson was called from class around 9 a.m., where she was met by Jane Deiwert, program officer for the Ripley County Community Foundation, who informed her that out of 85 applicants, she was the recipient of RCCF's 2013 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, which provides a four-year scholarship with full-tuition paid to a college in the State of Indiana. It also provides $900 annually to cover books and equipment.

Diewert spoke to the schools back in November about the application process for the Lilly Endowment Scholarship, which is open each year to any resident of Ripley County.

Brinson, daughter of Dawn and Marty Brinson, Versailles, said she plans to study architecture at Ball State University in Muncie.

Finalists not receiving the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, but receiving $1,500 RCCF scholarships were: Megan Bales, SRHS, daughter of Rick and Wanda Bales, Versailles; Robert Greer, Milan High School, son of Sue and Tony Greer, Dillsboro; Anna Meer, Batesville High School, daughter of Clifford and Nancy Meer, Batesville; and Russell Pitts, MHS, son of Steve and Donna Pitts, Milan.

The RCCF scholarship committee is composed of Ripley County residents representing all areas of the county. The committee had no idea whose application they were viewing, as names and schools of students applying for the scholarship were removed from the applications. During the interviews withthe finalists, students were only introduced by their first names, keeping things as objective as possible.

The scholarships are part of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative created to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor's degree. There were 142 scholarships awarded throughout the state.

The Ripley County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a single vehicle pedestrian accident with injuries involving a child on Napoleon Main Street (SR 229) Napoleon, near the intersection of Harriett Street, at approximately 5:19 p.m. Monday, April 8.

Upon arriving at the scene, it was determined that Mabel C. Flick, 85, and her husband, Charles, Holton, were traveling west on SR 229 in a silver 2012 Buick LaCrosse passenger car, when Adrianna N. Estes, 6, ran into the roadway from the north side of the road, causing her to be struck by the driver's side of the vehicle.

Estes, who suffered a laceration to the forehead and abrasions to her knees, was airlifted by StatFlight to the University of Cincinnati Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Flick and her husband were not injured.

Ron Reynolds Jr., a lieutenant with the Napoleon Volunteer Fire Department, was driving behind Flick and witnessed the accident. He said he was traveling about 30 mph and estimates Flick's vehicle was going a little more than that but not speeding. He said the child ran so quickly into the road that Flick did not have time to react.

StatFlight was called in as a precautionary measure due to the child's age and the fact that she suffered a head injury.

An update on Adrianna noted that she was released from the hospital the same night and other than scrapes, bumps, bruises and four stitches to her forehead, is doing fine.

The accident is being investigated by Deputy Lt. Randy Holt of the Ripley County Sheriff's Office. He was assisted at the scene by the Napoleon Volunteer Fire Department, Ripley County Medic, and Rescue 69.