Headlines • September 10, 2013
Surprise! Soldier pops up at 5K Sunman race
CINDY WARD PHOTO
A total of 165 runners and 148 walkers participated in the run Saturday. Over $10,000 was raised for the Let Us Never Forget scholarship fund in honor of Tri-state soldiers who died in duty.
PFC Kyle Hartman, stationed in Ft. Stewart, Ga., surprised his family by meeting them at the finish line at the 1st annual “Salute-a-Soldier” 5K Walk/Run on Saturday in Sunman. Grandma Terry Damon was ecstatic when she crossed the line and was greeted by her grandson. Hartman had a short visit with friends and family before heading back to base that evening.
New coroner chosen for Ripley County
By Mary Mattingly
EDITOR
mmattingly@ripleynews.com
Ripley County has a new coroner. Lauren Thielking, 23, was sworn into office Sept. 4. Her post is effective immediately as the former coroner, Ron Buchanan, resigned as of Aug. 31.
The Republican party held a caucus with the precinct central committee to choose a new coroner. There were two candidates, Thielking and Randy Hornsby. Thielking, who served as deputy under Buchanan for a year, received the majority vote. The Batesville resident has gone through the 40-hour training required for coroner certification.
The coroner rules on the cause of death on every fatal vehicle accident or unexplained type of death. Thielking said she learned a lot in her year with Buchanan and is excited to take on the role. It is a part-time position, and she will continue full time as a student pursuing a degree in criminal justice.
Her father, Batesville Asst. Police Chief Jeff Thielking, will continue as the coroner’s deputy for the time being.