The Versailles Republican Headline News

PAGE UPDATED BY MARIA SIEVERDING FEBRUARY 4, 2016 12:30 P.M.

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EMS to be run by county
“Residents will still have quality care…”

Wanda Burnett
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A unanimous decision from county commissioners came without much discussion at their regular meeting February 1 to take over the operation of EMS in the county. This was in response to a request from county EMS director Jim Corbin. This means Rescue 69, which operates from a building on Hopewell Road just off of US 421, will no longer be in operation after August 1, 2016, and the other units will only respond within their respective towns of Milan and Sunman. Batesville will still cover their area and also be used for backup for the newly formed EMS system. Prior to this, the rescue units would respond to calls in the county and nearby their respective towns, but now will remain within the town limits.

Residents will still have quality emergency care, according to Corbin, who told commissioners he would have a paramedic on every run (including Milan, Sunman and Batesville) if needed, be cost efficient and comparable to what the county is paying for rescue service now. It would not be an increase to taxpayers. The commissioners said they were looking for better patient care and were concerned after hearing some runs had not been covered. They cited patient care issues, missed calls, and patients seeking EMS care outside the county as reasons for making the change. Commissioners instructed Corbin to send letters to the various squads to advise them of this decision. Commissioner Mark Busching said if issues arise between now and August 1, the contracts with the units can be terminated earlier. The commissioners said they were doing this in the interest of “providing better patient services for the residents of Ripley County.” The county allocates funds toward each rescue unit annually, and with this new contract, will cease doing so.

Corbin was scheduled to be on the agenda at 9:15 but as the county business started at 8 a.m. and progressed quickly, he was brought before commissioners earlier than the scheduled time. Gary Harden of Sunman’s Rescue 20 brought this to the attention of commissioners after he arrived late, but earlier than 9:15. He said their squad missed one call on Christmas Eve due to a dispatch issue. “We haven’t missed any runs,” he noted. Harden further asked the commissioners if it wouldn’t have been better to have called all the squad leaders in and talked with them. Busching told Harden they had had many talks with the squad leaders and representatives over the years and were ready to move on. He said the decision had been made and they were standing by it. President Gary Stutler commented, ‘We are going that route for the good of the county.’ Commissioner Bob Linville didn’t comment, but voted in agreement with the other commissioners.

Read the entire story on the front page of The Versailles Republican dated Feb. 4, 2016.

Indiana during Civil War
Large number of Hoosiers battled for Union Army

Editors note: To mark Indiana's bicentennial, Indiana education groups present this historical series, "So You Think You Know Indiana: Celebrating 200 years of the Hoosier State."

By Nelson Price
Among Northern states, Indiana sent one of the highest percentages of young men and boys to battle for the Union Army during the Civil War. Ever since the war from 1861 to 1865, the large number of Hoosiers who joined "President Lincoln's Union Army" has been a source of pride for many in the state. It's the inspiration for many memorials built to honor Hoosiers lost in the North vs. South conflict, including the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis. Sadly, by the end of the war, more than 25,000 Hoosiers had been killed in battle or died of diseases that quickly spread in the soldiers' camps. The war also dramatically affected the lives of women, children and nonmilitary men who stayed home to keep life going on farms and in towns. In southern Indiana during July 1863, farms and towns were looted and burned by Confederates. Known as "Morgan's Raiders" because they were commanded by Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan, they charged across the Ohio River and raided Indiana towns such as Salem and Dupont.

Read the entire story in section B on page 3 of The Versailles Republican dated Feb. 4, 2016.

Local Bulletin Board

Messer invites public to chats

Sixth District Indiana Congressman Luke Messer announced the first leg of his 2016 “Coffee with the Congressman” tour. This is an opportunity for residents of Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District to ask Congressman Messer questions about issues important to them and get updates on what’s happening in Congress. These events are open to the public and the press. The closest session for Ripley County residents will be in Greensburg at Story’s Restaurant on Feb. 5 from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m.

Candidates must file by Friday for upcoming elections

As of Friday, 47 people have signed up for the local offices up for election. The filing deadline is Friday, Feb. 5 noon. Read the details in the Osgood Journal dated February 2.

Art classes to be offered at Versailles State Park in April
Art classes will be open to the public of all ages, and include photography, birdhouse painting, watercolors, woodworking, recycled art, mixed media art, and beginning guitar. More information is available on page 3 of The Versailles Republican dated January 21.