2023 Rewind: Year in Review

With the new year right around the corner, it's time to take a look back at some of the most talked about moments of 2023.

Now that the year is coming to an end, it’s time to reflect on some of the events that received the most clicks in 2023.

Stories listed below are based on the magnitude, how long it remained in the headlines and the amount of views the story received. 

The stories are listed in no particular order. 

LINK 101 Project / STOP LINK 101 

A map of 10 identified alternatives. See a larger map for all 10 alternatives here. 

The Link 101 project has been in the works since 2021 when Governor Eric Holcomb dedicated $200 million in funding for the project as part of a package of investments in southern Indiana to better connect communities and enhance commerce.

INDOT has since identified 10 alternative routes for an improved State Road 101 connection between Markland Dam and U.S. 50. The project area includes portions of Dearborn, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland counties and is meant to:

• Reducing travel time within the project area by improving connectivity.
• Improve safety by reducing vehicle miles traveled on roadways with elevated crash locations.
• Provide a roadway meeting current design standards.
• Provide a roadway that is above the Laughery Creek 100-year floodplain elevation and minimize the risk of slides.

However, not everyone is on board with the project. 

Stop Link 101 has been mobilizing in opposition to the highway by signing petitions, submitting public comments, and displaying yard signs throughout the area.

Oppositions believe the project would impact the natural habitat of local wildlife, the natural landscape, and farmland.

Due to the considerable number of comments to the Project Team focused on improving existing roads, the team is taking more time to develop additional preliminary alternatives.

A screening report in due to be released in early 2024 identifying a smaller group of alternatives for detailed analysis.

Municipal Election Year

Kelly Mollaun celebrates his re-election as Lawrenceburg Mayor with his family. Photo by Travis Thayer.

Local voters went to the ballot box in November to vote for mayoral candidates in Aurora, Greendale, and Lawrenceburg. 

In the City of Lawrenceburg, incumbent Mayor Kelly Mollaun was opposed by Democratic candidate Greg McAdams. Mollaun won re-election in a close race, defeating McAdams 516 votes (53%) to 456 votes (47%). 

"This one is bittersweet so to speak because I have promised my family this would be my last time to run for election, win or lose," said Mollaun.

In Aurora, Patrick Schwing won the race for mayor defeating incumbent Mark Drury and Democratic candidate Melvin Kremer, Jr. Schwing won with 226 votes (44%) to Drury's 154 write-in votes (30%) and Kremer's 139 votes (27%).  

Greendale's new mayor is Vince Karsteter, who ran unopposed. 

Local Lawmakers Leave Office

Randy Frye, Chip Perfect, and Randy Lyness. 

Not one, not two, but three local lawmakers announced their intentions to leave office. 

For State Representative Randy Frye (R-Greensburg) and State Senator Chip Perfect (R-Lawrenceburg), they have already moved on and been replaced, while State Representative Randy Lyness (R-West Harrison) announced this month that he will retire at the end of his current terms. 

Frye announced his retirement in June after 13 years of service.  "I've been dealing with multiple health issues, and it's time to focus on my wellbeing and my family," Frye said.

Alex Zimmerman (R-North Vernon) won a caucus to serve the remainder of Frye's term. 

Chip Perfect resigned as State Senator of District 43 in August. In a statement, he said, "It is a challenge to balance public service with business, personal and family obligations, as each of those responsibilities has grown recently and it feels like a disservice to the people of my district when I cannot fully give the Indiana Senate the focus it requires."

Randy Maxwell (R-Guilford) won a three-candidate caucus in September to fill the vacancy left by Perfect. 

7th Annual Cruisin' to a Cure 

Another year, another big donation to the ALS Association.

Logan Lawrence and his team raised $41,000 at the 7th annual Cruisin' to a Cure for ALS Car Show on May 7. 

Through seven years, Lawrence and his car show has raised $208,000 that goes towards research to find a cure for AL.S. 

Lawrence says he has received confirmation from the City of Lawrenceburg that next year's car show will take place on Sunday, May 5

Bubba Bo Passes Away

Eric "Bubba Bo" Boulanger. File photo.

Former Eagle Country 99.3 morning show host Eric “Bubba Bo” Boulanger passed away at the age of 66 on Friday, February 3. 

He entered hospice care two weeks prior after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

Bubba spent over half of his life in the radio business, spanning almost 44 years behind the mic. Prior to his retirement in March of 2021, he spent the last 16 years of his career at Eagle Country 99.3.

He started at WSCH on January 5, 2005 at the old studio on Salem Ridge Road. Later that year, Bubba Bo was the first to broadcast out of the current studio at 20 E. High Street in Lawrenceburg.

Prior to his retirement, Bubba stated “I started working in radio at 21, and from there its been the radio life no doubt about it, but I don’t regret it a damn bit. I had a lot of fun, I got to do a lot of cool things and go a lot of cool places.”  

Bubba signed off at WSCH for the final time on March 12, 2021.

St. Elizabeth Announces Plans to Close Birthing Unit, Build New Hospital in Greendale

The new St. Elizabeth Healthcare Hospital in Greendale will be built near the Cancer Center, which is under construction. Photo by Travis Thayer, Eagle Country 99.3.

St. Elizabeth Dearborn announced in July the closure of their birthing center. 

According to a St. Elizabeth spokesperson, a certain volume level is needed to provide quality and sustainable service at the Dearborn location. The demand for birthing services in Dearborn County is currently low, averaging less than one delivery per day.

Deliveries at St. Elizabeth Dearborn have declined 34 percent during the past 12 years, and more than 60 percent of families already choose to deliver outside the county.

Birthing services are being consolidated into St. Elizabeth Edgewood, where there are 33 labor and delivery suites, postpartum suites, a six-bed recovery unit and other highly specialized areas. 

St. Elizabeth Healthcare is still committed to Dearborn County. That is evident with plans for a new, $125 million hospital in Greendale near Interstate 275. 

The new facility will be adjacent to St. Elizabeth Physicians offices and the St. Elizabeth Cancer Center, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in spring of 2024.

While many details are still pending, the new hospital will include inpatient care, surgery, emergency department, pharmacy, laboratory, imaging, endoscopy, interventional radiology, and cardiac catheterization.

“When it’s complete, the Greendale campus will offer our patients, providers and associates in Southeastern Indiana quality care in a convenient setting, near interstate 275,” said Garren Colvin, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

The current location of St. Elizabeth Dearborn will remain open until the new facility is completed. At that time, St. E’s leadership team will work with community leaders to evaluate the best use for the Lawrenceburg site.

Rachel Holt Signs Record Deal in Nashville

Rachel Holt signs with Baste Records. Rachel Holt Music Facebook post. 

Dreams do come true.

Earlier this month, Milan native Rachel Holt signed a record deal with Baste Records.

Baste Records is run by Chris Wallin, who has written multi-platinum songs such as Kenny Chesney’s “Don’t Blink”, Montgomery Gentry’s “Something To Be Proud Of”, and Toby Keith’s “Love Me If You Can”.

Holt shared her big announcement via Facebook, saying “I’m so grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

She will drop a new album called “Missin’ Home” on January 20th.

Margaritaville Coming to NKY

Shutterstock photo.

Margaritaville is coming to the tri-state area.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced in September that Newport Hotel Associates have entered a joint venture partnership with North American Properties, Stormont Hospitality Group and High Street Real Estate Partners to locate a new $133.6 million Margaritaville Hotel Resort at Newport on the Levee.

The project is expected to create 282 jobs and provide an economic boost to the region.

“We just celebrated our best year on record for Kentucky tourism in 2022, and with exciting projects like Margaritaville being announced, we know this success will only continue,” said Gov. Beshear. “This resort will help drive visitors to the Campbell County area, boosting the local economy and creating 282 new jobs for Kentuckians. We are grateful to these leaders for choosing Kentucky and our workforce.”

The Margaritaville Hotel Resort will be fronting the Ohio River in Newport. The full-service, amenity-rich hotel will feature 264 rooms, a JWB Grill, License to Chill Bar, a 12th floor pool with an adjacent Five O’Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill overlooking downtown Cincinnati, retail space and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Construction is estimated to be complete by fall of 2026.

Margaret Mary Health Announces Plan to Build New Hospital 

Conceptual rendering of new Margaret Mary Health hospital to be located on Indiana State Route 229 in Batesville. Photo provided.

Margaret Mary Health (MMH) will build a new hospital at its property located on State Road 229 just north of the I-74 Batesville interchange. 

Phase one will include a nearly 124,000 square foot replacement hospital, located adjacent to the Margaret Mary Physician Center and Margaret Mary Outpatient and Cancer Center.

The replacement hospital will be designed to enhance the patient experience through the use of innovative technology, improved patient privacy, easier navigation and more convenient access. It will also allow for improved operational efficiencies, including expanded surgical capabilities, energy efficient construction and upgraded workflows. Additionally, a new hospital will position MMH as a leader in rural healthcare and support efforts to attract and retain top talent.

MMH will be investing $115 million in phase one of the campus expansion, which includes construction of the replacement hospital, expanded walking trails and green spaces to promote community wellness. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2024 and should take approximately two years to complete. GBBN Architecture, out of Cincinnati, OH, will lead the design team for the replacement hospital. Danis (Cincinnati, OH) and Bruns-Gutzwiller (Batesville, IN) will provide construction management for the project.

Medal of Honor Recipient Sammy Davis Shares Story With Area Students

Sgt. 1st Class Sammy Davis speaking to students at Lawrenceburg High School. Photo by Travis Thayer, Eagle Country 99.3.

Students from Lawrenceburg, Rising Sun, and South Dearborn had the honor of hearing Sgt. 1st Class Sammy Davis speak. 

Davis is Indiana's only living recipient of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military medal for valor. When asked how he earned the Medal of Honor, this was Davis' response. 

“It’s a long story, but I can shorten it. I swam across the river and brought back three of my brothers. When I did that, my back was broke, my ribs were crushed, I was shot in the right thigh by an AK-47, I was burnt, but I didn’t quit trying because when I saw those three men over there, I tried to do for them what I believe they would do for me. I’m not a brave man, I’m 76-years-old and I’m still scared of the dark, but I’ll come across the river and get you because I believe in my heart you would do the same for me. It’s called love. I love my brothers.”

Davis visited the area schools in late April while he was in town to give the dedication speech at the Huey Helicopter Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Lesko Park in Aurora. 

Each student in attendance was given the opportunity to hold the Medal of Honor, which is pictured below. 

Double T holding the Medal of Honor. Photo by Travis Thayer, Eagle Country 99.3.

Damar Hamlin Announces Scholarship Named for Harrison Fire Chief

Rob Hursong with Damar Hamlin. Photo via Rob Hursong and the City of Harrison.

Damar Hamlin nearly lost his life on January 2, 2023. 

Football fans across the nation watched on that Monday night as the Buffalo Bills safety fell to the field at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. 

The emergency response team at Paycor Stadium, which included Harrison Fire Chief Rob Hursong, played a pivotal role in saving Hamlin’s life.

Hamlin returned to Cincinnati in November, where he had dinner with the medical professionals who saved his life and surprised each of them with a scholarship for Cincinnati youth in their honor.

The scholarships, which will be awarded for the next three years, will be funded through Hamlin’s charity, The Chasing M’s Foundation.

Honorable Mention

Aurora First Grader Rings Bell on Last Chemo Treatment, Makes Return to Class

CES Teacher Maggie Cole is Cancer Free

Federal Funding Secured for Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project

Nonprofit Raising Funds to Convert Former North Dearborn School Site Into Vibrant Park

Longtime Radio Personality Jim Scott Battling ALS