Top 10 Local News Stories Of 2016: 1 Through 5

By Mike Perleberg and Travis Thayer (Undated) – The year 2016 in Eagle Country has been marked by surprises, inspiration, losses, and championships. Each final week of December, the Eagle Country 99.3 news team reflects on the year that was in local news. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 local news stories we’ve covered over the past 12 months. These stories were chosen because of their importance, staying power, and popularity among website visitors. Stories #1 through #5 are listed below. Find stories 6 through 10 here.   1. Lawrenceburg Designated As Potential Ohio River Port Site File photo. Governor Mike Pence noted in his 2016 State of the State address that he wanted Ports of Indiana to investigate placing a port on the Ohio River in southeastern Indiana. After that, it was perhaps the worst-kept secret in these parts. But the October announcement that Ports of Indiana has identified the decommissioned AEP Tanners Creek Power Plant site in Lawrenceburg as the potential home of the state’s fourth port was almost universally welcomed. “It’s going to be a bigger economic development impact than possibly what the casino has been,” Lawrenceburg Mayor Kelly Mollaun said the day Ports of Indiana made its announcement. “We’ve expected for quite some time that it was coming.” The years-long effort to bring a port to Lawrenceburg has been bi-partisan. Former Lawrenceburg Mayor Dennis Carr got the ball rolling with help from state officials like Republican State Rep. Randy Frye. “The number of jobs that are going to be coming to our community even in the construction phase, thousands and jobs not only for construction of the facility, but infrastructure and other ancillary companies and services that are going to be needed for an operation of this type. It’s extremely exciting,” Frye said three months ago. A Lawrenceburg port could be a boon for the entire region. Indiana three existing ports – two of them already on the Ohio River near Jeffersonville and Evansville – generate thousands of jobs and nearly $7.8 billion in economic impact. A brownfield development company, St. Louis-based Commercial Development Company, has taken ownership of the power plant property and will likely spend years clearing and cleaning the 700-acre site. Once that process is complete, Ports of Indiana will make a decision on whether to move forward with the port plan. “There is no question the Lawrenceburg site and its existing infrastructure would have value in a port development project,” said Rich Cooper, CEO for the Ports of Indiana. “It’s too early to say for sure what can be developed here, but it certainly warrants further investigation.” The progress on the port is likely to remain in the Eagle Country 99.3 news headlines for years to come.   2. Bright 74 Study Hits Roadblock File photo. For the better part of a year, Dearborn County Commissioners and Bright area residents discussed and debated the pros and cons of a possible new road to improve Bright’s access to Interstate 74. Earlier this year, OKI Regional Council of Governments and Dearborn County leaders received funding to complete the Bright 74 Study, which aimed at improving transportation options between Bright and the Interstate 74 exit in West Harrison and open land for new development. Online opposition formed soon after, and the uproar went from the web to the three public meetings OKI held at East Central High School as the study progressed. Final recommendations were made in November to make geometric improvements to North Dearborn and Whites Hill roads. However, the recommendation didn’t identify specific ways to fund the improvements. Early this month, Dearborn County Commissioners said they were disappointed by false information spread by oppositions of the study before voting to shelve the study’s final recommendations. The study cost $200,000 which was funded by Dearborn County and the Indiana Department of Transportation.   3. Re-Emergence Of Meth Intensifies Police Action By Travis Thayer File photo. Some in law enforcement will say the scourge of methamphetamine never really went away, but meth busts and arrests were a very common headline in local news this year. While heroin got a lot of attention in the news this year, Ripley County Prosecutor Rick Hertel said southeast Indiana authorities are also fighting a war on meth. As recently as 2014, the state ranked number one in the nation for meth lab seizures. Hertel’s statement couldn’t have been more true on a sunny, October day when a total of 27 warrants were issued out of Ripley County court for Transfer of Meth Precursor to a Person with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine (level 6 felony), and/or Dealing in Methamphetamine (level 2 felony). Officers from multiple local agencies spent the day arresting people in Dearborn, Ripley, Switzerland and Decatur counties. Hertel called the meth roundup the largest in Ripley County in at least 20 years. Indiana wasn’t the only state impacted by meth manufacturing and dealing in 2016. In August, three Atlanta men were arrested in Hamilton County after authorities found 16.5 pounds of crystal meth worth almost $1 million. The meth bust is said to be the largest in Ohio history.   4. Former Aurora EMT Receives Jail Time For Embezzling By Travis Thayer File photo. A former Aurora EMT finds himself behind bars after a nearly year-long criminal case in Dearborn County. Rising Sun resident Craig Whitham was reported missing by relatives on February 22. Soon after his disappearance, Whitham would be charged with Theft in Dearborn County after being accused of stealing a total of $106,655.54 from his employer, Aurora Emergency Rescue Inc. The loss of funds hit hard for AER, which has a $390,000 annual budget. Businesses and the community organized fundraisers to help keep the private organization afloat as news of the theft broke. The investigation by Aurora Police found that the former AER treasurer stole the money dating back to January 2015 through a debit card and double-paying himself. Whitham remained missing until mid-March when he turned himself in to police. According to court records, Whitham stated that he spent all of the stolen funds feeding his gambling addiction at three local riverboats. On July 18, Whitham reached a plea agreement with Dearborn County prosecutors. He was sentenced on August 16 to four years in prison and two years on probation. He was also ordered to begin repaying $113,540.54 to Aurora Emergency Rescue when he is released from custody.   5. Republicans Rule In Local, State Elections Southeast Indiana as a whole certainly leans Republican, but the GOP went wild on general Election Day November 8. Each statewide election was won by a Republican, from Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb being elected Indiana’s next governor to Jennifer McCormick unseating Democrat incumbent Glenda Ritz as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. GOP Congressman Todd Young handed Democrat former governor and U.S. Senator Evan Bayh his first ever election defeat in a race for U.S. Senate. Republicans solidified their supermajorities in the Indiana House and Senate for another two years. Southeast Indiana state representatives Randy Frye, Randy Lyness and Cindy Ziemke were re-elected, as well as State Senator Jean Leising. Only one Democrat won a race in Dearborn County, and Woody Fryman was uncontested for re-election to Dillsboro Town Council. Why the local GOP dominance? Look no further than the popularity of President-elect Donald Trump and his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Local support for Trump in the election ranged from 78 percent of voters in Ripley and Franklin counties casting their votes for him to 69 percent in Ohio and Switzerland counties. 75 of voters in Dearborn County went for Trump, compared to just 20 percent for Hillary Clinton. The election has had ripple effects felt in our region. Last month, Aaron Negangard announced he would be leaving office mid-term as the Dearborn-Ohio County Prosecutor. Negangard has been selected by Indiana Attorney General-elect Curtis Hill to become chief deputy at the attorney general’s office starting in January. In Hamilton County, voters passed a renewal levy to raise their taxes in support of the county parks system.   Click here to read more about top stories 6 through 10. 6. Burglars torch an important Rising Sun business 7. Controversy at the Aurora Farmers Fair 8. Eagle Country lost many notable individuals in 2016 9. 40-vehicle pile-up on Interstate 74 10. Southeastern Indiana high school athletes excel   Honorable mentions: “Worst of the worst” child molester sentenced to the maximum The New York Times publishes article about Dearborn County justice system Quality of life improvements idea behind I-275 beautification, Lawrenceburg riverfront development proposals Ripley County’s EMS service controversy South Ripley High School named a National Blue Ribbon School Citizens challenge South Dearborn High School improvements