Living treasure: Fred Balke tells his story The Oldham...
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Living treasure: Fred Balke tells his story Story, B1 AND THEY’RE OFF! G oshen Elementary School hosted its annual kindergarten derby May 3. Students, along with parents and teachers, cheered as the kindergarteners made a lap around the track wearing handcraſted jockey silks made of construction pa- per. Right, a bugler played “Call to the Post” before every heat. e kindergarten derby is an annual tradition for veteran kindergarten teacher Sharon Pittenger. Pittenger, known fondly as “Mrs. P,” has taught kindergarten for 49 years. Local kindergartners catch Derby spirit PHOTOS BY JACQUELYN HACK • EDITOR, THE OLDHAM ERA Theiss Since 1945 HOME FURNISHINGS FURNITURE • APPLIANCES • MATTRESSES • FLOORING 200 W. Jefferson St. • La Grange • 502-222-9449 12 MONTH FINANCING! Your price is $ 399 www. TheissHomeFurnishings .com For a limited time, get your choice of a queen bed, dining room or sofa for only $ 399! MAN CHARGED IN DUO’S MURDER BY JACQUELYN HACK AND TRACY HARRIS EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER, THE OLDHAM ERA A Westport man who claims he shot two women in self-defense a week before Christmas is now charged with the sisters’ murder. An Oldham County grand jury handed up an indictment for Ronald T. “Ronnie” Evridge on May 3. Evridge, 57, had been on the run from local authorities. He was arrested early Friday morning. Evridge now faces two mur- der charges and one charge of tampering with physi- cal evidence in the deaths of his girlfriend, Sandy Allen, 24, and her sister, Heather Faulkerson, 21. Evridge claims he shot the THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 | OLDHAMERA.COM | OLDHAM COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER | 75¢ | VOLUME 136 | ISSUE NO. 36 | 28 PAGES | (502) 222-7183 The Oldham Era The Oldham Era The Oldham Era See ‘Murder,’ page A4 Evridge BY TRACY HARRIS STAFF WRITER, THE OLDHAM ERA A plan to donate land for a new Goshen park and library by the North Oldham Lions Club has unravelled after dissension amongst the club’s leadership. Following a board meeting Monday, club president Carol Hublar said the offer is being with- drawn. Since December, club board members have disagreed on specifics for donat- ing the 24-acre park currently owned by the club on U.S. 42. The land is part of a park donated to the NOLC in 1971 by Edith Belknap in honor of her husband, William. A proposal submitted by the club in July 2011 would have given six acres to the library and the rest to the county to use as a passive park. The NOLC Club withdraws land donation for park, library See ‘Donation,’ page A4 BY TRACY HARRIS STAFF WRITER, THE OLDHAM ERA With seven Republican candidates vying for the 4th Congressional District seat, the primary election May 22 is as important as the fall general election. Only two Democrats are run- ning for the congressional post cur- rently held by Rep. Geoff Davis, Williamstown attorney Bill Adkins and Corinth businessman Greg Frank. The crowded Republican field includes two Oldham County residents, Brian Oerther and Walt Schumm. Northern Kentucky is the most populous area in the district, which includes Covington, Florence, 7 seek GOP nod for 4th district seat See ‘GOP,’ page A3 2012PRIMARYELECTION BY LISA KING LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE A former high school teach- er and La Grange resident arrested last summer for sex- ual abuse involving students is unlikely to serve jail time. Shannon Hirchert, a special needs teacher at Shelbyville’s Martha Layne Collins High School in 2010- 11, pleaded guilty Monday to six counts of first-degree sexual abuse and distribution of obscene matter. Hirchert, 43, reached a plea agreement with Shelby County prosecutors. The agreement recom- mends probation of a seven- year sentence, although Judge Charles Hickman will announce his decision whether to accept or deny the agreement when she is sen- tenced June 18. Prosecutors have recom- mended five years each for the first five counts of the sexual abuse charges, the maximum sentence for a Class D felony, and two years on the sixth charge. She also faces one year each for the two counts of distribution of obscene matter for a total of 7 years, as the sentences are to run concurrently. The plea agreement says the prosecution has recom- mended Hirchert be given probation to protect the victims’ anonymity. Also, as part of the plea agreement, Hirchert has agreed to relin- quish her teaching certificate and not seek a teaching cer- Teacher admits to having sex with students See ‘Teacher,’ page A3 “This has extremely difficult for her and her family. But from day one, she acknowledged what she had done, and has been actively involved in counseling, and is just trying to move on with her life.” Attorney Brian Butler , representing former teacher Shannon Hirchert “This is not what my family had in mind when we donated the property. My grandparents would not want what’s happen- ing now because it’s not for the community.” Annice Johnston, granddaughter of the Belknaps who placed land in trust of the North Oldham Lions Sisters fatally shot at Westport man’s residence a week before Christmas; he claims self-defense THE OLDHAM ERA/FILE PHOTO Two women died from gun- shot wounds in Ronald T. “Ronnie” Evridge’s residence Dec. 18 in Westport. He claims he acted in self- defense.
Transcript of Living treasure: Fred Balke tells his story The Oldham...
Living treasure: Fred Balke tells his storyStory, B1
AND THEY’RE OFF!
Goshen Elementary School hosted its annual kindergarten derby May 3. Students, along with parents and teachers, cheered as the kindergarteners made a lap around the track
wearing handcraft ed jockey silks made of construction pa-per. Right, a bugler played “Call to the Post” before every heat. Th e kindergarten derby is an annual tradition for veteran kindergarten teacher Sharon Pittenger. Pittenger, known fondly as “Mrs. P,” has taught kindergarten for 49 years.
Local kindergartners catch Derby spirit
P H O T O S B Y J A C Q U E LY N H A C K • E D I T O R , T H E O L D H A M E R A
Theiss Since 1945
HOME FURNISHINGSFURNITURE • APPLIANCES • MATTRESSES • FLOORING200 W. Jeff erson St. • La Grange • 502-222-9449
12 MONTHFINANCING!
Your price is $399www.TheissHomeFurnishings.com For a limited time, get your choice of a queen bed, dining room or sofa for only $399!
MAN CHARGED IN DUO’S MURDER
BY JACQUELYN HACK AND TRACY HARRISEDITOR AND STAFF WRITER, THE OLDHAM ERA
A Westport man who claims he shot two women in self-defense a week before Christmas is now charged with the sisters’ murder.
An Oldham County grand jury handed up an indictment for Ronald T. “Ronnie” Evridge on May 3.
Evridge, 57, had been on the run from local authorities. He was arrested early Friday morning.
Evridge now faces two mur-
der charges and one charge of tampering with physi-cal evidence in the deaths of his girlfriend, Sandy Allen, 24, and her sister, Heather Faulkerson, 21.
Evridge claims he shot the
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 | OLDHAMERA.COM | OLDHAM COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER | 75¢ | VOLUME 136 | ISSUE NO. 36 | 28 PAGES | (502) 222-7183
The Oldham EraThe Oldham EraThe Oldham Era
See ‘Murder,’ page A4
Evridge
BY TRACY HARRISSTAFF WRITER, THE OLDHAM ERA
A plan to donate land for a new Goshen park and library by the North Oldham Lions Club has unravelled after dissension amongst the club’s leadership.
Following a board meeting Monday, club president Carol Hublar said the offer is being with-drawn.
Since December, club board members have disagreed on specifics for donat-ing the 24-acre park currently owned by the club on U.S. 42.
The land is part of a park donated to the NOLC in 1971 by Edith Belknap in honor of her husband, William.
A proposal submitted by the club in July 2011 would have given six acres to the library and the rest to the county to use as a passive park. The NOLC
Club withdraws
land donation
for park, library
See ‘Donation,’ page A4
BY TRACY HARRISSTAFF WRITER, THE OLDHAM ERA
With seven Republican candidates vying for the 4th Congressional District seat, the primary election May 22 is as important as the fall general election.
Only two Democrats are run-ning for the congressional post cur-rently held by Rep. Geoff Davis, Williamstown attorney Bill Adkins and Corinth businessman Greg Frank.
The crowded Republican field includes two Oldham County residents, Brian Oerther and Walt Schumm.
Northern Kentucky is the most populous area in the district, which includes Covington, Florence,
7 seek GOP nod for 4th district seat
See ‘GOP,’ page A3
2012PRIMARYELECTION
BY LISA KINGLANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
A former high school teach-er and La Grange resident arrested last summer for sex-ual abuse involving students is unlikely to serve jail time.
Shannon Hirchert, a special needs teacher at Shelbyville’s Martha Layne Collins High School in 2010-11, pleaded guilty Monday to six counts of first-degree sexual abuse and distribution of obscene matter.
Hirchert, 43, reached a plea agreement with Shelby County prosecutors.
The agreement recom-mends probation of a seven-year sentence, although Judge Charles Hickman will announce his decision whether to accept or deny the agreement when she is sen-tenced June 18.
Prosecutors have recom-mended five years each for the first five counts of the sexual abuse charges, the maximum sentence for a
Class D felony, and two years on the sixth charge. She also faces one year each for the two counts of distribution of obscene matter for a total of 7 years, as the sentences are to run concurrently.
The plea agreement says the prosecution has recom-
mended Hirchert be given probation to protect the victims’ anonymity. Also, as part of the plea agreement, Hirchert has agreed to relin-quish her teaching certificate and not seek a teaching cer-
Teacher admits to having sex with students
See ‘Teacher,’ page A3
“This has extremely difficult for her and her family. But
from day one, she acknowledged what she had done, and
has been actively involved in counseling, and is just trying
to move on with her life.”
Attorney Brian Butler, representing former teacher Shannon Hirchert
“This is not what
my family had
in mind when
we donated the
property. My
grandparents
would not want
what’s happen-
ing now because
it’s not for the
community.”
Annice Johnston, granddaughter of the Belknaps who placed land in trust of the North Oldham Lions
Sisters fatally shot at Westport man’s residence a
week before Christmas; he claims self-defense THE OLDHAM
ERA/FILE PHOTO
Two women
died from gun-
shot wounds
in Ronald T.
“Ronnie” Evridge’s
residence Dec.
18 in Westport.
He claims he
acted in self-
defense.
