Local owners of historic properties honored for work
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Historic Landmarks, a local nonprofit, handed out five preservation awards at its annual ceremony this week.
This year’s selection recognized properties, both commercial and residential, that are either in the process of being restored or are being actively preserved. The buildings recognized must be at least 50 years old, said Tom Strickland, a board member for the organization.
The old structures in and near Greenfield, along with the rich history of U.S. 40, contribute to the county’s heritage, organizers said.
Additional charge filed in bus accident that killed 6-year-old
GREENFIELD — The driver of a bus that crashed on Interstate 70 and killed a 6-year-old boy on board had cocaine in his system at the time of the accident, test results show.
Charles Goodman, 53, of Gary, had traces of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in his blood immediately following the accident, which prompted prosecutors to charge the man with an additional felony count in an effort to hold him responsible for the child’s death.
Hancock County prosecutors this week filed a Level 4 felony charge of causing death when operating while intoxicated by a controlled substance against Goodman. The count comes in addition to a Level 5 felony charge of reckless homicide and a Class A misdemeanor of driving with a suspended license, which were filed against Goodman after the July crash.
Donor names cancer center after his late wife
GREENFIELD – Morristown businessman Bob Wortman recently made a contribution to the Hancock Regional Hospital Foundation that earned him naming rights to the hospital’s new cancer center. The facility will now be called the Sue Ann Wortman Cancer Center in honor of his late wife. The foundation will celebrate Bob Wortman’s generosity at a ceremony in November.
Wortman’s donation will be used to create an endowment through the foundation. Endowment funds are designated to cover the costs of operating facilities at the hospital, said Rob Matt, chief operating officer.
Further charges filed against Greenfield man
GREENFIELD — Twice this week further felony child molest charges were filed against a Greenfield man who investigators said has been assaulting women since the 1990s.
Jerry W. Privett Jr., 47, was arrested in late September after a high school student told school officials Privett had harmed her repeatedly from 2009 to 2015, according to court records. After hearing word of Privett’s arrest, two more women told police they were also harmed by Privett.
Prosecutors have now filed four felony charges of child molest dating back to 1990.
Mild winter could mean less snow, savings for county, city
GREENFIELD — Meteorologists are predicting warmer temperatures and less snow this winter, which means residents might spend fewer days fighting snow-covered roads.
It would be welcome news for local residents and street crews alike, who have braved cold and snowy weather the past few winters, especially in 2014, the snowiest winter on record in central Indiana.
For residents, a mild winter might make for safer commutes, fewer hours spent shoveling and fewer potholes — the result of water freezing and cracking the road. The city’s street and county’s highway departments should accumulate fewer overtime hours and use less salt and other materials, which could result in cost savings for Greenfield and the county.
