The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1003328
The Press-Dispatch Local Wednesday, July 11, 2018 A- 7 regarding its interest in helping pay for the new tank truck. "The Washington Township Advi- sory Board is very interested in this because, obviously, it's going to pro- vide service out in Washington Town- ship," Klipsch said. "As far as how much they would budget each year for the next three years, we've had those discussions and I think they're very interested in helping us," Klipsch added. "It's not necessary at this point ... but it would certainly be helpful if they were to participate, and they've indicated they will." Klipsch estimated that a six-year lease would likely result in a payment of $28,000 twice a year. "And we can cash flow that," Klipsch said. On a motion by Melhiser, seconded by Lewis, the Board of Public Works & Safety approved the recommenda- tion by a 3-0 vote. During the Common Council meet- ing, a motion by Melhiser, seconded by council member Bertis Jenkins, to accept the Board of Public Works & Safety's recommendation was ap- proved by a 5 -0 vote. In addition, both the Board of Pub- lic Works & Safety and the Common Council approved an additional appro- priation of $20,000 out of the city's public safety fund to replace one of the city's five police vehicles. "We're down to two pretty rough ones, and we have one ordered, and I really intended to buy the last one af- ter the first of the year," Klipsch said. "We're probably not going to make it. We're having breakdown problems and we've had some situations where it's probably foolish to keep throwing money in the No. 5 car." Klipsch noted that the new police vehicle currently on order will cost a total of $27,126. However, he said, for an additional $507, the city can pur- chase an all-wheel-drive vehicle as op- posed to a rear-wheel drive vehicle. "The only all-wheel-drive vehicle that we have is the one that (Police Chief ) Chuck (Baumgart) drives," Klipsch said. "So in bad weather, we get in a situation where Chuck's the only one we've got. I think it would not be a bad idea to have one more all- wheel-drive." Klipsch said that a public hearing on the additional appropriation would be held during the Common Council's meeting on Monday, July 16. Klipsch also reminded the coun- cil that he and City Clerk Tammy Sel- by will be presenting the city's 2019 budget to the Pike County Common Council on Monday, July 16, as well. In addition, Klipsch said that the city had obtained possession of an abandoned property located at 1801 Maple Street, which will soon be de- molished. "It's must simpler for us if we own them before we take them down," Klipsch said. "It certainly speeds things up so we can have a chance to sell them or do something with them." Klipsch added that an unsafe hear- ing for two additional properties – one on 7th Street and one across from the Petersburg Little League fields – will be held on Wednesday, July 18. "We'll probably be dealing with the owners in these situations," Klipsch said. "We'll talk to them about what their plans are – if they take it down or we take it down or what happens next." Klipsch also reported the city – instead of putting a temporary met- al roof over two buildings located at 604 and 606 East Main Street that the city plans to demolish to prevent rain- water from seeping into a neighbor- ing building – will instead dig a trench at the back of the property to provide drainage. "Here is the back wall," Klipsch told the council while pointing at an aer- ial photograph of the properties. "A few feet out here farther, there's a re- taining wall, in the alley, and I think what we're going to try to do is to put a trench in here to try to get some of this water out without touching this wall." "That what we're going to try," El- more said. "I did speak with our neigh- bor there and he was pleased with what we were going to try to do there. We haven't started on it as of yet be- cause we're waiting on locates before we dig in there." Elmore also noted that he had Duke Energy disconnect electrical service to the buildings as well. "That service drop was still ener- gized from the pole to the building," Elmore said. "Now, we've got that off there now." Also, Baumgart advised the gener- al public, because of dangerous heat levels this summer, they should check on their elderly neighbors. "See if they have fans or air condi- tioning units or something like that, because it doesn't take much, and you can go down in this heat," Baumgart said. TRUCK Continued from page 3 The #bubbastrong organization from Stendal was part of the Otwell Ruritan Fourth of July celebra- tion this past week, selling taters and candy. Serving customers at the food booth just off the midway was Otwell Miller Academy first grade student John Michael (Bubba) Marcum. A Go-Fund-Me fundrais- er is shooting for the $20,000 cost of training a service dog for him, according to posts on Facebook by parents Kara and Christopher Marcum, of Stendal. "Lil' Bubba" as he is known, has a cyst on his brain causing severe seizures that cause him to stop breathing. James Capozella photo Otwell's Ryker Dale Harbin climbed to the top of the Wild Thing slide during the Otwell Ruri- tan Fourth of July. The four-year-old rode a bur- lap sack down the steep and fun slide for the first time on Saturday. James Capozella photo Heavy smoke and noise filled the air for those in the bleachers watching the Otwell Ruritan Fourth of July tractor and truck pull. Trucks like this Dodge Ram contested the sled to the delight of a nice crowd in the stands. James Capozella photo OTWELL FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION The hanging boat ride at the Otwell Ruritan Fourth of July midway brought a smile to the face of seven-year-old Paige Schmitz, of Petersburg. Paige and her family attended the Saturday wrap- up of the Fourth of July celebration. James Capozel- la photo Tractor classes at the Otwell Ruritan Fourth of July truck and tractor pull included this classic blue and white Ford 8600. James Capozella photo Area Reunion 57TH RUSSELL REUNION On Sunday, July 8, the 57th Russell Reunion will be at the Muren Church of God Fellowship Hall. There will be a basket lunch served at noon. Drinks and silverware will be provided. Obituaries FANNY "DELORES" WESSEL Fanny "Delores" Wessel, 93, of Holland, passed away at 10 :34 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, 2018, in the emergen- cy room of Memorial Hospi- tal and Health Care Center in Jasper. She was born March 1, 1925, in Pike County, to Blythe and Esta ( Wininger) McCormick, and married Alfred Wessel on July 16, 1979, at Augustana Church in Holland. She worked at General Electric and Leeds Selling Tools. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her grandchildren and great- grandchildren. She was a member of Augustana Unit- ed Church of Christ in Hol- land and the Rockport Re- bekah Lodge. She is survived by one daughter, Patricia "Pat" (Ronnie) Arterberry, of Tell City; two stepdaughters, Beth (Mark) Gill and Bren- da (Lynn) Kahle, both of Holland; two siblings, Rob- ert (Doris) McCormick, of Indianapolis, and Roseanna Abrocrambie, of Arizona; sister-in-law, Barbara Mc- Cormick, of Indianapolis; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alfred Wessel, who died in 2002; an infant daughter, Cynthia Barnett; and seven siblings, Ruth Harris, Ani- ta Hilgeman, Velma Leslie, Betty Froman, Jessie Bauer, Virginia Winter and Charles McCormick. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 12, 2018, at Augustana Unit- ed Church of Christ in Hol- land, Pastor Debbie Roe of- ficiating. Burial will follow at Augustana Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4- 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Nass and Son Funeral Home in Huntingburg and also on Thursday, one hour prior to the funeral at the church. A Rebekah Lodge vigil will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Augustana United Church of Christ. Condolences may be shared online at: www.nas- sandson.com. See page C-8 for additional obituaries.