The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1188486
Local ����������� A1-8 Sports ��������� B1-4 History ����������� B5 Shopping ���� B6-7 Opinion ������� B8-9 Classifieds B10-11 Church �������� C1-3 Home Life ��� C4-6 Obituaries ������� C7 East Gibson � C8-9 School ����������C10 Winter Sports �� D WHAT'S INSIDE: Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Fax: ��������������������������812-354-2014 E-Mail ����editor@pressdispatch�net NEWS TIPS: PIKE PUBLISHING Wednesday, November 27, 2019 Volume 149 Number 48 Phone 812-354-8500 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 (USPS 604-34012) $ 1 Four sections 38 pages Eleven inserts See HEAD-ON on page 2 See CHRISTMAS on page 2 See SENTENCE on page 2 See TRIAL on page 2 See TR ANSFER on page 2 2019 WINTER SPORTS inside Black Black By Andy Heuring The annual Christmas parades in Win- slow and Petersburg are next Saturday. They kick off a busy month of Christmas activities this December. CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK Christmas in the Park will flip the on switch at 6 p.m. Friday, November 29. It will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. every night through New Year's Eve. If someone would like to volunteer to help greet and take donations at the gate, they can call Jim Gidcumb at 812-582-2657 for the open dates. SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS The Pike/Gibson Salvation Army is look- ing for bell ringer volunteers in Petersburg. Join the tradition that started in 1891. If you would like to ring, contact Cal Bid- dle at 812-582-2385. Times are available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Petersburg Dollar General on Fridays and Saturdays, Novem- ber 29, through December 21. Also, you can ring at Petersburg Hardware from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. All money raised stays in these two coun- ties. The Princeton Corps is at 202 S. Gib- son St., Princeton. Utility and rent bills were paid through Salvation Army to keep people in their homes, and emergency housing and cloth- ing were provided. Hundreds of nutritious meals were served each week, especially when children were out of school. "Countless boys and girls are able to celebrate Christmas through the Salva- tion Army Toy Shop. Remember it was the Salvation Army who came early and stayed late during the Petersburg tornado. They helped us during our time of need. Volun- teer at least a couple of hours to help Pike Co. people in need," said Biddle. He added, "Many people ring for two hours at a time. Some like to ring with a friend. Families also take a couple hours to share the joy of serving others with their children. Some churches and school groups take an entire day. Some sing Christmas carols or play an instrument. So check the dates and call me. Your volunteering helps families have a Merry Christmas." PETERSBURG Numerous activities have been added to the schedule of events surrounding the Petersburg Christmas parade. The parade is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 7; however, activities will begin at 11 a.m. Eighth St., beside the courthouse, will be blocked off. Vendors selling hot chocolate, soup and kettle corn will in the area. Santa will be in the Santa house from 1 to 4 p.m. Following the parade, there will be a Christ- mas tree lighting ceremony on Eighth St. and they will name the winner of the mer- chant Christmas decoration contest. LIVE REINDEER ON DISPLAY On Sunday, December 8, Santa will be in his Santa House on Eighth St. from noon to 3 p.m., with live reindeer there from noon to 2 p.m. HOLLYWALK The Petersburg Hollywalk event, spon- sored by Petersburg Downtown Associa- tion, is scheduled for Saturday, December 14. It will feature free carriage rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Santa will be in his house at the corner of Seventh and Main sts. There will be a storyteller for children Traditional and new activities set for Christmas season Winslow Fall Festival fun Gwen Stinson plays spin the wheel as Pike Central Student Government member Neely Correll watches. It was one of many fun games set up throughout Winslow Elementary School's Fall Festival. The games followed their King and Queen and Prince and Princess ceremony. See additional photos on A-3. By Andy Heuring A Washington man was sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to deal- ing in meth, a level 2 felony. Edward V. Simison, 42, of 508 W. Van Trees St., Washington, was sentenced in Pike Circuit Court on Friday. Senior Judge William Weikert, of Du- bois County, pronounced the sentence af- ter about 45 minutes of testimony. Simison was arrested in September of 2018. Police records showed Simison had 137 grams of meth and three grams of heroin on him at the time of arrest. State Trooper C. J. Boeckman, who stopped Simison, testified that was the larg- est amount of meth recovered in one ar- rest he had ever dealt with in Pike County. Boeckman said after reviewing text mes- sages on Simison's phone, they showed they had gone to Louisville to pickup the drugs. He also said Simison told him they were returning from Louisville. Pike County Probation Officer Chris Yon testified his review of Simison found Simison was a high risk to be a repeat of- fender. He recommended Simison participate in the "purposeful incarceration" program, because he wanted him to get some type of drug and alcohol treatment before he was released. Pike County Prosecutor Darrin McDon- ald cited a couple of cases where offend- ers went through the "purposeful incarcer- ation" and then were arrested shortly after being released. Simison sentenced to 24 years for dealing meth By Andy Heuring Pike County Council moved $115,250 from the Election and Registration budget to the General Fund on Tuesday morning during a brief meeting. Council president Greg Willis said the Election and Registration budget had a bal- ance of $ 315,000 in it and the budget for fis- cal year 2020 is $115,000. The Election and Registration Fund is the strongest fund and can do without the tax levy for 2020. Councilman Dennis Bishop asked if they could make the transfer next year. "I don't have a problem with it. I just wanted a clar- ification on it," said Bishop. Willis explained the council had 10 days from when the Indiana Department of Lo- cal Government Finance approved their 1782 notice to make the transfer from one County council transfers election funds to general fund Rape trial ends in hung jury By Andy Heuring Editor's warning: There is some graphic language in this story. A trial of a Kentucky man charged with raping a Petersburg woman ended in a hung jury Thursday night. A hung jury is when a jury cannot reach a unanimous ver- dict of guilty or not guilty. Roger Roach aka Philpot was charged with raping a Petersburg woman in June of 2018. The woman, Dwaina Young, ini- tially did not report the rape. However, in September of 2018 she called police after Petersburg firemen work to free Charlie Barr from his Dodge pickup Monday night after he crashed head-on into a combine on Highway 61. Barr, 78, of Winslow, suffered minor injuries and declined a trip to the hospital. The combine driver was uninjured. By Andy Heuring A Winslow man suffered minor injuries when he hit a combine head-on as he was pass- ing another combine Monday evening. Charlie Barr, 78, of 2430 Calla Way, Win- slow was driving north otn Highway 61 near CR100E when he attempted to pass a north bound farm combine being driven by Kevin Western, 46, of 8132W, SR56. However when Barr drove into the left lane he crashed head on into a southbound combine being driven by Jason Dickson, 44, of 8104 E. SR356, Win- slow. The impact of the crash knocked the left front dual wheels off of Dickson's combine. It took several minutes for emergency crews to free Barr from his vehicle. Deputy Paul Collier said Barr had cuts on both his hands and arms as well as a bloody nose, but refused to go to the hospital. Neither Dickson or Western were injured Barr escapes serious in head-on collision with combine