The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/122355
A-4 Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Briefs Post prom meeting this Thursday The Pike Central Post Prom Committee will be meeting Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the PCMS Cafeteria to decorate for Post Prom. All parents/guardians of Pike Central juniors are welcome and encouraged to attend. Even if you have been unable to attend before, we could still use your manpower. We will also be decorating starting at 9 a.m. Friday, April 19, in both cafeterias until we are done. If you can work all or part of the day, come out. Little League selling dinners The Petersburg Little League will be having a pork chop dinner fundraiser on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Petersburg Little League Park concession stand. The dinner will include a Merkley's pork chop, Schnitzelbank potatoes, green beans and roll for $8. Additional pork chops are available for $3 each. For information, contact Dirk Hunt at (812) 582-0081 for more information. Jr. Miss Firecracker Application are currently being accepted for the 2013 Jr. Miss Firecracker pageant. Applicants must be 10-12 years of age. Contact Danielle Houtsch at 582-2938 for more information. Muzzle barking dogs With the warmer spring weather coming to Petersburg, it is also bringing out a normal problem for the spring and summer, barking dogs disturbing neighbors, according to Petersburg Police Chief Chuck Baumgart. The chief asks that home owners be mindful of noise caused by dogs and that they possibly use a muzzle or bark collar to help keep their dogs quiet. If anyone has any questions, they can contact the Petersburg Police Department. Child Abuse Awareness Luncheon T he P ike Coun ty Agencies for Kids Committee is hosting a Child Abuse Awareness Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Tuesday, April 23, at Sts. Peter and Paul Parrish Hall, located at 207 S. 7th St., Petersburg. Brandi Watson, Community Outreach Program Director from Albion Fellows Bacon Center, will speak from noon-12:30 p.m. The menu includes chicken salad on croissant or sloppy joe on a bun, dill pickle, pasta salad, chips, brown a la mode, and lemonade or iced tea for a $5 donation, payable at the door. The Press-Dispatch Robotics team places 14th at regional competition By Andy Heuring Pike Central's robotics team placed 14th out of 50 teams in a regional competition. Team 4008 "Theodore Roosevelt's Disco Haircut" competed in two competitions, the Queen City Regional at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and the Crossroads Regional at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute. Pike Central Engineering instructor Mike MacMunn was the team's sponsor. MacMunn said this year's FIRST Robotics game, Ultimate Ascent, challenged teams to design and build a robot that could not only launch frisbees through targets, but could also climb a pyramid made of steel pipes. The more frisbees scored and the higher a robot could climb would earn teams more points. Team 4008 members are: Noah Benson, Earl Townsend, Demetre Young, Kari Lemond, Jared Lamberson, Zach Riddle, Austin Hanebutt, Jacob Lamberson, Logan Ferguson, Steven Lin, Colton Newton, Emma Williams, Joseph Hetman, Jacob Evans, Jayde Martin and mentors: Don Ferguson, Mick Hetman and Mike MacMunn. " Team 4008 designed their robot to shoot frisbees into the highest goal, worth three points per shot, as well as climb the first level of the pyramid, worth 10 points," said MacMunn. "These goals were chosen by the team so as to make as many shots as possible over the two minute matches and then make a quick climb with only seconds remaining," explained MacMunn. Teams were only given six weeks to complete their robot during the build season. "Many late nights and early Team 4008 from Pike Central with their robot are: front row: (l to r) Jayde Martin, mentor Don Ferguson and mentor Mick Hetman; back row: Noah Benson, Earl Townsend, Demetre Young, Kari Lemond, Jared Lamberson, Zach Riddle, Austin Hanebutt, Jacob Lamberson, Logan Ferguson, Steven Lin, Colton Newton, Emma Williams, Joseph Hetman and Jacob Evans. Photo by Mick Hetman. mornings went into creating this machine, as well as literal blood, sweat and tears," said MacMunn. "Our first regional saw competition from all over the country, and, for most of the first day of competition, our team was undefeated and ranked number one out of more than 50 teams. "We experienced some unfortunate collisions during the competition, which unfortunately followed us throughout both competitions. At one point, one of the robot's wires became entangled in a wheel, thereby ripping the robot's 'brain' out. The robot then promptly ran over it," said MacMunn. He added, "Regardless of the mechanical and elec- trical issues the students encountered, they quickly made adjustments to their robot. The students gained much more knowledge about electrical and mechanical systems by trouble shooting and repairing the robot as issues arose," said MacMunn. With Pike Central's impressive finish at the Queen City Regional, they were chosen to compete in the finals. "Pike Central's students stood out from many of the other teams at both competitions simply by being a team of students working on their robot with mentors standing by, not the other way around. These students are talented and driven," said MacMunn. Colton Newton and Demetre Young carried team 4008's robot to put it in place for a competition. Photo by Mick Hetman. Biesterveld injured in Thursday morning car/deer crash A Petersburg woman was injured Thursday morning in a crash caused by a deer. Jeffery L. Biesterveld, age 56, of 6591 N CR 500 E in Petersburg, was driving east on State Road 356 with his wife, Kim Biesterveld, at 6:36 a.m. Thursday morning, April 11. Kelly D. Burres, age 58, of Monroe City, was driving behind them. According to a report filed by Pike County Sheriff's Deputy Brad Jenkins, a deer ran out in front of Biesterveld's Pontiac van on the passenger side, it rolled up the hood and windshield, smashing the windshield. Biesterveld swerved towards the left side of the road from the impact, and Burres swerved left as well, to try to avoid hitting him. However, Burres' Ford Ranger slammed into the driver's side rear door of Biesterveld's van. The Biestervelds ended up in the ditch on the left side of the road. K im Biesterveld's neck was injured in the collision, but the injury was judged at the scene to be non-incapacitating. T he accident caused between $5,000 and $10,000 in damage. OTHER WRECKS At 4:20 ?? on Thursday, April 11, Kegan K. Aldridge, age 17, of Jasper, was driving on CR 600 E near Winslow when he hit a slick spot Kim Biesterveld suffered minor injuries in a Thursday morning crash. Her husband, Jeff, was driving their Pontiac minivan on Highway 356, when he hit a deer that went onto the hood and into the windshield. As he swerved, he was hit in the side by Kelly Burres, 55, of Monroe City, who was driving behind him. in the road while making a sharp turn in the rain. Aldridge slid off the road into a ditch, causing minor damage to his silver Chevrolet HHR. He was not injured. Pike County Sheriff's Deputy Adam Thompson investigated the scene. At 9:31 ?? on Friday, April 12, Stephanie J. Seay, age 22, of Petersburg, was involved in a car-deer accident while driving on State Road 57 near Petersburg. Seay was not injured. Pike County Sheriff's Deputy Adam Thompson investigated the scene.