The Press-Dispatch

September 16, 2020

The Press-Dispatch

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B-2 Wednesday, September 16, 2020 The Press-Dispatch The board voted to hire Kelly McDivitt as the English Learner teacher of record. Dr. Blake said all schools are required to have this posi- tion. Pam Julian had been the teacher of record, but when she retired, it left the position vacant. Dr. Blake also said because of increased numbers of stu- dents enrolled as virtual stu- dents, they needed assistance for the three virtual teachers, Barb Jochim, Phillip Olinger and Jodi Pickett. She said the collective bargaining agree- ment allows them to compen- sate two additional teachers for an extra class period. She recommended Angie Baker and Cassi Craig for this as- signment. She said at the high school level, they need some help with content specialists. In high school, there is more spe- cialization in topics like Calcu- lus. She recommended they use Cheryl Hurst, Jarrod Gide- on and Scott Gudorf. They are approved for 10 hours per pay period of specialized content instruction. These recommendations were approved by a 3-0 vote. In other personnel moves, the board accepted resig- nations of Candace Roy as a teacher's assistant at PES; Renee Lashbrook as a media aid at Pike Central; Josh Fis- cus as sixth grade girls; bas- ketball coach; and Demetre Young as the FIRST robotics sponsor. The board approved hiring Jarrod Gideon to replace Fis- cus as the sixth grade basket- ball coach at PES. They also hired Dana Black- well for the Reading Special- ist/Dyslexia teacher at PES and Ragon Mitchell for a teaching assistant position at Winslow to replace RaeAnn Brock. Erica Kueber was hired to fi ll-in for Kendra Harmon, who is on maternity leave be- ginning Oct. 5. Christopher Mohammed was hired as the high school robotics team sponsor. Stevie Schultz and Emi- llee Halderman were hired as instructional assistants at Pike Central for the 2020 -21 school year and Kelly Rice to the same position at Pike Cen- tral Middle School. The board voted to appoint Chris McKinney to be the Pike County School Corpora- tion's representative to the In- diana School Board Associa- tion. Dr. Blake told the board it needed to be a school board member. Chris Satterfi eld suggested it be a member who was not present at Monday's meeting and nominated McKinney. They also made Manning the alternate if McKinney could not take the position. The next school board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 13. SCHOOLS Continued from page 1 WINSLOW Continued from page 1 I am Jody Hoover and I am running for the County Treasurer. I am a mom of two wonderful children, Hannah (Hoover) Wiscaver and Zackary Hoover. I also have three grandbabies; they are the loves of my life. I want to serve you as County Treasurer because I have previously worked 19 years in the Pike County Courthouse, holding the offices of Assessor and Recorder, and loved every day of serving the people in my community. is election year, I ask you not to be swayed by the animosity fueled by the national media toward party affiliation, but rather vote for me based on my experience and dedication to being an officeholder in our county. I passionately support our coal miners, police, our teachers, the military, veterans and our country, all of which have had a major role in my life. ank you for your support! JODY HOOVER FOR COUNTY TREASURER Paid for by Jody Hoover for County Treasurer I am Jody Hoover and I am running for the County I Will Treasure Your Vote Sunday, Sept. 20 at Otwell Miller Academy Starting at 11:30 a.m. BBQ Pulled Pork Dinners - $10 Kids' Meals - $3 Bake Sale Items - TBD Dine-in not available, Pick-up only Confirm by Friday, Sept. 18, to guarantee your order Call Sherryl @ 812-789-3073 Friends Fall Festival Friends Fall Friends Fall Friends Fall Friends Fall Friends Fall 2nd Annual Pregnant... or think you are? Call:1-877-257-1084 or Locally Call: 1-812-354-2814 • Free pregnancy testing • Free counseling and info. on pregnancy options. • Confi dential counseling for women & men who are suff ering from post-abortion syndrome. • Residential Care • Health and assistance referrals. • Training and education. • Assistance in getting baby and maternity clothes washpcc@sbcglobal.net www.washingtonpregnancycenter.com Paving underway in Winslow A crew paves Beardsley St., between Mariah and Oak Sts., on Friday afternoon. The paving crew will be do- ing several projects as Winslow received a Community Crossroads grant from the Indiana Department of Trans- portation that pays 75 percent of the paving costs. The other streets to be paved are: Lafayette St., from East to Collins Sts.; Mill St., from Lafayette to Jefferson Sts.; Hickory St., from Lafayette to its end; Oak St., from Union to its end; and Third St., from Factory to its end. By Andy Heuring A man found in a cornfi eld at 2 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 was arrested on drug charges. Michael David Robertson, 34, of 3452 W. CR 200 N., Pe- tersburg, was arrested on pos- session of meth, less than fi ve grams, a level 6 felony; posses- sion of marijuana; possession of paraphernalia; possession of a controlled drug; and pos- session of a legend drug. Pike County Sheriff's Sgt. Buck Seger said, at 2:16 a.m., he was driving on CR 250 W., near River Road, and no- ticed a vehicle parked in the oncoming lane, partially off the road. Petersburg Offi - cer Scott Arnold arrived and they approached the vehicle, and found it to be abandoned. While they were near the car, they heard someone yell from the bean fi eld and saw a fl ash- light waving around. Sgt. Seger said it looked like the person holding the fl ashlight was running toward them. When he got close, they identifi ed the man as Robert- son. He told police he was in the fi eld looking for his hat and glasses that he had lost earlier in the day while look- ing for arrowheads in the fi eld. According to their report, Offi cer Arnold said he smelled marijuana. Robertson said someone who had been in his vehicle had smoked marijua- na. Police then searched his ve- hicle. Deputy Seger's report states they found a smoking pipe with the burnt residue of marijuana. They also found 36 Gabapentin pills, and 10 blue and while pills verifi ed to be pregabalin. Robertson told police he didn't have a prescription for the Gabapentin, but he need- ed it because of hand and neck problems. Police then found in the pocket of the driver's side door a small baggie with a crystal substance in it that fi eld test- ed positive for methamphet- amine. Seger's reports states, Rob- ertson said, "what is that, let me see it, who the #&*@ has been in my car? I can't get no meth charge." Robertson, according to Seger's report, admitted do- ing meth the previous day. He also said people borrow his car from time to time. He was taken into custody. Michael Robertson arrested on multiple drug charges By Andy Heuring A headlight out lead to a meth charge for a rural Winslow woman. Donna Sue Townley, 51, of 6064 S. Augusta Vigo St., Winslow, was arrested at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 9 on a charge of possession of meth, less than fi ve grams, a level 6 felony; possession paraphernalia; and possession of marijuana. Pike County Sheriff's Sgt. Buck Seger said at 9:39 p.m., he stopped a blue Jeep, being driven by Townley, that was heading east on Highway 64 with one of its headlights out. A free air sniff by K9 Offi cer Bleck indicated there were il- legal drugs in the vehicle. Sgt. Seger's report stated Townley said there wasn't any- thing in the vehicle now, but she had smoked marijuana in the vehicle a few weeks prior. Police located a backpack and Townley said there would be meth in a pocket. Sgt. Seger said police then found a small plastic container with a crystal-like substance in it that fi eld tested positive for meth. Townley was taken into cus- tody. Her passenger, Bryan K. Townley, was released. Burned-out headlight leads to multiple drug charges By Andy Heuring An Evansville man was ar- rest on numerous charges af- ter police stopped him for speeding on Highway 57. Dalton Cundiff, 25, of 5485 Eden Dr., Evansville, was ar- rested by Indiana State Troop- er Brayden Angermeier at about 6:47 p.m. Sunday. Trooper Angermeier said he clocked Cundiff at 84 mph, near the 31.4-mile marker and stopped the vehicle. While talking to Cundiff, Trooper Angermeier said he noticed a small child in the vehicle, as well as a passenger, Amanda Boren. Cundiff said he was going to a car show at the JayC Food- store in Petersburg. Peters- burg Offi cer Scott Arnold, as- sisting with the stop, said he noticed the smell of marijua- na. Angermeier said when Cundiff opened his door to leave the vehicle, he also could smell the odor of marijuana. Angermeier said Cundiff admitted he and Amanda had smoked marijuana just before heading to Petersburg from Evansville. During a search of the vehicle, police said they found two burnt joints, a black metal grinder containing plant material, two pills iden- tifi ed as Pregabalin and two pills identifi ed as Tramadol Hydrochloride, all of which are controlled substances. Cundiff failed fi eld sobriety tests and was transported to the Daviess Community Hos- pital, where he decided to re- fuse a blood tests. He was then transported to the Pike County Jail, where he was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, with endangerment; child neglect; possession of a controlled sub- stance; possession of marijua- na; possession of parapherna- lia; and reckless driving. Cundiff charged with OVWI, drugs, child neglect, reckless driving Indiana Department of Transportation announces State Road 57 will close about two miles north of Plainville, for structure replacement. Highway 57 will be closed starting this week. Crews will replace a box culvert span- ning Smothers Creek Tribu- tary. The road will be closed around the clock. Local traffi c will have ac- cess up to the point of closure. All through traffi c should use the offi cial detour following S.R. 58, S.R. 67 and S.R. 358. State Road 57 closed near Plainville CAMERAS Continued from page 1 Commissioner president Mark Flint said this had to be done before the end of the year to use the COVID relief funds. The two companies bidding the project were VEI Protec- tive Services, of Vincennes, and Koorsen Fire and Secu- rity, of Evansville. VEI's bid was $72,145 and Loorsen $ 99,450.50. "We really need to go ahead and accept this, instead of tak- ing it under advisement," said Flint. He said there is a lead time on the equipment and it has to be done this year. He ex- plained the reason for the spe- cial meeting is the commis- sioners didn't have a meeting scheduled until September 21. So they had the special meet- ing to be sure they could get the project completed before the end of the year. Gumbel said the court needed the sys- tem in place to have jury tri- als because they call groups of 75 in for juror selection. The system can be used to moni- tor compliance with social distancing and wearing face masks by the court. The commissioners accept- ed the low bid of VEI Protec- tive Services. Gumbel said they are able to use the grant to replace items they were going to have to re- place anyway. also act as an access point for callers to reach other depart- ments by pressing a certain number instead of having to dial individual numbers ev- ery time. McCandless said that the system will end up saving money. In addition, Popp said that the CARES Act will most likely cover the initial cost of the new system. The motion to approve the phase two up- grade was made and voted in favor of by the council. IT UPGRADE PHASE 3 The motion to pass IT Up- grade Phase Three, consist- ing of a $ 3,779 desktop com- puter upgrade for the council offi ce and police, was voted in favor of by the council. This system will include installa- tion of software, such as Key- stone and two computers. For the police, the system will be used to run reports and will back up all of their information to the server. CARES ACT The reimbursable funds provided via the CARES Act and how to use them were discussed by the town coun- cil. Some of this money was used for the fi rst IT upgrade, of which the parts are in and inventoried. Vice-president Debra Lamb suggested using some of the funding for new no-touch fau- cets for the community center. She presented two quotes for the faucets and tankless wa- ter heaters, neither of which exceeded $7,000 in total. Popp said that they would do more research on the topic for dis- cussion at a later date. HALLOWEEN Halloween safety was dis- cussed. "I like the kids too well to expose the kids to that," Brewster said as he voiced his concerns about passing out candy during the time of COVID-19. Popp suggested doing a reverse trick-or-treat- ing activity, where fi retrucks and police cars drive around the city and pass out candy to kids waiting at their homes. The council pushed back an offi cial decision until next month's meeting. "It's just something that we need to have on our radar," Lamb said. BANK ACCOUNT FOR PARK BOARD "We're not waiting on the 2021 budget, we're doing it in 2020. We need something we can work with now," Brewster said after the suggestion that a bank account be set up for the park board. Brewster made it clear that the department would be responsible for the debit card and receipts. Popp recommended speaking with the park board at their meet- ing on Thursday. Due to the immediate need of furnace fi lters, a motion was made by Popp to allow Brewster, or whoever he des- ignates, to make a purchase of no more than $100 for fi l- ters for the community center from a local wholesale store. All council members voted in favor, and the motion passed. RESOLUTION 2020-09 Resolution 2020 -09 calls for the town to voluntarily re- duce the 2020 budget to pro- vide funding for 2021. With this budget, the city still has around $11,000 to spend un- til the end of the year, not counting the funds provided by the CARE Act. The council passed the resolution upon its second reading. UTILITY TAP FEES At the moment, the stan- dard fee for the materials for a utility tap is $250, but the kits needed are costing the town $527.71, without labor. The council agreed that the ordnance needs to be amend- ed to strike the $250 fee and say instead that customers are responsible the cost of materi- als provided by a city approved supplier. LIFT STATION The cleaning of lift stations one, two and four was ap- proved by the council. Nathan Deweese said that the stations are fi lled with grease. The job is to be done by Hathaway Ex- cavating, LLC and is not to ex- ceed $425, unless approved by Popp. TOWN HELPERS Popp said that both of the town helpers have resigned and that the city is not current- ly looking to replace their po- sitions. The next council meet- ing is set for 6 p.m. on October 12 via phone.

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