The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1304002
D-2 Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Press-Dispatch ELECTION 2020 PIKE COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGE PIKE COUNTY CORONER Explore a $ 0/month Medicare plan. Now through December 7 you have the opportunity to upgrade your Medicare coverage. Our Simplete Medicare Advantage plan increases benefits, lowers costs and includes these member-only benefits: • Dental, vision and hearing benefits. • Full prescription drug coverage (with $0 deductible). • Air ambulance coverage. • $0 primary care provider visits. Simplete is powered by Health Alliance Medicare – a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Simplete depends on contract renewal. Other providers are available in our network. For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings, call (877) 561-8307 (TTY: 711). H1463_21_87604_M MDMKSI21-CRMaepprintadBW-0620 Find out more during a FREE webinar. Register at simplete.org/CRM21. Talk one-on-one with a Medicare expert today: (877) 561-8291 (TTY:711). Available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Voicemail is used on holidays and weekends from April 1 to September 30. Nick Harris Henson Democrat Ray Brooks Republican Adam Scales (812) 354-8488 adam.scales@infarmbureau.com Continued from page 1 ness. My parents opened the Potting Shed in 1980. I have been involved in business since I was five years old. I have a sol- id history of growing success- ful business," said Evans. " I feel like I can make a dif- ference. I want see more of the tax dollars reinvested in the community for things like a public swimming pool, better sidewalks, a nice lighted walk- ing path and a community cen- ter for people to gather," said Evans about why he is running for county council. "I have a comprehensive plan that will bring some growth to the county." "I feel like we need to keep the taxes as low as we can on people and bring growth and jobs to the county." "I will work to bring more jobs and industry to Pike Coun- ty to try to keep the taxes low." "I feel like my business expe- rience will be beneficial to our county and nobody will work harder than me," said Evans about why people should vote for him. "I have nearly a lifetime of success growing businesses and no one will work harder for our community than I will." CATHY McFARLAND Cathy McFarland, an in- dependent, of Petersburg, has been the general manag- er of the Petersburg Fish Hut restaurant for six years. She has three daughters and four grandchildren. She graduated from Pike Central High School in 1984 and served four years in the Navy, during which time she spent two years in Iceland. "I run a successful business and have for several years," said McFarland about her ex- perience. "I don't have a lot ex- perience in government or pol- itics, but I have no doubt I can do it." "I'm watching our county die and I would like to see that change. I want to see industry, a reason for the young people to stay and raise their family. It is a great county and commu- nity, and I want it to stay that way. I want to build on that," said McFarland about why she is running for county council. "I want to bring jobs here. Something to support our small business man that is here," said McFarland about the most important issue fac- ing Pike County. Things she listed as her goals include: to see neighbor- hoods cleaned up all over the county, roads in better condi- tions and more independent business owners in town. "I would like to see small busi- nesses brought into town. We have some, but we need more," said McFarland. She also said there needs to be something for kids to do. "There is absolutely nothing for kids to do," said McFarland. "In a perfect world, I would like to see some factories. Job opportunities for the young people not going to college." "I was born and raised here. I love this community and county. I want to see the best we can do. I don't feel like as of right now we are doing that. I think I can be one to change that. I am running as an Inde- pendent so I can work with ei- ther side. I'm not hard-head- ed one way or the other. I just want to better this county," said McFarland about why people should vote for her. TODD MEADORS Todd Meadors, a two-term incumbent Democrat, lives in Otwell and is the head of Physical Security at the IPL in Petersburg. Prior to that, he served as sheriff of Pike County for nine-and-a-half years. He has twin sons, Bri- ar and Tyler. Meadors is a member of the First Baptist Church in Peters- burg. A fter graduating from Pike Central, he got an asso- ciates degree in law enforce- ment from Vincennes Univer- sity. "I was highly involved in the community during my 18 years in the sheriff's office. I worked hand in hand with numerous county agencies, such as the Highway Dept., EMS and Sheriff's office. I en- joy staying in touch with and doing things in the communi- ty, and feel like I'm knowledge- able on these offices since I have worked hand in hand with them." Meadors said the most im- portant issue facing Pike County is, "growth and tax- es," with the recent news of IPL doing reassessment and less tax money coming in. "We have relied on their tax- es for quite some years. It is the same thing as balancing your checkbook at home, on- ly have so much coming in and some much going out. We want to continue with ser- vices we have and to do that, we are going to have to have business coming into the Pike County. So we need to pro- mote growth." Meadors explained his goals. "When I-69 came in, ev- eryone told us it was going to be great for the county. I want to see growth for the county at our exit. Seems like every- one drives past Pike County instead of driving through it. When SR 57 was more active, our local restaurants and gas stations were busier. Now peo- ple are taking I-69 and bypass- ing them. We need to have as much business as possible to increase our tax base, so we can continue the services we have or better them." "I feel like I'm the best quali- fied candidate for the position. I know the workings of coun- ty government. I have been working in or with county gov- ernment for the last 22 years, so I have acquired the experi- ence and knowledge to know how to balance the budget and I'm knowledgeable of all the county offices. I know what we need and what we can pro- vide for them," said Meadors about why people should vote for him. "I think we have a very good council. They work well to- gether and we are getting a lot accomplished. GREG K. WILLIS Greg K. Willis, a three-term incumbent Republican, has been a CPA for 37 years. He and his wife, Carla, own and operate Willis & Company in Petersburg. They have three adult chil- dren, Nate, Tom and Kinsey Barrett, and six grandchil- dren. Prior to opening Willis & Company, he was a State Board of Accounts field agent for five years. Willis is a member of the Pike County Timeless Clas- sics Car Club. He holds a Bachelor of Sci- ence degree from Indiana State University and graduat- ed from Pike Central in 1976. "The experience with the State Board of Accounts has provided excellent knowl- edge of the inner workings of the budget appropriation pro- cess and financing of the coun- ty. My 12 years on the coun- ty council has given me the knowledge and experience necessary for taking Pike County through these diffi- cult times." "As everyone knows, we are going through difficult finan- cial times at the county level and other taxing units. My ex- tensive knowledge of the coun- ty finances are a great bene- fit to the county," said Willis about his experience. He said he is running be- cause, "I have been there for 12 years and enjoy working in the county government. I feel like I bring a lot to the table in knowledge and experience, and we have several projects started that I would like to see through." He cited two road projects in the area of the I-69 inter- change as some of the proj- ects started. "In addition, we feel like we are getting over the hump with some of the economic develop- ment hurdles and starting to see some benefits of the hard work we have put into those over the last three terms of of- fice," said Willis. He said the most important issue facing Pike County is, "maintaining county finances in a sound fashion while con- tinuing to provide adequate services and being responsi- ble to the taxpayers with their dollars." His list of goals include bringing more business in- to Pike County and having a positive environment for busi- ness development. Willis added, "We have been able to make a great deal of improvement in coun- ty roads through leveraging grants and I hope that can continue into the future." "I feel like I have the knowl- edge and experience re- quired for the position and have been dedicated over the last 12 years. I ask for your vote to continue for another four years," said Willis about why people should vote for him. By Andy Heuring The race for coroner pits funeral director Nick Harris Henson against Deputy Coroner Ray Brooks. NICK HARRIS HENSON Nick Harris Henson is the current funeral director at Harris Funeral Home. He and his wife, Samantha, live in Petersburg. He has a daugh- ter, Evie, and two stepsons, Creed and Odin. He obtained a funeral director's li- cense in 2013 and has been working at Harris Funeral Home since he got out of high school. Henson is a member of the Pike County Masonic Lodge, Hadi Shrine, Indiana Funeral Directors Associa- tion and order of Odd Fellows. He graduated from Pike Central in 2006 and obtained a degree in Mor- tuary Science from Vincennes Uni- versity in 2011. "I grew up around it," said Henson about his experience. "I was at the funeral home as a kid. I was helping out when my grandfa- ther, Bob, was coroner, when Low- ry was coroner and Gretchen (his sister) was coroner, hearing discus- sions and talking about cases. Bob told me stories about cases he saw through the years. Being down there to observe the autopsies and just try- ing to soak up, and learn as much as I could," said Henson. "One of my favorite things about being a funeral director is taking care of people from the community I grew up in. I hate they have to be in there to see me. Because if some- one is here to see me, then someone in their family has passed. I want to be there to take care of them. As far as the coroner's office be- ing there, you are the first one to the scene, before the funeral home shows up. I want to continue to be there for the people in my communi- ty," said Henson about why he is run- ning for coroner. "One of the goals is to work to bal- ance the budget as well as I can. I un- derstand both sides of it," said Hen- son. He said it continues to cost more to operate the coroner's office and money is getting tighter in the coun- ty. "When IPL shuts down, things are going to get a lot tighter around here." "Gretchen has always been avail- able to the community. I want to con- tinue that and improve on it if possi- ble. Being at the funeral home, any- one can walk in here and find me about any time," said Henson. "The coroner's office has always had a good working relationship with EMS, police and fire departments. I want to continue that. I want to have communication lines open to media and continue good relationships with all the departments of the county. " "I believe I'm the best candidate for the job. Working in the funeral home, being around it my whole life. I think I'm good at handling the fam- ilies and I have the drive. I want to help bring closure to give them the closure of what happened and how it happened and let them know," said Henson about why people should vote for him. RAY BROOKS Ray Brooks is sort of retired. He retired from OFS in Huntingburg af- ter working there for 23 years. But he works when needed for the Pike County EMS, drives for the Trinity Ambulance Service and is the Spur- geon Town Marshal. Brooks grew up in St. Louis, Mich., and served in U.S. Navy for six years. He married a girl from Michigan. They moved to California and he worked for General Dynamics until a massive layoff. He then worked at Champion Parts as a quality assur- ance manager. He worked there until he took a job with SWECo in produc- tion and inventory control manage- ment. When they closed, he moved to Spurgeon and got a job with OFS, where he became safety environ- ment compliance coordinator. He has an Associates Degree in In- dustrial Supervision and Quality As- surance from Mt. San Antonio Col- lege in California. Brooks is trained in Incident Com- mand, fire, and is a Certified First Responder and a Fireaid/CP instruc- tor. He has served multiple terms on the Pike County Sheriff's Dept. Merit Board, is a member of the Pike Co. Emergency Management Agency LEPC, serves on the Emer- gency Management Agency Adviso- ry Board and the Pike Co. Econom- ic Development Board. He is also a trustee of the New Liberty General Baptist Church. "I have been an EMT since about the beginning of the service," said Brooks. He started in 1989 as an EMT. He was Spurgeon Fire Chief for 20 years, deputy coroner for 12 years and chief deputy coroner for the last eight years. He also is the Spurgeon Town Marshal. "That is how I got into the coro- ner thing. In the days of Lowry Coo- per, I was an EMT and law enforce- ment. I was at so many of the death scenes Lowry was called to, he said 'why don't you be a deputy for me.'" Brooks is also a certified Medico - legal Death Investigator. "I am excited about the possibility of serving the citizens of Pike County by bringing my extensive experience to the Coroner's Office," said Brooks about why he is running for coroner. He added, "I'm experienced, com- passionate and caring. I have experi- ence taking care of families that have had a terrible loss. You need to take care of them with compassion and caring. I just want to continue serv- ing the citizens of Pike County as I have done for years." Brooks said his goals are to "serve and protect the interests of the com- munity by maintaining the highest standard of professionalism and in- tegrity in determining the cause and manner of death." He added, "Right now, we have a good team in place. I want to build on that team and make sure we con- tinue to serve the citizens, and once I'm in office, take a look at where we are and where we can better serve the citizens." Brooks said people should vote for him because, "I am dedicated to pro- vide services in an efficient and cour- teous manner, respecting the needs of families involved. I want the citi- zens of Pike County to know, by my words and actions, that I am sincere and loyal to them, and will deal re- spectfully with each and every death. Respect for decedents, answers for families and finding the truth based on evidence and testimony." "My experience in the coroner's office speaks for me. I will continue to do that," said Brooks.