The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/99608
A-2 Wednesday, December 19, 2012 The Press-Dispatch Reward offered in fire investigation The United Way of Pike County gave an early Christmas present to several organizations last Thursday when they passed out grant checks for the coming year. The United Way of Pike County raised the funds through several donation options during the past year and exceeded its fund raising goal. The recipients and the organizations they represent, front from left, include: T.J. Skelton, Jefferson Township Fire Department; Joyce Fleck, Tri-Cap; Tammy DeWitt, Tri-Cap; Kathleen Kinman, Pike County Christian Assistance (Somebody's Place); and Janice Utley, VNA of Southwestern Indiana. Back row: Larry Preusz, Otwell Community Center; Bill Carlisle, Bread of Life Ministry; Mark Schmitt, Attic Inc.; Jill Cecil, Senior and Family Services; Linda Strosnider, Junior Achievement; Sheryl Ring-Laakman, American Red Cross; Jaime Wilder, Buffalo Trace Council of the Boy Scouts of America; Sandy Ficklin, Otwell Elementary School; Carolyn Sievers, Generations; and Joy Hobson Smith, Generations. United Way of Pike County grants $37,000 Once a year, United Way of Pike County awards funding from our undesignated monies through an application process to agencies serving our community to several area agencies and last week was the designated time. This year the awards totaled $37,000 and the following 16 agencies were funded: Attic, Inc. for clients special needs; Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department for toxic gas detector; Junior Achievement for school programs; Pike County Christian Assistance (Somebody's Place) for food; American Red Cross for emergency food, clothing and shelter, blood drives military communications and disaster education; Visiting Nurse Association of Southwest Indiana for home care and hospice; Senior and Family Services for food at their senior centers; Tri Cap for utility assistance and budget and fi nance education programs; Bread of Life Ministries for food; Boy Scouts for programs; Generations for Meals on Wheels program and the Angelworx Color for a Cause program; Otwell Elementary School for iPads; Jefferson Township Community Center for open gym equipment; and Precious Rewards for booster seats. United Way of Pike County is pleased to serve our community. Together, united we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. ★ Five arrested on meth-related charges Continued from page 1 and eight, inside. Spaulding and Rice were read their Miranda rights and the contents of the search warrant and officers began searching. They found a mirror with meth residue, a snort tube, a bullet blender with ground-up psuedoephedrine under the sink in the master bathroom; multiple bags of marijuana in the master bedroom; a one-hitter pipe under the master bed; a onehitter pipe with burnt residue in the guest bathroom; a one-hitter pipe with burnt residue in the laundry room; a bag of meth in Spaulding's wallet; a nearly-empty camp fuel can, two lithium batteries, a can of salt, pieces of an HCL generator, and large amounts of marijuana in the garage; three more empty camp fuel cans outside the garage; and an empty box of psuedoephedrine in Spaulding's truck. After officers found drug paraphernalia, Child Protective Services was called, and they took the juvenile boys to their grandmother. Spaulding and Rice were arrested and taken to the Pike County Sheriff's office on charges of maintaining a common nuisance, possession of paraphernalia, possession of two or more precursors, possession of methamphetamine and neglect of a dependent. According to an affidavit of probable cause submitted by the Pike County Sheriff's Department, on Friday, December 14, the Pike County Special Response Team acted on tips they had received about the manufacture of methamphetamine at an abandoned trailer on 310 N Cold Springs Avenue in Petersburg. The SRT set up surveillance around the trailer and noted a strong odor of ether around the property. At 1:45 a.m., officers saw two men approaching the trailer through a patch of high weeds. Once the two men entered the trailer, the SRT closed in around it. One of the men walked back out, saw the officers approaching, yelled "Cops!" and ran away. The other man barricaded himself inside the trailer. After about twentyfive minutes of officers attempting to get the man to come out, they entered the trailer and found him hiding under the headboard of a waterbed frame. He re- a different reaction." Blake said she encouraged law enforcement to come into the school, and several have done so. "I see their visibility as a link with our community. When I encourage their visibility, it isn't because I think our buildings are unsafe, but instead I see it as a link to our community." She said law enforcement Continued from page 1 Toxin production is dependent on the species and on the food source for the fungus. Some of these toxins have been found to be carcinogenic." "I would rather err on the side of caution and move them out too soon, rather than not move them soon enough," said Commissioner president Mark Flint. Young said they didn't have many options available to them. "I'm hoping it is a temporary thing," said Young of moving to the downstairs in the Pike County Jail. He said most of the fi re departments in Pike County aren't compatible for the ambulance crews, because they don't have living areas or kitchens. He also said the only department with available space is the new building at Patoka South near the Arthur Junction. Young began presenting options for a new building to the county commissioners several months ago. A committee has been formed to look at options of building a new facility as well as expanding and remodeling a new facility. Young said he is waiting on estimates to clean up the mold at the ambulance barn. He said preliminary estimates ranged from $5,000 to $50,000. He said combined with the costs from repairs to correct the fi re marshal's office, "that is quite a lot of money to be putting into this facility. It is a 32-year-old facility, and these costs are just getting started," said Young. In the meantime, Sheriff Jeremy Britton said they are making the new arrangement work. He said the ambulance crews are using the training room in the basement as a day area and a workout room facility that includes a shower and locker room area is being used as a sleeping area. Britton said Young had talked to him earlier about the possibility of the EMTs having to vacate the ambulance barn. "I said 'absolutely we will make sure they have some place to go,'" said Britton. He said several years ago after the shootings at the ambulance barn, the EMTs were housed in the jail basement for an extended period. Young said he is sure it will be January when two new commissioners take office before any decisions on what to do are made about the ambulance barn. Woman charged with contempt of court already has a presence in the school through programs such as DARE and Shop-with-a-Cop. The school has its security policy posted on their website for people to view if they have questions. She said they have resources available for parents needing help talking to their children about the shootings. Verkamp's order to take a drug screen on December 10. She was placed in the Pike County Jail. After a day she agreed to submit to the drug screen. Movie night at library on Dec. 27 Petersburg library will host a family movie night, Thursday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. featuring the new release animated movie "Brave." On Saturday, Dec. 29 starting at 2 p.m. a teen and tween craft program at the library. To register for the event call 354-6257. PETERSBURG U-STOR OPEN SUNDAY DEC. 23 • 10-4 ts Last Minute Gif Libs Candies Willow Tree Angels Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments A Very Merry Christmas Tree Form open the door for people. So we are talking to them about not opening a door for anyone." She said at the middlehigh school level, they are telling kids not to even let their friends in. "We could have a student out of school for a discipline reason and have a friend or another student let them in. We don't want that to happen," said Blake. "We can't take the mindset it won't happen here," said Blake. She said the school is also trying to gauge parents in the community and their phone calls. "We had some (calls), but most buildings haven't had any calls. I was a little bit surprised," said Blake. She attributed the lack of calls to timing. With the shootings taking place on Friday, children were able to spend two days at home with their parents. She thinks that helped kids overcome fears they might have had. "Had this happened in midweek, it might have been cause there were no utilities connected," said Wells. He also said by the time it was discovered, fi re had already burned through the roof. "It either burned quickly or it wasn't noticed for a long time," said Wells. "Typically at that time of night they get noticed pretty quick," said Wells. The house is owned by Charles Shoultz, and Wells said he did not have insurance on the property. Anyone with information about the fi re can call the arson hotline at 1-800382-4625. Rewards of up to $5,000 are offered. ★ EMS moves to jail sisted arrest, and had to be pulled out from under the bed. He was identified as Billy Joe Moore and searched. Officers found three lithium batteries in his possession and in the trailer they found two cans of starting fluid, gel packs from cold packs, tubing, a package of ammonium nitrate, a battery hull, a clear bag of what appeared to be salt, a cola bottle of clear liquid and a glass jar inside a rubber glove with an unidentified liquid inside–items commonly used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Police took Moore to the Pike County Security Center and charged him with manufacturing methA Winslow woman served amphetamine, possession of two or more precursors, a day in jail on a contempt of maintaining a common nui- court order. Michelle L. Jones, 38, sance and resisting arrest. of 6074 S. Vigo St., Augusta, Winslow, refused Family Court Referee Joseph ★ Schools review, update safety policies Continued from page 1 one is on their toes, and seeing we are following all our policies." One area that will change is bag searches at the schools. "We used to have in place a policy of checking people's bags at the door. Over the years, we let that drop. I think we will be picking that back up again," said Blake. She said administrators will be going back to their buildings and meet with their teachers to make sure they are all following the policies in place. With several acres under roof and scores of external doors, it is a point of emphasis for the corporation. Blake said one of the things they are emphasizing is to keep all the doors locked. "We don't want teachers propping a door open when they go to their cars to get something." Another point she said they have to talk to students about, is not letting anyone in. "Small children are taught to be polite and The Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office is offering a reward for information about a fi re in Glezen that destroyed an unoccupied house. It happened at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 4. State Fire Marshal Matt Wells said the fi re was suspicious, but he was not able to determine the cause because of the severity of the damage. However, he said several factors cause it to be suspicious. Wells said there were no utilities connected to the house. "It is hard to come up with an accidental cause, be- 50 – 75% OFF select it ems FREE G Gift Wrapping with Purchase Marge's 716 Main St. Shop 354-9372 Petersburg Regular Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 9-5; Fri. 9-6; Sat. 9-6 "When you care enough to send the very best" Petersburg Hardware/Rental Center Mon - Fri: 8am-5pm Saturday: 8am-4pm