The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1005686
A-8 Local Wednesday, July 18, 2018 The Press-Dispatch 2018 Junior Miss Pike County contestants (l to r): Jordan Minnis-Bradfield, parents: Jarod and Marva Minnis-Bradfield, of Petersburg; Ava Stur- geon, parents: Jordan Sturgeon and Tory Wyatt, of Petersburg; Katie Burkhart, parents: Max and Star- la Burkhart, of Otwell; 2017 Junior Miss Queen Xavery Weisman, parents: Brad and Danette Weisman; Wren Kabrick, parents: Ty and Brandi Kabrick, of Velpen; Calleigh Wibbeler, parents: Andrew and Can- dace Wibbeler, of Winslow; Emily Riker, parents: Adam and Star Riker, of Petersburg; and Elle Readle, parents: Matthew Readle and Jenny Deffendoll, of Petersburg. Not pictured is Kaitlyn Clark, parents: Roger Clark and Lisa Clark, of Winslow. Teen Miss Pike County Contestants (l to r): Maddie Williams, parents: Richard and Tammy Williams, of Winslow; Kayla Cannon, Par- ents: Joe and Bridget Cannon, of Petersburg; Carlie Halbrader, parents: Randy and Krista Halbrader, of Winslow; Abigail Sutt 2017 Miss Teen Pike County Queen, parents: Summer Sorgius, of Otwell; Pey- ton Thorne, parents: Cary and Sara Thorne and Kim Gray, of Petersburg; Jerzey Reibold, parents: Phil- lip and Candy Reibold, of Petersburg and Honey Ralston, parents: Daniel Ralston and Amber Hatton, of Petersburg. The pageant is set for July 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Pike Central Auditorium. 2018 Little Miss Pike County contestants The Little Miss Pike County contestants (front row l to r); Azalin Jai Vennard, daughter of Ashlee Wil- lis and Jonathan Vennerd, of Petersburg, Aubrey Ella Sturgeon, daughter of Jordan Sturgeon and Tory Wyatt, of Petersburg, Addison Wibbeler, daughter of Andrew and Candace Wibbeler, of Winslow, Elle Marie Wiscaver, daughter of Aaron and Hannah Wiscaver, of Petersburg; (middle row) Kiersten Wood, daughter of Derek and Ann Wood, of Petersburg, Keyla Martinez (2017 winner), daughter of Alejandra Cazares and Esteban Martinez, of Petersburg, Jenna Harris, daughter of Randy and Denise Harris, of Petersburg, (back row); Addison Jolynn Mitchell, daughter of Amber Mitchell and Levi McDaniel, of Pe- tersburg, Natlyn Ashby, daughter of Casey and Jessica Ashby of Petersburg, and Kinley Catt, daughter of Kevin and Chanda Catt, of Otwell. 2018 Little Mister The Little Mis- ter contestant is Drayvin Nos- sett, son of Ad- am and Tiffany Nossett, of Pe- tersburg, accom- panied in photo by the 2017 win- ner, Denver Hal- lett, son of Chris and Shanna Hal- lett, of Velpen. Christianson named new Deputy Prosecutor By Andy Heuring Pike County's new Depu- ty Prosecutor Sarah Chris- tianson started full-time on Monday. Christian- son comes to the Pike Coun- ty Prosecu- tor's office via the Louisville, Ky. public de- fenders office, where she worked for the last four years. She graduat- ed from Jasper High School in 2010 and then completed her undergrad- uate degree in Law and So- ciety at Purdue University before getting her law de- gree from the University of Louisville. "Sarah was selected be- cause I think she has the right temperament and background. Very sensible and approachable and has the credentials," said Pros- ecutor Darin McDonald. Christianson participat- ed in an internship in the summer of 2010 for the Pike County Prosecutor's Office. During her four years in the Louisville Pub- lic Defender's Office she said she handled every- thing from traffic offense to murder cases. "I have all kinds of war stories. It was a terrific experience. Very heavy case load, but yo work with very dedi- cated people who work al- most around the clock. Ev- eryone was just trying to make sure we did the best we could for people," said Christianson of her time as a public defender. She had four murder cases, three to four rob- beries and several rapes. She said when she left she had 650 active cases. "Louisville is a great city. I enjoyed my time there, but I think I'm more of a small town girl. I'm eager to bring my expe- rience to the ta- ble and work to make Pike Coun- ty a safer place." "I think the one thing I can bring to the ta- ble is having more human fac- tor dealing with defendant. In some cas- es I may be the first per- son ever who treats them with respect. Everyone deserves respect no mat- ter what they are accused of doing. They are people and you need to treat them with respect." McDonald said when Christianson interned, "We had the chance to she how she would absorb it. You have to deal with a lot of things from very seri- ous to not so serious. She was here as an intern. She seemed to do well and to get it." "I think her experience in Louisville will do noth- ing but strengthen her resumé for what she will dealing with here," said McDonald. Christian said while she has worked as a defense at- torney and in civil law as well, " I knew I wanted to do criminal law and I al- ways knew I would like to go back to the prosecution side." So when she got the chance to be a prosecu- tor in a small town atmo- sphere, she took it. Sarah Christianson Two arrested for OVWI after traffic offences By Andy Heuring An Evansville man was arrested after police saw him driving 35 mph in on I-69 and moving back and forth between lanes. He was one of two peo- ple arrested for drunken driving in Pike County last week. Jaun Carlos Mendoza- Montejo, 22, of 828 SE Eighth St., Evansville, was arrested at 2:58 a.m. Saturday near the 45 mile marker of I-69. Pike County Deputy Jason McKinney said he noticed a red car driv- ing 35 mph south on I- 69. When McKinney got behind the vehicle he no- ticed it didn't have a li- cense plate light and went from the right lane to the left lane and then back to the right land without us- ing any turn signals. Deputy McKinney said when he talked with Men- doza-Montejo he noticed a strong odor of alcohol. Mendoza-Montejo said he didn't have a drivers license and gave McKin- ney a Mexico ID card. Mendoza-Montejo failed field sobriety tests and tested more than dou- ble the legal limit on a portable breath test. Ac- cording to Deputy McK- inney's report, Mendoza- Montejo said he couldn't afford a blood test at the hospital. He was arrested on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (refusal) and operator never licensed. An Oakland City man was arrested early Fri- day morning after police saw him driving "at a high rate of speed" on Main St. Petersburg. Travis Kent McCrary, 46, of 310 S. Main St., Oakland City, was arrest- ed by Deputy McKinney at about 12:40 a.m. McKinney said he saw a white car going south at a high rate of speed in a 20 mph zone on Main St. Petersburg. He attempt- ed to catch up to the car, but could not locate it. About 15 minutes later he saw the same car pull into Hucks parking lot. McKinney said the ve- hicle eventually parked partially in the roadway on the wrong side of the Second St. between Wal- nut and Sycamore Sts. When talking with Mc- Crary, Deputy McKin- ney said he could smell the odor of alcohol. McCrary failed field so- briety tests and a porta- ble breath test. Deputy McKinney said McCrary refused a blood and urine test and was arrested on a preliminary charge of op- erating a vehicle while in- toxicated (refusal). Martin arrested for public intox. after fleeing into the woods A Santa Claus man was arrested on a charge of pub- lic intoxication after he fled into a woods at about 9 p.m Thursday near Otwell. Tony Martin, 33, of 100 W. White Pine Dr., Santa Claus was arrested by Pike County Sheriff's Sgt. Dallas Killian. Sgt. Killian said police originally were responding to a 911 call about a woman yelling for help from anoth- er motorist while struggling with a man who fled into the woods. Sgt. Killian's report stat- ed State Trooper Chase Ea- ton located the vehicle and woman who yelled for help. She was identified as Jenell Jenkins. She told Trooper Eaton that Martin had hit her and was trying to gr- ab the steering wheel and cause her to wreck, but had gotten out of the vehicle and ran into the woods. She al- so said she wanted to pur- sue assault charges against Martin. Deputy Buck Seger and K9 officer Bleck arrived and tried to locate Martin, but was unable to find him. Sgt. Killian said while they were searching for Martin, Petersburg Police Cpl. Jar- ed Simmons told him he was talking to Martin, who said he was going to come out of the woods and turn himself in. Martin was placed in handcuffs. Sgt. Killian said Martin claimed Jenkins hit him. Martin failed field so- briety tests and was taken into custody on a prelimi- nary charge of public intox- ication. Jenkins was supposed to meet officers at the Pike County Jail to talk to them about her allegations of as- sault by Martin. However, she never showed up and they didn't pursue the as- sault charge on Martin.