The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1017524
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, August 22, 2018 A-3 LOCAL Call: 812-354-8500 Email: news@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg NEWS BRIEFS Pike Co. Farm Bureau, Inc. annual meeting Sept. 5 The Pike County Farm Bureau, Inc. will be having their annual meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Otwell Community Center. Last day to regis- ter is Friday, Aug. 24. For more information, call 812- 354-8488. Free Community meal at The Gathering Place Sunday, Aug. 26 There will be a Free Community meal at The Gath- ering Place, 207 Lafayette Street, Winslow, Sunday, Aug. 26 from 5 -6:15 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come for dinner and dessert. The meal will be provided by Spurgeon U.M. Church. For more information or ques- tions, call 812-582-2562. CISMA meeting slated for Aug. 28 The Invasive Spe- cies Technician for Pike, Gibson, Posey, Vander- burgh and Warrick coun- ties, Heather Zengler, an- nounced the upcoming CISMA meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 28 at the Sugar Ridge Fish and Wild- life Headquarters, south of Winslow. The public is in- vited to attend the meeting which will discuss invasive plants, such as horseweeds, and entail planning, public outreach ideas and ideas for the next event. CISMA stands for Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. It is an organization composed of different groups coming together to help people learn about invasive species and how to deal with them. Zengler is here to help Pike county people get their questions answered about recommendations and plant IDs. Her goal is to start CISMA in all five of the counties in which she works. Buffalo Trace Festival Bed Race pre-register deadline Sept. 1 Discover Downtown Petersburg will be hosting the inaugural Main Street Bed Race during the Buffalo Trace Festival on Saturday, Sept. 29 beginning at 4 p.m. The races will be on Main Street between fifth and sixth streets. Teams can begin checking in, in front of Parsifal Corporation at 3 p.m. Pre-registration is re- quested by September 1. A registration fee of $25 per team applies. Registration forms can be dropped off or mailed to Petersburg City Hall, 704 Main Street, Pe- tersburg, IN 47567. Divisions are being planned to include: Corpo- rate, Teens, Youth (Age Minimum 10 Years Old) and more…All subject to change, depending on participa- tion. While all teams are encouraged to bring their own beds, there will be beds available, courtesy of On- yett Fabricators and Pike Central second year welding students, for use. For more information contact Jo Hadley at 812-582- 0425. United Way Day of Caring kick-off Sept. 12 United Way of Pike County Community Day of Car- ing will be Wednesday, Sept. 12. This event involves re- cruiting volunteers to help with projects for local not- for-profit agencies/organizations for a one day work blitz. If you would like to volunteer or are an agency that would like to submit a project contact the Unit- ed Way of Pike County office at 812-789 -2557 or 812- 789 -3774. This event is partially funded by Pike County Com- munity Foundation and Amber Manor. FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE! Bring your LAWNCHAIRS for the entertainment and parade! F R I D AY, A U G U S T 24 5 p.m. Carnival Rides Begin Flea Market 5:15 p.m. Baby Contest Pageants to follow Pet Show to follow 7 p.m. Softball Tournament Starts 7:30 p.m. The Andrus' (Variety) 9 p.m. Open Mic S AT U R D AY, A U G U S T 2 5 4 a.m. BBQ Cook Off Begins 8 a.m. Softball Tourney Flea Market 9 a.m.-Dark Kids' Carnival Games DJ 10 a.m. Karaoke Noon Valerie Nichole, E2 and Brookelle (Christian) 1:30 p.m. Battle of the Sexes (Board Race) 3 p.m. Outhouse Races and Judging 4 p.m. Junction Creek Band (Country and Classic Rock) Carnival Rides Begin 4:30 p.m. BBQ Judging 8 p.m. Parade Line-up at the Firehouse Dark "Night of Lights" Parade S ummerfest VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT Winslow S c h e d u l e o f E v e n t s WVFD will PAY HALF on all children's wristbands ($6 Value) WRISTBANDS ARE $12 MOOSE LODGE Dining Specials 5pm-8pm 115 Pike Ave., Petersburg OR ORDER FROM MENU FRIDAY 08-24-18 SATURDAY 08-25-18 NOW OFFERING PIZZA Open to Members and Qualified Guests Coffee or Tea with special. Wed., Fri. and Sat. • 5pm - 8pm Buffet with Salad Bar, Only $9.95. Baked Spaghetti with salad and garlic bread, $6.50, 10 oz. Pork Chop with two sides, $7.50. Heather Zengler State Road 61 to close Sept. 4 The Indiana Department of Transportation announc- es a full closure for State Road 61 for a pipe replace- ment project about four miles south of Lynnville. Highway 61 will close south of Lynnville on or about Tuesday, September 4. Work is expected to last about two days, depending upon weather conditions. During the operation, the clo- sure will be in place around the clock. Local traffic will have access up to the point of closure. All other traffic should use the official detour using I-64, I-69 and SR 62. INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews. $10,518. CR400N from High- way 61 to Prides Creek Dr. $41,038.50 and from Prides Creek Dr. to CR175E $10,191.50. CR900E from Highway 64 to Highway 257 $50,848.50. CR200N from Church St. to Bridge 172 $54,936.50. Illinois St. from Highway 57 to Bridge 280 $ 8,938, Bridge 280 to Locust St $ 6,322; locust St. to First St. $14,224.50 ; First St. to Fifth St. $11,499; Fifth St to Me- ridian $2,943 and Meridian to Highway 61 $17,16 CR375 from Highway 56 to CR450N $ 38,204.50 ; CR45N to CR400N $20,328.50 CR400N from CR375W to CR350W $ 8,066; CR350N from CR400N to CR350N $24,579.50. CR825W from Gibson Co. line to CR150N $44,254; CR150N to new HMA $10,518.50. Division Rd. from CR700W to CR625W $ 36,143.50 ; CR625 to CR525W $48,261.50 ; CR525W to CR500@ $13,203.50. CR400S from Highway 61 to CR300E $7,139.50 and CR300E to CR350E $44,928.50. Commissioner Jeff Nel- son said they applied for the full amount they could get, which is a $1 million match to their $ 333,333. "I doubt we will get it all. The state has said the program isn't as fully funded as it has been in the past," said Nel- son. In other business, Kel- ly Atkins, who is on the Soil and Water Conservation Dis- trict Board, asked the com- missioners why their fund- ing for this year was cut from last year. Atkins said the Soil and Water budget had been cut "severely." He added it was to the point they weren't go- ing to be able to operate. At- kins said an amount was sub- mitted to the county council for their budget that was dif- ferent than what they had re- quested. Last year, the Soil and Water had requested a sala- ry increase for Administra- tor Erika Burkemper to be paid similar to courthouse deputies. The county council even- tually agreed to that, but they said the money had to come from the Soil and Wa- ter's budget. Atkins asked, "So they decided to give us the same money this year? " Commissioner Assistant Kristi Dischinger said she did not know what the coun- cil's decision was last year. Atkins said the Soil and Water had not increased their budget for years and in effect, this was cutting their budget. "We are in the situation we will no longer be able to operate with the cuts from the state," said Atkins. He said they hoped the local funding could help pick up some of that funding. Burkemper said while the budget looks big, most of that money is obligated to various grant awards to lo- cal property owners that are participating in soil protec- tion programs. "I apologize, because I thought it was resolved last year and that number was good. I know what you do and I know it is important and the amount of grant money you bring in," said Nelson. He added he thought the budget presented had just been cut and pasted from their request. While the Soil and Water department was there, they introduced Heather Zengler, who works on what Burkem- per called a "glorified weed board." Zengler is covering five counties and wants to work with Pike County on eradi- cating invasive species. Commissioner Nelson agreed the county had an in- vasive species problem and wished they could spray for Johnson Grass and other problems. Zengler said she would like to work with the coun- ty on when it mows the road- sides, because if they are do- ing it at certain times of the year, they are just helping spread it. She told them the group is having a public meeting on invasive species at 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 28 at the Sugar Ridge Fish and Wild- life Headquarters. In other business, Brian Drogich, director of Pike ARC, thanked the Commis- sioners for their 25 years of business. The county had contracted with Pike ARC to operate the manned trash collection sites. However, he said they had fewer and fewer handicap applicants for those positions, so con- sequently, he told the com- missioners they would be giving the county a 60 -day notice they wanted to termi- nate their relationship. County Attorney Val Fleig said the county has agreed to exhange six acres with the Patoka Fish and Wild- life Refuge to gain right-of- way for a new bridge over the Patoka River near Sur- vant. It will replace CR150, also known as The Old Iron Bridge. Fleig said the Refuge isn't allowed to sell property, but they can do a right-of-way. Plans call for the Iron Bridge, which is historical- ly significant, to be moved to Petersburg and replace the Charger Bridge. It is locat- ed on Cherry St. over Prides Creek, across the street from McDonald's. The Iron Bridge will be a walking bridge only. The next commission- ers' meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sep- tember 4, because the nor- mal meeting would be on La- bor Day. PAVING Continued from page 1 Two arrested on meth, marijuana charges By Andy Heuring A Winslow man and Princ- eton woman were arrest- ed on meth and marijuana charges after police found them parked along CR350E just north of the Patoka River at 12:54 a.m. Sunday. Benjamin Tyler Mathias, 26, of 1002 N. Main St., Win- slow and Jessica R. Herren, 36, of 425 S. Race St., Prince- ton were arrested on prelim- inary charges of possession of meth, possession of mari- juana and possession of par- aphernalia. Pike County Deputy Sher- iff Jason McKinney said he was driving north on CR350E near the Old Depot Bridge over the Patoka Riv- er and saw a minivan parked just north of the bridge with its lights off. Deputy McKinney said he turned his emergency lights on to let them know he was a policeman on duty, and he got out to check on the van to see if they needed help. He said Herren was in the driver's seat. He asked her if everything was okay and she told him she was giving Mathias a ride and had got- ten lost and was waiting on someone to help them. When McKinney talked with Herren outside the van she told him she had nev- er met Mathias before, but she saw him walking down the road and asked him if he needed a ride. McKinney said when he asked Herren if there was anything illegal in the van, she said she didn't think so. She gave him consent to search the vehicle, but said "if anything was found it was not hers." McKinney then talked with Mathias. According to McKinney's report, Mathias also denied knowing Herren prior to when she picked him up while walking. He said he ran out of gas and was talk- ing to a friend, when she picked him up. He said they got lost and parked near the bridge to wait for a friend. Deputy McKinney said he then told Mathias he had a hard time believing that, since Mathias had lived in the area for a long time. Mathias said he didn't ask Herren to take him to his house, which was just a cou- ple miles away because it was very dark and he didn't want her to drive on the dark road. Mathias also said he didn't know if there was anything il- legal in the van, but if there was, it belonged to Herren and not him. McKinney said Depu- ty Buck Seger arrived and during a search of the vehi- cle they found a glass smok- ing pipe with a white crystal substance in it that field test- ed positive for meth. He said they also found a glass jar, containing what field tested positive for marijuana. McK- inney said it was located be- tween the driver and passen- ger seats. McKinney said when he asked Herren and Mathias separately about the pipe and marijuana, they both said it must have been the other person. Mathias, while being asked about the other drugs, told McKinney he should check a styrofoam cup in the cupholder, because he saw he put something in it. McKinney said when he did he found a small plastic baggie containing a white powder that field tested pos- itive for meth. Herren told police Mathias must have put it there. A fter continued question- ing by Deputy McKinney, his report stated Herren eventu- ally told him she and Math- ias had known each other for a while and they had agreed to meet there to hook up like they had in the past. She continued to claim she didn't know anything about meth or marijuana. Both were taken into cus- tody and charged.