The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1040210
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, October 17, 2018 A-11 ELECTION 2018 HOME COMFORT CENTER 43rd NOW IN PROGRESS! $ 349 QUEEN SETS STARTING AT SEALY FREE FINANCING AVAILABLE With approved credit. See store for details. Recliners starting at $299 BEDROOM SUITE VAUGHN-BASSETT DINING ROOM SETS ASHLEY 40 % UP TO SAVE OFF PLAN NOW FOR THE HOLIDAYS! ENGLERTSHOMECOMFORTCENTER.COM Special Pricing on Appliances by: SAMSUNG • FRIGIDAIRE • GE • MAYTAG FREE DELIVERY * * See store for details. Expires 10/31/18 650 W. Division, Jasper • 812-482-2246 OPEN: Mon., Tues., Thurs. 9-5:30; Wed. & Fri. 9-7; Sat. 9-3 GREG SIMMONS Greg Simmons is dis- abled after working at Far- best Foods and previously working for Winslow as the water operator. He and his wife, Katrinka, are the par- ents of Keegan and Konner. He is a member of the Sons of the American Legion. Simmons graduated from Pike Central and held a wa- ter distribution certification from the state of Indiana. Simmons is an incumbent who was elected to the town council in 2015. "I want to finish up a lot of things going on right now. We have a lot of proj- ects that are taking longer than I thought they would," said Simmons about why he is seeking re-election. Simmons said Winslow people are its best asset. "Getting the dilapidat- ed houses down and places cleaned up," is its biggest challenge. He said his goals include: "Getting our roads fixed and getting our water depart- ment running properly." Simmons added, "We have installed an altitude valve between Pike-Gib- son and our water towers. It keeps the water tower from overfilling. We have in- stalled it, but we are still try- ing to get it adjusted." "I'm a lifelong resident of Winslow and I care about the town and the people in it," said Simmons about why people should vote for him. DEBRA K. LAMB Debra K. Lamb is retired from the U.S. Postal Service, where she worked for 21 years. She and her husband, Dale, have been married for 29 years and have four chil- dren and nine grandchil- dren. She owns the Corner Book Shop at Main and La- fayette streets. Lamb is a member of the Winslow Planning Com- mission, Winslow Zoning Board, Economic Develop- ment Commissions and the Beautification Committee, as well as being a member of the Winslow Lions Club. She graduated Cum Laude from Redford High School in Detroit, Mich., and attended college at Oakland Universi- ty in Rochester, Mich. She worked in payables and receivables for Four Star Fabricators, as well as being Officer in Charge two different times at the Win- slow Post Office. She said the things she misses most about working was talking to people at the post office and "being part of some- thing bigger than yourself." Lamb said by working at the post office, she is famil- iar with a lot of the people in town. "I think being on the Beautification Commit- tee and Economic Develop- ment Committee in Winslow shows a long-term commit- ment to Winslow." "I would like the town council to be more proac- tive. We have a plan. There was a plan set out by the planning commission. I would like to get more in- volved in Region 15." I would like for there to be a plan instead of just always reacting. I would like to start from the position of this is what we want to achieve and work toward that. I, in no way, mean to insult or de- tract from the current town board. They have had plenty of issues to deal with," said Lamb. She said Winslow's people are the best asset. "I think the people. They are always a good asset There are a lot of really good people in Winslow. Maybe they need to be motivated. Sometimes people can start thinking there is no reason to try to do something, but there is. We have a lot of like -minded people and we need to pull together," said Lamb. She said getting business in Winslow is the biggest challenge. "It is going to be really hard. We aren't go- ing to have a booming retail business. People just don't conduct their lives that way. We had grocery stores and a bank and an insurance agen- cy, but people just don't do business like that anymore," said Lamb. "While we aren't going to have a booming business, I do think we can make Win- slow a really nice place to live. I would love to see the I-69 plan work out. We are nine miles way and this would be a great place to live," said Lamb. "There are some good val- ue houses there. People are buying houses and moving into town, that is encourag- ing," said Lamb. She said her goals in- clude, "I would like the ordi- nances in general enforced. That put everyone on a lev- el playing field. Zoning is important. We need to get weeds under control. Trash removal is beneficial to ev- eryone and keeps the town looking nice." "I would like to see if there is room in the budget to get a code enforcement officer." "I would like to do some- thing about the blighted houses. There are legal steps to acquire them. If they need to be torn down, then we could do that. They (blighted houses) are detri- mental for housing values." "Another goal is to get im- proved playground equip- ment installed at the Lit- tle League park. Munici- palities can get grants for playground equipment. I would like to see little pock- et parks. Not extensive, but just some playground equip- ment available to improve the quality of life. Pocket parks would be great." She also said the town needs to make better use of its website. Lamb said it should have things like their water quality report posted and animal control could post pictures of the animals they have. "The Econom- ic Development Committee created it. I would like to see it used more." "I guess you are going to have to decide that. They need to decide what they want in a town board meet- ing," said Lamb about why people should vote for her. "I hope people vote for me, but I will still do my best for Winslow if I'm not elect- ed. I live here, my kids live here and my grandchildren live here and I want to see Winslow thrive." GEORGE FRED FISCUS George Fred Fiscus, bet- ter known as Freddie, is a diesel mechanic with Mark- are of Princeton. He and his wife, Dee Fiscus, have an adult daughter, Deanna Arl- son. Fiscus is Assistant Fire Chief with the Spurgeon Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Bren- ton Chapel Church of Christ. He graduated from Pike Central in 1977 and earned an associate degree from Ivy Tech in mechanics. Fiscus said his experi- ence being in leadership with the fire department will help him. He said he is running for town council because, "I would like to see if I can help the town out with a differ- ent point of view. I remem- ber the town back growing up when it was in its hey- day and a booming town. I would like to see it get back to that." "It is a small town and community. Everybody knows each other and most people try to help each other out," said Fiscus about Win- slow's best asset. "The biggest challenge is we are losing bluishness and trying to have access to up- date the infrastructure." Fiscus said he would like to make Winslow more ap- pealing to new business- es, and give access to I-69 and what is being brought in around it. "We don't have tax income to give them, but we need to give them some kind of in- centive to want to come in and invest in Winslow." He said people should vote for him because, "I'm a local person. I grew up in Winslow. I feel I'm honest and I will treat everyone the same whether you are the poorest or richest in town. I will give you the same re- spect I would anyone and try to accommodate you, howev- er I can. There is room for improvements in town. I feel there are some more regula- tions that need to be put in place. The three board mem- bers need to work together to get it done," said Fiscus. JOSHUA POPP Joshua Popp is a Com- munications Technician for Hoosier Energy. He and is wife of 10 years, Rebecca, have two children, Abigail and Matthew. He is a mem- ber of the Patoka Township Fire Department, Winslow Lions, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Winslow Elementa- ry P TO, Winslow Econom- ic Development Commit- tee, Winslow Beautification Committee and is a board member of the Pike Coun- ty Chamber of Commerce. He is also assistant coach for the Pike Central wrestling team. Popp attends the Naz- arene Church in Winslow. He graduated from Pike Central in 2007, attended three colleges and holds an FCC General Radio License. He is a certified Emer- gency Medical Respond- er, a certified Level 2 Fire- fighter, with certification in re-op rescue and operating and is in the process of get- ting swift water rescue. Popp served in the Air Force for nine years, reach- ing the rank of an E-5 Staff Sgt. He ran operations and was involved in the planning and coordination of missions in Europe and A frica. Popp was stationed in Ramstein, Germany, where he worked in coordinating the Army, Navy and Marines in vari- ous joint operations. "The same procedures can be adapted to help Win- slow get things done," said Popp. He said he is running for town council to "help im- prove the town. I don't see a better way than trying to be the figure head of Winslow. I want to help see what we can provide and try to be a voice for the people. Be the public's voice to help them get their needs met and help them, and find places and agencies that can help them. I don't think I can solve everyone's problems, but I think I can figure out who to talk to, to get these problems fixed." Popp said Winslow's best asset is, "The people and families who make up the community. We may argue, but it is still a big family. We need to put bygones aside and get things done." He added, "I think with a little bit of guidance and vi- sion, it can be able to help out the people." Popp said three big chal- lenges facing Winslow are "water and sewer bills are pretty high. Economic de- velopment, we have lost a few stores and businesses. Getting some of those back so the elderly can have ac- cess to services without having to get a ride to oth- er communities. Public safe- ty: My daughter was almost killed by a drunk driver in front of my house. A fter see- ing some of the worst places in the world while serving in the military, and being able to come back to grass roots and almost losing a child is disheartening. It isn't some- thing one or two terms can fix. It is something the com- munity has to get behind and we can solve them, but it isn't going to be solved by a three-person board," said Popp. "The water and sewage is a dilemma for our budget and having a more stringent budget. Two of the water bonds in 2021 will be paid off. What do we do beyond that? Looking at that bud- get, what should the water and sewage costs be? Will we have a stable government that can meet the towns needs? There isn't a huge economic budget. We need to make sure people work- ing and trying to make a liv- ing don't have their budgets gobbled up by water bills," said Popp. "Another goal is with eco- nomic development. Look- ing at how we can get more business and enhance a few businesses that are in town. I have talked with the metal workers and beauty salons and others, asking them how can we get them to lo- cate in town." He also addressed public safety. "Public safety: look- ing at replacing an aging town marshal, making sure we have good candidates for that. Beefing up and provid- ing good fire safety in both fire and medical services," said Popp. He said people should vote for him because, "I be- lieve in transparency. I'm not going to give you a poli- tician's answer. I will give it to you straight. I've found honesty is the best policy. I'm not going to sugar coat it. I'm not going to continu- ously table an issue. Blind- ly leading a town isn't the way to do it. Setting goals and moving toward meet- ing those goals is the way to do it." KAVIN "SQUEAK" GAYHART Kavin Gayhart is a me- chanic for the Pike County Highway Department. He and his wife, Brittany, have three children, Kiara Mc- Callister, Abigail and Alexis. He graduated from Pike Central in 2008. He said Winslow's biggest asset is "everyone know- ing each other and getting a long." The biggest chal- lenge is "getting everyone back on the same page. You have the fire department do- ing their thing and the Lions Club doing their thing," said Gayhart. He said his experience is "just dealing with people on a daily basis and having common sense." "I want to try and make a change and get answers for the town," said Gayhart about why he is running for town council. His goals include how to "figure out a situation for the water bill. We can't low- er it, but we might be able to figure things out and move them around, and make it easier to pay it." He said he also wants to fix the streets and potholes and "just make a change." "I'm from a small town, born and raised here. I've seen it go to a lot of things and I will try my best to get it back to where people want to come back to it instead of leave town," said Gayhart about why people should vote for him. Town council candidates, Rick Mathias and Melvin De- Cisto, were not interviewed. Numerous efforts, including a letter, phone calls and text messages, were sent to Mel- vin DeCisto. He did not re- spond. Mathias was contact- ed and scheduled an inter- view, but did not show up for that interview. WINSLOW TOWN COUNCIL RACE