The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1061312
A-2 Front Wednesday, December 12, 2018 The Press-Dispatch EVENTS Continued from page 1 This is too. Getting away from the rat race was the right call. Now, you can keep the good times rolling. Give us a call today. That was one of your best decisions. A S S I S T E D L I V I N G | S K I L L E D N U R S I N G R E H A B I L I T A T I O N | L O N G T E R M C A R E | A N D M O R E 8 1 2 5 9 0 4 8 8 9 | A M B E R M A N O R H C . C O M | call us at 102 W. Illinois Street Petersburg, IN 47567 6 Sullivan Dr. Washington, IN 47501 812-254-2707 or 812-354-1406 Winter Service Special We will service and get your lawnmower ready for the next season! Service Includes: • Change engine oil • Replace oil filter • Replace air filter • Replace spark plugs • Replace fuel filter • Lubricate entire machine • Sharpen and balance mower blades • Set tire pressure • Adjust mower deck • Clean battery cables • Clean top and bottom of mower deck • Clean radiator, test anitfreeze and top off (if applicable) • Check all belts, pulleys and adjust if needed • Check all safety switches ** We service all makes and models of mowers, compact tractors, skid steers and mini excavators ** Prices DO NOT reflect parts. Parts average around $50 for riding lawnmowers, less for push mowers** Riding Lawnmowers Push Mowers Only Only $ 99 $ 29 99 Free pickup & delivery if signed up by 12/15/18 *15 miles of locations** MOTHER Continued from page 1 der of the road trying to stop people to help. The roof of the car was against the bottom of a nearby ditch. As Lewis and his family parked and ap- proached, they realized a woman was trapped inside the vehicle, her head un- derwater. "I hopped out of the truck. I always carry a knife and a flashlight, because I work part-time at the shop, and I always need it," Lewis said, referencing his parents' shop, Lewis Motors, where he works while going to USI for mechanical engineering. He climbed down the steep embankment, and was glad to see he didn't have to break any glass to reach the woman. "I was submerged to my chest, and got up to my waist in the car. I thought she made a sound possibly, but I couldn't be sure," he said. He cut her seatbelt off, and expected her to drop because the car was upside down, but she was stuck, he said, though she was now laying in the water with her head out. He grabbed her by the belt loops, attempting to free her. When that didn't work, he grabbed her ankles and had others pull him, but she was still pinned in the car. A coal miner stopped to help the extrication effort, but they didn't have enough people to release the vehicle. When a fireman arrived and ran down to help the ef- fort, the group could lift the car to get the pressure off, and tried again to pull her out. They got her feet free but couldn't reach her. Lewis said his muscles were seizing with cold. He changed out of the wet jacket into a dry one from the car. The group—fireman, coal miner, father and Lew- is, were finally able to free her and got her off of the steep embankment, and the emergency medical person- nel performed CPR. Russell, the mother of four children, and wife to a husband fighting disability, was on life support for a day before she died of her inju- ries. "The most frustrating thing about it was people not stopping. A hundred people were probably sit - ting in traffic, looking," Lewis said, describing the efforts to move the car and extricate the victim. "It's hard to see outside the im- mediate what's happening, but I think if one or two peo- ple more had stopped, we could have gotten her out sooner...if they'd been able to lift on the car, that would have been enough." Lewis, of Oakland City, was diagnosed with leuke- mia in 2016 and last month his mom, Rachel Lewis, of Pike County, was diagnosed with brain cancer. He shares that, he said, to stress that being on their way to pick up his mom and receive treatment, it wasn't as though it was more con- venient for them to stop and help than it would have been for anyone else. "People need to stop. That could have changed things for their whole family," he said. "I'm not here for a thank you. I feel like people need to know they can stop, they can help. This family is in a tough place now." Lewis drives every day past the scene of the acci- dent, and said he thinks about the struggling family. "A single father of four kids is going to need help," he said. "Anything helps." Russell's children are ag- es three to nine. A GoFundMe is available to cover Mary Russell's med- ical treatment and funer- al bills, with a goal of rais- ing $10,000 at GoFundMe. com/hzw7fu-funeral-and- medical-costs; the fund had raised more than $ 3,000 by Sunday. A fundraiser on Face- book was also set up. It is at https://bit.ly/2PuuXKw. Jenny McCandless Byrd said the funds were set up to help with funeral and medical expenses. The two funds are trying to raise $ 6,000 for the funeral. Byrd said Russell worked at Toy- ota, but didn't have health or life insurance. She add- ed any money raised above the amount needed for the funeral would go to medical expenses. By James Capozella James C. Hughes, 33, of 4607 S. Meridian Rd., Win- slow, was charged with pos- session of a firearm by a se- rious violent felon on De- cember 6 when he was stopped by Sheriff Deputy Jason McKinney for erratic driving on Collins Street in Winslow. Following a K9 free air sniff and subsequent search of the vehicle, a Marlin 22 rifle was found behind the driver's seat of the pickup Hughes was driving. McKinney's report stat- ed he had observed a blue Chevrolet pickup signal left at North and Collins streets then begin turning left, but then changing directions to go south on Collins. The ve- hicle then began stopping in the roadway at the crest of a hill on Collins St. and then motioned for the officer to go around. McKinney requested Deputy Buck Seger to run K9 Officer Bleck on a free air sniff around the vehicle. Hughes stated he was look- ing for an address to pick up a stove. He also advised offi- cers he had a past criminal history of dealing metham- phetamine in 2010. Hughes stated, accord- ing to the report, that there was nothing illegal in the vehicle, but they could not search "unless you get a warrant." K9 Bleck then conducted a free air sniff around the vehicle and in- dicated the presence of ille- gal narcotics on the driver's door seam below the door handle. Hughes asked officers about the indication and he was advised of Bleck's cer- tifications. Hughes then told officers that his broth- er had previously driven the truck and he was aware he smoked synthetic marijua- na. Hughes stated he did not do the drugs the K9 smelled, according to the report. Deputy McKinney lo- cated the rifle in the truck and asked Hughes if he was allowed to have any guns. Hughes then stated, "That's not my .22 rifle, it's my brother's," according to the report. Hughes was transport- ed to the Pike County Sher- iff's Office where he was charged with possession of a firearm by a serious vio- lent felon. Hughes charged with possession of a firearm by a serious felon If willing to serve for an hour, call Biddle at 812 582- 2385. All funds collected by The Salvation Army locally go di- rectly to social services in Pike and Gibson counties. The Corp provides meals, emergency housing, train- ing for those who need as- sistance in job searches and how to care for their needs. They also provide food, clothing, toys for children, summer kids' camp and meals for kids when school is out. SANTA IN PETERSBURG Santa will be in Peters- burg at the Santa House on Main St. from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, December 16. WINSLOW COAT WRAP The Winslow Coat Wrap will be on Saturday, De- cember 22. The event is col- lecting winter coats new or lightly used. They will be put out or wrapped around signs in Winslow for who- ever needs them. Anyone needing a coat can look around Winslow for them to be wrapped around signs throughout town. Winslow Councilwoman-elect Deb- ra Lamb said a person who wishes to remain unnamed has already purchased and collected several, but more are needed. Anyone wishing to donate coats can do so at the Corner Book Shoppe lo- cated at Main and Lafayette sts., across from the Post Of- fice, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. By James Capozella An abuse report on Tues- day, December 4 at 5 p.m. resulted in the arrest of Ja- cob and Thelma Smith, of Lot 28B, North Side Trail- er Park, Petersburg. Jacob Smith was charged with Neglect of a Dependent and Battery and Thelma Smith for Neglect of a Dependent. Pike County Sheriff's Dep- uty Paul Collier spoke with Department of Child Servic- es case worker Stephanie Gilmour, who was respond- ing to an allegation of abuse. Gilmour was accompanied by Deputy Collier to the lo- cation where Jacob Smith was alleged to have shoved a child down into dog feces at the home. Collier and Gilmour were at the front door when they heard a loud thump com- ing from inside the house, followed by a scream and someone yelling, "get off of me." The two entered the residence fearing for the safety of the two children inside, considering the na- ture of the call, according to the report. Jacob Smith was found with both of his arms and legs wrapped around the child on the floor. Smith said the two were just playing, but the child had tears on the face. When the two sep- arated, the child was shak- ing, according to the report. Petersburg City Corporal Kyle Mills arrived to assist. Collier reported that there were six dogs, six puppies, a ferret and a sugar glider in the residence. He said, in his report, that there was an overwhelming odor of animal urine in the home, with numerous urine stains on the carpet in the living room. The report states the odor got worse toward the back bedroom. The Smiths confirmed there was no run- ning water in the residence for approximately eight months. There was animal feces on the floor in the hall- way leading to and in the back bedroom. Collier contacted the Pike County prosecutor and was advised to make the arrests. Other issues in the home in- cluded roaches, mice and the physical condition of the trailer. Petersburg couple charged with neglect of dependent No injuries in truck-SUV collision A rural Petersburg man escaped injury early last Wednesday morning when he drove in front of a three- quarter-ton truck and was hit in the driver's door. David M. Gray, 65, of 1643 E. CR 550 N., Petersburg, was driving a 2009 Dodge Caliber west on CR 550 N. when he didn't stop at Highway 57 and was hit in the side by a Dodge R AM 2500 truck driven by Dustin P. Galloway, 38, of 1408 E. Main St., Petersburg. Galloway told Pike County Deputy Sheriff Jason McKinney he was driving north on Highway 57 when Gray drove out in front of him so quickly he couldn't get stopped. Galloway said Green's vehicle spun off into the ditch. It happened at 5:35 a.m. Wednesday, December 7. Damage was estimated at between $5,000 and $10,000. Both Galloway and Green refused medical treatment.