The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1202802
Local ����������� A1-8 Sports ��������� B1-6 Classifieds ��B8-10 East Gibson ���B11 Church �������� C1-3 Home Life ��� C4-7 Obituaries ������ C7 Opinion ������� C8-9 School �����C10-11 History ����������C12 WHAT'S INSIDE: Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Fax: ��������������������������812-354-2014 E-Mail ����editor@pressdispatch�net NEWS TIPS: PIKE PUBLISHING Wednesday, January 22, 2020 Volume 150 Number 4 Phone 812-354-8500 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 (USPS 604-34012) $ 1 Three sections 32 pages Three inserts See CHANGES on page 3 See WRIGHT on page 5 See CHIEF on page 2 See AGREEMENT on page 2 Craig Tornquist By Andy Heuring The Pike County Soil and Water Con- servation District's 73rd Annual Dinner is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 28 at the Gospel Center's gym in Petersburg. Craig Tornquist, a stand-up comedian, is the featured speaker this year. Tornquist, known for his clean humor for all ages, has warmed up concert crowds for Jay Leno, Sinbad, Frankie Val- lie and the Four Sea- sons, Marty Stuart, Lee Greenwood and the The Spinners. He also does audi- ence participation bits and impressions. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is free for those who RSVP by 4 p.m. Friday, Jan- uary 24. People can RSVP by calling the SWCD's office at 812-354-6220 ext. 3. A fter 4 p.m. on Friday, admission is $10 a person. Pike SWCD Annual Dinner is Tuesday An American Red Cross blood drive is scheduled for Thursday, January 30 in Winslow. It will be from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Winslow Church of the Nazarene at 106 W. Washington St., which is behind the former Winslow Town Hall. "All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients," stated a news release from the American Red Cross. A blood donor card or driver's license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Donors age 16 have to have paren- tal consent. Other requirements include a patient weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. "Currently, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of Type O blood available for patient emergencies and medial treat- ments. Type O positive is the most trans- fused blood type and can be given to Rh- positive patients of any blood type," said Tiffany Taylor with the American Red Cross. Blood drive at Winslow Nazarene on Jan. 30 New chief to be elected in March By Dennis Marshall Jason Bottoms has stepped down from the positionas Winslow Fire Chief, accord- ing to Winslow Town Council president Joshua Popp. "He's stepping down on his own means," Popp said. "From the discussions that I have had with him, he feels like he's do- ne his time and work for the community. It was news to me and to the department. He is stepping down from the Winslow Vol- unteer Fire Department as the chief and a firefighter." Members of the Winslow Fire Depart- ment were on hand at the Winslow Town Council Meeting on Monday, Jan. 13. The council discussed voting on naming As- sistant Fire Chief Rick Mathias the new chief, but tabled those discussions until after the department holds its election for a new chief in March. Mathias and the town council haven't al- ways been on the best of terms. He filed a complaint with the Indiana Public Access Counselor last year alleging that the coun- cil not only failed to post a public notice for a meeting, but that Popp ignored concerns voiced by meeting attendees questioning the legality of a meeting where proper no- tice had not been given to the public. A fter an investigation, it was the opinion of Public Access Counselor Luke H. Britt that the town did not violate the Open Door Law. Mathias is currently serving as the de- partment interim chief. Even with the history between the two, Popp said there is no reason why Mathias can't be successful in the role. "I do believe he has a little bit of a learn- ing curve for him to adapt to that role," Popp said. "Being a fire chief is a lot more than wearing a white helmet. Especially for a municipality. There is all the legality issues and making sure that your members are Jason Bottoms resigns as Winslow Fire Chief Kabrick crowned homecoming queen Adair Kabrick was crowned the 2020 Pike Central Winter Homecoming Queen on Saturday, Jan. 18 between basketball games with Wood Memorial. She was escorted by Colin Craig. The theme for the event was Starlit Para- dise. See additional photos and story on A-4. By Andy Heuring Pike County Commissioners voted to ap- prove a new collective bargaining agree- ment with the County Highway Dept., along with advertising several paving proj- ects for bids during their Tuesday morn- ing meeting. The Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the agreement. However, because it chang- es some compensations to different than what other county employees have, they said they hope to make changes to coun- ty employee policies. Commissioner president Mark Flint out- lined the changes to the agreement after the meeting. He said the main change was in the Family Leave Act provisions. The previous agreement required highway em- ployees to use all their vacation and sick days before they could go on the FML A. The agreement requires employees to use only 50 percent of their remaining sick days before going on FML A. Another change is the county will now pay $ 346.47 per em- ployee per week, which is a $ 3.70 per week increase from what the county was going to pay in 2020. In 2019, they paid $ 326.80 per employee per week. Another change is the county will pay up to nine months work- man's compensation, which is an increase from six months on the last contract. The other change is any employee hired after January 20, 2020, is required to have and maintain a CDL license as a condition of their employment. "I want to make a statement," said Com- missioner Jeff Nelson. He said the new contract was making changes that made things different than other county em- Collective bargaining agreement reached with Highway Dept. Major changes approved for school technology department By Dennis Marshall The Pike Central School Corporation's Technology Department is getting a com- plete makeover. The school board approved the signif- icant personnel changes after studying each position's workload, job duties, need- ed qualifications, researching other school corporations and analyzing the finances in- volved. There are three position title changes. The Building Tech Coordinator will be- come the Network Administrator, the As- sistant to the Director of Technology will become the Data Specialist and the Com- puter Tech Assistant will become the Tech- nology Assistant. The Director of Technology will be phased out and replaced with Corporation Technology Coordinator. This position will have many of the same duties, but with as- sistance and direction from Assistant Su- perintendent Dana Deffendoll, reducing the scope and sole responsibility of the du- ties. The role of Technology Integration Spe- cialist is built into the Corporation Tech Coordinator, and includes duties associ- ated with teachers professional develop- ment and effectively implementing tech- nology into the classroom. The Corpora- tion Tech Coordinator will be a certified Wright sentenced for stealing money from evidence cage Several evacuated from Dodge City An emergency medical call in a flooded area led to the Pike County Sheriff's Department and Conservation Officers evacuating several people from the Dodge City community along the White River last Wednesday. Chief Deputy Sheriff Dallas Killian said they got a 911 call about a woman who had fallen and couldn't get back on her feet. "That was the original call." Killian said he and Conservation Officer Ken Tincher used a boat launched from a public access area near High- way 61 into the White River. They went to a residence for the emergency call. He said the residents said when the riv- er reached a level of 25 feet it would start coming into their house. So they decided to be evacuated. He said others in the area saw them and asked if they could be evacuated as well. They ended up making three trips and bringing out six people and two dogs. The White River was predicted to hit 25.1 feet at Petersburg. Floodstage is 16 feet. It crested on Friday at 24.7 just below the predicted crest. Above, Deputy Killian and CO Ken Tincher bring out Timothy Thompson and Crystal Young. By Andy Heuring Former Petersburg Police Officer Scott Wright was sentenced to serve three week- ends in jail and one year of probation last Friday in Pike Circuit Court. Wright had pleaded guilty to a level 6 fel- ony charge of official misconduct by a pub- lic servant, two counts of level 6 theft and one count of theft, a class A misdemeanor. His guilty plea left the sentence up to the court, which was presided over by Special Judge Dean Sobecki of Daviess County. He admitted to stealing about $ 9,000 cash from the Petersburg Police's evi- dence cage. The money was taken from three separate cases. Wright resigned, ad- mitted he had taken the money and paid the full amount back. Several witnesses were called during the two-hour hearing. Wright's sister-in-law, Rebecca Wright, who is a co-owner of B & R Metalworks, told the court she had known Wright for 26 years. "He is trustworthy, honest and will do anything for anyone." She said he worked on helicopters in the Navy and since he was arrested and resigned from the Petersburg Police Dept. he has worked for she and her husband. She said he worked about 19 hours a week because he tends to the needs of his spe-