The Press-Dispatch
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Local ����������� A1-8 Valentine's ����� A5 Sports ��������� B1-5 Classifieds ��� B6-8 Opinion ������B9-10 Church �������� C1-3 Home Life ��� C4-7 Obituaries ������ C7 History ����������� C8 School ����������� C9 East Gibson ���C10 Planter ������C11-12 WHAT'S INSIDE: Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Fax: ��������������������������812-354-2014 E-Mail ����editor@pressdispatch�net NEWS TIPS: PIKE PUBLISHING Wednesday, February 5, 2020 Volume 150 Number 6 Phone 812-354-8500 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 (USPS 604-34012) $ 1 Three sections 34 pages Four inserts See COUNCIL on page 2 See AT TENDANCE on page 2 By Andy Heuring Three people were injured in a Monday crash at the intersection of Highways 257 and 64 in south- east Pike County. Richard Dob- byn, 73, of Wheatland, and his wife were driving east on Highway 64 in a Dodge Durango, when it appears Robert Marks, 46, of Jas- per, pulled in front of them from Highway 257, said Pike County Deputy Sheriff Brad Jenkins. Marks told Deputy Jenkins he didn't remember anything from the accident. Jenkins said Dob- byn told him they were driving east and Marks failed to stop at the intersection, pulling in front of them and they collided. Dobbyn's SUV overturned and then slid off the road into an embankment. Deputy Jenkins said initial re- ports had Dobbyn being trapped in the car, but he said emergency responders were able to get him out of the vehicle without having to use any extrication equipment. Jenkins said all three were tak- en by ambulance to the hospital, but none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. "They are awfully lucky. It was a heck of a wreck," said Jenkins of the crash that happened at 12:29 p.m. Three injured in Monday afternoon crash By Andy Heuring The Pike County Chamber of Commerce has a new executive director. Jill Hyneman started on January 9. She is an entrepreneur who chose living in Petersburg over living in Newburgh. Hyneman owns and oper- ates The Bloomin' Circus. She grows and sells "micro greens" to businesses in southern Indiana. She sells them to health food stores, like Grounded in Jasper and various area restau- rants. Hyneman grew up in Francisco, then moved to Indianapolis, where she worked for 16 years as a "freight broker." She explained a freight broker works with companies and people who need to ship things to nego- tiate freight rates. "I talked to ev- eryone from CEOs to truck driv- ers on a daily basis," said Hyne- man. About five years ago, she and her now husband, Nick Hyneman, moved to Petersburg. "When I be- came a single mom, I wanted to move closer to home. I looked at Newburgh and Francisco and we chose Petersburg," said Hyne- man. "I went on a tour of Peters- burg Elementary School with my kids and they just fell in love with it." "We just decided this was a bet- ter place for us," said Hyneman of choosing Petersburg over New- burgh and Francisco. "I love this community. Now that I'm working in it, I'm meet- ing so many people." Hyneman said she is excited about her new opportunity. "I have made money for people for 16 years. I want to help business- es grow and help entrepreneurs get started. It can be scary to start a new business," said Hyneman. Hyneman replaces Krista Robi- nette, who left to become director of United Way Pike County. "Although we hated Krista leav- ing, we are very excited to have Jill lead the Chamber of Commerce. She has a strong passion to serve and grow the community. Jill has a business background and owns her own small business. She un- derstands the struggles our mem- bers may experience. This experi- ence will allow her to develop pro- grams to help our members grow and Pike County to grow. Jill has hit the ground running and has many ideas already in the works," said Robin Smith, director of the Pike County Chamber of Com- merce. "She is very outgoing and is all about community. It think she is going to do a great job," said Chamber of Commerce president Sarah McCracken. Jill Hyneman Jill Hyneman is new Chamber Director By Andy Heuring Petersburg City Councilmen passed a resolution and an ordinance preparing the way for them to issue a bond that would fund their coming wastewater treatment project. They also discussed, during their Monday night meeting, closing Trafzer St. at Highway 61 and what streets to pave. Petersburg received a $7.5 million grant to redo their wastewater treatment plant from Rural Development and a low inter- est loan for the other $4 million the plant is expected to cost. The bond resolutions and ordinance pre- pare the way for them to issue a bond to the amount not covered by the grant. It was ap- proved by a 5 -0 vote. In other grant news, Mayor Klipsch said Petersburg was notified they would not re- ceive a grant to build a new waterline from the well field to the water plant. He said they met with officials from OCR A (Office of Community and Rural A ffairs) about their application. He said they weren't even close. He said it took a minimum of 450 points to be considered, and no one under 500 was awarded. Petersburg only had 385 points. Klipsch said he didn't think it would be worth the city's time and effort to reap- ply for that grant. He said part of the problem is that par- ticular grant was for emergency fixes. Be- cause Petersburg's line is still operating, it scored lower. "We are trying to prevent an emergency," said Klipsch. He said now they are considering their options and he expects they will try to in- clude the water line in a grant from Rural Development. Councilmen discussed proposed plans to close Trafzer St. at its intersection with Highway 61. City Services Manager Ross Elmore corresponded with the lead design- er on the project. Councilmen at the previ- ous meeting wanted to know if there would be a barrier or a wall across the intersec- tion. The designer said it would have neither. Instead, it would have a curb and a six-foot grass section, as well as a five-foot sidewalk across it. "It won't look like a street," said Mayor Klipsch. "I think if we have a six-inch curb, a six- foot grass way and a five-foot sidewalk, that will take care of it," said Councilman John Melhiser. Mayor Klipsch said he had talked with residents near the Trafzer intersection that will be closed, and all agreed it should be closed. He suggested they have City Attorney Brian Mahoney write an ordinance to close City council preps for bond funding, moves to close Trafzer St. By Andy Heuring Attendance rates at Pike County Schools has almost normalized after a four-day spike last week. Pike County Schools Superinten- dent Dr. Suzanne Blake said on Monday their absence rate was about six percent. "Much more normalized," said Blake. Earlier, she said they average about two percent absence for the year. Last week, when absence rates spiked on Tuesday and Wednesday, she made the de- cision to cancel normal classes on Thursday and have an E-Learning day instead. School corporation-wide last Monday ab- sences were at 9.5 percent, with the individ- ual schools ranging from 7.1 to 11 percent. However, on Tuesday, that jumped to 15.8 percent at PES, with the middle school at 15 and the high school at 23 percent. At the time, Blake said the guideline was when it hit 20 percent corporation-wide, they would need to close. Then on Wednesday morn- ing, PES jumped to 13.4 percent, and both the middle and high school were at 19 per- cent. But that number grew quickly as school nurses were overrun with kids com- ing to their offices. Students were sent them home in droves and the percentage at the high school jumped to 27 percent and 17.8 Attendance normalizing at Pike schools SPECTACULAR Annual Meeting Edition SWCD Newsletter Planter Planter Pike Cnty Page C-11 Emergency personnel clean debris from Highway 64 following a violent crash at the inter- section of Highways 64 and 257, Monday afternoon. Pike County Deputy Sheriff Brad Jen- kins said all three occupants of the two vehicles were injured, but none appeared to be life- threatening. Preparing for boxing debut Ten-year-old Brody Fiscus punches with his boxing trainer, Scott Arnold, as he prepares for his boxing debut this Saturday in Terre Haute. He is a member of A&B Boxing Club. Arnold and Barbara Baumgart run the club that is for adults and children. See story and additional photos on page A-8.