The Press-Dispatch
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Local ����������� A1-8 East Gibson ���� A7 Sports ��������� B1-3 School �������� B4-5 Opinion ������� B6-7 Classifieds ��B8-12 Church �������� C1-3 Home Life ��� C4-7 Obituaries ������ C7 History ����������� C8 WHAT'S INSIDE: Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Fax: ��������������������������812-354-2014 E-Mail ����editor@pressdispatch�net NEWS TIPS: PIKE PUBLISHING Wednesday, March 4, 2020 Volume 150 Number 10 Phone 812-354-8500 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 (USPS 604-34012) $ 1 Three sections 28 pages Four inserts See COUNCIL on page 6 Remember to spring forward on Saturday night Time will change on Sunday, March 8. Officially, it changes at 2 a.m. It will be the Spring forward change. So, we will lose one hour on that weekend. If anyone still has an independent clock or a traditional watch, they need to move them forward. Your cellphone and smart watches are hopefully smart enough to do this on their own. The move forward in Spring means it gets dark one hour later each day, while sunrise happens one hour later. The Pike County Ministerial Fellowship Lenten Day Breakfasts schedule is as fol- low: MEN'S SCHEDULE March 7 Sts. Peter and Paul March 14 First Baptist March 21 River of Life March 28 Petersburg Free Methodist April 4 Otwell United Methodist WOMEN'S SCHEDULE: March 7 Petersburg United Methodist March 14 Otwell United Methodist March 21 Sts. Peter and Paul March 28 Open date April 4 First Baptist Church The men's breakfasts will begin at 8 a.m., with the ladies' beginning at 9 a.m. They are scheduled to last one hour. Area churches host the separate breakfasts and have a speaker. Proceeds from the breakfasts go to the Sam Taylor Scholarships, which gives a grant to all college-bound seniors of the Pike County Ministerial Fellowship churches. Lenten breakfasts at Sts. Peter & Paul, Petersburg UM Capehart Bridge on 257 to be one lane during repair Highway 257 bridge will be reduced to one lane of traffic beginning March 9. The Indiana Department of Transpor- tation announces the Homer Capehart Bridge on State Road 257, crossing the White River, will be reduced to one lane of traffic while crews resurface the bridge. During the project, one lane of the bridge will be closed around the clock. Traffic will be controlled by temporary signal. Lanes will be restricted to 11 feet. Wide and over- sized loads will need to seek an alternate route. INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews. Pre-school, kindergarten round- ups begin March 12 Sign-ups for kindergarten and pre-school round-up are underway in Pike County. Parents of pre-school and kindergarten age children can call their respective schools and register for the round-ups. Children must be 5 years old for kindergarten and 4 years old for preschool by August 1, 2020, to be eligible for next school year. Below are the schedules for both schools. Winslow Elementary School Kindergarten: Thursday, March 12. Eve- ning appointments available. Preschool: Friday, March 13. Screenings from 8 a.m. to noon. Call Winslow Elementary at 812-789 - 2209 to schedule an appointment. Petersburg Elementary School Kindergarten: Thursday, April 2 and Fri- day, April 3. Screenings from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Preschool: Friday, April 17. Screenings throughout the school day. Call Petersburg Elementary at 812-354- 6876 to schedule an appointment. Otwell Miller Academy Otwell Miller Academy kindergarten roundup will be Thursday, March 12 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 to 6:30 p.m. Par- ents are asked to schedule an appointment by calling 812-354-0800. OMA is open to all students. Parents are asked to bring a gov- ernment ID, student's birth certificate, So- cial Security number and a valid immuni- zation record. By Andy Heuring The 2020 Polar Plunge at Petersburg was by far the biggest ever at this location. Pre- liminary numbers for this year's event are at $ 87,000 raised and 211 plungers taking part. "That is awesome," said Francie Smith, with Special Olympics Indiana. The Polar Plunge is a fundraiser for Special Olympics. "Before, the biggest number was $ 64,000 for us. We are very excited this year," said Smith. Randy Parker, of Posey County, was the largest individual fundraiser. He raised $ 9,600. Hypothermia team raised $26,530 to take the top team honors for most raised. One of the more unusual groups partici- pating was the Bearded Villains, Southern Indiana Chapter. They were easy to spot, as they were mostly large, bald guys in kilts and serious beards. In reality, they are a philanthropic beard club. Rural Petersburg resident Jeff Johnson said he got involved with the group when he attended a beard contest in Louisville. Johnson said they typically do four fund- raisers a year and pick various charities. "The Polar Plunge is a mainstay for us." Another of the charities they help is the Gresham Home in Evansville, which hous- es homeless veterans. Johnson said this is the second year they have taken part in the Polar Plunge at Pe- tersburg. They got started last year after Randy Parker talked to them about it. Last year, the group raised about $1,500. This year, they increased it to $ 6,321. "Randy kind of put that challenge out there to us," said Johnson. Other groups participating included area police, Amber Manor, Mt. Vernon Middle School and numerous other groups. Polar Plunge raises $87,000+ for Special Olympics Fire destroys trailer and outbuilding An early Tuesday morning fire destroyed a house trailer on Second Run Road, near Martin's Curve, about a mile west of the Pike-Knox County line. The trailer is owned by Byron Osborn. He lives in another trailer on the same proper- ty and noticed it. His dog was in the burning trailer. He told Larry Spots, of the Harrison Township Fire Department, he ran to the trailer and opened the door, and the dog ran out. The trailer and an adjacent building were destroyed by the fire. Spots said Osborn had a wood burner, kerosene heaters and propane tanks in the trailer, which caused it to burn quickly. He said because of the damage and numerous accelerants stored in the trailer, they would not be able to determine a cause. Above: Jefferson Township Fire Chief and Pike County EMS Director Chris Young pull siding off the trailer so they can put water on the fire. Harrison Township requested mutual assistance from Petersburg because the trailer is locat- ed closer to Petersburg than Monroe City. Petersburg Fire Dept and Young assisted with the fire that was reported at 7:26 a.m. Harrison Township Fire Chief Chad Hanson said they were there until after 11 a.m. By Andy Heuring The Petersburg City Council, during their Monday night meeting, passed two or- dinances, and a resolution and paperwork to pave the way for a new housing complex to be built. Their first ordinance passed officially closed Trafzer St. at its intersection with Highway 61. Trafzer will become a dead- end street at its intersection with High- way 61, when the Indiana Department of Transportation completes a project to re- build Highway 61, its sidewalks and curbs from Highway 57 to the White River. That project is scheduled to begin in 2021. INDOT has requested Petersburg close Trafzer St. at Highway 61 due to poor visi- bility and the steep incline from Trafzer to- ward Highway 61. Mayor R.C. Klipsch said residents on Trafzer St. said they were unable to see traffic to the east from their driveway be- cause of the hill. "I think we did the people on that street a real favor," said Councilman Gary Leavitt. The ordinance passed by a 4-0 vote. Council member Jody Hoover was not pres- ent at Monday's meeting. The second ordinance was to adopt a new price list for the cost of equipment used for cleaning up property that has been deemed in violation of nuisance ordinances. The fee schedule ranges from $200 a hour for a backhoe, $150 for the mini-excavator to $10 for an hour for a string trimmer. Councilmen also passed a resolution giv- ing support to gun owners. The resolution was promoted by the Pike County Chapter of the Second Amendment Advocacy group that has more than 600 members. The resolution passed by the City Coun- cil cited the Second Amendment and then states the Petersburg Council: "1) At no time shall adopt any rule or ordinance that City council passes two ordinances, looks at new housing Kealy Turpin, Angela Woodfork, Leslie Roberts and Thomas Sparks with the Amber Manor Rocks team gasp for air as they come up out of the water on Saturday. They were some of the 211 people to take part in the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Indiana. Participants ran down Prides Creek Beach and jumped into the frigid water to raise mon- ey for Special Olympics. They raised more than $87,000.