The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1222437
A-2 Front Wednesday, March 18, 2020 The Press-Dispatch yeah, it's that fast! net edition Z M www.PressDispatch.net/Subscribe The Press-Dispatch. No matter where you live. MEALS Continued from page 1 CITY HALL Continued from page 1 Protecting the health of our community. In an effort to prevent and limit the spread of potential novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in our community, we are screening ALL visitors and patients for communicable respiratory diseases, such as the flu and coronavirus. Screenings are being conducted at our Main and ER/Outpatient entrances — all other doors are locked. To help stay informed about the coronavirus please visit our dedicated website: gibsongeneral.com/coronavirus. On this site, you can learn more about: • A new MyChart symptom checker • Reliable information and resources about the coronavirus Call the Deaconess dedicated nurse triage line, to check your symptoms before visiting the hospital. 812-450-6555 Is it TIME for your next eye exam? 8–7 . Mon. 8–noon . Tues. 10–7 . Wed. 8–5 . Thur. 8–5 . Fri. Locally Owned and Operated Dr. Clint Shoultz 715 S. 9th Street, Petersburg (812) 354-9400 Prayer around the flagpole Community members gathered around the flagpole at Petersburg Elementary School on Tuesday to of- fer prayers for a resolution to the current difficulties caused by the corona virus. Area schools, churches, restaurants and other businesses have been placed under stringent restric- tions since Monday. The Petersburg location had 21 participants, led by Pastor Mark Schlechty and Kathy Mathias of the Petersburg Free Methodist Church. Another group also met at Pike Central High School, and was led by Jeff Powers, pastor of Freedom and Fire Church in Winslow. • Union at the Union Community Church park- ing lot; • Bowman White River Chapel parking lot; • Glezen Revival Center parking lot; • Otwell PCSC Learning Center (formerly Otwell Ele- mentary School) back park- ing lot; • Velpen Post Office park- ing lot; • Spurgeon Jordan Park; • Stendal Community Center parking lot; • Winslow Elementary School main entrance. For more information, call 812-354-8731 ext 707 or email sblake@pcsc.k12. in.us. to meet and approve the claims. However, in case the council isn't able to meet, she can pay the bills on time and then have them reviewed later. POLICE GET CAGES FOR THEIR VEHICLES Petersburg Police Chief Chuck Baumgart said Win Energy's Round-up grants funded four transport cag- es for Petersburg's police ve- hicles. "It makes me happy. I can't express how thank- ful I am to Win Energy," said Baumgart. Mayor Klipsch congrat- ulated the Petersburg Li- ons Club on their 50th anni- versary. He said the group was never more than about 25 members, but after 50 years, they are still about 25 members. The one charter member still active is Don Southwood. "I want to com- mend them for what they do and sticking in there for 50 years. They are just a small group, but I really appreci- ate the things they do. Pe- tersburg is having to pick up the slack in doing what oth- er groups used to do," said Klipsch. Klipsch also said a house the city razed on East Main St. was a success story. He said the city took control of the property and tore down an old abandoned house. They cleaned up the lot and sold it. The new owners are now building a new house on the lot. "That is what the abandoned house program is all about," said Klipsch. In other business, Coun- cilman Gary Leavitt asked Chief Baumgart if he could talk to the construction crews about where they are parking their equipment on the weekends. He said a backhoe was parked on Walnut St. in parking plac- es for the church at Walnut and Highway 61. And an- other piece of equipment was parked near the Cath- olic church's rectory, tak- ing parking places typically used by churchgoers there. Chief Baumgart said he would talk to the companies and ask them to be more careful about where they are parking their vehicles. The next scheduled meet- ing is set for 6:30 p.m. Mon- day, April 6 in the city's meeting room next to City Hall. Osborn arrested for OVWI By James Capozella A traffic stop near the Pike-Gibson County line on SR 57 early Saturday morn- ing ended with Leslie Os- born, 29, of CR 130 S., Pe- tersburg, being arrested for operating a vehicle while in- toxicated. Pike County Deputy Jar- ed Simmons stated in his report that he observed a silver Ford F-150 travel- ing north on Hwy 57 at 72 mph and made a traffic stop. When Simmons stopped the vehicle, Osborn asked how fast he was going and stat- ed that he had just passed a vehicle. Deputy Simmons wrote in his report that he no- ticed the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Osborn. He also no- tice Osborn's speech was slurred, his eyes bloodshot and glassy, and his manual dexterity poor. Simmons al- so reported that there was a half drank bottle of liquor in the center console of the ve- hicle. Osborn handed Sim- mons his debit card when asked for his driver's li- cense. Asked if he had any alco- holic beverages recently, Os- born stated he had not, ac- cording to the report. Os- born stated he had just ate at Denny's in Oakland City and had just gotten off work. Officer Simmons adminis- tered an HGN, one leg stand, nine step walk and turn and a PBT (.122), all of which Osborn failed, according to the report. Osborn was taken into custody and transported to the Pike County Jail, where Deputy Seger ran Osborn on the CBM, which tested .128 BAC. Simmons was assisted at the scene by Sgt. Deputy Buck Seger. Two arrested for domestic battery By James Capozella A 911 call from Christi- na Ashby, 44, of 1342 E. CR 550 N., Petersburg, on Sat- urday evening resulted in both Ashby and an ex-boy- friend, Wade Hurdle, 61, of 2404 E. CR 650 N., Peters- burg, being arrested for do- mestic battery. Pike Coun- ty Deputy Sheriff Jared Sim- mons was sent to the Ashby trailer residence by central dispatch, along with Peters- burg Patrolman Bryce Man- ning. Before the officers ar- rived at the residence, Hur- dle's vehicle was seen at the Kangaroo gas station in Pe- tersburg by Officer Sim- mons, according to the re- port. He was advised by Central Dispatch that Hur- dle was not at the residence. Simmons then turned back and found Hurdle sitting in the passenger seat. Man- ning continued to the resi- dence, where the complain- ant was calling from, accord- ing to the report. Ashby stated to Manning that Hurdle came to her res- idence to drop off her stuff, but then began to threaten to kill her and then shoved her to the ground. Ashby said she got up and started shoving him back and out the door. Hurdle told Simmons that he was returning some of her belongs and that she attacked him, shoving him and cussing him, according to the arrest report. Hur- dle stated to Officer Sim- mons that he never touched her. Hurdle was arrested for battery and placed in hand- cuffs. Trooper Brayden An- germeier transported Ash- by to the Pike County Jail, where she was also charged with battery. Downey arrested for OVWI By James Capozella A traffic stop on SR 61 and River Road, at about 1:51 a.m. Saturday, by Pe- tersburg Patrolman Bryce Manning resulted in Justin Douglas Downey, 36, of 5041 S. Hickory Corner Rd., Vin- cennes, being charged with OV WI. Officer Manning was on routine patrol on Vincennes Avenue when he observed a Jeep Cherokee travel left of center and then cross the white fog line multiple times. When Manning stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, he told Downey the reason for the stop, accord- ing to the report. Manning also noticed that there was a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage and that Downey's eyes were bloodshot and wa- tery, and his manual dexter- ity was poor. Downey stated he and his girlfriend were com- ing back from the casino in Evansville and that he had a couple drinks, according to the report. At that time, Manning requested Deputy Jared Simmons to conduct a field sobriety testing. Manning said that when Downey exited the vehicle, he stumbled three times walking back to the pa- trol car. Downey failed the HGN, nine step and one leg test and had a .111 test on the PBT. Simmons took Downey into custody and transported him to the Pike County Jail, where Deputy Jason McKinney adminis- tered the Certified Breath Machine that resulted in a result of a .102 BAC. He was released to the jail staff after being charged with OV WI. Lane restrictions on State Road 68 Highway 68, near Elber- feld, will be reduced to one lane during a drainage proj- ect next week. Beginning on or around Monday, March 23, contrac- tors will begin a pipe lining project on SR 68, about four miles east of the intersection of SR 57. The work being performed will not require daily restrictions; however, delivery of materials will re- quire the closure of a lane for a short period of time intermittently. Team mem- bers expect several deliv- eries over the course of the project. During those peri- ods, traffic will be controlled by flagging operations. Work is expected to be complete by the end of April, dependent upon weather conditions. By Andy Heuring Coronavirus was the top- ic of most of the county com- missioners meeting Monday morning. County treasurer Mar- ta Query asked permission to get a drop box for people to put their county proper- ty tax payments into. Que- ry said she started getting emails late last week from other treasurers saying they were taking similar actions. She said about one-third to half the county treasurers in Indiana are going to keep their offices open, but close them to people coming into the office. "I have always wanted a drop box outside the office," said Query. "If you want to put a box out there, I have no problem with that," said Commission- er Mark Flint. He said he had county health nurse Amy Gladish and Emergency Manage- ment Agency director Ryan Benner to come to the meet- ing to offer their expertise on the situation. Flint said he thought it should be up to the individu- al office holders to figure out their own plans. Commissioner Jeff Nel- son agreed with Flint on the drop box. "Quite frankly, I don't know why so many peo- ple come in here to pay any- way," said Nelson. Query said it was going to be a "big hit" to her budget to purchase the box. Health nurse Gladish said it would probably be better from a health standpoint to have the box placed outside the courthouse. Sheriff Kent Johnson said he would rather it be placed inside, where a cam- era would pick up the face of people dropping payments into the box. Johnson said putting it out- side would make it suscepti- ble to theft attempts. Query said one clerk had the drop box placed in the sheriff's office. Johnson re- sponded by making hand motions to signify "just pile it on me." He eventually said they had a lobby with a camera in it. No location was finalized for the box. Commissioners opened mowing bids for Coleman and Old Town Cemeteries. They received four bids: Manning's Four Seasons was $175 for Old Town and $225 for Coleman per mowing; Ja- son McKinney was $ 85 for Old Town, no bid on Cole- man; Marshal Mowing was $225 for Old Town and Cole- man $175; Persimmon Ridge bid $ 90 each for Old Town and Coleman Cemetery. The commissioners took the bids under advisement. In other business, Benner and Gladish both said they had guidelines from the In- diana Department of Health on how to handle the COV- ID-19 or Coronavirus. They were going to send those guidelines to the each de- partment head. Both said the department heads should be responsible for their depart- ment's emergency plans, be- cause they know their day- to-day operations. Howev- er, they would be glad to as- sist them. Commissioners discuss courthouse operations in face of COVID-19