The Press-Dispatch

April 15, 2020

The Press-Dispatch

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Local ����������A1-12 Sports ��������� A8-9 Classifieds A10-11 Church �������� B1-3 Home Life ��� B4-7 East Gibson ���� B5 Obituaries ������ B7 Opinion ������� B8-9 History ����������B10 WHAT'S INSIDE: Two sections only this edition Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Fax: ��������������������������812-354-2014 E-Mail ����editor@pressdispatch�net NEWS TIPS: PIKE PUBLISHING Wednesday, April 15, 2020 Volume 150 Number 16 Phone 812-354-8500 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 (USPS 604-34012) $ 1 Two sections 22 pages Three inserts See CHASE on page 2 See COVID-19 on page 3 See STORM on page 2 Pike Central tech helping frontline workers By Andy Heuring Pike Central's technology departments are putting their high-tech facilities and know-how to use to help out healthcare workers. The school corporation has two 3D print- ers, which are almost the equivalent of elec- tricity. They can make almost anything the human mind can conceive. Middle school teacher Nikki Nalley said she uses very ba- sic ones in their classes. "I love the 3D printers. They are amazing and kids really like working on them a lot," said Nalley. She said the kids make things from functional to entertainment. Phil Clauss, who is the Director of Tech- nology for Pike County Schools, said he was on Facebook one evening and saw where someone in Canada was using 3D printers to make a plastic strap that allows for adjustment on face masks for healthcare workers. A lightbulb went off for him. "I have a relative who works at a hospital. So I called her to see if that would work," said Clauss. His relative said there was a need and thought it would work. So Clauss then called Pike County Schools Superin- tendent Dr. Suzanne Blake and talked to her about it, and got the okay to move for- ward with the project. He then went on the website Thingi- verse, which is basically a site with ideas of things you can make with 3D printers. He got the pattern for a plastic strap that allows mask wearers to be able to adjust their masks for proper fit and more comfort than the standard mask provides. Clauss then called Nikki Nalley and Na- than Bradford. Nalley is the Technology and Synergy teacher for the middle school and Bradford teaches the high school en- gineering program. They were able to pro- gram the 3D printers to make the straps. "I was really happy to help. I'm glad he contacted me to help. I got down there the next morning," said Nalley. That was early last week. "I have been in here working at the school and so I have been having the print- er running making these," said Clauss. He said it will make four of the large ones an hour and about six of the smaller straps an hour. So far, he has made more than 200 of the straps and given them to local nurs- ing homes and doctors' offices. Clauss said he hopes to make between 400 and 500 of the adjustable straps. Thompson arrested on multiple charges after police chase By Andy Heuring A Petersburg man was arrested on nu- merous charges Saturday evening after a high-speed chase and fighting with police. Dustin Brian Thompson, 38, of 306 N. 10th St., Petersburg, was arrested on pre- liminary charges of attempted battery com- mitted with deadly weapon, a level 5 felo- ny; resisting law enforcement with a vehi- cle, a level 6 felony; resisting law enforce- ment, a class A misdemeanor; battery of a public safety official, a level 6 felony; crim- inal recklessness; reckless driving; intimi- dation, a level 6 felony; disorderly conduct; and escape, a level 6 felony. It all started at about 4:30 p.m. Satur- day when Petersburg police got a report that Thompson had stopped his pink truck and tried to talk to two children in a Peters- burg resident's yard. The children's moth- er called police and told them Thompson had been issued a no contact order for her and the children. Petersburg Police Patrolman Bryce Man- ning said he started looking for Thompson and saw him on CR 300 N. driving 70 mph. Patrolman Manning, in a probable cause affidavit, said he pursued Thompson, who was driving "all over the road, nearly wreck- ing his vehicle multiple times." Thompson turned onto CR 200 W., at a high rate of speed, and then turned on CR 200 N., "nearly striking an oncoming vehi- cle" and then turned on CR 275 W. At one point, Thompson stopped his ve- hicle and shook his head at Manning, "flip- ping me off" before speeding away. Manning said he continued to pursue Thompson down the dusty road, losing sight of him, then finding him in a grass field. He said Thompson tried to ram his police cruiser on two different occasions. Eventually, the pursuit made its way to 500 W., where Thompson drove off the road, down an embankment and through a fence at 877 CR 500 W. Manning said Thompson stopped his vehicle near a tree line and got out of the vehicle. According to the affidavit, Patrolman Manning drew his weapon and ordered Thompson to get on his knees. Manning said Thompson refused to stop and yelled "No, I'm scared for my kids' life." Thompson eventually yelled, "No, *@% $ #@, shoot me! " Two more times Thompson claimed Manning was going to shoot him before it was done. Manning eventually tackled Thompson. During their scuffle, Thompson said he had a bomb. State Trooper Brandon Angermeier ar- rived, and they got control of Thompson and placed him in handcuffs. Officer Manning said while he was be- ing treated for a cut on his hand, arm and Storm downs trees, power lines and damages buildings By Andy Heuring Wednesday, April 8 was a wild night. A f- ter a beautiful day, with temperatures in the mid-80s, it turned violent. A strong storm, with straight-line winds of more than 50 mph, slammed into Pike County at about 9:30 p.m. It downed trees and power lines, and the winds blew off roofs, awnings and store fronts. County Emergency Management Direc- tor Ryan Benner said there were no reports of injuries from the storm. Storm warnings were issued with threats of winds up to 80 mph that had devastated Vincennes and parts of Knox County. Just as the storm was hitting the area, Pa- toka Fire Department got a call of a large field fire in the Glezen area on CR 75W. "I thought when we got the call 'This can't be right,'" said Patoka Fire Chief Brandon Truitt. He said just getting to the fire was diffi- cult. "There were trees all over the road. I had to cut through Sugar Ridge Wildlife Area property to get around a tree across the road," said Truitt. When he arrived, he found there was nearly 15 acres on fire. He explained it was about a 45 -acre field. "It was pretty big for a little bit. But fortunately it wasn't going anywhere." He said it was mostly tall grass on fire, luckily no trees were involved. Petersburg Fire Chief Ross Elmore said when they first got the call, he told his men to respond slowly because of the danger of fallen trees in the dark. Elmore said Petersburg Fire had 21 By Andy Heuring Pike County got their first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Saturday. However, they do not have a second case as of Tues- day afternoon. Pike County Health Nurse Amy Gladish said on Tuesday a clerical error by the In- diana State Department of Health caused a second case to appear on the map of cas- es in Indiana. Gladish said she confirmed with the Dept. of Health that this was a mis- take. They had placed a negative test result in the positive file. Gladish said she hopes that will be re- moved from the map of confirmed cases with Wednesday's updates. She said the one person who tested pos- itive for COVID-19 in Pike County is "self- isolating at home." She added, No additional information about the patient will be released due to privacy laws. "We are continuing to urge residents of Pike County to strictly adhere to Gov- ernor Holcomb's order to stay at home. If you must leave your home for an essential purpose, please adhere to social distanc- ing recommendations from the CDC, wash your hands frequently with soap and wa- ter or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Stay home if you are sick. We cannot stress this point enough. We must all work together to control the spread of this virus and it is the responsi- bility of every member of our community to do their part," said Gladish. She said the Pike County Health Depart- ment is working closely with local and state officials to ensure that contacts of the pa- tient are identified and monitored and that all infection control protocols are being fol- lowed. Access to COVID-19 testing is getting easier. Beginning on April 13 and running through April 17 four new testing centers are being opened in Indiana. They are First COVID-19 confirmed in county; second was in error Alan and Gary Evans pick up pieces of metal from the sidewalk on Main St., Petersburg late Wednesday when 50 mph winds blew through Pike County. The metal came off the front of the White Horse building that houses Esteem Coffee. Pike Central Technology Director Phil Clauss works with a 3D printer to make adjustable straps for face masks. With help from Nikki Nalley and Nathan Bradford, Clauss is making more than 400 of the straps to give to area doc- tor's offices and nursing homes.

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