The Press-Dispatch
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Local ��������������������A1-12 Sports ��������������������A8-9 Classifieds ���������� A10-11 Home Life ��������������B1-3 East Gibson ���������������B3 Obituaries �����������������B4 Church �������������������B5-7 Opinion ������������������B8-9 History ��������������������B10 WHAT'S INSIDE: Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Fax: ��������������������������812-354-2014 E-Mail ����editor@pressdispatch�net NEWS TIPS: PIKE PUBLISHING Wednesday, May 6, 2020 Volume 150 Number 19 Phone 812-354-8500 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 (USPS 604-34012) $ 1 Two sections 22 pages Three inserts See REOPEN on page 2 See WATER GR ANT on page 2 See COVID GR ANT on page 2 By Andy Heuring Petersburg is in the running for a $ 3.9 million grant that would help offset the cost of a new water treatment plant. Monday night, in their first meeting in four weeks, the City Council voted 5 -0 to approve a res- olution to apply for the grant. Mayor R.C. Klipsch said Region 15 Di- rector Lisa Gehlhausen had a visit from the U.S. Economic Development Dept. and she was telling them about Petersburg's water plant project. The Economic Development representative told Gehlhausen they have a program for areas affected by the demise of the coal industry to help them with eco- nomic development. Klipsch said Petersburg applied and the application has passed the first set of ap- provals. "We passed the merit review." He said Petersburg has received a $10 million, 40 -year low interest loan from Ru- ral Development. The $ 3.9 million grant would mean Petersburg would only have to borrow $ 6 million instead of $10 million. "That is great if we get this money, it is just that much we don't have to borrow," said Klipsch. He said they had to make sure the grant was compatible with their low-interest loan. He also got in touch with Congressman Larry Bucshon's office, as well as talking to Senators Todd Young and Mike Braun's office, to get their support for the grant. Klipsch said Gehlhausen thought Peters- burg could hear as soon as by the end of the month about the grant. In other business, the council also ap- proved a resolution that allows the Board of Public Works to collect fees for Walnut Hills Cemetery. The City of Petersburg took over ownership and operation of the cemetery from the Odd Fellows at the beginning of the year. Klipsch also gave an update on the build- ings at 606 and 608 Main St. He said the in- terior has been painted and as the weath- er gets better, the exterior will be painted and that project will be complete. Councilman Gary Leavitt asked about the status of the former Val Fleig Law Of- fice on Ninth St. Mayor Klipsch said the Fleig building is going to be razed in June. He said the Mov- ie Gallery Building next door might also be razed at the same time. Klipsch said they are checking on the type of block used in the Fleig building. He said Pike County's Highway Department wants the block and concrete, which could City applying for $3.9 million grant toward new water plant construction Grants available for local businesses Faries killed after police respond to 911 call Local officials released the business grant application for existing businesses that are experiencing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pike County has $ 60,000 that is allocat- ed as grant funding for businesses in Pike County. "Our community was fortunate to be awarded the Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) funding from the Of- fice of Community and Rural A ffairs for the specific purpose of COVID-19 rapid relief funding," said Ashley Willis, executive di- rector of Pike County Economic Develop- ment Corp. "This is an opportunity to offer some re- lief to our businesses during this difficult time. We cannot lose sight of the impor- tance of our business community and we must do what we can to help. We are cur- rently taking steps to share resources and rebuild our existing businesses," said Wil- lis. Any business in the county is eligible to Eisenhauer daily walk Calvin, Lucy and Sallie Eisenhauer walk with their dog, Marshal, out to Hornady Park Monday evening, with dad, Blake, trailing behind. They said it is nearly a daily walk this Spring during the pandemic. By Andy Heuring A Pike County man died in a police shoot- ing Sunday afternoon after police respond- ed to a 911 call. Mike Faries, 69, of 7858 S. Meridian Road, Oakland City, which is in Pike Coun- ty, died of a gun shot after confronting po- lice. According to a probable cause affida- vit, Pike County Deputy Sheriff Paul Col- lier and Petersburg Police Cpl. Kyle Mills responded to the 911 call from Faries. In the call, according to the Indiana State Po- lice, Faries had requested police because "he and his wife were starving and some- one was shooting at them." According to affidavit, First Sgt. Trevor Helmer, who interviewed Faries' wife, Pau- la, said she told him Michael Faries had called 911 because she had been complain- ing about hearing noises at the residence. She said she met Deputy Collier and Cpl. Mills when they arrived at the Faries' res- idence. She said she asked them to not go into the house to talk with her husband. But Deputy Collier told her since her hus- band had made the 911 call, they had to speak to him. According to the affidavit, she said when Collier entered the living room, "she heard her husband yelling and Deputy Collier say 'let me see your hands' and then she heard shots fired." Pike County Sheriff Kent Johnson re- leased the following statement, "The Pike County Sheriff's Office has conducted an internal investigation to determine if policy and procedure were followed in the Officer involved shooting that took place on May 3, 2020. The Pike County Sheriff's Office be- lieves that our Deputy followed all policies and procedures, and acted in self-defense. The Indiana State Police will continue their investigation." Indiana State Trooper Hunter Manning, in the affidavit, said he heard a "shots fired" call and arrived at the Faries' residence at the same time as the ambulance, and went into the residence's living room area. He saw Faries laying on his back with "obvi- ous gunshot wound(s) to his chest." It also stated Cpl. Mills and Deputy Collier were administering CPR. In the affidavit, Trooper Manning said a black medium frame revolver was laying on a desk a few feet from Faries. Trooper Manning said when Mills was relieved from doing CPR, Manning asked if the shooting was officer involved and Mills said it was. The affidavit states, "It is well known among local law enforcement that Mr. Faries has had a series of complaints and calls referencing mental instability." Sheriff Johnson said records show police had been called to the Faries' residence five times in the 12 months prior to Sunday's call. In an April 21 incident report, it states that at about 11:30 p.m., Faries request- ed police because a "SWAT team is at his Rural Winslow man killed in head-on collision A rural Winslow man was killed Friday morning on Highway 64, when his pickup truck crossed over the centerline and hit a large box truck head-on. Anthony Woolsey, 33, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Pike County Cor- oner's Office. The Indiana State Police said their pre- liminary investigation showed Woolsey was driving his 1996 Ford pickup truck west- bound on SR 64, about a half mile west of Meridian Road, when for unknown reasons, he drove left of center and into the path of a 2018 Freightliner truck traveling east. Woolsey was trapped in the vehicle and was extricated by the Patoka Volunteer Fire De- partment. James Coffey, 47, who was driving the Freightliner, and his passenger, Jason Gor- don, 46, both from Louisville, Ky., were tak- en to Memorial Hospital in Jasper, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Highway 64 was closed for about four hours while the crash was investigat- ed. A news release from the Indiana State Police said the investigation continues and toxicology results are pending. It was investigated by Senior Trooper John Davis. He was assisted by Sgt. Kylen Compton, Trooper C. J. Boeckman and Trooper Jonathan Lukeman, as well as the Pike County and Gibson County Sheriff's Departments, and Oakland City Police. Commissioners begin reopening process By Andy Heuring Reopening at the county level has started. County Commissioners, on Monday morn- ing, voted 3-0 to have all the county employ- ees go back to a normal work schedule for one week. Then on Monday, May 11, they will open the courthouse to foot traffic, with limitations. The Commissioners' order had three parts: • Officeholders will set policy for their offices on how many people can be in their offices. (Most have said they will limit it to three people at one time). • The courthouse rotunda and hallways limit will be no more than 25 people at one time. • Officeholders will put Xs on the floor to mark positions more than six feet apart for patrons who are waiting. The Commissioners arrived at this after about 20 minutes of discussion. County Treasurer Marta Query said she wanted to have sneeze shields installed be- tween office employees and patrons. She also wanted a three-person limit at a time to be allowed into the Treasurer's Office. "Where are the people who are waiting going to be? " asked County Clerk Lana Griffith. "I guess they are going to be in the halls and the rotunda," said Query. See FERIES on page 4 Anthony Woolsey, 33, of Winslow was killed Friday morning in a head-on collision on Highway 64 near Meridian Road. Indiana State Police said Woolsey crossed the centerline and collided head-on with the large box truck. Woolsey was pronounced dead at the scene.