The Press-Dispatch
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A-4 Wednesday, May 13, 2020 The Press-Dispatch LOCAL Call: 812-354-8500 Email: news@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Continued from page 1 WINSLOW Continued from page 1 COVID-19 READER GUIDE Subscriptions: Change of address: subscribers changing addresses will please give old address as well as new one along with phone number. We cannot guarantee prompt change unless this is done. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Press-Dispatch., P.O. Box 68, Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 or e-mail to subscribe@ pressdispatch.net. Subscription rates: One year: $31 for Pike County and all 475/476 zip codes; $34 in the state of Indiana; $51 elsewhere in the USA. Paid in advance. Subscriptions taken after noon on Friday will not receive a paper until the second edition after their subscription date. About us: Andy Heuring and John B. Heuring, Publishers Andy Heuring, Editor John B. Heuring, Adv. Mgr. Eric Gogel, Production Mgr. Monica Sinclair, Office Mgr. Cindy Petty, Adv. Sales Pam Lemond, Adv. Sales Kate Jones, Adv. Designer • • • Published every Wednesday by the Pike County Publishing Co. Phone: 812-354-8500 820 E. Poplar St., P.O. Box 68, Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 • • • Entered in the Post Office in Petersburg, Indiana for transmission through the mails as Periodical Mail, postage paid at Petersburg, Indiana – published weekly. (USPS 205-620) Contact us: Phone: ...................................................................812-354-8500 Fax: ....................................................................... 812-354-2014 E-mail: Andy Heuring, Editor editor@pressdispatch.net Advertising ads@pressdispatch.net General News news@pressdispatch.net Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Subscription Services subscribe@pressdispatch.net NEWS BRIEFS Winslow flushing hydrants May 21 and 22 The Town of Winslow will be flushing fire hydrants on May 21 and 22. Often, this causes water to be dis- colored. They recommend not washing light-colored clothes on those days. Despite the coloration due to sediment being washed out of the lines, officials say the water is safe. United Way of Pike County assisted local organizations through COVID-19 Relief Fund The United Way of Pike County was able to give out a total of $7,347, to not-for-profit agencies/organizations that serve Pike County. The funds will go to assist with the help of basic needs during the current pandemic. The COVID-19 Relief Fund is funded through grants from the Trust Foundation, Pike County Community Foundation, Shelter Insurance-Sarah McCracken, and many personal donors. The UW of Pike County is still taking any donations towards the Relief Fund. Organizations serving Pike County can still apply for relief funds. Mail any do- nations to: UW of Pike County, P.O. Box 321, Peters- burg, IN 47567. Contact Krista Robinette with the UW of Pike County at 812-582-9781 with any questions or to receive a Relief Fund application. Oakland City-Columbia Township library offering limited document service The Oakland City–Columbia Township Public Li- brary is offering limited document services for time- sensitive and emergency documents at this time. Uti- lizing a mobile print service, patrons can send docu- ments to the library and arrange for a no-contact deliv- ery of documents. Library director Julie Elmore states, "we recognize that many essential benefits needed right now require documents to be printed and/or faxed and patrons rely on us for those services." The library also has one computer set up for unem- ployment filing only. Patrons wishing to access any of these services should call the library at 812-749 -3559 for an appointment time. Pike Co. Library to host blood drive June 26 Pike County Public Library will host a community blood drive with the American Red Cross on June 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Petersburg Branch Library. For more info. or to make an appointment to donate, call 812-354-6257 or sign up online at redcrossblood.org. Time to register for Birthday Club If you haven't submitted your birthday within the last 6 months, please register again at www.pressdis- patch.net/birthday. Entrants have a chance to win monthly prizes from local businesses and a three- month subscription to The Press-Dispatch. 201 S. 7th St., Petersburg • Memorial Day flowers/grave saddles • Flowers for ALL Occasions CALL 812-354-8793 to place your order and make arrangements for pick-up Memorial Day is Monday, May 25 Karan Thacker, AFSP Owner 704 E. Haub Street Haubstadt, IN 47639 THACKER TAX SERVICE 512 S. 8th Avenue Haubstadt, IN 47639 812-615-0071 (office) 812-789-3852 (cell) kthacker01@gmail.com Adam Scales (812) 354-8488 adam.scales@infarmbureau.com NORRICK CELEBRATES 91ST BIRTHDAY WITH CARD SHOWER Doris May Culver Nor- rick, formerly of Pike Coun- ty, will be turning 91 on May 19. Cards may be sent to her at Park Terrace, Apt C2, 1200 W. Morton, Oak- land City, IN 47660. Birthdays 8–7 • Monday 8–noon • Tuesday 10–7 • Wednesday 8–5 • Thur. & Fri. Dr. Clint Shoultz 715 S. 9th St., Petersburg 812-354-9400 The Shoultz Eye Care office in now open for routine care and exams! We are following new guidelines set by the Governor's office and Indiana Optometric Association by limiting the number of patients seen to limit patient interaction and to properly sanitize between them. Patients will be required to wear masks into the office. Please bring your own mask or bandana due to limited availability of PPE. Call 812-354-9400 to schedule your appointment! Locally Owned and Operated NOW OPEN FOR ROUTINE EXAMS pt. has a list of "about $5,000 worth of items that aren't required, but would make their lives better." Brewster said if they had a purchase order system in place, they would be able to keep track of items needed and items purchased. Brewster asked if the $200 limit was town-wide or limited to the street de- partment. Popp said he didn't think many office items would cost more than $200. Brewster said he wants the street department to have items in their invento- ry so they do repairs when they break. "We we had the water line break we had to go to Petersburg and bor- row the part to fix it," said Brewster. Popp said he has told the street department to get a kit put together to fix a six- inch water line, so in the future that won't happen again. "What you have is a built- in alibi. When I go to talk with them they tell me, 'We don't have any money.' We have given them a built-in excuse to sit on their butts," said Brewster. Popp said he would leave the task up to Brewster to talk with the Street Depart- ment, to get an inventory list of tools. "They are pretty good workers, they just aren't too good at supervising when it comes to planning ahead. I'm not saying this mali- ciously. I'm just saying that is the way it is. . . I don't want to hear that 'we don't have any money stuff' anymore," said Brewster. "The problem is we don't have tools they need. They just walked away. We don't have an asset list. If we had an inventory list and some- thing broke we would know where we are. For instance, do we know the backhoe is working? I would like to have that information. That would tie into that purchase order request," said Popp. "Essentially they need to fine-tune their management skills," said Lamb. "I would like for us (coun- cilmen) to meet with them, have an administrative ses- sion with just one depart- ment at a time. Ask them what do they need to get this ball rolling? I have some stuff for each department. Say show us what is going on. What do we need to do to help you do your job? " said Popp. "We need to have better communication with our em- ployees," said Lamb. Brewster said he liked that idea. Brewster then moved to the police department. "You have a bunch of thugs terror- izing people in this town. We have two cops who aren't here," said Brewster. Popp said he would like to give Deputy Town Mar- shal Mike McGregor more hours. Popp said McGregor is writing a grant application to get 75 percent of the cost of a new police vehicle. "Until we get the law thing settled, I'm not in favor of giving them a &% #* thing," said Brewster. He added, They need to be talked to. They need to be told to get their game plan." "I'm in favor of that," said Popp. He added, "The tax- payers are paying for a ser- vice, and what are the get- ting for it? If they aren't do- ing what needs to be done then we need to fix it." "We have the same issue with a pick-up truck whip- ping around on Lafayette St.," said Popp. "We are going to get a kid run over," said Brewster. Later in the meeting, Lamb said she wanted to add another stop sign to the two they requested be installed last year. Neither of the two stop signs were installed. But she said she wanted them to be put in place. Those lo- cations are on Lafayette St. at the intersection of East St. on Union St. at Oak St. and on North St. at East St. Clerk Treasurer Stacy McCandless said she didn't think putting up stop signs would do any good. She said recently she was driv- ing down Main St. and a car was parked in front of a two-hour parking only sign, and the car had been there overnight. Another car was parked in front of a no park- ing sign and had been there for a long period of time. "If we install a speed lim- it sign or a stop sign, why would they do any different for these signs? " said Mc- Candless. "They aren't going to stop if there is no sign there," said Lamb. She said she is getting complaints about speeding in these areas. "They aren't going to stop without the sign. I know you (McCand- less) are right (about peo- ple not paying attention to the signs) but we have to at- tempt to get people to stop. Lamb also said Porter St. between the House of Mer- cy Church and Winslow El- ementary School used to be one way, but the sign had been removed. She asked for it to be re- installed. Popp said he would get a work order sent to the street department to have it done. Lamb said last year they voted to install the stop signs but they hadn't been installed yet. In other business, council- men voted to give town em- ployees a two percent raise, except elected officials and temporary help. Popp also said he want- ed to have new water meter sales representatives talk with Winslow about various options. He said Winslow is losing about $7,000 a year in revenue because the me- ters are nearly 25 years old. He said there is a chart that shows as water meters get older they start to meter less water than is actually being used. He said it increases drastically after 30 years. Council also voted to ap- prove hours for Town Hall through the pandemic. Clerk Treasurer McCand- less developed the plan. It calls for Town Hall to be open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thurs- days and from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday from May 11 to May 22 for drive-through only in stage 2 of the Governor's order. In Stage 3 from May 22 to June 13 they will add Tues- days the same hours and be open for appointment only in 30 -minute intervals. In Stage 4 the drive- through hours will stay the same, but the office will be open on Tuesdays 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. and Fri- days 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m. On July 5 it will return to normal hours. The next Winslow meet- ing is scheduled for Monday, June 8. of our community to do their part." She added, the Pike Coun- ty Health Department is working closely with lo- cal and state officials to en- sure that contacts of the pa- tient are identified and mon- itored and that all infection control protocols are being followed. Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through: • Respiratory droplets re- leased into the air by cough- ing and sneezing. • Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands. • Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before wash- ing your hands. • Rarely, fecal contami- nation. The best way to protect yourself from any respira- tory illness, including the flu is to: • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and wa- ter are not available, use and alcohol based sanitizer. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. • Avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with people who are sick. • Stay home when you are sick. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw tissue in the trash and wash your hands. • Clean and disinfect fre- quently touched objects and surfaces. Governor Holcomb's daily updates have been cut back to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays unless there is something urgent. A highlight of the Mon- day update was urging peo- ple to continue to get their children's vaccinations. While the number of pos- itive tests continue to rise, Gov. Holcomb and Dr. Box attribute that to the drastic increase in testing. Twenty new testing centers around the state have opened. The number of new cas- es in Indiana on May 11 was 555. It was up from the pre- vious Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, when there were 389 and 467 cases. Typ- ically, the positive tests are lower on weekends. The three highest days for new cases has been 951 in April 26, 797 on April 30 and 841 cases on May 5. There were 15 new re- ported deaths on May 11, that was down from 21 on May 10. The three days with the highest reported deaths was on April 21 and 22 when 47 deaths were reported each day. There were 45 deaths reported on both April 14 and April 30. Gov. Holcomb and Dr. Box said while the number of new cases are going up, other indicators, such as hospitalizations, the num- ber of ICU beds available and ventilators in use, are declining. As of May 11 in Indiana, 44.6 percent of the ICU beds were still avail- able, with only 17.3 percent being used for COVID-19 pa- tients. There were 81.1 per- cent of the ventilators avail- able, with only 6.9 percent of them being used by CO- VID-19 patients. PUZZLED ABOUT WHAT TO READ? ..and you will have your solution. subscribe to 812-354-8500