The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1322401
Inside Santa Letters inside M erry C hrist mas Wednesday, december 23, 2020 PIKE PUBLISHING VOLUme 150, nUmber 52 $1.00 40 PaGes six secTiOns Three inserTs PeTersbUrG, in 47567-0068 NEWS TIPS Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Email ����� editor@pressdispatch�net INSIDE Local ����������������� A1-8 Obituaries ���������������A6 With This Ring ��������A5 History ������������������� A7 Sports �����������������B1-6 School ��������������������B5 Church �������������� C1-3 Classifieds ���������� C4-6 East Gibson ������ C7-8 Home Life ������������D1-6 Opinion �������������D4-5 USPS 604-34012 By Andy Heuring County Commissioners accepted the low- est bid on supplies and materials for the 2021 year during their Monday morning meeting. They also approved a contract with Data Sys- tems Management for storing digitized coun- ty records. "I think we are going to approve the lowest responsive and responsible bid," said Com- missioner President Mark Flint about sup- ply and material bids for the Highway De- partment. He added, on the asphalt contracts, they would consider transportation costs. "We go pick it up. They don't deliver it to us," said Flint. County Attorney Val Fleig said to add the phrase, "A fter taking into consideration trans- portation costs." It was approved by a 3-0 vote. Pike County Commissioners voted to ap- prove a contract with Data Systems Manage- ment, Inc. to create a document management system that will allow Pike County to store previously scanned books and documents in- to a full text searchable archive, which will be implemented on the cloud. Pike County Auditor Judy Gumbel said her office has been working for the last six months to digitize the transfer and plat books from the beginning of Pike County to now. These books document who owns what prop- erty in Pike County. Gumbel said there is no back-up to these physical record books. "If there is an over- head flood or if anything else would happen to damage or destroy these records, we would not have records of things that have taken place since the beginning of time," said Gum- Commissioners accept bids for materials, approve digitization of records See RESIGN on page 2 See COVID on page 2 See RECORDS on page 2 See BLACK on page 2 By Andy Heuring Petersburg's finances had a solid year. Good enough that they were able to move $70,000 from vari- ous funds into the city's Rainy Day Fund. Petersburg Mayor R.C. Klipsch said despite it being a rough year, every fund the city has in its bud- get this year has increased its bal- ance from where it was last year. The one exception is the Motor Ve- hicle Fund. "That means we took in more than we spent," said Klipsch. Because they have positive bal- ances in their accounts, it allows them to move money from many of those accounts into the Rainy Day Fund. Mayor Klipsch said the Rainy Day Fund has a balance of $229,734.13 in it. So the council voted to have Clerk-Treasurer Tammy Selby move a total of $70,265.87 from different accounts to the Rainy Day Fund, which will give them a balance of $ 300,000. "I think at some point we will be glad to have that there," said Klipsch. "We have not made a transfer into that fund for a few years, so I want- ed to do that this year, anticipating the need in the future. I would like to be able to do this again the next few years if we can," said Klipsch. He said the Motor Vehicle High- way Fund is the only fund with less money in it than at the start of the year. Its revenue comes from gas taxes on each gallon of gas pur- chased in Indiana. Consequently, it was particularly hard hit by COVID as people stayed home. "The MVH fund is going to be a challenge," said Klipsch. The year has also been a big year for both the fire and police. Police Chief Chuck Baumgart said for the year they are going to be around 3,000 runs this year, which is up from 2,300 last year. Baumgart said this is despite the momentary pause in March and April, when COVID first started. "When COVID first started, we didn't get many runs at all. Maybe a run a shift. Then it took off like a wild fire," said Baumgart. City in black for 2020 By Andy Heuring Winslow Town Clerk-Treasurer Stacy McCandless turned in her res- ignation last week. "I just couldn't take the verbal abuse," said Mc- Candless. "That isn't what I put in my resignation letter, I'm just tell- ing the truth." Winslow Town Council member Debra Lamb said McCandless gave her resignation letter to Councilman Dick Brewster last Friday. It was her two-week notice. Lamb said that would be through the end of the year. McCandless was appointed Clerk-Treasurer in March of 2018. She was then elected in Novem- ber 2019 to a four-year term as Clerk-Treasurer. McCandless took criticism at the last Town Council meeting about the reduced hours Town Hall has been open and for closing the of- fice during the lunch hour. Lamb said the Town Council will appoint a new clerk-treasur- er. They are advertising for appli- cants on page C-4 in this issue of The Press-Dispatch. "We don't want to do it too quick- ly. We want to have some time to let people know about it, but we don't want to give it too much time. We are going to see what comes in and who applies," said Lamb. Below are the skill sets and qual- ifications the Town Council is seek- ing: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities • Exceptional customer service skills to deal with the general pub- lic and government partners. • Thorough knowledge of all state and federal election laws. • Ability to compile information and create reports in a timely and accurate manner. • Strong analytical skills re- quired. • Exceptional attention to detail and ability to create and edit docu- ments without errors. • Strong supervisory skills. • Knowledge of Microsoft office products ( Word, Excel, Outlook). Education and Experience • Degree from an accredited in- stitution in Business, Government Administration or related field; • Or have education, experience or other attributes that the Town Council views as comparable to the qualifications above. Special Requirements This position requires the follow- ing: Winslow Clerk-Treasurer resigns By Andy Heuring The Smith family has turned vol- unteering into a family activity this Christmas season. Brad and his wife, Anik, along with son, Leo, 17, son, Cash, 13, and daughter, Rosalie, 12, have been ringing bells for the Salvation Army each Saturday together this December. Anik said they first rang bells with their homeschooling group in Dubois County a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. The Smiths have lived in several places throughout the country. Brad is from the is ar- ea and Anik is from Quebec, Cana- da. Work and life took them around much of the country. "I always want- ed to get back close to home," said Brad. Earlier this month, they saw an ar- ticle in The Press-Dispatch about Sal- vation Army bell ringing chairman Cal Biddle needing help. "We thought it would be good to do it as a family," said Anik. So for the last three Saturdays, the Smiths have been outside the Dollar General Store ringing bells in the dark from 6 to 8 p.m. "It is a way for us to give back to the com- munity and to be able to do it togeth- er," said Brad. "It is just good to be able to give back and make people happy, and make a way for others to give," he added. Leo said his favorite part is "get- ting to see people's faces." He said most people are happy to see them there ringing bells. "I enjoy being here together as a family. We stand here and talk, and tell jokes and sometimes try to sing. There is a blessing in it for us. You are blessing other people as well by seeing smiles and giving them a chance to give," said Brad. "We are just glad to help a good cause," said Anik. Smith family rings bells each Saturday Anik, Cash, Leo, Brad and Rosalie ring bells together each Saturday night for the Salvation Army. They decided it would be a good activity for the family to do together and give back to the community. By Andy Heuring Vaccines have not reached Pike County yet. However, a handful of Pike County EMTs have gotten the vaccines for COVID-19. EMS Direc- tor Chris Young said a notice was sent out from the state to all eligi- ble EMTS to sign up and four or five have gotten the first round of the vaccine. Pike County Health Nurse Amy Gladish said, "We don't know ex- actly when we will be getting them. They are shooting for the week of Jan. 11. She said she didn't know how many vaccines they would be getting when they arrive. "I don't look for it to be a lot of vaccines, at least in the beginning." She said hospital workers, EMTs and long-term career workers are getting the first round of vaccines. In the meantime, Pike County re- mains in the red zone for COVID. Gladish said there has been some confusion about the state COVID map. When you first access the map, it shows Pike County as only level 2.5. But Gladish said that is for COVID vaccines could arrive by January 11 Bridge beams put in place Crews were out Tuesday morning setting three large concrete beams in place over the Patoka River on CR 650 E. The beams will form the new bridge that replaces a more than 100-year-old bridge known as the Iron Bridge at Survant that was a Pike County landmark. The historic bridge is being rehabilitated and moved to Petersburg on Cherry St., replacing the former Char- ger Bridge. It will be for foot traffic only.