The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1322401
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, December 23, 2020 C-7 EAST GIBSON Submit East Gibson news items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: egnews@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Francisco Elem. Oakland City Elementary Barton Township Elementary Francisco Elementary had a surprise visit from Santa on Thursday. He visited each classroom and checked on the students while practicing good social distancing. Oakland City Elementary recently recognized their November and December Students of the Month. Pictured are front row, (l to r): Kyrra Lumagui and Declon Basham; second row: Nora Criss, Kianna Wil- liams, Raymond Noe, Londyn Armes and Layla Norrick; back row: Ali VanMeter, Anastyn Wilkerson, Wyatt Rowe, Taylor Heeman, Adalynn Luebke and Jaevin McGillem. Not pictured is Brayden Cashin. Barton Township Elementary hosted their spelling bee Friday. The spelling bee was hosted by fifth grade teacher Karen Miller and sixth grade teacher Susan Smith. Participants were, front row (l to r): Kaigan Nossett, Ireland Tkacz, Christian Tkacz, third place Richard Gil- lihan, Anna Ireland and Kehlund Doerner; back row: Savannah Craney, Josie Warner, Presley Heichelbech, Alexis Sandifar, Brylee Brogan, second place Jesse Willis, first place Kinley Stoffel and Carly Schoonover. Council approves courthouse security project By Janice Barniak Gibson County Council, on Dec. 15, approved $ 605,000 to improve courthouse secu- rity, a cost that will include improvements on the south side of the courthouse, a gen- erator that can support the increased energy needed to support the system and in- creased electronic monitor- ing, According to Judge Rob Krieg, recent incidents have shown a need for the secu- rity. "It seems to be the world is not getting any safer," he said. Judge Jeff Meade added that while the project won't necessarily change the struc- ture significantly, one of the biggest improvements will be the technology that will allow the monitoring. The design also requires two merit deputies to run the security, and a backup gen- erator. "( Judge) Rob (Krieg) and I are really getting pressure from State Supreme Court to get it done," Meade said. Emergency Manage- ment Agency Director Ter- ry Hedges said COVID-re- lated grants may help fund the project. The council moved to ac- cept bids on the project with the aim to move for- ward in January with a cap of $ 605,000 as the total cost, though that won't include the cost of two deputies. Council approves solar project abatement By Janice Barniak Gibson County Council, in their regular monthly meet- ing on Dec. 15, approved the abatement of a solar project, including a five-year 100 per- cent abatement, and a $1 mil- lion economic development payment. The project, since its pro- posal, has increased in size and potential, causing the economic development pay- ment to swell to $1 million. "They've been thorough and accommodating," said Councilman Jeremy Over- ton. "I think the economic development payment at $1 million can be used for a lot of things." Councilman Craig Pflug was also in favor. "They are offering funds the county hasn't had in the past. It is money paid back to the county. It could be used for broadband internet or the pandemic if federal funds didn't come through," he said. County resident Larry Mi- chel asked the council to com- pare the number of jobs add- ed to the tax loss incurred giving abatements. "I think abatements are getting abused. I don't think there's an advantage to the county," he said. He added people are struggling and he doesn't see it as necessary. County attorney Jim Mc- Donald asked him to con- sider the number of farmers who have elected to sign leas- es and the way it will support their farm. "It's not just money coming to the county, it's money com- ing to the residents," McDon- ald said. County Commissioners, in a meeting later that day, also approved the memorandum of understanding with the company. Oakland City man charged after shooting Indiana State Police arrest- ed Colin J. Cooper, 19, of Oak- land City, in connection with a homicide that occurred at 430 S. Walnut Street in Oak- land City. According to the probable cause filed Monday, Cooper is charged with intentionally killing while acting under sud- den heat, which under Indiana code, would be voluntary man- slaughter, a level two felony. On Dec. 19 at approximately 5:12 p.m., Gibson County Dis- patch received a 911 call re- porting a shooting with an in- jury at 430 S. Walnut St. When officers arrived at the residence, they discov- ered Calvin L. Cooper, 44, the father of Colin, had been shot. Officers attempted to re- vive Cooper by administering CPR and deploying an AED, but he succumbed to his inju- ry and was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the report by ISP's Trooper Weston Kuyken- dall, he was called to the scene before the fa- ther, who was gravely injured, had been pro- nounced dead. He had been shot once with a shotgun, al- legedly by his son. Heaven Gibson, 19, who lives with the accused, said Colin had gone to his father's house to help him move furni- ture, as he works off rent rath- er than paying for the mobile home she and the son live in. She said she was warned by Colin not to go to his father's house as he'd been drinking, and during a prior incident under the influence, he'd at- tempted to be physically af- fectionate with her, resulting in hurting her shoulder. The father came to the door, and, according to Gibson, was taunting the son and attempt- ing to provoke him with name calling. She said turned away and when she turned back, she saw the accused shoot his fa- ther once, then throw down the gun and begin apologizing. He continued apologizing in the bathroom as he called the police. A second witness, Heath- er Wilson, told ISP detectives the father was "severely intox- icated" and had been drinking since late the day before, both beer and liquor, which was fre- quent in the winter when his excavating business was slow, and also because his mother had died near Christmas. When she heard the father leave, she assumed he was "sneaking off to the liquor store," but when she looked outside, she saw he was head- ed to his son's home, and she attempted to stop him. She witnessed the alterca- tion, and called the father ver- bally and physically abusive, saying the father shoved the son. A fter the shot, she attempt- ed to stop the bleeding, she told police. In talking to the son, ISP's interview said the son was so- ber, and during the day, the father had asked about hav- ing the son's girlfriend come over, and the son responded he didn't want her to, which made the father angry, and the father continued pushing the issue. He said the issue contin- ued as the source of the argu- ment when the father came to the door. They were in a fight, the son said he was on the ground with his father's hand grabbing his leg, when he grabbed the shot- gun and fired. When asked why he didn't further retreat and call the po- lice, the son said he'd been in- jured in fights with his father in the past. This is an ongoing investi- gation. Colin J. Cooper Even better in person Leslie Yarbor Lashbrook belts out "Oh Holy Night" at a social- ly-distanced Christmas concert on the square Saturday, hosted by the Lloyd family, of Francisco, through their Gibson Coun- ty News and Talk Face- book page. See additional photos on B-8.