The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1333807
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 PIKE PUBLISHING VOLuMe 151, nuMBer 4 NEWS TIPS Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Email ����� editor@pressdispatch�net INSIDE Local ��������������A1-A12 Obituaries ���������������A5 History �������������������A6 Church �������������� A7-9 School ����������� A10-11 Sports �����������������B1-4 Opinion �������������B5-6 Classifieds ��������� B7-10 Legal Notices ����� B7-10 East Gibson���������� B10 Home Life �������� B11-12 USPS 604-34012 $1.00 24 PaGes TWO seCTIOns FOur InserTs PeTersBurG, In 47567-0068 Fair injured in crash A rural Winslow man was injured Monday night when he blacked out, ran off the road and hit a tree. Daniel Nathan Fair, 35, of 6952 E. CR 50 S., Winslow, was driving a Chevrolet 1500 pickup north on Cato-Winslow Road when he ap- parently blacked out, went left of center and ran into a yard at 193 W. Cato-Winslow Road. Pike County Deputy Sheriff Mike Willis, who investigated the accident, said Fair had a medical issue and blacked out. Once in the yard, the front left side of his truck slammed into a large tree with enough force to buckle the cab of the truck. The truck bounced off the tree and came to rest about 20 feet from the tree. Deputy Willis said Fair suffered arm and possible other injuries. He was taken by Pike County EMS to the hospital. It happened at about 7:30 p.m. Monday. By Andy Heuring COVID numbers in Pike Coun- ty and Indiana are continuing to head in the right direction, as is the positivity numbers. "We have 57 current active cas- es, our new cases are down and our positivity rate is falling. That is fantastic," said Pike County Health Nurse Amy Gladish. By the end of Tuesday, it is like- ly the number of people in Pike County who have been vaccinat- ed will be higher than the number of people who have tested positive for COVID. Tuesday morning, the number of COVID cases stood at 1,188, which is only 47 more than last Tuesday. The Indiana Vaccine Dash Board had Pike County at 1,147 people being vaccinated. However, Tuesday afternoon, Pike County's Health Department had two nurses giving vaccines for five hours straight, which should easi- ly top 41 new vaccinations needed to top the total number of cases. Gladish said anyone over the age of 70 can now register to get the vaccination. She said Pike County residents do not have to get a vaccine at the Pike County Health Department. When they go to ourshot.in.gov, they can click the option "soon- est available." This will search vaccination sites in nearby coun- ties and find open appointments, which require a person to travel outside Pike County. "We have several people getting the vaccine here who are not from Pike County and there are sever- al people from Pike County going elsewhere to be vaccinated," said Gladish. She said the state will issue a notice when 60 year olds will be el- igible to get the vaccine. "Hopeful- ly it is soon," said Gladish. In the near future, there may be other vaccination sites opening. Meijer in Evansville announced they will soon be giving vaccina- tions. Gladish said she doesn't know of any local plans, but the state has been talking about that hap- County COVID cases continue to decline Dollar General opening new store near Arthur Dollar General is building a new store in southern Pike County. A spokesman for Dollar General said it is slated to open in the next few weeks, depending on weather. The store will employ about six to 10 employees. It will be located at 990 E. State Road 64, Winslow, just east of the Muren Church of God. The building is nearly complete. A contractor said they will turn the building over to Dollar General on February 1, but it will be a few weeks before they are ready to open. A spokesman for Dollar General said, "Anyone interested in joining one of America's fastest-growing retailers with competitive wages and benefits, world-class training and development, and the ability to further their career through our growing organization may apply for available positions online at www.dol- largeneral.com/careers." It will be the third Dollar General Store in Pike County. A store has been in Petersburg for de- cades. A store across from Pike Central opened a little over five years ago. City opens paving bids, seeks paving suggestions OMA kindergarten round-up begins February 17 The Otwell Miller Academy will have kinder- garten round-up on February 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and then from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the school, located just off Highway 257 in Otwell, at 9958 E. CR 150 N., Otwell. To schedule an appointment, call 812-354-0800. Those participating are asked to bring a parent ID, student's birth certificate, student's social securi- ty card and valid immunization record. See COVID on page 2 See COUNCIL on page 12 Three special meetings of the Pike County School Board have been scheduled for Thursday night, an executive session, a special work session and a special meeting. A special meeting of the school board is set to start at 6 p.m. at the Corporation Office on High- way 356 near the soccer field. On the agenda for the school board meeting is patron concerns. Under old business is the school bus lease, which was tabled from the previous meeting. New business items are to recommend approval of advertisement of bids for timber and coronavirus guidelines. Under the topic of person- nel there are resignations/retirements/leave of absence and appointments/hirings, and profes- sional leave and a generic "other." It will be followed by a work session meeting re- viewing the plans for renovations at the Petersburg Elementary School front office and nurse's station. It will be at Petersburg Elementary School. The agenda items can be discussed at a work session, however, they cannot take a vote. Also, they are open to the public, but no comments are accepted. A special executive session is scheduled to fol- low at 7:30 p.m. back at the Corporation Office. The cited reason for the executive session is for discussion of the assessment, design and imple- mentation of school safety and security measures, plans and systems. Special meetings set for school board By Andy Heuring Petersburg opened bids for street paving and are advertising for bids on relocating a main wa- ter line along Highway 61, north of town. Petersburg Mayor R.C. Klipsch opened bids from two contractors to pave Eastwood, which is their 2020 -2 Community Crossroads grant. "This is basically the Eastwood neighborhood. We are trying to go with some small projects, but still get these grants," said Klipsch. "It is surprising how many streets we have done with these grants. A couple more of these (grants) and we will have about everything done." The two bids were Calcar at $59,797.22 and E&B Paving at $ 67,656.24. The council took the bids under advisement. Klipsch said they would have an engineer review the bids and award them at a later meeting. "Both of these companies have done work for us and they both do good work," said Klipsch. He asked the council to look around town and suggest other streets to include in their next grant application. He said Pike County contacted him and said they are going to submit Illinois St. in their next application. Klipsch said they learned Petersburg owns about 500 feet of Illinois St. The section from Highway 57 to the bridge. He said that and part of Sycamore St. were only estimated to cost about $55,000, so he wanted councilmen to suggest other streets to be included in their next grant application. Councilman Scott Jenkins said the centerline on Illinois St. was faint and hard to see. Klipsch said he talked with Pike County about that, and both Petersburg and Pike County are go- ing to include the cost of striping it in their grant application. Councilman Gary Leavitt suggested 18th St. He said it was a through street connecting Highway 57 and 356, and needed work. Klipsch agreed it was a good candidate. He also said Seventh St. needed work, but it is going to be involved in the Streetscape project, with new sidewalks and curbs, and he preferred to wait until after that project. In other business, Klipsch said the city adver- tised for bids on relocating a waterline along High- way 61, on the north side of town. He said time is gong to be critical and they would probably open the bids and award it in their February 15 meet- ing. He said they need to have it done and out of the way before INDOT starts their project of a complete rehab of Highway 61 north of Main St., out to the north edge of town. This project will include taking the highway down to the dirt and rebuilding it, and installing new curbs and side- walks along it as well. "We don't want to get in INDOT's way and hold up their project," said Klipsch. In other business, the council voted to approve Andrew Claridge as a new member of the Peters- burg Fire Department. They also approved Alex Smith, Wyatt Majors and Reagan Craig as new fire cadets. Klipsch told councilmen Petersburg received a $1,000 grant from the Community Foundation to help with putting up a new "Welcome to Peters- burg" sign on Highway 61, south of Petersburg, near Prides Creek Golf Course. Klipsch also told councilmen they may start see- ing new sewer customers when the sewer plant up- dates are completed. He said this will give them plenty of capacity to add new sewer customers from neighborhoods around the city. He said new