The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1351690
B-6 Wednesday, March 17, 2021 The Press-Dispatch 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 Council approves $950K for public defender's office By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Gibson County Council approved up to $ 950,000 to begin bidding and eventual construction on a pub- lic defender's office and pre-trial services building after deciding it would not also house EMS. The council considered an op- tion that would include renovat- ing a building the county currently owns, but Dave Stallings, of Land- mark, said that looking at the re- model options, there were a lot of unknowns and potential issues com- pared for the cost savings. The remodel would run approxi- mately $720,000, but walls are lean- ing and he's unsure whether they'll run into issues with the existing ar- chitecture, compared to building new for an estimated $ 907,000. "Renovating an old building is a challenge. We've looked at it pretty hard core. There are still things that come up to bite you," Stallings said. "Leaning walls and things, I think yeah, we can do it...but it's just an old building." He said building materials are currently high. "Steel prices are five times what they were, right now," he said, and added there were higher wood pric- es. Normally when he pulls data about building, he can look at recent costs and estimate, but this time, he went to two area contractors to try to get a better sense of prices, and he's told them things are changing quickly. Of the three options, judges Rob Krieg and Jeff Meade prefer the design of the new building with no EMS attached. The motion made by Councilman Derek McGraw in- cluded higher than the estimated $ 907,000 to allow for contingency/ high building materials, landing on a not-to-exceed amount of $ 950,000. The cumulative building fund has $2.93 million at the moment, but will also bear costs of upgrad- ing the security at the courthouse. The county may be reimbursed 40 percent of the amount for the public defender's office, which will be 28 percent of the total square footage, and could save approxi- mately $100,000 if the state decides to award the public defender's office that amount. The motion passed with approv- al of all councilmen, with the ex- ception of Bill McConnell, who lat- er told the Star-Times, he hadn't wanted to impede the progress of the building, but had wanted to protect the building funds, and the costs were higher than he thought they'd be at the outset of the project. "Progress, Judge," said Council- man Craig Pflug to Judge Meade. "Progress," agreed Meade. Gibson County Council approves Surveyor intern with caveats By Janice Barniak Gibson County Surveyor Scott Martin requested to hire an engi- neering intern for the summer at $15 an hour, but was denied, and asked to hire at $10 instead. According to Martin, he hires col- lege students in civil engineering or surveying, but he's competing with engineering firms for those students, and those firms have more attractive offers for students financially. "This is a very, very important part-time position in our office," he said. While a councilman motioned for a $15 an hour position, the motion died for a lack of second. "County workers didn't get a raise this year," said Councilman Jay Riley, adding he didn't feel right improv- ing the offer to a temporary worker, when full-time workers had accept- ed cuts. Some members of the EMS, sheriff's office and in the courthouse are making $10 an hour. The council approved hiring an intern at $10 an hour unanimously, with the exception of Bill McConnell, who abstained every motion but the minutes at Tuesday's meeting, and followed the meeting with his con- cerns about the county's finances be- ing significantly less due to local lay- offs in the coal industry, among oth- er factors. Two arrested in robbery, shooting Two teens were arrested after a robbery led to a shooting March 10 in Princeton. According to the probable cause affidavits, police confirmed through gas station surveillance video that Isaiah Jones, 18, ap- proached Malachi Billings, 18, at the Fast Tracks on Broadway in Princeton, where he was pumping gas with his wallet on the back of the vehicle. Police say Jones was followed from the car by Addison Apodaca, who told them she tried to talk him out of approaching Billings. Jones fought Billings and took the wallet, which had $ 900 in cash, then he and Apodaca retreated back to a car driven by Jayden New- ton, who then drove them from the scene. Jones was allegedly bragging about the robbery both in person and to his Snapchat story, where he posted a photo of the money spread out. Later that night, Princeton Po- lice responded to a shooting on Spruce Street, where Jones had been shot in the head and the ribs. Witnesses told police Jones had come to the Spruce Street address from the robbery, and Billings had followed with two juveniles. Bill- ings and Jones both allegedly had weapons. Billings then fought with Jones, and struck him with a .22 caliber gun, which went off and stopped the fight momentarily, witnesses told police. Newton and Jones began to leave in his car, when Billings, according to the probable cause, shot through the back window, hitting Jones in the chest. According to the probable cause signed by Captain Mike Hurt, Bill- ings told police he intentionally shot Jones the second time, that he could have gotten away with- out shooting him, and had no re- morse for shooting him. Billings is charged with attempt- ed murder. Jones is charged with felony rob- bery. Billings currently stands ac- cused in another case of two counts of battery and a count of criminal mischief related to an attempted shooting April 20, 2020, at South- side Park in Princeton, where he is accused of battery related to spit- ting, slapping and knocking the glasses off juveniles at the park, one of whom shot at Billings while running from the altercation. County at yellow advisory after corona hits jail By Janice Barniak Gibson County rose from blue level, the lowest positivity rate, to advisory level yellow this week in a move the Indiana State Dept. of Health website flagged as due to "congregate settings" after an out- break at the Gibson County Jail, but according to the local health de- partment, the vaccines are work- ing. Cases dropped from more than 400 in January to 85 in February, Judy Adams told the County Coun- cil last week on behalf of the health department. While 45 cases were reported recently after an outbreak at the county jail, overall, deaths and cas- es are down. In Gibson County, 6,983 first doses of vaccine were given as of Monday, and Adams said the health department appreciates volunteers from the county government, in- cluding the auditor's office and the commissioners' administrator Kay Vore, who have stepped up to offer volunteer support after their reg- ular shifts end to assist the health department's efforts at the Gibson County Fairgrounds. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE? •Anyone 50 or older •Healthcare workers who have face-to-face interactions with patients or infectious ma- terial •First responders and cor- rections officers who are called to the scene to provide emer- gency medical aid •Educators, including pre- K through 12th grade teach- ers, licensed childcare provid- ers, bus drivers, school main- tenance workers, bus drivers, counselors, administration and substitute teachers. To sign up, go to https://vac- cine.coronavirus.in.gov/. Gibson County Redevelopment approves easement By Janice Barniak Gibson County Redevelopment Authority, on Friday, authorized an easement to Gibson Water to cre- ate a hydrant off Tulip Tree Drive in support of Lot 4 improvements and for water trucks to fill. Utility Manager Steve Perkins said the company could almost do the work with the current ease- ment, but that it wouldn't leave enough room for the trucks to fill. The property is on CR 525 South and along U.S. 41, north of the wa- ter tower, by Toyota Motor Manu- facturing of Indiana. The hydrant would provide water for lyme stabi- lization and for contractors to buy water from the company. "We don't want anyone to dig a lake or pond or put a building on top of it." There's no cost, as Toyo- ta maintains that property, except along their access where Gibson Water maintains it. "I don't see any reason why not," said board member Tom Memmer. Toyota will donate Sienna minivan for vet transport According to Veteran Service Officer George Pickersgill, Toyota Motor Manufacturing will provide a grant to replace a troubled vet trans- port vehicle with a minivan in honor of their 25th anniversary this month. Some money above the cost of the van will also go to support county veteran projects. County Council approved accept- ing the donation, which will be final- ized by the end of the month. Local couple holds man at gunpoint during hotel altercation By Janice Barniak A weekend trip through Kansas City ended in the rescue of a domes- tic violence victim for locals Jeff and Lynn Minnis, who stepped in after hearing a late-night call for help. The Minnises were on the way back from Columbia, Mo., and al- most didn't come back through Kan- sas City, except that they decided they wanted another taste of the fa- mous barbecue. "It was a total, random, spur-of- the-moment thing," said Lynn. They stopped for the night at the Coun- try Inn and Suites by Radisson when Lynn heard something. "I had just fallen asleep, and I heard someone yelling 'Help me, he's going to hurt me.' At first I thought it was kids playing around. Then I heard it again. I opened the door to the hall, and kept hearing her, screaming. I woke Jeff up and said, 'we need to find out what's go- ing on.'" Lynn dashed out the door with her cell phone. Jeff was still waking. "I couldn't keep up with her, it was like 'holy crap, she's gone.' I just grabbed my gun and took off," he said. Jeff is a former sheriff's deputy and has a permit to carry a gun. The voice was coming from the men's room off the lobby. "Lynn starts beating on the door, and yelling to let the girl out," said Jeff. When the restroom door is opened, Jeff and another concerned bystander went in, weapons drawn and notice the man has a gun on the floor. Jeff used what he calls his com- mand voice, yelling at the man for several minutes to come out and stay away from the gun. Days later, he's still hoarse. They pulled they woman out and Jeff held the man at gunpoint as they waited 25 minutes for police to ar- rive. "He tried to put his hands in his pocket. I said that's not going to go well for you," Jeff remembered. "I usually have a gun on me, and now, I will never leave home without one. You just never know." While Lynn has a concealed car- ry permit, she didn't remember her gun when leaving the room. What she does remember is the screams of the woman. "My daughter is a survivor of do- mestic violence. I just had her in my head," Lynn said. "She was a wild banshee at the door," Jeff said of his wife. "It's not about us. I'm not a hero. She's not a hero." As a former sheriff's office mem- ber, he said he saw a lot of domestic violence, and many times from re- peat offenders. "It's tough to break the cycle," he said. Lynn hopes that for this woman, it will be a new start. When they left, the woman said that while the man was in jail, she would move back to where she was from without him. Lynn is a strong supporter of high-security centers like the Julian Center in Indianapolis, where wom- en can stay and receive help relocat- ing to safe places, away from exes. "She could have been beaten to a pulp. I didn't think twice about it," Jeff said of drawing his weapon. "I can honestly say I wasn't scared at the time. We would both do it again in a second." His wife agreed. "I wouldn't think twice," said Lynn. Name: Colton Ledbetter, NRP, FP-C, CCP-C, PI How long have you been in EMS and how long with Gibson County ambulance? 13 years in EMS and nine years with Gibson. What got you into emergency medical ser- vices? Job shadowing here in high school. Which is your favorite, the lights or the si- rens? The lights. Sirens are annoying after 13 years. What is your favorite food while working 24-hour shifts? Grippos. Do you have a big family? Wife and two kids, a 6 -year-old and a 1-year-old. What is your favorite season? Fall. What do you consider your biggest accom- plishment in life? Getting married and having kids, and passing the CCP-C and FP-C. What is one song you know every word to? Six...All That Remains. What is your favorite quote? Numbing the pain for awhile will make it worse when you finally feel it. Where did you go to school? Tecumseh High School and Ivy Tech. What country would you love to visit? Italy. If you could have dinner with anyone in his- tory, who would it be and why? My grandpa. He died when I was 12 and I would love to talk to him today. If you could have one song play every time you entered a room, what would it be? Ladies and Gentleman by Saliva. What are you most grateful for? My wife and kids. What did you wish to become as a kid? Po- lice officer. What is the most courageous thing you have done in your opinion? Agreeing to have children! It's been a crazy trip so far. Colton Ledbetter Profiles in EMS