The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1386251
SPORTS B-1 LOCAL A-5 Whopper of a fishing tourney KIDS' ACTIVITY & PUZZLE PAGE summer fun Wednesday, June 23, 2021 PIKE PUBLISHING VOLuMe 151, nuMBeR 25 NEWS TIPS Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Email ����� editor@pressdispatch�net INSIDE Local ���������������� A1-12 East Gibson������������A9 History ����������������� A10 Obituaries ������������� A11 Sports �����������������B1-2 Church ��������������B3-5 Opinion ������������� B6-7 Classifieds ���������� B8-9 Legals ����������������� B8-9 Home Life �������� B10-12 USPS 604-34012 $1.00 24 PaGes TWO seCTIOns ThRee InseRTs PeTeRsBuRG, In 47567-0068 By Andy Heuring A rural Petersburg man died of his inju- ries from an apparent hit-and-run accident last Wednesday evening. Owen Delmar Garretson, 92, of 5927 N. CR 500 E., Petersburg, was found at the side of CR 575 N., just north of CR 500 E. (Dutch- town Road), at about 8:10 p.m. on Wednes- day, June 16. Indiana State Police Det. Tobias Odom said Garretson was found near his mailbox, which is on CR 575 N. Det. Odom said he has spoken to family mem- bers and people taking care of Garretson. "They can account for him un- til 5:30 p.m. They don't know anything after 5:30 until about 8 p.m.," said Odom. He said police are in- terested in anyone with information about any vehicle traffic on CR 575 N. during the hours of 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 16. Odom said CR 575 N. is a rock road with on- ly three residences on it and limited traffic. "The person who did this needs to come forward. It is very unlikely the person who is responsible for this doesn't know it. Possible, but very unlikely," said Odom. Pike County Sheriff Kent Johnson said Gar- retson was still alive when he was found. First responders and EMS started CPR on him im- mediately upon arriving at the scene, but he died later. See his obituary on page A-11. Owen Garretson Kyle Mills Mills replaces Baumgart as Petersburg Chief of Police See VOUCHERS on page 2 See MILLS on page 2 Eagle Scout project Aiden Young (right) and Larry Haycraft (left) guide a new flag pole into position with the help of a city bucket truck on Monday, June 21. This was Young's Eagle project for his medal. See additional photos on page A-4. Matt Haycraft photo Garretson killed in hit-and-run accident Driver still at large By Andy Heuring Pike County's Spring and Fall free trash days are being revised due to COVID and new owners of the Blackfoot Landfill. The Pike County Waste Management District and Blackfoot have come up with a new year- ly voucher clean-up program. Beginning June 28, 2021, instead of setting a few days in the Fall and Spring when Pike County residents can drop off bulky items each year, the Waste Management District has developed a vouch- er program. Each household can pickup one voucher that can be used up to three times between now and May 2022. The vouchers can be picked up at the Pike County Courthouse from the offices of the Pike County Solid Waste District, Commis- sioners or the Treasurer. A proof of Pike County residency is re- quired, which will include a valid identifica- tion card with an address, plus a current util- ity bill or tax papers. Renters must provide a valid ID along with a current utility bill for the same address on their ID. Each household will get one voucher. The vouchers will be stamped on each visit to the landfill, with a limit of three visits per voucher. Voucher program to replace Spring, Fall Clean-Up Days By Andy Heuring A Wyoming man was found dead in his ve- hicle on I-69, just north of Highway 61 last Wednesday morning. Pike County Sheriff Kent Johnson said he was driving north on I-69 when he saw a vehicle pulled over with its hazard lights on near the 46 -mile marker. Johnson stopped to check on the vehicle and saw a man in the driver's seat. "His head was slumped a little, but not really in a position you would think he was sleeping," said Johnson. He then tried to wake him and couldn't. Johnson said the man felt cold to the touch and had no pulse. Sheriff Johnson said they identified the man as Robert Littler, 51, from Wyoming. Pike County Coroner Ray Brooks said the preliminary cause of death is cardiomyopathy. "The toxicology report is pending." Sheriff Johnson said they found a white pow- der on the console of his vehicle. The powder was determined to be ground-up Xanax bars. Johnson said it also appeared he had 'huffed' a can of keyboard duster. Wyoming man found dead in his vehicle on I-69 By Andy Heuring Ten-year veteran Petersburg Police Officer Kyle Mills has been named to replace current Police Chief Chuck Baumgart. Baumgart turned in his resignation as po- lice chief last Thursday with it to be effective on Friday, June 25. "I got an opportunity I can't turn down. I guess you would say I start my next adventure. I do it with a heavy heart. The City of Petersburg has been the best place I have ever worked. Mainly because the of peo- ple in Pike County and Petersburg support the police. It is a sad day for me," said Baumgart. Petersburg Mayor R.C. Klipsch made it offi- cial Monday night during the Petersburg City Council meeting. "I was surprised, as well as very disappoint- ed, when Chuck called me and wanted to have a meeting. When he told me he was resign- ing, it caught me completely off guard," said Mayor Klipsch. "It has been a pleasure to work with Chuck over the last six years while I have been may- or," added Klipsch on Baumgart's resignation. "Chuck came in at a time when the police department had problems, but with his back- ground from his time in Washington, D.C., he had the background and experience to han- dle it and get it turned around. He built a very good department. I have learned a lot from Chuck on how city government and law en- forcement work together." "I look forward to work- ing with Kyle. I have in- cluded him the last cou- ple of years on various boards and code enforce- ment. He has done an ex- cellent job and made big strides. I look forward to his administrative ability and same approach to po- lice work as Chuck had. I look forward to Kyle and what ideas he will bring to the department," said Klipsch. Baumgart said he has been in law enforce- By Andy Heuring A Spurgeon man was arrested on charges of child molesting, sexual intercourse or oth- er sexual conduct with a child under 14, and child molesting, fondling a child under 14. Both are level 3 felonies. Michael Lee Bolin, 43, of 11322 S. SR 61, Spurgeon, was arrested after police were called by the girl's mother. The woman said her son had found Bolin in her daughter's bed- room at about 2 a.m. The woman told police she couldn't sleep, and she got up and noticed Bolin was not on the couch in her living room, where he sleeps, so she looked for him in the basement and out- side but couldn't find him. She then sent her son downstairs to her daughter's room to see if her daughter was in her bed. She said her daughter has been known to run away, so she thought Bolin might have been looking for her. It was dark and when her son went in, he saw his sister without any clothes on and Bolin walking away from the bed. The son went upstairs and told his mother, and she called police. Pike County Deputy Jared Simmons, as well as Petersburg Officer Bryce Manning and State Trooper Stu Sanders, went to the residence. The mother said her daughter told her Bolin had been having sex with her for about a month and half when the mother went to bed. The mother said she knew Bolin and his family, and he had been going through a rough time and needed income, so she hired him to babysit her kids. Police interviewed the girl and she told them a similar story. According to a proba- ble cause affidavit, Bolin told the girl she was pregnant and "needed to kill the baby." When asked how that was going to happen, she said he told her to hit herself in the abdomen. According to Simmons' report, the girl said Bolin told her if she told anyone about it "she would end up in a mental clinic." Deputy Simmons, in the probable cause, said Bolin was taken to the Pike County Sher- iff's Department for an interview. A fter po- lice read him his rights, Bolin said he want- ed to retain legal counsel and refused to an- swer any questions. Spurgeon man charged with child molesting Highway 61 being rebuilt The rebuilding of Highway 61, from Main St. north to the White River, has begun. Crews have been milling the road and grinding up all the blacktop, while excavating crews are digging up along the side of the road base. The project includes new sidewalks as well. The first phase, from Main St. to Seventh St., is expected to last until mid-October 2021. Phase II, from Seventh St. to Harvest Lane, is expected to last from mid-Oct. 2021 to July 2022.