The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1392557
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, July 14, 2021 B-5 of her fears of a crime surge is linked to 'rac- ism.' Speaking up for law and order is now linked to racism. They now labeled peo- ple who see no other choice than to move away from unrestrained crime and civil unrest as bigoted. Some urban communities are para- lyzed to act because the lawless intimi- date them with slogans such as, "snitch- es get stitches." It is a terrorizing tac- tic used by criminals to discourage resi- dents in the community from cooperating with the police. If people will not coop- erate with the police to help purge their community of hoodlums and lawless peo- ple, then violence will prevail, and more mothers will cry. Thieves are mocking the rule of law in California. California is experiencing a surge in shoplifting and theft, because it will not prosecute thefts under $ 950. Someone posted a video showing a thief in a San Francisco Walgreens balanced on his bike as he filled his black garbage bag with merchandise. When his bag was full, he then coasted past the store's guard, out the door, undisturbed. America was founded on Christian val- ues and beliefs, yet we are witnessing a deliberate turning away from God toward immorality and godlessness. Our feder- al government, which is constitutionally charged with keeping law and order and protecting our God-given-rights, stands silent, often giving support to the godless and persecuting the righteous. The prophet Jeremiah lived during similar times in ancient Israel. The king, his officials and most religious leaders had turned away from the God of Isra- el and fabricated their own gods. Jere- miah said, "That a nation has traded in its gods for gods that aren't even close to gods? But my people have traded my Glo- ry for empty god-dreams and silly god- schemes," Jer 2:11. It appears our country is following the same downward spiral. We need strong Godly leadership and a clear voice to stem the tide of violence and evil. Instead of speaking out and against the rise in lawlessness, some governmental officials publicly encouraged more mayhem and lawlessness. Fear was dominant throughout the Roman empire. When Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, he was writing to encourage Christians not to lose hope. Many people throughout the empire had succumbed to hopelessness. Paul wrote, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith, 2Th 3:1-2." Believe it or not more guns are not the solution as violence begets violence or as Jesus put it, "Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords, Mt 26:52." Prayer is the only solution to arrest sin and to be safe. There is no shortage of un- reasonable and wicked people roaming the streets of America and nefarious gov- ernment officials who sit on their hands and remain reticent. Paul says to pray for deliverance. I would add to his words, say no to "defunding of the police" and pray harder. Court Report FELONY Pike County Circuit Court Gabriella Gaeta charged with operat- ing a motor vehicle after forfeiture of li- cense for life, a level 5 felony. Stephanie Blanchette charged with count I neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, a level 5 felony, and count II neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony. Jacob J. Braunecker charged with count I neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, a level 5 felony, and count II neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony. Jason Martin charged with count I ob- struction of justice, a level 6 felony, count II false informing and count III reckless driving. James J. Tapp charged with count I maintaining a common nuisance - con- trolled substances, a level 6 felony, count II possession of marijuana and count III possession of paraphernalia. Sheila M. Cash charged with count I residential entry breaking and entering, a level 6 felony, count II possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony, and count III possession of paraphernalia. TRAFFIC AND MISDEMEANORS Pike County Circuit Court Jeffrey Wayne Koontz charged with op- erating a vehicle while intoxicated. Damien R. Meinhart charged with in- vasion of privacy. Nico J. Johnson charged with count I carrying a handgun without a license and count II possession of marijuana. Leigh A. Oeding charged with driving while suspended, prior. Deangelo De Andre Dean charged with count I possession of marijuana and count II knowingly or intentionally oper- ating a motor vehicle without ever receiv- ing a license. Laura Ann Smith charged with theft. Sarah Elizabeth Johns charged with battery resulting in bodily injury. CIVIL Pike County Circuit Court Jefferson Capital Systems, LLC sues Buford Thomas on complaint. CIVIL Pike County Circuit Court Medical and Professional Collection Services, Inc. sues Heather M. Brum- field on complaint. Medical and Professional Collection Services, Inc. sues Mary B. Brittingham on complaint. Hoosier Accounts Service sues Mi- chael E. Hadley on complaint. Hoosier Accounts Service sues Johna- than L. Shoultz on complaint. Hoosier Accounts Service sues Nicho- las Guarnery on complaint. Hoosier Accounts Service sues Ed- ward B. Richardson on complaint. INFRACTIONS Pike County Circuit Court Lisa Dawn A xsom charged with speed- ing, exceeding 70 mph. Taylor R. Corn charged with disregard- ing a stop sign. Hannah N. Maikranz charged with speeding, exceeding 70 mph. Jazmine Bussey charged with speed- ing, exceeding 70 mph. Amber L. Crowe charged with speed- ing, exceeding 70 mph. Ronald D. Blackford III charged with speeding, exceeding 70 mph. Lucas A. Blubaum charged with speed- ing, exceeding 30 mph. Stanley E. Brewster charged with speeding. Kara D. Sturgeon charged with speed- ing, exceeding 70 mph. Benjamin J. Elmore charged with un- lawful possession of tobacco, e-liquid or an electronic cigarette. Ryan Drew charged with speeding, ex- ceeding 55 mph. Zuha Ali charged with speeding, ex- ceeding 70 mph. Justin W. Riggleman charged with speeding, exceeding 70 mph. Justin A. Reising charged with seat- belt violation. Franklin D. Morton charged with speeding. Ladonna D. Rains charged with speed- ing, exceeding 70 mph. Dorothy M. Ocean charged with speeding, exceeding 70 mph. Kevin R. Riggs charged with expired plates. Jacob A. Genet charged with speeding. Kannan Krishnan charged with speed- ing, exceeding 70 mph. Orrin A. Givens charged with speed- ing, exceeding 70 mph. William T. Pool charged with speed- ing, exceeding 70 mph. Kenneth D. Korthaus, Jr. charged with speeding, exceeding 70 mph. Christopher A. Sims charged with seat- belt violation. Tariyah R. King charged with speed- ing, exceeding 70 mph. Dakota J. Mehringer charged with speeding, exceeding 70 mph. John G. English charged with speed- ing, exceeding 55 mph. Julio Antonio Puente charged with count I speeding, exceeding 70 mph, and count II no valid driver's license. Courtney C. Conder charged with speeding, exceeding 55 mph. Dale B. Phelps charged with seatbelt violation. tation? Not only is it immoral, but it doesn't work. Government is supposed to be about pro- tecting, not confiscating, our life, liberty and property. If we want every child in America, of every back- ground, to realize his or her potential, let's strive for their dignity by making sure they grow up in a free country. Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show "Cure America with Star Parker." COSTS Continued from page 4 DEFUNDING Continued from page 4 expensive lead testing. That sounds like they just want to protect children, I tell Carney. "If you're trying to test 1,000 Barbie dolls," he re- plies, "that might be fairly ef- ficient. But if you are a grand- pa making little wooden handmade toys, you'd have to hire some third-party tester. That could cost you $1,000, and you're not going to sell your wooden toy for $1,000. It effectively outlawed hand- made toys." A fter small toymakers screamed about that, Con- gress exempted toymakers that make fewer than 7,500 toys per year. So small toy- makers must stay small. "Maybe what (Mattel) did," says Carney, "is say, 'This is our opportunity through regulation to kill some of our competitors! '" Facebook tries to do that, too. At an international con- ference, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said, "We don't want private companies making so many decisions about how to balance social equities without a more dem- ocratic process." In other words: "Govern- ment, please regulate all of us." That sounds noble. Carney points out the catch. "He's calling for a man- date that platforms impose some sort of artificial intelli- gence to weed out misinfor- mation or hate speech. Face- book can afford that, but Zuckerberg's smaller com- petitors (like Odysee, Rum- ble, Parler) ... would struggle to pay the thousands of con- tent moderators and the ex- pensive artificial intelligence that Congress may require. New social media sites may never even start." That last sentence is a key point that we often miss. "Regulation doesn't just kill existing businesses," says Carney. "It keeps new businesses from ever enter- ing." Big business has always pushed for regulation. More than 100 years ago, Henry Heinz, founder of Heinz Ketchup, started us- ing refrigerated rail cars because, says Carney, "he could get fresher tomatoes, and therefore he could make a ketchup that didn't rely on sodium benzoate as an artifi- cial preservative." "Everybody loved Heinz ketchup, and it rose up to be about half of the mar- ket," Carney continues. "But sometimes people who are half of the market want to be 'all' the market. So Heinz himself started lobbying to outlaw sodium benzoate." Sodium benzoate is a pre- servative that Heinz's com- petitors used. Heinz claimed it wasn't safe, but it "is" safe. It's still used in Sprite, Jell- O Kool-Aid Gels, and other foods. Henry Heinz almost got those products banned, says Carney. "He almost got Ted- dy Roosevelt on board, which would have outlawed all of his competition. Sometimes businessmen hate nothing more than competition." Not "sometimes." Usually. Almost "all" businesses hate competition. But competition is what helps us consumers most. When big government col- ludes with big business to kill competition, we all pay the price. John Stossel is author of "Give Me a Break: How I Ex- posed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media." BIG Continued from page 4 PAWS WEEK PAWS WEEK Pet of the ANNIE I gave you my house when you were alone, when I walk through the door, it now feels like a home. Tail wagging and waiting, our bond quick- ly grew, such uncondition- al love; who rescued who? This week, PAWS is fea- turing a shy, young gal named Annie, who was surrendered by her own- er who was no longer able to care for her. Annie was initially quite scared and overwhelmed after arriv- ing at PAWS. She is grad- ually warming up to her caregivers and needs a lov- ing individual to show her patience and understand- ing. As she develops trust in her new human com- panion, there is no doubt she will be a loyal and de- voted canine. Annie has short, soft cream-colored fur with tan accents on her ears and brows. She is ap- proximately two years old and can be adopted by call- ing 812-354-9894. PAWS still has lots of sweet, beautifully marked kittens for adoption. Stop by and see. 60th wedding anniversary Jan Hollis and Rita Klem were married August 6, 1961, in the Otwell UMC. The Rev. Claude Hayes officiated. Their attendants were James White- head and Loretta Brown. The couple has two chil- dren, Robin Kruse, of Bargers- ville, and Jon Hollis, of India- napolis. They have five grand- children and one great-grand- daughter. Mr. Hollis retired from teaching after 38 years in the Greater Jasper School Corp. in 2002. Mrs. Hollis retired af- ter 30 years as office manag- er of the Otwell Water Corp. in 2009. The couple plans to cele- brate with a family gathering. With This Ring... MARRIAGE LICENSES Michael K. Hammel, Jr., 42, of 910 Abigail St., Peters- burg, son of Michael Hammel, Sr. and Ramon Hammel, to Linda S. Dent, 41, of 910 Abigail St., Petersburg, daughter of John A. Weisheit and Alice M. Halstead. United Way of Pike County receives second round of COVID-19 economic relief grants United Way of Pike Coun- ty is pleased to announce that it will receive a second COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative grant for $ 36,248 from Indiana United Ways, the state professional associ- ation of which United Way of Pike County is a member. The grant will be used to support our community in meeting ba- sic human needs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant is one of 47 grants that Indiana United Ways is making to member organizations and communi- ty foundations through the ini- tiative, which was made possi- ble by funding Indiana United Ways received from Lilly En- dowment Inc. "United Way of Pike County has been a key convener and coordinator of our communi- ty's response to meet human needs for decades. Even be- fore this crisis, we knew that 20 percent or one in five fam- ilies in Pike County were not able to make ends meet—de- spite working. In the wake of COVID, those needs became even more dire. Thanks to the generous, continued sup- port of Lilly Endowment to our State Association, we can con- tinue to help our community, through nonprofit partners, deal with and hopefully re- solve the impacts of this try- ing time," said Brian Drogich, board president of the United Way of Pike County. The second COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative grant again calls for Unit- ed Ways that receive fund- ing to leverage partnerships and relationships to better meet COVID-related basic needs aligned with the so- cial determinants of health as defined by the CDC. Spe- cifically, United Way of Pike County plans to provide emer- gency relief for those affect- ed by Covid and/or experi- enced quarantine. UWPC al- so plans to provide help for mental health due to Covid. All funds must be used by De- cember 31, 2021. United Way of Pike County will begin ac- cepting funding requests from area human and social service nonprofits whose IRS designa- tion is in good standing begin- ning July 8, 2021. Interested organizations should consult United Way of Pike County's website for guidance on fund- ing intent and application in- structions or contact UWPC at 812-582-9781 or unitedway- pike@frontier.com In April 2020, Lilly Endow- ment helped Indiana United Ways establish the COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative with an initial $ 30 million grant. Lilly Endowment made an additional $15 million grant in March to Indiana United Ways to support the initiative. Both grants are part of Lilly Endowment's overall grant- making to help organizations meet COVID-related needs. Since March 2020, Lilly En- dowment has made grants totaling more than $210 mil- lion to organizations work- ing in Indiana and across the nation as they respond to the pandemic.