The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1400710
Lady Chargers start with TWO WINS SPORTS B-1 SPECIAL SECTION C-3 Wednesday, august 11, 2021 PIKE PUBLISHING VOLuMe 151, nuMBeR 32 NEWS TIPS Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Email ����� editor@pressdispatch�net INSIDE Local ����������������� A1-8 Mosuito Fest �������A7-8 Sports �����������������B1-2 History �������������������B3 Opinion �������������B4-5 Reunions ����������������B6 Obituaries ���������������B6 Home Life ������������C1-8 Church �������������� D1-3 Classifieds ���������� D4-5 East Gibson������������D6 USPS 604-34012 $1.00 28 Pages FOuR seCtIOns thRee InseRts PeteRsBuRg, In 47567-0068 Mosquito Fest egg toss contestant A participant in the Zoar Mosquito Fest egg toss prepares to catch the egg that was lobbed to him on Saturday, August 7. See additional photos on page A-7. Preparing for the new school year Pike Central middle schooler Sadie McCrary learns to open her locker after signing up for school on Monday, August 9. The new lockers are part of the school's renovation for the coming year. By Andy Heuring County councilmen are ponder- ing how to deal with "hiccups" the county has run into on a federal aid project on CR 350 N. Council also dealt with a missed deadline by Riv- er Birch Holdings on their tax abate- ment. "We have run into some hiccups," said County Highway Department office manager Melanie Britton. She said as the project stands, they can- not connect the new road the project was designed to build into Highway 61 at Shady Lane. The road project was originally designed to provide access to an industrial site. Howev- er, Britton said because it is going to affect County Roads 175 E. and CR 300 N., the county was told they would have to upgrade those roads as well to federal standards. RQAW, the engineering firm who designed the project, had it designed to con- nect at Shady Lane, which is in front of the Buchta Technology Center. Because I-69 runs just north of CR 350 N., the Shady Lane location is too close to I-69. Britton said fed- eral guidelines require the connec- tion to Highway 61 be at least 1,320 feet from I-69. "Our funding is in jeopardy," said Britton. She explained the county is faced with options because INDOT has given Pike County the option of a federal exchange. She said Pike County can accept $1.5 million on the project. However, they cannot connect to Shady Lane. This comes with the stipulation they will have to pay for the connection to High- way 61 out of the county coffers. Proposed access road to industrial site hits major snag Ed Fox See GUILTY on page 2 See ROAD on page 3 Fox found guilty on all counts By Janice Barniak A jury of 12 peers, in Pike County Aug. 4, after eight days of testimony, found Ed Fox guilty of first degree murder, felony burglary and felony burglary causing a bodily injury. Prosecutor Darrin McDonald ended the trial the way he began, asking, "What do you want most more than anything in the world? " He told the jury that ultimately people find a way to get what they want most; sometimes, in the case of raising children, going beyond what they ever would have believed they could do. He said for the jury to find "rea- sonable doubt" in the Fox case, they would have to believe it reasonable for Ed Fox to have walked a half mile searching for firewood, in the mid- dle of the night in July, when he lived in a camper and no longer needed firewood, in the days before his wife's death. "Reasonable doubt" would mean believing Ed Fox ordered not one, but two, lock pick sets for getting into a shed where he used to live on the off chance that his wife would have changed those locks. It would mean believing it was reasonable that Ed Fox had continued paying two life insurance policies after the separation, and had looked at the ac- cidental death life insurance policy only the night before Sharon Fox's "accidental fall" down the stairs. "Reasonable doubt" would mean believing Ed Fox went to his son's house, took his son's vehicle, then went to look in his ex-wife's win- dows, violating the protective order, out of concern for her. It would mean believing he looked through the win- dow, expecting to see her at a time when she was consistently asleep, and instead saw her body, then hap- pened to have the lock picks with him, broke in to check the body out of concern for her, but didn't call the police, though he spent two hours at the residence. "What Ed Fox wants more than anything in the whole world is mon- ey," said McDon- ald. McDonald criticized the times the de- fendant cried during the case, not, as one would expect, when his son said he loved both his parents, but rather when Ed Fox's defense at- torney described him as being cow- ardly. "It's all a performance," McDon- ald said. "Every action consistent with a man that wants the money and will do anything to get it...There is no reasonable theory of evidence." The theory of evidence put for- ward by attorney Doug Walton in his closing was firstly that the state had not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt, and moreover that the reasonable conclusion was that Sharon Fox, having lost her glass- es, went in the middle of the night to get an orange as a snack, and lost her balance, falling down the stairs. The candy bar wrappers next to Sharon Fox's bed show she was a bedtime snacker, Walton said. United Way of Pike County's cam- paign will kick off with its 16th year for a Day of Caring on Wednesday, September 15. This event involves recruiting vol- unteers to help with projects for lo- cal non-profit agencies/organiza- tions for a one-day work blitz. The event will start with a sponsored breakfast for its volunteers. They will receive a T-shirt to wear on the job and lunch will be provided. United Way of Pike County hopes to raise the level of awareness of the needs as well as the services provid- ed by these agencies. If you would like to volunteer or are an agen- cy that would like to submit a proj- ect, contact the United Way of Pike County office at 812-582-9781 or email unitedwaypike@frontier.com. This event is partially funded by the Community Foundation and Am- ber Manor. United Way Day of Caring scheduled for September 15 By Andy Heuring The 55th Sweet Corn Festival in Oakland City starts on Thursday night, with a parade beginning at 7 p.m. and an antique Tractor Show at 7:30 p.m. (All times are EDT.) The Oakland City Lions Club sponsors the festival, which is on the grounds of Wirth Memorial Park. Lunches will be served on Thursday and Friday from noon-2 p.m. Fried chicken dinners and smoked pork chop dinners, along with numerous side items, will be available from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sat- urday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Friday night will feature bingo and music. Mike Lance with Star- bound will be in concert on the Wirth Park stage beginning at 7:30 p.m. Bingo will run from 7 to 9 p.m. in the small shelterhouse. Saturday's events start at 3 p.m. with the Miss Cornflower and Mr. Popcorn contest. A kids' corn eat- ing contest starts at 3:30 p.m. (age 13 and under). The adult corn eat- ing contest for 14 and older begins at 9 p.m. Pony rides will be available from 4 to 6 p.m. Bingo runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Chad Lynch will perform at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, the Gad-a-bouts will perform at 3 p.m. Sweet Corn Fest starts Thursday Coming Sept. 4 Call 812-354-8500 to list your sale by Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. Yard Sale Pike County Fall 2021