The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1449492
B-2 Wednesday, Februar y 9, 2022 The Press-Dispatch Karan Thacker Owner THACKER TAX SERVICE 906 Blackfoot Drive Fort Branch, IN 47648 812-615-0071 (office) 812-789-3852 (cell) kthacker01@gmail.com JUST Fine Clothing and Shoes • Unique Home Decor • Accessories • Gifts Located on the square in Jasper 812.482.3200 Mon.-Fri. 10am-5:30pm, Sat. 10am-4pm Follow us on Chocolate Sale SUPER SALE Sunday Now – Monday, Feb. 14 56 % in conjunction with the 56th Super Bowl OFF All Clothing & Shoes don't miss the great savings! Feb. 13 – Noon to 3 p.m. save on All Jewelry & Gift Items when you PICK A CHOCOLATE with DISCOUNT underneath HEATING AND AIR 812-789-3065 jmcdonald@alltradeheatingandair.net or admin@alltradeheatingandair.net THE INDUSTRY LEADER IN CLEAN AIR, BUT DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recognizes CleanEffects® as asthma & allergy friendly® PRIMARY Continued from page 1 added for Jefferson 1 Demo- cratic Precinct. Bruce Barr has been added for Patoka 2 Democratic Precinct Commit- teeman, and Melissa Traylor has been added for Washing- ton 3 Democratic Precinct Committeeman. As mentioned, Twyla Flint has been added on the Wash- ington 2 Democratic Precinct Committeeman ballot. A long list of individuals on the ballot for Township Board Members include Democrats Bruce Barr for Patoka Town- ship, Elaine Barrett for Mon- roe Township, Chris Burkhart for Jefferson Township, Rich- ard Bush for Marion Town- ship, and William Caldemey- er for Lockhart Township. Also included on the Dem- ocratic ballot are Gregory Gray for Marion Township, Berniece Luker for Lockhart Township, Peyton O'Neal for Monroe Township, Linda G. Teague for Jefferson Town- ship, Jerry Traylor for Jeffer- son Township and Rita Wil- liams for Monroe Township. On the Republican ballot for Township Board Member is Rex O. Carlisle for Lock- hart Township, Jeffrey Davis II for Madison Township, Tra- cy Evans for Marion Town- ship, Susan Flint for Washing- ton Township, Jeff Harting for Washington Township, David W. Ice for Washington Town- ship and Sherry Meyer for Lockhart Township. Others on the local level in- clude Carol Sue Sutton with the Republican party for the Madison Township Trustee. Marie N. Boyd and Chelsea Potts with the Republican par- ty have filed for Washington Township Trustee, and Dan- ielle Houtsch for the Repub- lican party for the Jefferson Township Trustee. Joe Melhiser, with the Re- publican party is listed on the ballot for the Patoka Township Trustee, and Shirley A. Shaf- fer for the Republican party is listed for the Logan Township Trustee, all of which filed ear- lier in the month. New additions for Township Trustees include John David- son with the Republican party for the Clay Township Trustee. Larry D. Ferguson with the Republican party has filed for the Monroe Township Trust- ee office, and Becky Steinhart with the Republican party has filed for the Marion Township Trustee office. Angela O'Neal has filed un- der the Independent Party for the Lockhart Township Trust- ee office. Pike County Democratic Convention Delegates who have filed as of Monday in- clude Anisia Burkhart, Chris- topher Burkhart and Cynthia Ridao. For the Pike County Repub- lican Democratic Convention Delegates, Jon W. Craig, Mark Flint, Susan Flint, Mike Good- paster, and Jeff Harting have filed to be on the ballot. Darrin E. McDonald is cur- rently seeking re-election for the Republican Party as the Prosecuting Attorney of Pike County. At the State level, Teresa Kendall is running for State Representative for District 63 under the Democratic Par- ty against Shane M. Lindauer for the Republican party. For State Representative in District 075, Cindy Ledbetter is listed on the ballot. State Senator has Mark Messmer for the Republican party is running for District 48. The deadline in Indiana for a school board candidate to file is Friday, August 26 at noon. Voter registration for 2022 primary election is Monday, April 4. Traffic stop leads to double arrest for meth By Sherri Sebella Petersburg Police arrested two individuals on Possession of Methamphetamine Under 5 grams, on Sunday, January 30. Police were traveling South on 7th Street, when they saw a green passenger vehicle make a right turn onto Good- let Street without signaling. Police immediately initiated a traffic stop and the vehicle made another right turn with- out signaling, into the drive- way of a house on the corner of Goodlet and 7th Street. The driver, identified as Ja- son Coomer, 47, began to ex- it the vehicle and police or- dered Coomer to stay in the vehicle. As police approached the vehicle and explained the reason for the traffic stop, they noticed the passenger, Alison Austin, 34, appearing very nervous. She was tak- ing deep breaths, her hands were shaking and she told po- lice she was just riding with Coomer to CVS. Police asked Coomer to step out of the vehicle and ad- vised him again that he had been stopped for failure to use a turn signal. He was then asked if there was anything illegal inside the vehicle, to which Coomer said "No." Coomer consented to a search of the vehicle and Aus- tin was also asked to step out of the vehicle. Coomer stated that it was embarrassing get- ting pulled over at his house and he was advised a third time why he was pulled over. Additional police arrived on the scene, and Austin stated that she did not know of any- thing illegal in the vehicle, and that nothing in the vehicle was hers. Austin was shaking and fidgeting as she spoke. As a search began, police located a plastic corner bag- gie containing a white powder residue that field-tested pos- itive for methamphetamine on the passenger floorboard, near where Coomer had a red bag. Police showed both indi- viduals the corner baggie and Coomer stated it was not his. Both were read their Miran- da rights and transported to Pike County Jail with charges of possession of methamphet- amine, under 5 grams. Petersburg Community Church provides clothing and more By Sherri Sebella Petersburg Community Church is reaching out to the needy by providing clothing, household goods and more, for free. Mercy's Closet is a new ministry of church. "We opened our doors in Novem- ber of 2021," Pastor Rodney Fretwell said. "Our mission is to be the hands and feet of Je- sus, by providing gently used clothing and shoes to our com- munity. We have mens, wom- ens and childrens clothes, an household items such as pots, pans and dishes." The church has received an outpouring of support from the community that is great- ly appreciated by Fretwell and church members. "We are stocked up and hope our community will take advantage of this resource," Fretwell said. Donations come from the church family and the com- munity, according to Fretwell. They accept donations of gen- tly used clothing and shoes, household items, baby items, toiletries and more. Those in- terested in donating can con- tact the church for times to drop off. "It's a ministry of the church, so the volunteers are from within the Body of Christ," Fretwell said. Mercy's Closet is open the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon, and by appointment. You can con- tact them at 812-789 -2242 to schedule appointments. Grace Fretwell volunteers to help organize cloth- ing for Petersburg Community Church's Mercy Clos- et. The church has received support from the commu- nity, providing gently used clothing, household goods, baby items, toiletries and more, free to those in need. Commissioners face rising insurance rates due to accidents By Sherri Sebella County commissioners were not happy at Monday's monthly commissioners meeting after hearing from German American Insurance Commercial Agent Anthony Cochren. Due to numerous claims filed by the county over the last five years, proposed rates on their auto policy insurance have increased greatly. Cochren gave a detailed presentation to the commis- sioners in which the renewal of the commercial package for liability was discussed. "We've had increases across the line," Cochren said. "Over- all, we are in a little bit hard- er of a market with insurance rates. Overall, we are seeing an increase in rates on the property side and historical- ly, we've had deductibles that are lower in place. Our proper- ty values have gone up." Cochren discussed multiple coverages, including a blanket property coverage for $ 33 mil- lion dollars that in the past had a deductible of $2,500, but now the commissioners are look- ing at an increase, bringing the deductible up to $5,000. When automobile cover- age was discussed, commis- sioners were visibly upset by what they were hearing from Cochren. "Can emergency ve- hicles be separated from this policy? " Mark Flint, Commis- sioner, asked. Cochren explained that German American Insurance no longer covers ambulances on a replacement coverage. "Is that just for Pike County or for everyone? " Flint asked. "That is just for Pike County, due to losses," Cochren said. "Even though they weren't our fault? " Flint asked. "Yes, be- cause we had to replace them," Cochren said. "Claims are still in the process of being subro- gated. That could take up to five years." "We will get an- other insurance company to insure those vehicles," Flint stated. "I don't know if rates would be better, due to the re- cent claims," Cochren said. Cochren added that Ger- man American Insurance has put a five-year loss history to- gether to show what the to- tal loss amount in claims for Pike County is, by lines of cov- erage, and for Business Auto, they have paid out $ 327,000. "Losses are the biggest por- tions of the increases," Co- chren said. We apologize for the increase. It is not what we would like to see, but we have done all we can, to do compar- isons." "My thing is with all of the vehicles, when these acci- dents are not our fault, what do we do so we are not on the losing end? " Jeff Nelson, Com- missioner said. "Subrogation should help," Cochren said. "Once we paid out the money, subrogation can take up to five years and if they have lower limits that do not cover the total loss, that is something you are going to have to take the burden of in the meantime." Cochren also said that over the last five years, Pike Coun- ty has had 25 claims for auto- mobile insurance filed. Per Cochren's presentation, seven companies declined pro- viding insurance coverage for Pike County. In other business, Ryan Benner, EMA/Dispatch Di- rector, presented the com- missioners with the new E911 CAD agreement he wanted to see put in place. Benner ex- plained all the benefits of the new system and what is lack- ing in the current system. The commissioners ap- proved Benner's request to present the agreement to Pike County council members for approval. Dr. Rudolph was approved by the commissioners as the Pike County Health Officer and Amy Gladish, Pike Coun- ty Health Nurse gave every- one an update on the COVID pandemic, stating that num- bers have decreased. "We have seen less people using testing sites due to more people using at-home testing, which is not required to be re- ported to the State," Gladish said. Gladish said as of Mon- day, there were 105 active cas- es in Pike County. "We have had more come down with the current strain of COVID, but symptoms are not as bad," Gladish said. "There are still some hospital- izations from this strain." We also had one death in January. As of Monday, Gladish stated that there were 5,139 fully vac- cinated in Pike County. During the public portion of the meeting, Jim Johns, ad- dressed the commissioners about his concern regarding Grange Haul Road not being put back together as prom- ised at numerous meetings in the past. Commissioners agreed it was a valid question but that other companies bought the assets of those bankrupted coal mines. They also stated that some of those mines will be reopening and Pike County Highway Superintendent Josh Byrd stated that the county is being paid for the roads. He did not remember a time frame as to when the roads would replaced. The next scheduled com- missioners meeting will be Monday, March 7 at Court- house, at 8:30 a.m. The meet- ing is open to the public. Icy crash A Lynnville man on his way home work when he crashed early Thursday morning on the ice covered road. Alan Harter, 64, of Lynnville was driving south on Highway 61 at about 8:30 a.m. when he lost control in a turn and then went off into the ditch on the right side of the road hitting an embankment with the front of his 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue. It then spun 180 degrees and ended up with the driver side in the ditch. Harter was not injured.