The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1460754
NEWS TIPS Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Email ����� editor@pressdispatch�net INSIDE Local ����������������� A1-6 Sports �����������������B1-2 Obituaries ���������������B3 Classifieds ���������� B4-6 Church �������������� C1-3 History ������������������� C4 School �������������������� C5 East Gibson������������ C6 Home Life ������������D1-6 Opinion ������������� D2-3 USPS 604-34012 $1.00 24 PAGES Four SECTIoNS Two INSErTS PETErSBurG, IN 47567-0068 SPORTS B1 LOCAL D4 Three middle school wrestlers place at PAC Trades Program ranks amongst the best in State wEdNESdAy, MArCh 16, 2022 PIKE PUBLISHING VoLuME 152, NuMBEr 11 By Andy Heuring A rural Petersburg woman was taken by boat from her house in Dodge City surround- ed by flood waters on Monday afternoon. Francine McCann needed medical attention Monday at about noon. She lives in Dodge City and her residence was surrounded by flood- waters. The Hazelton Fire Dept. responded with a hover boat. They drove to CR375 W in the Bowman area. Pike County EMS Director Chris Young and Petersburg Fire Dept. mem- ber and first responder Kyler Henry got in the boat with Hazleton's Jared Birch. They went through the floodwaters to Dodge City. But once at McCann's residence they decided the boat wasn't big enough to load McCann on a stretcher into the boat, so they called for a traditional jon boat. Conservation Officer Ken Tincher brought a jon boat and a second DNR boat went to the McCann residence from Highway 61 public access ramp in the White River. They got McCann into the jon boat with Tincher and Young. They took McCann back to Highway 61. Henry rode in the hover boat with Birch back to CR375W. But about half way there the hover boat broke down in a field, strand- ing Henry and Birch at about 3:15 p.m. They were there remained for about two hours, in two to three feet of water. He said they tried paddling but in the wind and not under power, the hover craft was like a brick. They tried to push-pole it, but dropped the push pole. The DNR's jon boats weren't able to reach High-water rescuers end up needing rescued See WINSLOW on page 2 See COACHES on page 2 See ROBOTICS on page 3 See RESCUE on page 2 By Sherri Sebella Petersburg Elementary School will be represented by nine stu- dents on three Robotics teams that qualified to participate in the VEX- IQ Worlds Championship in Dallas, Texas on May 10 -12. "I, along with my co-coaches, Su- sannah Julian and my son, Parker Knust, are so proud of these amaz- ing students for their hard work and dedication to robotics," Terra Knust, second grade teacher and one of the coaches for the Robotics team, said. "Some of the students have been coming to practices daily after school for about a month. We be- gan this in October, so going from October to May is a long time to ded- icate to one activity. It's not like a sport where they participate for a couple of months and move on to something else. This takes some se- rious dedication. There is definite- ly some sweat and tears involved in what we do. They experience all the emotions." Knust has been involved with ma- ny extra-curriculars in her 23 years of teaching, but in her eyes, VEX Ro- botics is by far the most rewarding and challenging activity that she has PES Robotics teams qualify for VEXIQ Worlds Winslow council confronted on multiple issues By Sherri Sebella With standing room only inside the small meeting room of Winslow Town Hall, resi- dents were confronted council members on numerous issues the town faces, from scat- tered trash to water leaks. A resident recently was faced with a major leak. Winslow Public Works Superintendent Torrez Baham came said it was on the res- ident's personal property and left, and resi- dents in Winslow wanted answers. Baham explained to the resident that he has to have a work order to do any type of work or digging and has to report it to 811 in case there are any gas lines or other lines in the digging area, and that his job could be on the line if he did not follow those work orders. Town Council member Dick Brewster had helped the resident and bought materials to fix it out of his own pocket, but he received an email he was irate about, from Town Council President Joshua Popp stating that if any town materials were used for the repair, Brewster would have to pay the town back. "Are you accusing me of stealing? " Brew- ster said. "I went over there as a neighbor, not a councilman, to help my neighbor. I went to the hardware store and paid for the parts out of my own wallet. What I do on my person- al time is none of your business. If you have a problem with me, come see me eye-to-eye. Don't send me an email when you have no idea what happened." Popp reiterated that it was a misunderstand- ing and that he now understood the situation. Popp told the residents at the meeting that things should have been handled different- ly and he apologized for the mistakes made. Popp said the town should have been respon- sible for part of the issue, but they were not aware of the situation until after it was fixed. "If there's a problem, we have employees we pay to handle things," Debbie Lamb, council member said. Residents in the crowd became very upset and said people just can't be left without water for days while a work order is written up, and something needs to be done in case of such emergencies in the future, such as posting something on-line on the town's website if there is a water leak after hours. Frank Taylor, who moved to Winslow from Colorado Springs, asked to address the coun- cil and stated that he had some issues on his mind that need to be improved. "We have a huge trash problem," Taylor said. People don't take care of their property. By Andy Heuring Pike Central hired a new baseball coach and accepted the resignation of the Girls Basketball coach during their meeting last Tuesday. Kyle McCutchan has been girls coach for the last five season with a record of 32-74. His best year was 11- 11 in the 2017-18 season. They were 4-18 this season. McCutchan also co-coaches the girls middle school tennis team. "With both daughters in middle school, I'm missing too much stuff. I wanted to be able to watch my kids play ball. It was just time to move on," said McCutchan. The board voted unanimously to hire Athletic Director Dustin Powell as baseball coach. He replaces Jacob Western, who coached last season. Powell coached Pike Central's football team for nine seasons be- ginning in 2008. He also was boys varsity basketball team for two sea- sons beginning in 2003. Randy Meece was hired as the varsity assistant and Trevor Church as the junior varsity baseball coach. Barry May of Winslow spoke to the board about the baseball posi- tion during the public comments portion of the meeting. "My concern was I have tried to get the baseball thing going. We are way behind. Our first game is April 1. I would have taken the kids on my own. My question is, have you hired a coach? " asked May. His comments were made at the beginning of the school board meet- ing. The board said they were go- ing to consider that position later in the meeting. "I have tried now for four years to get the coach's job. You have never seen my applications. I offered to do it for nothing, drive the bus for free. I have been coaching for 17 years," said May. He said when he moved to Winslow, the Evansville Courier did a story on him because he built the baseball field. "I couldn't get any respect. They always told me, 'Sorry. If your son plays you can't coach.' I just have to understand after so long of trying, why was I put to the side," said May. "I offered to do it for no money. I don't want any money. We aren't getting paid for this. We put it back in the sports fund. All I heard was, 'you can't do it.'" May added he had checked the rule. "Nothing in the IHSA A rule book says that. "Chris knows me. The most pas- sionate thing I have is baseball. I have watched this high school team go down here. I approached last year, tried to tell you what is go- ing on. I got turned down for mid- dle school and got turned down for varsity. I want to do this just to give kids someone who cares," said May. "I'm passionate about this game and I hate to see this game go down at this school. I had three parents ask me to take the job," said May. He continued, "I just feel you put a coach in there who cares and it will get better. People know Pike Cen- tral is a pushover. I'm tired of that," said May. "I appreciated your passion and concern," said school board presi- School hires multiple new spring sports coaches Petersburg Elementary School will be represented by nine students on three Robotics teams that qualified to participate in the VEXIQ Worlds Championship in Dallas, Texas on May 10-12. Front row from left: Korbin Trowbridge, Gavin Mounts, Sophi Wilson, Joshawa Blackburn and Keaton Stafford. Back row: Avelyn Knepp, Corbin Knepp, Daxyn Yon and Grayson Schultheis. Rural Petersburg resident Francine McCann was brought out from Dodge City by emergency personnel Monday after- noon. McCann's residence in Dodge City was surrounded by floodwaters as the White River crested at 23.5 feet, 7.5 feet above floodstage. McCann needed medical attention and could not get out on her own. EMS Director Chris Young, Conser- vation Officer Ken Tincher, EMA Director Ryan Benner and EMT Kate Hoffman help get McCann out of the boat and onto dry ground.