The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1466134
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, April 27, 2022 B-5 EAST GIBSON Submit East Gibson news items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: egnews@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Schwomeyer places third in VU Spring invitational Oakland City native Pax- ton Schwomeyer shot a 157 to place third overall in the Vin- cennes University Spring In- vitational at Country Oaks in Montgomery over the week- end. Schwomeyer shot a 77 on Saturday and an 80 on Sun- day. He helped the Vincennes Trailblazers place second in the seven-team tournament, won by Danville Area Commu- nity College. Vincennes tied with them at 651 for the two days, but Dan- ville won on a tiebreaker. Official break ground on new probation building By Janice Barniak Gibson County dignitaries broke ground on a probation office Wednesday, to be lo- cated across from the jail at North Main and Emerson in Princeton. Chamber of Commerce President David Cordray dis- cussed Gibson County proba- tion as offering a path to lead out of jail and into becoming a functional part of the work force. The facility, which is walk- ing distance from the court- house, will be an important way to minimize the burden on taxpayers by keeping peo- ple out of jail, said Commis- sioner Warren Fleetwood. "Probation is an important step between freedom and in- carceration and I think some- times we don't think about the freedom part of it," said Com- missioner Warren Fleetwood. He said the building would be a reminder that freedom will reign for Gibson County citizens for years to come. Probation office employee Amy Ellis said the project will bring together the circuit and superior court departments of probation, which are currently separated, and will achieve ad- ditional privacy for the clients. "We're just really grateful for this project," said Ellis. From left, Mayor Greg Wright, Commissioner Warren Fleetwood, Commissioner Kenneth Montgomery, Coun- ty Councilman Dan Beard, County Attorney Jason Spindler, Chamber of Commerce Administrator Sam Sisson and Chamber of Commerce President David Cordray break ground at the new probation building. Commissioners forward $2M request to redevelopment By Janice Barniak EMS Director David Pond requested a $2 million project to build a new EMS building in the county. "We've approved money for stuff that doesn't affect the whole county. This affects the whole county," Pond said. "We have to remember we have limited time on TIF mon- ey, and we have road projects within the TIF district around Toyota that need done," said Commissioner Mary Key, who said she had no problem do- ing an EMS project, but may- be not at a $2 million price tag. "I don't have a problem go- ing after some of it, but not 100 percent," she said. "This is kind of personal to me. I've been with service a lot of years," Pond said. "I know what we need...I know roads are important. I drive on them all the time. I would like to think EMS is very im- portant also to the county," he said. Key questioned the $2 mil- lion price tag. "I think we could build a fa- cility that was more than ad- equate for less money," she said. There will also be ex- penses within the building. "We don't know what econ- omy going to do. We built in a decent amount of fluff," Pond said, adding he doesn't want to start and not have enough. Key also asked if the health department and the ambu- lance service could combine buildings. The health depart- ment asked for $ 350,000 in re- covery funds for a building. "I can't see why we can't make something like that work," said Health Dept. Di- rector Diane Hornby, who said she didn't want the depart- ment left behind, and they al- so need training room. Pond is in discussions with the fair board to buy part of their grounds for the building. "You have someone col- lapse, and for every minute their heart stops their chance of surviving decreases 10 per- cent," he said. "In 5 minutes their chance of survival has decreased 50 percent." He said it would be valuable to be centrally located at the fairgrounds. Key said the $2 million would probably be enough to build both. Commissioners forwarded the request to re- development. New tractor pull coming to Fairgrounds By Janice Barniak Gibson County will host a new tractor pull at the Gib- son County Fairgrounds La- bor Day weekend, according to fair board member Charles Woodruff, who told Gibson County Visitor's and Tourism Brian Rexing is organizing the pull, and hopes to make it a three-day event. The board approved $2,000 for advertis- ing and fairground rental. He hopes to turn it into an annu- al event. Woodruff abstained from the vote. The tourism board allotted $1,000 to support the Sweet Corn Festival, and another $ 85 to get the Oakland City Good Start a new trail sign. They approved $500 for the Broadway Players, $400 to Henagers Museum, $500 to Lyles Station, $500 to the Patoka River National Wild- life Refuge, and $500 to the Princeton Theater and Com- munity Center. The Southern Indiana Car Club requested mar- keting and advertising sup- port for their Fourth Friday car shows in the amount of $2,000 - $ 3,000. The non-profit club has plaques and other expenses, and plans seven shows this year. The board said they would like to see the advertising budget for more information; it was tabled until May. The Patoka River Nation- al Wildlife Refuge will have an event to view birds from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 28, at Cane Ridge. The Gibson County Fair is July 10 -16 this year. Visitor and Tourism mem- ber Mayor Greg Wright said locals want to bring back the go cart races on the Princ- eton square, but making it happen would mean taking on the high cost of insuring the event. Princeton Park is hosting pickleball clinics and consid- ering summer tournaments, he added. For more informa- tion see the Princeton Indi- ana Pickleball group on Face- book. INDOT construction in Oakland City The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane restrictions for Ind. 64 for paving operations. Beginning on or around Tuesday, April 26, contrac- tors will restrict Ind. 64 to one lane while crews mill and pave from the east side of Francis- co to the intersection of Ind. 57 in Oakland City. This oper- ation is included in the recon- struction of S. R. 64 already under way in Francisco. Work- ers will mill down the top lay- er of pavement and replace it with new asphalt. During this project traf- fic will be controlled by flag- ging operations. The restric- tion will include a lane width of 12-feet. Wider loads should seek an alternate route using the nearest numbered state, U.S. or Interstate Routes. This phase of the project is expected to last until the end of June, depending upon weather conditions. INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews. MIDDLE SCHOOL TROJANS TRACK Wood Memorial's Savannah Jourdan gives it her all in the 100. She ran a time of 14.86 at the Princeton Invitation on Saturday. Jackson VanMeter runs down the back stretch with Pike Centrals Gannon Western. Ameria Miller competes in the 100 at the Princ- eton Invitational She placed ninth with a time of 14.51.