The Press-Dispatch
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Call: 812-354-8500 Email: news@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg LOCAL The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, July 13, 2022 A-3 Two accidents with disputed causes investigated Two minor accidents with disputed causes were inves- tigated by the Pike County Sherif f 's Depar tment in the last. Drivers sideswiped mir- rors as they met on County Road 250 S on July 4. Pike County Deputy Kane Osgatharp investigated the 6:35 p.m. accident he said Michael Hadley, 51, of 10630 E. CR250S, Velpen was driv- ing a 2016 Dodge Ram pick- up tr uck east and Emily J. Wallace, 31, of 7-1 E. Sinclair St., Ft. Branch was driving a 2022 Ford Expedition west. Hadley, according to Dep- uty Osgatharp's repor t said he saw Wallace driving to- ward him and "it appeared (she) was traveling at a rate of speed greater than what is posted." He said when they met their sideview mir rors hit. Wallace said she saw Had- ley coming toward her so she slowed down and got over as far as she could. She also said Hadley braked leaving skid marks on the road before their mir rors collided. Deputy Osgatharp in his repor t stated he saw where Hadley left "significant" skid marks and that Wallace's pas- senger side tires were of f the nor th side of the road way. Damage to the vehicles was estimated at less than $1000. Neither driver was injured. On July 5 a semi-tr uck hit an SUV stopped on Highway 61 just south of I-69 at about 4 p.m. It caused less than $1,000 damage. Ter r y G. Holt, 65, of Loo- gootee was driving Ken- wor th tractor-trailer nor th on Highway 61, Holt told Deputy Osgatharp an SUV passed him and cut him of f forcing him to slow down. He said shor tly after that he came over the hill just south of I-69 and the SUV was stopped in the roadway and he was unable to get stopped and hit it in the back. According to Deputy Os- gatharp's repor t Holt said he talked to the driver of the SUV, Victoria M. Lee, 35, of 804 E. Patoka St., Winslow and she told him she had to go 85 mph to pass him. Deputy Osgatharp's re- por t states Lee told him she was driving nor th on Highway 61 and passed the semi, which she claimed was driving at least 80 mph. Then when she came over the hill near I-69 she slowed because she wasn't sure if she had to tur n or not. She said she then dropped some- thing in the floor, so she came to a complete stop in the roadway to pick it up and that was when the semi hit the back of her 2014 Dodge Jour ney. Deputy Osgatharp said there were three juveniles in the Lee's vehicle. No one was injured. Petersburg Police Chief Dedicated to the Community By Sherri Sebella News Editor sherri@pressdispatch.net It started when he was young and watching the tele- vision show Cops, that cur- rent Petersburg Police Chief Kyle Mills decided he want- ed to pursue a career in law enforcement when he was older. "When I was younger, I enjoyed watching Cops on television, but it was not just the arresting people that got my attention, but the helping people also," Mills said. Once in high school, Mills took a law enforcement class his senior year at Pike Central High School and decided to major in law enforcement in Vincennes, upon graduating. "I took classes for two years at Vincennes University and af- ter graduation, I worked for a year at Toyota, while I applied at different departments," Mills said. "I applied as a re- ser ve volunteer for the Peters- burg Police Department. As soon as I started there, Pike County Sheriff's Department hired me as a full-time jailer, which I did for one year." A position opened up at the Petersburg Police De- par tment and that is where Mills has stayed since 2011. "I got hired at the end of 2011 as a patrolman and went to the Police Acade- my and graduated in 2012, which is when I star ted as a Corporal," Mills said. "To become the Police Chief was a huge accomplishment for me. I've invested a lot of time for the City. I've tur ned other jobs down and chose to stay here." Mills keeps busy with many irons in the fire that include being the information technol- ogy person (IT) for City Hall and the Clerk Treasurer. Mills is also the President of the Redevelopment Commis- sion for Petersburg, and the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Coordinator, where he oversees making sure the city is handicap accessible where necessar y. As part of the Com- mittee to End Drug Abuse (CEDA), Mills is involved in helping people with drug re- habilitation. Another import- ant priority high on Mills' list is attending the Child Protec- tive Ser vices meetings ever y month to learn what is going on in the community. Mills also oversees code enforcement for Petersburg and still heads up the tear- ing down of condemned and abandoned houses in Peters- burg. "We tr y to tear down four to five buildings a year and redevelop the areas," Mills said. "We have had a lot of developers coming in, really more than ever." When Mills has spare time, he enjoys gardening, hunting, and playing video games with his son. "I love to garden," Mills said. "I grow green beans, corn, fruits, and cucumbers. I also enjoy deer hunting and I play Rocket League with my son. It's addicting. Weekends when I'm off, I tr y to play in tournaments. I just tr y to spend as much time as I can with my kids. My son plays baseball and I volunteer to coach that." Once Fall gets here, if he isn't hunting, Mills is a huge football fan and roots for the Miami Dolphins. "We tr y to go to two games a year," Mills said. "My Dad watched them and I grew up watching them, so I can't trade teams now." Though he leads a ver y busy life, Mills likes to socialize on his time off, and stay busy on the weekends. "We like to swim and grill out," Mills said. "I'm a pretty simple guy. My son follows me ever ywhere and always wants to know where I am and what I'm do- ing, and when I'll be home," Mills said with a grin. "My daughter likes to shop with me so she gets me into trouble with that." When it comes to the dan- ger of his job, Mills never worries about himself, but worries about his family if something was to happen to him. "If something happens, a switch just flips, and I go right toward the danger," Mills said. "This is what I signed up for. When I got hired onto the Depar tment, I was really happy to be help- ing people." "I really care about this community and was really ex- cited to come back here after graduation. I hope to raise my kids here. I just built a house here two years ago. The best part of the job is helping peo- ple. I've gotten two life saving awards since I was here. To be able to save a life is awesome to me." Petersburg Police Chief Kyle Mills, is someone you should know. It started when he was young and watching the television show Cops, that current Petersburg Police Chief Kyle Mills decided he wanted to pursue a career in law en- forcement when he was older. "When I was younger, I enjoyed watching Cops on tele- vision, but it was not just the arresting people that got my attention, but the helping people also," Mills said. Someone You Should Know Blue Jean Center to host Sunday dinner this Sunday The Blue Jeans Community Center in Monroe City will host Sunday dinner, July 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dine in or carr y out. The menu will include: Mac and cheese, breaded toma- toes, fried apples, porch salad, bread, dessert and drink. Car- r y-outs available. All proceeds benefit the cen- ter. Evansville man charged with OVWI By James Capozella Reporter news@pressdispatch.net An Evansville man was arrested for OVWI on July 8 when Deputy Clint Boger made a traffic stop on a pick- up traveling south on SR 61. Deputy Boger reports that he saw a truck driven by Nathan T. Spalding, 43, 8508 Craven, Evansville, cross the fog line multiple times. While stopped near the I69 overpass, Boger detect- ed the odor of an alcohol- ic beverage coming from Spalding and saw that his eyes were blood shot and water y. When Spalding said he had nothing to drink, Deputy Kane Osgatharp and Indiana State Trooper Angermeier arrived to assist with field so- briety. Spalding failed field tests and had a PBT result of .264 %BAC. Spalding's blood re- sults at Daviess Community Hospital were .315 and the urine sample was positive for amphetamines. Spalding told Deputy Bo- ger that he usually drinks more than a fifth of alcohol a day and had less than half a fifth prior to the arrest. Puzzled about what to read? ..and you will have your solution. subscribe to 812-354-8500 Locally Owned & Operated | Dr. Clint Shoultz 715 S. 9th Street, Petersburg | 812-354-9400 Mon. 8-7 | Tues. 8-noon | Wed. 10-7 | Thurs. 8-5 | Fri. 8-5 SAVE 25% on all non-prescription designer sunglasses SUNGLASSES SALE Need prescription sunglasses? These frames take prescrip- tion lenses, too! Buy 1 pair prescription sunglasses, get the second at HALF PRICE! * *Insurance accepted. 2nd pair doesn't have to be prescription. COACH EYEWEAR Pregnant... or think you are? 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