The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1475203
$1.00 28 PAGES FOUR SECTIONS TWO INSERTS PETERSBURG, IN 47567-0068 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2022 PIKE PUBLISHING VOLUME 152, NUMBER 30 NEWS TIPS Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Email ����� editor@pressdispatch�net INSIDE Local ����������������� AX-X Sports ���������������� BX-X History ������������������� CX Home Life ��������������� CX School �����������������DX-X Opinion ������������� CX-X Classifieds �����������CX-X Church �������������� DX-X Obituaries ���������������DX USPS 604-34012 sweet corn festival OAKLAND CITY LIONS LOCAL A6 INSIDE THIS ISSUE FAIR COVERAGE Hodges mural updated Artist Randall Hedden removes a covering off a Hall of Fame update to the Gil Hodges mural in Petersburg as Randy Harris holds a ladder for Hedden. About 50 people gathered for the unveiling of the updates following Hodges being inducted into the Hall of Fame in July. (See related stor y and photos on page B-1.) Commissioners discuss policy changes at meeting By Sherri Sebella News Editor sherri@pressdispatch.net Pike County Commissioners met on Monday at the Pike County Courthouse to discuss business at hand and address issues with various departments. Kristi Dischinger, Commissioner's Assistant, said there would be vehi- cle-policy amendments that include all vehicles purchased for county use must be approved by the Pike Coun- ty Commissioners and Pike County Council before purchase. Dischinger also discussed the paid time off policy amendment that would change the pay-out format for employees to two full years of con- tinuous employment from previous- ly discussed three years. For those employees, they will get what they earned and have not used. Employ- ees who have been with the county less than a year get no pay-outs upon leaving their position. "The first year, we will have to fig- ure ever y single person," Dischinger said. "This is non-bargaining. No one has lost out on any days." Mike Goodpaster, Pike County As- sessor, talked to the Commissioners about the need for a new county vehi- cle, since his no longer works. Good- paster requested $30,000 to purchase a new county vehicle and told Commis- sioners that the Assessor's office has additional funds if needed. Commis- sioner Mark Flint suggested that they would prefer Goodpaster purchase a new county vehicle that may last 15 years as opposed to a used vehicle. Flint also said an SUV four-wheel drive vehicle would work best considering the Assessor's position and the roads he has to travel on. Petersburg deals with sewer problems and construction updates By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Editor editor@pressdispatch.net Petersburg City Council ap- proved more than $1 million in pay- outs to various contractors for work on water system improvements and were updated on a lightning strike at their new sewer headworks building. They also passed a res- olution during the Monday night meeting. The council approved payments of: $663,556.95 to Debra-Knemep., Inc. for work on the new water treat- ment plant; $110,618. to Layne Christensen Co. for work done through July 15, 2022 on two new water supply wells; $12,347.39 to Wabash utilities for work on a new raw water main; $569,171 to Caldwell Tanks, Inc. for work on a new 750,000 gallon water storage tank for work done through July 15, 2022. LIGHTNING STRIKE BLAMED FOR HEADWORKS CONTROL DAMAGE Petersburg City Ser vices Manager Ross Elmore said the automated main control unit of the sewer plant Head- works Building "is fried." Elmore said the unit controlled the amount of flow from the sewer system into the sewer 50th anniversary of Zoar Mosquito Fest, Prides Creek is this weekend By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Editor editor@pressdispatch.net Fifty years ago this weekend Prides Creek opened, and folks gathered in the small community of Zoar for the first Mosquito Fest. Both have be- come Pike County icons. The Mosquito Fest offers zany fam- ily-oriented events like the unmarch- ing parade, whiffle ball tourney, egg toss and sack races. Over the years they had turtle races, hay bale toss- es, iron skillet tosses and other clever activities. Prides Creek is known for its peace- ful serene settings on the lake. Over the years a community of people who spend their summer months in the park campsites has developed. Along with the camping and lake activities it has added a golf course and a nation- ally renowned disc golf course. Both will have 50th Anniversar y celebrations this weekend. Mosquito Fest is Friday and Saturday To mark their 50th anniversar y, the parade is going to be mobile and they plan to pull out some of the old classic events. The festival will start like always on Friday night at 5 p.m. BBQ and fried chicken dinners and opening ceremonies begin at 5:30 p.m. The Hagedorn Family Band will perform beginning at 7 p.m. A fish pond will open at 6 p.m. Saturday morning's activities will start with breakfast at 7 a.m. A family fun color run is set for 8 a.m. Leo the Great will have his Magic Show starting at 11:30 a.m. The quilt, flower and produce shows run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be inflatables all day Sat- urday. The Countr y Store will be open Freeman, Mikels seriously injured in separate accidents By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Editor editor@pressdispatch.net Three people were seriously in- jured in separate accidents Friday and Saturday in Pike County. A Stendal man is facing charges and his wife is in intensive care fol- lowing a high-speed crash on High- way 61 Friday night. A rural Petersburg man was in- jured in an ATV accident on Saturday evening. Willie Freeman, 56, and his wife Amy Freeman, 40 were both serious- ly injured on Friday. Pike County Deputy Sheriff Briar Meadors, in a probable cause affida- vit, said Amy was being treated for a brain bleed, nasal fractures, con- cussion and fractured ribs. Meadors said as of Monday, Amy was still in intensive care and Willie was still in the hospital on Sunday afternoon, listed in stable condition. He was being treated for broken ribs and a broken clavicle. Meadors said a witness saw Free- man driving north estimating his speed was in excess of 100 mph on Highway 61. Meadors said Freeman, driving a 2006 red Pontiac G6, crested a hill and went airborne, when he landed he lost control of the vehicle, went off the west side of the road run- ning over a culvert causing him to go airborne again and flip upside down. While upside down the vehicle snapped off a telephone pole which caused the vehicle to again flip back onto its wheels and eventually come Dillon wins Small Animal Supreme Showmanship Contest Beau Dillon leads his sheep during the Supreme Showman- ship Contest at the Pike County Fair. Dillon won for Small Animal Supreme Showmanship and Top Herdsman. See ACCIDENTS on page 2 See CHANGES on page 2 See 50TH on page 2 See COUNCIL on page 5