The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1476428
School board hires 15 teachers, 39 new employees By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Editor editor@pressdispatch.net The Pike County School board dealt with numerous issues including mechanical, a bus route complaint and fi- nancials, but personnel dom- inated the hour-long meeting last Tuesday. Superintendent Dr. Su- zanne Blake said over the summer the school corpora- tion had hired 15 new teach- ers and 39 new employees getting ready for the 2022-23 school year. "We think we have ever y- thing covered," said Blake. MECHANICAL ISSUES The board voted to ap- prove purchasing a new cool- er/freezer. One of the two units at Pike Central had a compressor go out. RG Me- chanical was able to replace the compressor in that unit, but a second unit cannot be repaired. Dr. Blake said a replace- ment unit is available and can be installed immediately for $12,215. "We feel like we need to re- place the unit before we lose the food," said Blake. It was approved by a 5-0 vote. Other mechanical issues concerned the air handlers. Blake said they have been in the process of replacing the 14 original air handlers in the Pike Central complex. She said the lead time on new air handling units is 60 weeks. She said they had start- Old Ben Jellystone Park opening delayed due to lack of workers By Sherri Sebella News Editor sherri@pressdispatch.net New owner of the Old Ben Jellystone Park, Clint Swish- er, is eager to open the doors and welcome residents of Pike County and the surrounding area to his planned aqua park at the old Boy Scout camp in Winslow, but there is only one problem. He can't find em- ployees to work. Swisher and his wife Mi- chelle purchased the property and hope to open in the next week or two, pending the re- quired employees needed to run the place safely and effi- ciently. "I know it's the end of the season, but I'd still like to open," Swisher said. "I just want to say hi to ever yone. We would have opened soon- er, but labor is an issue, we are still in the works to get open for this season and pos- sibly have a special day for Pike County residents only. The water park will be going strong next year summer." The name of the swimming lake area will be changed to Old Ben Aqua Park and Swish- er will be bringing a brand- new recreation experience to Southern Indiana, one of which has never been seen here before. "The main attraction will be a 200 foot by 100 foot inflat- $1.00 20 PAGES FOUR SECTIONS ONE INSERT PETERSBURG, IN 47567-0068 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2022 PIKE PUBLISHING VOLUME 152, NUMBER 32 NEWS TIPS Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Email ����� editor@pressdispatch�net INSIDE Local ����������������� A3-6 Obituaries ���������������A5 Sports �����������������B1-3 Home Life ������������C1-2 Opinion ������������� C3-4 Classifieds ���������� C5-6 Church �������������� D1-3 History �������������������D4 USPS 604-34012 First day of kindergarten at Petersburg Elementary Elliott Sharp and Kylee Prevo compare Playdough creations they made on the fist day of school in Kindergarten at Petersburg Elementar y School. "The main attraction at Old Ben Aqua Park will be a 200 foot by 100 foot inflatable island obstacle course," Swisher said. "The course will be made up of a series of in- flatable slides, runways, jumping pillows, and bouncers, all connected together. There is a great variety of different shapes, sizes and functions, making the activity exciting and entertaining for ever yone." Indiana Little Miss United States Agriculture tours local Bear Creek Farms By Sherri Sebella News Editor sherri@pressdispatch.net In between catching chickens in her yard and bedtime, our 2023 Indiana Little Miss United States Agriculture, Tenley Miller, 9, of Jasper, was able to talk about her visit to the local Bear Creek Farms in Otwell this past week- end. As part of her responsibilities as Indiana Little Miss United State Agriculture, Miller is to in- spire, advocate, and learn about farming all throughout the State of Indiana. "I'm probably more excited than she is," Jessica Mill- er, Tenley's mom, said. "There are so many little farms around this area that we want to visit. It might be a little too much to visit farms in all 92 counties in Indi- ana, with only 52 weeks in a year, but we are going to try to visit as many as possible and as far as possible." While visiting the farm, Miller learned about the meat goat op- eration that takes place at Bear Creek Farms. The farm has approximately 150 goats of various ages and breeds, amongst which are Kikos and South African Sa- vanna. Tenley learned how the Sa- vanna came to the United States from Australia, not South Amer- ica directly. Miller also learned about the feeding and nutrition- al needs of the herd and how the farm ensures these are met through rotational grazing, as well as specialized grain. Part of her visit focused on in- vasive species of weeds that can be found in the pasture that the goats keep in check, helping to prevent the further pollination and spread. "We looked at all the differ- ent goats and got to feed them weeds," Miller said. "The little goats are my favorite. I hope I can get goats someday. My mom wants them too." Mom was quick to ask Miller what they needed in order to have goats and she re- sponded that they needed a pen and pasture to stay in. "I like going to all these plac- es," Miller said. "My favorite visit so far was the goats." Miller was named 2023 In- diana Little Miss United States Agriculture in July, so she has 11 more months of visiting farms throughout the state in her plans. While at Bear Creek Farms, Miller also learned about veter- inarian needs and how the herd receives care using handling systems and sorting pens from a fellow sister Queen of Jefferson Township, Otwell Indiana Ruri- tan's Little Miss Firecracker, sec- ond runner-up, Lillian Lemond. Bear Creek Farms co-own- ers/operators, Stephen and Charles Lemond also explained how farmers solve problems to help make farm chores easier, like the kid eating troughs, so they can pour feed in without the baby goats' heads getting in the way, or the carefully planned out alleys leading into the farm's cen- tral hub. Miller and her brother, Mad- dox, were able to help feed the goats as well. Miller will visit the Indiana State Fair this weekend and meet other contestants she will be able to share ideas and plans with. "I am very excited to represent the state of Indiana as one of the 2023 Little Miss contestants for the United States Agriculture pro- gram," Miller said. "It is not just a 'beauty pag- eant; it's a way to spread aware- ness and advocacy for all things agriculture. I'll have 12 months to learn about the agricultural field in Indiana, before compet- ing at the National level. In that 12 months, I hope to spread happiness by giving back to my community, awareness of agricultural topics, and most im- portantly having so much fun. I cannot wait to share my journey with everyone." Petersburg in the middle of $40 million in construction projects By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Editor editor@pressdispatch.net Petersburg City Council, Board of Public Works and Water Board spent most of the 70 minutes talking about the status of about $40 mil- lion of new construction in various stages, ranging just being completed to nearing the bidding process. "If you add it all up it has to be close to $40 million in projects," said Petersburg Mayor Klipsch of the various projects in Petersburg. The Highway 61 rehab project, which is an Indiana Department of Transporta- tion project, is near comple- tion. The road closed signs were taken up late Friday afternoon, opening Highway 61 to traffic for the first time since July of 2021. Klipsch said that project was more than $7 million. Main Street, Petersburg is like driving through a gaunt- let with two projects going on simultaneously on both sides. A new water main is being installed on the north side of Main St., with new ser vice water lines and hookups be- ing installed to customers on both sides. This project is being done by the City, while the Streetscape proj- ect installing new sidewalks immediately behind the new water line construction is an INDOT project. "I appreciate the cooper- ation between JBI and Wa- bash utilities. . . So far, it has gone ver y well considering how disruptive it is to make it happen. The cooperation between the contractors and with ever yone it has gone ver y well," said Klipsch. City Ser vices Manager Ross Elmore said he thought they would have ever yone in the 800 block of Main St. cut over to the new line. "Then here come the SPORTS B1 CHARGERS START SEASON STRONG See PARK on page 2 See MILLION on page 2 See SCHOOL on page 2 Tenley Miller, 2023 Indiana Little Miss United States Agriculture, feeds goats at Bear Creek Farms on Sat- urday. "We looked at all the different goats and got to feed them weeds," Miller said. "The little goats are my favorite. I hope I can get goats someday. My mom wants them too."