The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1476428
A-2 Wednesday, August 17, 2022 The Press-Dispatch Commissioners approve petition to vacate public way and close road By Sherri Sebella News Editor sherri@pressdispatch.net Pike County commission- ers approved a petition to vacate public way and close road after it was discovered that the previous owner of 385 South Glezen West Street, had a manufactured home placed on proper- ty that they believed they owned. Following a sur vey inquir y, it was discovered that this house, now owned by Chad and Rebekah Ev- ans, is actually sitting on unimproved Glezen South Street. The Evans asked the Commissioners to vacate the por tion of a public way described in their petition since all the proper ty sur- rounding the proposed va- cated public way is owned by the Evanses. The Com- missioners approved the request unanimously. In other business, the Commissioners discussed the Emergency Manage- ment Agency (EMA) grant for radios, where a public hearing was held in April and notice to vendors was published. EMA Director Ryan Benning said they had re- ceived a final quote from VEI Communications for $128,836.40, of which there is a 35 percent grant match for par t of the grand total. Commissioners approved the final quote unanimous- ly. Benner also discussed the Multi Hazard Mitigation Grant with Commissioners that has to be reviewed and approved ever y five years. The agreement between Pike County and the Tr ust- ees of Indiana University, in which Indiana University per forms research ser vices for EMA at a cost of $18,457 for ser vices per formed from July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023, was ap- proved unanimously. Because the purchase of a new paver for the Pike County Highway Depar t- ment was not adver tised, a request by the Highway Depar tment to transfer $80,000 from County Road Nor th Rehab to Machiner y and Equipment was needed to pay for the paver. The Commissioners approved the transfer unanimously and High- way Superintendent Josh Byrd said the machine had worked great for their pav- ing needs and there were no issues with the ma- chine. Byrd said they were finishing up with paving on Monday and then going back to mowing and back- grading. Commissioners accept- ed the resignation of Alex Mahrenholz as Purdue Ex- tension 4-H Youth Develop- ment/Agriculture & Nat- ural Resources Extension Educator and County Ex- tension Director that took ef fect on Monday, August 8. Brooke Goble has been named as the new Pike County Purdue Extension Director and Goble is the first point of contact at the Pike County Purdue Ex- tension Office. Goble has already begun her role as the new Director for Pike County Purdue Extension Office. Pamela Cosby, an inde- pendent contractor, spoke to the Commissioners regarding her Primar y Bio-Terrorism Prepared- ness Coordinator contract, describing the scope of her ser vices for the Pike County Health Depar t- ment. The Commissioners unanimously approved her contract ef fective July 1, 2022 and terminating June 30, 2023. Cosby will be paid $25 per hour, not to exceed $25,000 during the grant pe- riod. Cosby also presented the Commissioners with a grant agreement contract for $25,000 to cover the cost of her ser vices to the county. Commissioners approved a $5,000 transfer from FICA to Vehicle Repair for Coro- ner vehicle modifications unanimously. In business by public, Pike County EMS Director Chris Young told Commis- sioners they have made 1,491 r uns this year, which is 427 more than last year. The next commissioners meeting will be 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 6, at the cour thouse. The pub- lic is encouraged to attend these meetings. Local program builds life-changing relationships for students By Sherri Sebella News Editor sherri@pressdispatch.net For children, elementar y years are critical for their de- velopment, as they form val- ues, establish self-esteem, and acquire academic skills. For some children, they do not re- ceive the support, encourage- ment or one-on-one attention that a child needs to flourish. With the Kids Hope USA program, run locally through the Petersburg Free Method- ist Church, the unheard child is being heard and adults are volunteering their time to be the mentor a child who needs to develop transformative re- lationships with caring and consistent adults in their lives, empowering them to thrive. Kids Hope USA Director Jan Cunningham, of the Petersburg Free Methodist Church, has seen the success of the pro- gram at Petersburg Elementa- ry School for the last 10 years since she became the Director. Petersburg Free Methodist Church began participating in the Kids Hope USA program in 2000 and hopes to continue the program through caring individuals in the community who attend Petersburg Free Methodist Church. "It has been a wonderful, wonderful, program," Cun- ningham said. "The teachers have been so good at not pick- ing the kids who are a prob- lem and they want out of their classroom, but the kids who need more adult attention; the invisible child who not every- one pays attention to, or the kids that are just swept by the wayside. They aren't a problem child, they just need attention." Through the Kids Hope USA program, adults who at- tend Petersburg Free Meth- odist church can volunteer their time at Petersburg Ele- mentar y School to meet with students once a week and de- velop a one-on-one mentoring relationship. These adults pro- vide another source of encour- agement and support for the children to thrive. This one- on-one attention can make a world of difference for a child in need of the support of an- other caring and consistent adult in their life. "It is only through our church right now, and you have to attend our church to be a mentor, but other church- es can participate in the pro- gram," Cunningham said. "If another church is interest- ed, they can offer the program also, but they have to form their own program, have their own director, and mentors. The theme is one church, one school, one child, and one hour. You have the same child from kindergarten through fifth grade. A lot of times the children move away and you get a new child, but the goal is to remain with the same child all through those grades for consistency. We have prayer partners who pray for the child during the hour the mentor is visiting them also. Some kids never have anyone who prays for them, so this is a ver y special program." For more information about Kids Hope USA, visit their web- site at https://kidshopeusa.org. No pictures unless she sends something in the morning or we pull a picture from the website The one-on-one relationships created through men- torships can impact kids' outlooks on school and life. They know they have one more person in their corner to support them. Evansville man rolls SUV on I-69 in Pike County By Sherri Sebella News Editor sherri@pressdispatch.net A witness traveling on Inter- state 69 was southbound near the 48.5 mile marker Saturday, when he witnessed an SUV leave the northbound lane and go into a ditch to the east side of Interstate 69 northbound lane. The witness told police he ran across the interstate to check on the driver and no- ticed that the car was still mov- ing in the ditch. According to the witness, the SUV rolled over two to three times before coming to a stop. The SUV was laying on the driver side when it came to rest. The witness noticed a man walking north in the field where the vehicle had stopped. The witness said the approached them so they could see his condition. The witness said he seemed con- fused and complained of left arm pain. The driver, Ronald Mauri- cio Roblero Mazariegos, 19, of Evansville, complained of head and left arm pain. Roble- ro Mazariegos said he was the only one in the vehicle and he had not consumed any alco- holic beverages. Police who assisted on the crash said there were skid marks coming from the left lane, crossing the right lane, going into the ditch. Mazariegos had no identifi- cation on him or in the vehicle, but an emergency contact was given to get more information. Roblero Mazariegos was trans- ported to Deaconess Midtown in Evansville. It was unknown if Roblero Mazariegos had a valid drivers license. able island obstacle course," Swisher said. "The course will be made up of a series of inflatable slides, runways, jumping pillows, and bounc- ers, all connected together. There is a great variety of different shapes, sizes and functions, making the activi- ty exciting and entertaining for ever yone." "For those who want to enjoy the water at a slower pace, we will have canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, and paddle board rentals. Life- guards will be in and around the water during business hours. Anyone who partici- pates in either the rentals or the island will be required to wear a life jacket, which will be provided." Besides water fun, there will be other things to enjoy including a concession stand with a variety of items, such as drinks, candy, nachos and snow cones. The surround- ing grass areas by the lake will have some new ameni- ties too, including a sandy beach, 36 foot by 18 foot Jump pad, dunk tank, play- ground for kids, horseshoe pits, corn hole, volleyball and live music days. "This is the first aqua park for me," Swisher said. "There are a lot of Jellystone Parks that have them. I think this can be ver y successful in Pike County." street lights," said Klipsch of the next phase." Elmore warned the intersec- tion of Highway 61 at Main St. would have one lane of traffic closed the next couple of days. Klipsch said work has started on the new water plant. He said the materials for a new water line to be built from the well field to the new plant is expected to arrive sooner than expected. One project that hasn't start- ed is a sewer plant expansion. He said the plans are ready to be bid. The plan's approval was de- layed by COVID, consequently the cost estimates of construc- tion pre-COVID were consider- ably less than post COVID. Klipsch said he talked with Rural Development and was told there may be some funds to help with the increased cost of con- struction. "That is the first time we have heard this," said Klipsch. Elmore said they still have problems at the old water plant. He said over the weekend he got a late-night call about an au- tomated control that had a water pump running after it was dry. He said they had the pump pulled and it was taken in to be checked to see if it needs re- pair. "I'm sure we are going to have some expense for repairs on it," said Elmore. Main St. Presbyterian donates to Petersburg In other business, Klipsch said the City of Petersburg has received several large donations from the Main St. Presbyterian Church. Klipsch said they donated $5,000 to Hornady Park, and $5,000 to Walnut Hills Ceme- tery, $2,500 to Discover Down- town, and $2,000 to improve the illuminated arch in the Christmas in the Park light display. Councilman Gary Leavitt suggested Petersburg send the church a letter thanking them and have all the council- men sign it. The council also appointed councilman Brian VanMe- ter as their representative to the Pike County Solid Waste Board. Gar y Leavitt had been the representative and asked to be replaced. The next city council meet- ing is set for 6:30 p.m. Tues- day, September 6. It is being moved to Tuesday due to the Labor Day holiday. PARK Continued from page 1 MILLION Continued from page 1 ed on the ones in the gym area. But they ar rived late so it has been delayed. Since then, the price has increased. She said they purchased three units for $299,000, but now they will be lucky to get two units for $400,000. She said if they order them now they will not be able to install them until the summer 2024. The board voted to move for ward with the project. BUS ROUTE COMPLAINT Amanda Stevens com- plained a bus will not pick up her child. She said she was told she needed to bring her child to the bus. Stevens said she lives on a steep hill, but a few years ago a bus would pick up another child in the same area. Stevens said she can not take her child to the bus be- cause she is a single working mother who has to be at work at 5:30 a.m. and works 11 hours a day. She said complicating the matter is a "violent sex offend- er" who lives in the area. "We will look into it," said board president Steve Potter. In personnel matters, the school board hired Michelle Lemond at the Winslow Ele- mentary School Computer Sci- ence Position. She was a fourth grade teacher there. They hired Nicole Nixon to replace Le- mond as a fourth grade teacher. Samantha Loveland was hired as a kindergarten teacher. Stevie Faith was hired as the Winslow Special Educa- tion teacher. Ellen Corn and Amanda Cox were added as Special Education Assistants at Winslow. At Pike Central, Amanda Ste- vens resigned as social studies teacher and Andy Igle and Cody Shoultz were hired as social stud- ies teachers. Two robotics team sponsors resigned. Terra Knust sponsored Petersburg Elementary School and Danielle Carter sponsored Pike Central Middle School. Chris Mohammed, busi- ness and computer teacher at Pike Central as well as soccer and basketball coach resigned all of his positions. At Petersburg Elementar y School, Nicole Griffith and Brook Nalley were hired as teaching assistants. Theresa Long was hired as an instruction assistant at Pike Central High School. The next school board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 13. 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