The Press-Dispatch
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Trace finds his forever home at Otwell Miller Academy By Sherri Sebella News Editor sherri@pressdispatch.net Trace, the famous artistic metal buffalo that could be seen in front of Buchta Med- ical Clinic in Otwell for some time now, has now found its forever home in front of the Otwell Miller Academy. "We found out that Buchta was doing some new land- scaping and was going to get rid of the buffalo in front of their building, so we thought it would be a great addition in front of our school, given the histor y that surrounds it," said Rich Padgett, OMA Principal. "At one time, Otwell Ele- mentar y School (OES) re- ceived an Indiana Arts Grant which involved a visiting Indiana artist," Tina Weis- man, said. "Joe LaMantia of Bloomington was well-known for working with children on collaborative projects, so this was ideal for OES. Marilyn Brandsasse was the art/mu- sic teacher at OES and she graciously opened up the art room, supplies, and time to work with Joe." LaMantia worked with each grade level of kids and they talked about the histor y of Otwell. LaMantia also talked to staff and parents, asking questions about the town in order to get a good picture of our past and present. "It was decided that, since our area was a buffalo wallow at one time, a buffalo would be a fitting animal to create." Weisman said. "Since we are a strong farming community, it was decided that this buffalo would recognize our agricul- tural past and present." According to Weisman, there was also a life-sized mill- stone created by LaMantia, Brandsasse, and the kids, rep- resenting the main business for years in Otwell, the Mill. Although students and parents hadn't been born yet when the mill was at its peak, there was still a strong con- nection to it, courtesy of the school's mascot, the Otwell Miller Man. "Junie Himsel, a friend and supporter of many local ele- mentar y schools' historical curriculum through pictures, had gifted the school with a large collection of pictures of days' past of the area," Weis- man said. "These pictures were of tremendous value on this project. The students painted scenes from the var- ious pictures onto the mill- stone. Through the generosity of the Community Center, the Millstone is on display in the Community gymnasium." The students of OES were all given the opportunity to "draw" the buffalo. As a result, LaMantia then compiled many of the student drawings and the resulting buffalo strongly resembles a child's drawing, which is an endearing part of the creation. Parents were asked to look around for old farm imple- ments that could be attached to the buf falo to represent our farming culture. Many grand- parents became involved as well at this point; the students discovered a number of now rusted and discarded items in old barns, sheds, that with the help of generations, told them the stor y of what these items were and how they were used. "Since it was decided that sheet metal would be used for the body of the buffalo, sev- eral dads and interested men with metal cutting and weld- ing skills came to the rescue," Weisman said. "One evening, nearly at dark, The form of the buffalo was getting its fi- nal cutting in the front park- ing lot. Needless to say, it was exciting to see the form take structure; now to attach the implements." LaMantia and the men worked diligently in attaching the numerous items. Gears were cleverly added as the outline of the buffalo's eyes. A hole was cut out of the buffa- lo in the area where the heart would be located. It was decid- ed that, in the future, a time capsule of sorts could be add- ed and would fill the buffalo's heart with memories. "The buffalo was then known as Trace, named by the students," Weisman said. "I don't remember who it was that came up with the name. Trace was anchored in the front of the building on its mound with some prairie grass tucked around it in or- der to represent its past sur- roundings." When OES was closed, it was a concern to the town that Trace might be removed and lost forever, Buchta Trucking was asked and gave permis- sion for Trace to be relocated to the Buchta Medical Clinic. He remained there until last weekend when, happily, Trace found his forever home, back with the students at Otwell Miller Academy. The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, September 21, 2022 B-3 Charger sports schedule Thursday, Sept. 22 Boys tennis at Vincennes Lincoln 5 p.m. MS cross countr y at Barr Reeve 5:30 p.m. 7 & 8 volleyball hosts Holy Trinity Catholic 6 p.m. Boys soccer at Gibson Southern 6 p.m. Volleyball V & JV hosts S. Spencer 6:30 & 7:45 p.m. 7 & 8 football at North Posey 6:30 p.m. Girls soccer at Gibson Southern 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 Football at North Knox 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 JV volleyball at Forest Park tourney 9 a.m. Cross countr y PC Invita- tional 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26 7 & 8 volleyball hosts Princ- eton 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27 MS cross countr y at Gibson Southern 5:45 p.m. Boys soccer at Southridge 6 p.m. Volleyball V & JV hosts Te- cumseh 6:30 & 7:45 p.m. Girls soccer at Heritage Hills 7:45 p.m. Charger tennis gets two wins By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central's boys ten- nis team, which is all soph- omores and freshmen, beat Vincennes Rivet 4-1 on Wednesday and Boonville 5-0 on Thursday. "It was nice to close out the week with a win, and to finish out the week going 2-1. It was also kind of sig- nificant in the fact that we've had a couple of 5-0 wins the last couple of weeks as well, its cer tainly been a while since that has happened. We're still a year away from where we want to be as far as quality of play goes, but we are trending in the right direction," said Charger Brent Beck. Pike Central's number one singles Eli Arnold rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win over John Galner. At number two singles Charger Adon Lemond beat Mason Trent 6-2, 6-3. Number one doubles team Parker Knust and JJ Belmore won 6-0, 6-1. Kaden Englert and Ethan Mann both picked up a forfeit at number two dou- bles. Nate Carter at number three singles fell to senior Thomas Herman 6-3, 7-5 in a close two-set match. The win was the third this season for the Chargers. On Thursday against Boon- ville the Chargers swept the Pioneers. Eli Arnold beat senior Azne Montgomer y 6-2, 6-1, Adon Lemond at number two singles beat Boonville junior Joe Muesner 6-0, 6-0. Nate Car ter at number three singles won 6-0, 6-1 and Park- er Knust and J. J. Belmore won 6-0, 6-1 over Boonville's Brayden Day and Zeyden Schmitt. At number two doubles Kaden Engler and Ethan Man accepted a forfeit. Charger tennis beat Vincennes Rivet 4-1 By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central's boys ten- nis team, which is all soph- omores and freshmen beat Vincennes Rivet 4-1 on Thursday. Pike Central's number one singles Eli Ar nold rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win over John Galner. At number two singles Charger Adon Lemond beat Mason Trent 6-2, 6-3. Number one doubles Parker Knust and JJ Bel- more won 6-0, 6-1. Kaden Engler t and Ethan Mann both picked up a for feit at number two doubles. Nate Car ter at number three singles fell to senior Thomas Herman 6-3, 7-5 in a close two-set match. The win was the third win this season for the Chargers. Scouts fishing day set for Saturday at Hornady Park The Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Little John Bait and Tackle Shop are having a free fishing day at Ashley Lake in Hornady Park on Saturday, September 24 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. It is a free fishing day with the Department of Natural Resources, so parents will not be required to have a fishing license. al points and came out on top," said Shedd. Pike Central had lost to Washington earlier in the year in four games. "We have beaten two teams during Saturday competitions that we lost to earlier in the sea- son. This proves how much our team is improving and gaining confidence in themselves and their teammates," said Shedd. The Lady Charger vol- leyball team is now 11-12. Pike Central ended in a three-way tie for first in the round-robin as they beat East- ern Greene and Washington. Eastern Green beat Wash- ington and South Knox, and South Knox beat Washington and Pike Central to all tie for first in the four-team event. Ft. Branch man charged with resisting law arrest with a vehicle By James Capozella Press-Dispatch News news@pressdispatch.net A traffic stop for speed- ing on SR57 by Petersburg officer Chase Dotter weich ended in the arrest of a Fort Branch man for resisting by vehicle. Gabriel Jalen Krutz, 20, 6849S 500E, Fort Branch was arrested for resisting law enforcement using a ve- hicle, reckless driving, pos- session of meth and posses- sion of paraphernalia after Officer Dotter weich was able to make the stop. Krutz drove on SR57 north into Petersburg, to First Street, Illinois Street, a park- ing lot and then to the bridge on Illinois Street before stop- ping. Pike County Sheriff Sgt. Jarrod Simmons and deputy Kane Osgatharp assisted in the stop which began with speeds of up to 89 mph. Krutz said the reason he didn't stop was because of a brake malfunction. Officers found marijuana, a one-hitter pipe, a grinder, a homemade smoking de- vice and two THC vape pens. Krutz was transported to the Pike County Jail by Officer Dotter weich and Meyers Towing removed the vehicle from Illinois Street. net edition pressdispatch.net/edition Web, Smartphone, Tablet Streamline the Headline! 812-354-8500 • 820 Poplar St., Petersburg, IN • ads@pressdispatch.net TIES Continued from page 1 Franklin woman summoned for possession By James Capozella Press-Dispatch News news@pressdispatch.net Deanna Funk, 26, 161 Roundelay Drive, Franklin received a summons for possession of marijuana by Indiana State Trooper Brayden Angermeier fol- lowing a traffic stop for speeding on I69 last Sun- day. Roland Biggs was cited for speeding and Funk was cited for possession of a plastic bag and jar contain- ing marijuana and also for a metal grinder. A second vehicle was stopped at the same time for speeding and was also issued a speeding ticket but released prior to Funk's sum- mons for marijuana. Failure to appear on October 6 for the citation will result in an arrest warrant for Funk ac- cording to the report. Meyer charged with battery and resisting By James Capozella Press-Dispatch News news@pressdispatch.net Concerns by the Lake Helmerich Housing Owners Association board for their meeting were realized after Timothy W. Meyer, 65, 10840 Garnetta Lane, Huntingburg, was arrested for batter y re- sulting in bodily injur y and resisting law enforcement. Pike County Chief Depu- ty Sheriff Dallas Killian had been requested to be at the Thursday evening meeting due to high tensions over an employee situation, accord- ing to the report. Chief Deputy Killian wit- nessed Timothy Meyer drive in for the meeting, walk past him and then punch Shawn J. Worden, 64, in the chest. Killian then contended with Meyer who was resisting his attempts to end the assault that had knocked the air out of Worden according to the report. Killian grabbed Meyer's right arm and ordered him to place his hands behind his back but instead, Meyer at- tempted to break free. Killian reports that Meyer turned and had a fist as if he was going to punch him. Killian shoved Meyer back and told him he was under arrest and to place his hands behind his back. Meyer continued to pull away and resist but Killian eventually got Meyer to comply according to the report. When Killian had Meyer at the patrol car, he refused to get in and said that he was not going to jail. Killian no- ticed the odor of alcohol com- ing from him, read Meyer his Miranda rights, and asked if he had been drinking. Meyer said he drank at his house and when given a PBT, tested .08 BAC. Deputy Briar Meadors ar- rived to assist and transport- ed Meyer to the Pike County Security Center. Worden, who had prior surgery in the area he was punched, was still having diffi- culty breathing and was taken to the hospital to be checked out. Hape charged with driving privileges violation By James Capozella Press-dispatch News news@pressdispatch.net A traffic stop by Pike County Sheriff Deputy Kane Osgatharp concluded with a summons for Darby L. Hape after it was determined he had violated his specialized driving privileges. Deputy Osgatharp spoke with Pike County Prosecutor Darin McDonald and con- cluded that Darby L. Hape, 49, 2965E CR750N, Peters- burg, was in violation of the court's specialized driving privileges. Hape was cited for speed- ing 71 in a 55 mph zone and also for violation of his spe- cialized driving privileges and then released from the scene according to the re- port. Otwell Miller Academy kindertners stand near Trace the Buffalo. The artwork was recently moved onto the Miller Academy grounds. NEWS! Want to share your news with others? The Press-Dispatch can help deliver it to Pike and the surrounding counties. 812-354-8500