The Press-Dispatch
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$1.00 20 PAGES Two SECTIoNS ThrEE INSErTS PETErSBUrG, IN 47567-0068 wEdNESdAy, NovEmBEr 9, 2022 PIKE PUBLISHING voLUmE 152, NUmBEr 44 Commentary: Veterans need our support now more than ever Each year we come together as a nation on Veterans Day to honor and celebrate the hundreds of thou- sands of brave Americans who have served our country in uniform. Now more than ever, our veterans need our support. In a time when our country is divided on so many issues, we can all agree that those individuals who risked everything to protect our country and our way of life deserve our support and grat- itude. That's why this year, Pike Coun- ty is joining our colleagues across the nation in launching Operation Green Light for Veterans, an initia- tive designed to shine a light on the service of our veterans and their families. With the pursuit of the safety and security of our nation comes the re- sponsibility to support and serve the veterans who sacrificed on our be- half. Unfortunately, too many recent veterans, after nearly two decades of constant war, are struggling to tran- sition back to civilian life. Veteran suicides have claimed more than 30,000 lives since 2001— four times more than the number of U.S. military personnel who died in combat in Iraq and A fghanistan. While the vast majority of veterans return healthy and prepared for ci- vilian life, we must be better as a nation. Work almost complete on damages to Meadowbrook from detour By Sherri Sebella News Editor news@pressdispatch.net The Pike County Commission- ers discussed damages paid by the Indiana Department of Transporta- tion (INDOT) to yard and streets throughout the Meadowbrook Sub- division during construction the past year at this week's meeting. Josh Byrd, Pike County High- way Superintendent said the con- tract issued between INDOT and Pike County, agrees to reimburse Pike County an amount not to ex- ceed $52,503.67 for the restoration of the unofficial detour route to its pre-designation condition in lieu of INDOT restoring the unofficial de- tour route. Byrd said there are still two is- sues to be resolved with damage from specific semi-truck compa- nies involving a neighbor's flower bed and a driveway. "All the yards are fixed, but there are a couple is- sues left with INDOT and every- thing was covered," Byrd said. "We should break even." Commissioners approved the contract unanimously. Commissioners discussed pro- viding an ADA-compliant drink- ing fountain and bottle fill station at the courthouse. Due to some con- structional issues in addition to the supplies, bids came in at more than $5,000. Commissioners tabled the decision after Pike County Sher- iff Kent Johnson said he rents a five-gallon water cooler for much less than the bids that came in. The Commissioners agreed to look in- to the matter more before making a decision. In other business, EMS Direc- tor Chris Young discussed the bid of $134,376.68 for an ambulance re- mount. Young said it is the same company they have used previous- ly and he asked the Commission- ers to approve the request because of the ability to lock in the price if they do so now. Commissioners ap- Super Chargers place third Emily Herrera drives Pike Central's Greenpower racer up the back straightaway. She drove the first 30-minute stretch of the 90-minute race. See story on A-2. City hires officer, annexes proposed housing subdivision By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Editor editor@pressdispatch.net Petersburg City Council hired a new police officer and voted in a special November 1 meeting to an- nex two potential housing subdi- visions along Pike Avenue, and in their Nov. 7 meeting announced a temporary ice skating rink will be set up for the Christmas Parade. In the special meeting on Novem- ber 1 the council voted unanimous- ly to annex both Rio Blanco Estates Annexation and Jam Property De- velopment. Rio Blanco is a proposed housing subdivision that includes about 150 lots for housing in an area between Whitelock Ave. and Hornady Park and between Park Lane and Pike Ave. adjacent to Hornady Park. Jam Property and Development is located along Pike Ave. roughly across Pike Ave. from the Brickyard nursing home, formerly known as Golden Living. Petersburg Mayor RC Klipsch said Petersburg had to annex the properties before a TIF (Tax Incre- ment Fund) district could be estab- lished. A TIF district will allow Peters- burg to take the property tax on the new development in the TIF district to pay for development. During Monday night's meet- ing Mayor Klipsch announced the Downtown Development committee has secured an ice skating rink that will be set up on Eighth St. between Main and Walnut Sts. on Saturday, December 3, the day of the Christ- mas parade. The parade is scheduled for 3 p.m. Klipsch said they also will move the Santa House to Eighth St. for that day. Mayor Klipsch issued the oath of office to Petersburg's newest police officer Ben Hess. Hess, a 2019 grad- uate of Pike Central High School, was hired. LOCAL A4 NEWS TIPS Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Email ����� editor@pressdispatch�net INSIDE Local ���������������� A1-10 Classifieds �����������A6-7 Legals �������������������� A7 Obituaries ���������������A9 Sports �����������������B1-3 Church ��������������B4-5 School ���������������� B6-8 History �������������������B7 Shopping����������������B8 Home Life ����������B9-10 USPS 604-34012 See SUPPORT on page 4 See BAKER on page 4 See REPAIR on page 2 See COUNCIL on page 2 By Sherri Sebella News Editor sherri@pressdispatch.net There were points in his story where Kurt G. Baker, a Vietnam War veteran, had to take a break and gather himself, as he recalled his time serving in the Vietnam War. "I was a three-year man," Baker said. "I was a Crew Chief and co-pi- lot. I was the observer. I was everything except a pilot. I was an enlist- ed man and only officers could be pilots, but I was taught to fly by my pilot, because there were only the two of us." Baker flew in the Army troops helicopter, called the OH-6As Loaches, a contraction of "light observation helicopters." The ship was unusually light and had plenty of pow- er, perfect for flying nap-of-the-earth mis- sions, and its 26 -foot-diameter main rotor made getting into tight landing zones a snap. "We fitted it with guns for protection and our job was to fly tree top level," Bak- er said. "We would fly under the tree tops because we knew Vietcong enemies were down there. Through intelligence, we would find out where the enemy was (their area of operations). It was scary when nothing was going on, because we knew they were watch- ing us. I would be looking for activity." Baker and his pilot's goal was for the ene- my to shoot at them. "We had a lead helicop- ter and a wing helicopter as a back-up," Cox said. "When we would get fired at, I would Otwell man tells his tale of Vietnam There were points in his sto- ry where Kurt G. Baker, a Viet- nam War veteran, had to take a break and gather himself, as he recalled his time serving in the Vietnam War. Baker flew in the Army troops helicopter, called the OH-6As Loaches, a contraction of "light obser- vation helicopters." The ship was unusually light and had plenty of power, perfect for fly- ing nap-of-the-earth missions, and its 26-foot-diameter main rotor made getting into tight landing zones a snap.