The Press-Dispatch
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$1.00 20 PAGES FOUR SECTIONS PETERSBURG, IN 47567-0068 Wednesday, Februa ry 8, 2023 PIKE PUBLISHING VOLuMe 153, nuMber 6 Cook files for city council position By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch News news@pressdispatch.net There will not be a primary elec- tion for Petersburg City Council this May. as of now there is only one con- tested race set for the general elec- tions in november. Kullen Cook filed during the last week before the Friday, February 3 deadline for the district 4 seat on the republican ticket. Cook is the only candidate other than the sev- en incumbents to officially file his candidacy. He is challenging democrat in- cumbent brian VanMeter. Petersburg Mayor r. C. Klipsch (r), Clerk Treasurer Tammy sel- by as well as the other four district councilmen: Gary Leavitt dist. 1, John Melhiser dist. 2, scott Jenkins dist. 3 and Jody Hoover at-large are unopposed. Parties can appoint candidates to vacant positions on their ticket af- ter the primary and before the gen- eral election. Press-Dispatch employees go remote The Press-Dispatch has now transitioned to a virtual work- place, with all employees work- ing from their homes, but as al- ways, we are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The former Press-Dispatch building will be closed. Our quality of service and coverage of news will not change for our dedicated readers and to our advertising clients. For subscriptions and paper delivery inquiries, call 765 -884- 1902 or email hmgcirculation@ gmail.com. For news submissions, email the editor, sherri Griffin, at sherri@pressdispatch.net. deadline is Monday at 4 p.m. or call 812-354-8500. For legal notices, email hmglegals@gmail.com, dead- line is Friday at 10 a.m. For advertising and clas- sifieds, email ads@pressdis- patch.net or call 812-354-8500, deadline Friday at noon. Pike County Soil & Water holds annual meeting By Jill Hyneman Correspondent news@pressdispatch.net The Pike County soil & Water Conservation district (sWCd) partnered with Pike County Purdue extension Tuesday, January 31, for their combined annual Meeting and dinner. The event was held at the Glezen revival Center. It was a friendly, funny, and educational evening with approximately eighty people in at- tendance. norman dillion, sWCd Chair- man, started the meeting by intro- ducing the sWCd board and staff. "emily stepped up taking initia- tive right away", dillon said when speaking about emily Kelly, nrCs district Conservationist who start- ed in March of 2022. dillion also introduced amity Traylor sWdC's brand-new district Coordinator. Logan dillan led the audience in the Pledge of allegiance and invo- cation. Chris Lee, Conservationist for the united states department of agri- culture-natural resources Conser- vation service (usda-nrCs), was at the podium to do ice breakers, for a lighter side to the meeting, "Who's wearing the most rings," Lee asked. "I have eight on one hand." Carrie Jean dillion responded. dillion was hands-down the winner of that ice breaker. succulents were the cen- terpieces that evening and prizes for the ice breaker questions. Paul Lake, sWdC Vice Chair- man, and norman dillon handled the election portion of the sWCd meeting. daniel Johnson was elect- ed and sworn in as a new supervisor for the sWCd board. The featured presentation for the event was Talon Trust. "Talon Trust is dedicated to the conservation and education of helping native rap- tors", said Jill Keepes, a volunteer and event speaker of Talon Trust. Keepes explained that raptors are eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls. Talon Trust is a nonprofit that was founded in 2013 and has rescued 578 birds since it opened. Talon Trust brought five raptors with them to show the audience up close the kinds of birds they care for at their organization. These birds were rosie, a female east- ern screech Owl, Harley, a female Harris's Hawk, Grey, a female east- ern screech Owl, Fern, a female american Kestral, and rue, a fe- male Hawk. you can find more information about their organization on Face- book and at their website www. thetalontrust.org. brooke Goble, Purdue extension County extension director, present- ed their business session. Goble in- troduced the board members, staff, and introduced their newest exten- sion educator, Mandy Hannah. Goble highlighted on 2022 events and programs like Pike County Leadership Program, Food bud- geting/Meal Prep, Parents Forever Someone You Should Know - Larry Haycraft - Master Net Maker By Mendy Ross Correspondent news@pressdispatch.net Think about having the patience of tying 7,672 knots in about 14 days. That's what Master net Mak- er Larry Haycraft learned from his father and is now teaching his grandson. "My favorite is my oldest craft, my oldest hobby," said Haycraft. "and told it was the oldest craft known to man. I do believe, I know why it would be the oldest craft known to man. When you fish with a fishing pole you only catch fish when the fish are hungry, but when you fish with a net you catch fish when you are hungry and be able to feed your family." Haycraft added, "The one my dad taught me, the craft and mak- ing fishing nets, one knot at a time. My smallest net has 7,672 knots in it. dad also told me someday I may be one of the last master net makers someday. but something you need to know, when I make a net, I still hear dad talking to me through it as I make the net. I guess that is why it's my favorite. It means a lot to me." The net has a series of hoops worked into the handcrafted net- ting, creating a tube structure to catch a large amount of fish from Master Net Maker Larry Haycraft is one of the few net makers left in the state of Indiana. His father taught him the trade and now he is teaching his grandson. "When I make a net, I still hear Dad talking to me through it as I make the net," said Haycraft. "I guess that is why it's my favorite. It means a lot to me." Sidebottom charged with OVWI and neglect By James Capozella Press-dispatch news news@pressdispatch.net Terra M. sidebottom, 33, 29 douglas dr. Washington was ar- rested for OV WI and neglect of a dependent after Petersburg Police Chief Kyle Mills observed the nissan sidebot- tom was driving go off the road- way and into the grass, go up onto the curb near sr 356 and sr57 and then nearly hit a parked car on Main street. a fter the traffic stop, Chief Mills noticed her speech was very slurred and that she had a hard time keep- ing her eyes open. due to the im- pairment Mills observed, he asked sidebottom to do field sobriety tests but because of the 14 degree tem- peratures they were performed at the Pike County Jail. Indiana state Trooper John davis and Petersburg officer ryan benner assisted with the care of sidebottom's four year old son. sidebottom failed field sobriety tests and was halted at one point because she almost fell. she was transported to the daviess Com- munity Hospital where a blood and urine test came back positive for benzodiazepines, THC/marijuana and buprenorphine. sidebottom was transported to the Pike County Jail where officer benner informed Mills that the child seat was not properly secured. Pike Central High School Sponsor and FFA members attend the annual Pike County Soil & Water Conservation meeting. Pictured are: FFA Sponsor Daryl Kluemper, Xander Parker, Pillar Rudolph, Noah Himsel, Corey Goeppner, Nathan Snyder, Griffin Correl, along with bottom row - Ava Reinhart, Kelsea Query, and Doyal Attaway. WES do the Twist By Mendy Ross Correspondent news@pressdispatch.net This year's 50's day created a lot of excitement in the Winslow elementary school on Friday, Feb- ruary 3, as nearly all students and staff dressed in their 50's outfits of cuffed jeans and poodle skirts for the school's forty year Twist Contest tradition. The contest took place during the afternoon in the gym. each class had approximately 20 minutes to compete with their best twist moves. all staff and students had the opportunity to dance to replica jukebox 50's music during the after- noon, either as part of the contest or just for fun. "50's day is a favorite day for the students and staff, almost ev- eryone dresses up in their rolled up jeans and poodle skirts for 50's day," said Wes secretary Mrs. su- san aldridge. "Parents remember when they participated in the past and are excited to come watch their children have the same fun." To give students a chance to catch their breath, each class had a mid-contest song that they could take a rest or just keep dancing. during the break song, visiting par- ents could come down and get pic- Third grade WES student Landon Keith and Mrs. Madi- son Henderson-Martin dance to the jukebox 50's music during the Winslow Elementary School 50's Day Twist Contest on Fri- day, February 3. NEWS TIPS Phone: ����������������������������������� 812-354-8500 Email ��������������������� editor@pressdispatch�net INSIDE Local �������������������������A1-6 Sports ������������������������ B1-4 Classifieds �������������������C1-2 Legals ������������������������������C3 Home Life ������������������������C4 History �����������������������������C5 Opinion����������������������������C6 Church ��������������������� D1-2 School ���������������������������� D3 USPS 604-34012 SPORTS B1 See TWIST on page 2 LOCAL A3 See NET on page 2 See FIRE DEPT page 3 See SOIL on page 2 PCHS has nine head to State for Solo & Ensemble Contest Chargers swim seventh at sectional Patoka and Lockhart Township Fire Departments merge By Sherri Sebella editor sherri@pressdispatch.net big things are happening when it comes to the fire coverage for the Patoka and Lockhart Township community. as of January 1, Lockhart Town- ship Fire department merged with Patoka Township Fire department and is now a part of the Patoka Township coverage. The departments hope to have a community event in the spring in the Lockhart area to get to know the community. "several factors played into merg- ing fire departments," brandon Truitt, Patoka Township Fire Chief. "Probably the two major driving factors are volunteers and cost. Vol- unteer firefighters are dwindling in numbers across the nation, and with the amount of training and risk in- volved, most people aren't willing to commit the time. The cost involved into keeping equipment and stations updated is going through the roof; tack on fuel and insurance costs, and there isn't much to go around for turnout gear." Truitt said that instead of dupli- cating efforts, the two fire depart- ments can take the best of both departments and make a stronger, more cost efficient department. "We have created a stronger fire service for Patoka, Lockhart Township, and