The Press-Dispatch

Wednesday, March 8, 2023 The Press-Dispatch A-3 LOCAL Submit news items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: news@pressdispatch.net READER'S GUIDE Subscriptions: Change of address: subscribers changing addresses will please give old address as well as new one along with phone number. We cannot guarantee prompt change unless this is done. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Heartland Media Group, LLC, P.O. Box 275, Fowler, 47944-0275 or email hmgcirculation@ gmail.com or call 765-884-1902. Subscription rates as of Jan. 1, 2023: One year: $42 for Pike County; $48 elsewhere in Indiana; out-of-state: $63. Paid in ad- vance. Subscriptions taken after noon on Friday will not receive a paper until the second edition after their subscription date. About us: Don Hurd, Publisher Sherri Griffin, Editor Andy Heuring, Sports/News .Pam Lemond, Adv. Sales Cindy Petty, Adv. Sales • • • Published every Wednesday by Heartland Media Group, LLC. Phone: 812-354-8500 P.O. Box 68, Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 • • • Entered in the Post Office in Petersburg, Indiana for transmission through the mails as Periodical Mail, postage paid at Petersburg, Indiana – published weekly. (USPS 205-620) Contact us: Main Phone: .............................................................. 812-354-8500 Circulation: ............................................................... 765-884-1902 Editor sherri@pressdispatch.net Advertising ads@pressdispatch.net General News news@pressdispatch.net Circulation hmgcirculation@gmail.com Someone You Should Know Jason McKinney, Pike County Sheriff By Sherri Griffin editor sherri@pressdispatch.net If you do not know our newly elected Pike county sheriff Jason McKinney, here is your chance. McK- inney is definitely someone you should know, and many people throughout the com- munity do, since he has lived here and dedicated his time and entire life to Pike county, not only serv- ing the community but as an active volunteer in the community as well. McKinney has been married for 28 years and has two sons. some of his hobbies include camping, golfing, swimming, and coaching. McKinney has coached different teams at Pike county school corpo- ration for 24 years. some of those sports include the swim team, football, girls softball, and girls volley- ball. since becoming sher- iff, McKinney still volun- teers in sports coaching at the school as time permits. When asked something people would be surprised or interested to know, McKinney humbly was un- sure and then his face lit up when he recalled a trip to honduras with his family on vacation. "That trip was probably one of the biggest things I've ever done with my family," McKinney said. McKinney enjoyed scuba diving with his sons and showing his family how less fortunate people live in other countries. McKinney got into law enforcement after work- ing at coca cola as a dis- trict Manager for 15 years. "I've always loved to help people," McKinney said. "I first started as a reserve deputy and started the student resource Officer Program for Pike coun- ty school corporation. I was the student resource Officer (srO) for all the schools in Pike county. I did that for four years, and then we got extra people. One person couldn't do what needed to be done to keep kids safe at all the schools." each school now has its own srO to keep students safe in our school system. McKinney has seen many things as a srO at the schools including drugs, guns, overdoses and other things no one ever wishes to happen at their school, but does happen in every community through- out the country. McKinney was honored to be elected as the cur- rent Pike county sheriff and takes his job very se- riously. McKinney wants to see improvements and programs for inmates in jail including the newly started ministry program for in- mates. "There is a pastor guy from dubois county that comes in," McKinney said. "There are many in- mates involved. It's going really well. I'm looking at substance abuse classes for inmates also and hope to get that started. I want to help them get them on their feet and turn their lives around so they don't come back to jail again. If we can do that, then we've done our job." McKinney is a big fan of being out in the public, not just himself, but all of his department. "I've been doing special Olympics for years, we had a great group of people this year join us. I'm hoping to be more in- volved at the county fair also and just not patrolling the area. I would also like to start a mentor program in the schools for troubled teens." When asked what ad- vice McKinney had for those wanting to go into law enforcement, his answer came quickly. "It has to be in your blood," McKinney said. "you have to have a drive in helping people. It's not all about ar- resting people. It's to pro- tect and serve. That's what I believe and I want my guys to also feel the same. I am very happy to live in Pike county." Jason McKinney is some- one you should know. Pike County 4-H Council will be offering their 4-H Spring Camp to students in grades K-12 beginning Monday, March 20 and continuing on Tuesday, March 21. Indiana First Region Invites Media to Learn Regional READI Plans Indiana First Region Reveals READI Plans for the $15 Million Grant Award southern Indiana (March 3, 2023) – Indiana First will be holding a media event on Friday, March 10, 2023, to re- veal the region's plans for the $15 million readI grant. The event is open to the public and will be held at Vincennes University Jasper campus in the center for Innovation and Technology Building. chris Pfaff, Indiana First Vice chair says, "This is an unprecedented time for re- gional improvements, and we are eager to share our plans with the public." state and county officials and representatives will be attending a networking recep- tion from 10 -10:30am esT. Following the reception, Indi- ana 1st will deliver a presenta- tion unveiling their plans for the catalyst investment in the southwest region. about Indiana First The Indiana First readI region includes harrison, Knox, Perry, Pike, and spen- cer counties in southwest In- diana. The region was award- ed $15 million from the state's readI program, intended to accelerate projects that will enhance the area's quality of life, and increase competitive- ness for economic growth. To find out more about Indiana First visit Indiana1st.com. about readI Indiana's nationally recog- nized regional economic ac- celeration and development Initiative (readI), adminis- tered by the Indiana econom- ic development corp., allocat- ed $500 million in initial fund- ing for projects which will improve the quality of place, and quality of opportunity, in communities throughout the state. It also encourages a new level of regional col- laboration that bring mutual stakeholders together to de- termine for themselves the future of their communities. PES holds Spring Music Program Petersburg Elementary first grader Dawson Hoffman sang along with Row, Row Row Your Boat Animal Style during the PES Spring Concert. Other songs included Hound Dog, Warm Kitty and finally Little Green Frog at the Petersburg Elementary School on Thurs- day, March 2. PES Second graders in Mrs. Knust class began their Spring Concert with Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?. Other songs included The Siamese Cat Song, The Bear Went Over the Mountain and finally Here Comes Peter Cottontail at the Petersburg Elementary School on Thursday, March 2. Petersburg Elementary School Kindergartens began their Spring Concert with Going to the Zoo, then Grizzly Bear, Animals in the Ocean and Zoo and finally Baby Bumblebee at the Petersburg Elementary School on Thurs- day, March 2. 4-H plans Spring Break Camp for kids K-12 By Jill Hyneman correspondent news@pressdispatch.net spring Break is just around the corner with Pike coun- ty's school spring break from March 20 to March 24. The Pike county 4-h council will be providing a spring break camp on Mon- day, March 20 and Tuesday, March 21 for ages K-12. The spring break camp will run both afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will be two fun-filled days of crafts, games, and activities. One of the activities will be growing Milkweed. Mon- arch butterflies are a hot top- ic and Milkweed is a key in- gredient. Milkweed not only attracts Monarch butterflies but also provides forage for the caterpillars. Monarch caterpillars can eat an en- tire Milkweed leaf in less than five minutes and they eat 200 times their weight in Milkweed. "The Pike co 4-h coun- cil is thrilled to be able to host another year of our 4-h spring Break camp," Kara Willis, Vice President of the Pike county 4-h council, said. "When you engage youth in fun learning oppor- tunities, so many magical things will happen. They will actually want to unplug from the entertainment tech- nology and rediscover their creative powers and build confidence in making some- thing with their own hands. In a busy world, we can forget how rewarding it is to simply take the time to create. 4-h and our clubs and activities, like spring Break camp, can help provide the right instruc- tion and opportunity to spark interest in topics, projects, or activities that lead to a life- long love of hobbies, careers, and overall life satisfaction. Plus camp is a blast. The memories, friendships, and hilarity that ensures create a really fantastic experience for our community's youth." "I volunteer and send my children to 4-h spring break camp for them and me to get to know other kiddos from other 4-h groups," Krystal armstrong 4-h parent and board member on the Pike county 4-h council, said. "I like for my children to get acquainted with the other 4-h leaders and Purdue ex- tension office staff as well. Building those relationships during a camp or a 4-h meet- ing help at fair time. spring break camp is something I Commissioners confronted about neighbors with trash everywhere By Sherri Griffin editor sherri@pressdispatch.net The Pike county com- missioners were confront- ed by a local resident, deb Troutman, who stated to the commissioners that she has been trying for three years to get something done about residents who have trash and rats running throughout their yard to no avail during Monday's commissioner's meeting. Troutman pleaded with the commissioners to have an ordinance in place to ad- dress such issues and fines implemented when residents properties are full of trash and rodents. "There is no reason why the county can't put an ordinance in place to address this," Troutman said. you can take the complaints and have deputies drive by and then a warning sent out with fines. I take pride in the county. The property values are down because of what's next to residents. all we are asking for is a simple county ordinance by you guys to do something. That is my plea." Troutman stated that Peters- burg has an ordinance and the county could put one in place also. commissioners, the Pike county sheriff, Jason McK- inney, and lawyer Val Fleig all agreed with Troutman that something needs to be done, but it is not as simple as putting an ordinance in place, and as commissioner President Mark Flint, point- ed out, even with fines, that would not guarantee that certain residents would do anything about the trash sit- uation. Josh Byrd of the Pike county highway department told Troutman that they have even talked to the Prosecu- tor about what can be done regarding the issue and ev- eryone doesn't know what direction to go in to resolve the issue. "I would go in the health department and input the complaints myself," Trout- man said. your taxpayers want something done." Flint stated that he has not had an opportunity to talk with the new sheriff regarding the issue, but sheriff McKinney stated that if an ordinance were in place, his department would enforce it. Troutman told Flint that by putting an ordinance in place, it would be a start and show the tax- payers that the commission- ers care about their people. Flint stated that he agreed with Troutman 100 percent, that the county needs this, but that there is a lot more involved than simply writing an ordinance. Flint told Trout- man that the commissioners would take what she said un- der advisement, but that it is See TR ASH on page 4 See 4-H on page 5

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