The Press-Dispatch

Front Wednesday, April 5, 2023 The Press-Dispatch A-2 Do you like to write? We are looking for a Stringer-Reporter to write 2-3 articles per week, with photos, covering local events in and around Pike County. Must have own transportation and camera. Please email Sherri Griffin for more information. sherri@pressdispatch.net We want to publish your work! LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Your letter must include your name, address, phone number and email. No anonymous let- ters will be printed. The Press Dispatch strives to provide an open forum for all opinions. How- ever, we reserve the right to reject letters. Sub- mit your letter to the Editor by Friday at Noon. Email: sherri@pressdispatch.net HOUSING Continued from page 1 Transformed YouTh minisTries 245 S. Glezen Center St., PeterSburG, In AGeS: 11-18 text/CAll 812-582-1523 for Info DEVO & OPEN GYM WednesdaYs 6:30p.m.-8 p.m. REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS linden G. Wilson, Kathern l. Wilson, linden G. Wil- son, Kathern l. Wilson revocable living Trust and rob- inson land Holdings llC convey to robinson land Hold- ings llC, real estate as recorded in pike County. William Wilson convey to William Wilson and Helen r. Wilson, real estate as recorded in pike County. deanna loy Chandler and deanna loy ingersoll convey to shirley Jenkins, real estate as recorded in pike County. Bill K. Meece and Cherlyn J. Meece convey to Melissa ennis and Brooks young, real estate as recorded in pike County. steve Miller, Joyce angela Kippenbrock, Kevin Kippen- brock, stephanie Girten, renae Marx, renae reese, Mark Wening Jr., Jason schlacter, ashley Quade and Heather pancake-schmid convey to Hathaway excavating llC, real estate as recorded in pike County. Gail F. Brockriede conveys to Gail F. Brockriede and Gail F. Brockriede revocable Trust, real estate as record- ed in pike County. silas ashley and Mary ashley convey to petersburg en- ergy Center llC, real estate as recorded in pike County. James eagleson and lois eagleson convey to Joshua eugene lawrence and Julie elise lawrence, real estate as recorded in pike County. Wilmington savings Fund society FsB, Quercus Mortgage investment Trust and Carrington Mortgage services llC convey to Veronica yamileth neriez Moran and Gilmour isaac Valle Flores, real estate as recorded in pike County. d. Brian abrell and Kathleen abrell convey to Kathleen abrell, real estate as recorded in pike County. Jason Gilmour and nancy Gilmour convey to nathan Brittain and Jarrica Brittain, real estate as recorded in pike County. USDA Announces Availability of $1 Billion to help Farmers, Ranchers, and Rural Businesses Invest in Renewable Energy WasHinGTOn, april 3, 2023 – U.s. department of agriculture (Usda) secre- tary Tom Vilsack announced that Usda is accepting appli- cations for $1 billion in grants to help agricultural produc- ers and rural small busi- nesses invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improve- ments. Usda is making the $1 billion in grants available under the rural energy for america program (reap), with funding from president Biden's landmark inflation reduction act, the nation's largest-ever investment in combatting the climate crisis. "supporting renewable en- ergy and energy-saving sys- tems helps the people of rural america create thriving, liv- able communities," Vilsack said. "When we invest in rural communities, we are supporting hard work that sends a ripple effect across our country. Clean energy is critical to the future of our economy, and the inflation reduction act provides the Biden-Harris administration with the resources to build a more prosperous rural amer- ica while tackling the climate crisis and lowering energy costs." recipients may use reap funds to install renewable energy systems or to make energy-efficiency improve- ments. eligible applicants in- clude rural small businesses and agricultural producers. Usda will hold competitions quarterly through sept. 30, 2024. The funding will also include the creation of the first underutilized tech- nology fund in the reap program, with $144.5 mil- lion available in dedicated funding. Usda is particularly in- terested in reap projects that will help rural commu- nities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and improved infrastructure, re- duce climate pollution and increase resilience to the im- pacts of climate change, con- serve and protect farmland, and invest in underserved communities. The program is part of the Biden-Harris ad- ministration's Justice40 ini- tiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall bene- fits of certain Federal invest- ments flow to disadvantaged communities that are margin- alized, underserved and over- burdened by pollution. To ensure that small proj- ects have a fair opportunity to compete for the funding, Usda will set aside at least 20% of the available funds until June 30 of each year for grant requests of $20,000 or less, including the grant por- tion of a combined grant and guaranteed loan request. The maximum federal share which may be request- ed is up to 50% of the total project cost for all energy-ef- ficiency projects and ze- ro-emissions renewable ener- gy systems. an award of up to 50% of the total project cost is also available for any project in a designated energy com- munity and/or submitted by an eligible tribal entity. all other projects are eligible to apply for grants of up to 25% of the total project cost. The maximum grant is $1 million for renewable energy systems and $500,000 for energy-effi- ciency projects. For additional information on application deadlines and submission details, see page 19239 of the March 31 Feder- al register. inflation reduction act: Background The inflation reduction act will boost the long-term resiliency, reliability, and af- fordability of rural electric systems. it will help families save money on utility bills, and it will expand rural op- portunities in the clean-ener- gy economy. Lane Restrictions planned for State Road 64 The indiana department of Transportation announc- es lane restrictions for state road 64 near Hunt- ingburg. Beginning on or around Monday, april 10, crews will begin working on an HMa overlay project on state road 64 between Huntingburg and Bretz- ville. This project will include patching, milling and paving of the roadway. during work, a flagger will be utilized to direct traffic through the work zone. Work is expected to last through mid-May, depend- ing on the weather. indOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews. opments. "Without we would be able to handle the new housing developments," said Klipsch. On the line of infrastruc- ture development Klispch said several tress were tak- en down at the location along Highway 61, where a booster station will be built to pump water into the new water tow- er at the top of "Half-mile Hill." He said due to regula- tions concerning the indiana Brown Bat the trees had to be taken down before april 1 or they would have had to wait- ed eight months. Klipsch said construction on the booster station is expected to begin soon. The booster station is required to pump water into the new water tower. City services Manager ross elmore said he talked with the indiana department of Transportation, which is go- ing to be paving Main st. pe- tersburg from rolling acres north of petersburg to park lane south of petersburg. el- more said they will not start until all the curb work in pe- tersburg is completed by e&B. They are doing the curb work around the new traffic signals being installed as well as work at the intersection of Main st. and First ave. City Councilman Gary leavitt asked about the side- walk and curb work being do- ne at seventh and Main. "That is real problem with the warm weather walkers trying to get up and down Main st.," said leavitt. "We don't know e&B's schedule but they are work- ing on it," said Klipsch. "i don't know when they are going to get started pav- ing, but when they do they are going to be doing a lot of it," said Klipsch. along with the Main st. paving project petersburg has two Crossroad Commu- nity paving grants that have already been awarded, which will be done sometime this spring. Klipsch said he was notified the 2023-1 Crossroads awards will be announced before the end of april. petersburg has applied for paving assistance in that round as well. in other business Mayor Klipsch passed out a sample ordinance that will require contractors doing work in petersburg that affects side- walks, streets or utilities to get a permit and holds them liable for damages that might be caused to city property. "it is something we really need," said elmore. "i don't think there is any question we need it. it is just a matter of what form of it do we need," said Klipsch. The sample he handed out was version other municipali- ties have used that petersburg attorney Brian Mahoney had simplified. Klipsch said he hopes to bring it before the city coun- cil at their next meeting. petersburg police Chief Kyle Mills said the police de- partment received another grant from Win energy that purchased three new armor vests with ballistic plates that are for rifles instead of just pistols. He said he hopes to get three more in later grant re- quests. Fire Chief ross elmore said he has been working with state officials to get peters- burg named a regional train- ing facility. He said they al- ready do a lot of training for area fire departments, but he is hoping the get peters- burg designated as a region- al training facility so they can do more training in the area. a major new playground set is planned for Hornady park in petersburg due to a grant. Klipsch said they are going to have a ground breaking ceremony for it at 10 a.m. on Thursday in Hornady park. He said construction should be completed by the end of the month. The next petersburg City Council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, april 17. Pike Gibson Water, Inc. flushing water lines attn: Customers of pike Gibson Water, inc. starting april 10, 2023 go to June 3, 2023 pGW will start its spring Flushing of its entire system. during this process you may experience low water pressure, cloudy white coloring, brown color- ing and a light odor. please refrain, if possible, during this process of washing white clothing. pGW will only flush during working hours Mon- day - Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm. please do not hesitate to contact pGW office @ 812- 749 -4916 with any questions or concerns you may have. pGW appreciates your pa- tience's during this process. listed below will be the esti- mated time schedule for each area. please keep in mind the schedule can be interrupted in emergency cases. •april 10 – 14th – pike Cen- tral down Hwy 61 to arthur Jct. and all side County roads •april 17 – 28 – arthur st rd 61 to spurgeon and all side County roads • arthur st rd 64 to au- gusta and all side Coun- ty roads •arthur st rd 64 to Oak- land City and all side Coun- ty roads •pikeville & scots- burg areas. •May 1 – 31st - Oakland City Hwy 57 s to somerville, Mackey, Buckskin and all County roads east & West •June 1 – 30th – peters- burg Hwy 57 s to Oakland City and all side Coun- ty roads •petersburg County road 350 n to Union, Mt Olympus & Bowman 575 n., petersburg, was indict- ed on six counts of dealing in a schedule ii controlled sub- stance, a level 6 felony. Her husband, Wesley Mullis, 32, of the same address, was indict- ed on one count of conspiracy dealing in a schedule i, ii or iii controlled substance, a lev- el 6 felony. The grand jury found that from the spring of 2020, on nearly a monthly basis through 2021, Tara Mullis knowingly conspired and agreed with Wesley Mullis to deliver Hydrocodone 7.5 milligram and dextroam- phetamine 30 milligram con- trolled substances. Tara al- so procured Hydrocodone and dextroamphetamine, ar- ranged deals and made deliv- eries of both drugs. The multi-indictments state Tara delivered 30 7.5 milli- gram pills of Hydrocodone for a price of $180 on december 9, 2020, and on april 8, 2021, she delivered Hydrocodone pills for a price of $180. On May 9, 2021, she delivered Hydroco- done 7.5 milligram for $250, on June 9, 2020, she delivered Hydrocodone for $250, and on October 5, 2020, she delivered Hydrocodone for $594. The indictment against Wesley states: He conspired and agreed with Tara to de- liver Hydrocodone and dex- troamphetamine, both con- trolled substances, from april 2020, on nearly a monthly ba- sis, through May 2021. "Both co-conspirators performed multiple overt acts through- out this period of time in fur- therance of the said conspir- acy," procuring the drugs, ar- ranging deals and making de- liveries of it. Tara was sentenced on Feb- ruary 1, following a plea bar- gain, with a level 6 Felony: Basic offense for dealing in a schedule ii controlled sub- stance, with confinement to commence on February 1, 2023 to pike County Jail for a term of one year with a jail credit of one day. Tara's im- prisonment was suspended for 363 days with one good time credit day and one year of probation. On Thursday, March 30, Wesley faced Judge Jeffrey Biesterveld to learn what his sentencing would be. after arguments by both state and Wesley's attorney, Biesterveld handed Wesley a sentencing of confinement to commence on Thursday, March 30 at 2 p.m. to pike County Jail for a term of 365 days, with jail credit of 1 good time credit day. Wesley is permitted to serve the executed portion of said sentence at the Wabash Valley regional Communi- ty Corrections-Work release program. The Court advised Wesley of his right to appeal under Criminal rule 11. Wes- ley's attorney told the judge that they are still considering an appeal in this matter. during the sentenc- ing, Chief deputy prosecu- tor, sarah stephens, made a clear case that evidence of the Mullis' involvement in dealing illegal substances arose from a death investigation that the prosecutor's office believes the Mullis' have some type of involvement in a death that happened on June 16, 2021, near the Mullis' home, that they called into police, but then left the scene, with the deceased still on the side of the road. The state is convinced Mullis had something to do with the death of his neigh- bor, but they have not be able to produce probable cause. "What do we want this com- munity to look like," stephens asked the judge. "in one and a half years, he ( Wesley) made deals at his house with a 10 year old child inside. There were also deals being made at the Caddyshack restaurant with customers coming in. is that what we want our commu- nity to be like? stephens stated that there is suspicion about the Mullis' involvement in the death of their neighbor and that Tara had failed a lie detector test and entered a plea agreement in the drug charges. "Take in- to account the partying on vid- eo (which were played in the courtroom at sentencing), af- ter they found their elderly neighbor dead, is not char- acter assassination. For 18 months he committed a felo- ny with his young song in the house. stephens asked for a level 6 felony with executed time or work release. as stated above, Wesley will be serving work release with the Wabash Val- ley Work release program. Wesley Mullis was asked by The press-dispatch if he had any comments he would like to make to the public and Mullis stated that he did not know what to say and his at- torney advised him to say nothing. DEALING Continued from page 1 To advertise in the press dispatch call pam at 812-766-1611 or email plemond@pressdispatch.net

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