The Press-Dispatch
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Vena L. Vinson Vena L. Vinson, 95, of Rensselaer, passed away Tuesday morning, Dec. 17, 2013, at George Ade Memorial Health Care Center. She was born in Dutchtown, Ind., Sept. 23, 1918, the daughter of the late William Webster and Cloetta (Boger) Stone. She graduated from Winslow High School. She married Arthur M. Vinson Oct. 19. 1935, in Mt. Carmel, Ind., and he preceded her in death in 1991. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. Surviving are children, Martha L. (James) Brandenburg and N. Ruth Hershberger, both of Rensselaer, and Arthur N. (Susan) Vinson (Susan), of Terre Haute; nine grandchildren: 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Eulah Hawkins, of Petersburg; two brothers, Harold Dee Stone, of Glasford, Ill. and Lester Stone, of St. Louis, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Cloetta Stone; her husband, Arthur M. Vinson; four brothers, Carl Stone, Frank Stone, Bob Stone and Grestor Stone; and five sis- ters, Levon "Sis" Schultz, Mary Selby, Eileen Shafer, Beulah Hamm, and Gracie Imodel Stone. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Dec. 20, 2013, at Steinke Funeral Home in Rensselaer, with Pastor John Hostetter officiating. Burial followed at Memory Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Trinity United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society. Georgia Marie witherspoon Georgia Marie Witherspoon, 70, of Cumming, Ga, formerly of Petersburg, passed away on Dec. 17, 2013, after a hard fought battle with cancer. She was born in Indianapolis, on Feb. 10, 1943, to the late Clifford and Alice (Leighty) Gray. She married Bernard (Spoonie) Witherspoon in 1971 and he preceded her in death. Georgia was an avid golfer, achieving her first hole in one May 21, 2012. Her most proud accomplishment in life was that of mother and grandmother (Memaw). She is survived by her son, George (Nicki) Witherspoon, of Cumming, Ga.; her grandson, Eli Wither- spoon, of Cumming, Ga.; her brother, Fred Gray, of Petersburg; and a stepson, Ron (Judy) Witherspoon, of Mooresville, along with his family. In addition to her husband and parents, a brother, Earl Gray, also preceded her in death. Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, at Harris Funeral Home in Petersburg. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation was from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. georget ta marie kozar Georgetta Marie Kozar, 72, of Oakland City, died Dec. 16, 2013, at her home. She was born on Feb. 1, 1941, in Princeton to Glenn and Delouris (Gentry) Cox. She had attended the Oakland City Church of the Nazarene and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Surviving are her husband, Donald Kozar; three daughters, Donna Kozar, Paula Carlisle and Sheri Montgomery; 10 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; four sisters, Mona Davis, Kay Brown, Clara Cox and Debbie Hoover; and three brothers, William, Donnie and James Cox. Georgetta was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Paul and Robert Cox; sister, Linda Miskell; and daughter, Karen Kozar Wentzel. Funeral services were Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, at 1 p.m. at Lamb-Basham Memorial Chapel, with Rev. Darin D. Nossett officiating. Burial was in Montgomery Cemetery. employee of Emge Packing Plant. Surviving are his wife, Dorothy (Stogsdill) Gentry; two sons, John and Jerry Gentry; three daughters, Pamela Gayle Sandwell, Crystal Foster and Julia Hyatt; a brother, James Gentry; 29 grandchildren; and 34 greatgrandchildren. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 23, 2013, at Harris Funeral donald p. wilson Home, with Rev. Mike ElDonald P. Wilson, 79, of liott officiating. Burial was Petersburg, died at 5:40 in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, a.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, Oatsville. at Golden Living Center. He was born in Vin- Terry L. Thompson Terry L. Thompson, 57, of cennes, Oct. 13, 1934, to David W. and Lucy Mae Evansville, formerly of Oakland City, died Sunday, Dec. (Wheatley) Wilson. Surviving are three sons, 22, 2013, at his residence. He was born in PrinceDavid, Michael and Bryan Wilson; a brother, Bill Rob- ton, March 26, 1956, to Alinson; and a sister, Brenda bert and Roberta (McKinney) Thompson. Hall. He was preceded in death There will be no services. Harris Funeral Home will by his parents. Surviving are two brothbe in charge of arrangeers, Wesley Thompson, ments. of DeSoto, Mo., and Steve john b. gentry Thompson, of O'Fallon, Mo. John B. Gentry, 85, of PeMemorial services will be tersburg, died at 9:30 p.m. at a later date. Lamb-BashThursday, Dec. 19, 2013, at am Memorial Chapel in Oakhis residence. land City will be in charge of He was born in Walnut, arrangements. N.C., June 28, 1928, to John Family and friends may E. and Hattie E. (Briggs) send messages of comfort Gentry. He was a former to www.lambbasham.com. H 2013: Year in review Continued from page 2 der suspect in an Anderson, Ind., case, was captured in a wooded area near the east side of Petersburg. The Pike Central Middle School academic team won first place in the Paoli Invitational. A field fire burned about 700 acres of deserted swampland west of Coe. Pike Central hosted its 2014 Prom, with the theme "Midnight Party." The Pike County Community Foundation awarded 17 scholarships to area students. Darrell and Marcia Moretz's Petersburg home was destroyed by fire. However, the couple and their two chihuahuas were safe. Jordan K. Powell, 23, of Jasper, was arrested for kicking in the doors of two Pike County homes. Powell was sleeping in a closet when he was arrested. April Hartley, a Pike County woman who pleaded guilty to felony neglect of a dependent, was given the maximum sentence. Pike Central senior Brandon Barragan won first place in the Indianapolis State Welding Contest. Rains from the West Fork of the White River in central Indiana flowed south and swelled the river in Pike County, damaging River Road near Dodge City. Stacy's Studio of Dance competed in the Talent on Parade dance competition in Louisville and earned several solo awards, along with four first place finishes as a team. The Petersburg Little League started their season with a parade. May • The White River crested at 24.25 feet, more than eight feet above flood stage, on April 25, following heavy rains in Central Indiana almost two weeks earlier. The crest of 24.25 feet was listed as the 36th highest recorded crest since 1913, when the National Weather Service began keeping records at Petersburg. • A DARE graduation ceremony took place for fifth graders at Winslow Elementary School on April 26. The winner of the essay award, for her essay on How to be Drug Free, was Avarie Hartke. The Top Student Awards for each class went to Wes Baumgart and David Caldwell. • A Pike County High School teacher was placed on administrative leave after police raided an underage drinking party and charged him with visiting a public nuisance on April 27. Adam T. Blair, 29, of Huntingburg, and six others were cited on similar charges. According to police, all persons attending the party, except Blair, were under the age of 21. • Police seized 34 weapons and a quantity of bath salts with an estimated street value of more than $50,000 after executing a search warrant at 4331 N. CR 575 E. early April 29. During the search, a plastic bag containing what was be- Ice blamed for two-vehicle collision in Winslow By Andy Heuring An icy road was blamed in a crash on the Winslow-Cato Road last weekend following the snow. On Monday, December 16 a car and pickup truck collided on the WinslowCato Road just east of Bryant St. in Winslow at about 5:14 p.m., according to Pike County Deputy Sheriff Dallas Killian. He said Stacy N. Holmes, 38, of 81000 S. SR257 Stendal was driving a 3013 Dodge Avenger down the hill and hit an icy patch in the road, then slid into Josephine E. Kulm, 17, of 1746 S. Black Run Lane, Winslow, who was driving up the hill in a 2001 GMC Sonoma. Killian estimated the accident caused between $10,000 and $25,000 damage. No one was injured. Something newsworthy? lieved to be about 18 ounces of bath salts was found. Also seized were 17 guns, 6 pistols and 11 long guns, along with numerous items used to manufacture methamphetamine and several small bags containing an off-white colored powder. Mary Ann McCann, 46, was charged with maintaining a public nuisance and possession of marijuana. • A former Pike County man, along with his girlfriend, were being sought by police after he allegedly drove his van through a yard barn into a house in Winslow on May 1 following a dispute with his brother, then got into a different van and fled the area. Henry DeWeese, 46, of Evansville, and Melissa Keith, 35, were wanted on charges of criminal mischief and criminal recklessness with a vehicle. • Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz announced that Otwell Elementary School was one of only 313 schools across the state to achieve 4-Star status for 2013. In order to achieve this designation, a school must be in the top 25th percentile of schools in ISTEP+ testing results. • Tanner Mason won the men's division of the 5th annual Pike Central High School National Honor Society 5K Run at Prides Creek Park on May 11, completing the course in 19 minutes, 14 seconds. Nichole Miller won the women's division with a time of 20:58. • The Pike County Redevelopment Commission and the Pike County Commission established an area surrounding the Interstate 69 interchange with Highway 61, just south of Petersburg, as a Tax Incremental Finance District on May 12. • The Pike Central High School softball team defeated Heritage Hills 10-4 to win the Sectional 31 championship on May 22 at Jasper. It was the first sectional title won by the Lady Chargers since 1998. • Pike Central High School said farewell to 130 seniors during a graduation Christmas in Heaven To our heavenly Grandparents, Orville and Fetna Schell, and Aunt Randy. Let our 125 years of experience aid you in your selection of a meaningful memorial. SCHUM MONUMENTS, INC. Dale, Indiana www.SchumMonuments.com 937-4921 Local Representative RONALD WOODS 789-2009 To my loving Mother and Daddy Orville, and Fetna Schell, also sister Randy. It's Christmas time again. I know you are joining a birthday party for Jesus, who's holding you all near. I miss your smiles and all the good times we had at this special time, the birth of our Lord, and our family gathering. I hold all these times, and others, close to my heart. Miss you so much my heart aches daily for you. You showed your love to me in many special ways. I'll see you again someday, promise. I have my reservation. Love! Judy Press-Dispatch Subscriptions: Subscription rates: One year: $25 for Pike and surrounding counties and all 475 addresses; elsewhere in Indiana $27; out of state $43 Paid in advance. Change of address — subscribers changing addresses will please give their 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 The PressDispatch, P.O. Box 68 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 or e-mail us at subscribe@pressdispatch.net How to contact us: By Phone:����������� 812-354-8500 By Fax:����������������812-354-2014 By E-mail: General and Church News news@pressdispatch.net Sports Department sports@pressdispatch.net Advertising ads@pressdispatch.net Classified Advertising classifieds@pressdispatch.net Andy Heuring, Editor editor@pressdispatch.net Obituaries obits@pressdispatch.net Subscriptions/Circulation subscribe@pressdispatch.net Legals/Public Notices legals@pressdispatch.net Accounting Department accounting@pressdispatch.net About us: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Heuring, Publishers Andrew G. Heuring, Editor John B. Heuring, Adv. Manager Eric Gogel, Production Manager Cindy Petty, Adv. Sales Nancy Copley, Adv. Sales • • • • • • Published every Wednesday by the Pike County Publishing Co. Telephone 354-8500 820 Poplar Street P.O. Box 68 Petersburg, Indiana 47567 • • • • • • Entered at the Post Office in Petersburg, Indiana for transmission through the mails as Periodical Mail, postage paid at Petersburg, Indiana. Published weekly. (USPS 604-340) CLoSeD aLL Day DeC. 24 anD 25 oPen neW year'S eVe 4PM-8PM Dine-in or Carry-out or faster se ad f rv he a e! ic Love, Brandon and Angie June • The Pike County Commission voted on June 3 to accept a rental agreement whereby Pike County Medical Transport, a private ambulance service, agreed to rent to Pike County Emergency Medical Service a portion of its building, the old Integra Bank branch building in Arthur, to house an ambulance. • Spurgeon and Patoka Township firefighters responded to an oil tank fire on June 11 approximately two miles south of Highway 64 and just east of CR 300 E. Two employees of Moore Engineering and Production, Co. of Evansville – Leroy Balbach, of Winslow, and Lance Buse, of Evansville – who were working on the tanks were taken to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville with burns. • On June 14, the City of Petersburg learned for the second year in a row that it would not receive a designation as a Stellar Community, which would have provided more than $10 million in funding for a long list of improvements in the city. Petersburg, one of 24 cities to apply for the designation, was one of six finalists. Bedford and Richmond were selected as the winners. • A Winslow man escaped serious injury on June 15 when he collided with the side of a train. According to police, Roger L. Harper, 58, was southbound on Highway 61 at 11:30 a.m. when his 1998 Dodge pickup skidded approximately 45 feet before striking the back end of the first engine and the front end of the second engine. The impact caused Harper's truck to spin and strike the second engine a second time. Both air bags deployed. Harper was taken to Memorial Hospital in Jasper complaining of chest pains. • A Pike County Highway Department worker was taken to Memorial Hospital complaining of chest pains on June 19 after crashing a county dump truck filled with a load of asphalt into the rear of a pickup truck stopped for traffic. Jerry Traylor, 74, was westbound on Highway 56 in a 1999 Ford dump truck when he topped a hill at Mt. Olive Church and saw a 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck, being operated by Jerry Craig, 70, stopped and waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so he could turn left onto CR 600 E. Craig was not injured in the collision. • Rich Coan was appointed as acting chief by the Petersburg Fire Territory Board on June 22 following the resignation of its previous chief, Phil Taylor. Coan joined the fire department in March 1985, after being asked by thenChief Cy Woodall following a fire at his business, Rich's Pike Alignment. Taylor had served as chief since 1987. • Pike County's and Prides Creek Park's newest attraction, an 18-hole disc golf course, opened for play on June 23. PEACE of MIND Give us a call— 354-8500 We really miss you. We had so much fun together. We talk about you all the time and keep you in our hearts. It will never be the same. We remember the love you showed us at Christmas and throughout the year. ceremony on May 24 in the school's gymnasium. Valedictorians Kari Lemond, Rebecca Lee, Desiree Gerrard and Kenna Longabaugh, and Salutatorian Jeffrey Estey delivered speeches, while Hannah Crow delivered the Senior Speech. • Drowning was determined to be the cause of death of a rural Petersburg man who apparently fell from a boat while spreading chemicals in a lake near his home to prevent the growth of algae on May 29. Wayne Malotte, 87, had owned Petersburg Ready Mix and, after his retirement, stayed active in the community with the Kiwanis, the Pike County Community Foundation and the Salvation Army. • Pike Central High School senior Cain Parker broke the school record while placing 12th in the 1,600-meter run at the IHSA A Boys' State Track & Field Meet in Bloomington on Friday, May 31. Parker's time of 4:22.28 was more than a second faster than the previous school record set by Parker a year earlier, when he placed 19th in the state meet in 4:23.64. GUIDE TO THE Cal l Obituaries A-3 Wednesday, December 25, 2013 Joe Mama's 350 W. Main St. Petersburg 354-2606