The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/232947
A-4 Wednesday, December 25, 2013 Briefs Red Cross blood drive is Monday, Dec. 30 An American Red Cross blood drive is planned for the VFW Post 3518 in Petersburg from 3 to 7 p.m. on Monday, December 30. Local students perform at Holiday Pops The University of Evansville has announced that the following local residents were selected to perform at the Department of Music's 34th annual Holiday Pops concert: Jessey Ziebach, of Petersburg, majoring in Mathematics and Brodie Gress, of Huntingburg, majoring in Creative Writing. Gentry arrested after six mile chase A Pike County man was arrested after a chase just after midnight on Dec. 20. Gibson Co. deputies were dispatched to 108 North Third Street in Francisco. Gibson County's Central Dispatch advised deputies that a female at the residence claimed that Jerry E. Gentry, 48, of Petersburg, was enroute to her residence with the intent of causing harm to her. When deputies Jerry Gentry arrived at the scene, the caller told them she believed Gentry would drive the backroads in his red pickup to her house to try to get her. During their investigation of the incident, the Gibson County Sheriff's Department contacted the Pike County Sheriff's Department to see what prior dealings they had with Gentry. The Pike County Sheriff's Department said they were familiar with Gentry, and said to use extreme caution in dealing with him. Upon finishing their investigation of the claims by the caller, deputies then went to see if by chance Gentry was on his way to Francisco. At 1:09 a.m., Gibson County Sheriff Deputy Loren Barchett and Sergeant Brad Nixon met a red pickup traveling eastbound on Mark Ford Road. Deputy Barchett turned to follow the truck, and it began to speed up, driving 60 mph in a 40 mph zone. Deputy Barchett was able to catch up with the vehicle and get plate information to Gibson County Dispatch. Gibson County Dispatch confirmed it was Jerry E. Gentry, of rural Pike County. Deputy Barchett then attempted to initiate a traffic stop by turning on his emergency lights and siren. However, the driver refused to pull over for about six miles, and finally pulled into Gentry's residence at 5642 West CR 200 North, Petersburg. Deputies reported that Gentry exited his vehicle, and they ordered Gentry to the ground, but he was both verbally and physically noncompliant with officers. Gentry was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail, where he remains in custody on a $2,150 bond. Gentry is charged with resisting law enforcement— fleeing in a vehicle, a Class D Felony; resisting law enforcement—fighting, a Class A Misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class D Felony. Gibson County Deputy John Fischer, Oakland City Officer Grant Fulkerson, Francisco Town Marshal Mike McGregor, Princeton Officer Robert Wood, Princeton Officer Jeremy Robb and the Pike County Sheriff's Department assisted in the investigation. The Press-Dispatch EMS fees increased, two roads closed Commissioners make conditional offer to library board By Andy Heuring Pike County Commissioners made an overture toward the Library board with a proposal to take over the former Barrett Memorial Library building for the purpose of establishing a history center during their Monday night meeting. They also increased ambulance rates and closed roads. The commissioners voted 3-0 to send the Library board the proposal in a letter stating: The commissioners "will accept the donation of the Barrett Memorial Library property including the annex upon the following condition; the PIke County Library shall be responsible for the upgrades and renovations not to exceed $35,955.87. as set out on the attached agenda for the library board meeting held October 8, 2013, which includes the upgrading of all heating and cooling systems to high efficiency systems. Transfer of the property would take place upon completion of the above upgrades and renovations." The letter ended by stating, "The intent of the Board of Commissioners of Pike County is to use the facility as a historic and genealogy museum." Commissioner President Brian Davis said they were still trying to negotiate the final details. He said the county would take over the maintenance and upkeep of the building on the improvements were made to it. But he hoped the library board would move the genealogy employees now working part-time in the library to the genealogy center. "I hope the library board goes with your offer. If they don't want to go with it, I hope that it won't end up killing it. If they won't cooperate with you, we would like to work with you. A lot of people have shown a lot of interest in this. We can find some way to pursue this," said Al Foust, who attended the meeting. The Pike County Library Board in the past voted against using Barrett Memorial as a History Center that would house a genealogy center and the Pike County Museum. They then voted to give the building to the county. Commissioners increase ambulance fees The commissioners also voted to increase ambulance fees for the county. EMS Director Chris Young said the county had not increased rates since either when Matt Wells first started or Barbara Wilson was the director. "We are definitely lower than the counties around us," said Young. However he warned the increases would not mean a huge increase in revenues, because Medicaid and Medicare have set rates they pay, regardless what the county's rates are. Young estimated about 30 percent of runs in Pike County are paid by commercial insurance. The basic lifesaving rate would remain $500, while the Advanced Lifesaving rate was increased from $535 to $625 and the ALS II rate from $615 to $750. Also the mileage rate was increased from $12 a mile to $15 a mile. Township Fire Department. Sickman Farms and OFS Brands Holdings Inc. requested to close a 600-foot portion of CR900S which is an unimproved road from County Bridge 194 which has been removed, to Section 6 of Lockhart Township. No one was present to object to either closure and the commissioners voted 3-0 to close both roads. In other business the commissioners voted to apply a 100 percent grant for a generator to be used by the Emergency Agency and Two unimproved they accepted the low rock bids. roads closed They tabled a proposed County commissioners ordinance on how to pay closed two county roads. Both were unimproved EMS and Sheriff's department personnel who have roads. The first was a road on to work holidays. The commissioners the old plats that was never built. It is a portion of Lib- scheduled their first meeterty St. that is platted on a ing of 2014 to be in the mornyard between Jefferson St. ing instead of their normal and Highway 257 in Otwell. evening meeting. It will be "We didn't know it was a at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Janustreet," said Young, who was ary 6 in the courthouse aurepresenting the Jefferson ditorium. OES student council members make surgery dolls Otwell Elementary Student Council members have been working on making "surgery dolls" as a service project. A total of 100 dolls were made. The surgery dolls will be donated to both Memorial and Riley Hospital to give a little comfort to children. Front row (l to r): Kya Leighty, Emily Krieg, Kahle Young, Michael Burkhart, Hunter Capehart, Devin Carlisle, Connor Young, Noah Russell and Hunter Traylor. Back row (l to r): Alli Holder, Beau Dillon and Isaac Fair. Pike County jobless rates rise to 6.4 percent By Ed Cahill Pike County's jobless rate rose to 6.4 percent in November, according to preliminary figures released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development on Friday, Dec. 20. November's 6.4 percent jobless rate was three-tenths of a percentage point higher than the 6.1 percent unemployment rate Pike County recorded in October. Despite the increase, the 6.4 percent unemployment rate was the lowest recorded during the month of November in Pike County since 2008, when the county's jobless rate was 6.3 percent. October's 6.1 percent jobless rate was Pike County's lowest since it registered a 5.7 percent rate in October 2008, a stretch of 60 months. According to estimates released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, 5,401 of Pike County's labor force of 5,771 were employed during November, leaving 370 persons without jobs. In November 2012, when Pike County's jobless rate was 8.0 percent, it was estimated that 5,246 of the county's labor force of 5,704 were employed, leaving 458 persons without jobs. In adjoining counties: • Daviess County's jobless rate rose from a revised 5.1 percent in October to a preliminary 5.5 percent in November. In November 2012, Daviess County's jobless rate was 6.1 percent. • Gibson County's jobless rate rose from a revised 6.0 percent in October to a preliminary 6.5 percent in November. In November 2012, Gibson County's jobless rate was 7.1 percent. • Knox County's jobless rate rose from a revised 5.4 percent in October to a preliminary 5.7 percent in November. In November 2012, Knox County's jobless rate was 6.9 percent. • Warrick County's jobless rate fell from a revised 5.9 percent in October to a preliminary 5.8 percent in November. In November 2012, Warrick County's jobless rate was 6.6 percent. Statewide, county nonseasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in 74 counties, decreased in 14 counties and remained the same in Miami, Ripley, Vanderburgh and Wabash counties from October to November. Dubois County registered the state's lowest unemployment rate during November at 5.2 percent, which was up one-tenth of a percentage point from 5.1 percent in October. Fayette and Vermillion counties, meanwhile, tied for the state's highest unemployment rate in November at 9.9 percent. Columbus had the state's lowest metropolitan statistical area jobless rate in November at 5.3 percent in November, which was up onetenth of a percentage point from 5.2 percent in October. Lafayette recorded the second-lowest MSA jobless rate in November at 6.5 percent, which was up two-tenths of a percentage point from 6.3 percent in October. The Evansville MSA jobless rate in November was 6.6 percent, which was up onetenth of a percentage point from 6.5 percent in October. In November 2012, the Evansville MSA's jobless rate was 7.1 percent. Michigan City recorded the state's highest MSA jobless rate in November at 8.9 percent, which was up threetenths of a percentage point from 8.6 percent in October. Terre Haute had the secondhighest MSA jobless rate in November at 8.8 percent in November, which was up twotenths of a percentage point from 8.6 percent in October. Indiana's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November was 7.3 percent, which was down twotenths of a percentage point from 7.5 percent in June and is lower than all neighboring states. The state's jobless rate was 8.4 percent in November 2012. The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate for November was 7.0 percent, which was down threetenths of a percentage point from 7.3 percent in October. The nation's jobless rate in November 2012 was 7.8 percent. According to information released by the Indiana De- HAPPY HOLIDAYS ARE ON THE MENU! Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: 7am to 2pm closed 7am to 2pm closed 7am to 2pm 7am to 8pm 7am to 2pm The TRADING POST RESTAURANT • flea markeT consignmenT cenTer 789-5428 1 Mile South of Winslow off Hwy. 61 partment of Workforce Development, Indiana gained 25,300 private sector jobs in November, the largest onemonth increase in the Hoosier State on record. All employment sectors saw significant growth, with the exception of the leisure and hospitality sector, which was unchanged from October to November. Employment sectors experiencing the largest increases in hiring over the month were trade, transportation and utilities (+6,800), construction (+5,400), manufacturing (+4,800) and professional and business services (+4,700). Other sectors showing gains in November were financial activities (+1,300) and private educational and health services (+600). Total non-farm employment also increased from October to November by 25,200. "Today's job numbers are welcome news to every Hoosier and are a testament to the hard-working people of our state and the businesses the power Indiana's economy every day," said Governor Mike Pence. "The continued downward trend in unemployment and the significant growth in private sector jobs demonstrate that Indiana's economy is strong and growing stronger every day." "November was a historic month of job growth in Indiana," said Indiana Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Scott B. Sanders. "It is encouraging that fewer Hoosiers are unemployed than in November of 2008, and the unemployment rate has dropped by more than a percentage point over the past few months. However, we need to keep the ball moving by strengthening Indiana's pro-growth climate." After-Christmas Sale • B e g i n n i ng • 50-75% T h u r s d ay D e c . 2 6 O f f K e e p s a k e O r n a m e nt s • • All Christmas Gif Wrap & Accessories • • B ox e d C h r i s t m a s C a r d s • lec t Holiday & Ever yday Item s • • Se half price Open Christmas Eve until 2pm Closed Wednesday, December 25 Marge's 716 Main St. 354-9372 Petersburg Mon.-Thurs. 9-5; Fri. 9-6; Sat. 9-5 Shop "When you care enough to send the very best"