The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/238379
A-2 Wednesday, January 8, 2014 The Press-Dispatch Brandon Ackles of Huntingburg escaped injury Monday morning when he crashed on ice-covered Highway 56 near CR800E and snapped a utility pole. H Winter storm blasts area Continued from page 1 on Wednesday are supposed to climb to 31 degrees and then into the 40s on the weekend, with a high of 50 predicted on Sunday. The weekend storm was a follow-up to Thursday's icing. Petersburg Police Sgt. Chad McClellan said when he started his shift at 6:30 a.m. it was 35 degrees. But about an hour later, the temperature started dropping quickly and by 9 a.m. it had dropped into the teens. "I was driving up Main St. and all of sudden it just turned to ice," said McClellan. That sudden ice caused problems on the roads. McClellan worked two crashes that morning and the county had five or six before the day was over. County Highway Department Superintendent Roger Ham said even though there wasn't a lot of snow, road conditions were bad and there wasn't a lot they could do about it. "We are trying to put sand on the hills and intersections. But we are really having to fight it," said Ham. He said the sand distributors on their trucks were freezing and the fuel in their diesel powered vehicles was jelling due to the extreme cold. Motorist who did have accidents, even if they were only exposed for a short time, faced risk of frost bite and hypothermia. Three arrested after New Year's Eve fight Three people were arrested after a party turned into a fight in front of children, according to a report from the Pike County Sheriff's Office. At about 10 p.m. on December 31, Pike County Deputy Jeff Boger was dispatched to the home of Sylvan Bartlett in Winslow. Bartlett told Central Dispatch one of her neighbors was in her yard, along with the neighbor's child, and appeared to be under the influence of drugs. When Boger arrived, Bartlett said the neighbor had just left, so Boger went next door to look for her. The owner of the house, Johnny Long, 27, of 293 N. SR 61 in Winslow, answered the door. After speaking to Long and some other people in the house, Boger found out there was a party going on at the house, and saw a little girl in the living room of the house playing with a dog. Boger went back to the jail. When Boger arrived at the jail, one of the dispatchers received a 911 hang-up call from the same residence he'd just left. Boger and Petersburg Police Corporal Kyle Mills went back to the house. When they got there, Johnny Long's wife, Tousha R. Long, 29, of 293 N. SR 61 Winslow, ran out of the house screaming, with her child right behind her. Tousha said her husband was inside beating up her brother. The two officers went into the house and found Johnny Long on top of Linden S. Reed, 27, of 214 N. Walnut St., Mt. Carmel. The officers broke up the fight, but Reed made a boxing stance and approached Long, who punched Reed in the face. The officers tried to break up the fight again, and also tried to keep Tousha, who was screaming and trying to get back into the house, out of the house. Mills told Reed he was about to tase him. Reed laughed and approached Long again, and Mills tased him, dropping him to the floor. Boger cuffed Reed. Tousha came in again and started to threaten Johnny Long. Mills placed Tousha under arrest for resisting law enforcement, and Speeding stop leads to meth arrest A Kentucky man was arrested for methamphetamine after being pulled over for speeding on January 1, according to an Indiana State Police report. At about 6:22 p.m., Indiana State Police Trooper John Davis was patrolling Pike County eastbound on State Road 64 when a green Chevy van went by him speeding in the westbound lane. Davis confirmed with radar the van was traveling 88 miles per hour in a 55 zone, and pulled the van over. Davis could smell burnt marijuana while he spoke with the van driver, Richard Wilcher, 50, of Louisville, Ky. Davis looked in Wilcher's passenger seat and pulled out a raw marijuana leaf, then told Wilcher to get out of the van and Davis cuffed him. Davis searched Wilcher's pockets and found a bag full of a crystalline substance in Wilcher's jacket pocket, which tested positive for methamphetamine, and also found a glass pipe in his belt. Wilcher was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. walked her to his police car. Johnny walked out of the house and yelled that he wanted to press charges against Tousha. Boger told him to get back into the house, and Johnny ran back in and started punching Reed, who was still cuffed and under the effects of the taser. Boger told Long to get off Reed, and he didn't, so Boger tased Long. Both men continued to try to get back up and start fighting each other again. Long told Reed he would cut his throat when he got the chance. Tousha ran back in, her cuffs still on, and jumped on Reed. Eventually, Johnny's parents, as well as several other officers, showed up at the residence and helped the officers restrain the three. Tousha's seven-year-old daughter was on hand for the entire incident, and was crying and frightened. Child Protective Services released the child to Johnny's parents. Johnny Long, Tousha Long and Linden Reed were taken to the Pike County jail. Tousha R. Long was charged with battery of a family member in the presence of a child under 18 years old, resisting law enforcement, disorderly conduct and neglect of a dependent. Linden S. Reed was charged with battery in front of a child, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Johnny D. Long was charged with battery in front of a child, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Rescuers race to Gregory Pearce, 46, of Whittier, NC, who clings to the boat he was hunting in as it floats downstream Thursday afternoon. Pearce floated more than a mile downstream after the boat overturned. H Hunter rescued Continued from page 1 ing was swept into the floodwaters by fast moving current at Highway 257 and the White River. His wife, Cathryn McGill, was a passenger and crews have not found her body. Mike Kellner of the DNR said recovery crews temporarily discontinued their search for her over the weekend due to the weather. "The land portion has been thoroughly searched," said Kell- ner. He said once the weather clears, they will resume the water surface search. Kellner said bodies will eventually surface; however, the cold weather prolongs that. On December 21, during nearly eight inches of rain, Michael Christmas was swept into the waters while riding his ATV. He managed to get to the creek bank near CR 900 E. until rescuers found him. H Election filing Continued from page 1 surer. On the federal level, U.S. Senator Dan Coats' seat is up for election, as is the Congressional Eighth District seat held by Larry Bucshon. new year'S reSoluTIon: t Fit in 2014! Ge Over the next couple of weeks no doubt, several other surprise races will develop as candidates make their way to the courthouse to make it official. January TannInG SpecIal Any bed for 1 Month Just 30 $ Select Supplements ON SALE NOW PIKE CENTRAL BAND FUNDRAISER Hosted by The Trading Post 1 mile south of Winslow off Hwy. 61 When: January 11, 2014 Time: 4pm-8pm Where: The Trading Post Why: To help raise money for the Pike Central Band to travel to Florida in March 2014 to perform in one of the Disney Parades. Menu: Soup and sandwiches - This will be a free will donation. Music performed by: Troy Miller 4pm-6pm, Mark McCandless and Friends 6:30pm 24-HOuR ACCESS TO FITNESS CENTER WITH kEy mEmBERSHIp the 604 East Illinois St., Petersburg (near the Little League Park) 354-1303 Silent auction: 4pm-7:30pm Come join us for some good food, listen to some good music and help support The Pike Central Marching Band. GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE Fitness Center Hours: Mon - Thurs 10–8 Fri 10–7 • Sat 10–2 • Closed Sunday