The Press-Dispatch

A-2 Wednesday, May 7, 2014 The Press-Dispatch Petersburg High School Banquet June 14, 2014 Doors Open: 5:30pm Dinner: 6:30pm Tickets on sale at Home Building & Savings Bank and German American Bank Tickets $10 Continued from page 1 H  Helsley petitions to have new sentence vacated structions on the necessary legal standards, applicable burdens of proof and that anything found to be miti- gating to an individual ju- ror could be a basis of sen- tencing range instead of life without parole." McDonald also stated in his response: "The jury, as evidenced by the verdict forms, found the State met its burden of proving the requisite aggravating fac- tor, that the aggravating fac- tor outweighed any mitigat- ing evidence and that a rec- ommendation of Life With- out Parole should ensue for Christopher Helsley. "It is frustrating for me that these families have been through so much. It is frustrating to call them and say 'I don't think it is a big deal, but he has filed this.' I very much want Brad and Marsha's families to know this is final," said McDonald. Helsley was convicted in June 2002 of the April 2001 murders of his co-workers, Pike County EMTs Mar- sha Rainey and Brad Max- well. He was subsequent- ly sentenced to Life With- out Parole. However, last year, Helsley filed a petition with the court to have both his conviction and sentence overturned. Minutes before a hearing on his motions, the State and Helsley came to an agreement to leave the conviction in place, but to re- try the sentencing phase of the case. Helsley's attorney during his first trial, Michael Ke- ating, told the court he was confident of his defense of Helsley during the trial phase, but that his defense during the sentencing might have been lacking. Helsley's petition to have the sentencing overturned claimed Keating's only mitigation witness during the sentencing phase was Helsley's family doctor. He claimed because no other experts were called, his de- fense was insufficient. Special Judge William Wiekert, of Dubois County, was appointed to hear the sentencing trial, because Pike Circuit Court Judge Jeff Biesterveld was the prosecu- tor in Helsley's first trial. The Dubois County ju- ry returned a recommenda- tion to sentence Helsley to life without parole. Accord- ing to Indiana Statute, Judge Wiekert is bound by the ju- ry's recommendation. A hearing before Judge Wiekert is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20 in Dubois County for the sentence to be finalized. It is expect- ed Ripstra's motion will be dealt with at that hearing. It was originally sched- uled for 1 p.m. However, Ripstra said he has anoth- er hearing in Jeffersonville that morning and is asking for the hearing to be moved to later the same day. By Andy Heuring Pike County Commis- sioners voted to request a $25,000 additional appro- priation, which is actually a reimbursement, to pay for road work during their 10 -minute meeting Mon- day morning. Commissioners finished their short agenda, which had no items under either new or old business. Highway Superinten- dent Roger Ham said the $25,000 request was for work on CR 50 S., west of Highway 57. He said the road was cut off by the con- struction of I-69. However, Pike-Gibson Water Corp. has a water line beyond the point where a culvert was removed, so the road need- ed to reopened to the point of the water line. Ham said the Indiana Department of Transporta- tion is paying the $25,000 to Pike-Gibson Water Corp., who in turn is pay- ing that to Pike County. "So this won't cost the county anything? " asked Commissioner Jeff Nelson. "I wanted to make sure we are going to get our money back," said Ham as he presented them with signed agreements from INDOT and Pike-Gibson. Road paving undeRway Superintendent Ham told commissioners that road paving was under- way. "Paving is going fair- ly decent now. We have one road finished," said Ham. They paved last week and finished Boy Scout Road (CR 650 E.). Last Thursday, they also paved one lane of Cato-Algiers Rd. (CR 500 E.) 1.2 miles from Highway 56. Ham said the paving plant was just getting started this year and is now up and running. Assistant Superinten- dent Josh Byrd said the county opened County Bridge 144 located on CR 500 E. about a half-mile north of the Warrick Coun- ty line. The new 18.5 feet wide concrete bridge replaces an old pony truss bridge that had been reinforced on one end. The commissioners also voted to approve renewing the county's contract with SRI to conduct the proper- ty tax sale. • Commissioner Pres- ident Brian Davis asked if there had been any ac- tion on reopening all the entrances to the court- house. They were closed two years ago as part of im- proved security. Davis, at a previous meeting, asked if the security committee could review reopening the Main St. and Eighth St. doors. Currently, the only entrance unlocked faces Ninth St. Commissioner Assis- tant Melissa Bryant said the security committee was supposed to meet this week. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Mon- day, May 19. There will be a hearing on closing CR 200 S., between CR 375 W. and CR 500 W. By Andy Heuring Three people were ar- rested on drunken driving charges over the weekend. An Oakland City man was arrested at 4:57 a.m. Satur- day after he drove on the wrong side of Number Sev- en Road several times, with Deputy Sheriff Chad Tharp following him. Russell Lee Wallace, 43, of 626 W. Franklin St., Oak- land City, was arrested on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, refusal. Deputy Tharp said he was following Wallace and no- ticed him drive left of cen- ter several times, going com- pletely into the other lane. Tharp said when he stopped Wallacehe said he had been playing pool at the Bob Inn and drinking. He failed field sobriety tests and a portable breath test. Wallace was taken to the Pike County Jail, where he refused a blood alcohol content test, which is an au- tomatic offense in Indiana. An Otwell man was arrest- ed early Sunday morning on a charge of operating a vehi- cle with a blood alcohol con- tent of 0.15 percent or more, a class A misdemeanor. Brian E. Maxwell, 42, of 3876 N. CR 1000 E., Ot- well, was arrested after he ran off the road and collid- ed with large rocks near a residential driveway. Indi- ana State Trooper John Da- vis said Maxwell was driv- ing west on CR 725 S. in a 2002 Dodge Durango when he went left of center off the road and drove into con- crete blocks near a drive- way. Maxwell failed field sobriety tests and was tak- en to the Pike County Jail, where he tested 0.19 per- cent for blood alcohol con- tent, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent in Indiana. An Ireland woman was ar- rested late Saturday night by Petersburg Police Cpl. Scott Wright. Lisa J. Robling, 45, of 2487 CR 500 W., Ireland, was ar- rested on preliminary charg- es of operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent and posses- sion of paraphernalia. Petersburg Police Cpl. Scott Wright said he was dispatched to check on a disabled vehicle at the inter- section of Highway 356 and 13th St. at about 11:25 p.m. Cpl. Wright said when he approached Robling, she said she was on her way home from Jasper when she had mechanical trouble. Cpl. Wright said he no- ticed damage to her vehicle and could smell the odor of alcohol. She failed field sobriety tests and was taken to the Pike County Jail, where she tested 0.11 percent blood al- cohol content. Cpl. Wright said police located a glass smoking pipe contain- ing a black residue in Ro- bling's pocket. According to Wright's report, Robling said she had used the pipe to smoke methamphetamine. Three arrested on drunken driving charges Commissioners request $25,000 for roads Harris is an incumbent as a county councilman, and a former three-term mayor of Petersburg. He was running in a new dis- trict that included four pre- cincts outside Petersburg. Harris said he was also concerned about turnout. "You just do what you can, hope your friends turn out and put it in the Lord's hands and see what hap- pens," said Harris. He said he talked with people who came to the polls to vote in his race, but then found out they were no longer in his district. Vaughn said despite the loss it was a good experi- ence. "I got to meet a lot of people I didn't know." He added, "It is a lot more than I ever imagined. It is a lot of work," said Vaughn of his first venture into pol- itics. BRaun defeats Moss in state Rep. 63 Race On the state level, Du- bois County businessman Mike Braun had a sizable lead over Dubois Coun- ty doctor Richard Moss. With 79 percent of the vote counted, Braun had a 4,315 to 2,189 lead. Braun carried Pike County 297 to 140. There is no Democrat candidate for District 63. MessMeR wins state senate pRiMaRy In the District 48 State Senate seat, Mark Mess- mer had a big lead over Ted Metzger. Messmer led 6,040 to 1,127 with 79 percent of the vote count- ed. He carried Pike Coun- ty 691 to 118. Messmer is the sitting District 63 State Repre- sentative. He will face for- mer Dubois County Com- missioner Larry Vollmer in the general election. Bucshon has Big lead At the federal level, Re- publican Eighth District Congressman Larry Bus- chon was easily winning over his primary chal- lenger Andrew McNeil. He held a 24,309 to 8,039 lead with 65 percent of the vote counted. In Pike County Buschon, won 631 to 167. Buschon will face Dem- ocrat Tom Spangler in the general election Continued from page 1 H  Local incumbents win primary races The Pike County Health Depart- ment will conduct a test of their abil- ity to dispense medication efficient- ly after a disaster or other public health threat. This POD (Point of Dispensing) exercise will be at 1 p.m. EST on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at Gospel Center Church's gym on Illinois St. Pike County Emergency Pre- paredness Director Pamela Cos- by said, "We will need 16 -20 volun- teers to staff the POD, including both medically licensed and non- licensed personnel. The time com- mitment for POD staff will be ap- proximately three hours beginning at noon." In order to fulfill Indiana State Department of Health require- ments, they will also need 75 vol- unteers to walk through the POD. "This group of volunteers will com- plete forms to indicate which med- ication would be dispensed. Candy will be dispensed rather than actu- al medication," said Cosby. She said walk-through volunteers do not have to reveal any person- al information and may even reg- ister with fictitious information. "No personal data will be kept on file by the Pike County Health De- partment. "Since the exercise will be timed by members of the ISDH District 10 Preparedness team, we expect the 'walk through' phase of the exercise to require less than 30 minutes," said Cosby. However she added, "If fewer than 75 volunteer for this role, some individuals may walk through again until we reach that goal." But they must have a minimum of 25 volunteers to walk through the POD for it to qualify. Anyone able to serve in either of the above roles is asked to contact Pike County Health Department at 354-8797. Health Department needs volunteers for POD exercise

• Cover