The Press-Dispatch
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Three sections 28 pages Six inserts Volume 144 Number 30 benefitted I-69 construction Drought has Project completion date ahead of schedule definitely had a direct, positive impact on the new interstate highway snaking through southwestern Indiana. So much of a positive impact that state of- By Andrea Preston and Andy Heuring This summer's lack of rainy weather has ning Gibson, Pike and Daviess counties, are at different points in construction—and in most parts ahead of schedule—officials are now looking at opening the new highway in bits and pieces. Elliott said the biggest part of those de- terstate last week, Cher Elliott, spokesper- son for the Indiana Department of Transpor- tation (INDOT), told The Press-Dispatch the original goal was to open the 65-mile stretch from Evansville to Crane all at one-time by the end of 2012. But because the different sections, span- cisions will depend on the connecting high- ways. For example, currently, just a small portion of I-69 is open—from the Interstate 64 exchange to Indiana 68. Indiana 68, Elliott said, can handle being a connector road for the interstate traffic to connect to U.S. 41 or to Indiana 57. But In- diana 168, which sits several miles north, may not be able to. "It's not as beefed up," Elliott said, re- ficials say the Evansville to Crane portion of the road is at least 75 percent complete and officials are now considering opening up sections of the new Interstate 69 at dif- ferent times. In an exclusive driving tour of the new in- Phone (812) 354-8500 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 75¢ (USPS 604-340) Wednesday, July 25, 2012 land was taken from the scene by ambulance to Petersburg Elementary School and then by air ambulance to Deacon- ess Hospital in Evansville. Neighbors and relatives of Mike Woodland hug moments after he was shot by Petersburg officer Chad Tharp. Wood- Woodland shot in altercation with police ed until later this summer, or early fall, but INDOT officials are starting to make plans to take local and elected officials on a tour as well. If INDOT were to open a section of the ferring to the highway that connects Fort Branch to Mackey. "But Indiana 64 is an op- tion." No decisions on the openings are expect- highway early, it would likely be north from Indiana 68 to Indiana 64. And even that de- cision depends on how well the progress around Indiana 64 keeps moving forward. Last Monday the Highway 61 overpass of I-69 just south of Petersburg was opened to traffic. Elliott said this allows crews to be- Continued on back page shot at least twice by Petersburg Police Cpl. Chad Tharp at about 8:30 p.m. According to Indiana State Police Sgt. Todd Ringle, the shooting happened after Tharp responded to a report of a domestic dispute at a house trailer at 1012 Trafzer St. in Petersburg. According to an ISP news release Cpl. after being shot by police Monday evening. Michael Woodland, 37, of Petersburg was A Petersburg man is in stable condition By Andy Heuring Tharp arrived, he got out of his police car and started to approach the residence "when Woodland exited from the front door of the trailer carrying a rifle. Officer Tharp ordered Woodland to drop his weapon, which he had pointed toward the ground. Woodland failed to comply and started to raise the rifle toward Tharp. Tharp fired his service weapon, striking Woodland." Woodland was taken by ambulance to the Petersburg Elementary School where he was then transported by helicopter to Dea- coness Hospital in Evansville. der investigation. He said Tuesday morning police did not know how many shots had been fired. The ISP news release did not mention how many bullet wounds Wood- land suffered. Neighbors and relatives at the scene said Sgt. Ringle said the incident is still un- before those questions are going to be an- swered," said Sgt. Ringle. Ringle said Tharp used a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Tuesday morning Ringle said police are unsure what led to police being called in the first place. "What happened prior to the shooting is important, but not at the top of the priority list right now," said Ringle. He said it appears the central dispatch at he was hit twice in the abdomen. Two neigh- bors who spoke to The Press-Dispatch and asked not to be identified, said they heard the shots. They disagreed on the number of shots fired. One thought it was four or five, another said six to eight. "It is probably going to be quite a while the Pike County Sheriff's Department re- ceived several calls prior to Tharp going to the area. "We aren't sure who called, just yet," said Ringle. He said it is believed Woodland's mother driving at a high speed in an alley behind the residence then it "spun around and went back toward the trailer." She said it hap- pened just moments before she heard shots being fired. However Tuesday afternoon a request for lived at the 1012 Trafzer St. address. How- ever, they aren't sure if Woodland was liv- ing there or just staying there occasionally. A neighbor said she saw a pickup truck a search warrant painted a much clearer picture of events prior to the shooting. "We are just trying to check into all aspects of this to make sure we have an accurate pic- ture of the situation," said McDonald about the search warrant request. Continued on page 2 McCrary indicted by grand jury tersburg, was arrested on Wednesday, May 23, after he drove his water truck past a Pike County Highway road crew and flag- man and then struck Highway Superinten- dent Bobby Joe Morton on Cart Road. Deputy Prosecutor Noah Schafer said ed on a charge of leaving the scene of an ac- cident by a Pike County Grand Jury. Ronnie McCrary of 3120 N. CR400W, Pe- A rural Petersburg man has been indict- By Andy Heuring they had several questions about the inci- dent so they had a grand jury look at it. He said they were able to call all of the par- ties and witnesses in and let them tell their stories to the grand jury. He said after the grand jury heard the testimony they decid- ed to return an indictment. A grand jury indictment is similar to probable cause being found for a charge to be filed. McCrary was indicted on a charge of leaving the scene of a personal injury ac- cident, a class A misdemeanor. Information about scam artists sought have had contact with scam artists who were going to door-to-door last Tuesday in Petersburg to call police if they haven't done so already. Cpl. Scott Wright said last week he had Petersburg Police ask anyone who may By Andy Heuring Star Rodeo on Saturday night. The rodeo packed the 4-H Fairgrounds amphitheater on both nights to kickoff the Pike County Fair that continues through Saturday. A cowboy jumps off his horse and grabs a steer by the head and attempts to bring him to the ground during the Lone Fair events continue through Saturday with a long list of activities planned for the rest of the week, including: a Gospel Sing, DeWayne Spaw performance, hog wres- tling and demolition derby. Each night through Friday the carnival will open at 6 p.m. Pike County's 4-H Fair is in full swing By Andy Heuring Wednesday's featured event is a Gospel Sing at 7 p.m. The carnival opens at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 WHAT'S INSIDE: PUBLISHING PIKE Local ........A1-10 Obituaries ......A3 Sports ........B1-2 and the Horse and Pony Show day two be- gins at 6 p.m. The goat show starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 26 mance by DeWayne Spaw at 6:30 p.m. fol- lowed by hog wrestling at 7 p.m. The rabbit show is set for 9 a.m. and the Thursday's feature event is a perfor- llama show for 5 p.m. A cornhole tourney is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 27 Friday night is the annual livestock auc- Classifi eds ...B8-10 Church .......C1-6 Opinion ..........C2 History ...........C7 tion beginning at 5:30 p.m. Also at 8:30 p.m is the 4-H Fun Night that features a disc jockey and karaoke in the amphitheater. The large animal supreme showmanship contest is at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 28 bangs, as the demolition derby is set for 7 p.m. Admission is $7. There will be bingo at 6 p.m. and a fish- ing tourney from 8 a.m. to noon. NEWS TIPS: Phone: ........................354-8500 Fax: ............................354-2014 E-Mail .editor@pressdispatch.net The last night will go out with a lot of at least eight reports of Petersburg resi- dents who had a couple in their early or mid-30s knocking on their doors and tell- ing residents they were collecting money for a mission or a church. The couple would work their way into the residence and then one of them would ask to use the bathroom. Cpl. Wright said they would raid the med- icine cabinet. They also asked to pray with the residents and while one of them was praying, the other would steal purses, pock- etbooks or money from them. Wright said he had reports of more than have not had any more reports of the scam artists making contact with area residents. However, Baumgart said police are ac- tively investigating the thefts. "I think we are getting close." He urged anyone who had contact with the couple to call police. CONNECT WITH US: NETedition ... pressdispatch.net/edition Facebook .... facebook.com/pressdispatch E-Mail .......... news@pressdispatch.net $600 being stolen as well as 200 prescrip- tion pills. Police Chief Chuck Baumgart said police