The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/833973
HEALTH AND WELLNESS INSIDE THIS ISSUE SEE PAGE B-6 Local ...........A1-8 Sports .........B1-3 Classifi eds .... B4-5 Church ........C1-4 School............ C5 History ........... C6 Opinion .......D1-2 Home Life....D3-9 Obituaries..... D10 WHAT'S INSIDE: CONNECT WITH US: NetEdition ...pressdispatch.net/edition Facebook.....facebook.com/pressdispatch E-Mail .........news@pressdispatch.net Phone:.................. 812-354-8500 Fax: ...................... 812-354-2014 E-Mail . editor@pressdispatch.net NEWS TIPS: PIKE PUBLISHING See SEWER R ATES on page 2 $ 1 Four sections Two inserts 32 pages Wednesday, June 7, 2017 Volume 148 Number 23 Phone (812) 354-8500 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 (USPS 604-34012) See PHONES on page 2 By Andy Heuring A rural Petersburg man escaped seri- ous injury Monday night when he suffered a medical emergency and drove through a front porch on Highway 57 north of Pe- tersburg. John White, 72, of 7551 N. CR 350 E., Pe- tersburg, was driving north on Highway 57 in his Chevrolet S10 Blazer when he expe- rienced a medical condition, which caused him to run off the right side of the road. He went up an embankment, traveled about 100 yards, then drove through and under Wilda Bostick's front porch. White's vehicle was pinned under the el- evated porch that had latticing around the base of it. "I was in bed asleep and it woke me up. It shook my whole house," said Bostick of the 10 :30 p.m. crash. Bostick said she had only lived in the house for about a month. At one time, it was the Black Oak School. Neighbor Prentice Offil said he looked out and saw a turn signal flashing from White's Blazer. "I thought that turn signal shouldn't be there. Then I heard him yell- ing for help." Offil ran to the site and found White's Blazer pinned under the porch. He said he couldn't get the door open so he called 911. Petersburg Fire Captain Jeff Nelson said when they arrived, the Blazer's sus- pension was completely compressed and they couldn't get the doors open. So they jacked up the porch and let the air out of White's tires, which allowed them to get the door open. When White drove through the elevated porch, a 2x8 support beam went through his windshield and struck the head rest of his driver's side seat, just missing his head. White complained of back pain and was ex- tricated from the vehicle, then transported to the hospital by the Pike County EMS. The accident was investigated by Pike County Deputy Sheriff Jason McKinney. White escapes serious injury Monday night Increase to be in three increments By Ed Cahill During its regular meeting on Monday, June 5, the Petersburg Common Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that proposes raising sewer rates by 18 per- cent by December 2018. The proposed sewer rate increase would be implemented in three phases, starting with a six percent across-the-board rate in- crease that would go into effect the first full billing cycle following adoption, followed by a six percent across-the-board increase that would go into effect on April 1, 2018, and a five percent across-the-board rate in- crease that would go into effect on Decem- ber 1, 2018. Under the proposal, sewer customers with a 5/8 -inch meter will see their month- ly rate rise from $17.59 per month to $20.76 per month, an increase of $ 3.17 per month; sewer customers with a 3/4-inch meter will see their monthly rate rise from $23.31 per month to $27.50 per month, an increase of $4.19; and sewer customers with a one- inch meter will see their monthly rate rise from $ 38.99 per month to $46, an increase of $7.01. Unmetered single family resident/unit sewer customers, meanwhile, will see their monthly sewer rate rise from $49.24 per month to $58.11 per month, an increase of $ 8.87. According to an analysis issued by Deen Rogers, of H.J. Umbaugh and Associates, the proposed sewer rate increases would City sewer rates to increase 18% by December 2018 Out for a walk Sharon Peach, of Petersburg, pushes her dog, Nena Cheyenne, on a walk to CVS on Saturday morning. Peach said Nena has bad allergies and loves to ride in the cart. She said her son, a long haul trucker, got Nena in Cheyenne as the owner was headed out the door on her way to take Nena to the pound. Contract tabled after learning of changes in specs By Andy Heuring County commissioners voted to put a new courthouse phone system on hold for at least a month and hired Matrix Integrat- ed to manage one of their courthouse com- puter systems during their hour-long meet- ing Monday morning. The commissioners voted 3-0 to table a contract with AME for a $ 37,000 phone sys- tem that would replace the current system in the courthouse after Commissioner As- sistant Kristi Dischinger told them sever- al items in the contract had changed from the original agreement. Dischinger said since the commissioners had signed the contract, AME had made some specification changes to what system would be put in place. She said the dollar amount of the contract had only changed by about $75. She was told the headset in the original contract was being discontin- ued. It was priced at $115 for each of the 70 headsets. The one AME is replacing it with is priced at $148 each. Dischinger said she also learned they have reduced the speed of the processor and the memory size. "They assured me it will handle our phone usage with no problem." She added she had to call AME three times before she was able to get a response. However, she said that might be due to the representative she dealt with leaving the company. Commissioner President Brian Davis said he was concerned about the changes. "If it won't affect the system's performance, why didn't they price it with the slower ver- sion to start with." "That smells funny," said Commission- er Jeff Nelson. Nelson suggested they have AME attend a commissioners' meeting so they can talk to them about the system. The commission- ers decided to table the contract until they could hear from AME. County officeholders recommended the county contract with Matrix Integration for one year. Auditor Ron Wilson went through a summary of their computer problems New courthouse phone system placed on hold Stendal will celebrate their 150th Anni- versary this weekend on Friday and Satur- day, June 9 and 10. "Come join your friends and neighbors and help celebrate with Stendal. There will be something for everyone during this two- day event," said Ann Oxley, who helped or- ganize the event. Friday evening will feature an opening ceremony with a Pike Central Swing Choir performance, solos by John Kendall and Cory Goeppner, and a rousing rendition of the Stendal High School song. Following the opening ceremony, Iron Mountain, a popular group in the area, will be performing country and oldies until 10 p.m. Food booths, quilt raffles, silent auc- tion items and a country store will be on the docket throughout the celebration. Events on Saturday include the annual Tin Fest Auto Show, Stendal High School Alumni Reunion, kids' games, a mini trac- tor pull sponsored by Pike Central FFA, a flyover during the National Anthem, a pa- rade and a pork chop dinner. Live music on Saturday night includes Tony Rothrock (country, bluegrass and gospel). When in Rome, also known as the Stieneker Brothers, will open for Payton Lynn, a 17-year-old Nashville recording art- ist who sings country rock. The two-day event will conclude with a fireworks show at dusk. EVENT SCHEDULE Friday, June 9 5 -10 p.m. Vendor Booths Open (food, St. Peter's Lutheran Church Women's Country Store, quilt raffle, silent auction) 6 -6:45 p.m. Opening Ceremony (Pike Central Swing Choir, John Kendall, Cory Goeppner, School Song) 7-10 p.m. Iron Mountain on stage (coun- try, oldies) Saturday, June 10 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Vendor Booths Open 9 a.m.-noon Tin Fest Registration 9 -11 a.m. Children's games 11 a.m. Kiddie Tractor Pull (sponsored by Pike Central FFA) 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Alumni Reunion and His- torical Display Noon National Anthem and Flyover by Lincoln Hills Aero 2 p.m. Tin Fest Judging Awards 3 p.m. Parade 6 p.m. Pork Chop Dinner, $10 (pork chop, potato salad, baked beans, slaw, drink) 6 -8 p.m. Tony Rothrock in gym (country, bluegrass, gospel) 6:15 -7:15 p.m. When In Rome (aka...The Stieneker Brothers) on stage in the park- ing lot 7:30 -9 p.m. Payton Lynn (country rock) takes the stage in the parking lot 8 p.m. Quilt Raffle and Silent Auction End Celebration ends with fireworks (spon- sored by Warex). Stendal celebration begins Friday Petersburg resident John White, 72, escaped serious injury late Monday night when he ran off of Highway 57 and drove under Wilda Bostick's front porch. A support beam on the porch crashed through White's windshield and just missed hitting White in the 10:31 accident.