The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/842616
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Country Fried Steak with two sides $6.50 or Chicken Supreme with two sides $6.50. Sandwiches, Fish and Steaks Open to the Public Coffee or Tea with special. State fire marshal, homeland security urge safety to avoid fireworks-related injuries Every year, more firework-related injuries are reported on or around In- dependence Day than any other time of the year. In 2016, 71.7 percent of all reported fireworks-related injuries in Indiana occurred from July 1–7. "Fireworks are not toys," said State Fire Marshal Jim Greeson. "They are part of the excitement and tradition this time of year, but safety needs to be the first concern for all Hoosiers." Last year, 230 firework-related in- juries were reported to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), up from 181 reported in 2015. ISDH reports that of those cases: • More than 40 percent involved individuals 18 years of age and young- er. • Fireworks use on private prop- erty accounted for nearly 60 percent of reported injury cases. • Hand and/or finger injuries ac- counted for 31 percent of firework-re- lated injuries. • Eye injuries accounted for 12.1 percent of the total number of inju- ries; 83.3 percent of these cases did not use eye protection. • Malfunctioning or mishandling of fireworks accounted for nearly 55 percent of reported cases. • Children should never be al- lowed to handle, play with or light any types of fireworks without adult su- pervision. For younger children, glow sticks are a safer alternative to tradi- tional sparklers, which can burn at about 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit (hot enough to melt glass). As holiday celebrations draw near, Hoosiers are encouraged to practice the following when using fireworks: • Use a clear, open area and keep the audience a safe distance from the site where the fireworks will be set off. • Do not attempt to make or alter any fireworks or fireworks device. • Only light one firework at a time and never attempt to re-light or fix a "dud" firework. • Have a fire extinguisher or wa- ter supply, such as a hose or bucket of water, nearby. • Use eye protection when light- ing or using fireworks. • Never consume alcohol or smoke when lighting fireworks. • Never aim, point or throw fire- works at another person. For more fireworks safety tips, vis- it GetPrepared.in.gov. Gartin recognized with Golden Hoosier Award By Andy Heuring Petersburg resident and long-time volunteer at PAWS Nola Gartin was honored for her tireless work with The Golden Hoosier Award last week. The awards were presented last Thursday in Indianapolis by Lt. Gov- ernor Suzanne Crouch and Yonda Snyder, director of the Indiana Fami- ly and Social Services Administration Division of Aging. The award began in 2008 and hon- ors Hoosier senior citizens for their lifetime of service and commitment to their communities. The award is considered one of the highest honors given by the State of Indiana to se- nior citizens. "Today's event recognized 22 se- nior Hoosiers whose tireless work has such a great impact on local com- munities. They are each examples of what a difference individuals can make when they give back, no mat- ter how old you are," said Lt. Gover- nor Crouch. "We were also thrilled to award the inaugural Hoosiers Help- ing Hoosiers group award to Ramps to Freedom who collectively trans- form lives through their initiative. Each of today's award winners should be an inspiration to us all." Nominees have to be an Indiana resident, at least 65 years old and have been a volunteer in the community for the past three years. Gartin easily met this criteria. She started working at PAWS in June of 2001, when the organization was formed and the facility was built with a large donation left by Ray Jones. "My husband had just passed away and they said you need something to do. Didn't know it was going to be like this," said Gartin. Her passion for dogs has kept her committed to helping at the no-kill fa- cility, which is an adoption agency for cats and dogs, located on Meridian Road just south of Petersburg. Gartin said when the organization started, there were numerous volun- teers. However, overtime, it dwindled down to mostly her at the facility sev- en days a week, 365 days a year. She said they occasionally get some com- munity servicer workers to help. Gartin was nominated by Peters- burg Mayor R.C. Klipsch. Her nomination reads: Nola Gar- tin is the director and only employ- ee of the Pike Animal Welfare Shel- ter (PAWS), which the mayor affec- tionately calls "Nola's facility." She has volunteered every single day to manage the shelter since its creation. Nola has done all the caring for the animals, many times at her own ex- pense and through local donations she works to collect. Neither the city nor the county has an animal control center, so "Nola's facility" is always at full capacity. The shelter has a no- kill policy for the animals, so all are placed in homes or remain at the fa- cility for the duration of their lives or until they are adopted. The commu- nity depends upon her kindness and love for animals and, without her, the town and animals would suffer. The community has relied on Nola's car- ing attitude and dedication to man- age this public safety issue for ma- ny years. man was pregnant. Ac- cording to court testimony, the back end of Paquette's Tahoe then went airborne and landed on the driver's side of a GMC Terrain driv- en by Jason Lowe, of Fish- ers. He was killed and his wife, Samantha, was seri- ously injured. Pike Circuit Court Judge Jeff Biesterveld sentenced Paquette to 50.5 years in prison. Part of the sentence was three counts of resisting law enforcement by fleeing in a vehicle causing death, a Level 3 felony. Paquette's attorney argued this should only be one count of resist- ing causing death because it was only one act of resist- ing. However, Pike Coun- ty Prosecutor Darrin Mc- Donald argued it should be three counts. McDonald ar- gued the Indiana constitu- tion guarantees each per- son dignity and respect, consequently each person has to count. He claimed by not charging Paquette with resisting causing death for each person killed was not guaranteeing each person dignity and respect. He asked which two lives would be discounted. Judge Biesterveld ruled against Paquette. However, part of Pa- quette's guilty plea includ- ed the right to appeal this part of the sentencing. The Appellate Court wrote: "We agree with Paquette's reading of the statute and re- mand this matter for the en- try of a revised judgment and sentence," in their decision dated June 21, 2017. They explained their de- cision by writing: The of- fenses set forth do not con- stitute crimes again the per- son. Rather, they are inter- ferences with governmental operations constituting of- fenses against public ad- ministration. A person who violates (this statute) harms the peace and dignity of the State of Indiana and its law enforcement authority. The harm caused by one incident is the same regardless of the number of police officers re- sisted. It is the act of resist- ing duly constituted author- ity which the statue prohib- its, not resisting individual representatives of that au- thority. The Appellate Court fur- ther explained the state leg- islature added a clause to the statutes concerning operat- ing a vehicle while intoxicat- ed causing death and arson causing death to charge one count for each person killed by the action. They stated, "The legislature has thus far decided not to add such a provision to the resisting statute, and we will not read one into it." McDonald said he has asked Indiana Attorney Gen- eral Curtis Hill to consider appealing the Court of Ap- peals decision to the Indiana Supreme Court. McDonald said the Attor- ney General's office said a decision on whether or not to appeal it would take about two weeks. If that happens, then the Supreme Court would take about three or four months to determine if they would hear an appeal. No date for a hearing in Pike Circuit Court for the re- sentencing has been sched- uled. McDonald said they will wait to see if the Attor- ney General decides to pro- ceed. If not, Paquette would be brought back to Pike County for the re-sentenc- ing hearing. McDonald said if the rest of the sentence remains the same except for the three resisting charges becom- ing one charge, Paquette's sentence would be reduced from 50.5 years to 42.5 years. However, he said it isn't clear if they will start over on the sentencing or if they will just be re-sentencing Paquette on one resisting charge instead of three. PAQUETTE Continued from page 1 Right to Life banquet set for Oct. 5 Sheila Harper, founder and president of SaveOne Organization, which helps women recov- er from abortion trauma, will be the main speak- er at the Right to Life Banquet on Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Simon J. Graber building. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 812-354-8500 We're not afraid to shed some light on the truth. Petersburg Mayor R.C. Klipsch presents Nola Gartin with a certificate naming her a recipient of The Gold Hoosier Award. She was one of 22 statewide recipients of the award given for service to their community.