The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/853570
A-6 Local Wednesday, July 26, 2017 The Press-Dispatch ank You I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all who supported me aer the loss of Caleb Poehlein. ank you all for your calls, texts, visits, food, prayers and the love you have shown towards my family. I extend my thanks to all first responders, Pike County Sheriff 's Department, Pike County EMT, DNR and Jefferson Township Fire Department. Regardless of the hour, holiday, or weather, you promptly respond. You are a shining example of leadership to others. I'd like to give a huge thank you to Officer Paul Collier. When the unimaginable happened, he was there first on scene. ank you for your courage, dedication and spirit to help. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. e family of Caleb Poehlein Little Miss Sweet Corn contestants Little Miss Sweet Corn Pageant in Oakland City will be Friday July 28 at 7 p.m. in the Wood Memo- rial Jr./Sr. High Cafetorium for girls ranging in age from five to eight years old. The girls will each ei- ther perform a talent or give a short presentation of their heroes (in accordance with this year's Lions Club theme of "Who's your Hero?"). All proceeds from the ticket sales will go toward Tri Kappa's phil- anthropic projects. Pictured (l to r): Jaelyn Hall, Ella Hillyard, Rebecca Taylor, 2016 Queen Veronica Orth, Gertie War- ner, Breyanna McAtee and Bristol Powers. Not pictured: Langstyn Young. 0HHWWKH0DNR2SHQ+RXVH *RRG6DPDULWDQLVWKH),567LQRXUUHJLRQ WRUHYROXWLRQL]HNQHHDQGKLSUHSODFHPHQW VXUJHULHVZLWKWKHSXUFKDVHRIWKH0DNR 5RERWLFDUP1RZLV\RXUFKDQFHWRVHH WKLV UHYROXWLRQDU\ WHFKQRORJ\ DQG OHDUQ PRUH DERXW LWV XQPDWFKHG SUHFLVLRQ 7R5693IRUWKHRSHQKRXVH SOHDVHFDOORUYLVLW XVRQOLQHDWJVKYLQRUJPDNR :HGQHVGD\$XJXVW WRSP(67 6DPH'D\6XUJHU\&HQWHU 66HYHQWK6W 9LQFHQQHV,1 Athletic Department Store The Best Quality Products at Low Prices Everyday Southgate Shopping Center Mon.-Fri. 9:30-5:30 Sat. 9:00-2:00 Kick Off Back to School with a Winning Sale! Nike Bags and Local School Bags SWIM SUITS Asics Gel Excite Reg. $70 SALE PRICE $59.95 (Men & Women) (Men & Women) Reg. $160 SALE PRICE $134.95 ALL TAKE AN EXTRA $10 OFF OUR EVERYDAY LOW PRICE ALL NIKE SOCCER SHOES 30% OFF Stadium Seats IN STOCK Asics Kayano 23 Running Pike Central Apparel IN HOUSE CUSTOM EMBROIDERY & SCREEN PRINTING Complaint at Casey's leads to arrest of Wheatland man By Andy Heuring A complaint of a man bug- ging a Casey's customers last Thursday morning led to that man being arrested on meth charges. Steven R. Cook, 71, of 923 S. Strawberry Hall Rd., Wheatland, was arrested on preliminary charges of pos- session of meth, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a schedule IV controlled substance and driving while suspended. Petersburg Cpl. Jared Simmons said he was no- tified of a complaint from Casey's of an elderly man asking customers for mon- ey at the gas pumps at about 5 a.m. Cpl. Simmons said when he arrived, he talked with the store manager who told him the man had been there for more than an hour bugging the regular custom- ers for money. Simmons' report states he ran a license check on the man's vehicle and found the owner's license had been suspended. When he went over to talk with Cook, he noticed Cook putting what looked like a glass meth smoking devise into a pur- ple Crown Royal bag. His report states he asked Cook to step out of the car and show him what he was putting into the bag. Cook's reply was "it wasn't his." Simmons said he checked in the bag and found the glass pipe and it field tested positive for meth. Cook said it must have been his passenger's pipe. A search of the vehicle al- so produced a clear plastic baggie in a cigarette pack- age. Simmons said the bag- gie contained a crystal-like substance that field tested positive for meth. They al- so located one Xanax pill in the same cigarette package. Cook was taken into custody. Pregnancy Crisis Center fundraising for new facility By Andy Heuring The Pregnancy Crisis Center in Washington is in the midst of a fundrais- ing drive against a fast tick- ing clock. They are hoping to purchase the former of- fices of Washington ortho- dontist Dr. Lana Helms for a new medical facility that will allow them to do ultra- sounds. They need to raise $120,000 by the end of July. The group's mission statement is "The Pregnan- cy Care Center of Washing- ton is an organization ded- icated to providing life af- firming choices which meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of the peo- ple affected by crisis preg- nancies." They are currently on the lower floor of Grace Bap- tist Church. The new loca- tion will give them the abil- ity to do ultrasounds. They hope to get Helm's building to upgrade and expand their medical capabilities so they can do pregnancy tests, ul- trasounds and counseling. Dr. Nick Dahl, of Jasper, is the Center's medical direc- tor and they now have a Reg- istered Nurse working with the center. An adjacent building will house material aids such as cribs, mattresses, car seats, strollers, new and used ba- by clothes, baby bottles, ba- by lotion, baby wipes, baby shampoo and other baby es- sentials. Assistant Director Denny Smith said the organization offers numerous services to pregnant women and new families. He said they have pre- and post-natal classes. When a mother or expect- ing mother completes the classes, they get mommy money that can be used on baby items. They also offer classes for new fathers and they get credits that can be used for baby items. So far, they have more than $18,000 in donations, $15,000 in pledges and the Bethel Mennonite Church in Odon just donated more than $ 35,000 from a pizza fundraiser. "We are asking local busi- nesses, churches and indi- viduals to support us in any way they can. They can mail a check to: Pregnancy Care Center of Washington, P.O. Box 589, Washington, IN 47501. Or go to our website, www.pccwashingtonin.com and use PayPal," said Smith. Brown arrested on theft, drug charges following his father's death By Andy Heuring A Velpen man was arrest- ed on theft and drug charg- es following the death of his father. Wes Brown, 50, of 8488 E. Private Road, 410 S. Vel- pen was arrested after his mother and sister asked police to investigate thefts from their residence imme- diately following the death of Ronnie Brown. Brown was arrested on charges of possession of meth, a Level 5 felony, un- lawful possession or use of a legend drug, maintaining a common nuisance, (con- trolled substances) and possession of marijuana. His son, Hunter W. Brown, 20, of the same ad- dress was charged with maintaining a common nui- sance, possession of meth- amphetamine and posses- sion of marijuana. According to police re- ports, Wes Brown stormed out of Memorial Hospital in Jasper, kicking walls and several doors and almost running over people in the parking lot, after being in- formed of his father Ronnie Brown's death on July 4. Police were called to check on his welfare and were told Brown had said he was going to kill him- self. Pike County Deputy Paul Collier said he locat- ed Brown outside his fa- ther's residence and while checking on him, Brown made several statements about valuable items in his father's house. Seven days later on Ju- ly 11, Brown's mother, Ya- vonne and her daughter, Gloria J. Clements, who lives with her mother, met with Pike County police and told them that on July 4, Wes had left the hospi- tal before them and when they returned home, sev- eral items were missing in- cluding a boat, numerous guns from Ronnie's collec- tion and cash from Ronnie's billfold. They said when they complained earlier to Wes about this, he returned a pickup, boat and gun and keys to a gun safe. Clements and Yavonne Brown said this led them to believe Wes had taken the other missing items. Deputies Jason McKin- ney, Mike Willis, Paul Col- lier and Brad Jenkins ob- tained a search warrant and served it on Wes' residence. They located a scooter Ya- vonne had reported stolen, meth, marijuana and large quantities of paraphernalia in Brown's residence and pickup truck. His son Hunter lived at the residence as well. During an interview, Brown claimed his sis- ter Gloria, who he called Jody, had stolen his house key and planted the drugs and stolen items on him. According to the probable cause affidavit, after Pike County Prosecutor Darrin McDonald asked Brown: So we need to look at (Glo- ria) for planting that stuff?," Brown replied "You had better believe that you do. . . because there's a house key gone and she got in there, 'cause that's how she want- ed to bring old Wes brother down. So she could get this stuff because I'm smarter than her." However, according to police records his sister, Gloria Jo Clements is on house arrest and under GPS surveillance. The po- lice reports state Clements did not leave her residence during the time frame Brown claimed he saw her running from his house. According to the affida- vit, police said they were concerned about the safety of Clements and Brown's mother, because during the interview he had claimed to have broken the stock of a shotgun by hitting a man and choking another per- son. He also said he poi- soned some of his drugs because he believed peo- ple were stealing them from him. The affidavit also states Brown said, "The second I get out of here, I am not go- ing to get a felony, but I'm not going to be hesitating to get on her. I'll bring you what's left of her. Hey, this is a family feud between me and my dad and my mom and her."