The Press-Dispatch
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Local ........ A1-10 Sports .........B1-7 Classifi eds .... B8-9 Church ........C1-3 School.........C4-5 East Gibson .... C6 Home Life....D1-5 Obituaries....... D6 Opinion .......D7-8 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 CARTS on page 9 See ACADEMY on page 8 See GR ANT on page 2 $ 1 Four sections Three inserts 36 pages Wednesday, October 18, 2017 Volume 148 Number 42 Phone (812) 354-8500 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 (USPS 604-34012) Only two weeks remain to save $ 3 on your subscription to The Press-Dispatch. Subscribers can check their mailing label for their subscription expiration date. Sub- scriptions that expire in October will be highlighted in orange. The Press-Dispatch is offering a year's subscription at a $ 3 discount for anywhere in the United States. That is $ 3 off your only source for the news that affects you. Wheth- er it is your local officials mak- ing decisions that will affect your water bill, the road in front of your house and how much you will pay in taxes, or decisions affecting your child's school. It is also your only source for news about your neighbors and ac- quaintances as well as providing a historical perspective with the History page. For Pike and surrounding coun- ties and all "475" zip codes, the price is $27. Elsewhere in Indiana during October, the price is $ 30 a year and outside Indiana the price is $47 for a one-year subscription. Regardless of when your sub- scription expires, and regardless of where you live in the United States, you may renew and have your subscription extended one year at a savings of $ 3. 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NETedi- tion offers the same look and feel as the print edition, but with add- ***************SCH 5-DIGIT 47567 0001 10-20-17 NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIBER PO BOX 68 PETERSBURG, IN 47567-0068 See BARGAIN on page 2 Only two weeks left in October Bargain Period Tech Center receives $787,500 grant A project that is seen as the first domi- no in the development of Pike County's I- 69 interchange became reality last week. On Wednesday, it was announced the En- trepreneurship & Technology Center of Pike County has been awarded a grant for $787,500 from the Economic Development Administration in the Public Works and As- sistance to Coal Communities programs. With plans to offer co-working space, mak- er space with prototyping capabilities and the ability to do small-scale mass produc- tion, along with a training center that will cater to workforce development needs for existing businesses large and small, the Entrepreneurship and Technology Cen- ter of Pike County will be the ultimate re- source for start-up businesses. "Pike County's economy has largely been comprised of local small business owners, whose entrepreneurial spirit and determination over time have led to em- ployment and capital investment in our community. Much like the small business owner nurtures its concept, this endeavor has been in the works for more than sev- en years, with Pike County Progress Part- ners and many young entrepreneurs that have developed start-up business leading the charge. The hard work and persistence by this project team will lead to a commu- nity asset that both fosters entrepreneurs and supports regional workforce needs," said Pike County EDC Executive Director Ashley Willis. She added, "There have been many part- ners that have strongly supported the En- trepreneurship and Technology Center that should be recognized. Those part- ners include: Elmer Buchta, Jr., Pike Coun- ty Community Foundation, German Amer- ican Banking Insurance and Investments, Toyota, WIN Energy, Hoosier Energy, Doyle Family, Jasper Engines and Trans- missions, Ohio Valley Gas Corporation, Gray Farms, Pike County Progress Part- ners and Pike County Economic Develop- ment Corporation." "A fter many years of working on this project, I am elated the EDA is willing to partner with us on this project and I look forward to construction commencement," said Joe Dedman, president of German American Insurance. Willis said the facility will be located as the "front door into Pike County," sitting on the southwest quadrant of the I-69 inter- By Ed Cahill While others may argue whether a glass is either half-empty or half-full, Friends of Otwell Elementary president Bob Rhodes chooses to look at what he described as the organization's "financial crisis" a little dif- ferently. "I know I sound like a Pollyanna, and I know I sound like the glass is fuller than half-full," Rhodes said during a public meet- ing held on Monday, Oct. 16 at Otwell Mill- er Academy. "Who knows? Maybe it is more than half-full. I can tell you this – it's no more than half-empty." However, Rhodes admitted, persistent rumors about the "direness" of the organi- zation's financial condition is causing mem- bers of the Otwell community to become concerned. "There are a lot of rumors still amongst our own people about the direness of our financial condition, and I will not fly in the face of any of those rumors," Rhodes said. "A fter all, that's perception." Rhodes said that he and his wife, Rose, were late arriving for Monday night's meet- ing because they had been delayed by vis- itors who had what Rhodes described as "big" questions that they wanted answered. "They were honestly and openly con- cerned," Rhodes said. "They knew that they were keeping us from being here, but they were worried enough that they were there asking us the questions. We answered them to the best of our abilities." "What I need from you, as members of the team, is to be honest brokers," Rhodes continued. "If somebody says, 'They've got financial problems,' say, 'Yeah, but they weren't as bad as they were a while ago.'" Rhodes told those in attendance to look around. "This spot a year ago was a cornfield," Rhodes said. "Right now, the newest edu- cational structure in Pike County is stand- ing where that corn was." "Yes, we have a financial crisis on our hands," Rhodes continued. "When you put a building up in 45 days, that we thought was going to take 90 days or 120 days, and then, all of a sudden, you've got kiddos in your brand-new building, some of us would say before we really wanted the kids in the brand-new building, we would be absolute- ly miracle workers if we didn't have a finan- cial crisis." However, Rhodes said, one of the strengths of the Friends of Otwell Elemen- tary organization was the diversity of its membership. "We have people in our group who stand at the very pinnacle of the education world or the legal world, the world of finance, and they are all generous with their advice and their support," Rhodes said. "The bottom line is, I need you to help me tell the story, each and every one of you," Rhodes added. "If you do nothing else, keep everyone's heads on right and stop them from spreading half-truths and misinfor- mation. That will be a big part of the fight." Otwell resident Robert Swaney, whose daughter is a student at Otwell Miller Acad- Friends of Otwell meet to discuss 'financial crisis' Holly Walk planning meeting Wednesday evening A meeting to make plans for the Peters- burg Holly Walk will be 5 p.m. Wednes- day, Oct. 18 at Marge's Hallmark on Main Street. Everyone is welcome to attend and share ideas for activities during the event. By James Capozella Petersburg City Council discussed at length the possibility of enacting a golf cart ordinance for the city, with Mayor R.C. Klipsch suggesting that the process be an action by committee. Although board mem- bers Bertis Jenkins and John Melhiser were absent, comments from council president Fran Lewis, Gary Leavitt, Brian VanMe- ter, city attorney Brian Mahoney and May- or Klipsch were abundant, both positive and negative. Petersburg resident Billy Slaven was on the agenda and addressed the coun- cil, stating he had been driving his golf cart for 20 years and found it to be a way for the community to become "friendly" and drive a lot, like what goes on in other communi- ties that have golf cart ordinances. Mayor Klipsch thought there actually wouldn't be that many carts on the streets simply because of the equipment and legal requirements mandated by the city if a golf cart ordinance was made similar to those in surrounding communities. Right now the council is "still gathering information" and "working on this in the event" a decision on golf cart use in the city was made, accord- ing to Klipsch. His main concern was pub- lic safety, while Mahoney wanted specifics, like those in the Washington city ordinance covered in any golf cart ordinance. Slaven told the council that most of the golf cart ordinances were like those of Washington, where turn signals, head- lights, brake lights, insurance, a driver's li- cense, seatbelts and a tall flag are required. An inspection and then registration stick- ers would be a part of the requirements. Heavy fines for violations and even confis- cation on a third violation, with a $2,000 fine, is a part of the City of Washington's ordinance. It was suggested that golf carts would be just one more item on city streets, such as bikes, scooters and motorcycles, which can be slow moving and even harder to see by motorists. Petersburg Police Chief Chuck Baumgart said he was not for or against a golf cart ordinance, but was concerned City discusses golf carts, salary ordinance 4-H Enrollment Day hay ride Hayrides tend to create excitement. Danilyn Boyette, Landan McDowell, Addyson McDow- ell and Kiara Poselwait are assisted into a haywagon for a ride around Hornady Park on Sun- day afternoon. It was one of many fun activities at the 4-H Enrollment Day. See more photos and information on page A-4. Red hot ride to school Asher Cassada, a third grader at Petersburg Elementary School, jumps off a fire truck with a big smile Friday morning as Petersburg Fireman Alex Ded- man helps him. Cassada was one of several kids who won a drawing at the Buf- falo Trace Bicentennial Festival to ride to school on a fire truck. The kids load- ed up at the Petersburg Fire Department before 8 a.m. Friday and then were driven around town with sirens going and dropped off at school. Time is running out to save! Bargain Period ends Oct. 31! see page C-8.