The Press-Dispatch
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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 ZONING on page 9 See METH BUST on page 2 See TUITION on page 2 $ 1 Four sections Seven inserts 34 pages Wednesday, November 15, 2017 Volume 148 Number 46 Phone (812) 354-8500 Petersburg, IN 47567-0068 (USPS 604-34012) Otwell Miller Academy's state tuition support reduced By Ed Cahill Otwell Miller Academy will not receive any state tuition support during the months of November, December, January and Feb- ruary, according to a funding recalculation notice issued by the Indiana Department of Education on Wednesday, Nov. 8. In an e-mail sent to Lisa Reid, CPA, of Greggs & Reid, Indiana Department of Ed- ucation director of school finance Melissa Ambre announced that the state tuition support for Otwell Miller Academy had been adjusted based on the charter school's actual average daily membership (ADM) of 58 students after it received monthly pay- ments in July, August, September and Oc- tober based on a pre-enrollment ADM of 120 students. "As a result, the monthly tuition support payment estimates are revised for Novem- ber through June because the estimated ADM was higher than the actual Septem- ber 15, 2017, ADM," Ambre wrote. "The funding for July through December and January to June was recalculated and up- dated to reflect the change." Based on the pre-enrollment ADM count of 120 students, it was originally estimated that Otwell Miller Academy would receive a total of $703,808 in state tuition support for Fiscal Year 2018, which began on July 1, 2017, and will end on June 30, 2018. However, based on the school's actual ADM count of 58 students, the estimat- ed amount of state tuition support for Fis- cal Year 2018 fell by more than half – to $ 340,174. Based on the pre-enrollment ADM count of 120 students, Otwell Miller Academy re- ceived $58,650.67 in monthly tuition sup- port during July, August and September and $58,650.66 in October for a total of $234,602.67. Based on the school's actual ADM count of 58 students, however, Otwell Miller Academy should have received an esti- mated $28,347 each month for a total of $113,388. "The November payment is zero as are the December through February pay- By Andy Heuring License plate violations led to the arrest of ten people on meth and other drug-re- lated charges, including a level 4 felony charge of dealing in meth. The first oc- curred late Tuesday, November 7. Three days later, an improper license plate led to a Washington man being arrested on a mar- ijuana charge, as well as his passenger, the passenger's girlfriend and two others be- ing arrested on meth charges. Christopher Jones, 42, of 204 N. Fifth St., Apt. A, Petersburg, was arrested on charg- es of dealing methamphetamine, a level 4 felony, possession of meth, a level 5 felony, unlawful possession of a syringe, a level five felony, and maintaining a common nui- sance, a level 6 felony. A habitual offender charge is also being sought against Jones. Heather A. Nowark, 44, of 411 N. Main St., Winslow, was arrested on charges of dealing meth, a level 5 felony, possession of meth, a level 6 felony, and maintaining a common nuisance, a level 6 felony. Also arrested in connection with the same investigation were three people from Jasper. Susan Roach, 52, of 506 W. Village Court, Jasper, was charged with possession of meth, a level 6 felony. Raymond Conrad Strombald, 54, of the same address, on charges of possession of meth, a level 6 fel- ony and possession of paraphernalia. The third person was Clifford Bryan Byers, 35, also of same address, on a charge of pos- session of meth, a level 6 felony. According to a probable cause affidavit, Jones and Nowark were arrested after po- lice had been watching a house in Winslow for several weeks following an arrest of peo- ple, who were transporting drugs, leaving the residence at 411 N. Main St.. Last Tuesday, police were watching the house which had two vehicles parked near it. When Indiana State Trooper C. J. Boeck- man noticed a Chevrolet Trailblazer leave the house located next to the The Fish Hut, they followed the vehicle north on Highway 61, ran a license plate check and found it had expired on October 28, 2017. Trooper Boeckman stopped the vehicle at PC-1 Stop at about 8 p.m. It was being driven by Roach, with Strom- blad in the front passenger seat and Byers in the backseat. Trooper Boeckman said Roach told him they had been at a friend's house in Winslow, but wouldn't tell them whose house. He also added all three seemed extreme- ly nervous. According to the affidavit, police got the passengers out of the vehicle to do a search of it and during a patdown found glass smoking pip in Stromblad's waist- band. The pipe had a white powder residue on it, according to Trooper Boeckman. The affidavit states Strombald said he smoked meth at the "house next to The Fish Hut. . . with an old friend named Heather," but he didn't know her last name. A search of the vehicle found nothing il- legal; however, in Roach's purse, police said they found a corner baggie in the pages of License plate issues lead to meth arrests By Andy Heuring Christmas parades in Winslow and Pe- tersburg will be Saturday, December 2. The Winslow parade will begin at 10 a.m., with line-up at the Fire Department. The parade will proceed to Main Street and then north on Main Street to the Little League park. Santa will be at the Nazarene Church's Fellowship Hall following the parade. There will also be a Mouse House until 1 p.m. at the same location. It allows children to pur- chase inexpensive Christmas gifts for sib- lings and their parents. PETERSBURG AT 2 P.M. The Petersburg parade will start at 2 p.m., beginning on Walnut Street, going to Main Street and heading south. Line-up will begin at 1 p.m. on Walnut Street near the courthouse. Christmas parades scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2 Salvation Army bell ringers needed It is the time of year when a hint of snow is in the air, and the Pike/ Gibson Salvation Army is in need of bell ringer volunteers in Peters- burg. If you would like to ring, con- tact Cal Biddle at 812-582-2385. Times are available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Petersburg Dollar Gener- al on Fridays and Saturdays, No- vember 24 through December 23. Also, you could ring at Petersburg Hardware from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Last year, just over $ 6,000 was raised in Pike Co., while Pike/ Gibson Salvation Army helped with back to school clothes, school supplies, and now win- ter coats for scores of children in this community. All money raised stays in these two counties. The Princeton Corps is at 202 S. Gib- son St., Princeton, Utility and rent bills were paid through Salvation Army to keep people in their homes, and emer- gency housing and clothing were provided. Hundreds of nutritious meals were served each week, es- pecially when children were out of school. Countless boys and girls are able to celebrate Christmas through the Salvation Army Toy Shop. "It was the Salvation Army who came early and stayed late during the Petersburg Tornado. They helped us during our time of need. Volunteer at least a cou- ple of hours to help Pike Co. peo- ple in need," said Biddle. He added, "Many people ring for two hours at a time. Some like to ring with a friend. Some churches and school groups take an entire day." "Your volunteering helps fam- ilies have a Merry Christmas," said Biddle. By Andy Heuring Winslow councilmen said they want to get a zoning board in Win- slow reactivated and agreed to look for a new site for tree debris to be dumped. Both were topics of their 90 -minute meeting Mon- day night. Stacy Russell, who chaired the board, told the Winslow Town Council, while they still have sev- eral members on the board, she hasn't been able to get members to attend a meeting. "I tried to get a meeting, but no one would at- tend the meeting," said Russell. Several people in attendance named people who were on the board and some who were suppos- edly still interested. But Russell said she wasn't able to get them to attend a meeting. "Why don't we get a list of who Winslow wants to reactivate zoning board Christmas in the Park Volunteers work to set up the Tin Soldier display in this year's Christmas in the Park at Hor- nady Park. Dave Parker, Silas Ashley, Sonnie Houchins, Lowell Thomas and John Burns lift the display into place as a city worker helps with the town's lift truck. Christmas in the Park will open the Friday after Thanksgiving and run through Christmas Day. Donations received help fund the Sam Taylor Scholarship Fund that helps area church members attend college. Veterans honored Veteran Stanley Nelson, who was severely injured in the Korean War, places a wreath at the Veterans Memorial in Otwell. It was one of several Veterans Day ceremonies around Pike County last Friday. See related photos on pages A-10, A-8 and A-5.