The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/961332
A-2 Front Wednesday, April 4, 2018 The Press-Dispatch yeah, it's that fast! net edition Z M www.PressDispatch.net/Subscribe The Press-Dispatch. No matter where you live. MILLER Continued from page 1 As many of you know, I'm seeking the Democrat nomination for Sheriff with the upcoming primary being held on May 8. I grew up in Pike County, attended Winslow Elementary and graduated from Pike Central in 1979. My father, John Bellamy, was a coal miner who retired from Old Ben Coal Company, and my mother, "Boots" Bellamy, worked at The Press-Dispatch for over 30 years. They raised me and my two sisters, Angie Heuring and Suzanne Cooper, to have respect for authority, stand up for what is right and treat other people the way we would like to be treated. My father taught me how to fix things with my hands, how to hunt and fish, how to plant and raise vegetables in the garden, and how to protect our family in dangerous situations. Over the years of my life, from a little boy to an adult, my mother has shown me the enjoyment that comes from taking time to visit and talk with people in the community, at the nursing homes and hospitals. She also taught me the importance of considering other people and their thoughts about an issue when making a decision. After high school, I obtained a chemical engineering degree from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute. After working in private industry for several years, I decided to pursue a career in law enforcement. With less than 2% of applicants being accepted, I was fortunate in being selected to attend the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. I graduated second in my class in academics with primary focus on the law and legal process. While assigned to the FBI Miami Field Office, I received awards for my contributions to: (1) security operations for Super Bowl XXXIII; (2) investigation of the first weaponized Anthrax attack in U.S. history; and (3) surveillance and arrest of an individual wanted for supporting terrorists overseas. I've spent the last 21 years working on homeland security issues, first as an FBI field agent and currently as a Homeland Security Specialist, assisting counties, cities and states with emergency response to active shooter incidents, and acts of domestic and international terrorism, as well as natural disasters. I've conducted numerous threat and vulnerability assessments to identify individuals, groups, operational plans and facilities within a community that are vulnerable to these types of events, and have provided resources and recommendations on how to reduce or eliminate the vulnerabilities. If elected Sheriff, my areas of focus for the Sheriff's Office will include: ● Protecting our children and adults from active shooter situations, and keeping guns and drugs out of our schools ● Protecting our county from drug traffickers ● Protecting our children from domestic abuse ● Protecting our county from man-made incidents and natural disasters involving toxic chemicals/gases; biological agents; radioactive materials; and explosive materials and devices ● Protecting our way of life by protecting our (a) generation and distribution of electricity; (b) clean water supply; (c) gas supply; and (d) phone/internet services ● I'll work closely with Sheriff's Office personnel to review and revise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) where needed, such as the management of inmates to prevent injuries to deputies, jailers and others ● I'll review the Sheriff's Office budget to identify areas where cost savings can be obtained – implementing procedures to obtain these cost savings, such as requesting annual competitive bids for goods and services provided to the Sheriff's Office I believe the time is right for me to utilize my knowledge, skills and experience, if elected as Sheriff, to work hand- in-hand with elected officials, county/city employees, local businesses and the community at large to provide the highest level of homeland security possible. By working together, we can promote an environment and reputation that crimes, especially those committed against our children, cannot be planned or committed in our county without significant consequences. As Sheriff, I and everyone in the Sheriff's Office will be accountable to you, our citizens, regarding the way in which we perform our duties. I value other people's concerns, opinions and ideas about the issues that affect the lives of everyone in our community. That's why you will be able to reach me on my phone or email whenever you want to discuss any public safety issue that concerns you. I'll always address your safety concerns with a visit in person, a return phone call or email message, or with a public safety announcement if a lot of people have a common concern. I'll treat everyone with fairness and respect because that's how I was raised and how I believe a Sheriff should treat everyone in the community. Please call or email me with your primary concerns about public safety and the Sheriff's Office at 812-766-2047 or JohnBellamyPikeCo@yahoo.com. Casting YOUR VOTE MATTERS Please join me in community support for the JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP RURITAN CHICKEN SUPPER at Otwell Community Center this Saturday, April 7, serving starts at 5 p.m. SHERIFF JOHN JOHN For Homeland Security. For Pike County. PAID FOR BY BELLAMY FOR SHERIFF COMMITTEE Casting YOUR VOTE MATTERS By Andy Heuring A wreck Saturday night led to the arrest of a Jas- per man and the Vincennes woman who was in the car with him. Maiquer A. Salvador, of 550 Kirkwod Dr., Jasper, was arrested on charges of oper- ating a vehicle while intoxi- cated (refusal), battery on a law enforcement officer and false informing. His passenger, Jalisa Bur- ton, of 2614 Main St., Vin- cennes, was arrested on charges of false informing and possession of meth less than five grams. Pike County Deputy Sher- iff Buck Seger said he was dispatched to a report of a vehicle in the ditch at the intersection of CR 200 N. and CR 1100 E. Seger said he talked with a witness who told him the man got out of the driver's door and then went around the passen- ger side of the vehicle and helped the woman get out of the passenger side door. The witness also said the man appeared to be highly intoxicated. Seger said when he and Deputy Paul Collier got to the scene, they saw both Salvador and Burton stand- ing on the driver's side of the vehicle, which was partially in the ditch and partially in the road. Deputy Seger said Burton told Deputy Collier she was driving because Salvador was intoxicated. However, Deputy Collier said when he told Burton she could be ar- rested for not having a driv- er's license, she changed her story and said Salvador had been driving and wanted her to say she was driving, be- cause he was intoxicated. Deputy Seger said when he talked with Salvador, he noticed a strong odor of al- cohol and Salvador admitted he had drank "a lot." But he maintained he was not driv- ing. Seger said he repeated- ly staggered away from Dep- uty Seger and kept yelling for Burton to tell them she was driving. He was eventually placed into handcuffs and as Dep- uty Seger began escorting Salvador to his police cruis- er, he said Salvador jerked away from him, intentional- ly slammed his shoulder in- to Deputy Seger's chest and lunged away from him. Deputy Seger said he grabbed Salvador and took him to the ground and gained compliance of him. Salvador was then placed in Seger's vehicle. He said Salvador contin- ued to be combative and ar- gued with officers. Both were taken to the Pike County Jail, where a search of Burton found a white powder in a vial neck- lace, which tested positive for meth. Two arrested on multiple charges after Saturday wreck your budget, during those months when you get abso- lutely zero in ADM money." Fears noted that the school had recently con- ducted its kindergarten round-up, and that at least 15 kindergarteners were expected to be enrolled at OMA at the start of the 2018 -19 school year. "That's a good start," Fears said. "Some of our other classes already have that number, so if we can get it in the others that don't, we'll have our 80. And I'm assuming everyone's re- turning, too." Fears encouraged the five board members who were present – Michelle Durcholz, Kim Elliott, Lou Fort, Valerie Schoppen- horst and Emily Willis – to help recruit students. "If you see any students out there needing a place to go, send them here," Fears said. "We're working on do- ing some things, too, and trying to get that number to 80 or above. Anything above that's great, but that would be a good growth for a school this size the first year." In other business, the OMA school board, on a motion by Fort, and second- ed by Elliott, voted to adopt a proposed calendar for the 2018 -19 school year. "This one is pretty much aligned with Pike County's because of split families sending students here and to Pike Central," Fears told the board. Fears noted there were a few differences, however, as OMA students will receive an extra day off – Wednes- day, Jan. 2 – during Christ- mas break, and will end the school year on Tues- day, May 21 – one day earli- er than Pike County School Corporation students. The first day of school will be Wednesday, Aug. 8, the same day as Pike Coun- ty School Corporation. "The committee did what they could and made a few changes from this year," Fears said. "But, for the most part, it needs to follow the local school corporation calendar for split families." Fears also informed the school board that OMA had been approved to utilize eL - earning days for the 2018 - 19 school year. An eLearning day for OMA students was held on Monday, March 25, the first day of spring break, and Fears said that it was suc- cessful. "So we may use them again," Fears said. "We have them for next year, if needed. Let's hope there- are no days we have to have them." Line falls across Pike Central entrance Strong winds caused a tree to fall near Pike Central at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. That tree fell across power lines, which, in turn, fell across the entrance to Pike Central Middle and High School. State Troopers Paul Bastin and C.J. Boeckman blocked the entrance and checked it out un- til Vectren crews made repairs. The downed line did not affect the school's electricity.