South Gibson Star-Times

Local ........ A1-12 Sports ...........A6 History ............A9 Home Life A10-11 School ........B1-3 Church ...... B3-4 Classifi eds .......B5 Opinion ...... B6-8 WHAT'S INSIDE: PIKE PUBLISHING Phone: .............812-753-3553 Fax: .................812-753-4251 E-Mail editor@sgstartimes.com E-Mail ..........news@sgstartimes.com Facebook ....facebook.com/sgstartimes Twitter .........twitter.com/sgstartimes NEWS TIPS: CONNECT WITH US: TWO SECTIONS 20 PAGES NO INSERTS $1 SPORTS A-6 LOCAL A-4 STUDENTS CELEBRATE MARDI GRAS Daisy takes second at middle school PAC Championships TUESDAY, MArCH 19, 2019 VOLUME 64 nUMBEr 42 FOrT BrAnCH, InDIAnA 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) See FORUM on page 5 See COUNCIL on page 2 County Council: More officers will not fix facilities By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Gibson County Council had a message for County Commission- ers March 12—approving more jailers will not correct the institu- tional issues with jail overcrowd- ing. Currently facing two lawsuits, the Gibson County Sheriff's Of- fice has requested more jailers to staff the 120 -bed facility that oc- casionally hosts up to 160 people, but Gibson County Council said Tuesday, the better, most imme- diate fix is to reduce the number of inmates by finding other facili- ties to host them while the county comes up with a plan for expand- ed jail capacity. The jail is the subject of a law- suit filed by Zeberiah Stilwell on behalf of himself and all inmates current and future through the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). The suit alleges violence be- tween prisoners, and three pris- oners in cells with two beds, caus- ing one person to have to sleep be- tween the other inmates and the cell's restroom facilities, which leads to tension and disruption of sleep when an inmate on a tradi- tional bed has to use the restroom near the one that is sleeping by the toilet. The suit alleges inadequate sep- aration of inmates with disabil- ities, who, according to the suit, can be vulnerable to being preyed on by other inmates. When meals are served, the law- suit alleges some inmates have to sit on trashcans or even the toilet to eat because of there being too few seats in the eating area. County commissioners have ini- tiated a jail study—an earlier study suggested hiring more jailers, and the County Council approved hir- ing two this year, but according to Steve Bottoms, an earlier report recommended six more in addi- tion to that number. On the other hand, the Coun- ty Council told Commissioners Tuesday that even maintaining their current number has proved challenging due to high turnover. The Gibson County Sheriff's Of- fice has cited less competitive pay than nearby departments and cor- rections officers using the post as a stepping stone to deputy work as contributing factors. County Council member Dan Beard brought up the issue when discussing the jail, asking whether the Sheriff's Office has been able to hire all for which they're cur- rently approved. He was told the Candidates answer questions at breakfast By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Politicians at the state and lo- cal levels discussed current events and took questions Satur- day during the annual agriculture breakfast and legislative forum sponsored by the Gibson Coun- ty Farm Bureau and Chamber of Commerce. Recapping recent moves by the State Senate, Sen. Mark Mess- mer (R), pointed to legislation to allow foster parents to have a say during court proceedings concerning their foster children and legislation combating opi- oids as top concerns. One mea- sure would move refills on opioids to having to be received every 30 days instead of 90 days and would potentially test patients to ensure they test positive for opioids, to prove they are taking them as op- posed to selling them. He also discussed a bill, SB362, to allow teachers to claim up to $500 in school supplies on their taxes. He discussed increasing tax exemptions for small business- es from $25,000 to $40,000 and a bill, SB 460, designed to give broadband companies the abili- ty to use INDOT right-of-way ac- cess, similar to what public util- ities have. That would help make it more affordable, Messmer said, to bring broadband to rural areas, because currently they pay to use the right-of-ways, which can dou- ble the cost in areas where they already expect fewer customers per mile. He also discussed hemp farm- ing, which he is in favor of farm- ers in Indiana having the expand- ed ability to grow. State Rep. Matt Hostettler dis- cussed legislation in the house, including his first bill brought to Council declines to approve highway employee contract By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Gibson County Council did not sign an agreement with county highway de- partment workers present- ed March 12, saying the amount in the contract is higher than the salary ordi- nance approved. County Commissioner Gerald Bledsoe negotiated with the union to arrive at the contract presented last Tuesday, a contract commis- sioners approved at their ear- ly month meeting March 5. The contract gives high- way department workers 10 -hour days, and four day work weeks in the sum- mer, which will reduce the amount of hours the work- ers will spend in the hottest part of the day, said High- way Dept. Supervisor Chuck Lewis. The more controver- sial part of the contract ad- dressed issues where some employees were making dif- ferent amounts based on what job they were doing. For example, a person doing mowing would make different pay while mowing than while bridge work. Ac- cording to Lewis, he con- densed some jobs to put them in the same category to simplify accounting and to make the pay more fair, where people doing the same job would get the same pay. The change would slight- Right to Bear Arms closes Right to Bear Arms, a Haubstadt gun business and firing range on U.S. 41, opened in 2009 and owned by locals Jacob Stotler and Bob Hinton, announced it would close its doors permanently be- ginning last Friday. Owners posted the fol- lowing to their Facebook page: "It is with heavy hearts that we have to let you all know we have to officially close the shop effective immediately. We have been blessed with the best and most loyal customers, and we thank each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts. The last nine years have been amaz- ing and you all made it worth every second. We have done all we can pos- sibly do to make the shop a success. If you have a consignment, special or- der, suppressor or any- thing at the shop, we will be in contact early next week to update you on ar- rangements to get those items to you. Thank you for your understanding. Again, we thank you all for everything! Be well." The business was known for hosting clubs, including The Well- Armed Woman and local archers, as well as sup- porting law enforcement, for example, by hosting fundraisers for Downed Officer first aid kits last June. The move also cancels Indiana Archery Acade- my's USA JOAD Open House and Shooter Clinic with Darrell Pace sched- uled for March 24. See CONTR ACT on 8 Extra experience! Seniors Hailey Anderson and Dylan Coston performed their last shows in the Gibson Southern Theatre Dept. over the weekend. Coston cited "Newsies" as an especially good production to end on as seniors because of the close relationships in the cast. Photo by Logan Clark, Inside the Frame. See story and additional photos and story on pages A-8 and A-12. Right to Bear Arms in Haubstadt closed Friday. The picture above was taken in June when the store was fundraising for Downed Officer kits.

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