The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1361578
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, April 14, 2021 D-5 EAST GIBSON Submit East Gibson news items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: egnews@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Oakland City Elementary FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS SEPTIC TANK PUMPING & INSTALLATION TRENCHING and DRAINS • DIRT and ROCK HAULING • SITE PREP and CLEARING RENT FOR THE WEEKEND,WEEK OR MONTHLY PORTA-POTTY FREE ESTIMATES 812-582-2646 Contact Kyle Hathaway at Karan Thacker, AFSP Owner THACKER TAX SERVICE 906 Blackfoot Drive Fort Branch, IN 47648 812-615-0071 (offi ce) 812-789-3852 (cell) kthacker01@gmail.com Commissioners approve Kuester's appeal By Janice Barniak Gibson County Commis- sioners approved an appeal of the county's subdivision or- dinance from surveyor Fred Kuester. According to Commission- er Mary Key, they don't have to approve a specific monu- ment or section, but rath- er to approve the plat itself. The plat itself is a land area that has already been perpet- uated by the county survey- or, she said. The vote passed unanimously. Gibson County to receive $6.53 million Stipulations on how to use still developing By Janice Barniak County commissioners said they'll likely put to- gether a committee, joining a commissioner and mem- bers of the council to decide how to spend a $ 6.53 million grant, once the federal gov- ernment fleshes out the stip- ulations they'll have on how to spend that money. While they know funds will fall under public health emergency benefits, and will be used for possibly benefit- ting households, non-profits, COVID-affected industries, tourism, essential workers, eligible employers, govern- ment services facing reduc- tion in revenues, or water, sewer and broadband infra- structure, those categories are still very broad, and some have suggested not spending the money completely and immediately. Coming out of Congress, the plan will likely see stip- ulations. "You can't just say we've got this money, let's go build the Taj Mahal. A little one," said Commissioner Mary Key, adding it was specified for COVID-related recovery. "As you can see, that's pret- ty broad." County cancels COVID leave By Janice Barniak Gibson County Commis- sioners unanimously ap- proved discontinuing spe- cial leave for employees with COVID-19. According to Auditor Mike Watkins, the county had pre- viously decided to extend the special COVID leave un- til March (The leave allows the employees to take the re- quired two weeks of quaran- tine without using their vaca- tion and sick time). In an email thread with other counties, no other counties were extending the leave; if county employees get COVID, they'll be expect- ed to use their regular P TO. "I hate to do that, but we've had it out for a year," said Commissioner Mary Key. Officials urge vigilance as vaccines increase By Janice Barniak Gibson County COVID numbers had hit a decline in March, but with spring break travel, NCA A attend- ees and hundreds gathering for unmasked Easter events, Gibson County Health Dept. Director Diane Hornby told County Commissioners April 6 the county could see a coro- navirus resurgence. "We're not at the threshold where we can just throw ev- erything away, it's going to be okay," Hornby said. Considering Hornby's ad- vice, the commissioners man- dated masks still be worn in county buildings and the jail, at least until the next commis- sioners' meeting, although the health department will stop staffing the courthouse in an effort to help the de- partment that is spread thin between contact tracing, testing, vaccination at pub- lic clinics, and to the home- bound and the regular duties of the health department, like restaurant inspections, sewer system approvals, and more. Compounding that, the de- partment's server went down, meaning they've had to get a new one and begin transfer- ring records from the old to the new. The health department will be going into businesses to do vaccine clinics, as well as maintaining their Wednesday clinics from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and their Friday clinics from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the fair- grounds, free of charge. Due to ramping up vacci- nations, the department is spending one less day on test- ing, because demand, Hornby said, has decreased. But while fewer are testing, March had more positive cas- es than February, and April is on track to outpace March, on an upward curve. "We really need the public to get vaccines, and contin- ue wearing masks as much as possible. We still have it in our community," she said. Senior Center organizer Julia Rahman told commis- sioners seniors would like to be out socializing again. Hornby said many seniors are not comfortable in plac- es where people do not wear masks, especially the elder- ly that have health problems and have lost many friends to COVID. "In the past, we've stayed with what the state has set," said Commissioner Warren Fleetwood, who said he had COVID in July and has re- ceived the Moderna vaccina- tion, but still wears a mask. "I'm at the point I'm doing this to help other people," he said, adding commissioners would encourage people to go by the rules individual busi- nesses set. "If they put it on their business, we're asking people—I'm asking people to observe it, to respect it and to show patience." At the same time, he said, that if a business doesn't re- quire masks and a person feels uncomfortable, they might consider going some- where else. Cecil "Bob" Allen was in fa- vor of continuing mask wear- ing for children too young to receive the vaccine. "It's something we've got to do, if we're going to save lives in this United States," he said. Hornby stressed that the more people who are vacci- nated, the more the county can loosen restrictions with- out fear of outbreaks. "Did all of us put a mask on because the governor asked us to? No, I think we did it to protect our family and friends," Commissioner Mary Key said. Oakland City Elementary most improved students of the nine weeks are, front row (l to r): Jonah Armes, Pais- lee Hughes, Harlow Williams, Gilbert Bruner, Lyric Cansler and Madilyn Karnes; back row: Tilee Payne, Park- er Lee, Makenzie Ota, Cooper Smith and Cannon Tooley. Not pictured are: Austin Lemond, Renee Lewis and Johnathan Lynn. Oakland City Elementary students of the nine weeks are, front row (l to r): Kasyn Hutchinson, Paisley Culb- ertson, Aleigha Smith and Collin Cashin; middle row: Terrin Meece, Damen Riley, Averi Fryxell and McKenzie Wineinger; back row: Aidan McCandless, Wyatt Rowe, Abigail Richardson, Ayva Powers, Taylor Heeman and Kendrix Beasley.