South Gibson Star-Times

NEWS TIPS Phone: ������������� 812-753-3553 Email ����editor@sgstartimes�com INSIDE Local ����������A1-12 Obituaries ������ A3 Arrests ������������ A5 History ������������ A9 Home Life ��A10-11 Sports ���������B1-12 Classifieds ������� B5 Legals �������������� B5 Opinion �������B6-7 School ��������B8-9 Church �����B10-11 Two Sections • No Inserts Fort Branch, IN 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) See FLOODING on page 2 See RELAY on page 2 See BIKES on page 2 $1.00  24 PAGES   TuESDay, SEPTEmbEr 14, 2021  VOLUME 67, NUMBER 13 South Gibson SPORTS B1 Heritage Days brings back greatest hits LOCAL A4 St. Lucas celebrates 100 years with 100 bikes By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com St. Lucas United Church of Christ cele- brated 100 years as a church Saturday in Fort Branch with a service project to give 100 bi- cycles to children in foster care through the Isaiah 1:17 project. According to the Rev. John Heumann, St. Lucas began when, in the wake of W WII, 13 of the younger families from St. Paul's United Church of Christ broke off because they no longer wanted to conduct services exclusively in German or to segregate men from women. "I call them the youngsters we've since all buried," said Heumann. The two churches are still served by a sin- gle pastor, however, and share a close rela- tionship. St. Lucas has a strong focus on missions, from angel trees to homeless shelters, Heu- mann said. They chose 100 bikes for 100 Twenty years later, local looks back on 9/11 By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Natalie Deer Sutton, orig- inally from Haubstadt, had been in New York City 10 days as part of a Depauw University student pro- gram when, on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists commandeered planes and flew them into the Twin Tow- ers. When interviewed by the Star-Times in 2001, she was 20 years old and on- ly 45 blocks from the event. Here's what she told the Star- Times at the time: "But it didn't re- ally register—the ex- tent of what it was. So I went ahead and contin- ued to work. On the street, there were people gathered on the street corners and people gathered around parked cars listening to radios." People on the streets were talking about the plane crashes and some individuals were crying, accord- ing to Deer. "People usually don't talk to each other on the street here, so it was a different atmosphere here," Deer said. "As I walked to work, I could see the ( World Trade Cen- ter Tower) buildings, which were both still standing at that point. I could see a stream of smoke flowing out from the top of them." "The first thing I did was call my mom and let her know I was okay," Deer said. "There were people I worked with who knew people who worked in the lower Manhattan area." "The editor told us we could go home and didn't have to stay at work," Deer said. "I came back to the house later." Natalie believes everyone in New York City had handled the situation "very well." "Everyone here is very compassionate." Natalie added. "Several people I live with were going to give blood and they were turned away because there wasn't enough storage, because so many people had gone to give blood. That was later Tuesday." "It is very surreal." Natalie said about the incident. "The whole impact didn't hit me until much later." "It is safe to walk around," Natalie said, "People in general come together in the time of tragedy or a time like this. Just because people are from New York City, they are not an exception to that." Now, 20 years later, she said she looks at the event differently. "I remember it being so scary in the mo- ment," she said, adding there were bomb threats at popular locations, including Penn Station, just down the road from her. For the first week, the city shut down, and the students sat in a house together and watched 24 hour news — this was before so- cial media had become a big influence on HEROES RUN REMEMBERS SACRIFICES By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Dan Lienemann read the names of local first responders who died in the line of duty, and lead a moment of silence before runners, walk- ers and bikers set off on the third annual 9/11 Heroes Memorial 5K and Habitat for Humani- ty Bike Ride Saturday morning. "I can't hardly remember what I did yester- day, but I remember where I was on 9/11 20 years ago today," Lienemann said. "So I per- sonally want to thank the first responders in our community who put their lives on the line every single day to help each one of us when we're in need...you see us at our worst when we need help." Runners and walkers had a 3.4 mile trek, just above a 5K, and bikers chose between a 32 and a 62-mile ride. Well over 100 people were going to participate, said organizer Johnathan Wells. "We want to recognize the current and hon- or the fallen," said Welss. "I think this will be our best year yet." "We're also here to honor those who gave their lives on this fateful day 20 years ago," said Jim Stephens, who was at the event as a board member for Habitat for Humanity. "We also want to thank our present heroes...many of them are here today." Matt Perry and Craig Zurliene, of Princeton Police Dept., and Indiana Conservation Officer Matt Clark did the run in their full uniforms as a way to honor the fallen. "This is a really good way to pay tribute to the first responders who sacrificed everything that day," Perry said. "It changed the course of history for America. We figure the best way to pay respect is to wear the uniform." Flooding affects residents; little town can do A concerned citizen, Jay Robison, asked the town of Haubstadt for help with rain flooding his yard, pointing to issues con- cerning a ditch, but as it's on private prop- erty, Haubstadt Town Council said there's little they can do to help. He said his subdivision is not in a flood zone, and therefore he cannot buy flood in- surance, but he worries about what he'll do if the water finally reaches his house. "There's no way it's getting into your house," said Water and Sewer Superinten- dent Bryon Will. "The water came up to my ankles. That's how saturated my yard is. Another foot and it would be in my house," said Jay. "You see people who don't have a pot to piss in after a storm." Flood zones are set by the Federal Emer- gency Management Agency and are not un- der town control. "If FEMA declared that a flood zone, you'd be paying astronomical numbers," board Relay for Life challenged for fundraising by COVID By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com A scaled back Relay for Life returned to Gibson County Fairgrounds this year, after COVID made fundraising difficult for local teams, and many American Cancer Soci- ety regional directors of the event, includ- ing Ryan Bixler-Rigg, who previously orga- nized the fundraiser, were let go after a dif- ficult 2020. "We didn't get the turnout we hoped for, but the people that came out are amazing," said Janet Wartman, a cancer survivor who came to Gibson County from Michigan on behalf of the American Cancer Society. "The event leadership team worked hard." The ACS set a goal of $ 35,000 for the year and was at $18,000 Saturday afternoon. "It's been a tough year. They may be small, but they're mighty," said Wartman. Owensville Library plans Christmas market Owensville Library plans a Christmas Farmers Market in Steelman Park, and re- ceived permission to use the council meet- ing space. So far, Teel's Coffee and Chocolate and many other businesses have signed up. The council praised the summer farmers markets. "I think it's wonderful..it's bringing peo- ple into town on Saturdays. They're utiliz- ing the library and businesses," said Coun- cilman Dwayne Matsel. "I see no issues with it at all." See REMEMBER on page 2 Runners take off under a flag provided by Princeton Fire Territory Saturday morning during the 9/11 Heroes Memorial 5K. Many first responders participated in the run, a few in their work gear, which can exceed 20 pounds and make running more difficult because of the heavy boots. See more photos on page 12 TITANS TENNIS DEFEATS REBELS

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