The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1120204
C-12 Wednesday, May 22, 2019 The Press-Dispatch EAST GIBSON NEWS Submit school news: Email: egnews@ pressdispatch.net Deadline: Noon on Friday Senior Food Boxes coming to the Oakland City Library The Oakland City-Colum- bia Twp. Public Library, in conjunction with the Tri- State Food Bank and the In- diana State Department of Health, are working to help seniors gain access to nu- tritious foods in the form of a "Senior Food Box." The program, officially ti- tled the USDA's Commodi- ty Supplemental Food Pro- gram (CSFP), provides a monthly food box that con- tains a variety of items, in- cluding juice, cheese, veg- etables and fruit. The food will be packaged and deliv- ered by the Food Bank to the library for participants to pick up. Participation in the program is limited to Gib- son County residents age 60 + and have an income at or below 130 percent of the fed- eral poverty level. Currently, for a one-person household, that level equates to rough- ly $1354/month. A limited number of box- es will be available. Applica- tion sign up day will be June 5 at 10 a.m. in the library. Ap- plicants will need to bring a photo ID and proof of in- come eligibility. For more information, contact the li- brary at 812-749 -3559. WOOD MEMORIAL SPORTS SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY, MAY 22 Boys' Varsity Base- ball IHSA A Sectional, A, TBA MONDAY, MAY 27 Boys' Varsity Base- ball IHSA A Sectional, A, TBA By Janice Barniak Linda Settle's grandson, Casey, spoke to her only a half hour before he took his own life, and part of what has bothered her, she's said in interviews, is wondering what she could have done, and wanting, in retrospect, to take action. "It bothered me so bad," she said. Sunday, in honor of Suicide Awareness Month, she unveiled a plaque and dedicat- ed a semi-colon statue in his honor and in remembrance of others lost to suicide, but she said she does not want it to be a memo- rial as much as a sign of hope. In the community of those who have sur- vived suicide, she said a semi-colon repre- sents a time when a life could have ended but didn't. Casey's best friend, Jordyn Banet, re- membered the friend he met over paintball at the dedication service. "I work seven days a week and every time I work, I pass it. I love it," he said. Davarna Bond, who lost her daughter, Da- na, to suicide, urged those contemplating to reach out for help; the statue's plaque also includes resources for reaching out. Settle said she originally wanted to ded- icate the plaque to simply say, "suicide sucks," but, with help from online friends, was able to come up with the plaque's text, aimed to encourage and provide resources for those considering suicide. Other suicide awareness programs this month include a 6 p.m., May 22 program called Talk Saves Lives, that will help loved ones learn the warning signs of a person who may be considering suicide. A similar teen-based program is set for 6 p.m. May 29, to help teens spot the signs in themselves and others. SEMI-COLON ENCOURAGES THOSE CONSIDERING SUICIDE TO CONTINUE LIFE Davarna Bond remembers daughter, Dana, a victim of suicide, and encourages others to seek help. Princeton's semi-colon statue, by local artist Bob Zasadny, was dedicated by the family of suicide victim Casey Settle Sunday. McConnell urges caution with TIF fund audits ongoing By Janice Barniak County Council member Bill McConnell told the council Tues- day morning he believes the local redevelopment board will continue to be written up for using tax incre- ment financing funds outside of the economic development district. McConnell was in a small group that worked with the State Board of Accounts during earlier audits; audits that the state board said re- vealed spending outside approved uses. "I hate to keep mentioning this," McConnell said, "but we're going to be written up again for TIF funds, they have to stay in the district—" "Or benefit the district—" cut in Commissioner Steve Bottoms from the audience. "No. Spent within the district...I wish we could get away from this habit," McConnell said. "We're un- der audit right now. It's wrong to do this...we're forcing the State Board of Accounts to write us up again." McConnell has long said the money generated by Toyota's presence should stay in the town- ships Patoka and Union, as that is where Toyota is located. He said the Princeton Public Library pro- ject would meet that criteria, but the Oakland City Library project, and the potential Owensville pro- ject would be outside. "They have their own TIF dis- trict," he said of Owensville and Oakland City. Bottoms said the actual district is much narrower than that, though he does dispute that out-of-district spending would be improper, be- cause he said money spent that benefits that economic district still meets the state's criteria. The redevelopment board also passed a resolution to define librar- ies as a beneficial entity. Bottoms went on to say the district as defined is actually just the Tulip Tree area directly around Toyota. He said the biggest project ev- er undertaken is within that Tulip Tree area, the Lot 2 project. Judges request magistrate for county By Janice Barniak Judges Rob Krieg and Jeffrey Meade asked Gibson County Coun- cil allow them to request a magis- trate—a person that will decide cas- es as a judge, but is not elected and answers to the judges. The selection of which coun- ties get magistrates is decided by the workload of the judges already available. Right now, Gibson Coun- ty's two judges are doing the work- load of 2.8 judges, making Gibson the fifth most needy county as far as getting a new judge. If approved, the magistrate will not cost the county anything in sal- ary or benefits, the judges said, and the magistrate would use the exist- ing courtrooms during the times the current judges use for research, de- veloping briefs and other adminis- trative tasks. "I'm not here asking for any mon- ey. I'm asking for your blessing," said Judge Meade. Judge Krieg agreed, saying that in both ways the state measures work- load, Gibson County measures high enough to rate a magistrate. "We're starting drug court again. If you do drug court right—and I believe it's a worthwhile endeav- or—you have very few people, and you spend a whole lot of time with them," he said. The council asked how the judges would decide who served as magis- trate, and the judges said they would use a selection process that uses the template other counties have used. "What if you can't agree? " asked Councilman Derek McGraw. "We flip a coin? " suggested Krieg. "It's like an old married couple... We could take the opinion of the county attorney," suggested Meade. "Here we go again. It comes down to the county attorney," said a wry Jim McDonald, county attorney, standing to weigh in. McDonald said receiving a mag- istrate does have a political aspect, and in that respect, talking with, for example, Representative Matt Hostettler, the county is in a good position to receive the funding. "I believe it's the right thing to do for our county and the future," Mc- Donald said. The council agreed to write a let- ter of support. "There's a lot of things about this I heard and I like it all," said longtime Councilman Bill McConnell. "Better run now," laughed McGraw. "I'm so glad to see you working to- gether. I'm very happy the expendi- tures will be minimal. I don't know how we can get it in motion quick enough with the drug problems we have...because we've got some long- range planning to do here as far as drug problems in the county and sur- rounding area," McConnell said. Krieg said the judges will testify during the summer study as to their need, and could have a magistrate as early as 2020 if approved. Visitors and Tourism: County artifacts could fill a museum By Janice Barniak In a talk about the Princeton's Methodist Church time capsule, Gibson County Visitors and Tour- ism discussed the need for a coun- ty historical museum. According to the tourism board, the board has periodically talked about getting a county museum running; in the case of the time cap- sule, because the church would like it in a public place, they're consider- ing placing it at the Princeton Pub- lic Library, but other artifacts scat- tered around the county could also use a home. "I would like to see us make plans for a county museum...let's not let these things disappear," said Lyles Station Museum director and tour- ism board member Stanley Madi- son. "I think we could fill it," said Greg Wright, county historian. The local historical society was suggested as a group to spear- head the museum, but the group is more heavily into genealogy, said Wright. The board discussed putting to- gether an exploratory committee to develop the idea; the board should include representatives of all major local towns. "It would be a great opportunity," said Chamber of Commerce direc- tor Patty Vanoven. Madison said he often has peo- ple call interested in donating his- torically significant items, especial- ly from people's estates, but Lyles Station does not have room for the whole county's artifacts. As for the time capsule, the board voted to request an alterna- tive quote for framing the items, as the only quote the church has is for $1,000. A fter another quote is procured, they'll consider funding the fram- ing out of the local community fund. Water circus landing in Princeton By Janice Barniak The self-contained Cirque Italia, an Italian water cir- cus, will open in Gibson County May 30 at the Gib- son County Fairgrounds, bringing one of the big- gest circuses on the road, according to Fair Manager Charlie Woodruff talking to the Gibson County Visitors and Tourism Thursday. According to Woodruff, from bleachers to bath- rooms, everything is com- pletely included under the big top, which will offer 7:30 p.m. shows through June 2, with adult tickets starting at $15 and going up to $50, and children's tickets start- ing at $10, though some area restaurants will have vouch- ers for a free child with pur- chase of an adult ticket. According to their web- site, the Cirque Italia will present "Aquatic Spectacu- lar," performed on a water stage that holds 35,000 gal- lons of water. Cirque Italia will bring more than 30 performers in aerial acts, hand balancing and contortionists under the leadership of Italian entre- preneur, Manuel Rebecchi, who launched the Water Cir- cus in 2012. For more information, vis- it to CirqueItalia.com. Aerialists are one of the features attendees can expect at Cirque Italia.