The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1162521
The Press-Dispatch East Gibson News Wednesday, September 4, 2019 C- 9 Oakland City Library to offer 'Senior Food Box' program The Oakland City-Co- lumbia Twp. Public Library in conjunction with the Tri- State Food Bank and the In- diana State Department of Health are working to help additional seniors gain ac- cess to nutritious 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. Currently, more than 15 residents of Gibson Coun- ty are receiving boxes, says Library Director, Julie El- more. "Those receiving them are very happy with the items in the boxes and have acknowledged this pro- gram is helping them. We recognize there is a need for seniors to have access to quality healthy food, es- pecially when funds are lim- ited. We also recognize that the library is an easy loca- tion for participants to pick- up their boxes." Elmore will host an application sign up day on September 16, in the library. Applicants will need to bring a photo ID and proof of income eligiblity. This institution is an equal provider. Contact the library at 812-749 -3559 for more in- formation. Road closures announced The Indiana Department of Transportation announc- es patching and paving pro- jects in multiple locations in Vanderburgh, Gibson, War- rick and Spencer Counties. Beginning on or around Friday, Sept. 6, contractors will begin pavement patch- ing and resurfacing opera- tions in several areas along the U.S. 41 and State Road 66 Corridors. The following locations will be affected by the project: • U.S. 41 in Gibson Coun- ty from I-64 to the junction of Ind. 168. • U.S. 41 in Vander- burgh County from the in- terchange at I-69 to Ind. 62 (Lloyd Expressway). • Ind. 66 in Warrick and Spencer Counties from the junction of Ind. 61 to the Junction of U.S. 231 (New- burgh to Rockport). During this operation, one lane of traffic will be open in all directions with workers present from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The project is ex- pected to last until the be- ginning of November de- pending upon weather con- ditions. INDOT urges driv- ers to slow down and stay alert near crews. Kelsey-Ann Vanwinkle wins Miss Labor Day title By Janice Barniak The 2018 Miss Labor Day Ken- dall Johnson passed on the title to Kelsey-Ann Vanwinkle Friday night. Vanwinkle, 17, of Chandler, rep- resented Heat and Frost Insula- tors Local 37. The daughter of Am- ber Dennis and Shane Vanwinkle is a crafter and St. Jude Race for the Cure volunteer. She also won Miss Photogenic. "It would be an honor to repre- sent the Labor Day Association along with my sponsoring union," she said. Her uncle is in a union member. "Labor Day is important because it supports all the hard- working men and women." First runner up, Miss Conge- niality and Miss Labor Day Knowl- edge all went to Jordyn Nichole Beshears, of Wadesville, repre- sented IBEW Local 16. "I enjoy making new memories, seeing new friends and being a spokesperson for my communi- ty," she told the audience. Her fa- ther and late grandfather are un- ion members. She's a soccer goal- ie, on academic team, in Spanish Club, and enjoys sports, friends and reading. "Unions ensure benefits like health care, pensions and safer working environments," she said. When asked what skills she could offer the Labor Day Association, she pointed to her work ethic. "I'm hardworking, I'm driven and I go after my dreams," she said. Madyson Satterfield, daughter of Chris and Amy Satterfield, of Oakland City, represented UM- WA Local #1907. Her grandfather and father are both union mem- bers. She said she would like to be a good role model to the girls who look up to the Labor Day queens, and would tell people about unions through family, friends and social media if chosen. Hadley Laine Sheffer, 17-year- old daughter of Brent and Rebecca Hadley, of Princeton, represented operating engineers of Local 181. Her uncle and grandfather are un- ion members. The varsity soccer player and clarinet player is in 4-H, Girl Scouts, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, track and field, youth theater and Caring for Kids. When asked what a pageant di- rector would write in a letter of recommendation for her she said she'd write she was entertaining. "I make every onstage question into a joke," she said. When asked how labor unions benefited you and those her she referred to her mom. "Labor Unions make sure my mom has a 40 hour work week and safe working environment. When I join a union it will help me with those exact same things," she said. Judges included Victoria Hick- man, Jasper VU grad, EMT, fire- fighter and mom; Amanda Eyre, a lead esthetician from Jasper, Brandy Will, USI grad for radio- logic technology and IT analyst, wife and mother. As Johnson said goodbye to the year of service, she recalled tear- fully the year of fun and how her family supported her as she com- peted in the Labor Day pageants since she was in the youngest di- vision. Kendall will now compete in the Indiana Festival Association scholarship pageant. Labor Day pageant contestants cannot be hold any other title beyond their Labor Day title, so the ability to compete in the next level of pag- eant will always fall to the outgo- ing queen. Kelsey-Ann Vanwinkle holds the pins 2018 Miss Labor Day Kendall Johnson needs to pin the winner's crown on Saturday night at the Labor Day Association celebration at the Gibson County Fairgrounds in Princeton. From left, Miss Photogenic and Miss Labor Day 2018 Kendall Johnson, representing SMART Local #20, daughter of David and Aimee Johnson of Newburgh, Little Miss Labor Day 2018 Aubrey Riggs, representing Teamsters local #215, daughter of Steve and Kim Riggs of Owensville, Hadley Sheffer, representing IUOE #181, daughter of Beckee Hadley and Brent Sheffer of Princeton, Miss Union Knowledge, Miss Congeniality, and first Runner Up: Jordyn Beshears, representing IBEW Local #16. Her parents are Scott and Jenny Beshears of Wades- ville. Miss Photogenic and 2019 Miss Labor Day Queen: Kelsey Vanwinkle. She represented Heat and Frost Insulators Local #37. Her parents are Amber Dennis and Shane Vanwinkle of Chandler. Madyson Satterfield, representing UMWA #1907, daughter of Chris and Amy Sat- terfield, of Oakland City. Princeton's Hadley Shef- fer models formalwear; she told judges she's known for her entertaining personality. Madyson Satterfield end- ed the pageant on a strong note in the formalwear cat- egory where she answered her question with confi- dence, overcoming the fear that froze her up during the first two public speak- ing opportunities. TMMI hires 1,200 in transition from temp By Janice Barniak Toyota Motor Manufactur- ing of Indiana announced to employees Aug. 28 that the company will be moving to direct hire by Sept. 30, and is offering direct hire to the approximately 1200 Aerotek team members currently employed in production. According to a state- ment from TMMI's Ashley Chatham, "In an effort to re- cruit and retain top talent, in- crease competitiveness and flexibility and better serve our customers, Toyota will introduce a new direct-hire program for production team members at its Princeton, In- diana plant. We are commit- ted to exceeding our custom- ers' expectations and build- ing the best vehicles, and we are confident this move will make our award-winning team even stronger." Toyota is in a push to hire more than 400 people this year; starting pay is listed as $17.45 per hour at toyotama- nufacturing.com. FIREFIGHTERS PREPARE FOR TRAIN DERAILMENTS By Janice Barniak Last June, Princeton firefighters with the backup of area agencies han- dled the derailment and burning of a propane-filled CSX train car that evac- uated the southern part of Princeton for a night before being effectively shut down without injuries. Last week, those firefighters and other first responders from the re- gion trained with Norfolk Southern in Princeton to learn more about pro- tective housing on rail cars and how to cap a leak—specifically a chlorine leak in the event of a valve failure. "It's not often they can take this safety training to a department that's actually gone through a major derail- ment. It's been valuable training on both sides, because we've been able to discuss how things actually worked for us out in the field versus what we're seeing here on the train," said Prince- ton Fire Territory Chief Mike Pflug. Seventy to 80 trains come through Princeton per day, and chlorine is one of the more common hazardous chem- icals that rides the rails in large vol- umes, said Cris Burch, Norfolk South- ern's safety training specialist for the midwest region. Used especially to clean drinking water, chlorine would be noticeable in a call-out because first responders would hear a report of something that smells like bleach near a train. Hearing that, Burch said, should trigger a warning to responders about the kind of protective equip- ment they'll need and what they'll face at the scene; it would likely be a valve failure with a hissing leak of the chemical. In training last week, the firefight- ers practiced applying a kit over a valve to stop the leak, with water to mimic the leaking chlorine. "More often than not, the only time they'll ever do this is in training," said Brian Shanks, a hazardous material trainer from the northern US territo- ry who assisted Burch. All on-duty Princeton crews partic- ipated in the training, and it was al- so made available to regional depart- ments, including Dubois and Vander- burgh county departments that par- ticipated. "The guys don't always get to be that close to a train. The last time they had the opportunity was 12 years ago," said Pflug. "God forbid we'd ev- er have to meet under the other cir- cumstances." Adam Fidler, does a mock of scraping around a leaking chlorine valve Thursday dur- ing training in Princeton with Norfolk Southern. Norfolk Southern's Cris Burch talks about types of tanks and how they are pressurized with Prince- ton Fire Territory members Thursday.