The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1319905
C-8 Wednesday, December 16, 2020 The Press-Dispatch 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 The Norrington family lost their home to fire this week. Jeremy Norrington, left, holds his daughter, Neveah, while fiancée Tierra Morrow holds their son, Remington. Morrow saved herself and the children by breaking out a window to escape their burning home. Oakland City family loses home in fire By Janice Barniak Tierra Morrow woke next to her two sleeping children, ag- es 3 and 2, last week to crack- ling, popping and smoke. Their Oakland-City mobile home was on fire, and her fi- ancé had just left the home to take a friend home. The usual ways out were blocked by flames. "I busted the window out with my fist and got the three year old out," she said. "Then I jumped out the window with my two year old." By the time her husband- to-be, Jeremy Norrington, 33, returned, the home was engulfed, unsalvageable. She and the kids, Nevaeh and Remington, went to the hospital for smoke inhalation, but Morrow said she's thought it might have been worse. Luckily, the kids were by her side because the whole home was gone within 10 minutes. "We lost everything," she said. It's already been a tough year for the small family. Nor- rington's dad passed away, and she lost her grandma. Items that reminded them of those lost family members are now all burned; the mo- bile home had been inherited from Norrington's father. "My only thought was I had to get my babies out," she said. While people have stepped up this week to offer clothes, they're currently search- ing for a replacement mobile home to put on the piece of land Norrington's father left him. "We want to stay since that's all he has left of his dad now," she said. A city ordinance requires their next mobile home to be 10 years old or newer, so they're trying to find some- thing affordable in that age range, if anyone has a lead. Until then, they're staying with family. They don't have applianc- es or furniture. They lost a pet turtle in the fire, though neighbors have stepped up to take care of the dogs who got out of the home. Anyone that wants to help the family can find them on Facebook or call Tierra at 812- 640 -0054. Oakland City discusses comprehensive plan By Janice Barniak Oakland City Council will host a Dec. 29 public hearing to update the city's compre- hensive plan, in preparation for subdivisions and updates at the lake, the council decid- ed in their Dec. 8 meeting. According to Mayor James Deffendall, the plan was last updated in 2009 and the city got a grant to update it, which will help them qualify for oth- er grants. He said because a compre- hensive plan was at the heart of a zoning debate, some wor- ry updating the Oakland City plan is the first step towards zoning the town, but he said it is not. "It's not about zoning. It's about where we're at and where we want to be," he said. The town may want to plan more in regards to subdivi- sions, so the plan will reflect adding camping, camp sites and shelters at New Lake. "We. Are. Not. We are not planning to do zoning," Def- fendall said. The council also approved cleaning up the Dolly Young house on Gibson Street, po- tentially starting up the blight reduction program again, re- placing a light at the park and repairing the computer used with the water meters. Community Foundation looks to 'meat' need Gibson County Communi- ty Foundation has awarded Hoosiers Feeding the Hun- gry a grant in the amount of $2,500. These funds will help to pay processing fees on do- nated livestock and deer, with the meat being given to hun- ger relief agencies serving food-insecure residents with- in Gibson County. According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap, there are 3,700 people in Gib- son County who regularly struggle with food insecuri- ty – 1,210 of which are chil- dren. More than ever, fami- lies are struggling to buy gro- ceries. Food banks, pantries and soup kitchens work to pro- tect the most vulnerable and under-served in our commu- nities. These agencies contin- ue to face increased demand during these uncertain times. Proper nutrition is vital to the health of all Hoosiers. That is why protein, an im- portant component of every cell in the body and one of the most important nutrients for brain and body development in children, is so important. Sadly, it is also the hardest commodity for food banks to obtain, especially now. The funds provided will allow Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry to pay for the pro- cessing of approximate- ly 2,100 pounds of donated livestock and deer – provid- ing over 8,600 more meals through local hunger relief agencies. "We are so thank- ful to have the Gibson County Community Foundation sup- port our effort in responding to the needs of those in their community facing hunger. A meal provided to a person in need means reduced hunger and increased disposable in- come because they can spend less on food. Right now, that is so important," said Debra Treesh, executive director of Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry. County continues COVID red designation By Janice Barniak Gibson County continued in the red zone of increased restrictions this week, with deaths totaling 45, and cas - es now at a cumulative 2,566 positives. The seven-day positivi- ty rate is at 11.5 percent this week, with the seven-day unique positivity rate at 25.2 percent. (That rate filters out those who are testing multiple times, for example, because they tested positive and are waiting for a negative test). Pike, Daviess and Sullivan counties are all in the red with Gibson County. Gov. Eric Holcomb an- nounced last Wednesday Indi- ana is no longer in stage five of reopening, and expressed concern about overwhelming the state's hospitals, though he opted not to increase re- strictions on restaurants and businesses. In the red phase, hospi- tals are required to postpone or reschedule elective proce- dures through Jan. 3, gather- ings are limited to 25 people, sports and other extracurric- ulars are limited to students, staff, siblings and parents, face coverings are required for all Hoosiers, senior cen- ter activities are suspended, and vulnerable populations are asked to remain isolated. Social and holiday gatherings are discouraged. Emmons family tops county's lights list 22 displays, four big winners By Janice Barniak Gibson County Visitors and Tourism released awards in the 2020 Holiday Decorating Contest for this year, with the home of Kendra and Stacy Emmons, at 5866 South 100 East, Fort Branch, taking the top prize of 22 homes. Kendra Emmons said she's built up her collection since 2013, adding each year. This year, she added a new flag- pole tree, and the inflatable reindeer. "I saw the reindeer and had to have it," she said. She said she modifies all the inflatables to fit her needs, and days ago could be seen in her front yard with a sewing machine, fixing up the red- nosed wonder. While the light show is what is fea- tured through tourism, she said that if people saw the inside of her house, they would see she decorates every room. "I've always loved Christmas, and now that I have grandkids, I let them get inside the big inflatables. It makes me feel happy," she said. She would have more, but in 2013 her house burned down, leaving her with only the pajamas she was wearing at the time, but they've since rebuilt, with the same house and car, but that's why her collection is only as old as 2013. "I was just thrilled to death," she said of winning. "I called my daughter—she entered me—and said 'Winner, winner, chicken dinner! '" Tying for second place, were Kenny and Joy Hoefling, located at 377 East 795 South, in Fort Branch, and Eddie and Pam Wilkinson, out of Buckskin, at 8476 East 900 South, who started their dis- play 31 years ago with three pieces of na- tivity, and added things over the years to please their two daughters and three granddaughters. This is the first time they entered a decorating competition, but sever- al friends reached out and encouraged them to enter. Their tradition is to light the display Thanksgiving night. As for the Hoeflings, Joy Hoefling said they don't do the display every year, but have done it off and on for 20 years. "It had been a few years and people were asking. Our grandbabies are old- er, so they're excited when we do it. It's a family ordeal and the kids have to help with it," she said. "We just love it. Every year, we tried to add something." This year, they added the Joy sign. "We hope everyone enjoys it as much as we do," she said. Rounding out the top four finishers was the home of Jeff and Cindy Lutz, located at 301 Makemson Avenue, in Princeton. "The judges for this year's contest were blown away by the number and the quality of the outdoor holiday dis- plays" said Eric Heidenreich, executive director of the Gibson County Visitors and Tourism Bureau. "We really hope everyone will try to visit as many of the 22 locations as possible. You won't be disappointed." The Gibson County Visitors and Tour- ism Bureau thanked all of the partici- pants who entered this year's contest. For more information on these and oth- er Gibson County events and activities, contact the Gibson County Visitors and Tourism Bureau at 812-385 -0999 or by email at info@gibsoncountyin.org. The Star-Times has created a map to help navigate to all the houses en- tered into the contest at https://bit. ly/3oOh9wh. CHRISTMAS LIGHT LOCATIONS PRINCETON 501 West Emerson Street 458 W. Glendale Street 2000 N. Old Petersburg Road 1619 Birchwood Drive 403 N. Gibson Street 708 S. Main Street 716 S. Main Street 1202 S. Gibson Street *301 Makemson Avenue – third place 634 E State Street 1904 E. Lake Road 3031 East Top Hat Road 478 W 350 S 3174 W 50 S BUCKSKIN *8473 E 900 S – second place tie HAUBSTADT 306 W. Elm Street OAKLAND CITY 530 N. Madison Street FORT BR ANCH 8202 S 25 W 500 N. Main Street 377 E 795 S – second place tie 7813 S 45 E 5866 S 100 E –first place Eddie and Pam Wilkinson, of Buckskin, tied for second place in the Gibson County Visitors and Tourism Holiday Decorating contest. The Emmons home, winner of the Gibson County Visitors and Tourism Holiday Decorating contest, lights up the night in Fort Branch.