South Gibson Star-Times

NEWS TIPS Phone: ������������� 812-753-3553 Email ����editor@sgstartimes�com INSIDE Local ����������A1-10 Obituaries �������� A3 Sommerfest � A6-7 History ������������ A9 Sports ���������� B1-4 Opinion ���������� B5 Home Life ����� B6-7 Church ��������B8-9 Classifieds ����� B10 Legals ������������ B10 Two Sections • No Inserts Fort Branch, IN 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) The 'Wurst' Race with the best people See YMCA on page 2 See SOMMERFEST on page 6 See K AHLE on page 2 $1.00  20 PAGES   TuESDay, JuNE 22, 2021  VOLUME 67, NUMBER 1 South Gibson SPORTS B-1 SPORTS B-1 Nick Hart named new Titans athletic director May named to Hall of Fame Long-time teacher and coach, Ron Kahle, retires By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Haubstadt teacher Ron Kahle is retir- ing from teaching social studies, a job he's done since 1983, but students and parents will still see him coaching sports because, he said, he loves the students and he's been blessed to work with them. "You know Ron is, I don't even know how to describe it—I don't know if I've ever seen the guy in a bad mood. He really enjoys what he does. He enjoys being there. His greatest quality is the re- lationships he has," said Athletic Director Nick Hart. "He's always happy, just happy to be there." Kahle is a University of Evansville grad- uate in physical education who originally planned to go back to Dubois County to work on the family farm and teach, but when he looked for a job, Haubstadt was the closest school with an opening. He was hired for so- cial studies by then-Supt. Michael Greene, who suggested the teacher use volunteer- ing with the football team as a way to meet his students before the school year started. Before the year was over, Kahle was assist- ing with the basketball, football and track teams. Since then, he has been a consistent three-sport supporter. He traded in track to learn baseball and did that for five years mid-career while he continued with basketball and football, and took three Tecumseh teams to a state championship for baseball, winning with one, when he wasn't coaching baseball for South Gibson. Gibson Southern Principal Jon Adams said the remarkable thing about Kahle is he's the same person on the field, in the com- munity and in the classroom. "Not to age him, but I remember Mr. Kah- le when I was an elementary kid coming to basketball camp," Adams said. "He's syn- onymous with Gibson Southern and Haub- stadt. He's a man of character...We'll have to see if our science department can clone Mr. Kahle." Not only has he been a teacher, but he raised two daughters, who came back to the area as teachers; although, he gives credit By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Thomas Maurer, lifelong Haubstadt resi- dent and husband to Donna Maurer, passed away from COVID last May, but he's still on the mind of his 25 grandchildren, many of whom were remembering him at Sommer- fest over the weekend in T-shirts that said "Pa- paw's Little Schnicklefritz." "The shirts are a picture of their grandpa," Donna said. "When we married, we lived here 54 years." From the "essential workers" theme of the parade, to the giant toilet reminding people of the toilet paper shortages, this year's Sommer- fest kept traditions going, but with reminders that some families and even some jobs are not the same as they were a year ago. Pre-COVID, the town might not have hon- ored local waitstaff, grocery workers, Walmart Fort Branch turns out to support gym project By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Gibson County Redevelopment heard from a full room of Fort Branch Gym and Teen Cen- ter supporters during their June 14 meeting. The board of the center presented conceptual drawings, students from the Fifth Quarter club spoke on behalf of the center, Holy Cross Prin- cipal John Hollis discussed the school's uses, Fort Branch alumni spoke and even the pickle- ball players discussed how they use the gym. Redevelopment president Phil Young said the board will likely vote at the next meeting and commended the support in a post-meet- ing interview. "They came with a lot of representation," he said. The architect discussed sprinkler systems, security cameras, a 40 -foot frontage on the building and a secure entry. According to redevelopment member George Ballard, the biggest question left was ownership of the building, which is still in question because a fire in the South Gibson School District office burned many of the files years ago, including those pertaining to own- ership transfer. "The gym group did a great job presenting the connection between the gym group and the community and that's what we needed to hear," said Ballard. Young said he feels the board is close to a vote. The redevelopment board set a special meeting for this week to fast-track, if possi- ble, a Gibson County Center for Seniors' re- quest of $58,000 to fix their heating and air conditioning. The board couldn't vote June 14 because they were missing some necessary in- formation, but set the follow-up for 8:30 a.m. June 23 at the North Annex, with only the se- nior center on the agenda. With temperatures rising, it's difficult for the center to be open without A/C. "We can't waste time at their expense, in my opinion. It's a small amount," Young said. "No one else has stood up to take care of them. I hope we do." The commission also approved the same pass through of 40 percent to the schools as last year. "We talked with the school corporations, with Dr. Harmon, and they were okay with that. We recognize the school district is the most important factor for economic develop- ment in the long run," Young said. What's in a name? YMCA naming stirs controversy By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Cecil "Bob" Allen asked commissioners in their regular meeting June 15 why the new YMCA coming to Princeton would be named, according to him, the Toyota YMCA. Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana gave $1 million to the building of a local YM- CA, but the bulk of funds — $13 million — will come from the county's tax increment financing money, (TIF). The TIF money was collected from the Toyota TIF district, created when the com- pany first came to the county. The TIF fund captures a portion of the tax dollars Toyota pays and uses those dollars to help finance development in the area of the new ven- ture, (commonly streets, sewers and park- ing lots), as determined by the redevelop- ment board. When the TIF expires, as it will in 2025, the tax burden for Patoka and Union Town- ship citizens is expected to go down, barring an unforeseen circumstance. "The citizens of Gibson County spent $13 million compared to their $1 million," said Allen. Commissioner Warren Fleetwood said he's had a few phone calls inquiring about the name. "I really don't have an answer for that. I wasn't included in that process," he said. "None of us were," said commissioner Kenneth Montgomery. "At the fairgrounds, Gibson County citi- zens gave $4 million. But look who's name is Members of Fifth Quarter spoke in support of updates to the Fort Branch Com- munity Center June 14. SOMMERFEST RETURNS TO HAUBSTADT HONORING ESSENTIAL WORKERS Drive by cute-ing Haubstadt had a new ride provider this year, but children were happy with unlimited ride $15 arm bands Thursday night. Annalise Spink, Malone Maurer, Cruz Maurer and Maria Spink celebrate their grandfather, who died of COVID. Ron Kahle

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