The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1464271
Lady Titans overcome early deficit to defeat Mater Dei NEWS TIPS Phone: ������������� 812-753-3553 Email ����editor@sgstartimes�com INSIDE Local ����������� A1-7 Home Life �����A8-9 Opinion ����A10-11 Sports ���������B1-12 Classifieds ����B4-5 Legals �������������� B5 History ������������ B6 School �������B7-11 Church �����B10-11 Two Sections • One Insert Fort Branch, IN 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) See DENIAL on page 2 $1.00 24 PAGES TuESDay, aPrIl 12, 2022 VOLUME 67, NUMBER 43 South Gibson County reaffirms Southern Hills denial By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com In a 2-1 split vote, commission- ers reaffirmed the denial of South- ern Hills Subdivision in Haub- stadt, after a letter from SPM De- velopment's attorney requested reconsideration of their March 15 denial. The commissioner against deni- al was Mary Key; a position she al- so took March 15 as she said the developers had fulfilled the re- quirements. Joe Calderon, an attorney repre- senting Gibson County in the law- suit SPM is bringing against the Haubstadt Council braces for water increase By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Haubstadt's town board re- ceived the results of a Baker Til- ly water study performed on their water expenses, intended to study how much the town required to cover the increases Gibson Water plans for this year. The study presented two al- ternatives, first a 12.6 percent in- crease, which would amount to $ 6.15 a month for the average us- er, or a 15 percent increase that would amount to $7.34 for the av- erage user. Baker Tilly suggests the higher amount to anticipate the $150,000 they will need in the next five years to replace their underground steel tank, as well as having the funds to refurbish the water tower in 10 - 12 years. It also accounts for the inflation of certain maintenance items. Hy- drant replacement, for example, has gone from $5,000 to $ 8,000. Springing into Easter Haubstadt Sommerfest Committee sponsored an Easter Egg Hunt Saturday morning at Haubstadt Community School, where hun- dreds showed up to hunt eggs, win prizes, and meet the Easter Bunny. Afterwards, the Easter Bunny brought the fun to downtown Haubstadt. See more photos on A-5. INCREASE BEAT the New Subscription Rates Start May 1, 2022 SEE DETAILS ON A-7 No injuries in car fire Fort Branch Fire Department and Haubstadt Fire Territory were dispatched to the intersection of US-41 and Ind. 168 in Fort Branch at approximately 10:14 a.m. April 8 for a motor vehicle on fire. Fire officials ar- rived and put the vehicle fire out with no further incident. Crews worked to clear debris and get the road re- opened for regular traffic flow. No injuries were reported. Responding Agencies included Fort Branch Fire Department, Haubstadt Fire Territory, Fort Branch Police Department, Gibson County Sheriff's Office and Beadles Towing. County pursues railroads for road blocks By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com The railroad crossing at CR 350E is still often blocked, said Commissioner Warren Fleetwood, and the consensus is the county needs that road open for emergency services and Toyota work commuters, he told the other commission- ers last week during their reg- ular monthly meeting. "It seems like we've taken on a Goliath here and we are the meager David at times," he said. The county has con- tacted Norfolk Southern and met with their attorney, with inconsistent results, with CR 350E the most notable for be- ing blocked hours at a time. "Let's break that train every time it's at a major thorough- fare," said Fleetwood. County attorney Jason Spindler said the issue is not unique to Gibson County. Chil- dren in Elkhart climb over or under trains to get to school. When the county chal- lenged the railroads last, fin- ing them for blocking roads, the railroads prevailed in court. Spindler said he believed the county would be better served joining others. Some roads, when blocked, have no reasonable alternative, he added, saying he was un- sure why the railroad had con- cluded CR 350 was a road they could block. "I feel like they've decided where they can get by with it," he said. Spindler suggested locals contact their legislators and anyone they know at Toyota Motor Manufacturing of In- diana who might be able to get the railroad's ear. Boil advisory issued Pike-Gibson Water issued a boil advisory to custom- ers from Ind. 57 N, around Petersburg, going south to Buckskin, and for all county roads east and west until further notice. Water customers should boil water for 5 minutes before use. SPORTS B1