The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
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NEWS TIPS Phone: ������������� 812-753-3553 Email ����editor@sgstartimes�com INSIDE Local ����������A1-10 Sommerfest ��� A6 Home Life �����A8-9 Sports ���������� B1-3 Opinion ���������� B4 History ������������ B5 Church ��������B6-7 Classifieds �� B9-10 Legals ������������ B10 Two Sections • Two Inserts Fort Branch, IN 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) See MARSHAL on page 2 See MCCONNELL on page 2 See BENEFIT on page 3 $1.00 20 PAGES TuESDay, JuNE 14, 2022 VOLUME 67, NUMBER 50 South Gibson JUNE 16-18 INSIDE THIS EDITION Long-time public servant Bill McConnell dies By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com William "Bill" McConnell, former Gib- son County Councilman, died at 100 years old on June 8, only months after his retire- ment from the Gibson County Council in January. McConnell, a lifelong resident of Gibson County, graduated from Francisco grade and high school. He served three years with the U.S. Navy amphibious forces in W WII in North A frica. A butcher by trade, he owned and operated several neighbor- hood grocery stores, and later, a hotel, caf- eteria and catering business. He was married to Jessie Yeager for 72 years, until she passed away, and they had six children, five of whom survive and live in the area. McConnell first ran for delegate and was elected in 1950, then ran for city council, and was elected again in 1960 for three consecutive terms. He served three terms as mayor of Princ- eton, and more than five terms as Gibson County Councilman at-large. He said in a January interview it was interesting having learned about civics in school in the 1930s, but then to see it change so much over the next 90 years. Local officials and friends remembered him this week. Sommerfest offers 'everything but the kitchen sink' By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Sommerfest, Haubstadt's signature sum- mer festival, is gearing up for this weekend. According to local volunteer Greg Harpenau, the festival benefits the commu- nity by being a mainstay fundraiser for lo- cal charities, but it also marks the celebra- tion of the beginning of summer. "It continues to be an event the whole community embraces," he said. People plan their vacations around the event, making it a homecoming for many local families. The Sommerfest committee plans the event year ride. The food booths, carni- val rides, concerts and games will contin- ue, as well as the growing walk and run- ning events. "We pride ourselves in having something for everyone," Harpenau said. The parade will continue on it's usual route, and the parade organizer, Gary Steck- ler, said the best spot to view it is right at the Old Gym, where you can sit in the shade. The parade will have between 100 -120 en- tries this year but there's still time to swell that number, as they'll continue to accept entries. To enter, fill out the parade entry form at Haubstadtsommerfest.com/pa- rade/. "The Nut club said they're bringing ev- erything but the kitchen sink," said Steck- ler. See schedule on A-6. Ice cream social benefits Addiction Solutions By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Sunday in Fort Branch R'z Cafe and Ca- tering and Flora June's hosted an ice cream social to benefit Addiction Solutions, which raises funds for a women's recover y house in Princeton after the successful launch of their men's recover y house. "We want to help with the restoration of the family unit," said fundraising organizer Don- nie Bishop, who said sometimes women in ad- diction can be less visible to the general pub- lic. "The incarceration rate for men is much higher...so I think maybe it's a little more evi- dent because so many men are missing from our community. But for every man that is ad- dicted, there's a mate. Addiction is generation- al. It usually spans multiple generations of use. Addiction doesn't discriminate." Bishop and the Addiction Solutions team have a $20,000 goal; launching the house is approximately $150,000 total, the $20,000 ac- counts for the initial start-up expenses to re- model the property after it is bought, which Sommerfest honors Titan Football team, Tom Schmitt by Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com "I Believe" is written over the entry to the GSHS football field. The football team reads it each time they enter the Jack Jewel field every practice and game. It was a rally cry as they approached the end of a highly successful football season culminating in capturing the 3A State title this past season, and inspired the Sommerfest committee to incorporate the football team into the Sommerfest Parade this year. "This statement is our parade theme, and we are so proud of how the football team em- bodied it. They worked hard for years to get to a place to capture their goal. We honor that," said Parade Committee Chair Gary Steckler. "They believed that perseverance would pay off, and this is a good example to us all." The parade also posthumously honors friend and longtime faithful leader of the Haubstadt community with the title of Grand Marshal. Longtime community leader Tom Schmitt passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 4 from a medical condition at 78 years old. Schmitt, friends said, had a servant's heart, putting the needs of the community before his own. "Tom deserved this honor in his life, and in fact he was nominated for it in the past. He humbly refused the attention at that time," Steckler said. "We want to honor his memo- ry this year by awarding him a special Grand Marshal Plaque this year. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to thank his family, who will represent Tom in the parade, for a special per- son in our town." Schmitt was one of the founding members of the Haubstadt Som- merfest, formerly Haubstadt Cham- ber of Commerce. In the mid 1960's, he and his friends had an idea for a town-wide celebra- tion, and commu- nity fundraising event. According to Tanya, she and Tom were busy in those first years on the Sommerfest, which was held next to the railroad track near the Knights of Columbus parking lot. They sold buttered corn on the cob and it was popular. "I re- member shucking corn, and boiling it, while chasing little Julie and Darrin around the grounds," Tanya said. "Remember in those days, we threw food to the train conductors who slowed down because we had so many kids right there next to the track." Schmitt was involved in every organiza- tion that needed help. He was part of support teams or leadership of many projects in the park and charity events for others. "Tom was involved in just about everything that matters in this town. He was on mainte- nance teams for the church and the others," said Tom Dewig. "He was leaned on when the Sts. Peter and Paul school building was up- dated, and he led that effort...He was on the South Gibson School Board, and I tell you Tom Schmitt By land or by sea, Hazleton is ready for emergency Jesse Langhan inspects the controls on the Hazleton White River Township hovercraft used to save people trapped on, for example, thin ice or at flooded river camps at the Princeon Public Library water safety program during the Summer Read- ing Program last week. Stephanie Bishop mans the booth while husband Donnie Bishop arranges donated door prizes Sunday at the Addiction Solutions fundraiser hosted by R'z Cafe and Catering and Flora June's Scoop Shoppe.