The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1472429
NEWS TIPS Phone: ������������� 812-753-3553 Email ����editor@sgstartimes�com INSIDE Local �������������� A4 Opinion ������� A6-7 Sports ������������� B1 History ������������ B2 Classifieds ����B3-4 Legals �������������� B4 Home Life ����� D1-2 Church ��������D3-4 Two Sections • One Insert Fort Branch, IN 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) $1.00 16 PAGES TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2022 VOLUME 68, NUMBER 1 South Gibson Non-profits struggle to absorb rising gas prices The non-profit transportation arm of The Center for Seniors in Gibson County is feel- ing the pinch at the pump. As gas prices have more than doubled compared to last year, said Center Direc- tor Ronda Colber t, the rides they do for a donation, taking county seniors to get groceries or go to the dentist, for exam- ple, have stayed the same. The Center suggests $6 on local non-medical rides, and they find many seniors cannot af ford more than a few dollars to go to the gro- cer y store, for example. The Center also gets paid through the Medicaid office for rides to, for example, dai- ly dialysis in Evansville, but at this point it's cheaper for the driver to stay and wait than to send the person back and forth—Medic- aid has not increased the amount per ride to reflect the rise in gas prices. The rides to Evansville are $39, and it costs the center more than that to provide the ser vice. "You can't drive yourself for that any- more," she said. "We're hoping the prices go down." Many seniors don't have the option to drive themselves, have been asked not to drive because of hear t conditions or eye surgeries, or find it is safer not to drive themselves. Some seniors don't own vehicles, and the Center even picks up some seniors who come to their food pantr y. "Our drivers are so good. They help them with the groceries and in and out of the vehi- cle," she said. "We are completely non-profit. We'll just see what happens. We don't want to raise prices." GSHS student launches pick-up meal business Mylie Rexing was only a sophomore when she went to the National FFA convention in In- dianapolis, but when she saw the super vised agricultural experience (SAE,) she knew it was something she wanted to tr y. Her dad, Ryan Rexing, owns Kenny Dewig Meats. "I've always been interested in owning my own business," she said. Since the SAE requires students to earn money with their ag-related business projects, she brainstormed ideas with her mom, Ranell Rexing, and this year launched a meal kit busi- ness that would feature her family's meats in easy, pre-packed dinners, including sides and ever ything they would need to make the meal. Her first kit was a burger kit, which includ- ed the burger meat, buns and mac-and-cheese ready to cook. When she posted it to the busi- nesses Facebook page, it had the most traffic the page had ever seen. She started putting together other kits, a breakfast night, for example, and a spaghetti bake, and homemade pizza. She tried to come up with kits that would feature the best of the family's meat business. When the Dair y Farmers of America heard about her project they donated a gallon of milk for each kit sold, then donated an extra gallon on top of that for the Fort Branch and Owens- ville food banks. She said her parents have never wanted to pressure her to being part of the business, but Owensville library closes due to threat Owensville Carnegie Librar y closed on June 27 and reopened today, July 5 after a member of the staff received a threat to her safety. The librar y brought in Gibson County Sheriff's Officer Dan Lienemann to develop safety measures for the organization, some- thing the board of trustees called "a tremen- dous help" in their letter to the community announcing the re-opening Saturday. The closure is in the wake of a librar y con- troversy that packed the librar y's Chapter 2 building June 23. Arguments got heated as the Owens- ville Watermelon Fest committee said they would not sign a usage agreement to use Steelman Park, where the festival has long had their event without a contract, with the festival organizer adding the commit- tee would rather have it in the street than sign. Moreover, one citizen protested people who were not born in Owensville being on the librar y board. Another said a requirement to carr y in- surance would kill the burgeoning weekend craft fairs and other small events hosted by Owensville Community Planners. One widely circulated, unapproved ver- sion of the agreement would give the librar y director the ability to veto items or booths that were political, promoted hate, or did not SECTION C Vet food bank shelves are bare Veterans Food Bank of America Director James Henager looks at the empty shelves in his food bank. "I've got a whole lot of about 10 items — mostly junk food," he said. "The only vegetable we've got is corn. I've got one kind of soup." The food bank's two refrigerators are full of baker y donations, mostly Father's Day cakes that didn't sell, and he's got a lot of Chef Bo- yardee and a box of Halloween candy. When it comes to vegetables and shelf-sta- ble proteins like canned fish or beans, howev- er, he doesn't have a lot. "Most veterans would rather go hungr y than ask for help at a local food pantr y, because of pride," Henager said, who added he also gives food to widows of veterans and ships to home- less veteran shelters. Because his food bank is run by himself—a veteran who sustained a ser vice-related inju- r y—the men who come feel more comfortable accepting the help. Unfortunately, just lately, he's had less Librar y Board Members discussed usage agreements in a heated meeting June 23. The librar y since closed be- cause of a threat to a staff member. Mylie Rexing prepares to deliver food boxes as part of her FFA agriculture project. See LIBR ARY on page 3 See STUDENT on page 3 See FOOD on page 3 In partnership with American dair y farmers, Mylie Rexing was able to provide a gallon of milk to food banks for ever y meal kit she sold through her father's busi- ness, Kenny Dewig Meats. James Henager sur veys empty shelves at the Veterans Food Bank of America in Buckskin. While he could completely fill the shelf with a backstock of crackers, he's hoping to find other, healthier options to give the vets who come for food.