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 ����������� A1-6 Obituaries ������ A5 Sports ������������� B1 Church ��������B2-3 History ������������ B4 Home Life ����� C1-2 Opinion �������C3-4 Legals �����������C4-6 Classifieds ������� C6 Watermelon Festival �������������� D Two Sections • One Inserts Fort Branch, IN 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) See SCENARIO on page 3 $1.00 20 PAGES TuESDay, auguST 2, 2022 VOLUME 68, NUMBER 5 South Gibson WATERMELON OWENSVILLE • AUGUST 4 - 5 - 6 SPECIAL SECTION D First United Methodist reaches out to families across region By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com At 8:34 a.m. Saturday, with cars already lined up at First United Methodist Church of Fort Branch for a school sup- ply giveaway that didn't be- gin until 9 a.m., the Rev. John Baylor prayed for the near-400 students from across the re- gion who would receive supplies from the church that day. "It's hard to believe this is number seven already," said Baylor of the seventh annual event. "Thank you for provid- ing this so we can put into hands that need them...as we come into contact with each person we lift up those families." Organizing volunteer Carla Conklin said the event has grown each year, especially when COVID hit, which originally motivat- ed the drive-through format last year. "It is a year-long process. As soon as last year's was over, we started on this year's," she said. This allows the church to take Longtime librarian Kris Lutz retires By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Haubstadt librarian Kris Lutz re- tired last week after 20 years as a Haubstadt librarian. "This was getting to be the right time," she said. "I have six grand- kids and they're all here in Haub- stadt. I'd like to spend more time with them." She also wanted to travel more with her brothers and sisters, and has already planned trips to Mack- inaw Island, Chicago and Virginia. Over the 20 years she's seen the library go from it's location inside town hall to having it's own build- ing. She's seen the library become more of a community center. The biggest change, she said, was prob- ably getting computers in the li- brary. First responders drill active shooter scenario By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Two words repeated on loop July 28 as Princeton Police Dept. trained with EMS and fire departments to respond to a school shooting. "God forbid," said Police Chief Derek Mc- Graw, before 20 officers each practiced going in solo and in pairs to respond to a school shooter. "God forbid we use this." "I came into active shooter training sev- en years ago. The way that I was taught has changed," said trainer J. Byers said. "It's go- ing to be single person responding, single person responding, single person respond- ing...we cannot wait to team up to get safety." If the bulletproof vest is in the back and not reachable or the officer's AR is not reachable, they'll go in without that, he added. "What we can't have is 'wait just a minute while I put this on,'" he said. "Because what you're saying is your safety is more import- ant than the innocent people getting shot and killed." Fire and EMS units attended the training to learn what their response would be in a mass casualty event. Byers said what they've also learned is they need to get EMS and fire department medical teams in more quickly to prevent people from bleeding to death. While earlier training would involve officers clearing the threat first, in new training when officers arrive in greater numbers at the scene they would take in EMS personnel to drag out vic- tims with officers at the front and back for protection. Those medical first responders discussed whether they could try to get funding for bul- letproof vests, for example, as they would be going in unprotected. Non-medical fire department personnel would block entrances to the building and send parents to a meet-up point for survivors. Every parent and person with a loved one Starting the year with a fresh haircut Deklyn Cooper got a short shave in preparation for school starting at Owensville's Dayspring Church Back to School event Sun- day. The church had a mass of volunteers to give away supplies, free cuts, play games with children, make snow cones and more. Students fall as the actor playing a gunman "fires" to bring them down and into the path of police during a training exer- cise Thursday at Princeton Community High School. Monica Bryant picks up a rain- bow backpack a lucky kid will take to school this year at the Fort Branch United Method- ist Church Back to School Bash. See SUPPLIES on page 2 South Gibson Schools start Aug. 11 South Gibson announced details regarding the beginning of school, which is Aug. 11. Students will receive books in classes on Aug. 11. Parents are billed for students' book fees each semes- ter. Invoices will be mailed Sept. 1 and Jan. 23, 2023. Families who need to apply for free or reduced lunch and textbook assis- tance should pick up an application in the GS office Aug. 1 to Aug. 10. Of- fice hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students new to this district are re- quired to call 812-753-3011 to make an appointment for an enrollment conference with the principal or guidance counselor between August See SCHOOLS on page 2 See LIBR ARIAN on page 2