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 ����������� A1-8 Obituaries ������ A3 Home Life �������� A5 School ���������� A6-7 Sports ���������� B1-3 Church ��������B4-5 Opinion �������B6-7 History ������������ B7 Legals �������������� B8 Classifieds ������� B8 Two Sections • No Inserts Fort Branch, IN 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) $1.00 16 PAGES TuESDay, auguST 30, 2022 VOLUME 68, NUMBER 9 South Gibson SCHOOL A6 See HALLOWEEN on page 2 Fort Branch council donates $500, bikes for Halloween Fest By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Fort Branch Town Council approved $500 for Fort Branch Community Pride's Halloween Fest this year, as well as two brand new bikes to serve as prizes during the event. In the past, Halloween Fest has used a $500 donation from the town to buy Trunk or Treat prizes and prizes for games. While the Fort Branch Community Pride did a mass mailing this year to col- lect donations instead of collecting individ- ual donations, the town elected not to give by mail, as they normally take this from their marketing budget, as they have the past two years. The town will also donate two brand new bicycles that they had available. This year, the Halloween Fest will add a 2022 Zombie Run at 9 a.m., Oct. 29 at Fort Branch Little League Field. The 5K run/ walk through the streets of Fort Branch will offer runners the chance to be chased by the living dead. Cost is $25 for the adult participants and includes a t-shirt, a medal, and an entry into the haunted house that night. Fehrenbacher wants to update Bridge of Honor By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Fort Branch resident Mark Fehrenbacher has volunteered to update the Fort Branch Bridge of Honor on Coal Mine Road into a park-like setting honoring vets and first re- sponders. The Locust Street flag enthusiast said that though the monument itself is county prop- erty, the lot around it belongs to the Town of Fort Branch. So currently, the town stores it's gravel piles at the site of the monument, which is also the Boy Scout flag-retirement fire pit. Fehrenbacher wants to improve the monu- ment area to be a park-like setting and asked the town to move the gravel piles to open up the area. The town agreed to move the gravel, how- ever, it may take some time. Fehrenbacher wants to install a row of flags, which he would donate, acknowledg- ing military and different branches of first responders. He added that he started weed trimming the area and has located benches to install. He hopes someone will donate a sign for the entrance. The town is fine with any improvements he wants to make as long as it doesn't interfere with their storage facility or sewer lift system. "Maybe we should put some flowers around that (lift system). Decorate it up a little," said Councilman Bob Reinhart. Youth Center groundbreaking is Labor Day By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com South Gibson Youth and Teen Center an- nounced a groundbreaking Sept. 5, which is Labor Day, at their location in Fort Branch. The Town of Fort Branch reminded the Center that the Center needs to follow the recently-passed development standards and receive a permit from the town. They will also have to coordinate with town employees about the water and sewer lines. By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com While some may receive $10,000 in student loan repayments, in news out of Washington, DC this week according to local veterinarians that's just the tip of the iceberg on what the country needs to ad- dress: a shortage of animal doctors that seems to grow each year. Veterinarian John Feutz discussed with Congressman Larry Buchshon Friday the story of one veterinarian they've hired who has $200,000 in student loans. Due to interest, she owes more on her loans now than she did when she graduated, and that's even with the practice chipping in thousands directly toward her loans. Veterinarians are supporting targeted loan repayment programs just for veteri- narians that would help the national short- age. Student loan interest rates are com- ing in around 6 percent currently, which would make interest $12,000 per year on the $200,000 loan, before the student even begins to pay back any principal. Those numbers are directing students away from choosing vet medicine as well as encouraging them to not choose rural practices upon graduation. According to Feutz, there are about 30 schools that graduate classes of rough- ly 75 -150 people each year, and of those, there are zookeepers and racehorse specialists, careers in animals that aren't practicing veterinary med- icine generally. Even more of a deterrent is the high cost of schooling, and the out-of-state tuition is higher for students in those 20 states where they have no veterinary medicine Veterinarian shortage makes recruiting to rural Indiana difficult, vets say See VETERINARIAN on 5 Marybeth Feutz leads a tour on an additional facility Princeton Vet Hospital has added to their already large campus by converting a nearby preschool into a boarding location. The business continues expanding but has trouble finding new vets because of a shortage of veterinary graduates. Gibson, Pike, Perry and Knox are among the counties in Indiana with the greatest shortages. Titans win big in home opener Titan tailback Devan Roberts rolls out of the backfield for a big gain. He led the Titans in rushing with 169 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns as the Titans beat New Albany 45-7 in the home opener in front of a big crowd, many who arrived early and took part in the Friday Night Lights pre-game celebration. Gibson Southern is now 2-0 on the season with both wins coming over 5A opponents. See B-1 for more. BACK IN CLASS South Gibson school news returns to the Star-Times in this edition. Look for this section each week.