The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1478946
By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com When volunteer and coach Ike Belcher won the JB Prince award Sunday night during the Special Olympics Banquet at Patoka United Methodist Church, he, the father of a Special Olympian, didn't talk about what he'd done for the organization. After the standing ovation, he talked about how honored he felt the organizers allowed him to coach. "When I got involved with Special Olympics — well some of you knew me when I was younger, some of you went to high school with me — I would have never thought I could do something like this. I really didn't. A long- haired guy with tattoos. I led, not a rough life, but I was a rebel. If there was something out there I did it. I did stuff I probably shouldn't have done...How could somebody like me do that? But years go by, and I start thinking, you know, this might be good for me, to be with them...From that point on, you guys, you athletes, I loved you like my own." One of his team's athletes shouted from the crowd, "Dad, I need money!" He laughs. "You've changed me, who I am," he said. The JB Prince award is named for Jarrod Bock, a Special Olympian who was known for telling people he loved them, making the sign language "I love you" sym- bol at the Special Olympics games, and dressing as a prince. For Belcher, he was a friend, and Bock's family South Gibson Community and Teen Center breaks ground By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com While the formal name may be the South Gibson Commu- nity and Teen Center, most people affectionately call it "the Old Gym" — but that may not be the case any longer as the board of the center broke ground on improvements La- bor Day Monday. Board member Bill Knapp said the re-envisioned gym will include a warm-up kitch- en, meeting room, ADA com- pliant restrooms and a ramp down into the Fifth Quarter area, where high school stu- dents come for activities after athletic events. He also announced a $50,000 pledge from Tenas- ka for improvements upon completion of their local solar project. Knapp said the gym im- proves lives through social and physical activity, and he thanked commissioners, the redevelopment commis- sion, Gibson Southern board, Union Township trustees, Fort Branch Town Board and the Old Fort Branch Gym board of directors for all the planning and funding that went toward improving the NEWS TIPS Phone: ������������� 812-753-3553 Email ����editor@sgstartimes�com INSIDE Local �����������A3-5 Church �������� A6-7 School ��������A8-9 Sports ���������� B1-5 Opinion ���������� B6 History ������������ B7 Legals �������������� B9 Classifieds ����� B10 Two Sections • No Inserts Fort Branch, IN 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) $1.00 20 PAGES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 VOLUME 68, NUMBER 11 South Gibson SPORTS B1 TITANS PULL OFF MIRACLE COMEBACK GCSD investigates HCS student post South Gibson Schools sent a message from Asst. Supt. Tim Armstrong to parents on Friday to let them know they were aware a student had made an inappropriate social media post and it was under investigation. According to the school, the student in Haubstadt Commu- nity School who made the post was removed from the school population. The Gibson County Sher- iff's Office is investigating. "We take these matters se- riously and will take appropri- ate action to ensure the safety and security of students and staff," Armstrong said in the message. The Star-Times does not print names of juveniles in- volved in investigations. Cutting edge: Local business specializes in pocket knives By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Eric Ziliak, (who adds, yes, he is related to basically all the Ziliak's in the area,) has set up knife sales and sharpening business in Haubstadt quietly since the pandemic. Ziliak was working in law enforcement in Bloomington in 2017 when he decided he wanted a change, and opened his pocket knife business, In- diana Knives. Owensville council discusses upcoming projects By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com While there have been com- plaints about the cost of town, Councilman Dwayne Matsel said the town will look into whether the $1,000 to link in to the town's water and sewer system is appropriate. The rate was set by ordi- nance in 2013. He asked the water depart- ment to gather the costs of the meter, meter box, pipes and fittings, and they'll add it to the labor cost. There are often also going to be costs associ- ated with pulling up road and re-laying it near the installa- tion site. The cost may even be low compared to what the town spends. "We're going to see where we're at. We're not necessarily going to raise it," Matsel said. In other news, the town board approved overtime for the police department in con- nection with a more involved investigation they're running, The community came out for a Labor Day groundbreaking at the South Gibson Community and Teen Center. See CENTER on page 2 Coach Ike Belcher showed shock and gratitude during a standing ovation after he was announced JB Prince award-winner at the Special Olympics banquet Sunday in Patoka. Special Olympics Organizer Garie Belcher hugs Vol- unteer of the Year winner Jeff Smith Sunday. See SPECIAL on page 2 See COUNCIL on page 3 See LOCAL on page 2 Local Special Olympics coaches, athletes and volunteers honored at banquet Eric Ziliak recently started offering knife sharpen- ing at his Haubstadt pocket knife business, Indiana Knives.