South Gibson Star-Times

NEWS TIPS Phone: ������������� 812-753-3553 Email ����editor@sgstartimes�com INSIDE Local ����������� A1-6 Shopping��������� A5 On the Record � A6 Opinion ����������� A7 Sports ���������� B1-2 School ����������B3-5 Church ��������B5-6 History ������������ B7 Legals �������������� B8 Classifieds ������� B8 Two Sections • No Inserts Fort Branch 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) $1.00  16 PAGES   TuESDay, NovEmbEr 15, 2022  VOLUME 68, NUMBER 20 South Gibson OPINION A7 RACKING UP ACCOLADES Demonizing those who want to fight inflation As millions of Americans fall into credit card debt and deplete their savings because of inflation, histo- ry is worth remembering. Lady Titan golf award winners and Titan football places 11 on first team All-PAC See SWEEP on page 3 Barton recognized by VFW for excellence in teaching By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Music teacher Derek Barton was awarded the National VFW Citizenship Education Teacher Recog- nition to honor his commu- nity involvement, innova- tion, stimulation of students, resourcefulness and more at the Veteran's Day assembly at Fort Branch Community School Friday. VFW Commander John Titzer touted Barton's compassion and volunteer- ism, and how he's facilitated patriotic music programs, lead field trips to Civil War sites and taught students about history and veterans. Republicans sweep local elections By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Gibson County Republicans swept the local general election Nov. 9, as more than 10,000 voters expressed their opinions at the polls. Republicans voted straight ticket more than three times the rate of Democrats, logging 3,318 votes accounting for 32 percent of the total vote compared to Democrats 871 straight-tickets. Sheriff-elect and Republican Bruce Vanoven had 7,998 votes, giving him 78.3 percent of the ballots. "I feel a deep calling to be Sher- iff of Gibson County which is why I pursued this," Vanoven said. "God puts a calling on your life and you just have to go, even if you don't under- stand." Four years ago, in the same Palace Cafe where he was now accepting congratulations, he'd had to face a loss to current Sheriff Tim Bottoms in the primary. He said the opponents on the way to election made him better, and he learned if he wanted to go farther he needed to go with others and get more people working with him on the campaign. "I assembled a team around me that took me farther," said Vanoven. He said he learned an amazing amount about fear and despair in the primary; running against Debo- rah Borchelt helped him become the candidate who could win. He thanked former sheriffs he'd worked under for mentoring him, especially George Ballard, who is also a friend. "To David Knowles, when I think of David I think of the scripture in Matthew 6:21 that says 'where your treasure is there your heart will be also.' Dave was all in, and he bet on himself and for that I commend him, respect him, and I thank him for running a great honest campaign. Dave has a great desire to lead... he loves justice," said Vanoven. "Because Dave ran he made me a better candidate, a better sheriff." Commissioner-elect Republican Nick Burns made history as the county's first black commissioner elected winning 7,712 votes, account- ing or 76.2 percent of the total ballot. "It hasn't sunk in yet," said Nick Burns on Tuesday night after an enthusiastic hug from fellow Repub- lican Hannah Whitehead, who pulled a win for County Council over long- time councilman and Democrat Dan Beard, in a race that garnered her 1,317 votes to Beard's 772, earning her 63 percent of the vote. Burns said there was much more ground to cover campaigning for commissioner compared to his previ- ous Princeton city council run. "I was just staying focused, having integrity and trying to be a good person," he said of winning the campaign. "I learned to keep the faith, stay focused and run a good campaign." Whitehead drove to Republican headquarters for the night, but said she couldn't bring herself to get out of her car before the results were announced. Her uncle came to the window to let her know she'd won. "It's a good feeling. I feel blessed to have a community that believes in me individually," said Whitehead. She said everything in the campaign was a learning experi- ence, this being her first run for a public office. "Literally anything about politics, I've learned in the last few months," she said, adding for people who are considering running for office to do it. "I think you should just do it. If Fort Branch honors veterans By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Veterans from the Vietnam War to the War on Terror attended a Veteran's Day Program Friday at Fort Branch Commu- nity School. The school invited vets to discuss their service before a 21-gun salute and Taps. Sgt. Brian Strickland of Oakland City, for example, served in Korea, Germany and at the Pentagon in the A rmy, and showed up for his grandson. "My grandson did not think I could fit into my old uniform so I had to come," he joked. Students prepared special programs. Deejay Wichep read his "Medal of Honor" acrostic poem and Evelyn A nderson read her "W hat is Bravery" free verse poem, along with other eighth graders who presented their essays. Emma Fuhs read her essay " The Red Poppy Pledge." "I can help raise the flag at school and fly one at home...I can donate to veteran charities," said Fuhs, in an essay that talked about the symbolism of the red poppy to remember veterans. Greenlee Powers read her essay, " The Torch." "I remember my eyes growing wide hearing my grandpa's stories, and the sharp intake of breath I took whenever I saw my great grandfather's medic bag..." she read, adding it's inspired her to enlist and bring back her own stories. Elijah Ortiz in "My Pledge to Our Veterans" said he pledged to thank veterans when he saw them. "W hen veterans are deployed serving their country they often cannot be there for their kids on Christmas morning." During a question-and-answer session students asked the vets to talk about the food, entertainment, and more they could recall from service. They asked why veterans enlisted. "I got to the end of the day, last period and in social studies class they turned on the T V—I don't know if you figured it out but that day was Sept. 11," shared veteran Rebecca Weber, answering why she enlisted. "I wanted to fight that fight." South Gibson VFW Members presented music ed- ucator Derek Barton with recognition for his com- munity work and dedication to educating children. Fort Branch celebrated local veterans Friday with a question and answer session, essays from students and a 21-gun salute. See additional photos on page A-8. Longtime Republican CT Montgomery chats with outgoing sheriff Tim Bottoms at Republican headquarters, The Palace Cafe, Election night in Princeton. Sheriff-elect Bruce Vanoven sits with supporter, librarian Shannon Lindsey, at Republican headquarters, in The Palace Cafe on Election night. Bridge of Honor project planning continues By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Fort Branch resident Mark Fehrenbacher contin- ued to work on the Bridge of Honor project in a Novem- ber commissioner's meeting, asking for signage at the site. The Bridge of Honor, on Coal Mine Road in Fort Branch, is getting an upgrade if Fehrenbacher has anything to say about it, an upgrade he hopes will include some paving stone, signs that point out the attraction from both directions, and a trash can to keep the site clean. The site is currently used by Boy Scouts to retire worn flags using the site's fire pit. "Sounds like a good idea," said Commissioner Warren Fleetwood, who pointed him to the Gibson County High- way Dept. as the place to request the sign. Also in the commis- sioners' meeting, resident Bob Schmitz told County Commissioners the roads in Center Township are grated like washboards. "It'll shake your car apart," he said, before asking commissioners to find a better way to maintain the roads. See BARTON on page 2 SPORTS B1

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