South Gibson Star-Times

NEWS TIPS Phone: ������������� 812-753-3553 Email ����editor@sgstartimes�com INSIDE Local ����������� A1-8 Opinion ����������� A5 Shopping������ A6-7 History ������������ A9 Sports ���������� B1-3 School ����������B4-5 Church ��������B6-7 Legals �������������� B7 Classifieds ������� B8 Two Sections • No Inserts Fort Branch 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) $1.00  16 PAGES   TuESDay, DEcEmbEr 6, 2022  VOLUME 68, NUMBER 23 South Gibson LADY TITANS TAKE ON ALICES IN DECISIVE WIN Christmas arrives in South Gibson SPORTS B1 LOCAL A8 'Vaudeville Tonight' brings late night TV to stage By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Gibson Southern students re- turned to the stage with "Vaudeville Tonight," a variety show themed around late night television this year with singing, dancing, and even a lit- tle bit of a magic show. Attendees were given the studio audience experience, complete with applause signs, the "studio band" and a stage manager role. Not all the magic was on stage, however, plenty of magic was behind the scenes. For Gibson Southern junior Cas- sie Reeves, who performed in eight acts, the biggest learning experi- ence was from choreographing for the first time. "I haven't done so much in one time frame," she said, adding she enjoyed seeing classmates develop through performing. This is her second Vaudeville, as the 2020 was cancelled for COVID. She talked up the work of senior of- ficers Jake Decker, Brooklyn Cas- burn, Raigain Brooks who wrote the introductions and transitions for the show. Compared to last year, she said she felt more ready, refreshed, and less stressed with a previous Vaude- ville under her belt. "I took it in a lot more than last year," she said. She was glad to see the Gibson Southern grads in the au- dience. "I just love the feeling of being on stage. I think my favorite thing is seeing alumni in the audience and making them proud." With the Vaudeville Tonight theme, senior Kyle Goldman said he was living a dream by being cast in the host's role of Carson J. Allen. To prepare he watched talk shows and learned from the hosts and took the advice of the Vaudeville direc- tors. "It doesn't sound like it takes a lot of work, but I had to get to know my character," he said. "The narra- tor takes on a lot of responsibility. I got to be there for everybody, and support the cast, which I really en- joy doing." He said the experience taught him not to take the moment for grant- ed — at the end of the weekend it seemed to be over very quickly. "I'm torn that this over, and it was my last Vaudeville, but the musical is coming." For anyone who missed the expe- rience, the Gibson Southern theater program will be back onstage with "Big Fish" March 17-19. Cops 'n Kids program helps 36 this year By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com The county's law enforcement community came together to pro- vide Christmas for 36 local low-in- come families this year, spending $125 per child on clothes and $125 per child on toys for families that otherwise may not have Christmas. Princeton Police Dept. Sgt. Steve McNeece added it's every branch of law enforcement, even those the public doesn't give the most atten- tion, like dispatchers, jailers and conservation officers. Every Gib- son County law enforcement agen- cy was represented. "We hear about this the rest of the year when we see them. We go on calls and we see pictures of us on their refrigerator," said Mc- Neece. The local Candy Cane Queens al- so raise money and shop with chil- dren for the event, and every year Judge facing disciplinary charges Charges hinge on informal language, in-chambers hearing The Indiana Commission on Ju- dicial Qualifications has filed disci- plinary charges against Gibson Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey F. Meade, who has served as judge since 2007 in Gibson Coun- ty. The Com- mission alleges four counts of misconduct re- lated to the han- dling of specific paternity and Child in Need of Ser- vices (CHINS) cases. Judge Meade has 20 days to file an answer to the charges. According to an 11-page "No- tice of the Institution of Formal Proceedings and Statement of Charges," filed by the seven-mem- ber Commission, in 2019 during a custody hearing, the judge told the father to "be quiet," "zip it," "shut his mouth," and "shut up." Meade is also said to have told the father he couldn't pass his child off like a football for his own rea- sons, and then was also said to have used cursing language to describe the father's behavior. He also is said to have compared the case he was adjudicating to the judge's own divorce, once in 2019 and again in 2020. He was said to have called the father "bud," "buddy," "bro," and "man." During a 10 -day hearing, he is You Can Help drive continues tradition of giving By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com The Michas family gathered out- side Fifth Third Bank for the You Can Help Drive to benefit the Sal- vation Army Friday in Princeton in memory of community advocate Nick Michas, an event they keep going for him and for all the fami- lies he helped over the years. Diana Michas, daughter-in-law of Nick Michas, said Nick was known for Fourth of July fireworks organizing and other good works, but for him nothing meant more than the annual Salvation Army Drive. When he passed away two and a half years ago, the family asked who, if any of them, wanted to take it on, and all eyes fell to Diana, who Nick liked to tell people was his "fa- vorite daughter-in-law," who had just retired. "What most people didn't know was I was his only daughter-in-law," she said. She said the drive couldn't do the good it does without all the people who are helping. "It's amazing to live in a small town where everyone comes to- gether," she said. See COPS on page 5 See GIVING on page 3 See JUDGE on page 2 Judge Jeffrey F. Meade Aiden Neikirk shops with Lt. Bobby Wood Saturday morning at the Princeton Walmart as part of the Cops and Kids program. Alyssa Baehl, Gabby Baehl and Kaleigh Baehl performed a "Mamma Mia" Vaudeville selection. Scott Walden photo. See additional photo on A-2. Vertical Church hosts Christmas tree lighting Vertical Church in Fort Branch hosted what they hope will be an annual Christmas tree light- ing in Fort Branch Friday, pivoting to host the tree lighting indoors when winds and tempera- tures make the outdoor event untenable. Town Board President Sandy Birch, left, and Stacy Elpers hit the large switch to turn on the tree, though it flickered out almost immediately, due to a technical difficulty. The tree was re-lit however, and remained lit for the rest of the evening.

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