South Gibson Star-Times

NEWS TIPS Phone: ������������� 812-753-3553 Email ����editor@sgstartimes�com INSIDE Local ����������� A1-8 Obituaries �������� A3 Opinion ����������� A5 Shopping������ A6-7 Sports ���������� B1-4 School ������������� B5 Church ��������B6-7 Legals �������������� B7 History ������������ B7 Classifieds ������� B8 Two Sections • No Inserts Fort Branch 47648-0070 (USPS #205-620) $1.00  16 PAGES   TuESDay, DEcEmbEr 13, 2022  VOLUME 68, NUMBER 24 South Gibson FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS JINGLE BELL JUKEBOX SPORTS B1 LOCAL A5 See MCCONNELL on page 3 See LAWSUIT on page 3 RSV ramped up in county By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Gibson County Commissioner Kenneth Montgomery asked Health Dept. Director Di- ane Hornby about a high number of RSV respi- ratory viruses in the county. "It's pretty rampant," Montgomery said. Hornby agreed. She had family in the ER recently. "We were there seven hours. Every five min- utes it seemed like a new baby came in," she said. While it does seem to be a bad year, for years babies have been hospitalized with RSV, which causes breathing problems in children that would be colds if they happened in healthy adults. Urgent care facilities in the area are doing a test that covers COVID, Flu A and RSV, she added, saying some schools have had signifi- cant numbers of absences. The health department doesn't carry RSV tests, and soon they'll stop COVID testing as the grant for the testing ends at the end of the month. "The best thing to do is to stay home if you're sick," she said. She didn't discount that testing could re- sume in January if the county saw a large post-holiday spike like last year, however, at the moment grant-funding is set to run out for COVID testing, and they'll look to hand out at- home tests if they receive requests. Southern Hills suit heads to court in March By Janice Barniak SG Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Commissioners recapped a lawsuit by SPM Developments in their regular meeting Dec. 6 saying a hearing will be March 10. Gibson County is being sued due to the coun- ty denying subdivision Southern Hills Cross- ing, a 41-home subdivision to be located behind Full Metal Armory. The subdivision review committee passed the proposed subdivision twice, however, when it came to commissioners to approve, they dis- agreed with the committee about whether it should have been passed and sided with area residents who were against the subdivision, citing issues with the drainage and the clus- ter septic system that puts multiple houses on one system. According to Commissioner Warren Fleet- wood on Dec. 6, commissioners reached out to Vanderburgh, Dubois, Spencer and Knox counties and none were using cluster septic systems. Fleetwood called it a public safety issue. "Cluster systems are not a big idea. In mov- ing Gibson County forward we need big ideas... Sometimes the best investments are the ones you don't make," he said. "Anyone who thinks we will not follow the subdivision ordinance is sadly mistaken." Commissioner Mary Key has voted in favor of the subdivision since their first appearance, and said that because cluster systems are ac- ceptable to the state of Indiana, she was fine to approve the subdivision, arguing that the de- veloper had met the requirements set by the county. The county filed to have the dissenting neighbors appear in court and SPM filed a re- sponse May 12 requesting they not be allowed to intervene. The neighbors listed were includ- ing Darla Dewig-Kiesel; Aaron Kiesel; Lonie Burns; Kelly Burns; Kelly Ingler; Jennifer In- gler; Tim Dewig; Chris, Timothy, Angela and Patricia Pohl, Scott and Diane Hasenour; Don- ald, Steve Gayle and Sharon Pohl; Melvin and Kathleen Ziliak; Clint and Megan Campbell; Donald and Debbie Gries; Jeremy and Rebec- ca Mann; and Richard and Lisha Pohl. Special Judge Mary Margaret Lloyd denied that motion. In their opposition to the neighbors speak- ing, SPM wrote, "The issue in this case is very straightforward: Does the primary plat for the Southern Hills Crossing Subdivision (the "Plat") that SPM filed with the Gibson County Board of Commissioners (the "Board"), com- ply with the concrete standards of the Gibson County Subdivision Control Ordinance (the "SCO'). If it does, then the Board is compelled McConnell, Longtime Habitat for Humanity worker, dies at 71 By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Longtime Habitat for Humanity construc- tion worker Larry McConnell, 71, of Prince- ton died Dec. 9. The 40 -year carpenter had worked as the building manager at Habitat for the last nine years. "Gibson County Habitat for Humanity has been blessed by the life of Larry McConnell. Larry's love for GCHFH, his community, our partner families and our volunteers, was re- flected in the quality workmanship that went into everything he did. His integrity, spirit of humility and endearing sense of humor were the leadership skills recognized by all that knew him," said Jim Stephens, who is president of the Habitat board. "Larry's im- pact on the greater Gibson County commu- nity will be felt for years to come and his love for Gibson County Habitat for Humanity will be greatly missed. We share in the grief and offer our sincere condolences to family and County looks at $15M investment in Toyota-adjacent roads By Janice Barniak Star-Times Editor editor@sgstartimes.com Commissioner Warren Fleetwood sug- gested the county invest $15 million in TIF dollars into funds that would produce a re- turn large enough to continue repairing Toy- ota and Toyota-subsidiary roads into the fu- ture after the economic development area expires in 2025. Currently a portion of the taxes Toyota pays, that would normally go toward schools and lower taxes homeowners pay in the ar- ea, are diverted through the declaration of the Toyota area as an economic development area, or TIF area. The TIF was declared when Toyota came to the area to create the items the county would need to support the large manufac- turer, like building up Tulip Tree Drive, for example, which is a county road. The TIF dollars have continued to support road projects and county projects that are seen as beneficial to supporting the industry. When the TIF expires in 2025, the coun- ty will be expected to take on the mainte- nance of those roads without the diverted support funds. "The interest off $15 million could help maintain it in years to come," Fleetwood said, adding it would ensure the longevity on the roads, reduce the tax burden, and not affect current projects approved or proposed for TIF funding. He listed Tulip Tree Drive and CR 350 as examples of roads the dollars would support. Commissioner Kenneth Montgomery had questions. "Does the TIF allow that?" he asked. "That's what we have to find out," Fleet- wood said. Longtime Habitat Construction Manager Larry McConnell passed away this week. His fingerprints are on the literal boards inside countless Habitat houses that will stand for years to come. Archive photo. Shopping for Christmas cheer Dana Curl straightens a falling item at Saturday's Christmas Market in Owensville. See additional photos on A-2.

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