The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/919610
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, December 20, 2017 C-11 EAST GIBSON NEWS Submit school news: Email: egnews@ pressdispatch.net Deadline: Noon on Friday See ZONING on 12 OPEN OFFICE SESSIONS Once again this year, I will be utilizing a collab- orative opportunity for all members – students, staff, parents, guardians, and community members – of the Wood Memorial School Community. With this said, I believe to be most effective with the de- velopment and growth of our students it is impera- tive that every stakeholder of Wood Memorial have an opportunity to collaborate and provide input in any area/aspect of interest in- volving our school(s) they may have. Thus, I will con- duct monthly "Open Of- fice" sessions, focused on providing time for such col- laboration to occur. I encourage you to come meet anytime to review items of interest you may have. You may schedule a meeting by calling 812- 749 -4757 and requesting a time. In keeping with the theme of collaboration and communication, I want to invite Wood Me- morial stakeholders to fol- low the happenings at the junior high and high school by joining us on twitter at WMTrojans1. DATES OF NOTE ISTAR, Grades 3 – 8, 10, EL A/Math/Science/So- cial Studies, Jan. 15 – Feb. 16 National Assessment of Educational Progress, Grades 4 and 8, Digital Based, Math, Reading, Writing, US History, Civ- ics and Geography, Jan. 29 – Mar. 9 Accuplacer – Part 2, Feb. 12 – Mar. 30 Red Cross Blood Drive, Feb. 23 ISTEP Part 1, Feb. 26 – Mar. 9 Wood Memorial TROJANS VS. CASTLE KNIGHTS STATS 12/19/17 Castle Knights Alex Hemenway 7 7-5 3 21 Jace Stieler 11 2-1 2 23 Brycen Moore 0 4-4 2 2 Tristen Wilkinson 6 0 -0 3 16 Zach Messinger 6 1-0 1 14 TOTAL S 30 14-10 11 76 3 Point FG's-6 (Hemenway 2 and Wilkinson 4) Wood Memorial Lathan Falls 6 8 -4 4 18 Remington Wilkison 2 0 -0 3 5 Cameron Savlman 2 0 -0 0 4 Paxon Bartley 6 4-2 1 14 Walker Nurrenbern 3 6 -5 4 11 TOTAL S 19 18 -11 12 52 3 Point FG's-3 (Falls 2 and Wilkison 1) SCORES BY QUARTERS Castle Knights 8 17 30 21 76 Wood Memorial 16 16 9 11 52 UPCOMING SPORTS SCHEDULE GIRLS' VARSITY BASKETBALL Jan. 2 Springs Valley home 5:30 p.m. Jan. 4 Loogootee JR/SR away 5:30 p.m. Jan. 9 South Knox home 5:30 Jan. 11 Princeton Community home 5:30 p.m. Jan. 16 Southridge home 5:30 p.m. Jan. 18 White River Valley away 5:30 p.m. Jan. 20 Shoals JR/SR ( JV/V ) home 3:30/5 p.m. Jan. 23 Northeast Dubois away 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25 North Daviess JR/SR away 5:30 p.m. BOYS' VARSITY BASKETBALL home 5:30 p.m. Jan. 5 Pike Central away 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 Washington Catholic home 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13 Evansville Day away 5:30 p.m. Jan. 19 Barr Reeve JR/SR away 5:30 p.m. Jan. 20 Shoals JR/SR ( JV/V ) home 3:30/7 p.m. Jan. 26 Tell City away 5:30 Jan. 27 Northeast Dubois home 5:30 Feb. 1 Vincennes Rivet JR/SR home 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6 Forest Park JR/SR home 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 Southridge away 5:30 p.m. Feb. 13 Evansville North away 5:30 Feb. 16 Gibson Southern away 5:30 Feb. 17 North Knox away 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 South Knox home 5:30 p.m. BOYS' VARSITY WRESTLING Jan. 2 Southridge home 5:30 p.m. Jan. 6 Tecumseh JR/SR Invitational away 9 a.m. Jan. 10 North Knox away 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13 Boonville away 9 a.m. Jan. 17 Evansville Central home 6 p.m. Locals give feedback on zoning By Janice Barniak A public hearing Dec. 18 allowed locals to express their views on zon- ing to the local Planning and Adviso- ry Commission. Approximately 28 people spoke, ranging from support of zoning as a way to grow Gibson County's popula- tion to opposition due to concerns for farmland and coal mining operations. Greg Wathen, of Southwestern In- diana Economic Development, spoke first, saying he sees zoning as a way to designate where investments will be placed, and that it has the potential to change and adapt as time goes on. Warrick County is zoned, he added, and it has not affected their oil and gas production. He added Gibson Coun- ty's population is currently flat. Citizen Cecil Allen asked why Farm Bureau was involved in the draft of the zoning—at the meeting a week ear- lier, attorney Mike Schopmeyer told those gathered that Farm Bureau's farming friendly recommendations had been adopted in the current draft of potential zoning to give farmers a way to scale and to give their farms precedence over anyone buying land after the farm is established. Board president John Feutz is al- so Indiana Farm Bureau county pres- ident, but he said that the decisions on zoning are decided locally by the board, so while Farm Bureau had in- put on the draft to help protect farm- ers' interest, it was, eventually, a lo- cal decision. "Gibson County is a prosperous county," Allen said, citing the coal fire generating, Toyota, and housing de- velopments that he said had been built without the benefit of zoning. He said the county has a very low unemploy- ment rate, and while it needs housing, new housing has made moves to come in without zoning. "This paper (he referred to the zon- ing document) is a field of dreams— like the movie—if you build it, they will come," he said. Nancy Gehlhausen, an east Gibson schoolteacher, came to support zon- ing, saying that locally, the East Gib- son area has lost housing because of coal mining. "East Gibson has 250 students," she said, adding that makes it difficult to stay open. "There are no students because there's no housing," she said. She knows of a doctor that would have moved to the area, but was able to find a house in Lynnville, so moved there. People in the area will not be hap- py, she said, if Mackey school has to close because there are not enough students. "It costs as much to educate 10 students as 20," she said, but with- out students, the district can't afford teachers, she added, saying that inves- tors want a safety net when they build in the area so that they know a busi- ness that would drive down property values (for example, an adult book- store) will not locate in the neighbor- hood in which they've invested in. Local South Gibson business own- er Randy Kiesel said he farms in Fort Branch, and said he opposes zoning, though he appreciates the efforts of those who volunteered on the board. "This is just another step of our government taking on what local res- idents do very well themselves," he said. "I'd say no go because I have faith in our citizens to do the right thing." Oakland City artist Bob Zasadny came to the podium explaining he had a life of experiences with big cities before moving a mile and a half from that night's Wirth Park venue. Born in Chicago when the population topped 140 million, he said he came to the ar- ea and bought a small house in Fort Branch at a time when it was so dark at night you could see the lights all the way to Princeton. He contrasted that with the way Evansville's grown. "Soon from 69 to the Ohio River, it's going to be solid buildings, con- crete and asphalt. The quality of life devolves," he said, adding he's always glad to return home to where there's one flashing light. Shawn McKinney, who lives be- tween Snake Run and Francisco, said he's not for zoning because he feels the county has done well without it, and he's worried it will grow into something more complicated than the current proposals. "The growth will come when the economy dictates it," he said. "Just because we don't have zoning doesn't mean they're waiting at the county line bursting at the seams to come here." Joe Gilpatrick, zoning administra- tor for Haubstadt, said that zoning has kept people in Haubstadt accountable to certain standards. "Somebody needs to be able to step in and make sure it's right," he said, adding many farmers are concerned it will keep them from selling proper- ty to their son or daughter to build a house, but it hasn't prevented that in Haubstadt. Charlie Schmidt, of Haubstadt, is on Haubstadt's zoning board, and ex- plained that 12 years ago when pro- posed, he wasn't totally in favor of zon- ing. Changes can happen very quickly, however, and he said he's seen bean fields become home to houses from one year to the next. He said that after his experiences, he now supports zoning. "Before it was over with, I was prob- ably more for it for what it could pro- tect me from, than for the reasons Haubstadt was going to get it. Noth- ing's perfect, but it can be a benefit... address it with an open mind," he said. Matt Michel, chair of the Gibson County Soil and Water Board, said he's concerned about stormwater run- off and worried the zoning doesn't ad- dress that. The board has extreme reservations of the plan being put in zoning draft, he said, adding they're also concerned that the expertise level of the local zoning board may not ex- tend to knowledge of local runoff is- sues and consequences. Larry Michel, who farms in Fort Branch between US -41 and I-69, as Joe Gilpatrick, zoning administrator for Haubstadt, touted the benefits of zoning, including accountability to community stand- ards. Janice Barniak photos Randy Kiesel, of Fort Branch, came to the meeting to oppose zon- ing, explaining that he thinks local residents do a good job keeping out unwanted elements. 2018 To all our many good friends and kind neighbors, we extend our warm wishes for a year that's as special as you are! We value your business and appreciate your goodwill. Hope It's Noteworthy! Is it time for your next eye exam? 8–7 . Mon. 8–noon . Tues. 10–7 . Wed. 8–5 . Thur. 8–5 . Fri. Now Locally Owned and Operated Dr. Clint Shoultz 715 S. 9th St., Petersburg 354-9400 Locally Owned & Operated Dr. Clint Shoultz 715 S. 9th St. • Petersburg 812-354-9400 ank you everyone for your business throughout the 2017 year. From Shawn and the guys WILSON TRANSPORT, INC. 1011 N. HWY. 257, OTWELL • 812-354-2197 To our friends, neighbors, associates, and folks we've yet to meet, we'd like to extend our sincere best wishes for a holiday that's as beautiful as you are, and hope that all your dreams come true during this magical time of year. MAY YOUR DREAMS BE MERRY & BRIGHT 610 E. MAIN ST. PETERSBURG Call for your appointment: 812-354-9268 - Mandi & Becky