Storms, expansion, historic eclipse mark spring 2024 – pdclarion.com
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Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 56F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..
Overcast. Low 47F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
Updated: March 3, 2025 @ 7:30 am
An image of the historic solar eclipse captured by Francis Newman of Hazleton.
Construction workers raise the ceremonial beam of the Toyota Indiana YMCA.
Princeton Public Library’s summer reading program kicks off with a soap suds bubble party at Lafayette Park.
ahowe@paxtonmedia.com
Editor, The Daily Clarion
An image of the historic solar eclipse captured by Francis Newman of Hazleton.
Construction workers raise the ceremonial beam of the Toyota Indiana YMCA.
Princeton Public Library’s summer reading program kicks off with a soap suds bubble party at Lafayette Park.
Part 2 of 4Here’s a glimpse back on some of the top headlines of spring 2024 reported in The Princeton Clarion:
APRIL• Storms that caused damage and knocked out power for several hundred homes prompted Gibson County Emergency Management Agency Director Stephanie McKinney to update Gibson County Commissioners on her efforts to find funding for replacing the county’s outdated severe weather warning sirens.
McKinney confirmed that the Haubstadt weather siren is out of service, but she’s working on finding parts for repairs.
A year ago former EMA Director Terry Hedges reported the county’s 18 severe weather warning sirens, installed in 2004-05, are “starting to wear out,” and the annual cost of maintaining them would increase from $5,400 annually to $7,800. At that time, commissioners asked whether the county still needs warning sirens and Hedges said counties in this area still use them, in addition to mass text warnings.
The county uses the Nixle text alert system, which is free, but residents must sign up to receive the alerts.
McKinney in her role as interim EMA director, sought $724,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to replace 18 severe weather warning sirens across the county. McKinney told the panel the parts for the equipment installed about 22 years ago are obsolete.
She suggested replacing half of the sirens for $470,000 and possibly financing the remaining nine needed over a five-year period. She told the board she’s seeking grants but hasn’t found a funding source yet.
She said she’s still looking for funding sources, but reminded residents they can receive severe weather alerts through the mass alerts by signing up for the free service, or use weather warning radios. She offered to program the radios for anyone in need of assistance, and reported she’s looking for funding to get weather radios to distribute to the public.
• Gibson County marked the historic eclipse with a weekend of festivities at the Gibson County Fairgrounds, at Wirth Park in Oakland City and a Downtown Princeton street market.
• Gibson County and the Town of Patoka receive funding in the Indiana Department of Transportation’s first round of Community Crossings Matching Grant awards.
Gibson County received $1.5 million for county road projects, and Patoka received $100,808.
• Gibson County Council members asked for an investigation to determine whether Montgomery Township residents’ questions about use of county highway department equipment and possibly materials is a criminal matter.
Dick Smith came to the county’s fiscal body with a complaint from himself and nine other neighbors alleging abuse of county resources.
An Indiana State Police investigation into the complaint found no basis for criminal charges, since there was no record expressly prohibiting use of county highway department equipment and materials.
• The City of Princeton’s fire department celebrated the pinning of three new captains and five new firefighters, marking a complete full-time roster for the department, which was re-started in January with the dissolution of the Princeton Fire Territory.
The event marked the promotion to the rank of captain for Beth Hale, David Williams and Randy Anthis.
Veteran department firefighter Chad Butts, recognized at the event, was joined by new firefighters Jackson Shott, Trevor Cox, Logan Beaven, Jesse Saunders and Robert Embree.
As Embree received his badge, Pflug noted that his grandfather, the late Robert Embree, served as a firefighter and chief of the PFD, and his father Matt also served a firefighter, making Embree the third generation of that family on the department.
• Newly appointed Francisco Clerk-Treasurer Melissa Pond’s first day in office came April 10, after being appointed by new Gibson County Democrat Party Chairman Hannah Forkel-Matte.
Pond’s appointment took effect following the April 9 resignation of 23-year Francisco Clerk-Treasurer Jonnie Kay Watkins, who was just elected to another four-year term in November.
• North Gibson school trustees hired Leslie Boyd as the new principal of Princeton Community Primary School, and accepted the resignation of Princeton Community Middle School Principal Zack Waggoner.
Boyd came to North Gibson with administrative experience within East Gibson School Corporation, filling the vacancy created with the resignation of Bryce Abbey.
• Gibson Circuit Judge Jeffrey Meade approved a plea agreement that imposed a 45-year prison sentence upon David O. Crowe, Princeton, in connection with the 2021 stabbing death of his mother, Viola Clardy.
Crowe pleaded guilty but mentally ill earlier in the month, days after a mistrial was declared and a re-trial on the murder charge was scheduled.
At Crowe’s sentencing hearing, the judge imposed the 45-year sentence with Class B credit and credit for time served since his arrest in October 2021.
Judge Meade told Crowe that after Crowe serves 23 actual years of the sentence, he can petition the court to ask for modification of the sentence, and the court will grant a hearing on the matter, but the prosecution reserves the right to object.
The guilty but mentally ill plea affords Crowe the opportunity to receive necessary psychiatric treatment while the sentence is being served in a manner dictated by a professional, the judge said.
By Indiana statute, a murder conviction can carry a potential sentencing range of 45 years to 65 years.
The body of Crowe’s mother, Viola Clardy, was located by police under a tarp in a wooded area of her property on County Road 100 North between Princeton and Lyles Station Oct. 6, 2021, after other family members reported Clardy was missing.
Defense attorneys filed a notice of insanity defense shortly after Crowe was charged, and he was deemed not competent in March 2022 to stand trial, committed to the Division of Mental Health and Addiction for continued assessment and treatment. Receiving a new evaluation of Crowe in November 2022, Judge Meade ordered him transferred back to Gibson County to stand trial and ordered the re-evaluation of Crowe’s competency.
Judge Meade ruled Crowe was competent to stand trial for murder, following testimony of a psychological evaluation given by video conference.
• Toyota announced plans to add assembly of a new three-row battery electric SUV to the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana plant in Gibson County.
The $1.4 billion investment brings the company’s total investment in Gibson County to $8 billion, since its initial $800 million plant construction 26 years ago. The new line of electric battery SUVs, which will carry the Toyota nameplate, is expected to add 340 new jobs, bringing total employment to 8,000.
The investment includes new plant infrastructure to build the all-new BEV and a new battery pack assembly line using lithium-ion batteries supplied by Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina — a $13.9 billion facility slated to begin production in 2025.
• Gibson County Board of Commissioners President Warren Fleetwood confirmed the county has received notice of resignation from highway superintendent Brant Johnson.
Johnson was appointed superintendent of the department when Fleetwood and County Commissioner Ken Montgomery took office in January 2020, succeeding Chuck Lewis, who now is a candidate for the seat held by Fleetwood.
MAY• Kaley Hauger Stafford is the new principal at Princeton Community Middle School.
North Gibson school trustees unanimously approved the two-year contract starting July 1 at a $93,012 annual salary. Stafford fills the vacancy created with the resignation earlier in April of PCMS Principal Zack Waggoner.
Stafford is the daughter of retired PCHS teacher and administrator Steve Hauger.
• Princeton Community Primary School pre-schoolers and kindergarten students cheered for the ribbon-cutting dedication of a new playground, before putting it to good use.
The $858,950 project completed by Arc Construction was dedicated by North Gibson staff, school board members, North Gibson Education Foundation and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana representatives.
The work was accomplished with a $924,000 grant from Toyota’s Driving Possibilities program. Featuring turf surface, playground features including tricycles, a school bus, “bank” and “gas station” stops, climbing structures, sensory bowls and a message board which can be used by nonverbal students, North Gibson Superintendent Eric Goggins noted that children can use the facility for play and outdoor learning experiences.
TMMI President Tim Hollander wasted no time giving children a chance to experience some outdoor fun following the ribbon-cutting hosted by Gibson County Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to the turf playground, there’s concrete play space and shade structures, with tables coming toon.
• With the $21 million development of higher-end apartment living targeted for completion on South Second Avenue, The District developer Wayne Kinney is making plans to expand the project.
Presenting compliance forms for the first phase of the development, which qualified for property tax phase-in incentives from the City of Princeton, Kinney told the Princeton Common Council he’s working on plans to further develop the 26 acres on the west side of South Second Avenue.
The first phase of the project made use of $2.5 million in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) grant funding for infrastructure.
Kinney said he committed to build 144 apartments on the acreage and has completed 70 apartments plus club house and other amenities. He said 33 units are leased, and two-thirds of those units are leased by Toyota employees. He made note that about a third of the new tenants are moving here from out of state.
The next 72 units will be completed by July, he said.
McKinney said the project has created about 70 to 100 construction jobs at the site over the last six months.
He’s planning a $14.8 million expansion for more apartments west of the existing complex along the new connector road being constructed between South Second Avenue and Richland Creek Drive — hoping to receive $2.96 million of the $45 million in READI 2.0 funds awarded to Southwest Indiana.
• Gibson County Clerk Sherri Smith confirmed that a candidate in the May 7 GOP Gibson County Council primary who finished fourth in the race has reported he intends to ask for a recount.
Republican candidate Larry Michel expressed his intention to request a recount. A first-time political candidate, Michel, Fort Branch, finished fourth in the field of seven candidates seeking GOP nomination as candidates for three seats on the council in the fall general election. There were no Democrat candidates in that primary election.
Incumbent Derek McGraw led the field with 2,267 votes, and new candidate Craig Schafer finished second with 1,904 votes. Incumbent Mike Stilwell finished third with 1,761 votes, while Michel finished fourth with 1,740 votes. Incumbent Jeff Clark finished fifth with 1,550 votes, and challengers Dennis Gray and Roland Wagner finished sixth and seventh with 1,217 and 491 votes, respectively.
• YMCA construction workers placed the last steel beam on the top of the addition to the former Lowell school building, which is being transformed with addition of an indoor pool and entrance, into the Toyota Indiana YMCA. The beam-setting celebration marked a milestone in the construction progress. YMCA of Southwestern Indiana President Johnathan Pope explained the symbolism of the evergreen tree mounted atop the beam painted white, and autographed, dates back to the 7th century.
• Jerry Heldt returned to the Gibson County Highway Department superintendent’s office.
Gibson County Commissioners unanimously appointed Heldt as superintendent, filling the vacancy created with the resignation of Brant Johnson.
Heldt, of Francisco, joined the department in 1987 as assistant superintendent and was promoted in 1989 to superintendent, where he worked until resigning in November 2000. He returned to work on the bridge crew in 2003, and was appointed in 2006 as superintendent a second time. He held the position until he retired in 2014.
The highway department has operated without a superintendent for several days following Johnson’s resignation, and has contracted for engineering services since the resignation last summer of county engineer Matt Holden, who took a position as Knox County engineer.
Commissioners also voted unanimously Tuesday to advertise for hiring a county engineer to succeed Holden.
• Owensville-Montgomery Township Fire Chief Jeremy Wade received permission from Gibson County Council members to use funding in the fire department’s budget to replace an outdated tanker truck.
Wade said the department routinely responds to rural areas, where a tanker truck is needed. He said the truck in use now is 26 years old. The fire district has an opportunity to purchase a new demonstrator model now, or perhaps wait months or up to two years to order a new one.
The fire department has the money to to make a downpayment and will have funds to make payments, he said. The council also approved paying $15,000 for maintenance of the county’s property tax software.
Gibson County Auditor Mike Watkins also reported Wendy Williams, a longtime employee of his office, is taking a position in the court system, and Logan Vickers, who has worked three years in his office, will assume her responsibilities.
• Toyota Indiana’s planned $1.4 billion investment to begin assembly of a new three-row battery electric sport utility vehicle at the local plant prompted Princeton’s Board of Public Works and Safety to plan for additional infrastructure capacity as the sewer provider.
Mayor Greg Wright asked the board of works to approve consulting agreement with retired utility superintendent Bill Eubanks, and with Wessler Engineering.
“We’re excited with the possibilities, and we want to look at the numbers to make sure we’re prepared as a provider to Toyota and subsidiaries,” he said. He said the city may need to look at its lift station to the south of the plant, as well as other infrastructure. “We’re looking ahead a little bit,” he acknowledged.
Wright said Eubanks, who was a city employee when Princeton first began providing service to Toyota, has institutional knowledge that would be valuable regarding the existing infrastructure.
• Duke Energy, WIN Energy and Centerpoint Energy crews worked to restore power to thousands of homes throughout the region hit by night storms.
The National Weather Service at Paducah, Kentucky, dispatched assessment teams first to Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky Monday, with plans to eventually also assess the storm damage track from Grayville, Illinois, into Gibson County.
Local authorities reported at least 50 trees downed Sunday night in the county by early reports, plus utility lines that rendered County Road 350 between Ind. 168 and Ind. 64 impassable.
The storm caused damage to the baseball park in Fort Branch, lifted portions of a commercial building roof and uprooted trees from Owensville to eastern Gibson County.
Scattered damage was also reported in Mount Olympus, Patoka and Princeton as the squall line moved through around 9 p.m. Sunday.
The National Weather Service sent storm survey teams through Kentucky and Southern Illinois earlier in the week to assess damage from Sunday’s severe storm system, and plans be in Gibson County in coming days to assess damage from straight line winds and the path of a tornado preliminarily determined at EF1 strength winds of 110 mph.
The NWS confirmed a tornado in the Decker area north of Gibson County, and two tornadoes in Kentucky associated with the Sunday night storm.
According to reports submitted to the agency, trained spotters reported a tornado near Fort Branch. Multiple reports of downed lines and broken power poles and downed trees throughout Gibson County caused power outages, blocked roads and substantial damage to residential and commercial structures, including a billboard blown down in Fort Branch, and a portion of the roof of the Mackey Post Office blown away.
• Nearly all of Gibson County’s $6.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds have been obligated for projects.
Committee members Warren Fleetwood, Jay Riley, Bob Schleter, Jason Spindler and Mike Watkins met with grant administrator Debbie Bennett-Stearsman to discuss possible projects that could benefit from the $759,852 in obligated funds. Members voted to earmark about $200,000 and seek bids to make sewer improvements for four homes outside Oakland City limits.
While the Gibson County Health Department originally sought $850,000 for acquisition or construction of a new office, Riley suggested earmarking about $400,000 for the department to either remodel, buy space or build something to house the department, which is presently located in the top floor of the South Annex on South Prince Street.
Health Department Administrator Juli Shade reported the department needs a headquarters that is ADA accessible and offers more client privacy than the existing space allows.
Members opted not to fund a $724,000 request for new weather warning sirens, but did allocate $20,000 to purchase approximately 500 weather radios to be provided to the public.
They also opted not to award another $341,454 for more vehicles for the sheriff’s office, but did add $25,000 to the $30,000 remaining from a previous ARPA award for sheriff’s department vehicles, which would allow for the purchase of another vehicle.
Members decided not to recommend using ARPA funds to move the Sollman one-room schoolhouse from its current site to the Hopkins Family Park. In March, a request of $50,000 to $65,000 was made for the move, but ARPA committee members said they’re concerned about the condition of the building and the costs involved in stabilizing it.
JUNE• Gibson County Prosecutor Michael Cochren Friday sought felony charges of attempted murder, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and two counts of aggravated battery against a Patoka man arrested in connection with a reported drive-by shooting in the 900 block of North Seminary Street in Princeton.
The charges were filed in Gibson Superior Court against Jordan A. Lepper, who was apprehended shortly after the incident. A 12-year-old boy was taken to Deaconess Midtown Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the leg, and his 17-year-old brother sustained shrapnel injury, according to police.
Based on interviews with witnesses, police allege that the shooting apparently stemmed from a phone argument about a Snapchat “story” posted by the 12-year-old.
Lepper was initially arrested on a level 6 felony count of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and two level 3 felony counts of aggravated battery. The level 1 felony charge of attempted murder was filed Friday morning.
Lepper appeared before Gibson Superior Court Judge Robert Krieg via video uplink from the Gibson County Jail. He pleaded not guilty and sought court-appointed counsel. Judge Krieg appointed the Gibson County Public Defender’s Office to represent him after finding him to be indigent, but ordered Lepper to pay $100 to the supplemental public defender’s fund by the conclusion of the case.
No bond was set, according to court records, due to Lepper’s prior criminal history and the seriousness of the new charge.
• Gibson County Animal Services hosts its largest fundraiser of the year Saturday, with hope this year’s car show at Lafayette Park and online auction can help bolster the organization’s plans for a new, larger shelter.
With a county pledge of $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding plus funds on hand and donations, GCAS is still raising funds for a larger shelter construction project on five acres of property near the county highway garage property south of Princeton.
GCAS board member Sharon Werne said the need for more space is real. “We’re bursting at the seams,” she told Gibson County Commissioners of the existing animal shelter, a 1970s block building that is at capacity. “Our main goal is to never euthanize for space,” she emphasized, and that goal means this week, pulling and stacking crates to house animals. “There’s just no room. I am pleading with all the people of Gibson County to help us not euthanize for lack of space. If you can’t adopt, fostering is something you can do,” she said.
• John Umpleby was hired Tuesday by Gibson County Commissioners, returning to the county engineer post he held when it was first created by commissioners several years ago.
Umpleby first served as a contracted county engineer, but will be an employee of the county in his second stint. He fills the post which has been vacant since last summer’s resignation of Matt Holden, who took a position with Knox County.
• North Gibson school trustees approved a collaboration agreement with Oakland City University, which establishes a year-long residency employment program within NGSC for OCU education students.
The program transition from the traditional 10-week student teaching program for OCU senior teaching candidates into a full-year experience. Senior students spend their entire last year of college in a teaching residency program within North Gibson and other schools, working as a paid instructional assistant, and student teacher.
NGSC will employ them as instructional assistants and provide training, allowing OCU seniors to sit in on teacher meetings and experience the full teaching experience.
• Gibson County Redevelopment Commission members Monday unanimously approved the addition of portions of six county roads to be included in a project being funded with Patoka-Union Township Redevelopment District tax increment finance revenue.
In a brief special meeting, members approved paving a .5 mile section of County Road 650 South from U.S. 41 west to County Road 50 West, applying millings on 1.75 miles of CR650S from U.S. 41 east to CR175E; paving a .5 mile section of CR200E from Ind. 168 to CR750S; paving 1.5 miles of CR175W near Hoehn Plastics from CR850S to CR100S; and paving .75 mile section of CR925S near Hoehn Plastics from new pavement west to CR1075W.
Editor, The Daily Clarion
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