January 13, 2015 - The Posey County News

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Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times

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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

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(USPS S4 439-500) 39 500)) Volume 135 Edition 2

Area residents express concerns over SR66 plan

reduced speed limit through the intersection would help lessen the amount of accidents that occur there. She said they often hear tires squeal as motorists brake to avoid a collision. Kim Butcher, local resident and insurance claims adjuster, gave another reason for the frequent accidents that occur at the intersection. She said she has seen a dramatic increase in accidents over the past few years and believes it’s largely due to driver inattention. More people are using their cell phones or texting while driving. She agreed with others who felt the addition of a fourth lane would alleviate the problem. The road improvements will require several utilities including AT &T/New Wave and German Township and Vectren to relocate their service lines. Two-way traffic will continue on SR 66 throughout the project. INDOT plans to acquire almost four acres of right-of-way so that temporary lanes can be added during construction. INDOT anticipates the construction will take nine months to complete. Following the completion of the environmental study and the design phase, the project is slated to begin in 2018. Written statements will be accepted until January 22. Letters need to be postmarked by January 22, and mailed to Mary Wright, INDOT Public Hearings IGCN 6, 100 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204. INDOT officials assured all comments will be reviewed and taken into consideration before the designs are finalized. “It’s very preliminary plans,” said Brian Malone with INDOT. “Things can change. We will look at traffic counts and so forth. Right now, I am not 100 percent certain what will happen.” Malone says whatever is decided will not be done until 2018.

By Valerie Werkmeister A standing room only crowd voiced their concerns about Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) plans to add a right turn lane on west bound traffic on SR 66 at St. Phillips and Rexing Roads during a public hearing held last Wednesday at South Terrace Elementary School. Residents and those traveling the road on a daily basis say the turn lane would only increase speed on SR 66 and not alleviate the problem. Local resident Terrie Kelly agreed the intersection is dangerous but felt the real problem involves turning east of Rexing Road. She noted it is especially difficult to turn onto SR 66 in the mornings during peak work traffic flow. She suggested the four-lanes of the highway be extended as well as acquiring more farmland to the north of SR 66. Keeping the ground free of trees and growth would help the line of sight, Kelly said. The project calls for replacement of the existing box culvert, removal of the slight vertical curve located just east of the intersection to improve sight lines, and improving the turning radii on the east side of the intersection. A slight hump on SR 66, just east of the intersection will also be leveled to help improve sight lines for westbound traffic. Upon completion, the roadway will consist of three, 12-foot wide lanes. INDOT officials stated the plans are still preliminary and comments from the public would be taken into consideration. Several of those who spoke pleaded with INDOT to make further lane improvements that would include the addition of a four-lane road rather than just ‘putting a band-aid on the problem.’ Linda Price and her husband, Mark, own an insurance business close to the intersection. She also felt a right-turn lane would not solve the problem. She questioned whether a

Director of Business Loren Evans administers the Oath of Office to Mount Vernon School Board members elected to a new term (from left) Kathy Weinzapfel, New School Board President Heather Allyn, and Mark Isaac. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray

Fire claims life of Posey man

Special to the News A motorist driving past a residence in eastern Posey County called the Posey County 911 Dispatch Center when smoke and flames were noticed breaking through the exterior of a home near the intersection of Hartman Road and Wolfinger Road. The Marrs Township Fire Department was dispatched to the structure fire at 2:40 p.m., on Saturday afternoon. Upon arrival emergency fire crews entered the residence and discovered the occupant of the home unconscious and unresponsive. Attempts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful. Posey County Coroner Jay Price pronounced the man dead at the scene. The coroner

This home near the intersection of Hartman and Wolfinger Roads was destroyed by fire this past Saturday afternoon. Photo submitted identified the deceased individual as Steven O’Neil. An autopsy was performed at the Vanderburgh County Morgue Facility, and the cause of death was determined to be

smoke inhalation. The Posey County Sheriff’s Department along with the State Marshal are investigating the source and origin of the fire. The investigation is continuing.

Western bypass proposal is pitched to Commissioners prior to the completion of the fertilizer plant. He added that the bypass will introduce new economic opportunities and development to that area. The longest portion of the project involves obtaining the necessary right-of-way along the route for the bypass. The specific route has not yet been determined. Kacinski said his company would present a contract later in the week that would allow them to move forward with a land survey to finalize the location. They will utilize LIDAR in conjunction with ground surveys to provide a faster and cost-effective survey process. Once the survey is completed, the design phase will begin. They will also work with various utility companies to pinpoint the exact location of gas and utility lines as well as the railroad. Kacinski stated his company

By Valerie Werkmeister Representatives from American Structure Point, an architectural and engineering firm based in Indianapolis, presented a timeline and proposal for the completion of a western bypass in Mount Vernon to Posey County Commissioners last Tuesday, January 6. Greg Kicinski, Road Group Leader, for American Structure Point stated the goal is to complete the bypass prior to the opening of the proposed fertilizer plant. Kicinski stated Midwest Fertilizer is expected to break ground soon and is expected to take approximately 42-months to construct. A western bypass will alleviate traffic congestion caused by additional truck and construction traffic carrying materials to the plant. Kaciniski stated the goal will be to complete the bypass as early as 14 months

hoped to begin the survey process later this month and projected breaking ground on the bypass construction by the end of the year. The bulk of the construction would take place beginning in the spring of 2016 and be ready for traffic by late summer 2017. Kacinski cautioned the commissioners that if they wait until 100 percent of the bypass construction cost funding is in place, it will push the completion of the project too close to the completion of the fertilizer plant construction. The commissioners did not take action and will review the contract with American Structure Point once it is received. The commissioners reviewed a few remaining board appointments that weren’t finalized during their last meeting. Dr. Joseph Lee accepted his nomination and the com-

Briefly Don Snemis, Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), announced that all BMV license branches will be closed Saturday, Jan. 17 through Monday, Jan. 19 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. All branches resume their regularly scheduled business hours on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Conservation Breakfast Offered Your local Soil & Water Districts – Posey, Gibson, Pike, Vanderburgh and Warrick – invite you to join them on Thursday, Jan. 29 from 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fairgrounds for their Annual Conservation Breakfast. Tickets are free and can be obtained by registering with your local SWCD or on-line at www. conservationbreakfast.eventbrite.com; reservations are requested. Featured speaker this year is James Hoorman, Ohio State University who will cover ‘The Economic Benefits of Cover Crops.’ Breakfast will be catered by Grandy’s. For more information, you can call the Posey SWCD at 812-838-4191, ext. 3.

HarlemWizards coming to MVHS The Harlem Wizards will be coming to Mount Vernon High School’s gymnasium, located at 700 Harriett Street in Mount Vernon, Ind., on Friday, Jan.16 at 6:30 p.m. This event supporting the Mount Vernon High School Wildcat Band promises to provide great family entertainment with lots of fun and laughs. Advanced tickets are on sale for $10 and may be purchased from band members. Tickets will be $12 at the door.

Relay for Life meeting set Call Out Meeting. All returning and potential Relay for Life walkers, team captains, committee members and community supporters are invited to a call out meeting on Thursday, Jan.22 at 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Mount Vernon. No registration is required, and all are welcome to attend to learn about Relay for Life in 2015.

Troop 387 to host pancake breakfast and spaghetti dinner Boy Scout Troop 387 will host a pancake breakfast and spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Saturday, January 31. The pancake breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m. Breakfast includes: pancakes, sausage, eggs, fruit, coffee, milk or juice. A minimum donation of $5 is requested. Dinner service will be held from 4:30 - 7 p.m. and includes spaghetti, breadsticks, salad and tea or lemonaid. Desserts will also be available. Both meals will be held in the Poseyville Community Center.

Funky Fruit shirts offered by Ron Rhodes A part of the proceeds will go to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children on behalf of the wonderful people of Southwestern Indiana. Ron will announce on television how much was raised; including a picture of the check that was sent to St. Jude’s. Shirts come in unisex small, medium, large, and x-large $15. The children’s books are $5. Shirts are in-stock for quick delivery by Ron Rhodes. Contact Ron to order at: ronanrhodes@gmail.com

St. Philip Catholic School hosing ‘Check Us Out’ open house St. Philip Catholic School is hosting a ‘Check Us Out!’ open house night for prospective families on Thur., Jan. 29 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Guests will tour the school, meet the teachers and ask questions about the Kindergarten through eighth grade curriculum, programs and community. St. Philip School also offers an all-day pre-school and pre-kindergarten enrichment program. For questions, call Principal Andrea Lodato-Dickel at 985-2447.

Deaths .............. ...A3 Church ................ A 7 Social .................. A 5 School ................. A 6

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BMV Announces Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Hours

Retrospective ...... A 4 Legals ............... B 6 - 9 Classifieds ...... B9-10 Community ......... A 5

missioners approved his appointment to the Health Board. They also learned they must make an appointment to the Poseyville Carnegie Public Library Board. They are seeking interested individuals to fill the position. The EMS board is also in need of an attorney residing within the county to fill the vacancy from Adam Farrar’s resignation. Also during last month’s meeting, the commissioners approved their meeting schedule for this year. After that, they learned that two of their meetings fall on election days in May and November. They changed their meeting dates to Monday, May 4 and Monday, November 2. In addition, they rescinded their decision to offer county employees two floating holidays this year. Instead, the May

By Lois Mittino Gray Is being an extra in a movie something on your bucket list? If you always wanted a chance to get behind the production camera, Tuesday through Thursday may be your best bet. Rosetti Productions will be making their fifteenth film ‘94’ by shooting some scenes in the Mount Vernon and Evansville area during the next few weeks. Shooting in Mount Vernon is slated for Tuesday, January 13 to Thursday, January 15, with the possible addition of an extra day. Director Chip Rosetti said he mainly needs extras to fill the church scene at Carey’d Away Chapel, also called the Caborn Chapel, at 4105 Caborn Road North. Extras should start arriving at 4 p.m on Tuesday, January 13. “The extras need to wear bland colors and work clothes. The story is about a working mine community and we want no one dressed up fancy clothes or in bright colors,” Rosetti said. Another scene will be shot around 10 a.m. in the soon to be demolished 200 block of Main Street on Tuesday morning. Rosetti does not need as many extras for that

Sports ........... B1, 3-5 Bus/Ag ................ A 8 Opinion ............... A 2 TV Guide........ A9-10

scene as he does for the church. If you would like to be in either or both scenes, write Lisa Lewis an email at triviaqueen1962@gmail. com. If you are near the church at 4 p.m. and didn’t have time to write Lisa, that’s OK and drop by and be a breathing body. Another opportunity the movie offers is to be a production assistant. Rosetti said a PA wears many hats in making sure everything goes smoothly from script help to getting food. If you are interested, write an email to rossettiproductions@yahoo.com with the letters PA in the subject line. Rossetti, an Evansville resident, is also the writer and producer for ‘94.’ His company has finished 14 movies in just 36 months, including the recently-premiered ‘Borrowed Christmas.’ All of his films are family-friendly and faith–based movies with a positive message. The poster for this movie uses the line, ‘Even Under 94 feet of rock, you can still see the light.’ Ninety-four Feet is about an American community in distress.

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