Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN
“Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.” Posey County’s only locally-owned newspaper
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
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Volume 134 Edition 3
Court finds no issues with Harp, transition By Dave Pearce In a decision handed down late last week, Judge Carl Heldt ruled in favor of County Treasurer Justin White and Chief Deputy Chris Harp in the matter involving the position of Posey County Treasurer. “The Posey County Republican Party is very pleased with today’s decision,” GOP Party Chairman Greg Newman said in a prepared statement. “Judge Heldt’s decision reaffirms the wishes of the voters in the November 2012 election.” Harp, who was elected to the position of Posey County Treasurer, had difficulty securing a suggested $300,000 surety bond. Harp eventually resigned after securing a $100,000 surety bond.
Chris Harp The Posey County Republican Party held a caucus and selected
Justin White to serve in the capacity of Treasurer. Harp, on March 6, 2013, sent a letter to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence stating she would be resigning effective March 18, 2013. That same day, Posey County citizen and chairman of the Posey County Democratic Party Ed Adams filed a Verified Complaint for Declaratory Judgment against Harp in Posey Superior Court. Posey Superior Court Judge Brent Almon recused himself from the case and the parties agreed that Heldt would serve as a special judge in the case. Heldt found that the county executive of Posey County is the Posey County Commissioners and Heldt also found that the county
executive is required to approve the county treasurer’s surety bond before it is filed with the county recorder. However, in Heldt’s findings, he ruled that Harp was duly elected to the position and the reason she was unable to secure the $300,000 bond was an error that appeared on her credit record, that indicated Harp had an unpaid tax liability. On April 11, Adams filed a Second Amended Complaint for Declaratory Judgment against both Harp and White in Posey Superior Court. Adams contended that Harp’s initial bond was insufficient and therefore, never qualified and never took office. The document continued stating that Harp’s resignation was not effec-
tive because she never held the office and that therefore, White was not the duly elected Posey County Treasurer by virtue of the GOP Caucus. Heldt also ruled that the statute requiring County Treasurers in Indiana to post a surety bond is directory and not mandatory. Despite that fact, Heldt found that Harp was reasonably diligent in her efforts to secure a surety bond in a timely fashion. He found that she was duly elected and found no errors in the way the entire process was handled. But while looking back, Heldt did determine that the bond for Linda Curtis, who took office in
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North Posey schools earn ‘A’ grade, re-elects officers By Valerie Werkmeister A new year often means changes, but not so for the MSD of North Posey. Board members met for their first meeting of the year on Monday, January 13, and voted to keep things status quo. Stephen Bender will remain president, Joe Neidig continues as vice president; Linda O’Risky remains as secretary; Carol Lupfer will be the corporation treasurer and Jayme Bender will serve as the deputy treasurer and William H. Bender will continue as the corporation attorney. Geoff Gentil will continue as the board’s policy liaison and Neidig will serve as the legislative liaison. The board also chose to keep their compensation the same. Board members receive $2,000 annually and $100 per meeting for a maximum annual salary of $3,200 per year. Conflict of interest statements were signed by Bender, Gentil, Neidig and
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Mount Vernon Bicentennial Committee to meet Jan. 22 The first meeting of the Mount Vernon Bicentennial Committee will be held on Wednesday, January 22 at the Alexandrian Library in room B at 5 pm. Everyone is invited to share ideas and to help plan this celebration. For more information, find us on Facebook at Mount Vernon 200 Birthday or email - mv200birthday@gmail. com for any questions.
St. Matthew School celebrates National Week Next week, St. Matthew School will join with Catholic schools all across the country as they celebrate National Catholic Schools Week.This year’s theme is ‘Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.’ On Tuesday, January 28, as part of their Catholic Schools Week celebration, St. Matthew will hold their annual Open House for Potential Families for 2014-2015 for grades K-5. Everyone is welcome to attend. The evening will begin with a meal from 6-6:30 p.m. Following the meal, Vickie Wannemuehler, principal, will give a brief presentation about the school, the curriculum, and the many scholarships that are available. Families will then have time to tour the school, meet the teachers, and ask questions. Reservations are not required; however, they are apreciated. Contact Wannemuehler at 838-3621.
Meet Your Legislators The Posey County ‘Meet Your Legislators’ is an event organized by The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. This important community meeting will serve as an opportunity for the Legislators to speak about the issues they are facing and for the community to ask questions and raise concerns. Representative Wendy McNamara, Senator Jim Tomes and Congressman Larry Bucshon will be attending. Held at 9 a.m. Saturday, January 25, at the Hovey House in Mount Vernon.
Posey County Historical Society to meet Jan. 25 The Posey County Historical Society will meet on Saturday, January 25 at 10 a.m. at the Alexandrian Public Library in Mount Vernon. Research Assistant June Dunning will be talking about new equipment and other tools that the Library has that will offer help to those doing family and historical research. Members and friends of the Society are invited to the meeting.
O’Risky as they either have relatives employed by or companies that do business with the corporation. Dr. Angie Wannemuehler informed board members of the districts’ recent accountability grades. All four North Posey schools received an ‘A’ ranking for students’ achievements on test scores. North Posey is one of only 27 other Indiana school districts to have received this designation. Superintendent Dr. Todd Camp stated it is the second time in three years that North Posey has achieved this ranking. Board members expressed their appreciation for the hard work by teachers and students. Danny Ellis discussed the outcome of a recent energy audit completed at South Terrace Elementary School. The audit was performed free of charge by Vectren as part of the Energizing Indiana initiative. All en-
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Mount Vernon wrestler Chris Newman and his opponent pay close attention as they receive instructions from the referee prior to their match on Sunday. Photo by Dave Pearce
Indigent probationers add more burden By Valerie Werkmeister With little choice and much discussion, Posey County Council members approved a $90,064 additional appropriation request to fund six probation officer salaries during their monthly meeting, Tuesday, January 14. Rodney Fetcher, chief probation officer, addressed the council to give them information on why the budgetary shortfall exists. The salaries are partially funded with fees paid by the probationers. Fetcher stated there are currently 320 adult and juvenile participants on probation in Posey County. The fees, as well as the probation officer’s salaries are set by the state. If the probation clients are unable to pay their monthly probation fees, a civil judgment is entered against them. Ultimately, the shortfall in fee collection means the county must cover that much more of the probation officer’s salaries. The fees are also used to pay for supplies, training, travel and drug testing for the probation clients. While the fees have never been enough to fully fund the salaries, more fees were collected in years past. The amounts have dwindled recently
as many probation clients struggle financially or have lost their jobs. It is a clear sign of the current economic times. Posey County Council President Bob Gentil went over the fees collected in past years. In 2008, a total of $97,500 was collected. The next year, $84,000 was brought in and in 2010, the amount dipped to $73,000. During the years of 2011-2013, the total fees collected each year averaged between $60,000-$62,000. The total of the six probation officer’s salaries is $217,326. Gentil noted that the county general fund must then compensate roughly $156,000. “Now, the thing of it is we’ve got to solve a problem here. Knowing that the fees are never going to pay 100 percent of these salaries and knowing that we have no control of the salaries that are set by the state, it still has to be funded. We’re currently in a negative balance and we’re going to have to at this time, take some kind of action that’s going to fund these negative balances and fund these probation salaries for either the year or a period of time,” Bob Gentil said.
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Two from Posey face unrelated sentences On January 16, 2014, 34-year-old Brandon with his girlfriend when he became enraged over told the truth about how she had been abused in Scott Westerfield appeared in Posey County Supe- a conversation they were having about her preg- order that he might be removed from this Commurior Court and pleaded guilty to Battery Resulting nancy. The girlfriend fled to a neighbor’s home nity. He is now going to be in prison for the next 18 in Bodily Injury to a Pregnant Woman, a Class C clothed only in her pajamas and the police were months or so and that is a good thing.” Felony, and to Domestic Battery, a Class D Fel- called. She reported to the Sheriff’s Department Westerfield has prior criminal convictions for ony, for an incident that began during the early that Westerfield punched her in the eye, beat her burglary and escape in Vanderburgh County. He morning hours of November 27, 2013 at his home about the head and body and bit her on the wrist. will be sentenced in Posey County Superior Court located at 11660 Denzer Road. Westerfield was ar- Westerfield was arrested and had been held in the on February 25, 2014. rested and charged on that date with Posey County Jail In an unrelated case, On Januphysically attacking and injuring his since the date of his ary 15, 2014, Corey Ricketts aplive-in girlfriend. Westerfield will arrest. peared before the Honorable James be sentenced on February 25, 2014 Deputy Prosecutor Redwine for sentencing. Ricketts to serve three years in prison at the Jonathan Parkhurst pleaded guilty to one count of DealIndiana Department of Corrections. stated, “Too often, ing in a Look-a-like Substance, a After his release from prison, he will women who have class C felony, one count of Dealserve an additional year on Posey been physically ing in Methamphetamine, a class B County Community Corrections abused by a husband felony and one count of Maintainand on house arrest. or significant other ing a Common Nuisance, a class D At the time of his arrest in Noblame themselves for felony. He was sentenced to prison vember of 2013, Westerfield was the abuse. Some are for a total of twelve (12) years. serving a sentence on house arrest frequently manipuRicketts’ arrest stemmed from a for a prior domestic battery assault Brandon Scott Westerfield lated by their abuser long-term drug investigations called Matthew Cory Ricketts upon his ex-wife which occurred on into believing it was ‘Operation Fair Warning’ which culDecember 18, 2012. In this earlier case, Wester- their fault and that if they were only a better wife minated in the arrest of over thirty (30) individuals field was charged with Domestic Battery and two or lover than the abuse would magically stop. We for illegal drug activity in late 2012. The operacounts of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated have victims who call the office shortly after an tion was conducted by the Posey County Narcotics Endangering a Person with a Passenger Less Than arrest has been made asking that we ‘drop charges’ United, which is made up of Kenneth Rose who 18 years of Age, all Class D Felonies, as a result and allow the abuser to return home. Some have is an investigator with the Posey County Prosof his assault upon his ex-wife and for fleeing the even been manipulated or threatened into lying ecutor’s Office, Detective Jeremy Fortune of the crime scene with two young children before he or changing their story about how they or their Posey County Sheriff’s Department, and Glenn crashed his car into a ditch. On August 27, 2013, children were hurt. We at the Posey County Pros- Boyster of the Mount Vernon Police Department. he was sentenced to serve two years on Posey ecutor’s Office believe it’s important to hold the Travis Clowers, Posey County Prosecutor, statCounty Community Corrections and was serving abuser responsible for his crimes even when a vic- ed that, “The tireless efforts of the Posey County that sentence at the time he assaulted his girlfriend tim has had a change of heart or asks to be reunited Narcotics Unit to rid our community of illegal three months later. with her abuser. In this case, we worked hard to drug activity should be recognized. That ‘team’ of On November 27, 2013, Westerfield was living ensure that Westerfield’s victim stood strong and officers has had profound influence in detecting
Retrospective .... A 4 Legals .............B6-7 Classifieds ......B7-8 Community ...... A 5
Deaths ............... A 3 Church ............. A 6 Social ................ A 5 School ............... A 8
Sports .............B1-5 Bus/Ag .............. A 7 Opinion ........... A10 www.poseycountynews.com