Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1882
“OUR LIBERTIES WE PRIZE, AND OUR RIGHTS WE WILL MAINTAIN.” Posey County’s ONLY Locally Owned Newspaper.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
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(USPS S4 439-500) 39 500)) Volume 136 Edition 4
Southwind Port shatters record Special to the News The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon set a new annual shipping record in 2015 by handling over 6.6 million tons for the first time in its 40-year history. This was a 36-percent increase over 2014 and 30 percent higher than the previous record set in 1994. In addition to the record volume, it was also the highest annual increase in total tons handled at the port. “The credit for the record volume rightfully goes to our world-class port companies, without them we would not be enjoying the success we have today,” said Port Director Phil Wilzbacher. “By utilizing our port’s multimodal connections, these companies can choose the most cost-effective logistics routes, grow their business and create commerce that extends well beyond southwest Indiana and the Midwest.” Shipments of coal, agricultural products, steel as well as other bulk commodities helped drive the year’s significant increase in cargo volume. The port handled its highest steel shipments ever in 2015 nearly doubling the tonnage from 2014, while salt shipments resulted in a five-fold increase. The year also saw increases in the following commodities: ethanol (up 105 percent), coal (up 82 percent), dried distillers grain (up 64 percent), cement (up 17 percent) and limestone (up 52 percent). For the year, the port handled approximately 3,600 barges, 37,000 rail cars and 160,000 trucks. “This port is one of the busiest transportation hubs
in this part of the country,” said Wilzbacher. “To put this into perspective, if all of the barges, rail cars and trucks handled at the port were placed end-to-end, they would stretch 2,300 miles, which is approximately the straight-line distance between Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.” The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon contributes over $1 billion in total economic activity per year and supports 7,200 total jobs. Port companies ship cargo to or from 44 states and 20 countries. Mount Vernon is ranked as the seventh largest port district on the Inland Waterways System. Located in southwestern Indiana approximately 15 miles west of Evansville, the port connects the Midwest to the world with year-round barge access to the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes through the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The port offers potential connections to five Class I railroads and has 600 acres available for development by companies that would benefit from its multimodal connections. About the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon opened in 1976 and is operated by Ports of Indiana, a statewide port authority managing three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. Established in 1961, the Ports Making the most of a snowy day, Mount Vernon sixth-grader Jackof Indiana is a self-funded enterprise dedicated to growing Indiana’s economy by developing and ie Reed and fifth-grader Taylor Randel were all smiles before sledding maintaining a world-class port system. Information: down Hedge’s Hill on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Zach Straw portsofindiana.com.
NHFD sausage supper still draws a big crowd
John Taylor, executive director of Posey County Economic Development Partnership, recently awarded $500 to both North Elementary School and Farmersville Elementary schools for being named Blue Ribbon Schools. Pictured are, left to right, Dr. Todd Camp - Superintendent North Posey Schools, Angie Wannemuehler - Assist. Superintendent North Posey Schools, Geoff Gentile - North Posey School Board President, John Taylor - Executive Director of Posey County Economic Partnership, Dr. Tom Kopatich Superintendent of Mount Vernon Schools, Dr. Elizabeth Johns - Principal Farmersville Elementary, and Mark Isaac - Mount Vernon School Board President.
Unity evades new NH Town Council By Valerie Werkmeister A new year, a new council, a new town marshal, a new president and new meeting schedules generates much discussion for the Town of New Harmony – and not all of it was positive. New council members Gary
Watson, Alvin Blaylock, Roger Wade and David Flanders met for their first official meeting of the new year last Thursday, January 21. Veteran member Don Gibbs was absent. After brief department reports given by a few of the council-
Briefly Meet Your Legislators February 6 On Saturday, February, 2016 the Southwest Indiana Chamber – Posey County Alliance will host Meet Your Legislators. The event featuring Rep. Wendy McNamara, Rep. Tom Washburne and Sen. Jim Tomes provides the community with an opportunity to meet with elected leaders to discuss projects, initiatives, and accomplishments, as well as any potential challenges facing the community and legislators. This event will take place at the Hovey House in Mount Vernon, 9 a.m. Questions? Contact Brittaney Johnson 812-838-3639. City Time capsule to be opened January 30 The Mount Vernon Bicentennial will have its first event for 2016 when the city time capsule will be opened, after being buried in the ground at the old City Hall building since 1991, on Saturday, January 30 at 1 p.m. at the new Police and Fire Station on College Avenue and Fourth Street. The capsule will have items from the 1916, 1966 and 1991 celebrations. Twenty-five years ago the time capsule was full of water, the committee is hopeful that it won’t happen this time. There will be light refreshments also to kick off the celebration. Everyone is invited. For more information call Chairperson Becky Higgins at 812-204-7388. PC Health Department to hold immunization clinics The Posey County Health Department will hold immunization clinics at the Coliseum, Room 20, in Mount Vernon, Ind., from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. on the following days: Thursday, February 11, 2016 and Thursday, February 25, 2016. Appointments are not needed for these clinics. For questions, contact the Health Department at 812-838-1328. MSDMV sets Kindergarten Registration for February 10 On Wednesday, February 10, 2016, the Metropolitan School District of Mount Vernon will be conducting Kindergarten Registration. Full-day Kindergarten is offered in all three elementary schools. (If school is canceled or delayed on February 10, the make-up date is February 17.) Children whose fifth birth date occurs on or before August 1 may enroll in Kindergarten. You will need your child’s birth certificate and a current copy of his/her immunization history to complete enrollment information. To register, please go to your child’s elementary school on February 10, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Each elementary principal will be available from 9-10 a.m. on February 10 to answer questions and give a short tour of the building. If you have any questions, please call your child’s school. Farmersville Elementary School 812-838-6593; Marrs Elementary School; 812-985-2082; West Elementary School 812-8332072. Kiwanis Spaghetti Supper scheduled for February 2 The annual Kiwanis All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Supper will be held February 2, 2016 from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Catholic Community Center in New Harmony. Adults $10; children up to 12 years $5; under six eat free. The menu will consist of Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, ice cream and drinks. Tickets available at the door.
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man, the first order of business was to elect a president. Flanders nominated himself for the position. Wade nominated Blaylock who then turned around and nominated Wade. When called for a vote, Flanders voted for himself, but failed to reach a majority. Blaylock received two votes, from Watson and Wade. In turn, Blaylock was the only one to vote for Wade. Believing Blaylock to be the winner, they continued the meeting until attorney Jeff Ahlers interjected a few minutes later. He stated, “Mr. Blaylock, could we back up? I think we probably want to clarify the record, in terms
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Story and Photo by Brooke Simpson The New Harmony Volunteer Fire Department hosted its annual Sausage and Bean supper Saturday evening on January 23, 2016. This fundraiser/dinner dates back into the 1960s, and has several individuals that have not missed a year since its inception. Now held at the Posey County 4-H Fairgrounds, it was previously held at the Holy Angel Catholic Community Center in New Harmony Ind. When the dinner was started years ago it was set forth as a fundraiser for the department. Funds from the event helped them purchase anything they might need. In recent years the department has been able to purchase air packs, walkie-talkies, and turn out gear. Many of the original founders of the dinner have since passed on. The history of the dinner is now remembered from the community members who have enjoyed the it over the years. Gary Gerard was in the mix of original founders and his name was mentioned several times when asked about the history of this ever growing tradition. The Sausage and Bean Supper is still a fundraiser with this year’s attendance ranging from 400500 people. With a thick German heritage in the Posey County area there is a feeling that the menu of sausage, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, cornbread, white beans and ham seem to fit the tastebuds of those in attendance. New Harmony resident Charlie Huck said, “It’s just good food, and this
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Donald and Carolyn Stone at the sausage supper.
Jane Blaffer Owen sanctuary thrives By Lois Mittino Gray When Jane Blaffer Owen married in New Harmony in 1941, her bridesmaids wore dresses of white, pink and lavender. To honor that memory, Kent Schuette designed two processional gardens with petunias in those colors that brides will walk past on the way to the altar of the Roofless Church. “When the big golden gates are opened
and brides begin their walk down the aisle, those flowers will look so pretty. Jane would have loved them,” Schuette told members of the New Harmony Garden Club. “We will change the flowers with the season, too.” Schuette, a Landscape Architecture professor at Purdue University, spoke to the club at its Saturday, January 9 meeting held at
New Harmony Garden Club speaker Kent Scheutte enjoyed meeting Sue Fuhrman from Christmas Lake Village. She is the Southwest district Director for Indiana Garden Clubs and came to hear his update on the Jane Blaffer Owen Sanctuary. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray
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the Workingmen’s Institute. He is Director of the Jane Blaffer Owen Sanctuary, an arm of the Robert Lee Blaffer Trust, and gave an update as to how much his work team has accomplished on three main projects in the past year. “We have made a lot of progress in a year. The Sanctuary project was formally adopted in May, 2014 by the Trust and Carol’s Garden was the first real project that launched the Sanctuary,” he said. “It was in dire straits and we removed many of those old large Bradford Pear trees. This year family members contributed the money to put in 28 professionally done smaller Bradford Pear. Two thousand Stained Glass Hostas are planted in the center and outer rings of the garden along with two thousand Virginia Bluebells and 1500 Vinca plants. It will be beautiful this spring.” Sun resistant Hosta and daffodils were planted along the outside fence of the garden which is located across North Street from the Roofless Church. Carol’s Garden with its Fountain of Life was established
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