T
P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Volume 139 Edition 5
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
$1.00
Annual MSDMV report card includes surprise By Lois Mittino Gray When the Mount Vernon School Corporation received its annual “report card” from the state in December, there was a surprise on it. Marrs and West Elementary Schools received an “A” grade from the state, while Farmersville Elementary School was given a “B” grade. This was shocking to school officials since Farmersville has been designated a National Blue Ribbon School and has made an “A” rating for several years in a row. Kyle Jones, Mount Vernon School Corporation Director of Curriculum, Grants, and Testing, spoke at the December 17 school board meeting to discuss the report and speak to the Farmersville quandary. “About five years ago, about the time I first started in this position, the State of Indiana
changed how it does testing analysis and ratings to not only reflect performance on the tests, but also to analyze the growth of the students from year to year. Farmersville students scored so high in the past, it’s difficult to grow. It’s very hard to show high growth for two years in a row. It’s just so very hard to do, when you do so well, it’s hard to go up,” he noted. School Superintendent Dr. Tom Kopatich discussed why the Indiana Department of Education changed scoring formulas years ago. Formerly, scores were based on performance alone and numbers were set for passing ISTEP tests or not passing. A higher score number was set to receive the “pass
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New MV water meters ordered By Lois Mittino Gray Mount Vernon’s water meter woes will be over as soon as the 1,000 new Kamstrup water meters arrive in two to three weeks to begin placement around the city. The Mount Vernon Common Council, acting as the Water Utility Board, approved the purchase at the January 17, meeting. At the last meeting Utilities Superintendent Chuck Gray told the water board that over 500 meters currently in use are failing. They are no longer in warranty and he cannot get replacement parts for them. He was asked to get information on pricing on new meters for this meeting. Gray reported he can get a price break on 200 for $225 each. After discussion on
numbers to order, Gray said he could use at least 700 of them right now, and possibly up to 1,000 for total replacement. Board Member Larry Williams remarked he would like Superintendent Gray to get all he needs now and get the replacement finished. “Failing meters mean either a loss of revenue to the department or gouging of the customer, depending on the estimate. Let’s get the job done,” he said. The other Utility Board members agreed, if the money is there. Board Member Mark Clements asked if Gray has that kind of money in his budget and Gray replied in the affirmative. Mayor Bill Curtis asked Gray to check on a price
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North Posey High School seniors Shane Harris and Addison Elpers were crowned basketball homecoming king and queen between games on Friday night. The Vikings challenged a big and talented Princeton squad but came up short. Photo by Dave Pearce
Drug arrest made here
Rodney Clark received the Volunteer of the Year award at the United Way annual meeting held January 17, 2019 at the Alexandrian Public Library in Mount Vernon. Presenting him the award are, l to r: Angela Wannemuehler, Gretchen Mansfield, Clark, Phillip Wells, and Marsha Yurks. For more pictures and information see story on Page A5. Photo by Theresa Bratcher
Knowles is new E- 911 director By Lois Mittino Gray Posey County Treasurer Vicki Peerman really knows how to balance a big checkbook. She gave her report of county bank account balances and county investment income at the Annual Board of Finance Meeting which was part of the Posey County Commission January 22, meeting at the Hovey House. Peerman, who sees herself as the “safe” for the county’s money, shops around for the best investment and interest income for the county taxpay- Jason Knowles er’s funds. As a result, she has switched the county’s main operating ten million dollar checking fund over to United Fidelity Bank. “It used to be primarily in Old National, but United Fidelity was willing to pay us interest on our money deposited there. It is my responsibility to get the best rates for our citizens,” she explained. Her report of cash bank account balances as recorded on cash book as of December 31, 2018 is:
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Special to the News tested where the deputies received Posey County Sheriff Tom Latham confirmation. Deputies also located said on January 25, 2018, at around 50 Xanax pills and several other pre7 a.m., deputies and medical person- scription pills inside the vehicle the nel were dispatched to Frankie J’s vehicle. gas station in Wadesville Alsman was taken in reference to a male into custody, transportperson passed out in a ed and booked into the vehicle. During the inPosey County Jail for vestigation, the 37-yearDealing methamphetold male, Tommy Joe amine (level 2 felony), Alsman of Washington, Possession of methamInd., was searched and phetamine (level 4 feldeputies located drug parony), 2 counts of Posaphernalia on his person. Tommy Joe Alsman session of controlled During an inventory substance (level 6 felosearch of Alsman’s vehicle, depu- nies) and Possession of paraphernalia ties discovered more drug parapher- (class A misdemeanor). nalia and approximately 19.0 grams Alsman is currently being held of suspected crystal methamphet- without bond due to the level 2 dealamine. The crystal meth was field ing in Methamphetamine count.
Retired sheriff remains active Cox has seen many changes since his two 8-year stints By Pam Robinson Retired Posey County Sheriff Bill Cox admits he was born to be “a lover, not a fighter.” Early on, the 87-year-old Savah native preferred negotiation to confrontation. He often talked people through situations—even as he handcuffed them. He recalls an arrest early in his law enforcement career when he served three years on the Ann Arbor, Mich., police force (the only time he lived outside Posey County). A young husband and father, he “walked the beat” every evening to check security in the businesses on the streets assigned to his watch. One night, he warned a loafer to avoid arrest, go home, and sleep off his drunk. When Cox rounded the street again, the man had gone nowhere. Cox reminded the man about their earlier conversation before preparing to walk him to the station. As the small-statured Cox reached for his handcuffs, the towering man wheeled around, and Cox thought for sure he’d be struck. Instead, the man surrendered, talking all the way to the station. “I gained a lot of experience on that beat,” Cox says. The experience proved a great benefit in his role as Posey County Sheriff. He served the county first from 1971-1979 in the maximum two terms allowed. He took a break for eight years then, still serving four of those years as Chief Deputy Sheriff. Afterward, he returned to serve as Posey County Sheriff two more terms, retiring in 1994. Cox has witnessed tremendous change in jail facilities and practices from 1971 to the present.
The Golden Years
Retired Posey County Sheriff Bill Cox In 1971, he, his wife, and their four children moved into the jail on Mill Street (since demolished) and established their living quarters there to do the job. “It was quite a change from life on Davis Drive,” Cox states and grins. For one thing, a smell lingered in the building no matter how many times the inmates scrubbed the floors and walls. Cox’s starting pay was around $29,000 per year, he recalls, and in her role as cook, his wife prepared three square meals a day for the inmates and earned $300 per month. Fortunately, Cox was a Sunoco distributor and could supplement his income.
He took care of the “jail commissary” also with trips to the grocery store to buy cigarettes and candy for inmates with money on account. That job was the least of his concerns. He and only two deputies were the gatekeepers of the county in the sheriff’s department. When he returned to the sheriff’s post in the 1980s, Cox moved into the new jail on O’Donnell Road at the site of the newly renovated jail now. He recalls fresh paint would turn yellow there in six months before smoking was banned. Yet, he was proud of the facility he had helped plan in his first two terms as sheriff. He now had his own office, and he turned a small conference room into a makeshift commissary. A typical day was followed by late night dispatch calls, say, to a wreck. Cox would leave his home to answer these calls. He and three deputies served the sheriff’s department in the 1980s, he notes to log the miles in Posey County. “It was a hard life,” he acknowledges, “but I loved every minute of it.” When the renovated jail was dedicated last year, the sheriff’s department invited retired Sheriff Bill Cox to cut the ribbon. He slipped away from the hospital a few hours to participate in this proud moment. He appreciates the new commissary at the jail now. More important, he notes the tightened security for jail visitation and court appearances. Department personnel are trained better today also, Cox observes. He believes in the required
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