“Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.”
(USPS 439-500)
Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Posey County’s locally-owned newspaper
$1.00
Volume 133 Edition 2
Three perish in Mount Vernon house f re By Dave Pearce Less than two weeks ago, the Robb family in Mount Vernon was hustling and bustllng around the Mulberry Street home in Mount Vernon putting the final touches on the Christmas tree. The youngsters were all excited about the joy and the gifts the Christmas holiday would bring. The stocking were hung and the family was ready for the holiday. But now, only 10 days later, this year’s Christmas and every one from now on might just as well have been a century ago because the holidays will never be the same. Almost before the wrapping paper and the New Year’s celebration could be completed, a house fire has claimed the lives of three young members of the family. According to Posey County Coroner Jay Price, who was also wearing the hat of the Black Township Mount Vernon Firemen take a break in the cold temperatures after battling a Fire Chief early Friday morning, Photo by Zach Straw. See more of this set on our Facebook page. the call came to central dispatch at around 12:23 that a home was on The three who died in the blaze were Amanda Robb, 27; fire at 1129 North Mulberry Street in Mount Vernon. her 5-year-old daughter Aubrey Robb and Bailey Robb, a Eight people were inside a Mount 15-year-old male cousin. All three Vernon home when it caught fire on were asleep on the second floor of Friday. Five of them made it out; the home. three did not. All the people in the house were Mount Vernon Fire Chief Wes related, Dixon said. Among those Dixon said the house at 1129 Mulwho escaped the flames were two berry St. already was full of flame small children. One man jumped when firefighters arrived. The from a second- story window, Mount Vernon Fire Department while another was rescued by firewas first on the scene. fighters. Both were taken to an Bailey Robb Aubrey Robb According to Dixon, fire crews Evansville hospital for treatment. were met with heavy fire conditions Their injuries were not considered on the first floor and extending into the second floor of the life-threatening, Dixon said. Names of others in the house home of the eight occupants of the home, four were able to were not released. exit the structure and one was rescued by firefighters after he Investigators from Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office jumped from a second-story window. He was transported to a were on scene Friday morning and ruled the fire accidental, local hospital via the Posey County EMS. The gentleman who Dixon said. He added it likely started in or near a clothes was pulled from the structure by the fire department was later dryer inside the home. flown to a burn center in Indianapolis, according to Price. “I know the fire started in or around the dryer,” Price said.
three-fatalilty fire for most of the night on Friday night. “I’m not sure exactly what conclusion he will come to.” Units from the Black Township Fire Department also responded to the call. The Red Cross is assisting the surviving members of the Robb family. The First Marshal’s office and the Mount Vernon Fire Department also assisted with traffic control. Price indicated that autopsies reveled that the cause of death on all three victims was smoke inhalation and the deaths were ruled Amanda Robb accidental. Price was not certain as to whether or not smoke detectors were present in the home but wanted to take this opportunity to remind residents that smoke detectors do save lives. “At the fire departments, we preach that smoke detectors save lives and you should always check the batteries in your smoke detectors to make sure they are functional.” Price concluded.
Mount Vernon’s Higgins is a hit at Rose Bowl Parade By Dave Pearce Life is full of choices. Generally speaking, our measure of success in life is based on our choices. After having played the trombone for seven years, Mount Vernon High School band member and drum major Andrew Higgins is quietly confident in his abilities. Playing music is about having the opportunity to display his creative side. But when the opportunity came to try out for the Ball State University Music for All Summer Symposium, with encouragement from parents Brian and Beth, he decided to give it a try. Although Higgins was confident in his ability to have a spot in the band, he knew going in that all he could do was try his hardest and it would be up to someone else as to whether or not he had the position. News came that he had made the band and then, just a little later, it was his mother who had seen they were having drum major tryouts. Admitting he’s a little nervous, he went to the Summer Symposium and with his experience as the Mount Vernon High School drum major, Higgins said he was speechless when he was the first musician selected to be a drum major in the New Year’s Day Rose
Bowl Parade. Out of about 350 students, 18-year-old Higgins was the only one chosen at the Ball State University Music for All Summer Symposium to perform as a drum major for the Rose Bowl Honor Band in Pasadena, Calif. After an interview and audition process, Higgins was chosen for the position by George Parks Drum Major Academy staff and instructors. “The audition process was pretty hard for drum major and when they called my name ... I was speechless,” he said. “I almost felt like crying, but I was so happy and excited that I’d get to perform with some of the greatest musicians in America that are my age.” Higgins is the drum major for the Mount Vernon Senior High School Marching Band. Band director Cory Mullins said Higgins may not be the first band student from Mount Vernon to perform in the parade, but he is part of a small list and most likely the first to be selected as drum major. “It is always very rewarding to see one of your students excel and have the honor to be apart of such prestigious opportunities,” Mullins said. And although Higgins is appreciative of
the help that Mullins has given him, he indicates that his real ambition came from long-time Mount Vernon band director Scott Dallas. Higgins said he wants to emulate Dallas and wants to attend Ball State University and participate in the marching band during his freshman year. He will possibility consider giving the drum major a second look at the end of his first year. Eventually, he wants to graduate and become a band director. But the 3.8 honors student at Mount Vernon believes that the school’s fine arts program is a big reason for his success. “Mount Vernon High School is a great place to attend school and fosters your desires to succeed in the fine arts area,” Higgins said. Choosing to be involved primarily in band has not been automatic, Higgins has enjoyed a degree of success on the Mount Vernon High School golf team. But faced with a decision to choose one over the other, he indicated that he would take the trombone, although there are similarities between the two.
Continued on Page A4
Mount Vernon High School senior Andrew Higgins displays the uniform he wore while being drum major in the Rose Bowl Parade.
Mount Vernon City Hall makes annual appointments At the December 27, 2012 meeting of the Mount Vernon City Council, Mayor John Tucker announced the following appointments for 2013: Police & Dog Chairwoman-Council member Becky Higgins Fire Chairwoman-Council member Sue Shelton Sewer Chairman-Council member Steve Fuelling Street & Light Chairman-Council member Andy Hoehn Water Chairman-Council member Bill Curtis Area Plan Commission-Council member Andy Hoehn Solid Waste Management Council memberSteve Fuelling City Attorney-Beth McFadin Higgins Board of Works-Council members Steve Fuelling and Bill Curtis Council then voted to appoint council member Bill Curtis as Mayor Pro Tem. In other business conducted December 27, 2012: •Council approved the Resolution to Transfer (numbered 12-26) that allows for transfers within budgets to be certain that all major categories in the budgets did not go over for the year. •Council approved on second and third readings the ordinance updating fair housing practices as required by the federal government to continue applying for federal grant money. Once again, council member Andy Hoehn stood alone in voting ‘no’ to the ordinance (numbered 12-27). •Council approved the Resolution of Loan Forgiveness (numbered 12-28). The resolution forgives the entire
ThePCN
payback of the two temporary loans made to the General Fund and to Parks and Recreation, leaving the estimated year end balance in EDIT at $730,000 and in Rainy Day at $93,000. •Council received an ordinance from the Area Plan Commission on Dec. 27, 2012 and action on the ordinance was tabled until the next meeting to give council time to review it. Subject of the ordinance was uncertain. •Council member Bill Curtis announced that Kieffer was awarded the job on the bridge project east of town and the completion date is set for February 15, 2013. •When council met as the Water Utility Board, Bill Curtis reported that he and Steve Fuelling are in discussions with the street department and water department regarding a trade. The trade would include allowing Water Works to take over all of the street department property on W. 2nd Street and have a pole barn on Kimball with office space. Details are still being worked out, and more information will be provided the public later. The Mount Vernon City Council will meet again Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Annex. Once again in 2013, the Mount Vernon Relay for Life 5K Run/Walk has been approved by the Mount Vernon Board of Public Works and Safety. The race is scheduled for Saturday, March 2. This year, the route has been moved to the historic area of town, starting and finishing at the Elks Lodge: down E. 5th to Harriet to E. 6th to Locust to L & N Street, then Fairview to E. 10th to Harriet over to E. 6th to Everett to E. 5th. Students along with members
Inside this issue... Retrospective ................... A4 Community ........... A5 Social ...................... A6 Legals ............................ B7-8 Deaths ................ A3 Sports .................. B1-4 Classifieds ..................... B5-6 Church .................. A6 Bus/Ag .................... A7
of the Elks Lodge will be blocking the intersections from 8 to 11 a.m. on race day The Mount Vernon Street Department will supply barricades, and the Mount Vernon Police and Fire departments will lead participants and bring up the rear. In other business conducted Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012: •The board accepted the lowest responsive, responsible bidders on 2013 supplies: chemicals will be supplied by Brenntag, the only bidder in this category; paving will be supplied by J.H. Rudolph, the only bidder in this category; and temporary employees will be supplied by Spartan Staffing, the only bidder in this category. •The board accepted a letter from Brenntag asking to rescind their bid on the PAC only since it did not meet specifications. •Street Commissioner Roy Maynard congratulated staff for their good work in snow removal during his report to the board. He noted the work proceeded in spite of equipment trouble: the new salt spreader is not working, and the rear end just went out on the new dump truck. He added that local excavators were also contracted for extra snow removal and that the city has plenty of salt. •Commissioner Maynard also reported that piping replacement will be underway at the West Elementary Storm Water Project and that the sewer line on Sawmill will be replaced from Mrs. Benner’s all the way to the creek. The Mount Vernon Board of Public Works and Safety will meet again Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013 at 4 p.m. in the City Hall Annex.
Go to www.poseycountynews.com
457476310