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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.” Tuesday, October 14, 2014
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Volume 134 Edition 41
Three Red Geranium employees to face drug dealing charges By Dave Pearce arrest warrants Three Red following the Geranium Enundercover terprises emoperation in ployees, all who which the Posey reside in Illinois, County Drug were arrested on Task Force conFriday, Oct. 10, ducted under2014, as the recover drug buy sult of an invesoperations. tigation by the According Posey County Joshua D. Egbert Misti D. Egbert Anthony W. Knight to information Drug Task Force. included in the its task force executed three arrest Arrested were Joshua Egbert, warrants as a result of the initiative Probable Cause Affidavit, the three age 32 of Carmi, Ill., Misty D, and a fourth, as a by-product. were arrested as the result of unEgbert, age 36, also of Carmi, Ill., According to officials, after the dercover drug buys that had taken and Anthony W. Knight, age 44, meth was brought in from Illinois place on the premises of The Red of Grayville, Ill. All were arrested to Indiana, it was then allegedly be- Geranium Enterprises. at their place of employment in ing sold to persons in Posey CounContinued on Page A14 New Harmony. All three were ar- ty. The drug task force obtained rested on charges of Dealing Methamphetamine Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine. At the time of his arrest, Joshua Egbert was also found in possession of approximately three small baggies containBy Dave Pearce Posey County-Drug Task Force ing methamphetamine. A Mount Vernon man was arofficials obtained an arrest warrant In June of this year, the Posey County Drug Task Force initiated rested this week as the result of an for Burglary for Jordan K. Austin, of Mount Vernon. The Operation: ‘RIVER CROSSING.’ investigation into the drug task force had asThe operation focused on the trans- 2012 burglary of Chris’ sisted in the-burglary portation of methamphetamine Pharmacy in New Harmony. Jordan K. Ausinvestigation of the from southern Illinois to Posey New Harmony pharCounty by individuals who lived in tin, 26, of 300 Pearl macy which was broIllinois but worked at a New Har- Street, Mount Vernon, was taken into custody ken into in December mony Business. of 2012. At that time But on Friday morning, person- as a by-product of Operation River Crossing over $1,300 worth of nel of the Posey County Drug Task pseudoephedrine pills Force, Posey County Sheriff’s De- which culminated in were stolen. Pseupartment, New Harmony Police three arrests at Red Geranium Enterprises in doephedrine is used Jordan K. Austin Department, Mount Vernon Police Department and the FBI and New Harmony on Friday Continued on Page A14 morning.
Red Geranium Enterprises manager Anthony Knight of Grayville is handcuffed by Posey County Deputy Sheriff Matt Henrich as a result of Operation River Crossing, an undercover drug investigation of Posey County Law Enforcement. Photo by Dave Pearce
Arrest in 2012 pharmacy break-in is made, as well
Red Geranium employee Misti Egbert is led to an awaiting police car by Posey County Sheriff Deputy’s Beth LaVey and Josh Brock after she was arrested and faces drug charges at the New Harmony establishment on Friday morning. Photo by Dave Pearce
Public hearing on school supt. quiet, some packages are OK’d By Lois Mittino Gray Two public hearings on financial matters were the keynotes of the October 6 Mount Vernon School Board meeting. School Board President Beth McFadin Higgins called the public hearings on the 2015 budget and school superintendent’s contract to order as required by state statute. Citizens were given the opportunity to comment on both topics as advertised in newspapers on September 1. No comments were received either by phone
or publicly at the hearings on either subject. One hearing was held to discuss changes to the employment contract for Dr. Tom Kopatich, Superintendent of Schools. His current contract salary is $95,780 for 255 contract days. The daily rate is $375.61. His 401(a) contribution is 2.5 percent of his salary, the insurance contribution is $10,818.12 and life insurance face value is $150,000. He is allowed 20 vacation days and 20 leave days. The proposed amendment to his con-
tract includes a 7.97 percent salary increase with five additional contract days of work. Higgins noted there were no comments made and put it on next meeting’s agenda as an action item. As for the budget hearing, the tax rate for 2015 was advertised at $1.22, but is projected to be about 75 cents in actuality. The rates are advertised as the high maximum that can be spent based on changes and needs of the district.
The tax levy summary was advertised high at $12,287,350, but the figure is projected to be $11,177,350. The total budget estimate is $27,816,401 which is the total for all seven funds. The next step is to adopt the budget at the October 20 meeting. In other board action: •The board approved wage and benefit packages for the classified employees and
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Mount Vernon roads to be closed as railroad repairs are made By Lois Mittino Gray Members of the Mount Vernon Board of Public Works were elated to hear that the city is getting a ‘twofer’ deal on repair of railroad crossings. Robbie Buchanan, Vice-President and General Manager of the Evansville Western Railroad, appeared before the board at the October 2 meeting to tell members about his plans for double duty. “Today the 9,000 pound panels for the railroad crossings arrived and we are going to start with the crossing on West
Fourth Street on October 20,” he explained. “And while I have the big tamper equipment here to do it, I will also do the crossing at Lower New Harmony Road in the same week”. Buchanan said that although the current Fourth Street crossing gave out after only three years, he is putting in a new one like he put in at Paducah and several other locations and they have lasted fifteen years. He plans to dig out the old bed, pack sand in it and six inches of asphalt, and
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Parkinson’s Walk hits close to home
Hoosier Salon announces new exhibit to open October 17 A new exhibit opens Friday, October 17, at the Hoosier Salon New Harmony Gallery, 507 Church Street. Indiana artists Roy Boswell, Troy Kilgore and Wyatt LeGrand will be featured. The exhibit, which runs through November 20, is sponsored by John and Marilyn Israel of Evansville. A public reception for the artists will be held on Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. The Hoosier Salon New Harmony Gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Maggie Rapp at 812-459-9851 or maggierapp@sbcglobal.net. Inaugural New Harmony Golf Cart Poker Run scheduled Carts Gone Wild of Haubstadt, Ind., will sponsor the inaugural New Harmony Golf Cart Poker Run in New Harmony on Saturday, October 25 with proceeds from the event going to the New Harmony Food Pantry. First card draw at the Park. Registration from 12-1:30 p.m., carts out at 2 p.m., $10 per person. For more information call 812-615-5050. Call Wilson Auction Realty 812-682-4000 for cart rental if needed. Drug-Free Posey County holds inaugural event The inaugural Posey County Trick or Treat Dash will be held October 18, 2014 at 10 a.m. at Brittlebank Park. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Cost for the 5K walk/fun run and 1K Trick or Treat for kids is $15 before October 1, $20 after that date. Kids seven-12 $1, Kids 13-17 $5. There will be a dunking booth, costume contest and silent auction. To register visit Facebook.com/drugfreeposeycounty. The first 100 to pre-register are guaranteed a t-shirt. Proceeds to benefit Promoting a Drug-Free community in Posey County, Inc. Historical Society offers Bicentennial Coin It was 200 years ago that Posey County, Indiana came into existence, and the Posey County Historical Society wants to mark this important occasion with a Bicentennial Coin that will be made available in limited supply. The Society has had only 500 die-struck bronze coins produced. When they are gone, there will be no more. Pre-orders are now being taken for the coins, which will be available on Saturday, November 1 when the Historical Society will host a Birthday Celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Athaneum in New Harmony. Pre-orders may be placed with Becky Higgins at Printcrafters, 304 West Fourth Street in Mount Vernon. The coins are $10 each ($12, if mailing is required.)
Retrospective ...... A 4 Legals ...................B 6 Classifieds ........ B 7 - 8 Community ......... A 5
blacktop up to it with a very heavy covering. INDOT will dictate the detour to take around Fourth Street and the board approved a motion to close the Lower New Harmony Road crossing on October 23-24, possibly into October 25. Each repair was estimated to take about two days. “I appreciate your patience with it,” he told the board.
By Lois Mittino Gray “We do it for the love of our daddy,” said Janice Carr with a shake of her head. “He was such a big strong man while we were growing up. All the money we collect from this walk goes directly to fund research for the disease.” Janice and her sister, Linda Juncker, are active players in the ‘Stomp Out Parkinson’s Disease Unity Walk’ held annually to raise money to learn more about the debilitating disease that took over their father’s body about fourteen years ago. Janice first attended a Unity Walk about eight years ago and has been actively involved as a co-chairman every year since. This year’s walk is slated for Saturday, October 18 on the grounds of the Solarbron Retirement Community, located on Evansville’s West Side near the USI campus. The two mile walk consists of a one mile loop around the perimeter walked twice. The registration booth opens at 8 a.m. with awards presented at 10:30 am. The registration fee is $15 per walker and the fee can be designated in honor of a Parkinson’s patient. The ladies’ father, Allen ‘Bump’ McGennis, 76, had the most attendees walking in his honor. Kathy McMurray of Evansville had the most contributions in her honor. Awards are given for the most money raised the person with the most designated walkers there, and the oldest and youngest participant. The walk is a fun-filled family affair with free breakfast and other goodies for attendees, face painting, kid games, contests and visits with friends. Mr. McGennis and his wife of 58 years, Loyce, will be there watching children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren walk the route or ride in a little red wagon. Loyce walks a little bit herself and then visits with everyone. Allen good-naturedly joked that, “if you don’t want to walk, you could always go skinny dipping in the lake.” Mr. McGennis tries to see the humor in things, al-
Deaths .............. ...A3 Church ................ A 7 Social .................. A 6 School ................. A 8
Loyce McGennis, Janice Carr and Allen McGennis. Photo submitted though he says he is in pain every day. “My motto is that every day I’m here is a good day, but some days are better than others.” He is visibly affected with nerve tremors in his lower jaw and hands which he first noticed coming on while shaving. It is difficult to eat, shave, and dress himself and he can get around with a cane, but tires easily. Loyce, also called Beep or Nana, is his devoted caretaker, as well as the grandchildren who love to help her with his care. He feels the hardest part of his disease is living with the fact that he can’t do things around the house or farm anymore as before. The McGennis’ have a large homestead on Indiana 69 near SABIC and used to raise cattle, show horses, and pigs and grow beans, milo and corn. They still have
Sports ............... B 1 - 5 Bus/Ag .............. A 1 3 Opinion ............. A 1 2 TV Guide........ A9-10
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