T
P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Volume 137 Edition 43
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
$1.00
New Posey County jail up, running
Jailer Jay Idler shows the many observation angles to project manager Joe Mattingly during Sunday’s move of prisoners from the old facility into the new Posey County Jail. Photo by Dave Pearce
By Dave Pearce
S
unday was moving day at the Posey County Jail. A lot of planning goes into a move. For any of us who have ever moved, we know how a plan all has to come together. Now, imagine the planning it must have taken Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth and his staff, being responsible for the moving of nearly 90 convicts from one building to another. The move happened Sunday. The prisoners who had been housed at the old Posey County Jail learned about 15 minutes before the move that everything was ready and that in just a matter of minutes, they
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Posey County Chief Deputy Sheriff Tom Latham looks over the shoulder of jailer Jay Idler as he keeps and eye on prisoners checking out their new digs on Sunday at the Posey County Jail. Trinity Becker gets a pat on the back from Sheriff Greg Oeth as she helped orchestrate the move of much of the office and communication system. Photo by Dave Pearce
MSDMV adopts 2018 budget Board member, Mark Isaac joins meeting remotely By Lois Mittino Gray The October 16, meeting of the Mount Vernon School Board went hightech when Board Member Mark Isaac participated via Skype from a remote locale in Illinois, so he could listen to business and cast his votes. However, on a humorous note, an unexpected fire drill in the middle of the meeting left his visage looking more than a little confused as everyone walked out on him to go to a safe place. School Superintendent Tom Kopatich herded everyone back inside when it was found that a 4-year-old boy accidentally hit the alarm near the swimming pool. After working through all the steps since July, the 2018 budget was adopted at the meeting as advertised. The total is $28,144,327.00. Breaking that number down into individual funds is: General Fund is set at $14,509,594. Debt Service Fund is at
Briefly Trick or Treating: October 25, from 3 - 5 p.m. New Harmony Businesses Ham and Turkey Dinner/Auction: Savah Community October 28, 5 p.m. Savah Community Center Annual Make It, Bake It, Fake It Auction and Dinner: Elks Lodge November 4, 6 p.m. 131 East Fourth Street, MV Card Party: St. Philip Ladies Club November 8, 6 p.m. St. Philip Gymnasium, MV Town Clean-up Day: October 27 New Harmony
More information on these and other events inside today’s Posey County News
(USPS 439-500)
County council tackles communications system By Theresa Bratcher Several area first responders were on hand on Tuesday at the monthly meeting of the Posey County Council and went on record to show their support for an update of the radio communications in Posey County. Those speaking included representatives from the Posey County Sheriff’s Department, the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Poseyville Police Department, and various representatives from area volunteer fire departments. Posey County Commissioner and Black Township Fire Chief Jay Price
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School Board Member Kathy Weinzapfel (left) talks with School Board President Beth McFadin Higgins as Mark Isaac listens in on Skype. He was in Illinois and attended the meeting in the new high tech way. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray 3,647,321. Capital Projects Fund is set for 6,663,472. Transportation Fund is at 2,243,507. School Bus Replacement Fund is $305,433 and the Rainy Day Fund is $775,000. Dr. Kopatich explained that now the budget has been adopted without oral
or written comments from the public, it will be sent to the state and put into the Gateway system with all the proper signatures. The public may view it there on the DOE site. A local field
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Poseyville toys with idea of new ATV, UTV ordinance By Dave Pearce Residents of Poseyville and the immediate surrounding area are likely to be under the affect of a decision that will be made regarding ATVs and UTVs during an upcoming Poseyville Town Council meeting. The board met Wednesday, October 11, at 4:30 p.m. at the Poseyville Town Hall
meeting room. Currently, ATVs, UTVs, and OTVs are illegal, by state statue, to be driven in Poseyville., according to Town Marshal Charles Carter. County law has given approval for the vehicles to be driven on county roads.
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Board of Works paves way for home demolition By Lois Mittino Gray One more blighted home will bite the dust with action taken at the October 12, meeting of the Mount Vernon Board of Works. Two quotes were submitted to ClerkTreasurer Christi Sitzman for the demolition of 137 West Ninth Street. The first quote she opened at the meeting was from Naas & Son, LLC, in the amount of $7,600.00. The other was from O’Risky Excavating, for $13,475.00. Mayor Bill Curtis commented, “That’s quite a difference.” The board awarded the demolition contract to the low bidder of Naas & Son, pending legal review. Naas has won 33 out of 36 contracts to raze homes through the Blight Elimination Project (BEP). Building Commissioner Sheri Willis was asked how many homes were still left to do on this year’s calendar. She replied that there are three total in the county as the “money all comes out of the same pot.” One is in Griffin, one in Cynthiana, and the one on Ninth Street. If there are any funds left after those, she has three more targeted for demolition. Board member Larry Williams said that Willis has done a great job on this and he’s heard many positive comments.
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Representative Larry Buschon answered questions from senior government student Jalen Josey on environmental issues Wednesday morning at Mount Vernon High School. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray
Buschon pays visit to Mount Vernon Congressman answers questions from students By Lois Mittino Gray There were no citizens waving placards and shouting loud questions at Congressman Larry Buschon when he spoke his mind on many
current issues Wednesday morning in Mount Vernon. Instead, Mount Vernon High School seniors in Tim Alcorn’s government classes lined up politely at the microphone in the PAC auditorium to ask carefully-constructed questions in a relaxed dialogue with the students.
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