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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 40
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
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Vehicle ordinance tabled Attorney asks for off-road exceptions By Lois Mittino Gray Members of the New Harmony Town Council were pleased to accept a check for $1600 at their September 19, monthly meeting. It was presented by Chris Laughbaum and Lynn Clark, of the New Harmony Business Associates, representing ten percent of the street vendor fees from the recent Kunstfest. Council Presi-
dent Alvin Blaylock thanked them for the check and expressed appreciation for the hard work the two ladies and all the volunteers put into the festival, including the local Boy Scout troop doing cleanup. In legal matters, the council adopted Ordinance 2017-5 which extends the sprinkling credit to October 31, giving residents a longer time to get water at re-
duced rates for gardening, car washing, and lawn watering before the warm season ends. Action on the other ordinance on the agenda (2017-6) was tabled until the next meeting, after a discussion brought up by a lawyer representing Erik Arneberg. The ordinance restricts off-road vehicle use in town. Attorney Raymond Dudlo asked, “What is it that caused this ordinance to
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Falconry event a site to behold By Lois Mittino Gray The first-time-ever falconry demonstration taking place as part of the Harmonie State Park Craft Fair turned into a heart-sinking drama, but with a happy ending, as about a hundred twenty people watched it in awe. Master Falconer Mark Hermann of Rockport told the crowd assembled in a field by the swimming pool that he was “hopeful” everything would go well during the demonstration. After all, you never know how a wild animal will react to a new situation
with so many people, even a well-trained one that hunts for his master. Hermann was more concerned about whether his beautiful Northern Goshawk named Zero would go for the simulated rabbit lure they were going to use. The bird was at a good “hungry” weight and should go for it when released off its leather straps called jesses. The bird of prey was taken on
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Kaydon Grimm enjoys visiting with Sparky during the Poseyville Fire Department open house on Sunday afternoon in Poseyville. The annual event drew its largest crowd ever this year. Photo by Dave Pearce
Creative community Local artist looks to bolster arts in Posey County
Boy Scout members, left to right, Jacob Wiley, Danner Latshaw, Curtis Pate, and Kainen Haggard perform the flag ceremony prior to the annual meeting of the New Harmony Scout Troop and its sponsor, the New Harmony Kiwanis Club. Photo by Dave Pearce
By Bryana Schreiber As Thomas Merton once said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Local artist and librarian Stanley Campbell has pursued his passion for art since his college years and created a career that has kept that passion alive and helped him build a community around art. This community of artists is something Campbell aims to strengthen in Posey County as he encourages others to embrace art as a means of expression, and invites people to join him not only for the programs and classes he leads at the
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New building for phosphorus project going up By Lois Mittino Gray The new building for the federally mandated Phosphorus Removal Project is taking shape at the Mount Vernon Sewage Treatment Plant. Members of the Mount Vernon Board of Works heard a report from Project Engineer Andy Sucharitakul of Lochmueller Engineering Group at its September 28, meeting. He
Briefly Blessing of the Animals: St. Stephen’s Episcopal October 4, 6 p.m. The Roofless Church, NH Stewartsville Chowder: Stewartsville UMC October 7, 4 p.m. 10060 Pumpkin Run Road, PV Make It, Fake It, Bake It: Post 5 Auxiliary October 7, 6:30 p.m. 203 Walnut Street, MV JFK Dinner: PC Democrats October 11, 6:30 p.m. MVSHS, MV Marrs Burgoo: Marrs Elementary School October 14, 4 p.m. 9201 Highway 62 E, MV Dinner Fundraiser: At The Cross Mission October 14, Noon - 4 p.m. 716 Locust St., Door 9, MV
More information on these and other events inside today’s Posey County News
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stated the walls are up and the trusses will be put in the next day. After inspection, Sucharitakul certified payment in the amount of $138,513.95 to Custom Mechanical Construction of Evansville. Mayor Bill Curtis added this payment will make up about one third of the entire project budget. Custom Mechanical was also hired to do an
additional project, since they are already on site there and had the lowest quote of $49,991.00. The firm will install new ceramic diffusers used in oxygen aeration. Utilities Superintendent Chuck Gray said they “have to be installed as soon as possible or the plant will fail.” Mayor Curtis asked where the funds will come from and Gray said they are in his improvement fund.
Gray was given approval to buy the diffusers from the EDI Company for $93,580.00. The installation should take about five weeks. They replace failing diffusers that are like air cushions. The board also paid out $2,000 to the Eco-
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Harvey halts wedding bells MV native, fiance postpone nuptials, help in hurricane’s aftermath By Bryana Schreiber Choosing your life partner is arguably one of life’s most important decisions, and weddings, which can take months of preparation, are one of life’s most highly anticipated and coveted events. Weddings are the day many dream of where loved ones from near and far travel to celebrate the commitment of a lifetime. Weddings are one life’s biggest milestones and among the most joyous occasions. Cameron Brown, a graduate of Mount Vernon High School who is currently working toward his PhD at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and his fiancé, Chris Vallalodid, who is also in medical school at Baylor, were preparing to say “I Do” at their September 3, wedding when Hurricane Harvey left them stranded in Houston. When this natural disaster struck and wreaked havoc, not only on Houston but the plans for their big day, they spent no time sulking and instead responded in an incredible, heartwarming way. Brown moved with his family to Mount Vernon in 2001. He is the son of Heath and Shawnna Rigsby, and has one sister, Lexie Rice. He attended both Mount Vernon Junior
Cameron Brown and his fiancé Chris Vallalodid had to postpone their wedding after Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston. Photo submitted High and High School and would go on to study biology at the University of Southern Indiana before pursuing his PhD. When Brown was trying to make his med-school selection he was choosing between Notre Dame, Boston College and Baylor. Ironically when he and his mother traveled to Boston to scout things out they got stuck in the fierce winter storm, Nemo, and their experience with
the extreme cold weather led him to choose Houston for med school as it boasted warmer temperatures and a fantastic virology program. After moving to Houston in 2013 to begin med school, Brown started dating. Oddly enough his girlfriend set him up with another young woman in his lab as she thought the two would make a perfect pair. Not many couples are set up by their
girlfriend, but this match was meant to be. Vallalodid hails from California and is also a medical student at Baylor studying blood disorders. She is Latina and fluent in Spanish. Brown has taken Spanish throughout school and is also fluent though he still carries a European accent. When Brown met Vallalodid the two hit it off and they’ve been dating ever since. “We had the chance to meet Chris in 2014 when we traveled down for the Houston Rodeo and a Pitbull concert,” said Rigsby. “Cam and Chris are great people, and they make an incredible couple.” In October 2016, the couple got engaged after Brown surprised Vallalodid by romantically spreading rose petals all over their apartment (laughably she thought the dogs got into the flowers). He proposed with his mother’s heirloom diamond ring. One of Brown’s favorite movies, Fools Rush In, was playing in the background as Elvis Presley’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” provided the soundtrack for the memorable popping of the question. She said yes and, after sharing the exciting news with family and friends, the vibrant young couple
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