SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Volume 136 Edition 40
North Posey forum gives everyone an education voice By Valerie Werkmeister Educators and parents had the opportunity to speak to state representatives during a town hall type meeting at North Elementary last Thursday. The event was organized by MSD of North Posey School Board member Vince Oakley. State Representative Wendy McNamara and senator Jim Tomes spoke briefly on education concerns before fielding questions from those in attendance. Superintendent Dr. Todd Camp opened the meeting by asking what each representative felt on the topics of the state’s funding formula, the voucher program and the future of public education in general. McNamara responded first stating she hadn’t heard of any changes coming in regards to the state’s funding formula for the schools. However, she noted that schools should start to see small increases for teachers. She felt there would be more incentives coming in the future for teachers. In regards to the voucher program, McNamara stated that she doesn’t like and hasn’t supported legislation regarding the topic. In fact, she stated she voted against a bill she co-authored because verbiage regarding the voucher program was attached to her bill. She felt positive about the opportunities today’s youth has in public education and only sees bigger and better opportunities on the horizon. She recounted how today’s youth has more opportunities in public education than others did 10-20 years ago. McNamara said she plans to work on legislation that will bring back paid professional development days for teachers. She felt it was detrimen-
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School Board members Vince Oakley and Greg Schmitt, Superintendent Dr. Todd Camp, Senator Jim Tomes, Representative Wendy McNamara and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Angie Wannemuehler listened to and presented ideas at an education workshop this week at North Posey.
Presence of pets to be clarified By Lois Mittino Gray Consistency in enforcing the pet policy at public city events was the main topic of discussion at the Mount Vernon Board of Public Works meeting on Thursday, September 29. City Councilman Larry Williams started the ball rolling when he began, “It has been brought to my attention that pets were at our latest event. If the event is board of works sponsored, pets are not allowed. If it is a parks and recreation or other sponsored event, they may be allowed. It can get confusing to our citizens as to who sponsors what events. We need a good clear ordinance on this.” Mayor Bill Curtis agreed that the ordinance may cause confusion. “We need some clarity on this. People come in with pets and skateboards to block parties when we close the streets. We don’t want to make it more difficult for them to have events, but we want to make rules consistent and safe for all.” Right now, pets are not allowed in blocked off areas during city-sanctioned festivals and events. Attorney Beth McFadin Higgins will be asked to clarify the ordinance and make it uniform for all to be understood and enforceable. Williams also said the first River Bend Market this month was a success and another is scheduled for Thursday, October 27 from 3 to 8 p.m. on the riverfront. The North Posey seniors Amanda Marshall and Isaac Mayer were board approved closing Water Street from Walnut to crowned football homecoming royalty just prior to Friday night’s 24-14 Main for the many food vendors. “Six to 14 local vendors win over Tell City. Photo by Dave Pearce will be new at this one and the great thing is how many
younger people are helping out during these city events,” he said. In other board action: • Police Chief Tony Alldredge reported that background checks and testing is complete on all three applicants for the police officer vacancy. Next step is the interviews and he asked if they could be conducted on October 13 after the next Board of Works meeting. Mayor Curtis and the board agreed to having them then at the police department meeting room. Curtis congratulated the chief for the great article in the newspaper on the department and its hometown heroes. • Utilities Superintendent Chuck Gray said the East Side Gravity Flow Sewer Project is still way behind schedule due to silty soil affecting the trenching. Curtis said he heard it should be getting better soon and asked if they get “about a hundred feet a day done.” Gray replied that last week they were doing good to get 120 feet done the entire week. • Street Superintendent Max Dieterle said that street paving will begin soon as the paving project grant started today. He said milling and paving should start next week He has some items that need to be declared surplus and junked for scrap like an old grader and a rusted out salt spreader. The board voted to declare these items as salvage and take them off the inventory. • There was no legal business at the meeting. The next one is slated for Thursday, October 13 at 4 p.m. in City Hall.
Volunteer organization urges all to ‘Visit Posey County’ Special to the News On September 14, 2016, the notfor-profit corporation Visit Posey County, Inc. was formed. The group plans to substantially and steadily increase the number of visitors to Posey County each year by promoting programs and services to attract tourists, visitors, corporate events, and group tours. A seven-member volunteer Board
of Directors has been appointed by the Posey County Tourism Commission, the Posey County Council and Posey County Board of Commissioners. The Board of Directors include: Judy Alsop, Events of Harmony; Brenda Bourne, Astra Zeneca; Alissa Fricke, Thrive Marketing Strategies; Andy Herbertz, Tropicana Evansville; Brittany Johnson, Southwest
Indiana Chamber of Commerce; Jim Spann, New Harmony Soap Company; Leslie Townsend, Historic Southern Indiana. Officers elected by the Board are Jim Spann, President; Andy Herbertz, Vice-President; Judy Alsop, Secretary; Brittany Johnson, Treasurer. The Board will initially focus on hiring a full-time Executive Director
and establishing a Visit Posey County Welcome Center and administrative office with the goal of launching the county’s first regional marketing campaign during 2017. To support this effort, a new website, visitposeycounty.com, was launched on May 5, 2016, to develop awareness about Posey County and its many offerings. This website was funded by the Posey County Inn-
keepers Tax. About Visit Posey County, Inc. Visit Posey County, Inc. is a notfor-profit corporation funded through an Innkeepers Tax enacted in 2014. The group strives to bring regional attention to the abundance of opportunities for outdoor recreation, family adventure, and immersion in remarkable culture and history to Southwest Indiana.
Briefly Posey County Job Fair to be held at MVJHS Need a job? The Posey County Job Fair is scheduled for October 5, 2016 at the Mount Vernon Junior High School, entrance No. 19 and 20 on the North Side of Building, from 1 - 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Meet Posey County employer experts. Please come prepared with resumes and dress professionally. MV Conservation Club to meet October 5 The Mount Vernon Conservation Club monthly meeting will be held October 5, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. There will be a fish supper with a meeting afterwards. All members welcome. 6.2 miles north on Highway 69, toward New Harmony. Turn left (Springfield Road) at the sign for the Conservation Club. St. Paul’s celebrates 200 years St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Poseyville, Indiana cordially invites the public to its 200 year anniversary on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 2 p.m. St. Paul’s church is located at 46 South Cale Street in Poseyville, Indiana. Their facebook page is located at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Poseyville, Indiana. Friends of the Working Men’s Institute to host Chili Cook-Off The Friends of the Working Men’s Institute will hold their Annual Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, October 15 on the lawn of the Working Men’s Institute. The Cook-Off will be start at 11:30 a.m. and will go to 2:30 p.m., when the winner will be announced. Come and cast your vote for the best chili. Tasting tickets are just 50¢ each, plus hot dogs and cookies will also be available to purchase. If you or your organization would like to be part of the Cook-Off, there is still time to register. You can pick up a registration form at the Working Men’s Institute. October 22 set for Honor Flight, Stories Needed The autumn 2016 Honor Flight to Washington DC will be October 22, 2016, with area veterans and their guardians spending an incredible day seeing the various memorials and being honored. If you know of a Posey County veteran going on this flight, please contact Cathy Powers to have a pre-flight interview. This also applies to former residents of Posey County who might be living elsewhere. 812-963-3890.
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Frank Smith, center, walked in to St. Pauls UMC on Sunday afternoon to about 50 people at a surprise retirement party held in his honor. He was lured there by Bre Johnson with the thought that it was a cookout for her. “I wanted to show my appreciation for all he has done for me personally, for the community and for generations of ‘his kids,’” Johnson said. In his 40 years of service Smith has seen and done it all, from delivering babies to earning the Silver Star
for saving a mother and her son. He says it’s now “time to pass the torch to the young guys.” Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth shared, “I don’t think we can find a more dedicated individual, not only to the profession, but to the community as well.” Pictured with Smith are, l to r: Deputy Sheriff Jake Melliff, Chief Deputy Sheriff Tom Latham, Smith, Deputy Sheriff Glenn Boyster, and Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth. Photo by Theresa Bratcher
Beck is new Harmonie Park deputy
Jess Beck was recently appointed Harmonie State Park Assistant Manager.
By Lois Mittino Gray Jess Beck, the brand new Harmonie State Park Assistant Manager, plans to focus on the site’s Olympic-sized swimming pool to make it an “even more exciting feature of the park” as one of her goals. After all, she was the Beach and Pool Director for the Indiana State Park System at the time she was hired for this new leadership role. She replaces Chastity Axton in the position. The Fort Wayne native began working at the park on Labor Day
weekend where she met the staff and filled in for a lifeguard. She calls herself a “work in progress” as she learns all about the facilities, reads reports and talks to employees about their ideas and concerns. This week she started walking trails three and five to think about where improvements can be made. “I’m always brainstorming to generate ideas since I’m looking at everything with fresh eyes. Eventually, I’ll cover all the walking and bike
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