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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, November 25, 2014
Posey County’s ONLY Locally Owned Newspaper.
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Volume 134 Edition 47
Businessmen file suit to block new FEMA flood map Special to the News A federal lawsuit has been filed to force the federal government to protect the New Harmony National Historic Landmark District from what the local business owners term as “the adverse effects of a new and inaccurate flood map.” New Harmony attorney Nathan Maudlin filed the suit in Federal District Court October 31, with his wife Jeanne, and local businessmen David Flanders and Johnathon Scott, who own Cook’s on Brewery Bed & Breakfast, as co-plaintiffs. The suit alleges that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA,
failed to follow the requirements of the 1966 Historic Preservation Act to take affirmative action to assess and minimize the impact of a proposed new flood map on the New Harmony Historic Landmark District. “When it developed the new (map), FEMA did not follow its statutory mandate providing that when it undertakes a project or activity that affects a National Historic Landmark District, it should, to the maximum extent possible...minimize harm…” the lawsuit alleges. “FEMA, by not obtaining the most reliable, accurate information (about the Wabash River) failed to undertake such planning
and actions necessary to minimize harm to New Harmony.” The suit notes that FEMA itself, in a recent letter to New Harmony town officials, admitted the existence of efforts currently underway to update river data that could lead to new and different results with respect to the actual risk of flood. “FEMA has an affirmative obligation to ensure that its flood mapping activities have the least possible harm to a National Historic Landmark’s character and integrity. FEMA failed to honor its obligation to undertake mapping activities in a way that would cause the least possible harm to New Harmony.” The lawsuit asks the Court to rule the new
map, with respect to the corporate limits of the Town of New Harmony, is contrary to law and void, and asks the Court to order FEMA to follow its statutory mandate as the National Historic Preservation Act requires. The New Harmony National Landmark District was designated by the US Department of Interior in 1965 and its boundaries expanded in 2000. National Landmarks are properties of national historic significance and are places of “exceptional value”. National Historic Landmarks come in many forms: historic buildings, sites, structures,
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County grapples with expense for bypass study expense By Valerie Werkmeister The saga of which Posey County entity will pay the $65,000 invoice from Structure Point came to an end during last Tuesday’s, November 12, county council meeting. Structure Point is the engineering, architecture and planning firm from Indianapolis the commissioners hired last December to complete work regarding a proposed bypass around Mount Vernon. The bill has generated much discussion in recent months as to whether the funds would be taken from the council, commissioner’s or redevelopment commission’s budget. The redevelopment commission is currently operating without a funded budget. Council president Bob Gentil recommended the council pay the bill with the stipulation the county be reimbursed from the Posey County Redevelopment Commission when Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds are received. The county does not anticipate receipt of those funds for a few more years. The council approved Gentil’s motion to pay the bill. Councilman Don Mattingly questioned whether the county was
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Briefly Christmas Wreaths and Trees Auction to be held at APL The Friends of the Alexandrian Public Library silent auction for door wreaths and tabletop Christmas trees has started. Each wreath or tree, you will be bidding on has been decorated by a volunteer. Bidding for decorated wreaths and trees continues until November 30. Bidders must be 18 or older. If you are the highest bidder on more than one item, you will be expected to pay for all wreaths or trees upon which you have bid. Winning bidders will be notified by phone. Wreaths and trees must be paid for and picked up by Sunday, December 7. PC Alliance accepting 2015 award nominations Take a few minutes to nominate a deserving candidate for an annual award. Nominations for Teacher/ Administrator of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, and Business of the Year will be accepted through Friday, Dec. 5 and recipients will be announced at our Report to the Posey County Business Community on March 4 at the New Harmony Inn & Conference Center. Contact Brittaney Johnson, Posey County Director at 812-838-3639 or bjohnson@swinchamber.com with any questions. Democratic caucus to choose Harmony Township Trustee The Posey County Democratic committee will hold a caucus this week to appoint a Harmony Township Trustee, as the result of the resignation of the current trustee Dave Butler. The caucus will be held at Democratic Headquarters in Mount Vernon at 5 p.m. on Dec. 10, 2014. Interested parties should file paperwork with county clerk at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
Eleanor Buchanan receives a certificate of appreciation for her work Phyllis Johnson receives a certificate of appreciation for her work on on the Posey County Extension Advisory Council. She was honored this the Posey County Extension Advisory Council. She was honored this week at he annual meeting and 100th celebration of the Extension held at week at he annual meeting and 100th celebration of the Extension held at the Posey County Community Center. Photo by Dave Pearce the Posey County Community Center. Photo by Dave Pearce
Rural Posey County youngster dies in ATV accident Special to the News A Mount Vernon High School student died on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, as the result of injuries sustained in an ATV accident on Saturday. Ben Dickhaut, the son of Eric and Joanna Dickhaut of rural Posey County, passed away shortly after 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Hospital in Evansville. According to information from Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth,
on Saturday, November 22, at approximately 5:53 p.m., the Posey County 911 Dispatch Center sent law enforcement and emergency medical personnel to Blackford Road near the intersection of McKinnies Road to investigate a report of an ATV accident. Upon arrival first responders found a 2010 Arctic Cat Prowler (two-seat) ATV overturned resting on the passenger side. The vehicle had been occupied by two male in-
dividuals both under the age of 18. The preliminary scene investigation indicates that the vehicle was traveling east-bound approaching the McKinnies Road intersection. The vehicle left the roadway, on the south side, and traveled for approximately 95 feet, before abruptly overturning ejecting both occupants. The 15-year-old passenger was transported from the scene by Air Evac Helicopter and the driver was
transported by ambulance. Both were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Evansville. On Sunday morning, November 23, the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office contacted the Posey County Sheriff’s Department with information that the 15-year-old passenger had succumbed to sustained injuries and died shortly after 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning. The investigation into the accident is continuing.
Bicentennial project is ‘bugged’ By Lois Mittino Gray You may have ice cream in your freezer, but Dr. Eric McCloud has ‘bags of bugs’ in his. The noted entomologist spoke to the New Harmony Garden Club on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014 at the Workingmen’s Institute. He told the group that he and his two USI student workers collected so many insects for a project for Historic New Harmony that they are in bags in the freezer, yet to be identified and curated for a collection. The Bicentennial project he is doing is to make a collection of all the insects in the area that Thomas Say would have studied and prepare the display for an exhibit in the Beall House on Church Street. He explained that much of the display work is complete, but identifying and tagging up to 6,0007,000 insects is a tedious and exacting chore that will take more time. “I like to go out and catch bugs,” he said
with a smile. “But making a collection is one-third catching and two-thirds library work identifying and making tags and pins.” Dr. McCloud said that Thomas Say, called the ‘Father of American Entomology,’ had a prolific career collecting about 1,500 insects in his lifetime. He feels that a quarter to a third of Say’s collection was done when he resided in New Harmony from 1826 to this death in 1834. Unfortunately, all of his collection has been lost to history, but some part of it may have resurfaced in 1990. Dr. McCloud said written records are sparse from Say’s time in this area and insect distribution maps often have no dots for Posey and Vanderburgh Counties on them. Another problem is how the insect scientific names have changed through the years as science identifies taxonomic relationships
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New Harmony Garden Club member Lisa Smith smiles as she gets a closer view of one of entomologist Eric McCloud’s insets. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray
Cost of traditional Thanksgiving meal drops The cost for a traditional Thanksgiving meal in Indiana decreased from 2013 to 2014, according to an informal survey of grocery prices from Indiana Farm Bureau. This is the second year in a row the survey total has decreased. The annual survey indicates that the average cost for this year’s Thanksgiving meal for 10 is $46.93, down nearly $1.19 from last year’s average of $48.12 and down more than $4 from the 2012 total of $51.05 (an all-time high for the survey). “As a consumer, I’m very happy to see prices continue to go down,” said Isabella Chism, Indiana Farm Bureau second vice president. “As a farmer, I’m honored to help produce the food for family Thanksgiving celebrations.” The shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and both coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10. There is also plenty for leftovers. The Indiana survey was conducted by
Retrospective ...... A 4 Legals ............. B8-10 Classifieds .... B11-12 Community ......... A 5
29 volunteer shoppers who went into local grocery stores around the state and collected the price information. Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers are asked to look for the best possible prices, without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals, such as spending $50 and receiving a free turkey. The big-ticket item – a 16-pound turkey – was $20.96 or $1.31 per pound, a
Turkey (16 lb.) Stuffing (14 oz.) Pumpkin pie filling mix (30 oz. can) Pie shell, 9 in. (2 per pkg.) Sweet potatoes (3 lb.) Rolls (12 oz./12 per pkg.) Peas (16 oz. pkg.) Relish tray (1 lb. mixed carrots, celery) Whole milk (gal.) Cranberries (fresh, 12 oz. pkg.) Whipping cream (½ pint) Misc. ingredients (AFBF estimate) TOTAL
Deaths .............. ...A3 Church ................ A 7 Social .................. A 6 School ................. A 8
decrease of 13 cents per pound and $2.08 overall. Other prices that decreased on the survey were cranberries, which dropped by 30 cents per 12-ounce bag to $2.14; stuffing, which dropped by 22 cents to $2.40; a 16-ounce bag of peas, which dropped by 2 cents to $1.38; a two-pack of frozen
Continued on Page A11 2012 $25.76 $2.41 $3.03 $2.38 $2.82 $1.99 $1.40 $0.86 $3.02 $2.36 $1.84 $3.18 $51.05
Sports ................B1, 3 Bus/Ag ................ A 8 Opinion ............. A 1 4 TV Guide........ A9-10
2013 $23.04 $2.62 $3.07 $2.34 $2.97 $1.83 $1.40 $0.83 $2.76 $2.44 $1.62 $3.20 $48.12
2014 $20.96 $2.40 $3.14 $2.33 $3.60 $1.86 $1.38 $0.82 $2.93 $2.14 $1.89 $3.48 $46.93
Year 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Average $29.50 $26.87 $27.73 $31.09 $28.37 $28.68 $34.26 $31.44 $33.46 $34.48 $34.21 $31.28 $31.53 $34.71 $47.63 $45.57 $43.93 $45.80 $49.38 $51.05 $48.12 $46.93