SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Volume 136 Edition 48
County gives OK to spend first $8 million on jail plan
Wade Park resident Gary Blunier took advantage of good conditions to finish the Christmas decorations on his Wadesville home. Photo by Dave Pearce
United Way seeks support Special to the News Michelle Hudson, campaign chair, announced that the United Way of Posey County campaign drive is at 30 percent which is behind where we were at this time during last year’s campaign. She urged all the people of Posey County to get involved to help us reach our goal of $725,000 by December. “The United Way campaign still has a long way to go and we need everyone’s help to have a successful campaign. Contributions help to make sure that important services are available for the people of our community, both to improve the quality of our lives and those of our families and to help in times of need. When our volunteers contact you, please be generous to help our neighbors who receive services from the 20 agencies whom we fund.”
United Way of Posey County agencies receiving funds in 2016 are: Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America Buffalo Trace Council, Catholic Charities, Children’s Learning Center, Christian Church Day Care Center, Community Emergency Assistance, Deaconess VNA Plus, Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center, Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center – Posey County, Family Matters, Homeless Shelter of Mount Vernon, Indiana Legal Services, Lampion Center, New Harmony Ministry Association, Posey County Council on Aging, Posey County Red Cross, The Salvation Army, WNIN Radio Reading Program, and Willow Tree of Posey County. In addition, contributions help to fund United Way
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By Dave Pearce The Posey County Commissioners met on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, and made some important decisions concerning the time of completion and the amount of money that will be spent on the Posey County Jail project. Joe Mattingly, with Garmong Construction Services, reported to the commissioners on the progress of the project. He indicated the holdup at this point is sanitary and storm structures to be installed. Attorney Jacob Weis, representing the county attorney’s office, recommended that the county go ahead and approve several contract in association with the continuance of the project. The recommendations are as follows: Weddel Brothers in the amounts of $250,000 and $4,773,400, Deig Brothers with a stipulated sum of $1,496,000, Tri-State with a stipulated sum of $199,900, Midwest Roofing and Insulation, Inc., with a stipulated sum of $1,770,580, Mel-Kay Electric with a stipulated sum of $1,463,000, Pauly Jail with a stipulated sum of $3,188,700. The total of these prime contracts is $8,118,180. The Commissioners and the Council have indicated that the total amount of the project could be approximately $17 million. While the jail is making improvements, many mandated by the State of Indiana, other parts of Posey County will have the funds to rid the county of several blighted properties. Debbie Bennett-Stearsman, with the Economic Coalition of Southwest Indiana, informed the Commissioners she is recommending the Commissioners award the contract to demolish 17 blighted buildings to Naas, LLC. Bennett-Stearsman wrote the grant for the $119,479 that will be used to rid the county of the blights. She also informed the commis-
sioners that other grant money could be available as the state has recaptured grant funding from other communities who have received money in the past. Currently there is $512,000 available and the commissioners gave Bennett-Stearsman the green light to pursue additional grants. Posey County Building Commissioner Ed Baettinger also gave the county an update on the new coroner’s building. Baettinger indicated that a gas meter has been installed and they are waiting for phone service to be installed in the building. An open house could be forthcoming. In other business: • The commissioners accepted the bid of Wabash Valley Service/F&S for all three department bids for gasoline and diesel fuel, using Synergy as an alternative. • The bids for tires and tubes and for culverts and pipes for the highway department were taken under advisement for Highway Superintendent Steve Schenk to recommend the lowest and most complete bid at the next meeting. • Bids for rates for use of labor and construction throughout the county were submitted by Chastain Excavating, DK Parker, and Russell’s Excavating. All three bids were accepted to be used throughout the county. • Mulzer Stone was awarded the bid for all the county’s sand and gravel needs for the coming year. • The high bid of $6,700 submitted by Charlie Goebel for a 1966 4020 John Deere tractor that had been declared surplus by the county highway department was accepted. The commissioners will meet again on Tuesday, December 6 at 9 a.m. in the Hovey House and a joint meeting with the Posey County Council will be held following that meeting.
PCCF awards $71,000 in grants at annual auction, dinner Special to the News Over $71,000 in grant funds to 15 nonprofit organizations serving Posey County were presented by the Posey County Community Foundation (PCCF), a partner member in the Community Foundation Alliance, Inc., at its Seventh Annual Auction and Dinner event on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Each year, the Foundation invites nonprofit organizations to submit proposals for projects benefiting Posey County. Support for these organizations is made possible by endowed funds created by donors who have entrusted the Foundation to determine where the community’s needs are greatest from
year to year. “For 25 years, generous donors and civic-minded individuals have demonstrated a tremendous passion to give back to their community and we couldn’t be more appreciative of their support,” said Monica Spencer, Director of the Posey County Community Foundation. “Their generosity allows us to be a part of something so meaningful.” A special presentation was held during the night’s festivities, and representatives from the local organizations were in attendance to accept the grant awards and be recognized by the Foundation’s Advisory Board. “Each one
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Briefly Caucus to be held to fill PC Coroner position A caucus will be held to fill the opening created by the election of Jay Price as commissioner. The caucus will be Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. at Democratic HQ. Anyone wanting to file for the position of Posey County Coroner will need to file a CEB-5 form and turn in to Chairman Ed Adams 72 hours pryor to Dec. 13. Any questions please call Ed Adams at 812-457-1183. Red Kettle Campaign seeks volunteers It’s time for the Red Kettle Campaign, and we need volunteers to ring the bells. We will be ringing on Saturday, November 25, and December 3, 10, and 17 at three locations in Mount Vernon and one in Poseyville. When you’re a bell ringer for The Salvation Army you’re helping to collect donations for the people in need within your community. Red Kettle funds provide everything from food and shelter for the homeless and victims of disaster, to after-school care and programs for underprivileged children. We hope you will consider volunteering for a shift as a bell ringer. You can sign up now to ring by yourself or with a group. Simply go to the website – www.registertoring.org – and find the location and time that works for you. The website also has lots of information about the history of the Red Kettle Campaign and how funds are used in the community. Bridges of Hope to have booth at Christmas in NH Bridges of Hope, a Fair Trade Mission of First United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon will have a booth in the Ribeyre Gym at Christmas in New Harmony on Sat., Dec. 3 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Original, handcrafted items from around the world - including baskets from Ghana; Christmas tree ornaments from Peru, India, and Haiti; and nativities made out of olive wood, banana fiber, and ceramics will be available. For the children, musical instruments, knitted finger puppets, and wooden puzzles will be sold while for dad, beautifully crafted soapstone chess sets from Kenya and recycled aluminum car engine crosses from Nicaragua will be available. For mom: silk and woven scarves from India and Nepal, cross body purses from Cambodia, and soapstone statue pieces to display on a mantel or table will be sold. Purchases serve the needs of ‘people not profit.’ More info is on Facebook at Bridges of Hope Fair Trade and on the web at firstumcmv.com/mission/boh. Concerts to be held during Christmas in NH Christmas In New Harmony is always a fun event with it’s noon-time parade, Santa, shopping and good cheer, but goers might want to check out one of the two concerts being offered at the Historic Thrall’s Opera House in Town as well. At 1 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 3 The New Harmony Music Festival and School will host their annual ‘Christmas In Appalachia’ concert. This year’s theme is ‘Greengrass To Bluegrass.’ The evening show will be broadcast live on WNIN Public Media starting at 8 p.m. The concerts feature New York Irish and Bluegrass Fiddler, Tony Demarco, a host of artists young and old, a clog dancer, and piper and festival founder Christopher Layer. The concert is narrated by WBAA public radio host, Greg Kostraba and features music, dance, seasonal readings, and a story of how traditional music traveled from Ireland to Kentucky and Indiana. Tickets are available online at newharmonymusicfest.com, by phone at 812-472-4321, or at the door the day of the shows. The matinee is $10 for all seats, and the evening show has general seating at $25 and priority seating at $35. Admission for children 10 and under is free at both concerts. Early reservations urged.
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(USPS SPS 4 439-500) 3 9 5 00
Representatives from the Posey County Humane Society were on hand to receive their PCCF grant on October 29. Pictured are Jodi Pfister, Juli Kissinger, Jessica Cozart-Stowell, Tina Parker, and PCCF Executive Director Monica Spencer. Photo by Dave Pearce
MV school board to change By Lois Mittino Gray In a bittersweet moment, Heather Allyn’s resignation from the Mount Vernon School Board was accepted by her fellow board members at the November 21 meeting. It was a happy time because she is looking forward to moving on to the Posey County Council seat on January 1 she won in the recent election. She has been on the board for the past six years, including a stint as president. Her resignation will be effective December 20, right after her last meeting on December 19. Board President Mark Isaac expressed appreciation for her work for kids. “We’ll miss your smiling face, but know we will see it elsewhere.” School Supt. Tom Kopatich explained that the board now has 30 days to appoint her replacement for the remainder of the two-year term who must be a resident of district two. If an interested person would like to know
district two boundaries or ask about the job’s responsibilities, Kopatich said to call him at the school district office or ask any other member of the board. Clarence Nelson will also be leaving the board after the December 19 meeting, but he will be replaced by Joe Rutledge, who won a seat in the November election. Nelson asked his successor to come forward at the end of the meeting and graciously congratulated him on his victory and wished him well in his new role. In other personnel action, the board confirmed the employment of Lauren Stemple as assistant girls’ basketball coach at the high school as a replacement for Jon Sanders. She is currently a nursing student at USI and played basketball, volleyball and track all four years as a student at Mount Vernon
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Board members names were announced at an informational meeting held Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at the Poseyville Community Center for the Poseyville Medical Center. Plans call for the facility to be fully constructed by July of 2017. Above, VicePresident Bruce Baker, left, and President Joe Reynolds show the artist rendering of the facility which will be located at 40 West Fletchall Street. Additional board members include: Julie Mayo, treasurer; Lynda Baker, secretary; Richard Maier; and Christopher Mulkey. Photo by Theresa Bratcher