Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1882
“OUR LIBERTIES WE PRIZE, AND OUR RIGHTS WE WILL MAINTAIN.”
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Posey County’s ONLY Locally Owned Newspaper.
$1.00
(USPS S4 439-500) 39 500) Volume 135 Edition 48
USDA loan could get cash to move New Harmony gas line By Valerie Werkmeister New Harmony Town Council members took another step forward last week in the process to remove the natural gas line from the Harmony Way Bridge. They met in a special meeting on Wednesday, November 25, and approved the bond council, proposal for an archaeological reconnaissance survey and attorney fees that will be associated with the project. The special meeting lasted only minutes, but council members explained following the meeting that approvals were necessary in order to prepare a loan application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for submission in December. The present council has been working on the gas line removal project since 2013. The bridge was closed in May 2012 and concerns grew regarding the gas utility since the bridge was no longer maintained. John DiDomizio of Morley and Associates in Newburgh presented three options to remove and reconnect the line for the towns’ gas utility service. A hook-up with Vectren or with the Town of Poseyville were deemed too costly. The most favored ap-
proach includes boring under the Wabash River. The estimated project cost varies from approximately $770,000 to $1.28 million. A more precise cost estimate is unable to be obtained until contractor bids are received on the project. The cost will also be dependent upon the amount of rock that will need to be dug through in order to bore the line under the river. Council members hope the town will qualify for a low interest USDA loan through the Rural Utilities Service Group to help pay for the project. The exact interest rate is also unknown but could be up to 3.75 percent. The number of years the loan will need to be financed also remains to be determined after the final project cost is established. According to information provided by Michael Sears of Morley and Associates during the September council meeting, the loan could be financed up to 40 years. Gas utility rates will repay the loan. The impact this will have on utility users is unknown until a rate study can be completed. This
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Posey County Police make a drug arrest on Tuesday afternoon in Mount Vernon. Photo by Brooke Simpson
Lutterman faces drug charges Special to the News On Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 24, 2015, Posey County Deputies served a search warrant at a residence located at the intersection of Fifth and Pearl Streets in Mount Vernon. This was part of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office. The search revealed evidence of illegal drug activity, which resulted in the arrested of 50-year-old Ray Lutterman.
Lutterman was transported to the Posey County Jail and charged with Count 1 Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Count 2 Possession of Methamphetamine, Count 3 Cultivation of Marijuana, Count 4 Possession of Marijuana, and Count 5 Maintaining a Common Nuisance. Lutterman made his first court appearance on Wednesday November 25. He remains lodged in the Posey County Jail.
Carnahan faces multiple felonies Special to the News paired. Carnahan was also wanted out of Posey CounOn Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, at approximately 6:52 ty for failure to appear. Further investigation revealed p.m., Trooper Brent Gramig was patrolling north- Carnahan had a suspended driver’s license and she bound US 41 south of Virginia when the had a blood alcohol content of .18 perdriver of a Ford F-150 pickup attempted cent. She was arrested and taken to the to merge into Gramig’s lane almost strikVanderburgh County Jail where she is ing his vehicle. The driver. currently being held without bond. The The driver, identified as Krista Carnachildren were released to their fathers, han, 35, of Mount Vernon, was stopped who were the front seat passengers. at Virginia and US 41. Gramig detected Arrested and Charges: Krista Carnaan odor of an alcoholic beverage while han, 35, Mount Vernon, Ind.; Driving talking to Carnahan. Gramig also noticed While Intoxicated with passenger less Carnahan had blood shot eyes and slurred than 18 years of age, Level 5 Felony; speech. Two adult males were front seat Driving While Suspended, Infraction; passengers. Six children ranging from age Krista Carnahan Failure to Appear Warrant (Posey County); three to eight were sitting in the back seat. No seat Six tickets for seat belt violations were issued. Arrestbelts or child restraints were being used. ing Officer: Trooper Brent Gramig, Assisting Officer: Field sobriety tests revealed Carnahan was im- Trooper Nick Hatfield.
Four-year-old Cameron Fisher, son of Sean and Amy Fisher of St. Wendel is wide-eyed during Saturday mornings Breakfast with Santa at The Red Wagon in Poseyville. Photo by Theresa Bratcher
Posey group to assist with Foster Child Christmas By Brooke Simpson The holiday season is upon us. The Christmas Spirit is one that nearly everyone wants to embrace and spread. Bryson’s T.O.T. 10, and the Posey County Department of Child Services are hoping to make this Christmas a little brighter for the foster children and families of Posey County. In preparation for Bryson’s Time Out Take Ten Second Annual Foster Child Christmas, volunteers assembled together at Wesley Hall on Wednesday to wrap gifts for the party will take
place in December. Each child put a list together with the help of their caregivers and then T.O.T. 10 took that list and was able to purchase gifts within a set dollar amount for each child. Gifts are given a number that matches the child on a confidential list in order to protect the child’s identity. The volunteers got to work wrapping. All ages, young children up to older adults, took part in the wrapping party. One young child that
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Briefly
Melanie Ries, Troy Burnett, Angie Cross, Maggie Clardy, Sandy Thompson, Kathy Beyer, and John Thompson, Bryson’s TOT 10 volunteers were wrapping gifts in preparation for the Foster Child Christmas, hosted by Bryson’s TOT 10 and the Department of Child Services. Photo by Brooke Simpson
Christmas in New Harmony announced The annual Christmas in New Harmony Festival will feature a Main Street Christmas Parade, artisan craft market, local merchant open houses and don’t miss the world renowned musicians at the Christmas in Appalachia: Celtic Roots concert. Other festivities include: Christmas tree lighting, antiques and arts, Strolling Santas and more. There is no better time to visit Historic New Harmony than at the annual Christmas in New Harmony Festival Friday to Sunday, December 4 through 6. For a schedule and more visit newharmony.biz.
Nominations sought for Torchbearers Indiana’s 200th birthday is next year, and a torch relay celebrating this achievement is coming to Posey County in September 2016. The Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay was created to honor Hoosiers who have demonstrated exceptional public service, achievement, acts of heroism and/or volunteer service to their neighborhood, community, region or state. Patterned after the Olympic Torch Relay, Indiana’s version will pass through all 92 of the state’s counties, cover 2,300 miles over a five week period, while averaging 72 miles per day. Posey County is one of the few counties where the torch will stop twice, in Mount Vernon and New Harmony. In addition, Posey County will have a maximum of 20 torchbearers. The torch will pass through Posey County on Sunday, September 11, 2016. Torchbearers must be nominated by another person, self-nominations are not allowed. Once all the nomination forms are collected, a juried nomination process will be employed in each county to select torchbearers. Nominations are due December 31, 2015. For more information about the torch relay and for nomination forms, visit http://www.indiana2016.org/torchrelay/ or ask for them at the New Harmony town hall.
Christmas Party planned for NP Class of 1963 The North Posey High School Class of ‘63 is having a little Christmas party at the Silver Bell at 6 p.m. on December 8. This is just an informal get-together, no gifts, everyone orders what they want, and bring a dessert if they want. Contact Cathy Powers, Bill Cardin, or Don Mann with questions.
Poseyville Boy Scout Troop 387 to collect can goods Poseyville Boy Scout Troop 387 will collect can goods for local food pantries on Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. until noon. Scouts will come door to door in the North Posey communities to request donations. Please support this worthy cause and donate can food items to help others in need.
Bus/Ag .................A7 Classifieds ........ B 6 - 7 Community...........A4 Church...................A6
Help set for North Principal Waugaman By Valerie Werkmeister of a watermelon causing pressure and pain. Her bones The start of a new school year is a signal of change. and joints ached. Perhaps the most disheartening news No one knows that better than North Elementary of all was to learn there is no cure for MF. There are School Principal, Terri Waugaman. New students, new treatments in order to attempt to alleviate the sympteachers and new faces loomed in front of the three- toms or slow the progression of the disease. year principal as she prepared herself to, once again, The only option is to endure a bone marrow or stem take the helm as the cell transplant. The perfect North Elementary to host Breakfast with Santa school’s leader. The Fourmatch must be found and she The North Elementary PTO is hosting a Breakfast Star school was on course is currently on a national regwith Santa on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 8-10 a.m. at the to also be named as a istry waiting for her chance Blue Ribbon School, the Poseyville Community Center. Admission is $5 for adults, to return to a normal life. $3 for children three-12 years (two years and under are Super Bowl of national Since 2004, she has been free.) The event has been planned as a benefit for Terri awards for schools. It was living with a rare blood disWaugaman, North Elementary Principal. All proceeds suppose to be an exciting will go toward helping with her medical expenses. Wau- ease known as ET, or Essentime. gaman is battling a rare form of bone marrow cancer and tial Thrombocythemia. She Despite the positive was prescribed a chemotherin need of a stem cell transplant. outlook before her, Terri apy medication and remained soon learned there were other challenges that would re- under a doctor’s care while her disease was in remisquire her to turn her focus away from her beloved stu- sion for 11 years. Unfortunately, ET progressed into dents and colleagues. At the end of August, she heard MF and is most likely the cause of the chronic condithe words no mother, wife and full-time administrator tion. She began treatment with a trial drug for chemohas time to hear, ‘You have cancer.’ therapy and returned to school. The medication made For months, she had passed off fatigue and weight her feel as though she had the flu. It also weakened her loss as side effects of job stress and missing family and immune system and made her vulnerable and suscepfriends from her hometown of Portage, Ind. Howev- tible to colds or infections that could develop into more er, pain in her side and the inability to walk down the serious illnesses. school hallways without holding onto the wall led her Not long after her return from Mayo, she was forced to seek out a medical explanation. to submit an FMLA, or Family Medical Leave of AbTerri learned from specialists at Mayo Clinic in sence request. She is currently on an unpaid leave from Scottsdale, Arizona that she has Myleofibrosis (MF), her job until January. She and her husband, Matt Rea chronic blood cancer. It causes fibrosis, or scarring, beck, along with her 13-year-old son, Todd, are getting in the bone marrow and impairs the ability to produce Continued on Page A7 normal blood cells. Her spleen was enlarged to the size
Deaths .................... A3 Legals ...................B5 Opinion ................A10 Retrospective........A5
School ....................A7 Social .....................A6 Sports .........B1-2, B5 TV Guide...........B3-4