T
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 50
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
$1.00
Area juveniles concerning MV citizens Volatile actions discussed at common council By Lois Mittino Gray Rampant rage and aggression from certain juveniles in areas of the city are a concern of several citizens, who asked that the topic be put on the agenda of the December 7, meeting of the Mount Vernon Common Council.
While many persons packed the benches interested in the subject, four representatives actually spoke and told their stories in Open Forum about problems around Tenth and Canal Streets and the Alexandrian Public Library. Laura May was the first person to the podium. She re-
counted that there are four teenage boys beating aggressively on her doors both day and night and throwing rocks. “One time it took two police officers to get the door open again with me so I could go outside. These are not children. These are young men of 15-16 years of age
and they are a lot bigger than me!” May, who said she has filed thirteen police reports since April, stated these minors are doing all kinds of things like that and are terrorizing the neighborhood. She has the address of the Green Valley Apartment building where the boys live, and says “The police know where they live and tell us they cannot do anything because they are minors. They just send them
back home. We just don’t know what to do anymore! ” Steve Simon, who also resides on Canal Street, spoke next and said this problem has been going on for about one and a half years. “I have had windows busted out from thrown rocks and I must have taken over a hundred rocks off my roof and from gutters
Continued on Page A9
Investigation opened after local teacher steps down
Phosphorus removal tests moving along as planned
By Lois Mittino Gray With the annual Christmas Choir concert scheduled for that evening, members of the Mount Vernon School Board hastily handled some routine matters and resolved a few personnel issues at their December 4, meeting. The board accepted the resignation of Camella Rodgers as an elementary teacher at Farmersville School, effective immediately. School Superintendent Tom Kopatich said the position may be filled by switching some positions around or it may be advertised at a later date. In the days following the meeting, Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers confirmed that an incident involving Rodgers and a Mount Vernon High School student is being investigated. At this time, no criminal charges have been filed. Frehley Miller’s resignation as a teacher assistant in the computer lab at West Elementary School was also accepted as well as R. Austin Walker’s as an assistant football coach at the junior high, all effective immediately. Andrea Hoehn, an elementary school special education teacher, was granted a pregnancy nonpaid leave of absence beginning January 3, 2018 through February 28, 2018 The board adopted a resolution permitting Michelle Johnston, Julie Kissinger, and Pam O’ Risky to at-
By Lois Mittino Gray Like a mad scientist, Utilities Superintendent Chuck Gray is busy swirling liquids and measuring powders in an attempt to find just the right combination of chemicals to speed up phosphorus removal from city water. He told the Mount Vernon Board of Works at its December 7 meeting, that testing experiments are going well so far, trying to find the right mixtures that work well and are the most cost effective. The chemicals will be used in the new phosphorus removal building being constructed near the water treatment plant by Custom Mechanical, Inc. Project Engineer Andy Sucharitakul of Lochmueller Engineering reported the project is close to completion and should be up and running fairly soon by the end of the year. Mayor Bill Curtis presented the final claim for the Phosphorous Project for Custom Mechanical, in the amount of $166,970.16. A claim from Lochmueller, for recent work on the project, was approved in the amount of $11,792.
Continued on Page A9
Briefly Open House/Visit with Santa: First Bank December 15 Open House 10 a.m. Santa 2-5 p.m. 6960 Frontage Road, PV Visit with Santa: Red Wagon December 16, 8 a.m. 6950 Frontage Road, PV Visit with Santa: Community State Bank December 16, 9 a.m. - Noon 220 Lockwood Street, PV Christmas Concert: Wolfgang Orchestra December 17, 5 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 601 Main Street, MV Live Nativity: MVCC/Black’s Chapel Church December 17, 5 - 8 p.m. 1800 West Fourth Street, MV
More information on these and other events inside today’s Posey County News
(USPS 439-500)
The real Kris Kringle aka Santa Calus, visited the Charles Ford Home on Sunday afternoon during their annual Open house. Here, nine-year-old Abby Brown of Fort Branch, and granddaughter of Ford Home employee Kim Catt, has a seat on Santa’s knee to tell him what she would like to have for Christmas. Photo by Dave Pearce
Continued on Page A9
Alliance members hear from airport authority By Lois Mittino Gray About twenty members of the Posey County Alliance dined on local barbecue and listened to a presentation by Douglas P. Joest at the CountryMark Pavilion on Wednesday, December 6. The luncheon was one of four annually sponsored by the Alliance, a branch of the Southwestern Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Joest is the Executive Director, of the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District, and he began by explaining that the Authority is so much more than just running an airport and keeping runways open. “All of our eggs are not in one basket,” he told the group. “We get only twenty
percent of our revenue from airlines. We include 600 jobs and have a 900 million dollar economic impact in the region, as we oversee many tenants and industrial properties.” These include Tri-State Aero, a Hampton Inn and a Subway, a Thunderbolt Pass golf course, a U.S. Postal Service sorting warehouse, and a Department of Corrections facility, to name a few. Joust explained the Authority is a separate government entity with five board members appointed by the Mayor and County Commissioners. “We report to this Douglas Joest, Executive Director of the Evansville Airport Auboard, as well as the Federal Aviation thority, discusses its future plans with Dustin Trout (center) and Gary Garibay, right. Both are TMI employees and members of the Continued on Page A9 Posey County Alliance. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray
Thief takes off with Guilty Pleasures cash By Dave Pearce A thief attempted to dampen the Christmas spirit of a Poseyville business on Monday. According to Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth, members of the staff at Guilty Pleasures Flowers and Gifts in Poseyville were on a break around noon on Monday. The staff members had left the front of the store and were in the back of the building when an unidentified man entered the store. According to Oeth, “The person waited in the front of the store for a short time and then cleaned the cash register out and left the building.” No arrest had been made at press time and Oeth indicated that he believes there were no cameras or video available in the store. Poseyville Town Marshal Charles Carter is working the case and was unavailable for comment at press time Monday.
Local attorney among ATHENA finalists By Dave Pearce Posey County is again represented with one of 10 finalists for the annual ATHENA Award. The Southwest Indiana Chamber last Monday announced finalists for the 2017 ATHENA Award, which recognizes women leaders. Mount Vernon attorney Beth McFadinHiggins is among the 10 finalists. The recipient will be named during a luncheon Feb. 24 at Old National Events Plaza. Winners are selected based on both their own accomplishments and on their efforts to support other women. Founded in 1982, ATHENA International is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that supports, develops and honors female leaders. Beth McFadin-Higgins, second from right, is shown The organization is named after here with her husband, Brian Higgins, far right, and son Andrew, and his girlfriend Loren Jones just after his Continued on Page A9 graduation ceremonies. Photo submitted