SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Volume 136 Edition 51
Posey school officials tout ‘honor’ report cards By Lois Mittino Gray Like a welcome Christmas gift, the superintendents of both Posey County School districts received the news last week that both were graded as ‘A’ districts by the state. The elated administrators gave their annual ‘State of Our Schools’ address at the invitation of the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Thursday afternoon at the Western Hills Country Club. North Posey School Superintendent Dr. Todd Camp told the group that North Posey High School, and South Terrace and
North Elementary Schools received an ‘A’ grade, while the junior high attained a ‘B’ grade. Mount Vernon School Superintendent Dr. Tom Kopatich reported that Marrs, West, and Farmersville Elementary Schools earned an ‘A’ rating. The high school has an 89.4 percent score, which is being appealed right now, and probably will soon be bumped up to an ‘A.’ Mount Vernon Junior High School earned a ‘B’ grade. “Finally, Indianapolis is recognizing what we’ve known for years. The schools down here in the south are fantastic and working
hard,” Kopatich said. While both superintendents enjoyed basking in the congratulations received from the group, they were quick to point out that success in doing well on standardized tests is not what education is really all about. Kopatich challenged the audience to think of their personal K-12 educational experience to “think of someone who changed your life, who made a difference. Can you come up with someone? Was it a person or a test? There are so many things in education that should make us an A school rather
than performance on a one time test,” he remarked. “We have Fine Arts students who performed in Carnegie Hall. We have Biology Three students who work right in local hospitals and doctor’s offices. We have WorkOne Manufacturing classes that visit local facilities to see them in action. We have all kinds of community mentors in our schools, that’s one of the reasons West Elementary students were the highest scorers
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New Posey Coroner is old pro By Pam Robinson County Commissioner in November. Like Long-time Mount Vernon resident Heath Price, Rigsby will begin his duties January Rigsby can now enjoy, for him, the best of 2017. He said he will run for Posey County two worlds—golf pro and Coroner once he completes county coroner. Well-known the two years remaining on as the PGA Golf Professional Price’s four-year term. at Western Hills Country Rigsby is excited about Club in Mount Vernon, Rigshis new position as an opby may be less well-known portunity to serve the Posey for his degree in mortuary County community. “I just science and funeral service want to provide outstandfrom Southern Illinois Uniing service to the people versity, Carbondale. He will of Posey County as their be sworn in as Posey County coroner. I look forward to Coroner tomorrow, Decemmeeting all the people in ber 21, 2 p.m. in Judge Jim the community as we go Heath Rigsby Redwine’s court upstairs in through the next two years,” the Posey County Courthouse. he said. “Posey County is my home, and I’m Meeting last Tuesday, December 13, a part of the community. I want to give back as Democratic Caucus appointed Rigsby to much as I can.” serve as new Posey County Coroner, the Continued on Page A10 office Jay Price held until elected Posey
Despite the frigid temperatures Sunday night, Mount Vernon Community Church’s portrayal of ‘The Nativity’ was successful again this year. Approximately 30 members participated, in addition to live animals, which included camels, donkeys, sheep and two baby lambs. Pictured above are left to right: Darren Buchenberger, Anthony Luebbert, Erica and Derek Landolt with baby Jesus, Gary Mayes and Nancy Hasting. This is the fourth year for this free community event. Photo by Michelle Gibson
Justice served as Viet vet Tolliver receives passport
Robert Tolliver, of Mount Vernon, is happy to finally have his passport after months of denials. Photo by Jim Robinson
By Pam Robinson Teenager Robert Tolliver, a graduate of the MVHS Class of 1965, walked from the high school stage onto the treacherous theatre of war in Vietnam. He survived two-and-a-half tours of duty there—over 30 months of his four years in the United State Marine Corps. In spite of serving his country, he was denied a U.S. passport the first time he applied for the document this spring. Once his neighbor, Sheriff Greg Oeth, learned about Tolliver’s travel jam, Oeth volunteered to contact U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly for help. Donnelly and his staff served then as liaisons between the U.S. State Department and the Indiana Bureau of Vital Statistics until the State Department accepted
the information available at the Bureau of Vital Statistics regarding Tolliver’s birthplace. Ongoing communication between the feds and the state resulted in a happy ending on Monday, November 28, 2016, the Monday after Thanksgiving. That day, UPS delivered Robert Tolliver’s official U.S. passport. The rub resulted from the circumstances surrounding Tolliver’s birth in Evansville. Tolliver was placed in foster care as a baby and lived in foster care until his adoption at six years of age. Under Indiana law, he explained, all adoption records were sealed until 1994. As a result, his new parents, the late Foster and Virginia Tolliver, could not receive his original birth certificate.
The Tollivers did file for and received a certified Indiana birth certificate for their son under his adoptive name when they brought him home in 1953. When Tolliver visited the passport office at Evansville’s Central Library, however, he was advised the U.S. State Department allowed a lapse of one year between birth and issuance of a certified birth certificate when granting passports to citizens. Tolliver said the State Department never questioned his birthdate, January 5, 1947, on the certified 1953 birth certificate. The office needed proof, not of when he was born, but where he was born. Unfortunately, the Indiana Bu-
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Open window lands Walden in Black Township Trustee’s seat By Pam Robinson Most Christians believe the statement, “When God closes a door, he opens a window.” Jerry Walden’s new appointment as Black Township Trustee affirms the faith. In the November election, Jay Price won the votes to fill Walden’s seat as Posey County Commissioner, an office Walden held dear. Yet, just one evening last week, the Posey County Republican Party held a caucus and selected Walden to serve as Black Township Trustee. The timing was perfect for the displaced commissioner. No one recognizes the grace at work in his appointment any better than Walden. “I am
honored to be selected,” Walden comments. “It’s a God thing.” Walden will be sworn into office tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. in Judge Jim Redwine’s court upstairs in the Posey County Courthouse. Although the new Black Township Trustee has already been preparing for his new office, he will officially assume his responsibilities January 1, 2017. On September 13, the county GOP had chosen Cindy Middleton to serve the two years remaining on the term of the late Lindsay Suits. Middleton resigned from her post recently to make a move to New Orleans near her family and left the office vacant once
again. Since political officeholders can have no duplicate participation in their service of the people, Walden has already resigned his place on the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana and on Workforce One. He will continue to work part-time at Dakota’s Detailing in Mount Vernon. Trained and employed for many years as a machinist and a tool and die maker, Walden retired from and sold his Mount Vernon Allstate insurance business after over 10 years’ service. His wife, Shelia, continues to work
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Jerry Walden
Briefly NH Recycling sets winter hours The New Harmony Recycling Center winter hours begin December 5, 2016. The center will be open on Wednesdays from 12 noon until 4 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. until 12 noon. Santa to make stop at Hoosier Pizza and Wings in Wadesville Santa will arrive promptly at 5 p.m on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at Hoosier Pizza and Wings in Wadesville, Ind. The jolly fellow will be available for free pictures with the little ones until 8 p.m. Along with Santa’s visit, there will be a Buy One Get One of lesser or equal value special that night, as well as a Nerium party for the ladies where free samples will be handed out.
$1.00
(USPS SPS 4 439-500) 3 9 5 00
On Friday afternoon, Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers was honored by the Humane Society of the United States with the Humane Law Enforcement Award for his leadership in combating illegal animal abuse. Clowers states, “It is an honor to receive such an award, however, much of the hard work in these cases is done by the police officers, the animal control officers and the wonderful volunteers at the Posey Humane Society (PHS) and the Posey County Pound Puppies (PCPP). Many times these people are going into dangerous situations to rescue animals, keep them safe and find them good homes. I am thankful for their dedication and commitment to service.” Pictured are, left to right: Andrea Reinitz (holding Elise), PCPP Board Member; Kelli Alldredge, PCPP Board Member; Tina Parker, President PHS; Jessica Cozart, PHS Shelter Manager; Clowers; Keith Fuelling, County Animal Control Officer; Brenda Vanderver, President PCPP; Gene Youngblood, Mount Vernon City Animal Control Officer; Erin Huang, IN State Director for Humane Society of United States; and Amber Hoover, PCPP Co-founder. Photo by Theresa Bratcher