T
P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Volume 138 Edition 49
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
$1.00
Local law enforcement forms ‘Invest in Kids’ team
Posey County Sheriff Elect Tom Latham, Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers, and Mount Vernon Police Chief Tony Alldredge recently became members of the advocacy group Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. The group plans to use all tools available to help fight for the children of Posey County. Photo submitted
Special to the News Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers, Mount Vernon Police Chief Tony Alldredge and incoming Sheriff Tom Latham recently joined forces with the Council for a Strong America and became members of the advocacy group Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. The bipartisan organization is made up of thousands of sheriffs, police chiefs, prosecutors and violence survivors across the country and seeks to build strong communities by promoting solutions that steer children away from a life of crime. Most recently, the organization has been focused on encouraging legislation to help children who are suffering due to the nation’s opioid epidemic. Latham said he is pleased to be part of an organization that puts kids first. “Posey County is a wonderful place to live – and children in this community are our highest priority,” Latham said. “I look forward to working with Chief Alldredge and Prosecutor Clowers to ensure safer neighborhoods for children and their families.” Latham further stated that as Sheriff he will
aggressively fight drugs in the community and plans to devote a full-time deputy sheriff to investigate drug activity. Alldredge highlighted the fact that a good education is essential for kids to lead successful and productive lives. He explained the Mount Vernon Police Department has recently taken steps to make city schools safer. “My department recently worked with the Mount Vernon School Board to implement our very first school resource officer,” Alldredge said. “I believe children can thrive in safe schools and as Chief of Police this is another way I can invest in their future.” Alldredge appointed Sergeant Gonzalez as the new resource officer and says that by all accounts it has been a success thus far. Clowers stated that, “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a great way for law enforcement agencies to work together for a brighter future. It is a team effort and I am grateful to be on a team with leaders such as Chief Alldredge and Chief Deputy Latham. I am excited about what we can accomplish in the coming years.”
Christmas in NH not dampened by weather By Lois Mittino Gray Despite a dismal drizzle, Saturday’s Christmas in New Harmony events kicked off as usual with ‘Breakfast with Santa,’ featuring red and green pancakes, sausage, and a personal visit with the guest of honor and the lovely Mrs. Claus. Even though attendance was down slightly due to the inclement weather, Breakfast Chairman Shelley Powell said 157 paid meals were served. Many more than that were actually eaten as children preschool age and under eat free of charge. Last year, 190
NH Bridge gets shot in the arm, OK by Congress By Dave Pearce Members of the New Harmony Bridge Alliance received some good news this week. The next step was taken to enable the New Harmony Bridge to again have a purpose in New Harmony. Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after legislation he authored, the Restore Harmony Way Bridge Act (H.R. 6793), passed through the House unanimously: “The Harmony Way Bridge was a feat of American engineering when it opened, but after decades of use, the bridge was closed in 2012 due to structural concerns. Communities on both sides of the Wabash River in Indiana and Illinois want to see this historic community landmark preserved. Unfortunately, the federal law that led to the bridge’s construction has also prevented it from being refurbished and reopened by
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Briefly Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign seeks bell ringers Volunteers are needed to ring bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. We will be ringing every Saturday until Christmas in Mount Vernon and Poseyville. If you would like to ring at another time or have questions, please call Beth at 812-838-6875. This is a great way to celebrate the season with family, friends, and co-workers. Two-hour shifts are available. Go to www.registertoring.com or call Beth at 812-838-6875. If you have helped before, let others know how much fun it is. All funds raised directly help Posey County families.
More information on these and other events inside today’s Posey County News
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of the colorful meals were served. Powell said the ‘Photos with Santa’ concession took in about the same amount as last year. Rain didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of the children waiting in line to put in their request to the merry gent in red. As Santa left the building, he predicted sunshine ahead and sure enough, the weather broke in time for the annual Christmas parade. Glorious sunshine poured down from above as a good crowd lined
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Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, AKA Brian and Puddy McCutchan, arrived in style during the parade at the annual Christmas in New Harmony event held Saturday. Photo by Theresa Bratcher
We’ve been blessed
Teaching career brings, keeps couple enjoying life together The Golden Years
Karl and Linda Dorff
By Pam Robinson Long-time Mount Vernon residents Karl and Linda Dorff fill their conversation with understatement. When asked about their activities, they are glad to point to the travel opportunities their grade school teaching careers afforded them. They have seen the 48 contiguous United States—been everywhere except Alaska and Hawaii. A few years back, they followed their daughter, Gretchen, a missionary to West Africa, and spent a couple of weeks on a working visit with her there. “We’ve been blessed,” they agree. To drive home that point, they describe the living conditions of the people in West Africa. “Everybody in America should be required to spend two or three weeks in a third world country,” Linda states. The trip magnified her vision of her blessings, and she’s convinced such a trip would cause any American to see his life with great gratitude as well.
The conversation has rotated 360 degrees (give or take) from the Dorffs to compassion for their neighbor. Typically, the couple will deflect attention away from themselves, a trait certain to have helped them succeed as teachers. They never linger over, much less boast about, their blessings and accomplishments. They answer questions and move on. They possess a special quality: they are unassuming. Karl will even admit when the joke’s on him and keep the listener in stitches while he wryly tells about his proud ownership of a once high-dollar classic car. The one time he set out to impress folks with the purchase of a Porsche Boxster, he got beat up badly before he sold it a few months later. Karl laughs as much as anyone else might about the pain the deal caused him, and he admits, to this day, “residual pain” flares up every now and then. If anyone wants to hear the details of this story, well, it’s best to hear it straight from Karl. Both Karl and Linda were familiar with Southern Indiana before their teaching careers
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Wednesday meeting is critical for Avery’s Place By Lois Mittino Gray The much-anticipated “meeting of the minds” discussion on the proposed location for the Avery’s Place all-inclusive playground, is slated for Wednesday, December 5 at 2:30 p.m. in the office of Mount Vernon Mayor Bill Curtis. It will bring together city employees and elected officials, Parks and Recreation board members, and representatives from the Avery’s Playground Planning Committee and the River Bend Preservation Society. This meeting was originally scheduled for November 15, but postponed due to an emergency room visit by the Mayor. The Mayor proposed this meeting to allow everyone to respectfully sit across the table and state the pros and cons for the location
of the park. It was originally voted on by the Mount Vernon Board of Works to construct it at the downtown Riverbend Park location. An opposition group, calling themselves the River Bend Preservation Society, formed to ask that an alternative location be considered. The group maintains a firm stance that they are in total support of Avery’s Place. “It is only the location we oppose. We are here tonight to show you our solidarity and commitment, to working with whomever, to find an alternative location that protects the original purpose and intent of Riverbend Park,” group spokesman Gene Moore told the Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation Board at its
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Ten-month-old Solomon Buchanan tries to decide if he likes Santa at the United Fidelity Bank Pictures with Santa held Saturday in Mount Vernon. Solomon’s parents are Joshua and Brooklynn Buchanan of rural Mount Vernon. Photo by Peg Heckman