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 49
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
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Commissioners discuss creation of TIF District Clerk recommends signing contract for 2018 election By Dave Pearce Some possible new income always seems to come with ways to spend it as the Posey County Commissioners learned at their November 21 meeting. The establishment of a new Economic Development Area in eastern Posey County became a reality in an effort to capture revenue from the increased property values in the area. According to Commissioner’s attorney Trent VanHaaften, County Attorney, the Redevelopment Commission is tasked with examining the creation of Economic Development Areas, which will ultimately become a TIF (Tax Increment Funding) District. He stated the county currently has the West Franklin Economic Development Area and
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Mount Vernon was the place to be on Saturday evening as Santa and Mrs. Claus made their appearance during the Christmas on Main Street Parade. Photo by Theresa Bratcher
Christmas istmas on Main Street
Parade, festivities delight patrons under full moon By Lois Mittino Gray Despite a temporary glitch when Santa couldn’t be located to light the city Christmas tree, everything planned for Mount Vernon’s “Christmas on Main Street” celebration on Saturday was wonderful fun for all ages. Quickthinking Event Chairman Becky Higgins asked Little
Miss Posey County Nevaeh Connell to push the button illuminating the tree. The excited six-year-old, who had just ridden in the parade, is a first-grader at Marrs Elementary School. Higgins said that the fire truck which Santa and Mrs. Claus rode atop in the parade had to leave and deposited them in the wrong place. The beautiful mild weather belied this year’s theme of “Winter Wonderland” and made for comfortable parade watching outdoors under the full “long night” moon. The
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School building dodges bulldozers, but needs funding By Lois Mittino Gray Rappite tears will not be falling this week after all. Speculation ran rampant around town of the former school building’s demise when it was learned that the New Harmony Town Council called a special meeting at the Town Hall yesterday morning to discuss its future. After listening to two speakers representing the Working Men’s Institute’s ambitious project to convert the former school into a community conservatory of learning, the council unanimously voted to table a request for funds until its December 19 monthly meeting. This will give council members time to assess available funds before announcing whether they will accept Dr. George Rapp’s proposal to save the school building.
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‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ actress set for New Harmony play By Lois Mittino Gray Mary Badham says that actor Gregory Peck was “the best daddy ever!” She was Scout Finch, the six-year-old daughter of Atticus Finch in the iconic movie, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” She observed that the cast was, “Like one big family. I had two wonderful father figures who were so good to me. Brock Peters, who portrayed the accused black man, Tom Robinson, was the other. I called them my reverse Oreo daddies.”
Briefly Candy Cane Market: North Elementary School December 9, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 63 West Fletchall Ave., PV Open House: Charles Ford Home December 10, 2 - 4 p.m. 920 Main Street, NH Winter Holiday Reception: The Red Wagon December 7, 6 to 7:30 p.m. 6950 Frontage Road, PV Christmas Concert: Wolfgang Orchestra December 17, 5 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 601 Main Street, MV Clarification In last week’s North Posey School Board story it was erroneously reported that “Prior to the board meeting, Butler was ushered out of the front door by board members and returned shortly before the meeting began.” Butler was not ushered out the front door.
More information on these and other events inside today’s Posey County News
(USPS 439-500)
“In Gregory Peck, what you saw on screen was what you got. He was just like that,” she recalled. Mary spent weekends with the Peck family and still keeps in touch. “I’m meeting his daughter Cecilia at the end of the month.” The two might discuss the quaint historic town of New Harmony that Mary will visit for the first time ever this week. “I’ve heard a lot about it and am anxious to get here and start rehearsals,” she remarked.
Ms. Badham will star in Truman Capote’s autobiographical play called, “A Christmas Memory” slated for Friday, December 8 at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 9 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 10 at 1 p.m. The venue is Thrall’s Opera House for the approximately ninety minute production. “All seats will cost only one dollar. I like to think of it as my
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Where the story begins ... DNA test results lead local woman to birth mother By Bryana Schreiber Perhaps you’ve seen the TV shows where adopted children are reunited with their biological families – maybe you’ve sympathized with their mixed emotions or wondered what it would be like to experience something like that. Being adopted herself, Tracy Renschler Mandel of Mount Vernon often tuned in to TLC’s TV show, Long Lost Family, which follows the stories of people who have, for one reason or another, experienced long term separation from members of their family and are seeking to be reunited with them. While she and her adoptive parents did not share the same bloodline, she has always had the love of a family and parents who adored her, but there were missing pieces – her medical history and genealogy – questions that were always unanswered that would cause anyone to wonder where their story began. Like many others she thought things like finding your birth family only happened on TV until she took an easy and affordable DNA test through ancestry.com and her results were shocking. Adopted at Birth and Loved Beyond Measure It was January 3, 1963 when a baby girl was born at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. She would be adopted shortly after birth and warmly welcomed home by her adoptive parents, Don and Lou Renschler of Mount Vernon, as well as her older brother, Rick. While her birth mother had listed three names on her birth certificate, the couple chose to give her their own name and she would become Tracy Lynn Renschler. Her adoptive parents were forthcoming and let her know early on that she was
Part One of a Series
Tracy Lynn Renschler Mandel was adopted at the time of her birth. Pictured here in fifth grade, Mandel went on to raise a family of her own but had lingering questions about her biological parents. Photo submitted adopted. They were open and honest. “I remember my mom telling me that I was adopted. She told me I was special and that they chose me to be their daughter,” said Mandel as she reflected back on some of her earliest childhood memories.
Mandel is beyond grateful to have been raised in such a loving home. Later in life she learned that her adoptive mother, Lou, had desperately wanted to have children of her own and suffered a number of miscarriages before having to having an emergency hysterectomy. Following the hysterectomy she and her husband opened their hearts to adoption. Both her mother and father worked to support their family. Her father farmed and owned a farm equipment business that kept him very busy so the majority of her time was spent with her mother. “I could not have grown up in a better home. My parents were always there to support me from softball to track to gymnastics. Especially my mother – she was my person,” said Mandel. “Mom and Dad were the best. I was their daughter and felt so loved.” Mandel went to elementary school at Hedges and grew up in the Mount Vernon school system. She remembers having a very happy childhood and takes responsibility for the choices she made in her life with nothing but love for her parents. She says she really did not think a lot about being adopted until she was about to become a parent herself. Her circumstances at the time were not ideal as she was still living at home with her parents, was not married and did not have a job. “When I was pregnant I began to have a lot more questions as I looked at my own situation which was far from ideal, and I
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