Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN
“Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.” Posey County’s ONLY Locally Owned Newspaper.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
$1.00
(USPS S4 439-500) 39 5 0 0)
Volume 134 Edition 49
Insurance costs stress budget
By Valerie Werkmeister Posey County Commissioners approved a slight 4.25 percent increase from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield for the county’s healthcare insurance during their November 19, meeting. The additional expense will cost the county $67,000. They will also allow employees to seek out of network care for dental and vision care. A new three-way stop sign will be placed at the intersection of Blackford and Blackburn roads. The road was repaved and restriped which has resulted in some confusion as to who should stop. Highway superintendent Steve Schenk agreed with the proposal for the stop sign and stated it was a dangerous intersection. Ordinance 2014-11-18-01 was passed. The stop signs will be placed in early December after the ordinance has been published in the newspaper two times. Action on potential road bonding and a proposal on service from TruGreen was tabled. The commissioners asked for more feedback on the draft ordinance for road bonding before making a final decision. Commissioner Jim Alsop is seeking a quote from another company concerning lawn care services at county buildings in Mount Vernon. Sheriff Greg Oeth’s request to retire a Model P 226 handgun from county property was approved. Oeth stated the gun will be issued in retirement. Bids were opened for the Sheriff’s department, Emergency Medical Services and the county highway department and taken under advisement. The bids are part of
an annual process to determine the lowest bid for fuel and other materials the county uses on an annual basis. The county also approved a request by Schenk on an agreement with JH Rudolph to use their facility on Ford Road to store salt and sand used on the county roads during November through March. Use of the facility reduces the number of trips the northern county garage has to make to the southern county garage. Rudolph charges the county $100 per month to rent the facility. Schmitz also commended Schenk on the county’s performance during the first snow in mid-November. He stated most residents were pleased with the county’s service. During the last meeting in December, the commissioners will make appointments to serve on various county boards. Anyone interested in serving on a particular board should contact Auditor Kyle Haney at (812) 838-1300. Alsop stated the Mount Vernon City Council had appointed Ryan Stemple and Justin Studemeyer to serve on the Visitor’s Convention Bureau for the Innkeeper’s Tax. The commissioners are still waiting to hear on an appointment from the Poseyville Town Council. Since the tax’s inception in July, the county has collected approximately $30,000 so far. The money will be used to help market the county to promote tourism. The animal control report for the month of October included 53 complaints, 14 animals were picked up and one bite report was taken.
Givens pleads guilty, avoids trial Chevelle Marx and Gunner Jace Havenor enjoy a few minutes with Santa during Christmas in New Harmony held this weekend in New Harmony. Initial reports indicate Saturday was one of the best days for the festival in a long time. Traffic was somewhat slower on Sunday afternoon but overall, it was a successful event. Photo by Dave Pearce
Briefly Planted Wheat deadline set for December 15 Planted Wheat must be certified by December 15, 2014. Planting dates are required. If you have any questions, please contact the Posey County FSA Office at (812) 838-4191, Ext. 2 . Posey County Salvation Army falls short on volunteers The Posey County Salvation Army is falling short on volunteers for ringing bells for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign this year. This is the only fundraiser for Salvation Army in Posey County; all funds collected in our local kettles directly help Posey County families. Bell ringers are needed Saturday, December 6, 13 and 20; times slots are from 10 a.m. - noon, noon - 2 p.m., and 2 - 4 p.m. those days. Call Dave Pearce at 459-4206 if you or a group could take one of those days. Informational meetings offered on the 2014 Farm Bill The Posey County Farm Service Agency and Purdue Extension, in cooperation with Gibson, Warrick and Vanderburgh County Offices, are holding meetings to discuss the details of the new farm bill and how it applies to your operation on Wednesday, December 10. The meetings will be held at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fairgrounds, north of Evansville on Highway 41; the first from 1-3 p.m. and the second from 6-8 p.m. (Central Time). The same material and information will be covered at both meetings. The information presented will assist landowners and farm operators in taking the proper steps to insure their farming operation is enrolled in the Farm Program. There will be a question and answer period offered at the end of each meeting. Please contact the Posey County FSA office at: (812) 838-4191, Ext. 2 or Purdue Extension at: (812) 838-1331 for more information. Clarification In a story that ran in the Oct. 14, 2014, edition of the Posey County News, it was stated, regarding the 2012 burglary of Chris’ Pharmacy in New Harmony, that “During the investigation and subsequent interviews following the burglary, Mount Vernon resident Kyler Butler told police he had committed the burglary with the help of two others whom he had agreed to pay for their assistance. He told police that he, his cousin, and an unidentified male, had entered the store and were there for only about 45 seconds.” After reviewing the probable cause affidavits regarding this particular burglary, the affidavit reads as follows: “On January 8, 2013, he (Detective Kenneth Rose of the Posey County Narcotics Unit), Det. Brooks, and New Harmony Town Marshal Scott Champlin met with Confidential Informant ‘A’ and conducted an audio/visual taped interview. During the interview, the informant stated that approximately one week prior to obtaining the axe (proven to have been used in the burglary), they were with Kyler Del Butler at which time Butler admitted that he had committed the burglary of Chris’ Pharmacy. Butler told the informant the he, along with his cousin (name unknown) and a third male subject (name unknown) were only inside the business about 45 seconds and that he had trouble ‘chopping’ through a front door or window. Butler told the informant that he stole a large amount of pseudoephedrine pills which he later used to manufacture methamphetamine. Butler stated he was going to pay the other two white males for their assistance in committing the burglary and for assisting him in the theft of assorted pseudoephedrine pills; however, once inside the building the other unnamed males attempted to locate Lortab pills instead of pseudoephedrine pills. Butler stated that the other unnamed males were unable to do locate the store’s Lortab or prescription medicines and that he was upset with them since they didn’t go after the pseudoephedrine pills as intended. Butler additionally told the informant that he wore a ‘court jester’ mask when committing the burglary. The informant advised that some days later, he saw Butler wearing a ‘court jester’ hat or mask.” The affidavit continues. However, from the affidavit, it appears that the alleged confession by Butler was made to a Confidential Informant, and not a known police officer. We regret this erroneous attribution.
Retrospective ...... A 4 Legals ...................B 5 Classifieds ...... B9-10 Community ......... A 5
On December 4, 2014, the evening before he was to determined to be within 1,000 feet of Lamplight Apartappear in the Posey County Circuit Court to be tried on ments, a family housing complex. The drugs he delivfive counts of Dealing in Methamphetamine, all Class ered on the second and third delivery each involved A Felonies; and with being a Habitual large amounts of methamphetamine. Substance Offender, 41-year-old Dorian Givens pled guilty to Counts One, Lamar Givens contacted his local attorThree and Five, each charged as Dealney and indicated that he wanted to plead ing in Methamphetamine, all Class B guilty in lieu of going to trial. Felonies, and received a sentence of 18 On December 5, 2014, Givens appeared years executed at the Indiana Departin Posey County Circuit Court and was ment of Corrections on each count. sentenced to 25 years executed in the IndiEach count was required to be served ana Department of Corrections. concurrently or at the same time beGivens and four other individuals were cause he was charged with delivering each arrested by the Posey County Narmethamphetamine to a Confidential cotic’s Unit on April 4, 2014, during a raid Informant who was assisting the Posey entitled ‘Operation Steel Door.’ Givens County Narcotics Unit. Count One was Dorian Givens was charged with delivering methamphetenhanced by an additional seven years amine to a Confidential Informant on three separate in prison as a result of his admission to the Habitual occasions on February 3, 2014, March 6, 2014, and be- Substance Offender charge. tween March 25 and 26, 2014. The methamphetamine Continued on Page A3 deliveries occurred at a home on Elk Street which was
Annual county supply bids OK’d By Valerie Werkmeister Annual bids for Posey County’s fuel, labor and supply needs were awarded during the first part of the Posey County Commissioners meeting held Monday, December 1. Highway Superintendent Steve Schenk requested approval to accept the firm bid for gasoline and diesel fuel from Wabash Valley. He stated last year, the county saved $5,000 by using their firm bid price and purchased 23,000 gallons of fuel. This year, Schenk suggested the county purchase 10,000 gallons of gasoline, and 25,000 gallons each for on and off road diesel fuel. Schenk believes this will help save the county $10,000 - $15,000 next year. The commissioners approved his request. They also granted approval to purchase tires and tubes from the lone bidder, Reis Tires. For plastic pipe, Schenk suggested the approval of the low bid from Ohio Valley Drainage. Southern In-
diana Drainage will be used as a back-up in case Ohio Valley Drainage is unable to accommodate their needs. Metal pipe will be purchased from Culverts Plus, Inc. Gravel, crushed stone and rip rap will be purchased from lone bidder, Mulzer Crushed Stone. Labor and other use from Russell Excavating, DK Parker and Sons and Jerry Chastain were all approved due to their locations in the county. Schenk explained it is helpful to hire work from each company depending on where they are needed within the county. Schenk also informed the commissioners he had requested to purchase 600 ton of salt, but only received 200 ton from his supplier due to a shortage. He was able to get an additional 200 ton from the Posey County Coop. Sheriff Greg Oeth requested approval to purchase gasoline from Wabash Valley using their firm bid price
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Time Capsule safely entombed
Legacy time capsule chairman Pat Gosh helps Isaiah Harrington, five, put in the first shovelful of soil to cover the capsule. He is the great-grandson of Rose and John Wilkinson of New Harmony and was eager to help. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray
Deaths .............. ...A3 Church ................ A 6 Social .................. A 5 School ................. A 7
By Lois Mittino Gray What would be your message to the future world one hundred years from now? At least 380 local students from 12 area schools pondered this question as they made predictions and pictures of their life in the present to be placed in New Harmony’s Bicentennial Time Capsule. “There are a lot of flying cars, many robots and big buildings in the future predictions,” said Project Chairman Pat Gosh. “One student, though, hopes that music will not change as he likes rap and current tunes.” These gems are only a small part of the stuff buried in the rectangular box that is six-and-a-half feet long, 36 inches wide, and three feet high. It was set into a concrete vault installed by Werry Funeral Home ten feet deep on the west side of the Workingmen’s Institute, oriented north-south. The dedication ceremony was held at the library site on Saturday, December 6, 2014, at noon. All items inside are wrapped and waterproofed and all printed materials are on archival paper with archival pens and pencils to ensure longevity. Gosh has encouraged businesses, churches, schools, and individuals to prepare packets about themselves to include in the burial. The $20 packets filled with archival paper and instructions sold well, but not everyone returned the finished product for burial. Completed packets are filled with pictures of family, homes, pets, cars, and everyday activities. Some include an entire family genealogy. “I told them the theme is ‘This is Our Time’ and tell them all about your life,” Gosh said.
Sports ............ B1, 3-4 Bus/Ag ................ A 8 Opinion ............... A 9 TV Guide.......... B 7 - 8
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