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POSEY COUNTY SENDS 16 WRESTLERS TO REGIONAL Story on Page B1
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P C N Tuesday, February 1, 2022
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Volume 142 Edition 5
Evansville man sentenced for Posey County sex crime Special to the News of time the sexual interactions occurred. An Evansville man was sentenced to serve On June 22, 2021, after speaking with the prison time after pleading guilty to Sexual victim and the Sexual Assault Nurse ExamMisconduct with a Minor iner at Deaconess Hospital, law in Posey County. enforcement officers with the On the afternoon of Posey County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday, January 26, and the Indiana State Police ar2022, Riley Evan Clark, rested Clark on multiple charges age 25, appeared in the of sexual misconduct with a miPosey Circuit Court and nor. Clark has been housed in was sentenced by Judge the Posey County Jail since his Craig Goedde to ten (10) arrest. years in prison after pleadPursuant to his guilty plea, ing guilty to two counts of Clark must register as a sex ofSexual Misconduct with a fender as required by Indiana Minor. law. Under the law, Clark faced Riley Evan Clark As part of his guilty plea, a range of two to 12 years in Clark admitted that he perprison at sentencing. formed sexual conduct on a child under the Posey County Prosecutor Thomas Clowage of 16 between June 1 and June 21, 2021. ers commented: “Mr. Clark is a predator that Police records show that Clark, 24-years- took advantage of the victim in this case. I’m old at the time, had sex on more than one oc- grateful that the victim spoke up about the casion with a 15-year-old female victim. The abuse inflicted by Mr. Clark. This allowed investigation was conducted by Posey County (Posey County Sheriff’s Office) Detective Sheriff’s Office Detective Kyle Reidford. Kyle Reidford to gather the evidence necesAccording to court records, Reidford’s in- sary to hold her abuser accountable for his vestigation revealed that the juvenile victim actions. While there is nothing that can be was befriended by Clark and he often played done to ever eliminate the harm caused by video games with her and gave her compli- Mr. Clark, there can now be some measure ments. The victim and her family were living of closure and justice for the victim and her with Clark in Posey County during the period family.”
Mount Vernon High School held homecoming coronation festivities on Friday afternoon at the school. This year’s 2021-2022 basketball homecoming king is Dalton Kuhn and the homecoming queen is Mahala Tinsley. Photo by Garry Beeson
Bill to allow parents more input meets with problems By Trisha L. Lopez Questions abound in the wake of the passage of Indiana House Bill 1134, legislation penned by Rep. Tony Cook (R-Cicero) that, among other things, would allow parents to veto lesson plans they deem undesirable. How much say should parents have in the lessons their children are learning in public schools? What is the role of a teacher in a student’s development? Who should foot the bill for potential lawsuits filed against schools deemed to be in violation for discussing subjects that cause “discomfort, guilt and anguish?” Those questions will follow the bill to the Senate after Wednesday’s 60-37 vote. The bill has sparked an outcry amongst educators, many of whom called it teacher censorship and said its passage might be the final straw in what they see as a series of attacks on public education that they worry will push teachers out the door. The appropriateness and methods of teachers sharing thoughts on topics deemed “divisive” needed clarification according to Cook to address what he called “a grassroots movement” from parents who want more say in what is going on in the classroom. The bill prohibits schools from compelling teachers or employees to “affirm, adopt, or adhere to” eight tenets that deal with issues related primarily to “sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national
origin and political affiliation.” “(The bill) definitively identifies divisive activities that should not be utilized or promoted when teaching that inject divisive theories in the classroom to students,” Cook said, adding that it “clearly tries to lessen the burden on teachers to accomplish the transparency needed by minimally asking them to post to provide
certain instructional materials for parents to review.” Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville), an educator, voted against the bill, despite saying she supported 99 percent of its language. Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka) voted in favor of the bill.
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Local boards choose calm over chaos By Trisha L. Lopez School board chaos that has plagued some Indiana schools as parents and administrators clash over curriculum and inspired Hoosier lawmakers to seek systemic changes hasn’t been an issue for Posey County schools according to leaders for both corporations. Neither MSD of Mount Vernon nor MSD of North Posey have experienced anything like the drama seen at a Carmel Clay School Board meeting in July where a man was arrested after a gun fell out of his pocket and led to the use of police guards and metal detectors following heated arguments about lesson content. In fact, despite the national debate about what schools should and should not be teaching in the classroom, neither corporation’s
leaders say they have fielded many parent curriculum questions at all. The fallout from the drama, the potential passage of laws geared at increasing parental controls and limiting allowable classroom conversations, is a different story, both say. Michael Galvin, superintendent of MSD of North Posey, said that while he understands why legislators might think changes are needed, the bill that passed the House on Thursday will only create bigger problems for public schools. “We believe the way the bill is currently written would be the end of public education due to further exacerbating the current
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Posey County residents reassured the funds are safe By Lois Mittino Gray Posey County coffers held over $40 million at the end of 2021 and investment accounts earned $170,476.05 in interest last year. Posey County Treasurer Vicki J. Peerman presented her yearend Financial Report at the January 19, Posey County Commissioners morning meeting at the Hovey House. Posey County Commissioner President Bill Collins, who also served as the local county Board of Finance President, called that meeting
to order and elections were held. Commissioner Brian Schorr volunteered to be Board of Finance President for this year and was confirmed. Peerman will continue another year as Secretary of the Board of Finance. She reported a total of $42,620,594.19 in bank account balances as recorded on the cash book as of December 31, 2021. The funds were generated by deposits in seven local institutions approved by the state. Total interest accrued from six checking accounts in the past year was
$167,018.21. Add to that the $3,236 in interest from the three EDIT Highway Fund accounts and $221.84 from the two Congressional School Fund accounts to make an interest total for the county of $170,476.05. Peerman said this figure is way down from pre-COVID years when interest could be around $400,000 annually. The Finance Report was unanimously accepted and approved. Peerman then gave the 2022 Investment Policy Review which was also unanimously
approved. “All our tax dollars are safe and secured,” she reassured listeners. “They are insured by the PDIF (Public Deposit Insurance Fund). In other Commissioner action: • Public Health Department Director Donnie Martin described the past week as the “craziest ever.” He said there were 478 positive cases in six days, and just yesterday, the department
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Works Board approves winter staples By Lois Mittino Gray Mount Vernon Street Commissioner Max Dieterle had the most business to bring to the January 27 Board of Works morning meeting at the City Hall. Being winter, it is a good time to get everything needed for the salt/brine spreader for ice and snow and plan for truck and maintenance needs for the upcoming springtime. The Commissioner requested permission to purchase a 2010 F-150 Ford truck with an eight-foot bed and single cab. He said it was available for $14,000 from Morrow Electric Motor Service and would replace their Pictured left to right are Detective Dustin Seitz, Deputy Tyler limb yard truck. Board member Andy Ritzert, Deputy Bryan Hicks, Sheriff Tom Latham, Steve Collins, Deputy Jeremy Fortune, Carol Collins, Detective Kyle ReContinued on Page A7 Chief idford, and Deputy Alex Carr who were on hand to greet the public at the Drive-thru Chicken Dinner fundraiser, held at the Knights of (USPS 439-500) Saint John in Saint Wendel, on Sunday for Hicks who was injured
in the line of duty. The event was a great success with close to 1,700 people served and 3,500 pieces of chicken fried. If you would like, donations can be mailed to The Knights of Saint John Home, 11714 Winery Road, Wadesville, IN 47638. A huge Thank You goes out to all who either volunteered or purchased/donated. Photo by Theresa Bratcher