SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Volume 137 Edition 9
Commissioners discuss bids for new storage construction County employees urged to get health assessments
year-old daughter, Briley and one-year-old son, Jax. The new coach played his high school football at Reitz. He was a receiver as a junior and quarterback as a senior. “In my junior year, we had two losses,” said Brunson. “North beat us. That was when they had Deke Cooper. They went on to state. My senior year, we were 9-1. We got
By Valerie Werkmeister Posey County Commissioners plan to construct a new storage building on Mill Street in the old jail location. Building commissioner, Ed Battieger, said the bid totals for the structure will cost $357,155. Emergency Management Agency equipment that is currently stored outside will be housed inside the new building. There will also be a conference room to serve for training sessions. Commissioner president Jim Alsop stated they will request an additional appropriation of $360,000 from the council at their next meeting in March. Alsop urged county employees to get a health assessment completed before the end of February at one of the shared medical clinics in Mount Vernon or North Posey. If the assessment isn’t completed, the employee will face an additional $100 increase on their health insurance premiums for the remainder of the year. As of last week’s meeting, there were still 40 employees who had not completed the health assessment. Commissioners approved a $20,000 upgrade through VEI Communications for the E-911 system. The cost
Continued on Page A12
Continued on Page A12
Cory Brunson was named head Football Coach for MVHS during a special meeting held Thursday, February 23, 2017. Pictured are Tom Kopatich, MSD of Mount Vernon School Superintendent, school board members, Kathy Weinzapfel and Don Julian, Brunson, board president Beth McFadin-Higgins, and board member Joe Rutledge. Photo by Theresa Bratcher
New Wildcat coach named Harrison football head to replace Maier assistant athletic director duties. Maier steps down after 19 years of coaching and an 88-115 overall record. Brunson leaves Harrison with a 21-23 record. Brunson produced winning records during his last two seasons. Harrison’s last winning season prior to that, was 2004. Brunson, who lives in Newburgh, is married to his wife, Mandi. They have a four-
By Brandon Cole An era of Mount Vernon High School football came to an end recently, as former head coach, Paul Maier stepped down and retired from his coaching position. Cory Brunson has left Evansville Harrison High School’s program and taken over the Wildcats. He will also teach physical education and take over
School board adopts schedule for next year By Lois Mittino Gray “This schedule is now set in stone for next year. Parents can go ahead and block out their vacation times. We will advertise it on our website and Facebook page and let everyone know it is ready to go,” declared School Superintendent Dr. Tom Kopatich after the 2017-1018 calendar was adopted at the Feb. 20, Mount Vernon School Board Meeting. School will begin for staff on August 9 and for students on August 10, 2017. This year’s Fall Break will not coincide with the Friday of the West Side Nut Club’s Fall Festival as in the
past, but instead is only one day on Monday. October 23. Thanksgiving break will include the Wednesday before the holiday as well as the Friday after it from November 22-24. Semester one will end on December 20 and Winter break will last until January 4 for students, January 3 for staff. Spring Break will be from March 26-30, 2018, and will include an extra day on April 2. Easter break will be April 27-30, 2018. The second semester ends on May 23 with graduation
Continued on Page A8
From left to right, Michelle Hudson, Ruth Duckworth, Luke Mahinay, Michael Mahinay, Gemma Mahinay, Matthew Mahinay, Lucy Daquipa, and Desiree Mahinay celebrate the opening of the new Rehab Focus Physical Therapy office in the North Main Plaza between Green Duck Hair Salon and H and R Block. Photo by Theresa Bratcher Heritage Federal Credit Union broke ground Friday afternoon for a new branch at the corner of Main Street and Fourth Street in Mount Vernon. From left, Steven Bugg - Chief Marketing and Member Service Officer; Brett Slayden - Area Manager of Member Service; Steve Potts - Facilities Manager; Anthony Spitz - Chief Information and Technology Officer; Jason Dietz - VP Electronic Delivery and Deposit Support Operations; Dr. Brian McGuire - Board of Directors, Candidate; Steve Crow - Board of Directors, Chairman; William Yockey - Board of Directors, First Vice Chairman; Nicolette Sledd - Board of Directors, Treasurer; Barbara Winstead - VicePresident Human Resources and Employee Development and John Phipps - Chief Lending Officer. Photo by Michelle Gibson
Briefly The Posey County Democrat Party: Caucus March 4, 10 a.m. 217 West Third Street, MV Ducks Unlimited: Winter Extravaganza Dinner March 4, 5 p.m. Red Geranium Convention Center, NH St. Philip Catholic School: Hops and Vines Craft Beer and Wine Festival Saturday, March 4, 7 - 10 p.m. Gymnasium, 3420 St. Philip Road South, MV Arts in New Harmony: Gala March 4, 6 p.m. Thralls Opera House, NH Trinity UCC: Rummage Sale March 11, 8 a.m. 505 Mulberry Street, MV New Harmony: Wedding Show March 12, 10 a.m. New Harmony, Ind. Big Brothers Big Sister: Bowling for Kids Sake March 19, 11 a.m. Posey Lanes, MV More information on these and other events inside today’s Posey County News
$1.00
(USPS SPS 4 439-500) 3 9 5 00
Two students team up to promote head safety By Lois Mittino Gray Two Mount Vernon Junior High School eighth graders have teamed up to become advocates for helmet safety to get the word out to all their friends to cover their cranium. Tyler Underwood and Nathan Duffey have partnered to present an information program to their peers as members of the school’s FCCLA Club (Family Career Community Leaders of America). Students in all three junior high grades attended an assembly on the topic on Friday afternoon, Feb. 24, and learned that there were 21 fatalities in 2016 from ATV accidents that could have been prevented with a helmet. After an introduction by the FCCLA Club sponsor
Continued on Page A12
Time to feast Get your kicks before the fast By Lois Mittino Gray Whether you call today Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Pancake Day, Carnevale, or Fastnacht, it’s a day of celebration before the rigorous restraint of Lent. Revelers all over the world will enjoy one last day of rich eating and partying before Ash Wednesday begins the forty day season of Lenten constraint tomorrow on March 1.
Shrove Tuesday is celebrated in the British Isles, Canada, Australia and the USA as a day to get shriven and eat pancakes. The word “shrive” means “to absolve”, so members of many Christian groups do self-exams or talk to a confessor to repent wrongs and prepare for Lent. Afterwards, there are dinners
Continued on Page A6