Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1882
“OUR LIBERTIES WE PRIZE, AND OUR RIGHTS WE WILL MAINTAIN.” Posey County’s ONLY Locally Owned Newspaper.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
$1.00
(USPS S4 439-500) 39 500)) Volume 136 Edition 6
Legislators face variety of queries By Lois Mittino Gray Our three area legislators met with about 25 constituents Saturday morning at a ‘Meet Your Legislators’ program sponsored by the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce at Mount Vernon’s Hovey House. Chamber Director Brittany Johnson introduced Senator Jim Tomes, Representative Wendy McNamara and Representative Tom Washburne whose expansive District 64 extends down into northern Posey County with
Poseyville, Cynthiana, Griffin and the St. Wendel graveyard in it “but not the church,” he told the group. The trio fielded questions on a variety of topics ranging from taxes and infrastructure problems to environmental concerns and farm assessment values for close to two hours. The forum began with Senator Tomes explaining that this year’s short session is now at the half way point. “Bills that have passed the Senate are now going to the House, and House bills are go-
Maryanne Watson and Tony Greenwell show Senator Jim Tomes the petition citizens have signed to keep the office at Hovey Lake. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray
ing to the Senate for hearing and voting.” Rep. Washburne added, “The short session used to be to fix technical glitches in bills, but now it moves fast and furious with new legislation.” The pols mainly discussed the pros and cons of several bills and how they voted and dispensed information about them. The biggest local issue that captured their attention, as they did not know about it beforehand, was moving the Hovey Lake State Fish and Wildlife Headquarters off the property. Land has been purchased to relocate it almost seven miles to the north near Indiana 62 and 69 in Mount Vernon. “The office needs to be where the people are. For the past thirty years, I used the area for hunting and fishing and now there is no campground, no rest rooms, and no place to report emergencies. It’s just a big parking lot and the boat ramp is there,” said Tony Greenwell, a retired Evansville businessman and officer of Ducks Unlimited. “Now at this new site they have to put in sewer lines, a parking lot, electric-
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North Posey senior Kayla Sanford sheds tears while being comforted by teammate Kaitlyn Blankenberger after the Vikings dropped a 49-47 decision to Forest Park to end their season. Photo by Dave Pearce
County asked for 4-H Community Center help By Valerie Werkmeister Fourteen abandoned Posey County houses deemed eyesores are another step closer to demolition thanks to the Blight Elimination Program. Posey County Commissioners opened bids from four contractors interested in obtaining the contract to raze each structure and return the land to green space. The ultimate goal is to return the properties to the county tax rolls. The highest bid came from O’Risky Excavating at a total of $234,347. Naas and Sons Excavating in Haubstadt had the lowest bid at $113,100. Other bids received were from Russell Excavating for $168,675 and Earth Services of Benton, lll., for $134,725. The commissioners took all bids under advisement and will award the bids during their next meeting on February 16. The commissioners also opened bids for two trucks and two former police cards previously deemed as surplus. John Hoehn was awarded the
2008 Ford truck for his high bid of $1,964. Lawrence Mattingly was the high bidder for the remaining three vehicles. He bid $703 on each of the police cars, a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria and a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria; and $303 on a Ford half-ton truck. Two motorcycles seized by the Posey County Prosecutor, Travis Clowers, were also declared as surplus items. Bids will be received for a 1994 Honda 750 and a 1987 Harley custom. Purdue Extension Educator Jon Neufelder informed the commissioners of maintenance needs at the 4-H Community Center building. He explained the 16-year-old structure is aging and long-term operating costs weren’t taken into consideration. He stated he will submit a request for additional funds during budget time later this year.
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MSDMV to have help with network upgrade By Lois Mittino Gray Everyone loves a good bargain and members of the Mount Vernon School Board were pleased to learn at its February 1 meeting that they found one. The district will be on the receiving end of a really good deal that will make the eLearning program even more outstanding. By leveraging federal funds available through
the FCC’s Category Two E-rate program, the district will have the ability to equip the school with state of the art network upgrade equipment at one third of the estimated cost. The project will cost up to $308,250 with $215,775 of that cost refunded at a later date by the federal government through the E-rate reimbursement. “We can install over $300,000 of equipment for
$92,475 in local cost which will bring all of our schools up to the highest level of network readiness,” explained School Superintendent Tom Kopatich. “It’s part of our Capital Improvements money anyway. We’ll just be able to get more bang for our buck with this new input of
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New Harmony man faces molesting charges Special to the news According to information fromt Posey County Chief Deputy Sheriff Tom Latham on February 2, 2016, a New Harmony Man has been arrested and faces child molestation charges According to Latham, the Posey County Sheriff’s Office investigated the allegations. The investigation ultimately led to the arrest of New Harmony resident 63-year-old Delbert Wayne McKinney. The criminal investigation began when the sheriff’s office was contacted by the Indiana Department of Child Services. The alleged 8-year-old victim was taken to
Delbert W. McKinney
Holly’s House where an interview was conducted. The victim stated the abuse began in January 2014 and continued to December 2015 at McKenny’s residence in New Harmony. On February 5, 2016, McKinney was interviewed by a detective and according to Latham, due to the in-depth and detailed statements, McKinney was arrested and booked into the Posey County Jail, with no bond, for level 1 Child Molesting and level 4 Sexual Misconduct with a minor. The level 1, if convicted, could carry 20-40 years in prison while the level 4 could carry 2-12 years in prison. McKinney appeared in court on Wednesday.
After 66 years, couple’s romance still ‘tasteful’ By Lois Mittino Gray Our Valentine lovebirds this year have been a couple for almost 66 years whose love blossomed with big banana splits and a first date accepted on a dare. Mount Vernon residentss Eleanor Lee and Gearld Mourer became ‘sweet’ on each aitress other when she was a 19-year-old waitress ana at Ryan’s Restaurant and made banana splits for the 22-year-old meatcutter on a, his lunch hour from Kroger’s in Attica, Ind. “I think she always made them bigger and better for me,” Gearld reminisced with a wink of an eye. Kroger employees first introducedd the new meatcutter in town to thee young waitress over early morningg rst coffee at the restaurant. The pair first started talking to each other when the resupply taurant would order the day’s meat supply and she would go across the street andd pick it What does up. Banana split lunches followed. “What n?” Gearld a 22-year-old know about nutrition?” teased. On Saturday nights, there was noo television he place for and only an occasional movie, so the k. Gearld went young people to go was the roller rink. ur shift and saw over one night after working a 13-hour nd, Dickie’s wife and the lovely Lee skating with his friend, kating, but I was just too sister. “I decided to join the ladies skating, tired after working that many hours. Dickie and his wife thought I was just being bashful when I sat down, so they dared Lee to ask me skating sometime.” “Don’t you do that to me,” Lee growled. “I’ll take your dare.” Sure
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enough, the next Monday she was at Kroger’s asking Gearld out the following Saturday to skate. Their first date involved the two skating, along with his friend Paul, who was there. When the rink closed at midnight, the trio went out ou for sandwiches and milk shakes at the local dri drive-in. Aft After dating a few months, Gearld was dri driving Lee up to St. Vincent’s Hospital in In Indianapolis for her nurse’s training. Decciding they could not be apart from each other for so long, he proposed marriage, she accepted and they turned around and went back to Williamsport and a new life together. There were no invitations sent out, but any friends and family who wanted to go tto the October 14, 1950, wedding at the W Williamsport Christian Church showed up tto celebrate. They honeymooned with a trip tto Chicago, one hour away, and a few nights visiting visi relatives in Gary, Ind. Lee, who wa was always called Eleanor by her family, confessed to Gearld G in their dating days that she really preferred her middle m name. He always called her Lee and after time, all her family and friends came around to it, too. “I ch changed both her first and last name,” he boasted. The Mourer Mourers rented a small home for three months, but spent only 12 nights there. After receiving training b ing, Gearld became the meat manager at the Union City Krogers. A succession of other jobs followed throughout their mar-
Deaths .................... A3 Legals.................B5, 9 Opinion ................A11 Retrospective........A5
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Briefly Community Center to host Rummage Sale The Posey County Community Center, located at the Posey County 4-H Fairgrounds on Highway 69 South of New Harmony, will be hosting a Rummage Sale on Saturday, March 19. The doors will be open to the public from 8 a.m. until noon. With approximately 20 vendors committing to attend, there will be a wide selection of items to choose from. Clothing, shoes, boots, kitchen and household items, collectibles, dolls, jewelry, antiques, decorations, picture frames, books, glassware; are just a few of the many items that could be available at this event. There is still vendor space available. For a registration form or more information, contact the Purdue Extension Office at: 812-838-1331 or download from our website at: https://extension.purdue. edu/posey. South Terrace raffle tickets on sale now Walt Disney World Tickets, St. Louis Cardinals Tickets, Holiday World Tickets and a ‘Visit Indy’ package are all prizes in a raffle the South Terrace Elementary PTO is conducting in conjunction with their annual Winter Carnival. Drawings will occur at the Carnival on February 27, 2016 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., ticketholders need not be present to win. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at the school, Barton’s Automotive, Froggy’s Restaurant, Silver Bell Restaurant, or by contacting the PTO at SouthTerraceElemPTO@ gmail.com. MSDMV sets Kindergarten Registration for February 10 On Wednesday, February 10, 2016, the Metropolitan School District of Mount Vernon will be conducting Kindergarten Registration. Full-day Kindergarten is offered in all three elementary schools. (If school is canceled or delayed on February 10, the make-up date is February 17.) Children whose fifth birth date occurs on or before August 1 may enroll in Kindergarten. You will need your child’s birth certificate and a current copy of his/her immunization history to complete enrollment information. To register, please go to your child’s elementary school on February 10, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Each elementary principal will be available from 9-10 a.m. on February 10 to answer questions and give a short tour of the building. If you have any questions, please call your child’s school. Farmersville 812-838-6593; Marrs; 812-9852082; West 812-833-2072.