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“Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.”
(USPS 439-500)
Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN Posey County’s locally-owned newspaper
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
$1.00
Volume 133 Edition 12
Rynkiewich named new Viking football skipper By Valerie Werkmeister North Posey High School has a new varsity football coach. MSD of North Posey School Board members named Paul Rynkiewich as the new coach for the 2013 season. He replaces long-time coach, Joe Gengelbach, who announced his retirement last month. Board president Steve Bender stated they did an exhaustive search for a new coach and determined that Rynkiewich was at the top of the list of choices. Others who were approved for employment included Kay Rudolph as a temporary kindergarten aide at North Elementary for the remainder of the year and Kyle Lewis as the boys’ golf coach for the 2013 season. Board members approved an overnight trip request by Marilyn
Rogers to take 14 Health Occupation Students of America to the State Leadership Conference in Indianapolis on April 15-17. All expenses for the trip are paid for by the students. Superintendent Dr. Todd Camp informed the board that animals will be present in classrooms at North Elementary during a Silly Safari presentation on March 21. Parents have the option to exempt students from the presentation if they choose. North Posey teachers will soon have the option to take self defense training taught by Posey County Sheriff Deputy Andy Porath. He will teach six, two-hour sessions beginning in April. In other business, the board approved: •A request by Eric Long to declare a list of North Elementary
School technology items as surplus. •A request by Shannon Schickel to allow her children to continue attending South Terrace Elementary School after their move to a new home within the North Elementary School district. •The retirement request of JoBerta Campbell. She has taught for 34 years. •The resignation of Leacca Dillman as HS head cook. •The resignation of Sandy Horn as junior high girls’ basketball coach. •The resignation of Rich Easterling as high school boys’ basketball coach. •The resignation of Nick Berry as junior high boys’ basketball coach. •A request by Brandon Barrett to have Lauren Akin and Lindsey Droege as volunteer girls’ tennis
coaches for the upcoming season. •A request by Kevin Smith to have Damien Word, Darrick Wiggins, Ryan Neumann and Ryan Jones as volunteer baseball coaches for the upcoming season. •A request by junior high principal Steve Kavanaugh and Chris Barker to have Brad Miller and Derek Trodglen as volunteer track coaches for the upcoming season. •A professional leave request by Pam Spahn from March 11-14. •An FMLA request by Shannon Shickel from August 12-September 20 for the birth of her child. •An FMLA request by Tammy Thurman from February 24-May 22 for a serious health condition. The next regular school board meeting will be Monday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the corporation office.
Paul Rynkiewich
Posey police make arrest, seek another
Firm hired to work for McManomy family makes calls to Posey residents
Special to the news As a result of an undercover investigation by the Posey County Drug Task Force which was initiated in May of 2012, the task force obtained an arrest warrant on March 15 for Dawn Marie Davis for dealing methamphetamine. On the same day, task force personnel additionally obtained a search warrant for a residence located on Graddy Road in rural Posey County in connection with the undercover investigation. Around noon on Friday, personnel of the Posey County Drug Task Force and the Posey County Sheriff’s Deparatment executed the search warrant. During the search, officers located a clandestine meth lab along with five weapons which included two semi-auto handguns and three shotguns. Officers further located marijuana and drug paraphernalia. As a result of the search, property owner Frank Davis, age 43, of Mount Vernon was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance. The meth lab is still being investigated at press time. Dawn Davis was not located at the residence when officers arrived. She is being sought on the active felony arrest warrant and anyone with information as to her whreabouts can contact any local law enforcement agency.
By Dave Pearce According to information received recently from Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth, Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers, and Posey County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jonathan Parkhurst, something rare could be brewing in the case of Brandon McManomy. McManomy was found guilty a few weeks ago by a Posey County jury of attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery resulting in serious bodily injury and resisting law enforcement for slashing the face of a Posey County Sheriff’s deputy in 2011. The trial was held in Posey Superior Court. A company, whose number shows up on caller identification as K&B International, has allegedly been making calls to some random Posey County residents. According to information researched by area officials, the company is a jury research firm operating in the State of Texas. “When we listened to the jail phone calls of McManomy, his family indicated they were going to try to overturn this conviction by hiring private investigators to research the jurors and see if they could find a way,” Clowers said. “Maybe they could find that one of the jurors went to church with officer Montgomery or something along that line. I think they are calling people to see if they can find a way to overturn this case.” But Sheriff Greg Oeth’s home and Chief Deputy Sheriff Melvin Buchanan’s home also received the calls, leading Parkhurst to believe that the company has been hired in regards to the civil suit, which is expected to be upcoming. Clowers said the purpose of the calls has been consistent as several Posey residents have reported receiving the calls and were given a survey about criminal justice in Posey County. “They have asked ‘What is your opinion of the prosecutor?’ and ‘What are your opinions of the sheriff’,” Clowers explained. “They ask about a few different cases. They have asked about the Timothy Lear case, and the Steven Brakie cases, but then they focus mainly on the McManomy case from what I understand.” Clowers explained that the last reference point of the calls that have been reported have asked the respondents, “Did you know that the Posey County Sheriff is considering suing the McManomy family.” Clowers acknowledged that a civil suit may be forthcoming because the knife McManomy was using to stab himself was also used to slice the neck
MVYB raff e tickets available
Every child who plays MVYB will be out trying to sell raffle tickets to help pay for uniforms, equipment and other things needed to play baseball. Please help them and us out by purchasing one or more of these tickets. Each ticket costs $5 with a chance to win $500. Tickets are available from players or any MVYB board member. .
RGRG collects cans for cause
The Ribeyre Gym Restoration Group is collecting aluminum cans to support their renovation projects. Cans may be dropped off in the trailer, which is parked on the West side of the old fire station on Tavern Street. Your support is appreciated.
Johnson UMC sale set
JUMC-United Methodist Women in New Harmony is holding its annual Geranium Sale. Orders need to be placed by Wednesday, April 3. Color choices are red, salmon, pink, fuchsia, and white. They will be $4.50 each. To purchase geraniums you may call the church office from 9-11 a.m. Monday thru Friday at 682-4648 or e-mail your order to: JUMC@att.net. They will be ready for pick-up on Saturday, April 20 at JUMC from 10-12.
Eliza Eisterhold is hugged by her boyfriend Anthony Raben after Eisterhold had her head shaved at the Ford Center in Evansville prior to the Icemen game on Saturday night. She and her workplace, Salon 5021, raised over $8,000 for St. Baldrick’s Cancer Research. Several members of Eliza’s family joined her in shaving their heads. Among them is boyfriend Raben, her father Joe Eisterhold, and Raben’s father. Photo by Dave Pearce
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Poseyville residents to enjoy gas bill reprieve By Valerie Werkmeister A long, cold winter and higher gas rates has Poseyville residents longing for warm weather and sunshine. This year’s weather is a direct contrast to last year’s early spring and warm weather. Julie Mayo of the Poseyville Utilities Office announced a little relief is on the way for Poseyville gas users. The latest gas tracker decreased by 16-and-a-half percent. The rate will be applied to consumption months in February, March and April. It will be reflected on bills in March, April and May. Mayo also explained that bills in January and February were higher than normal for some residents due to an estimated billing in December. Heavy snowfall made it difficult for meter readers to reach some areas. Mayo added there was also an extra billing week in January and that, coupled with the higher gas rate, caused bills to be high in February. Pat Callahan, a CPA, tracks gas prices every three months for Poseyville. The utility isn’t allowed to make a profit, so periodic gas rate adjustments are made. Poseyville Fire Chief Chris Neaveill reported their recent chili supper made approximately $775 profit. J & S Communications of Evansville donated a 55-inch TV for a raffle fundraiser. Bill Hopf was chosen as the winner. There are still nine gallons of chili remaining that can be purchased for $10 on a first-come, first-served basis by calling 812-457-2049. Town Council President Bruce Baker noted that the community center is having a new floor installed in the main area. Since the center’s opening 11 years ago, there have been approximately 150,000 people in the building. Baker read a quote from Pittsburgh Paint and Tower Company that included painting, cleaning and welding the water tower. The total cost will be $44,400. No action was taken. A discussion on street lights in town was tabled until council member Steve Ahrens is able to attend the meeting. The new town hall being constructed along Main Street is nearing completion. The furniture, filing system and communication system have yet to be installed. Baker anticipates a special dedication day sometime the end of April. Poseyville resident Randy Rankin asked council members if anyone had
ThePCN
voiced concern about a noise problem with the use of a new sandblaster at Nix Welding on Fletchall Street. Baker stated the business has partially enclosed the sandblaster, but it has not fully alleviated the problem. Baker, along with council member, Ron Fallowfield, agreed that a type of muffler
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Poseyville seeks grant to build sewer system By Valerie Werkmeister The Town of Poseyville hopes to alleviate its flooding woes with the aid of a Focus Fund grant through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). Residents on the southeast portion of town have endured flooding problems due, in part, to a lack of storm water drainage inlets. Debbie Bennet-Stearsman, a grant administrator for the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, presented an outline during a public hearing on March 13. Poseyville is requesting a $500,000 grant to build a new storm water system. The town will pay $100,000 utilizing its own sewer operating funds bringing the total project cost to $600,000. Eric Smith from Hannum, Wagle and Cline engineering firm in Terre Haute explained the scope of the project. He stated the new system will be built in the right-of-way along South Sharp Street. It will include more drainage inlets and pipes as big as 48-inches in diameter to accommodate the water flow. A few residents who are greatly impacted by flooding during heavy rains spoke at the public hearing. Charles Johnson of 218 S. Sharp Street stated he is glad to see this project moving forward and it gives him hope. He has experience flooding at his residence for the past seven years. With the aide of the fire department, he has had as much as 100,000 gallons of water pumped out of his yard.
Inside this issue... Retrospective ................... A4 Community ........... A5 Social ...................... A6 Legals ................................. B5 Deaths ................ A3 Sports .................. B1-4 Classifieds ..................... B6-8 Church .................. A6 Bus/Ag .................. A7
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