T
P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Volume 140 Edition 12
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
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Commissioners sign solar, wind ordinace into place By Lois Mittino Gray Dr. Kyle Rapp, the Posey County Chief Health Officer, gave a presentation on the status of coronavirus in Indiana, especially in the Tri-State, to the Posey County Commissioners at their March 17, meeting. He was assisted with the update by Martye Fitts, County Health Nurse, and Denny Schaffer, Health Department Director. Together, the trio painted a picture of a county trying to assess a rapidly changing situation, working on preparedness, and trying to determine the best way to protect our population “We don’t know when it is coming to our community, but I am sure
it’s already here,” Dr. Rapp said ominously. “We need to keep social distance and sustain ourselves until the virus has run its course. We’re trying to get ahead of it as best as we can. The biggest concern is that it will overwhelm the hospitals and health system,” he observed. “Do not go to the emergency room if you have symptoms, instead call your doctor who will make recommendations.” The Mount Vernon doctor reported that county and city representatives have met and started preparations for enforcing guidelines from the state of national emergency declaration. He said there was an emergency meeting called for after the commissioner
meeting that morning to determine actions to take. “In the meantime we are making arrangements for special care needs in the county. We have drivers set up for three patients requiring lifesaving dialysis treatments to use the Council of Aging’s vehicles to transport them. Please call us if you need a delivery of groceries or prescriptions,” he emphasized. Nurse Fitts added that she has plenty of baby formula in her office if parents need any. Audience members listened intently and offered input from far left The commissioners acted upon the County Treasurer Vicki Peerman, County Assessor Nancy Hoehn, following items: --Under Old Business, the com- County Recorder Mary Rhoades, City Councilman Aaron Wilson, Mount Vernon Mayor Bill Curtis, and State Police Officer Brandon Continued on Page A7 Deig. Photo by Lois Mitino Gray
Emergency meeting sets out guidelines for safety efforts here By Lois Mittino Gray A second specially-called emergency meeting of the Posey County Commissioners was reconvened Friday afternoon in the conference room of the Posey County 911 Regional Dispatch Office, with the express goal of receiving information, deliberating, and acting on emer-
gency matters concerning COVID-19. Besides the three commissioners and legal representation, the meeting was attended by several County Council members, county elected officials and department heads, representatives of the Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and the county judicial branch, the news media, and
elected officials representing Mount Vernon, Poseyville, and New Harmony. The public was also invited to attend, with the caveat that there could be no more than 50 people present. Many actions came from it, including shutting down all close physical contact businesses for a week, designating a county
spokesperson, discussing needed supplies and anticipated fiscal losses, and possible use of the National Guard. Posey County Commission President Carl Schmitz opened the meeting noting that, “This
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Spring events Posey native tests positive in Calif. cancelled in NH, tree farm info is heard
Community advised to present info to Posey BZA
By Randy Pease Cancellations and postponements were abundant during the March 17 meeting of the New Harmony City Council. Events canceled include Spring Fling (scheduled March 2122) and Heritage Week (April 15-17). All other events sponsored by the University of Southern Indiana have been suspended until at least April 4. Pound Puppies of Posey County withdrew its application for its May 16 event at the Ribeyre Gym. They plan to resubmit and reschedule later. Chris Laughbaum, manager of the Rapp-Owen Granary, asked council members whether the Granary, a private entity, is subject to the same regulations public restaurants and bars must abide by and whether the Granary might be vulnerable to lawsuits in the event that scheduled wedding receptions must be canceled. Town Attorney Erin Bau told her that, given the extraordinary circumstances brought about by the Coronavirus , the Granary would almost certainly be immune from lawsuits, and suggested rescheduling at no cost as a prudent course of action. Whether private entities must abide by the same guidelines as public establishments remains uncertain. In other action: *Tom Guggenheim’s proposed tree farm on the Fragrant Farms property also found its way into the proceedings. Don Nightingale, who lives south of Fragrant Farms, insisted that no one in the Woodlawn area favors the project. He complained that trucks would constantly coming and going down the road and that the proposed
By Lois Mittino Gray A large group of concerned neighbors attended the Board of Zoning Appeals public hearing on Tom Guggenheim’s request for a special use permit to construct a greenhouse for a tree nursery small business at the former Fragrant Farms vineyard in New Harmony. They were prepared to speak their minds Thursday evening in the Hovey House in regard to traffic concerns about the narrow street providing access to the site. They never got a chance to do so. “My client does not want to be a bull in a china shop and blunder forward. He wants to address the concerns of the neighbors and offer them alternatives to the access issue. I would like to ask that the special use permit request be tabled until the April meeting,” explained Guggenheim’s attorney, Trent Van Haaften, in his opening statement. “We’ll put the permit request on the docket in April and you will all have the opportunity to speak then,” BZA Chairman Barry Tanner told the audience. The meeting is slated for April 9 at 5:00 p.m. in the Hovey House. “If someone submitted a letter to comment on this issue, they will all be kept on file until the next meeting. There is no need to resubmit any letters for comment,” Attorney Beth McFadin Higgins assured the crowd. Tom Guggenheim asked to speak publicly concerning his request to table the issue. “I proposed to build a structure on one acre of land and got ahead of myself. I need to slow down and address the two main concerns of the neigh-
By Dave Pearce Mount Vernon resident Cidney Wilson will be spending some extra time with her daughter, son-in-law and two of her grandchildren in California. But this time, it’s not by her choice. Wilson flew to California to visit the family and was scheduled to fly back to Indiana on Thursday. But daughter Lindsay, a former Miss Posey County and a mount Vernon High School graduate, found out that she tested positive for the Coronavirus. She believes it is likely her mother has it too. “I have had a cough for weeks, a viral infection that just wouldn’t go away,” Hartmann said in a Facebook post on Sunday. “But I could keep up with my normal routine so I didn’t go to the doctor (side note: moms, we have to take better care of ourselves).” On Wednesday evening, she felt warm and took her temperature. It registered at 99.5 so she went to bed. Once in bed, she began having what she described as “having a pinpoint pain in my chest.” On Thursday morning, she woke up coughing incessantly, had tightness in her chest, and felt like she couldn’t take a deep breath. “The moment my primary care doctor’s office opened I called and explained my symptoms,” Hartmann said. “They transferred me to a triage nurse who pre-screened me and set me up with an appointment at urgent care. At that time, she told me I screened negative because my fever wasn’t high enough and my cough wasn’t dry.” But before she left for Urgent Care, she and her husband Ben Hartmann, son of Mount Vernon residents Jeff and Brenda Hartmann, felt they had to tell Wilson’s mother, who was scheduled to fly back to Indiana that day. Hartmann is an active duty Marine in San Diego. The couple has
Mount Vernon resident Cidney Wilson and her daughter Lindsay Hartmann wait in line in California to be tested for the COVID-19 Virus. Hartmann tested positive for the virus and Wilson was not but was presumed to have the virus based on symptoms. Photo submitted So on Sunday evening, from the two sons, Abel, who is three, and family vehicle waiting in line to have Paul who will be two on March 27. “It felt irresponsible for her to go her mother swabbed, she issued the through three airports, get on two following statement. “It’s very likely my mom has it different planes, and possibly expose hundreds of people to the vi- too. We’re waiting in the car at urrus,” Hartmann said. “That was hard. gent care for her to be swabbed right Thank God she agreed to stay with now. “I’m sharing to beg each of you to stay home. I will be fine. My mom us.” Once at the Urgent Care, the is healthy and she will be fine.” Hartmann and her mother do not nurse practitioner went through all the same questions and admitted she fall into any of the high-risk groups. “could make a case for testing me.” But in terms of others who might Hartmann said she told the caregiver have been exposed, Hartmann bethat with her mother visiting and came emotional. “What brings tears to my eyes planning to return to Indiana sometime soon, it would really give us is the ‘what if’ ...what if mom had flown home,” Hartman said, “What peace of mind. “What a blessing that nurse was to if she had given the virus to my dad our family for agreeing to test me,” or 91-yr-old grandma, or God forbid she explained. “My fever has in- my pregnant sister-in-law.” But late Sunday evening, she excreased each day since Wednesday, topping out at 101.5. My cough has claimed, “We will be fine but people never been “dry.” I didn’t have the need to know how serious this is, typical symptoms but I got the call this morning my COVID-19 swab Continued on Page A7 came back positive.”
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Neighbors helping Neighbors Posey friends, neighbors step up to the ‘plate’ to help each other By Lynda Baker COVID-19 may be a giant in the land, but the people of Posey County are rising up to meet it. Volunteers are stepping up to help their neighbors, as they always have. This time though, as we are all becoming aware, it is far different than many of us can recall. Cynthiana resident Lee Rogers and Poseyville Town Marshal Charles Carter realized that children who were out of school might not be receiving nourishing daily meals. They contacted Pastor David Warren, of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Poseyville. Warren then contacted several other pastors in the area and a plan to provide free lunches to children in northern Posey County was hatched. Area businesses are also trying to keep up with the demand for food and personal items.
(USPS 439-500)
Restaurants in the area have developed pick-up and delivery services in compliance with the Governor’s recent directives. Ziggy’s Pub in Poseyville has even offered to sell bulk items to customers as they are available. Susan Weatherholt, of Hirsch’s Department Store in Poseyville, was very busy in the meat department this week, where several workers were trying to help her keep up with demand. Hirsch’s shelves have been very well stocked with fresh produce, meats and all manner of grocery and household items. Hirsch’s is presently offering pick-up service for anyone who is not comfortable coming into the grocery store. “All they have to do is call ahead!” Due to children presently being homeschooled and realizing some families may be experiencing cash flow issues, a donation box has been
set up at Poseyville’s Dollar General Store by Manager Donella Hunter. Items such as crayons, markers, coloring books and storybooks are available free to children 12 and under on the honor system. Donations of such items are currently being accepted. Carter may also pick up some of these items for delivery along with the local lunch program. Pastor Warren indicated that the public began to respond strongly within two hours of the church lunch project being announced on Facebook and via a phone system control by the school district. “By that evening we had around 50 percent of our present food volume.” The workers prepare around 25 sacks per location, per day. This Members of the Hirsch’s Grosey Store family gathered after reamount may increase to 30-40, destocking shelves over the weekend. Endless hours have been spent in pending upon demand. Dry ingredian effor to keep the people of Poseyville in groceries. Several groups Continued on Page A7 have taken positive steps to help the community. Photo submitted