SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Volume 136 Edition 16
CGB reveals $31 million plan By Valerie Werkmeister Consolidated Grain and Barge is planning a $31 million expansion project at its Posey County plant that company officials claim will help it remain competitive in the industry. Company president Steve O’Nan delivered a presentation to Posey County Council members during their meeting last Tuesday. He said the upgrades will increase the soybean processing plants’ capacity by 40 percent. The project will take 16 to 18 months to complete and is expected to employ 100 of more contract employees during construction. They also anticipate hiring five new full-time employees. He explained CGB is one of the few companies of its type that is able to operate year round. The western region office is located here and they have invested millions in facility improvements since its purchase in 1985. He added the company still employs a few of the original employees from that time. In 1997, the soybean processing plant was built and the company has invested millions in order to remain price competitive on a national level. A few of the well-known company names that utilize the products produced through the Mount Vernon facility are Wes-
son Oil, Tyson Foods, Crisco and Pilgrim’s Pride. The facility improvements will require additional soybean purchases from local farmers. The company is requesting a tax abatement. Council attorney Beth McFadin Higgins informed company officials the abatement process will take 60 days to complete. Their request will be scored by council members during their May meeting. If the abatement is unanimously approved, a declaratory resolution will be set. A public meeting will be held in June, followed by the approval of the confirmatory resolution. The council filled a seat on the Posey County Redevelopment Commission vacated by Gary Thiem following the end of his term in December. Trent Van Haaften was chosen for the position in a 3-2 vote with Stefani Miller and Don Mattingly voting against Van Haaften’s appointment while Martin Redman, Tom Schneider and Ralph Weinzapfel voting for his nomination. Councilman Dave Pearce was absent. Mattingly began the nomination by suggesting Jeff Woodford fill the seat. He stated Woodford is retired from the Air Force and currently serves on the Colise-
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Eastin Hall (first grade) as ‘Chip’ and Lily Denning (fifth grade) as ‘Mrs. Potts’ performed for a packed house at Saint Matthew School’s rendition of ‘The Beauty and the Beast.’ Photo by Zach Straw
MSDMV building corp sees progress, staff shortages By Lois Mittino Gray Once a year members of the Mount Vernon Multi-School Building Corporation meet to do standard business, hear reports on finances and dream big about new projects to fund. At its annual meeting on April 11, the quintet elected officers, hired an attorney, approved minutes, heard the annual financial report and discussed recent building projects and funding for later on down the road. Topics included upgrades of chillers, lights and room ventilators, the future
of Hedges Central and Booker T. Washington schools, the success of the health clinic, testing for lead in water, and the prediction of staff shortages. Larry Williams will serve another year as corporation president, Gayle Vogel will continue as vice-president and J. Michael Ashworth will remain as Treasurer. Jerry Rutledge was elected to serve as secretary, a position formerly held by Michael Keene, who moved to Louisiana. Bob Stemple was appointed to replace Keene at the last school
board meeting. Adam Farrar and his VHF law firm were retained for another year as legal representative at the rate of $175 per hour for services rendered. Mount Vernon Director of Business Loren Evans gave the Corporation’s annual financial report “We have three funds in Old National Trust and the balances in the Construction and the Sinking Funds are now at zero. The Operating and
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‘Spring flush’ could result in ‘rust-colored’ MV water
Marcia and Bob Lange clown around as they admire a 1960 red Corvette at the Cruise-In in New Harmony on Saturday. The classic car is owned by Phil Gray of Albion, Illinois. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray
By Lois Mittino Gray Mount Vernon’s newest and youngest council member took her seat at the table for the first time at the April 14 Mount Vernon Common Council meeting. Brittaney Johnson was introduced to the audience by Mayor Bill Curtis, whose District 4 seat she was appointed to fill in a caucus held just last week. Curtis vacated the position when he moved up to Mayor, replacing John Tucker who resigned in February due to illness. Johnson will be chairman of the Water Department, but being just a tyro, she deferred to Water Superintendent Chuck Gray to give a report to the Water Utility Board. He warned that water users may find a rusty color in their water next week when he does the ‘spring flush.’ “We
used to use Redox to keep our pipes clean, but now we use a product called Oracle to combat scale in our distribution system,” he explained. “It may give a rusty color, but don’t panic. It’s not lead in the water or anything like that. Just call our office and we will come out and flush the lines for you.” Several persons were in the audience to check on the status of the nuisance ordinance which has been in discussion for years. They learned a draft ordinance has been prepared by Councilmen Andy Hoehn and Brian Jeffries and Attorney Higgins. It has been sent to Acting Police Chief Bryan Angel and other council members for review.
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Sanders provides venue for grandmother’s art display By Brooke Simpson At 94 years old, Geraldine McFadin, a life-long Posey County resident, is finally realizing the dream of a public showing of her fashion illustrations. But enhancing her dream is the fact that they are being shown at the Blueline Gallery in Bloomington, Ind., where her artwork is on display until the end of April. The gallery is owned by McFadin’s granddaughter and Mount Vernon High School graduate Chelsea Sanders. Coming from a poor family McFadin and her sisters had to make their own clothes, or alter hand-me-downs from their aunts. Going to town was not just a trip for groceries or to the soda shop. For Geraldine it was a chance to look at the new clothes that were in the windows in clothing stores and deciding how she could make those for herself. Even at a young age, McFadin was honing her artistic ability through fashion. While in grade school she loved art and was good in all subjects. Although it was through art that her creativity shined. She spoke of an art assignment that involved putting a face on a jack-o-lantern. Being creative and expressing her talent through drawings, she embellished her picture with leaves and fall scenery. Even as a child she thought outside the box, and never let her passion for art be silenced
even though the teacher did not have much appreciation for her creativeness and gave her bad marks. McFadin spoke fondly of the art teacher she had while attending Mount Vernon High School, Mrs. Beavers, who helped her with extended lessons, even past graduation in 1940. This gave her the opportunity to teach students and mentor them as was done for her. Through that she was given the opportunity to paint a mural about Indiana’s history in the library at the high school. Beavers was an integral part of her pupil’s future as she encouraged her to apply for a scholarship to the Academy of Commercial Art and Design, located in Indianapolis. Her talent earned her the scholarship and she was able to find a family that provided her with a place to live in exchange for household chores and cooking. Geraldine McFadin of Mount Vernon and her granddaughter, While attending the Academy she developed Chelsea Sanders, at Blueline Gallery in Bloomington. This was Mcthe desire to work in advertising, but during Fadin’s first gallery showing of her fashion drawings at the age of 94. Chelsea is the owner of Blueline Art Gallery and Company and is Continued on Page A10 McFadin’s granddaughter. Photo by Brooke Simpson
Briefly PC Historical Society meeting to feature Brian Lankford Brian Lankford’s topic of discussion for the April 23, 2016 meeting of the Posey County Historical Society will be ‘Researching Your German Ancestors, at Home and Abroad.’ The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the Wabash Room (formerly Room B) at the Alexandria Public Library. Members and friends are welcome to attend. MVHS Class of ‘76 to hold reunion meeting The Mount Vernon High School Class of 1976 will be having a class reunion meeting Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at Hawg ’N Sauce in Mount Vernon. Hope to see you there. Contact Chris Nix Harp or Becky Higgins 812-204-7388 for more information. INDY 500 100th Anniversary Presentation scheduled for April 22 Donald C. Davidson, Official INDY 500 Historian and host of the radio program ‘The Talk of Gasoline Alley’ will speak at the Working Men’s Institute, 407 West Tavern Street, New Harmony, on Friday,April 22, 2106 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. The public is invited to this free event. Friends of WMI lecture to feature historic interpreter The Friends of the Working Men’s Institute’s second lecture in their 2016 Lecture Series features
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Albert Roberts. He will speak at the Working Men’s Institute (WMI) in New Harmony on Thursday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Albert Roberts is a talented historic interpreter who portrays a Regency doctor in character. He will be giving ‘a dramatic, entertaining and educational first-person presentation that demonstrates and explains common surgical techniques of the Regency Period.’ NH Farmer’s and Artisans Market set opening day The New Harmony Artisan’s Market is closing in on opening day for the 2016 New Harmony farmers and Artisans Market on April 23, 2016. Vendors may find the necessary registration at http://newharmonyfarmersandartisans market.com. The market will feature fresh baked bread, granola, early spring greens, farm eggs, bedding plants, and cool local artisanal items for your perusal. Hoosier Salon New Harmony Gallery sponsors Kid’s Mini-Workshop The Hoosier Salon New Harmony Gallery is sponsoring a Kid’s Mini-Workshop on Saturday, April 23 during the 18th Annual First Brush of Spring Paint Out. The session is from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Murphy Park Shelter House in New Harmony. Jamie Rasure will coordinate the event which will provide children the opportunity to create original art which they may enter into the Youth Competition at the Paint Out. Pre-registration is required. Hoosier Salon children’s programs are offered free to all children and some supplies will be furnished. Children younger than 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. For more information or to enroll a child, call Jamie at 812-6732777 or 483-2357.