THE FIRST WEEKEND OF MAY, NEW HARMONY, IND...
Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN
“Our lib “O liberties ti we prize, i and d our rights i ht we will ill maintain.” i t i ” Posey County’s only locally-owned newspaper
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
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(USPS S4 439-500) 39 5 0 0) Volume 134 Edition 16
Third graders, board, and schools celebrate honors By Valerie Werkmeister North Posey School Board members were full of good news as they celebrated notable achievements by some of its schools during their board meeting last Wednesday, April 16. Dr. Angie Wannemuehler stated that 100 percent of the district’s third grade students passed the IREAD-3 assessment testing. All third grade students must pass the test in order to advance to fourth grade. This is the third year for the state-mandated test. Wannemuehler stated this is the first time the district has had 100 percent of its students pass the test the first time. In the past, seven or eight students have had to re-take the test. In addition, North Posey Junior High (NPJH) and South Terrace Elementary School (STES) achieved the rating as a four-star
school. Wannemuehler stated this places the schools among the top 25 percent in the state. Board members praised the hard work by the students and teachers to achieve these goals. Superintendent Dr. Todd Camp also recognized the work of the board members for their award as an Outstanding School Board. They received the award during a meeting with the Indiana School Board Association. Plans for a new media center at NPJH with a 21st century outlook were presented by principal Steve Kavanaugh and Wannemuehler. The current library was built in 1959 and was renovated in 1970, but the needs of the students then are much different from those now. Wannamuehler explained that to prepare students for college and career readiness
goals, they need supportive learning environments. She stated the current facility is a traditional library with hardback books. There is minimal use of technology, unused space issues, no collaborative work areas, and no independent study areas. Kavanaugh showed board members a sample floor plan and explained some of the goals they’d like to obtain by updating the current facility. Two existing offices would be eliminated to make way for 36 computer stations. A collaborative work study area would include a white board so that students could work in groups within the space and problemsolve using the white board. The entire library would be re-designed to allow several independent study carols, desk spaces with mul-
timedia connections and spaces for classes to work together on projects. Kavanaugh said his goal is to create an environment where kids want to go to the media center. Board president Steve Bender thanked Kavanaugh for the presentation and added he would be interested in more data concerning the proposed project. Board members agreed with Bender and approved Camp’s request to move forward with more detailed plans and development with an architect. Kavanaugh’s request to spend $10,000 to purchase new weight-lifting equipment for both the junior high and high school was approved following a brief presentation of the
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County fathers award bids By Valerie Werkmeister Posey County Commissioners tackled a busy agenda in their first meeting of the month. They discussed and awarded numerous bids that ranged from contractors replacing bridges and supplies for the county highway department to reassessment companies for the Assessor’s office. Commissioner president Carl Schmitz opened and read bids from four local contractors who supplied bids to replace Bridge 64 on Barrett Switch Road. DK Parker and Sons submitted the low bid of $242,346 that was accepted after highway superintendent Steve Schenk’s review. Other bids included O’Risky Construction - $257,950; Blankenberger Brothers $259,000; and Russell Excavating- $296,500. Tyler Technologies submitted the lone bid to complete the county’s assessment tasks. Assessor Nancy Hoehn and Commissioner Jim Alsop spoke highly of the company noting they had demonstrated the ability to do the job in a timely manner. Their bid totaled $344,365 and will be billed in four installments as each phase of the process is completed. Hoehn explained this bid is $100,000 less than other companies had bid in previous years. The commissioners accepted their bid. Schenk requested approval to award bids to a variety of companies that submitted bids for chip and seal paving and hot mix material. He stated in some cases it served the county well to use companies that were closer in proximity to county highway garages located in Mount Vernon or those
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Leah Kramar, Avery Collins, Ally Malone, Cassie Reeves, Makali Carter, Ella Jones, and Sydnie Smith perform at the Next Step Cheer Expo on Saturday afternoon at North Posey High School. See page A8 for more on this event. Photo by Dave Pearce
With Arts event set for May 5, NH thinks clean to a recent mapping project, veterans’ grave markers have been identified. As a result, local Girl Scouts will place American flags on their graves in time for Memorial Day. Don Gibbs mentioned the annual spring clean-up day will be held on Friday, May 2. Town employee Bobby Grider informed the council that new street signs for Main, Church and North Streets have been com-
By Valerie Werkmeister New Harmony Town Council members briefly met for their monthly meeting Thursday, April 17, with a light agenda of discussion items. Council member Andrew Wilson updated the council on activities at Maple Hill Cemetery. A public work day will be held on Sunday, May 18 to repair 59 monuments. Thanks
pleted and hung. The old street signs are available for purchase. They will cost $20 and anyone interested in purchasing the signs should contact the town hall. The council approved two festival applications. The Arts in New Harmony event will be held on May 3-4 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Golden Raintree Antique Show will be held on June 14, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
and on June 15, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. New Harmony residents are urged to apply for their golf cart registration renewals before the end of the month or they could face a fee increase. Town Council President Joe Straw stated that while town marshal Scott Champlin is on sick leave, residents
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‘Very successful’ First Brush comes to close
By Lois Mittino Gray Former New Harmony resident Faith Peterlin was thrilled to win the Youth Division of the Pleine Aire Paintout when she returned to paint alfresco in her old home town. Her painting of the Granary amid blooming pear trees won first place when awards were announced on Saturday afternoon, April 12 at the Catholic Community Center. It was the first time the young artist, the daughter of Frank and Michelle Peterlin,
participated in the sixteen-year-old event. George Rapp, founder and host along with his wife, Peggy, reminisced that the Paintout started sixteen years ago as a one day event sponsored by the Hoosier Salon. Thirty five people attended that Saturday long ago and now George calls it the ‘Greatest Midwestern outdoor show without a doubt.’ There were 155 adult registrations and several students involved. Many of the participating students were from Mount Vernon High School and
the University of Southern Indiana. The art sale in the Ribeyre Gymnasium Saturday morning featured 52 artists and a total of 75 works were sold. The Hoosier Salon gets 40 percent of all sales for its projects and the sales totaled $24,834.25. The First Brush of Spring, as it is called, is getting so popular that next year it will expand to two weeks. The paintout will be from April 15-18, 2015 followed by a welcome dinner on Sunday, April 19 for
Briefly New Harmonie Healthcare hosts Red Cross blood drive
Early voting has begun Early voting began at the Courthouse in Mount Vernon on Tuesday April 8. The Courthouse is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Monday thru Friday. Also, Saturday April 26 and May 3, the Courthouse will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for your convenience. Due to many uncontested Primary races, there will be no satellite sites available this spring. Questions, contact Posey County Clerk Betty Postletheweight at 812-838-1306, or betty.poseyclerk@yahoo.com
Reising to hold second book launch
North Posey High School announces graduation date North Posey High School Graduation will be held Friday, May 23, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.
Retrospective ...... A 4 Legals ............... B 5 - 8 Classifieds .... B12-13 Community ......... A 5
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Council meets Valero officials
New Harmonie Healthcare will host a blood drive May 1, 2014 at the healthcare center from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Donors are needed. Please contact facility at 682-4104 to schedule your time.
Linda Neal Reising will be holding a second book launch for her chapbook of poetry entitled Re-Writing Family History (Finishing Line Press) since the first was hampered by inclement weather in February. She and members of two local writing groups, First Mondays and Entry House Poets, will be reading at the Women’s Institute and Gallery located at 116 E. Granary in New Harmony on Saturday, May 3. The event will be a part of the Arts in New Harmony celebration taking place that weekend. Scheduled to read are: Barbara Bennett, Caroline Nellis, Tom Raithel, Linda Neal Reising, Susan Stark, Jessica Thompson, and Mark Williams. The reading will be followed by a reception and a book signing. Reising’s book will be available for $12., at 2 p.m.
teaching workshops all the following week. This year the five teaching workshops were from Sunday to Wednesday, followed by the Paintout. The teaching workshops are very popular and featured respected artists such as Quang Ho from Denver, Colorado and CW Mundy from Indianapolis. Hoosier Salon Director Maggie Rapp said she opened registration
Madison Paul, age eight, of Poseyville, the daughter of John and Holly Paul will represent Posey County in a state pageant in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 2. The pageant is run by Beautiful Me Productions. Madison has already won 12 crowns including Little Miss Posey County, Supreme, Queen, Ambassador, People’s Choice, Prettiest Hair and Smile, Mommy/Daughter Look Alike and Ultimate Grand Supreme winner. A pageant for boys and girls with a pretty dress and camouflage wear theme will be held in Poseyville on July 27. Photo submitted.
Deaths .............. ...A3 Church ................ A 7 Social .................. A 6 School ................. A 8
By Valerie Werkmeister The new owners of the former Aventine plant in Mount Vernon made an appearance before the Posey County Council last week to request a tax abatement. Officials from Valero Renewable Fuels Company, LLC, the world’s third largest independent refinery recently purchased the Aventine plant and plan to have it in operation by mid-summer. Martin Parrish, Valero Vice President- Alternative Energy and Development said with the acquisition of the Mount Vernon plant, Valero now owns 11 corn ethanol plants. Most of those sites are located in the nation’s corn belt in Nebraska, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. It is also the second plant of its kind in Indiana. Parrish added that with the addition of the Mount Vernon plant, the company will produce 1.3 billion gallons of ethanol per year, which is 10 percent of the United States market. Joshua Malancuk, a Valero consultant stated it is a unique opportunity for Valero to acquire a used plant and retrofit it to get it to work. He felt it was a win-win situation for the company and Posey County. They will retain six of the Aventine employees that remain and plan to hire 61 additional employees. The average wage for the positions is $26 per hour. Malancuk added they will use local suppliers and contractors whenever possible. In terms of their re-
Sports ............... B 1 - 5 Bus/Ag ...............A 1 1 Opinion ............. A 1 4 TV Guide........ B9-10
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