T
P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Volume 137 Edition 17 $1.00
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
County drug roundup leads to 13 arrests One suspect still at large in ‘Operation Gray Ghost’ By Dave Pearce Members of several area policing agencies converged early Friday morning for a briefing in Posey County. Another roundup of suspected drug-related arrest warrants were served on Friday morning and Posey County Drug Task Force Detective Kenneth Rose proclaimed the operation a success. “We had sought to bring in nine individuals on all sorts of drug-related charges and we made seven of those nine arrests on Friday morning,” according to Rose. “Then, as a result of those warrants being served, we picked up several ‘residual’ arrests. There were a total of 13 arrests made on Friday morning.” According to Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers, this operation started in August of 2016 under direction of Kenneth Rose who is the Narcotics Detective for the Posey County
More photos of Friday’s arrests on Page A10
Continued on Page A10
Mount Vernon High School seniors Trinity Reynolds and Wade Ripple were crowned king and queen of the prom just before midnight on Saturday night at the Old National Events Plaza in Evansville. Photo by Dave Pearce
Thomas Ashworth Any information call 812-838-1321
Parker Brennan
Cody Miller
Cody Brown
Lisa Sydnor
Michael Duncan
Wanda Seabeck
Craig Brandon
Carlton Waller
Aaron Eggers
Russell Greene
Harold Kester, Jr.
Melissadee Waller
Tasheina Waller
Charlie Williams
MV sewer, water rates to increase By Lois Mittino Gray Mount Vernon’s sewer and water rates are going to go up to pay for bond issues. Sewer and Water Rate studies were presented by Scott Miller of Umbaugh and Associates of Indianapolis, at the Mount Vernon Common Council meeting on April 13. The certified public accountant presented two funding options for the council to consider to pay for bonds for the phosphorous removal in sewage project. Miller began by reminding everyone loudly that this is a “federally mandated, but unfunded project.” In short, required by federal law at the city’s expense.
Briefly North Posey Junior High: Peter Pan April 28, 7 p.m. North Posey High School First Baptist Church: Spaghetti Dinner April 29, 4-6 p.m. East Tavern Street, NH PC Pound Puppies: Craft/Classic Car Show April 29, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Ribeyre Gymnasium, NH MVSHS: Blood Drive May 5, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. MVHS Counceling Office 4-H: Share the Fun Talent Contest May 5, 7 p.m. NPHS Auditorium, PV MV Water Street: Wine Fest May 6, 3-11 p.m. Riverfront, MV Poseyville: Town-wide Yard Sale May 13, 7 a.m. Poseyville, Ind. More information on these and other events inside today’s Posey County News
(USPS 439-500)
Miller offered a potential aid to this expense by using a state funding mechanism (SRF) that uses federal EPA grant funds to issue bonds. SRF works on the State of Indiana’s fiscal year, and to take advantage of the SRF’s low two percent interest rate, the bond issue would need to be closed by May 31 of this year. The total estimated cost for the project is $2,596,000 based on engineers’ estimates and bids will be opened April 25 so they can lock down final costs.
Continued on Page A11
Downing Road trailer draws complaints from neighbor By Valerie Werkmeister An abandoned trailer on 10417 Downing Road near St. Phillips and Highway 66 has drawn the ire of one neighbor. Steve Helfrich addressed the Posey County Commissioners during their April 18, meeting to express his frustration and concerns about the shameful state the property has become. He stated the trailer has deteriorated and blows debris onto his property. Grass and weeds grew over six feet tall last summer before another neigh-
bor mowed the property. Feral cats breed underneath the trailer and are a neighborhood nuisance. This is not the first time the property has come before the commissioners. Building commissioner Ed Battieger started the nuisance ordinance violation process last year. However, he stated the property was out of the county’s jurisdiction since it was not visible from the road. The com-
Continued on Page A11
2018 property assessments already arriving in the mail By Valerie Werkmeister For the first time in the history of the Posey County Council, a woman presided over the meeting. Steering the helm for the April 11 meeting was Stefani Miller. She is currently the council’s vice president, but in president Don Mattingly’s absence, she served as the council’s leader. The first matter before the council involved the recent passing of one of Judge Redwine’s court reporters. Katrina Mann recently passed away and Redwine requested 494.5 hours of accumulated personal time, sick time, vacation and flex time to be paid to her family. The total benefit to be paid to her family is $9,200. A publication will appear in the newspaper before the payout is finalized. Redwine stated a new employee won’t be hired until after May 1. Tax bills were recently mailed out to Posey County property owners
Continued on Page A11
Board approves sales from city’s ‘limb yard’ By Lois Mittino Gray Members of the Mount Vernon Board of Public Works approved the sale of reusable materials from the city “limb yard” at its April 13 meeting. Street Commissioner Max Dieterle brought proposed fees and procedures to the board, after discussions they had at the last meeting, and the fees were accepted and established. “It has become a dump site for the state when they clean road shoulders and ditches,” he said. “There is a lot of interest in the millings from street paving, and there will soon be a lot of good
Continued on Page A11