This Copy Especially Reserved For:
Easter Special Section INSIDE SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times
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Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Volume 142 Edition 14
Black River Center asks to join Poseyville Sewer System By Theresa Bratcher Brian Bullock, project manager with BLN engineering, was present. He had a proposal for The Town of Poseyville to accept the sewage from the Black River Rest Stop. A map was provided for consideration. They are proposing that the rest stop install needed sewage lines and equipment. At the time of completion, the Town of Poseyville will take ownership and maintenance of lines and equipment. They would like the town to consider a wholesale rate or what is called and INDOT rate of service. This will be a sewage only line being installed with a grinder at the rest stop. Approximately 26,000 feet of line will be run in this project. Tonight, the BLN company would like to see if the board would consider moving forward with negotiations. Negotiations will
start with a contract agreement to be approved by the board and reviewed by town attorney William Bender, at a later date. Jeremy Farrar, town operator/manager, was present via zoom to interject his thoughts he expressed concerns on the slow times for the rest area (winter months) with little no movement in the pipes. This could cause issues with gas build up. Farrar wanted to know if they were considering any fix for this in the design process. BLN is in the beginning phase of this project will be reaching out to the county has they progress. The projected date for beginning the project is January 2024 and finishing sometime in 2025. Right-aways may be needed to be purchased. A motion was made to allow BLN to move forward with design and discussion to tie in
Black River Rest area sanitation. Brad Hudoff speaking on behalf of Smithville Broad band was on zoom to assist with any questions or concerns the board had on the Broadband project. Baehl led with the question of whether they would need right-of-way fees. The town would potentially have fees because of repair,s labor, and right-of-way purchases. The Smithville representative indicated he was not opposed to paying a fee he just wants the town to make a proposal of what they want. Collins indicated he feels there should be an annual fee to cover potential costs. Maybe a cost per foot. Hudoff said they had paid Bloomington a use of right-of-way. It was reasonable a one-time fee. They also had a per unit fee. The concern is in the older part of
Mount Vernon man sentenced in death of dog
Poseyville infrastructure may need repairing and they may cause additional cost due to the location of lines. Councilman Bruce Baker said the town would get a proposal together. Council asked William Bender to prepare and send off proposal to them. Again, cause for concern development of new subdivision and right-of-way that will then need to be purchased. Judy Baehl, representing Relay For Life, requested permission to hold the Town Wide Yard Sale sponsored by Relay for Life. The date requested was May 7, Mother’s Day weekend from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The Twon Council agreed that they would provide a dumpster for the towns use on that weekend. The Poseyville Police Department will be
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Uncertainty surrounds Holy Angels building
Special to the News A Mount Vernon man will serve prison time after being convicted of killing a puppy in Posey County. On the morning of Wednesday, March 30, 2022, Robert Wolf, age 32, appeared in the Posey Circuit Court where he was sentenced by Judge Craig Goedde to a total of five (5) years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including Killing a Domestic Animal, a Level 6 Felony, and admitting to violating conditions of supervised Wolf released in an separate criminal matter. As part of his guilty plea, Wolf admitted to causing the death of a 9-to-10 weak old puppy by striking it multiple times. Wolf did not receive the benefit of a plea agreement from Posey County Pros- Little Victoria Baumgart shows little interest in a photo session with ecutor Thomas Clowers. As such, Wolf the Easter Bunny on Sunday afternoon at Western Hills. Photo by faced a possible sentence ranging from a Dave Pearce minimum six months to a maximum twoand-a-half years in prison for causing the death of the puppy. At sentencing, Clowers requested the maximum sentence. After hearing evidence and argument, the court sentenced Wolf to two years in prison for killing the puppy, as well as an additional three years in prison for violating the terms of a separate sentence for a total of five years in prison. At sentencing, Prosecutor Clowers presented evidence of Wolf’s 2017 conviction for Cruelty to an Animal, a Class A Misdemeanor, as well as a 2020 conviction for Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to Person Less Than 14 Years of Age, a Former Posey County Clerk Betty Postletheweight is presented one of the prizes at the Latham for Sheriff dinner. Photo by Dave Pearce Continued on Page A7
By Lois Mittino Gray What does the future hold for the closed Holy Angels Catholic Church in New Harmony? The question of its fate is being considered at this time by its current owners, St. Francis Xavier Parish in Poseyville. With expensive maintenance and upkeep looming ahead, the aging historic structure may need to be sold, preserved through a grant process, or demolished. The Diocese of Evansville disbanded the Holy Angels parish community in July, 2014, and turned over ownership of the church, rectory and community center with its grounds to the Poseyville parish. The church was declared an oratory, or place where weddings and funerals could be held upon request, but regular masses would no longer be said there. Holy Angels originally began in 1898 as a mission church of St. Francis Xavier. Anne Scarafia, a former Holy Angels Parishioner, has extended an invitation to anyone interested in saving and preserving Holy Angels Church, located at 805 Main Street. She has arranged for Marsh Davis, the Indiana Director of Historic Landmarks, to meet with those interested in preserving the church building on Tuesday, April 12 at 11 a.m. The meeting will be in the Holy Angels Community Center. Father Ed Schnur, St. Francis Xavier Pastor, met with former parishioners of Holy Angels after mass on Sunday, March 20. At that time, he explained that the Buildings and Grounds Committee feels it is time to make some improvements to the church. He has bids that are about a year old ranging from $72,000 to $93,000 for repairs. The roof was replaced 25 years ago and needs it again. The window frames are breaking down and plexiglass put onto the vibrant stained glass
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New Harmony’s Holy Angels Church. Photo by Theresa Bratcher
Mount Vernon Councilwoman Jillian Brothers is Phenominal By Lois Mittino Gray Mount Vernon School Social Worker Jillian Brothers received an extraordinary thirtieth birthday gift this year on March 29. At a banquet coinciding with her special three decade day, she was named the University of Southern Indiana’s Phenomenal Woman of 2022. After accepting the desktop plaque award, she commented, “I am so humbled by such an incredible honor. I’m so thankful for a career that allows me to spend every day serving my community and interacting with so many great people. I’m honored to be a part of their story!” Brothers said she was informed about a week before the presentation that she was nominated and then selected by the awards committee. Other USI professionals were also awarded honors that evening in student, faculty, staff, alumni and volunteer categories. “To be recognized for any award is a blessing, but the fact that this was an award for a woman takes it to another level. Women are up against a lot in their professions and we need to honor them. It was great to show them what I am about,” the honoree stated. “As the mother of three daughters, I want them to know they can do anything.” “I was surprised and humbled. I see both my jobs in
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the community as my way of serving others. It is the nature of my work as a therapist and as a city councilwoman to give and follow this servant role,” she observed. The young professional is also the elected Mount Vernon City Council Member-at-Large and actively works on community issues and concerns. The honored USI alumna is a Mount Vernon native and member of the Mount Vernon High School Class of 2010. She earned a Bachelor Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern Indiana in 2015 and went on to earn her Master’s Degree from there in 2016. “I graduated with a 4.0 average,” she said with pride. After graduation, she was employed as a Social Worker for the North Posey School District for four years. She returned back to her Wildcat habitat when she accepted the Social Worker position for the Mount Vernon Senior and Junior High Schools this year. She has an office in both schools and shares time with each. “They are connected, so I can be contacted easily at either if I need to talk with a student or parent.” Jillian is also a busy mother-on the-go with a quartet of young children. The oldest Maliya is 10, Malzee is
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Mount Vernon Councilwoman and recently-named USI’s Phenominal Woman of the year shows off her award with husband Adam.