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Tuesday, May 5, 2015
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Volume 135 Edition 18
New Harmony ‘resurrection’ begins to take shape By Valerie Werkmeister The much anticipated discussion for a potential new use for the former New Harmony School during the town council’s April 16, meeting must wait for another day. Request for proposals on new uses were sent out earlier this year. Council members hoped to receive a good response in an effort to revitalize the building or put the land to new use. Council member Andrew Wilson stated the council really had only one interested party, the Workingman’s Institute. They requested to present their ideas to the council during a special meeting. A date has not been set, but
council president Joe Straw explained that a 48-hour prior notice to the meeting would be posted on the town hall door, in the post office and at Fifth Third Bank. The public will be invited to attend the meeting that is anticipated in the next few weeks. New Harmony visitors will soon be able to locate sites in town thanks to new signs presented by Lora Arneburg. She explained the signs are from website www.walkyourcity. org and are a temporary way-finding system. They are attached with zip ties to telephone poles or other existing signs. The signs will give information about how far of a walk to
reach the next destination in town. Each sign will also have a QR code that smart phone users can scan in order to get directions. The signs promote walking and will provide valuable information to officials before additional funds are spent on permanent signs. Arneburg stated she will work with New Harmony Business Associates on strategy before creating the signs. She will also check with Vectren to ensure it is ok to post the signs on the telephone poles. In other regular business before the council, they agreed to purchase new picnic tables for Murphy Park and other locations in town.
The total cost is $1,769.52 and the New Harmony Business Associates agreed to purchase 10 of the tables. They will be paid using riverboat funds. Wilson reported the preservation project at the cemetery is progressing. The weather has dampened some of the project. A new American flag has been ordered and the grounds will be prepared for Memorial Day. Town Marshal Scott Champlin stated there are approximately 80 remaining golf carts out of 230 that must still renew their
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Improved riverfront, warm weather bring MV parking problems
CSB State Bank plans NH branch
where boats can easily park, assess where angle parking occurs on the street, possible no parking boats signage and looking at using the Mount Vernon Boat Club area for public parking with a shuttle. Brandy Jackson and her husband spoke on the problem from the boatowner’ s perspective. “We feel like we are being pushed back farther and farther into the city to park. Since the Landing was built, there are not enough places for us to park now. We have to hold the boat a long time while the driver is parking. We pay our taxes on the boat and the docks too.” Councilman Bill Curtis brought up a problem that has bothered him about the boat launch dock. While it will not fix the parking shortage, it will make for smoother and faster launching. “The riverfront launch area is backwards and goes in the wrong way. Boaters need to come in from the water station side so they can stage two boats out at once,” he observed. There was a question on how steep of an incline there would be pulling up and out the ramp to Main Street. Councilman Steve Fuelling said a few boats were tested out years ago on that
By Dave Pearce Alexander Graham Bell ‘coined’ the phrase, ‘When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” In an effort to avoid the latter portion of the quote, the Community State Bank of Southwestern Indiana has announced that it has signed an option to lease space in the Old Mill Mart at 1128 East Church Street, in New Harmony, IN to establish a bank branch. “New Harmony is a community we have always wanted to be in,” CSB of Southwestern Indiana President Steve Bennett said. “We heard that Fifth Third was closing and we started looking into it to see if we could put together something that would work there.” The only remaining bank in New Harmony, Fifth Third, announced earlier in the year they would be closing the New Harmony branch and the last day is slated to be next Friday. “We think doing this in the Old Mill Mart works very well for the community and for us. There is a lot of traffic in and out of there,” Bennett continued. “It’s a nice place for now but it doesn’t mean we will be in the Old Mill Mart forever. The current Fifth Third building cannot have a drive-up facility since it is land-locked. We won’t put in a drive-up right away but that’s our goal was to have that option available to us. And we have that all arranged with the Reynolds’.” Opening the branch is still subject to regulatory approval from a variety of government agencies. The bank hopes to open the branch in the fall of 2015, and looks forward to being a part of the New Harmony community. Bennett said that if everything goes well and the approval is given, the branch should be able to open well before year-end.
By Lois Mittino Gray Citizens attending the Mount Vernon Common Council meeting on April 16 looked ahead to summer activities when they brought up boat parking problems and a possible Hill Climb and Watermelon Festival in August. The council discussed ideas with the presenters and tackled other routine city business. City Attorney Beth McFadin Higgins announced that the bond sale for the new water project will be closing on May 12 now, due to advertising date issues. Mary Esker, who owns the Water’s Edge restaurant on the riverfront, asked the council what has been decided on parking restrictions for boat trailers in the area. She said the problem is the vehicle and trailer take up several parking spaces in front of the local business and sometimes sit there for the whole day. She said the Bliss Artisan owners are also concerned about this. A possible sign limiting parking to two hours was discussed as well as a sign stating ‘no boattrailer parking allowed.’ Although they had no immediate solution, council members formulated a plan of action which will include: looking at the three area parking lots and markings to assess
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Briefly
North Posey announces Commencement Exercises The North Posey High School Commencement Exercises will be held in the gymnasium on Friday, May 22, 2015, at 7 p.m. The annual commemorative edition of the Posey County high school graduates will come out on Tuesday, May 19. Pick up a copy or subscribe at 812-682-3950.
Poseyville town-wide rummage sale is Saturday The annual Town-Wide yard sale will be held in Poseyville this Saturday, May 9. Signs will be posted around the community.
St. Wendel holds annual rummage sale The Third Annual Rummage Sale will be held Friday, May 15, 2015, from 4-7 p.m., and Saturday, May 16, 2015 from 10 a.m. - noon at 10542 W. BoonvilleNew Harmony Road, Evansville, IN 47720. $3 bag sale starts at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. For more information contact Brian Glaser: 812-305-4667, Jenny Lamble: 812-449-7718 or email: stwendelrummagesale@gmail.com.
PC Veterans Service Officer to be out of office The Posey County Veterans Service Officer will be out of office May 14, 19 and 21, 2015. Normal office schedule, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will resume on Tuesday May 26.
New Harmony Annual Spring Clean-Up Days set Clean-Up day will be May 8 for residents of the Town of New Harmony. Bulky items such as T.V.’s, washers, dryers, sofas, mattresses, etc., will be taken at this time. Due to certain rules and regulations, refrigerators, freezers, and other appliances with refrigerants in them can not be taken without proper certification. To be certified, the appliances must have all refrigerants removed by a qualified technician. Other items that can not be taken include: Yard waste, waste oil and other petroleum products, any liquids, large concrete items, tires, anti-freeze and other items considered to be hazardous or medical waste. All items set out for disposal should be containerized or bundled for handling. Any items not containerized or bundled will be left. To help ensure compliance with this requirement, we are asking that items not be set out for pick-up more than three days prior to clean-up day.
Tomes to speak at MSD of NP School Board Meeting Senator Tomes will be speaking to the public at MSD of North Posey County’s School Board meeting to be held on May 11, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at North Posey High School in the Auditorium. Senator Tomes will be speaking at the beginning of the meeting on education related issues. He plans on a brief question and answer session to follow his presentation.
Letter Carriers’ Food Drive Scheduled for May 9 The National Association of Letter Carriers’ Food Drive will be on Saturday, May 9, 2015. Your Postal Service letter carrier is asking everyone to place nonperishable food items by their mailbox on this day for pickup by their letter carrier as they make their appointed rounds. All of the canned goods and other food items collected by the Mount Vernon city and rural carriers during this food drive will stay in Mount Vernon to help families in need in our community. Please do not include items that have expired or those in glass containers. The Twenty-Third Annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive and postal employees ask for your donation on non-perishable food items, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice, cereal, peanut butter, or canned stews and fruits to make this the best drive yet.
Retrospective........A4 Legals.....................B6 Classifieds ...... B9-10 Community...........A5
Wilma Joyce Bailey, right, was the big winner of the run for the roses at the Charles Ford Home. Presenting her roses is Tracy Will, Activities Director. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray
Dorcas Bierbaum Neidig honored with endowment Neidig Family creates new endowment at Posey County Community Foundation Special to the News “Be a Mother who is committed to loving her children into standing on higher ground than the environment surrounding them. Mothers are endowed with a love that is unlike any other love on the face of the earth.” ― Marjorie Pay Hinckley As the result of an effort to honor memory of Dorcas Bierbaum Neidig at Mother’s Day, a countless number of Posey County youngsters may be getting a hand up. The Metropolitan School District of North Posey County and the Posey County Community Foundation are excited to announce a new fund to support the Early Childhood Initiative Programs. Following the belief that all children deserve to benefit from early childhood programs, The Dorcas Bierbaum Neidig Early Childhood Fund strives to fill the void in services. The fund nurtures and supports Kindergarten, Pre-K, and early childhood development programs in the School District of North Posey County by providing ‘need-based’ scholarships for eligible children and helping with infrastructure needs to support the program’s growth.
Dr. Angela Wannemuehler, Assistant Superintendent of North Posey County states, “As a district we were thrilled when Joe Neidig contacted us to share his family’s charitable goals. Through close collaboration with Joe and the family, we were able to clarify the needs of our district that would complement the vision that the Neidig family has for leaving a legacy in their mother’s honor. It is clear that early childhood education benefits children, their families, and their communities. From improved academic outcomes to economic savings of schools and states, the benefits of high-quality early childhood education programs are substantial.” The Dorcas Bierbaum Neidig Early Childhood Fund was established by the Neidig family in memory of Dorcas’ devotion and support of early childhood education. Dorcas felt strongly that all children need the best start that can be provided. She used her Godgiven grace and talent for touching young lives, both in the classroom and in the community. “The lasting impression that Mrs. Neidig created for so many children
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Necessity leads to invention at Ford Home By Lois Mittino Gray wish to live at the Ford Home together. Koch showed “Every organization needs to adapt and change or it a slide of four local couples who have recently experibecomes obsolete as time goes by. We need to evolve enced the poor health or eventual death of one of the and meet the needs of assisted living in the commu- pair. “I wish we could have been able to help them durnity and the progressive service ing their struggle with health care. levels of our residents,” explained In some cases, we could only take Charles Ford Home Director Amy care of the wife and the husband had Koch. She was speaking at the to live elsewhere. These are your ‘Celebrating Transition: A Year friends and neighbors and we need in Review’ program offered to the to be able to help them.” residents, their families and the The couples arrangement can public on Wednesday, April 22 and work now because there are rooms Thursday, April 23 in the parlor of with private showers requiring the Ford Home. no use of the shared bathroom faShe good-naturedly assured evcilities. Just eight weeks ago, the eryone that the two main proposed government approved the home’s changes in operation and fees would request to put two people in one of not make ‘Charles Ford roll over in the large rooms with a private bath. his grave’ as some joked. “I often The Ford Home is undergoing a ask myself what would Charles renovation program started this year Ford Home Director Amy Koch that is putting in private baths and Ford do and I think he would agree with our board of directors as he explains new and exciting policy kitchenettes and so far 6 small and was a smart, successful business- changes at the home’s Year-in-Re- four large ones have been improved, man, who was extremely progres- view. Photo by Zach Straw Koch reported. sive and compassionate.” The second change is that, in addition to the basic The first major change is that the assisted living facil- room rental fees, patients will be assessed progresity, which currently has 19 female residents, has been Continued on Page A12 redesigned and can accommodate married couples who
Deaths .................... A3 Church...................A7 Social .....................A6 School ....................A8
Sports ........... B1, 3-4 Bus/Ag .................A9 Opinion ................A10 TVGuide.............B7-8