T
P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Volume 140 Edition 18
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
$1.00
Holcomb unveils plan to get Indiana ‘Back on Track’ Special to the News Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced the Back On Track Indiana plan to safely open the economy and remain vigilant about protecting Hoosiers’ health and wellbeing. “Across Indiana, we have witnessed a spirit of cooperation and caring for others that has touched my heart. May this spirit of appreciation for one another carry on long after the scourge of COVID-19 is behind us,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Hoosiers have done this together and together we will come out a stronger Indiana.” Gov. Holcomb has used data to drive decisions since the state’s first case of the novel coronavirus in early March and he will continue to do so as the state contemplates a sectorby-sector reset. The state will move to reopen while continuing to monitor and respond to
these four guiding principles: The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide has decreased for 14 days • The state retains its surge capacity for critical care beds and ventilators • The state retains its ability to test all Hoosiers who are COVID-19 symptomatic as well as health care workers, first responders, and frontline employees • Health officials have systems in place to contact all individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and expand contact tracing As we lift restrictions and more people return to work, visit a store or restaurant, and participate in more activities, the number of COVID-19 cases will increase. If we cannot meet these principles, all or portions of the state may need to pause on moving forward or we
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SABIC gives $1.5 million to help COVID-19 victims Special to the News SABIC, a global leader in diversified chemicals, today announced that it is donating $1.5 million in monetary and in-kind product donations in the Americas region to assist those most impacted during the COVID-19 (“coronavirus 2019”) pandemic. This includes providing SABIC produced plastics products to be used in the manufacture and donation of vital medical equipment. SABIC, whose Americas head office is based in Houston, will donate approximately $1 million to food banks and communitybased agencies, such as the United Way, in the communities where we operate to assist those struggling in the wake of the pandemic. SABIC is also donating approximately $500,000 of its products, made at its facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, in the manufacture and shipment of personal pro-
tection equipment for healthcare workers and needed medical equipment such as ventilators, patient monitoring devices, respiratory therapy machines and diagnostic equipment. In announcing its donation for the Americas region, Greg Adams, SABIC vice president for the region, said, “SABIC, like the world over, finds itself in unprecedented times. As a company, we are honored that our materials are used in devices that help make critical medical equipment to treat patients and at the same time offer materials that are used in the protection of those on the front line including healthcare professionals while they perform their duties. Our colleagues continue to remain inspired and engaged to do what they can to help our communities during this crisis.” Product donation examples include:
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Storm sirens are issue in MV By Lois Mittino Gray Since it is now prime tornado season, is there a difference in the weather siren tones depending on the severity of the alerts? This question was posed to Mount Vernon Fire Chief Wes Dixon in a timely discussion on the city’s weather siren system and its needs at the April 23, Zoom meeting of the Mount Vernon Board of Works and Public Safety. Board member David Dodd asked if there are different frequencies or patterns for differing weather conditions, or if it’s all just one signal tone. He noted that he is a fairly new resident to the city and, if there is a difference, he and his family were unaware of it. Dixon replied there is only one tone for the five city sirens and they go off for two things and do not differ between them: a Severe Storm Warning and a Tornado Warning. “The Weather Service triggering the alerts does not differentiate between the city and the county, so if the weather is bad in the northern end of the county, the sirens will go off here,” he added. “Remember the sirens are meant to be for people outside, not those indoors.” The alerts are three minutes in length, going off twice. In discussing the condition of the system, Dixon requested money for repairs to two storm sirens that are presently not working and need the entire control box rebuilt. One is at Highway 62 and Country Club Road and one is located at Smith and Givens Roads. He presented a quote for the repair of the two at $13,734 from VEI
Communications, a company that does work with the police and fire departments, as well as county dispatch. Board member Andy Hoehn asked if there is a line in the budget for sirens. Dixon replied in the affirmative that there is a generic line, but it only has $5,000 in it, which he would like to use for contingencies. For example, they need to do some repair work on the siren at Hedges School, as the power supply went out. “Since we are going into tornado season, are our sirens state of the art and top notch?” Hoehn inquired. Dixon explained there is one upgrade to the sirens that is available. “There is a signal that dispatch sends out setting the sirens off to test them, and then they get a signal back telling them that the sirens are working. Right now, someone has to physically go out to the location to verify that they are working.” Hoehn asked the cost to upgrade all the sirens to use that system. Dixon replied they can add another $2,000 to $3,000 on top of that quote for the module that sends the signal back to dispatch for all five sirens. Mayor Bill Curtis summed up the money discussion by stating they would be looking at another $21,000, on top of the $13,000 for all upgrades. Hoehn wondered, “Would it be more efficient to go forward and upgrade all of the sirens at once when we have the money or would it possibly slow up the repair work on the two
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Mount Vernon resident Brenda Wilson picks out a hanging basket from a wide selection available at Bud’s Hardware. Growers and retailers have experienced a record spring with people looking for things to do outside their homes without jeopardizing ‘social distancing.’ Photo by Dave Pearce
NH water, sewer rates to climb By Randy Pease New Harmony’s Town Council meeting of April 21 was like no other. In deference to the COVID-19 virus, proceedings were streamed over You-Tube instead of conducted in the Town Hall meeting room. That was what was supposed to happen anyway. Unfortunately, the audio component of the stream did not function, despite town marshal Aaron Straub’s valiant efforts to restore the sound. The meeting did go on, however. The agenda was light and the proceedings were brief. In summary, here’s what happened:
A water usage rate hike proposal for the town was formally introduced. The proposed hike, according to council president Alvin Blaylock, would help pay for the replacement of five old fire hydrants and outdated valves. If adopted, rates would increase incrementally from its present $6.92 for the first thousand gallons (up to 4,000 gallons) to $.7.75 later this year, to $.8.53 in 2021 to $9.21 in 2022. Blaylock pointed out in the March meeting that rates are still lower than those of surrounding communi-
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In the beginning... North Posey’s first principal Lloyd Hutchinson dies at 96 By Dave Pearce One of the pieces that formed the original puzzle is gone. Lloyd Hutchinson, age 96, Cynthiana, Indiana, passed away on Sunday, April 26, 2020, at his residence surrounded by his family. He was an integral part of the puzzle that became North Posey High School when the school opened in 1959. He was the first principal of North Posey High School and was principal of both the junior high and the senior high school. North Posey is the high school for Bethel, Robb, Smith, Harmony, Center and Robinson townships in Posey County. North Posey was opened in 1959 after the four separate schools of Poseyville, Cynthiana, Wadesville and Griffin consolidated. In 2012, New Harmony School consolidated with North Posey. Hutchinson remained active in the community and remained in touch with many former teachers despite his age. Retired North Posey High School teacher and football Coach Joe Gengelbach comment-
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ed, “Mr. Hutchinson was a very fine man. He was the first principal I worked for at North Posey HS. He was very supportive as a mentor to a young teacher and coach. I was very fortunate to have had him my career.” Cynthiana resident and North Posey High School graduate Donnie Rice offered prayers of condolence for the Hutchison family. “Lloyd and Ruby were both very fine people. Ruby was my second grade teacher at North Elementary back in the 70s, as well as being fine neighbors across town in Cynthiana,” Mills said. “Both my Dad and I served with him at different times on the Liberty Cemetery Board as well. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered in the MSD of North Posey community.” Sandra Elpers said she worked in the office in 1961-62 for he and Mr. Loveless. “He was a great leader and a fair man. Deepest sympathies to his wife and family.” County Commissioner Randy Thornburg remembers Lloyd being a stern but very fair principal. “One memory that I have of him was
that he filled in for our He was a member of PE teacher on one occathe Indiana State Teachsion and instead of our ers Association, Masonic normal routine, he lined Lodge 710 and The Scotus up in Military formatish Rite. He was also a tion and taught us how member of the Indiana to march in the gym. Farm Bureau, the AmeriA couple years later a can Legion and was long lot of us were doing it time member of the Libfor real. He was a good erty Cemetery Board. man, God Speed.” He is survived by Hutchinson was born his wife; Ruby Olive Friday, Sept. 14, 1923, Hutchinson of Cynthiana; in Oakland City, to Orson Jim (Kay) Hutchinvis and Kathryn Wilson of Terre Haute, Ind.; liams Hutchinson, both daughter Kathy Shaw of whom preceded him in Cashiers, North Carolina; death. He served in the and sister Oma McGrath North Posey’s first principal, Lloyd of Petersburg, Ind. Other U.S. Army. After his service in the Army, Hutchinson. survivors include seven he became a teacher grandchildren; Jay Clark, and ultimately served as the principal at North Anson Shaw, Erin Burger, Jacob Hutchinson, Posey High School. On Nov. 23, 1950, he took Ruby Geddes, Ryan Hutchinson and Hayden Ruby Olive Whitehouse as his bride. Shaw as well as seven great-grandchildren.