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Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN Posey County’s locally-owned newspaper
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
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Volume 133 Edition 24
Six are arrested in another Posey Drug sting By Dave Pearce “I don’t know how much or how long it is going to take for people to realize that this type of activity will no longer be tolerated in Posey County,” said Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers, following this week’s arrest of six suspects, now in custody in the Posey County Jail after arrest warrants were served on Thursday, June 6. “We are going to keep fighting this for as long as it takes.” Arrested in Mount Vernon are Cody and Jon Schmitt, Kyler Butler, Matthew Creek, Rex Baker, and Allison Ward as a result of drug investigations conducted in the county. Shortly after 9 a.m., personnel of the Posey County Drug Task Force, the FBI, the Posey County Sheriff’s Department, the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Indiana State Police executed the arrest warrants. Ward was in Illinois but drug task force personnel were able to get her to travel to Posey County at which time she was taken into custody. Some of the wanted subjects were already incarcerated in the Posey County Jail, Vanderburgh County Jail and the Indiana Depart-
ment of Corrections on other previous offenses. The FBI used undercover informants to gather information about the suspects. They purchased drugs, provided sudafed and watched their every move. It was a methodical investigation that officials hope will put away some key players for a very long time. “We’re not finding the numbers, but a lot of our earlier raids have sent people off to prison and a lot of people who have been engaged in this type of activity are either leaving the county or stopping,” Clowers said. “We have an excellent team of local, state and federal law enforcement in place. They are aware of the problem we have here and are committed to making Posey County a better place to live.” Authorities arrested Rex Baker outside his home, and inside found what they call a sophisticated meth lab. “This culminates an eight month investigation, there are other cases along with this particular case that we are involved in and those are coming to a conclusion as well today,” said Posey County Sheriff
Greg Oeth. “Neighbors on Second Street tell us they’ve called numerous times about Rex Baker’s home. They say they watch people coming in and out of the back alley all day and night.” Officials want residents to know they receive tips almost daily, and they’re listening. “I know that folks call and they think, ‘Well I called in last week and I haven’t seen any results,’” says Oeth. “We’re a very small operation and this is a very large county. The calls aren’t falling on deaf ears, every piece of information is useful to use and we’re going to respond to every bit to see if we can build a case out of it.” The prosecutor says that because Baker’s home was so close to West Elementary School, the charges will be taken up a level. Now, those Class B felonies will become Class A felonies. Which means if convicted, 20-to-50 years in prison. As a result of an undercover operation which began in June 2012 and conducted by the Posey County Drug Task Force and the FBIEvansville Post of Duty, six subjects were arrested on drug related
Rex Baker
Cody Schmitt
Allison Ward Kyler Butler Matthew Creek Posey County arrest warrants. The are sick and tired of the illegal drug Posey County Drug Task Force and activity in our communities and FBI conducted undercover drug buy have continued to phone in tips to operations beginning in June of last law enforcement. This cooperation year resulting in the issuing of arrest between the public and law enforcewarrants. Continued on Page A3 “The citizens of Posey County
Mount Vernon youngster dies as result of auto accident
Gengelbach reception set A Night with Coach ‘Joe’ Gengelbach has been planned for June 22, 2013. The community is invited to celebrate the career of Carl ‘Joe’ Gengelbach, North Posey varsity football coach from 1970 to 2013. A social hour will begin at 5 p.m. in the North Posey High School Foyer, followed by a ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. A reception has been planned from 8:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. at the Red Wagon Wild Life Room in Poseyville. The public is invited and no reservations are necessary. Appetizers and a cash bar will be available at the reception. The Cost for the reception is $10 per person at Red Wagon.
Tri-Kappa Nominations sought New Harmony’s Tri Kappa and Kiwanis Club are looking to recognize a special someone who has generously given of their time for many years to help other people. It is important to nominate someone who deserves recognition as only those nominated will be considered. Nomination forms are available at community locations or by contacting committee members Kenyon Bailey, Carol Scarafia, Dan Busler or Krista Wilson. Consider those who help their neighbors, youth leaders, organization leaders and especially those who tirelessly work in the background and are rarely noticed. The nominations must be in the hands of the committee by June 26. The honoree will be presented with this award during the annual New Harmony Fourth of July Celebration in MaClure Park.
Merit Badge Workshop set The Posey County SWCD is hosting a Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge workshop for boy scouts at the Alexandrian Library on Saturday, June 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop will include a morning presentation, a bus trip to look at farm field conservation practices and we will be planting trees at Harmonie State Park. There is a $5 fee to cover the cost of the trees and the bus. The scouts will complete all the requirements to earn their merit badge that day. To register or for more information contact Carrie Parmenter, Posey County SWCD District Technician at (812) 838-4191 x 3 or carrie.parmenter@in.nacdnet.net.
Family Matters sale set The Fifth Annual Family Matters Rummage Sale will be held on Saturday, June 15, from 8 a.m. until noon (if the ‘rummage’ lasts that long). If you would like to donate items, please bring them to the Rent One parking lot in Mount Vernon (300 W. Fourth) no sooner than 7 a.m. that morning. Then stay and find new treasures to take home with you. Call Beth at 838-6875 if you have questions.
Jon Brody Schmitt
Mary Peach, North Posey Relay for Life event chairperson, presents the 2013 Courage Award to the family of Rob Ungethiem. Rob lost his battle with cancer in April. Pictured from left are Peach, Robert Ungethiem Sr., sister, Kim Wassmer, and Joyce Ungethiem. Photo by Valerie Werkmeister
Law firm of former Evansville mayor hired to help bring new homes here By Lois Mittino Gray Former Evansville Mayor Jonathon Weinzapfel, representing the firm of Faegre, Baker, Daniels in Indianapolis, met in a special session of the Mount Vernon Common Council on June 3 to explore Economic Development Tools for Municipalities. The Council would like to increase residential and commercial development and wants to see what tools are out there for developers to help grow the city. Weinzapfel told the Council they need to think first if they want to set a precedent in any action they choose to do. “After all, Council is accountable for how they spend the city’s tax dollars.” he reminded them as he began his information session. To set the stage for the meeting, Town Attorney Beth McFaddin Higgins stated the Council received a request for $330,000 from builder Charles Lawrence as half the money needed to put in a new street and water and sewer lines near Country Club Estates for proposed new homes. The Council is aware that the city has incredibly tight purse strings since tax caps have been imposed and money is needed for routine services. She added the council needs to be creative, which is very difficult in tough economic times so Weinzapfel’s role will address available tools out there. Weinzapfel stated he is aware this particular property is located outside the city limits, which will constrain the opportunities for the city to get involved. He added TIF (Tax Increment Financing), or a redevelopment area, will not be an option. The County would have an opportunity for incentives like TIF, as the property is in Posey County. He stated there could be voluntary annexation of the area, but that would take some time. Involuntary annexation, where the annexation can be challenged in court, would take an even longer time. Weinzapfel explained that when a city allows a tax phasein, it is usually for industrial development and rarely for residential development. The redevelopment commission determines if the area qualifies for tax phase-in, then that is brought before the City Council. Tax phase-in may not be approved for residential areas, unless at least 20 percent of
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the housing is for low income or a residentially distressed area. Some examples of declaring an area a residentially distressed area would be a finding of unimproved dwellings, unoccupied dwellings, and parcels that have been sold and not redeemed. He does not believe this fits into the request they have before them. He added this is called tax abatement, and for example, over 10 years, the taxes would be phased-in with full tax being due by year 10. Councilman Bill Curtis stated if this was done on a home then the benefit would be for the developer. Once the home is purchased, the homeowner pays taxes which Councilman Fuelling noted is the only income to the city at that point. Attorney Higgins stated for rehab on the residential side, an area would have to meet these tests established in the ERA (Economic Revitalization Area). Curtis asked if the council looks at annexation, it does not seem to him that this would meet any of these criteria and Weinzapfel agreed. Councilman Steve Fuelling questioned if apartments were involved and Weinzapfel replied a percentage would have to be low to moderate income to qualify for this tax phase-in. Weinzapfel then discussed TIF as contrasted with tax abatement. Both set a specific area in question, but TIF is more of a geographic area. A baseline of taxes is set in the designated area and the redevelopment commission can collect all tax above that threshold to go to the city, and earmark it for development. He added in Evansville this was done in the Central Business District. It was declared a TIF area, as well as Mead Johnson. For residential TIF, there are strict definitions of criteria to be met, and Evansville did this in the Arts District/Haney’s Corner area. The criteria are that not more than 25 acres are annexed in five years, if there are remonstrators, they have to wait another five years; there can be no private enterprise; one-third of all parcels must be vacant; one-third of units must be built before 1941, and more as these were examples. EDIT money and utility funds can be used, especially within the city limits. Weinzapfel stated that as Council
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Inside this issue... Retrospective ................... A4 Community .......... A5 Social ...................... A6 Legals ............................. B6 Deaths ................ A3 Sports .................. B1 Classifieds ..................... B4-5 Church .................. A7 Bus/Ag .................. A9
By Dave Pearce A 15-year-old Mount Vernon High School student died tragically as the result of an automobile accident on Monday, June 3, 2013. Cole Thomas Russell, 15, of rural Mount Vernon, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Russell was approaching his sophomore year at Mount Vernon High School where he had been on the wrestling team, football team and track team. He enjoyed work and was a volunteer with Point Township and Black Township Fire and Rescue. Cole loved to hunt, fish and target shoot but more than anything he loved to help others. He thrived off bringing love and laughter to his family and friends, which made his home quickly become the ‘gathering place’ for so many. According to Posey County Coroner Jay Price, who also serves as chief of the Black Township Fire Department and Assistant Chief of the Point Township Fire Department, “there will be a very big hole for a very long time” as a result of the loss. “We are really going to miss the smile on his face,” Price said. “Him and Brent would pull up to the fire station and that boy would jump out of the truck and run in there and just put a smile on everyone’s face. He would harass and tease them and he enjoyed being teased back. He was just a good all-around kid.” Price said that he met Russell as a youngster and that he quickly took an interest in the fire department, becoming a cadet at the age of 12, officially. “But he had been around the fire department most of his life. We have watched him grow up. He was always around and always wanting to learn,” Price said. “Any time any of the guys needed anything, he was always there, no matter what it was.” Price said that as much as this tragic event affected Cole’s family, it also deeply affected his firefighter family. “We are a family there. Any time anyone needs anything there in the department we are always there for each other,” Price said. “A lot of my younger guys were good fishing buddies with him and it was really tough to make a run on one of your own people. Going out on these kinds of
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