T
P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Volume 139 Edition 25 $1.00
Cynthiana’s Price resigns board By Dave Pearce ment. McGregor also received permission to buy a new In somewhat of a surprise announcement, Cynthiana fax machine/copier as the one in the office no longer Town Council member Carolyn Price resigned her po- works. He reported that the department had seven traffic sition as the end of Wednesday’s stops this month and had actually monthly meeting of the board. been called in on a water rescue, bePrice indicated that in somewhat sides routine business. Board memof a quick move, her family will bers indicated they had heard from be heading to the Wadesville area members of the community that the soon making her ineligible to conpresence of patrols in the town, estinue as a member of the board. pecially on weekends, probably has Her resignation leaves it up to curbed crime in the town and is apboard members Todd Kennedy and preciated by residents. Patti Wilson to choose her replaceMcGregor also reported that the ment, since she was elected as an process of programming the digital Independent. radios is now underway. Although She had high praise for the town McGregor indicated the county is and the things the current board has not fully on line with the program been able to achieve. yet, his department will be ready But prior to her announcement, when the changeover is made. He business went on as usual for the Carolyn Price smiles as she listens to expects a learning curve with the board. Cynthiana Town Board members dis- new equipment. A new town ordinance was ap- cuss the annual Sheriff’s Night Out. This Members of the board anproved that requires a building, in was Price’s last meeting as a member of nounced that the Town Wide Yard the event of a fire, to be torn down the board. Her resignation was accepted Sale has been set for July 13, the or destroyed within 45 days of the at the end of the meeting as she is in the same day as the Smith Township time it was necessary to stand due process of moving out of Cynthiana. Fire Department’s Biscuit and Grato investigations or insurance re- Photo by Dave Pearce vy breakfast. quirements. The ordinance was just Members of the board also disanother effort to help bring Cynthicussed the upcoming annual Sherana back to the level of charm the city once had. iff’s Night Out which is scheduled to be held this year The board heard and approved changes outlined by the in Cynthiana on Tuesday, August 6 from 6 until 8 p.m. Executive Director of the Posey County Area Plan Com- Members of the board expect to work well again this year mission. Mindy Bourne appeared before the board and with members of the Posey County Sheriff’s Department explained the proposed changes and the reasoning behind to have activities for everyone. Wilson indicated she is them. The board gave its permission unanimously. looking for some activities that would be more young The Board discussed finding someone in the Cynthi- child oriented since last year’s Night Out did not have ana Community who would be interested in serving on a much for the one-to-three-year-olds in attendance. Posey County Census Board to help the town get a better The board discussed the possibility of planting a tree or response in the upcoming 2020 census. Members of the creating a plaque in memory of Greta Mounts who served board urged interested Cynthiana residents to let their in- at the town’s clerk for some 30 years. Mounts passed terest be known at Town Hall. away in May of this year. Town Marshal Mike McGregor reported that his reThe board discussed the creation of a Cynthiana Web quest for a grant to supply bullet-proofed vests for mem- Page which would enable better communication with the bers of the department had been denied. He went on to town and its’ residents and perspective businesses. It was explain that the reason for the denial was that no police mentioned that some communities now have the capabildata from Cynthiana has ever been entered into the state’s ity of taking utility payments online. The board will hear database. That made the town ineligible for the funding. more regarding this proposal in coming meetings. Board members agreed the equipment is necessary and After accepting Price’s recognition, the board adthat money could be taken from the safety tax to make journed until its July 10, 2019 meeting set for 6 p.m. at the sure the officers are in compliance with mandated equip- Cynthiana Town Hall.
Hockessin Hillary May was crowned Miss Delaware 2019 on Saturday at Cape Henlopen High School, marking 77 years of the Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization’s annual contest. May’s platform sought to bring awareness to the stigma surrounding mental illness. Her talent was singing. May is a native of Mount Vernon, Ind., and is a former Miss Posey County. Hillary May won the Miss Delaware 2019 pageant at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes on June 15, 2019. “Words can’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling right now,” she posted on Facebook after winning. “To the amazing women I shared the stage with tonight, you are all such beautiful, talented, kind, and smart individuals. I’ve truly, truly loved getting to know each of you this week. You showed me the light inside of you and I fell in love with it. I am so honored to have had this experience with you all. I love each of you so much and couldn’t imagine this journey without each of you.”
Weed violation call-out brings call for equal enforcement By Dave Pearce The last item on the agenda at the Poseyville Town Council meeting on Wednesday generated the most interest and discussion of any item as Poseyville resident Derek Voegel came to represent his dad regarding recent grass ordinance violations. The three-member board was one short as
member Steve Ahrens only got in on the tail end of the meeting so members Bruce Baker and Ron Fallowfield heard Voegel’s complaint. “My dad couldn’t make it here tonight so I’m here and thanks for having me. Anything I am about to say is not personal and it’s not attacking anyone,” Voegel prefaced. “I’m not here to cause problem by any means. We had property
tagged last week for weed control and I don’t have a problem with that because the weeds were overgrown. The main deal is that if one person is going to be enforced, everyone should be enforced with it.” Voegel went on to say that his father had called and was supposed to have had contact with the code enforcement officer by 2 p.m. on
Wednesday and that he had not heard back. “You have people that ride 4-wheelers all around town and I understand that you can’t stop every single ordinance violation but it is kind of bothersome…my dad spent 16 years on the fire department and was a volunteer ambu-
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Mayhan to be featured in series
Retired Mount Vernon Junior High School Principal Jerry Funkhouser was visibly overcome with emotion when he was surprised to learn the entry road at the junior high was named in his honor at Friday afternoon’s dedication. Jerry thought he was just going to eat lunch with school friends. He retired in 2012 after 29 years as principal and now resides in Mahomet, Illinois near his two children with wife, Cheryl. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray
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By Lois Mittino Gray reached out to him and finally, he confided in me and told Local paranormal author Joni Mayhan will be featured me his story,” she said. “I just started watching him turn on the 100th episode of the Travel Channel’s “A Haunt- into someone else with a different personality. He lost his ing” series at 9 p.m. CST on Monday, June 24. The New job and it was an emotional experience. He was terrified. ” Harmony resident was flown out to Salem, Massachusetts Joni put Sam in touch with a skilled shaman who helps last December to tape her interview for the episode en- people get rid of bothersome entities hanging around and titled “Provoking Evil.” affecting them. Michael Robishaw stepped in and took A viewing party to watch the show is planned at matters in hand. Joni said he cleared the energy with a MaryScotts Kitchen, 518 Main Street, in New Harmony remote cleansing and Sam was “back to normal” soon on that night. Restaurant afterwards. Michael will hours are from 4 p.m. to be featured in the Travel closing around 11 p.m. No Channel episode, too. The reservations are required. film crew went down to Those present will watch Virginia, where he resides, alongside Joni, who will be to talk with him. seeing it herself for the first Mayhen realizes this time. She is curious to see may all be difficult for the actress hired to portray some to comprehend, but her in the vignettes enacted invites viewers to stay after she tells the story in open-minded while watchher portion, filmed in a ing. “I have called on rented bed and breakfast in Michael to do this many Salem. times. One of my books, The episode revolves ‘Ruin of Souls’ is about around a fellow paranormal him and I wrote it several author, Sam Baltrusis, who years ago. He has amazing is considered an authority skills.” on Salem, Massachusetts. Joni stays busy in New He has written many books Harmony with her paraon the subject and is a normal career. She is in tour guide for Salem ghost the process of writing her walks. Like Joni, he contwentieth book about a siders himself a ‘clairaudihaunting that took place Joni Mayhen and her good friend Sam Baltrusis will in Pennsylvania. She leads ent sensitive’ feeling the presence of ghosts through both be featured in the Travel Channel’s 100th episode. “New Harmony Ghost Photo submitted tones and sounds. Walks” and has the next “We do much of the same one scheduled for Saturthing and write books, so we started sharing a table to cut day, June 29. She has an overnight actual paranormal inbooth costs at paranormal conventions. He is a sensitive vestigation with instruments slated for June 22 in Dormilike me and feels the presence of ghosts. He was in Sa- tory Number Two. lem last year and picked up a nasty ghost while there. He “We had 45 people on a ghost tour of the Working didn’t realize it followed him to his home in Sommerville, Men’s Institute recently. I give back half of the fees for Massachusetts,” she explained. the buildings I use and they made $600,” she observed. How did Joni get involved? Sam, a very private person, “New Harmony is a lot like Salem. You can walk into seemed to change personality on his social media posts most buildings there and find something lingering round.” and Joni was concerned her friend was not acting his To learn more about the author and upcoming activiusual self. “He was posting bizarre, aggressive comments. ties, go to jonimayhen.com or look up her author page on It just wasn’t him and I knew something was wrong. I Facebook.