Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1882
E, “OUR LIBERTIES WE PRIZ L MAINTAIN.” AND OUR RIGHTS WE WIL
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Posey County’s ONLY Locally Owned Newspaper.
$1.00
(USPS S4 439-500) 39 50 0 0)
Volume 135 Edition 25
Posey is granted pair of Bicentennial Torch stops By Valerie Werkmeister New Harmony Town Council members learned at their June 18, meeting the town has been selected and will have the honor of hosting the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay next year. Patricia Gosh and Amanda Bryden explained next year marks the 200th anniversary for the state. The torch will be carried through all 92 counties. While most counties only have one stop point, Posey County will be honored with two – Mount Vernon and New Harmony. According to information given about the torch relay, it was created to honor Hoosiers who have demonstrated exceptional public service, achievement, acts of heroism and/or volunteer service to their neighborhood, community, region or state.
The torch is scheduled to arrive in New Harmony on September 11, 2016. Bryden and Gosh stated nominations for torch bearers are currently being sought. A total of 20 people who possess the physical ability to carry the torch a minimum of .25 miles; is a resident or former resident of the state or someone nominated in honor of someone who is or was a resident; is a current or former county resident; is at least 14 years of age in order to carry the live fire torch, otherwise a no flame kids torch will be used; will submit to a criminal background check and completes a waiver will be considered as a nomination. Posthumous nominations will also be accepted and a substitute shall carry the torch
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Posey County Alliance held it’s quarter two luncheon last Wednesday afternoon. The event was sponsored by Evansville Western Railroad and McFadin, Higgins and Folz. Seen here was featured speaker Mike Chorlton of Midwest Fertilizer Corp., discussing the business’ upcoming developments within the county. Photo by Zach Straw
Contract discussion gets heated By Valerie Werkmeister A portion of the MSD of North Posey’s school board meetings meant for open communication between patrons and board members got a little heated during the June 8, meeting. Statements made by Linda Butler, a former school employee, about a police report involving North Posey School Supt. Dr. Todd Camp and subsequent lawsuit filed against the school corporation were met with some heated exchange by attorney William H. Bender. But while Butler made it clear that it was her opinion the contract should not be nenewed, others in the school corporation had praise for Camp’s leadership. But the exchange involving Butler took place during the discussion of Camp’s upcoming contract renewal. Bender read the terms of the contract which included a rolling three-year contract, an annual salary of $115,600; a $3,000 stipend split into two payments paid in June and March; 240 days of work; a $4,000 contribution to 401K; health insurance is paid 100 percent minus $1; HSA contribution; $175,000 life insurance policy; $600 cell phone allowance and 15 paid vacation days.
Following his explanation of the terms of the contract, Butler asked Bender if the contract included a morals clause. Bender responded by stating, “Well, we, our contracts are within state law. We certainly, if there is immoral act, the school is well within its right to terminate the employee for immoral act.” “Now, before you go any further, are you the same Linda Butler that has filed suit against the school district?” Bender asked. “I have filed a claim for my injuries, yes,” Butler stated. Bender asked her if she had anything additional to say. “Uh, yes, there is. I don’t believe Todd Camp fits the criteria for North Posey’s superintendent of schools. Uh, his behavior, public behavior is not that, uh, what we expect from a superintendent.” Butler was stopped short of finishing her sentence by both Gentil and Bender. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, this, this, this is not dis-
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July 3 Mount Vernon fireworks OK’d Firemen from several area fire departments fought a second fire in as many days on Saturday at Ziggy’s Pub on Main Street in Poseyville. On Friday afternoon, employees saw smoke coming from a bathroom and fire departments were called. On Saturday, firemen returned to fight a fire that involved extensive structure damage and water damage as departments extinguished the blaze. Photo by Dave Pearce
Briefly
Riverdays scheduled for September 11-13 The Mount Vernon River Days Committee is busy preparing for another fabulous fun filled event in 2015 which is set for September 11-13, 2015. Popular events that will be returning include historic demonstrations, food booths, Smoke on the Ohio, pet parade, Bike Show, Classic Car Show, children’s events, and musical talent. A parade is set for Saturday, September 12. Saturday evening’s fireworks, a sure crowd pleaser, will follow Wolfgang’s Concert on the riverfront. You can follow the event and get the latest updates on Facebook at Mt. Vernon River Days or www.mtvernonriverdays. wikispaces.com. We are still accepting vendors, Guide sponsors, entertainment, activities, and especially volunteers. If you would like to join us then please call 812483-2922.
By Lois Mittino Gray Members of the Mount Vernon Board of Public Works made sure the ‘show will go on’ for Fourth of July fireworks at the riverfront this year. At its June 11 meeting, the board approved Bob Beste’s request to close Water Street from Mulberry to College streets for the Friday, July 3 program. Beste represents the Lions Club, an organization that sponsors the annual fun-filled family event on the night before the actual holiday. Music will entertain the audience before the patriotic light show. Beste said no rain date has been set at this time. Shane Claybrooke, owner of the Ice House at the corner of Owen and Fourth since 2012, also appeared before the board. He requested an easement for parking. He has paved a 50 foot section of the right of way on the Owen side. He would like to pave the rest of it north to the alley and have a 100 foot driveway to load
By Lois Mittino Gray Thirty avid nature enthusiasts lined up behind Mike Homoya to get an up close and personal look at one of Posey County’s ‘ best kept secrets’ on June 6. Mike, one of Indiana’s premiere botanists, came from Indianapolis to lead the hike to Twin Swamps Nature Preserve. He told the group that the 598 acre preserve was one of his favorite nature spots in the state, yet one of the least known to the public. The outing was sponsored by the Indiana Division of Nature Preserves in conjunction with the Southwestern Chapter of the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society (INPAWS). Homoya has been the botanist for the Division of Nature Preserves for over thirty years and is the current president of the Indiana Academy of Science. He explained that the site, “right in Indiana’s big toe,” actually contains two swamps, separated by a strip of typical southern flatwoods. The first is a classic southern bald cypress swamp complete with knees and buttonbush. The other is an Overcup Oak swamp dominated by this species famed for the huge caps it has over its acorns. “Twin Swamps is the most northern location for naturally-occuring bald cypress trees in this part of the country. It would be the most northern in the whole United States,but a site in Delaware beats it by being about ten miles a little more north,” Homoya laughed. Walking on the long boardwalk into the swamp, hikers commented that it was like being mystically transported into the deep South with the trees and their protruding knobby knees sticking out of the dark water,minus the hanging Spanish Moss. The water looked like it was covered with a light dusting of snow from the bursting Swamp Cottonwood pods. The Buttonbushes were getting ready to bloom. Homoya pointed out wildflowers in bloom along the trail, such as Indian Physic, Agrimony,and an uncom-
MVCC to host free movie night
MVSHS Class of 1980 plans reunion The Class of 1980 MVSHS is currently planning their 35 year class reunion for October 3, 2015 at Western Hills Country Club. We are looking for the following classmates and if you should know of their where abouts, please contact Jeanne Bishop Wehr (812)483-9101 or Vicki Embrey Bethel (812)781-0378: Daniel Baird, Dorothy Blum, Cindy Bradley, Donnie Breeden, Mary Burdette, Larry Case, Norman Chastain, Cynthia Click, Ladonna Elliott, Kelly Feldman, Terry Garrett, Ronald Gatewood, Billy Gootee, Elizabeth Green, George Grindall, Raymond Haas, Carla Hanmore, Tina Harris, Kevin Hughes, Kevin Johnson, Michael Johnson, Dennis Juncker, Anje Krantz, Dora Lance, Debra McCarty, Sandra McFadden, Theresa Morris, Susan Myers, Eric Nichols, Martha Ortega, Sheila Orth, Ricky Osborne, Robin Reich, Tony Reich, Cheryl Robinson, Tammy Snyder, Kevin Tomlinson, Gary Trammel, Mark Vanzant, Samuel Walden, Guy Whelan, George White, David Wright.
Posey 4-H Fashion Revue is July 7 The public is invited to attend the 2015 Posey County 4-H Fashion Revue and Extension Homemakers’ Style Show at no charge on Tuesday, July 7, starting at 7 p.m. in the Community Center of the Posey County 4-H Fairgrounds. Four-H youth members and Extension Homemaker adult members will show off their creations at this time, and awards will be presented to all participants. For more information on this or any other 4-H Fair or Extension activity, please contact the Posey County-Purdue Cooperative Extension Service by calling 812-838-1331 or emailing poseyces@purdue.edu.
Posey Historical Socity to meet June 27
Retrospective........A4 Legals.................B4, 7 Classifieds ........ B 7 - 8 Community...........A5
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Visitors hit Twin Swamps area
Mount Vernon Community Church, 1800 West Fourth Street, will be showing the movie, ‘Do You Believe’ on Saturday, June 27 at 8:30 p.m. This movie was released to the theaters on March 20, 2015 and will be released on DVD August 4, 2015. The movie will be shown free of charge, outside between the church building and Young Life building. Free drinks and popcorn will be provided. All you need to bring is a lawn chair or blanket.
The Posey County Historical Society will meet Saturday, June 27 with Posey County’s ‘resident historian’ Glenn Curtis as the featured speaker. Curtis will be sharing his memories with the audience who will meet in the PCHS Collections Room (Door 4) at Hedges Central. All members and friends are invited to attend.
trailers etc and make a loop. He would like to have control of the easement, even though it technically is not his property. It is a 140 foot lot and it is half done. The board tabled the issue for two weeks so board members can look at the site and consider the request and let Attorney Beth McFaddin Higgins review it. Mindy Bourne and the Area Plan Commission need to be contacted about it, too. In the legal matters section, a discussion ensued about rebidding the work contract for the East Side gravity flow sewer project. The board opened the only bid that came in at the last meeting and it was for $456,667. This is 60 percent higher than the engineer’s estimate. Attorney Higgins and the engineer suggest the bid be rejected and rebid in the spring with assurances in writing from SRF that the funds will still be
Mike Homoya leading the hike while people look around on the swamp boardwalk.
Deaths .................... A3 Church...................A6 Social .....................A5 School ....................A7
Sports ............... B 1 - 3 Bus/Ag .................A7 Opinion ................A8 TVGuide.............B5-6
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