Special MATURITY SECTION inside!
“Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.”
(USPS 439-500)
Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN Posey County’s locally-owned newspaper
Tuesday June 26, 2012
$1.00
Volume 132 Edition 26
Former Poseyville Clerk-Treasurer can make amends By Valerie Werkmeister Former Poseyville Clerk-Treasurer Chris Lupfer appeared in Posey County Superior Court on Friday, June 22, and pled guilty to eight felony charges that included theft, forgery, credit card fraud and official misconduct. According to Posey County Deputy Prosecutor Jonathan Parkhurst, she was sentenced to serve four years in the Department of Corrections. That sentence was then suspended to serve six months in the Posey County Community Corrections program. After taking into account good time credit served, Lupfer will serve a total of 90 only days in the Posey County Jail. In addition, Lupfer will be allowed to continue working at her factory job and will only serve her time on her days off from work. Lupfer was charged in May 2011 after a
state audit discovered missing funds and account discrepancies totaling $53,557 in town funds. She initially entered a not guilty plea. She faced three counts of forgery which are Class C felonies, three counts of credit card fraud which are Class D felonies, one count of theft and one count of official misconduct, both D felonies. Class C felonies can carry a sentence term of two to eight years and Class D felony terms range from six months up to three years. Posey County Superior Court Judge Brent Almon recused himself from the case. Evansville Judge Maurice O’Connor presided over the case and handed down Lupfer’s sentence. According to a lengthy investigation by Indiana State Police Detective (ISP) Loren Brooks and State Board Of Accounts (SBOA) auditor, Karla Giesler, Lupfer com-
mitted theft during the years of 2008, 2009 and 2010. It was discovered that Lupfer paid herself twice on many pay days by issuing a hard copy check and another check was directly deposited into her personal account. She admitted going out of Poseyville to different Fifth Third Banks to cash or deposit the additional checks to avoid being detected. Giesler determined that Lupfer had altered bank statements from Fifth Third Bank in an attempt to hide the thefts. Lupfer resigned on December 6, 2010, the same day ISP detectives spoke with Lupfer regarding the thefts. According to the arrest affidavit, she admitted shredding the original Fifth Third Bank statements with the town’s paper shredder after hours. She also admitted to using the town’s credit card to pay her personal bills that included
Insight Cable, Duke Energy and AT& T. In addition, the arrest affidavit stated she transferred money from multiple town accounts to continue to cover up the loss of funds and overdraft fees she incurred. Lupfer was also assessed with the special SBOA audit at a cost of $15,331.25. The total loss to Poseyville was $68,888.25. However, she was bonded and the town received $45,000 from the bonding company late last year. Judge O’Connor ordered Lupfer to pay $8,000 in restitution to the Town of Poseyville to cover the shortfall from the bonding company. She will also pay the entire $15,331.25 to the state for the audit. Judge O’Connor added that if the bonding company wished to recover the $45,000 from Lupfer, they would need to file a civil suit against her.
‘Tainted’ bridge subject of controversy, documentary “For years, Indiana has looked for a solution to keep the New Harmony Bridge open,” Van Haaften said to open the news conference. “It is an important artery that serves not only New Harmony but all of southwestern Indiana. “As I have thought about this and see our current leaders are just now looking for a solution since the bridge has been closed, I know that we can do something toward preserving this New Harmony Bridge,” Van Haaften said. Van Haaften, a former state representative, said the solution comes in three steps, with the first being Congress untying the hands of the Bridge Commission and empowering it to transfer the title and ownership to a willing state government. Van Haaften said he urges all area residents to contact their congressional representatives and urge Congress to take action to give the commission the right to do just that. He went on to explain that the Bridge Commission is comprised of three appointed members, two from Illinois and one from Indiana. Since that time, Congress has passed additional language that prohibits any replacement of those three. “For example, if one of those members moved to California and
By Dave Pearce A press conference held at the base of a “tainted” New Harmony Bridge on Thursday was designed to draw attention to the span that once connected New Harmony to Illinois. The bridge was closed last month after the White County Bridge Commission determined that the bridge was no longer safe for travel. Trent Van Haaften, candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives District 76 called the press conference. Van Haaften stated that he has worked with former USI President and perhaps the biggest fan of the bridge, Dr. David Rice. Van Haaften said Rice had described, in jest, that the bridge was “tainted,” as Illinois says “tain’t ours” and Indiana says “tain’t ours either.” Van Haaften called for three steps to be taken.
Kiwanis golf scheduled Poseyville Kiwanis will be holding it’s annual golf scramble on the last Saturday in July. If you would like to take part check out the web page or contact a member.
Farmer’s market change Poseyville Farmers’ Market will change locations beginning June 16 to 35 S. Church St. The market will continue to be held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until October 27. Call 673-4018 for more information.
Landlords take note The City of Mount Vernon, is required to enforce the provisions of Indiana Code 36-9-23 concerning the collection of delinquent sewer fees and liens on real estate served by the City of Mt. Vernon Sewer Utility. An informational meeting will be held at the City Hall Annex, 520 Main Street, in Mount Vernon on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at 4 p.m. Landlords and other interested parties are invited to attend this informational meeting at which the Sewer Dept. Supt, lien clerk and the city attorney will review this statutory procedure.
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Doctor Dave Black, a faculty member in the Communications Department of USI, films the Port of Mount Vernon for his upcoming documentary on the New Harmony Bridge. Photo by Zach Straw
Life nears for old school building By Pam Robinson The New Harmony Town Council agreed to table their vote on Resolution 2012-2 regarding the transfer of New Harmony School property to the town from the North Posey school district. A special meeting has been set for Tuesday,
June 26, 3:30 p.m. in Town Hall to ratify the lease once Council members receive a final draft for authorized signatures from both parties. Earlier in the Thursday, June 21, meeting, Council heard from members Karen Walker and Linda Warrum regarding their investiga-
Annual July Fourth festivities planned here Historic New Harmony will hold its Traditional Fourth of July Celebration on Wednesday, July 4 in New Harmony, Indiana. The day will include patriotic speeches, a flag presentation, music, a picnic with complementary (root) beer, and more. All events are open to the public and are family friendly. The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with the Friends of the Working Men’s Institute annual program at the Atheneum/Visitors Center. Boy Scout Troop 386 will present the colors, the Community Choir will sing patriotic songs, and Curt Schmitt, a New Harmony resident, will read the Declaration of Independence. Judge Magistrate William G. Hussmann, Jr. will present the keynote address, “A Fairly Famous Speech.” Hussmann was born in Evansville and is a
Harrison High School graduate. He holds a JD from Valparaiso University and began his legal career in a general private practice in Wilmington, North Carolina. In 1981, he moved to Indianapolis where he worked as Deputy Attorney General. He returned to Evansville in 1988 when he was appointed to serve as a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. The celebration will continue with the popular decorated golf cart parade, a community picnic in Maclure Park, and children’s games. Bob Minnette and the Dixieland Society will provide live music and the Kiwanis will have hamburgers and hot dogs available for purchase. In the tradition of New Harmony’s founders, free root beer will be served.
PC Fair Talent Show Posey County 4-H Fair youth talent contest will be July 11 at 7 p.m. at the community center. Junior Divison is ages 12 and under. Senior Divison is ages from 13- 21. There are 13 categories to choose from. For an entry form information contact Katie at 812-431-0329 or go to www.poseycountyfair.com Entry forms must be postmarked by July 6, 2012.
Server class slated A class for Server Training for the Indiana Alcohol Commission will be held at the Mount Vernon Elks Lodge #277 at 131 E. Fourth St. on Sunday, June 24 at 1 p.m. Class is limited to 20 participants. Cost is $30. Please contact Connie Seifert at 812-985-0877 to sign up.
Lily Manning and Sarah Beloat enjoy Thursday’s Hat Luncheon at New Harmony Inn. The girls’ colorfully themed table was entitled, ‘Tickle Me Pink Diamonds.’ Photo by Zach Straw. See more of this set on our Facebook page.
Inside this issue...
ThePCN
Retrospective ................. A4 Legals.............................. D2 Classifieds .................. D3-4
tion of nuisance violations at six specified properties: 1019 North Street, 618 South Street, 623 Murphy Street, 629 South Street, 1015 Main Street and 822 East Street. Council singled out and named the independent findings on each property. Each property violated one or both of two codes--either Code 8.12.020 regarding the illegal accumulation of trash, junk or cars, or Code 8.12.010, regarding the illegal spread of overgrown weeds. The council’s findings allow Town Marshal Scott Champlin to distribute letters notifying the owners of nuisance code violations. The letters will also set a date for the correction of those violations before the town cleans up the properties at the owners’ expense. Council members noted that more properties may be in violation of the nuisance code, but the specified properties are known for violations. Before the discussion leading up to the findings, New Harmony resident Carlene VanLaningham had filed her own nuisance complaint about the properties at 618 and 629 South Street. Another audience member cited the parking of a semi-truck tractor within town limits. Council member Joe Straw directed Town Marshal Scott Champlin to tell drivers to move out any semi-trucks within the town limits, for they stand in violation of a truck ordinance posted all over town. Town Marshal Scott Champlin advised all Posey County residents to attend to the burn ban issued on June 21. So far, the ban allows the use of grills, but forbids all open burning—for example, in fire pits. In other business: •Council member Linda Warrum drew attention to the Maple Hill Cemetery Care rules adopted May 17, 2012. Those rules are available at the Town Hall and also on the town website at www.newharmony-in.gov. Warrum said the town is in a transition period with
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Go to www.poseycountynews.com Community ........... A5 Social ...................... A6 Deaths.................... A3 Sports ................... C1-5 School.................... A8 Bus/Ag.................... A9
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