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VOLUME 134 EDITION 22 TUESDAY JUNE 3, 2014 Only
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The Posey County News: Honoring the past, embracing the future.
MSD Mount Vernon bids farewell to 562 years experience
Retiring teacher Paul Allison shows off his ‘happy face’ at the end of school breakfast. Photo by Lois Mittino Gray
By Lois Mittino Gray The highlight of the morning breakfast party to celebrate the last day of school for Mount Vernon district school staff was a video. It was a collage of clips made to Pharrell Williams’ upbeat tune ‘Happy.’ Students, staff, principals, and even School Superintendent Tom Kopatich, were shown bustin’ their best moves, whether that be disco, running man, the sprinkler or moon walking grooves. It was produced by employees Deb Serna and William Stein. The hilarious ‘Happy in Mount Vernon’ video was welcome comic relief as it came right after an emotional goodbye video made by the 14 retiring teachers, and four administrators. ”Together they total 562 teaching years with careers ranging from 19-36 years,” Kopatich said as he introduced them individually to standing ovations amid tears. “One even hired me,” he said, referring to Gary Redman, retiring athletic director. Retiree Paul Allison received the heartiest laugh when he was introduced as he flipped up his Marrs Elementary School staff shirt to reveal a huge yellow smiley face tee shirt underneath. Kopatich told them all they, “could sign up for the sub list right away.” The event began as staff members breakfasted in the high school cafeteria on May 23 to the music of the Mount Vernon Jazz Band, under the direction of Grant Jones. Listeners seemed to particularly enjoy ‘Summertime’ as vacation was just around the corner, but the grand finale was a rousing rendition of ‘In The Mood.’ Afterwards, Kopatich announced that the group
received the All Music Award, the highest in the state, for the first time ever in school history A contest followed as tables competed in a trivia quiz for Hawg N’ Sauce gift cards. There was a collegial fun atmosphere as players knew that the first name of Mount Vernon was McFaddin’s Bluff, General Hovey’s burial site, that Bill Keck donated cars, and Abe Lincoln walked twenty miles to borrow books from Judge John Pitcher. The bonus question decided the winner though. Tom Kopatich is the Twenty-third School Superintendent for the district, with the closest guesses being thirteenth and fifteenth. Teachers from each school were given A school pin awards. Many were in matching color school shirts and accepted awards with big smiles. Staff at Farmersville and Marrs Elementary School also received four star school pins. Years of service pins were given for one year, five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty and thirty five years, Mary Buchanan rocked the house with applause when she accepted her forty year pin and an old broom to help her walk back to her seat. She is the personal secretary to the school superintendent. Kopatich said his farewells for the year with this thought. “My father told me to always remember two things. Be gracious and appreciative and have good character. To all of yon, your character has shone greatly this year.” After dismissal, everyone went back to the classroom to clean up and wrap up another good year.
North Posey Relay for Life set for June 7 weekend By Valerie Werkmeister In just a few short days, one of the biggest and arguably one of the most important fundraisers will take place in Posey County. The North Posey Relay for Life event will be held at the North Posey High School track starting Saturday, June 7 and ending at 6 a.m., Sunday morning. This year, North Posey has set a goal of raising $103,000. All
proceeds go to the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer. Cancer survivors will be treated to a special brunch in their honor in the high school cafeteria at 11 a.m. Invitations have been mailed and RSVPs are appreciated in order to adequately prepare enough food. The opening ceremony begins at noon and all the survivors will walk around the
Larry Fleck showed up just in time for the rain that put a damper on activities at the 15th Annual Black River Auto Fest held Sunday in Griffin. Photo by Dave Pearce
Pages of the Past JUNE 1, 2004 ~ 10 YEARS AGO David Lawrence was honored at the Mount Vernon graduation as Distinguished Alumni. Former Poseyville resident Ray Clayton gave his rendition of ‘Old Glory’ at the World War II Veterans Memorial Service in New Harmony. Nathan Seibert and Amber Pinkston announce their upcoming marriage set for June 19, 2004 at Harwood Baptist Church in Evansville. The first Old-Fashioned Block Party will be presented by the Rapp Granary-Owen Foundation in New Harmony. Sun Liquid Detergent sold for $1.99 for 120 ounces at J.L. Hirsch Grocery Store in Poseyville. Suzanne Juncker goes to IHSAA state finals after finishing the competition with a 37-foot, two and one half-inch toss in the shot put finals. MAY 31, 1989 ~ 25 YEARS AGO Tod Hinton of Mount Vernon will be touring the United States this summer with the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corp. Mount Vernon School District faculty members John Bonar and Leona Becker will be retiring this year. One employee killed and two injured in an explosion at the Mount Vernon Refinery. John King, private in the U.S. Army who is heading for an overseas assignment in Germany, performed ‘Taps’ and ‘The National Anthem’ at the Memorial Day Services in Mount Vernon. Michelle Thiem of Poseyville has been selected as a state finalist in the Miss Indiana Pre-Teen Pageant. Paul G. Wade has been elected to the Board of Directors of CNB Bancshares to fill the term of Paul C. Fletchall. MAY 29, 1964, 2004 ~ 50 YEARS AGO Mr. and Mrs. Frank McCleary have returned from a two week visit with relatives in Oklahoma and Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Broyles are announcing the birth of a daughter, Leigh Ann, who weighed seven pounds and 12 ounces. Ideal Festival Ice Cream .59 cents per half gallon at Lockwood’s in Poseyville. A crowd of over 1,000 attended the Commencement exercises at North Posey where 75 seniors received their diplomas. His performance of duties in the U.S. Army’s personnel management branch has won warm praise for Keith A. Cox who is stationed in Germany. Miss Diane Dierlam of Wadesville has been employed in the bookkeeping department of the Farmers Bank and Trust Co. in Poseyville.
track. Their courage and their strength are symbols of what everyone fights for—a world without cancer. Those who are unable to walk, will be accommodated with a ride on a golf cart. There are many fun activities planned throughout the day to help keep the crowd lively and entertained. Minute-to-win-it games, obstacle courses, frozen t-shirt contests, a kiddie parade, scavenger hunt and relay races are just a few of the events planned throughout the day and night. DJ services will be provided by John and Dalton Epley of Extreme Light and Sound. Each team will hold various on-site fundraisers. The live auction begins at 6 p.m. The Courage award will be presented at 8 p.m. right before the luminary service begins at 9 p.m. Anyone interested in purchasing a luminary can contact any team captain or event chairperson, Mary Peach at (812) 483-0848 or co-chair, Judy Baehl at (812) 568-3988 or Donna Nash at (812) 430-9448. Luminaries can be purchased on the day of the event until 6 p.m. However, it is helpful to purchase luminaries well in advance so that volunteers can begin working on the Luminaria service. Plans are being finalized for a special Memorial quilt fundraiser. Fabric squares will be sold on the day of the event to kick off this exciting project. The fabric squares can be decorated at the discretion of the purchas-
er and creativity and uniqueness is encouraged. Squares can be embroidered, designed with fabric pens, appliquéd or printed with a picture. Those who would like to print a picture of their loved one, will be given the choice to purchase special photo fabric. Once the quilt is complete, it will be sent on a traveling display in various North Posey locations and churches. An information sheet will be included with each fabric square at the time of purchase to give additional details regarding return deadlines and examples of how squares can be decorated. The quilt will only include one square of each person who has succumbed to cancer. Families are encouraged to discuss ideas together and submit their best idea to memorialize their loved one. Canned food items are being collected and will be used as weights in the luminary bags. Following the event, all of the canned food will be divided among the local food pantries within the county. Relay participants are asked to continue to save their quarters for the Got a Quarter, Give a Quarter campaign. The quarters will be used to line the track with the hopes of having enough quarters to circle the entire track. Anyone interested in learning more about what Relay for Life is all about is encouraged to join the Relay committee on the day of the event.
Ford Home plans major renovations
Charles Ford Home located in New Harmony. Photo by Zach Straw By Lois Mittino Gray Two public community meetings were held this past week to announce renovations planned for the Charles Ford Memorial Home on Main Street in New Harmony. ‘Exciting Improvements for the Future’ was the meeting title hosted by the Ford Home Board of Directors and Administrator Amy Koch. Koch began the program with the history of the building that now serves as a residential assisted living facility for ladies. It was built in 1904 by Charles Ford for his sister and her friends. The first wing was added in 1956, north/south wing in 1972, and the east wing in 1983. It was redecorated in 1985. “That’s almost thirty years since we have done anything to this building, so it is way overdue,” Koch said. The three prong improvement plan was introduced by Board of Directors President Vicki Campbell who explained that, “Our num-
ber one priority is to make the Ford Home safe and comfortable for our residents.” The plan involves putting in a sprinkler system, a safer nurse’s call security system and reconstructing and redecorating rooms as they become open with showers and kitchenettes in the room. “We want to get things up to snuff,” she announced boldly. Bill Bridwell, Manager of Armor Fire Protection of Henderson, Ky., spoke about the Viking Dry Sprinkler System to be installed throughout the building, especially the network of piping in the attic. “Air pressure holds the water back until it is needed and then it distributes to the sprinkler heads. One head serves every 120-130 feet,” he explained while passing sample heads around to listeners. The system will immediately alert the Fire Department number. Koch said she was grateful to the Board of Directors for the foresight
to implement this even before it is mandated by the state. Because it is so hot to work in attics during the months of July and August, Bridwell felt his team would not be finished with the installation until autumn. Ryan Kerney of Vanguard of Evansville was next on the docket demonstrating the features of the new nurse’s security system. The current system is archaic and some pieces cannot be ordered anymore. Residents wear an alarm around their neck and have one near the bed and toilet to summon help. With the new system, the patients have water-resistant pendants and the nurse will know immediately what room called with pager-radio communication. There is 24/7 supervised security at the doors and it offers Resident Wandering Protection as it can even tell if a resident is outside the building. The program also keeps records and generates reports. It should be ready to go in a few months. Jason Baize of Baize Contracting showed designs for the new showers in the rooms and kitchenette furniture. He will start on the redesigns right now of two empty small rooms and one of the big rooms.
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