T
P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Volume 138 Edition 23
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
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Former teacher admits to relationship with minor By Dave Pearce A sentencing hearing has been set for former Mount Vernon teacher Camella Rodgers. Confirmation has been received from Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers that Rodgers has admitted to all charges against her. Rodgers will learn her fate at 8 a.m. on June 28. Rodgers was the Farmersville Elementary School teacher who resigned abruptly in late November or early December of 2017. Camella Gay Rodgers will face sentences on two charges of Child Seduction as the result of actions al-
leged in a Probable Cause Affidavit filed in Posey Circuit Court on Friday, Jan. 8, 2018. According to information revealed in the affidavit, Rodgers had been both a coach and a tutor to the high school student during the time the actions are alleged to have taken place. The actions are alleged to have taken place over about a year’s time when the student was underage. Clowers confirmed that Rodgers admitted to the charges and will face a sentence of one to six years in Judge James Redwine’s Posey Superior Court.
“There was no plea According to the origiagreement,” Clowers exnal probable cause afplained. “She came into fidavit, the sex acts took court and admitted to all place in Posey County, charges against her, withInd., at various locations out any sort of agreement including Farmersville Elfrom the state.” ementary School and rural Further complicatareas located in the county ing matters was that the on or near private farm mother of the victim ground. This investigation in this case was under Camella Rodgers revealed that Rodgers was the supervision of thenemployed at the time as Mount Vernon Junior High School an elementary school teacher for the Principal Chad Rodgers. He, too, has MSD of Mount Vernon and that the resigned his position with the Mount victim was a student at Mount VerVernon School Corporation. non High School. Rodgers tutored
the victim for a period of time in Rodgers’ Farmersville classroom and also assisted in coaching the victim while she was participating on the track and field team, all while carrying on a sexual relationship with the student.” The victim’s mother indicated that Principal Rodgers had requested to meet with her on school time while she was working to talk about the situation. She indicated that she complied with his request and that Principal Rodgers had made inappropriate
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Immersion course adds extra level of security for police
Councilman David Flanders once again presented information regarding the Wabash River Survey. He proposed that the town partner with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to do two studies to determine the condition of the rip rap and
By Lois Mittino Gray The end of the school year brings with it many summer starts, honor recognitions, and fond farewells. The MSD of Mount Vernon’s Closing Day Staff Breakfast held Friday morning, May 24 in the high school cafeteria was all that and more. School Superintendent Dr.Tom Kopatich played an emotional goodbye video tribute made for this year’s seven retiring district teachers. He introduced them individually to standing ovations, amid tears, telling them, “You will
By Lois Mittino Gray With the overwhelming number of active shooter situations around the country, the Mount Vernon Police Force is taking a proactive stance, adding one more level of preparation to the local force. Police Chief Tony Alldredge appeared at the Mount Vernon Board of Public Works and Safety’s May 24, meeting to request permission to send Officer Caleb McDaniel to a Combat Casualty Course in Texas. The six day, eighty hour total immersion course costs $2,280 and it will run from September 23 through September 30. It is taught by Cypress Creek EMS and deals with situations where officers actually go into the scene and treat victims, while the shooter is still inside. “If we have an incident, someone can go right into the scene and immediately treat victims. Currently, our EMS services have to wait for an all-clear signal,” Alldredge said. The training will give McDaniel a four year combat casualty care certification. After completion, the Chief said his goal is to have Officer McDaniel train others on his staff, earning their CEU’s. When asked about funds for the course fees, Chief Alldredge replied he has money in his budget to do this training. McDaniel was given permission to use the city credit card and vehicle during travel.
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Long-time Posey County Sheriff Bill Cox cuts the ribbon to commemorate the opening of the new addition to the Posey County Jail. The event was followed by an open house of the new facility at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Pictured, left to right are Jail Commander Mark Pharr, Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth, Cox, Chief Deputy Sheriff Tom Latham, County Council member Aaron Wilson, County Council member Don Mattingly, Posey County Commissioner Carl Schmitz, Posey County Commissioner Jim Alsop, Posey County Council member Stefani Miller, Posey County Commissioner Jay Price, and Posey County Council member Dave Pearce. Photo by Connie Pearce
Cut the ribbon: Community gathers for jail dedication By Lois Mittino Gray “What a great anniversary gift this is for me!” exclaimed Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth at the new Posey County Jail dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday morning. June 2 was not only his thirty-third wedding anniversary with wife Melody, but also the day he saw the dream he first envisioned in 2012 of a bigger, modern facility come to fruition. About 75 persons sweltered in the heat to watch former four-term Sheriff Bill Cox snip the “do not
cross-crime scene” yellow tape with a giant pair of silver scissors and a big smile on his face. Sheriff Oeth said Cox is the oldest surviving county sheriff and the last one to actually reside at the jail with his family. His son, Dwayne affirmed that with a reminiscing nod. The Sheriff said the new renovated jail is the fifth one is Posey County’s two hundred year history. “The first was in Springfield, the second at the Court House and the third was on Mill Street. The fourth was at our present location on this
NH council discuses taking part in two river studies By Lois Mittino Gray The monthly meeting of the New Harmony Town Council took place on May 15 at the Town Hall to discuss many assorted topics, including river surveys, drug testing, employee salaries, cemetery repairs, street paving, and re-location of the Ropp Field plaque.
INSIDE TODAY
property and work on this fifth one onsite began when we broke ground in 2016. We moved our current inmate population over to this new one on October 22, 2017,” he explained. Sheriff Oeth thanked the county commissioners for supporting the jail project and the county council for securing funding for it. He acknowledged Garmong Construction Services as the contractors, especially giving a shout out
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MSDMV staff gathers for annual closing-day meal at high school
Two new swings dedicated along riverfront
Vikings win first sectional championship in 12 years. Check out our special section inside today congratulating the team for their hard work
Briefly Nix Companies Luncheon: Wednesday, June 6, 2018 11:45 a.m - 1 p.m. Red Wagon Restaraunt Poseyville, Ind. New Harmony Antique Show Saturday, June 9, 2018 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. New Harmony MVCC Cruise in Car Show Saturday, June 9, 2018 1 pm. Mount Vernon Water Street Wine Festival Saturday, June 9, 2018 3p.m.- 10 p.m. Mount Vernon Riverfront More information on these and other events inside today’s Posey County News
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Members of the Duckworth family assemble for the riverfront swing Pastor Jamie Kent stands behind the metal swing he dedicated dedication in honor of the family patriarch, Don. Front row, grand- at the Mount Vernon riverfront in honor of Selma and Alvin Kleinchildren Aaron, Adam, Ualyza, Jazz, and Tori. Back row, Dan, Brian, schmidt. From left grandson Kris Kleinschmidt, son Don, grandLiza, Ruth and Dianna Duckworth. Photos by Lois Mittino Gray daughter Heather, and her fiancé Brandon Woolen. By Lois Mittino Gray Enjoying a cool breeze blowing off the river is a welcome treat on a summer evening. Now, visitors have three large metal swings at Riverfront Park in Mount Vernon to partake of that pleasure. The three attractive swings were officially dedicated on Memorial Day afternoon in a riverfront ceremony attended by friends and family of the donors, that included free ice cream afterwards. Mayor Bill Curtis welcomed those
in attendance and led the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence in honor of veterans. Pastor Jamie Kent of Trinity United Church of Christ offered opening and closing prayers and did the blessing of the swings. All in attendance joined hands in a large circle around the selfstanding swings to recite the “Lord’s Prayer.” Remarks were given by Terry and Loretta Gottman whose business, Gottman Electric, made and installed the impressive metal structures.
The three swings were donated by the Don Duckworth family, the Ryan James O’Neil family and the family of Alvin and Selma Kleinschmidt. The Duckworth family and the O’Neil family were neighbors for many years, while the Duckworths and the Kleinschmidts regularly attended Trinity United Church together. They were together again at the riverfront dedication talking about their memories
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