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Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN Posey County’s locally-owned newspaper
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
$1.00
Volume 133 Edition 30
Pair faces felony charges after Old Mill Mart robbery By Dave Pearce Two people are in jail as the result of a robbery at New Harmony’s Old Mill Mart on July 16. According to information released by Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers, Gregory Wayne Bennett, 29, of Evansville and Casey White, 26, of Mount Vernon, remain lodged in the Posey County Jail and face nuCasey L. White merous charges. According to information from New Harmony Town Marshal Scott Champlain, he received a call from Posey County Central Dispatch at around 7:28 p.m. on July 16. He was advised that a robbery had just occurred at the convenience store located at 1128 Church
Street in New Harmony. Champlain said the store clerk advised him she was working the counter when the white male entered the store. After another customer left, the man walked up to the counter and told the clerk to “Give me all the money and there will be no harm.” The clerk indicated that at first, she thought the man Greg W. Bennett was joking but when he asked for the money a second time, she indicated he pointed his hand at her and she thought there was something in his hand but it was covered up. The clerk told police that the man took the money and left through the front door. The
clerk did not see how the man left the scene. However, upon checking with a neighbor, Champlain was able to ascertain that the neighbor had seen a Maroon Chrysler PT Cruiser with a black convertible top go by her house on Freeman Lane. When the car went north, she noticed the male passenger was wearing a white bandana over the lower half of his face. When the car turned around and came back, the male had pulled the bandana down and it was around his neck. The neighbor said there was a dark-haired female driving the vehicle. She said the vehicle had parked between two trucks behind the store and that the male got out and looked into both of the trucks before proceeding into the store. The neighbor indicated she felt something was not right and continued to watch. After a few minutes, the male came out of the store, first walking, and then upon passing the store
windows, ran and jumped into the waiting PT Cruiser. She said the vehicle then went north on Freeman (a dead end street), turned around and went south on Freeman before turning east on Church Street and heading south on Highway 69 at a high rate of speed. Champlain gave the information to dispatch and Mount Vernon Police Officer Josh Brock said he knew a white female with dark hair who drove a vehicle matching that description. He indicated that he knew that a man matching Bennett’s description was living with a Casey White, who resides at 1817 Allyn Drive in Mount Vernon. Poseyville Police Officer Doug Saltzman said he talked with a store clerk at Franky J’s in Wadesville. The clerk indicated that a male matching that description had been in the store a short time earlier. Store surveil-
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Quinn faces 20 years after meth conviction On July 16, 2013, Jer- curred at Quinn’s home in emy Quinn was sentenced the 200 block of West Secin Posey County Superior ond Street in Mount Vernon. Court to 20 years of incar- During each methamphetceration at the Inamine delivery, diana Department Quinn voluntarily of Corrections. gave the ConfiQuinn was ardential Informant rested as part of a quantity of marthe Posey County ijuana as well. Narcotic’s Unit Quinn’s prior October 19, 2012 criminal history raid that was included the folnamed ‘Operalowing convicQuinn tion Fair Warntions in Posey ing.’ Quinn was convicted County: a 2000 conviction of two (2) counts of Deal- for Battery by Bodily Waste ing in Methamphetamine, and Intimidation, both Class both Class B Felonies, and D Felonies; a 2002 convicof two (2) counts of Deal- tion for Theft, a Class D ing Marijuana, both Class Felony; a 2002 conviction C Felonies. On two separate for Dealing in a Schedule occasions in March of 2012, II Controlled Substance, a Quinn delivered metham- Class B Felony, and Theft, a phetamine to a Confidential Class D Felony; a 2005 conGlen Olberding (center) of Commercial Insurance Company FM Global, presents a $2,000 check to the Marrs Informant who was work- viction for Resisting Law Township Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. Receiving the check are, from left to right, secretary RaeAnn Pedrott, ing with the Posey County Enforcement, a Class D Felvice-president Lisa Hines, Nate Hines (as Sparky), president Sandra Hile and treasurer Beth Lavey. The donation Narcotic’s Unit. The methwill be used to purchase approximately 200 fire detectors that will be given to the public at upcoming events. Photo Continued on amphetamine deliveries ocby Zach Straw
Commissioners take next step toward Griffin Post Office burglary arrest made Mount Vernon boys’ home demolition
By Valerie Werkmeister Posey County Commissioners took the next step in the process towards demolition of the former boys’ home and old jail. During their Tuesday, July 16 meeting, commissioners Carl Schmitz, Jim Alsop and Jerry Walden opened four bids submitted to do the demolition work. DK Parker’s bid was the highest at $185,872. O’Risky Excavating submitted a bid for $88,500, Russell Excavating’s bid was $42,000 and the final bid, from T & L Construction, was $89,500. Building Commissioner Ed Baettinger reviewed the bids during the meeting but declined to make a recommendation. He stated that due to the huge disparity between the bid amounts, he wanted to ask the low bidder a few questions. He will make a recommendation at the next commissioners’ meeting. Baettinger explained to the commission-
ers that he received one bid for asbestos removal from the facility from Elite Environmental and Safety Services for $1,298. They approved the bid. Commissioners also approved the donation of a few surplus items that have been stored at the facility. One stair chair will be donated to the Mount Vernon Fire Department and three window air conditioning units will be donated to At the Cross Missions. They also agreed to have several nonfunctioning surplus items such as computers, keyboards and speakers to be destroyed. Commissioners approved a change in the mobile home parks and recreational vehicles ordinance. The change involves adjusting the approved mobile home square footage from 325 to 650 square feet to be in line with the state ordinance.
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Special to the News vided additional information regarding the Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth has an- circumstances of the crime. nounced that an arrest has been made in the On the morning of July 16, 2013, Posey December 2012 burglary of the Post Office County Sheriff’s Detective Tom Latham, in Griffin. along with a US Postal InMichael A. Wright, 30, has spector, interviewed a perbeen arrested and an affidavit son of interest in connection alleges that Wright commitwith the Griffin Post Office ted the crimes of burglary burglary. Wright was interand theft in the Post Office viewed at the Posey County incident. Jail regarding his involveAccording to Oeth, on ment in the crime. the evening of December Information obtained dur16, 2012, the Posey County ing the interview allowed Sheriff’s Department was noDetective Latham to file an tified of a burglary at the US affidavit for the arrest of MiPost Office on Main Street in chael A. Wright. Griffin, Ind. When deputies The affidavit alleges arrived they met with Post OfWright committed the crimes Wright fice Officials and found that the of burglary and theft. Wright window at the customer service counter had is currently incarcerated in the Posey County been manipulated and opened from the lobby Jail. A case file has been submitted to Posey side of the facility. Deputies began the task County Prosecutor Travis Clowers. of gathering and collecting evidence as they The Posey County Sheriff’s Department documented the appearance of the scene. In- was assisted in this investigation by the Unitvestigators continued to track leads that pro- ed State Postal Inspection Service.
Posey native Tom Latham is new Chief Deputy Sheriff
Posey County Circuit Court Judge James M. Redwine administers the oath of office to new Chief Deputy Sheriff Thomas E. Latham Jr. Photo submitted
ThePCN
By Dave Pearce It takes very little time around Posey County’s new Chief Deputy Sheriff Tom Latham to learn what is most important to him. His God, his family, and his community. Latham was sworn in last week as the new Chief Deputy of Posey County following the retirement of 30-plus year officer Mel Buchanan. While Latham never dreamed he would have this opportunity at only 37, he looks forward to the challenge. “Ever since I can remember, I always wanted to be a police officer,” said Latham, who attended the North Posey School system prior to his 15-year career as a Posey County police officer. “I sincerely believe it is my calling. I really always knew this was what I was supposed to do. I guess it was just God’s Will.” And you will get no argument from Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth, who
Inside this issue... Retrospective ................... A4 Community .......... A5 Social ...................... A6 Legals .......................... B3-5 Deaths ................ A3 Sports .................. B1-2 Classifieds .................. B6-7 Church .................. A7 Bus/Ag .....................A8
chose Latham to take the position. Oeth said Latham may be the best detective he has been associated with in Posey County and also one of the best individuals. Latham’s career in law enforcement reads like someone living the American dream, starting at the bottom and working his way upward. The son of Sharon Kiltz and his deceased father, also named Thomas Latham, the new chief deputy said there is nothing better than seeing a smile on the face of someone that you have been able to help. Latham names his deceased stepfather, Bill Kiltz, as the one who was the predominant father figure in his life. Although admitting the job is thankless at times, he also knows the rewards of a job well done and justice served. “We usually don’t come into contact with
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