Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN
“Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.” Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Posey County’s only locally-owned newspaper
$1.00
(USPS S4 439-500) 39 5 0 0)
Volume 134 Edition 33
Fate of New Harmony Marshal Champlin in hands of Council
As unbelievable as it may seem, it is football season again. Both Posey County teams open regular season play this Friday night. Here, North Posey’s Aaron Droste goes high for the reception during the scrimmage Friday evening at Boonville. See the Posey County Fall Sports preview inside today’s Posey County News. Photo by Dave Pearce
By Dave Pearce New Harmony Town Marshal Scott Champlin has called Posey County home for all his life. Now, on a Facebook Page petition, his son Sanford Champlin is asking for the community’s support to keep the elder Champlin in his job. According to information on the Facebook petition, many of the town’s residents and business owners are in favor of Champlin’s retention of his job. Opponents have not been willing to comment at this point. Even town council members who were contacted refused to comment because it is an employment issue and could become a legal issue. Scott Champlin did not want to comment on a letter he recently received from the New Harmony Town Council, but apparently there are plenty of people willing to speak on his behalf. Walk from shop to shop in New Harmony and you will likely find a petition filled with signatures to save Scott Champlin’s job as town marshal. Continue walking down the street and it won’t be hard to find someone to speak highly of Champlin’s character. “If somebody’s in trouble he helps them. If trouble goes on he gets in the middle of it,” said Rex Morris. “There’s a lot of people in this town that care about Scotty,” said Jim Haggard. “Been very well please with the way Scott’s been doing his job,” said Charles Huck.
“He’s genuinely a nice guy. Will do anything for you. Looks out for the town,” said Chris Kissel. Kissel is the owner of Chris’ Pharmacy. Right next to the register is a petition to save Champlin’s job and he has good reason for it. Kissel says his business has been broken into several times and every time Champlin has come up with an arrest. “What I see of him he’s top notch and I stand behind him 100 percent,” said Kissel. Kissel, and judging by the number of signatures, many more in New Harmony couldn’t understand why Champlin’s quality of work was being called into question. “It was a shock. I thought, ‘what?’ I had to ask ‘are you talking about our Scott?’ I couldn’t believe it,” said Kissel. “I’m just really surprised to see us having to go through this to save Scotty,” said Haggard. A man who wanted to remain unidentified says he read the list of grievances the town council sent to Champlin. One of them claiming Champlin’s off duty security work was interfering with his marshal duties. “I hear he’s moonlighting. The only moonlighting I see him doing is when I come in town at night and he’s always here keeping an eye on the town,” said Haggard.
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Reich, Allison sentenced in unrelated felony convictions Special to the News On August 13, 2014, Poseyville resident and former Posey Counth Emergency Medical Services EMT Rodney Lee Allison was sentenced in the Posey County Superior Court to serve 12 years executed at the Indiana Department of Corrections as a result of his being convicted of two counts of Child Molesting, both Class B Felonies. Allison is a ‘credit restricted felon’ and must serve 85 percent of his sentence. Allison was arrested in February of 2014 and charged with multiple counts of child molesting for having engaged in sexual activity with two young children and which were reported to have occurred between the years 2001 and 2009. The involved children were each under the age of 14 during the times that they were sexually assaulted. Allison’s victims are now
adults and each came forward to report the sexual abuse in January of this year. Allison was working as a EMT or emergency medical technician in Posey County prior to his arrest. This particular criminal investigation was led by Indiana State Police Detective Alan Sherretz. Patricia C. Reich Travis Clowers, Posey County Prosecuting Attorney, stated, “The sexual abuse of children will not go unpunished in Posey County. I have personally seen the hurt and devastation this type of abuse can have on young children and on the family unit as a whole. Too often, the children who are abused
blame themselves and are too afraid to report the crimes until they have matured or entered adulthood. Detective Alan Sherretz, as usual, conducted an outstanding criminal Rodney Lee Allison investigation and provided our Office with a strong case to prosecute. Rodney Allison has been an inmate in the Posey County Jail since his arrest in February and he is now on his way to prison. We realize that there is very little we in the criminal justice system can do to help erase the horrible stain child sexual
abuse leaves upon abused children. At least we know that Rodney Allison is now paying for the crimes he committed so long ago.” On August 12, 2014, Patricia C. Reich (also known as Patricia Stewart and Patricia Hawkins) was sentenced in the Posey County Superior Court to serve three years executed at the Indiana Department of Corrections as a result of her conviction for the crime of Prisoner Possessing a Dangerous Device or Material, a Class C Felony. Reich had been convicted in October of 2013 for the crimes of Battery and Resisting Law Enforcement, both Class A Misdemeanors, in an unrelated case and was sentenced to two years on Probation. A Petition to Revoke her
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Mount Vernon denied ‘Stellar,’ to seek ‘Blight Elimination’ By Lois Mittino Gray Community officials of Mount Vernon learned this week that Mount Vernon was unsuccessful in its bid to receive a Stellar Community Grant. Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann announced Friday at the Indiana State Fair, the City of Huntingburg’s designation as a Stellar Community. After submitting a letter of interest on February 19, the city was informed March 19 that it was one
of six finalists for the program. “We are honored to be designated as a Stellar Community by the State of Indiana,” says Mayor Denny Spinner. “The plan we put together is something that will benefit Huntingburg for years to come. We are grateful to those who specifically contributed, as well as the entire community, for all of their input and support during this process.” The city submitted a detailed strategic investment plan to
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Wezet is Poseyville Librarian
Indiana State Police seeks applicants for 75th Recruit Academy The Indiana State Police is now accepting applications for the 75th Recruit Academy. Individuals who are interested in beginning a rewarding career as an Indiana State Trooper may apply online at http://www.in.gov/ isp/2368.htm. This website will provide a detailed synopsis of the application process as well as career information about the Indiana State Police Department. Applications must be received via e-mail by 11:59 p.m. (EST), on Sunday, November 30, 2014. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted for the 75th Recruit Academy. Posey Commissioners to vote on NH Bridge August 19 The Citizens for Reopening the Harmony Way Bridge has been informed that a vote by three Posey County Commissioners will take place Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 9 a.m. at the Hovey House, located at 330 Walnut in Mount Vernon, Ind. The vote involves the ownership of the bridge which connects White County, Ill., and Posey County, Ind. The Harmony Way Bridge is currently owned by a private bridge commission making it ineligible to apply for state or federal funds for inspections to determine the cost to repair, replace or demolish the bridge. The goal of the grassroots citizens group is to encourage a government entity to take ownership of the structure to save the bridge or to make a determination as to its final fate. Over 3,000 signatures on petitions have been signed by citizens in White and Posey counties supporting the effort to reopen the bridge. A poll by the Citizens group was also conducted with businesses in New Harmony, Ind., and Carmi, Ill. Business owners on both sides of the Wabash River reported a 10 to 35 percent decrease in revenue since the bridge closed in May of 2012. More information can be found on the Citizens for Reopening the Harmony Way Bridge Facebook page and http://www.saveharmonywaybridge.com. Posey County Sheriff Department seeks applicants The Posey County Sheriff Department is seeking applications for a female jailer position. This is a full time position with benefits. Applications can be picked up at the Sheriff’s Department at 1201 O’Donnell Road, Mount Vernon. Posey County Historical Society to meet in St. Wendel Posey County Historical Society members and friends are invited to gather for lunch on Saturday, August 23 at 11 a.m. at The Silver Bell, 4424 St. Wendel Road in St. Wendel. Following lunch, Becky Higgins, President of the Society, will be discussing Mt. Vernon’s Bicentennial and then presiding at the business meeting.
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the Stellar Committee on June 6 and hosted a site visit, which included a presentation and tour of Huntingburg, on July 9. During a meeting this week, the city of Mount Vernon has just been handed another tool to demolish at least 15 blighted homes in its quest to get rid of dilapidated eyesores. The Mount Vernon Redevelopment Commission voted at a
By Valerie Werkmeister A new director is at the helm of the Poseyville Carnegie Public Library but she’s no stranger. Claire Wezet has assumed the position vacated by Heather McNabb, who left the position to pursue a new opportunity at an Evansville library. Wezet has been working in the young adult and children’s services area of the library for the past year. Under McNabb’s three year tenure, the library enjoyed tremendous growth. Patron visits tripled and Wezet believes it was McNabb’s way of connecting to the patrons that ensured its success. She said McNabb used social media to notify and connect with the public about library events. “You have to evolve with your community,” Wezet explained. She plans to continue in McNabb’s footsteps and continues to update the library’s blog, website and Facebook page. Wezet is a native of Mount Vernon and graduated in 2006. She attended Ball State University for two years studying graphic design and public relations before completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern Indiana in English, Rhetoric and Composition. She also had a minor in literature. She is continuing her education online through IUPUI and intends to complete her master’s degree in Library Science within the next year and one-half. While the library currently has a number of great programs including story times, tween times, young adult programs and a popular summer reading program, Wezet hopes to build upon that foundation. She would like to establish a teen advisory board that would be comprised of young adults who would help plan programs. She also intends to strengthen ties with the schools and increase the number of youth programs the library provides. She has also identified a need for technology programs that would provide instruction to those having difficulty understand how to use computers or tablets or other types of technology. “We often have people coming in and saying they received this iPad or tablet for Christmas, but they don’t know how to use them,” Wezet said. She hopes to offer structured financial classes for
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Claire Wezet young adults that could be administered by community leaders. The library’s growth is a positive testament that it is certainly doing something right. But, it also brings to light the relatively small space the currently library offers. The original portion of the library was built from a $5,500 grant from Andrew Carnegie in 1904. The library came to fruition because Poseyville banker, George Waters, wrote a letter to Carnegie requesting
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