T
P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Volume 137 Edition 37
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
A PERFECT WEEKEND
Top left: Amanda Reyher and her dog Maya take part in the River Days Parade Saturday evening. Photo by Zachery Straw Photography Above: Jonathan Dill of Blairsville takes a swing at the strongman game Saturday at River Days. Photo by Theresa Bratcher At left: Eagle Scout Curtis Pate and FCCLA Club participants, Sadie Redman, Jayana Russell and Majesty Waller were recipients of the new “Pay It Forward” award announced Sunday afternoon at the festival. Photo by Michelle Gibson
River Days sets new record By Lois Mittino Gray For only the second time in its 10-year history, weather conditions were perfect for the Mount Vernon River Days celebration, resulting in record crowds this past weekend. “In other years, it was so unbearably hot or raining. One year it was even really cold,” Event Chairman Kay Kilgore recalled. “We had great weather with no humidity this year and the best turnout ever.” Kilgore estimates that over 5,000 people attended the festival. “We had the best Friday night on record,” she said. Many people started the festival ready to shop and eat some good food while listening to the Shivaree Band and the On Tap Project with Summer Oeth. Some 109 food and craft vendors lined the streets near the riverside and many
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Little Mister River Days, Dillan Dalrymple, Emcee Alyssa Juncker and Little Miss River Days, Ella Rainey, pose for a photo after receiving their awards. Photo submitted
$1.00
MSDMV receives property donation By Lois Mittino Gray It has been a long time since a parcel of land was donated to the Mount Vernon School District and members of the school board were elated to accept the gift at their September 5, meeting. Eric and Melinda Brault, now residing in St. Louis, donated a flat piece of ground at 925 West Fourth Street, in the vicinity of West Elementary School, as a charitable gift. “At this time, we have no plans for it. We will mow and maintain it for now,” said School Superintendent Tom Kopatich. “We did not seek them out for this. They contacted us and wanted a way to express their appreciation for the fine education their children received in our system.”
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Neufelder retiring as extension educator By Bryana Schreiber Jon Neufelder, who has served as the extension educator for agriculture and natural resources with Purdue Extension of Posey County, recently retired at the end of August. Neufelder has served the community in various capacities Jon Neufelder over the years working in agriculture and serving in various community leadership roles — from running the local farmer’s market to serving as the 2011 President of the United Way of Posey County.
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Briefly
North Posey loses former athletic director
200th Anniversary: Old Union Church Saturday, Sept. 16 Sunday, Sept. 17 10017 S. State Road 165, PV
Mauck considered the community’s biggest sports fan
Day of Caring: United Way Sept. 15 Throughout community
Special to the News North Posey High School lost perhaps its biggest sports fan this week as Charles “Leonard” Mauck, the school’s first athletic director, died at Transcendent Health Care in Owensville. He passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 5, 2017. Leonard was born on January 7, 1919, the middle child of Henry and Effie (Sharp) Mauck. He passed away sixteen months shy of his goal of reaching “a hunard.” Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Howard Vaughn Mauck, his sister, Kathleen (Mauck) Wiggins, and his son, Daniel Dane Mauck. Leonard graduated from Owensville High School in 1937. He attended Oakland City College for two years, where he played basketball for the Mighty Oaks. He then transferred to Iowa Wesleyan, where he played for the Tigers until his graduation in
Burgoo: St. Philip Men’s Club Sept. 24, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. St. Philip Church Field of Dreams: North Posey High School Sept. 16, 4:30 p.m. 5900 High School Road, PV Make It, Fake It, Bake It: Post 5 Auxiliary October 7, 6:30 p.m. 203 Walnut Street, MV
More information on these and other events inside today’s Posey County News (USPS 439-500)
1941. He always bragged about beating the Harlem Globetrotters and had the article to back up his story! After college, he returned to teach and coach at his alma mater, Owensville High School, until Uncle Sam called him to serve his country during WWII. He enlisted in the United States Army, thirtieth Division of the one-hundred and sevententh Infantry and traveled to Europe on the grand Queen Mary. He eventually saw action on the front lines in the Battle of the Bulge and witnessed the ultimate sacrifice of many young soldiers. He always said that he was lucky to be alive. After the war ended, Leonard returned with his regiment to New York City, once again, on the Queen Mary, and remembered the great celebration that ensued on their return. He resumed teaching and coaching the Kickapoos at Owensville High School. He then accepted a job at Fritchton High School, where he taught and coached the basketball Eagles. In 1957 he transferred to Wadesville High School and was always proud of the Red Devils and their Posey County Tournament championship. In 1959-60 the small schools in
the district consolidated to form the North Posey High School. Leonard was appointed the first head basketball coach and taught biology, health, physical education and driver education. After a few years he moved into the athletic director position. He retired in 1980, in his fortieth year in the field of education. He remained an avid Viking fan to the very end. In 2013, he was inducted into the North Posey High School Athletic Hall of Fame, a member of the inaugural class. According to newspaper records, Mauck was the first athletic
director at North Posey High School and was one of the earliest coaches. If you think there are changes going on in education in Posey County now, you should have been around during Leonard Mauck’s 40-year tenure. That came at a time when five distinct communities, were against their will, being consolidated into one high school, North Posey High School. Mauck’s nominator touted him as the North Posey High School athletic
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