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P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Volume 140 Edition 38
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
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Many New Harmony businesses apply for Covid grants By Trisha L. Lopez Phase II of the $250,000 Covid-19 Response Grant and the $20,000 matching gift from the Kent and Laurie Parker Family Foundation, the funds designated for businesses trying to recover from the devastating effects of the global pandemic, were key topics at Tuesday’s New Harmony Town Council meeting. Forty-three New Harmony businesses applied for the grants of up to $10,000 each. The application window closed Tuesday afternoon. The City of Mount Vernon and Posey County also received $250,000 awards in Phase II. The Town of Poseyville received $150,000 in grant funds in Phase I. Getting additional funds in a quick and efficient manner is necessary to give small businesses throughout the state
the best possible chance to succeed in this current, pandemic dominated economic crisis, experts say. “It’s a lot more valuable to the economy to have these businesses remain open and survive than to have to start over again,” Tara Barney, President and CEO of the Southwest Region of the Chamber of Commerce, said. A survey released from the National Federation of Business on Aug. 31 shows that one in five small businesses may have to close their doors if economic conditions do not improve. “The unprecedented and devastating crisis isn’t going away. Many small businesses here in Indiana are still suffering,” Barbara Quandt, NFIB State Director in Indiana, said in the organization’s release of the survey. Small businesses in high risk categories such as food and
beverage, personal care, professional services and retail sectors were eligible to apply for the Phase II grant funds. Grant money may be used for working capital, continued operation expenses or to support remote work. Jeff Smotherman, President of the New Harmony Business Association, attended the council meeting and understands the pressures small businesses have endured. Smotherman and wife Cindy, co-owners of Firehouse Antiques and Jeff and Cindy Smotherman Properties, have faced the challenges of forced closures during the onset of the pandemic and the slow return to a new normal way of life during a global health crisis.
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Former mayor to be honored with Jackson Higgins Drive By Lois Mittino Gray Members of the Mount Vernon Common Council were in an upbeat mood at the September 10, meeting tackling New Business on the agenda by honoring a former mayor, discussing city Halloween candy giveaways, a city beautification committee and making zoning complaints easier to file anonymously. Councilman Andy Hoehn told his fellow councilors he spoke with Becky Higgins and feels it would be a nice gesture to rename a segment of a street in town after her father, Jackson Higgins. Higgins, first elected in 1971, served several terms as city mayor and has done much community work including Boy Scouts and announcer at high school ball games. It was suggested the lower drive of Sherburne Park be renamed in his honor as Jack Higgins Drive. It was unanimously approved and City Attorney Beth Higgins was asked to prepare an ordinance on the change for a future meeting. Fire Chief Wes Dixon reported he has been approached by several citizens concerning the popular Halloween Candy Give-a-Way they do at the public safety building every year. He indicated they will be doing “something”, though he is not sure exactly what it will look like this year with COVID-19 precautions. Councilwomen Dana Baldwin and Jillian Brothers were glad to hear the news and offered to help as well. After discussion, the council unanimously voted to recommend to the Area Plan Commission that signatures or phone numbers not be required on complaint letters to the APC from within the city. Council-
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Sewage fee is added to Poseyville Utility bills By Lynda Baker An ordinance establishing a storm water sewage works division within the utility department and to establish a storm drainage fee for the town was adopted at the September meeting of the Poseyville Town Council. Each sewer utility customer shall be assessed a two dollar per month fee identified as a storm drainage fee. It will be added to the monthly sewer utility statement. The Council also approved a resolution providing for the repayment of funds loaned to water operating Enjoying a stop in New Harmony on their canoe trip on Sunday afternoon are Jim Hoffman, Jason Ja- from economic development income cobs, Elijah Froedge, Keith Syers, and Kaydon Grimes. The canoeing group will make it to the Ohio River tax, the 2021 salary ordinance, and by Tuesday. Photo by Dave Pearce an emergency resolution providing for the transfer of appropriations for several departments of the town, as requested by the department heads. Rate ordinances for the town’s By Lois Mittino Gray tances. Masks are highly recommended. The state water and sewer utilities were also Need a COVID-19 Escape? While all of our favor- permit allows parking limited to 368 vehicles in areas ite autumn events, such as Kunstfest, Autumnfest and throughout the park, which will be monitored by Park passed for publication. These ordiWest Side Nut Club Fallfest have been cancelled, ‘CO- Manager Joe Compton. When lots are full, visitors will nances will be considered for final VID 19 Escape’ be asked to passage at the October meeting of was approved wait until oth- the Council. A gas tracker with a factor of just this week ers leave to not by the Indiana surpass that 0.0892 per Ccf was approved by the There will be some celebration in Poseyville the last weekend in September. Council. This factor will be effecState Board of number. That is usually the weekend for the Autumnfest, which was canceled this year due Health to be The pool lot tive with the consumption months of to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Kiwanis Club has decided to salvage held here in will be filled September, October, and November a small portion of the festival. A fireworks display will take place Saturday, Sepour own Posey with the ven- of 2020. This factor will be reflected tember 26, at 7:15 p.m. The display should last about 15 minutes. There will be County backdors, both old in the base rate and is a negative facno rides, games, or food booths at the event, just fireworks. As in years past, the yard. Harmonie favorites and tor. Town Marshal Charles Carter conState Park will new ones, to fireworks will go up near the school district office. Everyone is invited to come tacted 34 property owners in August offer its poputempt shopout and watch, but the club is asking those who attend to be responsible and to regarding weed and debris violations. lar, Annual pers with their follow all guidelines and rules that may be in effect concerning the pandemic. Harvest Craft wares. Food He indicated that there has been exFair and Fun Run, trucks will be on- cellent compliance, but requested on Saturday September 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the site to offer a full range of chow from burgers and pret- that residents be patient, as this can pool parking lot. Sponsored by the Friends of Harmonie zels to sweet delights and Kona Ices. Music will be pro- be a lengthy process. He added that State Park group, it’s chock full of activities, including vided by DJ Joe Risher from Mount Vernon. Naturalist the new owners of the trailer park a brand-new Team Trivia contest. Amelia Wildeman will demonstrate pioneer activities south of town were focusing on upgrades and had already removed four To ‘escape’ COVID-19, the over 100 plus craft vendors will be socially distanced in the large open space Continued on Page A7 Continued on Page A7 and participants are asked to maintain their proper dis-
Harmonie moves ahead with craft fair Kiwanis to hold fireworks show Sept. 26
It’s more than just a job Pepmeier accepts position, Mount Vernon community By Lois Mittino Gray Teaching how to do those Punnett Squares in Genetics is a real thrill for Samantha Pepmeier, a new Biology teacher at Mount Vernon High School. The first year staff member says that the science behind the genetic code is her favorite topic of her favorite subject, the study of life. She is assigned to teach three sections of Freshman
(USPS 439-500)
Biology and two sections of Physics at the high school. “Mount Vernon is a great fit for me. When I was asked at the university what kind of school I wanted to end up in, I replied that I didn’t just want a school, I wanted a whole community. That is what it is like here. Everyone supports the school, its activities, and our athletics. They eat at Hawg N’Sauce, talk together and then come to games. I love it at Mount Vernon!” Pepmeier grew up in Oblong, Ill., and was graduated from Oblong High School in 2016. While there, she played on the volleyball team all four years. This led to her current extracurricular assignment as coach for seventh grade volleyball, which keeps her very busy. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Southern Indiana just last spring in
Biology and Secondary Education. She is looking into possibly completing a Master’s Degree in Biology at Indiana State University in the future. Pepmeier describes herself as “old-fashioned, in that I still like my students to handwrite notes as I talk.” She uses modern methods of visuals, such as Powerpoint lectures, and loves to do hands-on labs. “We have done microscope labs, measuring metric labs, and pH labs so far. We are going to test macromolecules, like proteins and carbohydrates, next week.” The instructor says she does not do any virtual labs, but is prepared to use them, if it is required for everyone to go online. “Many of my labs can be done at home using household materials,” she remarked. Her Biology classroom has a fish tank. Empty for now, she will
be setting it up soon and getting some fish to follow. A greenhouse is attached to her classroom and she plans to fill it in time with plant specimens and cuttings. “Great for studying photosynthesis,” she observed. She plans to hold some classes outdoors to study the natural world up close and personal. Pepmeier is very confident in her Biology lessons. She feels her confidence blossomed after a successful two month stint as a student teacher in Princeton schools. While a student at USI, she attended the national convention of science teachers in St. Louis and picked up many new techniques and ideas from it. Physics, on the other hand, is a bit more daunting of a subject to teach, as she has not taught it before or studied it in depth. She is being groomed to replace Athletic
Samantha Pepmeier Director Lee Ann Latshaw, who has been the Physics teacher at the high school for many years. “Right
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