“Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.”
(USPS 439-500)
Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN Posey County’s locally-owned newspaper
Tuesday September 4, 2012
Volume 132 Edition 36
Posey man is arrested, attempted murder is charge filed
St. Francis celebrates St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Poseyville is hosting their 125th anniversary celebration on Sunday, September 16. The church welcomes the entire community to share in their joyous occasion. Following a 10:30 a.m. mass, a pork chop dinner will be served at noon. Hot dogs will be available to children and everyone will enjoy ice cream for dessert. Old fashioned games will be played from 12:30 p.m. 3 p.m.and a wiffleball game will begin at 3 p.m.
River Days Parade to honor This year, the Mount Vernon River Days committee wants to honor all Posey County teachers. If students want to honor a specific teacher in the parade, or a classroom or the entire school wants to be in the parade, they are welcome.
Legion Kunstfest Chowder New Harmony American Legion Post #370 will host their annual Kunstfest Chowder September 15 & 16 at 11 a.m. It is open to the public. A dance party with the live band “All Put Together” featuring Jeff Reynolds will be on Sat. at 9:30 p.m.
NP Class 1967 Reunion North Posey Class of 1967 will hold their 45th class reunion on Saturday, September 15, 2012, at the Silver Bell in St. Wendel beginning at 6 p.m. If you are a member of the class and have not received you invitation or have questions feel free to call Maddy Overton 812-499-4124 or Irma Donner at 812-457-5390.
Kunstfest dinner The Kunstfest Pork Chop Dinner will be held at the Holy Angel’s air-conditioned Catholic Community Center on Sept. 15 from 3:30 - 6 p.m. Adults $10 and children $6. Featuring Dewig’s 7/8” chops.
Last Friday morning, members of the Indiana Soybean Alliance board the boat ‘Spirit of Jefferson’ for a short cruise in Mount Vernon. The Spirit of Jefferson, based out of Louisville, is a 95 feet long and 30 feet wide vessel, built in 1963. It is helmed by Captain and Master Mark Doty, usually to a speed of 7-10 miles per hour. More information on the Spirit of Jefferson and it’s sister ship, the Belle of Louisville, can be found at www.belleoflouisville.org. Photo by Zach Straw.
New Harmony man guilty of sex crime By Dave Pearce A 59-year-old Posey County man accused of fondling an 8-yearold girl at his home was found guilty by a jury trial this week of child molestation, a Class C Felony. A tentative sentencing date of October 1 has been set. Michael J. Simpson, 59, of New Harmony, faces a maximum sentence of eight years on the count. According to Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers, Simpson was originally being held at the Posey County Jail but had been released after posting a $2,500 cash bond. He was taken into custody immediately after the conviction was read. “As soon as the guilty verdict came back on this case, Posey County Circuit Court Judge James Redwine ordered Simpson taken into custody,” Clowers said. “Detective Alan Sherretz, who had been the leading detective in the
Michael Simpson case, was sitting next to me and he immediately took him into custody.” He was indicted in April of 2011 by a Posey County grand jury for molesting the child, a member of the family, earlier last year. Indiana State Police received a complaint on March 30, 2011, ac-
cusing Simpson of molesting the girl the previous week. An investigation by Detective Alan Sherretz allegedly revealed that Simpson fondled the child while she was sleeping during an overnight stay at his New Harmony residence. “Detective Sherretz did a very thorough job of investigating and bringing a good case to me,” Clowers said. The child was taken to Holly’s House in Evansville prior to the charges being filed and was interviewed by Jenny Wood, a nationally-certified child forensic interviewer. Clowers stressed the potential long-term damage a child can face following molestation. “Children are so important to us and to our community,” Clowers said. “It was a sensitive trial but I believe the correct results came of it.”
Boy Scouts Sponsor run Boy Scout Troop 387 will host a 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, September 29 during Autumnfest in Poseyville. We hope to make this an annual event. A Facebook event has been created under: Boy Scout Troop 387-5K Run.
Food Pantry booth set The Mount Vernon Food Pantry will have a booth at River Days. There will have games for the kiddos (with prizes!), and some great baskets for raffling as well. The group will accept all monetary and food donations while there also. If you are interested in helping by volunteering at the booth with pantry volunteers, that opportunity will be available. The group will need plenty of help.
Lily Pad meeting set The newly formed Lily Pad Cancer Support Group will hold its first meeting Monday, September 17, starting at 6 p.m. and ending promptly at 8 p.m. Mount Vernon General Baptist Church, 1717 N. Main Street, has agreed to host the group monthly every third Monday. For more info, call Connie Pearce at 459-4812 or Chris Hoehn at 682-3905.
Demo Women to meet All are invited to the Posey County Democratic Women’s Club annual picnic which will be held at the Mount Vernon Conservation Club on Sunday, September 9, 2012, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Fried chicken, rolls, soft drinks, and table service will be provided. Everyone is asked to bring a side dish or dessert. All are invited to attend and meet local Democratic candidates.
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Mount Vernon High School senior Maggie Maier accepts the Elizabeth Baier Spirit Award from Michelle Hudson during the annual United Way dinner. Photo by Connie Pearce--Story on Page A8.
By Dave Pearce A Mount Vernon, Ind., police officers responding to a burglary complaint at Green Valley Apartment Complex Wednesday night found an elderly woman in her apartment with injuries to the back of her head and throat. According to Mount Vernon Police Chief Grant Beloat, on August 29, 2012, at 9:54 p.m. Mount Vernon Police were notiChris Jolley fied of a burglary complaint at Green Valley Apartment Complex apartment 41. Officers responded and found a back window to the apartment open and could hear a dog inside barking. The apartment was the home of 70-year-old Frances Jarvis. Officers made entry into the apartment after Mrs. Jarvis’s son came to the scene with a key to the apartment. Officers located Mrs. Jarvis inside the apartment with a laceration to the back of her head and bruising around her throat. Jarvis was transported to the hospital for medical attention. Statements were taken from witnesses at the scene and other evidence was collected through the crime scene investigation. Their investigation led them to arrest Christopher S. Jolley, 28, on preliminary charges of attempted murder, burglary resulting in injury and aggravated battery. Jolley of 1000 O’Donnell Road was established as a suspect, located in the Green Valley Apartment complex and taken to the Posey County Jail to be interviewed. There, according to a police statement, he admitted to breaking into Jarvis’s apartment and attempting to steal prescription medication that he believed was inside. Police reported he admitted to pushing Jarvis down, causing her to strike her head. He also told detectives that he had choked and attempted to suffocate Jarvis so she would not make any noise. Jarvis was transported to a hospital, treated for her injuries and released. This is the case being worked by Mount Vernon City Police with the assistance of Sheriff’s Detective Tom Latham. Jolley is lodged in the Posey County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond only, charged with Attempted Murder from an incident where he broke into an Elderly Woman’s apartment and accosted her. The Posey County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police assisted in the investigation.
Second man arrested in New Harmony discovery By Dave Pearce unit which was installed and operating in a window A second individual has been arrested and charged of the residence. Multiple items of jewelry were reJustin Terrell in connection with a burglary. covered; along with a large wooden jewelry box that Justin Terrell, of New Harmony, was arrested this had been hidden under wooden panels of the floor. week and remains in the Posey County Jail for what While searching the residence an active Meth Lab police suspect was his part in crimes which recently was also discovered, necessitating the response of landed his father in jail. the Posey County Narcotics Unit for proper dismanWhile following leads from an August 13 residentlement. tial burglary on Romaine Road in rural New HarmoPosey County Sheriff Greg Oeth said he believes ny, Posey County Sheriff’s Detective Tom Latham the pair of arrests could solve as many as four or five was able develop enough information tying the sushome burglary cases. Over 150 pieces of jewelry pect to a second burglary that occurred in July at a rualong with multiple other items were found in the ral New Harmony residence on Penfold Road. When home. executing a search warrant at the home of the suspect Randy Lee Terrell was transported from the resion the afternoon of August 16, Latham discovered an dence by Posey County Sheriff’s Deputies, to the active Meth Lab. Posey County Jail where he was lodged. Terrell facOn Thursday, August 16, at approximately 3:34 es charges of burglary, theft, and the manufacture of p.m., Latham, along with other law enforcement ofmethamphetamine. Charging information has been ficers entered the home of Randy Lee Terrell, at 1019 forwarded to the office of the Posey County ProsEast North Street, in New Harmony, under the auecutor. thority of a search warrant issued by a Posey County Assisting Latham in the investigation were New Judge. During the search of the residence items from Harmony Town Marshal Scott Champlin and Ken the two burglaries were recovered including a window air conditioning Rose with the Posey County Narcotics Unit.
Go to www.poseycountynews.com
Inside this issue...
ThePCN
Retrospective ................... A4 Legals........................... B8-11 Classifieds ...................... B5-7
Community ........... A5 Social ...................... A6 Deaths.................... A3 Sports ................... B2-5 General ................ A8 Bus/Ag .................... A9
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