NEVER FORGET: SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
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.” Posey County’s only locally-owned newspaper
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
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(USPS S4 439-500) 39 5 0 0)
Volume 134 Edition 36
Joelle Lockwood is home and safe
Stewartsville couple facing rape, confinement charges
By Dave Pearce In what former Indiana State Police Sergeant and current Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth termed as “probably the most bizarre case I have ever worked,” Evansville resident and Poseyville native Joelle Lockwood Rickey Roy House was found on Saturday, September 6. Lockwood had been missing since July 9 when she was last seen in Evansville. In a press release issued by the sheriff, Oeth told about the circumstances surrounding the rescue of the woman. ‘On September 6, 2014 authorities were notified Joelle Lockwood, age 34, (who had been reported missing to the Evansville Police Department after she was last seen on July 9) was found in a mobile home trailer in Stewartsville, Ind.,’ the press release read. “Information provided from Lockwood indicated she was held against her will for just under two months. Lockwood indicated she was held inside the mobile home trailer by restraints and at times
placed in a makeshift cage. The residence belonged to 37-year-old Ricky Roy House, Jr., and his live-in girlfriend, 44-year-old, Kendra Sue Tooley.” Reports indicate Tooley’s ex-husband, Ron Higgs, became aware that Lockwood was being Kendra Sue Tooley held in the mobile home and saved her from her captors. Higgs told local news outlets that he received a call from Tooley on Thursday evening asking for financial help. Higgs said his initial reaction was not to go and help the couple financially but that ‘something’ was telling him to go. “He took it upon himself to get her out of the residence and took her back to Evansville,” said Oeth. “Once there, he contacted authorities. She’s going to be returned to her family so we’re very, very happy of the outcome from those circumstances.” Higgs said he wasn’t sure who she (Lockwood) was until she told him
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Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth is interviewed by a Good Morning America team after spending nearly the entire night and day at the site where an arrest was made in the case of Joelle Lockwood, missing person. Lockwood was missing for nearly two months before being found being held captive in a mobile home in Steartsville. Members of GMA crew are Steve Widner, Steve Senn, and Rodney Rastall. Photo by Dave Pearce
Neighbors in state of disbelief By Dave Pearce On Sunday afternoon, after most of the initial investigative work had been completed, a crew from Good Morning America arrived in the small town of Stewartsville to follow up on their report of missing Poseyville native Joelle Lockwood. Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth told the crew from
the national television syndicate that the initial missing persons report had been filed in Evansville. However, since Lockwood’s transportation into Posey County was consensual, the crimes that have been charged were committed in Posey County.
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Judge overrules election board, Lueder back on ballot By Valerie Werkmeister Posey County voters will ultimately be given the opportunity to determine which candidate is more qualified in the upcoming assessor’s race. Posey County Circuit Court Judge James Redwine ruled
last Thursday morning in favor of Sherri Lueder’s name remaining on the ballot. The Posey County Election Board had decided on August 25, to exclude Lueder’s name from the ballot citing their interpretation of
the law based on their interpretation of Indiana Code 3-8-1-23 (c) which states: “A candidate for the office of county assessor who runs in an election after January 1, 2012, must have attained the certification of a level three assessor-appraiser
under IC 6-1.1-35-5. Lueder testified she had completed her course required to become a Level three assessor on May 2. She stated she tried to contact Donna Bratcher of the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF)
three times following her course completion to obtain her official certification. She filed for candidacy on June 9, and election board member
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Mount Vernon’s River Days slated for this weekend By Lois Mittino Gray Mount Vernon River Days is this weekend and Councilwoman Becky Higgins appeared before the Mount Vernon Board of Public Works and Safety September 4 meeting to make plans for closing
streets for the seventh annual celebration. Barricades will start to go up as early as Wednesday, September 10 at 4 p.m. to get the alley behind the Landing ready for electricity. On Thursday morning, from 7 a.m.-
2 p.m., Walnut and Main Streets will be barricaded at Second Street to begin booth set up and preparations for the motorcycle show on Walnut Street between Second and Water Street. The motorcycle show on Saturday replaces the car
show this year. By Friday, Walnut will be blocked from East Second to the river and Water from College to half block past Mulberry. Higgins said she has talked with owners of Bliss Ice Cream and Water’s
Edge about the closings. Saturday they will have the same route for the pet parade that they had last year. Main will be blocked from Tenth south to Water Streets. She
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Two from Mount Vernon face drug dealing charges During the early morning hours of September 3, 2014, members of the Posey County Narcotic’s Unit, assisted by the Posey County Sheriff’s Office, Mount Vernon Police Department, and the Indiana State Police served arrest warrants upon Gilbert Ray Eaton, Jr. and Brent E. Jeffries, both residents of Posey County. Gilbert Ray Eaton, Gilbert Ray Eaton
Jr., age 47, of 4301 Blackford Road in Mount Vernon, was charged with Count 1: Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 4 Felony; and with Count 2: Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 4 Felony. Each Level 4 Felony carries a potential sentence of between two (2) and twelve (12) years. Indiana’s new sentencing Brent E. Jeffries guidelines require that a
person sentenced to prison for a Level 4 Felony serves eighty-five percent (85%) of their sentence before being eligible for parole or early release. Brent E. Jeffries, age 31, of 409 Main Street in Mount Vernon, was charged with Count 1: Dealing in a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Methadone), a Level 5 Felony; and with Count 2: Dealing in a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Hydrocodone), a Level 5 Felony. Each Level 5 Felony carries a potential sentence of between one (1) and six (6) years. A person sentenced to
Briefly
MV teachers, school board reach pact
Housing Authority accepting applications The Mount Vernon Housing Authority is now acceppting applications for the Section 8 waiting list effective September 15, 2014. Applications may be picked up at 1500 Jefferson Drive. Elks Lodge to hold Beer Garden Mount Vernon Elks Lodge 277 will be holding a Beer Garden on Saturday, September 13, 2014. Gates will open at 7 p.m. DJ music will be provided from 8 p.m. to midnight. There is no cover charge. You must be 21 years of age or older to enter. Proceeds will benefit 20 charities that the Mount Vernon Elks support. Kiwanis 5K Color Run/Walk scheduled for September 13 Sign up today for the Kiwanis 5K Color Run/Walk. Fun for all ages. The event will take place Saturday, September 13 at 9 a.m. Visit http://www.mountvernonkiwanis.org/events.html to register today. Questions? Contact Brittaney Johnson at kiwaniscolor@gmail.com. Late registration and t-shirt pickup will be, Friday, September 12, 4-7 p.m. on the corner of Main and Second Street and 7:30-8:30 a.m. Saturday, September 13. MV Class of ‘62 plans 70th Birthday Picnic The Mount Vernon High School Class of ‘62 is planning a 70th Birthday Picnic on Saturday, September 27, at noon at the Mount Vernon Senior Citizens Center. It will be a pitch-in meal. Reservations are due by Sept. 13. Please call Marsha King at 838-5160, Martha Jones at 838-4005 or Dee Ann Keitel at 838-3449 to make reservations or for more information. PC Saddle Club holds Open Show The Posey County Saddle Club Open Show will be held Saturday, September 20, 2014, noon, Highway 69 between Mount Vernon and New Harmony. Riders 18 and under must wear a helmet. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free, concessions will be available.
Retrospective ...... A 4 Legals ........... B5, 8-9 Classifieds .... B11-12 Community ......... A 5
prison for a Level 5 Felony must serve eightyfive percent (85%) of any executed sentence as well. On September 4, 2014, Eaton and Jeffries each appeared in Posey County Circuit Court and were advised of their charges. Judge James Redwine set bond for Eaton and Jeffries in the amount of $100,000 surety or $10,000 cash. Judge Redwine also ordered Eaton and Jeffries to return to the Posey County Circuit Court on the afternoon of October 1, 2014.
By Lois Mittino Gray After over a year of hard work hashing out a new compensation model for paying teachers, members of the Mount Vernon School Board and the NEA-Mount Vernon union signed a one-year contract at the September 2 board meeting. Board members and Staci Reese, the new NEA-Mount Vernon President and Richard Jesch, head bargainer, put ink to the finished document. Reese replaces Leigh Anne Latshaw, who is now the new MV Athletic Director. New state regulations have done away with paying teachers by increment which increased with every year of seniority to a certain point and were guaranteed raises. Now teachers are to be compensated based on their performance ratings on state tests and RISE evaluations. Ineffective or needs to improve teacher evaluations will get no pay increases. The current plan does have a pay Little Karter Greene enjoys some ice cream following over two hours schedule for years 0-5 to use in getof listening to candidates during the Indiana Farm Bureau Cream the Continued on Page A12 Candidates on Sunday in New Harmony. Photo by Dave Pearce
Deaths .............. ...A3 Church ................ A 7 Social .................. A 6 School ................. A 8
Sports ............... B 1 - 4 Bus/Ag ...............A 1 1 Opinion ............... A 2 TV Guide........ A9-10