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“Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.” Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, Indiana Posey County’s locally-owned newspaper
(USPS 439-500)
Tuesday November 16, 2010
Volume 129 Edition 46
County faces ambulance service crisis Woolston gets six years A Poseyville woman was sentenced this week in Posey County Superior Court. Christina L. Woolston, 41, who was employed as a bookkeeper at Tri-County Equipment in Poseyville, was arrested in late June on 31 counts of forgery and one count of theft, all class C felonies, and was taken to the Posey County Jail. An investigation by Indiana State Police white collar crimes Detective Russ Werkmeister charged that Woolston stole money from her employer by issuing checks to a company where she was the only person on the company account. She allegedly issued 30 checks for a total of $214,498.48. But in an agreement reached with the Posey County prosecutor’s office, Woolston pled guilty to one of the 31 counts of forgery, a Class C felony, as well as theft, a Class D Felony. The other 30 charges of forgery were dismissed and Woolston was ordered to pay restitution to Tri-County Equipment in the amount of $189,498.48 and to Sentry Insurance Company in the amount of $25,000. She was fined $1 plus court costs and was sentenced to six years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Three years of the sentence will be suspended and she will be on three years probation.
United service set St. Matthew Catholic Church and Trinity United Church of Christ invite everyone with a thankful heart to join in the Mount Vernon Community Thanksgiving Celebration on Tuesday evening, November 23, starting at 7 p.m. Worship will be held at Trinity, located at 505 Mulberry Street, with an informal reception to follow.
Fundraiser set On Friday and Saturday, November 19 and 20, the Rev. Myers Hyman of At the Cross Mission will sell hot dogs and hamburgers at 604 E. Fourth Street as part of the Super Wash Customer Appreciation Days. Proceeds will be applied toward the purchase of a new range hood and fire suppression system for the mission.
Bids still accepted New Harmonie Healthcare Center will be accepting Silent Auction bids through Friday, Nov 26. All proceeds benefit the Resident Acitivity Account at New Harmonie Healthcare Center.
Historical Society meets The Posey County Historical Society will meet in Room B at Alexandrian Public Library in Mt. Vernon on Saturday, November 20 at 10 a.m. All members and friends are invited to this meeting.
Demo women to meet The Posey County Democratic Women’s Club will meet at Democrat Headquarters on November 18, at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited.
Patti Wilson
By Dave Pearce After all was said and done, more was said than done. That is an accurate description of the meeting of the Posey County Council on Tuesday morning. Several residents from the Poseyville area, including Poseyville businesspeople Patti Wilson, Chuck Pearison, Walter Broadhead, and Poseyville Fire Chief Michael Crawford were on hand as well as Larry Schenk, representing Marrs Township Fire Department. Members of the Posey County Council listened intently as concerned citizens expressed their displeasure with the recent movement of the full-time Poseyville ambulance to the Marrs Township area for at least two 24-hour shifts and
an 8-hour shift. Pearison explained that he was concerned that the move took place “in the middle of the night” while Wilson agreed that Poseyville residents were not notified of any changes in ambulance services for the unit that had spent its time working out of the Poseyville Fire Department. Some Council members expressed similar concerns because they said they were unaware of any changes that had been made since the original placement of the three county ambulances had been designated to Mount Vernon, New Harmony, and Poseyville. The Council indicated that they had not given their blessing to the change and that the funding for the three county ambulances had not been
changed.. Larry Schenk, representing Marrs Township, reiterated a point he had made at the most recent meeting of the Posey County Commissioners that if full-time ambulance service were not provided to Marrs Township by the county, Marrs Township Fire Department was already looking at the probability of buying their own ambulance and placing it in Marrs Township. While members of the audience and council members alike were told that Posey County Commissioners had given the OK for a study to be conducted to determine the need for the ambulances, Wilson indicated that the elements which director Chuck Thompson seemed
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McNamara to be sworn in on Tuesday By Dave Pearce A very close race involving two Posey County residents has apparently been decided…at least for now. In The Indiana House District 76 race, Republican Candidate Wendy McNamara picked up six provisional votes to give her an eight vote victory over Democrat Bob Deig late last week. I am just excited to be able to go to work for the people in District 76,” an elated but tired Wendy McNamara said on Monday. “I think the most important part of all of this is that we have been able to remain
positive and optimistic throughout this whole process. This proves that in our society every vote counts,” said McNamara. It was the 29 provisional ballots that caused most of the problems. In Indiana if there is any question about a voter’s identity or registration status they vote a provisional ballot. They then have 10 days from the election to provide the documentation needed to make their vote count. “I was disappointed with some of their decisions today. There was one provisional ballot where the guy showed proof of a Hawaii license
with an Indiana address,” said Deig. With the provisional ballots, military ballots and overseas ballots Wendy McNamara remained ahead of Deig. She’s now looking ahead to the future. “I will be up in Indianapolis on Tuesday being sworn in,” said McNamara. Deig added, “I hope they step back and wait to seat her until I decide if I want a recount.” Deig said on Monday morning that he is uncertain as to whether or not he will ask for a recount. He said he is currently weighing the pros and the cons.
Wendy McNamara
New Harmony School takes insurance issue into privacy By Pam Robinson Speaking on behalf of teachers, Rick Johnson, the representative for the National Education Association at New Harmony School, addressed the New Harmony School Board Thursday night concerning teacher insurance. Johnson explained, teacher contracts in 2011 allowed $5,322 for insurance premiums through the state insurance plan with Welborn HMO as the provider. Now the state has dropped Welborn HMO as a provider and, according to Johnson, all HMO providers. Teachers must choose a new insurance plan
no later than noon on Wednesday, November 24, or be left without insurance coverage. Johnson proposed the school district pick up the Consumer Driven Health Plan, or CDHP, which requires premium payment plus contributions to a health savings plan, or HSA, to offset the cost of a large deductible. Johnson said the school district could cover both the premium payment and the maximum HSA contribution allowed by the state and still pay $451.68 less than the contracted $5,322 for health insurance. School Board President Jim Sca-
rafia responded that the proposal was a contractual issue and thus must be discussed in executive session to determine action. Johnson said he had talked with the union representative who didn’t feel the matter was contractual since the school district would be paying less than the contract amount. Scarafia replied that their attorney had been contacted and felt it was a contractual issue that needed to be discussed in executive session after more research. Later, School Superintendent FranThoele referred to Public Law 217 as guiding the school board’s need to meet in ex-
ecutive session. “We’re not trying to shaft the school in any way,” Johnson said. “There’s no way we could afford those deductibles of $2,500 and $1,500.” Later, he added, “If we don’t put any in [a health savings account], we’re going to lose $1,700 in benefits this year each.” Board member Brenda Butman then asked to clarify, “Instead of paying just premium, which we have in the past, you’re suggesting that we pay premium and then some of the cost toward health savings –
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North Posey OKs insurance, appoints O’Risky to board By Dave Pearce While health care is one of the biggest concerns among Americans in general, employees of the Metropolitan School District of North Posey were assured of health and dental insurance coverage in Monday evening’s meeting of the school district board. At the recommendation of School Supt. Todd Camp, the board voted to renew the current contract with Welborn Health Plans. There will be a four percent increase in the rate. Camp indicated that he had met with the teacher’s association and they have approved the increase while making no changes to the two plans available for the teachers. The board also accepted Camp’s recommendation that the contract with Health Resources, Inc., for dental insurance. The renewal rates
held steady with the 2010 rates. Seven interested northern Posey County citizens were shown the board’s appreciation for their interest in the vacancy on the board of the Metropolitan School District. After a lengthy discussion of the seven qualified candidates, it was decided that Linda O’Risky, an employee of Mead Johnson with two sons, Chris and Darren at North Posey High School, will take the oath of office at the January 10 meeting of the school board. Linda and her husband (of nearly 20 years Jeff) are rural Posey County residents. In other business: *The board voted to accept Camp’s recommendation to purchase the copier which has been on lease at the school’s Central Office and move it to the office at North Posey High School. The board also agreed to sign a lease agreement
with Lang for five other copiers with maintenance agreements and ink cartridges which will be placed in each of the five school buildings’ teachers work rooms as well as the central office work room. *The board agreed to lock in the natural gas rates for the next two years with Proliance Energy. *An agreement with Indiana State University was continued for student teacher placement. The agreement is necessary for ISU students to be allowed continued placement as student teachers from the Terre Haute school. *The board approved a request from North Posey High School teacher Brandon Barrett to use the outdoor facilities to hold the first of what Barrett hopes will be an annual 5K run/walk. The initial Valhalla 5K is scheduled for April 30, 2011, at 9 a.m. *The board approved a request
from Carolyn Higginson to hold the annual Relay for Life event at the school on June 25 and 26, 2011. This is an annual event to raise money for cancer research. *Camp presented the board with it’s second “Miracle School Corporation” award presented by Riley Children’s Hospital. This is the second year in a row the district has received the award. *North Elementary School principal Tim Teel presented requests to hire Lisa Brandenstein and Kristie Wright as North Elementary fifth and sixth grade girls’ basketball coaches splitting the stipend. Teel also presented a request for approval of Troy Rogers, Dave Bishop, and Jonathan Scheller as fifth and sixth grade basketball volunteer assistants to Jim Scheller. The board will meet again on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at the school district office.
The Mount Vernon Marching Wildcats strut their way to a third place finish at their recent contest in Cincinnati. Photo courtesy of Susie Colson
Inside this issue...
ThePCN
Retrospective................ A5 Community........... A7 Social...................... A6 Legals............................B5 Deaths................... A3 Sports.................. B1-4 Classifieds ................ B6-8 School...................A9 Business/Ag .......... A8
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