September 28 2011 - The Posey County News

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“Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.”

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Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN Posey County’s locally-owned newspaper

Wednesday September 28, 2011

(USPS 439-500)

Volume 131 Edition 40

Poseyville crime spree nets several arrests, more coming By Dave Pearce A pair of adult arrests and several juvenile arrests have been made as a result of a recent spike in criminal activity in the area of Poseyville. According to Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth, Poseyville residents Andrew J. Helm, 19, and Tobias Paris, 18, have been arrested as a result of unrelated incidents. Oeth said four juveniles have also been arrested and the other arrests are pending. The rash of burglaries and criminal activity in Posey County has increased the importance of the

Andrew Helm

grant that allowed the hiring of former Indiana State Master Trooper Frank Smith a few weeks ago. Smith, who lives in Poseyville and is familiar with the students at the school through school programs, was instrumental in the arrests. Smith’s salary comes from a grant with the county’s only contribution a sheriff’s car for Smith to drive. Smith said that it was tips from the public that enabled arrests for most of the string of mostly petty crimes. As a matter of fact, Smith is now in the process of creating a neighborhood watch program in

Poseyville. Paris has been charged with the vandalism that occurred at the Poseyville Youth Baseball Fields located behind Clem Dassel and Company on Highway 165. Smith said he does not believe that Paris acted alone but other arrests in that particular case had not been made at press time. With Poseyville Police Officer Doug Saltzman out of commission as the result of a heart attack about three weeks ago, Smith’s help and the presence of a police vehicle in

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Tobias Paris

Posey father charged with a second neglect of dependent in child’s injuries

Grant, building timeline reason to celebrate in New Harmony By Pam Robinson In spite of problems, the Town of New Harmony still has plenty to celebrate, as usual. It was announced at Thursday’s meeting of the New Harmony Town Council that the Parks Board has received $1,000 from Toyota in response to a grant proposal written by Councilwoman Linda Warrum and New Harmony businessman David Flanders. The funds will be used for landscaping at the new fire and emergency medical services station. Later in the meeting, Councilman Joe Straw announced that work is back on schedule for the new fire and emergency medical services station after a brief holdup on a construction permit. Less savory is the need to take action against unsightly trash on street fronts. At the October 13 meeting, council will vote to send Town Marshal Scott Champlin to serve letters to those listed in violation of the town’s nuisance ordinance. Councilman Don Gibbs initiated the action with his comment, “When you drive around, you can see mattresses, old chairs and junk outside houses and in the street— been there, setting there forever, and I think it’s time these people be made to move them. I just think enough’s enough.” Violators will be required to clean up their property or will be required to pay a stiff fine if the Town of New Harmony is forced to do the clean-up.

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Firefighters continue to fight hot spots at this Wadesville home which burned beyond rebuilding early Friday morning. Wadesville, Poseyville, Griffin, and New Harmony fire departments answered the call shortly after 6 a.m. Photo by Dave Pearce

Grants continue to fund critical MV projects By Dave Pearce The Mount Vernon Board of Works met Thursday evening and conducted several important business items for the City of Mount Vernon. The board approved the advertisement for Imminent Domain on a small triangular-shaped piece of property that lies on Wolflin Street just north of Second Street. City attorney Beth McFadin-Higgins indicated that a 50-year search had been conducted and it appears that the parcel has been unplatted and there was no owner of record found. Generally in a case of Imminent Domain, the city would be called upon to make what they would consider a “fair” offer on the property and the process would be much longer. But since there is no owner on record, the process can be shortened dramatically and

construction on the Safe Route to School sidewalks can begin to coincide with a storm sewer project near West School. Mayor John Tucker indicated that both of these projects are being funded by grants received by the city. Construction engineers can work together to make sure that neither of the projects interferes with the other. In other business: •The Board took under advisement quotes for demolition of buildings on two properties in Mount Vernon. The quotes for work at 1329 Locust Street came in with O’Risky Excavating at $6,300, D.K. Parker at $7,060, and Russell’s Excavating at $13,005, On the property at 900 E. Third Street, the bids were O’Risky at

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Mount Vernon man faces sexual misconduct with minor charges A Mount Vernon man has been arrested and charged with sexual misconduct with a minor. According to court records, Jared Schmitt appeared before judge pro temp Beth McFadin-Higgins late this week after it was determined that there was enough evidence to arrest Schmitt on the charge. Schmitt faces

charges that result from his contact with a 14-year-old Posey County girl. Schmitt is reportedly out on bail and will face one of the local judges when they return to court this week. Both judges were reportedly out of town at a conference on Friday.

Members of the North Posey High School homecoming court are, in front, Brooke Bender, Mackenzie Morrow, Jaylyn Thornburg, King Jourdan Cox, Queen Deana Lindauer, Megan Baehl, Taylor Wassmer, and Maddie Koester. In back are Lance Inkebrandt, Reed Gertiesen, Nick Neidig, seniors Jared Meliff, Natalie Thomas, Megan Redman, and Austin Bender, jumnior Bruno Lima, sophomore Griffin Motz, and freshman James Marshall. In front are Kaden Gengelbach and Keira Gentel. Photo by Dave Pearce

ThePCN

Inside this issue... Retrospective ................. A4 Legals .......................... B7-8 Classifieds ................. B8-10

By Dave Pearce A one-year-old rural Posey County child was run over by a car on Tuesday at his home at 311 Elk Trail Drive. According to Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth, the young boy’s father is facing a second charge of neglect of a dependent following the incident. The child remains hospitalized in Evansville and although the child’s injuries are extensive, the prognosis for a full recovery appear to be good if there are no further complications. The child is suffering from fractured ribs and damage to his lungs. According to Oeth, Stephen Kilgore II, who lives in the Elk Trail Drive home, faced charges of child neglect a few months back and was on probation when the latest incident occurred. That incident stems from an investigation by the Department of Children’s Services. One of the new warrants issued revoked the probation while another arrest warrant was issued following Tuesday’s incident. Oeth said that Kilgore was apparently preparing to go somewhere when Kilgore took the young child and his 2-year-old sister outside and started the vehicle. Oeth indicated that Kilgore had returned to the inside of the home to check and see what was taking detaining his fiancée. While Kilgore was in the home, the one-year-old got behind the vehicle and the 2-year-old daughter somehow managed to get into the car and take the gear out of park and into reverse. The vehicle then proceeded out of the driveway and the vehicle ran over the one-yearold child. A construction crew happened to be working across the road and the vehicle finally came to rest against one of the crew’s trucks. Members of the construction crew lifted the vehicle off the child who was under the rear wheel of the vehicle. The child remains hospitalized in Evansville and the father remains lodged in the Posey County Jail.

Stephen Kilgore II

Go to www.poseycountynews.com Community ........... A5 Social ...................... A6 Deaths ................... A3 Sports .................. B1-6 School.................... A9 Bus./Ag .................. A8

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