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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
Tuesday October 2, 2012
Volume 132 Edition 40
Crime costs local business $700,000 Richard E. Brown, 54, of Mount Vernon, Ind., who pleaded guilty to wire fraud, mail fraud and making a false tax return, was sentenced Tuesday to five years in federal prison. Brown admitted while serving as office manager and bookkeeper for an Evansville family business, he used credit cards to pay personal expenses without authorization. Brown also used checks from the former employer to pay the expenses of his church, where he had also served as bookkeeper. Following the thefts, Brown filed false federal income tax returns that omitted the
embezzled funds. The local family business lost nearly $700,000 in funds, approximately $150,000 of which occurred within the statute of limitations. Brown knowingly failed to report more than $250,000 in income from the fraud which resulted in an underpayment of his federal taxes by approximately $40,000. “This defendant defrauded his employer, his church and Hoosier taxpayers,” said Joseph H. Hogsett, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers said this weekend that he
appreciates the fact that Hogsett and his staff are aware of these types of crimes that have been committed in our area. He said he is happy to see that appropriate action was taken and the sentence was handed down. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Warden, who prosecuted the case, said Brown was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Richard Young to pay a fine of $30,000 and a special assessment of $300. Brown also paid restitution of $189, 908. He was ordered to serve three years of supervised release at the end of his prison term.
Two face drug charges after home burns By Dave Pearce Investigation of a home fire scene has led to the arrest of two Posey County men on various drug-related charges. Terry L. Vaupel, 63, and Stephen J. Nurrenbern, 47, have been arrested and charged with a variety of charges as the result of the Sept. 14, 2012, fire in the 100 block of Deer Run Drive in eastern Posey County. The home is located in Twin Lakes Mobile home Park. North Posey High School crowned football homecoming royalty on According to information proFriday night as Jordan Butler and Wes Harness were chosen to reign vided by Kenneth Rose, superviover football homecoming on Friday night. Photo by Dave Pearce sor of the Poseyy Countyy Drugg Task
Task Force, “upon extermination of the blaze, firefighters observed items they felt were clandestine methamphetamine laboratory-related.” According to the release, deputy Darren Seitz had responded to the fire call and upon his arrival, had been told about the items the firemen had observed both inside and outside the dwelling. Seitz then notified Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth, who in turn, notified members of the Posey County Drug Task Force. Following an assessment by members of the Task Force, Rose obtained a search warrant for the residence. During the ensuing search of the property, an active meth lab was located inside the residence along with possible finished methamphetamine products. Although the fire department was able to contain the fire primarily to the laundry room of the mobile home, the first appeared to be the result of a meth lab explosion. No one was home at the residence at the time fire and law enforcement officials arrived. Rose indicated that it took nearly 12 hours to process the fire and crime scene alone. “We had to conduct an investigation of the fire scene and we then had to conduct some interviews,” Rose said of the time between the Sept. 14 fire and the eventual Sept. 16 arrests. “We worked with the Mount Vernon City Police, the
Vaupel Nurrenbern Force, the Marrs Township Fire Department and the Posey County Sheriff’s Department responded to call late on that Friday afternoon. According to a press release issued by the Posey County Drug
Vendors needed at HSP Craft and food vendors are needed for the Harmonie State Park’s Fine Arts & Craft Show on October 13, 2012. For information contact the park office at 812-6824821
Scout rummage sale set Troop 375 Mount Vernon is having a rummage sale Sat.Oct. 6 from 8 a.m. until noon at Trinity Church parking lot. Proceeds to help fund Scouting activities.
Stewartsville Chowder is Oct. 6 Stewartsville United Methodist Church will be holding its annual chowder Saturday, October 6th. Serving will begin at 4 pm. Bring your container for carry-out or dine in the basement where chowder, hot dogs, hamburgers, pie, cake, and drinks will be served. Whole pies and cakes will also be available.
Fire station open house Come check out the Poseyville Fire Station and meet the members on Sunday, Oct. 7.. We will have the Survive Alive house, Snow Cones, Popcorn, Sparky the Fire Dog and a Bounce House. Bring the kids and grandkids and come learn about Fire Safety. For the adults we will have a Chinese Auction, although you can have popcorn and snow cones too.
Heather Will served as the Poseyville Autumnfest Parade Grand Marshal on Sunday as the parade’s theme was ‘Never Give Up.’ Photo by Dave Pearce
Local races provide added incentive for good voter turnout By Pam Robinson No doubt, voters will face important decisions on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Media attention has focused on the Presidential race between incumbent Democrat President Barack Obama and his Republican chal-
Cynthiana Reunion Oct. 13 There will be a reunion held for all who graduated from Cynthiana in the forties on October 13, 2012 at noon. Meet at Wolf’s BBQ on First Avenue. Reservations may be made by calling Mary K. Boyle at 812-422-4043 or 615-572-1959. You may also call Helen Cleveland at 812-874-2703 for info.
lenger Mitt Romney. We hear a lot about the U.S. Senate race between Republican Richard Mourdock and Democrat Joe Donnelly as well as about the 8th District U.S. Representative race between Republican incumbent Larry Bucshon and Democrat Dave Crooks.
Likewise, voters are familiar with the major state races. In the race for Governor and Lt. Governor, Republicans Mike Pence and Sue Ellspermann are matched against Democrats John Gregg and Vi Simpson. In the Attorney General’s race, voters will decide
between incumbent Republican Greg Zoeller and Democrat Kay Fleming. Another important state race for Superintendent of Public Instruction pits incumbent Republican Tony Bennett against Demo-
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Option signed to purchase property being eyed for new police and fire station here
Bands off to Regionals The first step towards Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana State School Music Association State marching competition for high school marching bands was Saturday at Jasper High School. The ISSMA District Competition brought together 30 bands from southern Indiana. Each school is divided into classes according to school sizes. The bands then competed for either a bronze, silver or gold placing. A gold placing would advance the selected bands to the next step, Regionals. North Posey, competing in Class D, received a gold rating. Mount Vernon, competing in Class C, also received a gold rating. Both the Vikings and the Wildcats will perform at Regionals at Evansville Central High School on Oct. 13.
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By Pam Robinson Mount Vernon Mayor John Tucker is moving the city another step ahead in working out a plan for a new police and fire station. On Friday, Sept. 14, he met with Black Township Trustee Lindsay Suits at Fifth Third Bank, and there he signed the option to purchase the Dausmann property at 311 College Avenue. The Board of Public Works and Safety went on record Thursday afternoon to ratify the Mayor’s action. Tucker noted that Black Township Trustee Lindsay Suits will now take up negotiations with the owners. The Black Township Trustee’s Office is offering up to $400,000— taxpayer money in its cumulative fire fund—to make the land and building purchase and to help with renovations for a new city police and fire station, an estimated 1.2 million dollar project. In other business: Keith Spurgeon of United Way and Leland Hartstack of CGB sign, • Clerk-Treasurer Cristi Sitzman seal and lock-up the “Newspaper Headline Results” for Keith’s upcom- opened bids received for the sewer ing Magic Performance at The United Way 50th Anniversary Show on forced main relocation on the old Hwy 62 Bridge. The bids were October 13 at 7pm. See the schedule inside. Photo by Zach Straw.
ThePCN
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Go to www.poseycountynews.com
Inside this issue... Retrospective ................... A4 Legals ................................ B6 Classifieds ...................... B6-8
opened in the order received as follows: Kieffer Brothers, $20, 975 and D-Lite Excavation, $21,702.62. The board acknowledged receipt of the bids, and agreed they should be taken under advisement of Wastewater Supt. Rodney Givens, Bernardin Lochmueller & Associates and City Attorney Beth McFadin Higgins. The board voted should everything be in order, Supt. Givens should proceed with the lowest responsive bidder. • Tucker pointed out issues at the Country Terrace Lift Station that will require major work. Wastewater Supt. Givens emphasized it was an illegal sanitary sewer overflow, or SSO, that should have been eliminated in Phase 1 of the sewer renovation project, now in Phase 2. The problem will be fixed, starting next week. • Matt Walls of Bernardin Lochmueller & Associates discussed the recent 10 year storm event when 4 ½ inches of rain fell in 12 hours and its impact on the West El-
Community ........... A5 Social ...................... A6 Deaths ................... A3 Sports ................... B1-5 Church .................. A7 Bus/Ag .................... A8
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