$1.00
“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
Tuesday December 14, 2010
The Posey County News now has a Business Facebook page. Many of the pictures that are taken but are not published are available for viewing and printing at Facebook: Posey County News. Please add us as friends and feel free to use the pictures for personal use.
DCP deadline is June 1 Greg Knowles, County Executive Director of the Posey County FSA, reminds producers that June 1, 2011, is the deadline for enrolling in the 2011 DCP program or the 2011 ACRE program. All signatures of producers receiving a share in DCP/ACRE payments are required by the June 1st deadline. It is important producers contact the Posey County FSA office to set up appointments. Also wheat certification is also going on. The deadline to certify your wheat is May 31, 2011, and planting dates are required. If you have any questions, please contact the Posey County FSA Office at (812) 838-4191, ext. 2.
Chamber Choir on TV
Bell ringers needed The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign will be held in Mount Vernon on Saturday, December 18 at Wesselman’s and McKim’s IGA from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. About 40 volunteers are needed to work in groups of 2 or 3 for a 2-hour shift. Call Beth Russell at 838-6875 to volunteer.
MVJHS holds food drive The Mount Vernon Junior High Student Council and Builders Club are spearheading two super ways for the students to help out during this holiday season. The annual Food Pantry collection is being sponsored by the Student Council and the collection began Monday and will conclude on December 15.
Volume 129 Edition 50
Poseyville’s Town clerk Lupfer, Officer Gomez resign
PCN on Facebook
The Mount Vernon Senior High School Chamber Choir will appear in the Channel 44 television broadcast of “High School Holidays”. Featuring area high school choirs, the program will include a variety of seasonal choral music. Dana Taylor notes, “it is always a pleasure to participate in activities like this and affords community members an opportunity to hear what vocal music programs do. It is also good for school music and for our students.” Broadcast times are Dec. 24 at 11:30 p.m. and Midnight and Dec. 25th at noon and 12:30 p.m. on CBS44 in High Definition. It will also be broadcast on Dec. 24 at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on My44 The Chamber Choir features Josie Brown, Melanie Davis, Carly Gray, Katelyn Herrenbruck, Michelle Huff, Kate Higgins, Kirstie Keene, Carynn Koch, Jenna Rueger, Amy Seifert, Kaci Turner and Michelle Walker. The ensemble is directed by Dana Taylor and is accompanied by Teresa Bloodworth.
(USPS 439-500)
The Mount Vernon FFA was part of the Christmas Shop with a Cop festivities Saturday morning sponsored by the Mount Vernon Fraternal Order of Police. Members handed out fruit bags from the club’s fruit sale to each child at the festivities. Members visiting with Santa Claus are Andrea Seifert, Alex DeKemper, Rebecca Miller, Jennifer Axton, Ryan Ritzert, Justin Dickhaut, and Victor Wells. Mount Vernon officially welcomed the Christmas season with a parade. Photo by Terri Koch
Ambulance study given green light By Dave Pearce It is official. Posey County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to contract the Missouri-based Ludwig Group to do a study to help determine the future of ambulance service in Posey County. In a unanimous vote, the commissioners voted to take the highest bid of the three under consideration, $7,500, from Ludwig to conduct the study. The Group will then add an additional $1,500 to the cost to make a presentation once the study is completed. Commissioners suggested that the results of the study be presented in a public format, perhaps at the Posey County Community Center and in the evening to encourage public attendance. It is estimated that the study will take four to six weeks and the results can be presented following the completion of the study. While defending the choice of taking the most expensive of the three bids submitted, commissioner Jim Alsop indicated “sometimes you get what you pay for.” From all indications, the selected company provides the most complete and comprehensive information and comes highly recommended from other counties, some in Indiana . Alsop indicated that from all he has been able to determine, there was no study done when the ambulances were placed in 1975. “We want to have an objective eye look at the county and although it is not the cheapest, it is
the best,” Alsop said. Commission President Scott Moye indicated that adding a fourth ambulance to the county fleet could be one of the options. While the ambulance issue has become an emotional issue at times, Moye said he understands the emotion when it comes to the lives and health of residents of Posey County . “I can assure you we are not playing games with the EMS service in Posey County ,” Moye stated with resolve. The public presentation of the results of the study are scheduled to be presented in the first quarter of 2011. Economic development and ambulance service could go hand in hand and they did in the Tuesday meeting. The Commissioners heard that a final draft of an economic development plan was presented in a public hearing on November 30. The $5,600 cost of the grant was paid by the Economic Development Coalition and grant writer Brian O’Neill has indicated he feels the plan was wellreceived. “This plan is like a roadmap for us to move ahead,” Alsop said. “It has been needed for a long time and I think it is just another step in putting Posey County on the Economic Development map.” Pruitt indicated that Posey’s proximity to the Ohio River, the fact that the Southwind Port is
Continued on Page A6
By Valerie Werkmeister Poseyville needs a new Town Clerk-Treasurer. Town Council President Bruce Baker announced that Chris Lupfer resigned from her position effective December 6, citing personal reasons. Baker explained he notified the Posey County Clerk’s office to begin the process to find a new clerk/treasurer. Indiana Code 3-13-11 outlines the procedure that must be followed in order to fill Lupfer’s position. The process starts with the notification of David Butler, the Posey County Democratic Party Chairman. Butler must then notify John Sherretz and Bill Hopf who jointly serve as the precinct committeemen. They must call a caucus. The code states a caucus must be held no later than 30 days after the vacancy occurs. Chief Deputy Julie Mayo has assumed Lupfer’s duties until someone is appointed. Town Council members, Danny Fallowfield, Steve Ahrens and Baker accepted Lupfer’s resignation and approved Mayo’s appointment. Town Marshall Doug Saltzman also announced the resignation of part-time police officer, Jose Gomez. Saltzman stated Gomez resigned due to unforeseen circumstances. Council members accepted his resignation. Council members also approved a new gas tracker rate with a five percent increase for the Poseyville Utility office during the consumption months of November, December and January. Utility customers will notice the increase during the billing months of December, January and February. Poseyville Fire Department Chief Mike Crawford informed council members that an emergency button was recently installed outside the fire station. When pressed, the button will notify Posey County Dispatch and page an ambulance for the emergency. Crawford also stated he had received notification that a $50,000 grant request from the Federal Emergency Management Agency had been denied. Crawford was hoping to use the funds towards the purchase of extrication equipment. There has also been no word on whether the fire department will be the recipient of a $150,000 OCRA (Office of Community and Rural Affairs) grant. The grant is needed to purchase a new rescue truck for the department that serves the northern Posey County area. Responses were due out December 10, but Baker informed the council and audience members that they may not hear who the final grant recipient is until December 30. Council members did approve a request for new fire department gear pending a review of year-end remaining funds. The council also congratulated Chris Neaveill for receiving his paramedic certification. Life Scout, Jonathan Cook, of Wadesville Boy Scout Troop 390 addressed the council to ask for possible Eagle Scout project ideas. He explained he would like to work on a project to achieve the rank of Eagle before he turns 18 next August. After some discussion, council members agreed that a landscaping project at the Poseyville Community Center would be mutually beneficial for both parties. Cook will keep in contact with council members as plans evolve. The final meeting for 2010 has been set for Monday, December 20, at 4:30 p.m. at the Poseyville Community Center.
Leaf collection deadline set The last day for fall leaf collection in Mount Vernon has been set for Dec. 17.
Yearbook preorders taken Pre-orders for the Mount Vernon Junior High School yearbook are currently being taken through December 17. Cost will be $15. Students received an order form from their advisory last week. If they have misplaced the order form, they need to pick up a new one from the office.
Sports passes available The following All-Sports Passes and Season passes are on sale in the high school athletic office: Basketball Pass - good for any 10 Varsity High School games and all Freshman game Adults $30, Students $25; Winter/ Spring All-Sport Passes - good for all Winter and Spring High School Athletic Events Adults $40 Students - $30
Rappite Royalty Members of the New Harmony homecoming court are, front row: Hannah Williams, Hayleigh Hatch, Samantha Ricketts, Paige Patterson, Isaac Parmenter, Stacia Hempfling, Sandra Hall, and Andrea Smotherman. Middle row: Kelsey Owen, Kendall Morris, Vanessa McKinney, Blair Morris, Queen Sarah Smotherman, Anna Busler, Abbey Deckard, Kim Alldredge, and Alyssa Scherzinger. In the back row are AJ Eaton, Luke Allison, Levi Hoehn, Blayne Worman, Andrew McDaniel, Kris Scarafia, Stephen Murray, Zach Sollman, Elliott Lange, Clint Mathews, and Kyle Whitmore. Photo by Dave Pearce
Inside this issue...
ThePCN
Retrospective................ A5 Legals........................... B8 Classifieds .............. B9-10
Go to www.poseycountynews.com Community........... A7 Social...................... A6 Deaths.................. A3 Sports.................. B1-7 School................... A9 Business/Ag .......... A8
457476310