“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
Tuesday June 21, 2011
Volume 131 Edition 26
Appeal leaves Posey owing $1.5 million in tax refunds
Family Matters helps
Family Matters will be collecting items to help the families in Posey County affected by the flood waters. Nearly 100 families were affected and many are in need of basic household items. Presently, a survey is being conducted to determine what items and resources they need. We are collecting new and gently used household items, furniture, and clothing for the families. Family Matters will be storing the items in the gym at Hedges Central. We plan on collecting and distributing the items through July 16, 2011. If you are interested in donating items or have questions please call Beth Russell at Family Matters @ 838-6875.
Family Matters will be collecting items to help the families in Posey County affected by the flood waters. Nearly 100 families were affected, and many are in need of basic household items. Presently, a survey is being conducted to determine what items and resources they need. We plan on collecting and distributing the items through July 16, 2011. If you are interested in donating items or have questions please call Beth Russell at Family Matters at 838-6875.
News dampens BMS, ambulance additions
Kiwanis scramble set
The Annual Poseyville Kiwanis Golf Scramble will be coming up soon, July 23. If you would like to participate, let us know. For more information see our web page or e-mail us at poseyvillekiwanis@ hotmail.com
CLC golf scramble
The Children’s Learning Center is a nonprofit organization that provides quality child care for infants to 12 years of age located in Mount Vernon. The Board of Directors would like to invite you to a golf scramble on July 22, 2011, at Western Hills Country Club. The scramble will begin at noon with a lunch followed by a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Come have some fun and support a great organization.
Fair contests planned
Posey County 4-H Fair will have their Youth Talent Contest on July 13 at 7 p.m. at the P.C. Fairground Community Center. Junior Division (ages 12 under), Senior Division (ages 13 - 21). There will be 13 categories to choose from. Forms must be postmarked by July 8. The Beautiful Baby Contests at the Posey County 4-H Fair will be on Thursday, July 14. Age Divisions: 0 - 12 months, 13 - 24 months and Terrific 2’s. For entry form information contact Katie Beste at 431-0329 or kabeste@hotmail.com. You may go the the Posey County Extension Office Website at www.extension.purdue.edu/posey for entry forms. Forms must be received by June 29.
Silo work finally begins...
A 7,000-pound wrecking ball knocks the first piece of metal off the riverfront silos in Mount Vernon early yesterday morning, June 20. All metal was being removed from the top of the silos in preparation for Elite Environmental to complete asbestos removal. Klenck Company will then return the 7,000-pound wrecking ball to bring down the silos themselves. Nick Funke, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Klenck Company, says the demolition will take three days and projects the silos will be on the ground by July 4. He added that the time-consuming clean-up should be complete by August 1. Photo by Pam Robinson
Meth arrests follow Ranch Road warrant Two Posey County residents are facing charges related to manufacturing methamphetamine after officers of the Posey County Narcotics Unit and other area law enforcement agencies found an active meth lab at their rural Ranch Road residence Monday, June 13. Kevin Lannan The narcotics unit had obtained a search warrant for the residence in the 11,000 block of Ranch Road in connection with an ongoing methamphetamine investigation. Serving the warrant about 10 p.m., with assistance from Indiana State Police, sheriff’s officers and Poseyville and New Harmony police, the officers observed a man leaving the area in a vehicle. A woman and two small children were inside the residence, which contained the working meth lab. Cassandra Lannan, 24, was arrested on preliminary charges of manufacturing methamphetamine,
possession of two or more precursors with intent to manufacture, possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance and neglect of a child. The two children were turned over to the custody of he Indiana Child and Family Services. Marrs Township Fire DeCassandra Lannan partment and Posey County EMS were summoned to assist while officers dismantled the meth lab. A short while later, Kevin Lannan, 28, the driver of the car seen leaving the area, was located and arrested in Evansville on Posey County charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of two or more precursors with intent to manufacture, possession of methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance. Both were lodged in the Posey County Jail where bond for Cassandra Lannan was set at $30,000 cash and Kevin Lannan at $50,000 cash.
Hoosier Salon to host
A new exhibit opens Friday, July 8, at the Hoosier Salon New Harmony Gallery, 507 Church St. The public is invited to a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. The following award winning artists are featured in the exhibit: Rena Brouwer of Delphi; David Dale of Nashville; and Rick Wilson of Edinburgh. Come out and see the art, meet the artists, and enjoy the refreshments. For more information contact Maggie Rapp, director, Hoosier Salon New Harmony Gallery, 812-459-9851.
Historical Society meets
Members and friends of the Posey County Historical Society will meet on Saturday, June 25 at 10 a.m. in New Harmony for a tour of the Working Men’s Institute, 403 Tavern St. Following a business session, with Vice President Bob Webster presiding, the group will enjoy a “brown bag” picnic lunch at Murphy Park. Everyone is invited.
Election Board meets
The Posey County Election Board will be meeting will be held Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 8 a.m. in the Election Room at the Posey County Courthouse.
Christmas in July set
Family Matters will be hosting a Red Kettle Campaign in Posey County on Saturday, July 9. All funds collected stay within the county to help those in need. Collection sites in Mount Vernon will be at McKim’s IGA and Wesselman’s. Poseyville locations will be at Hirsch’s, Patti’s and the Feed Mill. If you would like to volunteer to ring the bells, please contact Beth Russell at 838-6875 or familymatt2006@aol.com.
ThePCN
(USPS 439-500)
Mount Vernon Mayor John Tucker and Metropolitan School District of Mount Vernon School Supt. Tom Kopatich stand in front of some of the drawings for plans to correct issues with storm sewers near West Elementary School. On the third try, the city was able to secure over a half-million in grants to help pay for the project. See complete story on Page B4.
Facebook account leads to arrest of Posey man
Plea agreement in child molestation case called for no Internet usage
By Pam Robinson Posey County Prosecutor Travis Clowers and Probation Officer Michelle Fortune filed the petition for revocation of probation along with an affidavit of probable cause to arrest on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, for Charles F. Poston, previously found guilty of child molesting. On Thursday, June 16, 2011, Judge James Redwine responded by issuing a warrant for the arrest of Poston for violating the terms of his suspended sentence by establishing a personal Facebook account. In a phone interview, Clowers explained that a concerned citizen tipped the prosecutor’s office to Poston’s Facebook account. In turn, Clowers and Fortune verified Poston’s use of Facebook on June 15, filed the appropriate legal documents on the same day and contacted local law enforcement. Clowers commented, “We cannot release any information on where he was using the computer; however, we are still investigating.” Regarding Poston’s Facebook use, the petition for revocation of probation notes, “It appears this account was created by Mr. Poston on or before June 11, 2011.” According to Clowers, the plea agreement in Poston’s child molesting case was reached by former Posey County Prosecutor Jodi Uebelhack and former Deputy Prosecutor Jake Warrum and was filed in Circuit Court on April 7, 2008. The plea agreement called for five
Inside this issue... Retrospective ................. A4 Legals ............................. B9 Classifieds .................. B6-8
years in prison followed by one year of probation. The petition for revocation of probation spells out the terms of Poston’s one-year probation as established in Circuit Court on November 1, 2010: “You shall not access the Internet or any other on-line service through use of a computer, cell phone, iPod, Xbox, Blackberry, personal digital assistant (PDA), pagers, Palm Pilots, televisions, or any other electronic device at any location (including your place of employment) without prior approval of your probation officer. This includes any Internet service provider, bulletin board system, email system or any other public or private computer network. You shall not possess or use any data encryption technique or program.” As of Monday morning, Poston was being held in Posey County Jail. Jail officials confirmed he was being held on a $10,000 security or a $1,000 cash bond. On Monday afternoon, Poston was scheduled to appear in Posey Circuit Court for an initial hearing in which he was given the option to admit or deny the petition for revocation of probation. In addition, he was informed of his right to legal counsel and was informed of his right to a hearing to contest this matter. Clowers will argue the case for Poston to serve his remaining term of probation in state prison. The Circuit Court judge will decide the outcome. The Posey County News will provide additional information as it becomes available.
By Dave Pearce Nearly all of the news was good news for Posey County residents at the Tuesday morning meeting of the Posey County Council…with emphasis on the “nearly.” In the two largest items, the Council heard from representatives of Bristol Myers that the company is planning a major expansion at the Mount Vernon site that will add some 30 jobs. The jobs will include 28 hourly jobs that will pay around $28 an hour as well as two salaried jobs. Bristol Myers representative William Hayes told member of the Council that by an investment of over $76 million, the company has committed to make the Posey County site a “significant part of it’s continuing plan.” The company is requesting personal property tax abatement on the project which is expected to begin in early July and be completed sometime in 2014. Councilmen showed excitement about the plan and agreed to continue to watch progress at the site while the abatement is being considered. But while one of the county’s largest employers was seeking an abatement, another was working with the county to try and get repayment of taxes that were overpaid for three years at SABIC and General Electric. County attorney Beth McFadinHiggins reported that she had been in negotiations with both SABIC and the former owner of the Mount Vernon facility, General Electric, for overpayment of taxes. The companies recently won an appeal of the taxation with General Electric being owed just over half a million and SABIC standing to be refunded just over a$1 million. McFadin-Higgins said both companies had shown a willingness to work with the county on refunding the overpayment. General Electric agreed to a three-year repayment plan for their $515,000 while SABIC has agreed to accept credit on future taxes instead of forcing the county to repay the amount owed them. The overpayment was in the calendar years of 2006-2008, was made at the Black Township Assessor’s Office, is expected to be felt by several Black Township-funded entities such as schools and libraries in the coming months. News of the overpayment and subsequent refunds due overshadowed the nod given by the Posey County Council to fund a fourth ambulance in Posey County. The Council gave it’s OK to go ahead with plans to purchase and supply/staff another ambulance. Commissioner Jim Alsop and Posey EMS Director Chuck Thompson had presented the proposal to the council to purchase a gas-powered ambulance with a total price tag of $286,000. Members of the council instructed Thompson to pursue purchase of a diesel-powered ambulance at a cost of $319,000. Thompson told members of the council that Evansville-based AMR has been leaning toward gasoline engines because of upkeep costs of the diesel-powered trucks but members of the council voted unanimously to go with the diesel engine, despite the additional cost. Thompson indicated that he would need to hire five additional employees and the council instructed him to do what he needed to do and to try and get the ambulance into service by July 1. Thompson
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Go to www.poseycountynews.com Community ........... A5 Social ..................... A6 Deaths ................... A3 Sports .................. B1-5 School.............. A9-12 Bus./Ag ................... A8
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