YOU KNOW THEM, THEY KNOW YOU by Jim Redwine

Gavel Gamut

By Jim Redwine

(Week 26 September 2016)

YOU KNOW THEM, THEY KNOW YOU

Those of us privileged to live in Posey County appreciate the advantages, and inescapability, of a rural court justice system. When it comes to Posey County Probation Officers such as Mark Funkhouser and Courtney Price, the community interconnections are salient. Anonymity is not likely for either the probation officers or those who need their services.

Mark and Courtney both graduated from Mt. Vernon schools and attended area colleges. Mark’s father, Bud, served on the Posey County Council and operated a local hardware store, in which Mark worked, for many years. Courtney is married to County Coroner Jay Price and is the daughter of Sheriff Greg Oeth and nurse practitioner Melody Oeth.

Mark has been a probation officer for 21 years and Courtney for 5. Both of them have been actively involved in numerous areas of public service in Posey County for several years. Mark was instrumental in the establishment of Posey County’s Community Corrections Board. He has volunteered his time and talent to many community organizations such as The Governor’s Commission for Drug-free Indiana, the Mt. Vernon Opportunity Center, Posey County Boys Group Home, Welfare to Work Planning Council and he currently serves as the Regional Director for the Indiana Community Health Worker Association, just to name some of his extensive community involvement.

Courtney is involved with her Point Township Nazarene Church, helps coach the Posey County Special Olympics Dance Team and to honor her mother who fought and defeated breast cancer Courtney is an active volunteer with Relay for Life. Courtney and Jay have a baby boy, Jaxson, and operate Price Excavating Company. Mark has two sons, Mike and Nick, and one grandson.

Mark and Courtney are heavily invested in Posey County both professionally and personally. They care about their community, their probationers and those affected by those who are on probation. As Courtney says:

“Probation is so much more than being an officer of the court, preparing presentences, supervising probationers, and doing field checks. It is getting involved in offenders’ lives, outreaching to community resources and providers, and acting as a bridge between the probationer, the court and the prosecutor. It is acting as a support system, a compass, a counselor, a listening ear, a role model, an educator, an accountability partner, an advocate, a resource director, and more for the probationer. We must be able to get creative and think outside of the box when it comes to each individual case. What may work best for one individual likely will not for the next. We are a career that wears many hats.”

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