I’ve been considering writing a letter to the editor since the 2024 election, and now that the current administration has brazenly defied the constitution by displaying inhumane policies that are disrupting daily life for many of our most vulnerable citizens in our country. After using his gullible but violent MAGA followers to attempt to overturn…
Our new Governor is pushing to reduce the property taxes that homeowners and property owners pay annually. As a homeowner, this is a welcome piece of news. But as a Town official, it sends chills down my spine. Why does this reduction effort bother me — because our property taxes are what funds 46% of…
In 1851, about the same time that Millard Fillmore was being sworn in as the 13th President of the United States, John Frederick Closterman bought 80 acres of farmland from Herman Henry Ruetepohler. Six months later, he purchased the 40-acre farm on the next hill to the west from Frederick Wismann. Two years later, he…
What is progress? Is by-passing cities and towns progress? Is cutting off neighboring communities progress? Is paving over forests and farmlands progress? Some will say yes to all of the above; but, will say: How is it progress to by-pass a town and allow it’s businesses to fail due to the lack of customer traffic? How…
Keep up the good fight Jim (Arvin) I hope eventually you get some satisfaction from your efforts. No one wants to lose land. However, I don’t see how anyone believes that the traffic count on Highway 231 is acceptable now, and it’s only going to get worse. At some point, you landowners will need to…
The Mid-States Corridor is a hotly debated issue, yet not by those in our state and local governments. This is due in part to the fact that they, the elected officials, are either totally on board with the Mid-States Corridor project or just don’t want to rock the boat. I have sent several letters to…
It’s interesting that those in favor of the Mid-States Corridor all cite the same ludicrous justifications: it will speed up their travel to the store or they won’t be delayed by farm equipment or the elimination of “traffic congestion” or the economic development boon that will come with the completion of the Corridor. Nice sounding…
By Terry Spradlin, Executive Director of the Indiana School Boards Association With the start of the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly, the investment in K-12 public education will become a focal point of the two-year state budget. When examining the areas that consume the largest portions of the state budget—while Medicaid is the fastest-growing…
What is the reasoning for the Mid-States Corridor; and, why is there such concentrated opposition to it? Is the Corridor a publicly supported project? Does it benefit all residents of Dubois, Martin and Daviess counties? Has it been discussed in all of the county and city council meetings? Are all of the county commissioners in…
As many local residents know, in September I was sworn in as Senate District 48’s state senator. Before my swearing in, the district was represented by Mark Messmer, who is now serving as a Congressman for Indiana’s eighth district. During his time in the Indiana General Assembly, Congressman Messmer would regularly update our community on…
