Mayor Dean Vonderheide has announced his resignation as Mayor of Jasper, effective March 31, 2026. In his public letter to residents, Mayor Vonderheide explained that he wants to focus more on his health and family after seven years in office, and believes it’s time to “pass the torch” to new leadership to carry forward Jasper’s long-range…
As Jasper prepares for a leadership transition, residents are facing decisions that will influence how future governance reflects community priorities. The new mayor will not be elected by voters but chosen by a caucus of local Republican Party members. The composition of the caucus members is not published, but a listing of local Republican officials can be…
While my work as your state senator takes place throughout the year, the Indiana General Assembly is only in session for a few months. The 2026 legislative session will reconvene the first full week of January. This year’s session is expected to be complete by late February, and bills go through a lengthy process before…
If people here in Dubois County have any opposition to the recent events in Venezuela, they may give thought to the statement made to me yesterday by one of my Venezuelan tenants here in Jasper. His statement was, “Thanks to Mr. Trump, we are now FREE. Gene HostetterJasper
It is that time of year again, where friends and family come together from throughout our community and beyond to celebrate Christmas. While Christmas is an important holiday throughout the world, it has an extra special meaning here in Senate District 48 as the home of Santa Claus. For decades, local residents have come together…
In an INDOT News Release dated December 15, 2025, entitled “INDOT begins construction planning for Mid-States Corridor project” it stated that an Industry Day event was held for interested contractors, materials suppliers and other partners as the Mid-States Corridor project enters its construction planning phase. The question “Is this legal?” jumps to mind; and, yes…
I am writing this because I am deeply troubled by President Trump’s recent comments calling Somali people “garbage.” Even when individuals commit fraud, it is wrong — and dangerous — to condemn an entire culture. Our democracy depends on respecting the dignity of every person and responding to wrongdoing through due process, not dehumanization. I…
A response to “Answering some questions about the Mid-States Corridor” I respect anyone willing to put their name on an argument. When a project carries a price tag in the billions, the standard for “honest, truthful, and non-biased” information must be equally high. In a recent letter to the Dubois County Free Press, Dubois Strong…
In rural Dubois County most of us get our electricity through Dubois REC, which has continued to do an excellent job of serving our community. As a cooperative, Dubois REC purchases our power through Hoosier Energy. While Hoosier Energy continues to balance energy needs to deliver the best product at a good price, unfortunately there…
I feel that I must respond to the claims about the proposed Mid-States Corridor, which were made in the recent letter from the Executive Director of Dubois Strong, which indicated that this highway is being sold to the public not to make the towns any better, but to make Jasper even bigger. The author claimed…
