Bicentennial Torch travels through Dubois County Wednesday (maps and torch bearer info)

The Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay will be going through Dubois County on Wednesday, September 14 from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. EST.

For Dubois County, the torch relay route is split up into four different sections based on the four school districts in Dubois County. This split will be in the following areas: Ferdinand (Forest Park), Huntingburg (Southridge), Jasper (Greater Jasper), and Celestine (NE Dubois).

Each of these four sections have their own itinerary for that day. The transport vehicles in between sections will be provided by Uebelhor and Sons Chevy, Cadillac, Toyota, Scion, & Commercial Vehicles.

Itinerary for the Forest Park Section located in downtown Ferdinand:

At 7:30 a.m. EST, the torch bearers in the Forest Park section, state officials, and invited guests will start this commemorative morning with a buffet breakfast at the Ferdinand American Legion provided by Clem and Mary C. Lange. After breakfast, torch bearers will be in the designated locations along the route by 8:30 a.m.

The route in Ferdinand begins at the intersection of 5th Street and Main Street, continuing north to the intersection of 16th Street and Main Street. Residents and companies in the Forest Park school district are invited to line the route and cheer on the torch as it passes.

Crowds will be gathered on Main Street in front of the historic Wollemann House where Town Council President, Ken Sicard, will welcome visitors. Torch Bearer and former Lt. Governor of Indiana, Sue Ellsperman, will speak to those gathered. Ferdinand Elementary, Pine Ridge, Cedar Crest, & Forest Park will be lined up along Main Street, with Pine Ridge Elementary School choir preforming patriotic songs. The Forest Park Junior/Senior Marching Band may perform as well.

At 9 a.m. ET, Marc Steczyk will begin the torch relay at the intersection of 5th and Main Streets and continue four blocks. At 9th and Main Street, Marc will pass it off to a wagon full of veterans, who are also torch bearers. These veterans will pass the torch from person to person and include: Otto Begle, Leroy Haug, Reynold Knust, Cletus Luebbehusen, Frank Meyer, Sylvestor Nord, Joseph Pund, Richard Schwoeppe, James Seidl, Roman Temple, Edgar Vaal, and Harold Van Winkle. The wagon will travel two blocks and will be passed off to Sue Ellsperman. Sue will continue on Main Street until 16th Street intersection. There, Sue Ellsperman will get into a designated vehicle to travel to the next section of the torch relay located at Huntingburg, Indiana.

Itinerary for the Southridge Section located in downtown Huntingburg:

The route in Huntingburg begins at the intersection of 4th Street and Van Buren, heads east on 4th Street until Geiger Street, and then continues north to the end of Geiger Street until it meets Hwy 64. Residents and companies in the Southridge school district are invited to line the route and cheer on the torch as it passes.

At 8:40 a.m. ET, all of the torch bearers in the Southridge section as well as any other community members will go to Huntingburg City Hall. Mayor Denny Spinner will welcome everyone. Connie Nass will also speak. The Southridge Choir & Band will perform the National Anthem and “Back Home Again in Indiana.”

All of the torch bearers will be in their designated locations by 9:20 a.m. Patriotic music will play on the sound system throughout 4thStreet.

At approximately 9:35 a.m., Sue Ellsperman will step out of the vehicle and carry the torch to Connie Nass, who will be inside the 1901 Huntingburg Tour Car. Connie Nass in the historic car will travel a short distance, and then Lee Bilderback will take the torch from Connie. The torch will be passed off from person to person heading east on 4th Street until the intersection of Geiger and will be passed to the following torch bearers: Lauren Meyer, Phil Huddleston in honor of Charles “Hanger” Mundy, Molly (Menke) Prior, Cory Menke, Ryan Menke, and Hank Menke. At the intersection of 4th Street and Geiger Street, Hank Menke will pass the torch to Brice King, who will continue North on Geiger Street. After a short distance, Brice will pass the torch to Mayor Denny Spinner, who will continue until the intersection of Geiger Street and Hwy 164. At this intersection, Mayor Denny Spinner will get into a designated vehicle to travel to the next section of the torch relay located at Jasper, Indiana.

Itinerary for the Greater Jasper Section located in downtown Jasper:

The route in Jasper begins at the walking bridge next to the Jasper City Mill, continues across the bridge through the Jasper Train Depot Parking lot, heads east on 2nd Avenue, heads north up Main Street to around the Courthouse Square, and continues up Main Street until the intersection of 9th and Main Street. Residents and companies in the Jasper school district are invited to line the route and cheer on the torch as it passes.

Crowds will be gathered around the east side of the Courthouse Square. At 9:30 a.m., Mayor Terry Seitz will welcome the crowd. Jasper High School Band and the choir will be performing some songs around the courthouse. American Legion Veterans are invited to be in uniform in a section around the Courthouse Square.

All torch bearers will be in their designated locations at 9:40 a.m.

At approximately 10:10 a.m. (give or take 5 minutes), Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner will step out of the designated vehicle and pass the torch off to Noelle Weyer at the walking bridge next to the Jasper City Mill. Noelle will take the torch across the walking bridge through the Jasper Train Depot Parking lot, head east on 2nd Avenue, and continue north up Main Street until the intersection of 3rdStreet and Main Street. There, she will pass the torch to Chad Blessinger. Chad Blessinger will continue north on Main street until the Courthouse Square. The torch will be passed from person to person on the east side of the Courthouse Square to the following torch bearers: Dr. Dean Beckman, Bob Bleemel, Dave Buehler, Michael Elliott, Alex Emmons, Leon Fleck, Delbert “Junie” Himsel, Esther Kellams, Tom Kellams, James Matheis, Arthur Nordhoff Jr., Kelly Schaeffer, Thomas Schmidt, Mike Schmitt, William “Bill” Schmitt, Myra Schuettter, and Zach Beckman. Zach Beckman will pass the torch off to Craig Hanneman, who will continue north on Main Street until the intersection of Main and 9th Street. At this intersection, Craig Hanneman will get into a designated vehicle to travel to the next section of the torch relay located at Celestine, Indiana.

Itinerary for the NE Dubois Section located in Celestine:

The route in Celestine begins at the intersection of State Road 164 and New Orleans Street right before Happy Hour Sports Bar. The route continues east on State Road 164, heads south on N Celestine Road N, heads east on Main Cross Street (the drive to the Celestine Elementary School), heads north to the alley of St. Marys Street, and creates a loop continuing to Happy Hour Sports Bar. Residents and companies in the NE Dubois school district are invited to line the route and cheer on the torch as it passes.

Dubois Elementary School and Celestine Elementary School will be gathered in front of the Celestine Elementary School. NE Dubois Marching Band will perform patriotic music.

Veterans in the NE Dubois section are invited to be in uniform in a section in front of Happy Hour basement.

At 9 a.m., NE Dubois torch bearers and invited guests will have a breakfast in the basement of Happy Hour Sports Bar. Mike Braun will speak on the history of our area and introduce the torch bearers in this section. The torch bearers are invited to say a few words.

All torch bearers will be in their designated locations a half an hour before the torch gets to Celestine.

At approximately 10:45 a.m. (give or take 10 minutes), Craig Hanneman will step out of the designated vehicle and pass the torch off to Leonard Heeke at the intersection of State Road 164 and New Orleans Street. Leonard Heeke will travel a short distance and pass the torch to Marvin & Vicky Eisenhut, who will carry the torch together as husband and wife. At the intersection of N Celestine Road N and State Rd 164, the Eisenhuts will pass the torch off to Gary Bair. Gary will continue until Main Cross Street, passing the torch to Victor Betz. Victor will head to the top of the hill next to the Celestine Elementary School and will pass the torch to his son, Dustin Betz. Dustin will head north, continue East on St. Marys Street and pass the torch to Brianne Knies. Brianne Knies in honor of her late Grandfather, Dennis Heeke, will continue from N Celestine Road N to State Road 164, passing the torch to Chris Bieker. Chris Bieker will take the torch to Happy Hour Sports Bar to a designated vehicle, which will take the torch to Orange County.

Synopsis of the schedule of what time the torch will arrive in each section:

·       9 a.m. ET – Torch Relay begins in Ferdinand Indiana

·       Approximately 9:35 a.m. ET – Torch arrives to downtown Huntingburg

·       Approximately 10:10 a.m. ET – Torch arrives to downtown Jasper

·       Approximately 10:45 a.m. ET – Torch arrives to Celestine