Like many of us, this bitterly cold January day, I remain stuck at home, and I am grateful for the many people shoveling us out, helping their neighbors, and keeping us informed. As I watch the drifting snow literally bury my car, the old questions of “bigger is better,” and “what is prosperity?” flood my…
Last week’s winter storm offered a real-world test of large-scale solar and battery energy storage systems proposed for Dubois County. We received about 10 inches of snow, followed by very cold temperatures and heavy cloud cover. During that time, solar panels were largely unable to produce electricity. Snow-covered panels do not generate power, and in…
The recent government shutdown exposed a critical problem: air traffic controllers went without paychecks while doing essential work. This only amplified existing personnel and technology constraints in ATC. For manufacturers in rural Indiana, this kind of disruption threatens operations and the jobs we support. OFS Brands and companies like ours depend on a functioning aviation…
In his recent letter to the editor, “Mid-States Corridor an investment in the future”, Doug Bawel, President and CEO of Jasper Engine and their subsidiary JET Transit, told us: “If people knew of the armaments that travel through Jasper many times daily, they would be terrified.” He made a similar claim at the August 14th…
I read with great interest Mr. Doug Bawel’s letter with regards to the Mid-States Corridor. I was struck by his statements about forward thinkers and naysayers. I would have expected nothing less from a donor to the Mid-States Corridor RDA. US 231 is not a new highway as Mr. Bawels alluded. It was on the…
In late 2021, Dubois County and the City of Jasper partnered to apply for and were selected to participate in the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) initiative through OCRA (Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs). The purpose of the program was to develop a strategic plan for using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds…
by Michael Hicks, Indiana Capital ChronicleJanuary 26, 2026 Indiana’s Senate Enrolled Act 1 of 2025 delivered what many voters have wanted for years: lower property taxes. Homeowners received higher deductions, but businesses — especially those with substantial personal property — saw significant reductions in tax liability. Let’s compare the two. A family who owns a…
My comments in response to Governor Braun’s recent post. If you truly cared about the sanctity of life, why do you never talk about the public health effects of your policies on prenatal development and maternal health? Where does Indiana rank in air and water quality, and what are the logical effects upon our children…
Residents of Dubois County deserve to understand how large energy projects can affect their electric bills. While solar fields and battery storage systems are often promoted as “clean energy” (when the sun is not shining, coal-fired power plants will charge the batteries), what is rarely discussed is who actually pays for them. These facilities require…
We know the Mid-States Corridor is very controversial, and for those whose land it affects, it is very personal; we do understand. I have personally witnessed this same controversy on two previous roads. The first was in the early 70s, US-231 between Huntingburg and Jasper. It was personal for us because it cut our property…
