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…

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…

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…

Recently, many questions have been asked about the benefits of the Mid-States Corridor in public meetings, on social media, and in regular conversation. I wanted to take these questions and attempt to consolidate many specific questions into broad questions and answers.  I will be the first to tell you, I both personally and professionally believe…

Lies, deceit, manipulation, and conflicts of interest are words that come to mind when analyzing what has been going on with the people pushing the Mid-States Corridor as a needed project for the future prosperity of Dubois County and all Southwest Indiana. So let me clarify who those “people” are.  They include INDOT leadership Commissioner…

A recent post on the Hoosiers for the Mid-States Corridor Facebook page states that 80% of the cost for the Mid-States Corridor will come from the federal government; and, since the federal government is going to spend this money anyway, we should support the Corridor Project. In other words, we should waste tax payers money…

The Mid-States Corridor project threatens the very heart of our small communities in Dubois, Martin and Daviess counties, as well as 12 surrounding counties. It promises to carve a four-lane highway through our peaceful neighborhoods. Our rich and vibrant history will be stripped away. Farms that have nourished our families for generations face destruction, and wetlands that…

When all else fails, start using the word “connectivity” to try to justify a transportation project. That is exactly the approach INDOT, the Lochmueller Group, and proponents of the proposed Mid-States Corridor continue to try to do. Since the purpose and need could NOT be based on improved safety or improved congestion like originally communicated,…

At the recent Dubois County Commissioners meeting reported on in the Dubois County Free Press, Commissioner Chad Blessinger presented some of the responses received to specific questions posed to INDOT about the Mid-States Corridor project.  First, I would like to thank Commissioner Blessinger for caring enough about the citizens of Dubois County to try to…

I applaud Chad Blessinger for standing up publicly and stating his opposition to the Mid-States Corridor. Does this mean that Commissioners Hostetter and Stenftenagel are still in favor of the project? It would be great if the whole Board of Commissioners voted to drop out of the Mid-States Corridor RDA? Remember, this is possible as…

I sent the following comments to INDOT and the Lochmueller Group regarding their Tier II Screening of Alternatives Report.  Since they have shown they prefer to bury the public comments deep in the Appendices of their reports where no one can find them,  I wanted to share them with the public for all to see….

Did you know that there are five properties (one is a bridge) that are eligible for listing in the National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP) within the Dubois County SIU 2 section of the Mid-States Corridor (MSC)?   You won’t find the information in the project documents on the MSC website, though.   Besides the…

Greetings, fellow citizens. My family and I are some of the families being sued by the state regarding the Mid-States Corridor. Along with many of you. I received in the mail this week a donation request from Senator Mark Messmer.  I have personally known Mark Messmer and his family for decades. I have had several…

On Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m., INDOT and the Lochmueller Group will be having an Open House at Jasper Middle School to present the Screening of Alternatives Report. Note that it is an Open House, not a Public Meeting, where they would be required to allow the public to ask questions. They are trying to keep the…

On October 22, 2025, INDOT, the Lochmueller and the Mid-States Corridor RDA will host another Open House to present their latest report on the Mid-States Corridor project. They call these events “Open Houses” because they don’t have to address or answer the public’s questions as they would in a Public Meeting. The iron is heating…

The last few weeks, people have been complaining about the traffic delays in Dubois County due to the roadwork on SR-62 from the Bretzville Junction to Rural King, as well as downtown Jasper. Well, if the Mid-States Corridor ever comes to be, get used to it. Dubois County will be a construction zone with traffic…

The Mid-States Corridor Project wants to build a new terrain highway through Dubois County to bypass our towns and save trucks a few minutes traveling to their destinations.  They see all the open countryside and think that it is a perfect place to pave over for the benefit of a few with wealth and power….

“This land is my land, this land is your land,” but this land is not INDOT’s land. This land is here to support the people and the future; it is not here to be paved over. This land is the land God provided to the farmers to nourish us. It is not land to provide…

Based on statistical modeling, the Mid-States Corridor Project is forecasting hundreds of millions in economic development and hundreds of new jobs.  As Mark Twain once famously said, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics”.  None of the forecast economic growth is guaranteed.  What is guaranteed: Hundreds of people will be forced…

This letter is for our local politicians. Every single one of you. From Indianapolis down here to Jasper. It is long past time to remind these individuals that their actions and decisions have a profound impact on all of us, our families, and our communities. And to remind them that each and every one of…

Look at what’s happened in the past two weeks. Huntingburg has decided to join Jasper in the Interlocal Agreement to study the INDOT relinquishment of US 231. The cost? More than $100,000. That’s a lot of road repairs or other needed services that won’t be done. Why the study? To find out what we already…

These beautiful fall days in our part of rural Southern Indiana I have been driving the backroads to get where I’m going.  Everywhere I look I see fields of plenty. Corn and soybeans getting ripe for harvest are interspersed with woodlots and pasture land, houses, silos and barns. Bales of hay dot the fields as…

JASPER, Ind. (July 23, 2024) – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has given the Mid-States Corridor Project Team notice to proceed with the first Tier 2 Study.  Work will begin in the Dubois County area to determine the alignment and access plan for the new highway.  The Tier 2 Study will evaluate more site-specific…

If I owned a large fleet of trucks, I would certainly be interested in a better way to travel in and out of Dubois County. I might even fund a study to see what corridor options might be available and how my company could benefit from it. But when I started seeing the results of…

Interlocal Agreement? Sounds like an extortion attempt by INDOT to get Jasper, Huntingburg and Dubois County to enter another agreement to fund another Mid-States Corridor study. This time the goal is to study if assuming responsibility for the repair and maintenance of US 231 would have a cost impact to the cities and county. Even…

Waste, fraud, and abuse have become buzzwords in today’s society, and they are buzzwords that can certainly be used to describe the Mid-States Corridor Project. How do they apply? There is much waste being designed into the Mid-States Corridor project. The biggest waste is the duplication of an existing road, just 20-25 miles from the county, I-69. …

What do you think of when you think about the history of Dubois County? What do you see when you walk through the Dubois County Museum? Dubois County is an incredibly unique and great place to live. It was built on generations of hard work, farms, and loving families. And if I heard correctly, Dubois…

The article in the Dubois County Free Press, “Jasper Council hears all sides on Mid-States corridor”,  https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/jasper-council-hears-all-sides-on-mid-states-corridor/, was very informative and is a must read for anyone interested in hearing both sides of the issue. At first blush it appeared the time allocations were equal; but, in fact, the proponents were given a full hour to…

At the special Jasper City Council meeting on the Mid-States Corridor, the proponents urged the City Council to support the road because, after it is built, everyone will want to move to Jasper.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard anyone say they want to move somewhere because they just built a nice…

To my fellow citizens of Dubois, Spencer and Martin Counties, greetings.  I write this regarding RDAs in the State of Indiana. Specifically, to those of you who live in this state and believe that you are not affected by current RDA projects going on not only locally but throughout the state as well. Full disclosure-I…

Can you or I truly take claim to anything, and in particular, possess the land fully? Taxpayer ownership or not, the living, breathing soil, the land, is not ours. Many in our bureaucracy need reminded of this. It is probably one of the core differences between the people in the system, meaning the few people…

I wish to address the claims made by a group calling themselves HoosiersForThe Corridor.com, who want to “educate the public” about the benefits the proposed Mid-States Corridor would bring to Dubois County. I am a retired English teacher and I spent over thirty years trying to educate students about the importance of thinking critically about the things that…

The proposed Mid-States Corridor is a very controversial issue throughout Dubois, Martin, and Daviess Counties. It doesn’t matter if you are an elected local official, state legislator, political candidate, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Independent; it is your responsibility to educate yourself on this proposed massive project before determining your position. You have an obligation to…

“The times they are a-changin’ “, as the old song goes; and they certainly are changin’ here in Southern Indiana. Rep. Jean Leising and her constituents in District 42 have shown this to be true. Together, they were able to get INDOT to cancel the proposed Link 101 Corridor Project. INDOT opted to cut its…

I have lived in Jasper for the past eight years. Eight years living in one of the most beautiful parts of Indiana, and having the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with many kind and generous people throughout Dubois County. There is something truly special about this place. From the rolling hills of Southern Indiana…

Currently, the Lochmueller Group is working on preparing the Needs and Purpose Statement for the Mid-States Corridor, and they have released the draft statement for the Dubois County portion of the road.  To find out the needs of Dubois County, they talked to the eight largest companies in the county, the airport, and two “economic…

The Huntingburg City Council meeting of Tuesday, July 8, 2025 was rather interesting. The Mid-States Corridor was again on the agenda; and, both the Mid-States Corridor RDA and the Property Rights Alliance (PRA) were in attendance. If the number of supporters, for both sides, is indicative of how the people of Dubois County feel about…

Since the late 1980s the people of Dubois county have suffered through four separate studies for a new highway bypassing Jasper and Huntingburg before it became a more regional route when the current and fifth study for the Mid-States Corridor was proposed. It’s no surprise that farmers and landowners along the route are especially up…

“You are being sentimental and emotional; it is just land.” Statements such as these accompanied with languid apologies, have been echoed by representatives and proponents of the Mid-States Corridor. The debates regarding this proposed road have largely focused on landowners, property rights, and reported need for such a road. The behavioral health repercussions of the…

Proponents of the Mid-States Corridor continue to bring up the potential economic benefits, the growth that will result, and the “business need” for this project. So, let’s look at it from a business perspective. During my professional business career, I worked on several strategic business plans. Part of the process included doing a S.W.O.T. analysis….

I would like to thank the Dubois County Commissioners for not following the example of the Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority, Governor Mike Braun, and INDOT of putting the cart before the horse on the Mid-States Corridor Project. After multiple studies over 40 years have shown that the road known as the Mid-States Corridor in…

Recently the Property Rights Alliance (PRA) asked the Dubois County Commissioners to adopt a resolution not to continue to support the Mid-States Corridor. The Commissioners listened and although they did not adopt the resolution they did say they wanted to review more information. The same resolution was presented to the Huntingburg City Council with the…

As a member of the Property Rights Alliance, I attended the Dubois County Commissioners’ meeting on June 2nd in support of the group’s resolution presented to the Commissioners requesting no longer supporting the Mid-States Corridor project. There were several members there, and Commissioner Blessinger was generous enough to allow constituents to share additional thoughts on…

To the residents of Dubois and Martin Counties, I urge you to critically examine the claims surrounding the proposed Mid-States Corridor. Promoters of this multi-billion-dollar project tout it as a transformative economic driver for the next century, but these assertions lack credible evidence. One misleading claim is that manufacturers will leave the area without the…

As a member of the Property Rights Alliance, I attended the Dubois County Commissioners’ Meeting of June 2, 2025, in support of the group’s resolution presented to the commissioners, requesting they no longer support the Mid-States Corridor project. There were several members attending, and Commissioner Blessinger appeared to be doing some research and was learning…

This week, I watched the most recent Dubois County Commissioners’ meeting on YouTube. I listened as Jason McCoy, for the Property Rights Alliance, shared with the commissioners a resolution requesting that they no longer support the Mid-States Corridor project. I also listened as several members of the PRA who were in attendance spoke and brought…

There have been several articles, letters and social media posts recently about the Mid-States Corridor and that we get the government we vote for. These comments may be true, but they do not highlight the nuances. The battle against the Mid-States Corridor is not a new one. It’s been going on for decades with little…

Do people in this area not understand basic cause and effect? “Why are our politicians not listening to us on the Mid-States Corridor?” BECAUSEYOUVOTEDFORTHEM You had MULTIPLE opportunities to repudiate the people pushing the corridor, and not only did you fail in that, you sent them to DC and the governor’s mansion! You all wrap…

by Laura Seger McAninch Even if 10,000 taxpayers sign a petition against building a major highway known as the Mid-States Corridor, the RDA will not hesitate to push forward ??and build it – this comment was directly made by the RDA board to my father at their quarterly meeting on May 2nd, 2025. How does…

Our elected officials should be aware of their duty to comply with Indiana’s Open Door Laws and Access Public Record Act. Those laws are sometimes referred to as Sunshine laws, APRA, or public meeting laws. The philosophy behind these two laws is that all people are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs…

While the Mid-States Corridor (MSC) project office is no longer accepting public comments for Tier 2, I still think it’s important to share our concerns with the community. Please read this article about Vincennes and all of Southern Indiana being a hot spot for human trafficking. Residents of Dubois County don’t want a corridor that…

In the draft Purpose and Needs Statement recently published by the Lochmueller Group, they spoke to eight companies and three agencies (all of whom support the Mid-States Corridor project) within Dubois County to determine what this county needs.  Aren’t we lucky that these eleven entities know what’s best for all of us.  They have shown…

The Coalition Against the Mid-States Corridor, a member of the National Freeway Fighters Network, recently attended the annual Summit in Minneapolis, Minnesota aptly named Community Over Highways.  Over 100 attendees represented numerous organizations working against wrongful highway expansions, new highways, or replacing existing highways with better options. The common denominator in all these projects is…

There are several Mid-States Corridor events happening next week: MONDAY, MAY 12 This is the DEADLINE for submission of COMMENTS to Lochmueller/INDOT regarding the Draft Purpose and Need Statement.   Be sure to get your comments in before the deadline.  Encourage family, friends and neighbors to submit comments as well. TUESDAY, MAY 13 – 7:00PM AT…

The Louis H. Sturm Hardware Store in Jasper, built around 1850, is recognized as one of the oldest businesses in Dubois County. If someone suggested that the building be torn down and the lot paved over, the public outcry would be tremendous. There are businesses just as old in this county who are facing that…

What really is the purpose of the Mid-States Corridor? Hank Menke, from the beginning in 2011, has stated it’s purpose is to facilitate the flow of freight and trucking. Mr. Menke’s original concept was of an interstate, I-67, to connect Nashville, TN to Michigan. In March of 2014 Mr. Menke realized that there were major…

The Draft Purpose and Need Statement recently released by the Lochmueller Group, (https://midstatescorridor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Combined_Purpose_Need.pdf), illustrates unequivocally again that the proposed Mid-States Corridor is NOT needed and will provide NO benefit to the residents of this region.  There are much better options, if folks would just use their heads. The so-called “stakeholders” interviewed by the Lochmueller staff…

INDOT and the Mid-States Corridor Project team will present the draft of the Tier 2 Study on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. It’s interesting to note that INDOT and the Mid-States Corridor people are suing 121 residents and taxpayers in Dubois County for access to their land. INDOT claims they need this access to evaluate the…

Today, I received a letter from Governor Mike Braun congratulating my family on receiving the Hoosier Homestead Award. The letter says in part, “The Hoosier Homestead Award is a well-earned tribute to the generations of your family who have worked tirelessly to preserve and grow this legacy. Your farm’s history is woven into the very…

In an effort to get public support for a leader’s vision and agenda leaders develop titles for their administrations. FDR’s was “The New Deal”, Truman had “The Fair Deal”, JFK’s “The New Frontier”, LBJ had “The Great Society” and today Trump has “Common Sense”. All of theses agendas were the vision of the president at…

Folks, it is not just happening in Southern Indiana. Farmers and their properties are being attacked across the country. One recent example is in Greene County, Missouri where the Department of Transportation is proposing to create the James River Freeway North Loop, which will take away generational farms and acres of farmland. Tennessee is another…

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…

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…

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…

At the top of the Heritage mural at 6th and Newton Streets in Jasper are the words “Born from Rich Soil” and below the image two working men with horses and a wagon loaded with logs in a sea of corn are prominently depicted. Yet sadly, these past few years farmers and their associated businesses…

Last week The Dubois County Free Press ran an article by Leslie Bonilla Muniz about the upcoming shortfall of highway funds. Ms. Muniz’s article was reiterating an article run in August 2024 with data from Purdue’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP). Once again, we are presented with indisputable evidence that the Mid-States Corridor is a waste of…

Usually, at this time of the year, writers do a recap of what happened in the past year. I’ll leave that to other writers and historians. The Mid-States Corridor project is still alive and that should be our biggest concern as we start 2025. We must become louder and more visible. A lot of progress…

The Dubois County Free Press posted WTHR’s interview with Gov.-elect Mike Braun and his wife a few days ago. It’s an interesting and informative interview. Early on in the interview, Mike Braun was talking about Jasper and Dubois County, and he made an insightful remark. He stated that neither Jasper nor Dubois County were trying…

Tom Bartelt of Huntingburg wrote a very informative letter published in the Dubois County Free Press on Dec 13th regarding the impact of the proposed Mid-States Corridor on travel by area residents every day of every year, forever. What most people in the area don’t realize is that the unwelcome effects of a four-lane divided…

How would the Mid-States Corridor affect you if you aren’t in its path? If you live in southern or eastern Dubois County and work in Jasper or Huntingburg, you could see it greatly affect your everyday commute to and from work. The proponents of this project are pushing for a limited access four-lane highway similar…

The buzz around the area is all about the new Property Rights Alliance (PRA).  It’s a recently formed anti-Mid States Corridor group comprised of farmers, land owners, business owners and concerned residents of Dubois, Martin and Daviess counties. This Thursday, December 5, 2024 they are hosting a meeting open to the public. Complete details can…

As a state, U.S. News and World Report have rated Indiana as one of the worst states in Natural Environment. In 2023 Indiana ranked #48, and in their latest 2024 report Indiana is #50. Natural Environment is defined as metrics reflecting pollution threats and air and water quality, a direct reflection on the poor public…

MARK YOUR CALENDARS THIS THURSDAY, December 5th, at Klubhaus61 in Jasper.  Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation will start at 6:00 p.m. EST. Make plans to attend the Property Owner’s Meeting presented by the Property Rights Alliance THIS THURSDAY, December 5th.  The Property Rights Alliance is a newly-formed group that has been…

Did you see a recent post on the Mid-States Corridor Project Facebook page? They want us to mark our calendars for early 2025 for a “Purpose and Need” meeting, but yet they don’t provide a specific date to actually mark on our calendar. This seems rather strange they would post this so soon after the…

To the Editor, The elections are over, for awhile, Let’s take this respite to take stock, organize and strengthen our opposition to the Mid States Corridor. Where are we, today, now that the election season is over? We didn’t win the Governor’s mansion, we did not defeat Shane Lindauer nor did we get a change…

Along with many others, I attended the Mid States Corridor meeting on September 26 and was not surprised that the Lochmueller Group, which is conducting the study, were simply trying to defend an indefensible need statement for the project, which is still not defensible after four studies accompanied by much public opposition for 40 years. Just…

My family owns a farm south of Huntingburg that just received a Hoosier Homestead Award at the Indiana State Fair.  Parts of our farm have been passed down through the family since 1851.  The people behind the Mid-States Corridor project want to destroy my farm. In the years that my family has farmed the land,…

On February 11, 2020, my grandmother, Marilyn Jane of Loogootee, Indiana, a former bank teller and assistant to the loan officer at German American Bank, passed away after a five-year battle with dementia. Her loss, combined with the commitment my family and I made to help her, left us heartbroken. We didn’t consider “The Mid-State…

In most political seasons, dirty tricks abound, along with the usual October Surprise. These are used by the desperate in an attempt to sway elections. These same tactics are now being used by the Loch-Mueller Group, i.e., the Mid-States Corridor people. The recently funded Tier 2 Study is an example of the former, dirty tricks. The…

There is an electronic billboard on the southbound side of U.S. 231 between Haysville and Jasper proclaiming that the Mid-States Corridor will save commuting time and make for a safer commute. This is an interesting message and an interesting location. Numerous studies have shown these statements to be inaccurate. A shorter commute depends on where…

While the decision was made to start the Tier 2 study for the potential future construction of the Mid-States Corridor, using $15 million of taxpayer’s money, I once again must ask – does building a destructive highway project that will cost well over a billion dollars really make sense? Indiana state government has always promoted…

Many people in this area still don’t know much about the proposed Mid-States Corridor and how it will affect every resident in Dubois and Martin Counties. It will basically split each county in two from top to bottom, with essentially no benefit to be gained.  Unbelievably, some folks still know nothing at all about it….

I whole heartily agree with the letters written by Mark Nowotarski and Jim Arvin on the Mid-State Corridor. The pamphlet that they sent out has 6 talking points and one of them contradicts 3 of the other ones. It makes me wonder how, if they are going to Decrease Traffic Congestion off of 231 and…

In today’s world we are bombarded with misinformation, propaganda, and outright lies. Whether it is about politics, climate change, renewable energy versus fossil fuels, or some other issue, the influx over the years with the number of media channels and social media outlets has created an environment where people are easily swayed because we don’t…

Did you know there have been two meetings in the past two weeks regarding the Mid-States Corridor? Neither did I. It makes one wonder why these meetings were not made public. The first meeting was about two weeks ago at the Loogootee City Hall with Mike Braun’s spokesperson Ms. Jan Hicks. She was in town…

On July 23, The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) gave the Mid-States Corridor Project Team at the Lochmueller Group notice to proceed with the study of the Dubois County portion (identified as Section of Independent Utility 2) of the Tier 2 study. This section’s study is expected to take up to three years. The Tier…

I see Mike Braun’s comments about INDOT not funding the Mid-States Corridor and how the Corridor project was low on INDOT’s list of priorities were not true. Yes, the funding is “only” for the Tier 2 study, but it shows how easy and fast it is to get the funds and to change priorities. Just…

“Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, those days of soda and pretzels and beer” are upon us. The time for outdoor activities, county fairs, street festivals and general good feeling and fun. The time to celebrate our patriotism and show our support for our elected officials as they parade and sponsor our summer activities. The…

This past Sunday was Father’s Day. Although it’s not as emotionally charged as Mother’s Day, it should be. My father, Bob Arvin, was a career soldier (33 years in the Army), a war hero (awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for action on Corregidor and was a Japanese POW for 3 1/2 years) and a lifelong…

The Mid-States Corridor is championed by Hank Menke and Mike Braun, to name just two of the cabal, as a much-needed logistic route from Nashville, TN to Indianapolis. Their logic, in 2011, was that I-65 was too congested and an alternate route was needed. A recent update shows that, since 2011, I-65 from Nashville to…

Last month, I read the Jasper Police Department call and arrest report. There were 39 arrests in January, 51 in February, 68 in March, and 71 in April. In April alone, this included 38 related to drugs, 16 thefts, 7 operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and 6 driving while suspended. This does not include statistics…

Non-Government Organizations (NGO) are in the news almost everyday. Many of these NGOs provide food and shelter to the disadvantaged from natural disasters. And, many are along the Southern border and in the cities helping people who cannot help themselves. We used to call them charities. Today there other, more politically aligned, NGOs. Three of…

I received an e-mail the other day from Ms. Kyanna Wheeler. PMP , Major Projects Delivery Project Manager in response to a request for an explanation as to why INDOT was continuing with the Tier 2 Study for the Mid-States Corridor. I pointed out to Ms. Wheeler that INDOT had canceled the Link 101 Corridor project due to increased…

Our elected officials representing Dubois, Martin and Daviess Counties have been hiding, trying hard to pretend that they have no power to represent the people in their districts. They claim they have no input when it comes to INDOT projects like the Mid-States Corridor. That is patently untrue.  Fortunately for the people in Southeastern Indiana, their representative,…

I’m objecting to the recent letter to the editor trying to convince the public that the proposed Mid-States Corridor is about safety.   The project office, Lochmueller, emphasized safety/congestion as a core goal in 2019/2020 public meetings.  I went to Jasper Common Council the week of May 16th, 2022, and Dubois County Council the week of…

I have recently read comments regarding the proposed Mid-States Corridor and the Tier 1 FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement). There are a lot of misinterpretations regarding the findings. If people read the entire 800+ pages and over a thousand pages of addendums as I have studied in detail, you would understand there are numerous “assumptions”…

In a 4/29/24 Letter to the Editor published in the Dubois County Free Press, Steve Stallings of Jasper claimed the Mid-States Corridor was “necessary to maintain a safe flow of traffic.”  Mr. Stallings claimed to have done “research” which led him to that conclusion. His research apparently failed to include any factual evidence or even a…

I would like to respond to Steve Stalling‘s letter about the Mid-States Corridor being safer for our children and grandchildren. I would like to know how he thinks this road is safer for our children and grandchildren? The corridor basically splits the southwest school district in half and a good portion of the greater Jasper…

Does anyone remember the I-67 project? It was Hank Menke’s proposal for an interstate highway from US-231 south of Huntingburg to I-69 at Washington. It was a 38 mile new terrain highway. He floated his idea back in December of 2011. What was Mr. Menke’s reason for this new highway? In his words, it was for…

A total eclipse of the sun! What a spectacle! What a wondrous sight to behold! We here in Martin County had some of the best seats in the world to experience this event. The day was perfect. We had several members of the family and friends over, and we sat on our back porch and…

Spring is busting out all over; and, we have an eclipse on the way. What a great time to live in rural Indiana. The wonders of nature are all around us. Recently I had to go to Indianapolis. I decided to take my time and drive up to Bloomington, the old way, US 231 to…

I am not a political reporter, nor do I want to express political views, other than my opposition to the Mid-State Corridor. That being said I feel compelled to comment, briefly, on Eric Doden’s visit to Loogootee on Friday March 22nd. Mr. Doden presented himself well and spoke compellingly about rural communities throughout the state….

In this election season, it’s often difficult to get our candidates to take a position on an issue, especially if it might be a highly charged issue, like a new terrain highway. I have sent position statement requests to every gubernatorial candidate, our local and state Representative and Senate candidates, the Martin County Alliance, and…

I feel so fortunate to live in a community that, since its earliest days, has brought people together to create a place comprised of small towns in the midst of very productive farmland. This, by necessity, requires large undeveloped acreages to stay productive. Though much has been lost in the past few years, many unsung heroes…

The article in the February 21, 2024 issue of the Martin County Journal titled “Indiana remains a top agricultural state according to new census” is spot on and should provide reason enough to oppose the Mid-State Corridor. It lists Dubois and Daviess counties in the top five Indiana counties for the largest number of farms (Daviess) and…

The 2024 political season is underway, and some people will rejoice while others will lament this fact of life. The airwaves will be full of political ads, and there will be yard signs galore. Don’t let the glib promises fool you, and don’t be fooled into thinking that the Mid-State Corridor is in our best…

I found it interesting that Curt Johnson, the MCCF Director, makes many of the same points about what  “we, a small county,” can do to make a difference. He quotes Aristotle about the “whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts,” he says that when we come together, we, the little people, can accomplish…

Thanksgiving is over, and I’m sure we all gave thanks for our families, friends and many other things. Did any of us give thanks for the fact that we live in an area that has fresh air, large green open spaces, abundant wildlife and a moderate climate? The Mid-State Corridor is trying to claim that…

The proponents of the Mid-States Corridor have offered four alternate routes around and/or through Loogootee. None of them are desirable.  The study of the proposed Mid-States Corridor should have SERIOUSLY considered the proposed Mid-States Corridor versus improvements to the existing US 231. Instead, the $7 MILLION study focused only on the misguided MSC in an attempt to…

In the summer of 2022, U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund and the Frontier Group published “Highway Boondoggles 7, Wasting infrastructure funding on damaging and unnecessary road projects” (see Highway Boondoggles (pirg.org)). In its Executive Summary, it asks the question: with the new infrastructure monies available for states, will they spend the money…

At this moment of uncertainty during climate change, any project that disturbs the ecology of our state should be heavily vetted – especially a project of such enormous scope as the proposed Mid-States Corridor, which will disturb forests, wetlands, and the fragile ecology of both public and private lands. Southern Indiana is beautiful and the…

Did you know congestion and municipal maintenance is a huge problem within the Jasper city limits and are one of the factors for the Mid-States Corridor Project? Did you know the Mid-States Corridor will utilize the existing Highway 231 south of Huntingburg? Did you know the Mid-States Corridor will NOT utilize the existing Highway 231…

I took some time this past weekend to visit several of the homes and owners on North 190, Jasper Dubois Road and Meridian Road whose homes would be taken if this proposed highway goes through. It is a crime! These are homes where families have worked hard to build a life and to raise a…

Who will police the proposed Mid-States Corridor, after you build that monster? Who will pay for those extra expenses? Can small towns afford more officers? What about emergency services? More ambulances, more fire department personnel? Bigger emergency rooms? Fortunately, they’re building a bigger security center in Jasper. But will it be big enough? Where’s the…

If you would like to know if the City of Jasper will be spending more taxpayer dollars towards funding a future Tier II study for the Mid-States Corridor, attend the city of Jasper council meeting this Wednesday 5/18/22 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall where I will be asking this question.   You also have the option…

Recently, Democratic candidates began asking all the wrong questions to make it appear that the Republican candidates running for office had everything to do with the Mid-States Corridor. Here are some facts you might consider when voting for a candidate for office in Indiana. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2004 began planning to upgrade…

It was interesting to listen to the variety of public comments during the Jasper hearing for the Mid-States Corridor. While there were a great many people willing to share their opinion and position on the issue, what was missing was our elected officials. Where was our Senator, State Senator, and State Representative? Also absent were…

I attended the Mid States Corridor hearing on April 28 at the Jasper Arts Center.  I was struck by the irony in the public comments made by the corridor’s proponents. Rockport Councilman Darrell Wilson spoke first supporting the Mid-States Corridor in order to bring desperately-needed business to Rockport. The 4-lane U.S. 231 through Spencer County from the…

In the General Assembly session of 2017, two legislators from Jasper, Senator Mark Messmer and State Representative Mike Braun authored and passed legislation creating the Regional Development Authority (RDA) that would become the Midstate Corridor Project; a project that neither brought up in their campaigns. The Governor then appointed a board who added local government…

When you turn 18, some would say you have come of age. You have grown up and more is required of you as an adult. The law allows you to legally by cigarettes. When you turn 21, you’re legally allowed to buy alcohol. This is because you have grown to becoming an adult and now…

The proposed ‘Route P’ is the least damaging ‘build’ option, except for the new-terrain aspect. The ‘231 improvements only’ choice has more to recommend. The presented description for this option states an intention to not disturb ‘developed’ areas and to sacrifice yet more undeveloped land. This has the values precisely backward. Instead, let’s cherish the…

I know many people breathed a sigh of relief last week when they found out the proposed Mid-States Corridor wasn’t going to impact them personally. I’m happy for you. I’m also happy it won’t be impacting the Hoosier National Forest. But don’t forget about your neighbors and friends on the east side of Jasper and…

To all in the area affected by the Mid-States Corridor, I am writing in response to the letter in newspapers which posted a list of only exaggerated negative impacts regarding the Mid-states corridor I would hope everyone understands that several of our LOCAL businesses in DUBOIS COUNTY are no longer LOCALLY owned. The owners of…

The Stop the Mid-States Corridor coalition held a public informational meeting on January 11th at the VU Technology auditorium. The full-house event was attended by folks from throughout Dubois and surrounding counties. There are many misconceptions about the status of the proposed highway and the intention was to provide updates to all area residents. Several…

Don’t stop at just putting a sign in your yard. If you are one that feels strongly about this issue either because of your own property potentially being impacted or because you care about the environment and farmers, please commit to being more active and attend any and all meetings and rallies regarding the road….

Recently I read the article on the Economic Study for the Mid-States Corridor commissioned by Dubois Strong. I looked up the study and after reading the entire 200+ page report in detail there are numerous assumptions and estimations that just do not add up. The study projects that with the addition of this highway the…

I am happy to see many Stop the Mid-States Corridor signs in yards across Dubois County. We are a county that cares!  While the signs are great, if you are one that is strongly against this issue, please know we all need to be active and attend any and all meetings and rallies regarding this road….

A few years ago I regret not trying to get the word out on an important public meeting – the meeting where council members voted to use taxpayer’s dollars toward the Environmental Impact Study for this road that no one wants. That meeting was pivotal as it put the Mid-states Corridor project on the table…

To say that the local Republican party does not want to participate would be disingenuous. The party engages with Democrats all the time. Both parties participated in the: Cultural Center, The Parklands, Low Income Housing, Criminal Justice System, Cabby O’Neil Gym and Park. I could go on with the list, but I need to cut…

As a mature Christian (one who cares more about God’s feelings than my own) I cannot, in good conscience, vote to put anyone in office from a party that leaves God out of it. With that being said, I also cannot vote for Shane Lindauer or anyone else that is trying to usurp the rights of…

This letter is inspired by seeing someone with both a a pro-Trump sign and an anti-Mid State Corridor sign on their front lawn. I’ve seen a few letters to the editor both in the Free Press and the Herald suggesting that the Mid-States Corridor is being pushed by a shadowy cabal of nameless and faceless…

I was born in Jasper and lived much of my life in Dubois County, returning after college and employment in two urban areas in 1978. I saw firsthand there the damage which rapid growth and uncontrolled technology could do, and I came home to live quietly in the woods among trees and family in this…

Greetings, As an economic development professional in the Radius region of southern Indiana, I am aware of the immeasurable value that new and improved transportation links can add to the safety, local economy, and quality of life for the communities we serve.  We have seen numerous examples of southern Indiana communities that have grown and…

As I read the article by Dubois Strong president Ed Cole I was stunned. The article voiced strong support for the Mid-States Corridor and its importance to the county’s future prosperity and our needs to maintain our quality of life. The data from the corridor website paints a different picture. Part of the mission statement of…

Dubois County and our communities of Southwest Indiana have long contributed to the prosperity and progress of our Hoosier State and beyond. For generations, our families and communities have experienced a unique quality of life anchored by a strong work ethic of our people. A growing economy which has weathered the tough times and continues…

To anyone that hates the idea of losing houses, woods or land to the Mid-States Corridor project. And to anyone that is not losing land or peace and quiet to the Mid-States Corridor project but hates to see nature get screwed over worse than it has already been in our area with more noise and…

“Go see the world and then when you are ready … come back home. It will always be here.” That is what my dad said to me after I graduated high school. I grew up in the country outside of Dubois. My parents still live in my quaint childhood home. It’s their own slice of…

To the Editor, In regards to the Mid-States Corridor project, I’ve been trying my best to be informed and attempt to keep my personal emotions from clouding my best judgment. Yes, my family’s property is at stake, but am I being selfish? Am I considering only my wants and needs before the betterment of all…

As residents of Dubois county, we are facing a potential travesty. Most people are unaware of the routes of the Mid-States Corridor and how they and others will be affected. EVERYONE will have family, neighbors, friends, or themselves impacted. Go to the Mid-States Corridor website, download the high-resolution map (slow download), and zoom in on…

I propose to the citizens of Dubois County a survey to see how many people are for the Midstate Corridor and how many are against it. We may be surprised by the results; good or bad! If done right, and that will be the key, the impact to economic growth, new mid-cost housing startups (which…

Simply put, government spending does not drive economic development. I can point you to multiple studies by multiple people but at a high level it is a zero sum gain. Government takes from you and spends it on X. Even infrastructure, which is what government does well, does nothing to drive growth in or around…