Senate Republicans reject Trump’s plea for gerrymandered maps
by Tom Davies and Casey Smith, Indiana Capital ChronicleDecember 11, 2025 The Republican-dominated Indiana Senate spurned months of demands from President Donald Trump as it voted 31-19 on Thursday to reject a redrawing of the state’s congressional maps. The final outcome remained uncertain until 21 Republicans joined all 10 Democratic senators in blocking the redistricting…
Jasper Police Chief gives November activity report; Board approves employment offers to two new officers
The Jasper Police Department answered 1,166 calls for service during November, Police Chief Chad Dick reported to the Board of Public Works and Safety on Tuesday. Chief noted that the department handled 47 crashes with only property damage and six with injuries in November, several of which were related to snow and ice. “November ushered…
Indiana Senate sets up crucial Thursday vote on mid-cycle congressional redistricting bill
by Casey Smith and Tom Davies, Indiana Capital ChronicleDecember 10, 2025 A congressional redistricting proposal that has split Indiana’s Senate Republicans advanced to its final stage Wednesday after lawmakers quickly dispatched three Democratic amendments and positioned the high-stakes bill for a decisive vote on Thursday. But it remains unclear whether the Senate GOP caucus has…
Southridge teacher recognized for dual credit work
Southridge Psychology instructor and guidance counselor Erin Rauscher was recognized by Ivy Tech Community College as the Statewide Dual Credit instructor of the year. Rauscher was named the Statewide Dual Credit for Excellence in Education awardee at the November 18 award celebration. She was presented with the award in class on Monday. The President’s Award…
Regional Sewer District project faces tight timeline as state funding window opens
The regional sewer project serving Hayesville is working against a compressed timeline after unexpectedly jumping to 12th place on the state’s funding priority list. The district needs to complete land acquisition and design work by March 2026 to secure financing. Shane Spicer of Clark Dietz Design Engineering told county officials last week that the project’s…
Being For Other announces 16 more grants, celebrates successful first year of grantmaking
The Being for Others Health and Wellness Foundation (BFO) announced the recipients of its third and final grant cycle of 2025, awarding 16 organizations whose projects advance health, well-being, and community resilience across BFO’s eight-county Southwest Indiana service region. With this final cycle, BFO fulfills its 2025 commitment to invest just over $650,000 in community-based…
First Lady Maureen Braun unveils Indiana’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library Christmas Tree
The ornaments on the tree are hand-painted by county Imagination Library partners, each uniquely reflecting the identity of its participating county and its Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. Visitors to the Indiana Statehouse this December will see something new in this year’s decorations—a display honoring early childhood literacy across the state. First Lady Maureen Braun…
Celestine holds annual community Christmas Celebration
On the first Sunday in December, Celestine celebrates the Christmas season with its annual parade, tree lighting, a cookie walk, stories with Santa Claus and more. Here are a few photos of this year’s event submitted by the committee that puts on the celebration.
President of local road materials supplier speaks out against Mid-States Corridor
As the Indiana Department of Transportation continues talks with local fiscal bodies about transferring U.S. 231 to them as the Mid-States Corridor proceeds, a local business leader is urging them to decline the offer and withdraw support for the new highway. Craig Knies, president of Knies Construction, Calcar Paving, and Cave Quarries, sent a letter…
Venue on Vine: Bringing her vision to life
The number of bookings scheduled for December and through 2026 appears to confirm Ashley Werner’s split-second decision to open The Venue on Vine and ADW Design earlier this year. Several factors were at play as Ashley took that first step back in June after stopping by Emerald Greens to pay for the desserts they had…
Dubois County communities receive $1.2 for infrastructure improvements, maintenance
Dubois County and Huntingburg were among the 191 communities receiving a share of the $100 million in state matching grants under the Community Crossing Grant program. Huntingburg was awarded $283,579.60 from the state, and Dubois County was awarded $1 million. Gov. Mike Braun, Secretary of Transportation and Infrastructure Matt Ubelhor and INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist today…
Trooper Brian LaRoche announces Dubois County Sheriff candidacy
Long-time Indiana State Trooper Brian LaRoche has announced his candidacy for Dubois County Sheriff. “I am excited to announce my candidacy for Sheriff of Dubois County as a Republican for the upcoming2026 election,” LaRoche said in his announcement. “Throughout my career, I have been committed to protecting our communities, upholding the law, and serving with…
Fund created to help veteran after devastating fire
A Dale veteran was badly burned, and his dog was killed in a fire that destroyed his home last Tuesday. The U.S. Army veteran, Mike Norrington, was burned in the fire and taken to a burn unit, where he was last listed in critical condition. The Dubois County Veteran Service Officer, Kenneth Speedy LeFevre, has…
Bobcat hunting season quickly hits limit
by Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital ChronicleDecember 8, 2025 The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has closed the bobcat trapping season after reaching the statewide quota of 250 bobcats in just four weeks. The season was scheduled to run from Nov. 8 to Jan. 31, or until the quota of bobcats was reached. A DNR news…
Holland hosting Stille Nacht festivities Saturday, Dec. 6
Mark your calendars! The “Stille Nacht” holiday celebration returns to The Commons in Holland on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 4-6 p.m. Join the festive parade (lineup starts at 3 p.m.), listen to live music from David & Jesse Underwood, and bring the kids to the Children’s Holiday Village, where they can get their faces…
Holland Council hosts public Q&A with AES
The Holland Town Council hosted representatives from AES and the company that constructs its Battery Energy Storage System to answer questions on the Crossvine Solar development. Before taking questions from the public, AES Indiana representatives presented details of their proposed 85-megawatt solar and battery storage project. Jeff Cummins, an AES Indiana representative, opened the meeting…
Helping feed the hungry
Smiles and “thank-yous” abounded in the frigid cold of the St. Joseph Catholic Church parking lot as a group of volunteers packed boxes of canned goods, fruit, vegetables, bread, milk, and even bouquets of flowers into cars. “I just felt there was a need in the community,” co-organizer Gary Schnell said. “Everything is getting more…
Huntingburg VFW 2366 celebrating 80 years on Sunday
The Huntingburg VFW Post 2366 is holding an open house celebration of its 80th anniversary this Sunday, December 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. They will have a cake cutting at 2 p.m. for guests. Here is a story we did about the post for its 75th anniversary.
Lions Club looking forward to continued service to community and vision impaired
The Jasper Lions Club brought vision checks to the local schools in the late 1950s. Before then, parents were on their own to determine whether their children might need prescription glasses. But for a group dedicated to addressing vision issues in our communities and internationally, the local Lions Club members saw it as an important…
House fire, medical emergency and more pull Huntingburg firefighters from annual Christmas Party
The Huntingburg Volunteer Fire Department was in the midst of its annual Christmas Party Wednesday night when the first call for a fire came in at 7:04 p.m. With the majority of the department on hand, it was a quick response to the Chestnut Street home. Chief Donnie Heim, who’s been hampered from directly fighting…
O’Tannenbaum Days in Jasper begins Thursday
O’Tannenbaum Days begins Thursday evening in Jasper and continues through the weekend. Come stroll Jasper’s charming downtown, enjoy special promotions from local merchants, explore beautifully decorated storefronts, and take in the spirit of the season with family-friendly activities all weekend long. Here is a rundown of events and specials. O’Tannenbaum Promo December 4 – 7,…
DC Multisport announces more than $10,000 donated from 2025 events’ proceeds
DC Multisport, a non-profit organization with a mission focused on health and wellness while giving back to our communities, completed another successful year of events, raising a total of $11,412.91 to support local nonprofits and an endowment. The 2025 event list included the Ferdinand State Forest hikes, Color Fun Run, Strassenfest Bike Ride, and Battle…
Cops and Kids always a hit
It’s hard to tell who has more fun, the cops or kids at the annual Cops and Kids shopping spree hosted by Fraternal Order of Police #138 Wood Capital Lodge for the children in the Tri-Cap Headstart program. But there were plenty of smiles as local law enforcement officers and agency partners took their shoppers…
City of Jasper seeking public input for future of city at two upcoming meetings
The City of Jasper has embarked on a comprehensive planning project that began with community visioning for the city’s future and is seeking input from community members as it enters the second phase. The public is invited to learn more about the ongoing comprehensive planning process at two upcoming public sessions. Community Vision Presentation – Wednesday,…
Residents continue to push county officials to act on battery storage system
The majority of Monday’s regular Dubois County Commissioner meeting was devoted to discussing the county’s role in regulating solar fields and associated battery energy storage systems. On the heels of the Huntingburg Council’s decision to enact a moratorium on solar projects within the city’s jurisdictional limits, the county commissioners are exploring a similar action at…
Indiana map drawn ‘purely for political performance’ of GOP, bill author says
by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle December 2, 2025 The author of Indiana’s new congressional redistricting bill acknowledged the maps are “politically gerrymandered” during committee questioning Tuesday but defended the proposal against accusations of illegal racial gerrymandering. The maps, released Monday morning, were drawn “purely for political performance” of Republicans, Rep. Ben Smaltz told…
Jasper woman in contest to support breast cancer research/awareness
Jill McCune is seeking support from the local community in a contest that highlights women over 40 and raises funding for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Jill, a Dubois County native and a local speech pathologist at Deaconess Memorial, entered the contest because of the impact funding can have on a disease that affects many…
The Astra announces season tickets for the upcoming 2026 season
This is the ninth season of entertainment in the theatre since major renovations took place and the historic Astra reopened its doors in 2018. A lot has happened in the previous eight years, and this ninth season is shaping up to be a riveting year of live entertainment in Jasper, IN! The historic Astra Theatre…
County to closing county road for bridge work
The Dubois County Highway Department will be closing County Road 820 East beginning Monday, December 8, 2025, to replace a bridge deck and beams. The closure will take place at the bridge approximately 200 feet north of County Road 175 South and will last approximately five weeks, barring any unforeseen circumstances and inclement weather.
Food distribution planned for Thursday
The Tri-State Food Bank and Dubois County Community Meals will host a mobile food distribution this Thursday, December 4, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1029 Kundek Street, in Jasper. Boxes of food will be distributed beginning at 10 a.m. while supplies last. Cars will enter the south parking lot at the church for the…
Sunday’s Colts-Texans game a surreal moment for local sports photographer
When Heather Williams handed Kylie Schepers a camera in 2018 and told her she felt she would be good at sports photography, sitting in Lucas Oil Stadium taking photos of her favorite NFL team wasn’t even a glimmer of an idea for the then-17-year-old Southridge senior. Williams, who coached the Southridge Middle School Volleyball team…
