2016 Herbstfest Queen candidates announced; pageant Sept. 18
The 2016 Huntingburg Herbstfest Queen Pageant is set for Sunday, September 18, 2016, at the Southridge High School Auditorium starting at 5 p.m. EST. The following 10 contestants are competing for the title of 2016 Miss Herbstfest, who will be crowned by Miss Herbstfest 2015 Erica Buechlein. The Huntingburg Herbstfest will be from Thursday September…
Jasper Courthouse Square project has $2 million in funding
Work on the Courthouse Square renovation project continues to move forward with the recent injection of $1 million as part of the Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossing grant program. In addition to the potential aesthetic improvements that are part of a place-based initiative to attract people to the area, the surface, sidewalks and infrastructure…
Ballots reviewed for November election; referendum questions included
The Dubois County Election Board made up of Republican Roger Messmer, Democrat Mike Fritch and Clerk Bridgette Jarboe worked through the early voting options for voters in the up-coming November 8th election. Jarboe reports that applications for mail-in ballots, travel board and military voting are being accepted now. She says that barring a major catastrophe,…
New Jasper mural will include help from public
Work is set to begin on a mural project commissioned by Jasper Community Arts and the public will have an opportunity to take part in the process. With the assistance of a grant from the Dubois County Community Foundation, Jasper Community Arts has commissioned a mural for the south wall of the building located at…
Juveniles charged for Holy Family vehicle break-ins
The apprehension of three juveniles early Sunday morning led police to solving the recent vehicle break-ins at the Holy Family area. Officers were called the area for a report of three juveniles looking in vehicles on the 900 block of MacArthur Street and taking items. Police located the three and found they were in possession of…
Humans of Forest Park reveals students’ personal stories
A new journalism project at Forest Park highlights the joys and fears of students without exposing them to the scrutiny of their peers. Done in the style of New York photographer Brandon Stanton’s hugely popular Humans of New York Facebook page and blog, the recently launched Facebook page, Humans of Forest Park, features personal anecdotes…
Suspects in smash-and-grab identified; police need help finding them
The suspects being sought in connection to the smash-and-grab at the Medical Arts parking lot in Jasper have been identified; now police are seeking information to their whereabouts. The two individuals have been identified as Angela Chandler Dunn, 39, last known address in Ferdinand, and Jason Medley, 41, last known address in Ferdinand. Both are…
Jasper Police seeking smash-and-grab suspects
The Jasper Police Department is asking the public’s help in identifying two people suspected of breaking into a car at Memorial Hospital Thursday, August 25. According to police, the vehicle was parked in the Medical Arts parking lot between 8 and 9 a.m. when the suspects smashed the front passenger side window and grabbed a…
Huntingburg Council: No solar power tariff
A $50 tariff didn’t make it into the ordinance regulating solar power and other renewable power generators residents can add to their homes. In March, the council heard a recommendation from the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, the city’s electrical supplier, to add the $50 tariff to customers’ bills to cover the city for lost income…
Man-with-a-gun call traced to 8-year-old student; it was a hoax
Authorities say a recent man-with-a-gun call that resulted in a hard lockdown at Loogootee Elementary and Loogootee Junior-Senior High School was a hoax perpetrated by an 8-year-old male student at the elementary school. Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Department, Loogootee Police Chief and an Indiana Conservation Officer responded to Loogootee Elementary School for a…
Huntingburg native serving aboard Navy ship named in honor of 9/11 victims and heroes
by Navy Office of Community Outreach Huntingburg native Cassandra Petry is serving aboard one of the U.S. Navy’s three ships named in honor of the victims and heroes of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The 2011 Southridge grad is an Electrician’s Mate Petty Officer Third Class aboard the USS Arlington, named for the county of Arlington,…
Holland Fest to host nationally renowned historian
Nationally renowned Lincoln Historian and Holland, Indiana native William E. “Bill” Bartelt will open the Indiana Bicentennial edition of the Holland Community Fest, on Friday, September 16 at 6:00P.M. at Holland Park’s Henke Pavilion. Bartelt, a 1964 Holland High School Graduate, is the son of the late Melvin and Mabel (Langebrake) Bartelt. He will return…
Shiloh UMC collecting supplies for flood relief
Shiloh United Methodist Church is collecting Flood Bucket supplies to help in the relief effort taking place in various parts of our country. Working through UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), the supplies will be sent to places affected by severe flooding. Supplies at the Midwest Distribution Center of UMCOR have been depleted due to…
Patoka Lake cleanup nets 2000 lbs of trash, 15 tires and 273 lbs of recyclables
Over 2,000 pounds of trash, 15 tires, and 273 pounds of recyclable plastic, aluminum and other metals were removed from the perimeter of Patoka Lake during the annual Cleanup Day on August 27. This year’s event drew more than 125 people to pick up litter in an effort to help ensure clean drinking water for…
Police asking public to help identify these men
The Jasper Police Department is asking the public to help identify these two men in connection to several vending machine break ins that occurred last Saturday. According to authorities, currency was stolen from several vending machines at Memorial Hospital and a vending machine at the Holiday Inn Express Saturday evening. Anyone with information contact the…
Man with a gun report leads to Loogootee Elementary lockdown
Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Department, Loogootee Police Chief and an Indiana Conservation Officer responded to Loogootee Elementary School for a report of a man with a gun around lunchtime Monday. Both Loogootee Elementary School and Loogootee Jr./Sr. High Schools were placed on a hard lockdown at 12:20 p.m. due to the sheriff’s office…
Democratic HQ to open Tuesday
The 2016 Democratic Headquarters is located at 140 W. 3rd Street at the corner of Newton and 3rd Street in Jasper. It will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. starting August 30th. The public is invited to visit, pick up signs, chat and make donations. Interested guests can also sign up…
Sheriff’s Department seeking help identifying vehicle/driver
Dubois County Sheriff Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle and its driver that left the scene of an accident early Saturday morning. Deputies responded to the crash on U.S. 231 just north of the Interstate 64 at about 2:14 a.m. They reported that a 2010 Dodge van was side-swiped by an older model…
Jasper junior on mission to score a new home for orphans
Olivia Ruckriegel has never traveled out of the country on a mission trip. But, rather than waiting for an opportunity to go, the 16-year-old Jasper High School junior has decided to do something in her community now. Combining her love for soccer—she has played since she could walk and is a striker on the Jasper…
Sisters open their 150th year
The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand kicked off the celebration leading up to their 150th anniversary last Saturday. The 150th anniversary of their founding in Ferdinand will occur on August 20, 2017. The yearlong celebration kicked off with a commemoration with fellow religious women and Bishop Charles Thompson. On August 20, 1867, four young…
Jasper police seeking info on smash-and-grab incident
Jasper police are investigating a smash and grab that happened Thursday morning between 8 a.m and 10:45 a.m. According to police, the victim’s vehicle was parked on the 700 block of West 13th Street when an unknown individual shattered the front passenger-side window and grabbed a purse sitting in the vehicle. The Jasper Police Department…
Eagle Scout Riverwalk project fulfills fitness mission
Chad Lawson, Troop 182’s scout master, stood with his hands on his hips. “He’s in charge,” Lawson said nodding at Nick Hedinger. “I don’t do anything until he tells me to.” “Hey Nick, what do you need me to do?” he hollers at the 17-year-old project manager. Work was just beginning on the final workday…
Parklands plans revealed
[pdf-embedder url=”https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2016.08.24.pdf”%5D The plan for The Parklands is available for the public to peruse. Developed by Hafer PSC of Owensboro and Rundell Ernstberger Associates of Indianapolis, the plans were revealed to the public and members of the Jasper Common Council Wednesday evening. The pair of representatives — Pete Andriot, Principal with Rundell Earnstberger Associates and Jeff…
Six volunteer fire departments receive grants to combat wildland fires
Six local volunteer fire departments received grants through Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The six were among the 60 rural and volunteer fire departments that received more than $250,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants made available through the USDA Forest Service. The grants can be used for training, installation of dry hydrants, or to purchase…
Ireland, 200 and counting
Sourced from local sources, including http://www.irelandindiana.com There’s a wee bit of Irish in everyone, even those with lots of German blood flowing through their veins. Which is why everyone needs to hightail it to that most Irish of Dubois County towns — Ireland, Indiana — as the community celebrates its Bicentennial this weekend (see full…
Jasper Fire Department receives grant for fire training center
Jasper Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang notified the Jasper Board of Public Works of a $35,000 grant the department would receive to support the fire training center. The grant comes from the Department of Homeland Security and is funded through special proceeds from the sale of fireworks. Hochgesang did not state what exactly the money would…
3-vehicle crash injures Jasper man
A Jasper man was taken to Memorial Hospital with injuries after a three-vehicle chain reaction crash on U.S. 231 Wednesday afternoon. Police responded to the crash located at the intersection of U.S. 231 and Wernsing Road at about 12:24 p.m. They determined Jordan Comstock, 35, of Louisville, Ky., did not stop the 2007 Ford Econoline…
Jasper man arrested in Huntingburg molestation investigation
Huntingburg police arrested Frank C. Phillips, 45, of 610 E. 16th Street, Jasper, on multiple counts related to a child molestation investigation. According to authorities, the Huntingburg Police Department, Det. Sgt. Christian Gogel and the Dubois County Department of Family Services launched an investigation into allegation of sexual misconduct of an 8-year-old male that occurred in…
Thacker to run for Southwest Dubois School Board seat
Jennifer Thacker announced she will run for the Southwest Dubois County School Board District 1 seat in the upcoming election. District 1 covers precincts 1, 2 and 3 in Patoka Township. Thacker is a lifelong resident of Huntingburg and a graduate of Southridge High School. She worked at Huntingburg Elementary School for four years in the special…
Jasper School board: Dogs provide comfort for students at JHS
Specially trained dogs will provide comforting benefits for students at Jasper High School this fall. Jasper High School’s Assistant Principal Glenn Buechlein and social worker Holly Hughes presented the school board with the idea of introducing comfort dogs to be used by the counseling department. Comfort dogs are specially trained to help calm students who have…
Dubois County and communities received nearly $3 million in funding for roads
The Indiana Department of Transportation announced over $49 million in Community Crossings grants to Southern Indiana communities during a special ceremony in Evansville today. In Dubois County, Jasper and Huntingburg each received the maximum amount of $1 million in matching grants, while the county itself received $476,306.22 and Ferdinand got $362,219.25. The Dubois County Airport Authority…
