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…
Lilly King joins Philharmonic in celebration at Lincoln Amphitheatre
With it being a holiday weekend and so soon after the closing ceremony of the 2016 Olympics, the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra’s Labor Day weekend, Saturday, September 3, 2016, performance at the Lincoln Amphitheatre had always been planned to be a patriotic affair. T he participation of a reigning gold medalist will, certainly, up that ante…
Jasper VFW to downsize to remain on mission
In recognition of national trends with new memberships as well as the passing on of its original members, the Jasper VFW has put its 1907 Newton Street building up for sale. With a current membership at about 430, the VFW has recognized the need to tighten its budget by selling the building and moving to…
Smoking laptop prompts Ferdinand Elementary evacuation
Quick action by a Ferdinand Elementary staff member mitigated any possible damages to the elementary school when a recently repaired laptop overheated. The Ferdinand Volunteer Fire Department responded to the school at 11:54 a.m. after an automated alarm in the server room housing the computers was activated by the smoking Samsung Chromebook. The laptop had…
Water Main Break on West 4th Street in Huntingburg
There is a water main break on West 4th Street between Chestnut and 3rd Streets in Huntingburg. Residents and businesses in that area may experience low water pressure and/or discolored water. Please use caution when driving in the area.
Suspects sought in multiple vehicle break-ins in Jasper
Several vehicles were broken into early Sunday morning in Jasper. Police reported at least five vehicles were broken into in the Holy Family area of the city around Hasenour and Terrace avenues. Police are seeking two Hispanic males that were seen on foot in the area. According to police, they were shirtless and carrying backpacks…
St. Anthony Firemen’s Fest: Show and Shine Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show and Street Fest August 20
Roadsters — it’s time to add some spit and polish to your prized vehicles in preparation for the St. Anthony Volunteer Fire Department’s 20th annual Street Fest and Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show. The date has been set for this Saturday, August 20 and the site for all the festivities will be the area around…
Hardship, faith and family built foundation for Nass leadership
Connie Nass’s steel blue eyes scanned the crowd and her voice never wavered as she was presented the 2016 Athena International Leadership Award Thursday evening. Sharpened by the many years in the public’s eye that began during a time in which women were not seen as public leaders, her poise appeared natural. In reality, it…
Jasper police seek hit-and-run vehicle
Jasper police are seeking help from the public to identify the vehicle that struck an SUV parked on Mill Street Wednesday morning. According to police, Christine Brinkman parked her 2011 Ford Explorer south of the 13th Street intersection on Mill Street at 7:07 a.m. When she came back to the SUV at about 11:30 a.m., she…
Summer Concert series raises nearly $3,500 for ROJAC
A three-concert series held at the Dave Buehler Plaza this summer raised $3,465.24 for the Redevelop Old Jasper Action Coalition. According to a press release from Dubois County Tourism, ROJAC has been instrumental for tourism with their leadership in developing the Jasper Riverwalk, Dave Buehler Plaza, Jasper City Mill, and the Spirit of Jasper Train…
Display honors Indiana veterans who have died since 9/11
“We want to keep the memory of those who have died in defense of our country alive,” Tina Moriarty, Junior Vice Commandant of the Southern Indiana Leathernecks who also serves on the Dubois County Veterans Council said. “We don’t want them forgotten. We want their families to know that we recognize this is a struggle and…
Center of U.S. tornado activity shifting east and south, possibly due to climate change
A Purdue University research team has found that the center of tornado activity in the United States has shifted in recent decades, and this shift is possibly influenced by climate change. “This completely redefines annual tornado activity in the United States,” said Ernest Agee, a professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences….
Plans for The Parkland to be unveiled
The public will be able to view plans for the development of The Parklands in a meeting next week. The Jasper Park Board is hosting a public meeting with the engineering and planning firms, Hafer PSC and Rundell Ernstberger Associates, at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24 in the council chambers at City Hall. Questions and…
Ritz: Indiana should give families a $1,000 textbook tax break
Public school parents across Indiana could get a $1,000 annual tax break to cover the cost of textbooks if the Indiana Department of Education’s latest budget proposal, released today, were adopted.
State agrees to pave Jasper road if water main project proceeds
A long overdue project affecting Jasper water customers could see a $1.4 million boost from the U.S. Economic Development Agency. Monday, the Jasper Utility Service Board recommended providing the required $1.38 million match as part of the grant application process for the estimated $3.76 million water main replacement project under U.S. 231 (Newton Street). The…
Jasper taking steps to repair U.S. 231/Newton Street
The City of Jasper and Indiana Department of Transportation are taking steps to repair U.S. 231/Newton Street. Monday, the city announced a plan to upgrade the aged water line that would included improvements to U. S. 231/Newton Street. According to the announcement, the city has applied for 50/50 matching grant through the U.S. Economic Development…
Jasper to begin street rejuvination Tuesday morning
The Jasper Street Department and the contractor Rejuv Tec will begin the next phase of the annual pavement preservation project. This rejuvenating project is scheduled to begin on Tuesday August 16, subject to weather conditions. Here are the roads that will be treated. County Road 150 North between County Road 350 West and 400 West Kluemper Road from…
Four local farms honored as Hoosier Homesteads
Four local farms were recognized on Friday with Hoosier Homestead awards for 100 years or more of family farm ownership. These local families were honored during a ceremony at the Indiana State Fair: The Mehne-Harris Farm, located in Dubois County, has been in operation since 1891 and received the centennial award. The Johann Frederick Steinkamp…
