County sirens to be tested Thursday morning
The Sirens in Dubois County have all been upgraded to a new group tone and will be tested as a group on Thursday October 8, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. The additional test this month is to ensure that the upgrade does work properly. Please note this is only a test and does not affect the…
Budget beleaguered NE Dubois School Corp gathers input
About a month ago, Northeast Dubois School Superintendent Bill Hochgesang reported the school corporation has a financial problem. This year the school corporation is facing a budget shortfall of between $200,000 and $300,000. To seek some potential solutions, the school corporation hired Brookston-based Administrator Assistance to help guide the school corporation through a feasibility study….
19 meth labs seized in Washington
Washington — A drug investigation into suspected methamphetamine use led officers to a home where 19 meth labs were seized Monday evening. State police were investigating suspected methamphetamine activity at 2049 South State Road 57, Lot 39, Washington at about 9:49 p.m. Officers met with Daniel R. Purdue, 50, and Tina R. Purdue, 44, Washington and…
Huntingburg’s high-speed internet on horizon
PSC in conjunction with the City of Huntingburg announced a $3 million investment into a city-wide fiber network Tuesday. Engineering will begin shortly with plans to begin installation of a fiber-to-the-home network giving every residence and business in the city access to the highest internet speeds possible. According to PSC CEO/President Jim Dauby, the speeds…
Paoli woman dies in single-vehicle accident near Crystal
A crash near Crystal Monday afternoon took a Paoli woman’s life. According to deputies, Beverly A. Stiles, 71, was eastbound on State Road 56 at about 3:41 p.m. when the crash occurred. Stiles was able to tell a deputy at the crash scene that she moved her 2002 Toyota Camry to the outside of the…
Bucshon to hold town hall in Dubois and Daviess counties
Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. announced he will hold town halls in Daviess and Dubois Counties during October. These events will provide Hoosiers an opportunity to hear from the Congressman about the issues facing Congress, the nation, and the state of Indiana. The Daviess County Town Hall Meeting will be held at Washington Park…
Area manufacturers on display at VUJC today
“I think the students will be surprised by what the manufacturers are capable of now,” Ray Niehaus, director of the Center for Technology, Innovation and Manufacturing at Vincennes University Jasper Campus. In celebration of National Manufacturing Day, students from seven area schools will be visiting the Vincennes University Jasper Campus to view products and processes…
Bankruptcy lawyers strip cash from coal miners’ health insurance
by Alec MacGillis ProPublica, Oct. 1, 2015, 5 a.m. This story was co-published with The Daily Beast. There was plenty in the complex deal to benefit bankers, lawyers, executives and hedge fund managers. Patriot Coal Corp. was bankrupt, but its mines would be auctioned to pay off mounting debts while financial engineering would generate enough…
Birdseye man killed in Perry County motorcycle accident
A Birdseye man died after being involved in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 64 Tuesday evening. According to the Perry County Sheriff’s Department, they were called to an accident in the westbound lane of I-64 near the 72-mile marker (Siberia exit) at about 8:35 p.m. When first responders arrived, they located the victim identified as…
Republican caucus selects Jeff Bounds for vacant Huntingburg Council seat
Jeffrey L. Bounds of Huntingburg, was selected to fill the vacancy in the Huntingburg City Council created by the resignation of Alex Blackgrove. A Caucus of eligible Republican Precinct Committeepersons was held on Wednesday, September 30th in the Cool Beans Java Café. Mr. Blackgrove moved out of the council district and his resignation was effective September…
Friday night at the movies returns to the Astra this week
The seats have been dusted and the popcorn maker warmed at the Astra Theatre in preparation for a weekend of special events. Friday night the historic theatre will open its doors for a night of movies. In conjunction with a weekend of events planned for the historic theatre by Next Act, Inc., Film Dubois County…
Tax district causes council to balk at funding for housing developments
The county council raised some objections to a request for $200,000 for the recently revealed Vine Street housing projects in Jasper. Pete Schwiegeraht, representing Miller-Valentine, a development group based in Cincinnati, asked for the funding for two new projects that include the former Jofco building at 14th and Vine streets and the former Jasper Wood…
Local marching bands perform well over weekend
In weekend marching band contests, local marching bands finished strong. Jasper finished second at Avon High School in Class B behind Northview. Jasper also picked up best music and best general effect. Southridge marched in two contests on Saturday. In Class C at Castle High School, Southridge picked up first place with best showings for music,…
UTV driver dies from injuries sustained in crash
The driver of a utility terrain vehicle struck by an SUV last Thursday died from his injuries Thursday evening. Edgar V. Ebert, 74, of Ferdinand, died at 6:43 p.m. CDT at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville from blunt force trauma suffered in the Sept. 17 accident. A passenger, Leroy Witte, 71, of County Road…
Funny tasting water originating from Patoka Lake
The City of Huntingburg Water Department is aware of a taste and odor issue in the drinking water. Treatment operators have been actively collecting and testing water samples since the problem first arose, starting around the beginning of the week. The source has been determined to be originating from Patoka Lake Regional Water. The City…
Patoka Lake Cleanup Day collects 1,500 lbs of trash
More than 1,500 pounds of trash were removed from the perimeter of Patoka Lake during the annual Cleanup Day on September 12, 2015. This year’s event drew 105 people to pick up litter in an effort to help ensure clean drinking water for more than 100,000 Southern Indiana residents. Many local residents made this a…
Dry weather prompts Dubois County burn ban
The Dubois County Commissioner’s and the Dubois County Fire Chiefs have issued a burn ban for Dubois County effective immediately and will stay in effect until further notice. Due to the prolonged period of drought that we are experiencing and lack of rainfall there is an extreme fire hazard within Dubois County. The following are prohibited in Dubois…
Council supportive of Hoosier Desk partnership but wallet remains closed
Jim O’Neal WITZ AM/FM News Director contributed to this report Mike Jones, president of the Jasper Community Arts Commission, found the Jasper Council was supportive of a partnership with the Jasper Public Library at the Hoosier Desk site. But they aren’t ready to open the city’s wallet just yet. Besides the benefits of the partnership…
Vine Street housing projects on rise
Jim O’Neal, WITZ AM/FM News Director contributed to this report Over 110 workforce development housing units and up to 80 senior living units are now planned for former factories on Vine Street in Jasper. The first phase of the Jasper Lofts received approval for a tax abatement at Wednesday’s Jasper Common Council meeting. The original…
Froman to lead Ferdinand Police Department
The Town of Ferdinand has a new police chief. Lloyd Froman was named the new police chief, effective immediately, replacing Ricky Patton, who tendered his resignation to the council, also effective immediately. He was announced during a press conference and special town council meeting Wednesday evening. Patton had planned on staying on to help the…
Huntingburg Council: Overpass plans and discussion next month
Huntingburg residents will be able to view and comment on plans for the railroad overpass project at a public meeting in October. On October 1, preliminary plans and environmental impact documents for the overpass will be available at the City Hall, 508 E. Fourth St., for interested residents. Then, on Thursday, October 15, the City…
Republican caucus names Harbison Township Advisory Board member
Larry M. Jones, 71, of Jasper, was selected to fill the vacancy in the Harbison Township Advisory Board created by the resignation of Lorie L. Hubbs. A Caucus of Republican Precinct Committee-persons was held on Tuesday evening, September 22nd in the Haysville Fire Station. Mrs. Hubbs plans to move out of the township and her resignation…
Jasper School Board: Expanding Ireland and artificial turf gets a big donation
Not one but two large construction projects are staring at the board members with the Greater Jasper School board of trustees. The nearly two-hour meeting Tuesday night was dominated by discussions surrounding both the Ireland Elementary School expansion and the artificial turf project at Alumni Stadium. For 2016, the school corporation is looking at an…
Passenger in Ferdinand UTV vs. SUV accident dies
A Ferdinand man who was a passenger in a UTV struck by an SUV on State Road 162 last Thursday has succumbed to his injuries. Leroy Witte, 71, of County Road 300N, Ferdinand, passed away at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Medical Center. He suffered injuries to his head and chest in the collision….
State Police partner with DEA for 10th annual Drug Take Back Day
This Saturday, September 26, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring the 10th nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative. The Take Back initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft through proper disposal of prescription drugs. Once again, the Indiana State Police are pleased to partner with the DEA. Prescription drugs may be dropped…
Special: Regional cities initiative already a success
Over the past 50 years, only two Indiana counties have grown faster than the nation as a whole. The rest have been in relative or absolute population decline for a half century. Over that time, we have reformed and modified every tax, repaved and widened almost every road, reformed K-12 education and spent well over…
Bridge work to restrict traffic in Crawford County this Thursday
Beginning Thursday, several areas in Crawford County will have lane restrictions due to bridge work being completed. State Road 66 will be restricted to a single lane near Leavenworth and Sulphur. Depending upon weather conditions, contractors will restrict traffic to one lane on State Road 66 about a quarter-mile east and west of the bridge…
Jasper Utility: Are you sure you want Beaver Lake to go up 11 inches?
Are you sure? Jasper Utilities Manager Bud Hauersperger warned that very soon the work on Beaver Lake to raise the water level 11 inches would be underway and there would be no turning back. Currently, the city is drawing down the water level of the lake so Krempp Construction can begin work to raise the…
Daughters of the American Revolution celebrate Constitution Week with library displays
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, 228 years ago, and each year, the Daughters of the American Revolution celebrate Constitution Week from September 17 to September 23. Linda Messmer, regent for the Dubois County Daughters of the American Revolution, creates displays in each of the county’s libraries comprised of items she has collected commemorating…
Herbstfest Queen crowned
Erica Buechlein, 17, was crowned the 2015 Miss Herbstfest. She was also awarded Miss Photogenic. Jessica Hilsmeyer was awarded runner-up, and second runner-up went to Bailey Barrett.
Spencer County Commissioners issue burn ban
Spencer County is under a burn ban until further notice by the Spencer County Commissioners. As of September 18, the commissioners issued a burn ban due to the county-wide drought conditions. In doing so, the commissioners declared a state of emergency and immediately prohibited the following: Campfires and other recreational fires, unless enclosed in a…
