2015 Jasper Christmas decorating contest winners announced

Reading Time: 1 minute
The Jasper Jaycees and Jasper Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the annual Christmas home decorating and lighting contest for this year. Entries were judged Friday, December 11. Prizes were awarded to first, second and third places in various categories. Family Theme Kevin Howard @ 858 N. Evergreen Drive Glen and Becky Hopf @…

County Surveyor to seek re-election

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Kenneth R. Brosmer announced today his intention to seek re-election as Dubois County Surveyor.  He was elected Surveyor in 1992 and has served in that post since January, 1993. Brosmer, 55, is a licensed surveyor.  He started Brosmer Land Surveying, Inc. in 1990 and sold the business in 2013. He is a member of the…

Jasper Police Department Operation Pullover totals released

Reading Time: 1 minute
The Jasper Police Department performed 42 hours of extra patrols from November to December. The overtime was worked from November 13th through December 6th, 2015 to make the holiday season safer for all Hoosiers, especially the citizens of the City of Jasper. These overtime hours were paid for by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to…

Ferdinand Town Council: Ordinance mania

Reading Time: 4 minutes
It was a night for adopting ordinances and for wrapping up business for the year. The Ferdinand Town Council met in regular session for the final time in 2015, on Tuesday night (December 15). They began by hearing departmental reports and learned that this Friday, December 18, would be the last day for curbside leaf…

Cultural Center receives $3.42 million tax credit

Reading Time: 2 minutes
The Jasper Cultural Center proposed for the Hoosier Desk site received a $3.42 million boost today in the form of tax credits. The Policy Committee of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation today formally approved the use of Industrial Recovery Tax Credits — also known as dino tax credits in reference to the large, abandoned industrial…

Power hour of code introduces students to big career path

Reading Time: 4 minutes
Arin Deich, 11, a fifth-grader at Cedar Crest, raised her hands triumphantly in front of her Chromebook’s screen. She had successfully built a program that told an Angry Bird how to hop through a maze to catch a piggie. Arin was likely joining hundreds of thousands of kids in schools across the country who were successfully…

Dubois County Council meeting; Decides to cut probationary pay restriction

Reading Time: 2 minutes
By a five to two vote, the Dubois County Council removed the 90-day 90-percent pay probationary period for new hires. The policy under which newly hired county employees would only receive 90 percent of their full pay for their first 90 days has been in effect for several years now. The council has granted reprieves…

Jasper Library Board: Cultural Center tax credits next big step

Reading Time: 3 minutes
Tuesday is an important day for the Jasper Library Board’s march towards the Jasper Cultural Center. The Jasper Library Board will learn whether the proposed project at the Hoosier Desk site involving the library and Jasper Community Arts Commission will receive Industrial Recovery Tax Credits from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation Tuesday. In September, the…

Four ballots contested; two for each Jasper candidate

Reading Time: 4 minutes
Four paper ballots have been contested in Jasper’s tie election. Republican Mayor Terry Seitz and incumbent Democrat Wayne Schuetter tied at 1,856 votes each in the municipal election. On November 16, a challenge to the results was filed by Seitz’s attorneys David Brooks and Samantha DeWester. As part of the challenge, Seitz asked for a…

Jasper native killed in Indianapolis accident

Reading Time: 2 minutes
A Jasper native died in a traffic accident that occurred early Sunday morning on the northeast side of Indianapolis. Indiana State troopers from the Indianapolis Post are investigating the accident that killed two people. According to police, at approximately 2:35 a.m., troopers were dispatched to Shadeland Avenue NB just south of Fall Creek Road for…

Two injured while rabbit hunting near Ferdinand

Reading Time: 1 minute
A Ferdinand man and Jasper woman were shot while rabbit hunting Sunday morning southwest of Ferdinand. According to Indiana Conservation Officers, they were called to the shooting incident at about 9:15 a.m. They determined that Kevin Luebbehusen, 34, of Ferdinand and Stacey McBride, 26, of Jasper, were with a hunting party watching a rabbit hunt when…

McConnell to seek reelection as Dubois County Superior Court judge

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Dubois Superior Court Judge Mark R. McConnell will seek re-election as Dubois County Superior Court judge. McConnell, 56, has presided over the court since June 2008 when he was appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels to replace Elaine B. Brown, who had been appointed to the Indiana Court of Appeals. McConnell won election in 2010 to a…

Survivors of Suicide of Dubois County announces board reorganization  

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Survivors of Suicide of Dubois County (SOSDC) completed the annually required board appointments. President Janet Schnell, Treasurer Patrician Bohnenkamper, and Membership Director Janet Schmidt will maintain their positions. Vivia Dian Laubscher has been promoted to Vice-President and Nicole Schnell has been elected to serve as the Secretary. Founding member and outgoing Vice-President Mary Lou Schmitt…

Tire crashes into Becher-Kluesner Northside Chapel

Reading Time: 1 minute
A tire flew off a car on Newton Street and went through a window at Becher-Kluesner’s Northside Chapel at 3221 Newton Street, Sunday morning. Kyle Eason, 23, of E. 36th Street, Jasper, was northbound on Newton Street approaching 32nd Street at about 11:18 a.m. when the driver’s side front tire came off the 2008 Jeep…

Sentence handed down in Jasper police battery case

Reading Time: 2 minutes
A Jasper man arrested in May after striking and spitting into a Jasper police officer’s face was sentenced in Dubois County Circuit Court today. Michael Arteaga, 31, of West 4th Street, entered into a plea agreement in which he pleaded guilty to a level five felony count of battery against a public safety official, level…

Downtown design contract awarded to Indianapolis firm

Reading Time: 2 minutes
The Indianapolis firm Rundell Ernstberger Associates will be completing the design for the Courthouse Square in Jasper. The Jasper Redevelopment Commission approved hiring the firm today after the Jasper Common Council approved an allocation of $150,000 in economic development income taxes for the commission. Both decisions were made at a special joint meeting held Friday….

Welp named 2015 Little Company of Mary Award recipient

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Cheryl Welp has been named the 2015 recipient of the Little Company of Mary Award at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center. The LCM Award is given annually to an employee nominated by his or her co-workers and chosen from a group of finalists by the hospital’s Mission Committee. Nominees for this award demonstrate Memorial…

Huntingburg Council: Solar park plans moving forward

Reading Time: 4 minutes
Huntingburg’s solar power park could be generating electricity as early as June of next year. Dan Worl, Indiana Municipal Power Agency’s energy efficiency manager, told the common council a private landowner was working with IMPA to provide about 10 acres of land for the new solar park. The new location is west of a city-owned…

Active shooter training offered through state police

Reading Time: 2 minutes
The video above is a recording of a live streamed active shooter drill held at Jasper Middle School. From schools to movie theaters to corporate offices, the number of tragic active shooter events has increased across the United States at an alarming rate. For several years the Indiana State Police has been devoted to giving…

Milligan commended for service to city

Reading Time: 2 minutes
“You probably don’t know this,” Steve Milligan said to Jasper Park Director Ken Buck. “My first day, you sent me out to get the cups out of 15, no 16 …” “I remember that,” Buck said about that first day back in 1988 when Milligan started working with the city’s golf program. “Yeah, I got…

Jasper mayoral race recount commission set

Reading Time: 4 minutes
Update: The recount commission will be sworn at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, December 14 at the Pfaffenweiler Room in City Hall. Originally: The candidates have agreed on the three appointees to the recount commission for the Jasper Municipal Election. Merrill Osterman will represent the Republican Party, Art Nordhoff Jr. will represent the Democrat Party and…

I-69 connects Evansville to Bloomington

Reading Time: 3 minutes
Governor Mike Pence today joined state and local leaders to open I-69 Section 4 in Greene and Monroe counties. Following the ceremony, Governor Pence led a caravan to open the new 27 miles between U.S. 231 near Naval Support Activity Crane and State Road 37 south of Bloomington. “Hoosiers know that roads mean jobs, and…

Community steps up for Cops and Kids

Reading Time: 4 minutes
The photos are undeniable proof. The community and cops came together to ensure a great event continued its lasting legacy with local children. Officer Adam Bower with the Jasper Police Department, organizer of the event, reported he has collected $30,000 for the Cops and Kids program. “The community support has been phenomenal,” Bower said while…

Indiana Bicentennial flags to be raised on Friday

Reading Time: 1 minute
This Friday, Indiana Statehood Day, marks Indiana’s 199th anniversary as a state. On December 11, 1816, President James Madison approved Indiana as the 19th state in the union. In celebration of the state’s bicentennial next year, a special bicentennial flag will be raised at Jasper’s City Hall and the Dubois County Courthouse at noon Friday. Local…

Second opinion saves iconic oak

Reading Time: 2 minutes
The large pin oak tree that shades the Jasper Farmers Market near the train depot will remain standing for now. Last month, J.P. Stemply told the Jasper Park Board the tree would likely have to come down. Stemle had a certified arborist inspect the towering oak after a large limb fell in late September. Since…

Archabbey one of two Indiana “holy door” pilgrimage sites

Reading Time: 2 minutes
The Saint Meinrad Archabbey Church will participate in a special way in the Holy Year of Mercy designated by Pope Francis. The jubilee year begins on December 8 and will conclude on November 20, 2016. Catholics will be able to experience the spiritual benefits of this extraordinary jubilee year in various ways. They are also…

On Foote Patrol

Reading Time: 9 minutes
Late Friday night, the cold air wafts the cacophony of three different air fresheners around the cramped interior of the 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The open window allows Jasper Officer Dakota Foote to hear activity outside of his car while he patrols the streets. The car’s futile fan’s attempt to beat back the cold air by…

Celestine celebrates St. Nicholas Day with tree lighting ceremony

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Celestine celebrated St. Nicholas Day by lighting the community Christmas Tree Sunday. Several hundred kids and adults gathered to see Santa Claus arrive aboard a Celestine Volunteer Fire Department truck. Deacon Mike Siebert gave a blessing before lighting the tree. Then the children were able to meet with Santa and have cookies and hot cocoa….

Santa Claus, Ind. named on CNN’s Christmas List

Reading Time: 2 minutes
CNN’s list of “15 of the best places to spend Christmas” includes the festive, famous small town of Santa Claus, Indiana. “It is such an honor to be recognized by international media. This is the third year in a row to be included on CNN’s holiday lists and we are ecstatic about it,” says Spencer…

Dubois County Museum seeking hunters’ photos

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Would you like the chance to have a photo of your prized hunting experience displayed in a special exhibit? The Dubois County Museum is encouraging Dubois County area hunters, trappers, and fishermen to donate a 5-by-7 photo of themselves, or with friends, of their catch to be used on the planned Local Sportsman wall to…

Girls on the Run seeking coaches; informational meeting set

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Girls on the Run serving Dubois County is currently seeking coaches for the Spring 2016 Season. A Coaches Information Session will be held this Wednesday, December 9th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jasper Public Library Annex. Ready to make a difference and encourage girls to realize their full potential? Help Girls on the Run girls…