Mayoral election forums next week
Vincennes University is joining with community organizations to conduct mayoral election forums in two Dubois County cities this fall. The Jasper mayoral candidates will be presented on Tuesday, October 20, 7:00 p.m. EST in the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Manufacturing building on the VU Jasper Campus. The agreement to participate has been signed by Democratic…
State board decision Wednesday could mean a big drop in ISTEP passing rates
About 65 percent of students would pass English and 59 percent would pass math Originally posted on Chalkbeat by Shaina Cavazos on October 12, 2015 ISTEP test passing rates could plummet by about 16 percentage points in English and 24 percentage points in math compared to 2014 if the Indiana State Board of Education approves…
Library board working on path to 2016 referendum
The difference between the Jasper Library Board of 2011 that conceived of the plan for a library on South Newton and the Jasper Public Library Board that has decided to pursue the Hoosier Desk site is unity Whereas two divided factions stepped out of the meeting in which a unanimous vote decided to seek the…
Emerging Leaders seeking grant nominees
Dubois County Emerging Leaders seeks nominations for this year’s grant. Emerging Leaders, a giving circle established in 2012, is a way for individuals to pool their funds to strengthen communities in Dubois County. Each participant commits to giving as little as $120 per individual or $180 as a couple per year. Contributors then vote on…
Early voting begins today
Early voting begins today at the Dubois County Courthouse. Anyone wanting to vote early in the three city elections can do so at the courthouse. Hours at the courthouse will be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday beginning October 12th and going until Friday October 30th. The courthouse will also be open…
Huntingburg Council: Drainage issues to be brought to county
The drainage issues affecting the residents north of the future site of a 147 workforce housing development may have been further alleviated after an engineer’s findings were discussed at the Huntingburg Council meeting Thursday evening. After the announcement of the new housing development, Hunters Crossing, residents of Red Bud Court voiced concerns of flooding from a ditch…
Haunted Huntingburg brings frightening family fun
Hold your loved ones close, the ghosts and ghouls will be rampant in Huntingburg this weekend. Haunted Huntingburg kicks off Friday evening with a 9 p.m. showing of Wes Craven’s “Nightmare on Elm Street” at The Gaslight, 328 E. 4th Street. It’s the first of two Craven movies over the two-day event — the second, “Scream”,…
Jasper doctor announces bid for Republican Congressional nomination
Dr. Richard Moss of Jasper announced he will run for representative of the 8th Congressional District in the May Republican primary. Moss says that Republican leadership in Washington has strayed from the voters that sent them there. “I, like many conservatives, am deeply frustrated by the national Republican Party. Particularly, Republican leadership,” he said. “We…
Go underwater to view Indiana shipwrecks from the comfort of your home
Indiana’s historic shipwrecks can now be explored by land or sea. Viewing a newly designed website provides virtual looks at what only divers used to be able to access. The website, IndianaShipwrecks.org, which is part of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website (dnr.IN.gov), features the J.D. Marshall and the Muskegon, as well as Car…
Foundation secures $500,000 grant through community generosity
$1 Million Campaign a Success Local donors have helped the Community Foundation successfully raise more than $1 million for Dubois County charities. Through Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) VI, an initiative of Lilly Endowment Inc., donors have given more $500,000 to fully capture an eligible $500,000 in matching funds. The objective of the initiative…
Jasper America’s Best Community group holds Facebook contest
The America’s Best Community Jasper Team, comprised of local community members, is challenging the people of Jasper to like and share the America’s Best Communities Jasper Facebook page. The committee’s goal is 2500 followers by October 15, 2015. The America’s Best Communities contest started earlier this year and will continue into 2016. Sponsored by Frontier Communications, the contest seeks…
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…
