Inaugural 2015 Legislative Breakfast: Council president, mayors, object to “predatory” designation
For the first time in (known) history, legislators representing Dubois County — two state senators and two state representatives — are all Republicans. In addition, one member from each House hails from Jasper. All four were in attendance last Saturday at the Jasper Chamber of Commerce/VUJC-sponsored legislative breakfast held in the CTEM (technology center) at…
Deadly Dale intersection topic of upcoming public forum
The Indiana Department of Transportation is gathering public input as it assesses the safety at the south junction of U.S. Highway 231 and State Road 62 near Dale. The intersection has been the scene of multiple injury and fatal crashes. The most recent involving retired Heritage Hills Middle School principal Susan D. Grundhoefer. INDOT will…
Dubois County Airport Authority meeting: Expansion completion pushed to 2018
A proposed tunnel spanning 200W, necessary to complete the 500-foot Huntingburg Airport runway extension, may push the project completion date further down the road. Projected to cost about $3.3 million, the tunnel, exceeds the Indiana Department of Transportation’s $2 million annual grant threshold. According to Woolpert Engineering’s Luke Reynolds, INDOT can make grants at the…
Humane Society celebrates adoption record
The Dubois County Humane Society put 427 animals into new homes in 2014, more than doubling the 204 of 2013. “We have been very active on social media and also all the website advertising our pets,” Andrea Hedinger, board president for the nonprofit said. Photos are one of the most shared posts on Facebook and…
$4,075 Dubois County Foundation grant assists new Jasper dog park
A recent grant was made by Dubois County Community Foundation to the Jasper Park and Recreation Department to assist in completing the new dog park. The $4,075.00 grant will be used to purchase and install the electronic entry key system for the park which is set to open this spring at Gutzweiler Park located near 16th…
State police recover children taken from Delaware
Update: Cortez Hamilton, 32, is currently in custody at the Warrick County Jail. Indiana State Police detectives arrested him overnight on three warrants out of Delaware. Hamilton is not facing any local criminal charges. He is currently being held without bond. The Delaware arrest warrant is for two counts of endangering the welfare of a child…
Jasper police seeking information for two investigations
The Jasper Police Department is asking for the public’s help in solving two investigations — a vandalism and a hit-and-run. The vandalism occurred in the Los Bravos restaurant parking lot at 198 S. Newton. Sometime overnight between Friday and Saturday, a red pickup truck and a red mustang were scratched extensively. The Community Strike Force Against…
Jasper Library Board cautious about city collaboration over Hoosier Desk
Despite the potential the Hoosier Desk building seems to hold as a location to house a combined Jasper Library and Arts Commission effort, the library board isn’t ready to step across that threshold yet. After a lengthy discussion Thursday evening, the board countered a proposal from the city to have a consultant develop an architectural…
Lip Sync Battle challenge issued
Huntingburg twin sisters Emily Meyer and Elizabeth Bartelt published a video challenging Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon to a lip sync battle. The popular lip sync battle segment has featured such stars as Emma Stone, Joseph Gordon Levitt, and Paul Rudd battling Fallon to a lip sync-off with popular songs. Here is a battle with…
After satisfying career, VUJC dean announces retirement
Dr. Alan Johnson, dean of Vincennes University Jasper, has announced he will be retiring at the end of this semester. “It is the right time for me to step down. I am feeling really good with what has been accomplished,” he said today. During Johnson’s tenure the university completed the addition of the Center for…
Huntingburg Council reviews lock box ordinance
The Huntingburg Common Council reviewed an ordinance that would require new buildings to install lock boxes containing keys to the building. The boxes would be added to newly constructed commercial or industrial buildings, multi-family residential structures, nursing homes and healthcare facilities. Additionally, any existing buildings in the city that are renovated, added to, or repaired…
2015 Huntingburg appointments
2015 appointments to boards and commissions Appointed by Mayor Denny Spinner Mike Fulkerson* ( 4 years – 12/31/2018) to the Huntingburg Park Board Judy Olinger* ( 4 years – 12/31/2018) to the Board of Zoning Appeals Jerry Altstadt* and Bonnie Schmidt* (4 years – 12/31/2018) to the Huntingburg Housing Authority Gina Flick* and Jayme Rasche (4 years – 12/31/2018)…
Air Force vet offered Huntingburg police officer position
The City of Huntingburg made a conditional offer of employment with the police department to a 24-year-old Air Force veteran. Tyler Stivers accepted the offer to join the Huntingburg Police Department and he will likely be sworn in as the department’s 12th officer at the next public works meeting. Stivers is a graduate of Loogootee…
Bond set for infant death case
Charles Hopf, accused in the death of an infant, appeared in Dubois County Circuit Court Wednesday. Circuit Court Judge Nathan Verkamp established a $200,000 cash bond for Hopf who is charged with Level 1 felony aggravated battery causing the death of a child less than 14 years of age. According to the investigative affidavit, Hopf was arrested…
Pursuit lands Grandview man in jail
A 6-mile pursuit through Dubois and Pike counties late Tuesday night ended with a Grandview man behind bars. At about 10:05 p.m., Trooper Ross Johnson observed a green 1996 GMC Jimmy speeding (72 mph in a 55 mph zone) on State Road 161, near Old State Road 64 north of Holland. Johnson pulled behind the GMC and…
Jasper Arts: Arts and Library combined efforts promising for Hoosier Desk
Members of the Jasper Arts Commission and Jasper Library Board are gaining a growing appreciation for the Hoosier Desk building as a shared space for both entities. But even as both boards are far from any decision — a point that was made clear during the Arts Commission board meeting Tuesday afternoon — it was certain that…
Jasper adopts tax finance district
Two people spoke at the public hearing before the Jasper Redevelopment Commission approved a resolution to create a tax increment finance (TIF) district. The proposed district described as covering nearly a third of the city and 90 percent of its industry has been a point of contention among elected officials until it was approved unanimously…
SVB&T creates $50,000 endowment with the Dubois County Community Foundation
Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company announced a $50,000 investment in the community through a new endowment with the Dubois County Community Foundation. “Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company is pleased to announce its partnership with the Dubois County Community Foundation. The Springs Valley Bank & Trust Endowment will ultimately strengthen future growth in our communities,” said Jamie Shinabarger, President…
Road closures in Dubois County
There are several roads closed in Dubois County due to high water from the recent rains. County Road 800 West – north of County Road 300 South County Road 620 West – in the Dillon Creek area County Road 150 South – west of Old Huntingburg Road Ell Creek Road – north of County Road…
Duncan joins Jasper Police Department
Monday, the City of Jasper swore in Brent Duncan as the police department’s 22nd officer. Brent is a 2009 graduate of Southridge High School and completed a degree in criminal justice through the University of Southern Indiana. He was serving as a reserve officer with the Huntingburg Police Department and was employed by Masterbrand Cabinets…
Dubois County Council: New council members take their seats
The new Dubois County Council members took their seats Monday afternoon for their first official meeting. Council president Greg Kendall welcomed Craig Greulich, Charmian Klem, and Becky Beckman to the council. After welcoming the three, Kendall was reappointed president and Councilman Jerry Hunefeld vice-president. Sheriff Donny Lampert informed the council that two vehicles in the…
Jasper School Board appoints officers and welcomes new member
The Greater Jasper School board of trustees met this morning for their annual organizational meeting. Board member Arlet Jackle was in attendance as a newly appointed trustee. Jackle took the place of Mike Braun who left the board to pursue his newly appointed position as District 63 Representative in the Indiana House. She reports that she has…
Jasper District welcomes four new troopers
Four new Indiana State Troopers reported to Jasper District for their first assignment with the state department. The four are part of the 74th Recruit Academy and join 38 other new troopers reporting for duty at 14 state police posts across the state. The recruits took their oaths of office to serve and protect the…
Jasper resident victim of “swatting”
Jasper — A South Meridian Road residence was swarmed with local law enforcement responding to a call of shots fired Friday afternoon. Avoid south Meridian Rd, just south of 164 and Meridian Rd. Officers in area with guns drawn. — Dubois County Watch (@DuboisCrime) January 2, 2015 pic.twitter.com/58KRUG74MC — Dubois County Watch (@DuboisCrime) January 2, 2015…
French Lick man killed in early morning crash
A French Lick man was Dubois County’s first road fatality early this morning on State Road 56. Ronald L. Garrison, 65, died in a single vehicle crash that occurred at about 5 a.m. Garrison was traveling westbound on State Road 56 near State Road 545 when his 2007 Dodge Ram began to slide on black ice….
Kellner named District 7 Conservation Officer of the Year
Indiana Conservation Officers of District Seven announced Master Officer Mike Kellner was selected as the District Seven officer of the year. District Seven includes ten southwestern counties in Indiana. Officer Kellner is assigned to Warrick and Vanderburgh Counties and has served southwestern Indiana for over thirty years. Kellner was born in Valparaiso and grew up in Jackson…
Dubois County Council continues to feel finance squeeze
Dubois County Council President Greg Kendall has been saying for months that economic belt tightening would have to occur if something isn’t done to put a stop to the slow decrease in state funding and an increase in county expenses. He sounded a more serious warning Monday night during the final council meeting of 2014. “And then…
New Publishers Clearing House scam involves FBI and Huntingburg police chief
The Huntingburg Police Department issued an alert that a new scam involving Publishers Clearing House, the Huntingburg Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation was hitting the area. According to police, the victim called the department and said that she had received a phone call from a female claiming to be an FBI agent. The…
Southridge football players and community come together for family
The community outpouring in clothing, shoes, gift cards, housing ware, and cash was overwhelming Saturday morning Football players, their families, and coach Scott Buening opened the doors to the Southridge fieldhouse to accept the items for the Kirk Brown family. And the help came from all corners of the county. “It’s not just Southridge people, we…
Motorist killed at Dale intersection (Update)
Update: According to the Spencer County Coroner’s office, the motorist killed Sunday afternoon in a two-vehicle accident southwest of Dale was retired Heritage Hills Middle School Principal Susan D. Grundhoefer. Previously: A motorist was killed in a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of U.S. 231 and State Road 62 southwest of Dale Sunday afternoon. The fatal collision…
Police radio, body armor, and guns with thousands of rounds found in probation arrest
The Martin County Sheriff’s Department found guns, thousands of rounds, military-grade body armor, and a police radio as well as 70 grams of meth in the home of a man arrested on Christmas Eve for resisting law enforcement. Indiana State Police arrested Daniel Jackson, 34, of Shoals, Wednesday morning after Senior Trooper Jarrod Lents and…
