Rain and melting snow flood Dubois County roads
The water already on the ground has caused several Dubois County roads to flood as rising temperatures and a little rain melted snow in the area. The Dubois County Highway Department reported the following roads are impassable due to high water this morning. County Road 150 South, west of Old Huntingburg Road Ell Creek Road,…
Huntingburg Heritage Trail connects city like no other
The beauty in Huntingburg’s application for a Stellar Communities Grant is the connectivity it creates for a city considered split in half by a moving steel line at least 30 times a day. The catalyst to creating a better connected city was revealed last summer by Mayor Denny Spinner, Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and Indiana…
Indiana State Police officers in Jasper District recognized and promoted
First Sergeant Greg Ashby Promoted to Lieutenant On Sunday, February 16, Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter promoted First Sergeant Greg Ashby to the rank of Lieutenant to serve as the District Commander for the Jasper Post. Ashby is a native of Orange County and a 1988 graduate the Springs Valley High School. After high…
Jasper Utility Service Board warns of heavy hitting heating bills
The Jasper Utility Service Board is warning customers to be prepared for spikes in their utility bills in February and March. Water and Gas Manager Ernie Hinkle pointed out that the harsh winter is reported to have had a nearly $50 billion negative impact on the national economy. “Of the past 48 days we have…
Jasper Library meeting minutes: Seeking new bookkeeper
The Jasper and Contractual libraries are without a bookkeeper for now. Bookkeeper Jim Sheets resigned abruptly last week citing family issues and has left the department in the hands of library director Rita Douthitt. Douthitt told the board in Thursday night’s meeting that she has taken over the processing of payroll, but the rest of…
Huntingburg Council meeting notes: gas line switches saves city money
Quick actions by the city on advice from their natural gas buyer saved the city over $100,000 last month. Ron Ragan of Utility Gas Management monitors the gas prices for the city and purchases gas in advance from various sources. Ragan noticed a spike in prices from one of the city’s two suppliers and notified…
Jasper Police Department seeking updated business info
The Jasper Police Department has implemented a new method for local business owners to update their contact information for after-hours alarms or emergencies. With the business environment constantly changing due to promotions, retirements or personnel turnover, the police department is asking that Jasper business owners take a moment to review their contact list, make any appropriate changes and submit…
Potential land purchase adds to Jasper’s newest park
Jasper — The 58 acre Parklands property in the middle of Jasper could increase to nearly 85 acres if the city and Dubois County Community Foundation are able to procure up to $300,000 in grants from the state. The grants would be used to purchase 25.1 acres made up of two properties on the Parklands’ east side…
Indiana State Police warn of drug-laced candy
Indiana State Police are warning parents that troopers and area police are finding candy laced with a chemical derived from marijuana. THC is the chemical compound found in marijuana that provides a high to the user. According to authorities, the compound has been found in candy resembling suckers, hard-rock candy and gummy worms and bears. According…
Honest to Goodness new tourism brand for Indiana
Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and Mark Newman, executive director of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD) unveiled a new consumer brand for Indiana. This new brand, the embodiment of the well-earned reputation for Hoosier hospitality and authentic experiences, is “Honest to Goodness Indiana.” “Everywhere you go in Indiana, the people and the experiences are…
Dubois REC warns public of a potential scam
The Dubois Rural Electric Cooperative issued a warning regarding a potential scam affecting REC customers. They reported that customers are receiving calls claiming their electricity will be shut off if they don’t pay the bill immediately. According to REC, these calls are a scam and should be reported to the police department. “If a utility…
Ferdinand Town Council: MasterBrand abatement a go
It’s official. Following a hearing Tuesday night at which no one showed up to object, the Ferdinand Town Council granted a tax abatement to MasterBrand Cabinets that will increase the company’s equipment base and add 135 jobs. Council President Ken Sicard credited Michael Cummings, Interim President with Dubois Strong, for contacting him when MasterBrand was…
Voting center plan to be finalized
Schnellville is off the list as a location for a voting center; Birdseye and Celestine have been added in the final version of the plan the county will submit to the state. The changes were approved during a voting center commission meeting held Tuesday evening at the County Annex. If all goes as planned, voters…
Mitch Stetter announces retirement on Twitter
Monday evening Huntingburg native Mitch Stetter used Twitter to announce his retirement from playing baseball. I've decided to retire from playing baseball. pic.twitter.com/kpQWFONcmJ — Mitch Stetter (@mitchstetter) February 10, 2014 The Twitterverse responded with words of encouragement for the former Brewers’ pitcher and Mr. Stetter took the time to thank them.
Jasper taking steps to create Shovel Ready site
Jasper — The City of Jasper will begin the application process to designate an area of the city as a state Shovel Ready site. The Jasper Board of Public Works and Safety gave Chad Hurm the go-ahead on completing the application for the certification of an area on the south side of Jasper. The area consists…
Huntingburg applying for Indiana’s Stellar Communities Program
Huntingburg — The City of Huntingburg is applying for Indiana’s 2014 Stellar Communities program and has scheduled an open house to reveal the city’s efforts. The program, a partnership between the State Revolving Fund and three state agencies, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT); Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA); and the Office of Community and…
Emerging Leaders launches third year of giving back
Dubois County — Last night, local young professionals gathered at Azura Café to kick off year three of Dubois County Emerging Leaders. Special guests included Dr. Alan Johnson, dean of VUJC and Neil Dauby, Regional President of German American. Dauby stressed the importance of community philanthropy. “We can’t assume that someone else is going to do…
Young trappers help farmers
Hunter Lang sold his first fur when he was only five. “When Hunter was little, before he started to try and trap big things, he would set little traps and he finally trapped a squirrel,” His mom, Jennifer Lang said. “He insisted to his dad that he was gonna skin that squirrel out. And when…
Armed robbery at Chrisney Liquor Store, suspect at large
Chrisney — Police are seeking a suspect involved in an armed robbery of a liquor store in Chrisney at about 4:02 p.m. EST. The Indiana State Police is asking for your assistance in locating the suspect. Here is a video of the incident. Police ask that the public concentrate on the fact that someone was running…
Gun permit application changes announced
The Dubois County Sheriff’s Department has made some changes to how it processes gun permit applications. Beginning January 1, 2014, the Indiana State Police began processing all fingerprints through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Fingerprints for gun permit licenses go through an extensive quality control process. Prints that do not pass the quality control process…
Fun trivia night raises nearly $10,500
The Sixth Annual Dubois County Trivia Night was held Saturday night. Here is a video of some of the evening as well as an interview with Kurt and Shannon Fuhs, the two responsible for creating the games and categories for the evening.
Inside Indiana features Jasper Clean Energy interview
Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz and Utility Service Board President Wayne Schuetter, discussed the Jasper Clean Energy Center on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick, an Indianapolis-based public affairs news program. The interview will be aired on WTVW on Sunday, February 2 at 7 a.m. and on WNIN on Thursday, February 6 at 10:00 p.m.
Huntingburg railroad overpass project moves forward
Huntingburg — The City of Huntingburg has received a “notice to proceed” from the Indiana Department of Transportation for the railroad overpass project. The notice authorizes the city to begin contracting work for preliminary engineering services for the project. DLZ Indiana, LLC is the engineering firm chosen by the city and Dubois County to provide…
Jasper Rotary and Chamber presents top 12 news and sports stories of 2013
The Jasper Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Jasper, held the annual “Year in Review” program on January 30. The luncheon, open to the public, had over 50 attendees who heard the “Top 12 Sporting Events” and “Top 12 News Events” of 2013. The top stories are determined through submissions from the local media. During…
Public involved in updating confusing and ambiguous Jasper zoning ordinance
Jasper opened the process of updating the 20-year-old (and older) zoning and subdivision control ordinances with a public meeting Wednesday night. The ordinances that control the addition of housing, subdivisions, and businesses in Jasper hasn’t been updated since 1993. Driving the changes to the ordinance is Jasper’s continued quest to expand housing and business opportunities…
Propane Shortage press conference scheduled for 2:30 today
Governor Mike Pence and Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann will hold a press conference today at 2:30 p.m. EST to provide an update on the State’s actions to help Hoosiers during the propane shortage in Indiana. The press conference will be available via livestream at http://www.webinar.in.gov/indiana/. Individuals wishing to watch and listen in will have to…
Healthy Dubois County – City and Twisted Oaks to share lawsuit costs according to lease agreement
After the approval of the settlement offer made to the City of Jasper by Healthy Dubois County, Inc. last week, HDC representatives stated they would hold their comments until after the judge signed the order dismissing the case. The order stating both parties will drop their cases against each other was signed by Knox Circuit…
Public forum on Jasper zoning and subdivision control ordinances
The City of Jasper is inviting the public to an open forum scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the update of the city’s zoning and subdivision control ordinances.
County Council meeting: County pays taxes on take-home vehicles
The county highway superintendent and the county engineer were surprised by an additional tax bill recently. Each received notice to file back taxes owed for their take-home vehicles for 2010, 2011, and 2012. According the County Auditor Kathy Hopf, an Internal Revenue Service audit revealed the county should have added the vehicles to the Steve Berg’s…
Chromebooks a fragile tool in learning arsenal at Forest Park
A squad of trained techies now patrols the halls and classrooms of Forest Park High School. Their mission: frontline technology support for the 480 Google Chromebooks in the hands of the students at the Southeast Dubois County High School. This isn’t the Geek Squad. It’s a group of 13 technology-savvy students from a recently formed…
City forgives $900 water bill due to mix up
A small ice rink opened along County Road 400 South in Huntingburg last month. Not on purpose, but the 104,720 gallons of water a rural Huntingburg couple was charged for could have created one if it all hadn’t leaked underground. The couple expected an increase on their average 7,500 gallons of monthly usage, but the…
