Jasper High School launches radio station, website and YouTube channel
Jasper High School launched an as yet unnamed —students are still working on that— radio station on Feb. 19. The whopping .25 watt station can be heard in the school and the east parking lot at 93.7 FM and 960 AM. This is the third media product to come out of the new course at the…
County Council February meeting notes
The Dubois County Council met for the regular monthly meeting on Monday afternoon and took the following actions. Approved $14,985 for Astro Security, Inc. to install new electronic access locks and card readers for the doors of the Dubois County Courthouse and $1000 for a radio. The radio will be for the deputy assigned to…
Foundation hires new communications and engagement manager
The Dubois County Community Foundation welcomes Nicole (Kreilein) Hurrle as the Communications and Engagement Manager. “Nicole brings the right skills and perspective to deepen the Foundation’s involvement in the community,” Ward said. “She will help foster our engagement of donors, board members, and nonprofit partners in making a difference for Dubois County.” Nicole has nearly…
911 director suspended for siren failure (updated)
On Thursday morning, the Dubois County Commissioners suspended 911 Director Janice Love due to the recent failure of the tornado warning sirens. On Jan. 30 a tornado warning was issued for the southeast portion of Dubois County and when dispatchers attempted to activate the alarms, they didn’t sound. Love’s investigation into the issue revealed…
School grading system on chopping block, Jasper Schools among many looking forward to a change
The current A-F grading scale for schools may be heading for the trash heap. On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee unanimously backed Glenda Ritz, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the bill to repeal the grading scale. The bill going before the Senate will throw out the A-F grading system and have the state Board of Education develop a…
Jasper officer requesting hearing over termination
Jasper — Jasper police officer Dave Drew has requested a hearing regarding his potential termination. Drew made the request on Monday and the city must hold the hearing within 30 days of that request. Jasper Police Chief Michael Bennett recommended Drew be suspended with pay last week while the Jasper Board of Public Works completes the steps…
Dubois County Leadership Academy looking for applicants
The Dubois County Leadership Academy’s steering committee has issued its call for applicants for its third annual class. In its third year, the Leadership Academy is, again, seeking emerging leaders in Dubois County businesses, corporations, local governments, schools, etc. There are no age requirements. The Dubois County Leadership Academy will meet a minimum of six…
Ferdinand Welcome Sign contest winner announced
Ferdinand — The Town of Ferdinand announced the winner of the welcome sign contest on Wednesday. There were approximately twenty entries in the contest which was spearheaded by community volunteer Ali Meyer and Ferdinand Elementary student Kasady Anderson. It was Anderson that originally approached Town officials about the lack of welcome signage in late 2012. Amy…
VUJC Center for Technology, Innovation and Manufacturing nearing completion
When one thinks of the manufacturing industry, one rarely thinks of words like “beautiful,” “comfortable” or “green.” But Vincennes University Jasper Campus’ new Center for Technology, Innovation and Manufacturing is all of that and more. The lovely, 57,432 square-foot building is nearing completion. Furniture was installed last week. The furnishings for the new building will…
Jasper Council meeting notes
The meeting started right on time at 7 p.m. and ended 13 minutes later. In an amazingly short meeting the council did the following. Boy Scout Nick Hedinger attended, he is working on his Communications Badge. Bud Hauersperger gave the utility review. The story is here. Approved a Gas Contractor’s License submitted by Zachary Leinenbach…
Memorial Hospital partnering to expand physician training and retention in Southwest Indiana
Jasper – Memorial Hospital and three area hospitals, along with Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville, have combined to expand medical school training in Southwest Indiana. Memorial Hospital joined IU School of Medicine-Evansville, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Deaconess Health System and the Owensboro Medical Health System to commission a feasibility study to expand IU School of Medicine-Evansville from…
Rep. Messmer presented a resolution to honor Jasper High School Marching Wildcats
Statehouse – State Representative Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) presented a House Resolution to congratulate the Jasper High School Marching Wildcats on Monday for winning in the Indiana State School Music Association Class B State Marching Band Championship last November. Jasper was named the state champion on November 4, after a performance at Lucas Oil Stadium. The high school…
DNR releases video regarding injured animals
There’s a right way to deal with injured, orphaned wildlife and wildlife biologists from the Department of Natural Resources are asking the public to help keep Indiana’s wildlife wild. “Rescuing an injured or apparently abandoned baby wild animal may do the opposite of what you seek to accomplish and eventually cause the animal more harm than…
Area’s two newest officers made possible by community’s generosity
Thanks to many donations from the community in addition to a single large donation, the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department purchased the newest member to the department last week. Judge is a 12-month-old black Labrador that will join the department after completing his training in May. The Jasper Department has also enjoyed the same generosity in…
Forest Park Senior is town’s new intern
Samuel Beckman, a senior at Forest Park Jr.-Sr. High School, was recently selected to become the Town of Ferdinand’s latest intern. Over the course of his internship, he will work directly under the Town Manager, Marc Steczyk, until the end of May. Sam will provide assistance with the Ferdinand Folk Festival this year, website management…
Solid Waste Board hires Kraft
The Dubois County Solid Waste Management District Board hired Lee W. Kraft Jr. of Jasper as the new district director on Friday. Kraft most recently worked with The Servants, a manufacturer and distributor of packaging products, as a safety and environmental manager. Board President Greg Kendall stated Kraft’s extensive experience in a variety of areas placed him…
Huntingburg Common Council meeting notes
The Huntingburg City Council Meeting met Thursday night and continued to make modifications to improve the Utility Department of the City. Since last year the council has worked with Utility Superintendent, now Water Superintendent, Tony Traylor in approving the addition of a Utility Assistant Superintendent position to help with the handling of regulations and paper work. When…
Jasper State Police post 75 years old today
Jasper — This year the Indiana State Police celebrates 80 years of service to the citizens of the State of Indiana. However today marks a special milestone for the Jasper Post, it was 75 years ago today that the Jasper Post opened its doors at its current location. The original Jasper Post was located in a…
Huntingburg Mayor appointed to IACT Board of Directors
The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) announced today that Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner was recently appointed to the IACT Board of Directors. “Mayor Spinner has continually impressed me with his commitment to Huntingburg and passion for those he serves,” said IACT Executive Director & CEO Matt Greller. “His years of dedication to his…
Jasper mayor schedules State of City addresses
Jasper — Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz will present the annual State of the City address in the coming weeks. The Rotary Club will host the mayor at the Days Inn next Thursday. The meeting is for Rotary members and their guests only. On Feb. 27, Mayor Seitz will speak at the Jasper Optimists’ meeting held…
Providence Home Health Care Center statement on the abuse case
Providence Home Health Care Center submitted a statement regarding the recent investigation and arrests of six of its employees for allegations of neglect and battery of a resident. In the statement, Providence explained they received information about the abuse investigation on January 25 and once the charges were filed against the suspects, their employment was…
Healthy Dubois County and City of Jasper back in court
Jasper –A hearing to determine the case management for the lawsuit filed by Dr. Norma Kreilein, Rock Emmert and Healthy Dubois County, Inc. against the City of Jasper is set to take place on May 10 at 10 a.m. Special Judge Sherry B. Gregg Gilmore was appointed to the second hearing regarding allegations the City of…
Jasper begins procedure to fire police officer (Updated)
The Jasper Board of Public Works approved a recommendation to begin the procedure to terminate a police officer based on allegations of misconduct and the results of an internal investigation conducted by the city. Jasper Police Chief Michael Bennett asked the board for approval to begin the administrative actions required to terminate Officer Dave Drew….
Republican Lincoln Day Lunch full house for Lt. Gov. Ellspermann
The Dubois County Republicans held their annual Lincoln Day lunch at the Huntingburg Event Center on Saturday at Noon. Several hundred showed up to hear keynote speaker Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann address the crowd on several topics including her first three weeks as Indiana’s second in charge. Ellspermann spoke about progress on the Road Map for Indiana —her and Governor…
Former Dubois County caseworker taking ethical complaints to state judicial commission
On Jan. 29, Sara Schroeder, 36, a case manager at Dubois County Community Corrections, was placed on suspension with pay pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct. “I thought J.P. (Weisheit, director of Community Corrections) was coming in to discuss a case in the department,” Schroeder explained. Weisheit was there to tell Schroeder the board…
Meeting notes: Jasper Library Boards meeting info
The Contractual and Jasper Library Boards met Thursday afternoon and both boards passed authorization to write a new policy regarding use of the library property for the solicitation of sales by any organization on library grounds. What started the discussion was a request by a local Girl Scout troop to sell cookies outside the Dubois Library. Members…
Meeting info: Huntingburg Board of Public Works
The board welcomed Keith Souders as a new board appointment. He replaces George Lewallen who announced his resignation last month. They opened bids for demolishing 205 N. Walnut since the owners did not respond to multiple requests for remediation. The bid from Cooper Rail Service for $4070 was accepted for the demolishing of the home….
Southeast School Board: Begle, Johnson and Schipp to retire at end of the school year
by Lisa W. Hoppenjans Ferdinand News Between the three of them, they claim 115 years of experience in education. At their meeting last night (Tuesday, February 5), the Southeast Dubois County School Corporation Board of Trustees reluctantly accepted the resignations of veteran educators Jeff Johnson (industrial arts and Project Lead the Way teacher at Forest…
“It’s been a great ride” Lee Begle reflects on 41 years in education
by Lisa W. Hoppenjans Ferdinand News For the last seven years or so, Ferdinand Elementary Principal Lee Begle has promised himself the first time he wasn’t excited to be starting a new school year would be his last. That day never came. “But, ultimately, it’s time to enjoy family,” Begle says, just days before the…
The house that Alois built makes state list, aiming for national registry
The Wollenmann House is now on one list, thanks to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) board. Now it is time to get the Swiss chalet-styled domicile on another list; the state and national registries of historic sites and places. On January 23, DNR’s Indiana Historic Preservation Board listed the Wollenmann House on the Indiana…
Dale under boil order
Dale is under a boil order due to a waterline being ruptured. According to town officials, the waterline was hit by a fiber-optic company. The rupture could permit untreated water to enter the water mains. Dale water customers are advised to boil all water used for drinking and food preparation. The water should be brought…
