Huntingburg reveals big plans; new police department and street department coming
During the budget hearing held yesterday, Huntingburg’s Planning Director Rich Hazelwood revealed some major plans on the City’s horizon. One of the larger projects mentioned for the coming year would be the construction of a new Street Department office. Currently the Street Department is located near Huntingburg Park and is in a flood plain. In…
Food Safety Inspection Officer says China’s Best is safe
Jim O’neil WITZ News Director contributed to this report. Detective Lisa Miller with the Jasper Police Department issued a follow-up statement on the stabbing incident at China’s Best Restaurant in Jasper. 27 year old Isaias Salvador Mendoza was arrested in the early morning hours on Wednesday for the attack on a co-worker with a meat…
Smiles, giggles, squeals, and even tears; A Kid’s Place turns twenty
This Saturday is a big anniversary in Huntingburg. A community foundation is celebrating twenty years of smiles, giggles, squeals, and even tears. Its product? Kids. Its name? A Kid’s Place. Over twenty years ago, in response to a study conducted by the Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce and St. Joseph’s Hospital that showed daycare was a…
Jasper Trooper Receives Award for Saving Life
On August 2, Master Trooper Randy Neighbors received a Life Saving Award at the 2011 Indiana State Police Recognition and Award Ceremony. The idea for this event was first conceived by our Superintendent, Dr. Paul Whitesell. He, along with others he consulted, determined there was a need to publicly recognize the achievements, deeds of self…
Sergeant Greg Ashby promoted to First Sergeant
On Sunday, August 14, Indiana State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell, Ph.D., promoted Sergeant Greg Ashby to the rank of First Sergeant to serve as the Assistant District Commander for the Jasper Post. Ashby is a native of Orange County and a 1988 graduate the Springs Valley High School. After high school, Ashby served his country…
Old School Baseball League back in session
The 2011 Indiana Old School Baseball League hosted its opening day games in Huntingburg’s League Stadium Saturday evening. The league, in its second season, is the brainchild and special project of former Pike Central player and Atlanta businessman Scott Gladish. In 2006 Scott attended a weeklong Boston Red Sox spring training fantasy camp in Fort…
Tensions surface over funding for strained Sheriff’s Department
The simmering debate over requested funding for the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department recently came into the local spotlight with the release of Sheriff Donny Lampert’s public letter on the issue. The written statement outlined both Lampert’s proposals for additional funding and the resistance he has met with from the county council. Specifically, Lampert claims the…
Sheriff Lampert states his case on problems with manpower and appropriate pay for supervisors
To the people. In January of 2011 our department was reorganized to better the everyday performance. We had to take our full time Detective Sgt and put him on shift work. This left the county without a detective, however it helped with managing everyday responsibilities. With the manpower that we had in January through the…
Mack announces he will appeal, will fight corruption, and will stay in the mayoral race
On the advice of legal counsel, I will not be making any comment at this time to the news media regarding specifics of the five felony charges I was convicted of on Thursday, 08/18/2011. I can and will state, with a very saddened heart, my constitutional rights as an American citizen to bear arms and…
The Mack attack is stopped in its tracks
Jeffery “Mack” Steffen’s Jasper Mayoral campaign may have hit a brick wall last night as the six person jury found him guilty on four counts of felony intimidation and one felony count of theft. There was an intimidation count for each of the four victims (Lindsey Denton, Alex Schneidecker, Jason Walters, and Jordan Shelton) and…
Wet coal blamed for fire at Jasper Power Plant
Tuesday morning a fire was reported at the Jasper Power Plant. Jasper Fire Department responded to the call that coal in the coal hopper was smoldering. [adrotate group=”1″] Bud Hauersperger, General Manager of Utilities, stated the power plant employees had noticed a smell in the plant but it was attributed to new power poles that…
An update to the Dale crash
The Spencer County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased as Danny S. Hines, 37, Dale. Danny was the passenger in the Ford Taurus. The driver of the Taurus was John W. Rudy, 65, Dale. John is listed in stable condition at St. Mary’s Hospital. Both families have been notified. Deceased: Danny S. Hines, 37 205…
Two vehicle crash claims one life and seriously injures another in Dale
This morning at approximately 9:10 a.m. a two vehicle crash at US 231 and State Road 68 claimed the life of a Dale man and seriously injured another. Preliminary investigation reveals that a blue 2005 Ford Taurus was traveling westbound on SR 68 at the intersection of US 231. The driver of the Taurus failed…
Huntingburg budget approval process; Kays recommends a test drive before signing on the dotted line
The City budget was discussed at the Utility Board and Common Council Meeting in Huntingburg Tuesday night. In setting the hearing dates for the budget, Clerk-Treasurer Tom Dipple, explained that he had a preliminary assessed value of $140 million. The actual assessed value last year was $164 million, but Dipple explained he wanted to publish…
Independent Candidate Steffen facing trial tomorrow
Independent candidate “Mack” (Jeffrey Mack) Steffen will be in court tomorrow facing charges for an altercation over the purchase of a moped and TV. Steffen is charged with four felony counts of intimidation and one count of felony theft stemming from an arrest on March 24, 2010. Jury selection was conducted today and the trial…
Video of the Loser’s Bracket; brilliant move or accidental paddling
More videos here. [adrotate group=”1″]
Huntingburg Antique Show this weekend
The summer Antique show is this weekend at the Huntingburg Event Center. According to Nick Stevens, Executive Director Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce, all the booths are filled and he is expecting a record attendance. [adrotate group=”1″] “The attendance last year was 800 not counting children, I expect it to surpass that this year.” Stevens explained….
Ferdinand Town Parks Get WIFI Service
The Town of Ferdinand and PSC (Perry-Spencer Communications) have partnered to bring wifi access to the Town’s 5th Street and 18th Street Parks. Wifi access is currently operational at the 18th Street Park and is coming in the near future to the 5th Street Park. [adrotate group=”1″] Ferdinand Town Manager Marc Steczyk says, “Perhaps the…
Huntingburg Mayor taking care of hospital grounds on his own time with donated equipment
“This is an investment for the city.” Mayor Marvin Belcher stated today in regards to why he is personally mowing the grounds of the St. Joseph Hospital. “If people want things done and no one is stepping up to do them, I’ll get it done.” [adrotate group=”1″] Belcher stated that Dr. Mahmood, one of the…
Huntingburg Parks Board approves Foundation and Chamber plan for League Stadium Movie Night
It seemed the evening would be a simply one for the Huntingburg Parks Board however from the first speaker things were complicated. Nick Stevens, Executive Director to the Huntingburg Chamber, addressed the board concerning the use of League Stadium for showing A League of Their Own over Labor Day Weekend. [adrotate group=”1″] The Huntingburg Foundation…
According to Ellspermann Indiana Hometown Competitiveness Program a “win, win, win”
The Jasper Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting with State Representative Sue Ellspermann today at the Jasper Train Depot to begin planning for the Home Town Competitiveness Initiative. The City of Jasper was chosen along with Huntington County, Johnson County, Perry County and Jefferson County to participate in the third rendition of the program in…
Holy Family Patoka Cardboard Boat Regatta videos
The Holy Family Cardboard Boat Regatta was yesterday. These videos are highlights for each race that occurred. Story and pictures to come.
A letter from Dr. William Sammons regarding the biomass power plant
To The Editor The recent vote in by the City Council in favor of the Twisted Oak proposal reflects acceptance of the “Review” by Dr. Shaddix as an “evaluation”. It is not. The vote reflects lack of diligence—I doubt anyone in the group read all the references offered by Dr. Shaddix to see what they…
Precious Blood Parish Picnic on Sunday, August 21
The Precious Blood Parish Picnic is happening on Sunday August 21 and according to Father Gary Kaiser this one may be the biggest ever. The picnic began in 1954 and in 1956, or two picnics later, building began on the Parish. “The picnic was started as a way to raise money to build the parish.”…
Dearing departing Red Cross after 18 years of service
The American Red Cross announced on Wednesday that effective September 2, 2011, Tina Dearing; Service Center Manager for Dubois County will be leaving the organization. [adrotate group=”1″] Dearing has been instrumental in maintaining a strong community presence during her tenure including disaster relief & preparedness, CPR & First Aid training and Services to our Armed…
Old National Bank helps Red Cross maintain footprints and focus on services
Old National Bank announced on Wednesday its commitment to our community and the American Red Cross by donating office space in four Tri-State communities. Old National Bank will partner with the American Red Cross in the coming years to ensure the Red Cross has the resources it needs to maintain a strong community presence and…
Five guys, big trip
Brian Wongkanalasai age 24 of Chicago, Chris Ahn also 24 of Mayland, Casey Fittz 21 of Maryland, Andrew Zhao 24 of Minnesota, and Andy Petran 24 also of Minnesota left Cresent City California nearly eight weeks ago with their sights set on arriving in Assateague, Virgina in nine and a half weeks. [adrotate group=”1″] They…
Red Cross may leave Huntingburg due to restructuring; Service Center Manager Tina Dearing resigning over decision to downgrade services
The week of July 18, Tina Dearing was notified by Matt Bertram, Regional Director of the Red Cross, that the building on Main Street in Huntingburg was being vacated and she would be moved to an office located at Old National Bank in Jasper. This move was in conjunction with the national office shutting down…
Southridge under construction but ready for school
Many parents and students alike are wondering what is going to happen the first day of school at Southridge High School. The missing classrooms, front office, and carpet in the locker area didn’t go unnoticed Wednesday night during student registration. [adrotate group=”1″] “The construction workers were still in the area finishing up some work and…
Huntingburg hires a new veteran police officer
Huntingburg announced its newest police officer today at the monthly Board of Public Works meeting. Jeremy Graham is a Spencer County resident and a 6 year veteran of the Evansville Police Department. According to Huntingburg Chief of Police Ron Drew he is glad that Graham is joining the police department. “I feel it will be…
