St. Vincent DePaul fosters community based on giving and bargains
The price is right at the St. Vincent DePaul store in Jasper, but it’s more than cheap prices on used clothing, household items and toys that keeps more than 30 customers lined up at the door before noon; it’s about community. A circle of ten occupied folding chairs camp in front of the doors waiting…
The DC Sheriff continues to battle for better pay for newly created supervisory positions
This article was edited to reflect that the $1500 amount is to be split between three positions in the Dubois County Security Center. Originally the article stated each supervisor would receive a $1500 pay raise. Sheriff Donnie Lampert continued to battle for what he considers fair pay for employees filling supervisory positions at the Dubois…
Jasper Common Council passes Jasper Action Team recommended tax abatements
The Jasper City Council met Wednesday night for their regular meeting and the Council voted to adopt an ordinance that sets up property tax abatements and schedules that incentivize business expansion and growth in Jasper. [adrotate group=”1″] Ordinance number 2011-25 is based upon the Jasper Action Team Incentive program that they wrote and presented last…
Strassenfest biomass meeting accessibility issue decided by the Public Access Counselor
A complaint filed with the Public Access Counselor has been decided. Public Access Counselor Joseph Hoage has supplied a decision on the accessibility complaint filed on Sept. 1 by Huntingburg resident Michelle Reller. [adrotate group=”1″] Reller is stricken with a severe cardio pulmonary disease which makes any amount of walking difficult. She is concerned with…
Taco Bell shooting leads investigators to burglary suspect; Ethan Stout
The investigation into a residential burglary that occurred on July 28, 2011 has resulted in additional charges being filed against a Jasper resident who is already incarcerated in the Dubois County Security Center. [adrotate group=”1″] The residence located at 707 Poplar Lane had been burglarized and a large amount of jewelry, cash and other items…
Huntingburg Common Council goes back and forth over pay raises
The Huntingburg Common Council meeting last night ran for about an hour and forty five minutes and in that time the Police Department Administrative Assistant received two raises and a pay cut. [adrotate group=”1″] The Council approved her position change to an administrative assistant upon the request of the Police Chief Ron Drew. She had…
Jasper Public Library wants your old family pictures – updated
A grant awarded to the Jasper Public Library is making it easier for residents to not only learn more about their family history but also contribute to the state’s archives as well. Through the funding of Indiana’s Library Services and Technology Act, the Jasper library’s genealogy program will be partnering with Indiana Memory, a statewide…
The Hometown Competitiveness Initiative kickoff – a few videos
The Hometown Competitiveness Initiative kickoff was held Monday evening at the Cabby O’Neil Gymnasium. Frank gets the crowd excited with Sauerkraut. Mona Hoffman talks about the importance of the HCI program and how to make is a success for Jasper. Jasper Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nancy Eckerle Sue Ellspermann is the HTC Site Coordinator…
The Asia Project at VUJC
I have never been to a poetry reading. I mean I’ve seen those movies in which a poetry reading is some melancholy leather-jacketed tattooed guy brooding in the shadows. You know the one that strikes a single chord on a broken mandolin before staring at the audience uncomfortably. Yeah, count me in. I take that…
VU Jasper Campus achieves Certified Wildlife Habitat status
The Vincennes University Jasper Campus has been recognized by the National Wildlife Federation for developing part of its campus into wildlife habitat. Certification requires that a site provide food, water, cover, and places for wildlife to raise their young. [adrotate group=”1″] “We appreciate this recognition of our efforts to provide leadership in environmental issues. We…
Jasper Utility Service Board meeting; Beaver Lake Dam Project, VUJC Advanced Manufacturing facility, and other items addressed last night
Jasper Utility Service Board Meeting The Jasper Utility Service Board met in session last night for their regular monthly meeting. Nathan Wagner of Cash Wagner and Associates requested that the City of Jasper vacate College Avenue and a utility easement that runs parallel to that street in order to prepare the new building site for…
Jasper Consolidated School Board approves design of new gymnasium
The Greater Jasper Consolidated School Board met Monday evening for its regularly scheduled meeting. The largest portion of the meeting was spent with George Link of VPS Architecture presenting the school board with the finalized design for the new gymnasium. [adrotate group=”1″] Link displayed the plans and explained the most recent changes to the design….
Mack is not off the ballot yet, Judge stays his decision until after sentencing hearing
The hearing regarding Jeffrey “Mack” Steffen’s continued candidacy in the Jasper Mayoral Election was held this morning. Steffen was convicted of five felony counts of intimidation and theft in connection with an incident that occurred in March 2010. According to Indiana Code, convicted felons are not allowed to hold public office (Indiana Code at end…
Mike Uebelhor 19th Annual Distinguished Citizens Award recipient
Mike Uebelhor graduated from Huntingburg High School and furthered his education with a degree from Kentucky Wesleyan University. Following college graduation he returned to Dubois County to work for First National Bank, and later joined his father and brother in the family business, Uebelhor Oil, an oil, gas and lubricant wholesaler/distributor. [adrotate group=”1″] Mike and…
Newburgh man killed in early morning shooting at Kellerville Road residence
UPDATE- According to Indiana State Police Investigators alcohol was a factor in the shooting and the other unnamed individual involved in the fight was treated at Memorial Hospital for numerous bruises and contusions. Just before 3:30 a.m. the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call advising that a shooting had just occurred at 6530…
HNB Terminal Corp hosts Advanced Aerodynamics Tutorial at Huntingburg Airport
The HNB Terminal Corporation hosted a Webinar on “The Aerodynamics of Basic Aerobatic Flight” last night at the “Old Terminal Building” at Huntingburg Airport. The Webinar was attended by 13 people, mostly local pilots and aviation enthusiasts. [adrotate group=”1″] While much of the presentation was at a very high technical level (this reporter needed an…
National Debt is undue burden on future generations (an opinion piece)
As the mother of two little ones, ages 2½ and 11 months, there are a multitude of opportunities that I strive to provide them as their little minds and imaginations expand, as well as a number of dangers from which I do my best to protect them. Since before Nora, our oldest, was born in…
Facebook pages added for upcoming Mayoral Forums; Like, Comment, Share
VUJC, The Herald, WITZ, and Dubois County Free Press launched Facebook Pages today for the upcoming mayoral forums. The Pages are available for citizens to post questions to be posed to the mayoral candidates during the forum. Moderators at the forums will choose questions posted on Facebook as well as questions taken from the audience….
Jasper PD announces a group involved in check cashing scheme may be in area
The Jasper Police Department and Jasper Chamber of Commerce released a notice to the businesses in Jasper today in regards to a group cashing stolen checks at area banks. [adrotate group=”1″] The individuals work in groups of two or three and approach the banks that hold the account for the checks. The checks come from…
GOP files to have Mack removed from ballot
The hearing is scheduled for next Monday. Eric J. Schue, Chairman of the Dubois County Republican Party filed an action on September 13 requesting that Jeffrey “Mack” Steffen be removed from the ballot as candidate in the Jasper Mayoral race. The official statement is below:
A judge has been chosen in open door violation lawsuit against Jasper
A decision was made yesterday in regards to the selection of a judge to preside over the lawsuit filed by Healthy Dubois County against the City of Jasper and the Utility Service Board. [adrotate group=”1″] Three judges were offered on a panel for the selection. The three judges on the panel were Hon. Gregory A….
Huntingburg Fire Department enters video contest and wins
During the Huntingburg Board of Public Works meeting today Fire Department Chief Glen Kissling announced the fire department had entered and won a video contest sponsored by Hansen Fire and Safety (supplier and manufacturer of emergency response equipment). [adrotate group=”1″] “We were at the FDIC (Fire Department Instructor Conference & Exhibition) in Indy and saw…
Suicide a rising trend nationally and locally
Suicide is a topic most of us would prefer to avoid, but for two local organizations, the Dubois County Survivors of Suicide (SOS) and the Tri-Cap Teen Wellness program, raising awareness about suicide is a large part of their missions. [adrotate group=”1″] Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States according…
City of Jasper faces a complaint from the Office of Public Access in regards to biomass vote meeting
This story has been changed since first published to reflect that the downtown Jasper square was blocked from traffic due to Strassenfest. The Office of the Public Access Counselor has notified the City of Jasper of a formal complaint filed by Michelle Reller of Huntingburg in regards to the joint meeting held on August 5,…
Mack could make this year’s election more costly for Jasper
Jeffrey Mack Steffen’s continued presence on the ballot as a candidate for mayor of Jasper is causing problems with the Clerk’s Office. Steffen was convicted on August 18 of four counts of felony intimidation and a felony count of theft stemming from an incident that occurred on March 21, 2010. [adrotate group=”1″] Steffen is appealing…
Councilman Lindauer’s view on prayer before council meetings
I have been following with great interest the comments regarding prayer prior to county council meetings (previous article here). I would like to take a few moments to expand on my position as well as (hopefully) enhance and encourage continued open and civil dialogue. It is obvious not everyone agrees with my view, but I…
The Democratic Party will hold a caucus to fill the vacant seat on the County Council
An announcement from the Dubois County Democratic Party was made regarding the replacement of Councilman Scott Knies. According to Gary Eck, Dubois County Democratic Party Central Committee Chairman, the Precinct Democratic Chairpersons will caucus on September 20 to make selections. [adrotate group=”1″] The affected townships are Columbia, Hall, Jefferson, Jackson, and Ferdinand. There are 9…
State Police to concentrate traffic enforcement on US 231 in Spencer County
Spencer County: In light of all the crashes that have occurred on US 231 in Spencer County, Lieutenant Don Bolen Commander of the Jasper District is directing the troopers at the Jasper Post to concentrate their traffic enforcement efforts in the area. “Although we have been working the area since the roadway opened we will…
Weikert recuses himself from court case
Judge William Weikert has recused himself from the case between the City of Jasper and Healthy Dubois County due to the political nature of the lawsuit. The lawsuit filed by Steve Ripstra for Healthy Dubois County Inc. has stated the City violated Indiana Open Door laws regarding certain meetings that were held during the process…
