Signs Up! to return to county schools
Dubois County CARES is again conducting a Signs Up! campaign at county middle schools, junior highs and high schools in August. This is a project CARES created last summer as a show of support for area students. Collaborating with school administrators, CARES staff and volunteer community members greet students at the various schools on select…
2026 Miss, Junior Miss and Little Miss/Mister Strassenfest named
Introducing the 2026 Miss Strassenfest Court 2026 Miss Congeniality: Cora Hasenour 2026 Miss Photogenic: Lilly Hanshaw 2026 Miss 2nd Runner Up: Olivia Young 2026 Miss 1st Runner Up: Whitney Recker 2026 Miss Strassenfest: Reese Mundy Introducing the 2026 Jr. Miss Strassenfest Court. 2026 Jr. Miss Congeniality: Amelia Grothouse 2026 Jr. Miss Photogenic: Mariell Schnell 2026…
Jasper’s Big Three
When Cyril Birge, 93, walked into the gathering of noted athletes, coaches, officials, and sportswriters in Huntingburg in 2008, they all stood to gather round and greet him. The annual meeting of this group was dubbed The Legends. But those there knew Cyril was the legend among legends. They stood for no one else. That…
Actors Community Theatre unveils 2026-2027 performance season
Jasper–Actors Community Theatre (ACT) is proud to unveil its 2026–2027 Performance Season. Frankenstein: The Radio Play Adapted by Philip Grecian from the novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Frankenstein: The Radio Play transports audiences back in time, blending classic radio storytelling with imaginative sound effects and minimal staging. Captain Robert Walton’s expedition to the Arctic takes…
Celebration Singers set to perform five free concerts
The Celebration Singers invite the community to attend one or more of their scheduled upcoming concerts. 2026 marks the Celebration Singers’ 25th year of performing free concerts throughout Southern Indiana, celebrating Faith and Freedom. The all-volunteer community choir features approximately 60 singers from Dubois, Spencer, Pike, Martin and Monroe Counties. There is no admission charge to…
County holding meetings to address solar, land use, zoning and the comprehensive plan (update)
Dubois County Commissioners plan to hold two upcoming public sessions: one on solar energy development, land use and zoning and a second on the continued development of the comprehensive plan. The first meeting will likely impact how the comprehensive plan outlines the county’s views on developing comprehensive zoning. With a solar development moratorium set to…
No injuries after early-morning house fire in Jasper
Jasper–No one was injured in a house fire that Jasper Volunteer Firefighters responded to early Friday morning Crews were called to a home on Plymouth Street at 1:11 a.m. for a report of smoke, according to Jasper Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang. When Jasper police officers and the first firefighter arrived, they saw black smoke coming…
Kinderchor practice
The Kinderchor is set to perform on the Glockenspiel Stage next week at the 2026 Jasper Strassenfest. Mary Burke, Jasper Elementary School Music Teacher, was taking the group through their final rehearsals Thursday evening at St. Joseph Parish. Here are a few photos from the rehearsal.
City reconsiders alley vacation in light of lawsuit, improper notification procedures
Jasper–After the vacation of an alley in March led to a lawsuit, the Jasper Common Council is being asked to reconsider its decision since one property owner adjacent to the alley wasn’t properly notified. According to City Attorney Renee Kabrick, Jeremy W. Schroeder and Michelle K. Wiertel filed a petition to vacate a north-south public…
Elevator outage at Vine Street Lofts leaves disabled Jasper residents relying on 911 for medical appointments
An elevator issue is forcing second-floor residents at the Vine Street Lofts to call 911 to attend medical appointments and rely on property staff to deliver medications and remove trash. The low-income housing in Jasper is for residents 55 and older, and many have varying degrees of disabilities requiring canes or walkers, making it difficult…
Jasper Council takes no action on leaving Mid-States Corridor RDA
Wednesday, the Jasper City Council voted 5-2 at the regular meeting to take no further action on its membership in the Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority, allowing the RDA to terminate naturally on Dec. 31, 2027. The council considered three options — taking no further action, voting to formally remain in the RDA through its…
Bretzville Junction to close next week
The Indiana Department of Transportation announces an intersection closure for State Road 64/162 in Dubois County. Beginning on or around Thursday, July 30, crews will close the intersection of State Road 64 and State Road 162 near Bretzville. This intersection closure will allow for ongoing intersection improvement work. This phase of construction is expected to…
Actors Community Theatre presents ‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’ this weekend
Actors Community Theatre will bring “Legally Blonde: The Musical” to the stage this week, running Thursday through Sunday at the Jasper Arts Center, 951 College Ave. Based on the popular 2001 film, the musical follows Elle Woods, a fashionable and determined young woman who enrolls at Harvard Law School in pursuit of love, only to…
Road reclosure planned for State Road 145 in Dubois County
The Indiana Department of Transportation announces the continuation of a road closure for State Road 145 in Dubois County. Beginning on or around Wednesday, July 29, crews will close State Road 145 near Birdseye. This road closure, originally set to begin in May, was reopened due to a project delay. This new closure will occur…
I&M proposes Rockport Energy Center, eyes 2030 startup for natural gas plant at retiring coal site
Rockport–Indiana Michigan Power has asked state regulators to approve a natural gas plant at its Rockport Generating Station, aiming to replace the site’s retiring coal units with a new source of power and jobs for Spencer County. The utility, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, filed a request Monday with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission…
IU O’Neil School to present Truman Road property analysis Thursday
Jasper–The Indiana University O’Neil School of Public & Environmental Affairs will present its Truman Road Property Analysis, a capstone project, during a public meeting Thursday, July 23, at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom. Join from computer or mobile: Zoom link: https://iu.zoom.us/j/81736808738Meeting ID: 817 3680 8738 The presentation is intended for informational purposes only. Members of…
Commissioners revisit stalled county administrator position ahead of budget season
Dubois County Commissioners signaled Monday they intend to bring back a proposal to create a county administrator position. Commissioner Chad Blessinger raised the issue as a discussion item during the board’s July 20 meeting, saying he did not want a vote that day but wanted other county offices and members of the public to have…
Jasper Municipal Pool design recognized by Aquatics International
Jasper–The Jasper Municipal Pool, designed by Hafer and aquatics consultant Counsilman-Hunsaker, has been named a 2026 Dream Design by Aquatics International. The annual award program celebrates extraordinary aquatics facilities and honors the design teams involved. The Jasper Municipal Pool was one of 10 projects recognized from around the world. The Jasper Municipal Pool opened in…
Distributions underway to repay local governments for gas tax suspension
by Mackenzi Klemann, Indiana Capital ChronicleJuly 21, 2026 Indiana will begin distributing highway funds to local governments this week to cover losses from the state’s gas tax suspension. The State Board of Finance met Tuesday morning to authorize the transfer of $121 million from the State Highway Fund to local governments through the Motor Vehicle…
Huntingburg Park Board tables bike ordinance discussion, approves grant application for accessible playground
The Huntingburg Park Board voted to table a proposed ordinance governing bicycle and e-bike use in city parks at its most recent meeting, with board members agreeing they needed more time to develop a workable proposal before sending recommendations to the city council. Parks Director Jace Merkel brought the discussion forward after the city began…
Erin Hochgesang work on display at Thyen-Clark Cultural Center
Jasper Arts is pleased to present the work of former Jasper resident and artist Erin Hochgesang at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center from July 30 through September. The solo exhibition features a variety of textiles, embroidery, batik, and watercolor. Hochgesang, now residing in Floyds Knobs, is a natural dyer and textile artist living in the Indiana…
Residents speak up for friends and neighbors
“Do you not see your neighbor?” Brandon Lopez asked rhetorically. “Do you not understand what is going on?” Lopez was gathered with about 80 concerned citizens who came out to the Dubois County Courthouse Saturday afternoon to protest recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the area. Spurred by the arrest of Jasper resident Angel…
New analysis projects $8B in long-term benefits from Mid-States Corridor, INDOT says; Some figures require context
A new economic analysis says Section 2 of the Mid-States Corridor project in Dubois County could bring benefits worth four times its estimated cost, according to a July 15 announcement from the Indiana Department of Transportation. (Release attached at the end of the story.) But questions submitted by the Dubois County Free Press to INDOT…
14,000 meals added to local food banks through Kimball Solutions’ efforts
Hips swayed and heads bobbed along three production lines at Kimball Solutions Friday afternoon. It was a fun moment as pop music blared from a nearby garage speaker, and each employee assembled their piece of the product before it was weighed, sealed and packed into cardboard boxes. Though much less technical than the work employees…
Rotary Club of Dubois County announces 14th Annual ATHENA Leadership Award finalists
The Rotary Club of Dubois County is proud to announce six outstanding women leaders as finalists for the 14th Annual ATHENA International Leadership Awards. This year’s ATHENA Leadership Award finalists are: Beatriz Cobo Becerra, Shannon Fuhs, Tammy Humbert, Susan Mann, Paula Rasche, and Somula Schwoeppe. The 2026 awards banquet will be held on Thursday, September…
All smoke, no fire; perfect for training
It was all smoke, but no fire, as firefighters trained on a home set to be demolished just off U.S. 231/Main Street in Huntingburg Wednesday evening. Firefighters from the Huntingburg and Jasper fire departments held a joint training session, practicing home entry and responding to simulated scenarios on multiple levels. “Acquired structures provide some of…
Property around Huntingburg’s south water tower could be subdivided for private sale
The City of Huntingburg is considering the sale of a portion of a six-acre site where the city’s south water tower is located. The city council voted unanimously on Tuesday to authorize Mayor Neil Elkins to seek two appraisals and contract for a survey on the city-owned parcel along Sunset Drive as the first step…
Dubois County Democratic Party hosting “Your Community, Your Say” event
Dubois County Democrats launch Big Tent town hall series in St. Anthony on July 22. Property rights, solar, data centers, property taxes, and more. Free and open to everyone. St. Anthony–Neighbors across Dubois County are invited to a community town hall on Wednesday, July 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the St. Anthony Community…
Indiana’s state budget reserves jump 60% in past year to $4B
by Tom Davies, Indiana Capital Chronicle July 15, 2026 Indiana’s state government cash reserves grew by $1.5 billion over the past year as tax collections increased much faster than expected. Rising revenue combined with an ongoing clampdown on state spending led to a 60% jump in the reserves to just shy of $4 billion as…
Kimball Electronics launches rebrand to Kimball Solutions
Jasper–Kimball Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KE) announced the successful completion of the first phase of its rebranding to Kimball Solutions at its Jasper and Indianapolis, Indiana facilities, effective July 1, 2026. This milestone reflects the Company’s continued transformation from a traditional electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider into a global, diversified manufacturing and engineering solutions partner. The…
Huntingburg considering how to address data centers
At Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, Huntingburg officials discussed establishing clear regulations for data centers after acknowledging the city’s current zoning code has no specific provisions governing the facilities. The topic arose after resident Jacey Lamb asked for an update on the Unified Development Ordinance and its governance over data center development. Mayor Neil Elkins confirmed…
