FEATURE: Shop with a cop

Jasper Police Patrolman Allan Foy, left, smiled as he watched three-year-old Logan use a popcorn tin as a drum as they finished their shopping spree Wednesday during the annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart Super Center in Jasper. The shopping spree, which benefited 61 children, was sponsored by the local Fraternal Order of Police and funded through donations from local businesses and individuals. Each child was given a $100 budget, $60 to be spent on clothes. The 61 children are all members of Tri-CAP Head Start, a comprehensive pre-school program for low-come families.



Indiana State Police Master Trooper Ken Miller of Shoals held the hand of four-year-old Leyla as he guided her through the toy section Wednesday during the annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart Super Center in Jasper.

FEATURE: Pucker up your clucker

Nicolle Cyrill of Jasper, left, leaned in to kiss a chicken in the arms of Kenny Wehr of Birdseye, one of about 20 chickens in a fenced in coop at his home Tuesday morning in downtown Birdseye. Cyrill and Wehr meet up about once a week for dinner after she bought farm-fresh eggs from him in July to swap stories, and she visits to help feed the chickens and the rabbits he breeds. "Chickens are a nice animal," she said. "You can find love within them, so they deserve to be loved."

GEN. NEWS: Our Precious Angels

Life is short. Time is the one thing so much of us squander, not thinking about the value it truly has in the big picture of life. We are too focused on the day-to-day dealings of work, school and, often, we do not look at the big picture. Life's grand scheme, when you look at it, is beautiful. In birth. In death. But I say we squander our time because we don't live enough. We don't live life without regrets, to our fullest. We are fearful of what others will think much of the time, and it's a horrible trait to waste so much of our lives worrying about. I just want to encourage every one of us to be honest with ourselves. Live the life we want for us, not for that guy in math class you have a crush on, and not for your editor. Live life for you. Make time for you. Be you.

All of this stems from an assignment that got me to think about life. So, the assignment was a candlelight service at the 4-H Fairgrounds Memorial Garden on Sunday, a service to remember, to commemorate all of the children who have died, and those who have lost children to come cope with that loss around others who have been through a similar tragedy in life. This photograph depicts one family who has been through a lot in the last 14 months. The family lost two different members to different vehicular accidents. The first was a motorcycle accident, the other a four-wheeler. One man was 44. The other 16. The elderly woman in the photo lost her son and grandson, a tragic reality I hope none of us ever have to face — losing a child or grandchild. The family was incredibly strong though. Why? Because they had each other. I was able to get every name, quotes and really talk to them in such a trying moment of their lives. They let me in. For that, I am eternally grateful. The Kluesners (other last names as well, but the family's root name) were simply admirable to be as strong as they were, and continue to be.

Back to the life discussion though. I, myself, was in a vehicular accident recently on my way back to Jasper from Michigan just last week. It wasn't much damage to either vehicle, and was more jarring than anything else. Accidents on the road have never bothered me. I've always stayed calm and collected, even when my front driver's side tire flies completely off at 70 mph. The thing is, I could easily have been unfortunate in any of these cases. I don't really understand how lucky I am to be in such good health and getting by without any injury in these situations. I've taken that for granted, through and through. I am incredibly lucky to have caring friends and family in my life, and wanted to say I am undoubtedly grateful for each of you in your own way. Thank you all for being in my life.



Carol Kluesner of Jasper, second from left, held her granddaughter Kennedy Kieffner of Jasper, 11, and was surrounded by other family members Sunday at the Our Precious Angels memorial at Dubois County Park. About 50 people gathered at a candlelight service to commemorate the lives of children who have died, and Carol’s son Terry and his son, Benton, were among those remembered. Also pictured, clockwise from left, are Zuniga Kluesner of Princeton, Whitley Kluesner of Jasper, 17, Mallory Alles of Jasper, 17, Debbie Beckman of Jasper and Rebecca Kluesner of Princeton, 9. Terry Kluesner died May 13 in a motorcycle accident, and Benton died Oct. 3, 2010, in a four-wheeler accident. “To be with people who have had the same tough luck you’ve had and to have my family here with me, it means everything,” Carol Kluesner said. “Together, we’re going to make it through. It’s a tear-jerker, but we stay strong for each other.”

FRIENDS: Bursting bubbles

Madeline Weatherwax, 2, smiled as she ran around trying to catch bubbles in her hand, and sometimes in her mouth on Nov. 5 as the sun set in her family's yard in Jasper, Ind.

SPORTS: Boonville at Jasper wrestling

Jasper's Dillon Wagner grimaced as he pressured Boonville's Luke Duncan onto his back for a near fall during the 170-pound match Thursday evening at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper. The Wildcats beat the Pioneers 37-27.



Boonville's Larry Whitehouse pinned Jasper's Dillon Hurst in three minutes, six seconds during the 106-pound match Thursday evening at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper.



Jasper varsity wrestlers focused together before taking on Boonville on Thursday evening at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper.



Jasper's Grant Brescher and Boonville's Tristen McDaniel clunked heads as they looked for an advantage in position during the 138-pound match Thursday evening at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper.



Jasper's Dillon Hurst, center, and the rest of its bench erupt in cheers when Grant Brescher won the 138-pound match against Boonville's Tristen McDaniel on Thursday evening at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper. The Wildcats beat the Pioneers 37-27.



Jasper's Grant Brescher pushed back onto Boonville's Tristen McDaniel in an attempt to turn him to his back as the two lay intertwined during the 138-pound match Thursday evening at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper.



A referee smaced his hand to the floor as Boonville's Connor Ennis pinned Jasper's Ben Popp in 42 seconds during the 145-pound match Thursday evening at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper. The Wildcats beat the Pioneers 37-27.



Jasper's Kyle Eckert lifted of his back to avoid being pinned by Boonville's Jarrod Hemmings during the 120-pound match Thursday evening at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper.



A referee watched on as Jasper's Cole Kreilen pinned Boonville's Cote Lawrence in two minutes, 50 seconds during the 160-pound match Thursday evening at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper. The Wildcats beat the Pioneers 37-27.

FEATURE: Puppy Love

Carolyn Rae Schmitt of Indianapolis, 12, cocked her head back laughing as she received kisses by their family's dog Charlie, who licked her face as she lifted him up into the air Saturday afternoon while celebrating Thanksgiving at her grandparent's house, Mayor Bill Schmitt and his wife Carolyn, on Saturday in Jasper. Carolyn Rae Schmitt was named after her grandmother, and her middle name was in honor of Bill Schmitt's father's name.

OUTTAKES: Dubois County 4-H Fair

SPORTS: Jasper at Pike Central

Pike Central's J.J. Howald reached for the basketball over teammate Kegan Aldridge as he fouled Jasper's Nate Messier, who completed a lay-up Saturday night at Pike Central High School in Petersburg. The Wildcats beat the Chargers 67-37.

FEATURE: Silly swinging

Logan Steele of Brownsburg, 2, smiled as she was raised higher, closer to her grandfather Dennis Schepers of Jasper, who made faces every time she swung close to him while Logan swung on an old rope swing on a tree in Scheper's front lawn Friday evening at his Skyview Drive home in Jasper. Logan was visiting for Thanksgiving weekend.

FEATURE: Tugging at Santa's beard

Five-month-old Ashlyn Street of Jasper tugged at Santa Claus' beard as her eyes lit up upon meeting him for the first time in her life Wednesday at Sixth Street fire station in Jasper.

FEATURE: Rock-a-bye Baby

Tamara Shasteen of Chicago rocked her three-year-old daughter Lauren Shasteen back and forth as she fell asleep in her lap waiting up to see Santa Claus on Wednesday night at the Sixth Street fire station in Jasper. The two are in town visiting Tamara's brother and sister-in-law for Thanksgiving.

STORY: Grave Work

Huntingburg Vault Company gravedigger Earl Underhill of Gentryville sweeps dirt back into the grave as he cleaned up excess around the edges while opening a grave site on Sept. 22 in St. Anthony. Graves are usually dug about 58 inches deep.



Huntingburg Vault Company co-owner Mike Tretter, bottom right, waited for concrete to pour down a luge as he and co-owner Dennis Boeglin pour, fill and smooth six 2,500-pound concrete burial vaults for caskets for about 90 minutes on Oct. 11 in Huntingburg. Tretter, a former mechanic, and Boeglin, a former coal miner, took over the business from its former owners about 17 years ago.



Huntingburg Vault Company gravedigger Darrel Harris, left, sat in each chair to test it for durability and comfort as Orville Lemond, center, and Earl Underhill continued to prep the chairs and gravesite for the post-funeral procession in Enlow Cemetery on Oct. 12 in Jasper.



Orville Lemond of Huntingburg handed a flower that had dropped from the casket to Nikolas Stuckey of Jasper, 10, to place back atop as he paid his respects to his grandmother Deborah L. Stuckey of Huntingburg, who was buried Oct. 12 in Enlow Cemetery in Jasper.



Flowers, as well as any other personal belonging left by family members atop the casket, are buried undisturbed by the gravediggers. "Death can be a beautiful thing, if you let it be," said Huntingburg Vault Company gravedigger Orville Lemond.



Gravedigger Earl Underhill of Gentryville slowly lowered the casket of Deborah L. Stuckey of Huntingburg into the vault in the ground after her funeral procession Oct. 12 at Enlow Cemetery in Jasper. Flowers, as well as any other personal belonging left by family members atop the casket, are buried undisturbed by the gravediggers.



Gravedigger Darrel Harris of Celestine, left, pulled down a truckload of dirt with a Kubota tractor back onto the gravesite of Bryan Reckelhoff while Earl Underhill of Gentryville directed both Harris and Orville Lemond of Huntingburg, not pictured, who maneuvered the truck back between headstones on Sept. 22 at St. Anthony Catholic Church cemetery.



Gravedigger Darrel Harris of Celestine took a moment to respect the man, Bryan Reckelhoff, he and two others buried after a funeral on Sept. 22 at St. Anthony Catholic Church cemetery. "Death is naturally a part of life, and we are the ones to ensure a peaceful burial," Harris said.

SPORTS: Evansville Mater Dei at Southridge

Southridge's Kendyl Dearing, right, ran forward for a layup past Evansville Mater Dei's Casey Jochem on Tuesday night at Memorial Gym in Huntingburg. Evansville Mater Dei beat Southridge 50-48.



Evansville Mater Dei's Beth Fischer and Southridge's Cassie Wertman fought for possession of the ball Tuesday night at Memorial Gym in Huntingburg. Evansville Mater Dei beat Southridge 50-48.



Southridge's Kendyl Dearing, left, grasped her jersey as she teared up walking off court with teammate Megan Dippel after losing 50-48 to Evansville Mater Dei on Tuesday night at Memorial Gym in Huntingburg.

FEATURE: Florence's 101st birthday

Florence Neuhoff, a St. Charles resident, lifted her tea cup during a tea part for her 101st birthday with about 20 other residents, who played games trying to guess facts about her life during a tea party Tuesday at St. Charles Health Campus. Neuhoff lived independently until she was 99 before moving into St. Charles. "I never thought I'd get to this age," she said. "I wish my family all the happiness in the world, and everyone here made this such a wonderful day for me to cherish."

SPORTS: Mount Vernon at Jasper football

Jasper's Kade Elliott, center, and his teammates run up the sideline and cheer as Cole Sermersheim scored on a 79-yard touchdown run Friday night at Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium. Jasper beat Mount Vernon 37-21.



Jasper's Jon Thomas hovered over Mount Vernon's Calvin King after tackling him with teammate Devon Traylor on a kick return Friday night at Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium. Jasper beat Mount Vernon 37-21.



Jasper's Logan Hettinger leapt into the air yelling as he celebrated a successful two-point conversion in the second quarter Friday night at Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium. Jasper beat Mount Vernon 37-21.

FEATURE: Dale Fall Festival Queen Pageant

Annastacia Sumbles of Gingerville, 16, waited backstage as she sat on the ground in the music room with her dress sprawled across the floor Sunday night during the Dale Fall Festival Queen Pageant at the Heritage Hills High School auditorium.



Mallori Hirt of Santa Claus, 16, left, Alex Hamilton of Dale, 17, Taylor Sigler of Santa Claus, 17, Annastacia Sumbles of Gingerville, 16, Kara Huff of Dale, 16, Morgan Lowry of Santa Claus, 17, and Shelby Krutz of Evanston, 16, threw their hands into a cheer along with the other four contestants and the previous queen Sunday night before the Dale Fall Festival Queen Pageant at the Heritage Hills High School auditorium. Winners of the pageant included: Mallori Hirt of Santa Claus, 16, 2011 Dale Fall Festival Queen and Miss Photogenic; Taylor Sigler of Santa Claus, 17, first runner-up; Lydia Gentry of Lamar, 16, second runner-up; Jolene Gogel of Lamar, 16, third runner-up; and Alyssa Begle of Mariah Hill, 17, fourth runner-up and Miss Congeniality.



Taylor Sigler of Santa Claus, 17, carefully applied lip gloss Sunday night backstage before the Dale Fall Festival Queen Pageant at the Heritage Hills High School auditorium.



Alyssa Begle of Mariah Hill, 17, right, closed her eyes as she tried to gather focus before taking the stage while Kara Huff of Dale, 16, showed signs of stress and being nervous Sunday night during the Dale Fall Festival Queen Pageant at the Heritage Hills High School auditorium.



Shelby Krutz of Evanston, 16, checked her text messages in the dressing room backstage Sunday night during the Dale Fall Festival Queen Pageant at the Heritage Hills High School auditorium.



Left: Jolene Gogel of Lamar, 16, stood in the doorway as she tried to keep her calm backstage before taking the stage for the first time individually Sunday night during the Dale Fall Festival Queen Pageant at the Heritage Hills High School auditorium. Gogel was named third runner-up in the pageant. Right: Annastacia Sumbles of Gingerville, 16, stood on-stage smiling while waiting to answer a question for the judges and audience during the evening gown competition Sunday night during the Dale Fall Festival Queen Pageant at the Heritage Hills High School auditorium.



While the judges' deliberation period, Annastacia Sumbles of Gingerville, 16, smiled as she hugged her mother Shannon Dean of Dale on Sunday night during the Dale Fall Festival Queen Pageant at Heritage Hills High School. "It's all about her. I didn't push her into this, she had the drive to do it all herself," Shannon Dean said. "I'm so proud of her. She's my little beauty queen."