FEATURE: Saved by the bell

Eight Heritage Hills eighth graders relaxed after gym class on the gymnasium floor while waiting the final minutes before the last bell rang to go home at the end of the school day Wednesday afternoon at Heritage Hills High School in Lincoln City. Heritage High School eighth graders pictured, from top-let, clockwise, Andrew Show, 14, Noah Seaford, 13, Owen Ninke, 13, Ryan Hines, 13, Christian Alvey, 14, Mason Becher, 14, Kyle Kaetzel, 13, and Nick Pate, 14.

SPORTS: 'Hour of Power'

Rebecca Richardson of Jasper, 17, center, cheered loudly amongst about 60 other participants, comprised of the boys' and girls' swim teams, master's swimmers and Jasper Aquatic Wildcats (JAWS) members, as they celebrated Tuesday evening at the pool at Jasper High School after completing a full hour of non-stop swimming for the "Hour of Power" relay, a fundraiser for Amanda Rees and Sarcoma research. More than $1,700 was raised in donations, which will be split between Amanda Rees' family and the Ted Mullin Fund for Pediatric Sarcoma Research at the Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago.

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."

GEN. NEWS: Election Night 2011

Bill Hewitt, president of the Jasper Public Library Board and the chairman of Political Action Team — Vote No, smiled as he embraced Ellen Vonderheide of Jasper on Tuesday night at Snaps Restaurant as he celebrated the final count of 3,884 of 5,345 area residents, 73 percent, voting not to fund the construction of a new Jasper Public Library on South Newton Street.



Marilyn Schepers, left, and Sarah Leinenbach, both of Jasper, worked together as Schepers listened to the radio as voting numbers came in while Leinenbach kept record on a piece of notebook paper to follow the races closely Tuesday night at the Knights of Columbus building in Jasper.



Caleb Burger of Jasper, 9, dragged his hand down his face as he listened to results come across the radio, continuously stating his father, Jasper democratic mayoral candidate John Burger, was down in the polls as each precinct reported results Tuesday evening at the Knights of Columbus building in Jasper. Burger lost to republican candidate Terry Seitz, who raked in 68 percent of the vote.

GEN. NEWS: Living Veterans Award

World War II veteran Jerome "Jerry" Blesch of Holland, 85, left, stood humbled as emotions overcame him while a room of about 70 people, mostly veterans, gave a standing ovation, including his daughter Barb Shafer of Carmel after receiving Dubois County's Living Veterans Award on Saturday at American Legion Post 343 in Holland. "I'm so proud of my father. He's just a good guy all around, and a very, very humbled man. He won't say he deserves this award, but he truly does," Shafer said.

SPORTS: Sectional Football Loss

The football floated above the pack of players as Jasper's Cole Sermersheim fumbled the ball after Evansville Central's Jesse Hohl popped it loose in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats made their last effort push upfield to even the score Friday during the Class 4A sectional championship game at Central Stadium in Evansville. The Bears beat the Wildcats 23-14.



Jasper's Sam Hahn fell to one knee after a third down attempt failed in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats made the last-effort push upfield to even the score Friday during the Class 4A sectional championship game at Central Stadium in Evansville. The Bears beat the Wildcats 23-14.

GEN. NEWS: Meals for Veterans

American Legion Post 147's Dicky Singer, left, expressed his gratitude as he delivered meals to the home of former Jasper mayor Jerome "Chick" Alles and his wife Annie, both of Jasper, as they smiled at the site of the turkey meal provided by the American Legion in Jasper to veterans and their spouses Thursday evening at St. Charles Health Campus. About 450 meals were given to veterans and their families throughout Jasper.



Bill Hedinger of Jasper, who served in the Air Force from 1952 to 1956, laughed as he and his wife Libby swapped stories while sharing a turkey meal with Dick and Sally Moorman of Jasper provided by American Legion Post 147 in Jasper to veterans and their spouses Thursday evening at St. Charles Health Campus. About 450 meals were given to veterans and their families throughout Jasper. Dick Moorman served in the Air Force from 1943 to 1950.

FEATURE: Reach!

Keaton Allen, 6, left, leapt into the air to grab the net at the bottom of the basketball hoop as his sister Kamryn Allen, 4, both of Holland, prepared to shoot a walnut into the hoop as the two took turns practicing free throws with walnuts at their grandparents', Tom and Vickie Thacker's house on the 200 block of Meridian Street in Holland. "It's fun to come to my grandparents' house everyday after school to play," Keaton said.

SPORTS: Semistate Loss

As members of Bishop Chatard celebrated their semistate championship, Jasper's Annie Huebner, left, coped with the loss as her teammates Jaclyn Schmitt, Lydia Scherle and Abby Rogers cried in each other's arms after losing the 40th annual IHSAA volleyball semistate championship game Saturday at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper. The Wildcats lost the match to the Trojans in 4 sets, 25-22, 19-25, 12-25, 24-26.



Jasper's Rachel Bartley, left, held teammate Shelby Merder closely as the two cried in the locker room after losing the 40th annual IHSAA volleyball semistate championship game against Bishop Chatard on Saturday at Cabby O'Neill Gymnasium in Jasper. The Wildcats lost the match to the Trojans in 4 sets, 25-22, 19-25, 12-25, 24-26.

FEATURE: Costume contest

Madison Hostetter, 10, left, smiled as her friend Kaylee Howard, 9, both of Jasper, rushed to hug her as they waited for results of a Halloween costume contest each participated in Saturday afternoon at Jaycee Park hosted by Jasper Jaycees Inc. in Jasper. Hostetter claimed first place for prettiest costume as a monster high doll. Howard dressed as a cheetah. "I get to act all pretty when I dress up, that's the best part about costumes," Madison said.