Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 Issue #160

From Dubois County

Happy Monday, Reader,

"Caulk and paint will make you the carpenter you ain't," is what my father-in-law said to me Saturday evening after I called him over to give me some advice on how to put a new door in a 65-year-old home.

He and I have different views on DIY projects. I respond to variables creatively, and he builds things to last, sticking to a plan or going back to the drawing board completely if it doesn't necessarily work out perfectly.

Admittedly, his way is usually best.

Which is also why I was puzzled by the caulk and paint line. My father-in-law builds things meticulously, and he does it right the first time.

He was leaning on a post we set for our front porch/deck about 20 years ago when he shared his caulk and paint wisdom with me. The deck was completed with his planning and hands-on guidance, and I learned a great deal about his meticulous nature while building it.

We came to a hiccup in construction one day as we attempted to work around a spigot in the front of our yard. My father-in-law stopped working as he started to recalculate the run of a stringer we were attaching to the posts.

He seemed to want to quit for the day and go think about it a bit before continuing. I saw a quick fix and voiced it to him.

He didn't like it, I could tell. He didn't say anything, but he accepted my creative work around begrudgingly (admitting it would work), and we continued building the deck deeper into the evening.

But the tone had changed. Jovial comments and jokes weren't passed around anymore, and the day's work ended more somberly than it had started.

The next day, he came back in a better mood, and we finished the deck without any more hiccups.

With that in mind, his comment came as a bit of a surprise to me. But I also know people change as they get older.

Maybe he's a little less meticulous in his older age, I thought to myself.

Then, leaning on that post he helped set 20 years ago, he smiled a crooked smile and said, "Deck's held up pretty well. How long ago did we build it?"

From Dubois County with love.

Matthew and Amy Crane

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​Jasper Downtown Revitalization update​

​Former Dubois County nonprofit director sentenced for embezzling​

Also see this response from the organization

​Mentors for Youth responds to sentencing of former director​

​Comedian Lucas Bohn is set to bring the laughs to The Astra on Saturday, October 18​

​Dubois County Health Department offering free Suicide Prevention Kits to the community​

​Indiana license plate sales lift charitable efforts; new requirements may limit who can take part​

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​Letter: Kleinhelter should resign​

​Sisters of St. Benedict hosting Richard Jeric in concert for St. Mechtilde of Hackeborn Sacred Music Series​

​Eucharistic Adoration available twice weekly at St. Meinrad Parish​

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We have a community calendar full of great activities and events happening in Dubois County.

If you have an upcoming event you'd like the public to know about, please add it to our calendar.

​See it here.​

​Mary Lou (Nonte) Montgomery, 98, Isanti, Minn.​

​Sheila K. Julian, 73, Spurgeon,​

​Margaret L. Townley, 83, Petersburg​

​Jasper Group now hiring​

​Jasper Group seeking 2nd Shift Machine Room Supervisor​

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Check out all the job opportunities by clicking here: Employment​

Contact Amy at amy@duboiscountyfreepress.com or 812-639-9650 if you would like to list openings on our website.​

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