Tuesday, March 4, 2025 Issue #37

From Dubois County

Afternoon, Reader,

I watched my friend Jim open the Italian phone book we kept under our watch commander’s desk at the front entrance of our department’s office building.

It was later in the evening, and Jim was going to prank call an Italian. Your taxes at work.

There are six million people living in the Campagna region of Italy, most of them in Naples, where we were stationed as part of Naval Support Activity Naples. The phone book carried the heft of millions of names and numbers printed nearly microscopically on each molecularly thin slice of paper it used for pages.

Jim’s finger stopped, and grinning, he picked up our phone and punched the number in that his finger held in place.

Memory can play tricks and fill in gaps in our minds as we age. This was about 30 years ago, but for some reason, I will never forget his face as the call was answered. Jim’s grin relaxed, and he quietly said, “Ciao. Come stai?”

Hello. How are you?

And they began talking. He, in his broken Italian, and she, in her broken English.

Her name was Anna, her last name firmly in the "I" section of the phone book. They went on their first date that week.

I don’t remember much about their courtship, but the wonder of watching Jim open that book, put his finger on a number and dial his future wife has stayed with me through the years.

Jim, like all of us, has his firsthand experience of this moment of finding his love, but unlike many of us, I have the distinct honor of having watched it happen.

They've been together since 1997 and have a teenager. Jim retired from the Navy.

Have a great day.

From Dubois County with love.

Matthew and Amy Crane

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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.​

​Nancy K. Hedinger, 83, Jasper,​

​Barbara JoAnn Blessinger, 88, Huntingburg​

​Jasper Obstetrics & Gynecology seeking LPN or CMA​

​Jasper Obstetrics & Gynocology seeking Medical Receptionist​

​Holiday Foods Jasper now hiring​

​B&A Construction and Design seeking Construction Crew Leader​

​Jasper Engines & Transmissions seeking Manual Machinists​

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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