The New Washington High School cheerleaders competed at the Indiana High School State Cheerleading Championships on Saturday, November 3. They competed at the Regional level to advance on to the State Competition and came home with the second place trophy. They fell short from the State title by only 25 points.
    The Jeeps of Northeast Dubois took the state title for the fourth year in a row.
    The NW squad and NW fans were ecstatic with being first runners-up. The squad was escorted in to town by the New Washington Fire Department and welcomed at the school by a huge crowd of fans.
    The squad consisted of Seniors- Heather Gill and Sammi Sarver, Juniors- Sam Callis and Kasey Curry, Sophomores- Madison Tuell and Chantel Hammond and Freshmen- Kasey Gill, Erica Reis, Cheyenne Hester, Krissi Cochran and Becca Wolfley.
    The squad is coached by fifth year coach Emily Oliver-Jones.
    Coach Oliver-Jones stated, "Being the State Champs 1^st Runners-Up is almost like first place for us! We have worked so hard for the past five years to get to this level and we finally did it!"
    She continued, "I must say, we are losing two extremely talented seniors in Heather Gill and Sammi Sarver who will be truly missed! I am glad they could experience what this feels like. They deserve the glory for the years of hard work and dedication they have given to the NW cheer program. We have a young team and we will be back next year and I definitely see a Cheerleading State Championship Title in our future!"
    Oliver-Jones concluded, "Lastly, I would like to say a huge thank you to the community, businesses, students, parents and administrators who have been so supportive throughout this entire process. It means so much and we are greatly appreciative!"

    Just a few years ago the Sellersburg Police Department family came together to honor one of their own as William "Bill" Huber III retired after 28 years of dedicated service to the department.
    The SPD family was saddened early Tuesday morning as they learned of Huber’s passing. Huber died Tuesday at Clark Memorial Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He was 54 years old.
    Officials with the department were kept busy the remainder of the week planning and helping to organize Huber’s funeral which was held on Saturday morning at Garr Funeral Home in Sellersburg. Many mourners were in attendance to pay their last respects to Sgt. Huber. Many fought back tears as they recalled great memories they have of a man who spent his life serving and protecting the Town of Sellersburg.
    ‘Sellersburg Police Chief Russ Whelan and Deputy Chief Donald Ross Jr. both recalled what a great officer and man Huber was.
    After his retirement, Huber was honored by the Sellersburg Town Council and Police Department as he was presented a beautiful plaque by Town Council President Doug Reiter and former Police Chief Pat Bradshaw. The presentation came during the May 9, 2005 Sellersburg Town Council meeting.
    Huber, who was affectionately known as "Hubie" to his fellow officers, had pulled up to the Sellersburg Police Department on April 30, 2005 and parked his cruiser for the very last time. He dedicated 28 years and five months of service to the town. Huber was hired November 22, 1976 by Robert Campbell, the first Police Chief of Sellersburg.
    Huber would then follow in his mentor’s footsteps and became the second Chief of Police in Sellersburg Police history. He was appointed Chief in 1988.
    During Huber’s tenure as Chief he implemented two programs that he was very proud of, the longevity pay program and the program where officers are allowed to take their police cars home.
    During an interview after he retired in 2005, a very humble Huber stated, "I’m proud of the take home cars and longevity pay. Those will continue long after I’m gone. I thought loyalty and experience should be rewarded."
    Prior to Huber being appointed Chief he was named the first Detective of the police department. He was appointed Detective in 1985. During that same interview, he stated that his work as Detective produced some of his fondest memories.
    Even though he retired, Huber still had law enforcement running through his blood. After his retirement he worked part-time as a Dispatcher for the Sellersburg Police Department.
    Huber is survived by his wife, Kathy, whom he married on February 14, 1976, and two children, Kristie and William Huber IV.
    Sellersburg Police Sgt. Mike Stricker worked with Huber for 18 years. He was quick to tell stories and remember his long-time friend.
    "There are very, very few in the country that had a record like him as far as morals, ethics and character," Stricker stated with admiration. "He was intelligent and had an excellent education. He told me one time that he was like 20 hours from having his Masters Degree in Criminology. When he left as Chief of Police, I read his resignation letter and there were some words he used in there that you’d have to look up in the dictionary to understand their meaning. I’d give anything for that education."
    Stricker concluded, "He and I were close. We shared a lot of special memories. We talked about things that I’ll never share with anybody.

    The Clark County community was saddened Friday as they learned of the loss of a man many referred to as ‘great.’
Former Clark County Sheriff Michael Becher died early Friday morning after a short battle with cancer. Becher was diagnosed approximately a month ago with cancer of several vital organs. He was 56 years old.
   Many remember Becher for his time as the Sheriff of Clark County. Becher was also an Indiana State Trooper from 1974 until he resigned in 1980.
   He was Sheriff from 1987 to 1994 and again from 1999-2006. When the time to run for Sheriff rolled around his famous white t-shirts would again appear throughout the county with the "Becher Backer" motto on the back of the shirts.
   As the news of the loss of such an influential man spread throughout the community, many local law enforcement officers and local politicians were quick to offer a comment about a good friend of Clark County. Each with their own personal story along with admiration for Becher wanted to take a moment to honor the former Sheriff. Many were fighting back tears as they recalled the fond memories.
   Joe Waters, a Patrolman for the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, took a few moments to gather his thoughts when he was asked about Becher. Waters was hired by Becher in 2002.
   "Mike hired me and Marc Meyer and Dave Tinney on the same day in December 2002. We were hired on a Cops in School Grant," Waters explained. "I was his Assistant Jail Commander. The tents in the parking lot, do you remember?, I remember that morning well. He had a way of getting your attention. That Tent City definitely got the attention."
   According to Waters, Becher was a man of his word.
   "When Mike told you something, he would come through with it. He told me he would get me on the street and he did. If he said it, you knew he would do it," Waters stated.
   Waters then recalled a man who was genuinely concerned with his officers and Sheriff’s Department family.
   "When I hurt my shoulder while I was off he made sure that my family and I would be provided for until workman’s comp came in. He called me at least twice a week to check on me," Waters added.
   Waters recalled a Sheriff who was always looking out for those who worked for him. Always encouraging them to be the best they could be.
   "Mike always encouraged us to better ourselves. If he couldn’t put us out on the streets as a policeman and another department could, he would sit down and write us a letter of recommendation. He always wanted to help us achieve our dreams," Waters recalled. "I also don’t think there was ever a time that I seen Mike that he didn’t ask me how my wife and kids were. He was honestly concerned. He always gave words of wisdom. Mike never downed anybody."
   Waters concluded, "Mike Becher was definitely a leader. He lead by his voice and his actions and in his private life he led. He was just a great man."
   Anthony Snell has been an officer with the Charlestown Police Department for three years. Prior to coming to Charlestown Police he spent a year and a half at the jail.
   Snell was quick to praise Becher for the opportunity he was given.
   "Mike Becher gave me my first job beginning my career in law enforcement and for that I’ll be forever grateful. That was a stepping stone for the police department job. A lot of street officers got their start at the jail, it’s real good for officers to get their foot in the door," Snell stated.
   He continued, "I worked for Mike at the jail. The Sheriff’s Office and the jail are divided so I did not deal with Mike a whole lot. He was always professional. He made a career out of law enforcement. He was well liked by the entire community of Clark County. He treated every employee with dignity and respect. He would always give you a fair shake. He was very knowledgeable when it came to law enforcement."
   Snell concluded, " He served all those years as a State Trooper and then at Clark County Sheriff’s Department. If you had any questions pertaining to law enforcement, he was the one to ask. Clark County has lost a very important figure."
   Jamey Noel of the Indiana State Police fondly recalled the last visit he made to Becher just days before his passing. Noel and Brian Jones visited Becher at his home in Henryville on October 25.
   Noel recalled the visit, "When we walked in he said ‘Hey, there’s two good guys.’ Brian Jones and I went to see him together. We just talked and I said to him, ‘Mike, I want to make sure you know that even though we are on different sides of the political realm, I want you to know I always respected you and thought you did a wonderful job as Sheriff.’ I told him he ran a good department," Noel stated.
   The response that Noel received from Becher was one that Noel will forever be grateful for.
   "He said to me, you know Jamey, the D or R behind your name is not what matters, it’s what is in your heart that matters. That meant so much to me. I felt it but he said it," Noel quietly recalled.
   He continued, "I knew in my heart that no matter who won for Sheriff, either Danny or myself, obviously Danny won, that Mike would help out any way he could. I definitely respected him. Mike did a lot for Clark County and for the Sheriff’s Department."
   Noel concluded about his visit with Becher, "I went up to visit him and give him some cheer and he had the kinds words for me. I am really glad I went to see him. Those words he said to me is just what I believe and what was in his heart. It meant a lot to me. He was just a super guy."
   The Clark County Commissioners held a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, October 24 to rename the new Clark County Jail. The jail was renamed the Michael L. Becher Adult Corrections Complex in honor of Becher’s dedication to serving and protecting Clark County.
   Commissioner Mike Moore was recently asked about that ceremony and about Becher.
   "It drew a large crowd, it was standing room only and it was on short notice. That in itself shows what kind of man Mike was," Moore explained. "I knew Mike more as a Sheriff as to a politician. He determined respect for the law. When I hear respect for the law, I automatically thought of Mike Becher. I thought of Mike as a Sheriff not a politician, a Sheriff who was still a police officer. He always stayed above the fray of politics that is often involved with that job. He stayed above the politics of it. He was just a great guy."
   Clark County Council President David Abbott also attended the renaming ceremony. He, like Moore, talked about the crowd that attended the event. Then he talked about the man often seen in his brown uniform protecting the County as Sheriff.
   "He was a great guy. He was always easy to talk to and always helped in any way he could. He was a great asset to our community and will be greatly missed. My prayers go out to the Clark County Sheriff’s Department and Mike’s family," Abbott stated about the man who truly left his mark on Clark County.
   Becher is survived by his wife, Sara, and their two children Jennifer Haycraft (Brian) and David Becher, father, Lee Becher, two sisters, Diana Fidler and Patricia Becher, one brother, Mark, and two grandchildren, Conner and Tyler.
   Becher’s funeral was held yesterday morning at Henryville High School with burial at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Henryville.