THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 121 • ISSUE NO. 36 • 1 SECTION • 16 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Celebrating the Class of 2024 Colfax-Mingo seniors cross the stage during graduation ceremony May 19
Baxter seniors take home diplomas and scholarships during commencement ceremony
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune
MEMORIAL BRIDGE DEDICATION
Jasper County names bridge after reserve deputy who died on duty in 1973
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune
Stop by the market Colfax Farmers Market back each Tuesday at Mineral Springs Park By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Each Tuesday the citizens of Colfax and community members from around the county are invited to Mineral Springs Park for the Colfax Farmers Market. Filled with homegrown fruits and vegetables, homemade baked goods and handmade crafts, the market has a little of something for everyone. “We want people to come out every Tuesday,” Colfax Main Street Director Stuart Patterson said. “We enjoy seeing people.” Open from 4 to 6:30 p.m., the market kicked off the year May 14 with several
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Family members of Howard Holdefer pose for a photo next to a wreath bearing his image and the replica of a sign that appears near a bridge named after the reserve deputy who died more than 50 years ago. The bridge over the South Skunk River on F-62, just west of Reasnor, has been renamed to Jasper County Reserve Deputy Captain Howard W. Holdefer Memorial Bridge.
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Georgia Pierce, of Colfax, introduced herself as “the one and only” daughter of Howard Holdefer before pointing out the rest of her big family. Sons, inlaws, nieces, nephews, grandchildren. A dozen names. The whole lot showed up to honor Holdefer’s memory at a bridge dedication ceremony last week in Reasnor. It was a solemn reminder of the true loss that happens when a law enforcement officer makes the ultimate sacrifice, like Holdefer did. On Oct. 30, 1973, Holdefer suffered a heart attack when assisting the ar-
rests of three individuals. Some of the family members who attended the dedication ceremony did not even get a chance to meet him. Jeremy Holdefer, a grandson, only knew about him through the stories his father would tell him. Even without having any personal memories of Holdefer, Jeremy played a big role in pushing for a bridge dedication for his grandfather. With a little help from the highway department and Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty, it was done. Jeremy knew how much his father, who has since passed, would have loved it. DEDICATION | 3
FARMERS MARKET | 6
‘Make it worth the price we pay’ Sheriff reinforces the message of National Police Week at annual ceremony By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Surrounded by local law enforcement officers and support staff gathered on the north lawn of the county courthouse for the annual National Police Week ceremony, Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty held back tears when recalling the on-duty and line of duty deaths
Republican candidates for Jasper County sheriff participate in forum By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Three Republican candidates running for sheriff of Jasper County participated in a party-organized forum this week. Since the local Democratic Party does not have any of its own candidates running for the seat, the results of the primary election on June 4 will, in all likelihood, decide who will be the next sheriff. Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty will be retiring from a nearly 40-year career in law enforcement at the end of the year. In the running to take over his spot are Republican candidates Lt. Brad Shutts and Sgt. Tracy Cross of the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office and Colfax Police Chief Jeremy Burdess. Candidates gathered inside the chapel of the St. Luke United Methodist Church, whose parking lot in the 500 block of East 19th Street North was completely full of cars. The room was similarly filled to the brim with an attentive audience eagerly awaiting answers to their submitted questions. CONTACT US
File Photo Nice weather welcomed the first Colfax Farmers Market May 14 in Mineral Springs Park. The farmers market is from 4 to 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday.
of fallen comrades. During the time that the six fallen officers served, Halferty was alive and living in Jasper County. However, as a child he had no recollection of the deaths of reserve deputy Howard Holdefer in 1973 and officer Donald “Rusty” Hewitt in 1977, nor the death of officer Bobby Barrickman death in 1979.
In September 1985, Halferty recalled being on a date with his college sweetheart on a football Friday night. As they drove into Newton, Halferty was shocked by the presence of a large contingent of law enforcement officers. Many were armed with long guns. They were posted CEREMONY | 7
Q&A covered qualifications, party relevance, drug problems and more
Troopers, city police officers, firemen, EMTs. It’s kind of shaped my whole life in law enforcement,” Shutts said. “I have a good sense for the people and their needs and I’m open to talk to.” Cross entered into his career in law enforcement by making sure he focused on paying attention to the things his leaders were doing. They taught him the most important thing is being available to your people, always answering the call and responding when needed. These are principles Cross follows. Burdess Cross Shutts “I’ve been in law enforcement a little shorter than these guys. I can’t control that,” Cross said. “But I WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO BE SHERIFF? learned a lot in a profession I did before this, workShutts has been exposed to law enforcement all his ing with a lot harder individuals in building trades life. His father was a deputy for 29 years and he Shaw grew andMedia understanding character and understanding how up in that lifestyle. It was a profession he felt he had individuals are in real life. I brought that experience a good sense for, and he always felt the need to help into this.” others. Shutts pursued his career as a reserve, a disBurdess has served in law enforcement for 14 years patcher and a jailer while working through college. in a number of different capacities. In most of his “I worked with numerous amounts of law enforcement — family, friends — throughout the years. FORUM | 11 est. 1851
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