JERRY DAVICH: Jasper County backlash and Super Bowl surrealism in Indy

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Updated: March 4, 2012 8:13AM

What is the “truth”?

Is it your truth? My truth? Someone else’s truth? God’s truth? Or is it merely our biased perception and interpretation of facts, opinion and experience that masquerades as the truth?

I ask this question after writing a column on a 75-year-old Jasper County cattle farmer who claims he’s been wronged by county officials, along with many other people in his life. That column was the first in a series on Jasper County, which may not be the idyllic rural utopia that its residents had hoped for.

Since that column ran, I’ve heard from a couple dozen (and counting) residents with conflicting views about the county’s politics, law enforcement and neighborly ways.

I’ve also heard conflicting views about Bernard Seegers, the cattle farmer who seems to be a lightning rod for many issues involving that county. That’s the thing when you ask a newspaper columnist to write about your plight.

Its fallout can come back to bite you, even when you think you’re telling the “truth.”

“Bernie Seegers isn’t the victim he plays himself to be,” said one long-time county resident. “He’ll file a lawsuit for just about any reason, which is where all his retirement money went.”

Three other readers echoed similar comments in no uncertain terms.

However, several others supported Seegers’ claims, including Joyce C.

“His neighbors have tried to ruin him for years and I have no idea why. Bernard is a good person and so is his wife, Betty. It’s shameful the way he’s been treated over the years, especially by the Jasper County people. He doesn’t deserve any of this.”

Janet R. added, “I sympathize with Mr. Seegers. He probably is one of the outsiders in this neck of the woods and thus the reason he has so many problems. I don’t wear wooden shoes either.”

The county, overall, sure has its share of resident critics, I’m learning.

“The county seems to be run by a select few and, as such, I’ve decided to work on the campaign for an ‘average Joe’ who is running for county commissioner. His name is Paul Norwine, he teaches government at Kankakee Valley High School, and he’s tired of seeing our county run by bumpkins,” Barb D. wrote.

“Bumpkin leaders” is a derogatory term I heard from many residents there. Another common complaint is that Jasper County has the second highest county tax in the state, 3.05 percent.

Or, as one caller told me point-blank: “Jasper County is a big political mess. Thanks for writing about us. This is something that needed to be done for a long time.”

Who knew?

Coming Super Bowl Sunday

On Wednesday, I visited downtown Indianapolis, which appeared like a sociological experiment in the works, as well as a bit surreal, too.

I watched thousands of right-to-work protesters march down Capitol Avenue, including through Super Bowl Village, amid oblivious or annoyed out-of-state football fans. At the same time, other clueless fans zoomed overhead on the popular zip-line attraction (after waiting several hours in line to do so).

While wandering around at ground zero of the so-called NFL Experience, I witnessed an interesting clash of fans for two totally different experiences.

The right to work versus the right to party. Union workers wearing their hearts on their sleeves versus NFL fans sporting jerseys of their favorite team. And visitors burning vacation time to be there versus protesters who lost a day’s pay to make their point.

All this amid a strong police presence, homeless people hitting up the tourists, news helicopters circling overhead, and Hoosier hospitality in rare form. Strange days indeed, my friends.

Read my Sunday column for the rest of the story, including one of the Super Bowl Village’s most popular and fan-friendly amenities that, I’ll bet, not one other journalist from around the world has written about yet. No kidding.

Small business shout out

I’m not a motorhead, by any means, and I rarely tout a car repair business. But for months I’ve been searching for a person or company to repair a gash I had in my car’s driver seat.

In fact, during my search to get it fixed, the tear spread wider and wider, causing me even more anxiety. I drive a 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo and, although it has nearly 190,000 miles, its appearance is still important to me.

Well, I finally found a local business to come to my rescue. The name is Auto Qual, and its owner, Bob Rock, (cool name, huh?) was the ideal man for the job. He knew exactly what to do, he didn’t waste any time, and my car seat looks brand new. He even made a house call, coming to MY garage. I was amazed.

If you need his services, call 677-6661 or email brock@autoqual.com.

Original imitators unite!

While traipsing through downtown Indianapolis, watching everything going on simultaneously, it reminded me of something I wrote a few years ago.

“There’s always one thing you can count on with people in this country. When given the freedom to do and act as we please, we usually imitate each other. And then we call it individuality.”

Listen to Jerry’s Super Bowl-themed “Casual Fridays” radio show at noon today on WLPR 89.1-FM or www.thelakeshorefm.com.