By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

The Monon South Trail is underway with Phase 1. This includes construction schedules, design standards, and interpretive programs.

The ribbon cutting for the project was held Tuesday, July 16, at Borden Community Park, as a crowd of about 100 looked on.

There was a Community Upgrade Meeting here in Salem on Wednesday, July 17, at the Monon Railroad Museum, 206 S. College Avenue.

Facilitating the meeting were members of Clark Dietz Inc. (Ryan Hughes), Radius Indiana (Jeff Quyle) and Taylor Siefker Williams (Ron Taylor), who each talked about their role in this project. They want to keep the Monon experience alive, Hoosier physical surroundings and Hoosier agriculture intact. Many Monon landmarks will be left as is to keep the railroad theme alive.

The Monon South Trail is a proposed 57-mile trail between Mitchell and Borden, and on to New Albany. This trail will connect eight local communities in the Lawrence, Orange, Washington, and Clark counties in southern Indiana.

The trail continues south through to New Albany. The city of New Albany is in charge of that section and will receive a portion of the Indiana state and government grants which totals $29.5 million. The trail will connect the Louisville loop and Ohio River Greenway trail.

The groups are seeking private funds as well. Right now, the grant will only pay for twenty miles of construction on the trail. This will include trail heads which will have rest rooms, shelters and parking. The rural and urban trailheads will vary in composite. Some of the trail heads will be asphalt and some consisting of limestone aggregate. The design includes rest areas.

The trail is definitely a tourist attraction.  It goes through Mitchell, Orleans, Leipsic, Saltillo, Campbellsburg, Salem, New Pekin, Borden and down to New Albany in that order. The group is working on consistency of signage along the trail. 

The Orleans trail has a hard dead line of August 25. This was perceived to be easiest and will be the example for others to come. The old rails and ties were removed leaving the rock.

The Salem Trailhead will start at the intersection of South Main and West Small streets. Presently at that site is an CSX building and a large boxcar. The group said the railroad forgot about the boxcar and sent them a quick claim deal. It is being restored and now has a coat of red primer. This part of the trail will be 18 miles long and is a part of Segment One. It will run from Salem through New Pekin to Borden. The trail runs across two bodies of water, the Middle Fork Blue River and the South Fork Blue River at New Pekin. No completion date is given. One obstacle is the bridges. The floor must be removed and a new floor installed and, of course, inspected.

There are many websites and a Facebook page for more information.

The trail at this point is not open to the public.

Staff photos by Jerry Curry

Campbellsburg, Ind., July 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A hearing officer for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decisively recommended that Metal Powder Products' (MPP) objections to the April 10th union election be overruled, where a majority of workers at the Campbellsburg plant voted to join the industrial division of the Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA). This ruling underscores MPP's persistent and underhanded attempts to obstruct its employees' rights to unionize and seek fair representation.

Following a thorough review, the NLRB’s hearing officer found no credible evidence to substantiate MPP's allegations or to rerun the election. Consequently, the hearing officer overruled the objections in their entirety, confirming the legitimacy of the workers' decision to unionize and shedding light on ongoing concerns regarding MPP's treatment of its workforce.

Recently, IUE-CWA filed several Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against MPP, alleging the company engaged in unlawful conduct. These charges included unlawful interrogation, perceived surveillance, and removal of union materials from workers' personal spaces. Together with MPP's baseless election objections, these actions underscore a troubling pattern aimed at suppressing workers' rights.

"MPP's attempts to disenfranchise its workers and sow discord have been exposed," said Carl Kennebrew, President of IUE-CWA. "Our members stand united, committed to achieving a workplace where their rights are respected and their voices heard. They will not be silenced by the company’s bullying and intimidation tactics."

MPP, owned by Mill Point Capital, a New York-based private equity firm managing over $1.4 billion in capital commitments, faces increasing scrutiny regarding corporate responsibility and ethical governance. Investors and stakeholders alike should consider the implications of supporting companies that prioritize profits over fair treatment of their workforce.

Despite MPP's efforts to delay and contest the election, the workers at the Campbellsburg plant remain steadfast. They have elected a bargaining committee and stewards, with the first bargaining session scheduled for July 22nd. This group, comprising approximately 160 workers, will join workers at two IUE-CWA-represented facilities in Pennsylvania.

"The solidarity and determination of our members are unwavering," Kennebrew added. "As we enter negotiations, we remain committed to securing improved conditions and a brighter future for all employees at MPP."

IUE-CWA is the industrial division of Communication Workers of America representing a force of 150,000 active and retired men and women united collectively to seek dignity on the job and a secure future for ourselves, our children and all future generations.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

The Washington County Community Foundation recently awarded Home Stretch Foundation a $6000 grant.

Home Stretch Foundation is a grassroots program started by president and founder Maria Burks. She has 45 years experience as a licensed professional counselor.

The program is a bridge for young adults to have a smooth transition into a successful adult life. The organization will match a high school student who is at least 18 years old into a host home that will see them through graduation and into adulthood.

Each student will take a skills assessment test. The host family and student will fill out applications.

This is a short-term placement for students that may be at risk to not graduate because of their home environment or other road blocks leading to a high school diploma.

The host family will provide a stable, loving, safe and accepting home environment.

The organization is presently active at the West Washington school district. Plans are to cover all high schools in the area.

More information can be obtained by visiting the new website Homestretch-foundation.org/contact.

The city obtained a short-term loan in 2020 to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant, and now officials are preparing to seek long-term financing. The matter was discussed during the Monday, July 8, meetings of the Board of Public Works and Safety and Common Council.

In 2020, the Council approved sewer works bond anticipation note, which allowed the work to begin. The loan must either be paid in full – including interest – or refinanced before June 1. Beau Zoeller, the city’s attorney, noted that the 2020 vote approved both the short-term and long-term financing of the project.

Andre Riley, of Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors in Indianapolis, said that Salem is in a good position to obtain a low interest loan through the state. The state’s low interest loans see a lot of applicants, making it competitive. It was noted that the Indiana Finance Authority has favorably ranked Salem 13th of 108 communities seeking the loans.

The state’s loans have interest rates of about 2.5 percent or less. If the city were to obtain other financing, interest rates could be about double that amount.

The city currently owes about $2.4 million on the note, including interest; however, it’s possible the city could refinance that debt and obtain more funds to pay for mandated upgrades to remain compliant with state and federal guidelines as well as capital improvement needs.

The work approved in 2020 was based on an assessment conducted by Wessler Engineering. Part of that assessment included smoke testing of the city’s underground wastewater pipes. Wessler had told the city to expect a total project cost between $1.4 million and $1.5 million.

In May 2020, officials approved the bond anticipation note of up to $3 million. In addition to construction costs and interest, other costs such as administrative fees are included in the loan.

In December 2020, Thieneman Construction Inc. was approved as the winning bidder for the $1.4 million project.

The 2020 vote came about a year after the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fined the City of Salem $6,000 for violations by the city’s wastewater plant. Those violations included six instances when an estimated 3.5 million gallons of raw sewage was released into the West Fork of the Blue River.

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The Washington County Community Foundation is hosting it's annual Open House Thursday, July 18, at Cornerstone Hall, 1500 RC Morris Drive Salem. The public is invited, and there is no cost to attend.

A full meal will be provided, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP to attend the meal by calling 812-883-7334 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Monday, July 1.

The event replaces the original Annual Meeting for the organization. Guests may come and go as they please or attend the entire evening until 7:30 p.m.

There will be a program at 7 p.m. featuring three organizations that received grants from WCCF donors--Washington County Family YMCA, CAST (Creating Avenues for Student Transformation) and the Bradie Shrum Elementary STEAM/Robotics Team.  Representatives from these grant recipients will tell stories of how lives in the community have been impacted thanks to the generous donors of WCCF.

The Indiana Special Olympics were held June 7-9 at Terre Haute, presented by Duke Energy. Approximately 2,100 athletes participated in the games. The Summer Games were held at the Hulman Center, as the athletes, families, coaches, partners, volunteers came together to celebrate the start of the 55th year for the Indiana Summer Olympics.

Approximately 30 to 40 athletes and volunteers from Washington County were in attendance, including leader Ray Owens, Deanna Cecil and photographer Doyle Adams.

This year's theme, “A Journey to Your Heart,”  was inspired by the Athlete Leadership Conference.

Washington Co. is in Area 2, which also includes Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Orange, Scott, and Switzerland counties. The theme, “A Journey to Your Heart,” inspired by the Athlete Leadership Conference.

The summer games included Bocco, Bowling, Cycling, Powerlifting, Track and Field, and Volleyball just to name a few of the events. The events are described as a celebration of courage, joy, and the athletes’ remarkable journey with Special Olympics Indiana.

An event leader stated, “As the games concluded, the athletes of Washington Co. and their peers from across Indiana return home, not with the spoils of war, but with the riches of experience, friendship, and memories that will last a lifetime. The Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games continue to be a beacon of hope and powerful reminder that the true victory lies in the heart of every competitor.”