The Salem Public Library will be presenting the film "Christopher The Christmas Tree" this Thursday, Dec. 5, beginning at 5 p.m.

The film is especially dear to area residents since the story, coloring book and eventually the film were all the creation of the late George Bowers.  Bowers was actually born at the Bowers Tree Farm in 1938. 

Bowers wrote and performed songs about Christopher to area children and at regional venues for decades. The story was eventually made into a movie, which premiered 30 years ago on the Fox Family Network in 1994.

Everyone is invited to join Christopher The Christmas Tree, Whooty the Owl and all of their animal friends in the Valley of Hidden Hollow in the showing of this favorite holiday movie. The movie is approximately 30 minutes long and is free to the public.

Seating is very limited. Please call the Salem Public Library at 812-883-5600 to reserve a space.

The library is located at 212 N. Main St., Salem.

The annual Jim Smoak Concert and Open House at The Depot Railroad Museum will be Saturday, Dec. 7, from 1to 3 p.m. The museum is located at 206 S College Ave, Salem.

Jim Smoak and the Louisiana Honeydrippers will be presenting their annual concert. There will be a variety of Country, Gospel, and Bluegrass music that includes banjo picking, guitar strumming, harmonica blowing, and of course, some singing!

There will be refreshments of cookies and cider forv isitors to enjoy, as well as a chance to roam The Depot Railroad Museum and see the HO model trains in the basement!

Admission is only a monetary donation to The Depot.

The public is invited.

 
There are several blood drives planned in Washington County through December.

Dates and locations include:

Wednesday, Dec. 4
Ascension St. Vincent Salem Hospital
911 N. Shelby St.
Salem
10 a.m.—3 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 9.
First Baptist Church of Salem
205 N. High St.
Salem
1 p.m.—6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21
Washington County Family YMCA
1709 N. Shelby St.
Salem,
9 a.m.—2 p.m.

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.

Blood Supply Statistics


The Red Cross provides about 40% of our nation’s blood and blood components, all from generous volunteer donors. But supply can’t always meet demand because only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly. Each new donor helps us meet patient needs.

•    Each year, an estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. donate blood.
    

•    13.6 million units of whole blood and red blood cells are collected in the U.S. in a year.
    

•    About 45% of people in the U.S. have Group O (positive or negative) blood; the proportion is higher among Hispanics (57%) and African Americans (51%).
    

•    Type O negative red cells can be given to patients of all blood types. Because only 7% of people in the U.S. are type O negative, it’s always in great demand and often in short supply.
    

•    Type AB plasma can be transfused to patients of all blood types. Since only 4% of people in the U.S. have type AB blood, this plasma is usually in short supply.
    

•    Red blood cells must be used within 42 days (or less).
    

•    Platelets must be used within just 5 days.
    


Facts About Blood Needs
    

•    Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets.
    

•    Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U. S.
    

•    Nearly 5,000 units of platelets and 6.500 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.
    

•    Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
    

•    Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives.
    

•    The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 units.
    

•    A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
    

•    Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they can only come from volunteer donors.
    

•    The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.
    

•    One donation can help save more than one life.
    

•    According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.

• City of Salem
• Law & Justice

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

James Moore saw a need and stepped up. Moore is a third shift Sergeant for the Salem Police Department. Budgets are tight and 32-year-old Moore found an opportunity to improve the police department by writing grants. He has been very successful so far, obtaining $163,500 at this point, and he’s not done yet.

In April 2023, Moore applied for a SAVE grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and received $6,000. This grant allows his department to have off-duty police officers conduct a highly-visual escort for school buses. Officers will look for drivers committing stop-arm violations and other dangerous driving habits. Illegal school bus passing is a major threat to students as they load and unload the bus. In the past 53 years there have been 1,267 fatalities. Seventy-three percent involved students 9 and younger.

In October 2023, with the help of Lindsey Wade-Swift, the department received $146,000 which will be used to purchase software. Wade-Swift is a member of the Washington County Community Foundation. It is the same software used by the Indiana State Police, making it possible to provide internet access to all police cruisers as well as showing the location of each police car. This was a very competitive grant since it was available to agencies all over the United States.

In a grant from Hoosier Uplands, the police department received a grant for $11,000 for six new in-car police radios. This covers half the fleet with the possibility of another grant serving the rest of the fleet.

Moore is somebody that thoroughly loves his job. When asked about why he is so adamant about the grants, he responded and said, “It provides the department with proper equipment, and it’s a blessing to get the grants.” Moore is currently pursuing equipment such as hand-held radios, AEDs in each car and Flock Safety cameras that read license plates.

Moore works 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and has two children, 4 and 5 years old, as well as a 10-year-old nephew that he has custody of. He is a 2012 graduate of Salem High School and Prosser where he studied HVAC. However, a ride along with his brother-in-law, a fellow officer, drastically changed his career path. Moore was initially a Reserve Officer to see if the job was a good fit for him in 2016. Then in 2017, he joined the police force. He can be spotted at night driving a Dodge Durango SUV police cruiser.

Sgt. James Moore

• Law & Justice
• Crime

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

On Tuesday November 19, the New Albany Police Department had a news conference about the arrest of four men regarding the murder of 18-year-old Bryce Gerlach. He was a student at Corydon Central High School, and his father Scott is employed in Salem at Salem Crossing.

The shooting took place behind the Scribner House fountain during the Harvest Homecoming Festival. Attending the conference was Prosecutor Christopher Lane, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Elizebeth Stigdon, and Chief of Police Todd Bailey. They indicated the arrest of four suspects in the shooting on October 12th at 9:53 p.m.

There were several law enforcement groups involved, and Bailey said, “The investigation was one of the most complex the department has ever been involved with. Those charged were Joshua Smith with 11 counts, Shermichael Smith 8 counts, Darius Tuff 6 counts and Isaiah Page 4 counts. Some of the charges included Murder, Attempted Murder, Armed robbery, Aggravated Battery, Criminal Recklessness, Obstruction of Justice, Resisting Law Enforcement and Criminal Mischief. Some of these charges are double counts for the aggression against the three victims.

Other victims include a 22-year-old male and a 42-year-old female. Both are said to be in good condition. Bailey stated that it was an ongoing investigation and more could potentially be charged. Tuff was identified as the driver of the car and was accompanied by his roommates Joshua and Shermichael Smith, who live in Louisville, as his passengers.

Holiday shopping truly starts in earnest as soon as the Thanksgiving Day meal is over. Save yourself a lot of time and fuel by beginning your gift buying close to home! Many local businesses are pulling out the stops to accommodate shoppers with outstanding Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sales and events.

Below is a sampling of the offerings from local merchants:

Borden Bargains at 555 East Water Street, Borden, is featuring a Black Friday Blowout featuring everything from toys, NIKE, Nerf, Disney, Hot Wheels, clothing, furniture and more. Doors will open at 10 a.m.
Stock up on Power Wheels, scooters and battery-operated toys and receive $10 off purchases over $50.
Receive $20 off a $100 purchase of NIKE shoes, shirts, pants or hoodies.
Clothing from Target, Walmart, Wrangler and more are Buy-One-Get-One Free (BOGO).
Purchase cube shelves, desks, dressers and drawers and get 1/2 off your second item.
The store is also open Wednesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m.—7 p.m. and Sundays 12 noon—6 p.m.

3 Stories Trading Company, located on the northwest side of Salem Public Square, will be open Friday, 10 a.m.—6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. This is the place to find all things child-related.
The store is featuring a secret scratch-off sale where lucky shoppers could save up to 20% off their total purchase!
Popular brands include Melissa & Doug, Ruffle Butts and Rugged Butts.
Join in the fun on Saturday to celebrate the arrival of Pipp & Spaulding from 3—5 p.m. Kids can have their picture taken with Pipp & Spaulding, and they can also register to win a Woodlands Wonderland Seek-and-Find Blanket and their very own copy of “Pipp & Spaulding Face Summer.”

Heaven Sent Gifts on the west side of Salem Public Square will be open 9 a.m.—1 p.m. Saturday.
Everything in the store will be 25% off!
Heaven Sent Gifts carries a truly vast array of gifts for everyone on your list, including books, jewelry, shirts, decor, throws and lots more—“Unique Christian Gifts That Will Touch Hearts.”

Lincks Clothing & Shoes is having three days of big sales! They are located on the north side of Salem Public Square.
There will be a special three-hour Thanksgiving Night Sale, 5—8 p.m., featuring school spirit apparel and accessories, women’s footwear, jewelry, purses, outerwear, wallets, socks and $10 off on holiday sweaters and tops; men’s cold weather gear, knives, hats, camp, new Rick’s Underground Outdoors and special pricing on guns and ammo.
During the Black Friday Sale, 9 a.m.—5 p.m., the first 25 shoppers will receive a free gift with purchase. Special savings will include progressive discounts—beginning with $5 off a purchase of $25 to $20 off a purchase of $100.
Earn Lincks’ Cash during Small Business Saturday, 9 a.m.—3 p.m. For every $25 spent, receive $5 in Lincks’ Cash to be used on a future purchase.
Lincks also offers gift certificates and free gift wrapping.
Regular hours are Tuesdays through Fridays 9 a.m.—5:30 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m.—3 p.m.; and Sundays 1—4 p.m.

Nana’s This N That Shop on the southwest side of Salem Public Square will be open. 10 a.m.—5 p.m. on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
This charming store features a very large selection of Old and New “This N That.”
Owner Tina Lee said, “Bring your friends and family to find the perfect treasure! We have something for everyone.”

Wishing Well Thrift Store, 2916 Grant Line Road, New Albany, will be open for holiday shopping.
The store will be donating the majority of their profits to the Make-A-Wish foundation, in addition to NAFCS students in need and foster care families. In addition to finding great holiday gift bargains, shoppers will be supporting worthy community programs.
The store offers clothing, household items, books, furniture—you name it!
The Wishing Well is accepting donations of items Mondays through Saturdays 9 a.m.—7 p.m. and Sundays 12 noon—5 p.m.
Please call 812-920-0150 for more information.

Why Supporting Local Small Businesses Matters

Let's take a look at the many ways it pays to shop small businesses during the holidays and all year long.

The holiday season is a time of year when shopping takes center stage. While online giants and big box retailers seem to be everywhere, offering an endless array of products with the convenience of low prices, small businesses provide a range of benefits that go far beyond the ease of a mouse click or mountains of merchandise.

Shopping local retailers is more than just a transaction - it is crucial for maintaining the economic foundation of local communities. Let's take a look at the many ways it pays to shop small businesses during the holidays and all year long.

· Strengthen the local economy: A large percentage of the money spent at small businesses stays in the community. That's because these businesses often are owned and operated by local residents who are invested in the community themselves. Various studies indicate that for every $100 spent at a small business, roughly $70 stays in the community.

· Enhanced customer service: Owners and employees of small businesses have a keen interest in keeping customers happy. They often do so by providing superior customer service. Tailoring recommendations, exhibiting a willingness to accommodate special requests, offering a more engaging shopping experience, and being more friendly and connected with regular customers sets many small businesses apart.

· Support the community: Small businesses serve the community through the products and services they offer, and many give back in other ways as well. Small, locally owned businesses often sponsor schools, sports teams and charities. This helps foster a sense of belonging in the community.

· Innovative offerings: Small businesses are not beholden to corporate policies or franchise restrictions, so they can more readily bring new life to existing ideas and trends. Small businesses can offer customers different options that larger retailers cannot match.

· Job creation: Small businesses employ a significant percentage of the workforce and frequently provide jobs that might not be available in larger corporate settings. The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy says small businesses have generated 12.9 million net new jobs over the past 25 years, accounting for two out of every three jobs added to the U.S. economy. Keeping residents working helps strengthen local communities.

There are numerous benefits to shopping at small businesses this Small Business Saturday and throughout the year. Such firms help to establish a more resilient, diverse and bustling local community.

• Education
• Lifestyle
• Salem Middle School

By Flora Wade, SHS Student Writer

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is officially back at Salem Middle School. Business Tech teacher Jennifer Morris led the first meeting last Wednesday at SMS. She originally started the club at Salem High School years ago as a teacher and wanted to bring it back upon her return.

In 2016, Morris handed over FCA to Gwinn Miller when she left to begin a teaching career at Scottsburg. While there, Morris was involved in FCA and guided many students. Since returning to Salem as a teacher this school year, she wants to bring back the club.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is ¨an interdenominational Christian sports ministry to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes¨ according to the FCA official site.

¨One thing that is challenging is that in school, Christians sometimes feel alone and the minority; FCA allows students from all faith backgrounds and experiences to fellowship together,¨ said Morris.

¨We welcome any student at SMS, regardless if they are an athlete or not, and/or if they attend a church or not. I am going under the FCA umbrella because I am most familiar with this as a Christian club that is offered in schools, and they have amazing support and resources available to leaders. FCA is also not affiliated with any certain denomination of religion. The focus is on giving students a way to fellowship in a safe space where they can hear a positive message that can strengthen their faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ.”

In the middle school meetings, they will have an icebreaker/game, a speaker and an activity.

¨For example, for our first meeting, it coincided with World Kindness Day, so we ended it  by everyone creating post-it note cards with words of kindness to give to someone that day,” said Morris.

“We will be looking for service opportunities for our club as well, to participate in as we get going. We will be looking to get students involved in leadership. As the club matures, and our leadership takes shape, I hope to have our leadership take more of an active role such as leading prayer, doing announcements, running games, and leading the messages.¨

Miller said they are hoping to bring the two groups together some this school year.

¨I am hoping we can work together with the middle school and do some activities together,” she said. “I think there are some high school kids that would love to work with the middle school group.”

There are many opportunities that FCA has to offer such as retreats and leadership camps.

¨I actually got saved at an FCA Retreat when I was a freshman,” said Morris. “I had been to church all my life, but at an FCA retreat is where it clicked, it was about a relationship, and not just going to church for religion and what my parents made me do. I also helped serve at some FCA retreats out of college as a leader and it was an awesome experience.¨

The club meetings will be on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30 a.m.

¨The goal is to provide a positive outlet for them to come together, and hopefully leave strengthened and encouraged in being a brighter light for Christ in their schools and communities," said Morris.

SMS FCA

• Awards & Recognition
• Communities
• Special Events

The Washington County Board of Realtors may have dissolved, but the group will forever have a positive impact in the community thanks to their extreme generosity. Funds once held by the organization have been distributed to historic Beck’s Mill and the Washington County Community Foundation.

Beck’s Mill

Historic Beck's Mill

Officers of the former Washington County Board of Realtors presented a check for $15,000 to the Friends of Beck's Mill. Pictured on the front row are (left) Debbie Curtis, vice president, and (right) Lori Gilstrap, president.

Officers of the former county board of Realtors donated $15,000 to Beck’s Mill to provide a new roof and extension of a deck to the building. These improvements will well serve the landmark for years to come.

Beck’s Mill is a historic gristmill located approximately seven miles southwest of Salem. It is the third such mill built on the site. The original mill was built by George Beck in 1808.

In 1990, the mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Friends of Beck’s Mill began efforts to restore the current structure in 2006.

Washington County Board of Realtors Touch Tomorrow Fund

Debbie Curtis (left) and Lori Gilstrap (right) from the county Board of Realtors present a check for $60,000 to Lindsey Wade-Swift of the Washington County Community Foundation to establish a Tomorrow Fund to serve the community in the future.

On Friday, Nov. 15, the Realtors group donated $60,000 to the Washington County Community Foundation to establish the “Washington County Board of Realtors Touch Tomorrow Fund.”

Judy Johnson, executive director of the foundation, explained that the Touch Tomorrow funds are endowments that are permanent. These funds create a pool of charitable dollars that will indefinitely benefit non-profit [501(c)3] agencies that work to fulfill a vast variety of needs in the community.

The principal used to establish the fund is never accessed. Donations are made from the interest, income and earnings generated by the principal.

Touch Tomorrow endowment funds can be created by of individuals, families, businesses and non-profit organizations. Once the fund is established, the foundation handles investment management and distribution of proceeds from the fund. Each year the foundation’s board of directors selects which non-profit agencies will receive grants.

There are currently over 50 Touch Tomorrow funds managed by the foundation.

Johnson provided an example of just how much money can be generated by a Touch Tomorrow fund. In 1995, the estate of Ralph and Faye Mahuron donated a one-time gift of $420,000 to the foundation to establish a Touch Tomorrow fund. Every year, the Mahuron’s fund issues grants to 14 different organizations and causes for which they deeply cared.

Twenty-nine years later, their fund has granted over $644,058 to county projects, while growing in value to $839,085. This fund will continue to grow and provide grants year after year. That is the power of an endowment.

Congratulations to the members of the former Washington County Board of Realtors for their dedication to improving the local community!

Downtown Salem will undergo a bit of renovation over the next two years as a new pocket park is constructed. This endeavor was one of many ideas submitted by local residents who participated in the creation of the Washington County Quality of Place and Workforce Attraction Plan.

“We are very excited to be able to facilitate the construction of the pocket park,” stated Judy Johnson, Executive Director of the Washington County Community Foundation. “We actually started working on it pre-COVID, which seems like an eternity ago. Once Daniel Martinez, assistant professor at Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program and lead architect for the project, and I had a basic concept down, we submitted a Letter of Intent to Regional Opportunities Initiative, with our fingers crossed.”

After submission of the Letter of Intent, they received an invitation to submit a full proposal.

“The Letter of Intent was a lot of work, but it provided us a great foundation to build the idea for a pocket park,” explained Johnson.

Next, a group of stakeholders was pulled together to talk about design elements, themes, and locations. “We really want to thank the people that participated on the stakeholder team: Brande Abbott, Karen Barry, Joy Bierly, Alex Campbell, Jeremy Elliott, Lisa Fleming, Mayor Justin Green, Krista Martin, Tara Kritzer, and Kristy Purlee. Their contributions added to the strength of the proposal,” added Johnson.

Applying for the grant was a three-step process. Upon positive review of the written proposal, the group was invited to make a live presentation to the selection committee.

“Daniel was a great partner throughout the entire process,” explained Johnson. “He and Lulu Loquidis really did most of the heavy lifting. They created an amazing proposal.”

Martinez and Loquidis are co-founders of LAA Office, a multi-disciplinary design studio that explores the territory between landscape, art, and architecture. The office is based in Columbus, IN.

“The Salem Pocket Park project will be a unique synthesis of public space and public art that links the historic downtown square with the John Hay Center. It will feature new works of art honoring significant women in Salem’s history, as well as seating, tables, shade umbrellas and planters,” explained Martinez.

The group hopes to begin the project this fall, weather permitting. Next spring, Salemites will notice a lot of work happening on the corridor between the Salem Square and The John Hay Center. The group hopes to have the project completed within 24 months.

• Washington County
• Wellness

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

Officials have approved the first reading of an ordinance that details the requirements for private and commercial septic systems in the county.

The decision was made during the Tuesday, Nov. 19, meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners.

Chris Boling, the environmentalist for the county’s Health Department, presented the ordinance to the Commissioners during the Nov. 6 meeting. Any decisions were delayed so the Commissioners’ attorney could review it.

The ordinance will now be advertised, and a public comment period will be held. If commissioners approve a second reading of the ordinance, it will become effective.

The county had a septic system ordinance previously, but a July 2023 state law voided all local ordinances passed before that date that pertain to septic systems. That law also formed a nine-member state level technical review panel.

Boling said the new state law was prompted by a couple counties that passed what some state officials considered extreme requirements for septic systems. Now the state has taken control of such ordinances and removed some requirements, such as a minimum acreage requirement for septic systems.

Boling told commissioners that the proposed ordinance has been reviewed at the state-level and has been approved by the county’s Health Board. He said it will restore some of the local enforcement powers that were lost when the county’s original septic system ordinance was voided.

The local ordinance would require installers to register with the Health Department. The registration will be reviewed annually. Unless the installer is registered to install septic systems in another county, the installer will have to pass a certification examination.

Soil testing will still be required prior to the installation of a new septic system or before any changes are made to an existing system.

The ordinance does allow sewage holding tanks; however, Boling cautioned that the legal requirements for such systems can make them more costly than a septic system. State law lists several requirements for holding tanks including a contract with a septic system pumper to routinely empty the holding tank as well as alarms that will indicate when the tank is more than 75 percent full. Applications for these systems must be submitted to the county Health Department as well as construction plans.

Any violations of the proposed ordinance or state law concerning septic systems could result in a notice of violation being sent to the property owner, who will have a set amount of time to remediate the violation. The local Health Department could also issue a stop work order.

If the violation isn’t remedied within the allotted time frame, violators could face a fine of $2,500 each day the violation occurs.

The ordinance details the appeals process the property owner can follow to dispute any permit denials, revocations, stop work orders, and penalties,