• Salem
• Communities
• Special Events

Saturday, October 26, will be filled with exciting Halloween activities for everyone!

Pumpkin Walk

Halloween festivities in Salem surrounding the Stevens Memorial Museum will begin with the 2024 Pumpkin Walk, sponsored by the Washington County Tourism Commission.

Pumpkins for decorating can be picked up at the YMCA parking lot at 1709 N. Shelby St. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, after 3 p.m. until Friday, Oct. 25, at 3 p.m. Decorate the pumpkin and enter it in the drawing on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Stevens Museum.

Place your name, mailing address and a phone number on a piece of paper for a drawing on the pumpkin. Also include which category such as Preschool, K-2, 3-5, middle school, high school or adult.

The drawing will be Saturday at 3 p.m. The decorated pumpkins will be displayed around the Stevens Museum Village from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. Put your name on the bottom of the pumpkin if you wish to pick it up after 9 p.m.

Boo Bash

Next at the Steven’s Museum on Saturday, will be the highly anticipated Boo Bash, which will take place 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

The title sponsor is WSLM, and the event will be organized by Rebecca White.

Come in costume for trick or treating from those set up on the museum grounds. The Boo Bash should wrap up before the start of the parade.

If you have questions call White at 812-620-7271.

Halloween Parade

Please join in the fun for the 9th Annual Halloween Parade, presented and organized by Titan Tint & Graphics, in partnership with Angie Wilson, "Queen of Taxes.”

This is the ninth year since the Halloween parade was started, and it just keeps growing and doing better every year. The organizers truly appreciate all who enter the parade, as well as everyone who comes to watch and make all this possible.

No need for registration. Just come out the day of the parade, Saturday, Oct. 26, and get set up to be in it. The parade is free to enter, but donations will be accepted, as well as sponsorships for the banner that leads the parade. All proceeds go to the local Christmas Assistance Program to help children in our community have a great Christmas.

Anyone can enter and be anything they want to be, as long as the choice is “family friendly.” Participants can walk the parade, ride in it, drive in it, bike, skate, go kart, ride horses, you name it—the crazier the better for everyone.

Parade participants will meeting at Titan Tint & Graphics, located at 805 S. Main Street, Salem, located in the Ruler shopping complex behind AutoZone.

The parade start time is 6:30 p.m. To enter the parade, participants will need to be in line by 5:30 p.m.. They don't have to be ready or decorated by then, but still need to be in line by that time.

Trophy judging is at 6 p.m. First-place trophies will be awarded in the following categories: Business, Performing, Bikes/UTV, Horses, Civic, Walking, Tractors, Best Decorated Float, Best Dressed in Parade, Best Overall Float, and our fan favorite "best dressed spectator.” This trophy will be handed out during the parade to a lucky spectator.

For more information on the parade please call Titan at 812-570-0207.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners issued a county-wide burn ban at 11:45 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21.

The ban will remain in effect until further notice.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

U.S. Congresswoman Erin Houchin, representing Indiana’s 9th Congressional District, visited Eastern High School in Pekin on Wednesday Oct.16.

She was greeted at the door by three seniors, Darren Roller, Sydney Kaelin, and Kaden Rickard.

Houchin spoke to a group of approximately 25 student council members and teaching staff about her career and educational background. The sponsors for the student council are teachers Kim Brown and Shelby Thomas.

“Government is everywhere,” was Houchin’s opening comment. She grew up in Scottsburg, the daughter of a dentist. Her father worked his way through school.

Although she did not have a goal to be in politics, she started as an intern in the state senate. She met her husband, Dustin Houchin, who also was an intern for the senate. He later got in to politics and became the Washington County Superior Court Judge.

After the internship, she took another political job that she hated, which eventually turned her against politics. She worked at this job for one year because she had a conviction to finish anything she started. Houchin then started a career in marketing.

Politics found her again when U.S. Senator Dan Coats called and offered her a job as regional director, which she accepted. Pregnancy complicated the situation, but she carried on.

Afterward, she was elected to the state senate and served for four years.

Houchin then ran and was elected to the U.S. Congress. She was the first female to serve in Indiana’s 9th Congressional District.

Presently, she is running for her second term. She has a passion to serve and get things done for people.

She said, “I like to look at life as a six-lane highway. I can chose other lanes.”

Houchin is a proud alumna of Indiana University in Bloomington and holds a degree in psychology. She also attended George Washington University and got a degree in political management.

In congress, Houchin serves on the House Financial Services, Education and Workforce, and Rules committees.

She and her family live in Salem.

Houchin was greeted by seniors (from left) Kaden Rickard, Darren Roller and Sydney Kaelin.

Eastern High School Student Council members and sponsors.

Houchin represents Indiana's 9th Congressional District.

Houchin was accompanied by her press secretary, Parker Armstrong.

The Houchin family.

• Washington County
• Elections
• State of Indiana

The Washington County Republican Party candidates for this upcoming election season held a meet and greet event at H & R Bakery on October 17. The event garnered a great turnout full of energetic conversation revolving around problems, plans and policies.

Be sure to make it to the polls on November 5 to let your voice be heard!

Photos by Nathaniel Smith.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Salem Crossing is hosting a benefit in memory of Bryce Gerlach, who was shot and killed at Harvest Homecoming on Saturday, Oct.12, in New Albany. His father is Scott Gerlach, a physical therapist at Salem Crossing.

He was tragically killed in a cross-fire between two shooters. Two other people were shot, but survived. Bryce is thought to have jumped in front of somebody to protect them.

In memory of Bryce, Salem Crossing is having a barbecue dinner and bake sale, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The business is located at 200 Connie Avenue, Salem.

Barbecue chicken meals include a chicken leg quarter, macaroni and cheese and cole slaw for $10. There are a variety of sweets and treats that will be available at the bake sale.

Orders will be taken for memorial bracelets for $5 each that will be available for pickup on Oct. 28. Please call 812-883-1877 for more information.

All proceeds will be donated to the Gerlach family.

Bryce was 18 years old and a senior at Corydon Central High School. He was a member of the football team and flirting with a 4.0 grade average.
His coach is quoted as saying, “He always jumped to the front line to take on that leadership role.”

On Friday night, Corydon Central will play Silver Creek High School. People in attendance are asked to wear blue, Bryce’s favorite color.

Gerlach had aspirations of playing college football.

• History
• Special Events
• Festival

Get ready to jump back to the year 1811 as you come to join Fort Vallonia in celebrating the 55th Annual Fort Vallonia Days. With 2 and a half days packed full of activities and events, there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Kicking off the weekend will be a pumpkin decorating contest on Friday from 4-6 p.m. followed by live music performed by the band “u4ia” at 7 p.m. Winners of the pumpkin decorating contest will be announced on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday has much in store for visitors: trail rides, muzzleloader shooting, cloggers, tomahawk and knife throws, dancing, a parade, karaoke and more live music provided once again by “u4ia” and Dane Darlage.

Sunday kicks things off with a 10 a.m. church service at the Vallonia Gym followed by Stars & Spurs Country Western Dancers, cornhole tournament, horseshoe pitch, 5K Run/Walk, Brownstown Central High School Show Choir, and more. A full list of events and activities can be found bellow:

For general, craft, and flea market information, contact Karlei Metcalf at (812) 528-1250 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For information regarding food vendors, contact Tayler Garland at (812) 528-5878.

For information regarding the parade, contact Derik Nierman (812) 216-1196 or Jessica Nierman at (812) 521-5377.

For information regarding the trail ride, contact Laken Reynolds at (812) 216-1985.

Eric Zink, Chief Financial Officer from Hoosier Uplands, presented a check for $11,500 to purchase new radios for the Salem Police Department.

This will enable the police department to be better equipped to respond to emergencies and  better serve the residents of Salem .

Receiving the check of Oct. 14 was Sergeant James Moore. The police department had applied for the grant.

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

Officials have adopted a noise ordinance for unincorporated portions of the county, and anyone found responsible for “unreasonable noise” during the overnight hours could face fines of up to $1,000. The ordinance was adopted by the Washington County Board of Commissioners.

Prior to the unanimous vote to approve the new ordinance, Commissioner Todd Ewen said that the possibility of restricting overnight noise was raised a couple years ago. He emphasized that the ordinance intends to target residents causing “nuisance situations” and that it does not aim to infringe upon anybody’s rights.

The ordinance defines “unreasonable noise” as “sound that is of a volume, frequency, or pattern that prohibits, disrupts, injures, or endangers the health, safety, welfare, prosperity, comfort, or repose of reasonable persons of ordinary sensitivities within the county.”

Factors that will determine whether a noise is “unreasonable” include the proximity of the sound to private or commercial sleeping facilities; how the surrounding land is typically used and the proximity to where the sound is heard; the time of day; the sound’s duration; and “whether the sound is recurrent, intermittent, or constant.”

The hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. are identified as the time during which noise must be restricted.

Property owners must restrict the sounds of horns, whistles, engines, yelling or shouting, as well as any device used to convey sound like speakers or televisions.

The ordinance also aims to protect schools, courts, churches, and hospitals from “unreasonable noise that is plainly audible to a person with normal hearing above normal ambient noise levels at a distance of 50 feet from the source of the noise.”

Parents could be fined if their minor children violate the ordinance, as could pet owners. Vehicle owners with defective or modified exhaust systems could be ordered to muffle the exhaust and given seven days to have the work completed.

Exemptions include emergency sirens; “properly muffled” lawn mowers used between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.; burglar alarms; celebratory noises associated with holidays like Memorial Day, July 4th, Halloween, and New Year’s Eve; and permitted parades provided they fall within certain hours dependent upon the day of the week. More exemptions are allowed for noise associated with sporting events and the normal and customary sounds generated by certain businesses like farming.

Ewen said it will be left to the deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to determine when the ordinance should be enforced.

The ordinance includes fines of $50 for the first offense; $150 for the second; and $300 for the third. Subsequent offenses carry a fine of $1,000. Fines can be imposed every day a violation occurs.

• Auto Racing
• Entertainment
• Sports
• Special Events

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery has a blow-out Halloween-themed weekend of racing October 19-20.

Friday night is rotating practice for all divisions from 3 to 6 p.m.

Activities include a Halloween costume competition in the Pavilion and Trunk or Treat on the front stretch.

Racing includes 15 laps of Bandolero racing. Bandolero’s are small version sports cars—a stepping stone between Karting and Legend cars.

Saturday brings the Salem Supercars and Ford Crown Vics to the track. Racing starts on the small track with Crown Vics for a 30-lap oval feature at 5 pm. Then it is time for the Crown Vic Future Stars for 20 laps. Finally, the Crown Vics will have 25 exciting laps on the Figure 8 course.

The high banks open with the Pro Crafters Salem Super Cars for their 25-lap feature.

The main feature race on the high banks will be Crown Vics for the Spooky 200. All races have an expiration of time limit.

On Sunday racing starts at 1 p.m., with the Legend cars going 30 laps on the small track. Then the Scrappers take the small track for 25 laps in a kidney bean course.

The last race will be the 36th running of the Halloween 200 on the storied high banks.

Definitely some must see events!

• Salem High School
• West Washington High School
• Football

During the 2024 season, the Indianapolis Colts have been highlighting various community initiatives at five high schools and are giving fans a chance to learn more, donate or get involved. Final stop: Salem High School on Friday October 18.

Thanks to the new turf field by Hellas Construction, the Colts have chosen Salem High School as their final destination!

At each stop, the Colts have brought interactive fan activities, including Colts inflatables, a rally towel giveaway, games, a chance to win Colts prizes and an appearance by Colts Cheerleaders, all beginning 90 minutes before kickoff.

To put the cherry on top, the Colts and tour partners will make a $1,000 donation to the home team's athletic department.

Be sure to come out to 700 N Harrison St early this Friday night to join in on the festivities before the 7 p.m. Salem vs. West Washington football game!