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CAST (Creating Avenues For Student Transformation), a southern Indiana Dyslexia resource center, is seeking donations to help fund the organization's efforts in 2025. CAST relies solely on donations to fund their tutoring and mentoring services.

“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability related to reading. Studies show up to 20% of the population in the United States is affected at some level with dyslexia. Children who are unable to read by the third grade are more likely to drop out of school.”

“Help our students achieve their full potential by supporting this effort,” she added.

You can share the hope of literacy with a local student by giving here: www.castwashco.org, paypal.me/CASTWC, Venmo @CASTWashCo or by cash or check to 1707 N Shelby St #107, Salem, IN 47167.

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Members of the Washington County 4-H Junior Leaders worked feverishly on Thursday evening, Dec. 19, to prepare 430 cheeseballs for their annual Christmas-time fundraiser.
Because of a scheduling conflict this year, the group could not begin working on the project until later in the afternoon, rather than their traditional start time of 11 a.m. With a lot of hard work, and help from several former members and adult volunteers, the cheeseballs were prepared and distributed on time.

For over 30 years, the Junior Leaders have sold cheeseballs to raise money to pay for their annual Achievement Trip. Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a favored destination for the group’s 2025 trip.

Junior Leaders is a state-wide 4-H program for students in grades 7-12. Washington County’s Junior Leaders include members from the Salem, Eastern and West Washington school systems. The program has 20 members.

Junior Leaders provide assistance to the adult volunteer leaders, help various 4-H clubs and with related activities and serve as mentors and role models for younger 4-H members.

The Junior Leaders only offer their cheeseballs three times a year—leading up to Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The cheeseballs are just $8 each and come in three varieties: plain, parsley, and pecan.

Over 600 pounds of cream cheese, chipped beef and secret spices were used for the recent order. During this past Thanksgiving, 330 cheeseballs were made and sold.

The Junior Leaders will be making cheeseballs again in April 2025, just before Easter. Watch this website and other news outlets for ordering deadlines and details. Orders can be placed with the Washington County Extension Office by calling 812-883-4601.

• Law & Justice
• Road Safety
• Sheriff's Department

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On Friday, December 20, at approximately 6:13 p.m., Deputies and other emergency services personnel responded to the area of State Road 56 East and the bypass for a two-vehicle collision with injuries.

Deputies arrived on the scene and observed a silver 2007 Honda Civic and a red 2013 Toyota RAV 4 sitting stationary in the northern ditch of State Road 56 East, just east of Quaker Road.

The driver of the Honda Civic was identified as James Jacobs, age 55 of Ramsey, Indiana and the driver of the Toyota RAV 4 was identified as Michelle Richardson, age 40, of Paris Crossing, Indiana.

Driver statements, witness statements and evidence at the scene indicate that Jacobs was traveling northbound on the bypass approaching State Road 56 East, while Richardson was traveling eastbound on State Road 56 East. Evidence indicates that Jacobs disregarded a stop sign at the intersection of the bypass and State Road 56 East and traveled into the eastbound lane of State Road 56 East. Richardson then struck Jacob’s vehicle in the driver’s side, causing both vehicles to travel off the roadway.

Jacobs was transported by the Washington County Ambulance Service to St. Vincent Hospital in Salem for life-threatening injuries, where he was later pronounced deceased. Richardson was transported by the Washington County Ambulance Service to St. Vincent Hospital in Salem, for non-life threatening injuries.

Deputy Seth Goode is the lead investigator and was assisted by Sgt. Matt Hein, Sheriff Brent Miller, Salem Police Officers Chad Webb and Owen Bowers, Indiana State Police, members of the Salem Fire Department and the Washington County Coroner’s Office.

The Indiana State Police were contacted to perform a reconstruction of the crash scene.

The crash remains under investigation at this time.

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The Derby Dinner Performing Arts Academy will be hosting a "Winter Musical Theatre Workshop" for students ages 5--17 on Saturday, February 1.  The workshop will be conducted in the theatre areana at Derby Dinner, 525 Marriott Drive, Clarksville.

Taught by Derby Dinner Playhouse professionals, the three-hour workshop will focus on various musical theatre skills and explore material from the upcoming summer family musical. Students will be divided into three different age groups and take three classes--dance, music and acting.

The cost for the workshop is $40 plus a $2 service fee.

The morning session will meet 9 a.m.--12 noon for students ages 5--9.

The afternoon session will meet 1-4 p.m. for students ages 10-17.

To register, please detach the registration form and return with payment (payable to Derby Dinner Playhouse). 

Mail to:
Tina Jo Wallace
Derby Dinner Playhouse
525 Marriott Drive
Clarksville, IN. 47129

Or fax to 812-288-2636.

Registration forms may also be emailed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Questions? Please call 812-288-2632, ext. 132.

DDP Performing Arts Academy 2024 Winter Musical Theatre Workshop FAQs

What is the date of the workshop? Saturday, February 1, 2025

What time does it run? The morning session (ages 5-9) runs from 9:00AM-Noon. The afternoon session (ages
10-17) runs from 1:00-4:00PM. Please be prompt for drop-off and pickup. Please do not arrive more than 15
minutes early as no staff will be available to supervise. There will be cones and signs directing you through a
carpool line for drop off in front of the building. You will not have to leave your vehicle for drop off. At the end of
the day, students can be picked up in the theatre arena. Please park and come in for dismissal. The last 15
minutes of the workshop, the students will take turns performing their song and dance on stage.

Where do I go? The workshop sessions will begin and finish in the theatre arena at Derby Dinner Playhouse.
Parking is free.

What should I wear? Wear comfortable clothes in which you can comfortably move. Please - no skirts or open-
toed shoes/sandals. If weather is chilly, please leave a coat with your child as we will go outside to the studio. At
this time masks are optional for visitors when in the building.

Where will classes take place? The 3 classes take place on stage and in the rehearsal rooms of our rehearsal
studio behind the theatre. To get from the arena to our other classrooms, students will be escorted by teachers
out the back stage door of Derby Dinner, along a rock path behind the building right to the entrance door for the
studio. They do not have to walk on or near any streets to get to it.

How do I contact you? If there is an emergency and you need to reach a teacher or student during class time,
please call the box office at 812-288-8281. Outside of class time, you can call the Education Department line at
812-288-2632, ex. 132 or email Tina Jo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Do I need to have prior theatre experience? No. It is our mission to offer theatre camp to everyone, regardless
of experience or skill level. Our teachers will do their very best to tailor the training to the individual.

How are the groups divided? There will be 42 students in the morning session and 42 students in the afternoon
session. The students are broken up into three groups of 14 based on age.

Is there a final show? No, not a formal sharing as our workshops are process-oriented. The students will present
their songs and dances for each other in the last 15 minutes of class onstage if parents want to come early and
watch. Students will receive a certificate at the end. We only have a final sharing for our week long theatre camp.

Will my child be cast in a Derby Dinner Playhouse show? Over the past few seasons, over 50
camp/workshop students have gone on to be cast in DDP professional shows. Because we have over 3000
current and former students, it would be impossible to schedule an open call audition for each show. However,
the workshop is a great opportunity for DDP directors and staff to train and get to know your child for
consideration for future callbacks, should they meet the specific needs the director of the show may request.

Can parents watch class? We find that most students do much better and are often more free creatively when
not being observed by parents. If your child has a special medical condition that requires monitoring, please
contact Tina Jo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and exceptions can be made.

What about food? We do encourage students to bring their own refillable water bottle to minimize waste. If the
students want to bring a non-refrigerated snack for breaks, they may certainly do so.

What is the cancellation policy? You may cancel one month in advance with no penalty and receive a full refund.
If you cancel less than one month in advance, you will receive a refund only if there is a waiting list, and there is
someone to take that open space. If you cancel less than one week before the workshop date, no refund will be
given. If we cancel the workshop day due to inclement weather, the workshop will be rescheduled for another
date. If a workshop is canceled, we will email you and we will leave a recording at the Education Department
extension – 812-288-2632, ex. 132. The box office will be notified as well. If we are unable to schedule another
date, we will issue a refund or credit.

*NOTE – due to the large number of people registering and to be fair, we cannot save spots for students over
the phone or email. To register, we must receive the completed registration form and payment either by
email, fax, mail or by dropping off at box office. We can accept a PDF or JPEG document via email or fax with
payment information.*