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By Abigail Shields, Website Editor

Salem, Eastern, and West Washington high schools have announced dates and times for each of their graduation ceremonies, respectively.

Salem’s is May 25 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Memorial Gymnasium. Salem will graduate 120 seniors in this year’s class. The class president is Brooklyn Davisson. Salem has been very fortunate with scholarships given to the graduating class through the Salem Education Foundation, the Washington County Community Foundation as well as scholarships given to the students through their respective colleges and institutions. Two students from Salem will be going into the military. They are Draven Miller and Corey Ziegler. The featured speakers for the ceremony will be Brooklyn Davisson and Carolyn Casey.

Eastern will hold their graduation ceremony on May 24 at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium. The senior class will have 83 graduating this year, which is a smaller class size than in years past. Kaden Temple is the senior class president. Anakin McCormick was awarded the Lily scholar and is also this year’s salutatorian. Eastern did not have anyone going into the military at this time. The featured speakers are Anakin McCormick and Glen Gosnell who is the valedictorian for the class.

West Washington’s graduation ceremony is May 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Kermit Tower Gymnasium, also known as the sunken gym. There are 59 members of the senior class who will be graduating this year. The class presidents are Titan Williams and Riley Hall. West Washington has several notable scholarships this year. Katlyn Wingler received $10,000 from JoJo’s Jumpstart Foundation, Eva O'Toole and Audra Loughmiller each received $5,000 from the Kayde Sue Foundation, Riley Hall received the Winchester Scholarship from Kentucky Wesleyan College which is $80,000, and Elliot Nance received the Adam W Herbert Presidential Scholarship from Indiana University Southeast which is $48,000. The speakers for the ceremony are Titan Williams, Riley Hall, Kenton Chase, Jaxson Cambron, Cash Long and Elliot Nance.

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On May, 15, at approximately 11:44 a.m., emergency personnel responded to the area of State Road 60 East and Blue River bridge, in reference to a tractor trailer fire.

The driver was identified as Robert Atherton of Martinsville, Indiana. Atherton advised the deputies that the rear trailer tires and the rear of the trailer became engulfed in flames. Atherton said he pulled over and unhooked the Kenworth tractor from the trailer, which was full of sawdust and also on fire.

Members of the Salem City Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. Both lanes of State Road 60 were closed for nearly five hours.

Detective Brad Naugle was the investigating officer and was assisted by Captain Chad Webb, Deputy Tory Hildreth and members of the Salem Fire Department.

Photo provided by Detective Brad Naugle.

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It’s the opening day of Visit Indiana Week, a promotion of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation that runs through May 25.

All Indiana state parks, state recreation areas, and reservoirs (on.IN.gov/stateparks) that charge a daily gate fee will waive it for all guests that Sunday, making it a great time to explore a property you’ve never visited before or return to an old favorite.

Many new features and improvements await this season. At Tippecanoe River State Park, restoration work has been completed on the fire tower. At Brown County State Park, seven fully remodeled family cabins and nine renovated rustic cabins have been improved. At Potato Creek State Park, the campground dumping stations have been improved. Across the State Park system, several pollinator habitats have been enhanced and acres of invasive species have been removed. Learn about the many more improvements at dnr.IN.gov/state-parks/about-us/whats-new.

Before you visit, make sure to sign up for the Indiana State Nature Passport at visitindiana.com/indiana-passports/explore. Doing so is also free, and it makes you eligible to earn prizes by checking in when you visit a passport location.

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By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

Officials have taken the first step that could allow a section of Crown Hill Cemetery to be set aside for natural burials. The decision was made during the Monday, May 13, meeting of the Salem Common Council.

Brock and Carrie Chastain, of Weathers Funeral Home, requested the changes necessary to allow natural burials. Those changes include the elimination of the requirement for a vault.

Natural burials – commonly called “green” burials – provide simpler, less costly, and more environmentally friendly burials that avoid harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde, which is a suspected human carcinogen.
The Chastains explained that natural burials became more popular during the pandemic as people embraced simplicity. They prefer to call such burials “natural” since it would allow the use of a backhoe to dig the grave.

Carrie Chastain is becoming certified in natural burials. She said the process eliminates traditional embalming, although some customers could opt for environmentally friendly embalming, which uses essential oils. Either biodegradable caskets or shrouds are used, as well as markers that are either flat or made of natural materials. Cemeteries that accommodate such burials aren’t mowed as frequently and can include wildflower plantings.
Most cemeteries, including Crown Hill, require vaults, which is contrary to the notion of biodegradable materials.

The Chastains explained that domes can be used instead of vaults, which allow the burial to naturally biodegrade and seep into the ground. A concrete burial box can also be used.

Brock Chastain said the portion of Crown Hill Cemetery near the ponds would be ideal for natural burials. He estimated the section could include 50 plots to start.

Mayor Justin Green noted that the cemetery has space to expand.

“I think it’s an interesting concept, Council,” Green said.

Council member Dylan Moore made a motion to have the city’s attorney prepare an ordinance that would accommodate natural burials. His motion was supported by a unanimous vote, with all Council members in attendance.

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By: Washington County Sheriff Brent Miller

At approximately 5:58 p.m., Washington County Deputies and emergency response personnel were dispatched to the area of 6126 E Hurst Road in reference to a motor vehicle accident with injuries.

Betty Rogers, age 60, of Pekin, was traveling west on Hurst Road in a 1999 Buick Century. Kiera Arvin, age 19, of Borden, Indiana, was traveling east on Hurst Road in a 2011 Ford Fusion when the vehicles collided head on. The drivers' statements and evidence at the scene indicated Rogers was left of center.

Rogers was transported to University of Louisville Hospital by AirMethods for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Arvin declined medical treatment on scene. All parties were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident.

Also responding to the accident scene were Washington County Ambulance Service, Pierce-Polk Volunteer Fire Department and Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department.