• Special Events
• Wellness
• Salvation Army

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The Salvation Army in Southern Indiana will accept applications for the Angel Tree program for families living in Floyd, Clark, Crawford, Scott, Harrison, and Washington Counties beginning October 1.  Angel Tree provides clothing and gifts for children from birth to age 16.

Families in Floyd, Clark, Crawford, Scott, Harrison, and Washington counties may apply online at www.sanewalbany.org.

Online registration will be available from October 1, 2024, until the program reaches capacity.

Families may also choose to apply in person in their county of residence by calling 812-944-1018 for an appointment.  In person appointments are available for the following times:

Floyd, Clark, & Harrison: Oct. 15 or 17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 2300 Green Valley Rd, New Albany.

Scott: Oct. 7, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at 485 Mann Ave, Austin.

Crawford: Oct. 7 or 8, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at 1449 Hardy Rd, Marengo.

Washington: Online only.  Call 812-883-1637 for help.

Applicants should have all necessary documents ready at time of application including ID for the head of household, proof of address for head of household, birth certificate or custody documents for each child from birth- age 16, and all clothing and shoe sizes for each child registered.

The Salvation Army is also securing sponsors for the Angel Tree program.  Groups wanting to adopt 5 or more angels should contact our office at 812-944-1018 to sign up.  Individual angels will be available for adoption at Green Tree Mall or at our main office from Nov 23- Dec 8. Individual angels can also be adopted online at www.sanewalbany.org.

Persons interested in volunteering to help with the Angel Tree program should call the main office at 812-944-1018.

For more information, call our office at 812-944-1018.

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Goat producers are invited to the Washington County Goat Association’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, September 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Washington County Government Building (806 Martinsburg Rd.) in Salem.  The meeting will include Association business, election of board members, and a farm tax presentation by Lisa Singleton, CPA.  Light refreshments will be served.  

Association annual dues of $20 may also be paid at the meeting. 

Those unable to attend the meeting, but who would like more information about becoming an association member can contact the Purdue Extension – Washington County office at 812-883-4601 or by visiting the Extension website at https://extension.purdue.edu/county/washington/anr1/sub-page-goat-association.html.  

RSVP’s are not required to attend the Annual Meeting.

• City of Salem
• Emergency Responders
• Budget

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By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

City employees will receive an 8 percent raise in 2025 while emergency responders will each get a $7,000 raise.

Those are the most recent numbers approved by a majority vote during the Monday, September 9th, meeting of the Salem Common Council.

The raises don’t apply to elected positions.

Council members who voted in favor of the raises were Dan Libka, Dylan Moore, Steve Crane, and Randy Lee Jr. The opposing vote was cast by Roger Pennington.

The latest vote came on the heels of two special Common Council meetings during which the struggle of attracting and retaining quality public safety employees was discussed.

Many towns, cities and counties have difficulty offering competitive wages to public safety employees, which can lead those employees to take more lucrative jobs elsewhere.

After those special meetings, the Council approved a $5,000 raise for each police officer and firefighter and a 6 percent pay increase for all other city employees effective in 2025.

Before the Sept. 9 vote that increased the raise for emergency responders, a representative from Reedy Financial, the city’s financial consulting firm, explained that the 2025 budget revenue would be sufficient to cover the additional costs; however, “minor” revenue shortfalls could occur in 2026 and 2027.

The 2026 and 2027 budget forecasts include 3% raises for all city employees.

Moore asked Salem Police Chief Eric Mills if he would be willing to enact a hiring freeze during the two years of forecasted shortfalls if it is deemed necessary. Mills didn’t dismiss the possibility outright; however, he did say he would need to consider the impacts it might have.

Libka pointed out the dangers that emergency responders face.

“There’s always a chance that something bad is going to happen,” Libka said, adding that the city’s civilian employees needed to be considered, as well.

Pennington said the city’s starting salaries aren’t as low as they may seem when you consider paid holidays, retirement pensions, and clothing allowances.

Libka made the motion to increase the emergency responder pay raises to $7,000 and to give all civilian employees an 8% raise in 2025 provided the budget can accommodate those increases. His motion was then approved in the majority vote.

During the special meetings, officials also approved a $2,000 stipend for police and fire personnel and a $1,500 stipend for all other city employees for this year; however, the payment of those stipends is contingent upon whether Clerk-Treasurer Sally Hattabaugh can find the funds in the current year’s budget to cover them.

As of Monday, September 16th, Hattabaugh had yet to find the funding for those stipends.