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Pekin Eastern High School

Being a senior is a special time for young kids as they are about to embark on the world they knew growing up, and Eastern senior Kaden Temple is no different as he is excited to be able to call himself a high school graduate in a few months.

Photo by Brody Temple“As of right now, my future plans are somewhat vague,” Temple said. “I would like to play basketball in college. I am looking towards getting a degree in finance. Well there is a lot that I would like to say to the underclassmen. First, enjoy the moments because they go by quickly. Never take a game/event for granted. There is no formula for success. It only comes from a peace of mind knowing you did your best.”

Whether you go to a small school or a big school, the education is the same and the friends you make come along with the territory.

“Going to a small school like Eastern was probably like any other high school,” Temple said. “Because we are small, most of the same kids do everything at school (sports, leadership, etc.) I think for a small school, we have good athletes and good students. I’m fairly close with all of my classmates and my teachers.”

It was easier for him to attend Eastern as his family has attended the same school for generations, so I was just a natural fit for him.

“My family has attended Eastern for many generations,” Temple said. “My dad played basketball at Eastern. He has helped make me into the player I am now. My brother is a sophomore. We enjoy getting to play together.”

As a player, you try and win as much as you can and in his case and the Musketeers basketball team they had a successful run in the Washington County Invitational by winning it three straight years from his freshman year to his junior year and this year, they fell in the championship game to Borden.

“Winning that championship the past three years was amazing,” Temple said. “It was definitely a highlight of each season. It meant so much to me because the team had been so bad for so many years, and it was good being able to change that.

“Obviously losing this past one was difficult. I wish I would have been 100 percent healthy. They played a better game than us, and that is usually what it takes to win.”

During his first two years, Chandler Prible was his coach and his last two season Ray Weatherford has been coaching the Musketeers, and Temple things have been different between the two coaches.

“Yea playing for both Coach Prible and Weatherford has been very different,” Temple said. “They both have different philosophies when it comes to offense. The defense has remained similar for the most part. Another difference though is their age.

“Coach Weatherford uses a lot of old school drills and terminology. Whereas, Prible had more modern drills and terms. Overall, I have enjoyed playing under both coaches and they have helped grow me into the man I am today.”

Now, the Musketeers are halfway through their season and they are at 5-7 (1-2) after a recent win over conference foe Austin, but Temple was late joining the team this year.

“Well the holiday tourney games were my first games this season,” Temple said. “I did not play in our first five games because I was recovering from a clavicle break I had during football. I truly think we would be right where we were last year if I would have started off the season at 100 percent. In our first couple games, we were lacking some leadership and a go to scorer. I will be able to bring this to the team as I continue to get more comfortable playing again.”

Scoring has been down this season and they are giving up more points than last year, but with his return those averages could change over the final 10 games of the season.

“Yea our scoring and defensive averages are down but they will get better,” Temple said. “The first couple of games were difficult for the guys because they had to step up and guard some people that they usually don’t. They also had to step up in their scoring too. I think everyone is still adjusting to their roles on the team. As I continue to get back into the groove, the averages will start to look like last years.”

The Musketeers play in a very tough Mid-Southern Conference with several of the teams capable of going far in the tournament, but the thing that holds them all back is the fact they either compete against each other in Class 3A or Class 2A.

“The conference is very tough,” Temple said. “There are so many good teams, and you have to be ready to play your best every night. I’m not sure what we were picked this year. I don’t really get into that because I know most people probably didn’t think we would be good since we lost Cherry and Yancey. In general, I don’t think people believe that we can win in the conference.”

Having goals is something good to shoot for and Temple is no different in the sports he plays.

“My main goals are just to have fun every night and come out with a W,” Temple said. “There were a few records I would like to have, but those aren’t going to be my main focus. I just go into every game looking to win. I usually don’t look forward to any specific game. They each have a similar significance. Some of my favorite wins from the past have come from games that I wasn’t expecting to be excited about. I probably won’t get extra excited about a game until after it is over.”

Temple plays the point guard, but once he gets back into the game he will shift to playing off the ball more. “I just need to start knocking down some shots. I think that will come as I start playing more,” he said. “Obviously, the game comes down to who scores the most points. However, I would say that there is a home court advantage. As a player, I feel more comfortable driving to school and getting ready rather than riding a bus over to the game. But honestly it really doesn’t make a big difference.

“I have been playing the game for as long as I can remember,” Temple said. “My dad has helped me in so many ways. He has been with me through every step. There have been many other individuals in my life that have influenced my game.”

This past fall, Temple played football for the first and he enjoyed his time on the grid iron. As for the Musketeers football team this year they finished 5-7 and played in the sectional championship game.

“Yea Football was a big decision for me this year,” Temple said. “The main reason I decided to play this year was because I was tired of watching the football team lose all of the time. I thought I could help make the team successful. I wanted to change the culture around the football team at school. There were multiple factors that led to the five wins. Honestly, I think we could have and should have won one or two more games. But we got a good draw for sectionals, which helped. Our team had much better athletes than the teams we won against in sectionals.

“We had multiple athletes that made the team well rounded on both sides of the ball. I played on both sides of the ball. Wide receiver on offense and corner on defense. I had a lot of fun making plays. Whether it would be a big catch on offense or a crucial tackle on defense. I will say there were times that were really frustrating. I wish the group would have been less selfish.”

Temple also ran on the cross country and track teams in their respective seasons.

Name: Kaden Temple

Hometown: Salem

Parents: Jason and Laura Temple

GPA: 4.0

Clubs: Student Council, NHS, LeaderInMe, Yearbook, 4-H

Favorite food: Chicken Alfredo

Favorite College Team: Purdue

Favorite Cartoon as a Kid: Young Justice

Favorite book: The Mamba Mentality

Quote: “Acquire peace of mind by making the effort to become the best of which you are capable”

What was it like attending EHS: It’s been a roller coaster ride for sure. I wouldn’t trade it. I value everything that the school has done for me

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Jerry Curry is a new staff writer with Leader Publishing Company of Salem, Inc., providing all kinds of news coverage for www.salemleader.com.

“We are so thrilled to add Jerry to our staff,” said Nancy Grossman, publisher. "He immediately hit the ground running—making contacts throughout the county and writing stories on all facets of news, from local government, the schools, fires, the YMCA, election information, community outreach groups, service organizations and so much more. He doesn’t hesitate to cover anything that he runs across. He is quite an asset to our company and community.”

Curry may be familiar to many in the community. For the past couple of years he contributed racing news from Salem Speedway and Thunder Valley Raceway for The Salem Leader and The Salem Democrat. His coverage was appreciated by many racing enthusiasts in Washington County.

He has been a race fan from an early age. “My dad was a race fan, so we attended race tracks like the Sportsdrome in Jeffersonville and Salem Speedway,” Curry said.

He had a desire to share race results in local papers. “I wanted to reestablish the sport of local auto racing in the papers,” Curry said. “Everybody was shorthanded and available space in the newspaper was at a premium.” He established a relationship with the Jeffersonville Evening News before reaching out to The Salem Leader.

Curry also follows racing on his Facebook group, “Kentucky & Indiana Motorsports,” where he posts results from the Washington County tracks, in addition to the Sportsdrome and Kentucky Motor Speedway.

Curry is retired from Ford Motor Company. He said, “My last job was in preventative maintenance as a thermograph using an infrared camera. He has been an industrial electrician since 1973 and earned his associate degree in electronics from Ivy Tech College. He attended Ahrens Trade High School in Louisville. He worked at Auto Mechanics for a couple of years before moving to factory work. “Having a background in mechanics was a stepping stone to maintenance,” he said. He also worked at Henry Vogt Machine Company.

His love of racing led him to cover local race tracks, but meeting a lot of interesting people has kept him engaged. He said he enjoys the challenge of conveying a story so others can understand what is happening.

“I used to be quite nervous about public speaking, but as I aged it went away,” Curry said. “I lead the invocation at the Sportsdrome for the drivers’ meeting and again for the spectators. It’s an honor.”

Curry and his wife of 52 years, Jeanette, live in Jeffersonville. She is an R.N. The have three grown children, two daughters and a son.

If he’s not at the racetrack or covering news for the Leader, Curry can be found volunteering for church functions or will soon be cutting grass at Eastern Cemetery, an over buried cemetery that no one claims. He said, “Yard sales are an activity my wife and I enjoy. A great day for his is getting up early and finding a successful project in his garage.

The 72 year old relies on this saying, “Always put yourself in a position to win.” He said to him it means preparing yourself with all the personal tools you can. "I always volunteered for just about everything at work, and this leads to some very good opportunities,” he added.

“Jerry is a very interesting man. He is driven to do all he can to help inform local residents about the latest news about individuals, businesses, organizations and events. Jerry may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 812-883-3281 if anyone wants to discuss news stories or ideas. He is a delight to work with,” said Grossman

Volunteering

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Be a Beacon of Hope at Our Free Training for New Volunteers on February 21, 2024

For those looking for a volunteer experience from the heart, Hosparus Health has an opportunity waiting for you. The nonprofit hospice and palliative care organization is hosting a free training session for new volunteers interested in learning more about how they can support community members of all ages facing serious illness on Wednesday, February 21, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 6200 Dutchmans Lane in Louisville.

Volunteers play a vital role in providing compassionate care, comfort, and support to patients and families throughout Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham, Henry, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble counties. Currently, Hosparus Health is especially in need of patient care volunteers, who visit patients wherever they call home.

While many volunteers provide direct patient support, there are a variety of opportunities to choose from. Depending on their interests, volunteers provide presence and support to patients and respite to their caregivers, bereavement care, and veteran-to-veteran companionship. Volunteer managers work closely with each volunteer to find a role that is right for them – making sure they feel confident in their chosen roles and responsibilities. Flexible options are available for those who have limited time each month to give.

Prospective volunteers should apply at hosparushealth.org/volunteers by February 9 for this month’s training. Anyone unable to attend may apply now and register for later training. In Louisville, additional training sessions are on March 23, April 17, May 14, June 7, and July 20, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Dutchmans Lane office. All volunteers must meet certain health criteria and provide COVID-19 vaccination documentation before starting.

For questions, general information, or to inquire about arranging training to suit your schedule, please contact Laura Harbolt at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Sunday, January 28, 2024: Investigators with the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg are investigating a deadly shooting that occurred around Midnight in Salem.

Just after 12:00 a.m. Sunday, Salem Police, along with ISP Troopers, responded to a 911 call advising a person had been shot inside a house on the 500 block of North College Avenue in Salem. When officers entered the residence, they discovered an adult male who had been shot, lying on the floor. Paramedics with the Washington County Ambulance Service quickly responded; however, the male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene. Another adult male, 24-year-old Blake Howard Henry of Salem, and two adult females were also present and in the house at the time of the shooting. All three were transported to the Washington County Justice Center for questioning.

As a result of the preliminary investigation, ISP detectives believe the shooting was the result of a domestic incident. ISP Detective Travis Baker placed Blake Henry under arrest for Murder, and Henry was incarcerated at the Washington County Jail early Sunday Morning.

The deceased has been identified as 29-year-old Jacob Richard Mitchell of Salem, Indiana. Mitchell's family has been notified.

This is an ongoing investigation. Officers with the Salem Police Department, ISP troopers, detectives, and crime scene technicians remained at the scene for several hours.

“All subjects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law”.

Agriculture / 4H

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The Washington County Sheep Association is hosting “A Taste of Lamb” on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at Southern Hills Church (1645 S. St. Rd. 135, Salem).

“A Taste of Lamb” will feature the very popular lamb cook-off. Attendees will enjoy approximately six lamb dishes, prepared with locally raised lamb, and vote for their favorite. Prizes will be awarded to the three dishes with the most votes. Attendees will learn about preparing lamb and will take home recipes.

The cost is $10 per person, paid at the door. Reservations are required by Friday, March 8 by calling Purdue Extension – Washington County at 812-883-4601.