One of the favorite annual Christmas traditions is viewing the movie "The Polar Express" at The Depot Railroad Museum. The movie will be presented at The Depot, located at 206 S. College Ave, Salem, on Friday, Dec. 13.

Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the film will start at 7 p.m. There will be popcorn, sweet treats, Christmas activities, and more for everyone to enjoy before the film starts. Everyone attending is urged to wear their favorite Christmas pajamas!

Admission is FREE although donations are greatly appreciated!

For further information or answers to any questions, please contact Kaylee Seabold at (812) 883-6495.

The Washington County 4-H Junior Leaders are hosting their annual Cheese Ball Fundraiser to help cover the costs of trips and activities for the upcoming year. This is a great opportunity to support the future leaders of our community while stocking up on a tasty snack for your holiday table.

Cheese Balls are just $8 each and come in three flavors: Plain, Parsley, and Pecan. Each cheese ball also contains chipped beef and spices.

Place your order by Tuesday,  Dec. 10, and pick them up on Thursday, Dec. 19, from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Washington County Extension Office, located at 806 Martinsburg Rd, Suite 104, Salem.

To order, call the Extension Office at 812-883-4601.

A portion of the sales will be used to support Washington County 4-H Jr. Leaders activities and programs. No endorsement of the product by 4-H is implied or intended.

Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. 

• Salem High School
• Education
• Wellness

By Morgan Humphrey, SHS Student Writer

Salem Community Schools is one of many Indiana schools implementing regulations for teachers to help students with anxiety through social-emotional learning programs. In terms of bringing these regulations to Salem, there are certain guidelines that are being followed.

“Salem is currently implementing approved programming from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE),” said Superintendent Jill Mires, adding that the second step is a program Salem purchased using Title IV funds which focuses on the development of coping skills and emotional awareness.

“This program also has lessons that focus on bully awareness and drug education,” she said.

Salem is planning professional development for all grade levels on the Zones of Regulation, which is approved by the IDOE. Teachers, students and families will learn about these zones.

“There are four types of zones, these zones will help students better understand and manage their emotions, energy, and responses,” she said. “It divides feelings and states of alertness into four color-coded zones, each representing a different type of emotion and level of energy.”

The zones are:

Blue Zone- This zone includes feelings like sadness, tiredness, or boredom, and times when we are feeling low.

Green Zone- This is the ‘ready to learn’ zone, where students feel calm, focused, and in control. It's an ideal zone for learning and positive interactions.

Yellow Zone- In this zone, students can feel excitement, frustration or worry. Students might need strategies to stay balanced.

Red Zone- This zone is for anger, panic, or elation. This zone is for students to take a step back, calm down and regain control.

When asked if teachers have to go through a certain training, Mires said, “Indiana has developed Social-Emotional Learning Competencies, similar to the standards we might hear teachers discuss for math and English. These competencies encourage practices in self-management, emotional regulation, and relationship skills, which teachers can integrate into classroom activities.”

Teachers can collaborate with school counselors or mental health professionals for support.

“These new regulations can benefit both teachers and students by helping them recognize our feelings and learn coping mechanisms to move between zones as needed,” she said. “This can help students and teachers build friendships, and improve overall well-being.”

• Communities
• Special Events

The Christmas season is here, and The Salvation Army of Southern Indiana needs assistance to make Christmas brighter for children in our community. The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program has 400 Angels that still need to be adopted for the Christmas season.

This is an urgent need - all angel gifts and donations must be returned to either The Salvation Army of New Albany, 2300 Green Valley Rd, New Albany, by December 6 or Green Tree Mall, 757 E Lewis and Clark Pkwy, Clarksville, by December 8.

"We are grateful for the support of our community to help make Christmas a memorable and meaningful day in the lives of so many children," said Captain Strand of The Salvation Army. "We have seen the generosity of people in Southern Indiana and know together we can bring a smile to the faces of these children this holiday season."

Angel Tree donors provide gifts of new, unwrapped winter clothing for children residing in Southern Indiana. Donors can adopt Angels by visiting the Angel Tree at Green Tree Mall Center Court, visiting www.sanewalbany.org, or calling The Salvation Army at (812) 944-1018.

The need for Christmas assistance is even greater than usual. You can help by adopting an Angel or making a donation toward the Angel Tree.

The second annual Christmas Magic In Salem will be Saturday, December 7, 1—7 p.m., at the Salem Public Square and Purlee Plaza. Everyone will be sure to catch the holiday spirit with a day filled with shopping in Historic Downtown Salem, treat bags and hot chocolate for children, visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus, music, wagon rides and much more.

The event is sponsored by the Washington County Tourism organization and the City of Salem. Organizers include Nina Motsinger, Bonita Purlee, Susan Lloyd and Justin Green, mayor of Salem.

Businesses around the square will be open, and many will offer specials, entertainment or treats. Several restaurants are in short walking distance of all the festivities.

New this year is the addition of numerous vendors that will be set up in two different locations.

At #52 Public Square, located in the middle of the southwest side of the square, will be the following vendors: Pampered Chef, Scentsy, 821 Woodworks, RAD Candle Co., Dandee’s Faces, Becca’s Can Do Creations, Rugs by Mary Jane Hamilton, Creatively Unique, Shepherd’s Bluff, Wood Zinser Crafts, Hunter Ridge Winery and Bracelets Key Chains.

Vendors will also be located at Purlee Plaza, the parking area at the corner of Market and High streets, right across from Salem City Hall. Those vendors include Alexander Custom Creations, Grays Bake House, Flower Power Bakery, Roots & Wings by KH and Christmas Ornaments by Tina.

The public is invited—get in the holiday spirit, enjoy fun and fellowship and get a jump on your gift shopping!

The Salem Public Library will be presenting the film "Christopher The Christmas Tree" this Thursday, Dec. 5, beginning at 5 p.m.

The film is especially dear to area residents since the story, coloring book and eventually the film were all the creation of the late George Bowers.  Bowers was actually born at the Bowers Tree Farm in 1938. 

Bowers wrote and performed songs about Christopher to area children and at regional venues for decades. The story was eventually made into a movie, which premiered 30 years ago on the Fox Family Network in 1994.

Everyone is invited to join Christopher The Christmas Tree, Whooty the Owl and all of their animal friends in the Valley of Hidden Hollow in the showing of this favorite holiday movie. The movie is approximately 30 minutes long and is free to the public.

Seating is very limited. Please call the Salem Public Library at 812-883-5600 to reserve a space.

The library is located at 212 N. Main St., Salem.

The annual Jim Smoak Concert and Open House at The Depot Railroad Museum will be Saturday, Dec. 7, from 1to 3 p.m. The museum is located at 206 S College Ave, Salem.

Jim Smoak and the Louisiana Honeydrippers will be presenting their annual concert. There will be a variety of Country, Gospel, and Bluegrass music that includes banjo picking, guitar strumming, harmonica blowing, and of course, some singing!

There will be refreshments of cookies and cider forv isitors to enjoy, as well as a chance to roam The Depot Railroad Museum and see the HO model trains in the basement!

Admission is only a monetary donation to The Depot.

The public is invited.

 
There are several blood drives planned in Washington County through December.

Dates and locations include:

Wednesday, Dec. 4
Ascension St. Vincent Salem Hospital
911 N. Shelby St.
Salem
10 a.m.—3 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 9.
First Baptist Church of Salem
205 N. High St.
Salem
1 p.m.—6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21
Washington County Family YMCA
1709 N. Shelby St.
Salem,
9 a.m.—2 p.m.

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.

Blood Supply Statistics


The Red Cross provides about 40% of our nation’s blood and blood components, all from generous volunteer donors. But supply can’t always meet demand because only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly. Each new donor helps us meet patient needs.

•    Each year, an estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. donate blood.
    

•    13.6 million units of whole blood and red blood cells are collected in the U.S. in a year.
    

•    About 45% of people in the U.S. have Group O (positive or negative) blood; the proportion is higher among Hispanics (57%) and African Americans (51%).
    

•    Type O negative red cells can be given to patients of all blood types. Because only 7% of people in the U.S. are type O negative, it’s always in great demand and often in short supply.
    

•    Type AB plasma can be transfused to patients of all blood types. Since only 4% of people in the U.S. have type AB blood, this plasma is usually in short supply.
    

•    Red blood cells must be used within 42 days (or less).
    

•    Platelets must be used within just 5 days.
    


Facts About Blood Needs
    

•    Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets.
    

•    Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U. S.
    

•    Nearly 5,000 units of platelets and 6.500 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.
    

•    Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
    

•    Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives.
    

•    The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 units.
    

•    A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
    

•    Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they can only come from volunteer donors.
    

•    The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.
    

•    One donation can help save more than one life.
    

•    According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.

• City of Salem
• Law & Justice

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

James Moore saw a need and stepped up. Moore is a third shift Sergeant for the Salem Police Department. Budgets are tight and 32-year-old Moore found an opportunity to improve the police department by writing grants. He has been very successful so far, obtaining $163,500 at this point, and he’s not done yet.

In April 2023, Moore applied for a SAVE grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and received $6,000. This grant allows his department to have off-duty police officers conduct a highly-visual escort for school buses. Officers will look for drivers committing stop-arm violations and other dangerous driving habits. Illegal school bus passing is a major threat to students as they load and unload the bus. In the past 53 years there have been 1,267 fatalities. Seventy-three percent involved students 9 and younger.

In October 2023, with the help of Lindsey Wade-Swift, the department received $146,000 which will be used to purchase software. Wade-Swift is a member of the Washington County Community Foundation. It is the same software used by the Indiana State Police, making it possible to provide internet access to all police cruisers as well as showing the location of each police car. This was a very competitive grant since it was available to agencies all over the United States.

In a grant from Hoosier Uplands, the police department received a grant for $11,000 for six new in-car police radios. This covers half the fleet with the possibility of another grant serving the rest of the fleet.

Moore is somebody that thoroughly loves his job. When asked about why he is so adamant about the grants, he responded and said, “It provides the department with proper equipment, and it’s a blessing to get the grants.” Moore is currently pursuing equipment such as hand-held radios, AEDs in each car and Flock Safety cameras that read license plates.

Moore works 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and has two children, 4 and 5 years old, as well as a 10-year-old nephew that he has custody of. He is a 2012 graduate of Salem High School and Prosser where he studied HVAC. However, a ride along with his brother-in-law, a fellow officer, drastically changed his career path. Moore was initially a Reserve Officer to see if the job was a good fit for him in 2016. Then in 2017, he joined the police force. He can be spotted at night driving a Dodge Durango SUV police cruiser.

Sgt. James Moore

• Law & Justice
• Crime

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

On Tuesday November 19, the New Albany Police Department had a news conference about the arrest of four men regarding the murder of 18-year-old Bryce Gerlach. He was a student at Corydon Central High School, and his father Scott is employed in Salem at Salem Crossing.

The shooting took place behind the Scribner House fountain during the Harvest Homecoming Festival. Attending the conference was Prosecutor Christopher Lane, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Elizebeth Stigdon, and Chief of Police Todd Bailey. They indicated the arrest of four suspects in the shooting on October 12th at 9:53 p.m.

There were several law enforcement groups involved, and Bailey said, “The investigation was one of the most complex the department has ever been involved with. Those charged were Joshua Smith with 11 counts, Shermichael Smith 8 counts, Darius Tuff 6 counts and Isaiah Page 4 counts. Some of the charges included Murder, Attempted Murder, Armed robbery, Aggravated Battery, Criminal Recklessness, Obstruction of Justice, Resisting Law Enforcement and Criminal Mischief. Some of these charges are double counts for the aggression against the three victims.

Other victims include a 22-year-old male and a 42-year-old female. Both are said to be in good condition. Bailey stated that it was an ongoing investigation and more could potentially be charged. Tuff was identified as the driver of the car and was accompanied by his roommates Joshua and Shermichael Smith, who live in Louisville, as his passengers.