• Fundraisers

The Awareness Washington County Board announced that the 8th annual Chili Cook Off will be held Saturday, March 8, from 4-7  p.m., at Southern Hills Church,1645 Hwy. 135, Salem.

Competition is open to anyone interested, and cash prizes will be awarded in several categories. There will be a prize for the judged Best Red Chili, as well as the judged Best White Chili. In addition, there are People’s Choice awards for Best Chili and Best Decorated booth. Other features of the event are the famous dessert auctions and the cookie cart.  There will also be items available in the Silent Auction and the Bag Raffle.

Admission to the event is $10 for adults and $5 for children. All-you-can-eat chili and crackers are included in the admission price, along with ballots to vote for your favorite chili and best decorated booth.

Sponsorships for the event are available as well. Sponsors will be recognized in the media, on the AWC website, on table tents at every table at the event, and on social media. There will be several hundred people attending.

Interested chili cooks can register by contacting Marji Morris on Facebook, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 812-216-6505. A registration form for cooks or potential sponsors may be found at https://www.awarenesswashingtoncounty.org/.

“The event has become a social occasion,” said Morris. “Many people come at 4 p.m. and stay until the end to see who wins, although you don’t have to do that.” She continued, “Having a booth allows businesses to get themselves and their products or services in front of the public, just for the cost of their chili ingredients.” There will be a maximum of 12 teams so sign up soon, and guests can sample as many of the chilis as they can handle. 

Rules for Chili Cook-off

• Prizes awarded for People’s Choice Best Chili, Best decorated booth, Judges’ choice best red chili and best white chili.
• Teams are to provide 3 crock pots (or equivalent) of the same chili.
• Typed list of major ingredients. (For those with food allergies--Exact recipe not required. You don’t have to give away your secrets.)
• Decorating limited to a 6 ft table space with 1 ft. additional space on both sides and 4ft. behind the table. Decorating is not required, but it is part of the fun. Tables are provided.
• Set up may begin at 10 a.m. Chili should be in place no later than 2:30 p.m. for judging. Teams may leave after set-up and return by 3:45 p.m.
• Collectively the team is allowed free admission for 2 adults and 2 kids. After that, tickets are adults $10/children $5.
• There is no entry fee, but we are limiting participation to 12 teams.

The Awareness Washington County Board announced that the 8th annual Chili Cook Off will be held Saturday, March 8, from 4-7  p.m., at Southern Hills Church,1645 Hwy. 135, Salem.

Competition is open to anyone interested, and cash prizes will be awarded in several categories. There will be a prize for the judged Best Red Chili, as well as the judged Best White Chili. In addition, there are People’s Choice awards for Best Chili and Best Decorated booth. Other features of the event are the famous dessert auctions and the cookie cart.  There will also be items available in the Silent Auction and the Bag Raffle.

Admission to the event is $10 for adults and $5 for children. All-you-can-eat chili and crackers are included in the admission price, along with ballots to vote for your favorite chili and best decorated booth.

Sponsorships for the event are available as well. Sponsors will be recognized in the media, on the AWC website, on table tents at every table at the event, and on social media. There will be several hundred people attending.

Interested chili cooks can register by contacting Marji Morris on Facebook, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 812-216-6505. A registration form for cooks or potential sponsors may be found at https://www.awarenesswashingtoncounty.org/.

“The event has become a social occasion,” said Morris. “Many people come at 4 p.m. and stay until the end to see who wins, although you don’t have to do that.” She continued, “Having a booth allows businesses to get themselves and their products or services in front of the public, just for the cost of their chili ingredients.” There will be a maximum of 12 teams so sign up soon, and guests can sample as many of the chilis as they can handle. 

Rules for Chili Cook-off

• Prizes awarded for People’s Choice Best Chili, Best decorated booth, Judges’ choice best red chili and best white chili.
• Teams are to provide 3 crock pots (or equivalent) of the same chili.
• Typed list of major ingredients. (For those with food allergies--Exact recipe not required. You don’t have to give away your secrets.)
• Decorating limited to a 6 ft table space with 1 ft. additional space on both sides and 4ft. behind the table. Decorating is not required, but it is part of the fun. Tables are provided.
• Set up may begin at 10 a.m. Chili should be in place no later than 2:30 p.m. for judging. Teams may leave after set-up and return by 3:45 p.m.
• Collectively the team is allowed free admission for 2 adults and 2 kids. After that, tickets are adults $10/children $5.
• There is no entry fee, but we are limiting participation to 12 teams.

Few individuals in American history have made an impact as sizable as Martin Luther King, Jr. King wore many hats throughout his tragically short life, from minister to activist to scholar, leaving behind a legacy that is worthy of celebration.

Though King was assassinated before he even reached his fortieth birthday, his life was filled with many notable events. Many of those events positively affected, and continue to affect, the lives of millions of others. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University notes that the following are some of the major events of King's life.

· January 15, 1929: Now commemorated annually as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (in 2023, the holiday is observed on Monday, January 16), January 15 marks the day King was born in 1929. King was born in Atlanta, where his father was a pastor at the Ebenezer church.

· September 20, 1944: Despite being only 15 years old, King begins his freshman year at Morehouse College. King was only a high school junior in 1944, but he was admitted to Morehouse, where his father studied for his ministerial degree, after passing the school's entrance exam.

· August 6, 1946: King's letter to the editor of The Atlanta Constitution is published. The letter reflects King's belief that Black Americans are entitled to the same rights and opportunities as White Americans. King's father later admitted this letter was the first time he and his wife recognized their son's "developing greatness."

· February 25, 1948: Following in his father's footsteps, King is ordained and appointed assistant pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in his hometown of Atlanta.

· June 8, 1948: King earns his bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Morehouse College.

· May 6-8, 1951: King graduates from Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania. He delivers the valedictory address during the graduation ceremony.

· June 18, 1953: King marries Coretta Scott near the bride's family home in Marion, Alabama. Coretta Scott King would also become a vocal activist, advocating for peace and gay rights and expressing her opposition to apartheid in the 1980s. She would not remarry after her husband's assassination.

· June 5, 1955: King ears his doctorate in systematic theology from Boston University.

· December 5, 1955: King becomes president of the Montgomery Improvement Association after the organization is formed at the Holt Street Baptist Church. MIA is formed in response to the arrest of Rosa Parks five days earlier after she refused to vacate her seat for a white passenger.

· January 27, 1956: A threatening phone call late in the evening inspires King to carry on with his activism.

· January 30, 1956: King's home is bombed while he is elsewhere delivering a speech. His wife and daughter are not injured in the blast.

· January 10-11, 1957: King is named chairman of what becomes the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which was an organization of southern black ministers working together to combat segregation.

· June 23, 1958: King and other leaders meet with U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington, D.C.

· September 17, 1958: Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story is published. It is King's first book.

· September 20, 1958: King survives a stabbing during a book signing in Harlem, New York. During a surgery after the stabbing, doctors remove a seven-inch letter opener from King's chest.

· April 16, 1963: King writes his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in response to criticisms of the Birmingham Campaign, a collective effort on the part of the SCLC and the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR) to combat segregation in the Alabama city. The letter becomes one of King's most famous writings.

· August 28, 1963: King delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

· January 3, 1964: King is named "Man of the Year" by Time magazine.

· December 10, 1964: King receives the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.

· March 17-25, 1965: King helps to lead civil rights marchers from Selma to Montgomery.

· June 7, 1966: King and other leaders resume James Meredith's "March Against Fear" from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi. Meredith was unable to continue after he was shot and wounded.

· April 3, 1968: King delivers his final speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop," as he returns to Memphis to lead a peaceful march of striking sanitation workers.

· April 4, 1968: King is shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. He is buried in Atlanta five days later.

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

County officials are reviewing a new policy intended to assist them when they consider new business tax abatements.
The proposed policy was presented to the Washington County Council by Economic Growth Partnership Director Angie Buchanan on Monday, Jan. 13. The council’s meeting was delayed by a week due to inclement weather.

Council President Mark Abbott said some abatements the county has approved have a “substantial time frame” of 10 years. The proposed policy intends to limit those long terms.

The council’s legal counsel, Alyssa Cochran, of Frost Brown Todd Attorneys, said the proposed policy would offer a tangible, objective process through which council members can determine the investment potential of a business. Most of the abatement process is dictated by state law, so the proposed policy will only be a guideline.

The proposed policy includes a scoring system to aid officials as they weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a requested tax abatement. Buchanan said the scoring system is intended only as an aid: the final decision will still rest with the council.

“Every business is just so different,” Buchanan said.

The council opted to table the matter to allow further review of the proposed policy.

If it is approved, the new policy will only apply to new applicants for tax abatements: it will not impact previously approved abatements.

Once approved, businesses with tax abatements must complete an annual compliance form so officials can ensure the businesses are meeting the benchmarks presented during the application process, such as the number of employees hired or retained and salary projections. Any business that fails to meet those projections can have its abatement rescinded.

Other business handled during the meeting included:
*The council opted to retain its current president, Mark Abbott, and vice president, Gerald Fleming Sr., during its reorganization. The firm of Frost Brown Todd Attorneys was also retained as legal counsel.

*New council members Brad Gilbert and Todd Armstrong were welcomed.

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

Two parking spaces located off High Street have been designated for use by electric vehicles and will contain charging stations.The decision to set aside those two parking spaces was made during the Monday, Jan. 13, meeting of the Salem Common Council.

The parking spaces are located on the west side of High Street between Walnut and Market streets at the site of the former bank drive-through.

The charging stations will be like the self-serve charging kiosk at Cobblestone Hotel.

Councilman Roger Pennington noted that downtown parking is at a premium and questioned whether the charging stations would get much use. Mayor Justin Green responded that the parking lot never seems to be full. Councilman Danny Libka noted the charging stations could be an asset for tourism.

The change to restrict parking in two of the spaces exclusively for electric vehicles was upheld in a unanimous vote.

Pennington suggested the Council revisit the change in about a year to evaluate how much the charging stations are used.

In other business:
*Both the Board of Works and Common Council reorganized for 2025. Both boards retained the existing meeting dates and times, with the Board of Works meetings at 5 p.m. the second Monday of the month with the Council meeting following at 5:30 p.m. Councilman Dylan Moore was unanimously selected as the Council’s president.
*The Council agreed to purchase 13 automated external defibrillators for use in all the city’s police and fire vehicles. Moore presented the quote to the Council suggesting that opioid funds could be used for the purchase, which is contingent upon confirmation that is an allowed use.

• Government
• State of Indiana
• Federal

By Nathaniel Smith, Editor

On Monday, January 13 at 11 a.m., Indiana officially welcomed in the state's 52nd governor. Governor Mike Braun, Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith and Attorney General Todd Rokita were sworn in yesterday morning and were met with a resounding applause at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis.

Attorney General Todd Rokita was first to be sworn in. Eager to begin his next term, he spoke of the various accomplishments on his record. Rokita has been committed to fighting for what Hoosiers believe in, and he is not planning on stopping anytime soon. His history of persistence is of great value to the State of Indiana.

“Some of you may not always agree with me,” said Rokita. “But one thing we can always agree on is that I’m never wishy-washy.”

After Rokita had been sworn in, the focus moved to Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith. Beckwith is not an average career politician; he is a regular Hoosier and small business owner. He credits his down-to-earth nature and his love for Indiana to how he was raised and his 15 years serving as a Worship Pastor.

“My mission is clear: to make Indiana a shining example of what a conservative state can achieve—a place where every Hoosier has the opportunity to thrive,” said Beckwith.

Then, it was time for the spotlight to hit Governor Mike Braun. Born in Jasper, Indiana in 1954, Braun began his career by being a main street entrepreneur. In his earlier days, he was focused on building a business that ended up creating thousands of jobs in Indiana. Later in 2018, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and now he is the Governor of the Hoosier state. Throughout his career, Braun has led more than 35 bills into law and was recently named the most effective first-term Republican Senator.

“I am committed to be a Governor of not just words, but action, as we create a prosperous future for all Hoosiers. It will take teamwork. It will take partnership. It will take collaboration. This is why we should all feel a spirit of optimism. Now it's time to get to work. Thank you, and may God bless our great state,” said Braun.

Below, you can find an excerpt of Governor Braun’s inaugural speech in addition to photos from the event. If you are interested in viewing the speech in its entirety, click Here.

Excerpt from "The Crossroads of Freedom and Opportunity" by Governor Mike Braun

Madam Chief Justice, Governor Holcomb, Lt. Governor Beckwith, Governor Bayh, General Rokita, President Pro Tem Bray, Speaker Huston, Maureen, family, friends, fellow Hoosiers:

It is with immense gratitude that I stand before you to accept the honor of serving as Indiana's 52nd governor.

On such a momentous occasion, I must acknowledge both our state's storied history and its bright future.

For 208 years and counting, Indiana has been a home for hard-working Hoosiers, small business owners, aspiring titans of industry, teachers, non profit leaders, and many others. From the earliest days of our statehood, our settlers and immigrants were risk-takers and trailblazers who built the state we recognize today. Yes! They embarked westward seeking a new start, fertile land, freedom, and opportunity.

Through honest hard work, they built homes, fed their families, and cultivated the strong communities we take pride in every day.

When I walk through the woods near my home in Jasper, I do it often. I think of these early pioneers who built our great state out of the wilderness. These hard-working Hoosiers gazed upon the same forests when they established Vincennes as our territorial capital in 1800, and Corydon as our first state capital.

Our early settlers faced a crossroads: retreat in fear of the challenges this new land would bring, or view the vast contours of our state as an opportunity worth embracing? History reveals they listened to the voice of inner resolve that said a path not yet taken is a path to be pursued.

These aims of our founders were not all that different from ours today.

Our great nation will soon observe 250 years of prosperity, and Indiana will have been an integral piece for most of those years. From our Hoosier veterans who fought for the Union in the Civil War or stormed the beaches of Normandy in World War II, to the everyday heroes who currently stand at the ready, Hoosiers have always been willing to step up to protect our families, friends, and neighbors. That's what we’re about. We do not take that commitment for granted.

Undeterred by challenging periods throughout our history, Hoosiers have emerged stronger after every trial. We have grown from the dirt roads of Vincennes into the Crossroads of America. From the farms to factories, our entrepreneurs have created thriving small businesses and some of the most important operations on Earth, supporting critical industries and the daily lives of American citizens. In the face of any challenge, Hoosiers have stepped up to take our state to unprecedented heights, and we’re not going to stop.

Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith

Beckwith with wife Susan and Chief Justice Rush

AG Todd Rokita

Rokita with wife Kathy and Chief Justice Rush

38th Infantry Division Band

The Pledge of Allegiance led by Governor Braun's grandchildren.

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

Officials have opted to delay a request to change the county’s Emergency Management director position from part- to full-time until this summer.The decision was made during the Monday, Jan. 13, meeting of the Washington County Council.

In December, Deni Stempowski, the county’s Emergency Management director, asked the Council to consider making the change so the county could receive more grant money from the state to help pay her salary.

As a part-time employee, Stempowski said the state will provide the county with about $12,500 to offset her salary cost. If her position is made full-time, the state will reimburse the county about $23,600.

During the December meeting, the Council tabled the request. During Monday’s discussion, the Council reached a consensus that further consideration of the request would be delayed until the 2026 budget process later this year.

Before reaching consensus, Council members discussed last summer’s budget discussions, which emphasized that the budget must be adhered to so it would allow an 8 percent raise for county employees.

Stempowski divides her time between Emergency Management and dispatch, so Council members were concerned about the budget impact of hiring a replacement for her in the county’s dispatch department. They noted that the vacancy would likely be filled with a full-time replacement that could cost an estimated $60,000.

• Public Safety
• Lifestyle
• Road Safety

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

The City of Salem tackled 10 ½ inches of snow on the city streets after the winter storm this past Sunday. Gina Hoskins said the Street Department is in charge of plowing over 41 miles of city roads.

The task started Sunday, January 5 at 5 a.m. and lasted until 10 p.m., but the effort continued on through the rest of the week. However, temperatures will remain in the freezing range ensuring no quick melting. With the additional accumulation that fell on Friday, January 10, it is hard to say what the road conditions will be.

The Washington Co. Highway Superintendent, Rick Voyles, said there are 780 miles of county roads that they treat. Down one lane and then backup the other for a total of 1,560 miles. Although, 100 miles of that is gravel road that cannot be treated with salt because the mixture would produce mud.

The county uses a mixture of salt, sand and #11 stone to treat the road. That’s 900 tons of material.

Sometimes mailboxes may be victims of collateral damage by large snow plows. Along HWY 60 in Clark Co. is an example. Depending on the location, there may be compensation for damage. In the City of Salem, call the street department at 812-883-4265 or the Washington Co. Highway Department at 812-883-3538.

Be careful while shoveling snow, as it can be heavy. Be sure to take breaks and stay warm. A common danger to watch for is large sheets of ice sliding off of houses and semi-truck trailers. These can easily cause major property damage, injury and worse. Be sure to stay safe and warm during this winter weather!

Photos by Jerry Curry.

• Campbellsburg
• Communities
• Lifestyle

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Hope with a Hammer has left its fingerprint on Campbellsburg on more than one occasion now. Starting next month, the organization will be starting phase two on the project called “Ryder’s House.” Phase one was the concrete slab and plumbing, and phase two will commence construction on the house.

Ryder lives in an old trailer handed down from 1955 with his father, mother and 9-year-old brother. Ryder has Chromosome deletion Q23, which is a condition that only 11 people in this country have. This has left him with numerous setbacks: 50% deaf, poor right eye sight, nonverbal, unable to regulate body temperature, delayed muscle growth and lives with a feeding tube. Not only that, but he is confined to a wheelchair. The temperature and climate are very hard to regulate in the old trailer, and Hope with a Hammer is determined to remedy this.

The most recent completed project was the upgrade on Jerry and Alejandra Hartlage’s home, also located in Campbellsburg, called "Miracle Acres." Jerry is a former Marine from Kentucky who had been diagnosed with two forms of stage four lymphatic cancer in 11 different parts of his body, and Alejandra was the interpreter for Jerry in Mexico on his missionary trips. Thankfully, Jerry is now totally cancer free. Jerry and Alejandra ministered together in Mexico where Alejandra held citizenship before becoming a U.S. citizen. At one time, he even helped run 29 churches.

The Hartlage’s originally lived in a 125 square foot camping trailer. They bought the 2.2-acre site about 3 ½ years ago, but Hope with a Hammer, the Maryville, Tennessee based organization, built the home they live in now.

The crew arrived and took care of business, and the cost was around $5,500. The electrical system had to be upgraded from 100 amps service to 200 amps to handle the new heat pump system. All money used in Hope with a Hammer projects is donated by generous community members all across the nation. The funds for this particular project came from six states and two countries.

The house was not only built by Hope with a Hammer, but they also furnished the appliances and cabinetry. The ceiling is knotty pine, and the trim is clear wood which the couple loves. The barn Jerry has was built by the Amish. The Amish call this a “Frolic,” which is simply a gathering where Amish men and boys come together to accomplish a large task.

Jerry spoke of many difficult moments during their time in Mexico. Gangs and religious persecutions were ongoing dangerous obstacles. Their missionary location was in an extreme southernmost area of Mexico called Chiapas on the border of Guatemala, which is a hotbed for conflict between the general population, government and cartels. A gang once told a missionary named McGill to tell the people he was lying about the Gospel; he refused and they cut off his ear and hung him. When I asked Jerry what his denomination was, he replied, Pentecostal, and he spoke of many miracles and conversations he and Alejandra had witnessed. The Hartlage’s have written a book called, “Redneck & Mexican in the Hands of God.” However, it is now out of circulation.

One of their current projects is to furnish motorcycles to enable people in Mexico to spread the word of God. These Italian-made motorcycles cost roughly $1,400 each. If you would like to give to this mission, mail a tax-deductible donation to: Freedom Ministries, 5886 Old State Road 56, Salem, Indiana, 47167. The couple are available to speak to any church, Bible study, or anywhere else at any time. Their email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and Jerry can be reached at 965-290-2244 or Alejandra at 965-652-5028.

Jerry and Alejandra Hartlage

Photos by Jerry Curry.

From revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of the ever-evolving story of democracy in America. As part of a thematic initiative exploring civics and democracy, Indiana Humanities is sponsoring a tour of the Smithsonian's Voices and Votes: Democracy in Americaexhibition.

In 2026, six Indiana communities will host the exhibit for six weeks each and receive extensive training, funding, and other resources from the expert staffs of the Smithsonian and Indiana Humanities. Each of the hosts will also curate a unique section of the exhibit that explores their community story of civic engagement.

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. The Museum on Main Street program works with rural communities to design and host high-quality exhibits and create dynamic public programs across the United States. Voices and Votes is based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

About the Exhibition

When American revolutionaries waged a war for independence, they took a leap of faith that sent ripple effects across generations. They embraced a radical idea of establishing a government that entrusted the power of the nation not in a monarchy, but in its citizens. That great leap sparked questions that continue to impact Americans:

• Who has the right to vote?
• What are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens?
• Whose voices will be heard?
• How do you participate as a citizen?
• How do we encourage more people to participate in our democracy?

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is a springboard for discussions about those very questions and how they are reflected in local stories. Our democracy demands action, reaction, vision, and revision. From revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story – the story of democracy in America.

This exhibition covers many themes, including:

 Learn more and apply by January 31, 2025.