Message from CAST:
Creating Avenues For Student Transformation (CAST) in Washington County is offering two wonderful events to raise funds. CAST provides tutoring and mentoring to county students. All proceeds will benefit CAST and Southern Indiana Dyslexia Resource Center.
"The Most Magical Raffle on Earth"
Tickets are on sale now for “The Most Magical Raffle On Earth.”
The grand prize includes $2,000 in Disney gift cards.
The Local Gift Card bundle features gift cards donated by local businesses. They include Raquel’s Restaurant, Born, El Maguey, Nice’s Family Diner, Totally Baked, Lisa’s Farmhouse Market, Poppy Lane Bakery, Tees & Tumblers and more.
A bundle of four Big Splash tickets is also up for grabs.
Tickets are $20 apiece or three tickets for $50. Those wanting tickets may stop by the CAST any weekday in September between 9 a.m. and 12 noon or by appointment. The CAST office is located at 1707 N. Shelby Street, Suite 107, Salem.
Tickets can also be purchased from Kim Scifres, Allison Ezzell, Lorie Campbell, Ashley Hubbard, Cassie Summers-Corp, Micah Gilliam or Steve Corp. Cash, checks, credit cards or Venmo will be accepted.
The drawing for the raffle winners will occur at the CAST office at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30.
Please call 812-620-7907 or email castwashco.org for more information.
"A Night At The Salem Speedway"
CAST is hosting “A Night At The Salem Speedway” on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. that will feature dinner and racing at the historic track. The speedway is located at 2729 W. State Road 56, Salem.
Sponsors are needed, and all proceeds will benefit CAST, a 501c3 non-profit organization.
According to Cassie Corp, CAST director, sponsors’ “tax-deductible contributions for this event will help students in Washington County and beyond!”
“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability related to reading. Studies show up to 20% of the population in the United States is affected at some level with dyslexia. Children who are unable to read by the third grade are more likely to drop out of school.”
“Help our students achieve their full potential by supporting this effort,” she added.
Sponsorship levels include the following: Banner Sponsors—$2,500: Media recognition, event admission, a table for eight, banner recognition. Winner’s Circle—$1,000: Media recognition, event admission, table for eight. Fast Track—$500: Media recognition, event admission, table for four. Rev Your Engine—$250: Media recognition, event admission, table for two. Individual Tickets—$50: Reserved seats for the night’s race, a VIP armband with access to the High Banks Club, and a fully catered dinner (Kids 12 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket).
Please email Cassie Corp at
Harvest season is officially underway for Indiana’s 94,000 farmers, which means more slow-moving farm equipment will be on Indiana’s rural roads and highways. To keep Hoosiers safe this year, state agencies are asking motorists to be alert and patient, as they share the road with farm equipment this fall.
“The fall is an exciting time for all Hoosiers as the temperatures cool and the leaves turn colors. And Hoosier farmers share that excitement as they prepare to begin harvest,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “While traveling rural roads and highways this fall, remember to watch for large farm equipment moving between fields as they work to harvest the crops, and be sure to know the proper steps to safely navigate around.”
In 2022 four vehicles were involved in crashes with farm equipment in Indiana which resulted in one death, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Moving farm equipment can be one of the most dangerous parts of a farmers job,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “When motorists know how to safely navigate around farm equipment, our roads are safer. By working together, farmers and everyday Hoosiers can ensure they arrive safely to their destination.”
Farm equipment during harvest season could include tractors, combines, grain carts, grain wagons and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.
The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:
- Farmers will pull over when they are able to let motorists pass, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.
- Be alert. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.
- Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
- Do not try to pass a slow-moving vehicle on the left without ensuring that the vehicle is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over for you to pass when it is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
- Avoid tailgating, as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.
- Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.
“When you see farmers out working and moving from field to field, please be patient as they work to harvest their crops which are needed to help feed our communities and the world,” said Doug Carter, Indiana State Police Superintendent. “Let’s all work together to help ensure everyone’s safety on our roadways.”
For a list of safety tips, click here or visit isda.in.gov. Click here for a video message created by Hoosier Ag Today, in partnership with Keystone Corporative. The following organizations will be working together to share this important safety message during planting season: Hoosier Ag Today, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Transportation and Indiana State Police.
The new SalemLeader.com website Is officially going live this weekend!
There may be some delays, as the new website has to go through procedures to “replicate” itself on the internet.
Anyone who has problems reaching the new website by searching “www.salemleader.com” may find that they will need to reboot their computers or clear their cache to directly connect with the website.
For the past couple of months, many people have been able to access the beta website that was under construction and listed as www.southernindiana.us. As soon as the new website has been fully replicated, the new website will be reached by entering www.salemleader.com.
Advantages of using SalemLeader.com:
FREE NEWS is available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
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News and advertising are posted as soon as it is received.
Advanced navigation buttons at the top of the Home Page, the Footer and Search function make locating stories effortless.
Stories and obituaries remain on the site indefinitely, so you will be able to find an article you may have missed.
There are over 40 categories to make finding news easier. We post news constantly as soon as we receive it. Many stories will roll off of the Home Page, but will still be available under category headings.
Please try out the new website! We hope you will be pleased with the new format.
Sincerely,
Nancy Grossman, Publisher
Leader Publishing Company of Salem, Inc.
Taylor Ferns is the first female driver to win the Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial Race.
The 65th running of the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial Race came back with lightning speed and was a history making event at Salem Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 7. The cars rounded the track at an average speed of 125 mph., coming down the straightway at higher speeds.
This is the first time the sprint cars have been on the track since 2010, and they came back strong. The fastest qualification time was posted by Kody Swanson at 15.734, just shy of the track record 15.181 set by Tracy Hines in 2000.
The elapsed total race time was 21.12 minutes with one yellow for a total green lap time of 18.34 minutes.
Becoming the first female to win in this series, Taylor Ferns led flag to flag and was definitely followed closely by Kody Swanson and Davey Hamilton.
Swanson, the winner of the last five Joe James/Pat O’Connor races, got beside her but couldn’t make it stick. His wins were in the more powerful and longer wheel base USAC Silver Crown cars. This win streak period was from 2016 to 2020. In fact, he was the last winner to race at Salem and win this prestigious race. Also, the fastest qualifier.
Swanson settled for second place; with Davey Hamilton, third; and Bobby Santos, fourth.
It was Ferns’ first feature win in the 500 Touring Sprint Cars series.
In victory lane she said, “I was without brakes most of the race and had to go high on the banks to help slow it down.”
Supporting classes for race day were the USSA Kenyon Midgets and the Legend series.
The midgets, compared to the sprints, have a shorter wheel base and are equipped with a 4-cylinder 1200 cc Yamaha engine vs. the V-8 Chevy 410 cubic inch engine in the sprint cars. All are the same, keeping down the price of racing.
The 25-lap Kenyon Midget race was won by Dameron Taylor; second was Ryan Haggler; and third was Landon Brown. Taylor also won one of the ten-lap heat races. The race was caution free.
This series was started by the brothers Mel and Don Kenyon. Mel is a retired midget champ and Indianapolis driver. Mel, at ninety-one years old, and his brother still come out for the races and to work on the cars.
Also on the small track were the Legend cars. The 25-lap feature was won by Eddie Fosnight; second, Max Olmsted; and bringing home third place for a podium finish was Johnny Weaver.
Ferns is pictured with members of the O'Connor family.
Kody Swanson, placing second in the memorial race, is pictured with members of the Bohanon family, owners of Salem Speedway.
Sprint cars use distinctive tires.
This 1200cc four-cylinder Yamaha engine is standard in the Midget cars.
Dameron Taylor was the winner of the Kenyon Midget race.
The 10th annual Historical Walking Tour at Crown Hill Cemetery is this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13 & 14. Tours begin at 7:30 p.m. and leave every 10 or 15 minutes. The last tour will leave at 10:30 p.m. Crown Hill Cemetery is located at 207 Shelby St., Salem.
The tour will take you on a stroll through Salem’s rich history. Walkers will be informed the town’s historical background during the tour and will have an opportunity to meet characters playing some of Salem’s most well-known citizens of the past. Knowledgeable tour guides will introduce some of the most interesting, eccentric (and sometimes infamous) characters buried in Salem’s Crown Hill Cemetery.
The walking tour is a fun event for all ages. This tour is NOT haunted. Attendees will simply be meeting characters from the past who are buried in the cemetery. Lanterns will be provided for the trail.
The event is hosted by Washington County Theatre. There is no cost to participate, but donations will be excepted and all proceeds will be used to support the theatre group.
Creating Avenues For Student Transformation (CAST) in Washington County is offering two wonderful events to raise funds. CAST provides tutoring and mentoring to county students. All proceeds will benefit CAST and Southern Indiana Dyslexia Resource Center.
"The Most Magical Raffle on Earth"
Tickets are on sale now for “The Most Magical Raffle On Earth.”
The grand prize includes $2,000 in Disney gift cards.
The Local Gift Card bundle features gift cards donated by local businesses. They include Raquel’s Restaurant, Born, El Maguey, Nice’s Family Diner, Totally Baked, Lisa’s Farmhouse Market, Poppy Lane Bakery, Tees & Tumblers and more.
A bundle of four Big Splash tickets is also up for grabs.
Tickets are $20 apiece or three tickets for $50. Those wanting tickets may stop by the CAST any weekday in September between 9 a.m. and 12 noon or by appointment. The CAST office is located at 1707 N. Shelby Street, Suite 107, Salem.
Tickets can also be purchased from Kim Scifres, Allison Ezzell, Lorie Campbell, Ashley Hubbard, Cassie Summers-Corp, Micah Gilliam or Steve Corp. Cash, checks, credit cards or Venmo will be accepted.
The drawing for the raffle winners will occur at the CAST office at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30
Please call 812-620-7907 or email castwashco.org for more information.
"A Night At The Salem Speedway"
CAST is hosting “A Night At The Salem Speedway” on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. that will feature dinner and racing at the historic track. The speedway is located at 2729 W. State Road 56, Salem.
Sponsors are needed, and all proceeds will benefit CAST, a 501c3 non-profit organization.
According to Cassie Corp, CAST director, sponsors’ “tax-deductible contributions for this event will help students in Washington County and beyond!”
“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability related to reading. Studies show up to 20% of the population in the United States is affected at some level with dyslexia. Children who are unable to read by the third grade are more likely to drop out of school.”
“Help our students achieve their full potential by supporting this effort,” she added.
Sponsorship levels include the following: Banner Sponsors—$2,500: Media recognition, event admission, a table for eight, banner recognition. Winner’s Circle—$1,000: Media recognition, event admission, table for eight. Fast Track—$500: Media recognition, event admission, table for four. Rev Your Engine—$250: Media recognition, event admission, table for two. Individual Tickets—$50: Reserved seats for the night’s race, a VIP armband with access to the High Banks Club, and a fully catered dinner (Kids 12 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket).
Please email Cassie Corp at
The door to the baby box may be accessed from the outside of the building at the Washington County Ambulance Building.
More photos below story.
By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer
Many have heard of a Safe Haven Baby Box, but few may realize that Salem has its own.
The baby box was the brainchild of Monica Kelsey. She first saw the idea at a church in Cape Town, South Africa. She has made it her mission to get these placed in all 50 states. To date, the baby boxes are in use in 19 states.
Kelsey’s passion is fired by the fact that she was abandoned as a baby. Indiana Safe Haven Law enables a person to give up an unwanted infant anonymously without fear of arrest or prosecution. As long as there are no signs of intentional abuse on the baby, no information is required of the person leaving a baby.
The baby in Indiana must be no older than 30 days. States vary on this maximum age from 72 hours to 90 days old.
The box in Salem is located at the Washington County Ambulance Service (WCAS), 1013 Webb Street, where it is mounted on the outside of the building.
There are 134 Safe Haven Boxes in Indiana. The box is climate controlled and has several alarms, according to Mike Spurgeon, assistant director of WCAS. The director of the ambulance service is Tony Floyd.
The box is tested once a week and cleaned as needed. This is required by Indiana code 1C 31-34-2.5. Emergency custody of certain abandoned children is also covered by this code.
The baby box in Salem was installed in April of 2022. Spurgeon said, “It has not been used”.
The purpose of these boxes is for a mother who may be overwhelmed by her circumstances to place the baby in the box in a safe environment.
An alarm is on a 90-second delay, giving the mother or whoever opened the door of the box time to leave and remain anonymous.
The alarm sounds and dispatch is also notified that a baby is in the box. The child is removed by emergency personnel through the plexiglas door inside the building.
This Safe Haven Box is available 24 hours/7 days a week.
There is an orange plastic bag in the baby box that contains an optional form that the person surrendering the baby can fill it out. There is a line for the mother’s and father’s names. There is also a place to record the child’s birthday and any conditions that rescuers should be aware of. This form can be mailed in.
After the baby is surrendered, he/she is examined and given medical treatment, if needed. The Indiana Department of Child Services will take the baby into custody through Child Protective Services or a Licensed Child Placing Agency (LCPA) where it will be placed with a caregiver.
The box in Salem is dedicated to Cairo Jordan, who’s name was unknown at the time the box was installed.
The national headquarters for Safe Haven Baby Boxes is in Woodburn, Indiana. They are located northwest of Fort Wayne, where the boxes are manufactured.
So far, fifty babies have been placed in these boxes, and a total of 150 babies surrendered in the 19 states that have this program.
The box costs $15,000, plus there is a $500 annual use fee. It may cost in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $7,000 for installations, alarms, permits, and electrical hookups. The box can be picked up at the factory to save shipping fees.
The program is supported completely by private funding.
A national crisis number, 1-886-99BABY1 (1-866-992-2291), is available to distraught mothers. It is available 24/7.
Contributions to the program can be sent to SHBB, P.O. Box 185, Woodburn, IN. 46797.
Staff photos by Jerry Curry.
Instructions for using the box are posted near the entry door to the baby box.
This photo shows the interior of the baby box.
The Washington Co. Ambulance Service is located at 1013 Webb St., Salem.
By Becky Killian, Staff Writer
Officials have approved a $2 million loan to pay for the ongoing work at the new Washington County Highway Garage facility. The vote was made during the Tuesday, Sept. 3, meeting of the Washington County Council.
Representatives from First Savings Bank detailed how the loan will work:
The loan collateral will be $2 million in existing funds the county has and that will be invested in either a treasury bond or a certificate of deposit. The county will earn interest on the investment and the amount earned will depend on which type of investment officials choose.
The seven-year loan will have an estimated annual payment of about $350,000. The county has earmarked about $375,000 in existing County Economic Development Income Tax that will be used for the loan payment.
The loan interest will cost about $439,000 over the seven-year term.
“We’re not going to be raising taxes,” Commissioner Todd Ewen said. “We’re just trying to get this thing built.
Ground has already been broken on the $4.8 million highway garage. The project was undertaken as a Build-Operate-Transfer process (BOT), which Indiana law allows as an alternative to the traditional government building process that requires the government entity to get a design from an engineer, then seek bids, and obtain a bond to pay the costs. With the BOT, the county selects a developer who shoulders all costs until the project is completed to the satisfaction of the county. The developer is then paid a guaranteed pre-determined project cost.
Commissioners have pushed for the project, saying the highway department’s current facility is in a poor location and has insufficient room for supplies and equipment.
By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer
(Photos following story)
There have been many sightings of The Batman on the streets in Salem. Did the Salem Police Department or Washington County Sheriff Department send up the Bat Signal from the top of the police station to call Batman? It’s the light that projects a bat-shaped figure in the sky during a crisis— have you seen it? This is not Gotham City—it’s Salem, correct?
It was time to investigate, so SalemLeader.com put their top hound-dog reporter on the search. After a while, it was discovered it was not Bruce Wayne. Sleuthing skills revealed it was a young Salem man, Scotty Spears.
Spears has added some fun to our city and lots of excitement. He is seventeen years old and a junior at Salem High School.
When asked why he made his costumed appearances, he replied, “At very young age I loved Batman.” Batman is a DC comic creation who lives in Gotham City.
Scotty first made costumes out of cardboard. Then he got a job and gained access to lots of material for his creations. He now works at the Goodwill.
Look for him to show up for events or birthday parties, or just patrolling around the Salem area.
His costumes are outstanding! In addition to Batman, he has done other characters like Superman, Wolverine, Spiderman, Deadpool, Ghost, Green Goblin and Michael Myers, just to name a few.
The costumes Spears creates look like something right off the sets of the latest superhero/horror movies. They look incredibly detailed and professional. This man’s artistic skills are obviously “next level.”
Spears pays so much attention to detail that he can even cite the exact version of clothing from a particular movie. For example, one Batman mask he created is a reproduction of the version that Michael Keeton wore in the 2023 movie “The Flash.” His Green Goblin costume is a replica of the one featured in the 2021 movie, “Spiderman, No Way Home.”
At times Spears will customize an outfit he has purchased. Many times he creates the entire costume from scratch. Some of the high-tech methods he uses in his creations include the use of a 3D printer to create hard surfaces and EDA foam for sleeves.
His proud father is David Spears. His dad said, “He is going to Prosser right now for Criminal Justice.”
“He keeps his grades up enough to keep his scholarships going. Scotty plans to go into law enforcement after school.” His dad and the staff at SalemLeader.com all share the same belief, “He’s gonna go places in life.”
His hobbies, of course, are watching Gotham TV and playing games.
Now we know who to call if the city is in real danger and needs assistance. Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da— Batman!
Hard to believe this costume isn't directly off the set of a Batman movie! 
Batman visits school to talk to kids.
Batman was also sighted patrolling Main Street in Salem. 
When not in super-hero mode, Scotty Spears appears to be just another junior at Salem High School.
Batman with a different version of the mask.
Another version of the Batman costume.
Deadpool character.
This costume is of the character Ghost from the video game "Call Of Duty."
The Green Goblin character from the 2021 movie "Spiderman, No Way Home."
Superman--the Man of Steel.
Scotty Spears, unmasked.
Stephanie K. Rockey, Washington County Clerk of Courts and Wash. Co. Election Administrator, recently issued the following information pertaining to this year's upcoming election.
The following are important dates and deadlines for the 2024 General Election:
Friday night's Lions vs. Harrison County game was opened up by a ribbon cutting to start off the Salem Lions Football season on their new turf football field.
The Washington County Special Olympics athletes were chosen for the honor. The season opener at Salem High School on Aug. 23 featured Travis Spicer cutting the ribbon to open the school’s state-of-the-art football field.
Doyle Adams captured the excitement of the evening's events in the following photos:
Those who enjoyed being part of the ribbon-cutting were (from left) Brandon Cornwell, Rodney Brough, Travis Spicer, Brent Minton and Adam Mull.
Special Olympian Travis Spicer was especially excited to wield the enormous scissors for the ceremony.
This year's Salem High School football team was the first ever to compete on the new artificial turf field.
Fans arrived early to choose a great spot to view the festivities.
No Salem football game would be complete without a performance from the Lions band.
Patriotism: the dictionary definition is “the quality of being patriotic, to vigorously support one’s country.”
Some may say patriotism dead, but not in the case of Lisa Krussow, who takes gleaming pride in our country by assembling American flags with a card and ribbon attached.
The idea came to her in May of this year. She explains it this way, “I love the USA, I love America. I love the USA flag and what it stands for. And, I appreciate the veterans for standing up for America and the flag.”
The idea was to get a card and ribbon and attach it to a small American flag and distribute them in the community. Krussow said, “I enjoy the project.”
Art Wernert is one of Lisa’s handy helpers who has provided some financial backing. He is 75 years old and a Vietnam veteran.
The flags cost about 66 cents each and come from the Dixie Flag Company. The ribbons are a crossover bow of blue ribbon with white stars. The ribbon was found at Hobby Lobby and is glued to the wooden flag pole.
Katherine Wagers helps by cutting the ribbons on a template she made out of cardboard.
The card for this project was printed through Salem Leader Publishing of Salem, Inc. There are several versions of the cards, but always on the front is the “Pledge of Allegiance.” On the back of some is the “Preamble of the Constitution.” When asked what the flag costs she said, “I didn’t worry about the cost.” Adding up the cost of the items, it probably comes to about $1 each.
The first group to receive the flags was Bradie Shrum Elementary School. She made contact with teacher Andrea Gorman and gave her 600 flags for distribution.
Krussow distributed the flags to the Charlestown American Legion, friends, New Albany American Legion, and on the square in Charlestown at the Saturday Market. Plus, she distributed flags at different stops along the way, like gas stations. She is not affiliated the the DAV or American Legion groups.
Her goal is to “Try to encourage people to be kind and loving to each other. The flags are fun to handout”.
Lisa lives in Starlight and is an independent broker of health and Medicare insurance.
To specifically provide funds for the making and distribution of the flags with the “Pledge of Allegiance” and/or the “Preamble” cards attached, donations can be sent to Lisa Krussow, P.O. Box 17, Sellersburg, IN 47172.
Donations may also be sent to Disabled American Veterans or to the local American Legion. The American Legion has a Flag Education program and committee.
Art Wernert (left) and Lisa Krussow display the latest batch of flags and cards they assembled.
Katherine Wagers (left) cuts the ribbons for the flags.
A lot of hours went into creating the flags and cards that are distributed throughout southern Indiana.
Art Wernert is on his way to distribute these reminders of pride in our country.
There are two drugs that have become buzz words when talking about drugs available on the streets.
In Indiana there were 2,089 deaths due to all drugs. In Washington County, there were six total drug deaths (five of these from opioids) in 2023, up from the four deaths in 2016.
One drug that is most familiar is Fentanyl, which is a Schedule 2 controlled substance and is a synthetic opioid. It is similar to morphine, but 100 times more potent.
Opioids are any drugs that act on opioid receptors in the brain. They may be natural or synthetic and include such drugs as Fentanyl, heroin, Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet and Nitazene. They slow the body down too much sometimes.
Fentanyl does have legal medical use when prescribed to treat patients with chronic severe pain or severe pain following surgery. What’s the problem with Fentanyl? None, if created in laboratory-controlled environment.
Since Fentanyl can easily be made in a lab and can be smuggled into our country from Mexico, it is readily available. Much of this illegally manufactured drug is not controlled, and usually it is unknown how much of it may be lethal. There’s no quality control or oversight.
Due to Fentanyl’s ability to produce the effect of analgesia (the absence of pain) or euphoria, it is often mixed with other illicit drugs to increase the effects of those drugs. These drugs include heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. These mixtures increase the likelihood of a fatal interaction.
When the illegal labs produce Fentanyl, it is not an exact science. Two milligrams of Fentanyl can be lethal depending on the user’s body weight, tolerance and past use.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) analysis has found that .02 to 5.1 milligrams of Fentanyl, twice the lethal dose, can be found in an illegal Fentanyl tablet. Taking these illegal pills is sort of like playing Russia roulette with your life. There is no way of knowing if the pill contains Fentanyl, how much or none at all.
The DEA states that drug trafficking organizations typically distribute Fentanyl by the kilogram. One kilogram is equal to 2.2 lbs. This could kill 500,00 people. Estimated deaths just from Fentanyl in 2023 were 74,700.
The newest drug on the block appearing in some areas is Nitazene, which has been discovered in central Indiana. The coroner in Hamilton County has called it “The Frankenstein drug,” because of its potency. It has also been discovered in Ottawa, Canada.
This fine cocktail of poison was discovered in the 1950s as a potential replacement for morphine. Nitazene is a Level One controlled substance. Due to its strength, it was never released by United States Food and Drug Administration. Nitazene is 50% stronger than Fentanyl.
Nitazene may be identified as white tablets with three sides and labeled with an “M” and “8”.
How to tell if a person may be having an opiod overdose? Symptoms may include the following:
Loss of consciousness or body going limp.
Choking.
Heartbeat may be slowed or has stopped.
The face may lose color and feel cool or clammy to the touch.
“Pinpoint” pupils.
The victim may be non-responsive.
Extremities like fingertips and lips may have a blue tinge.
Breathing may become slowed, erratic or cease altogether.
The person may develop a gurgling or deep snoring sounds.
Sometimes the affect of opiod drugs can be temporarily reversed with Naloxone, often known by the brand name Narcan. Additional doses of Naloxone maybe necessary to offset overdose.
If a person is displaying signs of overdose, call 9-1-1, administer Narcan (Naloxone), and administer breathing resuscitation if the person has stopped breathing or is struggling to breathe.
A box that dispenses Narcan can be found in Washington County at LifeSpring Health Systems at 1321 Jackson St., Salem. The drug is free with no contact needed.
Narcan is also available at Washington Co. Health Department, where you will receive a 15-minute training session. It is made available from a state grant, so you must also sign a paper, according to Alicia Thompson.
Information for this article was obtain through the Drug Enforcement Administration websites and LifeSpring Health Systems.
Two milligrams of Fentanyl can be fatal. This tiny amount of powder is shown next to a penny to illustrate just how small of a dose may be fatal.
One of the newer illicit drugs on the street is Nitazene, which may resemble this pill.
Narcan, in its nasal spray form, is a fast-delivery system available to the public that may short-circuit an opiod overdose. It is often provided free of charge, and is a crucial item to add to medicine kits.
NaloxBoxes offer free doses of the overdose reversal drug Naloxone and are available in the Indiana counties listed above.
Three blood drives are planned in Washington County in September.
Dates and locations include:
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Westview Christian Church
2638 NW Washington School Road and Hwy 60
Campbellsburg, IN 47108
2-6 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 4
Ascension St. Vincent Salem Hospital
911 North Shelby Street
Salem, IN 47167
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 11
West Washington High School
8028 W Batts Road
Campbellsburg, IN 47108
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.
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