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By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

The Salem Lions Club will continue the tradition of the Rockin' Ricky's Thanksgiving Day Walk/Run in support of the Washington County Food Bank on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.

The walk/run will start at 8 a.m. at the Washington County Fairgrounds and will end at the same place.

The walk/run was started by Ricky Richardson to remember his blessings early in the morning of Thanksgiving Day when so many others were busy with the day's activities and thoughts of the holiday season. The 3K/5-mile walk/run continues today to support the Washington County Food Bank.

There is no registration fee. A cash donation or canned food donation will be accepted in lieu of a fee. Checks should be made payable to The Washington County Food Bank.

The run/walk will have no "winner or loser"; just a good time with family and friends to start off Thanksgiving Day with some physical activity to get you in the mood for the upcoming holiday season.

The route usually takes an hour to an hour-and-a-half to complete, but walkers/runners can choose the distance they wish to cover, so it can be shorter.

The event is rain or shine, unless there is extreme weather, so runners and walkers are encouraged to dress accordingly.

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By Philip T. Hensley, Public Information Office, Indiana State Police Sellersburg District

 

Jony O. Zavala, 50, Clarksville, Indiana

• Corrupt Business Enterprise (Racketeering), Level 5 Felony
• Theft (3 Counts), Level 6 Felony
• Tax Evasion (8 Counts), Level 6 Felony

Maria Nataren Bonilla, 40, Clarksville, Indiana

• Corrupt Business Enterprise (Racketeering), Level 5 Felony
• Theft (3 Counts), Level 6 Felony
• Tax Evasion (4 Counts), Level 6 Felony

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

Dates and locations include:

Thursday, Nov. 21
Westview Christian Church
2638 N.West Washington School Road and Hwy. 60
Campbellsburg,

2 p.m.—6 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 29
First Christian Church
305 E. Walnut St.
Salem
12 noon —5 p.m.

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.

• Public Safety
• Wellness
• Emergency Responders

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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

More first responders are called out on runs today than ever before. This includes EMS, police (city or county), and fire department. They work tirelessly 24/7 365 days a year. Salem has warning sirens but not every municipality in Washington County has sirens. According to Deni Stempowski, director of Emergency Management for Washington County, making sirens available in every municipality would cost $8.3 million. On WSLM’s November 14 Coffee Club, she said each siren is only good for a 4-mile radius. The solution is CodeRED.

CodeRED is a wireless notification system that uses land and cell phones. Citizens can choose what type of notifications they would like to receive and method of delivery. The choices include weather, chemical releases, evacuation notices, missing children and street closures just to name a few. Contact may be made by text, voice or email. The calls, text or email are able to provide explicit instructions on what to do depending on the situation.

Stempowski took over as director of Emergency management in January of 2024, however, she has plenty of experience in the field. Originally from Ohio where she was on the Emergency Management team there, her background covers 40 years of experience in emergency management. One important aspect of her position is that she collaborates with all departments when it comes to planning for emergencies, and she believes CodeRED can make a large difference in how the public is notified.

One of the more attractive aspects of CodeRED is its cost. Running at only $27,000 dollars for five years with no installation fee, it is vastly cheaper than installing enough sirens to cover all municipalities. Duke Energy has already sent a partial grant to cover this expense. Donations and other grants may make this possible in 2025. The National Weather bureau can use this as well as local emergency management teams.

Also discussed was school closure notifications, which is not as simple a decision as looking out the window. Washington County is a large area; different areas may have more critical problems than other parts of the county. So, drivers are sent out to test the roads in different areas. A major problem, especially on bridges and roads that get very little sun, is black ice. Clearing the roads of snow for EMS is very important, and streets with residents with known problems are made a priority.

Checking roads has become an easy task. Simply check the Indiana travel advisory website and click on the county of interest. Another site of information is the Washington County Emergency Management Facebook page.

Finally, it is important to have the proper tools in your vehicle. Stempowski gave some examples of what your car should be equipped with. These include a flashlight, blanket, water, food, small shovel, ice scraper, battery powered radio, and plenty of fuel in the tank. Another piece of advice Stempowski gave was in regard to vehicle exhaust. While warming the car up be sure to have backed the car out of the garage enough so the deadly exhaust fumes are able to exit the house.

Deni Stempowski (Right).