Indianapolis community leaders are meeting one final time tonight (Monday, June 24th) to discuss the future of voting in Marion County.

Clerk Beth White says the “Voter Experience Project” is all about how to upgrade voting equipment and procedures in the county. White says current voting equipment is fine, but it‘s also twelve years old and upgrades will be needed.

White says they haven‘t discussed costs connected to upgrading equipment. She says the project is still assessing needs and concerns involved in the overall process.

After tonight, White says the project will hold a series of public hearings and gather comments from residents about the types of voting procedures and equipment they think works best for the county.

Hearings are set to begin in September. White says they‘ll start to examine the costs associated with the project in early 2014.

An annual survey assessing children‘s well-being in the 50 states ranks Indiana 30th — one spot better than last year.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks the states on 16 measures in four broad categories. Indiana vaulted ahead 13 slots to 21st place in children‘s health, largely on the strength of a half-a-percent improvement in four years in the number of low birth-weight babies.

Indiana Youth Institute president Bill Stanczykiewicz says that translates to hundreds of lives.

The percentage has steadily improved for four years — Stanczykiewicz credits efforts to educate women on the importance of prenatal care and avoiding alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy.

A decline in the number of child deaths due to fewer car crashes also boosted Indiana‘s health ranking.   

The improvements were offset by backsliding on economic measures. One in four Hoosier children lives in poverty, while one in three have parents without fulltime jobs.

The data are from the recession year of 2011, but have been going up for six years. Stanczykiewicz says the slippage underlines the need to improve job training and education. Indiana‘s performance on education and “family and community” measures, such as the number of children in single-parent homes, was essentially unchanged.

A jury has recommended the death penalty against a convicted arsonist and murderer. After five hours of deliberations, the jury unanimously recommended that Clark County Circuit Judge Dan Moore impose the death penalty against Jeffrey Weisheit.

Weisheit was convicted Tuesday of setting fire to his girlfriend‘s Evansville home in April 2010, killing her two children.

Weisheit had plead not guilty to all charges. The jury found that all aggravating circumstances made by the State outweighed any mitigating circumstances from Weisheit and his attorneys. Judge Moore set a sentencing hearing for July 11.

At that hearing, he will hear victim impact statements from Weisheit‘s family and friends, any comments or evidence from either side and will review a pre-sentencing investigation prepared by his probation staff. If the judge does impose the death penalty, he will set an execution date at that hearing.

TAMPICO, Ind. (June 23) – Indiana State Excise Police officers arrested 24 people during a tractor-and-truck pull in Jackson County last night.

Caleb M. Goering, 20, of Salem, was jailed at the Jackson County Detention Center on a preliminary charge of illegal possession of alcohol after he was caught a second time in possession of alcohol by two different excise officers two hours apart.

Excise officers arrested 17 minors for illegal consumption or possession of alcohol, five of whom were less than 18 years of age.

Joseph G. Spencer, 28, of Scottsburg, was jailed at the Jackson County Detention Center on a preliminary charge of possession of a controlled substance (Schedule II and Schedule IV).

Three people were charged with providing alcohol to a minor and three juveniles were issued tickets for possession of tobacco.

One person has also arrested on a felony drug charge.

WSLM is working to get a complete list of names of all those arrested and will have more details as they come in.

The annual tractor-and-truck pull and fish fry is a fundraiser for the Grassy Fork Volunteer Fire Department, which is located south of Brownstown on State Road 39.

As the enforcement division of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, the primary mission of the Indiana State Excise Police is to promote public safety by enforcing Indiana’s Alcoholic Beverage Code. While excise officers have the authority to enforce any state law, they focus primarily on alcohol, tobacco and related laws.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

St.Vincent Salem Hospital was named as a 2013 PRC 5-Star Hospital in Observation and Swing Bed for Patient Perception at an awards ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.  Healthcare leaders from across the United States gathered here to participate in the 2013 PRC Excellence in Healthcare Conference hosted by Professional Research Consultants, Inc.  PRC is a nationally-known healthcare marketing research company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

The 5-Star Award is given annually to healthcare facilities that score in the top ten percent (at or above the 90^th percentile) of the PRC national client database for the prior calendar year. This award is based on the percentage of patients who rate the St.Vincent Salem Hospital Medical/Surgical Unit “Excellent” for the Overall Quality of Care question.

This 5-Star research is conducted to obtain the opinions of the patients at St.Vincent Salem Hospital via a confidential survey to assess their perceptions of patient care.  The healthcare facility uses the research findings to continuously improve and enhance patient satisfaction.  “We are thrilled to present St.Vincent Salem Hospital with this National Excellence in Healthcare Award,” said Joe M. Inguanzo, Ph.D., President and CEO of Professional Research Consultants.  “It was through their hard work, dedication and determination that they have made their facility a better place for the entire community.  In the past 33 years we’ve never seen hospitals more determined to exceed customers’ expectations than the hospitals we recognized this year.  It speaks to their passion that St.Vincent Salem Hospital is among the best of the best.”

“The staff at St.Vincent Salem Hospital always strives to provide excellent care for all of our patients,” stated Mia Williams, RN, Medical/Surgical Unit Manager. “This award is proof that our patients appreciate the level of care they received while in our facility, and for that, we are grateful.”

“This is the second award the hospital has received this year,” stated Administrator, Dana Muntz. “Earlier this year, we were also named a HealthStrong™ Award Winner for Excellence in Efficiency by the Indiana Rural Health Association. We are proud to be recognized for our performance on so many levels.”

This morning at 9:25 am, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call of a man shot in Ramsey.

A trooper from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg was close and responded to the scene.

When he arrived he found a female on the front porch of 1365 State Road #64 in Ramsey and a male subject injured with an apparent gunshot wound inside of the home.

First Responders were called to the residence but the male subject succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene

At this time there is no one at large. However, an arrest has not been made.

The names of those involved are not being released at this time due to the continuing investigation.

An autopsy is being planned but the specific time and location of the autopsy has not been confirmed.

WSLM is proud to announce it is the new Kentuckiana Home of the Indianapolis Colts.

Also, according to WSLM station owner Becky White, WSLM will be broadcasting LIVE during the Indianapolis Colts Fan Fest at Waterfront Park in Louisville Thursday, June 27 from 5-7 p.m.

The event will feature Colts players, cheerleaders and a FREE community concert by former Colts punter and his band, The Hunter Smith Band.

“We’re super excited about adding the Indianapolis Colts to our sports lineup on WSLM,” said White. “Not only will you be able to listen to local high school football this fall on WSLM 97.9 FM and AM 1220, but you’ll find IU and Purdue Football and now the Colts. We’ve got the sport covered from local all the way to the pros!”

WSLM 97.9 FM will be the only FM Colts affiliate in the Louisville area.

“Come on down and visit with me and the Colts,” said White. “We’ll have Colts schedules and posters to give away, plus you can register to win a pair of tickets to a Colts game.” Activities at this free event include:

• Player and Cheerleader Autographs
• Meet  the WSLM Weather Bird
• Register to win Colts and IU Football tickets
• Interactive Inflatables
• Play 60 Zone
• Live Music
• Register for an Official Colts Fan Club Membership
• Colts In Motion, the team’s traveling museum
• Free giveaways
• Food available for purchase

The Colts will make three Fan Fest stops this summer in Crawfordsville, Louisville, and Fort Wayne

The rain held off so it was a very enjoyable Saturday morning at the Washington County Farmers Market. This market is a graceful blend of small town traditions and exalts (17 years) heritage and hospitality! Truly area farmers/gardeners providing home grown freshness to their friends and neighbors. They invite you to take a leisurely stroll along the vendor row, and talk to the farmers. Part of the excitement of the market is seeing what is available and freshest this week.

Thanks to the steady line of customer most of the vendors sold out of fresh vegetables but there was jellies, jams, plants, meat and “Big Brown” eggs. Lettuce and garlic was added to the market last week, greens and onions should be soon and some hints that strawberries will be available (in limited supply) this week. However this could be the last week for landscape plants.

If you are a grower that has fresh vegetables, now would be a great time to join the WCFM. Please call or stop by for information, Washington County Purdue Extension 806 Martinsburg Rd., Suite 104, Salem, IN 47167-5907, Phone: (812) 883-4601 (812) 883-4616 Fax: (812) 883-3988

Rumor has it that this may be the week for the first tomato to be entered and receive a $5.00 ‘recorded setting’ certificate to the market. It was said that the grower might get more than that if they auctioned-off the homegrown jewel. Remember this years winner will be paid $20.00 per pound for the winning tomato.

Nestled in the Washington County Fair grounds Parking lot, we are centrally and conveniently located just a few blocks east of the beautiful Salem Square and will be open 8:30 am to 12; 30 pm Saturday May 25th. Come on by and let’s talk “country”.

President Craig Akers has introduced New FB page for the Washington County Farmers Market.

He says, “ will be updating what is available each Saturday as soon as the market opens”. Check it out!

Every spring, SOAR! coordinates with the schools to carry out Put Your Nose In A Book (PYNIAB). This year the staff planned it around Children’s Book Week (May 13-19).  Volunteer readers from the community helped SOAR! in reading to every first grade classroom in the county.

Volunteers wore big red clown noses and read an age appropriate book to first graders at Bradie Shrum Lower Elementary, East Washington Elementary, and West Washington Elementary.

The mission of SOAR! is to increase literacy by promoting and providing educational resources for adults and families in our community.  To help fulfill the mission, the SOAR! Director, Erica Schmidt and SOAR! volunteers passed out red clown noses to the students, reminding them to put their noses in a book over the summer.  Following the reading, each student received a copy of the book to keep, along with a bookmark acknowledging the sponsors. This year, three hundred and fifteen students received a book, bookmark, and a nose.

“The students get so excited when they see us walk in with big red clown noses and books, especially when we tell them they get to keep the nose and take a book home,” Schmidt said. “Parents of students who have previously participated in the program have indicated that his/her child still wears their nose when they read and talk about how much they loved the program.”

Sponsors for PYNIAB this year were First Harrison Bank, Hoosier Hills PACT, Jeans’ Extrusions, Jerry & Sherry Hammond, Roland & Anita Sturgeon, Salem Barber Shop, Salem Crossings, Salem Lions Club, Salem True Value, and Washington County Prevent Child Abuse Council.

Community volunteer readers at Bradie Shrum Lower Elementary were Eva Warren-Hill, Stephanie Martin, Kristy Purlee, Denise Newkirk, Debbi Hayes, Adrian Brown, and Anita Sturgeon.

East Washington Elementary readers were Shelby-Lain Brown, Holly Mauck, Rita Elliott, Cassie Corp, and Maurice Jones.

At West Washington Elementary readers included Jacqueline Brown, Kristy Purlee, and Stephanie Rockey.

PYNIAB is just one of SOAR’s family and youth literacy programs.  SOAR! recently formed a partnership with Read Aloud 15 Minutes, a non-profit organization that is working to make reading aloud every day for at least fifteen minutes the new standard in child care.  PYNIAB is part of this initiative.  “This is a great program that not only promotes literacy, but parent/child interaction as well.

We are excited to have the opportunity to be a partner,” Schmidt stated.

To find out more about Read Aloud 15 Minutes, SOAR! or Put Your Nose In A Book, contact the SOAR! office at 896-1515 or by email at [email protected].