Washington County Clerk Stephanie Rockey said this morning on WSLM’s Coffee Club Morning Show that only one percent of Salem voters have cast a ballot in early voting. 

That amounts to only 54 of approximately 4,320 registered voters. 

Rockey said times are changing and some counties in Indiana are not having primary elections due to uncontested races. 

The City of Salem will have two contested races — one for Mayor and one for City Council District 2.

Rocky said she was able to save about $5000 for the City of Salem when the Election Board approved having a Republican-Only Primary.

“With only one Democrat on the ballot in a non-contested race, I recommended not spending the extra money to list one person from only one party on a ballot that doesn’t change the outcome,” she said. 

The sole Democratic candidate is Paul L. Holsapple set to run against Republican challenger Dylan M. Moore for City Council District 2. 

Tina Ransom will be added to the ballot this fall as a Libertarian also seeking that office. 

“The road to the election is never-ending,” said Rockey. We just don’t flip the lights on the day of the election. We are always working on the voter roll for the county. We had the candidate filing in January and once that deadline passes, we start working on ballots.”

Rockey said she locked in the price at 30 cents per ballot.

“We’re under contract with the City of Salem to put on the election. We felt it was best,” she said. “Everything costs money. Everyone’s budget is tight post-pandemic. We made a tough decision and went ahead with it.”

ONLY TWO RACES IN PRIMARY

The only two races in the City of Salem this year are for Mayor. Incumbent Justin Green filed to run for a second term on January 4, the first day for filing. 

Green won the election in 2019 and had served on the city council for 12 years previously. 

J. Michael Davisson is the Republican challenger. He filed the day before the filing deadline on February 3. 

He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing District 73 for just over a year.

He assumed office on October 28, 2021 after he was appointed to fill out the term after the death of his father, Steve.

Davisson left office on November 9, 2022 after having made the decision to run for the Indiana 9th Congressional District seat. He lost in the Republican primary on May 3, 2022, receiving only 2.7 percent of the vote. 

Davisson then decided to run for re-election to the Indiana House of Representatives to represent District 69. He did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on May 3, 2022.

Tommy Brown III will be on the ballot this fall as a Libertarian.

The other contested race will be between incumbent City Council District 4 member Gail Napier and Randy Lee Jr. 

Other Republicans on the primary ballot are:

• Sally Hattabaugh, City Clerk-Treasurer
• Dan R. Libka, City Council District 1
• Steve Crane, City Council District 3
• Roger K. Pennington, City Council at Large

Rockey is reminding residents, to make sure you have a plan to get out and vote!

Early Voting in the Election and Voter Services Office at 801 S. Jackson Street will continue from 8-Noon and 1-4 PM Monday through Friday and until Noon on Monday, May 1st. 

Early Voting will also take place this Saturday, April 29th from 8-Noon.

Election Day is May 2nd from 6 am to 6 pm. 

The polling location is Salem Armory on Shelby Street. The election is for the precinct of Salem I-IV only.

As a reminder, this is a Republican ballot primary only, but all registered voters of the City of Salem may vote regardless of their chosen party, Rockey said.  

If you have any questions you may call the Clerk’s office at 812-883-5748.

A valid photo ID is required to vote.

A major road project impacting Salem is well past the halfway point, said Mayor Justin Green.

However, a few more months of construction remain and Green is asking for motorists’ continued patience during this time.

“I know it is a headache to deal with maneuvering around road and lane closures while construction is underway,” said Green. “However, it’s important that everyone continue doing so for the safety of all involved.”

Green recently negotiated with the Indiana Department of Transportation to open a section of the road from Main and Hackberry Streets up to Shelby Street. 

That section of the road will receive a final coat of asphalt when the entire project is completed as well as striping, but with the sections open, it allows local traffic to maneuver more freely.

Signs are up warning that large trucks are not to use this local access.

The $13.2 million Indiana State Department of Transportation reconstruction project is being completed by Milestone Contractors LP. It involves both utility relocations and road reconstruction.

The project began in March 2022 and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2023. 

This portion of the project involves utility relocations followed by reconstruction work.

Nearly 1.5 miles of SR 56 is being reconstructed in sections between SR 60 and SR 135. 

“This is a major and much-needed project,” said Mayor Green. “I truly appreciate the understanding and cooperation of the local business community and residents while construction continues. This will be a great improvement for our city.”

Washington County Prosecutor Tara Coats Hunt said Elijah Engleking, 37, Crandal, Indiana, entered a plea agreement on drug-related charges that will be served in the Indiana Department of Corrections. 

Engleking, who was arrested in 2021 by the Salem Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Department, pled guilty to dealing in methamphetamine, burglary, and theft and has been sentenced to 15 years to be served concurrently. 

“Drug crimes are not victimless,” said Prosecutor Hunt. “They have a rippling effect on all layers of our community and often go hand in hand with specific victim crimes such as burglary and theft.”  

Engleking was sentenced in March at the Washington County Superior Court after pleading guilty to a Level 2 felony charge of dealing in methamphetamine, a Class 5 charge of burglary, and a Class 6 charge of theft to be served concurrently.   

Engleking was arrested in July 2021 when deputies responded to a report of burglary earlier in the day.

The vehicle involved in the burglary was located and the deputy followed the vehicle until it pulled into a nearby driveway.

Engleking exited the vehicle and was patted down, he had a scale with white powder residue in his back pants pocket.

While searching the vehicle drug paraphernalia was found and clear glass containers of brown powder substance and white crystal substance.

He was found with 35 grams of Methamphetamine and 12 grams of Heroin.

Engleking was sentenced to 15 years to serve in the IDOC. He has agreed to pay $8,024.72 in restitution to the victims. These restitution payments will be made through the office of the Washington County Clerk-Criminal Division. 

“We commend the officers involved and appreciate the work we can do together to keep these dangerous drugs out of our community,” said Prosecutor Hunt. “We take each case seriously and thank the Washington County officers for their role in bringing this case to resolution.” 

According to a message received by WSLM earlier this morning, last night Salem School Corporation received an email about a possible bomb threat.

Multiple school districts around Central and Southern Indiana are reporting threats this morning and have closed school for the day or told students to remain home for remote learning.

According to a news release from the sheriff’s office in Jefferson County, Indiana, another bomb threat against the Madison Consolidated School System was reported early Friday morning.

The message from the Salem Schools read:

“Late last night, we received an email containing a bomb threat east and west [Washington Schools] did not receive a threat… Our local and state police were notified. Our buildings and grounds have been searched. We also believe the threat is not credible however, out of an abundance of caution, Salem Community Schools will not be in session today, April 14.”

Also this morning, the Indiana State Police was made aware of an email message sent to several dozen Indiana schools threatening the use of explosive devices that had allegedly been planted on various school campuses.

“We immediately allocated all intelligence resources to investigate the validity of the threat, to include communication with the Department of Education, our local, county, and federal law enforcement partners,” the ISP release stated. “At this time no suspicious or explosive devices have been found in any of our schools. The investigation into the origin of this threat is ongoing.”

Out of an abundance of caution, troopers throughout the state have been in communication with their local schools to offer assistance and resources.

School corporations are working with their local law enforcement to make the best decision about their operations today.

Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said, “The safety of our children will always be a top priority, the Indiana State Police will continue to offer any and all resources we have to schools to ensure safety for our students.”

The Salem Schools Administration is reviewing policies after a 4th grader brought a large knife to Bradie M. Shrum Elementary School on March 9, according to Board Attorney Tom Scifres. 

In a statement released today, Scifres wrote:

Gov. Holcomb, INDOT award more than $133 million through Community Crossings grant program

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces northbound and southbound lane closures on I-65 from MM 64 to MM 68, between Walesboro and Columbus.

Starting tonight, April 12, crews will begin work performing pavement corrections and removing sections of the temporary barrier wall. Nightly operations are expected to begin at 9 p.m. and last until 6 a.m., seven days a week, and be completed by the end of April. 

All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.