According to Indiana Department of Transportation’s Natalie Garrett, the road construction projects in Salem are moving along well.

She said one of the three projects is completed and one more should be completed in November.

“The Brock Creek Bridge project should be completed in late November,” Garrett said in an email to WSLM.

“It is likely that SR 56 will remain closed through Salem until fall of 2023,” she said. “We wouldn’t be able to open 56 to the bridge because traffic (including semis and other large vehicles) wouldn’t have anywhere to go as construction continues. We may be able to open additional cross streets going forward.”

Due to the start of school and the road construction interfering with the normal route of traffic to and from Salem Schools, the intersection of Hackberry and Water Street was recently opened to allow traffic to proceed down Water Street and to Homer Street. 

Currently this will remain open to allow traffic to and from the schools. 

Garrett said additional outlets could open later this year. 

“At this point in construction, opening Water St. across SR 56 is all we can do to help with school traffic,” she said. “We may be able to open other access points this fall/winter after more paving is complete, depending on how things progress.”

Garrett said, “We are in communication with the school system, the City and emergency services with regular updates. We ask drivers to be patient as construction continues, allow plenty of time to reach their destinations, and drive carefully near construction crews and equipment.”

There are three components of the recent road construction in Salem — the intersection and State Road 135 resurface, Brock Creek Bridge Replacement and State Road 56 Road renovation. 

The SR 135 resurface project has been completed. 

The final component – the work to completely rebuild the section of State Road 56 from Posey Street to near the 56/60 split. 

A 32-year-old man was found dead in a northern Washington County pond one Saturday afternoon.

Jesse, J. Acton of Jackson County was found in a pond near 11000 Haleysburg Road. 

The family of the deceased has been notified.  

This investigation is ongoing.   

Officers from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police Trooper Kevin Bowling responded after a 911 call at about 12:30p. 

A short time later, Detective Sergeant Dave Mitchell, Detective Mike Bennett, and ISP Crime Scene Technician Sergeant Phil D’Angelo also responded to investigate.  

When officers arrived, they observed the body of a deceased male located at the edge of a pond on private property.

As part of the investigation, ISP divers assisted detectives by searching the pond for any items potentially related to the case.

Investigators state the case is currently a death investigation as they continue to gather any possible evidence and conduct interviews.

An autopsy was performed on Sunday morning through the Washington County Coroner’s Office; however, a cause of death has not yet been determined. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department, the Washington County Coroner’s Office, the Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Department, and the Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department assisted Troopers at the scene.   

Law enforcement agencies in Indiana are taking part in a multi-state effort to address the troubling rise in speeding and aggressive driving. Across the Midwest, officers will be out in full force showing zero tolerance for drivers traveling above the posted speed limit.

The Speed Awareness Day enforcement campaign will take place on July 27 and is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Great Lakes, High Stakes” initiative. The overtime patrols are funded with federal grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).

Participating states include Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

“We have a growing crisis on our roadways and driving too fast and aggressively is at the center of it,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “This isn’t a game. There are no second chances. If you die in a crash or end up killing someone, that’s it. We can and we must break this cycle.”

Mirroring national trends, Indiana has seen a drastic increase in deadly crashes and speeding-related fatalities since the start of the pandemic.

In 2020, a total of 897 people lost their lives on Indiana roads, a 10% increase from 2019. Of those fatalities, 238 or approximately one-fourth involved speeding. That’s the highest number in the past decade and an 18% increase from the previous year, despite having fewer drivers on the road.

Even more concerning, early projections from ICJI show that overall traffic deaths rose last year to 931 fatalities, and Indiana is once again on track to surpass that in 2022. Speeding, along with other dangerous driver behaviors, such as impaired driving and not wearing a seat belt, are some of the leading causes.

“People who travel at excessive speeds are more likely to engage in other forms of reckless driving,” said Robert Duckworth, ICJI Traffic Safety Director. “Speeding, by itself, puts people at risk, but when you combine that with other unsafe choices like drinking or texting while driving, you’ve got a recipe for disaster.”

Statistics show that young people, especially male drivers, are particularly susceptible to high speeds and represent the largest demographic involved in speeding-related crashes. Parents are encouraged to talk to their teens about the dangers of speeding and ignoring the rules of the road.

“Parents are critical to making a difference on this issue,” McDonald said. “Teens will often adopt driving habits based on those around them, whether good or bad, which is why we need every driver, parents especially, to set a good example.”

Throughout the campaign, law enforcement officers will be issuing citations for those driving above the posted speed limit, as well as working to raise awareness about the deadly consequences of speeding and aggressive driving.

Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object or an unexpected curve. As speed increases, so does the likelihood of a crash and the degree of crash severity leading to more severe injuries for the driver, passengers, pedestrians and other road users.

Speeding also increases the potential for loss of vehicle control, especially in inclement weather, and reduces the effectiveness of occupant protection equipment.

Drivers who encounter someone speeding or following too closely should allow them to pass by safely steering out of the way. Since speeding is tied to aggressive driving, it’s important to give them plenty of space, as they may lose control of their vehicle more easily.

Motorists are encouraged to call the police if they believe a driver is following or harassing them.

For additional safety information on speeding, click here or visit www.nhtsa.gov.

A seminar to help simplify the difficult process of Medicare enrollment 

If you are considering enrolling in Medicare you are likely trying to decide where to start, getting bombarded with mail, and trying to figure out coverage options. 

Schneck Foundation presents Medicare Simplified, a seminar to help simplify the difficult process of Medicare enrollment and end the confusion and frustration. 

Guest speaker Scott Donohue, with Medicare Simplified, will provide important information on issues regarding Medicare choices, including: 

• Information on when and how to enroll in Medicare 
• Details on all of the components of Medicare 
• Directions on how to review and make changes to current coverage 
• What to consider if you have an employer plan 

Join the Schneck Foundation for Medicare Simplified on one of two dates, Wednesday, August 17 or Monday, August 22. The program will be held at the Schneck Professional Building, Classroom 500, 411 West Tipton Street, Seymour. Dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m. and the seminar will begin at 5:30 p.m. 

Make your reservation for this FREE program by August 10 by signing up online at SchneckFoundation.org, by email at Foundation@SchneckMed.org, or by calling 812-524-4244. 

Today Senator Mike Braun and Senator Rick Scott introduced the Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation (REIN IN) Inflation Act. This bill would require the administration to publish the inflationary impact of executive actions before enacting them. The companion legislation was introduced by House Budget Committee Republican Leader Jason Smith (MO-08), House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and House Committee on Financial Services Republican Leader Patrick McHenry (NC-10) in the House of Representatives.

“President Biden’s inflation crisis is a 9.1% pay cut for Americans and, and his plan to address it is tax hikes and more reckless spending. Hoosiers are sick and tired of paying for D.C.’s dysfunction. The Biden Administration should have to account for every cent of your money they spend and the REIN IN Inflation Act will increase transparency and allow Americans to hold this administration to account.”—Sen. Mike Braun

“Joe Biden’s inflation crisis is a tax on every American family. Even as Floridians face record-breaking inflation, this administration continues to recklessly spend taxpayers’ dollars with no accountability. It’s wrong and must end NOW. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill that will throw a spotlight on the Biden administration’s reckless tax-and-spend habits and socialist agenda.”—Sen. Rick Scott

“The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that President Biden’s executive actions are costing taxpayers at least half a trillion dollars. The President has gone around the Congress, and the American people, to enact a personal spending agenda that is throwing more fuel on the worst inflation crisis in a generation. With prices having risen 13.8% since Biden took office, Republicans in Congress are fighting back against this reckless spending by shining a light on the hidden costs being passed on to working families. I thank Senator Braun for championing this bill in the Senate to hold the President accountable.”—House Budget Committee Republican Leader Jason Smith

“Today, every hardworking family is forced to pay more for almost everything due to Joe Biden’s failed economic policies. Instead of reversing course, Joe Biden and his administration have doubled down on their Far-Left tax and spend agenda and continue to exacerbate this inflation crisis. As hardworking families in New York’s 21st District and across the nation are forced to pay the price for Democrats’ out-of-control spending, I am proud that Senator Braun is championing this legislation in the Senate to hold this administration accountable and rein in the policies that fuel devastating inflation on behalf of families struggling across our nation.”—Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

“From gas to groceries, record inflation is making everyday life unaffordable for families across western North Carolina and the country. President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ policies are directly responsible for the surge in consumer prices causing economic pain for all Americans. Specifically, President Biden’s executive orders hindered domestic energy production and fueled the labor shortage—both contributors to inflation. I’m glad to see Senators Braun and Scott introduce the Senate companion of Chairwoman Stefanik, Ranking Member Smith, and my legislation to add much-needed transparency and rein in the inflationary actions of the Biden Administration.”—House Committee on Financial Services Republican Leader Patrick McHenry

What the REIN in Inflation Act does:

• Require the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prepare a report including the inflationary effects for any executive action with an estimated impact of at least $1 billion.
• The White House would then have to report these findings to Congress each year to increase transparency and accountability over executive actions.
• Already, Joe Biden has taken a number of executive actions that have exacerbated inflation and led to skyrocketing prices, including revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and embracing Far-Left climate policies. As the Biden administration continues to consider harmful economic policies like canceling student debt, this legislation would require them to consider and report the financial impact their actions have on hardworking Americans.