Police responded to an early morning crash involving two Salem residents. 

Max Winslow and Chasity Walden, both of Salem, were involved in an accident at the intersection of East State Road 56 and North Old 56 Saturday at approximately 9:40a. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Salem Fire Department, Salem Wrecker and Washington County EMS responded. 

According to Deputy Kacey Reschar, Winslow was driving a Green Cadillac traveling north on North Old State Road 56 and stopped at the intersection. 

Winslow said after he stopped he proceeded to turn right onto East State Road 56, a black Ford Fusion, driven by Walden, was approaching the intersection traveling east on SR 56. 

The Cadillac entered the roadway. 

After impact, Winslow’s vehicle spun north across East SR 56 and came to rest on North Old 56. 

Both drivers were checked by the ambulance crew and refused treatment. 

Salem Wrecker towed both vehicles from the scene. 

Police responded to 125 Fairview Drive this afternoon in Salem where a 57-year-old female was found dead.

No foul play is expected.  

According to Washington County Coroner Peg Schell, an autopsy is scheduled for Saturday morning.

The woman has not yet been identified. Schell said she was trying to locate the woman’s family.

According to Schell, the boyfriend took a nap and woke up and found the woman unresponsive and called 911. 

Washington County EMS, Salem Police Department, Salem Fire Department and Salem Animal Control responded to the scene. 

The couple had dogs inside the mobile home and Animal Control was on hand to remove them so police could get to the body. 

Although the Washington County Government Building is closed until August 12 due to an employee testing positive for Covid-19, the health department is still helping people.

According to Washington County Health Nurse Alicia Thompson, RN, the office has a designated window to assist the public.

“Anyone needing service may call the Health Department [(812) 883-5603] or knock on the designated window (far left window on the lower end of government building),” said Thompson. 

“Nurses continue to give immunizations by appointment only and done outside under the overhang at the glass double doors,” she said. 

“Due to the building being closed to the public, we can only take cash for any services needing to be paid for. Insurance will still be charged for those that are in-network with the health department,” according to Thompson. 

The government building and clerk’s office are closed to the public coming inside.

“Each office will conduct business as they did previously during our initial pandemic closure,” said Thompson. “It is best to call each office before showing up to verify what procedure the office is operating by.”

Thompson verified that there is a positive test for Covid-19 of a county employee. 

“That office has been closed and the employees sent home,” she said. “Because some of the ventilation systems are shared in the government building, as a precaution the entire government building has been closed to the public coming inside.”

Governor Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana State Department of Health have stated that essential employees may continue to work as long as they don’t exhibit symptoms and take all necessary PPE precautions around all other people.

“The Governor’s mask mandate states that all people over age 8 are required to wear a mask when in a public setting,” reminded Thomspon. “The only exception is if the person has a note from their physician stating that it is a safety hazard for that person to wear a mask. If that is the case, another barrier needs be worn such as a face shield. The county has added partitions as an extra precaution for public safety.”

Thomspon said county employees are allowed to be mask free when in their own office and socially distanced from everyone else.

It is up to the commissioners to mandate and enforce masks for all their employees as is the case for all employers to do with their employees.

“The health department always wears masks when dealing with the public unless in our own office and away from others,” said Thompson. “We are strictly abiding by Dr. Morgan’s guidance.”

According to Washington County Commissioner Rick Roberts, all county employees are supposed to be wearing masks. 

“We haven’t said one word if they have a choice,” he said by phone Thursday afternoon. “They have to do what everybody else does. Everyone in Indiana is required by Gov. Holcomb to wear a mask in public and social distance.”

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Salem Fire Department, and Indiana Conservation Officers responded to Cox Ferry Road at 3:34 p.m. this afternoon after a report of a vehicle in the water.

A person was reportedly on top of the vehicle needing help.

A bystander was able to get the person out of the water and no injuries were reported during the incident.

Indiana conservation officers were responding with a boat prior to the motorists being rescued by the bystander in a pickup truck.

Motorists are reminded to “Turn Around Don’t Drown.”

Do not drive through flooded roadways, especially during flash flooding. Vehicles can be swept away very easily in floodwaters.

Yesterday afternoon Washington County Commissioner Phillip Marshall told WSLM that the Washington County Clerk’s Office and the Washington County Government Center were closed until August 12 due to a county employee testing positive for Covid-19.

Marshall said the two buildings were on mandatory quarantine for 14 days. 

“We had another case pop up there…one of the employees, so we had to shut ’em back down,” said Marshall. 

He said the Public Defender, Board of Health, Probation, Child Protective Services, and the Prosecutor’s Office and the Clerk’s Office were closed. 

The public can call the offices to schedule an appointment for service. 

Marshall said the jail remains closed and the courts are open but only for the cases that are scheduled with the public not going in. 

“As of now we’re in an automatic quarantine until August 12,” said Marshall. 

However, this morning Washington County Clerk Stephanie Rockey clarified the closure. 

“My office is closed to the public under the order of the Washington County Commissioners and the Washington County Health Department as a precautionary measure,” she wrote in an email. 

“For clarification, [neither] myself nor any of my staff are on a 14-day quarantine, as previously stated on social media.  We are like before, closed to the public, but will all be on hand to answer phone calls and conduct business by appointment.”

She said the phones at the clerk’s office have been ringing non-stop. 

County offices were closed in the early part of the pandemic but were reopened to the public as long as those entering the offices practiced social distancing and wore masks.

On Monday, July 27, Gov. Eric Holcomb’s emergency order went into effect across the state that required Hoosiers to wear masks in all public places.

“We are still accepting payments by mail,” said Rockey. “Marriage licenses and candidate filings for school board will be conducted by appointment.”

“The safety of everyone is our top priority and we will continue to exercise health practices as recommended by the Washington County Health Department,” Rockey said.

She encouraged the public to call the office with any questions or contact our Washington County Health Department with any questions or clarifications. 

The Clerk’s office number is (812) 883-5748. The Health Department number is (812) 883-5603.

Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson today issued a General Order that suspends jury trials in all divisions of the Southern District of Indiana through and including at least August 31, 2020; subject to further order of the Court, some jury trials may resume on September 1, 2020. To the extent this Order differs from previous orders of the Court on this subject, this Order supersedes and replaces those Orders.

Please read the General Order for specific details. The Court’s decision to once again suspend jury trials stems from the recent rise in COVID-19 cases across the state and within the Southern District of Indiana.

While jury trials have been suspended, the courthouses remain open and other in-person proceedings, including plea and sentencing hearings, are taking place. Certain limitations and restrictions established in previous General Orders remain in effect, such as the mandatory wearing of face coverings in all public spaces (except for individuals with medical exemptions, or those excused from wearing a face-covering in a courtroom by the presiding judge). 

The screening and other requirements set forth in the General Order issued on March 20, 2020, also remain in effect, with the understanding that the screening questions may change based upon guidance by public health officials and as knowledge about the symptoms of COVID-19 develops.

The Court also continues to hold certain proceedings, such as initial appearances and detention hearings, as well as civil conferences, via video conference and telephonically.

The District  Court has created a COVID-19 response page on its website that contains all orders, press releases, and other information regarding Court operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.