It’s time to file to run for school board positions in Washington County. 

School Board filings for all three schools began on July 22^nd and will end at noon on August 21^st.

Openings for school board:

Salem At-Large (Gibson, Jefferson, Monroe, & Washington Townships)- 4 positions

Those in the Salem district that are up for reelection are Mark “Bubba” Abbott, Ericka Garloch, Ron Haendiges, and Dustin Davidson, who was appointed to finish out former board member Steve Motsinger’s term. 

East Washington- 2 positions- Polk township and Town of Pekin

Those up for re-election in the West Washington School District are:

Madison – Aaron Dennis; Vernon – Salvatore Sama and Posey – Brian Farmer

Masks will be required at Holiday World effective Monday, July 27 following Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-37 which requires the use of masks across the state of Indiana.

“From the time we developed our reopening plan, we have worked closely with the State of Indiana and our local health department for guidance on how to operate as safely as possible,” says park President Matt Eckert. “This is a natural next step, and we’re grateful for the guidance from the state.” 

Guests will be required to wear face coverings as they enter the gates, and in any indoor spaces in the park including roller coaster stations, gift shops, Pepsi Oases, and restroom buildings.

For full information and a list of locations where masks are required is available at www.holidayworld.com/2020Visit

Guests will not be required to wear their face coverings on any water rides, or in the midways as long as social distancing is possible.

In accordance with guidance from Indiana, children 7 and under will not need to wear masks in the park (though they are strongly recommended for children ages 2-7) and exceptions will be made for those with medical conditions.

“We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding with this matter,” said Sabrina Jones, media manager. 

Face masks will be available for $1, but Guests are strongly encouraged to bring their own face coverings.

Indiana State Police say 29-year-old Derek Romano has been charged with killing 32-year-old Jeremiah Roberts, who was his accomplice in the 2014 murder of a pizza delivery driver.

Both were inmates at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Carlisle.

Roberts, of Nacogdoches, Texas, was found unresponsive in his cell on May 3rd. He died while being taken to the hospital.

In 2015, Derek Romano pleaded guilty to killing pizza delivery driver John Sullivan the year before. A jury convicted his accomplice, Jeremiah Roberts, in December 2016. Romano was sentenced to 55 years in prison, Roberts was sentenced to 68 years.

According to court records, Romano and Roberts were both homeless and were staying in an Indianapolis shelter when they lured Sullivan in by ordering a pizza. Police found Sullivan’s body in the basement of the shelter.

After killing Sullivan, the two stole his car and drove to Wyoming, where they were arrested.

After being closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Orange County Historical Society Executive Committee along with the Board of Directors has announced plans to re-open the Orange County Historical Society Museum to visitors on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. beginning on Saturday, July 25.

Admission is free – however, donations are always welcome and appreciated. 

The museum is located in the northwest corner of the historic Paoli Town Square.

For now, the museum will only be staffed and open on Saturdays.  Other days may be added later depending on COVID-19.  

“We will be watching the situation closely as you know it is still very much a volatile situation here.  We will operate at 50% capacity and have established new protocols to provide a safe and responsible experience to visitors, staff, and our volunteers,” said Robert F. Henderson, President of the Orange County Historical Society.

Henderson said these protocols include advance registration for group tours, social distancing guidelines, and enhanced sanitizing and cleaning protocols.

“We will be asking staff and visitors alike to wear a face mask upon entering the museum and to practice social distancing throughout the building,” Henderson added. “Hand sanitizers will be available throughout the exhibit areas. We will also be asking visitors to please refrain from touching common surfaces.”

The historic Thomas Elwood Lindley House remains closed.

“We are in the process of putting some final additions in the freshened up and renovated rooms,” Henderson added. “The interior rooms will be undergoing a deep cleaning later this month. We hope to be able to open up the farmhouse at some point soon by appointment on a least on a limited basis.  The space restraints in the farmhouse present a bit of a challenge to safely be able to conduct tours with groups of any size that along with being able to properly keep common areas sanitized as recommended.”

For more details on museum operations contact Henderson by email at info@historicorangecounty.com or call 812-653-1212.

Indiana Conservation Officers are confirming the recovery of two bodies from the White River in Lawrence County. 

At approximately 12:14 p.m. this afternoon, the body of Cung Hu, 38, of Indianapolis, was located approximately ½ mile south of the Williams Dam. 

At approximately 6:47 p.m., Conservation Officers located the second body, Hrang Mang, 42, of Indianapolis. 

Family notifications have been made.  This incident is still under investigation.

Indiana Conservation Officers were searching for two men who were swept away in the White River near Williams Dam on Monday. 

Conservation Officers along with members of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department responded to the East Fork of the White River just downstream of Williams Dam at approximately 10:00 a.m. Monday.

Witnesses reported seeing two males attempting to wade across the main river channel to an island, before being swept away by the current.

Indiana Conservation Officers utilized various sonar units, divers, and boats to search the area where the men were last seen. 

Both East Washington and West Washington Schools are planning to get students back to school on August 5. 

However, both schools (as many others around the country are doing) are opening a virtual option for parents and students to choose. 

East Washington’s RETURN TO LEARN plan can be found at https://sites.google.com/ewsc.k12.in.us/ewsc-return-to-learn/home?authuser=0

Enrollment is currently underway there for Elementary, Middle and High School students. 

West Washington’s Virtual Option enrollment can be found here – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXk67dV-5Mv2YxPcqf_n5MPb6A4Q8u9pSxP34bULK7IDPKLg/viewform

“As we prepare for the beginning of school we need to make adjustments to transportation,” noted West Washington Superintendent Keith Nance. “We recognize that the social distance on a school bus will be difficult to achieve. As a part of our reopening plan, we are limiting the number of students allowed on a bus.”

Students will be required to wear a mask on the bus at most schools, including East and West Washington.

“In addition, we are asking parents that are able to transport their children to and from school to do so,” said Nance. “If you are going to transport your child to school please call us at 812-755-4872 to let us know so we can plan our transportation accordingly. We only need those that ARE going to transport their children to call.”

East Washington Superintendent Dennis Stockdale said mask would be required of all students and staff. 

“We require all students and staff to bring a mask to school to be used as necessary where social distancing is not possible (i.e. passing periods),” he said. 

Disposable masks, cloth masks, bandanas, and neck buffs are all-sufficient. 

Face shields are an acceptable alternative. 

Masks will be encouraged, but not required, in classrooms where social distancing can occur. 

Face masks will be required when being transported on a school bus for any activity.

Stockdale said any designs or wording on the masks must be school appropriate. 

In addition, the school day will be shortened with dismissals as follows:

• Elementary Students will be dismissed at 2:15.

• Middle School Students will be dismissed at 2:30.

• High School Students will be dismissed at 2:30.

No visitors will be allowed to come in the buildings during the school day until further notice.

West Washington will be having an open house for incoming 7th-grade students.

All other students grades 8 to 12 will have a virtual open house option. 

Here are useful videos from East Washington staff on what a day will look like for students — https://sites.google.com/ewsc.k12.in.us/ewsc-return-to-learn/traditional-option?authuser=0

Each school has its own list of instructions and frequently asked questions for parents and students.