A fair without cotton candy, popcorn and hot dogs?

The coronavirus has upended much of normal life, and the county fair isn’t to be excluded. However, it will go in this summer. 

The Washington County 4-H Council along with the Purdue Extension Office has decided to hold an in-person fair at the Washington County Fairgrounds on July 5-10. 

This depends on if Gov. Eric Holcomb has moved Indiana to Stage 5 by July 4. 

However, there will be no rides, no vendors, and no commercial exhibits and no open class entries. 

“We wanted the kids to exhibit their projects and be able to show their animals,” said Megan Broughton, Purdue Extension Educator on WSLM’s Coffee Club program Friday morning. “We’re hoping to be able to do all of that.”

She said the timing was based on the governor’s plan of being at Stage 5 on July 4.

“If for any reason we don’t make it there, we will have to go virtual….which we don’t want to do,” she said. “So we’re going to do everything we can to have it in person. There will be no rides, no vendors, and no business exhibits.”

Cheryl Lee, President of the Washington County Farmers-Merchants Fair Board said earlier in May that the traditional fair would be canceled for the year. 

Broughton isn’t encouraging the general public to attend, although friends and family of 4-H members could be involved to watch the shows and see projects.

“I don’t want to sound rude in saying this, but this isn’t a public type event,” Broughton said. “We want friends and families to come and watch the kids….but we have a lot of guidelines and the more people that are up there, the harder it will be for us to follow these guidelines. We literally have to track every single person that comes to the fairgrounds.”

She said not only would temperatures have to be taken of all people on the fairgrounds property during the fair, but names of those there would be recorded. 

“We have to give that information to the health department so they can do their tracing,” Broughton said, in case there was a case of Covid-19 reported. 

“We’re going to live stream all of our shows, so people at home will have the opportunity to watch the shows without being up there,” she said. “It’s not going to be a big public event. We just want to give the kids the chance to show their animals.”

Broughton said the animals will come to the fairgrounds in the morning and 4-Hers would prepare for a show.

“They will show that afternoon or evening and then they will go home. Then the next group of animals will come the next day,” she said. 

She said those attended and participating would have to abide by the six-foot social distancing rule and wear masks. 

“We will be in the 4-H building and the livestock barns,” she said. 

And the annual auction will be attempted.

“We are planning on having the 4-H auction,” said Broughton.

“We talked to some buyers earlier. We were unsure. The buyers we spoke to said they were planning on coming and planning on buying animals. We wanted to provide that to the kids” 

Broughton said the auction will be different from normal years. 

“The animals won’t be there. It will be on Friday, July 10. It will be a premium-only auction. They won’t be buying the animals,” said Broughton. “We talked to all the locker plants and they’re full. They’re not taking appointments.”

The auction will be in-person unless there is a reason that can’t happen. 

The Washington County Fair was scheduled for June 13-20 with a kick-off parade on June 7th. 

Gov. Holcomb said earlier in his stages of Indiana’s Back on Track plan that no Indiana fairs could happen before July 4. 

Washington County along with 17 other county fairs had to be canceled or moved. 

The Lawrence County 4H Fair has been moved to a virtual event. 

“This was a painstaking, humble decision as we recognize youth and their families have experienced a great deal of disappointment in 2020,” said Lesley Lodmell Extension Educator- 4-H and Youth Development.

“After reviewing Indiana Back on Track Plan, additional exhibition and safety requirements from Indiana 4-H, and undergoing multiple meetings reviewing information, we did not feel we could still provide the same positive youth experience we all enjoy. Our council did not make this decision lightly and want to ensure a positive youth experience and safety.”

Lodmell says 4-H members will have a new opportunity to practice creativity and mastery while they prove their resilience.

4-H members will receive information in the coming weeks on how the virtual fair will work.

“We are determined to recognize 10-year members and graduating seniors,” Lodmell added.

“For other awards, we will be respectful of the current economic situation in our community and are looking at a ribbon-only fair. Decisions about the Livestock Auction will be made by the Auction Committee and communicated as we know more.”

Richmond Police Chief Mike Britt has asked the Indiana State Police Pendleton District to investigate a police action shooting that occurred this morning involving officers from the Richmond Police Department.

The incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. this morning when Wayne County Dispatch put out a call for a reckless driving vehicle on the west side of Richmond.

The early investigation shows that an officer was sitting in his car, on the phone, in the Richmond City Building parking lot, (located at 50 N. 5^th St.,) when the reckless driving vehicle pulled into the lot and close to the officer’s vehicle. 

A man inside the car began yelling at the officer “Kill me, shoot me.’  The officer immediately radioed for assistance and began slowly driving away from the suspect’s vehicle across the lot. 

A two-man car was nearby and arrived on the scene to assist. 

The two-man car stopped approximately 60 feet from the suspect’s vehicle and the two officers got out of their car. 

The suspect got out of his vehicle shouting ‘Kill me, shoot me,” and began stabbing himself with a knife. 

When officers began giving verbal commands to the man he charged at them on the run wielding the knife in a threatening manner shouting “Shoot me, kill me.” 

Officers continued to shout verbal commands as the man closed the distance between them.

As the suspect closed the distance to around ten feet one officer was forced to shoot the suspect

The suspect fell to the ground, and officers immediately began administering first aid and summoned EMS. 

The suspect, Brian Sherer, age 34 of Centerville, was taken to Reid Health Hospital, then flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, with what is believed to be, at this time, survivable injuries.

This is all the information available for release at this time, as the investigation remains ongoing. 

Salem Mayor Justin Green said the City of Salem will be providing free trees until the end of May.

“Although Arbor Day is typically celebrated in April, due to COVID-19 the city was unable to have an Arbor Day-related event last month,” Green said. 

“However, in honor of Arbor Day and to promote tree planting throughout the city, we are giving away free redbud trees from now until the end of the month or while supplies last.”

To pick up a free tree to plant, visit City Hall at any time. 

Trees will be located for pick up by the rear entrance. 

Any leftover trees after the giveaway will be planted at Lake Salinda. 

Please check this link for a tree planting guide – https://www.arborday.org/trees/planting/bare-root.cfm

Relying on guidance from the Center for Disease Control, the Indiana Parks and Recreation Association, and the National Parks and Recreation Association, the Salem Park and Recreation Board voted unanimously to keep the Salem Pool closed for the
the entirety of the 2020 season.

“The board went into this process hoping to find a way to open the pool, but in analyzing all the information, found that reopening this season would not be possible,” said Salem
Mayor Justin Green. 

“The restrictions required to open proved to be too difficult to overcome, and still deliver the kind of services the people of our community deserve.”

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb allowed Indiana to enter Stage 3 on Friday, which allowed community pools to open. 

Green said obstacles to opening the pool included significant restrictions in hours, including closures throughout the day to sanitize; the likely elimination of pool parties and swim lessons; and severe limitations on the number of visitors allowed to attend. 

The board determined that this would cause too much disruption in services and too great an inconvenience for guests. 

The requirements would also create a financial burden due
to reduced revenue and increased sanitation and staffing expenses.    

“We are all saddened by this necessary and unavoidable decision, but the health and safety of our guests and employees is our top priority. The Board determined to remain closed was the only way to proceed responsibly,” said Green. 

“We do plan, though, to be at full service again for next season, and hope to see everyone back and enjoying our wonderful outdoor space next summer!” 

During the pool closure, the Mayor and Park Board will be taking time to examine the need for any improvements that could be made between now and reopening.

Washington County and local communities are eligible for more than $1.1 million to cover COVID-19-related expenses through the federal stimulus package, according to State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem).

Indiana allocated $300 million in federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economics Security Act to counties and communities for reimbursement of expenditures related to the pandemic. Davisson said the funding, allocated based on population, cannot be used to replace lost tax revenue.

“So far every community has been impacted differently by this disease,” Davisson said. “While we don’t know how costly the outbreak will be from town to town until it is over, our local governments should consider these funds as a way to recoup expenses related to COVID-19.”

Washington County is eligible for $906,576 in reimbursement funding.

In addition, these local communities are eligible to receive the following amounts:

• Campbellsburg $18,752
• Hardinsburg $7,948
• Little York $6,099
• Livonia $3,893
• New Pekin $44,93
• Salem $201,054
• Saltillo $2,952.

The Indiana Finance Authority is in charge of implementing guidelines on how each county, city and town can use the funding, as well as compiling reimbursement requests through accepted documentation including invoices.

Visit in.gov/ifa for more information.

On Friday, May 22, 2002, Troopers from the Indiana State Police (ISP) in Sellersburg arrested Michael T. Jourden, 31, Salem, Indiana, on one count of Child Molestation, a Level 1 Felony. 

On May 5, 2020, Detective Travis Baker and Officer Eric Mills from the Salem Police Department met after Child Protective Services contacted the Salem Police Department in reference to an allegation of child molestation involving Michael Jourden. 

At the time of the alleged incident(s), Jourden was approximately 24 years old. 

Caseworkers from Child Protective Services conducted a forensic interview of the juvenile victim. 

Officer Mills then contacted Detective Baker and requested ISP assistance with the case. 

After interviewing Michael Jourden, Detective Baker and Officer Mills turned all information over to the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office and requested an arrest warrant.  On Friday, Trooper Jonathan Cain obtained the warrant and arrested Jourden without incident.

Jourden was then incarcerated at the Washington County Jail. 

This investigation is ongoing. 

Jourden is currently being held on an $80,000 full cash bond.