Salem Mayor Justin Green has made his appointments for the new year. 

Salem’s new chief of police is Tim Miller. Former chief Joey Wheeler has retired. 

Assistant Police Chief is Ronnie Mays. 

Salem Fire Chief remains Tom Day along with Assistant Chief Mike Mead.

Dale Jonas is the Cemetery Sexton. 

Tom Voyles will remain Superintendent of the Street Department.

Eric Tussey is the Animal Control Officer. 

Russell Brown will remain as Superintendent of the Water Department.

Troy Watts is the Waste Waster Superintendent.

Ronnie Voyles will continue as the City’s Building Commissioner.

Brande Abbott will remain as City Parks and Recreation Director. 

Due to a vacancy at the Senior Citizens Center due to Gayle Napier winning a seat on the City Council, Naomi Ray will take over as director.  

The legal age to buy tobacco products is now 21, but some Indiana retailers say they are unaware of the change.

On December 20th, the President signed legislation to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and raise the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years.

It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product — including cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes — to anyone under 21.

The Indiana Food & Fuel Association in a Friday news release called the situation “wildly irresponsible.”

“To expect the more than half a million clerks, employed by some 10,000 tobacco retailers in Indiana, not to mention their customers, to discover that this law is already in effect is completely reckless” Scot Imus, executive director, said in the release.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an off-road vehicle (ORV) accident that claimed the life of the operator.

At 8:35 p.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to the 7000 blocks of South River Bottom Road in Hanover, in Jefferson County.

Cory Garver, 35, of Madison, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jefferson County coroner.

Initial investigation determined Garver was operating his side-by-side ORV north on River Bottom Road when he came to a curve. Tire marks indicated the ORV was braking before the curve and continued off the roadway where the vehicle turned sideways, flipped and struck a tree.

Garver was wearing a seat belt, but not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and Jefferson County EMS assisted on scene.

An autopsy will be conducted later this week by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) today released the Federal 2018-2019 School Accountability Ratings. Over 56 percent of high schools and 53 percent of elementary and middle schools received a rating of Meets Expectations or Exceeds Expectations.

Due to differences between federal and state accountability requirements, for the second year, Indiana schools will be assessed under two accountability systems. In an effort to provide more clarity and move away from the issuance of two grades, however, the US Department of Education approved IDOE’s amendment to Indiana’s ESSA plan allowing for schools to receive federal accountability ratings in lieu of federal accountability grades. As the purpose of the federal accountability system is to provide actionable data that is accessible and aligned to long-term policy goals for student achievement, this change will also allow for a better understanding of the system as a tool to more accurately measure achievement and provide motivated progress towards success, as opposed to it simply becoming a punitive mark.

“I am proud of the work Indiana schools are doing to academically prepare our children for life beyond high school,” said State Superintendent Dr. Jennifer McCormick. “To better serve schools for future successes, however, it is important we develop a single modernized state-legislated accountability system that is fair, accurate, and transparent. Our kids, schools, teachers, and parents deserve it.”

Please note, due to the recent request by Superintendent McCormick and the Indiana General Assembly to pass a hold harmless on 2018-2019 State Accountably Grades, the State Board of Education has adopted a resolution withholding any vote to release state accountability grades until the General Assembly has officially taken action in the upcoming 2020 legislative session.

For more information regarding the standard-setting process used to establish federal ratings including a summary of federal supports and improvement statuses, please visit: www.doe.in.gov/accountability/federal-accountability-ratings. To view Indiana’s ESSA plan, please visit: www.doe.in.gov/essa.