Washington County Farmers Merchants Fair Board has been working diligently on the new cattle barn project.  With a grant through Hoosier Uplands, the Fair Board has come a little bit closer to making this project possible.

Hoosier Uplands awarded the Washington County Fair Board $15,000 in grant money on November 29, 2019, to help with constructing this new building. 

Overall, the project is going to cost somewhere near $200,000.00. 

As of right now with donations and saving from the fair events over the years, the Fair Board is nearing its goal of that $200,000.00, according to Washington County Fair Board President Seth Purlee.

“We are still looking for sponsors and donors for the projectc” said Purlee.  “If there are any businesses, individuals, or others that are interested in helping to support this project, please feel free to contact the Fair Board to make a donation. All donations, big or small, will be on a sponsors’ sign that will hang permanently in the new cattle barns.”

This project will not only help the youth in our community, but it will also help in bringing other events to our fairgrounds, said Purlee. 

Centra Credit Union is donating $2,500 to the Washington County Food Bank. This donation is one of 41 grants of $2,500 each to non-profits within the communities Centra serves, totaling more than $100,000 in donations throughout Central and Southern Indiana.

Centra Team Members were asked to nominate the non-profits they feel passionate about supporting, and one non-profit was selected for each branch and department within Centra.

The Team from the Salem branch nominated the Washington County Food Bank.

“Centra Team Members love being able to support the causes they care about through this program, and we are proud to be able to support the communities we serve with these donations,” said Centra Community Involvement Officer Jenni Carr. “We chose to support many local non-profits, along with a few national organizations like the American Red Cross and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.”

The Washington County Food Bank distributes food donations to Washington County residents in need.

“This non-profit works to make our community better and improve the lives of people here at home. It is an honor to be able to support their mission,” Chris Bottorff, Centra Southern Region President and Chief Sales Officer, said.

Selected organizations are currently being notified of the donations with the funds being delivered to the selected non-profits by the end of November.

“These wonderful organizations support a similar mission and serve the local communities where Centra has a presence. Credit Unions were built on the premise of People Helping People, and we are excited to provide support to these causes,” Centra President and CEO Rick Silvers said.

Salem City Council President Justin Green said Wednesday on WSLM’s Coffee Club that Shelby and Fair Streets would receive renovations from a $694,059.75 grant recently received from the Community Crossings Matching Grant program.

Last year and into 2019, West Market Street in Salem was rehabbed thanks to the last Community Crossings grant.

More than $3.7 million was recently awarded to Indiana communities to improve roads and bridges through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program (CCMG), said State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem).

The CCMG was established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016 and aims to advance community infrastructure projects, strengthen local transportation networks and improve Indiana’s roads and bridges.

“Our local leaders work hard to determine how to best invest in our local roads and bridges,” State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem) said. “The Community Crossings grant program provides significant funding to help ensure these critical infrastructure projects are completed.”

Davisson said grant funding can be used toward road and bridge preservation, road reconstruction, intersection improvements, guardrail replacements, and signage. Smaller municipalities must provide a match of 25% in local funds, while large communities must provide a 50% match.

Since 2017, state road investment is up 50% as Indiana has dedicated $3 billion to road and bridge projects across the state.

Since it was put into place, the program has awarded nearly $500 million in state matching funds for local construction projects.

In Senate District 47, the following communities received grants:

• Cannelton received $137,175;
• Corydon received $144,026.25;
• Crawford County received $340,500;
• English received $69,397.50;
• Lanesville received $280,727.08;
• Leavenworth received $168,810;
• Palmyra received $248,220.36;
• Paoli received $392,491.73;
• Perry County received $257,719;
• Rome received $255,939.75;
• Salem received $694,059.75;
• Tell City received $117,282; and
• West Baden Springs received $638,795.25.

“I’m excited to see so many communities in our area taking advantage of this great opportunity,” Houchin said. “With the help of these grants, these communities will soon benefit from updated roads and bridges, which improve quality of life and the cost of living for Hoosiers.”

Through the CCMG, the Indiana Department of Transportation matches up to $1 million when localities invest in road and bridge repairs.

Counties with populations fewer than 50,000 and cities and towns with populations fewer than 10,000 receive a 75%/25% match, while counties with populations of at least 50,000 and cities and towns with populations of at least 10,000 receive a 50%/50% match. 

Halloween will be safer for children across Indiana thanks to an annual statewide initiative to closely monitor sex offenders and keep them off community streets during the youth-oriented holiday.

Indiana Department of Correction’s Parole Services Division will be participating in Operation Safe Halloween.

Parole staff is working with local law enforcement, probation and community corrections agencies within their community to ensure full compliance and accountability.

On Thursday, paroled sex offenders in each of the state’s ten parole districts must adhere to a special curfew and restrictions during each community’s scheduled trick-or-treat hours. Sex offenders will be required to attend a mandatory meeting, turn in safety plans for the evening, or remain at home and not pass out candy.

As with previous years, sex offenders who remain at their approved residence have been advised to turn off their outside lights during the evening hours, refrain from displaying Halloween decorations, and some will post signs that they are not participating in passing out candy. All sex offenders will also be subject to unannounced home visits and compliance checks.

Director of Parole Services Troy Keith states, “Our parole staff will be diligent in keeping our communities safe. For events such as this, it is important that law enforcement agencies work together to promote public safety. Operation Safe Halloween allows our parole agents to more effectively monitor sex offenders and give parents in our community some peace of mind on what should be a fun family holiday.”

Learn more about Operation Safe Halloween on Indiana State Police’s Road Show video segment HERE. The Roadshow is heard on Sunday mornings at 10a on WSLM 97.9 FM and WSLM 1220 AM. 

Cottontail rabbit season is from Nov. 1, 2019, through Feb. 28, 2020.

There is no equipment or ammunition restrictions for rabbit hunting. A 12- or 20-gauge shotgun loaded with 6 to 7 1/2-size shot is recommended.

It is illegal to remove a rabbit from a hole, den or tree hollow with the aid of a ferret or other small animal or other means. Hunter orange clothing requirements must be met while hunting rabbits.

It is illegal to hunt, take or possess swamp rabbits, which are an endangered species in Indiana.

Rabbits can be chased with a dog year-round with a hunting license. Certain restrictions apply on DNR-managed properties.

Hunting hours for rabbits in February on FWAs and at Mississinewa, Patoka and Salamonie lakes are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour before sunset.

Pigasus Pictures, the visionary, Indiana-based film company behind feature films The Good Catholic, Ms. White Light, and The Miseducation of Bindu has a major announcement for Indiana high school students.  

For the fourth year running, Pigasus is hosting its annual high school short screenplay competition Project Pigasus.

This is no ordinary contest, however, as the winning screenplay is fully produced by the professional production company alongside students in their hometown.  

For this competition, Hoosier high schoolers should submit a 12-page screenplay, a 1-page description of their film idea, and a short intro video to www.projectpigasus.org.  

The submission deadline is January 5, 2020.  

“This is an unparalleled opportunity for young people.” Says John Armstrong, COO of Pigasus. “Growing up in Indiana it often feels like the film industry is so far away.  Well, with Project Pigasus we bring the film industry right to their doorstep.”  Past winners include Kira Daniels from Madison, Whitney Roberts & Cynthia Foulke from Fishers, and most recently, Marjorie Abrell from Spencer.  Past winners have described this experience as “life-changing.”

Production of the film will take place over 3 days near the end of the 2019-2020 school year.  The finished film will be screened in Indiana theaters, submitted to film festivals across the country, and subsequently made available for online streaming.  Submissions are currently open to any high school student in the state of Indiana.    

“We really want everyone to know that if you’ve never written a screenplay before, that’s okay!” Says Zachary Spicer, CEO of Pigasus. “We want to tell real stories about the real experiences of young people growing up in Indiana, so keep it simple and just write what you know!”  

For the last several years, the producers at Pigasus have proven their dedication to growing the entertainment industry in Indiana.  They have produced three full-length feature films (with several more on the horizon), three full-scale short films, have lobbied the state legislature for favorable filmmaking tax credits, and opened a state of the art film and theatre Academy in Bloomington.

“There are a lot of really skilled and talented people in Indiana,” says Armstrong. “A large part of our work is simply connecting them and creating new opportunities.  And we especially want to show young people that cool things are happening in Indiana. With the technology now available, you don’t have to be from somewhere else or move somewhere else to get experience in the film world.  You can start your creating right in your own backyard.”  

Two Jackson County residents were arrested Tuesday on drug charges during a traffic stop on I-65 near the 43-mile marker. 

A passenger in the vehicle, Autumn N. Officer, age 38, North Vernon, Indiana was found to have approximately 170 grams of suspected methamphetamine concealed on her person. 

The driver of the vehicle, Charles F. Williams, age 38, Seymour, Indiana and Autumn Officer were both arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail.

Charles Williams was arrested on charges of Conspiracy to Deal with Methamphetamine and Possession of Methamphetamine, both felonies. 

Autumn Officer was arrested on felony charges of Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine and Possession of Methamphetamine as well as misdemeanor charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Device to Defeat a Urine Test, both misdemeanors. 

The investigation began when Trooper Randel Miller conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Impala on I-65 Northbound near the 43-mile marker south of Seymour, Indiana. 

During the traffic stop, Trp. Miller became suspicious of criminal activity.  He deployed his Indiana State Police K-9 Jinx, who alerted to the odor of illegal drugs in the vehicle. 

During a search of the vehicle, troopers located drug paraphernalia and a container of suspected urine in the vehicle. 

Both Williams and Officer were incarcerated at the Jackson County Jail pending their initial appearances in the Jackson County Circuit Court. 

Trp. Miller was assisted by Trp. Seth Davidson and jail officers with the Jackson County Jail.    

Scott County Sheriff Jerry Goodin is wanting to notify the public that a registered sex offender has moved from Franklin County, and is now residing at 1142 S. Riley Drive Scottsburg,In 47170