S.R. 156 has been closed in Switzerland County between Tapps Ridge Road and Markland Pike, east of Vevay, due to continued sliding near Hunt’s Creek Road.

It is unknown at this time how long the road will be closed as crews begin work to repair the roadway.

The official state detour for the closure is S.R. 56 to S.R. 250.

Three-term Salem City Councilman Justin Green outlasted former Mayoral Candidate and Salem School Board member Ron Haendiges by 48 votes to win the Republican nod to run for City of Salem Mayor in this fall’s election. 

Green captured 338 total votes (including early voting and absentee) or 46.2 percent while Haendiges pulled in just 290 votes or 39.6 percent. 

Robert “Bobby” Fletcher earned six total votes or .82 percent.

Newcomer Christie Luckett captured 95 total votes. or 13.2 percent.

Haendiges took an early lead of 100 to 98 after the 3rd precinct was tabulated. Fletcher took one vote and Luckett took 32 votes in the precinct. 

Green took 71 votes in Precinct 1, putting him up 24 votes over Haendiges, who earned 45 votes in this precinct. Fletcher took 1 vote and Luckett took 11 votes. 

Haendiges captured 10 votes less than Green in District 2 (72-62) putting Green ahead by 34 votes. 

Salem 4 – the final precinct to be tabulated – pulled in 97 votes for Green; 83 for Haendiges, 29 for Luckett and one vote for Fletcher. 

Haendiges was defeated in 2014 by current Mayor Troy Merry who did not seek another term. 

According to Washington County Clerk Sarah Milligan, 922 total votes were cast. The results are unofficial until they are certified in a few weeks. 

DEMOCRAT MAYORAL CANDIDATE

William “Bill” Ackerman won the Democrat party nomination to run for Salem Mayor this fall after defeating his challenger 121 to 49.

Richard “Bobby” Longworth received 28.82 percent of the votes while Ackerman took 71.18 percent of the votes. 

He will face Green in the fall election. 

CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE

In one of the other races, Republican Jody Smedley won the party nomination for City Council, at large, defeating Janine Lee 124 to 74. 

Smedley will face an unknown opponent in the fall. 

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2

In the other contested race, Rick Stewart defeated longtime council member and incumbent Warren “Truck” Jones, 22-14. 

OTHER CANDIDATES

The following candidates ran unopposed and could face a challenger in the November election:

• City Council District 3 – Jana Hayes (D) – Received 51 votes
• City Council District 3 – Wally Terkhorn (D) (Deceased) – Received 32 votes (10 absentee and 22 cast today)
• City Council At Large – (D) – RH Bennett – Received 148 votes
• City Clerk Treasurer – (R) – Sally Hattabaugh – Received 625 votes
• City Council District 1 – (R) – Danny Libka – Received 112 votes
• City Council District 3 – (R) – Steve Crane – Received 199 votes.
• City Council District 4 – (R) – Gail Napier – Received 176 votes

Polls are open this morning for voters in the City of Salem to cast ballots to pick a party nomination for Mayor and City Council; setting up this November’s general election. 

There is a four-way race for Salem Mayor with all new candidates.

Current Mayor Troy Merry did not seek re-election. 

Precincts open until 6p are Salem 1, 2, 3, and 4 and they are all located at the Salem Armory at 1100 N. Shelby Street.

This is the first time there has been early voting in a City of Salem election, according to Washington County Clerk Sarah Milligan. 

Milligan said there were 4,321 registered voters in Salem’s four districts and 189 early ballots went out.

“That’s a pretty good number,” said Milligan. “I love that we can give people this opportunity. It makes things much easier for our voters.”

She said about 2000 people voted in the 2015 election. 

Positions up for voting are: 

Mayor 

Republican 

• Justin Green
• Robert “Bobby” Fletcher
• Ron Haendiges
• Christie Luckett

Democrat

• William “Bill” Ackerman
• Richard Bobby Longworth

Clerk-Treasurer of City of Salem
Republican 

• Sally Hattabaugh 

City Council, AT-LARGE
Republican 

• Janine Lee
• Jody Smedley 

Democrat

• RH Bennett
• Mark Hobson – Deceased

City Council, District 1

Republican 

• Danny Libka 

City Council, District 2
Democrat

• Warren “Truck” Jones
• Rick Stewart

City Council, District 3

Republican 

• Steve Crane

Democrat

• Jana Hayes

City Council, District 4
Republican

• Gail Napier

Democrat

• Wally Terkhorn – Deceased

Polls close at 6p. 

WSLM will be providing LIVE election return coverage tonight on WSLM 1220 AM and WSLM 97.9 FM as well as live on social media. 

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson is reminding Hoosiers to vote in today’s Municipal Primary Election.

Cities and towns around the state will hold primary elections on today, and Hoosiers can go to www.indianavoters.com to look up which candidates will be on their ballot.

Voters will be required to enter their county of residence, name and date of birth to access their personal information. Voters can also find information on their polling location and election night results.

“I encourage all Hoosier voters to visit IndianaVoters.com to educate themselves on who they’ll be voting for and where they’ll be voting,” said Secretary Lawson. “An informed electorate is the key to a successful democracy so I encourage all voters to take advantage of this tool.”

Hoosiers may also call the toll free Hoosier Voter Hotline at 866-IN-1-VOTE to speak directly to a representative for information, polling locations and to file grievances. Staff will be on hand to answer calls from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT on Election Day.

Voters may also visit www.in.gov/sos for additional information, including information regarding Indiana’s photo ID law. Indiana’s photo ID law requires every voter to present a government issued ID before casting their vote at the polls. For more information on Photo ID go to http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/2401.htm.

The Indiana State Police in Sellersburg arrested a Clark County man Monday on voter fraud charges after an investigation which began in mid-April.  

On April 17, 2019, Trooper Mike Davis was assigned to investigate a report of voter fraud. 

During the course of his investigation, Trooper Davis learned that in November of 2018, John David Croucher, 60, 7115 Bethany Rd, Charlestown, Indiana, went to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) in Sellersburg, Indiana and changed his legal address to 835 Park Street in Charlestown, Indiana. 

835 Park Street is the address of a coin-operated laundromat owned by Croucher.  

While at the BMV, Croucher also registered to vote under the Park Street address which resides within the city limits of Charlestown. 

Croucher’s Bethany Road address does not lie within city limits and is therefore not eligible for voting in Charlestown municipal elections. 

The investigation further revealed that on April 10, 2019, John Croucher went to the Clark County Courthouse and used his newly gained driver’s license to obtain an absentee ballot.  John Croucher then participated in early voting in the Charlestown municipal election.

The investigation was handed over to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office and a warrant was subsequently issued.  John Croucher was arrested without incident on the following charges and was remanded into the custody of the Clark County Jail:

• Perjury – Level 6 Felony
• Ineligible Voter -Voting or offering to Vote – Level 6 Felony
• Voting Outside Precinct Residence – Level 6 Felony