The return of 8th grade students from the annual Salem Middle School trip to Washington D.C. will be delayed today due to two timing changes beyond school control, according to Superintendent Dr. Lynn Reed. 

Bright Spark contracted two Queen City Transportation buses from Cincinnati, Ohio for the trip. 

According to Reed, Bus 2 experienced a mechanical issue with air conditioning, while Bus 1 was stopped in West Virginia due to driver fatigue and was awaiting a new driver. 

“Bus 2 return is expected today in Salem, Indiana between 10:00 and 10:30 PM,” said in a statement released to WSLM. “Bus 1 departure from West Virginia will be at approximately 3:30pm, but the students are safe with chaperones in a hotel awaiting departure.”

Reed said “We expect their arrival to Salem at approximately 9:30 to 10:00pm.  Students will contact parents when arrival is approximately one hour out.  We deeply apologize for the inconvenience this has created, but SMS is keeping student safety and well-being at the core of all decisions at this time. “

Reed said she appreciated parents understanding of the matter and the school ‘will update when more information is available.”

Students traveling with the D.C. group will be excused from school tomorrow, Monday, April 30.

Salem Media and WSLM 97.9 FM and 1220 AM will be kicking off election week with coverage of the Indiana republican Senatorial Debate as well as LIVE Primary Election Night Coverage of Washington County as well as races in Kentuckiana and around Indiana. 

Monday’s debate will be live on WSLM 97.9 FM and WSLM 1220 AM from 7p-8p ET. “It will be like the rest of our debates, it’ll be a one-hour show, commercial free. We’ll go straight to the moderator, Abdul Hakim-Shabazz at the top of the hour,” said Salem Media President and CEO Rebecca White. 

Now, on election night on Tuesday May 8^th, WSLM will be offering five-minute statewide updates at 7:30p, 8:30p, 9:30p, 10:30p, and 11:30p.

“I will be reporting live from the Washington County Judicial Center and the Voting Headquarters in the new Clerk’s office,” said White. “This is the first election in the new facility. We’ll be giving updates as the precincts are reported in and give final totals and let you know who will be facing off for offices in the November election.”

• Posey Bearcat Civic Center
• Howard Howard Township Firehouse
• Monroe Monroe Township Firehouse
• Franklin Franklin Township Firehouse
• Gibson Gibson Township Firehouse
• Jefferson JeffersonTownship Firehouse
• Madison Livonia Fire Station
• Jackson Jackson Township Firehouse
• Vernon Campbellsburg Community Building
• Brown Campbellsburg Community Building
• Polk Town Hall Pekin
• Pierce Shelter House
• Salem 1 Salem Armory
• Salem 2 Salem Armory
• Salem 3 Salem Armory
• Salem 4 Salem Armory
• Washington 1 Washington County 4H Fairgrounds
• Washington 2 Washington County 4H Fairgrounds
• Washington 3 Washington County 4H Fairgrounds
• Washington 4 Washington County 4H Fairgrounds

On Saturday April 28th, 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring the 15th nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative.  The “Take Back” initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft through proper disposal of prescription drugs.

Collection sites will be set up nationwide for expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs which will be properly disposed of without threat to the environment.  This program is for liquid and pill medications.  Needles, new or used, will not be accepted for disposal.  This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines, flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Once again, the Indiana State Police are pleased to partner with the DEA, and as in the past, the drugs may be dropped off at any Indiana State Police Post, except the Toll Road Post.  The event will be on Saturday, April 28th, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.   

Also, the Indiana State Police will host a drop off site on Friday, April 27th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. inside the Indiana Government Center North public entrance off of Robert Orr Plaza in Indianapolis.  This is between the government north and south buildings, immediately west of the State Capitol building.

To locate the state police post closest to your home or business, click this link for Indiana State Police on the Map.

To find other locations in Indiana or across the U.S. that are participating in the Drug Take Back initiative, click this link to the DEA.

The Drug Take Back events are the safe, popular and a responsible way for the public to legally dispose of prescription drugs. No questions asked.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will close State Road 335 between S.R. 60 at New Pekin and U.S. Highway 150 near Greenville next Tuesday and Wednesday (MAY 1 & 2), weather permitting, while maintenance crews chip seal 20 lane miles of north-south roadway. 

Motorists will be routed around the S.R. 335 closure via Voyles Road.  INDOT pilot vehicles will escort school buses and local traffic through the worksite. 

The surface treatment operation is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday—moving southward from S.R. 60.  On Wednesday morning, the northbound lane of S.R. 335 will be chip sealed beginning at U.S. 150.  

Chip seals coat the pavement with liquid asphalt—sealing cracks and protecting the roadbed from harmful ultraviolet rays.  This extends service life and lowers maintenance costs.  It also helps prevent late-winter/early-spring potholes.  Small chips of limestone restore surface friction for skid resistance, maneuverability and driver safety.   

A fog seal of liquid asphalt spray will be applied at a later date.