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 responsible way for the public to legally and dispose of prescription drugs. No questions asked.

Senate Enrolled Act 217, authored by State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem), and sponsored by Rep. Woody Burton (R-Whiteland), was ceremonially signed into law yesterday by Gov. Eric Holcomb. This bill is aimed at identifying students who may be affected with dyslexia, and getting them the resources and accommodations necessary to be successful in school and beyond. Holcomb and Houchin were joined for the signing by students with dyslexia and their parents from around the state.

“Studies estimate that up to 20 percent of the population is affected at some level with dyslexia,” Houchin said. “We cannot afford to let any of our students struggle through school, and potentially their lives and careers, without doing something – especially when we know teaching methods that work.”

SEA 217 requires school corporation and charter school reading plans to include indicators to screen for dyslexia risk factors. If a student is determined to be at-risk for dyslexia, the school shall administer a simple dyslexia screening test, which will identify whether they need referred for further testing and a diagnosis. It also requires schools to use specific response to intervention processes if a screener indicates certain characteristics of dyslexia.

Dyslexia is categorized as a specific learning disability related to reading.  Students who have dyslexia and related conditions will struggle to identify and match letter sounds with letters, have difficulty with phonics, and will struggle to read. It affects reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension.  These students are typically very bright, and can excel with the right interventions.  Without an intervention, these students could unnecessarily face a life-long struggle with reading.  Houchin said, “Though dyslexia is inherited and cannot be cured, SEA 217 will ensure we are giving our students the best possible chance to succeed.” 

SEA 217 also requires each school corporation and charter school to employ at least one authorized reading specialist trained in dyslexia, no later than the 2019-2020 school year, and requires the Indiana Department of Education (DOE) to employ at least one reading specialist trained in dyslexia. School specialists can be current reading specialists trained in dyslexia, or a teacher or tutor who has completed dyslexia intervention training approved by the DOE.

“The changes outlined in SEA 217 will help accurately identify this pervasive issue among our student population,” Houchin said. “It will provide the tools dyslexic students need to achieve their full potential in school and as they grow.”

Indiana’s Primary Election is right around the corner. Tuesday, May 8^th is Primary Election Day – polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.local time. If you cannot make it to the polls on Election Day, you can vote early in-person or absentee – but the deadline to request an absentee ballot is quickly approaching.

To cast an absentee ballot by mail in the 2018 Primary Election, you must request an application from the county clerk’s office by 11:59pm on Monday, April 30^th. Applications may be submitted in person, by fax, email or by mail.

“Voting is a right that many have fought for; please don’t take it for granted,” said Secretary of State Connie Lawson. “If you are casting an absentee ballot this spring, I urge you not to delay and to request your ballot today. Waiting until the last moment increases the chance that your request will not be received in time. An absentee application only takes a few minutes to complete, so set aside that time today.”

Early voting in-person is ongoing. You can cast your ballot by going to your county clerk’s office. Some counties have additional early voting locations. To find out where you can vote, check online at IndianaVoters.com or download the Indiana Voters app on your smartphone or tablet.  Early voting in the clerk’s office ends Monday, May 7 at noon.

United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced today Adrian Grisanti, 46, of Louisville, Kentucky, was convicted on Thursday, April 19, 2018, on twenty counts related to child pornography and one count of destroying evidence after a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt in New Albany, Indiana.

Grisanti was a member of a darknet web community that catered in images and videos of child pornography. After the website was discovered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the FBI was able to identify hundreds of members worldwide, including Grisanti. 

Acting on this information, the FBI executed search warrants at Grisanti’s office and home in August of 2015. After Grisanti’s attempt to conceal his crimes by destroying the hard drive of the computer which was used to obtain the child pornography, the FBI and Indiana State Policebegan a painstaking forensic investigation which ultimately led to the arrest and conviction of Grisanti.

The conviction included eleven counts of receiving child pornography, eight counts of accessing computer files with the intent to view child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of destroying evidence.

“Defendants can no longer hide behind the dark web and expect to elude federal law enforcement,” said Minkler. “Those who prey on the most vulnerable of our citizens, the ones who cannot fend for themselves, can expect to be held accountable and face the federal hammer of justice.”

“This verdict demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to investigating cases of child pornography with a sense of urgency to protect children from those who engage in this type of activity,” said Robert Middleton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division. “The teamwork between our agents and state law enforcement partners ensured there is one less predator victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.”

“There are few things more upsetting than knowing innocent children continue to be victimized by people who engage in such depraved criminal acts,” said Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter. “I’m very grateful to our dedicated detectives and the strong partnership we have with our federal partners that help bring these criminals to justice and remove them from society.”

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley P. Shepard and Steven D. DeBrota, Grisanti faces between 5-20 years in prison on each count of receiving child pornography, up to 10 years in prison on each count of accessing computer files with intent to view child pornography, up to 20 years for possessing child pornography, and up to 10 years for destroying his hard drive.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to detect and prosecute matters involving sexual exploitation of children, (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan, Section 5.3)

Yesterday, shortly after 8:00 am, the Indiana State Police and Jennings County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two vehicle crash on State Road 7 that claimed the life of a Scipio man and sent a Scipio woman to an Indianapolis hospital with serious injuries.

The initial investigation by the Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team indicated that a white 2010 Kia SUV being driven by Justin T. Spears, age 24, Scipio, Indiana was traveling southbound on County Road 700 West at State Road 7.  

Spears vehicle entered State Road 7 into the path of a northbound 2000 Mack dump truck being driven by Levi G. Horton, age 24, Seymour, Indiana.  Horton attempted to take evasive action but was unable to avoid Spears’ vehicle.  Horton’s vehicle collided with the driver side of Spears’ vehicle.

As a result of the collision, Spears sustained fatal injuries.  He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jennings County Coroner’s Office.  A passenger in Spears’ vehicle, Kaitlyn M. Lord, age 18, Scipio, Indiana sustained serious injuries.  She was flown from the scene to St. Vincent’s Hospital-Indianapolis for treatment of her injuries.  Horton was not injured in the collision.

State Road 7 was closed for nearly three hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

The crash remains under investigation.  Toxicology results are pending.

The Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Investigation Team was assisted by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Scipio-Geneva Fire Department, Jennings County EMS, the Jennings County Coroner’s Office, 31 Wrecker Service, and Clark’s Wrecker Service.

The 141st Salem High School Alumni Banquet will be held this Friday, April 27 at 7p in Brooks Memorial Gym.

The group will honor the Classes of 1968, 1993 and 2018. 

The speaker for the 50 year class will be Anne Cavanaugh Pritchett. 

The speaker of the 25 year class will be Jennifer (Jiffy) Thompson. 

Tickets are $15 each and are on sale at LaGene Jewelers and Lincks Clothing. 

For groups of 10 or more wishing to set together, contact Shirley Nale at 812.883.2176. 

Tickets can be ordered by mail. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope with a check made to Salem Alumni Association for the correct amount to Shirley Nale, 786 North Deer Run Road, Salem IN 47167 and the tickets will be mailed to you. 

ANNE CAVANAUGH PRITCHETT

Raised in Salem, Indiana by Martha Marks Cavanaugh and Harry Cavanaugh, Anne graduated from Salem High School in 1968. 

She enrolled at Indiana University Southeast and graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History. She then attended IU School of Law in Bloomington and was awarded her Juris Doctor Degree in 1976. 

Upon graduation, Anne’s first employer was a labor union in Evansville. She also worked for a law firm before opening her own practice. In 1984, she became the first woman appointed to the position of Hearing Member on the Industrial Board of Indiana (now the Workers Compensation Board). She worked as a private attorney until September 1997 when she was appointed as a US Administrative Law Judge. She heard and decided Social Security disability cases in that position until her retirement in late 2014. 

Anne has served on several different Boards of Directors, including the Evansville Bar Association, YMCA and Patchwork Central. She loves animals; she and her husband are active in Australian Shepherd rescue, having housed and fostered over 130 Aussies and helping transport many more to their new homes over the last 15 years. That love of animals has led her to volunteer at zoos, as well as journey to Africa to view exotic wildlife in their natural habitat. Although proud of her Indiana heritage, she has traveled widely throughout the world to explore and experience new cultures and ideas. 

She and her husband have one daughter, Shelley, who is a fine jewelry designer and goldsmith, and lives in Henderson, Kentucky and Palm Desert, California. 

JENNIFER (JIFFY) THOMPSON

Thompson is a 1993 graduate of Salem High School. Her academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science from Purdue University as well as a Master’s of Business Administration from Georgia State University. 

She is a strategic and results driven manufacturing executive with extensive expertise in food production and food safety regulations. 

She has worked for several top food companies including HJ Heinz, Smucker’s and Pillsbury, where she held numerous roles of increasing responsibility including Plant Manager. 

Jiffy has a proven aptitude for increasing efficiency, improving safety performance, generating cost savings and consistently exceeding customer expectations. 

Jiffy has volunteered for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Girls on the Run as well as the annual Food Science Day at Purdue University. 

She currently resides in Bellevue, OH with her husband, three dogs and three cats and two bonus kids.