Salem Middle School investigated a safety matter on Monday, April 16.
An automated phone call was placed to all Salem Community School parents on the call list this morning.
The parent of the student was contacted, the student was removed, and the matter has been turned over to Salem Police Department.
“We have taken all additional safety measures today to insure that the allegations can be investigated fully to maintain safety in Salem Schools,” said Superintendent Lynn Reed.
With April 17 being Tax Day, some Hoosiers will discover they are victims of tax identity theft. This occurs when someone files a fraudulent tax return on another person’s behalf, resulting in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) potentially rejecting the return filed by the appropriate person.
A victim of this type of scam should:
1) Contact the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) via IndianaConsumer.com and file an ID theft complaint. Our office can help you navigate the next steps in the process.
2) File a police report documenting the identity theft.
4) Immediately request copies of your credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Look them over immediately for any signs of suspicious activity. Place alerts or freezes on your reports if you suspect an identity theft problem.
As of last week, OAG has received 21 complaints in 2018 for this type of scam. The OAG received 165 such complaints in 2017 and 231 in 2016.
Another tax-related scam occurs when someone pretending to work for the IRS calls and threatens you with jail time, arrest or fines if you don’t pay your “tax debts.” Remember that no IRS agent will ever call and ask a taxpayer to place funds on gift cards or other prepaid cards to pay taxes and fees.
Further, no legitimate U.S. Treasury or IRS official will demand that payments be made into another person’s account via Western Union, MoneyGram, bank wire transfers or bank deposits for any debt to the IRS or U.S. Treasury.
To further protect yourself from these types of scams, do not answer unwanted calls; do not give out personal information over the phone; hang up on suspected IRS impostors and call the IRS at 1-800-366-4484 to determine whether the caller is an IRS employee with a legitimate need to contact you.
This week the Indiana State Police Laboratory completed compilation of information for the Indiana Legislature about SB322, which was passed in the 2017 legislative session and became law on January 1, 2018.
The change in the law resulted in the expansion of samples that are entered into the(CODIS). Prior to January 1, 2018, only DNA samples of convicted felons were entered into CODIS.
With the change in the law any person arrested for an alleged felony offense has their DNA collected as part of the in-processing at a local county jail. These DNA samples are then forwarded to the ISP Indianapolis Regional Laboratory for analysis and subsequent entry into the CODIS database.
Now, with three months of data available since the inclusion of DNA samples from arrested persons, along with samples from convicted persons, the ISP Laboratory Division has compiled information on matches, that are referred to as ‘hits’.
January-March 2018 CODIS Data:
Total Offender Samples Received, inclusive of both convicted offender and felony arrests: 12,705
Convicted Offender Samples: 3,330
This number reflects samples of persons arrested prior to January 1, 2018 that have since been convicted of a felony offense through March 31, 2018
While it cannot be stated with absolute certainty, it is anticipated this number will begin to decrease over future quarters as the number of cases of persons arrested prior to January 1, 2018 continue to process through the judicial system
Felony Arrest Samples: 9,375
This number reflects the number of samples submitted from persons arrested for suspected felony offenses since January 1, 2018 through March 31, 2018
Total CODIS Hits: 244
46 hits attributed to the 3,330 new convicted offender samples collected Jan. 1 to March 31, 2018
72 hits attributed to the 9,375 felony arrest samples collected Jan. 1 to March 31
126 hits attributed to recently completed unsolved crime scene samples
Nine of the 126 hits are case to case matches
Case to case means separate criminal investigations that may involve the same reporting police agency or different agencies
The other 117 of the 126 are new case profiles that match offenders previously entered in CODIS
While the Indiana State Police is not able to share direct case information for other police agencies, we are able to share some general information from the first three months of 2018 data collection for CODIS:
The first arrestee hit was on January 14, 2018 and matched to an unsolved rape investigation that began in 2016
All County jails facilities are providing arrestee samples
44 different counties have been involved in hits in the first quarter of 2018
CODIS has generated hits between Indiana and 23 other states during the first quarter of 2018
Maj. Steve Holland, commander of the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division commented, “We are very pleased with the results seen thus far and are confident more and more crimes will be solved with the combination of convicted and arrested persons samples being matched in the CODIS program.” Holland continued, “None of this would have been possible without the enabling legislation, as well as the cooperation of all the county jail personnel who collect the DNA samples and the diligent efforts of state police laboratory scientists that are processing these samples for input into CODIS.”
Plans are being finalized for the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the Orleans Dogwood Festival which is set for April 20th through April 29.
This year’s general festival theme, “Celebrating the blossom for a Season-Celebrating the Memories for a Lifetime,” invites former residents far and wide to help mark this very special community observance.
Opening weekend ceremonies will also include a special community event, “Mayberry Values” featuring entertainment special celebrity guest Rodney Dillard of The Andy Griffith Show. The program will be Sunday night, April 22nd 7 p.m. at Unity Hall and billed as a wonderful evening of songs, stories, and humor. The program is free; however a freewill offering will be taken.
Rodney Dillard
Orleans Dogwood Festival organizers are excited to announce that this year’s 50th Anniversary kick off weekend activities of the Dogwood Festival will include a very special community event with celebrity guest Bluegrass Hall of Fame Legend and member of the “Darling Family” on The Andy Griffith Show, Rodney Dillard.
Dillard was one of the beloved “Darling boys” on many episodes. Through the years, he, his brothers, paw and sister Charlene would roll into town on the old truck and fill Mayberry with their mountain bluegrass music and dead pan humor.
New offerings will include a 50th Anniversary Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre “Murder at the Pie Auction,” for Parade weekend Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29. The dinner show is in partnership with The Orange County Players and Wicks Pies. Advance tickets are now on sale for $10 and includes the meal at Fifth Third Bank, Orleans Town Offices and/or from any cast member. Tickets are limited for both performances and expected to sell out quickly.
On April 24th the Orleans and Rural District 2 Fire Departments will be having a Vehicle Accident Demonstration on the Square. Attendees will have an opportunity to interact and observe local emergency responders in action.
A special Commemorate Postmark celebrating “Indiana’s Dogwood Capital” will be offered on the opening Saturday, April 21st at the Orleans Post Office. And other Dogwood 50 type souvenirs will be available to help celebrate the town’s trademark blooms including t-shirts, hats, notecards, magnets, ornaments, license plates, key chains and pins.
Festival organizers have also commissioned an Amish style Dogwood 50th Anniversary Quilt which be displayed throughout the celebration. Tickets will be available for purchase with one lucky winner selected to receive the special keepsake quilt on Parade Day. Proceeds will help offset some of the expenses related to the Dogwood Festival 50th Celebration.
Kick off weekend events will include a reunion of all former Dogwood Queens with a 50th Anniversary tea and reception planned just prior to the 2018 Queen Crowning on Saturday, April 21st beginning at 4 p.m.at Orleans Elementary. Contact info is still needed for past Dogwood Queens and should be submitted to the Chamber office, 812 865 9930.
Ashley Cowan is chairing the now combined Dogwood Pageants with Eileen Gilbert as her Co-Chair. This year for the first time ever both the Little Miss and Queen Crowning will also take place on a single day April 21st at Orleans Elementary School. As has become tradition the 2018 “Mr. Dogwood” will also be named during the intermission for the queen crowning ceremonies. The pageant will begin at 5 p.m.(new start time!) Everyone is welcome!
Opening weekend ceremonies will also include a special community event, “Mayberry Values” featuring entertainment special celebrity guest Rodney Dillard of The Andy Griffith Show. The program will be Sunday night, April 22nd 7 p.m. at Unity Hall and billed as a wonderful evening of songs, stories, and humor. The program is free; however a freewill offering will be taken.
Entertainment lineup has been announced and will include performances by The Honky Tonk Heroes onApril 27th. On April 25th, “Gospel Night” returns with a performance by The Christian Cavaliers with Orleans Christian Church Praise Band. The popular group .50 Caliber takes the main street stage on April 26th. Immediately following the Parade on April 28th, the Sweetwater Band will close things out.
The 50th Annual Dogwood Parade is set for April 28th with 2 p.m. start time and will include a number of anniversary surprises. Honored guests will include the 2017 Orleans Lady Bulldogs Softball Sectional Champs, and O.H.S. Academic Team. Spectators will also be treated to a visit from the Monkey Business monster truck, Circle Sidewalk Stompers Clown Band, and area Shriner units. The civic and business community are being encouraged to participate in the Golden Anniversary Celebration by entering and participating in the Parade this year. Parade Chairman Randy Clark and Co-Chair Neil Blanton have issued a challenge for everyone to come out and be a part of this special once in a lifetime celebration.
The popular Dogwood Baby Contest is back this year and set for April 22nd at a new location the Orleans High School cafeteria. Also returning is the Orleans Chamber’s Silent Auction scheduled for April 26-28 at Unity Hall.
The popular Dogwood Pedal Bike Ride will be returning to this year’s festival line up as well. The ride is set for the morning of April 22st. Ride details are now available Dogwood Pedal link found on the dogwood website.
The Orleans American Legion Warren Brock Post #69 will once again provide the midway, Brady’s Amusement, which will set up and operate the entire week as in the past. 750 of Bracelet Tickets will be made available for purchase prior to festival week and must be purchased in advance. Cost will be $20.
Other festival favorite highlights include the wildly popular Town-Wide Yard Sale, Phi Beta Psi Styles & Salads, quilt show, photo contest, euchre tourney, student art show, the children’s Pet Parade and arts & crafts fair in the park.
The UMC Ham & Bean Supper, Dogwood Art Walk, cub scout Rain Gutter Regatta, and will also all return to the festival lineup.
Vendor applications are still being accepted for arts and craft type vendors to be set up in the park during festival week. Jenny Hopper and Brandon Deckard are again serving as chairpersons for that event.
The Dogwood Committee meeting will meet again on Tuesday, April 17thth6:30 p.m. at the Orleans Town Hall Community Room. All event chairmen and/or supporting organizations are urged to attend and/or have a representative present for the planning session so any last minute details can be finalized.
To stay up with all the latest Dogwood 50 happenings, entry forms, event chairmen contacts are available on the festival’s new website, www.orleansdogwoodfestival.com.
The Orleans Dogwood Festival Face Book page is also being updated regularly with new information for 2018.
Nancy P. Montgomery, age 69, of Salem, Indiana, passed away Thursday April 12, 2018 at the University of Louisville Hospital.
Born on February 17, 1949, she was the daughter of the late Howard Leroy Whitehead & Ruby Jewell (Melton) Whitehead.
Nancy was retired from Tecumseh Products in Salem. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pekin.
Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Robert Lewis Montgomery of Salem; daughter, Rhonda Danser & husband Mark of Pekin; sister, Barbara Shelton of Kentucky; adopted son, Steve James & wife Tammy of Ohio; 6 grandchildren & 2 great grandchildren.
Preceded in death by parents; brother, Barney Branham; grandson, Matthew Danser.
The funeral service will be at 11:00 AM Monday at the First Baptist Church in Pekin.
Viewing will be from 4-8 PM Sunday at the church, and Monday from 10:00 AM until time of service at the church. Burial will be at Conway Cemetery. Brother Jerry
Goodwin will officiate.
Hughes-Taylor Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Firefighters are still battling the blaze at Fibertech in Mitchell. In fact, the smoke is so bad schools have been closed today.
Due to a plume of smoke spreading into the North Lawrence Community Schools area, personnel affiliated with the Lawrence County Emergency Management System, the Indiana State Fire Marshall and Superintendent Gary Conner felt it was necessary to close schools today, for the safety of students and staff.
All after school activities and sporting events and practices are also cancelled.
Mitchell Community Schools are closed today as well.
Marion Township Fire Department Incident Command from the Fibertech fire is advising all residents of Mitchell that are in the path of heavy smoke to stay indoors if at all possible, until further notice. Thursday night official expanded the “shelter in place” to residents north of Mitchell to Yockey Road and those between State Road 37 and Meridian Road.
Firefighters remain on scene this morning trying to contain the massive blaze.
Residents are encouraged to stay indoors to avoid breathing in the smoke.
Absentee “Early Voting” began on Monday, April 10 and continues through May 7th and can be done at the Clerk’s Voter Services Office Monday through Friday,
8:00 am to Noon and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Washington County Clerk Sarah Milligan said early voting will end on Monday, May 7th at noon.
Voters should enter through the main entrance of the Justice Center.
Washington County Commissioner Phil Marshall said some early voters are attempting to enter the new building through a side entrance to the Clerk’s office.
He said everyone needs to enter through the front entrance to pass through security before entering the various areas of the building.
There will also be special voting hours on Saturday April 28 and May 5 in the Clerk’s Voter Services Office from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, the two Saturdays
prior to the election.
“Residents can register to vote in the Clerk’s Voter Services, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm,” stated Voter Deputy Stephanie Rockey. “Or they can go to any Bureau of Motor Vehicles License Branch or National Voter Registration Act full service agency to register as well.”
The Indiana State Police 2017 “Trooper of the Year” Award was selected by the Command Staff from the Bloomington Post. Factors used to determine the award included, but were not limited to, traffic and criminal enforcement, community involvement, public service and specialty assignments such as ISP Specialty Teams, Instructor ratings, or other services performed for the department that go beyond normal expectations.
The Trooper who achieved outstanding efforts for 2017 in those areas and who exemplified the character expected of an Indiana State Trooper was Trooper Richard Klun.
Trooper Klun graduated from the ISP Academy in March of 2011 and was assigned the Bloomington Post to primarily work Greene County. Klun was a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon (TIP) from 2011-2016 and remains a DEA certified Clandestine Laboratory Identification and Cleanup Officer. Trooper Klun has also served as a Field Training Officer since 2014 and has had a hand in training the last 5 ISP Recruit School Classes. Richard has also been a Child First Forensic Interviewer since 2014, a K9 Handler since July 2015 and a member of the Bloomington ACES (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Action) Team since 2016.
Klun was also the 2014 Bloomington District Trooper of the Year.
Prior to becoming an Indiana State Trooper, Trooper Klun served in the Marine Corps from December 2004 until separating as a Sergeant in October 2009. He conducted 3 Combat Tours overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. During his tours overseas, Klun was assigned to the Police Transition Team (PiTT) and the Military Transitioning Team, (MiTT) both responsible for training Iraqi Civilians into either Military Members or Iraqi Police Officers. Klun also served as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) Team Member, Corporal of the Guard (COG) and later Sergeant of the Guard (SOG). As SOG, Klun was one of the command staff that was directly responsible for the safety of Camp Habaniyah, (Iraq) which housed over 3000 US Military members and over 1000 PiTT & MiTT members.
During his military career, Klun was the recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal on two occasions.
Trooper Klun resides in Greene County with his wife and two daughters.
5K COLOR RUN TO BENEFIT RELAY FOR LIFE ON MAY 12 AT WALMART
WSLM RADIO and WALMART are partnering to hold the first annual Charlotte Martin 5K COLORS FOR CANCER run/walk on Saturday, May 12 at 9a at the Walmart in Salem.
The event will benefit Relay For Life and the fight against cancer. Registration begins at 8a.
The event will all all cancer victims and survivors and is named in honor of WSLM 1220 AM and WSLM 97.9 FM owner Rebecca White’s mother, the late Charlotte Martin who died from cancer in 1986.
“Mom passed away on Valentine’s Day 1986 after fighting breast cancer for several years,” said White. “She passed away on the day WSLM celebrates its birthday so every year that’s a bittersweet day for me,” said White. “This is a great way to honor her memory and continue the fight against cancer.”
Brad Gilbert, Human Resources Manager of the Salem Walmart said the Salem Walmart is proud to be partnering with WSLM in this fight against cancer.
“We look forward to showing our support for all participants in this event,” said Gilbert. “Our hope is that with its success, there will be support of those currently fighting and fond memories of those we have lost to the battle.”
“What is more fun in the spring than to see lots of bold and exciting colors?” asked White. “You’ll get spread colored powder (which is 100 percent safe) on your clothing, hair and anything else you are running with, including each other.”
The 3.1 mile (5k) walk/run will begin at Walmart of Salem and continue east towards Salem and back to the Walmart parking lot.
” We at Walmart could not be more honored than to be able to partner with Becky and WSLM in their Colors for Cancer 5k to raise money and awareness in the Fight Against Cancer. I also , as most of us can say , have been dramatically affected by this terrible disease. One of the people who first believed in me was my grandmother , Ruth King , who we lost way too soon. Please join Becky, myself , and Team Walmart for this inaugural event. Hope to see you there!” Mike King, Salem Walmart Store Manager.
“We are working with Pacers and Racers to help provide technical expertise with our event to ensure that any of those who want to participate will be professionally managed and measured for accuracy,” White said.
New this year, because often during this time people have so many other activities going on, there will be a Virtual Race option.
“All you have to do is register for the race and download the course via this link via MapMyRun http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/2008809829 then walk/run the course anytime between May 1 and May 11,” said White. “Then take a selfie and post it to WSLM Radio’s or Walmart’s Facebook page with the hashtag #COLORSFORCANCERSALEM.”
The morning of the race, there will be a selfie station so all those participating on the day of the race can post their pictures, too. “Then everyone can be part of the fun,” said White.
Pre-race and virtual race registration is now open at Walmart of Salem and at WSLM Radio, 1308 East Hackberry Street, Salem.
Registration is $20 until the day of the race and includes a t-shirt and a bag of paint powder to get you started in the fun. Children 10 and under are free with a paying/attending adult.
Race day registration is $25. Additional packets of color and t-shirts can be purchased, while supplies last.
Additional baggies of paint and other paint-throwing accessories will be available for purchase the day of the race.
Registration and arrival for the race is 8a near the Garden Center at Walmart. The race begins at 9a.
A bill authored by State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem) aimed at combatting the increasing drug epidemic in Indiana by reforming usage practices for Indiana’s prescription drug monitoring system (INSPECT) was ceremonially signed into law today at Franciscan Health by Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Senate Enrolled Act 221 requires all prescribers of controlled substances to register with INSPECT and search a patient’s prescription history prior to writing a prescription for an opioid or benzodiazepine.
INSPECT allows a prescriber of opioids or benzodiazepines to search a patient’s previous prescription history to determine if they are “doctor shopping” for multiple prescriptions, are using their prescriptions at a rate higher than prescribed, or are at risk for an overdose. Without SEA 221, registration and regular searches of the INSPECT system are voluntary.
“In order for INSPECT to be a valuable tool, it needs to be used efficiently and routinely,” Houchin said. “Overprescribing opiates is one of the main contributors to this epidemic. By requiring mandatory INSPECT registration and searches, we will combat opiate addiction at the source – the prescription pad. Determining if patients are doctor shopping or abusing opiates is a critical step to curbing prescription drug abuse in Indiana.”
SEA 221 requires practitioners who wish to prescribe opioids or benzodiazepines to register with INSPECT and perform mandatory searches, which will be phased in over a three-year period:
Prescribers in emergency rooms and pain management clinics are required to register and search by Jan. 1, 2019;
prescribers in hospital settings are required to participate by Jan. 1, 2020; and
all other prescribers are required by Jan. 1, 2021.
This legislation was a part of the Senate Majority Caucus’ 2018 Agenda and Gov. Eric Holcomb’s 2018 Next Level Agenda.
