Minton said it will help prevent the loss of retention of reading progress students make over the summer. 

• About nine out of 10 teachers will spend as much as three weeks on review because of summer learning loss.
• Most students lose two months of mathematical skills every summer, and low-income children typically lose another two to three months in reading.

Salem Police Department and Salem Middle School officials have come to the conclusion that there was no imminent threat regarding a male student who was removed from the school yesterday. 

The parent of the student was contacted Monday afternoon, the student was removed, and the matter has been turned over to Salem Police Department.

Salem Schools Superintendent Dr. Lynn Reed said the student in question did NOT make any threats of harm to anyone, [and] simply responded in a flippant manner to story/inappropriate joke that was being repeated by another student.

“Adults have been concerned for school safety for a very long time and recent events have driven that concern into the thoughts of our children.  Everyone is on heightened alert and I commend students for reporting what they heard — even though they had misinformation,” said Reed. 

“This was corroborated by students actually hearing his comments. His choice of words was unsuitable, but at no time did he make a threat,” said Reed. “This is the information our leadership team at SMS had when they sent him home as a disciplinary measure.”

Reed indicated as the evening progressed rumors grew about why the student was sent home and were spread until one student contacted a teacher and told what she had heard.

“When the administrators at SMS received this information, Salem PD was called immediately (just before midnight)” Reed explained.

“A call informing parents of a safety concern went out this morning,” she said. 

SMS administrators and Salem PD worked in tandem today to track down each rumor at the source. 

All rumors were found to be without merit, said Reed.

“Many thanks go to the Salem PD and our SRO Allison Garloch,” said Reed. 

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.

3) Contact the IRS via identitytheft.gov.

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. 

Finally, report such incidents to the Federal Trade Commission and the Indiana Attorney General.

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 20^th 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 22^nd 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.

Orleans Dogwood Festival organizers are excited to announce that this year’s 50^th 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 24^th 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 50^th 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 50^th Celebration.

Kick off weekend events will include a reunion of all former Dogwood Queens with a 50^th Anniversary tea and reception planned just prior to the 2018 Queen Crowning on Saturday, April 21^st 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 22^nd 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 28^th 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 22^nd 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 17th^th 6:30 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.