Crean Out at IU; National Search Begins

March 16, 2017

After 9 seasons and an 18-16 season with a final disappointing loss Tuesday to Georgia Tech in the NIT, Tom Crean, 50, is gone as head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers.

“After deliberative thought and evaluation, including multiple meetings with Tom about the future, I have decided to make a change in the leadership of our men’s basketball program,” Indiana director of athletics Fred Glass said in a statement. “Tom Crean brought us through one of the most challenging periods in IU basketball history, led his players to many successes in the classroom and on the court and represented our university with class and integrity.”

Glass’ statement said that the school is seeking “more consistent, high levels of success.”

Glass said that he has been charged to find a new coach. He will not create a search committee but said that he will consult with basketball experts around the country, including former Indiana players.

“The national search for our new coach begins immediately,” said Glass. ‘The Board of Trustees and the President have expressly delegated to me the responsibility and authority for this search and hire. While I will not be establishing a formal search committee or advisory committee, I will consult with basketball experts from around the country and throughout the State of Indiana, including many former Indiana University basketball players. The expectations for Indiana University basketball are to perennially contend for and win multiple Big Ten championships, regularly go deep in the NCAA tournament, and win our next national championship—and more after that. We will identify and recruit a coach who will meet these expectations.”

Crean was 148-118 overall and 64-80 in Big Ten play heading into this season, and the Hoosiers got off to a strong start before struggling and finishing 18-16 overall and 7-11 in league play.

Crean was the head coach at Marquette for nine seasons before taking over at Indiana. At Marquette, he was 190-96 overall and made five NCAA tournament appearances. He went to the Final Four in 2003 behind a breakout performance from Dwyane Wade.

Crean also spent time as an assistant coach at Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Western Kentucky and Alma College.

He signed a contract extension in 2012 to keep him in Bloomington through 2020. His buyout went from $12 million to $4 million in the past two years.

Patricia Lynn Fisher, age 64 of Salem

March 16, 2017

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Patricia Lynn Fisher, age 64 of Salem, passed away Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 10:35 pm, in St. Vincent Salem Hospital.

Born February 16, 1953 in Anderson, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late William and Wilma (Jessup) Wolfe.

She was an employee of First Insurance Group in Bloomington for 20 years and was a certified Commercial Insurance Counselor. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Bedford and attended the Salem Presbyterian Church.

She was a member of P. E. O. and enjoyed flowers, horses and singing. Pat married August 4, 1973 to Stephen K. Fisher, who survives.

Also Surviving are: 2 Sons: Jonathan Fisher, Bangkok, Thailand and Benjamin Fisher, Glendale, Arizona and 1 Brother: Gregory Wolfe, Spring Hill, Kansas. She was preceded in death by 1 brother, Donald Wolfe.

Memorial Service: 11:00 am Monday at the Salem Presbyterian Church

Arrangements by Dawalt Funeral Home

Memorial Contributions: American Cancer Society C/O Jeanette Nolan 945 North Rush Creek Road Salem, Indiana 47167.

Risinger Told Police He Killed “Gilbert”

March 16, 2017

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Details are emerging about an arson fire that involved a dead body Tuesday night in Salem’s Southway Villa Mobile Home Park.

Although an autopsy was unable to divulge the identity of the body found, the probable cause affidavit states during an interview with police, the alleged murderer killed a male in the fire.

28-year-old Salem man Joshua Risinger allegedly told police he killed a man named “Gilbert” by starting a fire in the home.

He has been charged with one count of Murder, a Class A Felony.

Rumors swelled on social media Wednesday, noting that Resinger had killed a homeless man.

Indiana State Police Sgt. Jerry Goodin said they were working on leads, but had no identity of the victim.

Goodin said further testing will be done to determine if the victim was killed before the fire or as a result of the fire.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by ISP Detective Matt Busick, Risinger told police the mobile home belonged to him.

Det. Busick said this was not a complete statement of facts, but established probable cause for police to make the arrest.

Risinger has been held without bond and will appear in court today for his initial hearing at 2p.

Salem Fire Department received the call at 7:03p after Lenny Hays called 911 and said her neighbors house was on fire.

Salem Fire Department firefighters were on the scene from about 7p until early Wednesday investigating the fire. When they had extinguished the fire, fire fighters found a deceased body inside the mobile home.

The home was located at 212 Teresa Street and was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

According to police, mobile home park manager Roddy Humphrey said he saw a man he knew lived in the burning home walking through the mobile home park.

Humphrey said the man was wearing a jacket, had something over his head and was carrying a duffel bag.

Salem Police Officer Alex Bilbrey patrolled the area and found the man walking on Jackson Street.

Bilbrey along with Assistant Police Chief Tim Miller stopped him and he was identified as Risinger and the owner of the home. He told police, according to the affidavit, that the trailer was on fire and he had just walked away.

Miller came to the scene of the fire and was told by officer Russell Wilcoxson that fire fighters had found the body in the middle of the living room.

Originally the State Police noted that Risinger was arrested on Arson and Murder charges. However, Risinger has only officially been charged with murder.

According to the Washington County Prosecutor’s office, the Prosecutor’s office chose to file only [a] murder [charge] at this time because it appears that the fire was started with the intent to kill.

An autopsy was performed Wednesday morning by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville, KY on the remains.

The autopsy was unable to determine the cause of death pending further test results. The autopsy was also unable to positively identify the human body located, until further tests are completed.

Salem Fire Chief Tom Day said he was on the scene until early this morning with the Indiana State Fire Marshall to help investigate the crime.

Day said it would be a few days before a cause of the fire could be determined. “That information will be released by the state police,” said Day.

No Cause of Death For Fire Victim: Medical Examiner

March 15, 2017

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According to Indiana State Police, the autopsy performed on a body recovered from a trailer fire last night in Salem, was unable to ID the body or provide information into the cause of death.

Earlier today, ISP Sgt. Jerry Goodin would not release information regarding the gender of the body, but some posts on social media believe the person was possibly a homeless male.

WSLM has not been able to confirm that with authorities.

An autopsy was performed this morning by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville, KY on the human body found inside of the burnt mobile home located at 221 Teresa Street in Salem.

The autopsy was unable to determine the cause of death pending further test results.

Salem Fire Chief Tom Day said he was on the scene until early this morning with the Indiana State Fire Marshall to help investigate the crime.

Day said it would be a few days before a cause of the fire could be determined. “That information will be released by the state police,” said Day.

The autopsy was also unable to positively identify the human body located, until further tests are completed.

A Salem man was arrested last night for murder and arson involving a trailer fire in Southway Villa late Tuesday.

Joshua B. Risinger, 28, 221 South Teresa Street, was booked into the Washington County Detention Center last night.

The victim that was located inside of the mobile home has not yet been identified.

Indiana State Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Jerry Goodin said this morning he cannot release details on the victim’s gender.

An autopsy will be performed by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville, KY this morning to determine the cause of death and the identity of the victim.

The fire was reported at approximately 7:00 pm to the Salem City Fire Department. The fire was located at 221 Teresa Street in Salem.

According to the Salem Fire Department, the fire was “well involved” when the department arrived with “flames coming out the windows.”

After the fire was extinguished, a burned human body was located inside of the mobile home.

The owner of the residence, Risinger, was located at the scene and was interviewed by Indiana State Police Detectives.

The resulting information gathered from Risinger resulted in his arrest for Murder and Arson.

The Salem City Police Department was at the scene and requested Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigators and Indiana State Police Detectives to assist at the scene.

The Washington County Prosecutor, Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Fire Marshall and the Washington County Coroner are assisting in the investigation.

Salem, Eastern Schools Receive Tech Grant

March 15, 2017

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Salem Community School nabbed $75k out of a $2.2. million tech grant awarded to 32 school districts around the state.

This grant supports corporations in providing professional development, developing content and expectations, creating avenues for parent and student communication, as well as purchasing devices.

Salem’s grant application was directed by Director of Information Technology, Erin Humphrey, and presented by the leadership team of Deb Wrye, SMS Social Studies Teacher, Jon David Wade-Swift, SMS Technology Teacher, Derek Smith, SHS Principal and Lynn Reed, SCS Superintendent.

SCS will use the $75,000 grant to:

offer multiple levels of professional development that will allow staff to grow in their level of comfort and expertise with available digital resources as well as encourage them to seek out new ones;
encourage collaboration and curation of digital content by providing stipends for out-of-school work; and
design a new learning space for student engagement.

Salem’s award letter stated:

“Your district presented a proposal that evidences strong leadership, a focused vision for digital learning, a sound plan for implementation, and the support, resources, and capacity to make it happen. As a Digital Learning Grant awardee your district will provide a model for others around the state in regard to digital age teaching and learning.”

“This was a competitive selection process and I congratulate these school districts,” said Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I am confident they will use these dollars wisely, making a significant impact on learning for all students.”Sixty-four districts applied for this year’s grants.

Thirty-two districts were successful in pitching their proposals, totaling $2,342,664. This is an increase of eleven grants and an additional $467,664 over last year’s awards. Awarded grant amounts ranged from $35,000 to $75,000.

The 2017 Digital Learning Grant awardees include:

Barr-Reeve Community School

Batesville Community School Corporation

Brown County Schools

CSC of Southern Hancock County

Delaware Community School Corporation

East Allen County Schools

East Washington School Corporation

Elkhart Community School

Eminence Community Schools

Fayette County School Corporation

Jennings County School Corporation

La Porte Community School Corporation

Loogootee Community Schools

Maconaquah School Corporation

MSD of Decatur Township

MSD of Mt. Vernon

MSD of Steuben County

Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation

Northwest Allen County Schools

Portage Township Schools

Richland Bean-Blossom CSC

Salem Community Schools

Scott County School District 1

South Vermillion Community Schools

Southwest Dubois County Schools

Spencer-Owen Community Schools

Switzerland County School Corp

Tippecanoe School Corporation

Tipton Community Schools

Warsaw Community Schools

Wawasee Community School Corporation

Yorktown Community Schools

Third House Session This Saturday

March 15, 2017

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The Third House Session meeting with Senator Erin Houchin and State Representative Steve Davisson is this Saturday, March 18^th from 9am-11am at the Salem High School Presentation Room.

This meeting is open to the public. Come to find out about current legislation affecting our county and get your questions answered.

The Third House Session is sponsored by Farm Bureau and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and will be mediated by Salem Attorney Andrew Wright.

Body Found in Fire, Salem Man Arrested for Murder, Arson

March 15, 2017

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A Salem man is in jail for murder and arson involving a trailer fire in Southway Villa late Tuesday.