Salem Middle School will be on heightened security on Wednesday after anonymous threats were made this evening on social media.

According to Salem Middle School Counselor Blair Thompson, Salem City Police will be on heightened security inside the school with Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies on duty outside of the school.

Thompson said the threat has only been made against SMS students and that the school will operate as normal on Wednesday.

According to a call sent to parents of Salem School students this evening at 10p, an anonymous person through Snapchat and Instagram has made threats of shooting against students of Salem.

The call notes “We do not know how credible this threat is, however, we must take all threats seriously. Security will be heightened tomorrow and we are working with police to try to identify this person or persons.”

According to Salem Schools Superintendent DL Reed,  two different social media messages came across on Tuesday — one involving an Instagram photo of a clown standing behind a sign at the Bradie M. Shrum Elementary School and the other a threat to shoot students at the Salem Middle School.

“We’ve got some threats that have been made on social media against students at Salem Middle School for tomorrow,” said Reed. “There’s a picture of a clown outside Bradie Shrum’s sign. Weird stuff is going on with this and clowns. Another picture was posted from over at Scottsburg school.”

Reed said a threat mentioned that clowns would be coming into the Salem Middle School tomorrow and shooting kids.

“Police are involved,” said Reed. “I got the information first hand from Salem Resource Officer Carey Cook. He’s notified the other police. We will have increased security at SMS. Ray Oppel, Jennifer Lawyer and Blair Thompson are at SMS [Tuesday night]. We’re going to do an ALL-Call…we don’t know how credible it is. We have to assume it might be real. So we’re going to follow our emergency protocol. ”

Reed said parents should use their own judgement on sending students to school on Wednesday.

Thompson said, “We take every threat seriously. We live in today’s society. Ten years ago, if a kid made a threat against someone, we might not take it seriously. But today, it’s something we have to take very seriously. We will have officers in the building and officers outside the building on Wednesday. We never know how safe we are, but we’ll be on a heightened alert on Wednesday.”

Thompson said local police were far along on the investigation and would hopefully have information on Wednesday.

According to Salem Police Officer Tim Miller, officers will be in full uniform at the school on Wednesday as well as officers in plain clothing.

Members of the Indiana State Police Honor Guard received service pins to be worn on their uniforms in a ceremony Mondayat the Indiana State House. Historically, the Honor Guard has consisted of a dedicated group of troopers who have volunteered their time to participate; however they are now recognized as an official specialty team within the department.

“When bad things happen to good people, these are the folks who step up and step out to represent our department,” said Superintendent Doug Carter, who proudly presented an official Indiana State Police Honor Guard Pin to each member. “These men and women volunteer their time to humbly honor our fallen comrades, and when called upon, they bestow the highest degree of representation and honor upon the Indiana State Police.

55 troopers make up the Honor Guard and are divided into three teams, a north team, a central team and a south team. Each team member will attend regular training and maintain a 24/7 call out availability. The Honor Guard will participate in memorial services, funerals for active or retired police officers, parades and will proudly present colors at high profile events.

Assistant Honor Guard Commander Master Trooper Aaron Gaul says, “Being on the Honor Guard is all about putting service, respect and nation above self; it is having the ability to honor those that served before and proving they will never be forgotten. It is a platform to show respect to those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice defending this nation we hold so closely to our hearts, silently and reverently.”

Photos:

1) Uniform pin presented to Honor Guard Members

2) North Team

3) Central Team

4) South Team

The driver and passenger killed in a Monday evening crash along Interstate 64 in Spencer County have been identified.

According to the Spencer County Coroner’s Office, the driver, 58 year old James Michael Steward, and his wife, 55 year old Helen Marie Steward, both of Virginia, were pronounced dead after their 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser was rear ended while stopped in the driving lanes of Interstate 64.

The crash remains under investigation by Indiana State Police crash reconstructionists.

At 9:50 P.M. Monday, 19 year old Zachary Henry of Kentucky was traveling east on Interstate 64 in his 2015 Toyota Camry.

As Henry passed the 64.5 mile marker (1.5 miles east of Ferdinand), he unexpectedly drove upon a 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser stopped in the driving lanes of the interstate.

Unable to stop or avoid the Land Cruiser, Henry crashed into the rear of the vehicle, pushing it down an embankment and on its roof.

The driver and passenger in the Land Cruiser, both from Virginia, were pronounced dead by the Spencer County Coroner.

The Coroner’s office is currently working to identify the victims and notify the families.  Henry suffered minor injuries in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by Indiana State Police crash reconstructionists.  State Police were assisted at the scene by Ferdinand Police and Spencer County Sheriff’s Departments, Ferdinand and Saint Meinrad Fire Departments, Lifeline Air Ambulance, and Memorial Hospital EMS.

A Monday evening crash along Interstate 64 near Ferdinand took the lives of two people.

At 9:50 P.M. Monday, 19 year old Zachary Henry of Kentucky was traveling east on Interstate 64 in his 2015 Toyota Camry.

As Henry passed the 64.5 mile marker (1.5 miles east of Ferdinand), he unexpectedly drove upon a 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser stopped in the driving lanes of the interstate.

Unable to stop or avoid the Land Cruiser, Henry crashed into the rear of the vehicle, pushing it down an embankment and on its roof.

The driver and passenger in the Land Cruiser, both from Virginia, were pronounced dead by the Spencer County Coroner.

The Coroner’s office is currently working to identify the victims and notify the families.  Henry suffered minor injuries in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by Indiana State Police crash reconstructionists.  State Police were assisted at the scene by Ferdinand Police and Spencer County Sheriff’s Departments, Ferdinand and Saint Meinrad Fire Departments, Lifeline Air Ambulance, and Memorial Hospital EMS.