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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

This past Friday, September 20th, the newly upgraded Salem Square was full of economic enhancements and socializing. Eric Bush, C.E.O. of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, did a wonderful job organizing the event. With all side streets blocked off and most mercantile shops open, hundreds of people filled the square like an invasionary force.

In front of the brick-and-mortar stores there were rows of tents with different venues set up on the street. Around the courthouse were mostly food trucks and tables. Friday Night on the Square, labeled as one of the biggest nights in Salem, lived up to its name.

The circle in front of the stores were a variety of setups. Anything from banks, churches, hospitals, rehabilitation, addiction recovery, Boy Scout Troop 4029, politics, lawyers, to chiropractic professionals. Several tents had free water, and one church booth had free bean soup and cornbread. The Salem Fire Department was present selling burgers and chances on different prizes. The Salem Police were also on the scene as well as our star resident: The Batman, along with some of his scary friends. Even venues outside the square experienced the economic impact. As one t-shirt stated, “This Is Our Hometown. One Community, One Family.”

By Nathaniel Smith, Editor

On Thursday, September 19th, a group of community members and local candidates gathered at the office of the Clerk of Courts to witness the public testing of voting machines that will be used to determine the outcome of the 2024 elections. For decades, voting machines have made elections all across the world easier and more efficient. However, voter confidence has been dwindling at a rapid pace as of late, and some have been skeptical in regard to the election process as a whole. This is all the more reason to hold public testings and reinstate confidence into the community.

Led by Clerk of Courts Stephanie Rockey, this public test demonstrated how to properly use the machines, as well as how the machines react to various situations such as submitting a blank ballot or putting marks for too many candidates. Stephanie Rockey also described the straight-party ticket process, and how it does not necessarily mean the voter is locked into only voting straight Democrat or Republican.

“Say for instance you go to vote straight-party Libertarian, but you go back and vote for somebody in the Republican Party or the Democrat Party in another office. That trumps the straight-party ticket,” said Rockey. “So, any other offices that you didn’t pick will go Libertarian, and the two that you chose differently will override that portion of the straight-party ticket.” She also reminded attendees that straight-party voting does not cover non-partisan offices such as school board positions.

As per usual, voters have the option to write in their candidate of choice. However, not just any name can be written and counted as a legitimate vote.

“We see it all the time on election night,” said Rockey. “We get Mickey Mouse, celebrities, actors and actresses, and we have to inspect each one of those. I’ll then look at my certified list to see if the name is on it. If it isn’t on the list, the ballot will then be marked invalid.”

After being asked why the government instructs their office to test certain machines, Rockey simply said they have a list of their inventory and choose which machines to test at random.

“They have our inventory, and they do a random selection. We have a certain percentage of it that we have to use, and they email me a list prior to each election of the inventory percentage that we are required to test,” Rockey stated. “It’s usually 1%, but we normally do 2%. We even have to tell them exactly where our equipment is kept. We have to prove that it is safe and secure. That started back in July of 2018.”

Each voting machine tested during the public testing worked as expected without error and is ready for November 5th. So, make your way to the polls with confidence, because ensuring that our election process is fair, free, and as secure as possible is paramount.

Test #1

Test #2

By: Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

United States Congresswoman Erin Houchin, representing Indiana’s 9th District, visited Salem High School on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
She discussed a survey asking constituents “What are your top priorities?”

Categories and the rankings of these priorities included the following:
Inflation—35%
Securing the border—25%
Other—20%
Protecting Medicare—14%
Defending against adversaries—5%
Supporting veterans—3%
Protecting school choice—2%

Is inflation really the item that should be of most concern? Yes—inflation adversely affects every citizen’s buying power. The rate of inflation from 2020 to 2024 has been 19.8%. This can be correlated to the price of consumable items.

How about border security as the second highest priority? In December 2023, 250,000 migrants crossed the border. In several months the total migrants reached 200,000 crossing the border each month since January 2020.

Since the inauguration of President Biden on January 20, 2021, over 3.3 million illegal immigrants have been released into the United States, according to the Committee on Judiciary and Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity.

Security and Enforcement are costing taxpayers billions at federal and state levels—estimated at over $150.7 billion. Big concerns.

About Congresswoman Houchin:
Houchin serves on the House Financial Services Committee, the House Rules Committee and the House Education and Workforce Committee.

Previously, she represented the 47th District in the Indiana Senate for eight years and served as a member on several committees with jurisdiction over issues important to Hoosiers, including: Commerce and Technology; Elections; Family and Children Services; Utilities; Veterans Affairs and the Military; Homeland Security and Transportation; Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications; and Ranking Member of the Tax and Fiscal Policy.

Additional information:

January 20, 2017—Donald Trump became president
January 20, 2021—Joe Biden became president

Illegal border crossings during the terms of the past two presidents.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery will present “Fall Brawl” on Saturday, Sept. 21. All winners will receive trophies and boxing gloves to keep with the theme.

“Are you ready to rumble?” a speedway spokesman asks.

There will be six action-packed features. GAS street stock cars will challenge the high banks for 75 circuits. Ford Crown Vics will be scheduled for 50 laps on the high banks. Going for a fast 25 laps will be the Salem Super Cars.

The small track will feature the Legends, Ford Crown Vics and the Scrapper Fun Class. These guys will go for 25 laps each race.
For something different, each race will consider time limit vs. laps on whichever one come first. Each race has a limit of one minute per lap.

Spectator gates open at 2 p.m., with the first race beginning at 6 p.m.

A special event for the evening includes the "A Night At The Salem Speedway" fundraising event by CAST, featuring dinner and racing at the historic track. CAST is a 501c3 non-profit organization that offers tutoring to county students who are dealing with dyslexia.

According to Cassie Corp, CAST director, “Dyslexia is a specific learning disability related to reading. Studies show up to 20% of the population in the United States is affected at some level with dyslexia. Children who are unable to read by the third grade are more likely to drop out of school.”

“Help our students achieve their full potential by supporting this effort,” she added.
Tickets for the CAST dinner and VIP treatment are $50 for adults. Kids 12 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Please email Cassie Corp at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 812-620-7907 to RSVP for tickets to the event.

Return to the high banks at Salem Speedway this Saturday evening for roaring action.

Salem Speedway is located at 2729 Hwy. 56 West, Salem.

The 12th Annual Sugar Creek Church 5K Walk/Run will be this Saturday, in conjunction with the activities of the Campbellsburg Country Festival.

Registration will take place at the lot by the Campbellsburg water tower at the intersection of Railroad St. and Sycamore Street in Campbellsburg. The fee will be $20 per person.

The race will start at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Vine and North Sycamore streets in Campbellsburg. The race will continue north to Hop Cemetery, there will be a water station turnaround point and head back towards Campbellsburg.

Bring your family and friends out to run or walk in memory or in honor of someone fighting cancer. Part of the money raised will go into the care fund to help local families in their time of need.

This year’s race will be in honor of Hewitt Kellams, who has been in Riley Children’s hospital since July 2. He was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and tetrasomy 9p. His parents have been back and forth between home in Orange County and the hospital. Some of the money raised this year will go to Alyssa and Zach to help offset the costs of his stay.

Ribbons will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age group at the conclusion of the race. Top male and female finishers will receive a gift card.

Here is the link for the 5k preregistration.

https://forms.gle/pFFXnVe5rXVnW3tn9

Participants will pay entry fee the day of the race.

Message from CAST:

Creating Avenues For Student Transformation (CAST) in Washington County is offering two wonderful events to raise funds. CAST provides tutoring and mentoring to county students. All proceeds will benefit CAST and Southern Indiana Dyslexia Resource Center.

"The Most Magical Raffle on Earth" 

Tickets are on sale now for “The Most Magical Raffle On Earth.”

The grand prize includes $2,000 in Disney gift cards.

The Local Gift Card bundle features gift cards donated by local businesses. They include Raquel’s Restaurant, Born, El Maguey, Nice’s Family Diner, Totally Baked, Lisa’s Farmhouse Market, Poppy Lane Bakery, Tees & Tumblers and more.

A bundle of four Big Splash tickets is also up for grabs.

Tickets are $20 apiece or three tickets for $50. Those wanting tickets may stop by the CAST any weekday in September between 9 a.m. and 12 noon or by appointment. The CAST office is located at 1707 N. Shelby Street, Suite 107, Salem.

Tickets can also be purchased from Kim Scifres, Allison Ezzell, Lorie Campbell, Ashley Hubbard, Cassie Summers-Corp, Micah Gilliam or Steve Corp. Cash, checks, credit cards or Venmo will be accepted.

The drawing for the raffle winners will occur at the CAST office at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30.

Please call 812-620-7907 or email castwashco.org for more information.

"A Night At The Salem Speedway"

CAST is hosting “A Night At The Salem Speedway” on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. that will feature dinner and racing at the historic track. The speedway is located at 2729 W. State Road 56, Salem.

Sponsors are needed, and all proceeds will benefit CAST, a 501c3 non-profit organization.

According to Cassie Corp, CAST director, sponsors’ “tax-deductible contributions for this event will help students in Washington County and beyond!”

“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability related to reading. Studies show up to 20% of the population in the United States is affected at some level with dyslexia. Children who are unable to read by the third grade are more likely to drop out of school.”

“Help our students achieve their full potential by supporting this effort,” she added.

Sponsorship levels include the following: Banner Sponsors—$2,500: Media recognition, event admission, a table for eight, banner recognition. Winner’s Circle—$1,000: Media recognition, event admission, table for eight. Fast Track—$500: Media recognition, event admission, table for four. Rev Your Engine—$250: Media recognition, event admission, table for two. Individual Tickets—$50: Reserved seats for the night’s race, a VIP armband with access to the High Banks Club, and a fully catered dinner (Kids 12 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket).

Please email Cassie Corp at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 812-620-7907 to become a sponsor or to RSVP for tickets to the event.

Harvest season is officially underway for Indiana’s 94,000 farmers, which means more slow-moving farm equipment will be on Indiana’s rural roads and highways. To keep Hoosiers safe this year, state agencies are asking motorists to be alert and patient, as they share the road with farm equipment this fall.

“The fall is an exciting time for all Hoosiers as the temperatures cool and the leaves turn colors. And Hoosier farmers share that excitement as they prepare to begin harvest,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “While traveling rural roads and highways this fall, remember to watch for large farm equipment moving between fields as they work to harvest the crops, and be sure to know the proper steps to safely navigate around.”

In 2022 four vehicles were involved in crashes with farm equipment in Indiana which resulted in one death, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Moving farm equipment can be one of the most dangerous parts of a farmers job,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “When motorists know how to safely navigate around farm equipment, our roads are safer. By working together, farmers and everyday Hoosiers can ensure they arrive safely to their destination.”

Farm equipment during harvest season could include tractors, combines, grain carts, grain wagons and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.

The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:

Farmers will pull over when they are able to let motorists pass, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.
Be alert. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.
Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
Do not try to pass a slow-moving vehicle on the left without ensuring that the vehicle is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over for you to pass when it is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
Avoid tailgating, as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.
Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.

“When you see farmers out working and moving from field to field, please be patient as they work to harvest their crops which are needed to help feed our communities and the world,” said Doug Carter, Indiana State Police Superintendent. “Let’s all work together to help ensure everyone’s safety on our roadways.”

For a list of safety tips, click here or visit isda.in.gov. Click here for a video message created by Hoosier Ag Today, in partnership with Keystone Corporative. The following organizations will be working together to share this important safety message during planting season: Hoosier Ag Today, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Transportation and Indiana State Police.

The new SalemLeader.com website Is officially going live this weekend!

There may be some delays, as the new website has to go through procedures to “replicate” itself on the internet.

Anyone who has problems reaching the new website by searching “www.salemleader.com” may find that they will need to reboot their computers or clear their cache to directly connect with the website.

For the past couple of months, many people have been able to access the beta website that was under construction and listed as www.southernindiana.us. As soon as the new website has been fully replicated, the new website will be reached by entering www.salemleader.com.

Advantages of using SalemLeader.com:

FREE NEWS is available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
.
News and advertising are posted as soon as it is received.

Advanced navigation buttons at the top of the Home Page, the Footer and Search function make locating stories effortless.

Stories and obituaries remain on the site indefinitely, so you will be able to find an article you may have missed.

There are over 40 categories to make finding news easier. We post news constantly as soon as we receive it. Many stories will roll off of the Home Page, but will still be available under category headings.

Please try out the new website! We hope you will be pleased with the new format.

Sincerely,
Nancy Grossman, Publisher
Leader Publishing Company of Salem, Inc.

By: Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Taylor Ferns is the first female driver to win the Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial Race.

The 65th running of the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial Race came back with lightning speed and was a history making event at Salem Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 7. The cars rounded the track at an average speed of 125 mph., coming down the straightway at higher speeds.

This is the first time the sprint cars have been on the track since 2010, and they came back strong. The fastest qualification time was posted by Kody Swanson at 15.734, just shy of the track record 15.181 set by Tracy Hines in 2000.

The elapsed total race time was 21.12 minutes with one yellow for a total green lap time of 18.34 minutes.

Becoming the first female to win in this series, Taylor Ferns led flag to flag and was definitely followed closely by Kody Swanson and Davey Hamilton.

Swanson, the winner of the last five Joe James/Pat O’Connor races, got beside her but couldn’t make it stick. His wins were in the more powerful and longer wheel base USAC Silver Crown cars. This win streak period was from 2016 to 2020. In fact, he was the last winner to race at Salem and win this prestigious race. Also, the fastest qualifier.

Swanson settled for second place; with Davey Hamilton, third; and Bobby Santos, fourth.

It was Ferns’ first feature win in the 500 Touring Sprint Cars series.

In victory lane she said, “I was without brakes most of the race and had to go high on the banks to help slow it down.”

Supporting classes for race day were the USSA Kenyon Midgets and the Legend series.

The midgets, compared to the sprints, have a shorter wheel base and are equipped with a 4-cylinder 1200 cc Yamaha engine vs. the V-8 Chevy 410 cubic inch engine in the sprint cars. All are the same, keeping down the price of racing.

The 25-lap Kenyon Midget race was won by Dameron Taylor; second was Ryan Haggler; and third was Landon Brown. Taylor also won one of the ten-lap heat races. The race was caution free.

This series was started by the brothers Mel and Don Kenyon. Mel is a retired midget champ and Indianapolis driver. Mel, at ninety-one years old, and his brother still come out for the races and to work on the cars.

Also on the small track were the Legend cars. The 25-lap feature was won by Eddie Fosnight; second, Max Olmsted; and bringing home third place for a podium finish was Johnny Weaver.

Ferns is pictured with members of the O'Connor family.

Kody Swanson, placing second in the memorial race, is pictured with members of the Bohanon family, owners of Salem Speedway.

Sprint cars use distinctive tires.

This 1200cc four-cylinder Yamaha engine is standard in the Midget cars.

Dameron Taylor was the winner of the Kenyon Midget race.

The 10th annual Historical Walking Tour at Crown Hill Cemetery is this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13 & 14. Tours begin at 7:30 p.m. and leave every 10 or 15 minutes. The last tour will leave at 10:30 p.m. Crown Hill Cemetery is located at 207 Shelby St., Salem.

The tour will take you on a stroll through Salem’s rich history. Walkers will be informed the town’s historical background during the tour and will have an opportunity to meet characters playing some of Salem’s most well-known citizens of the past. Knowledgeable tour guides will introduce some of the most interesting, eccentric (and sometimes infamous) characters buried in Salem’s Crown Hill Cemetery.

The walking tour is a fun event for all ages. This tour is NOT haunted. Attendees will simply be meeting characters from the past who are buried in the cemetery. Lanterns will be provided for the trail.

The event is hosted by Washington County Theatre. There is no cost to participate, but donations will be excepted and all proceeds will be used to support the theatre group.

"The Most Magical Raffle on Earth"
Tickets are on sale now for “The Most Magical Raffle On Earth.”

The grand prize includes $2,000 in Disney gift cards.

A bundle of four Big Splash tickets is also up for grabs.

Tickets can also be purchased from Kim Scifres, Allison Ezzell, Lorie Campbell, Ashley Hubbard, Cassie Summers-Corp, Micah Gilliam or Steve Corp. Cash, checks, credit cards or Venmo will be accepted.

The drawing for the raffle winners will occur at the CAST office at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30

Please call 812-620-7907 or email castwashco.org for more information.

"A Night At The Salem Speedway"

CAST is hosting “A Night At The Salem Speedway” on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. that will feature dinner and racing at the historic track. The speedway is located at 2729 W. State Road 56, Salem.

Sponsors are needed, and all proceeds will benefit CAST, a 501c3 non-profit organization.

According to Cassie Corp, CAST director, sponsors’ “tax-deductible contributions for this event will help students in Washington County and beyond!”

“Help our students achieve their full potential by supporting this effort,” she added.

Please email Cassie Corp at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 812-620-7907 to become a sponsor or to RSVP for tickets to the event.

Outside door to box

The door to the baby box may be accessed from the outside of the building at the Washington County Ambulance Building.

More photos below story.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Many have heard of a Safe Haven Baby Box, but few may realize that Salem has its own.

The baby box was the brainchild of Monica Kelsey. She first saw the idea at a church in Cape Town, South Africa. She has made it her mission to get these placed in all 50 states. To date, the baby boxes are in use in 19 states.

Kelsey’s passion is fired by the fact that she was abandoned as a baby. Indiana Safe Haven Law enables a person to give up an unwanted infant anonymously without fear of arrest or prosecution. As long as there are no signs of intentional abuse on the baby, no information is required of the person leaving a baby.

The baby in Indiana must be no older than 30 days. States vary on this maximum age from 72 hours to 90 days old.

The box in Salem is located at the Washington County Ambulance Service (WCAS), 1013 Webb Street, where it is mounted on the outside of the building.

There are 134 Safe Haven Boxes in Indiana. The box is climate controlled and has several alarms, according to Mike Spurgeon, assistant director of WCAS. The director of the ambulance service is Tony Floyd.

The box is tested once a week and cleaned as needed. This is required by Indiana code 1C 31-34-2.5. Emergency custody of certain abandoned children is also covered by this code.

The baby box in Salem was installed in April of 2022. Spurgeon said, “It has not been used”.

The purpose of these boxes is for a mother who may be overwhelmed by her circumstances to place the baby in the box in a safe environment.

An alarm is on a 90-second delay, giving the mother or whoever opened the door of the box time to leave and remain anonymous.

The alarm sounds and dispatch is also notified that a baby is in the box. The child is removed by emergency personnel through the plexiglas door inside the building.

This Safe Haven Box is available 24 hours/7 days a week.

There is an orange plastic bag in the baby box that contains an optional form that the person surrendering the baby can fill it out. There is a line for the mother’s and father’s names. There is also a place to record the child’s birthday and any conditions that rescuers should be aware of. This form can be mailed in.

After the baby is surrendered, he/she is examined and given medical treatment, if needed. The Indiana Department of Child Services will take the baby into custody through Child Protective Services or a Licensed Child Placing Agency (LCPA) where it will be placed with a caregiver.

The box in Salem is dedicated to Cairo Jordan, who’s name was unknown at the time the box was installed.

The national headquarters for Safe Haven Baby Boxes is in Woodburn, Indiana. They are located northwest of Fort Wayne, where the boxes are manufactured.

So far, fifty babies have been placed in these boxes, and a total of 150 babies surrendered in the 19 states that have this program.

The box costs $15,000, plus there is a $500 annual use fee. It may cost in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $7,000 for installations, alarms, permits, and electrical hookups. The box can be picked up at the factory to save shipping fees.

The program is supported completely by private funding.

A national crisis number, 1-886-99BABY1 (1-866-992-2291), is available to distraught mothers. It is available 24/7.

Contributions to the program can be sent to SHBB, P.O. Box 185, Woodburn, IN. 46797.

Staff photos by Jerry Curry.

Instructions for using the box are posted near the entry door to the baby box.

This photo shows the interior of the baby box.

The Washington Co. Ambulance Service is located at 1013 Webb St., Salem.

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

Officials have approved a $2 million loan to pay for the ongoing work at the new Washington County Highway Garage facility. The vote was made during the Tuesday, Sept. 3, meeting of the Washington County Council.

Representatives from First Savings Bank detailed how the loan will work:
The loan collateral will be $2 million in existing funds the county has and that will be invested in either a treasury bond or a certificate of deposit. The county will earn interest on the investment and the amount earned will depend on which type of investment officials choose.

The seven-year loan will have an estimated annual payment of about $350,000. The county has earmarked about $375,000 in existing County Economic Development Income Tax that will be used for the loan payment.

The loan interest will cost about $439,000 over the seven-year term.

“We’re not going to be raising taxes,” Commissioner Todd Ewen said. “We’re just trying to get this thing built.

Ground has already been broken on the $4.8 million highway garage. The project was undertaken as a Build-Operate-Transfer process (BOT), which Indiana law allows as an alternative to the traditional government building process that requires the government entity to get a design from an engineer, then seek bids, and obtain a bond to pay the costs. With the BOT, the county selects a developer who shoulders all costs until the project is completed to the satisfaction of the county. The developer is then paid a guaranteed pre-determined project cost.

Commissioners have pushed for the project, saying the highway department’s current facility is in a poor location and has insufficient room for supplies and equipment.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

(Photos following story)

There have been many sightings of The Batman on the streets in Salem. Did the Salem Police Department or Washington County Sheriff Department send up the Bat Signal from the top of the police station to call Batman? It’s the light that projects a bat-shaped figure in the sky during a crisis— have you seen it? This is not Gotham City—it’s Salem, correct?

It was time to investigate, so SalemLeader.com put their top hound-dog reporter on the search. After a while, it was discovered it was not Bruce Wayne. Sleuthing skills revealed it was a young Salem man, Scotty Spears.

Spears has added some fun to our city and lots of excitement. He is seventeen years old and a junior at Salem High School. When asked why he made his costumed appearances, he replied, “At very young age I loved Batman.” Batman is a DC comic creation who lives in Gotham City.
Scotty first made costumes out of cardboard. Then he got a job and gained access to lots of material for his creations. He now works at the Goodwill.

Look for him to show up for events or birthday parties, or just patrolling around the Salem area.

His costumes are outstanding! In addition to Batman, he has done other characters like Superman, Wolverine, Spiderman, Deadpool, Ghost, Green Goblin and Michael Myers, just to name a few.

The costumes Spears creates look like something right off the sets of the latest superhero/horror movies. They look incredibly detailed and professional. This man’s artistic skills are obviously “next level.”

Spears pays so much attention to detail that he can even cite the exact version of clothing from a particular movie. For example, one Batman mask he created is a reproduction of the version that Michael Keeton wore in the 2023 movie “The Flash.” His Green Goblin costume is a replica of the one featured in the 2021 movie, “Spiderman, No Way Home.”

At times Spears will customize an outfit he has purchased. Many times he creates the entire costume from scratch. Some of the high-tech methods he uses in his creations include the use of a 3D printer to create hard surfaces and EDA foam for sleeves.

His proud father is David Spears. His dad said, “He is going to Prosser right now for Criminal Justice.”

“He keeps his grades up enough to keep his scholarships going. Scotty plans to go into law enforcement after school.” His dad and the staff at SalemLeader.com all share the same belief, “He’s gonna go places in life.”

His hobbies, of course, are watching Gotham TV and playing games.

Now we know who to call if the city is in real danger and needs assistance. Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da— Batman!

Hard to believe this costume isn't directly off the set of a Batman movie! Batman visits school to talk to kids.

Batman was also sighted patrolling Main Street in Salem. When not in super-hero mode, Scotty Spears appears to be just another junior at Salem High School.