• Fundraisers
• Special Events

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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

If you never participated in the Polar Purge this could be your year! Presented by Special Olympics as a fundraiser with 19,000 members state wide, this is the 26th year of the Polar Plunge and is the largest money raising event for the organization. Their sayings are “Be Bold, Get Cold,” and “Freezin’ for a Reason.” Meeting at Deam Lake, groups and individuals step down into the water and splash around in the 194-acre ice-cold bath. Each individual must raise at least $99 to join in the fun; the state goal is one million dollars. Individuals can still make virtual donations even if the plunge is not for you. To register and donate, Click Here!

Some groups that accept new members include Hannah's Frozen Friends or the Washington Co. Chillers group. But feel free to start any group you want!

Aptly named the “world’s coolest field trip,” the first event is at Borden High School on Friday February 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The plunge begins at 10:30 a.m. at Deam Lake and is open to students.

The community plunge is Saturday, February 15 with registration from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the Polar Plunge beginning at noon. After the plunge is the Splash Bash at 1:00 p.m. Plungers must be 12 years old the day of the event day to enter the water. Those under the age of 18 must have a signature from parent or guardian.  Questions can be emailed to Scott Furnish at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. There are several sites in the state holding this event, however Deam Lake is closest to Salem and is located at 1217 Deam Lake Road, Borden.

In 2024, the group raised $136,000, and the total that took the plunge ended up being 337 individuals and 28 groups. The groups that collected the most money were Hannah’s Frozen friends and SOIN Clark and Floyd Counties Polar Bears tied at $26,000.

Last year, even members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department joined in and they collected $2,300 for the event! Total people that took the plunge from Washington County was 34 and in total raised $14,050. Register and donate today to have a great time supporting a great cause!

Washington Co. Chillers

Group from Prosser.

• Washington County
• Road Safety

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Washington County Emergency Management has announced that, beginning December 3, Shorts Corner Rd between E Bill Miller Rd and Martinsburg Rd will be closed for the next 3 weeks. This closure is to allow for repairs to be completed on the bridge.

For questions or more information, call Washington County Emergency Management at (812) 883-4962 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• Wellness
• Road Safety
• Sheriff's Department

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On Tuesday, November 26, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department along with members of other emergency services were dispatched to East State Road 60, south of Powers Road in reference to a single motor vehicle collision with injuries.

Deputies arrived at the scene and discovered a single motor vehicle that had traveled off the roadway and rolled over, coming to a rest on its top.

The driver was identified as Charles Havens, age 70 of Salem. Evidence gathered at the scene and statements indicated Havens was traveling northbound on East State Road 60, operating a 1963 Ford Fairlane 500. Havens stated his steering went out causing him to run off the right side of the roadway, through a ditch line, before striking several small trees and causing his vehicle to roll over.

Havens was transported to St. Vincent Hospital in Salem, where he was treated for minor injuries. A passenger in the vehicle, Charlee Havens, age 17 was treated for complaint of pain and released.

Lt. Wayne Blevins is the lead investigator and was assisted by Detective Brad Naugle, Process Server Mark Blackman, Pekin Town Marshal Jeff Thomas and members of the Washington County Ambulance Service and Pierce-Polk Volunteer Fire Department.

Photo provided by Lt. Wayne Blevins.

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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

A school bus containing the Orleans Middle School 7th and 8th grade boys basketball teams was involved in an accident on the way to East Washington Middle School on Monday, Nov. 25. The accident happened in front of John Jones Auto Group at 1450 IN Hwy. 60 at approximately 5 p.m.

The accident report indicates that a car pulled out of John Jones to make a left turn, forcing a 2010 Edge driven by Tiffany Odum to come to a sudden stop on the highway. The first car sped away. Behind Odum was the middle school bus that tried to avoid the collision and ran off the side of the road. The school bus was driven by Katherine Dilla of Orleans.

Since children were involved, the Washington County Ambulance Service was on the scene, along with the Salem Fire Department. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department made the accident report.

There were no injuries, but traffic was blocked for a while and so was the entrance to John Jones Auto Group.

Information for this story was supplied by Officer Brad Naugle.