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Jerry Curry is a new staff writer with Leader Publishing Company of Salem, Inc., providing all kinds of news coverage for www.salemleader.com.

“We are so thrilled to add Jerry to our staff,” said Nancy Grossman, publisher. "He immediately hit the ground running—making contacts throughout the county and writing stories on all facets of news, from local government, the schools, fires, the YMCA, election information, community outreach groups, service organizations and so much more. He doesn’t hesitate to cover anything that he runs across. He is quite an asset to our company and community.”

Curry may be familiar to many in the community. For the past couple of years he contributed racing news from Salem Speedway and Thunder Valley Raceway for The Salem Leader and The Salem Democrat. His coverage was appreciated by many racing enthusiasts in Washington County.

He has been a race fan from an early age. “My dad was a race fan, so we attended race tracks like the Sportsdrome in Jeffersonville and Salem Speedway,” Curry said.

He had a desire to share race results in local papers. “I wanted to reestablish the sport of local auto racing in the papers,” Curry said. “Everybody was shorthanded and available space in the newspaper was at a premium.” He established a relationship with the Jeffersonville Evening News before reaching out to The Salem Leader.

Curry also follows racing on his Facebook group, “Kentucky & Indiana Motorsports,” where he posts results from the Washington County tracks, in addition to the Sportsdrome and Kentucky Motor Speedway.

Curry is retired from Ford Motor Company. He said, “My last job was in preventative maintenance as a thermograph using an infrared camera. He has been an industrial electrician since 1973 and earned his associate degree in electronics from Ivy Tech College. He attended Ahrens Trade High School in Louisville. He worked at Auto Mechanics for a couple of years before moving to factory work. “Having a background in mechanics was a stepping stone to maintenance,” he said. He also worked at Henry Vogt Machine Company.

His love of racing led him to cover local race tracks, but meeting a lot of interesting people has kept him engaged. He said he enjoys the challenge of conveying a story so others can understand what is happening.

“I used to be quite nervous about public speaking, but as I aged it went away,” Curry said. “I lead the invocation at the Sportsdrome for the drivers’ meeting and again for the spectators. It’s an honor.”

Curry and his wife of 52 years, Jeanette, live in Jeffersonville. She is an R.N. The have three grown children, two daughters and a son.

If he’s not at the racetrack or covering news for the Leader, Curry can be found volunteering for church functions or will soon be cutting grass at Eastern Cemetery, an over buried cemetery that no one claims. He said, “Yard sales are an activity my wife and I enjoy. A great day for his is getting up early and finding a successful project in his garage.

The 72 year old relies on this saying, “Always put yourself in a position to win.” He said to him it means preparing yourself with all the personal tools you can. "I always volunteered for just about everything at work, and this leads to some very good opportunities,” he added.

“Jerry is a very interesting man. He is driven to do all he can to help inform local residents about the latest news about individuals, businesses, organizations and events. Jerry may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 812-883-3281 if anyone wants to discuss news stories or ideas. He is a delight to work with,” said Grossman

Volunteering

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Be a Beacon of Hope at Our Free Training for New Volunteers on February 21, 2024

For those looking for a volunteer experience from the heart, Hosparus Health has an opportunity waiting for you. The nonprofit hospice and palliative care organization is hosting a free training session for new volunteers interested in learning more about how they can support community members of all ages facing serious illness on Wednesday, February 21, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 6200 Dutchmans Lane in Louisville.

Volunteers play a vital role in providing compassionate care, comfort, and support to patients and families throughout Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham, Henry, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble counties. Currently, Hosparus Health is especially in need of patient care volunteers, who visit patients wherever they call home.

While many volunteers provide direct patient support, there are a variety of opportunities to choose from. Depending on their interests, volunteers provide presence and support to patients and respite to their caregivers, bereavement care, and veteran-to-veteran companionship. Volunteer managers work closely with each volunteer to find a role that is right for them – making sure they feel confident in their chosen roles and responsibilities. Flexible options are available for those who have limited time each month to give.

Prospective volunteers should apply at hosparushealth.org/volunteers by February 9 for this month’s training. Anyone unable to attend may apply now and register for later training. In Louisville, additional training sessions are on March 23, April 17, May 14, June 7, and July 20, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Dutchmans Lane office. All volunteers must meet certain health criteria and provide COVID-19 vaccination documentation before starting.

For questions, general information, or to inquire about arranging training to suit your schedule, please contact Laura Harbolt at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Sunday, January 28, 2024: Investigators with the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg are investigating a deadly shooting that occurred around Midnight in Salem.

Just after 12:00 a.m. Sunday, Salem Police, along with ISP Troopers, responded to a 911 call advising a person had been shot inside a house on the 500 block of North College Avenue in Salem. When officers entered the residence, they discovered an adult male who had been shot, lying on the floor. Paramedics with the Washington County Ambulance Service quickly responded; however, the male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene. Another adult male, 24-year-old Blake Howard Henry of Salem, and two adult females were also present and in the house at the time of the shooting. All three were transported to the Washington County Justice Center for questioning.

As a result of the preliminary investigation, ISP detectives believe the shooting was the result of a domestic incident. ISP Detective Travis Baker placed Blake Henry under arrest for Murder, and Henry was incarcerated at the Washington County Jail early Sunday Morning.

The deceased has been identified as 29-year-old Jacob Richard Mitchell of Salem, Indiana. Mitchell's family has been notified.

This is an ongoing investigation. Officers with the Salem Police Department, ISP troopers, detectives, and crime scene technicians remained at the scene for several hours.

“All subjects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law”.

Agriculture / 4H

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The Washington County Sheep Association is hosting “A Taste of Lamb” on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at Southern Hills Church (1645 S. St. Rd. 135, Salem).

“A Taste of Lamb” will feature the very popular lamb cook-off. Attendees will enjoy approximately six lamb dishes, prepared with locally raised lamb, and vote for their favorite. Prizes will be awarded to the three dishes with the most votes. Attendees will learn about preparing lamb and will take home recipes.

The cost is $10 per person, paid at the door. Reservations are required by Friday, March 8 by calling Purdue Extension – Washington County at 812-883-4601.

Auto Racing

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Manning the booth for Salem Speedway was Glen Luckett, promoter, and the announcer at the speedway, Will Greenwell.Salem Speedway was represented at the “Bluegrass WORLD OF WHEELS” custom car show. It was held at the Kentucky Expo Center on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 20 & 22.