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At approximately 12:30 p.m. on September 11, a call was issued regarding an overturned grain truck on E. Miller Saw Mill Rd. Driving the tractor and trailer was Kenny Simpson who received head injuries. He was driven to St Vincent’s helipad by Salem Ambulance Service for a helicopter stat flight to UofL Hospital in Louisville.

As the truck went off the road rolling onto the passenger side, the trailer broadcast a large amount of soybean as it turned over in a yard near 1000 block of E. Miller Saw Mill Rd.

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The trailer knocked down a utility pole at ground level. Jackson County Rural Electric was called to detach the electric wires and communication cables from the pole that laid over the truck.

Responding from the Washington Co. Sheriffs Dept. was Sergeant Matt Hein and Officer Mark Blackman. From the Salem Fire Dept. was Capt. Max Gamble, Lt. Travis Branaman and Dylan Williams. On the scene also was John Shawler of the Pierce Polk Fire Dept.

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Historic Beck’s Mill will host its annual Grind XI 5K Run/Walk Anderson-Good Memorial Race on Saturday, Sept. 14. Activities will be centered around the mill, located at 4433 S. Beck's Mill Rd, Salem, IN.

The Grind 5K is the mill's largest annual fundraiser. All proceeds from the event will be used to preserve and maintain the mill.

This is a Mag 7 Race. Race participants will receive five additional points for participating in this "Hidden Gem" race.

Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., and racing starts at 9 a.m.

Early registrations before Sept. 1 are $25 with memorial shirt or $20 without a shirt. Registrations after Sept. 1 will be $25 and will not include a shirt.

Some shirts may be available for purchase on race day.

To register online, please visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Salem/TheGrind5KRunWalkatBecksMill or www.becksmill.org

Race entry includes access to the mill and grounds for participants, including a post-race breakfast provided by Shady Patch Farm of Salem and snacks. Participants will enjoy the quiet countryside, tours of the mill and learning history of the mill. Relaxing post-race comfort can be found at the waterfall (dam) at the old mill. There will be an award ceremony immediately after the race, including many door prizes. Finisher medals will be given to the first 100 participants to cross the finish line. Awards will be given to the top three male and female finalists, as well.

Chicken barbecue meals from the Mt. Carmel/Friends of Beck’s Mill will be available, beginning 11 a.m. in the parking lot. Meals include chicken and two sides for $8. Grilling by Louis Courtney and Jim and Trent Woodward. The barbecue is sponsored by Tyson and Walmart.

In addition, Barry Hattabaugh will be performing live music in the morning, and Willy's Jeep Club and a Mustang club will be in the parking lot at 2 p.m.

The race is in honor of Joyce Anderson, seventh-generation owner of Beck’s Mill who donated the mill to Friends of Beck’s Mill, and past board member and volunteer, Gerry Goode.

The Beck family built their first mill on this historic site in 1808. Their third mill still remains. The mill once ground corn, small grains such as wheat and processed wool; all powered by water!

After setting idle for more than 50 years, the little grist mill south of Salem is now churning out a product that once made it famous.

In 2008 Beck's Mill was returned in restored and operational condition to the directors of the Friends of Beck’s Mill, Inc. Beck’s Mill is operated solely by the efforts of an all-volunteer staff. The leadership of Friends of Beck’s Mill, Inc. continues to enhance the visitor experience to Beck's Mill every year as numerous new events are planned every season.

The mill is open to the public Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults. Children under age 16 are admitted free (with paid adult admission.)

Friends of Beck’s Mill is undergoing a restructuring of leadership and encourages everyone to become a member of the group. They recently issued the following statement, “It is vital that we keep the mill and it’s property accessible and safe for all to enjoy its beauty. With this new leadership we are hoping to see new ideas to keep visitors interested in returning each year.”

“Thanks to our dedicated racers and generous sponsors, this race would only be successful because of your kindness and dedication in securing the historic mill’s future.”

Donations to help support the mill may be mailed to:

Friends of Beck’s Mill

P.O. Box 288

Salem, IN 47147

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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.

Elections

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Washington County Clerk Stephanie K. Rockey, along with the Washington County Election Board gives notice that the 2024 Presidential General Election Public Test will be held on September 19th at 10 a.m. in the Election & Voters Services Office, 801 S. Jackson Street, Suite 102 in Salem.

The Public Test is to test and certify the voting system that will be used to conduct the 2024 Presidential General Election (IC 3-11-13-22; IC3-11-14.5-1.) All media and public are invited to attend.

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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.