Law & Government

On September 29th, 2024, Salem Police Officer Dylan England responded to an alarm activation at the Washington County Food Bank, adjacent Rustic Cuts Hair Salon. Officer England noticed pry marks on a side door upon arrival, suggesting an attempted forced entry. 

On October 30, Washington County emergency responders received a dispatch call at 3:58 pm regarding a single-vehicle wreck at the roundabout intersecting Jackson Street and the Salem Bypass. The dispatch call stated that the vehicle flipped off the road and came to a rest on its top.

On October 24, Washington County emergency responders received a dispatch call at 3:40 pm regarding a two-vehicle accident with minor injuries at the intersection of E Daisy Line Rd and Martinsburg Rd.

On October 20, Salem emergency responders were dispatched to a fatal house fire at 101 Raneer Drive located in the Fairview mobile home lot off of Old State Road 60. The dispatch call stated that an explosion seemed to be the cause of the fire.

Commissioners met on October 21 to discuss a new Subdivision Control Ordinance. Max Greene and Lucy Brenton took the stand to raise concerns over it.

After taking a short break after discussing the proposed Subdivision Control Ordinance, the Washington County Planning Commission reconvened on the evening of Tuesday, October 7, to continue its ongoing discussions regarding a future solar ordinance that could determine how and where large-scale solar energy projects are permitted in the county. The conversation focused heavily on environmental impacts, land use, supply chains, and financial safeguards.

Continuing with our “Election: 2026” series, this edition of our candidate interviews features Sheriff Candidate Detective Brad Naugle. Leading up to the primaries, we will continue to release candidate interviews in order to keep you well educated as you make your way to the ballot box.

On Tuesday, October 7, the Washington County Planning Commission met at the courthouse to vote on recommending a new subdivision control ordinance to the Board of Commissioners – a topic that has been the source of local controversy for the past several months.

At approximately 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, the Indiana State Police received a call from the Louisville Airport and FAA about a possible downed aircraft near the Orange County / Lawrence County line. According to police, the crash involved a Lancair fixed-wing, single engine aircraft. Troopers from the Jasper District, Bloomington District and multiple local first responders searched throughout the night in the heavily wooded area.

On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, officers with the Salem Police Department responded to a call at the south gate of the Salem Square regarding a vehicle that had struck a crosswalk concrete island.

On September 28, 2025, at approximately 12:04 am, members of emergency services were dispatched to the area of State Road 60, near 2393 N. Smedley Road, in Campbellsburg, Indiana for a motor vehicle accident. The type of accident and number of vehicles was unknown at the time of the call.

The Washington County Times sat down with the Fair Board in a recent meeting on September 23. In this meeting, we discussed some of the questions and concerns regarding the recent elimination of the fairgrounds groundskeeper position held by Councilman Randy Lee.

The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) has notified the Washington County Health Department that mosquito samples collected in Washington County have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The department recommends taking precautions against mosquito bites to reduce the risk of disease caused by mosquito-borne viruses, which in addition to WNV include Eastern equine encephalitis (triple-E) virus, and La Crosse virus.

Miller’s Mini Barns has announced that the company has been sold and will move forward under a new name and leadership, following recent criminal charges filed against the business’s original founder.

Continuing with our “Election: 2026” series, this edition of our candidate interviews features Sheriff Candidate Danny Libka. Leading up to the primaries, we will continue to release candidate interviews in order to keep you well educated as you make your way to the ballot box.

A Washington County man was airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital on Sunday, September 21, following a collision with an off-duty Salem police officer on Sunday afternoon.

(Publisher's Note: The following is taken from a press release by Washington County agencies. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.) The Washington County Prosecutor’s Office, working jointly with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, has announced that criminal charges have been filed against Marcus Miller following an investigation into allegations of long-term sexual abuse.

Shortly after 11:30 pm on Monday, September 15, Washington County emergency responders including the Salem Fire Department were dispatched to the area of the 500 block of Pilgrim Way in Salem, just north of the ballpark in regards to a shed on fire, with concerns that the fire was spreading.

Although the first filing date for the 2026 election isn’t until January 7, several local candidates have already announced plans to run. Among them is Washington County's current Deputy Auditor Michele Fleenor (R), who recently spoke with The Washington County Times  about her intention to run for County Auditor.

The September 16 Commissioners Meeting brought forth what seems to be a conclusion to the matter of the elimination of the fairgrounds groundskeeper position held by Randy Lee. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, and the approval of the last meeting’s agenda.