Law & Government

Addressing fire protection, the community center, and meeting guidelines.

The Hardinsburg Town Council met Thursday evening, July 10, at the Hardinsburg Senior Citizens Center.

On July 2, 2025, emergency responders were called to the area near Dutch Creek Road and Buffalo Trace Road, just off State Road 135, following reports of a serious vehicle crash.

On Monday, July 7, The Hardinsburg Town Board held its second meeting since its reinstatement last month. 

Health officials are sounding the alarm after the Indiana Department of Health confirmed its first mosquito pools testing positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) significantly earlier than usual. While positive cases are typically seen in late summer or early fall, this year’s surveillance is showing signs of concern already in early July.

On Saturday, July 5 at 12:48 pm, the Salem Fire and Police Departments were dispatched to 502 E Walnut St in regard to a vehicle fire. Upon Washington County Times’ arrival, what appeared to be a charred Nissan 300zx could be seen in the backyard of 502 E Walnut St surrounded by foam used by the Salem Fire Department to extinguish the flames. The Salem FD is not currently sure how the fire began.

After months of controversy surrounding INDOT contracts, planning commission disputes, and the reversal of Hardinsburg’s 2022 dissolution, Tuesday’s meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners was quieter — though not without moments of discontent and a sobering financial update.

Two staff members from the office of Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith visited Salem City Hall on Wednesday, July 2, as part of a series of mobile office hours held across the state this week. The visit, according to a press release, was "part of his commitment to open government and direct engagement with constituents".

Following a June 17th reversal by the Washington County Board of Commissioners of Ordinances 2022-8, 2022-10, and 2022-11, which dissolved the Town of Hardinsburg in late 2022, the Town Board of Hardinsburg held their first meeting on June 30th.

On the afternoon of June 26, 2025, officers with the Salem Police Department were dispatched to the Walmart parking lot following a report of an infant left unattended in a parked vehicle. According to reports, the vehicle was turned off, with the windows down, and no guardian was present at or near the scene.

On Tuesday, June 24 at 1:47 pm, Washington County emergency responders received a call regarding a Jeep Cherokee that had run off the road and rolled over on US-150 between Palmyra and Fredericksburg.

On the evening of June 22, 2025, shortly after 11:00 pm, Officer Dylan England of the Salem Police Department observed a red motorcycle traveling eastbound on State Road 60 East. The motorcycle was operating without proper lighting equipment, and no visible license plate could be seen.

On Saturday, June 21, 2025, at approximately 12:06 p.m., emergency responders from the Washington County Ambulance Service, Salem Fire Department, Salem Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to the intersection of E. Hackberry Street and Anson Street in response to a pedestrian-involved vehicle accident.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners held their regular meeting this past Tuesday, June 17, following the special meeting last week regarding the reversal of the controversial paving contract that was originally awarded to Temple & Temple. During that meeting, the contract was awarded to Harrison County-based company C&R Construction.

On June 10, Washington County emergency responders received a call at 12:43pm regarding a wreck involving a blue Honda Civic and a red Volvo semi on SR-56 East near N Mount Rd. This happens to be the second semi-related wreck on 56 East in the span of a week.

The search for a man wanted out of Jackson County is over. Multiple law enforcement agencies were working together to locate Jeremiah Bragg, 36, of Seymour, Indiana, who was wanted out of Jackson County, Indiana.

On May 6, a decision was made by the Washington County Board of Commissioners to award a paving bid to Temple & Temple, despite the existence of a nearly $80,000 lower bid from C&R Construction in Harrison County. On June 10, that decision was rescinded due to a letter from the Indiana Department of Transportation.

At approximately 4:41 pm on Thursday, June 5, 2025, Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies, Washington County EMS, and local fire departments responded to State Road 56 East near Heritage Chapel Road to investigate a motor vehicle accident involving a semi and a red 4-door vehicle.

On Thursday, June 5, a notice was sent out regarding an upcoming special meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, the purpose of the meeting being "to discuss the Community Crossings Paving Bid selection". The meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 10 at 9:00 A.M. at the Washington County Courthouse.

The commissioners meeting at the Washington County Courthouse on Tuesday morning took some unexpected turns, from heated debates breaking out in the gallery to a surprising turn of events in which the commissioners put the town of Hardinsburg back on the path to incorporation.