Bios of the contributors to the December 1997 Salt Magazine, with information on this issue.

In Deaf culture, talking straight signifies strength and empowerment, which Hilary Whitmore express through her signing. Lauren McSherry highlights the life of Hilary Whitmore, a deaf teenager, who has to overcome communication barriers for people to completely understand her directness.

Drug abuse infests the city of Bangor, and the newly synthesized drug, bath salts, only make the situation worse. Gillian Frisch documents the work of Tom Reagan, a drug recognition expert, as he fights against drug abuse with education.

Jennie Vosacek documents the work of taxi drivers in Portland.

After being interviewed for Salt, Stilly Griffin calls Salt to tell them how he has become a star.

A refugee from Sudan, Nyapeni Chou Doul lives an entirely different life than she did in her native country. Andrea Ives highlights the life of Doul, who lives in Portland, and how she adapted to American culture, while still retaining elements of her own Sudanese culture.

The image that most Americans think of when they hear the term trailer park is not a very appealing one. Jane Stevenson looks at Friendly Village in Gorham as more than just a trailer park, but as a small home community.

Salt offers thanks to individuals and organizations that have supported the 1985 Salt Development Fund.

In Kennebunk, Willis Gowen runs a local drug store. Elizabeth Turner documents the work Gowen has done for his community for over 53 years at his pharmacy.

New Sweden, Maine is a spot on the map just 20 miles south of the Canadian border. Back in 2003 the quiet farming town became the backdrop of one of the largest criminal arsenic poisonings in US history. 15 years later many say there's more to the case.

Finding ways for prison inmates to give back to society while incarcerated is a difficult task, but the Pups in Prison Program at the Downeast Correctional Institute does just that. Lynnette Harper explores how the program allows inmates to train service dogs while they serve their prison sentence.

Running as an independent, Andrew Ian Dodge is an unlikely candidate for the Senate seat of Olympia Snowe, who is not seeking reelection. Sydney Leonard speaks to Dodge about his campaign and the criticism he has received.