The Arc of Wabash County received grants from AWS Foundation totaling $1 million.

The local organization was one of four area groups to receive funding from the foundation’s Vantage Grants program.

“This is a very HUGE victory for Arc and for people in Wabash County with disabilities,” said Jeff Patton, Arc president and CEO. ““This AWS Grant is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a major impact on not only the lives of people with disabilities that Arc serves, but on the entire Wabash County community. The grant will create three new businesses, expand two current businesses, create 30 new job positions, and make a robust economic contribution to Wabash County.”

85 HOPE Free Medical Clinic of Wabash County focuses on providing holistic care for their clients by addressing their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. In order to meet this goal, the clinic has developed a Specialty Care Referral Fund, which helps cover the cost of dental, optometry, mental health, and other specialty health care needs for clients. 

“At 85 HOPE, we want to do more than provide medical exams and medications,” says Director Laura Spaulding. “Having a healthy body includes oral and eye care, mental health care, and various other types of specialty care. Our goal is to help our clients achieve their optimal level of wellness and we can help do that by offering specialty care referrals.”

Visit Wabash County officials announce that registration for Wabash – Run the River, the first half marathon in downtown Wabash, is now open.

Visit Wabash County will attract runners of all levels and ages to participate in the race on June 11. Runners can sign up for a half marathon (13.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), or a 5K (3.1 miles). Cash prizes will be awarded to the top half marathon finishers.

By Phil Smith

For several years a group of local students have been engaged in a project designed to satisfy thirst many thousands of miles away.

“Our National Junior Honor Society planned this event and we sponsored a school in Uganda,” said Alyson Keefer, an advisor for local NJHS members and fifth-grade teacher at Wabash Middle School. Keefer said that the school’s dodgeball event March 9 served as a fundraiser to help finance a project in that African country to build a system for capturing and storing fresh drinking water.

By Phil Smith

A local school district has found a way — several counties away — to boost the amount of reading material available to its students.

By Phil Smith

Wabash City Schools has agreed to join other schools in taking the fight against student vaping right to the source.

At its regular meeting March 7, the school corporation’s board of trustees unanimously agreed to add its name to other school districts in a lawsuit against the makers of Juul, a popular maker of e-cigarettes.

A quartet of Wabash High School students were awarded at the Wabash City Schools’ most recent school board meeting with an annual honor presented as a statement to their citizenship as well as a tribute to a former local educator.

Freshman Lacie Jones, Sophomore Karina Hernandez, Junior Isaiah Cavins and Senior Brenden Rowan were each awarded the Kathy Swan Award March 7. Rowan, who could not attend the meeting, will officially receive his award at the next board meeting.

The Community Foundation of Wabash County and Grow Wabash County have released a draft of the Imagine One 85 comprehensive plan. 

The 100-page, seven-chapter plan includes 85 action items aimed at growing Wabash County’s population and is available for all to read at cfwabash.org, growwabashcounty.com, and imagineone85.org.  “On behalf of the IO85 Steering Committee members, we express appreciation for hundreds of citizens representing all communities in Wabash County who engaged in Focus on the Future meetings, surveys, and the Mighty Wabash County Summit last July,” said Patty Grant, Executive Director of the Community Foundation.  “Despite the limitation of the pandemic, an engaged public submitted more than 1,000 comments regarding ways to grow Wabash County and realize a bold vision for the County’s future.”