By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The Wabash Board of Parks and Recreation on Wednesday, Feb. 14, approved special event application requests for four events at Paradise Spring Historical Park planned throughout the year.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Two Andrews men have been charged in connection with a 2017 early morning armed robbery at the Circle K convenience store in LaFontaine.

The men, Cameron Blubaugh, 26, and Trevor Geyer, 29, are each facing charges of armed robbery, criminal confinement and auto theft.

Wabash Circuit Court warrants were served on the two on Feb. 9. Blubaugh received his at the Huntington County Jail where he is being held on unrelated charges, while Geyer received his at the Whitley County Jail, where he also is being held on unrelated charges.
 

 By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The Wabash Board of Parks and Recreation turned designers near the end of their meeting Wednesday, Feb. 14.

Their task: Deciding the color scheme for the new pavilion being built at Honeywell Park.

“We have to determine what type of block we would like and what type of metal roof,” Park Superintendent Adam Hall told the board. “I narrowed it down as much as I could because they gave me about 12 different roof samples, and the same brick samples.”
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

As of Monday morning, Feb. 19, the Inclusive Park’s Patronicity campaign stood at more than $10,000.

The Inclusive Park Committee, again as of Monday, had 38 days to raise $50,000. If that takes place, it will receive a $50,000 matching grant through the state’s CreatINg Places program.

Committee co-chair Shelly Myers and Joe Mayes from Context Design, Indianapolis, discussed the status of the park with the Wabash Board of Parks and Recreation at its Feb. 14 meeting. Context designed the park, which will be located on South Carroll Street, just south of the John Drook Skate Park.
 

By The Paper staff

Kathleen Alspaugh and David Vandermark, owners of Vandermark Duffey Enterprises, have made a charitable gift of $75,000 to Wabash Marketplace to be used to restore historic downtown buildings, according to Lisa Gilman, Marketplace president.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

The State of Indiana recently announced a new program aimed at helping military veterans find jobs, as well as attracting new veterans to the state through employment opportunities.

The Next Level Veterans initiative is a new, statewide program which brings several public and private organizations together to bring organizations together to recruit and attract discharging veterans and connect them to jobs, the state said in a press release.
 

Members of the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County board hear a presentation from Administrator Assistance during their Feb. 6 meeting. Photo by Josh Sigler

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

The Metropolitan School District of Wabash County school board got the ball rolling on its independent study of academic advancement in a lengthy work session Monday, Feb.6, hearing a presentation from a consultant as the board tries to feel out where it goes next.

The board released a statement for it’s purpose of the study, stating: “Leaders in business have long recognized the value of strategic planning. Strategic planning requires a clear understanding of where an organization is at the present time and an equally clear vision of where it wants to go in the future. Education is not different. MSD of Wabash County is in excellent health. We are academically and financially strong. With great confidence we look forward to providing a superior education for every student. We have been proactive in our decision making to the benefit of our district; therefor, we are asking ourselves a simple question: What should we do today to make a strong district even stronger?
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@wabashplaindealer.com

Both Parkview Wabash Hospital and the Parkview Health system as a whole has seen a major influx of influenza cases in recent days, officials told The Paper of Wabash County on Thursday, Feb. 8.

“As the whole state of Indiana has, we’ve seen a significant increase in the last few days,” said Angie Martinsky, infection preventionist at Parkview Wabash Hospital. “About half of our patient population that’s been admitted is influenza positive. It’s very widespread in Indiana.”