Among many things changed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, many summer festivals in Wabash County were canceled last year to keep community members safe and healthy.

As many people will be getting vaccinated and as COVID cases go down, many festivals will be back this summer for people to enjoy.

Donna Harman, chairman of the Roann Covered Bridge Festival told The Paper of Wabash County that the festival will be taking place on Sept. 9, 10 and 11.

“It will be the ‘full deal’ festival that we have had in the past,” she said. “The entertainment is already booked. And since many have asked why we don't have a horse pull anymore, we want people to know that we are adding a horse pull this year on Friday night at the pull field.”

Lagro Good Ole Days festival is also on for this summer. The festival will be June 17, 18 and 19.

“We will be following the state guidelines at the time of the festival,” said Kristie Boone, Lagro Good Ole Days board member. “We are accepting entries for the parade & vendors. We will have live bands all weekend and on Saturday at dusk a fireworks display. We invite everyone to come and join us at the festival, let’s put the bad times behind us and let the good times roll.”

Indiana Sent. Todd Young said he’s working to ensure entrepreneurs and investors have the tools “to go out there and create wealth and meet consumer demand and grow jobs and businesses.”

Young, a Republican, made the remarks on Monday, April 5, during a meeting at the Grow Wabash County office with local businessmen and industry representatives. The meeting was arranged through the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.

“We have seen the rate of startup creations decline the last couple of generations, and that should be of concern to all of us,” Young told the dozen gathered in the GWC conference room. “During my lifetime all net new job creation has been through young firms and new firms. So, the extent to which we can encourage more people to go out there and start new ventures – sometimes they fail, sometimes the success – we want to do that.

“So, obviously there’s a public policy role in making sure we’re helpful in that regard.”

Young, continuing to discuss the issue, took a partisan shot at President Joe Biden’s proposed tax plan.

“I thought we were helpful in that regard in recent years when it came to regulatory reform and tax reform, and I’m proud of what we did on that,” he said. “I have some concerns that much of that will be undone in the coming months and years.

“I’ll do my part to stay vigilant as it relates to that.”

Young said he is working on two pieces of legislation to help businesses.

Pathfinder Services CEO Danielle Tips and Wabash Mayor Scott Long cut the ribbon Tuesday morning on the newest Pathfinder group home in Wabash.

The home, located on Half Street, is the third in Wabash and the fourth in Wabash County. There also is a Pathfinder group home in North Manchester.

The 4,000-square-foot home will house seven Pathfinder clients.

“We are so thankful for our partners who have helped make this possible,” Tips said during a brief ceremony before the ribbon cutting. “As you know, aging in place is such an important aspect for everyone, especially for individuals with disabilities. That, in combination with finding affordable, accessible housing is an issue in communities all across the state.

“We are so thankful to have such great partners who have helped make that possible for the individuals we support.”

When Addie Neher, director of the Montessori School at Wabash Prebyterian school, had the idea for a summer forest school, she imagined a “school that provides an opportunity for children to develop a strong, tangible relationship with the natural world.”

“I sent an email to the ACRES Foundation back in March of 2020,” Neher told The Paper of Wabash County.  “With thanks to Casey Jones, Grady Stout, the Asherwood Property Manager, and Jason Kissel, Executive Director of ACRES, we were able to get a program up and running by July 2020. The school developed a morning program that included exploration hours, hiking, journal reflections, and so much more.”

Last summer, the program had 20 students, ages 3 through 9.

“The kids seemed to really love it! We’ve been back a couple times over the school year. When we come back to school, many students ask me, ‘When will we go back to forest school?’” said Neher.

Wabash CrossFit, previously located in the Wabash Village Shopping Center, cut the ribbon to its new location at 120 W. Canal St. in Downtown Wabash, during First Friday festivities on Friday, April 2.

“We wanted to wish you the best of luck with coming downtown,” said Keith Gillenwater, CEO of Grow Wabash County, during the event. “I know we started talking about a year and a half ago or so when you started looking for a facility downtown and finding the right place downtown that had high enough ceilings to actually accommodate what you do. I’m glad you were able to find this. (Your business) is a great fit for the revitalization of our community, a healthy community, a strong community.”

The Metropolitan School District of Wabash County School Board members met to conduct business on Tuesday, March 23.

During this meeting, donations were approved for a total of $360.

Tiffani Flora was approved as the new Assistant Director of Special Education for the Wabash-Miami Area Program.

Summer School programming was discussed and approved, which includes new programs such as “Minds in Action,” a program similar to the former “Science in Motion,” along with the Supervised Agriculture Experience Program. Additional educational advancements and remediations will be offered as well. More information on summer school options will be provided to the public in the coming weeks.

Also, during the meeting, staff and students were recognized from each school.

Southwood and Northfield students who performed in the County Honors Band and Choir performance on Friday, March 12 were congratulated.

Congratulations were given to the Southwood Boys' Basketball Team on their season, which resulted in a Regional Championship, making it to the final four teams in Class A basketball.

A new family recovery support group has started at The Access Youth Center (AYC).

The group – Access Recovery Family Style – will meet from 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at The Access, 74 W. Canal St., and from 6-8 Fridays at Wabash Alliance Church, 1200 N. Cass St. Meals will be served at both sites.

Melissa Middleton will lead programming at both locations.

The new group was made possible through a round of emergency relief grants, according to AYC Director Liz Hobbs.

The organization, she said, was contacted by Wabash County United Fund Executive Director Steve Johnson about the grant.

“But there was a difference in that the grant was going to have a quick turnaround time,” she said. “Like maybe the money will be released to those approved in March, but it had to be spent by July.”

AYC officials had discussed doing some type of recovery program in the past.

“When I mentioned that to Steve from United Fund, he said, ‘You know, part of this grant is for addition and recovery and resources and help,’ Hobbs continued. “All areas of life have been affected by COVID-19, and recovery is no different. That’s kind of where it all started.

“It’s all happening very quickly, and we’re excited about it.”

Officials from Visit Wabash County, in partnership with the City of Wabash, is pleased to announce a Hero Memorial to be installed in late summer 2021. 

The memorial will be located just north of the Wabash River on south Wabash Street and will replace the hero banner program that launched in 2019 and concludes in the fall of 2021.

“The Hero Banner Program was an incredible success,” said Christine Flohr, executive director of tourism for Visit Wabash County who helped manage the project on behalf of the City.  “There are so few lampposts available compared to the number of individuals who wanted to purchase a banner in honor of their loved one, especially when you have to take into account the lampposts that hold Christmas decorations in the winter months. The Mayor and I knew we wanted to come up with another option that would allow for more citizens to show gratitude for those who have served or are currently serving in the military, fire, and safety field.”  

The design for the hero memorial was created by David Hines, local engineer for Schlemmer Brothers Metalworks.  The memorial will include three 7-foot stainless steel pillars with decorative caps.  Each pillar will have the ability to display the names of 252 heroes.