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Mayor Robert McCallen Jr.

 

By Joseph Slacian

 

Former Wabash Mayor Robert McCallen Jr. is being remembered as someone whose love of Wabash will be felt for years to come.

 

Mayor McCallen passed away Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, at St. Vincent Heart Center in Indianapolis. He was 88.

 

Mayor McCallen served in office from 1996-2000. His administration was instrumental in beginning the city’s downtown Streetscape program, and also moved Wabash City Hall from its former location at 101 S. Wabash St., to its current site, 202 S. Wabash St.

 

He also was the driving force behind the Riverwalk in the lower level of Paradise Spring Historical Park.

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A two-vehicle accident on Thursday, Sept. 10, resulted in no severe injuries, according to the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department official report. Photo by Emma Rausch

 

By Emma Rausch

 

At approximately 7:52 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. 24 and State Road 13.

 

According to the official report, a green 1996 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Edward L. Tacker, 16, Wabash, was attempting to turn left from U.S. 24 onto S.R. 13 on his way to Northfield Junior-Senior High School.

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Helen Chambers works on her computer on one of the last days on the job at Hands of Hope. Photo by Joseph Slacian

 

By Joseph Slacian

 

When Helen Chambers enters someone life, it’s generally at a low point for the individual she is meeting.

 

Chambers is Wabash’s County Hands of Hope Victim’s Advocate Coordinator.

 

“I’m their legal voice,” she said of her work, sitting behind a desk with various knick-knacks on top and stacks of file folders piled on a nearby chair. “If something doesn’t happen and it’s supposed to, I let them know. I advocate very strongly for these people.

 

“It makes them feel better.”

 

Chambers, a 15-year employee of Hands of Hope, retired from her position on Aug. 31. An open house in her honor took place at the Wabash Presbyterian Church office, where the Hands of Hope site is located, on Monday.

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Members of Melanzana Cycling, an Indiana University Little 500 bicycle team, make their way along a road in rural Wabash County on Sunday morning. Photo by Joseph Slacian

 

By Joseph Slacian

 

More than 450 bicycle riders from around the Midwest took to Wabash County roads on Sunday for the sixth Dam to Dam bicycle ride.

 

Riders from as far away as Virginia traveled between 15 and 100 miles, taking in many of the sites Wabash County has to offer along the way.

 

Christine Flohr, Visit Wabash County executive director and organizing liaison for the Dam to Dam steering committee, was pleased with the turnout. She was especially pleased with the number of people who registered on Sunday morning at the Wabash County YMCA.

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By Joseph Slacian

 

Two Wabash County agencies will join forces to seek a state grant of more than $388,000 with the ultimate goal of helping to ease jail overcrowding.

 

The agencies – Community Corrections and the Wabash County Probation Department --  are seeking  a supplemental grant of $388,299 from the Indiana Department of Corrections. Wabash County Commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 8, signed a letter indicating the county was in support of them applying for the grant.

 

“This is part of the Department of Corrections (DOC) money that has been set aside by House Bill 1006,” Community Corrections Director Jeff Hobson told The Paper of Wabash County following the Commissioners meeting. 

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Former Manchester College Art Professor Stephen Batzka poses with the Mary K. Peabody bicycle that he won during the Peabody Home Foundation Endowment Benefit Auction. The bicycle will be displayed at the North Manchester Center for History. Photo by Shaun Tilghman

 

By Shaun Tilghman

 

NORTH MANCHESTER Leading up to the first-ever Peabody Home Foundation Endowment Benefit Auction on Saturday, it was obvious that not everyone was pleased with the Foundation Board’s decision to auction off several unique collections and items, especially those that had specific ties to the North Manchester community.

 

One item that drew a lot of local attention when listed for auction, was the bicycle owned by Mary K. Peabody. Early on, however, Peabody Home Foundation Director of Development Stan Williams stressed that, although they were putting such items up for bid in order to help fund their own mission, they did still hope that the items would ultimately remain local.

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A couple dances to music from the 1940s during the 2nd Annual Camp Peabody’s USO Show on Saturday at the Peabody Retirement Community in North Manchester. Photo by Shaun Tilghman

 

By Shaun Tilghman

 

NORTH MANCHESTER -- Peabody Retirement Community welcomed residents, donors, family, and friends to the 2nd Annual Camp Peabody’s USO Show on Saturday. Close to 400 people braved the slight chill to eat, laugh, dance, reminisce, and sing along to the tunes of some of America’s greatest composers and bandleaders from the World War II era.

 

“It was such a huge hit last year that we knew we had to bring it back again this year,” said Stan Williams, director of development for Peabody Home Foundation.

 

The Stardusters Orchestra from Indianapolis, featuring Janiece Jaffe and The Starlighters Singers, entertained attendees with their tribute to the great jazz bands of swing. Generous supporters of the Peabody Home Foundation and the George Leonhard Memorial Endowment, a designated perpetual endowment, made the event possible, according to Williams.

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By Emma Rausch

 

MSD of Wabash County staff and teacher insurance fees are increasing and raising cries of concerns from those affected.

 

At the MSD school board meeting on  Tuesday, Sept. 8, representatives from both Northfield and Southwood faculty packed the board’s meeting room and flooded into the hallway to seek policy clarification and voice their opinions.

 

“I think as you guys know, most of the people are here for the insurance,” said Adam Marlett, Southwood Elementary School teacher. “Many people have questions regarding the insurance and there is some, I don’t want to say misinformation, but there is some misunderstood information that was presented to many of the teachers about when our pay would start being deducted and, looking at the numbers, it’s seeming that over the next two months we’re going to be switching over to the new consortium rates.

 

“The minimum that’s going to be a hit in everybody’s paycheck is going to be $150, up to a maximum of over $1,500, I think the actual number was $1,610 for people on family plans, when there’s a possibility that they might never receive the benefits of that consortium plan.”

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