The City of Wabash will contribute $150,000 toward a new intercom system to connect the Wabash City Schools building.

The funds will come from the city’s Public Safety Local Income Tax funds, Mayor Scott Long told the Wabash City Council during its Dec. 14 meeting. The council unanimously approved the measure.

“In light of some issues that have occurred because of some communication snafus within our school buildings, the school resource officers and the schools have looked at a new system which is an intercom system between buildings,” he told the council.

The system would link the Wabash High School, Wabash Middle School, O.J. Neighbours Elementary School, the L.H. Carpenter Building and the Administration Building and officials at those buildings would be notified immediately of situations at one of the buildings.

Indiana State Police are investigating an officer involved shooting that left a Wabash man dead and a Huntington Police officer injured in the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 13.

ISP officials on Monday afternoon identified the man as Matthew T. Melzoni, 36, Wabash.

The officer, who as of press time has not been identified, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

According to a press release from the Indiana State Police:

At approximately 3:35 a.m. Dec. 13, Huntington Police Department responded to a disturbance call in the 100 block of Shultz Drive on the city’s southwest side. 

Upon arrival, officers allegedly encountered an adult male suspect operating a backhoe style piece of machinery, actively destroying property around the neighborhood. 

Northfield High School senior Emma Brainard was selected by the Community Foundation from a field of 30 Wabash County applicants to receive the four-year, full-tuition Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for 2021.

The scholarship recognizes a Wabash County student who ranks high on eleven criteria, including academic achievement measures, financial need, volunteerism and work ethic, school participation and leadership, essays, and an interview. The purpose of the scholarship is to assist the next generation of leadership in Indiana to obtain a college degree, raising the educational attainment level of Indiana’s citizens.

Miss Brainard is the daughter of Stephenie and Kevin Brainard of rural Wabash County. She is active in student government, Key Club, volunteer activities, and cheerleading. She has worked in the trenches of the family excavating business and is currently working for B. Walter in a marketing internship. She plans to attend an Indiana college to study business and will be the first in her immediate family to achieve a bachelor’s degree.

After college, she has ambitions to live and work in a small town like the one she comes from.

“After attending college for marketing and International Business Management, I would love to go back into small towns, much like Wabash, and help build up their economy and small businesses,” she said. “I feel that after getting proper education and experience in the business field, I could market for many small town businesses and help them grow and flourish.”

The City of Wabash and Wabash County will receive more than $470,000 combined from the latest Community Crossing Grants announced on Tuesday.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb and Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuinness today announced 241 Indiana cities, towns, and counties received a combined $101 million in state matching funds for local road projects through Community Crossings, a component of the Governor’s Next Level Roads program.

The City of Wabash will receive $337,525 in grant funds.

Mayor Scott Long told The Paper of Wabash County that the money will be used for milling and paving Shady Lane.
Wabash County will receive $137,263.20.

The Metropolitan School District of Wabash County board members met on Dec. 8 to conduct business.

During the meeting, staff and student recognitions were shared.

Principal Phil Boone from Southwood Elementary shared praise to the two SES students whose banners were selected as overall winners in the Honeywell Center's Winter Banner competition.  Sixth-grader Lola Winer and second-grader Kinley Davenport both won their grade level. Boone also thanked Erica Tyson for her work with all students in creating excitement for the event.

All SES teachers and staff were recognized for the continued collective effort to ensure that students are safe and learning during this time of dealing with the pandemic.

Rodney Kelsheimer and Jason Fry were preliminarily tabbed to fill the two Wabash City Schools Board seats being vacated at the end of the year.

Kelsheimer, Fry and three other candidates were interviewed by the Wabash City Council on Thursday, Dec. 3. Following the interviews, the Council nominated Kelsheimer and Fry for the posts. They will take an official vote on the matter at the Dec. 14 Council meeting. If approved, their terms would begin Jan. 1, 2021.

In addition to the two nominees, the Council also interviewed Richard “Dick” Brewer, Clint Kugler and Corey Phillipy during 20 minute sessions.

Kelsheimer is finishing his first term on the board. Fry would replace Tony Pulley, who opted not to seek reappointment.

Of Kelsheimer, Council member Bryan Dillon said “he is a good board member. … He is current board president. I see no reason why he shouldn’t be nominated for reappointment.

On Thursday, Dec. 3, Pam and Jerry Whitener were joined by LaFontaine officials for the grand opening of their shop, Grant Creek Mercantile, which specializes in supplies for quilting, cross stitch and punch needle as well as primitive home décor.

Grant Creek Mercantile was previously open under the same name in the Parker Building on the same street.

“This building became available for sale and we wanted to purchase the building because we were just renting previously,” said Mrs. Whitener.

The Metropolitan School District of Wabash County school board members met on Tuesday, Nov. 24 to conduct business. 

During this meeting, donations totaling $1,714 were accepted.

The Southwood Junior Senior High School Robotics Teams presented a demonstration with the robots they have built for this year’s competition season. Team members explained the rules of competition, along with their typical process for creating their robots.

Also, during the meeting, staff and student recognitions were shared. The following recognitions were made:

White’s Junior Senior High School Principal Mike McDivitt, shared updates from White’s, including a recognition of Mrs. Trail who leads the “Girls Who Code” club. He also shared some encouraging moments from recent student graduations.

CAR Director, Tonya Boone recognized Southwood High School's Angie Loschiavo and Cathy Gohmann. In addition to preparing for their brick and mortar classes, they have taken on teaching several of the MSD virtual classes as well as facilitating the engagement and learning of a group of CAR students.

Principal Andrew McDaniel from Southwood Junior Senior High School congratulated the Gridiron Knights for an outstanding season. He also recognized Carrie Haycraft, Cheryl Stouffer, Joe Lacey, Roger Boone, and Tom Finicle for all their work in organizing everything for the regional competition.