Wabash’s three mayoral candidates worked together Friday night, April 10, to serve meals during the Dallas L. Winchester Scholarship Fundraiser at the Wabash Elks Lodge. Serving food were (from left) Republican Scott Long and Democrats Margaret “Boo” Salb and Bob Mullett. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian

Wabash’s three mayoral candidates are looking forward to Thursday night’s debate.

The trio – Democrats Bob Mullett and Margaret “Boo” Salb and Republican Scott Long – will answer questions beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Wabash County Historical Museum. The debate is sponsored by The Paper of Wabash County and the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce.

“I’m looking forward to it and I’m excited to do it,” Mullett told The Paper on Friday evening. “I’m hoping there’s a good crowd.

“As I’ve said before, I hope the people are excited about coming down and hearing what we think and make their decision based on that.”

By Joseph Slacian

The second round of a façade grant program has started in the downtown Wabash area.

Applications for the program are now available on the Wabash Marketplace Inc.’s website, www.wabashmarketplace.org.

“I think there’s significantly more funding for this round,” WMI Board President Jason Callahan said during an interview with The Paper of Wabash County. “The Façade Improvement Program was one of the Stellar (Community Grant) projects.

“Patrick Sullivan, our executive director at the time, had gone out and solicited who would be interested in this. In that solicitation we came up with close to $900,000 worth of projects in the Downtown Historical District. We’re pretty excited to be able to continue improving the aesthetics in the Downtown Historical District.”

About $1.3 million is expected to be dedicated toward this round of the program.

By Joseph Slacian

A group of veterans from the USS General H.W. Butner will be Wabash for their 41st reunion.

The veterans – which include members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps – will be in town from April 22-26, according to reunion organizers Duane and Bonnie Truss.

By Joseph Slacian

The Wabash County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program is in need of volunteers.

CASA Director Dee Street said that in recognition of April being Child Abuse Prevention Month, she would like to find 30 people to sign up to be CASA volunteers.

The volunteers serve as the voice of children who are removed from their homes due to such things as abuse or neglect.

“They are the voice of these children during team meetings, court proceedings and finding safe, permanent resolutions,” she said.

Currently, there are 25 CASA volunteers in Wabash County. Ideally, she added, about 50 volunteers are needed.

A Chinese dragon will be a special guest star at the ninth annual Wabash FAME Festival. This year, the festival will spotlight Chinese culture and teach children artistic and historical aspects of China through activities, musical performances, and guests like the dragon, who a part of the Fort Wayne Chinese Families and Friends Association. Photo provided

By Emma Rausch

On Saturday, April 18, area students will bring the heart of China to the Honeywell Center in celebration of the ninth annual Wabash Foundation for Art and Music in Education (FAME) Festival.

The foundation, an organization based in Fort Wayne, sponsors art activities for students in elementary and middle schools in Northern Indiana.

“FAME has existed for 27 years at our parent organization in Fort Wayne,” said Judy Ward, planning committee head, in an interview with The Paper.

Over nine years ago, Ward collaborated with the organization to bring the music and art festival to Wabash.

“We’re excited that this is year nine here and that this program keeps growing,” she said. “Last year, we had around 2,200 people come and we’re hoping to do that well again this year.”

Participants in the Wabash County Commissioners’ tax certificate sale check out paperwork listing various properties up for auction. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian

Seventeen properties were sold Wednesday, April 8, at the Wabash County Commissioners’ tax certificate sale.

In all, 69 properties were up for auction for failure to pay taxes. The 51 properties that failed to receive bids are still up for auction online at www.sri-taxsale.com beginning April 13 and continuing for one week.

Twelve of the 17 properties sold at the event were purchased for the minimum bid of $200. The other five properties ranged in price from $350 to $6,000. Actually, three of the properties sold for at least $1,000, with the other two selling for $1,400 and $5,800, respectively.