Blake Henderson explores a miniature train play set at the Wabash County Historical Museum open house on March 6. The museum’s executive direct board president Mitch Figert said that the new exhibit breaks the traditional museum mold, providing space for children to pretend play, laugh, and squeal in enjoyment. Photo by Emma Rausch

By Emma Rausch

On Friday March 6, the Wabash County Historical Museum opened its doors to the Wabash community to invite children and parents alike to experience the museum’s new kids-play exhibits.

Mitch Figert, the museum’s executive director board president, said that it was great to see the community support the museum’s open house and development.

“It’s been fun to see (the new exhibit) come together and this is really kind of the finale for us, to see everyone come and enjoy the space,” Figert said. “With First Friday and everything going on, the show at Honeywell tonight, we didn’t know (how many people would come) and it really is great to see everyone come out and I think it speaks volumes to the support we have from the community.”

The Indianapolis Opera Ensemble toured Wabash senior centers last week to spread awareness and the enjoyment of opera. The ensemble included vocalists (from left) Daniel López, Lyndsay Moy, Briana Sosenheimer, and Jacob Pence. Photo by Emma Rausch

By Emma Rausch

Last week, the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble visited several Wabash senior facilities as part of the Honeywell Foundation’s Senior Outreach Program.

According to a Honeywell Foundation press release, the purpose of the outreach program is to provide fun and entertaining art-related opportunities for older, active adults, reaching senior living facilities in a five-county region including Wabash, Miami, Huntington, Grant and Fulton.

The ensemble included vocalists Briana Sosenheimer, Lyndsay Moy, Daniel Lopez, Jacob Pence, and accompanist Greg Gibson on piano.

Deb Hughes, director of Kiddie Prep at the Grace Point Church of the Nazarene in Fort Wayne, welcomes attendees to the Indiana Association of Child Care Resources and Referral conference on Friday morning, March 6. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian

Faith-based child care providers from around Indiana gathered Friday and Saturday, March 6-7, for “Caring in Faith – A Child Care Ministry Conference” at the Honeywell Center.

“We have child ministry directors coming (Friday),” according to Traci Marshall, Early Childhood Education Specialist with the Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral (IACCRR). “We have about 100 of them. Then (Saturday) they’ll be their staff and teachers, and we have about 200 of them attending.”

Participants chose from a variety of different breakout seminars to attend throughout the two days, she said.

Lagro Township Advisory Board member Rob Cole (left) reads from the Indiana Open Door statute while fellow board member Lee Ann Pefley looks on. Lagro Township Trustee (far right) Andrew DeLong listens to the reading during a meeting Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Lagro Volunteer Fire Station. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Emma Rausch

LAGRO -- The Lagro Township meeting was cut short Thursday Feb. 26 after newly elected board chairman Rob Cole proclaimed it an “illegal meeting” by Indiana State Code.

“Since Deb (Schenkel) isn’t here,” Cole said, “we’re really not supposed to meet because of the Indiana law states that, IC 5-14-1.5 states that there’s an open door law. Meetings have to be given 48-hours notice and it has to be posted at the location where we’re meeting and in you’re office Andy for 48-hours, otherwise we’re meeting illegally and we could be sued because of that.  So I move that we adjourn this meeting and meet at a date where we’ve got this 48-hour notice.”

Lagro Township Trustee Andrew DeLong originally called the meeting with the board to elect the chairman and secretary positions as well as seek approval for the annual reports.

“(The meeting) was short notice, 48-hours,” DeLong said to the board. “There was a time constraint on getting the annual report in. The annual report is always advertised after our meeting within two weeks within in the paper.”

By Joseph Slacian

Two Wabash County communities received notice last week that they would receive funding from Lt.Gov. Sue Ellspermann’s office.

The City of Wabash will receive a $716,122 tax credit for the Rock City Lofts. The lofts are part of the city’s Stellar Community program.

Meanwhile, the Town of Lagro will receive $72,000 from Indiana’s Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program (BEP).

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) administers and manages the federal credits, which provide incentives for private developers to further the affordable housing choices throughout Indiana. Wabash’s was one of 16 projects to receive $12.5 million in tax credit allocations.

By Joseph Slacian

LAFONTAINE -- A voter registration drive will take place here on Tuesday, March 10, Wabash County Clerk Elaine Martin announced Feb. 25.

A deputy clerk from Martin’s office will be at the LaFontaine Town Hall from noon to 4 p.m. for anyone interested in registering to vote.

This is the first time, Martin and Deputy Clerk Teresa Ehret said they believe, that such a drive has taken place in recent years.

Mitch Figert, executive director of the Wabash County Historical Museum, explains how the interior of a canal boat display in the museum’s new Educational Center will look. The board will have books and bookshelves, allowing youngsters to take a book and read while inside the structure. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian

A grand opening celebration of the new Education Center at the Wabash County Historical Museum is planned for 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 6.

The center will be located in the southwest corner of the second floor of the museum.

“We have the round barn, the farm house, a climbing tree, a canal boat and a theater stage,” Museum Executive Director Mitch Figert told The Paper of Wabash County during a tour of the facility. “We also have a train table that will go here (near the entrance to the center).

“And then we’ll have a science and activity center, which is essentially a cart with some activities that kids can pull out and tables they can work at.”

The Education Center is designed for those in pre-kindergarten and early elementary grades, or generally for children up to 8 years of age.

Safe Place and Host Home Coordinator Ryan Beeching quizzes Metro North Elementary students on what might count as a dangerous situation and how they know where to go when they’re in danger. In Wabash County, there are over 30 restaurants and business participating in the Safe Place program. Photo by Emma Rausch

By Emma Rausch

The national youth outreach program Safe Place is expanding its services to Wabash County, according to Safe Place and Host Home Wabash County Coordinator Tom Curry.

In addition to educating youths about the dangers of running away or resolving a difficult, threatening situation on their own, Safe Place also creates safe locations around the community for children and teenagers to go if they find themselves in these types of situations.

“(Safe Place) is another kind of layer between the school and the police and DCS (Department of Child Services) on situations that don’t quite rise to that level but are in need of help,” he said. “We don’t want to discourage calling the police, but … we’re kind of a softer, gentler option that way.”