By Joseph Slacian

A hearing in Wabash Superior Court is scheduled for March 6 in the case of a home at 7 Elmwood Drive.

Building Commissioner John Stephens told the Wabash Board of Public Works & Safety that following an initial hearing in early February, the March hearing was set.

The city ordered the home to be razed in December. In January, the board awarded a demolition contract to Brainard Excavating.

However, at the board’s Feb. 4 meeting it learned the estate of the late owner, Jo Jinks Dietzer, filed an injunction.

By Emma Rausch

Jeremy Nevil leans into his guitar and curls his fingers around the neck, his pre-recorded audio track displayed on the projected screen behind him. Sitting in a boardroom filled with friends, family, and members of Metropolitan School District Education Board, all eyes are on him as he starts to play one of his original songs, “Let’s Get Crazy.”

On Monday Feb. 9, the MSD Board of Education recognized Nevil, a 17-year-old singer, songwriter, producer and Northfield senior, for his outstanding musicianship.

Since starting high school, Nevil has performed in All-State Honor Choir and Wabash County High School Honor Choir all four years, participated in the Visual and Performing Arts Summer Theater, performed vocally and instrumentally in musical concerts for Manchester University, and produced and published his own three-song album, “Here’s to Firsts” on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon.

By Joseph Slacian

The City of Wabash’s plans for the Stellar Grant program have changed somewhat in the last few weeks.

Most notably, two programs – the outdoor amphitheater at Paradise Spring Historical Park and the all-inclusive park at the John W. Drook Skate Park – have been removed from the list of projects.

The amphitheater, Mayor Robert Vanlandingham noted, was removed because it is in a flood plain of the Wabash River.

The all-inclusive park, he continued, was removed because none of the three agencies involved with the Stellar Grant – the Indiana Department of Transportation, the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority – provide funding for such projects.

By Emma Rausch

The Indiana 2015 ISTEP exam is undergoing emergency revision to shorten its 12-hour length before it is administered in March, the Department of Education announced.

On Feb. 9, Gov. Mike Pence signed an executive order to shorten the length.

“Doubling the length of the 2015 ISTEP test is unacceptable and requires an immediate solution,” said Pence in a statement. “As soon as I learned of this issue, I vowed to support efforts to shorten the test while preserving the accountability that Hoosier students and families deserve.”

By Shaun Tilghman

NORTH MANCHESTER -- Just months after Timbercrest Senior Living Community residents and staff concluded their yearlong celebration of the 125th anniversary, Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson sent a letter congratulating the institution for being a registered business entity in good standing for more than 115 years.

In the letter, Lawson said, “I commend you and your business for your continued success. There are very few entities in our state that can claim the same dedication to the communities they serve. This type of hard work and commitment exemplifies what it means to be a Hoosier. I look forward to many more great things to come from you and the Church Of The Brethren Home Inc. Thank you again for all your hard work and dedication. Congratulations!”

By Emma Rausch

On Feb. 9, the Hanna Park Project Committee finalized the renovation design plans for the Hanna Park and playground installation date.

Since October 2014, the committee raised approximately $37,000 for the park renovations, including donations from the Ford Meter Box Foundation, Living Essentials, and in-kind donations from Marty Winkleman of Pappy’s Grills who will donate new grills and Hank’s Construction which will be leveling and preparing the site to install the playground.

By Joseph Slacian

Wabash Fire Chief Bob Mullett is seeking community support to purchase a fire safety trailer for use by the various fire departments around Wabash County.

Mullett discussed his plans publicly on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the Business Before Hours program sponsored by the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce.

“This something that I actually brought up a few years ago,” he said. “I was trying to figure out how to educate not only children, but also seniors in the community.”

The trailer, which could be used at schools, fairs and other events, would cost about $77,000, “with all the bells and whistles,” he said.

By Joseph Slacian

The Wabash City Council unanimously approved a resolution amending the city’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district in the downtown area Feb. 9.

The move paves the way to help collect funding to be used toward its Stellar Community Grant initiative.

According to Richard Starkey, an attorney for Barnes & Thornburgh in Indianapolis, the measure adds “parcels to the plan impacted by the Stellar project so we can do all the projects promised in the Stellar application.”