By Joseph Slacian

Volunteers are important to properties around the state overseen by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

From maintaining trails to entering computer data to helping in nature centers, Hoosiers donate their time and talent around Hoosier state parks in a variety of ways, according to Jody Heaston, volunteer coordinator for the DNR Division of State Parks.

ISP clocked car traveling 113 mph

by Joseph Slacian

The Wabash County Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle driven by an Ohio woman after Indiana State Police clocked her driving at 113 mph on U.S. 24 near U.S. 31 in Miami County on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Wabash County deputies stopped the woman, Yutting Yang, 24, Kent, Ohio, near SR 115 about 10:45 a.m.

by Eric Stearley - eric@thepaperofwabash.com

On Jan. 6, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development received a notice from Harvey Industries announcing that effective Dec. 31, 2014, it had laid off 141 hourly employees and two salaried employees from its Wabash plant due to "unforeseeable business circumstances."

The memo noted that the plant is not expected to close, and layoffs are not expected to be permanent, however, employees should not expect to be called back for at least 5 months.

Wabash County Hospital now known as Parkview Wabash Hospital

By Joseph Slacian

Wabash County Hospital is now Parkview Wabash Hospital. The change took place at midnight, Jan. 1, and hospital officials here say the transition went as smoothly as possible.

“We’re really excited about it,” Hospital President Marilyn Custer-Mitchell said. “We have some operational bumps we’re working through, but that’s bound to happen. But we’ve had no major issues come up, so we’re doing well.”

by Eric Stearley

On Oct. 29, The Paper published an article about Lagro Township’s annual budget meeting, in which they voted to cut the budget by 28 percent from the previous year. The cuts came after what the board deemed “frivolous” spending by Trustee Andrew Delong and unanswered questions about how funds were being used.

The story quickly caught the eye of a state official.

“The State Board of Accounts was in our courthouse when The Paper came out that week,” said Wabash County Commissioner Scott Givens. “They read the article and they commented, because they were here to see us for something else, and the commissioners were still there in the courthouse. The lady [from the State Board of Accounts] commented on the article.”

by Emma Rausch

On Monday, Jan. 5, Dustin L. Shepler, 18, Wabash, was struck and killed about 12:20 p.m. by an eastbound Norfolk Southern train at Bond Street. A press release issued by the Wabash Police Department stated that Shelper failed to yield to the train, although why he had failed to yield is still undetermined.

by Joseph Slacian

Filing began Jan. 7 for the 2015 Municipal Election, with two of the three declared mayoral candidates in the City of Wabash filing their paperwork in the Wabash County Clerk’s office.

The pair – Republican Scott Long and Democrat Margaret “Boo” Salb – was among 13 candidates who have filed as of The Paper deadline Monday. Long filed his paperwork on Wednesday, Jan. 7, while Salb filed on Friday.  A third declared candidate, Wabash Fire Chief Bob Mullett, is expected to file sometime this week.

By Eric Stearley

On Jan. 8, more than 30 members of the community joined together at the Wabash County YMCA to show their support for Be Well Wabash County, a new initiative focused on wellness. The initiative aims to bring organizations, businesses, and individuals together in a collaborative effort to promote life balance and health.

“Right now, were in the bottom third of the health rankings. Wouldn’t it be fun to think about being in the top third? Wouldn’t it be fun to be in the top 10 counties for health and wellbeing,” said founding member Bryce Lindsay. “And what does that do to our economy? Does it attract other companies and people who bring new jobs in? Then that helps our schools. That helps everybody.”