RAY HEDSTROM (back, center) on one of his many mission trips to Nicaragua. (photo provided)

It’s not too often that Ray Hedstrom, a former Manchester University football player, isn’t looking for an opportunity to help others.

Since 2003, Hedstrom has been a part of a church missions group that travels to Nicaragua and an area in Kentucky to assist communities in need.

“God has really given each one of us on the team a gift to be able to help these people,” he said. “It turns out that we gain more from spending time with and getting to know the people we are helping than the other way around.”

by Joseph Slacian

Filing for the 2015 Municipal Elections will begin at 8 a.m. today in the Wabash County Clerk’s office, Clerk Elaine Martin announced. The filing will continue until noon on Friday, Feb. 6.

Martin said the Wabash County Election Board and her office will oversee the elections in the City of Wabash and the towns of North Manchester, Lagro and LaFontaine.

The town of Roann, she continued, will have its own town convention when needed. The deadline for filing for the Roann convention is noon Monday, Aug. 3.
 

by The Paper Staff

An 18-year-old Wabash man was killed early Monday afternoon in a car-train accident at the Norfolk Southern railroad crossing on Bond Street.

Wabash County Coroner Carol Whitesel identified the driver as Dustin Shepler.

According to Wabash Police Sgt. Matt Benson, the department’s Public Information Officer, an investigation showed that at approximately 12:17 p.m., a 2004 silver Ford sports utility vehicle was northbound on Bond Street and failed to yield for the eastbound train.

By Shaun Tilghman

North Manchester News-Journal

Julia (Perkins) Nelson, a 2003 graduate of Manchester High School, returned to her hometown recently to share her consecration as a Diaconal Minister with her family, friends, and the community. The North Manchester native grew up as a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, which is where the service was held on Saturday, Dec. 13.

“I was blessed by the education I received by former staff members Sister Sabine Thomas and Pastor Jeff Hawkins,” Julia said. “Sabine is a member of the Deaconess community of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and moved to North Manchester to serve Zion when I was around eight years old. The Deaconess community is one of four rosters of ministry in the ELCA – Deaconess, Diaconal Minister, Associate in Ministry, & Pastor. As early as age 14, the Holy Spirit started a stir in my heart and head to pursue full-time ministry.”

The Access Youth Center held it's annual Community Christmas Party on Dec. 13, which included a visit from Santa, lots of food, and gifts for each family.

“It's always great to celebrate this time of year together,” said Liz Hobbs, executive director of AYC. “Each year, we have so many different groups that make our Christmas celebration possible, and we are so thankful for each of their contributions.”

by Emily Armentrout

emily@thepaperofwabash.com

Be Well Wabash County is a new collaborative initiative focused on moving Wabash County towards better wellbeing by promoting life balance. On Jan. 8, initiative leaders will make a public declaration and sign a new charter at the Wabash County YMCA. Be Well Wabash County founders, supporters, and members of the community will join together to show their support for the new initiative.

“It started off as an idea of planning a lecture series on health issues,” said Bryce Lindsay, marketing committee member for Be Well Wabash County. “The YMCA began to reach out to other potential partners in the community. Purdue Extension was one of the first ones, and Manchester University was another, along with the Bowen Center, Wabash County Hospital, Ford Meter Box, Wabash Marketplace and NuStart. We got excited, because now we’re bridging multiple communities within the county.”

Be Well Wabash County was created to pull people together to identify needs within the community pertaining to wellbeing. Wabash County is following in the footsteps of other Indiana counties, such as Clinton County, which began a similar initiative a few years ago.

by Eric Stearley

eric@thepaperofwabash.com

On Dec. 5 during Wabash’s First Friday festivities, Arc of Wabash held an open house to celebrate its 60th anniversary. The community was invited to see the organization’s work firsthand and learn about the organization’s history.

A tour of the facility encompassed several historical vignettes, where volunteers acted out scenes as they might have occurred in 1954. The first gave viewers a glimpse inside a reenacted Wabash City School Board meeting where the education of children with disabilities was first discussed. The tour continued into a meeting of the parents of disabled children, which occurred just after the board’s decision not to begin what would now be referred to as Special Education. These parents worked together, and with the help of the community, founded the School of Hope, out of which Arc of Wabash grew.

“I think it was appropriately named,” said Arc of Wabash Executive Director Nancy Hoffman. “When they started this organization, it brought them hope.”

Attendees then got a chance to meet some of the organization’s clients and see them on the job in the facility’s workshop. The tour concluded with a benefit dinner.

During the open house, Artistica Gallery Manager Joyce DeVore presented Hoffman with a check for the proceeds of the organization’s recent art gallery show, featuring paintings created by Arc clients. In its second year, the show raised $4,010.25.

“It’s very much so more than we expected. It’s awesome!” said Hoffman. “The public response is amazing. The people that came in and immediately purchased paintings…it was phenomenal. The talent of the people doing the paintings is phenomenal.”

The City of Wabash has been informed that a company has been notifying residents of a service they offer, painting addresses on the curbs in front of residences. The company has not requested any authorization from the City of Wabash to perform these services, and the City of Wabash would like to inform residents that this type of operation can be questionable in nature.