It's summertime and grilling season is in full swing. So, pull out the grill, tie on your apron, and let's get grilling! For the next few weeks I will be sharing some of my most loved grilling recipes.

I will tell you, Dave is not a fan of chicken. I don't know what it is, but poultry of any kind does not appeal to him. It must be a Baer trait. He comes from a large family of beefeaters. This recipe for Kielbasa Chicken Kabobs always gets rave reviews whenever I serve it. There's just something about the almond rice pilaf that makes this a mouthwatering dish. It will quickly become your favorite go to summer supper recipe.

For the tenth consecutive year, the Membership Committee of the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer the Member2Member Discount Card. Enrollment period is currently under way until Aug. 31, 2014.  The Membership committee will begin making calls to our members about joining the discount card.   If your business wants to participate in the Member2Member Discount Card, please call the Chamber office at 260-563-1168.  You may also register to be on the card by logging into your member account at www.wabashchamber.org .

Wabash Cannonball Chili for Charity has announced the names of the non-profit organizations that will receive funding from this year’s chili for charity cook-off. A multitude of applications were submitted for consideration and nine were selected. 

Manchester Recreation Association, FAME, Teens Against Domestic Violence, Learn More Center, Manchester Early Learning Center, Wabash County Historical  Museum, Wabash County Promise, Honeywell Center Educational Outreach, and Wabash County Transit  will all benefit from the one-day fundraising event. 

“The selection process is the most difficult,” said Julie Deniston, long-time standing committee member. “There are many qualified organizations serving the community that need funding. It is the toughest decision we make every year.” 

Since the cook-off’s inception, nearly $300,000 has been reinvested into non-profit organizations serving Wabash County.

This year will mark the 12th anniversary of the event, which will be held on Oct. 18 at Paradise Spring Historical Park with gates opening at noon. All proceeds are earmarked for distribution to the nine charities selected as benefactors from this year’s chili cook-off.

Visiting students, ages 15-18, from around the world including Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand are seeking host families in and around Wabash for the upcoming 2014-2015 academic school year. Host families are needed for the fall semester and full school year.

Host families (traditional families, singles, empty nesters, etc.) serve as mentors and a home base for their student. Visiting students participate as active members of the family and integrate into their host’s daily routines and traditions just like any other family member. Hosting an international student is a great way to explore a new culture and promote a sense of lifelong learning and adventure.

Spend a summer evening outdoors listening to the lively sounds of jazz at the 4th annual Jazz on the Lawn Concert, to take place at the Honeywell House on Friday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m.

This event is made possible by lead sponsors First Merchants Bank and Lundquist Appraisal & Real Estate. Associate sponsors are Beacon Credit Union, INGUARD, Midwest Eye Consultants, Ladd Dental Group of Wabash, J.M. Reynolds Oil Comp., Inc., and Wendy’s of Wabash.

Jazz on the Lawn will feature the Fishers-based Nickel Plate Jazz Orchestra, a 20-piece band that will please the crowd with a variety of big band favorites, golden standards, cross-genre fusion and more. The soulful singer-songwriter Adrienne Frailey will take the stage from 6-6:45 p.m. to kick off the event. The lawn will be open at 5 p.m.

On July 2 at 1:38 a.m., the North Manchester Dispatch Center received a report of a structure fire at 606 West Fourth Street. Upon arrival, the North Manchester Fire Department units found heavy fire involvement coming from the garage and kitchen areas.

Firefighters knocked down the flames from the outside of the residence with two handlines before an interior attack was initiated.

The fire was under control within 20-25 minutes. Fire units were on the scene until 4:32 a.m. The fire was believed to have started in the garage, and the cause is still under investigation.

Assisting at the scene were the Chester Township Fire Department, Pleasant Township Fire Department, North Manchester Police Department, Wabash County Sheriff’s Department and the American Red Cross.

The Wabash County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative will host a free Manure Management Field Day on July 29 at Brubaker Farms. The half-day program will address application technology and nutrient management as well as the ways in which manure management relates to conservation and soil health.

“We as farmers are responsible for stewardship of the resources that are available to us. Every acre we farm contains thousands of pounds of nutrients essential to growing the crops that we are accustomed to. The world demand for more and more food will require us to become more efficient with the application of commercial fertilizers and animal waste products that we heavily depend on in this area,” said Kevin Cordes, a Wabash County Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor.

Cordes spoke highly of the event saying, “There are innovative ideas and new technology available to us that will help us achieve the goals of enhancing soil health and decreasing the amount of pollutants leaving our farms and entering the streams and rivers. The Manure Management Field Day is a great opportunity to learn about these ideas and see them demonstrated.”

Wabash City Schools will be holding corporation-wide registration at O.J. Neighbours Elementary on Monday, July 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. and Tuesday, July 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

New students to the corporation will need to call the individual buildings and schedule an appointment with the building principal or guidance counselors to register.

There will be an open house for kindergarten students on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. If you have not received a letter from O.J. Neighbours, please contact O.J. Neighbours office at 260-563-2345.

Other school numbers include Wabash High School at 260-563-4131 and Wabash Middle School at 260-563-4137.

Bus route transportation forms must be filled out at the time of registration if your child will ride the bus. Parents will be notified by letter regarding time/stop location prior to the first day of school.

Any questions about bus routes should be directed to the Wabash City Schools Administration Office at 260-563-2151 ext. 3104 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.