Our daughter was married last Saturday in an old historic round barn in Wabash County. Most of our guests were from out of town and had never been to Wabash before. The one thing Dave and I heard over and over throughout the evening was what an awesome place Wabash is. I couldn't agree with them more. I must say that I was bursting with pride to call Wabash home. We are so very blessed to live in such a wonderful community.

      When my Daughter became engaged last summer, I had the crazy notion that I would love to do all of the catering myself. As wedding plans progressed, I realized that I needed to hire a professional caterer. (Such a wise decision. I chuckle to think that I could actually pull that off. )  Although I didn't prepare the entree, I did, however, bake twenty loaves of lemon poppy seed bread for an appetizer. The trick to making this bread is to spoon the lemon icing over the bread while it is still warm from the oven allowing all of that sweet goodness to soak into the bread.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced support for agriculture producers and energy facilities working to turn renewable biomass materials into clean energy. The support comes through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and will resume this summer.

The Farm Bill authorizes $25 million annually for BCAP, requiring between 10 and 50 percent of the total funding to be used for harvest and transportation of biomass residues. Traditional food and feed crops are ineligible for assistance. The 2014 Farm Bill also enacted several modifications for BCAP, including higher incentives for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and narrower biomass qualifications for matching payments, among other changes.

“This initiative helps farmers and ranchers manage the financial risk of growing and harvesting energy biomass at commercial scale,” said Farm Service Agency Administrator, Juan M. Garcia. “Investing in agricultural and forestry producers who cultivate energy biomass and supporting next-generation biofuels facilities make America more energy independent, help combat climate change and create jobs in rural America.”

WABASH CITY SCHOOLS held a retirement open house for Jan Roland and Dave Engols on Tuesday, May 13 at Central Office. Roland worked for Wabash City Schools for 22 years. She was Wabash Middle School principal for 11 years and worked at the Chief Business Officer for 11 years. Roland plans to spend her retirement traveling with friends. “Our group travels on the even years. We are going to Italy in September,” Roland told The Paper. Engols worked for Wabash City Schools for 32 years as a custodian. He plans to spend his retirement working around the house, get back into his art work and take some vacactions. 

by Eric Stearley

eric@thepaperofwabash.com

Engines roared to life on the south side of town last weekend as Wabash Cannonball MX kicked off the 2014 motocross season with a vintage bike weekend in coordination with Midwest Vintage Motocross. The motorcycles were as varied as the riders in a weekend that started wet and ended dry and dusty.

Wabash Cannonball Motorcycle Club started in 1937. The track on the south side of Wabash is the third oldest sanctioned motocross track in the country, and as such, it draws people from across the country to ride the “old school” course. It was only appropriate that the first race weekend of the year was dedicated to vintage motocross.

Though races were held for modern bikes, the real star machines were those from the 60s, 70s and 80s, which, after all these years, still get the job done.

“The vintage era, it’s an extension of the sport that was nearly lost,” said Woody Graves of Midwest Vintage Motocross who organized the weekend’s races. “We’ve worked really hard to preserve the sport, and were trying to produce more riders with youth.”

Sheere Enser of Wabash, member of the Southwood FFA Chapter, won the State Agriculture Processing Proficiency Award, which will be presented on June 17 at Purdue University in West Lafayette.

Sheere is the daughter of Mike and Deb Enser of Wabash. Her agriculture education instructor at Southwood High School is Mr. Chad Crews.

The Agriculture Processing Proficiency Award is one of 52 State FFA Proficiency Awards. Four finalists in each award area advanced through chapter, section and district competition. Sheere will receive the award during the Indiana FFA State Convention, June 16-18, 2014, at the Elliott Hall of Music on the Purdue campus. The 2014 Theme is “Ignite.”  Sheere will be recognized for igniting her potential in the agricultural, food and fiber industry.

The public is invited to an open house, from 2-6 p.m. on Friday May 30, at the Wabash County Habitat for Humanity’s new office at 375 Manchester Avenue in Wabash. Stop by for some light refreshments, check out the new office, find out how Habitat for Humanity changes lives and the community one home at time, and how you can be part of building the dream!

The new office was made possible by the generous donation of the property by Terrance and Debra Echard.  The office was designed and adorned by Pam Gamble and Tammy Lickey, both Habitat volunteers that also happen to be professional Interior Designers.   Office furniture and chairs were donated by RJE business interiors and Dennis Brubaker with Indoff.  A custom designed and crafted conference table was built by Randy Duhamell, Habitat Board President, provides a prefect training center for future educational programs.  This new office gives Habitat the room to grow, easy access and visibility for the community. 

Chamber members Wabash County REMC and Brandt’s Harley-Davidson are sponsoring the Hole-In-One contest at the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce 18th WACCY Golf Outing, which will includes an opportunity to win a cash-prize of $5,000 and a 2014 Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Hole #7.
Other Hole-In-One prizes include $3,000 cash and two round-trip airline tickets at Hole #3; $1,000 cash and a five-day/four-night cruise for two at Hole #15; or $1,000 cash and a premium electronics package at Hole #16.
WACCY Golf Chair, Brian Campbell, has announced the afternoon flight of the Chamber’s Annual Golf outing to be held on Wednesday, June 4, at the Honeywell Golf Course, Wabash, is quickly selling out.  The event is a Best Ball Scramble with a shotgun start and still has a limited number of spots available.  The fee includes 18 holes of golf with cart, driving range, lunch, door prize and multiple games and prizes.
“This is a great opportunity for our members and their clients, vendors and friends to come out and enjoy a really good day of networking and building those relationships.  We hope not only our members, but the public, will take advantage of this chance for fun and fellowship,” said Mr. Campbell.

Wabash Carnegie Public Library announced recently that it will be taking part in the Big Library Read program. Library card holders will be able to borrow and read the mystery eBook, A Pedigree to Die For, Book 1 of the Melanie Travis Mystery Series by Laurien Berenson, starting June 3 and concluding June 18, by visiting iddc.lib.overdrive.com.

Big Library Read is an international program that gives libraries and library patrons unlimited simultaneous access to a popular title during the program dates, creating a virtual, global book club.

Interested patrons will be able to borrow the book using a valid library card, and read it on all major computers and devices, including iPhone, iPad, Nook, Android phones and tablets, and Kindle without worrying about wait lists or holds. Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, and best of all, there are no late fees.