by Kalie Ammons

kalie@thepaperofwabash.com

For those who lack an accounting degree, filing taxes usually falls into the “burden” category, getting put off until the last moment and left with a small hope that some sort of credit or refund will come out of them. Luckily, Todd Zeiger, director of Indiana Landmarks, will be in Roann May 12 to explain how owners of historic properties willing to renovate can qualify for state and federal tax credits.

Zeiger will be speaking in the basement of the Roann Library at 7 p.m. Indiana Landmarks provides information about these tax benefits, which have been active since 1976.

“Tax credits work like this: 20 percent of what a property owner spends to rehabilitate a historic, income-producing property comes off the bottom line of the taxes paid to the state and federal government,” said Indiana Landmarks in an article on their website. “If an owner has spent $100,000 to restore an old hotel, for example, he pays $20,000 less in federal tax and $20,000 less in state tax.”

by Eric Stearley

eric@thepaperofwabash.com

Five county students were recently selected to receive INGUARD Self-Reliance Awards. The winners were honored during a ceremony and luncheon at the Honeywell Center on Tuesday, April 29. The luncheon was hosted by the Wabash Kiwanis Club, which administers the award and conducts the selection process.

The award was created to honor Wabash County seniors who have exhibited self-reliance to achieve personal and educational goals. The award is open to all Wabash County high school seniors, with the exception of children of Kiwanis members. The selection process starts with nominations by teachers and includes an interview with the finalists.

The Wabash Unit of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Association will honor forty-nine Wabash County students for their participation in the Symphony in Color program this year.  These students represented eight schools in the area.  Their works of art were sent to Indianapolis where they were judged, competing with art from schools statewide. 

The students will be honored with a reception for parents and family, school principals and administrators on Tuesday, May 13 at 1 p.m. in Legacy Hall at Honeywell Center.  The students’ art will be on display and each student will be presented a blue ribbon and a certificate of achievement.  Photos will be taken of students with their art teachers.

If you’re heading out for dinner this spring and summer, head outside for a delightful dining experience at the Honeywell House where “Tastes on the Terrace” is back for its third season.

Every Wednesday from 5 – 8 p.m. in May through June and August through September, all are invited to enjoy open air dining, appetizers, drinks, and more on the Honeywell House terrace. Tastes on the Terrace corporate sponsors for this year are Rick and Nancy Fisher and INGUARD. Individual sponsor is Richard Tucker.

Tuxedo Junction is a ten-piece big band featuring musicians from the region, along with guest soloist, Ellen Mock. This performance will be in the Honeywell Center gym, offering an afternoon of big band music and dancing on Wednesday, May 7 from 2-4 p.m. 

This performance is sponsored by Honeywell Center Senior Outreach partners Autumn Ridge Rehabilitation Centre, Dukes Memorial Hospital, and Wynnfield Crossing Senior Community.

Tickets may be purchased at the box office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, by calling 260-563-1102 or visiting www.honeywellcenter.org.

by Emily Armentrout

emily@thepaperofwabash.com

Recently, the Lighthouse Mission Wabash County Thrift Store announced they replaced former director Claire Coyne, after Coyne announced her retirement in late 2013. The Lighthouse Mission hired Pastor Tom Curry as the new director, and longtime Lighthouse employee, Mary Harris, as the store manager.

Pastor Tom Curry recently returned to the United States after being a field missionary in India for the past five years. He was a pastor in Wabash County for 17 years and he also spent 10 years in Chicago as a pastor. Pastor Curry will be in charge of outreach programs at the Lighthouse like the food baskets and growing the ways the mission can assist those in Wabash County.

“We purposely try to keep our prices very, very low. People who are in need know that this is a place to help them,” Curry told The Paper.

by Eric Stearley

eric@thepaperofwabash.com

On April 24, Wabash County’s top students gathered at the Honeywell Center for a special luncheon with the county’s business leaders. The Wabash County Chamber of Commerce, the North Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and Manchester University sponsored the event. The purpose of the event was “to honor top graduating seniors from the county high schools, and to have an opportunity to encourage local talent to return to their home for employment opportunities during the summers or after graduation from their college experience,” according the a press release from the chamber. 

The large number of honors students was matched by a heavy community presence. Many students were able to sit with business professionals working in their areas of interest, as well as fellow students with similar college and career goals.

Serving as a sort of Master of Ceremonies for the luncheon, Manchester University Associate Vice President of Finance and Director of Operations Chris Garber welcomed those in attendance and introduced Wabash County Chamber of Commerce President Kim Pinkerton, who delivered the invocation. 

by Eric Stearley

eric@thepaperofwabash.com

On Thursday, April 24, Southwood High School senior Amy Bowman was one of 13 students in the state to be awarded the 2014 C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship Award as part of the Brady Sports Achievement Awards, held at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis. Designed to reward exceptional student-athletes, the $2,500 scholarship is sponsored by IHSAA, Methodist Sports Medicine, the Indianapolis Colts, Sport Graphics, Inc., and WTHR-13.

Bowman’s 4.4 grade point average puts her at the top of the 2014 Southwood High School class. The daughter of Kevin and Kymber Bowman, Amy earned 10 varsity letters in high school: four in basketball, three in volleyball and three in track and field. She is a two-time Student Congress president, two-time county sportsmanship award winner for basketball, and a leader of both Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Peers Educating Peers. Bowman is also involved in 4-H and various church activities.