During the monthly meeting of the Cub Scout Pack 3905, the members presented donations to 85 Hope and F.I.S.H. Food Pantry.

Pack leader Tammy Sloane told the crowd that this month, the Scouts were learning about being helpful, and shared the story of why being helpful is one of the first things that Scouts learn.

“We are never too young to learn how to be helpful to others,” she said.

“The scouting program was developed for the purpose of being helpful, here in the United States. William D. Boyce needed help as he was walking down the street in London one night, he was lost, he didn’t know what to do or where to turn. There was a young man that came up to him and asked if he needed help and he showed him where to go. He asked this kid, ‘Who are you?’ and he was a Scout. And William D. Boyce was so impressed by this scout that he actually brought a scouting program into the United States. So that is why we teach the Scouts the law of being helpful.”

Stephen Dafoe will be nominated to the Wabash City Schools Board on Monday, Dec. 9, when the Wabash City Council meets.

The council interviewed Dafoe on Tuesday, Nov. 26, the lone candidate for the seat now filled by Tiffanie King.

Dafoe met with the Council for about 20 minutes, after which it was the Council’s consensus to nominate him at the next meeting. He would begin serving in January to a four-year term.

During the interview, Dafoe said he would like to see Wabash City Schools improve its graduation rate to be more than 95 percent. He also said he would like to see more of the public take interest in the board and its works, suggesting a possible public relations campaign to inform the public on who is on the board and what their roles are.

There was some concern about a possible conflict of interest, as Dafoe’s wife, Megan, was recently hired to serve as receptionist at the City Schools’ central office.

Dafoe said that should there ever be an issue that could pose a conflict of interest because of his wife’s position, he would recuse himself from the matter.

The Metropolitan School District of Wabash County board met on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

During this meeting, the board:

Approved a donation of $1,000 from Manchester, Inc. for Northfield boys basketball.

Heard a student council report from Southwood Jr.-Sr. High School Student Council members Landon Topliff and Payton Deeter. They shared with the board that Southwood High School will do the Elementary Christmas Shopping program to supply gifts and a meal to elementary students in need.

Drivers in the City of Wabash should expect road construction next year along Cass Street, Mayor Scott Long told those gathered at his Night With the Mayor gathering on Thursday, Nov. 21.

“We’ve got one major contract pending with our long term control planning to separate storm and sanitary sewers,” he said. 

“It’s going to be on Cass Street, State Road 15, from Ferry Street south to Burnette Street.”

Bids will be sought in late November or early December, with construction starting “rather quickly,” the mayor continued. 

“They can dig in the ground over the winter.”

Long said city officials hope to work with contractors to complete work one block at a time.

“So that you can make a detour around one block, other than semis, to get back on the road.”

Wabash Steel Supply had a grand opening for its new location on Thursday, Nov. 21.

Guests were welcomed all day with donuts, pizza, raffles and giveaways along with the Steel Supply team there to answer any questions.

Wabash Steel Supply has been serving the Wabash area since 2015 and after a year of work, they were able to open a new location and be able to better supply Wabash and surrounding areas with steel and industrial supplies.

Wabash Steel Supply President Steven Siders said that the preparations leading to their new location have been “crazy.”

“There have been a lot of hours, a lot of money and a lot of dedication from a lot of our employees,” he said.

“It has been difficult to get this off the ground, but here we are, and it’s really great.” 

Ben Gebhart, CEO of Gebhart Holdings and owner of Wabash Steel Supply, also discussed the grand opening celebration with The Paper of Wabash County.

Mariah Kirtlan, the Wabash County 4-H Fair Queen for 2019, has been busy sharing the joys of 4-H with the Wabash community.

She spoke with The Paper of Wabash County on Nov. 18 after visiting students at Metro North Elementary to talk with them about joining 4-H.

“A lot of my duties currently have to do with promoting 4-H. I have been going to different schools and talking with the students about what 4-H has to offer. Also, being in the parades and at events helps to promote 4-H as well, because people see me and think of 4-H,” said Kirtlan.

She said that she has gained a lot out of being Miss Wabash County and encourages any girl in 4-H who is old enough to consider participating in the 2020 queen contest.

Being a part of the contest, being crowned queen, and representing 4-H at the county fair and throughout this year has given her confidence and helped her to improve her interviewing skills and poise.

“I learned how to walk in heels, too,” she said. “I’m not really a girly-girl. I’m just a regular girl who works on the farm. That’s what is great about this, you don’t have to be a pageant girl, cause it’s not about beauty. It’s about more than that.” 

State Sen. Andy Zay and State Rep. Dave Wolkins will host a town hall meeting Saturday, Nov. 23, to discuss the Indiana Department of Transportation’s plans for the intersection of U.S. 24 and County Road 300 E.

The meeting will be from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Honeywell Center’s Honeywell Room, 275 W. Market St.

In March, INDOT hosted a public forum to discuss its plans to essentially close the intersection and put crossovers further down the road in both the eastbound and westbound lanes of traffic.

Under INDOT’s proposal, the existing intersection will be removed and a median U-turn would be installed. Under the plan, drivers approaching U.S. 24 from the south and wanting to turn west onto the highway would be forced to travel east a short distance and then make a U-turn through the median to head west. The same holds true for those approaching U.S. 24 from the north and wanting to travel east on the highway. Those traveling east on U.S. 24 and wanting to turn north on the county road would have to do the same, as would those traveling west on 24 and wanting to turn south on CR 300 E.

Sharp Creek Elementary 5th grade students are preparing to be adults for a day at Junior Achievement’s “BizTown.”

On Friday, Nov. 15, students interviewed with five members of the community for jobs that they have applied to work at during their trip to “BizTown” in Fort Wayne.

Interviewers were Brett Wynn from Original Promotions, Joanne Case from Wabash County Promise, Teresa Galley from The Honeywell Foundation, Metropolitan School District of Wabash County Curriculum Director Tim Drake, and MSD of Wabash superintendent, Mike Keaffaber.

“BizTown” is a simulated city where elementary students go to participate in an adult economy and see what it is like to have a job, pay bills, shop, write checks, and more.

Fifth grader Zoey Music spoke with The Paper of Wabash County while she awaited her turn to interview.