By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Ground was broken Tuesday morning, July 23, for the new Hampton Inn in Wabash.

The new, 91-room facility, is expected to be open in July 2020.

Mayor Scott Long and Mitesh Patel, owner associate for Rahee Hospitality, turned the dirt at the site while representatives from Rahee and the city looked on.

The hotel will be located northwest of State Road 15 and Wedcor Avenue, just north of U.S. 24.

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The second phase of Wabash’s Owner-Occupied Rehab Program is complete, with 12 different homes around the city receiving some sort of refurbishing.

That was the word Monday night, July 22, from Matt Brinkman, grant administrator for the Northeast Indiana Regional Housing Partnership. Brinkman and David Gee, Region 3A’s director of technical services, spoke during a public hearing before the Wabash City Council meeting.

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Roughly one month into the change in Wabash County’s recycling program, and things are apparently looking better.
“The change is going relatively well,” Jen Rankin, director of the Wabash County Solid Waste Management District, told The Paper of Wabash County.

However, she noted, there are still some residents unaware of the change.

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash Police are asking for the public’s help in providing information in the death of a local man on Monday, July 15.

The body of the man, Alex Watkins, 31, was lying near the street in the 200 block of East Main Street, according to WPD Capt. Matt Benson, the department’s Public Information Officer.

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The Access Youth Center, in conjunction with Wabash Valley Chrysler and the Wabash Elks Lodge No.471, will sponsor “Pack the Pacifica,” on Saturday, July 27.

Access officials are encouraging area residents to donate school supplies to try to fill the Pacifica van on loan from Wabash Valley Chrysler.

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Officials at the Wabash County Tobacco Free Coalition are praising recent state action to make tobacco cessation tools more available for Hoosiers.

The Indiana State Department of Health and Social Services Administration, acting on a directive from Gov. Eric Holcomb, announced plans on Tuesday, July 16, to improve access to and the affordability of tobacco cessation products for Hoosiers wanting to quit smoking or using tobacco.

The City of Wabash will be hosting a “Stellarbration” to commemorate the completion of the Stellar Communities Designee grant Wabash received in 2014. The event will occur in conjunction with Wabash Marketplace’s First Friday event on August 2 from 5:00-8:00pm throughout the downtown area.

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

CASA of Wabash County will host a Back to School Bash for students needing supplies at Wabash High School on Aug. 3.
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

It’s CASA sponsored, said Deb Joy, but it’s a community event.

Purdue Extension, Area 5, Indiana Youth Institute, YMCA, ARC of Wabash, Pride Point, Manchester University, WIC, DCS, The Community Foundation of Wabash County, and the Lighthouse Mission and the Wabash Elks are all also sponsoring the event or providing items.

The Access Youth Center will be providing backpacks.

The Wabash County Sheriff’s Department will be giving out fingerprint kits, and the County Health Department will be giving back to school shots.

The Wabash Carnegie Public Library is bringing books to the event, and there will also be free haircuts available.