By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

An event which will provide honor helicopter rides to military veterans is scheduled for July 20.

LLL Truck Repair, along with Indiana and American Huey 369, a non-profit organization based in Peru, are partnering to host the event, called Honoring our Heroes to recognize veterans and active-duty personnel.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LLL, located at 8254 West County Road 300 North in Andrews, near U.S. 24.
This is the third time the event has offered free flights. The community has stepped up for financial support to help send the veterans up, but anyone can take a membership flight.

The last event took place in 2017, and drew around 400 people.

“We’re probably expecting 500 people this year, but it probably won’t all be at the same time,” Ryan Long said.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

The Wabash County Recorder’s office and the Wabash County Clerk’s office notified County Commissioner that they are preparing a draft for County Attorney Steve Downs to move toward the installation of credit card payments.

Patrons currently pay by cash and money order in the Clerk’s office. In the Recorder’s, patrons currently pay by cash or check.

Clerk Lori Draper said there would be no additional fees for the county.

The Commissioners approved that Downs review the request.
 

By Eric Christiansen
echristiansen@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER -- The North Manchester Town Council responded to two concerns from a town resident in its monthly meeting July 3.

During the June 5 meeting Anthony DeLaughter raised questions about long response times from Parkview EMS and the possibility of North Manchester starting its own service.

Council President Chalmer “Toby” Tobias addressed the issue after members met and discussed DeLaughter's concerns

“With the current five-year contract with the county and Parkview, each year the town will collect over $50,000 over expenditures,” Tobias said. “There is a possibility the town could reduce the EMS fees by 40 percent for the next several years and be OK. We are limited to what we can spend with the $50,000. There are options on the table looked at, but that doesn't have to remain the case.”
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The Fourth of July holiday will see several celebrations around Wabash County this week.

Wabash’s celebration, including fireworks, will take place on Friday, July 5, to coincide with the city’s First Friday event.
On Friday, The Bulldogs will perform music on Miami Street in downtown Wabash.

In addition, visitors to First Friday can stop in at several local businesses -- Courtyard at Charley Creek Inn, Borders & Beyond Gallery, Dr. James Ford Historic Home, Beacon Credit Union aboard Trolley No. 85, Autumn Ridge Rehabilitation Centre’s outdoor booth, Twisted Scissors Salon and Riverfront Sweets and Eats – and have their First Friday guide stamped.
 

Kevin Bowman makes a point during the Purdue Farm Management Tour Friday. Photo by Josh Sigler

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Purdue University put on its 87th annual Farm Management Tour Thursday in Huntington County and Friday in Wabash County.

The tour allowed those in attendance to get to know the ins and outs of each family farm that was showcased.

Thursday, the tour visited Anson Farms in Andrews, as well as Dennis Grain & Farms in Huntington. The night was capped off with a Master Farmer Banquet at Huntington University.

Friday morning, the tour shifted to Bowman Farms in LaFontaine, and then moved to McKillip Farms for lunch and an afternoon tour.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Several new activities are planned this year at the Wabash County 4-H Fair.

The fair gets underway Friday, July 12, and continues through July 20. Actually, two events – the non-livestock judging and the 4-H Queen pageant, will take place July 9 and July 10, respectively.

“The big, new things have come from ideas from some of our 4-H members and Jr. Leaders,” according to Angela Christopher, Purdue Extension Office 4-H Youth Development.

Spirit Days, or dress-up days, are planned throughout the week, with each day having a different theme.

“The first 50 people who are dressed in the dress-up theme and stop by the Jr. Leader pop stand, the one just beside the show arena, will get some kind of prize each day,” Christopher said.
 

A car takes its turn going through the car wash at the Auto Laundry. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The Auto Laundry Car Wash recently reopened after an eight-week renovation project.

“We pretty much renovated 90 percent of it,” owner Tyler Temple told The Paper of Wabash County. “We got new equipment and redid the old equipment that we had to make it more modernized, and more gentle on the cars.”

Among the changes, he said, is the installation of a neoprene foam cloth that cleans the car better than the old system.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff on the inside that you don’t see, like a new computer controller, pumps, new lights, new walls new conveyer” Temple added.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The Wabash Business Park could soon be growing.

The Wabash City Council accepted two appraisals for a now-vacant home at 852 N. State Road 13. The home is the last home just south of the 13-24 Drive-in and is currently owned by Pefley Properties LLC. It also approved the purchase of the land in question.

“We want to get it to complete the frontage in the. Business park so the City of Wabash owns all of it,” Mayor Scott Long told Council at its June 24 meeting.

Under state statute, the city must obtain two appraisals of the property, and the offer would be the average of the two appraisals.