By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash City Schools held a public preliminary determination hearing Monday night to unveil its plan for building projects that it plans to undertake in the near future.

Superintendent Jason Callahan explained that there were three total projects, including an expansion of the L.H. Carpenter Center, a high school-middle school connection project which will include upgrades to Coolman Gymnasium and Alumni Field, as well as maintenance projects throughout the district.

Brian Bolander of Barton Coe Vilamaa was on hand to explain the projects.
 

Carrie Leach

By Josh Sigler

jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash has a new barber, but she’s not all that new to the area.
Carrie Leach recently began cutting hair at Curt’s Barber Shop after several stops at other places.

Leach was raised in Wabash, and got her licensing at Heartland Career Center.

She’s been cutting hair since 1997.

Her mother and father were both school teachers here.
“So, I know pretty much everybody,” Leach said.
 

Carson McKee rings a bell at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, signifying the Food & Drug Administration's approval of the experimental drug he was on to combat his cystic fibrosis. Photo provided

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Like any set of parents, Heather and Jarrod McKee like to hear others compliment their three children. When it comes to their middle son, Carson, they especially like to hear one thing – “You would never know.”

Carson was born in November 2013. He was just two weeks old that the family learned he had cystic fibrosis (CF).

“I went in for his one-week height and weight check, and they said his newborn screen came back abnormal,” Heather said. “So then a couple days after that we were mailed a package in the mail that said he had cystic fibrosis, even though we were still under the impression that maybe he was just a carrier.
“At two weeks, we went to Fort Wayne and they did a sweat test to confirm that he had cystic fibrosis.”

CF causes thick mucus to build up in the lungs which, over time, leads to sinus issues, difficult food digestion and could eventually cause permanent lung damage due to constant infections.
 

By The Paper staff

Memorial Day Services will take place Monday, May 27, 2019.

These services are open to the public and are conducted by the veterans’ organizations of Wabash County and their associated auxiliaries.

The members of the Veterans Organizations will begin the day with a ceremony at the Carroll Street Bridge honoring those who have died in maritime service. There will also be a dedication service at the Wabash Courthouse War Memorial. The public is invited and encouraged to participate in all events.

The Carrol Street Bridge ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m.

The Courthouse ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.

By The Paper staff

The Honeywell Pool will open Saturday, May 25. Regular pool hours are 1-7 p.m. daily, weather permitting.

The pool will be closed Tuesday, May 28, through Friday, May 31, while students return to school for the final week.
It will reopen for the rest of the summer on Saturday, June 1.

Daily ticket prices are $1.50 for those 12 years and under and $2 for those 13 years and older. Season ticket prices remain the same as last year: $30 for one person. Family passes for up to five family members is $70. Additional members may be added for $7 each.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

The MSD of Wabash County puts its robotics students on display at Tuesday night's school board meeting, celebrating the accomplishments of its Southwood robotics teams, which recently competed in the VEX world championships in Louisville, Ky.

“It's a lot of pride,” Southwood Elementary Principal Phil Boone said after the presentation. “Knowing how hard the coaches worked to prepare the students, and in turn see the students get excited about what they're doing, the teamwork and support – just very excited to be a Southwood Elementary person.”

Boone said the excitement for robotics at Southwood starts with the coaches, Megan Hyden and Erica Tyson.

“We talk a lot in staff meetings about modeling what we want from kids,” Boone said. “That enthusiasm is contagious. They really have just taken this robotics bull by the horns and have gotten excited about it themselves. They spend a lot of time on it, and that has trickled down to the kids. That's a testament to our coaches.”
 

Christine Flohr, Executive Director of Tourism for Visit Wabash County, speaks at the Town Hall meeting. Photo by Joseph Slacian. 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

More than 60 people were on hand Thursday night for Mayor Scott Long’s second Town Hall Meeting.

The quarterly event takes place in the Wabash County Historical Museum.

Long touched on several topics, including construction work on Alber and Wabash streets.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

The first phase of the Alber Street project should be done in late June.

That phase extends from Euclid Street to John Kissinger Drive.

The second phase, which is from John Kissinger Drive to U.S. 24, will begin immediately after that but, Long said, shouldn’t take too long to complete.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Cottage Watchman will upgrade the fire protection system at Wabash City Hall.

The Wabash Board of Public Works and Safety on Thursday, May 16, approved the Pierceton company’s bid of $27,275 to upgrade the building’s fire alarm system.

In March, Building Commissioner Jim Straws told the board that the city’s insurance company recommended the city install a fire alarm and smoke detectors in the building.

In addition to Cottage Watchman, Koorsen Fire & Security also submitted a $28,000 bid to install the system and detectors on all three floors of City Hall.