By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

The Wabash County Council passed the 2019 budget Monday night, Sept. 25 by a 5-1 vote, a budget totaling $19,427,009.
Matt Dillion was the dissenting vote and Matt Mize wasn’t present at the meeting.

Dillon discussed his issues with the budget with the media following the meeting. He had proposed adding a dispatcher to the Central Dispatch roster, but was turned down 2-4.

He also doesn’t understand how the county can continue to spend more money year after year with a decline in population.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Gwen Dixon has done quite a bit in her lifetime.

Born on Oct. 30, 1918, the longtime Wabash County resident will mark her 100th birthday later this month.

She was born on a Huntington County farm and moved to Wabash County in 1941 when she married her now-late husband, Louis. She’s lived here ever since then, except for about 18 months when she and her husband lived in California during World War II.

“I was Rosie the Riveter,” she said.

She worked riveting pieces in place on P-38 Lightning aircraft at Lockheed, while her husband worked as a mechanic on similar planes. He was eventually sent overseas with the U.S. Air Force, and Mrs. Dixon returned to Wabash.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Fourth grade students from around Wabash County got a little taste of life on the farm on Tuesday, Sept. 25, during the annual Ag Day.

Students spent the entire day moving among 18 stations where they were able to learn different aspects of agriculture. The event was sponsored by the Wabash County Farm Bureau and the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service.

“What we’re trying to do is educate 450 Wabash fourth graders about agriculture and advocating for agriculture,” Mark York, Wabash County Farm Bureau president, told The Paper of Wabash County. “Sometimes this is the only exposure that these kids get to agriculture and where their food actually comes from.”
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

The Wabash County Courthouse and jail will soon receive repairs at a total cost of nearly $17,000.

At their Oct. 1 meeting, the county commissioners approved replacement of the stairs on the south side of the jail, as well as replacement of the tile floors of the three porticos of the courthouse.

County Coordinator/HR Director Jim Dils presented both requests.

“For some period of time, we've been trying to get quotes for the set of stairs on the south side of the jail,” Dils said.

He received two quotes, and recommended using Gaunt and Son Asphalt, Inc., for the repair, which includes new stairs and an anodized aluminum railing. The stairs were quoted at $10,100, with the anodized aluminum railing an extra $865.
 

By The Paper staff

NORTH MANCHESTER -- Three North Manchester Police Department officers are being credited with the largest crystal methamphetamine arrest on a traffic stop in Wabash County history after arresting a North Manchester man Thursday morning.

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER -- Nearly 1,300 children from in and around Wabash County came together at Manchester University Friday, Sept. 21, for the sixth annual Walk Into My Future event.

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

Since opening in 2008, POET Biorefining's North Manchester plant has produced 687 million gallons of ethanol.
Located on County Road 800 North just east of State Road 13, the facility celebrated its 10th anniversary Saturday, Sept. 22, with cake, ice cream, speeches and tours.

By The Paper staff

The Wabash County Election Board will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct 2, in the Wabash County Clerk’s office.