By The Paper staff

Filing for the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County and Manchester Community Schools school board elections ended at noon Friday.

Here is a complete listing of the candidates:

Manchester Community Schools
Chester: Vote 1
Sally Krouse
David W. Terflinger
Town: Vote 2
Michael Dixon
Richard Espeset
Kevin Wayne Kling
Tim McLaughlin
Amanda Shambarger
Benjamin D. R. Vanderpool
Pleasant: Vote 1
No Candidate

METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Northeast: Vote 1
Sandy Davis
Matt Driscoll
Tiffany Haupert
Northwest: Vote 1
Douglas E. Bogert
Todd Dazey
Teresa Galley
Ryan Rosen
 

By The Paper staff

At approximately 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, officers from the Indiana State Police and the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Road 114 near Wabash County Road 200 West, in which a Roann woman died.

The preliminary crash investigation by Indiana State Police Trooper Todd Trottier revealed that Samantha Hebein, 21, Roann, was driving a Chevrolet Camaro westbound on State Road 114 near Wabash County Road 200 West.

For an unknown reason, the Camaro crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Daryl Bradford, 68, North Manchester.

Hebein was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash.

Bradford and his passenger, Nancy Bradford, 69, North Manchester, suffered non-life threatening injuries. They were transported by medical helicopter to a Fort Wayne hospital.
This crash is still under investigation.
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

The Indiana State Police is investigating the July 8 death of an inmate at the Wabash County Jail.

The inmate, Bradley Creasey, 42, Wabash, was arrested early July 8. He was taken to the county jail, where jail officers found his body later in the day.

Sheriff Bob Land and the  Wabash County Sheriff’s Department has not released any information on Creasey’s death. Land referred any questions to the ISP.

Creasy was arrested by North Manchester Police after leading officers on a lengthy chase, allegedly in a stolen vehicle.

“It was a several-mile pursuit,” NM Police Chief Jim Kirk said, “and he eventually ditched the car in a bean field.”

Kirk said that officers allegedly saw Creasey, for whom the county had issued an arrest warrant, driving a vehicle allegedly stolen from Roann. Officer Devin Bechtold initiated a pursuit around 2:45 a.m. that lasted until around 6 a.m.

Officer Karsten Kersey and Reserve Officer Cody Cook were also involved.
 

By Josh Sigler
Jsigler@thepaperofwabashcom

The Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse unveiled an interactive, online Naloxone Administration Heat Map, where residents can see where the opioid reversing drug is being used most in the state.

After EMS providers administer the drug, they report it to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, so that the IDHS can map the locations of the incidents. Naloxone has been used roughly 25 times since the beginning of 2018 in Wabash County. Fourteen cases of Narcan usage were reported in 2014, 36 in 2015, 43 in 2016, and 43 in 2017.

“Naloxone (also known as Narcan) is a proven life-saver” said Jim McClelland for Drug Prevention, Treatment and Enforcement. “This map gives first responders a visual asset to help them deploy resources. It’s one tool we can use to attack the drug epidemic and promote recovery – and important focus of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s administration.”
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

After a few months' delay, the county is moving forward with two contracts related to a new phone system for the county jail.

Back in May, the Wabash County Commissioners gave Sheriff Bob Land permission to proceed with a contract with Mitel for a new phone system, at a cost of $1,128.40 per month. County Attorney Steve Downs requested to review the contract.

In July, Land brought forth a contract with Intrasect Technologies for installation of the system, which also includes updating of the jail's telecommunications infrastructure. The original price of $11,661 dropped to $9,910 after a review by Intrasect.

The monthly cost is about $250 more than what the jail currently pays, Land said, but allows for replacement of an outmoded phone system that can no longer be repaired.

The commissioners approved both contracts, pending some language change in the Mitel contract, at their Monday, Aug. 22 meeting.
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

After more than two years of searching, the county commissioners approved the purchase of a new home for the county coroner's office.

Commissioner Barry Eppley announced the purchase near the end of the commissioner's Monday, Aug. 27, meeting.
“Over the past several months, we've been working to establish a workspace for the coroner,” he said, “and at this time we need to make a purchase of  a building for the workspace of the coroner.”

Eppley motioned to purchase 443 McCarty St. in Wabash for $73,000, requesting an additional $5,000 for purchase-related costs.

“We'll present to county council this evening, just to inform them of what we've decided,” he said. “Next will be making arrangements to get the coroner's equipment moved into the building. The building is 1,800 square feet – quite small, but a little larger than absolutely necessary for the coroner.”
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

In May, Megan Henderson presented a program on Blessings in a Backpack to members of the Wabash Moose Lodge 1195 and the Women of the Moose 878.

On Tuesday, Aug. 21, the groups presented Henderson, the local Blessings in a Backpack coordinator, $1,000 for the organization.

“Their generous donation will provide food for the weekends to 10 local students for the entire school year,” she told The Paper of Wabash County.

Blessings in a Backpack, a non-profit organization that provides food for the weekend to school children who qualify for free or reduced lunches, began in 2008. Jenny Wilson, the former program coordinator, brought the program to Wabash in 2012. She resigned earlier this year and was replaced by Henderson.
 

By Eric Christiansen
echristiansen@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER -- David Crowley sat in a lot of meetings, and realized he had more to do for more people.

“I asked myself, 'Why am I in so many committee meetings and not as [doing] as much worship, Bible study and visits?'” he said.

Enter Peabody Retirement Community, and Crowley said that he found that job that he was looking for as pastor.

“This fits my interest,” Crowley said. “As I'm getting older, aging has gotten of more interest in me, and I didn't think my resume would get past the first round, and I got the job pretty quickly.”

Crowley turns 64 in September. He noted that some residents at Peabody are younger than him, but also that there is a generation of residents older than him.