By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Metropolitan School District of Wabash County began the data collection for its Study for Advancement on Tuesday, Aug. 14.
The data collection will come in the form of interviews, gathering information about what patrons, students, staff and parents appreciate regarding the school district.

Questions will also be asked about how the district may better itself moving forward.

“We have our students signed up, our staff, patrons, and we still have slots available,” Superintendent Mike Keaffaber said. “This goes all the way through Sept. 12. There have been ads put in both (Wabash County) newspapers (with times to sign up).
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

A local businessman was given the green light Thursday, Aug. 16, to build an RV park near the entrance of the Morrett Sports Complex, better known as The Field of Dreams.

Zoomer’s owner Michael Weaver received a special exception from the Wabash Board of Zoning Appeals to create the park at 3 Water Ridge Parkway. He also received a variance from the board from the minimum lot area of five acres required for such a park, as well as from the minimum frontage, side and rear yard setbacks.

The park will be located at the site of a former miniature golf course and batting cage, on the south side of the Field of Dreams parkway.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The City of Wabash will once again seek state funding to build an overpass over the Norfolk Southern track that runs through the community just north of Hill Street.

The Wabash City Council on Monday agreed to fund 20 percent of the project, expected to cost $10.7 million. The remaining 80 percent would come from the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Trax Program, Mayor Scott Long told Council.

Actually, the city’s portion of the project will likely be less, as Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay 5 percent of the city’s 20 percent match. In essence, the project would cost the city roughly $1.5 million.

The mayor first broached the idea last year, and the city sought, but didn’t receive, INDOT funds for the work.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabashcounty

The Wabash County Fair Board, in conjunction with Beacon Credit Union, is in the midst of a fundraising campaign to raise money to refurbish the exhibition hall, formerly known as the girls’ building.

Beacon has created a matching grant to match, dollar for dollar up to $60,000, funds donated to the fair board.

“We’re going to completely redo this building,” Fair Board President Dean White told The Paper of Wabash County during an interview in the exhibition hall. “We’re going to put all new ceilings in. We’re going to put a kitchenette in back there in that (northwest) corner.”

A wall with pass-through windows on the west side of the building will be removed, opening up the area.

“We’re going to build the sidewalls out and fill it in with insulation, then drywall it,” White continued. “We’re going to put air conditioning and put new furnaces in. We’re going to level the floor and have it completely redone.”
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

The Wabash County Commissioners are considering extending a 30 mph speed limit east of Somerset on Old Slocum Trail to discourage speeding and increase safety.

Roger Hornaday, who lives on Old Slocum Trail, discussed the issue with the commissioners after County Highway Superintendent John Martin presented a petition regarding the speed limit extension.

The limit currently ends at 1763 W. Old Slocum Trail. The proposed extension ends at 859 W. Old Slocum Trail.
“They're concerned about the speed of traffic with several small children in the area,” Martin said.
 

By David Fenker

david@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER -- When Nelda and Darin Edgecomb decided to grow their family through adoption from Haiti, only one aspect of the process gave them pause: the cost.

To help defray that cost, the Edgecombs teamed up with Florida-based Funds2Orgs for a shoe drive.

“We're at 49 bags of shoes – which have 25 pairs in each bag,” Mrs. Edgecomb said. “I went to Syracuse on Saturday, and picked up from people closing up garage sales. I just stopped in and asked if they wanted to donate the shoes that they had.”
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Women throughout Indiana and Ohio, including Wabash County, will have the opportunity to tell researchers what they think and feel about cancer screening tests.

Wabash County is one of 48 Indiana counties targeted in the research study, which is intended to find better ways to help women get cancer screenings for cancers such as breast, cervical and colorectal.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

A pair of principals from the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County are slated to take part in the prestigious Indiana Principal Leadership Institute at Indiana State University’s Bayh College of Education.

Phil Boone of Southwood Elementary and Andrew McDaniel of Southwood Junior-Senior High schools have been chosen to take part in the sixth cohort of the IPLI, which began in July.

According to a press release, The Indiana Principal Institute is a two-year experience designed to address the professional needs of Indiana public school principals with an emphasis on student success.