By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash City Schools had its regularly scheduled board meeting Monday, Aug. 6, at City Hall as it awaits the final touches before moving into a new downtown location.

In fact, the move will be permanent. All of Wabash City School’s future board meetings will be held in the City Council chambers.

“For the foreseeable future I think we’re going to hold our meetings here,” Superintendent Jason Callahan said. “Just for the natural space. It’s very exciting. There’s a lot of synergy downtown. A lot of our educational and community partners are downtown. We’ve noticed people already just walking by from downtown to the Honeywell Center and back again. We were there for a Farmer’s Market, and people were coming in and seeing us, so I think it’s just going to increase our communication with the public, and our accessibility. We’re very excited to be closer to Honeywell, The Eagles, INGUARD, The Access Youth Center – just all those key partners.”
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Most City of Wabash employees will receive a 2 percent pay increase under a budget that was reviewed Tuesday, Aug. 9, by the Wabash City Council.

City Hall’s receptionist is scheduled to receive more than 2 percent, Mayor Scott Long told the Council, largely because she has taken on additional responsibilities, including overseeing the city’s Human Resource items.

“She’s handling all our personnel issues right now,” Long told the Council. “She’s doing a great job.”

Clerk-Treasurer Wendy Frazier added, “She wears lots of hats. She fills in for everybody.”

During the meeting, the city’s department heads came in to answer various questions from Council members about the budget they proposed.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

A busy weekend is on tap for the City of Wabash.

The 21st annual Wabash Garden Fest is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Paradise Spring Historical Park.

Meanwhile, the 19th annual Dave Kunkel Cruise-in is planned for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 17-18, at the Honeywell Center and Wabash Elks Lodge parking lot.

Add to that the 5th Annual Takin’ It to The Streets Sidewalk Sales also are planned in downtown Wabash on Friday and Saturday.
 

By Joseph Slacian and David Fenker

Former Wabash County Coroner Carol (Whitesel) Nose entered a not guilty plea Monday afternoon in Wabash Circuit Court.

Nose, 66, was served a Wabash Circuit Court arrest warrant on Thursday, Aug. 2, by Indiana State Police Trooper Steven Glass, charging her with official misconduct, a level 6 felony. She was taken to the Wabash County Jail where she was released on $6,500 bond.

Nose served as the Wabash County coroner from 2008 through 2016.

By Joseph Slacian

Visitors from around the area stepped back in time Friday night, Aug. 3, visiting the old Wabash County Sheriff’s house and jail at 31 W. Main St.

The visit, part of the August First Friday celebration, was sponsored by Indiana Landmarks.

Indiana Landmarks seeks to preserve various historic buildings around the State of Indiana. The organization was given the building in March 2017 by Wabash County Commissioners.

By David Fenker


By the end of August, North Manchester’s public spaces will be smoke-free.

The town council approved the third and final reading of General Ordinance No. 3, referred to as the enhanced smoking ban, at its Aug. 1 meeting.

By Eric Christiansen

NORTH MANCHESTER -- A North Manchester summer tradition continues with FunFest Under the Stars Aug. 9-11.

Festivities kick off Thursday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. with a jungle safari in the  First Financial Bank parking lot, with an animal education session at 5 p.m.

Another staple of FunFest continues with the Cutie King and Queen contest at 7 p.m., along with a kids parade at 6:30 p.m.

The annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, concluding Saturday, Aug. 11.

By David Brinson

At 80-years old, Janet Kirkpatrick and her horse, HA HI Fire (better known as Booker), have become just the ninth member of the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC)’s Century Club.

“Ask me about my bucket list,” Kirkpatrick said. “It’s empty now.”

The Century Club recognizes any endurance horses and riders whose combined ages total 100 years or more and also compete at either the endurance distances or the long-distance competitions. On the weekend of July 14, Kirkpatrick and Booker finally qualified for the club following their completion of the “Cracked OAATS Crunch (Endurance Ride)” at the Salamonie State Park’s Lost Bridge in Andrews.