By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER -- Squire Fieldhouse and its related safety renovation components are one step closer to becoming reality.

The Manchester Community Schools board of school trustees voted 4-2 to approve the $16 million project, which is estimated to cost around $26 million after interest.

Ruth Ayres, Brice Bedke, Steve Flack and Nathan Trump voted in favor of the project; Brian Schilling and Tim McLaughlin voted against moving forward at this time. Sally Krouse was absent.

With the board's vote, community members opposed to the project have 30 days to gather a petition of at least 500 signatures to bring the project to a referendum.

In a three-hour public hearing Tuesday, June 5, the board heard comments for and against the field house from several community members before voting.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

O.J. Neighbours Elementary School was chosen as one of 10 schools in Indiana to receive an Indiana Dual Language Immersion Pilot Program grant, it was announced Wednesday, May 30.

“Presenting students with opportunities to learn multiple languages and about diverse cultures prepares them for the 21st century in which we live,” said Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I am thankful for the awarded schools who are providing Indiana students with this opportunity.”

The Dual Language Immersion Program provides grants to school corporations that establish or expand dual language immersion programs in Mandarin, Spanish, French or other languages approved by the Indiana Department of Education.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The Wabash City Council unanimously approved a statement of benefits update for B Walter & Company.

Owner Scott Buehrer and Keith Gillenwater, President and CEO of Grow Wabash County were on hand to discuss the matter with the Council.

Buehrer and B Walter received a 10-year tax abatement for both personal property and real property in 2016 for investments and improvements he planned to make at the facility. By statute, he is required to give the Council an update annually.

“I came here 17 months ago when I acquired B Walter,” Buehrer told Council. “I kept everybody. Our employment at the time was 25 employees and a couple of temps. We’re right around 35 employees and no temps. I prefer to have full-time employees in the business. I think we build a better company that way.”
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

At the request of an adjacent landowner, the county commissioners vacated an unimproved alleyway in Servia at a Monday, June 4, public hearing.

Landowner Walt Dingess told the commissioners that he and his father have maintained the space allocated for the alley, located on the south edge of his property on South Second Street, since 1975.

“We've probably kept around 75-80 percent of the area I want vacated mowed,” Dingess said. “I guess, all the years that I've done it, I just assumed it was ours. I didn't realize that there's supposed to be a road or an alley that went through.”
 

By David Fenker
david@nmnews.com

NORTH MANCHESTER – The town’s Manchester's Main Street may soon be smoke-free.

The NORTH MANCHESTER Town Council passed on first reading an ordinance prohibiting smoking on all public property, in all businesses or within 15 feet of a door or window of a location where smoking is banned, at the June 6 meeting. This would effectively ban smoking on Main Street, except within private residences and designated smoking areas at local businesses.

With council member Laura Rager absent, the council voted 4-0 in favor of the ordinance.

Per the council's bylaws, the ordinance must undergo two additional readings before becoming effective.
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

After more than two years in jail, a former Manchester University student will forego a trial and be sentenced on a charge stemming from the death of her child this month.

Mikayla Munn, 24, of Elkhart, pleaded guilty to one count of neglect of a dependent, level three felony, in a hearing Monday, June 4. The plea agreement drops a charge of murder and neglect of a dependent, level one felony.

She faces up to 16 years in prison, and a fine of up to $10,000.
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

Living Well in Wabash County's Wabash County Transit looks to continue its services through an annual grant from the state and federal governments.

Living Well CEO Beverly Ferry presented the grant application at the Monday, June 11, meeting of the county commissioners for their signatures.

“It's that time of year to come around with our grant application that we are submitting to (the Indiana Department of Transportation),” Ferry said. “This time, it's operating plus a capital request. The capital request is for one, low-floor minivan, and one medium light transit bus.”

Ferry said that the minivan is to replace one that is no longer handicap-accessible.

“The cost of repairing the ramp is about the same amount we'd have to do to buy a new one,” she said.
 

Article provided

On Wednesday, May 24, the Honeywell Center hosted the 53rd Heartland Career Center Certificate and Career Excellence Recognition Program. 

There were 224 seniors recognized from the local high schools for completion of their career programs at Heartland Career Center. 

In addition, 68 students received awards for Career Excellence based on the criteria of attendance, grade point average, job performance, attitude/respectfulness, and leadership/teamwork.  Each of the students walked across the Honeywell stage in front of a full crowd of parents, friends, teachers, support staff and administrators.