Peyton Trexler (22), seen here in game action against Manchester, has opted to continue his education and football career with Marian University in Indianapolis. The Paper file photo

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Southwood senior Peyton Trexler remembers the fun he had playing backyard football with his friends as a young child.

“I just found a bond for the sport at an early age,” Trexler said. “I played multiple sports, but I feel football is my favorite. Peyton Manning was my favorite player, and that celebrity status has always been my dream. College football is my favorite.”
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Northfield boys basketball coach Patrick Hopkins tendered his resignation, which was approved by the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County board at its April 10 meeting.

Hopkins discussed his decision to step down recently with The Paper of Wabash County.

“Northfield was my first head coaching job, and I loved it,” Hopkins said. “I gained a lot of experience, and I feel like I helped the program, I helped the community and I helped the kids. But, I don’t think it’s the right fit for me.

“I’m trying to be a coach that really grows a program. I put a lot of time and effort into it. Northfield just isn’t the right program for me.”
 

Joe Halderman signs a letter of intent to continue his football career at Taylor University. Looking on are his parent Kari and Howard Halderman. 

By Joseph Slacian

jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

As a freshman at Northfield High School, Joe Halderman approached coach Brandon Baker and asked what he needed to do to play for the Norse.

“I just want to play varsity,” Baker said Monday, April 16, recalling the conversation. “I told him, ‘We’re going to be short lineman in a couple of years. He said, ‘I’ll do it.’ And that’s how he became a lineman. He just wanted to be on the field.”

The hard work and effort paid off for Halderman, who on Monday signed a letter of intent to continue his football career at Taylor University.
 

By Emily Armentrout

emily@thepaperofwabash.com

The Industrial Business Complex, which sits on 135 acres of land in Wabash, has been selected as one of five properties in Indiana for Duke Energy’s 2013 Site Readiness Program. According to Duke Energy’s website, Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program “provides funding and expertise to help communities identify, assess, improve and increase awareness of industrial sites in the Duke Energy Indiana territory.”

In an email to The Paper, Bill Konyha, President and CEO of the Economic Development Group of Wabash County, stated that the “process and evaluation were essential to Wabash County becoming a community working towards continuous improvement.” Konyha also explained the criteria by which Wabash County and the Industrial Business Complex were evaluated. Categories like site characteristics, utility adequacy/capacity, transportation access and site costs were included in the site evaluation. The Wabash Northeast Business Complex received at 77 percent, with a 229.75 out of 300.

There are some issues that are out of the community’s control. One issue that was part of the report was the distance  from I-69. Though the 38-mile distance from the complex to I-69, Konyha pointed out that the Hoosier Heartland Highway is complete and will open soon. He also noted that means “we will have four-lane highways connecting us to I-65 and I-69.”

The issue of the complex not having a railroad isn’t as big of a problem because the complex was never intended for heavy industrial use. The complex is more appropriate for “light manufacturing, food processing, logistics, distribution, value added agricultural processing, medical implements and advanced manufacturing,” according to Konyha.

On the Business and Industrial Services level, Wabash trails Indiana when it comes to educational attainment. Wabash County’s graduation rate is 85.4 percent, with Indiana’s graduation rate being 87 percent. Wabash County also trails the state in bachelor degree attainment by 6.8 percent. Konyha told The Paper that “the ability that Wabash County has to recruit technical and professional workforce is perceived as a weakness.”

“We have been working on these (issues) with all of our community partners. The Wabash County Promise is a great example of how the community is working to improve our issues with educational attainment. EDG is proud to partner with the YMCA, all three of our public school corporations, the Chamber of Commerce, our elected officials, Beauchamp McSpadden, Parkview Hospital, and countless others to develop a culture that values college and career readiness,” added Konyha.

The information received from McCallum Sweeney will be used as the Economic Development Group designs the final phases of infrastructure for the complex according to Konyha. “We’ve already addressed the minor issues and we will consider all of their remaining comments.”

There is no current plan to build on the remaining 135 acres at the Wabash Northeast Business Complex, but Konyha told The Paper that the information put out by McCallum Sweeney would be used for marketing programs as well.

“The opportunity to be evaluated by a major site selector is a great opportunity and EDG is very grateful to Duke Energy for making it possible.”