The 2019 Wabash High School Kathy Swan Award winners, as announced at the March 18 school board meeting, include Jacob Thompson, Bryson Zapata, Dani Lee and Chassity Honeycutt. Also a winner, but, not pictured, is Aaron Nickerson. Photo by Josh Sigler

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash City Schools handed out the high school version of its Kathy Swan Awards at the Monday, March 18 school board meeting, held at Wabash High School.

Every year, the school corporation recognizes students at every grade level with the award. Superintendent Jason Callahan described Swan as someone who cared tremendously about students, especially hard-working students who don’t always get the recognition. Swan was lost years ago in a plane crash.

The students who receive these awards don’t apply for the award. Yet, they are chosen by members of the faculty.

“Students who are studying really hard know that they may end up being the valedictorian,” Principal Kyle Wieland said. “People who practice really hard want to win a sectional. They know what this goal is in mind. This is completely different than that. This is something that students don’t even know they are kind of competing for.”
 

Youngsters conduct an experiment during the 2018 SPARK Club program over spring break. Photo provided. 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash County 4-H SPARK Clubs have activities planned for members and non-members alike during the week of spring break.

There will be two tracts to the event, one for youth in third to seventh grades, and the other for those in eighth to 12th grades, according to Angela Christopher, Wabash County Extension Educator – 4-H Youth Development.

The tract for the younger youth will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 1-5 at the Wabash County Heartland REMC community room. The cost is $15 per day or $50 for the week.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash County Commissioners announced their opposition to a proposed Indiana Department of Transportation project on U.S. 24 at their weekly meeting Monday, March 25.

Chairman Barry Eppley announced the opposition towards the end of Monday’s meeting.

The proposed project is for the remediation of U.S. 24 at the intersection of County Road 300 East.

“Based upon the citizen comments, and after examining the details of the project, we wanted to express opposition to that proposed project” Eppley said. “We believe that other measures such as reduced speed on U.S. 24, rumble strips to enhance notification to drivers, and perhaps enhanced signage all be of the measures we would suggest be implemented before remediation the size they proposed be installed.”
 

Members of the Prime Suspects band include Richard Leach, Jerry Lents, Doug Hutson and John Burruss. The band will celebrate its 20th annivesary with a concert at Scotty's Bar on March 30. Photo provided

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

March 30 will be a doubly special day for Richard Leach.

He’ll celebrate his 68th birthday the same night his band, the Prime Suspects, play a concert at Scotty’s Bar in celebration of the band’s 20th year of music together.

Leach, the band’s rhythm guitarist, is joined by Jerry Lents (bass guitar, vocals), Doug Hutson (drums, vocals), and John Burruss (lead guitar) to make up the band.
 

By The Paper staff

An Indiana State Police investigation into the alleged murder of Alexis Serrano, 21, Indianapolis, has led to the arrests of Jose Guadelupe Maya-Sandoval, 36, Fort Wayne, and Gerardo Ruiz-Aviles, 33, Indianapolis. Both men were served with a Wabash Circuit Court arrest warrant alleging a single count of murder.

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

For the last several months, the Wabash County Fair Board, along with a local contractor, has been busy remodeling the former Girls’ Building at the Wabash County 4-H Fairgrounds.

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

The 2019 Foundation for Art and Music in Education (FAME) Festival was a resounding success, attracting thousands to the Honeywell Center on Saturday, March 16, for musical performances and arts and crafts of all kinds.

The stained glass of St. Patrick behind the altar at St. Patrick’s Church in Lagro. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

LAGRO – St. Patrick’s Church will be the site of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Sunday, March 17.

Activities will begin at 1 p.m. when Father Levi Nkwocha, pastor of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Wabash, celebrates mass.
At 2 p.m., a time for meditation, prayer and lighting vigil candles will take place.

At 2:30 p.m., harpist Sara Wall will perform.

Wall has performed as a harpist for more than 35 years and plays a blend of classical, inspirational, spiritual and contemporary music.

Following Wall’s performance, a time for fellowship and refreshments are planned.