Students from Wabash Middle haul brush away to a waiting City of Wabash truck. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Visitors to the Wabash Riverfront Plaza will now have a better view of the Wabash River, thanks to the efforts of the city and several area organizations, and even students from the Wabash Middle School.

The groups spent Thursday evening, May 17, removing brush from the banks of the river, just west of the Wabash Street bridge. On Friday morning, May 18, the students loaded the trimmings into city trucks to be transported to the city’s brush recycling site.
 

Indiana State Police troopers salute their fallen comrades during a ceremony at the Peru Post. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

PERU -- Local law enforcement officers, retired state police employees, local government officials, and family members joined troopers from the Indiana State Police Peru Post on Wednesday morning as they paid tribute to the 46 Indiana State Police employees who have died in the line of duty since the department’s inception in 1933.

The service started with troopers standing at attention as Capt. Dave Kirkham, Area I commander for the Indiana State Police, read a roll call of the fallen employees. Lt. Jeremy Kelly, commander of the Indiana State Police Peru Post, then provided a brief description of what lead to the fallen employees’ final call.
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

The county commissioners denied a request to vacate an alley in Urbana after a public hearing at their May 21 meeting.
Aaron Mattern, representing Urbana Yoke Parish, presented the request to close the alley running parallel to State Road 13 and South Washington Street between Half and College streets as an effort to ensure the church's planned construction projects would not interfere with homeowners who need access to the alley.

According to Mattern, who provided photographs and renderings of the proposed addition, the alley has shifted from it original route.

“For the last 50-plus years or more … the church property has been used as the alley,” he said. “What has been used by everybody as the alley is actually church property. All we are wanting to do is use the church property to add a carport and a wheelchair ramp to make the church accessible on the west side …
“We're not wanting to cause any harm to any existing landowner or any of the public in Urbana … all we're stating is that we don't want that to be a public access.”
 

Robert Halderman drives the bell to its new location. 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

A bell dating back to the mid-19th century has a new home at the Wabash Presbyterian Church.

Perhaps it might be better to say that the bell -- forged in Cincinnati, Ohio, about 1846 by G.L. Hanks for the New School Presbyterian Church which was located in the middle of the block of Wabash Street, across from the Wabash County Courthouse – is back home.
 

By The Paper staff

Due to the recent retirement of Wabash Police Capt. John Burnsworth two officers have been promoted.

 
Chad Galligan was recently promoted to captain.  Patrolman Galligan joined the Wabash City Police Department in 2000, and was promoted to corporal in 2011, a post which he held until 2016.

He was promoted to Sergeant in 2016 which he held that position until 2018. 
 

By The Paper Staff

An automobile accident Saturday, May 5, on U.S. 24 West in Wabash sent three to the hospital with serious injuries.

According to the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department, at about 12:02 p.m. Saturday, Elizabeth P. Estep, 82, North Manchester, was traveling on U.S. 24 West and attempted to turn onto County Road 200 West.

A passenger in the vehicle, Ty A. Estep, 53, North Manchester, said she told her not to turn because another vehicle was traveling the opposite direction on U.S. 24. He said she did not hear her and turned.

Amanda L. Bull, 28, Union City, Mich., was traveling westbound on U.S. 24 when Elizabeth Estep traveled northbound across the westbound lane of U.S. 24, failing to yield, driving directly in front of Bull.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Trial dates of Aug. 21-22 have been set in Wabash Circuit Court for Corey A. Kelch.

Kelch, 22, Marion, is formally charged with murder and robbery in connection with the April 25 death and robbery of Jordon Richards, LaFontaine. An automatic not guilty plea was entered on his behalf during a hearing on Monday morning, May 7.

Kelch was taken into custody Friday afternoon, May 4, at a home in Marion, and was transported to the Wabash County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

LAKETON -- Laketon area residents may soon see an increase in their monthly sewage bills.

The Laketon Area Regional Sewer District met Thursday, April 26, to vote on a proposed $5.60 monthly increase, effective July 1.

“This is being considered because there was a rate study, performed by Umbaugh and Associates, that determined that the rates presently in effect are insufficient to sustain the sewer district on a long-term basis,” attorney Steve Downs said during the meeting. “

Residential sewer customers will pay $65 monthly beginning July 1. The rate will increase again to $69.60 a year later, July 1, 2019.